Sephiroth drew his sword. It slid sharply over the end of the sheathe. The blade was so beautiful..so manificent. A sword fit for a god. The divine sword that only a true meisenshi could weild. The great sword that only HE could weild.

"The moon, " He stared out his window and out into the starless night, "It's is the season of the Equinox."

Leviathan uncurled from around the throne, " Then it is time master?"

Sephiroth Chuckled, " Yes. It is time."

Kimiko P.O.V

I held the bucket over my head drizzled the spring water over me, rinsing my body clean. Thank god we were able to find a place to stay in on such short notice. And they even had a hot spring! ( I mean, just b/c I travel with a bunch of guys doesn't mean I have to smell like one) Besides, I need some 'me' time. I leaned against the rock behind me. It'll be great not having to listen to the boys talk about killing people. That's all they ever seem to talk about lately. I think it's probably b/c we haven't had a decent job in weeks and we're running out of money for places to stay. I wonder how much we should charge for this next job...

-meanwhile-

" OW! Jakotsu! That hurts!"the straw fell from bankotsu's lips.

"Oh Shut up!" Jakotsu smacked Bankotsu hard on the back. Bankotsu screamed out in pain" Stop whining! If you had waited any sooner to get treated, your whole back would be infected!"

"You don't have to hit so hard." Bankotsu sat up in a semi-laying position, sprawled out completely on his side." I mean Damn, Jaki." He stuck the straw in his mouth.

Jakotsu spread the ointment over the cuts and welps carved into their leaders back, " How did you get all these cuts anyway."

Bankotsu P.O.V

I remembered that night me and Kimi spent together.

" I..forgot." I lied. Badly. How do you forget something like that?

" Aniki, don't lie to me."

" Okaaay...Uh...uh-a Demon attacked me, we fought, I killed it, end of story."

" That was bad story."

Renkotsu walked across the room, a clutter of Kimiko's stuff all piled in his arms." Save it Jakotsu. It's obvious that whatever happened, Bankotsu is too embarrassed to tell us."

I grinned, " You're not slick Renkotsu. I'm not saying nothing to nobody."

He shrugged it off, " It can't hurt to try, can it?"

My eyes followed Renkotsu across the room. He folded and put away each piece of Kimi's clothing. He is such a neat freak. And while we're on the subject, how can he get mad at me for baby-ing her when he is over there folding her clothes? Man, I gotta tell ya...Renkotsu is weird sometimes.

Renkotsu had began topushed her bag into a corner when it tipped over anda small pink book tumbled out with flute of some sort.

" Renkotsu, what's that?" I asked him.

" Oh, this? " He held up the flute, " It's a ocarina."

" Not that!"I pointed at the book that had fallen on the floor, "That!"

Renkotsu picked it up and flipped through it." I think it's her diary."

" WHAT!"

Jakotsu jumped up from where he sat and half ran, half crawled over to Renkotsu, knocking me flat on my face in the progress.

Jaki P.O.V

" GIMME 'AT!"

I snatched the diary from Renkotsu's hands. YES! THis is the ultimate payback! " Let's read it!"

" Jaki, what are you doing?" Bankotsu picked himself up off the floor, " Put-it-Back!" He slurred.

He can't be serious. This is her diary, " HER DAIRY!"

" It's Di-a-ry! Not Dairy." Renkotsu said so as-a-matter-of-fact-ly.

"Whatever."I muttered.Why does Renkotsu think he's better than me. I bet he thinks he's better than Bankotsu too."C'mon, lets Read it."

" No!" protested Bankotsu." If she catches us, she'll go haywire. Not to mention, she'll never trust us again."

" So we won't get caught. Please aniki!" I begged him but he just kept saying no." Oh COME ONNNN!" I fell back onto the floor, " It's not like we'll tell anybody. Who are we gonna tell anyway? A shogun or something? Besides, I happen to know for a fact that she wrote ALOT of stuff in it about you."

That caught his attention. Bankotsu titled his head to the side and looked at me, "She did?"

He was so gullible."Yep. Remember when we had combat practice? Whenever you were training, she'd sit out there and write in this little book."

"hmmmm...that is true..." thestraw in Bankotsu's mouth flip-flopped." Maaaybe we could read just ONE page."

