Author's Note: Hey everybody! Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Mine started out kind of hectic. Old ladies backing into my car, giving me the runaround, dealing with insurance companies, same old, same old, lol! Here is Chapter 6 finally. Sorry, if it's a bit short and maybe a little jumpy, but the story must move on, and I need to get the boys the heck out of that lodge lol! Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews, and I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Reviewer Responses:

ElliRenChanSan: Lol, thank you! I'm a big fan of Harry Potter, so JK Rowling is one of my favorite authors ;). Thanks for reviewing chic. Take care!

Ladya C. Maxine: Hehehe! A lot of my reviews have been hacked off to, and I'm usually so embarrassed because it cuts off at strange parts lol. Lol, don't worry. I'm no fan of female characters either, but Bankotsu is a 15 year old boy and I figure he's going to have his "urges" lol. Hehehe Chippendale ;) You are so silly. Renkotsu and attractive...hmm. Well, he wasn't ugly to me lol, but to say I found him appealing would be going a bit too far lol! Hehehe Naraku can be kinda cute though ;). Yay! I'm glad you think I captured Renkotsu's character. I think of him as a sort of leech that feeds off of the strong, taking all he can, until he can stand on his own. :) Well, you'll get a little interaction in this chapter. As I said before, I needed to get the boys the heck out of the lodge and back on the road lol. Lots of interaction next chapter ;). Thanks for reviewing chic! Take care and I hope you're having a good holiday :).

Qem: Hmm... I'm going to take your suggestion and put new vocabulary at the top of the chapters ;). I do know it's distracting to have to scroll down and see translations, at least at the top you can kind memorize and be looking for the words lol. If Jakotsu uses any long strings of his language, I may bracket it and go ahead and translate ;). Hint: It's not Spanish ;) Thanks for reviewing all of the stories lol. I got all of your reviews lol! And...sniff, sniff.. I like peacocks, and I haven't met one gay man who cross dresses that isn't a bit of one ;). LOL! Take care and I hope you are having a happy holiday!

Skittlez: :) Jakotsu and Renkotsu will hate each other in the beginning too lol! ;). Thanks for reviewing chic! Take care!

Mukino Kuneka: Lol thanks for the review! Take care!

Houshi no Hanyou Sei: Bucket man? LOL! You'll have to explain that one, Mac. Glad you liked the chapter :). Take care and thanks for reviewing!

Gerbil: Aww...poor Suki lol. You won't like her in this either ;). Thanks for reviewing! Take care!

Yennie-Gurl: Lol! Glad Jakotsu and Bankotsu amuse you. Suikotsu doesn't stand it, lol, he gets a lot of laughs out of those two. Renkotsu might be a problem. No, Jakotsu hasn't come up with a name yet ;). Thanks for reviewing and I hope you're having a good holiday!

Riftwar-Slave: Lol! I'm honored. You can't partake of soda while reading my story, because...sniff...you think I'm funny, sniff. That means a lot to a person that often fins people can't tell when they're joking or being serious. Thanks! Take care and happy holidays!

D. Pearls: Lol, Suki hisses back. She thinks Ban-chan is hers :P. Um... actually I meant "ever" in that sentence I missed a different word in there that would have made that make more sense lol. I type like I'm dyslexic. Eh, I don't mind being corrected. It makes me go back and look over stuff that I'd never see on my own. (I read like I'm dyslexic too lol). Glad you think I'm making Ban-chan a believable teenager :). Haha, about Inuyasha having a better sex life. Hehehehhe, have your plushie Banryuu ready; you'll need it ;). Thanks for reviewing chic . Happy holidays!

Lynx 13h Whack: Man, Suki is getting major hate mail lol. Glad you enjoyed the chapter :). Take care!

Ibara-hime: Lol, ok... first I update too fast and now too slow and I'm losing interest lol! Make up your mind chic. Now that I have no more distractions, I can start updating this story regularly again, bring it to a close, and start on the next...the one I've been itching to write :). Thanks for reviewing and take care. Happy holidays!

Corrina: Hehehehe, poor Bankotsu aye? That's a first lol! Glad you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you're enjoying your holiday! Take care and thanks for reviewing!

Me, just me: Lol. Bankotsu is a little player ;). Suki is 14, only a year younger than Bankotsu lol. You know they moved fast in those days though ;). I hope you enjoy the update. Take care and happy holidays!

