Author's Note:) Okee, I know I said this was going to be the last chapter, but it's not. There will be an epilogue after this. Bankotsu and Jakotsu decided to talk too much in this chapter lol. I hope you enjoy it!

Reviewer Responses:

Kura Sun: Hello. Glad you liked the new chapter. Thanks for the review. Take care!

Draechaeli: Cliff hangers are fun, muhahahhahaa! n No, Renkotsu can't die no matter how much we want to kill em', if I want this story to stay kind of canon ;) lol. Thanks for reviewing and take care!

Twollamas: Thank you so much :). I really appreciate your feedback and I'm glad you like the stories. Take care and hope to hear from you again!

Makotsu the Shichinin-chick: Lol, a Renkotsu fan, a rarity. Uh-oh..I've changed your mind? Pooh, well maybe he'll act better in the next story. Hey chic, I started reading your stories and they are really good. I'll be leaving you some reviews some time in the future :). Take care and thanks for reviewing!

Lilly Blitz: Nope, can't kill Renkotsu just yet ;). I'm setting the scene for the next story based on the funny stage of Bankotsu and Jakotsu's relationship right now. All isn't what it seems :). Thanks for reviewing and take care!

MistressofHeaven: Thank you so much. I'm glad you like the stories and the character development, which is my favorite part. I actually think Bankotsu is the easiest to write for lol. Lol, well glad you don't hate Renkotsu...but he just didn't come off as a very positive character to me in the series. Did you watch the Shichinin-tai episodes in English or Japanese? Just curious :). Thanks for feedback girl, and take care!

Ebonysdove: Lol, the look on Suikotsu's face would be funny, if you had managed to kill Renkotsu when he was ordered not to ;). I hope the discussion part of this chapter is ok for you. It was... hard lol. Hmm..my Gundam Wing Arc... Eh..uh... I don't know about that one. I wrote it. Got intimidated by others stories in the realm and kinda left it. I do have a GW/Ronin crossover that I may get back too, eventually lol. I love that you just about read every kind of story I post lol. That makes for three fandoms now. Thanks girl and take care!

Satsu: Aww.. I'm glad you like Suikotsu and Jakotsu. I figured it was about time lol. Nope, Bankotsu's not gonna kill Baldy just yet ;). Take care! Thanks for reviewing!

Tareacel: So sorry chica. I know I said I'd publish this earlier, but things just get so crazy around here for no reason at times. I hope this chapter is ok for you. It's short and it will have a follow up epilogue. I will try not to take so long for the epilogue and posting the new story. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you had a safe trip!

Youkai Maiden: Ha, please don't throw expensive bits of equipment on my part. I have no money for you to sue me for to get it replaced lol. College studentbroke :). Thank you for reviewing and emotion is such an important part of a story and SO hard to convey properly. Thank you for telling me I'm doing a good job. Take care!

Searching-for-sinners: Lol, nope, no pairings for Sodality. I'm in love with the brother-bond deal, but that doesn't mean I'm oppose to writing yaoi, I do ;). It just isn't right for this series though. Thank you for reviewing. I'm glad you like the stories! Take care and hope to hear from you again.

Lildaemon: Hehehe, I'm glad you thought the reactions were good. It was so hard to jump into the characters and decide just what they would do, because they were so many ways that scene could have happened, and I think I tried all of them lol. I hope you are pleased with this chapter. Um... no, I've never noticed a strange accent from Jakotsu and all of the characters on animes look mixed to me actually lol. I just have this thing for romance languages and I like translating, and I also look at how people talk directly to Jakotsu and he seems to ignore them and go off on a different tangent. And it made me think, hmm..what if he wasn't really ignoring them, he just didn't understand what was said to him so he changed the subject to something more fun. Lol, so there's my ramble. Thanks for reviewing girl and take care!

Torn Angel Wings: Lol, you know a lot of words look similar to English, but I don't really know how they are pronounced. Portugese is one foreign language I'm not really familiar with, but it's fun trying to teach it to myself ;). Thanks for reviewing girl and take care!

Shadows-insanity: Lol, hey thanks for the reviews and the expressed interests ;). Good luck with your story, btw! Take care!

OnlyCoolEmoBoysKiss: Lol, I try to channel Jakotsu and his feelings. In the next story the POV will be split between he and Bankotsu, so there will be more of it. I actually did have the Portugese sectioned off in parenthesis, but they disappeared once I posted them lol! Don't ask, I don't know. Thanks for reviewing and take care girl!

D. Pearls: Ha, no it isn't very smart to anger someone armed with paint brushes :). Sorry about the cliffhanger... muhahahha...actually, no, I'm not, muhahahha! J/K. Glad you liked the chapter and thanks for the idea ;). I think I'll have all of them call Renkotsu "Moon Head" just to mess with him lol. Take care and thanks for reviewing.

