Prologue 2 Memorable and Melancholic
{Original Title: Knowing He's Alright…Is Enough}
[A/N]: Kon'nichiwa! Hello again, readers! This is the chapter based around Fuu.
There are going to be notes at the end of some chapters for translations to Japanese words, character names and references to historical people mentioned, along with character skits. Check 'em out after ^^.
If any details about Japanese geography, names for things, etc. is incorrect for any of the chapters, please inform me! I really want correct information on Japan but it is hard 'cause Google and my own info doesn't supply everything about the Tokugawa era… Well for history dates, it can be inaccurate. It's SamCham after all
Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo, Fuu, Mugen, Jin, Momo etc. Mugen and Fuu would definitely admit their feelings if I did.
Prologue 2 Memorable and Melancholic
Sometimes it was particularly hard for her thoughts not to stray to a time not so long ago. It proved even harder not to wonder, not to care…where the hell those two had up and gone off to.
The young waitress surveyed from the entrance of the establishment as the blazing orb set upon the darkening sky. People hurried to light their oil lamps, one light here, accompanied by others down the road a ways. Relief of the cool night's promising forgiveness approached.
This city: it managed to attract the young girl similar to how the indulgence of food attracted her stomach. Edo was populated, had work and the setting was much livelier than some nameless backwater town lost from any marker on a map. No doubt Fuu enjoyed her stay…at the start.
In all consideration, she'd be lying if she said this life didn't become the same tune replaying itself over and over— a broken record—an absent tempo for the past months. Was this what she desired? Truly? Working at a teahouse with no money? The only reason she remained was maybe, if generous fate would consent to—she would bump into two bodyguards. Jin or Mu-
"Fuu-chan! Stop daydreaming! You have WORK to do, so get off your lazy rump and clean those tables!" her boss— Wakahisa Sayoko—screeched in discontent, interrupting unavoidable considerations like so many times before.
"Yes, one second!" she called back.
'Why do I even bother… They'll never show up.'
Several months ago and leading to this day, Fuu rented an apartment in Edo from the owner of her current employment— Sayoko…the Hag (as Fuu had come to calling her… In secret, of course). Dirt cheap monthly fees were awesome. Only problem being the stingy superior who coughed up little money and expected Fuu to work insane hours in order to accommodate for the place to stay. This was a lot like her past after her mother's death, before she met the warriors. Fifteen and recently "orphaned" over two years ago, Kizuko and Ogin—the proprietors of a rice ball shop—offered Fuu a bed to sleep in, along with honest work. Except…they'd been generous and empathetic unlike Sayoko now. (Mugen and Jin sure ruined that life for her by getting the whole place burned down at their first encounter!) Nevertheless, she'd been planning to find her father Kasumi Seizou despite the stable lifestyle firm in her grasp. On she went; a journey to find the samurai who smells of sunflowers! How exciting!
That excursion took a year in itself. And it's been over for a year after that…
'They probably won't even pass by this place anyway. Well…it's been over a year since we separated but…I feel like it's been waaaay longer.' the dampened rag dragged against the smooth table. No. If anyone didn't show up…it'd be him.
It was the most awful feeling to wake up with the reassurance that two people were nearby to protect you, only to find yourself all alone. For a month, Fuu would awaken thinking Jin was resting alongside the nearby wall; and Mugen was curled up in the corner of the room unabashedly snoring. It took time for her to get used to their absence. Never in her seventeen years had she felt this...vacant inside.
Occasionally, she'd dream of them too… Lots of red, frequently. There were always nightmarish spatters of blood; screams…but sometimes blue oceans, her mother, her father and sunflowers— and red again. Different red when they weren't nightmares, familiar red. More than a few times light tears would slip down her face as she awoke with a start, all while she looked expectedly to the empty spaces making of the room.
Fuu assured herself these were signs of getting way too emotional over bygones that should stay bygones.
'Before I met them, I was all by myself. It's stupid feeling like this. I barely knew the two idiots long anyway! They're probably causing all sorts of trouble! I'd be surprised if they're still…still…alive…' the young woman clutched the cloth tighter. She proceeded to throw it into a nearby water basin, the rim layered in dirt and grease.
Their travels were preordained to end. Why should she have any right in delaying the inevitable freedom of their obligation?
They say moving to bigger cities aided in meeting new faces. The girls of Edo were always so prissy perfect though. Whenever Fuu mentioned Mugen and Jin…they didn't understand the way she did; they thought her descriptions of Mugen were especially strange, saying he must have been such an ugly, wild man… And Fuu would laugh and agree only because she failed to describe him correctly. Fuu knew that wasn't true. Her female acquaintances would probably completely fawn over his looks.
All in all, Fuu had no true friends— just the infrequent females, or dates which never led to anything more than a free meal for her—the people she'd met were nothing like them.
She was going as far as working constantly; withdrawing into enclosed walls peppered with scents of rice vinegar and herbal tea…to avoid annoying people begging her to come along on their gossip filled, irrelevant hang out sessions. Some of them were nice, like Shizuka—who waitressed at a higher end restaurant. Fuu told her a lot about her ex-bodyguards. She proved to be the only one who understood… Still wasn't the same.
God, she missed those idiots. It was as if they were three inseparable sides of a triangle.
