(a/n: I do not own Samurai Champloo in any way)

Vol. 1 Correspondence of Contrast

-Fuu-

As I walked along the road toward the village- Momo on my shoulder- I couldn't help but think about Jin and Mugen. I wondered what those two would be up to right now. Who knows what Jin was doing, but I'd bet anything that Mugen was at the first brothel that he could find. Things would never change with him, the pervert. I did miss them, they were the only friends I had…that was a disturbing thought.

We had been apart for a whole three months now, and despite my earlier fears, I was doing a good job taking care of myself. I sighed as I came to the first buildings of the village. My stomach grumbled loudly.

"Come on Momo, let's go see if I can find a job. I'm starving." Momo squeaked a response of approval and I started into the village.

-Jin-

"Hey, you!" a man called to me as I sat resting on a bench outside a teahouse. I slowly looked over to him, unsure of his interest in me. I was even more suspicious of people these days, ever since so many of the people we ran into were assassins from the Shogunate. I had no idea if they were still after us, despite the fact that we had dispatched their best hired sword. The sunflower samurai- Seizou Kasumi, or Fuu's father- may have been dead, but Fuu was still alive and The Hand of God (Kariya Kagetoki) had said that his orders were to dispatch her as well.

"Yes?" I asked. The man was standing in front of me, blocking the bright sun.

"Are you a trustworthy man?" he questioned. I nodded. "Good, good. Will you do me a favor?"

"I suppose it depends on the favor you intend on asking."

"I need you to take a package from the city here to a small village a few days away. Its medicine for my sick son, my wife can't leave him to come and get it, she is preparing for a big event. Please, she will have money waiting for you there to pay you for your services."

"I will do it." I stood and he handed me the package.

"You will find my wife at the house next to the teahouse there. She mends clothes. I'm sure she would be happy to oblige you with a room and a meal once you get there."

My stomach growled loudly. I was very hungry, it had been days since I had a decent meal. At least there would be something to look forward to once I got there. With a reminiscent thought about how I had traveled before with Fuu and Mugen, I began my journey alone.

-Mugen-

"Come on baby! Stop bein' such a tight-ass," I tried.

"No money, no girls!" the broad shouted before she slammed the door in my face. Damn, I really needed a girl right now. I was hungry as hell too. I had no money, not for a while now. I had just kinda been scrounging around and stealing what I needed off street punks. Too bad I wasn't with four-eyes and the bitch anymore, we always found a way to get some money back then. I sighed and started making my way out of the red-light district.

"Damn," I growled when my stomach rumbled real loud. I needed some food, now. I was walking out past the gates when some fat jerk bumped into me.

"Watch it, boy," the man said, I kept walking. "I was talking to you!"

"Maybe you're the one who should be watchin' where you're goin' with that big ass of yours," I said coolly, looking over my shoulder.

"Wha-? I should kill you right here you insolent little-"

"Whatever buddy, I got places to go. Don't want to be wasting my time on you…you're just not worth it." I started going again, and he kept on babbling behind me. Then I heard it, or sensed it, or whatever…but I knew he was coming. I ducked as his sword went over my head, and in one move I pulled my own out and turned to slice him open. I stopped with the tip of my blade to his throat. "You shouldn't have done that."

I heard the whistle and the police surrounded us pretty quick. They started shouting, but I wasn't payin' any attention. I stepped back and put my sword back in its sheath. There was no way that I was going to kill this guy in front of them…I'd be as good as dead. They'd have to catch me first though.

"Who started this fight?" one of the guys asked.

"It wasn't the young man," an old man said. "It was the other, the boy was merely defending himself."

They came up behind me and started to take the other guy away. When they were gone I started to go on my way again. The old man caught up with me though. I slid my eyes to see him standing next to me.

"Hey, you were pretty good back there. You have a great skill."

"I guess," I said with a shrug.

"Would you be interested in a job in security?" he asked.

"What? Like a body guard?" I wasn't about to do that shit again.

"Sort of, but all you have to do is keep order and make sure that no one is where they shouldn't be. It's only for one day."

I didn't really want to do it, but I needed food and money. I wasn't getting anything decent off of the jerks I was stealing from.

"How much does it pay?" I asked.

"Five ryo."

Holy crap. "I'm in. What is this thing I'm supposed to be guarding anyway?"

"You are going to protect a wedding." Wha?