I'm thinking of you. Always, my love.
Was she really thinking about me? Does she still love me? Or was it...just only a dream.
"Dreams are nice, but they're not real. Right?"
"How the hell should I know Aniki? Renkotsu's the smart one." Jakotsu stirred his rice around the edges of the bowl with his chopsticks."And Anyway,what's been up with you? You're weird lately."He remarked beforeplopping a huge clump of white rice inside his mouth, chewing and spewing small pieces out in every-which-direction.
I laughed," I'm weird? You're the weird one, 'member? And chew with your mouth closed."
"Whatever." Jakotsu cheeks pouted out,"areyousureyou'renothungry?"(are you sure you're not hungry) he mummbled.
I sat up half-way, looking at the spread of food Jakotsu had laid out in front of him. He had ahuge bowl of ramen noodles, wasabi chicken wings, wontons, orange-flavored & sesame chicken and a side of Teriyaki shrimp and jelly-filled rice-balls. With the way he was eating...Iwas getting sick just watching him.
"No thanks"
"Your loss." Jaki twirled his chopsticks into his noodles and stuffed it in his mouth.
Now..I've seen some pretty twisted stuff--being a mercenary and all--like disembodied corpses, burned corpses, severed head, missing limbs, mutilated bodies--just name it--but out of all of this, nothing is more sickening than watching Jakotsu EAT! I don't have to tell anyone Jakotsu's not normal but he eats some REALLY strange food now and then.
"What is it Bankotsu?"
I realized I was staring."Nothing."
I'll come on new winds.
I stretched out across the ground, baking in the lukewarm sun rays.Little specs of light dotted on my skin through spaces in the trees.It was a somewhat sunny day with hardly any clouds in the sky. Nothing but clear-light blue as far as the eye could see. So..why was I so bothered today? It wasn't because of the dream. No. It was something else but, what?
I'll come on new winds.
"I'll come n new winds. What the HELL does that mean!"
"It's no winds today Bankotsu-oo-aniki."
And he was right too. There weren't any winds. Hadn't been for days now. Which struck me as odd considering next month was the start of winter. Autumn was slowly passing. So slow, it was freakin irritating.
"I just have this vibe Jaki." A look of peace sttled on my face. Jaki stood over me with a noodle dribbling out of his mouth before he slurped it up leaving traces of chicken broth to fall on my face.
"BAH! I know what your problem is. You're just horny!"
I scrunched up my face," Exscuse me?"
"It's to be expected. You haven't be properly laid in months."
I wiped the liquid from my face, " EXSCUSE ME?" I said louder. I half-wanted to say that Kimi had been all the pleasure I needed, and then some. But that's what got us into this situation in the first place." You're not funny."
"Truth hurts. I mean, what's your damage? You haven't so much as looked at another woman since-" I guess I had a grim look on my face because he stopped his sentence there." you know what? Forget it."
I smiled, " You're right ya know. Gomen. It's just harder than I thought to move on. I'll be fine." Jaki held out his pinky and I grabbed it with mine." I promise."
"Good. Your moping around is starting to piss me off."
"Okay Jaki." I laughed." but you don't understand exactly. This feels..different." I raked my finger through my smooth,dark hair."What I crave, I can't explain it."
"Like I was saying," he stuffed a whole chicken wing inside his mouth,"youreHOR-NY!"
"I'm ignoring you." I said quickly.
"Okay-damn! you can't take a joke.I mean really, since when are you so serious? I miss the old days when it was--"
Jaki's voice faded away as I closed my eyes and drifted off. What I woudln't do to be able to get away from life sometimes. Being who I am...that's impossible. Kimi made it seem like everything in life was possible. The sky's the limit. Whenever I made love to her...I reached this high that was...undescribable. That's why It urked me(and still does) that we were never able to be together like we longed to.
Alone for a while...
I opened my eyes."That voice..."
I've been searching through the dark
For traces of love you left inside my lonely heart...
I know that voice..."Jakotsu..do you hear that?" I asked him as I sat upright.
He stuffed another wasabi-chicken wing in his mouth."ear whaa?"(hear what?)
