Chapter three: Jin's exit(don't own samurai champloo)

" Mugen, we're here now you can go"stated the very unsure fuu.

' this is to good to pass up, ha. This should be funny.' "Well, I was having second thoughts I was thinking of joining you" mugen said as he flashed her a wicked smirk with a suggestive eyebrow. The shocked fuu just stood there with a far away look on her face, flushed cheeks and slightly gaped jaw. ' is he serious?' "God girly girl relax I was only kidding." ' but I'm glad you didn't say no. maybe next time.' "What ever just turn around or go sit behind a tree or something."fuu sais impatiently. "Fine, fine .look I'm sitting right here, ok" mugen pointed to the base of a tree that was ten feet away from the water but facing it. "What? No I said on the other side or something!" "Will you stop freaking and get on with it already I said I wouldn't look dope." "Loser.." "Bitch!" "Drunk!" and with that mugen happily sat down and rested his eyes under the shaded tree.

It took fuu about two minutes of just standing there before she allowed herself to move just to see if mugen would peek. ' of course he won't look, duh!'so she turned her back and started to disrobe at an alarmingly fast rate just to be safe. What she didn't know was that mugen was listening and when she started to move fast and turn around he did peek, and man did he get a eye full! ' kami! She's gorgeous, that damn kiamo did nothing for her...her hair looks so nice when it's down like that, it got so long.'mugen thought as he enjoyed the show . Fuu's hair had gotten so long that it covered nearly half her back and in the process her scar, but when she pulled her hair back and her scar was revealed mugen couldn't help but gasp at what he saw. ' what the fuck it that? I mean I know what it is but how did she get it? Is that the mark of so crazy samurai on that island I got in a huge fight on. That was a good fight though...wait focus. Who is she?' and with that he decided no more spying , not because it was wrong but because he could barely control himself both sexually and the fact that he almost shouted out a bunch of questions at fuu until she would tell him everything. ' kami, why didn't she say anything? What is she hiding? I have to get her trust and then maybe she will spill it. I wonder if it has to do something with the sunflower samurai? Man my head hurts ok calm down.' mugen tried to calm himself and before he knew it a soaked through fuu was standing over him waving her hand in front of his face saying "mugen you just woke up don't tell me you're already back asleep you lazy baka!" "Oi wench I'm awake I was just making sure I didn't get glimpse of your so-called body." fuu silently waked away back on the path and mugen followed after his angel sorry for what he said, but he wasn't ready for her to know, not yet.

Both arrived back at camp to find jin sharpening his sword with breakfast waiting. Both started to chow down. "Thanks jin, it was really nice of you to do this but aren't you eating?" "I'm not hungry, thank you." was all he said. Jin looked more pale this morning then usual and while he was usually carful and attentive when sharpening his sword he seemed as if he couldn't care less. " jin are you alright? Is something wrong?" fuu said with a hint of concern in her voice. " yeah dude, you don't look so good, you sick?" even mugen who normally would have made fun of him was trying to get some answers, then again it could just be because of the odd morning he had. "..."silence. Fuu took this opportunity to ask jin about things that could be bothering him. " you're thinking about her again aren't you... about shino?" "..."silence. "Jin, I know that three year mark is coming up and that's why I've decided... I've decided to release you of your duty."

Both samurai stood up straight shocked at the once girl now woman's comment. ' is she serious?' mugen thought. "Fuu, thanks you for your kindness but it isn't necc..." "Yes it is, you love her and I refuse to get in the way of true love, I would never forgive myself. I've given this a lot of thought trust me. As much as I will miss you she needs you more than anyone, and you need her." " well how come fish boy gets to go, but I can't?" mugen stated defensively. 'Not that I mind this with allow me to get closer to you, but if I don't put up a fight you might get suspicious.' "I thought you might say that mugen and that's why I'm leaving it up to you... I know I made you two promise years ago that you'd help me find the man I'm looking for but it wouldn't be right to allow one of you to leave and not the other. But when you two do leave me, Know this, you are not to kill each other, you hear me! I will not be responsible for your deaths."

Fuu walked away from her former body guards with tears in her eyes. ' I feel horrible, I'm going to be all alone again. Maybe it's for the best though.' she thought as she sat sown by the shore. ' I was being kinda spoiled I haven't even had to fight. I haven't had a sword in my hand sin years and I really need to start training again even if it was nice not to have to. I was getting kinda tired of playing the damsel in distress anyway. I can't force them to stay with me. They need to get on with their lives to. And that doesn't include me.'

