Author's Note: Wow, it has truly been a long time since I've worked on this story. I didn't realize how long it had been until I looked at my stats recently. I didn't mean to take such a long hiatus. I was trying to finish up other projects, but they had other ideas. Anyway, I don't know how many people are still following this story, but I am grateful to anyone still reading this series. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review :).
Reviewer Responses:
Gray Hoody: Hello, thanks for the review. Now that I'm back into the story, updates will be more frequent lol. Take care!
Ladya C. Maxine: Hey Lady! You are my favorite Inuyasha author at the moment for writing puppy stories! I love puppy stories :). I'm behind on leaving reviews, but I'll catch up ;). Dude, the image of Renkotsu with a log up his butt cracks me up. I don't think I've ever heard anyone use that particular statement lol. Renkotsu has a crush on Ban-chan, but it's not a romantic crush. It's more lust for power, and he sees Bankotsu as the embodiment of it. But yeah, I know what you mean. I usually have yaoi on the brain too :). Bankotsu and Jakotsu getting together in this story arc would be a little incestuous to me, so I don't know, having them be more than brothers never comes to mind when I write it. Jakotsu being moody is a bad thing...for Renkotsu. It's not in this chapter, but I've got something planned for them ;). Sorry for the big lag in updates, but you know what happens when you try to juggle too many stories at once. One always gets dropped and if you pick it back up right away, you risk dropping the rest. And speaking of someone not updating often... (hint, hint, wink, wink... His Brother's Pup and Puppy 101). Lol, anyways, thank you for reviewing and letting me know you're still keeping up with the story. Take care!
Lilly Blitz: Hi, thanks for the review, very honest– my favorite kind :). Characterization is my favorite part of storytelling so I'm always glad to hear someone tell me I'm doing a good job. I'm glad you like Bankotsu. He's a lot of fun to write and easy to love, I hope Jakotsu and Suikotsu will grow on you too ;). Renkotsu... lets just say, I'm not a fan, but he's necessary lol. Yes, Jakotsu was out of line with the religion topic, but was that altercation ever fun to write :D. It was a lot more heated originally, but I had to tone it down lol. Thank you so much for the review and I hope to hear from you again. Take care!
Demongoddess Yume: Hahaha! Oh man, poor Renkotsu gets little to no love. I'm glad you can repress your hate for enough to read the rest of the story though. I'm not a Renkotsu fan either, but he's a given; what can you do? Thank you for reviewing; I'm glad you're enjoying the story and its characters. Take care!
KuraSun: Lol! Well, I updated... it wasn't soon, but I promise the next one will be.
SpinningAvia: Lol! Glad you like the stories, and you will think Renkotsu is even more of a pompous ass after this chapter ;). Take care and thanks for reviewing!
G-er-b-il: Hey, what's up with all the hyphens in your pen name now? You're making it harder for me to type it up lol. Glad you liked the chapter and found me amusing :). Thanks for reviewing! Take care!
D. Pearls: Haha, who knows who Takahashi has working with her on the manga. I wish it was Jakotsu, then should would have had him live a little longer in the series :(. Hehehe, poor Renkotsu, everyone's got jokes about his baldness now. Your point about good men is well made. Men are like a parking lot, all of the good spaces are taken and all the ones left are handicapped. Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Lildaemon: Hey, thanks for the review. I'm always relieved when someone lets me now that the plot is moving. That's my biggest problem. I'm bad at moving plots along, I get so lost in character development. Take care and I hope to hear from you!
Tareacel: Hey girl! Good to hear from you. I'm still waiting on your Shichinin-tai story to be done, the long one (looks at you pointedly). Renkotsu and Jakotsu's relationship is fun, and I can't wait to wage war (muhahahahaa!) Jakotsu was being mean to Renkotsu, but its hilarious that empathy for Renkotsu makes you sick. Why is it so hard for Ren to get love? Well, I've finally given up on completing my other project anytime soon; muse had other ideas, so I'm shuffling "Sodality" back into my deck and will hopefully be finishing off this story and starting "Ginkotsu" soon. Take care girl, and thanks for reviewing!
