A/N: Yes, reviewers...Hiten and Manten did die in this story, that will be explained in a later time, it was supposed to be a prologue, but, it wasn't. But the circumstances strongly involve Bankotsu and co. in a way so you'll have to find out yourselves...read...review and enjoy!
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Chapter 3: 'Best Friends' Means...
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"You know..." a tired Jakotsu mumbled. "Some of us LIKE sleeping late...."
"Well we have things to do today." Bankotsu replied.
"I know...we're buying a kid this time right?" He replied. "Cause if it's just a waste like last time I'm gonna be mad." He added with a yawn.
"Yeah, we're going to check them out again, and hopefully find a good one to adopt."
"That's nice." He mumbled through a mouthful of toast.
"Well let's go then!"
Jakotsu got up stretching and followed Bankotsu out, back to the car and back into the Wolf's Den Orphanage. Where, as usual kids were running around playing with various things and throwing said various things at Kouga as he came to greet them.
"Nice to see you again. Are you planning on adopting this time, or just looking around again?"
Jakotsu was about to answer when something slammed into his leg; he looked down to see a little kid with dark red eyes staring up at him innocently. Hiten's dark red eyes, he noted.
"Souten, apologize." Kouga scowled.
"Sorry Mr. Pretty guy...I didn't mean too." She replied plastically.
"No harm done." He replied.
"Cool." She said standing up and shrugging.
And his attitude, he added to his mental file of the child.
Kouga caught Jakotsu's eye and nodded. "She's the mini-Hiten, aren't you Souten?"
She nodded. "He was my older brother."
"Yeah, he was a good friend of mine." Bankotsu interrupted. "Before you were born even."
"Cool."
"We have a winner!" Bankotsu exclaimed smirking. "Souten, wanna come live with us?"
"Sure!"
"Sign here." Kouga said shoving a clipboard at Bankotsu, he, Jakotsu and Souten all signed and handed it back to him. "She's yours, we'll check up in two weeks to see if you wanna keep her."
"Alright."
A young boy ran up to Souten. "Hey, Souten! Getting adopted again?"
"Yeah."
"Well, do you think you could manage to stay over a week? I bet Seiji my snack that you'd last longer." he said, grinning cutely.
"Sure, I'll stay a day over." She replied, grinning back.
"I think you're gonna stay way over a week shorty." Bankotsu replied smiling. "And I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...."
"We'll see," she said, grinning to show she was kidding.
They walked out to Bankotsu's car. "So, Souten, shall we head home?"
"Sure, can I drive?"
"Not my baby...." Bankotsu said standing almost defensively in front of his car.
"I was kidding! I'm too young, anyway."
"You're what? 11?"
She nodded. Jakotsu smirked. "Wont Renkotsu just love what we brought home?" He asked as they drove back home.
"He'll be thrilled."
"Who's Renkotsu? What's going on?" Souten asked from the back seat.
"You'll see...." Jakotsu said with a smirk.
"Um...okay."
They got home to find Renkotsu sitting in the living room watching TV. Suikotsu was still asleep, which was unlike him, but it was Saturday so no one really cared.
"You're back." Renkotsu noted.
"And we brought a surprise!" Jakotsu squealed happily.
"An all-expense paid trip to Hawaii?"
"No! We bought a little sister!"
He looked at her from the couch. "Don't you mean little 'brother'?"
Jakotsu decided to humor his superior. "Yup...its a boy."
He nodded. "Good. Nice to meet you, kid."
"Gotta name?"'
"Souten."
"Renkotsu," he supplied. "Suikotsu's over there. Why don't you go wake him up?"
A faint yawn answered his question, their brown haired companion had just woken up, his hair, which was usually neat, was unkempt and all over his face at the moment, giving him a very messy appearance. "Who's the little one?" He asked with another yawn.
"Souten, Bankotsu's adoptee."
She waved at him with a small smile. He smiled back.
"Right, we get to have another boy in the house." Renkotsu said.
Suikotsu raised an eyebrow, and winking at Souten said, "Yeah, another boy."
