22) who would you want your partner to be in the akatsuki?

At first, I was thinking Itachi or Konan. Both are calm and usually easy to get a long with, but they also have personal motives and aren't adraid to just leave my booty in the battlefield if Sasuke or Obito is there.

So conclusion? Kisame- the absolute shark boy bro that is UNDERRATED and looks like he would offer you great advice, such big bro energy that I aspire to have :')

But everyone has their own faults so I would have to deal with his pride, but I don't mind it lol.

How many of you agree? How many of you would choose another person, and who?

Alrighty then,

Bye bye, lovelies~

{#|#}

The Land of Snow. You were the daughter of the man who was the head leader of a clan that specializes in the genjutsu that fused ice in it.

Using your ability to trap someone in a genjutsu, you can freeze them to death or make them have hypothermia inside of the illusion, meanwhile literally freezing their body in reality.

Even with this cool(pun intended) trick, your clan was shunned out from the rest during the aftermath of the Second Shinobi War in fear your family would rebel.

Your family and you became wandering travelers.

This wasn't even the beginning of your suffering.

[#|#]

Dressing in the proper warm clothing, you sat on the edge of a snowy cliff. All around you were large trees that were able to hold the heavy weight of snow. A couple of yards away where where your family camped out, twenty small tents given to your aunts, uncles, and cousins. It's been so long, you barely remember home.

"Y/n." you heard your brother/sister/cousin if you don't have siblings, his/her boots mushing in the snow as they jogged towards you. "Papa told me we have to go in the tents."

Standing up, you yawned softly, the snow freckling your cheeks while you walked back closer to the little site. You had a tent of your own, mostly because you were a higher class than most of your family. But it felt lonely sometimes, so you would let a few younger/older kids sleep with you for more warmth and company.

Once you and the other three kids snuggled together in a unperverted manner, you closed your eyes, allowing slumber to take control of your body.

"Goodnight, family."

"Y/n! Y/n!"

Sitting up, you heard screams and people running. Your father, his face slightly tainted with blood, grabbed your arm to raise you up. The children were gone, making those shivers in your back stronger. "Father, what's happening?!" you asked in a whisper while he rushed out of the tent.

"Mercenary ninjas." he told you, running with your still in his grasp. Looking around, your eyes widened.

Bodies. Blood. Gore. Your family members that you've been raised side by side with, all laid down with bones poking out, some still calling out for help. Tearing up, you closed your eyes, not wanting to see it anymore.

"Over!" A man's voice, scratchy and rusty shouted. You were still afraid to open your eyes, but the last thing you knew your father had pushed you away into the forest, saving you. That was when you opened your eyes, watching the horror of the person who helped give birth to you die.

Passing out in the snow, your tears became solid ice.

{#|#}

You didn't know how long it was, but when you woke up, your body was sore and your stomach was empty. It looked like you were in a room, as well as behind bars. Having a shaking voice, you breathed out loudly. Where were you?

"She should be right here- remember, take her to the town to get the money back. You boys do whatever it takes to make her behave, just don't kill her. Got that?" a voice said, which you soon found out was a man with spiky brown hair and black glasses. Next to him was a very tall man with tan skin, keeping a large sword on his back. Next to him stood a...girl?

The cage opened, the shortest guy out of the three grabbing your wrists and forcing you up. "Alright listen here you disgusting person, you listen to everything they say or else you'll simply be killed by us instead of the government. Hear me?" nodding slowly, your throat was to sore to say anything.

Getting you tied up, Gato sent Zabuza, Haku, and you out of his secret hide away.

It was quiet, the taller guy speaking with the shorter one. "We'll walk for a mile, it's already night so we'll stay at some broken down place." Zabuza told Haku, both of them glancing back at you before he nodded to him.

You stared back at them, but more of Haku. Zabuza was more intimidating. He surprisingly gave you a closed eye smile. "Are you thirsty?" he asked, you chapped lips pursing. "Yes-" you said in a horrible, dry and scratchy tone. Out of his bag, he pulled out a water holder, looking down at your hands.

"Oh....Zabuza, what should I do? Her hands are tied together." he told him, a snicker coming from this so called Zabuza. "She doesn't need it, she's a hostage so she doesn't need anything really." the man told him. Obeying him, Haku gave you a small frown before putting it back in his bag.

Forcing yourself to speak, you whispered," Where is my father? Family?" you asked, both of them silent. "W-Were you the ones who killed my family? I am to weak to-" "Shut up." Zabuza interrupted you harshly.

A snowflake touched your nose, melting into the red/wet nose.

{#|#}

It was the time, just as Zabuza said, you all were resting. They were able to find a dirty motel, where there was no air conditioning to warm you all. In fact, some windows were so dirty you could not see out of them. You had to stay in the same room, but was given privacy in the bathroom.

Zabuza had already fallen asleep in his bed by the time you finished going to the bathroom late at night, about 12 am as you suspected. Haku, on the other end, was staring out of the cleaned window, who was silent.

