Alright. Here's my attempt at a decent Champloo fic. For some reason, it seems that when writing an Anime fic, the characters become sappy and touchy feely. I do this myself, and I've noticed that most other authors do it as well. It's as if wishful thinking interferes with the story, and before we know it, our FANfics are just fiction with the borrowed faces of Jin Mugen and Fuu. That's probably why I never write fan fics anymore, this destructive wishful thinking always kills my work ethic.

So enough with the intro, ONTO THE STORY! XD

Disclaimer: even though no one does these anymore, jeeze…Jin, Mugen, and Fuu are all copyrighted characters. I don't claim to own them. BUT HIZARO ON THE OTHER HAND IS MINE YOU FOOLS! MIIINE!

ONE

(Hizaro PoV)

It was a pleasant day when the three nearly starved travelers stumbled into the town. I didn't see them myself, but talk of strangers traveled quickly in that panicky village. I was in a "business meeting" at the supposed time of their arrival, and I could've cared less about any traveler at that particular point in time. I was too busy trying to sweet talk my way out of a beating, or maybe even an execution. I'd been pocketing profits and stealing customers with my own alley-run freelance. You see, I was hired muscle for the Boss, but sometimes I had other duties too, like payment transfers or paper signings. Because I was a pretty woman who could wield a sword, I wouldn't need to be escorted by body guards. I already was one. This freed up more personnel, and ensured less intimidated clients. The Boss had a finger in every illegal practice within a fifty mile radius of the little town he'd chosen for his head quarters. He was fat, stupid, rude, and immensely paranoid. But for all of his downfalls, I'd have to say that he certainly had a good head for business. Unfortunately, he never seemed to want to pay me enough. So, I started trying to make a little on the side. Perhaps that would have been forgivable, but because I had begun to steal from the house profits, I was in some seriously hot water.

"Sir," I began as I slumped before him on my knees, head down, surrounded by distant, yet numerous guards, "Sir, please, I beg you to hear me out. It is not at all the way it seems. I know that the numbers add up, but Sir, it must simply be a horrible coincidence, you know that I would never steal from you." I snuck a glance at the obese man before me, and nearly laughed for what I saw. He sat high in his throne, as if pretending to be attractive. Perhaps he actually believed he was, who knows? I saw him open his mouth to speak, but he soon though better of it and began to shovel food in instead. One of his aids glanced around nervously before leaning in to whisper that he still needed to decide my fate.

"Oh, oh, right," He slurred with a mouth full of rice and dumplings, "Just beat her and give her Entrance Duty for a few weeks." He immediately went back to eating.

And as quickly as that, the guards began to close in on me. I shuffled around in a circle, panicked, not knowing what to do.

'Should I attempt an escape? Is it even worth it?' I thought franticly to myself. But before I could even come up with a logical answer, I was blocked, surrounded, and about to be restrained and hauled away. My instincts burst forth uncontrollably, and the next thing I knew, I was running like a mad man through the halls of the great house, my swords drawn and bloody, pursed by my co-workers.

I burst through a side door into the sun. It was an empty street that I ran through, and I knew I needed more cover if I was going to actually ditch anyone. I ducked into an alley that lead to the main road.

'Good, I'll have some cover there…plenty of crowds to get lost in.' I thought absent mindedly as I rounded a corner. I spotted fruit stands and happy families only a few steps ahead. As I broke through into the marketplace, I turned to monitor my pursuer's progress. Apparently it wasn't such a good idea.

I ran straight smack into someone. I was so disoriented, that I just stood there for a second, not even looking at him. When I finally did see him, he struck me as an intriguing individual, clad in blue and black. I didn't really see his companions, for time did not permit me to look, but as I bowed quickly to apologize, I heard a girl screeching at me. I would have loved to strike up a conversation with the trio, but I was already running again. They were too close behind me now. I had lost far too much time, and I would pay for it. I was a favorite in the house, but I would not escape punishment.

I ducked into the forest at the edge of town, darting around and hoping over trees and fallen limbs. It was all so hopeless at this point, but I could not simply give up. If they wanted me, they'd have to work for it.

"HIZARO DAMNIT! JUST GIVE UP!" One on my companions shouted as he lunged for me mid run. He caught the edge of my sleeve and tugged as hard as he could. It threw me off just enough for another man, Uri, to nail me with a killer left hook to the side of my head.

I don't remember anything else for a few hours. When I woke up, it was dark outside, and my room mate was putting cold cloths on my bruises.

"Hizaro…" She sighed heavily, "Why can't you just play it cool, huh? If you're gonna choose a life of crime, at least try not to screw over the big guy, all right?" She winked and poked a bruise, "Or at least try not to get caught!"

I smiled weakly and sat up, asking to see a mirror. The face that looked back at me was still relatively the same as it had been when I'd rolled out of bed that morning, minus a sickening black eye.

"So they stuck to body shots and anything past the hair line, I see." I said with a wince.

"Yea, I guess those are the predetermined guidelines for beating a woman who's out of line. They like to keep the face pretty if she's to be kept alive. What good is she to anyone if she looks like a slab of meat? Hahaha!" Junin had always had a sense of humor. But this time she wasn't kidding. She just found the horrible truth to be funny. I sighed heavily.

"Yea, well, goodnight Junin."

"You better rest up good. Tomorrow you start your Entrance Duty. Jeeze, that's gonna suck."