Chapter Thirteen: A Mysterious Admirer

Bankotsu turned around to get a look at the person who spoke to him. However, the only thing that was there was the dry, warm air of the stuffy castle.

"Strange…" he muttered. "I need to get some sleep." He opened the door and settled into bed. He sighed and closed his eyes. 'I dragged everyone this far, not letting them sleep, and making them stay in this weird old place just to show Akiko the Shirokiri Waterfalls. Too bad I forgot that the shooting stars where supposed to be visible until yesterday. At least then, I wouldn't have had to rush everyone here. Oh well, they all seemed to buy the "I know the person who owns this castle" thing. Which reminds me, I have to remember to thank that guy for not minding that I threatened his life and let my band of mercenaries stay in his home,' Bankotsu laughed before drifting off to sleep.

Akiko was pleasantly dreaming about her and Bankotsu's eventful evening. It was the first time in ages that she had a nice dream instead of a nightmare. Suddenly a cold feeling passed though her. She ignored it at first, but when it persisted, she sat upright, disturbing her dream.

She rubbed her arms. They weren't cold, and neither was the rest of her body. It was like the cold presence had passed through her soul. Not wanting to get up yet, Akiko pulled her blanket higher and went back to sleep.

"Bankotsu!" Bankotsu heard someone merrily calling his name. He opened his right eye to peer over his blanket to see who it was. "Ohayou!" the person's voice came again.

"'Asa, Jakotsu," Bankotsu said lazily.

"When are you going to get up? It's almost the afternoon," Jakotsu whined, leaning on Bankotsu.

"I guess now," Bankotsu told him, sitting up, running a hand through his messed up hair.

Jakotsu stared at Bankotsu intently while he undid his braid, and combed it with his fingers. "Yes?" Bankotsu asked as Jakotsu continued to stare.

Jakotsu smiled ear to ear. "Nothing," he said sneakily.

"Okay…"

Jakotsu smirked, "I noticed that you and Akiko both are sleepy today."

"…So?"

Jakotsu smiled even more sneakily than before. "Well, you both were also missing last night."

"What the fuck? Do you guys spy on us every night to see what we're doing?" Bankotsu said trying to sound angry, but to his inconvenience, it sounded more like embarrassment.

Jakotsu giggled. "No, it just so happens that every time you two are alone together at night, one of us needs to get a drink of water or go to the bathroom at the same time."

Bankotsu sighed as he tied the end of his new braid. "You know, Jakotsu, it's not what you think. I just wanted to show Akiko something."

"And what was that?" he asked.

Bankotsu blushed and avoided eye contact with Jakotsu. "The shooting stars," he mumbled.

Jakotsu burst into laughter. "Awww! How romantic!" he said between laughs, making fun of his friend.

Bankotsu blush intensified. "Shut up! And don't tell anyone either."

"I won't, I won't," Jakotsu said truthfully, finishing his outbreak of laughter. "So… Do you wanna go get something to eat?"

Bankotsu nodded and got up to follow Jakotsu to the kitchen.

Akiko finally got up, getting annoyed at the coldness that would not leave her body. 'Is this the coldness of death? Will I feel this for the remained of the time I walk the earth?' She sighed to herself as she put on a plain kimono over her ninja outfit and got more awake. 'Maybe something is wrong. I suppose I should ask Bankotsu if this is normal…'

After, Akiko was ready she wandered through the halls to find Bankotsu. As she walked passed an open door, she felt a warmth coming from outside. It felt so nice that she figured it'd be okay to go outside for a little while.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining high overhead. She saw a path that led to the front of the castle. 'What's this feeling? It's like something is telling me to go that way,' Akiko thought, walking down the stone path.

About half way there, she saw a man walking towards her. He wore almost as much armor as Bankotsu. From what she could tell, he was some kind of warlord. As they met on the path, Akiko bowed out of respect and continued on. When she passed him, she noticed how handsome he was. He only looked to be a few years older than her. (Just picture this guy as looking kind of like Takemaru from the 3rd movie, k?)

As they passed he didn't seem to take acknowledge that she was there. But, suddenly, she heard him say, "Woman, what is your name?"

She stopped and looked at the strange man. "Who? Me?"

He smiled slightly and nodded

"It's Akiko," she told him. "Why, may I ask, do you want to know?"

"Akiko," he repeated. "You are quite beautiful. Tell me, would you like to become my wife?"

"Huh?" was all Akiko managed to say.

"I am the lord of a land not far from here. Come with me and be the Lady of the Land!"

For some reason, unknown to her, Akiko felt something strange for this man. She got the same feeling in her heart that she felt when she was around Bankotsu.

"I don't know. I'll have to think about it," she heard herself say.

The warlord nodded again. "I will await your answer. Find me when you have decided. My name is Warusa," he said, kissing her hand and continuing down the path.

After Warusa was gone, it suddenly accrued to Akiko what had happened- she had practically agreed to marry someone she didn't even know. 'What the hell happened? Why did I do that? I don't even know him! But still… Something about him made me feel weird. Now that I think about it, that cold feeling got worse when he was near.'

Akiko became lost in thought about Warusa until she noticed that she was at the front of the castle. There she saw Jakotsu finishing something that he was eating.

"Jakotsu, have you seen Bankotsu?"

He gave her a dull look. "Didn't you see him? I think he went that-a-way," he responded, gesturing toward the way she came.

"Oh. Thanks," she said to him, walking back down the stone path. Up ahead she saw Bankotsu sitting on a rock, looking into a pond filled with koi.

"Hi," she said when he didn't look at her.

He didn't respond for a moment, but then turned his head to look at her.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"No. Nothing. Nothing at all… Akiko-Kisaki."

With that said, Bankotsu got up and walked down the path, the way Warusa was going. 'Could he have overheard what happened?' she thought worriedly. 'Please, anything but that.'

Bankotsu walked down the path, following Warusa. 'I don't trust that guy. Akiko wouldn't have just agreed like that. I don't know what that bastard's up to, but no way in Hell am I letting him have her.'

A/N:

Kisaki- empress or queen (Bankotsu used it in a mocking sort of way)

Ohayou- good morning

'Asa- basically means 'morning (or g'morning)

Is it just me, or was this chapter… not too good? I have a really bad cold, which means I'm all dizzy and frazzled and whatnot. I might rewrite it sometime when I get better. Maybe. But, until then, read and review!