Hello everyone! I would like to apologize about how long it took me to post this chapter. I completely forgot that it was Thanksgiving weekend (here in Canada), so I had like 3 days straight of nothing but family gatherings and huge meals (I'm pretty sure I had like... 3 pies to myself- I regret nothing). I also started watching 4 new series, including The Ancient Magus' Bride (YAY FINALLY, I'VE BEEN READING IT FOREVER, so I am quite happy to finally be able to watch it).

I am at 10 followers now on this story which makes me so happy. I really appreciate all of the positive feedback. Every single review I get makes me feel so happy, and people seem to be picking up on things about the characters and the story without me having to be upfront about. I'm still having some troubles with who Mugen is in the show versus how I want him to start transitioning in the story. Mugen is a ruthless badass through and through and honestly it is really hard to write him having genuine concern for another person.

If anyone is quite familiar on Japan's geography and the corresponding wildlife I would like to apologize, I try to do as much research as possible but it all seems to become mush in my brain after reading page after page.

Chapter 6 - Unfairly Jaded (Part 1 of 2)


The world is an unfair place.

Unless you look a certain way, or behave a certain way, those around you will turn their backs. No matter the good intentions, it is only seen and interpreted by the most basic of things- appearances. They can and will always see the dirty clothes, and scar riddled skin.

Though there were far more evil, and disgusting people in the world, this happened because he wasn't in their spectrum, nor was he comparable to the ever day man. He was one of his own kind- his own creation. Born and molded by the Ryukyu Islands, by the pirates he banded with, and by copper essence flowing through their veins. He no longer outwardly desired to be seen as "bad", not that the word bothered him because he knew that he was far from being considered "good" (whatever that meant). But who decided which was which? The "bad" outweighed the "good" in the universe, so why was it a problem to be the way he was? What was wrong with having a hands on approach to those that made you mad, or to those who just simply got in your way? The both of them knew the world was outwardly unfair. Mugen especially learned this lesson early in life. Fuu liked to believe she knew this just as well as he, but yet, every time the world decided to teach her this lesson time and time again, she couldn't help but feel the way she did.

Bitter. Discouraged. Sour. Cheated.

Her companion stood next to her weary, and surely dizzy. His once tanned face seemed paler in colour, and for good reasons. His face a ballooned version of its usual state, his right hand wrapped in a now red cloth, and his ear crusted with dried blood. Honestly, he couldn't just stand there watching her anymore. He was use to this kind of treatment but she wasn't. She was always welcome everywhere with warm open arms, no one ever hesitated with her. Not with those bright brown eyes and smile. But when they saw him, it was a completely different story. For some reason when they saw her with him, he could see the way their expressions changed. How they suddenly looked at her almost the same way they looked at him. It was unfair. The way her shoulders slumped, and the defeated look on her face. He just couldn't do it. It was best to keep moving so that was exactly what he did. It had been a long day, a tiring one at that. He still had to give her shit about coming after him but he didn't have the energy, he didn't have the desire to bring her down anymore than what she already was.

Grabbing her bag that lay on the dirty ground in front of the Inn, Fuu slid her arms through the small straps- feeling the bag bounce against the small of her back- it felt heavier than she remembered. But that could just be the disappointment in that Fuu's words didn't reach the woman. Momo, scurried her way up Fuu's kimono sleeve and rested in the little space that was available in the bust. Fuu tried not to blame the hostess, afterall they were just strangers so there was no basis for her to place her trust. She couldn't be blamed. It must have come across as a real shock to see what she saw, and maybe this was the only way she knew how to express how scared and alone she really felt. In this town and in this Inn, they were just travellers, people that would fade to the back part of their memories and those who played a part in a sad and seemingly unjust event.

But...

Why was it so hard for everyone else to see what she saw?

They saw a man whom they didn't know, do things that they didn't quite understand. They didn't think of the reason behind it, all they saw was red. So that's what they thought he was, but not in the same way she did. To them, the red was violent, and it stained the road that cut through their town. But to her it was much more. Much, much more.

And why did it bother her so much that they didn't see it?

"Well, we're not going to get much done just staying here, let's go!" Internally perking herself up she turned and smiled at where her companion once stood. Blinking a few times in her state of confusion she saw him already walking down the road in the direction that they hadn't travelled yet. "Mugen, don't just leave without me!"

He mumbled something back at her but she wasn't able to make it out. His expression still sour and stiff- probably trying to put up a front so she wouldn't see just how tired he really was.

They walked quite a ways out of the town before they decided to take refuge once again in the trees. They went far enough that hopefully whatever fire they were able to make wouldn't be seen but close enough that they might be able to hear those that would travel down the old dusty road. Fuu used her sandal to dig a small pit into the ground, and she tossed some twigs and smaller branches onto the cold exposed soil before Mugen started a fire with the bottom of his geta and a stone.

