Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Over the next few days, Ann clung to Zabuza while he was home from missions or to Haku when he was gone. By the next weekend, they went through their normal morning routine, but instead of Zabuza going out for missions or doing something productive, he headed back to the bedroom.
Haku~Is there something wrong?
Ann~I dunno…
They followed him to the bedroom to find him laying down on the bed with a hand covering his eyes.
Haku~Zabuza? Are you alright?
Zabuza~Yeah…I just…I needed a break…
Ann~Not us?
Zabuza~No, not from either of you. I’ll get up again in a bit. I didn’t realize it was August already…
Haku~Do we need to do anything?
Zabuza~No. Think of today as a rest day. You two can lay down too.
Ann immediately let go of Haku and got on the bed to attach herself to Zabuza's side.
Haku joined them as well. Since that first night he came home with them, Zabuza has proven to be someone he could blindly trust. Like the man told him, he needed him for his skills, not his body. Zabuza's only touched or handled him in a way he does with Ann. Everything that's been asked of him to do were things she could do as well.
Zabuza's even been there for him emotionally and allowed him to cling to his side, like when had those nightmares. He's only had that nightmare two or three times since they took him in from the streets.
Ann~Zabi?
He hummed.
Ann~Is it that day again?
Zabuza~Yeah. My one rest day.
Ann~Happy birthday
Haku~Is today your birthday, Zabuza?
Zabuza~Yeah. Which is why I don't want to do anything at the moment. Demons need rest too.
He gave a half hearted chuckled.
Ann~Why are you a demon? Am I one too?
He chuckled some more.
Zabuza~Not literally. It's because of some stupid s**t I've done. You could take on that persona though. You've earned it in your own way.
Haku~Are those stories you could tell us?
Zabuza~No. You're both too young. I don't want Ann to think she'd need to decimate her classmates in the Leaf. Or do anything like that here. She's already been adjacent to death because of my mission to the Pearl's Grace. She doesn't need to be the one causing it at all.

After a while, Ann had fallen asleep and Haku was dozing on and off. He lightly woke Ann. She's been antsy if she didn't know where he was upon waking since their fight.
Ann~Huh? Time to get up?
Zabuza~Almost. I'm going to get lunch going. You can go back to sleep now.
Ann~Okay. Night…
She cuddled closer into his chest, making him sigh. He was able to push her hands off then got up with a yawning Haku as the boy woke.
Haku~Is there something wrong?
Zabuza~Time to make lunch. We're letting Ann sleep some more. She needs the rest.
He set the boy down and they went to the kitchen.
Haku~Zabuza?
He hummed
Haku~Am I too young? Or was that so Ann wouldn't pester you about it being unfair?
Zabuza~Heh, of course you saw through it. It's so Ann doesn't pester me.
Haku~So you will tell me? Right now?
Zabuza~Sure. You already know or are aware that I've done my share killing.
Haku nodded.
Zabuza~I was about 6, a few years younger than you, when it happened. The rules for graduating the Mist's academy were brutal back in the day, and they changed it because of me. I wasn't even enrolled, and I killed the entire graduating class.
Haku~That's…Ann hasn't killed anyone, right?
Zabuza~No. I'll keep her from doing that while in my care. I will take that burden, and only you if I'm not already doing that.
Haku~She's precious to you, isn't she?
Zabuza gave him a light tap to the arm
Zabuza~Don’t make me sound like a sap, brat. She's…she is special though. Has she asked you to keep secrets from me yet?
Haku~Huh? Uhhh…
Zabuza~It's fine. Her secrets probably involve playing with the weapons in the closet or sneaking extra snacks.
Haku~If you already know, why do you let her?
Zabuza~She doesn't leave evidence. It's good practice. Anyways, I ask because what I'm about to tell you is something she isn't supposed to know. Not until she's much older anyway, and I need to keep it that way.
Haku~I won't tell her.
Zabuza~Good. She has a kekkei genkai too. It's manifested twice so far, that I know of. Her power hasn’t matured into something she can control yet, so it seems to be a fluke for now. Once it's developed though, she has the potential to summon the dead. She'll have other skills too, but that resurrection power is what would get exploited
Haku~That's a lot to protect her from, Zabuza. You must be stressed all the time.
Zabuza~And then some. That's why I need you to help me protect her. I know I can't do everything. But I can't ask Mei to help either. She's already done enough when the brat was an infant, and I can't risk her getting caught by actively continuing to help me. That’s why her only involvement now is to help Ann to the Leaf if I’m incapacitated.
Haku~What's happening in the Mist that Mei can’t do more?
Zabuza~The Mizukage, Yagura, he's been slipping these past few years. It's getting more obvious that the b*****d is paranoid about something. Before my sister died, Ann's mother, she set up a plan to move Ann to the Leaf, as you already know. She couldn't do it completely by herself though, so Yagura had to be involved and knows of Ann's existence. It's complicated, but because of that involvement Ann is both protected from and prey for that slimeball. He killed Ane already, and the only reason he hasn't made a move to capture Ann is because of me.
