Chapter 1

"Order up!" a rusty voice yelled from the back of a petite teahouse.

The scrape of chopsticks buzzed in the ears of the equally small waitress as she pushed her way towards the kitchen to pick up the finished order.

Run away strains of brown hair wafted around her heart shaped face as she tried to balance the rice bowls in her arms.

"Come on beautiful, I'm starving over here." Fuu smiled at the plump man as she approached him with his order.

"Sorry, Yang, it's always tough this time of day." Fuu placed the bowls on the table in front of her balding regular customer, freeing her tiny hands to push her hair out of her face.

"I know honey, I just love giving you a hard time." The older man patted Fuu on her hand, which she took as a sign to move on to other customers.

Fuu floated from table to table, taking order, filling them, cleaning tables, and repeating the process until time began to fade from her consciousness.

She had worked in the teahouse for about four years. She wandered across it a few months after she separated from her 'bodyguards.' It's funny how she found herself back in the same spot she was in before she met Mugen and Jin, waiting tables. The family that owned the teahouse was an elderly couple whose own daughter died when she about Fuu's age. They took her in without question. She was very grateful to have met the Kyotos, she really didn't have a plan after she met the samurai who smelt of sunflowers, so meeting them really gave her time and a place to think about what happens next.

In the time she spent getting to know her newfound family, Fuu realized she has a knack for cooking, but when Mr. Kyoto tried to teach her, she quickly realized she'd rather be out with the customers, where all the action was. Ever since her time with Jin and Mugen, Fuu always needed to feel some rush of excitement. How could you blame her? She been kidnapped a million times and was nearly killed more times than need mentioning. She couldn't lead a normal life, hidden away in a kitchen. She longed to embark on another journey to some far off, unknown destination, but she didn't have the skills, or funds, to survive very long on her own. She didn't have Jin and Mugen to save her when she fell into harm's way. So for now, she'll just settle for the occasional drunk or wannabe samurai that wondered into her small teashop and caused a ruckus.

"Fuu," Mrs. Kyoto whispered in her sweet voice. The sound of it always reminded Fuu of the soft scent of cherry blossoms.

"Yes," Fuu smiled kindly at the old woman.

"You seem a bit distracted, darling. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Sometimes my mind just runs off before I know it."

"Ok, dear. Well, we're nearly done for today, anyhow. Hopefully, you'll have time to enjoy the evening before it gets too late. You might even find a nice young man." She nudged her playfully as her finally words escaped into the room.

"I don't know about all that, but I'm definitely looking forward to a long bath." Fuu was used to Mrs. Kyoto's constant 'subtle' suggestions to spark the interest of some of the local men looking for a wife. Fuu usually ignored her when she did, but sometimes it bothered her. It wasn't that Fuu didn't want to marry. She just didn't care for any of the men in the village. None of them were right. She couldn't quite define what 'right' meant, but whatever it was, none of the men she'd met had it.

As they spoke, a customer wondered in and sat in the back of the teahouse, hidden from view. Fuu helped the remaining customers, gingerly reminding them of the fast approaching closing hour. Mr. Kyoto didn't like her to rush the customer, but she always did without the customers realizing that she was. Just as she coaxed the last customer to leave, she noticed a silent pair of eyes watching her from a dark corner.

"I'm sorry sir, I didn't see you there. What can I get you?" despite her pleasant tone, Fuu was quite peeved this guy didn't speak up before. There's no telling what he was going to order, how long it would take to prepare, and how long he would take to eat it.

The silent man watched Fuu as she advanced upon him. He eyes never moved from her slender frame. He noticed her feminine shape through her kimono and smirked at the bounce of her breast as she quickly approached him.

As soon as Fuu was close enough to the man, she leaned forward, revealing a small bit of cleavage from her now loosened kimono, to hear his order. She could now see his lips, and saw a wide smirk dawn his features at her actions.

"Nice tits, girly." Instantly, the blood in Fuu's veins boiled to dangerous levels. Her face reflected her rising temper.

"Jerk," she shot up, covering herself. "You can eat shit." She spun on her heels to walk away; however, a bony hand encircled her wrist, preventing her from moving.

"Come on Fuu, I was just joking. Don't be such a baby." She heard the blatant sarcasm in his voice and wanted nothing but to slap the smirk, she knew was there, off his tanned face.

"Let me go, Mugen," she asked calmly. He didn't.

