Chapter 7: Diana

Nagasaki...

"Diana!" A man's desperate voice cried. And while the voice called out to the name it also seemed to question it. "Diana!" The deep voice called out again, more assured this time, more desperate.

"What idiot keeps yellin' like that?" Mugen finally snapped as the voice rose higher, fast approaching the group. Neither man bothered to pay it more attention as they continued on their way. However, Fuu spun around out of curiosity.

"What a strange man..." Fuu observed, but it was not so much based upon his physical appearance. It was obvious he was not Japanese due to his deep canary hair. It was soiled as if it had endured many days of travel, as was the light beard that traced his chin and lips. It was the look in his hazel eyes that made him seem as though he were mad. Fuu thought him to be definitely out of his mind as he continuously repeated the name.

"Diana..." His voice lowered. Breathing heavily he stopped just several feet from Fuu and she frowned, dumbfounded as she continued staring at him.

"I'm sorry, sir...but you've got the wrong girl...um..." He swiftly past her and this further befuddled her. She watched him as he stopped ahead, drawing a sword that was strangely unlike a katana. This act, however, finally attracted the attention of Jin and Mugen and both turned to face the stranger. The desperation, still apparent in the man's eyes, raged like an unruly fire now fueled strongly by anger.

"Release her." He seethed, the blade of his odd sword erect, pointed threateningly at the two men before him. Mugen scratched his head lazily,

"What in the hell's crawled up your ass? You're insane." Jin had long since placed his hand on the hilt of his katana, prepared for a fight. But upon seeing him, Jin realized he was European, like Mai. He wasn't looking to kill Mai, his demand was simply to 'release her'. The thoughts swam feverishly in Jin's mind,

This man intends to free Mai...from us. Mai, meanwhile, had gripped the side of Jin's arm, peering out from behind him. Her eyes caught the strangers and again he said, but softly,

"Diana..." Clearly, he was referring to her and Mai continued looking at him as though he had three heads. Jin narrowed his eyes at the man and spoke,

"I'm afraid you're mistaken. This woman's name is not Diana." The man ripped his gaze from Mai to Jin.

"How dare you tell me I've mistaken her. What have you done to her?" He growled. His sword then shook, but not out of nerves, out of fury. Mugen had enough,

"Listen pal, the girl's name ain't Diana, so come off it already and leave us the hell alone." The man gritted his teeth,

"I'm not going anywhere without her." Mai gripped the sleeve of Jin's kimono. Mugen grinned,

"I was hopin' you'd stick around..." He drew his katana, the pre-battle smirk formed on his lips. "Sorry to say it doesn't look like it'll be much of a fight.You ain't winnin' nothin' with that sorry lookin' excuse for a sword." With that, he dashed for the stranger. Immediately, the man avoided Mugen's blow, he fell downward, rolling along the ground, then finally stopping, squatting on his feet. He stood slowly, and rose his sword. Mugen, surprised he had missed him, immediately spun and went for his opponent again. He brought down his katana strong and the man met it with his own sword and shoved Mugen away. Clearly irritated by this, Mugen again went to attack and both men continuously went for the other, the clashing of metal against metal. Their struggle appeared more like an intricate routine of moves, not unlike a dance. Each man carefully, cautiously, avoided the other's move to inflict harm. Both grew more and more frustrated by the other's thwarted attempts. Mai looked on while the feeling of helplessness consumed her as did the feeling this was all wrong. Very wrong.

"STOP!" She screamed suddenly. Only the stranger looked up to her and Mugen took every advantage of his opponents distraction. Mai's eyes widened in fear as she watched Mugen bring down his blade, a move intended as a final one.

"NO!" Mai screamed again, her voice drowning in dread and horror. A flurry of dust from the dirt road engrossed the air around them. It's thick clouds making visibility impossible. When they finally did disperse, it was only Mugen who was left standing. But he was far from happy. The stranger had indeed fallen, but only his arm was bleeding profusely.

"Son of a bitch..." Mugen grumbled. "Why aren't you dead?"

"NO." Mai cried out yet again and Mugen sighed looking to her as she ran toward them.

"Whaddya mean 'no'? You know this guy?" Mai hesitated, as she looked away from Mugen to the man on the ground. He was cringing in pain, his hand held tight to the bloody wound on his left arm. Jin approached them both.

"Do you?" Mai looked up at Jin then back at the man. "Tell the truth." Jin reminded. Mai shook her head,

"I do not." Mugen was visibly irritated.

