The child lay next to the fire that lit the room. Her face was so pale, her body so thin and fragile. Fuu watched her; there was something about her that seemed to intrigue Fuu. Strands of hair were in the girl's face, she moved them. When fuu touched her face, visions came to her. She saw a vision of a woman falling to a blade, and the young girl shivering in the closet.
Fuu gasped and backed away from the child.
"Fuu something the matter?" asked Jin.
"I-I, uh no." said Fuu.
The young woman that was outside with them earlier, had come in for the first time. She was very beautiful; she had long black hair that was pulled back into a braid, and beautiful light brown eyes. Her face was that of an angel's.
"Hello. I'm sorry it took me so long I was discussing some issues with my grandfather." She placed tea on a small table in the center of the room.
"Oh, it's no big deal. We're very generous for you letting us stay in the inn." Answered Fuu. Mugen sat in the corner and stared at the woman with passionate yet violent eyes. Jin as always never looked up from the ground.
"Please miss…uh." Fuu stopped.
"Please call me Ito." She answered.
"Yes, Ito… can you tell us about the girl?" asked fuu.
Ito looked down with sad eyes and nearly cried. She took in a deep breath and said.
"The young girl's name is Matsu. I knew her mother; Her mother was a maid like me. She would help me clean houses and soon we became good friends."
"What was the mother's name?" asked Jin.
"Huh? Oh her mother's name was Naka." She answered. Jin looked back down and continued to listen.
"What about her old man?" asked Mugen. He still looked at her with those eyes.
"Her father was mugged and beaten to death." Said Ito. Her head hung low.
A whimper came from the girl. She sat up; her expression was fearful and disoriented.
"Matsu!" Ito ran to her and held her in her arms. Her face was smothered in Ito's chest; Matsu could hear her heart beat.
"Ito?" her eyes softened. "She's gone isn't she?" asked Matsu.
"Yes, Matsu. I'm sorry but she's gone." Said Ito.
"However these people here saved you." Ito let her go. Matsu turned around to see Fuu, Mugen, and Jin. Her face still seemed cold and lifeless as when they found her.
"Hi, my name is Fuu, and this is Mugen and Jin."
"How do you do?" said Jin
"Sup?" said Mugen.
Matsu was uncertain of how these strangers found her. "Um, how did you find me?" she asked her voice was raspy and dry.
"Uh… you came to us. You fainted in my arms, and we brought you back here." Said Fuu. Matsu had nothing else to say. She just starred blankly into the fire. She felt that was no reason to say anything. The fire was dancing wildly and visions of her mother screaming came to her mind again.
"Do you know who could have done this?" asked Fuu.
"He was an old man, yet very strong. He had grayish hair and wore a red kimono and said that: "that's what she gets for not paying her taxes." He had a symbol on the back of his Kimono, I couldn't read though." She held her head low.
"Well it's a dude with a red kimono that shouldn't be too hard." Said Mugen. "Let's go look for this bastard." He said.
"It would be better if we had more light. We should wait till the morning." Suggested Jin.
"Feh…that's just like you, always planning and getting everything perfect. I'm sick of your "waiting in the shadows" shit." Said Mugen.
"I don't like you be an idiot and wanting to go full force." Replied Jin.
"Alright dude. I have had enough of your shit." Mugen pulled his sword out of its sheath. Jin pulled out his sword and dodges Mugen's blow.
"You guys this not the time to fight!" yelled Fuu.
"Shut up!" said the both of them.
"STOP IT!" yelled Matsu. Jin completely stopped. Mugen stopped too. It took him a minute but he did it. Suddenly the old man came running in.
"Their in here! There's the child and the ones who brought her back into the village."
"Grandfather!" yelled Ito, as the soldiers raided the room.
"STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" yelled a soldier.
"Damn, about time!" Said Mugen his sword swiftly came out of its sheath.
TO BE CONTINUED…