Sorry for the super long pause with this story. I've been working on it off and on. I wasn't planning on stopping this chapter where i ended it, but i wanted to get it out for you all to enjoy. Constructive criticism is more than welcome!

There is some language in this chapter so be mindful of that.

~Enjoy

++++++Chapter 7+++++++

Word about Bankotsu and his men spread like wild fire throughout the regions, and job after job came rolling in for us. Outside of village missions, I joined in on the battles that we had; whether it be taking down a small militia or burning whole mansions to the ground.

A part of me tried to justify my actions. It tried to say that if I didn't, Bankotsu would kill me. But I no longer knew how true that was because deep down, I felt it. I couldn't pin point what exactly it was….excitement?…joy?…..pleasure?…I wasn't sure, but it was there and growing with every successful mission.

The ground trembles underneath me as I watch the flickers of embers twirl and dance around me in the smoke covered battle grounds. My eyes shift back to the two soldiers running at me in slow motion. I smile as I walk casually towards them embedding an arrow in to one before dropping my bow and pulling out my blade from the sleeve of my shirt. I stab it into his throat before aggressively pulling it in a downward slant while side stepping his own blade.

I flick the blade clean before slipping it back in to the sheath tucked against my inner forearm and allow the high to dissipate. I shut my eyes tight as I fall to my butt and rest my head to my knees.

Crashing was always the worse.

My stomach curled and twisted itself as I fought back the nausea and guilt. I hear footsteps approach, and I rest my cheek on my knees to face the person.

Renkostu's eyes were much calmer, colder after a battle. Not passionate and crazed like Bankotsu's get, but I have no doubts that his blood lust runs just as deep and as strong.

"Are you finished?" He asks simply. I turn my face away from him and nod a reply.

"I need you to assist me on a job tomorrow."

My body freezes as I process his request. Bankotsu, occasionally, allows us to do individual jobs, but I never bothered, choosing to stick with Bankotsu or Jakotsu most of the time. But for Renkotsu to openly invite me to assist him…

Now that is weird.

I turn to face him, "Why me? I'm sure Jakotsu or Bankotsu would be more willing to help."

"I need a woman for this," he begins.

I sit up a little straighter, "Oh?"

"But I suppose I will settle for you."

I hear a snort of laughter behind me, and direct my glare to Jakotsu who walks up at that moment. Standing, I brush the dirt off my bottom and fold my arms over my chest, "Soooo," I begin as I suck my teeth, "for future reference, its best to NOT insult the person you're asking assistance from BEFORE they give you their answer."

"I will take that into consideration the next time I ask for help from someone who matters. Now, will you join me or not?"

I let out a huff of disbelief as my eyes try to settle on something other than the arrogant son of a bitch in front of me. My head shakes as I struggle to come up with a proper come back, but I am at a loss. "What the fuck is the job?" I spit bitterly.

"You do not need to know all that. Simply follow my orders, remain silent, and strike when I tell you too. Anything further would just be a waste of breath." He turns and begins walking towards Bankotsu.

"I swear to god, I'll kill that man in his sleep," I snarl digging my nails into my palm.

Jakotsu rests his forearm on my shoulder and continues to laugh, "I don't know. I'm actually liking him more and more."

I dig my elbow in to his ribs.

Renkostu and I start our journey early the next morning with only Bankotsu awake to see us off. I hesitate at the door of the small hut feeling uneasy about leaving Bankotsu's side.

What if someone else manages to kill him before I get back?

I spin around pointing my bow and glaring at him in the most menacing way I could muster. "You better not die before I get back," I say in a solid firm voice.

Genuine shock flashes across his face before it returns to its neutral smug look, "Gonna miss me, are we?"

My glare falters as I tighten my grip on my bow, "N-no! I…..You…..You're mine…..to….uh….k-kill…and-"

I regret everything spewing from my mouth right now.

