Aw, crap! This is the last chapter to this story. I will post the sequal up probably next week or so. More of my stuff might pop up because I'm on Spring Break now. YAY! Anyway, thank you to those who reviewed. Very few, but still appreciated. Okay, on with the show!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN SAMURAI CHAMPLOO OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. Happy now?
Chapter 6- Final Friendship part 2
"Hina! Hina! Wait!" Jin called to her as she stormed down the secret corridor of the hidden door. Ever since they had discovered the hideout, it was as though Hina was a diferent person.
Her sword was gripped tightly and she swung around toward him. "Hurry! They're in here! I have to get to them."
"I understand, but wouldn't it be easier with Mugen's help?" he suggested, surprised that he had even thought of the man at a time like this.
"No. He'll get things quickly out of control. Besides,we're already here; we can't go get him now." she said.
"Alright. We must be careful, though. The hall gets darker down there, a perfect place for an ambush."
" Somebody just try and do that to me right now!" she bellowed, taking up her previous action and storming down the hallway.
Her footsteps became lighter and quieter as the hall did indeed get dark. Jin followed behind her, hand on sword. They continued on for about 8 minutes, not being able to see even their hands in front of their faces. Soon, light poked out of a small crack of the rocky wall. The doctor stepped up, pressing her ear to the small crack and listening.
"Someone is inside!" she said, voice shaking with excitement.
He nodded, coming up to inspect the place as well. A small knob caught the samurai's attention and he checked it out. The knob clicked with his touch and the wall seemed to roll to the side, as though on a wheel. The residents of the lair looked up to see and man and woman samurai, swords almost drawn. There was a brief moment of silence until the theives scrambled to attention.
"We meet again..." she said, seeing several faces that were familiar to her.
"Well look what we have here! Fujite's little brat all grown up!" a cruel voice said from the center of the crowd.
Human bodies stepped aside like a curtain and a well-built woman stepped out toward Hina and Jin.
"Shimizu."
"HA! You remember me, eh?"
"How could I forget the face of the one who slaughtered my family?"
"Slaughtered? That's such an ugly word. It was strictly business, my dear."
"Don't you DARE lie to me like that!" Hina spat. "You murdered my family. They were innocent, and you criminals. My father was willing to cooperate but you killed him like some sort of animal! I SAW YOU! Do you remember that small girl that sat huddled in the corner the whole time? Well, she's back. I won't sit and do nothing anymore."
Shimizu smirked the most awful thing Jin had ever seen. She signaled to a muscular man and he cocked a gun at Hina.
"I expect that's not the only thing you want then, right?" the woman asked, holding up a familiar sword.
It was the other matching blade of Hina's. The doctor's eyes flared.
"Jin..." she whispered to her companion.
The long haired man nodded a little, understanding. It was a good thing, too, because there were gunshots, making the samurai split up and get into the crowd. Shimizu was lost amongst the other thieves.
Jin aimed for the gunsman, keeping an eye on his friend as she cut (literally in some cases) through the crowd for Shimizu. The agile woman jumped over the heads of some men, slashing or breking the necks of short perches, since she was going over the crowd.
Jin made it over to the gunman, seeing him loading more bullets into the device. The gunshots never came. The young samurai changed his course and started to clear out the remaining thieves. His companion had made it into the other side, another door leading to a deeper part of the hideout. He followed, catching up to her in a few minutes. The woman they were after was just in front of them, running now for her life. There were a few quick turns and then a dead end in a collasped room of cots and old rafters.
The woman panted, looking slightly worried, then smirking at her pursuer. "Okay, you win. We'll face off."
Hina was surprised to see the woman throw the other sword to her, but then figured it was for the chase. A smile widened over her face.
Shimizu laughed. "Good. Get yourself all ready so that my win will make it worth it. After all, knowing that I will send you to your father gives me great pleasure."
