Mugen dropped an armload of wood next to the fire and slumped to the ground, glaring at Fuu. "Are you crying again?"
She glared back, wiping her eyes. "It's none of your business."
Jin poked the fire gloomily, hoping the storm wouldn't last too long, but Mugen was just getting warmed up. The Ryukyuan leaned over to look at what Fuu was holding and rolled his eyes. "Every time you take out that paper, we have to listen to you sniveling for hours over some guy that was going to cut your throat."
"He was not!" Fuu crumpled the paper in her hands, fresh tears falling on it. "And I'm not crying over him, if you must know."
"Fuu." Jin's voice was very soft, but Mugen and Fuu both turned to look at him. "It's been three days. If you're not still upset about Shinsuke, what is wrong?"
The girl's lips trembled. "Nothing. I just….Shinsuke and me had so much in common. We both loved our mothers, and we couldn't do anything for them. He wasn't a bad guy. He just wanted money to buy medicine for his sick mother. I can understand that-being willing to do anything to help somebody you love. And I saw him die, and I went to see his mother, but I didn't know what to say to her." She smoothed the paper out. "I wrote her this letter, but it probably wouldn't do her any good to read it. I just don't know if I should send it or not."
"No problem." Mugen grabbed the letter and stood up, smirking. "I'll take it to her."
"You give that back!" Fuu reached for the paper but the Ryukyuan fended her off easily and headed into the darkness, his last words heavy with scorn.
"When I get back, you better be over crying all the time or I might just keep going!"
Fuu looked helplessly at Jin. "Are you just going to sit there? Go after him!"
"Maybe he's right," said the samurai flatly. "If the letter contains something Shinsuke's mother should know, it is better to deliver it."
"He's not taking it to be nice to that poor woman," said Fuu miserably. "He just wants to get away for a while-he probably won't even go back to the town." She sighed. "Can you imagine Mugen actually doing something nice?"
"Frankly, no." Jin stared thoughtfully at the flames. "But perhaps he will be in a better mood when he returns."
"You really think he'll be back?" asked Fuu wistfully.
"Oh, yes." The samurai smiled slightly. "I haven't killed him yet."