Samurai Champloo Fan Fiction ❯ Dancing Cherry Blossoms ❯ The Festival ( Chapter 8 )

Dancing Cherry Blossoms

 

Chapter 8: The Festival

 

 

 

Sakura slid the door to Fuu's room closed. Fuu had finally fallen asleep. Jin was well ahead of her and had been out since Ai wrapped him up earlier that evening. Mugen was leaning against the wall. He was staring at the floor. Sakura turned to look at him.

 

“How are they?” Mugen asked. Sakura nodded slowly.

 

“They'll live, if that's what you're asking. Jin just needs rest. Fuu was in shock and I guess she's come out of that now,” Sakura said. She started to walk past Mugen. Mugen grabbed her hand. Sakura paused and turned to look at him. “Hai?”

 

“Do you know who Fuu was talking about?” He asked. Sakura just stared at him for a minute.

 

Sayuri stood with her ear to the door, listening carefully. Sakura had not yet answered Mugen. She could tell by their breathing that at this point, they were staring at each other. Sayuri inhaled sharply when she heard Sakura speak.

 

“I can only imagine that it was the Iris Assassin. They say she's been lurking around here. I couldn't get much from Jin. He was too out of it. He did say it was a woman, though,” Sakura asked.

 

“So, you think it was one of those assassins?”

 

“That's what I said,” Sakura said as she yanked her arm away from Mugen. Mugen stood up straight, still staring at her. Sakura sighed and relaxed her shoulders. “Do you want to get something to eat? I don't feel like cooking and Sayuri is asleep,” she said as she looked at the floor. Mugen blinked. Sakura had just willingly asked him to go with her somewhere.

 

“Where do you suggest we go?” Mugen asked, standing up off of the wall. Sakura shrugged.

 

“We could go and get what's left at Midori's.”

 

“Sounds like a plan,” Mugen said. Sakura nodded and turned around to walk away.

 

At the tea house, Kyoko was washing tables. She glanced over at Sakura and Mugen. They were the last two in the place and it was getting very late. Sakura was balancing a cup on her index finger. Mugen was staring at her. He wondered why she had drunk so much. Sakura put the cup down and looked at Mugen.

 

“You know, Mugen, you're really cute sometimes. But only when you're not talking,” she slurred. Mugen raised an eyebrow. She was mildly drunk. She appeared to be a bit better at holding her liquor than Fuu was. Kyoko walked over to them.

 

“Are you all done? Midori is starting to close up,” she said. Sakura nodded and stood up. She picked up her sword casually. She swung it over her shoulder and wobbled a bit. Sakura turned towards Kyoko, looking a little too happy.

 

“We're leaving now. Come on, Mugen. Pay the lady,” Sakura started to walk out of the place. Mugen sighed and handed Kyoko the money to pay for their food. He followed the tipsy Sakura out.

 

Sakura hummed as she walked towards the house. She looked up at the sky and stopped walking completely. Mugen stood a few feet behind her. Sakura stared up at the moon.

 

“So pretty...”

 

“Nani?” Mugen walked up beside her. Sakura pointed up at the moon.

 

“It's so pretty. I've never seen it so big and full before,” she said. Mugen followed her finger and saw the moon clearly. She was right; it was beautiful. Mugen looked back down at his side and noticed that Sakura was gone. He felt a tugging at his leg and looked on the ground. Sakura was lying on her back. “Join me,” she whispered. Reluctantly, Mugen agreed.

 

“Tell me why we are laying on the ground,” he said. Sakura just giggled girlishly.

 

“Don't you ever just relax and stare up at the moon, Mugen?”

 

“Hai. I haven't done it recently.”

 

“You should. It is very relaxing,” Sakura whispered, barely audible. Mugen mumbled something illegible.

 

“We really shouldn't lay he...” Mugen heard a loud snore. He turned his head and saw that Sakura had passed out completely. Smirking, he picked the small girl up and carried her home.

 

After placing her next to the sleeping Sayuri, Mugen went to sit out on the porch. He lost himself in his thoughts. Why does Sakura affect him so much? He'd never let a girl distress him so much. He spent most of his waking hours thinking about her. What was it about her that had him wanting to know everything about her?

