"Haku, stay with me," Ino pleads, squeezing his hand tightly.

The frail, young man glances at her – a faraway look in his eyes. His breaths are shallow and slow. She can see how much pain he's in. "I..." he tries weakly, only to be overcome with a string of wet coughs. There's nothing else she can do. There never was. The poison is strong and no matter how hard Haku fights, the poison will win. Sasuke was right when he said there was no hope. It's eating away at his insides and he's been coughing up blood for days – a slow and painful way to go.

"Sh, sh," Ino soothes, trying to get him to save his breath. "Don't talk."

"No..." he rasps, sounding like he's in agony. "Zabuza... tell him... I... I'm s-sorry..."

Zabuza Momochi – a man Haku speaks of often and a man he speaks of highly. Ino knows that Haku hasn't seen him in a long time, but he still remains in the front of his mind. She swallows a sob, forcing herself to remain calm. "I will," she promises him. "I will. I'll tell him."

"And tell him..." Haku tries to continue, "tell him that I... I've always..." His eyes widen momentarily and his body stills.

"Haku..." Ino whispers his name. She bends down and presses an ear to his chest. Nothing. She raises her head and stares into his lifeless eyes. "Damn it," she whimpers. She reaches forward, closing his eyes and standing up straight.

When she turns away, Koharu is standing in the doorway expectantly. "Tsk," she clicks her tongue, feigning pity. "What a sin. Come, we need to purify the room before Sasuke sees."

Instead of asking questions, Ino simply nods. "I'll get the sage," she murmurs numbly, leaving the clinic.

"It's never easy losing a patient," Koharu smiles as the young healer passes her.

Ino spares the old woman a glance, but can't find it in her to respond to such insincere words.

||XxXx||

It's been days since Sasuke's visit to the Red Room. His back has healed for the most part by now, thanks to Ino's ointments. Soon he'll once again be unblemished. Just as Koharu demanded, there won't be any scars. Part of Sasuke wishes there would be. No one sees past the way he looks and he hates it.

He just finished bathing. Back in his room, he readies for his next client. He smiles serenely at himself in the mirror, trying to force himself to look happy and welcoming. He falters, exhaling and grinding his teeth together. He opens his drawer and pins his bangs atop his head before leaning forward, critically staring at his face in the mirror. 'Awful,' he decides. He stands up and pulls the drapes over his mirror so he won't have to see himself anymore.

He thinks back to what Jugo said to him the other night. He was sent to get him out. Sent by who? Why? When? Sasuke asked those questions, but he received no answers and Jugo left without another word to him. He hasn't seen the large man since that night, but the questions are still dancing in the front of his mind, driving him crazy. Was it all just a joke? Anko did tell him Jugo was crazed. Perhaps this is a new game and Sasuke is the unwilling participant. Or... is someone in the outside world really looking for him? Sasuke shakes it off, refusing to get his hopes up for something unrealistic. He has nothing. Even if he did gain freedom, he wouldn't know what to do with it. Where would he go? Where would he live? Would people come after him? How would he make money if the only thing he knows how to do is pleasure men?

Before he can finish his thoughts, there's a knock on his door and it opens without his say. Koharu ushers yet another strange man inside before shutting the door behind him and Sasuke smiles, dropping his robe.

||XxXx||

Evening approaches and Ino takes her day break, venturing out past the bridge and into the slums. She sees dirty-faced children staring at her with confusion and wonder as she enters the dank alleyway. She stops when she finds an older woman washing clothes in the muddy riverbank. "Excuse me," she says.

The old woman looks up at Ino, giving her a once-over. "Yes?"

"Do you know where I can find Zabuza Momochi?" she asks softly.

The woman exhales. "He'll be around these parts tonight. Come back then. People don't see him much during the day."

"All right," Ino nods her gratitude, offering a faint smile. "Thank you."

||XxXx||

Back at Villa Joy, Sakura enters the dining area. She takes a banana before joining Sasuke in the corner of the room. "You should eat," she suggests, noting that the only thing in front of him is a glass of water.

"I'm not hungry," he says.

"You're never hungry," she points out.

"Hn..." he mumbles.

"How are you?" she asks, trying to get him to speak a little more.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" he returns. He's bad at this stuff, though.

Sakura understands. "I'm fine," she says. "Well... I'm not, but I will be."

"You're strong," he comments.

She smiles at the compliment, though she doesn't feel like it holds any truth. She can't help but wonder if Sasuke means it, or if he's just trying to say the right thing. "So are you," she returns nonetheless.

He lets out a cut laugh and it rings unpleasantly in sakura's ears. "I'm weak," he tells her.

She falters. "Why do you think that?"

