(a/n: Okay, here's the deal. Some of you will be happy with what happens in this chapter, some of you will be mislead and confused, and some of you will be extremely pissed. Whichever it may be, all I have to say is...oh well.)
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Vol. 22 Should'a, Would'a, Could'a

-Jin-

I blinked. Surely Shino had not just said what I thought she had. Her face was utterly serious. The thought repeated itself through my mind. The child might be mine…might. I had never thought that I would be able to settle down and have children with a woman I loved; but now that I was faced with the possibility, I wasn't sure of what to do or if I was prepared.

"Did you ever plan on telling me?" was what I finally settled on saying. That was how I felt. Would she have just raised the child on her own and never given me the opportunity to know it?

She shook her head, looking guilty and shamed. Was that how she viewed having my child, shame? "I didn't want to bother you…"

"Bother me?" I repeated.

"Yes. You were on your journey with the rogue and that girl, how was I supposed to take you from that?"

I sighed. "If I was ready to go with you then, why would you think…"

"So are you saying that you regret us not going, would you rather have left them…your friends?" She was staring defiantly at me, already knowing the answer. She was just helping me come to the conclusion.

"If I had to pick between having gone with you and finishing my journey: yes, I would pick them. But I always planned on coming back for you."

She put her hands on either side of my face, and stared into my eyes. Maybe she was looking for some answer, searching for a picture of the memories I had acquired since I left her. She found what she was looking for.

"So what is it that is distracting you? Why do you look afraid?"

"I'm not afraid." On the inside, my head was going at a million miles an hour. It was true, I was not afraid. It was just a lot for the mind to sort through.

I did not want to admit it, but I knew what she saw in my eyes. Tsukiko. I did not think I loved her, but I could not forget her. Shino I did love, as much as I could love someone. So why was I dreading telling her all of this? I tried looking at it from the practical side. I loved Shino, I didn't love Tsuki. Easy right? Wrong.

"You look as if you are fighting a fierce battle of thought Jin," she said to me. "Whatever it is, you take some time to think about it. I will be here…whatever you decide."

With that she gave me a light kiss on the lips and left. I watched her go to the house and glance back before she shut the door. I swallowed and then sighed. This was going terribly, terribly wrong.

-Fuu-

The door slammed open and Mugen fell, face first, inside. He groaned and wild laughter followed him. Tsuki stumbled in, gripping the frame of the door for support. Her cheeks were a deep rose color. They were both drunk.

Mugen turned over slowly and smiled. "That was fun."

Tsuki nodded fervently and looked around the room. Then she turned back to me.

"Do you know what time it is?" I scolded them both.

"Late?" Tsuki guessed. They both started cracking up and I rolled my eyes. Tsuki sat right where she was, half inside and half outside the doorway.

"Have either of you two seen Jin? He hasn't come home since going to-" I paused, not wanting to bring this up again. "-out."

"Who cares?" Tsuki scoffed with an exaggerated hand gesture.

Mugen raised up a hand and pointed his index finger towards the ceiling. He wanted to know where Jin was? Was he actually saying he was worried? "I second that."

Nope.

"I think that I am going to bed," she announced. "Mugen, get out."

He sat up suddenly. "Wait!"

Tsuki and I both jumped at the unexpected cry. "What?" we said in unison.

"I want to talk to Fuu."

Tsuki's eyes went wide and she started shaking her head furiously. "Bad idea Mugen. Why don't you talk to her in the morning?"

"'Cuz I wanna do it now. Just go to our room and we can switch when I'm done." He stood and started pushing her out into the hallway gently. She was resisting, whispering at him violently. He was growling right back. Personally, I didn't care about being around Mugen when he was drunk. I was used to it by now. But he had said he wanted to talk, what did that mean?

"Fine!" Tsuki finally snapped at him harshly. "Do what you want, but don't say I didn't try to stop you!"

"Whatever, now get out bitch."

"Ass."

"Loser."

"Dick." They smiled at each other. "Night Mugen. Don't do anything more stupid than usual, 'kay?"

She gave me a here-it-comes look and shut the door sharply. I was left with a forehead creased with curiosity and worry and an intoxicated pervert. He turned to me slowly, his eyes half closed. Oh no…

"So did you guys have fun tonight?" I asked, making myself busy with cleaning up the modest meal I had eaten alone that night. I kept washing for a moment in the basin for dishes, scrubbing rather hard. I glanced over when he didn't say anything. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed….just looking at me.

"Uh, Mugen?" I asked tentatively.

"I don't want to talk about that," he slurred, waving it away.

"W-what did you want to talk about?"

"Me, and you…you know, us." He was totally serious, I think. I didn't know whether to laugh or say something back. I settled on waiting. "So?"

"So what?" I asked, getting a little frustrated. He shrugged. He was either trying to be cute or cool. I let out a long noncommittal sigh and went back to the dishes.

A moment later his hand latched onto my wrist. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me towards him. He was staring down at me with an emotion in his eyes that I had not seen before.

"M-Mugen…" I gasped. He leaned in.

"I wanted to tell you…" he lead off, his eyes growing distant.

"Tell me what?" I questioned, my heart racing.

"Tell you…" He did a long blink and swayed a bit. He was going to pass out. I grabbed onto him and gave him a forceful shake.

"Tell me what?!" I demanded desperately.

"Tell-" He fell to the floor with a crash. I bent down to see if he was alright and was met by a loud snore. My jaw clenched. I kicked him lightly in the side and he rolled over.

"Jerk."

-Jin-

I quietly went into the room at the inn, not sure if Mugen would still be up. Fuu and Tsuki were asleep, the candles in their room were out. I slid the door shut almost without noise. I turned and immediately found myself annoyed.

Mugen was asleep on my carefully made bedroll. That inconsiderate ass. His head was covered with my blanket…my blanket. I was not in the mood for this tonight. I went over and ripped the covers off of him. Instead of Mugen's displeasing form, I was met by the last person I should have seen at that moment; Tsukiko.

Her lashes fluttered as she fought sleep to look at who was standing over her. Finally her vivid blue eyes focused on me.

"Jin?" she mumbled.

"Where is Mugen?" I asked, still off-guard. She mumbled something incoherently. I frowned and got to my knees so I could better hear her. She tried again, but I still couldn't understand. I leaned in closer. The sweet smell of sake filled my senses. No doubt this was Mugen's fault.

"He's with Fuu," she repeated for the third time. My head jerked back, not expecting that answer. Never ever expecting that answer. Tsukiko's hand shot up and grabbed me by the collar. I hardly had time to take a breath. She was fast even when she was drunk. Then she yanked me down on top of her. "Now, you're with me."

This should have felt wrong with what had just happened, I should have stopped it. There were a lot of useless shoulds flying around. I just peered down at her and smiled.

"Well, lucky me."

She removed my glasses carefully and set them aside. She sighed when she looked back up. "Lucky you."

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(a/n: Muah, ha, ha, ha! cough, cough Ha!)