Well , this is it, people. This is a long chapter anyway, and I'm adding the epilogue to the end. Also, another song works its way into the story. Thank you for sticking with me as I struggled to finish this peice of work, which in my opinion, is my best at this point. I know some of you have to keep reading all the other chapters to remember what's going on, but afer this, you won't have to. I never believed that so many of you would like this fic so much, and I am very grateful for all your coments. Well, here we go. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: First, Samurai Champloo and the characters are not mine. Second, neither one of the songs that I have based this fic on are mine.

Chapter 6- Falling

The ladder fell short a good six feet, and I had to drop; I ended up with a few scrapes on my arms as I skidded against the side of the cliff. When I was free, I suddenly realized that I had no idea where I was in this part of the woods. Despite that, I wasn't afraid. I would have been before, but now, I only thought of what I needed to do and did it. I wasn't the same person as before, and I felt it. I knew the road was just ahead of the forest I was in and made my way through the thick trees. More cuts and the begginings of bruises joined the scrapes on my arms, but I didn't care. Finally I burst out of the trees on the dirt of the road, happy to see people walking out of the city and carts rolling past me. Joy came over me at the scenes I had secretly been longing for for a month.

"I'M...FREE!" I laughed out, not caring about the people looking at me and hurrying past.

My hair blew crazily behind me, along with leaves and twigs coming from the tangles, as I ran under the gates and into the streets of my home. I appreciated everything with a new attitude and smiled at everyone. I stopped at all the food stands to smell and talk to the venders, petted every stray dog I came across, and waved to all the little kids.

It was so weird though. I hated the thought of coming back, and yet...I missed being here at the same time. My decisions were always being made for me and Ihadalways lived in a world of being high above others. Everything was different. I wasn't the stuck-up bitch I used to be and now I cared about the people who had never had it easy. I had lived like that for a month, had to brace myself against the wrath of the elements, had to scrape up food just to make it through the night and see the light of morning.

Slowly I followed my feet and my home came into view. A strange feeling close to nausea hit me hard in the stomach. Everything looked the same, except for more samurai standing guard outside. One of these saw me and his eyes filled with disbelief as I stepped up to him. "F-Fuu-san?" he stuttered, and the other guards snapped their necks as they turned to look.

"Is he inside?"

The samurai nodded and I bowed, stepping past him. My heart pounded in my ears and I tried to ignore the stares of those who saw me. I walked right to my father's room and slid the door open silently. He was inside, sitting on one knee with his blade and back propped up against the wall and held by his right hand. He did not look up at me as he sat like he had so many times before. I remembered all the times as a child I had hated the silence as I stood before him awaiting my punishment for fighting the boys in the neighborhood, but now, I basked in the graceful silence as he thought.

It was not time for silence, however, and I sat across from him. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

He finally looked up, his eyes sparkling with what appeared to be tears. "...hai, I do."

I practically jumped in his arms and wept into his shoulder, receiving a firm embrace back as his strong arms wrapped around me in a safe cuccoon that he had rarely given me.

xXx

Everyone welcomed me heartedly after I finished with my father. I was with him for several hours ans we actually talked instead of snapping and arguing with each other. He asked me if I had been hurt after seeing all the cuts and bruises on me and whether or not I was still honorble. I blushed brightly and said that there were no worries whatsoever, though I was happy that he cared.

When we finished, I bathed in a clean tub and dressed in clothes that didn't reek of perfume or had large tears in them. My futon was graciously welcomed and I slept long and hard. I only wish my dreams would have been as merciful that night. They kept taking me back to the mountain and its lone resident.

The next day brought the joys of my marriage. I met with Jin again feeling very embarrassed as I sat across from him at the table. I couldn't help but notice how completly different he was from...

I bowed deepely, hiding my red cheeks and trying to keep my mind from...other things. "Jin-san, please forgive me for my previous behavior. I-I would be honored to accpet the propasal of marriage."

Surprisingly, the corners of his lips lifted into the beginning of a smile.

We tried the meal again and this time it went rather smooth. He looked as though he wanted to talk to me, but the waitresses flitted around like bees ready to sting if the peace was disturbed. We finished and he met me out in the hallway. "Fuu-chan, I've been meaning to ask you something. Please don't take this the wrong way, but..your captor. Do you know where he is hiding?"

