I DON'T OWN SAMURAI CHAMPLOO.
Staring at the woman before him Mugen let out a growl, "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Arresting a wanted murder," said Yatsuha, shock still on her face. "What are you doing here?"
"Making some money... And about to go rip apart a betraying son of abitch," he growled, grabbing her arm hard and throwing her aside, shewas blocking the door. With a single kick the door came down, Mugen quickly ducked into it and moved to the door beneath the bleachers.
Suddenly the bleahers once covering the door were blown away, Mugenthrowing up an arm and looking out the gaping hole. A body droppeddown, a black-clothed figure leaping down and lashing out at Mugen.
"You wanna fight?" Asked Mugen as he threw up his claymore to block theshort sword, "Alright, let's fight " He pushed the sword hard to theman's left and spun around, ducking beneath a backhand and sweeping theninja's legs out. As he hit the ground the hilt of Mugen's swordcrashed into the ninja's neck.
A flash to his left caused him to fall back, a sword rushing pasthaving hit his neck if he hadn't ducked. His sword flew up and made theninja who'd come in leap out the hole in the bleachers. He turnedquickly to block an attack from one of Yoshito's guards. He was havinga hard time getting clear of the large man.
Suddenly the force that was being pressed against the ninja's shortsword died away as the guard's arms fell off, Mugen growling as hegrabbed the guy's neck. "WHERE IS YOSHITO?" When the guy only screamedMugen thrust his sword into the guard's gut and ripped it out of theside, swinging it up towards the ninja who flipped away to avoid it.
He charged after him, the entire room a mess of mayhem when suddenlythe door to the tunnel Yoshito had escaped in was blown away, a ball offire barreling out of it, the ninja who Mugen had knocked down justbarely making it out in time. Mugen stumbled to a stop and glanced backwith a scowl, "Shit," was all he could say before a ninja charged athim.
Throwing up his sword to block a stab Mugen pushed the ninja backsending him falling down a few levels of stairs. When he was back up onhis feet he had to duck under a swipe from Mugen, leaping up thensuddenly to avoid a sweep from the ex-pirate. Suddenly as he hung inthe air Mugen's sweep stopped mid-way and he pushed off the ground,flipping back and slamming a foot hard into the small of the ninja'sback.
Back on his feet he heard the ninja crash through the bleachers behindhim, running for the path that would lead back to the street, he knewYoshito was gone and had sent off a explosives in the tunnel. He wasout already, and working up to the store across the town, preparing tobolt from town.
A group in front of him was fighting and one of the Yakuza spun around,throwing something at Mugen which he leapt up, his legs spreading wide,to avoid it. As he hit the ground and started running again a grenadewent off behind him, throwing him off balance for a moment before hecame to the Yakuza and slashed up through his torso, his blood justmissing Mugen who spun around the male to avoid being hit.
Falling then Mugen seemed to slide beneath two slashed from a pair ofninja, throwing up his legs and hitting a ninja and Yakuza who wereclashing sword. As they fell back he flipped to his feet and tiltedsome, his sword going behind him to block an attack from one of theninja pair.
Throwing back a foot he hit one in the gut causing him to double over,the other using it as leverage to leap frog over him and up into theair at Mugen, sword poised to strike. Thinking quickly Mugen's freehand grabbed the strap around his chest holding his sheath and pulledit hard. The sheath swung from his back to covering his shoulder whichMugen positioned to take the blow.
When the sword hit his hand slipped away and grabbed the ninja's,turning it pulling him down as Mugen fell back, his other leg slamminginto his side and cracking a rib or two. He rolled over and left theninja there as he pushed off the ground and sped off towards theentrance.
Along the way a group of Yakuza spotted him and charged in, his eyesfocused more on the Entrance only feet away. The first came and hissword lashed out, cutting through the first chest, all the way up tohis neck where it suddenly stabbed all the way through and was torn outthe side. The next came and Mugen ducked under his attack, grabbing hisarm as he passed him and twisting a bit when he stood, his sword comingdown and cutting into his torso.
It was stuck for a moment but Mugen left it there, switching to grab itwith his right arm, the sword almost dragging along the ground beforehe rushed to the next and threw up his arm, the Sword cut deep throughthe guy's chest, Mugen flipping the sword back to normal and cuttingdown it as he passed the guy.
