Samurai Champloo Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Black-Eyed ❯ Charming Creep ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: (I forgot this on ch1. Gomen nasai.) I no own Samurai Champloo. I own anime on disc though. Cheer!

 

Note: NOT REVISED!

 

Thanks for your review(s)! You've won a fat Fuu. ^___^ Please keep reviewing or start it! It makes the Sangha smile and write more.

 

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Forever Black-Eyed

 

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Chapter Two

 

Charming Creep

 

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Following the former pirate Fuu began to wonder as question after question popped up in her mind. They had been traveling for two days now and Mugen hadn't told her anything about his plans. Instead he had kept aberrantly quiet. The girl sighed and quickened her pace to catch up with him.

 

“Where are we heading to?”

 

“There should be a town nearby,” he replied monotonously and kept his own pace steady. “I hope we can get something to eat quickly. I'm starving.”

 

She instantly realized that he tried to avoid the subject of where exactly they were going. But Fuu wouldn't be Fuu if she were impressed by his lame attempt. “No, I mean where exactly are we heading to?”

 

Mugen groaned annoyed. “I think the town's called Kitakyûshû, `kay?”

 

“Kitakyûshû? Hm…and what will we do there?” Fuu was in attack mode and it definitely was a 1A-nagging-attack!

 

“Eat, drink, sleep.” Her companion wasn't really in the mood to explain the reason for their journey to her but he still knew that at some point he had to tell her. “You still remember how it is to travel, don't you?”

 

“Sure I know,” she said smiling. She couldn't help it but thinking of their last journey made her always smile. “But I'd like to know our destination, not just the name of the next town.”

 

“I'm not sure yet,” he replied honestly. “I hope to find a clue if we go to Kóbe.”

 

“Clue? Does that mean you're looking for something? Or maybe someone?”

 

“Yeah, I guess.” Mugen stopped and looked over the area when he could finally see the town called Kitakyûshû.

 

Fuu stood next to him and felt her stomach growl but she had one more question nonetheless. “And who are you looking for?”

 

“A woman,” he said and started to walk down the path that lead into town.

 

“A woman?” Fuu raised her brows mumbling.

 

His answer led only to more questions but if she was honest to herself she didn't want to know about `the woman' he was looking for. The woman he meant could only be from his past and since she didn't know much about it but knew enough about his taste in women in general, she didn't like the thought of him explaining the matter any further. She would see in time anyway. Quickly Fuu began strolling after the vagrant who was already walking somewhat ahead.

 

It didn't take them long to arrive in Kitakyûshû but since they had no clue where to go they stopped at a small shop that sold flowers.

 

“Can we eat them?” Mugen scratched his head with one suspiciously raised brow.

 

“No,” Fuu groaned out in frustration. “But let's go inside and ask for a job or where we can find one.”

 

“Why? Let's just ask for something to eat!” He smirked and entered the shop, Fuu following quickly behind.

 

She looked around for someone that she could ask but she didn't spot anyone at all. She turned and saw Mugen standing frozen to the spot gaping at the wall. She followed his gaze and gasped.

 

“The face looks like yours… but the rest… I don't know,” he rubbed his fingers along his chin in thought.

 

Fuu boiled with anger.

 

“Sorry but you can't buy this,” a voice told them and with narrowed slits that once had been big brown eyes Fuu turned to give the man a threatening glare.

 

“Why. Is. This. On. Your. Wall?” she growled out pointing at the picture on the wall.

 

The man's eyes suddenly widened. “That's…you!”

 

“I wouldn't be so sure,” Mugen sniggered still trying to judge about the oddness of the painting.

 

“Shut up, idiot!” she yelled at the pirate and turned back to the man who stood rather frightened in front of her. “And you! You tell me why there's a drawing of me hanging on your wall!”

 

“B…because I bought it. Really, I didn't know it was a drawing of you,” he stammered bewildered, but quickly regained composure as his look softened and he had a dreamy expression on his face. “When I met Hishikawa-san (1) he was showing me one of his drawings and I asked him to sell it to me but he wouldn't agree. So I asked him to draw another one like this because…”

 

“Because?” Intimidating Fuu shoved her nose forward and glared. “Why would you make him draw another one?”

 

“Because I liked the woman on his painting.” The young man sighed as if he was happy that he had admitted it to her. “Unfortunately Hishikawa-san couldn't finish this. He seemed quite in a hurry. But even if it's just a raw version of the original art, I like it. I'm sorry that you mind.”