 

Mugen was so immersed in his thoughts that he did not notice the soft footsteps in front of him.

 

“Mugen?” A meek voice said. Mugen drew his sword and pointed it at the offender. He sighed when he realized who it was. Hakumi stood in front him, looking quite solemn.

 

“Shouldn't you be in bed or something?” He sounded irritated and Hakumi noticed it instantly.

 

“Well, I was bored. So, I went for a walk. I'm perfectly capable of doing that on my own. I saw you and I decided to come and see how you were doing. I heard what happened to Fuu and Jin. Are they both all right?” Hakumi said with mock concern in her voice. Mugen stared at her for a moment, not catching her underlying tone.

 

“They'll be fine. Tell me, Hakumi. What is it that you really want from me?”

 

“What makes you think that I want anything from you?” Hakumi asked. Mugen smirked and sat back in the chair.

 

“You were never one for small talk, Hakumi. I know when you want something,” he said. Hakumi stepped up on the porch and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

 

“Then why don't you give it to me?”

 

Some hours later, Mugen slid the door closed to the house. All was quiet except the occasional snore from Sayuri from the room her and Sakura shared. Mugen crept towards Jin's old room, careful not to wake anyone up. He slid the door open almost silently.

 

“You're home awfully late, Mugen,” a voice he seriously did not want to hear at that particular moment said. He cursed under his breath and turned around slowly. Sakura was leaning against the wall, looking like she'd just finished throwing up. Although he could not see her clearly, Mugen could tell she was staring at him accusingly.

 

“Why the hell are you up? I left you here asleep,” Mugen said. Sakura crossed her arms. She stepped into the moonlight, revealing her aggravated expression. Her eyes were pretty narrow and she really looked sick. Maybe she wasn't that good at holding her liquor.

 

“I was just relieving myself of that sake. Then I heard you come in. Why are you up and why were you out?” She countered. Mugen just stared blankly at her. He was racking his brain for some lie to tell her.

 

“I was at Ai's,” he said quickly. That wasn't entirely a lie. He had been at Ai's for a moment. Sakura raised an eyebrow.

 

“Doing what?”

 

“What the hell is this? Twenty questions?” Mugen asked loudly. A thunderous snore came from Sayuri in the other room. Sakura glared at him harder.

 

“Keep your fucking voice down, damnit.” Sakura caught a whiff of him. “You were fucking that little skank, weren't you?” She frowned at him. Mugen just stared at her, debating in his mind what to tell her. He did not want to lose his chances with Sakura. She still seemed a bit apprehensive of him, but she was starting to warm up to him. So, Mugen did what he thought was right at the moment; he lied.

 

“Iie! Why do you always think I'm out fucking some broad?” He tried to sound hurt. Sakura just smirked.

 

“That's because ninety-nine percent of the time, you are.” Sakura turned on her heel and started to walk to the room she shared with Sayuri, not knowing that she had been deceived. Mugen sighed, instantly feeling the guilt. He waited until she slid the door closed before he retreated into his room.

 

The next day, Sakura and Sayuri were standing outside of the tea house. They were going to take turns filling in for Fuu. Sakura had a splitting headache. It seemed wherever she went, the elements were being cruel to her. Sayuri, on the other hand, was as rosy as they come. She turned and saw Mugen sauntering towards them. He looked strangely refreshed.

 

“Here he comes, Sakura,” she said slyly. Sakura turned around and looked in the direction of Mugen. He had not yet noticed her. The glare from the sun was starting to hurt her eyes. She sighed and turned around again.

 

“What a jackass,” she mumbled. She pushed past Sayuri into the shop. Sayuri smirked and followed her inside.

 

Mugen walked in the tea house. Sakura was nowhere in sight. Sayuri was waiting on some tables and Kyoko was clearing one off. She came over to Mugen, smiling. She looked at him with a disapproving glare.

 

“It's barely past noon and you're already giving me the evil eye,” Mugen said smugly. Kyoko resisted the urge to hit him upside his head. She leaned down close to him. Mugen backed away a bit.

