Hero For Hire
cap'n crunch
coree
Chapter 5: The Spoils Of War
Jin hardly left Fuu's side since they left the carnivale. For three days he hovered over her, always watching, like he was keeping Raharu and Mugen at bay. He ate next to her, slept next to her, walked next to her. There was no getting near Fuu. Heck, he'd probablly bathe with her if he could, but the only one permitted to do that was Raharu. Raharu and Mugen had come to understand eachother. There was a fragile truce struck up between them. They knew, if Jin won, then they both lost, and Jin wouldn't submit to insults and dirty tricks. It would take them both to drag him down, so they could start fighting over the prize againBut what was the prize? Noone was exactly sure just what they were fighting for. There was just the dim idea that it had to do with Fuu. With being the best. Even Jin had somehow been dragged into the fight, and for the time being was winning. The only one who didn't know was Fuu.
Mugen was suckling his bottle of sake like a baby kitten suckles milk from its mother. They hadn't made enough money to spend the night indoors, so they made due with what food they could afford, and the sake Mugen insisted on. Everyone had been drinking, Jin was still sitting across the fire sipping his own glass slowly. In the distance you could barely hear the squeals and splashes from the lake. Mugen snorted. Did they have to be so loud? He was already half way through his second bottle, and his head was buzzing pleasantly. He let his mind slip away and imagine what he could do if he were alone. He could sneak into that lake himself and cause alittle mischief, heck, Fuu was pretty wasted herself, and she probablly wouldn't mind. It was Jin, and that bitch Raharu that were in his way. He wasn't sure Raharu would even mind. She was as drunk as Fuu, even though she didn't have the stomache for sake, and was in a pleasant mood that night. Well, duh, she was in a pleasant mood every night, she could go where neither Mugen or Jin were allowed, and there steal nearly an hour of Fuu's attention for herself. Mugen was tired of losing the war. Raharu was as lecherous as he was and he wasn't going to just stand there and let her get away with oogling Fuu when Mugen wasn't allowed to. Mugen didn't wait another moment, or waste another think (he didn't have many thinks left in his head). He leapt straight to his feet, sake bottle in one had, the other stripping off his coat and shirt- and stormed towards the lake.
"Mugen, where are you going?" Jin demanded.
"Swimming." Jin stood up, ready to stop him, but his thoughts got mixed up in the swirl of motion, so instead he just followed. Where were they going again? Was there something wrong with this? Why was he angry earlier? Hey, why was his shirt still on when Mugen wasn't- Why wasn't Mugens? Oh yes, they're going to the lake.. Whats in the lake? Jin slipped out of clothes down to his cloth binding, a little confused, but it felt good to be so bare in the summer hear. Swimming, thats right. They were going swimming. It was awfully hot, did his head usually feel this empty? He couldn't remember. Mugen waded into the water, taking a deep drink of the sake bottle while he did. There was a cry of protest, but from who? Jin couldn't remember. He simply followed Mugen until the figures came into view.
"MUGEN YOU PERVERT - JIN!" Fuu cried, "JIN WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Oh wow, it's Fuu. Why was she covering herself like that- where are her clothes-
"Swimming?" he replied, shrugging.
"Come on Fuu, it's hot."
"I- I- WE'RE NAKED!" Fuu shouted. Mugen made a move to remove his shorts- and Fuu hollared again."I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SEE IT MUGEN! TURN AROUND AND DON'T PEEP, WE'RE GETTING DRESSED!" Jin turned around, and Mugen followed suit. There was a rustle of cloth and some whispering on the shore, but no matter how Jin and Mugen strained, they couldn't make out the words. Everything went silent for a moment- was the footsteps or was it just the water- or was it footsteps in the water? Suddenly an arm snaked it's way around his neck and there was something dragging him down-into the water. Before Jin's dazed mind could react, he was face first into the water. His arms frailed, and he heard someone shouting curses under the water with him, bubbles spewing from an open mouth. He broke free of the arm grasping his head and neck and pulled his head out of the water, gasping. A few feet away, Mugen did the same. Jin reached back and grabbed the arm that had attacked him and spun to face its owner.
