Chapter 7: Train

Fuu looked at Mugen, "You still have to help me find that samurai you know!"

Mugen sighed, "Yeah yeah I know get off my back." He took a hold of the hilt of his sword as Asaki sheathed her blade. "Now what do you think you're doing?"

Asaki smiled, "I don't need my sword to defeat you so come on." She threw her blades down onto the ground.

Mugen smirked, "Fine."

Asaki dashed off toward him, running faster than she had previously. She ducked under his sword as he swiped it horizontally at her and punched him in the stomach, using her leg to swing around and knock him off of his feet before standing, looking at him with a smile. Mugen got even more pissed off, spinning on the ground and knocking her to her feet. Asaki rolled back and just as she was getting ready to stand, Mugen kicked her, knocking her back.

Asaki growled, "Alright that's it…" she grabbed Fuu's sword.

Fuu blinked, "H-hey! Give that back! I won't have my sword used to kill him!"

Asaki smiled, "Don't worry I just have to borrow it for a minute." She unsheathed her blade, using it to cut the sides of her kimono making long slits up to her hip to give her full motion. She sheathed the blade and handed it back, "Alright now I'm ready for you punk."

Mugen charged at her once again. This time Asaki was ready for him. As he came forward, he moved his sword in a stabbing motion. Asaki moved toward the side, grabbing his hand that had the sword and twisting his hand a little. She then grabbed the blade from his hands, throwing it aside. She then pushed him forward with her hands. Mugen turned around to face her, ready to fight but as he was turning, she kicked him in the side and caused him to go forward and land on the ground. Before he could get up or make another move, she put her foot on his chest and looked down at him with a smile.

"Give up Mugen?"

"Damn you bitch…"

"I'll take that as a yes." She smiled more, taking her foot off of him and walked over to her blades, gathering them. She walked over to Fuu and bowed, "Thank you for lending me your katana during the battle."

Fuu blinked, "Uhh, no problem. Hey where did you learn moves like that?"

Asaki smiled, "Didn't I tell you? It was at the dojo, the same one Jin went to."

Fuu smiled back, "Oh yeah? Well how come Jin never uses those kind of moves? That was awesome!"

Fuu and Asaki started walking off together, talking. Jin followed them and sighed at Fuu's comment,

"It's because I only studied how to be a samurai and swordsmanship."

Asaki looked at Fuu, "Well even so, I still would never be able to beat Jin. His skills are more powerful, destructive and precise than mine are. He's honed his skills much longer than I have and in many respects I consider him to be my sensei."

Fuu looked at Jin then back to Asaki and smiled, "Oh I see so that's the connection you two share. He's your teacher and your friend. I'm glad that you two could find each other again."

Asaki nodded, "Me too. More than you know…"

Mugen watched as they left and sat up slowly, holding his head, "Hey aren't you guys forgetting about me dammit!"

Fuu turned around and looked back at him, "It's your own fault for wanting to fight Asaki and for being so arrogant."

Mugen rubbed his head and stood up, walking after them, "Well it's not like I knew she was gonna be that damn strong."

Asaki smiled and laughed a little, "It's alright Mugen. If it makes you feel any better, I get that a lot."

"Yeah, whatever."

Fuu looked at Asaki, "Umm I'm sorry that we interrupted you. I guess you two want to catch up on old times huh?"

Asaki nodded, "If you wouldn't mind…"

Fuu nodded, "Not at all. Mugen c'mon, let's look for a place where we can sleep."

Asaki looked at them, "Let's go to the inn."

Fuu looked down and sighed, "We'd like to but we just don't have the money for that sort of thing."

Asaki smiled, "Don't worry about it. I have enough for us all. Jin and I can talk there."

Fuu smiled, "Really? You'd really do that for us?"

Asaki nodded, "Sure. Any friend of Jin's is a friend of mine."

Fuu jumped up and down excitedly, "Horray! Thanks Asaki you're the best!"

Mugen looked away, "Yeah, thanks."

