Author's Note: Woah... thanks for the awesome response to that last chapter! Keep reviewing like this and I may post a chapter a day lol. Anyways, here is Chapter 3; I hope you all like it :).
Reviewer Responses:
Evil-Zukin: :) See, I updated this week just cause you asked so sweetly lol! ;) I hope you enjoy the new chapter and thank you for reviewing!
Youkaigirl99: Yes, it is Suikotsu :) I'm glad you like the story and you can keep saying it however many times you like; I'll STILL be glad you like the story lol! Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Lildaemon: Thanks for checking out both stories, and I'm happy to know that you like them both :). I hope you enjoy this new installment. Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Gerbi::) Thanks for reviewing; I'm glad you like the story! Hope you like what I have to offer this time as well :). Take care!
Corrina: Hey! Thanks for reviewing. No, they don't like Suikotsu right now... and it may take them a while to like him yet. Take care and I hope you like the new chapter!
Rift-war Slave: Hey! I'm glad you like the stories. I can't say I don't like the Bankotsu/Jakotsu pairings, because I do, but a pairing would not be right for this story. :)
Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Tareacel: Hey, I'm glad you like the brotherly thing I got going on. It's fun to delve into that. There will be a LOT more of it to come, because I can't get enough of it. I'm happy that you like the fact that I'm not being all big and dramatic and can keep the story simple and still be entertaining :). Thank you so much for reviewing. I love reading what you have to say. Take care and enjoy!
Cattico: Eh, you ever meet someone creepy or just not right and they give you chills or make you just go "uuuuhh," and shudder? That's what Bankotsu and Jakotsu are feeling around Dr. Kaji. :) I'm glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing and take care!
MageofDarkness: Awwww..... I hope you are feeling better now :) :) :). I'll send you some soup if you're not :). (Don't worry; I won't make it. I'll send take out :). I'm glad you like that Jakotsu is wary of anyone touching him but Bankotsu. I want to play with that a bit in later chapters :). Thanks for reviewing, as always, and take care! Tell your muse I said hello. :)
Lynxzeo X: Hey. Ok, thanks for the information on the "aniki" bit. When watching the show and trying to read the special notations about the term, I never really understood. I went back and fixed it on my word perfect file, and after I'm through with the story I'll fix it on too. Thanks for reviewing and take care!
SpeakThaMind: :) Yeah, the Doctor is too nice. Nice people make me nervous, cause you always wonder in the back of your mind: What do they want? :) Don't worry, Jakotsu will get better :) :) I hope you like this next chapter! Thank you for reviewing again and again :) and as always, take care!
Yennie-Gurl: Bankotsu in a nurse's uniform? The old fashioned-kind with the white square hat and the little skirts and frocks? That would be funny, but Jakotsu might get jealous. He's the only cross-dresser in this story, lol. Yes, Jakky's ok. He's just a little cranky in this chapter. I hope you like it :). Thank you for reviewing once again, and take care!
Chapter 3
"You have to what?" Jakotsu scooted back from Bankotsu on his futon.
"I have to cut your hair," Bankotsu reaffirmed.
They had been in town two days longer than they had initially planned as suggested by Dr. Kaji. Mr. Chin had gladly offered to house them a few days longer without charge, since he'd taken such a liking to Bankotsu.
"Your hair is too heavy and it might be the cause of your headaches," Bankotsu said carefully. He held out the long knife for Jakotsu to see. "I'm not going to chop it all off. Mid-back should be ok. Come on, it won't be so bad."
"No," Jakotsu shook his head slowly, carefully. "You've already made me eat twice today when I didn't want to, and now you want to cut my hair. No, Bankotsu!"
Bankotsu let a tiny groan of frustration escape his lips. "Jakotsu this is about your well-being! You have to eat and you have to let me cut your hair. We'll see the difference it makes, and if it doesn't make any, we'll let it grow back."
Jakotsu pouted and Bankotsu snorted, rolling his eyes. "Look as pitiful as you want, I'm still cutting your hair; like it or not."
Jakotsu let his head fall forward in defeat. "Do what you wish, Aniki. You always know what's best... I guess."
Well, leave it to Jakotsu to make Bankotsu feel like an ass for trying to help him.
"We'll wash it first, then I'll cut it, and I promise it won't be too short. You'll still be able to pull it up in your clip."
Jakotsu let out a breathy moan of displease. "Fine. Fine."
