We do not own Inuyasha
KagomexBankotsu
A young teenage girl squeezed her eyes tightly as she shifted on the bed she had been placed upon. She tried a few times to open her eyes as she regained consciousness from the attack hours ago. Her pale hand moved up rubbing the side of her head brushing a few loose strands out of her eyes as she finally woke from her restless unconscious state. "…. Why does my head hurt so much…. Where am I…?" She mumbled out while she struggled to push herself up. As she set both hands behind her she could feel a silk cloth and when her hand pressed down she could feel the cushioning feeling. "A bed…" She tilted her head down to find it was to be true a bed of silk white sheets under and covering half her body to her waist she then noticed something else that was odd. Her school clothing had been replaced by a dark kimono with white cranes. She tilted her head to the side as she moved to get out of bed she stopped when she noticed a pair of dark tanned bared feet her eyes traveled up to the figure's face her body froze in fear. "… B-Bankotsu…" She whispered out.
"So you're awake." Bankotsu stated plainly as he rested against the door frame, pressing in and securing a recently added supply of Jewel Shards to his monstrous halberd. "I really must thank you for these nice, new Jewel Shards." He stated smugly, having stolen them from her person while she laid unconscious. "Even if your pet manages to get here, he will not even survive one swipe from Banryu." Bankotsu concluded as he heaved his heavy blade over his shoulder and proceeded into the bed chamber. His armored yukata swishing and clattering about as he moved ever-so-casually into the room, shutting the door behind him. "I hope you enjoy your new clothes. So much more fitting for you than those silly rags you were wearing."
saig san: Kagome looked up to him still a bit of fright still encircled her dark brown orbs. Slowly she moved so she was sitting on the bed her bare feet landing on the cold wood flooring. "... He's not my pet he's my friend..." She spoke up finally looking away glaring at the floor. "... My clothes were fine, you didn't have to undress me like you did..."
"Sure, I didn't have to. But, then again, I didn't have to keep you alive either." Bankotsu retorted, laughing in his throat. "But, I'll take care of that if Inuyasha doesn't get here by sundown." He stated in a slightly darker tone as he pointed the edge of Banryu at Kagome to spook the girl a little. With another short laugh, Bankotsu leaned his blade against the wall and gazed out of the window to the sky, checking the position of the sun anxiously.
Kagome jumped a little startled by the blade of the Banryu her heart skipping a beat before the dark haired male set the weapon down. "So you plan to kill me if he doesn't show... What's the point of it when you plan to kill me in the end... You think he'll come for me...?"
"Not exactly..." Bankotsu replied, turning on his heel to face the fair young woman once again. "You see, Kagome... It is 'Kagome', right? I'm not a very patient person. You are simply here to provide a little added motivation for that mutt. He'll hurry right here, while along the way he'll encounter my men. Time will pass as he struggles with them and he'll get desperate. Sloppy. To the point that if he does manage to get here, he will stand about as much chance against me as a snowball does in hell. Either way, I win." Bankotsu explained, laying out his plan to her. Even he was surprised how well he thought it
out, what with how terrible with details he is. All the while he kept the same confident, calm, smirk curled along his face. Today he'd be rid of Inuyasha, he was sure of it.
"What makes you think he'll come for me? Like you said a snowball won't stand a chance in hell, well Kikyou is hell and I'm the snowball she comes before me in his eyes." Kagome spoke in a calm unconcerned tone. "You kidnapped the wrong girl." She stood slowly balancing herself before moving for the door. "I'm going for a walk."
Bankotsu watched as the scared little girl before him suddenly grew more morose and oddly bolder. Who exactly was this Kikyou girl and why did she make Kagome feel this way. His brow furrowed as she made for the door. It both amused and confused him to no end to think that she'd try something, knowing how powerful he was. With an annoyed sigh, he hefted up Banaryu again and opened the door for her. "I don't exactly like being cooped up in one place too long either. I'll accompany you, in case you decide to try something clever." He stated plainly.
Kagome shrugged her shoulders back as she placed her hands at her side before looking at the older male. "Why would I try anything when I know I couldn't out run you, I don't even have my bows or arrows with me." She folded her arms over her chest as she started to walk down the hallway her feet echoing in the hallway.
