Samurai Champloo Fan Fiction ❯ A Fool's Errand ❯ The Middle ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo, but I really wish Watanabe-san would make a movie like he did with Cowboy Bebop.

 

A Fool's Errand: The Middle

 

 

 

They continued on until they reached a city. All of them were hungry and ate their fill at a restaurant. Mugen drank an entire bottle of sake by himself and Fuu watched him with a deep frown. She was quite disgusted at how he was acting.

 

Mugen stood, taking the nearly empty bottle with him. "I'm outta here," he announced. "I'll be back later."

 

Fuu sighed loudly. "Be careful and don't get nearly killed again."

 

He held up his hand, making a very rude gesture before slipping through the curtained doorway. Jin shook his head in wonder. The pirate really was uncouth. He watched Kiyone pay for their dinner and stand. "Shall we head to our rooms?" she asked.

 

He nodded and helped Fuu to her feet. The young girl was still watching the way Mugen had gone. After a moment, she turned to them and bowed sketchily. "I think I'm going to go check out the shopping. It looked like they were still open." She hastily made her way out the door.

 

"Looks like it's just you and me," Kiyone said as she looked at Jin. She wore a soft, friendly smile, one that could take you in and do whatever it wanted to you.

 

"Hm," he replied. Together they walked back to their rooms. He immediately sat down, placing his swords beside him, and began meditating.

 

Kiyone sat across from him, watching him intently. She crossed her legs and let out a deep breath. After a few moments, she spoke. "How do you do it?"

 

It took Jin a minute to realize she was speaking to him. "Do what?"

 

"Meditate."

 

He opened his eyes and saw her staring directly at him, a frown etched on her brow. Her back was straight and rigid and her shoulders were back. "I relax and release all thoughts," he answered.

 

She let out a frustrated sigh. "I find that quite difficult to do."

 

He reached up to push his glasses back from where they had slipped down his nose. "It's no wonder. You are sitting too proper."

 

She blinked at him a moment before bursting out in laughter.

 

He looked at her in confusion.

 

"I'm sorry," she said as she wiped away the tears and tried to control herself. "I've never been told that before. Usually I'm told I am not sitting up properly."

 

He let a ghost of a smile appear on his lips. She truly was someone of a high status. He remembered being scolded when he was very young for the same thing. He reached over and picked up his wakizashi. "You must learn to relax first." Standing, he moved over and stooped before her, holding out the scabbard. "Have you ever cleaned and sharpened a sword?

 

She bowed her head and held out her hands in proper acceptance. "Yes," she replied. "My father taught me."

 

He placed the sword in her hands and went to fetch his cleaning cloth, oil and whetstone. By the time he returned, she already had the blade across her lap and was running a small whetstone along the edge in long, even strokes. With a shrug, he turned back to his place and pulled out his katana to sharpen it.

 

Kiyone's breathing was steady and even as she moved the stone across the blade. Her strokes were consistent as her arm extended towards the tip. Every so often she would stop and check the blade's sharpness. When she was satisfied that she had removed any nicks from the side on which she was working, she turned the blade over and switched hands to sharpen the other side.

 

Jin watched her from over the rim of his glasses. He was impressed with her gentle handling of his weapon. She was much more talented than she led on. "You were taught well," he said as he concentrated on sharpening his sword.

 

Her left hand moved with the same precision as her right had. "My arms were too short to sharpen the katanas. The wakizashi is shorter and easier to handle." She paused, checking the edge before starting again. "It was one of the few times I could spend in my father's presence and just be with him. He is usually so busy."

 

He sensed a bit of sadness in her voice as she spoke of her father. It made him feel a bit of grief he hadn't felt in a long time as he remembered his own childhood. He wondered where he might have been now if his father had lived. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the thoughts from his head.

 

They sat in silence for a while, the only sound being the whetstone scraping along the steel blades. Kiyone finished first, checking the shine in the well oiled blade before slipping it back into its sheath. She stood and moved to place the sword back beside the taller man. His hand reached out and caught her arm before she could let go of the sheath. "Thank you," he said.

 

She merely nodded and made her way into her room to sleep for the night.

 

 

 

The sword sharpening ritual went on night after night along their journey. Kiyone would sit across from Jin and tend to his wakizashi as he worked on his katana. They remained silent the first few nights, but eventually, they began having short, meaningful conversations.

 

One night, as they camped out under the stars between towns, Jin watched her across the fire as she methodically ran the whetstone down the blade. She stopped and held up the blade to the light, observing the edge critically. She must have thought he was busy with his own sharpening and not paying attention, because she made several swift cuts of the air before beginning to pour the oil down the blade.

 

"So, you do know."

 

She looked up in surprise. He'd caught her off guard. "Excuse me?"

 

"You know how to wield one."

 

"I only know how to play," she answered as she wiped the excess oil off with her cloth, buffing the steel to a brilliant shine.