Bankotsu set down the knife he held and ruffled Jakotsu's silky curls. "Lets go to the dining hall for dinner, huh? It's time you met Mr. Chin. He's been very nice and he's still only seen the back of your head."
"Dinner?" Jakotsu slid off the futon that had been his sanctuary for the past two days and stretched cautiously. His long, lean form was graceful as a cat's as he prowled around the room, inspecting it for the first time. "But didn't we just eat?"
"That was hours ago!" Bankotsu exclaimed.
"You're always hungry!" Jakotsu chuckled.
"So?" Bankotsu said, grinning innocently. "Come on, fix up a bit so we can go out. You need to walk around some, get some air, and it wouldn't hurt you to eat something else. You're too skinny. You're nearly a foot taller than me, but I bet I weigh more!"
"You wouldn't if you weren't such a pig," Jakotsu teased.
Bankotsu oinked. "Pull your hair back and lets go."
"So bossy," Jakotsu frowned. Then breathed a heavy sigh through his nose. "I'll be ready in a few minutes. Is the water in the pail fresh? I want to wash up."
"It is so good to finally make your acquaintance, young man," Mr. Chin was beaming, bowing slightly to Jakotsu. "I hope that you are feeling much better. You look a bit pale. Sit down, sit down, and let me bring you something to eat that will bring some color to your cheeks!"
Jakotsu stammered, looking to Bankotsu in shock. He wasn't used to warm receptions on his behalf. "Um..."
Bankotsu laughed and leaned on Jakotsu. "You'll have to excuse my brother, Mr. Chin. He's very shy."
Mr. Chin's smile didn't falter at the statement. "What do you like to eat, Jakotsu- is it?"
Jakotsu nodded in answer to the question of his name. "I'm not picky. You don't have to bring anything special for me."
"Nonsense!" Mr. Chin bustled off, smacking one of his male-helpers in the head for making eyes with the daughter of a customer.
Bankotsu pulled Jakotsu to the end of a long table where they sat away from the other cheery people in the dining hall.
"I told you he's nice, so you wouldn't want to upset him by not eating the special dish he brings for you."
Jakotsu glared at him through his long bangs.
"Glad to see your good humor has returned," Bankotsu chuckled. "I was beginning to miss your perpetual cheer."
"Shut grouchiness be documented as a symptom in Jakotsu's case?
"When are we leaving here?" Jakotsu sighed, smoothing his hair away from his forehead. His dark gray eyes looked edgy as he gazed around at all of the people in the room with them.
"No one's looking at us," Bankotsu sighed, trying not to sound annoyed. Jakotsu always felt as if people were staring at him-- which they usually did when he cross-dressed- but the reason they really were staring and why Jakotsu assumed they were staring were two different things.
Jakotsu was attractive whether playing the part of man or woman and his looks drew attention from all sexes. Jakotsu believed they stared because they hated him, and Bankotsu could not convince him of otherwise.
It really hurt him to know that someone he really cared about thought so little of himself. He had thought he could change that. He had thought a few years with him would make him better.
"I'm certain that man is staring," Jakotsu whispered, nodding his head toward the offender.
Bankotsu let his eyes drift in the direction of Jakotsu's non-too-subtle-nod and nearly bit his tongue. It was Dr. Kaji. He was sitting alone again at a small table, drinking tea and smiling at them.
Bankotsu shivered reflexively, then stifled it. "That's the doctor that helped you, Jakotsu. You don't remember him?"
Jakotsu frowned. "I don't remember anything except that he felt creepy. Is he the one that told you to chop off my hair?"
"Yes."
"Where is Jakotsutou?"
"You're not cutting up the doctor."
"Something around here must be cut, and it won't be my hair."
"We've already come to a decision on that one, Jakotsu. Remember?"
"I told you I don't remember anything," Jakotsu said slyly, kicking Bankotsu under the table.
"Oh, so now you want to be funny." Bankotsu pulled the clip from Jakotsu's hair, chuckling at the gasp of outrage Jakotsu let out as his raven mess of curls sprawled over his shoulders and down his back.
Bankotsu grimaced at it, imagining how long it was going to take to brush it out and Jakotsu's whining while he did it. Jakotsu was not looking forward to his haircut later and neither was Bankotsu.
Maybe Bankotsu should let Jakotsu cut the doctor up.
"....killed his horses. They look like they'd been slashed to bits by claws."
"Do you think it was a demon?"
Two men walked past Bankotsu and Jakotsu deep in conversation.
