They set off the next morning, stopping one more time to thank Aneko. As they entered the restaurant, Aneko came to greet them.

"Anytime you're in this old run-down town, you know you always have a bed and food waiting." Fuu felt instant relief. Finding food and shelter was always so hard in the towns they traveled through.

"And you come visit me okay? I never have visitors for long around these parts"

"We will Aneko, thank you!" said Fuu, and Aneko caught her in a hug.

"Try to make room for love, ok Fuu? Its one of the best experiences." She whispered into Fuu's hair.

"Hurry in up!" shouted Mugen from up the road. Jin still waited patiently behind Fuu. Fuu sighed.

"Well, bye Aneko! We will try to visit!" and with that, the threesome was back on the road, but not before receiving a travel pack of food from Aneko.

Then, as they were walking along a dirt path between two sunflower patches, Mugen drew his sword. After a moment, Jin drew his.

"Don't you guys start fight-" Fuu began. Jin abruptly cut her off with a wave of his hand.

Fuu listened, but whatever frequency they were picking up, she could not hear.

"What is it?" she whispered.

"I'm not sure, but it sounded as though someone was crying. There it is again," answered Jin. Then for a moment, Fuu heard it too. It sounded like a young girl, inside the sunflower patch. She immediately dropped the food bag, and took off in the direction of the cry. When she approached it, the cry grew louder. Finally, ignoring Mugen and Jin calling for her, she found a young girl lying in bandages on the ground, crying. She immediately dropped to her knees, panting.

"Are you okay?" Fuu asked. The girl did not reply, but closed her eyes instead, whimpering softly. Fuu took the girl in her arms. The cried out, but said nothing and Fuu followed Mugen and Jin's shouts. When she reappeared from the sunflowers, a child clutched in her hands, Mugen and Jin grew silent. Finally, Fuu gently dropped to her knees. She held the girl close and stroked her bandaged head.

"Its ok, it's ok," she murmured softly.

"How do you know?" began Mugen. Jin hit him in the shoulder. He rounded on Jin " What was that for?" Fuu snorted.

"You have no heart!" Fuu said, and continued rocking the child. Finally, she stopped.

"Who are you?" Fuu asked the girl gently. She looked up at Fuu with blue eyes. He dirty blond hair caked in blood and sweat. She did not reply. Fuu looked up at Mugen and Jin.

"Can we find a stream or something to wash her up? She really mangled, and we need to find the nearest village to re-bandage her wounds."

Jin stared across the sky.

"The next village is pretty far, but there's a stream right ahead. You can bathe her, and when we get to the village, we can re bandage her." Said Jin.

"What are you saying, we gonna keep her? " asked Mugen. Fuu stood up and kicked Mugen. He cringed.

"Dang it, Fuu! I was only asking!" Shouted Mugen. Fuu lifted up the girl.

"Come now, lets get you washed up." Said Fuu.