In His Name

"You shouldn't have brought him here." Jin poured two cups of tea, his glasses fogging from the steam as he watched the liquid swirl in the mugs.

"I didn't have a choice." Fuu took her cup and sipped delicately. "He was hurt, you should have seen it. The…blood and he was puking right on the side walk." Her eyes lowered as she fingered the rosary around her neck. "It was black."

The priest watched her somber expression as she looked back at the sleeping man on the couch. He new this side of her all too well. She'd always had a need to help and comfort, it often lead to her own misfortune as the people she helped were often of ill intent. Her kindness was frquently taken advantage of. It was a trait most people had these days, even good and honest people it seemed would be swayed to deceitful ways in light of help. He worried that this would be another travesty. "Fuu you don't know this man, he could be a murderer."

She looked back to him with those tea colored eyes. Her expression full of shock and disappointment she sighed. "I thought you of all people would be willing to help. You're the only person in the city I can always rely on Jin." Her hand rested gently on his. A tactic she used often to gambit more tips from clientele. A simple gesture of tenderness and vulnerability that proved usually effective regardless of the circumstances. "Please Jin. Help me with this one thing."

He ignored the feeling of her warm soft hands upon his and looked away from her discerning eyes. At times, he too wished he were not a priest. "If you promise me, you'll not get hurt and not get involved. I couldn't bear to watch another man take liberties with your heart for his own personal gain."

"I wont, I just want to help. If we can reach just one in every few people we try to help that's enough for me." She leaned over the table and kissed his cheek. "Sorry if that's against priestly code, but I had to."

"I think God will forgive me."

The man had been sleeping, though disturbingly, for about four hours. He often called out to people, always threatening them. The worst of his cuts had been bandaged as good as possible with his random thrashing, but there was no way to honestly determine the reason for the black vomit. Jin suspected narcotics, but was unwilling to surrender that opinion to Fuu, who was convinced he was merely a victim of some rouge or swindler. The marks on the underside of his forearms, of course, told a different story.

"Fuu," Jin said calmly taking his seat again. "Perhaps you should go home and get some sleep."

Her eyes fluttered in disbelief as she looked to the man on the couch. "But what about Mugen?"

"Mugen? Is that his name?"

"I think so." She said getting up and moving toward the couch where he lay. "He said it before he passed out I didn't catch the last name though."

"I see." Jin watched her. She knelt and brushed some hair away from his eyes with her hand. He stayed still, seeming to calm under her touch. He wasn't sure, but Jin thought he heard her whisper some comforting assurance of safety. "Do me a favor Fuu." He said standing and stretching a bit. "Go home and get some sleep."

"I don't want to leave him. I mean he's my responsibility and all." She said softly as she stood slowly. "He's not, well you shouldn't have to…"

"Fuu," Jin said grabbing her shoulders lightly. "Go home and sleep. You're of no use to him right now. He'll probably sleep long into the night."

She sighed and turned to face him, not bothering to remove his hands from her shoulders. "I know, but I'm worried. I could stay here."

For a moment he considered it. "You can come back tomorrow, rest assured I will take care of whatever situation arises." Her eyes held his gaze. She still had that hopeful look after all that had happened in her life. This girl who had grown into a woman had kept what most everyone in this damnable city had lost. Hope. "Fuu," Jin stopped and pulled away as he realized his hands were moving down her arms to hold her hands. Closing his eyes he sighed. "Go home, get some sleep, shower, eat and come back in the morning."

"In that order." She said brushing her hand subconsciously on his.

"Yes," He balled his hand into a fist to resist grasping hers. "In that order."

"As you wish." She giggled in mirth. "Remember that, from Princess Bride?"

"Of course, it's your favorite." Jin smiled turning to face her again. "How could I forget?"

"You wouldn't." She said softly. "I know. Watch him for me?"

"As you wish."

Fuu gathered her coat and purse. She had every intention of walking, but Jin insisted she call a cab at such a late hour. After being sure she was safely in the streetcar he returned locking the door to his vicarage soundly. Mugen, as he was called, stirred on the couch a little. Jin was certain he wasn't cold. He had a couple blankets and the heater was on. It was most likely from dreams, or drugs. He still couldn't decide what he thought of the weathered man. He couldn't have been older than Jin, But not younger than Fuu, mid twenties either way. Though from the unkempt appearance and tanned skin it was hard to tell.

