Twenty Three- Samurai Champloo

NOTES:
I'm hoping Samurai Champloo has a happy ending, because I like the idea of the three main characters moving somewhere and living in three separate houses, as neighbors, all sappy and happy.

Why? Because episode eleven broke my heart, and Jin needs people to care about who will actually let him care about them. He and Shino belong together, all the sexual tension between Jin and Mugen notwithstanding.

Set this between ten and twenty years after the series; Fuu's gotten vengeance, Shino's free from the temple and married to Jin, Mugen's having a long distance affair with Yatsuhara. The oldest kid is around ten, I think. And, ah...sorry for the fangirl Japanese. *shame*
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"Out! Get out of here! Go bother Jin- you haven't tried to kill each other in at least a week." Fuu scolded and shooed him out with a broom.

Mugen yelped when the handle cracked against his skull. "Bitch! I'm hungry-"

"And I'm busy! Out!" Fuu pushed him out the door and slammed it shut after him.

Mugen rubbed the back of his head and glared at the door. How was he supposed to get lunch? He sighed. Maybe Shino-san would take pity on his empty stomach, if Jin didn't see him first and try to kill him. It had been nearly a week, after all.

The little town they'd settled into was too cute for words- thankfully, the Yakuza were more than willing to hire an extra man to do odd jobs. A totally peaceful place had nothing for a man like him. He just made sure the organized crime left Fuu and Jin alone, and they were all happy; he had something to do in his spare time, Fuu didn't get kidnapped anymore, and Jin got to threaten to kill him for having no honor all the time.

Shino-san was always grateful, too, and whenever he got too bored with killing things, she'd give him pocket change to watch over the kids.

Speaking of...Mugen dropped into a crouch and swept his leg out and back, knocking the little boy behind him ass over feet. "Oi. Yukimaru."

"Mugen." The little brat had Jin's pout. Mugen glared down at the boy.

"Mugen-san. Show some respect to your elders, Yukimaru-kun." Shino-san bowed in greeting and picked her son up from the dirt with one hand. She carried a bucket in the other. "Ohayo, Mugen-san. I'm sorry he tried to attack you."

"Yo." He tried to peer into the bucket, but Yukimaru's glaring head was in the way. "Are those eel in there?"

"Aa."

"Can I have one?"

She smiled gently. "These are for Fuu-chan. I'm sorry, Mugen-san." She sounded like she actually meant it, too. Mugen sighed.

"Whatever. Where's Jin?"

"At home with the children. Why don't you take Yukimaru-kun with you? I promised Fuu-chan I'd spend the afternoon with her." She smiled so gently he couldn't say no, not even with the little brat glaring daggers at him. That, and she was already halfway down the street by the time he'd registered the fact that she'd just stuck him with the kid.

"Fine, fine. Tell that bitch she'd better feed me dinner while you're there!" he called after her. If she heard him, she gave no sign.

"Don't talk that way in front of mother!" Mugen nimbly dodged a sharp kick to his ankles.

"Oi! Stop that!" He caught the boy in a headlock. "Come on, I'll let Jin deal with you. Little monster..." Yukimaru kicked and screamed as Mugen swung him over one shoulder. "Quit squirming or I drop you on your head!"

Jin was in the back yard of his house, chopping wood. Mugen caught a half-hewn log as it spun off the chopping block towards his head. "You tryin' to kill me?"

Jin glared at him. Like father like son. "Yes."

Mugen dropped Yukimaru and had his sword out just in time to deflect another block of wood. Then Jin had his sword out and they were both at each other's throats.

"Oi! Oi! Mugen's here!" Yukimaru ran into the house, shouting, and came out with his brother and sister. Mugen cursed- he hated remembering not to hurt the children. Shino-san would beat him with her umbrella and never feed him again.

He still thought it was hilarious that Jin had kids. Three of them. They followed their father in a line, like a set of well behaved ducklings, whenever he went into town.