 

He bowed deeply as an apology.

 

“I…well, you bought it because you liked the woman?” Fuu's eyebrow twitched excitedly. The fact, that he referred her as woman, made her feel all itchy but in a good way.

 

“Sure. You're very pretty after all,” he said laughing softly but judging from Mugen's point of view the guy was plainly flirting. “I would have asked you for permission if only I had known you sooner. Oh, sorry, I didn't even introduce myself to you. My name is Jiro.”

 

Fuu giggled, blushing in a small shade of pink. “Fuu's my name,” she told him and heard Mugen cough quite loudly behind her, “and this idiot here is Mugen.”

 

“It's nice to meet you in person Fuu-san and again I apologize if it bothers you that the drawing is on my wall.” His eyes sparkled in a light brown shade.

 

“No, no. It's okay, just leave it there,” she winked at him with a dreamy smile.

 

“Thank you for your kindness. Is there anything I can do for you as a favor? Just tell me,” Jiro asked and pushed strands of his shoulder-long hair from out of his face.

 

“We're hungry!” Mugen barked in but was silenced when he felt a sharp stabbing pain from Fuu's elbow in his ribs. “Ow… why you…”

 

“Excuse his brainless antics, Jiro-san, we're kinda looking for a job to make some money,” she explained smiling sweetly.

 

“Hm…” Jiro thought for a moment. “If you're looking for job I'm afraid you'll have to go into town and ask around. I don't have any jobs here to offer. I'm hardly making any money with my flowers.”

 

“No surprise there,” Mugen grumbled and turned to leave.

 

“But I'd like to invite you for dinner, Fuu-san. That is you'd give me the honor. That's the least I can do for a pretty girl like you,” charming Jiro cocked his head to the side and waited for Fuu's reply when out of the blue a the head of another man peered through the backdoor of the shop.

 

“Jiro-kun? It's time.”

 

Surprised, Jiro turned and nodded seriously at the slightly older looking man before he shifted his gaze back to the girl. “Excuse me, I've got some business. Please come back this evening, Fuu-san. I'll be waiting for you.”

 

Jiro smiled a last striking smile at her before he vanished through the backdoor. Fuu stuck her nose in between the flowers from the shop and took a nose-full of their scent.

 

“Let's go already,” Mugen yelled from behind as he left the shop. “Bloody ass-flowers, good for nothing. They won't fill your stomach!”

 

Fuu growled, then took a deep breath before she followed the pirate outside.

 

They wandered around aimlessly in the busy town, asking here and there for work or something to eat. But so far it didn't seem to be their lucky day.

 

“I won't even be able to work if I don't get some food soon,” Fuu groaned out dreadfully.

 

“You don't have to worry. Didn't the smell-seller invite you?” Mugen stopped and flopped down to rest somewhat. His tummy was grumbling awfully and he became tired of walking around.

 

“Yeah, but…” She just couldn't convince her conscience to leave her traveling companion who obviously wasn't invited. Or worse, if she told him that she'd like to go to Jiro, he might want to come along.

 

“It's okay, just go. At least that way I can do it my way.” He smirked a little. If she was gone, he could just steal something to fill his stomach. In fact it could be truly easy—without her.

 

“What do you mean `your way'?” One threatening eyebrow rose in her face. She could with no trouble imagine what it meant but she didn't like the idea of Mugen doing that. “You don't want to pull an eat-and-run-thing again, do you?”

 

Lazily he yawned and stretched. “That's none of your business.”

 

“Mugen!”

 

Fuu was about to shout some empty threats at him when another scene caught their eye. Across the street three men were apparently threatening an old man. That wasn't something extraordinary and under normal circumstances neither Mugen nor Fuu would even care. But when one of them pulled out a gun and pointed it at the man's head, the girl gasped.

 

“You know what'll happen if you can't pay your debt, old fool,” the man spoke, pointing his gun at the old man who was trembling in utter fear.

 

“I know,” he whispered and nodded.

 

“Then pay!”

 

The old man shook his head as tears began to roll down his face. “I can't…”

 

BANG!

 

Not hesitating any tiny bit the man pulled the trigger and shot the elder ruthlessly. His body lifelessly fell to the ground, his blood spilling onto the ground in a large red pool. The man just laughed and put away his gun. “Let's go.”

