Mugen climbed out the ocean and pulled on his threadbare shorts. Water clung to every inch of the skin that was bared to the moon and dripped from his hair. It felt damned good to be clean, even if the seawater had seeped into his wounds and caused them to sting and throb unmercifully. Exhausted, Mugen found the closest patch of grass and collapsed. As he folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, he fell asleep thinking about the boat he would build when all of these hard times were finally finished. When she was finally safe. He dreamed how the three of them would climb into his boat and drift out on the sea and never have to see or talk or kill anyone else for the rest of their lives…
The slight sound of breaking branches and twigs roused Mugen from his sleep. It only took a moment to guess who it might be. He cracked one eye open and growled, "Are you going to stand there all night gawking at me, girly?"
Mugen, in his drowsy state, wondered briefly at how long Fuu had been watching him. If he was in better shape, he would have sensed her right away. He caught her scent on the warm breeze and was startled to discover how close she was. His body warmed and tensed as if he was preparing for…what? If he didn't know better, he would think that he was ready to have sex. With Fuu? Man, his body and his mind were a fucking mess.
Fuu emerged reluctantly from the darkness in her pink kimono, like a gift. A gift, until she opened her mouth. "What are you doing in the water? Don't you think that it's dangerous? Won't your wounds get infected?"
Mugen sat up slowly and looked at his traveling companion. Her body was tense and her eyes were aimed pointedly at the ground. So she was pissed off at him, hmm? The muscles in his legs relaxed and a small smile stretched his lips. This was the Fuu he liked best. He preferred this argumentative, annoying, bitchy Fuu over the pale, quiet nursemaid she had become over the last few weeks. He decided that it was past time to have some fun and make her…remember.
"You know what, Fuu? I'm not feelin' so good," Mugen said slowly. He put his forearm to his brow and groaned. "Maybe I should lay back dow…nnn…uhh". And he promptly fell onto his back in an explosion of sand. Fuu rushed frantically to his side and grabbed his arms. "Mugen! Mugen!" As she lowered her forehead to his and her tears warmed his cheeks, Mugen realized his mistake. He curled his hand around the back of Fuu's neck, pulled her down onto his chest and kissed her hard on the mouth. His amusement lasted almost six entire seconds, which was how long it took him to realize how soft she was, how good her body felt against his and that she was kissing him back with a rough, inexperienced abandon.