"Well, I'm more worried about my men than you. If they should so happen to see you strolling about by yourself, they'll assume you've escaped and strike you down themselves. To put it simply, I'm protecting you now so that I may kill you later. It's only sporting." He stated following a step behind her. Surely his logic only made sense to him at this point, but that's all that mattered to him. As he kept an eye on the girl, he couldn't help himself from admiring her figure in the kimono he had dressed her in with an approving smirk. It was no wonder why the dog-boy admired her so, he thought.
"For sport so does that mean when sunset comes and Inuyasha has yet to arrive I will become some sort of a hunt for you?" She tilted her head back looking at the older looking man raising an eye brow. "If I'm going to be some sort of pray to you then at least give me something to fight back with it's no fun to kill something defenseless is it?" She questioned him.
"Not what I meant, I assure you. Sporting is simply another word for fair. I mean, if Inuyasha arrived here on-time and you were dead... Well, it'd just be bad form on my part." Bankotsu said after breaking his gaze on her well-developed form, acting like he hadn't done so in the first place.
"He won't be here though." She turned facing the direction she was walking in. "This place is certainly big, how many people did you kill to gain this place?" She asked in a curious tone.
"Honestly, I couldn't tell you." He stated, strumming his chin as he tried to figure it out. "I lost count at around one hundred. The posed such little resistance, I just kept swinging until they stopped coming. Not to mention how many the others killed." Recounting the slaughter, he was reminded of just how boring it was. But, it was worth it for the luxurious fortress they had secured afterwards.
"How long do you usually stay before moving on or do you stay and move out for a few days to pillage in feel your feral needs by killing then come right back and enjoy what you've gain." She spoke in a soft tone before stopping and going down the steps into a small garden like area. "I'm surprised Jakotsu-kun doesn't care for this little place here it seems like something a gay man would do." She chuckled to herself as she moved through her bare feet becoming dirty at ever step she took her kimono barely touching the earth below as she moved through the garden before leaning down to smell a white lily.
"Hey now, we're mercenaries, not homicidal maniacs. We kill because that is what we get paid to do. Would you call a carpenter a murderer for dealing in dead wood? Or a butcher a murderer for dealing in dead animals?" he retorted to her over generalization of his work. Honestly, the nerve of her. Though, yet again, he couldn't help but notice her bottom as she bent over to smell the flower at her feet.
She opened her eyes half way and caught a glimpse of him staring at her slowly moving back to her feet turning and facing the older male before her. "You barely have any time for anything."
"I never really thought about it before, but you're right. My line of work doesn't exactly leave much for free time." He replied, stroking his chin again. He couldn't put his finger on it, but she seemed to be trying to get to know him better. What was she up to, anyhow?
"Then why don't you change your line of work or maybe slow down a bit? Have you ever thought of that Bankotsu-kun?"
"Don't be ridiculous. A leopard can't change its spots, as the old saying goes. And I'll hear no more of your silly mind tricks, girl." He replied with a sharp exhale and folding his arms around the shaft of his Halberd.
"Why would I use mind tricks on you?" The dark haired girl spoke walking toward the older male.
"How the hell should I know?" He exclaimed before casting a stern glance at her. "All I know is that considering I was raised from the dead by your enemy to destroy you and your friends, you're being oddly civil to me." Bankotsu stated in a somewhat agitated tone, his grip on his arms tightening.
"You've given me freedom to move around and given me something to wear while being here, that's a lot more respect then Inuyasha ever gave me."
"If that's true, then that mutt has no clue as to how to treat his woman." Bankotsu scoffed as his expression calmed slightly. He still remained on his guard, though. He had no reason to trust this girl just yet. She was certainly a lot more clever than she appeared to be, after all.
"I'm ready to go back inside it's getting a little cold out since the sun is starting to set." She spoke softly moving back up the steps down the hall towards the room.
"You're awful calm considering your time is running out..." Bankotsu said following her back inside. As they ventured back to the bed chamber, he couldn't help but wonder if she was brave or just stupid.
Either way, she was craftier beyond even her own comprehension. Without even trying, Kagome had squirmed her way into his head, and it bothered him immensely.
"... I knew once you told me that you were using me to get Inuyasha... I knew he wouldn't come for me..." She spoke as she moved sitting back on the bed.
"Still, you would not beg for your life when the time comes?" He questioned, still somewhat amazed by her sudden coming to terms with the consequences. She couldn't be colder if she had ice in her blood. It was something to respect, in an odd way. She had a warrior's resolve, that was for sure.
"Your a relentless killer you would not even budge if I tried begging for my life." She spoke calmly.
