Morning Comes Early

The winter sunlight was always more forgiving when mornings came. It's dull brightness making waking easier on the exhausted citizens of Saravelle. Fuu Suvakis being one that was in no mood to get up. Her head ached and her eyes felt puffy as she feigned being asleep. In truth she'd been between sleep and awake for about an hour now, but just hadn't felt like getting up.

With an irritated groan she sat up glancing at the bedside clock. "It's like eight thirty. Why am I even awake?" She yawned rolling off the bed as she winced at the cold flooring beneath her. "It's not enough to be haunted by my past all night, but now I'm up early too." She whined as she set the coffee pot and switched on the news.

Outside it was snowing again. The drifts were reaching a few feet now instead of their usual six inches. In the background a weatherman was jubilantly expressing his excitement for the kids with school closures. Fuu smiled at the shots of children running around in the powder. Their rosy lips and cheeks shining as they ran around armed with infinite snowballs. In the distance of the shot she could clearly see the church and Jin's quarters.

"Oh, damn it all." She said pouring her coffee angrily. "TV have you forsaken me too? Like I need a reminder." Her fingers massaged her temples as she recalled the previous evening. "Why am I so hopeless?" She couldn't even remember why she'd kissed him. There was no reason for any of it aside from her own loneliness. "Chalk it up to nostalgia and being a girl without a father. That's supposed to mess kids up right?" She said to no body. Sipping the black brew she sighed and ran a hand through her messy hair. A shower, she figured, might help wake her up and maybe make her feel better about kissing a priest. "There's gotta be a special level of hell for that."

Mugen was staring at the people as he sat on the steps outside. It was freezing as to be expected on a snowy day like today. His red jacket was hardly enough to keep the wind chill off his skin. Distraction plagued him as he hadn't noticed the cigarette in his mouth was now down to nothing. His mind raced as he attempted to figure why it was he was so bothered by the priest kissing Fuu. It wasn't as though they'd never done so, he was more than aware of the past the two had. It wasn't, as Jin had said, that he was born a priest.

"Mugen."

Turning his gaze toward the door he watched Jin approach him. His stately walk hardly faltering in the slick snow. "Hey."

"What're you doing out here?" He asked leaning on the railing. "If you keep smoking on the church steps like this your going to scare away the parishioners. Not to mention get me in trouble for housing a transient."

"Sorry." He said standing and stretching. "Just needed somewhere to think, this seemed as good a place as any." He glared carefully at the priest, studying his movements as he looked for any sign of regret. "So, will we be seeing Fuu today?"

Jin looked away to something across the street. "I doubt it."

"Really." Mugen said a smile tugging at his lips. "Because they way I see it, maybe you should."

"Fuu's a big girl she's fine on her own."

"Not what I mean Padre." Mugen flicked the butt into the snow with a scowl. "If you think she's not confused then you're wrong. I don't know what exactly went on between you two in the past, but…"

"Wait a second." Jin said in an agitated tone. "What in the world are you talking about?"

"You and Fuu and you're little kitchenette coup. I saw you two in a very un priestly lip lock." Mugen lit another cigarette and scoffed harshly. "You act like it's no big deal, like it was just an accident."

"It was." He said coolly. "She didn't know what she was doing."

"Maybe," Mugen agreed walking slowly down the steps. "But did you?"

"Why do you care all of a sudden?"

"I don't, I just know stuff sometimes." Mugen jumped sliding along the sidewalk. "I'm gonna go for a walk, don't worry I aint buyin any drugs."

Stepping out of the shower Fuu dried her hair ruffling it with the towel. She still had time before work, so she wasn't in any need to blow dry it. Slipping on a pair of jeans and a sweater she jumped when a knock sounded on her door.

"What in the…coming." She called hurrying toward the door as the knocking continued. "Hang on will ya!" Opening the door she gasped as she stared directly at a handsome young man, not much older than herself. His blonde hair hung in lose waves and his eyes were a light brown.

Smiling softly he continued to breath heavily as though he'd run all the way up the stairs. In a whispered tone he sighed, "Bel ange."

"C-can I help you?" She asked sliding her body half way behind the door.

"Je suis desole, I um. My apologies. I forget myself. Please allow me to come in I have news of the most important nature for Father Jin Hayashi."

"I'm sorry." Fuu said noting his thick French accent. "Jin does not live here."

"I know, I was sent to find Fuu Suvakis to give the information to her for him by my mentor Father Julian." He said glancing down the halls nervously. "Please allow me to come in."

Narrowing her eyes she took a breath trying to comprehend exactly what was going on. "What's you name?"

"Excusez-moi, my name is Jacques. Jacques Renaud." He said extending his hand.

