Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha Characters, they belong to Rumiko Takahasi. I'm merely using them for my own twisted enjoyment. I do however, own all Original Characters, this plot line, and all the fan fics referenced in this story. :D

Chapter Thirteen:

Two months later Jakotsu had been sent out to restock the milk and stuff, while Renkotsu was sent off to hunt.

Bankotsu took Naien outside and ordered her to do ten complete laps around the castle in two hours. They did so with little strain. They completed fifty push-ups and sit-ups each .

They practiced bow and arrows for an hour straight and then switched to blades. Naien easily avoided most of his tricks and even managed to get the upper hand a time or two, before he quickly changed strategies and took control again. When they were both panting pretty good he signaled that it was time to call it a day.

She nodded and went about collecting some herbs for the tea, while he put the weapons away and locked the shed, before leading her inside.

Jakotsu had already returned and quickly pulled Naien into the kitchen, shooing his brother to the other end of the room.

Naien smiled as she checked the cream and finding it ready for the final step, instructed, "Okay Jakotsu, now just whip it really good." She worked on fixing the strawberries and syrup just right.

Jakotsu grinned and whipped the cream, squealing in delight as it foamed up nice and fluffy.

Bankotsu shook his head as he heard the squeal and sipped his tea. Tonight they'd have Saki with dinner since Jakotsu had informed him he'd come across some while getting the milk earlier.

Renkotsu sat in the other room having returned from hunting just after Naien and Bankotsu walked into the castle.

Soon as Naien and Jakotsu finished the cake and set it aside as a surprise, Naien was shooed out the kitchen so Jakotsu could cook their dinner.

Bankotsu chuckled as he saw her strolling over to him and heard his brother, shooing her. Taking her by the hand he walked over to their room and grabbed Banryu and his purple cloth before they returned to the dining room.

While waiting Bankotsu pulled out Banryu and began meticulously polishing his trusty halberd.

Renkotsu sat there contemplating the message he'd received while out hunting. A solitary Saimyosho had delivered Naraku's message directly to him. 'Now I just need to finalize my plans and put them into action.'

Jakotsu served dinner and Saki. Naien stuck to her tea. After dinner Jakotsu brought out their surprise and Bankotsu's eyes lit up with pleasure.

Naien smiled at the feminine like mercenary. "All I did was the strawberries and sauce. Jakotsu did the rest even the whipped cream." She placed a soft pat on his back.

Jakotsu grinned proudly as his brother complimented the cake and praised the cream over and over. Jakotsu sat next to his brother and they each had two cups of Saki, not wanting to ruin their desert.

Renkotsu stood up and bowed. "I'm taking my leave for the night."

Naien stood up and gathered the dishes. "Jakotsu and I will handle the dishes."

Bankotsu nodded and sat back, picked up on polishing his Banryu.

When Naien and Jakotsu returned from the Kitchen, Bankotsu lay unconscious on the floor face first with a lump forming on the back of his head.

Naien gasped frantically running over to Bankotsu. "What happened?" She carefully checked him over for injuries. She failed to notice Renkotsu standing there ready to strike. Just as Renkotsu moved towards her Jakotsuou whipped between her and the fire breather.

"Damn you Renkotsu! You'll pay for what you did and for what you just tried to do," Jakotsu moved his body to act as a shield between the betrayer and the woman.

Naien frantically tried to drag the still unconscious and heavy Bankotsu out of the room as she heard Jakotsu and Renkotsu angrily arguing. Naien grabbed up a large bowl and ran into the kitchen to get some water. 'Please let him wake up before Jakotsu ends up hurt or worse.'

She tossed the cold water onto the unconscious mercenary. "Bankotsu wake your ass up already!"

Bankotsu groaned and sat up groggily, glaring at her. He registered her frightened face and Renkotsu's hate filled words at the same time.

Naien checked his eyes for signs of a possible concussion.

"Naraku ordered me to kill all of you anyways. So since you're so damned eager to go first, die Jakotsu!" he aimed and fired his shoulder cannon.

Bankotsu's eyes widened and he quickly jumped to his feet, shoving Naien away from him.

