Title: Nenju
Fandom: Samurai Champloo
Pairing: Fuu/Jin, Fuu/Mugen, Mugen/Yatsuha
Categories: Drama, Action, Angst, Post-Series
Length: Really Epic
Warnings: implied pre-story sexual assault

Author on LJ: 3_jane
Author's fic on LJ: 3_jane_fiction

Review:
A sprawling epic reminiscent of the series (with stops in many of the same towns).

Mugen and Jin find out that the Shogunate is planning to kill Fuu, so they track her down (again). At a brothel (again). Because she'd been kidnapped (*again*). After the rescue, they hit the road, trying to find a safe harbor where they can finally be safe. The only problem (aside from the assassins, the lack of funds, and Mugen's inability *not* to get into trouble with the nearest woman other than Fuu) is the fact that both Jin and Mugen have discovered that Fuu has turned into a woman. A beautiful woman. Now it's up to Fuu to decide, but how can she choose one of her companions over the other?

There aren't many epics in the Samurai Champloo universe, much less many that are this well-researched and well-written. Mugen and Jin's voices are probably the best I've ever read, and their interactions with Fuu and each other are perfect. Lots of violence, of course, especially between Jin and Mugen (who couldn't compete over a rice ball without spilling blood), but that's mitigated by the sheer affection between the characters. An intense, moving tour de force.

Nenju