Enjoy!

My name is Mori. I am fifteen and a half years old.

I'm on Hakureizan, because Bankotsu sent me off of the island as soon as InuYasha, his opponent, arrived on the island.

I didn't mind being away from him.

Bankotsu had been a real jerk to me these past few days, saying that he was sick of my frequent absence, tired of my complaining, and through with having me around.

So, I went and raised my voice, telling him that, if he was so sick of me, I would leave, and find something else to do with my time.

Of course, I didn't really mean this. I was just blowing off steam that I had kept to myself since I joined him.

Now, I was really angry at him. And I was also angry at myself for having yelled at him like I did.

I had probably destroyed whatever trust I had managed to build up between us. Which made me even angrier at him, because he had snapped at me in the first place, then angrier at me because I left him nearly every day... Well, things are in a bit of a mess, and I was so angry, I was trying to study to calm myself.

But, no matter which of my books I was reading, I found a word that made me think about Bankotsu, and got myself angry again.

I threw my last hope of reading back into my bag.

"Jerk!" I said. "Geez! I told him that I was devoted to releasing him from Naraku! Why'd he have to snap at me? As though I hadn't told him I would need to travel around to train! Bastard!"

All of a sudden, as I thought about pounding Bankotsu, I felt sick.

"Stupid barrier. Just when I want to be angry!" I said.

I flew down off of the mountain, and out of the barrier, and unleashed the full of my violent thoughts.

I let my gaze fall to the ground bellow, and saw the clouds above me.

"Mori, slow down!" Hasume screamed over the roaring winds.

I rolled my eyes, and flipped over to watch the sky.

"Why does he infuriate me so?" I asked. "So many others have made me mad. I've never been so furious over something so trifle! Am I becoming angrier by hanging out with him?"

I could already hear his condescending tone, asking why I was bothered by such little things, and telling me to get back to work.

"Ooh! I'll pulverize him!" I said, flipping back over.

There was no time to stop when I saw that purple object in front of me.

I slammed into it, and went rolling across the ground.

A boulder stopped me, and I fell on my side.

"Ow!" I moaned.

I opened my eyes, and saw Jakotsu trying to get up.

He looked at me, and glared. "Wench! What's the big idea?" He snapped.

I fought to sit up.

Hasume came to me. "I told you to slow down!" She said. "Now, look what you've done!"

"Not the time!" I said.

Jakotsu stood up, and came toward me.

I struggled to get up. I had only managed to sit up before Jakotsu was right on top of me.

He grabbed me by my hair, and lifted me up.

Despite the pain, I was fighting to get free.

"Are you trying to tear your hair out?" Jakotsu asked. "Quit squirming, wench!"

I didn't stop. I kept trying to pry his fingers from my hair, and push him away.

I was vaguely aware of him lifting me and lowering me, with a frustrated look on his face.

"Stand up!" Jakotsu snapped.

This got my attention. I slowly put my feet on the ground.

Jakotsu released me.

"What're you doing out here? You should be on Hijiri island, with Aniki." He said.

I frowned. "He snapped at me. I snapped back." I said. "One thing led to another... I was trying to work off some anger when I bumped into you."

Jakotsu made a face of annoyance. "Oh." He said. "If it's something like that..."

He started away. I remembered that he was supposed to be with Suikotsu.

"Jakotsu-nii-san!" I called.

He froze for a moment, before looking back at me.

"Where's Suikotsu-nii-san?" I asked.

His face became a little sad. "He was killed." Jakotsu said. "Some Miko purified his shard, and he had a sappy final speech before the Miko went to take his shard. I took it first, of course."

I felt a bit sad myself. "I'm sorry." I said. "I wasn't thinking when I brought it up."

I flapped my wings once to straighten them, and began to hover.

"Hey." Jakotsu said.

I looked down at him. Jakotsu was silent for a moment.

"What's that on your fingers?" He asked.

I looked at my fingers, blushed, and tried to cover them.

"Uhhh..." I said. "Well... every so often... when I'm feeling just a little bit feminine... I paint my finger nails..."

I had painted my finger nails silver while trying to get over Bankotsu, earlier. I didn't really think I'd come across anyone who'd notice.

"With what?" Jakotsu asked.

"Well, paint. Made specifically for painting nails." I said.

Jakotsu was the one blushing now, looking a bit reluctant.

"Where can I get some of this paint?" Jakotsu asked.

Was he interested? Did he want his nails painted, too?

I felt just a little less embarrassed, as I looked over at Hasume, who was picking up my back pack, and it's contents.

"Hasu-chan, pass me my nail polish." I said.

"Think fast!" Hasume said.

She flung a little silver bottle over her shoulder, toward me.

I caught it. "Would you like me to paint your nails for you?" I asked.

Jakotsu was very reluctant, and becoming redder in the face.

Fifteen minutes later...