 

“You lied to her last night, didn't you?” Kyoko stared him in the eyes. Mugen swallowed hard. He looked past her. Sakura was still nowhere in sight.

 

“Nani?”

 

“You lied to her. I can tell from the way she walked in here. She seemed way to happy,” Kyoko said. Mugen frowned and got in her face.

 

“And if I did? What's it to you?” He folded his arms across his chest. Kyoko shook her head.

 

“There is a saying that says hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Kyoko turned around. “I'll bring you food to you in a minute.” She walked off. Mugen sighed and sat back, watching Kyoko walk off. Sakura still had not made an appearance. Unfortunately, Hakumi had made one. Mugen decided to try and slip out before she saw him...

 

Too late.

 

Hakumi's eyes lit up as she saw him. She zoomed past Kyoko. Kyoko turned as she did this. Hakumi ran into him and before Mugen could protest, she was kissing him deeply. Kyoko and Sayuri just stood there with their mouths hanging open. Suddenly, the entire tea shop had gotten quiet. Mugen finally pushed her away. It was too late though.

 

Sayuri and Kyoko looked back at the entrance to the kitchen. Sakura was standing there, watching this scene with an extremely calm expression. Kyoko and Sayuri exchanged worried glances and looked back at Mugen and Hakumi.

 

“What the fuck are you doing?” Mugen yelled at her. Hakumi looked confused. That confusion turned into anger. She pushed Mugen in the chest.

 

“Why is it that every time you are with me, you refuse to acknowledge it the day after? Nani? Don't tell me that you like actually like that scrawny, short bitch Sakura better than you like me,” Hakumi said. She was furious and obviously didn't know that Sakura was standing behind her.

 

Mugen looked past Hakumi at the kitchen's entrance and saw Sakura. Sure enough, there was no readable expression on her face. She just stared Mugen in the eye. Mugen turned his attention back to Hakumi.

 

“Hakumi, last night was a mistake,” he said quietly.

 

“So you're saying that little bitch is better than me? Don't make me la...” Hakumi paused as someone tapped her on the shoulder. As she turned around, a small but firm fist connected with her left jaw. Hakumi fell back, stunned. Mugen looked down at Hakumi then up at Sakura. She was staring down at the unconscious Hakumi. She raised her head to look at Mugen.

 

“Iie, huh? Just at Ai's, huh?” Sakura stormed past him.

 

“Sakura...” Mugen reached out for her. Sakura knocked his hand away and continued walking. Mugen knew exactly where she was going. He deliberated with himself on whether or not to follow him. Against his better judgment, he went after her. He walked out of the tea shop and headed for Ai's.

 

Ai was standing in the waiting room with her arms crossed and she looked very impassive. Mugen came through the door and saw his employer staring at him. He looked around the room. Sakura was nowhere in sight.

 

“I'm surprised, Mugen. It took you less than a minute to get down here after she came in. What did you do to her?” Ai asked. Mugen glared at her.

 

“Where is she?”

 

“I'm not going to tell you that. She's pretty heated with you,” Ai walked past him and shut the door. As she turned around, Mugen grabbed her by her kimono. Ai stared up at him.

 

“Tell me now, damnit!”

 

“She's here. I'm just not going to tell you where,” she said. Mugen growled something illegible and released her. He headed for the second floor. He pushed open every door until he came to the room he was in the night before.

 

`The irony of it all,' he thought grimly. He stepped forward. He immediately bent backwards, barely missing a tanto flying through the door. It hit the beam on the balcony. Mugen sighed and hurried to the door. He slid it open roughly and missed a geta sandal coming at his face. He looked back up and saw Sakura sitting on the futon.

 

“Get out!” She threw her other shoe at him. Mugen slid the door shut behind him and walked in the room. Sakura looked around her. She had run out of things to throw. She looked back up and saw Mugen advancing on her. She stood up and punched him as he got closer. Mugen took the punch without making a sound. “You lied to me!” Sakura threw another. Mugen grabbed her fist.

 

“Stop this,” Mugen muttered. It was a request; not a demand. Sakura frowned and threw another punch. Mugen caught her other hand. Her eyes widened and she struggled in his grasp.

