Yay! I'm on number three! This fic is only about six chapters long, so enjoy please! Thnaks for the reveiws once again! It really encourages me to know that I have fans ! Regarding a question asked by a reviewer abiut the romance: there is a little in this chapter between the stated pairings. Only slight. If you want more, then you'll love the sequal! Until then!

Disclaimer: (sniffle..) I still do not own Samurai Champloo. (sob and total breakdown)

Chapter 3-Disturbing Dreams

Mugen tossed in his sleep. He snorted a few times as his dreams messed with him. In his dream, there were swirls of color and memories that floated around all over the place like fish swim in water. The most common image was that of Fuu and the arrow embedding itself in her chest. All of a sudden, there was a flash of light and he was in a room with Fuu. There were strange lights all around in the room. Fuu said something, but he couldn't hear her. She glided across the room and for a split second, she looked older and prettier.

He shot up in the bed, sweat covering his brow. Mugen scowled when he found himself panting and his palms sweating.

"Dmmit!" he said, wipping his hands off. There was a slight tingling feeling in the pit of his stomach, a sensation he had not felt before. He scooched over to the side of the bed and slid off to stretch his stiff limbs.

'This is the third freakin' time this week that I've had this dream. What the hell is going on here?' he thought, sliding back onto the bed and putting his hands behind his head.'Why's Fuu been in there? Nothin' special about her. Man, I can't even get a good nights sleep without her messing with me. Friggin' btch...'

His thoughts were pretty much the same thing throughout the night. What bothered him the most was that he felt disturbed about the accident. Almost guilty. Mugen feeling guilty? Something had to be up.

Trying as hard as he could, he fell into a blank sleep.

(Fast Forward-the next morning)

Mugen,Jin, and Fuu had been with Hina for about four weeks.(Mugen felt itchy when he remembered this.) Fuu was recovering beautifuly, especially now that she was getting a decent amount of food in her. Mugen and Jin even looked as though they had put on a few healthy pounds. Hina loved the extra company; all of her patients were always in and out in a matter of hours, the most being a day. Jin and Fuu considered Hina a friend; Mugen remained suspicious of her, and even a little jealous of all the time she was was with Fuu. It seemed the only thing he liked about Hina was that her food was absolutely delicious.

Mugen caught Hina drawing him one day when he stood by the sunflowers. He also saw her drawing Jin by the fish pond. She kept her drawings in a fold over notepad, then inside her room. He didn't know if she had any of Fuu, but most likely she did. Mugen saw that all around the house their were pricey antiques around the house. Most likely heirlooms. Snooping, Mugen looked in her room to see a large oak desk and cabinets of jars. When Hina saw him looking inside her room, she yelled a curse ("Dmmit Mugen!") and slapped him acoss the head. He stomped off, angry about the fact that he couldn't do what he wanted to do.

He also thought it was weird that she would go off by herself many times a day by the trees and just sit. He followed her one day to see that she was meditating.

"Mugen-san, please come join me. This is quite relaxing and would do you some good to just sit for once and not be antsy." she said calmly.

He plopped down by her and watched her. "I have not been antsy, whatever the hell that means. Besides, I sit all the time."

She smiled a little. "Relax."

He considered, looked around to make sure that Jin wasn't looking, and followed her example. It was hard not to let things bother him, but soon he felt just a tad bit calmer. They sat for about half an hour, almost as still as statues. Mugen jerked himself from the trance like position and stood up, his knees popping. Hina beamed.

She watched him closely as he shuffled sleepily to the porch, were he sat and dozed.

Fuu was not the only patient here.

(Fast Forward- The next few days)

Five long weeks. That was how long they had been there. Fuu was at the point where she could have her bandages off and a few times even sat at the table for dinner. Sometimes Hina allowed her to go outside for a few minutes. Sure enough, Mugen saw Hina drawing Fuu when she was by the vegetable garden. Hina still kept her drawings to herself.

Even though she was still recovering, Fuu was her regular self. She was feisty and clumsy as ever. She and Hina spent a lot of time together. Being girls, of course! They talked and laughed like old friends.

Mugen didn't talk to Fuu as much when she was able to be out and about. Hina and Jin picked up on this, they themselves becoming close friends. They also noticed that the arguments between the comrades was more intense, verbally and physically

One day the fighting got so bad that Hina had to break them up. She walked wearily back over to Jin, who was sitting under a large oak tree.

"Whew! Are they always like this?" she blew, sitting down.

"Pretty much. These fights seem more aggresive. Mugen especially." Jin replied.

She raised her eyebrows, then smiled slyly. "Oh really? Hmm... I think I understand now! They care about each other!"

Jin looked over curiously.

"They argue to cover up their feelings for each other. It's so obvious now!" she giggled like a small girl.

"Hmm." Jin turned back to the yard in front of him. 'Maybe she's right. Ever since Fuu was injured, Mugen has been acting strangely. I don't understand why he would be so... outrageous about it, though. I don't know...' he thought, seeing Hina deep in her own thought as she fiddled with a leaf on the ground.

