A/N: Ok, first off. I'm so sorry this took forever to put up, but i haven't been happy with this chapter and i've rewritten it like 3 or 4 times and i'm still not satisfied. However, it does get me where i want to go. So sorry if it really sucks and you were expecting something great. If any of you have any suggestions, feel free to email me at Once again, sorry for the wait. On and by the way, Japan is amazing. Loving every moment of being here!

Last time:

"WELL DON'T JUST STAND THERE, BANKOTSU! GO STOP EVERYONE!" Jakotsu shouted. However, Bankotsu couldn't move. For once, he was scared of being seen. Jakotsu grabbed him by the hand and dragged him towards the stairs. They reached the staircase just as Kagome was running up the stairs frantically, and didn't even notice that they were standing there. She ran right into Bankotsu's chest and started falling backwards. "BAN!"

Bankotsu snapped back to reality and grabbed Kagome's wrist, pulling her up to his chest, holding her in his arms. His heart racing out of fear and her whole body was trembling. She slowly looked up and Bankotsu saw the fear in her eyes immediately followed by confusion. "Bankotsu…"

Chapter Nine: In Order to Survive

Jakotsu watched as Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha's heads snapped to their direction when they heard Kagome say his brother's name and panic rushed through his body. He could have sworn that Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha's eyes were glowing red now as they both threw two of his brothers aside and started running towards them. Before he could react, Inu Yasha had grabbed Jakotsu by the throat and was lifting him off his feet. "I-Inu…Yas-ha…" Jakotsu choked out as Inu Yasha's grip on his neck tightened.

At the same time, Sesshomaru had stepped between Kagome and Bankotsu and was growling in the young man's face. "Don't you EVER touch her," Sesshomaru growled as he raised his fist to punch Bankotsu. Bankotsu couldn't move, all he could do was stand in place staring at Kagome, who was clinging to Sesshomaru's shirt with fear in her eyes. His heart shattered seeing as his only chance for happiness was now ruined; the only one to ever make him smile now feared him. So he waited for Sesshomaru's fist to connect with his face, lowering his gaze to the ground in shame.

"SESSHOMARU! INU YASHA!" they heard someone shout and Inu Yasha and Sesshomaru's eyes immediately shot past the two young men that were at their mercy and saw their father standing there. "Bring them to my office. All of them…and don't injure them anymore…yet."

Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha growled angrily, but obeyed, dragging Jakotsu and Bankotsu into their father's office before going back down and bringing the others up. When they had finally thrown everyone into the office and slammed the door behind them, they saw Kagome still sitting on the stairs with her knees pulled to her chest. Her whole body shook with fear and her eyes were wide with horror. The two brothers quickly took a deep breath, desperately trying to keep themselves from storming back into the office and ripping Bankotsu and Jakotsu apart, before walking over to her.

Sesshomaru knelt down next to her and reached out cupping her cheek. She immediately cowered away at the innocent touch, but when she realized who it was, she launched herself into his arms. He sighed and hugged her tightly before picking her up and taking her to his room.

By the time he reached his bedroom, Kagome had already fallen asleep, so he set her down on the bed and ordered Inu Yasha to stay with her. Inu Yasha for once didn't protest and took a seat in a chair that he had pulled next to the bed. Once Inu Yasha was settled, Sesshomaru left the room and stormed off to his father's office.

Taisho sat at his desk as he glared at each of the brothers that were scattered through his office. "Who's the head of this operation?" Taisho finally asked as he leaned on the desk a little more looking directly at Bankotsu. Bankotsu felt sick under his glare and was about to answer when Suikotsu spoke.

"I am, sir," Suikotsu stated and Taisho finally peeled his eyes off of Bankotsu to stare at him.

"So…tell me, who hired you?" Taisho asked curiously.

"Like he's going to tell you! Unless…you have something to offer," Renkotsu exclaimed greedily. Suddenly the door flew open and Sesshomaru stormed in grabbing Renkotsu by his shirt and lifting him to his feet.

"I'LL OFFER YOU SOMETHING! I'LL OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO WALK OUT OF HERE ALIVE!" Sesshomaru growled in his face causing Renkotsu to cower back a bit.

"Sesshomaru, calm down," Taisho said calmly as Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder.

"Why the hell are you so calm, father? They were here to kill you after all," Sesshomaru spat before throwing Renkotsu back on the ground.

"Not everything has to be done by brute force, Sesshomaru," Taisho said. "Anyway, it's not difficult to figure out that Naraku hired all of you to kill me. So I figured I'd pay you all double of what Naraku is paying you to not complete this job, I believe that sounds fair."

Suikotsu looked over at Jakotsu, who nodded his head before turning back to Taisho. "Very well," Suikotsu stated. "Now may we leave?"

"No, I wish to speak with you two," Taisho said pointing to Jakotsu and Bankotsu. Suikotsu looked over at Jakotsu and Bankotsu before getting to his feet.

"Renkotsu, take everyone else and go back home. We'll meet you there," Suikotsu ordered.

"Hai," Renkotsu said before escorting his brothers out of the room, leaving Suikotsu, Jakotsu, and Bankotsu alone in the room with Taisho and his very pissed off son.

Taisho watched the door close behind the brothers before turning back to Suikotsu. "I believe I only asked for the two of them to stay," Taisho growled out to scare Suikotsu, but he didn't move.

"I will not leave my brothers behind," Suikotsu stated and Taisho smirked.

"Very well. First of all, I know that you are not the leader of this group you have put together," Taisho said addressing Suikotsu before turning to Bankotsu. "You are, am I right?"

"Y-yes sir," Bankotsu said softly.

"Well none of you know what you got yourself into, do you?" Taisho said with a smirk as he leaned back in his chair.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Jakotsu asked.

"I'm guessing that you did research on Naraku, correct?" Taisho asked.

"Yes, but we didn't come up with much," Suikotsu said. "All I learned was that he owned a large business."

"He's a hanyou that was created by the greed of a man named Onigumo. He is a man made up of several different youkai and ningens. In other words, he's like a huge biology experiment. The real reason he hired you is to test how strong you really are. If you are to his standards…he will absorb you into his body to make himself stronger," Taisho explained and Jakotsu, Bankotsu, and Suikotsu's eyes widened in disgust and horror.

"Eww! That is sick!" Jakotsu squealed like a little girl.

"But why would he want us to target you?" Suikotsu asked.

"Because I'm his company's biggest competition, of course," Taisho said proudly.

"Well what do we do now?" Suikotsu asked with surprise.

"Knowing Naraku he has already done his research on all of you so knows your every move," Taisho said. "If you help me put an end to Naraku, however…I can help you."

Suikotsu, Jakotsu, and Bankotsu looked at each other and nodded. "Deal," Suikotsu said.

"Very well. Sesshomaru, go with them and bring their brothers back here. They will be moving into the guest wing," Taisho said and Sesshomaru's jaw dropped.

"WHAT!" Sesshomaru exclaimed. "You're moving them in with us! Why don't you just put them up in some hotel?"

"Because Naraku can find them there," Taisho said. "Now go."

Sesshomaru growled angrily and stormed out the door with the three brothers trying to follow him. Taisho watched his new employees leave and once they were gone, his eyes flashed red. You're not going to get away with this Naraku. Your head will be mine.