Mugen returned to his dojo and found there were trespassers. He yelled as he pointed to the no trespassing sign he posted in Hiragana script. "I WROTE THAT DAMN SIGN AND NOW I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" he screamed.

Mugen and his students felled the trespassers pretty quickly then they headed inside.

Shiroko sat backed up against the wall on her knees. Her full belly made it difficult to move, none the less run away. She sat shaking with helpless fear as her attacker approached. She said nothing 'Jin can't lose his baby! I can't allow it! I don't want him to wake up to that!'

Her husband lay propped up against the wall, his chin to his chest and his arms strewn awkwardly at his sides. She watched her attacker stalk forward as his four henchman scurried back to the opposite wall. She refused to look afraid. 'I can't even stand on my own. I cannot show fear! It will give them too much satisfaction.' She set her face to stone with what stoicism she could muster.

Then between her and her attacker a pair of bare feet dangled down from the ceiling. Kurou dropped to the floor between Shiroko and the dangerous man. "What's up?" he asked the man.

Jin stirred and moaned slightly as he did so. Shiroko wanted to run to him badly, but had to say where she was.

Kurou said to the man "So what kinda power you got?"

"Huh?" said the man.

"I mean, gangin' up on Master Jin cuz you can't take him on yourself, then attacking his pregnant wife? You're a loser and a weakling." laughed Kurou. "I can take you out" said the scrawny boy.

"What! How dare you, you little brat! what could you possibly do to me?" said Keiki.

Kurou smirked in a way that reminded Shiroko of Mugen. "Why don't you come and figure it out?" The attacker ran after Kurou who waited to the last minute to block the swords blow. He did so with his arms.

Shiroko shrieked and shielded herself with a raised arm expecting a mess of blood and gore. She heard a clanging noise and looked up. Kurou was indeed blocking the attacker's sword with his arms. As his wrist wrappings were cut away they floated to the ground revealing thin metal gauntlets on the boys forearms.

Kurou was holding off the sword with the gauntlets. Shiroko saw Kurou had been hiding the gauntlets underneath the arm wrappings he always wore. He had his own style.

With his attacker's sword occupied Kurou kicked him in the stomach and knocked Keiki to the floor. Jin was rousing and saw the scene in with blurry vision.

When their boss fell to the ground the four men lined up against the wall ran to his aid. "You're gonna get it you little brat!" said one. "You're gonna pay!" said another.

Jin groggily went to grab his katana and found it missing. He thought he just missed it because of his blurry vision. He closed his eyes and let his hands do the searching, but found he did not have his swords. He braced himself with the wall and shakily stood. "My sword" he said. "Where is my katana?"

Jin swerved unsteadily, as he leaned on the wall trying to reconcile his double vision. Jin then saw his own katana on Keiki's belt. Jin stepped forward and the room spun. He fell to the ground and heard Shiroko call his name. Jin was comforted that she was uninjured.

The four men grabbed Kurou and slammed him up against the wall. Keiki stood and approached, drawing Jin's katana.

Mugen burst in the door, saw what was happening, and yelled "HEY! BASTARD!" Everyone turned their eyes on Mugen.

He looked at all of them and yelled "Yeah you!" as he gestured at all of them with his no-name sword. Fuu burst in the door out of breath and ran past everyone to Shiroko's side. Fuu's dagger was well hidden in her obi.

"What's this?" asked Keiki looking at Mugen. "Another filthy follower of the great Master Jin?"

This enraged Mugen and he pointed his sword at Keiki. "I ain't his follower! I'm Mugen! The owner of this dojo, and you're trespassing!"

When Keiki turned to face Mugen, it was evident that Keiki held Jin's katana. Jin got to his feet again, still no steadier than before. "Give me my sword!" he said with more strength. Jin's knees gave out from under him and his hand slid down the wall. He was upright, but he just could not hang on to conciousness.

As Mugen and Keiki crashed their blades together and the four men drew their blades and pointed them at Shiroko and Fuu. Mugen glanced at Jin whose worry and confusion was etched in his brow. Jin staggered towards Shiroko, but could not walk far without slamming back into the wall.

Mugen snapped "They ain't part of this fight. This is between me and your trespassing ass!"

"You're all part of this fight!" said Keiki. "When Jin ruined my life it was all of my life not just one part! Now all of his life, including his friends, family, and students will pay!"

The students from outside made their way across the room with their various fighting styles and easily took out the four men surrounding the women. As the blood stained the mats Jin took in the scene with dizzy confusion.

The students did not all decide to fight as Mugen, and Jin saw some of the students exhibiting fine form and technique.

Mugen kicked Keiki and the trespasser fell on the ground hard. Kurou had a good laugh and Jin's katana slid away from Keiki's grasp to the feet of Jin's little shadow, Kage. The boy recoiled from the shining blade.

