"Its THE MIST VILLAGE!

---

Once Ikigame appeared in the village he could hardly control his excitement. He jumped up and laughed for a few moments as he headed towards the water sorrounding the village. "This place is the greatest!"

Zabuza and the awoken Haku joined him,running around."WAHGOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

Mercury walked silently.Her dark,sandish complexionseemed out of place in the village of mist.

Ikigame quickly grabbed Mercury and hugged her close to him, smiling widely.

Merc was still.For some reason,she hated the Village hidden in the Mist.

Haku splashed in a puddle."YAY!WATER!NOT SAND!!

Zabuza hid."Oh shit..."

Merc twicthed."What do you have against sand....?"

"N-nothin'....."

"Haku, that isn't a very suttle thing to say around me or Mercury...Especially Merc...Even though I may had my differences with them, my papa was stilla sand ninja..." Ikigame looked over at Haku while still holding Mercury close.

Merc blinked."Say wha now?"

"I am a sand ninja..Half anyways. That is my I am able to mold sand, use sand and what-not. My dad was killed by a group of sandninjas, that is why I hunted them." Ikigame said.

Merc stared at Ikigame,then glomped him.

Ikigame smiled and hugged her.

"Merc has a problem with being happy around sand villagers.Half or not."Haku said.

Merc murred and Zabuza swam in a lake.

"She's happy now, I hope..." Ikigame kissed her forehead and pulled away from her as he removed his weapons, cloak, and shirt then jumped into the lake.

Haku jumped in aswell and splashed Zabuza."Yay!"

Zabuza-sensei splashed him back.

Merc sat at the edge of the water.

Ikigame swam to the utmost bottom of the lake and grabbed a few muluscs, bringing as many back up as possible.

Zabuza and Haku did the same,but bringing them to shore and trying to make musscle castles.

Ikigame laid them all on the bank of the lake and used the water on their shells to open them up. He focused his chakra into the water on the shells and pried them open all at the same time. Reveiled in two of the clams were one black pearl, pearl. He smiled and grabbed them out. "Mercury!"

Merc was poking the water,like if she was scared or something."Ya Iki-kun?"

He swam over to her and held out his hand with the black pearl in it. "Here you go."

"Oh my god..Its beautiful!"

"I though you'd like it." Ikigame said cheerfully.

Merc kneeled over and kissed Ikigame."Thank you."

Ikigame hugged her and smiled.

"Carefull,Merc's secret is that she's part cat demon...And she hates to get wet."Zabuza grinned evily.

"B-but...I'm a cat, but I'm not a kittycat."

"Ya,but shes more like a house cat.She hates water."

Merc hissed.

Ikigame dove into the water and swam away quickly.

Zabuza grabbed Merc adn dragged her into the water.

"Nooo!!!"

Ikigame chuckled under the water.

MERC THRASHED AND CLUNG TO hAKU.

Ikigamne used his ice techinue and froze some water under 'Merc, sending her up to the surface slowly.

Merc suddered,curling up on the ice.

"Mercury, you okay?" Ikigame asked as he pulled himself onto the ice and covered her up with his cloak.

"Y-ya..The only reason i'm afraid of water is cause I cant see it.."

"You can't?"

She shook her mead."No.."

"Wow, how sad." Ikigame said quietly.

"Its no big deal..Its just,I get scared when water falls on me,and I have no idea why I got all wet.And I get scared when I feel like I'm floating.."

Ikigame chuckled and held her close. "I'm sorry."

"Its okay.."

Ikigame made the ice float over to the ledge so he could put her on dry land.

Merc crawled over to the shore.

"Shes just upset cause she cant swim."Haku said."Merc through a rock at him."I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELL ANYONE!"

Ikigame laughed and sat on the ice.

"Itgs impossible to teach her."Zabuza chuckled.

merc growled.

"I've turned impossible into unthinkable so many times, I'm sure I could teach her."

"Your guna get your face clawed."haku warned.

Ikigame laid back on the ice and smiled. "I'm pretty sure I can handle it.'

"I warned you..."

Merc was chewing on a bone on the shore.

"Mercury..." Ikigame said as he looked at her.

"rrr?"Merc murred as she looked up,with the bone in her mouth.

"You wanna learn how to swim?"

Merc's pupils shrank and she quickly climbed into a tree.

"Hm...?"

Merc shivered.

"Told you.Impossible."Haku adn Zabuza said in unison.

Ikigame smiled and laid back once more. "I won't bother her now then."