Once the flames lit up their bodies and some of their surroundings Fuu pulled out her small sewing box from her bag. It wasn't medical grade supplies but it would have to do.

"Here, use this."

"The hell is that?" His voice still gruff, he attempted to clear his throat a few times but the problem wasn't caused by phlegm. It was from the force of the rope that dragged him on the ground, though it was a small price to pay for still being alive.

Shifting herself closer to him and his side of the fire she opened it up. "It's a sewing kit. I figured you could use it for your hand." Her eyes fell to the insanely saturated cloth wrapped around the wound. She only caught a glimpse of it, and really had no idea exactly how severe it really was.

"No."

"What do you mean no? If you don't do something you'll bleed to death!"

Knitting his eyebrows further he looked at her, not sure if she was actually this stupid or not. "Listen, if I was going to bleed to death I would already be on the ground somewhere."

"Well, you're techinically on the ground already, and you're white as a ghost!"

"Then you do it if you're that worried." Stretching his right hand over to her, she barely caught it with both of her hands before the dead weight of it would have hit the top of her lap.

Mugen sat with his legs apart but his knees up. His back was hunched and he rested his head on his left hand that was supported by his raised knee. His ballooned face made it uncomfortable for him, but hell- he was tired and his neck hurt so he didn't want to hang his head. He held his arm up for her as he watched her tiny fingers start to unwrap the cloth from around his hand.

She was nervous, what if it was beyond repair, what if he got blood poisoning? Or what if stitching it with the thin thread wouldn't be good enough?

Her own hands were cold, she could feel the stiffness in her fingers as she moved them but Mugen's still felt cold in comparison. Her face twisted when she got a good look at his hand. The webbing between his thumb and his index finger was almost all gone. What was left of the connection between the two fingers was peeled back onto the top his hand. She felt her stomach twist and churn when she caught sight of the bone that was the lower knuckle of his thumb.

He let out a tired laugh watching her face. She had already seen enough death and violence so why the hell couldn't she handle this? She looked like she was going to faint.

"It will be fine, just let me wrap it-"

"No!" He went to pull his arm back but she grabbed his wrist desperately. Although her grip wasn't very strong and if he really wanted to he could easily pull away from her, he stopped. "I swear Mugen, you'll really die one of these days. And it might not be in a fight!" Shaking her head at him, she seemed to be taking the role of a nagging parent again. "It will probably be from some kind of infection you know. That's why you should take better care of yourself."

"Everyone's gonna die someday. What's it matter if it's today or tomorrow?"

"You know Mugen-" Pulling out a needle from her little kit, Fuu set it on a stone on the edge of the fire. She had been told that if you get metal hot enough it will become sterile. "I think if you really felt that way you wouldn't fight as hard as you do. And you wouldn't be saving people for dumplings either." She looked at the little selection of thread that she had. She needed something strong enough to hold, but not thick enough that it would be hard to pull through his tissue. She had never done this before but she selected one that looked similar to what was used on her. "But then again...if you did die I wouldn't owe you 250 dumplings anymore.."

The last part she said under her breath but Mugen still heard it loud and clear.

"300, stupid, and don't you forget it. " He sneered at her, at least he tried too. Not fully turning his head to her he watched through quick glances. He still didn't have any feeling in his hand, and he wasn't able to move it at all. He watched her little fingers poke and move his hand, examining it from all angles. But none of it was felt. There was no sensation or warmth radiating from her hand.

'Maybe I should just let him die.' Shaking her head she bit her tongue to keep from arguing with him. Pulling out the small canister of water Fuu rinsed off his hand. She expected some kind of reaction from him but there was nothing. She couldn't help but be nervous and impressed at the same time. She knew Mugen had a high pain tolerance but a person should still show some kind of reaction to this- wouldn't they? Gingerly, she attempted to grab the stone she set on the edge of the fire, but instantly regretted it when it was hotter than she imagined. "Ouch!"

"Fuck sakes, what do you think you're doing? Seriously girl.." Rolling his eyes, he reached over with his left hand and easily grabbed the stone out of the fire for her. Placing it on the grass next to her knees. Thanks to all the scar tissue and callouses on his fingers, heat didn't bother him as instantly as other's. "Don't just go sticking your fingers into a fire like that."

Putting one finger tip at a time in her mouth she licked the glossing skin, trying to relieve the stinging sensations. "Sowwy, Sheesh.." The finger tip muddled her speech, making her sound like a small child. Her lips pouted around her finger, pressing downward on her bottom lip.