"A demon would have eaten at least the organs of the animals. Nothing was devoured at all; they were just slaughtered."
"It may have been that crazy man loose in the area."
"Gods, I hope he will pass through our town and leave us alone! We've nothing here for him!"
"From what I hear, he doesn't sound like he's after anything. Just likes to kill."
"What are they talking about Bankotsu?" Jakotsu nudged Bankotsu gently, leaning in close to hear his reply.
Bankotsu shrugged. "There's some killer lose. They were talking about him the other day too and how he killed a bunch of families, but I don't think he stole anything. They were afraid he was heading toward town...and I guess he is."
"Think we'll run across him?" Jakotsu asked.
"Maybe..." Hopefully. Bankotsu rubbed his chin. He could use more practice with Banryuu, slicing up a killer would be good exercise.
"That man is still staring."
Bankotsu rolled his eyes. "Lets go talk to him then. It's probably all he wants."
Jakotsu stiffened.
"Jakotsu, he helped you for free."
"Nothing's ever free," Jakotsu muttered bitterly.
"Ja..."
"I don't want to talk to him. I've come out for dinner and I'm letting you cut my hair, be pleased with that."
Bankotsu blinked. Oh yeah, he was loving Jakotsu's mood. He hoped a good night's sleep with no pain would free him of it. It was strange to be around a cranky Jakotsu.
"Fine, Jakotsu, fine. Here's Mr. Chin with dinner. Please try to be nice to him."
Mr. Chin arrived holding a tray with two steaming bowls of soup. "This is just to start off with boys. Eat up, eat up; when you are done, I will bring out the main dish for you. Would you like tea or milk?" He winked at Bankotsu when he'd said milk, knowing from being around Bankotsu a few days that he preferred milk to anything.
"Milk for the both us," Bankotsu said politely.
Jakotsu made a face.
"Milk is good for you," Bankotsu said perkily. He lifted the warm porcelain bowl of soup to his lips and took a sip, grinning at the taste. "It's good, Jakotsu. Try a little."
Jakotsu sighed, staring down into the bowl glumly. He took the chopsticks that Bankotsu had ignored and poked around in the soup, fishing out the vegetables and letting them fall back into the bowl with a soft splash.
"Stop playing with your food!"
"I'm seeing what's in it!" Jakotsu snapped. He shoved a few vegetables in his mouth and chewed, staring hard at Bankotsu while he did it.
Bankotsu continued to sip his soup, holding Jakotsu's dark eyes. As long as Jakotsu was eating, he didn't care how much he snapped and glared at him.
By the time Mr. Chin had brought the main dish around, Bankotsu had finished his soup and was slurping down the rest of Jakotsu's.
Jakotsu turned slightly green at the sight of the baked fish and rice staring at him from a wooden plate.
Bankotsu knew then that Jakotsu was full beyond his limits and would throw up if Bankotsu pressed him to eat anymore. "I'll eat it! Just pass it over when I'm done with mine."
Jakotsu nodded, looking relieved. "I'm sleepy, Aniki."
"I can tell. You're crabby as hell."
"I'm not crabby."
"Oh yeah... Well explain the..." A large, heavy hand plopped down on Bankotsu's shoulder and he fought the instinct to flip the offender over his shoulder and grab for the closest thing he could use for a weapon. In this case it would be a fish juice-stained chopstick.
"Hello Bankotsu," Dr. Kaji beamed down at him. "May I join you for a moment?"
"Um...sure," Bankotsu said. He tossed a look at Jakotsu who was watching Kaji sit down across from them with apprehension.
"Hello Jakotsu. How are you feeling today? This is the first time I've seen you outside of your room. In fact, this is the first time I've seen all of your face without all of that hair hiding it from me." Kaji cast an inquiring look at Bankotsu.
"We're cutting it tonight," Bankotsu answered the look. "I told him mid-back would be ok."
Kaji frowned lightly, studying Jakotsu. "I didn't know he had quite so much hair and that it was this curly. You might want to go a bit shorter. Pull the curls straight and cut at about shoulder length."
Jakotsu made a noise of protest. "I will not wear my hair that short!"
"Fine then, be in pain!" Bankotsu exclaimed. "I give up!"
"Now Jakotsu..." Kaji began and Jakotsu glared at him, his eyes taking on that peculiar gleam they got when he was interested in making someone into sushi surprise.
"Jakotsu..." Bankotsu's voice was low with warming.
