Interlude

Mugen didn't move for a long time. His legs had acted like roots, and now his body was attached to the floor. He couldn't move. His body refused to. He was still soaking in what Fuu had just told him.

She was pregnant. And not just pregnant, but with his child. It still took it a while to sink into Mugen's brain, and when it did, it felt like a thousand pounds had been lifted from his shoulders. He laughed and rushed forward, seizing Fuu and swinging her around in the air.

"Fuu, this is awesome!" he laughed, his face buried in her chest as she was lifted into the air. She laughed despite herself. "You can call off the wedding now, Fuu, and we can leave and go away and live near the ocean, and I can teach our kid to fight and he'll be able to kick major ass!"

He set Fuu down, and as soon as her toes touched the floor he kissed her deeply and passionately. But Fuu, after a moment, pulled away from him, her eyes full of anguish, "Mugen…what about Jin?"

A voice in the back of his head said 'who cares about that guy?', but Mugen suppressed it.

"Jin?" and then he seemed to remember who that was, and once he did, his eyes widened, "Jin! Oh god, he's gonna kill me. I know, he told me he would. Oh my god, what are we gonna do?"

Fuu teared up again, "I don't know..." she whispered, "I don't know what we're gonna do…"

Mugen let go of her and put a hand behind his head, his face scrunched up in thought, pacing slowly around the room. He scratched his stubbly chin, but this didn't seem to help, for he sat down helplessly, "…I don't know. I've…never done this before. This has never happened to me before."

Fuu walked over and sat next to him on the futon, hugging his arm and lying her head on his shoulder.

"…We're gonna have to tell him," she whispered, "We'll have to call off the wedding."

Mugen glanced down at her, "You..wanna do that Fuu? You really wanna call off the wedding?"

Fuu smiled, nuzzling his shoulder, "Of course I do, Mugen. I'm pregnant with your little boy or girl; with our little boy or girl. I only accepted Jin's propo-"

"I know why you did," Mugen said, gently but dismissively.

Fuu smiled softly, "I love Jin. He's family, and I don't know what I'd do without him. He's my brother. He's one of my best friends. And he's always there for me. But Mugen, you're my lover. Jin…was like my reality. And I thought you were just a dream. But now…" She patted her stomach, "You're the father of our child."

Mugen grimaced at the word 'father', but he let it go this time. Fuu suddenly took his hand and placed it on her abdomen. She looked into his eyes and grinned at his slightly uncomfortable, awkward look.

"There's a life there, Mugen. We made it on that day at the Lake, I think…Do you feel it? Like you can me or Jin or anyone else you can't see, but know that it's there? It's barely there…but I can feel it. Can you? Concentrate…"

Mugen glanced at her, as if asking if he had to, but then looked back down at his hand and closed his eyes. At first, he felt nothing, just the smooth cloth of Fuu's kimono. But then he reached out farther with his mind, and then he could feel her skin, then gradually her veins pumping blood, and then something else…Something foreign. After a bit more probing, he suddenly snatched his hand back.

"I felt it!" He blurted out, "I felt it! It didn't move or anything but it's like I felt it in my mind!"

Fuu laughed. He sounded so dramatic, like a twelve year-old boy who just figured out how to do something that every one else could, like how to whistle. Mugen kept his hands to himself after that, giving Fuu's stomach an occasional, wary glance. Fuu smiled sadly, settling back onto his shoulder, " I don't know what Jin's gonna do...I can't bear the thought of him leaving or never seeing him again."

Mugen sighed softly to himself and rested his cheek on the top of her head, "I don't know wither. I don't want to see him go either…But we still have to do it."

"..I'll tell him," Fuu suddenly said, "You shouldn't be in the room when I do, either. I should be the one to do it."

They sat in silence for a long time. Something inside Mugen was jumping up and down in pure glee and joy, unbelievable of the day's turn-around. But on the outside, he remained calm and quiet.

"What were you talking about earlier, Mugen? About living near the ocean or something?"

"Oh," Mugen smirked, "Nothing. Just a dream."

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Moonlight poured into the guestroom, lighting up Mugen's body, but his face was still in shadow. He couldn't sleep, couldn't even begin to think about sleep. So many things had happened today that it hurt Mugen's brain just to try and think about all of it. He was worried, worried about Jin and how Fuu was going to tell him about their…situation. And how they were going to call off the wedding. He worried about so many things. Especially the whole…father thing.

