Unemployed Ninja

The next morning I got up and washed myself down before getting ready to go again. I wasn't sure if I'd have to wake up Aja or not.

I woke up not long after he went into the washroom, and decided it was the perfect chance to get dressed. I slipped on my kimono and flats before packing.

"You're ready to go?" I asked, looking ready for travel.

"Of course!" I replied with a nod, picking up my pack. "Did you have any dreams about old hags?" I asked jokingly, referring to the night before.

"Actually I had a strange one...about a little boy. He called me father and I was with this woman...I don't know what it was about but it was very real. My dreams tend to be a slight serious...rather than random." I shrugged a bit and stretched.

"Oh I see. Well mine was... different." I chuckled nervously. "You were in it too, Hiroshi."

"Was I now? Well okay..." I sighed and wanted to see more of the dream though I found it pointless. Not only did I not plan on having children but I didn't plan on really falling in love either.

"Yeah. I was running away from this giant pumpkin that was trying to eat me and you saved me by eating it. So I want to say 'thank you' for saving me from the giant carnivorous pumpkin!" I stated with a smile. I kinda liked the dream.

I gave her that 'what the heck' look and shook my head. "You have idiotic dreams."

Ah... they may be idiotic, but they are fun to retell!" I retorted, with a smirk. Come on, you know you thought it was funny!"

"Yeah okay." I rolled up the futon and tied it to my back. It wasn't heavy at all.

"I'm hungry." I stated before going downstairs to get some food.

"Eat then." I said, taking a bite of some rice balls I'd packed for the trip. I was a slightly picky eater.

I ignored him and ordered a loaf of hot bread. It didn't cost too much and luckily, I still had some of my money left. I then walked over to Ijin. "Would you like some, Hiroshi?" I asked before I took a bite. I knew he wouldn't take any if I had already bit into the bread.

"Certainly my love!" I lifted her and and took a bite of the other side of the bread, "Delicious!" I then kissed her.

I smiled happily, giggling a little. "Isn't it though?!" When he finally set me down, I began to munch on the bread some more. It really was good!

After saying our goodbyes we began to get back to the road that led to Honnoji. This trip, like many others I'd taken was going to be lengthy and slightly rough. It was always good to have someone with you.

I munched on the bread as we walked. It was so good! It also gave me something to do other than talk to Ijin. He was always so serious. It bothered me a little.

"You know if you eat and walk at the same time you'll get pains in your side." I said as I was walking ahead of her.

I sighed. nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag! I wrapped the bread back up in the paper they had given me in the inn, and put it in my pack. My shoulder started hurting again. I rubbed it from time to time. I know he had to have noticed.

I saw her favoring it and got a nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach, like my insides tying themselves in knots.

"Let me see?" I asked, reaching out a hand.

I sighed, and stopped walking. "Yeah... go ahead. It's a scar right above my heart. It makes my shoulder hurt from time to time."

"Hmm...I bet it's a phantom ache." I explained, "It's when a pain returns from an old wound, my father used to get them from an injury he received during a small battle."

Yet it has been irritating me more since I've been with you. "Yeah, you're probably right." I replied. "Every time it hurts, it feels just as real as when the incident happened." I laughed to myself. "But you don't want to hear about that..." I turned to continue our journey.

"How did you get that anyway?" I asked, curious more than ever.