Bankotsu: The Samurai's Proposal

Bankotsu ignored the cold gust of wind that blew against his face. The excitement of their newest job filled his mind. He wouldn't deny that the tension around the area filled him with a deep sense of excitement. Plenty of potential for bloodshed was in the area. Banryu would be unstoppable.

Finding the castle wasn't hard. Renkotsu found northbound and they were off. The familiar red flag crested with twin white diamonds became visible soon enough. "Soon Banryu…soon…"

"That last battle was a lot of fun wasn't it?" Jakotsu smiled to his allies. Deciding to be the first to vocalize his excitement. Suikotsu nodded at Jakotsu's words, long forgetting his anger from earlier. He recalled the last battleground, "I liked it when they begged for mercy"

Ginkotsu smirked in approval, "Gh-yes"

Jakotsu turned to the above trees, visualizing the future events that would transpire. He could not recall a time when he was this happy, this accepted. He was surrounded by his family, his brothers, who shared the same thrill of battle, of bloodshed. Seeing the wild eyed panic in a victim before the final blow…what could be more invigorating? "Maybe the next job will be just as enjoyable…" he thought to himself. They were improving in their destruction with every war. No opposing soldier would be left alive.

Renkotsu turned to Bankotsu, who stayed in his own silent contemplation. "Maybe. What do you think big brother?"

Jakotsu smiled at Renkotsu's attempt to pull Bankotsu in, "Will it be fun?"

"Yes…" Bankotsu slowly thought out. He fully grasped the signifigance of their next job. "I rather think that it will be…"

He came to a pause, and the others followed suit. Bankotsu looked up to the mountain at his side. Castle walls twisted their way around the terrain, as did the castle itself. Bankotsu tilted his head in its direction, "Look there…the castle…"

The guards must have been aware of their arriving, no one stopped them as they marched towards the castle. A clear path was made for them, each soldier wore a solemn expression. In most cases it was just an attempt to mask their fear. Bankotsu heard the walls close behind him as he entered, again surrounded by the uptight guards. Bankotsu stood still as a large man's back was before him. He alone, stood out from the solders around him. "So…he must be the guy in charge…"

He looked like any other ordinary general. He had an uptight, stern air around him. "They're the funniest to bring down…" Bankotsu thought to himself. If Suikotsu had his favorite prey, so too did he. Those that fancied themselves powerful, while misjudging his own power…watching realization hit them was an indescribable sensation. Bankotsu smirked as the general turned around. Adorning his face was a mask, encrusted with the face of what would appear to be a dragon from old legends. Perhaps it was a way to increase his strength on the battlefield, "Stupid superstitious crap…"

He wondered if the warlord read his thoughts when a complete look of disdain fell on the general's face. "…wouldn't that be something…" he mused silently to himself.

Of course, he was used to such looks by now. No one who hired the Band of Seven enjoyed the fact that they hired them. Looks of fear and disgust followed them, but they were nonetheless essential for many victories they had proclaimed.

Jakotsu also felt the look of revulsion and stopped himself from snorting, "So, whose this guy?" he whispered.

Renkotsu rolled his eyes at his friend's ignorance. "You'd think he'd realize how it all worked by now"

Renkotsu whispered back to Jakotsu, "He's the general of the samurai of this castle…"

"You're kidding…isn't the lord himself gonna appear?…"

The general's eyes didn't leave Bankotsu's. His fist's tightened as he watched the arrogant smirk that adorned the young man's face. Such impudence from such a brat was infuriating. He recalled his business, "My lord wants you to attack a certain village in the eastern lands…"

"As an advance team?"

"If the Band of Seven are as good as the rumors say then it shall be no problem…" he sneered out.

Bankotsu smiled at this. It was the same as every other time. No one gave a damn about them…not that it mattered. It was even funnier that they had to reduce themselves to ask for assistance. It was killing the general that he wasn't good enough and needed the assistance of his men. The fact that he was so much younger only added to the insult. "If you meet our price…"

"My lord has instructed me to pay whatever you command…"

Bankotsu nodded at the agreement, a large smile on his face, "Then we accept"

"Tokuarshi Clan is the Eastern castle in these regions. You will be attacking their most prosperous village, Sai. As I assume you are aware, tension in this land is high. When word transfers to Tokurashi that the village is a sunder, their army will invade. My lord expects them to be whipped out"

"I see…" Bankotsu smiled, "Quite a tricky tactic…I assume you do not wish them to know it was you who attacked them?…"

The general's eyes tightened. Had the boy already figured out his intentions? How would that be possible?

Bankotsu let Banryu gently rise and fall on his shoulder, "…that way, they will not know who to retaliate against at first…you'll have an opportunity for a surprise invasion that way…right?"

The generals body loosened. So, he hadn't figured it out. He continued to glare at the boy, "…indeed…You will attack the village of Sai at once…"

"You work fast don't ya? That's fine. We'll work out our payment after Sai is wiped out"

The general gave him a single nod, before starting off. He turned to a soldier at his side, "Bring me forth 3 of our fastest messengers…"

The soldier gave the general an uneasy look, "…Yes sir…but unfortunately, our fastest messenger has yet to return to us…"

"What?" The general spat in disbelief to the awkward underling.

