Cold Cuts

The echoed ringing in his head made him bury himself under the pillow. Tones high and low and everything in between almost shook him as he pulled the blankets tighter. Even worse was the light streaming in pin pointed beams right to his corneas. Grumbling low he raked his fingers through his hair pulling on the unruly strands as he bit into the thick fabric of the cushions below him. His teeth still clamped onto the rouch material he opened his eyes. The light and sound muffled by his pillow he realized something was wrong. He last remembered the wall, and the stench of downtown. Here smelled clean and fresh. The lingering effects of myrrh mixing with the robust aroma of fresh coffee hung in this air.

Releasing his hold on the cushion cover he pulled his head slowly from under the covers. The realization of his surroundings having woken him up a bit, the light did not seem so bright. Listening he noted the droning bells had become voices. One was high and soft the other deep and brooding. Blinking he glanced around at the room he was in. The modest furnishings coupled with simple decoration made him feel like he was in a magazine ad. Although the open windows gave way to the city outside, a garden bright with winter blossoms offered appeal to less depressing things. Trying to sit up he felt his head sloshing and groaned in annoyance. Possibly louder than he'd meant to, as the voices stopped chattering and soon footsteps began approaching.

A man in black with long dark hair and glasses crouched speaking softly. Asking questions. He didn't comprehend what he was saying so he guessed taking a breath he responded. "Mugen, My name is Mugen. Where the fuck am I?"

"Shh, It's all right." The man said with laughter in his tones. "You're at my home, you slept here and be assured we mean you no harm."

The calm and gentle demeanor set Mugen to suspicion as his eyes drifted to the buxom young woman at his side. Her hair hung loose tucked behind one ear. It was a deep chestnut color with eyes complementary like orange honey. She watched him smiling, but concern in her eyes. "Hi." She said sitting on the arm of the couch. "I'm Fuu, I'm the one who brought you here."

"You." Mugen's eyes narrowed as he tried to stand succeeding only in falling back to the couch from the sudden headache.

"Please don't try to stand. You were in terrible shape when she arrived last night." The man stood and moved to light a candle nearby. It was then that Mugen noticed the stiff white cloth around the man's neck.

"A priest?" He said holding his head gingerly. "You're a fucking priest?"

Smiling he waved the match out and faced him. "Father Hayashi, of St. Mary's." He said leaning against a nearby wall. "Or you may refer to me as Jin if you prefer."

Mugen gritted his teeth and shot a deadly look to the woman on the couch arm. "You." He ground at her pointing indignantly. "You brought me to a priest. What were you trying to do huh? Save me? Save your time sister okay. What are you some kind of undercover nun?"

She stood gasping at the harsh accusation. "I'm not trying to do anything but help you." She said sadness hanging in her words as she fumbled nervously with the hem of her zippered jacket. "I wanted to help."

"I don't need help."

"You did last night." She said backing away. "I wouldn't have helped if it hadn't been bad. I'm sorry." She said the last sentence quietly almost a breath as she slipped through a door way and was gone.

Jin sighed and retied his hair. "You were beaten, you stank…stink. And to top it all off you were puking black." He moved closer and steadied Mugen as he rose to his feet. "You could have frozen to death in the state you were in. She did you a favor."

"She'd better not expect a pay back." He stated gruffly. "I don't like people gettin involved with shit that doesn't concern them." Wobbling a bit he straightened his clothes and zipped his jacket. "It's cold in here."

"The thermostat is set at seventy. You've just got the shakes." Jin said moving away.

Mugen sneered and scoffed. "And what would you know about that father."

Grasping Mugen's arm swiftly Jim pushed up the sleeve on the red jacket and glanced at the obvious track marks. "I know a lot." Jin's eyes narrowed behind the glass frames, a hint of spite gleaming in the dark brown irises.

Pulling his hand away Mugen blinked. "Hey how'd you…" He followed Jin into the apparent kitchen where Fuu was sipping coffee at the table. "How did you do that?"