Me, just me: Hello. That religious argument fell from the sky, literally lol, but it was a lot of fun when it exploded soon as it hit the ground. I'm glad it went over well, and that you feel the story is informative. I try lol. Jakotsu will have more rude names for Renkotsu by the end of this story ;). Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Corrina: Heh, Moon head makes me think of moon pies. Man, I want one... Not that I really like them. Ever crave food you don't too much care for? Yeah, off topic, I know. I'm glad you were entertained :). Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Yennie-Gurl: Jakotsu and Suikotsu are bad. I think I enjoy having them tag-team-teasing people. Renkotsu lightening up... flying pigs anyone? Lol! Thanks for reviewing, and I hope I hear from you again. I know it's been a while. Take care!
Torn Angel Wings: Lol, it is your fault I'm doing so much Japanese research and bugging people about kanji:P But you know what, it's fun and I am a true nerd. I like research. I alsolike twisting humor into scenes, but I don't think I could ever write a straight comedy story. I like a happy medium too :). Take care and thanks for reviewing!
Lily23: Hey girl! Thanks for the review. I'm happy you liked all of the stories up so far for this arc. Take care and I hope to hear from you again!
Evil-Zukin: Lol, you haven't reviewed in forever, I haven't updated in forever; we are even:P. I'm glad you're still interested in the story :). Thank you for letting me know, and take care!
Skittlez: Lol. Oooook, me guess you were having some boy trouble there :). Eh, boys, who needs em'...unless they're cute, then we keep em' around to look at; oh, and to kill bugs. Happy you liked the argument. Take care girl! Thanks for reviewing!
Riftwar-Slave: Lol, man, everybody is hating on Renkotsu's head. I'm starting to feel bad for the guy. Moon head... (snicker) well, he does. Thanks for reviewing. Glad you liked it! Take care!
EbonysDove: Well... when you think about it, Renkotsu does have a big head, but it was too round for me to dub it an egg so it had to be a moon :). I would have been in the wagon cracking up. I hate when you're trying not to laugh, but someone next to you is just crying laughing. Even if it's not that funny, you crack up too. No, Renkotsu doesn't fit in, but he's trying to find his niche. Hm... the guy that becomes the foreman for building their home really isn't important; I'm sorry if I made it seem that way lol. I haven't even thought of how they will come across Kyokotsu and I kinda dread writing that story, gah! Lol, I'm the Queen of slow chapters ;), but as long as you're not bored, I guess I'm doing ok! Thanks for reviewing and take care girl!
Qem: Hey, someone is giving Renkotsu props. He's happy to know that he rocks, and Bankotsu is proud to know that someone finds him inspirational lol! Lol, and you're right. It is Portuguese ;). I'm slowly folding in the idea of Ginkotsu, you'll have to let me know how I'm doing with it. Baking is not my forte ;). Is there something wrong with Jakotsu?– Maybe. Lol. :p Can't tell everything ;). Thank you so much for reviewing and I hope I haven't taken to long in getting this chapter up to hear from you again. Take care! Oh, there is one vocab phrase in the chapter, but it's self explanatory and answers your question again abotu what language Jakotsu speaks ;)
Makotsu the Shichinin-chick: Whoa, long pen name lol. I'm not so sure Renkotsu would agree with you about "Moon Head" being a good nickname, unless Bankotsu started saying it. Whatever comes out of Bankotsu's mouth it word from the gods to him ;). I hope this update hasn't taken too long to come out. I hope to hear from you again. Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Lynx 13h whack: Lol, hm... I'm almost certain that's not how your pen name is spelled, but I typed what you typed :P. I hope you found that you did like the chapter and it was as good as the others when you read it :). If you didn't, that's ok too :). Thanks or reviewing and take care!
Chapter 8
"The Magnificent Four?" Jakotsu tossed out to Suikotsu who groaned at yet another name he didn't like. Jakotsu frowned, sitting cross-legged in cool grass a few paces away from where Suikotsu furiously chopped wood with his claws. They had plenty of sickles and axes, but when Suikotsu was restless he preferred using his hands.
"Choose something bolder, bloodier," Suikotsu snarled, throwing more kindling into the large pile building behind him, and Jakotsu scowled at him.
It had taken more than a month to assemble the construction team for their new home or, as Bankotsu and Renkotsu liked to refer to it as, their base of operations, and trek to the east mountains. A week of careful deliberation, well more Jakotsu choosing places and Moon Head turning his nose up at them, had found them a nice site hidden within a copse of trees within walking distance of a stream.
"Bolder, bloodier... Those are the only suggestions you have to offer? You are not any help! You would probably like the name Bloody Bandits!"
"Has a nice ring to it," Suikotsu grunted. THWACK!
