"Damn, gets better every time." Bankotsu smirked as he rolled off of Orihime.
Orihime giggled and rested her head on his bare chest.
"I couldn't agree more." She smiled.
He wrapped his arm around her and buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the sweet floral scent.
He hadn't seen or spoken to Riza in nearly three months. Not a day went by that she wasn't on his mind.
He wrapped himself fully into Orihime to ease the weight in his chest. He felt that Orihime could distract him and help forget about Riza but it didn't work. He knew he was playing a dangerous game by sleeping with her.
Her father was their most important client. Orihime was his only child so he was much more protective of her than most parents.
The only reason Bankotsu was a candidate for her hand was because of his charming good looks and his strength and power.
Orihime has fallen completely in love with him. She was dedicated to him and only him, which will make things more complicated when he finally reconnects with Riza.
The mere thought of her with another man made him sick to his stomach.
He glanced down at Orihime's naked body and was ready to pounce on her again and again.
"So, you want me to sneak into the castle and kidnap the lord's wife? I thought he wasn't married?" Riza repeated to her client.
"No, my dear. I want you to kidnap his daughter. The wife died years ago." Her client explained as he pulled out a drawing of Orihime.
"She's beautiful. What's her name?" She asked.
"Orihime. You will take her away to our secret hideout. The lord will do anything to have his precious heir safe and sound."
"Any precautions I should know about?" She asked crossing her leg over the other as she sat on his table.
"Yes. The guards are well trained. Do you have to be sneaky which I'm sure you already know since you are a master assassin. There is a group of mercenaries that work for the lord. The leader is the boyfriend of princess Orihime."
Riza froze. Her breath stilled and her heart slammed against her chest.
"How many mercenaries?" She asked.
"Seven of them. They're called the band of Seven. Very high success rates, so be careful and don't get caught."
She nodded and exited the room. Riza let out a deep breath and leaned against the wall.
He had moved on. He was now with some princess and has probably forgotten all about her.
Riza wished she could move on to another love but she couldn't. She had shared her bed with few men but none of them could compare to Bankotsu.
Riza walks into her room to gather her things. She had become something of a ghost. Katsu was on the hunt for her head and the love of her life was with someone else. Reason after reason screamed for her to leave the country and head back to Europe but the mere thought of never seeing Bankotsu again nearly broke her to tears.
"Damn it! Get it together Riza! You will not let some man have the better of you! You are strong and resilient! Not some love sick kitten, but a tiger!" She said to herself before dropping on her futon.
Mamo enters to room, closing the sliding door behind him.
"Riza! I have a surprise for you! I managed to sneak into our old hideout while Katsu was out hunting for you and snatched all your bottles of strange liquids!" He says carefully placing a large bag down. The sound of bottles clanking together perked her interest.
"My booze! My precious booze!" She threw herself head first into the back and pulled out a bottle of rum.
"We May run into the band of Seven tonight." She said quietly.
Mamo's ears perked up.
"Really?" He asked.
"Yeah. Our client wants us to kidnap a princess. She heavily guarded and is dating Bankotsu. They're a thing, apparently." She said bitterly.
"Don't be too caught up on him. You deserve a warrior king, not a fool."
Riza smiled at him and patted his head. The night will soon be arriving.
"You should be more careful, Bankotsu. The fabric to your hoari is very nice and yet you keep tearing it." Orihime laughed as she sewed together a tear.
"That's why I have you. To fix my tears." He said pouring himself a cup of sake.
"You keep sewing, you're so good at it. I'm going to get some fresh air." He said leaning over to her to kiss her cheek.
Orihime smiles, nods and continues her task.
Bankotsu walks down the hall. Staring at the bright moon.
He lets out a breath and sits down on the porch.
His mind wanders to what Riza could possibly be doing. Jakotsu suggested he apologize to her but he couldn't. He has never been the kind of guy to apologize for anything. He simply didn't give a shit.
"It's quiet." He said softly.
He stands and begins walking around. The silence was uneasy. He felt as if someone was watching him.
He turns a corner to find a guard leaned against a pole as if simply relaxing.
"Hey! You! The hell are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be patrolling the castle grounds?" He questioned as he walked up to the guard.
As soon as he touched his shoulder, the man tumbled over and was dead. His throat had been sliced.
"Shit." He said. He looked at the wound. It was a clean, precise slice. But what really caught his attention was the brush of light pink lipstick on his cheek. As if someone kissed his either right before or right after he was killed.
His heart slammed painfully against his chest and his stomach fluttered so much it made him feel lightheaded and nauseous.
This was Riza's work. He knew it.
He followed her light trail by finding guards that had been picked off. Stealth was her expertise.
