Wow, I've gotten more reviews on this story than I got combined on all my old stories. This story is requiring a whole lot more research than I remember putting into my old stories, though. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe I'm getting more careful in my old age. Anyways, tantojusu is, pretty obviously, the art of the tanto. And . . . drum roll please . . . that's all I could find out. A name. So, if it seems like I'm making this up, a good part of it, I actually am ;P If there are any die-hard martial arts fans out there who wouldn't mind sending me written descriptions of some of the techniques in tantojutsu. PLEASE . . . by all means, allow me to partake of some of your vast knowledge.

Also, just so I don't get in trouble in my next chapter, what CAN a writer put in a rated M story? Define "non-explicit."

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Chapter 2 - Hot Enough For You?

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Tantojutsu. She sometimes wished that she'd never heard of it. She looked back on her days as a child and hated herself for showing all of the enthusiasm towards learning anything about it.

She remembered everything about that morning. There was a bird singing a delicate tune outside of her and her mother's room as the sun came up. The fresh spring air was warm and refreshing as it poured into the room through the door that her mother had left open when she'd risen earlier in the morning. Sarasa, her kitten was curled up in the sun that was beaming in from the window, purring loundly.

Fuu hastily got out of bed and dressed before making her way to the kitchen where her mother hummed merrily. At the door, however, she stopped, seeing what was lying on the table. In her haste to begin her first day as a 10-year old, Fuu hadn't noticed her father's knife had been taken off of the dresser. Hesitantly, she sat on her knees in her usual place.

After a few moments her mother joined her, placing a steaming pot of tea between herself and her daughter as well as cups. Fuu automatically took the pot and poured the hot liquid into her and her mother's cups as properly as she could manage. Her mother smiled approvingly lifting the cup to her lips and taking a sip. For what felt like an eternity, they sat in silence. Her mother seemed lost in her own thoughts. Eventually, Fuu couldn't take it anymore.

"Why is Father's tanto on the table?" she asked calmly.

Her mother looked up at her a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Do you remembered the game we played together so long ago with the stick?"

Fuu knodded. Her mother had never trully explained the meaning behind it.

"You are very fast Fuu," the older woman explained, "And I beleive that it would have been your father's wish for you to not waste such a precious gift. So," she said grabbing the knife off of the table and offering it to her daughter, "I would like to give you this. Please, think of it as your father's birthday gift for you."

Cautiosly, Fuu took the presented offering. It was a very beautiful present, she thought. Fuu closed her eyes, offering her father a silent prayer of thanks.

"Do you know how to use it?" Fuu asked her mother, suprising her.

She wiped her mouth before answering. "I do not."

Fuu looked back to the tanto in her hands. What a shame, she had thought, to waste such a beautiful gift. She had the speed and weapon, but no means to use it. It was like having the fire and the rice, but no water to cook with.

"But . . ." her mother added quietly, "I do know someone who does."

Fuu brightened.

"Is this really what you want, though?" A loaded question. Fuu could feel it in the air. There was a catch to this, and probably a lesson to go with it. Did she really want this? What was that supposed to mean? Of course she did.

"Yes," she answered firmly. "This is what I want."

Her mother knodded. "You should know something first," she said, her eyes glistening with tears. "One who learns to fight, is doomed to never enjoy a peaceful life."

Fuu blinked, confused.

"Once you learn you will never be able to escape it. I don't know why, but that is the way it is. People will come to hurt you, and if you have a family they will hurt them too," she explained with downcast eyes. "All peaceful people know this, and so no farmer or merchant will have you as their bride if they know."

"What about a samurai, like father was?"

Her mother didn't answer her, only sighed. Fuu knew that she had not been pleased by her question. Fuu did not understand. Her father had been a samurai, but her mother had such a distaste for them.

"Then what if I never told anyone that I could do it?" she reasoned.

"Perhaps," her mother said, "but do you want to sacrifice years of your life to something that you will never be able to use?"

"What if I should need it one day?" Fuu asked. "I think that years of my life would be worth it if it meant that I could save my life."

"I suppose that is correct," her mother said without much enthusiasm.

"Mama," Fuu said, reaching across the table and touching her mother's hand. "I promise I will keep it a secret. No one will ever know, not even a samurai."

Her mother smiled at her tearfully. "Very well then."

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Fuu was woke in the night by the sould of Jin settling down onto his bed roll. She rolled over and looked into the dark shadows of the room. Not too far from her, Jin sat staring out the door at the stary night sky. He always looked like he was pondering the deepest secrets of the universe, she thought to herself. He was quite possibly the most difficult man to read that she had ever met. Mugen, she could read him like a book. It was more like reading a picture book at times, but she understood him and how he thought and functioned.