I eyed him suspiciously, trying not to look as worried as I was feeling. "Why would you need to know?"

He remained patient. "If I told you, your father would have both of our skins. However, since you know the man more than anyone else, you deserve to know: a large party has been arranged to go out and retrieve him, possibly even kill him. There have been rumors that not only are ninja and samurai from our city involved, but several other clans as well."

"NO!" I yelled suddenly, startling Jin. "They can't! Do you know anything else?"

"The search begins tonight, and..." he paused, making me feel as though I was suffocating," they have a lead, though it is small. Up in the mountains there have been sightings of a man fitting the description of your captor and we have discovered the ruins of a temple he may have been hiding at. Is this true?"

I nodded and he sighed. I knew that I had to help my captor, even though it was against the law, but I knew that somehow Jin was going to help me. "Okay. Just promise that this stays with your ears only." I pleaded, and he nodded. " His name is Mugen and he lived in the temple you described. Everything's a mistake, though. He's been wrongly charged of all those crimes.

His eyebrows rose. "What do you mean?"

"It's a long story. I know this is crazy, but I think...he's okay." I blushed brightly. "He looked out for me and taught me a lot. Once I got to know him, he..."

Jin's hands went to my shoulders as they trembled. "That only makes matters worse."

He had to leave shortly after and I worried myself into a headache the rest of the day. I couldn't sleep that night, afraid at any moment the men on the hunt would bring him back in a bodybag. The next morning the atmosphere was thick with tension and curiousity. Hardly anyone came or left the city since there were so many guards out. I prayed almost all day that if they did encounter him, he wouldn't do something stupid or they wouldn't catch him. Jin talked to me a little more later on that day, but nothing too much happened otherwise. It did move me a little that when Jin and I talked, he was concerned, though it was probably because he knew I was worried.

That night I lay awake in my futon staring up at the ceiling and the shadows from outside. My mind trailed to the day before when Jin said the hunting party had set out and what could have happened. I groaned and threw the sheet over my face.

My thoughts were shattered as I heard that horrible shot rumble through the mountains followed by a thundering explosion. I sprang up from the bed, fell, and crawled over to the window. A column of smoke rose like the cape of the Reaper from...

"No...please...God..." I gasped, stumbling back and tripping again on my blanket. I lay there allowing stray tears to fall for several soothing seconds. As soon as I got myself together, I went back to window and peered out.

My fear was proven correct as I saw that smoke was from the temple. I could hear gunshots now and they were horribly close. Looking down, I saw townsfolk peeking out as well. There came another explosion closer this time. I stepped back in fear and decided that it was time to do something. Anything!

I had just pulled my kimono on and tied the obi when somebody landed on my windowsill again. I turned to see Mugen and goosebumps shot up my arms as he hunched in the window, his eyes on fire like some demon straight from Hell.

"You..you little bitch!" he snarled, jumping down and unsheathing his sword." You told them where I was!"

Cold steel pinched my neck, but I kept calm. "You're wrong. I would never do that to you, and you know that."

"Shut up! Don't lie to me!"

"So you don't believe me? That's really new! So what now, huh? Will you kill me?" I shot back, my clenched fists trembling with anger and tears welling up in my eyes.

He looked like he was struggling and slowly the sword dropped. The fire started to fade with the sword and I stepped forward, letting my hands unclentch and wrap around his waist. I buried my head in his chest and let my tears flow, my voice muffled by his chest. "I'm so sorry..." I whispered, my ears ringing as his sword clanged down to the floor. His tan arms reluctantly touched my waist as well, but I guess he found comfort in doing so because his grip increased. He had a nice embrace and the smell of man fit him so well that I didn't mind it right on my nose. My heart was racing and my stomach fluttered.

I tore my head from his chest and looked up at his hard face. "I'm sorry for all of this. I'll do what I can to help you get out of here and be free."

He looked down at me and I suddenly remembered when he was injured and I had to feed him. His mouth on mine...I jumped when his lips brushed against my ear and he spoke,"I'll go wherever the hell the cops won't look for me."

"Okay," I said quietly, my voice cracking slightly. I stepped back and went to the door while he picked up and sheathed his sword. "It's going to be really hard to get out with all the guards, so bear with it, okay?" I whispered, my hand on the door.

