Okay so, my account was mysteriously deleted, and so were all my stories, no one can tell me why; so I decided to repost all my work…it's just a shame I had to loose all my wonderful reviews, from all my wonderful readers!  :)

Here's to old readers coming back, and to new readers reading for the first time.

Love to all,

Bizzybee/ Lizzybee now LOL

Samurai Champloo is not owned by me…(sniffles) I think it should be, but sadly its NOT. This is my second fanfic, so if you need to be brutal, be; but it's the time of the month so don't make me hurt you (I think the girls got that joke..the boys might be a bit slow) HAHAHA

Chapter One: Our separate ways

Fuu had walked into town feeling quite content with the way she left Mugen and Jin. Sure she wanted to hug them both and tell them that she would miss them, but that's not how they were. She didn't want to look at their separation as a dreadful or depressing thing, but a happy one. She had a life time of memories built up now, that she would replay over and over in her head, and maybe some day she would see them again. As she passed the town's people and stores and houses, she wondered what it would be like to see them after years had past, what they would say to each other; if they would go on another journey. She smiled, softly sighing, it was than the intoxicating scent of food assaulted her nostrils.

"OOOHHH" She drooled looking towards the humble restaurant. She scrimmaged through her little purse, and found enough money to at least buy her a small meal and drink. She smiled and trotted inside the restaurant. It was empty when she walked in, and she wondered why people weren't dashing in here at the smell of something this delicious smelling. But than again, not everybody is lead by their stomachs.

"Welcome." The old lady smiled, wiping her hands on her apron as she left the kitchen area to seat Fuu.

"Have a seat here." She smiled gesturing to the table closest to the kitchen. Fuu smiled with little tears bubbles at the side of her eyes, happy that she would be next to the kitchen.

"Arigato." Fuu smiled sitting down. The old lady than asked her what she wanted to eat and quickly put the order in. Fuu wondered why they were cooking with no body else in the restaurant. But her mind was in her tummy, and she needed to eat. The old lady smiled bringing her some tea. She noted how young Fuu looked and recognized that she was not from this town.

"Excuse me, but are you here by yourself?" The lady asked slightly worried about the young girls safety. Fuu smiled taking a long sip of her tea, she didn't know she was so thirsty.

"Yes, I've been traveling." She smiled. Fuu knew it sounded bad to say that she was alone, and the truth is, she didn't like saying that she was; it made her feel sad. The old lady, smiled, her eyes almost disappearing into her wrinkles.

"Alone?" She asked sitting down in front of her. Fuu looked down to her cup of tea, starting to feel a bit sad but continued to smile. She nodded. The old lady looked over to the kitchen where her husband was cooking away, he tilted his head and looked back at his wife after hearing that the girl was alone.

"It's not safe for you to be traveling alone like this..." The old lady started. Fuu looked up and smiled at her, knowing very well that it was not safe, but she had no other place to go.

"It's okay, I'm fine, really." Fuu smiled taking another sip of her tea. Her journey with Mugen and Jin had made her stronger and even though she had only been separated from them for not more than 4 days; she felt she could be fine on her own. The old man came out of the kitchen with a tray full of food she didn't order. Fuu gasped looking very worried.

"Ahh, I didn't order any of that." She smiled hysterically waving her hands in front of tray. The old man smiled setting it down.

"Don't worry, it's on us." He smiled.

"We always have so much left over anyway." The old lady smiled gesturing for Fuu to eat. Fuu was a bit hesitant and thought for a second that it was a trap. But her mission was over, the people after her were gone. She was free and alone. She smiled and started to eat.

"What is your name?" The old lady asked pouring her more tea. Fuu had stuffed her face like a little chipmunk, there was rice and bits of food all over her face as she ate. She swallowed a large lump of food and sighed happily.

"Fuu." She smiled. Realizing how disrespectful she was being, she put her bowl down and gently bowed, thanking them for being so kind to her. The old lady and her husband smiled. He sat down beside his wife and insisted Fuu continue to eat.

