Assassin before Advisor-1
AN: Hey! My third story- and this one of the Magi Fandom! I was searching for Magi fanfiction and was a little ticked the lack of variety and inspiration compared to other fandoms. Sure, there are many, many amazing Magi fanfics but they follow cannon to a tea or stop being updated after a few chapter- except the diamonds in the rough. So, I decided to help fix this! Enjoy, and know I don't own Magi- just this idea for a fanfic, which I would be open to a more experienced writer fleshing it out.
Ten years before Ja'far meets Sinbad…
For most parents, childbirth was a joyous time in life. Parents counted down the days till they joined the ranks of mankind's most esteemed calling, and the addition to a young couple's family would be remembered as a treasured moment.
Most parents are not assassins, however. The young Layla and Zephyr were known as Sham Lash's top killers- all at the tender age of twenty one. Neither wanted children- who would wish anyone to the hell that was Parthevia? But orders were orders and the two loyal operatives birthed an assassin to be. Layla screamed in pain as a new life was born into the decrepid world she knew. Zephyr was on an assignment so the only comfort she received were the midwife's encouragements.
"Ja'far" Layla breathed moments after her son breathed his initial taste of the underground air. It would be the first and last time she would see her baby as her own. Already a foster family was lined up to take the place of his real one, for she and Zephyr were too important to sacrifice for Sham Lash's initiation.
"This one will be strong, much like his parents. Good work, Layla. Rest for a week before resuming duties." Her master, the head assassin, said from the shadows. She offered no words of encouragement to her progeny or a second glance as the midwife took the newborn away to his temporary home in a nearby village, hiding her agony as the child screamed at being ripped away. It was better this way, Layla reasoned. The next time she saw him would be after Ja'far had his first kill- his "parents"- at anywhere between six and ten years old.
Such was life. Now Layla would lie to herself for eternity that she did the best thing, letting him leave her side without a struggle. The darkness of her world would infect him, all for a cause nobody could discern. Casting those thoughts away she closed her eyes; time to revert back to a puppet and not a grieving mother.
Home of Inari and Tsubaki…
Tsubaki and Inari, two stolen orphans from the eastern countries were older than most assassins. They had lived to their early forties and became useless to the organization as field workers. For awhile they were both in the medic and conditioning branches for the recruits of Sham Lash until they had a miscarriage without any ability to conceive again.
So they became nesters for another operative's child. Their job was to train the baby thrust upon them and when the time came allow him to kill them, all for the purpose of killing his heart. Normal humans would be mortified by the long-term suicide mission but the couple viewed it as an honor to die in such a way.
"Oh, little Ja'far, one of these days you will be the most powerful assassin in the world, I can just feel it." Tsubaki cooed and raised the infant to her breast that was meant for the child that never breathed. Inari looked on sadly, knowing this marked the end of his partner and best friend- they had at most a decade of life before the innocent ball of snow white hair slaughtered them both for the good of Sham Lash.
Five years later…
Ja'far scowled at the human shaped target, believing it mocked him as his blade refused to hit one of the eight kill shots.
"Here, Ja'far, try it this way." His father demonstrated a looser grip and rope. Ja'far followed and instantly his darts imbedded themselves into the heart and brain. He smiled happily at his father, never noticing the slightly grief filled glance the man sported.
"Well done, my son." That phrase told Ja'far his father was at his proudest and beamed.
Inari stiffened as a familiar aura filled the air. "Ja'far, go inside to your mother and continue your anatomy lessons." Inari ordered, and his adoptive son did so without complaint, showing the results of his upbringing. "Master," Inari kneeled and did the salute of Sham Lash to what appeared to be a tree. A masked man stepped out silently, nodding to his subordinate.
"Impressive for one who just started lessons last week." The master assassin praised. "Definitely a prodigy."
"Yes, master. He studies hard every moment of the day."
"Excellent work ethic and talent- obviously his lineage was a wise choice in pairing."
"Of course, master." Inari knew where this was going, and braced himself.
"I will return for his initiation in nine months- his sixth birthday. Hone his skills well, for Parthevia and the organization."
"Yes, master. It shall be done." With a final salute the man disappeared back into the shadows. Inari stood up and walked back to see his family.
He had every intention of telling Tsubaki they were given their execution date, but when he sees Tsubaki smiling warmly as Ja'far correctly names the bones easiest to be broken for immobilization he stops mid-thought. Let them have some happiness- I owe her that at least, for everything.
"Ah, Inari dear, everything alright?" Tsubaki tilted her head in question, noticing his quieter than normal demeanor. Inari nodded and ruffled his son's hair.
