Bankotsu: The Show

The band of four continued their journey together. Bankotsu was on a look out for the other 3 needed members of his mercenary crew, but so far nothing new was discovered. The group was instead sitting by a river in a bit of a dilemma. Renkotsu, as Jakotsu kindly pointed out, needed a mark that would represent his membership to the 'Brotherhood' as Jakotsu called it. "Brother Ginkotsu already has one around his eye" Jakotsu pointed at the blue surrounding the mechanical mans eye "…But brother Renkotsu needs one"

Renkotsu was slightly nervous about getting a permanent mark on his face, and Bankotsu patted his back "Relax, I have an idea…"

Bankotsu finished making the paint, and decided that since there were already two blue marked members, Renkotsu should share his color "We'll be even more like brothers" he smiled. Renkotsu watched at how sloppily his 'Big Brother' added the substances to the mixture, and how he dropped a piece of what looked like a once piece of armor, into the mix to make it glow with a bright light. "Look…" Jakotsu cried, as he ran to Bankotsu with a purple piece of basal "Is this color good?"

Bankotsu nodded "It's perfect" he grounded it up and let it fall into the now purple glowing bowl. Bankotsu looked at the nervous Renkotsu "Relax…all I need is your blood"

"WHAT?" Renkotsu asked jumping slightly back. Bankotsu shrugged as he explained "Look, you don't want the mark to be permanent right?"

Renkotsu nodded slowly, as Bankotsu continued "If you drop your blood into the mix. The paint will be absorbed into your blood, and you can make it come and go as you please"

Jakotsu blinked "That doesn't make much sense does it?"

Ginkotsu nodded "Gh…no"

Bankotsu rolled his eyes "It's easy, Jakotsu added a strand of his hair. With the yanked hair came a piece of his skin, which the spell would only make contact with. By adding your blood, the paint can remain hidden inside your skin, with the blood, and above it, where it is marked on your face, depending on your choice"

Renkotsu lifted an eyebrow "and you've seen this done?"

Bankotsu looked up a little embarrassed as he spoke "Well, technically no, but it sounds full proof…I guess"

Renkotsu sighed and grabbed the bowl and paint brush from his brother's hands "I'll agree to it, but I wish to do it myself" he remembered how clumsy Bankotsu was being earlier, and if this was permanent he didn't want to be stuck with an uneven mark. Bankotsu nodded not realizing why Renkotsu decided to do it himself. Renkotsu grabbed his hidden dagger, and made a cut to his wrist. The blood fell into the bowl, and Bankotsu nodded at it being enough. The mixture turned from the light purple, into a darker color of purple thanks to the blood. Renkotsu stood and walked down the river to see his reflection better.

When Renkotsu returned to the group, he had no marks on his face, and Bankotsu sighed annoyed, as he leaned on the near by rock "What? don't tell me you chickened out"

"On the contrary big brother" as Renkotsu walked over, his marks began to appear. Two large marks appeared from the bottom of his face to the top of his forehead, coming to a jagged point, and on his forehead was a strange mark which resembled a bent arrow with two ends. "Well…" he began "What do you think?"

Bankotsu smiled excitedly "And I thought you were going to do a lame line or something unnoticeable"

Jakotsu nodded with Ginkotsu "Yeah, I'm jealous"

Renkotsu rubbed the back of his head not thrilled with all of the attention "So, Brother Bankotsu, how do you intend to recruit the other three members of our mercenary band?"

Bankotsu looked serious in thought "Well, I though we could travel around, and see if any news picks up about deadly warriors"

Renkotsu took a seat with his fellow killers "Do you think that, that is going to get the job done quick enough?"

"It's how I found you, and besides there's so many wars going on. It's not like they're gonna go anywhere"

Renkotsu nodded "I see…"

Bankotsu rose "We should probably get going actually"

He started off and the other followed. Renkotsu sighed in the back, unheard. This was going to be a while and he knew it.

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After about three days of traveling no news was heard of. Renkotsu was starting to think that joining in this group was actually going to get him nowhere, but Bankotsu on the other hand acted like he could care less. The first two days were of no progress, and neither was the third, less you count a demon killing by Bankotsu.

As they continued down another path, through another unknown village, Jakotsu stopped in his tracks. Renkotsu was the first to notice this "What is it Jakotsu?" he asked calmly. Jakotsu was facing a wall completely motionless. Bankotsu and Ginkotsu stopped when Renkotsu made his comment, and turned around towards Jakotsu. "…Jakotsu…?" Bankotsu asked confused. Jakotsu slowly turned around. He stared at his companions with large eyes, his hands fisted up to his neck "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE BROTHER BANKOTSU!!!" He began to jump from foot to foot with excitement as he spoke.

