I love everyone who updated! You guys are the ones who rock! Your reviews keep me inspired, I love you guys! Anyways, this chapter actually has nothing to do with the title...but part 2 does. Oh well...as long as you like the chapter...why care about the title?
STORY NOTE: I don't know what Jakotsu's weapon is called! ((sob)) For now I'll refer to it as a sword...but if anyone know's it's name. Please let me know!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha only some of the random things that I make up.
Warnings: mild language
Key: thought , "speech" flashback
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LAST TIME...
"Bankotsu?" Kagome mumbled softly, catching the older teens attention. Inuyasha doesn't matter anymore.
"Yeah?"
"I like you too." Kagome turned to him smiling softly. "If you still like me."
"Of course," he laughed, picking her up off her feet and holding her up in the air. "How could I not?" As he was lowering her to the ground, she leaned towards his face and kissed him softly on the lips.
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Catch you Catch Kagome
CHAPTER SEVEN: Absolute Anguish part 1
The group of eight was standing on a hill a few miles from a large town. The weather was somewhat gloomy, seeing as the sky was filled with clouds, and there was a small forest behind the band. "Why have we gathered here?" asked Renkotsu, raising an eyebrow at the scene in front of him. Bankotsu was standing beside Kagome staring at the town with one of his arms around her waist and Kagome was leaning her head against his shoulder. The couple had goofy grins on their faces and Kagome was slightly pink.
"What's with you two?" Jakotsu asked, cringing as he spoke.
"Well you see," the Shichinintai leader began as he and Kagome turned to face the others. "How do I put this..."
"You're together?" Suikotsu questioned, though he was really trying to confirm his assumptions.
"Yeah! That's exactly how it is!" Bankotsu laughed, pulling Kagome into an embrace.
"It's about time."
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Dammit...They're together...She'll never leave! Renkotsu thought to himself as he scowled at the couple. Tough...I'm not really complaining...
No! She stole my MAN! Jakotsu thought, making a fist.
"DAMN URASUE!" Mukotsu screamed at random.
"You gotta problem with it?" Bankotsu asked coldly, glaring at the small poison master.
"Never," Mukotsu replied in fear.
"All right everyone!" Bankotsu laughed. "This jobs pretty big, so if we work in separate groups we should be able to get more done than usual. Not only have we been hired to do some killing, but our target has a jewel shard. At the same time, Kagome has been sensing a couple jewel shards in the area."
"Brother Bankotsu," Renkotsu asked cautiously. "How do you suppose we do this?"
"There's eight of us including Kagome," the Shichinintai leader pointed out. "Here's the plan. Mukotsu and I will attack the eagle demon pack while Renkotsu and Ginkotsu act as our back up. At the same time, I want Kyoukotsu and Suikotsu to attack the demon in the forest and Kagome and Jakotsu to head into town and find the rat demon. As soon as you retrieve all the shards and kill all possible threats meet in the center of town. Together we will attack the castle and kill the new emperor."
"Understood," the group replied and then began breaking into their teams.
"Let's go!" Bankotsu called to his team as the four headed away from the town and forest and towards a nearby mountain. "That's where we'll find our demons!"
"Brother Bankotsu," Renkotsu asked as the three rode on Ginkotsu. "How do you know what all the demons are?"
"I did my research," was the reply.
"Gesh...Big brother is quite amazing," Ginkotsu laughed, yet he had respect in his voice.
"So perfect," Mukotsu mumbled under his breath, still angry about losing Kagome to his chief. "So...Where are these eagles?"
"There nest is on the top of the mountain. You and I will go up and take 'em out. If we have any problems, Ginkotsu and Renkotsu will take care of it from the base of the mountain."
"Big brother, was it wise to leave Kagome with Jakotsu?" asked Renkotsu.
"The two need some bonding time. If all goes well, Kagome will be with us for a long time."
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"SUIKOTSU, DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR?" Kyoukotsu asked his demented teammate as the two of them searched the small forest for their demon.
"I told you, we'll know when we find it. It's supposed to be extremely hostile," Suikotsu replied, sounding annoyed. Why'd Bankotsu have to stick me with him...? Why not Kagome! She's nice to hang around with. "If you see anything from way up there, let me know will ya?"
"YES SUIKOTSU."
"Bleh..."
"WHAT'S WRONG?"
"Nothing..."
"SOMETHING IS WRONG."
Suikotsu stopped walking and turned slowly to Kyoukotsu. "Can you keep something quiet?"
"SURE."
Suikotsu flinched at Kyoukotsu's loud booming voice. "Kagome reminds me of the priestess Kikiyo. My other self liked her...and to tell the truth I did too."
