Hey!

Guest thank you so much for reviewing on every chapter! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! It makes me want to write even more! The other fanfiction I'm collaborating on is a Cowboy Bebop fanfic with 4fireking. I like how he came up with his unique character and how he writes, I'm so appreciative I'm helping him write the story. Check it out.

Anyways, back to this story. There's going be a plot twist soon, I already know what it is I'm just not sure when it's going to happen.

Well, back to it!

I don't own Samurai Champloo!

Enjoy!

Fuu sighed as they walked along the dirt road, the sun beating down on her shoulders. The sun was unbearably hot today, her wounds were itchy and burning. It's not that it hurt, it was just annoying. The hot sun wasn't helping either, she felt the heat seeping into her shoulders. Her new yellow kimono wasn't helping with the sun but it was keeping her cool. She was always sweaty with the old pink kimono, but it kept her from getting sunburn.

She sighed irritated.

We've been on the road for two hours and I'm already complaining. Fuu thought. Some things never change.

They left Edo early this morning and were on their way to Kofu. They wanted to head out early so the sun wouldn't be as hot and there wouldn't be as much travelers on the road, but the sun was being a jackass today. They wanted to keep moving, to keep from getting caught.

Mugen sighed and glanced back at Fuu worriedly. She was at the end of the line, glaring up at the sun. He was worried about her wounds, but she seemed to be handling herself well. She could always handle herself, she's proved that more than once. She had more fire in her than Mugen and Jin did put together.

Mugen looked ahead at the dirt road, he thought they shouldn't be walking on the dirt road. Anybody who would see them would recognize them instantly. Look at them. You got an old brothel worker, who got busted out early and probably has people looking for her too. You got a rogue samurai who wears glasses, wears blue clothes, and is armed with two swords at his hip. You got a crazy looking guy who has a big ass sword on his back and is clad in a red haori. Then you have a woman wearing yellow, armed with two long daggers, and wearing bandages. Yeah, might as well tape a sign to their heads that says "We're here! Kill us!".

Mugen noticed Shino lag back and start walking with Fuu, he raised a brow as Shino being to have a conversation with Fuu. He noticed Jin walking beside him now.

"Mugen, we need to figure out who is doing this." Jin said quietly.

Mugen glanced behind him, so that's why Shino is walking with Fuu. She was a distraction. "Who did we leave alive?" Mugen muttered.

"We didn't leave very many alive in our wake." Jin said.

"That just means less fuckers to find and kill." Mugen replied.

"What if it isn't the ones we left alive, what if it's the one we killed?" Jin asked.

Mugen gave him a confused look. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"What if it's the family of the ones we killed?"

"Ya mean likes sons and shit gettin' revenge? Who still does that shit?" Mugen asked, shaking his head.

"Mugen, three brothers came after you years after you raided them. They took Fuu and did unspeakable acts to Fuu, tortured her. You of all people should know what people would do just for the sake of revenge." Mugen sighed and looked back at Fuu, he knew Jin was right.

"So we find these bastards and kill 'em." Mugen muttered.

"We need to keep Fuu out of the fight, her injuries aren't fully healed." Jin said.

Mugen scoffed. "Don't make me laugh, Four-Eyes. If ya think Fuu's not gonna fight then you're just as fuckin' stupid as she is." Mugen muttered.

"So, one of us stays by her when the fighting starts." Jin said. "We have to make sure both of the woman are safe."

"So I stay 'round Fuu and ya stay 'round your woman."

"Agreed."

Fuu stared at the two men, whispering to each other. She knew what they were talking about, they were talking about the situation and her. They would always do this, when they thought she was sleeping or when they thought she couldn't hear them.

Fuu isn't stupid, she's actually quite smart. Fuu knew they were worried and with them being worried means they might just try to keep her out of the fight.

"I saw a pink kimono in a shop in Edo and I thought you would like it." Shino said, snapping Fuu out of her thoughts. "Maybe when we get to Kofu we could go shopping, find something like your old kimono."

Fuu let out a small chuckle. "I got rid of that old kimono for a reason." Fuu mumbled.

Fuu isn't that same bubbly girl she used to be. She was done playing the damsel in distress, she wasn't going to sit by and just watch them fight anymore. She was going to help. She was going to help keep everyone she loves alive.

I'm gonna fight.

They all sat around the fire, it was quiet. The only thing that was heard between the group was the chirping on the crickets.

Shino was cuddling into Jin, Jin's arm draped around her shoulders. Jin watched from across the fire at Mugen and Fuu. Mugen had his head on Fuu's lap as he was staring at the fire, Fuu was also staring at the fire as she ran her fingers through his unruly hair.

Jin watched the unusual public display of affection between the two. They've changed so much, this wouldn't have never happened before. He knew Fuu loved Mugen and he knew in some weird way Mugen-y way Mugen loves her too. But he still saw the doubt in Mugen's eyes. He saw the nervousness in Fuu's eyes.

He grimaced, the quiet was getting to him, just like the last night they were together. This was a lot similar to the last night they were together. After Fuu and Mugen had gotten back from their late night rendezvous, they were eerily quiet like this. It was unsettling.

He suddenly smiled, an idea forming in his head. "Fuu." He said.

