Disclaimer: "I in no way have or claim to have ownership of the series Samurai Champloo or characters in the anime/manga Samurai Champloo"

Author note:

Chapter 5: I Want To Know

Time seemed to stand still once I walked into the temple. Even though I hadn't been in this area over the past few years everything seemed as familiar as it had when Mugen, Fuu, and I first arrived at the temple. It felt eerily calm being able sleep through the entire night without the questions normally tormented me. Along with Fuu being in the house I experienced a comfort which didn't seem like it belonged to me. I had only felt feelings like this a few times before and even then it was short lived and I always believed tasting those emotions for only a little while was part of my punishment for my past sin.

I felt the sun pour through the window the next morning to wake me up from a most relaxing sleep. I had forgotten what occurred the day before until she came to my mind. I turned on my side surprised at how my quickly my thoughts of Fuu automatically returned to me. I was not quite sure how to react towards her. It was obvious she had grown up quite a bit since the last time I'd had the opportunity to see her. She was a woman, actually a stunning woman. I could not deny her beauty, no matter my current circumstances. She was a part of my journey, only now it seemed she'd taken on a different form.

Seeing her in the teahouse the night before made my breath catch in my chest. She was and wasn't the Fuu I'd known. She was a woman beyond her years. I had admitted Fuu was a pretty girl during our journey, only in my thoughts. But the fact remained she was a girl then. Immature, obnoxious, aggravating and secretive. But in just those few moments I'd first laid eyes on her I could tell things had changed. Now everything from the way she walked even to the way she talked screamed how mature she had become. Even Mugen had to have noticed the changes which occurred.

During our dinner, Mugen had informed me the monk Fuu lived with was in quite a fragile state. It was estimated only a few days were granted to him before he'd cease to be a part of this world. The thought of Fuu losing someone else made me sad for her. Her mother, her biological father, and now the man who was generous enough to take her in were again beyond her grasp. She had endured a lot and this probably was something else she would always carry with her. Unfortunately, neither Mugen nor I could help her journey towards a resolution to her pain this time.

I had to admit to myself how interesting it was that Mugen was so informed on the ever working ins and outs of Fuu's life, yet he had not had contact with her in 3 years. I suppose I was no better considering I'd completely severed relationships with the only friends I had in my entire life. But keeping ties often leaves a samurai vulnerable. I was sure Mugen was aware too. Such is the life we have chosen to lead. A life I loved and despised at the same time.

I sat up on the futon, feeling my loose hair move against my back. I had gotten so use to sleeping with it out of the ponytail while I was with the Kawara Clan it had become second nature to take it down before sleeping. I did not want anyone to see me in this state though. It was most undignified. I could hear Mugen snoring through the walls and shook my head at his despicable manners. Who is the one truly undignified? I thought tuning out the sounds and fixing the bed back to its original form.

The smell of breakfast food made its way into the room and I dressed to move into the kitchen. I could hear Mugen begin to move, obviously stirred by the smell of food also. We stepped out of the rooms at the same time. His clothing crumpled from sleeping in them.

"You're up early," I said nodding my head towards him.

"I smell food," he replied walking ahead of me in the direction of the kitchen.

Fuu stood at the back of the room. Her light brown hair loose, falling past her shoulders. She moved from pot to pot stirring and tossing the contents. It actually looked as if she knew how to cook, a feat I was sure she was incapable of doing. She turned at the sound of us entering the kitchen and smiled brightly.

"Ohayo gozimas," she replied bowing slightly and pointing to the mats seated around the table. Her eyes caught with mine as she smiled shyly and turned around. Her attitude appeared more upbeat than yesterday making her even more beautiful than I could have expected. Although I had always felt she should wear her hair pulled up, it looked even better flowing softly around her face matching perfectly with the beautiful tan color of her skin. The curves of her petite form were easily noted as her kimono hugged her body gently. Everything even down to her movements even appeared graceful as she placed the bowls on the table in front of Mugen and me. I could smell her as she kneeled beside me. Sweet lilies. I looked across the table as she placed Mugen's bowl in front of him. His eyes followed her around the room scanning over her body as if he were looking for something. The sight angered me but it was obvious he was noticing everything I saw myself.

