Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo.
Summary: It's been about 3 years since the three have parted. Believing that they wouldn't, shouldn't reunite again, they left in three separate directions to the layout of their lives. But when their chosen lives force them to run into each other again, they decide that maybe they weren't ready to separate. Fuu x Mugen
Chapter 1:Service Charge
The sun's rays lighted up the sky. Gleaming past the forest's horizon and through the villages. Villagers walked through town rushing to get the morning's best deal. The small town didn't have much but had its famous landmarks, one being a heart-warming restaurant/bar in the very center. Hazukashi Kuroi, the name of the region known restaurant. People flocked here day and night for a chance to eat its warm meals. Today was no different then any other day. As soon as the doors opened customers rushed in scampering for an empty table.
A young woman about 18 stood at the doorway greeting customers as they entered. "Welcome sir, hope you enjoy your meal." she hummed, quickly bowing with a food tray pressed against her stomach. As she rose from her bow, her ponytail flipped back down slapping a short, blue and green summer kimono. As soon as quaint groups of people were seated and ready, she moved in to begin taking orders. As much as she loved this peaceful town, the inhabitants were always rowdy when they got together. Always playing rough, especially at the restaurant where they were able to drink to their hearts content. "Hello and good morning sirs. My name is Fuu and I shall be your server. What would you like to drink?" She fell to her knees on a mat next to a large table occupied by a group of men.
One of the men tilted his head slightly to smirk at her, "I think I know what I want, what about you guys?" Their laugh suspended in the room.
Fuu tried to ignore the oh so common request, "We have a selection of tea, water, juice, and sake. Please choose sir."
When the waitress showed no signs of reaction, the man gave up and ordered his drink, "Green tea." Following his order was the rest of the tables.
In the back of the kitchen, Fuu prepared the drinks. "Congratulations lady, you've officially been working here a year now."
Startled, Fuu jerked the teapot a little causing it to spill. Behind her stood the owner of the restaurant. He was an elderly man, no younger than 70 years. Being extremely kind hearted, he always welcomed Fuu some way or another everyday she worked. Though because of his age it was becoming hard for him to be at his business. So to compensate, he hired someone to manage it for him while he was gone.
"Oh Take-sama!" Immediately she started to bow to him, but he simply moved past her to help clean up the spill. "I guess it has been a year since I started hasn't it. Doesn't really feel like it's been that long now that I think about it."
"Thinking of time only results in lies. Fuu you should know that." The owner made haste and left to greet some customers.
Fuu just stood there for a moment thinking about the old man's words. In truth that was true. Almost three years have passed already since they found the sunflower smelling samurai. A while of that spent during the time where she was wondering alone. With no one to scold, or talk to, Fuu felt that she really did miss being around them. But that's when she ran into this town and was welcomed open heartedly. Which was more to say then how those two jerks ever acted towards her. Now she's been working at this restaurant for a year, and has been able to save up enough money for herself. One of the locals even allowed her to rent a second house they owned. If things continue to go well in this town she may consider buying it for herself. The only problem was the restaurant. The new manager was a complete prick. He isn't working today, but he is tomorrow, and the day after. Fuu could clearly remember him screaming at her for not filling the teapot enough, or walking too slow. It was impossible to satisfy him. Nonetheless she decided to attempt the situation. It was her only choice.
Walking back into the dining area, she looked towards another table. Two men were talking about part time jobs for the lack of money they had. They argued about how the other would probably end up spending the money. One would either use it at the brothel, or the other would use it for sake. A smile crept onto Fuu's face remembering their trip. That's when the laughter of her table broke her through her trance as she served them their drinks. That's all it was to them, a promise. No other connection bonded them. Silently she smiled to continue her service to the customers. "Anything else?"
The wind blew past his face causing his hair to flutter. Light rain began to trickle around him, spots landing on his lenses. After a brief moment he turned around from the lake and headed for shelter. It was mid afternoon already and Jin was watching the lake for hopes of a boat. A boat with a woman in it, but he knew already that her three years weren't up yet. But since he had waited this long, a couple more months couldn't hurt. He left for a cabin nearby. His expenses at the last lodging took up a greedy portion of his pocket money. Tomorrow he would have to go looking for a job to feed him.
Being slightly drizzled, Jin walked into an old, rundown, brown cabin. Lucky for him he had found this. Someone had purposely or forgetfully left his or her futon in here. So at least he had a bed to sleep on. Taking a seat against one of the unkempt walls, he immediately heard voices outside the window. Getting up to get a peek, he saw an old man arguing with what looked to be a merchant.
"I'm sorry old man but I just don't have time to head down there. I have other things to do, and a family at home." The merchant complained, obviously eager to leave the old man already.
To his dismay the old man persisted, "Please, I shall pay you enough to go. I need this delivered to my granddaughter. If it doesn't get there tonight, she'll be sold to slavery." Though the old man seemed to refuse to cry, his eyes grew desperate, "you said you have a family, so you should understand the idea of your daughter being thrown into a brothel!"
The merchant looked away, then back at the elder, "I understand sir, but I just can't abandon my duties to be. Please forgive me." With that the merchant ran off.
"No please no!" Cried the senior, lost in all hope. His voice became vain, "My granddaughter needs this…." He trailed off falling to his hands and knees. Dropping with him was a thick envelope that apparently needed to be delivered.
"You need this delivered tonight?"
