Japanese word:

yunio- a Japanese engagement ceremony during which various symbolic gifts are exchanged.

Revised Edition with changed/added footage: 8-8-2006

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Chapter 25: Battle for Vengeance

Pain. Throbbing, intense, pain.

Renkotsu slowly opened his eyes, as if even that slight movement would only cause more injury to his sore body. Everything around him appeared as only as blurs of light and dark to his shattered mind.

"One second off..." He cursed himself, gently straining his neck to see if the intended target had indeed been eliminated.

His head thrummed, causing his eyes to lose their focus and leaving nothing but blackness in its wake. The explosive had gone off as planned, but there was one second in which Gatenmaru had struggled, that one second causing Renkotsu a delay in running and resulting in his limp figure on the ground now.

Feeling completely undignified laying like that in a pool of his own blood, he decided he would get up and walk to where the others were waiting. Simple as that.

Vision protesting its usage, and every muscle tense and raw with the pain searing into his veins, Renkotsu knew he was in no condition to be moving, let alone walking. But his pride was at stake and that was one thing he never gave up on.

Ignoring the screaming message not to move, he slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position; the one thing that could possibly outdo his pride, was beginning to win out. Frowning at the way his leg lay twisted in front of him, he knew without even further inspection- the verdict on his situation.

His leg was broken and possibly a few ribs. His outer body was cut, bruised and burnt severely. And he'd sent the only person that could have been around to help away. Reaching a hand up to wipe some of the blood from his face, his wavering vision fooled him into thinking he spotted a familiar figure headed towards him through the smoke.

"No. I ordered him away. He'll listen."

"Renkotsu no oo-aniki!" The metallic reverberation sounded in the voice.

"Gin…kotsu?" The man managed weakly.

"Aniki!"

The large man knelt quickly, gently gathering the man who'd saved his life years before against his body protectively.

"Put me down. I'll not be seen like this!" Renkotsu rasped; his voice beginning to feel as torn as his body was.

Knowing that an order like that meant he'd not given up hope, Ginkotsu smiled as best as his jaw would allow.

"Yesh. I understand. I'll just get you closer to the others. I think you broke your leg," He compromised, inwardly fully intending to carry him all the way back to the base if he had to.

Feeling the skin of his head lying against the cool metal armor of Ginkotsu's chest guard left the man with little choice in the matter.

"Fine. Just don't let the others see me like this. I'll walk once we get closer." Renkotsu barked out, his tone barely even above a whisper.

Nodding and hoping that it would appease the injured man, Ginkotsu looked over to the other fallen form.

"Renkotsu?"

"What is it?"

Squinting his one remaining eye, his red-hair sticking to his face with the onslaught of the rain, the tall metal-man examined the other figure on the ground.

"Can a youkai survive having a hole blasted in their chest?"

"That's utterly ridiculous. There's no way he could…" Renkotsu paused, his eyes following the same path that Ginkotsu's had.

His shirt gone and a large gaping hole on the side of his chest where the explosives had done their deed, by all means- any normal person would have been dead.

But Gatenmaru was no normal person- he was a full blooded youkai, and he was not about to let this get him down.

The rain was slowly washing the traces of blood away from the various cuts that lacerated his bared chest, but it didn't hinder him from beginning to reach out for his fallen weapon.

"Ginkotsu- leave me and go," Renkotsu's hushed voice said quickly, his eyes unable to look away from the half-dead youkai before them.

"But…Aniki…"

"Just go!"

Knowing it would indeed slow his escape; he pulled Renkotsu into his arms, balancing the weight against the cold metal of his left arm and began to run.

"Put me down!" The bald man protested.

"I'm sorry to disobey orders, but I cannot leave you to be killed."

Renkotsu's eyes hastily glanced back behind them, the shadowed figure finally standing and beginning to pull his weapon into his hands.

"He's going to attack. We're both…"

Looking up and locking a deadly gaze on the retreating figures, Gatenmaru seethed.

