Shamandalie [Haku] -Oneshot- [For ilene]

In good old times, remember my friend
Moon was so bright and so close to us, sometimes

Haku sat patiantly infront of Zabuza who was still recovering from the previous battle with Kakashi. Ran was right next to him and was currently observing his wounds in full detail. Both of the boys consentration was broken when a small man and two other ninja enetered the room. "Sleeping on the job, eh? You're worthless, I don't know why they call you the Demon of the Mist, I should kill you right now." He muttered then reached his hand out towards Zabuza's cold body.

"Don't you dare touch him." A fierce femine voice rang out as Haku grabbed the man's hand and held it in a firm grip. Ran looked over at the angry boy and began to feel a wave of sadness enter him. Why wasn't Haku so protective over him like he was to Haku? The other question is...Why couldn't Haku love Ran as much as he did?

We were still blind and deaf, what a bliss
Painting the world of our own, for our own eyes, now

He sighed lightly; having the gift of not being able to show his emotions when wanted, he grabbed Haku's hand lightly and pushed it down. "It's all right, it's not like he could do anything anyway. We'd have them down in under thirty seconds in the most violent way possible. Heh, wouldn't that be fun." Ran said calmly and gently removed his hand when Haku let go.

"That is true...I suggest you not try anything stupid. I don't enjoy killing, but if I have to for Zabuza's sake then I will." Haku said gently and watched the man and his two ninja scurry out of the room. "You both handled that well..." A voice said in a husky manner. They looked up to reveal Zabuza starring at them with his pale eyes.

"In a manner of days we'll fight Kakashi and his students again, this time they die for sure." He grunted then fell back into a deep sleep. Ran sighed, and Haku glanced at him with much seriousness. "Don't take this all as a joke Ran. We must be strong and work hard for him to be proud, after all...where would we be if he hadn't been there that day." He said.

Can we ever have what we had then?
Friendship unbreakable
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed,
All those moments with you
If I had you beside me

Haku's eyes seem to be focused on a certain spot on the ground as he remembered the day he first met his hero, or so he says. As he went deeper into the flashback he remembered his first meeting with Ran too. It was an awkward one, because he didn't favor sharing Zabuza with someone else all that much, but they soon became friends, and were taught well.

But an even awkward feeling came through him when he remembered, not long ago, the day Ran had told him how he felt. He was so confused, and didn't understand much, and even today he doesn't. Why would he say such things to him, why would Ran feel such strong feelings towards Haku when they were only friends, and that's all he wanted to be?

One cloudy day we both lost the game
We drifted so far and away

Besides. Wasn't the traditional way just girl and guy? But as he thought more and more, it didn't really matter who you loved, because as long as you felt that strong connection that could binde you for life, then nothing really mattered, not even the gender. Atleast, that's that he thought, but he just couldn't find it in him to feel the same way.

Nothing is quite as cruel as a child
Sometimes we break the unbreakable, sometimes

Or so he thought. Little did he know that small match inside him was waiting to be lit, even by just a small moment, deep down he felt the same way, he just didn't know it, all he was looking for was the right moment and proof. Because Haku was dense at this point, dense about love or any emotional contact.

"Hey. Haku, are you okay?" A familiar voice rang out through Haku's thoughts. "Yes, I'm fine, just thinking." He smiled. "Oh. Sorry about before, I'll try and take things seriously, and I'll try and take those 3 genin seriosuly too, the last thing I need is for one of them to pull a surprise attack and possible hurt you. I wouldn't live with myself then..." Ran's voice trailed off after he spoke that last sentence.

And we'll never have what we had then
Friendship unbroken
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed,
All those moments with you
If I had you beside me now

Haku frowned then looked down. "Right, but I highly doubt it, unless they do unbelieveable amounts of traning in the next few days then we're fine." He said then stood up and exited the room. Ran shook his head and changed his view from the bed to the fogged window. Ran noticed that Haku had avoided what he had said about him in his sentence, but he was expecting such a thing. After all, Haku never felt the same way.

-----

The day arrived and Zabuza, Ran, and Haku waited for the small genin and Kakashi to come, and as soon as they did, the battle began. Haku took care of Naruto and Sasuke, while Zabuza and Kakashi went off into a heated battle, which left Ran to fight Sakura who was weak at the time. "Is this all you got princess?" He asked while attacking her from behind.

She hit the floor and turned around to through kunai at him. As he dodged he turned and he glanced over where Haku was, and saw that he had already taken care of the raven haired boy. Ran smirked and knew that the blonde was to die next, but was taken back when he saw the demonic looking chakra coming over him.

I was unable to cope with what you said
Sometimes we need to be cruel to be kind
Child that I was, could not see the reason
Feelings I had were but sham and a lie

With one last kick to the head, Sakura was down, and Ran was left to gaze apon the battle. The blonde boy, soon his name was figured out to be Naruto, came at an amazing speed towards Haku and attacked him with full force, causing the mirror illusion to break and Haku's mask to shatter. At this, he was angry, and couldn't stand to see Haku getting hurt by such an ignorant boy.

As soon as he was about to jump in and save his love, Zabuza yelled loudly at him to kill the bridge builder. "But, Zabuza, Haku's getting hurt badley, what if he-" "I don't give a damn! Hurry and kill him so we can get this mission oevr with!" The Demon of the Mist yelled and continued fighting Kakashi. What was he to do at a situation like this? Screw it. The bridge builder can wait, it's not like he can go very far anyway. Besides, love always came first.

I have never forgotten your smile
Your eyes, oh, Shamandalie

Times went by, many memories died
I'm writing this down to ease my pain

When he ran to aid Haku in he dangerous fight, Haku vanished out of sight and Ran stood their dumbfounded, wondering where he could be, and to this day he regrets turning around to find out. When his eyes viewed Kakashi's hand through Haku's chest, pain and much guilt swept over him and caused him to collapse on his knee's.

"Ha...ku..." He managed to utter as tears fell down his face, after that he couldn't remeber much, except Zabuza on the ground ushering him over weakly. Ran was able to move towards his role model, but said nothing and listened to Zabuza's words.

You saw us always clearer than me
How we were never meant to be
Love denied meant the friendship would die
Now I have seen the light
These memories make me cry

"Listen to me. Before Haku died he told me something, something about you." Zabuza began and took a few deep breathes. "At first, he sounded confused, but as he talked it out things were much better. The first time you confessed your feelings to him, there was much confusion and uneasiness. But as the days progressed he confronted me and said this..." He paused again and took many deep breathes.

Can I ever have what I had then?
Friendship unbroken
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed,
All those moments with you
See the world with my wide open eyes

"I can not see why I am to be loved by him, but as long as he feels this way then I am happy and feel accepted and blessed to know he will always be there. It may have taken me a while to understand the thoughts roaming in my head, but I can assure him, I now feel the same way. If, by chance, I am to not make it through the battle, then I hope he will still love me and know my final feelings." Zabuza finally said as his breathing became shallow.

"I'm proud of you kid...Don't cry so much will you? Haku would've wanted you to be strong for him. You've made me very proud so far..." He said and finally closed his eyes to enter a nonawakaning sleep.

Friendship got broken
There's no other for me
Like the one of my childhood days
Can you forgive me?
Love got better off me,
On that day back in old times...

Somehow, Ran could feel a warm softness on his lips and invision Haku standing before him, soon breaking away and smiling lightly before fading away.