Chapter two: hidden past (don't own samurai champloo)

It had been two weeks since mugen's silent defeat, he didn't even attempt to get a futon anymore and the interaction between himself and fuu had become awkward at best. now two and half years into their journey fuu had started to loose hope in finding the samurai who smelled of sunflowers but was willing to keep going if only to die before said goal was accomplished. What really amazed her was that her bodyguards had not given up on her and more over that they had not forced her into revealing the reasons for her need to find a man they knew nothing about though she figured they already had formed ideas about her relationship was to the mystery man .

'would I ever be able to tell them, even if I ever find that basturd?' fuu mused as she stretched her gaze over the ocean. The three had decided to make camp on a beach tonight do to the lack of inclement weather and the distance of the next in, ' and the fact that we're broke.'snorted fuu despite the fact that in truth she didn't mind stay here so much. The atmosphere was overwhelming and reminded her so much of her home...the waves seem to crash angrily on the shore almost betraying the night sky and fuu wondered what had brought about this war between land and water as she sit by the fire.

The group had just finished dinner and found them selves in a comfortable silence as was the case most nights they spent together now. They all seem to be getting along even jin and mugen hadn't fought in a few weeks and fuu wondered what had happened but didn't mind the change. 'At least they won't kill each other until the end of this trip...if this trip ever ends. Not that I want it to but if it does that means that I would have really found him...that means that I would never see them again...'this saddened fuu but she new it was enviable. 'All good things come to an end. I was lucky to have them for so long. God this place reminds me of home. If they ever really knew me. If they ever really knew would they even look at me the same?'

But how could she tell them of her past. The past that made her cry at night and made her wish that she had died all those years before if only to not have to she her mother die so tragically. And what of the samurai of sunflowers if they knew who he was and why she was out to find him would they understand.'knowing mugen he'd probably laugh and tell me to get over it, but I can't, no I won't! I will find my father and I will kill him with out hesitation. No I will watch him suffer' and with that fuu was sent into a rsh of memories, fragments of her once happy life.

Flash back

and young girl stood at the shore on the beach close to home waving to her hero, a distant man, her father.

"Mommy when will daddy be back?""oh honey come here,"she coaxed fuu into a warm embrace and placed her in her lap. "I'm sure he'll be home soon no more then a month, you knoew he loves you and would do everything he could to be with you all the time, but he needs to support his family."fuu's mother deluded her. Intruth it was her mother who had come to support most of the bills and the ones her father did take care of were few and far between. Fuu's father was indeed a samurai one of great power he never went anywhere without his sword and didn't like work much, nor did he love fuu's mother. When they were forced to marry he simply said" you will bare my child and be loyal to me and in return I will support you and protect you." but the once "charming man" grew cold and distant cheating on his wife every chance he got he even blow all the money he made helping out on ships on sake spending most nights off out leaving his wife with fuu.

Fuu was to young to understand anything about her father and mother's relationship and so fuu's mother decided it best to keep her in the dark ultimately thinking fuu's father would either die in a fight or leave. She thought he would leave first considering his excellent swordsmanship, he even wore the make of "yatzuu" the mark of his home land a land comprised of cold harsh samurai training that reflected the saying "kill or be killed" on a regular basis. It was burned into his skin as a child by his father and it was considered to be an honor, and it was one he saw as such.

Next fuu remembered being the ripe age of ten when her father carried on tradition and burned the mark into her ack just between her shoulder blades. She remembered her screams. He originally thought she wasn't worth the raining to become a "noble" fighter like himself but because his wife bore him a female and was now unable to have children and he couldn't have an illegitimate son with another women(less someone see him for the pig he is)so he went threw with it despite his wife disapproval. She remembered his endless training sessions, the pain and the taint he put on her soul. The feeling of hate for another, for her father. She remembered the fighting both physical and mental, the cuts and the bruises. She even remember the day he left the day everything changed and the day she had gotten the scar of her life right threw her mark, the ultimate slap in the face he had said " if you resist the kill an opponent you don't deserve to bare the mark of a true samurai!". he had backed her into a corner and she gained control of the situation and flipped their roles. He taunted her trying to ware her down but it wasn't working and when she finally had the chance to kill him where he stood she couldn't. That was the day she turned her back on her opponent and she swore he would die by her hands if it was the last thing she ever did.

