Hello all, this is chewbecky here delivering the next chapter. Just wanted to point out that Jin and Fuu are samurai where as Mugen is just a bad ass street fighter. Aurora Rose 14 pointed that out to me, and I realized that I was only considering both Mugen and Jin as samurai because of their fighting skills. BUT a samurai is/was a social class in Japan and since Mugen was born on Ryuukyu, and only the gods know who his parents were, I believe it is safe to say that he isn't a samurai. I still love him though, now on with the story.
Disclaimer: Me no own Samurai Champloo.
Alone in the Dark
Chapter 6: The Pirate's Tears.
The sun was beating down on the messy haired warrior. Wasn't like he was worrying about getting any darker, he welcomed the warm rays. His geta clickity clacked down the dirt road, almost like deja vu. Maybe the sun's rays were hitting him too directly, he could've sworn he heard Fuu whine about her feet hurting. He ran a tanned hand through his hair, trying to free himself from his hallucinations. Was it just him or did every road in Japan look like this one? Dirt for as far as the eyes could see. His ears caught the sound of a nearby brook and his feet carried him there without hesitation. He squatted near the edge of the brook, looking at the clear water for a moment. The next second he dunked his head beneath the surface, taking a few gulps while he was down there. There was no use in being prissy about it, he was hot and thirsty and liked the immediate satisfaction of his actions. As he shook the water from his hair he noticed the presence of three men who had thought they were sneaking up on him.
"Oi, I'm not into that bareback scene so you three fruit cakes can take that shit back to wherever the hell you came from." Mugen said while rubbing the back of his neck.
The three men came out from their hiding spots. All had some sort of weapon, and intended on inflicting some form of bodily harm.
"Do you know who the fuck I am?" The biggest of the three spoke up. Mugen just gave him his usual scowl.
"I can't believe this motha fucka don't know who the hell I am! Somebody tell this bitch!"
"Man, Jiyo is the baddest motha fucka walkin this highway!" The skinniest out of the three began.
"Man, Jiyo will kick you ass all the way back to the Genji era!" The bald henchman added.
"I'm Jiyo, beeyaaatch! The biggest, baddest, prettiest motha fucka eva to rule this highway, and I see you scraggly, dirty, kiddy-clothes wearin' ass drinkin water from my damn brook! Now how you gonna pay me for that, beeyaatch!"
Mugen looked from Jiyo, to the skinny dude, and then to the bald dude. He calculated how far away from him and eachother they were standing.
"One..."Mugen mumble.
"One? Beeyaaatch, you better mean one thousand ryo! This beeyaatch said one! Can you believe that shit? Did I not just tell him who the fuck I am?"
"No, you misunderstood, 'beeyatch'..."Mugen said while unsheathing his sword and swinging it across the chests of the three bandits in one fluid motion,
" I meant, one fucking swing..."
The three bodies involuntarily twitched after they hit the ground. Mugen shook the blood off of his sword and sheathed it. He shook his head as he stepped over the bodies. The ex-pirate hated cocky highway robbers, sure he was cocky himself but did he sound like this guy?
"Do you know who the fuck I am? I'm the baddest motha fucka born and raised on Ryuukyu! I'm Mugen, beeyaaatch!"
Mugen rubbed a finger across the stubble on his chin, contemplating.
"Hell no."
With that he picked up where he left off on the dirt road and continued his search for Fuu.
Jin, Fuu and Himiko were traveling down a similar dirt road. Himiko was still being carried on Jin's back even though she insisted that she was well enough to walk. Fuu pouted a little to herself, Jin never carried her like that and surely had never insisted on carrying her like that. Was she jealous? No! Its just so different...the Jin from before would never insist on any form of physical contact. This was different though, Himiko was hurt and...and this is just silly. Fuu's ears perked up at the distant sound of the streets' hustle and bustle. She decided to make herself useful and began to quicken her pace.
"You guys wait here and I'll bring back a doctor!" Fuu hollered over her shoulder as she ran towards the sound of the busy streets.
She was disappearing down the dirt road before the two could object.
"Momosan, make sure Fuu is safe..." Himiko whispered to her bosom.
Momosan peeked his little head from his resting spot, crawled onto Jin's shoulder then leapt onto a nearby tree. He hopped from branch to branch until he too was out of sight. Jin continued to carry Himiko down the dirt path, in silence. She was in no objection, Himiko was enjoying the samurai's stature. She might have even fallen asleep if weren't for her cuts and bruises. The tall samurai stopped, somewhat abruptley, in front of an enormous weeping willow. He carefully sat Himiko down in the shade of willow branches and took a seat directly in front of her. His face was blank as he stared at her intently. Himiko felt as if he were trying to read her thoughts.
"Look, I know I'm not skinny so if you want me to walk its okay...You can stop trying to guess my weight." Himiko spoke softly with a dead serious look on her face.
"Ah, its not that. You're not heavy..."The ronin allowed a small smirk to grace his features.
"Himiko, I need to ask you a question. Please be truthful with me..." His smirk disappeared. "How is it that you know Fuu?"
"Well..." the grey eyed girl began, shifting somewhat uncomfortably, "It was a long time ago, we were only children but we were good friends..."
