Chapter Seven

"You good to go?" Bankotsu asked as he propped Banryu on his shoulder while Araiya settled herself in the saddle.

"Yes I think we're ready, aren't we Kenta?" she asked as she rubbed his neck, the horse seeming to nod his head as Bankotsu took the reigns, walking along the path and leading the horse, "I don't mind walking, Bankotsu."

"I don't want you to get tired." he said, keeping his eyes focused on the path ahead. Those eyes. There was definitely something different about them last night, something different about him. Araiya felt the heat in her cheeks again as her mind drifted back to that.

"I'll help you get Hayato back." He said as his fingers brushed her cheek and near her lips before his hand fell away.

His eyes. They seemed as if they were filled with jealousy. She wasn't sure if it was the lighting, but his expression didn't look the least bit excited about helping her. Instead, the way he even spoke he seemed reluctant to say it.

"Bankotsu?"

"Hm?"

"If you don't want to help me with Hayato, you don't have to."

"I already gave you my word." he said without looking up at her.


"It's so busy here." Araiya said as she dismounted Kenta and stretched her stiff muscles.

"It's popular for travelers." Bankotsu said as he adjusted Banryu on his shoulder before sticking it point down in the ground and stretching that arm out, "Shit I'm glad we finally made it here. Now I just need to find someone who knows about that thief, or whatever he is."

"Are you talking about Ryuu?" an older woman's voice asked from behind them. The two turned around and Bankotsu raised and eyebrow.

"I'm guessing this Ryuu is the one who's been causing trouble?"

"Yes. He's been showing up once a month to steal and kill." The older woman said as she hobbled toward the two, "Who are you two young folk? Why are you looking for Ryuu?"

"I need some extra money." Bankotsu said, "What's it to you, old woman?"

"Bankotsu, be nice." Araiya said as she elbowed him in the side.

"We're looking for someone to take him down, but so far no one has been able to."

"You're looking at the right person then." Bankotsu said as he smiled smugly.

"Watch the ego." Araiya said, Bankotsu shooting her an irritated glare in return.

"What is your name, youngster?"

"Bankotsu."

"Bankotsu, eh? That's very familiar."

"I'm leader of The Band of Seven."

"You mean that group that came through here and drank all our sake at the inn?" she asked and Bankotsu turned red in the face from embarrassment.

"Well isn't that just polite." Araiya said with a smirk and a giggle, "You're such a wonderful guest, Bankotsu."

"Hey they kept serving it to us."

"And they were drunk of their asses might I add." the old woman said with a chuckle.

"Can you just tell me if you'll hire me to do the job?" Bankotsu snapped.

"Of course. You completed the last mission with success. Except…where are your brothers?"

"They're doing something else. It's just me and her."

"Can you fight?" the woman asked, Araiya rubbing her arm shyly.

"Kind of. I can shoot an arrow."

"She looks more like she'd be a good distraction. Ryuu loves his women. And this one is the prettiest one I've seen walk through this village in a long time." the woman said as Araiya sighed.

"Is that all I'm good for?" she grumbled, Bankotsu placing his hand on her back.

"At least you know you're beautiful."

"I'm wha-?"

"Alright old woman, I'll take on this new challenge." Bankotsu said proudly as he propped his Banryu back onto his shoulder.

"Since you obviously can't remember my name from the last time you were here, I'm Keiko. And you, what's your name?"

"Araiya."

"Bankotsu, Araiya, you'll get a free room and dinner in exchange for your work, as well as a good pay."

"Very well, let's go check out our new room and get cozy, huh?"

"You're horrible." Araiya said as Bankotsu smirked, placing his mouth to her ear.

"Relax, have fun, okay? You're too tense." he murmured as he felt her body shiver when his hand ran down her arm, "Loosen up and have some fun. You know I'm only teasing you." And with that he nuzzled his nose lightly against her ear, taking her arm and pulling her forward, "Come on, let's go see our room."


"This is…huge." Araiya said as she looked around at the room, stepping in and setting her blanket down on the floor, "There's only one place to sleep…" she said as she looked at the large sleeping mat on the floor.

"Guess we better learn to share." Bankotsu said as he stepped into the room, "Hey Princess, look at it this way, you can get prepared in advance for your honeymoon night with Hayato."

"I'm going to smack you." Araiya said as she walked into the room, shoving him gently to the side and walking to the window.

"You mean you two aren't a couple?" Keiko asked, Araiya raising an eyebrow.

"You thought that? No, I'm helping her and she's helping me. She's betrothed to some man. Why I don't know. I don't see what's so great about being married."

"I've always wanted to be married." Araiya said as she went and sat on the sleeping mat.

"Seems like a boring life to be tied down to one person."

"Not if you love them."

"Love. Don't make me laugh."

"I'll leave you two to get ready for tonight. I'll be back later." Keiko said as she stepped out, Bankotsu walking towards Araiya and lying down.

"Come on. Get some rest. We have a big night ahead of us." he said as he pulled her down and pulled the blanket over them. He turned his back to her, closing his eyes to hopefully get in a couple hours of rest.

"Do you not believe in love?" Araiya asked him softly, holding herself up on her elbow as she rested her chin on his arm. She saw his eyes open, then close before he sighed.

"No. No I don't."

"Why?"

"Get some sleep, Araiya." With a defeated sigh she lay down, but made sure to keep her distance from him as she closed her eyes.

"Stubborn man." she murmured.

"What?"

"Nothing!" she squeaked, hearing him mutter something under his breath before growing quiet again.


"Bankotsu I don't think I can do this." Araiya murmured as he helped her into the kimono, Bankotsu placing his hands on her hips and turning her around.

