Eeek! I've been waiting to do this for MONTHS now! I've been so excited for this chapter! Enjoy!
I wasn't sure what to do in that moment.
Bankotsu had found me, somehow, and, for whatever reason, he's decided to kiss me.
I'd never actually been kissed before. No man was ever good enough for me to get that close to.
I'd never actually seen a kiss before, either. What little I knew about kissing was what my mother'd told me so many years ago.
She never gave me an example as to what a kiss looked like.
But, she did say something of interest to me back then.
When one does decide to kiss someone... that someone is considered very precious to the person who kisses them.
So, this was very strange, and shocking to me. Bankotsu considered me to be very precious to him? I was almost sure he hated me.
But, then... all those times he protected me... the fact that he hadn't killed me, even though he'd threatened me so many times... and he seemed to value my abilities, as he called on me for so much, then... I meant something to him.
And now that I could see that... he meant a lot to me, as well.
That knowing brought about a strange new fear... I didn't want him to know how I felt yet... It felt so nice to value him the way that I did, but, I wasn't ready to tell him how I felt. He might get all big-headed, and take advantage of me.
Since I didn't have the space to move away, I waited for Bankotsu to release me.
It was quite a little while before he finally loosened his grip on my wrists, and backed up.
He looked down at me with a very solemn expression.
My breath hitched; as I noticed his eyes as though it was the first time I'd ever seen them.
His deep, night-sky blue eyes gazed at me with emotions I'd never known before. These emotions were beautiful, and beckoned me toward him. I wanted to know what they were. I wanted to know how I could feel them, too. I wanted to know.
He blinked once, and brought his eyes down as he placed both of my wrists in one of his hands.
I followed his gaze.
He reached his free hand into his haori, and pulled out some kind of a package.
"I gotcha somethin'." Bankotsu said.
I looked back up at him, further surprised by his kind gesture.
Very slowly, he released my hands.
I did not move them from their spot against the tree right away, though.
I was trying to decide what to do first.
On one hand, I wanted to take the package. I hadn't gotten any gifts in so terribly long, and I wondered what Bankotsu would've gotten me.
On the other, my arms wanted to wrap around his neck, and pull me closer to him. He was more incredible than anything he could possibly give me... somehow.
And, off on the third hand that sprouted from my back, I wanted to fight. He would still kill me if he found out... now, maybe he wouldn't find out from me. But, with all the talking youkai around, eventually, he would find out.
My body began to ache from sitting still for too long. Particularly my spine, which was still healing from that fall I'd taken.
I brought my arms down, and gently reached forward, watching him carefully.
As I took hold of that package, Bankotsu gave me a small nod, telling me it was alright to take it, as he let go of it.
Bankotsu allowed me some space as I opened that package.
To my surprise, I found the contents were brightly colored, and glittering in the sun light.
I removed the cloth covering it, marveling at the beautiful set of armor Bankotsu had just given me.
"Not many people know about this, because not many people can get close to insect youkai." Bankotsu said. "But, not all of them are the dull colors of the forest that they appear to be. It's just camoflage. Scrub at it long enough, and it comes off. I got you the stronger stuff, in case you get cornered again."
He leaned back against a tree, folding his arms, and crossing his legs as he usually would have.
I looked over at him.
Had anyone else given me this gift, I probably wouldn't have looked at them.
But, since it was him, it was probably best that I looked at him while I asked:
"How do I get this on?"
Bankotsu raised his head.
"Really? All that hype about knowing how to dress yourself, and you can't put armor on?" He asked.
I scowled at him. "Like I would've dressed myself in armor!" I said. "I'm a princess! Armor has never been a necessity for me! Besides, this is built differently. I've never seen armor quite like this."
Bankotsu sighed, and came toward me.
I winced as he snatched the biggest piece from my hands, and walked around behind me.
He wrapped it around me, and began tugging at it irately.
I stood there, trying to seem calm, just grunting at the force of his yanking on the strings of the armor.
