A Reason to Live
Chapter Nine
The Long Road Ahead
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
"Good Morning Sango," Bankotsu's cheery voice called, to the still mind numbed slayer. "I see you slept well." Bankotsu moved from the far side of the hut, and came to crouch right beside her now sitting form.
"What time is it," Sango questioned in a discouraging voice.
"Well the sun is about to rise in a few minutes," Bankotsu answered, flashing her a light smile. "We need to get moving soon. We have a lot of work to do in order to catch up to Naraku."
"Not even Inuyasha wakes up this damn early," Sango exclaimed as she flopped backwards. "And if he is, he isn't this damn cheery about it."
"Well you know what they say, the early bird gets the worm," Bankotsu supplied as he walked away from the still prone demon slayer. "Besides, it is not going to be a good idea for us to stay here much longer, considering Inuyasha and I will probably be blamed for destroying the village."
'Hate to say it, but he has a point,' Sango said to herself as she forced her body to listen to her. Getting to her feet slowly, Sango could smell what seemed to be frying rice. "What are you making?"
"Fried rice," Bankotsu answered. "I figured you would be a little hungry after all the fighting last night, and since you left most of the other food for your friends."
"Well thank you," Sango said as she waited for the food to finish cooking. Once the food was ready, Bankotsu brought a large serving over to her.
"Here, you go," Bankotsu said as he placed the wooden bowl in front of Sango. "Now don't be shy. Eat up." When Sango didn't start eating, Bankotsu began laughing. "Don't worry I didn't poison it."
"That is not what I am worried about," Sango said, trying to hide a blush. "It is just a little hot, and I am waiting for it to cool down."
"Really, I never noticed," Bankotsu said in thought as he placed a finger to his chin, stroking it lightly. Quickly he grabbed another bowl of rice, and began to eat as quickly as he could, causing Sango to look at him in disbelief. Swallowing the large lump of food, Bankotsu gave her a questioning look. "What's wrong?"
"You shouldn't eat that fast," Sango said, hiding a laugh. "You will give yourself indigestion."
"What is that," Bankotsu asked, his eyes glancing over Sango's well defined form.
"It is a feeling you get in your stomach when you eat to fast. It is like a.., just never mind. Just finish eating," Sango replied.
"Ok," Bankotsu said as he continued to eat the food as fast as he could, causing Sango's stomach to turn a little bit.
'I can't believe he can eat that fast without getting sick,' Sango said as she shook her head at the sight before her. 'Actually he kind of eats like Inuyasha, but I thought that was just a demon thing.'
"Arha... touh... dorin... to... feat... shat," Bankotsu asked slurping down the rest of his rice.
"You should swallow your food before you speak," Sango said in irritation. "You act like a three year old child sometimes. Now what did you say?"
Swallowing the food left in his mouth, Bankotsu spoke, "I said, 'are you going to eat that', since you don't seem to be hungry."
Taking another bite of the rice, Sango passed the bowl to Bankotsu, who eagerly ate the rice in one mouthful. "You're welcome," Sango said as she stood up.
"Thank you," Bankotsu said after he swallowed the rice.
"At least you are learning quickly," Sango replied as she exited the hut. Once outside, Sango could see the sun beginning to peak over a group of mountains to the east of their position. 'So where is everyone else?'
"Lady Sango," Miroku called, stepping from behind the hut she had just exited. "How are you doing on this wonderful day?"
"I'm as good as can be expected," Sango responded, using her years of slayer training to mask her emotions around the monk. Secretly, she wanted to rip his head off, or at least pound his face into the ground, but she knew that was not in the best interest of the group. Without Miroku, they would lose a strong ally, and a strong tool that had come in handy more then a few times during their travels. "How about yourself Miroku?"
"I am doing alright," Miroku supplied, as he rubbed the back of his neck trying to get out a kink that had formed while he was sleeping against a tree. "Just a little sore from the night spent in the forest."
"Sorry to hear that," Sango said as she continued to look around the ruined village for any signs of Inuyasha or Kagome. "Have you seen the others?"
