Taking Care of You
By the Alternative Source
Disclaimer: I don't own anything when it comes to Samurai Champloo. Except my story of course. Lol.
Summary: Fuu gets seriously injured when she saves Mugen during an attack.
Chapter 9
Previously on Taking Care of You………………
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Pulling him closer to her she moved her lips against his. As she started reacting to his kiss Mugen began to kiss her more passionately. His mouth moved over hers smoothly and she could feel his tongue move over her lips. Opening her mouth without hesitation she felt his tongue against hers. Tilting her head to get a better angle Fuu melted into the kiss.
They suddenly both pulled apart gasping for much needed air. Leaning their foreheads against each other they both took deep mouthfuls of air.
They both looked up at each other when their lungs were properly working and their hearts had calmed down.
"How about now?" Mugen asked.
"Not a chance," Fuu replied and kissed him again.
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Unbeknownst to both of them, someone was watching them as they became lost in each other's kiss.
A little farther down the bath house a door was slightly open. Angered by the sight in front of him, he closed the door and started walking down the hall. The air grew dark and angry around the man as he exited the bathhouse.
'They will pay for what they have done. And I think I'll start with the boy first.'
A smirk appeared on his face as he disappeared into the streets of the bustling town.
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Now on with the story!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the next couple of days everything had been wonderful. That is the only word that she could use to describe how their relationship was going. Of course she wouldn't say it out loud for fear that something would ruin it. And Mugen apparently felt the same way. They didn't speak of the change that had occurred between them or the new steps that they were taking in their relationship.
'We don't even have a name for what this is.'
They were both currently sitting across from each other eating food. As usual they were both silent as they stuffed their faces. The only one that kept fidgeting around was Jin. Apparently he had sensed a change in their relationship and he felt uncomfortable.
'I don't understand why he's fidgeting. I mean it's just Mugen and I. Oh wait. I take that back. I know why he's acting weird.'
Sneaking another glance at Jin she turned back to Mugen, "Will you slow down? One of these days you're going to choke. Seriously."
Mugen smirked before giving her a glare, "Wouldn't that make you happy?"
"You've got that right. Best day of my life," Fuu said with a smile.
Jin suddenly got up. Mugen and Fuu both looked up at him in confusion with a slight inkling of the reason why he was leaving, "I'll be back later."
Fuu smiled softly, "Ok. Meet us later for dinner at the inn?"
"I think I will be able to make it," Jin said stiffly as he walked out of the room. As soon as the door closed Mugen started laughing.
"And why are you laughing?"
Mugen pointed at the door casually with a thumb, "Four eyes is nervous around us. Never thought I'd see the day where that ass was nervous around me. Saw it coming eventually."
Fuu raised an eyebrow at his comment, "You knew this would happen?"
This seemed to throw Mugen for a loop because he spit out his food, "What? No. I never thought I'd end up with a broad like you."
"Sure….." Fuu said sarcastically as she kept on eating.
"Whatever….I'm done. Let's go."
Mugen stood up and offered her his hands. Taking them he immediately pulled her up. Fuu straightened out her clothes and flicked off some pieces of food.
"You eat like an animal," Mugen said offhandedly.
"Most of its yours. Thank you very much. Every time you chew with that mouth of yours it gets everywhere."
Fuu looked up just in time to see the smirk on his face before he dove in and kissed her. Deciding not to fight him she leaned even closer to him and melted into the warm kiss. He threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled her flush against his body. Whatever argument they were just having disappeared and they both lost themselves to something brand new. Each other.
Fuu pulled back when she couldn't breathe. Mugen was still in the moment and tried to kiss her again. Fuu pecked him one more time on the lips before she pulled back, "Come on Mugen. You going to let me breathe anytime soon?"
Mugen poked her side softly with a frown on his face, "No."
"But if you let me die then how are you going to…you know," Fuu signaled between them. She still didn't want to say what was happening between them out loud. She didn't want to break the spell.
Mugen smirked and mocked her by signaling between them, "This? What do you mean?"
Fuu scowled at him, "You know what I mean?"
"I don't know what you're talking about girlie."
"Oh come on. Don't make me say it out loud."
Mugen decided to torture her a little more and tilted his head in an innocent jester, "Say what out loud? Age is getting to you."
"I don't want to say it out loud."
At this Mugen's face turned from an innocent face to one of anger, "Why? Can't admit that you've got a thing for a scruff guy like me?"
Fuu looked up at him and panicked for a second when he pulled away, "No. It's not that."
Mugen kept a steady hand on her but still kept his distance, "Then what is it? Not good enough for you."