Fuu looked up at him with those wide brown eyes, just like she had before. "Yes?" She asked.

"Sing." He said.

Fuu raised a brow as Shino's eyes widened in excitement. "Yes! You should sing! I haven't heard you sing in a very long time." Shino said, happily.

Fuu glanced down nervously at Mugen, but he seemed uninterested. She sighed and nodded, closing her eyes as she began to hum softly.

Mugen felt his eyes close. He could get lost in her just humming, he was lost in eternity when she sang. Fuu's voice was just... perfect.

"I woke up this morning and heard you all saying something." Fuu muttered.

Mugen's eyes snapped open as he made eye contact with Jin. She heard their conversation this morning? Jin just shook his head slightly, telling Mugen silently to just listen. Mugen glanced up at Fuu, seeing her eyes still closed. Good, she didn't see his reaction. Mugen relaxed against Fuu, deciding to just listen to her soft voice.

"About disaster in our world and it made me wonder where I'm going."

Fuu wondered what would happen to them all. She wondered why this horrible situation that they're in. She wondered if she was going to lose them all.

"There's so much darkness in the world, but I see the light left you boy. And what you give me lets me know that we'll be alright."

Mugen's eyes widened as he looked ahead at the fire. He knew that was about him, he's not stupid. There is a lot of darkness in the world, but why would Fuu see any kind of light in him? In him of all people? He's done so many bad things in the world. He's killed, he's tortured people, he's hurt people. Why him? Why would Fuu love someone like him?

"Now if you're ever wondering about the way I'm feeling. Well baby boy there ain't no question, just to be around you is a blessing."

A blessing?

Mugen grew up in the Ryukyu islands, someplace where a thing like love never existed. Mugen never knew his parents, he had to grow up defending himself against everything that wanted to kill him. Which was everything. He never saw love. Well, that's a lie. He sees it in Fuu. He sees it every time she looks up at him with those eyes, every time she kisses him, every time she told him she loved him, every time she made love to him... Wait. Did Mugen just say made love?

I'm turnin' into a fuckin' pansy. Mugen thought, irritated.

He knew he loved Fuu. He felt many things when it came to Fuu. Protectiveness, security, warmth. He loves her, but that doesn't mean that he understands it. He probably never will, because someone like him doesn't get it.

"Sick and tired of trying to save the world, I just wanna spend my time being your girl. And what you give me lets me know that we'll be alright."

Mugen doesn't want to die knowing that Fuu didn't know how he felt. He doesn't want Fuu to die knowing that he didn't know how he felt.

Fuu smiled softly, she could feel the doubt and turmoil in his head as she ran her fingers through his hair. She knew Mugen didn't believe her, no matter how much she said it. But that doesn't mean she'd stop saying it.

"'Cause if your love was all I had in this life, that would be enough until the end of time. Rest your weary heart and relax your mind, 'cause I'm gonna love you boy until the end of time."

Mugen felt a slight twinge in his chest. She shouldn't, but he couldn't stop her. He doesn't know if that he wants to stop her. So for now, he would just have to accept it. He would just have to put up with it. Accept her.

Fuu stopped singing and looked up at Jin, who just smiled warmly at her. Shino smiled as she cuddled into Jin closer. "You have a beautiful voice as always, Fuu." Jin said.

"Thanks." Fuu said, blushing slightly.

"Yeah." Fuu froze and slowly looked down at Mugen. He was smiling up at her warmly. MUGEN was SMILING at FUU. Not some stupid little smirk or a grin, it was an actual smile. An actual smile from Mugen. "She does." Fuu felt tears pricking her eyes as she leaned down to kiss him softly on the lips.

Mugen might not be able to tell her how she felt yet, but he could show her. He'll show her, alright. Some things never change, but some things do.

Lurking in the shadows, stood a man with his younger brother, both perched up on a tree branch. He watched them all, all of them relaxed and unsuspecting. Just so cocky of themselves.

"Brother? What do we do?"

"The assassin will come for them soon." The man replied.

"And if they kill the assassin?"

A deep chuckle was heard between them. "Oh there's no if about it, they will kill the assassin."

"Then why send the assassin or the bounty hunters?"

"Because little brother, I like the game we're playing." Another chuckle. "They'll kill the assassin and probably the bounty hunters, then we'll have our time."

"So, what's the plan?"

"We'll go for the whore first, then the rogue samurai, then the pirate. We'll torture them and kill them slowly right in front of Kasumi Fuu, after all she is the one that caused all of this. Then we'll kill her slowly and make her feel everything, then we'll finally have revenge for our father."

"Until then?"

"Until then, we wait. Have them try to figure out what this is all for. We'll have our time."

"Agreed."

Fuu turned her head sharply, looking at the trees behind her. She felt something just now, a chill went down her spine.

"What's wrong, Girly?" Mugen asked, glancing up at her.

"Nothing."

Mugen and Jin didn't see anything, or hear anything. So it couldn't be anything right? She pushed down her paranoia, not wanting to worry the others. But she did rest her hands on her daggers as she glared towards the dark forest behind her. Paranoia or not, she's not taking any chances.

Well, I had my little fit and here is the chapter lol.

Song- Until the End of Time by Beyonce ft. Justin Timberlake

I hope you enjoyed it and thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you think!

Until next time!

Moe