Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo or the characters. But I do own Akura Marusagi, Ana, and Sana in this chapter.
A/N: Wow! Thanks, my loyal viewers for your wonderful reviews and congratulations for coming this far of reading my first fanfic for this anime category. Welcome back! I'll start by posting the chapters one at a time throughout this month, which I'm planning on to finish this fanfic. Right now, I'm currently working on another fanfic at the same time, so please be patient. Thank you. I know, Chapter 9, was surprisingly unexpected and Chapter 10 was inspiring. But what will happen in this chapter? Yes, this one's longer as more surprises lies ahead! Here's Chapter 11. Enjoy!
The Butterfly and Her Samurai
Chapter 11
-ripping the record as we go fast forward to Edo-
As several days passes by, Mugen and Fuu has finally made it to Edo. Villagers all around were talking about the upcoming tournament and how exciting it will probably be this year. Hearing the sound of music and children laughter reminds Fuu when she was little girl in her days growing up back home.
"My goodness, will you look at this place, Mugen, it's so huge!" excited Fuu.
"Yeah, I guess," said Mugen stirring a finger in his right ear.
A geisha giggle as she passes Mugen.
Mugen turns and stares at her with lust in his eyes, "Hmm, todays must be my lucky day, but that giggle sound familiar," he said scratching his head.
Fuu turns to look at him, "Hey, Mugen! Let's go find Jin!"
"Yo, Fuu, why don't you go on without me, I'll catch up with you later," said Mugen as he follows the lady that passes him just now.
"Fine, you big jerk!" said Fuu with her hands on her waist.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll go look for him this way while you go that way," Mugen grins as he walks away.
"That, errr...well, it doesn't matter," sighs Fuu. "I'm here now and I can't wait to see Jin again," she smiled as she turns to walk the opposite way.
Minutes later, Fuu passes by an old man that was saling his tickets for free, but anyone wasn't buying it. Perhaps, some villagers think he's a bargain thief, so Fuu went over to see what the old man is really about.
"FREE TICKETS, FREE TICKETS FOR SALE!" said the old man sitting under his tent waving the tickets. "Oh-oh, you there, young lady, would you like two free tickets for the tournament, it's today," he said a bit shaky.
"Huh, are you talking to me?" said Fuu pointing at herself, then walks over and approaches him. "Well, I don't know...um, are you sure those are free, sir?" asked Fuu uncertain about the offer.
"Oh, yes, yes, it's free of no charge," replied the old man.
"I don't know, I'm not quite buy all of this free offerings of two tickets, you know?" she spatted at him.
"Believe me, these are my tickets and I bought them, I swear it," he said, and then he coughs sickly covering his mouth with a piece of cloth.
"Are you okay, old man, you look ill?" asked Fuu as she walks over to him and pats him on the back.
"Ah, don't worry about me," said the old man leaning slightly forward. "I'm not well to go to the tournament this year," he said wiping his mouth and fanning himself.
"What is your name?" she asked him curiously.
"My name is Akura Marusagi and yours, young lady?" he replied to her.
"I'm Fuu," she replied to him.
"Fuu, huh, what kind of name is that?" he asked.
"Oh, not this again," said Fuu placing her hand over her forehead.
"Just teasing, just teasing," cackles the old man. "That's a very lovely name, young lady," he smiled looking slightly up.
"Thank you, sir," she said to him.
"I sense that you've come a long way," said Marusagi sitting up again, rocking and placing his hands on legs.
"Yes, you're right," said Fuu surprisingly. "I've came all the way here to look for a friend of mine," she said sitting next to the old man looking up at him.
"You seem sad, Fuu, is this friend of yours has enter the tournament here?" asked Marusagi fanning himself again.
"Yes, his name is Jin and I came here to see him and give him back this trinket," said Fuu.
"But that's not just all, right?" he said to her with a small grin.
"No, I...I want him to be with m...," she stammered and couldn't finish her sentence.
"He's a samurai and you want to be with him for personal reasons, correct?" he said still looking up slightly, but not looking at her.
"Well, um...," said Fuu blushing pink.
"You really came here to bring him back with you so, that you can confess your love for him, am I correct so far, hm?" said Marusagi, then suddenly he coughs sickly again and covers his mouth.