They all walked over to the inn, Asaki paying for beds and food for them all tonight. They were all happy to get a meal. Mugen and Fuu ate their food quickly in their separate rooms. Asaki and Jin shared a room so that they could talk. They sat across the table from each other, their food set down before them, untouched. They sat there at the table, looking at each other for at least ten minutes. They had hoped that the other might start to eat so that they could avoid talking about the inevitable. Asaki looked down at the food. She decided they might as well have a nice meal before they talked. She picked up her chopsticks, pulling over the bowl of rice and started eating it. Jin blinked and watched her eat for a moment before eating some of his rice too. Asaki and Jin both reached over for a piece of sushi simultaneously. They quickly retracted their chopsticks and looked down.

Asaki blushed a bit, "You go ahead and take it…"

"No. Please, take whichever one you choose, there is plenty."

Asaki nodded, reaching over and taking a piece of sushi in her chopsticks. Instead of bringing the fish to her own mouth, she leaned over a little, putting it up to Jin's lips. "You taste first."

Jin looked at her and smiled, taking the sushi into his mouth and eating it. "It's delicious. Don't worry you won't die."

Asaki laughed a little, "I wasn't worried about that."

Jin nodded, "I know."

Asaki and Jin soon finished their food. They continued avoiding talking about what they were going to do. They got ready for bed, each having their own separate space though the beds were next to each other. They both looked at the ceiling, wanting to talk about it but not able to say anything. They didn't want to hear that they weren't going to see each other again. They had waited all this time just to see each other again and now they would leave each other once more.

Jin glanced over at Asaki then looked back toward the ceiling, "Asaki…"

"Yes Jin?"

"You know we have to talk about this right…?"

"I know but I just…"

"I know Asaki, I know. I don't want to say it either but Asaki…we both have prior commitments to fulfill and…"

"Prior commitments to fulfill? I thought we were talking about the relationship between you, Mugen and Fuu."

The two sat up and faced each other, sitting on their knees.

"Well…no…"

"Then what did you mean Jin?"

"What did you mean?"

"I just mean that the three of you don't seem to get along very well. Fuu seems really nice but Mugen seems to be causing you two a lot of problems…"

"Don't worry about him too much, he's always like that. Even though he might have a short temper, he is quite useful in battles and he does have a firm set of moral beliefs."

"Oh I see. Well are you going to tell me what you meant Jin?"

"Well about us Asaki…"

"W-what about us?"

"Asaki what are we going to do? Do you want to be with me?"

"Yes I do Jin, more than ever. I don't want us to be apart like we were all those years ago. I don't want anything to come between us."

Jin smiled, "Then come with us Asaki. We're looking for a samurai that smells of sunflowers. Have you heard of him?"

"No I haven't but hold on Jin. What do you mean come with you? I thought we already had this discussion and I already thought I told you why I couldn't come with you."

"Your students right?"

"Yes. I already told you that they kept my secret about being the Black Raven. All they ask in return is for me to teach them swordsmanship and I don't think that's too much for them to ask of me."

"And what about me Asaki? Is asking you to come with me too much for me to ask of you?"

Asaki sighed and frowned, looking down, "Right now, it is Jin. I'm sorry."

"You see now. It is exactly as I said. We both have prior commitments to attend to before we can concentrate on ourselves."

"Jin I don't want to leave your side…can't you come with me? At least for a little while? I mean Mugen and Fuu have each other to look for the samurai."

"I can't do that Asaki, I made a promise and I intend to keep it."

Asaki cried, looking at him, "You're so mean…You could very well come with me for awhile to Tokyo but you don't want to. And to think I came all the way here just to see you." She stood up, grabbing her swords and ran out of the room.

"Asaki! Asaki wait!"

Fuu blinked and opened the door to her room hearing the commotion. She saw Asaki leaving and Jin going after her, "Hey what's going on?"

Jin sighed, running after Asaki, "Nothing that you need to concern yourself with."

Jin saw Asaki running off and took off after her. Asaki pulled out her ticket so that she could return back to Tokyo, looking at it. She went back to the train station and was in luck because it was getting ready to depart. She gave them her ticket and got onto the train, sitting in a seat by herself, looking down, wiping away some of her tears. Jin saw her run in the direction of the train station and knew she was going to get on. He took a step forward as a few carriages went down the street. He stepped back, waiting impatiently for them to pass by. He finally ran across the street after they passed and ran to the train station. His eyes widened as he saw the train already far down the tracks. He tried running after the train but it was of no use, it was already gone and Asaki was inside it. He dropped to his knees, watching the train leave and go on its way.

"W-what have I done? A-Asaki…come back…Asaki…"