Blood is Thicker Than Mist

Chapter 14

Shizu was content. He'd shown Haku nearly everything he had wanted to– besides showing off his Jutsu in his favorite practice spot or the goats– and now they were happily devouring Mei's specialty of Cream Soup. Haku was hesitant to try it, but once he had gotten the first sip, he dove in as well. Shizu even had cleaned up his room enough to make space for a second futon and felt very proud of himself for it.

Haku was still uncomfortable in this home. How could he not? Mei seemed nice enough, but he had only just met her, and he felt that she was only being nice to him for Shizu's sake. He knew Zabuza did not necessarily want him around until he could be of use. Shizu, of course, had already welcomed him with open arms, and Haku felt a little warmer each time he was called 'brother,' but the stew was rich and delicious, warming him, too. He had never tasted anything so good in his life, though he had thought the same about nearly everything Shizu had offered him on their journey back. With each passing minute here, he felt just a little safer, but the same fears haunted his thoughts.

Mei was annoyed. Not with either of the children across the table from her, of course, but with that pain-in-her-ass Zabuza. As long as they had known each other, Zabuza had never liked them lying to each other. Of everyone else in Kirigakure, they only completed trusted each other. For him to lie to her was a big deal. Mei grumbled and held her spoon so tightly that her fingers began to feel stiff the more she thought about just what Zabuza had done. She still wouldn't have agreed with his opinion on how best to help Shizu if he had been honest, but at least she would have known his intentions from the start. At least she could have prepared herself mentally, rather than have to accept it so suddenly. Then again, she knew Zabuza knew her just as well as he knew himself, and that he likely chose to keep the truth from her because of how agonized she might feel if she knew what Shizu would do. She let out a heavy sigh and watched the boys eat, though they were both nearly done with their second helpings. She was angry with Zabuza, but she didn't want the boys to misunderstand and think she was angry with either of them, so she did her best to push the issue to the back of her mind.

"Where's dad?" Shizu looked up from his bowl after finishing the last slurp.

"He's making his report." Mei answered simply, then carefully lifted her bowl to drink.

"Are you mad?"

"Very." Mei set her bowl down, keeping her eyes closed for a moment, but when she opened them again, she saw Haku's expression fall. She cleared her throat. "I'm not upset with either of you, don't worry."

"Are you mad dad took me on a mission?" Shizu asked.

"Yes."

"But I didn't get hurt this time."

This time? Haku wondered, and looked at Shizu from the corner of his eye. He realized that whatever danger Shizu must have faced before, it was the reason why Shizu seemed so anxious when Zabuza had left them alone. But, as Haku kept thinking, he remembered how Shizu had been poisoned, but Haku had obeyed Zabuza and not spoken of it. He wondered if it was really the right thing to do to hide something important from his first friend, but if Shizu's father said it was best for him, maybe he was right.

Mei looked at Shizu and ran her fingers through her hair. "Even if you're home safely, I was still very worried for you. And I'm not happy that your father took you on a mission without my permission, or lying about what kind of mission it was."

"But, if I didn't go, I wouldn't have meeted Haku." Shizu looked over at the older boy, frowning slightly.

"Well, that's true." Mei smiled at the boys. "Things would be lonelier without him, wouldn't they?"