豊かな無秩序

Affluent Anarchy / Intro: Prologue

"Hey, you! Get back here!"

"Fat chance!"

Chance is the most befitting word to use, in this instance. It is by pure chance that events transpired as they have; that months passed as they did; that life has continued onward as it has.

The sound of steel-bottomed geta clapping harshly against a street echoes throughout Fukui, the capital of Echizen province. People going about their daily business strafe to the side, chattering amongst themselves while they move close to walls, making way for a cart owner as he strains himself to run. It is no use; the theif is long gone, taking several crabs and the entire day's profit with him.

In the wake of the criminal's dust, the owner finally stops, supporting himself by placing his hands on his knees and bending over. Huffing, he looks at the crowds lined up along the side of the street and points rabidly, gasping out, "Somebody stop that man!"

None feel like attempting such an endeavor, for few feel that they even can, so the crowd disperses, leaving the owner lost, confused and penniless in the street.

—§∞§∞∞∞∞§∞§—

The road has flattened out, transitioning from stone-paved to simple dirt, as it leads through a residential area and towards Fukui's north end. The sound of the peculiar geta has become a soft scraping. Dirt is kicked into the air, mingling with the wind as it blows by on its path eastward. The sun shines down on the criminal as he comes to a rough, sudden stop.

Wild black hair flutters; a large, baggy red garment covering his upper extremities flaps as he slides to a resting state. Sharp, cunning, unforgiving dark eyes flash down and then to the side, honing in on the point of interest.

"—don't really know why he does it. There's no reason to kill them."

"Huh?"

The theif's interest has been piqued. The subjects in conversation have unwittingly thrust themselves into a situation far beyond their control.

"What's the matter, sir?" one asks.

The theif tilts his head and grins. "What's that you guys were just talking about?"

The other turns and leans in.

"You mean you haven't heard?"

"Heard? About what?"

"There's a ruthless assassin walking the streets these days, in the next town over," the man whispers, doing his best to be secretive, "People here are worried that he'll eventually end up here, especially since Fukui is so important in the economy and there are a lot of people around."

The theif scratches his head absentmindedly, a look of confusion on his face. "What's wrong with an assassin doin' his job?"

"That's just it," the second man jumps in, "He's not. This assassin travels from place to place committing murders without provocation, taking jobs for free and killing people he has no need to."

The criminal grins, an aloof smirk full of enthusiasm.

"Wow, this guy sure sounds like a real badass."

The other two men glance at each other, caught off guard by their idiosyncratic guest. They each look to the side, glancing around while thinking of an appropriate response to such an odd statement.

"Yeah, I guess he must be," one finally offers.

"Where could I find him?" The criminal can not contain the eagerness in his voice now.

"Uh, I don't really—" one man begins. He is suddenly grabbed by the collar and yanked forward viciously.

"Hey!" the theif shouts, "I didn't ask what you thought, I asked where to find him!"

"Uhh, uh, probably the town east of here. Check there," the man responds, causing the guest to finally release him.

"See now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

The other man, standing off to the side, looks at the criminal timidly. "It's foolish to go out of one's way to cross paths with such a madman, though."

Their guest simply smiles, tapping his back, across which a nicely polished scabbard is strapped. A shiny hilt protrudes from the top, encrusted with pearls that have obviously come from the sea, leading down to an undoubtedly sharp blade hidden within the container. With that same grin, he says to the two conversationers, "Don't worry about that. I got it covered."

—§∞§∞∞∞∞§∞§—

The dust is finally settling in the city of Fukui, with nearly all of the residents none the wiser in regards to the world-changing event that has transpired there today. People move about with their lives, still carrying out their business on the streets. Dusk is setting over Japan, and children are being tucked into beds. The man who was robbed sits miserably at his cart, head in his chin, making meager attempts to peddle his foods to the passers-by. The two men who spoke to the odd guest are still conversing, walking slowly down the main road before both will take their separate ways home.

Few know what truly happened today—that today, the world has been changed once again.

The vagrant Mugen is back on the road.

プロローグ

つづけ

A/N: This fic has been long-awaited—by me—and I worked really hard to make sure I had all of the pieces in place before beginning it. I'm glad to say that with this prologue, I think I've begun one of my most ambitious projects ever, and I'm really excited, because I think I've got the groundwork for something special here as well as because I just love Champloo. I hope there will be a few readers out there who will enjoy scanning this fic and reviewing, and I hope that everyone enjoys it. This is just a prologue, so don't take too many indications of what the fic will be from it, but read and enjoy nonetheless.

I look forward to it.

So please review. And stick with me. Hopefully this fic will be long enough to satisfy everyone's appetites.

LL