"So...You cant turn mpossible into unthinkable.."

Merc crawled back over and continued chewiong onm the bone.

"For now, I will let her get used to the scene."

Merc rolled around with the bone

Ikigame smiled and began to play with a water pebble he made.

Merc looked over at the pebble."Shiny.."

Ikigame chuckled and made the pebble levitate over to Mercury.

The young demon jumped up,trying to catch the pebble.

Ikigame chuckled and moved the pebble to the side.

Merc jumped at the pebble and batted it with her palm,asthough she was a ragdollcat.

"Hm..." Ikigame moved it again, this time towards the water.

Merc nounded tword it.She tried catching it.

Ikigame grinned and moved it more towards the water.

Merc wagged her tail and crawled to it,murring.

Ikigame moved it over the water.

Merc stopped and readied herself to jump on it.

Ikigame grinned to himself.

She tackled it and dove into the water."AEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!"She screamed and jumped out.

"Aww, I'm sorry Mercury."

"Dont worry bout it.Not like ya purposly did that."

Zabuza coughed and looked away.

Haku whistled.

"E-exactly." Ikigame said as he covered his smile.

Merc shook off."Eeekk.."

Ikigame laid back again and sighed contently.

Merc wringed out her hair."Shiny.."She saw a pebel in the water.

Ikigame fell asleep

Zabuza grinned and silently paddled over to Ikigame,took a deep breath and screamed."KITTY CAT!!!"Then he swam away like bloody murder.

Ikigame peaked out of his eye slightly, then shut it again. He yawned and placed one of his hands in the water. After a moments, he secreted an icy temperature that formed a snake like ice trail to Zabuza.

Zabuza jumped out of the water and climbed a tree.

The trail suddenly, "exploded", sending a huge water gyser from the lake. He yawned and made the water begin to freeze up to Zabuza.

Zabuza squeeked.

Merc incased Zabuza in sand."No killing daddy,,Iki-kun."

"Whatever..." Ikigame said as he pulled his hand from the water and laid his head on it.

Merc whimpered and looked at the water,then jumped in,doggy paddling to Ikigame

Ikigame looked out of the corner of his eye at Mercury and smiled a bit.

Merc whimpered and clung to Ikigame.

Ikigane shut his eyes again and relaxed.

Merc kissed Iki-kuns cheek.

Ikigame smiled and leaned his head against her.

"YAY!Ikigame ish happy once more!

"Hmm..? When wasn't he happy?" Ikigame asked.

"Why are you talking in third perosn?"She asked

"I just want to know when he wasn't happy."

Merc blinked."When other people call him kitty cat or when they try to hurt me."She hugged him

"Oh, well, you told him to stop and I did."

"Now your talking in third person..And first perosn?"

"I suppose."

"Oh well."She kissed him.

"Yeah, oh well."
"What?"Merc asked.

"Nothing."

She hugged him tightly.

He hugged her back.

"So,how do you like being home again?"

"It's not home."

"But..I thought you grew up in the mist village?"?

"It hasn't been home since te day I left."


"You were born her right?"

"Yes, but it is not home."

"Ya it is....No matter how much you dont want it to be...It is.."

"No, I abandoned it when my parents were murdered..."

"Sand villagers killed your father..Who killed your mother?

"I guess more accurately would be, I abandoned the place when my mother was killed...anyways, she was killed by sound villages...But I could cares less of them, they are weak."

"Ikigame...I don't care that you abandoned it..You were born here...This is your home...Just like the sand is mine..."Mercury looked at the water."But I'll die with you in the mist if need be...."

"I won't let you kill my child!" Ikigame snapped uncontrolablly.

Merc fell back near the shore,frightened by Ikigame's sudden outburst.

"I-I'm sorry...I just don't want my child, or you to die..."

"I couldn't go on living with out you if you died Ikigame.."

"Thats not true, you have part of me inside of you already."

Merc smiled and held him."But I couldn't bare living the rest of my life alone..."

"You aren't alone, you have Zabuza and Haku right now...Then you'd have our child."

Mercury cuddled up to him."I know .."

"But, you don't want to be alone as in, no mate...no significant other, no husband..." Ikigame said before kissing her forehead lightly.

"Exactly..."The young demon whimpered.

Haku and Zabuza were behind a rock,watich.Aww...

"I won't leave you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

merc licked his cheek.

Ikigame smiled and sat up, making some hand signs and smiling wearily. "Water Release: Syryp Capture Field!" He exclaimed as the wet ground of the mist village became sticky, capturing Zabuza and Haku.

