Of Gunshots and Sorrow
Chapter 13
Half the Battle
AN:/
Moody1656: Without further ado. On with the story!
"He hasn't come back." Fuu sighed, bringing her knees up to her chin. The bed she was on spread out around her in a sea of white sheets, the comforter lay on the floor forgotten. She groaned and fell back on the bed, a strong whiff of Mugen flowing up from its surface into her nose. It wasn't the sick smell of sweat that she thought to be completely him, it was that scent behind the sweat. He'd actually been showering daily because they'd finally stayed in a city long enough so she could finally enjoy the mix between metal, asphalt, wood, and deodorant. "You lied."
Another body fell down next to her, albeit less gracefully since he was laying sideways. "I thought he'd show up by now so I didn't lie, moron." She turned to her side and made sure he saw the frown on her face. "It's not my fault."
"Asshole. Let me be angry." Mugen rolled his eyes. After the first time they'd actually been so close voluntarily in Shinsuke's house it had become normal for him to try to comfort her. Unfortunately for her, she was getting on his last nerves with all the dog talk. "It's been two weeks."
Mugen sighed, "Calm down, the mutt'll show up. 'Sides he's not that special. We can find another one just like 'im if ya want."
Fuu glared and shoved his chest, "Jerk, even when you sound like you're trying to be nice you're still an ass."
He smirked, "In that case, ya wanna make out?"
She rolled her eyes and finally moved off the bed, "I'm going for a walk, maybe I can find him." Mugen groaned and got up too. "You don't have to come."
"Yeah I do," He pulled a pair of shoes on. "Who knows if you get raped or some shit like that."
"Jerk."
"You know we're not going to find him, right?"
Fuu bit her bottom lip looking nervously around her. "Damn it."
Mugen looked down at her with a snide look on his face, "I told you we weren't going to find the stupid mutt."
She groaned and stopped walking down the bare street they were on. It was lined with dozens of mom and pop shops and diners. The city was fairly quaint and seemingly crime deprived. A clear indicator by all the looks Mugen was receiving and returning. "He must've followed us at some point again. He's always catching up to us when we lose sight of him."
The older man just shrugged, "Ya can't expect him ta fall outta the sky or somethin'. The dog'll show up sooner or—"
Ironically, sooner was all he had to say because later was a dim prospect when the now annoyed ex-dealer shoved the now found dog off of himself and stared up into a pair of very familiar eyes coming his way. "Shit."
Fuu, too overcome by the new prospect of having her dog back safe and sound, missed the silent curse the man mumbled to himself. Which in turn caused her to yelp when something cylindrical pressed against her back.
Her eyes darted quickly over to Mugen, who was grinding his teeth, and staring harshly at the person behind her. "Where is he?"
A small girl, who Fuu had failed to notice earlier stepped toward Mugen and placed a hand on his shoulder which he quickly shoved off. "Mugen..." the girl's voice was filled with awe rather than disappointment at the rather harsh reaction she received from the man. "I knew I'd see you again."
Fuu turned her eyes from the girl back to her traveling companion with questioning eyes as he watched her carefully. Without averting his eyes from Fuu, Mugen directed a question to the girl next to them. "Where is he, Kohza?"
Kohza winced at the venomous tone he used and crossed her arms in a way to hug herself. "Mugen, you shouldn't have come looking for him. If you were alive then you should have stayed away."
At that moment Fuu understood why he was staring at her. Hino. Her eyes turned downward quickly when she felt something cold and wet on her shin. Her eyes started to water. "Momo..." The dog looked up at her, whimpering due to the anxious look in his owner's eyes.
Mugen decided to finally address the girl he'd looked after for so long. "Hey," she turned to face him so quickly he wondered if she got whiplash. "I'm not goin' anywhere." I'll make sure nothing happens to you.
The exchange caused Kohza's throat to suddenly dry up. "Unless you follow us quietly we'll have to kill her."
He nodded, "I'll go, don't make a scene or anything. Just let her go after you get me to Mukuro, no reason to shed civilian blood."
Kohza nodded, forced a smile, and gestured with her chin for him to follow her.
As they walked down the peaceful street, the man behind Fuu positioned himself so the situation at hand would look less obvious. However, this just made his presence feel more hostile for Fuu. Without thinking her hand shot out to grab the end of Mugen's shirt.
He sent her a warning look. They can't see that she's in anyway close to me. If they do, she's definitely dead. Mugen groaned when she didn't get the message, "The hell, girlie? Let go will ya?"
Fuu didn't understand why he was being so cold, but she let him go and turned her eyes to the floor. Momo growled at Mugen and fell behind to walk beside the girl.
Soon the atmosphere the two had become accustomed to changed. They neared farmland after an hour of walking. "Where are we?" Fuu asked the man behind her.
For the first time, she took in his features. He was around Jin's age, long brown hair, dark eyes, straight nose. He gave off this air like he was planning something, something she wanted no part of. He smirked down at her, "Almost there."
