An Unexpected Coupling

Yep, that's right, folks...the angsty/tear-jerker chapter (but I'm not telling who kicks the bucket! ^^). =-P Please tell me what you think! ^^

P.S. Thanks Curious Riz for telling me the damn chapter screwed up again! T_T


A/N: Here we are at last, folks – the “surprise” chapter, as in there are tons of surprises. Don’t be naughty and skip to the end, because I worked super hard on this stupid chapter! Lol –Please R&R, darlings.- :)

CH 10: Kyrie Eleison

Mugen’s unanticipated attack lasted well into the night, Fuu faithfully staying by his side and treating him with the proper elixirs in which Madame Haruka had helped her put together. The one antidote that would ensure his being cured altogether, however, was the one that failed to come to mind.

Cursing her wretched stupidity over not having written it down, Fuu miserably remoistened the rag in the basin at Mugen’s bedside, no longer having the heart to gaze upon his shivering form as he continued to lie there weakly before her.

Oh, how had this happened? How had a man of Mugen’s tremendous strength deteriorated in mind, body and soul in only a matter of seconds? It just didn’t make any sense to Fuu as to how the vagrant could just lie down and give up, yet that was probably only because she didn’t know how else to think. To her, Mugen was invincible and always would be – he would never cease in being the stubborn fool that had always come back for her even during the most inopportune of times.

Subconsciously running her fingers over the grooves of the Christian charm that her father had given her upon her birth, Fuu couldn’t help but wonder what kind of God would willingly take away the only person who’d ever given her true happiness. Granted, Mugen wasn’t in love with her like she was with him, but if she could only meet him halfway it would be more than enough to satiate her own needs. By this point she knew there was no use in denying the fact that she was hopelessly in love with the Ryukyuan, so any form of false affection she could get from him she’d more than willingly accept.

As she was contemplating all of this a low cough sounded from abaft with the hopes of getting her attention, Fuu whirling about in surprise due to being caught off-guard during such a serious moment. “Jin!” she exclaimed, subconsciously clutching at her heart, “H-how long have you been standing there?”

“Only a moment” he assured her, his demeanor gentle, yet stoic as ever. “I just came to tell you that we’ve finally reached Ryukyu…I can see the island just ahead against the horizon.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful” Fuu breathed, apprehensively glancing over toward Mugen with the slightest bit of relief in her eyes. “Is it morning yet? I can’t tell due to the serious lack of light.”

Jin nodded, yet he said nothing in regards to the time of day. “Kohza once told me that she loved the waters of Ryukyu…perhaps we should bury her there.”

“Well yes, that’s what I thought we were doing” Fuu agreed, raising a delicate brow in confusion. “I figured that we could just borrow a couple of shovels from some Ryukyuans and then –”

“No” Jin interrupted, immediately shaking his head, “I mean bury her here…in the water.”

Fuu recoiled at this sudden declaration, her eyes widening in surprise as she gazed up into his aphotic pools in order to see if he was actually being sincere.

“By God, you really mean it” she whispered, shaking her head in absolute disbelief. “When you said ‘proper burial’ I somehow figured that you meant on land and with a service. Forgive me for saying so, but don’t you find it to be rather barbaric to just dump Kohza overboard as if she were nothing but a meaningless barge of waste?”

Jin solemnly shook his head. “No, Fuu-chan, I do not. It’s what Kohza would’ve wanted…she often-”

“Pretended to be a mermaid” Mugen cut in weakly from behind, thus causing them both to blanch and turn in his general direction. “As a kid she’d always drag me into playin’ her stupid games, but somehow…well……I had fun. We were always splashin’ and dunkin’ each other under the surf and just livin’ like we didn’t have a care in the world. Sure, that was complete B.S. an’ all, but at least for the couple hours that we spent out there together it felt like we lived normal lives.

“Hell, above all those moments I guess I’ll never forget the day when Kohza came back from the beach with this sand rock she’d found somewhere along the shore. She was so frickin’ excited about that stupid thing, so I agreed to polish and string it into a necklace for ‘er. After I made it she put it on and never took it off…I seriously couldn’t believe how damn prouda that thing she was.

“The night I left Ryukyu I thought for sure that she’d tear it off and chuck it somewhere out into the ocean, but when the three of us returned to Ryukyu it was still there, shinin’ all beautiful an’ bright as the sun around her neck.”

