Hah. Chapter two.
WHY AM I UPDATING? Jeez, i just cant keep away, huh.
Anyway, i've already written up to the third/fourth to last chapter. So i guess now IS a good time to be uploading me stuff. Yay.
Oh, and thank you all for your reviews! Thanks.
One last note, thank Crimson-Kaoru-chaann, my good buddy, who beta'd this story AND, ANND, gave me multiple ideas for this story. In fact, this was supposed to be a Oneshot of the first and last chapter, but she persuaded me to write a full-chaptered story. THANK her. Unless you dont like me, then curse her. lol.
-M
PS: My line seperater isnt working. Deal with zero's.
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Both Sango and Bankotsu were breathing heavy as they leaned against a wall, careful not to make too much sound.
"How do you plan to hide such a large halberd like that?" Sango asked incredulously under her breath with a pant.
Bankotsu mocked her look, "How do YOU plan to hide that ridiculously large boomerang… thing? It's such a vibrant color too!"
"Well your halberd can easily reflect the light being flared and practically give them our location!"
A few seconds of unrefined mumbles: "…Fine!" Bankotsu pulled out a large amount of cloth hidden behind his chest plate and impaled Banryuu's half-moon hilt into the ground, letting it stand on its own. After, Bankotsu slid the purple cloth over the blade and Sango guessed that to be it's sheath. She was surprised at the expensive looking fabric and fancy binding string.
"Happy, woman?"
"Obviously! Yes! You know, you're just trouble for me here."
"Well thank you,"
"No—you're supposed to say you're sorry!"
"Excuse you miss. But I haven't said sorry, sincerely, to someone in 10 years, and I ain't about to say it to you."
"Hah." Sango smirked, "I wouldn't believe that someone like you would keep such an idiotic tradition as that. What, saving it for someone special? Hm?"
She was teasing him now.
"Maybe—why? Jealous?"
Sango was about to retort when an unexpected red flare lit the sky just above their heads, which meant the fire-lit arrows would be heading their way soon.
"Let's retreat into the forest, it'd be easier to lose them," Sango suggested, conveniently forgetting about their current quarrel for now, before running off towards the trees, not even waiting for him. She knew he'd catch up if he wanted to.
Sango, upon entering the forest, jumped over a fallen branch and immediately turned left to hide behind a wide trunk. Two seconds later, Bankotsu jumped over the branch and hesitated, seeming to look for her. She noticed his mouth start to open as if about to call out to her.
"I'm here, baka!" Sango hissed, and with a turn of head he saw her—quite surprised. After she pulled him out of sight he congratulated her on knowing how to be deathly quiet when needed to be.
"It's nothing." Sango waved him off as she peered around the tree. "I can't tell if they're close."
Quite unexpectedly she saw his hand grab a strand of her hair from the corner of her eye. She turned and faced him, "What're you—"
"They're using stealth." Bankotsu suddenly had a serious look on his face. He looked up, finding the remains of a silent flare above their head. "They're firing silent flares to find us."
"…How'd you know?"
"You had a spark in your hair and didn't know it." He grinned, "Lucky for you, I extinguished it before all your hair burned off." The childish man started to chuckle at the thought of a bald Sango.
Rolling her eyes she tightened her hold on Hiraikotsu's strap and started jogging past the trees in front of her. "If the flares are following us, then we better go. And if we cant hear the flares in the first place, lets just keep running forward."
"Good idea," Bankotsu remarked, following after her.
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Although it seemed like a good idea back then, it was starting to become an exhausting one. Both warriors were panting heavily, both resting behind a tree.
They weren't the only ones running for their lives. It appeared that the guards were getting faster and faster in their pursuit. But it was already very dark, and one could say nature was on the runaway's side, thankfully.
It was only a second's notice before Sango was grabbed by the collar and hoisted into the mercenary's arms. She looked back to the spot she was just standing in to see a ray of light shining from the soldier's lantern. That was such a close encounter it made her heart skip a beat.