With another sigh, Bankotsu slammed the door shut behind him. "This isn't even any fun anymore. I should just crush you like a bug underfoot now and seek out Inuyasha myself." Bankotsu said annoyed as he grabbed the haft of his blade and stomped it against the ground sharply in order to vent his pent up annoyance from this girl.
The girl jumped a bit when she saw the blade hit the ground a little startled before looking up to him. "Just look for Kikyou..."
"Look...ughh... Are you hungry or anything? I figure its only customary you get your last meal and request." He asked, clenching his fist as he tried to change the subject. He'd be glad just to get this girl's impetuousness out of his head once and for all, but for now, maybe some food and unfitting civility would keep her trap shut for a while.
"I'm actually not hungry at the moment maybe I'll lay down for a little bit." She spoke in a soft tone laying down on the bed looking up to him.
"Then fine, rest. Do what you will. I'll give you your privacy until you wake or I come for your head, whichever comes first." He replied, heading for the door. Taking a glance out the window, he noticed the sky beginning to darken. It would be her time soon, he could only hope she didn't try much more of her mental sorcery until sundown.
The young girl looked up to him sadly before closing her eyes halfway. "... Inuyasha isn't coming for me is he...?" She asked in a serious tone as she asked him when she noticed him looking out the window.
"I don't know. You seemed so confident he wouldn't before. Perhaps you were right. It seems the thought of your death while your only savior embraces another has taken away your resolve."
Kagome looked to him sadly before rolling over her back facing the older male while she pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.
Bankotsu watched as Kagome adust herself into the bed, feeling her sad, mournful eyes gaze up at him like she could see is very soul. He had never spent this much time with a woman in a such long time. It was making things... difficult. He had forgot how troublesome they can be, even when they don't realize it. Shaking his head roughly to regain his focus, Bankotsu turned and tightened his grip on Banryu. "Pray,
cry, scream for the Dog-boy you may do whatever you like. I'll be back shortly for your head." He said, before moving towards the door.
"... Bankotsu-kun... Where we were in the garden... Can you dump my body there...?" She spoke softly in a calm tone as she stared at the other.
"Sure. I can do that for you, Kagome. You're body should keep the garden vibrant for many years to come." He replied, trying to keep himself from looking back at her, least he get trapped in her eyes again. "Where is that damned dog, anyway? He must really be a fool to choose another over her." He thought, a small part of his mind hoping that the half-blood would come for her, if but so this plan of his wasn't an entire flop.
Kagome nodded faintly at the response smiling slightly before laying down in the bed curling beneath the covers. "... Thank you Bankotsu-kun..."
"He's a fool, Kagome." Was all he said before exhaling a heavy sigh and exiting through the door. Making slow, heavy footfalls down the staircase. Peering outside and seeing the sun one with the horizon with no Inuyasha in sight. Thrusting Banryu's blade into the dirt, the leader of the Band of Seven simply stood near the front gate, watching the sun set. "Soon all this disturbance will be over..."
Kagome had shifted in the bed laying on her side facing the wall as she laced her fingers in her silky black hair playing with it as she watched the sun start to fade watching the wall become darker. A low sigh escaped her lips as she moved sliding from the bed walking out of the room and down the hallway.
As his mind mulled over the events of one of the longest days of his life, Bankotsu couldn't help but just wonder why the idiot would choose someone else over this girl. Despite her being just some mere woman, she had maintained a boldness that rivaled some of his brothers. He would have continued mentally listing her virtues if he hadn't heard soft footsteps padding around the castle. Poking his head back inside, he looked up to Kagome. "What is it? Do you need something?" He asked her. Almost immediately after he had said that, he felt like he could slap himself. "Idiot...'Do you need something?' You're going to kill her soon and you sound like you're more prepared to rub her feet. Stay focused!" Bankotsu thought, trying to keep himself on task.
Kagome slowly shook her head slowly as she looked to the other. "... I figured you'd want to kill me outside... I doubt you'd want to clean up blood from the floor..."
"Grr... Why do you have to be so... complacent about all this!?" He exclaimed, something about her response just causing him to snap. "Do you want to die? I know I don't know you that well, but just giving up like this doesn't seem like you!" He added, both confused and a little enraged. This wasn't fun anymore. "It took me all that time to come up with this stupid plan and what have I to show for it? Even if I do kill you now, it won't do anything even emotionally to that half-blooded, idiot, mutt. All because he cares for some other woman." Bankotsu ranted, pacing back and forth fervently. Half-tempted to destroy the castle down to the last stone just to vent his frustration.