Souten just smiled innocently.
"Why don't we show the kid his room?" Renkotsu asked.
"Oh yeah! C'mon Souten I'll show you your room!" Bankotsu said with a smile, taking Souten up to one of the rooms.
"Good going so far." Jakotsu quipped. 'At this rate sh-he'll hate you by tomorrow." He said, catching himself in time.
Renkotsu hadn't noticed that though. "Oh really? We'll see about that when the time comes."
"He said s-he'd come down after he got his computer set up." Bankotsu said. "Spitting image of Hiten...." He mused with a smirk.
"He's probably going to be just as bad a smart-ass."
"Probably."
"Maybe if you don't influence him he'll turn out to be nice." Suikotsu said with a small smirk, easily adapting to calling Souten a boy.
"The only one that could influence him badly is Jakotsu, and we sure as hell don't want the kid to turn out like him!" Renkotsu snapped smirking.
"That's enough, guys. You don't even know the kid yet." Bankotsu said calmly.
"Alright, alright."
"He guys whatcha talking about?" Souten asked sliding down the railing of the stairs and landing on her feet.
"You." Renkotsu said nonchalantly.
"What about me?"
"You're short."
"We haven't had someone shorter than Bankotsu here in a long time."
"I'm tall for my age." She pouted.
"Still short, but that's ok."
"Yeah, there's nothing wrong with being short." Bankotsu supplied.
"How tall are you Bankotsu?" She asked curiously.
"About 5'4."
"The tallest of us being 6'5...." Renkotsu mumbled. "Not me though. Souten, you're what? 4'10?"
"5 foot."
"Close enough."
"Two inches off, Renkotsu." Jakotsu teased. "And you're supposed to be one of the smart ones."
"I don't see you taking any guesses." he retorted.
"I'm smart enough not to."
He snorted. "Whatever you say."
"Now, boys, no fighting." Suikotsu interjected with a small smile.
"Yes, mom." Renkotsu mumbled.
Souten looked up to Bankotsu. "Is it always like this?" She whispered.
"Yeah. Only this time they're just joking around." He told her.
"They actually argue worse than this?"
"Yep, this is one of their better days actually."
"Have they ever been in fist fights?" She asked curiously.
He snorted a little. "Ever? More like almost daily."
"Really? How bad?"
He thought for a moment. "I'm pretty sure Renkotsu threw Jakotsu out of a window at one time...."
"You're joking!"
"Nope."
"This is gonna be my favorite family yet."
[Next day At Lunch]
"Hey, kid, pass that?" Renkotsu asked Souten gesturing to a plate.
She passed him the plate. "Here."
"Thanks. Y'know, you're not all that bad for a little guy."
Souten laughed a little, the rest of the guys did too. "Um, Renkotsu, hate to break it to ya, but, I'm a girl!"
He choked on what he was eating. "You're a what?"
"Female! Girl! Not a boy!" She said through her laughter.
"But...." he looked at his laughing friends. "What part do you all have in this?"
"We knew she was a girl, that's all."
"It was completely up to Souten to tell you or not, and she didn't."
"Humph...I'm goin' up to my room." he muttered, getting up and walking out of the room.
Once he disappeared everyone burst into full-out laughter. "That was classic!" Jakotsu exclaimed through his laughter.
Even Suikotsu was laughing. "I'll have to admit, I'd never have thought he would be that dense."
Bankotsu wiped a tear away from his eye. "I'm pretty sure he's pissed."
"You're pretty sure?" Jakotsu said laughing.
"Positive."
"Well I'm 100 percent sure!"
"Of course!"
"He never ceases to cause amusement...."
"Um...." Souten started. "Do I have to go to school?"
"Of course," they chorused.
"Ok. Not that I wanna."
-Next Day-
"Souten! Time for school!" Bankotsu called into her room. She grumbled from under her covers and started snoring again.
"C'mon, chibi-Hiten, up." he said, picking her up out of the bed.
