Disclaimer: Fuu, Jin, and Mugen belong to the anime/manga Samurai Champloo. I have no rights to these characters, but the storyline and new characters are my own.
" Are you serious?" Mugen questioned as he looked at the flyer that Fuu had shown to Jin, of course he snatched the piece of paper from him and tried to decipher the characters. Shit, he hated not being able to read. He wasn't about to learn but he still didn't like it. Jin took back the paper after he let it fall to the ground and Fuu could only roll her eyes. Sitting on the soft floor of their small hotel room, it had only one bed and Jin and Mugen were stuck sleeping on the floor. If Mugen had his way, the little bitch would be on the floor and he would be on the bed. But with Mr. Manners here, he couldn't do the shit that he really wanted to Fuu. Jin read over the flyer again and turned his dark eyes towards Fuu, the small light within the room reflecting off the lens of his glasses.
" Are you sure this is genuine?" He questioned her, Fuu nodded her head and placed either hand upon her folded thighs. " Yes. It's from the Samurai of the Village. Kaza, he's searching for talented singers and performers. He'll pay big money. .. you know we need it." Fuu said as she looked away from Jin, she didn't know how to truly speak to Jin. He was so serious and mysterious, she wasn't sure what was on his mind. Though when it came to Mugen, she could read him like a book. Mugen smirked and rubbed along the outlines of his jaw and shook his head. " You think this shit is for real? You must be stupider than you look." – " Hey!" Fuu replied, clutching her small hands into fists. It was a shame that she didn't know how to fight properly, then maybe she could smack Mugen around and it would have a real impact.
" We can check it out. It is money…" Jin said simply, handing the paper back to Fuu as she folded it and put in the small pocket of her kimono. Mugen looked between Jin and Fuu for a brief moment. " Whatever. What are you going to be doing anyway Fuu?" Mugen questioned, leaning back against the small bed and watching the female. Maybe, she would strip and do something of use. " I'm going to sing." She said without hesitation, she looked from Jin and Mugen and expected a laugh or something of discouragement. She didn't hear anything but she knew a question would arise. " Can you sing?" Mugen asked immediately. " I mean, I'm not going to some Samurai's house to hear you sing like some fucked up bird or anything. " That was Mugen's charm, blunt honesty. Fuu wished he could find a better personality trait. Rolling her eyes and looking away from Mugen, she nodded.
" I can sing Mugen. I'm not going to sound like some injured bird." – " Let's hope not." Jin added as he stood up from his seated position and walked towards the window. Fuu began to turn red again as she frowned and turned around to look at Jin. " Just have some faith in me alright, I have faith in you two." She added, before she stood up and left the small hotel room. Mugen snorted and shook his head, standing up from his own seated position. " I'm out to find the local bar scene and maybe check out the local broads." Leaving without a good bye, he left for town square. Jin nodded his head for a brief moment in slight thought and finally left the room as well. Walking along the forest path that surrounded the Kabuki Inn, he noticed Fuu sitting on a large rock and reading over the flyer that she had shown to him and Mugen moments earlier.
He was horrible with saying the first words, he was more of the strong and silent type. Mugen was the goof off with a mouth as big as his hairstyle. But luckily, Fuu felt his presence and looked up. " Just reading over this." She answered, reading his mind for the first time without knowing it. Sighing for a brief moment, she ran her small fingers through her chestnut traced locks of hair and looked at her small sandaled feet. " I'm just thinking of a song I want to sing." Jin moved closer to her and stood before her, taking the time to look from left to right and around the forest surroundings. " You shouldn't sit here alone like this. We don't know what dangers await in this place." That was his own way to say that he was listening and cared, but of course Fuu wouldn't know that. Nodding her head, she stood up from the rock and brushed off the back of her dress. Walking to Jin, she smiled and put away the flyer. " I'm guessing Mugen is out to bring trouble to us huh?" She questioned, Jin could only nod for a brief second and that made Fuu nervous again.
She really didn't know how to talk to Jin and every time she tried it was like speaking to a rock. " Do you think it might be some trap or something?" She questioned, attempting small talk and Jin could only remain silent. " I believe it may be. But there is the promise of money… and sometimes promises are not kept." And again, with the confusion. A soft breeze blew through the trees highlighting the sound of crunching leaves and random forest animals, Fuu could only close her eyes and breathe in the scented fragrance of the air. Jin watched her for a moment, and turned away to walk back to the hotel room. Opening her eyes, she followed behind him and finally caught up to him with his long strides. " Is something wrong Jin?" She questioned, Jin shook his head allowing raven tinted tresses of hair to vibrate gently along his skull. He was just thinking about the fake passages that she had written in her diary that he and Mugen discovered one night. He knew that her feelings for him might be genuine, why lie about him for any reason. At least lying about Mugen would have been believable but he had done nothing to her.
