Chapter Eleven: Chance Meetings

"Mmm. Mmm! Yum!" Fuu squealed between slurps of broth and mouthfuls of noodles, dragging it out of the bowl with her teeth. She inhaled the steam from the warm liquid and it was just intoxicating. All the hot food made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside after the cold, miserable night and morning she had spent in the rain.

Peeking over the rim of her bowl as she slurped noodles, Fuu spied her hostess sitting studiously with her back to the wall, staring, almost blankly into the large private room. They were safe in the inn, but the haunted look still clung to Umeko's youthful features. To Fuu's mind, she appeared only several years older, but had a world-weary look to her.

Sucking in the last of the noodles, Fuu reluctantly pulled the bowl from her face. She wiped away some broth still dripping from her chin and blushed with embarrassment. "Sorry. I was starving."

When Umeko returned the smile, the distant look faded in her dark eyes as she met Fuu's. "You poor dear," she said kindly.

Sheepishly, Fuu slurped down the last of the broth and as she set the bowl down again, she noted that the woman had not touch her bowl. "Well, not starved exactly. But I haven't eaten since early yesterday. It's Mugen's fault."

"Mugen," Umeko repeated as she picked at her bowl of rice. She seemed to brighten slightly. "Is that his name, you're friend, who helped us?"

"Pervert. Idiot. You name it," Fuu happily rattled off. Seeing the look of confusion on Umeko's face, Fuu stopped eating. "Mugen. We just…he…he's just Mugen."

"I see." Umeko said as she put the bowl down on the small tray before her and folded her fingers together in her lap. Without looking up, she asked, "Are you two traveling?"

A small frown slipped across Fuu's face. "I guess you can say that. I'm not really sure." She looked up and met Umeko's curious look. Rubbing her neck, Fuu tried to explain, at least as best as she understood it, "It's really an interesting story. Mugen and Jin were my bodyguards and helped me find my father before he died."

"Is this Jin here too?" Umeko interrupted.

Fuu frowned. "No. I haven't seen…I don't know where he is. Not since we went our separate ways some months ago. I hadn't even seen Mugen until yesterday when he sort of just burst in to the shop I was working at." She shrugged. "I guess it's our destiny and eventually, I'll meet up with Jin again. I think." She didn't know. While she had longed for their journey, a small part of her had slowly tried to accept that she would never see either man again. Maybe she and Mugen meeting up again was just a fluke. No telling how long it would last.

"I see."

Reaching up, Fuu pulled at her hair with the bits of flour paste still stuck to it. "I just wanted food and an inn with a bath. Now Mugen's in jail and—"

"I would not worry," Umeko said evenly. She shuffled off the daze that had held to her as she added, "Seijun is a man of many connections. He will see that Mugen is set free."

The absolute knowing in the woman's voice caught Fuu's attention. For a time, she just stared at the impossibly neat figure before and felt the creep of self-consciousness over her ragged looks. She tugged at her pink kimono and tried to brush her hair back but there was little she could do. Even her bow was wilted. Yet, in the woman's calm features, she read no judgment.

Between bites of rice, Umeko said, "Mugen is a good swordsman. At least, from what I saw."

"He's very strong."

Umeko glanced away as if she were searching for something in the far edges of the room. "I cannot tell you how grateful we are for the assistance."

"It was nothing," Fuu said, waving the comment off, "he likes to fight." Between bites, she paused. "I thought the doctor was your father."

"Oh, no." The woman laughed, gently covering her mouth with her hand.

Fuu felt her cheeks blush bright red. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"No," Umeko warmly laughed. Her smile was infectious and it quickly spread to Fuu. "Nothing to be embarrassed about. He and Lady Shiori have been very kind to me these many months. They took me into their home when my husband was killed."

Understanding lit Fuu as she once again noted the plainness of Umeko's dress. "Oh." She lost her appetite. "I'm so sorry."

"Do not be. I am weary of people treating me like a flower. I am not so fragile." She sighed as she placed her hands in her lap again. "I was not fragile as the wife of a samurai, I do not know why that should change as a widow."

"Oh."

She looked Fuu over carefully, taking a few breaths before speaking again, "We live in a small village down the river. It has known peace for many generations. Those who seek it, do so for its tranquility. They came to pray at the shrine by the river, where the spirit of Akita Nobumura watches over the village." She frowned. "Then a year ago, this band of murderers moved in. They took what they wanted, offering only fear and death in return." She glanced nervously around the quiet room. "They kill any samurai who try to enter the village as they might pose a threat. So, Seijun under they guise of a conference, is here looking for strong men to help us." She shook her head. "No one wants to get involved."

She suddenly leaned forward, grasping Fuu's hand. "We could offer you and your companion—"

"Mugen's not, I mean we aren't—"

"A place to live and an income if he would run these monsters out of our village."

"It sounds like you are trading one tyrant for another," Fuu said softly.
"Anything is better than what we have now."

"I don't know—"

"Please, I've never seen a man like your friend. No single man could have taken those thugs out with such ease."

"Well, Mugen does like to fight, but I don't know."

roterritter - Thanks! Barbara Akers - Thank you so much! I'm glad you are enjoying it. Silver Purity - You'll have to be patient a little bit longer, but I promise, you'll get to see how everything and everyone tie in together soon.

A/N - This chapter is a little short, but I wanted to get it posted, and another (much longer one) will be up in two days. Thank you all for the kind replies. I really appreciate them.

Next Chapter - Seijun's connections.