Chapter 6

Odin was already sitting at table with a steaming pot of tea in front of him, when Bankotsu entered the dining hall followed by Suikotsu. It hadn't been easy to coax the man out of the stable, but Bankotsu assured him that it would look unprofessional if Odin didn't meet at least one other member of their group before signing on.

"That's him?" Suikotsu whispered as they studied the man from across the room. He hadn't seen them enter yet as he was reading some sort of scroll spread out over the table. "He looks... different. But then every time I see him, he's in a different costume."

Bankotsu shrugged. "Shows he's versatile. We need people who can adapt and use what they have, when put on the spot."

"Easy, Bankotsu. You're not selling him to me." Suikotsu held up a hand. "I'm fine with letting him join, if you like him and Jakotsu says it's ok."

Bankotsu huffed, folding his arms over his chest indignantly. "You and Jakotsu are absolutely no help at all. All you two do is agree with me!"

Suikotsu smirked, giving Bankotsu's braid a tug. "Well, aren't you the boss?"

"Well, aren't you the boss..." Bankotsu mocked in a silly voice, rolling his eyes and crossing the room to boldly plop down at Odin's table with no formal warning or proper greeting. The man started slightly, gazing at Bankotsu wide-eyed before calming.

"Bankotsu, I thought you may have changed your mind..." Odin began; his eyes shifted from Bankotsu to something behind him, and Bankotsu turned. Suikotsu stood behind his back, peering down at Odin curiously.

"Odin," Bankotsu gestured up to Suikotsu, "this is Suikotsu. You've met twice, but never had to pleasure of exchanging a verbal greeting."

"Yes, Oo-Aniki was always too busy hitting you for me to get a word in edgewise," Suikotsu said with a wicked smirk, and Bankotsu cringed a bit inwardly. He'd remembered to ask Jakotsu to be nice, if he were to come along, but he'd forgotten to tell Suikotsu to do the same.

Bankotsu had come to love the man dearly in a short period of time, but his sense of humor was severely skewed and not for the kind at heart.

Odin frowned, staring at Suikotsu a moment, before laughing. "I suppose he was. It's a pleasure to meet you, Suikotsu." Odin rose so he could bow to the larger man. Suikotsu lifted a brow and peered down at Bankotsu, nodding his acceptance of Odin. He sat, crossing his legs and looking around for the waitress.

Bankotsu scowled. He'd forgotten all about having to deal with Suki again. Girls... gah.

"Where is the third member of your party, Bankotsu? I was hoping to meet with all of you this morning. Is he... still unwell?" Odin asked, rolling his scroll neatly and tying it off with a black ribbon.

Suikotsu narrowed his eyes and Bankotsu rested a hand on his leg to calm him while trying to stifle his own irritation. Yes, Bankotsu knew Odin had been spying on them, and while it didn't trouble him enough to deny membership, he did not like to be reminded of it.

Odin tensed, sensing that he'd said something wrong. "Oh...oh, I'm sorry. I just... well, you haven't said much about him, and I am honestly concerned."

"Nervous little bastard, isn't he?" Suikotsu mumbled to Bankotsu purposefully loud enough for Odin to overhead. Bankotsu squeezed Suikotsu's thigh. Please behave.

"Jakotsu hasn't been feeling well. He wanted to join us this morning, but it's in his best interests to rest today. I want to leave this place tomorrow."

Odin's face fell. "Tomorrow? Oh, so soon. I thought..."

"...thought we were going to evaluate you here? No, my friend, you have a journey ahead of you, but you'll be glad to know that your trial period has been waved. I want you, and my companions respect my final decision."

Odin nearly swallowed his tongue in shock; he choked a second and bolted his tea. "You've what? You're letting me join you just like that? Me?"

Bankotsu shrugged, waving at the three old men struggling to slam and latch the dining hall doors behind them as the snow from outside seemed to seek refuge on the clean wooden floors.

"Konnichiwa, Bankotsu!"

Touma-san appeared, helping the old men with the door and guiding them to a table.

Excellent, perhaps Suki would stay in the kitchen today and Touma-san would do all the serving.

"Bankotsu-chan!"

No such luck.

"You're so popular, Bankotsu," Odin said. "How do you do it? You're amazing."

Bankotsu blushed and glanced at Suikotsu who was staring at Odin oddly. "Odin, don't..."

"Don't what?– Commend you on your great talents. But Bankotsu, it's impossible not to. Do you mean to tell me, your other men don't tell you at least once a day what a wonderful job you're doing?" Odin actually looked surprised, and Suikotsu tapped the table to get Bankotsu's attention.