Fuu took note of Mugen’s wistful façade and suddenly felt a tremendous twinge of jealousy. Although she knew that a great deal of the vagrant’s rambling had to do with his high fever, she still couldn’t help but harbor the feeling that at some point in his life the pirate had actually been in love with Kohza.

Placing a soft hand over Mugen’s forehead, Fuu became absolutely delighted to discover that his fever was ever-so-slowly beginning to wane. “Mugen” she called, carefully encircling his hand with her own, “how are you feeling?”

The vagrant snorted. “Like shit, even thought it really doesn’t matter anymore considerin’ how there’s nothin’ you can do for me.”

“Mugen, you said you were willing to put some faith in me” Fuu argued, the tremendous hurt apparent within the tremors of her voice as she gave his hand a frantic squeeze. “After yesterday’s attack you promised you’d let me heal you. Why are you even considering having second thoughts when you’re actually getting better? I can do this…”

Mugen stubbornly shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever, Fuu. I overheardja prayin’ last evening and I know you’re in a real rut over my situation. Why even bother lyin’ to me when it’ll only make everything worse?”

“Oh, Mugen” Fuu whispered, her eyes filling up with tears, “please don’t give up on me…just give me a chance to prove to you that I can make you well, again!”

“Why bother?” he muttered, his gray eyes slowly closing as he rolled over and turned his back to the wall. “Now if ya don’t mind, I’d really like to be alone right now. If I’m really gonna die, I’d rather you and Four Eyes weren’t around to witness it.”

“But Mugen, I-”

Jin immediately shook his head no, Fuu giving him a reproachful look as he took her by the arm and gently escorted her out of the Ryukyuan’s cabin without so much as a word.

“Jin” Fuu finally ventured, “why did you make me leave? I have a feeling that Mugen was really close to believing in me!”

The ronin sadly shook his head, returning pragmatically, “Why do you insist on torturing yourself like this, Fuu-chan? Ever since our departure from Edo you haven’t had even a wink of sleep…if you are to take care of Mugen, shouldn’t it be obvious that you can’t be sick, as well?”

“You’re wrong” Fuu shot back, her heart throbbing painfully within her bosom as she sharply turned her back to him and bowed her head. “Mugen needs me to be awake for him at all times. If I’m not, something awful could happen to him, like…like…”

“Death?” Jin supplied, his stoic façade now terribly grim. “Fuu-chan, do not fear the inevitable – if Mugen is meant to die, then it must be so.”

“No!” Fuu screamed, now turning on him as if with the intention of attacking. “If those stupid Crow Men want him, they’ll have to get through me, first!”

The ronin audibly sighed, arguing, “Fuu, please…why are you doing this to yourself? Mugen never even gave two shits about you!”

The young girl fell silent then, Jin regretting his harsh words as she acknowledged in a voice barely above a whisper, “I wanted to hate him, Jin, really I did, but I…I just couldn’t. Whenever I needed him to be ugly he only grew more beautiful in my eyes. I truly don’t understand how someone so cruel and heartless can be my everything, Jin, but…he is.”

“Hn” the ronin agreed, his intangible mind immediately reflecting back on all of the countless times that Kohza had wronged him, only to find himself forgiving her treachery without a second thought. Perhaps his and Fuu’s predicaments weren’t so different, after all…

“Jin?” Fuu questioned, placing a hand supportively on his shoulder, “Are…are you alright?”

The ronin nodded, urging stolidly in return, “Come…we must lay Kohza to rest before we reach the shore.”

Fuu nodded meekly in return, obediently following after her friend before giving one last look over toward Mugen’s cabin. “Stay safe for me” she whispered lowly, hopefully.

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After Kohza’s burial at sea the trio found themselves being taken in by a few natives that had happened to take an immediate shine to them upon their unexpected arrival.

The eldest of the three, Narobi, had taken an interest in Mugen most of all due to his more than obvious Ryukyuan prison tattoos. Upon realizing how ill he was, she had sent her youngest daughter, Julianka, to the local witch doctor with a basket of her famous desserts with the hopes of bribing him into making Mugen his top priority.

Although Fuu was incredibly grateful to the family’s kindness, she still couldn’t imagine how on earth such a seemingly sweet and morale old woman could possibly take such an affectionate shine to a vagabond pirate. Perhaps it was their indelible Ryukyuan ties that made Narobi feel so responsible for Mugen, yet whatever it was, Fuu was beyond appreciative.

