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Ann~Zabi?
He gave her a hum as he broke open a crab and placed it on her plate.
Ann~Today's been weird…You got us steaks for lunch and now we have a ton of crabs. What's going on?
Zabuza~Think about the date.
She made a confused noise as he broke open another crab to place on Haku's plate.
Haku~It's Thursday the 23rd. Is it special?
Zabuza~Special enough I let Ann sleep in.
Ann~Oh! It's October already?
Haku~Today is Ann's birthday? I wonder why we didn't have anything indulgent on Zabuza's birthday two months ago…
Zabuza~That's right. Eat up before it gets cold. I got the two of you a treat as well.
Ann~What'd you get?!
Haku~You know he won't tell us until after dinner.
Ann pouted and started to pick out the crab meat. Zabuza couldn't help but smirk at how easily Ann listens to the boy. She'd still pester him until he threatened her or he gave in.

Later, once he was sure they had their fill and were winding down, he cleared out the shells and brought over the treat he mentioned earlier. Zabuza had gotten two cupcakes, one for each child, and they both looked at it in awe.
Both cupcakes had a white swirl of icing, but had different decorations. The one he picked out for Ann was chocolate flavored with sprinkles that looked like pearls, and the other one that was for Haku was vanilla flavored with confetti sprinkles.
Ann~You can eat this?
Zabuza~In a minute. You also get a candle.
Ann~I don't want a candle to squish my treat…
He rolled his eyes and pulled out a candle to place on her cupcake then lit it. He couldn't exactly blame her. Her sheltered answer was BECAUSE of him not showing her civilian rituals. However, there was no way he was going to sing, even for her.
Zabuza~Make a wish when you blow it out. Hurry, before all the wax melts.
Ann~A wish?
Haku~Something you want that you don't normally get. You can't tell us either or it won't come true.
She spotted a drop trailing down and gasped. She closed her eyes to make her wish then blew out the candle.
Zabuza chuckled and removed the candle.
Zabuza~Both of you wash your hands before eating the cupcake. Otherwise it’ll taste like crab.
The two nodded and followed his advice. As soon as Ann bit into her cupcake, she started bouncing on her toes, almost vibrating. Haku sat and stared at her
Haku~Is she…Is she okay? Has she done that before?
Zabuza~Not sure…She didn't do that with the ice cream. It must be the butter cream and how much sugar is in it.
He was still debating whether he should let her finish the confectionary or not. But he couldn’t stop her if he wanted to. Ann had finished the cupcake in her next bite, most of the icing wiping off onto the side of her mouth. He watched her wipe it off her face and lick her fingers before she even finished chewing.
Haku~I-I don’t think she should ever have that much sugar again, Zabuza.
Zabuza~Agreed. I’ve never given her candy…If this is how she reacts to something sweet, I’d hate to see how she’d react to something that’s practically pure sugar…Or caffeine for that matter…
Ann was still bouncing and started to pace about, swinging her arms and couldn’t stay still at all.
Haku~Ann? Are you okay?
She spoke quickly. Zabuza even looked at her in concern.
Ann~Yes! I think so. Maybe. Is my heart supposed to go fast? I need to do something. I dunno what. Can we do something? That tasted really good, Zabi. Thank you. Can I have more? We still need to do something.
She walked around in circles around the dining table, tapping everything in arms reach, including Zabuza and Haku.
Haku~Zabuza, this can’t be normal. Should we…Is there anything we can do?
Zabuza~It’s called a sugar rush. Ann, drink some water.
He handed her a glass as she circled past him again. By the time she passed him again she finished all the water and handed the cup back.
Ann~We still need to do something. I’m not ready for bed. Zabi, can we do some night training? I want to do stuffs, but I don’t know what. Nothing idle. My legs say to move. Hands say to do stuff. Where’s the kunai?
Zabuza~No. Here’s some chopsticks to occupy your hands.
He gave her a new pair of chopsticks that she started twirling around between her fingers.
Ann~Okay. Haku, are you gonna finish your cupcake? Do you like yours? Can I have it?
Haku~I do like it, Ann. I’m still working on it.
He took another bite of it, hoping to deter her from asking again. She didn’t need more sugar.
Ann~Oh, okay. Can I have it when you’re done then? That tasted really good, Zabi. Can I have another one? Please?
Zabuza~You’ve had enough, Ann. Why don’t you take a bath?
Ann~No. I have to be still. I don’t wanna be still. I need to keep moving. Legs say to keep moving.
She walked up the wall and started pacing the ceiling. She even started having a one sided conversation with no one in particular. Zabuza sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Haku~H-how is she able to do that?
Zabuza~Same way you’ve seen us walk on water. Maybe expending chakra will tire her out. I don’t want to get into a physical fight with her.
Haku~So, what do we do now?
Zabuza~We need to wait it out. Hopefully it doesn’t take too long for her to tire out…
Ann dropped down and bit Zabuza’s arm without warning. He punched her off and she started to hop around the table next.
Zabuza~Why the ******** did you bite me, you demon?
He inspected his arm. There were clear teeth marks, but he wasn't bleeding or broken skin.
Ann~I dunno. My mouth said to bite something. It felt right. I dunno. Can we do something? I need to do something.
Zabuza~Why not frog hop then? I think your legs will give out before you can make 10 laps around the table.
Ann~I can totally do that. If I make it, I want ice cream next
Zabuza~Do it first and I'll consider it.
Ann crouched down to all fours and started hopping. Haku gave Zabuza a stern look. She didn't need more sweets.
Zabuza would have laughed if his arm wasn't still hurting. Instead, he raised a finger to his mouth to signal Haku to stay quiet, then pointed at Ann and signed the word sleep. He wasn't entirely sure if it would work at all, and he was taking a fairly big risk of betting she'd pass out before she finished.

