Author's Note:
I pray that all of my readers are staying safe during this COVID-19 pandemic. I am praying for the continued health and safety of you all!
-Kaydi15
Bankotsu sat in the tiny hut, holding her head in his lap as he waited patiently for her to regain consciousness. Her breathing was slow and even. He was only slightly worried; thankfully, he'd managed to catch her before she hit the ground.
"What am I gonna do with you priestess?" absentmindedly, he ran his fingers through her dark tresses.
She really was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He remembered thinking it was a shame she was his enemy in his past life. Unfortunately, he knew that the Bankotsu he was before would've done nothing more than use her for sex and then toss her to the side as he continued his quest for power. When he died the second time he found himself filled with regret for not taking the time to appreciate the important things in his life. Despite having acquired an immense amount of power it ended up being what killed him in his final battle with that cursed half-demon.
When he was revived again he was alone. His companion was as good as new and for a second he thought it was all just a bad dream. But there was no way his memories were merely dreams. He could still feel his body tearing to shreds as his own attack came flying back at him. He searched for his companions, hoping that at least Jakotsu had been revived as well, that way he would have someone he could trust on his side when he found that mangy mutt who killed him. Instead, he had no one.
And then he saw her. Crying like someone had just ripped her heart out from her chest and yet, there was beauty in her sorrow. He hadn't felt pity for another human being in a long time. In that moment he wanted to destroy whatever evil being that could hurt something so pure.
Then he remembered who she was. The girl who traveled with the half-breed. Their meddling group of friends put an end to the greatest band of mercenaries in history! If she was here then the mutt couldn't be too far behind. Killing her would be a great way to get revenge. He remembered the way the mutt would throw himself in harms way even in the midst of battle to protect the foolish girl that was honestly just an easy target. Yet the thought of killing her made him feel sick, and her cries felt like daggers in his heart.
Why? Why did he suddenly feel the need to wrap his arms around her and kiss her tears away?
Had he gone mad?
"Bankotsu,"
He was so deep in thought he hadn't noticed her breathing return to normal. She was staring at him, her mocha eyes made him feel like she could see into the darkest corners of his soul.
His heart pounded nervously. She made him nervous. He was Bankotsu, leader of the Band of Seven and the most ruthless mercenary to ever live.
Yet this girl...
"Kagome,"
"Bankotsu, I think I had a vision."
He was shocked to say the least. "What did you see?" he was curious.
"I can't remember all the details, just how I felt," she said softly.
"And how did you feel?" his lips were suddenly dry. Damn all these feelings! His stomach was in knots again. Honestly, it was easier being at war and facing death every day.
"I was happy," came her response. "I can't remember everything that happened, but I remember seeing your face a few times. And seeing Kaede and my other friends."
He sighed. What was the point of having a vision if you couldn't remember what happened in them?
"I don't know why I feel a connection to you Bankotsu," her voice was small and shook slightly. "But I guess I want to understand it too."
He was speechless. Did she really mean it?
"I'm not saying I'm your woman or anything like that. Where I'm from, a man cannot just wake up one morning and declare any woman to be his. The woman has a right to decline a man's advances if she so chooses. I am not your woman Bankotsu, I just want to make sure you understand that."
He wondered what kind of strange land would give women the right to deny a man's advances. Honestly, he wasn't too thrilled about her saying she wasn't his woman. Who else could she possibly-
"But I wouldn't mind getting to know you better," she said.
Somehow, hearing her say that made his heart smile.
Naraku was doing his best to not get too excited. Everything was going according to plan. In just a few more months he would have everything he needed.
He could hear her whimpering, even in her sleep. He could see that she was dreaming of him again, yet instead of fear permeating her cinnamon scent he was scenting arousal. The young girl was blossoming into quite the masochist; she no longer feared the pain he inflicted upon her body. He had gotten tired of her constant tears and sobs, deciding to add a little something extra to her water that had made her much more agreeable. He had more sinister plans for her body than she could possibly imagine and he had no intention of letting her live once she had fulfilled her purpose.
No, he would do her a favor and put her out of her misery. It was the least he could do for the woman who would be giving him the most vital thing he needed for him to achieve his goal.
