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I don't own Samurai Champloo!
Enjoy!
A stoic samurai walked along with his loving wife. The samurai clad in blue clothes and armed with two swords. His blue eyes were hidden behind his glasses and his long black hair was pulled back.
His wife was dressed in a plum kimono, her brown hair pulled up into a delicate bun and her black eyes warm. She held her husbands hand as they walked down the streets of Edo.
"I wonder what Fuu has been up to since we last saw her, Jin?" The woman asked, looking up at her husband. Her husband sighed and looked ahead.
"I don't know, Shino. It was the anniversary of her father's death yesterday and with Mugen lurking around the area, maybe they've reunited." Jin replied. Shino raised a brow.
"I suppose so." She replied. "I do hope everything goes well, Fuu has been hurting for some time now." Shino said worriedly.
Before Jin could reply, something caught his eye. Five or so men gathering, he kept his head down as he walked to a nearby alley dragging Shino along with him. He leaned in to close, trying to listen to their conversation.
"So we're going after a woman and two men?" One man asked.
Another nodded, seemingly the captain of the group. "Yes, Kasumi Fuu. Jin the Ronin. Mugen the Pirate. The three have been spreading chaos throughout Japan. It seems Fuu is the daughter of a Christian Samurai, it seems she's the leader of this group." The captain explained.
Jin's eyes narrowed as Shino gasped. "They want you, Fuu, and Mugen?" Shino asked. She knew of her husband's past, but why go after the old trio after so long? Times are peaceful.
"There's an award out for them. They're all wanted dead or alive." The captain explained.
Jin stared at the men before escaping out the alley. "We need to go warn Fuu and if I'm right, Mugen's with her." Jin said.
Shino looked to her husband. "We have to hurry, they may be at Fuu's father place. The place he died." Shino explained. "I'm glad that Mugen is with Fuu, that makes me feel better."
Jin smirked and shook his head. "Though she doesn't need help." Jin replied, some sort of pride in his eyes. "Let's hurry. It's not far from here."
Fuu's brown eyes slowly opened, she got some much needed rest. She sat up and looked around, noticing Mugen along with his clothes missing. Her eyes widened and she feared the worst.
"I should've saw this coming really." She muttered, her eyes filling up with tears. "No, I'm not gonna shed another tear for him." She said, clenching her hands.
Fuu felt pain fill her body, heart, and soul. She should've known he would leave. He was the type to hit-and-run. Even all that she did, all she confessed... He still left her.
Fuu shook her head and put a shaky hand to her head. "I'm such a fucking idiot." She said.
Then she heard it, those metal getas. The door slammed open and revealed Mugen, he was grinning at her as he held up some fish. "Hey, Girly. I caught some fish for breakfast." He said, smirking at her.
Fuu felt her eyes widened in shock and then relief go through her. He's here...
Mugen noticed her quietness and looked over to Fuu. She was shaking and he saw the unshed tears in her eyes. She grabbed her kimono and got dressed before she grabbed the fish and smiled shakily at Mugen.
"Thanks. I'll get that clean and gut them right away." Fuu mumbled. Mugen watched as she walked over to the kitchen area and began to put the fish down. He saw her body shaking badly now and realization flooded through him.
Fuu thought that he had left.
"Girly... Ya okay?" He asked, uncharacteristically. Before all this, he would've just ignored her or scolded her for thinking so stupidly. But now, Fuu has a fragile heart and soul. He had the power to break it, unwillingly or willingly.
Fuu glanced back at him and smiled warmly before turning back to her work. She grabbed a knife and skillfully scaled one side of the fish in one go. "I'm fine." She said shakily.
"Well that's a fuckin' lie, you're shakin'." Mugen said stubbornly, crossing his arms as he stared at her. Fuu flinched, which didn't go unnoticed by Mugen, as she scaled the other side of the fish.
"I thought you left." She finally admitted. She dropped the knife on the counter and tried to stop the shaking in her hands. "I thought you left like last time."
Mugen stared at her impassively. "You're stupid." Mugen deadpanned.
Fuu whirled around, anger in her eyes and Mugen tried to hold back a smirk. He missed this side of Fuu. "You can't blame me! You left me before! Of-course I'd think that!" She exclaimed. Mugen rolled his eyes and gave her a glare before looking away stubbornly. Fuu sighed and visibly deflated.
She watched as Mugen walked over to the table and sat down. He seemed irritated, which was reasonable. He leaned on the table, digging his pinkie into his ear as he looked out the window thoughtfully. Fuu sighed and began to gut the fish in front of her.
