Cinnamon and Jasmine - Freestyle Love Affair

CINNAMON AND JASMINE - FREESTYLE LOVE AFFAIR

CHAPTER THREE

DAY FOUR

\"Fuck!\" Mugen shouted in the middle of the busy town.

Jin did not come home last night, or this morning. It was getting late and he had been looking for him all day.
//I\'m gonna kick his ass! I know what I did was stupid, but he should have came back by now!//
Sighing, he gave up and sat outside the tea house. This was the last place he saw his love.
//Where did you go?//

- - - - -

\"Nice knowing ya, cutie...\" Kakuzo dumped the tattered form in a ditch by the road, on the edge of town. Smiling ear to ear; he slid the blue bracelet off the thin wrist, shaking it in victory. \"Thanks for the memento...\" He laughed, whistling happily as he walked away.

Jin\'s body was covered in bruises and fluids, blood ran from his lips and mouth. Deep burns from a pipe lined his left arm, while dark marks covered his wrists and ankle\'s from the ropes. His hair was half pulled from it\'s ponytail, flopping weakly over his disheveled face.

The only sign he was alive was his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.
//Mu..gen...//

- - - - -

//I should just go back to the room, maybe he\'s there...//
Tan legs walked on, dazed. He was almost at the edge of town.
//Maybe he\'s gone for good? Went back to take on a few of those Muju-dudes.//
He would have walked past the form, if he wasn\'t staring at the ground.

\"Oh fuck...\" Mugen dropped to his knees rolling over the body, it\'s clothing looked too familiar.
It was dark and he couldn\'t make much out, but the star\'s reflecting off the metal frame glasses confirmed it. \"What the fuck?!\" The swordsman screamed, looking around for anyone to take it out on.

After the initial shock of it; he carefully picked up his love, making sure to grab the two swords he cared for so much.
//Please, please don\'t be dead...//
No one seen the silvery trail of tears falling down the tan face.

- - - - -

DAY FIVE

\"I\'m so sorry...\" Mugen was now crying, wiping his eyes in frustration. \"If I wasn\'t so fucking stupid...\"

His eyes stared at the roughly bandaged body in front of him. He had cleaned him up and tended the wounds as best he could, but now the ronin lay in a coma like state on his futon.

While he cleaned him Jin spoke in and out, crying saying \'please stop\'. Each sob ripped the Ryu-kyuian\'s heart out. He knew how proud Jin was, and what it would take to make him cry like that. Also he had noticed the blue prayer beads that the other wore were missing, something else he wouldn\'t have easily allowed.

//Someone raped and tortured him and it\'s your fault!//
To add more to his worry, Fu was returning in two days.
//What will she do?//

\"Please be okay...\" He ran a shaky hand carefully over the pale bruised face.

- - - - -

DAY SIX

\"Muthafucker!\" Mugen kicked a stool across the room.

Jin had still not woken up and he was no closer to killing his attacker.
//I\'ll find that bastard and rip out his heart!//
The tan one left the room for the first time since he found Jin.

- - - - -

\"Oi, give me three of those...\" Slender fingers pointed to the grilling squid.

He turned around, blankly watching the town go about it\'s day.
//It could be any of them.//

\"Escuse me, I\'ll take 15 octopus, and 12 squid...I\'m preparing for a trip out of town.\" A deep voice laughed, ordering.

Something about the man\'s voice made Mugen turn back around. It sounded in a hurry, he was a large man with a long ponytail. As the vendor handed Mugen his squid, his eyes picked up a hint of blue around the man\'s wrist.
//That\'s!//
Anger filled him instantly; but he remembered what Jin said about mass attention, and Fu\'s warning. Keeping his gaze locked on the man, he followed him a few miles before he noticed.

\"Can I help you?\" The man finally had enough and turned around.

\"Where did you get that bracelet?\"

\"Huh? I found it.\"

\"You found it, eh? On a samurai wearing glasses?!\"

The man made a deer in the headlights face and that was all the admission Mugen needed. Within seconds, he was on the man, holding the squid skewer to his eye.

\"You raped him didn\'t you, you fat son of a bitch?!\" The angry voice roared into the peach ears.

\"What are you talking about? I\'m only in Edo on business...I don\'t know any samurai with glasses...\" He stared, stone still, at the sharp edge of the wooden stick.

\"Shut up!\" Mugen leaned back and punched the man in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.

\"Help! Someone, he\'s crazy! Help me!!\" The man screamed, attempting to crawl away.

\"Ain\'t no one can hear you, pork bun bastard!\" Mugen kicked the large rib cage.

\"Agh! I\'m not who you think I am...\"

\"Liar, those are Jin\'s beads!\"

The name made the man gasp.

\"Say it!\" He kicked him again, harder.

\"Ukg...All right, all right, I did it! He was walking away from the tea house...\" He coughed up blood, \"He was alone, I didn\'t know he was with someone! He looked like a wanderer...\"

\"Fuck you! I should rape you!\" Mugen kicked him in the face this time, sandal cutting his cheek.

