Chapter 2

Miss me?

Bankotsu's POV

I don't know how many years have dragged past; I have no notion of what now exists in the world above. I don't even know if the people I knew in my last life still live or not…or if the decay of time crumbled away at them like an old monument.

Her face is what made the torture…not bearable, but less….less, that's the only word I can think of. I was being hung out to dry like filthy laundry over a bit of fire, this was after my soaking in scolding hot water that now blistered my skin. I thought I'd have less of this after my years of service, but Shinigami was not too pleased about me disobeying him and so he made sure I'd regret it. However the joke him…I didn't regret it at all, I did this for Sango and our child…she was too good to live a life with a killer like me, it's bad enough she had to raise one. I wonder if Chikotsu was even born yet.

Suddenly cold fingertips touched my burning flesh, I opened my eyes to see Sango's face, she was no older than the last time I saw her, wearing her tight demon slaying attire. She wore a sad and worried expression as she touched my face "Bankotsu….I ventured a terrifying path to the underworld to come and claim you….I knew it would be bad…but I didn't expect this!" she then laid her head on my chest, "it's okay now….I'm here and I'm taking you home with me".

I scoffed at her, "Nice try Kurami….you have never fooled me once with this act"

A smirk twisted on the lovely illusion of Sango, it then warped away to reavel the person's true identity. It was Kurami….she was a demoness of the netherworld, a concubine to Shinigami…his favourite one. She tortured those who betrayed him by showing them the one thing they wanted most but could never have.

Kurami was a seductively beautiful woman and I could see why Shinigami lusted after her the most. "It's such a shame" she sighed, "you were his most skilful servant, you were the best of your trade…however, now that title is being handed to your son Chikotsu".

My eyes turned wide, "when did he come of age?" I demanded.

Kurami shrugged, "four years ago…he's very noble and quite mysterious…he is the only one who prays for the lives he takes, he show honour for serving my master Shinigami".

"Why are you here? You're awfully chatty too" I asked, getting straight to the point. I knew something was up…she never stuck around long enough for a convocation, so she clearly wanted something.

My suspicions were confirmed when she pouted sulkily, "I am Shinigami's favoured mistress…I have certain powers gifted to me because of this….I am going to release you, I'm going to send you up. There you can see pretty Sango again and help your son by answering his questions and explain all you have sacrificed for him and his mother".

I arched my eyebrow "and what is it I have to do in return for this "kind" gesture"

She looked angrier than before "recently a young, pretty human has caught Shinigami's eye and he wants her for his harem…now usually I do not worry, there has been man new arrivals since me and none can compare, by this little wench I think actually holds a threat. But I noticed that there was a slight spark between her and your son….I need you to go up there, encourage the two of them into a little romance. I have already informed her brother, he is also a servant of my Shinigami. He will do everything he can to defend her, he is seeking your son now for help, but the two of them will not be enough to protect her, you are very skilled. Not only will you be helping me but this will also mean protecting your son…and that little human Sango…Shinigami will want to strike Chikotsu where it hurts…and he cherishes his mother above all else".

That was where she won me, the thought of Sango and our son getting hurt…all because of some little wench the reaper lusted for. "Fine" I growled "I will do it…but I have conditions, one….I want you to leave it all to me…the moment my foot touches the realm of the living, I am taking over and you will step aside and let me. Two…Sango, her husband and other children are not to come into this".

Kurami rolled her eyes and unbound my chains, I fell to the hot ground that was scabbing my feet, "I can only promise the first one, I will leave it all up to you, however I cannot guarantee anyone's safety in this, which is why it is such a risk to go against Shinigami. When you arrive up there your age will fall on you, your ageing ceased when you came here, when you return to the living it will all catch up to you, so you may want admire yourself before you leave" she was starting to tease me and I wasn't amused. "Furthermore, I will bestow the power Shinigami gave you which means that even though you'll have heightened senses, you'll again crave blood…Sango's most of all but if you want to keep her out of this you'll have to keep your distance". As she was explaining all this, I felt the power returning to my body.

