The Lazarus Ninja

"Oh...right...stupid question..." Ushio blinked and nodded. She grabbed the ice cream from the fridge and headed for the couch.

Keiji set the timer for the dango and left to find ushio. He saw her on the couch eating ice-cream. "you'll ruin your appetite if you keep eating that" he said taking a seat beside her.

"You never cared before, don't start now." She smiled up at him and continued licking ice cream from the spoon. "I'm going to have to go to work tonight, I'll be back before dawn. I might pick up some breakfast on the way. Any requests? Melonbread?"

Keiji raised an eyebrow "where do you work exactly" he asked whilst contemplating her question. "I was going to make omelets tomorrow, but if you want to get some Melonbread on your way that be great."

"Okay, melonbread, then." She smiled, then looked at him, a bit surprised. "Oh, right, I didn't tell you about my err, part time job... I'm a...hitman, I guess. I get hired for...you know..." She looked into her ice cream. "I just sedate them, not kill them. The killing and torturing is my employer's own task."

Keiji blinked again, he was shocked with her response. "why exactly are you doing that" he asked "werent you a medic before I died ?"

"When you died, I had to take care of Isamu. Being a medic took too much time. Being a freelance hitman was easier and faster. I wanted to spend as much time with my family as I could...did you think I relied on family fortune to take care of us? I needed a job." She shrugged. "And it's not like I've ever saved anyone."

Keiji sighed ``my parents would have helped you out, dont you think being a hitman or rather woman would make Isamu a target ``

"I don't use my real name nor my real face. So far, the infamous hitman out there is a scarred blond by the name Fai." She giggled, remembering how she came up with the name. "Don't worry, Keiji. My life means nothing. Now go upstairs... Isamu made a poopoo."

Keiji narrowed his eyes " don't start that again " he said before he glanced at the stairs. "I dont want you continuing this line of work Ushio " Keiji walked towards the staircase now, fatherly duties demanded his time

Ushio sighed and devoured the rest of the ice cream. True, being a hitman/transporter was dangerous, but it brought back the bacon. 'Medic nin again...?' she wondered. Ushio threw away the empty carton and went upstairs as well.

Isamu was still sleeping like a log. However, her diaper reeked. She had managed to poop even in her dreams.

Keiji wondered if all fathers hated this part. He wondered if the inuzuka suffered more, having a greater sense of smell. It was propbably that thought which kept him going through this. He disposed of the toxic garment, isamu had woken up and was giggling. "do you see me laughing young lady" he said after she was changed.

She still thought it was funny and waved at him innocently. Ushio watched from the doorway, smiling. She wanted to go over and hug him but thought it over and went to the bedroom. Isamu did not notice and just continued to suck on her fist.

" you act all sweet and innocent but your a little devil aren't you " he said picking her up. " your mother keeps avoiding me " he said quietly " why is that "

'Well, mama is sweet but evil too,' she retorted. Isamu rubbed her wet hand on his cheek, covering him in her baby slobber. 'Don't worry, Papa. Mama will always love Papa. Mama is just thinking up of ways to make you smile again.' She grinned and pat his cheek again.

" I smile " he said lifting her up higher so he could give her a raspberry. " that will teach you to cover me in slime " he said grinning, Keiji heard the timer go off. " ah supper is ready, good thing I always leave a clone in the kitchen " he said walking down the steps with isamu in his arms.

'It's not slime, it's drool. Cute baby drool!' Isamu blew bubbles out of her saliva. 'Papa smile, but Mama just wants Papa to smile...always...everyday....'

" oi Missy you don't blow bubbles with your spit , it's not polite " he said sitting her down in her highchair. " now clone got fetch Ushio " the clone nodded walking upstairs.

"Papa!" 'I want bananas,' she said, reaching out for the fruit bowl in front of her. 'Nana!'

"...don't trigger it until I say so..." Ushio knelt by the window, whispering to a miniscule shadow. "...remember the positions..."

Keiji unpeeled the fruit and quickly sliced it up to his daughter " next time you'll say please or there will be no story before bedtime" he said seriously. Shortly thereafter he cracked small smile, taking a toothpick he started drawing faces on the dangos.

Isamu chewed on the bananas, somehow getting herself messy all over again. "Mama..." '...always tells me the story of the Lazy Boy and the Nice Girl before bedtime. I like the story.' She goo-ed and drooled onto her bib.

--

Ushio came downstairs. She sat down and absent-mindedly wiped Isamu's chin.

Keiji raised an eyebrow at that " lazy boy and the nice girl?" he said lining a plate with the dango family. " oh ushio I was wondering when you would join us "

"Oh? Sorry I took so long, honey." Ushio smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Dango daikazoku..." She grinned and started eating.

'Big dango family!' Isamu opened her mouth for one.

Keiji smiled and started feeding Isamu "thats right Izzy" he said as he continued to feed her small dumplings. "say Ushio-Chan Izzy says you tell her a bunch of stories, care to share sometime" he said looking over to her

Ushio swallowed the mouthful of dango and nodded. "Sure. She does seem to like the Robin Hood story for some reason." She licked her lips and held a dango to his lips. Ushio smiled, remembering the first time she fed him, long ago.

Isamu swallowed and rubbed her dirty mouth. 'Wonder if Papa will be romantic...'