Unemployed Ninja

My eyes popped open upon hearing my fake name. I knew immediately that Aja had woken up.

"Aja!" I whispered, running to her side, "You're...awake..." I was suddenly overwhelmed with dizziness, just from staying up late and working hard to keep her healthy.

"W-where am I?" I asked, trying to get my boundaries straight.

"I brought you to Moro. You were injured three nights ago." I felt my stomach knot and my heart race, my wife...was injured. Why was it hitting me that she wasn't just my student anymore?

"I was so worried...I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

I smiled a little. "You'd go on without me and find someone a little more suited. Or at least, that is what I would have you do."

"Let's not talk about that." I said, practically breathless from my heart racing a quickly, "You're alive and that's what matters."

I looked at him in a curious way before nodding slowly. I wasn't so sure what upset him about what I said. "Thank you for saving me... again." I finally said with a smile.

I laid down next to her and closed my eyes. I felt so tired now that I knew she was okay. Why was that? I didn't understand how I could feel energetic one minute and like energy was sucked out of me the next. I fell asleep.

I laughed when I saw him fall asleep. Over the last month, I had found that he was cute when he slept.

After resting I figured it was a good time to head off again. But I couldn't take Aja with me, she was still recovering...and if I told her that she'd be angry.

I awoke to find that Ijin was gone. I looked around frantically for him,, ignoring the pain my wounds were causing. "Dai..? Dai?! Where are you?!"

"Here." I walked out of the washroom, "I had to change...I'm thinking about heading to Honnoji but I don't know if I can leave without you."

My heart came dragging back. It had run off somewhere while I was frantically looking for my husband. "Of course you can't leave without me!" I exclaimed. "I would never let you! And if you leave while I'm asleep, I promise you I will follow you to Honnoji! I won't go back home. Therefore, there is no discussing the matter, I'm going, and am ready when you are!"

"I'll...be ready within the hour." I turned around to get my hair the way I wanted it, it sounded girly but it was an important part - or else it would screw up the whole costume!

Satisfied that I had convinced him it was a good idea for me to along, I sat on the floor, propping myself up against the wall to wait for him. "You know, it will be much easier if you cut your hair!" I called out to him.

I let out a long list of reasons why I didn't have to and then came out of the washroom, "Let's go, do you need to be carried?"

I smiled at him. "No, I think I can walk. I just can't run is all." I leaned over to him, pulling him down to my level so I could give him a kiss before letting him go.

"Always with the kissing." I chuckled, "It makes my face burn up..." I was obviously red, not in a bad way though.

I giggled. "But you're so cute when you get all red like that!" I replied with a big smile. He really was cute...

"Thanks." I chuckled a slight before we left the inn. I hoped she'd be okay on the trip.

Most of the way, I held his right, and he held my left hand. The good one. It was a fairly nice trip, though I noticed my bangs were getting in the way. I tried to discretely move them to the side, though they would constantly fall back in place.

"Almost there. Are you still okay?" I asked, worrying about her health.

I smiled. "No no! I'm fine! If anything, I'm just a little sore..."

I nodded a little. At Honnoji we found a good inn to stay at and I began to work on finding a lead to my fathers untimely death.

I again began to look around at the local shops. I saw the same guy with the crystal necklaces, and decided to steer clear of him. Besides, he seemed to have his hands full trying to convince a customer that the necklaces were real diamond, and not crystal.

That night at the inn I felt at a loss, "My father's name is practically lost with the wind." I said, "The assassin that was killed must have had something to do with it."