The fact that her mother died shortly after his leave sad and fuu thought alone, aside from fuu's vigilant care that is. as paining as it sounds fuu actually wanted to die that day in training for what she almost did, but now that was all behind her and she watched as her mother slipped away. The night of her death fuu vowed to get her revenge even if she died in the process.

End flash back

fuu was snapped out of her tremble thoughts by a hand that lingered on her cheek wiping away the tears fuu hadn't realized had fallen. those hands so warm and oddly enough softly rough. She allowed her heart to be warm again as she looked up into the eyes of her savor and to her surprise mugen looked into her eyes as if her could she her soul.

"You back?"he stated gruffly. "I've been trying to snap you out of what ever the hell you were thinking about for the past hour, you were really starting to freak me out."mugen still had his head on her face even though the tears were all gone.

"Sorry..."was all she said before she quickly got up and laid down closer to the fire needing to feel warm even if she preferred it be by mugen's hands.' I can't believe I cried like that in front of him now he's gunna think I'm retarded so staring into space like that...not that he already doesn't hate me.'

"What ever.."was the half hearted comment that mugen gave now directly across from fuu." what were you crying for anyway?" ' I hate it when you cry fuu...' "Nothing... just something sad" "well obviously, hence, crying...stupid girl" and that was it he said to much he knew it, he mentally kicked himself 'jackass!'. Fuu started to cry again but this time conscientiously trying to stop and for some unknown reason mugen appeared before her and she felt those same caring hands wrap around her small frame and they seemed to fit together almost too well. This did not go unnoticed but either. Fuu silently weep into mugen's chest while he attempted to calm her. "I didn't mean t really. You're not stupid." but she still couldn't help her she kept seeing images of her father telling her she wasn't good enough until the impossible happened.

"Fuu, I'm ...I'm sorry. Forgive me. Please."and with that the tears stopped she moved her head back far enough to see his face making sure not to loose his warmth around her and looked into his eyes. For once they seemed genuine and she saw that unidentifiable emotion pass over his face again. Hurt he was hurt. "Mugen..." fuu said above a whisper as he inched his face closer to her almost in a dazed like trance.

Mugen quickly caught himself and stood up he didn't say a word only sat down and stared at her. 'Damn, that was too close. I just wish I knew what was wrong with her.'

Fuu now shocked beyond words or even comprehensive thought was brought back to the night mugen placed a seemingly innocent kiss on her cheek. The kiss she couldn't stop thinking about for two weeks. ' we almost kissed. god! Why did I open my big fat mouth!'

the next day

"I think I'm take a bath I'll be back soon" fuu stated over her shoulder as she waked to a more private part of the beach a area secluded and shaded. In truth she didn't really need a bath but she felt dirty from all the events of last night. Not the part with mugen holding her and comforting her. That couldn't have felt more right but the memories and the tears that stained her face 'they need to be washed away, along with the feelings behind them. a now determined fuu continues to walk on when jin cooly stated "we know not the other inhabitants of this beach or this town you require a companion."

'God why doesn't he just jump on her!' mugen shouted in his head and before jin could in his mind mugen said "let's go." before fuu could even respond.

'Thanks jin this won't be weird.' mused fuu. " mugen you really don't have to you know I'll be fine I swear."

" you heard the ass, " we don't know the blah blah blah!(mugen mimicking jin", so just shut it and let's go." mugen said as he lead her to the bathing area."I won't sneak a peek if that's what you're worried about."

" no it's not that." ' I know you wouldn't look at me like that in a million years after last night' thought fuu sadly. " I'm just not a little girlanymore, I'm 18 and I don't think I need constant looking after."

'Trust me fuu I know you are not a little girl, you don't look like or act like one anymore ... plus you're really hot. Maybe I will peek' mugen thought grinning

" what the hell are you smiling about I'm not a little girl so stop thinking it!" despite her defensive statement mugen actually looked pretty happy and so she let it go as they approached the shaded area. 'go he looks hot when he smiles a really smile I wonder what he's thinking about.'

This would be a very interesting day...

Will update soon, tell me what you think!thanx