Zabuza yelped."GAH!"

Haku struggled.

"Now, keep eves dropping and it'll be worse.
"Eep.."

Ikigame released the jutsu and laid back again.

Zabuza scrambled away

Ikiagme sighed contently.

Merc swam back to the shore."Comeon Iki-kun!"

Ikigame made his way over to the shore and smiled. "Yes?"

"Lets go get some ramen."

"Alright, whatever." Ikigame said with a small smile.

"Lets change into something dry first.."zabuza suggested.

"I'm not changing." Ikigame said simply.

"Why?"Merc asked,changing infront of them.

"Cause, I have no need to." Ikigame stated.

But your clothes are all wet."

"And I can control water..." Ikigame said rather blankly.

"Oh yeah.":

Ikigame yawned and looked around for a moment.

Merc ,Zabuza and Haku finished changing

"Lead the way Zabuza."

Zabuza started walking in the dull town.

Merc had transformed into a mistvillage looking woman.
Haku followed

Ikigame followed slowly.

Merc sighed."God damnit.."She looked around at some mist villagers

Misty appeared next to Mercury looking tired and pissed.

Merc blinked."Hi there."

Misty looked at her,"Hi,you wouldn't happen to know where Tsome is would you?"

"Unfortunatly no,but.IM GUNA HAVE A BABY!@

Misty fell over in surprise,"WHAT?!"

"Im guna be a 13 year old mommy!"

Misty's eyes grew wide,"Who's the father?"

Merc pointed to Ikigame

"WHAT?!"Misty fell over and passed out.

".....Did I say something wrong...?"

Misty's clone giggled,"Yep,you did."

"Oopsei.."

Misty's clone smiled.

Ikigame walked passed the clone and two ladies, sighing in annoyance. He made his way to the ramen shop and went in, sitting down and ordering a bowl of ramen for himself, Zabuza, Haku and Mercury when she came. He started to eat his ramen, black tresses falling to the counter from being hunched over a bit.

Merc poked Misty."Um..Ima go get some ramen now..."

A girl walked up,"Exuse me,but is she ok?"

"Ya.Shes just a bit freaked out that her best friwend is now guna be a 13 year old mommy."

The girl smiled,"Oh,by the way my name is Christina."

"I'm Mercury.The Desert Rose."Merc bowed."Nice to meet you."

Christina smiled,"Nice to meet you,"Should we do something with your friend?"

Merc shrugged."I dun know."

Christina picked up Misty,"Why don't you come back to my house I'll make some ramen,or tea or something."

"I have to go meet my boyfriend at the ramen shop.But...A couple minutes waiting wouldnt hurt.."

Christina smiled ok follow me,Christina walked to her house which was right down the road.

Merc followed."Nice place..."

---

Ikigame finished off his ramen and slid the bowl forward towards the waiter. "Thank you...I guess I'll be going now." He bowed his head to the man and smiled half-heartedly, then turned to Zabuza and Haku. "Wait here for Mercury...I have to go do something." With that said, the black haired man disappeared.

Zabuza slurped up his ramen and paid for the ramen."We shall stay here and wait..I guess."

Haku nodded."Whats taking merc so long..?"

---

Christina smiled,"Thanks."she laid Misty on the couch,"What would you like?"

"Anything at this point would be great."

Christina nodded,"Ramen and tea sound ok?"

"That sounds awesome."Merc smiled

Christina smiled,"Ok."five minutes later she came back with some ramen and tea,"I only had beef ramen,hope it's ok."

"I love beef ramen!"Merc jumped up,doing a backflip

Christina smiled,"Ok,here."she sat the food and tea infront of Merc,then put a wet rag on Misty's forhead.

Merc ate hungrily

Christina smiled.

Misty woke and looked around,"Where am I,and why does my head hurt?"

"You fell over and passed out when I told you I was prego."Merc said

Misty frowned,"Oh yeah,where am I?"

Christina smiled,"Your at my house,my name is christina."

Merc stood."Oh dear.."

Misty stood up,"What's wrong Merc?"

"I need to find Ikigame"

Misty looked confused,"Why?"

"Im very worried about him.."

Misty looked at her,"Ok Do you know where he is?"


"No.."

Misty frowned,"Let's find Haku and Zabuza,maybe they know."

Merc started running,lookingg everywhere.Finnally she found them....Sleeping...At a bar...

Misty and Christina were with her.

Merc picked them up and yelled out."IKIGAME!!!"

Misty and christina smiled.

