What's Best for Fuu

A Twist of Fate

Translation Note: Shogun no Inu – This translates to something like "The Shogun's Dog" or "Dog of the Shogun" and is used in this chapter to refer to Hiroshi's father, who works as a samurai under the shogun.

-----

Releasing his gentle hold on Fuu, Hiroshi leaned back and smiled down at his betrothed, "Feeling better now?"

The waitress gave a small nod, only for her stomach to grumble a few moments later. Curse her appetite for ruining a tender moment! With a sheepish blush she looked up at her fiance, "I'll feel even better after I eat, though. I'm starving! I haven't had anything since breakfast!"

"Too busy at the onsen?" Hiroshi grinned at her as she cocked her head in a curious response, a small blush of his own dusting his features as he scratched his cheek and replied to the unasked question, "You're hair is still wet and...you smell freshly bathed..."

At this, Fuu went crimson. She didn't so much mind the comment, but it was embarrassing to think of him noticing her scent! Her feet shuffled in an awkward manner as she looked at the dirt road beneath them, "Ah, I see..."

The samurai's son cleared his throat to break the tension, and offered a smile, "Anyhow, we'd best get you something to eat. I know it's your day off, but perhaps we should go to the tea house...they do have delicious food, and a nice cup of tea will help you relax."

"That does sound nice, Hiroshi..." Once more she had to forcibly stop herself from adding the –kun to his name. It was a habit he wished her to stop, and she would do her best to concede. Marriage was about compromises, and once she was his wife she would need to address him more intimately anyway. Besides, he had a point when he mentioned at breakfast that she called her bodyguards without honorifics. And she'd only traveled with them for a year, while she'd known her fiancé the past four years.

With a smile and a nod the young man placed a gentle hand on the small of Fuu's back. The gesture was meant to comfort her, to make her feel secure after her run in with her former bodyguard. Instead, it made her a bit nervous, caged even. If she tried to separate from him, would he grab a fistful of kimono and stop her? They two didn't notice the figure that had been watching them slinking further into the shadows to completely disappear.

"He won't react well..." Shino fretted, glancing over her shoulder to where they had left their friend and her fiancé earlier as she walked down the street.

"So you've already said..." Jin comment, trying not to scold his wife for the constant nervous looks she cast behind them, "He won't be happy, true. He won't harm her though..."

"You're probably right...he really does care about her. Which just makes things all the harder! I want Fuu-chan to be happy, Jin, dear. But I can't help feeling that her marriage to Hiroshi-san would be settling! He loves her, but I don't think she can say she feels the same!" Shino sighed as her ranted observation closed. She was torn, wanting what was best for the girl she saw as a younger sister, but not sure what that would be. There was no doubt left that Mugen cared just like Hiroshi did, and Fuu most certainly cared for Mugen if Shino's hunches were right. But was it better for the waitress to wait for the former pirate to get a clue, or to marry a reliable and willing man?

"He won't harm her," Jin reiterated, choosing not to address the rest of the woman's words, "I would be more concerned about his overreacting and attempting to challenge Mugen..."

"Oh!" The former prostitute gasped, her eyes widening as his words clicked into place. If Hiroshi challenged Mugen, or baited the vagrant into attacking him, there was little doubt as to what the outcome would be, "That would be terrible! Fuu-chan would never forgive Mugen when he killed Hiroshi-san!"