Hi guys, sorry that I took so long. Thanks to everyone for sending me your sympathies. Really helped. But I'm okay, and I'll be getting back to writing. So here it is, another installment.

Chapter Twenty Nine: 3 rooms

The fireworks lit up the whole sky. The town had never seen so much brightness. Mizu stayed close to his parents and Makoto, the monk. However, Jin stayed further behind them all, as if he was trying to read what was going on underneath the skin. Makoto could feel Jin's eyes on him even though they were closed. He could feel the suspicion, the questions, the intention. He smiled looking back slightly to let Jin know that he knew what he was thinking. Jin thought it was strange, and had known from the very first time he met the monk that he was not a normal monk. But he wondered what his motivations were, if he was evil or kind hearted. Though his thoughts were loud in his mind, he could not weed out the noise of the fireworks. It was captivating. The lights, the different colours, the joy and peace in all their faces. He looked at all the people's face, they were so hopeful. Perhaps the light symbolized the town's bright new beginning. He looked over to Mizu. Jin could tell that Mizu was avoiding his own thoughts. He looked back up at the hill that led to the house, he wondered what Fuu was doing, or if Mugen was awake yet. He could relate to how Mizu was feeling. He had felt like that once, broken inside all for the love of a woman who at the time, seemed unobtainable. Luckily for him, fate let him have Shino, and even though the road to keeping her was bumpy, he gladly stuck to that path. A smile crossed his face as he looked up to the fiery colours, the thought of Shino in his eyes.

"It's getting a little late, we should get going home." Shiro smiled. He was tired and so was Aki. The day's cleaning had worn the couple out, and even Makoto was feeling tired. Mizu didn't want to go back home, where he would have to see Fuu lovingly stand beside Mugen. He hated Mugen so much. He was not worthy of Fuu, and he believed everyone knew that. But even his own parents accepted Fuu as Mugen's and it bothered him to no end. He started to play her face over and over again telling him that she wanted to stay behind to take care of Mugen. She was directly telling him, he knew that, but it didn't matter, he didn't care. He knew he was being selfish and crude, but somehow he just didn't care. He sighed looking up at the fireworks, picturing Fuu in the colours.

"Hey, are you coming?" Jin asked interrupting Mizu's mad illusions. His parents and the monk had already walked a good ways up the hill, but Jin stayed behind to see if Mizu would follow. His thoughts were right, Mizu was still mad. Mizu sighed again and gave Jin a simple no as his reply. He stayed still, thinking of Fuu. Jin's eyes narrowed. His patience was wearing thin, and he approached Mizu with frustrated intent.

"You can't make people love you." Jin calmly said standing only a few feet behind Mizu. He was annoyed and frustrated that a destined relationship such as Fuu and Mugen's would be tried by love struck puppy. Mizu didn't accept Jin's thought, and slowly turned to face him.

"It's true, but you can try." Mizu had an angry expression. His nose was scrounged up, his black stare stabbing Jin's eyes like daggers, his face flushed red with a growing madness. Jin didn't like what he saw in Mizu's face, but regardless he smirked at the youth.

"Destiny has already decided for them, you shouldn't force yourself." Jin's smirk was smooth but it warned Mizu enough to stay back.

"When you try too hard to force something you're way, it normally goes the opposite." Jin left with the words still lingering over Mizu's body. It was true, he knew it was all true. Fuu had already made up her mind, and destiny led her to make that decision. No matter what he did now, didn't matter, her path was away from his. He looked down to his feet. He had exhausted himself from all the thinking he had done. Suddenly he didn't know what to do. Follow what his heart was tugging him to do, or what his mind told him to do. He had always thought that the heart was all he needed to follow.

"Forget it for now Mizu…" He smiled watching Jin's body fade into the hill.

"Wait till tomorrow." He sighed and started his way up the hill.

………………………………………………….

Fuu was still tangled with Mugen, laying naked on his futon. She had never felt so complete. All the uncertainties left her, and was determined for the first time in her life. She was still blushing as she rested on his chest protected in his embrace. Mugen didn't want to let her go, but knew that he would have to before anyone came home. He liked this feeling, the love he felt for her, the love she felt for him. He had a chance to be a normal man, a man with honor and name. He was pretty much the same, but so different in so many ways.

