R&R

PLEASE NOTE: That this is a 2 part oneshot! If it seems unfinished that it because it has TWO PARTS! I wanted to shake things up a bit, add more plot and get to develop the problem a little more. Hope you enjoy!

Thank you so much for: 108 Reviews, 63 followers and 51 favorites!

Enjoy lovelies!

Oneshot 20: The Dojo, Part I

by AshAnime

"Wow Jin, it's perfect!"

"Thank you."

Fuu sprinted down the hallways, peering into each newly refurbished room with a wide grin on her face. Never had she ever felt so happy for her friend. If anyone deserved such an awesome place, it was Jin.

"This dojo is going to be amazing. I just know it!"

Jin adjusted his glasses and nodded. "I'm glad I have your approval."

Fuu looked into the last room and sighed before turning on her heel. She placed her hands on her hips and finally asked the question she'd been thinking about since she arrived. "So where's Mugen?"

Jin shifted and looked out the window behind her. "I asked him to put up flyers around town. Let's hope the majority of them aren't upside down."

After the three had split up two years ago, Fuu thought that everyone was living on their own and doing well. It wasn't until a month ago that she received a letter from Jin saying that he was in the process of opening a dojo, and that Mugen was helping him. Imagine Fuu's surprise when she learned that the two had ran into each other a year ago and decided to become roommates.

Being only seventeen, she didn't necessarily think she had changed much, but Jin obviously thought otherwise. He spent a good thirty seconds taking her all in when he opened his front door. She was a couple of inches taller, her hair was longer, and now she clearly didn't have to worry about anyone calling her flat-chested.

"How about some tea until he gets back?!" she suggested, herding Jin into the sitting room as if it were her place. He had cleverly attached his own living quarters unto the dojo itself.

"Good Idea."

The two sat down and Fuu found herself pouring the tea for them. Being a waitress often had her carrying the attitude wherever she went. The profession was hard to drop.

"Are you nervous?"

Her hand wavered slightly and a dash of tea spilled unto the table. "Sorry!" she quickly apologized, locating a rag and quietly wiping it up. Jin's question startled her. She had forgotten how straight forward he could be sometimes.

"You are."

"No," she quickly protested, setting the rag aside and seating herself. "Just because I spilled a little tea doesn't mean I'm nervous. This is Mugen we're talking about here. I'm pretty sure he hasn't changed much. He's still annoying… isn't he?"

Jin sipped from his cup and sighed. "It depends on your interpretation of annoying."

Fuu smiled. "I'm glad you haven't changed either, Jin. You're still-"

"Why were there so many goddamn flyers?!"

The two turned their heads to see a messy haired pirate burst through the door, scratching the back of his head with a frustrated look on his face. Yeah. Mugen hasn't changed one bit, Fuu thought wryly. The only difference was that he now wore a shorter sleeved gi that was a darker red than his previous one. His shorts and even his shoes were the same. Fuu didn't think she would ever find his blue tattoos so consoling and familiar.

The same brash pirate from two years ago… was standing right before her.

"Who's the chick?" he muttered, walking right past them and heading for the adjoined kitchen. Fuu felt a cold fist squeeze her heart. Seriously? He didn't recognize her?

Jin gave her a look and then turned in Mugen's direction. "It's Fuu, Mugen. I told you she was coming."

Mugen paused in the kitchen doorway for a split second before walking on ahead.

"Oh."

That's it? After two years that's all he has to say to me?

"Master Jin!"

A guy with cropped brown hair, wearing a grey gi stepped into the room and bowed slightly at the waist. "The practice swords are polished and ready for use, sir!"

Jin nodded and Fuu could have sworn she saw a hint of a smile on his face. "Good job Taiji. Rest now, we'll be very busy tomorrow."

Taiji bowed once again. "Thank you, Master Jin!" He turned to leave but halted at the sight of Fuu. "Umm… sir. Excuse me for asking, but who is this?"

