Chapter 11

Rain

A/N: Wow, it's been a while. I'm sorry, exams and school is over! I am an official senior! Yesssssssss. ^_^ Well, anyway, my stories will now be updated a lot faster thanks to summer! I hope you enjoy this chappie!

"Kill all of them except the oldest girl. They want her alive."

"Sir, I can kill her myself."

"You can't. She's the Dragon Hime, she'll kill you before you even draw your weapon."

There was a silence in the dimly lit room before the authoritative voice spoke again, "Just get the job done. You know what's at stake for you."

"Yes sir."

"It's going to rain." Nai looked up at the sky. It's not that she didn't like the rain. She just believed that when it was warm like this, and it rained, it meant that something bad was bound to happen.

Jin came up next to her and she lent against him as they walked. She grinned as she remembered the night before. She was glad he told her about Shino and she was glad she gave herself to him. He coolly wrapped an arm around d her waist.

Fuu crinkled her nose, "Mugen-"

"They fucked."

Fuu choked on air, "You don't have to be so blunt about it!" She hissed.

Mugen put his arms behind his head, "There is no way they would be a lovey-dovey like that if they hadn't. Four eyes isn't that kind of guy." He sighed, "Why does he get to have that?"

"Have what Mugen?" Fuu asked softly.

"Nothing, never mind it."

Fuu gave the rounin a sad look. He would have that one day, after their journey was over, Mugen would have love too.

Something wet hit Jin on the head, "It's raining."

"I was right! Ha!" Nai said as she ran with her cousin under the awning of a nearby shop.

A man exited the shop appearing to be the owner, she cousins bowed, "We apologize. We were just looking for shelter from the rain."

The man smiled pleasantly, he was short and partially bald but he seemed young, "Oh no problem. Please come in! I love hearing travelers stories about places I'll never see myself."

Nai wrung the water from her hair, "Sorry but we have no money."

"Don't worry about it. On the house."

"If that's the case some sake potatoes and oden would be great." Mugen said as he walked in, Jin in tow.

The cousin's made identical pissed of faces, "Idiots."

The inside of the shop was warm and dimply lit. There were lots of people around but the atmosphere was quite, calm, and slightly sad. A woman was on the stage playing a sad song on a guitar like instrument called a samisen.

Mugen sat down and immediately started stuffing his face. Nai rolled her eyes and sat next to him, Jin next to her, and Fuu on the end.

A huge shiver traveled up Nai's spine and she quickly looked over her shoulder. Jin whispered in her ear, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

The woman ended her song and the people started to clap, Fuu stood from her seat to do so.

The shop keeper wiped his eyes, "That song always makes me cry."

Jin paused in his eating, "They say the songs of a Gozeh are sad because they show the listener things that their eyes can not see."

"A Gozeh?" Fuu questioned.

"A blind, traveling, performer."

The woman made her way to the bar and sat on the other side of Mugen. The shop owner smiled, "That was lovely."

Fuu complimented too, "I…I um, really liked that a lot."

The woman gave a small, quick smile. Mugen rolled his eyes, "Yeah right. That was a downer. Your way too hot to sing crap like that."

"Will you show some manners?" Fuu whispered from her end.

Jin and Nai just sat and ate quietly.

Mugen held his sake out to the woman, "Want a drink?"

"I don't take handouts from people."

Mugen smirked, "I'm diggin you."

"Wooow. That song made us cry like babies. But I'm afraid that you're singing that song on our turf." Two men came up on either side on the woman. Jin and Nai silently put on hand on one of their weapons, at the ready. Mugen glared at the men as they continued to pester the woman.

"You can't set up shop here and not be prepared to kick down your profits."

"Say something already."

"Your eyes might not be able to work but that mouth of yours should be just fine." The man said, grabbing the front of the woman's kimono and raising her from her seat.

Nai got down off her chair a little and Fuu stood completely, "You leave her alone!"

"Stay out of this."

The woman turned her unseeing eyes in Fuu's direction, "He's right. I don't want your sympathies, just because I'm blind."

The man let her go, "Listen lady, I don't think your taking us seriously."

The other man grabbed her wrist; "Maybe I should cut off your hand to stop you from playing the samisen."

Mugen grabbed the man's own wrist and twisted it behind his back, "Maybe I should rip out that tongue of yours to keep you from picking a fight again?" the other man drew his katana, attempting to fight. Mugen dealt with them quickly, leaving them afraid as they scampered from the establishment.

Nai re-mounted her chair and continued to eat as the woman gathered herself as well, "Excuse me?"

Mugen grinned at her, "I wasn't actin outta sympathy. I got ulterior motives. Got a name?"

"My name is Sarah."

Mugen put and arms around her shoulders, "I like you girl. I like your face and you attitude."

He crumpled to the floor in pain as Jin, Nai, and Fuu hit him against his head calmly, all at the same time. Nai swallowed her mouthful of sake. "Stupid monkey."

"So the four of you have traveled all this way, together?"

"Well, sort of. I just joined them about half way through." Nai said sweetly.

Sarah smiled, "That seems nice."

Mugen scratched his head, "Yeah it just kinda worked out that way."

Jin held Nai closer, she was partially in his lap, "So, where are you headed?" The three of them were huddled around Sarah; Fuu was on the far end of the bar. The three hadn't even really noticed since they were so engrossed in their conversation with Sarah.

