Dec/15/2006


In the Silence


By Vile Deadboss

Notes: Yay! Chapter Eight. Enjoy!

VIII: Mizuri The Bandit.

It was dark. It had been dark since they placed that blindfold on him. He knew that if and when he got the chance to get away, he wouldn't know where to go. He was still gagged to, chewing at the cloth as to free himself of it but it tasted so bitter he found it difficult to keep doing that. His throat was dry as he had no idea how long they kept him like this. They retied his bonds with his hands tied behind him this time and allowed him to sit. He was sitting on wood so he had to be in a hut of some sort. He could smell fire burning but mild it was. He was in somebody's place obviously.

This had him worried.

He could hear voices outside of the building, some of them were talking about Shiro. Wondering when he would be back, if he will be back. He decided to try untying the rope around his wrists again. He had managed to get one loop free of his wrist but that didn't help on loosening his bindings any. Had they tied his hands more then once with the rope? It felt like it to him. Perhaps expecting him to try to free himself. He had to keep trying.

He can't fail Bankotsu like this.

Bankotsu. He wondered where the leader went to earlier in the morning, he assumed he had left ahead of everyone else to take care of the Fox demon. He did things like that when.. Desperate. He lowered his head. He was careless. They were after him and he made himself exposed like that, they caught him. He fell right into their trap as did Bankotsu. He shook his head again.

Stop that. Just get out of here. He would scold himself. Continuing to fight the rope around his wrists and managed to get another loop over a hand, he felt it sting. Obviously it was cutting his skin as he did this but the rope was beginning to loosen. Just about there.

The voices outside grew louder, it sounded like many of the bandits cheered. Why were they cheering? Has Shiro returned? If he returned it would mean a job was done. He felt his chest jab at the thought, but what job could it be that was done? No, stop that. You're almost there. His hands were able to shuffle a bit more with the rope. Another loop, making it more loose. He ceased when he heard the wooden door open with a clack. He is in a mansion? Completely frozen where he was and kept his head lowered, hearing footsteps coming towards him. The footfalls sounded so light.

He felt a hand grab his chin and tip his head up, making him face someone he couldn't see because of the blindfold. Another hand felt behind his head but working to removing the cloth around his mouth. He was thankful when it fell away from his lips.

"Jakotsu..."

The voice spoke, he tensed upon recognizing the tone. "K-Kensuke?" he said, his voice crackled. Proof to how dry his throat was. He would soon feel the hand leave his chin, allowing him to lower his head again but this time the blindfold fell to the floor. The sudden light made him blink his eyes a little. The room wasn't very bright, he was glad for that. It seemed he was allowed a moment to recover, his head slowly lift to find the feet of the young boy. Soon looking up to indeed find the kid infront of him but noticed a tall, gruff looking man dressed in a garb of green and black. A hand to the sword handle that was tied to his side.

He returned his gaze back to Kensuke, confused to why the kid was here. Where was here anyways? "What are you doing here?" Jakotsu had to ask. The kid gave him a soft smile as he took a step back. He waved a hand to the taller man, whom gave a small bow to Kensuke before he stepped out of the room. He slid the paper door closed behind himself as he did.

"If they were rough to you, I must apologize for that. Seeing as they don't like the Shichinintai as much as everyone else in this domain." Kensuke began, but his voice seemed a slight more older in a way.

"They?"

"The bandits." Kensuke slid a hand into his robe top. Bringing out a cloth in the similiar color of the robe he wore. When he brought the fabric piece out, a flame of blue appeared over Kensuke's form. The form disappeared and replacing in his place was a taller man with his hair in the color of blue, a tail with the same color. And fox ears that were a touch darker blue. His eyes were however an emerald color, softer then Shiro's. Jakotsu hissed suddenly and began to move back but was met with the wall immediately behind him.

"You.. you're not.."

The fox demon smiled again, it was a friendly type of smile that Jakotsu was quickly despising. Lowering down to sit on the floor and placed his hands on his lap. Shaking his head slowly to answer before speaking. "I am Mizuri, Shiro's brother."

