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Fuu had to stop running after almost tripping numerous times. Her side had been hurting her anyways, she looked up to the beautiful stars that filled the sky. 'Why would destiny bring him back in my life just to break my heart?' she asked the stars. Unfortunately, she received no answer. After cleaning her tear streaked face with her sleeves she continued walking towards home. She just noticed how late it must have been. She knew the town wasn't far, but the forest trees were blocking her view. She didn't know why, but the hair on her neck stood up and she had the feeling she was being watched. She stopped and started looking around, trying to sense any movement or noise. She was about to take a step when she heard a branch snapping. She practically jumped out of her skin and her heart started pounding against her chest.
"You lost lil girl?", a deep voice called out from the trees. She looked in the direction it came from and saw a middle-aged man come out. He was balding and there were acne marks all over his face. His eyes seemed glazed over and that's when the panic started setting in.
Fuu dashed ahead only to be cut off by another man. This was a younger man with bangs that covered his eyes, but she understood his intentions by the evil smirk plastered on his face. "Don't be scared by Kouta, he only wants to have a lil fun."
She tried finding an escape route when another pair of men stepped out to the right of her. One was a young man in his teens and the other a middle-aged man with a beard and a large scar going across his cheek. As they started to descend she noticed the same glazed expression in their eyes and smelled the alcohol their bodies seemed to be drenched in. Her only option was to run to the left. She bolted for it, with all the men hot on her heels. She felt something tug her back by her collar and she fell down.
"Now why would you go and do that?" The man with the scar tisked her. He had been the one that grabbed her. "If you're a good lil girl we'll make sure to go easy with you." He chuckled and the others joined in.
Fuu knew her only chance was to fight back. She kicked him in the stomach and scrambled to get up, but the man with the ponytail had already snatched her. He pulled her roughly into him and she started screaming for all she was worth. He quickly slapped her across the face. The blow knocked her down, she could feel her lip split. She didn't have time to react because she felt a kick to her abdomen. She doubled over in pain. She could feel something sticky and metallic fill up in her mouth.
"This one is a feisty one boys! But that's how we like them, fresh and kickin!" Kouta barked out. Fuu could feel him kick her face down into the earth. She tried to struggle, but the pain in her stomach wouldn't let her move much. She felt them pulling her hands behind her back to tie them up, she continued to squirm but to no avail. She also felt her legs being roped together. She started to yelp out, so they gagged her. They continued to kick and and beat her until she stopped struggling.
'...Mugen help...' Fuu thought as they starting dragging her into the forest.
Mugen was feeling miserable. Why was that bitch so stupid running off by herself? With how klutzy she was sure to fall off a cliff and kill herself. He didn't want to face Fuu tonight, he had decided to drink heavily before he returned to her house. To hell with what Jin had said, he was leaving the next day no matter what. As he was thinking this he heard a familiar scream echoing through the forest. He stopped in his tracks, that couldn't be...He was filled with anger, how could he have let her run off by herself so late at night? He ran off in the direction of the scream. He hoped he was wrong. He could feel his body tensing for action. Right at the moment he heard some muffled sounds and a few grunts. He quickened his pace.
Fuu was being dragged by her feet along the forest floor. They had kicked and punched her a few more times to render her completely helpless. She felt the tears running down her bruised face and she wanted to scream out. If only she hadn't run from Mugen. Suddenly they stopped in front of an old hut. They opened the door and threw her inside. She moaned out when her head hit the wall. The teenager started a small fire, while the other three gazed greedily at her. Kouta seemed to be the leader because he pushed the other two back, making his intentions clear, he wanted first dibs. They stepped outside the hut holding a flask.
Kouta crept to were Fuu was lying. She started whimpering, but it had no effect on the man. He hungrily looked her up and down. He knelt besides her and started stroking her face. She flinched back, she could feel the bruise already forming where she had been smacked. He started to untie her obi and pull her kimono down her shoulders. She kept trying to move, but to make matters worse he laid on top of her making her immobile. She couldn't move or yell out and she knew what was about to happen. The tears kept flowing as he glided his hand up her leg to her thigh and opened her kimono to reveal her pale legs. He started kissing her neck and bare shoulders when they heard a loud thud and a few grunts. Kouta stopped and motioned for the teenager to check what was happening. Before the boy could get to the door it was busted open by a man with a crazed expression in his face.
