Here is the second half. Like I said this chapter was just too large for my comfort to post as one, but it takes place that same day the previous chapter ended on.

Hope you enjoy and Stay Caffeinated XD

******Early Afternoon******

"Yaruki…..Yaruki…..YARUKI!"

I blink a few times before pulling my eyes from the forest line to Okimi beside me.

"Are you ok?"

"….Ugh…..y-yeah…..yeah, no, I'm good." I flash her a quick forced smile before looking back towards the forest, glaring.

Ever since last night, I've continuously felt eyes on me which made it impossible to shake the idea that something is following us.

"You just seem….a bit distracted." Okimi continues tugging lightly on my sleeve to get my attention.

Long fingers begin to wiggle in my peripherals as small steady puffs of air slide over my right ear. "OoOooOoooOO, it's the trees. The trees are going to get her!"

My knuckles crack as I lean to the side and rocket the back of my fist behind me, nailing Jakotsu right in the nose.

"AHHH!" He clocks me one good time on the head before I am able to dodge out the way, and I spin around to face him, hands already clenched into fists.

"I'm not scared of stupid trees!" I bark taking another swing at his stupid face, but he effortlessly dodges my strikes and takes off laughing back to the front of the procession."Stupid fucking asshole!" I sneer shaking my fist at him while wishing he would suddenly burst in to flames.

"There's nothing wrong with fearing trees-"

"I'M NOT SCARED OF FUCKING TREES!"

Okimi's mouth seals shut as I burn her with my glare for a moment before looking away and sighing.

"S-sorry….it's just….." I glance back behind us, "I just...I just cant shake this feeling that we're being followed...that we're being watched." I glare back behind us and into the forest before fishing out the torn off white fabric from my coin purse. I hand it over to Okimi, and her face pales slightly as she examines it.

"Last night….I fired an arrow in to the forest after I heard...heard laughter...or giggling...it was something. I was hoping it was just my imagination…..but when morning came, this was pinned to the tree."

"Does master Bankotsu know?"

My eye twitches, "Don't call him that. If you do, he's gonna expect me to call him that, but to answer your question, no. I haven't told him. I'm certain now something or someone is out there, but I don't really know how many there are."

"What if it's another demon?" Her face suddenly becomes ghostly white, "Like Hiten?"

I shake my head as I quicken our pace to catch up with the others, "Doubtful. A demon would have attacked by now. They're human…..They got to be human. Worse case, they're just a group of bandits scoping us out to see how strong we are."

"You think they'll try anything."

I scoff, "If they're stupid. I've seen whole armies freeze at the mere sight of Ginkotsu, and he's not even our strongest man."

"What are you two yujos whispering about?"

I narrow my eyes at Renkotsu as he stares back at us.

"We're discussing how wonderfully fat your bald head has gotten, so do you mind?"

He glares at me before his eyes fall to the fabric in Okimi's hand. I quickly snatch it from her and tuck it back on to my person, "Mind your fucking business, 'monk'."

"My apologies." He says with a sinister smile, "I merely became concerned after seeing such pained looks on your faces. I didn't realize the two of you were trying to think. Carry on…..but don't strain too hard."

"Tsk….." I sneer at the back of Renkotsu's head before picking up a nice sized rock.

Renkotsu and I exchange dirty looks at one another as we sit before a frustrated Bankotsu like children about to be scolded by their father.

I exhale as I pick at the scorched parts of my pants and casually examine the make shift battle ground we had created in our argument. I make a mental note of where other two arrows are so that I could grab them once we got finished with Bankotsu.

From the corner of my eye, I see Okimi and Jakotsu putting out the last of the flames.

Renkotsu clears his throat, and my attention discreetly shifts over to him. He sits tall with his hands clenched in fists and resting on the tops of his thighs just like me. Despite the calm blank expression on his face, the slight trembling of his shoulder where my third arrow rests proves that he is still in some level of discomfort.

I smirk at the thought.

Banktosu exhales slowly as he pinches the bridge of his nose, "What did we agree to the last time this happened?"

