Hello all! Well thanks so much for the reviews, I'm really flattered that you guys like this second and FINAL part of my Samurai Champloo thing I've got going here. LOL I planned for things to be a lot shorter, but somehow when I started to re-read Destined to Be, I found tons of things I wanted to touch back on…dear god why did I have to be such a maniac to detail writer. Oh well. It can't be helped. I'll try my hardest to get more chapters up everyday like I was with Destined to Be, but I'm in 2nd semester uni now….and the books…dear god the math! THE HORROR! LOL

Well cheer up. My suggestion is to swing back and re-read Destined to Be, and WOW I have to admit there's stuff in there that even I missed; and I'm the author LOL ….that's either a good thing…or a very sad twisted thing…

Well ENJOY

Side note: I don't own Samurai Champloo, haven't said it in a long while, so I thought I'd mention it now LOL Not that anybody would believe that I do LOL…..or do I…..no no I don't. (Sniffles)

Chapter Eleven: No memories

They were all faced with a situation that none of them had to deal with ever in their lives. They never really paid attention to memories, never really put a value on the moments they collected over time and stored in the places in their mind. Good, sad, angry and happy memories of Mugen were all lost now, and Fuu was left standing there beside Jin, staring down the man she once loved. She couldn't remember him, and the very notion tortured Mugen in a way he never felt.

He had faced hurt before, hurt in a physical sense and hurt on a emotional level as well. But this was something different, Fuu couldn't remember him, she thought he was a rogue criminal; who tried to attack her. When did this all happen? Just this morning he saw her face, her eyes staring up at him with such a warm passionate glitter. And than he saw them later again, wildly as she tried to force her appalling cooking down his throat. And now, they seemed untrusting of him, un-wanting and disgusted. All he could do was stand there.

"This is strange. How did this happen?" Jin asked Mugen, not sure what to say to his ruffian friend. He could see the dead distant look in his eyes, yet they screamed to him as if they were still alive. Mugen exhaled and closed his mouth, after having to face such a shock.

"I don't know." He said back. He closed his eyes, and acted casual, like it didn't matter to him, or that whatever was wrong with Fuu would go away; but Jin knew that Mugen had been stabbed.

"What the fuck happened to her? Why doesn't she remember me?" He said more assertively when he looked back up at Fuu. She scrounged her little nose angrily at him, and crossed her arms on her chest. She stuck close to Jin, trusting him to protect her. But she didn't understand what they were talking about, how did Jin know Mugen; and why was he acting as if they were friends.

"What are you talking about! Jin, this guy attacked me! Why are you being so nice to him?" Fuu shouted back at Jin while maintaining a stern gaze at Mugen. Jin looked back at Fuu with a calmer than normal expression, it almost seemed like he didn't know what to say, or how to begin to explain things.

"I didn't attack you." Mugen suddenly said in a low calm voice. His strange cool composure slightly alarmed Jin as he looked over to the killer samurai. He had expected Mugen to do more than say that, he expected Mugen to shout at Fuu, shake her and yell at her; demanding that she remember him. But somehow Mugen seemed drained, all those years of being alone, and than finally having someone there; and than to suddenly loose that small speck of life, destroyed him in some way.

"So what would you call that!" Fuu shouted taking a step closer to him. Mugen's eyes closed and his eyebrow's twitched as they narrowed angrily.

"OY! I was trying to apologize to you!" He shouted

"You can't just apologize for attacking someone and think that I'll forgive you!" She screamed back. They had both started to angrily inch closer to each other, almost close enough to place a small person in between them. They shouted back maddening words, both trying to say the last sentence. Mugen was getting exhausted, he knew Fuu had to remember him, and the need for her to know him frustrated him.

"Danmit bitch!" He shouted, finally loosing his control of his mind and body.

"You're gonna stop this right now! You understand! You're gonna fucking stop this right now!" He shouted aggressively grabbing on to her shoulders, and shaking her back and fourth. Even Jin, who normally trusted Mugen's behavior, was getting a bit nerved by his reaction.

"Hey, Mugen." He gently said stepping a bit closer to the couple.

