Chapter 3: Soul of Purity
Note: Holy crap that was the longest week I ever had lol, too many things happening, no time to do anything. I want to give everybody who helped me overcome my plagiarism problem my thanks, without you guys, I would be in a dead zone. Please feel free to offer me your stories to read and I would do it and review you whole-heartedly.
Warning: Rated M for Violence, OOC and much more lol.
What was once a laughing matter ended abruptly when the wail of a child cut through the air like a saw. In the room with many kids one little boy stood and wept for his mother while the other kids around gapped at him with shock and immediate repulsion.
"Hey kid, please stop crying, come on, I was only kidding." The tall boy said exhaustedly as he tried to calm the distraught Bankotsu down. "Come on, you're not ugly, you're pretty, that's right, you're pretty." The boy ranted on. The kids near by merely shook their heads in agreement.
Bankotsu merely paused before he frowned at the boy's comment. 'What the hell was he thinking, crying in front of them, why did he called the priestess his mommy? Great, being stuck in the child's body sucked. All of a sudden, a new fear stuck him.
"Fuck you guys." Bankotsu spat as the tears around his eyes clung to his face like a wet sponge.
"Bankotsu! What did you just say?" Bankotsu hiccupped and groaned with annoyance. The annoying childcare owner was back and with a look of anger on her face.
"I said nothing..." Bankotsu mumbled before he used his sleeve to brush away the tears. The kids around eyed the boy with caution due to the incident; they would not know if he would break down again. Bankotsu inwardly cursed at the lack of caution. Emotions made him weak and him being weak was not a good thing at all.
"Yes, I heard you say the F word, which is a bad Bankotsu, you should be taught a lesson." The old woman tsked before she lifted Bankotsu into her arms.
"Bite me you old hag." Bankotsu growled, his early weakness evaporated, his edgy mood now replaced. "I don't need to be told what to do; I can kill you easily if I was myself again." Bankotsu huffed as he tried to struggle out of the woman's grasp, surprisingly the old woman had a strong grip, and either that or he was truly weak. Bankotsu inwardly cringed when the old woman chuckled. "Let me go you old fart, don't make me bite you." Bankotsu desperately threatened, it was one thing to cry over for support, but now being lead into an unknown room was another. Bankotsu flinched even more when the old woman brought him over to a washbasin.
"What the hell are you going to do to me old bitch." Bankotsu snarled as the old woman frowned at his choice of words.
"My we have a potty mouth here." The old woman tsked again before she sat herself down on a stool. He watched as she grabbed a bar of soap that was next to her. "This lovely thing is called soap; it was recently invented, it makes matter like this more satisfying. Like washing yourself when your body is dirty, since your mouth released a large amount of dirty words, I am afraid that we must clean it; open wide." Bankotsu blanched at her explanation, there was no way in hell was that atrocious bar of soap going into his mouth.
Bankotsu struggled within her grasp, he tried in vain to escape the horrible treatment that he was about to face. He tried to loosen the woman's grip he only sighed in pain as the old woman who was surprisingly strong for her age gripped harder onto him.
"Stop struggling little one, this would only prolong the inevitable, and you wouldn't want that happening do you?" The woman clucked, she inched forward with the bar of soap within her hand.
"Oh yea lady, I rather be beaten alive than have some old coot stick a piece of scented object into my mouth, do yourself a favour and go back to knitting granny." Bankotsu spat angrily before he sealed his mouth firmly with both his lips. The old woman frowned before she used her free hand to wrench Bankotsu's mouth open. Bankotsu gasped in fright before gagged when something wet and hard was forced into his mouth.
"Inuyasha, the Shikon jewel is embedded in her hair; you must cut off her head in order for the curse to be lifted." Kagome yelled at the white head that was occupied with a gorgon demoness.
"Will do Kagome, just get the others unpetrified." Inuyasha yelled before he released his wind scar upon the demon with no legs, a body of a woman and hair of a million snakes. Kagome nodded before turning towards her stone faced friends.
