It had been months since Bankotsu and Sango had last seen eachother, for the Inu-gumi was moving quickly upon hearing word of Naraku's barrier.
"Thank you for saving our village young warriors!"
Inuyasha only sneered, and began walking down the path ahead of his group.
"You're welcome, but may I ask you a question?" Kagome asked, a pleasant smile on her face.
The man also returned her smile, "Yes, anything."
"Do you know who Naraku is?"
The question lingered in the air for a while, the man looking uncertain.
"Yes, but I don't know if…well…you see…"
"Please kind sir, if you know anything about him, we would be most grateful if you told us."
'Yeah…especially since the demon they wanted us to attack broke my Hiraikotsu in half!' Sango thought angrily. Without her main weapon, she almost felt naked.
The man looked at the remaining group; Inuyasha was still walking further along the path. Shifty eyed, he replied in a hush voice.
"There is a rumor of an old riddle that an old witch used to say. If you find the riddle, the riddle will help you."
"How would it help us?" Miroku asked curiously.
"And what exactly is this rumored riddle?" Sango spoke, harshly than she meant to spit out.
But the man ignored her tone and looked from side to side, "As I said, the riddle was rumored to help you find a great evil. But you must go somewhere else to find it—"
The man choked as Inuyasha, who had heard the conversation with a twitch of his ear and came jumping back, grabbing him by the collar of his robes. "Tell us the riddle, you old man."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled, but he ignored it.
"Tell me!"
The man brought his hands up in defense, "Alright, alright…"
Inuyasha dropped him, ever so roughly.
"It goes like this, and I won't repeat myself!
The being behind evil,
Will be sought by Used and Pure Hearted,
His Last Word Lingering, Striving Life of Fear, and Her Hateful Love.
Travel backwards, where demise was feigned,
To find minions of the evil half parted.
Only after you separate, the good will from the bad,
Should the strength appear from behind the lake of the mad.
Things will be different, with similarities.
The hard things will be the easiest to find.
And then after, things will be horribly good, though the rarity.
In the end, never remember to look back into the future.
For the strength you seek, will be your weakness.
Look into the present, at a certain degree, I am sure."
And that's where they were now. Staring at a piece of parchment Kagome had written down the riddle on, staring at it in wonder.
They had figured out parts of it. Well, the easier parts.
Like the first line, they knew, meant Naraku. The fourth line, just meant to go back to where someone faked their death, or so says Kagome. And after she told us that, we all knew it meant the time when Naraku had faked his death to lure us away long enough to meet Kaguya. But the rest was just killing everyone's brain cells.
With a sigh, all members of the Inu-gumi disregarded the riddle and leaned back in defeat.
"This is impossible, I give up. Every word is so easy to understand; I just don't know what it's referring to!" Kagome cried, shoving the riddle into Miroku's hands. Quite frankly, even looking at the thing frustrated her.
Miroku, having the riddle stuffed in his hands, studied the riddle one last time.
Sango sighed heavily, "We didn't even get half of it, let alone 3 lines! How in hell are we going to find him any faster than we were finding him in the first place?" She raised her voice with almost every word, ending in a shout.
Inuyasha and Kagome were frightened slightly, Miroku always being on the end of her frustrations with his pesky hand, was used to it.
Now a days, it didn't take much to get her angry…even Inuyasha seemed scared.
No one really had an idea of what happened to start her angry chain of arguments, they had all thought she would feel better after those nights in the hot spring. Especially when she swore she didn't care for Miroku anymore even after he had announced his love for his woman.
But honestly, all nirvana was forgotten when she returned to camp that day, only to see the group talking together. Inuyasha had a hysterical look on his face, and was definitely yelling. While Kagome feigned contentment. Miroku looked sheepish, as he held a young woman in his arms, she looked asleep.
Sango heard the conversation, if you could even call it that, as she made her way towards them in curiosity.
"Please Inuyasha, I had finally gotten her to sleep. She was so helpless when she lost them…please Inuyasha, what will she do?" Miroku begged, his sheepish look fading as Inuyasha's face hardened.
Kagome sighed ruefully. "He's right Inuyasha, just let the poor girl—"
"LIKE HELL! What can she do? We don't need ANOTHER woman walking around with us defenseless!"
Her breath was caught in her throat as Sango stopped walking upon hearing Inuyasha. No one seemed to notice her yet. But that was hard to believe, for Inuyasha had a sensitive nose.
