Samurai Champloo no belong to me, so you no sue! (but mai is mine)
She ran untill the soles of her bare feet bled, terrified and dazed she collapsed into the corner of an unforgiving alley way. The soiled and tattered jade kimono barely clinging to her body. Her mind prepared to give up with her aching body, which was rapidly shutting down. Her lungs so exhausted, it felt like daggers ripping through her when she gasped for breath.
"We're not through with you yet!" A stout man with a crooked nose and menacing stare shouted. Two others of similar stature followed close behind, grinning wickedly. The young woman could barely lift her head to look at them, foolishing hoping perhaps if they could see her desperation and pain they'd take pity. But such scum were nothing close to resembling "men" and would only take more pleasure in seeing her torment. The leader approached her, ready to finish what he and his thugs had began but was interuppted by the loud thumping sounds behind him. He was only able to spin around long enough to see both his lackies had been knocked to the ground, then he too was taken down along with them.
It had been nearly two nights before the woman was able to awaken, prying her eyes open, her vision blurry. She took notice of the great warmth surrounding her, the blurred vision of a fire blazing several feet away. Unfortunately, she also felt the elevated pain in her face and body. Wincing, she was only able to move her hands, to clench in tight fists.
"She's awake!" A far away voice of a girl suddenly exclaimed. The depleated woman remained still, eager to open her eyes wider but pain and exhaustion forced them to once again close. Fuu gently knelt beside her, grasping a bucket of water she had just fetched from a near by town well. "It's ok now, you're safe here. Try and drink some water. I'll help you." Gently lifting her head, Fuu fed the woman the water and she hungrily drank from the dipper. Once satisfied, her throat no longer dry she swallowed and rested again, she decided to struggle in opening her eyes. "Boy I was so worried about you. You've been out for a couple of days now!"
"Where-" The woman began, her voice weak and raspy.
"It's ok..." Fuu began, reassuring her again. "Jin saved you from those thugs. Just rest."
"Jin." She repeated. Only then she began to make out the incredibly fuzzy vision of the young girl hovering over her until blackness reclaimed her.
Bright light and the constant chirping of birds were the next senses she experienced, along with, of course, the sharp pains. But even then she realized they felt less severe. She was able to open her round eyes wider now, her strength high enough to keep them open. Her eyes peered into tree tops above her, the sun to her right, it's rays pouring through the many leaves. Can I move? She dared to ask of herself, afraid of the answer. She could and she did, but pain struck her hard and the sorness was incredible. She hissed in pain and returned to her back to the ground below her. Sighing deeply she bravely turned her head to her left. Grateful that the motion was free of any pain. There was no one, except for a girl. Brown haired and dressed in a salmon colored kimono, she was leaning up against a large, bulky tree, snoring away. Suddenly, a deep voice met her ears,
"Eh, so you're awake." Two large feet in geta came into her vision, her eye's darting upward toward a man with wild hair and eyes. He smirked and squatted down beside her. "Fuck, they messed you up real good." Frightened, she said nothing. She could feel nothing else then, but the rapid beating of her heart against her chest. Her body froze.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" Fuu's voice rang out abruptly. She jumped up from her spot on the grass and stomped toward Mugen. "You're scaring her half to death! Jeez, and you smell horrible." Scoffing, Mugen stood up to respond.
"You're the one scaring people half to death with that friggin' high pitched whiny voice of yours..." Fuu's expression contorted but she focused her attention on the women before her. Kneeling down, she apoligized,
"Sorry about that. It's ok, Mugen's harmless...too bad his body odor isn't." He folded his arms and stuck out his bottom lip in opposement.
"Bitch..." Was his usual "clever" retort.
"How are you feeling? Can you move at all?" Fuu asked softly.
"Who-who are you?" The woman's voice slowly gaining strength with every word.
"Oh! I'm sorry...I'm Fuu. What's your name?"
"Mai..." She replied quietly.
"That's such a pretty name." Fuu smiled. "Do you want to try and sit up? Think you can?"
"I've tried..." Mai sounded defeated.
"Don't worry I'll help you."
"Please, not just yet...I can't." Mai pleaded. Fuu nodded, agreeing not to push her.
"Don't worry, ok? We'll help you get better. Jin went into town to see about getting you some medicine."
"Thank you...you've been so kind to me." Her voice hushed. Fuu smiled appreciatively.
"Hey, Mugen..." She started but he was nowhere to be seen. "Mugen! Oh you are so unbeliveable! He's such a moron." Fuu seethed, aggravated as she blew a stray piece of hair from her face.