"YOU LIKE KIKIYO?"
"Not really..."
"DO YOU LIKE KAGOME?"
Suikotsu smiled softly and turned away, his doctor half kicking in. "I've grown quite fond of her and I want her to be happy. I also want Bankotsu to be happy. If the two of them are content in each others arms, then I too am pleased." Kyoukotsu stared at the killer in confusion, not understanding his words. "Don't worry about it. We've found our demon."
Suikotsu stepped aside quickly as a huge worm emerged from the ground, tearing down trees and all obstacles in it's path. "IT'S THE DEMON!"
"Yes, that's the demon," the smaller man replied in a sarcastic tone. The giant worm lunged towards Suikotsu but instead found itself in Kyoukotsu's arms. The worm was quite large compared to Suikotsu, but a little smaller than Kyoukotsu. "Thanks." Kyoukotsu's grip around the worms body tightened as he attempted to squeeze the life out of it, and Suikotsu began hacking at it's body in a search for the shard. "We can't destroy it until I find the shard, so hold it still."
"CAN I KILL IT WHEN YOU FIND THE SHARD?"
"If you really want."
"YAY!"
Suikotsu rolled his eyes as he made his way towards the worm demons eyes. In one swift swing, he tore the shard out from demon's forehead. "Squeeze," the smaller man mumbled as he landed gracefully on his feet. Kyoukotsu practically tore the demon in half and threw it's remains to the side. "Good job," Suikotsu told the large Shichinintai member as he picked up the jewel shard and stuffed it in his armor for safe keeping.
"SHALL WE GO TO THE MEETING SPOT NOW?"
"Yes, Brother Bankotsu is probably already there by now."
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"Why do I have to go with you?" Jakotsu asked coldly as he and Kagome headed towards the town.
"It's not like I chose to team with you. Sorry," Kagome sighed, feeling out of place. I wish we could get along...
"Woman! Don't think just because you have Bankotsu's respect you'll get mine!"
"I wasn't planning on it," the young girl replied as she walked faster. I'll think of something later...
"Stop walking so fast!"
"Stop walking so slow!"
"Stupid whore!"
"Stupid cross-dresser."
Jakotsu stopped suddenly and grabbed Kagome by the arm. "Listen. I'm going to be nice to you because you make Bankotsu happy."
"We have a job if you remember, and I'm sensing a shard," Kagome said sternly, pulling away and running towards the town.
"I'm sensing a shard," Jakotsu mimicked in a high voice as he followed after her. "Bleh!"
When the two entered the town they found it bustling with people and carts carrying goods. In the north side of town was the castle and the shard was somewhere in the south side of town. Jakotsu and Kagome were coming in from the west side, so the two had a long distance to walk together. In other words...they had a long time to bond.
"This place is huge," Jakotsu mumbled in awe as he led the modern priestess through the crowd. "So tell me...Do you still like Inuyasha?"
"Not really," Kagome replied.
"Does that mean I can have him?"
"If you want."
"Now we're talking!" Jakotsu laughed as he looked at her. "I'll let you have Ban and you'll give me Inuyasha!"
"Good luck getting him to agree," Kagome laughed. "Hey wait..."
"Is something wrong?" asked the cross-dresser, stopping and pulling Kagome close to protect her from the crowd.
"The shard is coming towards us."
"What does that mean?"
"Woman, stay back!" Jakotsu ordered as he pushed the modern priestess behind him and unsheathed his sword. "Get out of my way!" Everyone in the area began to panic once they saw sight of his weapon and cleared away leaving an empty circle for Jakotsu and Kagome. "Why won't these stupid people leave?" he asked irritably when he noticed they weren't leaving and had surrounded him.
"It seems they want to watch the fight," a familiar voice laughed. Kagome looked up to see Kagura standing on her signature feather. "You're Jakotsu of the Band of Seven...Am I correct?"
"The Shichinintai are here?" a man in the crowd screamed in horror. "They're going to kill us! Run!"
Jakotsu watched the crowd in amusement as they fled for their lives, tripping over one another and fighting to get inside houses. "It's fun to watch them run. Normally I'd take this opportunity to kill each and everyone of them, but unfortunately I have to deal with you," he sighed sadly.
"I am here for the priestess Kagome," Kagura explained, standing still on her feather and holding her fan out, ready to attack. "It would be so much easier if you just handed her over."
"I'm sure it would," Jakotsu agreed. "But Brother Bankotsu left her with me. What do you want with her anyways?"
"I could care less about the woman. It's Naraku's wish that I bring her to him."