Jin, on the other hand, appeared to be rather uncomfortable with the entire situation since the eldest daughter – a plump little brunette by the name of Kaelani – had been fawning all over him ever since their arrival to the small village.

“Please tell me more about your exciting adventures, Gene” the aforementioned suddenly urged, her big brown eyes batting bashfully as the ronin visibly winced.

“It’s Jin” he sorely corrected, ignoring Fuu’s smirk as Kaelani snuggled possessively up against his arm.

“Oh, that’s right…Jin” she agreed, giggling like a schoolgirl before continuing, “It must be so hard on you to be in charge of protecting two defenseless people every waking moment of the day, especially that good-for-nothing girl!”

Fuu noticeably stiffened at this snide remark, yet by this point in her life she was so used to such ridicule that she turned the other cheek and looked over to Narobi with expectant eyes. “When do you think Julianka will be back with the doctor?” she asked, her anxiety clearly reflecting within her dainty features. “Do you think it’ll be much longer?”

“No, child, I do not” the older woman assured her, smiling warmly before leaning over and gently patting Fuu’s hand. “You stop your worrying, now, ya hear? Tanaka-san is an exceptional doctor…one of the absolute best, for that matter.”

This seemed to comfort Fuu to some extent, yet every time she happened to glance over in Mugen’s general direction her heart began to sink. He was so weak, so tired…

“Mother!”

Both Fuu and Narobi looked up in accordance with this unanticipated intrusion, their eyes now resting upon Julianka as she anxiously rushed forth with the news that they had been awaiting for so long.

“Oh, Mother!” she called yet again, “he’s coming! Doctor Tanaka-san is actually coming!”

“Where is he, child?” Narobi demanded, grasping her blonde daughter by the arms before giving her a gentle shake. “Is he close by? Come now, get a hold of yourself – you’re shaking!”

Seemingly un-phased by her mother’s response Julianka cheerily returned, “Yes, Mother, yes! Tanaka-san is right outside – he agreed to follow me home!”

Thoroughly surprised by this response, Narobi released her daughter and rushed over to the door, all the while reprimanding the blonde for being so terribly rude toward their guest.

“I apologize, Mother” Julianka returned, only to immediately regress back to her original state of sheer excitement as she turned to Fuu and revealed, “Tanaka-san is as gifted as he is handsome – I can assure you that your friend is finally in good hands!”

Fuu opened her mouth to reply, yet before she could even utter a word the front door swung open and in stepped a tall and swarthy man bedecked in the finest Ryukyuan garb that she had ever seen. His wealthy disposition was quite noticeably thanks to his being so well regarded by the villagers, for most witch doctors in their day and age were decidedly poor.

“And where is this patient of mine?” Tanaka finally demanded, Fuu shrinking slightly back as he regarded her with eyes as dark as the deepest night.

Julianka wordlessly pointed over toward the secluded portion of the room where no one was allowed to venture, a sheer blue sheet that acted as a divider silhouetting Mugen’s laggard form like that of a startling ink drawing.

Cradling his chin in between his thumb and index finger as if deep in thought, Tanaka fluidly perambulated his way over toward the slumbering Ryukyuan’s side, the doctor’s brows drawing inward as he looked the scruffy man up and down in a critical once-over.

“He is very weak” he observed, now turning to Fuu with a questioning look in his exotic eyes. “Have you been giving him plenty of fluid and lots of rest?”

Fuu meekly shook her head. “No, sir…Mugen refuses to be kept down any longer than is necessary, so he never accepted my advice.”

“So I see” Tanaka muttered, now reaching into his medicinal satchel before retrieving a bottle of alcohol. Pivoting about on his heel so that he was now facing Julianka he ordered, “Quickly, child, go and fetch some ice from the icehouse…I’m going to attempt to reduce the boy’s fever before I begin the actual cure.”

Nodding and rushing off with an obedience that deeply prided Narobi, Julianka hastened outside and to the family icehouse in order to fetch a pail of water and ice.

As she did so Tanaka stripped the sheets from Mugen’s nude and perspiring form, Fuu respectively averting her eyes from the body that she had committed to memory as she assisted the witch doctor in his surprisingly difficult task.

