Chapter 2: Heart of Child
Note: This fic includes fluff and OOC. Don't like it too bad, I don't give a damn about you.
Warning: OOC, Violence plus swearing.
It was the surprise that ran through every ones face; there was no guarantee that the infant, well actually the four year old in the arms of Kagome was none other than Bankotsu. The leader of the band of seven, the very being that had caused so much trouble and mayhem to them… now reduced to a mere child. Everyone held their gaze at the content raven-head who snoozed away his head, nestled between Kagome's arms and shoulder.
"Lady Kagome… are you sure that little boy is Bankotsu?" Miroku asked lightly as he placed his sutras back within his robes and made his way over to Kagome. Sango sighed and leveled her giant boomerang down to ground level, Shippo and Kirara managed to settle upon a fallen lump.
"I am very positive that this little child here is Bankotsu, he has the Shikon jewel shard within his neck, and plus, his markings are striking similar." Kagome answered as she placed the giant sword on the ground next to her. "Moreover, his sword is proof, I found this little boy on it as he slept peacefully." Kagome finished. "We should head back to Kaede's village to ask for her help." Kagome stated, she stared down at the bundle where Bankotsu's child like head slept contently.
"Wait… why can't we just kill the bastard now?" Inuyasha snarled as he advanced on the little kid with a menaced look. "He's a child so all we have to do is take the shard from his neck and he will become nothing more but a pile of bones." Inuyasha sneered as he extended two fingers well aimed for the little boy's neck.
Kagome inhaled a sharp breath before she roughly slapped his fingers away. "Shame on you, you don't pick on a little child Inuyasha." Kagome snarled as she pulled the child away from Inuyasha. "We're going." Kagome spit huffily as she clambered onto Kirara's back with Miroku and Sango.
Shippo hopped onto Kagome's back before the four individuals with a child flew off. Inuyasha stood in the exact spot and stared off into the distance where Kagome and his friends disappeared, he frowned a bit with Kagome's behaviour before he leaped into the nearest branch to follow suit with the rest of the gang.
Kagome merely frowned as the sword which belonged to Bankotsu all of a sudden gave off a musty pink glow, the colour of the Shikon jewel.
"What is happening to his sword?" Kagome muttered to herself as she tapped a finger on the metal. Beneath her, Kirara gave off a small whimper of protest since the sword was heavy for her. "Sorry Kirara for having to burden you with this sword, but who knows what might happen if Bankotsu were to wake up and realize that his favourite weapon is parted from him?" Kagome timidly coaxed the fire cat as she gently petted her fur. The fire-feline gave a small growl before she continued on.
"Kagome, what do you plan to do with him?" Sango asked as she eyed Kagome who shifted the little boy from her shoulder to her lap.
"He's only a child, I know he is our enemy, but a person in a child's body must never be forgotten. I have no doubts about this; I would have to take care of this little twerp." Kagome sighed heavily as she gazed down at the little boy who slept on her lap. She couldn't help but admire the chubby cheeks, the long pony-tailed raven hair, the skinny body and the purple clothing. It was all in all the cuteness of a young one. Gently Kagome couldn't help but brush a few strands of hair from Bankotsu's face.
Miroku speculated the gestures that Kagome presented to Bankotsu before he inwardly smiled to himself. Though the pink glow from Bankotsu's sword subsided, the damage done to Bankotsu permanently remained.
"Ladies, I can see Kaede's village before us, we should be there in a couple of minutes." Miroku voiced before he inched a bit closer to Sango. "Ah yes, we must be all very happy." Miroku grinned.
Shippo sighed knowingly before he slid from Kagome's shoulder to Kirara's back. He ignored the dazed Miroku. Shippo hopped onto Kagome's head. "Are you going to make him your new responsibility?"
Taken back by the question Kagome stiffened. "I guess you can say that Shippo." Kagome slowly inputted as she ran a hand through Bankotsu's scalp.
"But I will always be your son?" Shippo asked shyly as he held Kagome's gaze with his own. He rounded them larger into the cutest puppy-dog eyes. Kagome giggled at his antics.
"Yes Shippo, you will always be my son, silly." Kagome chided before she sighed with relief. "We're finally here." Kagome sounded as Kirara descended from the sky, she lowered herself to the ground where villagers nearby waved at them. As everybody dismounted, Inuyasha landed lightly beside them from the forest.