Forever-In-Darkness: He, he, it always seems like Bankotsu's clocking Renkotsu in the face. I'm glad you liked it :). Thanks for reviewing and hope to hear from you again! Take care.

SpinningAvia: Wow, you're wishing death by paintbrush on someone? Now that's just cruel. Lol, I like you ;). Sadly, Renkotsu must survive to appear in Inuyasha, so he can't die just yet. Thanks for reviewing girl and I'm glad you liked the chapter. Take care and I hope you like this one as well.

Chapter 10

"Jakotsu, can we talk?–alone?"

Jakotsu stared at him, the corners of his pale lips turned down into a light frown. He shot a quick glance at Suikotsu and Bankotsu was surprised to see the man squeeze Jakotsu's shoulder in encouragement and Jakotsu not so much as flinch.

It would have been out of place to cheer, but score one for Suikotsu!

Both men rose together to tower over Bankotsu who silently cursed himself for being so short comparted to everyone else. Grow, dammit!

"We can talk, Bankotsu," Jakotsu said softly, his tone so detached Bankotsu almost took a step back. "I am assuming that Renkotsu is not dead."

Bankotsu shook his head. "No, he's not."

Jakotsu hummed and Suikotsu hissed. "You didn't kill him? After all that shit I told you he said and that big display you put on?"

Bankotsu leveled Suikotsu with a calm stare. "I decided it was not my place to kill Renkotsu, and it is not yours either. Jakotsu is the one who will decide what is to be done with him as it was Jakotsu he so rudely insulted."

"How very diplomatic of you, Bankotsu," Jakotsu said with a sad sigh. Suikotsu frowned at him, then shrugged off the stained kimono he wore and draped it over Jakotsu's thin shoulders.

"It's drier than yours, so it'll keep you warm for a little while, but I do recommend that you go dry off sometime in the near future," Suikotsu said gruffly, tugging on a few strands of Jakotsu's hair, that Bankotsu realized for the first time was quite wet, and looking pointedly at Bankotsu before leaving.

"Stay out of the house, Suikotsu!" Bankotsu couldn't help but call after him, knowing Suikotsu wouldn't be able to help himself if he ran into Renkotsu in the parlor again.

Suikotsu snarled something unintelligible as he stalked away, vanishing into the woods beyond the house and leaving Bankotsu and Jakotsu completely alone.

Bankotsu felt his shoulders slump. Maybe he hadn't quite thought this through. Perhaps it would have been better for Suikotsu to stay and play mediator should things turn ugly. Bankotsu was always tripping over his tongue when he touched on sensitive issues with Jakotsu.

This was gonna be like before, when it was just the two of them. Though, that time hadn't been that long ago, it felt like an eternity. Bankotsu had gotten too comfortable with the crutch Suikotsu had given him and Renkotsu had padded. He'd forgotten... he'd let himself forget that Jakotsu needed more from him than the others– that while Suikotsu and Renkotsu were adopted family, Jakotsu was the real thing.

"Gods, Ja, I'm sorry," Bankotsu choked, bowing his head. "I'm so sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Jakotsu asked, voice thawing a bit at the remorse in Bankotsu's tone.

"I..." He had to word this carefully or Jakotsu wouldn't understand. "I've been like everyone else in your life, just like I promised I wouldn't! Everybody always found something they thought they... valued...more than you and pushed you aside, took advantage of you, or left you behind. I did all of those things, Jakotsu, and if you hate me and... and think you wanna get of here, I don't blame you."

Bankotsu raised his head slowly to meet Jakotsu gaze, eyes watering at the sight of tears glistening in Jakotsu's dark lashes. "I hurt you. I was only thinking about this mercenary business, and you've always been okay with it all before. You knew what I wanted to do with my life and... and you just wanted to stay part of it. You let me walk all over you, and I tried to convince myself that I wasn't... that I was giving you a choice and a voice and power... but I really wasn't, was I? Gods from the start of it all, you were only going to do what I wanted, weren't you?"

Jakotsu shrugged.

"Just to be with me," Bankotsu sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We were only supposed to be brothers, family to each other... You never told me you wanted to be a mercenary. I was the one that wanted to go to war and start a group; I just assumed that you would too. You fight so well; I always counted on your ability and could never picture any group I could have without you... but gods, I never really asked. I'm using you. I'm using you, just like your old man did. I'm no better than..."

