"If I didn't save him I would have regretted it even more."

- Sango

The Darkness Within Our Hearts: Chapter 22 - Be My Eyes. Use My Life.

Bankotsu wondered if he even had that much time, before the poison spreads completely. He looked over to the raven haired samurai and grunted at her. "Well, what are you waiting for? Lead the way!" For a moment it was silent between the two and Bankotsu noticed Rei's eyes had completely gone blank, her eyes seemed so dull and drained of life and colour. Rei was shaking slightly as she brought her small hands to her face. Something was suspisiously strange in her behavior. "What's your problem now?"

Upon hearing his question, she hesitated for a second and stared lifelessly ahead...she didn't know how to say this. Lowering her head, staring down shamlessly she parted her rose lips and told him truth. "I'm...I'm blind...!"

It only took a moment for Bankotsu to comprehend what was the current situation, he took a step back and stared at her with wide eyes. "Blind? What do you mean blind!"

"What do think it means? I can't see!" She screamed, almost panicing from her suddenly blindness. It was all too strange, she could clearly could see before the light died before her and left her in total darkness. "It...it must be a side affect from the spider's poison. It's probably temporary blindness until I can find an antidote within the next few--"

Bankotsu's masculine voice quickly cut in. "Antidote? And where could that antidote be?" He asked in a demanding voice, for he too needed the anitdote before he could die from the poison from his wounded left arm. "Tell me or I'll--"

"Or you'll what?" Rei cut in just as he did before. "Would you kill me? And lose your chances of finding a cure? I don't think your THAT stupid, Bankotsu." What she said was true, Bankotsu almost puckered his lips out in stubborn-ness but gave up and cocked his head to the side, remaining silent to her. "We need...to find the Star Fruit of Heaven and Hell located around here. It's..." Rei whinced alittle, feeling a strange sensation surging through her body. "It's located in a cave somewhere...you'll find out we're there when...the scent in the air...becomes sweet..."

"..." Bankotsu remained silent and stared at Rei, quietly thinking to himself. "So...that's all there is to it, huh? Heh, I can just kill this wench and be on my way! After I get my hands on that fruit, I'll recover and kill Inuyasha!"

Thinking he got everything figured out, Bankotsu suddenly whinced and grunted in pain. Placing his right hand over his wounded arm and back the pain was becoming immeasureable from the poison. Plus the wound on his side from Rei earlier just added to everything that hurt. "Agh!" He grunted and fell to his knees, Rei could hear him but wasn't sure if he was alright, feeling concerned Rei couldn't help but wonder.

"Oy! Your not dying on me are you?" She asked trying to sound like she didn't care for him. "Hey--" Bankotsu fell back and absent-mindedly reached out and grabbed Rei's wrist and pulled, sending her forward and fall ontop of his chest. She could feel his hard body under her and couldn't help but blush. "W-wait a minute! What are you--"

"The poison!" He whispered in pain. "It's..."

He really was dying! And to think his poison spread faster then hers. "Just hold on...I'll...purifiy the poison...!"

Bankost whinced again and nodded, not that she could see what she was gonna deal with. She wouldn't really know where to heal. With that, Bankotsu sat up, sitting Rei up as well with him and opened his yukata revealing his bare tanned chest he pulled the cloth off his shoulders but still kept it on all the same, enough to reveal the wound on his back, arm, and side. He then grabbed both of Rei's arms and hauled her forward again, placing her hands on his strong arm and hard back; where most of the poison was delt.

"Here! Now...heal it..!" He whimpered slightly from human contact to the wounds, the wound felt like it was on fire or being slowly pulled open with thorny sticks.

Rei nodded and sat up on her knees. She re-adjusted her arms into a more comfortable healing position; having her right hand over his wounded left arm and her other arm loop around him to reach his back. Closing her dull magenta eyes, Rei concentrated her powers and her hands began to glow with a faint colour of pink. That energy was poured over Bankotsu's wounds as they began to slowly heal and close.

As Rei had embraced his wounds, Bankotsu slowly opened his eyes. "What is this...feeling?" He thought to himself. "It's like she's pouring new life into me...I'm feeling better by the second!" He looked up to see the raven haired mistress deep in concentration, and in a way...she was half hugging him. Not, that he cared very much how close this girl was. And it's not that he thought she was ugly or anything she was rather beautiful, but she wasn't exactly feminine either...her attitude didn't match the way she looked. She acted more like a boy then anything else! Now that Bankotsu thought of it...he never exactly got a good look at her, they were always fighting each other so he never noticed. "She's..."

Time felt like it stopped for a moment before the pink light died out and Rei collasped from exhaustion. She unwrapped her arms from around him and fell on her knees and gasped for air. Bankotsu blinked and looked at his body, all his wounds have healed, he felt great and light as a feather! Bankotsu stood up and examined his body one last time before wrapping it up in his yukata once again. "Amazing...I had no idea she had this kind of power..." Rei, oh yes! He looked at the kneeling girl...she did just willingly saved his life...even if they were enemies. Bankostu regained his focus and turned away from her and he fixed his yukata, trying to give off the cool guy act.

