Author's Note: Hey everybody. Here is the conclusion. Sorry it ended up taking so long. I get so busy at once lol. You'd think teachers would learn to space out their homework, but alas...they don't have to do it, so they don't care lol. I hope you enjoy the conclusion, and I'll try to have the beginning of Ginkotsu up next week :).
Reviewer Responses:
Paperclipluver: Another Renkotsu hater. I'm going to start keeping score for him, help give him a little self-esteem (Hah). Bankotsu, Suikotsu, and Jakotsu's relationship is a lot of fun to develop. Somehow, I have to get some kind of working relationship for Renkotsu in there too... sigh lol. I'm glad you think the story is believable and that the characterizations are interesting :). Yes, Jakotsu is speaking Portuguese :). No review is ever too long for me chic, lol. You should see the ones I leave people ;). From experience I know that authors like to hear it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and for you to take as much time as you need telling it ;). Thank you so much for reviewing, I hope you enjoy the conclusion, and take care!
Yennie-Gurl:) Okay, warm me before you make comments about rubber chickens. I almost fell over laughing. That is an interesting thought. But could you imagine going into the after life having to tell someone you were killed with a rubber chicken, he, he! Jakotsu is actually speaking Portuguese. It looks and I thinks sounds a bit like Spanish at times (I say sounds, because I've never heard it spoken) but it's quite a bit different lol. I finally put in this chapter what he is speaking in plain terms, because it's important for the next story ;). Thank you so much for keeping up with this story and still reviewing! Take care!
Twosen: Lol, I'm glad you don't find any of the Arc slow-moving at all. I'm the Queen of dragging chapters. I just can't make a point, I get so lost in what the characters are doing lol. Fleshing out the Shichinin-tai is great fun and adding new aspects to them is even better. Bankotsu, I'm kind of biting off of how he seemed in the anime, but Suikotsu and Jakotsu I had to add more too. Jakotsu's hard to pin, but he will get tougher, he's got a two years before he's got to be anime Jakotsu lol. The lack of contractions in his speech is to remind me that his Japanese isn't perfect. He speaks it a little funny, too proper, kind of like a student, but better lol ;). Renkotsu is hard, because I kinda don't like him. I saw him in the anime as a jerk, but I can't make him one completely, because if he was, someone would have killed him before the start of the show lol. Sodality means brotherhood :). Nah, I don't think I ever defined it before lol. Oh man, Ginkotsu's story in the Arc may not be so hard, because I've had the idea for it for a long time, but Mukotsu and Kyokotsu... geez. I have no idea what I want to happen in those. I'll figure it out though. Thanks for the great review and take care. Hope to hear from you again!
KuraSun: Lol, I think you're the only one ranting about how fast I'm posting this story. I remember when I used to update every other day... and now I'm wondering how I ever found the time to do that. Lol, Bankotsu and Jakotsu chapters are my favorite too, but I can't have a lot of just them with the rest of the group falling into the mix now :(. I'm glad you liked the chapter better than its predecessor; I hope you like the conclusion. Take care and thanks for reviewing!
Me, just me: Lol, Inuyasha does start to drag a bit in the middle. I hope you didn't have to sit through the dubbed versions of the Shichinin-tai episodes. I tried to watch a few and had to stop lol. I guess because I was so used to their Japanese voices and I really didn't like who they chose to do a few of their voices lol. That's really cool that you could get interested in characters before you knew who they were. I think I've only done that once with a fanfiction. I'm glad you looked me up and kept up with me! Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Gerbil: Hehehe, glad you loved the chapter, hated Renkotsu, yadda-yadda... Lol! You are so silly. You don't have to pledge to review every chapter...just every other one ;) (just kidding lol). Thank you for reviewing this chapter, and maybe I'll see you again next time! Take care!
Twollamas: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I hope you like the conclusion. It took me long enough to get it up lol. Take care and thanks for reviewing!
Torn Angel Wings: Girl, for real. I learn better in class where you HAVE to learn it or flunk. There has to some kind of motivation, or I get lazy lol. I commend you for trying to learn so many languages on your own though. That sucks that your school doesn't offer them, not even Spanish? Hehehe, sucker for happy endings hmm... Well now I know how to please you ;) I hope you like the conclusion. Take care and thanks for reviewing!
