Disclaimer: I still don't own Samurai Champloo. But one day when I take over the world, I'll own the person who created it! Muahaha!

Ok, so this chapter was finished sooner than I thought it would be. There's really isn't that much too it, though. At least I don't think so. I was wondering if maybe I should make change the rating to M? I'm not too sure. Oh, and there's a part that might seem kind of... "wrong." But he means it in a(psycho) fatherly way, not in a sexual kind of way. Just thought I'd let you know ahead of time.


Secrets

That following night, Mugen's dream repeated itself. Just a few small differences, but it was always that way. And, as always, he ventured into the warmth of the summer's night to think about it. But this time, he would give it more thought than before.

'Ok, so it turned out that the little bitch was my younger sister. But what does the rest of the damn dream mean?' once again, Mugen became aggravated at his lack of understanding.

Fuu, like before, watched him from afar. She smiled lightly to herself, turning against the tree she was hiding behind and sliding down it. The smile was still present, but her thoughts were just the opposites. 'He's all I can think about... other than my Samurai. I must be sick. Really, really, really sick.' she placed her hand against her forehead, checking for a fever or any other sign that she might be under thoughts of some kind of delusional illness.

"You really like my brother, don't you?" Fuu jumped at the whispered voice. Michiko had amazingly made her way to Fuu's side without so much as a sound.

"Damn it, Michiko! Don't do that!" her hand now clutched her kimono where her heart would be. "And no, I do not like Mugen." she looked down toward the ground, hoping that Michiko wouldn't see the pink that hazed her cheeks.

"Sorry." was her simple answer. Then it was quiet again for what seemed to last an eternity. "But if you don't like him," she pondered, "why is it you stay up and watch him during the night until he goes to bed?" Fuu thought of a quick excuse that would hopefully shut her mouth up before Mugen heard them talking.

"I do not! It was just a coincidence, that's all. I just needed some fresh air and he happened to be out here."

"Then why do you hide from him behind a tree?"

"You're so nosey!" she avoided the question. Then, she changed the subject. "Why do you wear boys' clothes?" and fortunately for her, it worked.

"Personally, I hate kimonos. I hate the way they fit and the way they feel. And plus boy clothes are easier to move around in, not to mention more comfortable." Fuu thought about it. It made sense to her, even though she was too much of a girly-girl to ever wear men's clothes.

Michiko stood, disrupting Fuu's thoughts. "You might wanna go back to the camp. He's finished attempting to think." Michiko made her way back, Fuu quickly standing and hastily making her way back to the camp with Michiko.

'If only we could have found an inn!' she sighed, stretching out on the ground. It wasn't that comfortable, but she tried to ignore it. She stared up at the starry sky, lost in thought about many things. She soon fell asleep, not quite sure if Mugen was back or not.


The next morning, Michiko woke before the others. She sat there for a couple minutes, trying her best to cope with the silence. 'I should be fine if I just go wash up in a close stream.'

A small voice in the back of her mind told her to stay put. However, the side of her that was relative to Mugen overtook the weak voice, telling her that she could just kill anything that tried to stand in her way. She stood and stretched, a couple bones popping. She listened carefully for the sound of running water. She didn't hear it instantly, and went a little further into the woods. She eventually found one, and wasted no time in getting cleaned up. She would always have that girlish side to her.

Snap

She turned around, knowing that she had most likely made a mistake by going there by herself. "What do you want?" she frowned at the intruder.

"Only to talk to you, Princess." a tall, lean man jumped down from a branch of a tree. "Are you not happy to see me?"

Michiko rolled her eyes, not caring if he saw her. She crossed her arms, a look of annoyance playing clearly across her face. "I've had better visits by perverted old men. Now tell me what you really want, or get the hell out of my face you smug bastard."

"Now, how could such dirty words come from such a pretty mouth?" he waded into the water behind her, the water only coming up to below his waist. He placed his hands on her shoulders, still smiling. "But you were right. I do have a question or two for you, Princess." he pulled her close to him in a gentle but a psychotic hug. He took a deep breath. "Your hair... I've always loved the way it has smelled." she quickly spun around in an attempt to scratch him, but he had now moved to be in front of her.

"Tell me what the – !" he placed a finger on her lips, silencing her.