(Some time that night)

Hina was still awake. She was writting things down in a book with other numbers and notes inside. She pulled out an abacus and moved the beads up and down as she calculated. Reaching her final amount, the tears welled up in her eyes and spilled like they never had before.

(Fast Forward-morning)

Mugen and Jin went to the kitchen table to find their old clothes washed and folded in a neat stack by the food on the table. When they picked up the bundles, they found a folded peice of paper apeice. Opening their treasures, they found pictures of themselves outside, Mugen by the sunflowers and Jin sitting by the fish pond. They were expertly shaded and drawn, almost looking alive.

"Are these for us?" Fuu asked as she bumped out to the table with her companions. In her picture, she crouched by some vegetables.

"Yes. My gift to you. So you can see how you look in my eyes." Hina said, coming out of her room. She looked tired and forced a smile. "I'll be outside if you need me."

After he finished eating, Jin followed her outside to see her practicing her steps with a one handed sword. Her swipes flowed as though the sword was an extra limb. She moved slowly, with her eyes closed, but then sped up as she struck.

She briught the blade down and was intercepted by Jin, who had taken hold of another wooden sword.

She looked at him, her eyes without the usual sparkle. Hina understood after a few seconds and stepped back, tying her hair back with her dice bracelet. A bang fell out and outlined her smooth face.

Their swords met as they practiced, wooden bades going up, down, side to side. Jin would have normally gone easy on her had he not seen her previous mives. She knew what she was doing.

After about 15 minutes, she stopped. " That's enough for right now."

There was something wrong.

"What's bothering you?" he asked, helping her put the swords away.

She did not answer, so he turned her around and looked her firmly in the eye.

Hina could not take her eyes off of his. His eyes were strong and they perplexed her.

"Please tell me" he softened.

"I-I... I didn't want to ask, but I need.. some help with the work around here." she stammered. The real reason stayed in her mind.

He let her shoulders go. "You don't have to ask."

Jin and Hina went off, where they started to work on various things, the whole time talking like usual. The spark was back in her eyes.

(Dinner)

Fuu was almost completely healed. She was as happy as ever, even more so because now every mael she could sit at the table. Hina outdid herself that night. There was so much food that you could hardly see the other person across from you!

Mugen's mouth watered as he looked at all he had to select. Fuu did the same. She was sitting across form him, and Jin was across from Hina.

When the signal was made, Mugen and Fuu started stuufing themselves. Hina almost felt sorry for the foo she had made!

They blew through dinner and were given dessert. The chofu cakes (rice balls wrapped with a thin layer of cake) were a success and were going fast. A little too fast. Mugen and Fuu reached for the last cake at the same time and glared at each other.

"Let go." Fuu demanded.

"No way."

"Okay, why don't we just-" Hina said, getting up. Mugen looked at her so fiercely that she stopped on midsentence and sat down.

Hina gave Jin a worried look, her eyes saying "Do something before they kill each other!"

"I deserve this chofu cake. I'm injured."

"Yeah right! Of you're so injured then why'd you eat so much, porky?" he scoffed.

Her cheeks grew hot. "Well I reached for it first!"

He snickered. "It's all about you, isn't it? We have to find the Sunflower Samurai for you. The last piece of this has to be for you. The person to screw up and almost get killed like an idiot had to be you. Do me a favor and do something for me. Give me the dmn cake!" He almost yelled in her face as he spoke.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "YOU"RE SUCH A JERK!" she wailed, dropping the cake and running outside.

He sat down happily and bit into the sweet.

Hina was absolutely furious. She smacked the cake out of his hands, crumbling on contact with rice flying through the air. Throwing him outside, she started to attack him with punches and kicks.

"Crazy btch! What the hell are you doing!" he dodged her attempts.

Jin stayed back and watched.

"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" she bellowed, raising the hair on Jin's neck.

"I didn't do anything!" Mugen shot.

"Yeah right! Apologize for your dispicable behavior! You shouldn't be so cruel to her because you're so screwed up inside. I know the truth, Mugen. Just tell her how you feel."

"Shut. Up." he snarled, getting into the fight himself.

A large dust cloud had arisen from the argument. It spread and soon neither Mugen or Hina could be seen. Jin heard a cry and loud crack. The dust settled and he saw Hina with a puffy cheek and Mugen in the ground, one arm twisted around in her clutches.

"Stubborn jackss." she spat, letting go as his arm cracked back into its socket. He yelled from the sharp sudden pain and was let go. Hina stepped back into the house.

(Not too far off)

Fuu cried in her knees as she hid in the trees. She was silenced by the argument and sat dumbfounded at Hina's words. Did Mugen really care about her? She often woundered that herself, and even thought about how she felt about him. She knew that they were just traveling companions, but were they more than that?

Drying her eyes, she stood up and walked back to the house. Looking up suddenly as movement caught her attention, Fuu saw Mugen up on the roof as he staered at the stars.

Maybe some things were better left unsaid.