A/N: no excuse..i have no excuse as to why have i taken so bloody long to update, all i can do is plead guilty....u can all kill me now!

disclaimer: don't own, don't sue PLEASE!!!!

Now on with the show...

"Mugen…Mugen…hey Mugen…MUGEN!"

"AH! What the fuck!" Mugen exclaimed, almost jumping out of his bed at the same time. Waking up was never easy for Mugen, especially when his wake up call was being hit in the gut with an extremely hard pillow. He attempted to glare at his personal alarm clock, however his eyes still had gunk in them. Instead he groaned in frustration, grabbed the pillow off his stomach and put it over his head as he lay back down with full intentions to fall back asleep. It was still quiet early in the morning and Mugen was never one to wake up early.

"Rise and shine sleepy head!" Fuu, uncharacteristically cheerful bent down grabbed the pillow off Mugen's head and ruffled up his hair.

"Oh yeah, I forgot you got bad morning hair, he he, I guess some things never change. Come on then, get up, I got tea and dumplings." Fuu smiled down at Mugen before walking to her little table that she placed breakfast on. After the mention of food arose, Mugen's senses awoken and the scent of freshly brewed tea and steamed dumplings vacated his nostrils. With one last moan, Mugen managed to sit up and make his way to his beloved food.

Sitting down he noticed that Fuu hadn't started, yet continued to stare at him with a brilliant smile across her face, frankly it was kind of scaring him a little.

"Woman shut up and eat your breakfast." Mugen commanded before digging in himself.

"I didn't say anything!" Fuu protested, yet all she got was a shrug and a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Ugh, you're impossible, I was being nice you jerk! Kami, that's the last time I ever be nice to you idiot!" Fuu shrieked and then stuffed as many dumplings into her mouth as possible.

"Oh that's ladylike." Mugen smirked, he loved teasing Fuu in the morning, lunch, dinner…actually whenever he had a chance to.

"Like you would know anything about manners you bum!" Fuu managed to say with a mouth full of food.

"At least I don't talk with my mouth full!"

"You do it all the time!" Fuu's eyes seemed to grown twice their size as she frantically pointed her finger accusingly.

"Whatever, I need to take a piss" Mugen rolled his eyes and stood up.

"I need to go work." Fuu mimicked Mugen and stood up. They eyed each other before making their way to the door and out onto the street.

"Ok, go and get a job!" Fuu pointed her finger dramatically down the street, with the glint of sheer determination in her eyes.

"Don't order me around!" Mugen shoved his hands into his pockets and turned his heel.

"Make a good first impression, do your best!...and for kami's sake fix your hair!" Fuu cupped her hands and yelled after Mugen.

"I don't have bed hair damnit!" Mugen yelled back before turning the corner.

Fuu watched as Mugen vanished from her sight before letting go a sigh of relief. She woke up this morning thinking it was all a dream, meeting him unexpectedly like that. Then she worried that if it wasn't a dream, he might have chickened out and left in the middle of the night. So she was relieved when she saw him in the morning.

Fuu shook her head and sighed. Yes she woke him up, but before that she had actually watched him sleep for half and hour. She didn't know what possessed her too, yet for the first time in months she felt safe waking up. She had missed the presence of others in the morning. It took her awhile to get used to waking up alone.

Yet after she got passed the initial shock that Mugen was actually back in her life, she began to worry how long. So to hear that Mugen was actually job hunting today put her mind at ease and actually made her a little giddy, yet she wouldn't admit it.

"Probably shouldn't dwell on it… it's not like this is a permanent things…so don't expect anything Fuu" she mused to herself whilst making her way to work.

The sun was in the centre of a clear blue sky, indicating it was midday and Mugen's stomach growled with hunger indicating it was lunchtime. The vagabond had been sauntering the streets for hours, not particularly interested in the world around him, yet alert enough to comprehend his surroundings. His philosophy was that if he walked around long enough, he was bound to run into work of some kind, therefore there was no real reason to exert himself and run around the town like an idiot looking for a half-assed job.

But he had been walking for hours and his nonchalant quest for a job had so far been a failure. Annoyed and hungry Mugen began to head back to the tea house, in hopes of another free meal, he would resume his job hunting after his stomach was satisfied and that was that.

