Chapter 7 Mundane afternoon
It was actually hard work making Mugen's shirt from the worn brown kimono fabric. By the time she had cut out the panels, most of the afternoon had faded outside. Of course, her little trip to the beach had taken up a huge chunk of her day, so she wasn't complaining. Besides, she was used to sitting and waiting for the guys to recover from some epic battle.
Still, she was beginning to wish that they were awake or that Kato would return. She was really getting bored and wanted to talk to someone. All her life she had been a vocal person and loved talking to people; Mugen could attest to that. Her life motto was, "When in doubt, talk it out!" She could always just start talking to the open air, or the comatose men, but that seemed a little crazy.
The shirt was going well; she had started piecing the panels together with some loose stitches that she would replace later. When she finally got to a point where her eyes were beginning to go blurry from looking at the fabric, she placed it down and looked to her washing.
Before she had started stitching the shirt, she had decided to rummage through the boxes of possessions looking for laundry soap. As humid as it still was from the on and off again rain, she needed to get her kimono and things washed so they could dry sometime this week.
So, as a sewing break, she stood, stretched, popped her back and shoulders a few times, and then walked to the far side of the shed. It was a good thing that the guys were asleep because they didn't particularly like when she hung her underthings out to dry. She mumbled, "They act like they've never seen underthings. I'm sure they have personally removed some from several brothel women." But, then a random thought occurred to her. Maybe women in a brothel didn't bother binding themselves? It made sense if you wanted quick and unhindered access. Just that thought made a shiver of revulsion course down her body. She told no one in specific, "I'm not going to think about that. That's just icky!" She laughed at herself. Mentally, she really was just a sheltered girl. Or so she liked to pretend.
She tried not to remember, and in some instances, actively forced herself not to remember, certain incidents that corrupted her world view. In her heart, she wanted to believe people were basically good inside. Some were misguided, and some were warped, but they had all started out as good. But with each passing day, and each successive tragedy in her life, it was getting harder and harder not to abandon those ideals. She didn't want to end up as jaded as Mugen and Jin. But, was it inevitable? Or was it simply a matter of choosing?
She had met men, women and children that had suffered worse tragedies in their lives than she, but they had still maintained an optimistic outlook, and refused to become bitter. It was those people that she looked up to and wished to emulate. Life was just too short and too precious to waste time being angry and expecting everyone to betray her. So, in the end, she simply took those memories that threatened this outlook, and shoved them as far down in her mind as she could so she didn't have to look at them very often.
So, when she said, even to herself, that she couldn't remember if she had been wearing underthings when she had gotten tossed into that brothel in the Yakuza controlled town, she was serious. All she could recall was being ditched by her bodyguards, and getting scammed into owing the brothel owner money for a stupid vase. She remembered making faces to be too ugly for anyone to buy, except that fat pervert who wanted her to be angry at him, and spank him. Then, she smashed the guy over the head, and escaped on her own. Oh, yes, she remembered that they guys had NOT rescued her. She got herself out. For all she knew, if she had waited for her supposed bodyguards, she would have been there a long time.
It wasn't until quite a while later in their journey, and a lot of sake later, that Mugen admitted to having returned to fight his way in to free her. If it hadn't been for the excessive amount of sake loosening up his tongue, she would never have believed his confession. Ok, so maybe he did care, it just took him a long time to act on it. Or maybe, he just didn't WANT to care, and his conscience bugged him until he did something. Again, this part of the story agreed with her belief that there was good in everyone. Even smelly, ex-felon, pirates who were obsessed with large "hooters."
So, with a sly grin, she fingered the kimono, yukata and underthings to gauge how quickly they were drying. At least, water was no longer dripping of the edges, but they were still soaked. She huffed, "At this rate, nothing will be dry until tomorrow." She reached out to take down her bindings to ring them out a bit more and giggled, "Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to wear Jin's new kimono for a bit longer." She didn't mention being naked underneath the kimono but she still felt a bit wicked.
Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that Kato should be coming soon with dinner. She was so happy that her aching stomach was simply sore muscles from the beating, and not some internal damage. Because, seriously, eating was one of the few pleasures in life that she could indulge.
But, it was starting to get dark with the heavy clouds still lingering about. If he didn't come soon, she wouldn't be able to set in motion the gathering of the weapons from the church. The first thing she had to do was subtly ask him if they belonged to anyone before revealing what she had found. For all she knew, the villagers themselves had been stockpiling weapons to arm a personal militia to defend the island from future attacks.