Both men stood there staring at each other. "So what do you think four eyes?" "I will go and find shino." " your just going to leave her?" " she released me. She was right, I need to find her." " fine what ever "

mugen started to walk away( in the direction fuu ran off) " mugen." jin said sternly. " take care of her and the next time we meet prepare to die." " hmph, we'll see about that. Don't get yourself killed now. Your life is mine to take remember that!" And witht hat loving exchange jin left he couldn't bring himself to say good bye to fuu. He wasn't good with good byes only treats.

' I wonder what I'll do now that their gone. I'll need a new sword I can head back to town and work one off then I'll continue to follow leads I guess. But carrying a sword, especially when you are a woman, is like wearing a target and I need to be ready to save myself from now on. No more little innocent fuu. Fuu stared out at the ocean mentally preparing herself for the journey she now would be going alone. And over whelming sense of sadness wash over her and it was like she lost her mother again. ' I don't know if I could do this without you guys but I'm glad you won't be there. You won't get hurt or see me kill... or get killed in the process... I'm really gunna miss you guys, please be safe...for me...and maybe when it's all over I'll come and find you guys. And mugen I'll let you know of my true feelings if you're not settled down or more likely dead. Ha!mugen settled down what was I thinking. I love you guys.' " stay safe guys, I love you" she said barely above a whisper." fuu allowed her self one last set of tears before she hardened herself into a samurai and went into town. That was when she felt and arm drape over her and pull her into something hard. A chest she recognized it. Mugen ' my mugen'. "girly girl I'm be fine. I have to protect you remember. I'm staying fuu.." she darted her head up with an amazed look on her face but she had to ask, "why?" ' why are you doing this when you could just leave?' " well I got nothing better to do and I'm not about to leave a defensive girl out here by herself..." Fuu shrugged away for him ' great he's doing it out of pity.' " I don't need your charity I can make it on my own, thanks." she slowly got up when a hand grabbed her arm. "Oh, I know you can." ' I saw the scar I know you can do some serious damage but I know you're holding back.' ' he said that why so convincingly why doesn't he think I'm weak anymore.' mugen stood up and forced fuu to face him. "I'm not leave so just deal with it, but before we reach your precious samurai you'll tell me why the hell you're looking for him, deal?" ' why not by that time I will have either left him or he will think I'm a killer or a deluded little girl or something.' "Fine."

night time

it was getting pretty late and the day had gone by pretty smoothly. The pair missed their lost comrade but wasn't about to admit it. He was gone and he wasn't coming back and both of them knew it. " we should probably find a place to stay." fuu offered as they sat and ate near to fire. " sure, let's go. They doused the fire and started to make their way back in town. It was colder tonight and t looked as if it was about to rain so they quickly found the cheapest inn with the smallest room and paid half until they could pay the rest in the morning. The inn keeper was nice enough to let them stay when he saw fuu's sad expresion and the sky that looked like it was about to rain(plus mugen's sword) he decided they could stay the night half price till morning. It was his smallest room anyway.

He lead them to the room and asked if they needed anything. Both replied no and he left. Mugen was the first to enter. The roon was small and reminded him of a cell he and jin were once held except for the small mat with sheets and two pillows in the corner. Mugen set his things down and waited for fuu to close the door. She set the candle in the room and sat down opposite of mugen. silence followed, but unlike before it was anything but comfortable. He wanted so badly so comfort her again. No not just comfort. Her didn't trust himself around her anymore. No jin around to stop him. Only him and fuu and a small mat in the corner that look ever so enticing, but one look at fuu and he knew it wasn't gunna happen. ' at least not yet. I want her to want it and It has to be perfect.'

' I wonder what he's thinking. I'm really starting to get tired, but why is this so weird it's not like we haven't don't this a million times before. The only difference is that we are alone. ' ok well that is a big difference. He looks really good tonight and he's been acting so nice and I don't think it's because he feels sorry for me. Oh mugen I wish you could see me for the woman I am.' mugen's face seemed softer in the candle like and despite the cold storm outside it couldn't be hotter in more ways then one in there room. Finally decideing to break the silence mugen said" so..." " so...what?" " so nothing can't a guy just say so bitch!" "Loser that was stupid 'so...'(fuu mimicking mugen)', god how dense can you be!"

Fuu claimed the futon and threw a pillow at mugen's face and both laid down with smiles on their faces and heads full of questions. One thing was for sure now that jin was gone things were going to heat up!

Thanks for reading, review if you have the time. Be honest. 3 ky