Fuu closed her eyes for a second before she decided on what she had to do. Mugen felt insecure about them. She knew it and he knew it. But the thing is that Mugen thought that she was insecure about their relationship too. Fuu wasn't insecure about them. She was just afraid of saying it out loud. There was no doubt in her mind that this is what she wanted.
Reaching forward she wrapped her hands in his shirt and tugged him forward. When he didn't move the first time she tugged him forward again. The second time he followed her and moved closer to her. Fuu leaned her head against his chest and sighed.
"You are good enough. More than good."
Mugen kept silent and moved a hand to rest on her back. Fuu bit her lip and waited for a second for him to say something. And when he didn't say anything she decided to throw caution to the wind and acknowledge what had developed between them.
"I know that we agreed to take it slow. But I-I need you to know that I care for you Mugen. I've cared for you for a really long time. That's why I protected you. That's why I took that sword for you. I didn't want you to get hurt because I couldn't imagine what my life would be without you. So….don't think for a second that you're not good enough."
Mugen leaned his head down and rested it against hers. She could feel the warmth of his breath against her head as he held her. She knew that he wasn't the type to express his feelings openly and she was right.
She would have never guessed what he was thinking at that moment. He was taken aback by her words. No one had ever spoken to him like that. No one had ever told him that they cared for him. And no one had ever let themselves get hurt to just protect him. All he wanted to do now was protect her. Pulling her closer he promised to do just that. He kissed the top of her head to calm her nerves, "I know."
Fuu smiled and pulled back from him. She knew that maybe the talk they just had was a little too much for Mugen to handle just at the moment so she decided to lighten up the mood, "So what is it that you wanted to drag me out of this room to do?"
Mugen seemed to have appreciated her jester and smirked, "It's for me to know and for you to find out."
"Ok, then, let's go."
Mugen grabbed his sword, "Think you can walk without help?"
Fuu took a shaky step towards Mugen, "I think I can."
Mugen extended his hand towards her. Fuu looked at his hand oddly and then looked back up at him, "You're going to hold my hand?"
"You know your pushing it right?" Fuu nodded with a smiled on her face, "Don't want you to fall flat on your face. Gotta keep my reputation if you're going to be with me."
Fuu smiled. Taking a step forward she slipped her hand into his large one. To her his hand felt entirely too large and rough. But oddly enough comforting. And to him Fuu's hand felt so small in his hand. But oddly enough it also felt comforting. Mugen pulled them both of out of their thoughts by walking towards the door. They made their way out of the room and down the hallway. In a few minutes they were out on the busy streets of the village.
This was the first time they had ventured out into the village for a day out. Fuu's wounds had been getting better quicker than anyone would have thought. She was still quite stiff but the wounds were healing nicely especially with the balm that Jin had gotten for her. In a couple weeks they would be able to start traveling once again with no problem. This was wonderful news because they had all gotten used to not staying in one place for a long time and were itching to leave the village as soon as possible.
Without saying a word Mugen started walking down the street. He was going at a steady pace but not quick enough that Fuu wouldn't be able to keep up with the pace. Street after street they kept on walking at a steady pace. While Fuu was wondering where they were going Mugen knew the exact location of their destination.
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15 Minutes Later
"Come on Mugen where are you taking me. I know that you wanted me to get out but this is a little too much," Fuu said as she narrowly missed knocking over a passerby.
Mugen looked back at her and pulled her out of the way just in time to not knock over another customer, "We're here."
Fuu dusted herself off and looked up. They were in front of a stall. Not just any stall. It was a jewelry stall. Before she could question him about why they were there the old man at the stall greeted Mugen.
"Hello there young fellow."
"Hey. Do you have what I asked you for?"
The old man ignored Mugen's question and looked back over at Fuu, "Oh, is this the young lady?"
Fuu took a step closer to the stall, "Young lady?"
Mugen was about to reach over to shut the old man up when the old man crouched down to look for something behind the counter, "The young lady that this fellow came here for. You must be some sort of lady to have a man like him."
Fuu raised an eyebrow and looked at Mugen. He wasn't looking at her but she could have sworn that she saw a slight blush on his cheeks. Shaking it off as a dream she turned to the old man. He stood up and placed a small bag on the counter, "This should be it."
Mugen reached forward to grab it but the old man slapped his hand, "What was that for?"
"Have to pay first young fellow," the old man said with a smile.
"Here you go," Mugen said as he threw a coin purse on the counter, "That should be enough."