She didn't show any signs of slowing down, even by her fifth lap around the table. However, her next hop resulted in her landing on her face.
Haku~She's…okay, right?
Zabuza~Yeah. I'm glad she focused on that and didn't come back to bite me again…
His bite from earlier was welting now. He stood to pick her up.
Haku~Do you need help putting her to bed?
Zabuza~It's fine. Finish eating then put up the leftovers and do the dishes. Once I put this one to bed I'll finish whatever is left so you can get ready for bed.
Haku~Yes, Zabuza. Um…
Zabuza~Tell me.
Haku~Would you have actually let her have ice cream if she made it?
Zabuza~Probably not. At most a bite if I did give in.
Haku~What would convince you to?
Zabuza scoffed~Had she bitten me again. Or even threatened to. That wasn't– nevermind.
Haku cocked his head but didn't press. Zabuza was already carrying her off to the bathroom to clean her up before Haku could ask. He wasn't about to explain to the boy how being bitten could be fun.

Ann woke in a field. There were flowers around her and tall stone walls and a waterfall in the distance. A man with a red coat and a female Zabuza sat across from her.
Ann~It's you guys again. Who are you?
Ane~We're your mother and father, dear. And you're sure she'll forget?
Auron~Yes, honey. I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't sure.
Ann~R-really? But Zabuza said you both died…why are you here?
Auron~It's your birthday. We wanted to spend a bit of time with you.
Ann~But you died. That means you're gone. How are you here?
Auron~That's too complicated an answer with the time we have. Wouldn't you rather have cuddles?
Ann lip quivered and she crawled between them to pull her parents into a hug. She sniffled and quietly cried as they tightly hugged her back.
Ane~Did you have a good birthday? Did Zabuza get you something nice?
Ann~Y-yeah.
She wiped her eyes
Ann~He got us cupcakes. It made me feel weird. I think I bit Zabi too.
Auron~He also had a cupcake? I didn't think he liked sweets…
He rubbed his chin.
Ann~No, Zabuza didn't eat one. Me and Haku had cupcakes.
Ane~Who's Haku?
Ann~A boy we found on a mission. Zabuza says he's going to help protect me.
Ane~What do you mean a mission? Do you go on missions often? I'd kill my brother if I didn't need his sorry a**.
Auron~Calm down. I'm sure he had a reason.
Ann~No. That was only the second time. He just said it was an extermination. Zabi didn't kill anyone that time though.
She pulled away to sit in Auron's lap.
Ann~We traveled east for a few days and destroyed some places with Mei. Then on our way home we found Haku and Zabuza said he could come with us.
Ane~Did Zabuza say why you had to come with him?
Ann~He said it was going to take a couple days. We were gone for almost a week.
Ane~Hmmm alright. I guess that's reasonable to take you on a mission. You shouldn't be left alone anyway. You're still a kid.
Auron~I'm sure Zabuza keeps you busy though when he has to leave for a few hours. What do you?
Ann~I used to just sleep, because Zabuza doesn't like it when I sleep for too long.
Auron chuckled~That's just like you dear.
Ane~Shut up. Well, what about now?
She pulled Ann into her lap as her daughter spoke.
Ane and Auron took turns holding Ann as she told them about her home life with Zabuza and Haku. She even told them about the training she was doing with Zabuza, including the jutsus he's taught her and the sword training.
Auron~Are you excited to learn how to use the sword?
Ann~Yeah! And he said I could use Kubukibocho
Ane~Close, Kubi-KIRI-bocho
Ann~It needs a nickname…maybe Bobo.
Ane giggled and shook her head.
Auron~Good luck getting Zabuza to agree to that.
Ann~He lets me call him Zabi even though he tell me to stop
She giggled and then tried to stifle a yawn.
Auron~It seems like this visit is done.
Ann~Will I see you guys again?
Auron~Hard to say, dear. These visits aren't guaranteed. Not to mention I can't keep doing this before your kekkei manifests.
Ann~So, what's going to happen?
Ane~You'll just wake up. Make sure you don't kick Zabi awake.
Ann~I don't kick him…Usually…
Ane gave her a kiss on her forehead, and then Auron pressed his forehead to hers. It was quick to find her memories of their time together, but he didn’t make her forget anything. Instead, he tucked the memory away somewhere deep into her mind to make sure she couldn't remember it but still allowed him to retrieve it in the future. This way, he could give it back when she was ready.

