A/N: Well this will be my first venture into SC, and it will be OT3, so yay! I was going through the archives and there isnt really any full lenght stories in this field. I think there is one, which was totally awesome and realistic, but most are oneshots.

Rating will be M for Mugen and violence, plus mentions of rape. If this offends you, well fair warning was given. May contain a lemon in the future, still not sure about that just yet.

Shoutout to 3Jane and her story which gave me some of my headcannon ideas for this story. The sword and... Poor fuu. If you ever read this, thank you and please dont think that i'm ripping off your story, i have a tottally different plot in mind that just deals with some similar plot points.

So without further adeu, i present... *drumroll*

Collisions

Standing on that crossroad, Fuu could feel the difference in the air. This chapter in her life was over, and in a way she was glad. Seeing the looks full of unspoken words Mugen and Jin were sharing across the road, and noting the change in dynamic between the two, she was almost glad that she wouldn't have to spend almost every night across a campfire from them.

The key word being almost, for she loved them both equaly and walking away, glibly admiting to tricking them and giving a promise to meet again... well it was a diversion. A diversion from the pain of leaving half of her heart steadily walking off in two directions. She almost laughed (though it might come out a bit histerical) because at best they thought of her as a sister, and at worst an annoying obligation.

But she had to get away, away from the memories, away from the church. It had haunted her having to stay there those first few days when both of her yojimbo were too wounded to move. The memories had almost overwhelmed her, sending her into a deep depression that she feared she'd never crawl out of. If her boys hadn't needed her, she probably would have given up.

And that was why she had to go, because she had grown too dependent on them, and she needed to beat this on her own for once. Looking at the two of them back there, and watching them while they recoverd back at her fathers house, something had changed between them. They still talked to eachother the same, said the same insults, but there was a undercurrent to their conversation now. Fuu didn't know what it is, but there doesn't seem for there to space for her to fit anymore. No matter that they are walking in opposite directions, they'll meet up again, fate would see to it.

The thought caused a bittersweet smile to cross her face, because knowing that even if she does meet one of them by chance again, it'll never be like what she imagined before nagasaki.

Shaking these thoughts from her head with some dificulty, she focused on the plan she had come up with in her last few days as their care taker. While in Edo she had heard a rumor of a dojo for women. If she could only make it there without incident, she would be free to face her demons.

If she traveled non stop, it would probably take her a little over two weeks to get there, but that wouldn't be possible. She will have to stop in villages along the way, no more camping out in the open without the boys by her side. With a path firmly in mind, Fuu took her first steps to taking back the scattered peices of herself

The first town she arrived in was busier then she would have liked, too many people, too many things that can go wrong. Searching for work became a top priority, because work meant money, and money ment a room to get away from too many eyes.

'Breath Fuu, keep your head up an your breathing steady. Acting like nothing is wrong is half the battle, right? Right.' Pep talk delivered, Fuu continued on, though at a slightly slower pace then before. Going with the safest bet, she went up to a gaggle of elderly women chatting under an awning, probably trying to escape the heat... Or this was their regular gossiping spot, who knew?

"Excuse me, do you women know of any places that are hiring?" Fuu asked, hands in a pleading posision.

"There is a job opening or two, old Genzo is looking to hire, so is Mai, and a few others, what kind of work have you done?" A woman with shrewed eyes from the back of the crowd spoke up, looking her over. Fuu felt like this was her interview at this very moment and she hadn't even prepared!

"Well, I've worked in tea houses, and I was a dice roller once, I have some house keeping experience, Oh, there was that one modeling job. Um, I'm also pretty good with stitching up wounds, wrapping them, that kind of thing. Also know a little bit about herbs. Sorry, am I rambling?" Fuu felt like slapping herself. This woman was probably the wife of someone important or something, and here she was making herself look like a twit!

"Experience with wounds you say? Perfect, Tatsu's was looking for an assistant. Go down the street, and take the first left. Building has a sign that says tatsu's clinic out front, can't miss it." At that the woman turned away, seemingly bored with the conversation.

"Oh, thank you so much! You would't happen to know where I can find a cheap, clean place to stay, would you?" Fuu asked. At that, all the women laughed.

"Oh sweetie, those two things are mutially exclusive. Can't help you there. Ask someone from the teahouse, they see a lot of travelers, maybe they can help you out." Feeling a little miffed that she was laughed at, but eager to get off the street, Fuu walked off, following the womans directions.

Entering the building, she found it had a strong sent of herbs and was cluttered with tables and baskets, jars and towels, and herbs hanging in every available space. Walking around the organized chaos, Fuu headed to a door she had spotted in the back, calling out as she did.

"Hello, anyone here? Someone said you were hiring?" Fuu asked, feeling awkward being in someones place without permision. She was turning around to leave then, figuring they were out for an errand, when a woman replied.

"Looking for work eh? Well come here, let me look at you. Good, you have small hands, great for stitching and wrapping, got any experience? Not to much muscle tone, can't hold someone down too well if they're thrashing. Pretty face too, men like that in a nurse. Got any know how about herbs?" As she talked, she circled around Fuu, grabbing a hand here, lifting an arm and pinching at her bicep, then moving on to grab at her face to get a proper look, earning an indignant squeak from Fuu.

The woman, Tatsu she assumed was once beautiful, but the years had been harsh on her causing her back to hunch and her face to wrinkle, though her hair was still a glossy black.

Squirming from her grasp, Fuu remebered that she had been asked a question. " I'm better with stiching up and binding wounds, and most of my knowledge of herbs is about edible ones, though I do know some that help with healing."