She looked at him bleary-eyed. "Get my red and black Happy Bunny 'Cute But Kind of Evil' shirt, a pair of my pants and my combat boots, I'm going to take a shower." She told her squirming out of his grip and walking to the bathroom.
"Uh...ok?" he said, a little confused, but getting what she asked.
She took what he gathered before disappearing into her own, private bathroom and taking a shower, she came out a few minutes later trying to fix her hair. "Damn...I could never do it like Hiten." She cursed.
"Want me to help?"
She eyed his almost waist-length braid and nodded. "Alright, sit." he gestured, and after she had sat down on the bed he fixed her hair.
"Thanks Bankotsu!" She exclaimed happily, giving him a small hug before running down for breakfast.
He smiled and went down after her.
"'Morning, Chibi." Jakotsu said, using his nickname for her.
"Good morning snake bite." She retorted sticking her tongue out at him. Seeing as she had seen the pet snake he kept in his room, and his snake-obsession. "Now...Suikotsu, who's my teacher again? What's the room number?" She asked turning to Suikotsu.
"Mr. Myouga, room 7.: He said with a small smile. She had already asked at least 3 times.
"And I can just call the hospital where you work if any injuries occur?"
"Yeah." He said nodding. "Hopefully they won't, though." he added.
"And if I am forced to call ask for you or...what's her name again?" She asked him.
"Kikyou."
She finished her breakfast. "Okay you guys, I'm ready, take me away!" She said, over-dramatically, to Jakotsu and Bankotsu.
"Let's go then." Jakotsu said, leading them out.
They got out to Bankotsu's car and hoped in. "You're not driving Jakotsu." Bankotsu told him in a firm commanding voice.
"Aww...ok...."
Bankotsu got in and they began their drive to Sengoku Middle, where Souten would be in the 6th grade. "Hey! Shippou goes here!" She exclaimed, remembering what Shippou had told her last night online.
"Is he a friend of yours?"
"Yeah, he got adopted the day before me by some lady named Kagome Higurashi. He's a good friend."
She nodded as she slid out of the car...eh...truck. "Bye Bankotsu! Bye Jakotsu!" She called waving to them and walking to the dull brick building. She searched for her orange haired friend and found him with three black haired kids and one white haired girl. She ran over to him with a smile. "Shippou!" She called in his ear, causing him to jump.
He turned. "Souten!"
"Hey! Who're your friends?"
"My new brother, Souta, Rin, Kohaku, and Kanna. Guys," he said turning back to them. "This is my friend Souten."
They all waved and she waved back. "So whose class are you in Shippou?"
"Mr. Myouga."
"Same!"
"Cool!"
She pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and looked it over. "What other classes do you have?" She asked.
"Mr. Myouga, homeroom, Mr. Toutousai, Social Studies, Mr. Mukotsu Science, Mr. Jaken, Math, and Mr. Myouga, Literature and Mr. Taiyoukai, gym."
"Those are all my classes!" She told them smiling.
"Cool!"
"There is the bell." Kanna finally spoke her face and voice deadpan. They all got up and walked to class, Mr. Myouga taking hold of Souten as she tried to take a seat.
"Well, you must be Souten." he said cheerfully.
She nodded mutely.
"I remember teaching your brothers. Class," he said turning towards the rest of the group. "This is Souten, she'll be joining us this year."
"Hey," they all muttered before she walked over to sit beside Shippou. The bell rang again, and they trooped to gym.
"HEY MIDGET!" A silver haired man called to Shippou. "HEADS UP!"
"I'M TELLING KAGOME IF YOU HIT ME WITH THAT INUYASHA!" Shippou squealed.
"That's the gym teacher?"
"And my new sisters boyfriend." Shippou groaned. "He's so rude to me! He's nice to Souta!"
"He just needs to get to know you, that's all." Souta said helpfully.
Their gym teacher walked over. "Who's the new kid?"
"This is Souten Raidon." Shippou informed him.
"Oh, the Thunder Brat, Hiten and Manten's little sister."
"Yeah." Souten told him smirking. "I have new big brothers now too."
"Really? Who?"