"I let too many people play with me," he murmurs. "Koharu, Anko... I hate it, but at the same time I've grown so numb to it that it doesn't bother me as much as it should."

"If you don't let them do what they want then you'll be in a worse spot than you already are," Sakura says. "You know that. You're not being weak, you're being smart. You're doing what you're told. You're doing everything you can to survive."

"I don't even know if this is surviving," Sasuke admits.

"We'll be free someday," Sakura offers. "We have that to look forward to."

Sasuke exhales. "But with no money, no status and no family... We'll be back in the slums and likely dead within the year."

Sakura smiles sadly, knowing he's right.

||XxXx||

As night approaches, Ino makes her way back to the riverbank. This time, unlike last, there are no old ladies washing clothes. Instead, there's a large, broad man rinsing a giant, bloody blade in the dirty water.

Ino feels nervous as she approaches him. He's pale and covered in scars. He looks dangerous, but if someone as gentle as Haku spoke so highly of him, then he can't be so bad. "Excuse me?" she calls as she nears him.

He doesn't spare her a look as he asks, "What is it?" His tone is gruff and harsh.

"Zabuza Momochi?" she questions hopefully.

"Who's asking?"

"I'm from Villa Joy," she tells him.

"And...?"

"I'm here on behalf of Haku," Ino starts.

Zabuza pauses and glances at her at the mention of the name. "What of him?"

"He passed away," she tells him, voice laced in sympathy.

Zabuza nods. "I thought as much. Why else would someone from that shit-hole be looking for me?" he lets out a cold, hard laugh and shakes his head.

"He... he wanted me to tell you something," she continues, trying to keep her tone even but it wavers.

"Yeah and what was that?" he asks, staring at her expectantly.

"He wanted you to know he was sorry..." she whispers, the words coming out pained. "I'm not sure what for..."

"He's sorry he died," Zabuza tells her knowingly.

Ino swallows the lump in her throat. "He loved you," she continues quietly. "He loved you so much... Sometimes I think you're the only reason he made it as far as he did. He was... far too sincere to be doing what he was forced to do."

Zabuza's face remains perfectly blank. "Girl, do you work in the brothel?" he asks her offhandedly.

"Kind of," she says, confused at the question. "I'm staff, not a slave."

"But you live there?" he questions further.

She nods slowly. "There's a sleeping quarters for the staff on the floor above where, um, the sex workers' rooms are."

"As thanks for delivering his message, I'm going to warn you not to be there around this time tomorrow," he says.

She tilts her head to the side, frowning. "Why?"

"Just do as I say," he tells her. "Go for a walk, go run an errand... Just find something else to do – something far away."

"Why?" she pries, not understanding where the request is coming from.

"Just do it," he says coldly.

"Okay," she squeaks, not wanting to argue with him about it.

"Go home, girl," he says. "Go home, get a good night's sleep and then leave. Don't tell anyone you saw me, either."

"All right," she whispers, a sick feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. When she's about to turn around, she hesitates. She stares at him for a moment – he's older and he strikes her as far more worldly than most of the people she's come in contact with. "Um," she starts, "could I ask you about something?"

"Depends what," he mutters.

"Have you heard the name Uchiha?" she pries.

"Uchiha..." he repeats gravely. "Haven't heard that one in a long time."

Her eyes widen. "So... you've heard it," she whispers.

"That entire family was massacred," he tells her easily. "I was part of the team of soldiers that went in to gas them. Ever heard of the Oto Soldier Project?"

"No," Ino confesses. "They don't really tell us about those sorts of things."

Zabuza nods slowly. "Countless kids stolen off the streets and injected with shit to make them stronger, faster, more obedient," he says with a sneer. "Let's just say... Some were more obedient than others. The effects didn't last. Something always goes wrong. Bodies either collapse, eat away at themselves or the drugs wear off. I guess I was lucky. Yeah, my body got fucked up but at least I'm still alive and I escaped. Unlike most of the others. These sorts of experiments never turn out well." Ino frowns, feeling incredibly sympathetic. Zabuza just clicks his tongue. "Don't give me that pity bullshit," he growls. "You want to know about the Uchihas? Their entire existence was erased from the world and I helped it happen. Don't give me sympathy for that. They lived quietly, but it got them nowhere. They were rumored cultists. I found out later that it was all a lie. They were beautiful and earthly people, but they weren't bad. I hear only one kid survived, huh? And he's a whore now. He's what they made him." He smirks as she falters. "Why are you asking about this, anyway? It's a dangerous thing to be prying to strangers about."

"No reason," she says meekly. "I heard the name somewhere... a long time ago. When I was a child, I lived in an orphanage in the city. The matrons told a lot of stories."