The final one came at him fast, thrusting his sword at Mugen who leaptup, a foot slamming into the sword and pushing it down as he came backto the ground, his sword digging into the Yakuza's shoulder. Ripping itfree Mugen dashed for the exit.
He slipped though the threshold and charged up the stairs, his eyeswildly scanning for any ninjas, sword ready to lash out. He came to thestairs end and threw up the hatch, leaping up into the store's backroom, pushing through the drawn curtains and rushing out the front door.
He came to a halt, sliding a bit, his feet trying to slam into theground and slow him down. Outside the store was a line of policemen, afew of which seemed to have rifles aimed at Mugen, others drawing theirswords. His eyes went back and forth, going through every possiblescenario he could think of. About half way through the first scenariohe gave up. "Screw it," he thought, "I can take them either way."As he went to slide into a fighting stance something hit him hard inthe back of his neck and everything went black as his body hit theground.
He was thrust back into reality when he was thrown into a room, fallingover a chair and hitting the ground. A hand wrapped around his dullwhite shirt then and he was pulled up, a fist slamming into his cheekhard.
"Yakuza Scum," hissed a rather tall male, long black hair tied back into a top-knot, "where is Yoshito going?"
"Like I know-" Before he could finish he was punched again. "Shit," hespat out blood and glared up to the guy holding him. "Maybe he went togo fuck your wife, I know she was down at the brothel giving freebies-"A fist in his gut knocked the wind out of him.
He was thrown hard into a wall as the male let out a vicious growl,"Bastard " He ran over to Mugen laying on the ground and kicked himhard in the side. As he kicked him again Mugen threw out a leg andsweep the guy down, his head slamming into a table at the center of theroom.
Mugen began to move like a worm across the floor towards the door wherehe'd came in. As he came to the door it opened and he looked up, ashort male staring at him. "Son of a-" was all Mugen got out before afoot slammed into his head and he was knocked out a moment later.
When his eyes opened again sometime later he was surprised to see abright light shining down on him. "Finally up?" Came a male's voice.Blinking his eyes until he was used to the light Mugen looked to thespeaker.
It was a male with dark hair and long sideburns, a bandana wrappedaround his head, his hair kept back in a short ponytail. Just below hisleft eye-"Oh shit," said Mugen, drawing his head back at the large moleon the man's face. "You could hit that from the sea," he said with asnort.
"Ha, ha," he said frowning some, "very funny..."
"Don't let him get to you," came another voice. Mugen shifted his eyesand rolled his head a bit when he realized it was Yatsuha. "He's justmad cause we caught him, Otawa..."
"Hm," was all the young man said, crossing his arms and looking skeptically as Yatsuha turned to Mugen.
"So what were you doing there, Mugen? You a Yakuza now or something?"
"Psh," Mugen tilted his head back, adjusting his hands which were tiedbehind the chair's back a bit. "If I was a Yakuza I wouldn't befighting chumps like that. I'd be the boss by now."
"Are you?"
Looking at Yatsuha Mugen raised a brow, "Do you think if I was the bossI'd get caught?" Giving a soft sigh Yatsuha shook her head, she knewhim enough to know he wouldn't have been. "Exactly," he said with asmirk, "I was just trying to make some extra money. Since I was new andwinning against the big guys, I got tons of doe."
"So you were working for Yoshito Nigishi?" She said crossing her armson the table and laying her head on it, eyeing Mugen a bit.
"Basically we were...uh," said Mugen, his eyes lingering over Yatsuhafor a moment before he snapped back to reality, "um, we were kinda likepartners. I got half the money we won, he got the other half. But thebastard sent a goon to shoot me just before you assholes busted in.Betrayed me cause the money coming in today would have been enough toretire on... Bastard beat me to it."
"Why you telling us so much, Mugen?" Asked Otawa, interested a bit.
"Cause," sighed Mugen, "I already could have beat the shit outta youtwo," he placed the ropes that had moments before been around his wriston the table and leaned in a bit, "but I suspect you're gonna go afterYoshito... I want in."
Otawa and Yatsuha stared at Mugen, both of their jaws open wide. Otawa was thinking, "What is this guy?"