"That singing." I couldn't help but smile. I'd know that voice anywhere.
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain
Melodies of life--loves last refrain...
I didn't even wait for Jakotsu's response. I flipped onto my feet and sprinted off down the main road. Jaki just sat there looking both horrified and disturbed. Not to mention his cheeks were puffed out because of all the food he practically inhaled. I didn't even really notice him shouting, " YOU FORGOT YOUR BANRYUU!"
All I wanted to do was to see her. For the moment, that's all that mattered.
Suikotsu faced lined with bright green streaks, his once tame, black hair stood in soft spikes as his big, gray eyes became harsh and beady. "Finally." He strapped on his newly polishedmetal claws, raising them up to the sunlight as they reflected his maniacal image."Good as new." and better. He'd have more than enough fun hacking his enemies to pieces." And then some."
Almost three months had passed since he'd been fully in his doctor form. Occasionally, he had to pass himself off as a normal human being and, reluctantly,he gave way to his other heart. Still...for several weeks now, the doctor had withdrawn and He was able to go and come as he pleased. Could it have been because of Kimiko? He was very well away of the doctors feeling for her but He couldn't help but feel somewhat distressed. Were these feelings all the doctors or his as well?
Suikotsu lowered his claws, holding them closely to his lips."Kimiko..." he remembered the day that it was ger blood that stained him. Unlike the others who he'd mutilated, her blood had changed him. And though his fidelity to his shuryou was unquestionable, he couldn't deny his feelings. Even now, as he licked the tip of one of the blades,"It's dry." he'd never forget her taste, not for as long as he'd live.
Our paths did cross, though, I cannot sat just why...
"Huh?" Suikotsu became alert as a hard blow of wind whipped at his skin. Before he could say anything, he heard it again:
We laughed, we held on fast and then we said goodbye
And who'll hear the echos of stories never told, let them ring out 'til they unfold.
That was Kimi-chan's voice. He searched from place to place with his eyes but he didn't see her. Was it just his imagination?
In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name
He knew he didn't imagine that."Kimiko." Suikotsu stared into the sky," Did you come back?"
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine
Adding up the layers of harmony
Renkotsu pierced the scroll with the tip of his paintbrush."Dammit." now he'd have to start all over again. Bankotsu had ordered him to make a map of the north since Renkotsu was so familiar with that area. He knew how impatient Aniki was and now he had to start all over. And for what? A voice of someone long gone from him;but not from his heart.
It's true, when Renkotsu joined the shichinintai, he was skeptical about having a female in the group. If she had been Bankotsu's concubine, he might've understood but, she reigned in second command just as he did. Even though she looked the most under qualified. At first, he thought Bankotsu was playing favorites. Then he witnessed for himself how strong she was.
Kimiko dropped her sias from her waist." I won't use my weapons."
Bankotsu smirked, it was as if he knew something renkotsu didn't. The way they smiled and laughed with one another troubled him. Maybe this wasn't such a bright idea.
"Here's the deal." Bankotsu stifled a laugh, " If you can defeat her, Renkotsu, she'll be out the shichinintai."
"How do I know you won't go back on you word?" great suspicion arose in Renkotsu's voice. This women seemed far to precious to Bankotsu for him to just...let go. Even If he did win the fight.
"Don't worry." He crossed his finger over his chest in an X shape." Cross my heart."
"Fine." Renkotsu agreed.
Both him and Kimiko stepped out onto the battle field. Bankotsu, standing at the guidlines with his other comrades(Jakotsu,Mukotsu, Suikotsu,Ginkotsu and Kyokotsu) bit back a smile. Jakotsu crossed his legs and sat on the dirt, resting his chin in the palm of his right hand, waiting for this to be over so they could move on.
Suikotsu, unlike the other three who were anxious for the fight to start, knew something was amiss. Why had Bankotsu been so willing to bet her place in the band of mercenaries? Unless he DID know something We all didn't. That would explain why Jakotsu doesn't seem interested; because they already know the out-come of the battle.
