Hero For Hire

Cap'n Coree

Epilogue: Would You Do It Again?

They had come to the crossroads. The very crossroads where their paths were destined to split. Fuu stood in the middle of the cross created by the joining roads, and for a moment fondled the skull attached to her tanto lovingly. "So I guess this is it." Fuu mumbled, looking up to Mugen and Jin. They had found the Sunflower Samurai, and lost him once more. It was over. Her friends stood shoulder to shoulder behind her, an painful reminder that she couldn't go back. Her feet had carried her there, and now they would carry her away.

"Hmm." Jin replied, looking away and adjusting his glasses. He didn't want her to cry. He wouldn't be able to stand it if she cried.. But why wasn't she crying..?

Mugen was likewise glad for the lack of tears, yet puzzeled by it. She had cried for three days straight when Raharu left. Honestly, even though she was far gone, and it had been a good month to two months since they'd seen her, he was still insanely jealous of Fuu's attention to her, but now that she was gone, he had returned rapidly to his old ways. He considered that "phase" where he thought he might have been attracted to Fuu as a short lapse into insanity. He supressed the stinging sensation in his chest when she mentioned Raharu, or when she threw herself at Jin. He denied he felt anything when she grabbed his hand, or how mad it mad him when she suggested selling her extra kimono. But this was too much. This was the last day he'd ever see her. He knew it. It made him panic, and he couldn't understand why. They had shared no sweet goodbyes the night before. He wasn't sure where she was going, either. Maybe Jin knew. They had shared a few private moments away from Mugen the night before. It was sickly sweet, her form against the nights horizon, a shadow against a backdrop of stars, clinging to Jin's. But Mugen got nothing. No goodbye. No embrace. No tears. He wanted to shake her and tell her to stop acting so composed! Couldn't she see he was leaving her?

Fuu smiled faintly and turned towards them. She opened her arms, and gazed up into the sky.Jin knew she had more on her mind then their departure. She was thinking of her father. She had no room in head or heart to worry about them, or herself. He wouldn't be selfish, he wouldn't force himself upon her. No, besides, he had to go to Shino. "Let's meet again." Fuu said. Her voice echoed down the empty roads, and she sounded old. Jin's heartached and he turned towards his own chosen path. He knew it was a promise he may never get to keep. He owed his soul and heart to Fuu, but his honor bound him somewhere else. "Goodbye, Fuu." he sighed, listening to the pitter patter of her feet, and Mugen's fading as his own shuffled on.

"Goddamnbitchcuntfuckingcrazywhinnytwig." Mugen muttered, kicking a rock down the vacant road. There was no response besides his own voice bouncing of the trees. "Whothefuckdoesshethinksheis. Shecan'ttakecareofherself.Probabllyalreadykidnapped"

Mugen scowled and stuck his hand in his pockets. He had only been walking a few minutes down his own road. If he looked over his shoulder he could still see the crossroads behind him. He was dragging his feet, his scowl increasing with every step he took.

His hands ran circles in his pockets, searching for any money he may have forgotten about, when he felt a hard, square lump in his pocket. He fished it out and stopped to examine what it was. It was tiny, and had small dots painted in it. One on one side. Two, Three, Four, Five, Six. Mugen knew what it was. It was a die. But what was it doing in his pocket? He liked gambling so-so, but not enough to be in possesion of such a thing. And don't they usually come in pairs? Suddenly the pieces fell together in Mugen's tiny tiny brain. 'Fuu!' There had been a moment earlier that day when he thought she wanted to say something. She had ran up behind him, and her hand had slipped inbetween his side and arm- and he thought she was going to embrace him- but just as quick as she had come she was gone, and had fallen back along Jin who she was talking to- blushing.

Now Mugen understood. That little bitch had slipped it in his pocket. How gross. How sentimental. How FUU-like. He stared at if for a moment, feeling faint. It couldn't mean what he's assuming. No. She'd never think about him like that. She had merely slipped it in his pocket because- who knows. Maybe she wanted him to remember her? He'd never understand women. He'd often heard good friends did give one another something- to remember one another.Kind of like a charm. Mugen hadn't done that. That made him panic more. He felt dizzy. Would Fuu be able to forget him? Wouldn't it be better if they both forgot one another? She had been a drag. A loud, annoying drag. But why'd it feel like someone was punching him in the chest? Why were his feet carrying him back towards the crossroads. No. He didn't want Fuu to forget him. She had given him a piece of herself, and he wanted to give her something. If she remembered him- he'd feel better. Like there was someone in the world who would care if he died- if he stopped existing. If he could make her remember him forever- well, then maybe he'd live on through her..

He ran as fast as he could, his geta hammering the earth. Every now and then he'd trip and stumble, and anytime he dropped the dye in his hand he'd have to stop and search frantically for it, then run faster to make up the lost time. It wasn't long before she came into view. His feet pumped harder, he was nearly out of breath, but seeing her after he was sure she was gone forever spurred him forward.

