I hold no claim to the characters from this kick-ass Anime. Only Ryu, Liza, and Reiko are mine!
Chapter Ten
Anger and Separation
"Ikitsuki Island?" Liza glanced over at Ryu. "What do Christians have to do with this person your girlfriend is looking for?"
"I'm not sure yet. The island is apparently a place where underground Christians gathered. Apparently, Seizo, the sunflower guy, was there as well. The island was attacked, though, ad everyone scattered. That Yuri chick said she didn't see Seizo again afterwards."
A few days ago, they had a weird run-in with some Spanish guy that was creating guns and making deals with lords all over the land for money. Turns out that the Spanish guy was really Japanese and faked being a servant of God. The bastard had met his fate when the gun he was trying to use to kill them exploded on him. Not the Island was their next step, Fuu revealing to them that the Sunflower Samurai was actually her father.
"So, she hasn't seen daddy since she was a kid, eh?" Liza folded her arms behind her head. "Some people would consider that a good thing, you know."
"You say that only because you didn't know your father," Ryu shot back. "He ditched you and your mother before you were even born so you feel no attachment to him."
"Touche'."
Ryu gave a sigh of relief when Liza didn't retort. He had feared in offending her and didn't feel like dealing with Reiko if the older woman, undoubtedly, stepped in. you couldn't blame him; Liza had been acting weird the last few weeks; ever since that near-death experience on the ship.
The group had settled in a restaurant as the rain hit hard that night, listening with a bunch of others as a young woman, blind, played and sang on a small stage before them. It was a sad song, catching Fuu and Reiko's attention as the others ate and drank, ignoring it.
"Mugen, don't eat all this guys' food," Fuu scolded her companion. "Show some restraint!"
"Sorry, can't do that," Mugen replied, shoveling more rice in his mouth. "Don't even know the meaning of the word."
"Eat as much as you want there, hotshot," Liza called down. "I'll cover it for you."
Mugen paused in his eating to glance at her for a moment. This…it was the first time that she had talked to him in a while; first time he had seen that smile of hers back on her face as well; it made him smile himself, a warm feeling seeming to explode in his chest.
"You heard the lady; keep it coming, old man!"
Reiko gave a sigh and sipped from her sake as the Goze came over and took a seat beside her. She gave a sigh as Mugen began to hit on the woman; a frown formed on her face as she shot Liza a glance. After the confession that Liza had given about liking Mugen, she had kept a closer eye on her whenever the vagabond w2was around other women. Liza didn't seem to notice though, seeming as how she had entered into her conversation with Ryu again. If she didn't get mad at his flirting, then there was nothing that she could say.
Then again, considering that Liza flirted with everything that could walk she couldn't get mad if Mugen did the same. Honestly, she was surprised that the blonde woman hadn't started flirting with the singer herself.
Ever since the events in Bunko, Liza hadn't flirted with anything, actually; not even Fuu, though that was merely just to make the younger woman uncomfortable.
Her attention was dragged from her thoughts by a duo, Yakuza, apparently, began to bother the young woman, demanding a share of her profit for setting up in their territory. Fuu tried to stop them but the Goze stopped her.
"I don't want your sympathy just because I'm blind."
"Would you two morons just leave," Reiko commented, annoyed. She was right beside the three of them, making her too close to just let this go on. "Trying to prove your strong by picking on a woman is just pathetic."
"What did you say?!"
"Deaf too? I can repeat it if you'd like."
"I said I don't want your sympathy!" The Goze told her, her voice more forced.
Reiko gave a growl, setting her cup down. "You think to highly of yourself," Reiko turned and face the two men. "You and your two lovers here are ruining my dinner, that's all. Either get the fuck out of here or I'll break your hands."
"Maybe we should cut that tongue of yours out instead!" One of the men reached for her. Reiko didn't even have a chance to move before Mugen did, saving her from their touch.
"Maybe I need to rip out that tongue of yours to keep you from picking a fight again!" A few seconds later the two men ran from the building, Mugen tossing his knife out after them. "Forgot this!" Their terrified whines could be heard as they ran further away. "Wussies. Those guys didn't even try to fight me."
"I know, right?" Liza giggled from her spot beside Ryu. "When are we going to run into some real men?"
