R&R

Heeeey guys! Long time no read ;) I'm sorry for the long wait it's just been really hard finding inspiration as of late. I hope this one shot is worth the wait!

360 REVIEWS!? YOU GUYS ARE UNSTOPPABLE! ;D

ENJOY!

Oneshot 38: Breathless

by AshAnime

"Mugen, come over here! Look at these!"

Fuu smiled excitedly and waited for the grumbling vagabond to drag his feet over. He'd been in a crummy mood for a while now and although she'd never admit it, it bothered her. Lately he reminded her of a caged animal bristling with stagnant energy. Sometimes she marveled at the fact that Mugen hadn't ditched her yet, and she was often left with the sinking feeling that the time would come eventually.

"They're sea shells, see?" she informed him, eyeing the small set up the shop keeper had outside her store. "I thought you'd want to see them, that maybe they'd remind you of the ocean."

She watched as he tried to hide his obvious interest. "Yeah, whatever. They're cool I guess."

"Wow, look at this one." Fuu picked up a particularly rare looking shell. It was milky white with swirls of red.

"Do you want it?"

She stared up in surprise at Mugen's blunt question.

"Wha—"

"Do you want it, Fuu?" he reiterated, frown deepening.

Fuu took a deep breath and sighed. "Yes but—"

"Then we're getting it."

The samurai's daughter tried to protest but it seemed Mugen wasn't hearing any of it. He reached into his pockets and pulled out the money she thought he had been saving for a brothel. Her eyes widened when he slapped it unto the store counter and purchased the sea shell without batting an eyelash.

"How nice," the shop owner, a plump woman, spoke up. "I remember when my husband used to buy me pretty things. These days he's just a lousy old drunk."

Fuu quickly shook her head. "No we're not…"

She struggled with her words until finally, "He's just my bodyguard."

The lady nodded her head in understanding and placed the shell in Fuu's hand. "Oh, I see… but he doesn't seem to be doing a very good job."

Fuu's brows crinkled as she turned around in confusion. She suddenly understood what the lady meant when she saw Mugen's retreating form. "Thanks for the shell!" she called back to the amused woman, and hurried through the dense crowd.

"Mugen! Mugen, wait for me!"

He didn't slow down. Lean muscles rippled beneath the thin cotton of his shirt as he continued forward, and for some reason Fuu was assaulted by a memory. The memory of a samurai who smelled of sunflowers and walked away from her no matter how hard she chased after him.

Would that retreating back haunt her forever?

Fuu pushed through the crowd full of strangers and quickened her pace until, finally, she was right behind the stubborn pirate.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Her small hand reached out and yanked on his sleeve. He still didn't budge but she eventually got him to come to a stop when she placed herself in front of him. "What's your problem?!"

Mugen stared down at her indifferently. "Where's Jin?"

Fuu blinked. Had he finally lost his mind? "Jin? Why are you asking about him? He's with Shino, remember? They got married."

Mugen nodded and pulled his sleeve from her grasp. "And where the fuck are we?"

Now Fuu was really confused. "We're in the heart of Edo, duh."

She watched a myriad of expressions cross Mugen's face and suppressed a gasp when he suddenly grabbed her arm. He pulled her into an empty alleyway, successfully blocking out most of the bustling market sounds.

"Mugen what's—"

"Do you think I've been here all this time, just to be your fucking bodyguard?" he bit out, thoroughly startling the confused girl. There wasn't necessarily a malicious look in his eyes, just pure frustration.

Fuu shrugged. "I don't know. I mean… I guess we're kind of past that but I don't understand what—"

"I don't stay, girly. It's not what I do."

She swallowed, a sudden realization washing over. He'd summed up all of her fears, hadn't he? In two, meager sentences, Mugen had managed to bring everything she'd been feeling for the past year up to the surface. Her heart was hammering so rapidly in her chest she was afraid it might break free and fly away.

"I know. I know that, Mugen."

He sighed and gritted his teeth.

"But you've stayed… with me. You've been here all this time."

"Exactly," he ground out.

Fuu pushed off from the grimy wall she'd been leaning against and reached out a hesitant hand towards him. His first instinct was to pull away but she pressed forward, successfully taking his jaw in her hand.

"Mugen," she whispered. "Please look at me."

He refused, gaze steadily watching the stream of people outside the alleyway.

"Mugen… please?"

Finally, after what seemed like forever, his eyes landed on her. That piercing gaze would have scared anyone else away, but not Fuu. Others would have interpreted it to be a dangerous look, one filled with the intent to kill, but Fuu saw something entirely different. She saw Mugen desperately trying to say everything in that one gaze, without having to say anything at all.

"You asked me where we are," she started, a slight smile on her face. "And I gave you a really stupid answer. We are right here, Mugen… together… and I think that's where I'd like us to stay."

He gave her a disbelieving look and she stared right back. "I mean it."