"FUU!" he shouted, nearing her. She stopped in her tracks and turned towards Mugen. He skidded to a halt, feeling akward all of a sudden. He stood, frozen to the spot. What was he doing there? He looked her over, she was unchanged, except a chain hung around her neck with a coin attached to her. "What's that?" he asked lamely. Fuu looked down at her own chest and picked up the charm.

"Its the coin I used to rope you two in to this whole mess." Fuu laughed. "I thought I lost it, but Jin took it, you see he had found out it was...well.. a trick coin. There was no way I could ever lose. He gave it back last night, he said I couldn't use it to fool you two anymore, so it was safe to return it." Mugen felt the urge to spit and vomit. How sentimental. What bullshit. He suddenly forgot how many times he had dropped his dye and searched for it frantically in the tall grass or amoung the rocks. Suddenly all he could think about was gross, touching moments between Fuu and Jin.

"Mugen, what are you doing here?" Mugen snorted and looked away. Fuu was approaching him slowly. "Why'd you run all the way out here, eh?" Mugen felt a chill run down his spine. He was soaked with sweat and he felt foolish, standing infront of Fuu and having nothing to say. His hands fumbled with his left ear, and he glared at Fuu defiantley, daring her to laugh.

"IWANTEDTOGIVEYOUTHIS." he shouted, holding out one of his round, blue earrings. Fuu blanched, and stared at it in his hand. He walked up to her, bending down. His face was inches from her own. He turned her head slightly and took her left ear in his fingers, pulling it down. Suddenly he forced the spoke of the earring through her ear, and Fuu howled.

"OWWW! MUGEN YOU JERK! That hurt! It's probablly going to get INFECTED!"

"Shut up." Mugen huffed, "This, this is a connection involving me and you, okay, no Fish Face! No one.. No one else! Don't you take it out! And DON'T loose it. Okay? I don't care if it does get infected. You better not touch it." Fuu stared at Mugen in awe, and nodded dumbly. Mugen snorted and turned around, walking away. 'Let's see her forget me now.' he thought, when suddenly he heard Fuu whimpering behind him. He turned slightly to see her running towards him, her eyes oozing tears. He wasn't sure what to do, and before he could turn himself around all the way, she had tackled him, and they went sprawling to the ground.

"Oh Mugen!" Fuu sobbed, snuffling into his shoulder, "Don't leave just yet!" Mugen was frozen, stunned from her response.She was pressing herself against him he thought he might seep into the earth. He wished he could hold her, but he couldn't get his arms to move. The earring he had forced in her ear pressed against his neck. He'd regret later he had done nothing. She raised her head to look at him. "Mugen," she whimpered, her face still dripping with tears and snot, "I missed you."

Mugen began to laugh. He laughed so hard Fuu was forced to roll off of him, either from the convulsions of his body, or her outrage. Mugen laughed so hard it hurt. If he could only tell her.

"WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT!" she hollared, punching him in the chest. Mugen laughed harder, his laughter echoing through the forest until it even reached the retreating ronin, who paused for a moment to look over his shoulder. He qualmed his mounting jealousy by insisting to himself that it was better this way. Someone needed to protect her, and his word bound him somewhere else. If only. But wishes were for fools.

Mugen restrained Fuu's fists and grinned lecherously. Fuu squealed and stood up, dusting herself off. "Hmph!" Fuu stormed down the road, Mugen following her like a faithful hound.

And thats how it went. Town to town, Mugen followed Fuu. Without a goal the wandered. Mugen was content. He knew now. He wouldn't deny it anymore. He loved her. And he was happy to follow her. Even if he wouldn't tell her, or make a move. Every time he fought with her, picked on her, or smacked her on the ass he was telling her he loved her. If she couldn't see that, too bad, he didn't have the guts to do anything else. He was too afraid. Sometimes he feared she'd leave him. That she'd find some dewy eyed boy who would whisk her away. But he did his best to scare off suitors. Behind her back of course. Sometimes she'd tell him fairy tales by the fire about this or that princess to fill the empty hours. It seemed she knew all the great romance stories, and it frightened Mugen. She was becoming a woman, she was looking for love, and he was frozen in place. But none of this would scare him into action.

Mugen remembered this town. He couldn't place where, as if he had spent a great deal repressing it and its occupants. Fuu was dawdling. She carried in her arms a large array of flowers, and she had to stop every now and then to rearrange them. It was testing Mugen's fragile patience.

"What are we doing here?" he finally snapped.