Lynx 13h whack: Lol you are silly. Any review is a good review ;). I'm glad you thought the chapters "rawked." Take care and thanks for reviewing!
Totchi: Lol, Jakotsu is half Portuguese :) The languages can look alike at times, but they are really different. One day, I'm going to learn how to speak a little of it. For right now, I'm trying to get back into the swing of Italian... I'll save Portuguese for later, much later ;). Thank you for your offer though. Jakotsu was originally Spanish... until I did some research and found out Portugese was more realistic for the time period and I had to go back over his speech. Fortunately for me, I learned this in like the third chapter of the second story, and not only had he not spoken much of his language, but the words he'd said were the same in Portuguese lol. Well, I hope you went on to read more of the story. Thank you for reviewing and I hope to hear from you again!
D. Pearls: Hehehe, I think you may enjoy the conclusion then. Renkotsu gets to respond to his nickname ;) and Jakotsu is going to get a kick out of his new slave :D. Yup, Ginkotsu is next. I've been planning his story for a bit, so I hope it'll come out faster than this one did. I hope to have Ginkotsu up some time next week, if all goes according to plan (ominously). Lol, thanks for reviewing girl and keeping up with this story. Take care!
Riftwar-Slave: Lol, thank you :). You're supposed to be mad at Renkotsu, he's mean ;), and Bankotsu and Jakotsu were being idiots lol. I'm glad you liked the chapter and I hope you enjoy the conclusion. Take care and thank you for reviewing and keeping up with the story!
Youkai Maiden:) Thanks for reviewing. I'm happy you enjoyed the chapter! Take care!
SpinningAvia: Wow, I'll have to tell Naraku what you called him. That's the first time anyone's cussed him for Renkotsu lol! Geez.. Renkotsu's making OTHER people unpopular. Yes, Ban and Ja are back on good terms... strange terms though, as you'll see in the next story ;). Thanks for reviewing girl and take care!
Ebonysdove: Jakotsu will have his time to play with Renkotsu lol, and he may have gotten the gist of Bankotsu's speech from when Bankotsu had him against the wall earlier ;). Hehehehe, the thought of Bankotsu withering is funny. Ja and Sui are cute; I want to continue playing with those two. They'll never be as close as Ban and Ja, but we'll see. I hope you like the conclusion girl. Thanks for keeping up with me and thanks for reviewing! Take care!
Lilly Blitz: Hmm... well, it wasn't supposed to be confusing lol. You can ask me any questions, if you'd like and I can see if I need to work on it some more, if certain parts really weren't clear :). Lol, yes, Ban and Ja made up and Moon Head will have to pay lol. Thanks for the review and now: on to the epilogue!
Forever in Darkness: LOL! Well, I hope you like where I ended it this time ;). Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy the conclusion. Take care!
Lildaemon: Lol, sorry about the slowness of this update. I don't get an much free online time as I used to :(. I'm glad you still think the characterizations are on. Writing that discussion was hard. There were so many things they needed to say, and sometimes you have to go back and ask yourself, is this that character's voice or yours? lol. He did look sad in the anime when the bug brought him Jakotsu's hair clip and he was just sitting their holding it. I love how he never looked at Renkotsu until he asked him, "Did you kill Jakotsu for his shard?" Yeah... the Shichinin-tai eppies were some of my favorites. Thanks for reviewing girl. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you'll enjoy the conclusion.
MistressofHeaven: Ooh, I finally get to tell Renkotsu that someone doesn't hate him. He's going to be so happy, lol ;). I think Jakotsu's punishment would be humiliating to a man like Renkotsu, considering that he believes himself to be of a higher stature than Jakotsu ;). Hehehe, the paint-brush speech, hehehe. That was fun. Ah, Jakotsu has got a group name that Bankotsu likes very much, just wasn't intentional ;). Thanks for reviewing girl. I hope you enjoy the conclusion. Take care!
