Fate DxD

Chapter 97

Haku's face is covered with blood dripping from his nose and mouth, watching Senji run towards him.

"Zabuza... I... I..." He murmurs weakly.

Senji covers his left fist with energy and lunges at Haku's face, but his body stops by pure instinct, his fist only a few centimetres from Haku's face.

"I recognize you... we met in the forest..." Senji realizes, a hint of sadness and confusion in his voice.

"What are you waiting for to hit me?" Haku asks, not moving. "You're not going to let me live, when I've practically killed your two friends!"

Senji's eyes widened as he saw the scene playing over and over in his head. With a quick swing, he struck Haku, crashing violently to the ground. He tries to get up, but his whole body is in shock, barely able to move his arms.

"Geurpf..." He spits blood, leaning on his hand to get up. "This isn't how you're going to kill me... where's the unheard-of strength you were exuding just a few seconds ago...?"

"Say... Is there one person who means more to you than anyone else?"

"I'm protecting my loved one, I'm working for him, I'm fighting for him, I want his dreams to come true, that's my dream."

His opponent's words echo in Senji's head, and he becomes increasingly confused by the situation.

"Don't make the mistake so many make!" Haku wipes his mouth. "Taking pity on the enemy they should be killing, they decide to spare his life. But do you have any idea of the suffering involved? Do you know what it's like to live without a dream, without being able to be useful to anyone? In that case, life itself is a torment!"

Haku's gaze is accusatory and filled with anger, but he calms down by looking into Senji's eyes, recognizing all too well the pain inside.

"I see, you already know what it's like..." Haku sighs.

"There's no mercy here..." Senji puts some words together. "Only confusion... I... why.?"

"We're a lot alike you and I, but that doesn't change the fact that you've destroyed my reason for being. Zabuza won't bother with a weakling..." Haku gives a fake smile, which annoys Senji, grinding his teeth.

"You know... You can become really strong when you have something precious to protect."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Senji exclaims. "Is that who you were talking about in the forest?! Cut the crap! Are you really willing to die for this guy?! He's an unscrupulous mercenary, paid to kill honest people! Is he the scum, the precious being you care so much about?!"

"..." His fake smile changes to a warmer, genuine one. "In the past, there were other people who were dear to me... They were... my parents."

Senji's face contorts, flashes of his own parents invading his field of vision.

"I was born in a small village deep in the snow-capped mountains of Kiri state." Haku closes his eyes, recalling sweet memories. "I was very happy, my parents were so kind... But I had barely reached the age of reason when something tragic happened!"

"A tragic event... huh..." Senji murmurs.

"...Blood has flowed..." Haku raises his hand to look at it.

"Blood... You too...?" Senji shivers with his whole body.

"..." He stares at the blood on his hand, before looking back at Senji, with a look he recognizes all too well. "My father killed my mother and then... he tried to kill me too."