"Not recently," Miroku replied as she stepped a little closer to Sango, who had her back turned to him. Once he was within arms length, he reached his arms out, and engulf Sango in a strong embrace. "Lady Sango, I have been meaning to speak with you for a while. About that night, I realize that I was scared to admit my feelings for you to Inuyasha."
"Is that right," Sango asked, as she turned in his embrace to look him in the eyes. "Then why is it that you waited until now to tell me this?"
"I wanted to wait until we were alone," Miroku replied, as he looked deep into Sango's chocolate eyes. "I know that I hurt you that night, but that was not my intentions. I simply did not wish for Inuyasha to continue to pry into our affairs."
"Really now," Sango asked as she began to grow irritated. "So then, this has nothing at all to do with the fact that Bankotsu is not traveling with us?"
"I did not know that the brute would be traveling with us," Miroku said as he relinquished his embrace on Sango. "May I ask why he is traveling with us?"
"We all have a common goal, to defeat Naraku," Sango responded. "With his strength added to our group, we will be able to beat Naraku easily."
"Don't tell me you are getting attached to this brute," Miroku whispered. "I mean, he is a cold blooded killer. He is truly no better then Naraku himself."
"There is a reason he used to be so cold blooded," Sango replied. "And he never used people like Naraku did. He used his pure strength and skill to kill those people, not lies and deceit."
"None the less, he is still a killer," Miroku hissed lightly. "He can't be trusted."
"He is right you know," Bankotsu's smooth voice called, startling the two. "I really can't be trusted as far as I can be thrown."
"Then why are you traveling with us," Miroku spat.
"I figure that your group will be able to find Naraku before me, and if I am traveling with you, I will find Naraku, and be able to kill him."
"You make it sound so simple," Miroku supplied dryly.
"Well isn't it," Bankotsu asked as he stepped closer to the monk, who backed away. "I mean, I get to keep an eye on the slayer here, who seems to get into more trouble then I do, and I get to keep an eye on Inuyasha, who is bound to show me his weakness sooner or later, and I get to to kill Naraku when he is found."
"And why are you so worried about Sango," Miroku asked, stepping between Sango and Bankotsu.
"Well, she knew one of my good friends," Bankotsu lied. "And he asked me to keep an eye on her for him."
"And just who might your friend be," Miroku questioned intensely.
"I am just going to keep that to myself," Bankotsu supplied.
"Tell me now," Miroku exclaimed, lifting the staff into an offensive position.
"Or what," Bankotsu asked as he smirked at the fuming monk. "Don't tell me that you actually think you will be able to hurt me. You are a funny monk."
Just as Miroku was about to swing at Bankotsu, a clawed hand grabbed the staff, holding it into place. "What did I miss," Inuyasha asked as he hunched his back, allowing Kagome to slide off his back.
"Nothing at all," Bankotsu smiled. "In fact, you were just in time to stop the monk from committing the second dumbest mistake of his life." Quickly Bankotsu turned away from Inuyasha and Miroku, and walked back towards the hut.
"And what was my first," Miroku spat in anger.
"Ruining any chance you might have had with the slayer," Bankotsu called over his shoulder. The words caused Miroku to yell in rage, but Inuyasha was able to restrain him with ease.
"Knock it off Miroku," Inuyasha hissed. "You can't beat him, so you should not try. Just give it a rest. Besides, he makes a point."
"And what is that Inuyasha," Miroku yelled.
"You did blow it with Sango," Inuyasha stated, before receiving a whack on the head from the metallic staff. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Boys will be boys," Kagome exclaimed as she grabbed Sango by the arm, and lead her away from the now scuffling men. "We need to talk. I hope there are some hot springs around here somewhere."
"I doubt it," Sango supplied as she allowed herself to be drug off by the raven haired teenager. "Hey we need to get going soon. If we don't, Bankotsu or Inuyasha is going to be blamed for destroying this village."
"You are right," Kagome exclaimed. "But once we get a chance to go to some hot springs, we need to have a little chat, girl to girl. Ok."
