"Talking"
'Thinking'
StressedIt had been two days since Kagome had met Bankotsu and accepted his challenge. The young man in question stood at the far edge of the Eastern Kamaitachi village. He wondered how the Miko would find him. A smile crossed his face as he thought about all the challenges he could give her. She would do them too; all he had to do was taunt her enough. A snap caught his attention and he turned to find the Miko in question coming out of the woods. She wore a simple blue Hakama and matching Haori. He looked down at her shoes in question. He had never seen anything like them.
"There gym shoes, from my village," Kagome answered his questioning gaze.
"Whatever," Bankotsu mumbled.
"I need to lay down a few rules," Kagome began. Bankotsu rolled his eyes and waited for the hour long lecture. "I won't kill."
"That's it?" Bankotsu asked in surprise. Kagome nodded and he smirked.
"Tonight I am going to teach you about wealth and farming," Bankotsu stated as he began to walk off.
"Are we going to plant a garden?" Kagome sarcastically asked.
"You are truly rich when you are happy," Bankotsu explained.
"What about the farming?" Kagome asked.
"You are also happy when you are not starving," Bankotsu explained as his stomach made a sound of agreement.
Kagome shook her head and followed him despite the stomach noises. They walked a good two miles before they reached a village. Bankotsu pointed out the different crops and Kagome listened. He then pointed to certain tomato stalks.
"What are we doing here?" Kagome whispered.
"Getting me a snack," Bankotsu replied.
"I'm not stealing…for you!" Kagome growled.
"Part of life is taking risks," Bankotsu informed.
Kagome glared at him and he grabbed her arm and pushed her. Kagome squeaked as she went rolling down the hill and into the crop field. She sat up and ran into the stalks for cover. Kagome silently mocked Bankotsu as she stared at the tomatoes. Nothing in her Miko training advised against stealing. She supposed that rule was common sense. Kagome picked out a tomato and noticed Bankotsu staring off into space. She looked to the tomato and then to him with a dark smirk
Splat
"HEY!" Bankotsu shouted.
"Oh shit," Kagome mumbled as she watched a man come out of his hut.
Kagome grabbed two tomatoes and took off running up the hill. Bankotsu glared at her and grabbed her arm so she couldn't run. He didn't seem to notice the man coming towards them. Kagome growled and pulled him along until they reached a clearing. Kagome wiped the tomato from his face and heard footsteps. Bankotsu finally noticed the steps and went to look around the tree. Kagome grabbed his braid and pulled him down to her level.
"Not the hair-"
Before he could protest, Kagome pressed her lips against his. She was nervous and beginning to sweat. She pushed Bankotsu against the tree and moved her hands to his shoulders. His eyes were open and shocked. The man stepped around the tree as Bankotsu relaxed and moved his hands down her body and to her hips. Kagome bit his lip softly and giggled.
'Such soft lips,' Kagome thought.
"Hey you two!" The man shouted.
Kagome jumped away and acted shy. The man glared at the two. His glare settled on Bankotsu as the said man leaned against the tree with a goofy grin. Kagome's face was turning a pure red as the man fixed a firm gaze on the two.
"What are you two doing out here this late?" The man suspiciously asked.
"My intended and I were taking a walk," Kagome timidly said.
"Did you see anybody run by?" The man asked.
"I saw a young boy run that way," Kagome lied as she pointed.
"Get back home," the man growled.
Kagome grinned as she watched the man walk away. Her heart was pounding and she was scared and excited at the same time. She turned to Bankotsu and grinned at him. He still had a dazed look on his face and Kagome wondered why. She snapped her fingers in front of him and he looked over at her.
"Yeah?" He questioned.
"That was so much fun!" Kagome squeaked.
'The kiss?' Bankotsu thought.
"I've never done anything so fun!" Kagome explained in glee. Bankotsu grinned at her.
"It wasn't that great," Bankotsu replied as he slightly blushed.
"I know stealing tomatoes isn't that great, but it was fun," Kagome admitted.
'It was the thrill of getting caught. I wonder what I would be doing if I was still in my time,' Kagome pondered.
"Oh," Bankotsu replied.
"What will we do next?" Kagome asked.
'She wasn't talking about the kiss,' Bankotsu thought.
"Bankotsu?" Kagome asked in worry.
"I used to do this one thing as a kid…and I thought you might enjoy it," Bankotsu explained.
"Really? What?" Kagome asked with a smile.
"It's a secret, I'll take you tomorrow," Bankotsu promised.
"What to do now," Kagome wondered.
"Let's get you back," Bankotsu suggested.
"Alright," Kagome sighed.
Bankotsu and her began to walk back to the village. He looked at her from the corner of his eye and stared at her. She wasn't that bad looking for a woman. Bankotsu looked away with a stubborn glare. He looked back at her and noted that she was actually fun when she relaxed. Bankotsu mentally growled and looked away again. He stared at the trees before his eyes strayed back to her. Her lips were soft and tasted like honey. His eyes widened and he looked away with a blush. They arrived at the edge of the village and Kagome grinned as she turned to him
"Thank you for taking me out," Kagome whispered as she slightly bowed and ran off.
"No problem," he mumbled as he watched her run off. "No problem at all."
The sun rose and the light gently danced across the tired Miko's face. She growled as she rolled over and pulled the sheet over her head. A sudden giggle made her eyes snap open. Her pupils thinned as she heard the giggle again. She wanted to yell at them to get out but decided against it. She groaned that she was awake and sat up. Shippo ran up to her and hugged her as she stretched. Kagome smiled and patted his head. Shippo snuggled into her and started to sniff. Kagome froze as his little nose sniffed quicker.
