disclaimer
I, Kagura Fuujinnomai do not own Bankotsu, Jakotsu, or any of the other characters associated with the Inuyasha series.
(Although I wish I did own those adorable, wonderful, super kawaii, sexy little sons of...ahem! anyways)
I get nothing from writing my Fanfics.
I am simply a fangirl who wishes to share her passion with the rest of the world.
- sincerely,
Kagura Fuujinnomai

(AN. My very first work of AU! This is a gift for Skittlez, as the day Ibegan itwas her birthday.
Only she could inspire something this weird... So she and any shounenai fangirl lucky enough to come across this fic can Read, Review, and most importantly, Enjoy. )

Never Again

Chapter Thirteen: The End of Their Dream

Kagome reached over and unhooked Inuyasha's shocker collar, handing it to him.
He indicated the label to Bankotsu, which said "Stunner jr. 80,000 volts," before lowering it toward Jakotsu, who was still completely oblivious to the presence of their 'visitors.'

Bankotsu instantly rolled away from Inuyasha, closing his eyes tightly as Jakotsu bit down on his neck.
He wrenched his neck from Jakotsu's grip, turning quickly to slap the collar from Inuyasha just in time before Jakotsu shoved him back to the ground.

But this time Inuyasha intervened, pulling Jakotsu's arms back before he had a chance to use them to pin Bankotsu, and forcing him to the ground.

Jakotsu fought against his hold but just as he escaped it, Kagome, who skillfully slapped the shocker collar around his neck, holding the remote far from his or Bankotsu's reach, stopped him.

"Stop it!" She commanded, stepping away as he took a well-aimed swipe at her, nearly hitting her extended arm.

"She'll do it..." Inuyasha warned, trying his best to restrain Jakotsu.

But Jakotsu wasn't going to let it stop him; he wouldn't be made the enemy for wanting to be with his own lover.
He turned to Kagome and she took a step back as he wrenched his arms from Inuyasha once again, but this time he shifted suddenly, lunging toward Bankotsu.

Bankotsu caught him willingly, pulling him from Inuyasha and sitting him securely in his lap before putting a hand to the shock collar, preventing Kagome from activating it.

Jakotsu sat sideways on his lover's lap, wrapping his arms around his upper torso and Bankotsu held him securely to himself with his free hand.

"He's not doing anything, okay?" He reasoned, trying to calm his worried friends.
"Not hurting me at all."

Inuyasha sat on the ground, catching his breath before inquiring about what the hell had just happened.
"Bankotsu, you told me just minutes ago that Jakotsu never tries to hurt you or force you into anything."

"He wasn't," Bankotsu replied, stroking Jakotsu's back to try to calm him.
"He was just a little pissed at me, that's all. This is my fault entirely."

"It's not your fault you didn't want to live with him," Inuyasha retaliated, causing Bankotsu to wonder about just how much of their conversation he'd overheard.

"He's obviously a psycho if he tackled you like that just for turning him down.
I wouldn't even consider living alone with that unstable queer if I were you.
You never know when he'll snap again..."

Bankotsu stared at him, realizing that Inuyasha thought Jakotsu's love for him was unrequited. He must've walked in just before Jakotsu had shoved him down on the couch if he hadn't heard him say anything about why Bankotsu wanted him to leave...

"You shouldn't even be protecting him either, Bankotsu. He's just as dangerous as that snake he loves so damn much."
Bankotsu pulled Jakotsu closer to himself, hearing his love choke on a sob against his chest. "That's not true..."

At that remark Inuyasha almost laughed, suggesting that Bankotsu take a look at the bite mark on his neck.

Bankotsu turned his head toward the place where he could still feel the pain on his neck. He couldn't see the mark itself, but he could see the wet red stain on the shoulder of his shirt.

"What is it?" Jakotsu pulled his head from Bankotsu's shoulder to try to get a look at the other side of his neck. But Bankotsu caught him quickly, holding him so that he couldn't see it.

"Did I hurt you - I did, didn't I? – Aisuru let me see it!" Jakotsu protested, but Bankotsu merely put a hand in his silky black hair, holding his head to his chest.

"I'm fine. You're the one who's hurt…"

"He's hurt!?" Inuyasha scoffed, interrupting Bankotsu's nearly successful attempt at calming his worried love.

"We're gonna have to have you checked for rabies..." He continued, glaring at the man in his best friend's lap.
"Should've left the little bastard in Kyoto with all of his filthy friends you told me about."

At this Bankotsu shook his head, releasing the collar in order to wrap both of his arms around his lover, who was becoming even more distressed with every word Inuyasha spoke.

"Jakotsu loves me..." He admitted, Inuyasha's lack of surprise making him feel a bit better as he continued to explain.
"I brought him here because I wanted him to be with me so that he wouldn't have to be hurt anymore."

"Oh so you'll protect him from hurt while he has no problem with his snake attacking your friends, and then you continue to protect him when he himself turns around and attacks you!"

Bankotsu pulled the shocker collar from Jakotsu's neck, tossing it back to his enraged friend before standing up, holding Jakotsu securely, bridal style, in his arms.

"You just don't understand him like I do..."

That said Bankotsu carried Jakotsu back to his room, laying him gently on his bed before giving him a reassuring kiss on his frowning lips. He sighed as Jakotsu's eyes fell on the bite mark he'd left on his neck, and moved quickly to stop him from freaking out about it.

Bankotsu put a hand over his love's mouth, not allowing him to speak.
He looked into Jakotsu's eyes, speaking firmly and truthfully to him.
"I'm not angry, and everything's going to be all right, including us."

He removed his hand from Jakotsu's mouth and was unsurprised when Jakotsu began to mumble his apologies at the speed of sound.

