Author's Note: Okay, so this is the last full chapter but the epilogue has a suprise. Warning about this chapter, some of you may not like how it turns out. That is all I'm going to say so I won't spoil this chapter. This chapter may be somewhat sad but the epilogue is more hopeful and will be posted very soon. There is a tiny bit of a lime in this chapter but it's really short. Thanks so much for the reviews - they are like food for my soul.

I used quotes from Lord of the Rings and About a Boy that were part of a challenge for the fictionhaven challenge on LiveJournal.

Mugen sat outside Jin's home wondering where they were. He opened his second bottle of sake for the night. When Mugen saw them he knew. He had fucked her. He slammed the bottle against the tree shattering it. Mugen didn't know why he was mad. Even drunk he knew that Fuu had never been his. They were just a convenience. Maybe he could have had her but Mugen had never wanted that. And they had remained just friends outside the bedroom.

Jin kept his arm around Fuu as they walked closer to the house. Although he tried, he could not keep from smiling. Jin looked down at Fuu and she was practically glowing. His smile changed to a smug smirk, proud that he had that effect on her. Nothing could ruin his good mood tonight.

Mugen stumbled towards the couple. He hadn't thought about what he was going to say or do but then Mugen was not exactly known for thinking first.

He grinned at the two of them and started to laugh. "Well…where in hell have you two been?"

Jin held Fuu closer to him. There was something dangerous about Mugen tonight. "We went for a walk."

"Well I want to go for that kind of walk too, Jin-ee boy. Do you mind if I take her into my room? I just need her for a few minutes and then you can fuck her again." Mugen's words slurred together as he spoke. Even as he said the things he knew would hurt her the most, Mugen couldn't stop himself. He almost felt like he was listening to someone else talk.

"Mugen!" Fuu moved away from Jin and slapped Mugen hard across the face.

He grabbed her arm and tried to pull her closer to him. "Let go of me, Mugen."

"What? I thought maybe we could try it rough." Mugen whispered.

Jin had just about all he could take. If Mugen weren't so drunk he would have challenged him tonight. He grabbed Mugen's hand and pulled it off of Fuu. Mugen started to talk to him but Jin just pushed him hard down on the ground. "You're not welcome in my home until tomorrow morning."

Mugen didn't try to get up. Even he knew that he was in no condition to fight. He watched as Fuu walked back in the house with the man he had wanted to kill since they first met. It wasn't long before his head fell back and hit the ground as he fell asleep.

Fuu ran inside not sure what to think. Was this her fault? It wasn't as if she and Mugen had been together recently. She had never seen him like that even when he was drunk. She wondered if it meant that he cared for her after all.

Jin came in after making sure Mugen was not going to budge from his spot. He walked up behind Fuu and hugged her from behind. He whispered into her ear, "It's okay. He's so drunk he probably won't remember anything from tonight." He stroked her hair before she leaned back on him and they stood like that for a long while.

It had been so long since Fuu had someone who would just hold her without expecting anything in return. With Mugen, innocent embraces always led to sex. For once it felt good just to be in someone's arms. "Hey Jin?"

"Yes." Jin answered.

"Do you think that I could umm sleep in your bed?" A slight blush came over her face.

He grinned at her, "Yes, Fuu."

"But tonight, is it okay if we just go to sleep. I've had enough excitement." She looked up at him.

"Sure, we'll just sleep."

She turned around and hugged him hard. "Thanks, Jin."

Mugen woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. It got worst when he started to remember the events from last. "Oh shit." Mugen was surprised that his bones weren't broken because he would have deserved it. He got dressed and went out to the dining area. Fuu was cutting up some fruit for breakfast.

"Fuu." He said her name softly, not wanting Jin to interrupt.

She turned around and looked at him. "Oh, good morning, Mugen."

"Listen, I'm not any good at this but I was a jerk last night and drunk. So whatever I said, I sure as hell didn't mean."

Fuu could never stay mad at Mugen no matter how hard she tried. "It's okay, Mugen. I'll forgive you this time." She gave him a hug and let him hold her for a few minutes. Fuu felt bad she never did get a chance to talk to him about her and Jin.

