The next morning, I woke up feeling like what happened the day before between Bankotsu and I was a wonderful dream. Did that really happen? Was I now engaged to Bankotsu? It all seemed too good to be true. I rolled over to my other side to face the man I loved. He was sound asleep and looked so relaxed and at ease. Bankotsu was really cute when he was sleeping, although, I'd never tell him that. I propped my elbow on my pillow and laid my head in my hand as I reached over and started to play with his lose, black hair. His hair was so silky and soft. Even softer than mine. I smiled to myself as I though about how happy we were going to be as husband and wife. Not to mention how pretty our kids would be. Just then, Bankotsu started to move a little. He opened his eyes and looked at me very sleepily. I greeted him with a huge smile. "Good morning Bankotsu." He smiled back.

"Yawn Good morning Nieci." He leaned over and gave me a kiss. He then reached up and began to caress my cheek with his hand. "Sleep well?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Did you dream about me?" I smiled as I shook my head. "Aww pity. I had a dream about you."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah."

"What happened?"

"Well, I don't remember exactly, but I can remember you saying, 'Oh Bankotsu!' a lot." My face turned like five shades of red. I reached up and smacked him on the arm. He laughed out loud. One good thing about me becoming his wife is that he'd never bore me with his silly self. He gave me another quick peck before he got out of bed. He went to the closet and pulled out his kimono top and pants and his armor. "I'm about to go to the bath house. You comming?" I turned my eyes to the floor as I shook my head. He smirked as he walked back over and sat on the bed. He cupped my chin in my hand and lifted up my head so we were eye to eye. "Nieci, I love you so much and we're about to be married. And when two people love each other like we do, its okay if they do things like that together. I know you're still concerned about being with me after what all that son of a bitch, Hari, did to you, but I promise you that I won't handle your body so carelessly. I love you so much and I want you to feel good, but how can I do that if you won't let me touch you?"

"...I'm sorry Bankotsu...I...I just don't think that I can handle it yet."

"That's fine. I'll wait, but not for much longer. Okay?" I nodded my head, shying away from his eyes. He then stood back up and walked out of the room. I fell back into the pillows and stared up at the ceiling in deep thought. He was right. If we were going to have kids and have a healthy marriage, I was going to have to make love to him sometime. But still the thought of the action repulses me. I love Bankotsu, but I can't sleep with him. I just can't.

After me and the rest of the Band of Seven had gotten dressed, we decided to go and pay Hari a little visit at his castle before he could find us. After I was able to stop Jakotsu's sword, I was confident that I would be able to handle anything that Hari sent my way. I was going to wreak havoc upon the castle where I used to live and today was the day that I was going to bring Hari down once and for all.

"So what's the plan when we get here?" Jakotsu asked as we walked down the road, towards the castle.

"Well, Hari belongs to Nieci, so we'll leave him alone if he's there, but the rest are free game. Kill as many as you please," Bankotsu said.

"Hmph. You don't have to tell me twice," Suikotsu said, "I've been over due for a nice blood bath." I rolled my eyes. Suikotsu was so sadistic. He always was the most blood thirsty one in the Band of Seven. He didn't care who he had to kill, it was all in good fun to him. My main concern, however, was Hari. Hari was one of those people who needs to be taught a lesson before he can learn. His lesson was going to be death. I was going to personally make sure of it.

We had finally arrived at the woods near the castle. Like Bankotsu and I had done that night, all four of us crouched low in the bushes devising up an attack strategy.

"Here's the deal, Nieci and I are going to go in the castle in order to search for Lord Minamoto. You and Suikotsu take care of any outside opposition. After you two have defeated anybody who comes your way, meet up with us inside the castle okay?"

"What do you think? Let's get this show on the road," Jakotsu cried out. Bankotsu smirked back.

"Alright then. Everyone ready?" We all nodded as we got into position, ready to do a running attack. "Let's go!" We all ran out of the bushes and bum rushed the entrance of the castle. The guards instantly became defensive as they saw us running towards them. As to be expected, the number of guards that guarded the castle had more than tripled, but still, they were no match for us.

"951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956," Bakotsu counted as he proceeded to kill six guards before he had made it into the castle. I killed two myself before I caught up with him. "We're going!" Bankotsu yelled to Suikotsu and Jakotsu before we entered the castle doors.