"I need to talk to you, Oo-Aniki. Alone."

Bankotsu used the gravity of Suikotsu's tone, the frightened look on Odin's face, and the approaching of Suki to make his decision to excuse himself from the table and follow Suikotsu to an empty corner of the room.

Bankotsu plodded after Suikotsu, dozens of thoughts buzzing through his head. Odin was a little intense; he was a little...eccentric... Maybe they should have just met in Odin's room like he had suggested the night before, so Suikotsu's first impression of the man could have come from his impressive toys.

"Oo-Aniki, what is that?" Suikotsu jerked his head in Odin's direction after they stopped.

"Um...it's our new brother?" Bankotsu gave a light grin, hoping to lighten the dark look on Suikotsu's face.

"Bankotsu, you can't be serious. He's... reverent of you, like you're some sort of god. It's like he's trying to make you his new Buddha. I'm surprised he hasn't brought you an offering yet."

"He has," Bankotsu uttered, scratching his head. "Himself." He looked over his shoulder at Odin attempting to engage in conversation with an obviously frustrated Suki. Had she sensed that Bankotsu was trying to evade her?

Suikotsu was shaking his head. "Gods, Aniki..." He sighed, not speaking anymore but the expression on his face said enough, and a small ember of anger smoldered in Bankotsu's stomach, igniting his words.

"That is why I was going to let you and Jakotsu have a choice in the matter, but you both shrugged off the responsibility and left it all up to me. I made my decision and I cant renege. Maybe next time you'll take me seriously when I tell you to be active members..."

"Bankotsu, we didn't shrug off any responsibility. Membership should be your call. As Jakotsu and I keep having to remind you, you are our leader. What you say goes, and thought we won't always necessarily like what you have to say, we'll follow you."

"Then why are we here, whispering about him then?" Bankotsu demanded, wanting to pull at his hair.

Suikotsu cracked his knuckles, looking heavenward briefly. "I want to know what you see in him. I'm looking at him as I know Jakotsu's going to look at him, and thinking 'what the hell?' Bankotsu, you don't even like people like him; why would you have him come with us?"

Bankotsu pressed his hands against Suikotsu's chest. "Sui, you saw what he did in Kira's village. You can't deny that was beyond incredible, and he's got more, and he can create even more with us and all of resources we're going to be coming into. We've got a man educated in the sciences on our side."

Suikotsu squinted at Bankotsu, taking hold of the hands on his chest. "And you trust this man? You'd close your eyes, knowing that he as near, watching you sleep?"

Bankotsu stared hard at Suikotsu. Odin wasn't a threat to him, to any of them. He was something Suikotsu could break over his knee, Jakotsu could kill with his bare hands, and Bankotsu could skewer without a second thought. Odin knew that; he wasn't stupid. "Yes, Suikotsu. I trust Odin."

Suikotsu closed his eyes for a moment, before nodding. "All right then."

Bankotsu gave a half smile. "After breakfast, he's going to take us to see his tools. You'll like him better after that, I promise."

"I'm not worried about liking him better," Suikotsu said, rubbing his chin and gazing with Bankotsu at Odin arguing with Suki.

"But you're worried about something," Bankotsu pressed, giggling as Suki smacked Odin over the head with an empty teapot and huffed back into the kitchen, the double doors swinging back and forth angrily.

"Yes, Jakotsu's griping about Odin. I can already hear him now..."

"Well, Jakotsu had his chance! He has no right to complain; I told him so!"

Suikotsu snorted with an incredulous smile. "And you really think that's going to make him keep his silence? Oh, be prepared for a very long trip. Where are we going by the way? Did you ever decide?"

Bankotsu was groaning; no, he hadn't expected it to silence him, but one could dream! He looked at Suikotsu. "From here, the mountains are closer and I've heard the youkai there are quiet, but the idea of them scares settlers away."

"So..."

"But the sea means good resources."

"So..."

"So, I'm going to ask Odin what he thinks. His welcoming present will be to choose where we go. Lets see if he'll be different from you and Jakotsu and be a decision maker."

"Something tells me you have little to worry about there," Suikotsu said. "Perhaps you have made a worthy choice. Lets get back to the man, before he thinks we're plotting to kill him."

"With the way you looked at the table, I wouldn't be surprised if he was thinking just that," Bankotsu uttered.

"Then he'd be displaying some of those wonderful brains you claim he has," Suikotsu chuckled. They made their way back to the table, rejoining Odin.

