Title: Misery Loves its Company
Author: Beckzy
Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Champloo
AN: Sorry it took me so long to update… no excuses though! I really didn't know if I wanted to post this because of the too little reviews that I got… but I did. Thanks to those few people who did enjoy my story, this ones for you guys!
Chapter Two
Lets Start a Fire
"Have you ever heard of the saying 'an eye for an eye'?"
"Nah."
"…It refers to retributive justice."
"Huh?"
"In other words; the law of retaliation. They took something from us, thus, their punishment must be equal… a life for a life."
"What's your point?" Mugen scanned the room as he picked his ear. It was quiet small and didn't have many furnishings. The paper walls were covered in grime and scum and the floor was literally dirt. For as much money as the yakuza boss was willing to offer Mugen, shouldn't they have been living in a castle?.. Well at least in an upscale paper house…
"I need you to kill him." The boss, otherwise known as Atsuko, threw a shriveled piece of paper towards Mugen who caught it one handed. With his best curious look, he flattened the paper and stared at the man in the picture. He wasn't really a man as much as a giant lump of fat; he had rolls and flab lining even his cellulite.
"A powerful figure here in Fukuoka. Think he could just do away with all us 'unruly delinquents' bu-"
"You telling me all I gotta do is get rid of porky here?" He removed a propped leg from the table and looked from the picture back to Atsuko. There had to be something else; this was way too easy.
"Yes..." Well hell, Mugen wasn't complaining.
"What did they want?" Fuu trailed after Mugen as he stuffed the picture into his shirt and folded his arms behind his head, ignoring the girl walking next to him. "Hey! Are you listening to me!?"
"Do you ever shut up?" He quickened his steps in an attempt to loose Fuu, but to no avail. Fuu continued to follow the pirate as she huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Obviously the yakuza wanted to keep Mugen's interest because they made arrangements for them at an inn and were offering to pay for meals. Fuu just didn't like the feeling of this all… it seemed that they were trying too hard to keep them in Fukuoka.
Mugen was lost in a world of wealth and brothels that they had also offered to pay for. Nothing seemed odd to him and he sure wasn't going to reason with the yakuza about their decisions. Sure, their target looked like an easy kill and it was beyond him why their men couldn't take him down. With the lack of a when, Mugen figured he would take his time and enjoy their extra gratitude before leaving Fukuoka… It wasn't everyday that life was handed to you on a sterling silver platter…
"That bastard!"
Night had fallen not too long ago. Fuu sat on her futon as she bunched the fabric of her kimono into her angry fists. The inn was small and stuffy; not something that a person would make a double take at, but it was better than sleeping outside, especially with the privacy of her own room. Upon entering, they were quickly greeted and almost literally thrown into their room; Fuu didn't fail to catch the inn keeper's pitied frown as she scurried away to do whatever it is that inn keepers do.
After getting settled, or in the two travelers' case; five minutes, Mugen decided it was best he go investigate the job he was supposed to carry out, beginning with the local brothel. With a quick 'later' he left Fuu to fend for herself the rest of the night. She hadn't had anything to eat after the morning's events and her stomach growled loudly from its emptiness.
"Argg…" Fuu grabbed her belly and sighed as she looked around the closet sized room. The thought of going out alone sent chills down her spine. Never in her life had she felt uneasy about a place, let alone a town. With one look at the obviously misplaced girl walking around unguarded and she was sure to get raped, kidnapped, murdered, or a combination of the three. If that idiot didn't have to go fulfill his overactive hormonal needs, then she wouldn't be in this mess. What an asshole!
It was too late to turn back now and she wasn't known for her patients when it came to food. Three hours had passed and Mugen showed no signs of returning, so Fuu choose to tough it out in the gang infested city and walk next door to a small teahouse. She reached into her pocket and frowned at the change she had managed to swipe earlier from the yakuza as she waited for Mugen. That guy was really starting to rub off on her and not in a good way… if there was even a 'good' way.
She stopped short of the entrance and counted the ryo; she had enough for a small bowl of soba and quite possibly some rice. Smiling contently she lifted the disheveled curtain that substituted as a door, but that smile quickly faded… seemed that was happening a lot to her lately. Yakuza and various other gang men flooded every table in the room, a couple whores being fondled here and there, and they were all staring in her direction. Fuu smiled nervously and began backing out of the door way.
"Ha… Sorry for interrupting. I'll just be on my w-" She turned around and was welcomed by a big soft belly… Man was this guy big. He grinned viciously as two of his gang member sauntered up behind them; holding the same smirk as the buff one. Oh, no… this was not looking good.
"You ain't goin' anywhere."
"Where are you going?" The room was big and dim lit. Sake invaded her nostrils as she breathed in, but it had quickly adjusted a few hours ago as her client finished with her. She looked at the man before her and noticed the length of scars lining his back as he stood to slip on his pants… How dare he leave! I'm the best this brothel has!
Well yes, that might have been true, but Mugen had had better sex by himself. Maybe it was the booze talking, but he didn't really want to fuck her again, let alone stay the night free of charge. He threw his katana around his shoulder and placed a cocky grin along his rough features as he wobbled towards the door.
"It's been fun." He threw a couple of ryo onto the girl's naked lap as he walked out the door. Oh yeah… she was mad as hell.
"Come back here! I'm worth more than this you... you asshole!"
"Stupid bitch." Mugen strode out the inn after finding the girls room empty. With no signs of a struggle, he figured she went out to find something to eat. And oh how that bitch could eat… but knowing her, she probably ran into trouble along the way. Not that he minded being rid of the girl… but who else was going to cook for him?
The night air was quickly turning chilly and this town was huge. He really didn't feel like trying to find her… maybe she'd turn up in the morning, but he wasn't so lucky. He heard it, the people walking across the street heard it, hell, the whole city probably heard it. She was screaming… a common person might ask how he knew it was her, he just did; he didn't think she lived a day without screaming like that. Fuu really did have the worst ill fortune in all of Japan.
He nonchalantly walked over to the little teahouse. Maybe they already killed her… oh well, no use crying over spilt milk… but when he moved back the curtains what he found wasn't someone getting her fingers chopped off or molested…
"Wha?"
…Oh no, Fuu wasn't dead; she sat in the middle of the room playing dealer. Men and women alike crowded around, putting down their bets in the hopes of winning some dough. Once she lifted the cups, loud moaning and some cheering flooded the teahouse. Fuu happily collected the profits of those who lost and rewarded those very few who won; to her, the night began to look a little brighter… maybe this town wasn't half ass after all…
Clouds slowly took over the dark sky and with it came there furry. Heavy rain drenched everything including the girl leaving the teahouse, skipping contently into puddles with her renewed fortune; a large sac of ryo tucked neatly into the breast of her kimono.
"Is that her?"
"Think so." The dark man cupped his hands around his lighter as he lit his joint. The bitter smell of marijuana invaded the small alley as his partner pulled his robe closer to keep warm and dry.
"What are they offering?"
"Four kan of gold." He coughed as he passed the joint to his stunned partner.
"You're shittin' me… what the wench do?"
"Don' know and don' care." He looked at the man beside him, clearly feeling disrespected by the weed that he had failed to pass for quite a while. "Gimme that shit." The dark man snatched it from his partners grasp and placed it between his lips to relight it. "Idiot."
Apologies… I know its so short, but I had to get something out before I was beat up for not doing so. Again sorry for the long wait… this clearly doesn't make up for it, but I promise that the next one will make up for it in one way or another… Anyways I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!