For some reason, this caught Mugen's attention. He watched as her cheeks creased and then released with the action of her sucking on each of her scorched digits. Did she even realize what that resembled? What something like that can do to a guy? Of course she didn't, the girl was more innocent and naive than a damn baby bunny. Or maybe she was doing this on purpose. After all, she was almost 18, there was no way in hell she was still a virgin. 'Fucking hell girl.' Grabbing her hand away from her mouth, he couldn't help but internally shutter at the "pop" her lips made. It reminded him all too well of the fun he had been missing out on these last few months. "God damn it, stop it before I give you something else to suck on."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Honestly, she had no idea what he meant. She figured he was just getting impatient and it was his way of saying "Hurry up before I pop you one".

Laying himself down he rested his head on his left arm that hooked under him. The ground was making him even colder but he couldn't bring himself to ask for his haori back. Even though the girl seemed to fill out in some places she was still rather small- he could make due with just the fire. "Don't ask questions unless you're ready for the answers girly."

Still confused, Fuu decided it was best to leave it alone. Picking up the still warm needle from the stone, she managed to thread it on the first try. "Tell me if it hurts."

"It won't."

Her emotions were easily read on her face as she seemed to be mimicking him internally. 'Maybe I should make it hurt, jerk.' . Folding the tissues back to where they should be Fuu went to work. She tried her best to properly secure the tissue between his thumb and index finger, but most of it that was hanging was just skin which would dry up and eventually fall off. The real problem was the chunk missing from the inner side of his thumb where the bone could be seen. She had kept the cloth over it with some pressure to keep the bleeding under control but now that she was trying to close it up, blood seemed to be squishing out. Surprisingly her hands were very steady during this and her focus was only set on closing the parted tissues. She lightly bit her bottom lip while deep in concentration. With two more x's on the inner part of his thumb she looped it through his skin one more time, making a tight knot before cutting the thread.

"There!" Smiling she was very happy with her work. She rinsed his hand one more time along with her hands, before patting everything dry with her kimono sleeve. "For my services you can deduct 100 dumplings!"

"You don't get to decide. I'll take off 25."

"What? Only 25?! That's not fair." Stuffing her sewing supplies in her bag she couldn't help but swing the bag roughly against the ground.

"Then complain to the dumpling committee. Oh wait-" Raising his head up he smirked at her. "-that's me."

Crossing her arms she couldn't help but pout. "At this rate I'll be stuck with you forever."

"In your dreams."

"More like nightmares!" Sticking her tongue out she tossed herself down in an exaggerated manner. She was so tired she didn't even mind how the cool ground still seemed to nip at her through her extra layer. Usually they would lay on opposites sides of the fire but tonight Fuu was too tired to move and Mugen already seemed to be relaxing in his current position. They laid not quite next to each other but they were close. Mugen's feet were close to Fuu's stomach and her feet directed by his hips. Hugging herself for warmth she gripped the red material that she wore tight in her hands. "Goodnight Mugen." Waiting for his response that didn't come, there was so much she wanted to ask him about what happened but in the silence her eyes fluttered shut and within seconds she was asleep.

With his eyes still open he looked at the shadows their two bodies made by the fire. He could feel the chill grow from his face, down his arms, chest and then eventually his legs. Fuu's body blocked quite a bit of the heat emitting from the fire, but there was still one area in particular that seemed to be hot. He had felt what was happening to him which was why he turned his back to her. Frustrated with his own body's reaction, he couldn't help but try to adjust himself and the pulsating desire that was sprung between his legs. The way Fuu's lips and cheeks creased as she tended to her fingers played over again in his head. There were countless things about her that irked him, but also things about his own behaviour were starting to get to him as well.

She seemed to be affecting him in different ways than what he was comfortable with. His eyes always seemed to follow her, he had to put extra effort into watching the road they walked on or he would purposely remove himself from her. Even at the Inn, he tried to leave her alone but despite his better judgment he waltzed back into the room. Everything he had been doing was a contradiction to the other- he wanted her gone, yet he added to her "debt", he found her voice unbearable but yet he was constantly picking at her, waiting for a response.

Groaning, he shut his eyes tightly.

Between what was going on in his mind, the wounds on his body and what was between his legs, he knew it would be a long night.


She couldn't believe it, why was life so unfair?

Hands on her knees she bent down closer to the scowling face. Her eyes squinted, looking at every detail of her annoyed companions face.

"Are ya about done? You're starting to piss me off."

"Shutup-"

Since they woke up in the morning all she did was stare at him. She didn't try to cover it up, or try to take a peek here and there, she just blatantly stared at him. Even when they started making their way back down the road her large eyes didn't leave him- it was infuriating to say the least. Finally he blew up at her and told her to get one final look or else he would make it so she couldn't see again.

"-I just don't get it..." Clenching her jaw she spoke through her teeth. She let her eyes roam over his face one last time. Most of the bruising was already gone, with the exception of his one eye which looked like was swollen shut last night. Then there was the small cut on his upper lip which looked like it could split open if he opened his mouth too wide. "It took me two weeks to heal, so why did it only take you one night?! It's not fair!"

