Heyy! I know i havn't updated in awhile, been busy... actually lazy... IT'S SUMMER LEAVE ME ALONE! Anyhoo (yes kitty, i spelled it "hoo") i've finally got off my ass and uploaded... although i've been on the computer a lot... almost everyday... DON'T JUDGE ME! lol heres cahpter 4

Chapter 4: The Promise That Couldn't Be Kept

"C'mon Oo-aniki! You can do it!" Sango cheered.

"Ugh!" Bankotsu grunted as he slammed into the hard earth. That darn rabbit got away again! He hated mobile supper.

"OK you stupid rabbit… stay there… GOTCHA! OOF!" Bankotsu moaned as he rubbed his head, which a bump was slowly forming on it. He opened one eye, but the other shot open with anger at what he saw.

"Ow! Watch it, punk! That was my supper!" A guy in women's clothing snarled. Although Bankotsu could barely tell his gender. He wore a pink kimono and his hair was tied up, and bright red lipstick. Oh my God, cross-dresser! Bankotsu thought.

"Oo-aniki! The bunny is getting away!" Sango's voice could be heard, but Bankotsu didn't even flinch. He was too busy glaring daggers at this cross-dressing idiot who ruined his supper.

"Out of my way, that squirrel of mine is getting away!" the man snorted.

"It's a rabbit, moron!" Bankotsu mumbled as he stood up as well. "And just so you know, that's our rabbit!"

"Are you kidding? I'm not sharing it with you!" the man snapped.

Bankotsu slapped his forehead. "Not you and me! Me and her!" he shouted, pointing to Sango, who was busy chasing a butterfly.

A childish pout spread across the man's face. "I don't care! It's my rabbi-"

A small tug on his kimono interrupted him. He looked down.

"Excuse me miss, but can't we all share the bunny?" she asked in a sweet voice.

The man snorted. "Bug off, kid!" he shrugged her off.

Sango lost her balance from being shaken off, and so she fell flat on her behind. She stared in front of her and then began to sob softly.

"Now look what you done!" Bankotsu accused. "You made her cry."

The man suddenly felt a pain of guilt. He had always had a soft spot for children. He kneeled down. "No, don't cry!" he begged. "Look, how about we all share the bunny, OK?"

Sango sniffed and looked up at him and his dorky smile. "O-Ok…" she stood up, whipping her eyes with one hand.

"How did we suddenly have so many people joining us for dinner?" Bankotsu complained as he glanced down at his small portion of the poor rabbit.

Some other weirdos had just decided to invite themselves for dinner. Well, the man had actually invited them. Apparently they were traveling with the cross-dresser. They had recently found out that he was goy, and that his name was Jakotsu.

Sango happily munched on her share of the rabbit. Bankotsu looked around at his new guests.

There was Jakotsu, the gay one.

And then there was one who looked much older than Jakotsu and himself. He had no hair for one thing. Bankotsu had a sudden urge to point at his head and blurt out, "bald!" His name was Renkotsu.

The other guy was a little out of it. He at least had hair. He seemed to change his mind about everything, which Jakotsu later explained that he had a split personality. Weird… But his name was Suikotsu

He looked back at Sango, who was staring at Jakotsu. He chuckled slightly. She was still trying to accept the fact that Jakotsu was a man.

Bankotsu took another bite of his rabbit, and sighed only to realize that it was the last piece. He rested his cheek on his hand, but his head shot down when he heard his stomach grumble.

He was suddenly aware of some food right in his face. He tilted his head to the side slightly, and saw the kid holding out the rest of her share of the rabbit.

"If Oo-aniki is still hungry, he can have Sango's piece!" she said, extending her outstretched arm even further.

Bankotsu couldn't help but smile and he ruffled her hair. "That's OK kiddo! You eat it." He said, winking at her.

Sango giggled and was about to take another bite, when someone snatched it from her.

Confused, she looked over to her side and saw that the bald one had her rabbit.

Frustrated, she got up and onto her feet and shouted: "Give it back you bald dummy!"

Renkotsu could only gape at her words. Everyone else burst out laughing that a six year old managed to tell Renkotsu off.

And that's when Bankotsu learned that, like himself, these men were mercenaries. If they all worked together, then they could be the most powerful mercenaries in Japan! He smirked. This plan was foolproof!

"Excuse me mister-" Sango began shyly.

"It's Suikotsu. My name is Suikotsu for the last time." Suikotsu mumbled. Sango bit her lip, and he sighed. "What do you want?"

"Where's Bankotsu Oo-aniki?" she asked in her smallest voice.

He scratched the back of his head, wondering if he should tell her that Bankotsu was slaying a village. Bankotsu had been out a lot more now that they were powerful mercenaries. They had even come up with a name. The Shichinintai.

"He's just gone out for a bit. He'll be back," he reassured her.

"He promised me."

Suikotsu looked down again. "What?"

Sango was still staring at her feet. "Oo-aniki promised me… that he would always come back to me."

Suikotsu sighed. "Look, I' sure he's OK, but you should know, that's not really a promise anyone can keep…"

Sango glared up at him. "Bankotsu Oo-aniki would never lie to me!" She said firmly. "He always keeps his promises; he's coming back!"

Suikotsu shook his head as she ran off. So what's going to happen if Bankotsu doesn't come back to you?

"Suikotsu!" Jakotsu's voice was heard. Suikotsu turned to the panting Jakotsu.

"What?"

"Bankotsu… said… that we've been…hired!" Jakotsu managed to say, panting heavily.

Suikotsu's face lit up. "Really? That's awesome! Let's go!"

"Where were you guys, Oo-aniki?" Sango's small but loud voice filled Bankotsu's ears. "Why did that man hire you?"

Bankotsu shifted hesitantly on the rock he sat upon. "Just to 'take care' of some people that were bothering that lord, that's all." He hoped she didn't know what he was talking about.

Bankotsu looked down at the rest of his comrades. The Shichinintai had gone pretty far since he first met Jakotsu and them. All together there were seven members, some of them he was surprised that they were human!

Bankotsu looked down at his men as they mingled among themselves, telling joke that even made Bankotsu laugh. Bankotsu's ear's perked as he heard the shouting of men. He realized that they were being ambushed.

Bankotsu hopped down from the rock as he saw the general that he had made a pact with, Sango was clinging to his leg.

"I'm scared, Oo-aniki…" she whimpered.

Bankotsu knew that he had to get Sango out of here, or she would most likely be killed. He looked around a noticed a few bushes were there were no men.

"Sango!" he hissed. "Go hide over in those bushes!"

"But, what about you Oo-aniki?"

Bankotsu smiled down at her. "Don't worry. Oo-aniki's going to get rid of all the bad guys, OK?"

Sango grinned up at him. "Ok!" and she scurried off into the bush.

Bankotsu then removed the sheath from his partner in crime, Banryuu, and readied himself for a big fight. A fight that he might not survive…

So there it is... dum dum dum! R&R please!