\"Please, stop...I beg you...I have money if that\'s what you want, anything take it! Just please stop, I\'m sorry!\" He cried.

\"That\'s what Jin said! Probably over and over!\" The rage reached it\'s peak and he withdrew the odd sword.

\"No, NO!!\"

Mugen didn\'t pause once as he shanked the man through his throat, twisting the blade to make sure he suffered.

He waited to listen to the last little gurgle of life; before he removed his sword, shaking the blood off. Grabbing the thick arm he carefully removed the way too small blue bracelet. It was like blasphemy to see them on someone else. He stood, running his fingers over the smooth item. It was well wore from years of use, this had to be his. Suddenly he realized how much the silly little piece of jewelry meant to him.

//I\'m sorry Jin, you had to be hurt by someone like that...//
He turned beginning to walk back; the man\'s large order of food, and wallet in tow.

- - - - -

DAY SEVEN

\"I\'m back!\" Fu sang, busting into the room holding many bags. Her face was glowing four shades of golden until she seen everyone.

Her expression darkened when she saw Jin, bandaged on the futon, and Mugen sitting over him. \"What the heck happened?!\" She dropped her bags and quickly walked to the pair.

Mugen closed his eyes, not knowing how or where to start.

\"Jin...\" Fu sighed, sitting next to the Ryu-kyuian, seeing the numerous wounds. She turned, swatting the tan one across the side of the head. \"I wanna know what happened!\"

\"I...\" His voice cracked. \"I don\'t know, he...\"

Fu looked confused, she\'d never seen him like this before.
\"I\'m sorry. It\'s okay...Take your time.\" Fu now rubbed his shoulder softly.
//I almost forgot that\'s his boyfriend, or whatever they call it...//

Normally he would have told her to fuck off, but he was scared and her being there made him feel safer somehow. Fu was amazed he didn\'t pull away.

\"We, we had an argument...I did something fucking stupid and he left. He never came back, so I looked for him...I found him like...this...\" Tears began to well up and he didn\'t bother to care, that had been happening a lot lately. \"I thought he was dead at first. He w-won\'t wake up...If I wasn\'t such an asshole, this would have never-\"

\"Shhh, you didn\'t do anything...\" Fu interrupted, standing up on her knees enough to hug the thin man.

\"I\'m sorry, Fu...I love him so fucking much!...\" He broke down a little, crying into the small pink shoulder.

\"I know, I know. It\'s okay now...\" She ran her hand up and down his back, soothingly.
//This is why I shouldn\'t leave them alone...//

- - - - -

Fu had to smile a little.

Despite everything, the sight of them both sleeping soundly made her feel better. It had been a whole week without them. She never realized how important a part both of them had become to her daily life. Life before Mugen and Jin was dull and gray in comparison. As much as she would like to wander the land with the two, she had to keep her eye on the prize, so to speak. With detours and injuries and the lot, sometimes she felt she wasn\'t getting anywhere. The samurai who smells of sunflowers was taking a back burner to this soap opera romance.

Since the trio left Ku\'s it was all she could do to keep their hands off each other. She had woke up on more than one occasion to hear panting breath and soft moans. Most likely from Jin she thought, as Mugen was usually loud without regret. At times it freaked her out, mind wandering to what they could be doing. But most of the time she smiled inward at how cute they were together. One complimented the other, like good sashimi and shoshoyu sauce.

Food began to take the lead in her mind, as she dug through her bags to find a package of dried sweet potatoes.
//Mugen said he killed the guy. I hope no one seen him, that\'s all we need.//

\"Poor Jin...\" Fu exhaled loudly, chewing.

//He just went through all that at Ku\'s. I can\'t believe someone...raped him.//
She tried to imagine what a state the ronin must have been in to be so distracted.
//This love of theirs seems to delay my goal more and more, but...It\'s so real. I\'ve never seen Mugen so upset...What do I do?//

The flying squirrel that lives in her sleeve sat on her lap, sighing as well.
\"Momo...We have to make a plan.\"

It cooed in agreement.

- - - - -

TWO DAYS LATER

\"Fu! He\'s waking up!\" Mugen jumped to the ronin\'s side, the girl in question did the same.

Jin groaned a little, stirring. Soon a pale eyelid fluttered open.

\"Jin...\" Mugen felt like crying again.

The ronin blinked a few times, looking very much in pain. \"Mu...gen...\"

\"Yes, I\'m right here. You\'re safe now, I swear.\"

Jin closed his eyes as tears began to fall in a steady stream. \"You found me...\"

\"Fuck right I did.\" Now he was crying, taking the cold hand into his own. \"I love you...\"

\"I\'m so happy you\'re awake.\" Fu chimed in.

\"Fu...\" Jin moved his eyes to her. \"Sorry...You said no trouble.\" He sighed, taking another pained breath.

\"Hush, the good thing is you both are here and alive. We still have plenty of money thanks to Ku, so take your time and get better.\" She smiled, and Jin\'s countenance relaxed a little.