Sure, the mercenary was probably used to these deadly games of hide and seek; but she never had reason to hide from authorities before. Especially since she was supposed to be an authority figure herself, being a demon slayer. Sango glanced up to see Bankotsu, beads of sweat sliding down his temple, and noticed how his teeth were clenched. She wondered why he looked so serious.
It wasn't before long when she also started hearing the steps of guards closing in. The fact that she could hear the steps against soil meant they are very close. Sango watched the lantern's light to see their movements on the barks of trees and the forest's floor. The woman cursed, noticing the light was getting brighter… meaning they were getting much closer.
Sango found herself wrapping her own arms around Bankotsu's middle as an attempt to eliminate any space, also eliminating the possibility of an inch of their clothing of body that might give away their hiding spot behind the tree. In reaction to that, Bankotsu let his arms cross above his shoulders and leaned his head in towards hers, his mouth quite close to her ear.
"Step on my feet," she was sure he had whispered. It was hard in the first place, having him so close—it gave her goosebumps—but to step on his feet would practically leave no breathing room. Sango nodded albeit her doubts and slowly stepped on his own feet, his arms tightening around her to make sure she wouldn't fall backwards.
Soon enough the guards closed in towards the tree they were hiding behind, lanterns held high for sight. With Bankotsu's temple to her own, Sango could feel his perspiration leak onto her own face, slicking down her cheek. Without warning, Bankotsu started to slowly step sideways, circling the tree and making sure they were both on the exact opposite side of the tree compared to the pair of guards. Being caught off guard, Sango almost slipped off his feet but caught her balance and held on tighter. The steps were slow and long, for Bankotsu wanted to make the least amount of noise, as well as moving slow enough to not cause any sudden attention. Sango knew that because the two of them were moving so slowly, if the guards decided to circle the tree—obviously in a quicker fashion—they'd be doomed.
It was mind blowing, how close they were to getting caught—and maybe even getting killed on sight. Sango didn't know what their orders were, but in her own village runaways would indeed be killed on sight. She felt very paranoid and grabbed handfuls of Bankotsu's haori in her fists. The woman ignored the tingling feeling in her stomach when she noticed that she could feel his warm and soft skin under the cloth against her knuckles.
They both decided to listen to the guard's conversation. The guards wouldn't be there too long, they claimed, and after just merely swung the lantern to the left and right before turning around and going back.
"I was sure I heard something back there."
"Maybe you were just imaging it… with your wife's baby on the way and everything… stress, maybe. Besides, this place was already looked over, so it's alright."
"True."
Sango and Bankotsu stood in their same position until their racing hearts calmed down once the guards left. Now that the position wasn't so stiff and they both relaxed a little, the position was actually quite…comfortable. Sango never had someone hold her so close before—it was soothing.
The thoughts squirming in her mind just now were deposited once she realized just what she was thinking, and about whom she was thinking.
It was after another few seconds before they separated. Hastily moving away to dust herself off, obviously trying to hide the blush on her face, Sango noted that she had never been so flushed in her life before.
"This isn't going to work," Bankotsu remarked quietly with a lasting sigh. He backed off the tree and gazed back over his shoulder. "I don't know whether to stay here or leave."
"…If we stay, they won't come here, since it's already been checked," Sango replied.
"But the fact that the guy said this place has already been checked before they came, and they still checked it, won't assure us any. Plus we'll end up camping out here…" He took a look around, having it not only hard to see the slayer, but also everything else. "Honestly, I don't think that's a very good idea."
"Well if we move around, we might encounter more soldiers."
Bankotsu gazed down at where he suspected her eyes to be. "I'd rather take that risk than this one."
Thinking about it, Sango wondered if he was really trustworthy enough to make his own decisions. Or at least, decisions that actually counted in conversations. "…Fine. But do you have a plan?"
