Of Gunshots and Sorrow
Chapter 14
The Other Half
Momo stared up from his spot on the floor, tail hovering slightly over the ground. He pushed his front paws off the floor and onto the bed where his two owners were currently awake in. Fuu looked over at the black lab and smiled, "Hey buddy."
He barked happily, tail wagging now. "Probably hungry. He hasn't left that spot since we got back."
Fuu sat up and nodded, "I think I still have a Ziploc bag of dog food left."
Mugen moved up, pushing himself up with his elbows. He watched as she eased herself off the bed and walked over to her backpack. Momo followed and watched patiently as she took out the dog food. He narrowed his eyes on the slight shaking of her arms, "How ya holdin' up?"
Fuu blinked her eyes tightly before opening the small bag of food meant for Momo. She grabbed the empty ash tray from the room they were in and poured half of the bag in it. "We'll have to save this until I can get you some more food, Momo."
From the bed, Mugen sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Shit, girlie, you're not doing this to me. Come here." She stiffened but didn't make a move to get up. His eyes softened, he could see some red markings around her ankles and knew there were more on her wrists. "You're hurt." She still didn't move. He couldn't say he blamed her, it was all his fault anyways. "Stop being a bitch and come over here!"
Reluctantly, Fuu complied. Mugen swung his legs over the side of the bed and motioned for her to come closer. Fuu took a few steps closer to him. He tried to be as gentle as possible, after all a few hours ago she was close to being raped, and held out his hands—palm sides up—hoping she'd catch on.
She hesitated a little but handed her hands over to him. "I'm fine, Mugen." She tried to reassure him, knowing how badly burnt her wrists and hands were.
He, on the other hand, looked at her like she was crazy. "Considering how you were thrashing earlier it's surprising it's not worse," Mugen gently tugged her elbow forward a little so she'd move between his legs. "Where else are you hurt?"
Needless to say she was shocked by his concern. "My ankles," he nodded. "I think I might have bruised my back," Fuu whispered the last part, feeling tears prick her eyes.
Mugen looked at her stoically and put his hands on her hips. "Turn around," he instructed as he himself pushed her a little. When her back was to him, he carefully grabbed the end of her shirt and lifted it up a little. He saw her body tense, "Don't worry." She seemed to relax a little so he pushed the top higher, starting to see some yellow. It turned green and then purple until it went out to yellow again. The bruise was probably a good inch in height and two in length.
He let the shirt down and turned her back around. "Give me your wrists," he instructed again. She complied and he began to rub the hurt area. "I'll try to get you something for this before I have to leave."
"Do you know what he'll have you do?" Fuu finally spoke.
Mugen shrugged as he kept rubbing her right wrist, "Probably just looting a liquor store or somethin' stupid like that."
Fuu looked down at him like he was under exaggerating the situation. He laughed lightly under her stare before looking back down at her wrists. Her face relaxed into a frown. Using her free left hand she grabbed him from behind the neck and leaned down. Just as he looked up to see her again, Fuu's lips landed on his. When she moved back she stared into his eyes worriedly.
He quirked an eyebrow and smirked slightly, "What was that for?" She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back into the bed, following him onto the mattress. When she started to dip her face he stopped her by holding onto her shoulder. "Hey, this isn't a good idea. After what happened with Mukuro earlier you shouldn't—"
He stopped when he saw her eyes close and tears begin to fall down. "I'm sorry, Mugen;" she whimpered while trying to keep herself up above Mugen. "You said—you said you were done with all that stuff. Be—because of me you have to do this." A strangled sob left her lips, "What if you die?"
Mugen gently brought her down to the bed, beside him and pulled her close to his chest as she cried. 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."
He watched as her body shook with calm eyes. To be honest he could die, he could go to jail, he could leave her all alone, and that was why he didn't want to do it in the first place. It would have been better for her to have stayed with that whiny boyfriend of hers. When he saw Mukuro on top of her, though, he knew he couldn't let that happen. He had to protect her, or else another person's death would be on his head. "I ain't going anywhere. I'll be back." She kept crying. Mugen put a hand on her cheek and wiped her tears with his thumb, "C'mon, stop worrying. I don't die so easily."
"I know, but what if this time...what if you don't come back this time?" She sniffled a little before she continued, "What am I supposed to do then?"
"I'll come back."
"How do you know?"