"Well I couldn't tell."

She huffed in frustration at his stubbornness and bit her bottom lip. What was it going to take to get him to believe her? To get him to realize just how much he meant to her? She was just as awkward as him when it came to showing affection. Sure she had some examples from her mother to work off of, but traveling all over Japan for the past five years had hardened some of her feminine instincts.

Taking a deep breath, Fuu flexed her fingers and then slowly raised her arms to rest on Mugen's shoulders, successfully wrapping them around his neck.

At this he raised an eyebrow, making her blush. She already didn't know what she was doing and his scrutinizing gaze wasn't making it any better.

"Don't look at me!"

"Well where the fuck else am I supposed to look?!"

Mugen had a point. Their faces were so close that all he'd have to do is lean forward a couple of inches and their lips would be touching.

"I'm sorry," Fuu frowned, sighing. "I have no idea what I'm doing."

A sharp laugh escaped him, washing her face in his warm breath. "I noticed."

Fuu pouted. "Well excuse me for—"

OH.

Oh.

So this is what it feels like to kiss Mugen.

Fuu didn't have much to compare it to since there were only a few guys she'd pecked on the lips over the years. But she honestly believed that even if there had been more to compare it to, Mugen's kiss would trump them all.

It was the kind that stole her breath away. It was the kind that made her knees give, allowing her to sink into his hold. It was the kind that warmed every part of her until she was almost sure the kiss was a living, breathing thing.

She didn't know having someone nibble on her bottom lip could feel so good. Or that the swipe of a tongue could erase every single thought from her mind. Was this why girls were always all over him? Because it suddenly made a lot of sense.

"Fuu," he groaned into her mouth, and the vibrations from his lips nearly shattered her.

"I'm right here," she gasped, grunting when she felt her back hit the wall behind her and his body press closer.

His hands were everywhere and Fuu marveled at the fact that it wasn't annoying. Usually when Mugen touched her it was pinches and playful tugs on her hair, but this… this was different. It was heated palms grabbing at her thighs, waist, butt… and she didn't think she wanted him to ever stop.

It wasn't until she heard a hitch of breath come from the unstoppable force in front of her that she pulled away and just took him in. Fuu was surprised to see the bridge of his nose scrunched up in that pained way that only meant someone was about to cry. His half-lidded eyes were rimmed red and slightly moist.

"Mugen, what—"

He shook his head, making Fuu clamp her mouth shut.

She slid a hand away from his cheek to press firmly against his chest. His heart was beating so fast she felt like it was punching her palm.

"I'm here," she whispered. "I'm right here."

He nodded and bent his head. She couldn't see his face but she felt him shudder as he composed himself. It was a little scary seeing him this way. It made her wonder what he would do if she left him. If she just decided to get up and leave one day. That thought scared her even more because she was almost sure Mugen would kill anyone he laid his eyes on.

She'd accepted him… all of him… and now he was having a panic attack.

"Mugen breathe," she urged, grabbing his shoulders and trying to get him to look at her. His pride wouldn't allow him to though and he kept his head down, hands braced against the wall on either side of her.

"I… am…" he forced out.

"No you're not. You're having a panic attack. I know because… I used to have them after my mom died."

He didn't say anything but she could hear his nails scratch against the wall behind her.

"Fuck, girly." It sounded like his breath was coming back to him but he was still panting. "I can't breathe because of ya. You're a curse."

"Hey!" Fuu exclaimed, thoroughly offended. She had no regards for his panic attack as she slapped his shoulder. "I am not a curse!"

At that Mugen raised his head and managed to give her a sharp grin. "My lungs say otherwise."

"Whatever, jerk."

She didn't protest when he placed his face in her neck. He seemed content enough to just rest there, his nose nuzzling into her soft skin. His heart was still beating super-fast but his frantic breathing slowed once he caught her scent.

"I should be punching you," Fuu said, using cool fingers to massage the nape of his neck. "I'm no curse. If anything, I'm a blessing."

Mugen snorted against her neck.

"I'm serious."

"I don't doubt it, girly." His breath coasted across her throat, making her shiver.

"But… you're a blessing too."

She felt Mugen stiffen.

"Because I'd probably be dead without you. I'd probably be lost without you. Just an orphan with nowhere to go and no one to love but you gave me a home, Mugen. So you really are a blessing to me. Believe that."

He was so quiet and still. She was beginning to think he hadn't even heard her.

But then, "You're gunna get sick of me."

Fuu smiled. "No I'm not."

"We're going to fight a lot."

"Yes we are."

A sigh tickled her neck. "I'll be a jerk and hurt you."

"You will… but then you'll feel sorry about it and come crawling back."

Mugen bristled at that and Fuu laughed.

"We aren't perfect, Mugen, but I didn't ask for perfect did I?"

