Ninja Love Rules

Shika Ninja Clan Compound, Morotsuka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan…

From Urenna's Point of View in a diary:

I found out something called a diary the other day Omani told me about. It's for people who use it to write about things that go on in their daily lives. I'm doing this only because I am bored and I need to clear my head. Master Crow just came back from his mission in Vietnam. He wasn't able to catch the leader of the group that was causing trouble in Saigon, but Master did free some prisoners so I guess it was not a complete failure.

It's been three days since I found Omani in her house. She stayed at the compound until Master Crow came back yesterday. They did their best to hide their hostility against each other, but after what Omani told me, I already knew about the story. I did my training today but it was kinda hard to look Master in the eye. Maybe he noticed my body language. I wanted to say something about that night while training, but it did not come out of me. Omani told me not to hate Master but that is easier said than done.

Master Crow: "Urenna!"

Urenna (Shouts): "Master?"

Master Crow: "Come eat!"

Urenna stopped writing on her diary realizing that it was time to eat. Crow cooked salmon for him and the disciple children to consume to dissipate their hunger. They all sat at the counter of the kitchen part of the cave. There was some silence between the teen girl and the adult ninja, other than Santi smacking on his food loudly. It was Crow who broke the silence.

Crow: "After we eat you and I should talk outside alone Urenna."

Urenna: "Hai. Um…what will Santi do?"

Crow: "He can watch television while we talk."

Urenna: "Oh."

Santi: "Can I watch Voltron?"

Crow: "Maybe. But first I want Santi to see an old ninja show. You must learn all that you can about ninja, even if it is satire."

Santi: "What is a satire?"

Crow: "Do not worry about that little one. Eat."

When the trio got through with dinner, Crow turned on the television for Santi. The boy patiently sat down and waited for the screen to display the movie. Urenna swept the floor while Crow did the dishes. Once that was done, Urenna followed her master outside where it was dark, but the half-moon gave just enough light for them to view each other. Crow finally spoke after a brief silence.

Crow: "I take it you found out why Omani and I have not been on good terms lately."

Urenna (After a pause): "Hai…master."

Crow: "I see. What do you think?"

Urenna: "Master. What you did was wrong. Master Omani did not deserve her heart to be broken like that. She really cares about you and yet you were out talking with other women. Women you never told us about before. So who is she? The one you were seeing behind our backs!"

Crow: "She is no longer alive. The person who helped me during my mission."

Urenna: "Nani?"

Crow: "Her name was Sahar, she worked as a mercenary for the British government, but her heritage is Iranian. I did not want to get myself too involved into her personal life but she insisted I'd help her father who worked in Saigon as a weapons dealer. He got himself in a lot of trouble with the locals, including the gang leader I just arrested. However, Sahar sacrificed herself for both me and her father as we escaped the gunsmith factory. She fought more bravely than all of us."

Urenna: "Well…I'm sorry to hear that master."

Crow: "It's alright. Sahar did have feelings for me, that much I knew. Yet I couldn't open up to her because I told Sahar my job was just as dangerous, if not moreso. In the past I have told the exact same thing to Omani and our laws when it comes to lust and affections."

Urenna: "But Omani told me she wants you to settle down soon."

Crow: "I know she does, but we ninja have our rules on love Urenna. Have you forgotten?"

Urenna: "I honestly do not know Master. What are you saying?"

Crow: "You mean Omani never told you about the clan's rules on love?"

Urenna: "No."

Crow (Sighs): "Omani…did not want to you know about it."

Urenna: "You mean Omani did not want me to learn about our clan's love rules?"

Crow: "Hai, now listen very close Urenna. Many ninja clans throughout Japan have come and gone. Earlier clans used to have families out of heritage until the Sengoku period because the clans became more reliant on orphans. Most ninja clans perished because of the betrayal within the families especially in regards to serving the powerful shoguns of that era. Many of the shoguns forced these clans to fight and kill each other on their behalf. As for our clan, the Shika, we created laws on forbidding romance amongst our members to ensure loyalty and trust. That is rule one. No fornication amongst us ninja. Rule two has to deal with loving those outside of the clan. Whatever a member does outside clan grounds is out of the clan's control, but his or her lover must not enter our grounds. It compromises our location and the enemy can use him or her against us. Making us vulnerable for capture or worse, death. Finally rule three involves offspring. Our clan also adopted the orphan strategy from our predecessors the Koga-ryu clan. It was more effective keep our numbers up by taking in children from broken homes and war torn villages rather than impregnate random women in and out of the clan. Because of that the Shika clan has stood the test of time. Though today it is only four of us."

Urenna grew silent after hearing the long explanation from Crow about the rules on love. This was a lot to process even for a teenage girl like herself. Did this mean she couldn't fall in love at all? If she did it would have to be outside the clan, but that man could never learn about her secret life as a ninja. The consequences were dire if that man were to discover the truth about Urenna.

Crow: "Do you understand Urenna. You are awfully quiet now. Any questions?"

Urenna: "So is this why I am truly here? Because of those rules you just told me?"

Crow: "Hai, but make no mistake, I do care about you Urenna. You have shown great progress throughout your time here. Because of this, I am more confident about our clan's future and soon you will be in charge. That is why it is important that you know about these rules the clan upholds."

Urenna: "So you do want me in charge as the leader?"

Crow: "One day, hai. Yet you still have much to prove. On my way back here I was thinking about using you in my next mission as soon as Kari gives me more information about it."

Urenna: "Really? A mission with you Master?"

Crow (Nods): "Think of it as a pre-test for your upcoming Chunin exam that I will set up two years from now."

Urenna: "Hai. Master there is one more question I have. It's about Omani."

Crow: "Okay."

Urenna: "Are you…aware that Omani is suicidal?"

Crow: "Actually I do. She almost took her life after I told her our master passed away years ago. How did you know?"

Urenna: "I went to look for her when she did not come to the compound that Sunday. I found Omani in her bedroom at her house. She stopped herself from cutting both wrists because of me and Santi. I really feel bad for her Master Crow. What if we where never here and she knew about your affairs. What then?"

Crow: "Omani knows the rules too. Things have calmed down here in Japan since World War II, but risking our identities and professions by having a child together. Someone will know about our ninja lives and take advantage of that."

Urenna: "Who would do that Master?"

Crow: "Other ninja clans, spies, even government agencies. The risks are too great. Adopting orphans is the best way for recruitment." (Walks back to the cave) "We should go back inside Urenna. Do not worry about Omani. I will speak with her once she eases off."

Urenna (Somewhat let down): "Hai Master Crow."

Back inside the compound, Urenna returned to her room for bed. She had a hard time going to sleep, not simply because of Omani's state of mind but for her own future. Urenna did not want to be suicidal. She had already lost her family due to the civil war violence in her homeland. It did not comfort Urenna knowing that the ninja orphan policy is the main reason why she is currently here in Japan. And yet Urenna owed Crow her life for rescuing her. Do the rules need to be changed once Urenna takes the leadership of the clan? In time, maybe these rules need to be modified. Only time will tell Urenna thought.