Broken Mask

Haru stood and stared at the spot that Iruka had been at just a moment before, and then he shook his head walking to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Looking into the mirror, Haru removed the red fabric that covered his eye. His reflection stared back at him one emerald eye cut through with three golden marks, each one representing a separate time that he survived the killing curse. He could still see with the eye but it was magic he saw (or rather Chakra) and not the normal sight one would expect. It had been both a boon and a curse for Haru who now kept his eye wrapped up. Even though both were attention catching he had found that having his eye wrapped resulted in less awkward questions.
As Haru continued to stare into the mirror it was no longer himself he saw but the lake back at Hogwarts and without even meaning to Haru was sucked into his memory of the Ultimate Betrayal:


Harry walked around the lake of Hogwarts before sitting in a spot he could remember frequenting since first year. It was the same spot that he, Ron, and Hermione used to visit whenever the castle had become too oppressive or there were secrets they wanted to share without the chance of being overheard accidentally. For Harry it was a nostalgic place and the perfect resting spot after spending the last fifteen hours attempting to restore Hogwarts to even a fraction of its former glory. They had been at it for only two months but already the old castle was beginning to look better and Neville had even found a new Whomping Willow tree to plant. It was small at the moment but Neville had assured him that the tree would grow back to replace its fallen predecessor's glory.

Harry turned his thoughts back to the lake smiling slightly at its beauty though he dearly missed the giant squid that used to reside within its watery depths. When Hogwarts had been attacked by Death Eaters even the squid had risen in defense of her, because apparently the squid had been female, home. She had been invaluable in the fight but had lost her life when Dolohov cast a Fiendfyre over the lake.
*Snap* Harry whirled around wand out and ready only to stop and laugh at the shocked expression on Ron's face. "Sit with me." Harry grinned patting a spot of grass next to him. He hadn't been as close to Ron as he used to be after Ron had left him alone in the woods. The Horcrux hunt had made Harry paranoid to the point that he actually carried all the money he had in Gringotts around with him in a small bag with an expansion charm on it. Inside that bag he also had enough food, clothes, weapons, and shelter to last him for ten months in any terrain. But as Moody used to say CONSTANT VIGILANCE!


"I can't Harry." Confused Harry turned to look at Ron. "It all would have been fine if you had just married Ginny."

Harry flinched. It had put a strain on his relationship with the Weaselys when he announced he was gay and would not be getting back together with Ginny but he had thought the Weaselys had gotten over it.

"I really am sorry but we need the money."

It wasn't until Ron pointed his wand at Harry that he really started to worry. When that familiar green spell shot from the end of Ron's wand Harry knew he was too exhausted to fight back. He waited for the spell to hit him looking towards Hogwarts wanting it to be the last thing he ever saw and…


Haru shook his head attempting to clear the memories, it wasn't the time or place to be doing something like remembering. He could do it latter during the night when he did have anything to do. But right now he had a meeting with the Hokage.

Haru made sure that his apartment was clean before walking to his front door and slipping his boots on, making sure that the lace was tightly wrapped around his legs Haru began the long walk to the Hokage tower. As he passed the civilians down below he wondered how exactly it was they could all ignore the dangerous aura that surrounded him. He knew for a fact that he walked 'like a predator' and the way he dressed should have caused at least some strange looks but none of them even glanced at him. Of course this is what he wanted but still Haru wasn't exactly being subtle as he traveled so he had to wonder why no one seemed to be able to see him. Maybe it had something to do with the invisibility cloak he had on? He had learned during the war how to make the cloak invisible only when he wanted as so often wore it, just as a precaution. It was possible that it was a side effect and responded to his unconscious wish to go unseen and unnoticed.

Finally Haru stood outside the large red tower in the middle of Konohagakure that belonged to the Hokage. Slipping inside, unnoticed by the shinobi guarding the tower, he quickly made his way up a hidden set of stairs that was reserved for emergencies. For Haru at least this was an emergency; he was late for a meeting with the Hokage! Once Haru made it up the stairs, which seemed to take a lot longer than it should have, he knocked on the door and waited for a couple of seconds before hearing the elderly voice of the Hokage:

"Come in."


Haru entered the room, looking around and casting a silent detection charm Haru found that there was only him and the Hokage in the room. It was normal for the Hokage to send his ANBU guards away when Haru came to talk but you could never be too careful. Walking to the chair in front of the Hokage's desk Haru cast a silencing charm and a ward to make sure that no one could come into the room. Once that was done he turned to the old man behind the desk and grinned: "It's good to see you Tousan."


The Hokage looked up from his paper work, which he still had an excessive amount of, to smile at his son. "It's good to see you again child." He stated. He had bags under his eyes and his shoulders had only just straightened out when he realized it was Haru in the room.
Haru shook his head and looked at the paper work and frowning knowing that this was the cause of his father's exhaustion. Waving his hand he watched as the paperwork sorted itself out into two piles. Haru grinned triumphantly before taking one pile into his hands and, using the smallest tendrils of magic, he burned the paper to ash. "That's better. The one on your desk is the important things and the one I burned was the council requests."


