(a/n: Just to challenge myself, I have no ideas of what I'm going to write. I'm just going to start and not stop until I feel like it. Wonder what will com out. Let's see.)
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Vol. 28 Inevitable Entropy
-Jin-
It was overwhelming trying to procure all of the necessities for Shino and I to start our life together. With the baby due in two weeks, I was short on time and had not a lot of experience on what had to be done. The job was fine; I had gone to the richest part of the city and offered my services as a body guard. The man had at first refused, but when his top guard challenged me and I defeated him without trouble, he had reconsidered. I was going to earn plenty of money, and be able to afford a suitable home. Things were going better than I had expected.
As for Shino herself, we were planning to get her out at the end of this week. I'd been there every night to plan the escape, and though she was happy to be leaving with me, I believed she was also a little anxious. These things happen though when women get pregnant. Their hormones make them a little emotional, understandably.
I was a little sorry to part with my friends. I'd felt bad about the way I left things with Fuu, because I was sure she was mad at me for it. I was not at all worried about Mugen, he was just fine. Though the thought of those two together alone was both comical and a little scary. I wasn't sure what would come of it, but I would have liked to be there to witness it. I didn't even know how long they'd be alone, because I wasn't sure that Tsukiko was going to come back. I had thought she would, but maybe I had done more damage than I had thought.
"Jin," Shino whispered from the bed behind me. I turned to talk to her, despite the fact my thoughts were elsewhere. When she saw she had my attention, she smiled and placed a hand on her swollen stomach. "What should we name the baby if it's a boy…or a girl? I hope it's a girl. I've always wanted one."
"But sons are better to carry on names."
He smile faded away as quickly as it had come. "You are always so serious about these things."
"Is there anything more serious than having a child?" I inquired somewhat sarcastically.
"No, but what would you do if it was a girl?"
I shrugged. "Be her father."
"I see." Shino rolled over, putting her back to me.
I sighed and began to gather my things. I'm sure Mugen and Fuu weren't even having this much trouble.
-Fuu-
"Where have you been!?!" I cried when Mugen came through the door late the next morning. He grunted at me. He looked hung over, but I was still mad at him for making me worry so much. A sake jug dangled precariously from his middle finger, but he set it down in what looked like just in time.
As he flopped down on his bedroll, I gave him a little kick. He growled at me and swatted at my foot. He must have been on one hell of a bender, because he was looking pretty haggard. There were heavy dark circles under his eyes, his hair and clothes were messier than I'd ever seen, and he smelled like booze from five feet away.
He groaned and curled up. He pulled his pillow over his head to block out the light. Jerk, he deserved it. A second later I sighed, starting to feel bad. I went to the window resignedly and pulled the curtains shut. Dumb old Mugen, he probably was just out drinking with some whores and didn't even care that I was home and worried about him. If course not, because he was a self-centered asshole.
I was just going to leave him alone. I was due at work anyway. I stopped in the door and looked back at the familiar body. "See you Mugen, I'm going to work." I shut the door and in the hall I distinctly heard the words 'sure you are'.
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And that was where he still was when I got home. The only difference was that he was sprawled out like usual, and his head was on top of the pillow. At least the sun was setting now, so the light wouldn't be a problem. He hadn't even bothered to undress, the lazy bum. One of his geta was a few feet away one the floor, probably kicked off during some time during the day. I picked it up and bent to remove the other. He flinched when I did, but didn't wake up. I set them neatly next to the door and then took my own off and put them right next to Mugen's.
"So how was your day?" Mugen asked acidly. I turned, not understanding the anger in his voice. He still looked pretty bad, but at least he was vertical. He was using one arm to prop himself up on the windowsill, the other was raising a jug of sake to his lips. He eyed me in a really odd way as he took a gulp and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Fine," I answered. I walked over to him and attempted to swipe the bottle from him, but even hung over Mugen was faster then I was. "Stop drinking you idiot, you see what it's done to you already."
He was holding the thing high over my head with a satisfied and cruel smirk. "Hair of the dog that bit you," he supplied.
I rolled my eyes. "Just give it here, Mugen."
"Why should I listen to you? Who made you the boss girlie? Last time I checked I was bigger, stronger, and meaner than you."