The man rose at their reappearance respectfully and sat back down. "I tried to go ahead and order breakfast, but the girl was not very cooperative. Someone should talk to her father."

Bankotsu scowled and Suikotsu snickered. "That won't be necessary. Bankotsu can get our orders taken."

"Shut up," Bankotsu muttered, then with a sigh. "What do you guys want?"

Suikotsu really guffawed then, but Odin looked horrified. "Bankotsu, you cannot be expected to wait on us!"

Suikotsu choked on his laughter, clearing his throat and looking at Bankotsu pointedly.

Bankotsu sighed. "Look Odin. I'm flattered that you think I should be treated like some sort of Shogun, but I'm not, and I won't be dealt with in that way. Everyone in this group is going to pull their own weight, me included. If there's something I can do for you, I'll do it and vice versa."

"But," Odin said, catching Bankotsu's eyes and holding them, "there needs to be some sort of distinction between you and the rest of us, a gap of sorts. There are some things you shouldn't do and delegate to someone of lower rank... Oo-Aniki." Odin's eyes widened then and he covered his mouth for a moment. "I can call you Oo-Aniki now, right? You did say I was part of your group, and that is what you are called?"

Bankotsu nodded. "Yes I did, and you may address me as that. Notice the term is Big Brother, not Your Lordship or Your Majesty. The only distinction I need from you guys is the willingness to follow me and respect my orders, and I order you now not to correct me or my behavior."

Odin was silent at that, bowing his head a bit in acknowledgment.

"Now Odin, let try this again. What would you like for breakfast?"

Suki was none too pleased with Bankotsu, when he'd entered the kitchen to see what she was cooking, but a few stolen kisses and a caressing of the buttocks earned him fresh miso, rice, sweet rolls, and warm, sweetened soy milk. With a coy smile and a promise of: later, Bankotsu left the kitchen with a tray full of food and a spring in his step.

If they left tomorrow, he could have his way with Suki tonight.

He, Suikotsu, and Odin ate in silence, and then without question followed Odin to his cabin so that he could show them his tools.

"You simply light the end here and the powder I poured in through the mouth of the barrel will heat and explode, propelling the heavy metal ball I dropped in after the powder forward. It can tear a hole through a grown man."

Odin held a long metal cylinder in his lap as he, Bankotsu, and Suikotsu sat on the clean floor of his room. "It's called a canon. The flame thrower works the same way, except instead of a ball and powder, I use a corrosive fluid."

Bankotsu stroked the black neck of the weapon Odin introduced as a flame thrower. It was longer than the ones he had seen in the clearing, because it actually spewed real fire.

"The fire I breathe, as you say, isn't really fire. It only looks like it." Odin passed the canon to Suikotsu who reached for it with greedy hands. Bankotsu scanned the floor for anything the man could use to light the contraption and was pleased to find nothing nearby.

Odin rose from the floor, crossing the room and opening the door to his closet. He pulled out a brown knapsack and set it on top of his futon. Flipping open the pack, he smiled. "These are the chemicals."

Odin extracted two vials from the bag and poured their contents together in a clear container he'd placed on the floor earlier. The chemicals mixed together, turning a golden color. "Watch when I shake it a bit."

Bankotsu peered at the glass as Odin raised it and swirled the new compound around. What looked like a blue flame blossomed in the fluid. "Add a little air to that..." Odin raised the glass to his lips, taking some into his mouth, swishing it around and blowing out. A small blaze escaped the open "o" of his mouth.

"Whoa!" Bankotsu clapped and Suikotsu laughed. "Let me try!"

"No Oo-aniki, don't take in so much!"

Bankotsu had already grabbed the glass and was taking a hearty gulp; not expecting the taste to be so horrible, he spat the liquid out quickly, remembering to blow at the last minute and swallowing half of the mouthful in an attempt to right his mistake. Illusory fire erupted from his mouth that he couldn't enjoy as he choked and sputtered on what he'd swallowed.

Suikotsu roared with laughter as Odin pounded Bankotsu on the back with the heel of his hand. "I wish Jakotsu could have seen that!"

Bankotsu waved a fist in Suikotsu's direction as he continued to choke.

"Suikotsu, you're not being very helpful," Odin scolded. "Get him some water."

Suikotsu growled, and Bankotsu struggled to regain his composure. "It's... it's ok. I'm ok, Odin. Gods, why didn't you tell me that stuff tasted like lantern oil?!"