She whimpered and broke down crying

Misty hugged Merc,"Don't cry hun."

Christina slapped Haku and Zabuza till they woke up.

"Ikigames guna leave me!!Just like Rin said..."She sobbed

Zabuza opened his eyes sleepily."Huh?"

Christina glared at him,"MERC IS CRYING YOU RETARD!"

Misty hugged Merc,"He won't leave you."

Zabuza blinked."Why?"

Merc hugged her."yeah he will.."

Christina frowned,"She's scared that Ikigames will leave her."

Misty looked at Merc,"No He won't."

"Yes he will..."Merc ran off trying to find Ikigame.

Zabuza sighed."Gah...hangover..."

Misty dumped a bucket of ice cold water on Zabuza,"GO FIND MERC NOW!And take these."hands Zabuza a glass of water and two asprins.

Zabuza drank the asprins and stood up."Alright..Take care of Haku while Im gone."he jumped off

Misty sighed,"ok,sure."

Christina smiled,"I'll stay with you."

Haku opened his eyes."What happened....?

Misty sighed,"Merc's going into pregnacy depression,she thinks Ikigame is going to leave her,and Zabuza went after her."

Haku screamed."NOO!~"

Misty sighed,"Afraid so."

"But..She..He..they..."Haku blinked

Misty looked at him,"hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...?"

"Im so confused!"

Misty giggled.

"I had a weird dream..."Haku said

Misty looked at him,"Really,what about?"

"Well..Merc-chan married Zabuza sensei...And she became Mercury Momochi...And..They had a kid...And...It was me.."

Misty started to laugh.

"It was weird.."Haku blinked

Misty giggled,"It's funny,in a weird way."

"Yeah.."

Christina smiled,"Hi,I'm Christina."

Haku waves."im haku."

Christina looked at him,"Were you drinking?"

".....Alittle..."

Christina looked stern,"And how old are you?!"

"...16.."

Christina frowned,"That's too young to drink!"grabs a belt,"I'll teach you to drink."lunges at Haku.

Haku twitches as the belt brings back memories.He screams and hides behind Misty

Misty hugged Haku,"Stop christina,DON'T HIT MY COUSIN!"

Christina stopped when she saw Haku's face,"Sorry,did I scare you?"

Haku shivered and kept hiding

Misty hugged Haku to her,"He had a bad past."

Christina,"Oh,I'm so sorry."puts the belt away.

"I wont do it agian daddy...dont hit me.."Haku rocked back and forth.

---

meanwhile...

Merc was jumping from tree to tree."Ikigame!!!"

---

Misty held Haku like a mother holds a child,"It's ok Haku,he won't hurt you,I won't let him."

Christina looked worried,"Is he ok?"

Misty looked at her,"He'll be ok."

Haku shivered violently.

---

Ikigame was sitting down and leaning against a tree, his eyes shut and his cloak around him gently.


Merc saw him and quietly walked twords him.

Few splatters of blood were dripping down his lips and chin as he sit with his head facing down and his eyes shut gently. One arm hung pout from under his cloak and the other was wrapped around something protectively underneath it.

Merc kneeled down to him."Ikigame...?"

Ikigame's eyes shot open as he grabbed at a kunai he obviously dropped while he sat there, holding it up to the other;s throat before realizing it was Mercury. "Oh..Mercury..it's only you.." He gave a slight sigh and uncvoered himself and what appeared to be a blood soaked white rabbit. "Here, this is for Haku.." The blood that was soaking the rabbit had come from a wound in Ikigame's side and stomach.

Merc stared at Ikigame."What happened?!"

"Nothing." Ikigame pushed himself up, only to fall back against the tree again. Damn...

Merc grabbed him and picked him up,along with the rabbit.

Ikigame leaned against her a bit and sighed quietly, lifting his cloak up from the ground.

"What happened?"Merc asked.

"Nothing." Ikigame insisted.

"Ikigame,don't lie to me."

"nothing fucking happened!" Ikigame exclaimed.

Merc looked at him."Your bleeding.You cant tell me nothing fucking happened."

"Nothing happened Mercury.." Ikigame pulled away from her and began to walk aghead of her slowly,.

Merc grabbed his hand.

"Let me go Mercury..." Ikigame said in a threatening tone.

"Not until you tell me whats wrong."

"Nothing." Ikigame said again.

Merc kept her grip on Ikigame's wrist.

Ikigame turned himself around so quickly it seemed that he was spinning on ice. He twisted his arm and pulled quickly to get loose of her grasp. "Nothing happened." He stated firmly, turning once more and walking.