Just as the ex- pirate turned the corner a knife came whizzing past, barely grazing the side of his cheek. Unfazed by the deadly weapon now at his feet, Mugen effortlessly picked up the knife. Looking carefully at the blade, he sighted tints of red on the blade and bringing his fingers up to his cheeks he found out why. The knife and neatly cut his cheekbone, not deep, but enough to draw blood. At this Mugen smirked, it was a perfect invitation. He had walked straight into a gang fight in the middle of the street. There were about 15 to 20 men battling it out, all holding different instruments of torture. Without a moments hesitation Mugen threw the knife into the midst of the fight, gaining some of the men's attention before plunging in sword already drawn.

Already two minutes into the fight Mugen had already single handedly taken down half the men, regardless of which gang they belonged. To Mugen it made no difference, they all had weapons therefore they were all targets. Thus despite their different gangs all the men had joined forces and surrounded Mugen making the vagabond grin maliciously. However as he was about to cut down three people at once he was rudely interrupted.

"That's enough!" Demanded a voice that echoed triumphantly through the street. Abruptly, 5 of the men that surrounded Mugen backed off. Taken aback by the sudden retreat, he accidentally lowered his guard granting the remaining men the upper hand. Taking their chances they simultaneously jumped Mugen, only to be thrown into the air. Pissed that he had giving them an opening Mugen's reflex were on high alter, and in an instant all of the attackers lay motionless on the ground.

Spitting on the floor Mugen groaned and turned his back on the dead. Killing didn't feel so rewarding as it used to, which baffled Mugen. Yet his trail of thought was drowned out by the sound of clapping. Across the street stood the remaining men of the gang fight and an older man in between. The older man was the only one clapping.

"Very good" The old man praised Mugen like a dog.

"It's not some fancy ass dog tick old man" Mugen seethed as he sheathed his sword.

"No it's not, it's exactly what I am looking for." The old man's voice became lower and took on a serious tone. Mugen eyed the man in front of him suspiciously. Clearly he was man of power, to have such loyalty and respect from his subordinates, he must be a gang leader.

"Huh?" Mugen frowned.

"I want to hire you, young samurai." The old man smiled determinedly.

"You fighting style is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Your erratic movements make you almost unpredictable, a valuable skill to have in combat. I wish for you to pass on your knowledge to my new recruits."

Mugen stared hard at the elderly man taking in what he had said, until… he bursted out with laughter.

"What? You have got to be kidding me old man! I hell ain't no teacher or samurai! What the fuck are you thinking?" Mugen clutched his gut and continued to laugh. The idea was uncanny. The words "Mugen" and "teaching" did not belong in the same sentence, any who had meet Mugen for at least 5 minutes could verify that.

"So you are rejecting my offer?"

"Listen old man, you must be becoming senile or something, because I think you are nuts and-" but Mugen never got to finish his sentence as the man tossed a bag full of money at Mugen. Peaking inside Mugen held his breathe. He had never in his life held this much money in one day.

"Think of this as a deposit." The old man smiled warmly.

"A what?" Mugen questioned as he pocketed the bag into in red shirt.

"I'm paying you in advance, just come here tomorrow mid-morning and I'll introduce you to your students, uh-"

"It's Mugen" he answered off-handedly.

"Alright, Mugen sensei it is. I am Tanaka Katsu. It was pleasure meeting you." Katsu bowed slightly before turning to leave.

"Eh, so what would you do if I didn't come back?" Mugen pressed a lecherous grin on his face. This old man had no idea who he was dealing with; he might not even show up just to teach the senile fart not to be so trusting in other. Kastu smiled over his shoulder and glanced at the bewildered man.

"We all know money runs out sooner or later. So again Mugen sensei, good day."

Mugen watched as Kastu and his followers walked off into the distance, clutching the purse securely.

Unable to clarify to himself that he had just signed up to be a teacher, Mugen walked aimlessly around town pondering why in Kami's name he took the job. Mugen rolled his eyes when he heard the coins quietly collide with every stride he took.

"Damnit, I can't even give the money back, cause I already spent some of the cash on lunch…I could just not go…" The idea appealed greatly to Mugen, but then again, when was he ever going to get paid like that ever again? Sighing in frustration the vagabond put his hands into his pockets and leisurely made his way back to Fuu's teahouse for dinner.