Kagome's eye narrowed dangerously. "I am not defenseless!"
Ignoring her last sentence, Inuyasha turned his attention back to Miroku who was pleading with him once again.
"I will do everything to keep her from getting hurt. She will not be any trouble to anyone here. Please Inuyasha…" Miroku looked down at her peaceful face as she slumbered. Moving a piece of her hair out of her lovely face, he whispered, "She has lost everything."
Miroku then looked up at Inuyasha, a harsh look on his once soft face. "I will not leave her to be alone, Inuyasha."
While that was occurring, Sango had continued her walk over to the now silent group. Miroku and Inuyasha were glaring eachother as Kagome looked up at Sango surprised.
"Sango…"
"I'm fine." Sango whispered, looking down at the futuristic Miko.
Kagome studied her face, even as Sango looked away. She had said the same thing before, when it was obvious she was not fine.
Looking at the woman in Miroku's arms, Sango couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. She was…unbelievable. It was as if someone had drawn her perfectly. Her long hair was tied into a bun, which even now as some hairs were no longer in the bun hung loose, still looked perfect. Her lips were a perfect shade of pink, no paint applied. They were pouted, but something told Sango that's just how they were made. Her long lashes were swept up slowly as the woman awoke.
"Miroku?"
Her voice was melodic. Sango knew she would be lulled to sleep if she had just sung one note.
The woman, upon catching Miroku's attention, grabbed onto his robes as she hoisted herself up into a sitting position.
Her skin was very light, a factor men loved in a woman; light skin. And her skin was smooth, Sango could tell as the fire danced off it. Sango bet she had never received one hurtful scar in her life. She would never have to be able to remember anything wrong, anything horrible.
"Yunai, you have awoken." Miroku greeted.
'What a beautiful name', Sango thought.
Yunai smiled her eyes twinkled such a loving shade of dark grey.
Miroku then looked Inuyasha, pleading him.
Inuyasha only scoffed, and walked off, regarding Sango for the slightest moment.
"Yunai? What a lovely name." Kagome smiled.
"Thank you."
"I am Kagome; Inuyasha was the one who had just walked off. The little kitsune who is sleeping next to the large cat is Shippou, while the large cat is Sango's. He name is Kirara." Kagome introduced.
"And I am Sango." Sango also smiled, not as wide as Kagome's she had to admit.
Miroku smiled at Sango. She was trying her best. He knew what he had done. He knew it all, and yet he still continued. Why? Neither did he know, nor want to know. What he did was disgusting, and he knew it. But he had been such in the spur of the moment with Yunai, he wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop.
Yunai smiled politely. "Nice to meet you all."
Later, Sango had found out her family had died gradually through her life, and she had no one but Miroku. Did he feel guilt for that woman? Did he feel responsibility over the child in her womb? Sango wished those were the reasons, even if it was shallow to think so. But no, they were not. He loved her. And that was that. Eventually she'd get over it, and she could on with her life.
Sango sighed again at the faces she was getting from Inuyasha and Kagome, and turned away. She was becoming strange, and she knew it.
"I'm sorry..." Sango couldn't say she was still upset everytime she woke up to see that Yunai had not been a dream. She couldn't admit that seeing Yunai just wanted to make her strangle her. No, she couldn't say either. She'd have to make something up. "…It's just…I thought we'd be getting closer to seeing Kohaku. Especially since there was word of him near that village we came from…I'm sorry. His last word, ane-ue…I just can't stop thinking about it. It lingers in my head so often…I just--"
Kagome patted her back, "No need for explanations Sango. We understand."
Yunai, who had been hugging Miroku's arm as well as looking at the riddle, gasped. Her gaze shot up at Sango, "What did you just say?"
The group was quiet, even Miroku was staring at his Koishii.
"Did you just say…" Yunai sat up, grabbing the riddle from Miroku's hand and pointing at a line.
She started to read it. "The being behind evil, will be sought by Used and Pure Hearted, His Last Word Lingering, Striving Life of Fear, and Her Hateful Love."
"Yes. Thank you for reminding us of that forsaken riddle." Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"No, I mean look at this part…" Yunai scooted next to Kagome and showed her. "The being behind evil, will be sought by—" She skipped one part and went straight to, "His Last Word Lingering."
Finally, someone got it.
