Chapter Three: The empty bed.
Morning had crept up and Fuu was still sleeping. The dawn's sunlight tickled her eyes and surrounded her in a soft warm feeling. Momo-san peaked out of her kimono and started to fly around the room, call it exercise…he was one health conscience squirrel.
Fuu rolled over to her side facing the door, not wanting to get out of her bed. It had been along time since she was able to sleep in such a cozy clean place. On her journey she had to settle for whatever she got, most of the time sleeping on the floor with Mugen and Jin close by, there was no level of privacy. Her eyes fluttered open gently feeling the sun on her skin.
"Fuu-chan?" Aki called on the other side of the door. Fuu sat up rubbing her eyes and stretching her arms and legs out. She was so relaxed.
"Yes Aki-san, come in." She had not invited anyone to come into her room in a long time either. With Mugen and Jin, they would always just walk in, well mostly just Mugen. Jin had a lot more respect and common sense about walking in on a woman. Aki slid open the door meeting her with a bright smile.
"Are you hungry, you can have breakfast at the restaurant." She smiled. Fuu jumped at the thought of eating breakfast. Eating in the morning was always a 'ify' thing when she was on her journey, now she had a home.
"OHHH thank you!" Fuu giggled happily as Momo-san flew down to her shoulder. Aki's eyes opened in happy surprise.
"Oh what's this? You're friend?" Aki asked stepping into the room. Fuu smiled letting Aki pet the small animal. Momo-san liked the gentle petting of Aki's old hands and voluntarily skipped on to her shoulder. Aki laughed in complete joy. Fuu looked at how this small attention from a animal made the old woman so happy, like playing with a child.
"His name is Momo-san, he must really like you if he came to you just like that." Fuu brightly smiled. Aki felt very honored. Fuu remembered how much Momo-san hated Mugen but some what liked Jin. Mugen was always trying to kill the flying squirrel and even threatened to eat him when she was asleep.
After playing with Momo-san for a bit, Aki asked Fuu to take a bath, and meet at the restaurant. Fuu agreed and hoped to it, after Aki left. It was just like home now, she thought as she bathed. But even though, things were going well so far in her new home, and she had the security of a family; she missed Mugen and Jin.
"I wonder what they're up to right now?" Her mind trailed off picturing Mugen at a brothel molesting a swanky woman and Jin silently wondering through the forests. She smiled looking out to the sky. She wondered if she would ever see them again.
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Mugen woke up feeling rather annoyed and disgusted. He looked down to the naked woman beside him, he felt slightly bitter with himself. He got up and put on his shirt and hung his sheathed sword on his back. He didn't say one word to the willing woman, instead he left her sleeping on the messed futon in the middle of the room. It was early, and the men were now leaving, going back to their homes; and work. He noticed how the brothel was full of mostly just the magistrate's men and he only spotted a few normal town's men. Ignoring the fact, he left for a walk and some food. Not seeing Koroso anywhere in the brothel he headed back to the restaurant, hoping to score breakfast.
"Oh…you're back?" Aki asked a bit surprised to see Mugen there in the morning. She looked around him to see if the magistrate's son or men were with him, but saw no one. Mugen looked down to the old lady, not really interested in what she thought or said.
"I want food. I'm hungry." He said settling himself down to the table he was in last night. The place looked different in the morning when it was empty, peaceful. He noticed that the commander's body was gone and so was the blood stains on the cushions. He was silent as Aki brought him some tea.
"What would you like to eat?" She smiled. Mugen ordered a large serving of squid, rice, shrimp dumplings, and crab. Aki's smile twitched, she thought he had a large appetite. Mugen annoyed by the woman's shocked expression asked her what her problem was.
"Oh no, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about this young girl I just met who has a rather large appetite too." She smiled and quickly walked away. Mugen didn't say anything, he just started to drink his tea. Soon, his food was done, and Shiro brought it out to him. Mugen grabbed him by his shirt and pulled the old man to him. Shiro gasped slightly.
"Why do you and the old woman keep smiling so much…it's annoying me." He grunted with a smirk. Shiro smiled back nervously.