Draechaeli: Lol! Well Suikotsu is honored and Ban and Ja are happy tie as favorites. Yes, this story between the guys is completely platonic, not that I have any problem with yaoi. It just wouldn't be right for this story. It would change the feel of it for me. Thanks for reviewing and take care!
OnlyCoolEmoBoysKiss: Lol, I know you love Renkotsu, so I'm sorry you don't like him in this story lol, though he is a jerk in it. But at least you think he's IC ;)... in the worst possible way he, he, he. I'm sorry. I'm in a weird mood. It's really early and for some reason, I'm wide awake :D. Thanks for reviewing and keeping up with the story! Take care!
Makotsu the Shichinin-chick: Hey, Renkotsu gets three votes of love. I'm gonna let him know, before he hangs himself. He's been getting some off-the-chart hate lol. I'm glad you enjoyed their talk, it was a long time in coming and hard to word. Thanks for reviewing and take care!
Chapter 11
"He's still not out here?" Bankotsu frowned. Perhaps he hadn't scared Renkotsu enough... or maybe he'd scared him too much. Had the fool actually run away?
"Bankotsu, we were not in the bathhouse for very long..." Jakotsu began, but Bankotsu cut him off with an incredulous look.
"Jakotsu, we were in there forever! Why can't you just accept a damn towel and wipe yourself off? You always have to be...clean, and I could kick whoever left that water in the tub. Renkotsu should have been out here by now on his knees!"
"I did not take a real bath, Bankotsu. I only washed off the paint," Jakotsu said, scowling at his "ruined" hair. "The time that we were in the bathhouse was not long enough for Renkotsu to have finished cleaning the mess he made."
Bankotsu groaned. "Jakotsu, I could have cleaned that mess up in five minutes..."
"You would not have cleaned properly then. You would have smeared paint everywhere, making a bigger mess! Then I would have to go back over..."
Bankotsu stopped him, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him close. "You don't have to clean up after anyone but yourself."
Jakotsu snorted. "Then we would have a house of filth. You and Suikotsu are the two most disgusting people I have ever shared space with. One complaint that I cannot make about Renkotsu is that he is a... porco!"
"Hey!" Bankotsu was mildly insulted. He wasn't a... a... "What's that mean?"
Jakotsu rolled his eyes. "You are a pig. Homes are to be kept clean. It is a way of showing pride, Bankotsu. When you let a home go to waste, it means you do not care. It is a symbol of shame."
Bankotsu frowned. "Who told you that?"
"No one," Jakotsu said, pulling away from Bankotsu and glancing toward the front porch. The door was opening. "I saw it for myself."
Bankotsu blinked. "Jakotsu, just because I let a few noodles fall on the floor and sometimes don't wipe my feet before I come inside, doesn't mean..."
"I was not talking about this house," Jakotsu said softly, eyeing Renkotsu as he stepped onto the porch. The bald man stood with his hands clasped together nervously, his head bowed in silent apology.
Bankotsu didn't have time to ponder Jakotsu's cryptic statement as Jakotsu slowly drifted up the stairs toward Renkotsu. Renkotsu's head came up at Jakotsu's approach. Bankotsu studied the two, so different in every aspect but height. They had no trouble looking each other in the eyes.
"I apologize for my earlier words to you, Jakotsu. They were fraudulent and purposefully injurious to your person. I have disgraced myself with my immaturity and disorderly behavior and I demand to be punished by you. I put myself at your mercy. I am beneath you in position, and I never should have spoken so out of term to my superior."
Jakotsu raised a thin brow and glanced back at Bankotsu, who was staring at Renkotsu with his mouth slightly agape. Bankotsu had been fully aware of Renkotsu's impeccable ass-kissing talent, but this was a new level.
Should he be impressed or disgusted?
"You are still very well-spoken, Renkotsu. You are very good at getting your point across and making your opinions of others very well known," Jakotsu said cooly, turning his attention back to Renkotsu. "You do not think very highly of me."
Renkotsu waned. "That was before and I was wrong."
"Hmm..." Jakotsu hummed. "You were wrong for what? Not thinking highly of me? If it is how you feel, then you cannot change it."
Renkotsu stared, not sure how to go about, but he did not, Bankotsu noted, look to Bankotsu for assistance.