The sun had almost set when Mugen arrived at the teahouse. Nighttime seemed a popular hour for the modest teahouse as it was almost full. Mugen spotted Fuu instantly waiting a table in the opposite corner from where he was standing. She seemed extremely busy, he could tell by her slightly flustered cheeks and how her hairstyle was beginning to fall apart. Yet despite her fatigue she still kept a warm inviting smile on her face.

'Yeah, it would have been nice if she was like this 6 months ago.' Mugen huffed as he found an empty table in the corner. She was always complaining during their time together, she complained about not having a bath in days, about how her stomach was now caved in, how annoying him and Jin where, how he never listened, how he was reckless, how he pissed her off…

Mugen grinned, yep he sure knew how to piss her off, and yet not matter how annoyed she became with him come the next day they were back to normal, she would ramble on about anything and everything to him, until he made a smart ass comment which would initiate a fight. But for some reason he could never shake her off, except that one time at the end of the journey. He actually thought he lost her and that she would hold a grudge against him forever and never speak to him. Back then he didn't want to admit it, but it didn't sit right with him in fact it unnerved him greatly.

"Pfft, stupid broad…"

"Huh? What's that Mugen?" Mugen immediately opened his eyes and shot out of his daydream at the sound of Fuu's voice. Trying to regain his composure he crossed his arms and cocked his head in her direction.

"I said ugly broad"

"What?" Fuu rasied her voice slightly.

'Ugh, damnit Mugen, that does not make it better.' Mugen shrugged off-handedly.

"Whaddya want?"

"I was gonna ask you the same thing, are dumplings to start off ok?"

"Fine whatever." Mugen dismissively responded, however Fuu did not seem to catch on.

"Ok great be right back." Mugen watched as her small frame hurriedly rushed into the kitchen balancing stacks of dishes and cups, it was a miracle she hadn't dropped any.

The pirate shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Being caught red-handed like that, while thinking those kinds of things, by her of all people was not fun. It irritated him that he felt so uncomfortable it was being around her after thinking those thoughts, and how hard it was to mask his embarrassment. Even though he wasn't the master of aloofness unlike Jin (or what he liked to call having a stick shoved permanently up his ass) Mugen was very good at looking passive. Why was it she could get a rise out of him every time?

Deciding whether or not to ponder his question, Mugen didn't notice as Fuu marched up to the table until she lay out a spread of food in front of him. The aroma filled his nostrils and woke him from his thoughts. Sitting down opposite him, Fuu watched as the dumplings quickly began to vanish.

"Didn't you eat much today?" she inquired, as she laid her head lazily in her hands. Business had been hectic and right now was rush hour. She knew she couldn't afford to sit around and watch Mugen stuff his face, however his presence calmed her. It always did, not matter how fast a fighter he was, or how brash a person he could be, he carried with him a definite aura, one of a free spirit who travels at his own pace. That sense of "time of not being an issue" he gave off relaxed Fuu into a lull state.

"Oi!Oi! What the hell are you doing?" Fuu's eyes fluttered open to the feel of a chopstick tapping, quite harshly at that, in the middle of her forehead.

"Idiot, don't fall asleep, your were about to drown in your own soup!" Fuu rubbed her eyes, she must have nodded off, and sure enough the ends of her bangs were dripping off miso soup that she had intended to drink quickly.

"Urgh, great" she sighed as she tried to dry her hair which was now becoming sticky. Mugen just rolled his eyes at her stupidity, but couldn't help but notice her fatigue.

"Fuu-chan!" Both Mugen and Fuu turned their heads to the cry. Walking towards them came a woman, in her late twenties, hand in hand with a toddler and carrying a baby on her hip.

"Ah Maki-senpai!" Fuu greeted with a warm smile.

"Fuu-nii-chan!" the little toddler cried as he ran from his mother and attached himself to Fuu's leg.

"Hehe, hello Icchrio-chan, how are you doing?" The small boy beamed up at Fuu and clung on tighter.

"Ah sorry if I'm a bit later, I just couldn't get off work quick enough." Maki explained as she jiggled the baby girl on her hip.

"It's no problem at all, your just in time too, I was about to eat, oh I want you to meet someone, this is Mugen." Fuu turned and introduced Mugen who nodded slightly before taking a drink. Kids made him uncomfortable, and that little one was staring at him funny.