"Oy Fuu, we should get up." He whispered as he kissed the top of her head. Fuu nuzzled into his chest further, rubbing her hot cheek against him. He smiled enjoying this temporary closeness. She nodded. She moved to look up at him, but instead of getting up; she blushed madly. He became confused.

"What is it?" He asked a bit worried.

"Um…I don't want you peeking when I get up." She whispered. Mugen broke out in horrible laughter as she lightly punched him. He held on to her as she pushed on his chest, upset with his reaction.

"I just did it with you, and you're worried that I'll see you naked?" He laughed. Fuu blushed, knowing how ridiculous it was. But it was embarrassing.

"Mugen…come on." She scrounged up her nose and pulled the sheet to cover her. He smirked moving to kiss her neck. She blushed madly once again trying to push him away. Mugen playfully snuggled her finally agreeing to not peek as she got up and dressed. He closed his eyes shut as Fuu cautiously moved. She kept her eyes on him as she grabbed her kimono, but before she could put it on, Mugen opened his eyes with a loud shout.

"BOO!" He shouted seeing her petite body trying to cover herself. Fuu turned red screaming back at him.

"BAKA MUGEN!" She screeched trying to keep the parts that needed to be covered, covered. Mugen got up with a mischievous smirk. She swallowed hard and started to step back.

"Mugen, mugen, wait. Come on now, calm down." She nervously smiled backing up to the wall. She turned red each time her eyes automatically trialed to his manhood. She didn't want to look at it, but she couldn't help the female side of her. He was erect and ready. But she was nervous and tired. He trapped her against the wall, pushing his body against hers. Fuu pulled her kimono to cover her mouth trying to hide her own need. They couldn't possibly engage into another round, the others would be returning soon, and she was still a bit sore. Mugen kept his smirk as he forcefully pulled her kimono down to expose her small breasts. She blushed trying hard to pull it back up, even tried to fight off Mugen from lowering his head to assault her poor tired nipple. But the feeling knocked out her sensible side, and slowly her body accepted his movements. He rubbed her hips gently, moving his hands up to her stomach and down her back. He cupped her small buttocks in his hands, squeezing them as he bent on his knees. He couldn't stop all of a sudden as she started to moan gently.

"HUH!" She came out of her trance when she could hear Aki and Shiro just outside the house, and getting closer. She panicked and tried to pull Mugen's hair. Her efforts were failing when he started to rub the small area in-between her legs. She blushed liking the touch, but had to stop him.

"Mugen, they're home." She panicked. Mugen could feel her hands ripping his hair, trying to stop him, and soon he stopped.

"Oy what's the problem." He angrily growled, upset that she was interrupting him. He was happy doing what he was doing, and she was killing his mood. She blushed looking down at him. She finally was able to push him off as she quickly dressed.

"Oy!" He shouted.

"Mugen, they're home!" She was flushed a horny red, but it had to be stopped. Mugen listened closely, and he heard their voices.

"OH shit!" He scrambled to his futon, and put on his shorts and got into bed. Fuu ran out to her own room before anyone could walk in. She was breathing heavy, the fear of being caught was still looming over her. She steadied her breathing.

Mugen lay on his bed, waiting for the door to open and the voices to fill the house again. He was close to getting Fuu again, but it didn't matter, there would be other times. In fact he had the rest of his life to love her. A smile crept on to his face as moved on to his back. His expression changed but before he could say a word the furry creature fell on face. He started to curse under the creatures belly trying to rip the ball of fur off of his face. He sat up, struggling when Jin entered his room to see Mugen being assaulted by a small animal.

"I see you're busy." Jin smiled.

"Help me you bastard!" Mugen shouted, his plead incoherent and muffled from the squirrel. Momo-san squeaked innocently and leapt on to Jin's shoulder. Mugen got up, ready to fight.

"Alright, you little bastard, I'm gonna kill you today!" He shouted. Jin smiled and looked at the pudgy squirrel on his shoulder.

"It would seem Fuu's squirrel won this battle too." Jin smiled walking away. Mugen stood surprised for a second, but the insult finally hit him, and he growled in frustration.