I stared at Kurami for a moment, "are you so set on keeping the reaper to yourself that you are willing to risk your life?"

She scoffed at me and threw me my old clothes, "Don't patronise me…you did the same thing, that's why you're here now".

She's right, damn I hate that she's right! I followed her to the dark castle, I didn't want to ask where Shinigami was at this time, he was probably out collecting souls again. We came to the dark chamber where the secret portal was.

"Just so you know, when this is all done with…you will be dragged back here and Shinigami will make you suffer more than before, that's the price you'll have to pay to see you little love again" she informed me.

I don't care, I'll be there for my kid…I'll look upon Sango again and I'll protect them both from my former employer.

Chikotsu's POV

As I approached the hut I had grown in….I felt something foreboding and yet it was drawing me closer. I started walking quicker till it turned into a jog, to a sprint; I burst through the hut like lightening.

"Mother! Father, are you both alright?" I blurted.

I saw them there with tea in their hands and guest that I recognised from the blood memories, it was Takumi. I had this feeling and knew instantly he and I shared the same purpose in life and I feared he was in this village to collect.

"Takumi…if you have come for either of these souls I will tear you apart step away from my family now!" I warned.

He stared at me for a moment…a smile then tugged at his lips; he then gave in a laughed. I was so confused, my mother rolled her eyes at me. "Honestly Chikotsu do you think I'd make tea for someone who intended to kill us".

Feeling foolish I put my blade away and allowed her to hug me as though I were a little boy again, my father smirked as I reluctantly gave into the fact that she would always see me that way. "It's good to see you son, take a seat…Takumi here has been waiting for you".

I joined them and my mother fetched me my own cup of tea, she briefly stroked my hair as she did so and then returned to my father's side.

Takumi placed down his cup "I see you know me….I was told to find you by Kurami, Shinigami's mistress….she told me you could help me to protect my sister".

"Nana?" I inquired with an arched eyebrow.

Takumi nodded and frowned, "You know my sister too?"

I nodded my head now and took another sip of my tea, "yes and her husband" I replied.

He scoffed in disgust at the mention of his brother-in-law, "Tougi is perverted old man and I hate my father for giving Nana to him! She had only just turned fourteen! I hate him!" He then paused and leaned in over the table "you wanna know something…he was the one that killed me. One night I came to visit my sister….I had this feeling that something terrible was happening to her so I raced over there. When I arrived I discovered her on the floor as he kicked her repeatedly….he was punishing her for not giving him a child yet. I intervened, I told him he was never to touch her again, I threatened to kill him. That night he killed me right before her eyes….Shinigami came for me a month later….Nana is my life, she is all I have left in the world, I have to free her from all of this".

I thought what it would be like if my sisters were treated such a way…I would kill the men responsible! I leaned back, "I see…well I killed Tougi, he was my target…that was when I met your sister…she told me to tell you, that you should visit more".

I saw my mother and shudder and look away, my father placed his arm around her, she didn't like it when I spoke of killing with an unconcerned attitude.

Takumi stared at me in disbelief, "You killed Tougi?" he uttered.

I shrugged my shoulders, "as I said he was my target, I had not fed in a while so I drained him…I learnt a lot about what kind of man he was and I also saw glimpses of your death".

My mother narrowed her eyes at me, "What do you mean that you hadn't fed in while? What have I told you…the more regularly you feed the less likely you are to kill an innocent, the longer you hold out the more thirsty you become and the more you will need to drink in one go! Chikotsu you promised you would do that!"

My father calmed her and though usually I would apologise for such reckless behaviour I was so engrossed in speaking to this Takumi. He was the first person I had met under the service of Shinigami, already I thought of him as my comrade.

Takumi smiled slightly, I don't think he knew quite how to react; the man who had been hurting his sister, the man who took his life and doomed it to the servitude of the reaper…was killed. "I see…so you saw Nana…how is she? Did she look well?"