My smirk falls and I huff folding my arms over my chest.

'This was stupid.'

"Well?"

"He started it."

Renkotsu and I throw another wave of ugly glares at one another.

"You hit him first, Yaruki."

"SO?!"

"Then that means you started it!"

"No! I was having a private conversation with Okimi when this fucking mouth-breather you have the nerve to make me call 'brother' decided to spew his 'Mighty Man Woman Hating' bullshit. It's not my fault that I happened to be holding a rock at the time when my hand slipped."

"My fist is about to slip right in your face."

I cock my head to the side glaring at him, "Do it! I fucking dare you!"

"Stop!"

"No, I'm sick of his shit! There is always some sly ass comment he's fucking making, and you never address it!."

"Should I speak with words containing fewer syllables so you don't feel as threatened?"

I point my arms towards Renkotsu as if to showcase him and stare at Bankotsu.

"Yaruki, We argreed-"

"AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT ADDRESSING THIS?! And you wonder why I shot him?!"

"And missed."

"Really!" I slow turn towards him, "I missed!?"

I slap the arrow that is still embedded in his arm, and his punch lands right between my eyes.

My nails dig deep into the skin as my hand cuts across his face and as a final 'fuck you' before Bankotsu is able to grab me, I grab hold of the arrow and allow Bankotsu's momentum in pulling me away to aid in ripping the arrow out of Renkotsu's shoulder.

Renkotsu swears venomously as he lunges at me only to be held back by Jakotsu on Bankotsu's orders.

"LET ME TRY AGAIN, YOU SON OF A BITCH, SINCE APPARENTLY I FUCKING 'MISSED' THE FIRST TIME!"

"If you weren't Brother Bankotsu's little whore, I'd have burned you alive by now!"

"Yeah well your mother's a whore!"

"And your father is dead!"

"DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT MY FUCKING DAD!"

"ENOUGH!"

Bankotsu throws me on to his shoulder as I struggle to lunge back at Renkotsu's stupid face, and he puts a good bit of space between Renkotsu and me before dropping me unceremoniously to the ground.

"Since you're so anxious to shoot something, go with Ginkotsu and get us some food. Your impromptu sparing match with Renkotsu wasted too much time, so we'll just stop here for the night."

"I don't fucking want to."

"I'm not fucking asking you."

"I don't want to go with Ginkotsu!"

"Again, not giving you a choice. You don't like hunting with Jakotsu, only one of you would come back if I sent Renkotsu, and the village girl is staying here to tend to Renkotsu's wounds."

"Just let the bald bitch bleed." I say darkly glaring at him from across our makeshift battle field.

Bankotsu squats down so that he is eye level with me, "If I have to repeat myself again..."

I clench my jaw fighting against the cold shiver threatening to rock my body at Bankotsu's low even words.

"Tch! Whatever…." I mutter, but stand and storm off in to the woods. Ginkotsu following not too far behind.

A low irritated hum escapes me as I gently massage my temples and back of my neck. Exhaling slowly, I finally open my eye to view – once again- the bloody scene before me.

The boar we had been tracking for the better half of an hour now lay before me…..

….and on me….

….and behind me….

…..and in the tree tops….

….just…..just everywhere….

I push a portion of the pigs flesh off my shoulder and sigh once more.

"Ok Ginkotsu….what have we learned?" I say clasping my hands together and pressing the sides of my index fingers to my lips.

"Gesh…"

The man give me a cold side glare and I shrug my shoulders.

"No…no, don't get upset with me. That was a valid question. I'm not mad. In fact, I like the enthusiasm. Really, I do. Never change…..but umm…..one of the main goals to hunting for food is to actually have something to bring back. So….you know…..I just...I just don't think canon fire is the BEST method for hunting. But! That's just my humble opinion."

The massive man steps forwards and lifts up the largest portion of the boar that was still somewhat intact.

"Gesh…this should suffice…."

"It's gonna have to." I say patting the side of his arm, "Your aim was spot on though."

"…..gesh….."