He snickered and for some reason I grinned. I pulled open the door and peeked outside both ways down the long corridors. It looked safe, but we stayed on guard on our way. Well, idid, but Mug just kind of strolled like he was going around in a park or if he was used to being hunted down be the top samurai and ninja.

We came to a corner and I looked around; panic finally gripped my heart as a maid with a stack of trays clomped towards us. I stepped back and related this information quickly to him. I was flabbergahsted to see him shrug. "So, we can step past, just go into another room, or go the other way."

I shook my head to them all and frowned. "She's carrying a huge pile of trays, there aren't any rooms to go into, and the other way is a dead end."

I looked back and was dismayed to see her shadow already bending around the corner. "Quick!"

She stepped around the corner and stopped. "Oh, hello, Fuu-chan. Do you need something?"

I stood alone, my heart pounding. "Oh, no thanks. I 'm just stretching my legs."

She nodded and I stepped past her with a lot of difficulty. Waiting for her to pass out of sight into a neighboring room from my own, I signaled to Mug as he hung from the ceiling. He had jumped up at the last second and stuck up like a spider. He jumped down at my signal and stood chewing on the contents of a skewer.

I slapped my head to my forehead. "You didn't."

"I did." He grinned lopsidedly.

We went down the hallway and as I did, I noticed something. Something very wrong. We had reached another dead-end "What the hell? Where are we?" I stomped my foot, Mugen almost running into me.

"Huh?"

"I-I got turned around. I haven't been here in such a long time..." I said, pushing back a wave of fear.

He cursed under his breath and I ran a hand through my bangs nervously. "If I remember correctly, the exit should be-"

A scream cut me off from behind us and we spun to see the maid from before with her hand over her mouth in fear and her eyes glued to Mugen. I heard the samurai near to us give a shout and footsteps on the wooden floor.

"C'mon!" I grabbed his arm and pulled him behind me. Totally controlled by fear, I ran past the recently-fainted maid and started going down any hallways I came acroos that weren't deadends or swarming with guards. More and more samurai appeared and the little options I had decreased. Several times we had to turn around to the other direction. I knew I'd screwed up when we ran facefirst into a dead-end with the shrine of our ancestors. "What? No, no no!" I cried, banging my fists against the walls. I spun as heard some men come down the hallway and stop short of us, swords drawn. Mugen already had his drawn and the samurai shifted nervously.

"It's you!" one of them stated.

"Yep! Come and get some!" he challenged. He turned back to me and said below his breath,"Stay behind me."

The next few seconds were a bloody blur. The men who had dared to look at him were slaughtered and we were thrown against the tide. It seemed as though everything was against us. Mugen cut a path through the crowd that had formed to oppose him, and I "steered" him to an exit.

Unfortunately, that ended up being the courtyard. More samurai swarmed out of the doors and Mugen continued to cut his way through. I remained behind him, though even that became a hassle after a while.

Finally the last opponent dropped, giving Mugen a chance to breath. I was scared to see sweat and blood practically pouring off of him and that he looked exhausted.

Footsteps caused me to look over in the direction of the entrance we had come through. Jin flew outside, sword almost drawn, but stopped as though someone had blown out a candle.

Despite his exhaustion, Mugen glared dangerously and tensed at the sight of my spectacled fiance. Jin locked glares with him but saw me huddled behind my wild-haired comrade, his eyes softening immediately.

"I see. Follow me then."

I was about to follow him when Mugen held an arm out and stopped me. "How do we know you're not just tryin to screw us over?" he asked, but it seeemd more like he was accusing him.

Jin stopped but did not look back. "She and I are to be wed."

Mugen's sword dropped and I was startled to see his eyes grow wide slightly. Those orbs strayed and locked with mine, and I could have sworn even to this day that there was a hint of hurt in them. He looked away and stayed silent, his jaw jutting out in almost a pout. He walked after Jin and I had to jog to keep up with the two men. Even though they had just met, there was some sort of strange competition between them. The spectacled man knew what he was doing. We slipped past everyone and reached the exit and the cliffsides came into view between the buildings.