"Then why the hell are you screamin' out 'no' for! Look, you better come clean...we know you're keepin' things from us." And his hand swiftly grabbed her arm. Mai jumped from the unexpected action and Mugen glared down at her, "WELL?" Jin's hand shot to Mugen's,

"Let go. Mai doesn't know this man." Mugen groaned and released her.

"Then what THE HELL? He keeps on insistin' she's some woman named Diana and then she goes off yellin' at me to stop pulverizin' his sorry ass. Screw it. I'm done." And with that, Mugen stomped off aggravated. Mai bit down on her bottom lip and then her eyes locked with that of the man below her. His eyes were fixed on hers and for some reason, Mai could not release her own.

"We should help him..." Fuu suddenly chimed in. "He's hurt pretty bad." Mai nodded in agreement and then looked to Jin for help. He looked down at the man before him, who was still staring intently at Mai. Jin let out a small breath,

"Very well."

"All done." Fuu announced, finishing off the bandages on the stranger's arm. "Good thing it's finally stopped bleeding." But he said nothing, and Fuu had noticed he had done nothing but stare at Mai the entire time.

"You don't remember me." His voice came cracked and unstable. Mai only shook her head in response.

"Why do you call her Diana?" Jin then inquired. The man shot his eyes up to Jin and he got to his feet to gain eye level, or at least try to for he was nowhere near as tall.

"Because that is her name. You call people by their names don't you?" His reply unnecessarily snippy. Fuu let out a long but silent breath. Mai was quiet, unsure and befuddled of what she was feeling and frustrated she couldn't remember. She brought her eyes up to study him,

But am I even supposed to remember him?

"Then, what should we call you?" Jin replied, his tone void of emotion. This puzzled the man as he wasn't sure how he should take the question, but he brushed it off.

"My name is Owen. I'm Diana's fiancee." Mai's eyes went wide and immediately she shot up her head to look at him. Owen then smiled softly and knelt down in front of her. Mai stiffened at this. "You remember now, don't you?" His hand went to hers and she quickly pulled it away. He stared at her, his features swelling with grief. Mai could no longer sit there with him so close, looking at her as if she had plunged a dagger into his heart. She flew to her feet and raced off, Fuu hurrying after her. Owen bowed his head, then slowly looked up to Jin, still standing there unsure of what he should do. He knew what he wanted to do, but he couldn't. "What have you done to her?" Owen's voice was cold and accusing.

"I've done nothing."Jin answered simply. Owen wasn't accepting that response.

"Liar! You expect me to believe she's forgotten me? That you've 'done nothing' to her? You're a liar!"

"You are in no position to flame me with false accusations. You do not know me, nor I you. I've done nothing to Mai but aid her in returning home."

"Well a fine job you've done of that! Seeing as I was the one to find her!" Jin continued to remain calm and collected, but he would have been kidding himself to deny his longing to inflict bodily harm on this irritating man.

"Mai? Are you okay? Fuu asked the girl quietly after catching up with her.

"I don't know. I don't know anything anymore. What am I supposed to believe? Should I remember him? I'm so confused..." Fuu looked on sympathetically and sat down beside her.

"I know it must be difficult, but maybe you should give this man a chance and let him explain his story. Perhaps in time you'll remember who he is. He may be your only chance of returning home." Fuu awaited a reply but when she received none she got to her feet. "Come back with me?" Mai complied and followed Fuu back hesitantly. When the two woman returned they found both men several feet apart, backs turned toward one another but as Owen realized Mai had returned he immediately rushed over to her, resisting the urge to touch her. Mai recognized this and tensed.

"How can you not remember me?" He softly questioned. "How can you not remember us?" Fuu slowly left them be and made her way to Jin who could hear everything, but made no notice that he did. Mai struggled to reply,

"I'm sorry..."

"Why don't you tell us what's going on? What's happened?" Fuu suggested politely, eager herself to understand this man and apparently forgetting to butt out. His expression scrunched into a forced smile and he agreed,

"Gladly. But first, I want to hear from Diana."

"This man...saved you then?" Owen asked in disbelief. Jin only stood as he usually did, quietly, dawning an expression like stone. Mai nodded and quickly glanced toward Jin.

"Jin, Mugen and Fuu have been helping me, they've rescued me really. But, I'm still being pursued."

"I wouldn't have expected anything else." Owen turned toward both the samurai and the girl, "I am forever in your debt." And then he swiftly returned his attention to Mai. "We must leave immediately." Jin took notice of the panicked look on Mai's face,

"I agree with such a course of action, however, it is anything but easy to gain access to a foreign ship." Owen smirked,

"Not for someone like me it isn't. We can't afford to waste anymore time here. Come." And Owen swiftly took Mai by the hand, near dragging her to the door. She struggled against him and Owen stopped. "What's the matter?" He inquired, still retaining his grip on her.