And with that he turned and started walking away with Fuu in tow. Fuu gave a small wave to the old man and he returned it. Grasping his hand a little tighter so she wouldn't lose him in the crowd she silently followed him. A couple minutes later the crowd seemed to thin and she could tell that they were close to their room. Suddenly they came to a stop on a bridge before their room.
"So…" Fuu said as she looked at the bad, "What's that?"
"Hold on will you," Mugen said as he opened the bag and fumbled with its contents. He glanced at her quickly before fumbling with the bag again. All of a sudden he pulled out what was in the bag. It was a silver necklace. A silver necklace with a charm on it.
"Mugen," Fuu said as she came closer to him. He watched her as she touched the charm. It was a small flying squirrel, "Ohh Mugen."
"What do you think?"
"It's Momo. Why? Why did you get this for me? When," Fuu said quickly.
Mugen unclasped the necklace and stepped forward. Fuu pulled her long hair to the side and helped him place the necklace around her neck. Mugen touched the charm as it rested against her chest. For a second Fuu thought that he was pulling a move on her until she looked at his face. He was serious and a joke at this moment would not go well.
"Your birthday is next week. Decided to get you something that reminded you of our past."
Tears sprung in her eyes as she looked at Mugen. He had done something for her that she never thought that he would do. He remembered her birthday.
"You remembered my birthday?"
Mugen looked up at her and replied, "Yeah, I know when your birthday is."
Smiling Fuu grabbed a hold of his face and pulled him forward. Fuu let herself melt into Mugen and pressed her lips against his. Mugen took a step forward and wrapped an arm around her to pull her closer. Neither of them was aware or cared about the eyes upon them.
"Thank you," she mumbled against his lips.
Mugen grunted in response and Fuu hit him softly on the arm, "Nothing you can say can make me mad."
This set the stage for Mugen. It was a challenge. He gave her a small smile and flicked her nose. Fuu smiled and turned away from him. He followed her as she made her way towards there room. The entire time Mugen kept on insulting her.
"You're getting kind of round there."
"I don't care."
"You're ugly girlie."
"Not going to get mad," she said as she entered their room. Turning towards him she watched as he closed the door behind him. They both stood a couple feet from each other in silence.
"No breast, no ass, no use."
Fuu smiled as she tried to lower herself on her futon, "Come on Mugen. Is that the best you can do?"
Obviously having some trouble Mugen walked over and helped Fuu lay down on the mattress, "I can do better. Just don't want to hurt your feelings girlie. Tired?"
"Yeah. That was a good amount of exercise for today but I'm tired. And my shoulder is hurting."
Mugen grabbed some of the balm and bandages next to the wall, "Just sleep."
Fuu searched for his hand as she felt sleep creeping in on her. Without searching much she felt his fingers twine with hers, "Thank you for everything Mugen."
"No more chick moments. Sleep," Mugen grumbled as he started changing her bandages. Fuu smacked him lightly and fell asleep with one more comment on her lips.
"Told you that you couldn't get me mad."
Mugen looked down at her and watched as she drifted off. Replacing the bandage on her shoulder he traced his hand over the red scar. Her wounds were healing quickly but she would have scars. It would hurt her but he promised himself that he would be there. He wasn't the type of guy that talked about his feelings but he would have to admit that this girl had wormed his way into his heart. And that was exactly why he had gotten her the necklace. He wanted to show her that after all these years he had learned something about himself. Something that he had never wanted to do, "Believe it or not. I want to keep you happy forever girlie."
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To be continued….
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Author's Note: Just finished finals!!! Yay!!! Hope I did well. Okay so this chapter was a little bit of a filler. Wanted you guys to get used to the idea of Mugen and Fuu together. Plus I have also lost my beta!!! (Frowny face) Anyone want to help me? I hate looking over my work. I miss mistakes that should be obvious. So anyone want to help? About next chapter: I already have it typed up. Believe it or not I'm ahead of schedule. If you guys want it then REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!!!!!
Next chapter the mysterious figure appears and what is he out for? Let's just say that he's definitely out for blood.
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Preview for next chapter:
Fuu looked at the note and frowned. It was a small cream letter that was folded. And somehow it had been slipped onto her pile of clothes. Pulling her robe tighter around her she looked around herself.
'There's no one here Fuu. Maybe it was Mugen.'
Tentatively she picked it up and opened it. Her breathe hitched and she stumbled back as she dropped the letter. She looked around herself desperately and looked for anyone. Anyone who had entered the bath house while she wasn't looking. Anyone who had come and dropped off the note. Anyone who knew why she was given a note that said:
"Be careful little one. I'm out for more than blood. I'm out for your life."
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REVIEW!!! Please? Makes me write more.