-whistles happily-

Chapter 6

Kumiko sighed and said as they walked up to the house with the bags, "We're home."

'She said 'we' again.' Jin thought, but this time he let all the joy from the first time he heard it surface to his face.

"Why are you smiling like that?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? How could it be 'nothing'?"

"Ah, just thinking about you punching somebody again."

Kumiko clucked her tongue and said, "Get over that will ya? You kept giggling in my ear the whole way home!"

The rest of the day Kumiko showed Jin the different places that were near her house. The river, the garden she made, and the different trees that grew around. She also told him about how she came to live here, and all her ideas she had for the future. She even told him how Sonne came and went as he pleases instead of being locked up in a pen all day. Jin listened; he listened to everything she said. He found it fascinating that she lived here alone and actually survived. He also thought it was interesting that her horse didn't have a pen.

'How strange,' he thought to himself.

In turn, Jin told her a little about his past, not much, but some. He told in more detail about Fuu and Mugen. He told her how Fuu was a fantastic gambler and that she could probably stomach a feast. Kumiko laughed when she heard this. He told her how Fuu was searching for a samurai that smelt of sunflowers and how they have journeyed together to find him.

"She hasn't told us much about this samurai, but we will find him, I'm sure of it." Jin said to Kumiko.

Then he told her about Mugen, the rough and bull-headed criminal. He told her how they first met and how compelled Mugen was to kill him. He told her how different they were, but how close they have become.

"We may not really like each other, but I think we understand each other. Fuu and Mugen have sort of become my family. I want you to meet them" He said to Kumiko.

"I would love to meet them." she said with a smile.

"I know they may sound strange, but they really are nice people…I think."

Kumiko laughed when she heard this, "You have strange friends, but they sound fun!"

"Yeah, Fuu and Mugen were kind of my first true friends."

"Everybody needs one."

Jin nodded and stared up at the stars.

'It is amazing how easily I can talk to her. I didn't realize we talked this long though.' he thought.

They were both lying on the grass staring up at the sky.

"Um, Kumiko?"

"Yes."

Jin hesitated and then said, "I'm going to have to return to them, you know that right?"

Sadness crept across Kumiko's face, "Yes, I know. I was wondering when you would bring this up…"

The beautiful silence suddenly grew uncomfortable.

"When do you plan on leaving?" Kumiko asked.

"When you say I can leave." Jin answered.

"You can leave whenever you want. Your wounds are practically healed."

'The thing is…I don't really want to leave you Kumiko…' Jin wished he could say that out loud, but he couldn't just abandon Fuu and Mugen.

"If you have to leave…I wish that you would just leave." Kumiko said. Her voice was thick was sadness.

Though what she just said sounded cold, Jin knew what she meant.

"But can you promise me one thing?"

"Whatever you want."

"Could you just…come back to me?"

Jin turned his head to stare at her.

"You don't have to stay if you don't want to. Just come back to visit me one last time."

Jin nodded and said, "I would be a heartless fool if I didn't come back to see my savior."

Tears were welling up in Kumiko's eyes, "When will you leave?"

"I think I should leave tomorrow. I want to get the good byes over with. I hate good byes."

"Me too."

"Do you know where you are going to go?" Kumiko asked in the morning.

"Yes, before I got injured, my friends and I were heading towards a town to the east."

"…I will take you as far as I can on Sonne." she said to him.

"You don't have to do that Kumiko." Jin said with a shake of the head.

"I know, but you would be an idiot not to take me up on the offer. Think of the energy you will save."

"Thank you." Jin replied and then thought, 'What else could I have said?'

A sad smile came across Kumiko's face as she handed him a bag, "There is some food and some…money in it."

"Kumiko, I don't need any of your money." He said this firmly and started to dig in the bag to give it back to her.

"Just keep it Jin. It could be helpful for you are your friends while you are one the road." At that she got one Sonne and beckoned for him to do the same. He complied.

They cantered at a gentle pace for a good amount of time and then came to a walk. Jin thought that she was going to stop to let him off, but she didn't. They kept walking.

"I don't want you to get too far away from your home." Jin said to her as he looked back. They were really far away.

"What is the point of saying that now?"

"I don't know."

Kumiko smiled.

They picked up the canter again once Sonne was rested. They were cantering too long in Jin's opinion.

"What are you doing?" he asked Kumiko, "your horse will get sick if you push him too hard."

"I'm letting him canter alone. I'm letting him canter until he decides he wants to stop. Wherever he stops you will continue on foot." She replied.

They continued for even longer than what Jin thought was the horse's maximum distance.

'These horses from Arabia are pretty amazing.' He thought to himself.

Finally after a long trip Sonne was slowing down, first to a trot where he continued for another long while then to a walk, where he still continued.

"Is he doing this on purpose or something?" he asked Kumiko.

"Probably. I swear this horse can understand exactly what we say."

It was nighttime again before the horse stopped. And that is exactly what he did. He just stopped.

"Sonne says it's time to go Jin." she said her voice full of sadness like the night before.

Both Jin and Kumiko got off Sonne's back, who walked off to a creek nearby to treat himself to water.

"So it is finally goodbye." she said to Jin.

Jin nodded and stared at her.

'What can I say?' he thought.

Kumiko nodded back and looked down to the ground. Jin watched her and then quickly lifted her chin and kissed her. Just one soft, but affectionate kiss was all he could give her. He heard horse hooves coming and obviously so did Kumiko, for she pulled back from the kiss and walked towards Sonne. She mounted him quickly and galloped off, not the smooth canter that he experienced with her, but a full gallop. Jin could swear later he could see the tears flying off her face at the speed she went on. She looked back only once before she disappeared in the clearing.

A single tear went down Jin's face, 'I'll come back. Believe me Kumiko; I will come back to you.'

He wiped the tear away from his face and started walking. He was surprised at the distance that Sonne had taken him. He didn't have that long of a walk left.

'How could I have a long walk left? The horse cantered all day long.' he thought.

"Well, Sonne, It is just you and me once again." Kumiko said to the horse, "Do you really think he will come back to visit?"

The horse nickered.

Kumiko smiled and said, "I do, too."

Sonne walked slowly. It was a mile before he stopped.

"I guess we can pitch camp," Kumiko said and then smiled, "Let's camp out for a few days. I haven't done this in a long time."

For an answer Sonne stretched his back leg out and then stretched his front legs by leaning his body downwards so it gave him a bowing appearance.

"That is a good enough answer for me." Kumiko said and for the nights she did sleep out in the woods, she dreamed of only Jin.