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

Chapter 9: Without You

I watched as the most beautiful form made its way to the water's edge. She stopped at the shoreline staring at me. My heart skipped a beat and came to a halt. Her dark brown hair whirl as the air blew past her face. The sight of her brought tears to my eyes for the second time in my whole life. It was apparent to me what I missed these many years. It was her touch, the sight of her, the sweet sound of her voice. This was the end of my journey. I'd finally made my way to her.

The small boat I rode in made its way closer to her and I could see the tears running down her face. She made no attempts to wipe them away. Her mouth parted as she sucked air in over her pale pink lips. Her chest rose and fell from the heavy sobs shook her body. She was the most beautiful woman ever seen by my eyes.

"Jin," she called, walking into the water. The edges of her kimono became wet as she pushed through the low current's waves washing ashore. It was like my every dream was coming true. No…this was better than a dream. This was real and so was she.

"Jin," she called again her voice raspy and desperate. I paddled the boat as hard as I could. The few meters separated us were more like miles. I threw the paddle into the boat and stepped over the side into the shallowness of the sea. She began running towards me. Losing all control over my body, I ran wildly towards her, needing to hold her. I wanted to touch her to make this all the more real.

I covered the small distance between us and finally held the one thing keeping me awake so many nights. I pressed my lips against hers as hard as I could. She tasted even better than remembered. She pulled away from me, planting small kisses over my face. I couldn't say anything. I allowed her to continue, enjoying every light touch.

She lay her forehead against mine, crying with her hands around my neck.

"I need to hear your voice. Let me hear you say something, please" she whispered.

I wasn't sure if my voice still existed. There were a million things I wished to say to her. Many nights were spent going over our meeting in my head, picturing our dignified reunion. But nothing mattered anymore. I shook my head, afraid I would cry if I spoke to her.

She pulled my face up so I looked her right in the eyes. "Just say my name."

"Shino," I replied holding my breath, feeling as if the world stopped. For so many years I worried if I spoke her name everything around me would crumble. If I said it, I would not be able to wait these three years separating us. But I had and she could read every moment of my past in my face.

"You've been to strong for too long," she replied pulling the tie from my hair.

Then I felt a weakness never experienced before.

"I want to be your strength. I know I can't be without you. I have waited here for you all these years, Jin. And now you are here. I have got to be with you."

She said everything in my heart and I loved her even more for it.

"You are the only woman I have ever loved Shino and I am not leaving this island unless it is with you."

She smiled and let out a small laugh of relief as her hand made its way through my hair. I felt the edge of the boat bump into the back of my legs. Shino stepped aboard as I steadied it with my hands.

"The last time I did this I was moving away from you," she stated.

"I will not let that happen again," I replied.

This was the woman I intended to spend the rest of my life with and there was nothing to keep it from happening.

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The ceremony for the Monk went along quickly. Many patrons came to pay their last respects. I stayed close to Fuu, letting her lean against me when she was tired and talking to most of the visitors when she couldn't. I could tell these idiots were bothering her. I wanted to smack most of them but I knew this was something she needed to do.

The day turned into night and finally the temple was quiet. I knew Fuu disappeared into her room just a few minutes before the last visitors made their way to the front door probably just as relieved as me.

I slid the door open to find Fuu brushing her brown hair slowly. Really she was just smoothing the same place over and over again. Her eyes were fixed on the floor. I sat next to her wanting to hold her but I wasn't sure it was right.

"I am not sure what I am supposed to say to you right now," I confessed hating the silence.

Fuu put the brush down on the floor beside her.

"I'm a terrible person Mugen," she replied. Her eyes never lifted from the floor.

"Now why would you say something so stupid?" The moment the words came out of my mouth I wanted to smack myself. I thought she would but instead she just continued staring at the floor.

"In front of all those people I pretended. I looked sad but I'm not. The only man I've ever known as my father just died and I am not sad."

I definitely did not expect her to say those words.

"I know he loved me and I loved him back. I miss him and I'm sad but I am okay. You must think I am terrible."

At a time like this, she was worried about how I thought of her?

"He wanted me to be happy with you. In fact he said he could be happy knowing you would protect me. I know you will, Mugen. I know he is happy because I have you."

She looked up at me. "Iam happy because I have you."

I pulled her onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her.

"I found everything I have ever wanted in you Mugen. I don't need anything else now. I experienced the love of a father and mother. Now I need the love of the one man who loves me."

I kissed her. Every word coming out of her mouth was the very thing I felt about her.

I pulled away from her slowly and looked into her eyes. Her smile brightened.

"What?" I asked.

"You're smiling."

"So?"

"I don't think I have ever really seen you smile."

"You have given me a reason to smile for the rest of my life."

I was about to kiss her again when I heard the bell outside of the temple doors.

"I'll get it," I said letting her slide off of my lap.

Whoever was at the door was really being an ass. But it must have been another of the temple's patrons.

"Yeah," I said sliding the door open.

An older man stood at the door. His eyes peered over my shoulder with his hand on the hilt of his sword. He almost looked familiar. But right now I didn't care. Fuu was waiting for me.

"If you came here to pay respects, you'll have to come back in the morning."

"No," the man interrupted, "I'm looking for Jin-san."

"Sorry but he isn't here."

"My mistake, someone told me he was here. I was so looking forward to seeing him. You see he and I have some unfinished matters to discuss."

"Yeah, well he isn't here anymore."

This guy was really starting to annoy me.

"I see. Well if you should see him, please let him know a friend by the name of Inuyaka came by to see him and Shino."

"Oh, so he did go to see her. Well I doubt he'll come back here old man. Go to the shore he probably just got there."

I began to slide the door shut.

"Thank you for all of your help, Mugen-san. They'll both probably just die when they see me."

"Whatever," I replied pulling the door completely shut.

'Weird old fart,' I thought as I walked back to Fuu's room and slid open the door.

"What's wrong?" she asked as I sat down.

"The guy at the door, I know I've seen him before but I'm not sure from where."

"Well what did he want?" she asked pulling herself back into my lap.

"Jin and Shino," I responded watching her face when I said the names.

"Oh," she replied slowly looking down away from my eyes.

"I didn't think many people knew about the two of them. Maybe it was someone from wherever Jin was before he came here."

"Maybe."

Fuu looked up to give me a kiss.

"Anyway, Mugen-san let's finish what we started."

"What did you just call me?" I asked.

"Mugen-san. I'm sorry, I know you don't like it but I was just joking."

"No the man called me the same thing."

"So, it is respectful" she replied.

"I didn't tell him my name. So he knew me, too. And if he knew Jin then it's probably not good."

"Somebody from town may have told him your name."

"None of these people around here know me, Fuu. You yourself said not too many people knew about Jin and Shino. And none of these people around here carry a sword like his neither. Damn it!"

I jumped up from the bed, grabbing my sword.

"Even when the jackass is out of my life he is still fucking in it!"

"What are you talking about?" Fuu asked her face beginning to cover with confusion.

"The name, Inuyaka, it just hit me."

"Who is INUYAKA?"

"Inuyaka is an old ass samurai who tried to kill Jin once before. If he's looking for Jin he must want to finish what he started."

Fuu began to wring her hands.

"W-well don't you think Jin will be able to take care of himself?"

I saw the fear in her eyes as she followed me to the door.

"Yeah, but I can't let anybody even try to kill him. Only I can."

"Fine then I'll go too."

"What in the hell are you thinking?"

"Look! I just got you back. I don't intend on being without you again."

I placed my hands on the sides of her face.

"You will never be without me as long as I can take another breath in this world. You will always be by my side."