"You smell like tomatoes," Shippo commented.
"I ate some tomatoes before I went to bed," Kagome explained as she picked Shippo off her lap.
She shooed him out the door so she could get changed. Kagome quickly put on her Chihaya and slipped on the Zori. She pulled her hair back with a ribbon and smiled at the simplicity of her outfit. Kagome made sure she had her beads with her before she left the hut. Kouga was standing outside the hut with a bored look. Kagome walked over to him and smiled.
"Morning," Kagome happily greeted.
"Morning," Kouga responded with a yawn. Shippo ran out of the hut and jumped on Kouga's head. Kouga looked up and saw the kit perched. Deciding to ignore the kit, he looked out over the village.
"I've never done something like this before," Kagome commented.
"Just walk around," Kouga grunted.
"Watch the people go about their life," Shippo suggested.
"Good idea Shippo," Kagome said as she walked off.
"Go with her," Shippo whined as he pulled on Kouga's bangs.
"Watch it kit," Kouga growled.
"Kagome says you're a big softie," Shippo stated as he stuck his tongue out.
Kouga growled at the kit before sighing and rolling his eyes. He walked off after Kagome and found her watching Kamaitachi train with their sickles. The instructor was yelling out orders and showing them a form. Kouga silently stood behind her as she watched the young children go through the motions. Kagome was surprised to find that the form wasn't anything that she saw before. She looked over at Kouga and saw him watching the young Kamaitachi with interest.
"Beautiful," Kagome mumbled as she watched the form. Each step was perfectly timed with a sickle motion.
"I've never seen this type of form," Kouga admitted.
"We developed our own technique over the years," Tachi explained as he came up to the two.
"I noticed your form focuses on timing the sickle with your movement," Kagome stated as she looked over at Tachi.
"We train the children at a young age so they can move like that as adults. They have to be able to keep their footing and work their weapon at the same time," Tachi explained.
"Perfect that technique and you never have to stay in one place to long, you can just constantly attack," Kagome muttered.
"We also have to build up endurance, agility, and hand-eye movement," Tachi added.
"Do you teach any defense?" Kouga asked.
"We teach a bit of defense, but our offense is almost perfect," Tachi proudly said.
"One sickle to attack and the other to block?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah, when you swing with the sickle it leaves your stomach and chest open to attack," Tachi pointed out.
"I wanna learn to fight," Shippo voiced. Kagome looked up to Shippo and smiled.
"You do have to learn to defend yourself," Kagome agreed with a worried look.
"He can join in," Tachi offered.
"I don't want to leave him alone," Kagome mumbled. Shippo blushed and sighed.
"Come on," Shippo pleaded.
"He'll be safe," Tachi assured.
"If he'll be safe," Kagome warned.
Tachi walked Shippo over to the instructor and began to talk to him. The instructor nodded as he looked to Shippo. The children stopped to stare at Shippo. He was much shorter then them. He had grown up to Kagome's lower hip. Tachi nodded and reached into his belt. He handed Shippo his two scythes and smiled. Shippo protested against it. Tachi insisted and Shippo took the two scythes with a deep bow. The instructor pointed out a spot for Shippo to go to.
Kagome smiled and watched Shippo practice with the other children. It was good that he was around other youkai. He needed to learn their ways. Kagome knew there would be some things she could never teach him. She one time thought that Inuyasha would teach him the things he need to know about defense, youkai, and much more. That wasn't a possibility anymore. She wouldn't deny Shippo his youkai heritage anymore then would deny him leaving her. Kouga tapped her on the arm and they decided to leave him to his business.
"Do you think he'll be safe?" Kagome asked. Kouga laughed at her and nodded.
"If he's anything like you…then he'll be safe," Kouga assured.
"If he's anything like me then he'll be getting kidnapped any minute," Kagome dryly said.
Kouga let out a loud laughed and muttered a true. Kagome softly punched him in the shoulder and they let Tachi led them to their next stop. She was surprised to be taken to their farmlands. Most of the weasels worked together in harvesting. The woman harvested the food and the men carried the huge loads. Kagome watched this for a few seconds before she began to get bored. She let her mind wander as Tachi explained some random things. Her mind wandered to her time with Bankotsu.
'It was so much fun…I've never done anything that childish,' Kagome thought. Her thoughts continued as Tachi rambled.
'Oh Kami! I kissed him!' Kagome finally realized what had happened.
Kouga sensed her sudden tension and elbowed her. He leaned over and asked if she was okay. Kagome remained lost in thought.
'Why the hell did I do that? We could've outran him,' Kagome reasoned. 'What if he thinks I like him now?' Kagome's eyes darted around to make sure no one was listening to her thoughts. She scolded herself for being paranoid.
'It was just a simple kiss…nothing more,' Kagome assured herself.
"Are you alright?" Kouga whispered to her.
"Peachy," Kagome assured as her face turned pink.
'First he sees me naked and then I go and kiss him…what next?' Kagome sardonically wondered.
Author's Note:
Thanks to everyone for reviewing! I love reading them and answering any questions.
My brain went on strike at the last minute so I couldn't think of something to do, but I wanted to get the idea of a relationship planted into Bankotsu's mind. Oh! and no Tomatos were harmed during this chapter
I've had two people ask me to add Kouga into the Kag and Ban relationship. I wanted to make this strictly Kag and Ban, but maybe some time in the future I might have a pairing like that. I'm not very experienced in writing a threesome pairing, never tried it