"Bankotsu-oo-aniki?"
Bankotsu turned his head to the side."Huh-mm?"
Suikotsu stepped to their new leader,"Uh...pardon my rudeness but you set Renkotsu up, didn't you?" he scratched his spiky hair.
Bankotsu smiled," Suikotsu," he said, placing his hand on his subordinates shoulder, " Renkotsu set himself up. He just couldn't stand the fact that a women was placed as his equal. So..now he'll learn the consequences."
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Bankotsu's smile widened, " Can you tell? Well...This is partly to help Renkotsu learn to trust me. Kimiko is in the shichinintai for a reason, and not for the reason you all seem to think."
A chill ran up Suikotsu. Was it that obvious? I mean, what were they suppossed to think? I mean...she is very pretty and they're both about the same age. And Jakotsu seems to despise they way Bankotsu harps on her."I'm...sorry."
"No biggie. Besides, you're all partly right. "
"Huh?" Suikotsu leaned closer to Bankotsu," You mean that...you two are...?"
"Well," Bankotsu whispered so Jakotsu couldn't hear," We haven't bedded together if that's what you mean."
"Oh..." said a somewhat disapointed but relieved suikotsu.
"Still," he said, in his normal loud voice, "I know she's not mine but..." Bankotsu folded his arms and stared at her," I just don't like other men looking at her." Suikotsu turned away immediantly," Oh no, don't get it wrong. You guys can look at her it's just...aw, you get it."
Kimiko untied her sash, it snaked to the ground as her outer shirt downed over her shoulders. Mukotsu's nose started to bleed, " She's taking off her clothes!"
Almost instantly, all eyes were on her. Suikotsu blushed at the sight of her soft tanned shoulders."Is she actually...?"
"Just keep looking." Bankotsu said.
Kimiko dropped her shirt, it hit the groud with a loud thud, denting the spot where it fell. Exposing a black tank top.
"She's wearing weighted clothing?" I asked.
"Yep." Bankotsu nodded in satisfaction."Her outter shirt is 50pounds."
Kimiko tore off her wrist bands and ankle bands before kicking off her shoes. They all dented the ground just as her shirt did.
"Damn..." Suikotsu muttered.
"Her wristbands are 15pounds each and so are her anklebands. Her shoes are 10pounds each."
"So that's..." Jaki counted on his fingers"Uh..."
"130 pounds."Bankotsu finished jaki's sentence.
"Whaa? 130?" Suikotsu gaped and Bankotsu.
"Don't sound so impressed Suikotsu. She only weighs 135. without the weighted clothing."Jaki murmured.
Kimiko threw he weapons at Bankotsu. He hooked them on his thumb, flicked the around his fingertips and stuck them in his sash.
"Nice trick. Can you sit and roll over?" Jaki remarked.
"Ready when you are boss-man!" Kimi yelled to him.
"Fine." Bankotsu raised his hand into the air," Ready...set..GOOO!"
No sooner did Bankotsu say go did Renkotsu spit out a ray of fire.
The fire hurled at kimi in a small spiral tornado. She only grinned." He uses fire? This can't get any better."
Kimiko raised her arm into the air, palm facing up while her other arm rested at her side."Shiro-nami!" a thin puddle of water leaked out from beneath her feet. Rising a twisting in a helix around her ankles...
The fire came closer
Around her knees, then her waist...
The fire was so close she could feel it's heat.
swarmed around her stomache, then her breast and finally around her arms. But it was too late. The inferno swallowed her body whole, the scent of hot water mingled with the air as a shroud of white vapor clouded the field.
Suikotsu panicked but Bankotsu remained calm. How could he be so stoic at a time like this?
Renkotsu wandered helplessly around in the steamy cloud. Where was she? Did he get her? He couldn't see her, or hear her. She must've gotten hit. If not...
A pair of feet kicked Renkotsu squarly in his stomache. As he hurdled back, he reached out trying desperatly to cling to his attacker but it was futile. "Dammit" he said, forcing himself to stand. A sharp pain seared across his face. He reached out and caught a puff of smoke.
