Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champuru. All rights go to their respected owners.

No Fish for Me

Summary: Mugen catches Fuu in a busy market place. She is older now and when she takes him home she will reveal to him something neither he nor Jin could expect.

Unwelcomed Surprises

Fuu walked along the busy market place. She was tired of eating only fish and she was on a mission. She finally settled down in a town near the sea. However, now all she ate was fish, but tonight she felt like pork. With her goal in mind and her recent earnings in her small sack she passed by the vendors trying to sell their fish. She was happy that today she was off from work at the tea house. No customers trying to pinch her now bigger butt or guys trying lame pick up lines on her. She continued to skip on her shopping trip.

Mugen couldn't believe his luck. He had just stolen 500 ryo from three bandits that tried to take his money on the way to this town. He kicked the ground as the normal sounds of the busy market place assaulted his ears. He glared at those around him because all he wanted was a drink and a nice warm woman. He had been traveling for 5 days trying to get a new job. But with his rugged looks he was only offered jobs that he had to guard people or kill them.

As he neared the food section of this market place his stomach made a noise that he was proud of. A little boy with big brown eyes stared at him then offered his dango that he had been eating.

Mugen glared at the kid, "Do I look that hungry to yah?" he growled. His mother bowed in apology but quickly pull the child away from Mugen. He snorted and looked around slowly.

"I ain't eating fish and leaves tonight!" he thought happily as he smelled some grilled chicken nearby.

Then something caught his eye. A woman with brown hair that was pulled into a messy bun was buying some vegetables from the produce vendor. She wore a light blue kimono with a white koi swimming across the bottom of it. Mugen felt like he should know this chick.

"But she ain't the type I would see at the brothel," he grumbled. "Not enough curves on this chick!"

Then the woman turned toward him. "What the Fuck?! Fuu?" he exclaimed his eyes growing big as the realization sunk in. Then he realized she hadn't noticed him and was walking away from him.

He followed her and bought some grilled chicken when she had stopped at a butcher shop. He waited for his meal but kept an eye on the shop. Just as the old man was passing him the chicken and collecting the money, Mugen saw Fuu leave the shop.

"Thanks for the grub, keep the change!" he said leaving quickly. She was now trying to put a small pink pouch back into her obi, but it wasn't fitting. "Same Fuu, never aware that someone might steal that money bag from her!" he said under his breath.

Then he had the idea, he swallowed the last of the chicken and strode up to Fuu. He grabbed the money bag from her, just then she looked up shocked. He quickly stuck the money into her obi while she let out a shriek.

"Thief!" she cried.

"I ain't no thief! You dumb bimbo!" he snapped and glared at her. People started to stare at them, since Mugen was obviously not running away and they were glaring at each other.

"Return my money to me then you creep!" she growled.

"Fuu, you seriously don't recognize me?" he asked annoyed since he noticed all the stares. Fuu glared for a minute, and then her eyes landed on the blue tattoos on his wrists and ankles. As her eyes softened with recognition Mugen grunted and crossed his arms. "Mugen! What are you doing here? It's so good to see you!" she cried flying herself at him. He let her hug him until he couldn't take the stares any longer.

"OI! Let go!" he said shoving her away. She smiled at him and then realized how many people were staring. She bowed her head in apology to the on lookers and steered Mugen toward the beach.

Fuu looked at Mugen, he had gotten tanner and skinner too. His arms and legs had a few new scars on them.

"Whatcha looking at girly?" he grumbled carrying most of the groceries.

"I'm sorry I didn't recognize you in the market place," she said still staring at him. He grunted and look toward the horizon.

"What are you doing in this town? You should stay with me while you're here! I still can't believe its…"

"That's enough FUU! You haven't changed much. Still talking a mile a minute, still have no REAL curves. And I bet you still work at a tea house!" he smirked when she frowned.

"Well still the same old arrogant jerk!" she cried back coloring. He smirked while she boiled since he had nailed it.

"Oi Fuu, where am I taking this shit to anyway?" "If it's shit then you won't have to eat any of it!" she retorted, but she wiped the smile off her face when she saw the menacing glare he gave her.

Fuu had a secluded hut near the shore and the edge of the town. "May I tell you how I came upon this town and place?" she asked as they neared her hut. He grunted in response, he was a little curious on how she got a house to begin with, since she obviously couldn't build it herself. "I decided that I didn't want to travel as much anymore, so I ended up at this town. I know it's only a town away from where we parted ways, but it's quaint. Not as busy as Edo and its pretty quiet. I like it." She talked and Mugen silently watched her. She had aged into a beautiful young woman, no more was the girl he remembered. She was now by herself after they had parted. "I know it's been like 5 years since I last saw you, Jin actually comes to visit quite often. He told me the next time he comes back is the time he'll bring Shino with him. He is the one who helped me build this hut." Mugen then thought of four eyes. Jin and him bumped into each other once during those 5 years apart. Jin was working as a body guard for some aristocrat and Mugen was just passing through the town for food, a woman, and sake. They actually spared and had a drink together since Jin paid.