"I'm done eating, Aniki. I will wait for you in our room. Tell Mr. Chin thank you and good night." Jakotsu rose gracefully, gathering his hair in one hand and pinning it up once again. Bankotsu couldn't help but notice the appreciative eyes of several men and a few young girls on Jakotsu as he did so.
Jakotsu strode out of the room quickly and Bankotsu hoped that none of his admirers followed him out for Jakotsu was in murderous mood that night.
Please don't let him kill anyone. With their luck, the people around here might figure Jakotsu to be the crazy killer on the loose and hang him for serial charges. Then Bankotsu would have to rescue him which would result in the deaths of more townspeople and then they'd both be wanted criminals.
Bankotsu didn't quite think they were ready to be 'wanted' yet. He still enjoyed the company of other people too much. When they became notorious they wouldn't be able to enter towns and stay at local inns and befriend the lonely old inn-keepers anymore. People would talk about them like they were talking about this mystery killer with claws like an animal, but wasn't a demon.
Hmm...
"Bankotsu, I get the feeling your brother doesn't like me. Have I done something to offend him?" Kaji interrupted his thoughts.
"Hmm..." Bankotsu gazed at him hazily. "Oh... he's just mad cause you told him he had to cut his hair. It's his vanity."
The mystery killer had to be quite skilled to have escaped punishment so many times for his crimes. Bankotsu wondered again if he could take him. It would be an excellent change to measure his level of skill....and maybe... to induct a new member to the group he wished to form.
He and Jakotsu hadn't had much luck in finding people to join their cause, but then they hadn't been looking very hard and they still didn't know what they were looking for exactly. Bankotsu wanted someone with awesome skill and Jakotsu just liked staring at the men.
He wondered if Jakotsu would ever.... take on a lover or something. He was 18 and he definitely got aroused, but... He got so shy around people and if anyone made a move on him, he snapped. Jakotsu's father had probably ruined any chance Jakotsu ever had at being able to function within a stable relationship. He didn't trust anyone to accept no for an answer; everyone that touched him was out to hurt him; anyone attracted to him had to be bad... and then sometimes he got confused and reversed the last category. Sometimes it became anyone Jakotsu was attracted to had to be bad.
Bankotsu was suddenly filled with waves of sorrow for his friend and righteous anger at the ones who'd hurt him. He had to keep reminding himself that they were all dead, done in by Jakotsu himself.
His stomach churned and he stopped eating the meal Jakotsu had left behind.
"Are you alright?"
Bankotsu nearly jumped. He'd forgotten he wasn't sitting by himself. He nodded at Dr. Kaji vigorously then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Hey...look... I gotta go. Jakotsu's tired and I want to get this haircut over with before he goes to bed tonight. He sleeps like the dead and he's damn hard to wake."
Kaji's eyes flickered a bit when he said 'dead,' and Bankotsu had to stifle another shudder. Gods, he hated being around this man. "Thanks for the hint about pulling his hair straight before cutting. I don't think I'll cut it as short as you recommended though. He'd have a fit. Um... Ja ne!"
He ran off without even finding Mr. Chin to tell him 'goodnight.'
"I hate it," Jakotsu grumbled as Bankotsu fluffed his wet hair with a towel.
Bankotsu sighed, "Jakotsu, you haven't even seen it yet."
"I don't have to see it to know it's awful," Jakotsu said, his voice so soft Bankotsu had to strain to hear it.
"Jakotsu, it's still long, just not as long!" Bankotsu folded the towel and ran his fingers through his hair to untangle some of Jakotsu curls before pulling a brush through it.
Bankotsu didn't blame Jakotsu for being upset about the haircut; he would probably kill the person who dared come near him to cut his, but honestly, he was beginning to feel a trifle insulted. He pouted and looked at the finished product. He had done a good job. Jakotsu's hair was nice and even, just a little shorter than mid-back. "Do you want me to pull it back or braid it up?"
"I don't care," Jakotsu muttered. "Do what you want with it. It's ruined."
Bankotsu rolled his eyes and carefully began to brush Jakotsu's hair so that he could braid it loosely. It would press itself flat during the night and would hang straighter in the morning, so it wouldn't appear to be so short to Jakotsu.
He'd complain anyway, though.
"All done," Bankotsu let go of the thick braid he'd just made and watched it smack onto Jakotsu's white shirt with a wet plop. Slowly he leaned forward to rest his head on Jakotsu's shoulder and relaxed when Jakotsu leaned his head on top of his.