"Tell Naraku that if he wants the girl, he'll have to come get her himself."
"It's a shame we couldn't come to an agreement," Kagura growled as she jumped down from the feather and landed on the ground in front of Jakotsu.
"Jakotsu, Kagura stole the shard from the rat," Kagome whispered to the taller man.
"Shut up woman!" Kagura hissed, sending a blast of wind towards Kagome. Her attempts to hit the girl were foiled when the Shichinintai member deflected the blast with his sword. Kagura moved out of the way as Jakotsu swung his sword, his many blades thundering towards her. "Is that the best you can do?"
"You haven't seen anything yet!"
"Oh I think I have!" Kagura mumbled, jumping in the air and onto her feather again.
"Now Kanna!"
Jakotsu turned just in time to see a small white haired girl step out from behind a building and flash her mirror at him. What's this...? He asked himself, starting to feel faint. I can't move! It feels like she's sucking my life away!
If I don't do something fast...Kanna will kill the big idiot! Kagome thought to herself as she looked around for something to shoot with. Luckily, she noticed a bag of arrows hanging from a cart along with a beautiful bow. She quickly ran over to the cart and grabbed the items. "Leave Jakotsu alone!" the raven haired girl yelled as she shot her sacred arrow at Kanna.
"Kanna watch out!" Kagura warned her comrade, but it was to late, the mirror absorbed the arrow and sent the small girl flying into a building. "Kanna!" Kagura attempted to retrieve the wounded girl but stopped when an arrow flew by her head.
"I won't miss next time!" Kagome threatened. "Hand over the jewel shard!"
"Wench," Kagura breathed and pulled the shard out of her kimono. "Take it." Kagura threw the shard to Kagome and flew over to the building where the wounded Kanna was waiting for her. "We'll finish this later!" she barked as the two disappeared.
"Jakotsu! Jakotsu are you okay?" the raven haired girl asked as she ran over to the said man. The Shichinintai member was sitting on the ground with his head down.
"You...saved my...life," he said in between breaths. No doubt he was warn out from almost losing his soul and all the traveling they'd done.
"Yeah," Kagome laughed, helping him stand up. "Don't worry about it. I got the jewel shard."
"Really?" Jakotsu asked, now feeling better. "You what Kagome, you're not so bad after all."
"What?" asked the younger girl, surprised that he'd called her by her name. "Thanks."
"I think we can be friends. What do you say? Are you willing to give me another chance?"
"Sure," Kagome laughed, feeling suddenly very happy.
"Great! Let's go to the meeting spot and wait for everyone else!"
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"We're here," Bankotsu laughed as the four of the seven members stopped at the base of a single large mountain. In all truth, the mountain was oddly placed. The said mountain blocked a large lake from escaping into the town, and it was said that the founders of the village had placed it there. The Shichinintai leader unwrapped his Banryuu and lifted it onto his shoulder. "Are we ready?"
"Do we really have to be back up?" Renkotsu asked in agony. "Do you not believe in our abilities?"
"It's not that," Bankotsu mumbled, rubbing his forehead. "Fine fine, you and Ginkotsu can take out the eagles while we climb the mountain. Is that better?"
"Indeed it is."
"Good. Mukotsu, lets go."
Bankotsu and Mukotsu climbed the mountain quickly as Renkotsu and Ginkotsu took out all the eagles attempting to attack the duo. When the two finally reached the nest, they found it filled with the flying demons, leaving Mukotsu to gas them out. Bankotsu slipped on a mask his comrade had given him and hurried through the nest in search of the jewel shard. He didn't have to look far, because the eagle holding the jewel shard came to him.
"What do you want?" the eagle woman asked in horror. Like Koga, the woman was an eagle demon but in the form of a human. "Leave my nest at once human!"
"Hand over the shard," Bankotsu ordered, pointing his Banryuu at the beast. "If you don't wish to die."
"Pitiful human! I'll crush you!" the woman screamed, flying towards him. Bankotsu jumped behind her and with a single stroke of his sword, sliced off her wings.
"Will you now?" he asked, sounding amused. "A bird that cannot fly has no right to be called a bird."
"Please! Spare me!" she cried, rolling onto her back and looking up at the Shichinintai leader in horror.
"I think it's a little to late." Bankotsu brought his Banryuu down on her neck and watched her head roll away. "I guess that's that," he laughed, bending down and picking up the jewel shard that had been placed in her chest.
"You kill the pretty woman!" Mukotsu screamed in anger when he ran over to his chief and saw the dead body. "I could have married her!"
"You'd marry an ugly bird demon?"
"I'd marry anything!"
