Bankotsu's P.O.V

It was raining that day...late that afternoon, but you couldn't tell because it was so cloudy. I made my way through the forest, holding Kimiko closely at my side.Thunder echoed throughout the sky as the rain splattered against the cold, hard, ground.I'm worried about Kimiko. Her clothes had been badly torn in the previous battle and needless to say, this storm isn't helping herany.The crisp,cold wind felt like knives against my skin. I knew it must've felt even worse for her.

The rain came down harder. I picked up speed, half dragging Kimi at my side."It's not much farther" I reassured her while she shivered at my side. I was trying not to worry, for her sake, but we should've been there by now. Then a thought struck me...maybe we took a wrong turn. It was damn near impossible to see anything in this storm, let alone a small shrine. Still...I had to keep on.

I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was a small blur. I turned my head and squinted. THERE IT IS!. "This way Kimiko. " Istrode down the field and towards the shrine. It couldn't have been more than 30 feet away.

We treaded up the hillside, the mud sucking at our feet as wemoved through the grass.Suddenly, I felt something dragging at my arm, Itwisted around to see what was wrong. Kimiko had slipped. I kneltdowm beside to make sure she was okay.A small pool of blood trickledover the side of her leg. Oh no...that battle...she must've gotten hit.The wind picked up. Without saying another word I scooped her into my arms and ran for the shelter.

20 feet...

Between carrying her and Banryuu, I was starting to feel awfully tired myself.

15 feet...

My legs felt like they were on fire, but I kept on.

5 feet...

I was almost there.

1 foot...

I threw myself inside. Shutting the door and locking it behind us. I sat my Banryuu against the wall. Shit. Kimiko passed out, I sprawled her out onto the floor then lifted up her leg. A tiny hole puntured her thigh. A bullet hole,I reached inside my shirt for a knife, I'll have to cutthe bulletout of her leg...

I gently sponged off her forehead using the end of my sash. Dammit. If she stays cold she might...(I shook the thought from my mind) A FIRE! I have to make a fire...,I surveyed the room. It was small...barely enough room for more than two people. I saw a couple of blankets stuffed in one corner and a load of firewood piled next to atiny bed of coal. This place must've been abandoned only recently.

After I got a fire going, hung up my shirt and armor to dry, I made a pallet on the floor using some of the blankets I found. Now...it was time I tended to Kimiko. First things first...I had to get her out of those wet clothes. I lifted her up to the wall and untied her sash.

I opened up her shirt, blushing at what I saw. I know I shouldn't look. I know this was wrong, but kimi, she wasn't like other women. She had even moreexotic features than I had. Her elegant face...those moist red lips...those mysterious,midnight blueeyes that lit up whenever she smiled. Oh god...what am I thinking? This is my best friend. I never felt this way before though...sometimes when I look at her, my skin burns and my heart feels, well, funny. When I told Jakotsu, he just gaped at me and said "forget the feeling. It's gotta be a unrequited love". Was that it...was I in love with her? Would you even call it love. I want her...I want her badly...but is that the same as loving someone?or just wanting to make love to that person? I raked my finger through her raven hair."Am I in love with you?" I whispered, knowing she wouldn't hear me. Some mornings when I wake up and she's next to me(still sound asleep) I gaze at her and smile. Sometimes she whispers my name in her sleep and then she smiles too. But what does she dream when she dreams of me? I would stoke her face. When she wakes, I would whipser sweet words into her ear and hold her close to me while she laughed and giggled.Jaki says I'm selfish and I never spend time with him anymore.I can't help it but be selfish with her. She still aches from what happened a few months ago with her and that Inuyasha person(I scrunched up my face at that name as if smelling something foul) I want to take away her pain. I thought I was just being a good to her. As a friend. Now...maybe it's more than that.

I slipped off her clothes(respectfully) and held her against me so I could wrap a blanket around her. I could feel myself growing hotter as she gently breathed on my neck.What if I am falling for her? What would Jakotsu say? Idon't know but I do know he'd be hurt...way more than my words could ever say.I tied a knot in the blanket to keep it from falling off of her.I shouldn't worry about what he thinks, should I? But, even if Iwin, I lose. If I try for Kimi, it's over for me and Jaki(and vice-versa) It'd be best that things stay the way they are.

