It had been nice to go to the familiar area of his youth, but the whole 'tagging' fiasco with the ensuing battle over Fuu was beginning to grate on his last nerve. They were just covering areas much too quickly for anything to be given considerate enough thought to declare any good, bad, or winner, loser. They were running all over while he grew impatient. Nothing was going to be decided at this rate. He could only be thankful that Fuu was as irritated as he with this entire thing and had offered the most sensible, and most importantly finalizing, challenge; Hiroshima Castle.
But 'someone' had beaten them to the goal and they had realized they were no longer the 'best'. In retrospect, he supposed it was all worth the result. All this time Fuu had been reveling in the fact that she was actually the prize for the duel - although he had serious doubts she'd truly want to stay with either of them - and had been glowing non-stop since the initiating of the challenge. When it was finally revealed it was Mr. Squirrel he just about lost control and gave in to the roar of laughter t hat battled within.
It had been another rare night of peaceful and comfortable sleep, strangely punctuated with a much too alarmed expression from Fuu. He bolted up from his bedding immediately turning to her as he reached for his sword. What was it?
What…the…fuck?
Mugen!
His shock at discovering who had beaten his master's sons was poetic justice of the most ironic kind. Sometimes he really hated his life.
From episode 18.