"Cause I'm a fucking badass, that's why." He groaned, too much mushy feeling stuff going on. "Now, calm down." Mugen looked down into her eyes, his slightly narrowed. His eyes darted to the small digital alarm clock on the bedside table, behind her. "Shit."
He pulled her off of him and got off the bed suddenly. "They'll be here soon," He explained simply.
Fuu's eyes widened at that, "They're coming here?"
Mugen smirked and crossed his arms behind his head. "Yeah," Her face told him she did not think that was a good idea at all, not that he blamed her. "I know Mukuro like the back of my hand. Fucker probably sent someone to tail us when we left. He'll make sure I show up."
She stood up too at that. Suddenly becoming shy, she grabbed her elbow with one hand while her arm went limp at her side. She knew this wasn't something simple as soon as he said they would show up at their door, "Should I keep anything in mind?"
He shrugged, "All I know is that if some shit does go down, I won't be here tomorrow when you wake up." Her eyes started to glass over again so he glared her down, "Look that's only like the worst case scene, or whatever you call it. The thing is, if that happens, go back to yer boyfriend and figure out a way to get to Shino and then fish-face or straight to 'im if you can."
"You want me to just leave?" Her throat hurt when she forced the words out.
"Do I have 'ta fuckin' remind you 'bout what happened to Hino? Mukuro will take yer v-card at the very least. Even if he does forget about 'ya I doubt you'll last a week without anyone. Yer dad's still out there, remember?" Mugen didn't want to deadpan the reality of the situation, mostly because he was sure she'd cry again, but he knew she'd probably die if she was too clueless to understand why she had to find Jin.
She crossed her arms and glared at him, "Fine!"
Mugen smirked, "Good girl."
There was a knock on the door. His face fell into a deep set scowl. "I'll be back later," He forced the words out of his mouth before he went to the door.
Kohza and the guy from yesterday were there. It was like the two were attached at the hip. "What're you doin' here?" The question was directed at Kohza.
She smiled, "I wanted to stay with that girl. We would both be alone when you left so I thought I could—"
Mugen glared, "Mukuro will call you if I double-cross him. Is that it?"
She winced, "Mugen, that's not it. It's just she's back. Hino and I used to be friends, remember? We all used to be friends." She took a step in the room from her own volition and placed a hand on his chest. "Please, let me stay with her."
He turned his head over to Fuu who was standing in the same position as before. "It's up to her, not me."
Fuu smiled weakly, "It's fine."
With that the two men left and the two girls were left standing awkwardly. "So, he belonged to you?" Kohza broke the silence first, gesturing at Momo.
Fuu nodded, "Yeah. Well Mugen too, I guess since he found him first."
"You've been together for some time now, you and Mugen?" Fuu's guard went up at that question. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to say the truth or not.
"I guess. I mean two days with that asshole is too much," she decided that being vague might work.
Kohza nodded, staring at her with rounded eyes. "Are you worried? About me being here? What Mugen said before was wrong. I'm not here because Mukuro asked me to."
Fuu nodded, "Your leader, or whatever he is, hurt me. Wouldn't you be worried if you were in the same room as you?"
She looked down at the floor ashamed, "He's my brother, actually. I'm sorry for what he did. He just loses control when Mugen is involved."
"Like with Hino?" Kohza's head snapped up. "I can't believe he even has control."
"He—He told you?" Crap. Fuu bit her lip, thinking she might as well come out with the truth.
Her throat was dry and scratchy, "Sort of. Shino told me a lot and then he told me the rest." Her shoulders moved forward and her back hunched over. She felt awkward around Kohza, for many obvious reasons, but also because she was sure she saw something in her eyes when she looked at Mugen. She did say they were all close before, including Hino. Fuu was honestly curious about what she knew about her. "You knew her, right?"
"Yes," Kohza smiled softly. "She was my best friend." She turned her eyes to the floor, suddenly embarrassed. "I was scared when I first saw you with Mugen." Fuu nodded, after Jin and Shino's reactions to her resemblance to Hino she wasn't shocked. "You must be really special to him."
Fuu blushed and placed her hand behind her neck, "I guess since I look like Hino that would make sense."
Kohza shook her head, "No, it's because he told you about her."
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Mukuro grinned when Mugen finally entered the car. "So, what's the job?"
"It's not really a heist," Mukuro confessed with a smirk. "More like clearing up some business disagreements."
Mugen nodded, he didn't want details, just know what he had to do. "What's my part in this?"