We begin to make our way back to camp, and I sigh as I pull all my hair to the front of me and inspect how much filth there is.

"AHH!" I slap the back of my neck where I felt the sharp sudden prick, and feel something tumble down my back. I check the around my feet but see nothing.

"The fuck was that?", I rub my sore neck confused for a moment before dismissing it and running up to catch Ginkotsu.

I catch a couple of smaller game as we make our way back just for good measure, and hand some of them over to Okimi so she could assist me in skinning them once we reached the camp site again.

"What the hell?!"

I stifle a laugh at Bankotsu's baffled face as Ginkotsu shows him the boar, but then quickly turn and make a bee line for Okimi. Unfortunately, he catches up to me, grabbing hold of my arm, and spinning me around to face him.

He folds his arms over his chest as I bit my lower lip to keep myself from laughing. "Before you even start, I already spoke with Ginkotsu about the use of canon fire as a means to hunt.

"…."

"Plus, you told me to go with Ginkotsu to hunt, not take Ginkotsu with me to hunt. So he, technically, was the one in charge of the hunt this time. I just let him do whatever he fuck wanted."

"….."

"You know...since I have three fucking arrows to my name and all."

"..."

I mirror his stance and glare.

"….It never occurred to you to tell him that BEFORE he blew our food to pieces."

"He is a LITERAL WALKING FUCKING ARSENAL. What could I have possibly been able to tell him that would have stopped him from using whatever the fuck he felt like using?!"

Bankotsu runs his hands over his face letting out a noise that was a mix between a growl, a sigh, and a groan.

I watch him for a moment before smirking, "Awww..." I lean forwards a bit and rub the upper parts of his arms as i poke my lower lip out in mock sympathy, "is a group of crazy ass murders too much stress for poor Bankotsu to handle?"

The look he gives me through his fingers sends a cold chill down my spine and I suck my lips in to my mouth before straightening up.

"I...I'm just...gonna..." I point in a random direction behind me as I slowly back away from him.

"Yeah, you fucking do that."

"Yep..." I scurry off and towards Okimi to help her prep the food.

The remainder of the afternoon passes without much incident as Okimi and I finish prepping the food. We salvaged as much as we could of the boar and take turns minding the meat the roasted on the fire. I run a hand through my bangs as I catch myself from falling for like the fifth time.

"What the hell is wrong with me?"

I readjust myself and rub my cheeks a bit before checking on the rabbit I was currently roasting. Again, I jerk my body back up and take a deep breath in. I didn't feel sleepy, but...

I blink again fighting off as best I can this sleep.

"Are you ok, yaruki?"

I look over to Okimi and smile, "Yeah, no, I good. Just...ugh...feeling a bit droopy, but the rabbits almost done and afterwards, I'll go to sleep." I fan her away as she appraches and she stops, "Alright...just call me if you need help."

I snort, "It's a rabbit. I can cook a rabbit." I shift so that I was sitting on my legs and focus my attention back to the the rabbit.

"I'm going to be delicious." it whispers and I blink.

"...What?..."

"Keep your voice down...whisper like me."

I blink again and watch as the headless body wiggles as best it can on the spit. I lean forwards, "...what?" I whisper

"The fire thinks your cute."

I look from the dancing body and in to the eyes of the flames. It winks at me.

"It wants a kiss."

I lean back and look around the campsite to see if anyone else see this, but no one was looking this way.

I look back to see that the headless rabbit body managed to free its self from the spit and was dancing on top of it. Swaying its body to unheard music.

"I'm gonna be so delicious." it whispers as it slides its paws now its chest sensually.

I lean a bit closer, "Am I dreaming?"

"The only dream here is you, hot stuff." The fire whispers winking and making a kissing motion at me.

"Dance with me, Yaruki. Be delicious."

I giggle as I continue watching the rabbit dance before swaying along to the music myself.

"We're so yummy."

"Give me a kiss, hot stuff."

I giggle harder as I lean forwards puckering my lips.

********Bankotsu's POV*******

"DAMNIT!"