"Hm," he muses. "Yeah, that's around when it happened..."

"How sad," she sympathizes. "Why were they really killed? Do you know?"

Zabuza shakes his head. "I don't ask questions. I take the money and do what I'm hired to do... but apparently there was something about them that didn't sit right with the people running this country."

"Oh..." She can't help but feel frightened for Sasuke.

Zabuza's eyes narrow at her. "About Haku..." he changes the subject. "Was he in pain?"

"No," she lies.

"Don't lie to me," he threatens, reading her easily. "You don't have a face for lying, girl."

She closes her eyes. "He was poisoned," she reveals sadly. "It was a slow death... and I like to think myself practiced in medicine but this was like nothing I've seen. It was irreversible."

Zabuza gives a long nod. "I spent years trying to get him out of that place. I guess I'm too late now."

"You kept him going," Ino offers gently. "He spoke fondly of you."

"My life doesn't mean anything now," Zabuza declares. He stands up a moment later and lifts his sword up, examining the blade before tossing it into the river. With a splash, it sinks to the bottom. "I no longer have a goal. I no longer need to be careful... Don't speak a word of this to anyone or I'll kill you."

"I won't..." Ino promises hoarsely. She doesn't doubt that the threat is sincere. Without sparing her another glance, Zabuza walks off. She watches him go, feeling saddened for him and even worse for Haku, who never got to tell Zabuza how he felt. Now it's too late – just like he said. It's so often too late. Live fast and die young, though the lives kids are living these days are hardly worth it.

Ino gets to her feet long after he's gone, brushing the dirt off her pencil skirt. She walks back to the brothel, stilettos clicking on the pavement.

||XxXx||

When tomorrow comes, Ino grows wary with each step she takes but she can't find it in herself to leave the brothel. She finds Sasuke in his room around noon. She knows she isn't supposed to be visiting him, but she needs to get the words out. She doesn't know what the future holds. "I met a man," she tells him, hovering in the doorway for a moment before closing it and wandering inside. "A man who knew of your family."

"How?" Sasuke pries from his seat on his bed. "Who was he?"

"That doesn't matter," Ino whispers, "but he said... He said you were all gassed. A team of soldiers went in to murder you. It was genocide, Sasuke. In his words, something about your family didn't sit right with the people in positions of power."

Sasuke smirks bitterly at that, staring away. "Do you think it means something bad?" he wonders softly. "Do you think it means I'm bad?"

"You're not," she promises. "He said you weren't and I know you're not."

"How?" he asks, looking up at her.

"Because I've come to know you," she starts gently, "and you can't possibly be bad."

||XxXx||

Ino didn't hover after that. She knew it wasn't safe. Now all she can do is worry.

"What's wrong with you, girl?" Koharu snaps at her later in the day. "You're walking like you're stepping on hot coals."

"Nothing," she squeaks.

"Then get back to work!"

"Yes, ma'am," Ino nods before scurrying down the hallway, but that doesn't stop her from continuously watching the time. Night is approaching. She makes her way back to the clinic and when the clock strikes seven, she hears a string of screams coming from the distance. Without hesitating, she runs, following the sounds of panic.

She runs past Sasuke's open door and he followers her with wide, curious eyes. "Ino!" he calls. "What happened?"

"I don't know yet," she chokes out fearfully.

They go down each flight of stairs and when they enters the lobby, they are greeted with immense heat. This is when Ino realizes that the building is on fire. She gasps, shielding Sasuke's body with her own as the flames spit at them.

Sasuke spots Kiba and a few other guards in the midst of the fire, extinguishers in their hands.

"Oh, God..." Sasuke whispers, taking in the damage.

Anko is shrieking directions at the men. "PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT NOW!" When she spots Ino, she points and growls, "You, Yamanaka! Come here and help!" Her eyes go wild once she spots Sasuke hovering behind the blond girl and she begins making her way through the flames and towards them both.

Ino's throat goes dry with fear and her heart speeds up. When Anko is close enough, rather than moving out of her way, Ino panics. She delivers a particularly hard punch to the cruel woman's face. Anko falls to the ground unceremoniously and Ino turns around, staring at Sasuke's shocked face. "Run!" she demands, but he only shakes his head. "Sasuke, you need to run!" she pleads.

"I-I can't..." he stutters. "I don't... I don't know where to go."

"Anywhere!" she shouts at him. "This part of the building is going to fall apart! This is your chance, so go!"

Sasuke looks up and realizes that the rafters are on fire as well. He stares back at her and asks, "What about you?"