With Bankotsu's help, I was soon wearing my new armor, and feeling rather... pleased, with it.
Despite being wary of Bankotsu, I was happy with this gift he'd given me.
He seated himself on the ground beside me, and I looked at him.
"Back on the island, you used an attack." Bankotsu said. "Something similar to youkai magic. Now, I know yer not a youkai. You'd have done better at fighting me before. So, what are you? Hanyou? Mahoutsukai?"
That attack... it was the power of my Shikon no kakera. I didn't want to die... but, after the sincerity he'd just shown me, I couldn't lie to him, either.
This never would've bothered me before. I would've lied to his face without a second thought if I hadn't come to tolerate him so well...
I cast my eyes off in the other direction, feeling new tears coming. I was scared for my life... but also scared that this would put some kind of a rift between us.
"Why... why does it matter?" I asked.
"I don't wanna take ya into battle, thinking yer some kind of power house, and find out yer not as strong as I thought." Bankotsu said simply.
That's all? He only wants to know so that he doesn't give me a job that I can't handle?
I lowered my head, not entirely sure of myself just yet.
"B... Bankotsu..." I said.
I heard him stand. "Am I right?" Bankotsu asked. "Yer not human?"
"No, I am human." I said. "I just... don't want to say..."
"Say what?" Bankotsu asked.
My hands found their way up to my face... I didn't start doing this until I'd been with the Shichinintai for a few days.
I suppose I was trying to protect myself... while I was hurting inside.
Bankotsu reached out, grabbed a hold of my face, and tried to pull me to look at him.
I jerked out of his grip, and stepped back, allowing him to step in front of me again.
"I can't read your mind, stupid brat!" Bankotsu snapped. "If you can't say what's your deal is, I won't know!"
That did it. I'm so tired of that...
"STOP CALLING ME A BRAT!" I shrieked. "I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU I HAVE YOUR FREAKIN' JEWEL SHARD SO GIVE ME A BREAK YOU BASTARD!"
I gasped at myself, at first shocked by the language I'd just used. I had always been taught against language, no matter who I was learning from. This was a bit of a new, and disturbing experience.
Then, I realized what I said.
The weight already resting on my shoulders was now heavier than it'd ever been, and was tempting me to sink to the ground, and cry in absolute self-pity, and horror.
Bankotsu stared at me. I stared at him.
Tears came to my eyes, and I found no reason to hide them this time.
My swords were gone. I couldn't fight if I tried. He was standing within an arm's reach of me, so, it would be all too easy for him to take the shard, and run.
I let out one small sob, and raised my head.
"Just take it already!" I said. "I have never deserved this second chance at life, anyway. I wish you the best of luck in keeping yours!"
Bankotsu lowered his gaze to my neck, and raised his hand.
I closed my eyes tightly, ready to bear the pain of his fingers digging into my neck, and ripping the shard out.
His fingers lightly grazed my neck, and he froze.
"So, that's how it is?" came a voice.
I opened my eyes, and turned to look around.
A creature wrapped in baboon skin was just a little ways' away, watching us.
My shard was tingling like never before. My body was frozen with absolute horror.
"You've found the shard, and you've known where it was the whole time." The creature spoke in a taunting tone. "However, instead of taking it, like I expected you to, you've been protecting the bearer, letting her keep the shard. Why is this? Such an infamous mercenary like you... You couldn't possibly care for her?"
A shock ran through me in the next second, as I was jerked back.
I fell to the ground, watching as Bankotsu ripped through that creature with Banryuu.
The creature turned into bits of thick vines, and moss.
Bankotsu was not calming down, though.
He jerked me up in a second, by my hand this time, and started running.
Try as I might to stop him, or ask where we were going, nothing made him stop, or look back.
Terrified, and unsure, I allowed him to drag me on through the forest, still unclear as to what had just gone on...
Youkai - Monster / Demon.
Hanyou - Half-Demon.
Mahoutsukai - Magic User.
Loved this chapter! So much more drama than I originally planned, but, I loved it! It SO works! Please, review!