"Is he your husband?" Mai suddenly questioned innocently. Fuu became visibally flustered.
"NO WAY! EW. He's so crude and he has no interest in me whatsoever. And the feeling is one hundred percent mutual. Why would you think I was his...wife?"
"The way you both argue." Fuu widened her eyes in disbelief and processed the answer. As how wrong as she would consider such an assumption, it was just as right a characterisitic when it came to couples. She shuddered.
Mugen eventually met up with Jin, catching him as he exited a tiny merchant shop. "Any luck?" He asked gruffly. Jin shook his head.
"Medicine is quite out of our price range at the moment."
"Hmph, everything is 'quite out of our price range at the moment.' Besides, we should be spendin' it on food. I say we ditch the girl...you did her enough of a favor by savin' her ass." Jin only stared at him, knowing enough of Mugen's character to realize he spoke the truth with such harsh words.
"As deep as our need is of food right now, I cannot simply abandoned a woman in such necessity of medical attention." With that, Jin had explained all that he needed to and walked past Mugen. Aggitated, Mugen scoffed,
"Fine, do what you want. I'm gonna find some fuckin' food." And it hadn't been long before he had found food, and trouble along with it. Most of the time, he was broke and relied on his strength and cunning to get himself what he desired. So like normal, he stole his food rather than work for it and ended up in a fight as a result. He made no effort to shield the fact he was stealing. He did it right out in the open, for all to see and this of course started a riot in no time.
Stepping over the four fallen bodies of the swordsmen, Mugen made his way down the dirt road, contently gobbling up his basket of stolen fish. It hadn't been long before he reached a quaint bridge where an old man was currently struggling to pull a great cart up the steep slope. It's top engulfed in a wide tarp served in protecting it's unseen cargo. Finishing off the piece of fish, he grinned. It was too easy. "Hey old man..." He shouted, his mouth full, swallowing as he approached. Looking tiredly, the old man peered up at the scruffy man who towered over him.
"Oh thank the heavens..."
"Eh?" Mugen grunted, confused.
"I should be so blessed a young man such as yourself was sent to help me!"
"Help you?" He replied in disbelief, a bit amused to the old mans quick assumption. Whatever made him think Mugen would actually help him? But in a flash, Mugen had found himself holding the cart, the old man now carrying his basket of stolen food. Why the hell am I doing this? And more importanly how the hell did I get roped into doing work for this geezer? Mugen looked over at the old man, who was happily smiling as they reached the end of the bridge.
"Thank you so very much." He said gratefully bowing. Mugen looked smug. As if he'd actually do this man a favor without getting something in return.
"Look old man..." He began rudely but the man simply brushed it off and interuppted,
"You must allow me to return the favor..." Mugen raised an eyebrow. Intrigued, he decided to await this 'favor' and delay robbing this man for the moment.
"'Favor' huh?" The man nodded and reached into his kimono. Mugen's hand quickly went to his katana but when the men pulled out a small pouch, Mugen froze. Money? Ten coins. "You're givin' all this to me? Just 'cause I pulled that dumb ass cart of yours?" The man nodded.
"You deserve it. I only ask that I may have this basket of fish. I have children who are in need of a decent meal." Mugen shrugged. He now had more than enough money for food, even enough for sake as well.
"Hell, go for it. I've had enough fish anyway." The old man thanked him again and bowed and as usual, Mugen swiftly disappeared.
"Jin!" Fuu greeted the tall samurai happily upon seeing him. "Were you able to get it?" Jin only replied with a shake of his head. Fuu's cheerful expression dropped into a frown. She whispered, "What are we gonna do? She's in a lot of pain, she can't even sit up." Jin said nothing and past her to kneel beside the girl. Mai opened her indigo eyes to meet his dark ones behind two glossy lenses.
"You are Jin."
"Yes."
"You saved me..."
Mugen arrogantly strode back toward the town flipping the coins into the air and catching them. More than proud of himself about his newly gained currency. But now that he thought about it, he knew he should of stolen the cart. But ultimately he figured it would have been too much trouble anyway, who would want to run that heavy shit load of crap around? He shrugged and as he neared the village's entrance, he knew better and shoved the coins back into the pouch and into his pocket. Nearing a brothel and wearing a grin of anticipation, his quick prideful steps suddenly grew slower and hesitant. He stopped outside the small building and exhaled, staring at it he stuffed his hand in his pocket and grabbed out the money. His gaze then turned toward the farther outreaches of the villages, beyond the entrance and toward the woods. He cursed out loud.
