Fuu was in the kitchen picking up an order when she heard a familiar gruff voice and sighed. That took long enough. She went out in the dining area to see not only Mugen, but Jin, and a bright smile lit up her face. Dropping the customer's food unceremoniously in front of him, she went up to the two men and sat down across from them.
"I told you she'd be in a place like this," said the Ryukyuan, smirking.
"Hmmm."
Fuu smiled at them both. "I was expecting you a while ago."
"Yeah, well, we didn't think you'd wind up in a place like Goto." Mugen frowned. "Never had you figured for the city type."
The young woman shrugged. "I had to start over somewhere, didn't I? It just seemed easier to do that in a city than a village. At least here I don't stand out-I've been here a month and nobody has tried to kidnap me once."
Mugen grinned. "So how about some dumplings?"
Fuu looked at him sternly. "Are you planning to pay for them?"
"Nope."
Her lips twitched as she tried to hold back a smile. "What about you, Jin? Do you want some free food too?"
"No." Jin looked disapprovingly at Mugen. "Idiot. You have money. We're both going to pay for our food, Fuu."
Fuu blinked in surprise. "You guys have money?"
"We got jobs, okay?" The Ryukyuan scowled. "Pretty boy is a guard for some local big shot and I'm working the docks. Satisfied?"
"Completely." Fuu stood up. "So what can I bring you?"
"I already told you. Dumplings!" Mugen shook his head in exasperation.
"What about you, Jin?"
"Tempura noodles with shrimp."
"Coming right up." She started away and Mugen grabbed her arm.
"Got any castella cake?" She nodded. "Might as well bring that too."
Fuu went to the kitchen to place the orders, then on a sudden impulse went to find the owner, Chimmoko. "Is it all right if I take the rest of the night off?"
The older woman smiled at the girl. She was shrewd in business, but she also had a very good heart. It had been Chimmoko who had found Fuu the little one-room house where she now lived. She had also advanced her a week's salary to get some new clothes when she first started working, and allowed Fuu to repay her at her own rate. And she had been a good listener when Fuu wanted to talk. Now she craned her neck to look at the two men-Jin ethereal as ever with his pale face and blue kimono and silences, Mugen earthy and rough with a vitality that almost crackled. "So these are the friends I've heard so much about?"
Fuu smiled and nodded happily. "I can't believe it's been almost two months since I saw them!"
Chimmoko looked puzzled. "I thought you said the three of you parted ways."
"We did." Fuu laughed at the look on Chimmoko's face. "I guess you had to be there. It wasn't the first time we'd split up-we always got back together pretty quick." She looked over fondly at Mugen and Jin. The samurai was waiting patiently for his food and the Ryukyuan was fidgeting, as always finding it hard to sit still. "It just took a little longer this time."
"In that caseā¦." The restaurant owner went in the back and returned with a jug. "Have some sake on the house and make it a real celebration."
Fuu gave Chimmoko a quick hug and dropped the sake at Mugen and Jin's table on her way to the kitchen to pick up their food, grabbing a bowl of rice and some fried fish for herself. She was having such a good time being with her two friends again that it was a while before she realized Mugen wasn't eating.
She frowned. He always had such a big appetite-it had been quite inconvenient on the road when food was limited and she was fighting him for scraps. Now he was just sitting there, not even picking up his chopsticks. "Mugen, are you feeling all right?"
He looked surprised. "Never better. Why?"
"You're not eating."
Mugen looked down at his plate of dumplings as if he had only just realized it was there. "Guess I'm not hungry after all."
Jin eyed his companion keenly. "Does your head hurt again?"
Mugen looked daggers at Jin as Fuu turned to the samurai. "What do you mean, 'again,' Jin?"
Jin said coolly, "He's been having headaches for a couple of days. I told him he should go see a doctor but as usual he refuses sensible advice."
"There's nothing wrong with me!" declared Mugen, grabbing the jug of sake and cracking it open. "Come on, pretty boy, you and me. Let's see who gives out first."
Jin sighed but held out a small cup and the drinking match was on. Fuu sipped at a cup of tea and watched. They emptied the jug and she took it back to the kitchen, noticing when she returned to the table that Mugen was shivering.
"Mugen, are you sure you're all right?"
"Yes! Stop nagging me, girl!" The Ryukyuan wrapped his arms around himself. "It's just cold in here."
"You're cold after drinking all that sake?" Fuu frowned and reached over to feel Mugen's forehead. Before he knocked her hand away she could feel that he didn't have a fever, but she was still concerned. He was shaking as if he was freezing to death and his eyes were glazed. "Chimmoko!"
The restaurant owner came over. "Something else I can get you?"
"Do you know any doctors?"
"I don't need a doctor," said Mugen weakly.
Chimmoko regarded the young man thoughtfully. "Maybe you'd better take him home. I can send a doctor."
"Where are you staying?" Fuu asked Jin as he pulled Mugen to his feet. The Ryukyuan didn't protest as his friend steadied him and that in itself was enough to decide Fuu. No matter what he said, Mugen was going to see a doctor tonight.
"I have a room at my employer's mansion." Jin frowned. "We can't take him there. He's staying down by the docks."
"The docks are over a mile away." Fuu shook her head. "We'll take him to my house-that's just a little way up the street. Chimmoko?"
The older woman was already at the door. "Go on. I'll send the doctor to you."
Mugen heard all this as if from a great distance. His first impulse was to complain, loudly and profanely, but he didn't have the strength and suddenly he was afraid. It was not the first time he had felt this bad-he'd been shot, and stabbed, and almost drowned, and even tortured, but those times were different. Then he knew what was wrong. To suddenly feel as if he was headed back to the Crow Men without facing an enemy he could fight was terrifying and he wondered if this was finally the time they would not throw him back. The cold closed around him and he moaned and pressed against Jin, seeking warmth. The samurai wrapped his arm around his friend's waist and said quietly, "You'll be all right, Mugen."
And the Ryukyuan felt so terrible he didn't even mind the reassurance.
