Author's Note: Hello! Look at me, updating twice in the same month. Lets see if I can keep it up ;)). Thanks for sticking it out with me all of you that are still here. I have a new school schedule and it gives me free periods to write, so I might get another update up this week or next :). Hope to see you all then too! Take care and enjoy this chapter!
Review Responses:
Ibara-hime: Well, hey there, stranger. Haven't heard from you in a while. Thought I scared you away, and no. No matter how long I stay away, I'm still determined to see this series to its end :). Take care!
Torn Angel Wings: Lol, there are a lot of stories I would lose if it weren't for author alerts, so I feel you. Thanks for the review. Take care!
Tareacel: Ha, ha, ha, hunt me down. You know I love e-mail ;). I will try not to ever take so long updating again without notice. Lol, there is more of him in this chapter. I really hope you like him. Wow, it was four months. Damn. Sorry. LOL! Much love chic, take care! Thanks for the review!
Cyberchao X: Lol, oh so you caught my errors too, did you. I always read through it and think I catch everything, then post and find a new error glaring at me from the screen. I'm glad you liked the chapter regardless. Thanks for the review.
Me, just me: Genji's a nice guy, and Jakotsu is being a real bitch. That's an interesting way to think of Bankotsu, maybe there's truth to that ;). Thank you for keeping up with me and reviewing! Take care!
Hinata: Haha! Thanks! So glad you're enjoying the Arc. Breathing life into characters is the best part of writing, so it makes me smile to know that you think I'm doing a good job at it. Thanks for reviewing and take care!
YokoYoukai: Hehehe! Bankotsu-plague-of-locusts. Ha, kinda sounds like the name of an attack they would do on the show ;). Thank you for your vote of confidence. I really hope they these stories will turn out ok too. Yes, the boy Jakotsu saw comes back ;) ;). Take care and thank you so much for reviewing!
Lyndalion16: Lol, hello! Thanks for the review. I hope you enjoy the new chapter and take care!
Satsu: Haha. Watch your hand while you're patting his head; Little Bankotsus bite ;). Take care and thanks for reviewing!
MistressofHeaven: Hehehe, Jakotsu is being slightly nice...hehehe. That just struck me so funny. It's digging for a compliment while put on the spot. Yeah, Jakotsu could have embarrassed Renkotsu in front of his friend– still might– and the house did pose a good distraction from the task at hand lol. Ja's having some internal difficulties right, so his sour mood may haunt the team for a while longer. Thanks for the review. Take care and I hope you like the new chapter. I'm hoping this may explain Jakotsu's moodiness a little bit.
Shichinintailuv: Lol, you know, the only cuss word I will not use is the "f" word. It's just so ugly sounding lol, but I think it's funny when other people say it ;). Yup, he's getting a headache... but not from the smell of bacon. Aw... you get headaches from that? I love the smell of bacon lol, well...not turkey bacon. Lol, Jakotsu is making up new words for you as we speak ;). Thank you for your review and take care!
Lildaemon: Hehehe, glad you liked the previous chapter :). The wait was embarrassingly long and I'll try not to do that again. I'm playing with Genji. I'm gonna work under the premise that he didn't start with the grunting until he got the metal mouth (we shall call it lock-jaw syndrome). So right now, he speaks lol! Haha, if I was a better artist I would draw Jakotsu's face when he got a load of the house :). I initially had that part of the chapter in his perspective, but in the end it just didn't work out. Take care and thanks for the review!
Forever in Darkness: Hey:) Much love to you too! So happy to note that someone said my story is "cool" :):) You will see what is bugging Jakotsu in this chapter and he has a name ;). Lol, take care and thanks for reviewing!
Inuyasha-angel2004:) Thank you so much. Take care and I hope you like the new chapter!
Chapter 3
It was the smell of the spices. Jakotsu hadn't recognized it immediately, because of the way the fish had been prepared, but it was the same. Mama had made rice dishes with bits of fish that she would bake under hot stones, chicken and wild greens all flavored with the red and black spices she kept in jars above the cooking area in the small shanty Papa had made just for her. Mama had refused to let her home reek of fish or hunted game and demanded that a place be set aside for meals.
Jakotsu used to sit and watch her seasoning meats and occasionally he was allowed to stir a pot or sample a sweet. He'd turned over a jar of red spice once, and instead of scolding him, Mama placed a large, flat lump of meat in his small hands and told him to massage the fire colored grains into the flesh. Side by side they worked, and afterwards Jakotsu had been instructed to soak the odor of food from his body... but not his memories.
He'd seen her by Genji's hibachi. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a low tail, curls reaching the small of her back as she leaned over the fire, blowing gently. She turned to grin at Jakotsu, her wide, heavily lashed gray eyes sparkling as she waved him away from the cooking station and asked what he'd done that afternoon.