"Thats what you get!" Fuu shouted, "For peeping." Jin's mind tried to connect two-and-two. Why'd Fuu try to kill him again? He looked over to Mugen who, at this point was lifting Raharu off her feet and throwing her into the lake. He watched as she flailed her arms and disappeard under the water, only to re-emerge soaking and angry. He looked back to Fuu, her arm still clutched in his hand, and noticed she was dressed in only her cloth bindings. Why was this again? Oh- they were swimming. He looked down at his own body, the water only came up to his mid-drift, and he tried to remember taking off his own clothes.. Why had he done that? It doesn't seem rational, but then again, it didn't seem rational to be standing in the lake with a half dressed Fuu. Shouldn't he let go now and retreat? Try to forget this happened. The throbbing in his head said it was likely he would forget. He head another splash as Mugen forced Raharu's head back under the water, a vicious fight was erupting between the two of them. Jin hadn't seen anything like it since he was a child. He looked back to Fuu, who was watching Raharu and Mugen aswell, the moonlight illuminating her face, and neck. She looked surreal. The whole situation was surreal. Jin reached out with his free hand, leaning towards her slowly, trying not to alarm her, and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Wha- Jin?" she squealed-suprised, but before she could even begin to guess what he was doing he had heaved her over his shoulder, and was wading into the deeper section of the lake. "JIN!" she hollared, kicking her legs and arms. "PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW- I SWEAR!" And so Jin obeyed, flipping her off his shoulder into the lake. Fuu shot back to the surface immediatley, spitting water and clawing at Jin's chest for support. She was much to short to stand, and it took her a moment to get use to the shock. Jin leaned back so he was half-floating, half-sitting, and took her hands, directing them to his shoulders so she could balance herself on him. The result, however, ended in Fuu clutching Jin's neck, and wrapping her legs around his waist, to keep from sinking and flailing. It wasn't that she could swim- it's just her mind had trouble recalling what limb should move what way at the time- and Jin was something nice and solid she could hold onto while she tried to remember.
"HEY FISH FACE, WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE?" Mugen hollared, wading away from the half-drown Raharu and towards them. Raharu dragged her head out from under the water, and scanned the lake, trying to spot what had distracted her assaliant. There! Jin and Fuu- Fuu and Jin? She strained her eyes-trying to find something that would make it look something other than what it seemed, but Mugen got in the way, and she had no choice but to stand and follow. Jin was alarmed by the sudden attention- angry threatning attention Mugen was sending his direction. He realized Mugen was mad because Fuu was hanging onto him in such a manner- and Jin who hadn't noticed until now that her body, which was wet and sleek from the water, was wrapped around him, and it must seem pretty dirty to Mugen, who had a dirty mind. Jin had to admit that it probablly was dirty, the way Fuu's thighs were rubbing up against Jin's waist, and how he could feel her breathe, which was still heaving and full of panic, against his neck. "LET GO OF HER RIGHT NOW OR I SWEAR I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Jin raised his hands to try and show he wasn't doing any of the holding- but Fuu squealed at the sudden shift of weight.
"Don't let go! I'll drown! " she whimpered, increasing her grip around his neck.
"You know how to swim Fuu," Jin tired to reason.
"Nu-uh! I can't remember!" Fuu whinned.
"SHE SAYS SHE CAN'T SWIM!" Jin called.
"That's BULLSHIT!" Mugen said flailing his arms. "DROP HER!" Jin struggled to get out of Fuu's grasp, her wet skin slipping against his own in the most sensational way- and finally- at last he broke her grip and she fell off of him and into the water. How did Jin get in such an akward position as this? Fuu was spinning every limb she could in a freinzied motion, trying to stay afloat, and it felt like his organs were twisting themselves in a knot when he saw her so afraid. To hell with Mugen he scooped her back out of the water and into his arms and made his way towards the shore where Mugen was yelling cuss words.
