Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

Business as Usual	By : laurabryannan Category: +S to Z > Samurai Champloo Views: 5366 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Business as
Usual, XV
by Laura Bryannan

Jin
didn't blink. Mugen couldn't believe it. You tell a guy you've killed
someone and you expect a look of horror, or at least surprise.
Instead, Jin's compassionate expression was enough to break his
heart. “How did it happen?” he asked quietly.

“Um.....”
Mugen closed his eyes and tried to think of how to say it. “When
I was sixteen my gang got wind I was splitting. Of course, it wasn't
me they wanted so much as the money I was passing around, stupid
show-off that I was. They lured me in with pussy and a bunch of guys
worked me over pretty good. I'll spare you the gory details, but they
were methodical and it hurt a lot. Gave me some new scars.
Spit-roasted me forever. I was more scared than I've ever been.

“Finally they got hungry and took off. No one was
standing guard, so while they were gone I managed to get one hand
free and untie myself. When they came back I started fighting. I let
loose until the world went dark, and woke up in the hospital, shot in
the back. My parole officer told me I put five guys in there with me.
The only problem was, one didn't make it. I kicked him into something
and his head hit wrong, I guess. He never came to. I didn't even know
the fucker and he was there doing that shit to me....” He
sighed and shook his head.

“Anyway, I went to prison
for six months even though I was underage. When you got a rap sheet
as long as I do, I guess no one cares about shit like self-defense.
Enough of the gang lied in court about what happened that I got
screwed.”

Before Mugen chanced a peek, Jin was on the
couch, scooping him into his lap like he was five years old. His
pride screamed in protest, but the wounds inside still ached and
yearned for comfort, so he instinctively let himself receive it.

“Oh Mugen, I'm so sorry,” Jin whispered, pulling
him to his chest. “I can't even imagine how horrifying that
must have been for you.”

Strong arms held him close.
Was it really going to be this easy? He wasn't going to be pushed
away? It seemed unbelievable. He snuggled his face into the pale
neck, breathing a deep sigh of relief as unknown and forgotten hurt
places received the balm of Jin's acceptance. He felt
safe...perhaps...maybe even good. He wasn't sure. Sheltered in the
familiar embrace, he realized that Jin had been the first person to
protect him from anything, ever, when he'd chased Mukuro off last
week.

“So, you don't think I'm awful?” Mugen
finally asked.

“For defending yourself against a gang
assault? Hardly!” Jin told him sincerely. “I got attacked
a lot, growing up. I was chronically shy and strange and.... Who
knows why children scapegoat each other? A handful of times I got
hurt when there were too many and I couldn't fight them all off, but
I was never subject to outright torture.”

“Yeah,
well, at least I walked away with everything intact,” Mugen
replied. “A few new holes, but no parts missing. The way they
were talking....” He shuddered. “Ah man, enough of that
shit.”

“Yes,” Jin agreed, pulling off his
suit coat and tie. “Let's find something else to do.”

Mugen lay back, feeling incredulous his lover was still
looking at him like he was something tasty, even after learning the
worst. Jin leaned near and nuzzled his face, warm lips tracing his
brow, his eyelid, tickling his lashes...trailing down to nibble his
neck, biting harder at the shoulder until he grunted in
acknowledgment.

Unbuttoning his shirt and loosening his belt,
Jin lay his head on his belly, wrapped his arms around his waist and
got quiet. Mugen went there with him, feeling such profound comfort
that every tight place—every overwound spring and knotted wire
inside—let go a few notches and he relaxed. Stroking the
silky black hair of his lover, he relaxed, possibly for the first
time in his life.

The sweet security of Jin's weight, plus
three beers and only a few bites of lunch, insured Mugen's nap.
Somewhere later in a dream there was beautiful music, and angels rang
golden chimes announcing the glorious scent of food. His stomach
grumbled and he roused, opening his eyes to see Jin eating out of a
Chinese food container.

“Did the doorbell ring?”
he asked groggily.

“Yes, that's how dinner arrived.”

“How long have I been sleeping?”

“A
little over an hour.”

“Sorry. Uh...what the hell
is that music? I thought it was a dream. You bring a CD over?”

“It's Beethoven's Pastoral,” Jin informed him. “I
found it in your collection.”

“No way,”
Mugen exclaimed. “I never bought it, someone must'a left it
here. I thought Beethoven did that dun dun dun dunnnnnn
thing.”

Jin smiled and winced at the same time. “That's
his fifth symphony. This is his sixth.”

“Wasn't
he in Clockwork Orange?”

“Yes.” Jin sighed.
“His ninth symphony.”

“That stuff's
kickass.”

Jin brightened. “I agree. It's my
favorite as well.”

Mugen was handed the beef and
broccoli and he happily dug in, considering his stomach was feeling
wonky and eating helped settle it. But then recent revelations came
to mind and his blood ran cold. He eyed Jin, who appeared content,
listening with his eyes closed and eating in the annoyingly
thoughtful way he always did. Everything seemed normal. It was too
weird.