Mugen gave a grin. "If it's a real man you're looking for, I'm right here, sweetheart. The two of us can go find a room and-" He was silenced as Jin hit him in the cheek with the butt of her katana and Fuu knocking him in the head with her shoe.
Liza laughed as Mugen cursed. Ryu and Reiko shared a sigh.
Reiko, Liza, and Ryu sat in silence as the other three talked to Sara, the woman thanking them, apologizing, and asking for them to travel to Hyuga with her. The woman offered to pay for their room and board along the way as well.
"Maybe Liza could help you in your shows," Fuu offered in eagerness. "She's a wonderful singer!"
Sara turned her head. "Is that so."
"I don't mean to brag, but I'm not too bad," Liza tossed back another drink. "But I'm afraid I only sing for those I deem worthy and frankly, that's not you. Sorry toots."
"Ooh, being kind of mean there, aren't you?" Mugen grinned from his seat.
"If you think that's mean you can't handle how I really am. Too bad, Mugen. For a minute there I was starting to think you were a man." She slammed her cup down on the table and stood. "Hyuga is right next Norika, so we have no qualms letting you travel that far; but after that, no more."
"Norika?" Ryu repeated as Liza sauntered from the building. The other trio of the group recognized the name, an uneasy feeling spreading through them all. "Is she planning to go back there?"
Reiko finished her drink and stood up herself, leaving some money on the table. "She can come with us to Hyuga, but no further than that."
Ryu stared after her with a shocked look on his face. He then turned at stared at the sake in his hand.
"Fuck."
They traveled together for nearly a month, thought Liza was still cold to the blind woman. Reiko was…Reiko, but Ryu had tried his hardest to make the young woman feel accepted. He actually enjoyed himself; she had begun to show him how to play her instrument and it reminded him of the time he had spent with his mother. She always used to play it for him when he couldn't sleep. It made him think of…better times.
The times he missed.
The group had stopped at a shack for some dumplings and, surprisingly, Jin was the one to start the conversation.
"Sorry to speak out of turn, but, isn't that a Kishibojin charm? You have a child, I take it."
Sara smiled. "Yes."
"Is the kid dead?" Mugen asked around a mouthful of dumplings.
"Mugen!" Fuu glared at the man across her from.
Sara shook her head. "Not at all. My child's alive."
"So, then I guess…it's with the father?" Fuu commented.
"The father is no longer around," Sara answered.
"Uh…but then…"
"Well, a blind woman isn't really the best mother for a child. Isn't it ironic? A woman like me, singing songs like 'Kuzunoha Leaves her Child'?"
"A blind mother is better than no mother." Liza's voice as harsh as she stood up, dropping coins in the hand of the stand owner. "Leaving the said child behind because of a reason like that just proves how poor of a mother you would be, even with sight."
"Liza!" Fuu cried in shock as the woman began to move again, her arms folded behind her head. Fuu glanced at Reiko. "Aren't you going to say something?"
"Should I?"
"Reiko!"
"Liza…she was abandoned as a child, wasn't she?" Sara asked.
Reiko stood herself, moving after the other woman. "If only it were that simple."
~Sing me to sleep Now
Sing me To sleep
Oh, Sing me to sleep now~
"Everyone you meet has their won individual aura about them. It's something I can sense. You see…I've walked in darkness for a very long time. A person can grow accustomed to anything."
Liza wore a frown on her face as Sara's words hit her. She had been on her way from the hot spring, not wanting to be there with the blind woman when Sara had joined her, but froze when a splash hit her ears and Mugen's voice joined it.
Something about this woman just made Liza uneasy and with Mugen being close to her, it made it worse for some reason.
"I may have lost my sight but I have a much keener sense for other things as a result. So please…don't feel sorry for me. If you wish to feel sorry for someone, then I would feel sorry for Liza. She is clearly burdened by something heavy."
"Liza's a big girl," Mugen's reply came. "She can take care of herself. It seems that's what she wants to do, after all. Besides, if you were happy then you wouldn't go around singing those songs you do."
