Author's Note: Very short chappy. But the last one, so 'tis sad. -nods- Enjoy!
Disclaimer: YES! Last time I have to say "I don't own 'Samurai Champloo.'"
Epilogue
Ishido stood in the doorway, looking out on the bloody courtyard in disbelief.
How could it have failed? How could he have failed? He'd had them right in the palm of his hand. All of them: the money, the girl, the ronin, and the vagrant. And they had escaped. Nothing had gone right. The ploy had failed.
He walked impassively over to the shadows that hid the mauled corpse of Toraga. Upon approaching the man, he wrinkled his nose, disgusted.
"What a fool," he muttered, nudging the body with the toe of his sandal. Someone walked up behind him; Ishido cocked his head to show he was listening. "Speak."
"We know where they are headed next. We can still catch the trio, but the money is gone." Ishido nodded and turned away from Toraga's remains to face the man behind him.
"Fine. You are dismissed," he said airily. The man bowed.
"Yes, Master." Then he scurried away into the darkness.
Ishido again surveyed the courtyard, and his eyes were brought once more to Toraga.
How funny, he thought, as he strode back into the building, would it have been for Toraga to find out that the 'higher power' he served had actually been below him the whole time.
Author's Note: Hmm... sequal, perhaps? How about it? COMMENTS, PLEASE! ANY FEEDBACK AT ALL!
Oh, and good-bye for now! -waves-