Woot woot! New chapter! Yay. And, big thanks to wikipedia for helping me with the names. It was like...so HELPFUL...

A/N: I don't know if y'all are noticing...but there are very subtle hints in the lyrics I give you as to the ending of this pretty little tale of mine...and yes, I do have a specific couple in mind for the end...I bet some of y'all know who it is, too...

Chapter Seven: Lost at Seaflower Cove

Pretty words doled up on silver platters
Chanting sea shanties the words that matter
Oh how they shatter me

Tattooed sailor man pull that net from the sea
Is there something good inside there for me
Something for me
No more rusty strings not these deadened things

Now, understand, that usually, in any other problem and situation, once set upon their path, Mugen and Jin would not be stirred from it. Also understand...they have a bad habit of killing people. Many, many people, predominantly male, therefore, really limiting the "daddy" pool. Nonetheless, they gave it a shot.

Two hours after that fateful idea to "go through the list", yeah, the DAMN LIST...

"This is sucks."

They sat on the steps of Fuu's home, empty of its inhabitants at this time of the day. Jin, looking as poised as ever, sat ramrod straight, the tail of his hair flickering a bit in the small sea breeze. Mugen, as usual, was all over. His legs stretched in front of him, leaning on his elbows, but seeming to take up all the available room around. It was he who pronounced the endeavor of forming a list as "sucking", though Jin hardily agreed in his own monotone intone.

"I did not realize it would be so difficult."

"Man, who has the fucking time to remember all those names?"

"I never truly bothered to stay and learn the name of my victims, or those I rescued."

"I stuck around to get the pussy the damsels in distress used to share with me, but who really needs to know a name when "baby" will suffice?"

"You are once again, surprisingly crude and belligerent, Mugen."

"Oh, like you didn't 'curry the favors' of any of the women you saved? Pssht!" Mugen scratched behind his ear, sending a glare at Jin, who didn't bother to reply. "Women nowadays don't know how to properly thank a man. All you get now after risking your life for some bitch is a kiss on the cheek. What the hell? I can't even get a little second base action?"

Jin ignored Mugen. "In the town where we met Fuu. There was a magistrate and his son..."

"Shibui."

"Yes...but they're both dead."

Mugen scratched his chin idly with a twig. "Oniwakamaru."

"The ogre?"

"Yeah...oh, shit...he's dead too."

"Inuyaka."

"The guy who tried to kill you when we were in the forest, where, I might add, I saved Fuu's ass again. She's one of those bitches who don't put out."

Jin idly slapped Mugen in the back of the head, and continued his ruminations. "Inuyaka is still alive. He told me that we would cross paths again, though we haven't. Perhaps he met with Fuu first."

Mugen nodded and grinned cheekily. "If I could write, he'd be on the fucking list."

"Detective Manzou."

"The narrator?"

"The cop."

"Oh yeah...wasn't he following us or something?"

"Or something. Last I saw of him, he was beneath a very large pale man."

"Let's hope he didn't survive."

"Let's hope."

Mugen laughed. "Still, let's add him to the list...hey...do you think Fuu has a thing for fat men?"

Jin cocked an eyebrow and turned to Mugen. "Why?"

"Cause so far everyone on the List is fat."

Jin nodded. "There is Hishikawa."

Mugen froze. "The one who drew Fuu all nekkid-like?"

"Yes. He left, but perhaps he has returned to Japan."

"Well, if you're gonna include the fairy, I have to include the Swede."

Jin shook his head. "I believe you're speaking of Jouji, who was in fact, Dutch."

"Yeah...he's alive."

"He's also as much of a, as you put it, 'fairy' as the artist."

"Damn."

"You need new gay-dar, Mugen."

"Hey...I can't help it if I don't pay attention to dudes and their interest in me. I'm sexy to all people."

"More like to no people."

"You wanna fight, Jin-bitch?"

"Anytime, moron."

Neither moved. Finally, with a shrug, they refocused on their List. In the distance, the sun began to set, causing long shadows to form around them. Soon, Fuu would return, and start dinner, a prospect both found equally appealing.

Quietly, with a respect for the dead, Jin spoke. "Shinsuke."

Mugen nodded. "If he weren't already dead, we'd be hunting him down."

"She cared very deeply for him."

Mugen snorted. "Only a chick could fall in love in a day."

"She cried for days after, in her sleep. She didn't want us to know."

"Eh...she got over it."

Jin nodded. "She never spoke of it."

Mugen decided to hurry past Fuu's first love, a young thief who met his tragic end at the hands of the police, and quickly named another man who'd Mugen, Jin, and Fuu had all encountered...and who Mugen and Jin hadn't killed...it was a surprisingly short list.

"Saganshougen."

Jin lets out a small snort, before shaking his head. "He's alive, but I doubt Fuu would ever...consummate with him."

"Hey...an idea just came to me...what if the kid ain't even her's?"

The stewed on that for a minute. "Kiyoko looks too much like Fuu to not be her daughter. She is an exact replica."

"Except for the eyes."

Silence.

"What about Yamane?"

"Another narrator."

"We encountered him briefly."

"Too briefly. He was also ugly."

"He goes on the List," Jin said decisively. Mugen shrugged and with a finger, made a small check mark in the air.

"Yessir."

"Zuikoi."

"Dude, Jin, he's a monk."

"And?"

"And don't they take a vow of...not fucking?"

Jin sighed. "I suppose. They do not always follow their vows."

Mugen shrugged. "Okay...on the List."

Jin stood and started to pace before Mugen, who watched beneath half-lowered eyelids. Jin's mind was starting to work faster as years of meditation had honed his body to do. Soon, he was shouting out names that occurred to him, some not even still alive.

"Otawa?"

"The fucking spy?"

"Yes."

"He's alive."

"On the List."

Mugen shrugged.

"Okuru?"

"The dude Fuu was with when we got separated? I kicked his ass."

"Is he dead?"

"I don't know."

"He goes on the List."

"Fine..."

"Niwa?"

"The twins?"

"Yes."

"Fuu doesn't seem the ménage a trois type to me."

"Be serious."

"I am...if she was...then, well, this whole journey of our's could have been delightfully different..."

"Mugen!"

"What!"

"Let's move on..."

"And I was having such a good daydream..."

"Heike?"

"The zombie? I don't think zombies can have kids...and I don't think Fuu would like the smell. She yells when I go a week without a shower...can you picture her with a dead guy?"

"I'd rather not."

"What about the baseball guy...ummm...what the hell is his name..."

"Kagemaru?"

"Yeah! Him."

"I believe he is dead."

"From a fucking splinter?"

"It was many splinters."

"If you say so, fishface."

"I do not believe we left anyone else alive."

"So...our list includes...Inuyaka, Detective Manzou, Hishikawa, Jouji, Yamane, Zuikoi, Otawa, Okuru, the Niwa boys, and Heike."

They both nodded and thought on that. "I think our list sucks."

"Indeed."