"You'll go in ahead of us and take care of anything that gets in the way. We'll go in through the fire escape in the back while Eichi serves as a distraction up front. From there we'll move downstairs and take as much as we can. Kanda will set up the explosives before we leave and set them off. Mugen you'll serve as a lookout while we pack up the drugs we find and signal Kanda if you see someone start coming back into the storage area."
"Simple enough," Mugen smirked, leaning back into his seat.
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"How close were they?" Fuu asked sitting down on her bed. "They were like siblings, right?"
Kohza nodded, with a soft smile, "They were amusing, whenever they were together. When Hino first told me they weren't related by blood I was a bit shocked since they were closer than any brother and sister I knew."
Fuu nodded, "Shino said that she was one of Mugen's real sister's age when he met her."
Kozha nodded again, "They didn't look alike, that's what Mugen said, but she was his biological sister's age. I never learned much about her, but Mugen was really protective over Hino because of her age." Fuu motioned to the end of the bed, so she didn't have to stay standing. "Thank you."
"Did Hino know anything about her?"
"Yes, I think so," her voice was soft. "She never brought her up, though. Mukuro said it was because if she did then she'd realize she and Mugen weren't really related. It was like she was set on being his sister, even if it wasn't true." Kohza shrugged, "I always thought it was because she didn't like that she was thought of as nothing more than a shadow of Mugen's past."
Fuu rolled her eyes, mumbling to herself, "I know the feeling."
"I'm sorry, maybe I should stop talking about Hino." Kohza suggested.
Fuu shook her head, "Don't worry about it. I actually want to know as much as I can about Hino. It might help me understand everything that's been going on."
"It's funny how alike you are on the outside, but not in personality." She laughed lightly. "Hino was always more reserved. We went around following Mukuro and Mugen, rather than trying something on our own. They took care of us so we were loyal to them."
Fuu silently thought to herself that that explained Kohza's relationship to Mukuro. "I always wanted to leave, but she said I couldn't on my own." She paused, her fists clenching. "Then they left us."
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The gun recoiled smoothly from the bullet that was now part of a dealer's back. The silencer had done its job well. Mugen surveyed the rest of the storage area. He heard footsteps downstairs. "There's two more down there," he warned the three men behind him before moving forward.
He took a deep breath as he braced himself. Looking down into the aisles of stacked herb he clearly saw two figures. He took two perfect shots, one hit in the head and another in the neck, before moving on slightly more relaxed. The sooner he was done, the quicker he could turn on Mukuro.
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"You said you met Jin." Kohza broke the silence that had ensued. "Shino as well."
"Yes."
"They're still together then. That's good." Fuu had to admit it was a strange change of subject, and slightly uncomfortable to talk about the love life of two people she hardly knew.
She shook her head, however, "No I met them at different times. They never got married."
"Why not?" Kohza asked curiously. A thought suddenly occurred to Fuu. Kohza might not be there to kill her if Mugen doesn't come through, she might just be there to spy.
Her eyebrows furrowed and she tried to shrug casually, "I don't know. I think that's too personal of a subject for me to know."
She nodded, "Well, then, why would they tell you about Hino?"
"They confused me for her," Fuu tried to act sheepish then. "I sort of blew up on Shino and Mugen when I heard her name again. When Mugen left to get some air Shino explained the situation for me. She didn't tell me that much. Just that she was Mugen's sister and that Mukuro had killed her. To be honest, I think she only told me that little about Hino because I'm traveling with Mugen."
Kohza smiled, "You and he must be pretty close if he told you 'the rest'."
Fuu shook her head, acting was becoming easier. "Not really. I mean he was kinda plastered when I asked him about her. I was just tired of not knowing anything, you know?" It felt weird trying to justify herself for something that didn't happen. It also felt weird saying the word 'plastered' bu that was beside the point.
"Is that all there is to your relationship with him, then?" Kohza's expression became unreadable at that point. "You're just traveling together?"
14- 14- 14
It didn't take long for them to be done loading duffel bags with extra drugs. Not that Mukuro didn't have his own industry going on. They had already left the storage house in flames.
Mugen had waited patiently, quietly, while they finished the job. He pretended to still be doing his part as a lookout when he let everyone get in the back of the car before him. He was left up front with the guy who'd met him at the motel room.
He just had to wait for the perfect distraction.
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"Do you...?" Fuu couldn't finish the question. She stared down at her lap uncomfortable, yet again. "What about you? What's you relationship with Mugen? Or what was it...?" She shifted feeling even more awkward for asking.