Jakotsu was looking at his fingers, seeming pleased with the color.

I smiled, putting the cap back on the bottle of nail polish, and putting it back in my bag.

"Maybe you aren't so bad... for a woman, that is..." Jakotsu said.

I felt a strange warmth in my chest.

"It's nice to hear you say that, Jakotsu-nii-san." I said.

Before I knew it, we were talking.

Jakotsu was really easy to talk to. Even though he liked to talk about men and killing.

"I really like the manly, boy-faced types." Jakotsu said. "I love to watch their eyes glisten with fear before I slaughter them."

I shivered for the fifth time in the past two minutes.

"What about you? Have you got a preference in men, at least?" Jakotsu asked.

I gave that a bit of thought. "I've never really thought about any preferences." I said. "I never hung around a whole lot of people when I was growing up. So, I don't really know what type of man I might like?"

"Eh? Really? No details at all?" Jakotsu asked.

I thought back to when I visited Hana. John Thatcher had kissed me, and made me feel weird.

What was he like?... Dirty blonde hair... green eyes... pale skin... just a little taller than me...

I shook my head. A couple more faces crossed my mind, and, of all of them, the one that stuck to my mind was Bankotsu's.

I glared at my feet, at first.

Then, I remembered when he promised to protect me. My heart began to speed up.

The day we met crossed my mind. He had fought me so well, and had nearly defeated me so many times afterward. That thrilled me. He was the perfect opponent. Whether in combat, or a verbal disagreement. I had never enjoyed fighting someone so much... I never enjoyed being so completely angry at someone... I had never felt so completely... me, around anyone.

"Wow..." I said. "I'm a very lively person... when I'm with him..."

Hasume floated just a little closer to me, looking very surprised.

I knew what she was thinking. And, thinking about Bankotsu one more time, I realized it.

"Nope. No preferences in men." I lied.

"Really? All that thought, and you don't like any kind of guy?" Jakotsu asked.

I tried to shake my head 'no'. But, I couldn't move.

I could feel my face becoming red. "I'm not supposed to." I said. "I swore on my father's grave that no man would ever distract me in that way. I didn't realize that a man that made me so mad would be the one to move me toward breaking that promise."

I shook my head, grabbing my bag as I stood up.

"Sorry to keep you for so long!" I said. "I should've been more careful while flying! I've got to get back to training, now, so, see ya, Jakotsu-nii-san!"

I began hovering. "Yeah... see ya... Mori-imouto." Jakotsu said.

I smiled at him, and took to the skies, heading for Hijiri island.

Once I was high enough, I frowned, and sped off.

"Mori!" Hasume called. "I didn't even say anything yet! You don't have any reason to be angry!"

I stopped, abruptly, and Hasume bumped into my back.

Tears of frustration streamed down my face. There was so much emotion building up inside me, I didn't know what to do.

"It's not you!" I said. "It never would've been you! It's him... and me... Why is it him? I hate him! He's so mean, he's never even said my name! And why me? I'm supposed to be above this! I've been fine up until now! Why am I falling for someone now?"

I began to sob. I had never been this emotional before. I had never had a reason to.

Hasume put her hand on my shoulder. "Mori... Are you absolutely sure?" Hasume asked.

I tried to raise my head, sniffling before I spoke. "He's really cool." I said. "He... He promised to protect me, even when we were perfect strangers. He's... really fun to argue with. He's a skilled warrior, and I enjoyed our battles. He saved my life twice. He makes me so mad, and I hate him at times, but, in the end, I've always enjoyed fighting with him. And when he called me Imouto... I felt really good. I love Bankotsu. I'm sure I do."

As soon as I said that, a huge weight was lifted off of me.

"You make him sound so great." Hasume said. "Are you sure it's him?"

I nodded slowly, beginning to calm down.

"Yeah." I said. "Even as bad as he's been to me, he's been equally good. And better to me than most anyone I've known."

Hasume sighed. "You realize you're falling for someone who's hard to get? And he's a killer. He enjoys that occupation." Hasume said. "He may kill you."

"That's already in the agreement." I said. "I'll gladly die for him. And why try to be with someone who's easy to get? There's no satisfaction in earning an easy person's affections."

"You don't know how to flirt or anything." Hasume said.

"That will be a bit of a problem..." I said. "But, then, there are other ways to gain affection."

I began to fly toward Hijiri island once more.

"But, right now, I haven't the time." I said. "I have to save his life first. And I think I know just how to do it!"

I flew back to Hijiri island.

When I got there, all I found were signs of a nasty battle. It wasn't long before I found Bankotsu's presence, though... all the way back on Hakureizan.

So, I flew back there, and soon found him. He wasn't happy with my presence, but, after several apologies, he let me carry him around Hakureizan, to see how the others were doing...

Good night nurse, this took forever to write! And it's way longer than I intended it to be! I apologize for that much! Please, review!