"I thought.." Jakotsu stopped himself on that and narrowed his eyes at the second fox demon. "..No. There wasn't a Kensuke, or his sister or his dog."

Mizuri's smile grew brighter, closing an eye. "Bingo. Made it all up."

"Why?"

Mizuri shrugged his shoulders lightly. "Why not? You all have been gullible so far and I decided to twist your ideas of what was going on further." an ear flicked on his head as he grinned this time. "And it worked quite well. Bankotsu decided to go on while he was pissed off and worried. Leaving you confused and vunerable."

"Easy pickings for Shiro to trick me to enter his trap." Jakotsu finished. Almost growling in his tone. Mizuri chuckled softly as he caught the growling.

"It would've worked better but Bankotsu caught on to what was going on faster then I anticipated." Mizuri sighed. "I'm worried about Shiro failing his mission to Kill the other members while he is You."

If Jakotsu couldn't be anymore tense then, he was feeling himself becoming so more. Forgetting all about the pain in his wrists as he tugged at the rope binding them together. Mizuri rubbed his chin with his hand as he thought over the plans. "Bankotsu is not an idiot. This is something my brother and I had figured the moment we all saw you decimate the soldier's camp. But I'm sure Shiro can fool him enough to bed and.." With using the thumb of his hand, he swiped it over his neck in a gesture.

That's when Jakotsu broke free of his binds and jumped suddenly on the fox demon, He had not expected Jakotsu to break free of his bonds. Finding the third member of the Shichinintai atop him and hands around his neck in a attempt to choke. Growling atop him with his dark eyes narrowed at him. Mizuri was surprised but didn't fear for his life. He had grabbed Jakotsu's arms to ease the hold on his neck which was... Weak. Jakotsu didn't recover all of his strength. Mizuri had to chuckle again. "You can't even hurt me!"

"Shut up and let me Try." Jakotsu snarled. but.. He was finding that the other was right, he couldn't. His mind wanted to do it but his body said otherwise.

"You're still carrying the poison on you, aren't you?"

"If Shiro lays a fucking hand on Bankotsu... I will make sure You and Him are-"

"Without your weapon, Jakotsu? And unable to fight me now? I am at your mercy at this moment and you can't even choke me to death!" Mizuri now laughed. But would find himself suddenly yelping as Jakotsu decided to grab his ears and Tug harshly.

"Hey! OW ow!" Another yelp as Jakotsu shifted to place his knee directly on Mizuri's crotch, attempting to not just knee him but crush him with the help of his body weight. Mizuri was now trying to get the other off him but found it difficult with the hands holding tight to his ears. "Ow! Alright! Stop it! Now that hurts! Agh! I Need that!"

Jakotsu's sudden attack alerted the larger man from before to return, the paper door sliding open quickly and he was surprised to see Jakotsu on Mizuri. So immediately the bandit went over to the two and grabbed Jakotsu's wrists. Because of the cuts on his wrists, Jakotsu yelped and let go of Mizuri's ears. pulled off the bandit leader and was thrown to the corner of the room. hitting the floor and wall with a dull thud but Jakotsu quickly moved to sit up but froze to find a blade near his face. He didn't even hear the larger bandit take the sword out of it's sheath.

"Don't hurt him, idiot!" Mizuri snarled as he would move to sit up himself, rubbing his now sore ears. However he ceased when he realized they felt wet, lowering his hand to find blood on his hand but was certain that his ears weren't that wounded unless.. Turning his gaze back to Jakotsu and staring down at his hands, that were now dripping blood. Mizuri shook his head slowly.

"If you wanted to be free of your bindings, you know you could've simply asked, Jakotsu." Mizuri raised his hand to lick the blood off.

Jakotsu leaned back against the wall and cringed to the sight of that. Tucking his sore and bloody hands beneath his yukata robe to hide as he woud give the fox demon a glare. "How about letting me go?"