Yatsuha on the other hand was staring at Mugen, her eyes shining as she thought to herself, "I'm so gonna marry him!"
"I wanna tear that bastards head off, and since your group seems to beable to find people pretty fast, this'll be the fastest path to him."Mugen glanced over to Yatsuha, noticing the look in her eyes before sheshook her head and cleared her throat. "I just want my revenge, thenyou can do whatever you want to me."
"Yeah?" Otawa was surprised by the last bit, he doubted if Mugen wasmuch help they'd try to keep him, but he figured there was no pointtelling him this right now.
"You have a deal," said Yatsuha, standing and smiling brightly at Mugen.
"Good," he said looking up to her and glancing over to Otawa.
---
Laying there in his room, Mugen let out a deep sigh, his sword laying afew feet away, his arms crossed, pillowing his head. With his crimsonjacket back he wore it open, his geta beside his sword.
Because he was going to be used to help the Ninja track down Yoshitoand take him down they let him stay at an Inn where most of the otherswere staying. They told him that he couldn't leave, and that if hewanted something he had to go to another room and ask someone forsomething.
Closing his eyes he thought in frustration about the bastard betrayinghim, though he couldn't really blame him, Mugen would have done thesame thing if it really was enough money to retire. Hell, he'd done alot more for a lot less.
The sliding of his door made him open his eyes again, looking up hefound Yatsuha closing the door behind her, a small smile playing on herlips as she turned to face Mugen. "What're you doing here?" He askedpropping himself up on his elbows.
"I thought I'd come to check on you," she said walking over. As shestopped and knelt a foot or so away from him her hand went behind herand pulled a pouch from her belt. She opened it and tossed a small caseat Mugen.
He caught it and looked the case over, a small cylinder with a screwoff cap. Inside was a gelly-looking substance, "What the hell is this?"
She looked to the bruise on his cheek and smirked, "I thought thatmight have hurt you, and I know you probably have one on your bodysomewhere... That stuff makes it heal quicker if you rub it on thebruise."
Glancing up at her then looking back down at the gel he nodded hishead, "Yeah, thanks." Closing it again he placed it beside him and laidback, his arms going under his head. He waited to hear her leave butshe didn't move.
There was a long silence, Mugen staring up at the ceiling as Yatsuhastared at the floor, a knee held close to her while the other wascrossed beneath it. "...It was surprising... seeing you again likethat... I didn't even know if was you at first... but when I saw you,I couldn't believe it."
A smirk on his lips Mugen gave a small snort, "Yeah... I tend to dothat to women sometimes. My good looks just blow their minds."
For the first time he'd heard her give a small laugh, her eyes closingas he glanced over to her, he could have sworn he saw her cheeks turnpink but it was gone quickly. "Not that," she said, thinking how he waspretty good looking though, "I couldn't believe I was meeting youagain."
"I made an impression last time, eh?" He said propping himself up again.
"You could say that," admitted Yatsuha, her eyes opening and lookingsheepishly to Mugen. "I always had a feeling we'd meet up again, thoughwhen I was done with my quest, and you were done traveling with yourfriends."
Suddenly Mugen's expression dropped some, "Yeah... I'm already donetraveling with them." He fell back and slipped his arms under his headwith a sigh. "I left those two a few weeks ago, they were toobothersome."
She knew it was a lie the moment he said it, a solemn smile showing onher face. Apparently the people he's been traveling with had meantsomething to him, he'd looked as if she'd brought up a dead relative orsomething. "Well then I suppose my prediction was half right."
"I guess..."
Looking Mugen over for a moment she realized something definitely wasdifferent about him, something had changed in him since she'd left himthat day long ago. What could have done this? Could something havehappened during his travels or before he'd left his companions?
Suddenly she realized he was propped up on his elbows looking at her."Yo," he said lazily, "are you gonna keep that promise of yours fromlast time or what?" A loud bang filled the room as Yatsuha slammed apouch full of supplies into his head and stormed out of the room,slamming the door shut behind her with a huff.
Staring at the door, watching Yatsuha's shadow as she walked down thehall to her room Mugen grinned. When he fell and rested his head hesighed, closing his eyes peacefully, "Tease."
Chapter 3 will be up soon.