 

The three of them walked away as if nothing had happened. Not before they were out of sight Fuu dared to speak.

 

“What was that?” she asked whispering.

 

Mugen shrugged.

 

“Have you ever seen such a thing…this weapon? Have you seen what it does?” Fuu shivered at the sheer thought.

 

“I've seen it before. Hell, I've already felt what it does!” He scoffed at her and rubbed his side, the place where he had been shot.

 

“Such a thing has done this to you?” She bit her bottom lip as he nodded in response to her question. “Do you know what this thing is called?”

 

This time he shook his head. “I have no idea…” he said and suddenly started to smirk, “but I want that too!”

 

Fuu stared at Mugen in shock. She couldn't believe what he had just said. But of course this was Mugen. She should have known he liked everything that could easily kill others. And certainly there was no arguing about it with the stubborn pirate.

 

The girl sighed and darted her gaze away from the pirate. “Well, those things whatever they're called give me the creeps!”

 

Judging by the look on his face he wasn't even listening to her and so she shrugged. “Well, I guess you'll be okay by yourself. I'll go to Jiro-san then.”

 

“Yeah, yeah,” Mugen replied indeed not really listening. The sooner she was gone the better. He still was bloody hungry and he was sure that with his own methods he would soon have either money or food. Besides, he wanted to know more about the men who had weapons like these.

 

Huffing out a frustrated breath Fuu began heading back to the nice flower shop with the eye-catching owner.

 

Mugen on the other hand began walking down the path that the three men had taken moments ago. Passing by a fruit shop he snatched away an apple unseen by the seller. He bit in the fruit as he went until he recognized one of the men he had seen earlier. Watching from around a corner he patiently waited. Since when he had developed patience he didn't know, not to mention his interest in weapons that shot with metallic bullets. He unconsciously wiped his hand along his stinging side.

 

The men apparently met their companions who were standing at an old wooden vehicle and carrying big boxes inside a hut.

 

“Naoki, are you done?” A man carrying one of the boxes asked and handed it to his colleague.

 

“Yeah, Ichiro,” he replied nodding. “The old fool couldn't pay, just as you expected.”

 

“Did you kill him?” the one called Ichiro asked and Naoki nodded in response. “Good. Aniki will be pleased.”

 

“Are the guns heavier than usual?” Naoki groaned under the weight of the box in his arms. “What has Jiro-kun sold us? Steel?”

 

Ichiro narrowed his eyes intimidating. “These weapons are best quality—as always. Otouto-chan doesn't mess up.”

 

Mugen shifted his gaze off the guys and their vehicle and leant with his back against the wall. Two things he knew now: what these things were called and where to get them!

 

“Shit,” he muttered, suddenly remembering something else, and set off.

 

Meanwhile Fuu was happily enjoying fish and rice-balls in the company of a very entertaining young man. Jiro had told her about his flowers and that his father owned a garden where he had planted the seeds for them and took care of the different variations of flowers that had already grown.

 

“I really like your flowers,” she said after she had eaten the last rice-ball and felt full and stuffed. “They're very pretty!”

 

“Yeah? Thank you very much, Fuu-chan,” Jiro replied and inched closer to the girl, gazing deep into her warm brown eyes. “They're almost as pretty as you are.”

 

“R…really?” Fuu swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, transfixed by his look, drowned in the depths of his dark brown eyes. She literally melted there on the spot.

 

“Sure,” he smiled and delicately brushed the strand of hair from the side of her face. “Would I have made Hishikawa-san re-draw the picture of you if I didn't think you were the most beautiful girl I've ever seen?”

 

Fuu blushed in a deep purple color. Jiro said so nice things to her—so much unlike Mugen who was always ranting and insulting her. Adding to that, Jiro was a good-looking guy with stunning eyes and a velvety deep voice that could send shivers down her spine. The only shivers Mugen's voice sent down her spine were ones of revulsion whenever he cursed in the rudest words Fuu had ever heard.

 

Why did she compare them to each other? The answer to that question was almost too easy. The closer she was to Jiro the more she began asking herself if she couldn't just stay with this nice guy and leave Mugen on his own. Wouldn't he be fine then? He always acted if she was only a burden for him anyway. And what would happen if he found the woman he was looking for?

 

“Fuu?” He waited for her attention, smiling. He always smiled and even if not, his eyes then did. “About that guy… is he your boyfriend?”