Jakotsu huffed, placing his chin in his hands and staring at his teammate. The bloodlust in him was becoming almost unbearable, for Suikotsu and everyone else around him. As soon as the house was finished, Bankotsu had promised Suikotsu that he would get to kill the workmen– everyone but that nice Mr. Mouri, him they would poison. Mr. Mouri was their brilliant foremen who kept the horrible group of men Renkotsu and Bankotsu had chosen in line. Which was a good thing, because after the second workman had fallen prey to Jakotsutou, relations between Jakotsu and Renkotsu had grown thin.
"Black Widows, how about the Black Widows?"
"That's a name for a group of murdering women!"
Jakotsu shuddered at the association. "All right, all right..."
Bankotsu had given him a task, name the group, and Jakotsu was determined to do it before Renkotsu could hand Bankotsu another finished project. Bankotsu and Renkotsu seemed to be joined at the hip as of late. Renkotsu full of "wonderful" ideas that Bankotsu-no aniki just had to hear. Jakotsu wouldn't have minded as much, if Renkotsu did not always have his ideas while Jakotsu was talking with Bankotsu or showing him designs for the interior.
"Do what you want, Jakotsu," Bankotsu would say, waving a hand, "I know you'll make it look good," and wandering off with Renkotsu, an excited glint in his eyes.
Renkotsu awoke something in Bankotsu that Jakotsu hadn't seen before. He was always so energized when Renkotsu entered the room with his arms full of scraps of metal junk that dirtied the freshly sanded floors with their grease. Jakotsu complained numerous times and Bankotsu would simply roll his eyes and tell Jakotsu to stop being such a girl.
Jakotsu sighed deeply, massaging the skin around the bridge of his nose to ease the slight tension growing there. The sounds of wood being massacred halted and heavy steps were being taken in his direction. He opened his eyes just in time to see Suikotsu dropping down in front of him with a loud, hefty clump.
"Go for something simpler, plainer. We don't need a flashy name to advertize ourselves. Our skill is enough. We just need something that states what we are. Something in Japanese would be nice, too."
Jakotsu stared at Suikotsu a moment, feeling the corners of his mouth turning up into a light smile. "I would not name our team em português. I would cringe every time one of you would try to pronounce it."
Suikotsu chuckled and reached out as if he wanted to place a hand on Jakotsu's knee. Jakotsu stiffened and Suikotsu's hand fell short of their intended target, dipping into the long grass instead and tugging at the weeds.
Biting his lip, Jakotsu stared at the large hand, taking in the bloody splinters that had dug their way in through Suikotsu's gloves. "Your hands need attention, Sui. You were careless."
Suikotsu set his other hand down in the grass, studying both appendages curiously. "I'm on edge, Jakotsu. It's getting so bad that... I don't know if I can trust myself to sleep in the same room with any of you."
Jakotsu frowned. "Well, it is a good thing our bedrooms are finished, so that you have your own space."
Suikotsu snorted. "I like the work you've done in your room. I was wondering if you would paint mine as well."
Jakotsu nodded, feeling the smile that Suikotsu had brought to his face moments before returning. He liked being complimented. It was nice knowing that something he did interested someone else enough to care. Bankotsu always cared, and Suikotsu– he did too.
Though Bankotsu hadn't said anything about the work like Suikotsu had. He hadn't even mentioned if he liked the clothes Jakotsu had decorated for him. Bankotsu had said a while ago that he would like an outfit that would represent his place in the group as leader, something that would go well with the star he'd wear on his forehead.
"So, you can still smile. Thought you'd forgotten how. Haven't seen you do it in weeks," Suikotsu commented. "Are you alright?"
Jakotsu quirked a brow at the other man. "What do you mean? I am not sick, if that is what you wish to know."
Suikotsu shook his head. "No, it's not..." Suikotsu rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. "It's not what I'm getting at– you talk so proper, Jakotsu– I'm asking if you're alright with the situation. Look, Bankotsu is spending a lot of time with his new pet and you're not used to sharing him. I thought it would get better over time, but it hasn't, has it?"
Jakotsu blinked, looking down into his lap at the butterfly pin he'd pulled from his hair and turned over in his hands. "I do not know what you are talking about Suikotsu. I do not mind that Bankotsu is happy with the decisions he has made."
Suikotsu rolled his eyes. "Well, I think Renkotsu is a pain in the ass. And, if he tells me the proper way to eat with chopsticks one more time... It's like he doesn't even look at what Bankotsu's doing with them!"
