Scene set: Back road, mid day. Bright and sunny skies shine down on our three weary travelers. Suddenly Jin stops and stares off to the right. The others pull up short with questioning grunts. The side path is shady. In the distance the sounds of children’s laughter can be heard…
Mugen: Is that…?
Fuu: It sure smells like it…
Jin: Food.
Mugen: Well what the hell are we standing here for? Let’s go!
He starts off down the path and is followed by the others. After several strides they reach a clearing. In front of them is a small and homely looking village. Smoke happily coils out of roofs and children are running around trailing colorful banners. As the three start in towards the village they see that many of the locals are accompanied by younger children.
Fuu: I wonder what’s going on…
Jin (pauses): Their blind
Fuu: WHA????
Mugen: Who cares, I’m starving. Let’s just go in and case the joint.
Fuu: Mugen! If you hadn’t blown all our cash at the last stop we wouldn’t be in this position!
Mugen: Me and Rodriguez worked hard for that money! I don’t see Momo bringing in any cash…
Momo: epp!
Jin: Nock it off. Look…
A woman is walking slowly towards them. A small child is by her side staring wide eyed at Mugen and Jin’s swords.
Kana: Who are you? What do you want with us?
Fuu: We’re travelers. We smelled your fires and thought we could find work.
Kana: We do not need help. It is best if you just go away.
Mugen: Listen Old Bag. We’re hungry and tired and…
Fuu (smacks Mugen) Mugen! I’m so sorry ma’am…
Mugen: Owe you stupid *@!#$. I was only telling the truth.
Jin: You’re so crude…
Mugen: Oh yea? How about I wipe that stupid look of your @&*!$#* face right now. Pulls out his sword and gets in his fighting stance with Jin mimicing the move.
Fuu: Will you to morons stop it! If you kill each other, how can you help me then? You promised to help me find the Samurai that smells of sunflowers!
Kana: (gasp) The Samurai that smells of sunflowers?
Fuu: Oh please, do you know where we can find him?
Kana: (rights herself and shakes her head) I'm sorry but I dont know who your talking about. But seeing as it is getting later in the day you all should join us for the night. The next village is far off.
She turns and walks back toward the village. Fuu makes a jesture to stop her but remembers the woman can't see her.
Fuu: (Audiable sigh) I guess we're staying here tonight.
Jin: That old woman was hiding something.
Mugen: But what? Aw, who cares? Lets go get something to eat.
Scene cut: Bath house. Darker and filled with steam. Several large basins are situated off to the side. Fuu and Momo are relaxing in a corner basin.
Fuu: I wonder sometimes Momo. Sometimes it feels like we've been searching forever.
Momo: eep!
Fuu: I hope those two jerks aren't causing trouble again...
Mugen: Who the hell are you calling a jerk?
Fuu: (Surprise and terror show on her face as she crosses her arms across her chest and looks over. She gasps and looks back toward the wall blushing.) What are you doing in here!!
Mugen: Taking a bath, duh. (Jumps into a basin near Fuu's and sighs)
Fuu: Couldn't you have waited until I had finished?
Mugen: What for? You ain't got anything I haven't seen before.
Fuu: Thats besides the point!
Mugen: Did you notice that there is no one our age here? Its all old woman and children.
Fuu: I didn't notice... I wonder why...
Mugen: Its a mystery. I still say we should case the joint once the old bag falls asleep.
Fuu: Mugen!
Mugen: Well you know shes hiding something from you! She's not just gonna hand it over.
Fuu:... Yea but...
Mugen: Yea but nothing. You know I'm right. The sooner we find this dude the sooner I can finish off that punk...
Just then the child that was with Kana earlier appears in the doorway.
Kyoko: Umm...
Mugen: What do you want brat?
Fuu: Mugen! Can I help you?
Kyoko: (looks nervously around and steps in further) You are looking for a Samurai?
Fuu: Yes! Do you know something?
Kyoko: Umm... Well...
Mugen: Come on kid spill it already.
(Voice from outside): Kyoko? Where are you?
Kyoko: (Looks terrified and glances back towards the door) Tonight at the path. You should be there.
She turns and runs hurriedly out the door.
Mugen: What the &*@! was that about?
Part one scene end
Part 2 start
Scene Set: Night, waxing moon. Mugen, Jin and Fuu creep toward the path under the cover of the shadows. Whispers can be heard through the leaves of the undergrowth. The group creeps closer to the path. There’s a rustle of leaves behind them...
Scene cut
Scene Set: Small, dark hut. Fuu is the only one present. She'd unconscious and bound to a bench. She moans and looks around.
Fuu: Owe... Where am I?... Why do I always get kidnapped?
Just then Momo appears from under the bench.
Fuu: Momo! Can you help me?
Momo: Epp!
Momo chews through the rope enough to where Fuu can easily pull it apart. After a few seconds of rubbing her wrists she creeps toward the door. Through the crack she can see an moonlit courtyard. In the middle are Mugen and Jin, who are rather worse for the ware. Striped to the waist, their skin shows various shades of abuse. Several guards stand around them laughing and randomly striking them with the blunt ends of their swords. Suddenly a man in his late 20's appears from one of the buildings and raises his hand. The guards all step back and are silent. The man approaches Mugen and Jin.
Man: Do you know who we are?
Mugen: Someone who's going to get their ass kicked when I get the chance.
Man: You're just like they said you'd be.
Jin: Who said?
Man: That’s not important right now. My name is Teramatzu. I was hired to find the three of you.
Mugen: You're pretty talkative for an assassin.
Teramatzu: I like to let my prey know why they are receiving such a fate. But it also happens that my employer has a message for you before you die.
Wide eyed, Fuu looks hurriedly around the hut for something to help with. In the shadows the outlines of three swords are visible.
Teramatzu: You shouldn't go looking for things that are lost in the sands of time.
Mugen: What the &%@!* that supposed to mean?
Teramatzu: Ah I'd love to explain but your time is up... What the...
Just then Momo lands on Teramatzu's head and looks at Mugen and Jin. Smirking, they move closer together and wait for the right moment. While Teramatzu is distracted Mugen and Jin lash out in opposite directions taking the guards by surprise. Fuu comes running out of the hut calling their names and tosses their swords. Mugen catches his and smirks at the guards standing in front of him. Looks of surprise cross their face as he attacks. Jin takes out the last guard on his side with an effortless slice and they both turn towards Teramatzu. Momo is no where to be seen as the two advance on the now frightened Teramatzu.
Mugen: Now what was all that bull crap about our time being up?
Fuu: What did you do to those people in the village?
Teramatzu: You're smarter then they thought. I just gave them incentive to insure they served my purpose. (smirks)
Mugen: What’s so funny?
Teramatzu: Your time is up.
Shuffling sounds are heard behind them and then they are surrounded by a sea of men.
Teramatzu: Kill them.
None of the men move. Their faces are covered with hatred.
Teramatzu: What’s the matter with you idiots. Do as your told or...
His sentence is cut short with the swift slices of both Mugen and Jin’s swords. Shock crosses his face as he looks up at them. They both turn and start to walk down the path leading away from the huts. As they pass Fuu and Momo join them and the crowd of men split to let them pass. The sounds of revenge can be heard as the three head out to the main road.
Scene two end