Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Champloo.

Notes: Alright I know the story is lame but work with me. Hopefully it'll it get better with practice.

Chapter Two

Water fell from the cloudy sky in a cold drizzle. The sun had just slipped past the horizon by the time the man had arrived in front of the teahouse that sat just within the borders of town. He stood in the street staring up at the sign that hung above the door. Wind chimes twinkled from above, set dancing by the light breeze. The man reached up, adjusting his glass spectacles with a long, pale finger. Footsteps could be heard coming from within the teahouse. A woman appeared preparing to light the lanterns at the entrance, she stopped when she saw the lone samurai.

"I'm sorry sir, I'm afraid all our regular geisha have been called to other appointments. You shall have to look somewhere else if you wish to be entertained tonight."

The man was silent a moment his eyes trying to focus on her face in the dark. She was silhouetted against the warm glow that came from with the teahouse. "It wouldn't matter anyway. I have no money." His deep, calm voice crossed the distance between them, and he heard her give a little laugh.

"A beggar then?" She lit the lantern and he was finally able to see the smile that graced her face. "I suppose you're hungry then? Come inside, I'll find you something."

"I said I have no money."

"I said I have no geisha. It's slow tonight, keep me company and I'll feed you."

He studied her quietly. She wore a simple blue and red kimono patterned with thin stripes. To the untrained eye it might have appeared to be servants garb, but Jin realized it was constructed of expensive materials. Her silky black hair was pulled back into a traditional style, ornamented with a mother-of-pearl comb. She gestured for him to come in, waving delicate looking hands. He stepped forward cautiously at first but found he had to increase his pace in order to keep track of her as she led him into the tea house.

"Would you prefer tea or sake?" the woman asked, sliding a decorated screen back to reveal an enticing room.

"Sake, thank you." He glanced at her face before she helped him remove the damp kimono he wore over his gi top and handed it over to a servant that had appeared at her side. Her face was oval shaped, with soft angles, the eyes a dark brown framed by full lashes. The servant bowed towards the woman before hurrying away. Jin followed the woman into the room and sat seiza style before the low table.

"Tell me your name." He asked quietly.

"I go by Suzume." She replied, sitting beside him, her voice cheery. "I once had another name but that is long forgotten."

The food arrived; steam rose from the piled high dishes of dumplings, rice, and various meats. Suzume reached for a glass and jug of sake, lifting her kimono sleeve a couple inches to reveal the underside of her wrist as she poured it. Jin stared down at the pale skin, not only noticing the expert way she held her hand, but also the many pink fleshed scars the riddled her hands and knuckles. She set down the jug and set the kimono back into place with a flick of her wrist. As he lifted his gaze he met her own stare. Her lashes hooded her eyes as she laughed lightly. Anyone else might not have caught the way her body had tensed when she caught his observance.

"I was not always the Madame of a tea house." She said, sliding his sake towards him. He had recognized the scars as blade cuts, but did not question her. He felt for his swords, and when assured they were at his side, picked up the cup and sipped the fiery substance.

"I once worked as a body guard." She said compensating for the silence that had stretched between them. She prepared a plate for him talking at the same time. "I protected a young nobleman while I was disguised as a geisha."

Jin was silent, simply watching her and contemplating her words.

"It was rather hard to learn the arts of entertaining and war at the same time." She set the plate before him and handed him chopsticks. "I traveled with the young man everywhere, and grew to know him very well." She hesitated eyes vacantly staring ahead of her.

"Then why are you here, an owner of a teahouse and not a body guard." Jin's voice was soft as he asked.

"I failed as guard, and all I had left was entertaining." She looked down at her pale hands, folded in her lap and laughed. "I failed."