Merc made a cage of sand and put the bunny in it.She then tackled Ikigame to the ground adn pinned him down.

Ikigame's pupils shrunk as one of Mercury's limbs went into his side and when his stomach smacked against the ground. He let out a sharp hiss and clenched his eyes shut.

MErc held him tight.Tears fell from her eyes to Ikigame's cheek."Fine..You can lie to me and tell me nothing happened...but please let me heal you..."

"I'm not lying, nothing happened..." Ikigame insisted as he rested his head against the ground.

"Your in pain..."Merc whispered.

"Heal me then, but nothing happened."

Merc made some hand signs and healed him."there...But please...Wounds dont appear at random.."

"You obviously don't know me too well then Mercury..." Ikigame said silently.

Merc stared at him then stood."Fine.If thats the way you want it."She walked off silently.

"Yeah, but I'm not the one who abandoned their boyfriend at the Ramen shop and made him sit and wait and never showed up..huh?" Ikigame asked with a slight sigh.

Merc stood there for a second and turned."I got distracted okay?!I'm sorry I'm not perfect!"

"You're perfect in my eyes." Ikigame said looking up at her gently.

"Of course I am..."Merc said before Zabuza jumped in.

Ikigame looked at Zabuza and tilted his head a bit. "Hn..?"

"Whats going on here?"Zabuza asked sternly.

"Nothing."Merc said simply.

"Now, that's a lie..." Ikigame said quietly standing up, pulling at the collar of his shirt and taking it off. He threw the shirt to the side and walked over to a tree near the sand cage with the white hare in it.

Merc looked at him."Ikigame...What happened?

"Nothing happened..." Ikigame poured water onto the cage, from the air, and grabbed the hare. He walked over and handed the beast to Zabuza and sighed. "Here, just for Haku...."Zabuza smiled."I'll give it to him right now..."He jumped away.

Merc stared at Ikigame."Wounds dont appear from no where.."

"Fine..I'll tell you. This hare is not just any ordinary hare, it is a deity and the proper person who has said hare can control it with an iron fist...I've just recently figure out that Haku is the right wielder of the hare, this hare has more power than anything I've ever known or accepted. The first time I stumbled onto this hare, I was rigged and beaten by it, bombs althroughout my body..Threatened to kill me next time I came near it to try and control it...This time, well, only two explosions went off in my body. Luckily I told him about Haku and how I was not trying to control it, just get it to it's proper owner...That's what happened and that's nothing compared to what could've happened."

Merc stared at him."Why didn't you tell me before...?"

"Because, like I siad before..Nothing happened..That was nothing omapred to what could've happened dear, don't worry about it too much."

Merc tackled him and hugged him tight.."You had me so worried..."

"Nnnn..." Ikigame groaned a bit as he was tackled and hugged, not really in the mood to be tackled or touched by anybody.

Merc looked down at him.She stared sadly then got up and walked away.

"I just don't want to be touched right now." Ikigame said silently as he too stood and began to walk to the Ramen shop.

"So?"Merc whispered to no one in particular...She walkde to a warehouse.

Haku and Zabuza met up with Ikigame at the Ramen shop.They stared at him.

"Take your damn /deity and leave me be." Ikigame siad, ordering a bottle of sake.

Haku huggled the hare.

Zabuza sat next to him,."Thought you said you didnt like sake.."

"It'll take the pain away."

"Yeah..It will take the pain away now..But when Merc's dead adn gone it wont.."

"She won't die... I just don't want to be touched right now."

"She'll kill herself.And that baby.Its been practicly a month now..."

Ikigame gave a slight sigh and laid his head on the table. "You know how you just don't want to be touched or bothered for one day of your life? That's how I'm feeling right now...I wish she'd understand that."

Merc knows.She just still feels as though you regret being the father of that baby.Shes right.You have been acting different since you got her pregnate."

"What, are you kidding? That kids the greatest thing that's happened to me. He's gonna inherite all that we conquer, all that we bowl over!" Ikigame exclaimed, almost standing up in his explinaton. "That child. is gonna be my first kid, and I'll give it the world."

"Not if its mother,and its dead."

"Can you please send Mercury the message? I just really want to relax and not have to worry."

"Gaara's telling me everything at the moment.She's sitting in that warehouse staring at a kunai.I cant tell her...but he will..."

Ikigame's ears and body all perked up at once when he heard Gaara's name. "Where is she?"

