Little Sister

Chapter 29: Leavetaking

Jakotsu plunged into the well first. Since he now knew where his beloved Toshiro lived, he'd be able to get there straightaway. When he emerged from the well in the shrine, he smiled. He knew he'd have a lot of explaining to do to Toshiro, but he also knew he couldn't leave him behind and not tell him what was about to happen to him.

"So, this might very well be the last time I see my beloved Hojo. Well, I have to look at it this way. If I die tomorrow, or a hundred years from now, it won't matter much. I never expected to come back to this world once I left it. Who thinks that they will be brought back in ten years when the see the sword coming down on their neck? If Bankotsu hadn't made that deal with Naraku, I would never have met the love of my life... That alone is all I need." And with that Jakotsu hurried off.


"I don't understand. You used to be dead, and you had been executed? Why were you executed? How could you be here, alive, if you're really dead?" Hojo asked. Unfortunately, all Jakotsu could see of his beloved's face were his eyes, since he was wearing a strange paper mask over his nose and mouth. But those eyes said enough.

"Give me your hand, my beloved," Jakotsu suggested. Toshiro was reluctant, because, according to him, he was ill with a cold, and did not want to spread the infection to Jakotsu. Jakotsu didn't argue the point, not only because he didn't wish to upset Toshiro, but also because, if Suikotsu was correct and the Band of Seven were indeed deteriorating, then a cold could literally be the death of him. He didn't want to die before Sesshomaru could save him, after all. Finally, Toshiro gave him his hand. Jakotsu guided Toshiro's hand to his neck. Toshiro's eyes narrowed, and then he gasped. "Jakotsu, what is that?"

"It is a shard of the Shikon no Tama. It's a powerful stone that bestows incredible powers to the one who possesses it. Even a small shard like this one can keep me from becoming a pile of bones again. A demon gave me this shard. But I think he's just about done needing my services, and I think he's going to be wanting this shard back. That's why I am here tonight, in your bed-room, looking at you with a strange mouthguard on, literally holding my life in your hand. By the way, do you have any chocolate?"

Hojo nearly laughed. "Comfort food? I have something even better, if you want to wait here for just a minute. Now, don't move, I'll be right back," he assured Jakotsu.

While Hojo was gone, Jakotsu literally didn't move a muscle. How strange this is, that he would be so paralyzed. Besides, what could be better than chocolate? Very fortunately, Toshiro was only gone a minute. He had a bowl with what looked like a lot of chocolate substance in it.

"This is ice cream. Chocolate ice cream, to be exact. Wow, are you alrgiht, Jakotsu? Why aren't you even blinking? Oh, no, are you..." Toshiro gasped. He got very panicked. He had no idea that Jakotsu had been so close to death, er, again. "Oh, Jakotsu, snap out of it. Look, I have chocolate for you, come and try it! Please!"

And just like that, the strange spell was broken, and Jakotsu was able to move again. He happily took the bowl of ice cream and said, "I don't know what came over me, but I'm glad it's over. It was like I couldn't move once you told me not to. Isn't that weird? Wow, this is wonderful! But it's so cold, my teeth hurt from it!"

"Be careful, Jakotsu, eat it slowly," Toshiro suggested.

Obediently, Jakotsu slowly consumed the ice cream. In fact, it was so slowly that it turned to mush, then to soup, long before he finished it. But in the meantime, he and Toshiro talked quietly, mostly about all the stuff they wanted to do together once they had the chance. In fact, Toshiro pointed out that it was almost "four in the morning" which though it made no real sense to Jakotsu, it did remind him that he needed to leave.

"I...I'm very scared, but I know I can't go on much longer like this. My beloved, as soon as I am back from this journey, you will be the first person I will seek, I promise you," Jakotsu assured him.

"Jakotsu, I know you have to leave, but please, just wait one more minute," Toshiro instructed him. Again, that odd paralysis took Jakotsu over as Toshiro grabbed a gadget that looked very much like the cam-era that Big Brother had. "Smile!" Toshiro ordered him, and though he was in terrible turmoil emotionally, Jakotsu gave Toshiro a huge smile. After the bright light flashed in his eyes, Jakotsu stood there while Toshiro threw himself into his arms and began to cry very softly. "I love you," he told Jakotsu.

Jakotsu wanted desperately to embrace him and tell him the same thing, but he couldn't move! Fortunately, Toshiro realized this. "Oh, no! You're stuck again! Wait, I bet I know what's wrong. I told you to wait, so you're waiting. If I say, 'hold me,' will you do it?"

"You bet I will!" Jakotsu cried, finally able to hug Toshiro back and say, "I love you too."


Meanwhile, Suikotsu made his way into the village. He glanced up at the sky, and saw the soul catchers drifting over his head, some of them holding bright lights in their tiny clutches. Was that what his soul had looked like? He pondered that as he followed the ethereal creatures to their mistress.

