Mugen struggled furiously as four guards stripped him to the waist, then tied him to a pole next to the pale samurai. Their eyes met, and he read the same resolution he felt not to give the guards the satisfaction of hearing him cry out. The samurai smiled faintly and nodded slightly, just once. Then there was nothing but pain.

It seemed to go on for hours before their torn and battered bodies were cut down and thrown into a cell to wait for the morning. They lay side by side, breathing unevenly and trying to hold back their groans as adrenaline ebbed and the chill of the night air seeped into them. Mugen thought the samurai had fallen asleep until the man spoke. "I swear you are the lowest of the low."

The Ryukyuan turned his head. "What did you say?"

The samurai stared at the ceiling. "Your stance leaves you wide open, your moves are totally inefficient….all in all, your fighting style is a mess." Mugen tried to sit up and fell back, gasping in pain as his companion in misery went on. "You're the most undisciplined fighter I have ever known." A smile crossed his lacerated face. "And you're the only fighter I have been unable to kill."

The Ryukyuan grinned, strangely pleased. "Mugen is the name."

"My name is Jin."

There was a soft sound at the door and both men rolled over. Jin was content to lie on his stomach, peering forward, but the Ryukyuan caught a flash of pink and began slowly crawling towards it. After a few feet he was close enough to make out the little waitress, Fuu, and he dropped his face on his arm. The very sight of her was unsettling-he didn't understand his impulse to stay at the tea house after she had refused to feed him and he was confused to find himself feeling relieved that she was all right.

"It looks like they really put you two through the ringer," she said sadly.

Mugen raised his head. He recognized the look on the girl's face, although he had never seen such a look directed at him. She was gazing at him with concern and his confusion worsened into anger. If it wasn't for her, he wouldn't be lying here waiting for his life to be ended in the morning and yet….his anger faded as he realized he wasn't sorry he had saved her.

Neither man spoke and Fuu leaned forward. "Don't you want to know why I'm here?"

"No," growled Mugen, thoroughly exasperated with the girl. Didn't she realize how much danger she was in? If the guards caught her, she might well be joining him and the samurai on the execution ground in the morning. He closed his eyes, wishing she would go away.

She got to her feet. "See you around."

The Ryukyuan's eyes popped open as she turned to go. "Wait a minute." He raised himself on one elbow. "I was just kidding."

The girl knelt down again, smiling. "I thought so." She held up a key. "If you promise to do me a favor, I'll let you out. Is it a deal?"

"I promise," murmured Jin. The girl nodded at him and looked expectantly at Mugen.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you want." Mugen watched for a moment as she worked on the lock, then asked, "So what's this favor?"

Fuu paused. "I want you to help me find someone. A samurai who smells of sunflowers."

They heard the guards and Jin pulled himself forward. "You should hurry."

Fuu resumed work on the lock, twisting the key with greater force. "I can't….wait a minute….there!" A loud snap rang through the cell and she held up the bottom half of the broken key. "Sorry."

"There she is!" There was the sound of running feet and she jumped up, running off without a backward look. A moment later the guards pounded past the cell and Mugen and Jin were alone again.

The Ryukyuan rolled onto his back. "That was really stupid. What the hell did she come for anyway?"

"She wanted a favor," said Jin softly.

"Yeah, well, it doesn't look like we'll be doing anything for anybody." Mugen assured himself he didn't care one way or the other, but he couldn't help hoping the girl would escape the guards.