in this place called heavenly
you were born here.
this place called heavenly
you were born here.
you were born here.

Mugen proved to be an adept sailor and captain. Jin, with his calm exterior and deft hands, was adequate at taking instruction. Fuu cleaned and cooked, doing her best to entertain Yukimaru. She and Mugen slept together during the night in a wide hammock, after Jin had learned enough to man the boat on his own. Yukimaru was tucked into a makeshift cradle next to the bed, where he stayed most of the days and nights. Jin would sleep during the day, refusing the hammock and bunking down on the floor.

Fuu often came down to look at him with compassion in her eyes. She had been softer on Jin than on Mugen during their journey, and she never really knew if he had honestly forgiven her for that night with Mugen. Even now, on a tiny boat together, they were oceans apart. His meager possessions were neatly tucked out of sight in a spare coil of rope, his dining utensils and bathing supplies were always separate from Mugen and Fuu's messy pile. He guided the boat during the silent night, ate the meals she prepared for him after she'd gone to sleep, bathed separately, rarely spoke to them and never looked at Yuki. Fuu could do nothing but wait for him to make the first move.

Yukimaru was a constant joy to her. The tiny baby proved to bring out her tenderest, most gentle elements of her personality. Still undersized, he slept much of the time, and was eating for the time he was awake. His large dark eyes would sometimes watch the small blue waves with wonder, and he seemed to like the shine and sparkle of fish scales. He would smile and wave his chubby little hands slowly. Young and fragile as he was, he was constantly tired, even when he was nursing. Lazy, was what Mugen labeled him.

In the months that they sailed on the ocean, they never came close to another boat. They would sometimes see a dark silhouette on the horizon, but none ever hailed them. Jin would shake his head when posed with the question of ever having seen other boat take interest in them. Fuu worried about the distinctive red of Mugen's haori, and often made him go without in on deck, leaving him in his baggy white undershirt. She convinced Jin to let down his waist-length hair, tying the ends together at the small of his back to help obscure the eye-catching white of his delicate face and neck. If her hands lingered too long on his silky head, they pretended not to notice. Fuu had only the option of her pink kimono, now more of a pale red with age and wear.

Their lives continued in that pattern for half a year before Mugen deemed it safe for them to find land. Two more weeks of delicate navigation landed them in Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan. Fuu, cold and annoyed with Yuki strapped to her back, clasped the arm of the tired Jin as they pulled up to port. Using the mon from Hana, Mugen negotiated the price of their short stay and the discretion of the porter. Nodding at him, the three of them quickly made their way into the center of the city. Efficiently, Mugen negotiated new clothes for Fuu and Yuki and repairs of Jin's and his own clothes. They picked up new rations and a few simple wooden toys for Yukimaru.

Fuu was following behind the men, holding her son and a few of the smaller packages, when she saw her weakness: a dumpling stand. Jogging up to Jin and Mugen, she jumped in between them and linked their arms with one of hers.

"Jin-san! Mugen! I found a dumpling stand!" Her eyes bright with cold and hunger, they could only react one way.

"Augh-what the hell?! New clothes aren't enough for you, you want FOOD too?! And something so pathetic as dumplings, how is THAT actually going to feed you?" Mugen complained, sneering at her and gesturing dramatically.

"Of course, Fuu-san, but perhaps if you are hungry, we should eat something more substantial..." Jin waved in the direction of a restaurant, brightly lit with many patrons entering and exiting. The sounds of laughing and the clinking of chopsticks against plates and bowls drifted towards them.

Pouting for an instant, furrowing her brows at both of them, she looked between the small dumpling stand and the warm, inviting restaurant. Yukimaru started to fuss in her arms, waving his chubby fists back and forth. Rubbing a hand through his ever unruly hair, she sighed. "The restaurant looks like it COULD have good food...and I think Yuki wants to get out of the cold." She kissed the squirming child's head quickly.

The evening passed quickly, filled with delicious food and, for the first time in a long time, relaxed conversation. Jin and Mugen took turns entertaining Yukimaru. The little baby gathered attention from patrons, finding many fans in all of the ladies and some of the grandfatherly men. The little boy's shy smile and happy eyes made Fuu cuddle him close and kiss his little hands.

Walking back to the boat, they were all relaxed, though Jin grew more withdrawn. Coming to the dock, Jin grew cautious and tense. Raising his hand, he looked back at Mugen. Tilting his head up, he regarded the other man silently. Mugen glanced toward their boat and then back at Jin. Nodding his head towards Fuu, he slipped off his geta and silently walked toward the boat. Jin pulled Fuu closer to him, pressing a slim hand against Yuki's head. He placed the other hand on the hilt of his katana and waited.

A few scuffling sounds emerged from the boat, the flash of a sword by moonlight and the splash of a body being dumped made Fuu clutch her son tighter to her. Mugen popped his head out and growled, "Come on, you idiots, we don't have all night! There might be more."

Clutching onto Fuu's shoulders, he hurried them onto the boat. "From the government?"

Mugen's grim face was their answer.

Days later, the Mugen broke the tense silence that had settled over their living space. He caught Jin before he went to bed, and after he and Fuu had woken up. He pulled them all onto the deck, lit by the pale dawn.

"They're still looking for us. Or, more specifically, her." Mugen nodded his fluffy head at Fuu. "I plan on going to Ryukyu, but I don't know if that will keep them at bay for long."

Jin nodded his ascent. "Ryukyu would be the best place to discourage them from looking for us. On the other hand, it might be the first place they look. They could have someone stationed there now. The government's ships next to this one...well...they wouldn't have to fight hard. And even if we did make it, I don't think it's the best environment for Yuki to grow up in." His monotone voice became a little stronger on the last few sentences.

Fuu, for once, kept silent. She looked down into the cabin, where Yuki still slept soundly. Pulling her clothing closer around her, she turned out the face the golden sea.

Mugen and Jin looked at her expectantly. Sighing, she shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know the best plan of action. I'll do the best I can to protect Yuki, but as to where we should live...we left the only home I knew of a long time ago."

Jin went to bed after that, and Mugen took to the helm.

Not long after that, they set sail for Ryukyu. "I know some uninhabited islands." Mugen gruffed. "They won't find us there, and we can make a living. Change what the boat looks like."

Fuu nodded. "I suppose that's our only option." Her voice was small and sad. She remembered the warm smell of the sunflower fields on Ikitsuki island, her cozy shack and the women that were, if not friends, at least reliable. The fresh air, the vegetables, the space...

At least the island would be bigger than the boat. She hoped.

---

Ha ha ha...haaaaaa. It's been like three years since I updated this. I'm really sorry, and this chapter provides little to no resolution. You know how life goes. I'm planning one more chapter after this, and I've even made a Facebook fan page for you guys to bug me until I finish my stories. The link is in my author profile. Please go there and leave me messages! Provide links to music/pictures/writing that you think will inspire me! I'll post little snippets or one shots, and may even take requests for stories. The next chapter should wrap this whole story up in a nice, neat package.