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

Breakdancing Butterfly – A Samurai Champloo Fanfic

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 6 – "Just to Find"

Mugen groaned and rolled over; partially awake. He was warm, a little too warm. Maybe he had too many blankets on or something. Well, even if he was a little hot, he was enjoying the comfort. Yesterday had been hell...

He moaned again and this time grabbed onto his warm pillow and rolled onto his back. There was a small whine and another moan, but it wasn't from him. His eyes blinked open and he was met with a mass of tangled brown hair.

He blew at the air annoyingly, trying to get it out of his face. Wait a minute... hair? Whine? Could it be...? He thought back to last night. Yeah, he guessed they did fall down on the bed together. Did they really fall asleep like that?

But even though it was who he thought it was, he just laid there, the feeling of her body resting against his pleasing him to a measure of insanity; because it was a contradiction in itself. It was Fuu! But, it was Fuu... he was so confused that he just let it be.

She stirred a bit against his chest, snuggling and groaning again silently. Her hands dug down at his abs and then behind his back and he felt his throat tighten and a fluttering in his chest. He had laid with dozens of women in the past –he had slept with dozens too- but never did he rest with one.

It felt uncomfortable and also pleasant at the same time. He liked the feeling of her against him, but he also felt trapped –like for some reason he shouldn't be doing this; he was a free, wild spirit, not some homely husband... ugh, husband –what a horrible word.

He closed his eyes, just simply too baffled to do anything else. She mumbled something in her semi-sleep and dug her head further into his chest, her hands coming back up to snake up his shirt. His eyes flew open again, and he bit his lip. No way was he just supposed to lay here and not do anything –especially with a girl feeling him up (even if it was in her sleep).

His hands fisted in the sheets to either side of him until his knuckles turned white. He had to resist the urge to do what he almost did yesterday... pin Fuu down against the mattress, kiss her until she was breathless and then take her –right then and there, until she screamed out his name in pleasure. But no... that would be wrong.

Hold on! Mugen thinking mindless sex wrong? He must really be losing it. His hands trembled as they fisted in the cloth, and there was a ripping sound as he tore holes into them, and his bottom lip began to bleed from where he was biting it to keep control.

And Fuu woke up at that very moment.

Something lulled Fuu from her peaceful slumber. Maybe it was because her pillow was trembling, or the fact that her hands felt really, unaturally warm.

She blinked her eyes open and lifted her head slightly and saw that her hands were underneath some cloth. Her fingers flexed and she realized with shock that she felt skin under her fingertips.

She pushed up and saw –through a small screen of her fallen hair- that she was lying ontop of Mugen.

Right! They had both fallen asleep together! She felt her heart race and she didn't know what to do. She peeked at those dark eyes that were staring at her with an emotion she could not place.

She then noticed a small trickle of blood on his bottom lip, barely about to drop off and down his chin. Not really thinking too much about it, she reached down and traced her finger to remove the small droplet.

No sooner did she begin to retract her fingers, that Mugen bolted up upruptly, almost knocking her backwards, if not for his swift arms that yanked her back up against him.

The jostling threw her hair completely out of it's bun and around her face, almost hiding it. She was almost thankful for that, but it wasn't much help hiding her from those wild, dark eyes that bore into her own.

Mugen took hold of her shoulders and gave her a quick jolt to force back some of that soft brown hair. One hand came up to brush the rest back from her face and then cup the back of her head. The other hand traveled down to capture that hand that had been so bold enough to touch his lips. He brought it back up to his mouth.

With his eyes trained on hers in a lock of dominance, he licked his blood off her fingertips.

He felt her shiver and her eyes became even wider than they already were. And then, roughly, he held her around the waist and came up on his knees bringing her up with him, a low growl rumbling in his throat as her body pressed against his. Lost in the moment, he began to close the gap between their lips...

And the door opened rather dramatically and in stepped a stressed-out, weary Jin; who surveyed the scene before him, walked backwards out the door, closed it, and then tried it again. Nope, nothing had changed –it wasn't his imagination.

"Is there something I need to be aware of?" He asked simply, but his voice didn't sound as calm and collected as usual.

