Don't own any of the characters. Kapeesh.

I remember leaving the town- heading to China, to train or wander. Anything that would take my mind off her. I'd almost gotten there, too. Except for the several fights in bars along the way, and stopping to make sure I was on track. Granted, my sense of direction was far better than Ryoga's (thankfully, may I add) but I still would rather make sure I was headed towards China- every once in a while I'd take my glasses off, and though I may hate to admit it, my vision was horrible, and adding rain to it didn't help, at all.

I'd had the luck of running in on what I'd assumed was a mugging before the poor old opponent had gotten fatally wounded, and hadn't questioned the fight at all- I just threw myself into it, wanting to help. My well-hidden daggers had quickly pinned him, and he'd gotten out of them, yes- but he'd run off, making it so I could help the old man to his feet. He quickly thanked me, checking all his pockets, making sure he still had everything. Finally assured that he did, he'd looked up at me completely for the first time, probably judging whether it was good that I'd won, or worse. Nodding, he spoke.

"I was on a mission- delivering notice towards the tavern across town- didn't even notice him until he was right up on me. I'm sorry for disturbing you, sir. And I'm also sorry I can't tell you the whole deal- I must be on my way now."

And, with just that, he'd turned on me and walked off. I'd shrugged it off, heading towards the inn near the edge of the town, wanting nothing more than to know nothing more of what was apparently a big deal in this town. I just wanted peace and solace. Apparently, it just wasn't in the cards, for me…as for the very next morning, I saw a very familiar face (well, short of the black eye) along with another man- probably a few years younger. The older man I'd rescued had seated himself, the younger stood against the wall. They seemed to have been waiting for me to wake up for some time now, and the second I tried to hide that I was awake, the younger of the two spoke up.

"I'm sorry for the rude awakening, but I'd heard that you had been quite helpful in my associate's delivery last night, and have come to offer you a job. One that may keep you in danger, and busy- but a very well paid for job, may I add. Very high pay- to die for, in fact."

I'd sat up at that- who wouldn't? I hadn't had a decent fight since my last one with Ranma, and that was a while ago now. I was bored with all the bar fights, had little money left, and had little left to live for. I had a feeling that Shampoo hadn't been married, but none the less, she'd made it quite clear that she wanted nothing to do with me. And, for the longest time, that had been my whole life- fighting to win her back, and losing each time, just barely. I'd offered her everything, she'd not taken a bit.

Risk was just what I needed, and so was the practice. They were implying that the risk, and fights, were great, and that the money was as well. So, why not?

"Do you mind," I'd asked, "leaving the room while I get properly dressed? I'd rather not have anyone in here."

The two of them filed out of the room, wearing unreadable expressions. Which was disconcerting, yes, but they had probably had to learn that in their line of work. I'd probably have to learn to mask everything, as well- a bad thought, but since I usually showed nothing now anyways, I'd not have to learn much.

I stepped out the door, only to find them not there. A familiar voice drifted up the stairs, though, a stern one- he seemed to be confronting the inn manager, she'd done something to do with giving someone away- and the second he realized he was being listened to he quieted himself to a whisper, then nothing. He was very good indeed if he could manage to hear me all the way from the stairs. I knew few people, short of the Masters in Nerima- that could. That well, anyways.

"So, I see you are dressed now? You will join us in the tavern across town, yes?"

"I see no reason in not doing so, with what you've offered."

The tavern wasn't overly disgusting, but wasn't the neatest place I'd seen, either. But, the place I compared most places that were bars or such was the Cat Café- and nothing seemed to pass my comparison test. But, then again, no other place had Shampoo as a waitress. Or, anything else.

The place was loud, I noticed. It was no wonder they had taken me here to speak with me- no one would hear a thing in the conversation. Why the secrecy, I didn't know- but it was intriguing, none the less.

"You are not married, and have no family, right? For this stops here if you have any relation-"

"I have no family," I answered back quickly. He nodded, and started speaking again, apparently no minding the interruption at all. Or, maybe it had been the end of his thought, and I'd not noticed. Either way, he carried on with the speech.

"Good, that makes this easier- like I said earlier, you were a great help to Toshio, here, which brings you to my attention. He says you are very good with concealed weapons, that he'd thought you were just a normal person walking into a fight with no idea of what was going on. And that you'd pulled daggers out of your sleeves so quickly, he hadn't hardly seen you move, at all. A person that well at hiding himself would be a great asset to our group of people-"

"I think your friend is exarrerating, somewhat. I'm not all that fast at weapons, and have had people defeat me-"

A small half-smile appeared on the older man's face, which the younger man didn't notice. He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "modest, as well".

The younger one continued, unconcerned, and told about his group- how they helped telling people when they were set for murder, how they helped those people.

"You'd be escorting our people, sometimes- running down people, others. And you are perfect for the job, for you hide how well you are with weapons and fighting beneath such an ordinary form. And your having no family makes it better, for it means that no one will be at risk from you- you'd have no weakness, unless in battle."

"If I agree to this, will I be doing it the rest of my life? Because, even if it is well-paying and adventurous, I'd still rather be able to back out, if I wanted to do so."

"If you ever do want to back out, we'd let you, but most our members never do back out- they like the risks they take, as well as the traveling and being alone. Most of them already considered it a way of life, before I found them."

Shampoo's face flashed across my mind. If I did do this, I could go back to her, and tell her how well I had done- I could even have them come and say how well I fought, as a bonus. But then it hit me- there would be no impressing her. Nothing I ever did impressed her, this wouldn't, either. But, I could still prove to myself that I was an able fighter- not as bad as they always claimed I was. And, with this thought, I nodded my head.

"I will join, and will do my best to help your cause."