--Cooperation--

Fuu's sleep was raided with several dreams, some of which she couldn't remember, and some of which she wished she hadn't remembered at all. What appeared the most, though, was the one with her father being sliced open by that monster.

But in her dream, it differed from what really happened.

This time, just as the Hand of God was about to end Seizo's life, bringing the katana upon the poor man's weak body, a dark-skinned man came sprinting through the front door of the cabin like lightning and blocked the dreaded blow, just like magic. Kimiya seemed surprised, but not for long. He ignored Fuu's father, and focused his energy on the Ryukyuan standing before him. Suddenly Fuu felt even more afraid.

'Get me,' the felon taunted. 'Go on then, do it. Spare the sunflower bastard. Get me.'

The old samurai just stared at him.

'C'mon, c'mon... You know you wanna hit me, old man.'

Fuu couldn't stand this. He was literally asking to be slashed in half. And for what reason?

'Do it.'

She felt like yelling in his face; to stop it already, that it was enough, but she couldn't budge.

'Just cut me..'

'Punish me.'

Finally, after a moment of silence, Kimiya did just that. He charged towards his target, with his katana pointing forward, piercing right through the man's abdomen.

And to Fuu's horror, Mugen didn't make the slightest effort to dodge that attack.

All she had time to do was scream his name as she saw the pool of blood forming beneath him, asking herself; why?

Why...?

Why didn't she stop him?

Punishment... why? Why?

No...

'No!'

She found herself laying on a bamboo mat, eyes wide, scanning her surroundings frantically. She sighed; of course, she was in her inn room, like she was supposed to be. Her pillow was damp, which surprised Fuu, because she wasn't one to cry in her sleep. She simply sighed again, and rolled over, wanting to forget that awful nightmare.

But on the opposite side of her, awake on his own bamboo mat staring her in the face, was Jin.

'You've been keeping me awake the entire night.'

Fuu flushed at this. She had no clue she'd been talking in her sleep that long.

'I'm sorry, Jin… I didn't me-' He raised a pale hand, signaling for her to stop talking.

'No. Don't apologize. I'm actually glad I heard it all.'

Fuu stiffened.

'You're…? Wait, you heard what? '

'Fuu. I'd like to discuss something.'

It was still dark outside, sometime in the early morning, Fuu guessed, but she had gotten a fair amount of sleep considering they both went to bed quite early. She wasn't fatigued, but she wasn't sure if she was prepared to have a talk with Jin. And he made it sound like it was going to be a pretty serious one. However, she had no objections.

'Well, if it's that important to you…'

Jin let out one of his trademark 'hnnnn's and crossed his legs. Fuu did the same, and Jin spoke;

'You may not think what I'm about to tell you makes very much sense, but this has been bothering me. Actually, it's been bothering me for quite some time.' Fuu wasn't used to Jin being this open; it kind of freaked her out.

'Jin, I'm not getting this... what's been bothering you? And since when?'

Fuu frowned, becoming slightly annoyed at Jin's vagueness.

'It's about Mugen.'

Deep down, Fuu had a feeling that that's what it was about. But she didn't admit it to Jin; not even to herself. She continued the conversation nonetheless.

'Well. I'm assuming you heard me say things in my sleep about that moronic jerk, then?'

'According to your subconscious, you adore that moronic jerk.'

She definitely wasn't expecting that.

'Uh, Did I actually say the word 'adore'?'

Jin nodded, pushing his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. 'In your sleep.'

'You said other things, as well. More intimate things…pretty deep. Especially for a girl like you. '

Fuu wanted to know what exactly was said, but she didn't want to embarrass poor Jin my making him repeat all of the supposedly sappy lines he had heard from her.

'Tch...girl like me...' she thought.

'So, hang on a second-' Fuu straightened her posture, more aware than she was a few moments ago- 'you're saying you stayed up just to listen to me talk in my sleep?'

She sounded somewhat accusatory, and Jin noted this.

'I was intent on hearing what you would say, really. Considering I had suspicions in the first place, I had to. And I wouldn't have gotten sleep anyway, the way you were talking.'

Fuu blushed, and dismissed the last comment. But he had a point, she supposed.

'So, hold on. Tell me, just how long have you been 'suspecting'?

'About a month and a half.'

'...A month and a half.' Really, now.

'Yes. More specifically, when you and him were making fun of me for...' he cleared his throat, 'for not being able to fish.'

She stifled a laugh with her hand, recalling Jin's attempt at fishing. How silly that was, she thought. Diving in the water and resurfacing like a mad dolphin.

'But...why did it start then?' she asked, after she had composed herself.

'In short. Was there any other time you heard Mugen laugh like that? Or even yourself, for that matter?'

'…'

'I found that overall, even though you didn't show it very well, you were at your best when you were with him. On the outside it looked like all you did was argue, but I think that, in reality, you both had feelings for each other. Although that backfired on you, I suppose. Neither wanting to admit your feelings, bottling it up inside and letting out all your anger on each other... '

'Well sure, considering he's the one making me angry in the first place.'

'That may be true. But really, was there ever a time you were completely angry towards him? Or were you amused at the same time?'

Fuu didn't say anything, knowing that Jin had a point once again.

'Well, why do you care so much anyway? If I loved Mugen then that would be my problem, wouldn't it.'

'Fuu.'

The way Jin was looking at her now, she was forced to stare at him back. He had a stunning gaze- almost frightening. When he spoke, you could tell he meant every word, even though you couldn't easily imagine Jin saying the things he said.

'Not only have you become my friend over these past five months, you have become like a little sister to me -someone I will always protect. And knowing that you are in doubt of your feelings is upsetting. I want to help you admit.'

