Chapter 6: She Reminds You
Fuu and Mai sat across from each other in a clearing late the next morning, as the group had stopped briefly to rest. They were chattering away and laughing at MoMo's antics, every now and then glancing quickly toward Jin and Mugen. The two men sat several yards away, silently, observing the girls and wondering what it was they were so talkative about. The glances and giggles began to irritate Mugen and he frowned at them.
"Damn, women are so aggravatin'."
"Hmm." Jin replied casually. Mugen waved his hands dramatically.
"They think they're above everyone and they never shut the hell up..."
"Hmm."
"Like I always say, they're good for a night, otherwise they're nothin' but trouble."
"Hmm." Mugen grinded his teeth and shot Jin a look.
"Hell, your shit load o' silence is as annoyin' as their lack of it is." Jin opened one eye at Mugen,
"Hmm." He repeated. Mugen groaned loudly as he fell backward onto the ground.
"Well this is borin'." He complained, fidgeting around on the ground like a child would. He turned to his side and flicked a nearby pebble. He watched as it ricocheted off of a tree and smacked himsquare in the middle ofthehead. His eyebrow twitched. Exhaling deeply, then yawning, Mugen looked over at Jin, finding the quiet man had been focused on something. Mugen lifted his head and scratched at his neck, then followed Jin's eyes over to Mai. He had been watching her. Mugen raised his eyebrows, watching the young woman as she laughed soflty and then back to Jin who still seemed intently observing her. A grin spread across Mugen's lips. He scooted backward and brought his hands behind his head, closing his eyes he casually leaned back on the tree behind him. He smirked, "Seriously. Why don't we just dump her already?" Jin's eyes darted toward Mugen then back to Mai, but he said nothing. "So...you do dig her, dontchya?" Opening his eyes, he caught Jin slowly avert his once steady gaze. He gave no reply. Suddenly, Mugen was bored no longer. "Come on, just admit it. It's not that bigga deal..."
"I simply gave you no answer because there is none to give. My silence was not, in any form, a result of shame."
"Jeez you're uptight. You really need to learn to cut the noble, gentleman, prissy act." Jin said nothing. "You were awfully close last night." Again, Jin chose to ignore Mugen.
Mai giggled as MoMo ran from her shoulders and up atop her head. "She's pretty fast huh?" Mai said, peering up to where the squirrel contently perched. Fuu smiled,
"She, or he, sure is. I don't even know..." MoMo squeaked and flew for Fuu, disappearing into her kimono. "I've been meaning to ask you something for quite sometime now." Fuu began.
"Oh?" Mai replied, her curiosity peeked. "What is it?"
"Well, you wouldn't happen to know of a samurai who smells of sunflowers? He's why we're all together, why we're on this journey. We've been searching for him."
"A 'samurai who smells of sunflowers'? I can't say I've heard of such a man. May I ask why you're looking for him?"
"For personal reasons..." Fuu answered simply. Mai accepted the answer and realized it would be better left alone.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help..."
"Don't apologize. Tons of people have no clue who he is. Can't say I blame them. It's not exactly a normal thing to hear of...a man smelling of sunflowers, much less a samurai." Mai nodded understandingly. "And-" Fuu began again. "There is something else..."
"Yes?"
"It's about Jin." Mai blinked and looked away.
"What about him?"
"Well...do...do you like him or something?"
"I'm fond of Jin, yes. He's a kind man."
"I don't mean like that..." Fuu explained, her voice turning into barely a whisper, "I mean...do you...love...him?" Mai immediately look to the girl seated in front of her, her expression serious and Mai let out another short laugh. Fuu looked on surprised at the reaction. She hadn't expected that sort of response.
"Why? Do you?" Mai asked playfully. Fuu became abruptly flusttered.
"No! Not...not at all." Mai brought her legs in to hug them.
"Well I have a question for you now." Fuu's blush faded and she gave Mai a quizzical look.
"Yeah?"
"What exactly do sunflowers smell like anyway?" Fuu's mind wandered,
Mai never answered me...
For several moments, Mugen was quiet. They sat there, having only the girl's talk as noise. Mugen crossed one leg over the other. "You feel guilty or somethin'? I mean, come on, it wasn't like you were married to that chick or anythin'." Still, Jin remained unnerved, at least physically. "That why you bothered to help Mai in the first place? 'Cause she reminds you-" Jin then stood. Mugen quieted and looked up at him, remaining in his laid back position.
"Leave Shino out of this. They are nothing alike." And with that, Jin left Mugen to sit alone. Sighing, Mugen shrugged and put his head back, closing his eyes. It was then, that Fuu's flying squirrel, MoMo, decided to pay him a visit by landing square on his face. Mugen freaked, spazed and fell over backward, his legs flying up into the air. His shouts of protest and anger came muffled. Fuu and Mai sat from afar, failing to stifle their spouts of laughter.
Pretty short chapter so I uploaded ch 7! it's definitely longer...and a bit more interesting. And again, thank you for your comments! it's very appreciated.
yeah about the whole "when momo attacks" thing...overdone, but i couldn't help it...the mental imageamuses me. gah, i wish i knew how to animate...
