"Good job." Bankotsu said as he stepped over a trail of smouldering-hot corpses and over to where Renkotsu and Suikotsu stood."I have to admit, I'm impressed. You two finished ALOT quicker that I thought you would."

"C'mon Aniki. Have a little faith in us."Chuckled Renkotsu.

Suikotsu licked the blood from his claws,"Yeah, you..."Suikotsu trailed off. From the moment his tongue tasted that blood, he felt his desire to kill grow immensly. Images of chaos and destruction swarmed throughout his mind. He could picture it all so clearly. A women screaming for her husbands life and soldiers are being led into the fire. Everything from the heat of the flames to the scent of freshly spilt blood.

"Suikotsu?"

"Hai?"Suikotsu said, staring mezmerized at his blood-stained steel claws.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm...fine. I'm fine Aniki." He mumbled, not breaking from his gaze.

Bankotsu stared at Suikotsu. He'd never seen such a crazed, malicious look on the killer's face before. Suikotsu caressed the back of his claws, his lips quivering as he looked over the blades.After licking most of the blood from his claws, It was almost as if he was...thirsty for more.

"I'm back Aniki"

Both Bankotsu and Renkotsu looked up,(Suikotsu was still in his own little world at the time) Jakotsu strode into the clearing, his jakotsutou hanging casually over his shoulder. The tip of it dripping with the crimson red liquid.

"I cleaned up all the filth."Jakotsu said happily.

Renkotsu raised his eyebrow, " Filth?" What did he mean by 'filth'?

Bankotsu smiled at Renkotsu's confusion. Even though the Shichinintai has been around for several months now, not many of Bankotsu's comrades understood Jakotsu.(at least, not like Bankotsu did) Bankotsu patted Renkotsu on the shoulder, " It's okay Renkotsu. I'll explain. By 'filth' he means women and by 'Cleaned up' he means Killed."

"Oh..." Renkotsu nodded, remembering Jakotsu's reknowed hatred of Women(well, almost all women anyway)

"Jaki, where are the others?"

" Well...Mukotsu was right behind"-he scratched his head-" Ginkotsu and Kyokotsu took Kimiko to the Daimyo Kiyomori's Yashiki."

" THEY TOOK HER WHERE! " Bankotsu yelled. Anger rising in his voice. " WHO TOLD HER SHE COULD GO!"

Jakotsu stepped back. He knew how unapproachable Bankotsu was whenever he gets mad."Don't yell at me Aniki. It was Renkotsu's fault."he pointed at the older man, standing next to their leader."He told her she could go."

Bankotsu slowly turned to Renkotsu," You told her she could go?"

Renkotsu's P.O.V

Bankotsu glared at me. I really didn't need his bullshit. Everytime something happens, he comes to me and says it's MY fault. He's the leader, whatever happens it just as much his fault as it is mine! Maybe instead of coming down on me all the time, he should keep a better eye on his woman.

" Bankotsu-oo-aniki, I won't make excuses"like some people I know(namely Jakotsu)"I was indeed the one who told Anaki she could go to the castle. I even sent Ginkotsu and Kyokotsu to assist her."

"May I remind you who is in charge around here? Just because you two are second in command does not mean you can outrule me in any decisions you make!"said Bankotsu in quiet fury. I could tell he was trying his best not to yell but it was only a matter of time before he snapped. If you ask me, if he didn't want me making decisions without him, then he shouldn't have made me second in command.

"It is because she's second in command that I let her take this mission!" I said, trying my best not to rise my voice at him, but he was wearing my last nerve. " Bankotsu, she is SIXTEEN! Kimiko is not a child! She is just as capable as me or you and-"

" I don't give a DAMN how capable she is. She is reckless. God knows I love her like..."

A sharp pain grazed Bankotsu's cheek. A small cut appeared on his face. We saw a sia stabbed into the tree between my head and Aniki's.My heart jumped, but Bankotsu just grinned.I gaped at him and our shuryu just laughed. What could he possibly find funny about this situation! A few more inches to either side and one of us would be dead.

Kimiko emerged from beneath the shadow of the forest with Mukotsu at her side. Kyokotsu and Ginkotsuwere standingbehind. If people didn't know any better, you'd think she was the leader of her own little entourage.

" Don't talk about me when I'm not around. It's impolite ya know. "

Jakotsu's P.O.V

Oh god. IT's times like these that I regret the day Bankotsu ever found her. All he does is flirt with her. I WAS HERE FIRST! I SAW BANKOTSU FIRST! But noooo! She has all of them wrapped around her little finger. I still haven't forgiven Bankotsu for putting her in second over me. Maybe If I slept with him, he'd put me ahead of Renkotsu. I know they might not have even had sex but hell, I wouldn't put anything past her.