As Fuu's screech sounded through the area, Liza slipped off again, heading for the room that she and Reiko shared. She paused when she saw Reiko and Jin having a hushed conversation outside it's doors, a smile appearing on her face as she shoved her feelings aside.
"Oh? Come to join us for the night, Jin? How sweet, but you're really not my type."
"That's a shame," Jin replied coolly. His words, or rather, his reply in general, caught her off-guard. Normally he would just ignore her and flush as she flirted. His reply was, no doubt, advice from Reiko; her suspicions were confirmed with a glance at the smirk Reiko was trying to hide.
This journey was just getting stranger and stranger.
And it just got weirder as time went on.
One night, during what appeared to be a festival, Fuu had a breakdown and stopped talking to any of them, even Ryu. And then she announced that she wanted Jin to go with Sara to see her son. Mugen instantly began to argue with her, causing an uproar.
Liza watched as Reiko set her cup aside.
"I refuse."
Everyone looked at her.
"What?" Fuu asked in shock.
"I don't think it to be smart for us to split up, especially over the like of her."
"Reiko-"
"I agree," Liza added. "The woman's been traveling around by herself for years, if what she said was true. She should be able to find her way to her son easily enough on her own. What does she need one of us for?"
"Aren't the two of you being rather mean?" Fuu demanded. "She needs help!"
"Then she can find it somewhere else." Reiko replied. "We have our own problems to take care of, you know."
"I know that, but-"
"I'm not going to waste anymore of my time," Reiko's cold eyes stared at Fuu. "If you insist on helping this woman, then this is where Liza and I part ways with you."
"Are you serious?!" Mugen looked shocked, staring at the two women. "Please tell me that you're joking!" He glanced at Liza, but the blonde had closed her eyes, her lips pursed tightly into a thin line. "Liza?"
No one said a word, all remaining quiet. Reiko gave a snort and stood up.
"Your silence gives me your answer. Let's go, Liza."
"Are you seriously just leaving?" Mugen demanded but he received no answer from either woman as they exited the building. He gave a curse and tossed his rice down, running after them.
Ryu gave a sigh and took a drink. "In my years of traveling with them, I have learned to trust Reiko's intuition. I don't know what you did, sweetheart," He glanced at Sara. "But I'd rather you not prove her right."
Sara didn't move, staying quiet with a frown.
~Sing me to sleep Now
Sing me To sleep
Oh, Sing me to sleep now~
"Hey, wait a second! Would you guys rethink this? You can't just bail on us here, you know!"
"You trusting that woman is foolish. The deceit is practically falling off of her in waves and yet you think of nothing but your dick as the other three ignore it." Reiko replied, not even bothering to look back at him. "Joining the three of you was a mistake in the beginning and this idiocy is just proving my point further."
"Hey, come one now, the chick's blind; cut her some slack. I don't understand what you're so angry about."
"That woman is trouble," Liza told him. "You should just come with us. Norika isn't far from here. If the others are smart, they'll follow us there."
"Norika, huh?" Mugen frowned. Liza stopped to face him, leaving Reiko to continue on out of the town. "Is that why you've gotten weird lately? Why is that?"
"I'd…rather not say."
Mugen frowned at her. "Why do you say that? It can't be that bad." Her eyes blazed at him and he swallowed. "Maybe it can be."
"You…you don't understand," She told him. "You just don't get it."
"I would get it if you just told me," He replied. "You can't expect anyone to understand you if you don't let them in."
"It's not exactly something you talk about over dinner, Mugen!" Her voice was loud but they both ignored the people staring at them.
"You can talk to me. Stay with us; I know you want to. Let Reiko go; you don't have to stay with her like this anymore. She's not your owner!"
Liza opened and closed her mouth multiple times, unsure of what to say for a moment.
"I…I can't…" Liza shook her head. "Reiko…I can't leave her."
"Not even for me?" Mugen's words were cold; hurt. Liza's eyes widened for a moment. He gave a sneer and used Reiko's words against her. "Your silence gives me your answer.' He turned around and began to walk back to the others. "Enjoy being on your leash, Elizabeth."
Liza stood in the same spot, watching Mugen walk off. That was the first time that he had said her full name; it sent a warm feeling through her body that was quickly overtaken by the feeling of sadness.
