Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, all rights are reserved for Rumiko Takahashi and affiliates.
Also, this symbol here in the parentheses (*x*) marks the actual beginning of the story. I know it's a bit confusing, but everything up until that mark (including all previous chapters) are more backstory and context information. The real story begins after that tiny marker.
Chapter five: And So It Begins
Weapons are not Aikotsu's friend, this is a well known fact. She absolutely abhors all forms of violence and weapons, preferring to choose the pacifistic way of life. Through her ten years of life, she's only ever needed to use evasive maneuvers, and for that she is eternally grateful. She would hate to be the cause of someone getting injured, no matter the situation.
And so when Aikotsu is gifted with her very own Hiraikotsu by Sango's father, she isn't sure what to think. It's incredible, and skillfully crafted, and she's indescribably grateful that Katashi-sama had taken the time to make such a beautiful thing for her, but she just doesn't like weapons. Maybe she just won't use it? Carry it around and use it as a scare tactic? The least she can do is clean it then. Although, that plan isn't easy to go through with when Sango is asked to accompany Aikotsu and her brothers on a mission to exterminate a nest of youkai to the South. Not wanting to look bad or ungrateful in front of her best friend, Aikotsu dutifully trains with her enormous boomerang, although she detests the thought of actually causing someone pain.
A week later, her brothers are off on another mercenary mission, this time to the West, and Aikotsu, Sango, and Kohaku are training with Sango's father. As the Chief and Headman of the village, Katashi-sama is a firm man with even firmer principles. He isn't one to wilt in the face of adversity. But he is genuinely a nice man, once you get to know him.
Which is why Aikotsu feels so guilty that she hates fighting. Whenever her brothers are gone, Katashi-sama steps up and offers his home to her, giving her a roof over her head, a bed to sleep in, and food to eat. The least she could do is learn to fight, even if she doesn't like it. But she just can't make her hand pick up the tessen, staring guiltily at the training dummy a few feet away. Sango's father sighs, crouching down until he is eye level with the young girl. "Aikotsu, I know you aren't fond of bloodshed, nor are you keen on the idea of combat or conflict at all, but learning to fight is crucial to survival at times. There will be times when fighting will save your life. I know you don't like it, neither does Kohaku, but he knows that he has to learn to be able to defend himself and the people he cares about, even if he doesn't like it. Learning will help you the same way. I wouldn't ask you if I didn't care." Knowing deep down that the man is right, Aikotsu's will wavers and she reluctantly gives in, and she grits her teeth, forcing herself to pick up the tessen, holding it properly in her hand. It takes weeks upon weeks, and her brothers staying with her in Sango's hut, but she finally learns how to fight. First she learns one-on-one, then two-on-one, until she's facing off against five opponents and up at a time. By her birthday, she has become a skilled user of her Hiraikotsu, as well as the kusarigama, the nagamaki, the tessen, sai blades, kunai, katanas, and the bokuto.
Oddly enough, training with Katashi-sama reminds her of when she was learning early evasive maneuvers with Ban-nii and Ja-nii. She could still clearly remember one training session in particular.
"And you just twist like this, okay? Then you flip and swing their legs out from under them." Aikotsu watched and listened intently as Jakotsu showed her how to turn the tables of a battle in her favor. He and Bankotsu had instructed her that since she was so young and small, many opponents had a height advantage on her, but that she could use her short stature to her own advantage. "Do you get it?"
"I think so." She says, uncertainly, trying to wrap her young brain around the move.
"Maybe you need a demonstration. Bankotsu, could you help me?" The leader was just about to respond when Aikotsu held up her hand.
"No, it's okay. I need to learn hands-on how to do this. Just use it on me," The little girl breathes in calmly, shaking out her limbs. "Okay. Go." She states bravely. Jakotsu closes his eyes, hoping he doesn't hurt her too much. He falls into the maneuver flawlessly, his movements quick, but he's sure she's watching carefully.
The next thing Aikotsu knows, she's on the ground, staring up at the sky and wondering just what the devil happened. Jakotsu and Bankotsu's worried faces peer down at her, grabbing her by the hands and gently helping her up. "Are you good?" Jakotsu asks, carefully examining her head.
Aikotsu smiles. "I'm fine. But you're right, that move is really good. I need to learn it as quick as I can."
Although that was also the day that Jakotsu had pushed Suikotsu into a lake as a prank, which resulted in him being chased around the camp and then proceeding to hide behind her like she was a human shield. Suikotsu, in response, had merely lifted her up, put her on his shoulders, and continued to terrorize his younger brother throughout the day.
...
"Happy birthday, Aikotsu!" Aikotsu smiles widely, a warm feeling welling up in her chest. Her brothers are all around her, smiling down at her. She's got all she needs right here.
