Title: Enemies of the Heart (working title)

Author: Neldluva

Fandom: Samurai Champloo

Rating: R

Pairing: Jin/Mugen

Warnings: yaoi, naughty language, liberties taken with the show's timeline, PWP-ish, ANGST

Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to those who created Samurai Champloo ... and made it so delightfully slashy. The only person I own is Kumiko, and her story is mine as well.

Summary: Mugen tries to figure what's up with Kumiko.

As they were leaving the town they had been staying in, Fuu and her growing group of bodyguards came to a road block.

"Oh no, not another check point!" she cried, clutching at the sleeves of her kimono. "We still don't have travel passes…"

"I don't think this is a check point, Fuu," Jin said, frowning slightly. Suddenly, he felt Kumiko grip his hand. "What is it?"

"Those are Hojo guards," she whispered to him. "I told you Rinji is looking for me. They've caught up to me." Her hand dropped to her katana.

"You have a very good disguise," he answered in the same tone. "Let us try to get past without violence, yes?" He sought eye contact with Mugen and nodded at him. "No swords unless absolutely necessary."

Mugen nodded back, giving his grudging agreement. This road block did not make him dislike Kumiko any less, though he would've liked to rough up the guys who seemed set on stopping them.

"Hey, have any of you seen a girl wandering around?" one of the men asked, stepping in front of their group. "She's a little older than this one you've got, and about this tall."

"Nope, haven't seen her," Mugen replied airily.

"You sure? There's good reward money if you bring her in."

Mugen's eyes lit up for a moment at the mention of money, but Jin was already shaking his head. "I'm sorry, we haven't met anyone of that description. Good day."

"Hey, aren't you a little short for a samurai?" another of the men asked, grabbing Kumiko's sleeve.

"Let go of me," Kumiko said softly, pulling her katana loose in case she was forced to fight.

"Hey, what's the big deal, we just want to bring you over for some questions…" The man yanked her to face him and frowned slightly when he saw her face. "You look famili – uh … er…"

He looked down to see Kumiko's katana sticking from his belly. She removed it, and he uttered one more sickening gurgle before falling at her feet.

"That's her!" the men shouted. "Get her!"

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about!" Mugen shouted, ready to jump into the fray when he felt a hand tug at the collar of his gi. He spun around and glared at Jin. "Hey, what the hell?"

The corner of Jin's mouth turned up just a bit in what may or may not have been a smile, and he yanked Mugen back into place.

Fuu, meanwhile, was transfixed as she saw Kumiko fight. Her style was similar to Jin's, yet somehow much fiercer. Fuu had always thought that Jin looked like he was dancing when he fought, but Kumiko just looked angry. And she was good, no doubt about that. It took her only a short time to dispatch the ten guards that had been blocking their way. Once finished, she straightened and replaced her sword, calmly eyeing her companions.

"Fuck, girl, you could've left us at least one," Mugen grumbled.

"You were too slow," Kumiko replied smoothly, giving Mugen a sweet smile. "Next time, move a little faster and you might get in on the action."

Jin smiled and touched her shoulder. "I'm glad you've kept up your training," he said proudly. "Now let's get going before we attract attention."

That night, Mugen sat alone before the small campfire, chewing his lip and thinking. Fuu and Kumiko were taking a bath, and Jin had wandered off to meditate in peace. Mugen leaned against a tree, staring into the fire and trying to figure Kumiko out. A week they had been traveling together, and not once had she let something slip. It was starting to bother him. Even Jin had been easier to read.

He looked up as he heard quiet footsteps from the direction of the creek. It had to be Kumiko … Fuu would have been louder, and Jin had gone in the opposite direction. He stood up and slid into the shadows. Sure enough, Kumiko entered the clearing not a moment later, her wet hair dripping against the back of her kimono. She bent and swung her hair over her shoulder, squeezing it to get the excess water out.

Mugen leapt up behind her, grabbing her wrists and pinning her face-first against a tree, knocking his leg between hers so she couldn't kick at him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she spat at him, twisting so that the side of her face was pressed against the tree and trying to look him in the eyes. "When Jin comes back, he'll…"

"Quiet!" Mugen hissed. "You're going to give me some answers, and you're going to give them now!" He spun her around and glared down at her.

She returned his gaze angrily. "What do you want?" she growled, struggling to free her wrists from his grasp. "You want to rape me, is that it? Well, let me tell you, if you try anything I'll rip off your…"

"Shut up!" Mugen said, rolling his eyes. "You dumb bitch, can't you stay quiet for a moment? No, I'm not going to rape you. Do I look stupid?" Kumiko looked like she was going to reply, but she wisely kept her mouth closed. "Good. Now, what're you doing?"

"What do you mean? I'm traveling with you and Jin and Fuu."

Mugen gritted his teeth. "No, I mean, why did you come out looking for Jin? Why are you sticking with us? You are hiding something, girl, and I'm gonna find out what it is."

Kumiko pressed her lips firmly together, stubbornly refusing to answer him. Mugen sighed with exasperation and loosened his grip on her wrists. "I can't figure you out, kid," he said quietly, letting the ferocity leave his eyes. "C'mon, we both care for Jin. I just want to know if we're caring the same way."

"Let go of me and I'll talk," Kumiko replied in the same tone. "I see no reason for us to be enemies, if what you say is true." Mugen complied, and Kumiko rubbed at her wrists. "Thank you. Let's sit."

"You stallin' for a reason?" Mugen grumbled as he crouched by the fire.

"Listen, I don't have to tell you anything," Kumiko replied shortly. The flames cast dancing shadows over her angular face that was so much like Jin's. "So, are you going to listen or not?"

"Yeah," Mugen grunted, staring evenly at her.