Mugen backed off from Keiki and sheathed his sword then said "Nah, you aren't worth my time. Too damn weak."

Keiki said "That's just your excuse for not fighting me. You're afraid of the man who brought down the legendary Jin."

"Nah" said Mugen. He knew who was better. Jin collapsed unconscious. "I aint afraid of you. You should go home. You're not his type."

"Excuse me?" said Keiki.

"You fight anyway you can. Not like him. He fights with honor and a set of rules and shit. Crap like you doesn't stand a chance."

Keiki sputtered "It's true I don't fight that way and it's because of Jin! If he had not killed my master, I could have been as great, or greater than Jin!"

Jin's body twitched at the sound of his name. Shiroko leaned toward her half conscious husband desperate to touch him and know he was safe. Mugen said "That's a load of donkey shit. He may have killed the man, but he didn't kill the code, you asshole. I'll let him kill you for trespassing since this is his school too."

Keiki sat up and gripped Jin's katana in his large meaty hand. Kage saw his master in trouble and made a decision. Kage ran from the training hall, ignored by the adults. He ran to the room where the wakazashi sat stuck in the floor. Tears began to pour down his face and he solemnly gripped the handle with his tiny hands. He took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes. He pulled with more force than he had to and ended up falling backwards. He landed and deeply cut his thigh in the process.

Kage let out a scream which the adults heard all the way in the training hall and which pierced Jin's ears and woke him from his unnatural slumber. Keiki saw Jin was awake again then said "Good morning Jin. You're just in time to watch your wife die."

Kurou took up a blade and stood in front of her. Fuu also pulled out her blade. Kurou said "Pussy. You really are a coward."

This distracted Keiki long enough to allow Kage to return with the wakazashi for Jin. The cut on Kage's leg was deep and he left a spotted trail of blood across the courtyard.

Jin could see Keiki approaching in double vision. Regardless of his weakened state Jin stood prepared to die with dignity. This was his fight and he did not want anyone to interfere even if Keiki felt differently.

The student's called out to him "Master, NO!" Another yelled out "You taught us to fight when necessary, and this is not necessary!" Everything was happening so fast that no one knew quite what to do.

Jin silenced them with a stern look. "He came to challenge me. I will accept this challenge and defend my family and our honor. I will take responsibility for taking up my sword."

Jin's vision was going black. He was almost amused that this was how his life would end. 'Strange. I always thought it would be Mugen who finally killed me.' Then Jin's knee's buckled and he fell to his knees in front of Keiki. In that moment of conscious darkness Jin heard Shiroko and Fuu call out for him and he even thought he heard Mugen gasp.

When Jin fell Keiki raised his sword over head. Mugen was going to dive forward but he saw someone beat him to it.

When Kage returned to the training hall and saw his master in danger he began to relive the past. Kage did not question why no one was moving. He had experienced the frozen feeling of fear, but today would be different. Today he would not freeze up and he would help Master Jin. Kage was not going to let history repeat itself.

Kage ran forward and rammed the short sword into the back of Keiki's knee. Keiki screamed and looked down angrily at Kage. The man said "You want a piece of this kid?"

Kage took another look at Jin and pulled out the wakazashi from Keiki's knee. Keiki screamed with outrageous vigor as his leg went out from under him.

Everyone was shocked into stillness when Keiki hit the ground.

Mugen let out a slow "Ho-ly Shhhit!" at the sight of the young Kage holding a glinting blade, covered in Keiki's blood. The little boy stood over the large fallen man with pride.

Keiki dropped the katana again and Kage was quick to grab its handle this time. Jin roused in time to see Kage hand him his two unsheathed swords.

Keiki rose onto his hands and knee and grabbed a sword from one of his fallen comrades. The fight was not glamorous with a stumbling Jin and a half crippled Keiki, but at least they were equals. Jin ended the conflict quickly enough and with as much dignity as he could muster.

After the conflict was over and everyone was safe Fuu managed to help Jin and stitched up Kage. Fuu told Kage as she wrapped his leg with a bandage. "You sure were brave in there Kage. You'll be quite the little warrior" she said to the kid.

Mugen scratched his chin and looked down at Kage who sat on the ground. The little boy watched Fuu as she wrapped up his leg. Mugen said "Kage? Is that your name? It should be Musha."

The boy looked up and smiled.

During the final days of Shiroko's pregnancy she was isolated, only attended by Fuu. Jin was moved, in order to recover, to the room where Musha had retrieved his short sword.

During this time Jin thought about the moments he thought he would die. He thought about how he felt when darkness had almost consumed him. Jin sat up looking out a window at a nearby tree.

As Jin recovered he thought long and hard about where his life took him and where he had ended up. His dreams of friends and a home were coming true. 'It is all happening for me, but I cannot enjoy it because of the hardships. It will always be threatened.'

