A/N: I'M BACK! MUAHAHAHAHAHA! I just realized that I forgot to put lines in my first chapter! Dang! So sorry! There is a vocab dictionary, as well as a helpful straightener-outer thing at the bottom.
DEFINITELY LOOK AT THE EXPLAINING DICTIONARY!
sakurablossomskxk: Heh. I dunno squat either, but I did look into it. A lot. And ya, Bankotsu's adorable. (pulls 'kotsu's cheek) Glad you like my stories. Don't worry, vacation is always nice. Espescially when you have a babyish demon attacking your computer at every chance! (glares at sess) At least when Bankotsu goes hyperactive, he doesn't attack anything…
iNuyAsHasAma1: Thanxs, and I'm typing (cough slaving cough) away!
AnimeMoonlightGoddess: Wahh! (hides behind 'kotsu) I know, I know! Sorry 'bout vacation!
Sorry if the fights are a bit shorter at the front. More a (pitifully written) suspenseful, action-ish (not good at it) chappy. Srry if its short.
Paths of Moon and Flame- Shinku EitaiChapter One
Hidden Secrets, Lies of an Assassin; Jakotsu's Feelings
'Amid the darkness, hope flickers, as a powerful rage engulfs us. It enpowers us, staining our hands with blood and sorrow. They say it steals our souls, but think; what have you got to lose if the ones you love are dead? Who is to say you even have a soul anymore? They say without the ones you love, you are nothing, but yet, I am something. I am Kagome. The rage, the revenge; the blood of those murderers dripping crimson from Shinku Eitai; it is exhilarating, and I live for it. My soul? It may be gone, but at least onii-sama and my parents are avenged, and no one, no one can say I was nothing.' (cough This thought (me write, you no steal. or I sick fluffy on you!) will pop up later cough)
Furious molten amber-flecked sapphire eyes glared at the speechless assassin before her. "You dare… Nevermind, you cannot comprehend anything, you bloody bastard… Whatever is wrong? Something in your throat, perhaps? Allow me to slit it, so you can breathe easier," Kagome lunged, testing his awareness and reflexes with the deadly distraction.
Swinging his giant silver halberd in an arc, Bankotsu was barely able to block a steady stream of lightning fast attacks on Kagome's part, blue and pale yellow lightning crackling through the air, entwining in small, but vicious torrents of sharp wind, picking up and swirling the pale pink sakura blossoms.
'Kuso, my katana's stuck in the sheath!' She lunged, giving the scattered assassin little time to think, navy blue katana in hand, and by some miracle, Bankotsu maneuvered himself away from the deathblow, freeing the dangling sword at last.
"Why did you wear a veil?" Bankotsu muttered uncertainly, peering at the beautiful man's (keep in mind, this is what ban thinks) face, noting the bold, elegant markings.
"It is none of your concern," the annoyed girl snapped. Bankotsu scoffed, quickly going from defense to offense, landing his midnight black katana onto the assassin's halberd, which stood protectively in front of the mysterious person, forked yellow lightning roaring around them.
Brilliant sapphire eyes widening a tad, Kagome's whirling brain threw a very unexpected thought at her. 'Jakotsu is going to kill me! I can't believe I forgot! Kuso, this bastard is still trying… Who knew good lookin' guys could fight so well…' Kagome almost slapped herself, 'What about Hiten? Kouga? Inuyasha? Sesshy?' Her scattered brain pulled it together, bringing her down to earth.
"But if you must know, use your pitiful imagination," Kagome retorted angrily, before mock bowing, "If you have one. I must depart, we shall meet again. Be prepared or die," She struck like lightning, and Bankotsu gasped as the slim sword penetrated his broad chest, barely missing his pounding heart.
"Damn bastard!" He yelled.
"Damned I am, bastard I'm not," She replied casually, wiping her bloodstained katana on the vibrant green grass, "I allow you to live for one purpose only: You are the one to stand longest. I enjoy toying with you. You deserve it, for your kind killed my onii-sama and parents. Until we meet again, I'll be watching you."
With those departing words, she vanished, the emerald-crimson grass swirling in time with the small dark blue vortex, cherry blossoms floating down from the heavens to engulf Bankotsu.
o.O.o.O
'Damn. Why does he have to disappear like that! It's so damn annoying! Kuso to hell! I lost him! Huh?' Jakotsu skidded to a stop, his modified lavender kimono floating behind him smacking into his back, the light green flower design blurring. 'There!' His brain screamed, and he watched curiously from the deepening shadows.
