A/N: Okay, so I think I did okay this time. A few weeks isn't so bad, right? Okay, yes it is… -cries- leave me alone! Lol Okay, okay, that's enough. Now, I said in the last chapter's A/N that I was going to have The Shichinitai and Inutachi meet up in this one, but I'm sorry. I decided to change it up a bit. Now don't bet on it, because another idea will probably come my way, but they should meet up in the chapter after this. I already have their meeting planned out in my head it's just the fact of putting in things that have to be put in before it happens and typing it. Okay, enough talking. Happy Reading!
Summary- Kagome is kidnapped by the band of seven because of her power to sense the jewel shards. With Koga and Inuyasha searching for her, can she really fall in love?
Warnings- Language
P.S. This chapter is not for people who believe in the forgiving, kind Bankotsu. To me, this chapter shows what he really is. What everyone's afraid to admit.
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Bankotsu was wrapped up in his own thoughts as he held Kagome through her emotional breakdown. He was wondering if she was just being emotional, like he knew all women got like, or if she had really thought he was going to leave her. If she did think that, well, she was utterly absurd*.
That was the first thing to breeze through his mind, but definitely not the last. Something he had not yet considered came next.
How exactly had she accepted him? He knew what he was. A cold-hearted, merciless, malicious, mercenary. He was proud of it too. Of course though, he knew Kagome wasn't.
He himself wondered how exactly he had come to accept her. He usually hated people like her. Forgiving, merciful, kind-hearted people. That's what she was. But some force, stronger than love even, had attracted his soul to hers. At first he had despised that force, hated it more than anything in his life. But the amount of relief and completion he felt once Kagome was his was indescribable. At that point in time, he was unconsciously grateful for the nameless force. He thanked whatever god, lord, form of nature, or whatever, that had put Kagome in his hands. Bankotsu was never a religious person.
Kagome was so beautiful. By far the most gorgeous form of life he had ever seen.
He didn't deserve her.
Was she such a forgiving person that she could forgive his form of pleasure? He had guessed so once she had said she loved him. He didn't see one bit of reluctance about her declaration.
But she didn't know.
She didn't know what he was. Not really.
He was an animal. A predator, seeking his prey. Not just any predator, a cruel, malicious one. He loved putting people through agony. It was literally fun to him. He enjoyed it.
She just happened to be his love. If she wasn't, she would be locked up in that room right now, probably being raped by Mukotsu. He would've beaten her if she annoyed him the slightest bit. But once again, that omnipresent force of something had stopped him from doing those things, or letting them happen. There was a spark of a connection from the beginning. One that he didn't notice until they're third night together. But it was still there. That was what had stopped those things from happening.
He had never known why he'd stopped Mukotsu from taking her. He had never known why he hadn't slapped her when she'd tried to escape. But he did know the outright rage he felt when he found his lecherous brother with Kagome. Bankotsu never harmed his brothers. He loved them as if they really were related. But that night had set him off. He would probably never forgive Mukotsu for that night, especially considering Kagome and his relationship. He would never forgive anyone who touched her in that way.
Bankotsu knew he lost his temper. It was that simple. He knew he had self-control issues. He knew anyone who flared his anger enough would feel his wrath.
He remembered a time when he had gotten so mad he had punched Jakotsu in the face, giving him a black eye for a week. It had been over something stupid, something he couldn't even remember. But he did remember how Jakotsu had just looked at him. Stared at him with shock and hurt. Bankotsu never hurt Jakotsu. They had a special relationship, something that could never be broken. True brothers were what they would call themselves. And not only brothers, but best friends. Jakotsu hadn't spoken to Bankotsu the rest of that day, and it had killed him inside.
Bankotsu sighed aloud and pushed the memory aside. He didn't want to remember it.
Just then he looked over something.
He loved Kagome. He wanted her to be safe, happy, loved, and taken care of. He never felt this for another human being besides Jakotsu. Sure his other brothers were a part of him; and it was a strong friendship, but not nearly as strong as what he felt for Kagome. But most of everything, he wanted Kagome to be alive.