He wasn't too sure about being a parent… the idea wasn't very appealing to him. Sure, he had been overjoyed at first because that was his way out; their way out of the wedding, and him and Fuu could be together. They could actually be together. And then he thought about it, really though about it. He never had a father, barely remember let alone knew his mother, and had always lived on the streets, and had always done whatever he wanted to do. That was how he learned everything about the world and how cruel it was, learned to fight and to survive.

But now…he was going to be a father. Someone he had never known. He was going to have to teach his kid how to survive- how to fight and all the stuff he had to learn on the streets. But…how? How could he teach something like that? He sighed heavily. He didn't care to admit it, but he was a bit scared.Well…no, not scared. Maybe nervous. Full of anxiety. Confused. OK, sure, and a little fearful. The fact was, he didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to be a father. He's never had to deal with this before. To his knowledge, he'd never gotten a girl pregnant before, and to be honest, it unnerved him a bit.

He suddenly snapped back to reality and sat up. His skin felt clammy and cold, and he shivered- he couldn't stand being in this room. He stood and walked out, taking silent steps as he made his way toward Jin and Fuu's room. He opened the door and stared at the bed- both of them were asleep.

"Fuu!" he hissed, waving his arms. "Fuu, wake up!" he yelled in whispers, "Fuu, come on!"

The girl finally stirred and rubbed her eyes, sitting up. She caught sight of Mugen and her face filled with confusion, "What Mugen?" she mouthed.

He beckoned to her, telling her to come with him. She slipped out of bed without waking Jin and closed the door behind them.

"What is it?" she whispered, her voice sounding a little agitated.

He grabbed her hand and led her into the living room, both sitting down on the couch in the darkness. She yawned and stared at Mugen, her face exasperated for being woken up so early. But then her eyes softened as the moonlight illuminated Mugen's face. He looked completely lost and confused, and his eyes pleaded to her, asking her for help for some unknown thing. She touched his hand gently, "What's wrong Mugen?"

He looked down at his knees, as if ashamed, "I…don't really know what to do Fuu. This whole…dad thing…I mean, what am I going to do?"

Fuu smiled, laughing softly, relieved, "Is that all, Mugen? That's why you're freaking out?"

"Hey, I'm not freaki-"

She laughed again and pulled him into an embrace, "It's ok, Mugen. It's gonna be fine, everything's going to be fine. Listen," she pulled away from him and looked him straight in the eye, "I know you never knew your parents, Mugen. And I can understand why you're not too sure about it and you don't know what to do. But it's ok, because you're not going to be doing it alone. I know that you always take credit for everything even if it's something bad, and I know you're a bit of a control freak, but this is something completely different now."

Fuu smiled, her eyes twinkling, "You're not alone in this, Mugen. I'm going to be a mother, too, remember? It's not going to be dumped all in your lap. You wont' be left all alone. I'll be there to help you. And if you have a question, feel free to ask, " she added with a smile, "It's ok to not know what to do."

Fuu knew Mugen didn't like the unknown; he didn't like not knowing what to do. It really scared him, to be honest. Maybe he was a control-freak; so what if he was? It certainly didn't bother him.

Mugen was still apprehensive. It was still the unknown; the unknown in an area that Mugen didn't feel comfortable in. And he still grimaced at the word "father".

But…he did feel a bit better.

He smirked slightly, "Well, you sure are feeling mighty calm about this. If I recall, you were freaking out this afternoon as much as I was."

Fuu adopted a fake smile, "Just steeling myself for the battle ahead," she said cheerfully.

Mugen gave a smile and kissed her cheek, "Thanks anyway. I just…wanted to talk." He said the last sentence strangely, almost like he couldn't believe he'd actually talk about his problems.

She chuckled, "It's fine Mugen. Anything else you need to talk about?"

He shook his head, but added, "Fuu…sorry about draggin' you out to the Lake today.."

He and Fuu had gone back to the Lake earlier that day, back to the place where they knew they had conceived their child. They had barely talked, and had simply been. Mugen, sitting, leaning against a tree while Fuu sat , wrapped in his arms, leaning against his chest as they watched a sunset in mutual, beautiful silence.

Fuu smiled at Mugen and stood up, "Alright. I better get back to bed."

She turned to head back down the hallway.

"..Know what you're gonna say to Jin yet?"

She stopped dead in her tracks and was silent for a long time. Then, "I think I do," and she disappeared into the darkness.

Mugen sighed and propped his feet up onto the table, drinking in the night and peace while he still could.

XxXxXxXxXxX

As Fuu crawled back into bed, Jin stirred, "What's up Fuu?" he murmured sleepily.

Fuu settled back, "Nothing. I heard something strange so I went to check it out."

"What was it?"

"Just Mugen. He was sick. Too much sake."

"Figures."

And soon they were both back asleep.