Revised Edition with changed/added footage: 8-8-2006
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Chapter 22: What Can't Be Left Behind
The decimated village had a few places left to hide as the fires spread, destroying the huts and bodies that remained. Luckily for the Shichinin-tai's poison user, this was in the advantage. His vision wasn't at its best, due in part to the blow to his head and the blood it has caused to run down his face; but when looking for a figure as large Kyoukotsu, a little blurriness wasn't an issue.
Not too far off, the giant man was lifting up debris searching for the very man that was headed in his direction. Catching the slight movement out of his peripheral vision, he clutched one of the beams in his hand tighter not knowing if it was friend or foe that approached.
"Kyoukotsu!" The figure called out on seeing the teal-haired giant.
"Mukotsu," He sat down the beam and took a few steps before crouching down to see the injured poison user.
"The youkai's still alive. We've got to retreat."
Nodding in understanding, he gently cradled Mukotsu in his large hands.
"Kyoukotsu- what are you…"
"Mukotsu is hurt. We need to get you to Renkotsu no aniki."
Smiling his lop-sided toothy grin, Mukotsu silently thanked the gods for leading him to his large comrade in time.
"Thank you, Kyoukotsu," He murmured before letting the blurriness and dizziness overtake him as he fell unconscious.
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Shifting slightly, but trying his best not to disturb the one resting in his arms, Bankotsu looked over at Suikotsu as he sat beside them.
"Suikotsu, you think the others have a chance?" He asked, attempting to mask the worry in his voice.
Not wanting to sugar-coat the answer or just be blunt, Suikotsu attempted to explain, "We've fought lots of people: samurai called the best in their class easily taken down by us in no time, and even a few youkai now and then- but, this youkai is different. Injured or not, for someone to best Jakotsu so easily…well, it's not a good sign. Even I had trouble trying to ward him off, so it's not a matter of long-range or short-range attacks either. That youkai…well, he could…"
"Defeat the others, right?" Bankotsu interjected.
Solemnly, the brown-haired man nodded, "I'm afraid so, Oo-aniki."
A deep frown drew itself across Bankotsu's features as his mind took in all the information.
After a moment in silence, he spoke up, "Can we go to help them?"
"Well, I'm sure Jakotsu will be fine resting here."
Bankotsu's eyes took on a serious edge as he cut the man off, "Can we take him with us safely?"
A bit thrown by the question, Suikotsu replied, "I don't know if we should. He's been through a lot and..."
Leveling him with a glare, the black-haired leader interrupted, "I asked- is it safe or not."
Seeing the expression Bankotsu had, Suikotsu realized what must be going through his mind.
"You never truly grow up until you're forced into a situation you don't want to be in. He's lost his family once, and now that it's threatened again, he'll have to fight and he knows that. But as for his heart, he won't leave Jakotsu behind."
Finally answering the pending question, Suikotsu placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, "If he was carried and didn't walk himself- he'll hopefully be all right."
"Then it's settled," Bankotsu said firmly, beginning to gently pry himself from Jakotsu's grasp.
"Oo-aniki?"
"We're going after the others. All three of us," He stated, his eyes holding a level of determination that Suikotsu had never seen on him before.
"And it's when situations like this occur that a boy becomes a man," Suikotsu thought to himself as he watched the braided-boy gathering up his armor.
"Grab up some of that medicine in case the others need it. I'll carry Jakotsu."
Wanting to make sure it wasn't just a half-baked plan; the brown-haired man stood and placed a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder, "Are you sure about this, Oo-aniki?"
"I can't risk loosing anyone. I'm not letting anyone die because of some measly youkai!"
"Oo-aniki…"
"That youkai might have had others that are after us. If I leave Jakotsu or you two here alone, they might attack and I wouldn't be here to help. If we stick together, I can fight for all of you."
Suikotsu smiled in understanding, patting the headstrong young man on the shoulder, "Now don't you go and take the whole world on your shoulders. All of us will keep on fighting until we can't fight anymore. Don't try and be a hero. Heroics will get you killed."