Renkotsu P.O.V

" You're just as bad as Jakotsu, Aniki." Really. How immature can you be if you have to stoop to reading a diary to find out how a person feels about you.

Jakotsu turned to the front page." Now, let's see- huh?" He flipped throughout the whole entire book.Front to back. And when he finished, he looked even more confused then when he opened the book.

" What's your problem now Jakotsu?" I asked. He glared at me with the evil eye saying:

" I can't read this."

I for one, was shocked. I know Jakotsu wasn't good a math, but really. He should at least know how to read. Bankotsu crawled next to him, taking the diary from his grasp.

" How the hell could you not read th-" He trailed off. Bankotsu did the same as Jakotsu and flipped through the pages." The hell kind of writing is this? I can't read it either."

I had enough of this foolishness" How can you BOTH be unable to read it?"

Bankotsu flashed a page of the book at me. It wasn't written in japanese text. There were a few japanese letters but that was all. The rest looked greek to me.

" That writing..it's so fasinating. " It really was. I never seen such beautiful calligraphy in all my life. It was "Breath-taking."

Yami's P.O.V

Up until now, I was quietly sitting in a corner, trying my best to get some rest but when Bankotsu gets together with Jakotsu, that's almost impossible. I had heard there entire conversation. I, for one, wasn't surprised at Jaki one bit. Bankotsu...well...I thought he wouldn't give in so easily. When Renkotsu said Breath-taking, I was so tempted to call him a dork. Who says writing is breath-taking anyway?

Renkotsu wasted no time trying to take over. He read the front page of the diary from top to bottom. " This is..."

" Chinese." I said.

They all gaped at me.

"I forgot you were Here Suikotsu." Bankotsu said.

" Chi-what?" Asked Jaki.

" Chinese. If any of you auctually listened when Kimi-chan talked, you'd remember that she's from a place in China called Konan."

Bankotsu's face lit up like he just had a smart idea for today."That's right. She lived in a place call...Bai jiang...or something like that."

(sarcastic) Wow...and this is our leader? Sometimes I wonder about him...like what goes on in that mind of his.

Bankotsu P.O.V

I focused my attention on Renkotsu, " Yo, Renkotsu, you can read this, can't you?"

" Yes, of course but I don't think.."

"I didn't ask that Renkotsu. C'mon, just do me this one favor and I won't bother you no more tonight."

I knew that was to temptin for even Renkotsu to pass up. We all gathered around Renkotsu. Mukotsu, Ginkotsu and Kyokotsu(who, up until now, were minding their own business and doing their own seperate thing) joined us.

Renkotsu studied the first page. He read:

Dear Diary

Today was a sucky. Tamahome's mad at me b/c I Kicked his ass in training with Tokaki. Tokaki said something about him controlling his anger and what not and-

" BO-RING!" Jakotsu flipped to the middle of the book, " Read this."

Renkotsu said, agitatedly.(if that's even a word) and said:

Dear Diary,

Banktosu is a BIG-JERK-OFF-Y ASSHOLE!

" WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?" I screamed.

The others thought that was the funniest thing in the whole entire universe. Even Renkotsu laughed. " Why the hell did she put something like that!" I thought she loved me!

" Look at the date. This was a couple months ago. " Suikotsu chuckled.

I folded my arms and sat down. She just ruined my whole evening. I would give her a piece of my mind but then she'd get all mad and say 'You read my diary!' and start swinging at people.

" Can I finish?"

" Whatever Renkotsu."

Jaki P.O.V

Bankotsu looks so cute when he's pouting. That was pretty funny though...

Renkotsu started to speak again.

Dear Diary,

Banktosu is a BIG-JERK-OFF-Y ASSHOLE!

(Bankotsu said " Hmph!")

I mean really! He has no respect for me what-so-ever. If he wasn't so cute, I"d smack him upside his big stupid head! Why can't he be more like suikotsu? Suikotsu is so nice to me. He treats me like I'm a real women...

( "HAH!" muttered Bankotsu, " Yeah, I'll bet."

"Will you hush Ban-chan?" I said)

I should've never strayed from Tamahome that day! Bankotsu's no different From Inuyasha! I hate them both! First Inuyasha wants that priestess, then he tries to kill me! Why is everyone always trying to kill me?