Haku~So why haven't you done anything yet?
Zabuza~I'd be going up against a jinchuriki. As strong as I am, I'm not like my sister. That ******** b***h can go toe to toe with him, and has done it. She terrifies them.
Haku~What's a jinchuriki?
Zabuza~Right…Jinchurikis are human vessels for a tailed-beast. A tailed-beast is a creature of immense power. You might be old enough, but have you heard of the Leaf getting attacked by a fox demon about five years ago?
Haku~No. My village never gets news like that.
Zabuza~That's alright. That fox practically flattened the Leaf village. It’s been sealed into a new vessel of sorts. Who the ******** is, no one outside their village knows yet.
Haku~And Ann is supposed to be safe there?
Zabuza chuckled~I know. But I’m not about to go against my sister’s wishes. She’d find a way to revive herself and kill me for it. Anyways, there’s plans right now to take care of Yagura. It won’t be for a couple more months though. The goal is by the end of the year.
Haku~What happens if it’s successful?
Zabuza~It’ll be easier to hide Ann until she can go to the Leaf. I’ll be able to take her there myself too.
Haku~And if it fails?
Zabuza~Ann still goes to the Leaf regardless of how badly I fail.
Haku~And that’s why you train her so hard, isn’t it?
Zabuza~It is. Once you catch up to her, I’ll be pushing you too.
He lightly pinched at Haku’s arm and cheek
Haku~H-hey…
Zabuza~Compared to when we found you, you’re at a decent weight now. Keep eating your fill. Training takes a lot of calories, which is why Ann is able to eat her weight.
He chuckled again.
Zabuza~Go wake Ann now. Hopefully she doesn’t give you a hard time.
Haku~Yes, Zabuza.
Haku headed to the bedroom as Zabuza set their plates on the table.

As the weeks passed, Haku’s training continued to increase in intensity and he caught up to Ann in basic combat. Ann also advanced in her strength and chakra control as Zabuza also continued her sword training using her father's sword.
Zabuza had also extended how long they'd go out for training as he shifted around when he'd take missions and how often again. It was about the same rhythm as it was before the addition of Haku and before Ann exhausted her chakra.
Ann and Haku had just finished sparring against Zabuza, which went a lot smoother than their very first attempt over a month ago. The two were almost perfectly in sync now and Zabuza had to put in the effort to keep track of the two and not let instinct overpower either child if they caught him off guard. The other sometimes they weren't in sync resulted in them striking each other
Ann~Will Haku learn jutsus too? Can we at least start using weapons?
Zabuza~Haku
Haku~Yes?
Zabuza~Have you noticed when you're moving faster than normal?
Haku~I…I'm moving faster?
Zabuza nodded.
Ann~Does it not feel like you're doing that?
Haku~N-no…It feels like you're both slowing down…
Zabuza smirked.
Zabuza~You see, Haku, that's not the feeling most people get. It's part of your kekkei genkai.
Ann~What's that again?
Zabuza~A special clan ability. Like how I said Mei can spit lava.
Ann~Oh, right. So, Haku can go super fast?
Haku~Do I really move that fast?
Zabuza~Faster if you can focus your chakra.
Haku~Wh-what about water?
Ann~What can you do with water?
Zabuza~I think you can do more than just make water float. Have you tried anything with it since you discovered your ability?
Haku's brows furrowed as he tried to recall the time between killing his father and being found by Ann and Zabuza.
Haku~I…I don't know…I don't remember. It's…I'm–
He stopped himself from apologizing. Zabuza nodded.
Zabuza~It must've been traumatic if his memory is fragmented or completely blank. We'll try after lunch. I think you'll have an easier time with chakra control than Ann did. It'll probably be easier for me to teach too with how he's progressing.
Ann~What's that supposed to mean?!
Zabuza~Nothing bad against you, brat. Haku's older so he'll just be able to do it easier. If you started learning at his age you'd also struggle less
Ann~Oh…So what does it mean since I can do it right now?
Zabuza~You're years ahead of most kids your age. You'll terrify them and the adults if you don’t pull back like I keep trying to tell you to do.
Ann~But that sounds fun…
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Zabuza~Too much like your ******** mother…
Ann~Zabi?
Zabuza~I'm fine…Just keep your skills low profile. Match the other children you'll come across. Don't pick a fight with anyone, including the adults. You cannot traumatize them under any circumstance
Ann~What's traumatize?
Zabuza~When something is extremely distressing, shocking, or terrifying for someone that they still feel that way at the mention of it.
She bit her lip.
Ann~Like when there’s a knock on the front door?
