Hello everybody! Thanks for joining me for yet another chapter! Thank you for your kind reviews. As always,
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from InuYasha, but I do own the plot of this story, and my own characters; Daiki, Doc. Takhama, Betty, Duke of Western Lands, Cinder, and Akira. (And anybody else that I forgot)
Chapter 11
Kagome slept peacefully that night knowing Bankotsu would live. She had been in a good mood all afternoon, which surprised her family, especially Souta.
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When Sango woke that morning, she still felt unhappy about what had happened with Kagome. She had come so unexpectedly, when everyone was so worried about her, and then left so abruptly like nothing was amiss.
Sango informed Kaede that she was going out for a short walk to clear her mind, and left Kirara behind so that if the village was attacked, they would not be defenseless. She grabbed her Hiraikotsu which was leaning against the wall inside Kaede's hut and swung it over her shoulder, and started off.
On the other side of the forest, Suikotsu of the Shichinintai wandered. He, Jakotsu, and Bankotsu were the only ones left, now. Yes, he knew of Renkotsu's death.
Ever since Renkotsu set out to find Jakotsu, and even before that, he had been suspicious of that man. He had kept jewel shards from their leader more than once, too. He always scowled when Bankotsu did something without thinking it through or plain doing anything that he did not approve of.
Even though Renkotsu said he would never dream of outranking Bankotsu, Suikotsu was positive that, if given the chance, Renkotsu would not hesitate. As far as Suikotsu was concerned, the man was not trustworthy.
Worried for Jakotsu's sake, Suikotsu went looking for him and Renkotsu. He found Renkotsu-or his bones, but there was no sign of the feminine man or his leader.
Being the loyal companion and smartest member of the Shichinintai, Suikotsu looked to bring the little group back together again. He would just have to use his tracking skills. Wow, he couldn't remember the last time a mission called upon those.
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It had been three days since Kagome had heard from the hospital. She had gone sick with worry that Bankotsu may not have woken up yet…If he died it would have been all her fault. She broke down in her bedroom and cried until she was called for supper that night.
"Hey, why are your eyes all puffy, sis?" Souta asked, concerned.
Kagome walked to the table and sat down, wiping her eyes. She muttered, "Shut it, twerp."
All dinner she said not a word.
"Kagome," Grandpa started while chewing a hunk of meat, "you should really go to school tomorrow, -chew chew- I can't keep thinking of excuses for you!"
Kagome nodded her head once.
"Hey, sis, did you and InuYasha get in a fight or something?" Souta asked.
He received a deadly glare.
Mama hated to see her daughter in this mood. "Say Kagome, do you want to come grocery shopping with me after dinner?" She asked.
Kagome mustered up a smile for her caring mother. "No thank you, Mama, I'd better stay home."
"Whatever you want, dear."
After dinner, Kagome spent her night moping around in her bedroom. Then, the phone rang. She rushed to the ringing machine and picked it up, her spirits soaring.
"Hello?"
"I wanna talk to Souta!" A squeaky voice on the other line demanded.
Kagome hung up the phone. Her heart sunk.
"Midoriko…" Kagome whispered. "Please."
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Bankotsu woke to three humans hovering over him. He felt drunk, and it took him a minute to snap into action.
"Who…?" He started to question, his vision beginning to sharpen.
There was a man, and two women.
One of the females clapped her hands together. "Doctor Takhama, he's awake!"
The man nodded, then reached his hand down to touch Bankotsu's forehead. "How are you feeling, my friend?"
Bankotsu jerked his head so the man would get his hand away. "Who the hell are you?" He demanded.
"I am Doctor Takhama, and these are my two nurses. Betty, would you go call his friend, please?"
"What-"
Bankotsu was cut off by the doctor. "You were in pretty rough shape, you know that? That must have been some hell of a house cat…"
"Anyways," Takhama continued, "I'm sure your friend will be coming up in a minute, she sure was worried about you."
Bankotsu tried to sit up. "My friend, who?"
The man pushed him down. "Please, you must refrain from moving. Don't you remember, your friend Kagome?"
"Get your hands off me!" The Shichinintai leader snapped.
Takhama looked worried. "Please, be calm, moving isn't good for your health."
Bankotsu crossed his arms. "I don't think you know who you're talking to." He scoffed.
The other nurse whispered something to the doctor and smirked, and he laughed. Choosing to ignore that little hint of 'I think he's delusional,' Bankotsu continued,
"I am Bankotsu, leader of the Shichinintai!" He sneered, "What do you think about that?"
The nurse broke out into fits of laughter, but the doctor only smiled and said,
"You're very lucky to be alive. You went through two operations, over one hundred stitches. Your fever is dying down and your breathing has improved."
