Inamorata
by Eternal Angel
4.
By the time he finishes his bath; Fuu has already coveted his clothing to wash and set them out to hang dry on a clothes line she runs through the back yard of her house. The only thing that is left behind for him to use temporarily is a set of clothing that belongs to her husband.
Mugen doesn't like the clothing. It's too formal and heavy for his taste. He almost exchanges the bulky wear for his own clothing if it wasn't drenched in water. He reluctantly wears the clothes. It is not a perfect fit. The sleeves dangle slightly on him, although the added length did not cause the clothing to sit awkwardly on him. However, the additional length is long enough for Mugen to notice and grow slightly annoyed.
She laughs when she spots him leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen's entrance. She finds the image of him in formal wear foreign enough that it becomes funny, though not as hysterical as the time Jin dresses as a geisha; however the feeling of being mismatch vibrates from him.
"It's annoying," he comments overall about the outfit.
"Bear with it for the day," she says with a large grin, her tongue still clicking. She fixes up the front of his outfit and flattens out some of the wrinkles. "You look very handsome."
"Mnh."
She resumes cooking, trying to fulfill her promise of a stomach-bursting dinner that'll leave him full for days to come. She's rather amusing, cooking as well. Waddling around in the room, awkward from the extra weight the child added to her. She's throwing in some meat to the boiling water before slicing some vegetables to add to the mixture as well.
He comes up from behind her to get a closer look at what she's cooking. He rests a chin on her shoulder in a lazy manner while examining the active stove to make sure she's not trying to poison him in any way. Her light scent mixes with the aroma of the food and spices.
"Mmm, doesn't smell too bad."
She flicks one of her fingers at his forehead, her voice upset, but her eyes twinkling. "You're not doubting my cooking abilities are you? Hey, I wasn't the one that burnt their fish all the time!"
Mugen lets out a grunt. "I didn't burn anything."
Fuu grow silent, falling into deep thought. Past memories of the time they spent together begins to fill her and soon she is consumed with laughter. "That's right! Jin was the one who always burnt everything he attempted to cook!"
"Do you remember the one time we went fishing?" She's happy, remembering the past. Her voice is broken, barely able to stammer out her words, the laughter getting the most of her. "Couldn't… catch… a single… fish! Jumped… into the lake… and… and…"
Mugen smirks. He recalls the memory Fuu refers to, that day had definitely been a break out of character for the usual cool and tranquil Samurai. Though there had been many instances during their journey together that Jin did not act in the same manner that he appeared to be like. Even though he had occasional out-of-character bursts, Jin had always been the one that Fuu relied on the most during the time the three of them spent together. Jin had always been there. And even now, Jin is still there.
"I want some sake," he says before rummaging the kitchen for any alcohol that might have been put away. Fuu sighs and lectures him about how too much alcohol isn't healthy for him. He ignores her, like always, opening drawers and doors to search for what he wants. Reluctantly, she points out a cabinent at the other side of the room. Mugen lets out a grin at the treasures he finds and takes it outside to the verdana to drink.
She's still talking to him through the window, telling him not to drink too much or at least to save some for her husband when he comes back. He's barely paying attention, and eventually, she grows quiet and the only sound left is the clanging of pots and pans from the kitchen. Sometime between his second and third cup of sake, he starts to hear it. It starts out quiet at first, gradually growing louder until he fully realizes that, for the first time in years, that it is not the wind playing tricks on him.
Fuu is singing in the other room.
Leaning against a post, he closes his eyes and listens.
Inamorata (noun) - a woman with whom one is in love or has an intimate relationship.
I know I have a tense problem. I really wish I could fix it but I have been changing everything from present to past back to present that it's difficult. So I apologize once again. I should probably get a Beta reader but… that's just laziness on my part. I've had finals so it took me a bit longer than expected to write this part. But yeah, I got to work in the song. I also thought I should thank everyone that has been posting me wonderful comments. They're greatly appreciated.