Bankotsu smirked. "A good one."
His confidence flooded through her, and she somehow felt her heart ease, even though she didn't want to believe it. Sango didn't know how, but this guy knew how to make people feel better, no matter the situation. Something in him just soothed people he wanted to be calmed.
But not wanting to seem like an ally to him just yet—or ever—Sango crossed her arms and gave him a quizzical look.
"That, I highly doubt."
His confident look dropped before he gained a comical one. "What, you don't trust me?"
"Of course not. Without you I could have snuck my way out of here already, but trying to hide you AND that Banryuu is a difficult task, you know."
Bankotsu rolled his eyes, "Fine. If we get caught because of this failed plan, you can personally kill me with," he eyed the boomerang strapped to her warily, "that… scary looking boomerang of yours."
"…Sounds good." She held out her hand for a good shake, but he wagged his index finger at her, which probably meant there was going to be a catch.
"But!" And here was the catch: "If we are alive by the end of this plan, meaning it worked and saved both of our asses, then you…" He thought about it as he looked into the corners of his eyes, "You must buy me sake… a lot of it."
"…Buy you sake?"
Bankotsu nodded, sure as fire.
"Alright then," Sango replied, wavering.
The young man nodded, a grim smirk on his features as they shook on it.
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"Where are we?" Sango whispered to him.
"Watch it, you're about to step into a hot spring."
"Gyah—!" Sango then backtracked out of surprise, colliding into Bankotsu. "Either way, you make yourself a nuisance, don't you," Bankotsu retorted as he grabbed her shoulders from behind and steadied her on her feet—ignoring the glare she sent over her shoulder.
Once she stepped away from Bankotsu and faced him, she crossed her arms. "So what's this plan of yours?"
"Strip off your armor." There was a light clash as Banryuu impaled the ground so Bankotsu can use both hands. Being in close proximity her eyes slightly adjusted and saw him start to take off the metal armor on his shoulder.
"…But I have weapons—"
"Just take them off," Bankotsu told her hastily, untying his obi and having the waist-armor slide down the length of his body and drop onto the floor--which he slid into the small pile of his armor with his foot lazily.
By the time he finished, she was merely untying her shoulder armor, slow and tediously.
"Gods, woman," Bankotsu commented under his breath before grabbing the tie and undoing her obi, having her waist armor fall to her ankles.
"O-oi!" Sango suddenly moved out of his reach, and even though he couldn't see her blush in the darkness—she could definitely feel it. The burning feeling was so intense she just wished for his demise. "D-don't do that…" She was glad it was dark, but even so she hated having her waist armor slipped off. This suit was quite tight around her…hip area.
He seemed to roll his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I can't see you, so drop the insecurities."
Sango became alarmed at this, "I-I'm not insecure! It just…c-caught me by surprise."
"Fine." Bankotsu then kneeled down before her and started to slid down the pink cloth that secured her knee armor, "I'm going to help you take this off faster—so don't be surpr—"
"Gyah!" She kicked him away, having the man roll onto his curved back. Frankly, the feeling of his hands run down her leg just wasn't comforting.
"Insecure…!" Bankotsu mumbled under his breath as he rubbed his head after recovering from the sudden attack. "Can you just hurry it up?"
Finally, after all that was finished and they both held all their armor and weapons in their hands—Bankotsu took the first step and threw it all into the hot springs.
"Wh-what the hell are you doing?" Sango demanded, watching him reach for Banryuu.
"Two large-weapon-wielding people aren't so easy to hide. If we dump all our stuff into the hot spring, it'll just lay at the bottom. If we simply lay it on the floor the guards can find it and realize we were there. Then they'll just keep our stuff. And if anyone touches Banryuu—"
"Alright, alright." Sango waved the rest off. "But why our armor too?"
Bankotsu then slid Banryuu into the water, laying it on the bottom, getting his sleeve wet. "That's part of the rest of the plan."
