The Dance of Spring Flowers

I do not own Samurai Champloo. Only a DVD of it which I actually can\'t find right now. Julian and Alvina are my OC\'s. Some of the things that Mugen, Jin, and Fuu do will be OOC, but no whining.


Mugen angrily looked down at his noncooperative stomach. All three of them were hungry, but he was especially famished. He attempted to will his hunger away, but the constant growls and gurgles reminded him that his stomach had its own voice and that voice was very displeased with him. They had been walking for days, the girl constantly whining about \'the samurai that smells of sunflowers\', and frankly, Mugen wanted to kill everyone and eat them or sell their few belongings to buy food. He would eat the ronin though...It\'s not like it\'s a good thing to have the only person you couldn\'t kill roaming freely about the countryside, don\'t you agree?

Fuu\'s stomach growled violently and she hurled herself at the ground, crying. \"I\'m soooo hungry!\" She wailed, her thin arms wrapped around her belly as rolled around. Jin and Mugen stared at her, too weak to run away, too hungry to fight each other. Fuu stopped rolling and turned to two men, moments from starving to death.

\"Onikwakamaru.\"

\"Is that food?\" Mugen asked, glaring at her. If it wasn\'t food, he\'d cut her shitty ass head off and eat her brain. Fuu struggled to get up and looked around. Yes, this location was close to the place where the ogre had told her he once lived. She told Mugen to spare his life, so perhaps he could help them with some food and shelter for a few days, eh?

\"No, imbecile. He was the ogre I told you not to kill a few days ago. You stabbed his stomach, but really only nicked the skin, remember?\"

Mugen tilted his head to the sun and fell straight back onto the dirt path. Jin and Fuu looked startled for a moment, but then shook it off.

\"This Oniwamamaru,\" Jin began, but Fuu cut him off.

\"Oniwa-ka-maru.\"

\"Yes, yes. Are you certain he is indebted to you and that he will assist us?\" Fuu scratched her head. \"Pretty sure. Besides, Jin, it\'s better than nothing.\"

Jin stared at Fuu through his glasses and nodded, forming his usual \'trout\' facial expression. He took the scabbard of one of his katanas and poked Mugen about the head and shoulders, trying to wake him. The island native screamed upon being poked and kicked upwards, Jin barely moving in time.

\"Get your stupid ass up and let\'s go. We only have about a mile or so left,\" Fuu grumbled, glaring at the two men. Sheepishly and hoping for the best, they trudged behind her in single file.

****

A woman with long red hair and gray eyes hummed as she dusted the small tables around the house. She gathered fresh jasmine and sunflowers and placed them in pots around the room, then closed her eyes to inhale the scents.

\"Alvina,\" A deep voice called from behind the woman. She turned with a smile and outstretched her arms. \"Oniwaka,\" She replied lovingly, hugging the giant ogre-man. She traced over his face with her hand, smiling at the scars and deformities. \"Lovely as usual,\" She whispered, kissing his cheek.

\"Sister, it appears we have company,\" Her brother, Julian, pointed out of the window at the three frail figures approaching. Alvina turned abruptly, knocking over one of the vases of sunflowers. Oniwakamaru reached for her and held her trembling body close.

\"Is it them? Have they come back to take me to the hospital?\" She whispered frightened, her dead gray eyes rolling around trying to find the intruders. Julian stroked her red hair and retrieved his pistol and ran outside to confront the strangers.

\"Halt, who goes there?\" He yelled, drawing his gun on Mugen.

\"Hey man, fuck off!\" The samurai yelled, drawing his sword. Jin did the same. Fuu stood there gape-mouthed at the beautiful man that stood before her. His hair resembled fire with its dark red locks with flecks of orange. His eyes were glittery emerald and he was tall and skinny like Jin. He meant business though, cocking the hammer of the gun back.

\"Fuu, come get your boy before I start to slicing and dicing his ass!\" Mugen threatened, glaring at the redhead. Oniwakamaru filled the doorframe and pointed at Fuu, narrowing his eyes. Then he smiled and placed his hand on Julian\'s shoulder.

\"Nooo...she is my friend. She told me that I not ugly. She keep misfit from killing me.\"

\"MISFIT?!!!\" Mugen growled with renewed strength. He would have lurched at the ogre but Jin stealthily tripped him and stepped over him to bow lightly.

\"We are sorry for tresspassing, but we are in dire need of vittles and shelter. Do you have the space in your abode and hearts to take us in momentarily?\"

\"Of course,\" Came a female\'s voice from inside. Alvina used her walking stick to find her way outside and stood beside Oniwakamaru and took one of his massive arms. \"Fuu? Are you out there?\" The girl ran over to the blind woman and took her hand.

\"Oniwaka has told me much about you. You gave him the confidence to approach me,\" She said giggling and squeezing Fuu\'s hand. \"You and your friends may stay as long as you like. Please, help me inside as I cannot see very well.\" Fuu assisted Alvina inside as Julian holstered his gun. He stared hatefully at the ronin and vagabond and \'hmphed\' and went inside, as well as Oniwaka did.

Jin and Mugen looked at each other and shrugged. The girl yet again got them in over their heads, but they could have never guessed how much.