Hey guys, chewbecky here. Sorry for the wait, I do have a job and stuff.
Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Champloo or anything related to Samurai Champloo.
Alone in the Dark
Chapter 5: Reunited
Mugen yawned and stretched, popping his joints as he did so. He scratched his stomach and chewed on a piece of grass. He had had a dream last night, but it wasn't the usual one about sake and whores. It wasn't the one about emerging victorious from a battle with Jin, it wasn't even the one where Fuu had actually decided to "pay" him for being her bodyguard. It was a sad dream, more like a memory really. He hadn't had dreamt it since he left Ryuukyu. It was the dream about her. A girl on Ryuukyu whom he'd considered family. A girl who was far too kind to be a girl living on hell's island. Mugen wasn't one to be reminiscent of his life on Ryuukyu, it was far from any normal, happy childhood. Part of the reason he drank so much was so he wouldn't remember, was that weak of him? He couldn't help it, after he lost her he had no good memories of his past.
She was the reason he left, he wanted to find her. Instead he found Fuu, and was indebted to her no matter how much he tried to deny it. What did it matter anyway? Everyone told him it was useless, her captors probably had their way with her and left her to rot. Mugen didn't want to believe that, but he had found no clue to her whereabouts. Thats why he fought and continues to fight for Fuu's safety, he never wants history to repeat itself in his life again. He rose to his feet and dusted himself off. He had slept under the stars last night, like the three of them did so many times before. After adjusting his sword he left the campsite and continued on his journey to rescue Fuu from whatever peril she had gotten herself into this time.
The girls had left their shabby shack at the first light of dawn. It was now just a few hours before noon, they had covered a good amount of ground.
"You know Himi-chan, I always wondered if Momo-san was a boy or a girl..." Fuu stated as Momo ran from her shoulder to Himiko's.
"I don't really know. But if I had to guess, I would say Momo-san is a boy."
"How'd you come up with that?" Fuu blankly looked at her friend.
"Well, considering he likes to make our bindings his home..."she giggled as Momo nestled himself into her cleavage.
Fuu giggled as well, "I guess you're right."
"Fuu?"
"Hmm?"
"Back at the Okeono's, you told Keisuke-san that you knew some people that could help them. Who?"
"Well..." Fuu began, she realized she had never told Himiko who Jin and Mugen were actually. "Do you remember the two bodyguards I told about?"
"Uh huh..."
"Well, its them. They're the ones I was telling Keisuke about."
"What town are they staying in?"
"You see, thats it. I don't really know. We parted almost two years ago, but...but, I know if I can find Jin and Mugen that they would help me..."
"Mugen..." Himiko whispered. Somehow that name meant something to her, but she couldn't recall why. It was almost as if whatever it was happened lifetimes ago.
"Yeah, Jin and Mugen...do you know them?" Fuu asked curiously, staring at Himiko's face which was deep in thought.
"Well...Mugen sound familiar, but I don't know from where..."
"Well, he's probably on the most wanted list in Japan. I guess he is sort of a criminal..."
"Maybe thats it...it probably is." Himiko stated, putting it to rest.
"There it is!" Fuu gasped, running up ahead of Himiko, "This is the crossroad where we parted!"
Fuu stood in the center where the roads met as she recalled Mugen and Jin standing in their designated spots on opposite roads. She clasped her hands together and prayed a small prayer asking for guidance to find her beloved friends. Himiko bowed her head in respect.
"So which way should we go?" Fuu asked while she looked down the road going south, her back to Himiko.
"How 'bout my way, lady...?" a gruff voice interjected.
Fuu spun around only to see a man sneering with a blade to Himiko's neck. The gruff man who had spoken earlier was advancing toward her, with a machete in his hand.
"What a turn of luck! Just when we thought we couldn't repay our gambling debts, we find two pretty young ladies traveling the highway alone. Must be a godsend, right Kiro?" the man with the machete said to his friend.
"Hehe, right." Kiro said while he pressed his blade against Himiko's neck, sniffing her hair.
"Hey, don't go messing her up Kiro! She's exotic, and will sell for a good price. Don't fuck up, like last time." he said while pinning Fuu's arms behind her back and tying them together.
Fuu had a mind to scream for help, but she didn't go with it. These guys looked like they loved to hurt woman, without the need of an excuse. She looked at Himiko's face, it was emotionless. Fuu remembered seeing this look upon her face when they took her father away. Something told Fuu that this wasn't the first time she had been man handled. Her stomached churned when she thought about how rough life must have been for Himiko, Ryuukyu wasn't even suitable for the prisoners who lived there, let alone the children.
"Alright Kiro, you take her to Saito's. Don't accept anything under 275, got it? That fine ass is worth at least that much, and she's young too. Don't mark her up either! I swear if you fuck this up..."
"Yea, yea 275 and no marks. I got it." Kiro said while hoisting Himiko over his shoulder, making sure to get a good handful of her backside, then traveling down the east road.
