Revised Edition with changed/added footage: 8-8-2006
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Chapter 9: A Friend to Lean On
As the sun shed its first beams over the horizon, the sprawled figure stretched and rubbed at his eyes. He stared up at the ceiling, squinting as if trying to decipher something written there. Then, he slowly touched his fingers to his lips.
"Was that a dream or not…" He mumbled to himself, then with a shrug, sat up and went about getting dressed.
After pulling his yukata about him, Jakotsu plopped himself down in front of a small mirror he'd affixed to the wall, and pulled out a small tray that had the coloring dye he used on his lips.
A loud knock at the door sounded, followed by a sharp voice.
"Jakotsu, you still here?" Renkotsu called out.
Wondering to himself why he wouldn't be, Jakotsu replied, "Yes? What is it?"
"Ginkotsu's gotten new blades fitted and wondered if you wanted to spar with him to test your reflexes."
"Doesn't Bankotsu usually do that?"
"Oo-aniki's gone, so I figured I'd ask you instead."
"Bankotsu's gone?" Jakotsu said jumping up. "Did he tell you where he went?" The semi-panicked voice demanded.
"I don't have a clue," Renkotsu replied, not quite sure why Jakotsu was so unnerved by this, "He was gone early this morning from what Mukotsu says."
"Does Mukotsu know?" Jakotsu asked, not waiting for a reply before rushing outside to find Mukotsu.
Renkotsu watched him run past and shook his head, "What craziness have those two gotten themselves into this time?"
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Mukotsu was sitting out on the porch, grinding some plants and things into a potion mix. Nearby, Ginkotsu was waiting for Renkotsu to return and Kyoukotsu was finishing off some poor oni that he had snagged for a meal. Suikotsu was leaning against one of the beams on the porch, seemingly calm except for the constant clenching of his fist. Into this somewhat serene moment, Jakotsu came running and calling out.
"Oi, Mukotsu! Mukotsu, where are you!"
He skidded to a halt upon seeing the person he was seeking.
"Jakotsu? What's wrong?" Mukotsu questioned looking up.
"Renkotsu said that you said Bankotsu left this morning; so where did he go, he said you might know." He rambled.
"Not sure exactly why he left. I just know a bit before the sun rose, I was out gathering some supplies for my potions when I saw him walking out with the Banryuu. I asked him what was going on, and he just said he was going for a walk and not to worry."
"Before sun rose? Which way did he go?" Jakotsu asked looking around for any signs of the direction he left in.
Mukotsu pointed off towards the forest on the right, "He was headed that way, but once in the forest, I have no idea which way he went."
"Okay, thanks…" Jakotsu said dashing back inside, almost knocking over Renkotsu who was standing the doorway.
"Renkotsu no aniki, what's up with him?" Suikotsu inquired.
"I haven't the slightest idea," He muttered in reply before walking over to Ginkotsu. "Okay Ginkotsu, looks like we're going to have to try those blades out on a tree instead."
"Gesh. Okay Aniki," The metallic voice reverberated in return, as he followed Renkotsu towards the forest on the left.
A few seconds later, the sound of Jakotsu rushing back out reached the ears of those that remained on the porch. Jakotsutou slung across his back, he pointed in the direction Mukotsu had indicated. "That way right?"
"You going after him?" Mukotsu questioned in return.
"Yah," He murmured, breathing heavily due to all his running around.
"I'll go with you." Suikotsu said walking over.
"Ah, you don't have to. I'll be okay."
"No one should be out there alone, even if they're looking for someone else. Plus, I've got nothing else to do around here," He said picking up the steel-claws.
"Mou… okay," Jakotsu relented, not really wanting anyone else to be there when he found Bankotsu, but knowing any further argument might cause trouble.
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Meanwhile, Bankotsu walked through the quiet forest, Banryuu slung lazily over his shoulder.