"Chill out, it was a complement. Don't be a bitch about it, man." His own irritation began to rise at Fuu's typical melodrama.

"I'm not going to ask you again to let my wrist go." A threatening undertone ran along her words as they reached his ears, which only pissed him off.

"Are you threatening me, bitch?" He now stood, towering over her.

"If that what it sounds like, then I guess so." Fuu yelled at him.

"Don't push me. I just might break this wrist in two." He stepped over the table, closing the gap between them.

"Oh, please. Am I supposed to be scared?" Fuu pinched her nose with her free hand. "Back up, your breath smells like some cheap prostitute's ass and you're breathing that rancid breath in my face, dick weed."

"Shut the hell up, it does not." Mugen blew his breath into his right hand, never taking his eyes off Fuu. Fuu laughed at his insecurity.

"Shut up, that's not funny." She laughed harder. Mugen dropped her wrist and pushed her away.

"Don't push me, jerk." Fuu yelled, smacking him hard across his arm.

"Hey, that hurt." Mugen grabbed his arm.

"It was supposed to." Once again, the two dove into a heated argument, calling each other vicious names and screaming at the top of their lung.

"What's going on in there?" Mr. Kyoto asked his wife as she peeked through the curtains from the kitchen.

"It's Fuu and a young man." A mischievous smile crept across Mrs. Kyoto's face.

"Oh my, is she ok? They sound very angry. Maybe I should go out there before he hurts her." Mr. Kyoto moved to push pass his wife, but she swatted him away.

"Oh hush, you old fool, can't you see the passion?" She moved aside, enough for Mr. Kyoto to push his head through.

"Oh my," he whispered when he saw Mugen and Fuu deep in the heat of a verbal battle, oblivious to the old couple watching them.

"You might be right dear. No one fights like that, unless they're in love."

"I know I'm right. They remind me of you and me at that age. Do you remember Huro? We fought so." She giggled as memories of her youth washed across her mind.

"Of course I remember, Mai. I only wonder?" He placed a pondering finger softly on his chin.

"What, dear?"

"If they realize."

They gazed as one another in sadness, knowing that they did not. The Kyotos knew that Fuu and Mugen were meant to be something more, but the two young people were too blind to see what was right in front of them. Before they realized the two had stopped fighting, Fuu stormed pass them, eyes blazing with hot tears of anger.

"Ugh, I hate him so much." She yelled in frustration.

"Well, the feeling mutual, bitch." Mugen screamed from the front of the tea house.

"Shut up." Fuu screamed back. Her fists were balled so tightly, she could feel her nails cutting into her hand, but she couldn't feel the pain.

"Fuu," Mrs. Kyoto ran to her, caressing her crimson face, attempting to calm her. "Dear, please sit down." Fuu obeyed.

"Calm yourself, dear." Mrs. Kyoto knew better than to pry about Mugen until Fuu was calm. She would grill her about this mystery man later.

"Get her some water, Huro." Mr. Kyoto followed his wife's instructions instinctively.

Fuu drank the water slowing, allowing the coolness of the liquor to wash away her anger. Her body was shaking all over. She hadn't been this emotional in years. Only Mugen could make her temper flare like that.

Fuu sat silently for a few more minutes, until her breathing became even and silent. Sensing Fuu was in better spirits, Mrs. Kyoto sat next to Fuu and took her still trembling hands into her own.

"Who is he?" She asked. She could see the red once again rise in her cheeks upon mentioning Mugen.

"Some jerk I used to know." She spat spitefully. Not wanting to talk about it any further, which she was sure Mrs. Kyoto wanted to, Fuu stood up and walked back into the front of the tea house. Mugen was still sitting in the corner. He was now sipping on some sake that was left at one of the nearby tables.

"Bitch," he mumbled as she walked past him into the cool night air. It took every fiber of her being not to scream something just as insulting back, but she refused to entertain him. Fuu took in the smell of the night as she stood just outside the threshold.

'That Mugen is such an asshole. It's beenfiveyears since I've seen that idiot and were bickering like we've haven't spent a day apart.Takes him to ruin a reunion.'Fuu though as she walked, slowly, towards the quaint shack she had been staying in.