"And you," he said hoisting Fuu over his shoulder, "You should at least pull in 200, you're young and cute. That's what the older men with the money like..."
"Wha, why only 200?" Fuu complained, feeling like a sack of rice.
"Well, you're a Japanese girl, and that other girl isn't. She's something no Japanese man has ever had before, and I'm sure they're willing to pay top dollar for her. No offense..."
"Yeah..."Fuu grumbled, like he cared if he hurt her feelings or not. They traveled down the west road, and Fuu craned her neck to see the last few glimpses of Himiko. This wasn't fair, she had to get Himiko back. That Kiro guy looked sadistic, who knew if he wouldn't kill Himiko on the way.
Himiko laid uncomfortably over Kiro's shoulder. She bounced with his every step, and his bony physique felt like a stab to her stomach. He kept feeling her up too, but she knew better than to say anything. He seemed like he was just waiting for an excuse to cut her. They had passed a couple of people and no one seemed to think that it was strange that a man was carrying her over his shoulder with her hands tied behind her back. What was the point of crying for help if people were already acting like she was invisible? Himiko tried to think of a plan to get out of this...but her mind seemed to be fresh out of ideas.
"Its too bad we have this debt to pay off, or else I would keep you for myself." Kiro commented, giving her backside a squeeze. Himiko rolled her eyes, did every man in Japan use that same line?
"You're quiet...I like for my girl to make a little noise. I'm sure I could get a scream out of you..."
'Like hell you will!' she thought to herself. 'C'mon Himi, think! How're you gonna get outta this?' Just then a message from nature arrived.
"I-I have to go to the bathroom..."she stated.
"Well...I guess, but if you try any bull shit you're as good as dead, got it?"
"Hai."
He traveled a little farther up the road, and let Himiko down from his shoulder.
"Walk." Kiro ordered, "there's a tea house around this bend."
He was right, there was a tea house. He untied her hands and forcefully guided her into the tea house. She scanned the house for anybody who looked able enough to help her. To her disappointment it seemed to be senior citizens day. Kiro walked to the back and asked the owner if he had a bathroom. There was one around the back, and he led Himiko back out through the front door. They traveled to the back of the establishment, and the out house came into view. Just as Himiko was becoming sadly depressed, she saw him. Rather she saw his swords first, then she saw him. A man dressed in a blue gi, and black hakama washing dishes only a mere few feet from the out house. Her heart began to beat like crazy and her palms began to sweat. Kiro still had a death grip on her right arm. Being lost in thought, Himiko absent mindedly stumbled over the uneven ground. Kiro released her, not wanting to go down with her but it was too late. In a blink of an eye, Himiko was back on her feet and running toward the stranger. Kiro cursed out loud and was up and after her in no time, seeing how she was in a kimono and couldn't move that fast.
"Mister! Mister please help me, he's gonna--" but before Himiko could get the sentence out, Kiro had grabbed her by her hair yanking her head back. She winced at the sharp pain at the base of her head and fell to her knees.
"You stupid bitch!" Kiro slapped the living daylights out of her, but still had her by the hair. "Fuck what Jiyo said! You are dead, do you hear me?"
Himiko could barely hear his words, her chest was in her throat from the previous slap and she was becoming light headed. She could taste the blood in her mouth, making her gag. Both of her hands were scratching at the hand that was pulling her head around by her hair. If it wasn't for the sharp pains going through her scalp she would be unconscious by now. She saw him reach behind him to pull his blade out, and she knew that she was about to die.
"That is no way to treat a lady." The man in the blue gi said while rising to his feet.
"Shut the fuck up four eyes, and go back to washing your dishes. Unless you want to die with this goddamn bitch!"
"My name is Jin, you should remember it for when the overseer of hell asks who sent you.."he drew his pale slender hand to the hilt of his sword.
Himiko looked on wide eyed. Still wincing from the vice grip on her hair, she couldn't believe it. Was this the Jin Fuu had told her about?
"If you don't mind your fucking busine--" he stopped dead in the middle of his sentence, literally. Himiko's hair was freed from his grip. Jin retrieved his blade from Kiro's chest, his body then slumped and fell to the ground.
"Are you hurt badly?" Jin kneeled and examined her face. He reached into the pocket on the inside of his gi and pulled out a clean cloth, gently cleaning the blood from her busted lip.
"No...I'm okay."she winced as he cautiously wiped her bruising face, "Jin I need your help! I'm Himiko and my friend was kidnapped by--"
"We should get you to a doctor before you try and save anyone else." he commented solemnly.
"No, there's no time! Fuu is in trou--"
"Fuu?" He froze. After coming to his senses, Jin rose to his feet, "Take me to her."
"Hai," Himiko rose as well, but stumbled when she tried to take a step. She held her ankle in pain, she realized she must of hurt it when she fell not too long ago.
