I disclaim ownership of InuYasha and all associated characters. Credit goes to Rumiko Takahashi, respectively.

Uh, sorry guys. But last weekend was Lollapalooza. I hadn't even so much as thought about a computer from Thursday night until the following Monday afternoon. ^^; If you don't know what Lollapalooza is, you should! Google it. It was great. Now, time to shed a little more light on Jakotsu, yes?

Consider Yourself

Chapter 14

She's No Good

After extensive, intense persuasion that went on for a week, Jakotsu finally managed to get Bankotsu to go somewhere with him. They hadn't had any one-on-one time in what felt like years, and Jakotsu felt the need to do something about it. After his attempt to coax Bankotsu into going to an AA meeting flopped, he settled on just inviting him out for a meal. He was willing to settle; for now. He told himself that even though they weren't doing AA, Bankotsu at least needed someone with some sense to talk to him, and Jakotsu was more than willing to be that person. They sat in the back of a long, dimly-lit restaurant, on either side of a small table. They had already ordered beverages, and were waiting for their orders to arrive when Jakotsu decided to break the ice.

"I'm glad you came. So...you've been eluding me recently."

Bankotsu glanced at him between scanning the restaurant's decorated walls. "You gave me enough hell about it; and I see you at work. That's gotta count for something."

Jakotsu quirked an eyebrow. "Hardly. I'm your boss there, not your friend. So, tell me. Have you talked to your brother recently? How is he doing?"

"I talk to him about as much as I get straight As," Bankotsu replied.

Jakotsu returned his sarcasm, replying, "Nice brotherly-love there."

"He's still stuck on Kikyo, so I leave him alone. There's only so much convincing I can do. I gave up trying to let him see the light a while ago."

"Sounds like me concerning you-the convincing part, at least...but that Mami girl you've got latched onto you is so unbecoming."

"What, you don't like Manami?" Bankotsu asked incredulously, eyes widened in mock disbelief.

Jakotsu took the opportunity to let loose a smidgen of the distaste he held for the girl. In a dry, accusing tone, he said, "No, I don't. She's not good enough for you. I mean, what is she even doing with her life, anyway?"

"Hey. She's getting better grades than me, y'know. She's still in art school. Doing tattoo work on the side. She's got artist-type stuff all over the apartment."

Jakotsu shot him a wary glare. "She better not try anything on you."

"Oh, she tries tons on me!" Bankotsu replied with a laugh.

Jakotsu reached over the table to swat at Bankotsu's arm with a frown. "Shut up, idiot, I was talking about tattoos."

With an impish grin, Bankotsu asked, "I know. You're not still stuck on me, are you?"

Jakotsu rolled his eyes and stirred his water with a straw. "Seriously. I liked you that way years ago. I know you're not gay. My dating pool is not that parched. Yours, on the other hand..."

Bankotsu laughed again. "Will she ever be 'good enough' in your eyes?"

Jakotsu only stared at him before replying, "No."

"Then you're lucky I'm not taking her seriously," Bankotsu said frankly.

Jakotsu blinked. "...Does she know this?"

Bankotsu shrugged and took a long swig from his glass. "Uh, I think she wants something serious...but there's no way in hell I'm getting into that with her, and she knows that."

Jakotsu sighed, shook his head, then propped his chin on his palm. "Oh God...not only is she stupid, but she's naive, too. She doesn't mind being used? I mean, has she no shame?"

"I don't really think she cares as long as I'm around. Staying with her gives me a place to sleep and drink that's not Suikotsu's," he replied. When their beverages were brought to the table, one of them being non-alcoholic, respectively, he continued, "I'm not hindered when I'm with her."

Reaching to stir his drink with his straw, Jakotsu mumbled, "What an enabling bitch."

A/N: This chapter was written using prompt #14 - Judgement from The Original List of Themes, created by #100ThemeWriters on DeviantArt.