Disclaimer: SAMURAI CHAMPLOO AIN'T MINE!

Author note: Getting closer to the end!

Chapter 10: Pain and the Past

Jin told me we were going back to the Kawara Clan. Apparently he was the bodyguard for the young head of the clan, Sousuke, who anticipated his return. It didn't matter to me. We could have been walking towards a cave; just as long as I was with him.

Everything around me seemed a little different. The trees were taller, the air was fresher, and the moon was much brighter. This man made me feel… For three years I'd become numb to the world but Jin revived me. I was truly happy. This was something I hadn't ever experienced.

Although he did not say much as we walked, Jin's presence was very clear. He held my hand and walked so close to me I could smell the sweet musk of his skin. I could feel heat rise to my neck every time he pulled my closer to him to make sure no other man even brushed against me on the path.

I felt giddy like a young girl as his long fingers wrapped themselves around mine. It was almost impossible to suppress the smile continuing to appear on my lips. It had been so long since I'd felt Jin's hands in my own; now I wanted to feel them everywhere.

"I'm sorry I have to make you walk all this way."

Jin's voice startled me out of my dream-like thoughts. His voice was low to the point were I thought it was a part of my fantasy.

"No, I'm fine Jin, just fine."

I breathed in deeply and smiled as brightly as I could to him.

"You just looked as if you were growing tired. Do you need to stop?"

I could feel my cheeks beginning to turn red. He was looking at me all while I was daydreaming of him.

"Actually we can keep going; at least until we reach a place we can sleep for the night. It can't be to far ahead, right?"

Jin looked at me. The smile from his lips began to fade.

"You do remember what town is ahead of us, don't you?"

It slipped my mind quickly. My thoughts were so focused on Jin I did not realize we were walking closer to my old home, to the past.

I pretended it didn't bother me and nodded my head with a small smile. He stared at me for a moment then continued to walk.

The town came into view. I was worried considering this was the place where I was once a prostitute but even worse, where once married. I shook the thought out of my head and continued to follow Jin. Unfortunately, I could feel the worry creep into my stomach.

The last time I'd seen this place I was under the weight of the depressing rain and the control of Hanjiro. Now, with the fresh air and moonlight it was almost nice. The town was busy and noisy. With all this commotion it was unlikely I would stand out, hopefully.

Jin stopped walking and pulled me close to him.

"It is different here. We are different. Don't worry about your past. We only have the future."

He kissed me on the cheek so sweetly, knowing exactly what to say to me.

"I am going to go check on the price for a room. Just stay here." Jin ran into one of the small homes.

I exhaled and felt the giddy feelings return to me as I thought of being alone with Jin again. I could feel my body begin to react to my own thoughts. I closed my eyes and leaned against the side of the building. In moments I could release all the anguish built up in me for these long three years. I could finally hold the man I loved and not worry for what tomorrow might bring.

"He's right you know."

My eyes snapped open staring straight ahead of me. That voice. I hadn't actually heard his voice?

"You shouldn't worry about your past."

I turned my head towards the voice which tormented me for so many years. Pain began to fill my heart.

Standing in front of me was Hanjiro. Another man stood only a few feet behind him holding a rather long sword.

"Your future to me appears much more dangerous."

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"Ten yen," replied the woman in the hotel with a cheerful grin.

I gave her the money and walked back outside to tell Shino of the place for the night. I wanted nothing more than to hold her. We didn't have to do anything just as long as I could lie next to her body and feel her next to me.

I stepped out of the building expecting to see Shino, but she wasn't there. Many people were walking along the street filling the air with the sound of laughter from men on their way to the brothels already drunk from sake. But Shino was nowhere to be found.

I noticed a man sitting on the ground beside the door who hadn't been there when I went in. His face flopped forward to the point where only the back of his head could be seen. Obviously he was someone so drunk he couldn't make it back to his room. I knew I couldn't get anything from him and turned away.

"Are you looking for the young woman?" asked the man. His voice chimed in an obnoxious manner.

I turned my head slightly, staring at the top of his head again.

"Did you see her leave?"

"Indeed I did," he replied nonchalantly.

The man continued to hold his head low. I finally turned around completely staring down at him. His clothes were much too nice for him to be one of the workers in this area. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck rise with anticipation.