Bankotsu looked at his brother like he was insane "…What are you talking about?"

Jakotsu stopped his jumping and pointed to a sign on the wall. Bankotsu blinked and grabbed the sign reading it out loud for the group to hear "Master Sensoku'sTraveling World of My-stare-i-es and…" he paused "…What the hell does My-stare-i-es mean?" he asked annoyed with the paper in his hand, as he slapped it with the other. Renkotsu walked behind Bankotsu to look at the strange word. He blinked for a moment before looking down at his smaller brother "…The word is Mysteries…" he paused for a moment and let Bankotsu sink it in "…Oh…Go on…"

Renkotsu continued "It says, Master Sensoku's Traveling World of Mysteries and Wonder. A week long presentation of the unimaginable and extraordinary…"

Bankotsu looked at Renkotsu awaiting a further explanation. Renkotsu understood the look and continued "It appears to be a group of traveling entertainers of some sort…"

Bankotsu cut off Renkotsu and looked at the excited Jakotsu "…So what about it Jakotsu?"

"What about it? I want to go see it!" Jakotsu exclaimed

Bankotsu had a mixture of confusion and annoyance on his face "Why?"

Jakotsu rolled his eyes "Come on big brother, don't you want to take a break, and have some fun?"

Renkotsu nodded "It does appear to be interesting. I wonder what kind of mysteries they'll have" he placed a pondering hand to his chin. Ginkotsu nodded with a smile "Gh-yes, It sounds quite interesting"

Bankotsu looked at his strange group. How could anything that doesn't involve violence be fun? He shrugged when he realized they were looking forward to this event before he even gave an answer "…I suppose, if that's what you really want, but we leave tonight, understand?"

Jakotsu jumped in the air for joy at his brothers comments, giving an answer for the rest "Of course big brother!!!"

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"This is a lot bigger than I would have thought" Bankotsu looked around at his surroundings. Lanterns were strung all around the village, and shops were open everywhere selling everything. Everyone was dressed up, and headed over to the stage at the end of town to see the show, that was going to be presented to them. Jakotsu sighed, and had a depressed look on his face. "What's wrong with you?" Bankotsu asked "…You're the one who dragged us here"

"I know…It's just that…well everyone here's dressed up…"

Bankotsu turned and gave a laugh at his friend "Is that what's bothering you? Who cares about that?"

Jakotsu looked away annoyed at his brothers comment. Bankotsu noticed and his laugh turned to a grin. He looked back at Renkotsu "And what about you?"

Renkotsu looked nervously at his brother "What do you mean?"

"Do you feel like accessorizing also?"

Renkotsu rolled his eyes at his brothers attempt at a joke "Unfortunately, No"

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When the three arrived at the stage, Bankotsu left to find food, they had a hard time maneuvering through the crowd. Apparently, Master Sensoku's show was very popular all around Japan. People from surrounding villages even came to watch the show, and the village who sponsored it knew how much money could be made by keeping your shop open late during these festivities.

The group of three managed to secure a spot in the mid-back, which was a good spot considering, according to Renkotsu. "But I wanted to get a spot up front" Jakotsu cried shaking his head in a hissy-fit sort of way. "That is enough Jakotsu" Renkotsu started. Jakotsu took the hint and crossed his arms angrily. "Hold on…" a man, apparently helping to run the show, yelled at the three brothers. The three turned and looked at the man. "What is it?" Renkotsu asked annoyed. "What are you three doing down here? The show's about to start"

Jakotsu blinked "…What…?"

"The show" the man continued annoyed "It's starting in ten minutes, you're going to be late if you don't get down there"

Jakotsu smiled, and leaned his hand towards Renkotsu to whisper "They think you're part of the show…"

"ME?!" Renkotsu yelled at the cross-dresser "If anything I'm the most normal looking of any of you!!!"

The man look on confused "HURRY!"

Jakotsu nodded, and followed the man through the crowd. They successfully acquired a front row seat, although many who sat behind Ginkotsu were angry (of course, none would say anything). Jakotsu sat on the floor next to Renkotsu joy spread on his face.

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Bankotsu arrived at the back end of the crowd looking for his comrades. He had his hands filled with food up to his neck, and was having little success in getting anywhere, of course his lack in size didn't help. "…Guys…?" he asked meekly, as he looked around for his friends.

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Finally Master Sensoku appeared on stage. He was a shorter man, and wore an elegant Kimono with a design similar to a rainbow salmons scales. "I am pleased to be here with you all this evening…" he started "…I only wish to inform you, that what you might see here today will astonish, and perhaps shock you. This is defiantly not something for the faint of heart…"

Jakotsu ribbed Renkotsu in the stomach "Oh boy, this is starting to sound good, huh Renkotsu?"

