A/N: I've been busy as my usual excuse, but I can't wait to finish this story and my other one so that way I can focus on some other stuff. We are nearing the end, so what does this mean for our couple? Let's find out.
Leave two people alone on an island and what will happen? Do you work together because it means your survival? Do you go separate way because it's survival of the fittest? Or do you end up going crazy and ended up falling in love with that person because there's no one else around?
For Fuu and Mugen the answers were a bit more complex. Despite everything they always felt the need to help each other. When they had first met it was because of the fact that Mugen had been hired as a body guard, it wasn't suppose to become personal. Yet when you are alone with someone for so long you end up knowing more and more about who they are even if you never intended to. Even when Mugen had had the opportunity to walk away, for some reason he stayed with her.
It wasn't like Fuu didn't have someone else in her life and it wasn't like she was forgot about Shang. In all reality they hadn't stayed that long on the island, so what did these sudden feelings mean? They knew each other long before the incident so was it just something that was hidden all along? Would it disappear once they returned to the real world?
These were questions they were both wrestling with on the ship. Fuu had been supplied a new kimono and even Mugen managed to get some better clothes. They really hadn't talked much to each other and opted for talking to Jin and asking about how his life had been going. Apparently Jin had been on his way to the same island Fuu and Mugen had been headed off to in order to find a proper home for him and Shino, according to Jin she was pregnant.
"Oh Jin that's wonderful! You're going to be a father," Fuu cheered.
Mugen just stayed cool replying a "congratulations," before lying back on his back and looking at the sky.
Jin nodded and allowed a small smile to grace his lips. "Yes, I am grateful for the chance to be part of a family I believe the last two years of my life have been blessed."
Fuu felt a little hurt by his words because it sounded as if the time with her had been a curse. "So you're really happy huh?"
Jin looked at Fuu with appreciative eyes. "Yes I am very happy and I'm also happy to know my friends will be near."
At that moment Fuu's heart burst with joy. He was glad to see them again and was glad that they would b living in the same area.
Mugen however was in a different mind set. Not only was Fuu almost shot in front of him, but it was Jin who had saved her, not him. What if Jin hadn't shown up? Right now he'd probably be on this ship alone going to god knows where. But what really irked him the most was what Jin had just said about them all being near by, living close to each other. First of all he had never planned on settling down, he didn't even plan on seeing either one of them again and after seeing Fuu nearly get killed again! He was defiantly considering one option once they reached their destination.
The ship pulled into the island and lowered a ramp for its passengers to get off. Mugen quickly scurried off and for a moment Fuu was plagued with fear. After not really talking to her all day and the rest of last night she didn't know were his mind or thoughts were. Was he just going to leave without saying good bye? After everything the just went through?
Fuu quickly grabbed Jin and told him to hurry; she wasn't going to let Mugen go that easily.
Jin on the other hand wasn't sure what to make of the whole situation. For one when he did find Fuu and Mugen they had little clothing left. They also seemed different around each other, usually he expected a squabble or just not much communication at all, but he noted that the two had gone to great lengths not to talk to each other at all. What had happened between them on that island?
When Fuu finally caught sight of Mugen she rushed up beside him, Mugen acted as if she didn't just approach him and kept walking forward looking straight ahead.
"Mugen wait for us!" yelled Fuu.
They all started walking in sync for no more than five seconds when Mugen suddenly whipped around and looked Fuu straight in the eyes. 'Shouldn't you go find your husband?"
Jin was a bit taken aback. Not because Mugen had yelled or even sounded harsh towards her, but because he noticed Mugen actually sounded emotionless and some what sad.
Fuu looked like she was ready to break down and Jin realized immediately what was really going on.
"Mugen…I don't …understand." Fuu couldn't believe what she was hearing from his mouth. Wasn't he the one who had been telling her that she needed someone to watch out for her, or rather in his words, to protect her ass?
Mugen stepped back as to not be so close to her anymore, he knew at any moment she was going to start crying because he knew she wanted to be with him. The problem was is that staying with him just wasn't what she deserved. "Look kid, we had a great thing and all, but lets face it. I'm not going to be your hubby and I'm not going to be able to protect you all the time. You do what you were suppose to do in the first place and marry this guy, you won't have to worry about being in danger…you deserve that shit."