I let out a frustrated groan and grip my bow with both hands, "God, JUST…..SHUT UP!"

I spin around and storm past Renkotsu defeated and humiliated.

"Don't worry, Yaruki," he laughs, "I was completely intimidated by that threat. I don't sound it, but just know there is so much fear in my heart right now. I don't even know how I'm gonna get back to sleep."

My arrow narrowly misses his head, and he laughs harder.

Ass.

The two of us travel in silence as I struggle to keep up with his infuriating pace. Curse tall people and their disgustingly long legs. I manage to catch up to him and keep his pace for a moment or two before I stumble a bit and fall behind again. I let out a frustrated sigh stopping all together. "Could you please slow down a bit? We all can't be fucking giants like you."

"I am moving slow." He says flatly glaring at me.

"Well, how about a bit slower, huh?"

"How about you grow."

I puff my cheeks out at him as he continues his ridiculous stride. I contemplate embedding an arrow in the back of his shiny bald head before deciding against it and continuing my short girl shuffle.

We continue at this pace for the better half of an hour before finally coming to a village. With my sole focus on my feet, I fail to see Renkotsu stop, and I slam clean in to him. I fall flat on my butt and groan, "Give a heads up next time, geez."

"There," he begins ignoring my previous comment, "do you see that man?"

I stand and walk up next to him before scanning my eyes over the partially empty village streets. My eyes widen as I finally see the man…..or…..machine….that he was referring to. I blink rapidly trying to see if it is a mere trick of the eyes, but no. The man before us is half metal.

A metal plate completely covered his left eye and the entire lower half of his mouth. His entire right arm is all metal, and a strip of metal pushes back his fiery red hair and his armored shoulder pads are massive with spikes jetting out.

I blink again at the literal walking armory of a man, "What the fuck, Renkotsu?!"

"Not him, you idiot. That is his body guard."

Begrudgingly, my eyes move away from the metal man to the all flesh man laughing loudly as he struggled to keep himself up right. His arms were around the shoulders of two very well-endowed women as his hands discover just how endowed they really were, "L-LETS GOOOOO, GINKOTSU!"

The drunken fool practically drags the poor women with him as he stumbles his way down the road.

"Good grief, its barley into the afternoon and he's already wasted."

"Which makes things easier for us."

"Sooo, what? You want me to shoot him from here?"

"No. Do that, and it will be obvious that our employer is behind this." Renkotsu turns to me, "That is the son of a rival gang. He keeps trespassing on enemy territory to enjoy the women in the brothels here."

"What gangs?"

"That is irrelevant for you to know. Just understand that our employer wishes to stress to his opponents where his territory begins and ends."

My brows furrow, "Ok, so why go through the trouble of hiring mercenaries when I'm pretty sure he has grunts to do this kind of work."

Renkotsu stares at me for a moment before sighing, "And that is why women will never be in positions of power."

"Excuse me?!"

"Think for once in your life. If our employer were to send his own men after the son of a rival gang, that would start a war. His businesses will suffer, the people under his protection will suffer and in turn so will his ability to make money. This is a tactic known as discretion."

"Ok, wise-ass, answer me this. If the son of a rival ends up dead in enemy territory, wouldn't that be a red damn flag for them."

"Not if he dies in an unforeseen accident in one of the brothels. Now enough questions. Keep your mouth shut and just do what I say."

"That's kind of hard to do when you don't tell me everything about this mission or what the hell your plan is." He begins to move in the direction of our target completely ignoring my statement. I roll my eyes before shuffling behind him again.

We walk through the village for the rest of the afternoon, discreetly following our target's movements and noting his level of inebriation. Finally, Renkostu nods to himself, as if satisfied from his data collecting and we begin to walk straight towards the target.

The sudden move to expose ourselves to the person we've been trailing for the better half of the day sets me in to a panic, "Uh…..Renkotsu….are you sure-"

"Shut-up, and follow."

