I hold no claim to the characters from this kick-ass Anime. Only Ryu, Liza, and Reiko are mine!

Chapter Nine

Confessions

"What do you mean you can't read?"

"Would you keep it down, you idiot?!" Mugen growled, slapping a hand over Ryu's mouth. "Any louder and the others will hear."

"Oh, they're preoccupied with their own shit right now. But seriously, you can't read?"

"I get by just fine without it," Mugen replied. "Besides, you don't gotta read in order to be able to kill people."

Ryu laughed as their food was served. "I suppose that's true."

The group had settled down in a restaurant in another town. Fuu was carrying on a conversation with Jin across the way while Liza and Reiko sat at their own table, not a word being passed between them. It had been nearly a week since the events at Bunko, a week since Jin had awoken him in the night and made the leave the painter's house just for them to see it burning from a distance. Ryu had a few choice words for Liza when the English woman had joined them outside of town again; Mugen had never seen Liza so angry. Had Reiko not stopped her, Mugen had no doubt that Ryu would have died that night.

Reiko ordered them to move through the night to get as far away from Bunko as possible by sunrise, and Liza had slipped off not long after. Mugen went searching for her, to ask her what had happened, but when he found her crying…he didn't know what to do. He had never dealt with a crying woman before, so his mind just went blank. He had left her there, left her to cry alone, and returned to the others.

He hadn't even been able to look at her since, let alone say a word.

"Don't feel bad! When I first met Liza, she didn't know how to read either."

Mugen looked at him in shock. "Are you serious?"

"Yep. Reiko was teaching her. She had grasped most of it but she was still confused. The duo was more worried about staying hidden in the first five years than anything else."

"Hidden, huh?" Mugen pulled a frown. "Ryu, you…never mind."

Ryu watched Mugen for a moment before sipping from his cup. He knew that Mugen was going to ask about the events at Norika castle but had stopped himself. He was glad about that. He liked Mugen, Jin too, but he felt that it was his duty to keep the secret that Liza and Reiko ad given him. If Mugen or Jin were to ask…he'd probably end up telling them and Reiko would kill him as a result.

Ryu understood that the closer they got to what was left of Norika Castle the worse the two women were going to get, but he had a problem of his own to deal with.

Fuu was after the Sunflower Samurai; he knew what she wanted. He had plainly told her that he was against it from the start, that he felt that her searching for the samurai was a horrible idea, but she was a stubborn as he remembered.

That's what he liked about her, after all.

Ryu silently thanked God that he and Fuu weren't really brother and sister. Her mother may have taken him in when his own parents died but by that age Ryu had already announced that he was going to marry Fuu when they were older. He doubted that the young girl even remembered that from all those years ago, but that was a promise to himself that he planned to keep; he just had to gather the courage to ask her now.

It was funny. He was a man on the run from the law and yet he got cold feet when bringing up marriage to the one he had been in love with for years.

He was a coward.

There was no other word that Ryu felt described him best. His father would be ashamed.

As the day went on, Mugen was kidnapped by some school teacher and Jin went to go see a man he used to learn under. The entire town was tagged at night with graffiti. Though he liked the artwork, he found it to be completely retarded.

He found himself worrying about Reiko and Liza more than anything, though. He knew they were getting closer to where Norika Castle had once stood but was that all there was to it? Was there nothing else that was making the two of them act this way? He didn't know what to do anymore.

"I'm getting really worried."

Fuu's voice made Ryu look up from the book he was reading. The duo was in the room that the group had for their stay here in this city. Reiko and Liza were out, much like Mugen and Jin still. The two of them had a run-in with a pair of goofballs earlier and Ryu had dragged the younger girl back to their room. Of course, he had to buy her a few things of the market to get her to follow him. She was currently sitting in front of a mirror, doing her hair up with the new pins he bought her.

"What for?"

"Liz'a been really weird lately. So has Mugen.'

"Mugen?" Ryu frowned. "That bastard's crazy as ever."

"No, he's changed since we first met."

"How so?"

"I don't know, he just has!"

"Are you…jealous?"

"No! Just…just worried. When this is all over, we'll part ways, right? I've gotten attached to the two of them, even if they can be jerks."

Ryu gave a frown. "I don't think I like you getting so attached to other men."

Fuu gave a snort. "You only say that because you're my brother."

"I've never thought of you as my sister," He told her. "I've always wanted you to be more than that."

