Unemployed Ninja

"For that you are going to have to do extra hard training! Roar!!!"

I was already planning my revenge, not that it was serious. I was just going to make her do some hard training techniques to help her balance.

I looked around my new room. Or... the room I would be staying in, rather. It was quite nice, and spacious. I was so set on undressing before that I had not noticed how nice the room really was. I picked up the towel I had dropped, and folded it back up, placing it at the foot of my bed. Old habits die hard.

I appeared at her door moments later in one of my traditional shinobi garments. The sort of clothes I used to train others with and the things I wore at trainings when I was studying.

"Hey, use it now. Afterwards get rest and tomorrow you can meet me in the back, I'll train you then."

I whirled around to see him standing there. The shinobi robes suited him well. I blushed, bowing low. "Yes, thank you Shinobi-Ijin." I stated, still totally embarrassed. "I will be there."

I nodded and went off to my room. I really hoped she cooperate well.

This time I decided to change in the washroom! That would be so much safer! I ran into the washroom with my towel, and began getting cleaned up. I really hoped he wouldn't be too hard on me.

Training was going to be fun. I already had a plan.

"I want you to sit as stiff as you can in this tree! Just think of the circumstances if you fall out and break your neck!" I grinned deviously.

I paled. My worst fears came true! I straitened the annoying bandage that consumed my nose, and climbed up the tree. I finally reached a limb, and sat on it, clinging to it for dear life. "I-Is this good, Ijin-Sensei?" I asked, shaking like the leaves on the very same tree.

"No it's not good! You must stay perfectly still or the enemy could hear you should you be on a mission!" I shouted, crossing my arms defiantly. This was going to be harder than I thought.

"Stay up there until I tell you to come down!"

My eyes widened considerably. I tried to stop shaking, but my body wouldn't let me. I was so scared of falling, or of killing myself... and of disappointing him. I don't know WHY I cared about that. After all, I knew from the beginning that I would be a disappointment. "Y-yes, Ijin-Sensei."

I left to run errands. And in all of that I forgot about my student. I smiled, returning with rice balls and all kinds of good food. It smelled delicious. So I sat down to eat and then decided I wanted to go out practice my blade.

I sat on the tree limb the entire time, shaking horribly so. I had a headache from all the trembling, but I couldn't stop.

I heard the branches rustling and looked up, "Well! I forgot you were up there, sorry. But you didn't fall, that's good! You're making progress already. Now get down, idiot."

"Uhh... actually..." I climbed down shakily. "I fell down three times..." My butt had the bruises to prove it too. I pulled a leaf out of my hair and let it flutter to the ground. I don't know why I tried, my hair was mangled with dirt, grass and leaves anyway.

I sighed, "You fail, we'll try something else tomorrow." I said with authority, "Get inside and eat something. You have to rest for tomorrow!"

I nodded. "Yes, Ijin-Sensei! I'll be ready!" I forced a smile. I didn't yet understand why he was giving me a second chance in training me. It didn't make sense. Especially since he had been so rude to me. But then... when he broke my nose... he seemed truly concerned. Truly sorry. Bah! I was dreaming again. I don't know why I think about him so much...

"Wait, before we go eat. I want you to stand on one foot, and look me right in the eyes." I pointed to both eyes with my middle and index fingers.

Oh great. This would be disastrous! Either way, I did as I was told. I looked him in the eyes, and pulled up one foot. I was surprised! I stayed balanced for a whole five seconds! I then started hopping on one foot to keep from falling. I ended up falling... on top of Ijin. Yeah, talk about unlucky.

I felt my face suddenly burn as if I was about to burst into flames.

"You idiot! You can't even stand on one foot! Idiot!" I pushed her off of me and got up, storming into the house. I was going to have to work on my temper.

I sat up, and watched him storm inside. I sighed, and hoped he'd just give up on me already. Why did he even care? I decided to wait outside for awhile until his temper passed. I wasn't hungry anyway... so I laid back in the grass, and watched the clouds pass by.

"You should go more easy on her, Ijin-kun."

I looked at Kagome, she seemed slightly displeased.
"Well I don't even know how she made it that far in class. She can't even stand on one foot!"

"Still...oh and father sent word. He needs you in Honnoji."

I sighed, "So soon? I just returned yesterday!"

"I'm afraid so." Kagome then turned to go outside.

I've met few clouds I didn't like. The ones I liked the most covered the sun so I could see the other clouds better. I was currently watching one change from a rabbit, to... something else...

I went to my room and began to prepare for my journey. I felt...confident that I could do as father needed me to do but in the same I felt worried.

I finally got up as it was growing dark, and went inside. I still wasn't very hungry, so I made my way to my room to get my towel to bathe. I walked past Ijin's room and stopped short. His room door was open... I could see him packing. What for? I rapped lightly on the door frame. "Ijin-Sensei... are we going somewhere? Should I pack?" What was going on was beyond me.

"I am going to Honnoji. My father has sent word that he needs my assistance." I explained, putting folds of clothing into my satchel. Tomorrow I would add food to take along.