"Heh-" Pushing on her forehead, Mugen stood up and with a little extra push he forced Fuu to take a few steps back. "Not everyone can be as amazing as me." He never got a look at himself last night so he really didn't understand what she was getting at but he always felt like he was a fast healer. Or he just didn't bother to pay attention to any pain- he had been tortured, sliced, shot, hit more times than he could count. Although, he still didn't have any feeling in his right hand but he could wiggle his fingers so that was good enough, and his ear was pulsing with his heartbeat. "Now, are ya done looking at me?"

"Hai Hai..." Pressing her fingers to her face, she squished her cheeks, remembering how horrible she looked before. 'It's really not fair.'

Raising an eyebrow at her, Mugen watched as she seemed lost in her own thoughts. Somehow throughout all of the hustle and bustle of yesterday she seemed to be perked up again. She used to bounce back quite easily a few years ago, but she seemed melancholy during most of the trip so far. She had fastened her hair back up into the bouncy updo with the cheap wooden chopsticks. But she did it without a mirror and the sticks were already starting to slip out of place. How the hell could she be so airy and "gusty" at the same time? She was really something else, and it really...really...pissed him off. Clicking his tongue he started heading down the road again, forcing the small strided woman to catch up to him.

They seemed to walk most of the day, not crossing paths with any one or anything for that matter. The trees eventually spread out, leaving them walking on the empty countryside, surrounded by overgrown grass and distant mountains. Fuu seemed to be going on about something again, but he droned her out like he always did, or at least he tried too. But as much as he tried his ears took in every word she spoke, even if half of it didn't make any sense to him. His brain didn't have the capacity or the will to keep up with his ears or her mouth. She was talking about some sort of..'Huh what was it?...a dog or somethin'? Or was it food?..'' Groaning for about the millionth time today his eyes scattered to their surroundings, which was nothing too spectacular. No rivers, towns, trees, or even a damn boulder. The mountains off in the distance seemed to be there only thing that could possibly guide them. Even the road they were on was starting to be consumed with weeds and grass. At some point they must have missed some signs or a turning point, but either way Mugen didn't want to end up sleeping in the open like this.

"Mugen, what are you doing?"

At some point while lost in thought, he stopped walking and stared off into the distance at the mountains. "There-" Outstretching his left hand he pointed. "-is where we're going."

Following the length of his arm and pointed finger Fuu's eyes looked over to the horizon. "Hah?! You're kidding right?!" Just looking at the distance made her legs ache, not to mention the bugs that might be hiding in the long grass. Just the idea of a beetle or centipede crawling up her leg gave her the heeby-jeebies. But the look on his face meant he was serious. "Nuh uh, no way Mugen!"

"Why not?"

"W-well, because there's a perfectly good road right here."

Rubbing his eyes, Mugen held back a yawn. "I guarantee in a few miles, there won't be a road left. Just don't argue with me"

Slumping her shoulders she looked onto the lush looking grass, but the unknown made her comfortable. "But..there's probably bugs..just think of all the ticks, and centipedes!"

"Are ya fucking kidding me? You're scared of some bugs?"

Just thinking of them gave her the chills. The creepy crawly endless row of legs, the elongated bodies, and the way their attenas twitched gave her endless nightmares. "They're not natural! Nothing is supposed to have that many legs. I am NOT going over there."

He looked at her, and considered his options. 1. He could just listen to her and continue on down this road that would eventually run out. 2. He could drag her along and listen to what would probable be hilarious reactions to every bug they came across. 3. Leave her.

"Then I guess-" Stepping off the road, the tall grass tickled against Mugen's legs with each step. "-see ya never girly."

"Wait, what?" Blinking a few times she watched as he seemed to start taking longer and faster strides away from her and the road. 'Is he really just going to leave me here?!' With her feet planted firmly on the ground she just watched him, uncertain on her own feelings on the matter. Sure she didn't want to be alone again but she always seemed to be able to find her place anywhere quite easily, and this would rid her of her dumpling debt. "Fine! Bye then!" Feeling a tickle on her chest, Momo popped out from her napping spot. The little critter jumped out of Fuu's kimono and into the grass, leaving the blades swaying in its scurried path. "Momo-san!"

'3...2...1.' He counted to himself, knowing all too well that she would coming running to him like a puppy. She would be yelling for him to slow down and wait all while calling him a jerk or something a long those lines- but there was nothing. All he could hear was the rustling the long grass made as he pushed his way through it all. Finally hearing her response it wasn't what he was expecting, '-Bye then?'. Placing his hand on his stomach something felt off, like something had just dropped and made him feel nauseas. Whatever this feeling was he didn't like it, not one bit. But what was he supposed to do? Turn around and ask the girl if she had any medicine? If he did that he might as well just grab her and bring her with him. No, scratch that. There was no damn way he was going to do that. 'That little bitch...' Something small jumped up onto his back and clung to his haori. Stopping he tried to look over his shoulder but he couldn't see anything. "What the fuck?!"

