Hello everyone! This is my first attempt at a Samurai Champloo fic; I hope that I can keep the characters mostly realistic. Anyways, please R & R!!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo or any of its characters, plot, and ideas.
Prologue
The sound of the waves lapping against the side of the boat was the most peaceful sound she had heard in days. Their journey had been long and hard; storms and illness had claimed a few of their number, and despair was swiftly claiming others. No one had really imagined that the months aboard the ship would have passed so slowly… But the captain said that land would soon be in sight, and then they would be able to leave the ship and stretch their legs. Land! How beautiful that word sounded. Trees and grass and birds…
Loud shouts quickly jerked the woman out of her reverie. The Reverend was calling them to pray. She sighed softly as her feet made soft thuds on the wooden deck, and joined the rest of the community in front of the main cabin. As she bowed her head, the minister's words rang out sharply into the salty air…
"Dear God! We thank you for our safe journey thus far, and we ask you, dear Lord. To assist us in our holy endeavor… Let us spread your word Father, and enable us to bring light and Your word to the heathens we will encounter… Let us brand them with the love of Your son when we reach this new land, called 'Japan'…"
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"HEY! Get back here!!" the man yelled as Mugen dashed out of the teahouse. "You have to pay your bill!"
Mugen paid no attention, racing down the street and leaving the shouting voices far behind him. "Ha, try and catch me now bastard!" He yelled back over his shoulder.
A few streets away, his steps slowed, and he continued walking at a slower pace. Putting his arms behind his head, he tilted his head back and stared at the clear sky. Once again, he found himself thinking of Jin and Fuu.
"Wonder what the little bitch and fish face are doin' now?" he mused to himself. "Ah, what the hell. Who gives a fuck?"
"There he is!" someone yelled behind him. Looking back, he saw the officials running towards him with swords drawn.
"Time to go!" he said to himself, and dashed off down the street. Looks like he had to be heading off to another town. That's all he'd been doing since the three of them had gone their separate ways. Just goin' to the next town.
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Jin sheathed his sword, and turned away from the body in front of him. He pushed his glasses a little farther up his nose, and walked away slowly. Another day, another body. Things weren't the same since he'd left Mugen and Fuu; he had become a wandering ronin and did odd jobs around the towns that he passed through. Every so often those jobs involved taking care of a fugitive that was plaguing and town and its people, such as this foolish man.
As his feet carried him toward the town building that would pay him the bounty on the head of the criminal, he sighed inwardly. It had been only a year and a half since he'd left the two of them, and it was still a year before he could return for Shino. When would life begin to get interesting again?
When Fuu had been around, they had always been running into trouble. Without the constant fighting and brawling, Jin felt like his skills were becoming more rusty. He had not found a worthy opponent in months. At least Mugen had kept things interesting.
A few hours later, Jin was on the road again. On to the next town, he thought he could reach it before dark. When was life going to become more interesting again?
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"Coming!" Fuu yelled, as she ran with the tea and sake on her tray. She skidded to a stop in front of the table, almost tripping and toppling the mug of tea.
"I'm so sorry!" she cried, placing the sake on the table. "I'll get you another in just a moment." She ran back behind the curtain, pouring another mug of tea.
"Fuu…" The tired voice of the old woman broke through her high-strung panic.
"Yes?" She turned around almost poured scalding tea on herself.
"Fuu, please try to calm down. This is the third customer that you've dropped something on. It isn't a race."
"I know Megumi…" Fuu said miserably. "I'm sorry I'm so clumsy, I can't really help it. I'm just so jumpy today."
"I know Fuu. Perhaps… perhaps you should take the rest of the evening off. Get some rest." The older woman kindly laid her hand on Fuu's shoulder.
"Are you sure?" Fuu asked hesitantly. "You're so busy…"
"I'm sure," Megumi said firmly. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Fuu walked out of the back of the teahouse with her head down. 'Why can't I concentrate today?' she asked herself. But she knew. She hadn't slept well for weeks; she kept having nightmares – nightmares about almost losing her bodyguards. Jin and Mugen.
She sighed. A whole year and a half… She'd settled in this town a few months after they had parted ways, and had gotten the job with Megumi in the teahouse. But she was bored with this life, bored with having a routine and a schedule.
As she neared her house, she paused. 'I wonder when I'm going to see them again?' she mused.
To be continued….
Yes, I know, not long. And it's just an intro. But stories have to start somewhere, right? Please please please please REVIEW!!