 

“Who?” Was there a guy apart from Jiro-san? Nut nearly cringing she suddenly remembered. “Mugen? Are you talking about him? Oh… oh no. We're not like that. He's just someone I travel with for the time being.”

 

“I'm glad.” His eyes smiled at her with warmth. “Does that mean you don't have to stay with him?”

 

“I… no, I guess I don't,” she replied and blushed a little more when he brought his face close to hers and cupped her left cheek with his hand. Her heart started to beat faster and louder within her chest.

 

Would this be the moment for her to receive her first kiss? She wouldn't mind—not at all. Even if she hardly knew Jiro but she could imagine falling for him completely. Slowly she moved her face towards his, his lips edging close to hers.

 

“Hey! You!”

 

Startled, Fuu emitted a small scream when she turned and saw Mugen suddenly in the doorway. Jiro raised two innocent brows at the intruder.

 

“Mugen!” Clenching his small fists at her side Fuu was near exploding. She wanted to strangle the idiot and bring him back to live just to kill him again. She took a deep breath, wanting to shout at him but was completely ignored.

 

A weird thought crossed her mind when Mugen stared at Jiro with narrowed eyes. Was Mugen here because he didn't want Jiro to do anything with her? Maybe Mugen was jealous. But soon she dismissed the preposterous thought, his next words giving her enough evidence to convince the heathen that God existed.

 

“I want a gun.” Stepping closer Mugen looked at Jiro with resolute eyes. He uttered his demand firm and clear, not even loud.

 

“I'm sorry. I don't think I can help you,” Jiro stammered, his expression turning into helplessness.

 

Growling inwardly Mugen drew his sword and pointed the tip of the blade at the other man. “Don't bullshit me. I know you have what I want.”

 

“Mugen!” Fuu stood up and glared at the pirate. What had gotten into him that he threatened poor Jiro-san?

 

Jiro's gaze wandered from Fuu to the unwavering eyes of his challenger. He had never seen such eyes before but he could tell that whom they belonged to wouldn't budge. He looked at the steadily held sword of the pirate. This sort of sword surely wasn't made in Japan—Jiro knew a lot about weapons after all. This guy's sword looked like one from a Chinese and the only connection between China and Japan he was aware of were the Ryûkyû Islands.

 

“I can't give any of the guns to you. They'll be sold to the daikan.”

 

Fuu nearly gasped. Not only had Jiro practically admitted that he was selling guns but also because his voice had lost his magic completely. Now his words sounded firm but quiet and all too steady.

 

“I don't give a shit about who you're selling them to,” Mugen harshly spoke and made Jiro flinch. “You're gonna give me such a thing and I won't bother you anymore. Otherwise…”

 

Shaking her head Fuu trembled, covering her mouth with her hands. Mugen would kill Jiro if he wouldn't give him one of these weapons. If this was a dream, then she begged someone might wake her up pretty soon.

 

Jiro knew he had played all his cards and held his hands up in defeat. “Fine. Follow me.”

 

Pulling away his sword Mugen allowed the man to stand up and lead the way. Once through the backdoor there was a room full with the boxes the men from earlier had carried. Jiro opened one of them and motioned with his hand for Mugen to chose. He put his sword back into its sheath and grabbed within the box, pulling out one shiny metallic gun.

 

“Pleased, now?” Jiro asked and drifted his gaze at Fuu. Her scared, shocked eyes pained him.

 

“Yup.” It had a good feel to the hand, Mugen admitted mentally, even if it was an unusual feeling compared to his sword.

 

“Jiro! What the hell are you doing?”

 

Everyone turned to see another man standing at the exit. Mugen remembered him as the man called Ichiro.

 

“Nii-san,” Jiro lowered his eyes in respect. “I didn't do anything. He threatened to kill me if I didn't give him one of the guns.”

 

“Is that so? Did you bastard threaten to kill my brother?”

 

“Yeah, so?” Mugen merely smiled at this and pointed the gun at Ichiro. “Don't you guys have enough of them already to kill defenseless men?”

 

It was much to gather but easy nonetheless what Fuu's mind had to register. That man was one of the those who had killed the man earlier on. But this man also was Jiro's older brother and adding to that, which was the worst, was that Jiro sold these creepy things to the daikan of the town.

 

The man just glared at Mugen. “What are you going to do? Shoot me?”

 

“Yeah, why not?”