How could I respond, aside from the black eye she had recently received she did look nourished and clean. However she was abused since she was fourteen, she would not be well for a long time, especially since I laid her abusers dead body there at her feet. "She looked like she needed you" I answered in the end, which was true.

He appeared guilty and I guessed he too felt the need to see her,"I see now, why Kurami wanted me to find you, it makes sense…you freed my sister from Tougi, that connected the three of us in the dark mistress's mind, you can help me save her from Shinigami…I can't face him alone".

"Why does she need to be saved? Is she targeted?" I asked, by now my mother and father was entirely in the shadows but listening intensely and with such fascination.

Takumi shook his head "Shinigami has a harem in his dark kingdom, he has filled it with young vibrant women…he takes them for their beauty and gives them immortality so long as they stay in his kingdom. He has taken a liking to Nana…I am not prepared to have her handed from one beast to another…he can take my life but he can't have hers".

I have no idea why, but a sort of possessiveness came over me…Shinigami would not have her before I could! "Why should I?" I asked, folding my arms, "what has any of this to do with me? I took down a target; I have no choice in the matter unless I wish to take their place in the underworld. Furthermore if I go against Shinigami with you then I too will be taken to the underworld…I have killed too much to prevent that, to risk it for a stranger just sounds foolish".

My mother laid her hand on my forearm, "I agree" she concurred, "I am sorry about your sister, truly I am…but I can't lose my son"

"Sango" father sighed trying to quieten her.

"No Miroku I'm serious, are you telling me you'd be okay with this?" she then looked to me, "I swear if you step one toe in that underworld I will shoot down there and drag you back here by your ear!"

"Sango!" Father boomed, he was letting us all know he was in the room, he was the husband, he was the father and he was the master of the household. "Chikotsu is a man now, we cannot stop him…I don't like the thought of him putting himself at so much risk…but we have to let him be the man we raised him to be".

My mother turned quiet, Takumi was the first to break the awkward silence "may we continue this outside?" he asked, I nodded and we ventured outside the hut where he continued. "Listen…I didn't want to mention this in front of your mother….but there will be a third member…someone very close to you" he semi whispered.

My eyes turned wide, there could only be one person that he meant, "Where has Bankotsu been all these years and why is he getting involved?" I demanded.

Takumi walked on a little, "he was the most skilled out of all us apparently… till he gave his life for a target" Takumi then looked meaningfully at me, "I don't think I should be the one to tell you what happened exactly, but for the past nineteen…almost twenty years…he has been tortured in hell for the sake of you and your mother…if you help me, you will finally meet him and then…you can have every question you've ever had, answered by him".

Damn it! He had me…I would do anything to get some answers, especially now…now I had so much more. But I was uncertain if I should tell my mother about this…it would only upset her and cause issues between herself and my father, Miroku.

"Fine…I'll do it, when do we leave and when does Bankotsu join us?" I asked whilst agreeing to this dangerous mission.

Takumi grinned and slapped my back, "great! Now here's the thing, we need to get my sister out of that village, I would like permission to bring her here, for a day…then we move on to the next village, so Bankotsu will meet us here".

I became very alarmed by this "No! He can't come here my mother cannot know anything about what happened to him…my father especially cannot know, Bankotsu's return will destroy him!"

Takumi shrugged and looked innocent, "I don't know what to say, this is how it is planned…maybe you should tell her".

I shook my head, "No that is out of the question I am not putting her through all that!" I hissed.

"Chikotsu" called Miroku, my body tensed up as he approached, "Son, I know you and I know that despite you initial refusual you will end up helping this man…now I want you to know that you can bring Nana here if you need to, your uncle Inuyasha and I are going away to another village for an exorcism, we leave tonight and we have requested your mother stay with Kagome while we're gone as we don't like the thought of them being alone. So the hut will be empty…just be careful and make sure your mother doesn't get involved in any of this…okay?"

