Disclaimer: InuYasha is not mine. The manga and anime belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Kindly note that, and enjoy the story.
My name is Mori. I am fifteen years old.
After a traumatic night at my castle, I decided to leave royal life for life as a mercenary.
Bankotsu came to the castle, intending to masacre the place, and ended up leaving with me.
We traveled all morning, until we reached the place where the Shichinintai were hiding.
It was some kind of underground cavern, full of old-fashioned steam-powered machines, and stolen goods. I was hesitant to follow Bankotsu down the stairs, yet, I tried to stay close to him.
"Ah! Aniki! Okaeri!" Renkotsu called up.
I felt my heart speed up. I was walking right into a death hole.
If they decided not to be friendly, I was surely dead.
Suddenly, I saw something twinkle off across the cavern, and stopped walking just in time for a chain of swords to hit the wall on the other side. It had just missed my nose by a hair.
Bankotsu looked back at me, mildly concerned.
"D-daijoubu dayo!" I whispered.
"Jakotsu, leave her! She's with us, now!" Bankotsu said.
The chain of swords was jerked back, nicking my nose as it went back to it's owner.
"Since when do you recruit women for our group?" Jakotsu asked.
"Since now!" Bankotsu said. "So, don't touch her!"
I stepped a little closer to Bankotsu.
"A-arigatou!" I whispered.
I followed him all the way down to the bottom of the cavern.
When I could see everyone, they started giving me dirty looks.
Except for one, apparently.
"Oh! And who is this lovely flower?" Mukotsu asked.
"M-my name is Mori." I said, trying to speak up.
I bowed in greeting. "Yoroshiku." I said.
Upon straightening up, I saw everyone giving me odd looks.
I liked these looks better, so, I was going to leave them be.
"What a lovely name it is, too!" Mukotsu said. "Please forgive my earlier rudeness! My name is Mukotsu!"
I smiled slightly.
All of a sudden, Bankotsu pulled me aside.
"You're gonna wanna watch out for Mukotsu." He said. "He's desperate to marry, and pretty much any girl works for him."
I nodded. "I'll keep that in mind." I said.
I looked around, commiting this place to memory.
"Nice place." I said.
One of them, I didn't see which one, made a dismissive sound.
"I mean it!" I said. "It's a really cool place!"
I wanted to walk around, but, I was afraid of most everyone there.
I dared not take a step away from Bankotsu.
"S-so," I said. "What's going on? Can I help with anything?"
They went back to whatever they were doing.
I frowned. "Mori, would you care to help me?" Mukotsu called over.
I went to him. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"I am making poisons! Only the finest!" Mukotsu said, proudly.
"Oh. That so?" I asked. "Suppose I know a bit about poisons? What can I do?"
I sat infront of him, and his work.
He had me grinding herbs, helping him mix the poisons up for a while, until I got bored, and excused myself from the task. I looked over at Bankotsu.
He seemed to be sleeping, right across the room from me.
I was nervous, even with my Shikikami at my every blind spot.
There had to be something I could do to lighten the atmosphere a little.
I started climbing along all the bridges and stairs, feeling more comfortable in an area where I could run away easily if someone came at me.
I climbed ontop of one of the bridges, and saw a pair of feet infront of me.
I looked up. Suikotsu stood over me, looking angry.
"Sumi-masen! I'm annoying you, aren't I?" I asked.
He grabbed me by my neck, and lifted me up.
"This is just another group to you, isn't it?" He growled. "The Shichinintai are just a group of kids to play with to you!"
I did not fight. "Gomen ne." I said. "I can't sit still for very long. But, for your sake, I shall try."
He put his claws to my face.
"Suikotsu, drop her!" a voice barked.
For a moment, Suikotsu didn't move.
Then, he smiled.
"Hai, Aniki!" Suikotsu said.
He dropped me.
I gasped as I began to fall toward the floor.
There was nothing within reach. I was going to be seriously injured.
I closed my eyes, and braced for impact.
All of a sudden, I was caught. I opened my eyes. Bankotsu had me.
He looked up at Suikotsu. "I'll over-look that for now," Bankotsu said. "I was the one who told you to drop her, anyway. Pull a stunt like that again, and you'll lose the arm you dropped her with!"
"Hai, Aniki!" Suikotsu called down.
Bankotsu looked at me. "What're you blushing for?" Bankotsu asked.
I noticed the line of heat across my nose, and turned away.
"B-betsuni." I said.
Bankotsu put me down, and went back to his spot.
I looked at the other three. They would probably be worse to anger than Suikotsu.
I needed to find a place to be, and stay there.
There was a small spot next to Bankotsu.
He was the only one I felt safe around, so I went to him.
"Onii-san?" I said, following the others lead.
He opened one eye to look at me.
"Ummm...may I sit beside you?" I asked.
He closed his eye back. I wasn't sure what to take that as.
So, I sat beside him, and held my knees close to my chest.
"I didn't say you could sit next to me." Bankotsu said.
"You never said I couldn't either." I pointed out.
I sat by him all day. That night, though, it felt different.
I felt that, if I stayed by his side all night, he'd get the wrong idea.
So, I found myself a little corner, and went to sleep there.
It was a rough first week. And I was jumpy for quite a while.
Not just because I was in a cave full of killers.
But, also, I was the only woman in the group.
Things were gonna get very difficult. Especially when I needed to bathe...
Okay. This one could've gone better, but, hey, without boring chapters, the good ones would be boring! Review!