Due to the silence, Bankotsu knew she was confused.
"Just do it."
With a sigh Sango reluctantly threw her armor, katana, and hidden weapons into the spring.
As Bankotsu went to take Hiraikotsu for her, his fingers felt the feel of soft cloth.
"What's this?" He took off the small blue nap-sack and investigated it. He bounced it in his hand, finding it quite light.
Sango took it from his hold, "It's my spare change of clothes. My traveling yukata."
"Hm." Bankotsu grabbed it back from her hands and opened the knot. "Might come in use." Bankotsu took the clothes and placed it in Sango's arms thinking that was all, when he reached once more to find a roll of gauze. "What's this for?" He held it up to his gaze, finding it interesting. It was wide for a wound bandage and was thicker cloth. Was it special for something?
He was surprised when Sango snatched it out of his hand and held it to her. "Just forget it. Anyway, put Hiraikotsu into the water." Instead, she just did it herself, contrary to her own orders.
"Well, then." Having remarkably forgotten about the mysterious roll of gauze already, Bankotsu grabbed his thick braid and rolled it until it sat atop his head. With that, he folded the blue material for the nap-sack and made a sort of hat most farmers wore under their sun hats. He actually looked as if he had very short hair this way.
Sango gazed at him awkwardly, "What are you doing?"
"Come with me." Bankotsu then turned and made his way from the springs.
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Bankotsu found a tree that appeared to be just like all the others they just passed, but suddenly decided it was a 'good' one, and sat down with his back to it.
Sango lifted a curious eyebrow at him as she draped on hand on her hip. "Tired already?"
"No, its part of my plan. " He adjusted himself, slumping slightly downward. Then Bankotsu looked up at her expecting form. "Now, you, come here."
"…What?"
His hand raised as two fingers waved for her to come closer. "Come on now, the guards could be hot on our trail."
Sango took a nervous step forward.
"Okay…now sit here." Bankotsu patted his lap.
"…What?"
Bankotsu sighed, exasperated. "Sango, can't we cooperate? I promise we'll both be alive…or whatever, by the end of this."
It didn't help that he was now smirking up at her quite insecure figure. It ridiculed her, that look on his face, and she hated it. With a plop, Sango sat on his knees, facing the trees beside him and hugged her knees together.
"That…isn't going to cut it." Bankotsu forcefully grabbed her arm and scooted her closer. "Alright now…" He eyed her legs. "Swing that one over."
'I need to straddle him!' Sango thought incredulously.
"Aw, don't tell me your going insecure again." 'It'd be easier putting her unconscious and doing it,' Bankotsu thought regretfully.
Silence.
Bankotsu shook his head, "Hey… remember after this if it doesn't work you can beat me as much as you want with that boomerang. Remember?"
'That IS true…' Sango thought.
Suddenly the back of Bankotsu's head was pushed into the bark of the tree as she placed her hand over his eyes. A wide, wolfish grin spread over his mouth at her high-leveled uncomfort and self-consciousness. The mercenary heard a swooshing noise, meaning she had successfully brought her leg over.
Removing her hand from his vision he looked at her to see a blush spread across her cheeks as she gazed off to the side.
Bankotsu chuckled at her; she was so uncomfortable. With that thought in mind, he leaned forward and slipped out of his haori, only exposing his chest.
"Wh-what are you doing!"
Without a reply he grabbed her collar and—
Rip!
Sango looked down to find the button holding her collar together was broken off and was even ripped farther than supposed to be, exposing the white of the cloth supporting her breasts.
"Heh, excuse that, I pulled a bit too hard."
"A bit!" The slayer's arms covered her chest as she leaned away from him. "This…ri-ridiculous!"
"Now pull it down to expose as much of your shoulders as your willing to. Unless your willing to take both arms fully out—"
"This is insane, just what are we doing! If you try anything…"
"I wont, I wont. Trust me!" He gave her a sheepish smile.