( " Because you're so damn irritating. Renkotsu read something else" Bankotsu ordered. Renkotsu flipped a few pages back)

Dear Diary,

I feel like I'm on the edge, watching my life smashing down all around me. Inuyasha...I thought he cared about me. He said he loved me. Then the next time I turn around, he's off somewhere with Kikyo. Why do I always fall for these kinds of men? Will I ever get my life straight? Today, Myoga had suggested Inuyasha settle down. Inuyasha was in one of his 'moods', mumbling something about some guy trying to shoot Kikyo with an arrow. LIke I really give a damn.

(She sounds so bitter. " pointed out Mukotsu.

"I heard love will make you that way"I said.)

Myoga was sitting on my shoulder trying to suck my blood(whydoes he do that? really?) until I smacked him and he fell off.Myoga had practically nagged Inuyasha about what he'll do with his life. I said" I might leave soon. I don't becoming high priestess is really me." and IY just shrugged it off. Then he had the nerve to get mad when I threwa rock at his stupid forehead.Myoga: You know, master Inuyasha, you should really think about settling down. Iy: You mean like wife and kids?Myoga: Uh-huh. You should ask lady Kimiko to marry you.

Well, Inuyasha wasn't ready for that, I'll tell you that much. And honestly, at that point, I didn't even wanna be near him, let alone marry him.

That's my word for today, write back later.

"This girl has got to have the most boringdiary in the history offorever." I muttered. And it was the truth. I seized the diary and flipped it until I recognized the symbol for Bankotsu's name next to the word 'section'. I gave the book back to Renkotsu and told him to read it. The page had so many words scratched into it, not to mention alote of 'hate' symbols in front of the name Inuyasha.

Dear Diary,

He missed my ceremony and my 16th birthday just to be with Kikyo.He had the nerve to ask me if I was mad. He doesn't know the meaning of the fucking word! I let him tread all over me for the past 8 god-damn years. Those 8yrs that I will never get BACK!

He had the gall to attack me out on the lake today. I have a huge scar cutting across my sides that i will NEVER in MY WHOLE DAMN LIFE be able to get rid of because of him. So, I broke him.

Or...what was left of him anyway.

"What does she mean by 'I broke him'?" Suikotsu stared at all of us. We all shook I heads. Even Bankotsu didn't know")

I don't remember much. I just remember hearing my father's voice calling out to me and I heard Inuyasha's so-called scream. But what bothers me is that...well, the philosophy that my mentors told me that if tainted, The shikon jewel will become black. When I saw Inuyasha with it before, there was nothing wrong with it but today...it look like it had been poisoned.

( " Read the next page " )

I woke up several hours later. I couldn't really remember anything except my pendent was giving off small amounts of light. It was still pretty groggy and I couldn't remember much, then it dawned on me that someone else was in the room.

"Oh, so you're awake now are you?"

When I looked up, this guy was sitting on the edge of my bed drinking a whole bottle of sake. I started to panic but he assured me nothing happened. I don't know why I believed him. I guess it was just something in his eyes. They had a certain...glow.

He reached out and wiped the sleep from my eyes. I finally got a good look at him. He was...well...I don't think handsome suits him...he was extremely good-looking though...(I don't think that quite fits either) For a few minute, I forgot all about Inuyasha. My anger had faded. I was stunned at this guy. I've never seen anyone with features like that besides myself.(I was thankful later to find out me and Him weren't related) He had long, jet black, semi-wavy hair braided down his back...

(Everyone, including me gasped."WHAT?" Bankotsu blushed and tried to snatch the book away, saying, " I think Kimi is on her way up here. We should put her diary back and-"

When he extended his hand for it, I grabbed his wrist. He told me to let go. Like I was actually gonna listen to him. " Keep reading." I told Renkotsu.)

I thought it was kind of weird that he had better hair than me, not to mention longer. Maybe he was queer.

("She thought I was a WHAT!" Bankotsu looked really pissed mow." WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? WHY DOES EVERY-FUCKING-BODY THINK I'M GAY! DO I FUCKING LOOK GAY TO YOU? DO I DRESS LIKE A DAMN DRAG QUEEN!"

But no one was listening to him. Besides, If I had answered his questiong, he'd prolly try and argue with me. And lose.)

