Water fills the cup just enough so that it nearly runs over the edge. I tilt the cup onto my lips and take a hearty, cooling sip.
Damn.
The water tasted refreshing as it always did, but it hurt to move my jaw after last night's unexpected fight. Being injured in combat isn't something necessarily new to me. I've competed and sparred for years, yet she had to come and raise the bar on the pain scale.
"AH!"
And of course, the accursed jolt of pain shot through me again.
I have to be mindful about where I put pressure on my body. Most of the movements on my right side, where the wound is, cause the muscle to tense up. Thus creating a lot of pain.
My hand covers it and I feel the bandages fluttering between my fingers, "Idiot," I mutter to myself for being such a rookie at applying bandages.
"I'll do it again later."
I slowly made my way to the living room while trying to deal with the pain I felt in every step. Carefully, I lower onto the chair standing in front of the couch and take another refreshing sip of water joined by an aching jaw after taste.
My eyes, as tired as they are, don't move from her resting body. I'm still trying to process the new tidbit of information I found out a few hours ago.
I was almost murdered by one of my customers.
That girl who came to my booth a few times with a smile on her face. That girl who bought durians from me and paid my fibbed price. That girl who I thought I had made acquaintance with. That girl who I suspected had more to her than I thought.
Just the moment I took off that mask, it came to me. And you bet I couldn't fucking believe it! It was all my mistake. I gave her the directions to my farm and she robbed me.
"As if I didn't have enough to deal with. When I try to protect and excel my father's legacy, someone up and goes and tries to take me out!" My teeth clenched when the anger rushed through my system. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down.
Well. I tried anyhow.
In all my pent up frustration, I couldn't fathom another second of watching her sleep so peacefully.
I need answers!
I need them now!
Gripping the glass tightly, I whip whatever leftover water there is right into her face.
"GAH!"
Ibuki shoots up quicker than a geyser. Her eyes wide and her mouth shooting and sucking air. I only snarl at her predicament, "Bet ya got a lot of questions, don't you?"
She looks at me. Her pretty little face all battered up from the number I did on her. Probably why she had to resort to such drastic measures. Serves her right.
For a moment, Ibuki looks around, probably realizing this isn't her bed or her home, "Wait! No! I have to get back to the ninja glade! People are-"
"I don't care about your stupid ninja whatever!" Not even the blasted aching of my jaw stopped me from yelling, "You tried to murder me last night! I should call the police and have put you in jail!"
She closed her mouth, looked down, and rested back as if it all came rushing back to her.
Then we sat together in silence. Me, wondering what kind of bullshit she's going to spew out to save her own hide and Ibuki, going through a wide array of negative emotions from last night's events.
Her bold brown eyes scrolled from the floor right into my eyes. At first they held strong with a promise of strength and integrity. That's the look of a true warrior. They then grew weak. Watery. Her lip tightened and she stuck her fists into her eyes.
"I'm sorry…I'm so so sorry…"
I couldn't believe it. She started choking up right in front of me. Tears rolled down her cheeks, she sobbed, and whimpered with every whine. Not to mention her face looked really ugly when she cried.
My conscious forced me to loosen. Ibuki clearly needed help. I extended a hand, only to forego a strong feeling of resentment.
"It's just that the ninja glade nee-
"Don't give me that sob story! Ninja glade needs help my ass!"
She looked at me with sorrow, "Look. I don't give a damn about the crap you're talking about! You," My hands trembled, "You alone made my bad situation worse! If anyone needs help it's-"
I stopped right there. In all my fury, I already had clenched her shirt and pulled her closer with my balled fist ready to endlessly strike time and time again.
She didn't even try to fight back. Ibuki just kept her head there and didn't make a move. I let go and tried to calm myself down. This time, I actually calmed down.
"How's about we make a deal?" Ibuki nervously spoke. I sat back completely flabbergasted! This chick just cried and now she thinks she's in the position to make a deal?
Again. A moment passed between us before something was said.
"I'll humor you."
"Okay. Okay. What if you don't call the police and I'll-I'll act as your farm hand. Help you around the place."
A good rebuttal came to my mind, but I held my tongue. There was no way I could trust her. Not after what happened. She's nothing, but a sneak, a thief, and a murderer. Making a deal like this…is…putting my own life at risk.