 

"You hold it correctly." He was going to get it out of her, one way or another. She had to know.

 

She continued her ministrations on the sword, never looking at him. "I watched my father."

 

Oh, she had an answer for everything, didn't she? He sighed in frustration and went back to his work. A moment later, a flash in his eyes caused him to look up. He saw her holding up the blade again, tilting it so the light from the fire would strike his eyes. He swore he saw the corners of her mouth curl up in a smile.

 

 

 

The days passed and the attacks became less frequent. They had stopped in a small village for the night. Kiyone had arranged lodging in the local dojo. The Master had been reluctant at first, but when she explained who she was, away from the others, he immediately allowed them to stay. He refused her money, but she knew of subtle ways to pay for their stay.

 

They had dinner with the Master and his students, who waited on them hand and foot. Mugen, Jin and Fuu were slightly confused by the treatment they were receiving. Kiyone handled everything gracefully.

 

The weary travelers retired to the dojo after dinner. Their bed rolls had been laid out for them already. Jin settled in to do his daily meditation. Mugen decided to look around the town and Fuu wanted to tag along. That left Kiyone alone with the ronin.

 

There was a small alcove with a sanctuary to Buddha. Kiyone lowered to her knees before the table that held a statue of the jolly god. She lit a candle and began to say her prayers. She hoped that they would be answered. Her new friends deserved a bit of peace on their journey.

 

Jin watched her through partly open eyes. He was impressed with her knowledge and skill. During their last fight, he had seen her use a sword. She was very talented. With Mugen and Fuu gone, he would have to ask her about her abilities. If she was truly that good, why did she hire them?

 

After she finished her prayers, she moved over to her sleeping mat and sat much like Jin. Meditation had never been easy for her. She could never clear her mind. After shifting positions several times in restless agitation, she stood and moved to the far end of the dojo. She changed into her pajamas and began a simple kata to calm herself. They hadn't needed to clean and sharpen Jin's swords since it had been over a day since their last encounter.

 

Jin's eyes opened wider in order to see her clearly. The dojo was dark, only the moonlight streaming in through the windows lighting the room. He watched her move with such fluidity. She was moving like water. Standing, he moved over and began to mirror her movements. He knew the kata well.

 

As she came to the end of the kata, she opened her eyes. They widened as she saw the ronin standing beside her. "How… how long have you been there?" she asked.

 

"I performed the last third with you," he replied as he continued through several complex movements.

 

She tilted her head in confusion for a moment before repeating his movements back to him. He increased the complexity, but she continued to repeat them. He tried one last movement which even he had taken years to learn. This time she faltered on the last step. "Damn," she muttered under her breath. "Left foot, then right."

 

He smiled. "I always did that, too. You are very talented. Your swordplay is exceptional as well."

 

She turned to face him, a deep frown etched into her brow. "How long have you known?"

 

"Not long. You have great speed." He moved over to a weapons rack at the edge of the room. Taking two of the wooden practice katana, he tossed one to her. He wanted to take advantage of them actually being in a dojo. "Would you mind if I tested your ability?"

 

She easily caught the wood by the hilt and shifted it into her hands in a defensive position. Her stance widened as she slid her left foot behind her. "No, I would not mind that at all. It has been a while since I've taken on someone of your caliber."

 

He raised an eyebrow and moved into an offensive position. "So, you've fought samurai before? This should be interesting." Without any pretense, he began his attack. She easily blocked his advances, letting him push her back.

 

Once she felt her foot touch the wall, she smiled and began to attack. He leapt back out of her range and was shocked when she kept coming. The wooden swords struck each other over and over, neither gaining an edge. Their speed and strength were nearly evenly matched, though Jin was holding back somewhat.

 

"Why did you hire us if you can fight like this?" Jin asked as they danced around the floor.

 

She parried a low slice and came up towards his chest, only to be blocked by the hilt of his sword. "You saw the odds," she replied. "I would have been seriously outnumbered."

 

"So, you used us."

 

"No."

 

They fought hard and fast, swords flashing quickly as one would gain ground and then the other. Jin's accusation had hurt Kiyone's pride. She was nothing like those who used others for their own gain. Her anger left her open for a brief moment and Jin struck, punching her in the gut with the butt of his sword. The wind was expulsed from her lungs and she stumbled backwards. "Ronin bastard," she growled as she tried to catch her breath.

 

He was taken aback by the fierceness in her voice. She seemed much too ladylike to spout such curses. However, he had just knocked the wind from her lungs. He stood back and waited for her to say that the match was over.

 

Of course, she didn't. She renewed her attack with vigor, coming at him with hard, fast stokes. He easily blocked them, knowing she was striking in anger. Suddenly, she pulled back into defense, effectively switching him to attack. His attacks were slower than normal and she was able to block them.