"Why can't I stop thinking about it? All I did is kiss him, right?" He drug a hand down his face, "Idiot, that's the problem. Normal people don't go around kissing their best friend."
As he looked about, taking in the scenery, he noted some movement up ahead, and pulled Banryuu down into a defensive pose.
"You can drop your guard, boy. I'm not going to kill you." The gruff voice spoke out.
Walking towards the voice, Banryuu still ready for attack, Bankotsu neared the figure slumped against a tree. It was a man, about thirty in age, and badly wounded. From the attire he wore, Bankotsu knew one thing- he was a wandering swordsman, not a soldier.
"There's no reason to be so apprehensive, I'm too weak to move let alone attack you."
Bankotsu's eyebrows narrowed as he took in the situation.
"Will you be a little friendlier if I introduce myself?"
"I suppose," Bankotsu said, caught a bit off guard by the question.
"My name is Katsuro, I'm a wandering swordsman. I hold no alliance to any Daimyou."
"I figured as much from your clothing. And I take it, you were injured in battle and managed to drag yourself into this forest to die in peace then?"
"Yes, that was my intent; but I didn't know some young ronin would stumble across me."
"And how did you know I was also one who held no ties to a Daimyou?" Bankotsu inquired.
"Because those idiot soldiers would never get a weapon as nice as that," The man replied, laughing a bit to himself. "I see you still haven't dropped your guard. That's just like a ronin: never trusting anyone, traveling alone, always trying to be like that legend."
"Legend?" Bankotsu asked; eyes lighting up like a child waiting for a bedtime tale.
"Come on boy, don't tell me- you haven't heard the legend about gaining a true warrior's spirit?"
Bankotsu shook his head in the negative, face barely containing his eagerness to hear the story though.
"Well then, I'll do my best to tell you before my time is finished here," The man said, sitting up as best he could, and beginning the legend.
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"Are you sure that he went this way, Suikotsu?" Jakotsu said looking around frantically.
"Unless a large oni with claws the size of the Banryuu is around here, only Bankotsu could have sliced down that tree like that," He remarked.
Jakotsu sighed, "I sure hope he's okay. It's not like him to just walk off like this."
"Did something happen between you two last night?" Suikotsu asked.
Freezing in his current position, Jakotsu shakily turned to the figure behind him, eyes wide. "Why would you think that?"
"Last night, he was in your room talking to you, wasn't he?"
He nervously laughed, "Yeah, he was just talking to me. He'd gotten up to get some sake and just stopped to see if I was okay, that's all."
"Probably still worried about that sword wound, I assume."
"Yeah, that was it!" Jakotsu agreed, hoping it was enough to keep Suikotsu from thinking there was anything more to it than that.
"Good, I thought you might have gotten in a fight about something," He replied, continuing to walk forward
Jakotsu just quirked his head to one side in contemplation, wondering why Suikotsu seemed so concerned with their friendship; then scurried after him.
"I think that might be one of the few things that would get to him. Your opinions and feelings seem to affect him a lot, whether he notices it or not."
"What do you mean?"
"If you're sad, Bankotsu's sad. If you're happy, he's happy. You seem to feed off each other's emotions. I guess you just share a close bond like that."
"Wow, I never noticed that, but you're right. We do seem to be in the same mood at the same time," Jakotsu replied, scratching the side of his head.
Suikotsu laughed at the expression on Jakotsu's face, "You're lucky to have a close friend like him. I envy you."
"Mou… I'm your friend too Suikotsu. I've just known him longer, so…"
"I know, I know. I'm not trying to come between you. I just wish that I had someone to talk to the way you two do."
"You can talk to me, Suikotsu. You just never seem to want to talk, that's all."
"Okay then, um…heh, figures, now I can't think of anything to talk about," Suikotsu shrugged.
"Can I ask you something then?" Jakotsu said, walking next to him.
"Sure."
"Why do you wash your hands so much? I know, Bankotsu told me that it has to do with your past and that I shouldn't ask, but I really want to know."