"Marusagi, sir, are you all right, sir?" wonders Fuu as she pats him on the back once again.
"Yes, I'm fine, I'm fine, thank you, Fuu," Marusagi sighs, and then clears his throat.
Fuu sits back down and response to his question, "Yes, I'm in love with him, but I don't think he knows that I secretly do," cried Fuu.
"I see, but he knows already, Fuu," he smiled.
"Huh, what do you mean, Marusagi, was he here?" she wondered curiously trying to figure out where the old man is getting at.
"Yes, I've met him, we've talked, and he even took care of me yesterday when I didn't even ask him to," smiles Marusagi. "He was a very kind man; quiet and wise, and I can remember it just clearly on that day when he first arrive here on day before the tournament," he said.
Marusagi flashback
Jin: Hello, is anyone in here?
Marusagi: Yes, come in. –Coughs-
Jin: I'm sorry if I had disturbed you, old man, but I'm looking for a place to stay until tomorrow's tournament?
Marusagi: Sure, I'm just not feeling well, so you can rest over there if you like.
Jin: Thank you.
Marusagi: -Coughing hoarsely- Oh my.
Jin: Are you all right, old man?
Marusagi: Yes, I'll be fine. -Coughing-
Jin: Hm, I'll go pour you some water.
Marusagi: You don't have to do that.
Jin: Please, don't be stubborn, old man.
He pours Marusagi some water in a cup and hands it firmly to him.
Jin: Here you go.
Marusagi: Thank you, um...what is your name, samurai?
He sits down next to the old man.
Jin: I'm Jin.
Marusagi: I'm Akura Marusagi. It's a pleasure to meet you, Samurai Jin.
Jin: Hm.
Marusagi: Is something wrong?
Jin: It's nothing. You should get some rest, old man.
Marusagi: It seems that something is bothering you; don't mind talking about it, hm?
Jin: Old man , I'm sorry, but it's personal matter.
Marusagi: I understand, but do you think you'll sleep tonight from whatever that's on your mind right now.
Jin was silent for a moment; then he walks over to his futon as he remove his glasses from his face and places them alongside him with his sword and then he answers the old man's question.
Jin: Of course, you're right and I'm a bit worry.
Marusagi: -Coughs- About what or whom? And why are you entering the tournament?
Jin: I'm sorry, old man, but I believe your going too far with the personal questions.
Marusagi: I'm guessing, what you're doing is for a love one back at home, correct?
Jin lies down, turning away from the old man.
Jin: -Sighs- Yes, I'm doing this for a dear friend of mines by the name of Fuu. I'm entering the tournament to win the prize money for all us to go Nagasaki in the search of the sunflower samurai.
Marusagi: That's all! -Coughs- I think there's more. What do you mean by "us"? You have another friend, too, besides the lovely young lady? And who's the sunflower samurai?
Jin: I don't know who the sunflower samurai is, but yes, the other person name is Mugen, who travels with Fuu and I. I don't know why you might say that we're friends because when all of this is over, we're going to fight where we left off.
Marusagi: Well, I don't know if you really mean that because once it's over, you'll probably move on and the both of you will put your differences aside. Beside, both of you will realize that you have someone to protect in the end and it will be mostly you, Samurai Jin.
Jin sits up on his futon then looks over at the old man.
Jin: Why do you say that, old man?
Marusagi: You should know better by now that you have grown to love what you have today and not the past.
Jin: I'm sorry, but I don't get what you're saying.
Marusagi: I'm saying "listen up and pay attention; open your eyes", you're loved by someone special today, right? And that is what you have now and the past is just the past, so move on and never to look back, but never to forget.
Jin: So, you're saying that I should move on, accept the love that I have for Fuu and protect her because she needs me? In other words, Mugen can still be an enemy of mines, but I should keep an open mind and be aware of my surroundings?
Marusagi: Mhmm, correct. The one you love is her, right, but your enemy can still be a snake in the bush waiting to attack.
Jin: Then, you're saying that Fuu might be in trouble because I left her alone with Mugen.
Marusagi: Yes, it's possible. –Coughs- I can sense it from here.
Jin: Then, I must go back now. Thank you, old man. I understand now.
Jin stands up then collapses back on the floor.
Marusagi: Are you okay, Jin?