“Hold the sheets out like this” Tanaka instructed, briefly demonstrating the stance for Fuu before uncapping the bottle of alcohol and gingerly pouring it all along the scratchy linen. Eyeing Julianka as she scurried back into the hut, he then commanded, “Put the sheets in your pail, child…make sure they soak all the way through.”

Taking the saturated bedding from Fuu’s outstretched hands, the blonde dutifully bent at the knee and submerged them into the freezing ice cold water of her bucket, her hands swirling the linens around in a circular fashion before dragging them back out in a sopping wet bundle. Wringing the sheets so as to extract any excess water, Julianka then assisted Tanaka in binding them around Mugen’s quivering form to the point that he very much resembled a live mummy.

“Fuu?” Mugen suddenly rasped, his eyelids fluttering as he desperately sought to distinguish the faces in the room, “Am I…am I dead?”

“No, Mugen, you are not, and you won’t be for a very long time” Fuu stubbornly divulged, her tiny hands grasping at the sides of his unshaven face before she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss upon the tip of his nose.

“Egads, child, what are you doing!?” Tanaka demanded from out of nowhere, immediately halting his prior actions as he raced over and pulled her away from the Ryukyuan’s trembling form.

Glaring back up at the doctor in defiance, Fuu mulishly returned, “I’m taking care of him – what does it look like I’m doing!? It’s not your place to tell me who I can and cannot see!”

“That may be so” Tanaka agreed, “but if you keep this up, child, you’ll be dead, too!”

Julianka gasped. “Dead, too?” she reiterated, now terribly pale, “D-do you mean to say that you’ve given up on Mugen, Tanaka-san?”

“No, I did not say that” he acknowledged, “but if we don’t hurry the boy will be dead within the hour.” Turning to Fuu he added, “I would very much appreciate it if you and Julianka could prepare the elixir for me so that I can do some other things to help your friend. If anything, it will save us a lot of time, which is something that we are currently in a desperate need of.”

Taking the herbs and spices from the witch doctor’s outstretched hands, Fuu wordlessly nodded, she and Julianka exiting the small hut as Jin watched on with utmost concern.

Why didn’t things feel right?

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“One of these days you’re gonna turn around and I won’t be here, anymore.”

“W-what? Mugen, what do you-?”

“Seriously, kid…I can sense these things better than the scent of blood. My life by the sword is gonna end by the sword, so when I die I want you to make sure that I’m cremated and scattered out all across the ocean. Maybe that way those damnded Crow Men won’t be able to find me an’ I can go on livin’ forever.”

“But Mugen…why do you sound so resigned?”

He smiled, then, a true and genuine smile as he gazed out across the choppy waves of the sea and shrugged. “I dunno…I guess ‘cause your constant bitchin’ makes me wanna end it all or somethin’.”

Fuu blanched. “Oh, Mugen, you’re such a jerk! One of these days I’m gonna-”

“Fuu?”

She paused, cocking her head to the side as she gave him a genuinely bewildered look.

“Fuu, snap out of it!”

Letting out a cry, the young beauty lurched forward and nearly upset the mortar and pestle that she currently held within her taut grasp, Julianka taking her by the arm before peering tentatively into her eyes and giving her hand a gentle pat.

“You ok?” the blonde questioned, her concern only mounting in its intensity as her friend feebly shrugged her shoulders. “Fuu, please tell me what’s the matter…if you don’t resolve this soon and we can’t finish what we started, Mugen will die!”

Fuu finally acknowledged Julianka’s presence with a low snort of derision, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she feverishly returned, “There’s nothing we can do for a man that doesn’t want to be saved, Julianka. Mugen believes he will die…so he will.”

“What? How do you know?” the blonde demanded, her violet irises widening as she tried her best to comprehend Fuu’s sudden state of resignation.

The dark-haired girl meekly bowed her head so that her vision was masked by her bangs, her voice soft and breathy as she returned, “I-I had a daydream…Mugen was telling me just how he wanted to be buried. I asked him why he’d given up so soon, but all he did was smile and make one of his typical wise-cracks. That’s about when you snapped me out of it, and-”

“Fuu, you’re just upset” Julianka interrupted, a sad smile now adorning her lips as she leaned in and gave the girl a supportive hug. “You’re just so on edge that your subconscious dreamt up that whole little encounter with Mugen, but dreams do not come true, Fuu-chan. Everything is going to be alright.”