Kagome gasped then showed Sango. "Sango! That's you! They mean you! His Last Word Lingering…Kohaku's last word is lingering inside you. When he called you sister…"
"That's..." Sango suddenly felt guilty. She knew she should have never made up a lie. But was it really a lie? It was true for one part—Kohaku's last word is still echoing inside her.
"Yes. And there are four of these, Used and Pure Hearted, His Last Word Lingering, Striving Life of Fear, and Her Hateful Love." Yunai announced.
"Pure hearted…" Miroku recited, trying to figure out the first one.
Without hesitation Inuyasha pointed to Kagome. "It has to be Kagome."
Kagome turned to look at him, "Why me?"
Inuyasha stared at her incredulously, "You're a freakin' Miko!"
Sheepishly, Kagome smiled. "Oh yeah."
"And not only are you a Miko," Shippou joined in, "But you're Kikyou's reincarnation!"
"Yes, that's right. So Used and Pure hearted is Kagome." Miroku stated. "She's a priestess, giving her purity. But she is a reincarnation, meaning that her soul has already been used."
Kagome smiled widely as she clapped her hands, "We're finally getting somewhere!"
Sango looked over at Yunai, she was smart. Looking down at the riddle in her hands, she smiled. Well atleast one person in the group has to be. "Ok, what about, Striving Life of Fear."
The place went quiet, trees ruffling against eachother in the wind, becoming louder than anyone there.
"Well it has to be one of the boys…" Kagome replied slowly, eyeing both Miroku and Inuyasha.
Inuyasha caught her glance, "Keh! Like I actually fear anything!"
"That…that must be me." Miroku admitted hesitantly. "I guess, it fits me the most out of you all." Miroku stared down at the cursed hand, holding the family Kazaana. "I am always worried that the hole in my hand will swallow me whole. I…it's just kinda hard to forget. And sometimes, it's all I think about. My life is becoming based on this cursed hand." Miroku then smiled, "I guess you could say I have a striving life of fear."
Inuyasha nodded, "Told you it wasn't me."
"Well, then the last one has to be Inuyasha then…" Sango replied. "Her Hateful Love."
"Her Hateful Love?" Shippou asked.
"That's what it says."
Kagome glared, "I think we all know what that means. Right Inuyasha?"
Everyone turned to see Inuyasha frozen, eyes wide as he slowly nodded.
Sango also knew what they were talking about… 'Kikyo…'
There was a moment of silence before Kagome grasped the riddle, which Sango willingly passed over.
"Anyway, let's dumb it down a bit so we understand. So Naraku will be looked for by Me, Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha." She said in order. "So we should go back to where Naraku had faked his death. Where was that?"
"Mt. Fuji." Miroku answered for her.
"Yeah, so we need to go back to Mt. Fuji…" Kagome looked back down to see the next line of the riddle in her hand. "To find minions of the evil half parted."
"What the hell?" Inuyasha wondered aloud.
"Well there's only one way to find out." Sango said, standing up as she adjusted her new Hiraikotsu onto her back.
Inuyasha smirked, "That's the idea."
The rest of the group stood, taking their usual transportation methods. Inuyasha carried Kagome, while Shippou floated Sango on his back after he transformed into rather large bird; a pretty pink bow accompanied by his weird clothing. No less, he was a good ride.
Sango thought it would be better if Yunai and Miroku seated Kirara together, rather than She and Yunai, or worse, She and Miroku. That would just be awkward.
Sure, Kirara could carry three at a time. But she would get tired easier, in fact, that had happened once before. Inuyasha had gotten pretty irked for stopping early.
Bankotsu slashed at the nearby tree. He was alone. Again.
The tree fell with an enormous shake of the earth. "Damnit!"
Bankotsu threw his sword to the ground as he collapsed along with it, landing on his back.
His teeth were gritted, as well as a few angry tears brimming the outskirts of his lashes.
'Sango…'
Why had he believed her? Why had he even thought for a second that that could even be an option? Bankotsu scoffed, he knew no one would believe him. What the hell was wrong with her?
He remembers perfectly the events that had only happened a week ago. Was it a week? He couldn't tell. Time was no longer an issue. Nothing and no one, was no longer an issue. No one can make Bankotsu even stop and wonder why he was killing that person. For no reason, he had slaughtered many within the past week. But Bankotsu needed no reason. He needed no cause, no plan.
