Revenge

(Bankotsu Love Story)

Chapter. 10

Accidental Kiss….?

After eating their fill of the fish I cooked for them, the Band of Seven began to settle for the night, and I couldn't help but notice how at ease they were, as they all sat, and laid down lazily around the campfire, the men began what would be a very long conversation, Suikotsu being the first to start talking. I listened, as Bankotsu, and the others began reminiscing about their adventures, kills they had made, Lords they had worked for, and of course, what kind of a conversation would this be between men if they didn't discuss their perverted, sexual experiences? At that, I slipped slightly away from the group, always keeping them within my line of sight, tuning them all out as they spoke.

I closed my eyes, as the dark thoughts of my life back at home surfaced in my mind. Images began flashing through my mind, the always constant fights, and arguments between my mother, myself, and my older brother, Benjiro, the forever lasting mistrust, and resentment between my younger brother, Maikeru, and I, and the betrayal of my Uncle, Moji Re`. Every lie, every word that was ever said echoed in the back of my mind, haunting my thoughts. I sighed heavily, my heart sinking in my chest.

Suddenly, I felt something brush against my side, as I turned to see Arctic, my shadow wolf, gazing at me with those beautiful, luminous blue eyes of his. He whimpered slightly, resting his head on my lap, as if to comfort me. 'You understand, don't you?', I thought, as I gently stroked the wolf's head, my thoughts instantly seeming to calm, as I ran my hand over Arctic's soft, raven-black fur. 'Luna, what's wrong? You've been quiet, and distant all day. On top of that, you've been blocking your thoughts from me. Are you mad at me? Have I done something wrong?', Came Midna's voice, as her thoughts reached mine. I looked over to her, my eyes making contact with her's. 'No, Midna. You've done nothing wrong, I've really no reason to be mad at you at all. I've just been doing a-lot of thinking, and soul-searching, is all. Don't worry, everything's fine. But, if it's no problem, I'd rather not talk about it, ok?', I replied, my thoughts reaching her's, as I finally broke eye contact with her.

"Luna? Luna!" I suddenly heard a familiar voice yell, as I turned to see the one called Renkotsu calling my name, in an attempt to get my attention. I jumped slightly, as he startled me out of my thoughts, but, unbeknownst to me, my actions caused Bankotsu to raise an eyebrow at me. "Y-Yes?", I stammered hesitantly. "I was asking you where you were from, and whether, or not you had a family.", Renkotsu stated, folding his arms across his chest. "Not that I care, or anything.", He muttered coldly. "Well, I'm not from here, is all I really can tell you, but, I do have a family." I answered, that same dark, and empty feeling settling in my heart again. "What're they like?", "Yeah, do you have any brothers, or sisters?", Suikotsu, and Jakotsu asked, slight hints of faint curiosity in their voices. "Well, I have six brothers, and only one sister." I answered, giggling sheepishly. "Huh, that's cool. You almost have as many brothers as us.", Jakotsu replied, looking around. "Yeah, I guess, it is pretty cool.", I answered, smiling slightly at the thought of all my brothers, and sister. "That still doesn't answer Suikotsu's question. Do you think you could tell us a-bit more about what your family's actually like?", Came Renkotsu's question. 'Damn, I was hoping they had forgotten about that!', I thought frantically, as I struggled to come up with an adequate answer. I swallowed, hard, "Listen, Renkotsu, was it?", "Yeah.", "You guys already know enough about me. So, Id' appreciate it if you all could just drop the subject, and leave it alone. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not talk about my family.", I replied, rising to my feet, and turning away from the members of the Band of Seven. All eyes were on me, and I could feel the shock, and suspicion, as each member looked intently at me, as if they couldn't believe I had secrets of my own to protect. The way I see it, I was no different from them, I had dirty little secrets of my own, only, I wasn't so willing to give them up.

"Where are you going?", Renkotsu asked, as I walked away. "To a nearby hot spring.", I answered, before continuing to walk into the forest, and toward the hot spring, my blade, Wolfgang, in my hand, and my shadow wolf, Arctic, following closely behind me.