Still, he was too cute to be a queer. He had lightly tanned skin like myself, only he was about 2 shades darker than I was.But what got me was those eyes. They were blue. But not as dark as my own but they were gorgeous. He had a voice that reminded me Of Tamahome.(I just hope he isn't as money-hungry)

("'Gorgeous blue eyes?', 'too cute to be queer'? Well damn Aniki, she hasn't been up one minute and you're already putting the moves on her."Suikotsu snickered." And Here I'm thinking she had a crush on the Doctor."

" She does not have a crush on me." Bankotsu grumbled. His cheeks turning a bright shade of red.

" Then why are you blushing like that?" I told him. Bankotsu turned his back on us, showing long callous marks on his skin.

" Whatever. I have that effect on all women. They can't get enough of me." he snorted. "You all know I'm not a one women man."

Yeah right. I'll be the first one to admit that our leader is sexy but he's not all that.(sometimes) besides, if he's not a one women man, " Bankotsu, Ever since you met Kimi-sama, you haven't so much as touched another women. What's that been...like...almost a year now? You used to not be able to go without it for a week."

" Excuse me! I can't go around sleeping with every women I see. I could catch a disease or something. "

" You know what I think?"

"Don't care." said everyone else.

" Well, I think, " I said anyway, " That you've lost your touch."

Bankotsu looked insulted, " WHAT? I have not lost my touch. Women dream of the night they get to sleep with me."

" Yeah, whatever."

Renkotsu butted in, " I'd hate to interupt this interesting conversation-well..I take that back, I'd love to. Can we please get back n subject."

" Oh, all right." murmured both me and Ban-chan.)

He smiled at me, revealing straight, even, white teeth." I was starting to think you'd never wake up. That's my bed you're sleeping in, ya know that right?"

I surveyed the room. It was nice. REAL nice. There were tiger-wall hangings and silk tapestrys all over the place. There was even a book shelf with a huge portrait of young women. from the looks of things, this guys must've been a prince or something. The crest of the Watanabe dynasty was plastered on almost everything in the room. Even the blanket I was laying under. When I grasped the crest on the cover, The guy frowned at me, " That's the crest for Ryosuke Watanabe."

Ha. So I was right. But why did he look so sad? I heard Ryosuke was a tyrant but when I met him, he seemed nice enough.I probably shouldn't say anything to him or I might insult him, he could be Ryosuke's son or something.

"Uh..." I wanted to talk with him more, only, I didn't know what to say to him. Moments passed and we didn't speak. I was beinning to get nervous. I mean, this was a prince! Or...so I thought( I found out later, he wasn't exactly a prince), anyway, when I went to ask him what had happened, I noticed he was staring down at my breasts. That's when I became aware that my clothes were missing.

( Bankotsu P.O.V

I could feel their eyes burning through me. Oh no...how do explain that to them.

" Dammit Bankotsu, the girl was on the rebound for crying out loud." Jaki glared at me, " How come you never told me about that?"

" I, uh...thought you knew." I lied.)

I folded my arms over my chest and his eyes flickered up at me." Oh..I'm sorry. I mean, I wasn't trying to be perverted by looking at you- not that you don't have anything to look at-but uh..." He blushed. Apparently he realized how stupid he sounded like 5 second after I did. " You have a interesting pendent. How does it glow like that?"

" Uh..." should I tell him? I mean, I didn't know him. But I felt like I could trust him." It was my mothers.That's all I have to remember her by. I don't remember what she looked like but I was told that I look exactly like her."

" Then she must've been beautiful."

I flushed." Thank you." is this guy for real?

" My mother died also. When I was about 3. There's her picture over there."

He pointed to the women in the picture I saw earlier. She was really pretty.She had big, almond shaped, brown eyes. Her chestnut hair flowed long over her shoulders and down her back, over her creamy white skin. Her pink lips were curved in a smile but in my opinion, she looked a little upset. Like she was unhappy.

" You must take after your father."

He gazed at me for a moment. Slowly looking me over, inch by inch. I held the cover tighter to my chest and faced him." What?" I asked.

" Nothing." He said.

"Uh huh...well, Can I..ask you a question?"

" Anything."

" Where..did you find me? Did you happen to come across..." I stopped. I could feel the tears stinging my eyes. "Inuyasha..."

The guy gazed at me still." I found you unconscious in the forest. there wasn't anyone around for miles. I brought you back and patched you up myself. I'm sorry if they're no good but I'm not...a doctor."