 

“Let go of m...” Sakura was cut off by Mugen's lips against hers. Her eyes were wide open as this was happening. She was in awe of it. Eventually she gave into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. Mugen tripped her up and she fell back on the futon. Sakura looked up at him.

 

“Are you calm?” Mugen asked her. Sakura nodded. Mugen kneeled down in front of her. Sakura watched him intently. She pulled him to her and kissed him again. Leaning back, he ended up on top of her.

 

Sakura wasn't quite sure how it happened, but somehow she ended up naked under Mugen. He looked down at her and smiled. Sakura just stared up at him.

 

“This is going to hurt,” he whispered. Sakura nodded. “On the count of three.” Sakura took a deep breath and hugged Mugen. He put his head right by her ear. “One...two...” He did not wait for three. Sakura's eyes widened and she let out a little cry. Mugen kissed her neck. “Gomen. If I had waited, you would've tensed and then it would've been harder,” he whispered in her ear. Sakura nodded slowly, fighting the pain she felt.

 

Ai smirked as she heard a scream from the upper floor. Sayuri and Kyoko looked at each other in amazement.

 

“Well, I think they made up,” Ai said. Kyoko and Sayuri nodded numbly.

 

Mugen collapsed beside Sakura some time later. Sakura was gasping for air. She turned her head to look at him. Mugen stared her in her dark brown depths.

 

“Are you still mad at me?” He asked her. Sakura just stared at him.

 

“I...don't know. You kind of cheated,” she whispered. Mugen traced the lines on her toned stomach. Sakura giggled a little.

 

“You're so damn hideous...” He said. Sakura rolled over, her back facing him.

 

“Yeah? Well, you're not too hot in the looks department either,” she said. Mugen sighed and let her rest. He looked at her back. Here was a burn mark there. He looked at it closer. It was a word, but he was still illiterate. Cursing himself, he ignored the mark and went to sleep.

 

At the festival the following week, Fuu and Jin were up and serving food to the townspeople. They were both healing. Kyoko had wanted them both to stay inside, but they insisted on coming to work. Sakura and Mugen were using Sasami and Kyoko as their guinea pigs in sword tricks. Sayuri, on the other hand, was keeping watch for someone she knew she would not find until the deed had been done.

 

A girl with short dark brown hair sat atop a house. She was looking down on the square for her target. She smirked to herself when she saw her friends down in the square, having a rather good time.

 

“Ajisai,” a voice said from behind the girl. Ajisai turned around to see Ayame standing there. She had her hood on, shielding her face. Ajisai rolled her eyes. She held up her hands and began using a type of sign language that she and Hoshi had made up together.

 

“What are you doing here?” She signed to Ayame. Ayame rolled her eyes.

 

“Hoshi sent me to protect you. You can't very well be expected to shoot arrows and watch your back at the same time, can you? Now, remember that all of the officers are your targets. Watch out for Sayuri and Sakura,” Ayame said. Ajisai sighed.

 

“I know what I'm doing, Ayame. You don't have to tell me. I'm the Hydrangea Assassin,” she signed. Ayame nodded at the mute girl. Ajisai turned back towards the festival. She caught sight of her first victim; an officer standing by the gate all by his lonesome. She took aim with her bow and arrow. Ayame watched as Ajisai let the arrow fly. The arrow went straight through the officer's head. He fell to the ground, his eyes wide open. Ajisai smiled and reloaded.

 

Sayuri stepped up beside Sakura as she watched Sasami and Kyoko spin around with large melons in their hands. Mugen stood on the other side of them. Sakura turned towards Sayuri.

 

“Nani?”

 

“There has been no sign of Ajisai. Maybe she's not coming,” Sayuri whispered. Sakura looked at her.

 

“Somehow, I highly doubt that Hoshi would just call off a hit with the great mute Ajisai. I mean, she's excellent at long-distance killing. Ayame said something about that Masaru guy being a target,” Sakura said. Ironically, that was when Masaru and his cronies came wondering through the intrigued crowd.

 

“Hey, you jerk! You're in the way!” Mugen yelled. Masaru glanced at him. He then looked at Sayuri and Sakura. Sakura smiled and waved at him.