"Let go of me!" Fuu screamed finally able to push back from him. Mugen felt something in his heart tug sharply in his chest, almost as if something had hit him, his eyes watered up. At first he thought that Fuu had hit him, but he quickly realized that that was not the case, instead, he was about to cry. But before he could do something angry to counter that feeling of complete loss and powerlessness; he felt Fuu's hand sharply smack his left cheek.

Everything seemed to slow down. Jin slightly gasped, but stayed in his place. This was a sensitive situation, and would need careful thinking over. Mugen's heart fell, his eyes in shock. The last time he felt that hit, it was because he acted like nobody cared, when somebody did. This time, it was because he cared for that somebody, who didn't. Fuu's eyes were watery too, she felt tears roll down her eyes but didn't know why she was crying. She looked up to his face, something seemed familiar with his soft brown eyes. She traced his face for a moment, trying to remember, as he stared blankly and ever so sadly down at her. He seemed lost, like he needed her to say something to comfort him.

"…M..Mu…" She stuttered for a moment trying hard to remember the man she had just slapped. Mugen sparked up in hopes that she was remembering something. Jin too was hopeful. Fuu struggled, only able to really get the first part of his name.

She felt like she had slapped him before. She saw the shock on his face than too. She was crying as well telling him something, something about people worrying for him. But she couldn't see the memory properly, it was foggy, and a small voice kept shouting at her to stop. She moved back a little, her head starting to feel dizzy. Mugen stepped to her worried.

"Oy." He said watching her battle her own mind. Suddenly, her face paled and her eyes closed. With a soft sigh she started to fall towards the floor.

"OY!" He shouted lunging forward to collect her limp body. Jin sighed, the predicament clear. He knew that this had to be the work of Mori, no other thing could explain this strange occurrence. But at this time, he was not ready to tell Mugen, right now Mugen just needed to be with Fuu.

"Wake up…baka…" Mugen softly said to her carrying her in his arms protectively. She felt smaller somehow, skinnier and frailer than normal. Majority of the time, she felt a bit heavy, soft clobs of fat that he could hold on to, that he loved so dearly. He realized, she was becoming a woman, and that it was natural for her body to thin out a bit, and to curve more. A funny thought came to his head than, as he stood with her in his arms. He thought that when she woke up, he would tell her to eat all she wanted, and he would never say a bad thing; as long as she promised to remember him. The thought was trying to break down the last bit of emotional defense he had, and he didn't want Jin to see his worry.

"I'm taking her to bed." Mugen said quickly and walked away into the hallway, to her room. Jin followed him with his eyes, but stayed put. He knew that Mugen needed time alone with Fuu. But of course, Fuu would need to be talked over to, and needed to know the truth about who Mugen was, and who she was to him. But that could wait. He sat down against the wall, and let out a hard sigh.

What steps should they take now? He thought.

……………………………………………..

Aki and Shiro were cleaning up the last minute things in the kitchen with Shino, while Mai and Mizu were outside staring up at the stars. Night time had kept up so suddenly, even though it was not yet time for night. They saw the black rain clouds, ready to pour down on the town, and Mizu was actually welcoming it. His men and he had suffered enough of the sun's fire.

"Mai-chan, there's something I wanted to say to you." Mizu suddenly broke. He didn't intend on saying anything to her, he still felt tremendously shy around her. It wasn't only just the feeling he had for her that embarrassed him. It was the action that he made on her; that prevented him all these days to say more than two lines to her. Somewhere in his mind, he still felt horribly. Mai looked up at him as he kept his eyes on the peeking speckles of stars trying to get through. She waited for him to say something, she could tell that he was trying hard to prepare his wordings before saying anything.

"I wanted to say, that I really appreciate your forgiveness. What I did was unforgivable. You are truly very kind to me. Arigato. For giving me that peace." He never meant to say so much, and he certainly didn't mean to face her. She seemed slightly shocked by his sudden statement, and his quick turn to see her. She smiled, gently blushing.

"Mizu-san. I know it wasn't you." She said. Mizu was taken back. 'Does she know about Mori' He thought.

