Disclaimer- Samurai Champloo as well as it's characters do not belong to me!


KuroBlack: Bah! Sorry! I know, I promised another update way sooner than this! Please forgive me! I've written the chapter extra long this time!! looks at her reviewers with big puppy dog eyes TT I'm a college student, I can't help it!

Chapter 10: What White Kimonos Mean. . .

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"Hurry your ass up will ya?!"

"I'm coming!! Geez!"

"We're leaving!"

"Mugen!"

Jin sighed wearily as he sat on the porch listening to the bickering couple inside. Why had he stayed again? - - -Oh, right, to protect Fuu's honor. He heard something that suspiciously sounded like Fuu had thrown something at the pirate. The sharp thunk that he heard made the Ronin think that maybe he had been wrong, perhaps she needed less protection than he thought.

He really. . .really, missed Shino. Sweet quiet, not insane in the least, Shino.

"BITCH! That hurt!!"

"Well-er-YOU'RE MEAN!" Not like that wasn't obvious in all the time she had known him.

"Well I wasn't so mean this morning when you were snuggled up against me, now was I?" Came the sarcastic drawl of the pirate.

"You gave me a hickey! What if Jin heard!?"

And on, and on, and on. . .the Ronin rubbed his temples, then jerked when Mugen kicked open the door, before whirling around, his shoulders hunched and looking very much like a hissing cat, before shouting back into the hut.

"So what, if Four-eyes heard?! We're together aren't we?! I'm allowed to do shit like that!!" There was an enraged scream from inside directed back at the Pirate and then all was silent.

Mugen plopped down next to the Ronin and Jin wasn't surprised to see the wide grin on the Pirate's face. Fighting was the one thing that Mugen enjoyed the most, with words or swords it didn't make a difference, it was his way or being flirtatious with Fuu and the Ronin knew that she enjoyed it as well. He kind of envied them and their simple relationship, he watched as Fuu came out wearing a shawl, because it was still fairly cool out, he then took notice of the navy tunic the pirate wore, before he could question the absence of the red shirt the couple began to bicker again.

"Geez, finally! What were you doing in there anyway?" Mugen asked in an annoyed tone.

"For your information I was cleaning my comb! It still had blood on it!" She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest childishly. "I wanted to show it to Jin, because he didn't get to see it yet." Mugen opened an closed his mouth trying to form a retort, finally he relented and closed his eyes.

"Fine, go show him. . ."Jin could see that the pirate was trying not to show off his embarrassment at the prospect of being sweet and giving Fuu a gift. She turned to Jin with a smile, gesturing to her comb excitedly.

"Look Jin, isn't it pretty?" Mugen's eyebrow began to twitch and the Ronin couldn't resist the chance to torment him.

"Aa, it's a very pretty comb Fuu, I wonder where the vagrant stole it from?"

"FUCK YOU, Four-eyes!!" Mugen stomped over to them. "I bought that fair and square and paid full price!"

"Very cute Fuu, I had no idea Mugen could be so romantic. . ." Jin continued like Mugen wasn't there, which only infuriated the pirate more. Fuu beamed and smiled at her pirate's enraged face, she patted his cheek.

"Let's go already! Mugen it took so long to get going with all that fighting." Mugen gaped at her and the Ronin as they started walk on without him.

"Oi! GET BACK HERE!"

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They were on their way to market, Fuu needed to stock up on food for the next couple of weeks. Mugen let Fuu hand their finances, only keeping enough money on himself for the occasional drink of sake now and then. She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to vegetables, the ronin followed them, an amuse smile lighting his face.

"I hate vegetables. . ."Mugen muttered as they approached the stand, Fuu rolled her eyes and went back to grabbing what they would need. "I'm more of a meat kind of guy."

"I know, but I need some veggies and you could probably use some too, their good for you." It was then his turn to roll his eyes. She sighed and grabbed some more, before paying the man running the stand.

They wandered one for a moment, it wasn't very often that they went to market, Mugen disliked the looks that they received, most disapproved of his relationship with Fuu. To them he was a criminal that took advantage of her, lived in her hut, not having the decency to marry her. To them he was a black stain on white silk. The only reason he went to market at all was because Fuu seemed to not notice the idiots around them. Going to market made her happy, he wasn't going to deny her that.

However, if they ever raised hurtful phrases about her, he would kill them with out a moments hesitation.

"Oh, Mugen look!" She was holding up some white silk fabric, it was probably contraband, no way would they be able to find something like this again, especially at a local market. As soon as her excitement appeared, though, it was gone as she looked at the price. She set it down and grabbed some purple fabric instead, not made of silk. She paid for it then turned to him smiling brightly. She handed him some money, much more so than usual.