"What?" Jin said producing two mugs from a cupboard. "Do you take cream or sugar Mugen?"

"What? Um…sugar, no cream." He said standing defiantly by Jin. "How did you do that? Grab my arm all fast like that?"

"Practice." He said handing Mugen a cup. "Please sit, if you would like any food there's some left still on the stove."

"Food?"

"Yes." Jin said smiling as he took a seat to Fuu's left. "Courtesy of the lady." Fuu blushed and stood to refill her cup.

"Sure, uh." He was going to stand, but Fuu waved her hand and muttered an 'I'll get it.' Mugen shook his head and returned to Jin. "Really how?"

"Patience." The stoic priest said.

Mugen groaned and leaned back in the chair. A plate of sausages, eggs and toats sat before him as Fuu returned to her seat. HE eyed her doubtfully before prodding at the food with a fork. "What's the deal then?" He said taking a bite. "If you're not gonna tell me anything at least explain the niceties."

"There is not explanation." Fuu said softly. "We're just helping."

"It's an act of selfless goodwill." Jin said. "Some people in this city still have their wits about them enough to be genuinely kind to others. Not all of us are looking to wrong you."

"Wrong me?" Mugen said gulping his coffee quickly. "Look man, nobody fucks with me. And if anyone did it sure as hell wouldn't be a priest and a little girl."

"I'm not a little girl." Fuu said shooting an angry glare at Mugen. "I'm twenty two years old and I expect to be treated as such."

"Whatever. So you wanna tell me about ninja priest here?"

"He's not a ninja." Fuu said calmly sighing.

"So explain the kung fu grip."

"I wasn't born a priest Mugen." Jin said shaking his head. "Were you born a heroin addict?"

"Might have been. You'd hafta ask mom what she was on to stay with my old man as long as she did." He turned facing the window a far away look in his eyes as he frowned. "Crazy bitch."

"What?" Fuu said her brow furrowed slightly.

"I wasn't talking to you!" Mugen yelled standing suddenly. "Whatever I'm outta here." He started to the door his gait still staggered as he leaned on the walls for support. His hand on the door knob he stopped feeling a hand on his shoulder.

"Mugen." She said looking up at him with a soft expression.

"Eyes." He whispered before jerking his shoulder away. "What?"

"Please, rest a little as the day goes and be sure to drink more water. The alcohol will only trick you to believe you're warm." She clasped her hands in front of her as though praying. "Just please be careful. I'd hate to think last night was all in vain."

Her skin was pale like snow set off by her dark hair hinted with red. In her eyes there was a peace he could see even from the depths of his eroded soul. She cared. For whatever reason she had she cared if he lived or died. She gave a damn. Even when he'd yelled, and made her feel wrong for having helped him, she cared. Her hand touched his arm as she still spoke. Her voice lost as Mugen watched her lips forming the words he couldn't hear as her slender fingers pushed the sleeve away and she tenderly touched the traces of abuse to his veins. He couldn't hear her, but he could feel her as her eyes formed tears that she refused to let fall. Smiling up at him she covered his bruised arm with her palm and whispered more words of assurance and well wished for his safety. He didn't have to hear her.

Blinking he wavered and felt his knees giving way. Her expression changed as she grabbed his waist trying to steady him. Slowly going with him as he slumped to the floor. Holding him to her she stroked his brow and yelled for something. Possibly Jin. Her arms wrapped around him as she whispered to him. Things he couldn't hear, but he could perfectly understand. Without a second thought he raised his arm resting it on her hip as he nestled his head onto her chest. Closing his eyes he felt his breathing slow as his body relaxed.

In the end as he slipped away into unconsciousness he wondered if it had been too much. A woman he barely knew wished him safe. Wanted him well and warm. It was too much to comprehend and had sent him into a shock. "Or maybe…" He thought as he blacked out and lost the feeling of her touch. "It was the drugs."