A/N: I apologize for the incredible lack of updates. To be honest I've been really busy and really lazy all at the same time. How is everyone enjoying the story thus far? Good? Eh? EH? Just keep the reviews coming in please. I hope this long awaited chapter does not disappoint anyone for whatever reasons. Enough babbling from me…
Disclaimer: Sigh Claiming that I do not own Fuu, or the deliciously foxy Jin and Mugen makes me sad.
Onward and upward…shall we?
Dreams are a funny phenomenon. Sometimes they could be about absolutely nothing, while they could sometimes be about everything you hold inside of you. Strangely enough, both of our uniquely quirky leading men experienced a strange and bewildering set of dreams and nighttime thoughts.
Mugen slept easily on his mat inside the inn. Even though he hated to admit this, he had been wondering how Jin and Fuu were getting along. His decision had been rash and he knew it, but now he was free to do whatever he wanted whether they approved or not. Mugen laid his head down, hoping for dreams of big breasted women and overflowing cups of booze, but instead, he received something quite different.
''Hey Mugen, I've missed you.'' The bubbly, chestnut haired girl threw her arms around him, embracing him with all her strength. Mugen didn't even need to see the young woman's face to know who had just greeted him so warmly, although it was definitely out of character for her. ''Fuu? Is it really you?'' He pulled her off of him so he could take a good look at her face. She was definitely older and her body had matured well. 'Extremely well,' Mugen mentally noted. The last time he remembered seeing her, Fuu's body hadn't quite developed into a woman's, but now…now he was shocked he even recognized her. She still wore the same pink kimono; however it now hugged her body like a glove, leaving nothing to imagination. "Of course it's me you idiot, don't you recognize me? It's only been a couple months," Fuu reminded him while placing her hands on her hips. 'Hips? When did she get those?' Mugen was extremely confused, 'What is she talking about?' Fuu kept reprimanding him on the fact that he didn't even remember her, but Mugen was lost in his own thoughts, wondering about what the hell had happened in the past months.
"Mugen, are you listening? Hello?" Fuu began waving her hand in front of Mugen's face in an attempt to get his attention. Mugen shook himself out of his temporary trance. "Uh...sorry. So, where's Jin?" Fuu's attentive and smiling face turned downward. "We agreed to stop looking for The Samurai Who Smells Like Sunflowers. We were getting nowhere. The last I heard from him was that he had left to find Shino. I miss him a lot. I missed both of you. For now, I've been living here in Kyoto. Haruka-san has put me in charge of the Tanaka Teahouse during nights. It's hard for her to stay on her feet all day. I'm headed home right now, would you care to come with me? If you're still the same Mugen, then you're probably hungry. You always were." Mugen smiled and nodded in affirmation. "Well, then follow me" Fuu turned around and headed west towards the setting sun.
A breeze had started picking up on their way to Fuu's home, causing her stray wisps of hair to dance around her face. The orange glow from the sun spread an ethereal radiance across her face. Mugen couldn't help but continually glance at her as they walked. Fuu stopped in front of her house. It was a small, black, cottage-like building. She opened the door and stepped inside, ushering Mugen inside as well. ''This is it," Fuu displayed with her arms outstretched. The first thing that Mugen noticed was a sword that had been hung on the wall. It was sheathed in dark blue. He knew immediately that it had belonged to Jin. "It was a gift before he left. I told him that I couldn't accept it, but you know Jin, he's very stubborn at times." Fuu's home wasn't extravagant but it fit her. The last room she showed him was her bedroom. She smiled as she walked in. "I finally get to sleep on a bed for a change." They both laughed at her statement, knowing the kinds of odd places that had once served as their beds. 'This is awkward,' Mugen mused, 'usually we'd be arguing by now.' Fuu and Mugen stood staring at one another, not making a sound. "I really don't know what to say. Our conversations never usually lasted this long and they weren't as civil either," Fuu said, breaking the silence. Mugen laughed softly, "You took the words right out of my mouth." Fuu smiled, "Maybe it's because we're adults now." Mugen laughed loudly, "You're still the little, loud-mouthed, flat-chested shrimp I knew back then." Fuu pouted, practically fuming out her ears. "You haven't changed, Mugen! I should have known this wouldn't last long. Why won't you see me as other than a little girl? I don't understand." Mugen sighed. Fuu was looking right at him, staring right into his eyes. "I want an answer," she shouted, "please." Mugen stood there in silence, waging a war inside his head. 'Don't feel sorry for her. She should be used to this.' 'She has changed. Just look at her. She's beautiful.' Mugen thought he was going crazy. He was practically arguing with himself. "I don't think you're a little girl anymore." Fuu's eyes narrowed. It looked like she was trying to physically shoot daggers at Mugen's face using her eyes. "Dammit Mugen, you're such a liar." Mugen was stunned. Here he was trying to apologize and she calls him a liar. 'I don't blame her after all the shit you put her through.' 'Oh shut up.' 