Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Champloo or its characters. I love it so much it gave me the idea for a fanfiction I hope you will enjoy.

Author note: Major spoilers so beware!

Chapter 8: Goodbye/Hello

The light from outside warmed my skin as it came through the window of Mugen's room. My entire body felt warm. Not even the minor pain I felt between my legs could bother me now. I was in love with Mugen and he was in love with me.

The night was wonderful. No man ever touched me before. Not that way. I was happy it was Mugen. I always thought he would be rough and selfish. But he wasn't. He touched me like I was the silk of expensive kimonos I've seen women wear. He kept asking if I was okay and never tried to make me feel like I was doing anything wrong. My entire body felt like it was on fire and Mugen was the flame. I never want to be away from him ever again. He is my air and I want to spend the rest of my life waking up in his arms.

I didn't want to open my eyes for fear everything was a dream. I rolled to the other side, expecting to feel Mugen's hard chest next to me, but it wasn't. He wasn't there. I sat up pulling the sheet of the futon around me.

Where was he? I could feel fear starting to run through my chest and settle in my heart. I stood up quickly pulling the covers around me and sliding the door open.

"Mugen."

No answer.

He couldn't have left. He wouldn't have left me after... He…he loves me.

"Mugen!"

I ran to the doors of the temple, my stomach churning to the point of almost vomiting. I threw the door opened and stepped out searching the area in front of me. I opened my mouth to scream his name when I heard a door slide open behind me.

I stepped back into the temple and saw Mugen move through the doors of the Monk's room. His face was solemn but he was still the most handsome man I'd ever seen. I finally took the breath I'd held since waking.

"Ohayo gozimas," I said shutting the door behind me. I suddenly felt stupid standing in front of him in just a sheet. I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed me but it felt as if he were holding back.

I pulled away just enough to look at his face. He was so beautiful in the morning. I couldn't believe I'd never noticed it in all this time.

"What's wrong, Mugen." I asked pressing against him. "I told you if I was doing something wrong last night you just needed to tell me."

He looked away from me, purposefully avoiding my eyes.

"What? What is it Mugen? You're starting to scare me."

Mugen pulled my hands down from his neck. I could sense something was wrong.

"Tell me." My heart was starting to beat harder and harder.

"You need to go see the monk right now Fuu."

My heart stopped. I looked up and felt the tears burn the bottom of my eyelids. Not now. Not when I've just found what I have been wanting my whole life. Not when my life is finally complete. I can't lose him. Not now.

"You need to go in now Fuu."

Mugen's voice was more serious than I'd ever heard before.

I walked over to the room and sled the door open. The monk's frail body lay still on the futon. I could see the shallow breathing in his chest as it moved slowly up and down. Sweat covered his face. I knelt down beside his bed as so many times before. I knew this would be my last.

His eyes opened and he turned his head to me. The corners of his mouth turned up in the imitation of a smile. My tears streamed quickly down my face.

His mouth opened in an attempt to speak.

"Please don't talk. Just lay there. It's okay."

He shook his head slowly. He motioned with his finger for me to come closer to him.

"Do you know why he came in here to see me," he whispered in a raspy voice.

I shook my head no.

"To ask me for you."

I could not hold the tears back any further. I should've been happy but the knots in my stomach were growing tighter with every minute. He reached out a weak hand to me and I grabbed it softly.

"I have waited for this day a long time. I always knew it would be him and now you know too. I can now leave you knowing you are always protected."

"No. Don't go. I want you to be here with me. I need you here."

"We all have a time and this is mine. Give him all of your heart and he will do the same."

I kissed his hand and pressed it against my face as I nodded me head.

"I have been blessed with a daughter in you Fuu-chan. Thank you for making this old man as happy as you have. You let me love you."

His eyes closed and I saw as his chest rose and fell for the last time. My body began to slowly sink until I rested my head on his chest. I couldn't hear Mugen as he entered the room over my cries. I felt him wrap his arms around me from behind.

"I love you too, Father."

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"Sister you have been waiting for this day for these many years and now it has come about you act as if you do not want to leave."

"How can I leave? I have lived here for 3 years now. This was my refuge and now it is my home."