"Ah, Kagome! You've returned." The handsome commander smiled a dazzling smile at the beautiful assassin, before frowning. "You didn't kill him. He was the one who killed them." Jakotsu watched the man stiffen, golden sparks flickering in his eyes (kagome).
"HE SLAUGHTERED OUR KIND, YET YOU DID NOT KILL HIM!" Hiten roared, losing the grasp on his violent demonic nature, digging his extended claws into the man's arm, before removing the bloodstained appendages and delivering a hard, cruel slap to the left cheek of the man. Grabbing him around the neck, Hiten raised the assassin into the air by the throat, before flinging him into several trees. He roared again, and bright blue lightning crackled down, striking the thunderpike.
'Humans can't survive that! Shame it was a sexy guy, too…' Jakotsu pouted, as he saw demonic rage flicker from the raging thunder youkai's blood red eyes, before an expression of guilt and sadness crossed his face, and his thick raven braid stood still. "Kagome?" He whispered softly, too soft for Jakotsu's sharp hearing.
"You have gotten weaker, Hiten," Kagome stood proudly, wiping a small trail of blood from the corner of her mouth. But Jakotsu noticed his fist was clenched angrily. Striding slowly over to her commander, she snatched his hand and placed it on her heart. Turning redder than a tomato, the commander gulped.
"We are not enemies. I see you are angry, but think," she began whispering very softly, "Your commander is injured by an unknown person. You think he is weak, and losing his leadership, do you not?" Seeing the beet red thunder demon nod, Kagome continued, "Then you begin to break away, and the group falls to pieces, from the inside. Do you see now? But," she added bitterly, "If I had know, I would not have toyed with him, using only a quarter of my power. I would have killed him slowly and painfully."
Nodding once more, Hiten replied, "I believe you. And I-I apologize." Turning sharply on his heels, he fled the scene, the dark ominous thunderclouds engulfing him.
o.O.o.O
When she was sure Hiten was out of range, Kagome whipped her fierce gaze to the budding red oak tree, stating, "You may reveal yourself, I know you are there."
Jakotsu's magenta eyes widened a tad, before narrowing. Instead of replying, he charged out, whipping around his Jakotsutou, its many silver blades wreathing and whirling in the air. "Was he gay?" Jakotsu asked hopefully, "'Cause he blushed!"
Laughing, Kagome stood perfectly still, waiting for the deadly blades to come. "Hiten gay? He'd slice you in two if he heard you," She stopped the first blade with her hands, and in an awkward swirling arc, she wrenched the sword from the crossdresser assassin's sturdy hand.
Frowning, Jakotsu whipped out his spare small pale yellow katana, swinging it above his head, and he brought it down upon the figure. "Shame," A cold hard blade rested against his throat.
"Who… are you!" He whirled around and sliced down ferociously. Kagome dodged, and the sharp edge missed, slicing open her remaining white yukata.
"Huh?" Jakotsu stared as dark blush stained Kagome's tanned cheeks. "You're a girl?" He asked, glancing from her generous chest, bound in dark blue bandages, to her prettily blushing face.
"Urusai! And stop staring!" Kagome smacked his tan cheek hard, and he flew backwards. Taking this time to observe him, Kagome stole his deep purple obi, tying her yukata closed, and glared.
His dark brown hair was pulled into a sort of feminine hairstyle on top of his head, curious violet eyes clouded and foggy from being smacked to the cold and hard ground. His slender black brows furrowed, and he bounded into the air, springing off a nearby tree to retrieve his slim katana. "Let's finish this!" His higher alto voice rang through the air.
"Very well. I shall play your game," Kagome's feet pounded the earth, the choking dust becoming stiffling and dancing around Jakotsu. "Yo." She suddenly appeared as a navy blue flame, her ebony braid lashing freely, her cerulean eyes dancing with amusement and annoyance. Taking out an extremely heavy red metal fan, she whacked him upside the head, knocking him into a large boulder opposite the clearing.
Smirking, Jakotsu brought his sword down, waiting for the usual gush of ruby blood to flow and stain the ground, but was shocked to see the woman's face close to his, forehead against his, hands clapped around it. "Enough," She said in a bored tone, "I have things to do." Whirling on her heel, she turned to leave but was stopped by a hand on her throat.
"It is dishonorable for a wench to dress as a man. I shall show you pain and sorrow as punishment," Jakotsu hissed, readying his glinting blade.
"You dare speak to me of pain and sorrow! Tell me, what would you be doing if your family, your brother, your world just died and left you alone? Would you cry? Would you lose all hope? Your soul? Well?" Kagome was screaming now, silver-blue tears sliding down her cheeks, navy blue flames scorching the steady assassin's hand.