Kagome ignored the half-demon for now before she started to walk towards Kaede's hut followed closely by the others. Inuyasha huffed at Kagome's cold shoulder before he followed as well.
"Ah my child's, how are all ye doing?" A fifty eight year old woman with long strands of white hair with an eye patch around one eye spoke. Kagome's and the others entered her hut. "Oh, who's the little child?" She finished as she made her way towards them in slow steps.
"We came here to ask for your help Kaede, you see, this little boy isn't an ordinary kid, for starters, he has a Shikon jewel embedded within his neck, second, we believe that this child here is the long known mercenary Bankotsu from the band of sevens." Miroku explained as he sat himself on the futon near the door. Sango along with Shippo and Kirara sat them self on the wooden floor where they gazed at Kagome and the others.
"Hmmm, I see my child, let me have a look." Kaede voiced before she extended her two arms. Kagome handed the child to Kaede before she sat herself down next to Miroku. Inuyasha snorted before he dumped the sword next to the door and exited the hut.
"I believe that this child here is indeed Bankotsu. As you can see, the smell of death is very noticeable and the outlines match." Kaede explained as she tilted the body sideways to have a glance. "As well I see powerful magic placed upon him, it's no mistaken my child's that this poor soul even evil as he is, is placed under a curse.
"Is there anyway to lift the curse? More importantly, who placed the curse on him to begin with?" Sango asked from the floor, her boomerang propped up against the hut's wall. Sango frowned as the priestess ignored her questions. Checking the child one last time Kaede's head tilted towards Kagome's direction.
"Kagome come over here right now." Kaede asked. Kagome complied as she got off from the futon and made her way over to the old priestess. "Kagome, do you see these entire pink and red auras around him?" Kaede asked.
"Now that you mention it, I thought it was peculiar that Bankotsu smelled like flowers; yes indeed I can see the red and pink auras." Kagome noted as she placed a diligent finger on the tip of Bankotsu's nose.
"Well my child, I have heard of a powerful demoness with this kind of aura. Let me go and get the book, it has the information written somewhere down within the ancient book." Kaede said before she turned around and made her way towards the bookshelf positioned near the back. Kagome frowned as she brought Bankotsu who was neatly placed on the table back into her arms.
"Kagome, whatever it takes to see this through, we will be here for you." Miroku lightly said as he placed an arm on her shoulder.
"Houshi Sama is right Kagome, we will always be here." Sango smiled as she placed a hand on her other shoulder. Shippo and Kirara merely hopped on her shoulder jumping around showing off their agreement. Kagome's shoulders sagged with passion as she turned towards them.
"Thank you guys so much, I don't know what I will do without all your support." Kagome breathed. Kaede returned with the book in her hands.
"As I have said before, the strong demoness is indeed within this book." Kaede said before she placed the book onto the table for the others to see. "It says here, that the flower demoness is a princess from the southern lands, she means no harm, but when she is endangered by certain things, she would resort to violence. I guess Bankotsu must have disturbed her. Around her neck she wears the sacred petal, a gem with powers far greater than the Shikon jewel. This is the treasure in which demons and humans have hunted her down for." Kaede explained.
Kagome's mind processed all the given information, it really irked her how greedy some people can be, it had never crossed her mind that the princess can be a good demon. Her train of thoughts where interrupted when a small wiggle within her arms began to form. She glanced down, Kagome suppressed her urge to coo when Bankotsu's miniature arms stretched, his mouth opened to yawn which revealed the sets of baby teeth, he released a small gurgle before his eyes opened. Kagome was faintly surprised when his eyes immediately darkened.
"Put me down wench, put me down put me down." Bankotsu complained, trying in vain to sound tough, but the vocal cords of a young child begged to differ. Immediately everyone around in the hut had their attentions drawn to the two.
"Well if it isn't the baby, my, did you just wake up." Sneered a voice from the door. Inuyasha walked through the hut haughtily as his eyes positioned to the child within Kagome's arms. "You're just lucky that Kagome is a molly-coddler freak, if she wasn't here, I would have killed you long ago, child or no child."
