And then there were two. . .
Chapter 2: How lives change
Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo or any of it's characters.
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The rest of the day was spent in silence, Fuu sat in the shade as Mugen worked with the sails and steered the little boat in what seemed like a planned direction. She tried not to think about the evening before, since her tears seemed to irritate the pirate. It was nightfall by the time they finally stopped and once they hit land both of them were too emotionally exhausted to feel anything. The pirate got her and all belongings that would be useful off the boat, then peeled out of his shirts, handing them to the confused girl.
"Gotta sink it, it'll buy us a lot more time than just hiding it." He got on board and sailed it out a ways, and she wasn't surprised at how fast he came back, soaking wet from his swim back. She watched the boat sink almost mournfully, then helped him pack up the few belongings they had salvaged. He took the sack from her, throwing it around his upper body, before bending down and holding back his arms. "Get on, it ain't going to be my fault if you cripple yourself, because you have no shoes." She timidly settled on his back, mainly because she was still a bit miffed about his mild violent bit of shaking earlier. He pulled her close, practically molding her to his back, then he took off, through the brush and into the night.
They reached a small village a few hours later and it was very late in the evening by the time Mugen reached an inn for them to stay at. He pounded loudly on the door, and a few moments later a disgruntled looking man opened it.
"We're closed up, come back tomorrow!" He groused.
"You son of a bitch, we only need one room and I got the cash to pay for it!" The inn keeper's eyes glanced over their appearance, lingering over the blue tattoos that branded the pirate.
"Do your sinful deeds somewhere else, we don't rent out beds for the hour!" He went to slam the door, but Mugen held it open with his foot. He panicked, searching wildly for a reason that would enable them to stay, Fuu snuggled into his back, thankfully asleep, not hearing the insulting words the inn owner was spewing. He blinked suddenly and then smirked.
"Well since she's my wife," He lied smoothly, smugly. "I doubt it's considered sinful." The Inn keeper looked doubtful for a moment. "Look, we've been traveling since last night and her feet are raw, we just need a place to sleep and if she wants one, a bath." Finally the Inn keeper stepped aside and allowed them in, he showed them to a small room, which contained a simple futon and a candle which the Inn keeper lit.
"I apologize, for questioning your. . . reasons for a room, we've just had men with those tattoos before and they've caused quite a bit of damage." Mugen settled Fuu down on the futon, dropping their things. "There's a hot spring nearby, that is fairly private and there is a tea house if you need to eat, down the way." He gave the inn keeper a nod. "I bid you goodnight." He said, closing the door and leaving the two alone.
Mugen sighed, then looked over to the sleeping pink bundle on the futon. They would be safe for the time being, he would check out this small village, maybe it would be a good place to stay for awhile, Fuu could find work at the teahouse probably and he. . .well, he could find a way to make a little money as well.
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Fuu woke early the next morning, finding Mugen no where in sight, she panicked slightly, but then the door opened and he came in carrying a small bundle. He blinked, seeing her awake, then set the bundle down, sitting down beside her on the futon.
"We're in a small village, not far inland, it's fairly cut off, very few travelers come through here, mainly backwoods travelers. . ." She gave him a confused look. "People like me." He verified.
"Oh. . ." She looked down to the bundle he had carried in, he noticed and handed it to her.
"Here, I thought you would need this stuff." She opened it and found a pair of new sandals, a sleeping yukata, and some sakura smelling soap. She blushed slightly and turned to look at Mugen, who was looking extremely uncomfortable.
"Mugen. . ." She smiled brightly.
"What?! Oh, fuck. . .don't look at me that way!"
"It's just, that's so sweet!" She jumped at him, hugging him tightly around his torso.
"Oi!! Get off Brat! Stop THAT!" She ignored him and continued to squeeze the scary looking pirate. "Quit it! You're turnin' me soft!" She snuggled closer and closer till she sat in his lap, he sighed and gave up.
"Ya know. . ." He said after a moment. "It's a good thing I bought that stuff, you smell kind of fishy."
That had earned him a good whack. He laid on the floor and watched the fuming girl stomp off out the door, carrying the small bundle with her. He smiled slightly as she slammed the door. He rubbed his now red cheek.
"I guess being soft is somethin' I could get used to."
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Fuu came back, looking clean, wet, and refreshed, she gave Mugen an irritated look, before sitting down on their futon. 'Their' futon, that one word spoke volumes in her mind, she squeezed the mattress lightly and thought about the night before.
She woke in the darkness, she had expected them to still be moving, but Mugen must have made it to a village. She heard as he argued with the innkeeper and snuggled into his back when he tensed up at the insults the owner threw their way. She blushed when Mugen lied about their relationship, but stayed quiet, knowing that Mugen thought she was asleep.