" I kinda noticed that." Oh great. My voice was breaking.

" Who is Inuyasha. That whole time you slept, you kept tossing and turning like you had a nightmare or something. You said 'Inuyasha' like a bazillion times."

I looked away from him.

" You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I understand. I just-" He took ahold of my hand and held it. I blushed even more. I know I should've snatched it away, I just..couldn't do it. I can't began to say how fast my heart was pounding.

(" Bankotsu. I-CAN'T-BELIEVE YOU!" Jakotsu said slowly. " Flirting with some girl you just met."

" I wasn't 'flirting'!"

" I beg to differ." Renkotsu said in that dignified way that he always talk," This sound alot like flirting."

" And how would you know?" I sneered, " You used to be a monk. It was against your laws to even think about women."

" No it wasn't."he corrected, " To have decent thoughts are okay but to lust after a lady like you do Aniki is,well, that's highly forbidden."

" I don't 'lust' after her."

"You lust." snapped Jaki. " When it was just me, you and her, you would wake up in the morning on her side of the room wrapped so tightly around her I didn't think she could breath."

" Jaki. SHUT. UP." I said.

Jaki stuck out his tongue," I'm just teasing. Damn, you can't take a joke."

" Anyway..." Renkotsu cleared his throat, " Ahem. Like I was saying...")

"My name is Bankotsu." He shook my hand." It means..."

"Barbarian Bone." I finished his sentence. His smile widened." That's a odd name."

" Well, tell me yours. Then we'll decide whose name is weird."

" My name Is Kimiko. It means-"

" Noble child."

("HA! There ain't nothing noble about that child."Jaki snorted.)

" Your name is weird."He said.

" No it's not.It's better than Barbarian Bone."

" 'Bankotsu' is a man's name. And I'm a man."

"Are you 18 yet?"

"Nope. I'll be 17 in a couple weeks."

"Then you ain't a man yet."

He opened his mouth to say something smart to me but the handle to the door was jiggling very loud. He glanced at my pendent( which was still glowing) and snatched it away, stashing it in his pocket. Before I had a chance to protest, he kissed me.

(" Don't you guys even say a word." I warned.)

It was like my brain shorted out. I should've pushed him away but...I don't know...It felt nice. Especially after that Inuyasha thing.

The door slid open and This man walked in. I guess you could have called him handsome but he wasn't as alluring as Bankotsu. Auctually, he was no where near as handsome as bankotsu.( but that's just my opinion) He had Shoulder length auburn hair and eyes so brown they looked almost black. I thought he was high by how stoned he looked. He appeared to be some years older than Bankotsu was.

Bankotsu broke away from me, " What?"

" I came by to see if you'd done what father asked you. I didn't know you had company." said the older man.

" Yeah right. What do you want?"

" I just told you." the man said, staring at me. I shifted uncomfortably. I didn't like the way he eyed me. Apparently, Bankotsu didn't either because he said, " She's mine. Sanosuke."

Sanosuke sneered at him, "Don't forget who's prince around here. You're just a bastard child my father took pity on."

Bankotsu balled his hand into a fist. I placed my hand on his fist and he looked at me. I glared at Sanosuke." How dare you talk to him like that! You can't just barge in someones room and insult them!"

" Bankotsu, quiet your wench or I'll do it for you." he growled.

" HA! I'd like to see you try! "

" Do you realize who you are speaking to!"

" Yeah! Some spoiled and pampered prince who thinks he can bully people into doing whatever he wants."

Bankotsu gaped at me." Kimi, he could have you killed." he whispered.

" I don't care. I bet I could take him."

Sanosuke reached for his sword, " You wretch! I-"

Someone placed their hand on Sanosuke's shoulder. I'd recognized the person as soon as he stepped into the room.Ryosuke. He looked like and older version of Sanosuke, but more surly looking.

" Sheath your sword son." Ryosuke stalked ahead of him, " Don't you know it's a sin to raise your weapon to a priestess."

" A priestess?" Sano seathed his sword, " That wench is a priestess?"

" SANOSUKE! APOLOGIZE THIS INSTANT!" snapped Ryosuke.

Sano said he was sorry but I could tell he was bitter. Bankotsu was still gaping at me."You're a priestess? you're just full O'surprises ain't you?"