Kimi's lips brushed my neck, a wave of heat surged through me."Hmrm..Ban-Bankotsu?" Was she awake now?

" Bankotsu?" She pulled back from me, her hands trailing lightly over my abs-i bit back a smile-"Aniki?"

I rubbed the sleep from her eyes" I'm right here." I whispered into a kiss on her forehead.

" Where am I? " She yawned.

" At the shrine. You passed out."

She glanced around the room and then at herself. Panic appeared over her face." The HELL happened to me clothes!"

I explained it to her what had happened( before she tried to fight me)She looked relieved( thank god )

Kimiko grinned at me and I grinned back, but her smile started to fade. She looked at me as if she'd just remember something she'd forgot,"Wait a min...You undressed me!"

I blinked a couple times "I didn't look!" I said swiftly, " I swear!"

She stared at me for a moment." You're lying Ban-san. I can tell."

" What do you mean, you can tell?"I twitched my nose.

" Well...for one...you're blushing"-bankotsu covered his cheeks-"and you won't look me in the eye. And You blink alot when you lie..not to mention you scrunch up your nose."

"Okay fine."I turned my back to her, " I looked. So, are you gonna slap me now or what?"

What she did next...it kinda took me by surprise. I felt her arms wrap around my waist as she reasted her head on my shoulders.

"It's no big deal..."She said, kissing the back of my neck,"You were bound to see all this someday anyway..."

I flushed "You're the one who was making it a big deal and you don't really care." I paused for a second "And what do you mean by 'someday'?"

I raised an eyebrow at her.She blushed and said " Don't get all suspicious,I'm just saying...me and you are close and..."

I raised my eyebrow higher "And?"

She gave my waista quick squeeze."Anyway...subject change. Where is Jaki? Why didn't he meet us inSakai like he said?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out. But back to what you were saying...exactly how 'close' are we?"

She beamed at me. "You tell me."

"I asked you first."

"So."

" Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" she asked

"THAT, Kimi, THAT!"

" What is 'THAT' ?"

"Oh, forget it. You need to be resting anyway." why does she always wanna go against me?

"I'm not tired Ban-san."

"Kimi...you're sick. Please, justgo to bed." I'm trying to be nice.

" No."

"Why do you have to be so difficult?" She was starting to annoy me.

She said nothing. Only gazed at me with her deep, blue eyes." Why do you always oppose me? Why don't you ever do what I ask?" still, she said nothing. " I don't uderstand you at times..." Maybe it's because I'm not supposed to.

" You say you don't understand me...but you're the one person who understands me the most."

Is that really the truth?

"Yes it is."

I didn't realize I said that outloud.

"Bankotsu" she took ahold of my hand, " You know what I want."

Do I? How can I when I don't even know what I want.

"I was hurt...and in pain. You saved me from that. I share a special bond with you no one else could possibly hope to have."

Does that mean You love me? If so, Am I in love with you too? I seized you by your hips and flipped you down onto the bed, underneath me. This feeling I have for you...it goes deep...it cuts into me. I felt it ever since I saw first you. But how can I love you when " I barely know you"

She reached up and touch my face, " My name...my birthday..what I am. I don't even know these things. I know I'm Kimiko, but is that even my real name? Am I even really human? Does all that even matter to you?"

" No, It doesn't." I stroked her elegant face, " I am the same way. I was alone for as long as I can remember. Even when I met Jaki."

I don't care about your identity, I care about you. Who you are...mind, body and soul. I want to take you..now...right now. I know what you want...you want me touch you. But we can't...not here...not now. I lay my body next to yours. I can see the longing in your eyes. I brought you closer to me. " It feels nice, doesn't it. " I kissed your lower lip, " my body against yours."

She blushed. " You want me touch you." I told her."You want it just as bad as I do." But then you don't. Something is holding you back. Is it Jakotsu? Are you worried about his feelings or is it something else?"What's holding us back?"

" It's just...not right for us at this time."She rolled on her side,"Let's just sleep now..."

"What is it really? Kimi, what bothers you? You can talk to me."

She closed her eys and fell asleep instantly. She never did tell me...she only mummled the name "Sephiroth"