"Okay" I mouthed, so he hadn't heard anything, he just knew me well enough to know what I would do…he was my true father no matter what.

"Great" spoke Takumi rubbing his hands together, "we go to collect her right now!"

I was so unsure…my father would not be here to shield my mother from Bankotsu and I could tell by the look in her eyes that he had some hold over her still…but at least she had my aunt Kagome.

Sango's POV

I snuggled in close to him and breathed in his scent, "Miroku don't go" I whispered, "Something bad will happen while you're gone…I can feel it".

Miroku kissed my forehead, "You're just shaken after Chikotsu's visit…you're worried about our son and bound to be on edge. I'll be back soon I promise"

"Why do you two still refuse to let Kagome and I come along? The kids are all grown now…why can't we come with you and fight together like we did in the old days? We're tired of being left behind, it's so boring here…please let us come with you!" I pleaded, behind me stood Inuyasha and Kagome.

"I agree!" Kagome chimed in, "Why do we have to stay behind? The kids are all grown up and moved out…what is keeping us here?"

Inuyasha scoffed, "Please it's been years since you two fought in battle against demons, it'll be easier if you just stay here together, we won't be long".

There was no point arguing, they were refusing to let us go along with them, they said their goodbyes to us and began to move on. However before he walked away completely I grabbed Miroku by the arm. "Miroku I'm begging you, either stay or let me come with you…I'm asking you this not only as your wife but the woman who you fought alongside for years. Something bad is approaching; I can feel it deep inside…I need you because I don't think I can face it alone!"

My husband frowned at me, almost in disappointment, "where is the brave woman I married? Where is the woman who faced demons without a trace of fear, the strong independent woman who didn't need to rely on anyone but who other relied upon?" with that he kissed me one last time and joined Inuyasha in the distance, disappearing into the sunset.

His words cut me so deeply, where has she gone? Truth was….she disappeared nineteen years ago along with the deadly assassin I had been unfaithful with. Miroku didn't help; he was keeping me that poor defenceless housewife and yet wondered why my confidence had shattered. Bankotsu had left me a nervous wreck, for nineteen years I have been constantly looking over my shoulders, wondering if he'll suddenly reappear and turn my life upside down.

My fighting skills were still fierce, my instincts sharp! However I couldn't put it all to good use, I felt so useless and I hated it! My children were grown now three of them with families of their own, what had I to devote myself to now?

Kagome placed a hand on my shoulder, "they only want to keep us safe, I know it's kind of annoying and patronising of them…still, they mean well and it's their way of showing they love us and want to protect us".

I tried to my best to smile for her, "I know…I know, I just…I have this feeling that something bad is coming…well not bad really, but definitely not good either and I'm worried. With the kids gone, Miroku is all I have to focus, he's all that's keeping me from going completely out of my mind and behave sensibly…do you have any idea what I mean?"

Kagome put her arm around my shoulder "more than you know, I miss my son so much…I miss our days of adventure. So we need something to focus on? How about we focus on having fun while our men are away? I think Inuyasha has some sake stashed away, he thinks I don't know about it".

I laughed "You know what…Miroku has a secret supply also, I'll go get it and meet you at your hut…it'll be interesting cooking dinner after a few cups of that!"

Kagome and I parted, I felt excited and lifted…she was such a good friend and I could always rely on her to cheer me up and make me feel just a little bit like my old self. I was in my hut and dug out Miroku's bottle of sake with a mischievous giggle.

"Mother" called Chikotsu suddenly appearing at the threshold.

I jolted a little in surprised, but when I saw it was him I smiled sincerely, "I'm sorry dear, you startled me…I'm just heading to Kagome's now. oh and I made you some food to take in your travels, be safe okay".

Chikotsu looked dark and sheepish, I narrowed my eyes at him and wordlessly demanded he tell me what was going on, it was a mother's trick. "Mother I agreed to help Takumi in a fight against Shinigami" he divulged.