I grinned. Ryosuke bowed, " I apologize for my son's Rudeness Lady Kimiko. He's young and he doesn't know any better." he said humbly.

"Er...uh..yes. It's okay, just...see to it that is doesn't happen again."I said, trying to sound tough. Okay, that was stupid. Why did I say that?

Ryosuke seemed to notice I was naked underneath these covers." Um...My lady, if you don't mind me asking, Why are you in Bed next to my-" He trailed off for a minute."Step-son." he said, scrunching up his face like he smelled something foul.

"I..uh...you see." Damn. How do I get outta this one. Lucky for me, a servent girl ran into the room and told Ryosuke that his army has returned. "I have business to tend to. I trust you'll join us for dinner?" I couldn't even say no.Ryosuke had exscused himself from the room, Sano following him along with the servent girl. Bankotsu stood up and closed the door. Locking it shut.

" Stupid ass Sano. I'm sorry you had to see that."he said.

" It's okay Bankotsu."I beamed at him, " I'm used to this stuff."

I didn't know it at the time but I'd just met my future best friend.

Tomorrow came quickly. I spent the day sleeping away while Bankotsu was elsewhere taking care of business. It wasn't until later that afternoon that I was woken up by a horde of servent girls. One was carrying a beautiful sapphire blue kimono with a navy blue sash made of fine silk. She told me that Bankotsu wanted me to wear it when I accompany him to dinner.

It was an hour before dinner. I was bathed, clothed and had applied my makeup. It was so irritating. This was just like when I was a priestess. I couldn't move if it meant wrinkling my clothes nor could I walk around. I sat in front of a vanity mirror while two of the servent girl tried their best to straighten out my hair(even though I told them It was impossible and my hair should be left the way it is.) There was thisgrown women in the room(I really don't know why because she hadn't done anything since they'd woken me up, except criticize everyone and everybody about what they're doing. She needs to do something before she starts talking shit about how people work.) She looked to be in her late 30's maybe older. She sorta reminded me of Sanosuke because of how hungover shelooked.I was doing fine ignoring her until she decides to come over there and bug the living hell outta me.

"So you're the girl Bankotsu brought home last night, huh?", she hovered over me,alcohol was still fresh on her breath, " A priestess, right? Exactly what were YOU doing in Bankotsu's bed?"

" HE SAVED MY LIFE!" I blurted out. Stupid bitch. Makes me sick.

" You know..." she lingered on the word 'know' like it had 20 syllables, " You're not the first women Bankotsu's had in bed. He's bedded with most of the servent girls in this castle."she caclked, " But you are a pretty little thing so he might hand onto you a bit longer."

WHY THE HELL DID SHE TELL ME THAT! Like I REALLY needed to hear that. Needless to say, my respect for Bankotsu had been soured.

"Shut UP Natsume." the eldest Hairdresser said, " Don't listen to Natsume," she told me, " She just wishes Bankotsu would give her the time of day."

I grinned. That shut Natsume up because she didn't talk for the rest of the time except once. She sat isolated in the corner, cooking up some lie or something to probably tell me. I really liked Haruko. She was nice. She was the oldest person in the room, she reminded me of my sensei's wife, Subaru.

" Besides, I can tell Bankotsu really likes you. He gave you his mother's Kimono."

(I didn't know you gave her that Kimono! You told me you lost it in the fire!"

" So what? It's not like I'M gonna wear it." I said not facing my comrades. "I thought she'd look cute, that's all." all the blood rushed to my face. Dammit, why do I feel so heated?)

That did it for me. " I can't wear this.It belongs to his mother."

"Of course you can! Can't she Ayume?"

The younger hairdresser nodded.She was no older than I was." Yes! You look so pretty in this Kimono. It really brings out the blue in your eyes."

" But I can't wear something this precious to him. What if I spill something on it? or worse..."

" Oh, hush up now. Don't worry about all that."

Aymue pulled the front part of my hair into a tail" Wouldn't this be pretty Haruko? We could let the rest hang down."

" I think she needs a flower ." Haruko said, braiding small tresses throughout my hair.

" I have some White roses in my bed chamber."

" Then you go fetch them. I'll finish up here."

Ayume hurried out of the room.Natsume, on the other hand, thought that was the perfect time to say something to me. She tried to sneaky about it, trying to edge it it into a conversation me and Haruko were having.