The elder man looked up to see a young swordsman hovering above him. He had a jet colored ponytail, with two long bangs to accompany it. His glasses were a style he hadn't seen. Hooked to his waist were two katanas intact. "Yes! Yes!" He exclaimed, standing up immediately. "I shall pay you well for your service if you do this young man!" He pulled on Jin's kimono pleadingly.
"Where does this need to go?" Jin picked up the envelope off the ground and pocketed it within his kimono.
A crooked smile grew on the old man's lips, "Wonderful! A town on the outside of this forest." He pointed behind him, "Keep along this path and you shall find it in plentiful time. She lives in a shrine at the village. Her hair is long and black. Also she has a cross scar on her left back shoulder."
"Cross scar…?" Jin raised an eyebrow to question the old man but he simply ignored the concern.
"Here take this." Out of the elder's own kimono he pulled out a large bag and dropped it in Jin's hand.
"This is too much." Jin commented, the bag had to way about six or seven pounds.
"Hehe, I agree. But what's an old man like me to do with all that. My time is short. Now go." With no mercy the old man pushed Jin out in the direction of the village.
He watched Jin run until he disappeared, "My time should not be thought about now boy, you should enjoy yours while you can." Turning around he came face to face with a masked swordsman, "I believe I'm ready now."
The masked swordsman rushed towards the old man and made a silent strike. The geezer felt to his knees in his own blood pool alone in the forest.
A rigid man about 22 years old lay in a decrepit hut in the forest. Next to him slept a young woman with gorgeous face. Breathing evenly he moved his hands around her curves remembering their experience the previous night. Quickly he threw the thoughts away and left the hut.
Since the three of them had separated, Mugen was not sure what he would do anymore. The idea of heading back to his previous life was definitely out of the question, but he somehow needed a way to survive. Sure he could've lived off the fruit or animals in the forest. But that wouldn't last long. Plus, he would need money to head over to the nearest brothel for his own needs. So he took on small jobs of assassinations or bets in the local games. It paid enough for him to be here now so he found no issue. Yesterday though, a beautiful woman had found him in the forest wandering alone. She requested his assistance to the nearest town. He took on the job of protecting her due to her paranoia of being attacked on the way to town.
Mugen didn't question why a woman would be traveling alone in the first place, but in the end he refused her request. Quickly she ran to him begging him to guide her there. Repeating his answer, the woman was at ease to change his mind when she mentioned her form of payment. Unable to pay properly, she offered him her body for the night if he accompanied her. Mugen wasn't sure to accept considering the situation, but his body took over his mind and he quickly agreed, finding a hut to suit them both.
The sun glared at his eyes causing his arm to guard his face from it's light. Almost immediately after his leave, the woman immerged from the hut, mimicking his guard against the sun. "Shall we leave?"
"Yeah lets go." Mugen started walking towards the town. This bodyguard service made him think back to the three of them. He never did kill Jin, but it was settled with the coin flip. Quietly they left towards the town.
She followed right behind, daintily trying to keep up with his fast pace. "So are you a wanderer?" she asked.
"Sorta…guess you could put it that way." He didn't turn around to face her. Just continued on the path.
"Have you ever thought about settling down, maybe settle down with someone."
"Not interested."
Slowly she reached her hand into her kimono. As if trained since childhood she dragged out a short knife, aiming for Mugen's throat. But her speed could not match Mugen's. He grabbed her wrist pinning her against the tree. "It doesn't seem like you need a body guard now does it?" She wriggled under his grasp.
"How did you…?" Her eyes grew big in wonder.
"Most women don't go out traveling alone. Plus, you took care when you took off your clothes. Just a bit suspicious if you ask me." Pulling her back towards him, he shoved her onto the ground, taking the knife from her hand in the process. "Leave here before I decide to kill you." He turned his back to her and continued past towards the village.
"Dammit… please don't kill me…don't…" she whispered to the ground.
Hovering above her, a masked swordsman stood there looking at her. His black eyes piercing into her soul.
"It makes sense now…I'm ready." With those words leaving her mouth, the man's sword flowed through her delicate skin and she fell down, staring down the path her guardian had taken.
"Here go Fuu, here's your pay for the week. See you tomorrow." The restaurant owner handed her a small brown purse.
"Thank you Take-sama!" A bright smile lit up Fuu's face as she rushed off to the market.
Halfway there, heavy rain clouds flooded the sky, and strong rains started pouring. Naturally it hadn't rained for a while, so Fuu didn't make it a habit to carry her paper parasol around with her. She was almost immediately soaked to the bone, and being that her uniform was a short summer kimono had no part in helping whatsoever. She rushed towards the shelter of the nearest shop stand. Deciding that she would have to shop tomorrow when the rain cleared up.
"What kind of eel would you like miss?" The merchant motioned his hand towards the large box of eels he had, showing a great variety.
"Umm…doesn't matter, just as long as it is fried. Thankyou." Politely she bowed to him briefly. To the right of the stand appeared to be the merchant's children. They were on the ground playing with a dung beetle. Torturing it in their odd way by making it carry a rock quite a distance to reach its food. Mugen…She thought, remembering his gambling obsession. Being also the day that Jin bought a woman with Mugen's miracle winnings. Her vision grew a little blurry with the tears that threatened to fall. As well as she was on her own, she missed her two idiots. In her own strange way at least.
Okay, I've never had a harder time trying to do the spacing on something before. During the edit on the site, it would put my spaces/enters in where I wanted them. So to my dismay I had to put dividers where there should just be a large space. So please don't complain about that . Anyway this is my first Samurai Champloo fic and I'm really enjoying it so far. So please read and review. It'd be much appreciated. I will update the next chapter in about two or three days again. :D