Title: Memento
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairing: Jakotsu/Bankotsu
Summary: Jakotsu had always wondered why Bankotsu wore his hair in such a beautiful long braid.
Notes: Written for livejournal community iy(underscore)no(underscore)kakera 's "Hair" theme. And the word "Okaa-san" means mother.

There was just something about the way it laid. Flowing like an ebony snake down his back, wriggling and writhing as he jumped about attacking his prey. It had caught Jakotsu's attention from the moment they'd met, and he'd been somewhat fascinated by it ever since.

Many women at the time had long, flowing hair that ran down past their waist and draped around them like just another adornment on their multi-layered kimonos. But the men, Jakotsu noted, were very skimpy when it came to the hair department.

Of course the older men were bald, or balding. Even some of the middle-aged ones opting for a top-knot over letting their hair grow past a certain length.

But Bankotsu was the exception. Beautiful, flowing black hair- more suitable of a refined hime than a killer- was one of his most valuable possessions.

So that day, when the bottom few inches of the braid had gotten cut off during the battle- it was no surprise to the Shichinin-tai that Bankotsu took it very seriously. In fact, he'd taken it so seriously that he'd instantaneously wiped out not only the offender who'd defiled his hair but the entire army they were facing.

Apparently, there were certain things you just didn't mess with…

Later that night, Jakotsu armed himself with a jug of sake and lightly knocked on the screen to Bankotsu's room.

"What is it?" The voice snapped from within.

"I brought sake," He prompted, "Well…and myself."

Despite Jakotsu wishing there was more to his last comment than it seemed, he knew that Bankotsu's sour mood probably wouldn't lead to anything all that exciting that night.

Slowly, the screen door slid open.

"Sorry. I'm having a bad day..."

Jakotsu sat down, crossing his legs as he started to pour Bankotsu a glass of sake.

"That's understandable. I'd get pissed if someone cut a chunk out of my hair as well. At least it was at the bottom of it."

"Yah…"

Bankotsu's eyes seemed far away as he examined the ragged end of the braid. Its full length now about three inches shorter than it used to be.

"Mou…why do you have a braid anyways?"

He'd always been meaning to ask, but there just never seemed to be the right moment for it. It was strange for a man to have hair that long and well-kept.

"My Okaa-san…" He paused, blue eyes looking towards the wall, "When I was little, it was really long and I…"Bankotsu smirked at the memory, "I'd keep tripping or getting hurt because my hair would get in my face. So, since I refused to let her cut it, she braided it for me."

"A memento then?" Jakotsu asked; a sad smile on his face on knowing that the woman probably was long gone.

"Yah…"

Standing abruptly, Jakotsu crossed the room and picked up the water basin and a few other items.

"Jakotsu, what are you…."

The clang of one of the dead soldier's waylaid swords caught his attention first, the dirty blade being wiped clean on a piece of cloth.

"It's uneven. I'm not your mother, but… I'll do my best."

Wide blue eyes watched with curiosity and trepidation as the blade was placed flush against his back, blade turned outwards. Holding the braid still, Jakotsu sliced through the frayed ends before sitting the sword aside.

He began to reach for the tie, but paused a moment. This was something Bankotsu cherished, and he didn't want to overstep his boundaries.

"May I?"

Bankotsu looked back, noticing his friend's hands about to pull the tie loose. Knowing his hair most likely had the usual fallout from battle- burnt ashes, blood and debris in it, he complied.

Sitting behind him, Jakotsu slowly loosened the strands of Bankotsu's hair. Pulling over the water basin, he washed it as best he could; running a comb through it until it was damp and hanging around Bankotsu's face like a black curtain.

"Thanks," Bankotsu replied with a smile, reaching back to begin to braid it himself.

But Jakotsu stopped him.

"Leave it down, just for right now."

"Jakotsu…"

Pale fingers reached up and threaded through the black strands.

"I like to see you wild every now and then…."

Bankotsu laughed lightly, shaking his head.

"I think you're wild enough for the both of us, Jakotsu."

"We'll just have to test that out then, won't we?" Red lips quirked into a smirk as the man tugged his partner across the room.

Moments later, Bankotsu found himself pushed back on the futon- his long hair splayed out beneath him. Stopping a moment before taking things further, Jakotsu looked up towards the sky.

"Oh most honorable spirit of Bankotsu no-aniki's Okaa-san. Please, pardon me for ravishing your son in such a dishonorable manner."

"Jakotsu!" The shorter man reprimanded, blush on his face and laughter in his voice.

"I'll re-braid your hair in the morning," Jakotsu murmured, leaning in to close the gap between them.

"You'd better or I'll…"

The rest of Bankotsu's retort was cut off as Jakotsu claimed his lips.

It was looking to be a not-so bad day after all.