"What do you mean?" He asked trying to probe her for information. If Mai knew about Mori, and what was happening, Jin would need to know. He wanted desperately to keep this a secret, so that his wife, Mai and Fuu would not have to see another bad day.

"I don't quite know how to explain it. You're eyes. They weren't the same that night." She said softly and sternly, as if she was staring into his soul. She didn't know what took over his mind that day, but she knew that it was not Mizu who did that to her. Mizu didn't know what to say, she seemed so close to him at that moment. He almost jumped and hugged her.

"Ah. I'm saying crazy things aren't I?" She giggled gently looking back up to the sky.

"No. Not at all. I understand." Mizu said in a panic. He wanted her to know that she was right, that what she saw in his eyes was right; it wasn't him.

"Besides, I'm already spoiled. There's not much of dignity left to damage." Her voice was chirpy but he heard the sad murder in her soul. He blushed, angry at the men who treated her with such evil ways.

"No. Don't say such things. Nothing of yours had died. You mustn't forget that." He said quickly. He didn't realize that he had grabbed her by the forearms and pulled her into his arms, until he felt her warm body against his. She was surprised but didn't stop him. She had waited days to feel his embrace.

"You have lost no dignity in my eyes, nor in anyone else's. Carry yourself well, because you are still a decent woman." He said in a stern whisper, as if trying to engrave the words into her mind. He hated that memory, of her in the brothel.

"Arigato Mizu-san." She whispered on to his shoulders as she rested her head. For the first time in days she was feeling wonderful. Mizu wanted to say more to her, he felt a more perfect time would not come. But he started to debate in his mind, and suddenly he heard Shino's voice calling for them. They quickly parted shyly as Shino stepped out. She could tell from both their flushed expression, they were sharing a deep moment, nevertheless; it was time to go home.

…………………………………………………………..

When they arrived home, their happy eyes were met by the down, stern face of Jin, alone sitting across from an large fire. He was deep in thought. Usually his silence never bothered anyone, or made them worry; but somehow the way Jin's eyes sparkled behind those glasses, worried them all. Shiro and Aki were the first to step in, followed by Shino, helped by Mizu and Mai.

"What is it?" Aki asked seeing the angry and distant look in his eyes. They all silently gathered and took seat in the room waiting for Jin, but he said nothing. Shino sat down beside him and placed a gentle hand on his, trying to encourage him.

"Nothing." Jin said back after a long while. Aki and Shiro should have known that something was wrong, since Mugen, Fuu nor Jin came back for dinner. Shino felt a strange sensation in her gut, but brushed that feeling off, thinking that she was being foolish. But she too wondered why Jin never returned. She had figured the Mugen and Fuu were off busy shouting at each other, but where had Jin drifted off too.

There was a short moment under that silence as they all looked at one another, before Shiro smiled and told Mizu that perhaps he should bath. Mizu didn't argue and promptly left. He encouraged Mai to tend to her room, perhaps get some rest before bathing as well. Jin closed his eyes, he could tell that Shiro was trying to clear the room, so that he could have a fatherly chat with him. And surely enough, he than asked Shino and Aki to prepare the dinner for the three missing people in the family, who had skipped dinner. Shino was hesitant, but left with Aki to the kitchen side of the living area. Shiro sat opposite of Jin, with the fire burning between, calming both men.

"Well son, it would seem there is something on your mind. Something that you need to talk about?" Shiro asked warmly with a smile. Jin opened his eyes again staring out to the fire. He didn't understand why this was all happening. They were all together, they had not separated. Mugen, Fuu and him had all completed their destiny; so why was this all happening. He had figured this out long ago. From Fuu they met, and from her they all came to be the way they are. Destiny had led both men to her, and all others that came into the journey. But this time, after the battle was done, they had not separated, they stayed and fulfilled that destiny. So what could destiny be showing them now? What part did Mori have in all of this? He had a child on the way now, a wife that was carrying his offspring. He could not risk that to be taken from him, it would destroy him.

"Son?" Shiro asked, bringing Jin back from his remote trance.