I shut my mouth as we casually approach them. Renkotsu suddenly stops causing me to slam into him, "Watch it, you filthy yujo!"

I stare up at him stunned for a moment, but before I could speak, our target steps up, "H-hey! Hey!" His body wobbles over to us and he leans down to help me up. "T-t-t-t-hats….no….no way to speak to such a…p-p-p-pretty lady." He brushes some dirt off me, but his hands linger a bit too long on my ass, so I swat them away and take a step back.

Renkotsu suddenly appears between us before I could snap at the grabby son of a bitch, "Lady?!" he casts a disgusted look towards me, "As of today, she is no longer a lady. Just a filthy whore."

"FUCK YOU!"

Renkotsu's backhand knocks me back to my bottom and a grip my cheek waiting for the sting to subside, "When I say shut-up, I mean shut up."

Our target grabs Renkotsu's hands as if to stop him from hitting me. A bit late for that, dumbass.

"D-d-d-don't you touch her…"

Renkotsu snatches his hand out of the man's grasp, "What I do with my daughter is none of your business."

Daughter?!

"At least for now." Renkotsu steps forwards and snatches me to my feet by my wrist, "You have such sympathy for her, then you can come visit her at the whore house where she belongs. It's the only thing she is good for now."

Renkotsu yanks me along as he storms off and around the corner. He pushes me against the building and pins me there for a minute or two before peeking around the edge.

"Good." He mutters and turns right as my own backhand crosses his face. He catches himself and I can see the fury in his eyes, but I step up to him holding a finger to his face.

"Act or not, you touch me again and I will fuck you up!"

He stares at me for a moment as if debating. Then, he chuckles, "Fair enough. Any other requests."

I feel my blood boil at his nonchalant attitude, "Yes, actually," I fold my arms over my chest, "before we go any further, you're going to tell me what the fuck you have planned or I'm gone."

"Where you not listening, you idiot?" He steps towards me and smiles, "You're going to be a whore."

I grind my teeth together as I watch the tall slender Madame of the house circle me like a vulture. Time had obviously not been kind to her, but there were trace evidence of a long past beauty in the features of her face. Quietly, taps her closed fan on her powered chin as she stops in front of me.

"And you say she is no longer a maid?"

My eyes shift over to my 'father' who was leaning against the wall arms folded.

"No."

"How many men have you been with, girl?"

I glance back to Renkotsu before looking back at the Madame, "Just one." I say per our story.

She huffs, "No use in being modest now child. Tell me the truth because I will find out eventually."

I narrow my eyes, "Just. One." I say firmly and her fan cuts sharply across my face causing me to stumble back some.

"Mind your tone, you little bitch."

I hold my cheek as I glare at the tried hag in front of me.

…..I'm getting real sick of people slapping me in the face today.

"If you wish for me to do anything with this hopeless case, I suggest you teach her proper manners."

"Is that not your job?"

The Madame glares at Renkotsu, "No! It's not. Especially for a no-ass and barely-there-tits whore like this one."

This. Bitch.

Renkotsu pushes himself off the wall, "So then I will take her elsewhere."

"Wait!"

He pauses, his hand on my upper arm.

"I said she was hopeless as a regular whore, but we could working something out in terms of a one night auction. If she truly has been with only one man, then she may still pass as a maid, and we can fetch a high price for her. She's still young, and after the fees, your cut of it will be enough to cover your debts with some comfort left over. But what I won't stand for, is her disrespect. Fix that, and I will consider working with you."

The door slams shut behind her and Renkotsu grip on my arm tightens immensely. He yanks me closer to him, "If you mess this up, I will sell you to her for next to nothing, and excuse your absence to Bankotsu as an accidental death."

I glare over at him, but say nothing.

He releases me and follows behind the tired hag leaving me in the room alone. I move to the wall and lean against it trying to calm myself down. "Just make it through this, Yaruki, and never work with this bastard again." I exhale and slide down to a seated position. I pull my knees to my chest and rest my forehead on them as a small laugh escapes me.

