What's Best for Fuu

Epilogue

The rest of the journey had been spent with Fuu and Shino gossiping and giggling in girlish anticipation of births and weddings. Mugen was already sweating at the thought of marriage, but only because he still thought Fuu deserved better. What she saw in a rogue like him, who knew. Jin was, as usual, in silent contemplation.

The last leg of the trip seemed much faster than expected, and soon enough, they were on the porch of a small home on the outskirts of a mid-sized village. Fuu glanced about as Jin slid aside the shoji door to allow them entrance.

It was a humble abode, just suitable for a small family. Three rooms set off from the main entry hall. A dining room combined with the cooking fire was clear to one side. The other two, to the right of the entry, most likely served as sleeping quarters.

As the group entered, Shino smiled at her spouse, "You see, Jin dear? All the way to Edo and back, and the baby has yet to come. Fussing over nothing..."

"Hn..." The annoyed grunt was accompanied by a brow twitch, the ronin not bothering to point out their journey had been shorter than expected due to the original engagement being cancelled.

Fuu and Mugen exchanged incredulous looks at the comments from the former prostitute, but it was the vagrant who sputtered a laughing response, "F-fuss? Fish-face fussin'! Now that'd be a sight! 'Hn...hn...hnnn!'"

At her fiance's impression of an emphatically grunting Jin, Fuu burst out laughing as well, even as she tried to scold him, "M-mugen, s-stop! I think it...pfft...it's sweet he cares so much...hahaha!"

"Laugh if you want," Shino smiled at them wrapping her arms around Jin from behind. It proved slightly difficult due to her baby belly, "But you know how concerned you get when one of you might be in danger...this is just a different level of concern...plus our baby's involved, so it's twice as much! You'll see someday..."

Blood was rushing to the pale man's features as his wife wound her arms about him and gushed about his concern. It was a private matter that didn't need shared with guests! Her words, however, seemed to prove effective in quieting the laughter of their companions.

Fuu squeaked and went pink quite suddenly at the implication of children. Not that she wouldn't want to be a mother...but would Mugen want kids? She somehow doubted he ever considered the idea. Doe eyes drifted sideways to take him in through their peripheral.

The pirate seemed to have cheeks stained a dusty rose hue, though it was hard to make out. Kids, him? What sort of hellspawn would he unleash on the world. Turning his head aside with disinterest he huffed, "Tch..."

For a moment, grey met brown, then both averted yet again. Sensing the awkwardness had served it's purpose all around, Shino smiled, "Let's take a moment to rest, then, before Fuu and I start on supper! I don't know about you, but I just want to sit awhile!"

Trailing their hosts into the combination dining room and kitchen, Fuu and Mugen situated themselves on the floor across the table from the other couple as Jin helped his pregnant wife awkwardly lower herself into a seated position.

Once everyone was comfortable, Shino set right to gushing over the development of their friends' relationship, "This is so wonderful, though! Things are finally as they should be, of course I knew quite some time ago, but you know my Jin dear! It was always 'Let the river carve it's own course,' this and 'the wild creatures fight hardest when cornered' that."

Shifting a slightly confused glance to Mugen, Fuu found he only had equal bewilderment to answer with. They both turned to Jin looking for enlightenment, only to find their normally calm friend seemingly exasperated.

"Your relationship!" The former brothel girl exclaimed with a giggle at the looks she observed, "I knew even only with the few interactions we had. The stories of your travels were a large hint, but Fuu-chan's letter about Hiroshi-san was all the proof I really needed!"