Jakotsu would make up grand stories about riding dragons and taming youkai that made her laugh and stop what she was doing to come hug him. He would bury his face in her skirts, breathing in her sweet and spicy personal perfume.
Jakotsu stood a few steps away from the door of Genji's hovel, panting shallowly and rubbing his eyes. He could still smell it– smell her– and he wanted to get away, needed to. His head was growing heavy and tiny heated coals were being pressed between his eyes. The feelings intensified inside Genji's home, aggravated by his cooking.
Bankotsu shoveling fish into his mouth and letting the oils dribble down his chin as he licked the bones clean made Jakotsu ill, and listening to the red-haired monster made him dizzy.
He knew he should have tried to stay and eat something, so Suikotsu could give him medicine for what he knew would become one of his annoying headaches, but...
He'd had to get out of there.
Jakotsu stumbled past the wagon, walking by disinterested horses and trying to put as much foliage between he and the disconcerting aroma as possible.
Jakotsu took off his sandals as soon as he reached the beach, the sand squeezing into the straw groove of his shoes that separated his toes was aggravating. He shook his sandals out then placed one in each, deep hip pocket on either side of his kimono.
The sun was lower in the sky, casting its dulling rays across the sea like a child skipping stones and Jakotsu wandered closer to the body of water that held such mystery on its other side. The salty surf was warm as it rushed to kiss his bare feet, ran away as if it was shy, then came back again to steal another taste and Jakotsu laughed. This was probably as close to being kissed by a stranger as he could ever come and take guilt-free pleasure in it. From the corner of his eye, he could see the distant outline of the boats with their tied sails.
Had Mama made it all the way back to this place and waited for one of them to come? It was possible that one of those ships could be the one that had taken her away– or had left her behind in the first place. Jakotsu knew it was a vast world, but could one of those people– her people... his people– have seen her, known her? He looked like her– would they recognize her in him and if they did, would it be a good thing?
Jakotsu kicked one of his long legs out, splashing water straight up into the air and not caring about soiling his kimono. He'd already gotten his trousers muddy. He hummed lightly, contemplating before shimming out of the baggy pants and folding them to be tossed behind him onto the beach.
Jakotsu had never cared too much for pants anyway. They were restricting. It was easier to dance with Jakotsutou bare-legged. He practiced that dance now without the large sword in the shallow water, giggling as tepid ocean silently asked for his hand. Bowing slightly, Jakotsu allowed it to accompany him, and his new partner's cool breath blew his kimono about his body like a beautiful veil– no a marvelous cape, shrouding him in mystique.
The pressure that had been mounting behind his eyes was receding and memories of pepper and paprika were far away. He whirled as if releasing his multiple blades and froze at someone offering applause.
Unfamiliar footsteps were being taken toward him as he stood rigid, holding his breath and catching the waving flaps of his kimono to restrain at his knees. Stupid! He'd been playing around and had forgotten that perhaps the beach didn't belong to only him this afternoon.
"Go...gomen!" A tentative, young male voice called. "Do not stop. I d... did... did not mean to... worry... upset... scare you!"
Jakotsu scowled. What the hell was the fool saying? He turned slowly and nearly toppled backward at the being staring at him apologetically. It was him, the boy from earlier– the beautiful one with hair like the sand that waved like the sea.
Something fluttered in his stomach and stirred in the naughty areas. Bad, he was getting the bad feelings again. The ones Papa had said were for evil boys. The evil men had had them too... Papa had had them.
"Ah... I am sorry. I..."
Jakotsu narrowed his eyes. He could barely understand a word the boy was saying. He grimaced as he suddenly realized why. "Your Japanese is very bad."
The boy's eyes widened in surprise and Jakotsu swallowed hard, noting that the other's eyes were a light green with golden flecks and hints of blue.
The evil feelings came again and he tried to force them aside. He was not like those men! He was not like Papa!
"You're Portuguese?" the boy asked, switching to his native tongue, face breaking into a smile revealing even white teeth and dimples. His complexion was smooth and tan and he moved closer to Jakotsu who took a step back as he caught a whiff of his scent, sea salt and blended spices. The water was past his ankles now and he wavered at the edge of a dip that he hoped was shallow.
"Have I offended you?"
Jakotsu remembered to breathe as he found himself staring at the young stranger again; his face was lined with concern and apology. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. I...saw you earlier riding in a wagon with a group of Japanese and I thought you looked different..."