"Fuu, that is a very beautiful name. My name is Aki." The old lady seemed strangely beautiful for her age, and considering she was covered in wrinkles. But her eyes sparkled like a youth, innocently and kindly. Fuu stopped to aw at her.

"And I am her husband, Shiro." The old man said. He also looked very beautiful, like there was a large ray of sun light from heaven glowing them. Fuu smiled bowing her head. They let Fuu eat and offered many servings of food as she stormed everything down. They were amazed and frightened by her appetite. After a couple of hours past, and Fuu had blimped up into a fat little girl, she burped happily. The couple sat across from the fat girl struggling to balance her sitting. They smiled and laughed as they watched Fuu try to get up. They had not laughed like this in a long time. It was than Fuu noticed that she had not seen one person come in yet, she wondered if she should ask about it or if it was too impolite.

"You are wondering why nobody has come in yet?" Aki said. Fuu twitched nervously smiling.

"It's okay Fuu-chan." Shiro smiled pouring himself another cup of tea. They seemed very upset but not from the lack of business.

"See, nobody comes in here until dinner time, it's our bad luck that the magistrate of this town has decided that only his warriors and men can eat here." Aki started the story, slightly saddened. Fuu, surprised asked to hear the story.

"We make good food here, very delicious food. One day the magistrate's sons' came to our restaurant and ate. He liked our cooking so much that he banned any other person that was not in his gang or father's circle, to eat here." Shiro sank in his seat looking at his old hands. Fuu's eyes glassed over with sadness watching the old couple quietly stare down.

"That's not fair though." She blurted.

"We know dear, but it can't be helped. They come every night for dinner here, they drink too much and often cause fights. No one comes near our restaurant in fear of getting in the cross fire." Aki smiled, she was sad, but somehow smiling took some of the pain away.

"That's horrible." Fuu was very upset for the old couple.

"Though we have many friends who see us outside the restaurant, we are isolated and alone here." They looked as if they were going to cry. Anger and sadness built up in Fuu's heart. They were silent for a moment, Fuu not knowing what to say to make them feel happier. She thought about it, she had never eaten food this delicious in her life. They truly were very talented cooks.

"Fuu-chan…I know this is very forward. But since you are alone, and we are…alone. Would you like to stay with us?" Aki asked looking deep into Fuu's eyes. Fuu was shocked by the offer. She thought about it, and for a brief second she was going to say no because she had travel companions with her, but she was alone now. She smiled, realizing that she could make this town her home, make these people her family.

"I would be very honoured." She smiled. The old couple hugged each other, thanking Fuu for agreeing to stay. Fuu knew it was strange, and even more strange that without knowing enough about her, they asked her to stay with them. But she could tell they were lonely and obviously had no child to love. Maybe they were looking for what she was looking for now, a family. They laughed as Shiro jumped to the kitchen to start making Fuu some shrimp dumplings. Fuu drooled, patting her stomach.

"Thank you Fuu-chan." Aki smiled hugging her. Fuu hugged her back.

"No thank you Aki-san." They both smiled at each other one last time before going into the kitchen.

…………………………………..

Mugen was walking through the forest looking up at the sky. There was no one around him, no one to annoy him. He stopped and looked back thinking to yell at the wimpy girl who was always complaining about her feet hurting. He didn't know why he was thinking that, and why he wanted to shout back at her; but he did. He was angry at the feeling and now starting to become very angry at her. He turned back and started to walk again. He put his arms back against his head and sluggishly soaked in the sun and the light breeze. He was in no hurry now. The journey was over and there was no urgent destination to go to. He was back to roaming around, feeling empty. But he didn't care, that's how he was like before Fuu and Jin popped into his life. Suddenly a bird flew off a tree quickly forcing him to grip his sword. He was paranoid, that somebody was still after them…

"Me, after me…there's no one here but me.." He angrily spat. Why did he miss having them around. He sharply looked to the sky.

"You stupid bitch!" He shouted. Suddenly he heard a herd of footsteps and horses. He could hear them now, fighting and screaming at each other. He didn't duck, instead he smirked and made his way along the path, ready to see who was fighting.

