Wanderings (Redux) by Laura Bryannan Author's Note: Written for a deserving friend who has bemoaned the lack of Jin/Mugen fluff in the world, here is a Wanderings What If. What if Jin returned to meet Mugen instead of going to Nagasaki alone? Probably OOC, but them's the breaks. Jin/Mugen shounen-ai. This story is an offshoot of Laura's fan fiction series Wanderings, which can be read here. (Warning: explicit sexual content) Walking away from each other the next day almost felt like a game. I headed off to get something to eat and then went back to our tree. It seemed like the most obvious place to hang if I wanted to find him again... ...and damned if he didn't show up! Something inside me suddenly felt lighter, and I tried to keep from grinning but couldn't. "Hey," he said, sitting down next to me, shoving his shoulder into mine. "I was hoping you'd come," I admitted. "I almost didn't. It would have been hard to discover you'd chosen Fuu." "I thought about it, a lot even, but she didn't seem to wanna hang with me this past month, so..." I shrugged and he nodded. I was pretty sure I knew the answer, but I needed to ask anyway. "Did you think about it?" He gave me this bemused look like he knew I knew, but answered anyway. "No, Mugen, I didn't." "Should we check out her father's place to see if she's waiting?" "Yes." So we did. I half expected her to be hanging in the doorway scowling cuz we took too long to get back, but she was gone. Nagasaki, they said. We followed, mainly cuz it was the logical place to start our journey too. Jin got a job as a bouncer, I did my thing here and there, and we made enough to rent a place near the port. We never talked about it, but I knew we were waiting for Fuu to show up again. I really thought she would. I stuck my nose in tons of different Fuu-type places and ignored the death glances I got in the swankier tea houses, but I never found her. Toward the end we even roamed the red light districts in case she got her crazy ass captured again, but we never found her whoring either. Finally the urge got too strong. Winter was coming and I wanted to be back at sea heading somewhere warm, but not alone. Me and Jin were still too ripped up to fuck, but I could do my persuading as we lay together that night making out. I didn't start talking till he was all kiss drunk and sighing. "I want to get outta this country," I announced. "Let's buy passage on a ship somewhere." "Where do you want to go?" "I don't give a shit. Anywhere there's not assholes trying to kill us, K?" The pause was just starting to worry me when he finally said, "All right, I'll go with you." Something inside felt really weird, good maybe. I think I was happy. Even after all that horrible shit and losing Fuu, I wanted to laugh. It was great! I started giggling, but I had to make myself stop cuz it hurt like a sonofabitch. Then I had an inspiration. "Hey, you remember when I stuck that damn cucumber up your ass?" Shit, I was giggling again. Ow! He shot me a wary smile. "Yes, Mugen, how could I forget?" "You said something to me that night that kinda freaked me out." "I remember." I could feel my face getting hot but I didn't care, figuring there wasn't enough light in the room to give me away. "So... I love you too." Eyes wide, he looked stunned but pleased. "I'm glad my feelings are not unrequited." "Huh?" He chuckled. "Leaving Japan seems like the right thing to do. It's exciting to contemplate, especially with a partner by my side. I'm suddenly glad you were a pirate." "You ever been on the ocean before?" "No." I snorted. He was in for a few surprises, and hopefully wasn't the seasick type. I waited a bit longer, but it looked like he was dodging the question. "So, you gonna say it back or what?" OK, I'm shameless. He pulled me down, stopping just short of a kiss. "You're the other half of my soul, Ryukyu Mugen. I love you." And then he laid The Big One on me and my brain got fried. He fell asleep first, like usual, and I watched his expression soften into that angel face he has. Makes me shiver sometimes. He was curled into my chest and his breath was tickling my side, but I didn't mind. My hand lay on his wrist, and I wondered what kinds of prayers he chants when he holds his nenju. I can't imagine what comfort they could bring. But as my fingers caress each bead in turn and I chant my own prayer, I begin to see the wisdom in it ...mine...mine...mine... end
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