"You'll be fine. I'll be right there to jump in." Bankotsu said as he looked the deep blue kimono up and down. It was made to attract attention for all the wrong reasons. It ended barely below her bottom and was cut low in the front.

"I don't like dressing like this and being used as bait."

"Araiya you know I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

"But why do I have to wear this?"

"Because he's a pervert."

"And I'm starting to think you are too." she murmured as she slipped on her robe and wrapped it around herself. Bankotsu only smiled, shaking his head as his long black braid shook back and forth too.

"You think so poorly of me."

"You chose the kimono." she replied, crossing her arms as Bankotsu held his hands up in defeat.

"You have me there. But I didn't pick it out for me, even though I wouldn't mind seeing you in that more often. It's very enticing."

"You must be drunk."

"I only had two glasses at dinner, I'm not drunk. Plus if I was drunk I'd be asking you to have sex with me."

"I'm only sexually appealing if you're drunk? Well doesn't that make me feel better." she said as she turned her head away from him.

"Aw, Araiya I didn't mean it like that." Bankotsu said as he reached for her hand.

"No sir." she said as she jerked her hand away, Bankotsu wrapping his arms around her waist and picking her up, "Set me down."

"Nope. Not till you believe me." he said as he heard her laugh softly and squirm to get out of his embrace.

"Are you two going to kill a demon or what?" Keiko, asked as she walked into the room. Araiya felt the blush on her cheeks as Bankotsu set her down with a grin.

"What's wrong, Keiko, can't a man get any pleasure before business?"

"Bankotsu!" Araiya gasped, but her smile only made that ego of his expand.

"Business before pleasure, Bankotsu. We've given you a big room to stay in, take advantage of that later." Keiko answered and laughed at Araiya's reddened face.

"Someone save me." the girl murmured as she hid her face in her hands, letting out a high pitched squeak and stiffening up when she felt a bite on the top of her ear.

"Come on Keiko, we have a little time." Bankotsu said as he pulled Araiya close to him, the girl turning her head to look at him.

"Bankotsu, what are you do-ING?" she squealed as he picked her up bridal style and gave her a playful wink.

"You know you don't have time for that." Keiko answered as he heaved a defeated sigh.

"I was only kidding, Araiya here doesn't like me like that. Or at all as she seems to put out."

"Hey, I don't think that any-."

"Come on, short stuff, let's get going."

"I'm not that much shorter."

"Got everything?"

"Yes." she grumbled and followed him out the door, "I still hate this kimono by the way."

"You'll be out of it and into your other one as soon as we get back." He said as he grabbed Banryu.


"Breathe. You can do this. Relax. Look…appealing?" Araiya thought to herself as she walked through the heart of the village, trying to keep her cool when men looked her way and whistled, "Dammit Bankotsu, you are going to pay." she seethed in her mind before a man stepped in her path.

"You new here or something?" he asked as she halted and looked up at him.

"Dammit!" she screamed in her mind before laughing sheepishly, "Y-yes I was just passing through and decided to stay the night here." she answered as she propped her hands on her hips.

"So who is it?" Bankotsu asked as they were walking towards the inn that Keiko ran, Bankotsu leading Kenta by the reins.

"He's a very large man, long red hair and piercing dark eyes. Almost black. He's a demon alright. Do you think you can handle him?" Keiko said as she looked at the mercenary who stopped in his tracks and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you serious? Do you know who I am?" Bankotsu asked as Araiya placed a hand to her forehead.

"Here we go." she murmured but saw the grin on the old woman's face.

"I know who you are, Bankotsu. Leader of the strongest group of mercenaries, The Band Of Seven. And you being the youngest, you're also the strongest."

"You're damn right." Bankotsu said as he held Banryu up, looking at the way the sunlight glinted off the blade.

"Keiko…how dangerous is this man?" Araiya asked as she fidgeted with her sleeve.

"He's very dangerous. He doesn't come here much, but we received word that he was on his way here. You two seemed to show up right on time."

"Don't worry Araiya, all I need you to do is lure him out of hiding. I'll have my eye on you at all times." he said with a wink.

"Somehow that's not a very comforting thought." she muttered as she crossed her arms.

"Trust me. I'll protect you." Bankotsu said with a smirk, stealing a kiss on the cheek before pulling Kenta ahead. Araiya felt the heat in her face as her fingertips brushed the spot on her cheek. Ever since she told him about Hayato, his feelings had seemed to change. He flirted with her more, teased her more.

"So why are you here?" the man asked, "And may I ask your name?"

"I'm here just to have a good time. And I'm…Araiya." she answered, not being able to think of a fake name on the spot. Hopefully she wouldn't need to worry about it and he would be dead if this was the right guy.

"Nice to meet you, Araiya. I'm Ryuu."

"You're name seems….familiar?"

"It should." he answered as he backed her up into an alley.

"Shit…Bankotsu…get your ass in gear…" she thought as she nervously reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, "Why's that?" she asked with a slight, nervous laugh.

"Because I'm well known here. And not in a good way." he said as he grabbed her wrist, pulling her over his shoulder.


"Where the hell did she go? I lost her in the crowd." Bankotsu muttered as he had to move from his hiding spot, finally seeing her back to him, a man standing before her.

"Ryuu…" he said as he gripped his Banryu and made his move towards Ryuu. But before he could reach him the demon had pushed Araiya down an alley.

"Bankotsu!" he heard her scream, Bankotsu shoving his way through the crowd.

"ARAIYA!" He shouted as the demon snatched her up and took her further down the alley.

A/N: Alright guys, so here is a very long chapter, and I ended up having to break it into two chapters. So I hope you enjoyed this one, and let me know! And if there are any spelling errors, I apologize, my keyboard hasn't been working well