Disclaimer: Samurai Champloo is not mine. I absolutely love it and wish I had the ability to come up with something so wonderful, but alas I don't. So anyway I don't own Samurai Champloo but it did inspire the story set before you. Enjoy!

Author note: Spoilers are involved in this chapter!

Chapter 7: So Beautiful

I really didn't care about the rain outside. The whole day ended up being a big fucking bust. Not including what happened at the temple but the tournament ended up being a big waste of damn time. None of the men there were worth fighting and to top it off the damn prize money wasn't even enough to buy a few good bottles of sake! What a rip! The only reason I didn't finish all those idiots off quicker was because I didn't want to go back to the temple. I didn't want to face her. Really I couldn't face her. What was I suppose to say?

The drizzle of the rain began to turn into a downpour, but it didn't make me move any faster. I needed to spend some time away. I just needed to figure out what in the hell I was going to do next.

I could still see her face when I left and I knew I made her cry. What in the hell was wrong with me?

I kept thinking over and over again about the way she yanked her hand away from me like I was some dirty dog. She couldn't even put her hand on me, but she gave him a hug. I'd seen her back when we were still together. She thought I was asleep but I saw her hug him. He didn't even try to hold her. He sat there and let her hold him. But if it were me she'd run. If it were me she'd call me a damn pervert.

My reasoning for seeing her still confused me. I knew Jin probably told her he was going to see the chick at the safe house and in some way she's blame me for his shit. I should've figured it out myself. I wouldn't have brought him here if I knew he would hurt Fuu. But I knew she wouldn't want to see me alone.

Feeling as weak as I did was ridiculous. I'd become soft being around her. Brothels didn't have feelings. No emotions, no commitments. Just pay and fuck.

But I didn't want Fuu only to sleep with her. I knew exactly what I wanted.

The path towards the temple was dark and started to fade with the rain. I wasn't really sure I was going the right way anyway. It didn't matter. Maybe it was better if I didn't go back to her. If I was lucky Fuu and Jin would be sleeping too. Not together, but just asleep.

The top of the temple started to peer over the grass.

"Guess I'll find out in about a minute."

The temple doors looked different from the night before. Maybe not the doors but something was different. I knew I was just faking myself out with my excuses but the obstacle in front of me wasn't something I could slice with my sword or beat to crap. I didn't know what I was suppose to say or how in the hell I was going to tell her anything.

The door creaked open and closed as I came in. I swear it hadn't last night. Everything was against me. I stood still but nothing happened. The doors to Fuu's room and the monk's were closed. I cleared my throat trying to see if she would come out and let her know I was here but still nothing.

I walked down the hall towards the room she's given me next to Jin's. I'd intended to ask him about the quiet occupying the temple but the light was out in his room and the door was opened. I looked inside finding the futon on the floor untouched and the room was empty.

He is in there with her! I'd cut my own damn neck off once I left leaving him free to tell her anything. There was no reason for me to stay now.

I slammed the door closed after entering my room figuring I'd leave in the morning before anyone could get up or before I saw the two together.

I fell backward on the futon feeling tired and pissed off all at the same time. My eyes closed wanting to push the world out of the way. Tomorrow life would go back to normal and I could leave her alone.

Sleep began to creep around me until a knock so soft I thought it was part of my dream woke me.

"Mugen-san," Fuu called through the door.

I jumped feeling dazed and unsure where I lay.

"Mugen-san, I need you to wake up for a moment please."

I knew it was Fuu at the door but I hadn't ever heard her say my name so formally. I didn't sound right. I didn't sound like her. I opened the door and looked down at the top of her head. She bowed, keeping her eyes away from my own and focused on the floor.

"Jin-san left earlier. He is continuing his journey so this was not his final destination. I think you should probably leave tomorrow, Mugen-san. I know the tournament is over so you can return to your home or wherever you may have been traveling. "

She stood at the door waiting for me to say something but what was I suppose to say?

My opportunity was lost as she bowed, turned and left the room, leaving me standing and staring.

I wanted to say something to her. I had to say something before she was back in her room.

"Why do you want me to leave?" I asked stepping through the doorway.

She stopped walking but didn't turn around.

"Mugen-san…"

"Stop calling me that damn it!"

Fuu turned around, still looking at the floor between us.

"There is no real reason for you to be here any longer. You have finished the tournament, Jin-san is gone and it's just the monk and I here. There isn't a life for you behind these doors. Go some where better suited for you."

She turned again walking towards her room.

"How do you know this isn't where I wanted to be? I'm here aren't I?"

"You came with Jin-san. I figured you were just passing through too. You are… right?"

I couldn't talk. I couldn't breath.

"Exactly what I thought, Mugen-san."

She began walking again. I wasn't going to let her leave me. She wouldn't leave me again. I was tired of watching her walk away from me.

I was in front of her in three steps. Her face looked depressed and tired.

"Go to sleep Mugen-sa…"

I kissed her. I pulled her close to me and touched my lips to the softness of her own. I'd never tasted anything so sweet. I could feel her body tense and then begin to loosen in my arms. Her lips moved back against mine making me feel happier than I ever felt in my entire life. I pulled away from her, laying my forehead against her own to catch my breath.

"I have wanted to do that since I saw you in the restaurant. I have wanted it for some years now."