Why were you...curious about your own kidnappers?

Walking up towards him, you stood several feet apart(and with your hands untied- Zabuza threatened you before he did so with his large sword, almost cutting your nose open). Haku looked over at you. "I have water and food for you. Please forgive my master's attitude, he's never been the brightest." Haku told you, pointing to the small tray of water and hot broth.

As you walked towards the tray, you chugged the water, taking it into your body like it was pure gold. Coughing softly, you finally got your voice. Turning around, you calmly spoke. "I want answers....Haku, was it?" you asked. Could you really trust him? After all, there was no way you could befriend the possible killer.

"Mhm-" he hummed, facing his body to you.

"-We weren't the one who slaughtered your family. I'm sorry for your loss." Haku told you, something in his eyes saying something more. "We were only hired by our boss, Gato, to act like we found you alone. You have no choice but to listen, and accept your fate. You will die in the hands of the people who have kept a warrant on you."

Taking it all in, you felt your heart beat faster in fear. "And....how can I trust you?" you asked, feeling the words of death weighing your stable emotions. "I don't know. I've said too much, sleep for the journey. I will watch you if you plan on running, and if you do, I will have to punish you."

It was sunrise when you felt someone shaking your shoulder, causing your non-morning self to grown, ignoring it. "Wake up, you brat-" the deep voice said, his hand raising to slap your face. However, Haku grabbed his hand, gently placing it down. "Forgive me, Zabuza." he told you, pinching you himself. Opening your eyes you groaned, glaring at him.

Haku smiled like nothing happened, bowing. "Good morning, L/n Y/n." he told you.

{#|#}

"How much longer until we get to the official capital, Haku?" Zabuza asked his partner. Thinking for a moment, Haku replied. "About an hour. It's almost time, so it's best you separate with us. Please stay in the shadows, Zabuza." Though he was taken back by his 'servant's' wishes, he hesitantly did disappear. Haku was right; he couldn't put on a mere disguise for the fact they can indicate his chakra, nor simply walk around in the city. He was wanted dead or alive himself.

Watching him leave, you shivered at the numbness of your hands thanks to the cold. The ropes were nearly frozen on your wrists.

Haku had placed on his red and white mask as his own disguise. "I use this disguise whenever I need to." he said.

Silence.

The squashing of mushy snow echoed almost as you looked up at the sky.

"I guess our government are sick to discriminate me, don't you think?" you asked.

Haku glanced up at the gray clouds next to you, his lips shut. When he spoke, it came out in a whispy voice. "They do. It reminds me of me...." he said, only to hesitate.

"-nevermind."

Glaring at him, your first instinct was to be offended.

"You can tell me. I don't exactly have a long time to live, so might as well tell me now." you said, stopping your walk. The other feet stopped, a sigh coming from him. Staring into your eyes, Haku's face was serious.

"......I had to kill my own father. He killed my mother because she had a kekkei genkai. I possess it too, which is why I'm under the arms of Zabuza." he told you.

With your eyes increasing in size, your lips formed a very small smile. The first one ever since...the slaughter. "Y-You have a kekkei genkai?" you asked, excitement grazing your cheeks like the harsh winds of the blizzard. He nodded, beginning to tell you all of it.

Your smile became more and more real as you told him about your suffering too, how life was on the run. Both of you would ask the other person questions, and in reply they would answer. Was there ever such thing as becoming friends with him?

Under his mask and clothes, Haku felt something that he's never felt in a long time: guilt.

{#|#}

The walls of the capital stood tall and cold, your hands having severe freeze burns.

But your heart was facing death before itself, a choice that was going to be forced upon you.

And your eyes tried not to weep over the sorrow of your short life.

"Are you ready?" Haku asked you in a very low voice. Nodding slowly, you looked down. "I have no choice, Haku." you said, a strand of your h/l hair falling over one of your eyes. Feeling something mess with your numb hands, you opened your eyes again.

"Haku?!" you exclaimed, noticing he was breaking the ropes with kunai. Haku threw them on the snow, grabbing your hand.

"I'm not letting you die. You remind to much of my mother, but even more stunning. Take the money I have and run. I will deal with the consequences for you." Haku told you, caressing your hand with his thumb.

"Do it for me. Do it for everyone who's just like you and me. I know Zabuza said something about the Akatsuki looking for new members. I'm sure if you ask someone, they'll tell you all about them. Not exactly nice..but, they're similar to a family." Haku added.

Staring into his eyes, you began to tear up. Hugging him in a cold embrace, you snuggled against his shoulder. "I swear, I'll do everything I can to find them. I don't know what to say....thank you, Haku." you whispered, your frozen lips placing a peck upon his cheek. Releasing his hand, you took a deep breath.

Noticing his cheeks heating up lightly, Haku bowed before you before disappearing, just like that.

However, he did leave one thing in your hand. A senbon needle.

"I'll never forget you..." you said, as cheesy as it was. And so you never did....