(a/n: I don't own Samurai Champloo)

Vol. 2 Secrets and Seamstresses

-Jin-

I looked around as I entered the village. It was decorated in many lanterns and strings of flowers. I wondered what was happening. The village looked quite busy; children were running about, women were bringing food between different houses and buildings, and there men were watching about suspiciously. I adjusted my glasses before continuing on. It was a larger village than what I had expected.

It was only a few minutes before I found the teahouse and the residence next door. I knocked lightly and waited for someone to answer. A moment later a woman slid the door open and pulled me inside. She started collecting pieces of clothing off of tables and hangers. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow, but I suppose you could take them over now." I tried to talk as she walked past me, but was silenced when she threw the pile at me. I caught them awkwardly. She kept running around, talking to herself. Finally, she paused. "What are you still doing here? You must get those to the magistrate's house at once!"

"I was sent by your husband," I told her as I shifted the weight in my arms and reached into my gi. I held my arm out, showing her the package he had given me. "This is medicine for your son."

"Oh!" she gasped, running over to take the clothes from me. When she set them back onto the table she came to me and took the package from my hands gently. "I am terribly sorry, I've been so busy. I'm afraid that I can hardly keep track of things these days." She pulled a small purse out of her sleeve and gave me some coins. It would be enough to support me for a few days. "You may stay here tonight if you'd like. If you help me with some chores over the next few days then I will give you more money and lodging." I nodded, it being better than spending the money I had just earned. "Perfect! Now come over here and get some food. You can meet my son."

-Fuu-

I had gotten a job at the local teahouse. The old lady who owned it felt sorry for me, I think. Oh well though, a job is a job. Right now it was busy, and I was going quickly between tables. The other girl who worked here told me that people were in town for a wedding, so that explained the crowding. When I asked questions about it though, they would just change the subject. Weird right?

"Hey girl! I'm still waiting for my dumplings!" a man yelled at me.

"Coming sir!" I called as I went into the hot kitchen to get his order. "Jeeze, these guys don't know what the word patient means, do they?"

"Everyone is on edge these days," the cook told me.

"Is it about the big wedding? Why is everyone so anxious about it?" I questioned curiously.

He looked around nervously. Then he grabbed a bowl off the shelf and started spooning stuff into it. "You cannot say anything about this. Outsiders aren't really supposed to know…"

"What is it?" I whispered.

"The magistrate, whose wife died only a few months ago, has chosen to remarry."

"So? Men remarry all of the time."

"Yes, but magistrate Kobayashi doesn't have another bride yet. He is going to pick from the women of the village. Any single woman who belongs to the village is eligible."

"What?" I gasped. How could he do that? Why would the villagers allow him to do this? "Why don't you say no?"

"Because if we don't, he will destroy the village." The man's shoulders slumped. "So we have to sacrifice one of our daughters so that he won't kill us with his band of henchmen."

"That's terrible. It wouldn't happen to me, would it?"

"Of course not, you don't belong to our village or these lands. But my niece Umeko is. It would be terrible if we lost her."

"What a terrible man." I took the bowl from the cook and brought it out to one of the tables. I felt bad for these people; having to pretend to celebrate on such a dismal occasion for them. That magistrate must be a horrible man…