Fuu's throat felt thick and her chin began to quiver. "Well…don't you think that's up to me to decide?" she asked hopefully. She knew what he was getting at. He had been upset by the fact that he came really close to losing her and he also wanted to not put her in danger anymore. It had been his fault that they had ended up on the island in the first place, but how could she make him understand that she was grateful for that?
Mugen took a deep breath already committed to his decision. He was going to let her go and not look back. "Look let's be serious about this. I'm not going to marry you or start a family with you or even stay here and you're not going to wander around with me for the rest of your life being put in danger every five seconds, so…where does that leave us?"
Fuu felt tears pricking her eyes. She wasn't going to win this one. "Um…It leaves us no where I guess."
Mugen nodded. "So lets not make this complicated."
Fuu stepped back a couple of steps before she started begging on her knees for him not to leave. "Oh that's right, I forgot you said you didn't need that shit." She managed to make a soft and sad laugh at the end of her sentence and Mugen managed to smirk back at her. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all.
Mugen looked at her one last time and then at Jin. "Anytime you want your ass kicked, you know who to come to."
Jin kept his face placid and shook his head. "I will see you around," he simply replied.
Mugen then swiftly turned his back away and stated to walk towards nothingness as before. "Enjoyed watching you walk around in almost nothing Fuu."
Fuu bit her lip hard before forcing out an insult. "You perv!"
She kept watching him walk away until he faded away in the crowd of people.
Gone. The word echoed in her head. She never felt so empty before now. It had been so easy for him. Why?
She was suddenly snapped out of her daze when Jin's hand came to her shoulder. She looked up at him with watery eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Fuu brushed away some tears and nodded. "Mmhmm. I'm fine just a little shaken up I guess."
Jin could tell she was trying to hide just how hurt she was. "Fuu if you need anything-"
"What I need is for you to keep in contact with me! We're going to be living in the same village now and I want to know where you'll be staying."
Jin decided it was probably best not to force anything on her right now, she was in a very delicate and fragile state. "I haven't found a residence yet, I need to still look for a proper home."
Fuu shook her head and lightly smacked her head. "Oh duh, I forgot you just got here. Well let me give you the directions to my fiancés house." That word sounded so strange in her mouth now. After she gave Jin the directions she hugged him one last time before walking away. As much as she was happy to see Jin she was also very sad. She needed to be alone right now.
Jin's plans to finding a home had been interrupted. He was going to go after Mugen and talk some sense in the man. He could tolerate the man making plenty of stupid decisions, but this one was just really fucking stupid.
It was close to sun set when Fuu finally arrived at Shang's hut. She was sure he'd be happy to see her, she was supposed to have been here days ago and she realized that their wedding date had also already passed. She wondered if he thought she were dead. Summoning all her strength she brought her hand to the door and knocked, she could hear voices on the other side and foot steps approaching. When the door opened to reveal her fiancé she had to step back a couple feet. He seemed different, almost changed. Then Fuu realized it was her who had changed.
"Fuu!" Shang immediately brought her in his arms and hugged her with all his might. Fuu weakly hugged him back and put on a smile when he released her. 'I can't believe it! I thought you were gone! When you didn't show up that day I just assumed-"
"It's ok," Fuu interrupted. "I got kicked off the boat thanks to an old friend."
Shang's mouth dropped. "Kicked off! How did you survive, you couldn't have swum here."
Fuu couldn't help but laugh a little, yeah if only he knew the real work it took to get here. "No I was deserted on an island not too far from here."
Shang shook his head and embraced her again. "Well as long as you're safe that's all I care about. Maybe it's not too late."
Fuu pulled back and looked at him curiously. "Too late?"
Suddenly Shang's face fell and slowly he opened the door to his hut. Sitting there in the center of the hut was another woman not much older than Fuu. The woman looked sheepishly at Fuu and weakly waved her hand. "Hello…I'm Shang's wife."
That was all Fuu had to hear before she started walking away. She could here Shang's voice calling after her but she ignored it, she didn't even want to look at him. "Fuu! Please, understand."
Fuu finally stopped and stared at him dead in the eye. "Understand! You think I die and you mourn for me by marrying someone else!"
Shang gripped her shoulders and tried to look in her eyes but Fuu refused to meet his. "I thought it be best."