" Do you know about Bankotsu's origin?" She said meekly.

" Shut it Natsume. Lady priestess doesn't need to hear about that." Haruko snapped.

" Okay, fine." She replied, " It's just, I"d be embarrassed if I had to go to Dinner with the 'shame' of the Watanabe Family."

She pissed me off then.

" I mean really, if you knew the story behind his birth-" Natsume began.

" Natsume, Don't make me warn you again!"

But Natsume kept right on talking, "It was sad really. Bankotsu's mother, lady Megumi, was betrothed to Lord Ryosuke. They got married shortly after Sanosuke's mother died. Lady megumi's father-and only living parent-was a swordsmith for the King.In order to pay off the debt he had, he promised Ryosuke his daughter's hand in marriage"

" They were married quickly.Lord Ryosuke had made so many enemies, he kept Lady Megumi locked up inside the castle.One day, she wandered off castle ground and didn't return for hours. Lord Ryosuke was so angry, he locked her up in the dungeon for a week."

Words couldn't describe how much I despised Ryosuke now. How can somebody treat their wife like that?

"After a few days in the Dungeon, Lady Megumi was never the same." natsume continued, "She'd disapear for hours at a time.She'd be late for her meals. Some people claimed to have seen her sneaking in her chamber during the night. It was no big secret she hated Ryosuke. Many of the castle folk thought she had a secret lover, but without any proof, lord Ryosuke couldn't do a thing about it. The palace has so many secret passages, it was impossible to keep tabs on her at all times."

"Weeks passed by, pretty soon, she came before Ryosuke with a budle in her stomach. She told him she was pregnant and assured him it was his child but some 8months later, when they were passing through Ryukyu, Lady Megumi's water broke and she went into labor.Lady Megumi almostdied during child birth.Needless to say, when he took one look at Bankotsu, he was furious. She had dishonored the entire Kingdom."

" SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!"

At first, I thought that was Haruko who had yelled but then I realized those words were coming out of my mouth. Natsume had pushed me too far. I've had to deal with people like her my whole life." You make me sick! " I screamed at her, " People like you are so busy being so damn ingnorant and wrapped up in your own self you don't even notice anyone else! You think it's funny growing up without knowing your real parents!"

Tears stung the back of my eyes. A group of servent had gathered at the doorway to see what was going on.

" I lost was separated from my family eight years ago! My mother was dying and my father was just a sick as she was! I had to help my older brother take care of the family. Everyday I feel worse and worse because I left Him to take care of 4 kids and out parents all by himself! And here you are talking about Bankotsu's mother like she was some whore! If I had a husband like she did, I'd probably kill myself!"

Natsume looked..well..insulted above anything else.Like I had been the first person to ever stand up to her. " Well...I NEVER!"

" THAT'S YOUR DAMN PROBLEM! IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MAKE LIFE A LIVING HELL FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, BANKOTSU AND HARUKO!"

" You can't talk to me like that you little brat!" She grab a piece of my hair, " I'll-"

I smacked Natsume clear across her face. Everyone gasped, even Haruko looked surprised.

" I'm not one of those girl who'll sit here and take your bullshit! If you want a fight, I"ll give you one!"

Natsume just glared at me, holding her face." You-you-"

"Bitch? Go ahead and say it. you're not the first person to call me one,but if you do, I swear it'll be the last thing you ever say to me." I snarled through gritted teeth.

Natsume glared at me for a couple more second, then stormed out of the room. I stood there, fuming with anger. One by one, the crowd that had gathered at the door dispersed and left to continue their duties. Telling people about what they had just witnessed.

I sat back down and let haruko finish fixing my hair. " I'm sorry you all had to see that." I told her.

She laughed, " Don't apologize. That brilliant. I've been wanting to do that myself, for quite some time now."

" Haruko?"

" Yes?"

" What REALLY happened with Bankotsu's Mother?"

Haruko took a deep breath, " Do you really wanna know?", I nodded and she sighed, "Okay. It was almost 18yrs ago. I was Lady Megumi's attendent. Me and her were awfully close. Like sisters you could say. Lady megumi was your age when she came to tha castle, maybe younger. She hated Ryosuke. She said he was a tyrant in her eyes."

Ayume strode into the room, and huge bouquet of white roses in her one hand and satin ribbons in the other. She began handing one ribbon and rose to Haruko at a time.

