Bankotsu P.O.V

" Bankotsu, you want us to leave?" Jakotsu forced himself onto his feet, " But why? We can't do something like that, you're our leader."

I tried to calmly acplain to Jaki why I wanted them to leave but he just wasn't trying to hear it.

" You're sick!"Jaki blurted out, "You're becoming a demon and we don't know why! What if something were to-"

" Jakotsu, I can handle myself, alright?"

Renkotsu shifted, he had been uncomfortable around me since I first told him of my transformation."Renkotsu, listen to me." I tried reassuring them, " The rest of you all listen to. I don't know know who my real father is. I could be a half demon for all I know."

" Don't say that Bankotsu!" tears watered Jaki's eyes, " You'll be okay."

" Will you guys stop acting like I'm rabid? I'm fine. Now listen...I'm going to stay here with Kimi until she wakes up-and don't say she might never wake up because she is-"

All of my friends closed their mouths. The reason I said that is because I knew they would protest and try to persuade me not to let them leave."We're the Shichinintai! We have a reputation to maintain here. I'll be fine without money for a while but there's no reason you all shouldn't be paid."

They all gawked at me. Each and every one of them trying to talk to me about my health and the Dangers of the world and blah blah blah." Fellas, I appreciate your concerns but I'm the leader. If anyone should be able to take care of themselves, it's me. SO CHILL OUT! It'll only be for one week at the most."

They all spoke at once" But aniki-"

" Don't question me. And as for me asking you to leave, It was a request but an order!" The room grew silent. They knew how I was whenever I ordered them to do something."I'll return in a week;Renkotsu you're in charge. You guys are to go to the western region. There's a Daimyo there, his name is Kaname. He's looking for an advance team to lead the army. He pays alot of money from what I hear, so you all should a pretty nice sum. Renkotsu-"

" Yes sir?"

" Take care of everyone. Jakotsu-"

" Yes Ban-chan?"

" Try not to get on Renkotsu's nerves. And be good."

" You know I will." he said with a sly look. Why do I even bother sometimes?

"As for the rest of you. Take no prisoners."

They all nodded. It's times like these I'm proud to be their leader. I watched them leave at noon-rise later that day. I waved wildly at them until they were nothing but specs over the horizon. I know they have their douts. I do to. But I believe in all my friends and Kimi's no exception. Even if she is in a coma.

Kimiko P.O.V

I floated along the cool black surface of the ocean water, gazing endlessly into the dark abyss called the night.

It's...

so...

quiet...

There was darkness as far as my eyes could see. Where was I? It's so cold here. Time was such a fickle thing. It seemed like days-turned into months-became years-decades-and now eternities. Who was I? I used to know...where I came from, who I am.Or did I? Was everything I knew a lie?

Such

Sadness

My breath vanished, my chest tightened as I went under, drowning further in this sea of despair. Such an empty feeling of lonliness.The last words I remeber is:

"Bankotsu"

Why does that name make my heart pound? "Love..." it's funny, how I still have this word inside me. What was love to me? Everyone I loved was taken from me...weren't they? Or was it a dream- that meant I was never alive to began with. Does that mean I'm dead? The water rippled above me, something slithered aroung my body, wrapping itself tightly around me. I saw big, poison yellow eyes glaring at me throught the dark, hissing hollow sound that echoed around me.

'Limbo..' it hissed

Limbo? Is that where I am? Limbo? How did I get here?

'Child...dear child...'it tighted it's grip around me, ' The daughter of Sephiroth...such a fate to have happened to the chosen...one...'

Chosen one? I'm the chosen one?I heard more hissing."Who are you?"I asked it.

It swayed it's full, thick body from side to side,bobbing it's head 'Guardian...yours.'

" You're my guardian?"

If he was such a good guardian, how did I end up in this place.

'Such nasty words...from a sweet lirrle girl.'

Please, you don't know the first thing about me.

'I know you ache...I feel your pain. You have been here once before...this is where you powers lie.'

I've been here? When?

'Your father brought you here...right before you attacked your comrade'

So it wasn't a dream.Suikotsu...Is he alright?

'Your memory is returning...'