Jin stopped me and I saw from the corner of my eye that Mugen looked away as if he were interested in a nearby tree. "I trust you can make it on your own from here. I can't go with you since I-"

"I know, and thank you." I kissed his cheek, blushed as his faint smile, and joined my other comrade close behind me.

"I'll take you to the exit in the mountains where you can make it to Edo. Just stick to the mountains and go east!" I told him as we raced through the alleyways between buildings.

"I don't care! Just get me out of this damn city!" he replied with heavy annoyance in his voice. I wondered if I was part of the reason he was so irritable...

I was surprised ot see that there weren't any nosy people looking out of their windows or that I didn't hear any more samurai behind us. It was soon that I saw why. Quick as darts, shinobi flew past us atop the roofs of the buildings. I know Mugen saw them too because suddenly I was swept off my feet and he ran with me as I wrapped my arms around him and held on for dear life. "Too slow," he stated, and I almost smiled to hear amusement in his voice. I had to admit, he had a fast reaction time.

I "steered" him again though it was much harder now that we were dodging shuriken and kunai. Eveything was a blur as Mug picked up his speed. I really don't know what keeps him going sometimes; he was the most wanted man in all the country and yet he was able to remain fearless and sane.

I only wish it could have stayed like that.

A problem arose as we neared the cliff of the moutains. You see, my home was built by some architectually-challenged person on the side of the mountains and the cliffs are pretty bad. One section further south is known as Hell's Teeth. You can guess how bad it is. Nobody will build a fence there because of how many deaths there have been. Thankfully, Mugen and I weren't over there, instead on a safer section of cliffs. I never thought I would be glad to be by the cliffs at all. Anyway, because I couldn't properly steer him, we wound up running to the side of the cliffs where more shinobi were already stationed. Mugen skidded to a halt and I slid down, gaping at the size of the group before us. A bulky figure held the front of the shinobi and I felt anger pulse through my veins when I saw his smirk under his mask. I felt someone push me behind him and saw Mug pull out his sword and smirk dangerously.

"Now we've got you, you bastard."

"C'mon, then. I'll take all you fugly dudes on!" he snickered, bouncing from side-to-side to find his rhythm. He glanced behind him only once as we were surrounded.

The bulky ninja chuckled,"We don't want to harm the girl. Surreneder her and we will kill you quickly and painlessly."

"SCREW YOU!" Mugen yelled, running towards them and slicing anybody within reach. I tried to stay near him but strong arms grabbed hold of me and would not let go.

"LET...ME...GO! MUGEN!" I screamed, struggling and seeing him kick the crap out of somebody. His head popped up from a large crowd of people and when he saw the jerkwad that had ahold of me, the demonic glare crossed his face. He growled, adding to the effect as he threw a few bodies away from him, some unlucky to fall over the edge of the cliff.

He broke free of the crowd and made his way slowly to me; I wriggled and tried to escape the clutches of the guy who was holding onto me. Suddenly the survivors of Mug's rampage swarmed around him again in a circle. The bulky ninja was among them, but I knew his time was almost up. "We will not allow you to take Kasumi's daughter again." Mugen scowled and looked past them to me. The bulky ninja saw the look between us and made a signal to the guy holding me. I coughed as his grip became tighter and the bulky guy laughed. Mugen scowled. "You dirty bastard."

"I have found what tames your heart. Looks like you're no demon after all." The shinobi said.

I saw several of the other shinobi shift uncomfortably as I coughed again, the tight grip on me loosening again. I remebered something I could do and looked up to see the guy temporarily distracted. I looked back to Mugen as the shinobi took out chained sickles and began twirling them. I knew I had ot help him somehow, anyway I could. Mug scowled and charged against the men in front of him again, two of which throwing the chains; one caught his sword and the sickle dug into the flesh of his hand, the other just barely missing his head. He stopped and pulled on the sickle attached to him, but the chain tightened. Blood sputtered from the wound and he grunted, "Don't ned this damn thing anyway." He let his sword drop and the chain fell loose.