Mugen had easily taken out the two guys in front of the hut. He could feel the rage coursing through his veins, but he completely lost control when he saw what was waiting for him on the other side of the door. Fuu was tied up on the ground, bruised and bloodied with a disgusting man on top of her. Her obi laid to the side and her kimono was pulled back. He could see her creamy skin and under wrappings. He also saw the absolute terror in her eyes. At that moment all he saw was red as he spun and sliced through a young boy. The disgusting man got up and grabbed a sword that had been lying against the wall. He lunged at Mugen screaming, "You bastard!".
Mugen easily dodged his attack and twisted around kicking his leg out until it made contact with the back of the man's head. The man fell and tried turning over to defend himself. Mugen didn't even want to use his sword, he threw it aside and jumped on top of the man punching him continuously in the face. At the first the man squirmed, but soon his body went limp. Mugen let all his rage out on the man until he heard whimpering coming from behind him. He remembered Fuu. He was breathing heavily as he got up and rushed to her side. He picked her off the floor and helped her into a sitting position as he cut her free from her bonds.
Fuu's face was black and blue and he saw blood flowing from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were red from tears and there was dirt and leaves all over her. Seeing her like this flew him into rage and he wished those assholes weren't dead so he could kill them all over again. He carefully put her face in his hands and asked, "Are you alright?" Fuu slowly nodded. "Did they...do anything to you?" Fuu shook her head no and that's when she started sobbing uncontrollably. Without thinking Mugen pulled her into his lap and hugged her hard. She laid her head on his shoulder and continued to cry. He started rubbing her back and making soothing noises into her ear.
Fuu was so glad to see Mugen. She was overcome with anxiety and fear, she felt herself start to fall asleep against Mugen's warm chest. After she finished crying out the last of her tears, she was physically and mentally exhausted. Mugen felt her body relax against his and knew she needed to rest. He held her in his arms bridal style and stood up, "You need to rest, don't worry I'll get you home."
Fuu nodded and her eyelids started closing when she blinked them open and looked back into Mugen's face and whispered, "Thank you...". She closed her eyes and fell asleep as he carried her home.
Mugen was getting angrier and angrier as he carried Fuu home. He shouldn't have let her run off. If he had chased her, this would have never happened. He couldn't get the image out of his mind of that filthy creature putting his hands all over Fuu. He didn't want anyone to touch her except him...whoa where did that come from? His shook his head to erase that thought. He was suppose to protect her and look what already happened. Even though he hated to admit it, he never wanted to have to feel the fury he felt seeing her hurt and helpless. He wanted to make sure he would always be around to defend her. But what would that mean? He didn't want to grow attached to her, he didn't want to keep feeling this repressed need he had for her. He didn't even need to sleep with her, just being around her made him feel full. He couldn't believe he was having these thoughts. But he couldn't help it, what happened tonight had confirmed the fact that he had strong feelings for Fuu. He pushed them aside and decided to just get her home for starters.
Fuu had slept the entire way. He got to her house and laid her gently on her futon. He grabbed a bowl and filled it with water and a clean cloth. He dipped the cloth in the bowl and gently cleaned her face. He found her sleeping kimonos and carefully changed her. He placed her sheets over her and was about to leave her room when he heard a whimper escape from her lips. He turned around and saw her face twisting in her sleep. She started thrashing and yelping out. He ran to her side and tried to soothe her. She opened her eyes slightly and whispered out, "Please don't leave me." He felt a sharp pain in his chest.
"Don't worry, I'm not going nowhere." he said as he sat against the wall. She went right back to sleep, but this time she looked more peaceful. Mugen kept a close eye on her, but felt sleep start to take over him. He held out until he saw the first rays of sunlight, then he passed out.