"Don't forget smellier, and obviously more stupid." I was getting so mad at him. He was just being so….argh! To my surprise, he began to hand me the bottle. I was a little relieved and suspicious that the argument was over so quickly. At the last second he whipped around and threw the jug at the wall. It collided with a crash and it shattered in a spray of sake and porcelain shards. I cowered away from it, not believing that Mugen had just done that. When I stood up straight he was on his way to the door.
"Bye. I thought I'd go take a bath since you think I smell so bad. Catch you later."
I stared at the door for a long time. What had gotten into him? I didn't understand. We hadn't even fought at all lately. Not since Jin had left a week ago. Here, out of the blue, he just snaps. Maybe he was getting sick of me. I wanted to go and just ask him what was up, but I didn't think now would be the best time. I would give him a while to cool down. Maybe I'd have a nice dinner there to make him cheer up, not that he really deserved it. So I went about staring the preparation for Mugen's favorite. He always was a lot happier after I made gyoza and grilled ika.
-Mugen-
Okay, so I over-reacted.
A lot….
It wasn't really her fault, but fuck if I couldn't make it seem that way. She did lie to me after all. And it wasn't like I had actually gone to her little boyfriend's house and done anything to him. I wanted to, but I didn't. I had actually followed him all the way to his house and went right up to the door. I was just going to burst through and slice him into bits, the little shit. I didn't though. I just stood there lookin at the door, thinking of what Fuu would think of me if I did it. In the end I just walked off and went to a bar.
And when I got up this morning, there she was, tryin to take care of me. Fuck that. She was a little liar and I was supposed to just act like everything was cool? I don't think so. So I broke the damn bottle on the wall. Sure it scared her, but it didn't hurt her.
So why did I feel so bad?
I was thinkin about it while I soaked, pickin the dirt from under my nails. It never came out all the way. Like I was always gonna be just a little bit dirty. I dunked my head under and when I came up the last person in the world I wanted to see was right there in front of me.
"Mugen…"
"What are you doin here, you little fucker?"
That Kazu guy, even his face got on my nerves. His name, everything about him made me want to kill him.
"Same reason as you," he answered like his smart-ass self. He got undressed and got into the bath next to me. What the hell? I didn't want this guy anywhere near me, or else I might do something considerably illegal. "So, you were home to see Fuu and my little interlude."
He was pushing buttons. I laughed. "Interlude? I dunno what you think an interlude is, but a kiss isn't exactly hot and steamy territory."
He shrugged and leaned against the side of his tub. "Maybe not, if all you kiss are whores. Yes, Fuu told me about that…about how you can't seem to get enough of them. But have you actually ever kissed Fuu? It is better than any whore I'd bet." I gritted my teeth together. He was going for low blows. "I mean wow, she really was fantastic. I just can't wait to see what else she can do."
And that was when I snapped. I stood up, not caring if I was naked, not that I ever did. I went over and grabbed fuck-face by his hair and dragged him out of the tub. I had my tonto to his neck, the tip biting into the skin just a little. Just enough to make him bleed. "Listen up mother fucker, if you ever try shit like that with her I'll cut off every body part one by one…starting with that sad excuse of a dick. You get me?"
And he smiled at me. "Oh yes, I do. Loud and clear." Everything about how he said it told me that he didn't get any of it, or was too cocky to care. If only he knew who he was messing with. I let him go and he stumbled back. He wiped the blood off his neck and looked at it. "I wonder though, what Fuu might think of this."
"She knows who I am, and she's accepted it. But she don't know who you really are, and I don't think she'd like you anymore if she did."
He shook his head. "That doesn't matter, because I could have her now if I wanted to. She believes me, she thinks I'm honest. You're just a womanizing, alcoholic, thief in her eyes. She doesn't want you Mugen. She never would."
"Maybe," I scoffed, pulling on my clothes. "But what you don't get…is that Fuu does trust me…even though she shouldn't." I swung my sword over my shoulder. "And she knows everything about me. It kinda happens when you save someone's life a bunch of times. So what you just did, was give me all the information I need to turn you in, and I hardly had to do anything for it. Bet you didn't think a drinking, dirty, pirate was so smart, did you?"
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(a/n: Not so bad, I guess. So that's what I get when I write for half an hour with absolutely no ideas. Thanks you to the readers; new and old. And special thank you's to the reviewers, you guys are extra awesome. A for you. And how fast was this update? Yay for me. But more yay for you...I suppose. Okay, I'm off to dreamland now. I hear they put in a new roller coaster. See you in line.)