I nearly dropped the bottle in my hands, "what?" I hissed, "Tell me you're joking! Chikotsu please don't do this! It's too dangerous, you said so yourself you will gain nothing from this! You'll lose your life and it will kill us…me, your father, your brother and sisters…we don't want to lose you. I'm begging you…no…I'm telling you as your mother…please don't do this…you gain nothing!"

"Mother….if I do this…I'll get to meet…him"

He was so confusing, who is he talking about? "Chikotsu…who are you talking about? Who is this…him?"

He wouldn't even look me in the eyes, "mother….Bankotsu…my biological father, he has been resurrected by Kurami…apparently he'll be here by the time we get back with Takumi's sister Nana".

He had just paralysed me, my fingers became stiff and the bottle slipped from my hand, Chikotsu had fast reflexes and with swift movment he caught the bottle before it hit the ground and shattered everywhere. "No…no….no….NO!" I leaned forward with my hands on my knees…I couldn't breathe! I couldn't breathe!

Chikotsu looked like he was about to panic, "Mother I know you don't want to risk seeing him and it's too dangerous for you to be here, I want you and aunt Kagome to go stay with Yuka and her family, you can see your grandchildren…Yuka is close by and I know you've wanted to visit for a long time".

I could hear him…his words just managed to creep through the chaos that was now running in my mind. I nodded my head "you're right…I have to get Kagome and me out of here now!" I then looked up at him…he looked so guilty and it was breaking my heart. He had no reason to be guilty, this was all my fault…he was doing this, in order to find out a little bit more about himself, because part of his identity had been kept secret for so long. "My beautiful boy…I can't stop you, please be careful, find out everything you need to from Bankotsu…please try and survive this".

Chikotsu squeezed me tightly, "mother I promise…I won't give in, I just need to see him, I need to know if I really do look like him, act like him…I need to find out what these nineteen years have been like for him".

I tried to stop myself, but I had to ask, "did you find out where he's been all these years?"

My son looked like he didn't want to answer, reluctantly he did "I was told for my sake and yours…he has been in the underworld…all my life long".

What happened Bankotsu? How and why did you end up there? I shouldn't care…I shouldn't! Kami I hate myself! I'm such a horrible person!

Chikotsu grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me from the haze that was washing over me, "mother…the less you know the better, he isn't a part of your life anymore and is no longer any of your concern…okay, you and Kagome must leave immediately". He looked me dead in the eye to make sure his words were getting through, he didn't ease up till I nodded, he then pulled me into another hug "I have to go, Takumi is waiting I'll be back in a three days, maybe even two if I hurry and leave now…just get to Yuka's…or Yuki's…or Mizu'z…pick a child and visit one okay!"

I couldn't speak…I just…nodded. Even though he seemed unsure he left to join Takumi, to fetch the poor unfortunate girl named Nana. I had to wait a few moments and gain my composure. When I found strength I raced out the hut…I had to get to Kagome, we had to leave tonight!

It was dark when I reached outside, the moon hung high and cast the night in a silvery glow, I was still trying hard to control my breathing that was now becoming erratic. I stopped when their came a cold breeze…a familiar shiver ran down my spine.

"Looking good slayer…miss me?" that voice…that voice…it can't be! Please no please no please! I slowly turned, pleading every god in the sky to not let it be…who I thought it was. My prayer went unanswered.

There he stood, aged to perfection in the glow of evening…strong and muscular, his skin giving off the aroma of exotic flowers and some kind of musk. My knees were growing weak as I remembered scenes from years ago and now it felt when he took a bite out of me. He was eyeing me up…taking me all in as I did him.

Bankotsu….part of me hoped I'd never see you here…part of me hoped to never see your face again!

Heya so next chapter coming soon, please let me know what you think and if any of this makes sense! Oh and if I'm relating it enough to the last one :)