"Poor guys, I forgot to tell you that you should have never stared into the eyes of Medusa." Kagome sighed sadly, as she recalled the tragic event when Miroku crossed path with Sango and the demon, the heat of the gaze eventually consumed them both and turned them into stones. It was all she could do, stand and pray that Inuyasha could kill the demoness, all she did was try to erase the stone, but her power has not yet attained full potential so all it did was nothing.
"You idiots, you think you can defeat me with your pointless attempts?" Medusa cackled as she released a bunch of her snake hair on Inuyasha who merely dodged and cut his way through.
"Shut up." Inuyasha spat before he released another wave of wind scars at the demon. The demon merely disappeared before it reappeared to the side and smirked down at him.
"I must admit, you have a pretty strong sword, but compared to me, it's nothing but a useless trinket." Medusa sneered. "Bu let me end your life of its misery." Medusa cackled before she swung all of her hair directly at Inuyasha. Kagome could only watch in tense moments as the hair with the raged snake and gapped mouth hurled them at Inuyasha.
"Back lash wave." Inuyasha growled as the wind around them picked up, what was once a bluish hue tinged into a multi colour of orange, red and blue erupting from the end of the tetsaiga where it hurled its way directly at the on coming snakes, it collided with them. Kagome watched with ease as the two combinations combined within each other to rebound back to the opponent who had unleashed the attack on the first place. She watched in horror. The snake was repelled from its action as the combination of the backlash wave mixed with the hair hurled back towards the owner.
"What the hell?" The demoness known as Medusa cried as the whirlwinds of vortex split into multiple categories descended upon her as each whirlwind sliced through her body which caused it to digitally dissolve once hit. "How dare you!" Was the last of her words before one of the whirlwind sliced her neck causing her head to fall down along with the Shikon jewel that glistened. Now the head was sliced off, a golden arch shot straight through the two-stoned statue like a golden pin, it embedded itself directly at the heart's position, and it caused the stone around the area to dissolve.
"Well that my friends, is called the art of petrification." Kagome announced lightly before she threw herself into the two bodies and embraced them. Miroku blinked while Sango readjusted her boomerang onto her shoulder. Kirara who kept watch on Shippo appeared from the bushes with the shaky fox-demon.
"Well, Inuyasha defeated the stone demoness with the Shikon jewel." Kagome announced before she made her way over to the fallen pink jewel. She bent down and retrieved the jewel. Kagome watched as the once black coloured jewel purify itself in her hand becoming the light coloured pink. She placed the shard into a tiny glass bottle and corked it; she placed it within her blouse before she made her way back towards her gang.
"Well let's go pick Bankotsu from the day care centre." Kagome giggled before she turned ninety degree and started to walk. Miroku along with Sango, Shippo and Kirara followed suit. Inuyasha growled and snarled at the bandit's name before he too followed.
As the group neared the structure of the day care place, a shrill scream pierced the air. "What the hell was that?" Inuyasha growled as he covered his dog like ears with his hand, trying to drown out the sobs that soon followed after.
As they entered the now open door, all of their jaws dropped. Little kids around were tied up with yarns. All their mouth gagged with cloths and their eyes leaked with tears that were all muffled due to their voices being cut off. The floor littered with charcoal and scrolls while the wooden benches and tables where stained with an unfamiliar black substance.
"Um, Miroku and Sango, go untie every one." Kagome said lightly, as she snapped out of her stupor before she entered the dim lighted hut. "I'll go check out the other rooms." Kagome muttered before she made her way towards the flaps. As she neared the flaps, she could have sworn that she heard a muffle sob before a shriek against the wall. Soon words were heard through the flaps as she tried to strain her ears to hear them.
"That will teach you for putting soap in my mouth." The voice growled before another shriek filled the room. "Teaches those kids to laugh at me and hurt me." The voice came again as well as the shriek.