" Hey Bitch. " I said."Looking stupid as usual."

She smiled at me " Hey Jackass. Looking cute in Drag. As usual."

" MY NAME IS JAKOTSU! JA-KO-TSU! It's Only three syllables!"

" Right. Well until you realize my name isn't 'Bitch' than I won't realize your name isn't 'Jackass'."

Grrr...She really pisses me off. Bankotsu pried her sia out of the tree and threw it at her. She caught it between her fingers and he smiled even more. BIG DEAL! I could do that too. I just don't want to. Sometimes I don't get Aniki. She could've killed him just now and he laughs about it. I swear...we may be best friends but I'll never understand him. I don't even think he understands himself.

Suikotsu P.O.V

That scent...like roses and white tea. I lowered my claws and scowled around the area. Kimiko's back. My skin was set ablaze. She strutted passed me. In that split second...I lost myself. She intrigued me...enticed me. She has killed more man that I ever could. And yet, somehow, she remains pure. Her skin bears no scratches. Her eyes harbor no ill-will. Still, I can sense the darkness radiating off of her but the others are to blind to even notice it. During battle, I see the Angel of death hovering about her...I can see him whisper to her...

Kill...rip...maim...

He knows I can see him. He knows I can't do a thing about it either. At night he watches her sleep. Stroking her face. He calls her his 'beautiful winged child" and that one day, she will set him free. He knows I know...he wants us dead. She...will kill us. She will murder me.

I seized her by her arm, digging my nails into her flesh. I could feel everyone's eyes burning through me but I didn't care. She glared at me with fire in her eyes " Let go"she said carelessly. The mark of the exodius burned into her forehead. "Caelestis. That's what he calls you." I lifted her head level with mine, using my claw." WHO IS HE!"

" WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" she screamed.

I Shook her. She may be able to fool eveyone else but not me. Not this time. The doctor has held me back for the last time. Bankotsu and the others yelled for me to put her down, but I ignored them.

"Insects..."I murmured. " They can't compare to us."

" What is wrong with you suikotsu?"

I tilted my head to the side, Bankotsu was marching towards me even as I speak. " I wouldn't do that." the tips of my claws broke the skin of her chin" That is..if you want her alive."

" Suikotsu, this isn't funny! "

" On the contrary Bankotsu. Everything about this is funny."

" What're talking about? Put her down."

" You're blind. Just like the rest of them. Think about it..."

I wrapped my body around hers. Anger flared inside Bankotsu's eyes along with Jealousy and Hatred.

" Tell me Aniki...would you kill for this woman? Do you care about her that much?"

" I said put her down " the braided-hair man snarled through gritted teeth.

" How is it..."I licked the side of her neck, " That this girl-someone so young-can kill..ca-can murder and yet her soul remains untainted. She remains untouched by reality. At night I have to STEW in my own guilt because of the docter and THIS..." I choked back foul liquids and bile, "this WOMAN has no trouble at all! Her conscious doesn't eat away at her like ours do. " I inhaled her sweet scent, "She doesn't smell of war or famine..she doesn't carry the scent of blood. Why is that Kimiko? HUH!"

She struggled violently against me. No one once of fear in her eyes. " WHY DON'T YOU GET SCARED! WHY!"

"Because, " She broke away from me " My father is scarier than you will ever be."

At that moment, nothing else mattered, not me, not the Shichinintai. Nothing. All I wanted to do was kill her. I tried to plunge my claw deep into body. I wanted to tear out her heart. I wanted to rip apart her soul.

He stopped me.

He appeared to be standing behind her. Everyone was oblivious to him. Everyone except me. Kimiko ran into his arms.He held her close to his body, his wings wrapped around them both. She took comfort in him. And no one saw this but me! He laughed at me. Ridiculed me. Blinded by my ambition, I charged him. I was so convinced I could take him that I didn't see the battle was over before it even Began. I fell to the ground, a sharp pain seared across my stomache. My vision of him faded. Where the Angel of death once stood, Bankotsu took his place. IT was Bankotsu who held her. It was Bankotsu who protected her. It was Bankotsu who hadstriked me down. It will be Bankotsu who shall feel my vengeance...

japanese words.

Anaki-sister

shuryu-leader

daimyo-lord

yashiki-estate owned by lords and shoguns.

Caelestis(latin)-celestial

Yami-darkness or dark side

note After this chapter, they will refer to suikotsu's evil-killer side as Yami and thegood-doctor side as suikotsu or just doctor.

The angel of death refers to Sephiroth.