Fuu sniffed. “I-I guess…”

“Come on” Julianka urged, “let me take you back inside so that you can see Mugen for yourself.”

Fuu feebly shook her head no, revealing softly, “I-I’d rather not, Julianka…please go without me. I’m afraid that I might interfere with Doctor Tanaka’s cure.”

“What? Fuu, that’s crazy, I-”

“Please” Fuu begged, the earnest look within her haunting irises tugging at Julianka’s heart strings until she felt as if she had no choice other than to comply.

Taking the mortar and pestle from Fuu’s trembling hands, the blonde gave her friend one final hug before she stood up and began the short walk back to the hut.

As she did so Fuu suddenly began to cough, her tiny body wracking along with her harsh movements until something warm and wet to the touch splattered out across her hand.

Lifting her appendage up toward her line of vision she gasped, instantly discovering that the scarlet bloom dribbling down her palm was none other than blood…

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The sterile clinking of medical supplies is what Mugen heard first, a low groan of disgust escaping the back of his throat as he came to the sudden realization that his mouth tasted of bile and some exotic elixir. “Where…where am I?” he croaked, his throat inexplicably dry.

Glancing down at him in delight Tanaka exclaimed, “Ah! So you are finally awake, my boy! That is some very good news, indeed!”

“Wha? How did I-?”

“You gave us quite a scare, you little rascal!” Narobi clucked excitedly from the side, the wrinkles around her dark eyes crinkling as she bestowed the Ryukyuan with a warm and tender smile. “Thanks to Fuu and Julianka mixing up that nasty ‘ol concoction, you’re officially on the road to recovery – hell, your fever’s already breaking!”

“Fuu?” Mugen reiterated, his eyes blinking lazily as he looked from one smiling face to the other. “Where is she? Lord knows ya can’t leave that wench alone for even a second without havin’ her get herself into some sorta trouble.”

Julianka smothered a smile as she returned, “Fuu-chan is outside by the pond, Mugen…she seemed rather upset when I left her, so perhaps you should go and talk to her for a while now that you’re feeling better.”

Mugen scowled at the possibility of turning into a big pussy like Jin, but when he caught the steely glint in the ronin’s eye he knew that he couldn’t back away. As much as he hated to admit it, Fuu had become some sick, twisted part of him, so he could never just deny her – not really, anyway.

Rolling his eyes, Mugen shucked the damp sheets from his nude body and demanded that he be given his clothes, Julianka’s pale cheeks flushing a brilliant shade of scarlet as she obediently rushed over to the chair by the front door in order to retrieve his soiled raiment.

As she did this Mugen was tempted to ask if she’d ever seen a dick as big as his before, yet once she gave him his gi, haori and shorts he shrugged it off and slipped into his clothing. The way he saw it, he was so physically fit that he could walk around naked all the time, yet he didn’t want to make Jin feel inferior (yeah, right) nor cause Fuu to blush just like any other girl who’d been lucky enough to see him in the nude.

Smirking due to his own perverted thoughts, Mugen smugly made his way toward the front door, yet just as he did so Jin abruptly stepped out in front of him and blocked his only means of escape.

“Be kind to her” the ronin urged, his gaunt facial features still as passive as ever. “You never know when it will be far too late to make amends, Mugen-san.”

Mugen gave a shrug of nonchalance as his answer, his chin subconsciously jutting forward as he sidestepped his comrade and made his way out the door and into the open air.

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The sky was a foreboding gray when Mugen finally reached the area in which Julianka had spoken of, the sharp winds scissoring through his dark hair and buffeting his built form as he scanned the grounds with narrowed eyes.

The tension in the air was more than enough to set the Ryukyuan on edge, his calloused hand grasping at the hilt of his sword as he took a small step forward and waited.

“Fuu?” Mugen finally ventured, the simple name seeming to echo in a foreboding mantra against the trees as he irritably tromped his way through the unkempt grass. “C’mon, wench, where are ya? I-” He paused, then, his brows drawing inward as his breath involuntarily hitched in his throat due to the terrible sight that now welcomed him. There, sprawled out along the downy earth was Fuu, her dainty figure face-down and dangerously close to the pond’s edge.

“Hey!” Mugen called, his geta now frantically pounding against the earth as he moved, “What the hell do you think you’re doin’!?”