"Good." She sat in a cross-legged position, her hands clasped calmly in her lap. "I don't know if Jin told you what happened at the dojo…"

"He did."

She looked at him with some measure of surprise. "I didn't expect him to have so much trust in you."

"He said he told me 'cause I wouldn't understand." Mugen picked at the dirt under his nails. "Sometimes, I can't figure that guy out."

Kumiko nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I was the one who found him after … after what happened," she continued, keeping her voice quiet. "I must have been only Fuu's age. He was close to dead, I think, but I got him to a doctor and stayed with him until he was healed. He – he didn't speak for a long time."

She bowed her head, letting her damp hair cover her face. "I woke up one morning to find him gone. He had taken his daisho and his clothes and just left, without even a word to me. I was so worried, but I couldn't go out and look for him. Already I had been too long from my brother's house. Then, as soon as I was home, Shoichi had me married."

She looked up at Mugen, and he discovered that her eyes really weren't anything like Jin's. Jin's eyes were calm and still, like an undisturbed pond, and Mugen could rarely read them. Kumiko's eyes were whirling, blazing, twisting with emotion, and so easily read. Mugen had to look away and turn his face back towards the fire.

"All I want is to look after my brother the same way he looked after me for so long," she said, her voice strong with determination. "I want to see that he is taking care of himself, and I want him to be happy."

"I'm taking care of him just fine," Mugen said gruffly.

Kumiko scoffed. "Excuse me if I am skeptical. I am not sure if a mangy pirate from Ryukyu is fit to take care of Jin. Neither of us is part of the Takeda family anymore – he for the crime of killing Mariya Enshirou, and I for disobeying our brother and leaving my husband. We are the only family we have left. Though I suppose you wouldn't know anything about that."

Mugen felt an angry retort rise to his lips, but before he could reply to her, Jin returned to the camp. He narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing the tension between the two. "Did I interrupt something?" he asked with no intention of leaving.

"Mugen and I were just having a talk," Kumiko replied smoothly, combing her fingers through her hair and tying it back. "Everything is fine."

Jin had only to look at Mugen's scowling face to see that everything was not fine, but he thought it wiser to remain silent. Fuu returned, and Mugen rose and rolled his shoulders, sending Jin an unreadable glance before stalking off towards the river. Jin allowed himself a sigh of frustration.

"Kumiko, please try to get along with him," he said quietly. "It would mean a great deal to me."

"What happened?" Fuu asked, her eyes round with worry. "Did you have a fight?"

Silence stretched for a moment as neither answered her. Jin decided to break it. "I'm going to bathe as well," he announced. "Try not to kill each other." With that, he walked off after Mugen in the direction of the river.

He hadn't expected Mugen to be waiting for him, back to the glade and shoulders tense. He walked until he was close enough to touch Mugen's untamed hair and gently stroked the soft strands.

Mugen shoved him away with a soft growl. "I'm not a fucking cat," he hissed, turning his back again and clasping his elbows with his hands.

Jin narrowed his eyes angrily, spinning Mugen around and yanking him close for a fierce kiss. Mugen struggled, trying to push Jin away once more, but Jin forced him back against a tree and forcefully pinned him in place. The kiss became even more violent, and both tasted blood, though it was impossible to figure out whose it was. Mugen pulled Jin's head closer, at last succumbing to his need to touch and be touched. When at last they parted, their lips were tinged red with blood, and they both panted heavily as they fumbled at the knots in Jin's obi.

"It's been a fucking week and you've hardly touched me," Mugen growled, nearly succeeding in ripping Jin's clothes from his body.

"It's difficult enough to get privacy with Fuu around," Jin replied, hastily unwrapping and untying. "And even worse with Kumiko. We don't need an audience."

Mugen could only offer a low moan in response. He finally had his fingers against Jin's bare skin, and the promise of a good, sound fucking was more than he could resist. He extracted a small container of oil from a pocket while Jin pushed his shorts down. They had discovered the oil, which was probably intended for cooking, several days ago and had discovered that it made things a great deal easier. He let Jin lower him to the ground, yanking down that cumbersome hakama and liberally applying the oil. Jin leaned closer, kissing Mugen deeply as he thrust in.

Their lovemaking was quick and fierce, more indicative of a primal need than any gentle care. They grunted with each strong thrust, their lips meeting and teeth nipping. Jin's kimono fell open, effectively covering them even though there was no one around to watch. Mugen brought his knees up, providing more leverage as he thrust back against Jin. Mugen was the first to come, burying his face in Jin's shoulder to muffle his shout as he rode out his ecstasy. Jin followed soon afterwards with a long sigh of relief, thrusting twice more as his orgasm faded. He slumped against Mugen. The pirate's fingers stroked at his hair.

"Hey Jin?" Mugen asked softly, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?"

Mugen licked his lips. "Are you happy?"

Jin folded his hands on Mugen's chest and rested his chin on them. "Yes, I suppose so," he answered, eyes half-lidded and hazy with satisfaction even from behind his glasses. "Why?"

"I dunno. Never mind. Let's go get a bath." He pushed until Jin rolled off of him, picking up his shorts as he made his way towards the river and stripping off the rest of his clothes before diving in.

"Shit, it's cold!" he shouted, shaking his head to make the cool water fly.

Jin remained on the riverbank, holding up his hakama with one hand as he watched Mugen bathe. He had just seen an uncharacteristic look of thoughtfulness and concern on the pirate's face, and he wondered what Kumiko could have said to inspire such an expression and the accompanying question.

He felt the cold water land on his face, and he wiped off the splash, glaring playfully at Mugen. "I owe you for that," he promised with a growl, quickly stripping himself and joining Mugen in the cold water.

To be continued!