Although Bankotsu had ordered his men to be cordial to me, I couldn't help but get vibes like they didn't want me there. Like they really were only nice to me because their 'Big Brother' made them to. Yet and still, I did feel safe around them. I wondered how long Bankotsu would allow me to stay with him. His generosity was greatly appreciated, but I didn't want to impose on anybody.

After I washed up in the bath house and put on the kimono that Bankotsu sent Renkotsu to get for me, I walked back to the main house and went to Bankotsu's bedroom. I stopped and eyed the door hesitantly before knocking on it. "Come in," I heard Bankotsu say. I slowly slid the door open and my eyes fell upon Bankotsu who was already lying in the bed. He sat up and smiled at me. I could feel butterflies in my stomach as stared upon him, half naked. "Wow, Renkotsu picked out a nice kimono. It suits you well." I nervously smiled. "laughs Don't look so scared. I'm not going to do anything. I promise. Now come to bed." He pulled the covers back and patted the spot next to him. I didn't move and inch. "Sighs If it'll make you feel better, I'll sleep on the floor." I stared at him intensly, trying to see if I could detect any mal intention. I couldn't see any.

"That's okay," my voice cracked. I slowly walked to the bed and climbed in with him. Bankotsu smiled and I did likewise. He pulled the covers back up over us and leaned over and gave me a quick peck on the forehead, making me blush.

"Sweet dreams, Lady Nieci," he sweetly said before blowing the candle out.

"Sweet dreams," I replied with a yawn. A few minutes later, I was fast asleep.

Lord Minamoto's POV

"That wench thinks that she can one up me by seducing that barbarian Bankotsu so he will do her every will?! She has a lot of nerve! Damn her!" I was pacing around my office, wanting nothing more than to take a knife to both Nieci and Bankotsu's backs.

"M'Lord, what are your intentions?" my top advisor, Jiro Mezuma asked me.

"What do you think?! Nieci and Bankotsu shall be slain for their trangressions against me!"

"M'Lord, please calm down. Its not very good for your health."

"Damn that right now! My reputation as a leader is a stake here!"

"O...Of course. I'm sorry M'Lord." Just then, there was a knock on my door.

"Come in!" I snapped, very irritated right now. The door slid open and I gazed upon Sargeant Takahashi. He entered and bowed before me. "Have you completed the task?" I coldly asked.

"Yes M'Lord. The soldiers are on the way right now," he humbly replied. I smirked as I turned to look out the window. Hmph. Think you can pull a fast one on me Nieci, eh? Well, two can play at that game.

Back 2 Nieci

Klop Klop Klop Klop Klop Klop Klop Klop

I awoke to a sudden sound coming from outside the house. I sat up in bed and stared into the darkness, trying to concentrate on the sound. It sounded just like horse hoofs. Could my uncle be making good on his promise?

"Bankotsu! Bankotsu wake up!" I loudly whispered as I shook him.

"Huh? Whaaa?" he groggily said

"Bankotsu do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" He yawned and opened his eyes, looking at me confused.

"Shhh. Listen." We were both silent for a few seconds.

"Those are horses."

"Exactly."

"So what?"

"What if they're soldiers from my uncle's castle. You remember what he said when we left."

"Don't be so worried. Get some rest okay." He turned from me and laid back down on his pillow.

"Bankotsu I'm serious. Once Uncle Hari declares that he wants something he will move hell and earth just to get it." He yawned again before sitting back up. He softly smiled as he stared at my worried face.

"Fine. If it makes you feel better, I'll go check things out."

"Thank you." He got out of bed, put on his kimono top, and armor and got Banryu. He exited the room. I waited patiently for him to come back, hoping that he would tell me that everything is fine.

"Jakotsu! Kyokotsu! Mukotsu! Suikotsu! Renkotsu! Ginkotsu! Everyone wake up! Were under attack!" I could hear Bankotsu's voice yelling after about a minute or two. So I was right. I stared at the door with wide eyes as Bankotsu busted through it. "Nieci, you stay in here where its safe. Don't leave this room." He sternly ordered me. I nodded my head in reply as Bankotsu rushed out the room again. I got out of the bed and went to the solitary window in Bankotsu's room to see what my uncle had done. I gasped when I saw the scene. The ground was covered with soldiers. Sixty, no seventy, no more than that. I began to panic. Seventy plus men versus only seven? That was ten men for each member of the Band of Seven. Talk about an uneven battle.

"I take it that that snake Minamoto sent you clowns here to take back Nieci huh?" Bankotsu growled when he and the rest of the Band of Seven had made it outside.

"That's right," Sargeant Takahashi confirmed, "after we kill you of course."

"Hmph. I'd like to see you try."

"Front line attack!"

"Let me handle this!" Jakotsu cried out as he drew his sword. He swung the blade once and killed the whole front line of soldiers. I gasped as I saw this. How was he able to kill that many men in one sweep?! The Band of Seven truly was stronger than any of Uncle Hari's men. I could tell that Sargeant Takahashi had become uneasy, seeing so many of his men slain in one strike. Jakotsu chuckled as he licked the blood off his sword. "Come on! I want a real fight!" he roared.

"Full assault!" Sargeant Takahashi ordered. All of the soldiers came charging at Bankotsu and the others and the Band of Seven charged right back.

As I watched the fight, I was impressed by the Band of Seven's skills. Jakotsu and his snake like sword, Mukotsu and his poison, Renkotsu using fire, Ginkotsu's armor, Kyokotsu's strength, Suikotsu and his bloodlust, and of course Bankotsu and Banryu. I had never seen any group of men fight like them before. It really was a phenonmenal sight.

"Ku ku ku! Die you damn bastards!" Suikotsu cried out as he continued to slay soldiers.

"Gessh. Die," Ginkotsu repeated.

"I shall devour you all!" Kyokotsu growled as he launched at some soldiers.

"Kyokotsu watch out!" Renkotsu cried out suddenly.

"Hunh?" Kyokotsu turned around to see a soldier with an extremely long sword flying at him.

"Get out the way Kyokotsu!" Renkotsu yelled again, but the enormous man was too slow to avoid the piercing blade as it went right through his heart. Kyokotsu let out a loud groan of pain as he proceeded to kill the soldier who had stabbed him. He then fell to the hard earth with a loud thud. He was dead before he hit the ground.

"Kyokotsu! Dammit!" Bankotsu cried as he rushed over to his fallen comrade.

"Audacious fools!" Jakotsu cried out as he slayed even more soldiers with his retractable sword. After seeing that he was losing too many men, and that his own life was now in danger, Sargeant Takahashi decided to retreat from the battle.

"Let's go me!" he ordered as he and the surviving soldiers left the grounds. I turned my eyes on Kyokotsu who laid in the dirt very still. Uncle Hari had just claimed his first victim.

Meanwhile at the Castle

"Lord Minamoto! Lord Minamoto!" Jiro came rushing into my bedroom, waking me from my slumber.

"What is it?!" I snapped.

"I've just receieved word from Sargeant Takahashi that they managed to kill a member of the Shichinintai. The one who goes by Kyokotsu." I smirked, feeling very pleased.

"Thank you Jiro. That'll be all."

"Yes M'Lord," Jiro bowed before closing the door behind him. I laid back down on my pillow staring at the ceiling feeling very confident. One down, seven more to go.