"Please, Suikotsu, no one looks at Bankotsu while he eats, if they can help it."
Suikotsu shrugged, reluctantly agreeing with Jakotsu's observation. "Either way, he's getting on my nerves, and if this house doesn't get finished soon, I'll be sharpening my claws on him."
"It should be finished in a few days, but if you just cannot wait, I cannot say that I would stand in your way."
"Mmhm... thought nothing was bothering you?" Suikotsu grinned deviously and Jakotsu threw his pin at him and ran his fingers through his curls, pulling a few over his shoulders.
"I never said nothing was bothering me. I just... Bankotsu is finally gaining confidence in himself in being leader and making his own decisions; I do not want to ruin it for him. Besides, I told him everything would work out and that I would try for him."
Suikotsu grunted. "We set ourselves up for this for the brat's sake."
Jakotsu smirked. "The brat that leads us. Suikotsu– Three Men and a Little Brat!"
"Too long and incorrect; you count as a brat too. So, Two Men and Two Little Brats."
Jakotsu's mouth dropped open in indignation.
"You're not a full grown man in my book until you're 21. You got 3 more years on that one...kid."
Suikotsu handed him back his hairpin, careful not to let their fingers brush each other in exchange. "Jakotsu?"
"Hm?" Jakotsu was twisting his hair in one hand, ready to clip it up again.
"All kids are bedazzled by new toys at first, but they lose their shine after a while and start looking the same as the old toys. Bankotsu will come back to you. You're his brother, you know, his real brother. He loves you."
Soft hair slid through Jakotsu's slack fingers. Bankotsu was his brother, family; the only family he knew that hadn't left him or hurt him. Not yet anyway.
But Bankotsu wasn't like them. Bankotsu was neither fragile like Mama nor angry like Papa, but...
People changed; other people could change them. How long would it take before Bankotsu turned his back or raised his hand?
"Jakotsu, do you understand me? This is a phase."
Love is a phase like seasons, some warm some cold and completely interchangeable. "Yes, Suikotsu. It is a phase."
How long would it last?
Bankotsu used two fingers to close Mouri-san's eyes. He had died before finishing the cup of doctored sake with a smile on his lips. He'd been looking at Bankotsu as he drank deeply in celebration of a job well done.
"We should give him a proper burial, Oo-aniki. He truly did a wonderful job," Renkotsu commented. He sat at the table with a scroll rolled out in front of him, his attention divided between inking down future ideas and watching how Bankotsu reacted to Mouri-san's death.
Bankotsu frowned at the concern Renkotsu was exhibiting. Why did he think Bankotsu would care about the death of an old man, when he'd killed so many?
"He really liked you, Oo-aniki. He told me you reminded him of one of his middle son," Renkotsu said. Mouri-san had four sons who had joined war parties and had each been killed in various skirmishes.
"Kazuo," Bankotsu nodded. "Yeah, old Kazuo was his favorite. Guy sounded like a real pain in the ass. I'd have killed him, if I'd had the chance to meet him." He patted Mouri-san's head. Even if the son Bankotsu reminded him of was a jerk, Mouri-san had been a nice old fart and if digging him a deep hole and saying a few words of him showed respect, Bankotsu wouldn't mind doing so.
"All right, we bury him proper, but we should do it soon, before he smells up the place."
A corner of Renkotsu's mouth turned up into a smile. "Suikotsu should be though slaughtering the swine outside, shall I call him in and tell him our plans?"
Bankotsu got a mental flash of Suikotsu trudging into the house all bloody, tracking blood all over the wooden floor. Jakotsu would have a screaming fit. He'd spent some time scrubbing the floors.
"No, don't call him in. Tell him outside and I'll bring Mouri-san out."
"As you wish, Oo-aniki," Renkotsu said, rising and leaving his scrolls behind without bowing. Thank the gods Renkotsu had gotten over his obsession with lowering his eyes to his superiors...or however he explained the crap. It was all nonsense to Bankotsu.
He stared at the table, dark blue eyes unconsciously overlooking Mouri-san's corpse and taking in the dishes sullied with remnants of rice, roasted venison, and wild greens. The meal was by no means gourmet, but it was good, considering that Renkotsu and Suikotsu made it. Should Bankotsu collect the dishes and wash them later? It would make Jakotsu happy... maybe.