Kohza stopped in front of a short metal gate. Up ahead was a dirt path, leading to a what looked like a cross between a large metal barn house and a warehouse. She opened the gate with a creak and let the others follow her up the path.
Mugen felt adrenaline start pumping through his veins. All the things he'd planned on doing to that bastard were finally going to come true. He just wanted to get the bastard's throat between his hands and get back at him for what he'd done to Hino.
Two guys at the front entrance of the metal building nodded at Kohza and let the four pass. When the door opened Mugen quickly saw Mukuro ahead of them.
The man sat in a large chair behind a desk, the money he'd been counting was covered by three men in front of the desk. All of their attentions were now on the newcomers. "Seems, you brought me a gift, Kohza." Unfortunately, he was looking at Fuu now rather than Mugen.
The girl looked at her "brother" nervously. "We told Mugen that we'd let her go after we brought them here."
The guy behind Fuu let out a snide chuckle, "She was more like insurance than anything."
Mukuro shrugged, and stood up slowly. "I'm glad to see you again, Mugen."
Mugen glared, "That makes one of us."
He feigned hurt, putting a hand to his chest. "We were such good friends before, Mugen. I doubt you're not the least bit glad to see me."
He smirked, "Well I am glad, can't say it's a good thing for you though."
Mukuro raised an eyebrow before snapping his fingers and putting his hands behind his back as he got closer to Mugen. The men behind him all pulled out guns and pointed them at the man. "Trained them?"
Mukuro chuckled, "Well, they're easy to tame compared to you." He smirked even more as he circled around Mugen, feeling his slate eyes follow his every move. "Or at least that's what I used to think." He stopped in front of Fuu, who kept her ground. "D'ya make a deal with the devil or something? Last I checked I made sure she was dead."
Mugen smirked, "As if. This bitch is a hundred times worse than Hino. She's been draggin me around trying to find her stupid dog. Hell, if I wasn't getting paid I'd of left her hours ago when she caught me running from some shitty diner that expected me to pay them for their shitty food." He said it with so much confidence most people I the room believed him.
Mukuro laughed, being one of the few people in the room who didn't buy his blatant lie. "So, I take it you don't care what happens to this girl." He grinned maliciously, placing a hand on Fuu's hip.
Mugen tried his best to resist the urge to break the bastard's hand for touching her. "Shit, for all I care you can get her to give you head every hour for the rest of her fuckin' life. Look I just came here to settle some unsettled business." Each word was pushed out of his mouth, though unnoticed by the others around him, as Mukuro dismissed the man holding a gun to her.
Almost absentmindedly and uncaring, he wrapped an arm around her front from behind. Mukuro took pleasure in the feel of her body tight against him and what he was sure was the sound of Mugen's breaking resolve. "Is that so? What business?" With intended deliberateness, he pressed his cheek against her neck and took a smell of her collar's perfume. Even if the girl meant nothing to him, the mere fact alone that she resembled Hino almost perfectly would be enough to crack the younger man.
Mugen's eyes narrowed, "Quit joking around! You know what I'm talking about. You actually had the balls to not only touch my sister, but you also fucking killed her."
An airy chuckle escaped from Mukuro's nose. He moved to Fuu's ear and whispered huskily, "D'ya hear that sweetheart. That man's a psychopath and you actually hung around him for awhile." He moved his lips a little and took to nipping at her earlobe with his teeth. She let out a pained whine, letting him know that she was crying or on the verge of.
Deciding to play with Mugen a little longer he moved a hand to the girl's chin and moved her head to face him. He made quiet hushing sounds, seeing the tears, "Hey, hey, it's fine. Nothing's going to happen to you as long as you do as you're told."
She began to shake slightly but showed no signs of actually responding. "How about you plant one on me, huh? You know, just to make sure he's not lying to me." Mukuro smirked when he turned to see Mugen gritting his teeth in anger.
Without a moment's hesitation he turned her sideways slightly and pressed his large, chapped and nicotine seasoned lips. Fuu began to resist and try to pull free but Mukuro grabbed her arm strongly with one hand and pressed her lips open with the other. Before Fuu could manage to escape his tongue had entered her mouth. She shrieked in the back of her throat and bit down on his tongue right before it left her mouth.
Not only did he now have an injured tongue but Mugen was now on top of Mukuro punching his face. "Don't fucking touch her!" Before he could do much damage, Mugen was pulled up by two large men.
Fuu watched Mugen with worried eyes. He didn't acknowledge her and instead spit on the ground before yelling once again, "You touch her again and I'll make sure to cut your fucking tongue out, asshole!"
Mukuro stood up chuckling, "So she does matter to you."
Mugen decided to not try to fool him again, especially now that his mind was clouded with rage. "Hell yeah! She's my fucking meal ticket and the only entertainment I have. I've told you before to not touch my things, so try some stupid shit like that again and I won't hesitate!"
Fuu's eyes widened, as well as Kohza. Mukuro on the other hand laughed, "Since when did your taste in ass get so bad?"
