Mugen ducked down a side street and leaned against a wall to catch his breath. He tensed as another man came around the corner, then relaxed as he recognized Jin. "You made it out too."
"Of course." The samurai smiled briefly and held up his sword. "This would seem to be a good time to finish our fight."
"Fine with me." The two men faced each other, weapons at the ready, and started circling each other.
"Oh, no, you don't!"
Startled, they broke off, identical expressions of irritation spreading across their faces as Fuu ran down the street. She planted herself squarely between them, scowling. "Have you forgotten you made me a promise?"
Jin's eyes narrowed. "I haven't forgotten but our fight comes first."
"It's first on my list too," said the Ryukyuan cheerfully.
Fuu huffed indignantly. "A promise is a promise and if you two kill each other there won't be anyone to help me. What good is your promise then?" She reached in her sleeve and pulled out a coin. "We'll settle it by tossing this coin. If it's heads you can fight but if it's tails, you forget about the fight and come with me."
Mugen's jaw tightened and he grabbed the coin, throwing it as hard as he could. They watched it soar out of sight, Fuu venturing the opinion he might have tossed it too hard.
"He doesn't know the meaning of restraint," murmured Jin.
The Ryukyuan grinned as the coin plunged back down, landing on Fuu's forehead just as several voices started shouting at them. The two men took off, the girl right behind them waving the coin. "Hey, look, you guys! It's tails! I won!" She tripped and fell into them, sending them all sprawling on the ground.
Mugen swore furiously and grabbed her, throwing her over his shoulder. Jin ducked down an alley, beckoning frantically, and the Ryukyuan followed, dropping the girl unceremoniously as they crouched behind some empty barrels. She opened her mouth and the two men clapped their hands across her face as the prison guards raced past.
The samurai held up a hand, then crept to the entrance of the alley, looking cautiously up and down the street. Returning to his companions, he murmured, "All clear."
"Let's go." Mugen grabbed Fuu's wrist and pulled her to her feet.
"Do you have to be so rough?" she asked acidly.
He ignored her, dragging her along, and she looked to the pale samurai. Jin seemed lost in his own thoughts and Fuu sighed and resigned herself to concentrating on keeping up with Mugen's long strides. An hour later they were clear of the town and she pulled fiercely on her arm. The Ryukyuan released her and she resumed walking at a more sedate pace, following the two men as they went into the forest outside of town.