Love beyond the Western Lands: The Curse of the Black Gem

Chapter 4: The Fight and Naraku's Actions

Bankotsu stared at the woman: Her shining dark purple mop, her deep pools of black, the beautiful figure and white skin. "Kikyou…" he thought. Suddenly, he received flashes of the woman.

Flashback-

Bankotsu walked through the forest, Banryuu over his shoulder. Suddenly, a woman passed him. She stops dead, wind blowing her shining, gallant hair. She turned around, suddenly, slinging an arrow. "What are you?" she said at once. "Oh," Bankotsu said slyly. "I've heard of you. The great Tai-Miko Kikyou." The onna was unfazed. She continued to aim her arrow at Bankotsu. "I've heard many stories about a heroine like you. I've never know you'd act like this." The woman did not budge. "Hmph. So it's like that? Fine…" He jabbed Banryuu into the dirt and held out his arms. "Hurry up, attack me…" The woman hesitated. Pulling the arrow tighter, she let go, putting her bow down and holding the arrow. Bankotsu lost his interest. "You weren't the type I thought." Bankotsu wrenched Banryuu out from the ground and walked past Kikyou as if she weren't there.

"Bankotsu," Kikyou said. "You and the Shichinintai have terrorized Fire Town, the town in which Enju rules over and watches. Leave immediately or I will slay you all!"

All five of the Shichinintai laughed haughtily. Kikyou smirked, "Don't believe me?" Kikyou began. "Of course! I'll give you a sample!" Kikyou leapt in the air and spun in a circle. Swinging her Kwan Dao, powerful blasts exploded. With an ultimate power: Tian Kwan Dao Huo (Sky Guardian's Slash: This is Chinese and is nothing related to Japanese)

Kikyou landed from her leap smoothly, her back to the Shichinintai. As the dust cleared, it was QUITE a sight to LAUGH at! Renkotsu's fire power collapsed: His cannons collapsed as well as the gunpowder disappeared into the cloud of dust. Jakotsu's snake sword became rusted and stained heavily, unable to swing it freely. Mukotsu laid still, killed from the blasts. In the distance, a buzzing was faintly heard, carrying a black gem fragment. Suikotsu's claws were dulled; some of them were chipped as well as stained lightly. Only Bankotsu remained unfazed, for Banryuu was rubbed shiny on the blade. Kikyou stifled a laugh. "Not bad," Bankotsu said as he saw Banryuu shining. "Were you trying to polish it for me?"

"Hmph," Kikyou said, amused. "Don't kid yourself. Bankotsu walked towards Banryuu, suddenly fond of the glinting blade. Kikyou rapidly stowed Kwan Dao over her back and quickly slinging an arrow, aiming at Bankotsu's head. "DON'T MOVE!" Kikyou said loudly. Bankotsu held up his hands from hearing the straining of the bow string. "I have not laid one finger on my precious Banryuu…" Bankotsu said. "…SUIKOTSU!"

Kikyou spun around, loosening her grip on her weapon. Suikotsu raised his claws, ready to strike. Kikyou aimed her bow and arrow directly at the steel blades. A beam of lavender shot out of the arrow, snapping off the blades from both hands.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" yelled Bankotsu. Kikyou turned around just in time to shoot her arrow, hitting the scar of Banryuu, which fended it off. She back flipped (Lara Croft style if you know Tomb Raider), landing right behind Suikotsu. Suikotsu ran out of the way immediately. Bankotsu tossed away Banryuu: It whizzed around the area like Hiraikotsu before stabbing into the earth. He ran at Kikyou with speed like no other and kicked Kikyou, narrowly missing her. However, the sharp blade that was out of Bankotsu's shoe sliced off Kikyou's sleeves. Kikyou did a side flip, pulling off the sleeves with relief. "Heh," Kikyou said slyly. "I thank you Bankotsu….. I can fight for efficiently now."

Kikyou speedily switched from bow and arrow to her beautiful Ni Hon. Suddenly, Bankotsu ran right behind Kikyou, grabbed her left arm which was grasping the blade and did a head lock to Kikyou. "AGH!" Kikyou screamed. "A lovely woman like you should not play with weapons of any sort," Bankotsu whispered in her ear. "Urusae (This is the harsh way of saying shut up. Urusan-na is more respectable. )!" Kikyou said from behind the headlock. Suddenly, Bankotsu tightened his headlock even more, causing Kikyou to gasp for air even more.

Kikyou grasped the Ni Hon even harder. When she felt like dying, she summoned up her dragon power in her heart. The wind blew hard, making the fiery plains feel cool. Snow began to scatter lightly, but when it touched the scalding rock it did not melt. "What in the seven hells…?" Bankotsu exclaimed. "This would distract Bankotsu enough," Kikyou thought. "The wind will blow away eventually, but for now…" Just as Kikyou was about to flip her body and kick Bankotsu, he smartly tightened the headlock. "Foolish woman!" he exclaimed with distain. He forcefully raised Kikyou's left arm which bore the Ni Hon.

"You can't use it…" Kikyou thought, tired of fighting, "…only I can wield it and choose the people to use it… you can not use it so don't bother…"

Bankotsu chuckled. "I can see I can not touch this beautiful blade… shame how it lays in your youkai hands…" Kikyou began sniggering, then grew into chuckling then broke into laughter, though it hurt. "You are so foolish…" Kikyou laughed. "The Ni Hon chooses its wielder, like Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga." Bankotsu smirked. "Who ever said I was going to TOUCH IT!" He raised Kikyou's arm, then swished it, blowing away the flakes. With another tight squeeze, the headlock fainted Kikyou.

Bankotsu released Kikyou as she fell on the rocky ground. Jakotsu walked over to him. "Well?" he exclaimed. "Would you like me to kill her?" "Bankotsu Ooaniki," Renkotsu and Suikotsu chimed in. "She has slain three of the Shichinintai. There's nothing better to do than to kill this wench." "No," Bankotsu exclaimed. "We'll keep her… since she may be of some use…"

To be continued…