"Where did she go?" I asked becoming angry at his silence.

"Shino is with my employee, Jin-san."

His head lifted slowly until his eyes were locked with mine now filled with rage. He was a thin man with his hair pulled tightly behind his head. The face was vaguely familiar.

"Ahh. I have your interest in me, ne? The first time we met you looked through me but now I have your full attention. I don't know if I should be entertained or upset. I have learned money gets me more attention nowadays."

"Who is your employee?" I asked feeling the fury building inside of me.

"You do not act in such a manner when meeting someone again after such a long time. Come, come now. This is such typical behavior for a man like you. Shino always exhibited bad taste. I suppose I'm ripping at me as well. But I can't say I was the best of men back then."

He laughed at his own joke infuriating me further.

"The least you could have done Jin-san was to ask my name."

"I don't care to know you. Just tell me where she is!"

"You're right. Names are not important, but just for the sake of being polite it is Hanjiro. After today my name will ring in your ears until they bleed, as hers has in mine."

His face grew serious and he turned away from me. I went to pull out my sword when he turned back quickly.

"Killing me will not bring you closer to her. I'm sure you would like to see her in your last moments."

"Where is she? Take me to her now!" I barked, moving towards the man.

Hanjiro rose from the ground dusting at his yukata. His face changed again and he smiled at me.

"Save your energy Jin-san. You have to meet someone better suited than I am at swordplay. Things must be settled for me. Shino cost me a very large sum of money and embarrassment too. She didn't pay my debt but you will pay hers. Follow me."

The man began walking back towards the shore.

"I do hate walking now, it's so labor intensive. But I had to make sure our sweet Shino made it back to the shore a bit before we did. You must be sweating profusely by now."

Hanjiro looked over at me, grinning like an idiot.

"I see you don't have much use for the tongue in you head now do you? Yes, well then I suppose I can talk to myself. I have quite a wonderful voice don't you think? Oh you don't think. You're just muscle. Much like you were for the other young girl. I believe her name was Fuu, correct? I would have gone for her if I were you, younger and much prettier than Shino, if you ask me. But she probably turned you away. Or you were stupid enough to turn her down. Maybe after this I will find her for myself. You won't have much need for her."

I wanted nothing more than to kill him. Hearing him talk of Fuu, not only was it degrading but I didn't want to hear anyone say anything about her. Thinking of him even touching her made me want to separate his head from his body.

"I can tell I am touching a soft spot here. You're gripping onto your sword as if you might try to hurt me. It's a shame you can't I bet. But if you try we won't make it to your final destination. Don't be so touchy Jin-san after this is over I'll take care of both your bitches."

The shoreline came into view. Shino knelt at the edge of the dock while someone held her in place by her hair. Tears ran down her cheeks.

Hanjiro continued to walk up to her. As we neared I finally recognized the other man.

"I know this isn't your way Inuyaka, but a bitch should be on her knees when she is in front of me." Hanjiro pulled her to her feet then kissed her on the lips.

I rushed towards him pulling out my sword. The older man ran up to me drawing his own and blocking Hanjiro from any harm.

"No, no, no Jin-san! I told you I do not play with swords!"

"You just pay others to play for you." I replied disgusted with the ronin in front of me.

"Ahh, so you do remember me Jin-san. I told you we would meet again," replied Inuyaka.

"Looks as if a little of your past come to haunt you Jin-san. I was given the good fortune to come across someone who was very familiar with the glass-wearing samurai and quite fond of money. I intended on sending him to kill you alone. I don't like blood you know. But then I said I needed to see this bitch's face when you hit the ground."

Hanjiro's voice changed to a low growl as he said the last words. His hand tightened in her hair pulling her closer to him. Soft sounds of pain escaped her mouth. Hanjiro sniffed the side of Shino's neck, pressing her against himself. He stared are her as she cried smiling at her pain.

"But then I thought I want you to look at my face once Jin is gone so you will always know I can still take away any and everything in your life. Married or not."

He stared at her while she cried in his hands. I could feel the anger in me welling up.

"Well Jin-san, I have the opportunity to fight such a skilled samurai as yourself once again," stated Inuyaka planting his feet firmly on the wooden planks of the dock. "Don't think just because I am old, I will be easy to defeat. Payment fuels my energy."