Where's Bankotsu? Why isn't he with me. He said he'd never leave me.

'promises made by filthy mortal...they can't be trusted. You are better...you are superior.'

What am I?

' You are HIS child.'

Bankotsu P.O.V

"I am his child."

Kimiko? I titlted my head to the side. She was still unconscious. But why did I hear her voice just now? I touched her face...OH SHIT! She was burning up! But she was in a coma, was that even possible? I bolted out the door and into the washroom, looking around anxiously for a small tub of water and a washrag. God! Maybe I shouldn't have let the boys leave so early.

Kimiko's P.O.V

I watched as IT swam circles around me. "What are you?" I asked it.

'I am the master's-your-guardian beast.'

"I know but...what are you? Are you a snake or...something else?"

'I am the last of my race. An anciet civilization of mortals whorshiped me. They thought me to be their god. They gave me treasure...women..sacrifices, hoping that in return I would keep them safe.'

"Did you?"

'I haven't time for their petty beliefs. I did only what I was told.'

" What you were told?"

'Yes, by the great Sephiroth, son of Jenova.'

"Who is Jenova?"

My guardian froze, shooting a icy glare at me, 'You mean, you don't know? She is you grandmother.'

I sat up, " I have a grandmother?"

He hissed and nodded.' She came to this planet long ago. Back when humans were the scum beneath our feet. A time when only gods and immortals walked the earth. Jenova brought peace to this planet.'

"Was she a Goddess? Is my father a god?"

'Only in some eyes. In others, Jenova posed a threat to their empires. They attempted to destroy her. In doing so, they released darkness into the earth that almost destroyed the planet. The great God, the one who leads us, sealed the evil one below, in the depth of what you humans now call hell. In order for him to balance out this newly discovered force-the darkness-he and The king of spirit world..'

"Spirit world? You mean the afterlife?"

'Yes. The king of spirit would create a person who is neutral to both parties. Someone with both Darkness and Light.'

"My father?"

'Correct. Now, almost 200yrs ago, your father fell in love.Or what he thought to be love. This women, she was snow maiden, one of celestial blood. A goddess. Her name was Yuki-onna.'

"What was my mother like?"

'She was a kind, gentle women. She showed compassion for all living creatures, including me. Your father appoited me as her guardian before you were born. I was happy and proud to look after her while he was away.'

"Were they in love?"

'I can't really say.They enjoyed each other fairly much but...she was so...distant from him. Like they each existed in a world where we couldn't even begin to imagine. Then almost 18 years ago, you were concieved. Your mother was pregnant with you for almost a year.'

"A year? I thought it was nine months?"

'for mortals. you are a goddess my dear child. One of special origin and blood.'

" What happened to my mother?"

My guardian came face to face with me, it's long slit-like nostrils flared when he spoke'She died. I do not know how. All I remember is...being sad for the first time.'

"Did you love my mom?"

'Like she was my own mother. Now, I'm not so sad because I see her face everytime I look at you. You look just like her.'

That must've been the first time I smiled since I've been in limbo. At least now I know where I stand in life. Still...there are many things I do not know.

" Will you tell me?"

'I can only tell you so much. The rest...only your father knows, but do not worry. Take your time. You have all your life to find out. The mysteries will unravel one by one.'

But as they unravel, where will I be when the threads meet? An answer to a question arouses many others. When I was young, I despised my birth parents for leaving me but now that I'm older...I've grown to love them like they never left.

"Guardian..."

'Yes your eminence?'

" What is your name? What did my parents call you?"

He swam in my eyes for a moment, as if not sure what to think. 'No one has evr asked me that before. I don't really have a name. WhenI watchedover my race, they called me the great Leviathan.'

" Than that's what I'll call you."

Leviathan...

Bankotsu P.O.V

I gently sponged off Kimiko's forehead. This isn't good. I wish Suikotsu was here. Dammit! I don't know what to do. She'll die if...,I shook my head. I shouldn't be thinking like that. What did I learn from my mother. When I was sick she-,I unlaced the front of kimi's shirt, MaybeifI can absorb her fever...,I pulled my shirt up over my head.