Flashback"Wait! Please Souta!" The young, pretty girl stumbled, waiting for impact into the hard ground, but instead was caught by her older brother.
"Mother would kill me if I let you get hurt, now wouldn't she?" The twenty-year-old smiled warmly at his nine-year-old sister, who smiled back.
"Race you!"
"Come back, Kagome!"
-That Night-
"SOUTA!" She screamed, tears spilling from her eyes, clawing at the steadfast woman holding her. "SOUTA!" Her mouth opened, and she watched it all. A man with dark crimson eyes and flowing ebony hair reaching toward him…
Crimson stained the ground late into the night.
End Flashback (will do a more full flashy later in story, explaining everything)
"Souta…" The name came unbidden to her lips, her beautiful voice softly naming the word, pain filling her eyes…
Flashback"Ka- gome… Kagome. I lo… ve you… and… I will… al…ways… remem.. ber… you…" His sapphire eyes closed, and he lay still as the silence rang through the clearing, unbroken except for the young girl's sobs, crimson flowing along the emerald grass.
"SOUTAAAAAAA!" Her screams echoed eerily, and her fist was clenched so hard her plam was dripping crimson. She leaned over, and kissed her brother on the forehead, rubbing his cheek, tears dripping freely. Suddenly, her head snapped up, as fire burned in her eyes, she grabbed his halberd one-handedly, and she began pursuing the one who had killed him, her only brother. Her only family alive.
"He shall die!" She hissed, and the world seemed to melt away, as she locked onto the one, and for the first time, the dragon was released. It had awoken. And it wanted blood to spill.
End FlashbackHe faltered, seeing pain and betrayal flicker and die in her eyes. 'I had no idea…' His breath stopped, and he bowed his head. 'I complain about not being loved by Inuyasha, and here she is: a woman I might add, without anything.'
"My soul? It may be gone, but at least onii-sama and my parents will be avenged, and no one, no one can say I was nothing." The gentle wind rustled through the trees as she wiped away a single tear, and she turned, leaving her opponent alone to watch her strong figure stride away slowly, vanishing as the wind.
o.O.o.O
"I can't believe I cried in front of the enemy," Kagome muttered, pushing the memories to the back of her mind. "Plus I have to get to that place or Jakotsu will kill me!" (confused? See bottom guide) She zoomed into her tent, slipping on a dark ebony cloak over her brother's clothes, gripping the handle of Shinku Eitai until her palm was dripping ruby liquid onto the lime green grass.
"Kagome?" A timid voice asked, and Ginta came out from behind the tent flap. "Are you okay? I smelled tears…" Kagome turned, and she smiled and gave the trusted wolf demon a pat on the back.
"I'm perfectly fine. I'd better go, before Jak gets suspicious and turns the whole town upside down." She waved, pushing aside the tent flap, freeing her blue-streaked hair from its usual braid, running her slender fingers through it. Sighing softly, she sped through the camp, black cape billowing out behind her, taking note of the silent ebony-haired boy following her.
'Where is that tree…' She halted at the foot of a blossoming magnolia tree, patting it gently on the rough tanned bark, letting fond memories of her times with Jakotsu replay themselves.
"Kagooooomeeeeee!" A medium alto voice called out, and a figure popped out of the shadows, patting his friend on the back. His ebony hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, his red yukata and black pants swirling dramatically from the sudden motion.
"Yes Jakotsu, I came. Now what's with this 'surprise' junk you blabbered about yesterday?" Raising a slender eyebrow, Kagome eyed him. "It better not be a party or a bar…"
Frowning, her playmate gave his best droopy eyes, the violet orbs locking onto her cerulean ones. "Awwww… Please 'Gome! We haven't gone out somewhere in forever!" He latched onto her arm and started dragging her toward the bar. "Glad you agree! Let's go! WHEEEEEEEEE!"
'What have I done…' Kagome looked skeptical, but she caved, and skipped over to the bar with him, forgetting the black-haired pursuer.
o.O.o.O
"Here we are! You start up cards, and I'll get some drinks!" Jakotsu beamed happily, glad he could spend time with his best friend.
"Water!" Kagome started suddenly, her fists smacking the table, "Water, please." She ammended quietly. 'Damn! I almost forgot about that guy. I've got to stay sober!' She added, "Only water, or else I'll get a headache from all the noise."
Looking strangely at his friend, Jakotsu nodded hesitantly. "Whatever you want, Kaggy." Smiling gratefully, Kagome wrapped the black cloak around her and shuffled over to the card table.
"Up for a game?" She asked, and the men simply laughed.
"Hey girly. Fancy comin' home wit' me?" They all burst out laughing, and kagome's temper and aura flared.
