TITLE: Cruelty and the Beast
CHAPTER : Chapter 23
AUTHOR : Dangy
RATING : M
SPOILERS : Yush. Takes place after the series has ended.
PAIRINGS : MugenxOC, FuuGen
DISCLAIMER : I don't own Samurai Champloo or any of its characters.
Only a few minutes after Mugen's departure did Tanaka flag his assistant to his side.
"Sir?"
"Make sure that our man doesn't do anything rash, will you? Intervene if necessary."
Understanding the order she had been given many times this week, the statuess figure pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and exited the warehouse. She was quiet with her footsteps, no more than a shadow along the coast line as she trekked towards Nekomi's home. The night was so desolate that she was surprised to hear the crack of some drift wood behind her. Saki was far enough away from the warehouse to be bereft of help. Drawing her tanto, her fingers twitched within the folds of her coat as she continued to walk, judging the distance between her and the other person. She was mistaken – very mistaken not to have turned round earlier.
The cold length of a katana was pressed mercilessly against her throat, her free hand grasped before she had time to retaliate. Warm blood began to leak from a small cut along her neck but the assailant did not ease up.
"Where is he going?" the voice asked in a cool whisper.
Mustering her stubborn courage she spat, eyes bulging as she tried to catch a glimpse of her attacker. He allowed her some leeway, and she stared fleetingly into the shadows of his face, covered by his own hood.
"Like I'd tell you!"
Sighing almost miserably, she felt his fingers loosen along her hand, the blade slackening against her neck. In a heartbeat she was sure that she had made it through the danger. In seconds, her head rolled along the sand, and stopped with a sickeningly plop against the frosty waves. In the dark, her blood was nothing more than oil on the dark blue ocean.
"Suit yourself," he grumbled, pulling the hood closer around his face before heading towards the warehouse.