"We had some extra money this month, I saved some, I thought you might like some sake to keep at home. I know how the stuff in the tea house isn't very good, maybe you could find some good stuff here." The money weighed heavily in his palm, she smiled and turned, walking over to a stand selling some fish. His eyes followed her, then glance at the money in his hand, then drifting over to the white silk she had been holding excitedly only a moment ago.

Damn it, he had really wanted sake too!

"It would be worth it." Came a helpful, but unwelcome voice. Mugen gave Jin a glare before grabbing the silk cloth and paying for it. He tucked the bundle into his shirt.

"Not one word fish-face. . ."

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The walk home was quiet, mostly because Fuu had been too tired from all the walking they did. She now slept quietly on Mugen's back, her head resting on his shoulder. The Ronin watched the pair silently, carrying the basket filled with their purchases. The gentle way the pirate carried the girl did not escape Jin's eyes, nor did the way Mugen would step carefully around potholes in the dirt road so not to jostle her awake. He knew the pirate cared about her, he probably didn't even realize how much.

"She still young, isn't she?" Mugen didn't respond, just continued walking. "Does she talk about the island?"

"No. . .I've tried, but she's almost terrified about it, freezes up, ya-know?" He said gruffly, quietly. "Figured, she'd tell me when she's ready."

"Aa. . ."Mugen stopped suddenly in front of a small hut, one that Fuu dragged him to occasionally.

"Here hold her for a second. . ."Jin set the basket down and took the girl from Mugen's back. Fuu, who seemed to sleep like the dead, did not register the transfer from one pair of arms to the other. The pirate went to the door and knocked on it loudly. Jin stared at him dryly, and then even more dryly when Fuu stayed sound asleep, not stirring in even the slightest bit.

The door of the hut opened a moment later, revealing a sleepy eyed Yuki, Jin recognized her from a few nights back.

"Hel-oh. . .it's you. . ." She growled. "What do you want?" Her eyebrow twitched lightly as she struggled not to physically maim the man who had woken her from her beauty sleep.

"I need a kimono made out of this by the day after tomorrow." He said, tossing the package he pulled out from under his shirt. Yuki caught it, opening it, then staring dumbly at the white silk. Her gaze suddenly shot to his then they wandered over to Fuu, she then looked back to Mugen before smirking.

"It's about time you idiot." She muttered before slamming the door in his face.

Mugen turned back to the Ronin, who now resembled a fish more than ever, then took Fuu from him, situating her back into the position she once was. Once Jin got over the shock, he picked up the basket and hurried after them.

"You're going to marry her?!" He exclaimed.

"Don't sound so fucking surprised. . ."Mugen grumbled out. "Gotta get rid of you somehow. . ." However, both men knew that was not the reason. Jin's brow twitched.

"Do you have any idea what a marriage ceremony entails?"

"Hell, I know their sake, but I figured you could fill me in on the rest." Mugen smirked. "Plus, I know exactly what to do afterwards."

Jin had the strong urge to gut the pirate where he stood.

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Mugen took off early the next morning, which hadn't bother Fuu, he usually was up before she was, sometimes helping boat come in at their local docks, which she never denied him of. He was a pirate after all, she couldn't keep that from him. Sometimes he would meet old friend, who gave him many items which could not be found in their local regions, at least in their price range. She started breakfast, knowing that he would probably come home in a short while, especially if he was hungry. Jin walked in a moment later, probably just back from training, he did not have much use of his katana recently, but did not want to become unfamiliar with the feel of fighting.

"Good morning Jin! Do you want some breakfast?" He smiled and gave her a nod. As he sat, Mugen came through the door, holding a dark bundle under his right arm, his ears were bright red, a trait that Fuu came to notice was either because he was angry or embarrassed. He stomped past them and into the bedroom. Fuu and Jin watched on, both giving the pirate an odd look when he came back into the living area. He sat down next to Fuu and grabbed a bowl of rice, then without a word began chomping away.

"Mugen. . ."He grunted, his mouth full of food. "Did something happen today?" He swallowed.

"What da ya mean? Nothing happened." She blinked. "Oi! Don't look at me like that." He eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips, grabbing his cheek in a firm pinch. "Ow! Bitch!"

"What are you hiding from me?" She said eerily.

"Oi! Let go! I ain't hiding shit!"

"Mugen. . ."She growled.

"Bitch!!"

"Aa. . .Fuu?" For the first time, Mugen was glad the Ronin was there. She blinked, then look to Jin in question.

"Huh? What?" Momentarily forgetting her interrogation of the pirate, letting go of the pirate's now throbbing cheek.

"I-uh. . .need to purchase a gift for Shino, she would be upset if I did not bring anything back for her, could you help me pick something out?" Mentally, the pirate and ronin wiped sweat from their brows. That had been a close one.

