Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I really didn't think I was going to get any at all lol. Thank you lily23, who always makes sure to review twice and to Urakih who reviews every chapter :). Also, thank you to Cattico :). I hope you enjoy this chapter :).

Chapter 4

He hadn't seen Josue all morning. He hoped their afternoon plans weren't cancelled. After lunch, he artfully avoided Nasuti, who was moping so much it was bringing him down, and made his way into the woods with Banryuu. Josue was sitting in the grass in front of the three shacks that made up his home when Bankotsu arrived. The boy smiled and waved.

Bankotsu jogged up to him, stabbing Banryuu down into the grass. "I didn't know if you had cancelled or not. You weren't at work today."

Josue's smile faded momentarily at that. "Oh... that. Um, Papa doesn't think it's such a good idea for me to work in town during the day anymore. He wants me at home."

"Oh," Bankotsu tried to read the expression in his friend's dark eyes. Something told him more time at home for Josue wasn't a good thing.

Josue quickly lost his troubled look and donned a smile once more, "Come, I want to show you my sword."

"The special one?"

"Yeah... and it has a name that I think you'll like. When you first told me what your name was I almost laughed."

"Why?" Bankotsu followed the boy as he led him on the dirt trail to the third shack and opened the door. He paused as Josue lit a few candles to illuminate the small room. The smell of rotted wood and mildew was heavy in the air, and Bankotsu sneezed a few times. "Josue?"

The lean figure had disappeared through a thin veil of beads. Bankotsu started after the boy, but paused as his eyes began to take notice of all the glistening silver swords mounted on the walls or resting on sandy tabletops gathering dust. He ran his hands over the fancy pommel of one curved blade, relishing the slick feel of the grip. There were short knives and daggers and even small metal weapons in the shape of stars. There was a soft clinking noise and suddenly, Josue was at his side, holding something behind his back.

"Lets go and get Banryuu," Josue said with a little smirk.

"What's behind your back?"

"My sword."

"Can I see?"

"Once we get outside. I want you to see my baby in better lighting."

"Your baby?" Bankotsu couldn't help but grin. Now Josue was starting to sound a bit like him when it came to Banryuu. "I can't wait to see this. So I finally get to fight you while you're using your sword of specialty."

He followed Josue out of the shack anxious to see the concealed weapon. The pure milky blade of the long sword caught the sun's light and let it pour down its shiny facets. Josue handled the blade with ease turning his wrist this way and that so that Bankotsu could admire the wicked curve of the blade and the beauty of its craftsmanship, even the pommel was gorgeous and shone as if it had recently been polished.

"What's its name?"

"Jakotsutou."

Bankotsu blinked. "Snake bone? Why?"

"You'll see," Josue gave a curious smile, then titled his head at Bankotsu. "Your name means barbaric bone. Why did your parents name you that?"

Bankotsu smiled, showing all of his teeth. "Because I like to fight and they knew it since the day I was born."

"Then you are destined to be a samurai then."

Bankotsu made a face, "No. Not a samurai... they're too... blah. Maybe a ninja."

Josue chuckled, "You, a ninja? You make too much noise, and you're too flashy."

Bankotsu snorted, then plucked Banryuu from the dirt. "Alright Josue, lets see what that Jakotsutou of yours can do."

Bankotsu yelped as one Jakotsutou's multiple blades crept around Banryuu and nicked him. Bankotsu blinked as he dodged and fell back in retreat. Josue was a different opponent when he fought with the snake blade. His dark eyes seemed to gleam with excitement and sometimes Bankotsu felt the other boy may not have even been aware of whom he was fighting. It was the first time he realized Josue really liked to fight...just like he did, and he was excellent, of course... but not more so than Bankotsu. He needed to end this before Josue landed anymore cuts.

Josue seemed to like to attack from a distance or at angles with Jakotsutou; Bankotsu wondered how he would appreciate a direct frontal assault. Without a second's hesitation, Bankotsu threw his entire body into a charge, using Banryuu as a shield until the last possible moment. He heard Josue's gasp of surprise as his target veered away from his blade and was now moving rapidly toward him. Bankotsu felt the heavy blows of Jakotsutou striking Banryuu and saw the sparks of friction, but that didn't discourage him. Josue had to dive out of the way to avoid Bankotsu and when he did, he lost his footing, and Bankotsu pinned him, holding Banryuu over his throat.

