Vol. 5 Mandatory Matrimony

-Jin-

I was standing slightly behind a curtain next to Chiyo. The ceremony was about to start and we were waiting on the sidelines just to make sure nothing went wrong. I was tense. There were government officials everywhere and I kept thinking that one would recognize me. Chiyo elbowed me gently, I leaned in to see what she was going to say.

"Don't you think weddings are just beautiful?" she sighed longingingly. "It felt like mine was only yesterday." A small smile pulled at the corners of my mouth. "Why aren't you married? A handsome man like you should have a beautiful wife by now."

I wasn't going to tell her that I was a ronin and being chased by the government. The closest I had ever come to getting myself a permanent companion was Shino, but she was in the home for ex-brothel girls. She couldn't come out for three straight years.

"That's such a sad look in your eyes. Does this mean you once had a wife?"

"No," I said shortly.

"Okay, I see that it's none of my business."

The music started and she quieted down. The magistrate walked to the center of the dais (a/n: dais a stage-like thing). Then a few women came out, pushing the bride along. When they had her across from the magistrate they left. The frightened young girl turned towards the crowded room. I thought I was hallucinating. No it couldn't be…

-Mugen-

This place was full of stuffy old guys and their hag wives. I was in a big room waiting for them to get this crap over with. I wanted my money. I eyed my clothes, they weren't so bad. They sure as hell weren't as dorky as the other guy's. The ones that Chiyo made for me looked a little like my old clothes, but not as beat-up and more formal. I wasn't going to wear them after this though, I was used to the others.

"This shit is boring," I mumbled.

"It's an honor to be invited to protect the wedding of a magistrate," the guy next to me said.

"Whatever, I'm just tryin' to make my money. I don't give a damn about the magistrate."

"Good to know we have such a dedicated man at our side," he grumbled sarcastically. I chuckled. I thought that was kind of funny. The music started and the guy next to me straightened up. "Time to go."

I let out a deep breath and rolled my eyes. I hated weddings. They were a tragedy in my opinion. One girl for the rest of my life? Yeah, right. If I ever was crazy or drunk enough to get married, it would last a week at best. The magistrate came out into the middle of the stage.

"That's magistrate Kobayashi Daichi."

"Wow," I said uninterested. I felt bad for the chick that had to marry that guy. I had heard about him taking one of the village girls. He was kinda dorky lookin' too. A bunch of girls came out, pushing another girl along towards the magistrate. She was shakin' like a leaf. She was painted up and in some expensive lookin' kimono. The girl was cowering when she turned to look at the room.

(a/n: Now this is where it gets a little tricky…)

"Fuu!?!" I cried.

-Jin-

"Mugen?"

-Fuu-

"Jin?"

-Jin-

"Fuu?"

-Fuu-

"Mugen?"

-Mugen-

"Jin?"

(a/n: Confused yet?)

-Fuu-

I couldn't believe it! There they were, right in front of me. Man, I was glad that this was the one time that one of my wishes came true. Where did they even come from? I didn't really care, I just wanted them to save me. Jin and Mugen both put their hands on their swords. They were way outnumbered. How were we going to get out of this one?

"What is the meaning of this!?!" the magistrate demanded.

"Sorry, but we can't let you have the girl," Mugen said, approaching us.

"Mmm," Jin agreed, coming to stand next to him.

"Why not?" the magistrate asked.

"Uh…" I said slowly as I tried to think. "I'm already married!"

"What? To who?"

"Him," I said, pointing to Jin. It didn't matter who I said, but Jin looked a little more cleaned up than the wild-haired Mugen at the moment.

Jin's eyes widened and Mugen tried to hold back his laughter. I would whack him later. Right now I had to get out of this. The guards were starting to move in on Mugen and Jin.

"You are? Why didn't you say this before?" he asked, aggravated.

"I tried, but you hauled me off without letting me talk! How am I supposed to tell you something important when you have me dragged off like that?"

"She lies! She works at the teahouse with me, and I know that she isn't." It was the old cook from the teahouse. Why would he turn me in like that? Maybe he was trying to protect that niece of his and the rest of the village girls.

"Nice try," Kobayashi growled, clutching my wrist. "You will be my wife, and there's nothing anyone can do about it." He turned to the guards and smiled. "Kill them."

"Big mistake, asshole," Mugen called to him.

The guards attacked the guys and then the fight started. The guests started screaming and running for their lives as soon as Jin had sliced open one of the guards. Mugen tripped one and impaled another. I was jerked away from them.

"You are coming with me!" The magistrate said as he started dragging me away.

"Let me go!" I growled as I tried prying his grip away from me. It was useless. "Jin, Mugen, come and help me!"

I was pulled out of a door and through a hallway. He dragged me outside and down some stairs. The courtyard was empty except for a small number of guards.

"Get me a pair of horses!" he yelled. Two of them ran off and I was looking at the door, waiting for my friends to come help. Right on cue they came though the door and straight for us. Oh boy, this was going to get messy. I winced when the cut down most of the guards and left them there, groaning in pain.

"Release her," Jin said calmly.

"Very well." He let go of me and I walked towards my saviors. Was I ever happy to see them.

"Fuu, move!" Mugen yelled suddenly. I didn't know what he was talking about at first. I turned to see what they were staring at and an explosive pain hit me in the side. I gasped. The magistrate had taken out his tonto and stabbed me. I had never been stabbed before…Oh my.

-Jin-

We tried to stop him before he got Fuu, but we were too late. I ran forward and caught her before she fell to the ground. Mugen rushed past me and brutally impaled the magistrate.

"Die motherfucker!"

Kobayashi coughed up some blood and sank to his knees. Mugen shoved his sword in all the way to the hilt.

"Enough," I said to him. Fuu was still alive, she had just fainted. "We need to get Fuu out of here."

He pulled his katana out and wiped it off on the magistrate's clothes. "Fine. I'm done here anyway."