"Fuu, she has lost her memory." Jin said plainly and ever so silently. He didn't want anyone else to hear just yet. Shiro was taken back by the news. Jin didn't want to tell anyone about the situation, but her condition would be hard to hide. He wondered if it was only Mugen that she forgot, or others.

"She lost her memory? But how?" Shiro asked, his voice trying to peak out from the cracks of the fire. Jin didn't know what to say to the old man who had made him son. He wanted to tell him the truth about Mugen, the woman Mori, but at this time; he was in no place to say such things.

"I'm not sure." He said back. His cool nature was always there, even when he lied, it worked to his advantage; because most people could not tell when he lied. Shiro stayed silent for a long moment while Aki and Shino brought them tea and a tray of food. Aki was tired and with a old sweet smile said goodnight to Jin and Shino and went to bed. She trusted that whatever was on Jin's mind, would be given up to Shiro. She dragged Shino with her, quietly explaining to her, that Jin needed time to be alone with Shiro. She was worried for Jin, and wanted to know what he was so bothered by. Aki promised to her, that when the time was right, Jin would confide in her.

No one questioned where Fuu or Mugen were at that point, they had all suspected that he was off with her in the woods fighting out the battle of man vs Fuu. Or in her room, sleeping away their arguments. Somehow, no one really thought about it. All anyone saw was Jin's painful eyes.

In between eating a small snack while watching Jin eat very slowly, Shiro asked a few more questions about Fuu's condition and how it happened. But Jin provided no solid answers, only stating that when Mugen came home she couldn't remember him. The thought shocked Shiro, that Fuu would forget Mugen; the closest person to her. At the end of their very silent conversation, all Shiro could do was give Jin a hardy pat on the shoulder and a warm smile; encouraging him to be strong.

"I know that other things may be on your mind, and I understand you may not want to discuss them; but know that we are here when you do want to speak." Was the last thing he said before he went off to bed. Jin did feel a lot better. He only hoped the Mugen and Fuu would be feeling a bit better too.

………………………………………………………

Fuu was sound asleep. Mugen was sitting next to her watching helplessly as she gently snored. How could he defeat this, how could he defeat something that he couldn't see. Something he couldn't slice. An angry expression fell over him as he cursed in his mind.

"If I got here sooner, than." He said to himself in a mad whisper. Momo-san had been a great help to him emotionally, sitting on his lap listening to the ruffian talk. It was the first time they had actually got along. It seemed as if Momo-san was trying to comfort Mugen, squeaking at all his comments.

"How could you forget me? Me? I-I lov…All I ever did was protect you-and you forgot me…" He whispered again to the sleeping Fuu. He couldn't believe how angry her eyes had been as she stared at him. How distant and untrusting she was when he touched her. How disgusted she was. Even on their journey, in their bad times, she still trusted him. No matter what they fought about, she was always there on his side, as was he. But all that changed in a quick second.

"Danmit it to hell…"He sighed. He felt his body tremble, mostly from angry, and some from despair. He finally had a life, a life that he was happy about; proud of. He was free from his criminal ways now, paid his debts by slaughtering all the bad in the world he could. Than why, why was destiny punishing by threatening to take all he worked for away. He had stayed, stayed with her, confessed to her; asked her to take his name; and yet just a few more days before their marriage, she was taken so far from him; while remaining so close.

"Why, why don't you remember me?" He asked inching closer to her sleeping face, thinking to kiss her forehead. But thought that perhaps she needed to be free from his touch for tonight. He sighed again. Momo-san jumped on to his chest, and nuzzled sweetly against it, trying to comfort the heartbroken hell raiser. Mugen smirked grossed out a bit by the affection the squirrel showed him; but pet the little guy anyway. Right now, he needed all the comfort he could get, even if it met getting it from Fuu's pet.

OH MY GOD! I know, to leave the story here, is cruel and evil of me; but alas, it must be done. Stay tuned for the next crazy chapter! On the next chapter of Already together: Jin's short talk with Fuu. Mugen's frustrations, and Fuu..backing out?