Disclaimer: Of course it is known that I do not own samurai champloo in any way shape or form.

Alone in the Dark

Chapter 2: There can be no ying without a yang.

Fuu woke to the clamber of the elder couple walking down the hallway. From her futon she looked through the small rectangular window and saw the first light of day entering the room. It was depressing, waking up in her own bedroom when she expected to wake up in the wild or in some shabby make-shift hut with her two samurai nearby. Her heart sank as she thought about the two swordsmen, all the while she desperately tried to will herself from thinking about that day. As her mind began to travel back in time to where she stood in the middle of the crossroads she heard someone call her name. At first believing it to be one of her beloved samurai, but as the she heard her name being called for the second time she realized the sad truth.

"Fuu deary, are you up in there?" an elderly woman called to her from outside the door, "I have some fresh water here for you, please come down as soon as you can so we may eat breakfast together."

"Hai, baasan." was the only words Fuu could muster up to say to the old woman.

She didn't want to seem ungrateful to the elderly couple. They had been so kind to her. Feeding her, giving her a warm bed and a job. They treated her as if she were always a part of their family. She didn't want to show any disrespect by being depressed in their presence. Besides, she still hadn't told them about Jin and Mugen. It wasn't that she was ashamed, it was just that it wasn't a topic randomly brought up over a cup of tea.

She slid the door open and picked up the bowl of water and the fresh towel at its side. She sat it on the floor in front of a small mirror hanging on the wall. She dipped the cloth in the cool water and began wiping down her face. Looking into the mirror she could see the tracks her tears had left the night before. Not wanting to look at her pale, depressed state any longer she rushed wiping down the rest of her body. Hurriedly she dressed in her pink kimono. Obaasan had hemmed the bottom which had once been frayed and tattered from traveling. After twisting her brunette locks into a simple bun she shoved her hair pins in and set off out of the room and down the stairs.

She put on her biggest smile as she took her place at the table. Jiisan sat at the head of the table, puffing away on his pipe. Fuu couldn't believe how big he was. She had expected someone of that age would be skin and bones, hunching over and walking with a cane. Not this man, he stood well over six feet. He had a kind smile and was always jovial. He was pretty much bald with the exception of his thin , silver ponytail falling from the nape of his neck to the middle of his shoulder blades. His eyes were like black, glistening pebbles embedded in the wrinkles of his face. He nodded slightly and smiled widely when Fuu sat down at the table. Obaasan was a small woman, (as was anyone else compared to her husband) the top of her head barely reached her husband's shoulders. Her hair was as white as a snowflake, and always pulled into a bun on the top of her head. She was always on the move, her age never slowed her down for a second. She smiled tenderly at Fuu as she set breakfast on the table. Her eyes were just like those of her husband, black glistening pebbles, always wrinkled in a smile. After she set all of the food on the table she took a seat at the table across from Fuu.

The clinking of chopsticks against porcelain could be heard as breakfast began. This is how it started everyday, always in silence. As Fuu was carefully eating her morning rice, trying not be a pig, Obaasan began the morning conversation.

"You know Fuu, Emiko's son asked about you yesterday..."

Fuu blushed slightly, remembering Emiko's son Taro. He was quiet and polite, never said more than a few words to Fuu at a time. But he did always find something to say to her, or compliment her on.

"Bah, what does that foolish boy want now?" Jissan interrupted.

"He's not a foolish boy...He's a very nice, polite, handsome, gentlemen."Baasan shot back.

"Pansy's more like it," he took a deep inhalation from his pipe, "What does he do again? Thats right, he reads books...like a natural born pansy!"

"There is nothing wrong with him for being a scholar. This world needs more educated men..." Baasan took a sip from her tea, "He wanted to know what Fuu's plan were for the festival next week."

"Tell that pansy that our Fuu isn't gonna be escorted by a man who doesn't know how to chop wood or fish!" Jiisan muttered, "She needs a man with some backbone, with a respect for nature. Stop tryin' to setter up with some bookworm just 'cause you're friends with his mama."

Fuu couldn't help but giggle at Jiisan's protectiveness over her. Both he and Baasan would always refer to her as "our Fuu", especially when boasting to some of the customers. Jiisan had always had a disinterest in Taro ever since he had asked him to go fishing with him and was flabbergasted as to why Taro was throwing the fish back.

"Now that Keisuke, he's a nice feller." Jissan added his two cents while winking at Fuu, "That's the kinda man Fuu needs to go to a festival with. Someone who can protect her and win her something at the prize booth!"

"Oh pish posh! The world isn't all about brawns you know!" Baasan commented while clearing the table.

"Well it sure as hell ain't about who can read the most books! Reading books doesn't put clothes on your back, or a roof over your head." Jiisan bellowed. "I'm sure Fuu has heard enough about Taro and Keisuke. Hey dearie, can you go to the market and pick up a few things before we open for the day?" Jissan asked while passing her a piece of parchment.