After that, she was torn if she should have Kato collect the cache of weapons and carry them to this shed. The alternative was to leave them where they were, and only move them when the guys were healed and ready to return to the mainland. Either way, the weapons would have to travel with them to that fishing village Kato mentioned so that he could slowly sell the ones that they guys decided not to keep. She was going to leave that part up to them, because she didn't really know a good weapon from a useless weapon.
Fuu wandered over to the doorway of the shed and searched the surrounding area that she could see without exposing herself. She was still wary of any possible assassins that might see her from the wide open cliff-side. Way off in the distance, she could just barely make out the town cemetery that was empty. "Well, I guess they either finished the graves, or called it quits for the day. I wonder where Kato is."
As if in response to her question, the little old retainer rounded the corner of the building pulling a cart loaded with lumber, paint and what smelled like dinner. There was also a small oven-looking object, but she wasn't sure what it was, since she had never seen anything like it before. She jumped in surprise and squealed, "Kato-san! You scared me!"
The little man looked shocked, and completely out of breath. He seemed to be running with his cart. He hissed, "Lady Fuu, get back inside! There are strange men who just came across on the ferry!"
That was enough to jump start Fuu's heart in a race to explode from her chest. Her mind screamed, 'Assasins!' and she turned to hustle back to her two friends. With only a thought to either hide or fight, she grabbed up the silk bundle from behind the box of her father's possessions, and whipped out the double swords. Unfortunately, her hands were shaking so badly that she dropped the longer sword quite unceremoniously. Who knew the darn things were so heavy. With a quick decision, she thrust the wakazashi in her makeshift obi and dumped the longer sword back in the box.
Behind her, Kato was quickly unloading the wagon and carrying everything inside. He watched Fuu from the corner of his eyes and explained, "Lady Fuu, it would be better if you and your friends hid instead of fighting. Do you have any skill with a blade?" When she spun on him, the stark terror in her eyes answered his question. He explained his idea, "We need to hide you incase someone searches this shed. I will create a wall with the wagon for you and your friends to hide behind and load all the equipment in front of it. No one will ever know there is anything in here other than tools and cemetery supplies."
Her panicked eyes finally registered that he had indeed been loading grave markers and paint into the small storage shed. It was quickly filling up the space around Mugen and Jin. Would this work? Who was here? Would someone tell where they were? She started mentally berating herself, "I knew I was getting too comfortable! Every time it feels like things are good, something awful happens. Am I cursed or something?" She quickly turned and pulled the shutter closed over the one window of the shed. It wouldn't do to have the enemy see what they were doing.
As he had promised, Kato carefully dragged Jin's and Mugen's bodies to the far corner of the shed and pulled the wagon in the doorway. With Fuu sitting at the heads of her friends, he pushed the wagon up so it was standing up on its end and the tongue of the wagon was leaning up against the wall above her head. It made a lean-to effect. A shelter within a shelter. Then, he stacked up the paint supplies and wood over the opening, effectively shutting Fuu in with the sleeping men. Now would have been a bad time to advise the little old man that Fuu was ever so slightly claustrophobic. Still, with the encroaching darkness, she wouldn't be able to tell if the walls were closing in on her or not.
Before Kato was finished, he passed her dinner in to her then used the white bolt of fabric to cover the pile of materials. If anyone looked in, they would only see supplies that had been stored for a while. As an added precaution, he stacked the other boxes and such around the wagon so deeply, that it would take some effort to wade through everything to even reach the corner where the refugees hid. It was obvious to Fuu that this man had done this before. He was too well practiced and calm.
Kato excused himself to go search out the strangers and covertly find out their purpose for visiting this secluded village. With that, Fuu found herself alone in the near dark, with Mugen and Jin's heads tucked in beside her thigh. For the first time, Fuu looked around the space they occupied without a panicked feeling. Um, this was rather… cozy? She was so close to the guys that she could hear them breathe. Unfortunately, there was no room for her to lie down. If they were stuck like this all night, where was she supposed to sleep? She figured she could always sleep sitting up. She complained in her mind, "Oh, joy! Another crick in the neck." But, it was well worth it to keep them safe. She was just feeling the aftershock from the startling situation.
Even though she knew the idea was to hide, she still clutched her father's long sword to her chest like some kind of shield. How had such a pleasant afternoon gone so terribly wrong so quickly? She wished now that she could go back to her happy sewing, that she had complained about before this happened. What was that old saying, you never know what you've got until it's gone? Yea, that applied here. Speaking of clothes, did Kato hide her kimono that had been drying in the other corner? She wanted to look, but was afraid she would dislodge some of their camouflage.