The ronin noticed her saddened expression, but continued to press on,
"Please excuse my rudeness, but if you were such good friends, why is it Fuu never spoke of you while on her journey to find her father?"
The Ryuukyu girl swallowed hard, how was she suppose to asnwer that...
"You are from Ryuukyu, are you not?"
Her eyes widened in shock. How could he have possibly known that?
"Your accent, I once knew someone from Ryuukyu with a similar accent." Jin answered, reading her thoughts. "You have two short swords hidden in your kimono. Why didn't you just use them to defeat the men that tried to kidnap the two of you?"
Himiko's face went from shock to no expression at all. She ran her fingers across the tree roots weaving through the soil. Her breathing was calm, as if the ronin had never called her out.
"The truth is that I was worried about Fuu." She hugged her knees into her chest, "I knew I could've freed myself, but what if they reprimanded Fuu for my actions. That was a risk I wasn't willing to take. As for my past, I knew Fuu before I was taken to Ryuukyu. We had become best friends over a year and a half, but like I said we were young then."
"Why were you taken to Ryuukyu?" Jin asked before he could stop himself. He wasn't usually one to pry into someone's personal matter, but he was only doing it for Fuu's safety.
"Some westerners came for my mother, said that she belonged to them. My father denied them, so they shot her with a pistol even though she was with child. My father, he killed them, he killed them all." Himiko's eyes were now focusing on the thong of her sandals. She cleared her throat and continued.
"When the officials came, they arrested him. They didn't care about the wrong the westerners had done...I suppose there is no justice for those from Ryuukyu. They sentenced the both of us to remain there. That was the last time I ever saw Fuu, but we promised that we would find each other some day. I was six then, I didn't leave Ryuukyu until I turned fourteen. I've been searching for Fuu for the last year and just found her a few days ago."
Jin looked away from her. Nothing could describe the guilt he felt, he was sorry he asked. It was just, hell, he didn't know. Somehow he had felt that this girl allowed Fuu to be kidnapped, but he was wrong. Himiko felt his gaze leave her. She looked up at him, his eyebrows knitted in concentration and a deep frown took over his face. She reached out and placed her small hand on his pale, calloused one.
"Jin san, don't feel bad. I know the reputation of most people that come from Ryuukyu. They steal, or kill, or peddle flesh."
"Himiko, I never meant--"
"I understand that you care for Fuu. I would have done the same if I were in your position. Please know that Fuu is like a sister to me, the only family I have. My father may have made mistakes, but he was good man. He taught me right from wrong, and how to live an honorable life...but I guess I will just have to prove that to you."
She lifted her hand from his, but her warmth stayed. She smiled softly at him, and watched as a smile graced his own lips. In his heart he knew that she had already proven herself to him.
Fuu ran as fast as her feet would carry her through the busy street. Now anyone who knows Fuu knows that she's about as graceful as a hippo doing ballet. When she wasn't stumbling over her own two feet, she was colliding into innocent pedestrians. She didn't know why she was in such a hurry, she just knew she wanted a doctor to treat poor Himiko before she got any worse. She still felt guilty for what happened to her. Maybe she should've sent Jin to fetch the doctor instead.
Just as she was thinking of Jin's speed and agility, her foot slid off of her sandal in mid-stride. In the act of trying to catch her balance her arms flailed and grabbed hold of whatever was closest to her, which just happened to be the sleeve of the most notorious yakuza in this part of town. Fuu ended up face first in the middle of the road with a fistul of expensive, dyed, silken and heavily embroidered kimono sleeve.
She slowly turned her head to meet the gaze of the sleeve's owner. The crowd was dead silent, they knew...oh, how they knew that poor Fuu was about to pay the ultimate price.
"Oi, jo-chan. Do you know how much this cost me?" The yakuza said pointing to his torn sleeve which revealed his heavily tattooed arm.
Fuu shook her head silently, hoping, no praying this didn't end up with her in a whorehouse.
"Well, how do you suppose we settle this? I figure you owe me a pretty ryo, and Rei's is in need of some new girls..."
Damn, not even an hour and she's being put in another cat house.
"You know what I'm gonna do for you?" He squatted down so that they were eye to eye,
"Since I'm in a good mood today, I'm gonna be your first client and let you "make nice" since it was so rude of you to rip my sleeve." he hoisted her over his shoulder.
"Then I'm gonna sell you to Mother Rei and tell her what kind of skills you can offer."
Her faced blanched. She didn't like this guy, not soley from the fact that he was selling her to a brothel, but because he was so damn polite. He hadn't cussed at her once, and he didn't hit her...Which to Fuu, meant that he was the worse type. He was probably sadistic and liked to cut and carve young, pretty girls.
"Ahhh! No, let me down you jerk!"
Mugen's head shot up, he couldn't have heard what he just thought he heard. He hadn't drank any sake today...it must've been that damn water at the brook! The fucking water had to be contaminated...
"I swear to Buddha if you don't let me down right now..!"
"Ah, what the fuck? Did that disgusting sewer rat just touch my face?"
