She'd had to leave him after that to get some herbal medicine, but after he'd taken it, he started to improve. Not before he'd puked out the window a few times, though. Fuu suspected it was that very window that had made him sick. He could have gotten chilled, and then someone with a belly sickness could have walked by, passing it to him.
"That's crap." Mugen said, weakly. "Why aren't you sick then? I'm stronger than you." Fuu sighed, exasperated.
"I don't know. But geez, it's not like I poisoned your food or something." She was curled up with him on the sleeping mat, stroking his hair. "I wouldn't make you suffer... I hate this." She buried her face in his chest, trying not to cry. Somehow it always made Mugen angry and confused when she cried.
"You and me both, girly. I'd like to trade in my stomach for a new one. How 'bout yours? Seems manly enough... it can hold a lot of food..." Fuu laughed. "Okay, have it then."
"I said 'trade'. That means you'd get mine. There's no way in hell you'd want that."
Fuu stayed quiet. She would gladly suffer for him.
"Hey, I forgot to tell you. Earlier today I ran into this woman at the market. I think she knows you."
"Oh yeah?" he whispered. "Did she mention me?"
"She recognized your earring. The one I'm wearing. She didn't say so, but I'm pretty sure she knew it was yours."
"My earring? Most chicks don't get close enough to see what's on my ear unless I shagged 'em." Fuu sighed.
"Figures. You're such a beast." Instead of reassuring her, he grunted.
"Was she hot?"
Fuu was quiet for a moment, then she sat up. Slipping off the mat, she put her outdoor robe on, then headed toward her shoes.
"Where you goin'? I don't need anymore of that herbal crap."
"Out." she replied coldly.
"Hey, come on, Fuu. I only asked what she looked like. S'no big deal."
"Why do you care?" She turned and faced him. "Unless you wanna see her again. Is that it? Are you getting bored with me already? Am I not "gardened" enough for you?" Mugen sat up and clutched his head.
"Quit yelling. What the hell are you getting so worked up for, anyway? It's not like I'm gonna run out the door and just start doin' her or somethin'. Damn, am I really that bad? I haven't even looked at a chick since I've been with you. So quite freakin' out." He lay back down on the bed again and turned his back on her. Fuu stood there for a moment, then she took off her clothes. She curled up next to him then, her breasts warm on his back. She knew he'd forgive her.
"Sorry, Mugen." A few minutes passed, and he rolled over. He pulled her closer with his rough hands, and she could feel him shiver against her, still a little sick.
"I just played around with all those other women. Didn't ever mean anything. You're different. I actually know you. I'm stickin' with ya, dammit." He paused for a moment. "And I like your garden. Nice flowers." He stuck his face in her chest, and she shrieked.
"Ah, you're like sandpaper, you pervert!" But she let him stay like that until he was asleep again.
Fuu watched the moon rise in the sky, and she knew she had to work soon. Reno's tavern had late hours, because he believed in taking advantage of all the men that stayed up late, drinking and whoring. Fuu hated having to serve such jerks, but she didn't have any other jobs lined up for her. She wished she could get Mugen hired as a guard; the tavern only had one guy to split up fights or throw out the men that drank too much. But Mugen could never keep a job like that. He'd start all the fights, and then they'd have to throw him out for getting too drunk. She smiled to herself as she rolled out of bed and put her clothes on. Mugen turned over on his back and looked up at her, blinking his sleepy brown eyes.
"Sorry. I've gotta got to work. Late night shift." He groaned and rolled over again. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah. I could use something to eat."
"Well, there's some left over rice in the pot there. I could get the fire going and put some lotus root or something in it." He nodded at her and grunted. That was Mugen's version of: "I would appreciate that, thank you." She hated to admit it, but Jin was much more polite then Mugen ever thought of being. Oh, well. I'm not with him for his manners. She thought. When she had the food heated up for him, she put only a small amount of it in a bowl. He didn't object. He must've been really sick. She sighed.
"You gonna eat any?" He asked, with his mouth full.
"Nah, I get plenty of freebies at work."
"You get free food? How'd you manage that?"
"Well, I make tips. I can choose either to keep the extra cash, or get free food. And you know me and my relationship with food."
"So food's your one true love, huh?" Fuu giggled at him.
"Just like sword fighting is yours." He laughed around his food.
"Heh, heh. Got me there."
"I should go. Hey, if you don't feel like sleeping anymore, and you feel up to it, you can come by. Maybe keep some of those creeps off me."
"Maybe." His voice was still raspy from throwing up, and he looked pale and tired. Her stomach clenched when she looked at him for long. Suddenly she was glad to be off work. It made her heart break to see him like this. When she closed the door, she heard his voice.
"See ya..." It was muffled by a pillow.
"You're late."
"Yeah, sorry Chiyo. I...uh, was taking care of something."
"Really? Does it have to do with that scruffy guy I saw you leave with a few weeks ago? You've been late and distracted a lot since then."
"I know. I'm real sorry. It's just...he showed up in my life again...and I'm not sure what to do with him." Chiyo smiled.
"Well, I'm just happy you have a man. He looks pretty wild, though. Fuu laughed.
"You should've seen him a few years ago. He's actually more tame, now."
"Oh, ho. Fuu the Beast Tamer!" Chiyo chuckled. Fuu just shook her head and poured another glass of sake for an old man.
"Hey there, little lady. What's this wild man's name?" He suddenly asked. "Sounds familiar to me." Fuu got suspicious again. Did everyone know Mugen? She didn't really want to tell him his name. What if the government was after him? Luckily, another customer yelled at her.
"Oh, excuse me, sir." She hurried to the next guy.
Throughout the night, it got more and more difficult for her. She kept imagining Mugen at her house, sick and weak. He had always been so strong and confident. It was too awful for him to be anything else. Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, the ninja girl walked in. Aw, you've got to be kidding! She screamed in her head. It was almost dawn, and she chose now to come get a drink? She sat at the bar with a guy that had a mole on his face. Fuu tried to serve people that were farther away from her, but Chiyo had gone home for the night, and Suri was out smoking a cigarette. Fuu didn't know when it started, but someone had discovered a way to wrap up tobacco and smoke it. Sounded silly to her. Mugen did it every once in awhile, but she made him blow smoke out the window. She shook her head, angry at herself for thinking about him again. Just a little while longer, and she could go home to him. He probably slept this whole time, so hopefully he would be a little better. Suddenly the she-ninja locked eyes with her.
"Hello again."
"Oh, hello. Is there anything I can get for you?"
"I wouldn't mind some udon for me and my friend here."
"All right. Two udons. Anything to drink?"
"Just water, please."
"Okay." As she turned to go back to the kitchen, she noticed the woman's eyes were accusing. She turned to her again.
"Oh, hey. Did you find some jewelry?"
"No, actually. That place you pointed to was an herbal shop."
"Sorry." Fuu smiled sheepishly. "I think they used to be a jewelry shop, though."
"Really? Not since I've known, and I've lived here for years." Fuu blushed.
"Oh. Look, I've gotta get back to the customers. I'll have your orders to you shortly." When she'd given the order to the cook, she came back to serve more drinks. Right in the middle of mixing liquors together, she saw him. Just like he'd never been sick, Mugen sauntered in and sat at the far end of the bar. Fuu thought it was nice that he didn't want to distract her and get into trouble. At least until she saw the ninja girl get up and walk over to him. She couldn't hear what she said to him, but it made Mugen smile, then she sat right next to him. And when Suri went to serve them, the woman ordered a drink for both of them.