Bankotsu felt his eyes give a silent twitch as he quickly turned to leave. The others understood and followed the action. Jakotsu alone stood in place, tilting his head, "…what's the hurry all of a sudden?…"

Renkotsu grabbed Jakotsu's arm as he headed off, "Just come on…" he sighed, "I'll explain later…"

Renkotsu continued to pull Jakotsu away as a strange feeling hit the pit of his stomach, "…Why would they require messengers at this time?…Did they not wish for a silent invasion?…"

"Sai Village, eh?" Kyokotsu asked as he looked below at the village, from atop a large hill. Mukotsu nodded with a giggle, "According to that samurai, yes. Not quite as lavish as I would have excepted…"

Mukotsu laughed at the sarcasm of his statement. The village was indeed a large and prosperous one. Tokuarshi Clan must have been quite prestigious. The castle must have been huge. He heard Bankotsu's footsteps fall behind him, "We need to get this done fast…"

"Awe…." Jakotsu sighed, "But I wanted to have fun…"

Renkotsu rolled his eyes, "Relax Jakotsu, the real fun doesn't happen until the army comes. We're just attacking common folk. They run away easy enough…" he turned to Bankotsu, "Ginkotsu and myself can blow the place down, and wait for the army to arrive…"

Bankotsu played out the idea in his head. He decided that the last 60 human deaths on his Banryu should come from soldiers, not villagers. Besides, the faster this was the done, the faster the soldiers arrived. "Get started then Renkotsu…Ginkotsu, blast the walls down, and all the buildings"

Ginkotsu gave a low grumble of delight, "Gh-yes, with pleasure…"

Large explosions filled the air, and screams soon followed. "That's your que…" Bankotsu smirked at Renkotsu. Renkotsu nodded, and Ginkotsu and himself were off.

"What about me?" Jakotsu hopped eagerly from foot to foot. Bankotsu smirked at the puppy faces the rest of his comrades gave him. He shook his head with a defeated sigh, "Fine…but be ready for when the army arrives, and finish it up quickly…" his eyes hardened ever so slightly, "That means you Jakotsu…"

"Oh, come on. I know how to hurry…" he sighed as he ran after Renkotsu. The other members quickly followed after him. Bankotsu stood on the hill for a moment, admiring his brothers, before he casually followed after them.

"PLEASE, DON'T….PLEA-…"

Suikotsu laughed as he easily slaughtered the last of the household. "Sorry…" he smirked, "I'm on a time limit here…"

Jakotsu quickly scurried into the house, and let out an exasperated sigh at the scene. "Really? This one too? UGH!" he crossed his arms, "All the good ones are already taken…"

"I take it you didn't get your fill…" Suikotsu smirked after admiring the blood glistening claws. Jakotsu pouted at the statement, "…how could I? Everyone's dead now, and Bankotsu didn't even give me a chance to play with any of them…That army better get here soon…"

"You know" Suikotsu sighed, "I think I saw a few kills run into the horse stables…"

"REALLY?" Jakotsu's face lit up as he ran towards the horse stable. He easily kicked the door down, "Knock, knock!"

The smile quickly left his face as he saw two young girls squeezing each other with fright. "PLEASE DON'T KILL US!!!"

Jakotsu stopped himself from crying in disbelief and falling over. "Figures….damn, my luck sucks today…"

Tears ran down the women's faces as they backed into the corner, "PLEASE, DON'T HURT US!!!"

"Don't flatter yourselves!" Jakotsu spat. He shook his head in disbelief, "Figures, I finally find something to kill, and its two stupid wenches…Stupid Suikotsu, he could have at least warned me, but Noooooo…. Everyone around here is so inconsiderate…"

The girls watched as the strange man paced back and forth, having a private conversation with himself. After another minute, he let out a defeated sigh. "I guess beggars can't be choosers…two wenches is better than nothing I suppose" he lifted his blade to finish off the two, trying to find joy in their terror ridden faces. "Later losers!"

"Excellent!" a nasally laugh began, "I didn't know we still had ladies present. How fortunate for me"

Jakotsu slowly looked down at Mukotsu who began to inhale from a container, "WAIT MUKOTSU, DON-"

Jakotsu's eye twitched in disbelief as Mukotsu spewed out a grey fog at the woman, who awkwardly cringed, before collapsing to the ground. Jakotsu let a weak finger point in disbelief at the scene.

Mukotsu gave a satisfied smile, before turning to Jakotsu. "Now, what was it you were saying Jakot-"

Two hands firmly grasped Mukotsu's collar and began to shake roughly, cutting off Mukotsu's sentence. "HOW COULD YOU, YOU STUPID LITTLE WORM!!!! AFTER I GO THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF FINDING THEM!!!"

"Hey" Bankotsu calmly called, poking his head inside the stable. "The infantry has finally arrived…"

Jakotsu let Mukotsu fall to the floor with a thud. His eyes twinkled in delight, "Really?"

Bankotsu smirked at the expression, "Yeah…now the fun can begin…"

Mukotsu slowly gained back his composure and sat back up. Bankotsu's last words began to make sense in his head. The army had arrived.

Sorry it took so long, but there's the next chapter. Hopefully, you guys recognized some of the scenes in this chapter from the scenes in the episodes. Thanks for bearing with me, I will get this story done before May. I have 2-3 more chaps.

With that said, please let me know what you guys think of the story, via reviews :D

Also, if you enjoy this, then check out, "The grieving dog and the Lonely Mercenary" It's a one shot I wrote, featuring Bankotsu and Sesshomaru. It's on my page.

Thanks for reading,

Much Love,

Merky15