She realized whom the voice belonged to, Kagome barged on through. "Bankotsu you stopped this right…" her scold was cut in mid sentence at the sight before her. Bankotsu stood in front of the old woman whom she recognized as the day care owner. She watched as Bankotsu's arms rose with charcoal in one hand and black ink in the other, the old woman's face was totally beyond recognition. Kagome had to stiffer her laughter at the sight. Bankotsu had neatly drawn a moustache on the woman's face, adding a pair of ink glasses and whiskers. Bankotsu jumped a bit, surprised by Kagome's appearance, he dropped the charcoal and the flask of ink onto the floor where it shattered and spilled.
"Kagome…" Bankotsu stuttered as he eyed around his area, Kagome grinned at the way the raven-head blushed. "I didn't know you would be back so… I mean… where the hell were you? How could you leave me in such a dump as this?" Bankotsu raged as he tried to drown his blush away. No way can his behaviour be endorsed to Kagome, not the way he had acted today; his personality had slipped completely all due to ruffians who picked on him and an old coot who washed his mouth with the smelly soap. No, he had to ignore his weakness, ignore everything that had happened today.
"Um... Bankotsu what are you doing?" Kagome asked lightly as she entered the room. Bankotsu blinked a few times before he gazed down at his hands that were covered in black ink and charcoal then to the old woman who was bind to the chair.
"Get this kid away from me!" Screamed the shocked old woman who tried to wiggle herself free, "He tied all the kids up since they bugged him, then tied me up just because I washed his mouth with soap." The woman explained exhaustedly before she lowered her head to the floor letting her gray hair spew across her face.
"I told them that they shouldn't pick on me, this is the consequence for not believing me." Bankotsu huffed proudly before he crossed his arms across his chest not caring that he stained his kimono with his inky hands. Kagome giggled and sighed.
"Yes Bankotsu, you have proved your point, now let's get out of here before the woman gets us sued." Kagome chided before she bent down and took Bankotsu into her arms. Bankotsu sighed contently before he wiped his hand at the back of Kagome's shirt and smirked inwardly. They left behind a bewildered and angry old woman. Kagome and Bankotsu exited the room to join with the rest who all waited for her at the doorway, a small smile except Inuyasha who usually had a snarl plastered all over his face.
Unbeknownst to Kagome, Bankotsu watched every little kid from the back and smirked at them… oh how priceless was it to see the look of terror written across their glared faces. Bankotsu extended his arm towards them and gave them the middle finger. Oh, his trademark has always involved the ridicule of other kids, it amused him to no end and here was no exception.
"You know Bankotsu; I am amazed that your attitude can match your persona, even as a little kid you still behave like that… wow." Miroku commented and shook his head amusedly as his shoulder vibrated with controlled laughter.
Sango smiled before letting her arm lower to pet Bankotsu on the head, which earned a small growl from the little child.
"Don't touch me wench, you are not my mentor, only this miko, so hands off." Bankotsu puffed his cheeks before using his hand to bat Sango's away. Kagome merely suppressed her giggles at Bankotsu's antics.
"Um Miroku, what are you doing?" Kagome and Sango asked in unison as they sweat dropped at Miroku's sudden change of behaviour.
"Oh I just wanted to pronounce my love for Sango…" Miroku said in a singsong voice before going onto one knee as he took Sango's right palm into his and kissed it. "Oh Sango you make me so happy, I don't know what, but you just suddenly look so sexy." Miroku cooed before he copped a feel at her hip. Sango sighed, but blushed furiously as Miroku placed more kisses up her arm.
"What a total pathetic show to display." Inuyasha grumbled as he whisked away a few hairs that had caught themselves in his eyes. Kagome and Bankotsu ignored him as they chuckled at the displayed affection.
"Houshi-sama stops this foolishness." Sango desperately cried trying to wrench her hand from his.
"Come now; let's go before Kaede grows even older." Kagome laughed lightly before she took one her free hand and pinched Miroku's ear… "Let's go lover boy." Kagome said as she pulled Miroku along with her.