She was like a cat. He could tell whether he was coming or going. Still..he needed to remain calm. Renkotsu closed his eyes and concentrated. If his couldn't trust his eyes then maybe he could hear her.
Renkotsu stood there for what seemed like and eternity before he heard a loud whistling noise above him. He stared up into the sky, he saw a black figure outlined in the mist.
THERE! there she was. Renkotsu spread his fingers and cables shot out of the tips, heading straight for her. There was no way she could dodge them in midair.
He's seen me, she thought. Kimiko grabbed both of her wrist with the opposing hand, her elbows out. She straightened out her body to pick up more speed."Dai-kyo-ku-zan!"
A transparent barrier appeared in front of her.Renkotsu's cables impacted with the barrier, bouncing off of it and hurdling back at him, wrapping around him.
"Damn! I'm stuck." And Kimiko wasn't stopping. She hit him, her hands crossed, in his neck. Knocking him unconcious, to the ground.
Bankotsu heard a loud crash. He picked up his Banryuu and twirled it around on his fingertips, blowing away the steam. When the vapor cleared, Kimiko was sitting on a tied-up Renkotsu.
Bankotsu didn't know whether or not to help Renkotsu or laugh." Then it's settled. You're staying Koishii."
That was a most embarrasing defeat but it Taught Renkotsu a valuble lesson: Looks can decieve. Never underestimate your opponent or it just might be the last thing you do. Needless to say it soured his pride. For a time, he had despised her. Setting up barriers around his heart to keep her out. She managed to find a way through that.
She was like his daughter in a way. Renkotsu was always strict with her and stern, but that's because he cared. What happened three months ago...he never predicted. As much as he'd felt the need to blame Bankotsu, it was more his fault that his leader.
He missed her. Even now...it's like he could hear her voice.
And so it goes, on and on
Melodies of life,
To the sky beyond the flying birds--forever and beyond
Wait...he could hear her voice." Kimiko?" rolled up the parchment and ran down to the riverside. Ginkotsu sat at the bottom of a flowery hill, watching a pair of black goldfish chase after one another, causing small ripples in the water. Obviously Ginkotsu heard it too because he stood up as soon as he saw Renkotsu approaching.
"Gesh(yes)...Ki-mi-ko." He muttered.
A gentle wind carried the scent of lilac and roses. The sun waned a bit. White doves soared high in the sky, circling above where the two stood.
"Let's go Ginkotsu." Renkotsu said, peacefully gazing into the sky.
"Yes."
Mukotsu sprinkle wolfbane into the poison," This will give it more of a kick."
Kyokotsu rumaged through Mukotsu's carrier." Is there anything to eat?" he picked up a blue vile," What's this?"
" Put that back. It'll kill you on contact." Mukotsu warned. Kyokotsu dropped the bottle. It shattered almost instantly. The blue liquid mixed with the dirt and turned a puke green-ish color before disolving into the ground. The dirt dried up and cracked like a desert in a drout.
"KYOKOTSU! IT TOOK ME HOURS TO MIX THAT! DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND ALL THE INGREDIANTS? I HAD TO-"
So far and away, see the bird as it flies by
Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky
I've laid my memories and dreams upon those wings
Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings
"That voice" Mukotsu broke off, " It's..."
"Kimiko..." Kyokotsu muttered." Do you think?"
Mukotsu grabbed his carrier, tossing all his poisons and igrediants onto it." Let's go Kyokotsu."
"Where?"
The scent of lilacs and white roses lingered in the air. Kyokotsu sucked in the scent." I know that scent. Follow me."
Kimiko drew her hair back tightly from her face. Long strands of soft waves hung down the side of her face. Kiko watched happily, tail pounding the road in a rhythm as Kimiko's hand rose and fell in a tide of raven hair.
Kiko had grown alot in the past few months. He was now almost the size of a normal wolf. His mane of silky white fur tuffed out like a collar around his neck. A stripe of gray streaking down from his forehead to his brown nose. His gray eyes glistening in the sunlight.
In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?