"I can't believe you're already eleven!" Bankotsu moans. "I remember when you were just two! It feels like yesterday!" He cries, wrapping his arms around the still-grinning now eleven-year-old.
"Ban-nii, have you had sake?" She asks smugly, but hugs back anyway. Truthfully, it does feel like just yesterday that Bankotsu had brought her back and made her into their family. It's hard to believe it's already been nearly nine years since he'd found her. Since then, she's gained seven wonderful brothers, three best friends in the forms of Sango, Inuyasha, and Miroku, and her favorite kitties in the world, Buyo and Junko. She's so lucky, really.
From Jakotsu, she had received three new kimonos and two yukata, along with some lip stain and coal for her eyes. Renkotsu had given her fresh scrolls and new ink and calligraphy pens. Ginkotsu had given her two new winter kimonos and a pair of geta with tabi. Bankotsu had bought a pretty hair ornament for her, which she'd put on immediately, and a winter shawl. Mukotsu had procured a beautiful tea set for her, one she was very careful not to accidentally ruin. She was gifted a necklace by Kyokotsu, along with a flower crown.
Upon visiting the demon slayer's village, Aikotsu was also gifted her very own exterminator's suit, the accent color being a dark green. The air was cold and snow continued to fall for the duration of the day, but they paid it no mind. The celebration with Sango and everyone from the demon slayer's village had to be delayed by several months due to an outbreak of both demons and illness that swept through the country. It had only just died down, the cold freezing the disease and demons solid. This was their chance, and they weren't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She and Inuyasha and Sango had played all day, making snow angels and tossing snowballs at each other with reckless abandon. Aikotsu laughed as Sango slapped Miroku and proceeded to rip into him for touching her backside. It was no secret to the young girl that the young monk apprentice had a massive crush on Sango. She'd first noticed it after Sango had returned from a mission a few months back, talking about the young son of a Lord, Takeda Kuranosuke. Apparently the young Lord, or 'The Runny Nose' as Sango had referred to him once, had taken quite a fancy to her friend and had been enamored from first glance.
Miroku found this utterly infuriating, and was clearly doing all he could to keep Sango's attention on him and not the Takeda Lord. Aikotsu thought it was absolutely adorable. Jakotsu could beg to differ.
*x*
"Aikotsu, you are going to fall." Suikotsu warned as he carefully watched his sister balance herself on a fence that ran next to the path. Renkotsu sighed, already anticipating what would happen. 'Oh well,' He thought to himself, 'Better to let her learn the hard way.' She's going to have to learn someday that her actions have a consequence, after all.
"No I won't." She disagrees cheerfully with a bright smile. Then as she twirled on her next step, as if to prove her wrong, she suddenly lost her footing, and tumbled headfirst off of the fence. Thinking quickly, she flipped herself and landed deftly on her feet, arms spread out to aid in stabilization. The girl says nothing, frozen in place as Jakotsu and Bankotsu release a sigh of relief.
Suikotsu sighs, pressing a hand to his face in exasperation, somehow knowing deep in his soul that this girl will be the death of him.
"What did I just tell you?" He asked rhetorically.
"I don't know!" The young girl responds cheerfully, not batting an eyelid, although now choosing to stick to solid ground. At the ripe age of eleven, Aikotsu is as spunky and cheerful as a child can get. Sometimes she can be willful or distracted, but she never forgets just how lucky she is. But she also isn't really the type to admit when she's in the wrong, hence the current situation.
"Aikotsu, here. I made a few more smoke bombs for you." Mukotsu said, handing her three canteens. She grins widely and attaches them to her waist belt immediately, bringing her arsenal up to five.
"Thanks, Mu-nii!" She thanks him brightly. In the background, she can hear her Ren-nii and Sui-nii discussing money, and frowns when she hears 'job up North' and 'dangerous but necessary' from Renkotsu. So they're running low on money again. That means her brothers are going away on another job. She doesn't want that. While they do need money, apparently, she hates it when they leave. She never knows if they'll come back safe, even if they do promise to stay safe. They'll always have to stay on guard; safety is never a guarantee in the world they live in. To distract herself, she plays with Junko and Buyo late into the evening, absorbing every moment with her brothers that she can.
...
The night is calm, the only sound coming from crickets chirping and the crackle of a fire. Surrounding the fire is the Band of Seven, as they've come to call themselves, despite having eight people, all fast asleep. And suddenly, one shriek ruins the peace completely.