"I am Fuu." She said politely taking his hand. "You may enter." Deciding he was of no threat she moved aside as he smiled.

"Merci." He replied ducking in quickly. "I have traveled very far and it has been treacherous." He went instantly to the windows drawing the blinds quickly. "They are watching form all around, we have to be careful, yes."

"Uh, sure." Fuu said stepping closer. "How is it you know Jin?"

"Oh, I don't know him, well aside form what I've heard." Jacques said kneeling on the floor as he unzipped the backpack. "All I know is that Father Julian's last wish was for me to be getting this box to him."

Fuu eyed the nervous man as he checked and rechecked the bag's contents before relaxing into a sitting position on the floor. He wore plain black clothes much like the ones Jin wore regularly, except without the tell tale white collar. "You…are a priest?" She questioned taking a seat on the arm of her couch.

"Ah, no. Just a…" He paused furrowing his brown in thought. "In training? Yes? Learning to be one. I was studying under Father Julian, trying to rebuild the order." He stood suddenly listening intently. He hushed Fuu as she was about to speak as he moved closer to the door his ear against the wall. It was then that the steady thud of footfalls resounded in the hall outside. "Someone is coming." Jacques said bringing his hand to rest on the hilt of a sword. Turning the handle slowly he gestured for her to stay back. With one quick pull the door was wide open and his blade sat squarely on the wrist of a very confused man.

"Jesus fuck!" Mugen jumped back nicking his wrist in the process. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same." Jacques replied standing his ground in the doorway.

"Look you son of a bitch if you touched her I swear I'll…"

"Mugen?"

"Fuu. What the fuck's going on here?" He yelled peering at her behind the man with the sword. "I come over here to see how you're doin and the French tickler here…"

"French tickler?" Jeacques said lowering his blade a little.

"Hey, shut it. I'm talking to the lady okay?"

"Mugen, Jacques, please both of you calm down." Fuu stepped out from behind Jacques and gestured for him to put his weapon away. "Mugen is a friend Jacques, it's okay. We can trust him."

"I'm sorry I just…"

"It's okay." She said as she turned to Mugen. "How's your arm?"

"Little cut just above the wrist. Nothing too bad I mean it's not even bleeding."

Fuu ushered them both in as the neighbors started poking out of their rooms eyeing the commotion. She smiled and waved them off bowing apologetically. "Okay you two just sit here and try not to kill each other while I go find something to clean the cut."

Mugen watched the blonde fellow as he sat silently his hand never leaving the sword's hilt. He kept on looking at a black backpack on the floor nearby as though it would grow legs and run off without his careful observation. "You got a bomb in there or somethin?"

"Eh? No, nothing like that." He replied. "You are a friend of the lady?"

"Suppose so." Mugen said leaning back on the couch as he inspected the now blood seeping cut. "And you?"

"Just a messenger monsieur."

Fuu returned quickly with some antiseptic and some gauze for Mugen. Kneeling in front of him she dabbed at the small cut concernedly pouting her lips. Her hair was falling just in front of her eyes enough to prevent any expression from being visible. Mugen sat still allowing her to do as she needed and for once didn't protest to being taken care of. Without even realizing he was doing it, he smiled.

"There." She said looking up at him. "Better?"

Flexing his hand a few times he nodded. "Well it sure aint worse." Looking back down at her she sat up higher her hand resting on his leg as she watched the wrapping. "What is it?" He asked.

"Oh." She said brushing a bit of hair away from her eyes. "I just wanted to be sure…I mean I thought that I saw you…"

"Fuu."

They both turned to look at Jacques standing by the window a hurried and frightful expression in his eyes. Clutching the bag tightly he released the blinds he was holding making a crunch sound as the plastic snapped back into place.

"They're coming. Oi mon dieu" He said as he quickly crossed himself.

"What do you mean?" Fuu asked as standing to meet him. "Jacques?"

"We must hurry."

"Hey!" Mugen grasped Jacques by the shoulders holding him still. "What is going on? You tell us now or we don't go."

"To tell you now will kill you, we cannot waste time. Please, take me to Father Hayashi. He is the only one who can help."

Mugen growled low at the man as Fuu grabbed her purse and nodded at him. "Fine. Is it dangerous."

"Yes, tres mauvais. It will be bad." Jacques replied jerking his head to look in the direction of the window. "Fuu is there a back way out?"

"Yes, the fire escape." She headed for the kitchen the two men in tow following close. Opening the door quickly she felt someone grab her arm. "Huh? Mugen?"

"He said it's dangerous." He said his eyes sparking. "You stay close at all times got it?"

"Yeah, I got it."