"It's really not so bad; I promise," Bankotsu whispered.
Jakotsu let out a shaky breath. "My mama loved my hair. She used to brush it and play with it... and tell me it was just like her mother's hair when she used to wear it long. 'Do not cut Josue's hair,' she always said. 'Do not touch a hair on his head.'"
Jakotsu mimicked his mother's words with a distinct foreign accent that sometimes shadowed his Japanese. Bankotsu had never really asked Jakotsu much about his mother. He knew she was not Japanese, but what country had she come from; what language had she spoken?
"I never cut it; Papa never cut it..."
"Aw Jakotsu..."
"The brush.... the one you saved for me, she used that. It was her brush. She used to brush her hair, one hundred strokes, everyday. Then she would twist it and pull it up in the butterfly, and she would paint her face and wear a colorful yukata that she would bind around the waist and tuck part of in her belt so everyone could see what pretty white legs she had..."
Bankotsu put his arms around Jakotsu, linking his hands across Jakotsu's flat stomach. "Is that why you like to dress....like that... sometimes? You want to look like her."
Jakotsu's breathing was shallow. "I don't know... maybe..."
"Maybe it's a way to feel closer to her somehow?"
"No." Jakotsu slumped back into Bankotsu. "I don't want to feel closer to her. I hate her. I hate her, hate her, hate her! When she left, she was supposed to take me! Instead she tried to get rid of me, and she didn't do it right! Now...now I'm here and I'm me..."
"What's wrong with being here and being you?" Bankotsu held his friend tighter.
"I hate me," Jakotsu whispered. "I'm not right, Bankotsu, and everybody knows it, but you."
"Everybody knows what, but me? It seems to me that you've got it backward. I'm the one who knows what a great person you are, and everyone else is clueless. You're one of a kind, Jakotsu, and there will never be another like you. I'm lucky to be the one to know you."
"Yeah..." Jakotsu sighed. "That's what you always say. You... you're a good friend, Bankotsu."
"Damn right I am," Bankotsu agreed. "And so are you."
"I'll never understand why you like me so much, Aniki, but I'm glad that you do."
"Mmmhmm... Wanna go see if Mr. Chin's still up so we can get more food?"
Jakotsu chuckled. "You can go see if he's still up. I'm going to bed. Are we leaving in the morning?"
"If you're up to it," Bankotsu said. "You were really out of it this time. I want to make sure you're really ok before we start traveling again. It may be better if we waited one more day."
Jakotsu shrugged. "Whatever you want is fine with me, Aniki."
"I think Mr.... Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Jakotsu asked.
"Shhh..."
Something was approaching very swiftly. Bankotsu released Jakotsu and bounced up into a defensive position. Jakotsu still sat sprawled on the ground, a confused frown on his face. A dark shape, a familiar dark shape, came through the brush.
"Hey!" Bankotsu shouted to stop it.
He wondered if it was the killer; hoped it was the killer. Although... he thought about Banryuu in his room. Poor Banryuu would have to miss out on the fight. He'd kill a nice demon with him later.
The panting shape drew nearer and stopped and Bankotsu nearly groaned aloud in disappointment.
This was no mystery killer with claws like a demon.
It was...
"Dr. Kaji? What are you doing out here at this hour?"
He squinted to get a closer look. The man's eyes were wide with dazed fright and the front of his tunic had been stained by some dark liquid.
"B...Bankotsu? I thought you were... would be in bed."
"It took forever to get Jakotsu's hair straightened. Is something the matter?" Bankotsu wanted to take a step forward, but a strange feeling in his gut stopped him.
"Um...no, not at all. Just...gotta get home. Go inside now boys, and don't come back out until morning. Good...goodnight."
Dr. Kaji began to run again... And Bankotsu stared after him, realizing that the man was...dripping.
He moved to a place Kaji had been and knelt to dip a finger in the gooey liquid left behind in the grass. He brought the soiled finger to his face and almost gasped.
Blood, the doctor had been dripping blood. He'd been stained with blood.
He was hurt? But he hadn't behaved like someone who had been injured. He didn't flinch or limp or favor any particular area.
Maybe he'd run into the killer...
Maybe fear was driving him to run like a person possessed and he would collapse later from blood loss.
Hmm...
"Jakotsu?" His friend had been very quiet.
"What did you think about that?"
"I think we will be staying here another day."
"Yeah... I think so too."
Author's Note: Well that's it. I hope you all liked it. Please review and let me know what you think!