I DO NOT OWN SAMURAI CHAMPLOO or 'BUTTERFLY' by DJ MYSTIC

Breakdancing Butterfly

xXxXxXxXxX By some strange turn of events, shortly after the three went their supposed 'separate ways' at the end of episode 26, our threesome met back up and decided it was fate that brought them together... again. They are now traveling back to the region Fuu wants to live in, the two guys as her body-guards. XxXxXxXxXx

Chapter 4 – "Still a Little Shy"

Jin tried to hide his smirk of amusement as he opened the door to Mugen and Fuu's master suite. He calmly walked over to the dinner table, seeing that they were already there, eating away –oblivious to everything around them.

No one even greeted him.

Jin stealthily took a seat across from them, but was unable to hide the sound of coins rattling together. Mugen's head flew up from his bowl of food, chopsticks gripped tightly in his firm hand.

"I hear money!" Mugen said and looked everywhere for the source. Then he saw Jin sitting across from them. "When the hell'd you get here?"

"Just now." Jin replied and began to serve himself.

"Did you hear money?" Mugen asked.

Jin just blinked, then said, "What would you say if I told you I had money."

Mugen burst into a small fit of laughter. "You have money? Heh, as if." He then resumed eating.

Jin then realized Mugen looked different. He was... clean? His stubble had been shaved away, his hair was smoothed down and into a pony-tail, and he smelled generally decent. Jin's mouth must have been hanging open, because Fuu replied:

"Yeah, I know, isn't it weird?" She asked the long-haired Samurai.

Jin blinked away his surprise and turned to Fuu. Oh my, she looked different too! Her hair was done up beautifully and traces of makeup was still on her face. And the bright pink lipstick on her small mouth was stunningly beautiful.

Fuu leaned over to Mugen and talked sideways, "Something's up with Jin."

Mugen glanced up and saw that Jin's face did indeed look strange. He shrugged his shoulders. "So? Something's always up with him."

Jin snapped out of his temporary daze and glared over at Mugen.

"Where were you all day today, Jin?" Fuu asked.

"In town." He replied simply, leaving it at that. For some reason, there was a hint of resentment in his voice.

"Oh." Fuu replied and continued to eat. Sometimes Jin could be so mysterious and closed.

"Dare I ask what you two were doing all day." Jin said, not looking at them.

Before Fuu had a chance to answer him with a simple 'we had a portrait taken' Mugen let out a hefty growl of amusement. He wrapped an arm around Fuu's waist and gave her a light tug. She fell haphazardly against him. He saw Jin's eyebrow perk, and he knew he hit a sore spot. Perfect.

"The ol' missus and I were sitting under a cherry tree enjoying eachother's company. She even offered me –oof!" Mugen gripped his stomach where Fuu had jabbed him with an elbow.

"We certainly were not 'enjoying eachother's company' Mugen! We were having a portrait painted –and there was no offering of anything!" Fuu exclaimed and tried to worm her way from his grip.

If anything, his hand tightened around her waist and pulled her closer. He smirked at her struggle and noticed Jin's face distort slightly. "Not much to offer though," He went on, ignoring her plea for innocence. "I'm sure you're still a virgin, and virgins are no fun."

"What!" Fuu yelled and tried to spin and struggle from his grip, but she just ended up somehow laying across his lap.

"You heard me. Virgins are no fun! They cry and complain. I like an experienced woman. I need it loo-" He was cut off as he was punched from below with a powerful uppercut.

Jin coughed into his hand. "I think I lost my appetite." He replied and got up to leave. The last thing he saw before he left was Mugen and Fuu wrestling on the ground, knocking over the dining table.

Fuu struggled still from Mugen's grip as they rolled on the floor, kicking, arguing and biting. Well –she was doing the biting. She bit his arm, but it didn't have the effect she wanted.

Instead of Mugen screaming in pain and pushing away from her –he only growled low in his throat and grabbed at her hand and gave it a bite back on her palm.

Not the reaction she wanted from him or herself!

She had gasped and her body had involuntarily arched up and her whole entire arm tingled from his contact. Butterflies danced inside her abdomen. Somehow the situation turned from angry repulsion to sexual tension.

Mugen was surprised at the reaction Fuu gave him to his retaliation bite. He had meant it to be purely retribution, but when her body slightly moved up and against him, he felt his heart beat faster –and it wasn't from adrenalin or anger.

His muscles rippled slightly as he forced her now-submissive arms to either side of her. He now had her pinned beneath him, his heavy breath tickling her forehead as he stared down at her flushed face.

Fuu couldn't believe it! Her body wasn't registering with what her mind was telling it to do. She wanted to push him away; her mind was screaming inside for it to move move move!

This was Mugen here! Perverted, rude, mean, lazy Mugen! Right? ... Oh, lord, he smelled so good... wait! Stay strong!

Fuu blinked a few times trying to somehow send morse code to her now-feeble mind.