She had just moved out of the Kyotos' attic above their restaurant. She finally saved enough for her own place. It wasn't much, but it was hers. It sat right off a small spring that was awesome for bathing in the warmer months. This was the main reason Fuu wanted to stay in the shack, despite all the work that needed to be done, a place to take a bath whenever she wished was a selling point for her. After spending months wandering around with the guys and not always being able to bathe, having one so close only seemed natural.

Once she reached home, her angry was virtually forgotten. She quickly stripped off her clothes and dipped her tired body into the cold waters of the spring. The shadow of the night danced across the waves of the water, entertaining and soothing Fuu as she watched them. The reflection of the milky moon fell heavy on the water. She felt her body relax as the water massaged her aching muscles. Her mind slowly drifted into oblivion as the hypnotic waves lulled her to sleep.

Fuu woke to the beautiful sound of singing crickets. She shivered as a gently breeze caressed her exposed skin. She lifted herself from the water, dragging her clothes behind her, not bothering to cover her wet body. It was so dark that no one could see her anyway. Fuu walked slowly to her small shack, allowing her body to dry in the night air. When she made it to her house her stomach growled in frustration from being ignored for so long.

"I guess I didn't have time to eat." She usually would eat something at the teahouse before heading home, but her mind was so clouded when she left, she must have forgotten.

She pushed open the heavy door that stood between her and the inside of her shack. She didn't notice the fire burning from inside since she had her eyes close. She walked into her house, oblivious to the steel eyes watching her movements in astonishment. Fuu let her garments drop to the floor as she continued towards her destination. She ran her fingers through her wet chocolate colored hair, sending droplets of water flying across the small abode.

The watcher became increasingly anxious with each step Fuu took, he knew it was only a matter of time before she realized he was there and all hell broke loose. Mugen wondered if he should make his presence know, but why ruin a good thing.

Fuu had most definitely changed. She was no longer the shapeless little girl he remembered. She was always pretty, but now, now she had beauty. Not to mention a great set of hooters. Mugen watched as her hips swayed as she walked. The rhythmic movements of her butt hypnotized him. Her slender legs glistened in the flicker of the fire. His eyes traced the remaining beads of water roll down the valley of her spine. Mugen was very turned on. She had zero sex appeal to him before, but now he found it difficult to keep his composure.

'Man, did she grow up.' He thought as Fuu reached the counter directly across from where he sat watching her. She still had her eyes closed and was facing away from the fire. Her body was still wet and cold from the spring, so she couldn't feel the warmth from the fire. She slowly opened her eyes to find supplies to start a fire, when she realized one was blazing behind her.

"What the," she muttered in confusion. Fuu's heart began to pound in her chest. Someone was in her house, and she was standing naked and defenseless before them.

'Nice going, Fuu. What a great way to die.' She thought as she slowly turned to look into the eyes of her would be killer.

"Mugen," she screamed once her big brown eyes rest upon his rust colored orbs.

"Nice…tits, Fuu." He smirked. Fuu screamed frantically as she tried to cover her naked body. "Hey, I've already seen the goods, girly. You should just let that shit all hang out now, might even have to give you a formal hello." He winked at her as she finally managed to cover herself with a nearby sheet.

"Shut up, you perv. As if I would ever let you touch me. Not even in your dreams."

"Don't deny, I know you want this. I can see it in your eyes, Fuu. It's ok, I might just let you have a taste." Mugen smiled smugly.

"Gross," Fuu began to retort, when she realized Mugen was sitting in her house, uninvited. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I need a place to crash and the old bird at the tea house told me where you lived. Said you'd be more than happy to house an old friend. What have you been telling her, Fuu? By the way she was talking, some might think you got the hots for me, which right now, I really wouldn't be opposed to."

"Stuff it, Mugen. You can't stay here. Get out!" She pointed at the door while holding the nearly sheer sheet over her body.

"Come on, Fuu. I don't have anywhere else to go. Let me stay. I'll make it worth your while." Mugen replied seductively.

"Oh, please. Not in a million years and I don't care if you don't have a place to go. You're nothing but trouble, and besides, you're not going to eat me out of house and home. Not to mention, you've said some pretty disrespectful things to me earlier that you have yet to apologize for. I have half a mind to deck you one across the face, ooooo, you make my blood boil."

"I can make you feel a lot of things, baby." Mugen interrupted.