Sango, quite angered at that pitiful look, felt like screaming—but knew she had to keep quiet. The result was loud mumbles and angry sounds.
Bankotsu felt like laughing at her reaction but didn't want to make too much noise. "Sorry, sorry, Sango. I won't look, I swear." He covered his eyes with his hand as another amused smirk was wiped on his face.
"You're so… ugh!" Sango tried to repair the top, but found it impossible, having the button torn off. She reluctantly pulled it a bit lower, exposing her shoulders.
"Alright, well, once you're done doing whatever your doing, please roll up your leggings as high as they can. Please do the same with mine, since I wouldn't want to impose and actually reach over you," he replied, rather sarcastically.
Sango scoffed and did what she was told. "Now, rogue?"
Bankotsu chuckled. "I see you're still mad. Well anyway, we'll be posing as lovers who've just fallen asleep."
"…What?"
"If you could, grab your traveling yukata and hand it to me."
Sango took the cloth, shoving it in his arms, having picked up an attitude.
"Thank you." Bankotsu replied, bemused at her antics. Using both hands to hold the cloth, he told her to duck before bringing it over her head and held it loose behind her.
"Now…if you could just lean down onto me…oh and tuck your arms in to your chest to they can't see you still have cloth on your supposedly naked arms."
Sango glared, and didn't move.
"…Sango, c'mon—"
The girl moved to stand. "This is ridiculous! I will find my brother by mys—"
Suddenly they both froze as the sound of multiple feet running came to their ears.
"The guards…" Bankotsu commented under his breath. He then looked up to her, giving her an expression she knew meant 'What're you gonna do?'
Sango, gritting her teeth, ground her fist into the ground. '…Fine damnit.' She then leaned down onto him. Her cheeks flamed as they came into contact with the soft skin of his chest and thick muscles supporting them.
"Cover your face with your hair," he ordered as he moved the blanket to cover both of them, only exposing the naked parts of their forms.
They sat there for a while, unmoving and looking off into the darkness in different directions. It was a position difficult for both of them to just lay in, having it be pretty intimate.
Then— it was abrupt, but definitely visible; a flash of lantern light.
"They're here. Feign sleep," Bankotsu told her, following his own orders himself along with Sango.
A few moments later, they were both revealed in the lantern's light.
"What's that?" the leader of the three asked.
The one holding the lantern to the two was bringing up the rear of the three as they walked in a line. "Seems just a couple of drunk lovers or something, falling asleep in the middle of the forest like this."
"It's dangerous, maybe we should wake them," one said.
"No, it'll be a lesson for them not to do it again if they get caught by a pack of demons or something," the leader remarked. "Lets go!"
The other two seemed to lag behind, looking at the couple under the lantern's light. One poked the other's ribs.
"Hey, let's pick up the blanket a little and get a peep at this woman here…"
Bankotsu felt Sango's heartbeat quicken.
"Don't you have a wife?"
"…Well—"
The other man laughed, pushing him along. "C'mon, the leader is moving already."
With that, the two started trekking in the direction their leader left in.
And once they did, Bankotsu almost threw his head back and laugh out loud, for the sight before him was a pure riot.
Sango sat back up and straightened her back in white fury—probably having forgotten her top was ripped. "That man!" She scared Bankotsu by slamming her fist into the tree beside his head. "Married and still lecherous!" A couple pieces of bark poked at his cheek before falling to the ground from her punch.
Bankotsu chuckled; knowing the passion that just spouted was really rooted from the confidence of knowing they were finally clear from the guards for the night.
He was about to comment on her fiery nature when he looked again at her chest, finding the same gauze he saw rolled up in the nap-sack being used to bind her breasts.
"Ohh! So that's what the gauze was used for…"
A slap echoed through the forest, accompanied by a frantic sounding whisper, "You said you wouldn't look, lecher!"
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Hah. Sexy-tension.
-M
Next chapter shall be loonng.
