Samurai Champloo Fan Fiction ❯ Samurai Tango ❯ Burning Flame ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2

Burning Flame

Mugen woke with a sudden start as his eye's tore open. The ocean view was warmly darkened, conflagrations of blazon orange and pink frosted the tips of deep blue waves far out into the waters, kissing the horizon as the sun descended downward into its hidden nocturnal recess. The crystal twinkle of stars began to show themselves for the night, a velvet black veil stole the sky when light faded, dazzling onlookers below with a spectacular view of the shimmering heavens. His body, sunken in the sand and entirely engulfed in warm relaxation did not want to move, and so Mugen stayed where he was, having watched the sun make its leave and its light follow.

Deep blue shadows bathed over him and the land, the beach was beautiful at night, the ocean black though zen in the tune the waves played, small creeping creatures quietly and slowly moving about in the sand, picking at dampened bits of kelp that had washed up with the tide during the day, now left to feed the night stalkers who called this place home. The air was cool and caressed him gently in a slow pace, drifting over his body delicately so as not to stir his clothing or hair but comfort his skin and nose with the salty smell of the sea. It sure as hell was nice for a change, he thought drowsily. And it was nice, nice to sit and have a nap in the middle of nowhere and not be kicked or yelled awake. Fuu and her damn mouth never shut up for one second, at least until today, and thank the spirits.

He had not complained for food even when his mind clawed at it most the day before his nap, and neither had his company, which surprised him. Fuu of all the people in the world would and should have complained the most, but she hadn't, and Mugen was struck odd at this. Maybe they were that bad off. Two days without a single bite to eat and not to mention having walked nearly all the daylight hours in that time, it was a lot of energy spent, probably why he dozed off so easily, he concluded with a sigh and stretched his legs out, the slender muscles pulling taught with a high-pitched popping of his left ankle. God, it felt nice to nap like that. It was the sort of sleep where you pass out so fast you didn't even know when you fell asleep and nothing in the world could wake you, so by the time you woke your body and minds were refreshed and enlivened to a state of complete happy bliss.

“Hey!”

So much for that, he thought as Fuu's loud, annoying-ass voice pieced through the calm like a rusty dagger into his ear. He should have known better than to ease right into his calm-state of being, and so said goodbye with a groan as he pushed himself upright and twisted around. All he could see was the uprise of the slope and silhouette-black grass fringing where Fuu's headed barely poked above, one half of her face bathed in warm orange light, the other unseen in the nightly shadows. “What,” he called back sharply, annoyance clearly edging his voice.

“Hungry,” she asked and her features lite up with a clever smile as her hand rose up holding what appeared as a glossy half-eaten leg smothered in greasy, tasty, mouth-watering food! His eyes absorbed the image, mentally consuming the juicy portion in her hand, his face danced with a look Fuu found sinister and comical at the same time, literally-almost like waving a chunk of meat before a dog who turned out to be entirely happy and entranced by it. She coughed a laugh watching him scramble in the dark and arrive in the light of the fire where Jin sat cross-legged and humble in his calm way, carefully and neatly picking at a hunk of honey-brown meat that dribbled juices down his fingers.

The smell of the ocean, the rustic smell of flame consuming wood was dead to his senses. No, only the smell of the rabbits leaned on sticks into the flame, cooking still, captured his nose. It was maddening! Glorious, and oh so fucking delicious looking. “Oh yeah,” he purred and found him a nice spot right there in front of those scrumptious looking babies and ripped a leg right off, digging in like a starved dog.

Fuu jerked the leg from her lips, tearing a slender bit of meat off and huffed, “Hey don't go plowing in like a pig! Save some for the rest of us.”

Fatty grease glazed his lips and part of his chin from the bite he took, not yet chewed with noticeable hunks pocketed in his cheeks, “I'll leave the plowing up to you, pig,” he retorted nastily and sank his teeth back into the leg.

“Anyhow,” she said with a mouthful, “When do you think we are going to come across another town,” her lips closed for a second and the food that was in her mouth gulped down her throat rather loudly, “I mean, we've been going for two days now, we got to come across something soon.”

Jin, who was the most mannerly at their dinner looked up at the two and paused to swallow neatly, “If we are where I think we are, if we leave in the morning, by noon we should come to Oduru,” he said quietly and went back to eating.

“Oduru, the fuck kind of name is that, Oduru, psh,” Mugen said.

“It sounds nice,” Fuu's soft and rather gentle voice commented. Nothing but the bone and bits too small for counting were left on the leg she had had. She sat back and pat her belly, “That was excellent.”

Purposely slow Mugen's head turned her way, “You're done!?”

“Yeah,” she answered innocently. “I was hungry all right, but so empty that little bit seems enough,” she said watching her two companions, observing them with a lookers eye and took in the view of them tiredly. “I'm not sleepy yet either, that's weird cause usually I am by now, even with food.”

“Perhaps you're worried,” Jin cut in after a short nibble. His leg was not but a bone and so he took the last hind leg left of the two animals.

For a minute it was quite, and when Jin didn't think she was going to reply Mugen spoke up, “Worried about what?”

