Kimiko P.O.V

I clutched tightly to the shirt Suikotsu gave me and pulled it over my head. Bankotsu turned over on his side, sleeping soundly. I smiled at him. He looked just like a sweet child. It's hard to believe he's a mercenary.

I slid open the door and walked out the room. It was still pretty early and I was sure(almost) that I was the only person up. I crept down the stairs and out of the house. I know it was probably stupid of me to leave without waking Bankotsu but...I needed some time to think.

What had happened last night. I pretty sure me and Bankotsu had...made love...but why? We agreed not to around our comrades. What if we were heard? Not only that but...my body feels so sore. I plopped down underneath a nearby oak tree. God. Last night I thought I was going to die. Now I can barely remember what happened. It'a all a blur. I remember bits and pieces but that's all.

At that moment, something weird happened. A small baby wolf cub limped out from behind the oak tree. It's front, right paw hovering in the air. I spotted clots of blood and I immediantly reached for him.

"You poor baby. You're hurt, aren't you," Well duh! That was obvious.

I'm sorry Suikotsu. I tore off a piece of his shirt and soaked it using my water powers. I gently scrubbed the cub until he was clean of all the blood. Then using what cloth I had left, I mended his arm and wrapped him up like a baby. I took him into my arms and brought him into the house.

Renkotsu P.O.V

I blew onto the firewood, causing a fire to start in the fire place. Breakfast won't take long now. I stirred the stew in thecauldron that hung over the fire.

"Wow, that smells good Renkotsu."

I looked up and Bankotsu was comming down the stairwell." Good morning Aniki. You're up early."

" Yeah well..." he mummbled something about not being able to sleep while he sat down behind me on the floor, laying his head on the table.

" Is Anaki up?"

"The hell should I know."

Typical. Bankotsu is always cranky in the morning.

"Hey Renkotsu."

Suikotsu stepped into the room, filing behind him were Ginkotsu, Kyokotsu, Mukotsu and Jakotsu who all of which said G'morning in some way,shape or form before taking their seat at the table.

What I did noticed was Jaki wasn't his usual self. He looked rather surly. Not to mention his eyes were bloodshot red. Almost as if he'd been crying. But I've never known Jakotsu one to cry.

"Are you alright Jakotsu?" I asked.

"I'm FINE!" He murmured quickly.

That's when I realized Jaki didn't take his seat next to Aniki. He sat as far away from him as possibly.

"Hey Jaki." Bankotsu said. Jakotsu completely ignored him." I said,'Hey Jakotsu'."

Jakotsu turned his head." Hey." he snarled.

"What is your problem?" our leader asked.

" Mind your own Damn business."

The room grew silent and still. That was the first time we'd ever heard Jakotsu even speak to Bankotsu like that.

Bankotsu didn't take to kindly to being yelled at. He sat his arm on the table and leaned forward, so he could get a better look at Jakotsu." Look-"

Before he could get even another word out, Kimiko opened the front door and ran into the room. what appeared to be a small wolf cub ran out in front of her and over to Suikotsu.

Suikotsu P.O.V

The cub jumped into my lap, wagging it's tail playfully at me. I stroked it's snowy white fur." Cute. Where'd you get it."

"Well...it was injured so..."

"You'd though you'd help it?"

She smiled," Your doctor side it starting to rub off on me."

"Ain't that the truth." Renkotsu mummble. We all laughed. Except for Jakotsu who grunted and turned away.

"What's his deal?" Kimi asked. I shrugged and told her he's been acting weird all morning.

" Acting? He's always weird." Bankotsu stated.

We knew Bankotsu was joking but Jaki took it a little to seriously.

" Why don't you shut- up for once!" he yelled.

"That's it!" Bankotsu stood up, " I've had it up to here with your attitude."

"Considering how tall you are, I guess I haven't been rude enough."

Kimiko P.O.V

Ooookay...I know Bankotsu is Jakotsu's best friend but even he has his limits. I went over and took ahold of Bankotsu's arms. His muscles were hard like rocks.

"Bankotsu..."

He took one look at me and all the anger faded from his face."Alright." he sighed.

We both sat down. The wolf cub titled his head to the side, looking astounded at Bankotsu. He jumped out of Suikotsu's lap, jetted across the table and pounced on Bankotsu. Bankotsu hit the floor with a thud. slober and spit were all over his face.

He picked the cub up by the fur on the back of it's neck." The hell is this thing?"

"Welllllllllllll..." I looked down at him." It's a baby wolf."

"I'm aware of that."

" I'm thinking of calling him Kiko."

"HOLD IT!" Bankotsu sat up, still holding kiko in the air." No."

"But I didn't-"

"N-O! No."

