Jin:
I kept my pace steady, though something in me was encouraging me to speed up. I attempted keeping my self controlled and senses keen. In my mind I tried to think back on how to get back to that small port city. As I came to my final conclusion I stopped. Someone was following me.
1...2...3. There were three of them. Soon surrounding me. One was behind me, one was to my right, and one to my side. None of them could have been older than 16. They each had a blunt katana pointed at me, and one was mere inches from my spine.
"Give me yer money!" Ordered the one behind me.
I sighed. It was foolish of me to think that this would be a peaceful journey. "Go. You children are not worth my time." As I finished the sentence the katana at my back was pressed against me harshly.
"I said give me yer money! You don't want to have to get hurt, do ya?" The boy to my left faltered in his stance as I pushed my sword from its sheath with my thumb.
"I will give you one last opportunity to put away that scrap metal you call a sword and go home. I don't feel like wasting my time with fools like you." I wasn't going to hurt them, but scaring them should have been easy enough.
I could see the boy on the left getting more nervous. He tried glaring at his friend behind me as a sign to go. I could tell the one to my right was nervous too, but his mask was more deceiving than those of his friends.
His voice shaking, the boy behind me gave up. "Psht, this guy looks like a bum. Come on guys, lets get going." With that the three of them ran back through the bushes.
I walked forward once again, returning to my journey to Osaka. (A/N: This was supposedly a merchant port city in the Tokugawa era. I know it still exists, but I hope this historically correct.)
Mugen:
It was daylight by the time I reached the next time. Damn no sleep all night. I yawned as I walked through the town in half-daze. I bumped into a few people, but oh well.
Sluggishly dragging my feet on the ground, I passed by underground gambling houses, and street smugglers with no hesitation. Before I knew it, however, I was falling onto the ground head first. I wiped my face. What a wake up call. Standing up I looked around. "What the hell did I trip over?" Box? No…that was over there. My feet? I'm normally a bit better of a walker than that. That kid laying on the ground? Yeah, that was probably it.
Glaring down at the kid, I told him. "Get your ass up. Look you tripped me!" The kid seemed frightened at first, but stood up none the less. I heard running footsteps from nearby, and obviously so did he, because as soon as they became audible he ran, shoving me out of his way. Once again, the kid caused me to fall face first onto the ground. Damn brat.
I stood up again, glaring in the direction he went, but shrugged, thinking it best to move on, in hopes of finding something to eat. That idea was affirmed by my stomach growling. I searched my clothes for money, knowing I didn't have any, but I had to see for myself.
"Ugh…." My knee hurt from falling, twice, I was hungry, and broke. Damn. What did I do to deserve this? Finally I came up with a plan. Walking to the nearest food stand I looked around. It was a fruit stand.
Backing up, I acted as though I was carefully thinking on which fruit I was buying. I nodded, walking forward, and tripped for a third time. Oranges, apples, peaches; all flying everywhere. I picked myself back up slowly. "I'm sorry, dude! I tripped over my own feet." Picking up the fruit and putting it back in the basket the merchant nodded, accepting my apology.
After the fruit was picked up and the damage fixed, I walked away, innocently apologizing again. I nervously walked around the corner, peeking behind me before reaching in my shirt, pulling out a peach. Success.
Mugen:
It was dusk before I realized I had no idea where I was. I ended up having to ask some kid "Hey, boy, where am I?" after looking at me like an idiot, he told me I was in Sendai. Damn, how'd I get so far up north?
Finally deciding I was tired, I walked towards the edge of town. As sluggishly as I had entered the city I found the outskirts and a opening in the trees that would be a perfect place to lie for the night. I was almost asleep when I heard someone sneaking up on me.
Damn it. I raised up, aggravated. "Who's there?" Standing now, I made my way to the bushes that were strangely shaking. Pushing back the branches I found a boy. Huddled in a little ball shaking. Probably 14. He looked up at me scared out of his mind. That's when I realized. That's that kid I tripped over today!
I raised up, aggravated. "Who's there?" Standing now, I made my way to the bushes that were strangely shaking. Pushing back the branches I found a boy. Huddled in a little ball shaking. Probably 14. He looked up at me scared out of his mind. That's when I realized."He…"
"SHH!" Before I knew it I was yanked down in the bushes with him, and he was covering my mouth with his hand. "They're looking for me?"
I was trying to say "Let me go you little fucker!" but all that came out was "MMMMmmmmm!" Elbowing the kid in the side, he finally let go. "What the hell!"
"Shh! Don't be loud! Please!"
"Don't tell me what to do punk!" I was pissed.
The boy looked away, hearing footsteps nearby he ran again, but I grabbed him this time. "Who the hell do you think you are!"
A group of men ran by, but one stopped and looked at me. "Here he is boss!" He pointed at the kid.
The one probably known as "boss" came forward. "There you are. You know you caused a lot of trouble."
Confused, I asked him, "Is this kid your son?"
"Hell no. More like my slave. He's paying off his mother's debts. So if you'll just hand him over we'll be on our way."
I attempted to do as the man said, without any other word, but the kid clung to me.
"Don't let me go! Don't let them have me!"
The boss was certainly angry at this point. "Come one kid, there are customers asking for you!"
Now I was really confused. "What does this kid do?"
"He's a prostitute. Now give him here."
"I'm trying…wait, what?" I thought for a second. "But he's a boy!"
The man laughed. "It's the new age son, and certain men have certain needs."
Okay, that's gross. I thought for a second. Did this kid deserve that? I could tell the kid was crying as I held him in midair by his shirt. "And if I don't give him back?"
"Then you'll be in a mess of trouble." His gang pulled out katana. There were about twelve of them. And none of them stood a chance.