Ichi looked at the moon. He undid his bigfoot form, wearing only shorts he didn't have a scratch on him thanks to Myon's seal. Renya stood beside him, watching the mass of tentacles writhe in the distance.

"It's a nice night to die." Ichi cheered.

"Would you like some help?" Renya teased him. Her tone was weak.

"Later, I smell squid cooking. How about this? Let's ride out." Ichi pointed his stick towards the fight. The mass of tentacles swirled open revealing a huge squid. Ichi made a low chuckle.

"You ever had calamari? Could make a lot, Rikya's good with fire."

Renya turned to her side. A shine blinded her. She looked to see what it was. Her katana lied stabbed into the ground below the rooftop surrounded by grass. The point buried in the dirt, the handle jutting out towards her. Renya sighed.

"Myon'll be there. She's a handful."

"Yeah, her breasts are huge," Ichi held out a hand with his fingers spread out, as if trying to grasp a soccer ball.

"I betrayed her. Told Scipio about their secret stash of weapons. And Syon will be there. I'll be dead soon anyways."

Ichi turned to her, grinning.

"Then, if you'll be dead, would you like to go out fighting with me? I'm going anyways, got a little girl to protect. You'll get a good chance to stab me in the back. I'm sure."

"Trying to lure me with cheap tricks like offering your life up as bait is so lame." Renya groaned. She stayed slient a second, her mouth parted as her words whirled in her head then tumbled out her mouth.

"Aren't you interested in why I betrayed them? I planned using you and that cat as a distraction to get out of here. You're acting too nice."

Ichi tapped his stick against the edge of the rooftop, sliding it across made a smooth metallic sound.

"No one's perfect. A little fight to death didn't kill me, a little betrayal won't kill you. I'll make sure of it. So? That a Yes?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Renya sighed. She folded her arms and averted her gaze.

"We can't win."

"You were pretty aggressive a couple of minutes ago. What, because it's a giant squid instead of bigfoot you're not feeling up to it anymore?" Ichi said.

Renya looked at her sword sticking out of the grass. Her sheath was lying in pieces somewhere.

"I really want to make your life worse a fate worse than death." Renya whispered out. "It's so disgusting how you're taking this so easily."

"You nearly killed me, now you want me to be upset so you can feel good about giving up?" Ichi mocked her.

Renya laughed. A smile crept upon her lips.

"Fighting to the death again does sound fun," Renya looked to the moon. "And Syon isn't dead yet. It'd be nice if I could kill her myself."

"I'm rooting for you." Ichi gave her a thumbs up.

Renya face tinged with surprise. Her eyes met Ichi's.

"Wasn't she on your side? That ambush wasn't something I couldn't predict. I figured you for the lone wolf type."

"Nope. She wants," Ichi held up a finger. "one child. I'm not ready to settle down. And she's annoying to be around. I had more fun tonight fighting with you, than that night I spent talking to her."

Renya knit her hands behind her and looked away.

"How can I trust you?"

Ichi laughed.

"I'm giving you a good chance to stab me in the back when I'm fighting against the squid! Isn't that enough?"

Renya felt a smile creep on her lips again. She felt like she lost, but she couldn't say what.

"Ichi, you're good at telling when people are lying, right?"

"Yep. Tanuki nose." Ichi tapped his nose with a finger.

"Ah, so that's why you could turn into bigfoot? You're full of surprises. Then, tell me if this is the truth."

Renya moved in front of Ichi, her smile grew wider as her blue eyes stared into his.

""I want to marry Ichi and live in this village forever!"" She said in a generous tone.

Ichi chuckled.

"It stinks. Even if it was the truth, I'm not interested. You'd be the death of me, can't keep up with such a smart girl like you."

Ichi swung his stick across his back. He looked out to the unfolding battle. Renya took a few steps close to him, following his gaze.

"You ready?" Ichi said.

Tentacle monsters started flying in out of portals as strange moans echoed throught the night. The giant squids tentacles whipped upwards as if to swat a fly. A flurry of blue flashes severed them.

"I'm tired, but I guess a little while longer won't hurt."

"That's the spirit." Ichi turned into an eagle and flew off. Renya jumped down and stood above her katana's handle. She looked up at the moon, and saw Ichi in eagle form gliding across it.

"The moon is beautiful tonight." Renya freed her katana and whirled it in a perfect circle.