It had started out a quiet day. Mugen had been chopping wood in the back when he heard Fuu's shrill screams from the tea house. He nearly cut himself out of surprise and was left slightly dumb struck before realizing that there was trouble and Fuu was in danger. Dropping the axe, the ex-con ran through the house and into the small tea shop in the front, grabbing his sword on the way.
When he arrived on the scene he found Fuu in a corner with her daughter in her arms surrounded by four men. One of the tables had been turned over and a dark stain had formed on the dirt floor where tea had been spilt.
"Get away," Fuu said fiercely, but he could tell she was scared.
One of the men laughed. He was carrying a halberd and was a good foot taller than Fuu. "Why would we do that? We only want'cha ta come talk with us. The boss in particular would like ta speak with ya."
"NO!" Fuu shouted and the angry mother raised her fist and was about to strike the spear-man when her arm was caught by the yakuza's free hand. Mugen reacted fast, drawing his sword and severing the offending arm from the mans body. He screamed in pain clutching at the fresh wound and the other men spun around and faced the pirate.
"Who the fuck are you?" one belligerent fellow shouted at Mugen.
"Get the fuck outta here," Mugen growled at the men. They glanced between one another as if debating with what to do next while the now handicapped one continued to scream in anger.
"GET HIM!" he managed to shout. Fueled by his new found hatred for the look on the vagrant's face the armless man scooped up his dropped weapon and charged at Mugen. With one deft stroke, Mugen sliced the remainder of the man in half, splattering blood on the mans former comrades.
Said comrades stared in horrified silence at the quick death of their leader. They shifted in unease and shared glances at each other, trying to figure out what to do next. One moron took a slight step towards Fuu and Chizuru his arm preparing to extend and grab onto one of the two. Mugen caught the motion and swung his sword out, the tip of the blade stopping a few centimeters short of blinding said man.
"I ain't gonna say it again. Get. The fuck. Outta here."
Stunned silence, then a small tremble filled the air and all at once the remaining men fled except for the one held at sword point. Mugen glared hard into the man's eyes. Said man trembled and a dark stain formed on the ground where he stood.
His face twisted in disgust at the coward in front of him. But he had some questions to ask the man before Mugen could either kill him or let him keep his sorry life. He had formed a suspicion that this incident and the one that brought him here had connections.
"Ok fuck-face, who do you work for?"
"I... I.. I work for the l-local ya-yakuza boss," the coward managed to stammer out.
"Did yer group attack this family before."
The dumb-ass nodded and Mugen took a moment to think. There could be several reasons why the boss of a yakuza group would want to attack Fuu. Anything was possible from her insulting some higher up one day to wanting to mess with the her business or, more likely in his mind, just for the hell of it.
Mugen lowered his sword but stepped forward and grabbed the hem of the mans kimono.
"Tell your boss to fuckin' back off. Or I'll come and mutilate his ass." With that he shoved the man to the ground and the wimp crawled away as fast as he could.
There was a moment of silence in the tea house and relief washed over Fuu and her hands started to tremble. Soon her legs felt weak and she collapsed to the ground.
"Mommy..." Chizuru put her arms around Fuu's neck and buried her face into Fuu. In return the young mother wrapped her own arms around her daughter and held her close. She murmured gentle words and patted Chizuru's unruly hair, trying to calm down the frightened child. Most people would have found this scene touching but Mugen was not in a sentimental mood.
He was angry, angry at Fuu for getting involved in danger, angry at the yakuza men for coming and causing trouble, angry at... at... just angry! There were too many things he was angry at. And though he had many reasons at why he was angry he felt that none of them explained it completely. Mugen felt his grip tighten, his eyes narrowed, and his teeth gritted as the ex-criminal watched the two females.
After a while Fuu looked up at Mugen with a small smile on her face.
"Thank you, again," she said, "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been here."
…
"Why?"
She looked confused. "Why what?"
Mugen growled. "Why are you still here? If you're in so much danger, leave this place!" he shouted at her.
Indignation rose inside Fuu. "It's not that easy!"
"The hell it ain't! Just get yer crap together and leave!"
"I can't travel to God knows where with a child!"
"Then leave her somewhere with someone!"
"Oh that's smart. Tell me genius, who the hell should I leave her with?"
"I don't know! Someone in town!"
Fuu's grasp on Chizuru tightened and the child winced at the tight grip. "I'm NOTgoing to leave my child with a stranger!"
"You think that staying here will be better?"
"No, but I don't have a choice!"
"The hell you don't! How the hell can you protect her when you can't protect yourself!"
"I can to protect her!"
"Not from what I remember!"
Chizuru turned into her mother, afraid of the angry voices that filled the air.
"Well if you're so damn concerned then why the hell don't you stay, huh? She's your daughter to-"
Dead silence. The shock on his face would have been hilarious if it was any other time. Fuu's heart beat pounded in her ears and her breath was slightly labored from the verbal match they just had. Chizuru was gripping tightly at her and was trembling slightly.
"... Fuck," was all he said then Mugen turned and stormed out of the tea house.
Fuu's face flushed and her eyes stung. How could I have said that!... Goddamnit...
"!... shit" she cussed quietly as tears started to spill out of her eyes. She stood, picking up Chizuru and cradling the child to her chest, and walked from the tea house into her home. Trying to keep whatever was left of her strength and dignity within her.
Chizuru stared up at the ceiling above. Her mother had put her here for a nap but the child did not want to rest at all. Instead she laid there and thought about the events that had occurred in her home.
She wasn't stupid, and she had a strong suspicion that there was a chance that the man would not come back. A frown formed on her small face. She definitely didn't want that to happen. He was a bit scary but he felt warm, and though she had not interacted with him very much the little girl had formed a very small attachment to the gruff man.
It was then that she stood up from the futon and padded over to the door. Opening it to a little crack the girl stuck her head out and looked around, checking to see if her mother was there. Chizuru was fundamentally a good girl and tried to stay out of trouble to refrain from stressing out her mother.
When she couldn't see her and didn't hear any sounds that told her that she was near, Chizuru darted out into the yard. She didn't look back in fear that she would be caught. When she got to the road in front of the house doubt and confusion cluttered her mind. Which way did he go? She thought to herself.
When no sign made itself apparent the girl was about to burst into tears when she heard what sounded like wood being hacked at. Her gaze swung to the forest where she saw some birds scattering.
That way.