Mugen blinked once then looked down at Fuu. He hastily pushed her down and jumped over her and to the foot of the bed. He stretched and winked at Jin, trying to hide the obvious look of embarrassment with a look of sarcasm. "Of course not. Nothin' that isn't what it shouldn't be."

Jin frowned. Mugen made no sense sometimes. "I see." He looked behind Mugen to Fuu, who was scrambling from the bed.

"It wasn't what it looked like Jin!" She quickly, but nervously, said. "I was just... his lip was cut, you see. A-and I was inspecting his face!" She said quickly, looking away, trying to hide her blush.

Jin looked over at Mugen. "He's still ugly –there's nothing to inspect." Fuu's mouth almost dropped. Did Jin just say that?

Mugen growled. "What was that, asshole!" He yelled and looked down and grabbed his sword, but found Jin had his already drawn and ready by the time Mugen had his unsheathed. Mugen charged at the samurai.

How dare that bastard interrupt him and Fuu... no, wait... how dare that bastard call him ugly!

Fuu frowned. "Stop it! Don't fight!" Neither of them heard her.

Mugen jumped and forced Jin out the main door by cutting it to pieces. Jin pushed off of the wall in the hallway and charged at Mugen, but he dodged and fell to the floor, flipping and trying to land a spinning kick in his direction. He failed because Jin jumped out of the way and sliced his way out a door leading to outside.

Mugen followed, and a clang of swords hit several times in the morning air. Mugen smirked at Jin's appearance. He looked out of it –not like himself at all. His hair was falling out, and his eyes twitched, and... was that a puppet tied to his waist?

"What's the matter pal, wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" Mugen taunted Jin.

Jin quirked an eyebrow as their blades met –an echo ringing through the courtyard. "Can't do that if I don't have a bed." He retorted, his voice steady –with just a slight bit of resentment in it. "And what about you –did you wake up on the right side?"

Mugen frowned. He spun and jumped in the air to knock Jin back near some bushes. "What in the fuck is that supposed to mean?" He growled and Jin pushed Mugen's blade back with his own and circled around the other man.

"Hmmm." Was all Jin said before trying an upper slice towards his opponent. Mugen flipped backwards, pushing himself back up with one arm and metal met metal again as the two continued their 'heart to heart'.

"She was..." Mugen grunted as he did a half turn to avoid the sharp blade of Jin's, "...just looking at my face." He protested and let out a grunt as their blades hit three times before they were both pushed back by the opposing force.

"Right." Jin said softly as their fight led around the stone pathway.

"You shouldn't worry about your girlfriend anyway. She's too ugly for me!" Mugen yelled as his feet slid back on the stone from Jin's sword against his own. "I'm not interested like that!"

"Same here." Jin replied, and Mugen was temporarily stunned, at which point Jin took the opportunity to make a move, but he purposefully moved his blade as to not be lethal -nearly graze his skin that is.

Mugen's eye twitched and he touched his face, where the blade had left a sliver across his cheek. "You bastard." He growled –a double meaning behind it. Jin had actually cut his skin, and he had said he didn't like Fuu that way –couldn't he see that she liked him... a lot?

Jin smirked –something Mugen hadn't seen often; if ever. Jin was acting strange lately. "Unfortunately, Mugen, I consider you a friend... but quite frankly, I do not like the idea of you being Fuu's husband –for many of reasons." He replied, his sword not attacking, but still ready and willing.

Mugen breathed heavily and held his sword out in front of him, ready as well, but he was too busy trying to take in all the confusing words Jin had said; like 'unfortunately' and 'friend' and 'Fuu's husband'.

"I'd like to ensure her happiness." Jin said in a low, more calm voice.

And before Mugen could stop the words from flying out of his mouth he said, "Same here."

Jin's eyes narrowed. Mugen used his own words back at him; the meaning completely different –but the impact of the words still significant.

Before either could do or say anything else, they were interrupted.

"Mugen! Jin! There you are!" Fuu exclaimed and ran from the obliterated door to their sides. When she reached them, it wasn't a happy greeting. She smacked them both upside the head.

Jin scowled, and Mugen cursed, "Stupid bitch!"

Mugen received another smack; how in the world could she hit him without him dodging it?