"You danm squirrel!" He shouted to the top of his lungs.

……………………………………….

Mizu walked into his room not looking back at Fuu's door. It took all his courage not to burst into her room and demand answers. It hurt to realize that he was not loved by her, but there had to be a way to win her heart. He remembered back to the days when his father was alive, he had always told him that anything was possible if he put his heart into it. Those were words he followed everyday since his death. He found courage to fight and avenge his father, had it not been his heart leading him; he surely would have failed. He smiled walking into his room. It didn't seem so impossible anymore. He looked to the wall that was separating him from Fuu, placing a hand on it.

"It's not so out of reach…" He smiled. He leaned against the wall, wondering how he could win her. But than it came to him. All he had to do was show her everyday how much he loved her. He would do things for her, help her, give her recognition and credit. Only than she would realize that she loved him back. He smiled to himself feeling more confident in his situation.

………………………………...

Fuu sat down on her futon looking out the window. It was a beautiful night. The fireworks had stopped but the crowd was still out and celebrating. It was a wonderful night to loose her virginity and gain the love of her life. She blushed touching her lips. How many kisses did Mugen place on her, she lost track of it when they became intimate. Mugen had confessed his love. It was something she had never expected in a million years to leave Mugen's lips, but he said it. The words were crystal clear.

"Mugen…" She smiled looking back at the wall that blocked her from him. He was still in there, she heard him screaming and fighting with Momo-san. How did things change so much in so little time. Had this happened during her journey, she would have scolded and made fun of him, but she had matured, and so had he. It was nice to feel like she had someone like Mugen in her life. He was scary looking, rough around the edges, and violent, but there was a big heart behind all that madness. She giggled softly thinking back to all the times she and he fought like there was no tomorrow. And now she ached to see him and knew he felt the same.

"…but…" She wondered what would happen now. Where would they go from here? Would things become strange and awkward between them? She sighed remembering the way he touched and held her. It was a feeling she wanted to have back, real soon. But she didn't want to be the instigator of anything, it would embarrass her.

"That would never happen." She laughed. From the look on Mugen's face when she was pulling back, Mugen would most defiantly be the instigator of all future sexual moments. She sniffed herself, Mugen was still on her, and she loved that scent. But she was a sweaty mess and needed to cozy her body in warm water.

Slowly she snuck out of her room, to avoid anyone from noticing her.

"Fuu-chan, are you alright?" Aki asked. Her voice had come from nowhere and it scared Fuu out of her own skin. She turned around to see Aki's old smiling face. Fuu relaxed.

"I'm alright. I was just going to take a bath." Fuu hesitated. Aki titled her head a bit, looking at her strangely. Aki wasn't sure, but something about Fuu had changed. Fuu was nervously smiling, laughing hysterically trying to hide the deed she consummated with Mugen.

"Well goodnight." Fuu smiled and quickly skipped to the bathroom. When she shut the door, she was relieved, but felt weird.

"Could she know….?" She asked herself. A drop of sweat coming down the side of her forehead.

Aki stood quiet for a short moment, but Shiro's request for tea brought her out of her thoughts. She wondered why Fuu was bathing now, when she had already bathed. She also wondered why her hair was messy and her face looking sticky with sweat. But luckily for Fuu, Aki went back to the kitchen to serve some tea to her quest and her husband.

Fuu exhaled the biggest amount of air that could come out of her lungs. The water was great. She soaked her body, feeling a small bit of pain in her womanhood. She didn't want to over think anything, she just wanted to enjoy this special night.

……………………………………….

Jin was sitting across from Makoto on the other side of the kitchen, feeding Momo-san sun flower seeds. The seeds brought him back to his journey, and to Shino. How was she doing, he thought over and over. He watched the squirrel eat, his eyes softening as his thoughts grew full of Shino. Shiro was talking to Aki at that time about the restaurant, but even if they were not distracted, they would not have noticed the small change in Jin's face. There was sadness.

"Who is it that consumes your mind?" Makoto asked. Jin immediately looked up to the monk. His old smile was comforting but something behind his eyes bothered Jin. Somehow he felt the monk knew something, or carried more information than he led on. But what could he be hiding in that old mind of his. Jin smiled moving his attention back to Fuu's pet.