One thing was certain, though. He needed to get laid.
Jin had given him that part of his life back, and that part really
needed reassurance this evening. So when they finished their meal and
Jin asked to be taken, Mugen refused.

“No?!?”

“No!” he replied. “I want you to fuck me.
You're the first guy I've let in since that night, and I want you to
do me tonight...especially tonight.”

“But after
what you told me, I thought....”

“Look,”
Mugen interrupted, “what happened put me off my natural
leanings for years, but I like getting laid. Always have.
Pussy is great, but I need what men bring to the game too.”

Jin
arched a brow as he pulled off Mugen's slacks and boxers. “You
can purchase such things for women.”

Mugen snorted. “I
ain't met a gal yet I'd let come near me with a strap-on.”

Dry chuckle. “You're very wise."

Mugen
watched in appreciation as Jin pulled his t-shirt off, then stood to
remove his jeans. Why was such a beautiful creature interested in
him? Jin's height was enviable, his face breathtaking, and his
sculpted body was as perfect as a statue—except for the sword
scar, in the same place as his own gunshot wound. And then there was
Mugen's sign inked on his ass. What the hell did that mean? The whole
thing was too damn weird.

“It doesn't freak you out
that I killed a guy?” He had to know.

“It doesn't
freak you out that I killed a guy?” Jin asked in
reply.

“Well, you had a good reason.”

“As
did you.”

“You really think so?”

“Yes.”

“Amazing. Well, c'mere. Lemmie taste you before you do
it, K?”

“Mmmm. Please.”

------------------------------

Jin
escaped.

Kissing his copy of Beethoven's 9th, Solti
conducting, he put the disc in the player. Grabbing his headphones,
he retreated to his bed, and for the first two movements did nothing
but listen.

Only later did he allow himself to think about
the day, working backward. He'd left Mugen on the couch, where he'd
passed out again after being fucked senseless. They'd never made it
to the bedroom. Finding no extra blanket in the linen closet, Jin had
covered him with a beach towel and gone home.

It felt
wonderful to walk into his apartment, turn his cell phone off, and
know there was nothing he needed to do, no one he needed to speak to
until tomorrow morning at work. The music felt balancing, uplifting
even, and he was happy that Mugen had jogged his memory about it. He
hadn't listened to the 9th in a long time.

Mugen. His guts
were in knots over what Mugen had said. Two words haunted his
awareness, sickening yet arousing him, to his absolute horror. Spit
roast. He knew with certainty the experience had been terrible for
Mugen, not erotic, but when he'd heard the words his body responded
of its own accord. Unable to keep them from echoing in his mind, he
felt immense guilt as torturous random images plagued and grieved
him.

And perhaps that was the problem as well. Mugen's story
broke his heart, and he felt helpless in the face of it. Suddenly an
awareness dawned so startling, he gasped and sat up. He was no longer
the most tragic person in the room! He had never known anyone who's
background was harsher than his own, and it felt...he wasn't sure how
it felt.

Strange. There was a sense of loss, as though Mugen
had beaten him in a competition he hadn't known he'd been in, but
also relief. Of course there were lots of people out there with
heartbreaking stories, Jin just hadn't met one before now. He
wondered about Mugen's childhood, whether there were paralell horrors
to his own he hadn't considered. Mugen never spoke of siblings or
parents. The entire matter was disconcerting, for it tugged on his
emotions and deepened an out of control lust into something far more
dangerous.

Taking Mugen this evening had been completely
delicious. He'd wanted it from behind and Jin had obliged him,
beginning with Mugen kneeling on the couch, draped over the back. Jin
simply looked, appreciating the planes, angles and luscious curves of
his lover's body until Mugen was grumbling and squirming. “Come
on, man. Quit'cher staring and do something useful!”

“Patience, grasshopper. Do you want fingers first, or
just me?”

“Mmmm. Just you's good.”

Yes,
fucking Mugen was way too delicious, and while the carnal longings
were exciting and enlivening, he didn't like how Mugen dominated his
thoughts. Something was going to have to give. He was spending way
too much time away from his life. Yuki would be at work tomorrow and
he hoped things could get back to normal again.

The 4th
movement washed over him. Why hadn't he studied German? Choral music
always gave him goose bumps. He willed himself to listen and to turn
off the rest. He would think about all of that later. After all,
tomorrow is another day, he chuckled to himself. He couldn't
remember who'd said it first, nor did he care.

------------------------------

Mugen
woke in a rare mood, one he hadn't experienced in a long time. That
he was alone on the couch barely registered. He got up, used the
toilet, and began to pace. When that brought no insight he sat on the
edge of his bed, wrapped his arms around Nose and engaged in the
closest thing he came to meditation. Eventually the answer revealed
itself, and he smiled. It was going to be a good day.

First
things first. He was already late for work, so he phoned his
secretary. “I'm not gonna be in today, Li-san.”

“Himself
was asking for you yesterday afternoon,” she told him. “It's
not going to look good if you're not here again.”

“I'll
handle it,” he replied. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

He phoned Takeda Delivery and hit pay dirt when Yuki
answered. “You want some company tonight, kiddo?” Yes
indeed, Yuki assured him he did. Mugen promised to come over around
seven.

