(a/n: Okay, so it's back with a vengeance, and I've been in a mood or two so lets see what we can't emotionally displace into this story. Thanks to all who put in for the word challenge, good suggestions. I liked it so much I'm thinking up another challenge-type thing for you all. So the winner is (drum roll) - Wait. What the hell? We don't need a goddamned drum roll for this. The friggin winner is Jess…with their suggestion of 'proof'. BUT, I am going to use all of them, so yay for all who put in, even the late entries. Not sure which will be next, I'll keep you posted. Kudos.)

Vol. 29 Proof of Purgatory

-Mugen-

I had what I needed to pin the kid, all I needed was to tell Fuu. Then she'd leave that dickhole behind and we could get on with our lives. I made it all the way back to the inn smiling to myself at how nice it was all workin out for me. Sometimes I just couldn't help but be cocky when I was smart like that.

"Yo," I said to Fuu when I got up to the room. I stopped dead by what I saw. Fuu had dinner all ready for me; all my favorites. Why in the hell would she be nice to me like this after what I did? "Uh…" I began slowly, my eyes havin a hard time pulling away from the steaming dishes. "I have to tell you something."

Fuu was sittin down on a cushion, looking up at me with a smirk. "Well, does this make you feel better?"

I rubbed at the back of my neck, tousling the fine, still-damp hairs there. "Yeah, but-"

She made a hand motion that said I should sit down so I did. "Now, let's just forget all about what happened earlier and have a nice and peaceful meal, okay? No bad stuff?"

Damn. She almost sounded like she was begging for me to try and make this work. "Fuu. Listen for a fuckin minute, willya?" She glowered at me and pouted like a four-year-old. "Kazu, that guy you were with last night. I talked to him today when I left…I didn't go lookin for him if that's what you're thinkin. But he told me that he was going to try and get you to sleep with him and shit. I just thought you might want a heads up."

See? That wasn't so bad. Wrong. Fuu folded her arms and leaned back from me. "What did you do to him Mugen?" she demanded.

This is what a guy gets for tryin to be nice…just like fuckin last time. "What the hell do you mean? I was helping you out, so calm the fuck down!"

She stood up and started getting all huffy like she always does. Her face was goin red, and her fists were balled up, and I could just see her aching to stamp her foot. "You! You just stay out of my business! I'm sorry if you don't like Kazu, but I do! And who are you to talk about getting women into bed, you're the worst of all. I don't know what's up with you Mugen, but from now on, stop messing up my life!"

When she stopped, she was breathin hard and some of her hair had fallen out of place. It had been a while since she was this pissed at me; and it was all for no reason; all because of that little fuck.

"So that's it then? You're just going to believe that creep over me?" I asked, my voice was getting low and angry. I didn't ever mean for it to, it was like one of those involuntary reactions.

"I guess."

"I thought you were smarter than that," I sighed, standing up. I was on my way right back out the fuckin door again. "but turns out you are that stupid."

-Fuu-

What was Mugen playing at, trying to get me to be against Kazu like that? He was one of the nicest, sweetest, most sincere people I had ever met. There was no way what Mugen was claiming was true. It just couldn't be. I looked down at the table laden with all the food I had tried so hard and carefully to make. What a waste. I had never seen Mugen walk voluntarily away from a meal before. That struck me as odd.

"What should I do?" I thought aloud, talking to myself. I wished Tsuki or Jin was here to talk to. At least if Jin were here, he could talk some sense into Mugen. But now he was gone, Tsuki was gone, and Mugen…I looked around the lifeless room…was gone. Was it for good?

---------

"Kazu?" I asked gently over my steaming cup of tea. The steam made his image all distorted, and the smoke in the restaurant wasn't helping.

"Hmm?" he replied through a mouthful of some noodles.

I set my cup down, it was starting to burn my fingertips. "Did you talk to Mugen?"

He swallowed and nodded solemnly. "I did. He went crazy on me though. He said that he was going to kill me. I don't know what provoked it, but I was terrified."

"Mugen's just…different. I don't expect you to understand him."

Kazu gave me a sympathetic look. He then reached out and put his hand over the one I had resting by my plate. "Fuu, did you ever think that maybe it would be better to just not see him anymore? He's obviously unstable."

The idea was silly. Never ever see Mugen again? I just couldn't even picture it. "No, I never thought about it. I can't…"
I trailed off because of something Kazu was doing. He stood up in front of the whole crowd of diners and offered me a hand. I reluctantly took it, and he pulled me up.

"You may have to Fuu, because a married woman cannot go cavorting around with pirates and ronin."

"Married?" I babbled.

"That's right. Fuu, I'm asking you to marry me."

"Marry you?" I mirrored, thinking this was all some kind of joke. He looked dead-pan serious. Oh, lord. The whole place was staring at us now, anticipating my answer just as much as Kazu was. I wasn't sure what to do. Was I ready for that? Was he who I wanted to be with for the rest of my life? Was I really going to have to leave my past- Jin, Mugen, Tsuki- all behind? "I, uh…I-I'm not sure Kazu."

He looked a little crestfallen, but smiled. "That's okay, I understand. It's a big decision. I just want you to know though; I can give you everything you want and you'll never want anything you can't have. If you're with me, I'll treat you like you deserve to be treated."

"And if I say yes, that means that I can't ever see my friends again?"

"What friends?" he scoffed. I was happy that everyone had gone back to their meals now, obviously uninterested with the scene. "They all left you Fuu. Don't you see? They were never really you're friends at all. Friends don't abandon friends, and they certainly don't treat them like Mugen treats you."

-----

I lay in bed and thought about dinner and the last things Kazu had said to me. I wanted to protest to what he was arguing, but I couldn't. Friends didn't do those things to each other, but my friends had done them to me. So did that mean they weren't my friends? No, they had their reasons for going away. Tsuki needed time to heal. Jin had to start his life. Wait, wasn't that what I'd be doing? Starting my own life? It had to happen sometime after all. Maybe this was it. Time to settle down and stop wasting my youth running around Japan being a wanted criminal with two men of questionable moral value.

But they were my men of questionable moral value, and it would hurt to let them go.

-Jin-

"Fuck, fuck fuck!" I heard an all-too-familiar voice growl coming toward the stand I was currently at. I had been looking at some items to put in the new house when I heard the gravelly griping of Mugen. I turned my head so fast I nearly cricked my neck. What was he doing in this part of town and where was Fuu?

"Mugen?" I asked as they ever-shabby pirate whirled past me. I could practically feel the rage seeping off him and lingering in the air. He skid to a stop and growled.

"This is all you're fuckin fault!"

He lunged at me and I, clearly not expecting this, could do nothing but catch his weight as it barreled down upon me. Once on the ground, I shoved him off and rolled away while simultaneously drawing my sword.

"I'll take it you're having some trouble with Fuu?" I asked when Mugen swung his own blade toward me, inches from my right shoulder.

"Fuck you!"

"Articulate as ever."

I ducked another assault aimed for my throat and thrusted forward to get him to back away.

"I had the proof! She didn't believe me."

"Though I sometimes find it trying to communicate with you in your own insane manner, I am finding it particularly hard to apply it to any knowledge I have. Perhaps you would be so kind as to inform me of what it is I did exactly before trying to kill me?"