"Blood triggers my anger, the side of me that likes to kill and so…" He started to fidget with his hands, and Jakotsu noticed.
"So you don't want to accidentally get like that when you're helping someone, is that it?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Thought so. Sorry to ask."
"It's all right. I can see why you'd be curious about it. Now, can I ask you something?"
"Um…I guess."
"I know you don't like females and tend to go after attractive males, so I was wondering: are you attracted to Bankotsu?"
Jakotsu stopped walking, and just stared at Suikotsu.
Suikotsu continued though, not expecting an answer. "Because, if you are- help him understand that we aren't heartless."
"What?"
"He asked me if we were heartless because we are killers. I figure, since he's still so young- that comment is probably eating away at him. I know, he seems cheerful on the outside, but I have a feeling that's just a mask covering up his sadness. I can't help him, so the best I can do is ask you to help him."
There was a brief silence between them, before Jakotsu replied, "Then I'll try; for him and for you. I'll try and help him."
'Thank you, Jakotsu," Suikotsu said with a smile.
"I don't what that has to do with whether I'm attracted to him or not though," Jakotsu noted, with a hint of suspicion.
"You tend to do things on a more grandiose scale when you think the guy is 'cute,' Jakotsu. We all know that, so that's why I wanted to know if you felt that way about him or not."
"Whether a guy is cute or not doesn't affect my motivation to help him, that depends on how much I care about the guy. Those are two different emotions to me, Suikotsu."
Suikotsu smirked knowingly; he'd gotten his answer. Jakotsu did care about Bankotsu, "Then, I'm sorry to have pried."
Jakotsu sighed, "It's all right." He looked around then spoke up again, "Are you still sure he went this way? We haven't found him yet."
"He's around here somewhere; we'll just have to keep looking."
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Bankotsu was now sitting across from the man as he finished up his story.
"And so, the legend says that any ronin that can kill ruthlessly when ordered to, yet still lives honorably, possesses a true warrior's spirit. And with that achievement, the gods will pardon his wrongdoings in life."
"A noble goal then, if that's the return for it," Bankotsu replied.
The man coughed, a bit of blood coming up with it, "And that's why, I can die in peace. I've achieved that goal, so my spirit can be at rest."
Bankotsu stood then, and looked back the way he'd come, "If you want to live, I can go get one of my men who's knows some things about medicine. He might be able to save you."
"No, it's just my time to go," Katsuro said with another cough, then asked, "One of your men, eh? So you've got yourself a ronin army of sorts then I suppose."
"I guess that's what you could call the seven of us."
"Seven…" He smiled with realization, "Then I presume, you're one of the infamous Shichinin-tai."
Bankotsu nodded, "I'm Bankotsu of the Shichinin-tai."
"The young leader. I thought that sword reminded me of the rumors I'd heard of the group. All the ronin like me envy you, you know that boy," He coughed again, "We envy you, because you're not alone in the world..."
The man's head fell heavily against his chest.
Bankotsu knelt beside him, "Katsuro? Katsuro?" He bowed his head, knowing that the man had finally died. He lifted up the body slowly, and began to dig out a grave for the man.
Once the hole was deep enough, he laid the body inside and snatched up a wildflower from nearby, tossing it down onto the body. "And I envy you, because you died with a warrior's spirit, Katsuro. Now, I'll have to see if I can do the same before I reach my end."
As he started to fill the hole with the dirt, he heard two footsteps approaching him, and held Banryuu ready.
"Oo-aniki, is that you?" A voice called out as the bushes were sliced away.
"Jakotsu? Suikotsu? What in the world…" He stammered seeing the figures emerge.
"Someone was a bit worried about where you'd run off to, and I decided to tag along to make sure he didn't get himself lost," Suikotsu replied.
Jakotsu frowned, "I think I could have found him without getting lost." He retorted, sticking out his tongue.