"Momo-san! What do you think you're doing?" Only a few paces behind, Fuu stopped running and tried to retrieve her furry friend from Mugen's back. However, Fuu's outstretched hand only seemed to make Momo scurry further up Mugen's back and over his shoulder.

"Looks like the rat is coming with me" Smirking at her with his lazy eyes he turned back and started walking away again, but he slowed his pace.

"Momo is not a rat!"

The feeling in Mugen's stomach somehow disappeared like it was never there in the first place, but her damn yapping was starting to make his head hurt all over again.

"Why are you smiling like that? You weirdo..." Matching her pace with his, Fuu found her natural place beside him. Though she only looked at his face by chance, she was really looking at Momo who seemed quite comfortably perched on his shoulder.

Pursing his lips out and clenching his jaw again he quickly changed his expression. He didn't realize he was smiling in the first place. "You're just seeing things."

"No, you were smiling. Like some creep." Running up in front of him and she stretched her mouth as far as it could go into an over exaggerated smile and pointed both index fingers at the corners of her lips. "Like this!"

'God damn it she's so weird...' Honestly looking at her face now made him want to point and laugh but he couldn't let her have the upper hand in anything right now. Instead he just brushed shoulders with her as he pushed past. "Yea right, if I ever smile like that you better run cuz' that means my mind finally snapped."

Something was strangely eery about the thought, it sent chills down Fuu's body. Honestly, she didn't think his mind could be any more deranged than what it already was. She certainly didn't want to be around for when what was left of his sanity finally snapped. "Sheesh, Mugen don't you know how to have fun anymore?"

Fun? What part of this was supposed to be fun? When was the last time he actually had fun? Sure, beating up wannabe thugs was a little but of fun but getting drunk off his ass and getting on top of some busty broad would be more fun. Listening to her complain about being tired wasn't fun. The amount she bellowed about being hungry or dirty certainly wasn't fun either. And having her try to get the upper hand on him definitely wasn't fun. Where in the world did she get this sense of entitlement with him? 'Probably because of Jin..that sissy ass samurai..' Jin always seemed to favour her, giving in to her almost every need and demand. If she was tired he would make them stop to rest. If she was hungry he would somehow find something to eat. If she was cold he would give her the best spot by the fire. Clenching his sweaty palms he was feeling agitated all over again. Thinking it over, the back and forths he had with Fuu really weren't all that bad, especially in the last few days. She seemed to have more zip to her words, and she was able to keep up with him instead of just pouting. And okay...maybe he did let her sleep closer to the fire last night, and he even let her wear his haori...and he shared the futon with her. But damn it all, in no way was this actually fun for him.

"Your idea of fun and my idea of fun are way different girl."

Knowing all too well what he thought was fun she rolled her eyes. "Then the next time we get to a city just go have your fun then and I'll go have mine."

"And what the hell are you going to do huh? Eat?" A small boney elbow hit his ribs. "Ow! You bitch."

Puffing out her cheeks she held her hands behind her back like she had done absolutely nothing. "I have my own interests too you know. Despite what you might think I am a young woman."

"Psh..yea right, you still look like a dumb kid to me."

Lies. Nothing but lies.

But he had to keep telling himself that for some reason. Her change over the last three years was definitely noticeable, and it was even tempting at times- too tempting. The way she seemed to have no guard around him, especially when it came time to go to sleep. Even last night he had a certain issue because of her. 'Naive and stupid is what she is...'

With the sun barely hanging in the sky Fuu's steps were slow and sluggish- dragging her feet on the ground and slumping her shoulders. Their path had become more tiring than she imagined, full of small hills and mounds- the repeating process of going up hill and down hill got to her. Her legs felt like wet noodles but Mugen didn't seem fazed by any of it. Why would he? The guy was a walking machine. Not that she would admit it but she knew that under his baggy clothes was a sculpted body. Well, she was only going off of assumptions- she actually hadn't seen much of his body before. Maybe she had three years ago when he tried to get comfortable with Sara in the hot spring but she was so embarrassed that she turned and hid herself. Her body swayed side to side with each lazy "step", and her tired eyes watched Mugen's back as he seemed to keep a somewhat slow pace in front of her.

"That's it. I can't walk anymore! I'm done!" Crashing down to her hands and knees, her legs continued to shake from over exertion. Her body was almost lost in the grass as it seemed to stand taller than her. If he would allow it she would be just fine with laying down in the tall grass right there and sleeping away all her fatigue. But unfortunately Mugen was never that kind. If she was lucky he wouldn't leave her behind (again).