"I'm not Portuguese." Calmly he decided that he would not take another step back, but he'd move forward, out of the water. He would go back to Genji's ugly house and stay there until it was time to return with Oo-aniki. He began trekking up the beach, not looking back at the foreigner and wondering if he remembered the way to Genji's. Maybe there was still a wagon trail he could follow.
"Hey!" Jakotsu tensed as he heard running footsteps behind him. He turned to find the boy a few paces from him.
"Don't come any closer."
Jakotsu glared, hoping to scare the boy away... Jakotsu didn't like him– wasn't supposed to like anyone who brought about the feelings. He shut his eyes against images of dark places and ghostlike sensations of roaming hands and wet, hot mouths of men... evil men from the village... touching certain places on his body that felt so...
He almost moaned, recalling the wicked pleasure. Wicked because Papa would spank him after and remind him of how bad it was. Papa didn't want an evil boy... Nobody wanted an evil boy.
He stopped himself, making fists at his side and digging fingernails into his palms.
The boy was frowning in confusion. "Are you afraid of me?"
"I'm not afraid of anyone!" Jakotsu snapped, flinching at the volume of his voice. He hadn't meant to yell. He just wanted the boy to go away. His fingers were beginning to itch for the pommel of his blade, like they always did when the naughty thoughts came to him. Rough hands were on him now, clawing and tearing at his skin and crusty mouths with sharp teeth bit into his flesh.
Stop it! Just... "Leave me alone."
Befuddled green-blue eyes stared at him, feathery lashes dusting golden cheeks as petulance set in and Jakotsu shuddered. The wind tousled his hair, dark curls veiling him momentarily from the object of his current distress.
Jakotsu should kill him. He could do it with his bare hands, with the sash of his kimono... but the urge to see blood dribbling from a victim– like the blood had dribbled down his bare legs – that usually followed the itch was not present and he floundered.
Jakotsu never knew what to do when he felt this way and couldn't smell or taste blood and had no orders to kill. He knew should...
...but he had no desire to do anything other than...
"Look, I just wanted to talk. It's been a very long time since I've been around someone my own age. But I've done something to make you angry, and I'm sorry. I'll go." The boy began to back away and Jakotsu watched him, tense and feeling the warning symptoms of the headache he thought he'd banished, returning. The boy's spicy smell, that had somehow grown stronger as he distanced himself, was slowly churning his stomach.
Jakotsu held his breath, twinges in his leg muscles alerting him that he was about to run.
"Hey!"
Jakotsu was moving, wanting to obey his instincts, but something halted him and forced him to look at the boy again.
"My name's Nicalao."
Jakotsu stared while the boy seemed to be waiting expectantly, before sighing and running a sheepish hand through his hair. "But you don't care about that."
He started to walk away again, his back to Jakotsu. His hair hung just past his shoulders, a dark blue ribbon clinging to the ends of a doomed tail. Jakotsu bit his lip, legs trembling, demanding he bolt, but... his teeth slid from his lower lip and he stammered, voice faltering.
"Josue."
"What?" Nicalao turned to look at him.
"My name is Josue."
Nicalao smiled, dimpling and bowing slightly. "I hope to see you around... Josue."
He watched him walk away, bringing a hand up to tangle in his hair. Why had he told him his name was Josue? Why had he given him a name at all?
And more important, why when Nicalao spoke that name did none of the horrible emotions associated with it come to haunt him?
Jakotsu was slow to leave the beach, only making it back into the woods separating foreign territory from known lands as the darker hues of nightfall began purpling the blue sky.
Bankotsu was waiting for him when he returned. The younger boy sat with his knees pulled to his chest beside the weathered door of Genji's shack, sipping from a wooden cup.
"You have not been out here the entire time I was gone, have you?" Jakotsu asked him softly, drifting toward Bankotsu and sitting down next to him. The dirt was much coarser than the sand of the beach, and Jakotsu mimicked Bankotsu's position, also bringing his bare knees to his chest.
Bankotsu took another sip from his cup, the scent of alcohol mingling with the lingering odor of fish from Genji's hibachi, before glancing at Jakotsu beneath his lashes. "No, not the whole time. Just... you know, after the sun went down."
Jakotsu frowned, guilt setting in as he realized how long he'd been gone. "Were you worried?"
Bankotsu snorted, setting down his sake and turning to face Jakotsu in full, blue eyes made dark by the encompassing shadows of nightfall. "When you said you were going outside, I don't know why I assumed you would stay in the yard. Did you go to the beach?"
Jakotsu shrugged, absently scratching a knee and pouting at the salty residue that came away under his nails. Sea water was dirty; he needed a bath, but he didn't supposed Genji would know of a bath house nearby. The mere thought of the beast stripping down and washing made him shudder.
"You have fun?"