"Oh, so THIS is Mugen." Maki replied with a soft smile. Mugen's eyes widened bit, again with that sort of reaction, exactly what kinds of things had Fuu been telling these people?

"Mugen this is Maki-senpai, she works here everything third to fourth day." Mugen nodded again, why was she telling him this?

"She usually comes when I take my breaks, so in return I take care of the kid for an hour or so."

'Oh…' Mugen looked back and fourth from Fuu too the drooling baby to the snot-nosed kid,

'Shit.' The vagabond didn't need an explanation.

"So we are gonna look after them for a bit ok? Ok, here watch over Icchiro while I go with Maki-sempai and feed Nami-chan in the kitchen, let Icchiro have a few dumplings before I come back with the main course. Oh, make sure he blows on them before eating ok?" Fuu briskly picked up Icchiro and placed him in front of Mugen before following Maki into the kitchen.

"Thank you very much Mugen-san!" Maki called before she disappeared. Mugen watched in horror as the vile wenches left him alone with the kid. In his mind he was repeating the same plea over and over again for Fuu to turn around and take kid away from him. However his mantra was short lived.

"Ouch!" Mugen flicked his attention to the boy who was now blowing on his fingers. The fallen dumpling in the middle of the table explained the little boy's burnt finger.

"Dat wearlly hurt" the young boy pouted up at Mugen and showed him his red little finger tips.

"Well it was stupid of you to pick them up." Mugen stared coldly at the 5 year old. However his harsh looks went unnoticed when Icchrio attempted to pick up a dumpling again. Yet before his tiny hands could touch the food, they were stopped by Mugen's chopsticks, which now had a firm grip on his small wrist.

"Kid how much of an idiot are you? Don't touch the food." Mugen let go off the wrist and quickly put 3 dumplings on a plate for Icchiro.

Now with 3 dumplings in front of him, Icchiro grinned up at Mugen in appreciation and admiration.

"THANK YOU!" He yelled with glee only to make Mugen wince and scowl at the little boy as he began to stuff as much food into his tiny mouth as possible.

"Boy if you choke and die, I ain't gonna save you." Mugen rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively at the infant. He then lazily scratched his head and stretched, letting out a loud yawn in the process, however something caught his eye. Mugen curiously looked down at the boy who was mimicking his every movement, only 3 seconds later.

"Eh? What the hell do you think you're doing kid?" Mugen questioned whilst placing his elbow on the table to lean on his hand. Icchiro did not hesitate to follow. Mugen raised an eyebrow at this. Carefully he placed his other hand on his head and scratched his scalp again. Icchiro instantly followed with a determined look on his face.

"You are one weird brat" Mugen grinned, thoroughly amused. After all sort of weird hand gestures the pirate could think of and the boy imitate, Mugen decided test the limits. Mugen abruptly poked his tongue out, which Icchrio giggled at before doing the same. Then Mugen stuck his littler finger in his ear and twisted it around, his actions followed. Lastly Mugen stuck his finger up his nostril, at which Icchiro gladly followed.

"Haha Nii-san you're so funny!" Icchiro gurgled, his finger still up his nose.

"Oh no way! You didn't not just call me that, I am Mugen! Mugen! I am not your nii-san or whatever, HELL NO!" Mugen stood up and pointed his finger dramatically.

"HELL NO!" Icchiro yelled happily and pointed his little chubby finger back at Mugen.

"DAMNIT kid that ain't funny no more!"

"DAM IT kid dat paint funny doh mo"

"Aw, shit, come on! How annoying can one kid be? I can't believe I'm stuck with you-" Mugen began to mutter to himself before being interrupted.

"Mugen, what's wrong I heard shouting?" Fuu stood before him, looking generally worried.

"THIS! THIS IS THE PROBLEM!" Mugen pointed his finger accusingly at Icchiro, who only pointed back.

"SEE! He's mimicking everything I do and say, its annoying as hell!"

"D'nnoyin a Hell!" Icchiro giggled before sticking his finger up his nose and belched loudly. Both Mugen and Fuu stared in horror, Fuu had never seen him act like this, usually he was a well mannered, shy little boy. But now it was like she was looking at a mini Mugen. The original Mugen knew before Fuu could react that he was in big trouble.

"Aw shit man."

"Aw shit!"

"MUGEN!!!!"

A/N: haha Mugen is in deep kaka! R&R pretty please!