"You talk big mutt, but can you prove that." Squeaked Bankotsu's childish voice, Bankotsu suppressed the urge to growl. Being in a child's body was horrible; it made him vulnerable and weak.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome warned. Inuyasha immediately took the hint; he glared at Kagome one last time before he hitched around and disappeared once more through the flaps of the hut.
"Now, now Bankotsu, it's not nice to talk to a grown up like that." Miroku chided as he grinned lightly to himself.
"Bite me you worthless pile of dung beetles." Bankotsu hissed. But smirked inwardly as Miroku's hand gripped his staff tightly. "I don't need your help, I can take care of myself, and after all I am the leader of the band of sevens." Bankotsu huffed, pride clearly etched within his voice. Bankotsu gasped as a sudden pain erupted in his head.
He clutched his head with his hands and moaned as the pain throbbed away. He inwardly cursed as he remembered the demoness explanation that whenever he released the truth to anyone a part of his memory would be erased.
"Bankotsu, may you tell us what had happened to you? Also can you tell us where your friends are?" At the mention of his friends, Bankotsu's back stiffened, an unknown emotion bubbled within his chest. All of a sudden, tears threatened to form within his eyes. Kagome was taken aback by the trembled figure of Bankotsu.
"It's alright Bankotsu, you don't have to say anything for now, keep it to yourself, and when the time is right, you can tell us what had happened to you and your friends."
Kagome softly said as she brought Bankotsu closer to her chest. Bankotsu would have thanked her, but now, he wiped the tears away on Kagome's shirt, he sighed before he kicked Kagome in the leg.
She yelped at the sudden impact and glared down at Bankotsu with a scolding face.
"Bad Bankotsu, you should never hit a grown up." Kagome scolded.
"I never asked for your help wench." Bankotsu cried as he began to struggle within her arms.
Kagome merely sighed before a plan formatted in her head. "Well if you don't cooperate with us, then I'll have Kirara take a nice lick at your sword." Kagome threatened, knowing all to well that Bankotsu treasured his sword a lot, he immediately flinched and growled.
"Don't you dare touch my sword, fine! I'll do whatever you want." Bankotsu grumbled. Kagome cooed at the sight and smiled. Bankotsu hated to show weakness, but in his current condition, he was going no where with his toughness, so at the time being, he'll let people take care of him.
"For starters, we'll need more clothing for you Bankotsu." Kagome giggled, joined in later by Sango who stood next to the raven head.
"That is agreeable; we need to get him some more items as well." Sango grinned before she lowered herself to Bankotsu's height. "Isn't that right Bankotsu?" Bankotsu wanted to swipe the grin from her face, but his sword was at stake. So he merely 'hmphed' and turned his head away. He hated women doing this to him.
"Kagome, let's go to the silk hut outside and buy things for him." Sango giggled, Kagome nodded her head before the two ladies with a sulking Bankotsu exited the hut. Shippo and Miroku rolled their eyes in unison before they turned back towards Kaede; while Kirara used Bankotsu's sword as a back scratchier.
"Oh this outfit looks absolutely cute on him." Kagome cooed childishly as she showed Bankotsu a navy blue silk shirt with pants that matched him in the right size. Bankotsu glared daggers at the two ladies in his condition; they had forced him to strip, so now he sat on a table naked with only a piece of towel wrapped around his lower torso.
"Put that in the pile of 'to get' clothes." Sango smiled before she rummaged through another sections of silk kimonos and outfits. The owner smiled at the two girls before he moved to the back to finish off some things.
"Oh this is so perfect!" Sango yipped as she pulled a pink kimono from the rack and showed it to Kagome. Kagome giggled loudly and turned to Bankotsu, the kimono now clutched within her hold.
"Oh Bankotsu, I have something for you to try on." Kagome mocked well naturally.
"Oh once I grow back to my natural height, all you guys are going to pay for what you are doing to me. I am going to have fun playing with your blood, and when you are dead, your carcasses shall all be tortured. Bankotsu leered before he glared at Kagome. "What do you want me to try on?" He asked suspiciously.
"Oh I just wanted you to try this lovely kimono on, that's all." Kagome giggled before the pink kimono from her back was revealed. Bankotsu choked on his own saliva before he let out a growl.