"It actually smells good in here," Mugen stated, staring at her turned back. He slumped to the mat with a thud, patting his stomach as usual. "Hopefully it tastes good too."

Fuu continued to cook, seasoning the delicious smelling foods and stirring rapidly.

"I can cook now. I've had lots of practice at the restaurant with Akiko and I had to make sure my monk ate well. He told me it was good so I wanted to make sure he ate something delicious every day."

Her voice trailed off a bit at the end of her sentence. She stopped moving for a moment, her back still turned to us. She breathed in deeply and walked over to the table with a bowl ladling out our breakfast then sitting at the head of the table.

"I get up early so I can make the monk his meals but today I got up even earlier so I could have something for you two before the swordsmen contest begins. You didn't tell me what time it started so I just figured I would start the sooner the better!" She smiled and began eating.

"Thank you Fuu but I do not think we have informed you correctly. We are not really…"

"We weren't quite sure what time it started either. We just heard about the contest ourselves." Mugen slurped down the last bit of food in his bowl.

Fuu placed her chopsticks on the table and looked down towards the bowl. "S-so the two of you have kept in touch all this time? Must be nice, having someone to talk to." She laughed a diminutive laugh, pushing a fallen piece of hair on her forehead behind her ear. "You two really are more alike than you think. Guess you are good friends now, right? I'm glad I had something to do with it."

I placed my bowl down on the table and looked at her sorrow filled eyes. She seemed to still have a young girl deep within her. She stood up leaving the half eaten bowl on the table.

"I think I am going to check on the monk now. Perhaps the two of you can go in to speak to him sometime to day. I am sure he would be pleased to see you."

She walked out of the kitchen slowly and disappeared past the doorway.

"Why must you continue to lie to her?" I asked staring at Mugen with contempt in my eyes. I could feel myself become haunted by the expression on her face. It was a sight I never wanted to see again. But something told me that wouldn't be the case.

"Well do you want to tell her you didn't come to stay? At least when you're ready to leave she'll expect it."

I looked away from him towards the doorway expecting to see Fuu walk back through at any moment. "So you intend on staying then?"

"I didn't say that! I knew I would end up seeing her sooner or later after I heard about cue ball in there. Since you came through I knew this was the better time for it and with this contest I can make some money too."

"You are despicable! To think of money when Fuu is so vulnerable."

"Hell! I didn't say money was my only reason for being here! You know you haven't even told me why you wanted to come here. Or should I say through here?" Mugen said standing to his feet, hovering over the table.

"I have a reason to be here which is all you need to know."

"If your being here involves Fuu then I do need to know. You haven't even tried to see if she was okay. What have you been doing all this time? You couldn't even check up on her! At least I knew she was okay! I have always been the one to make sure she was okay. You went running off to do shit nobody even knew about! I was the one who was there."

"I suppose the prostitutes you've slept with were just another way to be there for her too." I had to suppress the anger building in me. The conversation was becoming way more heated than I'd intended.

"You did too! You even got one out of the brothel. And for what? Love? Don't give me any 'holier than though' shit! You do the same fucked up stuff as me but at least I have the balls to admit it. I don't hide behind some samurai code or whatever the hell it is! I live my fucking life!"

"Well if you live it then why don't you tell Fuu why you know everything about her for the past 3 years? Tell her how you feel."

"Then you tell her how you feel. Tell her why you have been away from her for 3 years and just now pop up out of the damn blue."

Mugen's eyes grew big and he sat back down on the floor lowering his voice.

"It all just came to me. You didn't come through here just for Fuu, but don't think I didn't see the way you looked at her. You son of a bitch. I just want you to know I'm not blind and I'm not dumb. I know exactly why you're here."

"Could you tell me?"

My head snapped to the door so quickly I felt as if I pulled a muscle. Fuu was standing in the doorway. Her eyes were a light shade of red as if she'd been crying. She looked as if she had walked in on an adult conversation she wasn't meant to hear. I felt a lump rise in my throat.

Fuu blinked allowing a stray tear to run down her cheek. Her small hand moved up to wipe it away.

"Could you tell me why you both came here? I think I at least deserve that."