A/N: Hey hey! Another chapter for the Champloo fans out there! Please R&R!!

Episode 2: My Hero

Jin made his way into a small down. It was early morning with the sun barely over the mountains. Villagers worked at the river that ran through the middle of it. Guards were on alert for an unknown reason to Jin as he walked into a tavern. He caught a couple looks as he took his seat at the bar.

"Sake please." He ordered.

The tender gave him a cup of sake and Jin paid for it. Jin sipped the sweet sake and looked over at two men who were spilling gossip. They seemed to really be into the conversation.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard about that murder at the show last night." One man said.

"Some wild swordsman by the name of…" The man looked down. "Ahh, I think it's Mugon? Or something like that."

Jin's eyes squinted at the news as his ear drew closer to the conversation. He couldn't believe that Mugen had been here just last night, but could believe that he got himself into something big and when dealing with Mugen, that something is trouble.

"He's locked up awaiting death for tomorrow."

"Serves him right, killing someone like that. This is the Edo period! Samurai are old and swords are turning into antiques."

Jin stood up and stepped out of the tavern. He had heard enough to find Mugen, but why would he be involved in a murder? He wouldn't just murder just to murder. Mugen fights strong warriors when given the chance.

He is a natural criminal is he not?

Jin nodded at his thought and proceeded toward the town cells. He stepped on a bridge and walked across to the entrance. The cells were on a small lake island. Jin walked up to the entrance, but a guard blocked his entry.

The guard looked at him. "No visitors, go away." The guard said with a vigor tone of voice.

Jin couldn't take no for an answer, for he needed Mugen if he was to get Fuu back. Mugen could be a handful at times, but he's the best swordsman Jin knew of.

"I ask of you to only move aside. I do not want to hurt you if I don't have to." Jin said in a calm manner.

The guard pulled out his sword and held it firmly.

"Was that a threat?!" He seethed.

Jin's thumb pushed up on the guard of his blade, unsheathing it some.

"I just want to talk to a prisoner here."

"Over my dead bod-"

Jin pulled out his sword and rushed past him. He slid his sword back into its sheath.

"Trust me," Jin said as the guard's sword fell into two. "You don't want to stop me." He finished as he walked around the side.

The guard ran off scared.

Jin looked in the cells and couldn't find Mugen until he looked in the last one. He saw Mugen's bloody body there. Jin was surprised to see him in such a condition.

"Mugen…" Jin said toward him.

"Ughh…huh?" Mugen grunted as he looked up at Jin. "Who is it? I can't see right."

"It's Jin. I'm here to get you out."

"The hell? I never thought I would see your ass helping me out of anything."

"Fuu's in trouble. We have to head-"

"To Yoshida, I know. I got the message as well and came here. Sara's brother was looking for me and found me."

"She had a brother?"

"Not as skilled as her, but he still got me good. He blinded me as well, but my vision is coming back slowly." Mugen said as he pushed himself up to his knees.

"You're wounded."

Mugen grinned. "Just a small cut. Nothing serious..."

Jin looked at the rope holding the door in place. "Hmmm..." He looked back and saw Mugen's sword laying on a table.

"He's over here!!" A voice shouted. More voices were heard getting closer.

Jin pulled out his sword and cut the ropes, letting the door swing open. "Come on. We are going to have to fight our way out of here." Jin rushed over and grabbed Mugen's sword and tossed it toward him.

Mugen caught it. His vision wasn't great, but he could make out objects. He used the sword as a walking cane to help him stand.

Four swordsmen came around the corner with their swords drawn and ready to kill.

"There!" One pointed.

The swordsmen rushed at Jin as he pulled out his sword. The first swordsman swung downward at Jin, but Jin spun around the attack and thrusted his sword past his right side, behind him into the back of the swordsman. Jin pulled his blade out with a swinging motion, cutting through another swordsman with ease. The next swordsman swung downward at Jin, but Jin dodged the blade and held the swordsman's blade down with his own. Jin turned the blade sharp end up and pulled upward, cutting right through the swordsman's head. The last swordsman jumped in the air.

"DIE!!!" He screamed as he swung.

Jin swung as the swordsman passed. The swordsman landed in his form as Jin stood in his. Blood trickled to the floor, then sprayed on the floor. Jin sheathed his sword as the last swordsman fell. Jin looked back beyond the bodies at a limping Mugen.

"Poor bastards couldn't stand up to you." Mugen said with a grin.

"We must hurry. We don't know how many more are coming."

Jin and Mugen made it out of the cells and into the allies of the village. Swordsmen rushed toward the cells, past them both. Mugen was breathing heavy. On top of that his side was wounded badly. Without medical attention it could turn out worse.

Jin looked around and saw no more swordsmen, but with Mugen looking the way he does, he would do nothing, but attract attention.

"We need somewhere to stay." Jin said as he looked over at Mugen. Jin could see that Mugen was on the verge of passing out. "Stay with me Mugen."

"Shut...up...I'll be fine..." Mugen said as he sat on a crate and leaned back against a house.

"In here..." A voice said from behind them.

