Unemployed Ninja

"Alright, Hiroshi." I replied with an oh-so-sweet smile. I pulled at his hair a bit. "I think your hair would look better shorter..." Like mine which you chopped off.

"Unfortunately that's not in the plan." I glanced back at her slightly a I walked, "I like it as is."

"And I liked my hair how it was." I sighed. "But it did help... so... um... thanks for ruining my hair?" I fiddled with his hair a little before I realized what I was doing... then I stopped.

"You're welcome!" I grinned mischievously. We soon reached Moro and entered the small town. I put her down since it was easier to walk on flat ground with them. I went ahead and picked up some flats for her too.

"Thank you so much, Hiroshi!" I said with a big smile, bowing a little. I quickly changed into the flats. That is so much better!

"Watch out for the cat okay? It'll either black or white." I explained to her. I knew these things so well.

I nodded, and looked around for the cat. I didn't see it. "I don't see anything." I said in a low voice as I looked around.

"We'll find it." I smiled reassuringly. Soon I spotted its tail. It jumped around near an inn and I knew we were at our resting place.

"Hiroshi, what is it?" I asked, looking at him. He looked as though he had won a fighting tournament or had just turned the tides of the war in our favor or something. He was so... relieved? Nah... that's not the word.

"Found the cat. Let's go." I walked into the inn and found elderly people I recognized from childhood. I walked over to them and introduced Aja, they already knew me.

"It's good you found the cat. Your room is upstairs."

"Thank you." I bowed and took Aja up.

Once we were in the room and the door was shut, I sighed. "Well that was weird. It seems you know everyone... Hiroshi." It annoyed me a little... but not enough that it meant anything. It was just so weird to be traveling with someone who was known so well.

"Forgive me! My family has been in this for several years so you start to know a lot of people." I explained, laying out my futon on the floor.

I did the same... on the other side of the room. "It's okay... it's just different to me. I grew up as a farm kid... remember?"

"True. Hey, when we got to Honnoji you're going to have to sleep right next to me. No matter how awkward, got it?" I said, looking at her with my serious face.

I sighed. "Yeah... I figured as much. I'm just trying to put it off as long as possible!" I don't want to get too comfortable. I was blushing. I knew I was. It was easy to tell, because my face was warmer, and I had a hard time looking at him.

"Well you should practice because one day you'll go on a mission and have to lay next to a stranger!" I said, pretending to be at my scariest.

"Stop it already!" I exclaimed suddenly. "That's not funny..." I sat down on my futon, and began to rummage through my pack. I hadn't mean to yell like that. But for some reason... what he said... it hurt. "Because, well... you will have to do the same with other kunoichi once you get a little further on, right? Which means that there are bound to be some hags that would be oh-so thrilled to be your fake wife! And to sleep next to you. Who knows? They may even take it to the extreme and cuddle you!" I decided to fake it... and act like what he said didn't bother me. A few days ago... it wouldn't have bothered me at all. So why now?

"It's not like I'm going to end up with a lot of girls and children this way you know?" Wow did I just say that to her? We weren't even anything!

I was silent for a moment before replying. "You're probably right." I grabbed my night clothes and went in the washroom to change. I closed the door softly, and sighed before undressing to take a bath.

She makes life way too complicated. I thought in confusion. I was wondering why on earth she had to make me feel like I was in a relationship with her or something.

I cleaned myself up, and slipped on my night clothes which consisted of baggy pants, and a tunic. I had accidentally grabbed the tunic I had ripped up. Not that it was unwearable... it's just that... the collar was a little low. I put it on anyway. and walked back into the room, to my futon where I began to fold my kimono.

"You are too revealing." I said, looking like I was asleep, but my eyes were open when she came out.

I blushed. Hard. "I didn't notice that this was the shirt I ripped up for you when I pulled it out! Fine. I'll go change." I snapped, roughly going through my bag again.

"Good for you. Goodnight." I went to sleep practically instantly.

I turned around, gray eyes glaring at him. Then I realized he was asleep. I sighed, and decided that since he was asleep, I might as well not worry about changing. I moved my stuff, and laid down. I fell asleep not long after.