Jakotsu had a strange fetish about keeping a clean home that he had never shown in any of the various places they had stayed over the years. Perhaps it was because they had never been in one place with the intention of remaining for very long. Once the inside of the house was completed, Jakotsu began scrubbing the floors, washing windows, clothes, linens, dishes, and practicing with Jakotsutou religiously. It was like he was on some sort of daily schedule where there would be penalties if he stopped. Bankotsu wanted to question him about it, had meant to earlier, but had forgotten when Renkotsu had approached him with plans for the group's next move.
After setting up operations near the mountains, Renkotsu wanted to venture to the sea. In the summer months, foreign ships washed onto shore, bringing with them foreign weapons in which Renkotsu wanted first selection. A friend of his often traveled with some of the merchant vessels and Renkotsu was expecting him to find him there. The men from the ships were no better than common crooks, according to Renkotsu, and they thought of the Japanese as nothing more than savage suckers. Renkotsu's friend, Genji, spoke their language.
Bankotsu's jerked to attention at the sound of wooden sandals clacking across the floor. Jakotsu stood in the doorway, wearing a pair of flowing pants a size too large and an open yukata. He held a shallow bowl of rice in one hand and twiddled chopsticks in the other. Gray eyes locked on Mouri-san's body with a frown.
"He just died," Bankotsu explained. "He'll be out of here in a minute. We're going to bury him."
Jakotsu raised a single brow. "Where?"
Bankotsu was stumped. Where? He hadn't really thought about that. He supposed the back.
"You did not ask me, if I wanted to help," Jakotsu said after a moment, sitting down at the table to pick at his rice.
Bankotsu's eyes widened. "Well, I didn't think you'd want to. Since when have you ever been interested in what happens to the bodies afterwards?"
"I am interested when those bodies are on the table that I finished painting yesterday! It has only just dried and you are already getting it dirty." Jakotsu speared rice with a vengeance.
Bankotsu watched his friend, concern filtering his gaze. "I'll clean it up, Jakotsu. You... you don't have to clean up after us, you know? You're not some housewife. You don't like our housekeeping, yell at us to clean our shit."
Jakotsu stared down at his bowl, spirals of hair escaping from its messy bind and veiling his eyes.
"Ja, we haven't talked in a long time, and I don't like it. I don't like not knowing what's going on with you." Bankotsu moved away from Mouri-san, scooting closer to Jakotsu. "What's wrong?"
Jakotsu looked up at him, eyes glinting with an emotion that confused Bankotsu. Hope? "Ja?"
"I just..."
"Oo-aniki, Suikotsu has finished outside. We should move the bodies away from the house. So much blood may attract youkai, so we should burn the carcasses." Renkotsu came back into the room, staring expectantly at Bankotsu for an 'ok' and ignoring Jakotsu completely.
That was how it was with those two, complete silence on both ends. Bankotsu didn't know if it was good or bad that neither spoke, but it meant no arguments between them.
"That's fine, Renkotsu."
"We'll need the wagon and horses."
"Fine."
"We may need your help as well. There are many bodies, and around so much blood, I'm not sure if I'd want to be around Suikotsu so long by myself."
Bankotsu stared at the older man, noting that he'd knotted a cloth over his head to disguise his baldness. Was the man incapable of growing hair? They'd traveled for weeks and Bankotsu had seen no sign of stubble.
That was something he'd normally discuss with Jakotsu for laughs. Why hadn't he?
"Ah..." Bankotsu's attention shifted back to Jakotsu guiltily. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to leave Renkotsu alone with Suikotsu in the presence of so much blood, but Jakotsu had been about to tell him something.
"On second thought," Renkotsu said, stroking his chin and appearing thoughtful. Dark eyes landed on Jakotsu. "Jakotsu, you aren't doing anything. Why don't you help Suikotsu. You're comfortable around him, after all, and then Oo-aniki and I can go ahead and bury Mouri-san."
Jakotsu glared at the table, saying nothing to Renkotsu, but rising-- undoubtably--to join Suikotsu outdoors.
Geez, Renkotsu was ruining their moment with his logic! Jakotsu would be better suited to go with Suikotsu, and Bankotsu did need Renkotsu's help in giving Mouri-san a proper farewell. Damn.
"Oi, Jakotsu," Bankotsu called after his departing friend. "You were eating. Finish up; I'll sit here with you."
He could send Renkotsu away with Mouri-san and have some time with Jakotsu. The older boy was a slow eater, when he ate at all.