"I'm not sure, we just like smiling." He stuttered. Mugen let the old man go and went to his eating. This was the second time in a row that he had eaten this well. He couldn't tell last night because of the saki he drank, but the food tasted exceptionally good. Real good.
"There you are. I see you have come to like this place too." Koroso smirked stepping into the restaurant. Aki quickly greeted him and went to tell Shiro to make more food. She stood in the kitchen with her husband, wondering why Koroso was there so early. They never saw anyone from the magistrate's group at the restaurant during the day. They were silently staring at each other, wondering if they had perhaps killed off all the rebels.
"I'm here." Fuu smiled coming in from the back. She was ready to eat. Aki and Shiro quickly pushed away their gloomy thought and greeted Fuu. Shiro excused himself to cook while Aki let Fuu sit down at a small table in the kitchen to eat her breakfast. Fuu had tears in her eyes from all the happiness she got when she looked down to all the food she could eat. She leaped and hugged Aki tightly, thanking her for this wonderful day. Aki smiled with little sparkles in her eyes, Fuu saw it, but thought it was wise beauty; not tears of happiness.
Meanwhile, Mugen had finished and was now talking to Koroso about his rule in his gang.
"All you have to do, is protect me and kill off anyone who opposes me." Koroso smirked stuffing his face with the food Aki brought out. Mugen grinned closing his eyes.
"Basically I'll be the body guard and assassin?"
"Yes."
"Well two jobs means twice the pay." Mugen grinned looking at him. Koroso was a bit irritated, but changed his displeasure to a smirk. Looking down to yet another bowl full of food he nodded.
"Agreed." He said. Aki brought out the last tray of food for Koroso but by this time, he was done and ready to get back to his home. He left Aki with some money on the table, exiting with Mugen close by.
"I'll show you your new home." Koroso smirked. Aki sighed looking at the wasted food she held on to, and angrily decided that she would just feed it to them tonight. Mugen stopped just short of leaving the restaurant hearing a familiar whine of happiness. He turned in confusion. A strange feeling was tugging the back of his mind as he looked to the kitchen. Aki saw him and looked back at the kitchen wondering what he was looking at.
'….it can't be…' he smirked and left. Aki turned around to see that the newest member of the magistrate's gang was gone. She shrugged and headed back to the kitchen.
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Jin, Mizu and a hand full of his men were walking in the heavy forest. They had made a secret path way leading back to the town without anyone knowing. The day was sunny, but not too hot. Light gentle breeze's would cool them as they journeyed back to the town. Jin was ever silent, and only hummed when spoken to. Mizu felt like he could understand Jin, and his silence. Sometimes it was better to stay silent, it made sure that no one knew enough about you to use against you. They were almost there.
"That's my town." Mizu pointed from the top of the hill down to his town. It was a busy town, with lots of trades and merchant's traveling to sell goods and do business. Jin followed them down the hill side to the town area. He could not believe how well organized Mizu's gang was. They had safely made it to the town without one person noticing them. He wondered what kind of training Mizu had. He knew that he was no samurai and knew nothing of bushido, still he seemed very alert and elegant like a samurai. The hand full of men branched out running in different directions back to their homes, to their woman and children. Mizu continued to lead Jin towards his home, a rather large home on a small hill outside of the town area.
"You can stay with my family for now, until we plan our next move. If we somehow get found, it's important that you don't get captured with us…we'll need you to fight." Mizu whispered as they continued their way down. Jin nodded.
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Fuu had learned quickly how to prepare batter and make dumplings. She made a small game out of it, making it more fun for her to work. She liked Aki and Shiro's company, they made things fun and lively. She could tell that they had been together many years and were still madly in love. She smiled, wondering if she'll ever have that sort of love. She looked to the seating area, and sure enough it was still empty. No customers were in yet.
"Oh come to think of it." Fuu said out of nowhere. Aki looked over to her blinking.
"What was that last night?" She asked patting her chin with a finger. Aki and Shiro looked at each other and than to her. Aki smiled coming closer to Fuu.
"That was the magistrate's son, Koroso and his gang." She said softly to make sure no one heard.
