Zabuza let himself wake up slowly. The first thing he noticed was Ann's hair in his face because she made her way onto his chest once again. Then he noticed Haku curled into his side with one of his knees pressing into his ribs. He moved himself just enough to relieve the pressure while making sure neither of them was disturbed.
Zabuza decided to have Haku just spend the day with Ann and learn their routine. He needed to get groceries anyway, since he didn't get to do that before the Maw soldier appeared with a summons from the stupid Kage. Maybe she'd be able to start teaching him things without him telling her to.
He laid with them for a few more minutes before gently shaking Haku awake first.
Zabuza~Time to get up, Haku.
Haku groaned and stretched, taking a deep breath. He smelled something almost earthy with a hint of musk, then flinched when he registered it as Zabuza's scent.
Zabuza~Easy. You're safe. Do you remember where you are?
Haku looked around, slowly remembering the night before.
Haku~Yes, Zabuza. I'm–
Zabuza~Don't start. You're adjusting. I'm not setting unreasonable standards from the start.
He patted Haku's head
Zabuza~Go use the bathroom before I wake Ann. Then check if the milk is still good before pouring a cup, and start boiling some water on the stove. Help yourself to whatever you want to snack on until I get breakfast going. Hopefully the boy has as much of an appetite as Ann. He needs the calories with how thin he is.
He watched Haku nod and slide out of bed to use the bathroom. Then he sighed as he started to wake Ann. She was always so difficult to wake when she cuddled in the morning. Normally, he'd push her off the bed to wake her, but with the week she's had, he didn't want to do that to her.
She yawned and turned into him. Maybe making her stand will work. So he did just that.
Ann~It's too early Uncle Zabi…
Zabuza~It's a rest day, but you know I let you sleep in by going to bed early.
Ann~That still doesn't make sennnnse…
Ann groaned and started for the bathroom anyway. Zabuza rolled his eyes and got up to get dressed first. He planned on heading out right after breakfast, and this gives Ann some time to finish in the bathroom until his turn.
When he got to the kitchen, Ann was drinking her cup of milk and Haku had a glass of water and a protein bar. There was a steaming kettle on the stove and a mug on the counter.
Zabuza~Seems you found everything, Haku?
Haku~Yes. There's no more milk now.
Zabuza hummed and moved to get breakfast started.
Ann~What's Zabi making?
Zabuza~Omlets with bell pepper and onion. Do either of you want anything else?
Ann~Chocolate?
Zabuza~Too early for ice cream. Try again.
Haku~C-can we have toast?
Zabuza~Yeah. Ann?
Ann~Can I have my eggs over easy?
Zabuza~Yeah. Haku, what about you? Any changes?
Haku~N-no, the omelet is fine.
Zabuza~Make sure Ann stays awake.
Haku turned to see that she had nodded off. He gently shook her awake.
Ann~Huh? Breakfast?
Haku~Not yet. You need to stay awake.
Ann~But we aren't eating yet…
Haku~It won't be long. Did you finish your milk?
Ann~No…
She yawned and sipped at her cup.
Haku~Do you always have milk?
Ann~No. Sometimes juice.
Haku~What juice do you like?
Zabuza shook his head. Haku clearly had more patience to entertain her. He'd have just told her to help him cook to wake her up faster. So, he just listened to them continue talking in circles as he made them breakfast.
After they ate, he had them do the dishes together.
Zabuza~I'm going to get some groceries. Is there anything you two want?
Before Ann could say something Zabuza interrupted her
Zabuza~I get it, ice cream. You're getting plain chocolate this time so you better ration the rest of the other one.
Ann pouted and turned back around to do more dishes.
Haku~Fruit?
Zabuza~I already planned on bananas, apples, oranges, and melons. Is there something you wanted to have?
Haku~Lychee?
Zabuza~If they're in season, sure. Ann?
Ann~Fruit leathers?
Zabuza~That's better. Anything else?
Ann~Sweet potato?
Haku~Ummm…Is there…N-nevermind…
Zabuza~Tell me.
Haku~I've only had it once, but is there salmon?
Zabuza~I'll get it. Have you had crab before?
Haku~No. Is it good?
Ann~It's so good.
Zabuza~I think we can have something nice for dinner. Ann, do you remember how to make rice?
Ann~Yeah. How many?
Zabuza~Do four.
Ann~Isn’t that a lot for just two– three of us?
Zabuza~It'll be for dinner too. I had plans for the left overs.
He patted their heads
Zabuza~Ann, you know the drill. Explain it to Haku when you guys are done with the dishes. If anything happens, you both leave together. Got it?
Ann~Yes, Zabi.
Haku~Yes, sir.
Zabuza watched them for another moment, then headed out.
Haku~What's the drill?
He put the last dish in the rack
Ann~No one is supposed to ever visit. So, if someone comes and knocks, I'm not supposed to answer. If anyone enters, then I leave. I guess WE leave, since Zabuza said so
Haku nodded and followed her to the door. She grabbed her bag and took it to the bedroom to sit by the window.
Haku~If we have to go, what are we supposed to do?
Ann~Go west to the docks and wait. Do you remember Mei? The lady that was with us?
Haku~Yes. She's nice
Ann~She's supposed to offer me a half-peach with a pit in it to signal that it's safe. Then she'll give me instructions to get to the Leaf village.
Haku~Why to the Leaf?
Ann~I…I don't know. It's something my mother wanted to happen.
Haku~Is Zabuza related to her? He seems…fatherly to you, but you don't address him as such.
Ann~He's my mom's brother. Zabuza's my uncle.
Haku~Has it just been the two of you?
Ann~Yeah. Have you always been on the streets?
Haku~No. I used to be with my parents. They…they both died.
Ann~Oh…I'm glad you got to know them though.
Haku~You don’t know yours?
Ann~No. Nothing. Just some stories Zabuza told me.
Haku~You still have something of them then.
Haku led her out of the bedroom
Haku~What do we do next?
Zabuza returned a few hours later. He didn't sense anything wrong, but the lack of Ann running to him also worried him.
Zabuza~Ann? Haku?
He saw the rice on the stove, so he quietly went to the bedroom with a kunai in hand. Hopefully, they were just sleeping. Upon seeing the two, he quietly sighed in relief and shook his head. He was amused at Haku’s distressed look.
Haku whispered~Help me…
The boy was sitting up on the bed with Ann hugging his leg and her head on his lap. Zabuza spoke quietly, but not quite a whisper, as he put away the kunai.
Zabuza~Have you tried pulling away from her already?
Haku~She won’t let go…I don’t want to wake her.
Zabuza~How long have you been stuck like that?
Haku~I don’t know…A while?
Zabuza~You’ll learn how to estimate the passage of time…and how to get out of her cuddling.
He easily got Ann to let go of Haku and moved him off the bed before Ann attached herself to him again.
Haku~Thank you.
Haku gave him a slight bow before trotting to the bathroom. Zabuza chuckled and went to bring the groceries to the kitchen.
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annaliesalayoshi and zabuza momochi
i'm a super fananic of naruto. i even made my own naruto character, annaliesalayoshi (or ann), and i made her zabuza's niece (that is if he ever had one). later in the story i mix it with final fantasyX
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