'Great, just great. I'm talking to myself again.' Mugen stepped forward in an effort to subdue the enraged Fuu, causing Fuu to back up in confusion. They continued this motion; Mugen with his steady advance and Fuu with her retreat. Soon, there was no more ground for Fuu to back away anymore. She felt the hard, discouraging sensation of her bedroom wall pressed against her back. Mugen stopped a foot away from the startled Fuu. "Fuu, you know I'd never hurt you. Not on purpose." Fuu stepped forward, closing the gap between them. She placed her hands on his face, one on each of his cheeks, rubbing them with the pads her thumbs. "Why did you leave me?" Fuu looked intently into his eyes, searching for an answer, any answer. Mugen had no answer to give or rather he had no answer that he wanted to share. Mugen could care less about his actions, but his feelings were another story. As far as anyone was concerned he had no feelings, and it was going to stay that way, no matter who it was. Mugen removed Fuu's hands from his face and held them in his. He dipped his head down and kissed Fuu gently on the lips. He meant for this to be a gesture of goodbye, but was surprised to find that Fuu had slipped her hand to the back of his head. She pressed his head forward, applying more pressure to his unexpectedly soft lips. Mugen laid his hands on Fuu's hips, guiding her to the direction of her bed…
Mugen sat up with a start. He had broken out into a cold sweat during his sleep. His blankets were sticking to his legs and his hair had been matted down by the perspiration. "Dammit! What the hell was that all about!" Mugen was visibly shaken and disturbed by his fantasy. 'No, no! It was not a fantasy, but it definitely wasn't a nightmare. Wait...what!' Mugen felt like punching the nearest moving target, but decided against it because it could mean spending the rest of the night in some place less comfortable than his room. Mugen sighed and looked down towards his shorts. "I think I need a cold shower, a really cold shower." Mugen stood up and left his room in search for the nearest bath house or spring.
While Mugen was enshrouded in comfortable blankets and the warmth from the inn, Jin rested his back against a cold, unpleasant wall. The hard compacted dirt under his body did nothing to make him feel relaxed. He tried not to think about the situation that he and Fuu were in at the moment, but it plagued him like a mosquito, an extremely persistent mosquito. He opened one eye and glanced over at Fuu's snoring form. She had been so exhausted and he could still feel the heat of Fuu's body where it had pressed against his when he carried her. The moonlight shone through the only window in the cabin, landing on Fuu's serene face. Her bun had come slightly undone, leaving some strands positioned across her neck and face. Her face was tilted towards the corner of the wall she rested against and he watched her take in a deep breath. 'Fuck Mugen, Fuu can be absolutely breathtaking.' He furrowed his eyebrows at his most recent, revealing thought. 'I definitely should not be thinking of this.' Jin shook his head. His brief admiration of Fuu's beauty had made him feel disloyal to Shino. 'So what, Jin? You don't even know where she is right now. Why are you still holding on to her?' Jin sighed at his realizations. Maybe she had forgotten all about him. 'Who knows how long this journey will take and how long it'll be before I'll be able to see Shino? If I can even find her…' His disheartening thoughts had worn him out. He hoped for sleep to end these feelings of his. Oh how wrong he was…
"Jin? Jin, wake up!" Jin felt a small pair of hands grab the front of his robe and attempt to shake him into consciousness. He clutched the pair of hands, ceasing their erratic shaking. He opened his eyes to find the most intriguing brown eyes he'd ever seen. "Fuu, what are you doing?" Fuu rolled her eyes and pulled Jin to his feet. "What am I doing? What are you doing? I've never seen you sleep in so late. In fact, I've never seen you sleep in at all, but we have to go. We have work, remember?" Jin brushed his hair back and gave Fuu a polite nod. They both took off at a run back to Kyoto. He hoped Yuki-san would forgive him if he was late. Jin and Fuu soon reached Kyoto and began weaving in and out of the crowds. He reached the eel stand in record time, bowing in front of Yuki. "I apologize for being late." The old woman laughed and said "It's no problem. I know what it's like to be young and in love." Jin was confused, incredibly confused. He suddenly realized that Fuu was still with him. He looked over towards her, but her only reply to the elderly woman's comment was a shrug. "Oh no, you don't under-'' Jin said in attempt to clarify. The woman smiled at the both of them. "It's perfectly fine. Better late than never, I suppose." Yuki made sure Jin still knew what to do then waved goodbye and left. Fuu mouthed the word 'sorry' and ran off to her own job, shouting back "Have a good day, Jin. I'll meet you back at the cabin." Jin looked at the running Fuu until her frame became smaller and smaller and he could no longer see her.
By the end of the day, Jin reeked of eel. He knew Fuu would complain the entire night if he came back to the cabin smelling of eel. He could already picture the scenario in his head. He laughed, but knew he probably wouldn't find it as humorous if it actually happened. He stopped in at the Tanaka Teahouse to see if Fuu was still working. He didn't like the thought of her walking back to the cabin by herself. A kind woman who worked there said the Fuu had left a few minutes ago saying that she was ready to go home. Since Fuu would probably already be asleep by the time he got back to the cottage, Jin decided to ask if there was a nearby hot spring. The woman pointed him in the write direction and gave him instructions on where it was. Jin left the teahouse and headed in the way the woman had pointed. 'God, I smell horrible.' Jin's own repulsive odor made him travel ever more quickly to the hot spring.
