Chapter Eight: Intersections

Colorful paper lanterns swayed from the eaves of a large corner shop as the morning breeze shifted through the crowded fresh market. A rainbow of fruits and vegetables lined both sides and the smell of dozens of cook stoves wafted through the river of people as they bargained and chattered.

Though the growl of Fuu's stomach nearly drowned out the din as she caught a whiff off something good. She groaned as it only served to remind her that she had not eaten in more than a day and that she was cold and soaked to the bone from the ever present rains. She sniffled in the chilly air. "It isn't fair," she complained for the tenth time in the last hour as she trudged behind Mugen.

"River water—"

"Shut up!" she screamed as she suddenly straightened but the hunger ache doubled her over again and she pressed her hands to her abdomen. "No more sleeping outside in the rain. You need to get a job so we can stay at an inn."

"Why me?"

"This is your fault!"

Mugen spun about, jamming a finger in her face. "I'm not the one who—"

"Yes, you did."

"But I didn't—"

"That too."

"You can't blame me for—"

Fire burned in Fuu's eyes. "It's your fault." Her fists were clenched at her sides violently trembling and she knew if he didn't get out of her face right at that moment, she was going to punch him. "You owe me," she said through clenched teeth. When he didn't back off, she forced out a loud sigh, to cold, hungry and tired to do anything and noted the chunk of dried paste still slinging to her bangs. "I need a bath."

"Yeah, you're really starting to stink," her companion said, turning his back to her.

"Like you should talk," she bellowed as she stopped by a long row of fresh market stalls. "Are you allergic to water? To soap?"

Venders were watching and customers stopped to stare at their quarreling, but she didn't care.

"Hey! Get off my case, bitch."

A chicken, hanging from a hook at one of the stands was sent flying through the air and crashed with a sickening crunch across the top of Mugen's shaggy head sending him stumbling. He growled something best left incoherent as Fuu happily handed the limp bird back to the startled keeper behind the counter. "I hope you don't mind that I tenderized it," she said with a sweet smile.

"Bitch," Mugen snarled as he straightened. Little feathers stuck out of his wild hair, some blowing off into the crisp air as he stalked down the street.

"Idiot."

"Flat chested—"

Stomping a few steps behind him, she screamed, "Pervert!"

Rounding the corner, they found the street blocked by a gathering a bystanders. Mugen spun about, offering a mean grin, "At least I have fun."

Fuu ignored him, shifting to look at the idle crowd. "What's going on?"

Following her gaze, Mugen just scratched his head.

At the sound of raised voices, she pushed through the forest of bodies. "Excuse me. Excuse me." Near the front, she rose up on tiptoes to see if she could see anything. Heads still blocked her way, so she elbowed her way to the front. Startle made her freeze as she saw three large men standing in the open center of the crowd. They in turn circled an older man and a young woman.

"Please," the gentleman, dressed in a matching tan kimono and haori raised his hands submissively. He shifted slightly, purposely placing himself between the three men and his much younger companion. "We have nothing of—"

"Shut up!" the boldest of the trio, with long red spiked hair roared as he leapt forward, swinging his long blade, the tip passed just a finger's width from the end of the older man's nose.

He did not move.

The spiky haired thug snarled furiously, then waved the sword in the man's face again. "You entered our street without our permission," he sneered, drawing his lip back and revealing jagged rows of teeth. "You owe us for the privilege of walking on it. Give us all your money."

"Of course," the man calmly replied, digging into the layers of his kimono. "But I am merely a country doctor visiting your fine city, I am not worth very much."

"Then we'll take the girl too," another said, boldly stepping forward and grabbing the young woman by her pale blue kimono. She cried out in terror as she was pulled away from her protector.

Fuu's heart surged at the sight. She quickly pulled her attention away and scanned the crowd around her searching for Mugen. "Help them," she said softly, but no one moved.

The doctor twisted about, striking at the man's arm with his bare hand. A crunch filled the air and the thug screamed as he fell back. Still in motion, the doctor, pulled his companion back behind him again as he stared out at the crowd.

There was desperation in his face, Fuu thought as she once again searched the horrified faces of the people surrounding the scene. "Mugen!" she called out softly, hoping he would respond, but fearing he had gone off in search of a brothel instead.

That would be just like him, she darkly thought.

The doctor seemed to brighten as he called out, "Hey! You there, the one with the sword!"