Finding the Samurai who smells of sunflowers, finding a village or town, or something where we don't have to sleep outside, and a decent meal, but mostly the samurai, we have to find him. At least Jin knows where were headed and were not lost and off track of where we should be going, She thought mundanely and stretched out a yawn. “I'm worried all right,” she finally answered.

“What does a pip-speak like you have to worry about, we got all the hard work here, and your going to say your wor-“

”Hey! I help, I helped clean the rabbits and cook them!” she yelled leaning forward toward that shaggy-haired-dirty-filth!

“Oh really?” he asked gruffly and leaned into her, both of them nearly touching foreheads and giving expressions of complete disgust.

“Really,” she huffed.

“Did you catch those rabbits? Did you pay for that room we stayed in last, and oh yeah, how about the meal back there?” Tossing her face to the side, she sat back, ignoring him purposely. “Yeah, really,” he hissed smugly and tore into the rabbit again, taking a good portion. “And you, you ain't been much help either!”

Jin kept to himself, not letting one sign slip from himself as to Mugen's words. That creaton wasn't worth the time to waist breath on with an argument, and really, he didn't want to argue this one. It was enough that Fuu now knew his currency when they stayed in villages. It wasn't like he hadn't bought a prostitute before, yet the example Fuu was getting to see of him more and more, the ronin swathed in depressive blue did not find likable nor suitable to his status, not that it was great either, but still. Fuu was young, and a man such as himself should not been seen in that sort of light, it could ruin her perception of men. He exhaled deeply with all this clouding his thoughts. It only happened two times, the first had been enticed by Mugen, and while that was solely his choice to follow pursuit, he planned to not be so enticed hereafter. From now on, Jin thought, he would be dignified and proper, so long as the situation didn't betray this promise to himself, situations where some idiot blundered in their path as so often happened with Fuu around, getting herself in danger. Situations as such, called for action, and that part on him would always remain. He would keep his promise to the girl, just as he had been, although now, it was time to at least act with manners.

The whole time he was thinking, his mouth was discreetly nibbling juicy bits of meat he monotonously kept picking from the rabbit opposite the one Mugged tore at with greedy hands, now appearing sated as he sat back, wild mane of liquid brown hair crowning his shaggy dome lay limp in the humid air permitting from the sea. Fuu was likewise accept prettier. For a young lady, she had a nice smooth face, large brown eyes that glistened like those of a doe, and hair she managed to keep pinned and neat looking, smooth silky hair to add. She would make some man in the later future very happy, Jin thought. And while he did get sick of her diarrhea of the mouth, that would fade away with age. So far as could he depict and foresee, she would from this journey alone acquire a lot of knowledge and skills that most women did not have, he himself had already acquired certain things he did not have when they started this hazardous venture across the Japanese countryside. He saw many things worth taking the trip to see, and gained friendship whether or not he wanted to admit that openly.

A deep side of him enjoyed Fuu and Mugen's company. They gave him something to focus on, albeit if it was a clashing of swords or words, it was nice. Just maybe he wasn't wrong to bed those prostitutes, he needed the release of that frustration, the sort that men had as tension built up and they could find nothing to sate it. Crude enough, sex had been the answer. There was nothing more arousing than a beautiful maiden with silken black hair more dark than a moonless night and eyes like that of the heavens above; dark and glittering. Both of the women he bought were subtle and soft, they smelt of fragrances his nose had not yet taken in, like citrus, peach, and lilacs. His heart raced just to think of those scents and it reminded him of those women, and every time, if ever again he smelt those smells again, he would remember the nights with those women.

They were coy and delicate, graceful too and somewhat shy, and whether that was an act or not, Jin would not care. They knew his body better than he and all the ways to make it cry out for release as he did for their bodies, the room filled the lilting tune of a woman's song when in the act of lovemaking. Humbled in thought, Jin sighed loudly. Fuu eyes perked and darted on him, “Something wrong,” she asked, worry edging her tone.

“Not at all,” he answered smooth. “I am worn out and just need time alone.” The idea of alone time didn't even enter his mind before his lips said it. It was true. “I,” he said coming to stand and look down on the girl who had averted her attention to the fire tiredly, “I am going to wash up and sit alone, I will return to sleep, do not worry,” he said softly and departed. Fuu watched him leave curiously.

“Okay . . . ”

With eyes resting shut and chin cupped in one palm with a folded arm on one of his crossed legs, Mugens gruff tone spilled out, “Shea'right, he's going to go choke a chicken, that's what.”

“Choke a-Ugh, your gross Mugen!”

“I call'em like I see'em.”

“No, he's been acting . . . off a bit here recently, haven't you noticed?”

“Off? He's jacking off is what,” an amused smile stretched his lips and finally his eyes tore open to catch her exaggeratedly unamused expression. “What?”

“Hmph, nothing, you're so disgusting,” Fuu spit out and folded her arms.

Eyes glimmering evilly Mugen leaned forward and gazed at her intensely, “Oh come on Fuu, you've done it before too.”

