Okay, so here the next chapter. Hmm not much I can say, but you'll be shocked! SHOCKED I say, SHOCKED! LOL )

Enjoy!

Chapter Eight: Escape from Hell: Mori's ID

Mugen could not sleep, he tossed and turned all night. Fuu stayed up with him, for as long as she could trying to ask him what was bothering him so. But he remained silent, he kept staring at her, as she probed for the truth. He didn't want to tell her, to her that their peaceful life was going to hell. He cursed himself, for putting her in danger. Finally, Fuu fell asleep, unable to fight the night as well as Mugen. He layed beside her, watched her sleep, the moon giving her a soft glow. Momo-san was tucked close by, sleeping like a dead animal with his little pink tongue hanging out. Mugen smirked at the small creature, he hated that little fur ball, and was faced with the perfect opportunity to eat it. But he resisted, he had other things on his mind. He sat up and shook his head.

'Danm it' He cursed in his thoughts. He tried very hard, to remember the old lady Mori.

'Who the fuck is she?' He asked himself again. She had robbed him of his sleep, his peaceful state, his new life. He was finally happy, finally able to just be a normal man, a man who had things to live for; a future to look forward to. He remembered his discussion with Mizu and Jin. They had worked it all out, and it was obvious that the old woman was doing this for Mugen. Jin pressured him to try to remember something, but Mugen couldn't. All he knew was that her features seemed familiar. Mizu noted that she seemed tanned like Mugen, perhaps she was also from Ryuukuu.

However, Mugen still couldn't discover who she was. Jin was equally perplexed. It would seem that their lives were forever meant to be plagued with hardships, and constant worry. It was than, that he decided to confess some thoughts of his own to Mugen. He knew that the thoughts were not his own, and could possibly help in their investigation.

"I thought about her." Jin said interrupting the silence. Mugen and Mizu turned to him, not understanding what he was saying.

"Fuu." He added. Mugen wasn't surprised, he didn't react the way he wanted to. He had no right to be upset, he had thoughts of Shino being better for him than Fuu. He felt guilty. He hated this. The one thing he always had, and that was a sure thing; was his ability to control his mind. His own strength was what got him through every battle. But it would seem that his mind could not be trusted. Jin noticed Mugen's silence, and the fact that he didn't plunge his sword into the silent samurai. He knew Mugen, and though they were close enough to be brothers, he knew that anything that had to do with Fuu would set him off.

"You're girl came into my mind to." Mugen casually mentioned. It was not a casual thing to confess, but he didn't want an awkward feeling lingering over him. Jin's eyes widen.

"She's trying to break us all apart." Mizu said.

"But why?" He added looking up at Jin and Mugen. They didn't have answers.

"Hey, are you sure you don't remember her?" Jin asked. He was stern and dead serious, and Mugen could tell by the tone of his voice. He was in a hurry to fix the problem. After all, Shino was pregnant, he didn't want his child to be born into blood and hate. Mugen understood.

"I don't know what that old bitch is." Mugen grunted angrily.

"But I'm gonna fucking murder her for what she's doing. Don't care what her reasons are." His fists clenched tightly, his eyes tense with blood in mind. Mizu was a little frightened by his appearance. Jin nodded.

Mugen came out of the flashback. It was very clear to him, that Mori was doing it to pay Mugen back for something, but didn't know what. He knew he had seen her before. But where. Had he killed her husband in a battle, or a son? He knew it was revenge, there was no other explanation. He looked back at Fuu's body spread about over the futon, lightly snoring. His expression became funny as he watched her messy state. But that quickly changed to a wonderful smile. She had suffered enough, she had seen enough, been through enough; he would not let her suffer any of that anymore. He would carry this on his own shoulders, and defeat the problem without her getting hurt.

'You wait you old bitch' He vowed. He was in deep thought, cursing the old woman out in his head when he heard a small squeak. He looked over to Fuu's belly in time to see a fat furry blur capture his face. It took him a second, with a large question mark over head before he realized Momo-san ass was on his face. He freaked out on the little creature as he tried to rip the little rodent off of him. It was morning now, and the whole house knew it, thanks to Mugen and Momo-san. It had become routine for Momo-san and Mugen to fight in the morning.

"Mugen, you're making him very upset." Fuu said wiping the morning haze out of her eyes. Mugen shook madly finally ripping the ball of his face.

"I'm making HIM upset?" He growled throwing the little thing on the ground. Shirtless and ready for another round of man against mammal, he prepared himself. Momo-san did the same, as Fuu casually (with a yawn) walked out of the room. Shino woke up meeting her in the hall outside her room.

"Morning Fuu-chan" Shino smiled. Fuu noticed a beautiful glow over her. She smiled at Shino, knowing that it was the pregnant glow.

