Gawd, I update this story slowly. Someone needs to smack me or something...YA HEAR? Smack me, readers. Hard.

Chapter Eight: The Ballad of John Vogelin

I survived the desperate toll dark depression takes

I may not break even but babe I'll never break

Golden coins and smiles, no, they cannot tip my scales

Cuz this land, this love will never be for sale

Dinner that night was uneventful, if you ignored Lee's late arrival; Kiki's throwing of food into Jin's hair, and Mugen almost psychotic ability to make her mind (without violence, no less). Fuu took it all with a grain of salt. Samurais were wanderers by spirit, and rarely stayed in one place long. Mugen and Jin would leave soon, and the foolish mission to find Kiki's father would end, and for once, without the tears and blood she always envisioned.

For all his faults, Fuu didn't hate Kiki's father. At one time, he might even have been a good man, tortured by inner demons that demanded his honor. He'd been horrible and violent with her, and yes, her nightmares were often of him, but these were facts that Fuu would never reveal to her daughter. Kiyoko would never know the pain and suffering of her mother. Fuu had cried her tears long ago, and wouldn't cry them again.

Near the end of the meal, Fuu took her leave, using the little time she got at night to spend with her daughter alone to give Kiki her bath and put her to bed. She enjoyed the experience of washing her daughter, and could remember her own mother doing the same for her. Though, her mother had often cried as she did so, missing her husband terribly and unwillingly letting that grief spill over into everything. Fuu, once again, refused to follow the mistakes of her mother. Her daughter would never know her own inner demons.

Carrying Kiki in her arms, the scent of "child" heavy in her nose, Fuu laid Kiki to bed, where, despite cries for a story, she fell asleep almost instantly. Fuu ran her work-hardened hand across Kiki's forehead, feeling the fever that lurked there and knew that she would not be working tomorrow. Kiki only fell asleep so fast when she wasn't feeling well, though she'd never tell her mother that. No, Kiki would rather run and be free to play, rather than stay home and in bed to get well.

Fuu left her daughter's door slightly open, the better to hear her call in the night. She quietly walked down the hall, and unwittingly walked into a "private" talk between the men.

"I do not know anything of Kiyoko's father. Perhaps you should ask Fuu herself, rather than sneak about behind her back," Lee was saying as he glared at Mugen and Jin, both leaning over the table conspiratorially.

"They're too dense to do that, Lee. I wonder if they realize that the second they started to ask questions about me, I was told and warned by at least a dozen people. If I hadn't sent out the word to leave them be, they be skewered by at least a dozen swords by now." Mugen and Jin looked alternately guilty and nonchalant. Fuu explained. "The shogun still searches for me. I have safeguards in place. The town knows of my past, and protects me willingly."

Lee stood suddenly, his eyes warm as they gazed at Fuu. "I must check in at work, then continue home. My wife misses me."

Fuu nodded, and clasped hands with Lee before he left, calling out as he walked out, "Magistrates are always such work-a-holics!"

Mugen leaned back in his chair and stared dubiously. "Magistrate? He's the law?"

Fuu nodded as she shut and locked the door. "I made damn sure the law knew I was here and were on my side when I settled down." She glared at him. "I'm not an idiot."

Mugen shrugged and picked at what was left of his rice, before surreptitiously stealing the rest of Jin's dumplings.

Jin focused on Fuu's face, almost as if he were trying to see right through her. "Who is her father?"

"He's dead, it doesn't matter. How's Shiro?"

"Why do you ask?"

"It's been three years. She's free of her husband, and I assume has left the island already."

"She decided to wait a couple more months before leaving, letting her former husband and his debtors ease away and not be a bother to her. She shall be leaving the island within the next week."

"You'll go to her." It wasn't a question.

Jin treated it as one. "Why would I?"

Fuu smiled and patted him patronizingly on the head. "You love her. Of course you're going."

He pouted. "I'd planned on it. I would, if you'd allow, return here with her. She and I have been seeking a place to settle."

Fuu was surprised. "You want to move here? With me?"

"Not with you, but yes, in this town. It is...quaint."

Fuu shrugged and started to gather the empty plates to be washed. "I don't care, I just wonder if your enemies will take advantage of it."

Jin's expression darkened. "Most of my enemies have learned by now to leave me be."

Fuu nodded before idly grabbing Mugen by the ear and dragging him to the sink to wash dishes. She dried her hands on a towel as he started, facing Jin as she did so. "Been busy killing people, Jin?"

"Yes."

She nodded. "Why do you want to stay here?"

"If you've need of me..."

"I don't need you. I can take care of myself these days."

Mugen snorted. "Don't seem so."

"What does that mean?" She asked angrily, not needing to look at Jin to know that he obviously agreed.

"It means you let some man take advantage of you, and get you knocked up. You can't take care of yourself, but what do you expect? You're a chick."

Fuu fought the urge to throttle Mugen and turned to Jin. "You agree?"

Jin didn't nod, didn't do anything, but then again, he didn't have to.

Fuu sighed, and counted to ten in her head. It didn't work. She picked up a pan and slammed Mugen in the head.

"Goddamn bitch! Why'd you do that!"

"Because you're stupid, and if I could reach Jin, I'd have done it to him too!" She shook her finger at both of them. "You're both idiots! I have taken care of myself for three years, through nine months of pregnancy, and the terrible twos! I don't need men to do business for me! I don't need men at all! If I did have need of a man, I sure as hell would pick better than two criminals and murderers!"

Jin stared at her coolly, and Mugen swore and glares. Finally, the tension eased as she calmed down, and they all got their tempers and thoughts under control.

Fuu set down the pan, and smoothed her hands down the front of her dress. Those same hands shook as they did so, but no one said anything. "I let you stay here out of old memories and a sense of nostalgia. Stop pushing it, or you will leave and not return. Stop this foolish idea of finding...her father. He's dead already. Mugen killed him, and he's not returning to take blame for his actions. I can take care of myself, and don't appreciate your meddling."

Mugen gently took her hands. "We only do what we think is right."

She took it back. "I don't care. Just stop." Both men heard the edge of tears in her voice, and dropped the issue. Fuu walked from the room, leaving the air of tension and despair behind. The men looked at each and silently agreed. It'd always been a silent rule between the two of them that any man who made Fuu cry must die. They couldn't very well kill themselves however. And for the first time in years, Mugen and Jin found themselves caring that they'd hurt someone else. For the first time in years, they regretted their actions.