"Only you would know what lantern oil tastes like, Bankotsu," Suikotsu teased, forgetting previous annoyances at Bankotsu's distraction, and Bankotsu mock glared.

"Hey, I was five and my father had some in a cup! I thought it was juice!"

"That's not what I'm going to tell, Jakotsu," Suikotsu said evilly, and Bankotsu felt the need to pounce on the older man and wrestle him into submission, but somehow he didn't think Odin would be quite comfortable with that yet.

Odin was a little mature for Bankotsu's taste, and he was going to have to devise ways to lighten the former monk up, or Odin would never make it.

Settling for smacking Suikotsu hard in the knee, Bankotsu looked to Odin, who stood behind him frowning. "Odin, we're trying to decide where to build our headquarters. I've narrowed the locations down to the east mountains or the south shores. What area would you like to go to?"

This was the moment of truth. Had Bankotsu really chosen a winner?

Odin looked thoughtful, and Bankotsu wondered in amusement, if he would scratch his bald head. To Bankotsu's disappointment the former monk did not, but he did come up with an answer. "The mountain valley. It's quiet, unpopulated, and the wooded area and mountain streams will provide excellent resources. Of course, we would have to hire men to build the great house, since I will assume none of us are carpenters."

"But we won't want anyone outside of us to truly know our location. We'll have a smaller base a few miles away where we'll accept customers..."

"So we kill the builders afterward," Odin shrugged. Bankotsu raised a brow, and Suikotsu looked pleasantly surprised.

"It shouldn't be hard to dispose of the bodies in that area after all. The youkai and wildlife will do the job for us, and any man that would accept a job that would take them that far out into unpopulated lands, won't have any close family that would come looking for them."

Bankotsu nodded, not bothering to conceal an "I told you so," grin at Suikotsu. "Well Odin, it seems we now have our plan."

Odin blinked. "You're going to go by what I say?"

Bankotsu's grin widened. "I wouldn't have asked, if I wasn't. You're a smart man, Odin, which is why I chose you. I'm going to utilize every asset you have to offer. The mountains it is. Now, all we need to do is start advertizing for some contractors..."

"That's not all we need to do, Aniki," Suikotsu said, gazing at Odin.

"What else is there?" Bankotsu frowned. What could he have forgotten?

"Odin needs a new name."

Oh yeah. "Any suggestions?"

Suikotsu looked blank and Odin grimaced a bit.

"Is there anything you wouldn't like to be called?" Bankotsu quizzed.

Odin shook his head. "As long as the name doesn't translate into anything insulting, I'm fine with anything."

Suikotsu chuckled and Bankotsu shook his head, drawing a blank. "Well, Jakotsu hasn't had much to do in a while. Lets let him deal with the naming task. Right now, Odin, we've got to get you packed and get your stuff loaded into our wagon. I want to leave in the morning."

"And he wants to meet with Suki tonight..." Suikotsu murmured, and Odin gasped at what he implied.

"Suikotsu, I'm sure Oo-Aniki has better more respectable things to do than to...to roll around with that incompetent girl. She can't even make a decent cup of tea..." Odin was puffing, thoroughly insulted on Bankotsu behalf.

Bankotsu couldn't help it. He laughed. "Actually, oh Refined One, I have nothing more respectable to do tonight other than to get you set. And, for your personal information, I don't like tea." He winked.

Odin stared and Suikotsu chuckled again, clapping Odin hard on the shoulder, nearly causing the man to topple forward.

Oh Refined One, indeed.

"Oh Refined One..." Bankotsu murmured to himself.

"What was that?" Suikotsu asked.

"His name," Bankotsu smiled suddenly. "We don't need Jakotsu in on this one after all. Oh Refined One... and 'kotsu."'

"Oh Refined One and 'kotsu?'" Suikotsu frowned.

"Mature, proper, refined....Ren... kotsu. Renkotsu," Bankotsu said finally. "How's that, Odin? Do you find 'Renkotsu' insulting?"

"Renkotsu?" Odin said, clearly thinking it over. Bankotsu didn't really see how Odin could take the name as an insult, unless he pointed out that Bankotsu had been teasing him when he'd first come up with it.

"Renkotsu," Suikotsu shrugged. "I like it."

"Renkotsu," Odin said, nodding his head. "I can... get used to it. Bankotsu, Suikotsu, Jakotsu, and Renkotsu."

"We sound interesting," Bankotsu said. "Maybe we won't need a group name. We can just call ourselves 'Kotsu.'"