"Mugen...?" Fuu asked, breaking the tense silence.
"What?" Mugen asked, not even looking at her.
"What do you plan to do after this?" Fuu asked, nervously. She was sure he was going to leave after he had his fill of her.
Mugen looked at her, she wasn't looking at him but she seemed tense. She was afraid of his answer. "Well, I guess the same I've been doin'. Travelin' and fightin'." Mugen answered truthfully. Fuu sighed, knowingly.
She should've saw this coming. "I see..." She replied.
Mugen looked at her impassively, his eyes searching her body language. Her shoulders were slumped with dejection. He couldn't see her face, her back was facing him. "Wanna come with me?" He asked suddenly.
Fuu turned around and stared at him in shock. "You want me to come with you?"
Mugen scowled and looked away. "Yeah, I ain't leavin' ya again." He muttered. Fuu raised a brow. "Have a lil' faith in me, will ya?"
Fuu felt her heart stopped as she heard those words. Those same words he said to her that day. She smiled warmly. "Okay." She said.
Mugen glared at her before glancing at her weapons on the floor. "'Sides, I wanna see how ya fight." Mugen said, grinning mischievously.
Fuu smiled and rolled her eyes. "I don't kill needlessly, I'd be willing to spar with you... But I'ma warn you, I'm pretty good." Fuu joked.
Mugen just smirked.
Yeah, ya probably are... Any two ways ya were watchin' me and Jin. Ya'd be a great fight...
Jin walked along with Shino, feeling an unease go through him. Shino noticed how tense her husband was and grabbed his hand. Jin looked down at her impassively. "What's wrong?" Shino asked.
"They might make it before us... I hear them up ahead." Jin said, looking forward.
"It's already gotten dark and we left before them, how come they made it there so quickly?" Shino asked looking ahead also.
"I don't know, but certain Shogun can be quite skilled. And even if we kill the Shogun, they won't send any more of their men, they'll send bounty hunters." Jin explained. "That means that we'll be on the run a lot, like before." He looked at his wife. "I will understand if you choose to leave."
Shino just smiled lovingly at her husband. "For better or for worse, my love." She said. Jin let a smile grace his features as he nodded.
"Let's hurry... I have a bad feeling."
Fuu sat up abruptly and grabbed her daggers as Mugen grabbed his swords. "You hear that, Mugen?" Fuu asked quietly.
"Yeah, I hear 'em coming. It's a lot." Mugen said standing up and going towards the door. He opened it slightly and saw five silhouetted figures. Mugen scowled slightly. "Fuu, stay in here-"Mugen was interrupted when he noticed Fuu beside him, fully dressed and armed. "What do ya think you're doin'?" He asked.
Fuu smirked as she looked out. "What? You didn't think I'd let you have all the fun now, huh?" Fuu replied. Mugen stared at the woman in shock as she looked out towards the men. "There's five of them. You get two and I get three." Fuu said before walking out of the hut, no fear in her step. Mugen's eyes widened slightly before grinning.
"Why do I get two of 'em?!" He shouted angrily as they walked towards the men.
"'Cause I want three." Fuu replied simply.
"Ya stupid bitch! I'm the man so I get three!" Mugen said, hiking a thumb in his direction.
Fuu glared at the man as they came to a stop in front of the men. "No way, that's sexist thinking! I'm more than capable of handling myself." Fuu said angrily. Mugen rolled his eyes.
"I was protectin' ya first, ya know?" Mugen replied, putting his hands behind his head.
Fuu sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Yeah, well I had to learn how to fight myself." Fuu retorted.
"Stupid wench."
"Ugly pervert."
"Oh yeah, ya kiss and have sex with this ugly pervert."
"Yeah, well. I still don't know why I find you attractive."
"Ya don't be thinkin' that when you're callin' my name."
"Shuddap!"
The fighting "couple" looked towards the men, the one in the middle who seemed like the leader of the group. Fuu looked at their armor and clothing. She sighed and gave them a dangerous look. "Fine, you get three and I get two." She mumbled. Mugen grinned in triumph as Fuu just smiled coldly at the men. "You're Shogun, what do you want with us?" Fuu asked them, her voice cold.
The captain raised a brow. "Are you Kasumi Fuu and the Pirate Mugen?" They asked.
"Now why would we answer a question like that?" Mugen asked, yawning.
"I'll take that as a yes. Kasumi Fuu and Mugen the Pirate, you are both charge with treason for committing crimes against Japan. We have orders to bring you back dead or alive, surrender now or die." The captain announced.