"Momo-san and Mugen fighting again?" Shino nervously smiled. Fuu smiled back. They heard Mugen scream followed by Momo-san's rabid animal squeaks; than a few loud crashes.

"Yep." Fuu said.

"Get back here you little freak!" Mugen screamed as Momo-san flew out of the door on to Fuu's shoulder.

"Mugen, you're scarying him." Fuu hollered at Mugen protecting her little pet. Mugen trembled madly hovering over Fuu and Momo-san.

"I don't care! That little ball of shit is gonna die today!" He screamed pointing an accusing finger to Momo-san. With a cute squeak he bit on Mugen's finger, sending him screaming in pain. A large drop of sweat fell down Shino and Fuu's heads as they waited for Mugen to recover.

"You wanna get eaten, yeah you little bastard, you wanna get eaten! CAUSE I'LL EAT YOU DANMIT!" He screamed wildly. Momo-san angrily squeaked back. Somehow it seemed that he and Mugen were actually communicating. Fuu sighed as she stood there listening to Mugen and her squirrel verbally freak out on each other. As Shino stayed back to pat Fuu out of her misery.

………………………………………….

The morning had come and slipped quickly away, and soon the afternoon sun light scorched over top. Mugen grunted swearing at the tremendous heat. He and Jin noticed that the weather seemed to only get hotter. He wondered when it would rain, the farms needed it and so did the people of the village.

"Okay, lets end it here for today." Mizu called out. He was sweating and tired, he had never seen such a hot day. The men thanked him and set home for the day. They would return at night in the moon's protection like they had done the night before.

"You wanna get some lunch?" Mugen said stretching out his arms to the sky. Jin nodded putting his kimono shirt back on. Mizu agreed gathering his bag for the small journey back into town. Though they were taking the day's off, his new home was coming together very nicely, and before the festival of lights; the town would celebrate Mizu's official ceremony. He was happy, but Mai still lingered on him, constantly reminding him of what he was doing. Jin had talked to him, obviously tried to comfort him, making sure that Mizu knew it was not his fault. Yet, he couldn't help himself. As they quietly walked, Mizu declared in his mind, to make sure that Mori would pay for her magic.

When they arrived into town, Mugen and Jin spotted out of nowhere, the old lady Mori leaving the restaurant with Fuu smiling and waving her goodbye. Mugen's face dropped in anger and fear, and he and Jin without notice dashed towards the restaurant. But before they reached it, Mori was gone, and Fuu inside cooking.

"Where'd she go?" Mugen shouted looking around feverishly. It was an open area, with the exception of the crowd of town dwellers and town's people, she should've been right there. But it seemed that she vanished into thin air. Jin looked casually into the restaurant thinking about Fuu, he was worried, he wondered what she said to her, and what she did.

"Hey, Mugen." Jin said looking back at him and than to Mizu finally running to them. He was wondering what had happened to set them off in the mad dash, and why they looked tense and agitated. He could tell from Mugen's appearance, he was ready to kill.

"You need to talk to Fuu." He said almost brotherly. Mugen grunted, he didn't want to tell her about Mori, he didn't want her to get involved at all.

"No. I'm gonna find that bitch, and I'm gonna kill her. Fuu can't know…" Mugen growled to Jin, who seemed slightly surprised by Mugen's reaction.

"I don't want her to suffer…" He ended gently, as he walked into the restaurant. Jin closed his eyes and nodded agreeing. Mizu seemed lost and asked Jin a thousand questions in one breath, but the silent samurai said nothing as he walked in. They would discuss it when they were alone.

Mugen was already in the kitchen just staring at Fuu. She was making a big mess, burning things, and dropping pots and trays. Her hair was a mess, there was flour on her cheeks, but she kept smiling. He admired that face, that will. A smile came to his face without knowing, and the feeling inside his heart only confirmed that he would not tell her anything. But he couldn't risk Fuu getting hurt, he would need to pay closer attention to her, and find Mori before she came back.

……………………………………….

Mugen was sitting outside by himself in the middle of the night. The day had past so quickly, he hardly had time to enjoy himself. After everything he had been through, he had promised himself to enjoy each day that he was alive. He had been given this final opportunity to live, and after he confessed it all to Fuu, he made that vow, so that he would feel complete when he really did die. But Mori was stealing a lot from him now, robbing him of that very promise. It angered him, that he wasn't able to find her at all, like she was some sort of ghost. He, Jin and Mizu had practically scanned the entire town, and no one even remembers seeing her. It was puzzling. He wondered with Jin if she was a ghost perhaps, a troubled spirit out to seek her revenge on Mugen for whatever it was that he did. But Jin would be able to at least get a sense of her spirit like he did with Makoto. He saw nothing in her, only felt strange.