Mugen's mind went on automatic as soon as they ended up in their position. Mugen's mind was never one to think things through anyway –and when it came to being this close to a woman- his mind wasn't the one doing all the 'thinking'.

And he wanted to feel her arch against him again; he wanted it badly. His body tingled in anticipation.

And so he said the first thing that came to his mind...

"I want you," he said in a low and soft growl as he stared into her scared, dark eyes.

But as soon as he had said it, he cringed slightly. Oh crap! Had he really just gone and said something like that to Fuu? He was really an idiot sometimes!

"Mu..." was all Fuu could really get out before Mugen pushed himself up and off her and stood up.

She slowly sat up and looked up at him. He wasn't facing her, and he mumbled something she could have sworn was a "sorry" before he quickly exited the room via the window; not door.

Fuu placed a hand on her fast-beating heart and saw that her hand was trembling.

Everything had happened so quickly. One minute, they were arguing and fighting, the next they were together on the ground, her body reacting to his –and obviously vise versa. Then he said that... it echoed in her mind endlessly. He had sounded so... earnest.

And why had she felt disappointment when he cringed after he said it? Was she really that horrible?

She shook her head vigorously to try and rid the errant thoughts from her mind, causing her hair to fall from its bindings. She managed to stand and then she quickly got dressed into her bedclothes and slipped into the bed.

Her dreams that night were plagued by thoughts of the man whom she was technically betrothed.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Mugen ran across the courtyard and away from temple they were staying at. He managed to get to a small hill next to a tree and he planted himself on the ground, leaning haphazardly against the trunk.

He slapped his hand over his face and groaned into it. What in the world had come over him? He wasn't acting like himself at all.

First of all, he had literally almost –dare he say it- kissed Fuu. Second, he had actually turned away from possibly getting some action. Third, he had gone and said something impulsive that he probably didn't mean. Fourth, he... what was he doing again? Oh yeah, fourth, he had just run away –like a coward.

And he was definitely no coward.

He inhaled against his hand, and much to his hidden delight, his palm smelled like her. His hand slid down and off his face as he grunted and pounded his fist angrily against the ground. This place was not right. It was making him think and... ugh, feel... differently.

Fuu was nothing more than a mere companion. True, in the end of their first journey –he had felt a genuine comraderie and loyalty to her, but nothing more than that. He wanted to protect her and help her if he could; and that day they finally went their separate ways, he actually felt lonely without either of them there.

Most of his life had been spent alone; and here he was, actually missing that long-haired snotty samurai and that short and loud sunflower girl.

When he came upon a town looking for volunteers to compete in some hand to hand wrestling contests, he joined up –eager for some quick cash and also a way to get his sore muscles back into shape.

He fought quite a few guys the first week, racking in some dough, but he blew it mostly on food and lodging –which was mainly at the local whorehouse. He could never forget the day he heard that a big wrestling boss was coming into town with his new wrestler. His own boss told him he would get a lot of money if her beat this new guy.

Everyone told Mugen to watch it, and that the next guy gave the appearance of being sickly, but he was actually really good. Mugen had told them to forget it, and that he would win for sure. Even though he was confident, he practiced extra hard that night... until he needed a nightcap.

When he went to the brothel that night, the manager came up and told him he had a new girl that he might like: young and feisty. Mugen agreed, and was led to the room with the girl. When he opened the door he was surprised to find Fuu there, looking rather perturbed –and her hand inching towards a large vase in the corner.

He had sighed and shook his head. He asked her how she kept getting into these kinds of situations. When they were alone, he asked how much it was to get her out of there, and she told him. It was a lot of money. He told her just to escape, and that he would help her. She warned him that there were a lot of guards, and that they were watching her carefully.

Mugen said he could take on a hundred men. Fuu had convinced him otherwise, and Mugen agreed finally to come back tomorrow with the money. He said all he had to do was beat this guy the next day –but ask for his boss to double his earnings. Fuu agreed –anything was better than having Mugen cause a bloody mess just to help her escape.

Mugen left that night and told the brothel not to let her have any more clients until he returned tomorrow. He tipped them heavily and they agreed. Mugen then fell asleep, confindent he would win this guy the next day.

The next day, Mugen made the deal with his boss that he would get double his earnings if he won; but as fate would have it, Mugen was in for another surprise when he saw who he was to have his match with: none other than Jin himself.

XxXxX-flashback-XxXxX

The two stared at eachother a long time in the ring, much to the onlookers displeasure. After a hefty silence, they came close and began to wrestle, their arms holding the other back in a strong –and slightly fake- lock.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Mugen growled between his teeth.

"I should ask you the same thing." Jin replied calmly, even though his arms were strong.

"I'm making money, that's what. Fuu's here too." He said, and Jin's look was priceless; a mixture of shock and contentment –with just a tiny bit of competitive irritation. "I'm trying to raise money to get her out of the brothel."

"What is she doing there again?" Jin asked, inbetween trying to push Mugen over.

"Nevermind that. How much money are you getting for this fight?"