'She's just had too much sake' Jin thought as she hid her head in his neck and coughed. 'She'll forget this by dawn' he reasoned as she moved her leg, causing her thigh to brush agains Jin's wrist. He set her down in the shallow end and sat next to her, the water coming to her shoulders, and his chest. Mugen was still charging towards them, Raharu behind him. He was spitting every cuss word he knew in Jin's direction, and Jin had to wonder why the pirate cared so much. After Mugen cursed a bit, and Raharu sulked, and Fuu scolded, everyone settled down into the water, all trying to get the closest spot next to Fuu. 'It's all rather ridiculous.' Jin thought, even though he found himself sitting as close to Fuu as possiable, 'she attracts us like bee's to honey.' Everything about her was infectious, her laugh, her skin, her pout, her eyes- and Jin couldn't help but get pulled in, just like the rest. And now he was caught in this struggle for her affections as much as they were, only had a better idea what it was all about when he held her in his arms and her skin brushed against his skin. He knew what the ultimate prize was and that gave him an advantage. While the others would flail in the dark, not sure what they wanted from her, not ready to admit it, he'd be making all the right moves. He wasn't going to let either of them win, even if his honor was at stake. This was something more.
"Hey Mugen, why are you still wearing your shorts?" Fuu asked, "Everyone else is in nothing but bindings."
"I don't wear 'em." he replied, scratching his head.
"EWWWWWW," Raharu and Fuu squealed, both moving a little further from Mugen. Which meant Fuu moved closer to Jin of course. It was almost too easy when the competition was an dirty piggish ogre. Jin even allowed his hand to brush Fuu's. Fuu didn't seem to notice, but Mugen sure did. They spent the next few moments glaring daggers at one another.
"Hey! Let's play a game!" Fuu said, clapping her hands together. "You know the one where you have to guess if the other person is fibbing or not- and if they are and you catch them they have to do whatever you want and tell the truth- but if they don't they have to do what you say."
"And if you are telling the truth and they don't call you on a fib?" Jin asked.
"Then its their turn.No foul on either part."
"Okay, I'll go first." Raharu said. "Before I joined you three, I worked in a brothel. Mugen, is that the truth or did I lie?"
"Pssh, Lie. Noway a brothel would hire you."
"Oh, no fun. You win. I lived with my grandfather and hunted for a living. But he died, so.. I had no reason to stay." Raharu shrugged.
"Lick Jin's foot." Mugen demanded.
"Wha?" she shouted, disqusted.
"Lick Jin's foot. Go on." Jin glared at Mugen, but Fuu started whinning about the rules of the games and Jin and Raharu were forced to submit, much to Mugen's amusment. "Okay. Now, lets see...I killed my first man when I was eight. Jin is that a lie or the truth?"
"The truth." Jin replied. Mugen nodded. "Alright, Fuu, I wear these glasses because they were my masters, and I took them when I killed him."
"Truth?" Jin shook his head. Silly Fuu, he could barley see objects a yard or two away without his glasses. Fuu frowned. "You're not going to make me lick Mugen's feet are you?" Jin shook his head.
"No- Not at all. Just close your eyes."
"Jin- please don't make me do something gross!" Fuu pouted.
"You didn't object when I had to lick his feet!" Raharu scolded, "You gotta take the punishment!" Of course, in a moment she might be eating those words.. Fuu sighed and closed her eyes. Jin lifted a hand to guide her face towards his own, and for a brief moment touched her lips to his own. Mugen supressed a growl. Had he not left his sword back at camp, Jin would be a dead man. 'What the fuck is he playing at?' It was over as quick as it had began, and Jin was facing Mugen and Raharu as if nothing had happened. Raharu remained carefully passive, but Mugen, Mugen was steaming. This didn't escape Fuu's notice, and she quickly tried to avoid another fight over some dumb man-issue by directing the next statement Mugen's way.