For Mugen to announce that he was going to the brothel, was like mentioning to Fuu that it looked like it might rain. But when Jin had told the two of them that he was going to buy a woman, it felt as if Fuu's world had tilted on it's axis. Her suprise had been caused by a combination of the fact that he'd said so much to her at one time and by the fact that he'd actually announced it out loud. Fuu knew that he and Mugen would run off to satisfy their 'primal' urges when she wasn't looking, but it was unlike him to flat out tell anyone that he was going to be with a woman.

It hadn't been just the sex that he'd gone after, and she knew it. Jin had someone waiting for him. If she hadn't needed him so badly, she wouldn't have minded to tell him that his debt had been paid. He was like a big brother to her now. She knew that he was looking out for her because he felt the same in some way, and she wanted for him to be happy. Jin, if anyone, deserved to be happy. There were just times that she wished that he could've been happy with her.

Of course, Fuu wished that was so with either of them. Her mother would've rolled over in her grave if she'd known that her daughter had strong feelings towards not just one samurai, but two. Yes, she hated to admit it, but Fuu felt something for the lean scoundrel of a man that slept across the fireplace from her. He could never know that though, she though to herself. Mugen was so full of himself, Fuu reasoned that he'd never let her live it down if he found out that she had a teensy weensy crush on him.

He probably already had his suspisions, Fuu thought, her eyes watering with sleepiness. But, why add fuel to the fire? He'd only torment her even more if he had proof. She closed her eyes, letting sleep overtake her again.

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Morning felt like it came too soon. The three travelers awoke in a sweat from the summer heat, their clothes and hair sticking unpleasently to their skin. Fuu groaned, rolling up her bed. It was going to be miserable walking in this heat.

"My kingdom for a cold bath . . ." she wimpered, tying up the bundle.

"Eh?" Mugen looked up at her from the same task. He looked just as uncomfortable. His normally windblown hair was stringy and hung limply about his face. At some time in the night he'd taken off his heavier red shirt and now the white one clung to him, outlining his lean frame and taunt muscles. Fuu shook her head, shifting her attention to Jin quickly.

Jin showed no obvious signs, but she could see the sweat dripping off of his nose as he adjusted his rumpled clothing. No doubt he was used to being hot. His heavy clothing looked like it was very uncomfortable in hot weather.

After packing up their make-shift camp, the three set out towards Ikistuki Island. Acording to their map there was really only a couple more towns to pass through before reaching their destination. If they made good time today, they were sure to reach a small fishing village before nightfall. After that came a town called Saga, then Nagasaki.

A brief gasp of wind swept over them as they walked through some dense woods. Even the birds seemed abated by the heat. Either they were being exceptionally quiet or the numbingly lound cicadas were drowning out their songs. Fuu sighed, wiping her forhead on her sleave. It felt as if nature didn't want them to find the sunflower samurai. She thought about loosening her obi so that she didn't feel so constricted around the waist. Maybe that would releave some of the heat.

As she was begining to untie the simple style knot at the small of her back, it struck her that Mugen wasn't in front of Jin or her anymore. Her mind must've drifted, and she hadn't seen him loose the lead and fall to the back of their little parade. Slowing down for a second, she looked behind her just in time to catch him avert his gaze and begin to whistle innocently. HE'D BEEN WATCHING HER UNTIE HER SASH! Fuu blushed angrily, returning her hands to her sides. The bastard must've known that that was the first thing she'd do to releive herself in this heat, and he'd made his move to the back of the line so he could watch.

Fuu felt fury breifly bubble up inside of her, but it was stopped with a thought. Did that mean that he might be interested in her? Of course, she reasoned, they hadn't been to a town since before the whole crazy burried treasure business, and she really couldn't remember how long they'd been stuck there. He was probably just getting desperate. He hadn't gone this long without getting some action since . . . well . . . as long as she'd known him.

"Hmph!" She looked back at him again, and he flashed her a crooked smile, scratching his head. Fuu decided to be angry instead of flattered. She quickly straightened out the bow of her obi and caught up with Jin.

"Mugen is bothering you?" the quiet man said looking down at her.

"Nah," she sighed, not wanting to give either of them a reason to fight. "He's just being . . . well. He's just being Mugen."

"I see," Jin stated, returning his eyes to the path. They continued in silence.

As the sun was reaching the peak of it's daily journey and the heat was so unbearable that it was begining to labor their breathing, Fuu annouced that she needed a break. For the first time, neither samurai complained. Jin sat down in the shade of a massive tree, and Fuu joined him, sitting on her knees as usual. After a moment, Mugan caught up to them and sat down beside Fuu.

"Eh?" He'd never done this before. Looking to him for some sort of explination for his actions, Fuu flushed instantly. He'd taken off his white shirt and tied both of them around his waist. This of course revealed his gaunt and muscular torso that was literally gleaming with sweat. All over his body she could see faint scars, but they didn't keed him from looking absolutely gorgeous. Wide eyed, Fuu forced herself to look at Jin. He offered no help. The samurai had his eyes closed as if he was meditating.

