Hey guys. Sorry this chapter is a little short, but for those of you who like jealousy and tension and between guys, this is a pretty good start!

Chapter 18: Hiten

Bankotsu and the others were waiting for Sango at the campfire that night. Everyone else was happily slurping away at their soup. Only Bankotsu's soup was left sitting there. He was too anxious to eat. Sango was taking an awfully long time.

Bankotsu sighed with relief when Sango emerged at the door. But when he saw Hiten, he wasn't all that cheerful.

Bankotsu stood up wearily, and raised the Bankotsu, ready to attack. He obviously wasn't too fond of this unexpected guest.

"Ah, you must the boyfriend." Hiten commented. "Relax, dude. I'm no threat to you… unless we're actually battling that is." He smirked.

Bankotsu sat back down, but still glared at Hiten. Sango sat down beside him and sighed.

"Well?" she asked.

"Well what?" Hiten asked looking confused.

"You said that you wanted to talk to the leader. Well, here he is." Sango said, nodding to Bankotsu.

"Oh, right…" Hiten replied. Then he noticed some food in the pot. "After supper." He declared. "Babe, pass me the sake, would ya?" he motioned to the big bucket sitting beside her. Sango sighed and passed it to him without saying anything.

Bankotsu could feel anger build up inside him. He really didn't like this guy calling his girlfriend "babe"; in fact, he didn't like this guy at all!

Sango, not feeling very hungry, stood up and headed towards her room. She really wasn't interested in being around Hiten. Who did he think he was, anyway? Calling her "babe" like that. It really ticked her off.

But she couldn't help feel a little bit flattered by it. No guy ever complimented her so much, not even Bankotsu. They seemed to be pouring out of Hiten's mouth on the way to the castle. But, she figured, he was probably just sucking up to her. But even still…

Bankotsu opened the door and sat beside her. He almost had a worried expression on his face. "Hey, Sango?"

"Yeah?" Sango replied. "Is something wrong?

Bankotsu hesitated. "Well, you don't have feelings for Hiten do you?" he clamped his eyes shut, knowing that it was a stupid question. But he had to know.

Sango stared at him in shock. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Of course not!" she assured him. "What's there to like? He's kind of a freak if you ask me."

But Bankotsu wasn't to convinced. "Then, why does he call you 'babe'?"

Sango shrugged. "I don't know. Why don't you ask him that yourself? I think he's just sucking up, but that's just my opinion…' Sango recalled that Hiten had called her other names too. Like "cutie" and stuff like that. I probably shouldn't tell Bankotsu that, Sango thought to herself, I don't want Hiten to become more of a threat than he already is.

After a few moments of silence, Bankotsu kissed her goodnight and went to his room.

Sango lied down in her bed and put all her thoughts behind her as she drifted off to sleep.

Well? What do you think? R&R please!