"I am not hungry anymore," Jakotsu said shortly. He didn't turn around as he spoke, but he had halted in the doorway to hear Bankotsu's words. He began walking again and Renkotsu called after him.
"Jakotsu, when you get back, would you mind clearing the table?"
The back door slammed.
Bankotsu turned a hard look on Renkotsu and the ex-monk stared back at him blankly. "If the mess is bothering you, you clear the table, Renkotsu. Jakotsu is not a maid."
Renkotsu shrugged and gave a quick apology. "I never thought that he was. I just thought he liked it. He's always doing it."
And I was about to find out why, before you butted in– but that wasn't fair. The rift growing between Bankotsu and Jakotsu was not Renkotsu's fault. Bankotsu was letting them drift apart, because he didn't know how to manage his time.
But there was just so much going on.
"So, I was thinking that we could start packing in a few days for the seashore," Renkotsu said easily as he gathered the dirty dishes. "The sooner we head out, the sooner we'll be back and building our army."
Bankotsu blinked then smiled. He loved when Renkotsu talked like that. It reminded him that it was really happening. He was finally embarking on his lifetime career journey: a mercenary for hire. Except... except this was better. Bankotsu was making a business out of it. Something his father never would have dreamed of doing. Bankotsu was surpassing his predecessors. He wasn't a feudal lord, but he had vessels, talented vessels.
"A few days sounds good. That gives us enough time to tie up some things here," Bankotsu said.
"And..." Renkotsu called from the kitchen. "I was thinking, you know my friend Genji?"
"Yeah, the one you want to meet up with."
"I'd trust that man with my life Bankotsu, and I have before. After so many years at sea, I'm sure he's ready to settle down. If you think Suikotsu is an excellent assassin, you need to meet Genji."
Bankotsu scowled, bringing the end of his braid to his lips and chewing on it. Renkotsu was suggesting a new member, when the group still hadn't fully adjusted to the most recent addition to the team.
"I'll be the judge of that, Renkotsu." Safe reply. It gave no promises, but it didn't make him seem indecisive either.
"You most certainly will! I will not let you down. I know when you had the idea for the group you wanted at least 5 members, correct? Genji will be our 5th, and with him, no one will be able to stop us. The man is huge, the size of two Suikotsus, and he can help me in my workroom. He fights pirates, snapping spines in two with his bare hands."
Bankotsu had to admit he was interested. But... it was still too soon. Bankotsu knew he would probably pass on adding Genji to the team. Someone Renkotsu favored so well would probably clash with Jakotsu and Suikotsu as much as Renkotsu himself did. Bankotsu wanted no more tension added to the mixture. He liked his candy soft and sweet; it was easier to chew and more tempting to swallow.
Renkotsu came back into the eating area, smiling at Bankotsu brightly. "Lets bury Mouri-san in the between the trees behind the house. The dirt is soft there, so we can dig deep."
"Sounds good to me."
Renkotsu smirked at him. "Everything sounds good to you, Oo-aniki."
Bankotsu quirked a brow. "Not everything."
He rose, casting an apologetic look down at Mouri-san. He really had been a great old guy; he'd just fallen in with the wrong crowd. Shit happened.
Bankotsu lead the way outside, stopping for a moment to stare at the distant silhouette of Suikotsu loading bloody corpses into the back of their wagon while Jakotsu steadied the horses.
Maybe he should be helping them. There were a lot of workmen...
A heavy hand placed itself on his shoulder and Bankotsu looked up at Renkotsu's pale face. "We have to talk about what items we should take to trade, not too much gold, because we don't want to give the wrong idea. Oh, and I have to tell you more about Genji. We can't let him get away from us, Oo-aniki. We'll need him."
Suikotsu tossed the last body on the wagon and moved out of Bankotsu's line of sight, presumably getting into the driver's seat of the wagon. It started to move.
"Come, Oo-aniki," Renkotsu beckoned. "They don't need your attention right now. What we're doing is more important."
Yeah, maybe it was. No, definitely it was.
This was it. This was his start, and Bankotsu needed it to be good; everyone else's needs came after that. It was what they all wanted, but nobody wanted it more than Bankotsu, and maybe Renkotsu as well.
Bankotsu grinned at Renkotsu. "How do gaijin feel about silk?"
Author's Note: So what's the verdict? Like it? Hate it? Don't care either way? Either way, let me know. Please review!