An Unexpected Coupling

CH 3: Getting Her Way

"Put the sword down, Mugen."

"What? No way!" he promptly shot back. "You've proved to me that you're nothin' but a whiny bitch that can never be trusted!"

Kohza sadly shook her head. "Oh, Mugen, how wrong you are" she chided, the soft intensity of her eyes now reflecting like that of sea glass. "I did what I did because I had to...for your sake as well as mine. Surely you must realize this by now?"

"I realize nothin'" Mugen snapped, Fuu watching on with fearful eyes as he dared to take a step toward the girl. "What you may fail to realize, however, is that you're not welcome here. If you're smart, you'll leave this place before I chop ya to bits."

Kohza smiled warmly. "Oh, Mugen, we both know that you could never do that."

"Oh, no?"

"Of course not" she continued, clasping her hands to her heart as she looked him fondly in the eye. "We've been through far too much together...if you couldn't kill me before, how could you possibly kill me now?"

Mugen released a low growl, yet instead of chopping her to pieces like Fuu expected, he sheathed his tanto and grudgingly bowed his head. "What the hell do you want from me, Kohza?" he demanded, his tone low and resigned.

"Not much" she assured him softly. "All I want is what you could never grant me before - I want to travel with you, Mugen. I want to be withyou."

At these words Fuu couldn't help but flinch, her heart beating painfully within her chest like molten rock as she watched her lover give a weary nod of the head.

"Yeah, sure, whatever" Mugen agreed, "but once you push my buttons, your ass is mine."

"Oh, thank you, Mugen! You won't regret this!" Kohza exclaimed, immediately throwing herself into the stunned samurai's arms and tangling herself fondly about his middle.

'Yeah, but you'll sure as hell regret this!' Fuu inwardly seethed, clenching her fists tightly by her sides as she watched the nauseating display continue to unfold before her. As far as she was concerned, Kohza would be off and packing before the week was through.

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It was twilight by the time that the trio returned, yet Jin took no notice of this, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he lifted his dark eyes up toward the moon and sank deeper into the hot spring by their campsite.

The dull ache in his muscles gradually began to ebb away into nothingness as he soaked, a low 'hn' of contentment escaping his throat as he leaned back against the rocky embankment and drowsily closed his eyes.

Before long, however, Jin soon became painfully aware of the fact that another individual was nearby. The water rippled in accordance with his suspicions, a soft voice rousing an alien emotion within his stomach that caused him to lurch forward in surprise.

"You" he whispered, his eyes immediately narrowing. "I must admit that you have quite a lot of courage to show your face here after all you've done."

Kohza appeared to be considerably taken aback by his tone, yet nonetheless allowed a soft smile to grace her lips as she dared to scoot closer to the ronin. "I know that you must hate me, Jin" she began, "but I did what was necessary. Surely you must know that I'd never willingly harm

Mugen?"

"You used his alleged death as a reason for me to murder your brother...you cared nothing for Mugen" Jin accused, sourly closing his eyes so as to shut out the pretty Ryukyuan's pleading visage.

Frustrated, Kohza tried yet again, "That's a lie and you know it, Jin! I...I loved Mugen..." Trailing off, she allowed her shimmering gaze to cast down despondently toward the spring water, her voice soft and pained as she continued, "I don't expect you to accept me as a friend at first, let alone at all, Jin, but Mugen's invited me to come along. For this reason alone I truly hope that you'll reconsider how you feel about me."

"Hn."

Jin closed his eyes amidst an ireful bout of inner resignation, still not even seeming to come to the awkward realization that he was taking a bath with a very pretty and very naked Ryukyuu girl. Allowing the curtain of his jet black hair to fan out about his pale, broad shoulders, the ronin returned coolly, "I am not one to harbor grudges, Kohza, and for that reason I will give you one last chance."

"Thank you, Jin" she whispered, a tender warmth filling her voice as she suddenly rose up from her perch, water droplets clinging to her nude form as she regarded him with fond eyes and reached for her towel.

Jin, on the other hand, said nothing, his eyes staying firmly closed as he attentively listened to the girl splash her way out of the water and back onto the embankment. If he had kept his eyes open, however, he would've discovered the tanto clutched firmly between her fingers...

A/N: As always, thank you SO much for your support:-D As you can clearly see, this is a filler chapter, thus why it sucked, heh. But what’s Kohza planning? Whom does she wish to kill? Whom does she wish to get closer to? What will Fuu do about her? All this and much more will be answered if you continue to be cool little peoples and REVIEW:)