He was defenseless from the emotions that were taking over his body. It was not he, who was the murderer, but his anger; his wrath. No stopping, he had massacred 3 villages fully. No one was left. No one was there. And in the end, his was still alone.
Bankotsu turned on his side, staring ahead of him. Honestly, he wasn't even looking at the floor, or anything to precise. He was looking at something, without looking at it. He was letting his eyes rest, while his mind replayed the movie in his head.
The movie, was a horror. In this movie, he had recently told his Band of Four his plan. To kill Naraku. He had thought they would be happy—they were made to kill. The movie showed not happy, but three confused faces.
Bankotsu knew what they were thinking, 'kill their own ressurector?' He had tried to explain to them why this had to be done. He had even killed off a few Saimyosho to make his point clearer. Did they get it? He wanted life. And from what he was told, Naraku knew how. How to give life, after death. Was Sango lying? His mind was playing questions too fast for him to comprehend. But he ignored the, he trusted Sango like she had trusted him. After more explaining, Jakotsu had started his voicing skills.
"But Bankotsu…that's…that's imposs—" Jakotsu thought over his words to say to his oo-aniki. "I mean, we are living amongst the living right now, Bankotsu. What more could you want from the man who gave it to us?"
Renkotsu agreed much to his disliking. "What if we are not strong enough to even counter him?"
"I agree. I mean, he must be strong to want to resurrect the Band of Seven." Suikotsu voiced in.
"Sure, he was strong. He did resurrect us with strength and a plan, but Inuyasha dives recklessly in battle with us, killing off one of us; his brother killing the other, and the wolf-demon killing another! If anything, those three canines are much stronger than Naraku!"
The rest of his group stared wide-eyed at him. Had, their leader, Bankotsu actually compliment the three demons who killed of his own brothers?
"You're sick." Renkotsu replied nastily, finally willing enough strength to speak against Bankotsu. "Do what you want, but I shall not accompany you."
Suikotsu scoffed, but said nothing, and walked next to Renkotsu.
Bankotsu gritted his teeth, "Whatever." Bankotsu turned around, ready to walk away. "Come on Jakotsu."
Jakotsu's feet stayed planted to field's floor as Bankotsu kept walking.
Upon not hearing footsteps behind him, Bankotsu turned around to face Jakotsu. "Jakotsu?"
The movie had the image of a crestfallen elder brother, as he watched his best friend, his brother, his Jakotsu walk away from him.
Bankotsu sighed as he moved back onto his back. If only it were just a movie, and not a memory.
Later, he had found out that Renkotsu had killed off Suikotsu and Jakotsu quite dishonorably. As they slept, he used a knife to purge the jewel from their throats, and left them there to die bleeding.
Though both Suikotsu and Jakotsu had left him alone, he couldn't help but feel seething anger towards Renkotsu, and killed him off just as he had with Suikotsu and Jakotsu. Using their shards were…disrespectful and shameful. Instead, he had kept them inside his pocket in safe protection after fully disposing of Renkotsu's worthless clothes and body.
Bankotsu punched the ground beside him, "DAMNIT SANGO!" His breaths became shallow as he sat up, his head in his hands. "I'm alone again…and I have no one to blame but you."
NO! Bankotsu! Well, I'll just have to see what I feel like typing tomorrow. I have no idea what's gonna happen next, I'm just as in suspense as you all!
Sorry for the delayed updated by the way—you know how school works. The start of it, sucks.
Anyway—please review! I can't promise when the next update is going to be, so feel free to badger me as much as you like. Though it's the extremely supportive ones that actually make me open the damn Word and start typing. Then again, I might suck at writing, so it's whatever you want.
-Thx for the reviews I got for chp 5! Wow, I'm at 40…yeesh! I honestly didn't think I'd even get 20!
Thanx again,
Monica.
PS: I have abstolutly no idea what Mountain they were around/ or w.e. in the second movie...so i guessed! I know its not Mt Fuji, (but hey it might be!) and i know that they didnt actually fight Naraku and 'kill him' there either. I KNOW THAT! I KNOW that they fought him near some lake in a feild, or whatever. Just bare with me please, its a partail AU (did i mention that? If not, sorry.) And I KNOW thats not how Suikotsu died. So just..bare with me, ok? This is ALL for the plot of the story. Just...(sigh) dont angry at me.