Mugen smirked, "She knows what she's doin'. Way better than any of the hookers you'd gotten for me before." If he was gonna admit that he cared at all for Fuu he was gonna do it as sleazily as he could. He couldn't afford his rep.
Mukuro chuckled and motioned another guy to grab Fuu. "Listen, Mugen, I'm pulling off a new heist soon."
"No."
"Why not?" He asked with a frown.
"I'm out of all that shit." Mugen deadpanned.
"You don't want me to hurt her, do you?" Mugen preferred to remain silent than answer. When a few seconds passed he gestured for his lackey to bring Fuu closer. "Stick out her hand," He ordered pulling out a small hand pistol.
Fuu's eyes widened as he loaded the gun and unlocked the safety. He pointed the gun at her face before shooting up at the ceiling three consecutive times and forcing the now burning barrel straight into her palm. He quickly forced her hand shut around the hot material as she yelled in pain.
Mugen watched, torn between what he should do or not.
Mukuro finally let go and the gun fell hazardously on the ground. His laugh was dark and throaty as he grabbed Fuu's burning hand and brought it up to his mouth. "Still stubborn, huh Mugen?" Mugen glared harder at the man as he stroked her hand with his cheek.
"Fuck, just leave her out of this." He spoke through tight teeth.
Mukuro raised an eyebrow, "As soon as you say yes I will."
Images of what would happen to her if she said yes passed through his mind and Mugen shook his head turning his eyes to the ground to avoid her crying gaze. She just couldn't understand.
This didn't go over well with Mukuro and he snapped his fingers. Out of the shadows two men came out and pulled Fuu over to the table in the middle of the place. "Fine. Then let me give you a preview of what will happen as long as you keep saying no."
Fuu was bound to the table as her cries echoed throughout the room. Mugen's chin was grabbed and pushed up to watch as the leader of the gang pulled down the small girl's jeans. Kohza was escorted out as soon as she yelled out for Mukuro to stop, though no one could really hear her past Fuu's shrieks and wails.
"Mukuro!" Mugen shouted as loud as possible, jerking the men restraining him forward. He was still unable to knock them off though.
He just tied a piece of rope between the girl's teeth as if Mugen wasn't there shouting.
He began shaking, seeing no way out through the haze of the situation. Mugen felt himself choke as he heard Fuu's calls behind the rope; cries that consisted solely of his name. "I wouldn't be traveling with him if I didn't think I could trust him."
"Damn it!" Mugen continued to shout and soon his cursings became threats and then the threats became feral growls when the bastard undid his belt. All of his actions were slow and deliberate.
Fuu was choking behind her tears and shouts and Mukuro was sure she might pass out soon if she continued that way so he slapped her to shut up. It worked. Until he was on top of her, in which case her cries became that of a banshees; high pitched and unintelligent.
The fact that it was annoying him to no end went away though when he realized that snapped Mugen out of his own growls and screeches. "Damn it! I'll do it! Get your fucking hands off o' her! I'll fucking do it!" Mukuro looked over and noticed that the man's eyes had become bloodshot and crazed, which caused him to wonder how he didn't get out of his men's hold yet. That's when he noticed for the first time that he was closer and ten men had him pinned to the floor.
"I knew you'd see it my way." Mukuro laughed shaking his head.
Slowly, almost laboring, Mukuro climbed off of her and undid the ropes holding her down. Her eyes were wide as saucer plates as she stared at him and stumbled off of the table.
Mugen was pulled to his feet by the men at the same time that Mukuro pulled Fuu up. Without much care, he pushed her over to him. She collided with Mugen's chest and held onto his shirt crying. "Tomorrow at midnight, don't be late." He chuckled walking away from them, his cronies following closely behind.
Mugen looked down at Fuu and sighed. He thought about pushing her off of him, but knew it wouldn't be a good idea. "Quit bawling," He mumbled down at her pushing her chin up to make her look him in the eyes. "You're ok."
She nodded. "I'm sorry Mugen." Fuu managed to say, calming down a bit.
He moved his hand across her face and wiped the tears from her eyes. His face remained apathetic while hers reflected her fears. He moved closer to her and brought his face closer to hers. Her eyes slipped closed, shocking Mugen by her willingness.
Instead of his lips meeting her own, they placed a reassuring kiss on her forehead.
Fuu blinked up at him, now shocked.
He turned around, "C'mon, let's get out of here."
She nodded and they both walked shakily out of the warehouse.
AN:/
Moody1656: Done. Sorry, I took so long I've been working on college apps so I barely got the chance to finish.
Fuu: Without further ado, here's what's in store for next chapter.
Preview:
He sighed, and took a deep breath of her. He wasn't sure if he would for another five to ten years, "Hey, c'mon. Have some faith in me, girlie."
Mugen could feel her nails begin to pierce his skin but ignored it as he held her as she cried. "Don't die, please just don't die." He shook his head to reassure her. "Remember, you promised. You promised you wouldn't leave."
Mugen: Review.