The Dance of Spring Flowers

A/N: I don\'t own SC. Thanks for supporting this.



Haota Noriyuki had always been sort of an over achiever. When he was three, he drowned his nanny in a shallow pool while bathing. When he was seven, he beat a playmate to death with a rock and named a local gang as the culprit. When the smoke cleared, fifty-eight gang members and village people lay dead, including Harmony\'s own brother, Orkai. When he was twelve, he murdered his mother in cold blood, all over a wooden toy. She had the gall to take it from him, and as recompense, he strangled her with a lute wire stolen from the local whorehouse. Haota came to power over the family fortune and holdings at age sixteen when his father mysteriously vanished one day, only to be found weeks later, mummified in a cold cave north of Kyato. For the past nine years, Haota ruled ruthlessly, but carefully. Any attempts on his life failed, mostly because the young man was resourceful and brilliant and untrusting of anyone. That was, until he met a mysterious miko. She was foreign and had caramel colored skin and long wavy black hair that went all the way to her knees.

Haota met the girl about three years while traveling Edo, looking for weak leaders with ample lands. The woman fascinated him and he knew that he needed to possess her. She proved a formidable foe, having soldiers and minions of her own that were more than willing to defend their priestess. Thirty men on each side had been killed or missing before either of them even knew the other\'s name. Haota eventually won over the woman, who was called Hikari. He suspected that wasn\'t her name; but when that name was spoken, fear followed it, so Hikari, whoever she was, was extremely powerful. Hikari was unreachable most of the time, but she was the only woman Haota felt compelled to treat with decency. Perhaps deep inside he felt fear himself of the woman, but his love for her overshadowed everything. Part of him hated her for making him vulnerable, and often sent her out with the ninja to investigate lands, hoping that they would return with her dead body. Of course he did not wish death upon her, but death would be convienient.

\"Sir, Lady Hikari has returned.\" Sako, one of Haota\'s closest allies, called to him from the door. Hikari along with a few other clan members took off towards the woods, hoping to find some unsuspecting victims. Carnage was definitely a passion that Haota and Hikari shared, and he hoped that she had gotten to indulge her rotten little heart. Such was not the case though, as he noted when the woman walked into the room. She wore a black catsuit type outfit and her long wavy black hair was closely pinned to her head. Her almond shaped hazel eyes gleamed, although her overall appearance was slightly haggard. Haota walked to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, one that she seemingly ignored. She shrugged him off and peeled off the catsuit, slipping into a blue and green kimono. She gave Haota a warm look and smiled, shaking the pins out of her hair.

\"I found that dirty traitor, Mugen.\" She declared somewhat triumphantly. Haota turned from her and smiled wickedly.


**********

\"Did you enjoy yourselves last night?\" Jin rattled his cup of tea and Mugen\'s apple fell from his hand at Alvina\'s question. Yet again they were all sitting on the dining cloth but today Fuu and Julian were giving the harsh looks at each other. Mugen looked uncharacteristically satisfied and Jin had a bit more pink in his skin than usual.

\"Yes.\" Jin said, methodically moving any sharp objects away from Mugen. Alvina smiled and nodded, rubbing her eyes. She tried to remain nonplussed as her hand rubbed her eyes faster, the pain increasing.

\"Vina, eyes hurt?\" Oniwaka asked, alarmed. Alvina usually left her eyes alone, but there were times when the nerves became enflamed and her eyes would turn blood red and water constantly. The ogre went outside momentarily and returned with a vial of ice cold water and a towel. Very gently, he took the woman in his lap and tilted her head, wrapping the towel around her head. Carefully, he poured some of the cold water in each eye, cooling down the itching and burning. Alvina moaned and turned her head as if she were trying to escape.

\"Vina...no fight Oniwaka. Relax,\" The ogre soothed, patting the woman down. Alvina stopped her futile struggle and breathed deeply, trying to regain composure. Julian looked at Fuu and shot her a dirty look. \"I know my sister told you about Fabienne.\" He gestured to his sister being cradled in the giant\'s arms. \"This is the price we paid for my hindsight for falling in love. Her eyes will never be the same again.\" Julian balled his fists at his sides and stormed out, leaving Fuu sad and Mugen and Jin utterly confused.