More sickled joined the air, though he kicked many of them away with the help of his metal getas. I struggled against my captor and felt hope fill me when an arm came free. It was perfect timing as I searched through my kimono since one of the sickle lucked up and wrapped around his arms and waist. The others began to gang up on him, and soon a sickle wrapped around his neck. Somehow he stayed upright. Somehow kept fighting to get free, despite the steel biting into his skin. Somehow the fire never left his eyes. I knew I had better hurry up and smiled as my hand finally found my aikuchi he had given me. I held the sheath in between my teeth and took out the blade. The ninja looked down from the fight just to see the blade bury into his chest. I was dragged down a little as he slumped, pulling the scarlet knife from him. The other shinobi had not noticed that he was dead or that I was free, so I used this to my advantage.

"Leave him alone, you jerks!" I screamed as I buried my blade into another ninja who just so happened to hold the chain around Mug's neck. That got their attention. The guy I had just stabbed fell over and the chain slipped off Mug's neck and clanged as it dropped to the ground. Mug scowled through a busted lip, blood making a little trail down his chin. Several of the ninja had throwing needles in their fingers but lowered them as I threw myself onto him, wrapping my arms around his neck protectively.

There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface...

"If you want to kill him, you'll have to kill me too." I said feircely, taking the chain from his arms as they let go. The steel was cold, but I didn't care. My heart was racing so hard I thought it would burst out from my chest. Being this close to Mugen scared me since I could see all the wounds he had, but it comforted me to see him alive.

Consuming, Confusing

I lifted all the chains off and Mugen stepped out from them. He picked up his sword and sheathed it as we walked slowly past them, putting myself before him the entire time. We had just cleared the shinobi when I heard a sickening crunch and looked back.

This lack of self-control I fear is never-ending...

The needles stood in his back like he was a pin cushion, and when I moved from in front of him, the ninja I had forgotten about on the roof threw theirs as well, jumping down when they thought he would go down. I held back a scream when I saw about four in his colarbone.

Controling, I can't seem...

Everything was against us once again. His legs started to give out and he cursed, still trying to fight. Blood seeped against his white shirt like a flag. He looked up at me as I unsheathed it, grunting as I was reminded how heavy it was. I'd never been so angry in my life. Standing with his sword in both my hands, I felt my face grow hot. "You bastards! You think just because he's wounded, you can get him? YOU WON'T! How dare you attack him while his back was turned! How dare you attack him at all! HE'S DONE NOTHING WRONG! Leave him alone!" I felt tears stream down my face and they scorched my skin. As I screamed, I swung the sword at anyone who dared come near. My arms screamed in pain after just a few swings, but I didn't care. I looked back to Mugen. "Run! I'll keep them away! Just go! Please!"

To find myself again, my walls are closing in...

I looked back in front of me to see his sword slice into somebody and hot blood splashed onto my face. I ignored it and thought only of Mugen being able to get away. Suddenly a voice rang out and shattered my anger.

Without a sense of confidence I'm convinced there's just too much pressure to take...

"Fuu! Stop this immediately!" The shinobi allowed my father, Jin, and several other samurai to pass through and he stopped mere feet before me. His face filled with anger as he took in the sight of the blood on me and the sword and the bodies at my feet. "Explain yourself."

I've felt this way before, so insecure...

I ignored him and looked for him frantically, fearfully seeing him gone. I panicked and took off with the sword in my hands, seeing a trail. There were smears of blood on the ground as though at one point he had been crawling away. Soon, bloody needles founf themselves in my path and I began to pray,'Please, God, no...let him be okay...'

Crawling in my skin

The blood straightened out and if I had to guess, I'd have said he had picked himself up and now had a stagger. The needles bacame lumps and puddles of blood showed me the path. I noticed that I was headed for Hell's Teeth and hoped that the path would turn. It didn't. I started to see movement and called out for him.

These wounds they will not heal

Finally I caught up to him at the edge of the cliff and I almost started to cry. His body was a stressed tangle and his right arm dangled as though he couldn't move it. The sword sheath slipped off with a thud, but I doubt he noticed. But through all that, that wasn't what got me. It was the fear in his eyes. I never would have thoought he could have been afraid. I forgot my own fear as I stepped near him, mezmerized by the emotion in his dark orbs. He panted stubbornly, and I wouldn't have expected anything less. His mouth opened and I almost smiled to see that he smirked. "Hey...yer...okay...good..." his words slurred together and I saw him trip towards the edge.