It had been near sun set before Mugen returned to the group. Upon his appearing, Jin remained seated near the small fire, helping it to gain in size with more kindling. Fuu, however, did not remain seated and she did not remain quiet.
"You! What's the big idea up and leaving me like that? I needed your help! You just disappeared on me-"
"Would you just shut up already? Jeez..." Mugen shot back. Fuu groaned. "Here." He stated aggravated, pushing a small emerald colored bottle into her chest. "Now quit your bitching." With that he plunked himself down by a tree. Surprised, Fuu studied the small bottle.
"Where did you get this?"
"From a merchant, of course. It's medicine, genius." Jin perked up at the word.
"I KNOW what it is!" Fuu spat back.
"You aquired medicine?" Jin asked, the usual lack of emotion in his tone replaced with a twinge of shock. Mugen grinned slyly.
"You bet your ass I did. I even paid for the shit."
"You've got to be kidding me. This medicine is expensive! Not to mention rare. Where in the world did you get the money to pay for it?" Fuu was skeptical. "You stole it didn't you?"
"Stop asking so many damn questions and give it to her already." Mugen ordered, turning his head away. Tired of arguing any farther, Fuu obeyed for once. The medicine proved extremely benifical and by the next day, Mai had the strength to sit up. Fuu wrapped her torso and badly wounded feet with bandages, which she had managed to swipe in town as well as a pair of geta. Jin had diagnosed one of Mai's ribs had been midly cracked.Still, he was surprised at how much she was able to move around.
"So what the hell happened to your face?" Mugen inquired flatly of the thin scar on the women's left cheek.
"Mugen!" Fuu was quick to scold. "You KNOW she was attacked! Idiot..." Jin remained silent, curious to whether or not Mai would reply.
"No. It's alright..." She assured softly. "I'm sure it is the scar in which you refer to. I've had it for quite some time. Before the attack..." Her voice trailing off. Fuu blinked and threw another glare toward Mugen who ignored her. "The truth is that I myself lack the knowledge to that answer..." All were quiet for several moments, unsure of what to say. Unsurprisingly, Mugen spoke up first,
"Shit, they must have roughed you up good if you can't even remember..." Fuu huffed loudly but said nothing, knowing it was futile at this point. "You look pretty weird too..." He added. Gritting her teeth, Fuu was seconds away from finally smacking the hell out of him.
"You're European..." Jin stated respectfully. Mai smiled slightly and nodded. All of them but Jin frowned in response.
"'European'?" Fuu repeated.
"What are you? Deaf? That's what he just said..." Mugen spat. Fuu growled at him but decided against honoring that with a reply, instead she turned her attention to Mai,
"But then why do you have a Japanese name?"
"It was the name by which I was referred to..."
"By who?" Fuu asked. Mai shook her head,
"That information is lost to me as well."
"And that is all you can recall of yourself? You know not of how you came to be here?" Jin farther questioned. Mai only shook her head in response.
"I'm so sorry..." Fuu offered. Mai bowed her head. "Well, you're not alone anymore. You are more than welcome to join us!" Her voice taking on a more cheerful tone. She was truthfully more than eager to have a female companion for once. Being the only woman with these two proved to be more than exhausting. Mugen grinned.
"Sure, you're more than welcome. It'll be a refreshing change to have a good lookin' chic hanging around for once. Exotic women turn me on..."
"OH SHUT UP! Perv..." Fuu hissed but angrier for his insult toward her. Mai averted her gaze from him, the sly grin on his face still hung. She was taken off guard by it and as it was she was incredibly weary of Mugen. He appeared to be a man who knew no bounds. And Mai was not at all far from the truth with this perception.
Three days had passed and Mai was quickly regaining her strength, with Fuu by her side they went for usual walks through the village. Able to wash herself, her hair returned to its normal glossy chestnut waves. Her bruises fading, her eyes brighter and vision stronger. But Mugen was becoming increasingly impatient."When in the hell are we blowing this joint? I'm sick of this place..." He ripped apart a peice of bamboo and threw it to the lake below, frightening the nearby coi. In fact, Jin was surprised Mugen had not yet left them. Indeed they were bound by the promise to aid Fuu in her search for the sunflower samurai, but Mugen was definitely not one to be bound by something like honoring his word. And if his desire was great enough, he would have up and left and been on his way as he pleased.
"I think it would be best to locate Mai a place to stay before we take our leave." Mugen sighed, kicking the ground.
"Thought she was comin' with us?"
"I believe her accompaning us on our travels would not be in her best interests."
"Well, whatever, either way I want the hell out of this piss hole."