Looking at the teary eyed men, made her feel awkward. \"I\'ll leave you two alone, and bring back food.\"

\"I\'m sorry Jin, for leaving you that day...\" Mugen spoke after Fu left.

\"It was my fault.\" He opened his eyes, focusing a worried look on his lover. \"I kept pushing the issue.\"

\"Shh, you just rest and focus of healing.\"

//I must be delusional...//
The ronin drifted back into unconsciousness
//It looked like he was crying.//

- - - - -

THE NEXT DAY

\"His color looks better...\"

\"Maybe soon he\'ll want to eat...\"

Jin could hear the familiar voices talking, but was unable to bring himself to wake up. His whole body hurt, and the state of semi-awakeness took much of that away.

\"I have to go make more arrangements with the owner of the Inn.\"

Jin rolled to his side and the voices stopped.

\"Anyway, I\'ll be back as soon as I can, okay?\"

\"Yeah...\"

The sound of money rustling and feet were all around him. Then silence, and he faded into the blackness.

//At least he moved. That\'s the first time in days...//
Mugen sat by the futon, making sure not to disturb the ronin.
//He always looks so beautiful when he\'s asleep.//
He reached out and carefully brushed back the inky bangs.
//You\'re going to be all right now. Fu\'s here, and me...//

The Ryu-kyuian tried to reassure himself. His whole life he had been brash, and held no regrets, alliances, or worry. But ever since he found his new life, bleeding in a ditch, everything changed. Now he felt insecure, frightened, and lost. Wondering how would he ever live again without Jin.
//I can\'t...//
Never had he needed anyone or anything so badly.

\"...You have to get better.\"

Mugen had done a lot of that lately, speaking all his true feelings to Jin aloud. The fact the ronin was mostly unconscious made him less nervous about it. Secretly however, he hoped on some level he could hear him.

\"Mugen?\" A small voice came from the still form.

\"I didn\'t mean to wake you...\"

\"You didn\'t. Will you lay with me?\"

Mugen stared in awe for a moment before laying next to Jin, facing the ronin\'s back. He was afraid of hurting him.

\"You sound, different...\" Jin spoke softly.

\"Nah, everything\'s fine.\" The swordsman attempted to smile, tracing his hand up and down the uninjured part of Jin\'s arm.

\"If you say so.\"

\"How do you feel?\"

\"It\'s nothing...\" He lied.

\"That\'s bullshit.\" Mugen continued to speak in a gentle voice.

\"Heh, yes...\"

\"Don\'t push it, remember what happened at Ku\'s?\"

\"Mmmhmm.\"

Mugen leaned over and kissed the nape of Jin\'s neck, startling the pale one somewhat.

\"You know...For a while I thought I\'d never feel those lips again...\" Jin shook slightly, he was crying. \"I kept screaming but no one was there, I didn\'t think anyone would find me...That I\'d never see you again, just because I was jealous.\"

\"Shh, don\'t cry. I\'m the one who should be. I just wanted to feel in control again, but now I see I can\'t be in control anymore...\"

\"What?\"

\"You already have complete control over me. When I couldn\'t find you, I felt sick, like I was gonna fucking die. And when I found you...I can\'t live without you.\"

Jin made a few winces as he turned to face the tan one.

\"Now you know my predicament.\" The pale features smiled slightly. \"But you were right somewhat. I am an uke...I didn\'t realize it till that man...I never thought anyone could do that...\" He took another deep breath. \"You didn\'t use me like that, like all the others wanted too, like you could have...\"

\"That guy was a fucking psycho and I know if you had your chance you could have killed him quick. Don\'t think that makes you submissive. Even if you were, that shouldn\'t make you a damn target for rapist\'s. I shouldn\'t have made you so upset.\"

Jin looked down at Mugen\'s chest, avoiding his eyes. \"You do not think less of me? Or no longer wish to touch me, now that I\'m tainted?\"

\"Tainted?! You could never be anything less than amazing to me. I found that guy and killed him, fat fucking bastard. Something as worthless as him could never stop me from wanting you.\" Mugen placed a hand on Jin\'s bruised face, gently.

\"You killed him?! But, how did you know?\"

\"He had these...\" He touched the small bracelet. \"Plus he admitted it, after some...persuasion...\"

\"Did he suffer?\" Jin smiled some.

\"Yep.\" Mugen smiled back warmly.

Jin took a long deep breath. \"I\'m so dizzy...\" He closed his eyes, leaning farther against the cinnamon one.

\"You need to sleep more, build some blood back up.\"

\"I know...\" He opened his eyes weakly. \"But I want to see you.\"

Mugen ran his fingers through the black locks. \"I\'m right here, always will be.\"

\"Good...\"

In silence, both fell asleep. Feeling whole again for the first time since they left Ku\'s.

END CHAPTER THREE

((Too mushy? O_o Had to take care of some loose ends...but never fear! Nice Jin/Mugen scene coming up next, in what should be the last chapter. Thanks to everyone who has read this piece so far, with a little polish it could be half decent. ^_^ Domo!))