Kagome walked around the kitchen area, gathering necessary ingredients for tonight's dinner. Not without a guard, obviously. Suikotsu stood silently by the threshold with his focus solely on the miko before him.

It was the opposite of her earlier moment with Ginkotsu. She hadn't had a decent conversation with another person since the night the Band of Seven took her. Although he hadn't said much, Kagome still enjoyed it. Now she was separated from the metal man and placed back with the less pleasant company of his brothers. Jakotsu may have increased his distance but it didn't stop the glare she could feel burning through her kimono. With Suikotsu, it wasn't so much of comfortable silence but rather tolerable. She hadn't seen much of Renkotsu or Kyokotsu in a while but brushed it off assuming they were doing something rather gruesome. Kagome was glad for the permanent absence of Mukotsu, the perverted toad. The thought of his slimy fingers on her sent chills through her spine. The memory made her want to vomit. Thank the Kamis that Bankotsu was there to save her.

Bankotsu.

She figured he wasn't that bad.

Except for the lowly bitch comment.

Strangely, she was not as mad or hurt at the thought as before. Maybe it was indifferent to her now. Maybe she was just numb. She didn't really know.

But whether she tries to convince herself she imagined it, or he refuses to admit it, she knows what she saw in those beautiful blue eyes of his when he did it. Pain. Guilt.

She started to understand why he did it. I mean, could she really blame him? He had to lead these men. Bloodthirsty as they may be, Bankotsu still keeps a leash around them. More than that, they respect him. They follow him without question, well mostly. Besides, she'd have to be a total fool to think that Bankotsu would ever let that respect slip away because of her. It's not like he had feelings for her, right?

Right?

Her cheeks suddenly heated up at the idea.

A smack rang through the kitchen and unlike all the other times she'd been abused thus far, it came from her own hand.

Nope! Don't even go there, Kagome! Get your head together!

Suikotsu raised his eyebrow at Kagome's behavior. The girl was a strange one.

A hand settled on his shoulder and he turned to find Renkotsu behind him.

"Why don't ya go relax, brother? I can watch the girl." Suikotsu just grunted and headed off, leaving Renkotsu alone with the miko, who seemed to be having some sort of a mental battle. Or a breakdown. When she finally looked up and saw the fire breather instead of the silent killer doctor, she jumped in surprise.

"Evening, Miko."

"Good evening." She timidly responded.

"What are you making for us tonight?"

His act of casual conversation was all that was. An act. And Kagome saw right through it. But it would probably hurt more to call it out than to play along.

"Stir fry. I hope that is okay?"

"Fine by me." He said indifferently.

Kagome resumed making dinner. The air was tense, and his presence made her uneasy. She preferred it when Suikotsu was watching her.

"You seem comfortable, here with us."

Guess we won't be spending this time in silence.

"That's way off."

"I beg to differ." He replied quickly.

"Enlighten me, then."

"You and Big Brother seem to be getting close."

"I don't kn-"

"Oh, spare me. The guy threatened to kill us if we touched you. He beat the shit out of one of his own men, his best friend actually, and took out another one of his men. All. For. You." He emphasized his point and her eyes widened. He knew about Mukotsu. How did he figure it out? She couldn't remember hearing Bankotsu say anything about it to the others. "Not so innocent, are you priestess? You must be a nice, tight little wench to have Bankotsu this twisted."

His accusation was appalling, Kagome was just aching to smack the taste out of his mouth.

"Excuse me?!"

"No need to be ashamed, miko. If all you were looking for was some comfort around here, I would've been happy to give it." Renkotsu smirked and Kagome's anger spiked at the sight of it. She raised her hand and swung but her effort died quickly when he caught it.

"I don't know what you're playing at, but you can take your sick thoughts and shove them up your – "

"What's going on here, Renkotsu?"

The two of them snapped their attention to Bankostu standing in the middle of the threshold with his arms crossed, he didn't look happy. Renkotsu dropped Kagome's hand and made his way out of the kitchen.

"Nothing, Big Brother. Just having a casual conversation is all." Renkotsu said as he brushed past Bankotsu, that smug smirk of his never leaving his face. Whatever game he was playing at, he knew he won.

Bankotsu turned to Kagome, whose face was bright red and eyes that held a flame even brighter. It took him aback for a moment, it's been a while since he's seen her like that. He found himself angry at Renkotsu for being the one to ignite the flame that was once dead. He wanted to be the one to bring her to life again.

"What the fuck was that all about?" He didn't mean for the snarky tone but it was too late to take it back.

She turned her fiery gaze to him and said, "Nothing, forget it," through gritted teeth.

"Cut the shit, Kagome!" Bankotsu barked at the girl. "Quit fucking lying to me!"

"Just what have I lied about Bankotsu?!" Renkotsu already had her riled up, now Bankotsu was poking at the beast. Kagome's anger clouded the thought that maybe she shouldn't be arguing with the man who holds her fate.

"Everything! Anything that comes out of your mouth is absolute bullshit! You're lying to me about Renkotsu, you're lying about that fucking half breed and your fucking feelings for the bastard!"

"What are you talking about?" She was trying really hard to keep her tone even but the fuse was running short.

"You call his name in your sleep!" Bankotsu hissed while Kagome just froze. When she didn't respond, he kept going, "Yeah, that's right. Can't deny it, huh? You want that worthless half breed, don't you? You're waiting for that mutt to save you, aren't you? AREN'T YOU!?"

