Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters, nor do I make any money from this. I am simply a fan writing a new plot.

A/N: This was written for and is dedicated to my good friend RJ, who is a Marine. This is an early birthday gift and has been broken into three parts. I hope it does you and all Marines justice. Semper Fi. XD

XOXOXO:

Casualties Of War

Bankotsu calmly sat at the mahogany recruitment desk and watched the older man looking over his information. The man nodded his head once and placed the paper in a manila folder. He sat the folder aside and folded his hands on the desk. He stared into the youth's eyes.

"What exactly do you hope to accomplish here, son?"

Bankotsu stared into the General's eyes and spoke with absolute determination. "I want to do something that will make a difference in this world. If that means that I die beside my brothers in arms, serving God and Country, then so be it, sir."

The old man nodded and stood up. He clapped the younger man on the back. "Well, my boy, let's see if you can live up to those words. Make me proud, Marine."

Bankotsu bent down and laced up his combat boots. He picked up his combat knife and polished it. 'It's been twenty years since then.' He stared at the polished blade and turned it so that the light made it shimmer.

On the wall next to him were various medals he'd received for his many accomplishments over the years. He had a picture from when he went to boot camp hanging over the oblong green box and duffle bag, next to the head of his cot. He smiled as he buttoned up his uniform shirt.

There was a Purple Heart Medal sitting next to the last picture that he'd taken with his best friend, who had really been more like a brother to him. The sun was shining down on them and they were grinning with one arm draped over each other's shoulders. They had enlisted together and Jakotsu had been his right hand man for many years. They had been inseparable. That is until Bankotsu made the elite squad known as S.P.A.R.T.A.N.

He remembered how happy and excited that he'd been that all his hard work and diligence had finally paid off. That night he and Jakotsu went out to celebrate and spent the whole night talking about their futures and all the things they wanted to do. A few days later orders came down for Bankotsu to head a secret operation down in Congo. Jakotsu was ordered to Brazil.

His smile faltered as his eyes zeroed in on his friend's happy face. The night that he'd received news of Jakotsu's death was one of his worst memories. He rubbed his chest as he recalled how happy go lucky Jakotsu had always been and how he had always made everyone around him feel happy.

Since enlisting the two of them had lived and breathed for the corps. Their entire lives centered around being soldiers. It was what they had been born and bred for. But that didn't ease the loneliness or the emptiness Jakotsu's loss has filled him with.

Bankotsu sat down on his bed and stared at the picture in his hands. Before joining the Marines, he'd tried the peaceful life, but for one reason or another it just never worked out. Bankotsu loved being physically active. That's why even as a civilian he'd joined the fight clubs and trained daily.

The idea of traveling around the world had fascinated him since he was a kid, but he'd always held off. One day when he and Jakotsu were out for a walk they came across the recruitment office and things just seemed to click after that.

Life had never been easy, but at least back then he'd always had Jakotsu around to cheer him up. He sighed and rolled his shoulders. 'I wish you were still here with me Ja.' His hand affectionately rubbed over the Purple Heart Medal and he placed the picture down.

His eyes moved to the next picture. Bankotsu and his men were as close as family. They had been through hell and back many times over the past few years. He'd paid his dues with blood, sweat, and tears, rising up through the ranks. Bankotsu had even earned the honor of becoming the S.P.A.R.T.A.N. commander. They were quite simply the best of the best.

He thought about the upcoming mission in Brazil and his jaw clenched. 'It's time to pay them back, bro.' He slipped the combat knife into its sheathe and smirked. "Let the fun begin."

XOXOXO:

A/N: That's it for the first part. Enjoy and be sure to let me know what you think, good or bad. XD