"Get the hell out of my house, now! God, I can't believe this crap. I haven't seen you in five years and already I wish you were gone. Why me? Why are you even here? Who just comes into someone's house and makes themselves at home? Only a self-centered, selfish, repulsive pig like you. And why didn't you say anything when I walked in here, bearing all? I'm not some flossy you can pay to like you at one of those disgusting brothels you love to visit. I'm a self respecting woman and I don't want to be some eye candy for a disgusting jerk like you."

"Shut up," Mugen yelled, placing his lanky and hands over his ears. His excitement slowly began to fade the more she yelled at him.

"You can't tell me what to do, this is my house." Fuu responded placing her hands on her hips. As a result the sheet slipped from her body and fell to the floor, once again exposing her naked body to Mugen's hungry eyes.

"Geez," Fuu whimpered as she scurried to cover her body again.

"Really, Fuu, nice tits. We can do this right now, and you'll be begging me to stay one I'm done with you"

"Shut up."

After much bickering, Fuu allowed Mugen to stay the night. She finally managed to cloth herself and regain a small inkling of herself respect. Once emotions had calmed, Fuu and Mugen updated one another on their lives since they last seen one another.

Mugen had been, pretty much, traveling aimlessly for the past five years. He tried his hand at being a bodyguard here and there, but he never was willing to allow bodily harm to himself for some douche bag he didn't even care about. He ended up in Fuu's neck of the woods simply by chance. He had no intentions of staying more than a couple of hours, but since he ran into Fuu, he's figure he'd grace her with his presence for a few days. Not to mentions, he didn't have any money and figured Fuu would feed him and give him a place to sleep at night.

"Have you seen Jin?" Fuu asked hopefully. Jin was always her favorite and she thought about him frequently.

"No, haven't seen him since we all split. I bet he went back to that chick, the one from the brothel he got all hot and bothered over. What was her name?" Mugen cocked his head, much like a dog, trying to recall the name of the women their friend had fell in love with.

"You mean Shino?" Fuu whispered, almost to herself.

"Yea, her. I bet that stick in to mud ran right back to her. He was always a pussy. I can see him running after some chick." Mugen said casually, as if her was speaking of the peculiar weather they been having lately. His long body lay sprawled, in his usual way, across the spare futon Fuu had pulled out for him.

"Shut up, Mugen. Jin is no such thing. I think it's sweet, the way he helped her like that. If he did go back to her, I hope he's happy. He deserves it. It's so like you to down him like that. You're just jealous." Fuu said matter-of-factly.

"What the hell would I be jealous of him for?" Mugen shot up in offense.

"A lot," Fuu sensed that she had hit a soft spot and wanted to probe it as long as she could.

"Like what, give me one example." Mugen sat straight up and bore intensely into Fuu's eyes.

"Well for starters, he's way better looking than you and-"

"What" Mugen yelled, cutting her off. "I get way more chicks than that guy. You're just saying that cause you like that gay type. You like 'em questionable."

"Shut up. Having more sex doesn't count, cause you pay for it and besides, Jin is not questionable, he's mysterious and stoic. Oh, and Jin's a better fighter then you."

"Oh come on, I could kill him in my sleep. I just never got the chance, don't insult me like that, girl." A fire blazed behind his eyes, causing them to appear to be blood red. Fuu felt a little anxious.

"Whatever," she muttered, deciding it might be a good idea to change the subject before things got heated.

"What do you plan on doing when you leave here?"

"I don't know." He admitted relaxing back to his futon. "Haven't given it much thought." He dangled his long legs lazily over his other lanky extremity. Fuu watched him. 'How can someone soscrawnybe so strong? ´She wondered.

"Unless you wanna take me up on my offer, stop staring at me." Mugen spoke calmly, startling Fuu.

"I can stare if I want, you saw everything." Fuu rebuttled.

"Who fault is that."

"Shut up," Fuu snuffed out the fire and rolled onto her futon in anger.

The two laid in silence for a while, neither tired enough to sleep. Fuu listened to the symphony of sound just outside her window. It sooth her. Even with Mugen less than 10 feet away from her, she felt a calm that only the noises of the night could bring her.

"Hey Fuu?" Mugen voice cut into the thick darkness that surrounded them.

"What," she answered calmly.

"You really do have nice tits."

"Ugh, you jerk." She threw her close by sandal as hard she could in Mugen's directions and a satisfying smile spread across her face when he whined in pain as it bounced off his hidden form.

"Bitch," he whispered into the darkness as he rolled away from her and drifted off to sleep.