"Here, have some water." Bankotsu handed Yuki a wood cup.

"Arigato…"

"Are you alright?"

"Hai"

"Yuki, what were going to say before you fainted?"

"I… I don't know how to tell you this…"

"What? What's wrong?"

"Well um…"

"Is something wrong with you? You know why you fainted?"

"No, it's not that."

"So?"

"It's Jakotsu, he's… gone…" she looked down sadly. For some reason, his death

made her sad. She failed to understand WHY, but it was just the way thing were.

"What… happened?" Bankotsu asked, a pained tone in his voice.

"Well, he was wounded and buried under rocks when I found him, I tried to

help but Renkotsu came- he fired at me and took Jakotsus' shards."

"HE WHAT? HOW DARE HE!"

"I'm only here, alive and well, thanks to Inuyasha."

"Nani?"

"Yes, Inuyasha smelled me and came to the rescue- he fought Jakotsu before,

but he left him alive."

"That teme Renkotsu- he will pay, mark my words… betraying his

comrade and trying to kill my mate, he's going down."

"Koishii… he has two more shard now, it might be dangerous."
"Don't worry," he put his hand on her cheek, "I'll be fine… but HE won't."

It was dark, the sky was a deep shade of blue.

Bankotsu sat on a rock, waiting.

Yuki was left behind, Bankotsu said it was too dangerous for

Her to accompany him.

She agreed with no argument because she understood it was true,

Renkotsu is very devious and may try to use her against Bankotsu.

'But I'm so worried… what if something goes wrong? This guy is dangerous,

he always had a scamming glint in his eyes…' She thought and rubbed her temples.

"I wish I could've saved him… I failed, because I am weak, a crappy witch."

She fell into a puddle of black bitterness.

'How could I have failed koishii like this? I let his best friend, his brother,

die." She sobbed and buried her face in her palms.

Meanwhile, Bankotsu waited on for the traitor to arrive.

"Oo-aniki…"

"Renkotsu, kisama, you thought you could steal your comrads' jewel

shard and become stronger then me! Did you honestly believe that I would

let you get away with killing Jakotsu and trying to kill Yuki? Ne, bakamono?"

An answer never came, only a direct attack.

'Koishii… he's fighting now only because I failed at doing so, if I

would've beaten Renkotsu that teme, he would be here with me now...'

"BAKA!" she slapped her own forehead.

"How could you fail so miserably? As always… I just get the lucky stroke,

it was that why when my family died and I was not there, it's like it now- I was lucky enough to be saved by Inuyasha. I never succeed on my own, I never won my own battle. I'm such a loser…"

"You are not!" a firm voice said behind her.

"Koishii!" She ran and embraced him. "Gomen…"

"Naze?"

"I failed you." She looked down.

"Renkotsu failed me, not you. You tried; you're right about one thing though,

you need more practice."

"You're right, I want to be the best."

"And I'm sure you will be."

They kissed.

That all for the time being, I hope you enjoyed.

Did anyone use that link I gave out?

Anyway, bye 'till the ext time. )