Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo.

Notes: Okay, I've been out of the country for the last two weeks, and before that was too freaked out to write this chapter. Yes, I know this chapter is lame but get over it; the entire story is going to be lame.

Chapter Four

"Excuse me." The soft voice startled the serving girl lighting the lamps at the teahouse's entrance. She looked up, arm half raised, the flame in her hand flickering in the soft breeze.

"May I help you?" She continued her work when she recognized him, hiding her blush. He was the samurai from last night. The lamplight reflected off his glass spectacles and the polished scabbard at his hip. "The Mistress is entertaining tonight." She said simply, turning to walk away. "But I can tell her you stopped by."

"I'll wait." She dropped the lamp letting out a small screech, watching as if in slow motion as it fell. Long pale fingers caught the light with ease, as she turned to glare at him. He had moved so silently she hadn't realized he was behind her before he spoke.

Tinted lanterns cast an orange glow through the closed paper doors that Hatsue stopped in front of. She pushed the screen back a fractional, peeking through the slit. A young apprentice geisha posed in front of a group of men, hands delicately holding a pair of decorated fans. Slowly shamisen music filled the air and the young geisha started to twirl and throw her fans, her eyes not leaving the audience before her. Hatsue's drifted to the geisha playing the shamisen. Suzume sat seiza style behind the younger geisha with the fans, her fingers moving skillfully over the strings of the instrument. Hatsue shifted uncomfortably, and looking back at the quiet man behind her.

She shrugged "She's busy."

He stared back at her, making it obvious he didn't plan to leave. She frowned and turned back to watch the rest of the geisha's performance. As the apprentice went to make the final flourish of the dance she stumbled and dropped a fan. The men watching her laughed heartily, as the geisha bent to pick up the fan, hiding a blush behind her kimono sleeve.

Suzume looked up, a slow smile playing across her bare features. After setting her shamisen aside she stood, placing a comforting hand on the younger girl's shoulder. She playfully scolded the men "You should have seen the mistakes I made on my first night!" she suddenly clasped a hand over her mouth at the double meaning of her statement, smiling at the men's laughter.

The samurai seated before her urged her to tell the story but she blushed, her eyes drifting to the doorway where Hatsue and Jin spied and shook her head flirtatiously. "Another time."

The other geisha in the room took over the entertainment after she left, and conversation continued. She pulled the screen back and stepped through, eyeing Hatsue curiously before seeing Jin. She sighed in a tired way and began to walk away. He had been here every day for the past two days, and every day she'd told him the same thing. We're only serving paying customers today. She turned to say it again but was stopped when he held out 3 gold ryo. She crossed her arms in front of her chest with a soft rustle of silk. The kimono she wore today was much more decorative. Orange, white and black koi swam over the azure blue cloth. An orange and dark blue obi, black polished geta and mother of pearl hair ornaments completed her expensive outfit. The man's eyes were focused on her face however, devoid of makeup but attractive just the same.

"Set up a room for this man and let him pick a few geisha." She turned to leave, but felt a strong hand on her arm. Her reaction was quick, her fingers flying to the ronin's hand and moving it towards the nikyu wristlock. It surprised her when he was fast enough to evade her grip and force her own hand into a locked position.

"I meant to be entertained by you." He said coldly.

She smiled deceptively, hissing through her teeth. "I normally only entertain on special occasions."

He dropped her hand. "Fine." He said quietly, turning to leave.

"But I suppose I'll make an exception." She sighed.

The samurai smiled, his back turned to her. A slow, victorious, perhaps even smug smile.