Chapter 2: All cuts

One Year Earlier

"VILLAGERS! I BRING GOOD NEWS!" A man rode up on his black steed, shouting into a crowd of people.

"I am glad to inform you that the battle between the Ruzuki clan is finally over!" He shouted with victory in his voice.

The small villagers cheered in glorious happiness. Many of them danced to their rewarded victory.

The Ruzuki Clan was no more than a large gang of thugs ruling the smaller villages.
They were ordered by the police to "keep the peace" in the little villages away from the larger ones. These men were cruel heartless people. They raped young women, the stole from the rich and the poor; they harassed the elderly, and killed anyone who stood in their way.
Anyone who complained was either shut down or killed. So finally the village men started an uprising against the Clan's rules. Which started the battle.

"Alas My good people, I bring you the names of those who lost their lives fighting bravely for our freedom." He said sadly.

Much of the celebration ceased slowly. Fuu, Mejia and Genskui stood outside their teahouse with their customers.

The messenger unrolled the scroll of names and read them out loud.
"Toshio, Mokanchie…" Just from the first two names read…two women fell to the ground crying.

Fuu silently prayed that they would not call out his name…she prayed so hard that they would not say:

"Totomi." The man's voice echoed through Fuu as Totomi's name rolled off his tongue. Fuu could feel her heart break into two at that sadden moment. She felt light headed, and her stomach ached in pain. Mejia and Genskui tried talking to her, but Fuu didn't hear anything they were saying, all she could hear was a heartbeat in her ears, and her self-gasping for air. She fainted in grief.

The moon hung over the village and sparkled with all its beauty. Mejia cooked up mountains of food for Jin, Mugen, and Fuu, but Fuu did not eat…she and Totomi talked for hours in the corner of the restaurant. While Mugen and Jin ate the food the old woman prepared.

"You boys better slow down or you'll get sick." Mejia said with a smile. Jin took her advice and slowed down, but Mugen kept eating at an alarming rate. Fuu's schoolgirl laughs would make Mugen look up at her every now and then.

"What does she see in him?" Mugen thought to himself, and then paused to think about what he just said to himself. He ignored it and continued to eat.

"Its so good to have her back." Said Mejia with smile. Jin was the only one who seemed to be paying attention to the old woman.

He watched as she stared at the young couple starring into each other's eyes.

"Makes me miss those times." She said sadly.

"You must miss him." Said Jin quietly. Mejia felt that she had been read like a book.
"Yes, I do…I miss my Genskui." She said with a small tear rolling down her wrinkled cheeks. She wiped it away and smiled as if she was okay.

"I think its time to turn in. Come on you two." She called to Totomi and Fuu. She locked up the teahouse began to walk home limping on her cane.

"Now my house is not that far from here. Fuu you will be staying with me…the boys can stay at Totomi's." she said.

"Please Mejia, I haven't seen her in forever…can we just…" Mejia interrupted Totomi.

"Now that is not proper for a young girl to stay with her lover. Not proper at all." She said scolding him.

"It's okay…I'll see you tomorrow." She said blushing in the moonlight. Totomi kissed her hand and sweetly and said goodnight. The love between them brought memories of Shino back to Jin…and how much he missed her. Mugen just like he was going to be sick to his stomach.

Jin and Mugen were given a large room for two. Totomi tried and make sure they were comfortable. Jin bowed to him gratefully, but Mugen still couldn't shake the feeling that this guy made him sick.

When they were left alone…Mugen lied on a futon facing Jin who sat on his futon.

"So really what do you think about this…Tomato guy?" he asked.

"Mm." Jin just said referring back to his memories of Shino.

"He makes me sick…she makes me sick…hell you make me sick." He said feeling his stomach turn and growl in anger.

He began to feel really dizzy and light-headed. He quickly got up and ran outside. He ran to the bridge with quick speed…and tasted his food for a second time.

He had thrown up all the food Mejia had made.

"Stupid old woman." The he remembered what she had said:

"You boys better slow down or you'll get sick."

Once he was done, he stayed out in the moonlight to catch a breath of fresh air. He watched as the river below him flowed and shined in the full moon.

He though of Totomi and Fuu…truly what did she see in him?

"Stupid girl, oh well once she decides to stay…the faster I can get the hell out of here." He said with a smile, but soon that smile faded. He thought back on all the times they had spent together. Could he really leave her?

A sound echoed through the dirt streets as a sliding door opened and closed. He saw a figure sneak out of their inn. It wasn't Jin because this guy's hair was shorter.

"Tomato?" Mugen asked himself out loud.

The figure searched around cautiously before tiptoeing away toward the woods. Mugen is as curious as a cat and followed him slyly.

He followed him to the entry way were they has come from. Mugen caught a glimpse of the mysterious man. It was Totomi sneaking off somewhere. Mugen climbed a up a house and slipped into the trees.

Totomi walked into the woods, but Mugen stayed hidden in the trees above. Totomi lead him all the way to at least the middle of the woods. Where four large men stood there waiting for him.

"Donsuke…I came as soon as I got word." Totomi said in a more manly voice to the largest man.

"Yes, we have decided to attack the small village in the west from here." The man's voice was deeper and he stood much taller than Totomi.

"Donsuke…I must ask. Is there anyway that I can leave the Ruzuki Clan?" Totomi asked his manly voice slipping away slowly.