He raised his head and finally stared her in the eye. "You're crazy, you know that?"

Fuu's grin was breathtaking.

"You wouldn't have me any other way."

Lol sorry for making this so sickeningly sweet guys. I was listening to some sappy sad music while I wrote this one shot. I was actually having a lot of trouble with it at first. It took me coming back to it over and over again to finally get it right. At first it was really boring but I spruced it up a bit! Hope you like it! And i'm sorry I haven't been doing frequent updates guys. I'm just in a writing funk right now but I think it passed.

QOTD: What's something you always wanted Mugen and Fuu to do when you watched Samurai Champloo?

reviewers for OS 36 and 37 who I don't deserve XD:

LavenderBoots - glad I could brighten your day ;)

HaruKuro - Yup Mugen and Fuu are always fighting and then making up. Glad you liked the Mugen and Fuu's dad idea! ;)

FF2Addict - Yes Mugen is hella sexy! And i'm sorry for not being around much. I've just been so overwhelmed lately. I'm happy that you liked my original idea. I was worried most people wouldn't like it cuz Fuu wasn't in it.

sweetserenity13 - Yes! Everyone gets a Mugen! LOL (i sound like Oprah) Mugen answered your question below ;D

Joy-girl - Yes poor Jin. Dude can never catch a break. Sorry that the OS was so short but I was being lazy, LOL. Glad you liked the kiss!

untouchable hexing witch - I'm glad you like how I write the characters =)

stepintothefantasy - Yes little nine your old Mugen is beyond adorable!

Ruscanfer - Thank you XD

ElephantLove - Yes it would have been awesome to have a longer kiss but I suck at kisses so I try not to ruin whatever good I do end up writing, hehe. Also, I would NEVER forget you guys! I actually stress about updating a lot, lol.

TigerChickTigress - I'm glad you think I write them in character and look, you got a whole bunch of Fuu and Mugen in this! ;D

Bubble Smoosher - Thank you for liking my idea!

Brittany - I would attempt that prompt Birttany but I've actually read something EXACTLY like that before and that person wrote it way better than me. I can't remember what it was called, sorry. Hehe ^_^

Ghibli Ninja - So happy that you liked my idea and thank you for the critique on the other OS. I felt it was lacking as well so thank you for being honest with me. *hugs*

Shanyetta - (reviewed OS 21)/strong Thank you for liking my two parter!

Tanto Storm - I love your reviews! Thank you! And about the sunflowers I didn't know they don't have a smell but they made such a big deal of "the samurai who smelt of sunflowers" in the show that I kind of put that in the OS too...*shrug*... Mugen and Jin have answered your questions below! ;D

Nanashi - (reviewed OS 35) Awww i'm glad I made you feel. That's all I strive to do in these oneshots;)

Cc - Glad I could make you cry and smile! Thank youuu ;3

VampireAreeJ - Aw I'm so happy for you that you're in love with someone! I have thought about majoring in English but I think my main problem is that I often lack motivation when it comes to things. I think it's because I get depressed easily but i'm learning to find motivation again! Thank you for reviewing! ;)

Lady Taurus - I love that you love my one shots. It makes me happy to see people passionate about it. Thank you for liking my writing!

Thank you everyone who reviewed, holy guacamole I think my fingers are going to fall off from typing so much!

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Ash: Mugen my hand is cramping let's get this over with.

Mugen: *rolls eyes* Whatever.

Ash: sweetserenity13 would like to know - When did you realize you were in love with Fuu?

Mugen: Who says i'm in love with the lil bitch?

Ash: Mugen! Just answer the question!

Mugen: *mumbles*

Ash: Speak up!

Mugen: WHEN SHE SAVED ME!

Ash: *smiles smugly* Alright one more question and then I need Jin.

Mugen: *glares*

Ash: Tanto Storm would like to know - Why did you stay with Fuu in the beginning? I know you used the excuse of wanting to fight Jin but you could have fought him anytime and then left; instead, you stayed. Why?

Mugen: *thinks, and thinks... and thinks* I don't know! Too complicated!

Ash: Mugen-

Mugen: *crosses arms and looks away*

Ash: *sighs* FINE. Jin, come here!

*mugen leaves, jin appears*

Jin: It seems you actually want my presence.

Ash: *rolls eyes* Tanto Storm would like to know - Why did you stay with Fuu in the beginning? I know you could say a sense of honor or wanting to fight Mugen, but was there something else?

Jin: *folds hands* I think... I was simply fond of the prospect of companionship.

Ash: *stares intently* Wow that's actually a really good answer.

Jin: Yeah and I could have given plenty of other great answers if I were asked more questions.

Ash: *pushes him out of the room* Ok, the moments over. Leave. Bye.

THANK YOU FOR READING GUYS! SORRY FOR ANY AND ALL MISTAKES! DON'T FORGET THE QOTD! BYEEEE!