"I... Well, you don't think very much of me either, Jakotsu, and neither does Suikotsu. I bet you would have had a lot of ugly things to say to me too, if the tables were turned. You've only restrained yourself because of Oo-aniki," Renkotsu said flatly, his face paling more, displaying fear despite his bold words.
Jakotsu grinned. "Bankotsu is right; you are smart."
"I just couldn't understand why he likes you so much. You must know that no military leader would put up with your nonsense. So, I thought there was an injustice going on. I... I never knew my family or ever really observed people in a true family. I guess... when you care for someone, you overlook many things to only find the good."
Bankotsu crept up the porch stairs to stand next to Jakotsu, folding his arms over his chest. Renkotsu gazed at him, beady eyes shining at his proximity to Jakotsu and the protective nature of his stance.
Did Renkotsu finally get it?
"You don't choose your relations, but you're supposed to love them anyway. In this case, Bankotsu did choose his relations, but that's the only thing he's done differently." Renkotsu looked at his feet. "I didn't understand you, Oo-aniki, and I've never understood the concept of family, but... But I'd like to."
Bankotsu placed a hand under his chin to keep his mouth closed. No shit? The man didn't look like he was lying.
Jakotsu narrowed his eyes at Renkotsu. "Just like that, huh? You have been listening to Bankotsu's stupid speeches for weeks, and now, tonight, you get it and you want to try?"
Renkotsu opened his mouth, but Jakotsu lifted a hand.
"I do not believe you. You do not want a family and you do not care if anyone likes you. You are in this group, because Bankotsu has something you want. He is a leader; he can make people want to follow him. People like Bankotsu conquer worlds and you want to be beside him as he does so."
Bankotsu shrugged. It was no surprise; Renkotsu had said as much when he asked to join them. "You have not spoken against Suikotsu, because he has something you need. He is brute strength and kills without conscience on command. But me, I had nothing you wanted... or so you thought."
Renkotsu's mouth worked again, "Ja..."
"What is it that you think you are going to gain from me, Renkotsu, besides keeping your big head on your shoulders? If you were just begging for your life, you would have gone for a different approach. You wish to flatter me as you try with Bankotsu. So, I am interested; what have you discovered that is so special about little old me?"
Bankotsu failed to hide his smirk; the cocky genius was stumped. Any idiot would have known by then that Jakotsu wasn't planning on murdering him. He would have already done so, if that was the case.
But smart people tended to think too much and override natural instinct.
"You..."
"I what?"
"Must we do this? You... you know I'm using you, using all of you, but... But I don't think you find anything wrong with that, so if you're going to kill me, let's stop playing."
"I am not going to kill you, Renkotsu," Jakotsu chuckled. "You had not figured that out yet? Bankotsu needs your brains as badly as you need his talents. If his... yonin-tai is going to succeed, you must be a part of it."
Renkotsu sighed in relief, his face slowly regaining its color as he relaxed against the closed door behind him. Bankotsu rolled his eyes at that. "Don't get comfortable, Renkotsu. Just because he's not going to kill you now, doesn't mean someone else won't later. We're going to have to lay down some rules and certain things have to be understood."
Renkotsu started, standing at attention and nodding pertly. "Of course."
"We'll discuss it all in full over dinner after I've worked it all out, but one thing is to be understood right now. Jakotsu does not work for me. He only participates in the group because he wants to, so you have no right to complain about anything he does."
"Yes, Oo-aniki." Renkotsu tried to smother his surprise by lower his eyes, but Bankotsu caught his chin. He needed to see Renkotsu's eyes. He had to make sure his message was clear.
"If you say or do anything ever again that might hurt him, there will be no throwing yourself at his mercy; I will simply kill you and it will be messy."
Renkotsu didn't blink as he stared hard into Bankotsu's eyes, reading the promise and inclining his head in acknowledgment.
"Good man," Bankotsu said, patting his shoulder and stepping away from Renkotsu. "You through with him, Jakotsu?"
Jakotsu was playing with his crunchy locks with an annoyed expression on his face. "Is the foyer clean?"
