Jack and Jill
A Samurai Jack Fanfic
By Laura McDaniel

A Samurai in Training

The clearing Jill directed Jack to was an idyllic location. The grass was so lush and green that Jack couldn't help but take off his geta to feel it underneath his feet. It was as soft and thick as fine carpet. All around him, the birds in the trees were singing a sweet serenade to the sun that shined through the break in the forest canopy. A crystal clear stream ran through the center of the clearing and the sound it made as it ran in its bed added to the serene atmosphere.

Jill removed her geta as well and unstrapped the straw mats from her back. She unrolled them a short distance from the streambed, next to a pile of sticks where she often built a fire. "Well, Jack," she smiled, "welcome to my home away from home."
"It's beautiful," Jack said softly. "How often do you come here?"

"Oh, just about every day. It's my favorite part of the forest. Always has been. Ever since I was a small child." She walked over to a large tree growing precariously out in the center of the middle of the clearing and rubbed away some mud, revealing she'd carved "Toshi Okugi" in it. She smiled at Jack and said, "That was back when I was too young to really respect nature...or my parents, for that matter. I stole a knife from the kitchen drawer to carve that. I was in trouble for weeks! My mother made me scrub every room in the house repeatedly, even though there were robots around to do that work..." Jill sighed as she rubbed the carving with an index finger and remembered that time, while Jack patiently waited for her to finish her mental reminiscing. After a few minutes, Jill finally shook her head and returned to the present situation. "Anyway, this is where I conjure up most of imaginary battles."

"What sort of battles do you imagine?" Jack asked, out of pure curiosity.

"Oh...robot beetles, small imps, bounty hunters...Never Aku himself, though. Thinking about him always scares the heck out of me. And it sometimes hurts to say his name because it is bitter like puckery juice."

"What is puckery juice?"

"I have no idea."

Jack just blinked and scratched his head in confusion.

Jill laughed, "Just forget I said that. That's not really important now, anyway. What is important is that I now wish to put my imaginary battles aside and fight real ones. I know that I will face pain and anguish in the days to come, but how could that be different than what I felt that day when Aku destroyed my city?" She turned around to Jack and looked him right in the eyes, "Despite the fact that I am weary after my encounter with Aku, I'd really like to start my training now. That is, if you're up to it, Jack."

Jack looked up and carefully noted the sun's position. "There are still a few hours of daylight left, so I suppose we could start now. I have fought Aku many times and in many forms, so you needn't worry about me."

"Then let's get going!"

Jack had actually wanted to postpone beginning Jill's training because he really didn't know where to start. He eyed the area and noticed a small bamboo grove growing off to one side. He skillfully broke Jill off a shoot and handed it to her. "Well, since you left your wooden sword behind and have yet to get a new weapon, I'm going to teach you how to defend yourself with this."

"A stick?"

"Actually, a bamboo shoot," Jack said smiling.

Jill turned the bamboo over in her hand and smirked, "I think I was better off with my wooden sword!"

"Your wooden sword might have been appropriate for your imaginary battles, but this is better for real ones."

"It...doesn't seem very different to me." She put her hands on either side of it and added, "Aside from the fact that it's lighter, longer, and more flexible..."

Jack laughed, "That's exactly the point."

"Oh, I see," Jill said, smiling. She took it in just her left hand and tried leaning on it like a walking stick. It snapped under her weight, but thankfully, the girl was able to keep herself from falling.

"Of course, bamboo does have its limits," Jack smiled. He broke off another shoot for Jill and then one for himself.

Jill tossed the top half of the broken shoot behind her and then took the new one from Jack. "Hey, I'm new at this!"

"Well, as long as you're patient, I'm sure you'll do fine." He glanced around the area somewhat uncomfortably and then leaned his bamboo shoot against a tree. "Before we begin, would you mind if I removed my robe? I find it a bit restrictive at times when I need to concentrate."

Jill nodded. "Go right ahead."

Jack removed his sash and then his robe, still wearing his undergarments. He neatly folded up his clothes and set them next to a tree.

Jill smiled, "But if you're going to do thaaaat..." Jack looked nervous as Jill untied her sash and started to remove her robe, but was relieved when she revealed she was wearing a shorter, tunic-style version of her robe underneath it. She laughed at Jack's uneasy expression as she folded up her long robe. "What were you expecting, Jack?" Then she picked up her bamboo shoot and stood attentively in front of Jack. "Let's get going."

Jack nodded and picked up his bamboo shoot as well. "Now, as you've already seen, bamboo does have its disadvantages. It's definitely not the weapon of choice in large-scale battle, but it's suitable if you're simply trying to defend yourself. Now, let me show you some basic formations. Follow along as much as possible, but if I'm going too fast, please let me know. Let me show you the basic position." He held the bamboo shoot horizontally with both hands and stood with his legs slightly apart.

Jill assumed the same position and waited for Jack to continue. He showed her other positions and explained what the purpose of each one was. Jill was a surprisingly fast learner and, over the course of a few hours, was able to go through a sequence of about ten moves. They stopped for the day when the sky began to grow dark. Jill picked them both some fruit from a nearby tree which they sat and ate by the streambed.

"So, how am I doing, Jack?" Jill asked while they ate.

"I am very impressed with your progress, Jill," Jack replied.

Jill smiled softly and looked into Jack's eyes. "Not to brag, but I'm rather impressed, too."

"It is alright to be proud of your own accomplishments, so long as you don't gloat." He smiled as well, "And you should be proud of yourself. If you weren't, then I would be concerned."

Jill yawned loudly and then crawled over to one of the mats. "Well, that's enough for today, I think. I can't wait until tomorrow!" She shut her eyes for a moment, but opened them again to look at Jack, "Thanks again, Jack. For everything."

Jack watched as she drew her blanket around her and shut her eyes again. He slipped on his robe again and crawled over to the other mat. But before he lay down, he looked at Jill sleeping peacefully. In the short amount of time he'd known her, she'd already started to change so much. The way she'd started to open herself to him proved that it was destiny that brought them together. But what did that destiny hold? Jack stretched out on the mat and shut his eyes deciding that the answers would become apparent to him when the time came and that the best thing to do at the moment was sleep.