"Hmph, well, I appreciate the help...even though I didn't need it." He looked at her from the corner of his eye, she still looked exhausted from the healing, he figured it took alot of her energy. "But I won't say thank you...!" Boy, he was stubborn. "it was your own choice to help me..."

Don't need my help, my ass! Bankotsu was dying! But Rei decided not to argue on this one...it was too stupid. "Your...welcome..." She said dully before closing her eyes and taking in deep breaths. "But...I couldn't get rid of all the poison in your body, so some remain." She spoke softly. "...!" She then heard Bankotsu approach her, making her re-open her eyes, not that she could see what he was gonna do.

Suddenly, Rei felt his arms swoop around her back and the other under her legs and lift her into the air. She couldn't help but yelp as he carried her in his arms. "W-what are you doing!"

"Geez, you certainly don't weigh very much..." Bankotsu stated, carrying around Banryuu was easy but holding this girl...it's like she's not even there!

"Don't ignore the question!" She blushed.

Bankotsu thought for a second why, but then turned and answered in a agressive tone, trying to be the more dominate one of the two. "Stupid, you looked tired. And it'll be fasted if I carry your fat ass around instead of having a blind girl tag around behind me! I'm re-paying a debt, okay!"

"..." Rei reminded silent, she wasn't sure what to say to that, except the fat ass part. But the crimson upon her cheeks only darkened.

"Awww, are you blushing, little samurai girl?" Bankotsu asked in a mock tone as he began walking, in search for a cave with Star Fruits...

"S-shut up! I-I am not!" She staggered. "I-I don't know what your talking about!"

Bankotsu only laughed at her. "Just keep quiet, dumb girl..."

"No! Help!" Rei cried out, making it sound like Bankotsu was kidnapping her or some kind of pervert.

"Just shut up and be a good girl..." He sighed.

oo.

With Inuyasha and the gang on the other hand...Oh, yes! The author remembers now! Anika had become enraged from Inuyasha's and Kouga's reversed personality, it has become strange to her and pisses her off how pathetic these two beings have become!

"You pathetic pansy! You moronic flower-loving idiot!" Anika yelled, bringing an firey rage upon the whimpering Inuyasha and Kouga.

Inuyasha held his hand out, as if to stop Anika from harming them. He cried. "No! An-chan! Please don't hurt us! We're innocent!"

"Who's innocent!" She roared. "And who the hell are you calling 'An-chan', huh? Call me Anika-sama!"

"A-Anika-sama..." They both whimpered at her feet.

Kagome stood there and watched. She too realized how pathetic Inuyasha has become...it just wasn't right seeing him like this. "I...feel kinda sorry for them...Inuyasha and Kouga-kun..."

"Kagome-chan." Sango came up from behind and placed a gentle hand on Kagome's shoulder; comforting her. "Don't worry...in due time we'll find that Star Fruit of Heaven and Hell and Inuyasha and Kouga will be back to normal."

"But..." Kagome paused. "What if he doesn't change back, and he's always nice to me forever!"

"Do have have doubt in your heart?"

Anika couldn't help but over hear everything. She stopped yelling at Inuyasha and Kouga...and came face-to-face with Kagome. Eyeing her dangerously with her firey orbs. Kagome was suprised with the sudden action, but the dog demon kept on staring deep into her eyes.

A small nervous small curled on Kagome's lips. "W-what is it?"

"You...don't believe me?"

"Eh?" Obviously, Kagome was slightly puzzled.

Anika grabbed the school girl's shoulders and shook her hard. "ARE YOU SAYING I'M A LAIR, HUH? I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW I WAS BEING COMPLETELY HONEST AND--" She fire demon stopped her senseless shaking, Kagome developing a slight headache. Kagome rubbed her head then looked at Anika who was looking off in another direction.

The others noticed too. And looked off into Anika's direction.

Miroku stepped forward. "Anika...what is it?"

She sniffed the air, a scent catch onto her nose and soon after..everyone could smell it. "This smell...it's..." Kirara and Shippo wiffed the air and the little fox demon placed a finger on his chin.

"It...smells sweet." Shippo stated. "What is it?"

Anika smirked and looked at Inuyasha and Kouga then back at the direction she was staring off to before. "The Star Fruit of Heaven and Hell are near..."

End of Chapter 22.

Aiyanami: A thousand apologizes! That I haven't updated since summer 2005, now it's Spring 2006 and then I remembered my fanfics that were left hanging. I'm so sorry. But I hope some of you are looking forward to my return and more chapters to come.

Anika: That's right! How dare you leave us like that! You should feel ashamed!

Aiyanami:

Translation:

Bankotsu - Brute courage, recklessness, thousands of lives.

oo.

The Darkness Within Our Hearts: Chapter 22 - Be My Eyes. Use My Life. Complete!

Date posted: March 31, 2006

Disclaimer: Does not own InuYasha.

Copy Right of author, Rei Aiyanami.