Mugen stood and walked over to Oniwaka and Alvina. \"Hey buddy, where did you get that cold water from?\" Everyone stared at the brown samurai and even Alvina had to laugh at Mugen\'s horrible, yet concise timing.

********

\"That was pretty fucked up at breakfast, don\'t you think?\" Mugen stated as he and Jin walked through the cherry blossom garden. Things had gotten \"weird\" according to Mugen with Fuu and Julian mean-mugging each other and Alvina temporarily totally blinded. There was nothing for them to do, except each other. Of course, they couldn\'t do that in the house. Mugen wanted to, but Jin chickened out, rambling about honor and pain and cheese.

Jin adjusted his glasses and sighed. \"Indeed it was. I wonder, who is that Fabienne woman Julian mentioned?\"

Mugen laughed. \"Probably his mama.\"

Jin scowled at Mugen. \"Don\'t be crude.\" He pushed the brown groping hands from his body and looked toward the large, silent house. \"I hope the woman is alright. I have eye pain also and it is no fun.\" Jin scowled again when Mugen stepped in front of him with a grin.

\"I know something that\'s fun.\" Pearly white teeth temporarily blinded Jin as Mugen snatched his hand and ran off towards the woods again.

\"Fine!\" Jin shouted as Mugen dragged him. \"We can fuck, but make it quick! I want to take a nap.\"

Mugen feigned innocence. \"I was talking about spinning around until we passed out. What does \'fuck\' mean?\" He broke out into laughter at Jin\'s exasperated look and pulled the stoic ronin into a kiss. \"Fucking sounds good...real good,\" He hoarsely whispered as he and Jin fell to the ground in graceful connection.

**********

\"Is Alvina going to be alright?\" Fuu asked carefully, bringing more water to Oniwaka. The ogre nodded and thanked the pale, scared girl for the water. Fuu bowed down and brushed some of Alvina\'s sweaty red hair from her brow. The blind woman smiled and kissed Fuu\'s hand, pressing it to her cheek.

\"Fuu...you\'re such a wonderful girl to me. No sister could have been sweeter.\" Alvina closed her eyes and sighed as Oniwaka picked her up and carried her to their bedroom. Fuu watched tearfully, sincerely wanting to trade places with her friend.

\"I know what you\'re thinking, because I\'m thinking the same.\" Fuu whirled around to see Julian standing in the doorway. He had ran out after his outburst, and returned with a satchel full of fruits and vegetables. \"You\'re thinking that if you could trade places with Alvina, you would.\" Julian dropped the sack of food, causing an apple to roll to Fuu\'s feet.

\"I\'m sorry.\"

Fuu blanched at the strained sound of the man\'s voice. \"I-It\'s okay, it\'s not like you threw it at me.\" She bent to pick up the fruit and gasped when Julian grabbed her wrist. \"I\'m sorry,\" He murmured, \"About everything.\" With that, he pulled Fuu into a strong hug. She felt the man shake and shudder as her shoulder became wet with his tears.

\'Gods, this man really is torn.\'

Fuu cradled Julian and held him tightly as she stroked his wild red hair. Seeing the man break down was almost too much for her as she fought back bitter tears. Her mother\'s death and father\'s reluctance to take care of her surfaced before she could supress them, and there they sat in the main room, crying and clutching each other. Neither of them noticed Hikari glaring at them from the garden outside. She narrowed her eyes and focused on the pale girl that Julian was holding.

\'So, dearest husband, you\'ve forgotten me so fast, have you?\' Hikari glared at Fuu and Julian again, turning around to report again to Haota. The day was becoming increasingly interesting, and the news needed to be shared. She had only gone for a walk to clear her head, and stumbled upon Julian and some young whore cuddling. Luck seemed to be greatly on Hikari\'s side.


>Ok, so Fabienne is Hikari. The name Hikari means light (I think) and it\'s ironic that such a dark bitch would have that name huh? Ok, more to come about how Mugen knows Haota in the next chapter. *Spoiler* Jin and Haota will eventually fight over Mugen, and one of them will DIE!!! Evil Authoress....