This is a revision... the plot (though it wasnot far in) is mostly the same, but Zi's back story and how she reveals it has changed... a bit. Yes, I know, why try? Well someone asked me to. Thanks Yuuki Toshi.

Disclaimer... grr... I really hate these... oh well. I don't not own Naruto or any characters or plots associated with Naruto. I do own the characters I make up, so don't steal them. Yea, that's over with. Anyway, if there is anyone out there that has read my other Naruto fics, you know I'm a huge Kakashi fan, but this story is not about Kakashi. Shocking, I know. This a story about a young girl that meets up with the Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza and his consort, Haku. Person with the Kakashi doll and shirt, please don't throw the rotten tomato, just sit back down. So anyway, I know it's odd that I would even want to do a fic about Zabuza, but I can't help but have a soft spot for him, especially Haku. Even though he and Kakashi fought and nearly kill one another... well... you get my point. Anyway, I'll let you all decide what you think. As for reviews, if you don't know my policy, I welcome all reviews, good or bad, so bring them on!

Terms:Tessen and gensen are two varieties of "fighting fans." They were used by ninjas and samurai as a defensive (mainly) and offensive weapon. They could be made out of all metal or reinforced paper.

Chapter One

"How I hated you... you and your ideas... your ways... your consent threats... but now your gone. And how I loved you... I loved you like a friend... like a brother... I loved your gentle hands and smile... but your gone too." No words could describe how I felt towards the individuals that laid in the freshly dug graves. I loved one, but not the other... but I still respected him. Its funny to think that I actually was paying my respects to him, even though he kept me by his side with threats of death and pain. "But I really don't think you would have hurt me towards the end, you liked hating me to much." I sighed as I pulled out my paper tessen, the heat of the day was at it's peak and not even the shade provided a cool place to sit. I began to lightly fan myself, just thinking of what I had experienced with those two... the Demon and the Innocent... what a pair they were. "No use sitting around feeling sorry you guys," I picked myself up and brushed off any dirt that I had on me. I walked over to the graves and respectively bowed low to each wooden cross that marked the graves and laid a single white flower on each. "Where ever you two went, I hope you went there together," I whispered as I walked away.

The sun beat down on my shoulders as I walked down the narrow dirt path. I didn't know where I was going now, for the past while, I've been told where to go, when to go, how to go... but not this time. Its funny that I was now afraid to be alone. "When you first met me, I went where I pleased, I preferred being alone, I didn't have anyone to hold me back... or fall on." A single tear rolled down my cheek, "why did you have to die... Haku... Zabuza?" I stood there, paralyzed with the memories of them, the good, the bad, the painful... and the joyful. "Rough beginnings... even rougher ending," I started to walked down the path again. The memories of when I first met that innocent child came flowing back, he seemed so weak when I first met him, only if I knew then what I know now, maybe I wouldn't have interfered. I remember that day so clearly, that cool sunny morning in early spring...

The sun was slowly rising as I made my way into the small village. I was hoping to find a place that was in need of my talents. "Not likely in a small place like this," I snorted to myself as I walked passed empty shops and houses. There were very few people to be seen, maybe just one or two here and there. I don't even see an inn or grocery shop, I hung my head as I passed another empty building. Luck just didn't seem to be on my side lately, nothing went my way anymore... that I could remember. I was lucky that I even had paper money to my name.

"Oh well, might as well head out to the next..."

"HEY! I was talking to you girly!" I heard a male voice yell in the distance.

Sounds like trouble... but none of my concern. I changed my direction to avoid whatever conflict was about to take place. "We do what we do because of what we believe is right..." a familiar voice echoed in my head. I sighed, I knew what I had to do... do what I thought was right.

Quickening my pace, I walked to where I originally heard the commotion. I turned a corner to find that four large muscled men were ganging up on a young boy.

"Come over here and give me a kiss on the cheek," one of them signed for the boy to come closer.

The boy was up against a wall, his face completely calm, like there was nothing to worry about. I don't know which is worse, the fact that guy thinks he's a girl or the fact that kid is not even showing any emotion, I thought as I walked over to the gathering.

"Excuse me," I interrupted nonchalantly.

The men looked in my direction and small wicked smiles formed on all their faces. "Well look what we have here, the grown up model of this little cutie," one of them said.

Grown up model? I looked to the boy again, he did remind me of... of him...

"Hey you, come over here," the man called with an evil hint in his eye.

"Umm... let me think... no," I flutter my eyes shyly.

"Oh don't play hard to get," he began to approach me.

I put my hands behind my back, secretly pulling out my hidden weapon. "As I was saying, excuse me, I don't usually judge someone by their sex preference, but hitting on a young boy and then telling me to come over to you... it's not looking good for you," I curled my lips into a smile. The guy stop for a moment, his face confused.

