The Female Samurai

Circa 2006 - 2008

This was also meant to be added into my 'Past Time' archive, but was never finished

Summary: There is a rumor of a formidable masked samurai in the area, and having defeated Jin, Mugen feels that he's up for the challenge. Losing, he becomes determined to defeat the masked samurai, or unveil their identity. [Mugen x Kagome]

Genre: General ?

Rating: T ?

A Samurai Champloo crossover!

"I can't believe you did that!" Fuu shouted. "You nearly killed him!"

"Yeah, so…?" Mugen asked.

"You promised that you wouldn't fight him until after we found the sunflower samurai," Fuu continued. "You promised, but I can see now that you can't even manage to keep a promise."

"Look," Mugen rolled his eyes, "I don't care. He started it."

"What? You started it!" Fuu hissed. She continued to walk, keeping in step with him, trying to make him see the error of his ways. "Just think about it, Mugen. Now we have to stay here, and we're so close to our destination, because you went and beat Jin up. We can't do anything until he heals!"

"Like I care. Leave him in a ditch and lets get a move on," he replied.

"We can't do that! We need Jin," she snapped. "We don't have any money, and he's usually the one to get us some. I never see you getting any, without stuffing your face afterward, at least."

"Whatever. Go patch the bastard up or whatever you need to do. I'm getting sick of this place already." Mugen leaned backwards slightly, linking his fingers behind his head as he frowned. God, if he'd known defeating that stupid Jin, like he knew he could, would have caused this much trouble, he would have knocked the bitch unconscious first and then ditched them both.

She fumed, stopping in front of a vendor. "It could take weeks for Jin to heal! We could have been searching for the sunflower samurai by morning if it wasn't for you! You're the one who just had to fight him, prove that you could defeat him, and look where it's got us! We're stuck here!" Her face was red, her lips turning into a deep scowl when she noticed that Mugen wasn't paying any attention to her, instead staring almost dumbly at a pretty woman that had stepped up to the old vendor in front of them. Her fury became more noticeable, noticing that the woman was quite attractive, with a natural beauty that she knew she could never achieve on her own. Her fury was not at the woman, but at Mugen, for completely ignoring her as soon as a woman with a big set of hooters, though they didn't seem to be overly large, came into view.

"Listen," Mugen said, frowning a bit more. "I don't care about this stupid flower guy, alright. I don't care about your stupid wants and needs, I just want this stupid journey to be done and over with. It's not my fault that you're always chasing after stupid rumors, and dragging out my chance to kick that bastard's ass. Now that I have, I don't need to prove anything to you, so why don't you shut your mouth and go treat pretty boy or something."

"Ohh… you…" Fuu gritted her teeth together, glaring angry daggers at him.

"Young man!" the vendor said as Mugen was ready to walk away. "Yes, you with the sword," he said getting his attention. "Have you heard the rumors of the Shadow Samurai?"

"Shadow Samurai?" Mugen asked.

The woman standing near smiled. "Yes, the Shadow Samurai is said to be a very powerful opponent. The samurai only comes out at night, but people believe that the samurai walks around acting like a normal person by day."

The old man nodded, seeing that he'd gotten both Mugen and Fuu's attention. "Yes, yes. The Shadow Samurai arrived in these parts not long ago! No one knows if the samurai is man or woman, for they wear the mask of a kitsune over their face, and such loose clothing that you cannot tell by looking at their body. Most believe it is a man, but some believe it could be a woman, perhaps even death itself."

Fuu gasped. "Death?"

The woman nodded, "Yes. Some people say that maybe the samurai is death taking a human form, come to take the lives of other powerful samurai who have done terrible wrongs. Some believe that it would be a man in that case, such a bloody death, but others believe that perhaps it is a female death. A way for those who have done such terrible things to start anew."

Mugen blinked. "So, there's a powerful samurai around these parts, huh?"

The old man frowned. "As I said. Were you not paying attention, young man?"

Mugen leaned forward, staring straight into his eyes. "If I wasn't?"

Fuu frowned. "Don't be so rude."

"Did you say something?" he asked.

She growled. Turning back to the vendor, she asked. "So this samurai only comes out at night?"

"That's correct," the woman said. "The samurai wears black and white, and carries two swords. Those who have seen him—or her—are usually the ones that he chooses to fight. The Shadow Samurai has great skills, and those who have not fought him, simply watching from the background, have said that he moves at great speeds. However, he only comes out at night, and he usually stays in dark areas, thus he was given his name of the Shadow Samurai."

"So this guy is real?" Mugen asked.

"Of course," the old man yelled. "I saw him with my own eyes!"

Mugen smirked. "Good, that means that I won't be so bored here after all."

Fuu huffed. "You can't go off fighting some samurai that only comes out at night, Mugen. I need you to help me take care of Jin."

Scowling, he said, "Take care of him yourself."

"But it's your fault he's hurt!" she shouted. Watching as he walked off again, probably going to do something completely stupid, she flung her hands up into the air. "You idiot!"

"Don't care," he said, waving his hand in the air.

Fuu turned bright red, and stomped her foot a couple of times as she stared at his retreating back. "That… that… imbecile!"

Mugen leaned forward, blood dripping from his mouth as the knee dug deeper into his abdomen. He cursed, and swung his blade, watching as the masked samurai leapt away, sword still held tightly in their hand. "Bastard," he muttered. His frown turned into a smirk, and he continued, "Though I have to admit you got me pretty good there."

His opponent merely raised their katana a little higher.

"Now I see why they talk about you so much," Mugen smirked. "You're not half bad."

They rushed at one another, swords falling to hang at their sides, before they clashed. The sound of metal striking metal filled the silent night, as the two samurai pressed against one another. Then, Mugen managed to push his opponent away, slicing his blade through the gap opened between them. However, the masked samurai blocked the attack with ease, before sliding out of range.

Scowling, Mugen went in again. His attacks began to become less focused and he swung his sword more with a determination to simply hit the samurai before him. The kitsune mask mocked him, taunting him with the fact that he would not be able to win from the grin that was spread across the surface. Rage boiled inside him, and he swung his sword again, cracking it across his opponent's and just barely managed to snag his sleeve. The piece of cloth slid to the ground without notice, and Mugen cursed his opponent for wearing that stupid mask.

Growling, Mugen fell back and looked down when he realized there was blood dripping over his hand. The bastard had managed to slice open a thin piece of skin just above his wrist, and the wound bled with a fierce determination. He ignored it, uncaring that he was bleeding and that bastard had got first blood. He lifted his sword again, waiting for the samurai to make the first move, but the bastard merely stood there.

Again, the grinning kitsune mask mocked him.

"Bastard," Mugen growled, "lets see what you really look like!"

Frustrated beyond belief, Mugen rushed the masked samurai once more. His opponent seemed to be playing with him, but Mugen was determined to finally unmask the Shadow Samurai. He would be the one to do it, even if he had to make sure that he got a second chance at it, because he wanted to see his opponent's face when he killed them.