When Mugen laid her on the futon she rolled, loving the feel of a bed beneath her. She listened to both men's quiet voices, easily finding Mugen's deep one. It was moments later that she felt him settle behind her, molding his front to her back and his arms around her. She listened to his breathing, feeling it warm the back of her neck, knowing when he fell asleep. She rolled and faced him, finding it endearing at how much younger and more innocent he looked while he slept. The need to kiss him crept up on her and she cuddled into his warmth before it overtook her.
She wondered if sleeping next to each other so intimately would become a regular habit, while she liked it, she didn't want to become even more attached to the pirate, who had the tendency to wander off and not return. The thought of never seeing him again like Jin, was enough to bring the tears, and though they were silent, they were not unnoticed.
Mugen moved over to the girl, cursing lightly under his breath, placing a hand to her head, feeling the slight dampness of her hair. She wiped furiously at her eyes, until he took hold of one wrist, she looked up at him, finding him staring back at her calmly. He pulled her into his lap and leaned back against the wall, tucking her head under his chin, silently telling her that it was alright to give into her grief. She wrapped her arms around his neck, before taking him up on his offer.
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When she had calmed down, she awkwardly moved out of his arms, and asked him to turn away while she changed back into her pink kimono. She sighed when she noticed it had more holes than ever, but she couldn't bring herself throw it out. When she was done, they decided to take a look around the village, they found the teahouse easily and bought some breakfast. She soon found herself speaking with the elderly owner and easily got a job.
"Are you going to find work Mugen?" She asked him as they walked through the local market. He yawned and shrugged.
"There's a dock nearby, figured I could help out some of the fishermen." He smirked. "I got a lot of experience in that area ya'know."
"Yeah, at being a pirate." She said dryly. He pinched her side and she squirmed away from him. He gave a short laugh and mimicked her, which had her smiling in embarrassment. It felt good to be able to tease each other, and it suddenly felt like they were back on their journey and Jin would soon be coming up the road looking at them with annoyance. It saddened her, but somehow it made her happy as well.
When nightfall came, they went back to the Inn, Mugen asked the owner if he knew of a hut that was unoccupied. There was one, but it was run down, Fuu smiled brightly at that and told him that it wouldn't be for long.
They found the hut the next day and over the next week they spent time cleaning it and fixing it up. Mugen spent most of the time on the outside, working on the roof and the exterior, while Fuu cleared out the inside. The hut was composed of two rooms, in the larger there was a fire pit and a doorway leading to a smaller room which had a couple of old futons, which once they were shaken looked in fair condition. They purchase a couple blankets and some other items, including a couple pots and some fabric when Fuu had mentioned that she would like to put some curtains up.
They didn't spend a night there until it was finished, both of them sat at the fire eating quietly. It was awkward, neither of them really knew what to say to each other, Fuu excused herself, telling him to leave his bowl, that she would clean them tomorrow. She changed into the sleeping yukata and brushed her hair, listening as Mugen moved in the other room.
She crawled onto her futon and pulled up the blankets, staring over at the empty made futon, feeling slightly disappointed that they would no longer be sleeping next to each other. She blew out the candle next to her and closed her eyes. Mugen came in a moment later, he paused at the doorway and stared down at the empty futon, before directing his eyes to the girl laying on the other one.
She heard some rustling, thinking he had climbed into the bed and opened her eyes finding him holding his pillow and blanket, bare-chested and looking disgruntled. She gave him a small nod and he tossed his pillow down next to her, then threw his blanket over hers, before crawling in beside her. Suddenly she was pressed between Mugen and the wall, a deep blush marred her cheeks as her eyes drifted over his chest.
"My eyes are up here." He said and her gaze snapped up to his smirking face.
"Shut-up! I wasn't looking!" She moved to roll over, but he stopped her.
"Liar. . ."he muttered, leaning over her. She whispered his name shakily and he smiled bringing a hand to her cheek. "Can I kiss ya, brat?" She blinked up at him and bit down on her lower lip nervously, before giving him another small nod.
He pressed his mouth to hers gently, or as gently as he could. She rested her hands on his shoulders, not knowing what to do with them, gripping them tightly when he opened her mouth, touching his tongue lightly to hers, before taken the time to explore her mouth. Her stomach tightened, and a low heat sprung to life, as it began to ache. When he pulled back she made a small sound of disappointment, opening her eyes and finding him looking down at her, this time seriously.
"Mugen?" She asked him, questioning why he had stopped, he laid down beside her and pulling her back to his front before leaning up, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke.
"I ain't gonna kiss you like that again, until you're ready for somethin' more." She blushed lightly. "Ya wanna be with me Fuu?" He asked seriously.
"Yes." She breathed softly. "Can we. . .can we go slowly?" She asked nervously.
"Yeah, I can't promise I'll be patient or nothin'," He said, holding her tighter. "but, yeah, I'll wait for ya." Suddenly, she giggled. "Oi! What?!"
"N-nothing!" She continued to laugh. "You just never used my name before now! It sounded funny coming from you!" He snorted and flopped down beside her, pulling her against him.
"Fine, I'll keep calling you brat."
"Mugen!"