"Best for who?" shouted Fuu. "I thought you wanted to marry me, I didn't know you needed to marry someone just to take care of you!"
"It's not just me it's my mother! She thought it be better if I considered someone else."
At that moment Shang had really messed up. Fuu pushed him off herself. "So I was just a consideration and nothing more to your family?"
Shang lifted his hands as if to beg but he realized there was nothing he could do. "Fuu believe me when I say that I never wanted to hurt you, I mean I really do care about you."
"But you never loved me," Fuu added.
Shang didn't say anything.
Fuu finally took a deep breath and said what she intended to say all along. "It's ok Shang. I actually came here to tell you that I could no longer be your wife after all…because I don't think I really ever loved you either."
Shang looked at her sadly as Fuu stepped forward and gave him one last hug. "Take care of yourself, and your family. Good luck with your wife." With that said Fuu walked away.
-Else where-
Jin had been walking around for a while checking every bar and brothel he came across. Either Mugen was drowning himself in booze or in whores. He finally hit the jackpot when he heard loud swearing coming from a small tea house.
"You telling me dat dis is de best ya got ya jackass."
Jin walked in to find Mugen hunched over a table and shouting at a waiter.
"Please sir, you've already ordered all the alcoholic beverages we've got, don't you think you should take it easy?"
Mugen suddenly swung the bottle at the waiter's head just barely missing. "Don't cha tell me what to do! God just like dat little bitch, always whining always worrying."
'Pathetic' thought Jin. He made his way over to the table and told the young waiter not to worry and that he would deal with him. As soon as Jin sat down some clarity began to return to Mugen.
"Uh…Jin is dat you. Hey! You old bastard! Come for a fight? I may not have my sword thanks to that little bitch, but hey I can still kick your ass!"
Jin shook his head disapprovingly to his friend. "You're pathetic," Jin murmured.
Mugen's eyes suddenly went narrow and dangerous. "What'd you say to me?"
Jin kept his usual cool demeanor as he repeated himself. "I said you're pathetic."
Mugen grabbed one of the many empty bottles beside him and smashed it against the table and pointed the broken piece at Jin. "You shut your fucking mouth. You don't know shit about me or what I've been through."
"I know that you're a fool for letting something go just because you have doubts in yourself. You of all people should be trying to overcome your fears not running from them."
Mugen swung the broken bottle at Jin but he managed to move away just in time. "You son of a bitch, I'm not running from anything! " Mugen continued to try to hit Jin until they both stumbled outside, but in his drunken state Mugen was slow and sloppy and Jin managed to dodge each blow effortlessly. Finally growing tired of Mugen's immaturity Jin brought a foot to Mugen's face and knocked him out cold on his back, Mugen didn't try to get up.
"Man you don't fucking get it," Mugen slurred. "She has some lover boy to watch out for her now, she doesn't need to worry about jack, and she's got it made."
Jin sat down beside Mugen trying one last time to talk some sense in him. "She will always be in danger no matter where she is. No one and nothing can protect her from everything in the world. We all can die at any moment. Fuu is stronger than most, you should know better."
Mugen did know better, for being a twig the little brat was tough. Course anyone would have to be being around him. Funny thing about Fuu was she got tougher without getting meaner; it was like she always managed to stay young and innocent.
"At least she's lucky to have you protecting her as much as possible."
Mugen just grunted and continued to look at the stars.
"You know it's funny," Jin finally said catching Mugen's attention. "There were actually plans being made to start building a new village on the island you two were stranded on."
Mugen shot up into a sitting position. "Are you shitting me?!"
Jin smiled. "In about two days they plan to ship out supplies and start construction. If the two of you had managed to stay a little longer you would've been saved."
Mugen continued to gawk at Jin until he burst out in laughter. Figures that if they had just waited a little longer they wouldn't have gone through all that shit with the pirates. Mugen continued to laugh until he fell back on his back. Once he finally calmed down he began to think about Fuu and wondered if she could've been getting married right now.
"You know word has been circulating around the village that a man named Shang was denied by his fiancé after he married someone else, due to the fact that he thought she was dead."
Mugen's eyes went wide and his energy seemed to return and in a flash he felt sober. At that moment true clarity had returned to him and he realized he had just made a huge mistake.
"I also heard that she plans on leaving on the next ferry."
A/N: Whoo hoo!