"What the FUCK did you do to me?" Bankotsu spat, sitting up again and balling a fist in the doctor's face.
The nurse cringed and the doctor took a few steps backwards. "Looks like he's all better…"
Then Bankotsu pushed the thin blanket off his body and swung his legs over the side of the bed and hopped down. Then, he noticed the needle embedded in his wrist, attached to a long cord. Bankotsu frowned at it, and yanked it out, letting it dangle above the ground.
Then, he turned to the two humans standing in awe, and snarled, "What kind of bull are you pulling here?"
"Please! You mustn't move." The nurse cried, probably more out of fear than concern. Her big blonde curls bounced as she ran to the corner of the room.
The man sighed. "You didn't seem so insane when you were sleeping." He walked casually over to the counter and gazed at a big, yellow button. He pressed it, and said into the speaker right above the counter, "Send backup."
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Kagome rolled onto her side to look upon her alarm clock. Its big, red letters flashed five thirty am. The phone beside her rang again. She yawned, and still half asleep, groped around in the dark for the phone. When she had found it, she clicked the talk button and laid her head back down on her pillow.
"Hello, Kagome here." She said, with little to no enthusiasm.
"Hello, Kagome!" The recognizable high pitched voice of Betty greeted her.
This got Kagome's attention.
"What's going on? How's Bankotsu?" She asked quietly, as not to wake anybody in her house.
Betty sounded a little worried this time, when she replied. "I think you should come down here now." Then she hung up.
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"Don't try anything funny." Bankotsu warned, smiling. Doctor Takhama waited impatiently for extra employees to come to their aid, and all he could do was try to reason with the man and back away.
"Now where," Bankotsu cracked his knuckles, "where is my sword?"
The nurse in the corner screamed. Takhama shook his head. "You didn't have a s-sword with you when y-you came here." He tried to reason.
"Don't give me that shit." Bankotsu said as he took a step closer, now cornering the doctor and nurse. "Oh well, I'll have to get my baby later, once you two are out of my way."
Just then, the door swung open, and a group of about five men lead by Betty emerged. Betty ran and hugged the other nurse who took refuge in the corner and the back-up employees rushed at Bankotsu. The Shichinintai leader was pushed to the ground, two of the biggest men pinning him down on his back.
"You ass holes! That won't work on me!" Bankotsu yelled, struggling to get up. "If you don't move I'll break your necks with my bare hands!"
"Watch his injuries, boys!" Betty called in her preppy little voice.
The blonde haired nurse in the corner continued to scream at the top of her lungs. Takhama shot her a glance, with one finger over his lips, but to no avail.
"Nicki, Nicki, shhhhh…" He soothed.
The screaming never ceased, and it was getting on Bankotsu's nerves. But there was something else about this woman. It bugged him. He rested in the men's grip for a moment so that they thought he had stopped struggling and loosened their grip, and as soon as Bankotsu felt this, he jerked his hands and legs up so that the men were all thrown back. Then he got up and walked over to Nicki, his shoulder that was operated on bleeding freely.
"Damn I said restrain him, not hurt him!" Takhama yelled. Bankotsu walked right up to the blonde nurse, pushed Betty aside who tried to block him off, and grabbed at Nicki's throat. Then he lifted the fidgeting figure in the air and pressed her hard against the wall, all with one hand.
This had gone too far. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and his patient had just hurt the love of his life. Takhama picked up a wooded stool and held it like out like a baseball bat. Nicki was loosing air and was no longer screaming, Bankotsu just staring her in the eye.
Takhama ran at Bankotsu from behind, all the while yelling, "Get your filthy hands off my fiancée, you creep!" He swung the stool at the man's back.
Kagome walked in to see Bankotsu crumble to the ground as Takhama smashed a stool into his back, and a blond haired nurse being dropped onto the ground, coughing and grabbing at her throat.
Betty waved and smiled at Kagome's entrance.
"Doctor Takhama, STOP!" Kagome screamed, as she ran to the doctor's side and grabbed the stool out of his hands and threw it aside in her anger. "Damn it, what are you doing?" She demanded.
"Your little friend here just tried to kill my fiancée, what was I supposed to do? Let him choke her to death?"
Kagome dropped down on her knees and looked down at Bankotsu. He was out cold.
The nurse was panting, her eyes wide with terror. Tears mingled with sweat on her face. "He…he tried to kill me!"
Takhama rushed to Nicki's side and held her tightly. "I'll have that man thrown in jail!" He threatened. Slowly, everyone started flooding from the little room until only Kagome and Bankotsu were left. Her tears dripped onto his face.
"Bankotsu, you idiot…" Kagome sobbed. "Why did you have to go and try to kill her? Damn, Bankotsu!"