"Yes, I've scrubbed every inch of paint from the floor and I washed the... the work I ruined off the wall. You can go inspect if you like. If it's not to your satisfaction, I will start all over."
Jakotsu looked pleased. "You know, Bankotsu told me that there should be some sort of punishment in line for you."
"Punishment?" Renkotsu frowned.
"Yeah," Bankotsu smiled. "It'll be in the new rules I'm thinking up right now. All actions deemed stupid by Bankotsu must be punished, and Bankotsu gets to choose route of punishment. For this particular instance, I choose your punishment to be:... uh... doing whatever Jakotsu says for..."
Hmm... if Bankotsu sentenced him to a month, Renkotsu would have preferred death and that does not inspire gratefulness so...
"... a week."
Renkotsu gave a small smile. "Thank you, Oo-aniki."
Bankotsu snorted, raising both brows in amusement and pushing Renkotsu out of the way of the door so that he could enter the house. "I don't know what the hell you're thanking me for. You're going to wish I killed you in a few hours."
Jakotsu and a troubled looking Renkotsu followed him inside.
True to his word, the foyer was tidy again and the painting Renkotsu destroyed had been scrubbed from the wall. Bankotsu plopped down on the floor in front of the table and watched Jakotsu pacing the room, appraising it thoughtfully.
"Renkotsu?" he asked.
"Yes?" The man stood a few paces from where Bankotsu sat.
"What makes me useful to you now?"
"It's not..."
"Answer him, man," Bankotsu commanded.
"You speak Portuguese and in the right clothes, you can look it too," Renkotsu said with a sigh. "The men I need to buy my supplies from are foreigners that don't respect our countrymen much and always try to swindle me. They'll sell to you fairly, if we play the part just right."
"Hmm..." Jakotsu nodded, stroking his chin. "And assuming I want to travel with you."
"Wha...?" Renkotsu's face fell. "What do you mean by that? Oo-aniki, what does he mean?"
Bankotsu glanced at Renkotsu and shrugged.
"You can't be serious! Jakotsu, you have to know how important it is that I get my metals and guns and... you're not even paying attention to me, are you?" Renkotsu walked behind Jakotsu as he went around the room again.
"Jakotsu, let me explain what I can do with the things we'll acquire..."
"Renkotsu," Jakotsu stopped abruptly, turning to face Renkotsu who stumbled trying not to crash into Jakotsu. "After looking at my garden, I realize what it is missing. Grass! You cannot plant flowers in woodwork. I need these walls green, all of them, then I will replant my garden."
"You want to paint the walls green? Well..." Renkotsu looked flabbergasted then exasperated. "...that's fine; paint the walls green. Now, let me tell you about..."
"No, I do not want to paint the walls green," Jakotsu said slowly, as if speaking to an idiot. "I want you to paint the walls green."
Bankotsu put his head down on the table to smother his snickers.
"You want... Jakotsu, I can't paint!"
"Do not be silly; anyone with arms can paint. I am not asking for art; I just want green. You can do that, Moon Head. I have every confidence in you."
"Moon Head?"
"I will need to make green paint, so I will need you to go out and gather some things for me. Do you know how to make green paint?"
"Er... well... yes, but..."
"Excellent, you can make it then! Get started. I will be waiting here for your return," Jakotsu said chirpily, and Bankotsu heard Renkotsu sputter something unintelligible and the sound of feet plodding toward the door.
Bankotsu raised his head off his arms as soon as the door closed behind Renkotsu and laughed aloud. "Green walls?"
Jakotsu looked serious. "You do not like green? Well, I suppose yellow could work too. They could be flowers in the sun."
Bankotsu shook his head, motioning for Jakotsu to sit beside him. Jakotsu gracefully sank to the floor, folding his longs legs beneath him.
"We are going to meet with those foreign traders Renkotsu talked about, Jakotsu, and he really seems to believe you can help."
"I know," Jakotsu shrugged.
"I want you to know that you don't have to go," Bankotsu said softly. "Screw Renkotsu and his ideas. Before he knew anything about you, he had another plan that I'm sure will work out just as well."
"Maybe," Jakotsu said, "but it may be easier with my help, Bankotsu. I do not mind. I just wanted to see what Renkotsu would do if I did mind."
