Author's Notes: Okay, back and updating on this again

Minor Character usage:

Tsuyu—The princess Nobunaga was trying to save during episode 8 of the series. The man she's with in this is based off of the Tsukumo no Gama (the frog-guy).

Shima—the fiancée Miroku "forgot" and who was supposed to be married to a catfish youkai if Miroku didn't wed her. She appeared during volume 35 of the manga.

As always- please read and do take the time to review.

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The car ride home was silent and I found myself absently staring out the window watching things go past. My mind was also drifting- aimlessly not focusing on any specific thought, but merely letting them float past.

My heart felt heavy as I thought about the situation with Hiten. If I was being optimistic, I'd say- 'Don't worry, everything will work out fine.' That is, if I was being optimistic.

Instead, I was just dwelling on everything that could possibly go wrong.

"Naraku, Akitoki…what if they slip and tell someone, What am I supposed to say if people just start asking me, 'So, I heard you're gay. Is it true?'"

"Bankotsu…" The soft voice of my roommate pulled me out of my negative thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"Does Jakotsu happen to have any favorite foods or anything I could get from the store for him?"

I smiled then in spite of my mood. While it seemed like things just kept happening to make me feel awkward- here Suikotsu was going out of his way to make me feel accepted.

"Um…well, I'll have to see what we have at the apartment already."

"Okay," Suikotsu replied, "Kikyou and I can run errands later if needed. Have to make sure everything's in place before Jakotsu returns, right?"

"Yeah…if only I could deal with getting everyone at my school ready for this…"

"Aside from making yourself sick with worry…how'd it go?" He asked me, his voice tentative and calm.

I sighed, "Sesshoumaru and Kagura are okay with it. Apparently Naraku is bi, and so of course I hope he won't pull any pranks. Akitoki- the one in the nurse's office found out on accident. It had me worried at first- the kid kinda worships me, but he was- surprisingly understanding about it," Pausing I thought back to Akitoki's reaction and smiled a bit, but my smile quickly fell as I finished recounting my day, "I just hope he doesn't slip up and call Jakotsu my boyfriend in front of people he's not certain know."

"And…Hiten?" Suikotsu asked warily, and I could tell he already was sensing the worst.

"He was too busy calling everything stupid me or anyone else did 'gay.' If he's already so biased…how…how can I…"

"It could be a conditioned reaction," Kikyou spoke up- her voice that calm yet firm tone it always was.

"She's right. If his parents or another friend is like that- he might have picked it up from them," Suikotsu continued on her behalf, "But either way- you'd best tell him soon. It'll only hurt your friendship otherwise."

I hung my head and sighed once again.

"I know…" I muttered, my mind finishing my sentence, "That's…what I'm afraid of."

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Chapter 7: Doctoring the Mind

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The door swung open as the three made their way inside the small apartment. Bankotsu let his backpack slide to the ground before he flopped down on the couch.

"I swear, this has to have been the longest day of my life…" He muttered to himself.

"Um Bankotsu….about what I was mentioning back when you were at school. Kikyou kinda needs to be filled in here," Suikotsu spoke up, looking between the two.

"Oh um…," The young man fidgeted as he glanced over to the quiet black-haired young woman, "You see….err…Jakotsu and I…"

"You are romantically attached to one another. I've suspected it for quite some time…" She said coolly.

Bankotsu just blinked, "You….knew?"

"I was merely waiting for you to be ready to tell us yourself. It's best that way for all parties involved."

Looking over to Suikotsu for an answer, the brown-haired man shook his head, "It figures that Kikyou would have picked it up. She's very observant you know."

His expression of shock faded as he finished processing that fact.

"I wonder if there's anyone else that knows but hasn't said anything…"

"And now that you seem to be dealing with this matter, I would like to question a few things about it," Kikyou continued, reaching into her bag for a notepad.

"A…few things?" Bankotsu questioned nervously, "What kind of things?"

At that, she smiled lightly, "Consider it a strictly confidential analysis of your situation. It might help you figure out some things about yourself and aide you in dealing with this current situation."

Once again looking to Suikotsu for the answer, he walked over and sat beside Bankotsu on the couch, "You won't have to answer anything that makes you feel awkward. It's just an exercise we've been learning during classes and well- she's right, it might really help all of us understand this situation a bit better."

Figuring it couldn't hurt, Bankotsu sighed, "All right. I guess I'm up to it."

Kikyou stood then, walking over and seating herself in the chair across the living room area from the two young men.

"Okay, first things first. How long have you known Jakotsu?"

"Since I was a baby," He replied, then added, "Jakotsu was five then. Our fathers were war buddies."

Scribbling down a few notes, Kikyou looked back over to him and continued, "And when was the first indication that Jakotsu might be attracted to you?"

Eyes widening at how quickly the questions became intimate, Bankotsu one again found himself nervously fidgeting as he tried to recall the incident.

"I guess…I kinda always knew Jakotsu was different. But…well, when I was ten…"

He paused as he felt the light pressure of a hand resting on his shoulder.

"Suikotsu?"

"Just tell us what you're comfortable saying, okay? No pressure. We'll still be friends no matter what, all right?"

Smiling softly at the added assurance, Bankotsu nodded, "Okay. I know but… I… I think it might help if I tell someone about it."

"That's understandable," He replied, reaching down and gently grasping his friend's hand, "But just remember- we're here for you."