True, his body had already begun to heal itself; the benefits of his youkai strength coming into play just when he needed it to. Using that burst of energy to lift the axe up, his eyes narrowed into slits as he pulled his arm back and flung his large weapon forward. Whirling like a deadly wind, the axe spun towards the two figures. Its target easily in range, and his aim was dead-on. Soon, the weapon would taste the human blood it so desired.

Lightening crashed overhead, bringing the whole area into darkness before giving a brief glance of the oncoming figure. A loud clang was heard as the thunder's rumbles subsided, and the axe fell the ground.

Gatenmaru raised an eyebrow as he studied the newcomer to the scene.

"Ginkotsu- get Renkotsu to the forest edge where you entered from. Suikotsu is waiting with medicine," The figure's voice ordered, modulated and firm.

"Yesh, Oo-aniki," The large man replied without hesitation as he began to carry the injured commander off in that direction.

"Oh you've got to be joking. This puny little boy is their leader?" The moth youkai balked, trying to contain his laughter.

"I'll remind you that when this little boy hands you your ripped out heart," Bankotsu challenged.

Stretching as if the injures he'd sustained were nothing, Gatenmaru shrugged; "I suppose I should be thankful I had the pleasure of being with so many beautiful women before you all arrived."

The braided-man's eyes narrowed, already figuring that the women he spoke of had been eaten for power.

"If only I'd gotten to taste of that handsome black-haired one," He sneered, his voice mocking, "You're very lucky to have such a gorgeous 'woman' amongst your ranks, leader."

That was all it took for the young man's rage to hit its peak. He rushed forward, Banryuu swinging around and the point leveling at Gatenmaru's throat.

"Don't you ever talk about Jakotsu like that!" His voice yelled out over the booming thunder above them.

Smirking, the youkai quickly reached his hand out and grabbed Bankotsu's upper arm- slowly crushing it with his strength.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know he was your wife," He spat into Bankotsu's face as Banryuu's position wavered.

Deep blue eyes flashed for a second, before Bankotsu pulled away, wiping his face clean with his sleeve. His left arm hung limply for a moment, bones clearly broken.

Seething in silence, he defiantly smirked back, "You've gotten it all wrong, youkai. Neither of us is the wife," He rushed forward then, fighting against torn muscles and displaced bones as he lifted his left arm. Slicing downward, he left a noteworthy gash in Gatenmaru's shoulder before withdrawing back to a safe distance to continue his retort. Shaking his head as he noted the blood running down his blade, the young leader shrugged, "Though, it seems I might be giving him your head for a gift at the yunio."

Eyes shifting from his opponent to his waylaid weapon, the moth youkai gauged the distance, then smirked.

"The bonds of men these days. It never ceases to amuse me," He ran forward, headed directly towards Bankotsu, "Shall I make sure you're buried together then?"

Going to raise Banryuu to counter, he winced as his left arm continued to throb in pain.

"I can't make anymore mistakes. I can't lose to him."

Nimbly bringing his large halberd to a smooth twirl above his head with his right arm, he waited for the youkai to near him. When they were within a few feet of each other, he made his move, jumping upward, and lunging down towards Gatenmaru. The moth youkai dodged just in time, and spit out a strand of silk laced with acid in return.

"Shit!" Bankotsu cursed as one speck of the acid seared into his skin.

Wiping the scythe of his weapon against his pants, he raised it up and cut the chunk of skin away- not wanting to risk even that small bit spreading.

"You're smarter than you appear, human."

Raising his eyes to catch Gatenmaru's, Bankotsu's confidence didn't waver as he ran forward in a blur, his weapon drawing blood as he struck near the previous injury on the youkai's arm.

"I also don't let my guard down, youkai."

The two locked gazes, leveling their enemy up as they watched the other intensely.

"His reaction is slowing. His injures are affecting him more than he wants to let on. As long as I keep him away from his axe and avoid his acid, I can win this," The young leader thought as he observed the youkai's movements.

The gash on Gatenmaru's shoulder trickled blood down his arm, but it didn't seem to faze him in the least.

He moved then, the ground beneath his feet beginning to turn to mud as the rain continued to fall. Bankotsu followed, matching his speed then overtaking him- standing between the youkai and the fallen axe.