Fuu looked around curiously then frowned when she found the object of the man's attention. Mugen was just standing there, scratching…rather inappropriately.

"You!" The doctor called again, finally earning Mugen's attention. "I'll pay you to take care of these men for us."

Mugen lazily scratched at his neck. "How much?"

"Shut up!" the head thug barked as he struck the doctor, knocking him to the ground. Red spikes shifted as the large figure turned to look toward Mugen. "Stay out of this," he warned.

"Do something!" Fuu whispered.

"How do I know it's worth risking my life for?" Mugen asked as he shifted slightly and absently picked his nose.

"You'd fight just because!" the girl shot back. "He's paying!" When Mugen still didn't respond, Fuu aimed her finger at the trio of thugs who had stopped and were just staring at them. "Any other time, you'd pick a fight because that's what you do. That guy's offering money. We need money."

He's doing this to make me crazy, Fuu inwardly thought.

Straightening, she folded her arms across her chest. "Well, I guess you have gone soft since the last time I saw you. I knew you couldn't take them." She waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh yeah?" Mugen said.

She huffed and looked away, but her façade quickly shattered when the young woman with the doctor cried out. The third man, with bleached blond locks had her by the wrists and was pulling her toward him.

Just as the doctor tried to help her he was kicked in the gut, sending him tumbling to the muddy ground. "Please!" he hoarsely called out.

"I got a big appetite," Mugen said as he stepped forward. "You sure you got enough money?"

"Yes!"

An evil grin threaded across hiss face. "You got yourself a deal."

"Stay out of this," the second thug barked.

The words never reached Mugen as he was already in motion. His drawn blade sang as it sliced through the air and was quickly followed by red as he slashed the first man to get in his way and wildly bounded after the blond headed man, who was roughing up the young woman.

The woman screamed as she fell to the ground as her attacker lunged toward Mugen. He was not so easily taken down, bounding out of the reach of Mugen's blade.

Fuu knitted her brows as she watched.

Landing on his palm, Mugen flipped over, blocking the follow up blow with his geta. His other foot swung out, connecting with the red-haired man's face on the opposite side. A sickening crunch and blood exploded from the man's nose as he tumbled backward, falling before the doctor.

"Careful, Umeko," the gentleman said as he struggled to his feet and grabbed his companion, pulling her back from the intensity of the fighting. "You must not see this." His words were calm even as the wild man wrecked havoc around them.

A loosened lock of Umeko's hair fell across her face as she struggled to her feet, her dark eyes filled with terror the moment Fuu grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the crowd.

Fuu waved her hand toward the doctor. "This way!" All she knew was they had to get away and running was always the best option because trouble was always followed by bigger trouble.

A wild slash from Mugen nearly cut the doctor in half, had he not bounded back a step. He looked regretfully toward the scene, and then turned toward Fuu and Umeko. "You are with him?" he asked.

"Yes," Fuu said. She noted Umeko's thin wrist in her grip. The young woman was shaking.

The doctor met Umeko's terrified look. "You two go back to the inn and wait."

"Seijun, no!" Umeko said as she tried to pull free of Fuu.

"Go!"

Fuu thought she would fall over with the power of that single word. She tightened her grip on Umeko's wrist. "Come."

Umeko allowed herself to be pulled. "But—"

"Mugen can take care of himself," Fuu said. She saw the crowd starting to shift. More trouble.

A voice ripped through the din of the fight, "By the authority of the Yohada domain, cease—"

"We must go!" Fuu said, tugging on Umeko's wrist and pulling her reluctantly into the crowd.

roterritter - Thanks and glad you you like the Shinku Kiba, there will be lots more of them in the near future. Elementary Magpie - I am glad you liked the flashback. That was the scariest thing to write. ;) ZeroBen - Thanks! poornmiserable - Oh, you aren't the only one who notices the twisted take on the trio. In fact, I surprised myself with it. dupidnavagog - Thank you so much! I thought it would be really hard writing Mugen action scenes, but they are so much fun I just can't get enough of them :p Barbara Akers - Thank you so much! ODST girl058 - Whoops, sorry about that wait! CinnamonGrrl - Thanks! Miyu14 - I advise the use of bungee cords because you're going to do a lot of cliffhanging...

Sorry about the dry spell, I was unavailable for a little while, but I managed to get several chapters near ready for posting so expect a new post every two days for a while again. :) Thank you all for the kind replies, I really do appreciate them.

Next Chapter - Shiori stirs things up.