"Jakotsu will hate it," Suikotsu said.

"Well then he needs to hurry up and name us!" Bankotsu grumbled. "Damn dress-wearing, curly-haired..."

"How did you come up with names for the others, Bankotsu, and yourself? If you don't mind my asking. I see where my name stems from, but Suikotsu, Jakotsu, and Bankotsu? Sleep, Snake, and Barbaric?"

Bankotsu spread his legs out in front of him and pulled his braid over his shoulder to play with. "My name is my own, Renkotsu. My father named me, but the others... you'll just have to learn on your own."

Renkotsu frowned. "But how..."

"Don't ask me," Bankotsu said, looking to a frowning Suikotsu. "Get to know your other brothers on your own. Now lets get your things together. Enjoy your stay in your own room tonight, Renkotsu, because after this you may not get to know the feeling again for a very long time."

Well after midnight, Bankotsu returned to the cabin with the comforting warmth of Suki's body still lingering under his clothes. That girl had been no virgin, and she was no stranger to the infamous one-night stand. She had gotten dressed, gathered Bankotsu's clothes, and escorted him to the door, promising him breakfast and dinner to take on the road.

Bankotsu was sorry he'd ever thought Suki annoying. More girls needed to be like her. He froze outside the cabin door, listening to the rumbling of Suikotsu's snoring with a groan. He had been sure Suikotsu was going to stay in the stable again that night, but alas... Bankotsu sighed; one last good night of sleep, a good lay, and a new member was just too much to ask of the gods in one day. Something had to be sacrificed.

He pushed open the door and closed it quickly behind him, latching it shut. A candle was burning for him like always, and Jakotsu's silhouette beside it looked eerie.

Bankotsu removed his coat and shoes, shaking snow out of his hair and creeping to Jakotsu. The older boy wasn't facing him, and there was a good chance he was asleep. He sat on a folded quilt with fur shawls draped over his thin shoulders. Bankotsu laid his hands on either one, sitting down behind him. "Ja?"

"Renkotsu, hm?"

Bankotsu rolled his eyes and pulled Jakotsu to his chest. "You like it?"

Jakotsu hummed, tilting his head back to stare up at Bankotsu, "It says a lot about him, does it not?"

"Yeah," Bankotsu nodded. "It does."

"Sui says he is a pompous ass."

Bankotsu gave a snort of laughter. "Maybe so, but I like him."

"Hm..." Jakotsu murmured. "You are glowing, Aniki."

Bankotsu felt himself blush.

"What have you been doing tonight, or need I ask?"

Bankotsu laughed, beaming so hard his cheeks hurt. "She was good."

"It shows," Jakotsu smirked. "How hard is it going to be for us to leave in the morning?"

"Not hard at all," Bankotsu said, resting his hands in Jakotsu's lap. "She's even going to pack us food. Hey, speaking of that, what did you eat today?"

Jakotsu shifted, turning his head on Bankotsu's shoulder. "Some rice and some tea. I was not sick at all."

Bankotsu smiled, bringing a hand from his lap to play with Jakotsu's hair. "That's good, Ja. You know you scare me, right? I don't know how you can go so long without eating, and I don't like it."

He felt Jakotsu shrug, knowing the boy was aware that Bankotsu wasn't only speaking of recent events. "You'll do better? For me?"

There was another shrug and Bankotsu sighed. "What do you think about Renkotsu's mountain plans?"

"I think it is practical, Aniki. It will be nice having a permanent place to live and in which to keep our things. Carrying everything we own around all of the time gets tiring."

Bankotsu giggled at that. "Well you could always lighten your load by leaving some of your wardrobe behind."

"Now you are talking crazy, Aniki," Jakotsu whispered, poking Bankotsu in the ribs. They sat listening to the awful sounds of Suikotsu trying to knock down the walls.

"Bankotsu?"

"Hm?"

"Perhaps it is time I met Renkotsu. Now. We should sleep in his cabin."

Bankotsu wanted to agree. He wanted to bundle Jakotsu up and dash over to Renkotsu's solo cabin.

But this would be the man's last night alone, and Bankotsu didn't want to interrupt that. A good night's rest before a long journey was a luxury much to be appreciated.

Too bad Bankotsu wouldn't be allowed to show his gratefulness, but at least he had company.

"So Jakotsu, have you come up with anymore ideas for our group name?"

Author's Note: Well what's the verdict? Like it? Hate it? Don't care either way? Just let me know. Please review :)