"Oh, um, sure, there's a few shops nearby that sell some nice things." She said thoughtfully. The ronin looked toward Mugen, giving him a look that clearly stated 'You owe me one'.

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When the two had left, Mugen went to his and Fuu's room, pulling out the bundle of dark clothing which he had hid under their futon. He laid it out, revealing a black yukata with formal embellishments. Mugen groaned as he took in the outfit, remembering the earlier torture that he had gone through.

"Mugen?!" The pirate looked up from what he was doing, finding the ever grinning countenance of the tea house owner staring back at him. He sighed and finished tying a loop knot to keep a boat anchored onto the dock.

"Oi! Old man, what the hell are you doing? I don't work today!" He waved Mugen off and pulled out a bundle, handing hit to the Pirate. "What's this?"

"Well you can not get married without a formal yukata. . ."He responded cheerfully.

"For-mal Yu-ka-ta. . ." Mugen blinked, then his face constricted to anger. "Oi! Who told you about that!?"

"Yuki told me. . ."The pirate face faulted. "As well as everyone that works at the teahouse." He twitched on the ground. "Oh, some of our customers know as well."

"GAH!" The old man blinked, looking down at the severely aggravated pirate.

"Mugen? Are you okay?"

"That Yuki. . ."His fisted hand trembled, a vein pulsing angrily at the side of his head. "Did this on purpose. . ."

He was informed that the wedding would be at a local temple, that the girls from the teahouse would be picking Fuu up the next morning, that he would get ready at his hut, and then they would meet up at the temple, get married, then attended a banquet at the teahouse to celebrate. He sighed and flopped down onto the futon.

He could hear the crow men laughing at him.

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"You're going to put your back out at that rate, Fish-face! How the hell are you going to carry all that back with you?" Mugen laughed as Jin dropped the massive bundle of gifts that he and Fuu had purchased during the day. They had come home late and it had been dark when they got in. As Fuu walked into the bedroom, the ronin round on him.

"You owe me Pirate. . ."Jin growled, his eye twitching.

. . .so, ol' Fishy-poo didn't like to shop.

Fuu emerged, looking the exact opposite of the exhausted Ronin, she actually looked rather refreshed, Mugen felt crappy about what he was about to say, but before any other plans could be put into action, this needed to be done first. He took a breath.

"Fuu. . ."His tone was soft and it immediately had Fuu in a worried state, because Mugen never used that tone of voice before. "We gotta talk about the island." Her eyes widened and the mood around them died. She shook her head furiously, her eyes beginning to tear.

"I don't want to!" He was already advancing on her. She began to shake, stepping back. "Mugen. . ."

"You can't pretend like what ever happened didn't happen, if I didn't give two shits about you, I could care less, but fuck Fuu. . . I don't want you to be scared of me." He now had her shoulders in his grasp and she stared up at him in shock.

"Fuu. . .What ever happened. . .we won't think less of you. . ."Jin said quietly, but neither of the pair looked at him, Fuu suddenly gave a small nod. They sat down at the fire, Fuu sat in Mugen's lap, her back to his chest, with his arms wrapped around her securely. Jin sat across from them, patiently waiting for her to start this talk. She took a deep breath and took hold of one of Mugen's hands tightly, as though to keep him there.

"When I first go to the island, no one would help me, then a woman gave me directions. I had to go through this field of dying sunflowers. . ." She paused and gave Mugen's hand a squeeze, "that's when he attacked me, I was so sure he was going to kill me there, but he just knocked me down, using his scythe. . ." Mugen almost growled, but let her continue. ". . .he, I tried to get away, but. . .his hand was down there, inside my kimono." Tears began to drift down her cheeks. "Then he knocked me out. . ."The arms around her remained gentle, but the rage that Jin saw in the Pirate's eyes was enough to scare any man or beast. " When I woke up, he had me tied to the beam. . .and, he. . .he was pulling up his pants. . ." Her voice became small. "He said that you wouldn't want me. . .he said you. . .he said you would hate me if you knew the truth." She couldn't control her tears now and a sob tore at her throat, his rage pushed aside for now, Mugen lifted the sobbing girl into his arms, his eyes locked on Jin's and both gave each other a look of understanding. Mugen carried her to their bedroom and settled them into the futon, curling up around her. "Mugen?" She hiccupped.

"Go to sleep. . .I'm here, everything is going to be okay."

"I'm sorry. . ." She whispered brokenly, her breathing evened out a moment later, telling him that she had fallen asleep.

"No. . .I'm sorry. ." The pirate murmured into her auburn hair.

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Mugen emerged from the bedroom carrying his sword an hour after he had taken Fuu in. The Ronin looked up at him, the rage was back in the pirate's eyes and Jin stood.

"Take care of her tonight, I'll be back by morning. . ." Jin gave him a nod.