"But Bankotsu!"

"Kimi, THIS-" He waved Kiko in my face, " It not YOUR baby. He belongs in the wild."

"But he's alone! The demons might get him!"

" That's his problem!"

"Bankotsu...!"

Bankotsu P.O.V

Her eyes misted with tears and her bottom lip quivered. " The face won't work on me anymore." I told her. She snatched Kiko away from me.

"I hate you!" She yelled.

"At least we agree on something." Jakotsu snorted.

" Jakotsu..." I warned, " I swear If you don't-"

"You won't do shit to me." He barked.

" The hell I won't."

"Why can't I keep Kiko." Kimi whined.

" Because! We are Mercs. We can't be worried about you so-called pet. We can barely fee ourselfs, let alone a wolf. And he's only gonna get bigger."

"He can protect me when he gets bigger! C'mon Ban-san. I'll take care of him."

" What did I just tell you?"

"No." She lowered her head.

" Okay then. That's settled. Now how about some breakfast."

Kimiko held Kiko close to her heart and she started to cry, " YOU'RE MEAN BANKOTSU!"

"I guess I'm just mean then.Besides, all you'll do is baby. I mean really, what kind of name is Kiko for a male wolf anyway."

"SHUT-UP YOU FAGGARD!"

Suikotsu spit out his drink and started laughing." Faggard? Where'd you get that from?"

" It just came out. Ren, you're second in command too. Can't you persuade Bankotsu to let me keep kiko?"

" Sorry. What he says goes. He's the leader."

"Not a good one." Jaki muttered under his breath.

"JAKOTSU-Kimiko please stop looking at me like that- Jaki, if you don't-"

Kimiko buried her head in my back. I could feel her sniffling as hot tears trailed down my back." I've always wanted a pet. I couldn't have on in Konan because I had to help take care of my family. Inuyasha wouldn't allow it nor did my mentors. Please Bankotsu."

I felt so guilty. I knew she wanted to say she loved me but not in front of our friends. I give up.

" Fine." I folded my arms, " You can keep the damned thing, but if I so much as smell shit on my stuff, he is outta here!"

Kimiko's face lit up. The tears disapeared as quickly as they came."YES! Love you." She kissed me on the cheek and hurried out the room, followed by her new 'pet'. She really is something.

"I walked right into that one didn't I?"

There were mixtures of 'yep' 'yes' 'sure did' and' Uh-huh' from all my friends. Except Jaki. I couldn't take it anymore. What did I do that was so bad that Jaki would actually disrespect me?

"Jakotsu..."

"Don't talk to me."

"Jaki...please..." I whined, " What's wrong with you?"

"Me! What's wrong with me! You-She...ARGH!" Jakotsu looked as if he might rip out some of his hair he was so frustrated.

That's when thing went bad. Kimi entered the room looking just as innocent as ever. Jakotsu took one glance at her and it drove him over the edge.

Jaki P.O.V

It's her. IT'S ALWAYS HER! I was Bankotsu's friend first. I came first and yet she just squeezed her way into the shichinintai. I should be second in command next to Renkotsu, not HER! Why does she always get what I want? WHY WHY WHY!

I pushed back from the table, unable to hold in my anger anymore. I marched over to where she stood, she eyed me, staring all confused like she didn't know what was going on.

"Uh...er...good morning Jako-" she started to say.

" SHUT IT!"

Kimiko shut her mouth immediantly, as if she was surprised I'd even said that to her.

" You're in love with Bankotsu, aren't you." I felt the room stand still and I knew everyone was staring at me, but Not like Bankotsu. I heard gulp and clear his throat. Thinking of what to say to make this not seem like such a big deal. Like HE didn't do anything wrong.

Dumbfounded, kimiko said nothing.

I was far from being done." He doesn't feel the same way. You were just something he messed around with when he got bored."

Bankotsu P.O.V

All the blood rushed from my face. He knew. Jaki knew about Me and Kimi. No wonder he was pissed. Now he was about to tell everyone what he knew. God...my life felt like it was spiraling down. I halfway rose from where I stood but Renkotsu put his hand on my shoulder, signaling for me to sit back down. When I objected, he only shook his head.

Kimiko still hadn't said a word. The expression on her face was unreadable. I had no idea what was going through her mind.

Suikotsu P.O.V
So it was true. What Kimi, he father and Bankotsu knew that day in the demension...It was true. Even though I'd heard it with my own two ears...I guess a part of me didn't want to believe it. It wasn't really a secret how I felt about her but still...

I cared about her and Bankotsu...he couldn't take care of her tha way that I could. He wasn't old enough; mature enough to treat her right: And yet, she only wanted him.