I lunge myself forwards and yank Yaruki backwards away from the flames and into my arms. She blinks for a moment before looking over at me.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Her eyes study my face before she snorts and erupts in to a fit of laughter as she leans in to my chest. After a moment she leans back and looks at my face again before erupting in to laughter, "Bunny Bankotsu..."

"What?"

She suddenly pulls me closer, "The fire wanted to show me his butt." she whispers in my ear and rests her face in the crook of my neck as she continues to laugh.

"OoooooooKay..."

I scoop her up into my arms and make my way towards a spot away from the fire.

"Nooooooo," she says softly, "You have to hop...Bunnies hop."

"I'm not a bunny. What's wrong with you?"

She leans back away from me suddenly and I lose my grip for a moment.

"I'll tell you what's wrong with me." She whispers and then pulls me closer to her.

"I'm fucking delicious." She falls in to another laughing fit.

I readjust my grip and place my hand on her forehead, "You're burning up." I mutter.

"FIRE BABIES!" she yells throwing her body back and her arms out. I twist myself around in time to land on my back and she laughs.

"Someone go fetch me some water and I need a rag."

She readjusts herself so that she is straddling me, "Hop, Hop, Hop, bunny." I feel my face contort and grip her hips as quick powerful surges of pleasure run through me with each bounce.

"Hop,hop,ho-"

I flip her to her back with blinding speed and press my hand over her mouth. She continues to jerk up and down while chanting the word 'hop' which is muffled by my hand.

I exhale slowly...waiting...suppressing...ignoring...

Finally, I'm able to open my eyes. "...Stop it." I say firmly holding my finger up to her. She responds by giggling and bringing her arms to her chest as she continues to make a hopping motion.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" Jakotsu asks crouching down next to us

"I don't know. She's running a fever." I remove my hand and watch as she slowly sways her arms and body as if dancing. Her breaths are short and staggered as if she is trying to inhale deeply but can't. I note the thin layer of sweat on her face as I grab hold of her arms and gently move them out the way, "Hey. Hey, look at me."

She opens her eyes and begins to laugh, "Bunny..."

"You need to go to sleep, ok?"

"Hop, hop-"

"NO!...No more hopping. Sleep." I pin her arms down on to her chest and she watches me for a moment and her eyes begin to droop, "That's it. Sleep. You'll feel better when you wake up."

I watch as she fights against it, jerking them open just a bit each time, until slowly they close. She suddenly becomes chillingly still and jolt of fear runs through me. I fight the urge to shake her awake and wait. Finally, I see her inhale again and I relax.

"Big Brother!"

I turn to see Renkotsu emerge from the forest and tosses a short portly man forwards before handing my the rag and water, "I found this creature skulking around our campsite."

The portly man lets out a cry as he takes a bowing position, "N-nnno, No! You've got it all wrong. I wasn't skulking! I am merely a simple traveler who got lost. I came upon your camp after hearing all the commotion. Please! Let me go and I'll leave."

I narrow my eyes, "You got lost?"

He looks up allowing me to get a better look at his ugly face, "Y-yes. You see, I am on my way back home after visiting a patient of mine and-"

"Patient?..So...your a doctor?"

"Well...I'm not formally trained, but I am versed in plants, herbs, and various mixtures of the like."

I study his trembling form for a moment longer before standing and walking towards him, "Are you the one who's been following us lately?" I ask grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.

His face pales drastically and he shakes his head frantically, "W-w-wha-what?! N-n-n-no. I-I-I mean I have been on this path for a few days...perhaps you've simply mistaken the fact that we are just traveling in the same direction. I...I am merely trying to get back home."

I huff as I turn dragging him towards Yaruki, "Heal her." I release him and watch as he cautiously approaches her. He gently places his trembling hand her forehead before carefully brushing her bangs from her closed eyes.

"...I...I can most definitely try..."

I squat down next to him and tightly grab hold of the back of his neck.

"I wasn't asking you."

He gulps and I see his face twitch ever so slightly.

'Was that a smirk?'