Kagome only lowered her head as the other started to yell at her for being unlike herself, but nothing was like who she was now. She took a step back and leaned back a few tears starting to form. "... You want to know what else is sad about this Bankotsu-kun is the fact that in just the few hours you kept me here you have treated me with respect, you asked me if I was alright, and you asked me if I needed anything... Inuyasha has never done anything like that for me he has never once given me any sort of respect and once I think he is about to she comes into the picture... If anything when she leaves he always compares me to her..." Kagome slowly looked up wiping a few of the tears away. "... And what's really sad is he went to her and not me... The only reason he dragged me along was because I was his damn jewel detector!" Slowly Kagome slide down the wall placing her head to her knees her tears sinking into the silky cloth.
Bankotsu was blown away by her reactions yet again. Sure, he snapped, but Kagome just snapped right back. Now she sat by his feet, crying her eyes out because a captor is apparently more congenial in a day than someone she spends nearly every day with. "H-hey now, stop this crying... Don't waste tears on him. They'll only serve to sully that pretty face of yours." He said, for some unknown reason trying, nay, wanting to console her. "It is surely not right that he treats you that way, but it is also wrong that you don't put a stop to it. Find some other man who will treat you as a lady should be treated."
Kagome slowly wiped her tears on the sleeve of the kimono looking up to him sadly. "... I have to put the jewel together... That's the only reason I continue this and staying by his side... I barely get to go back to my time as it is..." Her eyes slowly went back to her knees. "... There isn't any kind of man left in this place, that you describe except yourself..." She rested her head on her knees once more. "... The only kind of man out there that seem to treat me right are the homicidal maniacs... At least they know how to treat a girl..."
"Well, who says you've got to do that? The dog? With all the shards I have now, no one will be able to rival my strength. The Shikkon Jewel might be better off broken in the first place. It was too much power for one to handle." He replied, trying to build some sort of case so that she might be able to free herself of the loathsome mutt.
"... What if the consequences of what I have done cause the future to change in my time, what if the world is still filled with demons... What if there are no longer any humans left...?" Kagome looked up to him slowly.
"You've been there since the jewel shattered, right?" He responded. Looking down to her with an arched brow before continuing to speak. "I don't know about this whole future thing, but if everything was fine last time you returned, then odds are everything will still be fine regardless of what you do."
Kagome slowly looked down nodding lightly. "... I guess your right..." She spoke in a soft tone rubbing her face that had become slightly red from her tears. "... I'm really foolish aren't I Bankotsu-kun..."
"Ah, we all make foolish decisions. It's just that some of us don't want to admit it. Now come on. Get up off the floor before you catch a cold..." He replied, offering a hand out to her to assist her up.
Kagome reached out taking his hand to stand her eyes never leaving his. "Does this mean I'm staying with you now?"
"If you want." He said simply before pulling Kagome up to her feet with the simplest of effort. "It certainly would be nice to have a woman around here. Being amongst my brethren all the time gets a little... difficult at times." He added, coughing out a bit of laughter."
"What about Jakotsu-kun he's more feminine then I am sometimes by the way he acts." She smiled slightly before it faded away. "... Your brothers... I don't think they'll be happy with my presence here..."
"There's a reason why I lead the Band of Seven. They know better than to question my decisions." He said, clenching his fist in an expression of boldness. He paused for a minute as he pondered Jakotsu. "Jakotsu... his kind of behavior... is not the kind of femininity that a man sometimes needs. Understand?" He said, forming his words carefully so not to offend.
Kagome nodded. "I know, I won't say anything bad about him, but for some reason I'm sure were going to be butting heads." She moved ahead of him. "Do you want me to lead me to the kitchen so I can make dinner for everyone?"
"I suppose. Might make the others accept you a little easier. None of us are really much for cooking." He replied, taking a short trip to retrieve Banryu before leading her deeper into the castle. Eventually finding a well stocked kitchen area.
"... There are a few things I can do to help you guys, stitch up outfits, tend wounds, cook, everything except using me for bombing practice." She giggled faintly as she moved getting a pot out from a closed cabinet sliding it closed once more as she moved over setting it on the metal bar and hook before running to retrieve some water. She found a few jars of water pouring it into the pot. She moved then to the counter where a few baskets of vegetables were starting to slice the potatoes first.