Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo or the characters.

A/N: Here's chapter 2! Enjoy!

The Butterfly and Her Samurai

Chapter 2

Inside the lodge, Fuu is resting on futon in her room fast asleep. As time passes minutes later, she begins to dream about the night before the day Jin was with her and Mugen at dinner.

Fuu's dream:

Fuu: Jin, wait. Where are you going?

Jin stand in his track, not even facing her directly.

Jin: I'm going on a walk.

Fuu: Where to? When will you be back?

Jin: I'll be back.

Then he left.

Fuu: That...errr..who, does he think he is ignoring me like that? Why wouldn't he answer my questions? Well, I shouldn't wait for him. I know he'll be back. He's nothing like Mugen just up and disappear, then come back at the end of the day or the next day. I trust Jin and I know he'll return. I know that for sure. He'll be back.

Mugen: Yo, waiter! More rice balls, please? And maybe some more squids while you're at it, will ya? Geez, slow service around here.

Fuu puts her right hand to her chest.

Mugen: Hey, Fuu. What's the matter? Ate a bad squid?

Fuu: No, I just think I'll go and take a walk.

Mugen: Hey, you are paying for this, right?

Fuu: Will you do it for me, please?

Mugen: Errr...don't get cute with me. I don't even have enough to cover this bill. Now, I know there's more under that cute, little pink kimono of yours. Hiccups!

Fuu: What are you getting at! You pervert! This here is all I have!

Showing her diary.

Mugen: You're just holding back the money. Come on, spare me the change, eh? That diary is not the only thing you have.

Fuu: Here, strive for more duties next time and maybe you'll get paid more, you lazy bum!

Slamming the money onto the table.

Fuu: Now, are you satisfied, you jerk! I'm leaving and goodnight! Idiot!

Mugen: Burps! Hiccups!

Fuu: Disgusting! You're so...errr.

She turns around heading out the door and then also left.

Mugen: Women. Some nerve. Hiccups! Oh well, I'll go bug her later. Hey, waiter! Hurry up, I'm starving here and bring another bottle of sake', while you're at it, will ya? Burps!

Fuu sits in front of the lodging area looking up to the white, silvery moon.

Fuu: What is this feeling? It's different this time about Jin. Why would he just leave without saying where he's going or when will he come back? That's not him at all. Something isn't right. Perhaps, something has been bothering him lately that he's not telling us. I should go and find him.

She got up and begins to look for Jin and followed the trail that leads to a nearby lake.

Fuu: I'm sure he must've went this way. I can feel it.

She looks down on the ground and found a small shiny trinket, shining from the moonlight.

Fuu: Huh, what's this? This must be for Jin. Well, I'll give it back to him when I go back to the lodge. Or maybe, I'll give it back to him now. He probably took a shortcut back to the lodge anyway.

She turned around and headed back to the lodge.

Jin: Fuu?

She quickly turned around and was surprised to see him, but she just put on a quit hissy- fit with both hands on her waist.

Fuu: Jin, where were you?

Jin: I was by the lake and I needed to think about something.

Fuu: Yeah, right! Like what? You didn't even say when you'll be back!

Jin: You was concerned about me?

Fuu: Well, a little.

Jin stared for a moment at her like he's seeking for the truth in her big brown eyes.

Fuu: Okay, a lot. You're happy now?

Jin: My apologies. I didn't mean to worry you. You shouldn't be out here, it's getting late.

Fuu blushes pink upon her cheek and thinking to herself.

Fuu: (Jin is worrying about me and my safety. Wait, hold up, this is Jin I'm talking to and not some love of my life.) Hey, I can take care of myself, you know!

Jin looks up into the sky at the moon.

Jin: The moon is beautiful tonight, don't you think?

Fuu looks up at the moon, also, and then looked back down to him.

Fuu: Okay, Jin, it's just a moon. Now let's go back to the lodge and get some sleep.

Jin: Fuu, will you enjoy this evening with me by the lake. I need to talk to you.

Fuu: What is it that you want to talk to me about? What's going on, Jin?

Jin walks over to her and held her right hand into his as Fuu felt electricity shivered up her spine.

Jin: Come with me, Fuu.

Fuu: Jin, wait. I just want to return this, okay? I believe it belongs to you, right?

She hands him the trinket.

Jin: Yes, my trinket. It was a small token from a town miles back for helping a young woman escape her abusive husband. I wanted to be with her, but choose not to, because I wanted to be with y...uh.

Fuu embraces him and then Jin held her close like she was someone very dear to him.

Fuu: Oh, Jin. That poor lady. She shouldn't be treated like that.

Jin: Yes, you're right. No woman shouldn't feel mistreated like that, not even you.

Fuu looks up at him, as a tear fell from her eyes and Jin looks down and wipes it away with his thumb.

Jin: Don't cry. Be strong and you'll succeed.

He smiled that handsome smile she couldn't resist.

Fuu: Okay, I promise to be much stronger. In matter of fact, everyday I will, for you, Jin. Thank you.

He nodded his head in agreement. Fuu held him tighter, but not too tight, as she sink down deep into his warm embrace, and smell the scent of his kimono, like the aroma of a deep blue ocean. The soft breeze of the night made her feel really good, especially, in this moment with him while the fireflies dances around them brightly.

Jin: Will you hold it for me, Fuu, until I return?

Fuu: For what? It isn't mine. You keep it.

Jin: Please, for me?

He placed it back into her possession now, let's go of her hand, and then turns around heading back from which he had came.

Fuu: Wait Jin! Where are you going? And when will you be back?

He stop in his track again, but this time, he slightly looks over his shoulder not directly facing her.

Jin: I'll be back. Don't worry. As long as the moon is still shining, I'll be back before the morning sun rises. Please, go back to the lodge. Don't wait up for me. I'll be fine.

Fuu: Oh, well...okay. Well, don't stay out too late. All of us is leaving in the morning to checkout the next town to see if the townspeople there have heard or have any clues on the sunflower samurai whereabouts. How does that sound?

Jin waved in agreement as he continue to walk and that was the last time she saw him.

End of dream.

To Be Continued...

Note:

futon: a flat, strawlike bedding that can be place on the floor and can be folded and stored away or can be used for seating at other times.

kimono: is a loose, wide sleeved Japanese robe, that is fastened at the waist with a sash called an obi.

sake': a mildly alcoholic Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. Burps! Mugen did it, not me. -points finger at him-

A/N: Heartwarming, romantic, but sad, I know. See ya on the next chapter. You know what to do SC fans. R/R.