Ann woke with a start, making Zabuza reach out to pull her close
Ann~Huh? Zabi?
Zabuza~Are you okay? What happened?
Ann~I don't know…I remember the cupcake. I think I bit you.
Zabuza~You did. What else do you remember?
Ann~I dunno…I think I was dreaming…
Zabuza~Yeah? Did you have a good dream or a bad one?
Ann~It feels good. But I don't remember anything…
She sniffed and pulled at his shirt.
Zabuza~Like I said before, you usually forget them. They’re usually not worth remembering anyway.
Ann~This dream was different. It feels like I should remember it.
Zabuza felt Haku move into his back as he petted Ann’s hair.
Haku~Are you guys okay?
Ann~Yeah…I'm sad though…
Haku pulled himself over Zabuza to move to the other side of Ann and hug her. Zabuza held the both of them and moved them so Haku wasn't at the edge

The next morning, Ann woke with a thud. She was just sitting up from the floor when Zabuza walked in.
Zabuza~It's been a while since you rolled out of bed. Ready to get up?
Ann~Yeah, Zabi.
She yawned and stretched
Ann~Zabuza?
He hummed
Ann~Mom and dad…they are gone, right?
He grumbled in hesitation.
Zabuza~Like when you first asked about it, only your mother is confirmed dead. Your father has no confirmation. Did you have another weird dream?
Ann~No…I still can't remember that other one…
Zabuza~I wouldn't worry. Come on, before your breakfast gets too cold. I wonder if they came into her dreams last night…I almost wish I could see them. Because at this ******** rate they’ll expose her ******** kekkei genkai before whenever the right ******** time is supposed to be.
Ann~Okay, Zabi…

Zabuza returned to the kitchen to grab his mug
Haku~Is she okay?
Zabuza~Yeah. Just fell out of bed again. She'll be in soon.
Haku~Will we be going out to train today?
Zabuza~No, it's well past when I can take you guys. Practice math and writing with Ann. As steady as she is with a knife, her penmanship is s**t.
Haku nodded, trying to hide a giggle as Ann sat at the table.
Ann~What's penmanship?
Zabuza~How neatly you write so it can be read. Go eat.
Ann~But you can read it.
Zabuza~Because I'm used to it.
He finished his coffee and went to the weapons closet as Ann started to eat.
Ann~Are you going out?
Zabuza~No. Sharpening some blades.
He brought out Kubikiribocho, Auron's sword, and a few short swords into the living room. He sat on the floor and started with his sword, nicking a finger on his left hand and letting it bleed onto the blade.
Haku~Zabuza?
He hummed in response.
Haku~Why do you always cut yourself when you sharpen that sword?
Ann~He's done that since I could remember. I didn't know that was supposed to be weird.
Zabuza~Kubikiribocho has a special ability where it can restore itself with iron found in blood. I use mine to fix any scratches or nicks that remain after missions.
Ann~Bobo does that?
Zabuza's hand slipped and made a scratch on the edge.
******** hell…Brat, what the ******** did you call it?
Ann~I always mess up its name. I'm gonna call it Bobo instead.
Zabuza stayed still and grumbled. Even if he said no, Ann would do it anyway, just like how he calls her Zabi. She's older now though, maybe he could teach her how to say it.
Zabuza~Absolutely not.
Ann whining~But Zabiiii
Zabuza~It’s a tool, not a ******** pet. Learn to properly say its name.
She pouted and Haku giggled at the two.