"Not possible, and not after the trouble My bandits and I had went through to retrieve you." Mizuri waved his hand to the larger man to back off. Without a word, he did and resheathed the sword.

"Why me?" Jakotsu had to ask.

"I'm embarrassed to say." Mizuri gave a playful grin as he returned to sit comfortably. "You see, many of the bandits here are outlaws and disowned from families, kingdoms and all that. Half demons that are not accepted from either sides. Humans or Demons. And we've been together for so long we even have orphans that swear their allegiance to me. Like Ogai here." he would point to the gruff man. "He can't speak though because he had his tongue cut out when he was eight years old."

Jakotsu blinked once before he would frown. "...I'm not following."

"I'm not done." Mizuri grinned once more as he would pick up a stick and poke at the small fireplace in the middle of the room, trying to get the fire going again. "Everyone here is concerned with making me happy. Even Shiro." he would grab some chips of wood and tossed them on the amber cinders. "I make plans that would assure everyone's success and it's been like that for so many years. So they finally decided that what I want I get."

The gruff man began to step back soon turned to leave the room. Sliding the door of the room shut with a clack, The Third listened carefully to find the footsteps of the gruff man leaving. And he felt a chill run through his form, unsure why.

"Ogai and the others are good souls. Not many would think killers would have any." he smiled. "They knew that I wanted you and all wanted to participate on helping me get you."

"You wanted me? why?"

"Because it would also mean that once I have you, they were free to kill the Shichinintai." The cinders caught on to the chips of wood and a small flame had begun, Mizuri then placed a medium sized log on the small flame. "Two birds with one stone, I get you. My Bandits... get the Shichinintai. I imagine Bankotsu is feeling pretty weak without you."

Jakotsu found his breath lost there. Lowering his head

But the floor he was staring had a knee in the way, Jakotsu looked up to find Mizuri's face now inches away from his. Shocked by that, the Third Shichinintai member immediately pulled away but his back was already to the wall. And before he could react futher Mizuri grabbed Jakotsu's wrists which made the effeminate man yelp. His hands pinned to the wall above his head, Mizuri had a strange glazed look in his eyes, on his face. One Jakotsu recognized it to be..

Lust.

"You keep asking why. Well, it's time I showed you why. Jakotsu."

"No-mmf!" Lips forced upon his and the demon's tongue pushed apart the Kotsu's lips and invaded his mouth. Jakotsu immediately despised it, the taste, shutting his eyes then in an attempt to ignore what was happening. At this point, the darkness would be pleasent but he wasn't even given that.

In the woods, All was silent, infact the entire mansion was silent. Masakado was sent to find out how the situation was doing with Shiro. Not that anyone expected him to return anytime soon to the camp, but this is the Shichinintai they were dealing with. And Mizuri commanded he alone to come to the Mansion to check on the fox demon's brother. Masakado was well known for sensing out demon energy or rather, any energy or signs of the enemies. His former job being that of the Shinobi after all. He had been sitting in the trees for more then an hour and he heard Nothing but the movement of the animals.

Was it possible that the leader had decided to move his group out of the mansion for another hunt for the demon? to save Mizuri's child form, Kensuke?

Dare he move closer to the mansion to study the area further? He could after all sit there for hours unnoticed and stay to watching that mansion until Something appeared. Days if he truly had too.

But Mizuri was the impatient one, not he.

Dressed in a garb of dark green, which he had to be to blend with the trees and grass. Pretty much the enviroment really. He glanced this way and that to be sure it was alright before moving. But before he even twitched, he noticed a form finally step out of the mansion. It was the shorter member of the Shichinintai, Mukotsu. The said member stepped out of the front of the building, he looked around before he would stretch his arms out above his head and gave a lazy yawn.

"Muuaah... I can't believe Bankotsu and the others would head out to hunt the fox demon and leave me in the mansion alone with Jakotsu What a load of.." the shorter member mumbled then as he glanced to one direction. "Well.. I better grab some herbs for my poisons." Mukotsu then turned to face the mansion as he shouted randomly.