"Shut up!" Bankotsu grunted as he was yanked forward roughly by his braid. His scalp ached as Jakotsu held fast to his hair, leaning in until he and Bankotsu were nose to nose. "I do not want to hear your self-depreciative speeches. I do have a mind of my own, you know? I chose to come with you, and I also chose to follow whatever path you walked. I do not abandon family; family abandons me, Bankotsu. I do my best to please them, but it never seems to be enough."

"I don't want you to please me! I just wanted you to be my friend– a new family to replace the old one that never cared about me, and now... now I've made you into a teammate, a player for me."

"It is fine. I will do as you say..."

"No! Your father made you do as he said! My father made me do as he said! I'm not like either of them! There's business and then there's family, never both, and I forgot my own lines because I didn't think I needed to draw them. I just always thought I'd know, that I'd protect you automatically..."

"I do not need protecting..."

"Yes, you do, and it was my job. Renkotsu complained that I favor you and I explained it away by telling him how good of a soldier you are, Jakotsu!"

"He told me as much."

"But that's not what I should have done! I should have said: yes, I do favor Jakotsu. You know why?– because he's my blood brother and blood family gets privileges. You shouldn't even have to fight, not if you don't want to. You can just live here. You have a home now for all of your stuff that won't be disturbed. You can... paint stuff and do whatever else it is you like to do. You didn't grow up knowing nothing but the satisfaction of fighting a worthy opponent; you grew up knowing what it was like to be loved. That's all you want, isn't it? You just want someone to love you again."

Bankotsu swallowed hard at the thick streams of moisture forming beds on either of Jakotsu's cheeks. I'm making him cry.

"And... the only way you know how to make someone love you, is by doing what you think will make them happy. But, Jakotsu, are you happy?"

Jakotsu's hand released his braid, fingers slowly uncurling and the thick rope tumbling out of his palm. Jakotsu studied that hand for a moment, before looking at Bankotsu again. "Maybe."

"Maybe's not good enough! I've failed you, Ja. Somewhere in this whole mess, I screwed up. You never should have been included as a part of this. Gods... I brought Renkotsu into this and kept him knowing what he thought of you, because you told me it wouldn't be a problem for you. I took you to that bastard Kira's house and forced you to deal with him yourself. Jakotsu, how can you stay with me? Why do you stay with anyone who hurts you and makes you do things you don't like? You should have run from your father years ago, and then you never would have met me! You could be..."

"I could be what, Bankotsu? Where would I go? What would I do?"

"Ja?" His voice had grown cold again.

"I have no real skill anyone would cherish, besides being good with a sword..."

"Your art. Jakotsu, your paintings..."

"What about them, Bankotsu? This is a time of war; who cares about paint unless it is on a war party's flag. Art is worthless. And my sword work?" Jakotsu smirked bitterly. "Who would take me seriously?"

"Ja..."

"I am gaijin, Bankotsu. You knew it the first day you met me, and though not everyone is as observant as you, sooner or later, they all figure it out. Japanese are not kind to foreigners. So I ask again Bankotsu, where I go? What would I do on my own?"

Bankotsu shuddered, chewing the returned end of his braid. He'd never thought of it that way, that Jakotsu was trapped with him, that he'd been trapped with his father. Where would he go?

Nasuti-sama... ai, he hadn't thought of her in years, had said it best. People like her and Josue weren't made for the life Bankotsu was destined to lead. They could never do it on their own.

Jakotsu needed him. So in a way...

"In a way, I am using you too," Jakotsu shrugged. "So we are even."

"But it wasn't supposed to be this way! I was just going to protect you, be your big brother..."

"You are."

"You're not supposed to work for me."

"But you want..."

"What I want and what I need are two different things. I want your skill, but I need you more. Jakotsu, we haven't talked for real in more than a month. I don't know what's going on with you. Suikotsu knows more about you than I do right now!"

Jakotsu frowned. "What is going on with me?"

"Yeah, I mean I know why you're grouchy, but all the cleaning... why? And you're losing weight. I haven't been watching you eat! And you've been rubbing the bridge of your nose again, meaning one of those headaches is coming on. Your hair probably needs cutting too..."

"Bankotsu," Jakotsu sounded honestly perplexed now. "I am not a baby. You do not have to watch me eat and measure the length of my hair."

"I do, because you don't!" Bankotsu grumbled. "Ungrateful brat. I've always done it."

"But that was when you only had me to worry about, Bankotsu. Now you have..."

"That's just it!" Bankotsu shouted. "I don't feel like I'm taking care of you as good as I used to, because I'm making myself too busy."

"I do not need to be taken care of..."

"Then why are we falling apart?" Bankotsu demanded. "We were fine before, and now we're not, and that's what has changed between us! Renkotsu was right, business and family don't mix."

"Renkotsu is an idiot. Everything mixes if stirred correctly, maybe not well, but special people can make it work. You are special, Bankotsu. You can make it work."