 

“Should you really be using bladed weapons as an attraction? Someone could get hurt,” Masaru warned. Mugen crossed his arms.

 

“If you don't get out of the way, someone WILL get hurt,” Mugen said in a warning tone. Masaru shook his head.

 

“I don't care about your meaningless threats. I'm closing this down,” Masaru clapped his hands. His guards began ushering everyone away. Sakura looked over at Mugen. Mugen looked furious. Kyoko and Sasami stood up from the places on the ground.

 

Kyoko was standing as an officer bumped into her. She stumbled backwards. He caught her arm before she fell.

 

“Domo arigatou,” she mumbled. The officer nodded. Kyoko looked down and began dusting herself off. As she raised her head, she heard a strange whistling noise and the feeling of air being displaced next to her ear. Blood squirted onto her kimono. She took a step back and looked up at the officer. An arrow was lodged in his eye.

 

Sakura and Sayuri turned as Kyoko screamed. The townspeople looked around to see what all the fuss was about. Kyoko watched as the body fell on top of her. She continued to scream. Mugen ran over to her and kicked the officer off of her. He pulled her up. The officer's head hit the ground, forcing the arrow through his skull. Sakura and Sayuri whispered the same name.

 

“Ajisai...”

 

Another arrow went flying to another officer standing across from Sayuri. It hit him square in his chest. Sayuri stepped to the side as the body fell.

 

“Everyone get down!” Sakura yelled. The townspeople did the exact opposite and started running around frantically. Sakura rolled her eyes. “People are so damn stupid sometimes,” she mumbled.

 

Mugen dragged the frantic Kyoko to the side of a building and left her there. Sayuri went over to her and kneeled down with her. Kyoko was staring down at her blood-soaked kimono. Mugen looked around for Sakura and Sasami. They were trying to get children out of the square. Arrows kept coming down. Mugen noticed a pattern.

 

`The officers,' he thought to himself.

 

“Mugen, get Sasami,” Kyoko whispered. Mugen nodded subconsciously and started for the two girls.

 

Sasami was ushering some children inside of the tea shop. She passed an officer as he was shot through the chest. A child screamed. Sasami pushed them inside the tea shop.

 

“Stay here and don't come out until an adult says it's safe,” she said to them. The children stared up at her and nodded quickly. Sasami took one last look at them and headed back out to find more children.

 

Fuu and Jin looked to the source of the screaming.

 

“I wonder what's going on over there,” Fuu said. Jin saw a stray arrow coming for Fuu. He pushed her to the side and the arrow hit the beam behind them. Fuu stared at the arrow with wide eyes. Jin grabbed her hand and started leading her to their home. “Jin, what's going on?”

 

“I don't know. I'll be back,” he said solemnly. Fuu shook her head.

 

“Iie! Stay in here with me,” Fuu yelled. Jin shook his head.

 

“I'm going to find the source of a these arrows. I know this is the work of another one of those assassins.” Jin headed out, leaving Fuu alone.

 

`You better not die,' she thought heatedly.

 

Mugen was making his way through the crowd, pushing people away from the officers who kept getting shot in succession. He tried to find the source of the arrows. They seemed to be coming from a nearby rooftop. He saw Jin also looking around.

 

“This person apparently doesn't like the officers too much,” Jin murmured. Mugen nodded. An arrow whizzed between them, hitting a hiding officer. He fell back, dead. Mugen stared at the body for a moment. He looked up and finally saw a body. A woman was standing on top of the building. Another one sat behind her, holding the bow. An arrow was loaded. Mugen traced her shot behind him. Jin did the same thing.

 

“It's Masaru,” Mugen said. Jin nodded.

 

Ayame stared down at Ajisai's final target. She'd disposed of the guards rather quickly. Right now, she was trying to get a clear shot of Masaru, her final target. People kept running in the way. One girl had stopped directly in front of him. She appeared to be ushering children. Ajisai sighed and lowered her bow.

 

“What's wrong?” Ayame faced her. Ajisai put the bow down.