"Hey Jakotsu! Watch over the place, I'll be back!"

And with that, the member took off on a random direction. Masakado blinked a few times. So Bankotsu and the rest of the members did indeed take off to find their hideout again. But.. why would Shiro stay behind? To pretend this Jakotsu was still sick?

Finding this most curious, the man climbed down the tree without disturbing a branch or a leaf. When he landed on the ground, he would study his area once more before breaking out in a sudden run towards the mansion. Fast now, and he would near the side of the building, he slipped behind the wall to hide. Another glance around. He would then look out to the front of the building and didn't see the short man returning nor anywhere near the front. So he took that chance to move quickly away from the wall he was hiding behind and hopped on the porch of the building.

But then he stopped.

There was blood on the wood that made him curious. It looked fresh too. There was a trail leading to the other side of the building and his inner thoughts nagged at him to check it out.

So he did.

He would follow the trail of the blood silently, while looking this way and that every minute to make sure nobody was about to notice him. As soon as he reached the other side, he leaned against the wall, another look around. He would tip his form to glance to the side of the building.

More blood.. and body parts..?

Pulling away from the wall and stepped closer to the blood, he studied the bloody pieces of this.. body. But the more he stared, the more he realized they resembled someone he was familiar with. Not only that.. the hair on the body was black, and the tail, the mixture of blood and green hair. And catching the clean glimpses of the emerald colored hair and the bloody gold chain.

Masakado felt like throwing up in that instance. "Master.. Shiro?" The smell of the demon's blood finally reached his nose, his senses. "Oh.. god." he gagged. Placing a hand to his mouth.

They killed him! They found out it was Shiro and Killed him!

A sudden humming of someone singing was heard and Masakado turned to see and realize the short man was returning. He had to leave! He had to inform Mizuri of this Immediately!

Like a shot, he left the bloody mess of the dead fox demon behind and ran quickly toward the direction of where he came from, the river. As soon as he disappeared into the trees and Mukotsu emerged from where he came from with his hands empty and in time to see the bandit disappear through the trees. Bankotsu would step out from inside the building, his eyes on the man who just left.

"I take it he saw our little piece of art?" Mukotsu asked.

Bankotsu gave a short nod. "You, Ginkotsu, and Kyoukotsu lag behind. Suikotsu should be following his trail now, Renkotsu and I are going to catch up to him."

As soon as Bankotsu finished. Renkotsu was already heading away from the building and running the same direction the bandit went. "Don't lag to much." Bankotsu scooped up his banryuu but also something else wrapped in one of those silk red cloths that seemed large itself.

"Of course not, we don't want you guys hogging all the fun now!" Mukotsu grinned as he watched the leader then run off to catch up with Renkotsu. They going through the trees without disturbing the leaves, a skill Mukotsu admired about his leader, especially with that hefty weapon he carried.

Kyoukotsu stepped out from hiding behind the building and Ginkotsu followed, giving a metallic snort. Mukotsu went over to the two and nodded his head to the direction they went. "You heard him right?"

"Loud and clear." Kyoukotsu grinned, dark it was and in anticipation for when they reach the bandits hideout. He reached over to scoop Mukotsu in his hand, whom hopped on the large hand, deciding it was faster that he would carry him. Ginkotsu already began to make his way to where the other's disappeared to but a thought occured to him.

"Gesh, how would we know where they went?"

Mukotsu sat calmly on the giant's hand as he clipped his mask together, feeling more comfortable with hiding his face then showing it, especially for the coming battle. "Stick with us, Kyoukotsu and I have a pretty good idea where they went. And if we get lost, Renkotsu-aniki will make sure we get there."

Ginkotsu nodded once, assured with that. The Second mentioned something of firing off a cannon to let them know so he was going to have to keep his sight and hearing open for that. Pushing aside the trees as they walked through the woods and to the river. From the river, they were told to follow it. Because for some reason.. that's where the bandits came from after all.