Fuu looked at him and then towards the road. " It sure is quiet." She said and he could only nod. " It is always quiet. Let's hope the silence lasts." Was that a cue from him for her to shut up? Fuu wasn't sure and she wasn't about to ask and start trouble with Jin. " I think I'm going to practice my song." She said, entering the hotel room. Jin nodded and looked around. " I'm going to see if Mugen hasn't brought trouble to us again. We will be back shortly, remain inside and stay safe." It seemed that Fuu was always getting herself caught and imprisoned, and he wasn't sure how long he and Mugen were going to go playing the hero for a girl that had the knack for getting them in highly dangerous situations, walking away from the hotel, He didn't mind the danger, it was quite exhilarating. All of these adventures and battles, before he just wandered around finding random jobs but now he had a continuous one and a competitor that was his ally. This was something that Jin was not used to but he was adjusting, and he was adjusting to Fuu.
He never cared for anyone as much as he did for this girl, she was annoying at times but she had heart and she had personality. He grew tired of the women that he encountered with more problems than solutions, and having his heart taken and crushed. That might have been why he didn't talk to Fuu as much as he would have liked. He wanted their adventure to be without drama from within, looking around at the buildings that he passed. The people in this town were quite strange. They always, seemed to hurry away when someone of his stature approached. Noticing his sword sheath and exterior, they assumed him to be some type of officer. What was this Ronin doing to these people? Seeing the downtown area and the random businesses that occupied the square, he heard the loud voice of his companion Mugen and a slight twitch of disgust lined the handsome features of the samurai. " WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? SHE CAME ON TO ME!" And another fight was going to happen, entering the bar He noticed Mugen exchanging yells and glares with a large male that had a female positioned behind him. Hmm. Either the female really did approach Mugen and her husband caught her or Mugen just saw a pair of breasts and decided it was a free for all. Either situation was quite plausible.
" You just get out of here alright!" The man screamed at Mugen as Mugen blinked and laughed, shaking his head. Mugen was too careless for his own good. " Ha, you're telling me to get out this bar? Why don't you take your whore and go home alright? I came here to drink. I don't need shit from you or your bitch." Walking away from the male, the male immediately grabbed Mugen's shoulder and tried to pull him back towards him. Big mistake, immediately Mugen went into battle mode, raising his right hand and unsheathing his sword. He jerked away from the male's hand and sent a smooth arc of steel into the male's side. The man immediately yelled out, clutching his side and fell to the ground. His wife, yelled and cried as she bent down over him, the occupants were either too shocked or too scared to really do anything as Mugen smirked and sheathed his sword. " Don't touch me fucker." He said simply and picked up his mug and took a sip, well this situation was quickly dealt with until the rustle of robes filled the room from the outside. Immediately moving to the side of the samurai's that had rushed into the room, Jin could only shake his head and remain silent.
" We're here to investigate a disturbance." The leader of the samurai's said simply to Mugen as he looked at the man that was clutching his side and the crying wife, he didn't need a sign to tell him he was talking to the disturbance. Immediately releasing his sword from his sheath, the other samurai's with him followed in action. " You're under arrest." He said simply to Mugen, as Mugen smirked and sipped again from his mug. " How many times have I heard those words." Immediately, unsheathing his sword he rushed towards the first samurai. Ducking below the man's swipes as he went towards the ground, spinning his back around the dirty floor he cut a path through an unlucky samurai's legs as the man went falling back on the ground. Getting up on his feet, he rushed towards another and slashed a very clean slice against his chest, with a smile. He turned towards the leader of the samurai's. The man seemed ready and Jin could only watch in silence, he never was a person to jump in on a fight that was already won by his ally.
Mugen dashed towards the male again, ducking left from the blade and flipping over him. Sending his blade down through the man's shoulder, the bastard didn't have a chance as he fell to the ground dead. Mugen finally noticed Jin standing there and Jin stepped forward. " Let's go before more of them show up." Jin knew there were more samurai's than from where those men came from. Mugen couldn't argue with that logic though he longed to. He enjoyed a good fight and the sight of blood, made his fucking dick go hard.
" Fine." Leaving the tavern, they walked back to the hotel room that Fuu was in. " So what's Fuu up to? She changed her mind on that ridiculous talent show?" Mugen questioned, resting his hands along the back of his head as they walked forward.
" No. She still wants to perform and I'm not going to stop her. But besides Fuu, this town is quite strange. I think this Ronin has more power than we thought." Mugen looked towards Jin and blinked for a moment. " Strange? You're telling me. The people here are so afraid of any dudes with swords. I mean, I don't mind fear being placed with me but I would have at least liked to have earned it." Shaking his head, He looked towards Jin and Jin could only shrug his shoulders. " Well it's not any of our concerns, let's just make sure Fuu isn't harmed at that talent show." Mugen nodded his head and looked at Fuu through the window, pausing Jin they both stopped near the open door and listened to Fuu singing. She had a very beautiful voice and the sound actually made Jin smile slightly, Mugen was nodding his head to the sound and even he seemed impressed at Fuu's talent. " Well, the songbird does have a song in her." He muttered to Jin and they both went inside of the hotel room.