"Why?"Zabuza asked in a sleepy tone.

Ikigame gave a irritated growl and ran off, sniffing the air and heading towards Mercury's scent.

"Thats got him going.."

---

Merc sighed and gently picked up the kunai.She studied it when she heard footsteps.

Gaara walked in from the shadows."Hello..."

Merc gulped and backed up agianst a wall."Please Gaara...Sont kill me..."

"Now why would I kill my favorite girl?"

Ikigame came crashing through the door, glaring at Gaara. "Back the fuck away from her." He ordered sternly

Gaara stared at him."Why are you telling me what to do?"

Merc whimpered.

"For one of two reasons. One, you don't belong in my village, two, you don't belong anywhere near her." Ikigame stated firmly.

"And?"Gaara asked blaankly

"Oh, one more reason. I can kick your ass from here, all the way to the Kazekage's place and back, twice more if you don't get the fuck away from her."

Gaara grabbed Merc by her shirt and smiled."I wouldn't hurt her..."

Ikiagme tackled him to the ground and forced his head down by grabbing his neck. He placed one hand over Gaara's mouth and began to make water drain into his mouth. Of course all of this water was coming from his body, seeing as his body was more than 85%, the avergae of every humans, more around 92% water. "I'm going to kill you you little sand rat!"

"Leave him alone!!!"Merc screamed at Ikigame

Ikigame looked over at Mercury and tilted his head slightly. He moved his hand from Gaara's mouth and stood himself up. "Fine..." He turned from where he was and started to walk out of the the building

"Ikigame...Please don't go..."Merc whimpered.

Gaara stood and punched Merc.

She fell over.

Ikigame turned when he punched her. He made a few hand signs and made water come from the ground, surrounding Gaara's body and freezing almost instantly when it hit his sand armor. Water seeped in past that armor and hit his skin, freezing once more. "Go to hell." The ice imploded and made a bloody explosion. He turned once again and walked out of the building.

Merc made some handsigns,pulling Ikigame over.

Ikigame looked at her and sighed quietly. "Are you alright?"

"I'll live.."Merc spit out blood.

Ikigame looked at her and sighed again. "Why'd you tell me to let him go?"

"I dont wdie..."ant anyone to

"Well, don't ever doubt someone won't die if they miess with you."

Merc stared at the ground, gripping the kunai.

"Don't." Ikigame said sternly, still standing and staring at her.,

Merc cried silently,shivering but still holding the kunai.

Ikigame sat down next to her and held her against him gently. "Mercury, don't cry..."

"Please hit me...."

"What?! No!" Ikigame exclaimed, still holding her close.

"Please...."Merc cried.

"Why?" He asked quietly..

"I dont know what to do...Please.."

"Mercury, no..." Ikigame said quietly, kissing her forehead.

"Please Ikigame!"Merc broke down crying.

"Mercury!" Ikigame grabbed her up by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "Enough."

Merc shivered in fear.She hung her head."Please Ikigame...I beg of you..."

"I'm not going to cause you anymore pain than what I've already done." Ikigame explained.

"You havent...Its my fault...Not yours..."

Ikigame pulled Mercury close once more and wrapped his arms around her, her small frame fitting perfectly into his arms.

Merc shivered violently,gently rubbing her round belly.

Ikiagme began to rock her slowly, rubbing her arms with his palms gently. "Sssh, alm down Mercury."

"I'm begging you Ikigame...."

"No."

"Please.."Merc sobbed.

"NO!"

Merc jumped in fear,crawling away quickly.

Ikigame stood up and stared down at her. "Don't ever ask me to do anything like tthat again Mercury..."

Merc shivered,pressing herself against the wall.Her eyes were blank.

Ikigame sighed and sat down on the ground, staring at Mercury. "You can come over to me whenever you feel like it, but I'm not going to hit you."

"Why?"Merc asked frightfully.

"Because I wo't hit you."

"Because why...?"

:Because I love you."

"Give me a better reason..."

"Because I don't want to hurt you anymore.

Mercury held the kunai to her wrist."Better reason."

"What do you want me to say Mercury?! There is nothing else I can say to make you understand." Ikigame sighed and sat himself down again. "If you kill yourself I won't be able to live."

The young demon put the blade down.She stared at the cat man.

Ikigame pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms loosely about his knees. He stared down at his knees unconsciencely, as if he were thinking.

Mercury sighed."Ikigame...When I have this baby..what are you gonna do..?"

'What do you mean?"