~Sing me to sleep Now
Sing me To sleep
Oh, Sing me to sleep now~
"I'll seek you out
Flay you alive
One more word and you won't survive.
And I'm not scared
Of your stolen power
I see right through you any hour.
I won't soothe your pain
I won't ease your strain
You'll be waiting in vain
I got nothing for you to gain."
Reiko listened to Liza's voice that next night, a frown on her face. She felt like shit. She was angry at everything. Angry at the others. Angry at Liza. Angry at herself. She had snapped at the younger woman, though knowing her anger wasn't because of the blonde. It was anger at herself.
Earlier that evening they had found a body on the banks of the river they were following; it had been Jin. The man was unconscious, battle wounds all over him and from the look of his hands, he had been in the water for a while.
Liza had been patching his wounds and voiced wanting to go back to the others. That's when Reiko had snapped at her and the other woman went off, leaving her with Jin's body. This song…this was the song that Liza sang when she was trying to suppress her bloodlust. Her urge to spill blood was strong.
"I'm taking it slow
Feeding my flame
Shuffling the cards of you game.
And just in time
In the right place
Suddenly I will play my ace.
I won't soothe your pain
I won't ease your strain
You'll be waiting in vain.
I got nothing for you to gain.
Eyes on fire
Your spine is ablaze
Felling any foe with my gaze
And just in time
In the right place
Steadily emerging with grace."
"Such anger in a beautiful voice makes me nervous."
Reiko turned her head to look at the man that laid on the other side of the cave, his clothes hanging to dry over the fire beside him.
"You're alive."
"It appears so." Jin sat up just to wince as Reiko's fist collided with his head. He rubbed it, looking at the woman. "What was that for?"
"For you being an idiot." She hissed at him, curling her arms around her legs. "I told you that woman was dangerous, and you just go off alone with her? Did you not hear a word I said when I told you she was going to try and kill you?
"I heard you loud and clear," Jin replied, a small smile spreading across his face. He had not been expecting Reiko to react this way; it was cute. "That's why I decided to go with her. That woman…somehow she can read movements before you make them."
"A highly trained bastard, huh," Reiko lowered her forehead to her knees. "We'll never escape this, will we?"
"You did burn down an entire castle; not to mention all the ones that have died at your hands since then."
"With good reason," Reiko replied, not bothering to lift her head. "I…I couldn't take it anymore. If I had waited any longer then…Liza…" She stopped her voice, afraid of the quiver that she knew would be there. Things were silent for a moment, Reiko frowning as the rainfall could be heard. Liza hadn't returned yet, but her singing had stopped. She-
Her thoughts froze as a blanket was dropped over her shoulders. Jin had move beside her, their shoulders touching as he wrapped the blanket around them both. She chanced a glance at him and found his eyes closed. He looked…different without his glasses and his hair down. He still wore that stoic face, though.
"I apologize for making you worry."
"Just…don't do it again." She told him. "I already have enough on my mind without having to worry about your sorry ass, too."
"The fact that you want to worry about, and I quote, 'my ass', is heartwarming." He teased.
Reiko stared at him for a moment in disbelief before giving a laugh. Jin smiled. Slowly but surely, she was opening up to him. It pleased him to see her like this. It was what he wanted, after all, but the more she was like this the more he found out that he wanted more; but what was it?
"You're one of the few, pretty boy, but don't get cocky."
"Pretty boy?" He repeated with a grin.
"Shut it."
A peaceful silence fell around them for what dragged on for forever before Jin deicded to speak again.
"She's not coming back, is she?"
Reiko closed her eyes before leaning her head on his shoulder. If he wanted to sit next to her then he was going to have to deal with being turned into a pillow.
"Nope."
"Do you think she went after Sara."
"No doubt in my mind."
Jin gave a sigh and rested his head on top of her's. He was waiting for her to shove him off, but she never did. "She's going to kill her without a second thought."
"Yep." She gave a sigh herself. "Hopefully the others aren't around. Her…control will most likely falter."
"Should we go after her?"
"Probably." She snuggled in closer to him. "But it was her choice. She can handle herself."
Jin gave a grunt, saying he understood. Besides, he was too comfortable to move just yet.
I hope you guys like it. Review! :)