Haruko enlaced the ribbons and roses into small braids going throughtout my raven hair."Well, one night, a couple weeks after she had wandered away from the castle, she called me to her Chamber. Ryosuke was away at war when she told me. Lady Megumi said she was pregnant, but not by her husband. Which meant the rumors to be true. She had a secret lover. She didn't tell me who but she said he was ahandsome man-judging by Bankotsu, she was right. Well, She when Ryosuke returned from war, the lady had gotten so...well...big around the middle, she could no longer hide her pregnancy from Ryosuke. Afraid of what he might do to her child while still in the womb, she assured him it was his. Then some 8months later, while they were passing through Ryukyu, her water broke and she'd gone into labor. I stood right by her side that whole time. She almost died." She laced a few more roses and ribbons into my hair, " Bankotsu was a handsome child and a mysterious one to. He was born with a full set of teeth and a complete head of hair, not to mention that birhtmark of his. That 4-point star. Ryosuke took one look at Bankotsu and became enraged. I reckon he'd kill Bankotsu if I hadn't stepped and and also, for the fact lady Megumi threatened to throw herself from a cliff. Megumi died 3 years later and ever since, I've raised Bankotsu like he was my own. Sorry to say, he grew up hating his father just as much as his step-father. Says his dad shouldn't have abandoned his mother."

I could feel tears trailing down my face, " That's so sad."

" Don't feel sorry for him, miss. He hates that."

" I feel for him, but it's not pity.I know what it's like to grow up hating your real father. I lost both of my moms. My birth one and the one who raised me."

Ayume smiled and Haruko and Haruko smiled back." You're a sweet girl." said Ayume.

" Yes you are. You might auctually bring Bankotsu out of his shell." Haruko wiped my eyes, " Now cheer up. Bankotsu will be here soon."

The door slid open. Bankotsu stuck his head into the room, his hand covering his eyes." Is she dressed?"

" Yes."

Bankotsu peeked through his fingers, " Wow..." He removed his hand completely. " look at you. You look so pretty."

I blushed a deep shade of red. " Thank you."

" Are you wearing your dress-robes?"Haruko asked.

Bankotsu rolled his eyes and mumbled"yes." Haruko told him to step in the room but he refused.

" C'mon. She'd gonna see you at dinner anyway." Haruko said.

Bankotsu gave in and stepped into the room. He wore crimson red hakama with a bloodred juban underneath it. He looked slightly agitated.

" You look adorable." I said walking over to him.

" Shh! Don't encourage them.",Bankotsu took my arm in his," Let's go. I really don't feel like listening to the old man's mouth if we're late."

I said goodbye to Haruko and Ayume. Bankotsu escorted me to the dinning room. Many people were looking out of their rooms to see the so-called 'priestess' everyone was talking about. I could them whisperinga mile away. Bankotsu told me not to pay them no mind and to keep walking. Natsume took one look at us and stopped us in the hall with 2 equally old-looking women standing behind her.

"You owe me and apology." she said, her friends bobbing their heads behind her back.

" I don't owe you shit."

Bankotsu looked at me like 'I can't believe YOU out of all people said shit.'

" Look Hon, You just arrived here. You should think twice before you try to take over."

" Natsume, screw-off. We have some place to be." Bankotsu told her.

" Not until She apologizes."

I glared at her. She couldn't be serious! Like I was actually gonna apologize to someone like her. I reached out and smacked her in the nose." Oops. I saw a fly. My bad." I lied of course.

"You LIE!" she screamed.

" Look, Before you start making those stupid remarks, think about this; Next time you wanna try to start a scene with me, remember that next time, I won't just smack you across your face. I'll break your arm off."

Me and Bankotsu pushed passed her and her little friends. I didn't even care what she was doing while our backs were turned. I was just gonna try my best to enjoy dinner with Bankotsu.

Bankotsu raised his eyebrow and gave me that'ooookay...' look."You're not like other girls, do you know that?"

I beam at him, " I know." and I'm glad. Most girls can't handle being me anyway(laughs)

-words-

-Hakama: is long skirt-like pants and shirt(sorta like Kikyo's outfit) it's worn by men and women.

-Juban: worn underneath clothes

-Letum(from last chapter): is latin for ruin and annihilation