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

Chapter Five

Lunacy

"I just…I can't believe you guys got caught!"

"Your laughing doesn't make it any better, you know."

"Not for you, no. Me, on the other hand…"

Mugen gave a sigh as the woman beside him continued to laugh. It was true that he had been trying to get the Englishwoman alone again, but this was not the way he had thought it would happen.

The group had to pass through Hakone Checkpoint with travel passes. Due to the bounty on Reiko, Liza, and Ryu though, the three of them went off on their own to sneak past the checkpoint, leaving the other three to pass through on their own. Apparently, they had bought fake travel passes and Mugen had to journey through a forest before nightfall before Jin and Fuu were killed. In the events, an entire marijuana field was burnt, resulting in…quite the show that Liza, unhappily, missed.

"So, you didn't think about just ditching them and running off?"

Mugen gave her a look. "Is that what you would've done?"

"If it was anyone other than Reiko? Most likely."

The man couldn't help but grin; he really didn't expect another answer from her.

The group had gone past the Checkpoint and had landed themselves in the house of an old priest for the night. Jin, Fuu, and Reiko were all currently doing stuff around the said house to get board for the night. Reiko had sent Liza off into town wo get a few things and Mugen had decided to follow her. He had to do it in secret due to Reiko's dislike of him but he had done it. Unfortunately, Liza took one look at him and had begun to laugh. He'd let her get away with it though.

Mugen was glad to get away from the others, to be honest. Hearing Fuu complain about being hungry for the last few days was really getting annoying. Ryu tried to keep everyone laughing and he and Mugen got along just fine, but Jin's silence and Reiko's attitude were just as bad as Fuu. Liza just went with the flow, being her normal, flirty self. He had only seen Reiko smile when talking to the taller woman; he could have sword that hell had opened up.

There was a person going around killing skilled samurai, apparently three in the last month. There was a ten ryo bounty on the unknown man's head. Fuu had come to them at the house to talk about the bounty and it was then that Liza decided to take off. Mugen followed right after. He wasn't going to lie; he was a little w worried. Liza was prone to getting herself in trouble; especially with men. She flirted with nearly everything; especially when Reiko wasn't around. He didn't mind her flirting, especially when it was with him, but since that night that Reiko had broken them up, she hadn't done anything, let alone said anything, to him like that again.

Was she just trying to play hard to get? If that was the case, then two could play at that game.

Right before catching up to Liza, Mugen had taken care of a group following some guy named Momoi and was displeased with the results that he had received. He was looking for the street killer, or his next target, not a bunch of wimps.

Apparently, the street killer wasn't…normal. With the three victims that he had left behind, none of them were covered in any kind of sword markings. Blood was just seeping out of their eyes, ears, and nose, as if something internal had burst in their face and just came oozing out.

The two of them traveled around the town all day, Mugen happily complying to carry the bags that Liza had to pick up. He was gonna treat her as a normal person until she was the one that came back to him for more. Wearing a grin on his face, Mugen found himself picturing just what he would do to her and nearly lost himself as the sunset. He had to keep himself under control; he wouldn't let her win this.

As the duo reached the bridge that would lead them back to the house and the others, wounded men ran past them, leaving a trail behind as a single man continued on other the bridge. Mugen paused for a moment, giving a frown. Liza too watched after him, her interest peaked.

"Mugen, what do you say we stop for something to eat? My treat."

The vagabond glanced at her for a moment, almost forgetting that Reiko and Ryu had their own little collection of money, just refusing to share it with the rest of them. Liza liked to spoil Ryu a bit though, as Mugen unhappily found out, but considering what she had left behind on the table nearly a month ago, he didn't complain. He had originally been going to spend it but found himself hanging onto it, purse and all. He planned on giving it back to her; eventually.

The duo quietly followed the lone man and joined him at the same shop. Liza sat on Mugen's right, leaving him to sit by the other man as she happily began to order things. She curled her arm around his, pressing up against them as she boasted their 'romance' to the shop owner.

"Then I'd be careful if I were you," The Shop Owner told them, handing Mugen his sake as Liza accepted her dumplings happily. "Things have been pretty dangerous around here lately."

"That street killer?" Mugen asked, taking a sip.

"Yeah. Business has been lousy because a him."

"Oh dear," Liza faked fear and worry. "Perhaps coming out at night wasn't such a good idea after all."