Fear is how I fall

"What?" I asked, and his eyes locked right with mine. As he stepped back one more time, I saw what was going to happen just before he did. He opened his mouth a gain just before falling over the edge.

"See ya, Fuu.."

Confusing what is real

He fell over the edge. He said goodbye. He knew my name the whole time. All these things ran together in my head as I stood dumbfounded, then I dropped the sword and screamed, "MUGEN!" I ran to the cliff side and peered down, but of course there was nothing. I didn't hear my father of Jin as they came to my side, and when I felt them near me, I hurled myself on my father. Sobbing uncontrolably, I began punching his chest with each word I screamed, "YOU MADE HIM FALL! HOW COULD YOU! HE DID NOTHING TO YOU!" He let me go on until I was too tired and too hoarse. I fell to my knees and wept. My father's voice made me pick up. "He stole something precious to the both of us."

"What?"

"Your heart."

Epilogue

Part 1

I haven't forgotten any of it. His sword won't let me. I took it back with me that night, cleaned it, and it hangs in my room. Sometimes at night I have to look at it just to be able to sleep. When I dream, I dream of him. I can't say why. Just like I don't know why I have the feeling that he is still alive. It tortures and saves me at the same time.

That's why Jin called off our wedding. He protects me as a friend, even as a big brother, nothing else. He knows the truth, but there is no hurt in his eyes or his voice. My father seems okay now, too. He doesn't like the idea of the sword being in my room, but otherwise we're okay with each other now. I think he's afraid that he will come back for his sword. I think the same thing, only I welcome the idea. In fact, whenever I walk to a temple, I pray to the gods that it happens. Today is one of those days, and as I stand by my window, I remember my prayer: Please, let him come back so I can see him again. Maybe even go away with him somewhere and not have to come home. I start crying as I pray.

At my window, I watch the sunset and look over at the mountains. They're beautiful, but seem lonely now that I'm home again. Suddenly from the corner of my eye I see a tall figure jump away from the roof of a building just across the street. My heart beats a familiar rhthym and I smile.

He is there and protects me.

Before I go to bed, I take down the sword and prop it against the windowsill. There's no way it can fall. The next morning I find my offering gone, replaced with something else.

A sunflower petal.

I know it will wilt, but I keept it close to my heart until then. I don't find anymore after that, but at least I know one thing: Mugen is alive.

That's good enough for me.

Where'd you go?

I miss you so

Seems like it's been forever that you've been gone

Please come back home...

Part 2

I haven't forgotten any of it. My sword won't let me. She took it the night I escaped, and I know it's in good hands. I don't have to run anymore now that people think I'm dead, so I get time to myself and to plan and think. When I do, I think of her. I can't say why. Just like I don't know why I have this longing feeling along with regret of not seeing her. To hear her voice. It tortures and saves me at the same time.

I found out later that that Jin guy called off their wedding. Now he just protects her, but I can see it's only as a friend. The guy's smarter than he looks. Her old man seems to have chilled out by now, too, but is kinda paranoid about me comin back to get my sword. Not a bad idea. Sometimes I visit my old temple to get some more of my stuff and to check on her. She goes to a temple too in her city to pray and I wonder why this one time she started cryin.

Near the end of my visit I go and see her standin by the window, lookin out to my mountains. There's this lonliness on her face that makes me wanna take her away again, but I remember how it could cost me not only mine but her life too. I want her to know I'm alive. I turn to leave and I'm surprised to see her turn and look just as I jump away. She's seen me, but somehow I know that's a good thing.

I'm here anad I'll protect her.

The next time I check on her I find my sword propped on the windowsill, free of charge. I take it and leave her a calling card.

A sunflower petal.

I know it'll wilt, but she'll keep it close, just like I carry my sword with a new attitude. I don't leave her with anything else; hell, I don't talk to her or let her see me, either. I know though that she knows I'm alive.

That's good enough for me.

End

A/N: Well, that's it. I hope you liked it and that it was as emotional as I'd intended: sort of a tearjerker. Did you expect the end? Well, DID you? LOL! I feel somehow complete now that this is done, but recently a nasty little idea has come to me: perhaps a sequal? I'm not entirely sure yet, since I'm not sure what it'll be about. That and I think the ending came out well. I'm open for suggestions and coments, here people! Review please!