Sensoku continued in his monologue "…So without any further a due let us start the Entertainment"

Many performers came on the stage including: Puppeteers, Strange deformities, and a numerous amounts of dancers (The women's dances all annoyed Jakotsu). Of course when any sort of mysterious trick was performed, Renkotsu would casually explain how it was done "There's two of them" "It's behind his back" "Pathetic, you can see the rope behind him" "Honestly, there's a trap door at the bottom of the stage"

And after every comment Renkotsu made, Jakotsu would send him a dirty look, or say something like "Shhh" "No it's not" "Let me watch it" "Renkotsu!"

In general the show was a good one, but nothing there could really be classified as truly Mysterious or wondrous, especially considering how Renkotsu ripped it apart. Sensoku appeared on the stage again, to announce the next performance. Renkotsu placed his elbow on his crossed knees, and placed his head in his hand, obviously tired of this show. "I warn all of you of this next abomination…" Sensoku started "…for nothing can describe it better than that. I swear to all of you that it is a human. A human that resembles nothing more than a demon"

Many women in the audience squeezed into the comfort of their husbands, and the children into their mothers. Renkotsu's slowly went back to sitting upright as Sensoku spoke, with interest.

"…This blood thirsty animal, comes to you tonight from the deepest pits of despair himself, I bring to you THE HUMAN GIANT FROM HELL!!!" Sensoku moved off of the stage as twenty of his men yanked chains pulling something much larger onto the stage. "What the hells that?" Jakotsu spoke slightly scared at the hidden beast. Renkotsu's eyes slanted down angrily at the perceived threat "I…don't know" (He had a hard time saying that).

The men pulled out from behind the curtains what appeared to be a large human man. He wore large intimidating armor, and was shackled from head to toe with large iron chains. He roared angrily at his captives, and pulled hard in vain in order to escape. He had spiked green hair, with a black head band on his forehead, and easily doubled the size of any large human, Ginkotsu included.

Many of the humans screamed in fear of this roaring beast, and Sensoku motioned them for silence "Do not fear this beast" he spoke loud enough for the crowd to hear "…As intimidating as he is, he is in complete control" he made a motion to his other men, and they all responded by whipping the giant repeatable times. Jakotsu looked on in horror at what he saw "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM?" he yelled angrily at Renkotsu. Renkotsu gave no answer and watched the scene with a calm face, his eyes slanted in thought.

The humans began to laugh at the struggling giant, and aided in his humiliation throwing whatever they had at the monster. The giant began to scream in pure anger at the crowd, which continued their taunting to a higher degree. Then something happened that caught Sensoku off guard, The large giant pulled away from one of his captors throwing him clear across the crowd as he did so. His arm was free, and he began to attack the men holding him down. The crowd saw this and immediately dispersed away from the stage in fright. Not more than a minute after the giants freedom, he was captured again. All of Sensoku's men ran over and began chaining down the enormous man. When the giant was being held on the floor Sensoku ran over with a type of needle, and stabbed it into the mans neck. As soon as he had done this, the giant's movements became more sluggish, and soon he couldn't put up much more of a fight. Sensoku quieted the remainder of the crowd, before announcing the end of the show, and closing the curtains. Jakotsu looked at his other two brothers for support "What are we going to do?"

"about what?" Renkotsu asked, obviously angry about the display himself. "What do you mean what?!" Jakotsu's hands were fisted as he spoke "About what we just saw, we can't let him stay there and be tormented, because he's weird"

"Gh-yes, Brother Renkotsu. Jakotsu is right" Ginkotsu nodded looking at the, apparent second in command. "What would you have me do now Jakotsu?" Renkotsu answered "If anything we must first speak with Big Brother"

"I already saw" Bankotsu had his empty hands crossed. He spoke seriously, but no trace of pure anger could be seen. Jakotsu's anger ceased as he saw his brother "What happened to you? You're covered in dirt and sticky rice"

Bankotsu's hair was a mess, and his white kimono now had splotches of brown, and yes he was covered in sticky rice "…Nothing…" he spoke quickly trying to change the subject, not wanting to admit that he was pushed to the ground by the stampede of running villagers, where his food was thrown on top of him "…We should get to the matter at hand" he finished.

"What do you intend to do big brother?" Renkotsu asked. "Isn't that obvious Renkotsu?" Bankotsu answered "we're going to save our new brother"

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oooh, what will happen next??? As always Read and Respond, Thanx

Much Love, Merky15