Kohza'a eyes widened.
"I mean. If it worries you...or something—" Fuu was stuck again. She decided to lie again. "There really isn't anything between us. He's just helping me get somewhere safe." Her fists clenched around the sheets beneath her. "After that...well, I'm sure I'll never see him again."
The other girl's eyes softened, "You never know with Mugen." Fuu was sure that comment was directed not only to seeing him again but also having some type of closer relationship with him.
"Do you...like him, Kohza?" She finally managed to push the words out.
Kohza smiled.
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Mugen finally got his distraction when the guy who had been driving got out of the car to open the gate leading to the warehouse. As quickly as he could manage Mugen changed the gear to reverse and shoved his foot against the gas pedal.
Just as he wanted that managed to make the men in the back jerk forward and lose their balance. Mugen took the chance and swiftly pulled his gun out and shot the two men beside Mukuro. "I've been waiting so fucking long to do this," He growled as Mukuro put his hands up.
"C'mon, Mugen. I know you can't do it, no matter how pissed off you are, you're just not goin' to do it." Mukuro tried to play his luck at the moment when he saw the guy by the gate pulling out a gun himself.
The glass from the windshield cracked and spread into a spiderweb. Mugen cursed and, with his gun still pointed at Mukuro, shifted gears again and drove straight into the man.
When he turned back to Mukuro he was shocked to see the man smiling. "The hell's wrong with you?"
"Kohza is still with that girl." Mugen's grip on the gun only tightened. He took three shots at Mukuro's chest. The man groaned and jerked to hold his chest, but otherwise he was still alive. "You think I'd trust you enough with a gun?" Mugen just clenched his teeth more. "My guys will find me dead and know it was you. I also told Kohza that if I didn't send her a text by midnight she had to kill that stupid girl you were with."
Mugen's resolve started to falter. He knew that if he left now he might still make it back to Fuu before anything happened. "You stop now, and I won't let her die. I won't even send anyone after you."
He started to lower his gun, making the other man's smirk grow. "Fuck it." With that he shot Mukuro in the leg before raising it again to his head. Nothing came out. "Damn it," Mugen let out his anger from the empty barrel on Mukuro's head by slamming the handle of the gun into his temple.
He had to get back to Fuu.
14- 14- 14
Fuu was shocked when Kohza got up suddenly from the bed, looking down at her phone. "I have to go."
She nodded getting up and leading Kohza out the door. They exchange, forced, pleasantries and then Fuu shut the door.
She fell down against the door and sighed. Her eyes opened up and she looked over to where Momo was last at and smiled. She whistled, "Come here, buddy."
The dog stood up quickly and ran straight to her. "Hey there, don't tackle me!" Fuu giggled nuzzling the dog's neck. "I missed you too."
As if he understood what she said, Momo licked her cheek.
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Mugen waited patiently as he watched Kohza get closer, her eyes full of worry. He pushed himself off from the car's side and kept his eyes carefully trained on her. No matter how nice she seemed, he knew better than to trust her.
She looked worriedly at the car. "Mugen...where's—"
He grabbed her wrist tightly and brought her close to his face. "Drive him and yourself back home. If I see either of you again I'm killing you both."
Her eyes started to pool over, "You're leaving us again..."
Mugen rolled his eyes and pushed her aside before walking towards his motel room.
"You can't leave us again!" He turned around and glared at her. She closed her eyes in defeat and went into the driver's seat.
He got to the door fairly quickly, unlocked it, and opened it. He was shocked to see Fuu against his legs, looking up sheepishly. "The hell are you doing?"
Fuu got up as quickly as she could and laughed embarrassed, "It's been a long day."
He chuckled, "It's not over. Get up and start packing."
She sighed, refraining from the complaints that were coming to mind and went over to where their stuff was at. "I'm taking the shampoo this time. There's no way I'm staying with you without you taking a shower for more than a week again."
Mugen laughed and started picking up the random stuff he'd left thrown around the room. "Please, you love it."
AN:/
Moory1656: Sorry, sorry, sorry! I'll try harder next time to update sooner.
Preview:
"Here." He said half-yawn, plopping down on the chair and pushing Momo away with his foot.
Fuu didn't need to move the cloth covering to know what was in her hands. "What the hell, Mugen? This is a gun," She lowered her tone.
The look his eyes suddenly got caused her to shiver, "Just in case."
Moody1656: Please review.