Bankotsu was careful that neither of his weapon and the item touched any of the branches as they rushed through the woods. He was following Renkotsu and had to while he was carrying them. Renkotsu ran, ducked, and hopped over wood and stone, while keeping his sight open for Suikotsu. They lost the bandit of course and had no clue where he disappeared to, but as long as they knew where Suikotsu went, they had a clue.

The claw marks left on the trees they passed had helped muchly after all. And if not the marks, Mukotsu gave the dark-haired man a bamboo canister of blue powder that was dropped on the ground when trees couldn't be marked. Very useful.

"If they are far, were going to have to keep sharp for the marks on the trees." Renkotsu spoke as he went, knowing the leader would catch what he said. Bankotsu smirked.

"I don't think they are very far at all."

Renkotsu would doubt that if not for the fact Bankotsu did fight the bandits before. They mentioned that a cannon went off that caused them all to retreat. And that it was near the large hills they were now approaching closer to.

So they were hiding at the hills all this time?

"Why Jakotsu?" Renkotsu asked suddenly. Shiro said something about he would be fine until his Brother tires of him. It couldn't be that the fox demon has.. grown some sort of attatchment to the third, could it?

"We'll ask him when we get there, Renkotsu. Focus on the trail." Bankotsu's voice was stern, his eyes on the path and made note of the marks they passed, they were seeing less of the blue powder. Renkotsu silenced as he kept his full attention on the trail. Suikotsu was leaving less of it, which was possible they were coming closer to the hideout or he was running out of the powder.

A simple brush of leaves, or the crush of dead ones. No other sound was made, not even a crack to the twigs as they both rushed through the trees. Following the path of claw marks and blue powder. Bankotsu held tightly to the handle of banryuu, angry as he is, he couldn't help but feel.. scared too. Scared, that if he loses Jakotsu then what? When they started it was He and Jakotsu. And there was no doubt he could lead the other members without him but..

Much as his mind was certain on that, his heart wasn't. He knew that if anything happens to Jakotsu, he would be more enraged then anything else. He wouldn't think, just do.

And that is what anyone can't afford for me to do. Jakotsu..

Renkotsu seemed to slow down on his steps. He had no idea how long they ran for, but when the Second stopped like that, so did he. His azure sights left Renkotsu and looked ahead to find Suikotsu not to far off. Down on the ground on one knee and staring ahead. The bamboo canister with the blue powder sitting on the grass beside him and it was half full still. The skitzo was silent, his eyes watching ahead. He knew the others were behind him and had caught up. Thus lifted a hand up to wave the two over. Bankotsu narrowed his gaze, understanding why Suikotsu wasn't chasing the Bandit anymore.

Because the hideout they were searching for was alot closer then they thought.

"Grah!"

Mizuri pulled away, hand over his lips. Fingertips would touch his bottem lip and he would wince. Lifting those fingers to find blood on them. Jakotsu who carried a disgusted look on his face would wipe away the blood from his own lips. "Usually I am fond of kissing other men, but if you do that to me Again, I will make sure to bite your tongue off." He warned.

The bandit leader only smirked at the other's warning. Admiring the blood on his fingers while his tongue licked over the wounded lip. Seeming not to mind the stinging pain it gave when touched. "Jakotsu." He began. "Does this mean.. you are Afraid of me?"

Jakotsu froze a moment to that but narrowed his dark gaze at the fox demon. The said demon's smirk grew more. "Are you hoping that Bankotsu will come to save you? Like he did before?"

"Just How much did you see? There was no one else around!" Jakotsu was sure of that. He cursed at himself to, He was Never going to let himself be weak like that again. But..

The reason why he was like that to begin with was because..

"You're Leader, Bankotsu. He hurt you that night, didn't he." Mizuri slipped down to one knee, his form lowered in a way as if he was ready to pounce Jakotsu again. Jakotsu whom was trapped in the corner as it is, prepared to move out of the way even though he knew it to be pointless. He forced himself to look away to ignore the other's words. "That was why you were helpless then. Why you let those soldiers.."