"You are not to put that atrocious outfit on me you hear?" Bankotsu growled as he sprang to his feet on the table with the towel clutched in one of his tiny fist while his eyes where livid with humiliation. The thought of something pink on him and fury as well. He tried to swipe at it but Kagome merely pulled it away from him.
"Oh yes you are going to try it on." Kagome said sternly before she tugged the towel closer to her with Bankotsu along with it.
"Never you crazy wenches." Bankotsu cried desperately before the towel was yanked off showing his lower torso to the public. He jumped from the table and dashed outside, his behind showed all the while as he ran. Kagome and Sango stood horrorstruck from their place before they placed the outfits on the table and dashed outside to catch the little nude boy. Kagome could make out Bankotsu's little back as he dodged numerous bystanders; he ran to one side and dived right into a pile of hay stack.
Kagome and Sango both stopped in front of the hay stack eyes furrowed into a frown with frustration. "Bankotsu, this isn't funny come out right now like a civilized kid, don't make me go in there and fish you out." Sango yelled as she brushed aside a few pile of hay.
"Don't worry Sango, my priestess power can levitate these things, one thing I learned from Kikyo before she had transferred her powers into mine was levitation." Kagome said lightly. "When the piles of hay are lifted, charge in and seize him." Kagome instructed before she placed both of her hands to her temple. The chant began, her temple immediately radiated a white hue, and Sango watched in awe as the pile of hay in front of them get hit with the same white glow, it slowly raised from the ground.
Right in the middle of the pile a naked boy was curled into a tight ball. Sango grinned before she scooped the boy from the ground and into her arms before the pile of hay stack toppled down.
"Let go of me." Bankotsu cried before he bit Sango on the arm.
"Quit acting like a baby dammit." Sango cursed as she wiped the blood on her green suit. Bankotsu merely huffed before he glanced down at his body.
"Gah… I'm not wearing any clothes, give me something." Bankotsu hissed.
"Damn you're hard to take care of, not even a day has gone by and already you're bitching." Sango hissed before she tweaked Bankotsu's nose. Bankotsu batted her hand away and scowled.
"Shut up wench; watch what you say around me, I can kill you even in this form." Bankotsu growled and flexed his tiny muscles. Kagome giggled at his antics and patted his head.
"Be a good boy, now that you're a tiny, we can treat you as a kid. Don't worry I'll take care of you." Kagome giggled before she took Bankotsu from Sango's arms and brought him into hers. Bankotsu was cradled like a baby, Kagome rocked him back and forward before humming a little tune. Whatever the effect was, Bankotsu relaxed from the quick action, he nuzzled deeper into Kagome's embrace and let his eyes gently shut and fell into a light nap.
"Kagome, you must be very good with kids." Sango complimented as she watched Bankotsu sleep soundlessly.
"I had experience, when I was only a few years old; I had to look after my baby brother Souta. At first he was terrible, always drew on the wall and knocked things over, I thought I would give up, but one day I just took him in my arms and cradled him, hummed him a tune which caused the little twerp to fall fast asleep." Kagome explained as she shifted Bankotsu onto her other shoulder.
"Stupid girl, what on earth is she doing with the bastard?" Inuyasha muttered to himself from the rooftop of Kaede's hut. He watched as the two girls walked back into the quilt shop then exited back out with their arms loaded with supplies.
"Kagome, glad you are back, there is something that we need to discuss, it's about the little brat." Miroku stated. Kagome nodded her head and dumped the load of clothing onto Kaede's futon. Followed suit, Sango imitated Kagome. "As you can see Kagome, the demon that placed this curse on Bankotsu is named Asakura, a strong and powerful demoness who manipulates plants and trees to do her biding.
This is not an ordinary curse; this curse has a one year time limit, we don't really know what the cure can do, but the problem is, he will remain as a child with no memories at all. It's crucial that we find the cure as fast as possible. As much as I hate this Bankotsu, I am terrified to see a kid soulless." Miroku explained as he shivered slightly at the possible outcome. Kagome processed the information before she peered down at Bankotsu who slept contently in her arms.
"Yes right away." Kagome agreed before she sat herself down on the futon. "Bankotsu please wake up right now." Kagome gently poked his ribs which earned a small coo of giggles before a pair of grey blue eyes opened up.