"Ow not the ear, not the ear." Miroku whined as he tried in vain to loosen the death grip that Kagome had on him. Sango giggled before she followed them. Shippo and Kirara watched the display and shrugged their shoulders.
"I would never understand grown ups." Shippo said. Kirara gave a meow of agreement. As they entered the hut, Kagome immediately let out a yawn and stretched her hands out.
"Damn I am so tired; this day is so frustrating and so tiring." Kagome whined before she retrieved her sleeping bag from her yellow bag and placed it on the floor where she began to unravel it. "It's finally night time; we can finally get some sleep." Kagome yawned as she eyed the darkened sky from behind the flaps. Miroku eyed Sango with a goofy grin and made his way over to her.
"May I sleep with you Sango? I don't want to be lonely." Miroku seductively jested. Sango rolled her eyes and slapped the monk across the face.
"Get a life Houshi-sama; I don't want you to ruin mine." Sango huffed before she settled herself down on the ground where Kagome passed over a sleeping bag. Miroku sighed dejectedly and sat beside the doorway.
"Bankotsu, you will sleep beside me." Kagome softly said, she placed the bewildered Bankotsu on the sleeping bag beside her. She yawned once more, crept into her sleeping bag, pulled the cover over, and went immediately to sleep. Sango and Miroku followed soon. Shippo curled beside Kirara, and the both slept contently within each other's embrace.
Bankotsu huffed even more when he spotted his possession that rested against the wall. Making sure that Kagome and the others slept, Bankotsu crept onto his toes and slowly tip toed over to his sword. He washed his hand from the water basin near the table, his hand found their way to his sword and he wrapped his hand around it and tried to lift it.
"Blast this thing is too heavy…" Bankotsu whined as he merely dragged the object with him outside into the evening, with the sun was just about to set; the sky was covered in purple and pink colours which illuminated the sky. Bankotsu eyed into the tree where he knew the half-breed was perched. He tugged the sword along the dirt path; Bankotsu heaved his heavy possession into the woods, his intention to get away from the group, from the miko from everyone.
His mind set on one thing while his legs did another, he did not know where he was, and he stared around, taking in his surrounding environment. "I am lost?" Bankotsu asked to no one in peculiar, his breath heavy and ragged when he had dragged his sword.
"Well, well look who it is... if it isn't the cursed boy, my how do you fair Bankotsu?" The sound of the flower demoness's voice reverberated around him giving no indication where the voice came, it echoed all around him.
"Show yourself wench… I demand that you undo this curse right now or…"
"Or what? You'll kill me with your sword, no offence little man, but you don't even have the ounce of strength to wield that sword of yours let alone use it." The voice chided. Bankotsu growled and gripped his sword tighter.
"Don't you lecture me you bitch; I want you to undo this blasted curse before I really get angry." Bankotsu snarled.
"As you wish Bankotsu…" The voice soothed. Bankotsu watched as a spiral of flowers appeared in front of him, it blended into the tree, the spiral immediately took form.
"You again…" Bankotsu sneered. "Thanks, you just made my job a lot easier." He finished before he charged at her with determination that brimmed within his eyes.
The flower demoness watched, no expression what so ever as the little boy came at her. "Now really, you should not fight in that condition of yours..." Asakura sneered before she snapped her fingers. Bankotsu gasped as a flash of pink energy erupted from the ground and hurled its way towards him. He used his minimum amount of strength he gathered and lifted his sword and placed it in front of him to form a barricade to protect himself from the energy blast. Bankotsu had to stand his ground firmly when he felt the shift of power collided with him; the energy was so strong that he had to dig his heel into his ground to gain some advantage, as the vibration subsided. Bankotsu removed his sword away and gapped at the huge crater in front of him.
"Damn bitch, you got some real fire power." Bankotsu whistled as he used his tiny fingers to flick a spec of dust away from his face.
"You know Bankotsu, even as a little boy… you do intend to talk a lot." Princess Asakura tsked before she brought her hand in an arch conjuring a magic arrow in mid air. "But let me have the honour to put that mouth of yours to a rest." Asakura chided before she leveled the arrow at him. "Since your sword can't block magical fire power; that thing is pretty useless." Asakura sneered.