"I'm going to Hyuuga. It's just a little to the south of here. Um, excuse me, Fuu?"

Fuu looked up with a "Huh?"

Sarah smiled, "I'm sorry, for earlier. You were just trying to be nice and I lashed out at you."

"Don't worry, that's alright."

"I've been on my own a while and I get a little stubborn at times."

"It's ok, I understand, really."

"If it's alright. Would the four of you mind traveling with me to Hyuuga? I would like to repay you for your kindness. I'd be glad to cover your room and board along the way."

Nai smiled, "That doesn't sound like a problem to me. The guys and myself can even protect you a little. In case some more guys like those two come along again."

Jin nodded, "That sounds good, Fuu?"

She nodded and smiled, "Sure."

For five days Sarah traveled with the crew. Nai, Jin, and Mugen playing bodyguards for Sarah during her shows. Sometimes standing outside of the larger venues to keep people out. The days went smoother having someone with money; they always ate and found a decent place to sleep. Nai and Fuu openly conversed with the woman, glad to have another female to talk to.

Every once in a while, Nai would stop and look around suspiciously, feeling something or someone who wasn't really there but she got over it.

They all stopped at a small shop along the road to get something to eat, Jin glared at Mugen as he grabbed all the dumplings on the plate and shoved them in his mouth, "Jeez guys! If you're going to take advantage of Sarah's kindness be subtle about it. But I will say it beats going head to head over the right to a single dumpling."

"Especially since the damn things come in threes." Nai said exiting the shop with another plate and setting it down between her and her lover.

Sarah smiled as she heard Nai smack Mugen's hand as he tried to steel them. Jin sipped his tea quietly as the two bickered. He noticed the fuzzy, owl-like charm hanging from Sarah's instrument.

"I'm sorry to speak out of term, but isn't that a Kishi-bojein charm?"

Sarah's smiled fell and Fuu studied the charm also, "Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask about that two."

Jin closed his eyes, "I take it you have a child then?"

The five of them grew quiet as Sarah smiled, "Yes I do."

"Is the kid dead?"

Nai smacked Mugen hard against his head, "Mugen!"

"No, it's not dead."

Fuu moved closer to Sarah, "Is it with the father?"

"The father is no longer around."

"Bet then…"

"Well, a blind woman isn't exactly the best mother for a child."

Nai looked down at the ground. A cursed woman wasn't either, she put a hand over her stomach and Jin's hand covered hers.

It was quiet, and dark. The place where they were staying was really nice. They were staying there thanks to Sarah and the money she earned night after night. Nai leaned against the wood rail in the hall and Jin exited his room.

"Hey."

Nai kissed him softly, "Hey."

He gently put a hand on her stomach and held her from behind, "Are you?"

She lent her head back against his chest and closed her eyes. When she opened them he was staring down at her, she smiled, "No."

Jin's face seemed to fall just a little, Nai smiled, "Jin, did you want me to be?"

"Not right now. When the journey is over. But it didn't sound bad. Mugen could take Fuu the rest of the way."

"He could…I guess."

Jin sighed and stepped away from her as Fuu came into the hall. "Nai! Come to the baths with me!"

"Where's Sarah?" Nai asked raising a brow.

"She's already there, c'mon!" The cousins went to the bathhouse and changed, turned out that the bath was more like a spring.

Nai smirked as she wrapped a towel around her body, "You're going commando?"

"Why not? There are no guys out there."

"Whatever you say. Little cousins first." Nai said, dramatically letting her cousin pass.

"AAGGGHHH!"

Nai burst out laughing as Fuu hid behind some wood to shield herself. Her face turned beat red and she yelled, "What are you doing out there?!"

Mugen turned to look at the hiding teen, "I'm takin a bath! What's it look like?"

"You're trying to make a move on Sarah!"

Mugen stood, "I am not." Then turned around.

"AHHH! Could you at least cover up!"

Mugen smirked, "It's not like she can see anything. Right?"

Nai stepped aside to let Mugen pass but she just kept giggling. She left the little shed and dropped a towel on Fuu's head, "There are no guys out there." She teased.

"Shut up Nai."

The two dipped into the water and Nai wet her hair and sighed. Fuu carefully got in and turned to Sarah, "Are you ok? He didn't try anything did he?"

Sarah shook her head, "Do you mind if I ask you two something?"

Nai and Fuu looked to her, "No."

"Could you tell me what Mugen looks like?"

Nai opened her mouth but Fuu beat her to the punch, "Listen! Don't waist your time on him! He's a complete pig! I don't even think he's human half the time! More like a hairy baboon or something."

Nai tilted her head and smiled at her little cousin. "Sounds like somebody's being possessive. You like him Fuu." She thought to herself.

Sarah just simply nodded. Nai sat up as she heard something. "Nai, what is it."

"Fuu stay here with Sarah. I'm just going to get out and check this place before we go to sleep."

"O-ok."

Nai got out from the spring and dressed in her black outfit, pulling up her mask and putting her long brown hair in a high ponytail. She jumped the roof and skipped across the tiles to where she knew the boy's room was. "Mugen."

"GAH! Dammit don't scare me like that!" He said pointing his katana at her haphazardly.

She pulled down her mask, "Punk. Where's Jin?"

"Four eyes is out for a walk."

"C'mon. We gotta go do something."

"Something like what?" He said laying back on the floor.

"Something that could possibly involve killing someone."

Mugen sat straight up, "Let's go."