Renkotsu P.O.V

So many thoughts running through my head. My mind was practically swimming. What was going on between those two? How long had this been happening? At first I was confused...now Anger flared. I was so angry...UGH! I can't think straight.

I saw Jakotsu's anger flaring too. Aparently Kimi's silence struck him as and insult.

"What the hell is your problem!" He bellowed, " Why don't you say anything? Are you that scared of me!"

Kimi made a noice between sucking her teeth and a scoff, " Yeah right, I'm 'scared' of you." she said sarcastically.

" You Bitch! I won't be mocked!" Jakotsu smacked her hard across the right side of her face. Everyone held there breath. Bracing themselves for the worst.

Kimi's eyes turned to fire. She smacked Jakotsu twice as hard on both sides of his face. When Jaki reached for his sword, I was no longer able to hold back Bankotsu.

Kimiko's powers spiraled. The fire under the black cauldron in the fireplace became and icy blue, just like her eyes. A new mark: a more sinister one, Burned into her forehead.

Bankotsu P.O.V

I pried myself between the two of them, trying as best I could to calm Kimi down.

"Kimi...Onegai...Shimasu...calm down." She blinked and her eyes returned to normal, as did the fire. Jakotsu pushed me into her, screaming and fussing.

" Why do you always protect her!"

By then everyone was yelling. And I just...snapped. at that point, I didn't care who feelings got hurt."SHUT THE HELL AND SIT DOWN! EVERYONE SIT THE FUCK DOWN!" I must've repeated myself a thousand times before everyone listened to me. Jakotsu tried to yell something at me.

" You can't-"

"Sit...Down!" I snarled in quiet fury." NOW!"

Well, Jakotsu backed away from me and took a seat. I turned to face kimi, my chest tightening. I pressed my left cheek to her right one and whispered in her ear," Go upstairs. I'll talk to you later." I knew she was going to protest," Onegai. For me."

She went upstairs. I could tell she was reluctant about it. Now...for the hard part. I almost didn't want to sit down because that meant having to admit something I really didn't want to: That I was unfair to everyone else. I knew it too.

Renkotsu P.O.V

My foot tapped rapidly on the tatami matt we sat on. When Bankotsu sat down I didn't even give him a chance to speak." I can't believe you did that." I flat-out told him." What were you thinking?"

"Renkotsu, I-"

"You know what? I don't want to know what you were thinking! How could you! Knowing that there are 5 other men here besides you-"

"Whoa, whoa,whoa" Suikotsu butted in, " What are you saying Renkotsu? You actually thought she might...you know..with all of us?"

"NO! I just don't think it's fair! Knowing how we all feel about her-"

"Bah!" Jakotsu spat." I hate the bitch."

" You mean to tell me you ALL like her?" Bakotsu gasped

" NO! Listen to me! Bankotsu, we are your comrades! Your best friends. If we don't get a chance with her then why should you!"

"Renkotsu,I know it may not seem fair-"

"I think you should break it off Aniki."

"What! Renkotsu, I'm not doing that."

"Why not?" Jakotsu slammed his hands down onto the table, " We were fine before you two started..." Jakotsu couldn't even bring himself to say it.

Bankotsu P.O.V

I wanted so badly to crawl under a rock. I was wrong. I know I was wrong but I can't break up with her. She means so much to me but how can I explain that to my friends.

Suikotsu rose to my defense." I know it hurts. They shouldn't have made love but-" Suikotsu only made matters worse.

"They did WHAT!" Renkotsu almost broke his neck turning to look at me." You two hasd sex! What if she gets pregnant! What if-" Renkotsu started Rambling on and on about the consequences of our relationship before he realized something he had apparently overlooked. His anger was now directed at Suikotsu." Wait..you KNEW! You knew and you didn't tell anyone! I thought we were friends! Bankotsu...and now you? What else have you been keeping from me?"

I couldn't say I was upset at Renkotsu. He had every right to be mad. I guess he considered himself more than just my right hand man. I know he lost respect for me and I couldn't fault him for it either.

" As much as I...don't want there to be any problems, I think Renkotsu is right Aniki." Mukotsu finally spoke up." And I'm not just saying that because of my..feeling but for your sake and everyone elses."

"Explain Mukotsu."

"Aniki...your love for her, it clouds your judgement. It makes you reckless and effects everyone as well. You see what happened when your relationship was out in the open." He gestured to Jaki." Maybe if you had sat down and talked to us-"

Renkotsu P.O.V

Bankotsu stood up. He surveyed us with sad eyes, " I know I was wrong. I apologize.But I'm not breaking it off with her. If you all don't like it, then I'm sorry." Without another word, Bankotsu exited the room. Leaving us in there a confused as ever.