"I have to see someone." The foreboding in Mugen deepened. He dared not ask who. Had he forgotten something? Some love intrest Fuu held along the way. He racked his brain, thinking of any possiable suitors Fuu might want to visit. He feared the worst. Fuu motioned for him to follow her behind a building, where they ducked and peeked around its corner. Across the street was a small teahouse. Mugen knew he knew it from somewhere, but where..

It was nearly half an hour later that Fuu showed life. Ignoring Mugen's protests and prodding questions.

"Maybe they aren't-" Suddenly the door slid open and out stepped a young man and woman.The woman was a head shorter than the man, with long black hair. The man had shaggy hair that could rival Mugens, his back was to them, he was talking to the girl. An obnoxious laugh rang out. There was a dog laying by the door now. It sniffed the air, and suddenly was barking in their direction. The man turned. Mugen saw the hint of a breast, the face was that of a female- the gears started turning in Mugen's head. The laugh- the girl- the not man. It had been a year. She hadn't changed. Fuu's breath caught in her throat as Raharu's eyes fell on them, and a smile pulled at the boys-the girl's lips.

"What is it, darling?"

"Oh nothing-" she replied, turning. They looped arms and walked down the street out of view. Fuu waited a moment before slipping away, arranging the flowers on the doorstep of the small teahouse. Beau looked up at her, his tail wagging and let out a soft whimper. Fuu ran her hand through his hair, looking over the flowers. A sunflower lay draped across the arrangment of lilacs and roses, and any other wildflower Fuu was able to get her hands on. Mugen's gut wrenched when she looked at him, her face blank. He couldn't tell what she was feeling, but he didn't like it. Why had they come here?

That night Mugen paced back and forth before the fire, thinking about Fuu's little escapade. She was bathing. He wouldn't let her see how much it bothered him-

'You were my only girlfriend'

Could she be that desperate? He knew. He knew Fuu was growing restless. He watched her as she daydreamed, staring into the campfire every night. Her face betrayed her. She was thinking of late nights, soft pets, soft words, a tryst with soft boys. Something he himself could never give her, and damn her for it. Damn him for not making a move.

Mugen resolved to end it that night. He wouldn't sit back and let this happen, his pride wouldn't let him. Damn, that bitch wouldn't win the war in the end, after all he'd done! Sure, she was with that Yuri or Yukkie or whatever the hell her name was- but this was Fuu, and Mugen knew in his heart that noone else compared. Mugen stopped pacing and directed himself towards the lake Fuu was bathing in, striping himself of his clothes as he went, and building his resolve.

She didn't turn around when he splashed into the water. Her body tensed, and she wrapped her arms around herself out of instinct, but she didn't turn towards him.

"Mugen." she sighed. She wasn't screaming, that was a good sign.

Mugen waded towards her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "How do you know I'm not the boogeyman."

"Pssh. Mugen you are the boogeyman." The blue baubble hanging from her ear trembled as she cocked her head to the side. Mugen watched it, and wondered what else might tremble with her every move.

"Fuu." he whispered huskilly, dipping his head over her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Look at me." She turned, her skin rubbing against his skin, her cheek pressing against his own. It was soft, like velvet, and felt painfully sweet against his own stubbled one.

"Yes Mugen?" she asked, looking him in the eyes. She looked confident. Mugen wondered how much of this she expected. He leaned down towards her, his lips a breath away from her own. He half expected to hear someone calling her. But no call came, and his mouth hit it's mark. Her lips parted, allowing his tounge to slip in and explore. It rolled and stroked her own, and she leaned into him. A great sense of victory washed over Mugen, and he grinned against her mouth. He had won, dammit. He had won. Suddenly it was worth it. He slipped his hands down her back and clutched her soft, kneadable thighs. He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, staring at him with the same dreamy-expression she regarded the campfire with at night. He wasn't afraid of losing her anymore. He adjusted her slightly, and rocked his hips into hers, entering her in one swift moment. He felt her cave in on her, and her flesh tear slightly. She bit her lower lip, and Mugen moved one of his hands from her now trembling thighs to brush her face. She locked herself on tighter, and let out a soft sigh of pain and tangled pleasure as he slipped in and out of her, at a slightly gentler pace. Her arms wove around his neck, and Mugen watched as the blue bead hanging from her earlobe swung to their rythm.

He had won. Mugen knew. He knew as she squealed, and clung to him, and whispered his name into his salty flesh. He knew as they lay together by the fire, covered only by a thin blanket, the embers casting shadows against her satin skin. He had won, and he'd never let anyone take the prize from him. He knew as he clutched her protectively against his chest, breathing in her chesnut hair.

--- END

A.N. I was thinking of leaving it more open ended and having both Jin and Mugen chase after her at the crossroads- but I chose this ending over that one. I'm already thinking about my next fic, but I think I scratched the gypsy idea. I'll be working on it soon enough. Sorry it took so long. I got caught up in working/practicing for my driving test/fretting about the ACTS.