"Suikotsu?" He paused, his face softening as he took in the words of the elder man.
"Think about it. All those samurai we face- whoever tries to be a showoff and rushes headstrong into it is the first one to get killed. If they worked together…"
"Then they'd have a better chance at all surviving," Bankotsu finished.
"Exactly."
Hugging the taller man in a friendly gesture, Bankotsu laughed lightly to himself, "Thank you, Suikotsu. I swear you're like the older brother I've never had sometimes."
"Heh, you're going to make Jakotsu jealous if you act like this," He joked, smirk on his face.
Bankotsu pulled back and blinked, "Why would he be jealous? It's not like I haven't hugged you before."
Turning back towards the sleeping figure Suikotsu shrugged in reply, "You'll understand soon enough. Now we'd best get going. Who knows what trouble that damned youkai could be causing."
Nodding, Bankotsu finished tying his armor on and went to pick up Jakotsu's chest plate. He could see that the thought of battle was slowly pulling the darker side of Suikotsu out, and he made sure to keep him leveled, "Is there any other medical supplies you think we might need aside from the medication?"
Suikotsu frowned, thinking it over, "I'll take a few other things just in case."
"Jakotsu, oi- Jakotsu…"
"Hmmm?" The injured man slowly opened his eyes, blurrily bringing Bankotsu's form into focus.
"Come on, I need to get your armor back on."
"Wha…" Jakotsu asked yawning as he registered the braided-man's arms gently lifting him up a bit.
"I can't sit here and let the others get killed. And I can't leave you behind, so we're going to go to them. All of us."
Letting Bankotsu pull the yukata sleeves down and place the armor back on, Jakotsu rubbed at his eyes, "Is it okay if I move that much?"
"You aren't going to fight unless it's really desperate," Bankotsu said firmly, "But just in case, I'm getting your armor on."
"'kay…" He muttered, placing his arms around Bankotsu's neck as the young leader lifted him up.
Looking to Suikotsu as he secured his claws to his belt and tied a bundle with the medicine to his back, Bankotsu spoke up, "You think you can carry Banryuu?"
"What?"
"I don't want to have Jakotsu off balance."
Sighing, the brown-haired man mumbled, "I think I can, but I can't get Jakotsutou as well. You'll have to get that."
"All right," Bankotsu replied, shifting Jakotsu's weight in his arms so he could lift the waylaid sword from its place against the wall.
Suikotsu stepped over and helped the young man secure the weapon to his back; then he lifted up the large halberd, teetering under its weight before managing to balance it.
"We ready?"
"Yeah. That damned youkai is going to pay for the shit he's done," Bankotsu said, heading out through the shouji screen.
Jakotsu smiled on seeing the strong determination etched on the braided-man's face, "Mou…I wanna help kick his ass too. He called me a woman, and I still owe him for that."
Bankotsu laughed lightly to himself, "Sure thing Jakotsu. Once I rip his head off his body you can stab Jakotsutou through it. How does that suit you?"
Smirking, he patted the weapon on Bankotsu's back, "Sounds like fun to me."
Suikotsu shook his head as he followed the two into the forest. The clouds were holding back the rain at the moment, but it could begin at any second he figured. Looking to the two light-hearted men before him, he shrugged, "Like a little rain will dampen their spirits. As long as everyone of us lives through this, they'll have a blast."
Glancing down to the steel-claws tied to his waist, he smirked as well, "Well, not like I won't let myself have a little fun either."
And as the dark clouds continued to move in overhead, the three members of the Shichinin-tai made their way off towards the rest of the group.
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Making their way through the burnt out remains of the village, Renkotsu's frown deepened as he noticed Kyoukotsu coming towards him and Ginkotsu with an injured Mukotsu in hand.
"What happened?" He called up to the figure.
"Mukotsu's hurt. I think he was fighting that youkai."