Scowling, Jakotsu pulled his sandals out of his pockets and studied them, thinking of nosy Nicalao that made him feel... He shook his head. "No, I did not."
"Oh?" Bankotsu sounded strangely amused, and Jakotsu started at the younger boy's tickling fingers on his nude thighs. "Then how did you lose your pants?"
Jakotsu gasped, flushing furiously at the revelation. Where were his pants?
Gods... he'd thrown them off before he'd gotten into the water and left them on the beach. He'd talked to Nicalao half naked!
Jakotsu blinked, bringing slender hands to hot cheeks. He hardly ever wore pants; he didn't like them...
So why did he care about Nicalao seeing his unclothed legs?
Bankotsu was laughing. "What's with the blushing? Flash somebody?"
Oh gods! Jakotsu wanted the ground to open up and swallow him. The wind had to have blown his kimono above his waist quite a few times while he'd been in the water, and there was no telling how long Nicalao had been watching.
"Holy crap. You did? Was it one of them?" Bankotsu was pulling at his hands and Jakotsu spanked him away. Couldn't he let him wallow in peace?
Jakotsu bit his lip behind the single hand he'd placed over his mouth. Why was he wallowing? Once again, why did he care what the foreign boy had seen of him? It wasn't like he was ever going to see it or him again. Jakotsu wouldn't put himself in a place to...
Wait... the mission.
His stomach tied itself into a double knot and then a knife sliced it in half. He doubled over with a moan.
"Jakotsu!" Bankotsu's hand rubbed his back. "What...?"
"I..." What could he say? He'd agreed to come on the trip. He'd told Bankotsu he was ok to talk to the traders. "I..." could not go back on what he had said he would do, not when it came to Bankotsu.
But...
"My head hurts."
The hand rubbing his back halted its repetitive motion and leisurely made its way to Jakotsu's neck, massaging the tender skin there and easing some of the pressure out of clenched muscles.
"Suikotsu made your tea."
"Hm..." Bankotsu used his other hand to test the temperature of Jakotsu's brow. He was such an old maid, but it felt good, familiar and grounding. Nicalao became a distant image as Bankotsu's fingers worked their magic.
"Renkotsu asked Genji to make plain rice for you. He didn't think you'd want the fish." Bankotsu's voice was soothing.
Genji had made something else for him at Renkotsu's request? "Why?"
"You have to eat."
He didn't know if he could, but if someone else had gone to the trouble of preparing another meal, it was the least he could try to do. "But why would he make something else for me?"
Bankotsu chuckled, hands moving to his shoulders, kneading away the pain. "Genji's a nice guy, Ja. If you even look like you want something, the man's trying to get it for you, and... you don't eat a lot of things. That fish was good, but it had a strange taste to it– you know, different. He said not everyone can get used to the taste or smell of the spices he uses. So, Renkotsu suggested something else, and he made it."
Jakotsu frowned.
"He got it from the boat guys, the spices. He says they carry barrels of different flavors that they get from all over. Makes me want to invite myself to one of their dinners."
Jakotsu sat up and Bankotsu stopped kneading, ruffling his hair. The skinny trees surrounding the small clearing swayed as the cool winds blew, allowing Jakotsu to see the half face of the white moon.
"Will you be ok to go out tomorrow morning?"
Half of him wanted to say "no."
"We can go the day after tomorrow, if you want."
The other half...
"I will be ok, Aniki."
... wondered if Nicalao would get what he'd hoped for.
"Good." Bankotsu smiled at him and rose to his feet, offering a hand to Jakotsu. "Lets get you fed and medicated. Then I can fill you in on what happened after you left. Once you get past the lisp, Genji's a decent storyteller. Eh, maybe it's because he's been so many places... One day, I'm going to have stories like that to tell too, Ja."
Jakotsu took Bankotsu's hand and let the smaller boy pull him up. He smoothed his kimono and decided to leave his sandals outside. "Oh? And how many of these stories will be true and how many will be make-believe?"
He stepped out of the path of Bankotsu's swinging braid that he wielded as a weapon. "Oi, asshole! You'll be in them, so I'd only be embellishing the stories to make you look good as me!"
Jakotsu snorted and Bankotsu mock-sneered at him, before sticking out his tongue and taking his arm. He reached to push the door open and paused, gazing at Jakotsu again, all playful banter gone from his expression. "Are you really going to be ok?"
Jakotsu studied him for a moment, warmed by his concern and covering the hand Bankotsu had on his arm with his own. "As long as you stay nearby."
... and green eyed boys stay far away.
"I can do that. Lets go."
Yes, lets go.
Author's Note: All right, what's the verdict? Like it? Hate it? Don't care either way? Either way, let me know! Please review!