Kikyo looked very sad as each bright light they offered her planted itself in her chest. Suikotsu waited and watched as she filled herself with the souls of other dead women. Soon, if I have my way, she'll never have to do this again. And she'll never need to have those sad eyes. Only his fellow brothers of the Band knew what Suikotsu had once been able to do. And since Kikyo possessed immense spiritual powers, what he was planning to do would be easy to do.

"I see you're back. Sesshomaru agreed to help you?" Kikyo asked.

"Yes, he did. But he can't do it here. So, I have to leave the village in the morning. I pray that you don't get attacked again," Suikotsu said to her as he greeted her with an embrace.

"You can't delay, Naraku could be coming for you any day. He has stopped maintaining you with the Shikon Jewel, and he's done this so that he can emerge from wherever he's hiding and simply collect the shards from you. I have a feeling Sesshomaru might know this too," Kikyo pointed out.

"Oh, I harbor no illusions when it comes to Sesshomaru's alleged benevolence," Suikotsu nearly laughed. "But if my brothers and I can benefit from Naraku's and Sesshomaru's feud, so be it!" He embraced her even closer with his confidence giving him strength.


"Okay, Ginkotsu, I'm about three quarters done. This is the rough part," Renkotsu warned him. Metal parts were strewn everywhere in the clearing. The fire had to be rekindled just so Renkotsu would have enough light to work, but he still wasn't quite done. Ginkotsu was very patient, but once Renkotsu tried to unscrew something from his jaw, he protested with a growl. "Oops, sorry, Gin, wrong hole," Renkotsu said.

"Heh, that's what you probably say to the women too," Ginkotsu quipped.

Renkotsu snorted. "In a few minutes, I doubt you're going to have much to say, seeing as how your jaw will be disabled, but don't worry, I'll remember that one, Ginkotsu. You're just damned lucky that the kitsune is asleep over there, or you'd be hearing it from Kagome."

"What about Kagome? Where is she?" they heard a voice calling. Renkotsu turned around.

"It's Inuyasha! He's finally gotten back here, Gin," Renkotsu told the disabled brother.

"Where is everybody? The battle was bad, wasn't it? There's an awful lot of burial mounds outside the village," Inuyasha pointed out unhappily. "And I saw the infirmary on the eastern side of the village! How big was this army?" Inuyasha growled.

"We calculated it was an advance party, maybe ten percent of the entire army it came from. Our discovery about Sesshomaru couldn't be at a worse time for this village!" Renkotsu reported.

"What discovery? What's my brother doing here, anyway?" Inuyasha asked.

"He came back, thinking he'd find a battle to fight," Renkotsu huffed.

"He's always looking for trouble. What else is new?" Inuyasha scoffed.

"Let me ask you this. Have your friends come back with you?" Renkotsu asked.

"Sure, as soon as we heard about the attack, we rushed back to the village, especially because of Kagome. You know, speaking of that, I heard a really crazy rumor about her..." Inuyasha ventured.

"It's true. Every word," Ginkotsu managed to say.

"With Banryu? You must be kidding! She can't shoot an arrow straight to save her life or anyone else's. She can't even pick that ridiculous thing up, let alone swing it!" Inuyasha laughed.

"As for her marksmanship, I think Ginkotsu and I can help her improve, once we get back from our little trip we're taking with Sesshomaru later today, once the sun rises," Renkotsu smirked.

"What are you doing with him? Why are you going off when the village needs you?" Inuyasha yelled.

And that was when they all heard someone else coming by. "Oh, so now you want them around? Now that you need them, I guess they're not so dead after all, are they!"

"Little Sister, it's not really Inuyasha's fault, we are his enemies, after all. How can you expect him to forget that Naraku brought us back?" Renkotsu asked smoothly.

"They're only leaving because they won't survive much longer if they stay here. You are going to have to protect the village now, until they get back!" Kagome yelled.

"What were you doing with Banryu? Isn't that your corpse 'Big Brother's' weapon?" Inuyasha asked her.

"There were thousands of soldiers, Inuyasha! If it hadn't been for Kagome, this village would either have been overrun or taken over completely by this invading army," Renkotsu said finally.

"Yes, such a pity I missed it!" an aristocratic voice sighed from behind the growing group by the fire.

Inuyasha turned first and spat, "Sesshomaru! Why are you looking so pouty. Don't worry, there's bound to be more coming."

"Perhaps, but if this mortal you consort with actually does have the abilities you've been boasting of, then they might think it wiser that they not return. That's what makes this double the pity, now. First I miss the battle, and now I find out that Kagome is the one that stopped the invading hordes!" Sesshomaru did indeed pout a bit to make his point.

"And by the way, where is that stinky corpse Bankotsu?" Inuyasha growled.

"I'm right here, Inuyasha! And let me tell you something. If I ever hear you talking about Little Sister's lack of skills in battle again, I'll give her full leave to show you just how good she is!" Bankotsu told him in a deadly tone.

