[An indirect answer then. After a moment, Haku nods. In retrospect, the relief he'd felt at seeing Zabuza at the Foundation seems nothing but laughable. Childish, really.]

Being alone in a place like this is decidedly for the best, even if that may be lonely.

[He lowers his gaze.]

Were these people your friends? [Do Kings even have friends? If ninja aren't meant to have that luxury, then maybe it's not so different for kings. Haku really wouldn't know.]