"Hey dad, guess what? I'm in a whore house….pretending to be a whore….to kill a man…aren't you proud of me? Of who I've become?"

I lean my head back and close my eyes.

Don't worry, Dad. I kill only those who plan to kill me first. They are giving me no other option. That lord deserved it. Bankotsu and Jakotsu deserve it. Even Renkotsu is earning his fair share of deserving it. The villagers weren't my fault. Kiku….she was an accident too….. So….I'm still ok….I'm still good.

I feel a small tear run down my cheek.

I am a good person…..right, Dad?

A hard kick to my side startles me awake and I glare up at Renkotsu. He roughly grabs me by my arms and pulls me up. "Give me your knife."

"Fuck you."

His grip tightens and I wince.

"Fine, fine. Let go!"

He does and I pull my sleeve up some and remove the very simple holster from my forearm. Another "gift" from Bankotsu "to celebrate my first kill as a hired mercenary". I inwardly scoff as I look at the holster with my blade in it.

My grip suddenly tightens as I feel Renkotsu try to snatch it away from me. He glares at me, and I release it into his possession, suddenly feeling very bereft. "When this is all over, you better give it and my yumi back."

"They will check you and prepare you for this evening. During the auction, just sit there and try to look appealing. I will do my best to keep other bidders from out bidding him. He will take you to the room where you need to keep him preoccupied long enough for me to set this place on fire."

"WHAT?!"

Renkotsu slaps his hand over my mouth, "Shut-up!" He waits for a moment listening to see if my outcry caused any unwanted attention.

"This brothel is drowning." he begins in a hushed voice, "Why do you think she was still so willing to take you despite you being less than adequate?"

I glare at him.

"Our employer had plans to get rid of this place earlier, but decided to use it as an excuse to teach the son a lesson on trespassing in rival territories. You will keep him preoccupied long enough for myself and the metal man, Ginkotsu, to set up the "accident".

I muffle a response and he carefully lifts his hand.

"1. Fuck you, I'm gorgeous. 2. I thought you said the metal man was his body guard, why the hell would he help us kill his employer's son."

"Money buys loyalty. Plus, I promised him a spot in the group."

"That was bold."

"I doubt Bankostu will have an issue with a walking armory as the newest member."

I roll my eyes unable to disagree with that logic, "Ok, but what the hell am I supposed to do while you and Mr. Metal set this place ablaze, and more importantly HOW THE HELL WILL I ESCAPE AFTERWARDS!?" I struggled to keep my voice in a strangled whisper at the end of my sentence as I remembered the last Renkotsu fire I had the displeasure of experiencing.

Renkotsu's eyes narrow, "Get creative."

I open my mouth to retort when the door opens again and the Madame followed by two comely looking maids come in.

"Have we learned our place yet?"

I glare at Renkostu who refuses to look at me before trying to contort my face in to a look of humility despite my rage. I bow to her, "Please forgive my boldness earlier, Ma'am. I greatly appreciate the sacrifice you are suffering for my sake."

The hag snorts in amusement, "You are absolutely right, this is a great sacrifice. What with the clothes, make-up, scented oils, and such to make you more appealing. Do you know the estimated amount I will get for you—not including the cut your father will receive—won't even cover the cost of the scented oils. This truly is a great sacrifice, and not a wise business deal on my part." She flings open her fan and begins to fan herself as her eyes fall to Renkotsu again, only this time….they were more…flirty, "But your father assures me that it will all come out to my benefit in the end, and it better."

"Yes, ma'am." I say trying hard to hide my amusement by keeping my head low and my lips pursed.

She looks Renkotsu up and down for a moment as if pleased at what she sees, "Perhaps I should hire you to properly discipline my other girls."

I cough to hide a laugh.

I catch his side glare and throw him back a raised eye brow and a smirk, "I am flattered," he begins, "but perhaps we should focus on the matter at hand."