Bankotsu and I walked back to back as we slowly made our way down various halls of the castle. We were constantly on our toes, for we knew Hari's sneaky ways all too well. After several minutes of searching, we didn't come across anybody. We decided to split up to cover more ground. I took the top floor and Bankotsu took the bottom. We'd meet up on the middle floor. As quickly as I could, I ascended two flights of stairs until I was on the third floor of the dark castle. I held the chain of my weapon tight in my hands as one by one, I kicked down each door, looking for Hari. Each time, the room was empty. Something wasn't right. Usally, Hari would leave a couple of advisors home in order to make sure that everything in the castle was running smoothly. I had yet to come across a single one. After breaking down each door on the top floor, I had finally come to the last room. Like I had done with the others, I kicked that door down too, but as soon as I did, Sasuke Fujima came running out with a long katana in his hands. I quickly jumped to the side before the blade could pierce me and Fujima stopped himself before he ran into the brick wall. He then turned around to face me with an ice cold smirk on his lips. I smirked back, mocking him.

"Fujima. Have you come for your revenge?"

"You already know. That night when we first battled, you made me look like a fool. But now I'm ready for you."

"Hmph. What a pest you are. I should have killed you on the first night, then I wouldn't have to be bothered with you when I'm searching for your lord. This time, I shall not make the same mistake."

"Ku ku ku. You really do believe that you are a member of the Band of Seven, Nieci. You are dilusional."

"No such thing. I i am /i a member of the Band of Seven. I am Fukushuukotsu, the fighter who is determined to get her revenge on all who let me needlessly suffer. You watched day in and day out as my uncle continually abused me. Yet you did nothing to stop him. So don't expect me to have mercy on you."

"I don't need you to have mercy on me, for you will be dead anyways."

"Oh yeah? Try it." Fujima positioned himself in a stance ready to attack me and I put on a defenive stance. His eyes ran over me as he looked me from head to toe analyzing me. Trying to see if he could read my actions. Bankotsu had taught me long ago not to let my opponent be able to read me as I fought, so I didn't show any signs of what I planned to do. Fujima finally gave up and rushed towards me with the blade. He brought it down in a downward strike, but I held it off with the chain of my weapon. I then kicked him hard in the stomach, causing him to double over. While he was bent, I brought my knee to his face. When he jerked back up from the second strike, I connected my right fist with his left cheek. He staggered backward against the wall. I then swung one of my weights at him, but he moved before the ball hit his face. The impact left a small dent in the wall. Fujima tried to regain his composure as he wiped the blood away that was trickling down his nose.

"Audacious wench!" he snapped.

"Dirty bastard," I snapped back. Fujima let out a low growl as he came after me again with the sword. I doged the blade, but somehow ended up getting cut anyway. I stared down at my arm that was now oozing out blood wondering how in the hell I got hit when I dodged the razor sharp blade. Then I looked back up at the smirking Fujima. His katana had now become a double bladed sword. One at each end. So that was it. I smirked at him, not letting him see that his cut had hurt.

"Leave it to one of you advisors to pull such a low down, dirty trick."

"Low down? Ha! All is fair in the game of life and death. Call it what you want, but you would do the same thing."

"No I wouldn't. You see, I'm so confident in my skills, that I don't need to stoop to such trickery. Do as you please, in the end I'll still be victorious."

"I shall put an end to that arrogance of yours. Believe that!" He came after me, spinning the new double bladed katana in a circular motion in front of him. Lucky for me, my meteor hammer was a long distance weapon as I sent the ball flying into his chest again. Fujima was unable to avoid my strike for I had sent the weapon at him with great speed. As it connected with his chest, Fujima was not able to continue the spinning motion of his sword. I then resent the weapon at him and wrapped it around one of the blades. I jerked the chain back and the katana flew over my head and landed a few feet behind me. Fujima then began to have a look of fear on his face for he knew that he was completely vunerable to me. Blood flowing from his chest and mouth. He looked like a defeated man. Then he did something I didn't expect. He dropped to his knees and began to beg for forgiveness.

"Please Nieci I beg of you. If I had known that there was anyway for me to stop Lord Minamoto I would have. I didn't want to see you abused, but I was afraid. Please spare me Nieci. I beg of you."

"Ha ha! You expect me to believe that?! You enjoyed my suffering and you know damn well that's the truth. I told you earlier that I will show no mercy towards you and I ALWAYS keep my promise. I shall now use you as an example for my uncle. Sasuke Fujima. Rot in hell!" I then swung my weapon and it came crashing into his skull. He was dead before he hit the ground. As I stared at the man before me lying in a pool of his own blood, I felt no remorse for killing him. It was then and there that I had realized that I was truly an assassin now. And I truly was living up to the Kasugi name.