Jin arrived at the spring and was thankful that no one else was present. The last time he remembered going to a hot spring, he encountered a very odd man. Jin undressed himself and removed his glasses. He slowly slid his body into the water, adjusting to the hot temperature. Jin waded in up to his neck, relaxing the rest of his body. He let out a soft, soothing 'ah' as he tilted his head back. He let his hair out of his normal ponytail, dipping it into the water. He closed his eyes and let the warmth of the water surround him like a blanket. He hoped that Fuu had made it back to the lodge safely. Maybe he shouldn't be here. Maybe he should go check if Fuu was alright. Jin was startled from his worrisome thoughts by the sound of a splash of water. He looked around and saw a blurry shape break the surface of the water. "Hello? Who's there?" Jin said as he felt around for his glasses. He heard a gasp from the other person. It sounded like a woman. Jin reached his glasses and put them on. He recognized her at once. It was her. It was Fuu. She was trying to get out of the spring as quickly as possibly, while trying to cover up as much of her body as she could. Jin had to smile to himself. This was very amusing and Jin couldn't help but laugh at Fuu's attempts. Fuu turned around, following the sound of Jin's laugh. When she saw who was at the other end of the spring, her eyes widened in shock and embarrassment. As Fuu tried to turn forward on heel, she slipped on the wet rocks surrounding the spring, sending her sprawling into the hot water below. Jin immediately stopped laughing and rushed to where she had fallen. "Fuu! Fuu, dammit, get up!" Jin began reaching around in the water, desperately searching for anything that felt human-like. He found her! He grabbed her arms and hoisted her up out of the water. Fuu was sputtering and gasping for air. Fuu frantically tried to move her hair out of her face, but was having a bit of trouble. "Here, let me help you," Jin said as he aided her in getting her hair out of the way. Fuu had finally stopped gasping for air and was now staring up at Jin. They stood there for a few moments, standing in the spring, looking at nothing else, but one another. Abruptly, Fuu realized that she was standing in the water, meaning that the top half of her body was exposed. She quickly threw up her hands to cover herself. Jin laughed quietly to himself, smiling down at the self-conscious Fuu. "Uh, Jin…I think I'll see you back at the cabin. Okay?" Fuu turned around to walk away, but was stopped by Jin's hand on her back. Jin stepped closer, almost pressing his chest against her back. He bent his head down and began kissing her shoulders, trailing them up to her neck. Jin finally reached Fuu's ear. He heard her breath hitch in her throat. Jin opened his mouth to say…
Jin awoke with widened eyes and an intensely beating heart. All he could do was look over at Fuu. He was glad she had no idea what had just been going on in his head. He didn't even know what just had happened. His façade of platonic feelings towards Fuu was beginning to unravel. He didn't want to desert her, but he didn't think that staying here right now would be a wise decision. He needed some air badly. He stood up and went over to Fuu, waving his hand in front of her face, reassuring him that she was still asleep. The only thing moving was the rise and fall on her chest as she breathed. Jin quietly and cautiously left the ragged building, stepping into the cool night air. Jin needed a walk. He needed to clear his head. He needed to get away from Fuu at the moment, just the sight of her stirred up a few heated events in his head. He didn't care about what direction he had headed in. All he hoped for was that the night air would calm his nerves and wandering mind. 'So much for thinking that you could treat Fuu like a sister.' Jin's deep rooted feelings had finally surfaced and he would have to deal with them. He didn't know how, but he would.
Fuu had heard Jin wake up, but made no movement in acknowledgment. She could feel the slight breeze of air as Jin waved his hand in front of her face. 'What the hell is he doing?' This was odd behavior for Jin. Sure he was mysterious, but he never tried to secretly sneak away from the group. Jin was a pretty honest man. 'Unlike Mugen. Ugh, not him.' Fuu mentally reprimanded herself for reminding herself of him. She needed to work on getting his name out of her vocabulary and his face out of her head and her dreams for that matter. Fuu yawned. She had fallen asleep for a little while, but remained in her corner with her eyes closed even after she had woken up. She still remembered being in Jin's arms. She had felt so comfortable there, and if hadn't set her down, she probably would have remained there all night. 'Where did he leave to?' She knew she was being nosey if she followed him, but her curiosity got the better of her. She got up and dusted herself off then set off to find Jin and ask him what the hell was going.
A/N: I know it took me awhile to get this up and posted. I did the best I could. I hope everyone liked this last chapter and I hope I left you all very confused about what romance will crop up in this story. I urge you all to review because I'd like to know that I'm writing for an audience and if you guys are pleased with how the story is going. Please…pretty please! -TinyMinx.