He could not be any further from the truth. But more than that, she couldn't understand why he's so upset. She didn't really lie about anything. The two of them haven't spoke about Inuyasha the days she's been here. And the only time she thought about Inuyasha were in the confines of her nightmares.

"Let me tell you something, priestess. That mutt doesn't give two shits about you." He didn't know why he was being like this. He knew it must be a soft spot for her, but he just couldn't stop.

"The only reason he's kept you around is because you're the new, fresh version of his only love. You're naïve, gullible, ready to bow and submit to whatever he desires. He only wants you to find the jewel shards –"

"And you're not?" Kagome cut in.

"My reasoning for wanting the jewel shards is completely different than the dog. I was robbed of my life, I didn't deserve to die like that."

"What about all the people you killed, Bankotsu!? You really think they deserved to die like that?!" She couldn't help but shout. Bankotsu was being the biggest hypocrite.

"It's all a part of the job, Kagome. People do things they're not supposed to, cross people they should never cross; and those people call me and my brothers to teach them a lesson."

Bankotsu's response was almost calm. It was like he rehearsed those lines.

"And what about all the other people? Huh? Like the people that were taking care of me when you took me?" He just looked at her like he didn't know what to say, "That village was full of nice people. Women, children, elderly, families. They took care of me. Gave me a place to rest and food to eat. They didn't have anything you wanted. They weren't of any value or a threat and you and your brothers cut them down and burned the pieces. Tell me, Bankotsu. Was that part of the job? Admit it. It had nothing to do with the job. I can understand killing malicious bastards that do bad things, but you can't excuse killing innocents for shits and giggles! You're no different from a monster!"

Kagome was panting by the end of her rant. She won't excuse any of the things she said. Ignoring the wince that left Bankotsu's eye as fast as it came, she straightened her shoulders and held her head high. She meant every word.

Bankotsu barely scoffed, "I hate to rain on your parade, sweetheart, but the real world isn't full of sunshine and happiness or fairness. Death is quite the bitch, but you can never escape her." He took a step, and then another, never breaking eye contact, "People die, Kagome. Bad people. Good people. Old people. Kids." He kept his pace slow, predatory. Kagome felt like she was shrinking with every step, "Even demons and precious little sheep and foxes you women find cute and adorable. Everyone dies. Some late. Some way, way too soon. You can scream, cry and blame everything you could think of but no matter what … life has a beginning, the same as an ending. Do you know how many people I've killed up 'til now, priestess?"

Kagome could feel her legs start to tremble.

"I don't want to kn-"

"1.172. I evened up the score when Naraku brought me back to life and I didn't stop once I felt blood touch my skin. You've seen me. You've seen what I can do. I count every life I take with Banryuu and I don't feel an ounce of shame. Tell me, miko … does that make you angry?" He continued to taunt. Tears started to gather in her eyes and she willed every ounce of strength in her to not let them fall. "Does it make you angry that I don't lose any sleep over the cries of little kids begging me to show mercy … right before I cut them in two?" He didn't know what he hoped to accomplish in pushing her like this. He didn't even know what he was saying. Just hearing her call him the word he'd heard over a thousand times, it set something off in him. He wanted her angry. He wanted her to hate him. No going back now.

Her fists were clenched and her eyes hidden from him. He wasn't sure if she'd slap him or simply explode … but he definitely wasn't expecting her to look at him with tears in her eyes and say, "I'm not angry. I just feel sorry for you." He didn't respond so she continued, "There's so much in the world that you take for granted. You will never experience a child smiling at you, an elderly woman telling you a story, a family welcoming you with open arms. There's a lot more in life that make it more precious than you see it. I feel sorry for you because you won't even give simple joys like that a chance. You will never be happy. You will never love another person. You will be alone and when you die, again, you won't have anyone to say good things about you or tell stories to make sure you're never forgotten … or even visit your grave."

It was quiet. Silent. Neither even knew if the other was breathing.

Kagome continued, "Whether you want to admit it or not, there is a decent human being somewhere inside you," She gathered the pots and bowls necessary for dinner and started walking towards the fire where everyone else sat but stopped and said, "I know because I've seen him." She walked away towards the other brothers without another word, leaving Bankotsu with his thoughts in disarray.

You're a good kid, Bankotsu. And I know you can be an even better man.

What a joke.

A decent human being.

An even better man.

What did either of them see in him?

You know what they see.

The damn voice in his head. If only he minded his own business.

You can't lie to me. You've thought about going straight. You imagined a life with kids and an honest living. Even thought about it with the lovely raven haired gir-

Bankotsu quickly pressed the brakes on that thought. But he couldn't escape his subconscious.

Admit it, Bankotsu. This is getting old. You already died once, you die again it's lights out. Game over.

"Not gonna happen." Bankotsu thought back.

You really think things will turn out the way you wanted the first time around? Look around you. You lost a man, by your own hand. You don't trust your second in command. You beat up your best friend because of your girl. And your girl doesn't want to be your girl because she thinks you're a blood-thirsty monster. Does any of that sound like it's in your favor?

Bankotsu hated the facts. He hated that he couldn't trust his men. He hated that he wanted the girl whose meant to be his enemy and prisoner. He hated that he had this stupid voice in his head telling him everything he didn't want to hear.

"DAMN IT!" He shouted before slamming his fist into the nearest wall. He hissed at the damage on his knuckles but barely felt it. He couldn't feel anything at that moment. There was darkness around him and instead of fighting it, he succumbed.