 

“I can't get a clear shot. That girl is in the way,” she signed. Ayame nodded. She looked back at the girl.

 

“Kill her, too. It's just one unnecessary fatality. She means nothing,” Ayame said. Ajisai couldn't believe how heartless Ayame was. She sighed and loaded another arrow. She aimed right for the girl.

 

Mugen turned around, still looking for Sasami. She found her standing in the one place she should not be: in front of Masaru. He looked back up at the archer. She seemed to be aiming for Sasami. Mugen turned around quickly.

 

“Sasami!” He yelled as loud as he could. Sasami blinked as she heard her name. She turned around and saw Mugen yelling at her. “Get down!” He yelled. Sasami didn't quite hear him. She squinted and tried to read his lips. It was too late when she finally realized what he was saying.

 

Kyoko watched her sister as the arrow went right through her chest. Sasami just seemed to move in slow motion after that. Sayuri held her mouth open. Sakura had also paused. The children stared up at Sasami. Her eyes were wide. She looked down at the arrow. She touched it weakly. Sasami fell to hr knees, unable to even scream.

 

It took a very long moment for what Kyoko was witnessing to set in. Sasami fell on her side. Kyoko just stared at her. All at once, reality came to her. She gasped and sat up quickly off of the wall of the house.

 

“Sasami! Iie!” She screamed. She tried to stand up. Sayuri was too shocked to notice her. Jin saw Kyoko coming for her sister.

 

“Sayuri, hold her!” He yelled. Sayuri blinked at the sound of her name. She grabbed the end of Kyoko's kimono and pulled the girl to the ground. Kyoko tried to kick her off of her. Sayuri was hit in the mouth. She managed to get back to her feet. Sakura saw this and took off towards Kyoko.

 

Ajisai loaded her final arrow. She tied a hydrangea and an iris to it and loaded it. She aimed directly for the stunned Masaru. Ayame was smiling. She saw Sakura and running towards another girl. Maybe she would accidentally get caught in the crossfire. The thought of it made her giddy inside. Ajisai had yet to release the arrow. She wanted this shot to be in her signature spot. She released the arrow.

 

Sakura tackled Kyoko just as an arrow zipped above their heads. She felt blood squirt on her face. Kyoko and Sakura turned their heads to see Masaru staring up at the sky. The flowered arrow was sticking out of his forehead. Blood ran down from his eyes like tears. It started flowing out of the wound itself and his nose and mouth. Someone screamed and the crowd all dropped to the ground, finally.

 

Mugen and Jin ran over to Sakura as she got up off of Kyoko. Kyoko crawled over to her sister. Sasami was still alive. Blood was dripping out of her mouth. She met her sister's eyes. Sakura stood up and watched Kyoko and Sasami.

 

“Sami?” Kyoko whispered.

 

“Ky...o...ko. I'm fine...really...” Sasami tried to smile. She coughed up a large amount of blood to the ground. Kyoko sniffed and touched her sister's forehead.

 

“You'll be fine. I know that, Sami. You've always been strong,” Kyoko choked out. Sasami smirked and inhaled. She blinked and exhaled. Her eyes became listless and empty. Kyoko just stared down at her sister. Time caught up with her and she began crying uncontrollably. Sayuri knelt down next to her and rubbed her shoulders.

 

Jin limped over to Masaru's body. The children were all staring at it with wide eyes. Jin pushed them out of the way. He saw the arrow and yanked it out of Masaru's head. A hydrangea and an iris were tied to it. That confirmed his suspicions.

 

Sakura and Mugen were watching Jin. Sakura turned her head towards the rooftop where her co-workers were. She saw the unmistakable grin of Ayame looking down at her. Ajisai stood next her with her bow on her back. She didn't look the least bit happy. She put her hands up to sign.

 

“Gomen nasai. Ayame said so,” she signed. Sakura inclined her head slightly before Mugen turned around. He looked at her. Sakura looked back at him. Mugen saw the sadness in her eyes and looked back up at the roof. The two women were gone. It looked as if they had never even been there. He felt Sakura touch his arm.

 

“Let's go,” she whispered. Mugen nodded and allowed himself to be pulled off.