Haku squeezed Artemis' hand and shook his head. "No, I wasn't." He smiled. "The attachments we make here are no less valid than the ones we make in less strenuous situations."

Shifting slightly, he moved to lean against his friend. "Besides, for me this is the longest time I've spent with someone that wasn't Z-Zabuza-san." He was proud of himself for that. Only the slightest hitch in his breathing saying that name.