"A money hungry dog like your self, Inuyaka, I wouldn't dream of it."

Inuyaka ran at me with the most precise movements of any samurai I'd ever met. All his strength was behind every swing. It was impossible to believe he was as old as he looked.

"You are even better than you were last time, Jin-san," he replied spinning to block my sword as I slashed closer to his throat.

"And we're not even in a dojo."

"I suppose you are more than just a dojo trained samurai after all. But it doesn't mean you'll beat me."

The sound of steel clashing filled the air. I was becoming hypnotized by the clank of the swords and the loud cries of pain escaping from Shino's mouth as Hanjiro struck her each time she tried to escape him.

"But you are not concentrating Jin-san. Are thoughts of Fuu keeping you from attacking me better than this? Or is it the tears running down your lover's face distracting you?"

Inuyaka darted to the right so close to the edge it appeared he would fall off the side of the dock.

"You must focus your mind even if she is pleading for help you may never give her."

Inuyaka continued to deliver a barrage of attacks and blocks smiling all the while.

"You will die in front of her, Jin-san and at my hand."

Hanjiro moved back to the opposite edge of the dock, enthralled by the old man's movements.

"Make sure you earn my money Inuyaka! Or I shall take it away from you old man!"

Hanjiro's words sent Inuyaka's steps out of sequence leaving a brief moment where his left side was unprotected. It seemed as if time slowed. I could see the only opportunity to beat this man. In a split second my sword came up and down, slicing into the old man's chest.

Inuyaka grabbed hold of my shoulder as his body sank over my sword. His own clanked against the wood as if fell from his hands. Inuyaka looked down, staring at the junction between body and steel.

"My…my own blood. I haven't seen it in…in quite some time."

His knees buckled and he began to fall to the floor pulling me down with him.

"Get up you idiot!" screamed Hanjiro hysterically. "I paid you damn it! Kill him!"

"I don't believe I…I'll be able to Hanjiro-san," he whispered. "At least I… at least I was paid this time."

The old man fell to the ground on his side as his blood pooled and slipped through the cracks of the wooden beams on the dock.

"Fine!" Hanjiro screamed breaking the silence. "If he can't kill you – then I'll kill her."

Hanjiro pulled a small katana from his yukata and lifted it high above Shino's neck, steadily dragging her further away from the dock.

"How fitting you can say your goodbyes at the dock again one last time."

I pulled my sword out of Inuyaka's body, running as fast as I could towards the two.

"Stop! Do not move another step or I'll kill her right now!" Hanjiro screamed.

Hanjiro's katana moved slowly closer to Shino's neck sending her into frantic screams of horror. Her body thrashed about to gain distance from her attacker. The knife touched her skin causing a trickle of blood to slide down her neck.

"Not today you stupid fuck!"

I looked up and watched as Mugen jumped up and kicked Hanjiro in the face, knocking him to the ground and finally releasing Shino.

Fuu was only a few feet behind him running towards Shino to get her out of the way.

"Picking on a woman is about as low as you can get you sorry piece of shit." Mugen grabbed Hanjiro preparing to drive his sword into his chest.

"No!" I said running up to Mugen.

"What the hell are you screaming about?"

"If he should die, it will be by my hand."

"Hmm." Mugen sheathed his sword and walked over to Fuu and Shino.

I walked up to Hanjiro's almost unconscious body.

"Kill me," he said looking up through shielded eyes. "If you don't, I'll just come back for her. And I won't stop until I get her."

"Jin," Fuu called from Shino's side. "She needs to see a doctor."

"You can kill me you sorry piece of shit. But remember you were not able to defend her like you should have. And I will always be the reason why. She is going to remember this for the rest of her life. And even if she does die, you will always remember. I am the man who made it happen." Hanjiro began to laugh. "Kill me you idiot! I am not afraid to die! Kill me!"

"Jin," Fuu screamed.

Hanjiro spit blood from his bruised lip.

"I bet I could make her scream for me, too" Hanjiro whispered.

"I am doing the world a favor by removing you from it. "

I rushed to Shino's side leaving Hanjiro's lifeless body feet away from the dock.