"What am I going to do?" He sighed resting back on his hands. He stared up to the moon and asked if anyone was up there watching him. He knew that such things didn't exist, at least not for him. Maybe Fuu's father or mother was staring down, but not at him, there was no one up there for him to protect him.

"Mugen?" Aki's old voice broke into his mind as he looked back to see her small fragile body sit next to him. Mugen didn't appear to care that she was there, but he did feel less agitated.

"What is it son?" She asked. Her words had made a huge impact on him as his eyes softened and he looked down beside to the old woman. Her smile brought him pinch of happiness he thought he had lost.

"Nothing, go to bed, you'll get sick old woman." He cleared his throat, feeling that he was becoming too used to her, and less himself with her around calling him son. She smiled, placing a gentle wrinkly hand on his. The feeling of her skin was soft even though she worked so hard. He didn't know why, but he felt calmed, and he hated it.

"I see that you have been eating less." Aki smiled again. Her voice was soft but old, yet so comforting to his worried soul. All he thought about was Fuu, and her safety, and getting to Mori before Fuu was harmed. In all the mess, he forgot to relax. Yet even when he tried, his thoughts came back.

"If you would stop her from cooking that crap I would eat more." He argued. He knew it wasn't true, but there was nothing else left for him to say. He loved Fuu's cooking, he never thought it would taste so good. It always came to him on a plate, looked black and smelled burned; yet somehow it always tasted wonderful.

"I see. And what of your sleep. A young man like yourself, needs more rest." Aki giggled pulling his head down on to her lap.

"Oy, stop that old hag." Mugen tried to resist, feeling completely uncomfortable, but failed in his attempts to free himself from her old grasp. When his head landed on her lap, he felt soothed. It was silent, and she played with his hair, trying to help him relax. It was working, Mugen was starting to feel better, and soon he was ready to sleep. He never knew how a mother's touch could have such a strong effect on his emotions and body. She hummed a sweet rhythm, like a lullaby, forcing his mind to stop thinking.

"Is he asleep?" Shiro asked in a whisper coming down to the step where Aki sat with Mugen. He was awake, but asleep, he could hear Shiro slowly moving him up to his feet. At the time he was too much in a sleepy mood to react to anything, and allowed Shiro to help him to his bed.

"Our poor boy, something is defiantly troubling him." Aki whispered as Shiro helped Mugen down onto the futon. Aki placed a thicker sheet over him to make sure he was warm throughout the night. Mugen could hear them, but couldn't open his eyes, or make a comment; his mind and body had fallen asleep. It was Aki's sweet motherly love that had calmed him.

"Don't worry Aki, Mugen is a strong young man. It'll be alright." Shiro smiled tucking Mugen in. Aki brushed away the loose strands of hair that had come on his face. She noticed how peaceful his face looked than most times. She knew that something was bothering him. Even though he never knew it, she could feel him waking in the middle of the night and staying awake thinking. She never needed to see him, she just knew. It was perhaps instinct now to worry for her new family.

She pet his hair a few times, before moving down to place a small kiss on his forehead. He had never been kissed by a mother before, he knew he was never; he would remember if he had.

"Good night my sweet son." She whispered to him as she and Shiro moved out of the room.

"Don't worry son, it'll all be alright." Shiro whispered just before sliding the door shut. Mugen felt his heart flutter, he felt warm and cared for. Not the same as Fuu's love, which he valued more than his life, it was a different type of love; a love he didn't recognize. Finally, unable to keep the small piece of his soul awake, Mugen, fell asleep.

He was dreaming now. Standing on the beach of Ryuukuu staring out to the sea. It was large and empty, just like an ocean should be. The waves were not large and violent, they were calm and beautiful. The sky was just as blue as the water underneath. He smelled flowers around him. The wind kissed him as it brushed over his body. He was relaxed. Suddenly he saw a woman, old and short walking in the sea to him. He squinted.

"Aki…" He whispered trying harder to see who the old woman was. As she stepped closer to Mugen the waves around her became loud and violent. They splashed horribly as the figure, still shadowed; came to Mugen. His body still, his heart racing, his mind tense, he watched as she inched closer.

"AKI?" He shouted hoping that she would respond. Dark clouds started to appear over head of the shadow woman, the smell of beauty replaced with burning trees; the wind no longer a gentle breeze, but an evil storm. He found himself reaching over his shoulder for his sword, his stance clearly ready to kill.

And than, it was lucid. Her face, that mocking smile, those black eyes; that familiar face.

"Moth…mother…" Mugen said quietly. It was Mori that had stepped on to the beach, smiling wickedly to him.

"I found you Mugen, just like I said I would." She madly laughed.

He gasped, almost screamed as he sharply sat up in his futon. He had been sweating badly as the nightmare took over his mind. He took in deep breaths, his eyes wide with realization and confusion. He remembered now, who she was, and why she was after him.

"Danmit to hell." He sighed.