"Suikotsu, Renkotsu, Jakotsu and Bankotsu." She told him.
"The Shichinin group?" he snorted. "Have fun." he said, before walking off to check on the other kids.
"Jerk." Souten muttered loudly after him.
"So we agree." Shippou said.
"Who're they?" Souten asked pointing to a group of rather menacing looking kids on the other side of the gym.
"Kageromaru, Juuromaru, Goshinki, and Hakudoushi...the school bullies...you don't want to get on their bad side...."
The said group of bullies decided to walk over at that moment. Hakudoushi seemed to be their leader, judging by the smirk he wore. Shippo and his friends exchanged nervous looks.
"Uhh...we'd better...get going...." Shippou said, his group starting to edge away.
"C'mon Kitsune, don't be afraid." Hakudoushi taunted.
"Leave him alone." Souten said, stepping in front of him.
"What DO we have here? A Raidon and a Kotsu, all in one." He sneered with a laugh.
She just glared at them.
Hakudoushi's smirk remained in place. "Ya know, Souten, you're tough, you shouldn't be hanging around these losers. You could end up like Hiten and Manten did."
She bristled. "Leave my family out of this."
"I don't want to."
"Then I'll make you."
"Well, I thought you'd say that," he laughed. "You against us? How do think it'll look?"
She shrugged.
"She won't be alone." Kohaku countered. "Me, Kanna, and Shippou will help her."
"We will?" Shippo squeaked. "Uh, I mean. Yeah, we will!"
Kanna gave a flat expressionless nod.
"Thanks, guys." Souten said.
"Okay," Shippou started. "Kanna, take Kageromaru, he's the smallest, Kohaku you take Goshinki, he's your size, I'll take Juuromaru and that leaves Souten Hakudoushi, is that clear?" He snapped sounding like a strategical genius at work, his voice low so the enemy couldn't hear.
The group gave small nods. They faced their opponent, waiting for the first move. Souten made the first move, her small fist flying straight towards Hakudoushi's face. Hakudoushi cursed outloud for not dodging and returned the favor, hitting Souten right in the nose. 'Pretty sure that's broke.' She thought angrily.
They circled warily, watching for the other to make a move. Around them the others were throwing a few punches and kicks. Hakudoushi threw another punch before an angry voice caught them off guard. "HEY BREAK IT UP!"
They instantly parted. "I'm not gonna report this to the office, but...ugh, Souten clean up that nose, Shippou you're bleeding and Kohaku you're a mess!" Inuyasha snapped at them.
"Yes, sir," they all mumbled.
"Call Suikotsu." He told Souten. "He'll clean ya all up."
She nodded, and they all walked off. Her mumbling, "It's not over."
Inuyasha turned to Hakudoushi and his brothers. "Don't even get me started on you four." He snapped.
Hakudoushi mumbled something.
"What was that punk?!"
"Nothing, sir."
"Good, get outta my sight."
They walked off.
Souten reappeared beside Inuyasha. "He'll be here in a few minutes." She told him; her voice sounding very strained through her broken nose.
"Alright."
She cleaned what blood she could off of her before Suikotsu arrived with a black haired woman she could only assume was Kikyou. "Suikotsu!" she said, going over to him.
"What happened? You wouldn't tell me much on the phone."
"They got into a fight." Inuyasha said indicating to Shippou and Souten's group.
"They insulted my family!" Souten protested.
Kikyou knelt down to her level and put an icepack on Souten's nose. "It's only broken in one place, it'll heal in about a week." She told her softly.
"Ok."
Kikyou then walked over and started cleaning all the other various cuts and bruises while Suikotsu talked to Souten. "I haven't called Jakotsu and Bankotsu yet, because Bankotsu would worry himself to death like he did when Renkotsu and Jakotsu went through that window, and he'd probably destroy the kitchen...again."
Souten nodded. She knew enough about her new brothers to know that he'd do that.
"Okay, to your next classes...." Inuyasha called.
"I have to go, Suikotsu. See you later," she said, walking off with the others.
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Skittlez and Pupp