Fuu blushed at his unwavering gaze and decided to keep her eyes on Jin. "This is Fuu," Jin explained, and that alone seemed to be enough.

"The Fuu?" Taiji asked, getting a nod from his master. "But when you described her she seemed like… like… a little kid! Clearly that isn't the case!"

Fuu's blush deepened just as the sound of pottery crashing to the floor could be heard from the kitchen. "Shit," they heard Mugen curse, as he bent down to clean up the mess.

"Is it true that you got Master Jin to go on an epic mission in search of a sunflower samurai?!" Taiji went on, completely ignoring the distress he had caused in the kitchen, and the redness of Fuu's face. He seated himself at their table and gave her his undivided attention.

"Exactly how much did you tell him?" Fuu bit out in Jin's direction.

The four eyed samurai leaned towards her, out of earshot. "I took Taiji in a year and a half ago after his parents passed away. I am always truthful with him and that included my journeys with you and Mugen. He's harmless."

Fuu raised a single brow. "Right."

"Whispering about the good old days?" Taiji smirked in their direction.

Fuu laughed nervously. "Yeah I guess you could say that. But enough about me, isn't this dojo great? Jin will make a perfect teacher!"

Taiji nodded excitedly. "Absolutely. Master Jin is very patient. Honestly, I don't know how he does it."

"I don't know how he expects me to do it." Mugen walked into the room with a bowl of white rice and plopped down next to Fuu as if the last two years hadn't separated them. "I aint a teacher, but four eyes won't hear me out."

"All I hear are excuses," Jin spoke up, placing his hands in his sleeves. "Yes, your fighting skills are… unorthodox, but it would be a good learning experience for the students to spar with you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before," Mugen mumbled around his food, shoveling the rice into his mouth like it was the end of the world.

"How long will you be staying Miss Fuu?" Taiji piped up, turning his attention towards the brunette once again.

She waved her hands and giggled. "No need for the formalities, Taiji. I'm only seventeen and you're probably older then me." He blushed. "I wasn't planning on staying, but this area is so beautiful and exciting. So I'm having… doubts."

Taiji nodded. "If you do stay for a while I can take you to the New Years festival. They've got all kinds of activities, and the fireworks-"

"Don't you have a bed time?" Mugen grumbled, dropping his empty bowl and turning to stare daggers at the eighteen year old boy. Jin frowned and Taiji winced at the look in the pirate's eyes. There was always a part of him that was slightly scared of Mugen.

"I'm not a child," he protested. "I-"

"We have a lot to discuss, Taiji," Jin cut in. "I'll see you in the morning."

Taiji sighed but rose to a stand and bowed. "Yes Master Jin, goodnight."

He left the room, leaving Mugen, Jin and Fuu to stare awkwardly at each other.

"You didn't have to be so mean, Mugen," Fuu spoke first, sipping her now cold tea.

Mugen gave her an incredulous look and wiped the rice grains from his chin. "Trust me, the kid's used to it by now. He needs a little roughening up after kissing Jin's ass all day."

"At least he actually welcomed me. That's more then I can say for you."

Oh no, Jin thought helplessly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mugen demanded. "What were you expecting, girly? A fucking parade?"

Fuu clenched her fists. "No, but I thought you'd be even a little happy! We haven't seen or spoken to each other in two years!"

"That aint my fault. You could have found us whenever you wanted to."

"And you could have found me whenever you wanted to!" Fuu exploded, rising to a stand. The room grew eerily quiet and Jin studied the two with calculating eyes.

"Whatever," Mugen finally huffed, turning away and picking up his sword. "I'm getting some sleep before the brats show up." Then he was walking out the room without a single glance back.

Fuu didn't realize she was breathing hard until Jin asked her if she was alright.

"I'm fine," she lied.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"I can't believe him!" Fuu paced back and forth in her small, lantern lit room. It was the only guest room in Jin's main quarters. She had tossed and turned, trying to get some sleep, but ultimately gave up with a sigh. Now, she couldn't help wondering aloud at the stupidity of her former traveling companion.