"I'll find you," she promises him, grabbing his shoulders and squeezing them tightly. "Wherever you are, I'll find you. Don't worry. I won't die yet." She offers him a forced smile and nods in an attempt to reassure him. He gives her a wary nod in return, beginning to make his way out of the front entrance of the building when the front door caves in. He simply stares, stunned as the roof begins falling over his head. "NO!" he hears Ino shriek, but the words sound far away to his own ears.

He could die like this. He'd be okay with that. He closes his eyes and prepares for it, but before he gets crushed he's pushed out of the way and across the room. He smacks into the wall, cringing at the pain shooting up and down his back. His ears are ringing and when he opens his eyes, he stares at what should have been his death... but instead, there's Kiba.

Sasuke stares, fully aware that his eyes have begun to leak. "No..." he whimpers. Kiba's eyes are open, but he's still and the blood coming from his head is immense. Sasuke lets out a sharp sob, unable to find it in him to move an inch. "No, no, no, no..." he keeps repeating shakily, meeting Kiba's dead stare. He wants to look away, but he can't do that either.

Ino nears him and tries to help him up, but he refuses to budge an inch. "Please, Sasuke," she cries desperately. "You're going to die if you stay here!"

Across the room, Koharu enters with Jugo – her latest muscle – in tow. "Get him out of here!" Koharu shrieks immediately, pointing to Sasuke as if he's her priority. Jugo gives her a solid nod, prying Ino away from him. Ino lets out a weak sob, giving up. Without another word or a glance, she runs, exiting the brothel and vowing never to look back.

Before Sasuke can make a sound, he's whisked away by Jugo. He picks Sasuke up effortlessly, swinging him over a broad shoulder and bringing him inside. Rather than moving to the safest part of the building, Sasuke is brought to Koharu's office.

"What are we doing?" he chokes out, trying hard not to start sobbing.

Jugo sets him down and begins tearing through Koharu's office until he finds Sasuke's file. "Here," he murmurs. He stares down at the envelope with a saddened expression before handing it to Sasuke. "Hold onto it tightly."

"Okay," Sasuke whispers weakly. Jugo picks him up once more and he asks, "Where are we going?"

"I told you I was sent to free you," Jugo answers. "So, that's what we're doing. I just needed to wait for the chance and tonight... we were given the perfect one."

"But at what cost?" Sasuke asks with weary sadness. He forces himself to relax in Jugo's arms as they make their way down the corridor. All the rooms are empty by now. Everyone has been evacuated and put into the bomb shelter – everyone except those who were in the lobby. "I hope Anko is dead," Sasuke says aloud – though the words surprise him.

Jugo chuckles. "If I knew that, I would've taken care of her."

Once they reach the back exit of the brothel, Jugo sets Sasuke down. On his own two feet, Sasuke steps outside for the first time since he was a child. He feels bold on leaving, turning around and staring up at the building one last time.

"Let's go," Jugo murmurs.

Sasuke nods. He won't look back. At least, he'll try not to. He'll forget, just like he always does.

||XxXx||

On the opposite side of the brothel, Ino lets out a series of miserable sobs, unsure where to go from here. She looks back and forth, frantic and desperate. She runs, nearing the bridge but afraid to go any further. Now she has no friends and she has no home. She has nothing except for the clothes on her back and the shoes on her feet.

"Girl," she hears a hoarse voice call.

Turning her head, she spots Zabuza. He's slumped up against the bridge railing. "You did this..." she accuses in a pained whisper, wiping dark smudges from her face.

"I did this," he confirms.

As she steps closer, she realizes that he's hurt. She bends down and peels away the scraps of his tattered shirt, examining the wounds. Bullets. Upon that, half of his abdomen has been eaten away by the fire. She cringes at the gruesome sight. "You're dying," she whispers. "How?"

"One of the bitch's men..." he murmurs slowly. "They got me on my way out..."

It doesn't surprise Ino. Security is tight at Villa Joy. "There's nothing I can do without the proper equipment."

"Yeah," is all he says.

"You'll get to see him again," she offers weakly. "Haku..."

He smiles a small, sad smile. "No..." he whispers. "I won't be going to the same place as Haku."

"You will," she insists firmly. "They say... death by fire is the purest way to go."

"Because it hurts the most? Is that redemption?" He lets out a raspy laugh. "I don't believe in that shit... but if that's true it's what I need... and if it's not true, then at least it's what I deserve."

"You'll see Haku again," she promises him once more. "Death... it's a cleansing of the soul. You'll return to your original state – your purest form... Your sins will be forgiven."

He exhales slowly, but says nothing more. It's a nice thought, but he doesn't quite believe it. He's never been one to believe in the romanticization of death. He's never been one to believe the stories about spirits lingering. He's never been one for ceremonies. He's going to hell and nothing can save his weary soul – he already knows that.