"Shut up!" The third snapped and glared at him again. "You and..and.. You're brother! That is and still is none of your business! Stop bringing up Bankotsu's name into this or I'll Kill you! And I'll kill your brother to if he Touches Bankotsu in any way!"

Mizuri chuckled softly. "Why do you protect him so much? He ignores you. There is no way he'll return that love to you. He has a position to keep, and if he wants to keep it. He will never Look at you that way."

Jakotsu winced.

"He is your friend, is he not? You know that is why he is affectionate to you like that. He seems like he cares but he does because you are Just a friend to him. Nothing more."

Jakotsu lowered his head and brought a hand up to cover his eyes. Hiding his face from the demon.

"Bankotsu protects you, lets you sleep in his room. Sure. That is because your a valuable member to him. Just like Everyone else in the Shichinintai. What makes you think he wouldn't do that for Renkotsu? Or Suikotsu? Leaders.. have positions to keep."

"Would you just..." The dark-haired Shichintai member seethed. "..Shut Up for a goddamn minute?" His hand moving away from his face, and lifted his head to glare at the fox demon now. Tears had betrayed him however as they streaked down Jakotsu's face but anger now took over. "Just because you Stayed with us for what.. a day? As some kid, you think you know us so well?"

"That was enough to know You and Him." Mizuri's tone was confident. Infact he was quite sure with what he saw. "You are just another member to him, Jakotsu. They won't come for you. If I decide to kill you now, He won't care. He'll just began his search for Another member."

Lowering his head again, and turned his gaze away from the other, Jakotsu wished nothing more but to get out of that room now. Or rather to have Jakotsutou with him, he cursed himself mentally again for not being wary as he should've been.

Mizuri decided to be bold and leaned his form closer to Jakotsu, enough to have the other hear him well, and feel the breath on his neck. "You... of all people Know what he's like. And what he'll do. You know I'm right. He'll just replace you."

Jakotsu remained perfectly still, staring at the floor as he listened to the other. And with little choice did feel his breath down his neck, but he was to tense to even shudder.

"It's what leaders do. They replace people they have lost. You mean just as much to him as everyone else in that group. Which I imagine, is not a whole lot." Mizuri was satisfied to see the other has not yet lunged at him to claw, bite, or even attempt another choke hold on him. It would only mean he was hitting the right nerves. "One moment he is there, listening to you, the next ignoring you. And eventually.. leaves you alone."

Lifting a hand, he would rest it on the Third's shoulder, watching him and soon felt the man tremble. Slightly, but it was enough to let the demon know that his resolve was weakening.

"When you think he doesn't care, he shows that he does."

That was when Jakotsu's breath stopped. slowly returning his gaze to the Bandit leader.

"When you think he does care, he shows that he doesn't." Mizuri continued, that hand leaving his shoulder to touch the third's face to brush away the fresh tear that fell. "To a silence that just frustriates you, and hurts you."

"Stop it." Jakotsu spoke, now meek from the other speaking out thoughts. Thoughts that were his days ago. No longer they were. Out in the open and spoken from the mouth of his enemy. He didn't even Speak of that so how would he know unless he really did see that, and understood?

Was Bankotsu truly not going to come?

"Give up." Mizuri's tone was soft, his other hand rising to brush the back of his fingers over the side of the man's neck. "Give yourself to me. I'll make you forget that. forget what he has done."

Jakotsu closed his eyes slowly, again he turned his face away from the demon.

"Forget your hurt from him."

Taking in what he said, taking in the words. Indeed remembering.. the very reason for those words. Yes, there was a reason. And the solution for that reason was right there. Jakotsu smiled meekly then.

"I give up..."


To Be Continued.

MoreNotes: Okay, I may have rushed a little on this one and well.. I really don't like rushing on fics. But, I put up a new one and added another chapter to CinderZero and decided it was time I put a chapter up for this one too. Eight pages for chapter eight.. -just realized that.- Haha.. I'm so slow. Anyways, On to chapter nine. This one is just about complete I do believe.