"Will you both never learn that you shouldn't fight –especially in a temple where they're letting us stay for free!" She frowned and folded her arms, obviously angry.

"I'll be leaving for work now." Jin replied quietly and turned and sheathed his sword again and walked back inside the temple, over the rubble.

Fuu watched him go and then turned back to Mugen, who was rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head where she had hit him –twice. She stared at him a moment, then she saw that he was bleeding –his cheek was cut.

"Mugen! You're hurt." She reached up and tried to inspect the injury.

His eyes darted to hers and he grabbed her arm; stopping it from touching him. His memory flashed back to just a few minutes ago –when they were both on the bed, her in his arms. Those hands of hers alone had almost sent him over the edge –to a point of no return. It was almost a good thing Jin stepped in when he did.

Fuu too had a flashback of what had just happened between them in their room. He had been so rough –and yet so gentle with her. His actions had been swift and dominating –but the way his hand had brushed back her hair and cupped behind her head... felt so natural and tender.

And even now his hand on her wrist made her whole arm feel warm –even though he was being a little rough with her. She looked into those eyes of his, saw something there that was very odd indeed –it almost looked like he was reminiscing about something.

"Mu-Mugen?" She asked quietly, and he blinked and suddenly threw down her hand. She gripped at her wrist and rubbed it. But she didn't run away –which surprised him. "Mugen... why did you..." she began to ask, but the rest of it never came out.

"What are you talking about?" He asked roughly, looking away from her. He began to walk back to the room. All the excitement this morning was making him hungry.

Fuu frowned and watched as he began to saunter away –like nothing between them had ever happened. Maybe it was a good thing. She wasn't so sure of it herself. Should she go the route of Mugen and just ignore what happened or almost happened? Or should she...

She began to scurry towards the retreating figure. He seemed to sense her, and began to walk faster. But she began to run, and he began to run. Soon they were practically chasing eachother all the way back to the room, where a table of food had been set.

Mugen burst back into the room and tried to close the door behind him to keep her out, but realized there wasn't a door anymore. She stumbled in and rammed into his side.

"What the hell? Why were you chasing me?" He demanded, a firm hand placed on her head to push her away.

"Why were you running?" She asked angrily in return.

"You were chasing me!" He exclaimed.

"You were running!" She yelled right back.

He squinted and stuck out his bottom lip in his trademark pout and puffed out some air before he gave up and turned away from her to sit at the table and stuff his face. She folded her arms, and took a few steps and sat down next to him and ate as well. She had almost forgotten why she was chasing him in the first place anyway.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Jin walked down the street towards the restaurant. He really must be losing it if he was the one to pick a fight with Mugen like that. He let out a small sigh as he continued down the dirt road.

And in the middle of all that he had learned some things about Mugen he had not realized. Maybe that scruffy ruffian did care for Fuu. He had all but blantantly admitted it in their battle. And maybe Fuu felt something for him, if she let him get as close as he was she he stumbled upon them in their room.

Jin also cared for Fuu, but it was always like an older brother kind of feeling. At the moment, he felt like he was in big brother mode, feeling defensive of Fuu –wishing for her only the best. He was sure she'd find a nice guy eventually... but the key word was 'nice' –a word that definitely did not describe Mugen.

When they met back up he knew then that fate was trying to tell them something... that their journey was not yet finished; that Mugen and himself still had some sort of role in Fuu's and eachother's lives.

Jin felt it was his role to be older brother, as that's how he had usually felt towards her. Mugen... he could never figure his role out –was it Mugen's destiny to really be Fuu's husband? Jin shook his head of the thought. Even if they were really married, it was not a natural union –it was not intentional.

He saw the restaurant ahead and sighed again. Maybe he should just let it be and see what happens.

Damn puppet's wooden limbs clapped together.

Jin twitched. "Shut up." His opinion didn't matter.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

A/N: Hello again! Yay, an update! Be sure if you review to tell me your favorite part (like usual). I love hearing from you all. If you don't want to review, it's okay too –but just know that it really truly makes my day when I hear back from the readers. My personal favorite part was the 'he's still ugly' part. I was lol when I wrote it –hope you were when you were reading it. Thanks so much, and I'll see you all next chapter!