"Hot enough for ya?" Mugen asked her, leaning back on his arms and stretching his legs. Fuu shuddered at the double-meaning of the question.

"I'm going to go look for some water," she stated as calmly as she could manage, getting up. Now she could REALLY use a cold bath.

Mugen shrugged watching her rigidly walk into the woods. He smiled to himself at his small victory. After a few quiet moments with Jin, Mugen decided that it would probably not be such a good idea to let Fuu wander off without someone to watch over her in case of bandits or something. He got to his feet and silently walked in the direction she'd gone.

Fuu had calmed down some, but not enough. The image of Mugen's body had been burnned into her mind, and she'd probably carry the memory to her death bed. She stopped for a moment and took a few deep controlled breaths. "Okay, Fuu," she said, "get ahold of yourself." Taking a few more relaxing breaths, she heard something that she hadn't noticed before. Somewhere not too far away, she heard a gentle trickling sound. "WATER!" she cheered walking hastily in the direction of the noise.

Oh how she loved it when she was right. A short distance away she found a cool bubbling creek. The water was crystal clear and pooled perfectly in one spot. She hastily looked around. No one, she thought happily, untieing and unwrapping her obi from around her waist. Mugen and Jin could wait for just a little while she reasoned, then she would go back and tell them about her find and let them enjoy it as well.

Fuu removed her kimono. She considered washing it, but what would be the point. Plus she'd have to wait for it to dry. She hung it over a low limb, smoothing it out so that the cotton material wouldn't wrinkle. Her bindings around her breasts would take too long to put back on, she reasoned, so she left them on. Besides, it wouldn't take no time for them to dry, and it would be a pleasant releif while they were walking. A thought crossed her mind, and she picked up her tanto, bringing it to the water's edge where it would be within easy reach should she need it.

The water of the creek wasn't frigid, but it was still cool enough to be refreshing to her. She sighed in ecstasy, slipping into the pooled water up to her shoulders. This was living! Fuu took the pins out of her hair and loosened the tight and unpleasantly damp knot, letting her dark brown tresses fall down her back. She went under the water's surface breifly to wet it and straighten out the tangles. After cleaning as best as she could without soap, she relaxed a little, leaning against the shore.

As she listened to the tranquil sounds of the woods around her, her mind wandered back to thoughts of walks through the woods with her mother when she was young.

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This was a rare treat. Her mother hardly ever went on a walk through the woods with her anymore. Plus, for the past few days she hadn't been feeling well enough to do much of anything. Today however, her headache had lessened and she had been having chills from her fever, so she wanted to be outside in the sun. Fuu was worried about her.

Times were hard for her village. Many people in her village had come down with a strange sickness lately. She feared that her mother had the same thing. With so many people sick, little work was getting done, so there was even less money than usually circulating. Thievery had gone up tremendously as a result. Lately, Fuu had took to sleeping with her tanto between her mother and the door to their room.

The doctor had told her that she had to be very careful not to drink after her mother or sleep in the same bed that she'd slept in. Also it was vital that she wash her mother's bed clothes and kimono everyday to keep from catching it. It was tiring and Fuu had had to stop her tantojutsu lessons for the time being to care for her mother. She was almost 17 now though, and Fuu felt that she was very capable.

Her mother smiled at her, and Fuu returned it. They were entering her favorite part of the forest. It was a serene spot where a bridge that the villagers had built crossed a deep crevice in the earth. They stopped in before the bridge and enjoyed the peace for a while.

"Have you found a young man yet, Fuu?" the older woman asked with a smile. "I do wish that I could've seen grandchildren before I died."

"You will, Mama," Fuu said, "Just not so soon" Fuu looked down at her feet. No man had shown interest in her, and she had been considering seeing a matchmaker. There were times however, that she felt that she just wasn't truly ready to be a wife or a mother. Her spirit was restless for something more than just being the wife of a farmer. Ho doubt, her mother wouldn't understand if she told her that though.

"I understand." Her mother leaned against a tree, rubbing her temples. The headache was coming back. This morning Fuu had noticed small lesions on her hands, much like the ones she'd seen in the village. "How are your lessons coming?" Her thoughts were interuppted, and Fuu looked back at her mother.

Her mother had never asked her about her tantojutsu during the entire 7 years that she'd been taking them. "Very well," Fuu answered hesitantly. She felt for her tanto which she always carried on her person. "Would you like to see?" she asked, looking for a target.

Her mother knodded, watching as her daughter pulled out the knife and like lightning threw it at a tree where it split a slender sprouting branch down the middle. Her mother smiled meekly at the show of skill. Fuu didn't realize how much she reminded her of her father. "Your father would have been very proud of you," she said, watching as Fuu retreived the blade.