Renkotsu nodded, and looked back to Ginkotsu, "Kyoukotsu- take him to the edge of the forest and wait for him to come to. Ginkotsu and I will take care of that youkai."
"Okay, Renkotsu no aniki," He replied, carrying the injured man off towards the trees in the distance.
Watching him go, Renkotsu looked over to his companion, "Ginkotsu, are you going to be able to handle this?"
Looking to his injured arm then back, he replied, "Yesh. I can't leave you alone."
"Loyalty like that will be the death of you," He replied, his tone partially joking.
"Gesh. I suppose so, Aniki."
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Walking through the forest in silence, Bankotsu looked down at the sleeping figure in his arms.
"Suikotsu?"
"Yes, Oo-aniki?" He sped his pace a bit so he could walk beside the young man.
"Am I stupid to be acting off of emotion like this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Jakotsu's injured, whether it's safe or not to move him- I'm taking him right back into danger. And I'm not going because I feel it's my duty to as the leader, but because…well…" He sighed to himself, "You guys are the only family I have and I don't want to lose my family again."
"Oo-aniki, I'm certain even the best samurai and warriors of all time have found themselves making decisions based off of something more than just tactics."
"But is it the right thing to do?"
"Who knows- to some what's right could be wrong and to others what's wrong could be right. All that matters is what you think."
"I…don't know."
"How have you fought up until now?" Suikotsu posed the question.
"Strategy, quick thinking and…"
"And?"
"And the desire to keep everyone of us safe," Bankotsu said quietly, thinking back on some of the crazy stunts all of them had pulled whenever another member was in danger.
"So sure- we've gotten hurt and had some close calls, but with that way of thinking we've continued to win. The Shichinin-tai are unstoppable, didn't you say?"
Confidence seeping back into his features, Bankotsu smirked, "Yeah. Let's just hope we stay that way."
Shifting Jakotsu a bit in his arms, the three kept walking onward towards the battlefield.
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Continuing through the village, the two members of the Shichinin-tai spotted the silhouette of Gatenmaru and his weapon through the smoke and flames left in Mukotsu's wake.Renkotsu rushed forward, wanting to get this over with soon, his hand quickly snatching the flask from his hip and bringing it to his lips. Drinking in the bitter flammable liquid, he blew it forth, singeing the already burnt Gatenmaru as he came to a halt in front of him.
"Bastard!" The youkai yelled, fighting his way through the flames and reaching up for his axe.
Pulling his cannon level on his shoulder, Renkotsu fired, watching as it hit the black-haired youkai straight on.
"Got him. That had to have gotten him," He said confidently.
As the smoke cleared, Renkotsu saw that not only was Gatenmaru still standing, but that he was smirking at him snidely. Pulling his weapon down off his shoulder, he swung the axe at the commander of the Shichinin-tai.
Dodging the blade, but not the complete swing, the handle of the axe connected with Renkotsu's stomach and he collapsed into it, the force sending him skidding backwards onto the ground. Wiping the dust from his face, he glared at the youkai who was towering above him.
"Oh my, did you fall? You humans can be so clumsy sometimes."
"Leave Renkotsu alone!" The metallic-laden voice yelled out as he released the blades from his back, watching as the wires entwined themselves around Gatenmaru's form.
"Ginkotsu, get back!" Renkotsu called out, knowing that with his other arm already injured, the red-haired man wouldn't have a chance.
Sadistic grin plastered on his face, Gatenmaru turned towards Ginkotsu, "You seem to forget what happened the last time you tried to face me."
Shooting forth the silk from his mouth once more, he easily trapped the metallic man within it. Then, with a shrug he snapped the wires that held him.
"Now now, which of you pathetic beings should I kill first? The idiotic one that dared think a cannon blast would finish me or his little friend?"
Thunder crashed from the clouds over head as a light rain began to fall on the battlefield, extinguishing the flames that remained. Renkotsu looked to Ginkotsu and then to his own position. He had to fight back- before it was too late for both of them.
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