"Of course, of course. Girls, take this one" she flicks her fan in my direction, "to the doctor so she can be checked. Afterwards, get her prepared for auction. We don't have much time and until we get final word from the doctor, don't use any of the really good stuff."

The maids bow and begin to usher me out of the room.

"Wait! Check for what?"

The hag scowls, "What else would I waste my time checking a whore for?"

Within the hour, I was felt up in places my not even my own fingers have been before, scrubbed, scoured, plucked, brushed, painted, and clothed. To say that I was furious at Renkotsu would be a severe understatement, and a part of me wanted nothing more than to strangle that fat bald head of his.

The maids lead me to a viewing window where I would sit until the auction. Like a roasted pig on display at a butchers.

Carefully, so as to not receive another glare from an older maid in charge of watching me, I lean over to read the sign placed under me for all passersby to see.

Madame Jade Presents:

The Lotus Auction of the supple young bride

Mahime

My face contorts in to a look of utter disgust earning me a sharp pinch from the elderly maid. Quickly, a smile reappears on my lips as I continue to stare out in to the street.

The hardest thing about all this, were the people. Women would either avoid their gaze or look upon me with full disgust. Young awkward boys would giggle and try to touch me before being shooed away by the maid, little girls would look up at me in awe at "how pretty" I am before mothers snatch them back and reprimanded them for glorifying "such a vile creature".

But the men…..the men were the worst.

As the evening turned to night, more of them began to appear at the house, stopping shortly to read the sign and appraise me. Some were pleased noting how lovely my face was or that "my tits were just right", others frowned stating "I looked too much like their daughter" or how that "the women in these auctions were never really Lotus flowers, just tight enough to pass as one". One pig even goes as far as to say he needed "more than sake cup breast".

I spit at him for that and the crowd laughs. The maid stands between me and the enraged villager until a bouncer arrives to take him away.

Not that it really matters, but my breast are at least rice bowls, damn it.

I exhale as I continue to stare out at the slowly emptying street. I could hear a swirl of music, male laughter, and giggling women as the house began to pick up business. I begin to work a kink out of my neck as I hear a set of footsteps approach. Looking up again, my eyes fall on a very small traveler clad in all white with what appears to be a square basket on his back. He pace is casual and unhurried as his eyes shift towards me.

Then, and almost comically, his entire body freezes mid-step. His eyes scan the sign then shifts to me. The white flap shields any of his facial features from me outside of his eyes which had red tattoos around them.

We stare at one another for quite some time when suddenly, he appears in front of me. I jump back as a small gasp escapes me, and struggle to keep my smile.

"She….she….SHE'S PERFECT!"

The maid and I share an uneasy glance as she clears her throat, "Good evening, sir. If you are interested in our latest girl, please come in. The auction will start very soon.

His eyes glance down at the sign once more, "Mahime….GEHEHEHEHEHE….OH how lovely you are my pretty bride~~"

My smile drops and for once, the maid doesn't pinch me for it.

"Can she speak?" He asks not taking his eyes off of me.

"Well, normally, yes, but this particular girl has lost her privileges to interact with the customers."

"Oooooooh~~ Have we been a naughty girl today? Gehehehehehehe"

Heavy steps distract me from the little freak and on to the half-metal man from earlier. He stops in front of me and my breath catches in my throat as I take in how truly massive the man is up close.

"Hey, what's the holdup Ginkotsu? See something you-"

Our target appears next to the massive metal man and he stops short once his eyes land on me. He sways slightly indicating some level of intoxication, but surprisingly he seemed more sober then last I saw him.

His eyes narrow a bit as he steps closer to me as if assessing me before his eyes widen in realization, "Ooh! H-hey! You're that girl with the ass father." He shoves the little man off to the side as he continues his approach. He lets out a low whistle, "You clean up real good, don't cha?"