Fuu bowed slightly. "Thank you, Mother." Seeing her mother grimace in pain, she took her arm. "Let's start back for home, so you can go to bed."

Her mother knodded, and they started back towards the village. By this time the sun was begining to set and the forest around them was alive with the sounds of the wildlife preparing for nightfall. Had her mother not been so ill, Fuu would've paused to savor the moment. But, there was not time for that.

Halfway between the bridge and the village, there was a small shrine. Usually, Fuu would stop and offer a prayer, but tonight was different. As they passed it though, something neither of them were expecting happened. From behind the shrine jumped a young man not much older than Fuu. It was difficult to tell in the waning twilight, but Fuu thought she recognized him as Tsuchi, a farmer from the other side of the village. She was about to call his name when he produced a knife from his belt. His hand was shaking as he held it out towards them. "G . . . give me your money," he studdered, his eyes darting back and forth nervously, "Or . . . or I'll kill you."

"Tsuchi-san?" Fuu breathed in horror, stepping between him and her terrified mother. He blinked and began to shake more violently. It was him.

"Damn you," he said shakily. "Damn you! Why did you have to say my name!"

"Why, Tsuchi . . ." her mother began.

"Now I have no choice but to kill you, since you know who I am!" he screamed, tears streaming down his face. "All I wanted was your money," he whimpered.

"Tsuchi-san, please . . ." Fuu said, her hand going to where her tanto was tucked in her sash out of reflex.

"AAAHHHHH!" he screamed, charging them with the knife thrust forward towards Fuu.

At that point, Fuu's world began to move in slow motion. Behind her, her mother screamed. In an instant, her hand was on her tanto, and it was drawn. Fuu barely remembered taking a defensive position before Tsuchi was within range. She grabbed his outstretched arm and turnned slightly so that his back was at her side. After that, everything was a blur in her memories. The next thing that she could remember was the tanto in his back and Tsuchi's blood on her hands and her mother screaming.

They made it back to the village. Her mother was hysterical with fright and worry, so Fuu left her at their home before going to report the incident to the authorities. She told them it was an accident and that she had only acted out of self defense for her and her mother. The authorities had no trouble believing her when she began to cry. It really had been an accident. She hadn't ment to kill Tsuchi, she was only protecting her mother. The authorities had no idea that she'd known how to kill. It went on record that Tsuchi had attacked, and Fuu had struck out blindly from instinct.

The 'record' didn't keep her from feeling like a monster though. And, everywhere she went in the village now, it felt like everyone else was looking at her like she was one. This was terrible, she'd thought, how could she go on living in this village like this. She could move, but Fuu couldn't dream of leaving her mother in her current condition. Fortunately, that obstical overcame itself only a week later.

It was then, on her death bed, that Fuu's mother told her the secret that would change her life. Her father was still alive. He hadn't died, only left them.

Fuu was stirred from the painful memories by a noise in the woods. She opened her eyes and carefully reached behind her onto the shore for her tanto. It had come from the direction that she had came from when she'd found the creek. Fuu focused her hearing in on the sound. It was too quiet to be an animal, almost like it didn't want her to know it was coming. It could only be one thing, she decided, a bandit. She'd probably, stirred him from his hiding spot when she cheered for her victory. With Mugen and Jin still on the path waiting for her, she was on her own.

She cautiously rose from the water so that she was only waist deep. The approaching noise stopped, but it was too late. She'd already determined where they were, just as she had found the horsefly's path in the dimming light of dusk the night before. She anxiously spun the knife in her hand with precise expertise. There wasn't a sound for what felt like an eternity. Fuu closed her eyes again and listened frozen where she stood in a stance that was ready to snap like a sprung trap.

There was a rustle in the bushes behind her. They'd moved. Fuck, this guy was good! Pretty damn sneaky for a run-of-the-mill bandit, Fuu thought. She hadn't heard a thing when he'd relocated. In the blink of an eye, she'd turnned around facing the direction that the last noise had come from and hurled her knife into the brush, where she was dead sure that her adversary was. But . . . there was no scream of pain or gurggling death noises. A cold sweat broke out all over her body. She'd missed, and now she was completely defenseless since she'd thrown her only weapon away. Fuu was about to mentally kick herself, but had no time.

Behind her, something exploded out of the bushes. Faster than she could turn around to see what was coming, there was a loud splash behind her and cold water rushed over her, making her scream in suprise. With any luck Mugen and Jin had heard her, she thought as a pair of strong arms latched around her tiny form pulling her back against their owner. Fuu couldn't scream again, she was so overtaken with panic. All she could do was struggle against her captor to try to get a better look. He held her too tightly though. She was doomed. Seven years of training had been all for nothing.

So, what'cha think so far? As I said before, reviews are very welcome, and thanks again for reading. I'll try to get more up before the end of the week.

IB