When Fuu didn’t answer the Ryukyuan began to panic, his knees becoming scraped the moment he swooped down and flipped her over within his arms. “Fuu” he hissed, giving her a rough shake, “C’mon, quit pissin’ around!”

To his utmost relief Fuu slowly opened her eyes, their typical autumnal sparkle now reflecting like that of the dead of winter. “Mugen” she whispered, a small smile immediately coming to her lips, “Julianka was right…you did keep your promise to me. You’re well, again…”

Mugen smirked over the pride of actually doing something right for a change, his light-hearted expression immediately dying upon his lips the moment he noticed the telltale splotches of dark crimson splattered along the girl’s kimono.

“Fuu” he whispered, his eyes widening, “Gods, didn’t I tell ya to stay away from me!? Just look at what your fuckin’ pride’s done to you, now!”

“I don’t care anymore, Mugen” she whispered, her hand fondly tracing the scraggly curve of his unshaven cheek as she bestowed him with a warm and gentle smile. “Now that you’re well again we can finally start concentrating on the small pleasures in life like we used to. You, me and Jin can open up our own tea house…wouldn’t that be funny?”

Mugen smiled, yet it lacked all mirth. “Yeah, sure, kid…whatever you say.”

Fuu suddenly appeared to be very peaceful, her eyes growing heavy as she continued, “I know you don’t really like kids that much, Mugen, but have you ever thought of what it’d be like to have some? I think it’d be pretty neat to see little me’s and you’s running all over the place stirring up all sorts of trouble.”

Mugen balked. “Me’s…and you’s?”

“Yes, silly…I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather father my children than you.”

Something within these words made the Ryukyuan ache all over, his heart pounding furiously as he shook his head in a manner that suggested he was trying to denounce Fuu for all she was worth. “No” he argued, “you’re wrong! Why do you constantly say pointless shit when you know that I’m not capable of loving another human being!? You deserve someone who will cherish you for what you are, Fuu…someone more like Four Eyes.”

“But I don’t love him” Fuu murmured feebly, “I love you, Mugen. How many times must I say that?”

“Apparently one too many, ‘cause you won’t stop” the Ryukyuan growled, the look in his haunting gray eyes causing Fuu to wear a look of absolute hurt.

“Why do you hate me so?” she demanded, her voice now cracking with emotion. “Why must you constantly try to hurt me by cutting me to the quick with words far sharper than any sword? I don’t understand it, Mugen. I…I just want you to like me…”

Mugen flinched. “I don’t hate-cha, Fuu, I-I just can’t-”

“Ssh” she harshly interrupted, now inclining her head so that she appeared to be listening to some unknown source. “You hear that, Mugen? It’s the Crow Men! They’re calling for me…”

Mugen stiffened, now giving her a fierce shake as he hissed, “You tell them no, ya hear me!? If I can beat this, you can, too!”

“No, Mugen” Fuu argued, “I must go…”

“NO!”

In one final act of desperation the Ryukyuan crushed his mouth desperately to hers, his strong arms gripping her so soundly against his chest that it was almost as if he truly believed that her spirit couldn’t escape if he held on tightly enough.

“I kissed you” Mugen revealed against the softness of Fuu’s lips, “I finally did the goddamned deed, so ya can’t leave just yet…you know what this all means, don’tcha?” Burying his face into the crook of her neck he continued, “It means I care for ya, Fuu, ‘cause you said to only kiss ya when I did, and……I do. I know I’ve been a dickhead an’ all, but fuck, Fuu, you’re the only one who’s ever claimed to love me and meant it. Hell, I know you’re turnin’ me into the biggest pussy that ever lived, but ya know what? It’s ok, ‘cause havin’ someone there to actually give a damn ain’t so bad, after all.”

Running his calloused hands through Fuu’s silken hair, Mugen then inhaled her heavenly scent more deeply, his body relaxing against her own as he inwardly conceded that she smelt of flowers and sunshine. He despised the very notion that he could possibly love her, but the longer he held the sunflower princess in his arms the more he knew. His feelings were as inevitable as the dawn, his epiphany as transcendent as all time. Gods, he didn’t want to need another being to survive, but the moment he saw her soft form lying lifeless and broken along the water’s edge he knew…

He knew.