"So what's going on?" Suikotsu asked, pointing to the grave.
"Ronin that died out here. Thought a proper grave was in order for the legend he told me before he died."
"Legend?" Jakotsu inquired, walking over beside Bankotsu.
"I'll tell you about it when we get back."
Jakotsu smiled, and then looked to Suikotsu, "Can Suikotsu come with us and hear the legend too?"
Bankotsu looked perplexed as to the sudden insistence on having a third party there.
"I'm sure he wants to hear it too. We're not the only ones that need someone to talk to, you know."
Looking to Suikotsu, Bankotsu understood what had most likely happened. "So those two had a nice talk on their way to find me, eh?"
"Okay then, it's us three and some sake when we get back." He replied, tossing his braid back over his shoulder, and working on filling the rest of the grave.
After finding a decent stone to sit atop the grave, the three made their way back towards the building they called home for the time. Part of the way there, Jakotsu smirked, and wrapped his arms around Bankotsu's shoulders from behind.
"Jakotsu?"
"You were being too quiet, I thought that something might have sucked your soul out and turned you into a ghost or something."
Bankotsu frowned, "And why does that give you reason to suffocate me?"
"Just making sure your heart was still beating, that's all." Jakotsu said placing his hand over Bankotsu's heart, "And sure enough, it's still there."
Suikotsu looked on from behind, as Bankotsu stopped walking, Jakotsu still clinging onto him.
"Bankotsu?" Jakotsu said, beginning to loosen his hold. He pulled back, but stopped when he felt a grip on his hand.
He looked down at the hand he had placed on Bankotsu's chest to see that Bankotsu was now holding that hand where it was over his heart.
"Mou…you okay?" The taller man asked, looking from their joined hands up to his face.
"Thank you, Jakotsu. I needed to hear that," He said quietly. Then, he took a deep breath, gave Jakotsu's hand a slight squeeze, and gently pushed the taller figure off his back, "Come on let's get back so we can have some sake." He added, his voice returning to its usual child-like tone.
Suikotsu walked over and placed a hand on Jakotsu's shoulder.
"Hmm?" Jakotsu asked turning.
"I told you, it was up to you," He said with a smile. Jakotsu just nodded in reply.
"Hey, I can see the building's roof. Let's race the rest of the way." Bankotsu remarked, pointing to the silhouette of the building in the distance.
"You're on," Suikotsu replied.
"What do I get when I win?" Jakotsu asked with a smirk.
"Doesn't matter, because neither of you are going to win," Bankotsu said as he started off running.
Shifting the Jakotsutou on his back, Jakotsu ran off after him, "Hey! That's cheating!"
Suikotsu just shook his head, and followed, "You're both cheating, so I should win by default!"
After stumbling their way over various tree roots and fallen limbs, the three members of the Shichinin-tai made their way back to the building. Once the sake was located, Bankotsu pulled out some cups and sat down out on the porch.
"Okay guys, whoever wants to hear this legend I heard from a true warrior named Katsuro, sit down now, grab some sake, and I'll start the story." He said, as the others gathered around.
Jakotsu sat close to his left side, Suikotsu and Mukotsu sat off to the right side, and Kyoukotsu sat on the ground next to the porch. Apparently Renkotsu had gone off into the other area of the forest with Ginkotsu, and from the explosions heard every few minutes, it was decided they were still out there trying out the new blades and cannons.
Bankotsu took a few drinks of the sake, and then, began the tale. "A long time ago, there was a noble swordsman who started off on a journey. Now this man fought alone, but he had a worthy goal in sight…."
As the story was told, Jakotsu noted something different about Bankotsu. The smile on his face seemed a bit wider than before and his eyes didn't seem to hold as much sadness in them. With that in mind, Jakotsu decided he would have to thank Suikotsu for talking to him. Because sometimes, Jakotsu thought to himself, you just need a good friend to help you out.
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