Jin: Errr…ah, my body. I'm starving after so many days of traveling to get here.
Jin stomach growls and Marusagi cackles.
Marusagi: If you were hungry, why didn't you say so? There's food over there in the pot, so help yourself before you leave.
Jin: Thank you, old man, and I wish you well.
Marusagi: Thank you. That's very kindly of you samurai.
Jin thinking: I'll leave first thing in the mourning. Hopefully, she'll be okay by the time I arrive there before sundown.
Marusagi closes his eyes as Jin continues to eat.
Marusagi: Goodnight, Samurai Jin.
Jin: Goodnight.
End of Flashback
"So, Jin was really here in Edo and then he went heading back to Izumo first thing in the morning?" said Fuu with fury in her eyes. "You're saying that we've walked all the way over here for Jin and now he left again heading back to Izumo and we didn't even see him?" she growled with her fists balled up in anger.
"Yes, he probably has taken the other way round to get you and your friend faster, but Fuu, don't worry about the tickets, perhaps, I'll give it to my daughters instead," said Marusagi. "Though, I sensing that he had left just yet and that he still wondering around here in Edo, but for what, I'm not sure," he said to her.
"Errrrrr, Jin!" yelled Fuu as she puts her hands out for the tickets. "Please, you can give me the tickets, perhaps, he probably might be entering the tournament after all, hmph, such a jerk, just when I thought he'll be there for me," she growls angrily with a frown on her face.
"Oh, dear, here you go, you can have them, then," he hesitated handing her the two tickets as he stopped fanning himself.
"My goodness, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, please, forgive me," Fuu apologizes nodding her head. "Are you sure you want to give these tickets to me," she wondered.
"Yes, I'm sure, one for you and the other for your friend that you've travel here with," smiles Marusagi. "Oh, and if you see my two daughters Ana and Sana, do tell them to visit me as soon as possible," he said fanning himself again.
"Are you their father?" she asked him.
"Yes, they're my daughters and their geishas' that work for my younger brother, who goes by the nickname Lumpy," replied Marusagi.
Fuu's flashback
Fuu: Wait! Are you two sisters and geishas?
Ana: Well, of course, we're from a town miles back with an owner name Lumpy.
Sana: Yes, he likes to see me dance all the time and watch Ana sing, right sister?
End of flashback
"Wait, I remember that name and he's your brother?" said Fuu surprisingly. "I remember your daughters were saying that their entertainers, too!" she said to him.
"Mhmm, he's bad news and I hope your friend doesn't run into him because he and my daughters are arriving here today for the tournament," warns Marusagi. "He wants my daughters to become more likely thieves than just entertainers and they'll do whatever they can to help my brother to pay off his drug debt," he said sadly.
"Oh no, Mugen has went with that woman, who can possibly be Ana, so I must hurry, and catch up with him," cried Fuu. "But Jin, errr...Mugen's my friend, too, I can't leave him here in Edo and try to catch up with Jin, if he still here or not, oh, what to do?" she said in frustration shaking her head with her hands tangle in her brown hair.
"Fuu, there can be many obstacles along the way, but don't worry about that because if you have the heart of bravery against all odds, you have accomplish your worst fear," said Marusagi with a cunning smile. "So, be careful and remember what danger lies ahead," he warned her.
"Thanks, I'll remember that, Marusagi, and that's what I'll do," said Fuu as she nods her again, turns around, and then heads out the tent. "Nice meeting you, Marusagi, and hopefully will meet again," she smiled waving at him and he waves back.
Fuu takes off running as she passes the villagers trying to catch up where Mugen and the geisha lady might've gone to.
"I'm coming Mugen, just don't do anything until I get there, you pervert!" thought Fuu to herself.
To Be Continued...
A/N: Whoa, that was long! So, now you have your answer to the question of why Jin has enter the tournament. I know Marusagi is a nosey old man, but don't you get the feeling he can read minds before they even say anything else? Not really. Surprisingly, the man is really blind and he can sense people's emotions. Remember the clue word "sensing"? Interesting character, huh? I bet you didn't guess that one. What I like about him is his teaching, not such a bad character to me, but I just don't like his nosiness. Well, you know what to do, review and come again! Until next time, see ya on the next chapter as more answer to questions is still ahead and surprises.