I eased my body onto hers, I don't know if this'll help but I have to try something,I caressed her pale face with the back of my hand, for her sake, I hope it works.

Kimiko's P.O.V

I felt the cold in my body melt away. The color returned to my skin.

" Leviathan, what's happening?"

Leviathan coiled around me.'Listen to me your eminence, do not forget what I have told you. You mustn't tell a soul! Do you understand?'

a light engulfed my body. Piece by piece my body was vanishing. First my feet...

"I understand. What about you."

My legs..

'Do not worry about me.'

my hips up to my waist...

"What if I need you."

my stomach, then up to my breasts...

'Just go to the nearest water and call on me.'

My neck...then my chin...

"Goodb-"

I had vanished...

Bankotsu P.O.V

I rested my chin at the base of her neck. God...I felt so heated. My fangs ached...I wanted to bite her so badly...I wanted to tatse her. I shouldn't even be on her like this but...

"ah.."he gasped out in pleasure as delicate fingertips trailed down his spine

What? Did..she. Did she just? I lifted up my chest, my eye locked with midnight blue ones.

"Kimiko?" I held her face in my hands," Kimi, are you...do you?" My fingers traced over her skin and into her hair. I couldn't think...I had all these emotions rushing through me at one time. I couldn't breath. I was happy...I was so glad she was okay...half of me wanted to hold and not let go. My other half... wanted her. To have her, to tatse her. I longed to hear her scream for me and only me.

"Bankotsu?" her lips curved into a beautiful smile as she raked her fingers through my hair.

"Yes?" I said, out of breath.

Kimi P.O.V

I kissed him softly on the lips, he uttered a small inside my mouth as he blinked his eyes to a close. I never realized until now how much Bankotsu means to me. It's gotten to the point where I can't even imagine life without him by my side. I love him...I loved him ever since I first saw him. I wish I told him everyday since we met. At that moment, nothing else mattered to me. Not my family, my mom, my dad, leviathan, or inuyasha and Kikyo. Not even Suikotsu, Renkotsu...Jaki...the others...no one. I wanted Bankotsu and no one else.

Bankotsu P.O.V

I sat up, bringing her body with mine as I did so. At first, I was suprised She hadn't said anything about my transformation.I know it didn't matter to her. She knew I was still the same. That's one of the reason I feel this way about her. I wasn't able to tell her how I feel because those words didn't exist for me. It's different now...

"Kimiko?"I breathed through the kiss.

"Huh?" she panted

"Look at me..."

She let out a long seductive moan"Why?"

" I've changed."

" No you haven't you..."She finally took a good look at me. "Changed."she breathed out into a low whistling sound.

Kimi P.O.V

Oh my goodness..look at him...he looks like...a demon. " Ban-san, what happened to you?"

" That energy blast you released that day I tackled you. It was absorbed into my body."

I gaped at him, slightly tongue-in-cheek. I guess he thought I was happy because he said "It, doesn't bother you, does it?"

I told him no." Baby, I like you for who you are."

Bankotsu P.O.V

I knew she'd say that. I grasped her hand and kissed it, pricking her thumb with my fang.She made a sound between a moan and a sigh. I kissed her thumb, licking the blood away with my tongue. She looked like she was gonna melt.

" Bankotsu...I..I.." her breaths became pants.

"Shh..."I smeared the blood on her lips and kissed her mouth. She had always took care of me. Now it was my turn to take care of her.

I Kissed her cheek, the heat of her body burning against my skin. I slid my velvet tongue down the side of her neck. I sliped her open shirt down over her shoulders. She clawed at my back, letting out a gasp of pleasure as I sunk my fangs deep into her flesh.

"Harder." she moaned.

I sank my fangs deeper into her skins. She tasted so sweet. That's when it dawned on me.We were alone. Completely and absolutely alone. No one to interupt us or barge in. Which-in my opinion-made tonight all the more sweeter.

Kimi fell back onto the futon matt, her eyes darting back and forth between mine.She was nervous, I knew that,butI wanted her to enjoy tonight as much as I know I would.

"It's alright," he whispered into a kiss, " I'll be gentle."