"Shh, now, don't get mean. I only want to know who these new people are that you travel with." his voice was deep and calm, enough to put anyone to sleep. It was a voice you would think someone would be able to trust.

"What's it to you?"

"Nothing, Princess. Nothing at all. I only wish for your safety until I can have you as my own. In fact, I'm jealous that they're trying to take my little Princess away from me."

"Must not want me too bad. You've been following me like a buzzard does a dying animal for months now. You say you want me, but why is it you have yet to take me?" his grin grew wider at this. He flipped his long, black hair back behind his shoulder.

"I'm not ready yet. I have to make things perfect for my Princess."

"Whatever." she hissed, dipping her hair under the water. When she came back up, he was gone, to her relief. "Freak ass." she swam to the shore and dried off. Her clothes were clean, since she had only stolen them the day before last and she hadn't gotten anything on them yet.

She quietly walked back to the camp, only slightly shaken by what had happened. She was used to it, but the guy freaked her out. He had been doing this since she had run away from him four months earlier.

'I still don't understand why he hasn't tried to take me back. He has friends in high places, he could easily just have me captured or arrested or something. Not that I want to go back... It just makes me wonder why he bothers to do nothing more than piss me off and then leave, rather than just going ahead and taking me.' she looked up and gasped, not expecting to see Jin sitting, wide awake, starring at her.

She sighed, relieved, "Oh, Jin. You scared me." he looked at her oddly. As if reading his mind, she answered him. "I just didn't expect you to be awake when I got back."

"What's the matter?" he asked, no concern in his voice. Just the same as it always was. Now it was her turn to look at him oddly.

"What are you talking about? I'm fine."

"You look nervous. Anything you should tell me?"

She gulped and tried to hide it. If he noticed, he said nothing. "How is it I look nervous?" she asked, hoping to be able to hide it next time for future references.

"Just body expressions. Mostly your eyes."

She laughed. "No, nothing happened. I was just cleaning up at a nearby stream and a bird flew close to the water when I wasn't really paying attention and it got a little too close. It just scared me, a little. But other than that, nothing happened." Jin knew better than that, but he didn't question it any further. She secretly wondered to herself how he could pick up the most subtle of hints that most people wouldn't have even noticed.

"Good morning Jin, Michiko!" Fuu's pleasant voice filled their ears.

"Morning."

"Morning, Fuu." Michiko smiled, happy that Fuu had finally awaken. "So, I'm ready to start moving again. Can we?"

"Mugen's not awake yet. And he won't be in too much pf a good mood if you wake him."

"He's always in a bad mood. All you have to do is ignore him." she crawled over to Mugen's spot against a tree. She got close to his ear and whispered, "Mugen. Mugen, wake up." her voice was in a singsong. When he didn't wake up, she spoke louder. "Mugen, wake up." And louder again. "Mugen! Wake up you knuckle-headed idiot!"

Still, nothing.

She stood up, irritated at her older brother's lack of responding. She pulled off one of his shoes and slid her foot in it. It was too big, but that didn't matter. She threw her leg back, then forward, kicking him in the shin as hard as she could without losing balance. His eyes shot open. "What the hell was that for!" his loud, angry voice made the trees rattle with birds that were shaken by it.

And there Michiko stood, smiling innocently with her hands behind her back. "You wouldn't wake up, so I kicked you." she kicked his shoe off, which hit him in the head, making him angrier. She just shrugged and turned to Fuu, ignoring how Mugen was fighting himself not to grab his sword and kill something. "Ok, let's go!" Fuu quickly followed behind her. Jin did the same, shaking his head a bit. Mugen just grumbled and stood, limping the first couple of steps.


Ok, so the ending kind of sucked. But If I would have added what I was gonna add it would have gone into the next chapter and that would have been too much for just one chapter. I don't think that made much sense, really, but oh well! I still hoped you enjoyed it. As you probably already know, it reveals a little about Michiko, which most likely made you more confused than you were before. But either in chapter 3 or 4 (most likely 4) everything will be explained. I'm not exactly sure how I'll do it, but I promise you, it will be done! Ok, that's all! Don't forget to R&R please! .

PS-- I'm hoping the third chapter will be put up by Friday or Saturday. School's starting again tomorrow, so it won't be as fast because of homework and all.