"Come on, get up." With his hands in his pockets he nudged her ribs lightly with his foot. "We've walked way longer than this. So what's the big deal huh?"

Taking in a deep breath she looked up at him. "The big deal is all these hills. My legs feel like they're going to fall off! I'm not a machine like you."

"Is that right?" Raising an eyebrow at her he couldn't help but grin. He was wondering if he should wait for her to figure it our for herself, or if he should have some fun with it. 'Ah..to hell with it.'. "There's a centipede crawling towards you...Ohhh, it's huge!"

Not even bothering to look, Fuu sprung up back up on her feet and ran like her life depended on it. "GET IT AWAY FROM ME!"

Stepping next to her exhausted body Mugen couldn't help but laugh. "You're so full of shit. I thought you said you couldn't walk anymore?" He honestly never saw her move so quickly before. She was like a rabbit running out from its hiding spot because it had been spotted by a predator. And in this case, it was a damn centipede- she could have just stepped on it. Why was she scared of such stupid things and yet she could run head on into real danger? A centipede won't kill you but thugs and swords certainly would.

With heavy breaths she couldn't even argue with him. She just lay on the ground with her arms out at the side, she waved her one hand to dismiss him but he just stood there looked down at her. She used up whatever energy she had left and now she really was ready to sleep.

The mountain that was far in the distance earlier didn't seem so far anymore, but they still had some travelling to do before they would reached it. At some point the hilly grasslands had some tree coverage which was good enough for Mugen. He hated the idea of being out in the open like that, the only good thing would be being able to see who was coming and from where. Being in trees had its own perks but its own problems as well, but it was what they were use to when they weren't making themselves at home in some old shack. Sitting himself against a tree Mugen was quite happy with his position and with enough time he would easily fall asleep.

"Aren't you going to make a fire?"

"No."

"But it's already getting cold!"

"Then you make one."

...

"Can I at least wear your haori again?"

"No."

"Muuuuuugen." Crawling over to him she stopped beside his thighs, gripping his shirt she shook him lightly. "It's not fair, I can't make a fire by myself. It's cold. It's dark." She slumped her head. "Muuuuugen."

"What the hell do you want me to do huh?" Running his hand over his face he let out a sound mixed with grievance and annoyance. "Do you really think building a fire here is a good idea? What your dumb fucking luck all the grass would catch fire and we'd be roasted." Putting his sword on the other side of him he crossed his arms and rested his head against the tree. Taking one deep breath he let the words escape him before he had a chance to really think about it. "If you're that cold then just stay here."

She just looked at him, unsure on what he meant. 'Stay here?' Raising one eyebrow higher than the other she let go of his shirt she had balled up in her fists. Was this some kind of joke? Or did she just mishear him? "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I ain't gonna spell it out for ya. Stay here, or don't. But either way don't bother me." Finally shutting his eyes, he waited for Fuu's choice. This wouldn't be the first time that they would sleep close together, just the other night they shared his futon. And quite often when the weather would take a turn for the worse the three of them (He, Fuu and Jin) would sleep in a line. Usually with Fuu in the middle so it would be easier for him or Jin to defend themselves. But Fuu usually seemed to distance herself from him, and closer to the samurai. Not that it really bothered him back then, he liked having his own space and in the mornings he would be spread out like a star anyway so there was no point in making a big deal out of it. Hell...she was always closer to Jin- stupid four eyes. Maybe the girl had feelings for him? Chicks seemed to dig the strong and silent type for some stupid reason. Hell..even she admitted that she thought Jin was handsome- not that she knew that he knew that.


The two men sat in the dimly lit room alone, as they somehow managed to round up enough money for another night at a Inn. Fuu was planning on taking full advantage of it since it had its own private hot spring. They barely got in the room before she swung off her bag and made her way out the door, but not before sending one sided threats if "any perverts try to take a peek".

The notion of looking at her body made him roll his eyes but he didn't say anything. If he did it would just start a fight and he wanted her gone. Some peace and quiet was something he didn't get much anymore- not that he himself were very peaceful but damn she made him tired. It was all day every day with her, nonstop talking and complaining. Placing his right arm up on the window ledge, Mugen glanced over at Jin.

"-My point is, don't you think this is fishy?"

"How so?"

"For starters, what the hell are we even traveling for?"

"To search for the samurai who smells of sunflowers, as I recall."

"That's what I'm sayin'! I mean, she ain't told us one damn thing about who this sunflower dude is."

"-Yes, that's true..."

"-Not even that one time." His mind went back to when they first inquired about the sunflower samurai, and instead he got a lesson on what the hell a sunflower was. He guessed it was a flower from the damn name but that didn't stop the girl and four-eyes from bugging him. "Don't you think she gets kinda evasive when we bring up that stuff?"

"Hmm.."