"Everything's perfect, dear." For the next nine months he had a family, a son. When those nine months came to a close he and his partner of thirty something years would pass on, leaving behind a broken boy.
A broken boy with every skill Inari can give him. It was the least he could do for nurturing his heart and ripping it out.
Not that it would change his evil soul to pure.
"Good, Inari. Why don't you demonstrate how to dislocate your fingers for escape? You always were better at it than me."
Day Ja'far turns six…
Something was different today, and it wasn't that he turned another year older. Ja'far could feel it- a vile atmosphere was thick in the air. The six year old tried to climb into his father's lap for comfort, only to be brushed aside and told to help his mother in the kitchen.
Breakfast was a solemn affair, and both his parents had tears in their eyes, which confused Ja'far. His parents never cried, not even when his mother was stabbed in the stomach during a spar last month. She just glided inside, silent as usual, and patched herself up.
"Mother, Father…" Ja'far stopped at his mother's hiccup and embrace.
"Be strong, Ja'far. Never lose yourself. Never blacken your soul like I did for years. I love you." Those words were spoken before he was pushed to the ground. Twenty men in cloaks and different masks surrounded him and his family.
"W-what's going on?" He asked as a stone settled in his stomach. Ja'far looked to his father who refused to meet his gaze.
"Ja'far. You have been chosen to join Parthevia's Sham Lash. Before that though… you must kill your parents." A deep voice spoke from the crowd. Ja'far shook in a cold sweat at the man's carelessness with his parent's lives. His parents mentioned Parthevia's shadows before, but he thought it was a myth- apparently it wasn't.
"No! I don't want to join- not if it means killing my family." Ja'far mustered courage even as the looming presence of the voice frightened him. To his fright the voice chuckled.
"You don't understand, young one. Either kill them…or they kill you." His father drew a dagger as his mother wielded a short sword. Their eyes held no warmth or love that they had the day before.
"Defend yourself, my son." His father spoke tonelessly. With that Ja'far stared at the dagger as it travled towards him. Ja'far prepared to die- he wouldn't murder his parents.
But instinct took over, survival kicked in and his nimble body, flexible after constant dislocations, flew above the blade. He tucked in his knees and held his knife in his right hand. Never noticing how his father carelessly exposed his jugular- something he never did, Ja'far performed an impeccable downing slice. His father. His role model. His teacher. All three dropped like rocks and gurgled even as the blood pooled around him.
"W-well done, m-my s-s-son." The familiar phrase passed by and with a final rattle of breath Inari went to the rukh.
No time to mourn as his mother swings her short sword, slicing a few hairs off. Ja'far turns to run, to get away rather than kill her, but it wouldn't be. Tsubaki, with the grace and speed only achieved through years of work, sliced her son's legs, from ankle to upper calf, right below the knee. Enough to scar, not kill.
It would be her legacy as she fell to her own knees in resignation. Ja'far, still going on adrenaline sent his dagger into her heart, assuming her falling down was preparation for another attack.
"Remember, heart" she whispered before passing on to be with her partner and lover. Ja'far ran out into the frosty weather, ignoring the bloody footprints he left behind.
"M-mother! Father! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…" On and on the six year old sobbed over the death of his two precious people. His tears never stopped and when the medic on standby delivers a quick chop to knock him out he welcomes the darkness.
"They played their roles perfectly" The Master commented as the newest and most promising recruit was sewn back together in the thick blanket of snow. Ja'far completed his task in less than ten minutes- half the time of most other children, even those from completely civilian homes or were older. "Though I would have preferred Tsubaki not giving him scars in the legs- will they heal or will he be a cripple?" There was no use for cripples, and if the woman cut him out of a last minute rebellion there would be hell to pay. Thankfully the medic shook his head.
"No, master. These will mark, not maim. He will be ready for further training in five days."
"Very well then. Sleep well, Ja'far. Tomorrow your new life begins."
End! So this is my take on Ja'far's past. Ja'far has always been my favorite Magi and Sinbad character. Even though he didn't get many lines and his past was not that well explained, seeing the scene of him crying in the snow heart wrenching and felt his story deserved more time to develop. This seemed to be a somewhat reasonable origin story- I figure Sham Lash wouldn't sacrifice two well trained assassins simply for their child's initiation- adoptive family was more plausible, but leaving a child with someone who couldn't train him would set Ja'far back strength-wise. I plan to update semi-regularly, but my main concern right now is ANBU's Mascot- check it out for some laughs if you ever watched Naruto!