"They are usually not that obnoxious…it seems they won a battle against the rebels." Shiro sadly smiled mixing the dough. Fuu was confused and she looked out to the tables again.
"The rebels are the men who are trying to over throw the magistrate and his army. Ever since Magistrate Kao killed the old magistrate, nothing in this town has been the same."
Aki sadly complained looking down to the floury floor. Fuu's eyes glassed watching the sad expression on her face deepen.
"They robbed this town of so much more than just money." Shiro added equally sad.
"So did the rebels loose ..?" Fuu asked rather upset. She put her hands together almost begging that she hear something good.
"Who knows, but they were celebrating something last night. They even got a new recruit. Some ruffian." Aki sighed. There was small silence amongst the three. Fuu didn't know what to say, she felt bad that someone as evil as the magistrate was in power. She knew that if Jin and Mugen were here with her, they would surely jump in to help…but than she thought about it, and realized they wouldn't do that.
"It's okay Fuu-chan. We'll talk more about this at home. But we must start cooking lunch. What would you like to eat?" Aki asked smiling. Fuu smiled back still feeling sad. She felt like Aki had lost something dear to her during the battle and, at least for now, choose not to tell her.
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Koroso pointed to a rather impressive lodge, it would be Mugen's home from now on. This was the only house close to the magistrates large palace, which was guarded heavily. He showed him to his door and left with a smirk.
"We'll meet later, and I'll fill you in about our enemies." He left. Mugen shrugged not really caring. He opened the door to a pretty nice place, complete with bath, room and kitchen; not that he would need to cook. He stepped in looking around, feeling like he had possession of something now, some asset. He didn't know why but he kept hearing this strange voice telling him that who he was dealing with was criminal. But since when did he care who was criminal or not. He cracked his neck, and placed his sword on the ground walking to the bath, it had been 5 days since he bathed, today he would soak his body.
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Mizu and Jin were standing like quiet shady robbers as they entered from the back door of the house. It was large for just a normal home, only people with money could afford such a place. Jin examined the place and noted the value of the land. He looked suspiciously at Mizu wondering how his family had come into this money. Mizu could feel his suspect and smiled.
"They're restaurant owners." Mizu smiled offering Jin some fresh cool water. Jin accepted not moving his eyes off of Mizu.
"Koroso ate at their restaurant one day and liked the food, after that he declared the place off limits to normal town's people. They only come at night, to get drunk and eat." He took a sip of his water, knowing very well that Jin would find it hard to believe him.
"In their drunkenness, they put down money without thinking, majority of the time, heaps of coin." Mizu explained. He didn't feel guilty for what his family was doing, he felt proud.
"It's because of them that we can afford weapons and a home that we can easily hide in." He continued. Jin was still unsure of how valid Mizu's story was, but somehow it was believable.
"And it's not just my family, many families do what they can to contribute." Mizu sat down on the floor pouring himself another cup of water. Two years of battle with the magistrate had left many scars on his body, but he was not ashamed of the bruises he took to save his town. Jin sat down across from him, watching him with stern quiet eyes. Mizu smiled looking up to him.
"You don't have to believe me. Whatever proof you need you will see for yourself." Mizu felt slightly guilty looking to his water, knowing that his family was probably worried for him. He knew that they had another long night at the restaurant cleaning up after the mess Koroso probably left.
"I'm going to take a bath, I'll show you to your room." Mizu got up and showed Jin to his room, but surprisingly they noticed that the futon looked like it had been slept on, and a woman's night gown had been left on it. Mizu looked surprised and quickly went to remove the gown. The bed was supposed to be empty.
"I'm sorry, perhaps there was another guest here taking refuge." Mizu left Jin in the room and made his way to the bath and noticed that the bath was full of water as well. He thought about it, and knew that his parents did offer young woman who were trying to escape the brothel home for awhile until they could leave the town safely. Either way, he would not worry about it now.
SO! How do you like? I've got some surprises lined up later on so stay tuned.
On the next chapter: Mugen's gets a first hand look at how things are done in the town. Jin meets Aki and Shiro and Mizu meets Fuu.