AN: Takes place about three years after the end of the series.
Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo - although I wish I owned Jin.
Fuu looked outside. Damn he's not here yet, she thought. Fuu wondered why she was so excited---so nervous. It is not like we were any thing more then friends. Not even good friends. He never even wrote to me. He probably wouldn't even be coming today if it wasn't for Mugen. Still, he was coming today – that meant something didn't it? Fuu laughed at herself. It wasn't like her to think about a man so much but Jin wasn't just any man. Although it pained her to admit it --- she had never stopped thinking about Jin , the silent samurai.
Seeing Mugen had been amusing. They always had so much fun together and he had made her laugh until it hurt. With him she was always so relaxed because he was just like a big brother to her – the one she never had growing up. Fuu was grateful that she could still see Mugen from time to time. Was it wrong to wish to see Jin more? They had been through so much together on their journey but never before did she have butterflies in her stomach like today.
She decided to walk to the bridge Jin would cross before arriving at her house. It was just so nerve-racking waiting for him and Fuu had always been so impatient. She grabbed some money on her way out the door. Jin might be hungry and she wasn't sure if he would have money for dinner. Neither he nor Mugen seemed to have money on their journey, so she wanted to be prepared.
Fuu wasn't ready for what she felt when her eyes first spotted Jin walking across the bridge. He was wearing a kimono just like the one he had on when they had met. Today his hair that was different. Jin didn't have his hair pulled back in a typical samurai style. Instead, it hung down past his shoulders. Fuu was taken aback by his appearance. The sight of him almost took her breath away. There were so many different emotions running through her at that moment. Happiness, relief, anxiety, and…but no she couldn't be feeling desire. Surely she was happy to see him. Jin had always been a just a friend, nothing more. Fuu tried to ignore the feeling and greeted him.
"Jin!" Fuu waved at him. She couldn't help but notice that he was rather handsome today.
Jin smiled at her, "Fuu. How are you?"
She smiled - wanting to hug him but Jin was always so quiet and reserved. "I'm good. I was worried. You're little late but I'm glad you're here now. Are you hungry?" Fuu could not take her eyes off of him. Was it her or had Jin gotten even more beautiful in the past few years?
He nodded. "Yes, food would be nice. It has been a long journey."
They walked together to a small restaurant in her village. It brought back memories of her meeting with Jin and Mugen. Fuu didn't work at a restaurant any longer but helped out at dojo. Some things had changed so much since then. Fuu was truly happy that Jin was here. She kept sneaking looks at him as they walked. Jin couldn't get over how grown up Fuu looked. And she couldn't believe she was friends with such a handsome samurai. Anyone who was watching could tell just how smitten they were with each other. Each of them, of course, was oblivious to how the other one felt.
For the first few minutes, they sat at a table, neither one saying a word. There was a silent awkwardness between them. Jin finally broke the silence and Fuu was so relieved.
"How did Mugen's visit go? You wrote that he came to visit a month ago." Jin took a sip from his sake cup.
Fuu grinned. "Oh we had so much fun. I wish you could have been here to see him. He told me he misses you – the sword fights you guys used to have. I'll bet you miss fighting him too." Fuu took a sip of sake too. She made mental note not to drink too much. The girl had made that mistake when Mugen was here and paid for it the next day.
Jin smiled – he missed seeing Mugen too. Perhaps one day they could have a reunion of sorts. "And you, Fuu, what have you been up to?"
"Well, I have a job. I help out cooking and cleaning at a dojo. It is the perfect job me. There is a small house on the property that's mine. The owner is really nice – I get free lessons. Pretty soon I'll be samurai too." Fuu giggled at her own joke. "Really, Jin, you'll need to help me practice – let me try some of my moves on you." After the words left her mouth, Fuu realized just how suggestive they sounded. She covered her mouth with her free hand and turned a few different shades of red. Fuu was so grateful when the waitress came to rescue her from embarrassment.