"Can't sleep?"

Fuu paused her marching at the voice outside her door. It was Taiji.

"Nope," she admitted. "You can come in if you want."

Taiji stepped into the dimly lit room and smiled sheepishly. "I can't sleep either. Tomorrow's going to be a big day. That and your venting is kind of loud."

Fuu's eyes widened. "Sorry about that. Wow I didn't know the walls were so thin."

Taiji quickly brushed the matter away. "No, no it's fine. Like I said, I couldn't sleep anyway."

"Right."

The two stood, staring at each other.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Fuu startled. "Talk about what?"

"You know what I mean."

The samurai's daughter's gaze met the floor. "Maybe I don't. Do you mean the annoying pirate two rooms over who doesn't know how to greet a friend?"

Taiji nodded.

"Then yeah, I know what you mean."

The eighteen year old sat down and patted the area in front of him, inclining Fuu to do so as well. "Talking about it helps," he offered, getting an appreciative smile in return.

Fuu sat and placed her chin in her hands. "He's just so infuriating, you know? Not once has he ever taken anyone else's feelings into consideration. I mean, he came through the door and didn't even recognize me at first."

Taiji nodded, taking this all in with an attentive ear.

"And his eating habits! You would have thought he learned to keep his food in the bowl or in his mouth after all this time, but even now he still makes a mess! It's like dealing with a child!"

"I see."

"And I'm sorry you have to!" Fuu spat, her tiny fist landing on her knee with punctuation. "Now that I've seen him again I don't know how I went all those months living with him!"

For a moment it was quiet, and all that could be heard was the sound of crickets chirping outside.

"Maybe he's mad."

Fuu blinked and gave Taiji an odd look. "Mad? About what? He was the rude one."

Taiji tilted his head in contemplation. "I know, I know, but you're seeing all of this through your eyes. Maybe… I'm sorry about this, but I overheard your argument with Mugen earlier, and it seems to me that he feels you… abandoned him."

"What?!" Fuu's features contorted into that of disbelief. "Mugen wouldn't-" But then it all came back to her. The look in his eyes as he said,"…you could have found us whenever you wanted to." The way he seemed to purposefully look right past her when he entered the room.

It all made sense now.

"Oh," she muttered pathetically, getting a sympathetic chuckle from Taiji.

"It isn't your fault for not noticing," he assured her. "Mugen isn't the most… expressive guy when it comes to how he feels. You should have seen him four months back. It was after Master Jin had told me about you and I brought up your name at dinner. Mugen cut me off right then and there. I thought he was going to-"

"Mugen did what?" Fuu whispered.

"He didn't like anyone bringing you up," Taiji reiterated. "I tried several times after that and even Master Jin slipped up once. Every single time Mugen would clam up and get in a really sour mood. It's clear to me now that you two have some unresolved-"

"No we don't!" Fuu blurted, startling even herself. She stood and quickly started to usher Taiji out of her room. "We should probably head to bed now."

A knowing smile crossed the young man's lips and he nodded. "Of course, but… Fuu?"

She stopped pushing him out the door and looked up at him questioningly.

"If Mugen doesn't make a move soon, I will."

Thank you so much all of you who have stayed since the first one shot! I did not plan on going all the way to 20 one shots at all! I love each and every one of you:)

I would like to thank these spectacular reviewers:

fuusunshine

HaruKuro

Tanto Storm

beautiful chrysa (GUEST)

Lady Taurus

Brittany (GUEST)

Mugen: Go to Part II bitches!

AshAnime: How many times do I have to tell you, Mugen? Don't-

Mugen: Yeah, yeah, yeah I know. Respect, self-esteem and all that crap. See ya!

AshAnime: *glares after him* Sorry about that my awesome readers! Continue to Part II for more Fuugen!:)