Breathing hard, he smiled down at a sweaty Josue who was laughing gleefully beneath his large sword. Honestly one would think he would take more care beneath such a sharp and massive weapon. One wrong flinch and his head would be separated from his neck, but the boy seemed to take no notice of his precarious position.

"Do you yield?"

"I could kill you, you know?" Josue said, instead of answering his question. His left hand squeezed the handle of Jakotsutou. "All it would take is one flick of my wrist."

Bankotsu blinked at Josue's playful tone. "I'd kill you first."

"True, and we'd be dead together, each thinking that we'd won." Josue smirked, then sighed lightly. "Oh alright, I yield."

Bankotsu removed Banryuu and offered a hand down to his friend. Josue took it and pulled himself up. When he pulled his hand away he frowned into his palm and then looked at Bankotsu. "I cut you."

Bankotsu blinked, looking at his hand which. Blood from a cut near his elbow had dribbled down onto it. He hadn't noticed, but now that he did, the cut began to sting. "You cut me more than once, Josue. You turn mean when you use that thing."

Josue frowned. "I've never had a human opponent to fight against with Jakotsutou. I've just had wood-dummies and even a minor demon once. Fighting with a live person was...fun. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

Bankotsu laughed, "It was fun. You've been holding out on me, Josue! I had no idea you were that good, and your sword... Hey, think you can teach me to use it?"

A look came into Josue's eyes that was positively possessive. "You want to use Jakotsutou?"

"Um...you can use Banryuu."

Josue was quiet as he gazed at the shiny handle of his sword. Bankotsu didn't press the matter; he leaned back on Banryuu and studied the thick copse of trees just beyond the clearing behind Josue's home that they had practiced in. The sun was high overhead and bore down on the both of them heavily, causing them to sweat even before they'd started moving. A few birds chirped in the trees and there was the occasional rattling of leaves when a small animal happened through.

Bankotsu glanced back at Josue, who was biting his lower lip as he came to a decision. "Wipe your hand off, and I'll show you. You won't be able to master it in one session though; it takes time."

Bankotsu grinned and laid Banryuu gently down in the long grass. He wiped his bloody hand on his pants, and on second thought, ripped the bottom of his shirt to wrap up the bleeding wound above his elbow so no more would spill. Carefully he reached out to take the hilt of Jakotsutou from Josue. The boy's fingers were hesitant to let go. Once the snake blade was in Bankotsu's possession the odd fire in his eyes disappeared.

"Loosen your arm; your muscles cannot be tense. Now just practice turning your wrist, holding the sword. Careful..."

Bankotsu turned his wrist slowly, saddened when the multiple blades didn't free themselves. "How do you make the other blades come out?"

"You're not ready for that yet," Josue said swiftly. "The blades bite those who do not know how to use them."

Bankotsu bristled. "So show me how! How long did it take you to learn?"

"Months; it was a year before I could go through a routine without nearly slicing myself up.

Bankotsu blinked; he had no desire to be sliced up by his own hand. "Ok, so we just work on rotating my wrist. Is this good?"

Josue gave a soft smile, not gazing at his handling of the sword at all. "It's good."

"You're not looking!" Bankotsu complained, trying to get Josue's attention.

Josue blinked and finally did gaze down at Bankotsu's grip on Jakotsutou. His slim fingers skillfully repositioned Bankotsu's thicker ones on the hilt. "There... Memorize that feeling, because that is how you have to hold it or you'll kill yourself."

Bankotsu cringed a bit. He didn't know if he liked a weapon so deadly it could kill the one handling it easier than an enemy could. "Doesn't this hurt your wrist?"

"You have to change hands ever-so-often," Josue smiled. "You get used to it. Besides, it's not like you ever have to use Jakotsutou long. A few swipes and any potential enemy is dead."

"Sugoi," Bankotsu murmured. He turned the sword over a few times in his hand and switched arms to try it out again. Once again, Josue had to readjust his grip.

They worked for another hour; Josue schooling Bankotsu on stances and footwork while holding the sword at ready. After working with Banryuu, Bankotsu was use to lugging around the heavy weight of a sword, but with both hands. Jakotsutou was no where near as heavy as Banryuu, but it was still a little too much weight to hold in one hand. Josue had strong arm muscles, and Bankotsu was tempted to roll up his sleeves to get a better look at them. His arms were as skinny as the rest of his body; Bankotsu had noticed the day before, but he hadn't been paying attention to the lean, flat muscles of his frame when he flexed them in their sparring matches.