"Leave? Whatever the hell for?" Donsuke asked in a angry tone.

"Fuu, the one I told you about…she has returned!" Totomi said bravely.

"This love of yours, did she keep you safe from the Ruzuki Clan? Did she spare your life!" Donsuke shouted.

Totomi was silent; he did not dare talk back to Donsuke the most powerful man in the Ruzuki Clan.

"No sir, she did not." Totomi replied with hot eyes.

"You watch yourself Totomi-san, or you will loose this "love" of yours, She may have an accident that will have dire consequences. Or she may be found impure against her will. Do you understand?" asked Donsuke loudly.

"Yes sir, I do understand." He said curling his fists.

"Good, now go back to your Beloved Fuu!" He said sarcastically. Totomi turned around and headed back for the village. Mugen still watched from the branches above. Watching as Totomi walked away with his tail in between his legs.

"What a bitch." Said Mugen quietly.

"Lets head back…oh Takishie, follow Totomi make sure he doesn't have a sudden urgent to run away."

"Yes sir." Said the man. He wasn't as big as the others but he was bigger than Totomi. Donsuke walked away with the others. Mugen had then decided that it was a good time to head back. Then he felt another flip in his stomach. Then the next thing he knew he heard curses coming from below him.

"WHAT THE HELL!" Takishie cried. He looked up and saw Mugen standing there quite confused.

"Shit." Mugen said as Takishie looked at him with angry vengeful eyes.

"A SPY!" Takishie cried angrily. Like a tiger chasing after its prey he chased Mugen up the Tree. Mugen not feeling all that quite fighting fit, was kind of slower than usual.

Takishie pulled out a long dagger that hung in its sheath on his side. He slashed the dagger back and forth in front of Mugen, leaving blue shine across the air from the moon.

Mugen tried to dodge each attempt that Takishie made. But Takishie was quicker than any other man he had fought. Mugen was running out of branch to escape on, Takishie shot forward and finally got Mugen in the shoulder. He fell backward clinging to the thick branch.

"AAAAHHHH!" Mugen cried in pain. Blood spewed as Takishie pulled the dagger out quickly. Thunder roared above them, and rain fell down soaking them. Mugen had no time to think about the wound or the rain because Takishie was coming back with another hit. Mugen stopped him from getting any closer with his foot. He was heavy and Mugen didn't know how long he could hold his massive weight.

Mugen started to feel the burn in his leg and his shoulder. He slowly tried to reach back to get his sword but he couldn't keep his balance.

"I'm going to kill you, you scrawny bitch!" Takishie bragged.

"BITCH?" Mugen hollered in anger. He then pushed back on Takishie with all his might. Takishie was taken by surprise and stumbled backward. He lost his balance and fell head first to the ground.

Mugen heard his screams as he watched him fall. Mugen slowly rose up off his back in pain. He looked down to the ground below and saw Takishie lying face forward in a pool of blood.

Mugen took in a breath. Then turned away as he threw up one last time.

The morning sun rose up and woke Fuu with a sweet sensation. She got up and slipped on her shoes as she ran out of Mejia's home. She walked to Totomi's with a smile on her face and a song in her heart.

She opened the door to his house and sang his name:

"Totomi?" she said with a smile. She popped her head into a slightly opened door and saw Mugen and Jin still sleeping. She was about to wake them up, when she saw blood on the floor. It dripped a trail over to Mugen's futon.

She walked over to his futon and lightly tapped him.

"Mugen? Mugen hey are you okay?" she asked.

When he opened his eyes the window let in a shine from the sun that made Fuu glow like an angel.

He thought it was a dream as he softly said:
"Fuu." He stroked her face with back of his index finger, half asleep. Fuu blushed as he did; she felt a tingle rush down her spine as he said her name.

He turned over on his back and cried in pain, which woke him all the way up.

His shoulder was stained with blood and had a deep wide cut.

"Mugen your arm!" Fuu cried.

"Now hold still, or I will stab you again." Mejia said as she patched up his shoulder. She stitched his wound closed.

"There, all done." Mejia said cutting off the last string.

"How did you hurt yourself?" asked Fuu.

"It was nothing okay, just drop it!" Mugen bellowed as he slipped back on his shirt and walked out the inn.

"Mugen! Mugen wait!" Fuu called as she chased after him.

Mugen rolled his eyes as her piercing voice flowed through his ears. She ran up to him with a worried look on her face.

"What?" asked Mugen as she came up to him.

"Why won't you tell me what happened to your arm?" she asked him.

"Its none of your business okay. Go play with Tomato!" He said walking away from her.

"Totomi," she said.

"What?" Mugen replied.

"His name is Totomi not Tomato! You Jackass!" she shouted.

"Whatever!" he shouted back.

"AAAAHHHH! THERE'S A DEAD MAN OVER THERE! IN THE WOODS!" a young woman cried as she stumbled down the road spilling water everywhere.

Mugen eyes got wide…as Fuu became silent.

He heard her quick footsteps come up behind him. Her squinty little face came in front of him.

"Mugen? Did you do that?" She asked scarcely. Mugen was silent for a moment, his eyes shifted away from her.

"He started it." He said walking away from her. He left Fuu with a sadden look on her face, and a chill in her heart. She had thought about when he said her name back in the inn. And all she could say sadly was:

"Mugen…"

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: I promise next chapter will be better! This one kinda blows