"Thanks," Bankotsu said softly, then quietly, he returned to his answer, "When I was ten- Jakotsu was a few years ahead of me in school. He…he kissed me out in the hallways and well- it was just…chaos. The other students, their parents, the PTA, the local religious people- everyone just had to throw a fit about it. Jakotsu lived with his Aunt then, and she…well, she freaked out. Her and my Mother both did and so…well, we were kinda separated. You know- keep them from infecting each other with gayness and all that shit."

Kikyou nodded sagely, before replying, "Sadly, most people don't try to understand. They just panic and try to push the problem away. It's a very depressing reality."

Bankotsu sighed, the memories slowly welling up inside his mind and without even noticing it, he found himself clutching Suikotsu's hand in reassurance.

"You going to be all right, or shall we pause for a moment?" Kikyou asked, about to stand and offer her comfort to the shaken form as well.

"No. I'll be fine. Just…a lot of well…not so great memories."

"Okay. Then, continuing off of that information, how long were you two apart?"

"Four years. His aunt locked him off from the world and tried to brainwash him into purity. It wasn't until I was fifteen that I got to speak to him again."

"And that was when?"

"He got kicked out. His aunt had given up hope on him and just threw him out on the street. After that, he moved in with me and my family."

"And how did that work out?" Kikyou questioned, her pen quickly jotting down information.

"It was okay for awhile. My mom was still leery, and I…I guess she had every right to be."

"I assume that whether she liked it or not, you'd already "been infected by the gayness" so to speak?"

"Yeah…" Bankotsu said quietly.

"I have another question, but… if it's too personal, you don't have to answer," Kikyou stated, her eyes focused and her mind slowly processing the information Bankotsu was supplying, "When was it that you first found yourself feeling romantically towards Jakotsu? As in, the first time you questioned your own sexuality."

Blue eyes quickly darted to the floor, and Bankotsu balled his free hand into a fist.

"The first time…that I…"

"Bankotsu, are you okay?" Suikotsu asked, leaning slightly towards his friend.

Very quietly, and barely above a whisper, Bankotsu spoke, "After I…after I saw him again. After those four years. It was just… well… he was….was….he was something special to me then. I…I don't know how to explain it. I just, looked at him in a different light or something- but… he's been the only one I've ever been like that about. My dad said it just meant I was exclusively gay or something like that but… all I know is that… well…"

"Bankotsu, you don't have to…" The brown-haired young man reminded him, but was cut off by the soft whisper.

"I…I wanted him to kiss me again. It was stupid. And I kept thinking about it and it just… it just didn't make any sense. I just knew that…that I…."

His final words were muffled as Suikotsu pulled Bankotsu's tense form against him in a hug.

"Shh… it's all right."

Kikyou stood immediately at that, her notepad falling to the ground in her haste.

Sitting on the other side of the two, she gently placed her hands on his shoulders from behind.

"That's all. You don't have to say anymore, Bankotsu."

The two college students continued to hold their friend in a loose embrace as his memories continued to rush through his mind.

There were only three muffled words they could make out from his silent whispers though, "I…love him."

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Miles away, a tall black-haired man sneezed as he waited to board the plane to America.

"Finally going, I'm going home. It might not have been a full year, but it sure felt like it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder my ass, I still say. There is nothing like holding them in the flesh and blood in your arms, and that is the first thing I am doing the second I see him…"

Walking onto the plane, Jakotsu quickly found his seat number and situated himself in the window seat he was assigned.

A few moments later, he looked up as he noticed a short man glaring at him strangely.

Quirking his lips into a half-hearted smile he casually asked, "Is there a problem?"

The man 'hmph'ed to himself before bustling on back towards the nearest stewardess.

Jakotsu's false smile quickly fell as he overheard the man conversing with the stewardess.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but I refuse to sit next to that type of person. I would like to request a seat change for me and my wife."

"Dear, it's not necessary. Please don't make a fuss…"

"I am not sitting next to him for hours!" He yelled back at her.

Obviously wanting to calm the irritate man, the young stewardess politely gestured for him to settled down, "Now now," The black-haired woman began, "Just go on towards the back and take at seat there, Sir. If there's any troubles, just tell him that Shima okay-ed it."

The man nodded, as he turned to his rather embarrassed wife, "Tsuyu. Let's go." He said sharply.

Bowing to the stewardess in thanks, the woman quickly hustled down the aisle after her husband.

Jakotsu rolled his eyes, "Well, it looks I get a whole row to myself then…"

"Sir?"

He looked up to the stewardess, and narrowed his eyes, "Great, is she going to cause me trouble now too?"

"I'm very sorry for that man's rude behavior. If there's anything you need, just feel free to ask."

"Shima, right?" Jakotsu questioned.

The woman politely nodded, "If you want- I can probably sneak you one of the catfish dinners from first class."

At that, his smile widened, "That'd be nice. I've heard most other airplane food tastes like cardboard."

She smiled sweetly in return, "I suppose it depends on your taste buds. But once again, thank you for holding your tongue. It was very mature of you."

"I'm used to it," Jakotsu replied honestly, "But thanks for going out of your way for me. That doesn't happen very often."

"It's not a problem at all, Sir," She bowed politely then and returned to her duties.

The plane readied for take off, and Jakotsu decided to take advantage of the three chairs he had to his usage as he propped up his legs.

"Mou…I wonder what Bankotsu's doing right now?" He pondered aloud, not paying much attention to the strange stares he was getting. "I can't call him like I usually do because I'll be in-flight then…. So that's going to be odd."

He shrugged, turning his attention back to the book in his hands, "Oh well, I'll have him back in my arms tomorrow and everything will be just fine."

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Chapter 8:

One can never truly prepare for everything.

Even if you are ready in your mind, your heart could still be hesitating.