“Done what,” she barked giving back his determined glare. Mugen's dark brows wiggled noticeably as that stupid smirk deepened the creases of his smile. What a nasty pig you are! “I would never do something so sick!”

“You wouldn't eh? So, your saying Jin is sick for doing it? I think I'll tell him-“

”No!,” Her arms unlaced and she gaped at him with a horrified look. It wouldn't bother her for Jin to think she thought that was sick of him, but for him to find out they were discussing him doing `that thing', gross and embarrassing, not to mention it left her feeling mortified Mugen would tell him, and knowing him he would add onto it to make it all the worse.

“Then admit it,” he said in his `I know everything' tone of voice. When her answer didn't arrive, he uncrossed his legs, making to get up, seeming like he was going to go tell Jin. Fuu knowing he was only trying to push things out of her still held onto that one thin string of despair that he might actually do it.

“But, I haven't! Honest! Your no fair.” Mugen huffed in annoyance to her pleas and took off and before he could get to steps away Fuu's arms were clinging around one of legs, “No! I told you the truth! I swear it's the truth.”

Stiff legged, he peered down at her with a smile that could scare the devil back into hell. Oh if he wasn't creepy and annoying! “Is that so,” came his voice cutting through the silence that fell over the camp. His voice was smooth and laid back, too smooth, the sort of tone that let you know he knew too much for his own good, her good. Afraid he'd slap her off his leg she had her face tucked chin-down so at least he'd only hit her head and when nothing came she chanced peeking up at him. What she found was not the greatest thing, with his brows wiggling stupidly and that look that matched his tone. What is he thinking!?

Suddenly his hands were coming down at her and she tucked her face away again in attempt to save herself but he didn't slap at her. Rough hands swept under her arms and with some pain lifted her up unwillingly. Oh god, she thought, He's going to throw me into the water this time! He lifted her to her feet and studied her up and down. Noticing, Fuu tried to stammer but couldn't when he shook her slightly, “Hey, chill out,” he whispered. For some bizarre reason a blush painted her cheeks pink, although she faced away from the fire, not allowing it to be seen. Using an incisor, he bit at his lower lip. “So, you never touched yourself?”

His question seeped into her ears ever so silkily and made her heart peak several times. Her cheeks were hot enough to melt, she thought and gulped. “Mugen,” she pleaded softly, “I don't want to answer that.”

He could see the blush on her face, down her neck, even on her hands in the faint shadows of the camp. Her eyes were downcast, worry and distress consuming her features. No kidding, he thought wondrously. He jacked off, god knows how many times in a week, just about every time he was off alone or went off alone, hell he would do it if Fuu and Jin were asleep in the room. He never thought of her doing it, never questioned if she did, always assuming she either never had or didn't know how. With that last thought alone his smile grew more devious and then somehow his expression softened to a demure look of `know it all'. In a sharp turn of the head he looked left then right and then down at her still held up with his hands cupped in the pits of her arms, she who was looking down pitifully. Glancing around he didn't see ol'fish face at all, the darkened blue hue of the night darkness still allowing him to see to the beach somewhat, Yeah, he's jerking it off somewhere, he said to himself focusing on her. “Hey you ever tried?”

He sounded deep and sexy to her all of the sudden. That voice! Oh! She wanted to scream and throw a conniption right then and there but just hearing that voice of his caused her to forget about it entirely, drowning her in utter self-confusion. A certain quality and knowing laced him so that she lingered to hear what he was going to say next, knowing he was being guileful. “I, I told you Mugen,” she said tossing a worried look up at him to find dancing grey eyes sparkling in the fire behind her, the heat of his hands was causing her to sweat.

“Heh, no problem, I'll show you,” he said in tone slick as grease and warmer than velvet red that made her want to melt and die of embarrassment at the same time.

“Show me what,” she coughed jerking out of his grasp.

“Come'ear,” he coughed back, gaining a hold back on her shoulders this time. Fuu didn't know what to expect, that lech would do anything just to get off no doubt and then tear away her dignity later if she had any left. Oh god, she thought as a heavy feeling settled over her, weighing every inch of her mind, body, and heart down. She winced as he pulled her into his chest then found herself being turned around to face the fire. Oh god, what is he going to do. I can scream for Jin, but then. Oh god! With her back against his chest she turned her head to look back at him with a cautious eye and found him peering down her body, watching his own hands smooth down her curves slowly . . . sensually. Her breath caught in her throat feeling a rough heated palm smooth down the fabric over one of her breast. She huffed tenderly as his other hand made way past her hip and stopped to rest there. “You can say no anytime,” he whispered in her ear and without warning, warm wet lips plunged to her neck in the most heated and intoxicating way she had ever felt. She wanted to crash into herself and forfeit existence, but only a huff of hot breath could escape past her lips.

Entering the library of words she knew, such as no or don't, nothing came, that infinite recess of her mind had burned to the ground from the heat of her body. Her brain was nothing more than a melted puddle of white mush, her body goo. A huff of soft laughter pushed out his nose as his teeth scraped the inner curve of her neck, his hands pressing into her figure, staying in place, thank god, she thought.