Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Champloo. And that's the way it has to be. But one day I'll have my own anime that a lot of people will want to own but can't :P

Ok, so um... It has been longer than Friday or Saturday ;;; Sorry about that. I've literally had no time, and when I did, I was so tired that I couldn't think striaght and everything I would write wouldn't make sense. So since I haven't posted up any new chapters in a while, I'm hoping the holidays won't keep me from posting up the next three afte this. Which, they shouldn't. So please, enjoy, even if this chapter is a little short!


Just One

The girl walked toward Mugen again, still dragging behind her the bleeding sword. But this time, the seemingly fragile girl stopped and held out her hand. For a moment, Mugen stared at it. It was a small, almost defenseless hand compared to his own. He reached out for it, grasping it in his own so that it was now almost completely hidden in his. Underneath the shadow on her face, he could see her smile. He returned it, but not like any of his old smiles, this was a new one.

She took a couple more steps, keeping the sword in her hand and hugging him. He hugged her back, closing his eyes, almost knowing what would happen next. But it never came. He opened his eyes and around him darkness. The girl was no longer in his arms, but replaced with the bloodied sword. A faint sound made him turn, and the vague appearance of the girl stood there, being pulled deeper and deeper into the shadows, holding out her hands toward Mugen, struggling to break free from the hold that the unseen hands had on her. Mugen ran to her, cutting her free just before the hands had dragged her into the complete darkness.

He picked up her limp body, and started to carry her. Where he would take the scrawny girl, he didn't know, and had no time to think about it. The girl started to bleed from her middle, blood spurting out at a rapid pace onto Mugen. He sat her down, not knowing what to do. He tried to stop the bleeding, but the more he tried, the more the bled. And in his panic he failed to notice her reaching up behind him, a dagger in her hand. She came down on him quick, catching him for once off guard. He remained in an upright position, though things started to get unclear and fuzzy. He looked down at the girl, who seemed to be smiling and crying in his lap. Her eyes then were dead, and his eyes closed, his world once more black.


Mugen sat up, sweat pouring down his face. The dream had returned like it had every night for so many nights now that he couldn't count. But tonight, it was different. No, not different like before. Completely different except for him and the girl. He recognized her as Michiko, since when they had finally met was when his dreams started to become more and more astray from its original format. He thought it over, and then some. He couldn't figure out what it meant. Was this girl, his younger sister or a demon of some sort, going to kill him? Or was this just some silly dream of his that came from the essence of the many deaths he had caused and witnessed lately?

"Whatever."

Hushed voices brought his attention away from his thoughts and to those of someone else. On his hands and knees, he slowly crept to the safety of some bushes and listened in on a secret conversation.

"You know you want to come home, Princess."

"Not to you. I hate you."

"Such mean things to say. You've hurt my feelings, Princess."

This person spat at the ground. "Like I give a damn. Maybe you'll leave me alone now."

"Why, I'd never leave my Princess alone. She might get herself into trouble and can't get out."

"I can take care of myself. And besides, I have Mugen and the others to take care of me if I ever need it."

"Which brings me to another question. Why do you wish to live like filth with these mongrels who don't care about you? Why, they'd throw you to the dogs and run if given the chance."

"No, you're wrong. They wouldn't do that, especially not Mugen." this voice became tense. Mugen could only make out an outline of the two, one being drastically shorter than the other, and skinnier. He could barely make out their words as they talked, and as he listened he wondered who the two were. The taller figure finally shrugged.

"You'll come to your senses sooner or later. You'll finally see them for whom they are, and you'll come running back to me."

"Whatever." the shorter one repeated, and the tall one just disappeared into the shadow of the trees. As the person walked back, their features became clear.

'Michiko!' who was that she had spoken too? His pulse started to race and he became angry that she would keep something from him, but he became more angry at the other person she had talked with just moments earlier.

Michiko walked past Mugen, not taking notice in his presence. He followed her back to the old inn they were staying at for the time being. Half way, Michiko met with Fuu.

'What the hell does Fuu have to do with any of this?' the two girls exchanged a couple of words that Mugen couldn't make out, then scurried of a back toward the inn. Once they were gone, Mugen stood up straight and ran in a different direction, determined to get back before they did.

As Fuu and Michiko returned to their room, everything was as they had left it. They returned to their mats and slowly started to fall back to sleep, except Michiko.

'I should tell them... But it's too soon. But if I don't hurry, it could be too late.' she knew that her time with them was limited. She would fight it, try to have a good time with them, try not to think about it. The weight it, along with many other things, had put on her shoulders was almost unbearable and she had to tell someone. Fuu knew bits and pieces, and had sworn not to tell Jin and Mugen. She ran her hand through her hair, a few strands falling out and to the floor. She took no notice of it, since for months it had been happening. She glanced around the room, as if the empty walls would be holding her answers and give them to her. Then all her worries would be gone, and she could live carefree for the rest of her young life, like she used to. But it wasn't that simple, and it never would be. She had accepted that a long time ago.


Ok, ok. So no romance has happeend and it has yet to be funny. Well, I changed the genre to action/adventure. I still don't think it really fits, but I don't think it's too mysterious or suspenseful. If you have any suggestions on that, please tell me. And I left in the romance because I'm still working on that part. Ok, well I think that's all. I hope you like this chapter. It's not as good as my others I think, but still please review!