"Yeah, heard that one before." Mugen mumbled.
Fuu stared at the men impassively. "Crimes for what? We haven't done anything wrong." Fuu said.
"You are the daughter of the Christian Samurai Kasumi Kariya, you brought along two men who reeked havoc among Japan. You are an accomplice of your father." The captain explained. "I'll say it once again, surrender or die."
Mugen rolled his eyes and unsheathed his sword. He grinned maniacally at the men before him. "I saw we cut the chit-chat and go straight to the fightin'." Mugen said.
"Have it your way." The captain said. Fuu pulled out both her daggers and rested the back of the blades against her forearms. She stood tensed and ready. "Attack!" The captain ordered.
Mugen took off towards the men as Fuu stood still. The men ran towards Mugen, three slipped by and before he could do anything to stop them, the captain clashed swords with him. Mugen looked behind him panicked.
"Fuu!" He shouted.
Mugen's eyes widened in surprise as he watched Fuu. One man ran ahead on the group as Fuu ran towards him, swift and quick. When they got close enough Fuu jumped up, surprising the man as her feet landed on the man's chest. She kicked hard and flipped over him. The man winced in pain as he turned to look at Fuu in shock, Fuu took this opportunity to turn and quickly sliced his throat. The man gurgled out blood as he fell. Fuu turned to look at the other men.
Mugen stared at her in shock, he was pushed back by the captain and he stumbled backwards. He widened his stance as the captain and his subordinate surrounded him. "You should keep an eye on your opponent." The captain said.
Mugen just smirked. "Ya bitches don't know what the hell you're dealin' with." Mugen muttered.
"Please, you two won't be hard to take down." The captain scoffed.
Mugen chuckled lowly. "My girl over there already took one of your men down." Mugen said, gesturing to Fuu who was now clashing weapons with both men. She pushed them back as they stared at her startled. The captain stared in shock as she dropped down, dodging of his men's attacks and kicked his feet from under him. She pounced on top of him and plunged on of her daggers into his head. She glared menacingly at the last man, his personal apprentice.
Mugen turned around quickly, while the captain was distracted by Fuu, spun on his back. His metal geta his the unsuspecting man in the nose and Mugen whirled himself up before plunging his sword in his belly. He brought his sword up, nearly slicing the man in two. The captain stared at Mugen in shock as Mugen grinned. "Ya oughta keep an eye on your opponent." Mugen teased. The captain glared at him. "Ya fuckers, fucked with the wrong people."
Mugen ran to the captain, clashing swords with him. "How so?" The captain asked angrily. Mugen grinned.
"Ya shouldn't have came here today." Mugen said chuckling. The captain just growled in response. Mugen grinned maniacally. "Y'all bastards, y'all are gonna die today." Mugen said, pushing the man backward.
Fuu stood tense as her opponent stared at her coldly. "Not too bad, for a woman." The man said.
"I'll make you eat those words." Fuu said, running to the man. The man ran towards her, bringing his blade up. Fuu flipped backwards, dodging it but not before getting her arm cut deeply. If she was a second too late, she would have lost her arm. Her arm fell limply to her side and she sheathed one of her daggers. She glared at the man. "Why are you here now? If the Shogun wanted to kill us so bad, they would've done it a long time ago when we were causing trouble. Why now?" Fuu asked.
The man glared at her. "I don't ask why I've been given orders, I just follow them." The man replied. "You're gonna pay for killing my comrades!" The man shouted as he ran to Fuu. Fuu held up her dagger and blocked his attacks. She moved backwards swiftly, dodging and blocking his attacks.
Mugen glanced back at Fuu, checking on her. He noticed her injury and Mugen saw red. He looked back at the captain. "As much as I like a good fight, I'm gonna hafta end in now." Mugen said slashing as the captain. The captain dodged his attacks clumsily as Mugen kept going at him.
"Ah!"
Mugen looked back at Fuu as she just received a gash to her stomach. Mugen growled out and punched the captain, making him stumble backwards. Mugen took off to Fuu. "Dammit, girl!" Mugen exclaimed as he blocked the man's attack his was inflicting on Fuu. Mugen quickly kicked the man in the side before jumping up and kicking him in the face, Mugen plunged his sword deep in his belly and glared at the man. "Ya get death for hurtin' my girl." Mugen growled.
Fuu's eyes widened as she stared at Mugen. He called her his girl... Why?
She couldn't dwell on it. She noticed the captain creeping up on Mugen. Her eyes widened as she ran to Mugen. "Muge! Lookout!" She exclaimed.
