Tangled

Chapter Four: The Frayed Ends

By Naoko Asakura

Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Champloo… Don't hurt me! Waah!

Author's Note: Wow! A lot of people seem to like this story! Thanks for all the reviews, guys! They really help!


The sun was limpid on the horizon, giant and orange. The heat seemed to sweep over everything in pulses and waves. The fields of grass looked as if they were waves of fire, and the only thing strong enough to cross the heated field was the dark-clothed man whose glasses reflected like mirrors against the sun.

A bead of sweat streaked down his face, and he rubbed it from his jaw roughly. With a short and hard sigh, he squinted against the light. He was lucky he could barely make out the onsen. It looked as if it were painted with live colors against the dark mountain.That's it then. He thought, quickening his pace. The faster he went, the faster he could meet up with his comrades. For a moment, he wondered why he didn't just abandon them to go off on his own. He shrugged these wistful thoughts… He knew that he was bound to them until fate saw to it that their destinies should separate.

Of course, Jin didn't really believe in fate.


Fuu didn't want to come out.

Her red-rimmed eyes ached, and although she was surrounded by warm water and intensely heavy steam, she felt cold inside. Entertaining thoughts of just sinking to the bottom of the hot spring and staying there, her fingers strayed to the rosy marks at the base of her throat.

"Fucking Mugen…" She muttered, her insult half-hearted. He wasn't even there to retort. She flipped her wet hair back, spraying water over the floor behind her. She drew her knees to her chest.What if he left…? She wondered, her heart swelling with sadness. Her eyes shifted, not seeing the door leading outside, but acknowledging it. She sunk deeper into the water, her hair floating about her cheekbones. He would, if it weren't for Jin.

If one were looking, they could see her tears flow into the water.


After Mugen had left, he didn't get very far. In fact, he had just shut the door, walked towards the room, then slumped silently against the wall opposite the hotspring's. His half-lidded eyes stared into emptiness, and suddenly his head tilted to the side limply.

I love you.

No one had ever told him that. Well, they had, but they never really meant it. He was certain of that. Every time someone had made a declaration as such, they always ended up over him in the night, a knife ready at his throat. Ready to betray him.

I love you.

He'd always disregarded the use of these words in the same sentence. Hell, he'd always disregarded the word "love" on it's own. Sure, he loved food, brothels, fighting… No person, though. He didn't need to love anyone. Just general things suited him fine.

I love you.

Still though… The way she said it; The way she looked up at him as he pinned her down on the hard stone floor. Sure, his knees were uncomfortable against the rough surface, but that had been the least of his worries. His primary thoughts were focused on the brown eyes with the warmth directed towards him.

I love you.

He straightened his neck and ran his long fingers through his hair. He certainly wasn't expecting her to say that to him. Then again, she was a young girl. Not some old wench just looking for a good fuck or two. She was… Well, she was Fuu. Fuu wasn't a wanton whore like the others. He'd already decided that she was off limits long before, but somehow, he just couldn't handle all of her adorable quirks and purity.

I love you.

He certainly didn't hate her. He didn't dislike her, he didn't even just like her.

It was then that he recalled every time she'd attempt to make conversation with another man, especially when that other man was Jin, his heart would burn with jealously.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" He grunted softly, debating just tearing through the wall opposite him. As he was raising his foot, he heard the front door open. In a moment, the dark robed samurai that he considered dead already was at his side, looking down on him blankly.


Jin had never seen Mugen looking so sorry in all of his days of traveling with the wayward man. The corners of his lips tugged into a slight frown. They stared at each other for a moment before Mugen sighed and stood up.

"If you're looking for Fuu, she's taking a bath. I'll be waiting outside." He stated quietly. Jin didn't reply, but sat down in Mugen's place. His head turned just slightly to the right, he stared at the door to the hot spring with mild curiosity. Just what had happened between Mugen and Fuu?

…Not that he really cared or anything.


A day had passed since the trio had left the onsen in an awkward silence. They'd walked for nearly three hours, feeling oppressed under the heat of the night until they arrived in civilization. The local inn was luckily cheap, so they all took closet-sized bedrooms for themselves.

Fuu sat on her futon, which took up most of what she might've called a room if it actually had a window and decorations, staring at the door blankly. Her mind was still filled with thoughts pertaining to Mugen's harshly quiet rejection.

Jin, whose "room" was inbetween Fuu's and Mugen's, was already half asleep, his jet black hair fanned out against the pillow. His confusion had long since died with the sole thoughts of getting some place cooler. Content with his current lodgings and it's temperature, he fell into a dreamless, emotionless sleep.

Mugen grumbled crossly and fell back against the softness of his futon. He glared at the ceiling and bared his teeth at the worry that loomed over his head.She's going to think I'm a retard… There's no way I'm going in there all mushy saying that I love her. There's no fucking way! He rolled onto his side and shut his eyes, only to be met with images of the young girl underneath him, her fingers tangled in his… Even her breath tickling his bare chest. He was so tempted to break something.

Nearly an hour passed by, Mugen still fantasizing about things that could have happened back at the abandoned onsen. He opened his eyes when the feeling of profound annoyance swept over him. First she says that she loves me, now she doesn't talk to me? He let out an audible grumble, and was met by a thump of Jin's heel against the wall that they shared. Even more annoyed, Mugen rose from his bed, only to bump his head loudly on the ceiling. He hissed in pain, only to be further irritated by another thump in return.

"That fucking tears it!" He growled, opening his door and stomping down to a certain girl sat.