Mugen pulled away. "So I guess you won't be sleeping in my room anytime soon, ehh?"

Fuu smiled at him, as she turned red. "No, I don't think so."

"Ehh, it's okay. I'm not too picky and then there's always the brothel."

Fuu punched him playfully in the arm. "Not with my money though."

Jin came out of his room and eyed the two cautiously. He nodded to both of them as he sat down and grabbed some of the cut up fruit and a rice ball. He grinned at Fuu before turning his attention to Mugen.

"So how is your head?" He asked.

"It's been better. Hey, I've already talked to Fuu, you know, about last night. You know I didn't mean that shit." Mugen explained to Jin.

"Yes, I know. That's why I let you live." Jin said quietly. He was dead serious.

"Whatever, I'm out of here. Going to look for work. Need to get some money to pay for a whore, right?" He winked at Fuu to let her know he was only kidding.

Fuu watched him go and a part of her felt sad for him. She knew that he cared but just didn't have a clue how to show it. I'm sorry too.

For Fuu, the next few weeks seemed too good to be true. Mugen seemed to accept the fact that she was with Jin. Every night with Jin seemed to bring new pleasures. Although Jin didn't tell her with words, she was pleasing him as well. It occurred to her that he no longer seemed sick. Can he really be cured?

Mugen spent his days cutting firewood or doing odd jobs in the village and his nights at the teahouse or brothel. Although he never would admit it, the thought of hearing sounds of passion coming from Jin's room, hurt him. Mugen missed Fuu but she had made her choice and he wasn't one to beg.

Jin spent his days training, trying to build up his strength and endurance. He tired easily and still got out of breath during duels. Jin traveled to the village once a week to challenge students from the dojo. In a few more weeks he would be ready for the final test. Lately he was coughing more. He didn't want to wait too long. Jin could feel his time was running out.

There was a part of Jin that wanted to wait…because of her. It had been so long since he had been happy and the thought of hurting Fuu was painful. But Jin knew what had to be done. If he waited too long he would get weak like before and this time it would get worst. He hated to think of Fuu watching him die little by little. And it was not how he was going to die.

Mugen was sitting at a teahouse drinking a cup of sake alone when he saw Jin walk in. "So what brings you here? Thought you'd be back having fun with Fuu."

"We need to talk."

Mugen followed Jin outside and waited for him to speak. "Well, c'mon Jin, spit it out. I have places to go."

"I challenge you, to a duel. Do you accept?" Jin stated calmly.

Mugen coughed on his sake. "Challenge? What in the hell are you talking about?"

"We have never fought because of the journey with Fuu. I want to before I die."

"What? But, I thought you were better. I can't fight you. Fuu would be pissed." Mugen argued.

"There is no cure for my what I have. I will only get weaker until I die. That is not how I wish to go. Fuu has nothing to do with this. Do you accept my challenge?" Jin asked again.

Mugen considered this. Jin was making it hard to say no. He couldn't turn down a duel, especially not with Jin. He was one of the few guys that matched his own strength. "Okay. You name the day and time."

"One week from today. And Mugen, thank you." Jin said and started to walk away.

"Hey, what about Fuu? Did you explain it to her?" Mugen asked. He knew she would not like this idea at all.

"No. I'd appreciate if you didn't' either. She'll only worry or try to stop us." Jin answered.

"Man, she is going to be pissed but whatever you say. Anything else, samurai?" Mugen asked.

"Yes, it is a fight to the death and don't go easy on me. I've been training for months." Jin told him.

"Sounds good to me." Mugen replied. The thought of a fight with Jin excited him. He never dreamt they'd have another chance, especially when he learned about Jin's illness. I guess they're right. Never say never.

Fuu had noticed something strange going on between the two of them but she couldn't put her finger on it. There was a weird tension going on between Jin and Mugen, but why? There hadn't been anything happen that she could tell. She decided to put the whole idea out of her mind. Right now she was starving and she had the strangest craving for rice pudding.

The night before their duel the tension was so thick it could be sliced with knife. Fuu couldn't take it any more. "Will you two tell me what is going on?"

