Part 8

Shinnyo watched from the bushes as Mugen fell among the cluster of soldiers, a sword sticking through his back. The men closed in on him, the head commander ordering them to make sure he was dead. Taking a step closer, Shinnyo could see that he wasn't. The sinner's body lay twisted on the ground, the sword through his stomach keeping him from resting flat. But the chest was still rising in ragged spasms.

What a perfect opportunity. "Stop. Don't kill him." Shinnyo stepped out of the bushes, relishing the look of shock his head soldier gave him.

The young man stumbled over, stuttering. "Sir! I didn't know you were here."

"That was the point."

The soldier regained his composure as he reached Shinnyo, eyes and stance settling into an air of power and command. "We have apprehended the sinner, Mugen. We will kill him at your command."

"No. Keep him alive. Bring him a doctor if you must. We'll execute him publicly as an example." And what an example he would be… a man from a criminal colony who tried to defy the shogun brought to his knees by its soldiers.

"Yes, sir." The man turned and yelled out new orders to his men, who began to lift Mugen's body in response and carry it away, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.

"Commander."

"Yes, sir?"

"You are allowing Jin and the girl to escape."

The commander's eyes grew wide as he spun and looked at the now abandoned campground. Jin and Fuu were nowhere to be seen.

"I'm sorry sir. I'll send men after them right away." His voice sputtered through the words.

"Never mind. I'll capture them myself. Just take care of Mugen." Shinnyo didn't wait for a response, but instead turned and walked out into the clearing, around the dying campfire. The bushes were matted on one side and he guessed that was the direction they'd run. He hated to admit it, but even he had been too distracted by Mugen's display of stupid heroics to see them escape.

But he would soon correct the mistake.

Hand on his sword, Shinnyo set out into the woods, his pace picking up as he got used to following the trail of broken branches and crumpled plants. The sounds of the soldiers faded behind him until all he could hear was the wind through the leaves and a crunching up ahead.

He focused on that crunching, using it to help lead his way. And then there were other sounds too.

A girl's voice, wild and spastic, "We have to go back. Jin! We have to go back and help him!"

There was no response, and he heard her whimper as the crunching continued. He imaged Jin forcibly pulling her onward. Now there was a smart man. He knew they'd only be killed if they tried to help their friend.

"What's wrong with you! They're going to kill him!" She sounded hysterical now. The crunching stopped and Shinnyo thanked her emotional tantrum for the part it would play in allowing him to catch up.

A low voice was heard now, undoubtedly Jin's. "Fuu…" It paused. This was obviously not a man who was good with words. "Mugen is…" Another pause. Shinnyo approached slowly now, making sure his steps were quiet as he came closer. Come on, Shinnyo thought, I can hear what you're trying to tell her. Just say it wimp. Your friend is dead. Jin had no way of knowing it wasn't true yet. And either way, it would be true soon enough.

But instead, Jin said, "They will capture us if we do not keep moving."

Shinnyo held his breath, he could see them now, through the branches of a tree—the tall man in blue standing facing the petite girl in red, his hand on her arm holding her steady as she shook with tears. Two criminals consoling each other. Shinnyo would do them the favor of ending their pain.

With a blazing sword and a maniacal laugh, Shinnyo sprung out of the bushes, aiming his blade at Jin as the samurai turned in surprise.

Metal slid through flesh with a satisfying wet sound. The expression on Jin's face—wide eyes that dwarfed his glasses and an open soundless mouth—made Shinnyo laugh louder. For a moment, Jin stood, arms around his upper abdomen and frozen dramatically. Then, there was a thud, and Shinnyo had to dodge to keep the body from falling on his feet.

He turned, smile wide and aimed at the girl, whose brown eyes gleamed wet and large in the early morning light. "You next my dear."

She spun around and ran, stumbling into the woods.

It as pathetic how easily he caught up with her, tackling her to the ground and wrapping an arm around her waist as he held her face down in the dirt with the weight of his body. "Time to say goodnight," he whispered in her ear. Her hair was a mess, loose and wild, and it tickled his face. Maybe she would have been attractive if she didn't smell of sweat and hysteria.

Sitting up on her, he turned his sword in his hand and slammed the hilt into the back of her head. Her body went limp immediately and all that escaped her lips was a brief moan before she fell unconscious.

So easy to capture. Had she learned nothing from her samurai father? He rolled her over and lifted her in his arms, looking at the muddied face. She was just a child really. Unfortunate for her to be born to a Christian. Perhaps it had branded her destiny as an outlaw at birth. Perhaps she couldn't help what she was. He thanked whatever gods there were that his destiny had made him something different—had made him a great man.

Carrying her body in his arms, Shinnyo hurried back to the place where he had left Jin bleeding on the ground. He didn't expect the man to have gone anywhere, near death or dead as he no doubt was.

But Shinnyo was wrong.

Because in the spot where the samurai should have been was only a dark stain and a pair of broken glasses.

Shinnyo cursed angrily. Not only was Jin gone, but this time he had been careful to leave no sign of which direction he had gone. Not even a convenient trail of blood.

Nevertheless, he was injured, and Shinnyo was sure he'd show up soon. Walking over to the abandoned glasses he lifted his foot and pounded it into the bent frames. The sound of the lenses grinding into the dirt was satisfying and Shinnyo turned to head back to the rest of the men with some of his frustration vented.

"Don't worry Jin. We'll find you," Shinnyo said, and went to bring the girl to the Ryuukuu sinner she'd wanted so badly not to leave behind.