"Do not make me harm you. I simply wish for a game." Her patience was wearing thin as the same man answered.
"But I want more; a game of love!" He lurched up, and she could smell he was sober, grabbing her arm roughly.
"I warned you! What is your name?" Kagome could barely contain the dragon, as it was fighting the chains with all its strength…
"Kuromeru Chuushin."
"What the hell is going on here! Kaggy!" Jakotsu seemed to pop over, and in a flash, the man was laying in a heap slumped against the opposing wall, a fist mark on his cheek. Rubbing his knuckles, Jakotsu turned to his friend. "You okay?" He asked, worry lacing his voice.
"Yeah." About to add more, Kagome shut her mouth as she saw the man whip out a curved katana. "Move." She slid in front of Jakotsu, and her sapphire eyes narrowed. "I warned you, and you did not listen. I shall fight you, Kuromeru Chuushin! Go outside by the magnolia tree. I shall meet you there." Her hands worked fast, and in no time, her ebony hair was bound in a braid.
"Kagome!" Jakotsu cried, looking lost and hopeless. "I… I don't know what I'd do if you got killed. You're like a brother to me."
"That's closer to the truth anyway…" Kagome said softly, gaze lowering, "I'm not who you think I am." She wheeled on her heels, giving him a look at her face before going outside to meet the man.
"She was the woman…" He whispered, a tear slipping down his cheek at the realization, "We are enemies. Ironic, how the two closest friends… are the two most bitter rivals."
o.O.o.O
"Kuromeru!" Kagome called out, " Do you wish to fight with weapons, or do hand-to-hand?" A crowd had gathered in the broad clearing, and she noted Jakotsu was among them.
"Weapon." The man answered, adrenaline rushing to his head.
"Choose a weapon then, Kuromeru! And choose wisely." Kagome watched as he chose a steel scimitar, infamous for its wide range. "I will return in a moment." Kagome walked over to the tree, and spoke clearly to a shadowed figure, "Shinku Eitai, Hiten." The cloaked figure removed its hood, and opened its blood red eyes, ignoring murmurs of 'devil' and 'murderer'.
Sighing, he responded testily, "Why do I have to give it to you!" Glaring Kagome frowned.
" Thanks for your help. I know where you put it anyway." She disappeared, reappearing a moment later. "Nice hiding spot you've got. A tree."
Whipping her gaze to the man, she grinned. "Prepare yourself!"
"No scrawny wench is gonna take me down! You don't even have a weapon! You're probably wearing a dress, too! Whatcha gonna wield? A toothpick?" Kagome pointed, and he laughed. "Can't pick it up, can you? It's probably a toothpick and paper…"
"Try it." The man walked over and strained to pick it up, to no avail.
"Still a toothpick." He said cockily.
"Toothpick… THIS!" She tossed her cloak at Hiten, who looked about ready to kill, and she grabbed the huge metallic weapon with one hand, whirling it above her head in a sleek arc. "HYA!" She yelled, and long deadly bolts of blue lightning filled the clearing as she brought the weapon down upon the scimitar, splitting it in two easily. "I have spared you. Move, and I shall face my original opponent." She turned to the crowd. "It is best if you distance yourselves, but you know best."
She whirled and yelled, "Reveal yourself…. BANKOTSU!"
AN: gomen. Short chappy, yep. But hey. At least I updated! Will do it sooner next time. (hopefully)
Sesshy: (smacks head)
And now for the explainer thingie:
Jakotsu is supposedly gay… but (can't give this away. This explainer is discontinued)
Kagome's parents and older bro were supposedly killed by a member of bankotsu's group. Supposedly.
Hiten has a nasty temper, like the anime series, hence, throwing kaggy about. But he still loves her, just acting dumb.
Jakotsu was watching kag and ban fight, so he naturally followed kag when she left.
Flashbacks will be explained later, along with the death of kag's parents and brother.
(THE BIG EXPLANATION OF THE EXPLAINING DICTIONARY!) Jakotsu and Kagome are best friends, and have been ever since before kag's parent's died. They both went their separate ways for a bit, and hence, each joined an assassin group (that they were part of at birth) unknown to the other. In this chap, you see kag reveal who she is to jak, altho she hasn't quite yet discovered who he is yet.
VOCAB:
Kuromeru Chuushin- dark heart
See u next time fellow readers! Please review! And yes, I know chappie sucks, but hey. Go with me. It'll get better and more plotty-ish later on! (its just starting to get a little plotty)
So please hang on and review! (makes me update sooner)!
darkenedmoonlightflame and company (sesshy and bankotsu)