Mugen rose from his stool inside the food stand. He knew he wasn't imagining anything, he had been attacked more than once by that furry rodent. He made his way through the crowd of people, who seemed like they only wanted to part for that yakuza guy. Then he spotted them, Fuu hoisted over the man's shoulder, the man's ripped sleeve, he could only imagine what must've went down. He cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck, it's been a long time since he fought members of yakuza.
Himiko shifted uneasily, her back against the willow's trunk. She had repositioned herself several times already, something was obviously bothering her. She began to fumble with the sleeves of her kimono, rolling them up and then unrolling them back down. Jin, on the other hand, sat perfectly still. He was somewhat amused by her actions. It was as if she were a little child, trying to sit patiently...but he could tell something had her unnerved. She was fidgeting, and she kept looking down the road every few seconds.
"I'm sure Fuu will be back any moment now...Are your wounds bothering you?" he asked, his voice even as always.
"No, its not me. I-I just keep having this feeling that somethings wrong. You know how prone to trouble Fuu is." She rose to her feet.
"Well, what do you advise we do?" he rose as well.
"C'mon, lets start walking towards town. We'll probably meet her on her way back and then this feeling will pass." she said while taking him by the hand and leading him down the road.
Jin wasn't the type of man that was for a lot of physical contact, or conversation for that matter, but Himiko was having a strange effect on him. Every time she touched him he felt warmth. It wasn't just the normal, body heat alone...there was more to it. When she talked about her past, he could feel the sadness wash over her whole being, yet she was such an optomistic girl. Mugen was nothing like this, he was crude and aggressive. Himiko was soft spoken, gentle, delicate...someone he longed to keep safe. Wow, Jin where did that come from? You just met the girl and you already want to...No, just stop it. She was a sweet girl...with sweet, pouty lips. Lips that looked so soft and warm...and, and...kissable. Okay Jin, now you want to take her for your own selfish desires after you saved her from being sold to a brothel...ironic, not quite.
Himiko walked as fast as she could, pushing past the dull ache in her ankle. She was practically dragging the tall ronin behind her. Her hand clasped around his, and no objections from him at all. He was no pushover, but she didn't understand why he allowed it. He was quick, lightning fast, strong...a very skilled samurai, yet he was being dragged by a girl who stood barely to his shoulder. He was very kind to her though, even before he found out she was a friend of Fuu. She could tell by the stern expression on his face that he meant no harm by the questions he asked.
They entered the town in mere minutes. It seemed quite busy for the time of day, didn't people have everyday chores to tend to? Was there some kind of festival coming up? Himiko's stomach sank as she watched passerby's run to the crowd at the end of the street. Jin moved closer to her, she had let go of his hand when she saw the crowd of people. He watched her as her eyes frantically scanned the crowd for her brunette friend.
"I heard he's no stranger to killing...before he came here he single handedley took out that highway gang from the mountains..."
"What about the girl? Is she his wife?"
"Probably not, these kind of men only fight over women for the money...not love."
"That girl brought it upon herself, you know? You just don't go around town, offending the yakuza..."
Bingo. Himiko knew the old wives were gossiping about Fuu. Jin stepped in front of Himiko, pushing his way through the crowd. He could feel her hands clutching the sides of his gi, holding on to him while he made a path. Without a thought his right hand gripped the handle of his katana, without a second thought his left hand clasped around her own. The small action sending comfort to the distressed girl, Jin had intended that it only meant that much. As his fingers intertwined with hers, he noted to himself that this was the first time in a while that he second guessed himself. While he battled his thoughts of lust and honor, he heard a small gasp come from Himiko's lips. He followed her eyes, and there was Fuu. Fuu embracing Mugen, standing victorious over the battle with the yakuza man. Wait a minute...Mugen?
"Mugen..." Himiko whispered, she peaked from behind the silent samurai's shoulder.
She released his hand and began to walk to where the ex-pirate stood. She took only a few steps, her chest rising and falling as she took in deep breaths, her stormy eyes clouding with emotion. She brought both of her hands up to her chest, her fingers lightly stroking her throat...trying to find her voice.
"Mugen, is it really...is it really you?" Her voice was louder, but still cracked with emotion.
Mugen turned his head to the side, the noise from the crowd and Fuu's chattering faded to the background. He knew he had heard it, but...was it possible? All these years...it could'nt be. He heard it again, his head snapped in the opposite direction. There she stood, like she was illuminated, standing out from the crowd. She was the only thing that Mugen's mind was registering at the moment. A genuine smile graced his lips as he watched her approach him, he could see the mist in her eyes. His own eyes began to burn, he began walking towards her, not really sure what to say in this situation. Her arms stretched out for him, his did the same for her. Time seemed to stop for both of the Ryuukyuans as they embraced. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, his arms around her waist. He heard her sniffle softly, and his own tears were absorbed into the collar of her kimono.
"Mugen," she whispered, "I thought I would never see you again..."
A/N: Mwahahahaha! Cliffhanger, sort of. Sorry it took so long for the update, kinda working two jobs, watching Pirates of the Carribbean and that kind of stuff. I plan to try to update at least once a week. Thank you for reading! Please Review!