Images of raven hair and porcelain skin flashed in his mind and his breath hitched. He could feel his blood boiling in his veins as thoughts of the miko he yearned for so desperately assaulted his senses as if she were there with him, using her holy energy to burn him from the inside out.
Patience.
If there was one thing he could do, it was be patient. It wouldn't take much longer.
The world, the girl... one day he would have it all.
One day very, very soon.
Bankotsu had been with more women than he could count, however, he had never claimed any one of those women to be his. He never found himself drawn to any of them the way he was drawn to the woman that had once been nothing more than a target to him when they first met.
He would've killed her back then, without a second thought. He had thought it was such a shame that Naraku wanted them to kill such a pretty girl but he would've never put his attraction to a woman before a job. It went against everything he stood for as a mercenary.
What would his life had been like then? Had he killed Kagome and her friends he was sure that he would've done nothing but continue to kill until he himself had been brought down. He was willing to bet that Inuyasha had been right back then when he said that Naraku would only kill him if he had successfully killed Inuyasha and his friends. Without the shards of the Shikon that sustained him and his brothers the greedy kumo wouldn't have been able to complete the tama.
He watched her face as she slept. He could hardly keep his eyes off her. The fire was dim but it didn't stop her from looking magnificent even as she slept. Her skin glowed and her dark lashes fluttered ever so lightly. He wondered what she dreamt about, hoping deep down that it was his presence in her dream that made her face look so peaceful.
Who would've guessed that the world's most deadly mercenary would have his heart stolen by a miko?
He remembered how his victims would beg him for mercy. He remembered how people feared to even speak his name.
He never thought there could be a better feeling than the one he got after putting those fools out of their misery. He never felt more alive than when he watched the life drain out of an enemy's eyes.
Yet here he was, sinking in the mud-brown eyes of a tiny slip of a woman that was unlike any other. She actually managed to put him on his ass today, without even using that much effort!
Ka-go-me.
Guardian of the Jewel of Four Souls.
A miko, made from the magic and purity of the kami to bring balance to a world overcome by evil demons.
He, who had been what people considered to be evil incarnate...
Is falling in love. He chuckled to himself, knowing that Jakotsu was enjoying watching him suffer.
"Laugh it up Jakotsu," he thought to himself as his eyes once again found their way to her face. He couldn't help it. The way her curls framed her face, the way her skin glowed in the firelight...
"So is this is what love is like?"
Unbeknownst to him Bankotsu was being watched. His ears couldn't hear it but the room was filled with boisterous laughter. His old comrades, Jakotsu and Suikotsu, laughed until their ribs hurt. They never thought their brother would fall in love- and with a miko at that!
"Oh how the mighty have fallen," Jakotsu said through a fit of giggles.
"I can't believe this Jakotsu! Look at his poor sullen face!" came Suikotsu's voice.
"Awe, our big brother is falling in love! I never thought we'd live to see the day," Jakotsu replied. "Oh wait-"
They laughed again, both having long accepted that their Big Brother was the only one who would be brought back to the land of the living. Though that wouldn't stop them from watching over him. After everything they had been through they had become more than just a band of deadly mercenaries; they had become a family.
"She better take good care of him, even though I will never understand what a handsome man like our big brother could possibly find interesting about a woman," Jakotsu said.
"Just look at him," Suikotsu's voice was uncharacteristically gentle. "She's the best thing for him. Our big brother has a second chance to right the wrongs of his past. She will be the one to save his soul."
"Ugh, Suikotsu!" Jakotsu whined. "I still don't understand, are you and that pitiful doctor friends now?"
"How many times must I explain this to you? We have accepted who we are and we have become one," Suikotsu sighed. He wondered how he was able to tolerate Jakotsu all those years.
Once again he tried to explain to Jakotsu how things have changed since his death. He may have found peace, but that still did not absolve him of his many sins.
"It really isn't that complicated Jakotsu, but I'll explain again so listen closely..."
They sat next to their unwitting brother, who had yet to take his eyes off the miko that slept peacefully, as though she weren't currently sharing a room with a man that killed for money.
Author's Note:
I apologize for wait! Hopefully you guys enjoyed the return of Suikotsu. As always, thanks for reading and please review! It's definitely a huge motivator!