Then it dawned on him.
If he ever lost control with her, even once, she could die. If she ever irritated him too far, he could lose her. It would never be on purpose, of course. He would think that maybe she deserved it. With one swing of his hand he could kill her. Then he could look upon his actions. He would see the fear molded into her lifeless eyes, his hands closed around her pale body. He wouldn't live if that happened. And he wouldn't let it happen.
Kagome stirred, unknowingly feeling the waves of tension roll off Bankotsu.
"What is it Bankotsu?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.
His eyes were closed, like he… well, like he had just seen Kagome murdered before his eyes.
"Bankotsu?"
"Where did you come from?" Bankotsu asked harshly, his eyes never opening.
"What?" She asked. What the hell did he mean?
"It doesn't matter. You can tell me on the way." He said, getting up. Kagome's hand locked what she thought to be an unbreakable hold on his wrist, wanting to know what was going on. He easily ripped his wrist from her clutch, taking quick strides to the bathroom.
Kagome sat up on the bed with sad and confused eyes, holding the towel to her chest. Before she had the chance to ask, Bankotsu strode back into the room, throwing the kimono and panties she was previously wearing on the bed in front of her.
"What the heck's going on Bankotsu?!" Kagome half-yelled, getting angrier by the second.
"Put it on." He ordered. She was going to make this hard.
"Not until you tell me what's going on!" She said, her eyes turning sad.
Bankotsu sighed, closing his eyes again. He opened them and looked at the beautiful face he was going to leave behind.
"You're going to tell me where you used to live before you ever met Inuyasha. I'm going to take you there and leave you were you'll be safe." He said sternly, leaving no place for objection.
But of course, Kagome found place. "What?! Y-you're coming back, right? Is there something going on?" She asked, scared out of her mind.
"No. Nothing's going on. Now get dressed." Bankotsu ordered.
"No!" She yelled, throwing the clothes at him. What the hell was he thinking?
"I. said. Put. It. On." Bankotsu said through clenched teeth.
Tears gushed over Kagome's burning cheeks. She was going to make hell for him.
"W-What are you talking about?! You don't want to… to be with me anymore? You don't love me?" She asked, fresh tears coming down like a heavy rain from her thickly-lashed eyes.
He walked over to her, pain evident in his usually amused eyes. He wiped her tears from her face, hating the way they stained her face. She should be happy. She shouldn't cry.
"You don't understand Kagome." He said, his voice and face gentler then she had ever seen it.
She hit his hand away. "What don't I understand?!" She yelled, absolutely terrified of what he would say next.
He turned his head away, the gentle expression and voice long gone. "You don't know what could happen. You don't know what could happen to you if you stayed with me." He said angrily, but calmly.
She didn't respond, just sobbed louder.
"Shut up! You should be glad I'm doing this! Don't you get it?!" He yelled at her. When she didn't do anything he decided to take this into his own hands. "Then I'll show you." He said with deadly venom in his voice.
Bankotsu walked to the edge of the bed. It had four poles. There were two on each side of the headboard and footboard, all of them thicker than both Kagome's wrists put together. It was the most expensive, ornately carved wood available. Since termites were common in the feudal era, it was also the most durable. That was why it was so expensive. Four to five people were said to be needed in the process of cutting the wood to fit into shapes, using a large saw. It was also very pretty.
"It's really beautiful, isn't it?" Bankotsu said calmly, the anger leaving his voice. He ran his fingers over the swirls carved into the pole. Kagome just continued crying.
Then, he snapped it in half with the one hand that had been tracing its patterns. The wood made a deadly cracking noise, similar to that of an arm or leg being broken.
Kagome held onto the bed for support and closed her eyes as the bed shook from the pressure.
Bankotsu didn't even look at her. He threw the heavy wood at the large window, causing the costly glass to shatter into millions of pieces. The shards rained down all over the room and Kagome covered her head and leaned down forward, trying to protect herself from the sharp bullets.
When there was silence she looked up slowly. She only saw Bankotsu's heated glare for a second. He hadn't moved from the same spot when he threw the pole.
