What's Best for Fuu

Letting Go

By the time Fuu and Mugen had reached the end of the alleys and emerged onto the main street, they had fallen into a comfortable silence. Fuu was happy to be on friendly terms with the vagrant once more, and the rogue was determined not to ruin the moment with a stupid comment. He wanted to enjoy the time he was able to spend with the girl before she was married.

Steely eyes drifted to the side to glance at the waitress as he tried to think of a safe topic for conversation, one that wouldn't inevitably lead to a dumb argument or awkward backtracking. He saw her form freeze in place, her own eyes widened as she looked into the distance. Following her gaze, he saw the dark spot in the dirt that had been churned up in the time since the injured samurai had laid there.

He didn't have a chance to wonder what it might mean before the girl beside him took off in that direction with a gasp, "Hiroshi-kun!"

The swordsman twitched in agitation, knowing that she wouldn't reserve such desperate pleas for his own life any longer. With a miffed sigh, he ambled after her, "Oi, wait up, Girly!"

As Fuu drew closer to the place where she had been kidnapped earlier, her emotions swirled. Fear and worry filled her, but they didn't carry the same sense of absolute panicked horror she had grown to associate with the concept of losing someone she cared for, not like the times Mugen had nearly died. She spotted Jin at the side of the road, and hope surged a moment, if he was there, then maybe that meant Hiroshi was alright...although with Jin's usually blank expression it was just as likely her fiance was dead already, which filled her with dread as she powered toward the ronin, collapsing against him with the last of her energy.

The bespectacled man put a hand on each of Fuu's shoulders, steading her as she fell against his chest. Doubtless she was concerned for her intended, but there was time enough to let her catch her breath. In the meantime, Mugen could catch up with the long languid strides he was taking.

"W-where...where is he?" The girl in the dusty pink kimono finally panted her question, an imploring look aimed up at her friend, "J-jin...Hiroshi...wh-where is he?"

Behind her, Mugen scowled off to the side, his hands folded behind his head as he lingered on the street. Once more, Fuu was clinging to Fish-face for comfort. It seemed all the vagrant was good for was saving her ass, and causing her tears. Not that she ever thanked him much for the former, and she probably resented him for the latter. Even if she did say she didn't actually hate him.

"Safe," Jin assured the worried young girl who rested her forehead on his chest in relief. From behind his glasses, his cool gaze focused on his fellow bodyguard, "It's lucky Mugen thought to send for help..."

"He..." Fuu lifted her head, turning to look over her shoulder at the former pirate in mild surprise, "Mugen...y-you did?"

The scruffy male tried to brush it off as no big deal, "Yeah, well...figured people'd blame me and get all pissy if he died..."

He might have tried adding more to his feeble excuse, but he was caught off guard as a pair of arms wrapped around his middle. With a startled blink he looked down at Fuu, who now had her head buried against his chest as she embraces his lean form tightly, "Thank you, Mugen..."

"Don't go all...mental..on m-...what?!" He started, but stopped as the girl he was trying comfort leaned back to narrow her eyes at him. He'd said something wrong again! TIme to pass the blame, "Hey, Four-eyes said it first! Called you somekind'o'mental!"

Now Fuu's expression morphed into confusion. She didn't think Jin would call her crazy..would he? Though she stayed close to Mugen, she glanced back at the ronin, who sighed in exasperation before answering her unasked question, "I said sentimental...which appears to be beyond him."