Beside her, Jin's head shifted back and forth like he was telling someone, "No." She gasped and quietly called out to him, "Jin?" Her trembling hand snaked out to caress his handsome, stubbly cheek and jaw. Was he waking up? Was he delirious? Oh, this would be a horrible time for him to develop a fever and start ranting. But, wouldn't that just be her luck! She brushed her hand gently over his forehead to determine that he did not have a fever. "Thank goodness!"
She whispered his name again, and his head turned slightly in her direction and his brow creased in a frown. His lips moved as if he was trying to speak, but nothing was coming out. She leaned over closer to his face to bring her ear closer. Nothing was coming out but his breath. Although, that wafted over her cheek in a warm manner that made her insides quiver. "Goodness, he's even sexy when he's unconscious." She thought to herself as she straightened back up.
Before the light completely faded, she dished up her dinner and consumed it quickly. There was broth for the guys, but she didn't think she would be able to maneuver them around to actually get it in their mouths. She could just pour it over the bottoms of their faces and hope it dribbled in, but that would be a mess, and a waste. She'd wait until she got the notice from Kato that it was safe to come out. Hopefully, that wouldn't be long as she really didn't relish the idea of sitting in the dark with her recent dread of shadows.
As she was putting away the empty bowl, she jumped when a hand smacked against her lap. Suppressing her instinctual "eep" she looked to see a blue tattooed wrist resting against her thigh. Mugen had moved! She grinned and felt like dancing and cheering. This was the first indication from Mugen that consciousness was returning. She only hoped that the two men didn't get into an unconscious slap-fight while they were supposed to be quiet and still.
The last hint of light left the room and she could no longer see anything, not Mugen, not Jin, not the surface of the wagon leaning in front of her face. With the uselessness of her eyes, her sense of hearing tried to compensate. She strained to hear anything that sounded like approaching danger and mentally catalogued every little sound. At times, her own heartbeat seemed to eclipse everything, then she would have to calm herself down with deep breathing. It was something Jin had taught her when they were staying with the monk while they waited for Mugen to challenge that samurai killer.
The air became a bit overly warm and stuffy in the enclosed space. She had to admit it was a nice change from the cold she had suffered the night before, but it was beginning to be uncomfortable. Having nothing on under the kimono, it wasn't like she could strip down to her cooler yukata like she normally would to sleep if she were in her own clothes. Now, in hindsight, her earlier wickedness was coming back to haunt her. Her mind supplied what Mugen would say, "It came back to bite ya in the ass little girly. Not that ya got much ass. You're built like a plank." Still…..
Somewhere in the endless darkness, she heard a breathy little voice call, "Fuu?" Her mind immediately recognized the quiet, deep voice as Jin. Her heart leaped into high gear as she reached out a hand to stoke his cheek and whisper, "I'm here Jin. But we need to be really quiet. We might be in trouble." His response was a barely perceivable "Hm." The response brought a huge grin to her face. Typical Jin response.
His little voice came again as he turned his face into her hand as she continued to caress his cheek reassuringly. "Are you alright? How's Mugen? Where are we?"
She sighed. It was probably going to be impossible to keep the usually quiet man quiet right now when he really needed to be. So, in her best reassuring voice she whispered, "I'm fine. Mugen is right beside you. He hasn't woken up yet, but he's started moving a little. We are hiding in a shed on the cliff up from the beech because some strangers showed up in the village a little while ago. So, we really need to be still and quiet."
She ran her hand down his neck and over his bare chest and asked, "How are you doing? Do you need any pain medicine?" She knew that he probably wasn't really awake and aware, but she could still ask. If this was anything like his other injuries, he would wake up many times in the next few days and ask those same questions over and over. She had always just assumed that during the initial stage of recovery, that the recording part of the brain was not functioning properly yet. So, she could answer his questions, but he didn't remember the answer. Though, it made her feel good that she was the first thing he asked about.
His voice sounded like he was talking in his sleep, "Pain is only a state of mind." It was probably some motto that his sensei had pounded into his head since he was a small child.
Fuu couldn't help but respond, "Okay, so is your state of mind in need of any pain medicine?" The man could be so funny in his seriousness.
Only a negative grunt responded. She took this to mean, 'thank you for being concerned with my well being, but I am fine. The pain is manageable.' She brought her hands back up to his luxurious hair and began massaging his scalp while she carded her fingers through the silky locks. It was truly a sin for a man to have prettier hair than she did. Maybe it was a special side effect of kenjutsu training?