Bankotsu finally surrendered Jakotsutou, his arms groaning in exhaustion. Lifting Banryuu again and carrying it back to town was going to be a pain. Josue laid Jakotsutou down in the grass beside Banryuu and he and Bankotsu sprawled down themselves in the grass, staring up at the sunny blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds.

Bankotsu flopped onto his back and tucked his arms behind his bed, glancing up from his lying down position to study Josue's fine profile. Today was his last day and he still hadn't asked Josue the question. Was he nervous that his friend would say 'no?'

Perhaps.

Or maybe he just kept putting it off, because it would turn his departure into a reality. He kind of didn't want to leave. He sighed heavily and shut his eyes. Poor Nasuti would be so lonely. Poor Josue...

He opened his eyes again to find Josue in the same position he had been before, sitting up with his knees tucked under his skin, head slightly tilted toward the sky. His glossy black hair hung in waves down his back, tamed only by a simple white hair tie. Slowly Bankotsu sat up and placed a gentle hand on Josue's bony shoulder. He didn't speak until Josue turned his head to face him. Bankotsu stared into eyes that turned out to be gray up close and smiled sincerely. "Josue, I'm leaving tonight."

"I know," Josue said after a beat, letting his eyelids droop for a moment, his long lashes brushing his pale cheeks briefly.

"I have no real destination. I'm just going to wander and train and fight. I'm going to look for adventure and danger. I can't really offer anything, but... I'd really like it, if you'd come with me."

Josue's eyes flew open wide; he looked like a surprised young child. He gave a few false starts before replying, "Bankotsu.... I.... Why? I mean, you saw... and... Why?"

Bankotsu actually laughed at that. "Why? Why not? My father couldn't handle a sword as well as you do, and you're fun! I really like you Jos. I couldn't think of anyone better to travel with. I really don't want to go on alone. Please say you'll come. I'll look after you and everything."

Josue cocked his head to one side, biting his lower lip in deep thought. "You'll...look after me?"

Bankotsu nodded, his face serious.

"Do you feel I need looking after?"

Bankotsu frowned. Was Josue insulted? "I...don't think you're weak or anything; I just.... Nasuti-sama told me about you, and how you're treated by everyone in town. I won't let anyone do that to you anymore. I won't let you let them. Come, we can make all new names for ourselves- together. It'll be great! What do you have to lose?"

Bankotsu tossed a glance over his shoulder in the direction of the shabby shacks Josue dwelled in. Josue followed his look with a sigh.

"Papa would be furious."

"So?" Bankotsu said flatly. "Do you really like living here with him? Doesn't he make you... do things that you wouldn't really want to do if you had a choice? I wouldn't make you do anything like that."

Josue flinched. "He...He's not well. He cares for me; he does. When I was little...he used to teach me swords and tell me stories. He cries a lot and he stares off into space for hours. Sometimes he eats, sometimes he won't, and he drinks all the time. The only thing good in his life is me. I bring him food, I bring in money, and I take care of him."

Bankotsu narrowed his eyes at his friend. The words were just right; he sounded like the perfect caring son, but his eyes as he spoke: they shone with fear not love. "You're afraid of him."

Josue shuddered.

"What does he do to you?"

"Love me," Josue answered softly, after a breath. He bowed his head, letting dark hair fall into his eyes. "No one else does or will."

"No one else knows you..."

"No one else will take the chance to know me."

"I will!" Bankotsu said firmly and gave Josue's shoulder a squeeze. He sighed and stood, stretching. "I have to go and get some more things in order for when I leave tonight, but...please think about this, ok? I won't leave until the town is asleep and there is no more activity on the streets. If you decide to join me, just come to the boarding house and bring what you can carry on your back."

Josue was slow to respond. He stared up at Bankotsu before nodding solemnly. "I will think about it, and I will tell you when I come to you tonight. Even if I don't choose to leave with you, I want to say goodbye. You're the only friend I've ever had... that is...if you don't mind me calling you a 'friend.'"

Bankotsu grinned. "Friend is good for me. I wouldn't invite someone who wasn't one to travel with me."

Josue smiled then, genuinely. "Promise not to leave until I arrive tonight."

Bankotsu's grin widened. "I promise, but don't have me waiting all night!"

He left with the sound of Josue's airy laughter at his back.

Author's Note: So what's the verdict? Like it? Hate it? Let me know ;) I have the next chapter already written and ready t post, if I get some reviews ;). Take care!