" I saw him once, he was doin good" he said smirking.

"Oh?"

"He was in a town I was passing through. He was working as a bodyguard"

"You guys didn't kill each other I hope" she started.

"Nah, we tried but in the end the looser had to buy the drinks," he then recalled the spar they had.

It had been a long fight and neither of them wanted to quit. Jin in the end knew both were still equals and conceded because he should be watching who he was being paid to watch. Mugen smiled at the memory, while Fuu opened the hut for them. He looked around. It was spacious; upon entering the living area he placed the two bags onto the table. There was only a side room that he assumed was her bedroom.

"So where does four-eyes sleep when he visits ya?"

"Here" she said pointing to the tatami under their feet. "Can you get some water from the well? It's a few kilometers that way" she said pointing back toward the town.

"Why don't you live closer to the damn thing?" he grumbled grabbing the bucket she offered.

"No one comes to bother me here, and it's still close enough to the town that people can still see my hut."

As Mugen pumped water he observed that she had a good view. She was close enough to the neighbors that if she screamed really loud she might still be heard. Her hut was actually closer to the nearby trails that lead to the main roads. As the bucket filled he could smell that Fuu had started the fire for dinner. As he entered the hut he could see that she had set her modest table and was puttering around the fire. He droped the bucket by the fire then sat at the table. She had put out some sake for him and took a swing. "Ahhh…."he sighed contently.

"Thanks for the water, dinner will be ready shortly. Would you mind doing one more favor?" she asked already cooking the pork she had purchased from the butcher.

"What now?" he grumbled taking another swing of sake.

"Can you clean those vegetables; I was going to cook them with the pork." She stated already grabbing a bowl and handing him the peas. He then gave her a look, "never mind, just don't complain to me when I'm not done cooking then!" she snapped. He smirked and swung another saucer full of sake down.

As Fuu place the food down infront of her rude guest she smiled. She missed Mugen and Jin. She really treasured the moments Jin came to visit. And her heart secretly longed to see the pirate infront of her once more. "Itadakimasu!" he chirped and dove into his food. She took the seat across from him and sat down.

"Itadakimasu," she said and picked up her chopsticks. She then looked over at Mugen and really saw how the years weren't good to him. His once proud stance looked a bit more laid back. His messy hair looked almost the same. She could tell he hadn't shaved in a while because his beard was growing out in rough patches. He really does look skinnier, she thought as she took a bite of the pork. And the way he was eating made her wonder if he ate regularly. She always worried over Jin too when he was here.

Mugen noticed out of the corner of his eye that Fuu kept staring at him. She was looking at him but had a look that she was also looking through him. "What sumtin on my face?" he asked after he had swallowed a mouthful of food.

She shook her head sadly. "Are you doing okay?" she asked softly. He cocked an eyebrow.

What kind of question is that? he thought. "Yea, why?" he said looking at her like she grew another head.

"No, no…nothing." She mumbled as she continued to eat her eyes dropped to her food. He cocked his head to the side then glared at her.

"Whatcha hiding from me girly?" he asked.

"It's nothing, I'll tell you after you finish eating," she replied queitely.

Mugen got an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn't like the sad look Fuu was giving him and he didn't like that she seemed so different. He started to notice the physical changes at the market place. But now at dinner and while she was cooking he noticed other changes too. She seemed more independent and capable of taking care of herself. She also seemed to be eating more properly. He kind of missed the girl who would rival him in his food binges. Now she was quietly eating her food with her chopsticks and it seemed that she really didn't enjoy eating the food or its taste. He cocked his head to the side. What is wrong with this girl, he thought. Had she really grown up in the five years he hadn't seen her. He actually knew where she was after running into Jin, but it took him a whole year to decide it was time to come visit her. And it took a half a year to get here. He was afraid of the things he would find; her new family, if she had one, but at the moment he didn't have to worry about that. However, he still had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his belly.

As Fuu cleared the table, Mugen lazily drank another bottle of sake. He had finished the first one over dinner. "Mugen can you roll the table to the side. I'm going to go get the spare bedding for you," she said walking into her room. Mugen wasn't done drinking yet and the uneasy feeling still hadn't settled yet, so he knew he still was going to need the sake. He moved the table closer to the small fire and continued to nurse his drink. As Fuu came out of her room she held the bundle in her arms and started to lay it on the ground.

"So whatcha wanted to tell me?" Mugen asked trying to act indifferent by scratching his belly. She jumped at his voice. The he caught a saddness before she straightened and looked over to him.

"I don't know how to tell you and Jin. But since it's you I guess I can be more direct." He tried to look like he didn't care, and dug his ear with his pinky finger. "I'm getting married soon. My fiance is a good fisherman and he'll take good care of me. He is out on the ocean right now, and I know it's sudden but I just want you and Jin to be happy for me." She said in a rush.