"Are you going to help me take care of it,or are you guna run off,and have me explain that its mom is a whore because she fell inlove with a guy you left her all alone to raise a baby,when it gets older?"

"I"m going to help you raise it, of course..why would you think otherwise?" Ikigame asked in a sort of hurt tone.

"I keep thinking back to what Rin was saying...And then it made me think back to how you use to be..Old habits die hard you know...I must sound like a fool and an awefull person right now dont I...?"Merc asked and sighed.

"No, you sound like a child who doesn't know fact from opinion, past from future...You sound ignorrant..." Ikigame looked back down at his knees and sighed.

"I sound stupid..."

After a few moments passed, Ikigame intervened with her comment and sighed as he thought over his previous one. "No, you just sound like someone who won't accept change in one person so easily..."

Merc kept siltent.She gently pressed the flat side of the kunai to her stomach,shivering at the cold steel to her skin.

Ikigame sighed and laid his head gently onto his knees and shut his eyes. This day had made him quite tired and he just wanted to go to bed.

"You can sleep if you like..."Merc mumbled.

"It wouldn't be the same if you weren't next to me."

Merc crawled next to Ikigame.she cuddled to him and sighed.

Ikigame reached his head to Mercury's face and locked his lips with hers. He unlatched his loose arms and gave a gentle caress to each of Mercury's sides, slowly leaning her back and himself forward. He laid on the side of her, but continued to kiss her gently.

"Whats the matter?"

Ikigame looked at her sleepily and laid his head onto her shoulder.

Merc kissed Ikigame's shoulder adn smiled.

Ikigame kissed her shoulder and slowly drifted off.

Merc petted him to sleep.

Ikigame awoke a few hours later, looking sleepily up at Mercury's beautiful face. "Good evening."

Merc had been sleepng quietly.

Ikigame smiled wearily and pushed some hair from Mercury's face gently.
Merc opened her eyes adn smiled down at Ikigame.

Ikigame cuddled against Mercury's side and purred quietly, his ears flicking and his muiscles tensing.

"Your so cute..."

Ikigame smiled and relaxed a bit.

Mercury sighed

"What's wrong/' He asked in a concerned tone.

"Your child is stubborn..."She smiled

"Don't say that..its our child./" Ikigame said quietly.

Merc smiled."I have a feeling I wont live long noce the baby is born..."

"Don't say that." Ikigame stated, looking at her sternly.

"Why not?"Merc looked at him,smiling as if she lost hope

"Because I won't let you die."

Merc chuckled and ruffled Ikigame's hair."You cant stop something that is destined to happen..."

Ikigame pulled awy from her hand and stood himself up. "Come on...." He said quietly.

Mercury closed her eyes and stayed still,smiling."Dont hope for the hopeless...

"just come on..."

"Where?"Merc asked

"We;re going to go get Haku and Zabuza so we can leave."

"Leave to where?"Merc still didnt move,.

"I don't know..just leave..you have been acting wierd ever since we've gotten here."

"Naw..I'm just dizzy..."Merc's head fell to the side.She passedout,but her face seemed to be staring at her arm,which was covered in blood

"Mercury!" Ikigame ran to her side and lifted her head up, examining her eyes carefully. He lifted her arm up and looked at the blood. He sighed and lifted her up in his arms. He carefully made a few handsigns under her and disappeared.

---

Misty looked at Haku,"Haku,look at me."
in her hand.
Haku looked up at her fearfully

Misty looked into his eyes,"You are ok,no one is going to hurt you."

Haku shivered adn hugged her

Misty hugged Haku.

Christina looked at Haku,"Haku,I'm so sorry I didn't mean to bring back bad memories."

"I-Its okay,..."

Christina hugged Haku,"Really,I didn't know."

"Its okay..."

Christina smiled,"You want some ramen?"

He nodded.

Ikigame appeared holding Mercury in his arms. "Zabuza!"

"Yes...?"Zabuza asked

"I need help, Mercury, she's bleeding and she's passed out." Ikigame exclaimed as he walked over toZabuza quickly, holding her out to him.

Zabuza stared at her and pulled a kunai out of her arm."Hm.."He sighed heavily.

Ikigame sighed and looked down. "I'm sorry..."

"Dont be,son."Zabuza smiled.He put Merc on the couch.

"I didn't mean to let her get hurt..."

Zabuza patted Ikigame's shoulder."Stop feeling sorry for yourself..."

Ikigame sighed and walked out of the house and sat down against the side of it.

Zabuza wrappde Merc's wound and walked to Ikigame."hey."