"Oh, don't worry, babe," Mugen grinned, sliding an arm around her shoulders. "We'll be fine; don't you trust me? Besides, a real man won't attack a woman, you know? You'll be safe."

"Especially if you're here," She giggled. She then leaned forward a bit to glance at the other man in the shop. "Are you not worried about him?"

The man, long hair tied back and a goatee, gave her a glance, soon followed with a small smile. "I appreciate the concern, but I am fine. I-" the sake pot that the man had currently been holding, fell from his grasp, falling to the floor. Mugen reached out like lightning cut the said pot before it crashed to the ground. "Oh, my apologies. I guess I've had too much to drink. You may finish it, if you like."

"That's very kind of you," Liza smiled as Mugen wasted no time and downed the pot; he didn't even bother to use his cup. "

"So, do you know anything about the street killer?" Mugen asked, glancing at the man again.

He stayed silent for a moment, staring at his food before him. "Not really. I'm afraid I've been out of touch with public affairs."

"From everything I've heard, he only goes after tough guys. Why do you suppose he does that?"

"He just said he didn't know much," Liza frowned at Mugen. "Don't interrogate him."

"It's quite all right, miss," The man replied with a small smile at her. He then glanced back to his food. "I really haven't the faintest idea. However, it does remind me of a story I once heard. Long ago, on the continent, there was a man who is an expert mountaineer. This man had climbed an incredibly tall mountain, but no one had ever heard of or seen this mountain, so they couldn't comprehend the magnitude of this accomplishment. Reluctantly, the man continued to climb mountains that were said to be even taller. Day after day he climbed, all in order to make the people recognized his greatness. In the end, the man stopped trying to convince them, made a mountain his home, and became a demon."

Mugen raised a brow. The man stood up and began to leave, making Mugen follow after him as Liza left money for the shop owner and hurried after the duo. "And?"

"The story ends there." The man, Shoryu as he introduced himself, paused as they crossed the bridge yet again.

"So, what's the point?"

Shoryu sighed. "Forgive me, I suppose there was no point to the story, but now we go our separate ways."

Mugen nodded with a grin. "That street killer's out there, so be careful."

"Thanks, I will. You, too. And you as well, miss." Shoryu gave Liza a short bow before he turned off to leave.

Liza took a few steps back and watched as Mugen pulled his blade out, pointing it at Shoryu.

"You're him, right?"

Shoryu gave a smirk and tossed his bag in the air, revealing a strange blade that Liza had never seen before; it definitely wasn't a katana.

Mugen blinked. "What kind of fighting stance is that?"

Shoryu stayed silent, deeply inhaling, before striking like lightening. Liza felt an uneasiness in her stomach as Mugen barely dodged his attack; Shoryu complimented him on doing so. This man…he wasn't a samurai, he was something else entirely. But what?

Before the battle could continue, a whistle blew and scouts began running towards them, intent on catching the Street Killer.

Shoryu grabbed his cloth and wrapped his sword up again as he glanced back at Mugen. "On the night of the next full moon, we'll meet here again."

"Come with me, little bird."

Liza's voice dragged Muen from his trance. He had been watching Shoryu run off, oblivious to the woman that had moved up beside him and grabbed his arm. Both his hands shook as he realized that he had received gashes across the palms, his blood seeping out.

"What the hell?"

"That man…there's something weird about him. We should tell Reiko." She lightly tugged on his arm. "Let's get you cleaned up."

When they returned to the home they were lodging at, the duo found everyone gathered around the bathhouse as the old priest took it. Reiko and Ryu were respectful and stayed out of the said room and listened from outside, but Liza had no problem bursting in with a heartful greeting and taking a seat by the fire to warm her limbs while Mugen told them about their run in with Shoryu. It turns out that Zuikou wasn't just an ordinary priest and that Shoryu had once been a student of his.

"Back when I was a young man, I know you may not believe it to look at me now, but I was a warrior, in charge of my own dojo. And Shoryu whose name was Ukon, was a dedicated student at my dojo, and I was his teacher. He was a man of considerable skill. And he was totally devoted. Each day he put his heart and soul into studying the martial arts. Eventually, Ukon was sent on a sea voyage, on the orders of this domain's Lord. But the ship met with disaster. It was believed that the ship had gone down, and that there were no survivors. But Ukon escaped death and miraculously washed ashore on the continent. In that land, he encountered a mysterious martial art. Whoever could have guessed just how great an impact that would have on him. And then, a full 10 years after the shipwreck, he returned to this land. However, he had changed so completely, that he almost seemed different person."