 

Ichiro smirked lopsided and chuckled haughtily, knowing that obviously Mugen didn't know how to use it. Otherwise he would have activated the weapon already. Unaware of that Mugen pulled the trigger but nothing happened.

 

“Shit, what use is this?” He pulled the trigger repeatedly but the gun wouldn't shoot. Angered, he threw the gun away, just when Ichiro raised his own one to point it at the pirate.

 

Not hesitating the man pulled the trigger but was surprised that his opponent had already drawn his swords, blocking shots from the gun with his. Ichiro's jaw dropped when Mugen dodged even gunshots and showed skillful movements until his blade made contact with Ichiro's throat. The man swallowed the lump on his dry throat as he realized that the sword had only stopped right before cutting his neck. And where the hell was that son of a bitch?

 

Mugen grinned, standing behind the man. “Drop your gun and I'll leave your life to you.”

 

The man did as he was told reluctantly, throwing the gun away, but his eyes pleaded with Jiro. “I wouldn't do that if I was you, or my brother will kill the girl.”

 

Fuu gasped and looked at Jiro, who stood with an expression of uncertainty between the others. He absolutely didn't know what to do. Of course he wanted his brother alive but also Fuu.

 

“Nii-san, please…” Jiro said looking at his brother.

 

“Why are you hesitating?” Ichiro yelled angrily but the younger brother dropped his gaze.

 

When Jiro looked back up, he met the gaze of the vagrant. “Leave my brother. I won't do anything to Fuu-chan. Take any gun you want, just don't kill him.”

 

Mugen stared into the man's eyes harshly before he dropped the blade from Ichiro's throat in one swift movement and gave him a hard push. Ichiro stumbled across the room and fell, glaring at the pirate. Still, the man didn't make a move to get his gun. He was sure that Mugen might still be faster than him.

 

“Let's go.” Putting his sword back into its sheath, Mugen told Fuu and turned to leave.

 

She looked at Jiro one last time before she quickly caught up with Mugen. Both of them disappeared not wasting any time. Ichiro glared at his brother.

 

“I'm sorry, Nii-san.”

 

“Coward.”

 

In big strides Mugen paced determined to leave the town. He had enough of weapons that shot, or rather didn't. What the hell were they good for if they didn't even shoot? He suddenly stopped and looked back. There was she! He had nearly forgotten about Fuu.

 

“Hurry up,” he said grumpily and started walking again.

 

“Mugen, wait.” Fuu tried to catch up with her traveling companion. “Didn't you forget something?”

 

“What should that be?” He never stopped walking.

 

“This weapon. Didn't you come to have such a thing?” She panted when she was finally walking next to him.

 

“Uh…there's no better weapon than my sword, I tell you.” He stuffed his hands inside the pockets of his shorts and chuckled faintly. Just when he had said this, he realized it as well. There indeed was no better weapon than his good old sword.

 

Fuu meekly smiled. Somehow, she was glad he preferred the sword.

 

“What about that guy? You two seemed pretty close.” He raised one suspicious eyebrow. If he recalled correctly, he had interrupted them just when it was becoming interesting. Not that he was sorry. He didn't care.

 

Still, he had obviously noticed.

 

“Um…” Fuu had to think about this for a second. But in the end there was no doubt about her answer. “What would I want with a man who sells such things? Told you they give me the creeps.”

 

Mugen grinned slightly at this. It was as if a weight was lifted from off his shoulders. As if it made him happier. Guns gave her the creeps—not Mugen with his sword, and he may be damned but he had killed many men in front of her eyes. Maybe the feeling he had simply was pride; good old male pride. Yes.

 

“Well, back to traveling then.”

 

Fuu nodded her reply. It was better to stay with an insane ruffian who was her friend than a charming creep.

 

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End of chapter two.

 

 

TBC…

 

Notes: There are chapters of traveling before they reach their destination. But before long the actual plot will arise.^^ Don't worry.

 

I've tried to leave out Japanese phrases because, well, have you ever heard of a multilingual story? I stayed with the Japanese name-add-on's though.

 

Aniki = boss

Otouto-chan = younger brother

Nii-san = older brother

Jiro (2nd son)

Ichiro (1st son)

 

(1) You still remember Hishikawa Mononobu, don't you? What, no? He was the artist who gave Fuu large breasts.^^ I'm sure now you remember.

 

Please review!