A Samurai Jack Fanfic
By Laura McDaniel
In the Village, the Peaceful Village
The route Jack had chosen was indeed a long one, but it did not matter to him because he was certain Toshi Okugi, otherwise known as Samurai Jill, would abandon trying to follow him. Once he left the forest, he found himself on a dirt trail winding through an open field. He paused a moment to take in his surroundings, noticing a faint flicker of light just southeast of him. Jill had gone eastward through where she was in the forest, so Jack decided that the light was probably coming from the village she'd spoken of. He looked behind him just to make sure he was not being followed and then continued forward, traveling against the still howling wind.
When he finally reached the village, Jack tried to get a good look around, but it was too dark to see anything. However, he knew that somebody had to be awake because he'd seen that light earlier. He continued further into the village, his footsteps echoing faintly through the empty street.
He'd only walked a short distance when he saw where the light was coming from. It was a small fire burning in front of a small, rundown shack made of slightly rusted metal. Through the flickering flames, he saw Samurai Jill. He swallowed hard and tried to walk the other way, desperately hoping she hadn't seen him.
"Samurai Jack!" she called. "Come over here!"
Deciding it would be dishonorable to try to escape again, he turned around and slowly walked towards her. "You thought you could get rid of me that easily, Jack?" she giggled. "I know what you tried to do."
Jack sighed, and bowed his head apologetically. "I am sorry," he said, "I just did not know what to make of having somebody following me around like that, let alone somebody who's trying to be like me."
"I understand, Jack," Toshi replied, "I shouldn't have surprised you like that and I know how confusing I must be at first glance. I can explain myself, but I know how tired you are, so I will wait until the morning." She smiled and added, "That is, if you're willing to stay with me. Please do. I don't have much, but what I have is yours."
"I am grateful for your kindness despite the discourtesy I showed you earlier and I suppose staying with somebody as unusual as you is better than staying out here in the cold," he said, smiling some himself.
"Oh...well...I'm not sure if it's much warmer inside my dwelling than it is outside. However, it is more comfortable than sleeping on the ground outside."
She picked up a bucket of water from behind her and poured the liquid over the fire to extinguish it. Then she opened the door of the small shack she was sitting in front of and gestured for Jack to go inside. Adhering to traditional Japanese customs, Jack slipped off his geta before he went through the door.
The room he entered was hardly extraordinary. In one corner of the room, there was a table made from an upturned crate on which a single candle flickered. The only other furnishings were two straw mats with blankets on them, one on either side of the room. Jack was somewhat disturbed by the digital wanted poster of himself that hung on the rear wall. He blinked at it and looked at Jill for an explanation.
She giggled, "Sorry about that. I meant to turn it off." Toshi pressed a button on the side of the poster and the image quickly faded. "And don't worry about me turning you in because it's not going to happen. I just like looking at it, that's all. I must say you look much better in person."
"Thank you, I guess," Jack replied, blushing only slightly.
Toshi giggled at Jack's reaction and removed her wooden sword from her sash. "Please, take whichever mat you want and do whatever your wish with your weapon. I'm certain you'd like to keep it close by."
Jack nodded and chose the mat on the right side of the room. He removed his sword and sat it on the floor next to him. Then, he laid down on the mat and pulled the blankets around him.
"Oyasumi, Jack," Toshi whispered as she blew out the candle. Then, the room was dark.