Chapter one

At least I got chicken

"You have got to be kidding me old man" yelled Mugen. "That was only three pieces not five" he said pointing to the sticks on his plate. "I'm not paying that price" folding his arms, Mugen gave the inn keeper a look of mock justification. Then suddenly noticing something, Mugen moved his foot to hide the other two sticks under his reinforced metal sandal.

The inn keeper caught this and held his ground "You pay or I'll call the authorities!"

Seeing the commotion from their table, four men stood up, each armed with katanas, each ready to attack Mugen if the need arose. The dust of the road had caked their feet and clothing, the smell of a long days walk was evident as an afternoon breeze blew through the room. Each one had a look that they were committed to a task when undertaken, leaving no doubt that they were samurai.

Mugen peeled a wicked grin "and what exactly are you fellas gonna to do?" he said, picking his teeth with one of the chicken sticks from his plate.

The entire room became still, everyone was staring at the scene, waiting for something to happen. A few of the patrons snapped out of the initial shock and quickly made their way out the front door.

"One of you, call the constable, hurry" said the inn keeper to the small group of patrons making their escape.

The room was still again. Mugen leaned over to an empty table and began to eat what they left behind. The four men moved into positions surrounding the table that Mugen was having his little feast.

"Pay the inn keeper and we'll let you go" said one of the samurai. His voice was calm and sure.

This one's hanging a solid pair. Better keep an eye out on that one, Mugen thought to himself.

All four samurai were dressed in the same dark blue kimonos. Mugen noticed they all wore the same symbol on their back, possibly their clan or their lord's mark. Three of them wore their heads shaved with a top knot. The fourth one that spoke to Mugen was young and tied his long hair up in a pony tail.

Mugen took quick stock of the men and found the weakest link to be the samurai who couldn't control his fear. The samurai's eyes were constantly shifting back and forth as well as repeatedly changing his grip on his weapon.

You're the one, you're my bitch, Mugen thought, drawing his blade.

"Okay fellas, here's the deal. If you can hit me, I'll pay the old man" the inn keeper smiled at the prospect and stood back to watch. "But I guarantee you that you won't, in fact, I can promise you that each and everyone one of you will leave here missing a top knot, especially you pretty boy" he said, pointing his blade at the young samurai.

At that the young samurai moved so fast it nearly took Mugen by surprise. He just had enough time to parry the young samurai's swing which would've certainly have been fatal. The rest of the samurai all took swings, each one being dodged or parried by Mugen who opened his attack by deftly cutting the nervous samurai's top knot and kicking him in his crotch, all while doing a spinning handstand with his free hand. The struck samurai crumpled to the floor groaning in pain.

The young samurai was on him again, each swing getting closer to the mark, but never enough to actually hit.

Mugen swung again, severing another samurai's top knot which flew into the mouth of a charging samurai making him choke and pause his attack. Executing a spinning kick, Mugen dislocated the newly scalped samurai's jaw then grabbed the choking samurai by his nose and mouth, denying him the ability to breath, which threw the samurai into a panic. Mugen tossed the man into the kitchen where screams and the sounds of a grease fire left Mugen wondering if the man's top knot was fried or broiled.

His thoughts were cut short by the young samurai's relentless attacks that seemed to be getting faster and deadlier with each swing.

He had put Mugen on the defensive and had actually managed to kick Mugen through one of the Inn's lower windows leaving him to roll in the dusty street.

"There, I hit you" said the young samurai walking into the street. "If you are man of honor, you will keep your promise and pay the old man."

"Why, aren't we a stickler for rules" Mugen replied, kipping up into the standing position. "I guess it's a good thing for me that I'm not an honorable man. But I'll tell you what, I do keep my promises, so here" he said tossing the old man a pouch that he had pilfered off one of the samurai during the fight.

The inn keeper smiled pulling coin from the purse. A look of realization came over him and he quickly ran into his restaurant and shut the doors and windows.

"And seeing that I do keep my promises" Mugen pointed at the young samurai's top knot. "I think were not done yet, boy."

The young samurai sighed and then assumed a combat stance with his blade.

Mugen was familiar with the stance, but after the fight in the inn, he wasn't about to assume anything when it came to this kid. The kid was really good and kind of reminded him of a skinny samurai who wore glasses that…

And once again his train of thought was pushed back in his mind with the necessity for survival. The kid's opening attack came out of nowhere. The young samurai's following strikes and ripostes kept Mugen on the defensive, allowing no room for error. Entrance curtains, wheel barrels, even fences were being torn asunder as the young samurai pressed his attack on Mugen.

I hate to do it but...

Flipping over a well, Mugen kicked the contents of the water pail into the young samurai's face, giving him just enough time to sever the cords of the samurai's kimono.

Let's see if he likes to fight naked, Mugen thought to himself landing on the opposite side of the well.

Then there was a scream from the crowd.

Did I hit him too hard? I probably killed him. Oh well, he was a good fight. Hate to see it end; he thought turning around and seeing what the crowd was seeing.

Mugen's vision narrowed on a pair of firm supple breasts which were quickly being hidden by the young samurai, who was re-working her torn kimono to hide her endowments.

Mugen stood motionless, his lower jaw quickly losing the battle with gravity.

The girl finally finished working on her wardrobe malfunction, the result; her breasts barely covered by the remaining silk and her bare stomach left open to reveal tattoos covering most of her sleek, muscled abdomen. Mugen knew what the tattoos represented, wearing similar ones himself.

Two with one stone, Mugen thought to himself.

"Stop, you are under arrest!" cried a voice from down the street. It was the constable and his guards. They were running towards the scene, weapons in hand.

"Sorry babe, but I can't stay" Mugen said, sheathing his sword.

"Really" she replied raising her arms slowly with a weird smile, like she knew something he didn't.

Mugen turned to see a line of guards all armed with matchlock rifles, all pointing at the two of them.

I could probably dodge most of their shots, but the two shooters on the left. Mugen saw the shooters eyes and recognized confidence and experience in both of them. Either one of them could probably shoot him dead at double the distance they were currently at.

"Son of a Bitch!"

Mugen raised his arms just in time for the guards to push him to the dirt and start kicking him.

"That's enough" said the constable. "Tie them both up and bring them to the station. I have a few questions I'd like to ask them, especially you young lady."