Without hesitation, I unfolded my gensen and ran towards the still confused man. "I'm not in the mood for pigs like you today," I hissed as I brought up the metal fan up to his throat. "So you and your sicko friends better get out of my sight before I decide to play with your wind pipe," I pushed the fan just enough to started a minor bleed on his neck.

"Hey you can't do that to him," one of the yelled as he ran towards me.

Pulling another gensen out, I kicked the first guy across the face and right into his friend, they went flying through a wooden building with a sickening crash.

I held my metal fans in offense, "you two want some?"

They stared blankly at me for a second then turn tail and ran for their lives.

"Aww... I wanted to play some more," I shrugged my shoulders as I folded my fans up. That wasn't so hard, I thought as I placed my gensens in the folds of my obi.

"Thank you for your help," a shy childish voice came from my side, it was the boy. I raised an eyebrow, he really does look like a girl.

"Oh... it was nothing, guys like that make me sick. I love to beat up on them anytime I can," I scratched my head.

He couldn't have been over the age of sixteen, his black hair flowed down his delicate, feminine face and rolled off his slender shoulders, the clothing he wore hung loosely around his slim figure and his eyes were blacker than any night I had ever seen.

The young boy just kept staring at me and it was making me rather nervous. "Umm... well since you don't need my help anymore... I'll just be going," I shyly waved goodbye as I began to walk away.

"Wait, are you going anywhere special? I'm going outside the village, I'm meeting someone at the fork in the road and I'm worried about..." he blushed.

I didn't know exactly what to say, I felt like I couldn't lie to the kid. "Well, no I'm not going anywhere special. I'm a wandering musician," I pulled out my hand carved flute.

He giggled timidly, "I couldn't tell by the way you took care of those men."

I blushed, I always tend to blow my cover, "well since I travel all over, I had to learn how to protect myself." We both laughed shyly.

"My name is Haku," he said as we walked away from the village.

"That's a nice name, my name is Zi," I smiled down at him.

We talked as we made our way through the forest, the path was just a beaten dirt road. He told me about different places he had been and how he loved the first snow fall.

"I can't wait for the snow to came again," he smile.

"It's still early Spring and this area is known to have late snowfall," I cheerfully said.

"I hope it does. Tell me why you help me, a few other people passed by and didn't even take notice, why did you," he looked up at me with his deep black eyes.

I blushed, "someone once told me that 'we do what we do because of what we believe is right.' I thought it was right to jump in and defend... you." I hope that didn't offend him, I thought as I looked for signs of anger on his face.

Haku kept the same gently smile, "and I thank you for doing that. Also... thank you knowing I was boy." Well maybe if you dress a little differently and cut your hair.

"No problem. There's the fork in the road ahead," I scanned the area, but couldn't see any one waiting for Haku. "Are you sure that you were suppose to meet with your friend here?"

He nodded, "yes. Don't worry he'll be along soon as he's finished with his business. If you need to continue on, go ahead, I'll be fine."

I didn't feel right leaving him there by himself, "no I'll wait with you, like I said earlier, I'm a wanderer. I have nowhere to go."

"If that is what you want to do," Haku said as he went ahead of me towards the fork in the road.

It was about noon when we got here and now the sun is about to set, I leaned into the tree trunk. It's not that I minded waiting, but it bother me that someone would let a kid wait hours on end in a secluded area.

"I guess his business is taking longer than I thought... I'm sorry," Haku bowed his head in apology.

I just smiled, "it's ok. I don't mind, but if it get dark, we're going to have to find shelter. There's all sorts of bandits and wolves in this forest."

"At least you're here. Your very strong and could probably fend off anyone," he said.

You have no idea, I thought as I closed my eyes. Crack... I quickly opened my eyes. Someone was in the trees and watching us.

"Haku... come over here," I motioned to him.

"Mmm... what is it?"

"Someone is here," I whispered.

I saw him smile, like there was nothing to worry about. He's a nice kid, but he's kind of creepy when he does the non-caring thing. Crack... the noise came from above, I quickly pulled out my gensens in a defensive position.

"Whoever is up there, come down," I called bravely.

"What's with the little girl Haku? Did she follow you or did you want to keep her as a pet?" a terrible voice echoed through the forest, it sent chills up and down my spine.

I turned to look at Haku for an explanation, he just smiled, "I guess my master has returned from his business."

Whoosh... I turned back around to find myself looking at the bare chest of a man. My eyes follow it up to the covered face of a man with pitch black eyes... eyes of a demon.

"Heh heh," he laughed sinisterly. Oh shit... this can't be good...