There wasn't another word said. As soon as Shimizu's last word came out of her mouth, Hina unsheathed both of her swords and came at her. The thief used a long dagger, not seeming to care that she was at a slight disadvantage. There was all chaos. Hina fought harder than she had ever before, up in the air sometimes for a clean kick or using the swords like a chainsaw. There were no hits yet, but a few close calls on either side.
Things changed when Shimizu got a lucky shot and swept the floor, knocking the 17-year-old down slightly. She moved quickly just as the thief brought her blade down to try and cut her neck. A lightning fast kick to the side knocked the older woman to the floor and forced the breath from her lungs.
Their fighting stopped momentarily, until the theif took the opportunity to try and knock a sword from a tight grip. Big mistake. A blade met flesh and blood flew up in the air.
Jin nodded from the side, watching closely. He was safe, off at a distance, besides the fact that this fight was not his.
Shimizu stood up shakily, gripping the gash at her side and gasping for breath. Her dagger hung limply in her right hand.
"Come on. Defend yourself," Hina said.
"Fool. Why do you show mercy to your opponent?"
"That's the way I've always been taught. That and I find no honor in killing a defenseless foe."
"Your ways will kill you one of these days."
"My problem, not yours, thank you," she said, eyes flashing.
"Just like your father."
"I take that as a compliment," she grinned going back into the fight.
Both woman put away their weapons and started a sort battle of endurance. They spoke a little as they dodged and dealt out hits and misses.
"Are you enjoying the pain you put onto yourself? That is what I've felt for the last three long years, only deep in my heart and ten times worse," Hina said coldly.
"There's more to come your way," Shimizu spat just before wincing painfully from a whizzing sting in the wound on her side.
That's all that was needed. Hina's opponent fell from exhaustion and blood loss. She stood over the thief, sword- point at a bloody neck.
"You've finally won. Take your pride in my death and be at peace." the woman wheezed. "Fujite-san taught you well."
Jin saw a look of sadness flash across his friends face. "For mother and father."
(Fast Forward- the next few hours)
Jin and Hina returned to the barn and Mugen and Fuu saw that the doctor had two swords now. Jin helped to tell the story, Mugen pouting in the end a little.
"Aw, dmn it! I missed a cat fight!"
She smiled at her friend. "Now that I have avenged my parents' death, I can return home now."
"Where's that?" Fuu asked.
"I will stay with my aunt who lives just south of Edo," she answered, avoiding the sad look that crossed her young friends' face.
The next morning, which was actually sunny, Mugen, Jin, and Fuu said goodbye to Hina.
"After you guys find the Sunflower Samurai, come visit me, okay? Be careful, all of you."
Hina came over to Fuu and gave her a warm hug. "Be strong and never give up. That is your greatest ability."
Fuu wiped her eyes on her sleeves, nodding.
The doctor went to Mugen and put a hand on his shoulder." Try not to get yourself killed, okay? Remember something for me, will you? 'One can only truly become strong if one has someone to protect'."
"The hell does that mean?"
"Figure it out."
Hina went to Jin last and shyly kissed his cheek, blushing afterward. "For luck. Take care of yourself. Oh, and you'd better go and see Shino-san after the journey ends. Promise?"
He smiled at the corner of his mouth. She stepped away, looking at the sash he had returned to her.
'I'll miss you, Jin. Please remember me and cherish our friendship forever." the young woman thought, hearing her friends turn and leave, picking out the clomps of Mugen's getas, the shuffling of Fuu's sandals, and the clean steps of Jin's sandals.
She turned and watched them until they were almost one with the rising sun.
Tears of happiness welled in her eyes and she exploded: " 'BYE YOU GUYS! THANK YOU SO MUCH! FOR EVERYTHING!"
There was an answer of a faint " See you later!" from the small teenager and Hina could make out a slight backward wave of Mugen, and Jin turning around to wave a little as well. She laughed, a truly heartwarming sound for all of them.
End
A/N: Well, that's that. I will post the sequal in a bit. Hope you enjoyed! Please know that this was not my best work; in my opinion the sequal is a lot better. Anyway, see you soon!