Fuu reciprocated the feelings, of course, but she wasn't going to tell Jin now, while she felt so frustrated. In doubt?

'What makes you think I'm doubting my feelings, Jin? What is it that I have to admit to you?'

'It's nothing you have to admit to me,' Jin retorted, 'but something you must admit to yourself.'

'So I have to tell myself that I love Mugen?!' Fuu slightly raised her voice.

'I'm not going to pester you about it, but... I know now that you have at least some feelings for him. Don't deny it. Don't you know that when a boy constantly teases another girl, it means he likes her?'

'That only goes for kindergarten kids. And now you're saying he likes me?'

'Well, it's a two-way street.'

Fuu hated how he seemed to think he knew everything. He put no 'maybes' or 'ifs' in his sentences. He had that 'if I say it, it is so' attitude that she couldn't stand.

But on the other hand, she knew he meant well for her, so she didn't complain.

She sighed, and fell back on her pillow, growing tired of the conversation.

'You're totally wearing me out with this,' Fuu moaned. 'Okay. I'll do some thinking, I guess.'

'Alright. Good. Now go to sleep.' He rolled over and said nothing more, and Fuu couldn't help but smack him in the back of the head, smiling.

She couldn't believe what he was making her do... the fact that she had to think about her feelings for Mugen was completely ridiculous. Why should you have to think about your feelings for someone? It's something that comes naturally...

She yawned, deciding that she would think tomorrow.

And with that, she closed her eyes, and fell asleep in minutes. However, the dreams did not vanish. They only worsened.

Fuu woke up feeling groggy and cranky, which wasn't too surprising, considering her sleep had been completely disturbed. Her instincts told her to get up and start the day, but she just wanted to sleep, being the lethargic person she is.

'I know you're awake.'

She ignored Jin. She didn't want to be forced to get up, so she tried to give the best impression she could that she was asleep.

'Fuu. You're not asleep.'

Damn it.

'Get up. We should find work today, don't you think?'

Now Fuu knew she was cornered- he was right, they did need to find work, especially since they had to pay the rent for the room they were staying in, and on top of that, neither of the two had eaten well for a couple of days. Needless to say, Fuu was starving, and she knew better than to be lazy when it came to finding a job.

'All right-' Fuu's stomach growled- 'maybe we could ask the innkeeper if she's willing to hire us.'

As they made their way down the hall, the innkeeper was just making her way out of an unoccupied room, where she had most likely just finished cleaning up, judging by all the rags she held in her hand.

'Hello, you two,' she exclaimed gleefully, 'did you sleep well?'

They nodded, despite the fact that neither of them did. However she seemed to believe it, so she smiled; 'Very good. Glad to hear it.'

Fuu was the first to speak.

'Excuse me, but we were wondering if you'd be willing to hire us here.'

The innkeeper's expression seemed confused at first, but brightened soon after.

'Really! Well, you came at the perfect time. I only have one girl working here at the moment, so we were about to post a sign looking for help… but you two beat us to it, I suppose-' she laughed. 'Well, how about I give you two options, since you are guests. Either one, I give you half the normal amount of pay and let you stay here for free, or two, I pay you the normal wage, but you continue paying for the room.'

'Option one would be the most convenient,' Jin said authoritatively. Luckily for him, Fuu agreed, otherwise she would have blasted him for not letting her have a say.

'Wonderful. You can start working now, if you'd like. Just go ask Kikumi about what to do-' she pointed down the hall- ' she's in the second room on the right.'

They gave their thanks, and walked to the room where they would find Kikumi. Fuu entered first, lifting the cloth divider above her head, and saw Kikumi putting away bamboo mats. When they entered the room, however, her attention was immediately directed to them.

'Hello. What can I do for you two?' she asked, in an almost disgustingly polite manner. Part of proper innkeeping etiquette, perhaps, Jin thought.

'Well, we were just hired by, ah, the innkeeper here, and she told us to ask you what to do.'

'Oh! Is that so.' Suddenly, her expression became mischievous, and she approached the two, grabbing either of their wrists and making way out back.

'Well then you're gonna have a field day with me.'

I was almost near the village. I knew it- I could smell the combination of aromas from the infinite number of restaurants. The place was full of them.

'Tch. Maybe that's why she likes it here so much...'

As I walked, I started thinking. It was sort of like one of those conversations where an angel version of you is on your right shoulder, and the devil version on your left, arguing about what the actual, full version you should be doing.

The devil spoke first.

'What am I doing coming here? This isn't where I should be going. I should be at a brothel, or some chick's house, drinking 'til my bladder bursts. Visiting the annoying stick won't do me any good.'

Angels' turn.

'But...I guess it would make the runt kinda happy. Although she probably does hate my guts, it would give her someone to yell at.'

Devil.

'But what if Jin's there? She could always yell at that bastard. Why take any crap when someone else can take it for you?'

'Dammit, but what if he isn't there? She's probably all alone. She could be gettin' kidnapped already, by some pervy creep or somethin'.'

'Nah... she's not cute enough to be kidnapped by a pervy creep.'

'But it's happened so many times before...although...'

Oh, to hell with it.

I had already made my decision, anyway. If I turned back all that would do is make me walk an extra mile. Besides, I could pick up a nice girl here if I wanted to.

But in the end, I guess the angel won.

Oooh, who's the mystery man in the end? -dunce-
Well, hope you enjoyed the second chapter. More shall be coming soon.

5 reviews in total please and tyvm, criticize constructively AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. My motto is:

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ciao ciao! (: