Chapter 8: Betting on Friendship

Sango looked from the door to where Michiru had exited back to Inuyasha as the doctors rolled out long propped up cart as they lifted Inuyasha's body into it and then began strapping him in place. He had awoken from the blow, but when he tried to turn his neck it really hurt him.

"Lie still, Inuyasha," Dr. Garter warned, "You'll make your broken neck worse."

"I can't believe it…" Shippo got out again, "Michiru is a talented fighter, but only in a magical sense! I've barely ever seen him throw a punch when his powers were negated, and when he did I was never impressed. What has Michiru been doing with his life?"

That's what I want to know. Sango spoke to herself as she gathered up all her courage and walked out to confront Michiru about this. She went out of the Shrine and to the house where Mrs. Kururugi stood in her path. The two regarded each other as Sango looked past her shoulder to see Michiru in the fridge looking for something.

"Hey!" Michiru cried out, "What is all this shit?! I don't drink Japanese beer! I only drink American, Mexican, or Canadian beer whose companies have been around since the mid 1800's! Like my buddies in my gang drink!"

Mrs. Kururugi sadly shook her head her face returning to Sango giving her a sad but dirty look that said, "Look what your betrayal did to my little boy" without her having to say it. A look Sango returned with a look of regret and pleading as Mrs. Kururugi sighed and nodded moving to the side to let Sango pass and enter. Going to the kitchen, she saw Michiru feeling his face and the thick beard on it as he sighed and turned to the bathroom.

"Michiru…" Sango began.

"What do you want?" Michiru angrily demanded, "Like I said, there are other Shikigamis! Get one of them to help you and get the hell out of my sight!"

"There aren't anymore," Sango protested, "The enemy, Fushizenna, killed them all out of fear of them. You're the only one who remains other than your late grandfather who currently is just a child with no powers of his own."

"Ohhhhh!" Michiru said suddenly intrigued, "Then it seems I'm the only one who can stop him….oh wait a minute, maybe not! After all, the world's intact today! I don't see any Shikigami fearing demon running amok right now!"

"Only because you kill him at some point," Sango countered, "If you refuse to help, that will change."

"Really?" Michiru challenged, "How about this then? I will never help you guys again! There is nothing any of you can say that I want to hear. There is nothing you can offer to give me that I could possibly want or even need! There is nothing you can do to make me forgive you for how you treated me back then! The answer, bitch, is no!" Michiru then lifted the curtain to the window to show a peaceful sunshiny day, "Oh look! It's still the same out! I guess Fushizenna gets taken care of eventually despite my refusal to help you guys. So clear off!"

"Michiru…" Sango spoke softly as a tear fell down her pretty eye, "…I know I hurt you. I know you don't believe in real friendship and real love anymore, but for what it's worth, I am sorry for betraying you."

"Oh, I see…" Michiru answered, "…now you realize that you betrayed me! What happened to 'You were stomping on Miroku's chest and whacking him with his own staff! You almost killed him, I saw you with my own eyes!' huh? I thought I was guilty of treason!" Then he looked back to the yard frowning as something hit him, "Speaking of that damned pervert, where is he? I noticed that only you, Kagome, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kirara are here, but where's your husband? Heh! Did he hear about coed bathing, and take it as an opportunity to legally see a bunch of beautiful naked girls?"

"Michiru, a-a-about that…" Sango began hesitantly, "M-M-M-Miroku…well…well you see he…he…he…he died."

"Hmm?" Michiru spoke raising an eyebrow, "Oh, did he now? I see…well now you've got my attention! This is a conversation worth having now!" With that, he sat down with an eager and excited look on his face, "How? Oh, please tell me how! I gotta know!"

Frowning at the sadistic tone Michiru was taking with his choice of words as she realized he was enjoying the news, Sango sobbed out as she answered, "He…he was shot. In the back. With a musket pistol."

Michiru's eyes widened at this as he then smirked wickedly as he answered, "Oh, is that so? Well, maybe I should go back with you all then!"

"R-R-Really?" Sango asked hopefully.

"Yes!" Michiru smiled before frowning as he hissed out, "So I can try and find a way to employ the one who shot him to the Van Der Linde Gang! Sounds like my friends could use him!"

Sango, now getting annoyed, said, "Michiru, look. Right before he died, Miroku…confessed something to the greatest sin he ever committed in his life. Since you take so much pleasure in the news of his death, perhaps you would like to hear it for yourself."

"Oh, by all means, Sango!" Michiru nodded suddenly brightening up again, "Do tell!"

Sango felt another tear fall from her eye at the person currently talking to her right now. This wasn't the shy, reserved, and noble warrior she knew once upon a time. This was a predatory, angry, and borderline psychopathic sadist delighting in the news of a former friend's death and delighting in her pain regarding it as well. She sniffled a bit and answered, "He…he told me that…that he conspired with a shapeshifting demon to take up the image, scent, and voice of you to beat him up as Inuyasha and I were nearing. He told me that he read your diary and knew that you were…that you were…that you were going to propose to me and had set out to pick a bouquet for me in the mountains to help you. He hired the shapeshifter to make it look like you were beating him up to make us all turn on you and force you to leave so that he would be with me forever more. He…he…he confessed to framing you, Michiru…"

At this, Michiru's look of pleasure turned into a careful frown as suddenly he got angry all over again as he got out of his seat.

"Well, duh!" Michiru shot out, "Took you long enough to realize that you dumbass! Now if only you had the brains to realize that for yourself at some point! Can't believe that lying, cheating, and stealing bastard had to confess on his deathbed to make that so clear to you all!"

Her eyes furrowing with annoyance herself, Sango got to her feet and looked Michiru in the eyes face-to-face as they both glared at each other as she answered, "You know what, Michiru?!" The two continued to glare for a full minute at each other before Sango sighed as her annoyed look turned a bit sad as she nodded and said, "You're right. That's it. That's all I can say back to you. You're absolutely right. I should've investigated this myself. Especially when you protested that a shapeshifting demon could've been trying to frame you. What's more, I should've listened to you on that fateful day," Sighing sadly, Sango turned away and said, "And…and now look at what my actions have done. Not just to you, but to countless innocent lives all brought to an end at the hands of Fushizenna and his minions." She looked up at Michiru and with tears now flowing freely, she sobbed out, "I'm…I'm sorry…"

At these two words, Michiru's eyes widened a bit as he saw in Sango's eyes the genuine remorse in her eyes. For the briefest moment, it seemed as if this might have done the trick. That is, until the hostile fire in Michiru's eyes returned as he glared furiously at her.

"I don't want your overdue apology!" He seethed out, "I want you and your companions out of my sight! And that starts with getting back into the Animus!"

"You can go back if you wish," Sango countered, "But we're not leaving without you! We'll continue watching Arthur's life even if you experience to the day he dies!"

"I would strongly advise against that," Michiru said, "I mean, I can't stop you, but you probably won't be there if and when Fushizenna kills your brother and children!"

"You can prevent that from happening!" Sango protested, "Please! If you don't help, my daughters and son will die! Kagome's daughter too!"

Breathing, Michiru looked at her for a moment before his eyes went to the floor somehow unable to look her in the eyes as she coldly and quietly answered, "You speak as if your children's lives were something I cared about."

Sango then let out a gasp at this statement as her fingers were brought to her lips as she sobbed all the louder as she shook her head in saddened disbelief.

"No…" She sobbed out as she pleaded, "….you….you….you can't mean that."

"I can't mean it?" Michiru flared out as he marched over gettinh back in Sango's face as he got out, "Well, maybe when you're finished mourning their father…I'll keep you in black…on their behalf! You think on that before telling me I can't mean it when I say I don't care if an enemy of mine lives or dies!"

Sango's eyes widened as the meaning of Michiru's words registered with her as she desperately sobbed, "You…you…you wouldn't! My…my children didn't do anything to hurt or upset you!"

"Ohhh, I beg to differ…" Michiru gritted out with a whisper his voice sounding husky, quiet, but familiar. It was like Arthur's annoyed and threatening voice, "…they were born, weren't they?"

At this, Sango fell to her knees in shock and grief. Michiru didn't care! His broken heart was glued back together, only to turn to stone. She looked up at Michiru as she shook his head.

"Don't give me that look, Sango," Michiru grumbled, "I know what you're thinking right now. You're thinking, 'I thought you loved me. Where's the Michiru that cared about me so much?' But you can't ask that question. Because you know the answer. Now if you'll excuse me. The West calls."

With that, Michiru left the house having drank and eaten his fill and went back to the shed.

"Doctors," He said, "Reboot the Animus. Break's over."

"And your…former friends…?" Dr. Ingles asked.

"If they wanna watch, I ain't stopping 'em," Michiru grumbled, "Probably means they'll miss out on their children's deaths while they wait for something that'll never happen."

"You're going back in?" Kagome asked, "But Sango-"

"There's nothing she or you can say to get me to change my mind, Kagome!" Michiru spat, "Maybe I'll kill Fushizenna after Arthur's story here ends, and maybe by then you and your wretched offspring will be no more! Here's hoping at least!"

"Michiru!" Kagome gasped.

"What?" Michiru demanded turning to look at his former friend, "You think I care about any of you or your little brats for that matter? You can all go to hell where ya'll belong! But I guess I should thank you for letting me know about that bastard's passing. At least that was worth getting out of the Animus for! But as for you all, I'm done! I'm through believing in fairytales! I'm through playing make-believe! I'm through with romantic thoughts, ideas, and illusions! And I'm through with living in the past!"

With that, he turned to the pod as Kagome stood wide-eyed as she answered, "Oh. I see…" She then put on a familiar annoyed frown as she countered, "Then tell me, why are you getting back into that machine to play a make-believe cowboy living in the past?"

Michiru paused at this before turning around, "The Van Der Linde Gang, except for Micah Bell, are real friends, Kagome! There for me and Arthur in good times and bad! Supporting and loving each other in true loyalty, brotherhood, and sisterhood! What's more, they don't betray each other! Dutch van der Linde may be a cold and calculated killer and robber, but he would never betray Arthur Morgan, John Marston, Charles Smith, or ANY member of his family until they day they die! On that I will always bet on!"

Huh? Kagome thought to herself as Michiru walked towards the pod. Wait…wait, that's it!

"We'll take that bet!" Kagome called out as Michiru suddenly paused. Seeing that she had gotten his attention, Kagome said, "You're a cowboy now, right Michiru? You're a gambler, right?"

Standing still a moment or so, Michiru slowly turned back around and looked the priestess in her eyes with a slight grin on his own face crossing his arms and giving a nod.

"I'm listening…" Michiru smirked.

"Your words, Michiru Kururugi," Kagome reminded him, "You said you will always bet on the Van Der Linde Gang's loyalty. Fine! You think this is a game? Let's play!"

Chuckling a bit, Michiru then smiled nastily and said, "Well, now that's different! That's more like it! Now you're speaking my language, Kagome!" He crossed his arms and said, "The contest?"

"You keep living that simulation of Arthur's life as you please," Kagome began, "If any member he fully trusts within it ever legitimately betrays Arthur or any member before Arthur dies, or they die before he does, then we win. If Arthur dies or if all the current members die before him and like you say never betray him or one of their own, then you win."

Michiru stood for a moment before asking, "The stakes?"

Kagome chose her words carefully as she replied, "If we win, you help us defeat Fushizenna. No strings attached."

Nodding as Michiru raised an eyebrow, "And if I win?"

"If you win," Sango's voice spoke from the front door, "I'll trade my freedom in exchange for you killing Fushizenna. I'll remain at your side forever doing anything you wish and never seeing my home, friends, or children ever again."

All turned to Sango as they spoke to protest, but Sango held up her hand to stop them. She looked Michiru in the eyes carefully and asked, "Do we have a deal?"

Michiru looked her in the eyes, then started to chuckle, "Oh, Ace Diamond old friend, you would've adored this…" He looked Sango in the eyes, and said, "You're so sorry, that you'd risk being apart from your children and our very freedom forever to atone for it?"

"Yes," Sango nodded with conviction.

"Well, I guess you really are sorry then," Michiru spoke softly before frowning again, "But that doesn't mean I'm accepting your apology, but it does mean something else that might work in your favor. Just to keep the game interesting."

"What?" Sango asked.

"A chance to genuinely earn my forgiveness," Michiru explained, "You see, ever since that fateful day, I always wondered if there was another reason why you banished me, Sango. You see, I couldn't help shaking the feeling that somewhere in the back of your mind, you did believe that I was innocent, or at least there were some little voices in your head telling you that what you were doing to me was wrong, and I at least deserved a chance to prove my innocence, but you ignored those little voices of conscience and banished me anyway. So now I'll list a special stipulation."

"What stipulation?" Sango asked.

"If you can tell me the real reason you got rid of me at any time during this bet," Michiru began, "I'll forgive you for what happened, and void the bet entirely."

"But…." Sango began, "…but there is no other reason I got rid of you! I truly believed Miroku's words and my eyes."

"Maybe, maybe not," Michiru said, "But it's the only chance you'll get."

"Well, if you're making impossible wagers like that, I have an idea of my own," Sango countered, "If we can find anything in our world you would protect with your life regardless of our betrayal, then the contest is void and you get rid of Fushizenna. Agreed?"

Michiru thought this through. It all seemed a fair and fun deal, so he nodded.

"We have a bargain," He nodded, "Now if you'll excuse me…"

With that, Michiru walked back onto the platform as he put the breathing apparatus over his face as the tube began so slide up and fill with warm liquid. His eyes began to close slowly as his mind was leaving reality and reentering the world he loved so much back west. Kagome, relieved that now there were two chances at least to get Michiru to help them freely, turned to her friend.

"Shippo," She began, "You're the master of disguise and the one who can best avoid detection from Fushizenna's forces. If there is something back home Michiru still cares about and doesn't hold a grudge against, find it."

"You can count on me, Kagome!" Shippo nodded as he burst into a pinkish balloon and began to float back to the Bone-Eater's Well. As he left, the screen came back on as Sango, Kirara, and Kagome now were by themselves. The doctors convinced Michiru's parents to let Inuyasha stay inside until he healed from his broken neck in a real bed.

"It's just us now, Kagome…" Sango spoke.

"That's right," Kagome said as her lips quivered into a smirk, "So go ahead, Sango."

"Huh?" Sango asked with a blush.

"Start swooning over Arthur Morgan now that the boys aren't here anymore to judge you!" Kagome mocked.

"K-K-K-Kagome…!" Sango gasped, "What…what do you mean?!"

"Oh, come on, Sango!" Kagome smirked, "Ever since you saw the light in Arthur's grey blue eyes, your face has turned bright red. You've been impressed by his skills with the bow, with hunting, with riding and training horses, you've been doing everything in your power not to swoon and make a fool of yourself in front of Inuyasha and Shippo."

"I won't judge!" Dr. Garter called from the computer, "It's just us girls here, and I'll admit that Arthur is one of the most attractive men I've ever met…"

"Girls!" Sango blushed, "I…I…I don't know what you're talking about!"

Suddenly, they were interrupted by the appearance of Arthur still in the town of Valentine. He was walking along when he heard a commotion near some sort of theater tent. A pair of men were bickering before one plugged the other. Then he turned.

"Who else wants some?" He asked as Arthur neared him. The stranger then shoved Arthur and asked, "What's your problem, huh? I think you're next, asshole!"

Arthur looked at the jerk up and down before nodding.

"Alright, loudmouth," He nodded, "Let's see how good you really are."

Arthur took a few steps back, turned around, wiggled his hand near his revolver on his hip. His opponent was doing the same. Sango frowned in confusion.

"What are they doing?" Sango asked her friend.

"It's a duel," Kagome explained, "First one to draw his gun and either kill his opponent, disarm him, or wound him beyond capacity to retaliate wins."

Suddenly Arthur drew his gun and shot, but he wasn't aiming for any vital organ or the head, he was aiming for his opponent's right hand and blew a hole right through it making him unable to pick up his gun.

"Ow!" The opponent complained grabbing his hand, "Aww, damn it! That hurt."

"You weren't worth killin' anyway," Arthur shrugged putting his revolver back in its holster as the sun began to set in the town. Arthur walked the main street of Valentine before arriving at the steps of the main saloon. He spotted the doors and burst inside seeing his friends, Javier Escuella and Charles Smith, at the bar with two lovely young women in between them. Javier was all smiles and cheers. Obviously, he was drunk.

"Heyyyy! Alright, there we go!" He slurred out noting Arthur's approach, "Oh, Arthur! Arthur, come here, come here. Come over here, I want you to meet our friends."

He introduces Arthur to two strange women. One has a red hair and a very curvy figure with two huge breasts sticking out. Her outfit leaves the tops of her huge breasts well exposed. The other has black hair, slightly dark skin, pretty brown eyes, and a slightly thinner body, but still drop-dead gorgeous.

"Pleased to meet you," Arthur nodded.

"Well, ain't you just the tough as teak mountain man?!" The big-breasted redhead flirtatiously cooed.

"Oh, you be quiet, Anastasia…" The black-haired woman scolded, "Anyone can tell this one is a pussy cat!"

"Exactly yes," Javier agreed, "He's a pussy…cat. Ain't that so, Arthur?"

"Whatever you say," Arthur answered turning his attention back to the girls, "How much you cost, anyway?"

"Oh no…" Kagome grumbled, "Don't tell me he's going to pay for one to take to bed tonight!"

"Well, ain't that a nice way to talk to a lady?" Anastasia grumbled.

"Oh, I didn't know I was talking to a lady," Arthur spat back.

"Excuse me," Anastasia grumbled pushing past the men with her friend following behind as Kagome and Sango all sighed in relief. Neither girl wanted to see Arthur doing the nasty. Especially with some common barmaid.

"Well, I must say…" Javier grumbled turning to see them leave, "…you have a fine way with the women, amigo."

"Yeah…" Arthur sighed picking up a shot of whiskey, "…a regular dandy and a charmer. Where's Bill?"

"Oh man, I dread to think about it," Javier answered as the door burst open as a familiar voice enters the saloon, "Hey, hey, hey, there he is."

Bill Williamson entered the bar staggering as he bumped into a guy.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Bill stammered grabbing the man he bumped into by his nice jacket, "Watch where you're going!"

"Take it easy, pal!" The man protested holding his hands in surrender.

"He about to kiss that guy, or punch him?" Arthur wondered before Bill gave the man a brutal haymaker.

"Ohhhhh, and we have our answer!" Javier squealed picking up a glass and smashing it on the noggin of a guy sitting at the table drinking with friends. Suddenly, a barroom brawl broke out as someone shouted, "FIGGGGHT!"

Arthur tried to casually walk out the saloon, but a bearded guy in a light blue shirt and jeans tried to punch him. Arthur, however, blocked him and suddenly found himself wrangled in the brawl.

"Come on!" Bill's voice shouted above the scuffle, "Let's shoot these bastards!"

"Oh, come on! We can handle these fools!" Charles protested happy to stay in melee combat. Sango and Kagome, however, could only watch as the brutal battle unfolded as they shook their heads at the display before them. The guy that tried to hit Arthur got into a scuffle with him as they blocked each other's punches before laying several of their own on each other. Arthur even managed to get in a hard headbutt which distracted his opponent before getting in three good hooks before knocking him out with a massive uppercut.

Sango watched this all unfold as tears started to well up in her eyes. This was all so brutal and unnecessary. Obviously, some of the patrons were violently drunk, but Arthur was brought into this while trying to get out. Now he had to be involved. Arthur then turned to Bill who had three men ganging up on him. Two held his arms while a third got in cheap lefts and rights to a helpless Bill Williamson. Arthur pulled the guy punching Bill off Bill, socked him in the side, and then laid him down with a haymaker as Bill broke free and knocked out the guys holding his arms.

"What the hell is going on down here?!" A voice demanded from upstairs as Arthur turned to see a huge balding bear of a man in overalls, a white shirt, and a thick red beard began stomping down the stairs seeing the commotion and coming down to join in the fun.

"No, Tommy!" The bartender pleaded, "Stay outta this!"

"Come here, you little greaser!" Tommy said to Javier who went to him delivering a walloping punch to Tommy's cheek only for Tommy to brush it off like a mosquito bite and shove Javier away like he was a small child. Arthur rushed to help his friend, only for another bar patron to give him a chokehold from behind.

"Ya hit like a girl!" Tommy taunted Javier as Arthur struggled to break free. He elbowed his captor over and over until he let him go, and then Arthur just laid him down with a huge swipe! He then took a moment to catch his breath, only for the reminder that Javier was still battling that huge Tommy guy.

"Javier could use some help, Morgan!" Bill pointed out as Arthur turned to see Tommy slamming Javier face first on a small table and punching him in the side of Javier's neck with every slam.

"Hey!" Arthur called out, "Tough guy!"

Arthur grabbed Tommy's huge shoulder and socked him in the stomach as Javier broke free. Arthur, however, was picked up by the huge Tommy guy and tossed across the table crashing to the floor.

"You want some too, huh?" Tommy challenged Arthur as he stomped up to Arthur, picked him off the floor, and smashed him headfirst through the glass window sending him tumbling off the saloon's outdoor patio and landing in the muddy streets below as the rain started falling.

"Oh my!" Kagome gasped, "What a brutal hit! Is he alive?"

To answer her question, Arthur rolled up to his feet as Tommy exited the saloon as their fight hit the street.

"Come on, pretty boy…" Tommy taunted with a growl.

"'Pretty boy?'" Arthur growled back getting his bearings back at these words from a guy, "You're kidding me? 'PRETTY BOY?!'"

Angered, Arthur and Tommy brawled in the muddy streets. Tommy was indeed strong, but Arthur had years of experience. Tommy grabbed Arthur by his neck and hurled him across the street as a circle of people, all familiar with Tommy apparently, gathered to watch cheering.

"Heh! I hope you got more than that!" Tommy taunted. Tommy tried to lay another punch, but Arthur backed out of the way.

"Yeah! You got him now!" A passerby cheered as Arthur delivered a huge punch to Tommy's jaw. Tommy tried to shrug it off but looked like that hurt him a bit as he managed to lay a few blows to Arthur's face.

"You okay there, Arthur?" Javier called out joining the cheering crowd.

"Yeah, I got this son-of-a-bitch!" Arthur nodded as he backed away from a few punches but ended up getting hit but still standing.

"Yeah!" Bill cheered, "Put that ape down, come on!"

Arthur got in a few good hits as someone from the crowd called out, "Get him, Tommy!"

Tommy shoved off Arthur as he growled, "You won't be so pretty when I'm done!"

Tommy then put his hand to Arthur's head, held him in his huge hands, and clobbered Arthur's head sending him sprawling to the mud. Arthur dazedly tried to get to his feet, but Tommy put him in another chokehold from behind. Arthur jabbed him in the belly with his elbow, got in one good haymaker after Tommy broke the hold only for Tommy to give Arthur a sharp blow to the guts.

"Try that again!" Arthur challenged as Tommy grabbed Arthur's arm, pulled him in, and gave him a headbutt.

"Yeah! Put his face in the mud!" One of Tommy's fans called out.

"He can't win…" Kagome sobbed. The violence was painful enough to watch, but Arthur getting beaten to death in a fight he couldn't possibly win was quite something to bear. And worse. If Arthur died, the bargain would be over.

Sango and Kagome watched in horror as Tommy grabbed Arthur by the throat and threw him down into the mud holding him as Arthur felt himself fading. He tried desperately to get the huge hands off his neck, but he was running out of breath to fight with.

It's all over… Sango sobbed. Arthur's going to die, and Michiru's going to win the bet… Unless…!

Sango then went to the pod and called out, "Michiru! Remember your pressure point training I taught you! The throat! Hit him in the throat!"

Michiru's eye twitched as Arthur's fist slammed into Tommy's sternum sending him reeling back holding his throat coughing in pain.

"The testicles!" Sango called again!

Arthur took his huge boot and slammed it right between Tommy's legs as Tommy knelt in pain.

"Kill that peabrain, Morgan!" Bill cheered as Arthur grabbed Tommy by the head and DDT'ed him face-first into the mud before getting on top of him!

"Don't go easy on him!" Javier called as Arthur straddled Tommy, grabbed him by the neck with his left hand, and began repeatedly punching him in the face with his right hand! Repeatedly until it looked like Tommy's other hand looked like it was struggling to break free to waving in surrender and begging for mercy, yet still Arthur punched on. Kagome and Sango looked in horror. Arthur had won, and the bet was still on, but this was still too much!

"No! No, stop now!" Sango pleaded to Michiru, "Stop! Stop, Michiru, that's enough!"

Arthur continued to slam his fist into Tommy's bearded face increasing impact, aggression, and fury into every blow. Tommy's face was bruising up, swelling up, and busting up as blood started to ooze out of his wounds and bruises on his face.

"No, Michiru, please!" Sango pleaded again, "I don't want to see anymore!"

Arthur continued to pummel Tommy as his waving arm was going slack as it looked like Arthur was on the verge of beating Tommy completely to death as Kagome and Sango stood there crying profusely.

Just as soon as Arthur balled up his fist to deliver the killer blow, a voice from the crowd spoke up.

"Hey, come on, stop that!" A small voice called out as Arthur delivered more and more blows. "STOP! Stop! Please!" A small man with a mustache, overalls, a white shirt with black stripes, and a brown mustache grabbed Arthur's arm and got his attention as Arthur glared at him.