"Thats plenty enough, more than the last girl that came in. I can at least give you a try, see if you have the stomache for it. Lets get started, got a patient in back, came in bout the same time as you." Tatsu declared, and ushered Fuu ahead of her, grabbing a basket as she passed.

Fuu could't believe her luck, things never worked out so well for her. First day in town, and she wasn't working in a teashop, a brothel, or being kidnapped! It was sort of making her paranoid. Though maybe this was just a sign of good things to come, who could say?

Reaching the door at the back they came to a hallway lined with three hanging mats and a staircaise to the back. Tatsu pulled back the first hanging mat, and beckoned Fuu into the room

"This is Matsuo, broke his arm doing something stupid I'm sure. Ever splint a broken arm before?" Tatsu asked, as she walked up to the boy, who appeared about thirteen, and began laying out the items from her basket on a table.

Fuu walked up and looked at the assortment: bandages, two pieces of slighly curved wood, cloth, and some sort of poultice in a jar. "Uh, no. Where are his parent? Did they just leave him here?"

"No, he's an orphan. Don't want want to know how he gets the money to pay for for his injuries, no way he's up to any good, but mon is mon. Just hold his arm steady, ok? And hand me what i need when i tell you to."

"Alright kid, let me see that arm... Oh thats not good, how long ago did you break this?" Tatsu aksed, a slight look of worry appearing on her face before appearing calm once more.

"Uhh, maybe a week ago? I can't really recall." Matsuo uttured, looking down at the floor.

"Girl, go back into the shop, grab two plants, one has purple blooms and short, fat leaves the the other has long thin leaves with spikes along the edges and grow together in bunches. Put some water to boil as well, kitchen is next to this room. Bring everything here when its ready."

Fuu rushed off, feeling useful for once. This was something she could do. Heading to the kitchen first, she saw the embers in the hearth burning low. Stoking them around, she added another log, then looked around for a teapot. Once it was filled and set above the flames, she ran back to the front to find the herbs, and double checked that they were right. Back at the kitchen, she dug for a cup, tray and a rag, then pulled the tea kettle from the fire with the rag once it whistled.

Balancing her cargo, Fuu went back to Tatsu and the boy, who looked even more miserable now than when he first came in.

"Good. This will help with the pain and bring down any swelling. Girl, once this tea is ready, you need to hold him down so i can rebrake his arm. Dumb boy waited too long to come here, and it started healing wrong. That will teach you to be stubborn." Tatsu declared, then tured to face Fuu with a puzzeld look on her face

"You know I never asked your name, might as well get the niceties out of the way while the tea is steeping. I'm Mai, nice to meet ya, and you?" Tatsu, or Mai now, asked.

"Oh, Fuu, it's nice to meet you as well. Your name isn't Tatsu?" Fuu asked.

"No, it was my daughter's name. This place was her dream, so I named it after her. Teas done, time to get to work." Mai rose, and offered the boy the tea. Fuu, slightly thrown by the swift change in topics, just sat there.

"Sorry kid, nothing is really going to make this hurt any less, the tea is for afterwords. Fuu, get his arm." Mai ordered. At that, Fuu jumped up to grab Matsuo by his shoulder and elbow.

"Alright Matsuo, on three, ok? Ready? 1...2..*CRACK*"

"AAAAAHHH"

"...3." Mai dedpanned.

That first day was exhausting, not just because of the paitients, and there was a lot (apparently there is quite a bit of gang activity here) but Mai had Fuu reading her books on herbs and plants during any availible free time, so both her mind and body felt like mush.

Even better than finding a job her first day, Mai had an extra room that she is letting Fuu use. She's docking it out of her pay, but it's still cheaper than an inn. At this rate, she'll be able to have enough to get to Edo in a little over two months. Too much good fortune made Fuu feel a little paranoid, it had never done her any good turns in the past, but she hoped it tuned out okay for once.

Laying down in her futon, she thought of them, of her two body guards. She wondered if they were traveling together or apart, if they had thought of her. Reaching her arm out, she grabbed ahold of the wakizashi that was part of her father's daisho, the katana of which she had given to Jin after he and Mugen had broken their swords. Mugen had also recieved a sword, some european sword that she had found at her fathers house. It had reminded her of his sword so much she just had to give it to him. Both had looked so shocked at the gifts, and maybe there were other emotions as well... Gratitude, affection, joy? It was hard hard to tell with those two. Their gruff thanks were enough, and the memory warmed her.

Holding onto the hilt, she felt closer to that moment, and she hoped it would keep the nightmares at bay,

Fin

A/N: Hah, bet you thought I was going to have her working at a teahouse, or as a dice roller huh? Well... I almost did lol. Originally this chapter was longer, but i broke it up into two parts so it flowed better. So what do you think? Drop a line and tell me your thoughts if you have the time. Constructive criticisms welcome, flames will be ignored.

Translation Notes:

Yojimbo: Bodyguard or bouncer. Seeing as this is set around the 1600s, it definitly means bodyguard

Daisho: A pair of matched Katana and wakizashi(short sword) worn by the samurai class at the time. Only samurai (who were actually a cast amd not just warriors) were allowed to carry them to denote their station.

And the names? Well i just made them up, if anyone wants to find out what they mean feel free lol.

Stay tuned for chapter two, should be up soonish... in about a week or so when chapter three is done. What can i say, i like knowing that if something happens, you guys won't be shit out of luck ^~^.