Bankotsu's handsome blue eyes opened. He looked so innocent as he wiped Kagome's tears off his face, and then looked at his hand as if it may have left some sort of mark. Then he sat himself up and looked at Kagome's tear stained face.
"Yo."
Kagome looked away, and stifled another sob. Bankotsu cocked his head at her. When he got no response, he stood up and took hold of Kagome's hand and helped her to her feet.
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Kagome led Bankotsu through the elevator and down the hall to the front desk of the hospital. She had not said a word to him, leaving the Shichinintai leader confused and angry at the same time. Betty awaited the two.
"Will you be on your way now?" She asked, as if nothing at all had happened. Then, doctor Takhama emerged from the 'employees only' door and stared at Kagome, completely ignoring the man who had attempted to strangle his soon-to-be wife.
Kagome swallowed, and watched from the corner of her eye, Bankotsu, who leaned his back up against the counter and crossed his arms. "Doctor Takhama, please forgive my friend…he has a mental disorder …please just don't call the police, he was watching a lot of…murderous movies before all this. Honestly, it wasn't his fault." Surprisingly, the doctor's eyes softened.
"Hmm, I think my sister may have something like your friend. I know how it feels." He said, giving the back of Bankotsu's head a funny look. Bankotsu snorted and glared at the wall. His shoulder was still bleeding, and his crimson blood was making a small puddle on the floor just beneath his dangling arm. With that, the doctor passed a bottle of tablets over the counter for Kagome to take, and then passed her a plastic bag.
"Have your friend take these pills every morning and night until he is no longer in pain. In the bag, there are new bandages that should be replaced on his shoulder down to his elbow, and torso." He explained. Kagome nodded, still not believing that the doctor was not going to pursue Bankotsu's punishment.
Takhama continued. "Your friend seems to be walking fine, but I better give you crutches anyways, it's the only way his ankle will heal." He passed her two crutches and Kagome took them with a sincere 'thanks.'
"I don't recommend any sports or anything physical for awhile. Other than that, I wish you two luck."
Kagome smiled warmly and bowed her head. "Thanks again for all your help, Doctor Takhama, Betty. Please tell your fiancée, my apologies. And sorry for all your trouble."
Kagome finished up her farewell conversation with the doctor, and then exited the building, Bankotsu trailing behind without a word. He had slipped his shirt back on, and retrieved his regular blood-stained hakamas. Once the two were about a block away from the hospital, Kagome stopped and turned around to face the mercenary. Maybe it was a bad idea to bring him here… Tears stung her sad, chocolate brown eyes.
Bankotsu stopped too, and just stared back at her. He dropped his hand that was holding his bleeding shoulder. Kagome took a few steps closer, so they stood face to face.
"Why'd you do that? I mean, try to kill the nurse. Do you take pride in something like that?" Kagome screamed at him.
Bankotsu narrowed his blue eyes at her. "Who are you to say that about me? You don't know shit. I would never kill without a reason." This remark only made Kagome's anger boil up inside her. A tear ran down her cheek.
"Oh really? Tell me, what was the reason you had to kill that nurse? Did she smile? Did she laugh? 'Cause if that's your reason, you better kill me right here and now!"
Just as Bankotsu went to reply, Kagome whipped her arm up and made to slap the man across the face. She closed her eyes and put as much power into the slap as she could muster.
She opened her eyes. Bankotsu held her dainty hand in his calloused one. He was glaring down at her, and the warm blood from his shoulder dripped down his arms and fell onto Kagome's skin. The ebony haired girl gasped at this, and tried to pull her hand out of his tight grasp, but to no avail.
"Let go of me, you-"
But Bankotsu cut her off by squeezing her hand even tighter. "I told you, I don't kill without a reason. There was something…strange about that woman."
Looking at Bankotsu with curious eyes, she ceased her struggling and he let her hand go free. "I just didn't like the feeling I got around her presence, is all."
The fire in the girl's eyes died down, and was replaced by a caring softness. "Bankotsu," Kagome started quietly, "your bleeding badly."
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Naraku laughed when the pathetic wolf found out that he was trapped. The hanyou summoned Kohaku, who appeared out of the shadows, the scythe attached to a long chain in his hand.
"Naraku-sama." He greeted in his distant voice.
With a wave of his hand, Kanna moved to her spot beside her master, the image on her mirror of Kouga fading off its surface.
"Ah, Kohaku. I have a job for you." Naraku spoke, and Kohaku kneeled down, pointing the end of his scythe at his master, as if he somehow already knew his orders.
Just outside the castle, Kouga walked forward gingerly. He already knew that forwards was the only way to go- that Naraku bastard had trapped him and there was no where for him to retreat or escape.
Suddenly, just ahead of him, a young boy appeared. He was clad in dark colored armor and attire, with dark chestnut hair tied in a little pony tail at the back of his head. His eyes held no life.