"-And now she says that we're heading for Nagasaki!" Bringing his arm down from the ledge he rested his hand on his knee with a smack, finally turning to look the samurai dead on. "All we've got is that guy's unreliable information."

"But that man was the chief merchant of the East India Company's Japan branch. I doubt that information from a man like that would be unreliable."

"You think so?"

"Besides, with no other information to go on, we have no other choice."

"That's my point! That's what I'm sayin'! No way in hell she doesn't know anything else. She's hiding something from us!"

"Hmm..."

"Okay, then..." Standing up, he had his eyes on the girl's bag on the other side of the room.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna snoop around a little while she's taking her bath."

Before Jin could protest, Mugen ran out of the room. The samurai sat in silence while he momentarily worried about Fuu's virtue, and the possibility of Mugen doing something despicable but surely the young girl would scream or shout if something dubious was happening.

Mugen ran silently without being detected- not that Fuu was ever on guard. He could have announced he was there or that he was going to go through her stuff and make a huge racket while doing so but she wouldn't do a think about it. The damn girl was embarrassed about being seen naked- it's not like she had anything to hide anyway. But apparently it was something about her dignity and virtue for marriage? Being seen naked wouldn't hurt anything or anybody but she sure seemed to think so. He could hear he humming to herself when he finally ran into the shack where Fuu left all her belongings in. He was quick to move a few folds of her clothing to find a small book. Happy with what he found, he made his way back to the room.

Plopping himself on his backside, Mugen was quite eager to finally get some answers to his pending questions- and maybe even find something juicy. "-Here we go.."

"Hey, don't go through other people's belongings."

"Don't sweat it. It's her own damn fault for not telling us anything." Turning the first page, Mugen gripped the small book with both hands and brought it close to his face.

"What?"

"...I can't read."

"Give me that." Snapping the book out of Mugen's hands, Jin sat down once again and adjusted his glasses. "It seems to be a diary."

"A diary? Great, there's bound to be some secrets about that sunflower dude written in there." Jin didn't seem to say anything but Mugen could see his eyes moving along the page. "Hey, read it out loud, damn it."

"July 10th. Sunny. It's almost been a year since Mom died. I had always told myself that I would set out on a journey, but I never had the courage, so I've been working and living at uncle's teahouse. But the day has finally come for me to set out. I've made up my mind that starting today, I'm going to keep this diary until I find the samurai who smells of sunflowers so that I won't forget this journey. And so, I have now filled out the first page. Admittedly, the teahouse burned down, so I don't have any choice but to start my trip. Parentheses, smiley face. And the fire was caused by a couple of unbelievable guys.

"Heh?" Mugen looked at the samurai who also had his face scrunched with some sort of curious expression.

"-The first one to show up at the teahouse was a crude and vulgar guy with wild hair."

"What, does she mean me?"

"-The instant I saw him, I thought he was a bad person who would commit all sorts of crimes, and was the type of person that I would never want to be friends with in a million years."

"Say what?!"

"-But then, once I talked to him...I learned that I was right about him."

"Watch it, you bitch!" Hands on both knees he leaned in closer to the written words.

"What are you getting angry at the diary for?"

"-I'll admit that I needed help because the stupid son of the governor thought he could do whatever he wanted. But even so...Once he got started, he didn't know when to stop. I mean, he really went overboard. If I knew he was going to be like that, I would've taken my chances with the governor's son."

"Why, you little..."

"Just then, another man appeared. One with long hair and glasses."

"She talkin' about you?"

"-Unlike the first one, I thought that this new guy was kinda attractive."

"Huh?" Gritting his teeth, the notion bothered Mugen for some reason. Jin's expression twicthed slightly but he tried not to make any fuss about it. Mugen knew he was maybe a bit unorthodox with his actions and maybe his appearance but he still considered himself a good looking guy. He had all of his teeth and they weren't rotting out of his mouth. All of his limbs were intact and he wasn't balding. What was wrong with him?


Just remembering that made Mugen click his tongue again. 'I bet if it was Jin she'd stay 'ere. This is discrimination, I swear-' With a knock of his shoulder and the side of his bicep pressed against something he opened his eye and glanced over at her small frame.

Fuu made her way beside Mugen, her back barely against the available space of the tree behind them. Her knees were pressed to her chest and her arms wrapped around them, making herself into an upright ball. Her cheek squished against the top of her knee in an attempt at making herself comfortable, the back of her head faced Mugen. Her "up-do" was hanging low on her head and was starting to untwist.