The Hokage chuckled smiling at his son happily; it had been too long since they had spoken. "Haru, it is good to see you."

"You as well Tousan." Haru agreed easily summoning a tea set. "Would you like some tea?" Haru asked gesturing to the tea set. The Hokage nodded his head gratefully. Haru poured some lemon and honey tea into two cups before adding two spoon fulls of sugar to each one. Haru had always blamed the Hokage for his sudden sweet tooth when it came to tea. Haru passed the cup to the Hokage before staring almost sullenly at the steam rising from his cup. Both Haru and the Hokage watched the steam from their cups rise until the Hokage broke the silence:

"Haru, I know you have some questions. So what is it you need?"
Haru looked at the Hokage and grimaced not liking and yet


appreciating how easily his father could read him. "How is it that you can tell when something is wrong?" Haru knew his question sounded rather whiny but he couldn't help himself. He had been the best of the best at lies and acting back home yet here there was someone who could read him so easily! It was aggravating not to mention a major blow to his ego.


The Hokage arched an eyebrow and pointedly looked at Haru. "In the two years that you have lived here you have always been like an open book to me Haru. What kind of father would I be if I didn't know my own son?"

The Hokage pointedly ignore the niggling voice in the back of his head that kept reminding him of Asuma whom he had failed in that aspect.


Haru looked up shocked; he had never thought of it that way before. A light blush stained his cheeks as he was once again reminded just how much the Hokage cared for him. It was still hard for him to accept that the Hokage, such a powerful and respected man, actually genuinely cared about him.


"Tousan I need help." It was hard for Haru to admit and he couldn't bring himself to look the Hokage in the eyes as he spoke. But after the question was out he lifted his head his eyes meeting the comforting blue orbs of the Hokage. There was no contempt or disgust in that look for having to ask for help instead he looked grateful that Haru had come to him. Haru blushed again but smiled at his father anyway.
The Hokage nodded his head once he was sure that Haru understood his appreciation and joy at being able to help his child. Setting down his tea the Hokage motioned for Haru to continue wondering what it was that had his son so on edge. The jutsus that his son had used were some of the strongest and not the usual ones that he set out during their meetings. It had been a rather large tell that something was bothering Haru.


"Tousan, I met someone that makes me worry. He wears a mask and I worry that his mask will become him. I worry that one day he will wake up and he won't be able to remove the mask. He's such a kind person inside but he has been hurt so much that I feel he might just melt away. I think he could be a good friend but is far too afraid to allow himself to trust anyone."


The Hokage looked at Haru with hard eyes before stating:

"Like you."


'Except you don't think you can be saved.' The Hokage added mentally.
Haru nodded his head; his eyes were haunted as he remembered again what Ron had attempted to do. The Hokage stood up and pulled Haru into a hug waiting until the flashback had passed. It surprised the Hokage how much this one man had effected his son but he did always say that Haru was more empathetic than he admitted. Haru would try to save everyone in the world if he could but rarely allowed himself to act. It was then that the Hokage promised himself that he would help his son anyway he could with this person who wore a mask so similar to his son's.
It was five minutes later that Haru came back to himself. Haru wrapped his arms around the Hokage and murmured:

"Sometimes I would be lost without you."


The Hokage frowned; it hurt to know that his son was in such pain all the time even as it was pleasing to know that he could help. It was nice to be able to help at least one son. "I have already done wrong by one son, because I put the village before him. I won't lose a second one."

And it was true; the Hokage would damn his village before he let Haru be hurt.


Haru shook his head and glared at the Hokage before stating: "No, you have tried to fix it; it is Asuma that isn't allowing you to make up for it. Each chance you get, he pushes you away." And Haru couldn't understand why Asuma would do it either. Haru would have given his life, and technically did, for a father like the Hokage. He understood that Asuma was hurt but he was an adult now and should be able to at least try and put the past behind him.


The Hokage gave a dry chuckle before standing up and walking to his side of the table, sitting down he picked up his now cold tea and began to sip it. Haru and the Hokage were both lost in memories. For the Hokage it was memories of what he could have done better and for Haru it was the happy memories that the Hokage had given him.
Haru left a little while later after they had talked about all the mundane things and the Hokage somehow roping him into helping with the paper work. Flexing his fingers and vowing never to do paper work again, Haru walked into his apartment deciding to forgo lunch and take a nap instead.

But there was something bothering him, how did Iruka not know who he was? Did Iruka not care? Or did Iruka not pay attention? It was a well-known fact that he was the richest man in Fire Country and owned the most famous bakery in all of the Elemental Countries. Was Iruka really that much of a recluse?

Haru let the questions float around in his head; there was something that was bothering him. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about Iruka that made him feel safe and it was a little frightening. But it was a welcome fear for Haru and for the first time since arriving in Konohagakure he wanted, more than anything, to help Iruka.

Haru looked around his apartment, and then looked at the mirror that dangled innocently on the wall. Haru ripped the cloth of his eye and stared into the mirror looking around the apartment Haru waved his hands, it was time to change.
Haru was more than willing to change, if it meant he could help someone.