Thanks guys for the reviews! )
Chapter Four: The Strange Old Lady
"Jin, what is that?" Fuu gasped feeling the strange fog from outside start to peek into the small hut. Jin turned around sharply with Fuu still in his arms, a single sweat coming down his forehead. He felt a strange power surrounding them, a dark presence. Fuu grabbed on to him hoping that everything would be alright, she never did like ghost stories and monsters.
"Hello?" An old voice asked slowly opening the door. Jin and Fuu tensed, their eyes popping out and skin on edge. They saw the old lady walk in with a faint smile.
"Oh, are you two alright?" The old lady asked. Fuu relaxed and thanked the lady. She had been so consumed by fear that she had forgotten about everything else. Jin seemed nerved and disturbed by the old lady, her smile seemed forced, her eyes shaddy. But he remained silent. The old lady walked in.
"Are you two lost?" She asked.
"Oh no, we came here to get some wood, but the rain- hey the rain, what happened to the rain?" Fuu exclaimed dotting outside to see nothing but dry earth. She was puzzled as she madly looked around, trying to find something wet. However, everything was dry, even the hut. She paused stressing her eyes, and finally looking back to Jin's tempered face. She could tell something was not right, just by the look in Jin's eyes. The old lady smiled and than giggled shyly.
"Oh child, it didn't rain." She laughed as she started to walk away. Jin looked at the old lady closely, wondering why she was so far out into the woods by herself. She seemed to be homeless, carrying only a large wooden staff made out of foreign pine; and an orange bag. He noted her clothing, it seemed to have once been very rich looking, but was now dirty and paled by travel.
"Well children, I'll be on my way." She smiled. Fuu smiled back, feeling strange about the whole situation. There was rain, she knew there was. Her clothes were soaked and that's why they changed.
"The clothes!" Fuu gasped running back inside the hut. But when she reached her clothes, it was all dry. She felt the fabric of her kimono, it appeared as if it was never wet.
"What's going on?" She whispered to herself.
"We should go." Jin said sternly walking in to change his clothes. He didn't know what was going on, but knew that they needed to get back home. Fuu looked away down to her clothes as Jin changed, she was horribly confused. She had some strange thoughts about Jin, and just after that, weird things started to happen.
…………………………………………..
When they reached home, Fuu and Jin had been silent, neither one able to talk to the other. Jin was distracted by his suspicion on the old lady, Fuu still wondering about the weather. The other's would ask about why they were late, and if it hadn't rained what had kept them so long.
'This doesn't make sense…' Fuu thought. She blushed a little, feeling embarrassed about the whole sheet incident. She wondered what Jin thought of her, she hoped he wasn't upset with her. She glanced up to his face, saw the serious face, and knew that he was thinking very hard.
"Oy, what took so long?" Mugen barked grabbing Fuu by the arm. He was just about to leave to go find them. He never realized how much he worried for her. When he arrived to the restaurant, Aki told him that Fuu was with Jin. He had thought nothing of it, until he noted that an hour had past and Fuu was not back. He than stormed to the house, and found no sign of Fuu or Jin. He was getting very ticked off, watching the sun fade and the stars start to come out.
"Where were you!" He questioned harshly. Fuu had never seen Mugen like that. He had actually yelled at her, for real this time. She was left speechless, unable to tell him, after all what could she say. He looked over to Jin, still looking out to space, obviously lost in his thoughts.
"Oy, what took you so long?" He growled looking Jin straight in the eyes. Mugen had felt jealous before of the relationship Jin had with Fuu. Many times in the past, he thought that Jin would eventually become Fuu's and that was that. It was reflex for him to react so badly towards him, when Fuu was lost. Jin heard the rustle in the tree's again, his eyes narrowed.
"Shh." Jin demanded looking out to the tree's. Mugen noticed it now, the rustle that Jin spoke of earlier. He looked up and saw the way the tree's waved, someone was walking in the forest.
"Lets go." Jin said walking blindly into the forest. Mugen grabbed Fuu's hand tightly in his and stormed behind Jin. As much as he was angry about Fuu and Jin being alone for so long, he trusted Jin a lot; even with Fuu. He knew that Jin would never dishonor the type of friendship they had, and would never betray him or Fuu. The rustle continued, heading towards the village. Jin was getting worried as was Mugen, who was ready to pull out his sword. Fuu said nothing, trying to figure out what to tell Mugen.
Suddenly the rustle was gone, before it hit close to the town. Jin and Mugen stopped in their tracks and looked back at each other. Mugen pulled Fuu along with him, making sure that he could feel her body at all times, he wasn't going to loose track of her again.
