Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I EVER own Samurai Champloo or Inuyasha and to actually think that I do would be a very stupid assumption. So all you people who are really THAT stupid please piss off.

Chapter One:

A lone woman walked down a dirt road, humming quietly to herself as she watched the sky. Smiling softly her muted hums soon became muted words.

Namida ikutsu koborete
Shingetsu no yoru hitotsu umi ga umareta
Tooku tsumuida kotoba
Kataribetachi no monogatari no naka ni

(Many tears I shed, and of the night
of the new moon, another tear is created
Far in the distance, the words of this
story are spinning around)

Soon, she had passed by the village entrance, expertly avoiding the more lecherous men and continuing on without a care in the world. She only stopped a few times to pass out coins to small, grubby children who looked as if they were dead on their feet. Their look of complete gratitude and surprise stirred her heart and she found herself smiling back.

Mukashi dare ka ga koko de
Hari sake sou na mune wo sotto hiraita
Uta ni kanadete zutto
Donna basho ni mo tazusaete yukeru yo

(A long time ago, someone stood here
here heart slowly opening up
always singing his song
taking it along wherever she went)

She slowly drifted through the town, pausing ever so slightly when she saw two men, one rather scruffy looking while the other a dignified samurai, sighting in a teashop while an elderly couple watched, frightened. There were others, however most of them were unconscious, likely knocked out by the men in front of her. When the two seemed to be getting a bit out of hand, she drew her own shining sword and appeared between them, kicking them simultaneously into the street.

Kesa naide anata no naka no
Tomoshibi wa tsuranari itsushika
Kagayaku kara

(Before long, the undying flame
in you will bring us together
as it shines in your heart)

It seemed that she had made it just in time, as the shop exploded just moments after. Racing back into the wreckage, the woman dragged the elderly couple outside and away from the fumes while a man with only one arm laughed insanely, until he saw the two who were fighting once again.

"You!" His face twisted into an unholy expression of rage when he saw the man that could only be described as a ruffian. The ruffian did not spare the furious man a glance, and simply continued to spar with the other man. Finally, as they locked blades two officials crept behind them and knocked them both out.

Kataritsugu koto yo tsutaete yuku koto
Jidai no uneri wo watatte yuku fune
Kaze hikaru kyou no hi no sora wo
Uke tsuide sore wo asu ni te wo toshite

(The things I want to pass down and explain to you
will cross over to your time, as a boat over water
The wind that gleams in the sky today,
I pass it onto you along with the future)

She watched without a word as they were dragged away and sentenced to torture. As the night finally came down upon them, she made her move. Under the cover of darkness, the woman crept silently into the compound. Walking casually, she stopped in front of the cell where the two men were groaning with pain. They stopped abruptly and watched her with suspicious gazes when she approached.

"Who are you?" The distinguished man asked, his eyes narrowed behind his glasses and his dark hair hanging in front of his face. She smiled.

"Do you want to get out of here?" She answered his question with another question.

Yubi ni hitai ni kami ni
Anata no mukou kaima mieru omokage
Moshimo toki no nagare wo
Saka noboretara sono hito ni deaeru

(I can briefly see your finger,
your forehead, your hair, in the distance
If somehow, I could turn back the stream of
time, I would be with you)

The men seemed to perk up at her question and crawled closer to the door of the cage. They could only barely make out dark hair and pale features, but what stood out the most was bright, burning blue eyes. The scruffy-looking one was the first to answer.

"And you would be the one to get us out? What do you want in exchange?" The blue eyes glittered.

"A fight."

The quickly muttered their agreement and a sliver of silver cut straight through the bars of the cage. Ushering them out, the woman closed the cage as best she could before climbing up the walls of the compound with the men following closely at her heels.

Silently, they ran from the governor's house and straight to the outskirts of the town, never stopping for more than a breath. Finally they made it.

The two men exchanged a glance before they suddenly drew their swords and faced off against each other. That was, before they were stopped by a lilting voice, clearer now that the pain was no longer tearing at their minds and senses.

"You two promised me a fight." The voice had a dangerous edge. The men stopped and shared a glance once more. The ruffian spoke first.

"I won't go easy on you, just because you're a woman." She gave a menacing grin in return and waited for him to make his move. Sure enough, he charged and she dodged his first swipe of the sword, jumping after to ensure that she would not be hit by his metal-plated geta. He stopped and grinned insanely.

"Ooh, not bad." He jumped in after her and used a combination of odd sword techniques coupled with what seemed to be break dancing. All in all, it was very unpredictable and she found herself laughing freely, something she had not done in a long time, when she noticed that her mind was completely focussed on the fight and no longer on past events that continuously clouded her mind.

Kono sekai umarete soshite
Ataerareta ara yuru namae ni
Negai ga aru

(When we're born into this world
the names we are given, they each
contain a wish of their own)

Just as the ruffian made a sweep with his feet that she jumped over, the woman was forced to quickly change directions mid-air when the other man joined in the fight, making a stabbing motion at the air she had just occupied moments before. He fought both her and the ruffian at the same time and before long, blood and sweat coated their bodies.

The three were left panting on the ground, the ruffian grinning, the samurai staring up at the night sky in silence and the woman humming.

"What are your names? I wish to know who gave me such a good fight." The woman asked, pausing in her humming. The two were silent before they answered.

"Mugen." Ruffian.

"Jin." Samurai.

"Ah, here they come." The sounds of yelling grew closer, as did the soft glow of fire. They barely had time to stand before a myriad of people surrounded them, spears pointing straight at their hearts.

Itoshii egao ni kokoro ugokashite
Arashi ni yura ide tachidomaru toki mo
Mamoritai subete wo sasagete mo
Omoi wa chikara ni sugata wo kaeru kara

(Your beautiful smile, it moves my heart
when I'm stuck within a storm
I want to protect you, give your everything
because those thoughts turn into strength for me)

Their hands were tied and they were bowed before the governor who gazed down at the two men with a smug look. He looked over the woman before smiling disgustingly.

"Untie this one. I wish for her to be a concubine." The woman glared dangerously, and her voice filled the silent air.

"You mean a woman actually married such a revolting man as you?" Mugen snickered and Jin smiled. The governor coloured a bright puce. Sputtering in rage, he finally spat,

"Never mind! I was going to let you live, however since you seem to want to die so badly, I will kill you now! Guards, Untie her and bring her to me! I will execute this one myself!"

As soon as they released her from her bonds, she grinned viciously.

"A mistake." It was a bloodbath. Mugen and Jin broke free from their bonds as well and the three killed every single person under the governor. When it was done, the woman sheathed her sword and slowly walked away.

"Oi! You never told me your name!" Mugen called after her retreating back. She looked back, puzzled, as if she had not been asked her name in a long, long time. Finally she smiled. It transformed her entire face, lighting it up with pure happiness.

Kataritsu hi de tsutaete yuku koto
Jidai no uneri wo watatte yuku fune
Kaze hikaru kyou no hi no sora wo
Uke tsuide sore wo asu ni te watashite

(The things I want to pass down and explain to you
will cross over to your time, as a boat over water
The wind that gleams in the sky today,
I pass it onto you along with the future)

"My name is Kagome."

And with that, she disappeared.