Those beautiful words being brought to life by and even more beautiful voice. It was no dout in Kiko's mind: This song was about Bankotsu. Even though they seperated a long time ago..he knew, deep down, Kimi still loved him. But she was unwilling to admit it, for fear of being hurt again.
Kimiko had grown over these past few months. She had grown accustomed to her newly matured body by intensifying her training. She no longer wore her dark blue shirt like Bankotsu's, nor did she wear her Hakama short. She wore a strapless, silk-blue juban that hugged around her curves and clung to her body like a dress.It stopped mid-thighand split from her hips to the golden hem. You could seen the lining of the shorts she wore underneath as well as the straps from her tank-top going over he shoulders.
Kiko stared mezmerized at the sapphire swirled on midnight coloringin Kimiko's outfit.
The sun-kissed her velvet skin as she smiled warmly as a leaf fluttered down from the overlooking tree and landed on his nose. Kiko barked and wiped his nose with his paw in a effort to rid himself of the leaf.
Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud till they unfold
In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name
Kimiko stood up, wiping the dirt off the back of her juban." Let's go Kiko." She said in a sing-song voice as she strode off down the trail, kiko lagging behind her. The wind blew past, carrying the leaf into the air.Kiko jumped up on his hind legs, trying to catch the leaf. Running and jumping after it while trying to keep up with his owner.
Bankotsu stopped at the crossroads. It was just like his dream but..." No Kimiko."
" ANIKI!"
Bankotsu whipped around, Jakotsu was heading toward him, dragging Banryuu.
"JAKI! WHAT THE HELL? YOU'LL SCRATCH UP THE BLADE!"
"AW SHUT-UP! IT'S YOUR FAULT FOR LEAVING ME ALONE!" He yelled" THIS THING SHOULDN'T BE SO DAMN HEAVY!"
"Bankotsu-oo-aniki?" Suikotsu emerged from behind a bush." What're you doing here?"
"Well..It's silly really." Bankotsu folded his arms." I must've imagined it."
"Imagine what?" Jaki asked." Don't tell me you ran off in a huff like that because you THOUGHT you heard or saw something."
"When you say it like that Jaki.."Bankotsu trailed off. The ground vibrated beneath their feet in a steady pace.
"Bankotsu?"
Bankotsu, Jakotsu and Suikotsu turned around. They spotted Renkotsu, Ginkotsu, Mukotsu and Kyokotsu almost instantly.
"What's up?" Bankotsu said.
"You're here too?" Renkotsu asked. Both Bankotsu and Suikotsu nodded.
Jakotsu was fed up." What the hell is going on? What do you all know that I don't? Huh?"
"So..you heard it also?" Mukotsu asked, completely ignoring Jaki.
Everyone(except Jaki) nodded."So I wasn't imagining it." said Bankotsu," I really did hear it."
"HEAR WHAT!" Jakotsu screamed at the top of his lungs.
If I should leave this lonely world behind
Your voice will still remember our melody
At that moment. Bankotsu thought his heart might give way. It pounded so hard, yet light enough, it didn't hurt. The smell of Lilac and white roses filled the air.
Now I know we'll carry on Melodies of life
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts
Bankotsu broke through the crowd of his friends, and stared down the road on the farthest right. The same one Kimiko walked down when she left him standing there:in the cold harsh reality that...she wasn't his anymore.
Walking away from them, he saw a sea of black hair tinted with blue flowing down the thick and curvy figure of a women and a wolf dancing around her as she walked.Her sais clinked and clanked against her thighs. A smile grazed his face. He'd know that figure anywhere.
As long as we remember
Those Five words floated out of her mouth. Her sias , still. The wolf stopped dancing and curled his tail around her leg. The women twisted around and Midnight blue eye met Bankotsu's.
"Kimiko?"
Shiro-nami:white-wave. Water attack that saved user.
Dai-kyo-ku-zan: mean great mountain(or strong castle wall. I forget) A barrier against physical attacks.
"Melodies of Life" A song from final fantasy11(I think) but I didn't write it and I know it's from a final fantasy. I picked it because it describes the situation perfectly. Don't you think?