"Your hair looks like shit..." He couldn't leave her alone, even when it came to something stupid like this. Reaching over with his poorly stitched right hand, he had enough feeling left that he was able to grip the small wooden sticks and pulled them from her hair. The long, brown silky strands unravelled down her back reminding him just how long her hair really was. It seemed like a real pain in the ass to have such long hair and Mugen never understood why girls didn't just chop it off. At the same time, long hair had it's own appeal to him- like it was begging for him to pull it like some child. It would be so easy for him to wrap his fingers in the brown locks and pull. What kind of facial expression would she make? What would she say? What sound would escape her lips? Gripping the chop sticks as hard as he could in his injured hand he couldn't feel what was tracing along the scars and threads.

"Is your hand feeling better?"

"What?" It came out harsher than he meant. But he forgot that she was actually there while lost in his own perversions.

"It doesn't hurt does it? Your hand?"

He watched as both of her small hands explored his like the night before. But instead of cleaning and tending, she was examining. Even though she was using both of her hands they still looked tiny compared to his. Her hands were small, delicate, without a single scar or scratch. Her nails were long and shiny, no longer painted pink like they always use to be. Even though his eyes saw what was happening, his hand still couldn't feel it. He couldn't feel her touch, he couldn't feel the chop sticks that he held- there was nothing.

"It's fine."

"But your fingers are ice cold Mugen!" Being mindful of his stitches, Fuu collapsed both of her hands over his fingers and pressed her lips to them. Huffing her hot breath over them.

Mugen was sure if he was able to feel anything he would just say his fingers were fine, and that she was just over reacting. "Weren't you just saying how you were cold?"

"Yea, I am, but so what? Not like you care."

"You little brat...you should worry about yourself a little more." Pulling his hand away from hers he snaked his left arm over her shoulders and brought her in close to his side. Her front was pressed against his side and her frame seemed to fit just perfectly in the nook of his arm. His hand held onto her arms firmly, keeping her in place. He looked away from her, trying to pay no attention to the expression on her face that was still more confused than anything, and trying to ignore her curves that were pressed firmly against him. Though no fault of her own, it made him even more irritable. "Don't get the wrong idea here. I just don't want to hear you bitching about being cold anymore."

"How-how does that make me a brat?" She had to admit though, even though his hand was cold the rest of him radiated heat. 'You're the one being a brat...doing all this.' She wasn't sure how to position herself, she couldn't relax her tense and tightened body. It was just strange, being like this against Mugen. Never in a million years did she ever think he would do something like this, heck she never even considered this an option. She'd never been embraced like this by a man before- at least not by choice. Did she even choose this? Maybe indirectly..she did sit next to him but she assumed they would stay like that. Her left hand was on his chest, trying to keep her weight off of him, but she could feel his heart beating. It seemed to be thumping hard and fast under her palm. 'Is..Mugen nervous?' Her large brown eyes looked up to him, his eyes were once again closed and his head rested against the tree.

"Shut your damn eyes and go to sleep." He seemed to have this special sixth sense with her, he didn't have to look in order to know she was staring at him.

"Fine!" Trying to adjust herself without bothering him, she layed her cheek against his chest and allowed her weight to press into him. "You don't have to be so mean about it."

"Kiss my ass."

"Take a bath, you stink." She couldn't help but snicker under her breath. Mugen never ceased to amaze her- but usually it was at how completely disconnected to the rest of the world he was. How he seemed to not have a care in the world and could go head first into any situation. He didn't care who they were, or what would happen after- heck, she even remembered the story of him cutting down someone with the shogun's crest. But the Mugen that she was tucked next to seemed completely different, and as nice as it all seemed it didn't feel right. In it's own way, it was kind of unfair. Mugen wasn't nice, or kind- at least not in this way. Mugen's way of being nice was letting her near the fire, or sharing some fish he caught, and even killing someone! Usually it was the killing, but still. This wasn't Mugen.

He couldn't deny that he smelled bad. Unlike her, he didn't get the luxury of having a bath at the Inn. The last "bath" he had a was a quick dip in a cool river, which was barely deep enough to cover his knees. All he did was submerge himself, rub a few places to try to get rid of whatever filth there might have been and then he was done. Even without touching his hair he could feel the dirt and dust it had collected. He could feel the sticky layer left on his skin by his sweat, of all the things she had a right to complain about this should be one of them. But for some reason she was quiet. It was unfair of her. Being so annoying, not telling him no, having no guard around him or anyone else at that, and growing up. God damn it...why did she grow up? Why wasn't she the same as a few years ago? Why couldn't have she been the same doe eyed, flat as a board kid? Why was she letting him do all this? He was a dirty, mangy mutt, and yet somehow there was a white rabbit was curled up next to him.


I know this chapter was rather anti-climatic but I actually had to split this chapter into 2 parts. I was at almost 18,000 words and I knew I needed to do something. I didn't want to just skip to 5 days later after the camp incident- I don't have it in me to skip details or anything like that! I can't help but feel that everyday between them is progress, especially since it is just the two of them and they have history. The second part should be posted in maybe 2 days?