He ran into the room and saw the cannon ball blast his brother's arms off. "No Jakotsu!" The thundering of his heart roared in his ears when in slow motion he saw Renkotsu lean down and yank out Jakotsu's jewel shard.

Clenching his fists he lunged at Renkotsu full force knocking the cannon away and sent them both rolling to the ground. Bankotsu's fists ruthlessly pummeled the tar out of Renkotsu.

Bankotsu's nostrils flared as he broke the fire breather's nose, left arm and ribs. Hate filled eyes started down as an inhumane voice growled, "Die you fucking traitor!" His fingers stabbed straight into Renkotsu's neck yanking out two shards. He quickly did the same with his shoulder, yanking out the third shard.

Naien's frantic screams rent the air throughout the entire fight. She watched Bankotsu nearly crush the shards in his fist before coldly stabbing them into his wrists.

Wordlessly Bankotsu picked up the Saki bowl and drank himself into a stupor, trying desperately to forget his brother's death and the all consuming pain his loss caused.

XOXOXO:

WARNING! Lemon from here until the next warning!

Swallowing her pride and needing to ease his suffering anyway possible, Naien cautiously moved towards Bankotsu. She fell to her knees encircling his neck and cried for his pain resonated deep inside her heart.

Naien's tears hit his cheek. "Please Bankotsu don't shut me out."

Bankotsu stared at the woman clinging to his neck. "Whadchaaaaa wantttt?"

Naien silenced him with a kiss. "Let me help you forget," She kissed his jaw line seductively, trying the only way she knew how, to ease his suffering.

Bankotsu closed his eyes and concentrated on how good her hands on his chest and her soft lips kissing his jaw felt. He captured her mouth in a forceful kiss and pushed her onto her back, desperately shredding their clothes in a heated frenzy. He kissed her needing to feel something, anything but the consuming pain inside his heart.

Naien closed her eyes and gave into the sensations he was rousing in her body as he instinctively took control and played her body like a pro.

All Bankotsu could think about was losing himself inside the woman. His hands grabbed her hips and he thrust his dick inside her forcefully. He started hammering full force and grunted like an animal.

Naien clenched her jaw and closed her mind to the pain. 'I will be and do whatever he needs from me to help him.' She closed her eyes. 'I already admitted to myself a week ago that I've lost my heart to him. If giving him my body would even just for a minute relieve his suffering, then I will grin and bear it.' She clung to him desperately raking her nails down his back as he continued pounding into her, in a mix of pleasure and pain. Silent tears fell from her eyes and she kissed his neck.

One final powerful thrust sent them both toppling over the edge. She screamed out his name as her inner walls quaked around him and her heart sank.

He roared out his own release before collapsing on top of her.

Naien silently cried as he nuzzled into her chest and she ran her finger through his hair hoping to soothe him, while holding him closer to her heart. He fell into a deep sleep

Warning: End lemon!

XOXOXO:

The next morning Bankotsu awoke feeling like his head was spinning.

Naien had woken up hours ago but just lay there holding him, afraid of what would happen when he woke.

Once his head stopped spinning, his mind registered that he was lying on a naked woman's chest. He shot up, staring in shock at Naien as his mind began to slowly register everything from Renkotsu's cold cocking him and Jakotsu's murder, to his rage and getting drunk.

His eyes narrow and he ground out, "Get the fuck up and dress - now!".

Naien fought back tears as she obediently walked into their room and dressed.

Bankotsu dressed in his own clothes, grabbed Banryu and wordlessly carried his brother's body outside to give him a decent burial.

Naien silently followed. 'Jakotsu died protecting me.' Tears fell as she watched Bankotsu bury his brother with his snake sword.

Without a second thought he stood to his feet and spoke coldly. "We're leaving now," he shoved her ahead of him.

Unable to believe he was acting like such a jerk Naien spun around and glared at him. "You don't have to push you know."

Bankotsu's eyes were cold and unrelenting. "Shut the fuck up and move bitch!"

