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Suki had taken a sudden interest with Mugen. When Mugen would walk ahead of Jin and Fuu, she would follow, like a fly. While Fuu thought it was cute, Mugen was thoroughly annoyed.
For the third time that day, Mugen approached Fuu.
"Can't you get her to stop? I liked it better when she followed you around." Fuu laughed. This was good for Mugen.
" I don't find it funny! " he said, putting his face up to Fuu's.
" I do!" she said just as aggressively. They were now nose to nose. The Fuu blushed a deep scarlet, and turned around. She continued walking. She had been so close to Mugen. Mugen just stood there, Suki's hand bunched up on his shirt. Fuu didn't speak to Mugen again until they decided to stop, stomachs rumbling. As they got settled in, Jin stood up.
"There's a stream nearby…" Jin said, " I'm going to catch us some fish." Mugen nodded, flat on his back, gazing at the stars. Suki sat quietly beside him. Fuu jumped up.
"I'll come!" she said. Jin nodded and started walking towards the woods. As they approached the stream, Jin stopped.
"He is quite oblivious." He said quietly. Fuu stopped as well, disturbed by Jin's sudden words. Fuu was puzzled. What did he mean? Fuu thought a minute, back to her confrontation with Mugen. When she blushed, and he didn't seem to understand why. Than she knew.
"No! No, no, its not like that! He's just so… Oh I don't know, but I don't.. He's not.." she was at a loss for words. Jin just stared at her.
"What are you talking about?" asked Jin." I was referring to the girl. He doesn't realize that people have feeling, especially small children. What were you speaking of?" Fuu blushed again, but thankfully, it was getting dark. Jin didn't appear to notice.
"Oh nothing! I just wasn't sure.." Fuu fell silent. She didn't see Jin smile from under his black bangs.
Fuu lay awake, her stomach pleasantly heavy after the fish. She stared at the sky above them, a deep blue. She thought about Mugen. She couldn't help falling in love with him, no matter how hard he tried to deny it. She just knew that it could never work. She just had to much going on right now, and Mugen didn't even appear to have the slightest bit of feelings for her. He was always staring at some other woman on the street.
Mugen wasn't open with anyone. He didn't trust anyone. Fuu could easily distinguish that. If he found out about Fuu's feeling toward him, he would probably laugh.
Oh well, Fuu thought. She didn't have time anyways. Fuu reminded herself of this until she fell asleep. When she awoke the next morning, she heard no swords clanging. She didn't hear anything except the snores of her complanions. She looked over to Mugen, who was laid sprawled out as usual on the ground. She thought it odd that Suki wasn't right there beside here. She looked around. Suki wasn't anywhere. She immediately jumped to her feet, about to was Jin and Mugen, but thought better.
Your just overreacting, Fuu! She's probably down by the stream washing up, she reassured herself. As she approached the stream however, Suki was no where to be found. Fuu immediately turned and ran back to camp, where Mugen and Jin sat awake over a low fire. Fuu leaned against a tree, gasping for breath.
"Where's Suki?" she panted. Jin and Mugen just stared at her.
"Well!" she demanded, " Help me look for her." They reluctantly stood, splitting up to search the woods.
"Suki!" Fuu called in a panic. She was worried about the little girl. She could hear Jin calling, but not Mugen. Thinking back to when Mugen scared her, Fuu looked around. She didn't see Mugen anywhere, but that didn't mean he wasn't here.
"Mugen, if your gonna come out and scare me, its not gonna work." She said in a hushed voice. She heard some plants fall, and a swipe of a blade.
"What are you talking about?" Mugen asked as he stepped through the brush. Fuu started.
"I thought you were going to try and scare me again, so I thought I'd let you know I was prepared." Fuu said with dignity. Mugen laughed.
"Yea right. I wouldn't have scared you. We need to find that girl." He started back through the forest, and Fuu followed after him. Once again she had seen a soft side of Mugen that she had never seen him use before. He actually cared about someone other than himself. Fuu couldn't resist saying something.
"You really care about her, don't you?" asked Fuu from behind Mugen. He stopped and spun around.
"Where the heck did you get that idea? "demanded Mugen. Once again, He and Fuu were almost nose to nose. Fuu didn't reply. Mugen didn't ask her too. They just stared at each other. Mugen lowered his head slightly, as is to welcome her kiss. She wouldn't comply, no matter how desperately she wanted to. She would not kiss him. She hung her head.
"I don't know. You just seemed to take a liking to her, that's all. Sorry I suggested it." Fuu continued walking, wondering whether or not she should have accepted his offer. Than she thought back to the times when she stared at women, or tried to get them to come to camp with him. He didn't care about whether or not they were hurt. Her thoughts were confirmed. She was sure she had made the right choice. She began calling for the girl again. She could hear Mugen walking behind her.
After 15 more minutes of searching, everyone returned to camp. Mugen avoided Fuu's gaze, as if embarrassed. Fuu thought this extremely odd. As they sat there a minute longer, the trees rustled quietly. Mugen and Jin stood up in unison, drawing there swords into the fighting position, Jin's held outside of his body, and Mugen's over his head. A small figured appeared through the darkness of the trees. Suki held nest in front of her, filled with different colored eggs. Fuu ran to her.
"Oh Suki, I was so worried! " she exclaimed. Suki looked up at her.
" I was getting breakfast.. As a thank you for everything you've done for me." She said.
Fuu took the nest.
"Thank you Suki. That's very thoughtful of you." They began to walk back to Mugen and Jin, who had sheathed their swords. Mugen was hunched over the low flamed fire, trying to get them to rise higher.
When the fire was ready, they cooked the eggs that Suki had gotten for them. Mugen still wouldn't talk to Fuu. They ran through the motions of a regular day. After they ate, they packed up and started on the road again.
Suki continued to cling to Mugen. Jin led, and Fuu fell behind, fingering the tiny porcelain skull that belonged to the samurai she was searching for. Then Jin pointed ahead.
"A town." He said. Fuu ran ahead.
"Yea, and I can hear it from hear. It's probably a trading port. Lets stop there for a while."
They all agreed. As they entered the town, a variety of strange faces accompanied them.
"Wow, this is weird." Said Fuu. Suddenly Suki yelped, burying her head in Mugen's chest, who sprang back. Suki then ran to Fuu.
"What's the matter?" Fuu asked, as a group of vicious looking men passed. Mugens hand fluttered over his sword. Suki pointed toward the group.
They turned to face Fuu suddenly. One made a reach for her. Mugen stepped in.
"Lay one hand on her, And I'll be sure to make sure you leave here without any!"