Moving to a window, Jin unlatched the lock and leaned on the sill. Reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket he produced a box of cigarettes. Tapping one out he lit it with a nearby candle and gently blew the smoke outside. "Forgive me father for I have sinned. It has been years since I'd admit to my own crimes and atrocities. I'd like to think I can handle myself, but…" He trailed off listening to the soft wind passing through the trees. He'd not been the preferred man to take over the congregation. Father McDaniel had others he'd rather have take his place. Sadly the old man was ousted and Jin became the new priest. "Perhaps I should call him." Jin said taking another drag. Ian McDaniel was a good man. In truth Jin did not feel he could ever be what Father McDaniel was. He could lift a congregation higher than anyone with just his smile and comforting touch. He knew everyone's name and had a sense of humor derived from perfect timing and impeccable wit. He was a kind old man with years of service against Satan's first line troops. "I'm never going to be that good, how can I? I'm still tempted by the flesh of a woman. True I've never acted on these thoughts and catch myself before I get carried away." He paused laughing at his own foolishness. He was becoming more and more like his birth father every day. Following a righteous path full of sacrifice and leaving a good woman behind. "God what is your servant to do?"

Mugen, stirred groaning deeply before changing his sleeping position. His face twisted in agony for a moment and then fell back to it's peaceful expression. He did not appear to be awake, although Jin watched him for some time in the dim lighting of the night. The last thing he wanted was a complete stranger eavesdropping on his musings.

"You must be tired." He said to Mugen as he turned back to the window. "Why did she help you? What about you caught her attention?" Mugen remained silent as Jin doused his cigarette and lobbed it outside. "I would offer you a smoke, but you seem quite content with sleeping." He shut the window and moved to turn out the few lights and blow out the candles. Retiring to his bedroom he didn't bother to turn on any more lights. He was intending to sleep now any way. He needed to leave behind his thoughts of Fuu and his choice to enter the priesthood. "I have to get through this." He said to himself sitting on the edge of the bed. Grasping his clerical collar tightly he pulled it away looking at the white strip in his hand. "I am not fit to wear this. Poor sweet Fuu, you probably thought you were the cause of my self loathing." He set the collar on the dresser setting his suit jacket on the back of a chair. Without bothering to unbutton the shirt, she pulled it off over his head letting it fall into a crumpled pile on the floor.

Standing he slid out of his shoes and glanced to the mirror. In the moonlight the marks on his skin seemed to glow. A mass of black and crimson they marred his pale body. Raising one hand he removed the tie that held back his dark hair letting it fall over his shoulders. For a moment he remembered his father.

His mother hugged him as he stood by the mirror. "Yuki not now."

"Dorian please...can't I even touch you?"

"I am a man of God Yuki. Try to understand."

"What? Was our love so horrible that God will condemn you to hell?"

"I don't know. I'm afraid of leaving you. I am his servant and bound to his will. As a priest I cannot marry, but in accordance with his word we should have long before..."

"Before your son."

"Yes." He paused looking down the hall. Jin knew his father could see him, "I can only hop he learns from my mistakes."

"His mistakes." The bronze cross rested cold on his chest as he studied the marred flesh. Swirling black tattoos of ancient text mostly Latin and some in Aramaic. Old symbols of ethereal battle and hellish deception stained him. Intricate and beautifully ornamented they were reminders of what had to be accomplished and what had happened before. He frowned seeing the most recent one it was a brand on his back that he did not comprehend. There were burn scars on his skin that he knew all to well as he could often recall the exact moment the wound was inflicted. But this one was not a wound, not an accidental marring. It was an emblem, a character in some language he did not know. Her remembered it well from the man in the alley two years ago. He was still in training then, yet he called him by the name father.

"Father Hayashi."

Jin shook his head. "My dad is Father Hayashi...I don't know what I am." Picking up his shirt to hang it in the closet he sighed. In the back he caught a glimpse of something. Smiling he reached into the back corner pulling out a lovely sword, his father's katana. He drew the blade out not more than an inch to hear the metal sing. It had experienced countless victories not only from Jin's father, but also from Jin himself. Thousands of Satan's finest left to ashes in it's wake. "Not tonight my friend." He said placing it back into the closet where it stayed. " Tonight we have to stay in. There is someone we need to keep watch over."

Shutting the closet door he took of his pants leaving them on the floor. "Your son is more like you every day, in appearance and in spirit. I have learned nothin." Tugging back the sheets he climbed into bed. It felt strange getting to bed at a decent hour…well earlier than usual at least. Staring at the ceiling he toyed with the albatross around his neck sighing. "God, if you can hear me, please understand that I'm only doing what I truly believe is right. I will outlast my father, as my mother never thought I could. Do not condemn your son for his strong beliefs, but understand that someone must bear the burden." He closed his eyes as a tear slipped down the side of his face. "And I willingly accept."