She heard a gentle sigh and assumed he was enjoying the attention to his hair. She had to remind herself to give Mugen equal time. She couldn't and wouldn't show favoritism between her beloved friends.
She lavished attention on Jin's hair for what seemed like an hour until she was sure the tall man had returned to a deep sleep. Then, she gently moved her hands to the other head that rest against the side of her thigh. Mugen's insane hair was a mess again. How was that possible when he hadn't even moved an inch on his own? Still, she spent an equal amount of time massaging his scalp and finger combing his wild hair.
With nothing to occupy her mind, her thoughts returned to the wardrobe she was constructing for the guys. It was a shame that she could not make any pants for the two, but her skills just weren't that advanced. Also, there was the fact that the only pattern she could use to create any new pants, happened to be the only things adorning the bodies beside her. She'd have to strip them down to their underthings to use their pants as a pattern. And THAT just wasn't happening! She didn't mind seeing their chests, was actually enjoying that part of their bodies, but she was too young and innocent (relatively speaking) to want to see anything below the waist. She'd save that privilege for her husband.
The deep dark began to drag on her nerves as she wished beyond hope for Kato to come and let them out. She was getting tired and really wanted to lay down flat to sleep. She could sleep sitting up, but it wasn't a deep sleep. Then again, maybe that was good. If she didn't fall into a deep sleep, then she couldn't have nightmares, could she.
The current situation only reaffirmed her belief that they really, really needed to get out of here as soon as possible. Whereas before, she had been willing to wait until they guys were recovered enough to travel, she was beginning to think they needed to get away tomorrow. Her mind worked on the problem of how to smuggle her two unconscious friends off the island without being seen. First solution was to leave in the middle of the night. No one would notice their departure, but what would they do about the ferry. A boatman would remember a strange trio wanting passage across the bay at night.
Okay, so that was out. Besides, neither man could currently walk. So, what if they hauled them over somehow like freight? She had seen barrels of goods come over on the little boats. Maybe Kato could get some empty barrels, and they could smuggle them out like that? It wouldn't have to be at night. It could be in broad daylight. Still, it might be suspicious to send full barrels back to the mainland. Did the island export any crop or good that would be shipped in barrels? If they did, then all three of them could be packed into a barrel and Kato could be in charge of 'shipping' them to the little fishing village. Surely, all it would take would be a bit of money to rent a horse and wagon.
Still, the idea of being packed into a barrel again brought back memories of her adventure in the slave trade. She had been packed in that stupid barrel for most of the day before those nasty henchmen loaded her onto a skiff to take her to a sailing vessel. It had been terrifying to be hauled around near the water. Sure a barrel was made out of wood, and might float, but would it float with her added weight? She didn't think so.
So, that was a possible solution, but still, there was so much to do to arrange their getaway, that deep in her heart, she knew they couldn't possibly leave tomorrow. No matter how eager she was to escape. They still needed to gather supplies for the trip and recovery. They needed to finish the fake graves. They needed to recover the cache of weapons that would fund their stay in the fishing village. They needed to arrange for the horse and wagon and longshoremen to handle the barrels when they were ferried across the bay. And the only one she could reasonably trust to accomplish all of this was her father's old, wrinkly retainer. He might be good, but he was only human. Asking him to do all of that in half a day was ridiculous.
So, she had to resign herself to staying here on this horrid island a little longer. Hopefully, by morning, the rude village people will have chased off the strangers, and she would be free to move about the shed, and bathe, and get dressed in her OWN clothes. She snorted a little thinking about presenting Jin with this gray kimono before washing it. He might not appreciate wearing something that smelled like her. So, she would have to wash this kimono and hang it out to dry also.
With her mind full of things that needed to be done, Fuu never even really noticed when she lost her battle to stay awake. Considering it was just as dark with her eyes open as it was with them closed, it was no wonder. Her head titled forward until her chin rest on her chest and then she was gone.
Later on, in the deep dark of the night, Fuu slumped over to her side and slid down the wall. Her upper body landed on Jin's arm that was almost touching the wall that had supported her. Luckily, she had not been sitting closer, or her head would have landed on his injuries. As it was, the gentle pressure of her body on his arm caused Jin to shift, ever so slightly, up against Mugen in his sleep to give her a bit more room. If any one had witnessed this scene, they would most likely have been shocked to see the dog pile of bodies behind the wagon.