They finally reached the bottom of the small hill into the town. It was heavy at night, with people walking everywhere. A celebration of lights was going to take place in a few short weeks, to remember the fallen soldiers and to honor them for the life they gave up. People were excited and did what they could to help out. Even some travelers promised to visit in time. Jin looked through the crowd hoping to see something out of the ordinary. He wasn't sure what he was looking for exactly, but knew that his eyes would catch it if it came into view.
"What's going on?" Mugen asked standing by Jin. Fuu's hand was starting to hurt, she wished Mugen could control his temper. She tried to pull her hand away, but it only made him hold on tighter. She was still very nervous about telling Mugen what happened with Jin in the hut. It was innocent, nothing happened, than why did she feel so guilty. In the four months they were all together, they never shared a single strange or awkward moment, but things were changing fast; and she didn't like it.
"I don't know." Jin replied in a low shallow tone. He didn't like what his heart was telling him, all his battle senses were rising.
"Where did you guys go?" Mugen asked again. Somehow he didn't like it, the fact that Fuu was gone for so long with Jin, and he had no idea where.
"I'll explain." Jin said calmly. Fuu's eyes widen looking from Jin to Mugen.
…………………………………………
"So what did she want?" Shino asked. She didn't like the sound of it. Fuu wrapped in a sheet alone with Jin, in a dark shabby hut. But she didn't want to think of Jin cheating, or Fuu betraying her or Mugen. She did find the story strange though, it never rained. Yet Jin was insistent.
"Who was the old lady?" Mugen asked. He had calmed down a lot. All the suspicion he had of Jin and Fuu were gone, he believed Jin, he could never doubt him. They had traveled together for a long time, and Jin had always had his back. There was no way, anything like that happened. And Fuu, was the love of his life. She loved Mugen so much, and she would never do anything to hurt him.
"I don't know. She came at the oddest time." Jin added. The darkness, the fog, somehow he felt the old lady had something to do with it all. But such things didn't exist. Than again, he had seen stranger things.
"Welcome, have a seat." Shiro smiled allowing a short old lady to come into the restaurant. He had her take seat alone in the corner of the restaurant. Jin's eyes narrowed, and he quickly whispered to Mugen that the old lady was there. Mugen turned to see the old woman sipping weakly on her tea. He had the same feeling that had set off all of Jin's senses, the woman was in deed bizarre.
"I feel like I've seen her before…" Shino thought. Jin and Mugen turned to Shino, as she tried hard to remember where she had seen the old woman from. Jin asked Shino to keep trying, but somehow Shino just couldn't remember.
"Here you go." Fuu smiled nervously as she placed the platter of food in front of the old lady.
"Oh it's you?" The old woman smiled gingerly. Fuu's smile twitched not knowing what else to say.
"Arigato." The old lady seemed a little less evil, and more normal. Jin noticed that change, and whispered it back to Mugen, who agreed with Jin.
"Alright old bag, who are you?" Mugen thundered over to the small helpless old woman and pulled Fuu behind him. He gave her intense probing eyes, letting her know that he would not fall for her bs. The old lady stared up at Mugen and gave him the same warm smile she had given to Fuu.
"Mugen! Don't talk like that." Aki pulled Mugen down by the ear, pinching him. He squirmed feeling the pain zing his head. Fuu nervously smiled back, wiping the tear drop that fell down her head.
"Gomen, he's young and foolish, forgive him." Aki smiled throwing Mugen on the floor, where he twitched a little longer. Fuu dragged his body away as Aki talked to the old lady.
"Oh it's no problem. I remember my son at that age. He was very strong just like him." The old lady smiled. Aki could tell that the old lady's eyes had changed mood. They seemed sad and sparkled.
"Please, enjoy your meal, it's on the house." Aki smiled. She could tell the old lady was poor and lonely. The woman smiled.
"Arigato, you are too kind." She replied.
"By the way, my name is Aki." She smiled getting up.
"Pleasure. I'm Mori." The old lady gave her name in the creepiest tone. It was silent like a whisper in the wind, a old crack that caught even Aki by surprise. She smiled and walked away. Mugen was recovering as Fuu placed some cold water on his ear. Jin didn't bother to look back at the old woman named Mori, he had no further questions to ask with his eyes. Anything he would find out, would be the result of talking to her.
"Jin, what is it?" Shino asked placing a worried hand on his.
"I don't know." He whispered back.
HEHEHEEHE I can be really evil sometimes. It will shock you! But the truth will come later, for now, lets have some family breaking fun! LOL ) Don't kill me.