"Nothing." Jin answered.

"Yeah nothing. Why do you say that?" Mugen chimed in.

"Well it just seems tense in here. Are you guys sure?" She looked from man to man trying to determine if they were telling her the truth.

Mugen finished eating. "I'm going to bed. Got some things to do tomorrow."

Fuu looked at him like he was insane. You're not going to the village to get drunk, she thought. Come to think of it he hadn't been into the village since last week. Maybe I'm the one who is insane.

Jin came to bed early that night too. He had been looking so tired lately, Fuu was surprised when he she felt his hands on her breasts and his breath in her ear. She moaned as his hardness brushed up against her backside.

Jin whispered into her ear. "Do you think we could try it tonight?" He asked her.

Fuu blushed at the thought of doing what he asked. She knew just what he was talking about. They had talked about it one late night when they both had one cup of sake too many. She turned around to him and whispered in his ear, "yes."

That night Fuu did things she had only read about in erotic books. She tasted every part of Jin and moaned, as he tasted her. Fuu didn't think pleasure like this even existed. When Jin finally entered her it didn't take long for them both to climax. For the first time it happened at the same time. When Fuu fell asleep, Jin was still inside of her as she lay on his chest. The two of them both fell asleep with a smile on their face.

Jin looked at Fuu as he dressed. Last night had been incredible, he hoped it wasn't the last time. He kissed her softly on the cheek and stroked her hair. He heard Mugen getting up and knew the time had come. "Take care of him, Fuu."

Jin and Mugen walked outside to an area in back on the house. They faced each other and bowed. Jin drew his sword but Mugen told him to wait.

"What now, Mugen?" Jin asked.

"Well, I just want to know if you're sure. We could call the whole thing off. I heard the two of you in there. You sure you want to leave her." Mugen said.

"I'm not leaving her. Who said I'm going to lose?" Jin remarked.

"Okay, long as you're sure." Mugen said as he unsheathed his sword.

The two warriors began their battle as their swords met. Jin injured Mugen first striking him in the leg. Mugen struck next with a blow to Jin's arm. Both men were getting tired and it seemed like the fight could go on for hours. Jin was finding it harder to breath; he didn't know how much longer he would last.

"What in the hell are you doing?" Fuu screamed from the top of her lungs. The sound of metal against metal had woken her up. She was horrified. Why were the two men she cared most for trying to kill each other.

Neither man paid any attention to Fuu. They could not stop now - it was already too late. Jin grinned at Mugen. "You better not stop."

Mugen smirked at his opponent. "Never."

Jin knew the time was right for it to end. Mugen's blade was right where it should be as he fell on to it. It hurt as he felt it piercing his lungs. He smiled as Mugen as he whispered, "thank you."

Mugen was shocked. It felt like Jin had deliberately put himself in the way of his blade. As he watched his rival fall to the ground, he felt both angry and sad. "Damn you, Jin. You always have to be in control. Even in death."

Jin tried to smile. "Just take good care of them."

"Them?" I think you've lost too much blood, samurai."

Fuu ran to Jin. She looked at Mugen "Why?"

Jin pulled her ear close to his mouth so could talk. "Don't, Fuu. It was me. I wanted this."

The worlds wounded her. Why would he choose this? There would be plenty of time for her to ask questions but Jin had only minutes left. She held him in her arms for his last moments of life. Jin tried to talk, to tell her all the things that he never said.

"Shhh, go to sleep." Fuu said.

"I am asleep. This is a dream." Jin whispered.

"Then it is a good dream." Fuu whispered in his ear.

Jin pulled Fuu closer to him so he could give her one last kiss. It was soft and gentle and reminded him of their first kiss.

"I do not fear death." He whispered.

"I don't want you to leave me now." Fuu said.

"I know." Jin replied.

She whispered in his ear, "I love you."

After he had taken his last breath, Mugen spoke for the first time.

"You know he did too, Fuu."

It's a bit hard for you to love me when you're dead, isn't it? Fuu thought to herself. It's okay, Jin, I'll love you anyway.