"I can't cook to save my life and you know it," Bankotsu groaned. "Ja... I just... I don't want you to work for me anymore. I want you to be you and find what it is you like and be happy."

Jakotsu's eyes widened. "But Bankotsu, what makes me happy is being near you."

Bankotsu was caught off guard. "What?"

"I like helping you," Jakotsu frowned. "I have always liked helping people I care about. Maybe... maybe you misunderstand me. I have always done what others I loved have wanted, but it was not because I was trying to earn their love or keep it. It always just seemed like the least I could do. Papa... he gave me life, he raised me, the least I could do was take care of him as I was sure he would have done for me if he was not... so sick. I cannot forgive him," Jakotsu broke off, shaking his head. "I will never forgive him for what he has done to me, but there was a time when he was a good man, a good papa. And you, you are the best that has ever happened to me, and I know good things are rare in this world and short-lived, so for as long as I have you, I want to help."

"For as long as you have me? But you'll have me forever, that is, if you want me forever. I have visions of you killing me one day for being annoying, but... Jakotsu, you didn't think I'd ever just go off one day without you, did you?"

Jakotsu was quiet.

"Oh gods..." Bankotsu moaned. He's lived with me for this long, always believing that someday I'd throw him out?

"No, Jakotsu. I'd never run away from you. I can't even imagine how you could go around thinking that! The only way you and I would ever separate, is if you decided you wanted to go and even then, I'd grab your ankles and threaten to hold my breath until you change your mind."

He won a tiny titter from Jakotsu that encouraged him to continue.

"Gods, Ja, how did we let it get this bad between us? You should have smacked me and called me out weeks ago. We shouldn't have dismissed Renkotsu's trial period."

Jakotsu shrugged. "Even if we had not, and you had not chosen Renkotsu, there would be someone else to take his place. Bankotsu, for what you want to do, you need more members, and you have to understand that not all of us are going to see eye to eye on anything. Renkotsu knows how to push buttons, but he is a genius, Bankotsu, and it would have been stupid to let him go. I do not like him, but if we were supposed to like everyone in the world that could be of use to us, then this world would be a boring place."

"He was still way out of line, and I should have just killed him. I should have let Suikotsu do it, or rather I shouldn't have stopped you."

Jakotsu shook his head. "There is a reason why you did not kill him, Bankotsu. You need him, and something inside you knows that. It told you to leave the decision to me, knowing what I would choose. Bankotsu, you did not kill him because you do not wish him dead, and if it is not what you wish, then I do not wish it either."

"Jakotsu!" Bankotsu was getting angry. "Who cares what I want!"

"I do," Jakotsu said softly. "So Moon Head should praise his Buddha that I like you so much."

Bankotsu narrowed his eyes. "He still needs to be punished, Jakotsu. He can't just say things like that."

Jakotsu shivered, pulling Suikotsu's kimono around him tighter. "Then we will think of something, together."

Bankotsu sighed, touching Jakotsu's garments and blinking at how soused they were. "Jakotsu, why are you all wet?"

"It is Suikotsu's fault."

"We need to dry you off," Bankotsu murmured absently. He took a handful of Jakotsu's hair, squeezing water out of it. "And Ja?"

"Hm?"

"I meant it about you not working for me anymore."

"But Ban..."

"You can help, but I don't want you working for me," Bankotsu said with a wink. "You work with me."

"But does that not just work out the same?" Jakotsu frowned, following Bankotsu as he pulled him toward the bath house.

"Not exactly," Bankotsu said. "It means Renkotsu can't tell you what to do, and it means I can't tell you what to do."

"But..."

"But I can make suggestions in your direction and you can decide whether you want to do it or not," Bankotsu said helpfully.

Jakotsu grinned. "All right."

"But you have to understand that you only have that right for group decisions. Big brother decisions like: I'm cutting your hair tomorrow because it's getting too long, and you'll be eating 3 decent-size meals day from now on, don't count."

Jakotsu pouted. "I do not think that is very fair, Aniki."

"Of course it's not. When do big brothers have to be fair to their little brothers? Never. It's a rule on a scroll somewhere," Bankotsu said off-handedly. "I've only seen it once, but it's there."

Jakotsu snorted. "Sure it is."

"Yup, oh and another thing, Renkotsu's going to be coming out here on his hands and knees in a bit, Big Brothers wants you to give him hell. Can you do that?"

"Certo," Jakotsu chuckled.

They reached the bath house. "Oi, Jakotsu?"

"Hm?"

"Have you thought anymore about the group name? Calling it 'the group' is getting bothersome."

Author's Note: Well, what's the verdict? Like it? Hate it? Don't care either way? Either way, let me know! Please review!