Just as Jin came to this conclusion Musha appeared at in the door to Jin's room. Musha came in the door, kneeled and then stood proudly hoping Jin would notice the latest addition to his outfit: It was a sword.

Jin was going to ask where Musha got the short sword, then realized it looked suspiciously like a smaller version of Mugen's. Fuu came in behind Musha and said "Musha! Don't bother Master Jin with this. He needs his rest!"

"He's not bothering me" said Jin. "Come here, Musha, let me see it." Jin took the blade from the sheath. It was a red sheath like Mugen's but not decorated like his. It had a plain white handle and fine sharp blade. After a proper examination Jin said "This is a fine blade."

Fuu said "I'm glad you approve Jin."

Jin suspected Fuu had something to do with the boy getting the blade and Jin thought Mugen gave it to Musha to make up for the upset he caused the dojo when he left. Mugen leaned in the doorway resting his calloused bare foot on the frame of the shoji screen.

Fuu cleaned up the tray from Jin's last meal and exited, smiling at Mugen as she passed. He rolled his eyes after she had gone and said "So when is your ass going to get better and more useful around here?"

"I should be better soon" said Jin. Jin felt uneasy with Mugen now. Mugen had helped save him and he felt somewhat indebted. "Thank you."

"Huh? You're an ass if you think I did any of that for you. They were all trespassing" said Mugen sharply.

"Yes, of course." The men stayed in an uncomfortable silence for a quite a while. Musha then picked up a wooden pole resting near the wall. He jumped into a stance that had Mugen written all over it. Jin cringed at all the areas that left the child open for attack.

Mugen picked up a second pole and challenged the kid. Jin said "Musha, no! Keep your arms in!"

Musha looked from Jin to Mugen and then down at his arms. What master Jin was telling him conflicted with what Master Mugen had taught him. Jin stood from his bedding and came up behind Musha. He kneeled down next to the child and moved his arms into the proper stance. "This will protect you better." Jin felt Mugen's eyes on him and was expecting a challenge form the other master.

Jin looked up ready to defend his technique and was greeted by a sharp nod from Mugen. "It always worked against me" said Mugen. Jin realized his indebtedness was really a kinship. He was surprised that he felt it for Mugen, considering their differences, but it seemed that Mugen too was feeling it. Though they both felt it neither would ever admit it.

Jin said "Mm. Unless of course Mugen comes at you with his geta. Then he would know best how to defend you from that attack." So it went. While they were teaching Jin and Mugen learned to compromise…sometimes.

After Master Jin's recovery he taught regularly and his students warmed to him more so than before. After going into a real battle they realized the importance of Jin's teachings. They took Mugen's advice and tried to bring their own style of fighting to the dojo.

Jin would have moments where he couldn't wait to see if Shiroko was to bare a boy or girl. He felt safer after the incident. It was his worst fear and his family survived. His friends were okay, and he could continue on his path.

Jin leaned on the wall of the dojo watching the young men clacking their swords. Jin decided that he not only wanted a family, but was prepared to have more children. He believed Shiroko would be pleased to hear it. These students were loyal to him and he would do everything he could to make sure the path they walked was one of honor. They in return would support their masters.

The day Shiroko gave birth came and all the students celebrated Jin and his new family. Shiroko and Jin were blessed with a newborn son. Jin had to wait to see him, as was the custom of the time, and finally named him Gimaru, for the first principle in bushido. Gi means the right decision or truth.

As Jin looked down at the little bundle of joy with Shiroko's gentle hand on his arm he said "Mn. Yes, Gimaru."

THE END
Author's Note: And they lived happliy ever after...Yeah, Mm...What did you guys think?

Nilee - Thank you for your all your reviews! If Mugen grew up he wouldn't be Mugen! Ah well, one can only hope.
Chizz-MuffinChik - buck toothed man whores? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks for all your reviews!
Listersgirl-Whao! You're really getting into this! Don't worry. I'd say Keiki got his.
crazy4dogboi- Happy? They're safe. What...did you really think I'd kill Jin's baby? That would be harsh. Shit mo fo - I'm glad you like my story, and yes in fact it does make me sad when people don't review. I put a lot of time and effort into these stories for others to enjoy, and when I don't get the feedback I'm hoping for I'm disappointed. No lie.

I hope you guys enjoyed the ending! I think this is it for my Samcham fics. Maybe I'll spit out a one shot here or there, but these are tough! I encourage you guys to check out my doodles on the website listed as my homepage. I have a good one of Mugen and his big hair. They're not professional quality and I think it's safe to say I'm a better author than illustrator. I'll leave the illustrations to Listersgirl ; )

Let me know what you think and what improvements I can make. Thanks!