A hollowed white triangle surrounded in red…
Or maybe she was the one who missed them. Maybe they didn't even care. The insensitive pirate, especially.
Presenting a withdrawn demeanor, Jin always felt serene and honest. She could tell him secrets or pour out her feelings and he would just listen patiently. It was none other than the ronin whom caught her crying twice or more, using what little talent he possessed at comforting an emotion filled, teenage girl.
Mugen? Mugen was…different and yes, in a bad way. Not only was he rude, self centered and argued constantly…every time she sought to tell him something, her hesitation buried the words. Made her feel so damn angry and agitated over…over nothing! Crying in front of Mugen was out of the question. Funny... If there was anyone in the whole world whom she cried most over…it'd ironically be him.
Selfish, egotistical, jerk Mugen risked his life to save her, especially towards the end of their short-lived tale. Of course that was true…she knew.
And what reward had she ever given him? Nothing. She'd given neither of them anything for aiding to find a lost scent.
She realized she never even properlythanked them.
There were days—few— where Fuu forced every nerve to neglect memories of red and blue. On those same days like a chronic taunt, straining an ear to eavesdrop on customer's boasts…she swore people who came in were speaking of a journey a trio went on in search of an unknown samurai. The accounts people told managed to mess up in one way or another. The customers she listened to exaggerated; specifics were forgotten… Some accusations like having an affair with her bodyguards were just plain wrong! She wanted to slap these idiots upside the head and then rant on what really happened and that she was that very same girl they spoke of. Likewise…it would probably be in all of their best interests if none knew of their journey. Or what had truly become of the girl, the ronin and the vagrant. So Fuu would stand a distance away, listening in on every detail the same way when her mother used to read her fairytales as a child. She bit her lip, looking down at the floor she swept…and would smile clandestinely.
Sometimes she heard rumors the three died somewhere forgotten. Fuu couldn't disregard if the stories of the vagrant or ronin's demise were false. She didn't even know. And that bothered her.
'Jin's probably still traveling alone. I miss you Jin, even if you were frustratingly quiet all the time…Maybe he'll go back for that Shino lady, probably will. He still has over a year until he can see her again from the divorce temple…Wonder if she's waiting for him.' Her heart rate felt as if it just quickened at the last thing. The waiting. Mental images of the past were avoided by serving another consumer.
"Here you are sir, your green tea and dumplings." Fuu forced herself to focus while contriving the best smile manageable. As the man with the bushy haired head looked up, she…was almost expecting to see a familiar smirk, an eyebrow with a scar across it…for him to give a raspy whisper about "fifty dumplings". Clumsy hands almost spilled the food.
But afterwards, Fuu sat down to rest and purge the cluttered mind of recollections of the past better left unattended to (without much luck). Stretching her arms across the huge lacquer table, she exhaled and let inner meditation take her away once more.
'This life is boring. Wow... I'm actually starting to miss the constant dangers and kidnaps. Never thought I'd see the day. At least Mugen would always come after me. Well, hero isn't the word to describe him. Most of the time he's the sadistic villain! But no, he has a good side…somewhere. Gahhhh…I can't ever decide what to think of him.' she leaned her hurting head on her arms and groaned.
'He's probably forgotten about me.'
"That stupid jerk…" mumbled Fuu, tone laced in certain defeat. Seconds later, a sweet giggle bubbled from the unaccompanied waitress as she imagined the stupor on his face whenever those same words used as forgotten insults hit their mark. The adolescent received some strange glances from a few patrons. 'I wonder where he is. Knowing he's alright is enough for me. If you don't ever come back…at least be alive. Both of you.'
Life goes on, doesn't it.
"Fuu-chan! Hurry up and help out! NOW!" her boss with strands of gray hair yelled again, clearly irritated with the tired girl.
"Be right there." The singy-song voice may have sounded more sarcastic than planned… Damn. Despite no urge to move, Fuu prepared to continue working.
That's when she heard it, sending an odd jolt of energy rippling forcefully through at the evoking sound. It was capable of making her stand far faster than the dull command of an elderly witch.
Slow and steady shuffling of clog covered feet could be heard outside the restaurant. Someone approached. The footsteps sounded…recognizable. A surge of anticipation and swift hopefulness filled the void of a previously downhearted spirit; lingering about the entrance, was the expectant tea server awaiting the arrival of the man.
The heavy click of each step…could only mean…
~To Be Continued~
[A/N]: Please read the translations, 'cause they will add some more insight.
Wakahisa Sayoko- Sayoko means "evening child". Her last name, Wakahisa means "forever young". I named her this based on the irony that she's old and moody, thus having Fuu call her Sayoko the Hag behind her back. In Japanese, last names are written first btw.
If anyone is confused why Fuu is 17, it's because in the original she was officially 15 (Mugen was 19-20, Jin was 20) and I imagine it took them one year to find the samurai who smells of sunflowers. Since this takes place one year after the end of the series, that'd be a total of two years since she was fifteen. She's now 17. Mugen would be 21, turning 22. Jin would be 22. I have no idea how old Momo is.
Fuu: Eh? Momo-san, how oldare you?
Momo: *squeak* (I never reveal my age. MUHAHAHAHA! I mean…) *squeak*
Tell me what you think of it, review please! The third chapter, which is technically Chapter 1 now, will start the main story.
Prologue 2 End