[NARUTO][Haku][085 She: Paper Lanterns]
Title : Paper Lanterns
Pairings : Zabuza/Haku-ish
Fanfic100 claim : Haku
Fanfic100 prompt : 085 She
Type : One-shot
Word Count : 661
Rating : PG-13
Disclaimers : NARUTO © Kishimoto et al
Little Damn Table
Haku sat on an unoccupied bench of a somewhat empty food cart, taking care to not take too much space. He'd barely read the sign--oden, it had said--and he thought that it would do. He could linger here if he needed to.
He let his eyes travel and saw red paper lanterns everywhere. Women, in fancy kimono, hurried along. Men, casually dressed, strolled more leisurely. Touts called and advertised their wares, and though a few unsure faces were snared, everyone else seemed to know where they were going.
Something about this place didn't sit right with Haku, and he wished that Zabuza were with him. He was merely thirty feet away or so, but inside a decrepit looking shack that Haku couldn't--wouldn't--look into.
In any case, Zabuza had seemed intent on getting rid of him. Haku had been given money and sent off, told that he should be back in an hour and that he should be wary of strange men. Haku had nodded obediently, not quite understanding what Zabuza had meant, wondering why he had been taken along in the first place.
He turned to face the owner of the stall, a kind middle-aged man who seemed happy enough to let Haku sit there without ordering.
"I apologize for taking so long," he said, scrutinizing the slow-simmering pans in front of him. "I'll have... the octopus and an egg."
The man laughed. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"No," Haku replied. "I'm just waiting for someone."
He handed Haku a plate. "It's none of my business, but aren't you too young?"
"Too young? What do you mean?"
"Never mind, never mind."
"I mean... what is this place?" Haku asked.
"It's not a good place for a kid like you," he said. He seemed uncomfortable. "Eat up. You must be cold."
So Haku did, and even though he wasn't very cold at all, the food was warm and comforting--surprisingly delicious. When Haku said as much, the old man gave him a free fishcake.
It took him a good half hour to finish everything on his plate. He wanted to stay longer, but he didn't like the idea of making Zabuza wait. Besides, the oden cart was filling up; Haku wouldn't want to stand in the way of good business.
"Take care of yourself, you hear?"
Haku thanked him and promised that he would drop by whenever he was in the neighborhood. He walked away happily, not used to people being so kind.
He waited patiently across the street of the building Zabuza had gone into. When he emerged sometime later, Haku almost ran to him, but stopped dead in his tracks.
Behind him was a beautiful woman. Sophisticatedly dressed in an elaborate kimono, she seemed out of place against the wreck of a house behind her. Haku watched how Zabuza whispered in her ear, his arm intimately wrapped around her waist. Right then, he understood just what this place was about.
He took a deep breath and called out softly, "Zabuza-san."
"Haku? You're early."
The woman watched Haku with curious eyes and said, "Haku-kun, is it? My name is Miyuki. It's nice to meet you."
She had a beautiful voice. Too beautiful, Haku thought bitterly. He desperately wanted to ignore her, but found himself unable to, giving her a slightly deeper bow than he had intended. "Ready to go, Zabuza-san?" Haku asked.
"What a sweet boy," she said, a genuine smile on her face, "I can't believe you made him wait out here, Zabuza-san."
Zabuza glanced at Haku and sneered. "I'll bring him along when he's a little older."
Haku forced himself to smile. He was never coming here again, not even if Zabuza asked him to.
He watched Zabuza slip an envelope behind her obi, his fingers lingering under her breasts. Haku tore his eyes away and stared in the direction of the oden cart.
Haku felt absolutely exhausted. This really wasn't a good place for someone like him.