The man had returned, trying to now teach the samurai what he had learned but he discovered that the samurai were all too weak now and that his teachings were too…harsh for them. Zuikou expelled him from the dojo and he left in a crazed daze. He tried other dojos but was rejected due to his teachings and instead began to kill the leaders.

"That's what brought me here, to save the soul of my disciple, which had become utterly corrupted with darkness." At those words, Mugen stood up and left the room, moving outside to stand with Reiko in silence. "I left the dojo and became the priest you see before you now. I mustn't allow Shoryu to commit any more sin. But I don't know if anyone can stop him."

Mugen, who was starring at the moon, gave a thumbs up and a grin. "Sounds good to me. I think I'm really gonna enjoy taking on someone like that."

"Don't be stupid," Reiko glanced at him. "From what Liza told us, you were shaking where you stood. He'll kill you without a second thought. You can't handle it."

Mugen turned to glare at the woman. "You wanna say that again?"

"I have to agree with Reiko on this one," Ryu joined in. "This guy…he's really dangerous."

"So what? You think the 'Terror Sisters' can take him, but I can't?"

"I didn't say that," The other man replied. "I don't think any of us should get involved."

"Are you a man or a woman, Matsu?"

"I can show you my dick, if you'd like, but only if your promise not to be jealous of the size."

Mugen looked shocked at the suggestion and Liza laughed, sticking her head out. "I can judge, if you want to show yours off too, you know!"

Jin gave a sigh as the banter outside continued, leaving just him and Fuu to silence.

As the days went on, waiting for the next full moon, Mugen began to train in strange ways, like chopping wood and doing push-ups by the waterfall and meditating and others strange things. Liza happily helped him do so, enjoying the laughter she got out of it. Ryu had explained to Fuu that Mugen was acting like this because this Shoryu was someone that he wasn't sure that he could defeat.

Reiko wasted no time in telling the pirate that he was going to die, happy to say that it would be one less oaf to deal with, but Mugen did his best not to let her annoy him and continued on with his training.

And then the big night came. Mugen had tried to slip out of the house without anyone noticing but Liza wasn't going to let that happen and had clung to his arm as she giggled, walking beside him and encouraging him.

"So, when I win," Mugen grinned. "Do I get a prize?"

He had told himself that he was going to play her game but with the blonde woman hanging onto him like this, it was kind of hard. He had faltered several times over the last few days but this just broke everything he had kept silent.

Liza giggled happily, careful of the naginata on her back; she had brought it just in case. "That all depends on how flashy you make it."

"Flashy, huh?" Mugen grinned. "Oh, I'll make it flashy for you, all right."

Shoryu was waiting for him, just like he said he would. The man gave Liza a bow again before he and Mugen began to fight. Liza wanted the watch the fight but at the same time her stomach was twisting in knots again, her mind telling her to look away. She had only had that happen to her once before and that was wen Reiko had fought the samurai that had come after them a few years ago; it had been how they met Ryu in the first place. Liza had been wounded and had Ryu not found them and helped Reiko, the blonde didn't want to think about what could have happened. To her, it was a scary thought.

The battle broke through the bridge and Liza moved closer to watch as it continued in the water. As both blades were knocked aside, Liza had to dig her feet in the ground to keep from moving. She had promised Mugen that she wouldn't interfere. That was a promise she planned on keeping…for now, anyway.

She watched as Mugen used a knife to kill Shoryu and gave a relieved sigh. "You had me worried there, little bird."

He glanced up at her after collapsing in the water. "Why the hell are you calling me that?"

"Little bird?" She grinned. "What, I can't give my new little pet a name?"

He glared at her. "Pet? When the hell did that happen?"

"The moment you didn't return my purse to me, that's when," She grinned. "Besides, one would think you would be happy. I, after all, treat my pets very, very well."

Mugen stood up, trying to ignore the pain in his body as he decided to try and dislodge his sword from the bridge. "Is that so? Then when is this 'pet' of yours going to get a reward?"

"When you impress me."

"Impress you?!" Mugen stopped and stared up at her in shock. "This wasn't impressive enough for you?!"

"Not at all."

Liza giggled to herself as she turned from the bridging, leaving Mugen cursing to himself. Sometimes she wondering if she pushed too hard; Reiko always told her that she did.

I hope you guys like it. Review! :)