During their dinner, they both became more relaxed. Jin reminded Fuu of the time when she got drunk and Fuu teased him about the day when he dressed up like a woman. Fuu had started to tell Jin about Mugen's visit when a girl in her teens approached their table and stared at Jin for several minutes from a short distance.
Fuu smiled at her, not sure what to think. "Did you need anything?" She asked the girl politely.
The girl ignored Fuu and addressed Jin. "Excuse my interruption, Sir, but my friends over there told me you won the sword tournament in Kyoto. Is it true? Are you really him? Are you Jin?"
Jin nodded and continued eating. Not again, he thought. This had just happened last night.
The girl looked like she was trying to control her excitement. "Really? My brother's girlfriend has a picture of you. An artist drew it at that tournament. It is an incredible picture." The girl stared at Jin's long hair for a few moments. "But it doesn't do you justice. I'm sorry for interrupting your meal, Jin-san but you don't suppose my friends could meet you? It is not often we get a chance to meet a true star."
Fuu's mouth dropped open. Had she just woken up on another planet? Jin a star? She looked at him for an explanation and he started to speak when the girl waved three of her friends over.
The three girls came over and started to ask Jin all kinds of questions and stared at him like he was a piece of meat. Jin, polite as always, nodded politely, smiled, and gave one or two word answers when it was necessary. He was growing incredibly uncomfortable and kept looking at Fuu.
She got up and grabbed Jin by the hand. "Come on, Jin! We have to go it - is an emergency." She yelled at the top of her lungs and pulled him out of the restaurant running. They both ran as fast as they could. When Fuu looked behind them she saw that they were being followed. Those girls were unbelievable! They snuck down an alley behind the restaurant and waited.
The alley was small so Fuu and Jin were forced to be close to each other – very close. Their bodies were practically touching. They both stood very still because Jin could still hear the girls talking. It was stupid, he thought, that he, a samurai, was avoiding teenagers but the last time this happened they followed him around all night. Jin had no desire for a repeat performance. He wondered how winning a sword fight could bring him so much aggravation. Soon it would be time for him to go and he would miss his chance with Fuu. Standing this close to her, made him painfully aware of how beautiful she had become. She was no longer just a girl. Fuu had become a woman in the last two years. Lost in his thought, Jin did not even realize that Fuu had been staring at him.
Being this close to the samurai was torture for Fuu. It made her realize just how much she wanted to kiss him…how much she had always wanted to feel his mouth on hers. Fuu knew it might be awhile before she saw him again. If she didn't do it, Fuu knew she would regret it. Life was too short for regrets. Fuu had regretted letting both Jin and Mugen slip out of her life three years ago. She wasn't going to make that same mistake again. Besides the girls were coming closer, if they saw a couple kissing, perhaps they would go away.
Fuu looked into his eyes as she spoke. "Jin , there's something I always wanted---"
Jin knew what she wanted. He wanted it too – had always wanted…her. Jin had waited years for this moment. Although he had desired her when they were on their journey, Jin had held back. He was a man of honor and kissing her then just would not have been right. She was a girl, not much more then a child. That was then – Fuu was a woman now. The silent samurai put a finger to her lips and lowered his face to hers. He noticed that his heart started to beat a little faster. He slipped his arms around the small of Fuu's back and pulled her closer to him. He held his breath as he brought his mouth down on hers. Their kiss started off soft and gentle at first but turned passionate fast. Jin pressed Fuu's body up against the building, wanting and needing to get closer to her.
It all happened so fast – Fuu wasn't sure what to do. She had wanted this for so long – wanted him for so many years. It was always Jin. Had always been him. When he pressed her body against the building, Fuu never even thought about stopping him. It felt too good to be in his arms like this – she never wanted this moment too end. Fuu knew that a proper lady would have pushed him away before things went to far…but she was tired of doing what was right.
"It is about time you two. I was beginning to think you were gay, Jin."
That voice. Neither one of them would forget that voice! They turned towards it. Both were stunned, speechless, and could not speak. Mugen, they both thought at the same time.
Their friend grinned as he approached them and put one arm around each of their shoulders. "Well, is this a private party or can I join in?" The other samurai asked with a smirk.