Unemployed Ninja

"None that I can think of. Why?" I stared at him for a moment with a look of confusion before setting the wet rag aside, and beginning to dry him off with the towel.

"No reason..." After she was done I announced that I was going to head into the small shopping district. I had something to pick up.

I watched him go and sighed. I would check his bandages when he came back and if they were bloody... "I'm hungry." I said to myself, and went to find some food.

I made my way to a small shop that sold fabric. I picked out a white and faded blue one and took it back only to show to Kagome and my mother.

"I want Aja to wear this and this only on our wedding day. Make it beautiful, okay?"

"Alright!" Kagome grinned, "It'll be perfect!"

I then went to find Aja so we could eat together.

I was outside standing on one foot when I was him approaching me. "Ijin!! Look! I can stand on one foot! Isn't it wonderful?!" I exclaimed proudly.

"Very." I grinned, moving closer to her, "Are you hungry?"

"Yes I am!" I hadn't found any food earlier. Or, rather, Kagome and Mizu wouldn't let me eat because they said it was too early in the day. I let my other foot down, and ran to him, hugging him tight.

"Hey, careful! Let's go ahead and get something, we can go alone." I smiled for the umpteenth time, I just couldn't help it!

"Alright! As long as food is involved, I'm game!" I replied with a happy smile. Why I was suddenly happy, I had no idea... but it sure did feel good.

And eat we did! Or rather we stuffed our faces.

"I am sorry if my asking you felt rushed." I apologized, my face was red at that point. "It's not that I wanted to get out of picking a bride, I just wanted...you."

I smiled, and tugged at his ponytail a bit. "It's okay. I took no offense!" The fact that you even asked me is good enough!

"What I'd like to know is when you want it to happen. We can wait a while but if you don't want to..." Woah, that feeling again! I've told her I love her, what more does my heart want from me?!

I thought for a moment or so. "How long do you honestly want to wait, Ijin? I mean... I'll wait as long as I have to."

My brows raised considerably. "No, no no! I didn't mean it like that. I meant, I didn't know if you wanted to wait because I didn't really want to wait too long. I'm not going to really put it off."

I smiled. "Okay then... soon. Now that we know soon, we need to pick a day." I scrunched my face up in a look of total concentration, thinking about when it should be. "Hmm... like within the week, or what?" I asked him, still staring off into nothingness with my concentration face still on.

"There can be a ceremony held within that time period. I don't see why not." I gave her a smile, the sooner the wedding the sooner she could see her surprise!

I nodded. "How about... the day after tomorrow? That gives Kagome and Mizu enough time to prepare... we don't want them killing us or anything." I said with that cute smirk of mine. And that's when I remembered. I had to sleep with him! Not that it was so bad. I mean, I slept with him in Honnoji... but we were also on opposite sides of the bed. Except for those times I woke up in the middle of the night to find him embracing me. That was... awkward. I hadn't woken him because he had important missions during the day... or that is at least what I told myself. I was blushing as I thought these things and didn't even notice. I was too deep in thought to notice.

"That sounds good actually. That should be enough time for them to have everything done. A simple ceremony shouldn't be too hard to prepare." I felt glad that we were doing this, though it was surprising. Just the other day we were tearing each other apart.

"I agree! It shouldn't!" I replied with a smile. "Shall we go home now, or do we need to pick something up before we get back?"

"Everything should already be set up if my mother has anything to say about it. We can go home." I paid the bill and then got up to take her home.

I was smiling the whole way home. Home? Iga? Well, I guess I have nowhere else to call home. But isn't home where the heart is? Does that mean... that Ijin's arms... is my home?

"Ijin-Kun! I need to ask you a question!" Kagome called loudly. I wished she didn't have to announce that she was talking to me to the whole village.

"I'm coming." I mumbled, slightly bored with leaving Aja behind.

I smiled a bit, and went on to the tree again. It was still light enough for me to sit up there a little while longer.

"It really looks good." I said, looking over the design for Aja's wedding garment. I was perfect in fact, I was so pleased!

"Really? We need to finish the alterations to the size but so far it's done." My mother told me, bowing a slight.

"Thank you. She'll be so thrilled! On that day I want her to have all the joy she can possibly possess." I left to go get some rest. I needed it since it was going to be busy.

-A month or so later-

Balance, Aja! Balance! Those words resounded in my head as I practiced my balance once more. I had gotten a lot better, but still not good enough to pass. I looked down at my single wobbling foot, and I held the other and held my one free arm out to help me balance myself. I smiled as I felt myself regain the balance I had five seconds before when suddenly, a slight breeze knocked loose a branch from above me! I didn't see it until it dropped on my head, completely obliterating my concentration, and balance! I felt my foot slip, and I prepared myself for the bruises that never came.