It all happened in slow motion. Mugen turned around slowly just as Fuu jumped in front of him, taking a blade to her shoulder as she plunged her dagger through the side of his neck. She glared angrily at the man. "You fucked with the wrong people." She growled.
The man's eyes widened as he fell to his knees, his sword coming out of Fuu's shoulder. Fuu felt lightheaded as she fell to her knees.
"Fuu!" Mugen exclaimed, catching her before she fell completely to the ground. Mugen pressed a hand to her shoulder, trying to stop the wound from bleeding. It went clean through. "Ya fuckin' idiot! Why did ya do that?!"
Fuu squinted her eyes as she tried to get her vision to focus. She saw Mugen's fearful and concerned expression, something she never thought she would see on his face. She smiled gently at the man she's grown to love, then hate, then fall back in love in an instant again.
"You still have to ask?" She said, her voice small. Mugen's eyes widened when her eyelids began to droop.
"Ya fuckin' bitch! Don't ya die on me!" Mugen shouted, shaking her slightly.
"It's 'cause I love... you... Mugen..." And with that her eyes shut. Mugen's eyes widened slightly.
"No! Fuu! Wake up!" He shouted, shaking her roughly. He felt panic clawing at him. "I didn't even get to tell you..." Mugen whispered. He held her tighter to him, her blood still flowing out. Blood was everywhere, her blood. He howled an anguish howl that chilled everyone who could hear.
"Are we too late?"
Mugen glanced behind him to see Jin and Shino. He stood up with Fuu still in his arms as he held her tightly. "Fish-face... Broad..." He mumbled.
"Fuu!" Shino exclaimed, running to the man and the woman he held protectively in his arms. Shino pressed two fingers to her neck.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Mugen asked, his voice unusually quiet. It chilled Jin to the bone.
"She's still alive, but I have to stitched her up quick before she loses too much blood." Shino said. Mugen nodded and carried her to Fuu's father's house. "Place her on the futon." Shino ordered. Mugen did as she said and knelt beside her. He held her hand tightly and Jin looked at him curiously.
The Mugen he knew back then would have never done this. Ever.
Shino looked to Mugen and Jin. "Jin, take Mugen out of here. I'm gonna need to concentrate." Shino said, tying up her sleeves to her kimono before grabbing a needle and thread.
"I ain't leavin' her." Mugen said stubbornly. Shino sighed and gave Mugen a hard look.
"You're not needed here. You'll just be in the way." Shino said.
Jin placed a hand on his old friend's shoulder. "Come, Mugen." Jin said.
Mugen took one last look at Fuu's painful expression and pale face before following Jin out of the house. They sat on the porch as they waited for Shino to be done.
"I've never seen you like that." Jin said.
Mugen looked at Jin warily before looking up at the moon and the stars. "I ain't leavin' her again." Mugen said.
"I see... Did you figure out what those men were after?" Jin asked, already knowing the answer.
Mugen nodded. "Yeah, they wanted me and Fuu. Said we have a bounty on our heads, said that we have committed some kind of treason." Mugen explained. He looked to Jin. "Why are ya here anyway?" He asked suspiciously.
Jin glanced at his friend before looking ahead. "Today was the day we were supposed to meet Fuu in Edo, I heard the men who attacked you talking. It seems we all have a bounty on our heads." Jin explained.
Mugen looked ahead, his expression serious. "I have a feelin' that was just the beginnin'... We killed five Shogun." Mugen said.
"Next are bounty hunters and assassins."
Mugen glanced back at the closed door. "That means Girly's life and the broad's life are in danger, no matter if we leave." Mugen mumbled. "Ya know what we hafta do." He said.
Jin nodded. "Agreed."
Mugen glared ahead at the dark forest, being illuminated eerily by the moonlight. They would have to kill anybody coming their way and be on the run.
Heh, just like old times... Mugen thought darkly. I'll kill anybody who tries to lay a finger on Fuu... I ain't leavin' again, not now. Not ever.
Well, that was intense.
So the reason why it's two years is because I wanted Fuu to go through what she did in such a short amount of time. It would make the pain greater for her and she would become colder faster. (Geez, that sounds dark!) And also I believe the time span in walking and talking can be accurate. When I was little, my mother told me I was walking by 10 months and talking some words by a year. It all depends on who's raising the child I guess.
And I made the time span Shino had to stay on that island shorter, tomato tamata.
Thank you for reviewing, I really appreciate it and I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!
Until next time!
Moe