"Hai, jiisan." she replied while taking the paper and heading to the door. While she slipped on her shoes she could hear the elderly couple still going at it about what type of man is the best for Fuu. She smiled to her herself as she passed through the door. 'Is this how thing would be like if my parents were still alive?' Fuu often had these types of thoughts, more so after her journey ended with Mugen and Jin. Certain sightings and conversations would spark them up in her mind. Sometimes they would bring a smile to her lips, but most of the time it would bring her to tears. She was just grateful to have somewhat 'parents' that cared about her.

Her shoes clicked the winding dirt road as she made her way to the market place down at the bottom of the hill. Jiisan had told her that he picked the spot at the top of the hill because it was the first thing people would see on their way in, and the last thing they would see on the way out. He was a clever man, Fuu had heard many people say they'd stopped in the tea house because it was the last stop before their travels began and vice versa.

The sun was barely in the sky and Fuu could hear the bustle of the marketplace. She looked at the list: tobacco, tea, herbs and lanterns. This was an odd list, they mostly only asked her to get tea, or tobacco. She figured they probably needed herbs for the aches and pains that came with being old. Fuu stopped at one of the first vendors of the marketplace and asked for the tea and herbs. It came to twelve mon, not too bad. She knew that sometimes they gave her a discount because they recognized her as the waitress at the Okeono's tea house. Her next stop was a vendor selling all kinds of adult goods. From sake to imported alcohol he had it all. Fuu smiled at the middle aged man at the counter. He immediately recognized Fuu and handed her a pouch of tobacco. He refused the money she tried to give and told her that he and Aki (Jiisan) went way back.

Fuu made her way to the last vendor, an ancient old woman who sold all kinds of ends and odds. She gave a toothless smile to Fuu as she came up to her. She wore a grey kimono with a matching grey obi. Her hair was thin and wiry, wrapped up in a bun at the nape of her neck. She was hunched over and had age spots on every inch of her skin. Fuu quickly asked her if she had any lanterns for sale. The old woman nodded her head and turned to rummage through her items. Fuu always felt bad when she hurried the old woman. She was so old, any day could be her last and Fuu didn't want to be there on her last day. The old woman turned around with four lanterns, two in each arthritis bound hand. Fuu hastily paid her and just about ran to the main road. Fuu walked quickly up the road, looking back every so often to make sure the old woman hadn't croaked. In her haste Fuu tripped over a girl in the street. Fuu landed hard on her knees dropping the lanterns but clutching the other items close to her chest.

"Ah, gomen nasai! I am so clumsy."Fuu rambled while trying to pick up her lanterns.

"Fuu?" a soft voice spoke.

Fuu looked up into a pair of hazy grey eyes. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked the girl over. Long raven hair pulled back with bangs framing her face, tanned skin wrapped in a blue kimono with leaves outlined in green and a white obi to compliment it. "Himiko...!" Fuu gasped. She jumped to her feet and embraced her long lost friend.

"Oh, Fuu!" Himiko began, "I came to the tea house, but it was burned down! I asked the owners where you were and they told me you left to find the samurai who smelled of sunflowers...".

Tears were swimming in both of the young girls eyes. Himiko took a step back to admire Fuu. She had grown up since she saw her last. Fuu's hair was now past her shoulders, she had grown a little taller. And her face, there was an air of sadness carried in her facial expressions. Himiko wasn't sure what had happened, but she knew that whatever it was it had changed Fuu slightly.

"Himi-chan, I have so much to tell you. Do you live here, or are you staying at an inn or something?"

"Well, I'm not really staying anywhere right now..." Himiko mumbled while kicking the ground.

"Well then, come with me! I'm sure the Okeono's won't mind.." Fuu was practically dragging Himiko up the street.

"The Okeono's?"

"Yeah, I work for them. They own a tea house, I'm sure they won't mind if you stay."

The two girls casually strolled up the street towards the tea house. Chatting away like young girls do, Fuu told Himiko about her journey. She told her about Mugen and Jin, and how she tricked them into escorting her to find the samurai who smelled of sunflowers. By this time the two girls had arrived at the Okeono's tea house.

Fuu entered the house and no sooner had she inhaled to call out for the elderly couple she saw Jiisan's body slumped over the table. She clutched her chest and let out a bone chilling scream. Himiko ran into the house behind Fuu and clasped her hands over her mouth, muffling her own screams of horror. Jiisan laid atop of the table with several gashes across his chest and one deep gash across his throat. His robes were completely drenched in blood, and it continued to run down from his throat and pool on the table top. Fuu looked at his right arm and followed it down to the floor where he held the hand of his beloved wife. She was face down in a pool of her own blood. There was only one wound in her back, Fuu figured she was stabbed through her chest. Both bodies were still, the air around them was still. The smell of blood was like a thick cloud hanging above the two lifeless bodies. Fuu had become light headed, she barely felt the two strong hands that escorted her outside. How had this happened? Why now? Why her? Fuu shook her head as her whole body trembled, today had started out like such a good day. It had became the beginning of a great day when she was reunited with her long lost friend, Himiko. Now this, 'I guess there is no ying without a yang...'

Hey this is chewbecky, y'all know I had to put something out of the blue in here. Life isn't always peachy. More Mugen and Jin in the next chapter, I promise. Please R&R.