Chapter Two - "A Bounty is a Bounty"

As a rule of thumb, Jack always tried to avoid trying to attract too much attention to himself. Sadly, his demeanor and actions dismissed that notion about five minutes after Aku dumped him into the future. Still, though, Samurai Jack has always tired to keep a low profile.

Two towns away from the last time he entered a bar, Jack was happy to see a smaller, calmer crowd in here than the last one. Sunlight shined through the windows, and fell upon the few people inside the bar. Jack grinned slightly, then walked up to the bar and ordered a herbal tea from the barkeeper.

With the drink in hand, Jack took the cup to his lips and sipped it soothingly and slowly, tongue tasting its richness as it journeyed down his throat. He sighed with relief, finally, feeling relaxed - until a horrible stench filled his nose.

A small stream of smoke rose above the bar and he followed it with his eyes. They moved towards a woman with lit cigarette in her hand, and shot of something alcoholic in the other. She wore little more than a yellow top and short-shorts, held together by suspenders. With a red shirt drifting down from her arms, her purple hair bounced as she looked over at the great warrior.

The pair made eye contact for only a second, and Jack swiftly looked towards the other end of the bar. He had a bad feeling about this . . .

"Why hello," she said then, re-catching his attention. Jack looked back over and saw that rather thin young woman was now sitting right next to him.

"Er, hello," Jack replied, trying to playing away from any sort of contact with this mysterious person.

She smiled at him, then deposited her cigarette in the ashtray in front of her. "My name's Faye Valentine," Faye said then, her face sounding open and peppy; warm and welcome.

"That is a . . . eh . . . nice name."

Faye laughed subtly, and Jack noticed that she placed her hands a few inches to his. "What's your name?"

"Ah . . . er . . . they call me Jack."

Jack saw the expression on her face. It was recognition. "Jack? Well, there's only one Jack I know and he carries around a sword. So you must be him . . . Samurai Jack."

Jack stood up suddenly, and placed the payment for his tea on the bar. "Excuse me," he said swiftly. He walked out the doors and left Faye alone in the bar.

Making his way outside and hoping that he had seen the last of Faye Valentine, Jack inwardly flinched when he heard the click-clack, click-clack of high-heeled shoes behind him on the porch of the bar.

"Hey!" yelped Faye, running out from the bar. "Wait a minute!"

Sighing with frustration, but still maintaining his composure, Jack turned around and faced the woman with patience. "Yes?"

"I need your help," she said immediately and quietly, eyes scanning the dirt road for someone watching or listening.

Jack interested piqued slightly. Perhaps Aku is connected to this, he dreamed. "What is wrong?"

Faye pouted her lip, eyes trembling and thin body slacking. She threw herself on Jack, throwing her arms around his neck and began to sob.

Jack's eyes opened wide, shocked with this development. As Faye held onto him for dear life, Jack remained stock-still and unmoving, face a little red. "Uh, it is all right," he said, emotionless and uncomfortably.

"Oh please, Samurai Jack! You've got to help me!" Faye sobbed loudly. "It's my boyfriend! He's so mean!"

"Eh, what did he do?"

Faye paused and Jack could feel a great lunge of sadness about to fly from her. "He . . . he . . ." - she paused again, emotions building - "HE KICKED ME OUT AND SAID HE DIDN'T LOVE ME!"

She yelled it, tears raining across Jack's shoulder, her wails most likely heard all across the world. Jack was feeling more than annoyed by this, and saw only one solution.

"Please, miss, I can not interfere with matters like this."

Faye sniffled. "I know . . . but it's my house!" She resumed sobbing, this time crinkling his rob in her fingers. "Please . . ."

Jack sighed once more and nodded. "Yes, yes. Fine, yes. I will help you."

Faye lifted up from his shoulder, sadness going with, replaced by an excited smile. "Really?! Oh thank you, Jack!" She leaned in again, this for a hug. It was far too different this time and Jack could swear he felt her rubbing her -

"Ah, yes! Yes," Jack stammered immediately, stepping out of the hug. "Which way is your house?"

Faye locked arms with Jack and the pair walked down the street. Hook, line and sinker, Faye thought to herself. Just as they round a corner, though, all of Faye's hopes and dreams vanished.

"Hold it right there," said a tall, lanky figure. He wore a blue suit and had a mop of green hair. Jack was startled to find that this man had a gun right up against Jack's own forehead.

"SPIKE!" yelled Faye then. She yanked out her own gun and pointed it swifty at Spike. Jack's pulse jumped a bit. "This was my bounty."

"Not today, Faye. I told Jet I'd bring him in. And I didn't ask for help."

"G** damn it, Spike!" Faye yelled. "Just put the gun and let me get him back to the Bebop."

Spike shook his head. "No, no, Faye. Trust me, it's better if I just handle this."

Jack lifted his finger. "If I may interject - "

"STAY OUTTA THIS!" they both shouted.

"Eh, sorry."

They continued to argue for another twenty seconds and Jack grew quickly weary of it. "That's enough," he stated finally. Spike and Faye both looked back at the pricey bounty - saw two streaks of silver - heard two sounds of metal shredding - and were shocked to see their guns sliced into two.

And then Jack jumped. Very high, up towards the clouds.

"Jump good," Spike said, squinting to look at just how high Jack had jumped.

"He's getting away!" Faye yelled, pushing him out of the way. She spotted her ship - the Red Tail - and hopped in it, hoping to catch up with Jack.

Just as she started the engines, however, Jack appeared right onto of the cockpit. He grinned slightly at her, then leapt to the engine and sent his sword right into it. A small explosion ripped through the Red Tail, killing it immediately.

"HEY!" she shouted, leaping out of the Red Tail. Faye upholstered her gun and searched around real quick for the samurai. She heard a rustle behind her, and Jack appeared.

Before Faye could act, though, Jack jab at a pressure point on her neck and the female bounty hunter fell to the ground unconscious.

"I am sorry, miss," he said. "But I can not allow Aku to take me prisoner."

There was sudden BANG in the air. Jack felt the sting of a bullet shot into his ankle, and he fell to the ground, crouched on one knee.

"I don't know who this Aku is," Spike said then, stepping up. "But I can sure as hell tell you you'll be his prisoner. Esspecially for the price he's paying."

"Is one man's life worth money?"

Spike pulled out a second gun. "In this case - it is."

BANG!

And Jack fell to the ground.