"Is that why you and Urasue-"
"PLEASE STOP!" Mukotsu screamed, clutching his head. "Don't bring back the horrible memories of those LONG nights! She's the reason I search for beautiful women...In fact, how's Kagome?"
"She's very beautiful," Bankotsu replied as he placed the jewel shard in his halberd. "Great! Now my companion has three shards! I can feel it getting stronger already!"
"How many are you planning to put in there?"
"Four."
"That's a lot."
"Yup."
"About Kagome...You said she was very lovely?"
"Yup."
"She may be, but she's really a demon inside! Why don't you give her to me?" Mukotsu jumped when his chief pointed the Banryuu at him.
"Do you think me a fool?"
"No Brother Bankotsu."
"That's better." Bankotsu climbed down the mountain and met a happy Ginkotsu and an irritated Renkotsu. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Did you get the shard?" Renkotsu asked, trying to keep his cool.
"Yup. I gave it to my Banryuu."
"I see. I'm happy you could put it to use." When will we get shards? I want another shard. Dangit! I WANT ANOTHER SHARD. "Shall we head to the meeting place?"
"Yup."
"Bankotsu! Stop saying yup!" Mukotsu yelled from the mountain. He was currently climbing down.
"Okay! Right-O!"
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Jakotsu, Kagome, Suikotsu, and Kyoukotsu were all standing in the middle of the town, nearby a fountain, waiting for the other four to arrive. The air in the town had become cool and moist, and smelt of rain. "Looks like it'll be raining soon." Suikotsu chuckled as he looked up at the sky. "I wonder what's keeping the others."
"Hey, Suikotsu," Kagome mumbled softly. "Who are we...I mean...Who are you working for?"
Suikotsu smiled and turned to her. "You were correct. We are working for a group of people in the town who want the castle to fall."
"Kagome? Are you scared?" Jakotsu asked, pulling the younger girl towards him and wrapping his arms around her protectively. "I won't let no mean emperor hurt you! No matter how sexy he is."
"Great...Thanks."
"Oh Kagome! You're so cute!" the cross-dresser squealed, hugging Kagome tighter and shaking her around a bit.
"We're here!" a familiar voice shouted. The small group looked up and saw their leader and the other members running towards them. "I see the town all hid!"
"Yes, seeing Kyoukotsu scared most of the people," Jakotsu laughed. "We can see the castle from here."
"Yes we can," laughed Bankotsu. "Is everyone ready? We're going to barge in and destroy everything. Kagome, I want you to follow me and Jakotsu. If anything goes wrong, someone will get you out. I promise your safety."
"Thank you Bankotsu," Kagome replied blushing. "Oh yeah! Jakotsu, give him the shard!"
"Right," Jakotsu pulled out the shard he and Kagome had obtained from Kagura and handed it to Bankotsu. "There's a story on that shard. I'll tell you about it later though."
"I have a shard for you as well," Suikotsu announced, taking the shard out of his armor.
"Go ahead and keep your shard Suikotsu. I don't need anymore," the Shichinintai leader laughed as he put the forth shard in his halberd. "Seven shards. I think I'll be just fine from now on."
"Thank you Big Brother," answered the demented doctor as he slipped the shard back into his armor.
Why does Suikotsu get a damn shard! What about ME? Renkotsu thought to himself as he stood on top of Ginkotsu.
"Are we ready to attack the castle?" Bankotsu asked the group cheerfully.
"Ready as ever!" Mukotsu answered.
"Lets find out if this emperor is sexy!" screamed Jakotsu.
"LET US KILL!" boomed Kyoukotsu.
"Ready when you are," laughed Suikotsu.
"Gesh! Let's blow everyone away!" Ginkotsu agreed.
"Let's obtain the shard!" Renkotsu said in a dark voice.
"I'm ready for almost anything!" Kagome giggled, surprised by their blood thirsty behavior. However, as scary as the group may have been...she wasn't frightened.
"Then lets go bust us up a castle!" Bankotsu cheered and began leading the group towards the said castle. Their mission was to kill the emperor...and that was exactly what they were going to do.
CHAPTER END
NEXT CHAPTER: Absolute Anguish part 2
Now that the Band of Seven has regrouped, they're ready for some serious jewel shard hunting. But when Inuyasha shows up once again, more blood will fall than tears. Will Inuyasha survive long enough to regain Kagome's trust or will Bankotsu completely destroy the half demon?
Man, the reason I had to spilt the chapter into parts is because part one took so long and so much space. Seriously, I can't take 6000 words for one chapter! It'd take forever to get out...right? Well...it would, since I've been so busy.Well anyways...look forward to part two!
