…Thanks for the reviews. Seriously, guys. It's great to hear!

Did anyone happen to notice the "This guy in nuts" thing I did? Haha. Fuu first thought it about Riyouji in chapter 4, and then last chapter Jin thought it.

Ha. Well, even though you probably didn't, I thought it was funny anyway!

I don't own rights to Samurai Champloo…

Mugen sat, sour-faced, shirtless and whiny as Fuu cleaned his wound… again.

"I wouldn't have to keep doing this if you'd just take it easy!" Fuu murmured, trying to keep patient.

"I ain't gotta if I don't wanna." Mugen fought back, but was silenced when Fuu applied a little too much pressure to his wound "accidentally."

He stared at her face as she concentrated on securing clean bandages.

"Say, Fuu." Mugen began.

When she looked at him, he directed his eyes to the ground. "Yes, Mugen?"

"Well, ya know… What happened on the boat… Before Jin waltzed in…"

Fuu stood in alarm, her face a startling scarlet shade.

"Shut up, Mugen." Fuu turned and began walking in no particular direction, obviously trying to escape the awkward situation.

"Hey, I was just saying-" Mugen yelled after her.

"Shut UP, Mugen!!" Fuu cut in over her shoulder.

"I just-"

"Shut up!" Fuu was out of sight now.

"Fine!" Mugen shouted, now livid at her audacious behavior. "I was just going to say we should pretend like it never happened!" His voice grew louder and louder. "It was a mistake and it was disgusting!"

Mugen's breath heaved as he finished his fit. He had put so much emphasis on that last word his voice grew hoarse and painful.

"Bitch."

Jin watched quietly from the forest as Riyouji whispered with a man for a moment. He then turned to the gathering of men behind him.

"I have word. We're to go to Kagoshima." Riyouji called out to his men.

Jin's brow furrowed. 'shit.'

Mugen's stomach growled. Fuu hadn't returned from her little tantrum.

"Dumb bitch, probably got herself kidnapped again."

He certainly hoped not. The end of her could mean the end of him. He touched his wound and hissed with the pain. He felt eased, though, knowing the greenish color was beginning to fade.

"Don't poke at it!"

Mugen jumped at the sound of Fuu's voice.

"Well look who decided to show up!" Mugen crossed his arms and gave her the dirtiest look he could muster.

Fuu held up two nicely-sized fish, which silenced the pirate. "That's what I thought!" Fuu huffed.

After she started a fire and put the fish on to cook, both of their moods became more civil.

"Here's your dinner." Fuu handed him the stick with his fish on it, sizzling temptingly.

Without another word both tore into their food with no modesty.

Mugen slumped back with contentment. "Damn, that was good."

"You're welcome!" Fuu grinned.

"Who thanked you?" Mugen rolled his eyes.

Fuu sighed and shook her head. "Shut up, idiot. Without me you'd be dead."

"The same can be said about you, girlie." Mugen retorted.

There was a brief silence.

"Let me take a look at you." Fuu kneeled and lifted Mugen's shirt. She had Mugen hold his shirt back.

"How's it lookin'?" Mugen once again studied her face as she checked his abdomen. One of her legs was slightly atop of his own, and his eyes were directed at the place where her skirts had been tucked between her legs, outlining her legs and sex.

He gulped and looked away. How long since he had a woman? Not that long ago he supposed. He glanced back at the crease.

"You done yet?" Mugen asked, annoyed.

"It's healing pretty well." Fuu smiled at him.

"Yeah, it don't hurt so much." Mugen felt relieved as Fuu stood.

"I'm going to go have myself a nice, long bath!" Fuu told him. "Think you can handle being along for a while?"

"I ain't no baby." Mugen turned away and shut his eyes. "Tired anyhow."

"Goodnight, then." Fuu walked off in the direction of the hot spring she had found earlier that day.

Fuu shed her clothes and dipped herself into the water, sighing with pleasure. After she had stormed away from Mugen, she had plenty of time to explore and think. She thought about Mugen and Jin and how fate seemed to always push them together. She thought of Kai and how selfless he was… He had sent someone to save her. Then she thought about what she hadn't wanted to talk to Mugen about.

'What the hell was that anyway?' Fuu asked herself. When she and Mugen had….

No. No. Her face became a bright red again. She couldn't even think about it.

'But why?' Fuu asked herself. 'Why did we do that?'

She recalled a rather awkward conversation she had with a customer at the tea-house once, who was telling her of younger, "wilder" days involving men.

"Oh boy!" The older woman laughed. "This one lad in particular! A fella who helped my dad in the fields! My, how we fought!"

"Really?" Fuu looked around the tea-house, wishing for a way out of the conversation. She could tell this was the kind of woman who wouldn't be shying away from the inappropriate details.

"All along it was just sexual tension!"

Yep. Definitely not shy about the inappropriate details.

"One day we were screaming at each other in a field… The next thing I knew my kimono was off and we were at it like a couple wild animals!"

Fuu giggled at the memory.

Suddenly she became very serious with herself. She looked at her reflection, with a scolding brow.

'No. It's not the same for you and Mugen. Mugen is your friend.' Fuu frowned. 'Not even a friend. Just some ass who is willing to save your life from time-to-time.'

She put the thoughts to the back of her mind, not liking the way they made her head spin.

...Welp! That's it for now! My favorite chapters are coming soooooon! Thanks! Till next time!...