"Bankotsu i'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry. I love you so much. I never meant to hurt you and if this-"

Bankotsu silenced him with another kiss, returning his hand to its place over his love's mouth. "Please don't call me by my name. It's unlike you…" He whispered, rolling his eyes as Jakotsu mumbled another apology into his hand. " 'm sorrhy aishuroo."

His annoyance left however, when his love's lip began trembling beneath his hand, the rest of his body following suit as tears began escaping his reddened eyes.

"Don't…" Bankotsu nearly begged him. "Don't be afraid. It'll be all right, I promise."
Bankotsu gave him one last kiss before instructing him to try to calm down until he'd returned to help him pack.

Jakotsu rolled onto his side, but did not try to calm himself. He instead let out the sob he'd been holding in and brought his hands up to cover his face as the tears began to flow freely.

He did not even do anything to stop himself when he rolled off of the bed, choosing instead to sit on the ground and let his pain escape through his burning eyes and dry throat.

Bankotsu closed the door behind himself, but stood near it, trying to gather the courage to face Inuyasha again. He simply sighed to himself when he heard his love hit the floor, his muffled sobs ringing in Bankotsu's head.

He knew his aisuru was inconsolable, but he did have to force himself not to reenter the room. He put his face in his hands, not allowing his own anguish to escape.

Bankotsu then gathered his strength, and returned to the living room.

He first offered Inuyasha a hand, pulling him from the ground so that they could sit together on the couch, then turned to him, taking the time to nod toward Kagome so that she knew that she was welcome to stay and listen to what he had to say.

"As you probably know..." He began, taking a deep, calming breath.
"After what happened yesterday, I made up my mind and requested that Jakotsu find his own place, which he has agreed to do."

Inuyasha nodded, not bothering to mention that he already knew that much of the story.

"But unfortunately, after having spent so much time with me after such a long separation, Jakotsu found himself wanting to remain living with me, even if it wouldn't be here, in our current apartment.
He was willing to make the change, you see, but only if I would accompany him in his new place."

Inuyasha nodded once again as Kagome took a seat by his side, listening intently.

"But I told him I couldn't, you know, considering that would mean leaving Inuyasha by himself to pay the rent. And since we chose a house rather than an actual apartment, I really can't leave him to pay for the whole thing..."

At this point Inuyasha tried to interrupt but Bankotsu knew what he was going to say so he held a hand up to keep him quiet.

"But that's not the only reason... I'm quite comfortable here." Bankotsu fell silent after this lie, allowing his audience a chance to speak.

"So what are you going to do then?" Inuyasha asked, trying to ignore the fact that Bankotsu had been purposely avoiding looking into his eyes.

"The only thing I can do... I'll help him pack and get started with searching for a new place for him tomorrow morning." He paused, sighing lightly before speaking his final thought.

"If everything works out right you won't have to deal with my 'psycho queer' friend anymore."

Inuyasha bowed his head apologetically, retracting the comment he'd made about Jakotsu being crazy. "I know he's not crazy..." He admitted. "He's just a bit emo. More than I'm used to I mean..."

Bankotsu stood, finding himself unable to stay in Inuyasha's company any longer.
He took a step forward but stopped himself, turning back to Inuyasha.

"Thanks for, you know, helping me out with Jakotsu... He doesn't usually get so... physical."

Inuyasha nodded, offering Bankotsu a smile in return for his appreciation.
"I couldn't have just left you like that..."

Bankotsu smiled back before continuing to the back of the house, calling behind himself to let them know that they were free to go about their business.

Inuyasha sighed in relief, before taking up his offer. He led Kagome back to the car so that he could go spend some time with her as he'd promised.

Bankotsu silently pushed the door to Jakotsu's room open, carefully walking over to his bed, making sure that Jakotsutou was not underfoot.
He was slightly relieved to find that Jakotsu had picked himself off of the ground and returned to his bed, but the sight of him still worried Bankotsu.

Jakotsu lie on his stomach, sobbing miserably into his pillow as he tried to take Bankotsu's advice and force himself to fall asleep.
But it became apparent that there was way too much worry on his mind for him to be able to rest.

Jakotsu lifted his head from the pillow as Bankotsu placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. He caught his hand in his own, rolling over so that he could look his love properly in the eye.

"Sleep with me..."
He pleaded, tugging on his lover's arm like a frightened child.

Bankotsu nodded, taking a step back and pulling his shirt off, dropping it carelessly to the ground.
Jakotsu sat up, moving over to allow Bankotsu to pull himself up onto his bed.

He wrapped his arms eagerly around him, snuggling into his embrace before pulling him down to rest their heads on his pillow. Bankotsu held in a sigh, pulling Jakotsu closer to himself as he apologized, yet again, for what he'd done.

"I'm so...So sorry..." He whispered, kissing his neck gently before running his tongue along the puncture wounds that ran just along the upper left portion of his love's collarbone.

"I'm fine." Bankotsu assured him. "Everything will be fine. I promise."
He pulled away slightly so that Jakotsu could see the determined truth in his eyes.

He offered him a genuine smile before snuggling back against his chest.
Bankotsu then closed his eyes, but Jakotsu stirred, putting a hand against his cheek.

"Aisuru…" He whispered, not continuing until his love had nodded to show he was listening. "I'll never hurt you again, that's my promise…"

Bankotsu smiled, pulling him closer.
"All right. Now my love, sleep."

Jakotsu nodded, whispering his promise to himself.

"Never again."

( It hurts

When something you've been building for so long
Crumbles before your eyes.

It stings

When you realize that your truth
was built by lies

But soon, little boy, you'll realize

Times change, and people too
Through the hardship, who'll be there for you?

You pray it's him, your one love that's true

But in the end, you're helpless,
You know of the pain that'll ensue, but
Of your fate

You haven't a clue. )