Next was Kohza. He'd weaned her off the everyday
calls, but still talked to her a few times a week, mostly to keep
tabs on what the gang was up to. He never had to ask outright. She
was such a gossip, she usually managed to spill something interesting
all by herself. He asked her out to lunch and she said yes,
thankfully, so they planned to meet at noon.

Digging around
his apartment, he found everything he needed, even the steel-toed
boots he had to buy the summer he'd landed a job in an auto factory.
They were a little snug, but fit well enough to suit his purposes. He
dressed carefully but didn't shower, deciding his plans for the day
required a certain amount of funk, and headed downtown.

Kohza
came through. He'd already had his suspicions, but she confirmed
them, talking about how Tiger and Stump thought they were all that
for taking a guy down the other night. They were mid-level fuck ups,
decent fighters who'd been around forever but never had enough brains
to gain any power or responsibility in the gang. He knew them both
and where one of them lived. Good deal!

After he dropped
Kohza back at her office, he decided to go bother his parole officer
for a while, considering there was time to kill before he needed to
set up his stake-out. The big, alcoholic, used-to-be-Jesuit took
Mugen's case when he was eight, when he got arrested for robbing an
apartment. And, since his youthful misadventures insured continued
contact over the years, he was the closest thing Mugen had to a
father.

He'd shown the reckless, undisciplined boy the world
of the Internet and, slowly but surely, that world won out over the
one Mugen was born into.

“You learn how to read and
all this is yours,” he'd insisted, never letting up, and
finally Mugen was free. And then, after Mugen's almost fatal
encounter with the Nakasone gang, he'd brought the kid with the
unearthly trading skills to the attention of the man who was
mentoring him now—the senior partner/owner of the venture
capital firm Mugen worked for.

Mugen sauntered into the teen
center where his PO kept his office. “What the fuck are you
doing here? Your appointment's two weeks from now. Why aren't you at
work?”

“There's something I gotta do.”

“I
don't like the look in your eye, Mugen. When you look crazy like that
bad things happen.”

“I'm gonna kick me some ass.
If I get caught will it fuck up my parole?”

“Jesus
Christ!” he bellowed, scowling. “In three months you're
twenty-one and finally outta my hair. Why are you doing this kinda
shit now?” He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “Get
caught with a weapon and you're back on ice for sure. No weapon, it
depends who's testifying, so make sure it's impossible. Now get the
hell outta here! I can't be having this conversation with you.”

“OK, OK, I'm going.” Mugen smirked and headed
toward the door.

“Hey, by the way, the new computers are
great.” Mugen turned back as he spoke. “They got here
last week. And those three games have been earning the center some
money, so thanks a lot, Mugen.”

His patron smiled. “No
prob, Bundai-sama.”

“Sama! Don't be a smartass.
Now get the hell outta here!”

Mugen forced himself to
eat something, even though he was too wound up to have an appetite.
Then he walked over to Stump's apartment building and scoped out a
good place to settle in, hoping his instincts were correct. Something
told him it was going to happen. There was a flow pushing him along
and everything had fallen into place so far. It took an hour and a
half, but they finally came out, Stump and Tiger too. It was his
lucky day!

They took off down the street and Mugen stepped in
behind, keeping a respectable distance. They were moving toward an
alley, a good place, so Mugen tied a bandanna around his face, pulled
his hood over his head, and struck. It didn't take long, considering
he was unconcerned about hitting them from behind. There was no need
for sportsmanlike behavior in this situation.

Boot to the
head! he thought to himself, smiling evilly, as he did just that.
Once unconscious, their ribs cracked loudly, a satisfying sound.
Karma's a bitch, huh? One last look to make sure they weren't
going anywhere and he took off.

He removed the gray hoodie
he'd been wearing before exiting the alley and walked casually across
the street. So far as he could tell, there'd been no witnesses. He
felt exhilarated, the rush of adrenaline making him giddy. Yuki's
place was four blocks away, but the walk wasn't long enough to burn
off the fire inside him. He felt alive, powerful, ready to take on
the universe. Yuki staggered backward a few paces when he opened his
door, it was so intense.

“You're throwing off sparks,”
Yuki observed, incredulous. “What's up with you?”

Mugen
reached for him and Yuki noticed. “Fighting, eh?” He
grabbed the hand, inspecting the swollen knuckles.

“Yeah,”
Mugen admitted. “It's cool now. All taken care of.”

“Anybody
I know?”

“Uh, you met 'em some enchanted evening,
I think.”

“Really, Mugen?” Yuki whispered.
“Did you really nail those guys?”

“Yep.”

“Wow! My knight in shining armor.”

“Oh
for fuck's sake, you're such a dweeb. Don't say shit like that.”

Yuki had enough good sense to blush as he pulled Mugen
inside. “Well, thank you anyway. It makes me feel better to
know it.”

“Hey, speaking of better, you feeling OK
enough to get laid?”

“I think so, if we're
careful.”

“I can be careful...I think.”

to be continued
- 14
- 15
- 16
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Business as Usual