"A lot." Jin had said simply, as he almost got the upperhand.

"Really?" Mugen retorted angrily and forced Jin back slightly.

"I heard it's..." He grunted as Mugen's grip tightened on his own. "...five times more than yours."

"Is that so? Well..." Mugen's grip loosened slightly, and Jin thought he was going to let him win. "I've made up my mind! I'm not gonna let you win, even if you're getting more! I won't lose to a guy like you!"

"Mugen-" Jin tried to protest, but Mugen was already trying his hardest to push Jin away from him and knock him on the ground. Jin frowned. Well, he wasn't gonna just let Mugen win; he wouldn't lose to a guy like him!

After several seconds of them actually trying to beat eachother, there was much commotion in the crowd, and someone exclaimed that someone was escaping from the brothel. Mugen and Jin both stopped and looked at eachother and then towards the brothel.

"Stupid bitch! I told her to wait!" Mugen exclaimed and jumped off the platform and grabbed his sword and other belongings and ran through the upset crowd. Jin had done slightly the same, only in a more discreet manner.

When they both arrived, they looked around the outskirts for Fuu. The caught up with a hooded girl, and much to their surprise –it wasn't Fuu who was escaping! It was some other girl!

In all the commotion they both charged back into the brothel and extracted Fuu and fought and ran their way out of town.

XxXxX-end flashback-XxXxX

Mugen slightly smirked, remembering the whole thing. It truly was fate that always brought them back together. He used to never believe in all that bull-shit; but it happened so many times that it wasn't a coincidence anymore.

And could he really dismiss the feeling deep down he had when he saw them both again –Fuu in particular now that he thought about it. The happy feeling in his gut when he saw her again he had just dismissed as a weird sensation in his stomach because he had eaten too much. But now that he thought about it... maybe it was something different.

Maybe there was something always there, that he had just simply ignored until then. He thought back to what just happened in their room. That slip of the tongue, and that reaction was enough to give him a thorough headache.

And to make matters worse; he was actually –really, truly- married to her! Those types of things were natural, weren't they? Then again, the marriage was anything but natural. Hell, anything involving Mugen plus marriage plus girl had to equal something completely unnatural...

He settled down on the grassy hill under the tree and propped his head under his arms and stared up into the swaying branches. The bed had been a lot more comfortable. He grumbled inaudibly as he closed his eyes to go to sleep.

And his dreams that night were also plagued with thoughts of the girl whom he was technically married to.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Jin woke up the next morning, his neck sore again and his whole body aching. This closet was getting to him. He wasn't getting any sleep, and it was driving him crazy!

Wait a minute... he wasn't crazy... no...

It was driving him... to be slightly upset, yeah.

He stood and opened the door and was rubbing his neck when he was greeted by his puppet. He jumped slightly, but then saw it was being held by Haichan. He glared at her and she frowned slightly.

"I found this in the street. Did you lose it dear?"

Jin raised an angry eyebrow. "No, I left him there for a purpose."

"Jin-ko... are you fighting with your puppet?"

"No, I felt I didn't have a need for him anymore."

"What did he say to you, ko?" Haichan asked him in a baby voice. It was irritating him to no end.

"Nothing. He said nothing." He replied.

"I see. You are fighting. Well, that's okay." She smiled, then frowned. "You look horrible." She replied and held up a mirror. Jin almost jumped again.

He was paler than he normally was (and that's saying something). His hair was in disarray, his ponytail lopsided and strands of loose hair were sticking straight up into the air. The bags under his eyes made his appearance even more jarring.

"I'm not sleeping well." Jin replied after a while and shoved the mirror away.

"I see. Well, I have some good news."

"A new room?" He asked, trying not to sound hopefully desperate.

"No. Someone felt really sorry for you yesterday, and they offered a job for you at the local restaurant. It's called Taishitebaka. I know it's long, but can you remember that?"

"Taishite... baka? Doesn't that mean-"

"Lord, you really are slow, aren't you? You can't even remember what I just told you."

"No, I was just simply-" Jin tried to defend himself.

"Just follow me." She sighed and pulled Jin by his sleeve and shoving his puppet into his hand.

A/N: I'm back! If anyone else noticed, I was gone for a little while, but that was because I had some rough times at home, work, and even here on fanfic. But I'm feeling a little better now, and I was inspired to write on this story in particular. This chapter wasn't as funny as the other chapters, but I hope you all enjoyed it anyway. It was also special because it gave a little insight as to how they ended up back together (for those who have seen the entire series) The next few chapters here will be funny/angsty –much like this one was. Towards the end of the fic, it'll kind turn a little more dramatic and angsty –with still a few funnies still in. I'm glad you all liked Jin's troubles. Poor guy. Oh yeah –and if you wanted to know, the region Fuu is heading back to –mentioned in the beginning description- is the town we will see in tonight's (6-25-05) episode. And again, please tell me what your favorite parts were in your review! It makes me so happy. Please review I beg you!