"Mugen, the Sunflower Samuria is my old boyfriend who ditched me and ran, and I'm seeking revenge?" Mugen looked from Jin to Fuu, trying not to take the lame bair Fuu offered as a diversion, but too curious not too. He was just slightly curious about the identity of Mr. Sunflower. He considered how determined Fuu was on finding him. Would he go through all that for just a piece of ass? He didn't bother to think about how ready to shed blood he was a moment ago when Jin had pulled his oh-so-clever "I'm Mr. Fucking Charming stunt. It just wasn't the same. It wasn't about that, it was about- Jin. Yeah, that asshole, thinks he can go around doing anything he wants. Anything. Even if it was touching Fuu, who in Mugen's mind, was untouchable. There was no way in hell Mugen could just come out and kiss Fuu out of the blue. She had to initiate, only then was it acceptable. Kissing, anyhow, was dumb. Way too romantic. Jeez, he was so glad he didn't kiss Fuu back on that hill. She'd probablly fall in love with him and moon over him and cry everytime he was hurt- or get in the way when he was fighting. Sure it meant extra portions of food, and hey, maybe a free lay here and there, but Mugen wasn't use to girls like Fuu. She wasn't a whore. She'd want something from him he couldn't give. How was he suppose to go about touching her anyway? Feh. Jin probablly knew. Shit, they were perfect together, little petite Fuu and pale, thin lipped Jin- they looked like something out of a kabuki play. Mugen was so glad he hadn't kissed Fuu. He did not need her loving him, oh-no. But wait. Mugens mind snapped- if Jin kissed Fuu, does Fuu love Jin? Will she be mooning over him, tending his wounds? Mugen could not stand that thought, would not stand that thought- and he didn't have to for long. Fuu was snapping her fingers infront of his face.
"Helllo? MUUUUGEN?" Fuu called, "I think he's thinking too hard.Maybe his brain exploded."
"Shut up, I'm busy." Mugen snapped. Fuu was just the sort of girl who would follow her heart to the edge of the world and jump off. Fuu had romantic written all over her- "True?"
"Psssssh, NOPE!" Fuu laughed. "Not true at all. Geez."
"Who is he then?" Mugen demanded.
"I'll tell you-" Fuu teased, "Eventually." Mugen scowled. Jin scowled. Raharu just smirked. Jin suspected that Fuu talked about more than boys with Raharu. He felt hurt. Could Raharu know what he didn't? He should make a better attempt at talking to Fuu, which was hard when ones vocabulary was limited to "Hn." "Hmmm." and "Run."
"Okay fine, whaddya want me to do?"
"Prove you're not wearing underwear?"
"What you want me to whip it out?" Mugen sneered.
"No, just pull your shorts down a little, beneath the hip bone." That seemed like a safe enough area. Honestly, Fuu was just trying to heal Mugen's wounded ego before things got out of hand. She had no idea what could have wounded it- it wasn't like she and Jin were really kissing. It was just a peck. Fuu's lips begged to contend, still tingling from the slight pressure that had been forced upon them just moments ago. Mugen stood, grinning lecherously and lowered them, perhaps alittle too much, so a few strands of velvet hairs curled out. Fuu turned a bright shade of pink that even the night had trouble hidding. Mugen glanced quickly to Jin to see if he noticed, and fixed Fuu with a seductive leer.
"Like what you see baby?" Mugen said, shiffting the shorts down lower, "Intrested in more?"
"EWWWW MUGEN CUT IT OU-" Fuu started to cry, but was interupted by a swift "THUD" and "CRACK!" as Raharu broke the sake bottle Mugen left floating in the water over Mugen's head. Mugen fell face first into the water.
"Do you think he's dead?" Fuu said, jumping up. Jin stood next to her.
"No," Jin said. "Mugen has a hard head."
"Lets go." Raharu said, walking past them to gather the rest of her clothes.
"Jin..do you think you could carry him back to camp?" Fuu asked over her shoulder to gather her kimono. Jin glared at the prone form in the water and seized it's ankles. As he dragged Mugen back to camp he took care to walk by the large rocks.
"You did deserve it." he told the unconcious Mugen. Had Raharu not done it, Jin would have done it himself, with a fist. That may have been a better deal for Mugen, he hadn't even seen Raharu coming, but he'd have seen Jin and had a chance to defend himself. Mugen's head rolled from side to side, and Jin sighed. "Idiot."
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A.N. I kinda put this in as a filler to keep the story from moving to quickly. I didn't think I was giving Jin enough air time either. I have the ending planned out perfectly. I just don't want to rush to get there. I hope my hap-dashed thrown together mid-plot doesn't seem to shabby.