"Sure thing Kagome," Sango said as she now lead Kagome back to the hut to get their gear ready to leave. 'Great, she is going to be grilling me for a while when we do find some hot springs.'
It had been nearly three hours since the small group had began there journey again. During that three hour period, the small group had come across a rather large village which was full of life. Small children were running around, laughing as they played games, careless of the dangers that surrounded their lives. 'It must be nice to just be so carefree all the time,' Sango thought to herself.
"What are you thinking about," Bankotsu asked, causing Sango to snap out of her musings.
"Excuse me," Sango asked, not hearing his original question.
"I asked what you were pondering about, because a troubled look crossed your face for a moment," Bankotsu answered.
"I was just thinking about what it would be like to be young and carefree like these children," Sango replied.
"So you are saying you were never this carefree," Bankotsu questioned. "Even you were once a child same as them."
"You forget where I grew up," Sango supplied. "When you live in a village full of demon slayers, you are always worrying if a demon is going to attack the village, or if one of you loved ones would not return from their current mission."
"I never thought about it like that," Bankotsu sighed. "I guess that would be a little taxing on a person's psyche. Don't tell me that you are weak of mind as well."
"What did you just say," Sango hissed in a playful tone, noting the mocking tone in Bankotsu's previous statement. "I will show you just how weak I am." Quickly Sango punched the mercenary in the ribs, causing him to grunt.
"Damn," Bankotsu stated. "I was just playing around. You didn't have to attack me so viciously. I mean I could have really been injured." Bankotsu's voice came out in a mocking tone, causing Sango to narrow her eyes at the now laughing mercenary.
"Just keep laughing you as...," Sango began, but stopped herself in mid-word. "You are so annoying. Do you know that?"
"Well, my brothers used to tell me that all the time," Bankotsu replied, as his eyes grew sad for a brief moment, before returning to a playful manner. "I guess it is just my personality. I would say it is an acquired taste."
"One that only you can stand," Sango sneered, as she turned her head away from the now sulking mercenary.
"Oh come now," Bankotsu exclaimed as he jumped directly in front of Sango, causing her to turn, and stare at his face, which was consumed by a large smile. "I can't be that bad. I mean, you are still talking to me right?"
"I suppose you are beginning to grow on me a little," Sango supplied as she threw her arms up in defeat.
"Good, because now you are stuck with me for until we beat Naraku," Bankotsu exclaimed as he quickly moved to stand right beside Sango, who could only smile in amusement at his hyper attitude.
"And what if we don't find Naraku for a few months," Sango questioned, her voice becoming serious.
"Listen Sango," Bankotsu sighed as he turned to look Sango deep in her eyes. "I will make you a promise, which is something I don't do very often. I hate to break promises, which is the reason why I don't make many. I promise that I am in this for the long haul. I will not abandon you or your friends while Naraku is still alive. I decided to tag along with your little group, and I plan on following this path until the end, no matter how long the road might be."
"And I promise that I will never allow myself to give up so easily, especially since I have someone who gives a damn what happens to me," Sango supplied as she stared deep into Bankotsu's blue orbs. "I will accompany down this long and lonely road."
"I do have a question though," Bankotsu stated. "Who is the person who gives a damn about you?"
"You bast...," Sango began again, before cutting herself off again. 'This man could make a saint curse!'
A/N: Sorry for the long wait on this chapter!!! I had some serious family problems to deal with this week, and if any of you would like to know, I would be happy to tell you, just send me a private message through the site. I hope this chapter was worth the wait, even though I doubt it will be. I really have to stop allowing people to bring me down. Well, tomorrow I work from nine in the morning until noon, and after that, I may spend time with my best friend Mary, but I promise I will try to have another chapter finished tomorrow, if not then on Sunday for sure. Also, starting Monday, I begin class again, so chapters may become less frequent. Probably only on the weekends. I'm really sorry everyone, and to all of my faithful reviewers, thank you all, you are the greatest anyone could ever ask for, and I truly mean it.