He acted like the situation was all under control when he'd left Yatsuha, but the truth was, he felt like he was going to hurl again. How would he prove to Fuu that he hadn't done anything with Yatsuha? It really looked bad. He'd smiled at the ninja girl and waved off Fuu. Then, they'd walked out the door, into the night. And he'd done it with so many other women in his short life. What was one more? But he felt so different this time. He had felt like if Yatsuha had really tried to make a move on him, and started to get touchy-feely, it would have made his skin crawl. That was a really strange feeling for him.

He stopped at Fuu's door, taking a few deep breaths. Hopefully, he wouldn't be leaving with all his stuff a short time from now. He opened the door, glad for once that the lock didn't work. It was just light enough in the room for him to see that the curtain above their bed was drawn. He slid off his shoes and quietly lay his sword down. When he drew the curtain, he stepped back when he saw that she was sitting up and staring at him.

"You came back? I can't believe you actually slunk back to my house! Do you really think you can just come back here after I saw you walk out the door with...with that ninja slut! How could you, Mugen?" Her words gave way to tears. Mugen sighed.

"Nothing happened, dammit."

"Oh, like I'm supposed to believe that! You didn't even look at me when I served that bitch at the bar! You treated me like garbage! Get out of my house!"

"Hold on, Fuu! I mean it, nothing happened! What's it gonna take for you to believe me!"

"What's it gonna take? What's it gonna...for you to suddenly have no sex drive, is what it's gonna take! You've always been a pig! I should have known!"

Then Mugen dropped down onto the floor next to his sword. He unsheathed it. Fuu was too dumbfounded to scream out. Mugen's voice got quiet.

"Fuu, I swear on my sword that I didn't do it with that woman." He drew the edge of the sword across him palm, slicing through the skin. Then he slid his hand down the flat of the blade, streaking it with his blood.

"Mugen..." Fuu whispered. Her eyes flooded with tears. He looked at her then, his dark eyes burning with his oath. She had never seen him look so serious.

"I'm sorry, Mugen. I guess I..."

"I really need you to trust me." His voice was husky. "All my life, I've never given a damn if anyone trusted me or not, because I didn't trust them...but...I just need this from you." His eyes went from fierce to watery. Fuu had never seen him plead before, but now he was down on his knees, begging her to say that she'd believe in him from now on. She got up from the bed and knelt down next to him on the cool rush mats. She carefully took the sword from his hands and clasped her own in his, feeling the warm blood against her palm. Her eyes never left his the whole time.

"Okay, Mugen. I believe you." He released her hands and put his wiry arms around her, pulling her close. His head went to her chest and he sighed deeply. She lay her chin in his soft hair.

"I love you, Mugen." He squeezed her tighter.

"Yeah." He whispered.

As the sun shone through the window, its rays hit Mugen and Fuu as they sat on the floor, still holding each other, both feeling like they would never let go. Blood from his cut hand dried on the back of her neck, marking it like a geisha's design. His oath that he would stay true to her for as long as he remained alive.