Her eyebrows scrunched together.

"What?"

I could feel her hands on my chest. It made my entire body tingle.

"Ever since we parted I started to love you. First it just annoyed the hell out of me since I didn't hear your voice yelling at me. For some damn reason not having you to remind me of my existence made me think you didn't need me to protect you anymore."

I put my hand on her cheek. It was wet. I knew she started crying but I wanted to tell her everything before I lost my nerve.

"Then I needed to see you and make sure you were fine. I didn't think I needed to talk to you; I just needed to see you doing okay by yourself. When I saw you and knew you were fine I thought it would be enough. But it wasn't and I kept making trips around the temple and the towns to make sure you were still doing okay. I saw you start looking like the woman you are now, even more beautiful than before. I saw how you took care of the monk. How you cooked in the restaurant and the way you talked to everyone who came around you."

Fuu tried to pull away from me, but I pulled her back.

"Don't think I'm crazy. I just wanted to be near you. I started wanting you differently than the women at the brothel. I wanted to be the only man who touched you, including Jin. I wanted to keep you safe. I won't let my promise go. I can't ever let it go. "

Fuu wiped her eyes.

"It's hard to believe, Mugen," she whispered. "You were here all this time and you didn't say anything to me? Why? What made you stay away from me?"

"You never acted the same way with me like you did with Jin. You never touched me. You just needed me as a body guard."

"I did not!" she yelled pulling away from me finally. "I chose you when the blind woman needed our help. I wanted you to stay with me."

"You didn't act like it! You were mad Jin left even after you told him to leave. You didn't say anything about me. What the hell was I suppose to feel?"

I saw her eyes fill with shock then anger.

"Well what was I suppose to think? Every night when we were in a town you ran off to the damn brothels. You called me names every day and you never even tried to have a decent conversation with me. How was I supposed to know?"

I couldn't answer her. I knew she was getting upset and I knew this was going the wrong way fast. I stepped past her and walked towards the doors.

I grabbed the handle, "Well you know now. I could leave here right now or you can tell me how you feel."

Fuu looked me in the eyes then turned suddenly when she heard coughing coming from the monk's room.

"I'm talking to you Fuu. Make a decision."

I saw her hands fumbling with the pink obi on her kimono. But she didn't move. The coughing came from the room again. She looked to the floor.

"I have to check on him Mugen-san."

"I figured."

I pushed the door opened and slammed it shut behind me.

"I'm in the rain again."

I started walking down the muddy path again, not caring how hard it was raining or where I was going. I just needed to be away from everything now. My legs felt like heavy boulders.

"Mugen!"

I heard the voice moving towards me.

"Mugen stop!" Fuu screamed stumbling towards me, mud splashing around her sandals and the edges of her kimono.

I'd never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life.

She stopped running only a few feet in front of me. The rain made strains of her long brown hair stick to her face and neck but she didn't push it away. Her chest rose and fell as she gasped for breath.

"I love you… I don't…want you to leave. Stay…with me…please."

"What about the monk?"

She breathed in deeply, "He's fine Mugen. But I won't be if you leave me again."

I could tell she was crying even in the rain. All I wanted to do was touch her but I couldn't move.

"If you won't do anything, I will."

Fuu walked up to me and kissed me so hard I almost lost my balance. I grabbed her and kissed back, holding her as tightly as I could. No matter how much I kissed, I still felt I wasn't close enough to her. I picked her up and ran towards the temple.

"Mugen I can walk on my own," she said wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I don't think I could let you go again."

I set Fuu down so I could open the door. She took my hand and followed me inside, her face now pink from the cold rain. I walked us towards my room praying she wouldn't let go of my hand.

I stopped at the door looking back at her. I could feel my heart thumping hard against my chest. She smiled at me, reaching to slide the door open. She walked in and sat down on the futon. A tea light brightened the room a little. I grabbed on of the towels she'd left in the room earlier, watching as she let her hair down for me to dry her off. She looked so beautiful. Her eyes never left mine.

For the first time in my life, I wasn't sure what I needed to do with a woman. Fuu wasn't one of the girls in the brothel. She was delicate and I was sure she hadn't been with anyone. This was different. I sat next to her and pulled off my now soaked shirt. I could see the blush move across her cheeks.

"Could you help me take this off?" She asked turning her back and pointing at the obi.

My hands shook as I touched the silk fabric. The kimono started to fall down her shoulders revealing skin so soft. She turned back to me, holding the kimono to her chest.

"I don't know what I am supposed to say or do right now, Mugen but I know I want to be with you and only you."

The light flickered behind her making her look even more beautiful. I wanted nothing more than to make love to her. She leaned towards me and let her lips touch mine so softly it almost felt like the wind moving past me.

I sled the kimono down her arms and her body took my breath away.

"No flat chest anymore, huh?" She asked with a shy smile.

I could see the nervousness settle in her eyes. I put my hand on her face.

"This is the first time I have ever done this with someone I love."

A tear slowly made its way down her cheek. She leaned back picking up the candle in her hand and blowing out the small flame. The room went completely dark.

I could feel her hand pull my face to hers. She kissed my lips, then my cheek. I could feel her breath as it warmed my ear.

"Make love to me Mugen."