"Come, come now child. No one makes a home here. Not even the little ones. They come in with their mothers but they leave too. This is only a place to start over again. It's not an end to the chapters of your life, it's the beginning."

"But you have stayed here all these years Kakusan-ni. Where is your end?"

"Oh child, I am an old woman. My husband Tokimune Hojo died many years ago. No, there is nothing on the outside of these walls for me. The Tokeiji temple is my calling. It is here to serve as a convent to pray for the rest of the dead husband and a refuge from the oppression of the unfit husband. So you see I must serve women for many more years to come."

The young girls of the temple ran past as I sat on the bench of the inner courtyard.

"Look there, child. Do you see those girls?"

I nodded smiling at how they ran, jumped and giggled. I couldn't remember ever acting in the same manner anywhere but here.

"They have been through so much. Their mother died and their father tried to kill them. They were sent here and yet they still find a way to laugh. They continue to live after such tragedy and death. What you experienced was terrible indeed child, but not in comparison to them. You have such strength and such love. You must share it with this world."

I lay my head on the sweet nun's lap, watching the young girls vanish through the door and down the stairs to the shoreline.

"But what if there is no one for me to share it with? What if I am meant to be alone? What if my ex-husband tries to come after me?"

"Truthfully child it is always a possibility. If he feels he is able to be a fit husband he may. But from what you have spoke of, his type never changes. Remember when your boat washed ashore here? You cried tears, not from leaving your husband but from leaving a man you said you'd only known, what a few days?"

I nodded.

"Who is to say he is not going to look for you."

"Well he hasn't in all this time. Not a letter, not a visit. No news, nothing. How will I find him? I don't know if I could."

The young girls ran back through the doors, stumbling wildly over each other.

"Kakusan-ni, there is a gentleman coming closer to the shoreline," said one girl exhaustedly.

"Yes, it is. And he is very handsome!" A second replied, receiving a tap from the other girl to become silent.

"No he looks odd," chimed the third with her hands on her knees gasping for air.

"How so child," asked Kakusan-ni.

"He is wearing glasses. I have never seen anyone who actually wore those things."

I raised my head off of the nun's lap and looked into her eyes.

"It does not seem you will need to search after all, Shino-san."

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Hanjiro handed me the sword.

"This is a very impressive piece of steel young man. You do thorough business."

"I never joke when it comes to death. I want him dead. I assume you still remember how good a fighter he is?"

"Yes, yes. I have not come across many gentlemen with skills even close to his. If it weren't for the money, I would never approach him otherwise."

I placed the sword back into its scabbard, a fine piece of steel indeed.

"And the girl?" I asked.

"I am still thinking about her. It would serve her right to continue being married to me. But I am much too good for her now. My money will never be hers."

"No sir it shall be mine. Now about my payment…."

Hanjiro pulled out a small bag bulging at the bottom. The clang of the coins made my heart sing.

"You would think a man of your age would not be so money driven."

"It's obvious you have not dealt with money for very long Hanjiro. Once you have it you don't want there to ever be a moment where you don't."

He threw the bag to me.

"Well for 700 yen you better make sure the job is down."

I nodded turning my back to him.

"Inuyaka when you've killed him make sure she sees you and throw this in her face."

He threw a smaller bag of coins to me.

"Tell her I may not be able to abuse her anymore but her life will always be mine."

A/N: I really did some research for this one. The Tokiji Temple is an actual temple for women who have lost their husbands and want to become nuns or want to annul their marriage. Sister Kakusan actually ran the temple and she was married to Tokimune Hojo and "ni" means nun. Sorry for so many spoilers but here is the explanation. If you don't want to know stop reading now! Shino is the woman Jin fell in love with from Episode 11 Gamblers and Gallantry. She was married to Hanjiro but he was a horrible husband and she ended up working in a brothel to pay off his debt! Jin sent her off to the temple so she was safe from him and she would not have to go back to the brothel or be married after 3 years. Now Inuyaka is the character from Episode 2 Redeye Reprisal. He was paid to kill Jin but when the "boss" was killed he stopped fighting. Their fight was never completed so I intend on settling the score. Hope you like it! Sayonara'!