As he approached the battle, he noticed that it was some sort of gang fight. Obviously some rich guys against some poor group. He smirked and continued his way, walking into the middle of the battle. Both sides stopped watching Mugen walk in between them, carelessly.

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing!" Shouted one of the young rich guys, gesturing his sword to Mugen.

"Can't you see we're fighting!" Another shouted walking towards the ruffian. Mugen smirked happily ready for the attack.

"It's a trap! They're trying to distract us!" Screamed the poor gang's leader as they raced to Mugen for the kill.

In a flash of fast swords, the poor men who attacked him fell dead around Mugen's standing body. He smirked.

"Anyone else?" He asked sheathing his sword. The left over members of the poor gang quickly dashed away surprised by Mugen's skill. Even the rich gang, sitting on their horses, felt sweat rushing down their foreheads watching Mugen's eyes. They were afraid of him. They had never seen such skilled fighting.

"You, you didn't even move…"The young rich boy stuttered panicking. Mugen grinned.

"Why should I move when they came to me." Mugen turned to face the gang as their leader peeked through. He was mounted on a black, very decorated horse. He looked rich and spoiled. He clapped at Mugen, coming down from his horse.

"You have tremendous skill. I would like to make you an offer you won't refuse." He smirked standing face to face with Mugen, who smirked back tilting his head to look at his scared army.

"I don't like being told what I can or can't do…makes me mad." He grinned eyeing the young rich boy trying to hide behind the others. The young man in front of him smiled and nodded agreeing to choose his words better.

"Well than, in that case. I will let you decide."

……………………………………………

He watched the sun set, and admired the colours stretching out to the ends of the worlds. He looked on to the small island across the ocean thinking about her. All he thought about was her when they all separated. He wanted to see her, let her know that he was still alive and that he was waiting for her to gain her freedom again. But they both knew that when she stepped into that Island sanctuary, they would have to wait in vein for three years to see each other.

"Shino…." He whispered into wind, hoping that some how she would hear him. He had been standing there for a long time, and though the journey to get there should have taken days, he ran, as fast as he could just to see the island she lived in. He smiled to the island, his hearting tearing at him. He felt alone suddenly. He turned back thinking to see Fuu shout for him and argue with Mugen. He pictured them standing there trying to strangle each other, and even pictured Fuu's little flying squirrel to jump out and suffocate Mugen while Fuu kicked him. A small smile cracked on his face. He didn't know that it would feel like this after they said good bye. The wind picked up, making his pony tail dance. His glasses beamed against the soft light of the fading sun. He had become so accustomed to being with people, he had forgotten what it felt like to be alone. Fuu was the reason he went on the journey, was the reason he felt company, he met Shino. It was because of her journey to see the Sunflower Samurai that he was there now, without his traveling friends. He saw a small boat approaching, peeking ghostly through the water fog. The boat ported slowly closer to land, and Jin saw a very old monk trying to dock. Without seeking permission, Jin helped the boat dock gently and safely to land so that the old monk did not fling back. The old man smiled, looking up to the silent samurai. Jin didn't smile back, he was always expressionless and seemed emotionless, like he had no soul.

"Thank you young Samurai." The old monk said allowing Jin to help him out of the boat.

"You're welcome." He said after the old man was on land. Jin shared a silent moment looking at the old monk looking at him before he moved his gaze to the island.

"Is there someone there that you wish to see?" The monk asked, thinking to grab the quiet man's attention. But Jin, without surprise or revealing too much of his interest, smiled.

"I must go now. Stay in good health." And he started to slowly make his way. Suddenly the monk grabbed his forearm. Jin turned around a bit surprised by the old man's quick movements.

"Destiny always brings people who are destined to be together, to BE together." His tired ancient smile and strong grip should have sparked more suspicion in Jin but he let the old monk happily make his exit without another word. Jin watched his body disappear into the forest, engraving what the monk said, into his memory.

Okey so that was the first chapter! Let me know what you think