"Here," Jin said while squatting down in front of her, "I'll carry you."
Himiko hoisted her kimono just a bit above her knees and tied it in a knot. She then climbed atop Jin's back and crossed her arms around his broad shoulders. He adjusted his swords so they wouldn't cause her any discomfort. His ponytail brushed against her unbruised cheek, she blushed being this close to a man who was practically a stranger. He placed his hands respectably under her knees, he blushed a moment from the skin on skin contact. He was thankful she wasn't able to see his face. She was surprised that his hands were respectable at all, but she should've guessed since he was respectable enough to rescue her. She told him to follow the road west until he reached the crossroads, and with those directions Jin rose and ran with his bushido lightning samurai speed.
Meanwhile, Fuu was squirming around on Jiyo's shoulder.
"You're really starting to get on my nerves girl..."Jiyo said while giving her a swift slap on her butt.
"Ah! You jerk! Its really uncomfortable being over your shoulder with my hands tied behind my back!" Fuu continued squirming.
"You know what? Wiggle your ass one more time, I swear!"
"Owowowowoww!" Fuu whined.
Jiyo grumbled as he unceremoniously threw Fuu from his shoulder. She hit the ground, butt first, rather harshly. Fuu was about to cuss him out, but she felt the cold steel up against her cheek.
"Look here, you're a whiny little bitch and I'm starting to lose my patience. You're gonna walk now, but the second you try any shit I'm gonna cut that cute face of yours, got it?"
"Uh huh..." Fuu answered as he pulled her to her feet.
The two began to walk down the road again.. They hadn't gotten far the first leg of their walk due to Fuu's wiggling and whining. They still weren't getting much farther due to Fuu's clumsiness. Every other step she was falling down, or stumbling.
"Have you ever walked before?' Jiyo asked, more than slightly annoyed at the girls ungracefulness.
"My balance is off because my hands are tied, okay!" Fuu grumbled.
"Well, you better turn the shit on because the next time you fall--"
Fuu stumbled over a rock and landed face first in the dirt.
"AH! YOU STUPID BITCH!" Jiyo slapped her roughly across the cheek while pulling her up to her feet, "I swear Kiro has probably already made it there and back to the crossroads by now!"
"Actually, Kiro never made it to his destination." Jin replied curtly while letting Himiko slide down his back.
"What the fuck?" Jiyo looked at Jin, then at Himiko. "You little whore, what did you do with Kiro?"
"Leave her out of this, and release the girl." Jin demanded.
Fuu couldn't believe her ears. She was hardly believing her eyes. It was him, Jin. His ponytail had become a little longer and he had new glasses, but his gi looked the same as she remembered it. She continued to stare at him from behind Jiyo, for once in her life she was speechless. Tears had begun to well up in her eyes before she had a choice.
"You want the girl? Over my dead body!" Jiyo charged him, his machete raised high in the air.
"Hnn, that can be arranged." Jin swiftly side stepped Jiyo's charge, spun around and sliced Jiyo across the back.
"Err...you bastard, you're gonna pay for that!"
As if Jiyo hadn't learned his lesson from the previous attack, he charged him again. Big mistake. Jin didn't side step him this time, he lunged forward skewering Jiyo through the stomach. Jiyo's machete hit the ground. He coughed up some blood, and stood immobilized as his eyes rolled back into his head. Jin pulled his sword back and Jiyo's corpse fell face first to the ground. He flicked the blood off of his blade and sheathed it.
"Jin!" Fuu ran up to him and would've hugged him if her hands hadn't been tied.
"Fuu, what happened? Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Jin questioned while untying the ropes which bound Fuu's hands.
"I'm fine. These guys came out of nowhere and just up and took us! They were gonna sell us to brothels I think, cuz they were in debt. We were on our way looking for you and Mugen..." Fuu's eyes teared up when her gaze fell on Himiko. "Himiko, what did he do to you?" Fuu ran to her best friend with worry filled eyes.
Himiko's cheek was now discolored and swollen. Her bottom lip was busted and blood had dripped onto her blue-green kimono and white obi. Her hair was disheveled and her ribbon was hardly holding her hair out of her face.
"I'm okay, Fuu. That Kiro guy was gonna kill me cuz I ran off looking for help. Jin-san saved me just in time..."
"This is all my fault. You were right, we should've asked one of the boys from the village to escort us."
"Fuu, stop. Don't say that, its okay. Besides we found Jin-san, and now all thats left is Mugen-san."
Jin watched in silence as Fuu worried over Himiko. It was strange, they seemed much more than friends. How long had Fuu known Himiko?
"We should get her looked at by a doctor in the next town." Jin broke his silence.
"Hai." Fuu said nodding her head determinedly. The trio then set off for the nearest town.
A/N: Hey guys, I hope you liked it. I made this chapter a little longer cuz it took so long for me to update. Hope you enjoyed, please read and review!