Before she could process anything else, she was being straddled by Bankotsu, his hips on hers. Her arms were reached out either side of her, being held down by Bankotsu's own hands. The towel had fallen down to her waist, revealing her breasts to him, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Try to get up, just try!" He yelled at her furiously. But she didn't struggle; she just looked up to him, wide-eyed.
"Try to get me off you!" He yelled even louder, his bangs hanging over his eyes. His grip on her wrists tightened painfully. Sweat beaded his forehead.
Kagome did as he said and thrashed around, trying to free herself from his hold. Despite her efforts, she didn't move an inch, and soon gave up. Her hair stuck to her head from sweat. Soon, she lay still, looking up at him with those big, chocolate eyes. She was no longer crying.
"I can't." Her voice cracked, and she sounded a bit hoarse.
Bankotsu looked back at her, his glare never failing him. Then, he jumped off her, releasing her wrists and going to stand in front of the big window he had just shattered. He stood there stoically, his gaze never leaving the setting sun on the horizon.
He had meant to scare her. Maybe then she would get smart. Realize how much danger she was really in staying with him. But she didn't look scared.
She got out of the bed; the towel wrapped around her waist, and walked over to him. He didn't turn to look at her.
She hugged his chest, her head resting on it. One of the hands that were hanging at his side moved and draped around her waist gently. Then he turned face her, to look down at what was so entirely confusing him right now.
"I'm not scared of you." She whispered, looking up to him as well.
"You should be." He said in a normal voice. His gaze had turned normal, but not softened and gentle as she remembered it to be.
Bankotsu's other hand found it's way to her rosy cheek, and he rested it there.
"Don't you get it… love? One slip up and I could destroy you. One misplaced or uncontrolled movement and you could die. Don't you understand what you're getting yourself into?" He asked, half-hoping for a yes, and half-hoping for a no.
She laughed gently. "Don't you get it, love?" She paused. "You'll never hurt me. I know that. I can feel it."
He grunted and turned around, removing all holds of affection on her.
Kagome wrapped her arms around him from behind, and she felt him rest his big hands on her tiny ones. They didn't try to pull her away. She leaned her head on his back, closing her eyes.
Soon he turned around to face her, wrapping both his arms around her. Except he didn't look at her. He just stared at the sunset again, his expression still stern and harsh.
"Please, Bankotsu. Don't make me leave you." She said, her eyes turning sad again. She was looking up to his hard glare which was still looking at the sun.
He turned to her and kissed her forehead. "Then don't make me regret my decision." He said, but his expression remained the same. Kagome smiled as he gently urged her chin up with his maneuvering fingers and kissed her.
"I love you Kagome, and I'll do anything to protect you." He said harshly. Most men would have wanted a strong, independent woman. But Bankotsu had the instinct, whether he knew it or not, to protect. He needed something to protect. He wouldn't be complete without that something. Kagome was that something.
"I know you will." She said affectionately. She closed her eyes and nuzzled her face into his neck. He just stood there; keeping his arms locked around her, and gazed into that sunset. It seemed to trance him. His expression hadn't changed yet; but it didn't bother Kagome. She knew him, and that was the way he was.
A hard knock on the door made both their heads turn, and Bankotsu's grip instinctually tightened on Kagome.
"Umm, is everything okay in there? I don't want to interrupt… uhh…. Anything, but I think you should know this Bankotsu."
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A/N: Cliffy! I know I shouldn't be giving you guys cliffies with my screwed up update schedule, but well, whatever. Thanks for reading and please review! *Special thanks to Bankotsu's Yummy Little Wife for beta'ing!!* Now I know for sure how I am going to put Naraku and Kikyo back in it, once again thanks to Bankotsu's Yummy Little Wife. Thank you BYLW for everything! And thanks to Kittyb78 for just all the advice! Love you all!
P.S. Revenge WILL be updated before the next chapter of This Girl is published. So, now you know I haven't forgotten about it. Btw, its taking a tiny turn.