"Not so easy, is it?"

"Oh no, it's quite easy," Gatenmaru laughed, shooting strands of silk out from his mouth.

Seeing the white threads headed towards him, the braided-man dodged, but he hadn't moved in time. Held fast by the abnormally strong strings, his eyes tried to hide his panic. Tugging at where the strands clutched at his left side, his injured arm shot pains throughout his body as he attempted to shake the silk free.

The youkai sneered sadistically, knowing all to well that his powers would not be that easily thwarted. Stalking across the battlefield towards his prey, Gatenmaru licked his lips.

"I am awfully weak thanks to your pathetic attempts to kill me," He remarked regarding the injuries Mukotsu and Renkotsu's attacks had left on him, and the gash Bankotsu had made on his shoulder.

Reaching out, he cupped the young leader's chin in his hand, "With that long hair of yours boy, I might be able to pretend you're a lovely lady long enough to have a drink."

Opening his mouth, he began to lean towards Bankotsu's neck when he paused. Lurching forward, he began to cough up blood as he slumped to the ground.

Bankotsu drew back the lower scythe of Banryuu from where it had impaled the youkai near the earlier chest wound. He shook slightly in repulsion of what could have happened had that not worked.

Realizing that time was of the essence, he pulled his blade up and carefully cut free the fabric and small sections of skin that the silk held to.

His left side completely ravaged, blood ran down his limp arm in rivulets- creating a pool beneath his hand on the ground.

"That was too close. I've got to…" His gasps for breath increased as he moved further away from the youkai, "I've got to finish him off, soon."

Looking up to the pouring skies, Bankotsu closed his eyes for a brief second and let the rain play upon his face.

"I'm fighting for all of them, for what this monster has done to my family."

Blue eyes opening in narrowed slits, the young man let his anger course through his veins.

"I can't hold back anything. I have to win this. I have to be strong."

Clutching the hilt of Banryuu tightly, he ignored the sharp pains from his left side and steadied his grip.

"I promised him I'd come back alive. And I intend to keep that promise."

Energy from the depths of his reserves came forth, allowing his attack to come into play. Dashing forward at a speed that would seem but a blur, his eyes were locked on the youkai and his body was poised for the kill.

Slicing downward the blade met the slosh of the mud, sending it spattering up into his face. He yielded naught, and continued his pursuit- eyes tracking the youkai through the rain's curtain of darkness. The game was fast paced- the human relentlessly driving the youkai back with a strength that seemed endless.

Finally regaining his own powers, Gatenmaru began the counterattack; poisonous salvia being shot forth- aimed like deadly projectiles through the air with a target of human flesh in sight.

Each fighter left their marks towards victory in blood on the other man's body. Cut after cut, raindrops of acid searing into flesh and being cut away in haste. Throughout- the ground beneath them was slowly being dyed red.

Pausing, the man and the youkai were both nearing their breaking points; loss of blood and weakened stamina causing both of them to halt their attacks to catch their breath.

Carefully watching Gatenmaru, Bankotsu quickly glanced down to assess his own situation. His clothing was torn, part of his armor had been cracked closer to his heart than he would have liked, and the white of his shirt was becoming crimson.

Bracing himself with his blade, he stumbled forward- thrusting Banryuu into the muddy grounds to act as his support.

Seeing his opportunity as the other man faltered, Gatenmaru used his remaining strength to retrieve his fallen axe. Gripping its handle firmly, the moth youkai turned towards the human.

"I commend you for not boring me completely, but I'm tired of playing little boy."

He rushed forward, axe raised and aimed directly for Bankotsu.

"Please Banryuu, help me," The silent prayer went forth as he grasped the hilt firmly and pulled his blade up to meet the axe.

A loud clang resounded across the battlefield as blade met blade- each testing the other's forgery to the limit. Bankotsu leveled a deadly gaze over the two opposing weapons.

"I'm not a little boy anymore, youkai," He focused his strength into his right arm and pushed- causing Gatenmaru to stumble backwards.

Pointing Banryuu's tip at the youkai's throat, Bankotsu continued.

"You are fighting a man."

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