Bankotsu chuckled, laying the palms of his hands on the table and slapping out a catchy rhythm. "So... you wanna go?"
Jakotsu nodded. "You are not allowed to travel long distances without me. Who will make sure that you and Suikotsu bathe regularly, and stop you from making stupid assumptions? You two would never make it without me."
Bankotsu snorted, rolling his eyes and slinging an arm over Jakotsu's narrow shoulders. "We wouldn't. Thanks, Ja."
"You are welcome."
They sat quietly, Bankotsu resting his head on Jakotsu's shoulder. "Ja, do you... really not believe Renkotsu when he says he wants to try being a family? I mean, me, you and Suikotsu all get on so well, there's no reason why..."
"Bankotsu," Jakotsu said gently. Bankotsu felt long fingers brushing his bangs from his eyes. "Suikotsu and I joined you, out of a need to belong. We needed a family to love and love us back. Renkotsu did not, and just because you would like to not think of it that way, does not change the fact."
Bankotsu sighed deeply. Jakotsu was right of course, but a boy could hope. "You think it means we should trust him less?"
"Do you feel unsafe around him?"
Bankotsu laughed, "Of course not. I could kill him in my sleep, and he knows it. He's... afraid of me, and Suikotsu, and now you too."
"Then we have nothing to worry about," Jakotsu said lightly, and Bankotsu could hear his smile. "Your hair needs combing."
"Yours needs a wash." Bankotsu teased back, sticking out his tongue in vain. Jakotsu couldn't see it.
"You need a wash," Jakotsu tittered, petting his head and removing his hand.
"So... the Yonin-tai?"
"Que?"
"You called us 'yonin-tai' back there with Renkotsu, band of four. I... kinda like it."
Jakotsu huffed and pushed Bankotsu away, looking petulant.
"What?"
"After all of my careful deliberation, you choose a name for the group from a random something I said, just like that?"
Bankotsu stared, bewildered by Jakotsu's sulky reaction. "Uh... you don't like it?"
"No... I just... It is not what I would have suggested to you, but... I suppose it is...fitting. There are four of us, and Suikotsu does not wish a flashy name, and you do not care..."
"So, Yonin-tai is ok?"
"Yonin-tai... fine," Jakotsu scratched his head and Bankotsu reached out to poke his middle.
"Hey, the name came from something you called us, so technically, you did name the group."
"Hm."
Bankotsu continued to poke Jakotsu until he smiled then relented and went back to his impromptu beat. New headquarters, a group name, a truce between members. Though Bankotsu still needed to write up some ground rules and someone needed to fill Suikotsu in on what happened with Renkotsu, things were looking pretty good for his Yonin-tai. So far they'd accomplished more than what Bankotsu had thought possible in such a short amount of time, and in a few weeks, they would attain even more.
He could no longer speak of his dream, because it was quickly becoming his reality. He grinned manically and drummed faster, getting Jakotsu's amused attention.
"What are you so happy about?"
Bankotsu stopped pounding the table and reached out to take Jakotsu's hands. "We're doing this, Jakotsu. We're really doing this. Some people talk forever about what they want to do, but it's happening for me."
"Yes, it is," Jakotsu said smiling gently, his eyes warm. "But you should not be surprised, Bankotsu. You are destined for greatness, and Renkotsu is not the only one who sees it."
Bankotsu squeezed Jakotsu's thin fingers tightly, giggling madly. "We're all going to be big names, Jakotsu– not just me– and I can't wait to get to work."
He let go of Jakotsu after a moment, looking speculatively up at the ceiling, whistling lightly, and then frowning as something occurred to him.
"Hey Ja, do you think Suikotsu will be too pissed over Renkotsu still being alive to make dinner?"
"You had better hope not or you are going to starve. No one else around here can cook..." Jakotsu trailed off, grinning at Bankotsu deviously. "At least no one at this table can; I bet Renkotsu did a lot of cooking at that temple of his."
"I bet he did too..." Bankotsu stroked his chin.
The front door was opening again, and the flash of Renkotsu's bald head could be seen.
"Oi, Renkotsu, after you finish with my paint..."
The End