"What is wrong with you? Couldn't you see I was having a nice rest there?" Bankotsu growled.
"Buck up and listen. I am going to be your caretaker from now on, as much as I hate you, I don't see anyone else doing the job. So from now till whenever, you shall be under my care." Kagome sternly said and watched as Bankotsu's eyes widened in surprise.
"I don't need help, especially from a priestess like you." Bankotsu stubbornly huffed. Kagome sighed and gave Bankotsu a hug. "What are you doing to me?" Bankotsu mumbled, he had never had any close contact with human beings before, it was a touch a mother would have given to any of her son or daughter or so he thought, but he had never known a mother since his parents abandoned him when he was young. But here, a simple touch that easily immobilized him; it was the touch of love. But he isn't quite sure which kind of love, was it pity love or pure love? The question went a strayed.
"Please Bankotsu, I know you hate us and we fully understand, but you are in no condition to dish out a threat or violence, so please let me take care of you." Kagome softly said as she hugged Bankotsu tighter. Bankotsu had never been asked any of these things before, and here Kagome was giving all her comfort, just for him, a mercenary, an assassin, a killer.
"Yes... alright." Bankotsu mumbled before his head buried into Kagome's shoulder. "If you want to risk your life over mine, then fine by me, I have no complaints." Bankotsu sighed, but deep within his heart, a feeling was telling him otherwise.
"Hey Bankotsu, we have to do some shard hunting today, I'm afraid we can't bring you along, I'll take you to a place where you can play with other kids the same age as you." Kagome muttered. "First, let's get you dressed, how about the blue silk shirt and pants?" Kagome suggested as she revealed the navy blue silk to Bankotsu. Bankotsu's eyes glistened before a pang of excitement formed within them. Kagome giggled and pulled the shirt over his head causing his mop hair to frizzle out, she then dressed Bankotsu's lower region up with his pants.
Kagome cooed at the adorable sight before she picked him up again. "Now let's head over to the daycare in this village." Kagome said lightly before Sango, Miroku, Kirara and Shippo accompanied her outside. They trudged along the earthy floor; they walked for a bit until they arrived in front of an old structure with the sound of children laughter that reverberated from within.
She knocked on the door; an elderly old woman opened the wooden door wide. "Hello there how may I help you?" The woman politely asked. Kagome extended her hands out that revealed the alert Bankotsu.
From within, gone unnoticed to everyone else, Bankotsu was nervous, he had never met any children before, and the experience is totally new to him.
"May you please look after him while we go do some errands?" Kagome politely asked the elderly woman. "We'll be back in a few hours, so please take good care of him." Kagome finished before she handed Bankotsu over to the elderly woman.
"Bye Bankotsu, we'll be back later." Everyone yelled at him before the group disappeared, which left him alone with the old woman.
"Well, let's take you inside so you can meet the other kids." The woman smiled.
"Whoopee." Bankotsu sarcastically said.
"Here you go; these are the villager's kids, go say hello to them." The woman said gently before she placed Bankotsu on the ground and walked off into another room.
"How awesome." Bankotsu monotonously cheered before he made his way slowly over to the other kids.
"Hey you're the new kid, what's with the hair? You look ugly." A slightly tall kid pronounced as he made his way over to Bankotsu. "What are you a girl?"
"You would regret calling me that you insolent ass." Bankotsu hissed, he charged at the kid with flailed arms, trying to deliver a punch to the face, Bankotsu groaned as the kid slugged him at the side of the face which caused him to collapse to the floor. All the children around stopped their activities before they all burst into laughter, all of them pointed at him and laughed. Bankotsu's eyes widened as he saw the tall kid now flanked with two other kid advanced on him.
Oh how he had mistaken his own pathetic strength, he wished even more now to be in the arms of the priestess, the one who took care of him. He felt fear for the first time, Bankotsu allowed some of his tears to form within his eyes before he slowly let them drop.
He let his pride go just for this once, Bankotsu ignored the abstinence of his hatred, he only wanted to be unharmed, he stared at the kids who laughed at him and at the three kids, he hiccupped before he cried out the one word that had been long forgotten.
"MOMMY!"
Chapter 2 finished. I hope you enjoyed it. My grammar is horribly awful I just hope it was worth the reading.