Kouga stopped, shifting into his battle position. He didn't like the scythe the boy carried. It had some sort of thick, purple gunk on the very tip.
"You smell like Naraku. Who the hell are you?" The wolf prince growled loudly.
The boy said nothing, but readied his weapon.
"Damn you! Where's Naraku?" Kouga yelled.
The scythe came hurtling towards the wolf demon. Kouga gasped, and dodged the attack nimbly. The weapon recoiled, and then was sent out again, aimed right for Kouga's legs.
"I asked you a question, NOW ANSWER ME!" Kouga yelled again as he managed a back flip through the air to dodge the attack. Then, a womanly voice caught Kouga's attention.
"Kouga, I would stop worrying about Naraku, and start worrying about yourself." The voice said. It held amusement and blood lust.
Kouga whipped around to see Kagura the wind user, floating on the safety of one of her giant feathers.
"Kagura!"
Kagura grinned. "Been awhile, hasn't it, wolf?"
Kouga lunged at Naraku's despicable underling, who floated out of the way. Then, when Kouga landed, that's when he felt something penetrate the skin in his leg. He looked down to see the scythe the boy carried fly back to its wielder, his own blood smeared all over it. The scythe had stabbed him right near his jewel shard, but surprisingly he felt no pain.
Kouga snarled at the boy who held his weapon in the air, ready to deliver another blow.
"You think your lame excuse for a gardening tool can hurt me?" He barked, despite he had begun to bleed. The brown-haired boy remained silent.
Kagura let out a fake gasp, then, "Why, Kouga, you naughty boy! Don't turn your back on me." She said sarcastically, pretending to be a parent scolding her child. Kouga turned to face her again, though he tried to keep the boy in sight. He still stood still as a statue, his features not betraying his future actions in the slightest bit.
"You're both starting to piss me off! The kid won't talk and you won't shut up!" He yelled, baring his teeth and pointing an accusing claw at Kagura, who sat on her feather with a stupefied look on her face. She loved to tease the wolf.
The scythe hit Kouga in the other leg now, but this time the wolf demon did not pay any attention. He cracked his knuckles and leapt at Kagura yet again, his blood flying out from behind. Still, no pain.
Little did Kouga know, even if he didn't feel it yet, he would wish he would never have been born. Naraku watched as Kagura toy with the wolf, and as Kohaku took his silent leave once his chore was completed. But Kagura was holding back. This angered the hanyou.
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Kagome led the way back home, purposely taking the longer route. She needed more time to think. How could Bankotsu say that there was something strange about that blond nurse? There was something definitely wrong with Betty, true, but the blond?
Bankotsu's soft voice sent her thoughts crashing down. He walked beside her now, and had been looking at the scenery for the past little while. "Why are you crying?"
Kagome wiped her eyes. She had been crying, but she didn't notice it. Now that she knew, the tears wouldn't stop coming. Bankotsu trying to strangle a nurse disturbed her, but another thought claimed the most of her attention. She turned to him, her hair dancing in the wind.
She hugged him.
Just out of the blue. She couldn't help it. She hugged him tight. She nuzzled her face into his shoulder, earning a big smear of dirt to find its way onto her cheek from Bankotsu's haori. She wrapped her arms around his back.
Bankotsu looked absolutely helpless as the girl's weight crashed against his own body, making his waver a bit with pain. Kagome could feel his tense up in her arms, and his breath lock in his chest. After a moment, she was scared she had knocked the wind out of him.
Kagome looked up to see him staring down at the top of her head, eyes wide, arms hanging by his sides. She loosened her grip at the look on his face, saying, "Bankotsu? I'm sorry…d-did I hurt y-you?"
Bankotsu blinked a few times, but he did not hug her back. "Why are you crying?" He asked again, his voice sounding distant.
Kagome laid her head back on his shoulder, careful not to touch the stitches. "You don't know how close you were to having to have breathing assistance. Nobody thought you'd live…I'm just glad you're going to be ok." She sobbed happily. Again everything was so quiet other than the birds singing and squabbling at each other that she could hear his steady heart beat.
And then, Bankotsu rested his cheek on top of her head and wrapped his arms around her body. Secretly, Kagome was so pleased she thought she would burst with happiness. His body was so warm against hers, and it just felt…right. She didn't even give the slightest thought to InuYasha now.
She wanted to be in his arms forever.
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A/N: OMG I'm sorry for the corny ending of the chappy! Ew, I'm not happy with it at all. Again, sorry guys!
Anyways, I'm not moving Ban and Kag very fast because I thought it would seem even worse, and more choppy and thrown together. Do you agree with me?
Hope you enjoyed it! More Ban and Kag coming soon!
Blueeyedchibi