“Ugh, I’m such a pussy” Mugen groaned, somehow managing to chuckle into Fuu’s ear as he continued to hold her close. “Now that I’ve said all that mushy bull crap whaddaya say, Fuu? Will ya promise me that you’ll get well again like I did for you?”

She didn’t answer.

“Fuu?”

Mugen felt as if his heart had suddenly ceased in beating the moment he gazed down upon his fallen lover, her facial features demure and beautiful even in death as tiny rain droplets began to mist down upon them from the heavens in a tumultuous veil of silver.

Releasing a strangled howl Mugen directed his vengeful gaze up toward the rumbling Heavens, the merciless liquid droplets continuing to pelt him in the face as he miserably pulled Fuu close in order to rest her head against his heaving chest.

Fuck love…fuck Kami. He should’ve known that something like this would’ve happened – everyone that he ever grew even remotely close to in his wretched life had to suffer the repercussions of his unforgivable sins.

“Why did you make me care?” Mugen hissed, his hands fisting the coarse cloth to Fuu’s kimono as he began to tremble in spite of the heat coursing throughout his veins. “Why the fuck did I have to become so weak? Maybe if I hadn’t given in you’d still be here…”

Fuu’s peaceful form suddenly seemed to be mocking him amidst her eternal slumber, her bowed lashes closing off the autumnal sparkle within her eyes that would now cease to light even the darkest of nights.

The very thought of never again seeing this or hearing the clarity of her laughter ringing throughout the trees brought the Ryukyuan a tremendous sense of guilt, his heart heavy within his chest as he gathered Fuu’s limp form up within the security of his arms and slowly rose to his feet.

Now walking on wobbly legs, Mugen shuffled along through the grass in an almost drunken-like stupor, the sudden tightening of his fist in Fuu’s dark locks causing her hairpins to become loose and fall to the ground with two subtle ‘plops’.

Glancing down upon Fuu’s serene visage, Mugen couldn’t help but feel as if he had wronged her yet again, the burnt umber of her hair now flowing freely about her shoulders as ribbons of wind whistled in between the small gaps of their bodies.

Immediately looking away from this disturbing sight he stubbornly pressed onward, a small glimmer of recognition streaking out across his dark irises as he suddenly realized where they were. Whether it was subconsciously his intention or not, they were now standing amidst a bright field of yellow sunflowers, their warm faces bowing along with the breeze in an almost mocking dance.

Closing his eyes so as to shut them out, Mugen slowly bent at the knee and placed Fuu amidst the delicately verdant blooms, his large hand cradling her head before gingerly resting it down against a soft mound of earth.

Instead of leaving Fuu there to rest like he had originally intended, Mugen slowly laid down alongside her and rested his face in between the gentle slope of her neck and shoulder. She looked so calm, so……beautiful.

‘For all I know, this is just some frickin’ dream’ the Ryukyuan thought, somehow taking comfort in this idea as he pulled Fuu close. ‘Hell, I’ll betcha that everything’ll be back to normal by morning…I’ll still be the one dyin’ and Fuu will be her annoying little self again.’

The Heavens above roared angrily in response, that very moment leading Mugen to finally understand that all was lost…

His longed-for morning never came.


A/N: -Hides- PLEEEASE, don’t kill me! This was my intention all along! :( I’m pretty proud to say that I fooled you, so you have to at least give me that much. :-P Now despite the fact that this seems over, there is still ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT!!! What more can I say in this story?? Guess you’ll just have to find out. :)

My fan art for this fic is on deviantart under the name SweetFaith06, so hopefully you’ll browse through my gallery and see something semi-presentable, haha. My favorite for this fic is “Downfall”, which is the death scene in which you just were forced to read, and I apologize. :-P I’ll admit that the scene wasn’t NEARLY as emotional as I usually write for deaths, but hey, it’s Mugen…if I’d gone any more nuts with his character he would’ve been more OOC than he already was. -_-‘ Well, ok, so I DO think that Mugen’s capable of some sort of emotion – especially dealing with his friends – but I tried to express it without tears or him actually saying “I love you”. He cheated, friends, and the sad thing is Fuu didn’t even hear him…::sniff sniff::

With all that said, PLEASE tell me what you liked, disliked, what I need to work on, what I did well, or anything else you can think of – after all, I love to improve, because it makes my work better and more enjoyable for you, the reader! LOVE YOU GUYS!!! ;0)