The moment the words were out, Ryu bit his bottom lip. They had just escaped; then again, he was hearing the woman he was in love didn't want to part ways with other men. She hadn't meant it in that way though, had she?

Fuu turned to look at the man behind her, surprise clear on her face. "Matsu, what are you talking about?"

Ryu closed his eyes for a moment. He could see the panic on her face; the light dusting of blush on her cheeks. Relief passed through his heart. Perhaps his feelings weren't alone in this strange, twisted obsession.

"I meant what I said, Fuu. You were never a sister to me. Instead, you're the one-"

All words were stopped as the door opened and Mugen rejoined them with an accomplished look on his face. Ryu gave a sigh and rolled back over to re-emerge himself in his book. It figured that when he finally went to confess that someone would interrupt.

Maybe he should ask Liza for help; that woman had no problem expressing her feelings; especially when it came to situations like this.

~You're not the only one

Walking around with a loaded gun

This little girl is capable of murder

Cause you hurt her~

"I want to go to the remains."

Reiko's hand paused for a moment before continuing to run over the blonde hair that laid in her lap. The duo was currently sitting by the river as the moonlight shone down upon the sparkling water. The night would have been perfect if not for the rambunctious events happening further in town by the castle. They knew all about the graffiti war that was currently happening.

Norika Castle wasn't far from here at all; maybe four days. A slight detour wouldn't bother the others, would it? Besides, it was an important place, despite what happened. Norika was where Reiko learned to actually live and care for others. It was where she and Liza first met and despite all that happened, she would choose to do it again if it meant that she and Liza could be together.

"And when we get there, I want Mugen to piss on their graves."

Reiko was still for a moment before laughter began to ring from her mouth. Liza glanced up at the woman she laid on, a small smirk on her own face. It had been a while since she had heard Reiko laugh so…normally.

"I'm serious! I want Jin to do it too! And Ryu. I would do it myself but…it's easier for a man to do so."

"Indeed," Reiko wiped the tears from her eye with the corner of her sleeve. "I believe that Jin and Ryu will refuse but I've no doubt that Mugen would do so; especially it if were you who asked him too."

"Yeah," Liza closed her eyes. "He…" Her voice faded away.

Reiko frowned for a moment. "What is it?"

"It's funny," Liza began softly. "I hated and loathed every man that I came across after the events in Norika castle. But him...he's the first one that I've never thought about like that," She glanced back up at Reiko with a smile. "Funny our world, isn't it?"

As she stared down, she found herself surprised. There was a fond look in the other woman's eyes, feelings that she had almost been sure would never reveal themselves in either of their eyes.

"Are you in love with him?"

Liza gave a snort. "I don't even know what that is, you know that. All I know it that I like having him around. That and…and he's the first man that…that I haven't shuddered at his touch; or felt sick from his kiss. He's gotta be a wizard, don't you think? Maybe he's slipping something into my tea."

Reiko snorted. "I doubt he's smart enough."

Liza smiled and closed her eyes again. "I…I feel like I owe him an explanation. I know he's been worried about me ever since the events on the ship. I…I want to explain everything to him…and I don't know why."

Reiko pursed her lips together for a moment. She knew that their past would eventually be revealed to the group that they were traveling with; hopefully it wouldn't change anything. She had grown…rather fond of their companions as well, especially after Mugen had saved Liza from the ocean and Jin…

Jin. She felt an uneasiness in her stomach. The last conversation that the two of them had held, he had begun to break through her. She was about to reveal it all to him. How? How could a man do that to her?

How could she let that happen?

"I would rather you not," Reiko answered her truthfully. "But if that's the choice you wish to make, I cannot stop you. I just want you to ready yourself for the reaction you'll receive."

Liza looked at the older woman again, a smile on her face. "Don't be afraid, Reiko; you're still my main bitch."

Reiko laughed again, leaning down to place a kiss on the English woman's forehead. "And you're mine. No matter what happens, I'll always take care of you."

"We'll take care of each other." Liza cocked a brow at all the shouting that was coming from the castle a little ways away. Something must have happened. Was this stupid graffiti battle over with? "I think we've hidden everything for too long. I…I want to stop hiding."

Reiko watched as Mugen's form landed in the water not too far from them, resisting the urge to laugh again as Liza sat up, waiting for the man to join them when he spotted them.

"Then to the remains it is."

I hope you guys like it. Review! :)