Unemployed Ninja

--x-

I smell. I thought wonderingly as I toyed with the feathers on one of my arrows. But that's good... look at that beautiful specimen of a- Wait! Where is it going?! The deer I had my sights on had just run off. I wondered why.

I irritated as ever. I had come home to hear the news that my wife had been kidnapped, of all things! I'd been searching for her endlessly. Now all I was doing was scaring off innocent animals.

"Itai... Aja would not want me being so cruel." I mumbled, eyes ahead. I wished I had some idea of who had taken her. It felt like it'd been months since I'd held her - I felt empty without her by my side.

(AN-Itai means "Ouch" his heart aches. xD)

I dropped from the tree, and ran to the offending man who had scared off my dinner. "Hey bud, you owe me dinner now. You just scared off mine."

"I haven't eaten in five days. If it makes you feel better you can have my arm." I held it out to him, "I don't need it to search anyway."

I stared at the man. Was he serious? He did look a bit pale. I finally sighed, and took a piece of jerky from my pack, handing it to him. "Here. Take it before I change my mind." I stated, eager to get out and find that deer again.

"I don't eat meat, excuse me." I walked ahead, hoping I was getting closer to Aja. Aja, our first child... I choked and fell to my knees. My heart was torn completely in half.

"What if she's more hungry than I am?" I groaned, "Aja..."

"Come on man, what are you talking about? And why don't you eat meat?" I stared at him curiously. Such an odd fellow...

"Because it's not in me to do so. And second, I'm in a hurry! My wife..." Why was I telling the meat eating freak of nature my business anyway? I didn't have to tolerate that!

"What's wrong with you wife?" I asked curiously. He seemed nice enough. A little serious, but nice.

"She was kidnapped a while back and she's pregnant and I need to find her. I still feel it in my heart that she's alive." I turned around, "I need to go, thanks for the offer." I sprinted up the rocks a bit, glancing back briefly.

I followed him. "Hey!" I called. "You might need some help. Besides, I've always wanted to go on an adventure and this seems like the perfect opportunity! I'll help you find your wife!"

"Okay, that's fine with me." I kept it to myself that I was a ninja though, I didn't quite trust him enough just yet to reveal myself.

I grinned. "Alright, first order of business is to get you something to eat! You're of no use if we need to sneak in if your stomach can be heard a mile away."

"Fine, give me that meat you offered." I held out my hand, "If you're going to be picky."

I chuckled and grabbed another piece of the jerky, handing it to him. "So, uh... your wife. What does she look like?" I asked cautiously.

"She has black hair and her eyes change with her mood..." I sighed deeply, "I'm just trying to find where she was taken to, I don't have enough information." I said in frustration.

"Hmm... sounds pretty." I glanced at him. "How long have you been married? Have any kids? She could have just eloped, ya know..."

"We've been married a year or so now, she's pregnant and why would she elope when -" I sighed in irritation, "My little sister was also taken away."

"Oh man! Your little sister too, huh? It seems like someone is out to get ya!" I exclaimed, trying to make light out of the situation. I was silent when I realized he didn't find my comment funny before I finally realized something. "Say! I saw two men and a pregnant woman down the road a couple months back. I remember them because the pregnant woman seemed angry from where I was. I just assumed it was mood swings 'cause when my momma would get mad when she was pregnant, everyone would scatter to get out of her sight range because she'd just start throwing stuff!"

"Th-This road?" I pointed ahead, my heart started to race! Maybe we were close? I hoped so to myself.

--x-

I rubbed my belly soothingly, singing to the baby in a soft voice. I had to be quiet, because the men who held Kagome and I were still just as mean and ill hearted as when we first "met" them.

"Lay down,
your sweet and weary head.
Night is falling.
You have come to journey’s end.

Sleep now, and dream
of the ones who came before.
They are calling,
from across a distant shore."

I felt soothed by the music as much as her baby was most likely. I'd managed to get one of the men to get me things to make medicines and such in case of emergency. They weren't all bad, you just had to know how to negotiate.

After a while more of singing, I sighed. "Kagome," I called softly. "Do you think Ijin will ever come for us?" I knew it was a stupid question, but I still felt I needed that affirmation from her.

"Yeah, he'll come...he wouldn't want to miss all of the things you're experiencing...he misses you." I sighed tiredly, "Don't lose hope."

"I'm trying not to." I replied softly. It seemed one day I would be encouraging her, and the next our roles would be reversed. It was odd, but seemed to be working. My stomach had grown huge in the time we were in the prison. I desperately wanted Ijin to be there with me.