"Please, I beg you!" The man pleaded to Arthur, "Stop. Come, sir. You won the fight already, surely that's enough?"

Arthur, seething at the audacity of someone interrupting his fight, released Tommy's throat as his bloody face fell to the mud barely conscious as Arthur flared out, "What business is it of yours?!"

"No business," The man coughed out calmly holding his hands up knowing that Arthur was annoyed by him, "No business, sir. But please…I beg you-" He then tumbled back a bit as Arthur shoved him off and stumbled through the crowd back to the porch of the general store. His whole body was covered in mud as he grabbed his side in pain.

"Making new friends again, I see Arthur," A voice called out as Arthur looked up. It was Dutch along with a man in an elegant suit with white gloves and a top hat.

"Look who we found sniffing about," Dutch said.

"Josiah Trelawny," Arthur smirked as the stranger took a bow.

"The very same," Dutch chuckled.

"Well, well…" Arthur smiled, "I thought you'd gone to New York."

"And miss all this glamour?" Josiah asked, "You must be joking."

Arthur gave his sore jaw a little rub as he asked, "How are ya?"

"Well!" Josiah smiled, "Quite well, indeed! I went to Blackwater looking for you gentlemen. You're not very popular there, it seems. Ah! Javier and Charles! I've missed you. And Bill looking as well as can be."

Dutch and Arthur turned to see their friends enter the conversation as Arthur sat on the general store porch steps to catch his breath.

"Gentlemen," Josiah proclaimed, "Always a pleasure."

"You're right," Dutch answered, "We ain't too popular in Blackwater."

"We left a lot of money there," Arthur explained.

"And young Sean, it seems," Josiah pointed out.

"Sean?" Dutch asked, "You found him?"

"Yes, I have," Josiah answered, "He's being held by some bounty hunters trying to see how much money the government will them. I know he's in Blackwater, but there's talk of him moving."

"If we step foot in Blackwater," Arthur pointed out groaning in pain as he spat out a wad of blood, "Well, then we're all dead men for sure." He groaned, getting back up to his feet.

"There'll be Pinkertons all over the place," Dutch agreed, "But if he's alive, we've gotta try."

"Yeah, of course," Arthur relented with a nod.

"It's you they want, Dutch," Josiah reminded them.

"Always is…" Dutch grumbled, "Charles, go find out what you can, carefully. Josiah, take Javier. Arthur?" He then pointed to a rain barrel full of water and said, "Go get yourself cleaned up. Join them when you're ready."

As Arthur stumbled to the barrel, he heard Bill ask Dutch, "Well, what about me?"

"Exactly," Dutch nodded, "What about you?"

"Wh-What does that mean?" Bill demanded as Arthur put his hands in the barrel and started to splash his face to remove the mud and blood off him.

"Oh, Bill…" Dutch grumbled, "Come on…"

Arthur did his best to wash the mud off his body, but rainwater could only do so much. He looked around the streets for anything to take care of the rest and nodded at a building that said, "Hotel and Bath." The same hotel he saved Karen. He hobbled to the hotel and opened the door.

"Good evening, sir, and welcome back," The hotel owner greeted, "What can I do for you?"

"Can I get a room and a hot bath, please?" Arthur asked paying the man $1.25.

"Certainly," The hotel owner nodded, "Room's upstairs to the back. Baths are down that hallway behind me."

"Thank you," Arthur said walking to the bath. Once there, he eyed the huge tub full of hot soapy water that was frothing with bubbles. He then unbuttoned his vest and began to remove it.

"Huh?" Kagome got out as her cheeks started to blush, "W-W-W-Wait, we…we can't see this! Turn it off!"

"Nope, sorry!" Dr. Ingles smirked, "I LOOOOVE seeing Arthur Morgan bathing!"

"Doctor!" Kagome protested as she bolted out the door, only to notice Sango wasn't behind her, "Sango! What are you-?"

"Oh…sweet…Buddha…" Sango gasped at the sight of Arthur removing his trousers. Her body still and unmoving as she continued to look her face getting redder and redder every second, "…look…at that..bod…!"

"Sango!" Kagome pleaded trying to drag her friend out, "Don't…don't look! You shouldn't be looking at stuff like-" But she was cut off by Sango turning her friend around as she caught herself looking at Arthur's perfectly strong and toned body getting into the water, "…um….w-w-well….maybe a few minutes won't hurt…!"