Naien gasped at the vehemence in him. She ground out, "You bastard! After I gave you my body last night you dare treat me like this?" Her eyes filled with tears that she refused to let fall.

Bankotsu sneered, "You're the one who threw yourself at me like some bitch in heat last night! Now, fucking move!" He shoved her none too gently ahead of him.

Naien shook off his hand and clenched her jaw. She turned on her heel and began storming away. 'I should have never tried to be there for him last night, nor forgotten how evil men are.' She tightened her fists so that her nails dug into the palms of her hands.

Bankotsu stormed right behind her turning over all of last night's events in his mind.

Naien mentally raked herself over the coals, both for what happened to Jakotsu and with Bankotsu.

They came across a village. "We're stopping there for the night."

'I am not speaking to the bastard.' Naien clenched her teeth. Since about an hour ago he'd begun to start calming down and started trying to get her to talk to him. She flat out gave him the cold shoulder, angry about what he'd said and how he'd treated her.

Bankotsu ground his teeth as he walked into the inn behind her. "Inn keeper, get us a room." After the man passed him a key Bankotsu led her over to a table to wait for their food.

Naien silently stood up and moved a few feet away, trying to calm down.

Bankotsu sat at the table and watched her while waiting for their food and his Saki to arrive.

Naien sighed and stood there staring off to nowhere. Her stomach was churning with guilt over what happened with Jakotsu. 'I'm not sure I'll even be able to hold anything down.' Her hand lay on her stomach.

A villager had been eying the beauty and decided to try to find out what had her so obviously upset.

Bankotsu growled low in his chest as he watched the man talking to Naien. 'That fucker better not try anything.' His hand balled into a fist on his thigh.

When the man bent down to kiss Naien's cheek, Bankotsu stood up with Banryu poised to attack. "Get the fuck away from her!" he roughly shoved Naien back.

She fell to the floor. 'What was that for?' She stared up and her face paled and her eyes widened. 'Oh no.'

Bankotsu glared hatefully at the man and lowered Banryu in one fluid motion, destroying not only the man who'd dared to touch what belonged to him, but the entire inn as well.

Naien threw up her arms and screamed as the debris rained down around them.

Bankotsu spun around and demanded irately, "What fucking part of you are mine, don't you understand bitch?" His hand snatched her up and yanked her to her feet, pulling her to his chest. "You fucking belong to me, like it or not! And if you ever let another man touch you in any way, I'll make sure that you don't fucking forget it!"

The smoldering blue eyes and the tightly clenched jaw were all trademarks that she recognized as pure anger.

'I have had enough of his shit!' Naien's hand rose into the air and lowered, sending a vicious slap across his burning face. "Fuck you Bankotsu! You treat me like that again and I'll fucking leave, curse or no curse."

Naien defiantly demanded, "Just who do you think you are, anyway?" Sending him the hardest glare she'd ever worn.

Bankotsu stepped close to her, purposefully invading her personal space, challenging her idea of equality. "I'm the only man who is going to keep you safe. I'm the only man who is ever going to fuck you anywhere, anytime, any way we both need or want it." His nostrils flared like a raging bull. "More importantly, Naien, I'm the man who is going to kill anyone who threatens you. So you can damn well obey me!"

For a moment she just stood there opening and closing her mouth like a fish. After the shock wore off, she regained her fury at his treatment. Her eyes practically glowed with pure fury and her hand connected with his cheek again "You're not going to treat me like a dammed possession, or worse a fucking whore, to be used whenever you want and tossed away when you don't!" She instantly spun her back to him. 'I'm too angry to even look at him right now!'

Bankotsu's eyes widened in disbelief as his hand slowly went to his enflamed cheek and her words sunk in. He glared at her before realizing that she was shaking and hugging her waist.

Bankotsu went to reach for her, but she instantly moved away from him, refusing to even look at him as she continued trying to vainly hold back her tears. Bankotsu moved to touch her again. This time his voice was almost tender. "Naien, I - "

She again moved from his reach before he could even connect his fingers to her shoulder.

Tossing Banryu roughly to the ground, he snagged her waist and forcefully spun her to face him. She refused to look at him and tried to free herself from his hold, as tears streamed down her face.