Even so…she didn't have a problem clearing a field within an hour. Ibuki would make an excellent farm hand and it would be foolish to take any other choice at this moment.
Really, the only thing at risk is my father's legacy. My legacy.
Ibuki had to watch me in silence for a good while. She tried to murder me last night and gave me a wound that still tends to bleed every now and then. And looking at the way things are now am I really in a position to not give this a chance?
I lowered my guard and sighed, "How long did it take you?"
"T-to do what?" Ibuki asked rubbing one side of her swollen face.
"Clear out a field. How long did it take you?"
"It only took me about ten minutes to tak-fill a baskets worth," she pointed toward the basket in the corner, "The size of that. I completely filled it."
All that in ten minutes? Absolutely fucking impressive.
Back up, Makoto. Don't let her know that you badly need a farmhand. Make her seem like some kind of possession. A possession that can be easily replaced.
I rubbed my chin, "I don't know…"
"Please! I have nothing left. Nowhere to go"
I leaned forward, cupping my hands over my mouth. This is a lot I'm risking here. Not sure if this chick still has plans to kill me or not. Although, that's a hell of a risk to take to not let my father's legacy go for nothing.
"Can you stand?" I backed up and gave her room. I know I didn't do much damage to her legs. She looked a little sore standing up. Nevertheless, she moved her legs and walked around the-.
"Woah! Woah! Stay where I can see you!"
"I-oh."
"Yeah."
I won't lie, I'm downright paranoid because of her. Sure I stripped her of all her weapons, but these ninjas as story told have a lot of tricks up their sleeves.
We both make our way outside and stand before the big empty field riddled with wilted vegetable leaves scattered around the ground. The surrounding earth is already dried out from the unforgiving sun despite last night's heavy storm. Tapped from its nutritional properties. Basically, we stood on useless dirt.
I took in a deep breath, "Till."
"Huh?"
"We have to…till the dirt." I look at her again. My teeth grit and my fist clenched tight.
God damnit. All of this is her fault.
"M-Makoto?"
The ninja grasps the tool I hastily handed to her. It's a till. A long pole with four pointed prongs at the end, "You stab that end into the dirt. Not me." That sounded like a joke, yet my face read dead serious.
Ibuki seemed taken aback by my statement then nodded.
"This'll take you all day. So you better not slack."
"Yes, Makoto."
"And if you don't do a good job, I'll call the police. Remember that."
Ibuki hobbled over to the field and started her work. The more I observed the less I was able to believe my eyes. She hobbled, limped, and overall moved sluggishly, but that didn't stop her from tilling the field way faster than I could've done.
Every twist, turn, and pull had far more effectiveness than I thought she could do. Ibuki's basically an old pro at this. No matter. There still was the matter of inspection.
"Step aside."
The moment I knelt down that same sharp shooting pain ran through my right side. I wince and stagger; cursing at myself for my carelessness.
"Are you oka-"
I merely tilted my head to the side. My right eye shot daggers at her just like she did to me. I'm gonna be in pain for who knows how long because of her.
The palm of my hand gathered the re-earthed soil. Cool and moist to the touch, just like fresh, silky smooth soil ought to be. Which is very imperative for the ground to be fertile.
"Hmph."
I checked here, checked there, checked everywhere, and re-checked. I had to admit to myself, this person just out did me in something I've been doing for years. And she did the entire field in less than two hours.
I turned my head to give her my sign of approval. But any sign of niceness twisted into bitterness, "It'll do." Ibuki breathed out a sigh of relief. Shit. If this girl only knew she was far from being done.
I stood back up and sucked in some air to keep myself from making any pained sound.
"Here," From my pocket I hand her packets full of seeds. Soy beans, Tomatoes, Onions, Lettuce, Wheat, Cherries, Pumpkins, Grapes, and such. These tiny little specs have the power to grow into something huge and fruitful…regarding that they are well taken care of.
"Now go ahead and water the dirt and plant those seeds. Do it well."
Nothing came from her except a sorrowful look in her eyes and a nod. As she approached the field, I hobbled back to the porch and sat down. My hand covered the wound. I felt a little blood trickle through and stain my overall, "Knew I didn't do these bandages right."
From the porch I watched her seed and water very quickly. From what I could see she was doing a good job. Adequate distribution,
"I must say this, Father. This might be the thing I've been keeping my head up for."
