Disclaimer: I don't own anything...except my converse...and numerous volumes of Manga. But no copyrighted terms...

Note: Everytime a page break occurs, it changes POV

Jin:

We parted ways, taking our own paths to whichever life the gods would carry us. Myself, I made a living doing small jobs in small towns until I found myself wanting to move on to another. Very rarely would I stay longer than a few days or a week in one village. It might have been two years after the three of us separated for the last time before the routine of spending every day and night alone finally began to bother me.

I was alone. Of course there were girls, and women, seeking my attention in some villages, and some prostitutes seeking my patronage, but by choice I never saw them again. Despite my loneliness, however, those innocent girls, desperate women, and troubled women of the street, were not what I was looking for. In fact, the more they asked, the more I thought of the one person I missed the most.

Laying my head back against the floor in my newest inn at the time, I thought back on how long it was since I met Shino. It had to have been almost 3 years, which meant she would have been getting out of the shelter soon. Realizing this, my eyes shot open from almost slumber. "She's going to be free from her husband." I told myself, at first trying to make myself believe it. "Free from the brothel."

This fact hit me in both and worried and good sense, knowing I could finally be with her, but not sure if I could make it back to her before she gets too far from me. The matter rattled through my head for several moments before I finally concluded that I had to leave the next day. I would soon make my way to that small village in which we met, hoping to find her at the dock as she returned.

I laid my head once more against the floor, this time allowing a small grin to paste itself on my face as I whispered her name aloud into the night air. "Shino."

Mugen:

No one should ever become a "fighter for hire". I thought the job would be easy, not having a boss, being free, getting paid, and always fighting. But soon I had requests to kill women and teenagers. Three years before I would have no problem, but for some reason after splitting up with Jin and Fuu, it was difficult for me to kill almost anyone. Every time I came a cross an order to kill a woman that escaped a brothel, I would be close to finishing the assignment before realizing she was only trying to escape. The fear in her eyes would get to me. The same thing with the boys. Teenagers either trying to make a living, or trying to prove they weren't children by doing something immature. Shaking them up was enough to satisfy me, but I never get paid for being a good citizen.

I ended up being chased out of numerous by angry "customers" who wanted the money from back—the few that actually bought my "pay in advance" con.

After giving up on being a fighter for hire, I tried to live off of bets. Everything from beetle fights, to human fights I bet on (sometimes jumping in a few, myself) and most of the time I lost. I got a few extra bucks every here and there, using it to buy food, and sleeping on the dusty ground, like I did with the other two. It was nights like that—being broke and without a bed—that really reminded me of being part of the trio.

I think what I normally remembered about the group was always trying to save the girls ass from trouble. She was always doing something and causing havoc. Ended up in brothels, got kidnapped, held hostage. I had to save her too many times. And she wasn't even pretty!

One night I actually got to thinking about it…why did I save her so much? She was just going to be a load off my hands. She was just a bothersome little girl, right? Seeking the "sunflower samurai" that I didn't even know if he truly existed in the first place. Why did I care if she died. One night when I was going to sleep it really bugged me.

I had heard a girl crying to a shopkeeper that she didn't have the money to pay for something and it sounded like her. Needless to say it wasn't. Anyways, I laid down against a log for the night, it being the most comfortable place to sleep at the time, and began to think. Finally I decided that I, strangely enough, didn't know. But I figured, maybe I'll figure it out if I talk to her again. Maybe I can catch myself in a moment like that where I have to save her sorry ass and I will think for a moment before doing so.

My thoughts were finally shifted however, as in the distance I heard someone scream "There he is!"

Looking closely I realized it was the guy I had bet on his rooster that lost in a fight. "Shit." With that I pulled out my sword, ready to beat them ad flee to the next town.

My final thought that evening? I guess I'll have to hunt her down and find out. Thus beginning my journey to find Fuu.

Jin:

I awoke early the next morning, feeling the sunlight on my face through the window. Today is the day. I thought. Today is the day I begin going back to Shino. Just hearing her name in my mind made me feel wonderful. I retrieved my katana, strapping it to my belt, followed by my wakizashi. Once I felt they were secure, I put my glasses on, and stepped out the door.

I left the inn feeling more refreshed than I had been in a long time. My stern expression could have told different however, but no one could tell that I truly was smiling. The smile I kept hidden from the world, and special for Shino. Breathing in the fresh morning air, I thought to myself. Yes, this truly is the start of something good.

Mugen:

I always try to make it to the next town before I fall asleep, not wanting to sleep out in the woods and have to wake up every hour from robbers. This time however, I didn't get to sleep. By the time I reached the next town, it was sunrise. I was so pissed at first, but then decided I should get going soon anyways. The girl was usually hard to find anyways, so stalling wouldn't help. I smirked to myself, slightly excited to see the girl again, wondering if Jin would be there too. I doubted it, but maybe.

With my swords on my back, I let the sun reign down on my face, then another question played with my mind. These questions seemed to never end lately. Why was I excited to see her?

Author's Note: This is my first Samurai Champloo fic. Not my first fic, and not even my first samurai fic. I want as much constructive criticism as possible. I will update as soon as I can. Cya love ya bye!

DPA(Pyro)