"BAN-NII! I'M DYING!" Bankotsu shoots up, grabbing Banryu and looking around wildly for danger, only to find none. He blinks, still half-asleep and more than a little confused. Instead, Aikotsu is standing in front of him, holding her sleeping yukata that is stained with blood, wearing one of her spare yukata. "I'm gonna die, aren't I Ban-nii?" She sniffles, on the brink of tears.
"W-wha?" He stutters, still not comprehending what she's saying. They only just got back from a rather brutal and dangerous mercenary job up North, and he was honestly exhausted. This is not helping at all.
"I woke up 'cause something felt weird and my yukata was bloody! It's because I was walking on the fence and didn't listen, isn't it? I'm gonna die!" She cries, sobbing as her breath comes out in shaky pants. Bankotsu doesn't know what to say. Just as he's about to open his mouth and bullshit some answer, he's saved.
The commotion roused Suikotsu and he yawns, struggling to sit up. "Aikotsu, you aren't dying, you've entered womanhood. Every woman bleeds once a month." He sits up and sleepily tells her to clean herself up in the nearby stream. Once she returns, he gives her a loincloth and tells her to put it on. He nods as soon as she has it on. "I'll check again in the morning. Don't worry, you're not dying." And with this, he rolls over and falls back asleep almost instantaneously, loud snores rumbling from him. The leader of their group isn't surprised by this, Suikotsu is a very deep sleeper, but he's also the type that hates to be woken up. He's easier to anger when half-asleep, so Aikotsu is lucky that she didn't get chewed out. Even if it isn't her fault.
Bankotsu looks over to Aikotsu. She still looks on the brink of a complete breakdown. "Come here." He instructs her, holding back a grunt as she accidentally plants her elbow right in her stomach. "You doin' okay?" He whispers. She shakes her head against his shoulder. "That's alright. You can sleep here with me tonight." Blood isn't a problem for him, he's been covered in it on more than one occasion, so his sister bleeding a bit isn't a big deal.
"Once upon a time," Bankotsu begins, "there were three boys. They had been orphaned and met each other at a very young age. Because of how similar they and their situations were, the three banded together and became brothers. It had just been the three of them for years, taking on whatever job they could for some extra money. One day, the youngest found a little girl on the side of the road. He was going to leave her there, but something about her made him reconsider. There was just a look in her eyes, that she was alone in this world. Since he'd been there, known that loneliness, he brought her back to his camp and convinced his brothers to take the girl in. They named her Aikotsu, because she wielded love like it were her personal skill. Over the years, their group expanded, and they gained more brothers. Aikotsu was very bright and amazingly smart, and she knew that they had problems with money. The brothers didn't know what to do, they all wanted to have enough to care for their sister but didn't know where to get that money from."
Aikotsu shifted a bit. "Do they ever make enough money for all of them? To support themselves and their siblings?" She whispers. Aikotsu isn't stupid. She knows Bankotsu is using a story to express how worried he and the rest of her brothers are about their financial situation. Their situation is appallingly bad, and they rely on rations more often than not, but the question can't hurt.
"I don't know." Bankotsu says truthfully. "They haven't figured it out yet. But the youngest brother has faith that they'll find a way. He holds onto hope, because he owes so much to that little Aikotsu. She's responsible for turning him into who he is today, and he has to pay her back for everything she's done for them." Aikotsu wipes her eyes with her sleeves, hugging her brother tightly.
"I'm so lucky to have you; all of you." She reveals with a bright smile. "I never want to take you for granted." Even though they occasionally bicker (well, Suikotsu and Jakotsu almost constantly argue), they all love each other to the bottom of their hearts, and wouldn't trade a single one of their siblings for anything in the world.
Aikotsu snuggles deeper in her brother's arms, humming her favorite lullaby until they're both asleep, assured by each other's presence.
Miles away, a figure chuckles darkly as the image of the little family fades from his orb, flaxen white hair undulating in the breeze. His dark red eyes flash menacingly in the low light of the moon. "Soon, I'll have my revenge.." He whispers into the wind, scarlet eyes crazed. "You'll regret what you took from me, little brother."
HOLY HELL WEASEL! Boom! That is the first five chapters of this beautiful creation of mine! Chapter six is already in the works and will mayhaps be halfway finished by the time I have uploaded TLS 1-5? It's not a guaranteed thing, but I has some things planned.
Also thanks to my big sister Da-Wolf-Goddess for all of her amazing help, and to my best friend in the whole wide ass world and the greatest mastermind who puts up with all of my bullshit, pandagirl247. I love you Queens! Thanks for putting up with my BS since I got this idea!
I'd also love to thank all of the people who have given me such support on my posts regarding TLS on Tumblr, you dears will always be in my tags! *less than three emoticon*
I can't wait to see you all next chapter!
-FH19