Zabuza~That counts.
Haku~Is…Am I?...
Zabuza~Yeah, what you went through can be considered traumatic.
Ann~Can that hurt you too, even when you’re strong?
Zabuza~Yeah. It can happen to anyone. Come on, finish eating. You still need to take a nap, Ann.
Ann~Why not Haku?
Zabuza~He can too if he wants, but he’s old enough to not need it.
Ann~Then why do you still nap?
Zabuza~You don’t let me get up to do things.
Ann~Does that mean you wouldn’t otherwise?
He rolled his eyes.
Zabuza~Go eat your lunch already.

As Ann napped, Zabuza and Haku went to the shoreline.
Zabuza~Try to manipulate the water.
Haku~What if I can’t?
Zabuza~You will. Now try.
Haku stuck his hands out and tried to will the water to float. A small blob slowly began to pull from the water’s surface then levitated into the air.
Zabuza patted Haku’s head, but when he did the water froze into a sphere of spikes and dropped. He hummed in thought as he removed his hand.
Zabuza~Haku, are you lucid?
He cautiously moved to view the boy’s face, just in case he impulsively attacked, and saw a blank stare.
Zabuza~Unfortunate. Your trauma is directly related to your kekkei genkai. It’s going to take a while to desensitize you from it and to reframe it into something purposeful. Small steps then.
He slowly took the boy’s hand in his and was able to lead him away from the water. Once they were in the grass, Zabuza gently squeezed his hand.
Zabuza~Haku, you need to snap out of it. You’re learning new skills, not getting punished for what you can do.
Haku slowly blinked.
Zabuza~You have a very useful skill. It can and will make you strong. I’ll make sure you get there.
His eyes fluttered next. Upon seeing Zabuza, he latched to him, shaking slightly.
Zabuza~Take your time.
Haku~I don’t know what happened…
Zabuza~You’ll get through it. It’s going to take perseverance. Be patient.
Haku~Can we do something else? I don’t like how it felt…
Zabuza~Sure. Let’s start using weapons for combat.

They lightly sparred for a while with kunai knives in one hand. Zabuza showed him how he needed to hold the weapon and ways to use it offensively and defensively. Once Haku started to move fluidly with it in his hand was when Ann stirred awake, and that was when he chose to move back to their thing to let Haku rest.
Ann~Yaaay…knives…
Her head bobbed as they were still making their way back.
Haku~Is…Is she okay?
Zabuza~She took after her mother and me. She likes weapons. Ann is also still waking up.
He pulled her to her feet and pushed her to the treeline to relieve herself. He shook his head and sighed after she was gone
Zabuza~That ******** brat…Haku, make sure to have a snack.
Haku nodded and grabbed an apple as Ann came back.
Ann~Zabi, I'm hungry.
Zabuza~You can have a snack later. I want you strength training again first.
Ann~Okay.
She rubbed her eyes as she made her way to the sword.
Zabuza~You need to pick it up. Stop dragging it or you're going to sharpen it.
She groaned but managed to lift it and walk to the open field.
Zabuza~Once you've rested you can come join us.
He patted his head and made his way to Ann.
Ann~Will I get to swing it now?
Zabuza~You can try. You've yet to lift it into rest still.
Ann adjusted her grip to choke up like he taught her. Then she lifted it off the ground but struggled to lift it higher than a few degrees.
Zabuza~It's still something that you can manage to lift it at all. Don't cut yourself short just because you can't hold it up yet.
She set it down, panting.
Ann~You said Kubirikibocho was heavier. When were you able to carry it?
Zabuza~Kubi-KIRI-bocho. I could carry it when I inherited it as a younger teen.
Ann~Before or after me?
Zabuza~Before. I've already had years of training too.
Ann~So then why am I doing this?
Zabuza~You asked for it. You were going to do it regardless, but you asked first.
Ann~Right…isn't there a sword I could actually swing?
Zabuza~No, nothing I own can translate to this sword. Remember, this one was supposed to train you to use Kubikiribocho
Ann~Your sword is nice too. Why do I have to be able to pick it up?
Zabuza~How else will you swing it? You can't cut off ankles all the time.
Ann giggled~I guess that's true
Zabuza~Again. Throw your body into lifting it this time. That way your wrists aren't doing the heavy lifting.
She nodded and tried again, following his advice. The first attempt didn't go well as she fell backwards.
Zabuza~Was your grip lacking? Or did you really throw yourself off of it?
Ann~Meany.
Zabuza~Again, brat. This time don't fall off.
Ann huffed and tried again. She still fell backwards, but this time the sword lifted first.
Ann~Is there a trick to this?
Zabuza~Probably. I never needed it so I can't tell you if there is one.
Ann~But you would if you did?
Zabuza~Only after you fall a few more times
He chuckled as he helped lift the sword for her to reset and try again.