"A friend from a long time ago." Jin said in a stern voice. He didn't want the monk to know that this friend meant the world to him. But deep inside, he could tell that the monk already knew.

"Even a friend from the past is still a friend." The monk smiled. Jin looked back up to him.

"But some friends are not reachable." Jin added. He didn't know what the monk was trying to do. Jin's suspicion only grew.

"All friends are reachable, even time can not hold you back." Makoto smiled again. His black eyes sparkled in the fire's light. Jin's eyes opened a little wider. He wondered if the monk knew of his relationship with Shino. They stared at each other for a long time before Aki and Shiro announced they were going to bed.

"Ahh, I should sleep too." Makoto added.

"Oh, Mugen is the only one in that room, why don't you go ahead and share it with him" Shiro added.

"No need, he can have the room." Mugen interrupted as he plopped down beside Jin. He gave Momo-san an evil smirk warning him of the doom to come. Momo-san retaliated by sticking out his small pink tongue.

"Why you little-"

"Mugen, where will you sleep?" Aki asked curious and suspicious of him. Mizu joined the conversation, not really knowing what the crowd was talking about. He sat down and quickly poured some tea for himself.

"With Fuu." Mugen smiled. He said it so easily. Jin sharply looked to him, examining his composure and attitude. His eyes bulged when he realized what he had done with Fuu. Aki and Shiro were equally nerved and even bothered by his loose words. Mizu took it the hardest and stared at him angrily for a long moment, holding himself back.

"Mugen, you can't. Don't say such things. She's just a young girl." Shiro added pointing a warning finger to his adopted ruffian son. He wasn't too strict, he knew he couldn't be. Mugen was young, but he already knew the connection he had with Fuu. He was mostly doing it to show Mizu yet another reason to stop pursuing Fuu. Mugen looked to him, looking more attentive.

"Oy old man, she's not a young girl. She's gonna be my wife, so I decide where she sleeps, and she's sleeping with me." He grunted. The monk started to laugh gently while everybody else chocked. Mizu spat out the tea in horrible shock. Jin just stared at Mugen, while Shiro and Aki looked nervously at each other.

"Listen, I'm not going to do anything to her. I respect her, so that's final." He growled getting upset that everyone was treating him like some lecher. If only he was able to tell them what he did to her.

"The man knows what he is doing. If the young lady has no objections, there is no harm." Makoto added. It was something nobody expected him to say. A monk just said it was alright for an unmarried couple to sleep in the same room together. Aki and Shiro looked at him confused and surprised. All Makoto did was smile, yawn and leave to sleep. Aki and Shiro followed not looking back at Mugen or Mizu.

"Goodnight." Mizu growled leaving the kitchen abruptly. Mugen watched Mizu leave from the corner of his eyes. He hated that kid.

"What did you do?" Jin asked angrily. He didn't want to hear that Mugen had done it with Fuu, that he touched her, kissed her and seen her. Mugen smirked.

"Oy, that's personal shit." He grinned resting his head against the wall. Jin was not too happy, he looked at Mugen closely. But something came to him, a realization. Mugen would never force Fuu, nor would he take advantage of her. All he had noticed, was the love he had, and it was not his place to lecture him.

"Just don't hurt her." Jin added as he got up. It offended Mugen to hear that from Jin, but he didn't say anything back. He had always seen the fatherly protection Jin had over Fuu. He didn't want to see Fuu cry or be taken advantage of, and it was understandable.

"Hey.." Mugen said stopping Jin from leaving the room.

"Hmm..?" Jin responded.

"I would never." Mugen said in a small voice. He wanted Jin to understand that he was not all madness, he was decent and logical. Jin closed his eyes and left. He didn't show it to Mugen, but he accepted their love.

Okay guys, so how was that? Oh ProyalAngel, I'm defiantly signing that petition. LOL One more thing, thanks to all of you for sending your wonderful sympathy e-cards and emails, and even on the reviews. I never expected for you guys to actually take the time out and email me and send me cards. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it all. For that I'm gonna add more lemons and I'll work feverishly to get the chapters up every day. ) Much love.