Kiri Sute Gomen

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Telepathy

Stressed

Kagome held her hands in front of her as she focused on the barrier. Maro attacked her again and the barrier flickered as it weakened. Bankotsu watched in interest, he had never really seen the true power of a Miko. The barrier vanished and Kagome was knocked a few feet away. She groaned and rubbed her aching head. Bankotsu stood to help her up and Maro glared him into the ground. Bankotsu sat back down with a huff and crossed his arms before he turned his head away and glared out of the corner of his eye.

"That was weak," Maro admonished.

"That was the best I had," Kagome whispered as he scoffed at her.

"You're powers are stronger then that," Maro stated as he shouted at her to get up again.

"That was all I had!" Kagome shouted as he prepared to attack.

"Then prepare to do better," Maro warned.

Kagome growled and threw up her barrier with a scowl. She could feel her ki quiver with each attack. Maro scowled at his student, she was only giving half of what she had. He soared into the air and raised the fan up into the sky. He twirled it until the sky turned black around him. Kagome's eyes widened with fear as she watched the lightening race towards her. She closed her eyes and steadied her barrier as it connected her. Kagome gritted her teeth as she stood against his attack. Sweat rolled down her forehead as she closed her eyes.

"You're weakening!" Maro warned her as he continued the attack.

"Great," Kagome mumbled as they barrier began to waver.

"This attack is not an illusion," Maro warned.

"Why are you pushing me so hard?" Kagome whispered as the energy from the lightening leaked through her barrier. It was only a matter of time before she lost her only protection.

"You have to learn," Maro whispered.

Kagome gritted her teeth and screamed as the lightening broke through. A flash of light covered the area as she screamed. Maro grimaced as he floated back down to the ground. Kagome was kneeling and her clothes were charcoaled from the strike. Bankotsu ran over to her and helped her up. Maro held the fan up and she realized what she had to learn. The lightening came back down from the sky and straight at Bankotsu. Kagome pushed Bankotsu behind and threw up another barrier. The lightening bounced off it and vanished. Maro grinned in triumph; she was finally getting somewhere. He threw the leaf to the ground and pulled out a metal Tessen.

Kagome watched as lightening sparked on the metal and she could feel his ki rise. He swiped at her and she held up the barrier. The barrier collapsed as he it one more time. The metal bit into her skin and she gasped as she watched the blood leak to the ground. He brought the fan down once more in an attempt to knock her out. Bankotsu jumped in front of her and she watched as the fan bit into his arm. He didn't grimace as the metal made contact with body. A light flashed through the air and she could see some of his soul leaking.

"No!" Kagome shouted as she exploded with ki.

Maro grimaced as she released her purifying energy. Bankotsu sank to his knees as Kagome ran her hand over the wound. Her eyes filled with tears as her blood dripped onto his fake skin. Her fingers felt around the wound and she had learned her first lesson.

'He's like a broken dish.'

Maro watched as he shook off the purifying energy. He needed her to realize that no matter how much she cared for that abomination, he would never be human. Kagome held her hand over the wound knowing she couldn't heal him like a human or youkai.

'What am I supposed to do…seal him with clay?' Kagome thought with a dry laugh and sob.

"Don't cry," Bankotsu whispered as he held her.

Kagome sobbed harder as her hand fisted in the dirt. Her eyes widened in thought as she realized that everything was connected. She grabbed a fist of dirt on held it in between her hands. Maro watched her in confusion as she placed the dirt on Bankotsu's arm. Kagome poured her ki into it and watched in glee as his arm reformed.

'She's still determined not to let him go,' Maro thought.

"You may rest for the rest of the day," Maro offered as he walked back.

"Gee, thanks," Kagome growled.

Bankotsu picked her up bridal style and she yelped. He gave her a boyish grin and she blushed. Kagome laughed as he ran her back to her room. She grabbed a new outfit and some things to bathe with. Bankotsu raised an eyebrow at her supplies.

"I need to bathe," Kagome sighed.

"No you don't," Bankotsu whined.

"I look like an over cooked piece of meat!" Kagome growled as he smiled.

"So you're a little well done," Bankotsu shrugged as her left eye twitched.

"IGIT!" Kagome snapped as she chucked her soap at him.