"Damnit, look at me Naien! Don't you ever fucking slap me as if I'm an insolent child again," He forced her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his eyes. He flinched visibly at the pure fury that blazed in her eyes.

Feeling contrite Bankotsu sighed heavily. "Look Jaky - "

Naien's' eyes narrowed into slits. "Don't you fucking think I already know? He died trying to protect me. It's something that will haunt me for the rest of my fucking life." She forcefully shoved him away and slipped out of his hold. Without a thought she started running away from him.

Cursing himself for a fool as the full realization of how he'd treated her finally sunk in, he sped off after her and caught her. "Naien, listen to me."

She began fighting him off, causing them both to tumble to the ground. She kicked free from him and went to run away again, not even bothering to fight her tears anymore.

Bankotsu grabbed her leg sending her back to the ground and pinned her beneath him, waiting until she ceased struggling against him and started bawling. Bankotsu cupped her face tenderly and spoke tenderly. "I'm sorry," He gave her the first heartfelt apology he'd ever given anyone.

She hissed angrily, "Fucking everyone's sorry. Fucking every man who touches me treats me like shit and you say you're sorry!" Anger and resentment filled her eyes.

Bankotsu flinched and clenched his jaw as her words rent the air.

"You're all alike, every fucking one of you," She tried to fight him off again.

'Baka,' Guilt seeped into his soul as he realized exactly what he'd done. He calmly held her down until she again ceased her struggles and finally gave up, turning her face away from him. A sob tore from her lips and tears streamed from her eyes.

Bankotsu gently turned her head to stare deeply into her eyes. "I'm sorry Naien; you didn't deserve any of this. Not what they did and not my own baka things I've done," His voice filed with remorse at the last part.

She closed her eyes and refused to stare into his sorrow filled eyes.

Bankotsu sighed and moved to sit up beside her, as he hung his head. 'After I promised not to I went and hurt her like the others. She's got every reason to despise men.'

Naien sat up and stared at him confused and still hurting.

Bankotsu said in a voice filled with mixed emotions, "Don't blame yourself for Jakotsu's death. Naien, he chose to protect you because he knew how important you'd become, to both of us." He lowered his head to his knees. 'Way to go Bank. I wouldn't be surprised if she hates your guts now, baka.'

Naien sat there silently for what seemed an eternity, but in reality was only a few agonizing minutes. She sighed heavily and spoke calmly. "Look I understand you're still dealing with the death of your brother, but that was no reason to treat me like that," There was an unmistakable lash in her tone, which he flinched under.

Naien took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. "We'd better get going if we expect to find someplace safe for the night." She rose to her feet slowly.

Bankotsu blinked, unable to believe his ears. He looked up at her standing tall as the night breeze began blowing her hair under the bright moonlight. She was staring at the stars breathing deep breaths.

"Does this mean you'll stay? Am I…" He rubbed his sweaty palms against the outer thighs of his hakamas. 'Does this means she forgives me?' His heart fluttered in his chest and for the first time in his life his stomach felt like there were butterflies in it.

She replied wryly, "It's not like I could leave, even if I wanted to."

His face fell. 'Oh right that damned curse.'

As if sensing his thoughts, Naien clarified, "It's not the curse keeping me here Bankotsu. It's because - " She took a deep breath and finished softly, "because I genuinely like you and I want to be here for you."

She sighed heavily and placed her hand on her stomach. 'I can't believe I almost blurted out my feelings for him. The last thing I need is him becoming even more possessive of me.' Her breath hitched. 'And if he ever found out my true feelings, he'd never let me go.'

She added softly, "You're forgiven, just this once," before she started to walk away.

Bankotsu blinked and then smiled. 'Thank goodness! For a minute, I'd thought I'd lost her. Now how to make it up to her and prove my sincerity'" He followed her giving her a quick hug. "Thank you." He went to retrieve Banryu.

They walked side by side in silence for the next few hours before stopping to rest. Neither slept that night, just lightly napped.

A/N that's chapter thirteen, hope you enjoyed it! :D