"That would be entertaining," Sesshomaru nearly laughed.

"Yes, the commander whose head was split clean in half in the same swing she hacked off his arm would agree that she's very entertaining," Renkotsu said.

"Why are we arguing about this? I agree with Sesshomaru, for once. The idea is ridiculous. That would be like saying Kikyo was hacking people apart!" Inuyasha snorted.

"What's this about Kikyo? Oh, you're finally back, are you? Well good, now you and your friends can stay here, and make sure that if the invading army decides to make another go at taking this village over, tha you at least get enough advance warning to get everyone to safety," Suikotsu said with a bit of relief in his voice.

"Hey, we have jewel shards to collect! We don't have time to stay here while you go off somewhere for whatever reason!" Inuyasha argued. "What's the hurry, anyway? Oh, wait, now I get it! You walking corpses are decomposing aren't you?" Inuyasha accused them. "I knew that stink of yours has gotten worse for a reason!"

"Inuyasha, I told you not to call them that again! Besides, if they are walking corpses, what does that make Kikyo?" Kagome snapped.

"This has nothing to do with Kikyo! She's not rotting outside her grave, is she?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome glanced very briefly at Suikotsu, who had no expression on his face. Which side of him is inside right now? The good doctor, or the madman killer? Did Suikotsu know about Inuyasha's past with Kikyo?

"Well of course not, she doesn't even have her own body anymore! It's made of enchanted clay with her ashes mixed in! Remember, because I sure do!" Kagome huffed.

"Little Sister, are you sure of that? She does not seem as though she is made of clay to me," Suikotsu said with a sly tone, which could only indicate to her that he was in "mad killer" mode and decided to bait Inuyasha.

Of course, Inuyasha grabbed onto the bait with both clawed hands. "Just what do you mean by that? You don't mean... She wouldn't do that with you of all people!" Inuyasha spat.

"And why wouldn't she?" Suikotsu asked him.

Inuyasha leaped forth and grabbed Suikotsu by the throat. "You bastard! She was a virgin!"

Kagome watched this whole exchange with a little horror mixed in with relief. Horror in that Inuyasha's feelings for Kikyo are now completely out in the open for all to see, and relief for the same reason. Now, who could blame me for wanting to be with Bankotsu?

"Let him go, Inuyasha!" called a voice from beyond all of them. It was Kikyo, with her purifying arrow pointed right at him.

"Kikyo? This can't be true! I don't believe it!" Inuyasha cried. Suikotsu took the opportunity to free himself of Inuyasha's grasp by pressing his fingers into a pressure point on Inuyasha's wrist that forced him to release his fingers, and Suikotsu slipped to the ground. "Oh, no you don't you slippery scum!" Inuyasha made to grab him again.

"Sit, boy!" Kagome finally yelled, and Inuyasha was hurled to the ground. He growled, but said nothing. The other brothers were all staring pretty slack-jawed at the entire display.

But just in case one would think that Inuyasha's humiliation was not complete, Sesshomaru had watched Inuyasha's public display of misplaced affection. "That you would still care that the woman who pinned you to a tree fifty years ago has chosen another and moved on with her life shows how truly like our father you are, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said.

"You shut up! You know nothing about what happened!" Inuyasha screamed, getting up.

"No Sesshomaru doesn't, but I do. I hope this will be enough to help you finally get over Kikyo, Inuyasha," Kagome said sadly. She inched closer to Bankotsu, trying not to make Inuyasha feel even worse, right that very second.

"Kagome, wait! I'm sorry!" Inuyasha said in panic.

"Are you done there yet? It is almost dawn, and you've been distracted," Sesshomaru asked Renkotsu, now totally ignoring his pathetic younger brother.

"We'll be ready in a few moments, I hope," Renkotsu told him.

"Has your other brother come back?" Sesshomaru then asked Bankotsu.

"I'm right here!" Jakotsu puffed as he hurried over to the group by the fire. "Hey, did I miss something?"

"It's nothing for you to bother yourself about. Nothing at all," Bankotsu answered, glaring down at Inuyasha.

"Let's get ready to leave, then," Renkotsu told him.

"Right," Kagome said, helping Renkotsu take Ginkotsu away from the bad energy in that area. "Big Brother, are you coming?"

"In just a minute." He waited in silence until everyone was gone. Then, he turned to Inuyasha. "You're days of hurting Kagome's pride are over!" Bankotsu said in an urgent whisper.

"Oh, don't think I don't know what you're after. Well, your brother might have gotten to Kikyo, but you aren't getting anywhere near Kagome!" Inuyasha growled back.

"One of these days, Inuyasha, we'll be able to properly have it out, without jewel shards and Naraku to worry about. Just you and me. Banryu and Tetsusaiga."

"Heh, I'll be waiting for you," Inuyasha responded as the sun began to rise.

Next, the trip to the Netherworld and what happens when they get there!