Ok everyone! Here's my 3rd chapter! Now I know I've been procrastinating but I've been SUPER BUSY lately! With school, work, boys, practice(viola), boys…….. Seriously it's been rough. My life had a real anime moment when my ex(who I've been obsessing over these last 2 years)showed up at my school as a transfer student! He got kicked out of his academy(bad boy ;) and that was just the beginning of my spring break! I visited my family, went to an indoor amusement park, my friend ran away(but came backthank god), and my friend went dirt biking for the first time and BROKE HIS LEG! No-not broke his leg, SHATTERED IT!

Now he's got pins and screws in his leg. And instead of a cast he has a metal rod in his leg! His whole summer is screwed. Poor guy……. So now you know some reasons I haven't updated in a while! My life's been pretty crazy lately! So finally I've updated! Enjoy!…………Please review--

He heard her scream before he even gazed upon her horrified face. She was running wildly in the woods, tripping over branches and outcroppings of roots. Her breathing was hard and heavy, desperate. He could read the dread on her face. The empty loss, reflected in her alluring eyes. He stood silent and patient until she reached him, collapsing at his knees.

"P-Please! Help me!" She cried. Jin looked on and saw a swordsman following the young woman. He was ranting on about her capture and boasting her imminent death.

"Please y-you must h-help me! If you don't he w-will k-kill me!"

The swordsman approached slowly after his prey took refuge in this stranger. He sized him up quickly, feeling quite confident. "This man should be no trouble," he thought, "He's nothing but a pretty boy." With this thought he gave Jin a wicked smirk.

"So! You think you have a right to protect this woman? Give up! You could never take on someone like me! You've got absolutely no chance against Matsaharu Takada, member of the infamous Midoki gang!" Jin only stood there, unaware of any real danger. His silence only provoked Matsaharu.

"What's your problem? Too good to stand up for yourself! Do you really wanna end your life for this girl?" Jin answered him with a blank stare. And that was the end of Matsaharu's patience. "Then fight me like a REAL MAN!"

Matsaharu drew his sword and lunged at Jin with a fierce attack. It was avoided easily as Jin shifted his weight and moved sideways, bringing down his own blade in Matsuaru's lower back. He winced and cursed Jin. He then fell to his knees without breath. Jin wiped his blade and sheathed it.

"That was amazing!" Jin's eyes glanced toward woman he killed for. She was the amazing one! He had never seen such a beautiful woman. She had long, flowing ebony hair with eyes to match. Her lashes were long and full, giving her eyes a shadowed and mysterious look. Her body was slender and curvacious. "But her eyes!" he thought deeply to himself. Her eyes reminded him of the deep night. But this woman was not dark at all. Her presence was warm and kind. The night is dark and black but even in that darkness shines the brightest of stars. "I want to thank you for your services! Please follow me! What's your name?" she asked curiously.

"Jin"

"Jin, well I would like you to assist me!"

"You want my help?"

"Yes. I need a skilled bodyguard and I think you are perfect for the job." She saw the awkward, unwanting look on his face, "You are unable to do it? I understand if your travels need you more. Where are you heading anyway?"

"Nowhere in particular. I travel from village to village."

"Oh. Are you looking for someone you've lost?"

"No. I'm not really searching for anyone or anything. I'm just wandering, trying to find someplace I belong. So why was that man after you?" He regretted saying that so abruptly. It was obvious to this woman that he purposely changed the subject.

"Oh, well………it's because of my father. He was a well-known man throughout our village. But when the Midoki gang took over he became obsessed with their gambling. Soon he lost everything…" Jin saw thin tears drop from her quivering chin. She wiped them away and gave a weak smile, "That's when the members of the gang came to collect their money. My father didn't have it and they killed him. They took my h-my brother, Shohei. They tried to capture me but I ran. I was very lucky to have run into you. I know you have already done me a great service, but I would appreciate it if you would help me save Shohei. I can provide you with food and a place to stay as payment. Please, he is all I have left now." She gazed into Jin's blank eyes. Tears began to form and with a slight sigh Jin agreed.

"So what is your name?"

"Sayuri."

"Well, shall we go then?"

"Stupid jerk! I can't believe that bastard! All this time and he wasn't even happy to see me again! And now I'm crying! I figured by now my tears would have dried out but no!" Fuu was feeding the chickens in the yard. It had been a whole week since she saw Mugen but she still could not forgive him, nor forget. Had he not thought of her at all? She didn't even ask him if he had seen Jin over the years. Knowing him he had opened a dojo or something. "Come to think of it, that doesn't sound like something he'd do. He's probably wandered the entire countryside, living as he goes. That's just how those guys are I guess."

"Fuu? Fuu, have you finished the chores?" Riiko called from the house.

"Yes I have!"

"Well I have breakfast ready. Hurry and wash up!"

Fuu dumped the rest of the seed on the ground and stumbled over greedy chickens. She grabbed a bucket and went to gather water. When she returned, a man was at the house, speaking with Sosuke and Riiko. All three turned to her and Riiko hurried to her side. In a low whisper she said,

"This man is from the Midoki gang. He wants to speak with you."

Fuu approached the man and they exchanged bows. My name is Takamaru and I believe you saw a man earlier this week? He is wild and untrustworthy. He must be found for…the safety of the village. Have you seen a strange man lately?"

Fuu contemplated telling this samurai that she had really seen him. His concerns for the village seemed more a threat than anything. This man is the one not to be trusted.

"I'm sorry but I havn't seen any strangers in the village. I have not been out much lately, I'm afraid." Fuu's dream of Koskai's death reeled in her mind. She quickly suppressed the thought, turning her attention back to Takamaru.

"Oh really? Why is that?"

Riiko interveined, "Please sir, she has recently lost her fiancé in a horrible accident. Do not ask any more, I beg of you."

Takamaru gave a knowing glance to Fuu. The sadistic look in his eyes made chills run through her entire body. "Does he know something?"


End chapter 3! Ok, ok I know! My chapters are SHORT! And I apologize but that's just how they turn out. I don't like to drone on and on about insignificant things. I like to stick to the facts(even if they are a little hazy) And i think Takamaru is an actual character in the show.(the guy that kills-wait-that might be a spoiler for those who have not seen the last episode) Well anyhoo, he is NOT that man. He is an original character. I just happened to like the name. So thank you and please r&r! Many thanks to my READERS!