My Samurai

Chapter 11: Unexpected Goodbye ?

"So anyway, how much farther is it to Nagasaki?" Mugen asked. You guys were sitting near a lake at nighttime around a campfire. Jin was reading a map and Mugen was on his side next to him, leaning on his elbow. You and Fuu both sat across from them cooking some fish you had gotten. You knew you guys journey was coming to an end soon.
"Actually, we've already passed Nagasaki," Jin said calmly, snapping you out of your thoughts. You all gasped in surprise as he continued. "We just need to cross this mountain and it will be a stones throw away."
"What the hell, we made it without even realizing it," Mugen stated and you and Fuu nodded, "however that doesn't mean we're going to find your Sunflower Samurai."
You guys were all silent for a little after that and Fuu spoke up. "I guess it doesn't," she said softly then continued more enthusiastic. "Hey doesn't it seem strange? We've all been traveling together all this time but we don't know much about each other."
You thought for a while about how right Fuu was. You had joined them after you started and really had no idea where they had come from. Even though you talked to Mugen the most you still didn't know much about his past.
"Let's go around and say one secret about ourselves since we might not get another chance." Fuu said sadly, "(Y/n) why don't you go." You looked shocked that she would call on you first. "I...I don't really remember anything...sorry." You said and looked down. You wanted to share and get closer to them but besides the memories you had made with the 3, everything else was a blur.
"Oh well its fine," Fuu said trying to cheer you up, "Mugen you go."
Mugen had been whispering to Jin when he looked over. "Me? I don't really have any secrets, I' ve been up to no good my whole life."
"We know that" you all said in unison. "Well I like chicks with big boobs," Mugen stated thinking of something else.
"We know that too," you and Fuu said in annoyance.
"Well," he started off again, "One time I got in a fight while I was on the road, he was asking me about a box with the shogun crest on it and I said I couldn't and killed the guy."
"That's dangerous," you said immediately and Fuu agreed. You understood killing someone to defend yourself, but for no reason? and people who had something to do with the Shogun at that?
"Its a wonder your still alive." Jin chimed in then went on to tell one of his secrets.
"I had been traveling for a long time and lost my parents when I was young," he started, "As a child at Muju Shin Kenjutsu dojo all I did was train kenjutsu day after day."
'Thats why he's so skilled with a sword' you thought to yourself. You were always jealous of Mugen and Jin in that area since you felt pretty much useless at defending yourself.
Jin continued on talking about how the kids would shun him because they were jealous of his skills and how he eventually killed his master and was drove from the dojo.
"I've been on the road ever since," he concluded, "but I had no idea what it was that I was searching for."
There was another long silence when Mugen looked at Fuu, "Its your turn."
Fuu started by telling you guys about how it had been her and her mom living together and how she thought her dad died when she was young. "As my mother lay sick and dying, she told me my father was alive somewhere," she said. "Mother didn't sound mad at him but I couldn't forgive him, so I decided to find him and and get back at him for her."
You then understood why Fuu had set out to look for this Sunflower Samurai.
"Once I met you guys I worked up the courage to go, so thanks for coming all this way with me," Fuu said with a small smile. You were happy that she was happy. Being with them made you forget about your current problems. It felt like you guys were one big family, a feeling you haven't had in a while.
                           ****
You woke up in the middle of the night once again, but not because you had another bad dream. You all were sleeping around the now put out fire when you heard footsteps. Looking over, you see Jin walking to the lake where Fuu was sitting. You watch the 2 talk for a while and Fuu hugged Jin suddenly. You concluded that she was probably upset about having to separate once she found who she was looking for. You look across from you where Mugen was sleeping, or so you thought. His eyes were open so he must have been watching Fuu and Jin also. It made you feel better knowing that he said he will help you figure out your past. Hopefully you two could be together for a long time. With that thought in your mind you drifted back to sleep.
                              ****
It felt like you guys had been walking forever. You woke up early so you could barely keep your eyes open and you were starving. Suddenly, you ran into Mugen who had stopped walking. Looking around him you saw a large city.
"Wow, look at this!" Fuu said happily. You were happy too but too tired to say it. "First things first. Food." The guys said which was the best thing you heard all morning.
You guys were in a restaurant and the waiter explained how to eat Shabu-Shabu, a raw meat dish you have to pass through hot water before you eat it.
"Wait," Fuu said before Mugen was able to taste it. He and Fuu were sitting across from you and Jin. "Let me lay down the rules, eat in this order: meat vegetables, meat, vegetables." However, the three of you already started eating when Fuu was explaining, Jin and Mugen eating only meat. "Hey! Don't start without me," Fuu was yelling at them and angrily started eating too.
After you guys ate you went to a port to look for a boat that would take you guys to Ikitsuki Island. "Oh I forgot to buy Souvenirs." She said taking out her money, "Go buy some for me." She gave the bag to Mugen and told him and Jin to go. You stayed with Fuu and waited until they returned.
"(Y/n) are you sure you don't want to to with them?" Fuu asked you. "Yeah I want to stay here with you to help," you tell her with a smile. You didn't want her to go through this alone.
She nodded back and you both wait for the boat.
After a couple minutes a man called you guys saying it was time to go but the guys haven't returned yet. Fuu wasn't paying attention though and you look to see her talking to a strange man. "Is your name Seizo Kasumi?" She asked him but then changed her mind. "Sorry, I thought you were someone else," she ran off to the boat and you hurried to follow. Something about that man was making you uncomfortable.
While on the boat Fuu couldn't stop staring at the man. "Hey, what about Mugen and Jin," you ask her. The man had distracted you so you jumped on the boat and forgot you were waiting on them.
She looked at you sadly then spoke. "You know the bag I gave them?" she asked and you nodded. "Well it would've been too hard for me to say goodbye in person so I wrote them a note and put it in there. I decided it would be better for me to do this without them."
You didn't know what to feel at that point. If you had known that she intended on never seeing Mugen or Jin again you would have chosen to go with them. Mugen was supposed to help you but now that they were back at the port you didn't know what to do. What if he read the note and thought that you didn't want his help anymore? Or that you didn't want to see him either? All these thoughts raced through your head as you look over to the water, avoiding Fuus gaze so she wouldn't see that you were about to cry.
                            ****
While in the town Fuu asked around for the Sunflower Samurai as you followed her staying silent. A man explained to her how Christians had come and burned houses and destroyed the town.
Eventually a women told her about a lone house in the north after Fuu explained that the person she was looking for was he father.
"Thank you so much!" She said and ran to reach the house. You were happy for her because her goal was almost accomplished but couldn't stop thinking about how you were going to accomplish your now that you were convinced you would never see Mugen again.