Bankotsu could only watch in a helpless daze as the demoness readied the pink magical arrow, she pulled the arrow back; the aimer was set directly at him. He watched the flower demoness smirk, his feeling spiked as he felt another presence. Asakura must have sensed it as well since the arrow in her hand evaporated, the flower demoness no watched as a giant boomerang hurled its way towards her.
"What is this trick?" She hissed and whacked the boomerang with her palm aside. Bankotsu watched as the boomerang hurled away right into the arms of a demon hunter who ran towards him followed closely by Kagome.
"Bankotsu!" Kagome screeched as she and the demon hunter came at him. Bankotsu had to suppress the urge to sigh with relief.
"Who are you two?" Princess Asakura asked curiously, as she watched the two females run in front of Bankotsu, they formed a shield in front of him.
"We would like to know that as well." Sango sneered as she raised her boomerang. Kagome notched an arrow and readied it as well.
"I am princess Asakura, ruler of the southern land." Asakura introduced. Kagome and Sango gasped. "Now anyway, you guy bore me, get out of the way, the little boy needs to die." Asakura explained brushing her hand in a vertical sweep sending a long green blade at Kagome and Sango. Kagome immediately erected a barrier with her miko power that made the blade disappear as it collided with the barrier.
"Impressive, a miko." Asakura said surprised. Kagome huffed before she released the arrow she had notched. Princess Asakura tried to brush the arrow aside but the purification arrow sliced through her kimono sleeve and destroyed it.
"How bothersome." Asakura said annoyance. "We will meet again you guys, until then, happy living." Asakura sighed she disappeared into a spiral vortex of flowers.
"Well, at least we got away with our lives still in place." Sango said reassurance.
"Bankotsu, what on earth were you thinking dragging your sword to this area alone? You could have gotten hurt, or worse you could have died!" Kagome yelled as she pulled Bankotsu into her arms.
"Don't flatter yourself woman, I am glad you helped me and all, but don't think I will be forever trapped in your custody. Do me a favour and take me back, I am not ready to leave without you there to help me." Bankotsu voiced. Kagome blushed at the statement before she placed Bankotsu into her arms. Sango fetched his banryuu made her way towards them and the two walked back together towards the hut.
"How on earth did you know I was here?" Bankotsu asked. Kagome stared at Sango and grinned.
"Well Sango and I woke up, we heard rumbling in the forest, and I was actually surprised that Inuyasha hadn't heard it at all. Anyway, we wanted to investigate and found you fighting the demoness." Kagome explained. Bankotsu nodded his head and sighed.
"Well here we are… why don't we finally get some rest?" Sango said as she entered the hut followed closely by Kagome who carried Bankotsu. She placed Bankotsu's sword near the door, Sango then crept into her sleeping bag and fell fast asleep.
"I highly doubt I am going to get a good night sleep after this night." Bankotsu growled as Kagome lowered herself into her sleeping bag. She placed Bankotsu beside her. Kagome patted his heard comfortly earning a glare from the boy before she allowed herself fall asleep. Once her eyes had shut, Bankotsu's gaze immediately softened at the look of innocence that the miko held while she slept. Bankotsu couldn't be at more peace, he had his life and a guardian who would look after him in his current condition. He didn't know if it were for pity or true intentions, but that didn't matter to him, right now, he had found someone to lean into for comfort.
He had grown attached to Kagome too easily, and the events of that thought really scared him, but it was probably a growing infatuation, maybe it would dissolve. He gently placed his head next to Kagome on the make shift pillow. Bankotsu allowed himself to fall asleep.
The grown trait of a child's behaviour is never lost, in other words, where some kids may have nightmare about their current situation, one lone boy remained unfazed.
Bankotsu sighed contently in his sleep as he unconsciously placed his thumb into his mouth and snuggled closer into the warmth that belong to Kagome.
Chapter 3 finished.