Before long, I came across a clearing, with a large hot spring in the center. I quickly undressed, before allowing my body to sink into the warm, relaxing waters. The spring rejuvenated my body, soothing my tense, and stressed out muscles. I rested my head at the edge of the spring, and dozed off here, and there, Arctic standing guard with his back toward me, his ears alert, listening for signs of danger. Eventually, after I was certain my body had relaxed enough, I got out of the water, and redressed, before heading back to the campsite.

'How long have I been gone?', I thought, as I noticed that every member of the Band of Seven was fast asleep….Or, so I thought. Arctic laid down under a tree, as I sat down in front of him, before lying down, my head on his back. My eyes widened in shock when I caught the sight before me, a beautiful, perfect midnight sky, the stars sparkling like stardust in the blue sky, and the pale, full moon shining it's light on everything below it. "It's beautiful.", I half-whispered more to myself than to anyone else, as I gazed at the starry, midnight sky, the moon bathing me in it's pale light. "Yeah, it is.", Came a voice, as I turned to see Bankotsu gazing intently at me with those gorgeous, ocean-blue eyes of his. "Did I wake you?", I asked, turning away from him, as I began getting a-little nervous. 'Why do I always get so nervous when he looks at me?!.', I thought, becoming a-little frustrated with the strange feelings that welled up in my heart at the very thought of Bankotsu. "No. I've been awake waiting for you to come back. I gotta admit, I thought was gonna have to come after you, you were taking so long.", He replied smugly, placing a blade of grass in his mouth, as he sat up. I looked at him, my sapphire eyes locking with his, as I smiled slightly at him, before turning my attention back to the midnight sky.

"Why don't you like talking about your family?" He asked suddenly, his gorgeous ocean-blue eyes intent on me. I felt my whole body become tense at his question, as I looked him in the eye, unafraid, at first, before backing down, and looking away. Tears began to sting my eyes, and threatened to fall, as I prepared myself to answer his question. 'No! I can't let him see me weak!', I thought frantically, before taking a deep breath, calming myself. "Bankotsu….I don't talk about my family, because, the truth is, my family, and I….We don't really get along.", I answered dryly. 'I really didn't want him to know about my problems, but, I guess, it can't be helped.', I thought, as I continued to look away from him, a single, small tear streaming down my cheek.

Suddenly, I felt two, warm fingers gently slide under my chin, turning my head to face Bankotsu, as his body hovered over mine. I gasped slightly, as I realized the position we were in. He smirked, leaning in slightly, or lips mere inches apart, causing me to blush. "Um, Bankotsu-!", Bankotsu silenced me, placing a finger to my lips, before whispering, "You can always talk to me.". I gazed up at him, my blue eyes widening in slight shock, as I understood what he meant. 'He's trying to be there for me….B-But….', I thought, as tears came to my eyes, and threatened to fall.

As I moved to get up, my forehead met Bankotsu's, and it was then, that he gazed deep into my sapphire eyes, his gorgeous, ocean-blue eyes seeming to study my features, as we moved to get up together, or bodies in perfect sync. As we moved together, I found myself lost in his eyes, and unable to break away from his gaze. I wasn't paying attention, and apparently, neither was he, and we ended up in an accidental kiss.

My whole body stiffened, as did Bankotsu's, as our lips met. I gotta say, for an accidental kiss, it was the best first kiss I ever had. His lips were soft, and tasted like sake`, and I'm not sure why, but, I liked it….I really liked it….And I found myself wanting more of his kisses….Wanting more of him.

My face became a heated blush, as I quickly turned my head away, breaking our accidental kiss. We turned away from each other, our backs facing one another. I giggled, as I peeked over my shoulder, and for the first time ever, I think, I saw Bankotsu blushing, a-little. "What's so funny?", He asked, a-little annoyed as of to why I was laughing at him. "Nothing.", I replied hurriedly, turning away from him. After a few minutes of awkward silence, I quickly laid down, my head resting on Arctic's back. "W-Well, goodnight.", I replied meekly. "Nite." He answered, as I finally closed my eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

'Bankotsu kissed me! My first kiss! Unbelievable!'