"I can't go." Owen offered a reassuring smile to her but she took it as less.

"Of course you can. I told you, I have easy access to a ship. I promise not to let anything happen to you, now we have to hurry."

"No...I said I can't go...not with you." Owen stopped just inches from the exit and stared down at her, completely bewildered.

"Not with me?" Mai shook her head.

"No."

"Diana..." But Mai cut him off and it was killing her every time he called her by that strange name.

"No! I do not trust you. You can't protect me, nor do you have to." Owen only looked down at her in continued puzzlement.

"Of course I can protect you! I love you..."

"You love Diana!" Mai shouted. Owens eyes grew large.

"You ARE Diana..."

"Let go of me." Mai demanded, wrestling her hand free of his. He watched in near horror as she backed away from him. She looks at me as if I were some sort of monster. Owen swallowed, looking hard at her and then looking up toward Jin, who Mai had retreated backward to. The immense fury within began to build up and he knew just who to direct it.

"I knew it..." Owen snarled. His glare blazing into Jin who only returned him a blank expression. "You DID brainwash her, didn't you? Forcing her to believe she belongs in his hell hole with the likes of you? You've turned her against me. Fuck, she doesn't even know who she is." Mai was thrown off by this sudden harshness in him, but she defended Jin nonetheless,

"Jin didn't do anything to me but help me!"

"Time I returned the favor..." Owen snapped back, reaching into his vest. His hand quickly revealing a gleam of metal, his hand squeezing it's handle. A gun.

In an instant, Mai had swirled around, snatching one of Jin's katanas from out of his belt. He remained where he stood. Jin had allowed it.

"Back OFF." Mai growled, pressing the blade dangerously flush against Owen's jugular. He immediately froze, swallowing nervously. His face was dotted with perspiration. "Drop it." She demanded, gesturing at the gun. Owen obeyed and let the cold metal slip from his hand, allowing it to drop loudly to the floor below. Jin remained standing stoically. This intense burst of action was something he had anticipated since the very first time he witnessed her strength. Still, what he had not expected was the very scene before him. Jin thought himself immensely foolish for underestimating Mai, something he rarely did with anyone, man or woman. Despite his anticipation, he admitted to himself he had let down his guard around her, perhaps, too much.

"Mai..." Jin finally managed to say. Mai ignored him, her focus solely centered on the man in front of her.

"Give me one good reason not to shove this sword right through you." Her voice venomous, near unrecognizable to Jin and this in itself was enough to frighten even him. Owen swallowed again, trying to form the words for his mouth to deliver.

"I'm sorry." Her eyes stung, but Mai pushed the feeling away.

"Of course you are. Now you are, now that I have this sword at your throat. What more is there for you to say? Nothing. Because you are nothing. Because that's all you were to me. Because that's all I was to you. And nothing's changed."

"That's not true-" He contradicted, a sore move as it brought the weapon even tighter on his neck and he closed his eyes, straining. Jin was at a loss. He knew this to be Mai's fight, hers alone to decide and he had always remained a strong believer in not meddling with other's affairs. But Jin knew he had already contradicted himself of that belief a long time ago from the moment he had slain those men who had attacked her. And no matter how he tried, Jin could not fight the need to stop Mai. The water was forming clearly in her eyes now.

"It is true. Lies, all of it. You threw me away to save yourself, both of you...so selfish." Her voice growing hoarse.

"Diana, your father..."

"SHUT UP! Stop calling me that. That's-that's not my name." Jin then saw the depth of sadness and loss in Owen's eyes. Realization had set deep within them, and the grip of reality was suffocating him more than the tip of the katana was. Diana had died a long time ago. "I'm staying here..." Her voice was quiet and steady. Owen trembled, wanting to argue but refrained, desiring his throat to remain intact. Mai then felt pressure on her right shoulder and she tensed, turning slightly to the hand that perched there.

"You cannot." Jin's voice was gentle yet firm. She faced Owen again, the sight of his face reinforcing her desire to leave nowhere with him, even if it was to a place called home.

"I can and I am."

"Lower the katana." Jin ordered softly.

"No."

"Taking this man's life won't erase what's been done to you."

"I know that." Mai's voice trembled. "Don't you think I know that? It's exactly that I have wanted and yet it's what I cannot have. What's done is done; it cannot be changed."

"Then it's not worth it to kill-"

"Stop. Just stop, Jin." The tone of her demand suggested a smile. Jin furrowed his eyebrows, his dark gaze boring into the back of the woman's head. "Stop trying to protect me..."