"Hey." Ikigame responded halfheartedly.

"Dont beat yourself up kiddo.I meanBeating yourself up like that isnt going to do you any good.

"we need to leave here as soon as possible Zabuza sensai..."

"Why?"Zabuza asked

"Mercury has been acting wierd ever since weve gotten here, she has been talking about death and how she won't live much longer after the birth of our child..I'm hoping it's only the humidity getting to her, but I'm not sure..." Ikigame said frantically.

Zabuza chuckled."Well you werent acting the same after you got her pregnate.You seemed as though you didnt care anymore...And she started believing what Rin was saying...Come on."Zabuza grabbed Ikigame's hand adn pulled him back inside the house.

"I wasn't acting the same how?" Ikigame asked as he was pulled into the house.

"Like I said..You didnt seem like you cared."Zabuza smiled

"Well, that would never be true..." Ikigame said, feeling guilty now.

"Aww,dont feel bad.She can get alittle emotional sometimes,thats all."

"I'm sorry..."

"Why?"

"Cause I was the one who wanted to come here."

"Nono..."Zabuza hugged him

Ikigame sighed and just stood there as he was hugged, letting his ears fall flat against his head.

Zabuza smiled.

Merc opened her eyes.

---

Misty felt Merc's pain,"Haku,There's something wrong with Merc."

"Whats wrong with her?!?!"

Misty closed her eyes,"She's bleeding,there was a kunai in her arm."she opened her eyes,"She's at a house,we have to go there,I'm not certain where it is."

"She will be fine."

Misty nodded,"I know,but I want to go to find out what happened."

"I dont know where she is.."

Misty sighed,"I'll try something that I haven't tried in a while."Misty grabed Haku's arm then Christina's arm and closed her eyes she griped Haku and christina's arms tightly then she,Haku,and Christina dissappeared into a puddle...

---

Misty,Haku,and Christina appeared next to Merc.

Merc looked at him

Misty swayed,"Oh crap too much chakura."she fell over.

Christina caught Misty before she hit the ground.

Haku helped Misty up.

Misty smiled,"Thanks guys."she turned to Merc and Zabuza,"What happened?"

Ikigame pushed away from Zabuza and ran out of the building again. He didn't like the fact that he was surrounded by so many people, especially when he felt he was the one who had hurt Mercury.

Misty looked at Zabuza,"What's wrong with him?"

"He feels guilty.Merc I"Zabuza looked at the couch but Merc was gone.

Misty looked at Zabuza,"She's looking for Ikigame,on the back of a wolf made of sand."

"No!Shes useing too much chakra!Just making that wolf move takes a whole lot of chakra!"

Misty looked at Zabuza,"Someone found her,I think it's Gaara."

"Dann...."

Misty blinked,"What?"

"Its Gaara.!"

Misty shurged,"So,he wouldn't hurt her would he?"she thought for a momment,"Never mind."grabs Haku,Christina,and Zabuza and disappeared into a puddle.

---

Merc was riding a wolf made of sand.Ikigame..

Ikigame had been sitting on the bridge connecting the village with another of the surrounding villages..The Naruto Bridge. He was sitting on the rail, staring down at the water and the many fish swimming about under it's surface.

A puppy ran to Ikigame and started barking

---

Merc coughed and shivered.She felt dizzy and weak.The wolf started breaking apart until finally,she was liing in a blob of sand.

"You look tired.."A voice called.

"No..Gaara no..."

Misty,Haku,Christina,and Zabuza appeared next to Merc.

Merc looked at them before dissappearing into sand.

Misty looked at her,"What just happened,did Gaara do that?"

Gaara walked out.

Misty was confused.

Gaara grinned

Misty fainted from loosing too much chakara.

Zabuza grabbed her.

"Get her home...Gaara said

Christina picked up Misty,"Maybe she should stop using that jutsu,if it cause her to faint."she looked at Gaara,"You must be Gaara,I'm Christina."

"Hello."Gaara said

Christina smiled,"Nice to meet you."

"I cant say the same."

Christina smiled,"That's ok,I don't mind."

"Alright."

Christina smiled,"Here you can have this."she handed him a necklace with a gourd on it that looked like his.

"Exactly why areyou giving me this?"

Christina smiled,"I don't need it,and it matches your gourd."she set Misty down under a nearby tree.

Gaara looked at her

Christina put a lemon on Misty's tongue.

Misty woke up and spit it out,"WOW THAT'S SOUR!!"

Christina giggled.