My body stiffens as I watch a dark smile form over his face.

Don't touch me. Don't fucking touch me!

He reaches his hand out towards me "Real good….yeah…" he nods as if some invisible person was giving him the greatest idea in the world, "…I'm buying her….."

"WHAT! No! SHE'S MINE!"

The target freezes for a moment before looking around for the voice. Eventually he looks down and laughs, "That's real cute, kid. But you wouldn't know what to do with all that anyway." He shoves the tiny man further back causing him to fall to his butt before turning his attention back to me.

His hand caresses my knee, but before I could react, the maid quickly swats him away only to have her face pale once her mind caught up with her reflexes.

"I….I….I'm so sorry, sir… b-but please….please refrain from touching the girls."

The man looks at the hand the she struck almost in wonder. "Did you really just touch me?"

I glance over at the maid to see her shaking, "I…I'm sorry-" she begins.

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

"An entitled piece of shit."

The maid gasps as all eyes land on me.

Fuck me and my mouth!

"Am I now?"

The little man begins to laugh and the target glares at him, "Ginkotsu, take care of the ant for me please, while I teach this slick mouth bitch some respect."

"Get up now!" the maid whispers and I immediately obey.

"Gesh"

The massive metal man turns towards the creeper who quickly stands and darts inside the brothel before Mr. Metal could get close to him.

"Go!" the maid shoves me off the back of the platform and towards the door before the man snatches her back to him.

She screams, but its cut short when he presses his blade to her throat.

I turn and watch her form tremble under his tight grip. Her eyes shut tight as she waits for the inevitable. She lets out a shaky breath as she tries to resign herself to her fate.

I inhale and exhale loudly before stepping back on to the platform.

Her eyes snap open, "No! Run!"

"Do you want to die?" I ask her flatly.

"W-what?"

"Do. You. WANT. To. Die? Because that's what's gonna happen if I leave."

I hop off the other side of the platform so that I am standing in front of the both of them, "Do you want me to save you?"

The man begins to laugh, "How cute. A whore thinks she can stop-"

"Shut the fuck up before you piss me off."

I hear his voice catch in his throat as our eyes lock, "No one is speaking to you right now, so be a good little boy and shut-up."

I slide my eyes back to the maid who looks at me with an expression awe and fear as if I had transformed in some way in to a creature both terrifying and beautiful.

"Do you want to die?"

"N-n-no…..no!"

I nod and look towards the man, "Well, you heard her. Let her go."

His face twitches in irritation, "You fucking bitch! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE! I'm so sick of you spoiled whores! Bitches need to remember their fucking places."

"I'll find mine when you find yours."

He throws the maid down in rage and charges at me knife at the ready.

I smile, "Cute."

I dodge his swipes with ease realizing he was no different from the trained soldiers I've fought and killed the past. Not to mention he was nothing compared to Bankotsu. In fact, I started to feel bad for him. Dodging another feeble attempt to stab me, I grabbed his wrist and snapped it back causing him to drop the blade. He lets out a pained cry as he falls to his knees in front of me clutching his wrist.

I roll my eyes as I watch him writhe in pain, "Oh, come on. I barely touched you. It's a sprain at best."

As if to counter my argument, he holds up his hand to demonstrate the freakishly odd angle it was it in.

"…Oh! oooooh….shit…..uhhh….sorry?"

I look down at my hands as if they were someone else's, "Huh….I guess his training actually is paying off….go figure."

I feel someone snatching me backwards and over the platform. "Go! Go now!" the maid barks as she pushes me through the door and slams it shut behind her.

We stand in silence for a moment as I continue to inspect my hands still not believing what they were capable of.

"….Thank you"

I look up at her and smile, "It's no prob-"

"But you should not have done that."

She turns and her face is ghostly pale, "You really should not have done that."

Like I said, there is another half to this chapter, but I wanted to get something out for you guys. Again, sorry for the freakishly long wait.