Jin turned and Mugen looked over. It was Sina.

"Sina..." Mugen said as he looked down.

"Come on, before the swordsmen see you." She urged.

Jin lifted Mugen to his feet and helped him over into the house. It was small, but adequet for now. Jin laid Mugen on a futon and looked at Sina.

"We are in your debt." Jin said as he looked back at Mugen.

"Sina..." Mugen said weakly. "Your brother and sister..."

"I know." She said as she brought over some water and rags. "Your sorry for what happened and I understand." She began to clean the wound on Mugen's side. "But I cannot let you live."

The words struck Jin and his blade quickly touched the neck of Sina.

"I refuse to kill while I have the advantage. I want to kill you when you are at your best." Sina started to stitch the wound close. "Sara told me before she disappeared that I had the ability to surpass her. If I kill you, that will prove it." Jin's blade lowered to the floor and back into it's sheathe

"She let me live. She stopped her blade from killing me. Doing this...will do nothing for you." Mugen said weakly.

"It will." She said as she patched the wound. "I cannot walk this earth with the man who took two people I loved dearly." She looked at Mugen with a smile. "I hate you." Sina stood and walked away.

Jin looked at Mugen. "She hates you..."

"She sure is weird about it."

xxxx

Night came quickly as Mugen's vision came back. Sina watched as the town's night life came alive. Guards and swordsmen still looked around the town for the escapee. Sina looked over as Jin took a seat next to her.

"You don't have to fight him." Jin said as he looked out the window.

"You say that, but I must." Sina said as she looked back out the window at the people that walked around. "Sara told me that I was to succeed her. Mugen killed both my sister and brother." She looked down with a smile. "I must kill Mugen in order to become the successor of my families Jojutsu skill."

"That is the path of darkness." Jin said calmly. "Killing the man that killed your sister and brother won't do anything for you in the long run." Jin looked at Sina. "You'll feel empty and cold."

Sina looked at Jin with a smile. "No...I'll be just fine."

How can she smile like that?

xxxx

Mugen opened his eyes to the candlelight coming from a candle on a near by table. His body was still sore and beaten. His mouth was dry and his stomach was growling.

"Hun..."

Sina perked up and looked over at Mugen. She came to his side and looked at him.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Hun...gry..."

"Oh," She said as she stood. "I'll go and get something." Sina said as she walked out of the door and into the crowd of people.

Jin came over to Mugen and knelt down next to him. "Are you going to fight her?"

"If I must," Mugen said weakly as he turned his head to the side. "I wish I didn't have too."

"Don't get yourself killed. Fuu would kill me if I just let you die in front of me." Jin said as he poured Mugen some water.

"Fuu? Mad that I died?" Mugen let out a short chuckle that ended when the pain in his side flared up. He remembered that it was Fuu that saved him from the death blow from Sara. He was alive thanks to that and can't die now. He must save Fuu's life once more. Mugen took the cup that Jin handed him and drank the cool refreshing water.

"There is something odd about that girl." Jin said as he looked toward the door.

"Like?"

"You can't read her." Jin stood up and took the water into another room.

xxxx

Sina finally came back with rice and beef noodles. The smell of the fresh food caught the nose of Mugen and he sat up, only to hold his side in pain. Sina smiled as she brought the food over.

"Please, don't hurt yourself." Sina said as she brought over a short table. She set the food out on the table and turned to Jin. "Please, join us."

Jin walked over and sat at the table as Sina set up the food and chop sticks. Mugen started to scarf down his portion of food, trying to supress the hunger in his stomach. Sina and Jin ate their food bit by bit.

"I want you at your best Mugen." Sina said before she ate some rice.

Mugen stopped eating and looked at her. "I don't want to fight you Sina. Why don't you understand that?"

"If you chose not to fight me, then I shall murder you."

"Listen bitch," Mugen said getting mad. "I killed your brother and sister. Stop being so fucking persistant and leave me be."

Sina looked up with closed eyes and a smile on her face. "I will not live on this earth with the man who killed my sister." Sina when back to her food.

Mugen finished the rest of his food in silence. When he finished, he laid right back down on the futon and fell fast asleep. Jin looked at Sina, puzzled by her ever happy and smiling self. Jin knew that the smile wasn't one of happiness, but one of possibly satisfaction. The satisfaction of killing Mugen. The same satisfaction Jin used to look forward to after the adventure with Fuu and Mugen was over, but when that time came, he was too good of friends with him.

When Jin and Sina were done, Sina moved the table out of the way and prepared for bed. Mugen opened his eyes and looked over at Sina.

"One week." Mugen said, catching the attention of Sina. "One week and I will be ready to battle you."

Sina smiled in joy. "Great. Please heal well Mugen. 0I want to kill you when you are at your best." Sina opened a door and walked in, closing it behind her.

Jin looked at Mugen before he rolled out his futon. "Don't look so down about it." Jin said as he rolled out his futon. "She's strong."

Mugen looked at him and smiled.

They fell asleep fast. Mugen's skill and determination to live on would be tested in seven days...