Yu slowly tightened his grip around Haku's neck, showing no reaction to Zabuza's declaration: "I'm willing."
Haku grabbed Yu's hand with both of his and tried to pry it loose, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't make Yu's grip relax even a little. The oxygen was slowly draining from Haku's body, and the sensation of suffocation filled his consciousness.
Haku's mask fell off as he struggled, revealing his extraordinarily beautiful face.
Yu looked at Haku's face. If he hadn't known Haku was male, he would never have believed that the person before him, beautiful as a snow lotus, was a boy.
But that was simply the truth: Haku was a boy, and there wasn't much Yu could do about it. Of course, if he wanted to change that, it was possible in this world—and even more convenient than it had been in the previous century.
"I agree! Let him go..."
Zabuza struggled to raise his head and continued speaking to Yu, his voice growing weaker and taking on a pleading tone.
For some reason, Zabuza had forgotten that just moments ago, he'd been unwilling even to save his own life. Now, all he could see was Haku in Yu's grasp.
But Yu remained unmoved. At this rate, in just another ten or so seconds, a life would be snuffed out in his hands.
"Please, please... let him go... I'm begging you."
Zabuza's words had become a desperate plea.
At that moment, Zabuza let go of the hypocritical resolve he'd clung to. He faced his true feelings and wanted to save Haku. Haku was all he had left by his side; in his life, there was no one but Haku.
So no matter what, he had to save Haku. He couldn't let him die before his eyes.
"Zabuza,