 

She caught him off guard again as her sword blocked his and she slipped her body between him and their swords. He looked down at the top of her head and breathed deeply. She smelled like lavender. He lost all control as he let his free arm slide around her waist and pull her to him. He leaned his head down and brushed his lips along her neck. She moaned and leaned into him, her body becoming more supple.

 

They dropped their swords and she turned in his arms to capture his lips with hers. His hand found purchase in her long hair as he ran his tongue along her lips. She grasped the front of his hakama, holding on for dear life. Her knees felt weak. They kissed deeply.

 

Jin moved backwards towards his bedroll, carrying her with him. He continued to kiss her as he lowered them to the floor. Never in his entire life had he actually wanted to do this. Even with Shin he'd only truly been interested in her mind. Sure she was beautiful, but she had not touched him body, mind and soul like Kiyone had. He wasn't even sure when it was that she had put him under her spell. She was beautiful, smart and extremely talented. And…

 

His mind went blank as her hands found their way through his clothes and were tracing lightly over his chest. Not only was she an expert swordswoman, but she also could put a few Geisha to shame. He let his hands roam over her body as he moaned into her mouth. He pulled at her clothes, quickly removing them and helping her to disrobe him as well.

 

Their bodies fit together perfectly. Kiyone's senses were overloading. She let him take control as he lifted her on top of him. Her mouth opened and she let out a deep, contented sigh as she began moving over him.

 

 

 

"Would you stop following me?"

 

Fuu looked at Mugen and huffed. "No. I was bored and you were going out. Jin was meditating and Kiyone looked really tired."

 

The pirate snarled under his breath. He really hated it when she tagged along. He couldn't do anything he wanted. As they approached the dojo, his ears picked up noise. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and walked quietly up the steps. The noise grew clearer and his ears turned red. He turned quickly and grabbed Fuu's arm. "I think I wanna go back and try that game that old man was playing."

 

"You mean checkers? Oh, that's easy. I'll show you how to play."

 

He dragged her down the street, leaving the two lovers behind. A devious little smile appeared on his face. He'd seen how they had been looking at each other lately. It was bound to happen. But now he'd be able to tease Jin about how vocal they were. And boy, were they vocal.

 

 

 

Kiyone collapsed in exhaustion on Jin's chest. He reached up to run his hand through her raven hair. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known," he said softly as he kissed her forehead.

 

She placed kisses along his collar bone. "I'm sure that's not true," she replied breathlessly. "There are Geisha who are more beautiful than me."

 

He shook his head, lifting her chin so he could see her ice blue eyes. "You have more beauty than all of them combined. Your beauty is here." He pointed to her temple. "Here." He stroked her face gently. "And most importantly, here." He placed his hand over her heart.

 

To cover her embarrassment, she kissed him fiercely, pressing her body against his tightly. Her mind wanted her to tell him that she loved him, but she knew she couldn't, especially since she was planning on leaving them soon, possibly even tonight. She wanted to part with him on good terms.

 

His large hands held her close. They broke their kiss, but their bodies still meld together. He tried to memorize her every curve, every lash on her eyes, the color of her lips, the scent of her body. He didn't want this to end, but knew it would eventually. They weren't that far from Nagasaki. Perhaps he could convince her to continue on with them? That wasn't really something he wanted to think about right now. He wanted to concentrate only on her.

 

"I…" Kiyone stopped, realizing she was about to say I love you.

 

He looked in her eyes curiously, trying to figure out what she was going to say. "What?"

 

"I was just wondering where the others were. It's late and this isn't a very big town." She willed her heart to slow down. She couldn't act differently.

 

He smirked. "I'm sure they've found the local gambling den. They will come back reeking of sake and smoke."

 

She sighed happily and snuggled up against him. "Good, that will give us lots of time to spend together."

 

 

 

Mugen and Fuu returned several hours later, but they weren't reeking of sake and smoke. They were, however, quite happy with their winnings. Fuu, as it turned out, happened to be an excellent checkers player. Mugen tip-toed into the dojo and made his way to his sleeping mat.

 

Fuu watched him curiously. He'd never done that before. Her eyes wandered around the room, finally settling on where Jin's mat was. Two forms were wrapped together sleeping peacefully. "Aw," she said as she smiled. "That's so sweet."

 

Mugen hushed her and told her to go to bed. With a frown, she moved over to her mat and lay down, quickly falling asleep.

 

Kiyone heard them come in and listened to their footsteps. When she heard their even breathing, she slipped from Jin's arms. He sighed and made a disappointed sound before rolling over and returning to his peaceful sleep. Her heart ached as she looked down at him. She really didn't want it to happen this way, but she needed to separate from them. Her only hope was that after their journey he would search for her.

 

She moved over to her sack and pulled out several sheets of parchment, a brush and ink. All day she'd been deciding what she was going to write, so it didn't take long to sketch out the letters. She left one for each of them, including the promised compensation. She stopped in the doorway as the sun was just peeking above the horizon and looked back at them. "Thank you for everything, my friends," she said softly before turning and leaving.