"Mugen, you've already reclaimed her honor. . ."He said quietly, Mugen froze.

". . .They did that to her because of me, so yes, her honor is saved, but I'll never be able to forgive myself." He walked out the door then, intended to unleash his fury on the nearby forest. Jin heard the screams of anguish echo into the night, and they did not stop until the sun broke the horizon.

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When Fuu woke her body went into full alert, sitting up quickly and looking around, looking for Mugen, when she did not find him she panicked. She had been scared of how he would react to the secret she'd been keeping, and was now even more panicked that she had not found him sleeping next to her. She scrambled to her feet, grabbed her robe, pulling it on, before scrambling out the doorway.

"I can't believe that a tree fell on you."

"Shut-up Four-eyes! It fell really fast! Ow! Be careful with that shit-. . .Oi? What's the matter girly?"

She blinked, taking in the scene before her, Mugen currently sitting in front of Jin, his appearance one of someone who seemed to have been flattened, rumpled, and splintered. Jin was currently trying to bandage an abrasion on the pirate's side. For one thing, he was doing it completely wrong, she wondered how they had survived all those years without he to bandage them up. She began to giggle, then laugh, and then suddenly could not stop.

"What-hap-ppened?" She giggled out, Mugen smirked.

"I went to fight the forest. . ."This made her laugh harder.

"Did the forest win?" Mugen pouted, but secretly felt better, knowing that he could make her laugh, even if it was unintentional.

"A tree fell on him. . ."Jin said helpfully.

"Shut the fuck up fish-face!! How about we take you out into the forest an-" Mugen was cut off by the pounding of someone on the door, Fuu sighed and went to answer it. When she opened it, she immediately wish she hadn't, when a large group of her female coworkers shoved inside, all jibbering at once, both men had an immediate headache.

"What's going on?" Fuu asked shakily, laughing lightly, a little bit terrified.

"We came to get you ready silly!" Yuki stated, shaking her friend lightly by the shoulders.

"R-ready?" She blinked.

"For your wedding!" Yuki smiled, Fuu gasped, then slowly turn her head to look at her pirate, she opened and closed her mouth a couple times unable to form words.

"-really?" She managed to spit out. Mugen looked up at her and smirked.

"Gotta make you and honest woman don't I?" Her eyes filled with tears. "Go on, go get ready." He said shooing her away. She smiled brightly, rushing to him and tackling him to the ground, hugging him tightly, tan tattooed arms caught her and held her. She kissed him soundly, then jumped up and rushed out with the still talkative females, the door slammed shut, Mugen stared up at the ceiling.

"I'm going to survive this, right?" He asked the Ronin seriously.

"I think you would have better odds if you were fighting the whole shogun. . ."

"Fuck you, fish-face. . ."

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They took Fuu to Yuki's, where they had an impromptu bridal shower. She received a multitude of gifts, most of them were things that she could use in the near future. Some cooking wears, a couple of kimonos, and a beaded money purse. The woman chattered happily about marriage, then whispered teasingly about what would happen after the wedding, making Fuu blush a deep red, when it came time to get ready, she looked a bit put out.

"What's wrong Fuu-chan? Having second thoughts about marrying the pinhead?" Yuki said teasingly.

"Oh!. . .no it's not that, I just. . .I don't have anything formal to wear-"

"Of course you do! Bring it in!" The was a rustle and then a couple of the women brought in a beautifully crafted kimono, made from the same white silk she had admired in the marketplace a couple days before. It was simple, but elegant, a little beading drew the eye, shaking, Fuu touched the soft white.

"I can't wear this, it must be. . ."

"It's yours Fuu. . .it was made for you, Mugen brought me the fabric a couple days ago." Yuki said softly.

"Mugen, you guys made. . .he used up his sake money on it. . ." Yuki grinned.

"Come on, let's get you dressed. . ." She helped Fuu out of her robe and then gave her a light shove towards the women with makeup. They put very little on, then they worked on her hair, using heated rollers they turned her straight auburn hair into a cascade of curls which they pulled up, securing them with the comb Mugen had given her, which they had polished so much that it gleamed.

They then slid the white kimono into place, securing it with her obi. They held up a piece of polished glass for her to look at herself and she gasped lightly, not seeing herself looking back at her. She didn't look like a girl anymore, but a woman grown.

"Do you think. . .Mugen will like it?" She asked, blushing.

"If he doesn't, he's gay. . ." Then she grumbled. "He'd better like it, I stuck myself twelve times trying to sew that thing."

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KuroBlack: Okay, so my fingers are now numb and this chapter is definitely longer than any of the others. I hope you like it. The next chapter with be the conclusion, unless I decide to add an epilogue. I'm trying to get started on a new story that I have been brewing for an InuYasha fanfic.

So I guess I catch you guys later. Until next time, be well!