Bankotsu fell backwards as the soap connected with his forehead. Kagome stepped over his form and continued on her way to the hot spring. Bankotsu rolled over onto his stomach and watched as she disappeared down the hall. Bankotsu smelled the soap and decided that he best take it to her. He stood up and dusted himself off before he followed her. Maro stood around the corner and Bankotsu glared at him. He didn't understand why the youkai hated him so much. Maro would already have been dead, but Kagome needed him in order to train. Bankotsu pushed his shoulder as he walked past him.

The youkai was definitely taller then him. Bankotsu only stood about four inches taller then Kagome. This youkai glared down at Bankotsu, and Bankotsu glared up while trying to remain intimidating. Maro stood three inches taller then Bankotsu. The youkai scoffed and returned his glare to a look of indifference.

"She will come to understand," Maro whispered to Bankotsu.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Bankotsu demanded as he stepped back in anger.

"You may have the soul of human, you may act and look human, but you will never be human," Maro calmly stated as he stepped back and turned to walk away.

"Is that why you hate me…because I'm not human?" Bankotsu scoffed as he watched the youkai. Maro tilted his head to the left and looked behind him at the man.

"I don't hate you. You would have to be alive in order for me to hate you. I just don't like the fact that you bother the living," Maro explained.

"I do not!" Bankotsu growled.

"You will make her miserable," Maro whispered. Bankotsu went still and his eyes widened. "She will slowly die inside because you can't give her anything."

"You're wrong! I'll give her the life she needs…wants!" Bankotsu firmly said.

"Death can only bring death," Maro stated as he left Bankotsu to his thoughts. "You're only a hindrance in her life."

Bankotsu gripped the soap tightly and felt itslip to the floor from his grip. His blue eyes gazed atthe soap as it hit the floor.

"Bankotsu," Kagome whispered as she came back into the hall. He gaze remained on the soap. Kagome softly frowned, but walked over to him and raised his gaze to hers. "Are you alright?"

"Peachy," Bankotsu sighed.

Kagome sat on the bridge and left her legs to swing in the air. Bankotsu sat next to her in his own silence. She couldn't decipher what his blank look and solemn mood was for. She sighed and reached out to grip his hand. His cool flesh met her warm one and she frowned. Bankotsu noticed her unease and moved his hand from her grip. Kagome's frown became a look of anger. She was angry at her reactions and his solemn attitude.

"What's wrong?" Kagome demanded more then asked.

He sighed and rolled his gaze to her. Kagome glared at him refusing to accept silence.

"What am I?" Bankotsu asked.

Kagome tensed and looked away with more unease. He noticed her thoughtful look and frowned.

"You're you, you're Bankotsu," Kagome assured.

"But I'm not alive, I'm not even alive in the sense that I'm resurrected," Bankotsu rambled.

Kagome took his hand and gave ita squeeze. She ignored how his skin was cool and no longer had the soft tan.

"You're alive to me," Kagome whispered.

"I'm a shadow of myself…how can you stand me?" Bankotsu asked.

"I…I care deeply for you," Kagome supplied.

"You can't love a corpse," Bankotsu joked and realized some truth.

Kagome ignored the last comment and turned her gaze back to the emerald rivers. The stars shined down and reflected off the water's surface. Kagome sighed and bit her lower lip, he was right in a sense.

"What was your dream?" Bankotsu asked. Kagome looked at him from the corner of her eye.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.

"When you were young…what was your dream?" Bankotsu asked. Kagome sighed with a smile and gazed back at the river.

"My dream…I also just wanted to live," Kagome responded.

"I imagined myself being a warrior with no limits," Bankotsu whispered.

"A few years ago I imagined myself marrying a man who loved me. And then I saw myself with his child," Kagome admitted.

"Do you want a child?" Bankotsu asked. Kagome wistfully smiled at the river.

"Even if I did, it would never happen," Kagome whispered.

Bankotsu sighed and gazed at the lonely river. He knew that she didn't mean anything by the last sentence, but he felt as if it was his fault. His fist clenched as he bit back the tears. He would never be able to give her a child; he could only bring death.

'You'll have your family,' Bankotsu silently promised.

He looked over at Kagome and their gazes locked. A smile reached her eyes and he was determined to give her what she wanted.

Author's Note:

The first new chapter for the new year...
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