Fuu stopped singing and turned around. " Finally, you guys are back. I hope you haven't gotten into any trouble." – " Trouble? Who do think you're talking to?" Mugen asked and Fuu looked at Jin, his expression told her everything. " God, Mugen. We can't go into any town without you causing trouble for us." Rolling her eyes and folding her arms, Mugen laughed and shrugged. " Some broad was all on me and her old man got upset. Besides, I took care of the problem." Looking at his blood splattered clothes. " I'm going to clean these before it starts to smell." – " Didn't know you cared that much about hygiene." Fuu muttered. " Shut up." He said and left to go to the small hot springs and pond that were on the side of the building. Jin looked towards Fuu as he sat down. " I heard you sing, and you have a beautiful voice." A compliment from Jin meant the world and Fuu blushed. " Uh, thanks. I didn't think you guys heard me." – " Well we did." Jin said. Laughing a bit, she sat down and picked up a comb to comb her hair. " Did Mugen hurt anyone?" She questioned. " That's his business to confess Fuu." Well, that technique was halted and Fuu could only blink but admire Jin's habit of keeping silent. She wished he wasn't so silent with everything else.
Mugen kneeled down at the large rock near the pond and rubbed his wet shirt along the surface to get of the blood, crimson stains washed down the rock and along the bank as he sighed and shook his head. Looking around the forested area, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Turning around behind him, he ducked his head forward just in time to avoid a dart that was aimed straight at him. Picking up his sword that was resting alongside him, he rolled along on his back and stood up. The dart hit the nearby tree and judging from the blue feather it seemed to be some tranquilizer. These samurai's were no joke as he looked around for the source of the dart. " Come on. I don't got all day." He said simply, holding up his sword as a man walked from the behind the trees flanked by two other men. He seemed well dressed, some rich piece of shit obviously. Mugen rolled his eyes and looked around for anyone else. " Why hello." The man said, it seem that much older than Mugen. Possibly two years his senior, he was a nice looking man and his long hair was tied into a ponytail. " What is with you shits and ponytails?" He questioned, he was annoyed at Jin's sometimes. But he wouldn't go into hair care, this bastard wanted a piece of him and the only piece of him he was getting was his sword through his heart. " Enough formalities." The samurai said with a smile. " I am Kaza. Master Samurai of this village" – " Are you shitting me?" Mugen questioned, his lips moving into a grin while Kaza shook his head. " I am not shitting you." He said. " You're not old to be considered a master…" Mugen noted. " Age doesn't matter when you have the skills for the job." –
" Whatever. Let's get your death over with."
Jin watched Fuu as she practiced some dance steps, he couldn't help but smile at the girl. She was something of interest but then he realized that Mugen had not come back. It didn't take Mugen that long to clean his shirt, he was never a person of high cleanliness. Standing up from his seat, he adjusted his sword as Fuu turned around. " I'm going to check on Mugen." Fuu nodded and he left the room and proceeded to wear Mugen had said he was going. Hearing the unmistakable clinks of metal, he knew Mugen was in some fight. Turning the corner, he stopped to see Mugen battling some mysterious man and two others standing and watching. What was going on, frowning for a moment. He walked silently and kept his distance as he watched. " You are a formidable opponent!" Kaza said, bringing his right arm forward and stopping Mugen's slash with his blade. Mugen leaped back and dove towards the ground, spinning his back along the dirt as his long legs impacted with Kaza's legs causing the man to stumble forward, lifting his body on his right hand. Mugen sent the blade towards the falling man's stomach but Kaza wasn't going to fall for that. Leaping over the blade and landing on the ground, Mugen couldn't believe it.
The only person that managed to evade that attack was Jin, standing up straight. Kaza grinned at Mugen and tilted his head to the right. " I think it's time for goodnight." One of the men who were standing immediately sent a dart from their shooter, Mugen ducked out of the way but another came just as fast as the second and caught Mugen on the knee. Groaning, he tried to stay away but his eyes wouldn't cooperate. " Shit." He muttered and fell to the ground, Jin's eyes widened. He couldn't let them capture Mugen, but then he would have been captured himself. " Leave his sword." Kaza said, as the two picked up Mugen and the men left the forest area. Hurrying forward, Jin watched the procession and grabbed Mugen's sword and his shirt. He had no time to waste, returning to the hotel room. He found Fuu was sitting down and reading. " Fuu. Mugen's been captured." Fuu immediately turned to Jin and blinked. " What? Already?" –
" I think they are working for the Samurai.
Some advanced guard or something." Fuu nodded as she looked at Jin. " We need to help him." She said simply and Jin nodded. " Here." Tossing Mugen's sword towards her, she caught the hilt as she blinked. " Hold onto his sword." – " Why?" She questioned. " We're going to do this rescue the right way. You're going to fight when we go to that talent show. It's the only way we'll be able to get inside without much incident." Fuu couldn't believe her ears. " You're going to train me?" She questioned. " Of course. Now get ready." Nodding her head, their new adventure was set. Rescue Mugen from Kaza, she only hoped that this wouldn't be their last.