Riza was hiding up in the beams. She watched two guards run into the room, panic on their faces after finding a few of their men, dead.
Jakotsu enters the room.
"You sexy guys find anything yet?" He asked.
"No, sir. The assassin is somewhere in the castle, planning his next move." One of the guards answered.
Jakotsu scoffs And turns his back to head back outside.
Just as he turned his back, Riza swung her legs and wrapped them around one of the guards neck, quickly snapping it before pulling a knife out from her boot and driving it into the second guard's neck.
Jakotsu turns back around just in time for Riza to slip out of the room unnoticed.
"What the fuck?!" He yelled.
"Jakotsu, sir! You are needed in the throne room. Your brothers await you." One guard came to alert him.
"Right. I'm on my way. Two are dead in there by the way." He said walking past the guard.
"This is an outrage! I can't have an assassin running around my castle with my precious Orihime sleeping soundly!" The lord cried out.
"I know who the assassin is." Bankotsu says after being silent for a while.
"Who?" Renkotsu asked hesitantly.
"Who is this sneaky man?! I demand his head!" The lord yelled.
"You'll have a tough time with that, my lord. This assassin is a woman. If you are wantin her head, I have to raise my price." Bankotsu declared.
"What?! My boy, you are worth the money I already pay for you, you know that but anything more is a problem!"
"I understand but don't care. We're not amateurs and neither is she. You want me to deal with her, I raise my price. Take it or leave it."
The lord pondered for a while before looking at Orihime's empty spot next to his throne.
He exhaled deeply.
"Fine. I will pay you what you want. I'm sure I'm the target but please ensure that no harm will come to my daughter."
"She is under our protection. All seven of us."
Orihime suddenly awoke from her sleep. Bankotsu hoari laid over her.
"I must have fallen asleep." She said quietly.
She looked around the room, it was eerily quiet.
Sudden movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention.
She stood slowly and wrapped his haori around her slender body.
Orihime slowly stepped out of the room. The hallway was quiet and dark. Something about the darkness made her anxious. Ever since she was little she always had to have some light before falling asleep.
Now she stood in the center of a long, dark hallway.
"Bankotsu?" She called out.
"Father?" She called again.
She slowly made her way down the hall. She suddenly heard steps coming from behind her. She turned and was greeted with an empty hallway.
She continued her way to the throne room and the footsteps started up again. More scared than she had ever been, Orihime began to pick up her pace. As soon as she sped up, so did the footsteps.
Soon she was running. She ran as fast as she could, tears spilled down her cheeks and her heart beat rapidly in her chest.
She turned the corner and ran straight into Bankotsu, knocking them over.
"Woah! Orihime! You okay?" He asked.
She sat up on his chest and looked around frantically.
"I..I'm sorry! I...I..thought someone was chasing me." She said timidly.
Her small body was shaking and her eyes wide with fear.
"Go with Suikotsu. I'll check it out." He said smiling at her.
Riza watched from above. Anger overflowed from her.
She shut her eyes closed tightly to keep from crying. She pinched her leg to keep her focused.
Once Orihime was out of sight, Bankotsu turned his attention to the hallway.
"Seriza! I know you're here! Come out and face me!" He called out to her.
"Your Princess is very pretty." Riza said.
Bankotsu whipped around to see her standing behind him. His breath hitched.
All the feelings he had for her hit him as hard as can be and all at once.
She removed her mask and smiled at him.
"Been a while, huh?" She asked softly.
"What are you doing here?" He asked walking up to her.
"I'm working. I would ask why you are here but I figured it out. Even though I told you that this lord was my client."
"Can't tell me what to do, Riza. Besides, early bird gets the worm."
"Is the princess a satisfying lay?" She asked.
"She is. Why do you ask? You jealous?" He smirked.
"You're so full of yourself. Why would I be jealous? Sex isn't all that sacred."
"Is that so? Good thing it isn't cause I've been all kinds of wrapped up with that princess. Sweet and pure."
"Well, I have work to do. I have a man waiting for me and I'm aching for a good fucking." She moaned, tilting her head back.
Bankotsu's body tensed up.
"Why are you here?" He asked again.
"Work." She responded.
"If you're planning on attacking Orihime, you'll have to get through me."
"I love the way you say her name." Riza chuckled before spin kicking Bankotsu through the wall.
He jumped up and charged at her. He swung and she dodged. Neither could get the upper hand, when she wound punch or kick, he would block and the same with Riza.
Bankotsu slams Riza into the wall, breaking through it and falling on top of her.
She struggled to get him off and he struggled to pin her down. They were out of breath and covered in small bruises.
"What are you playing at?!" He growled, his face inches from hers. He could smell her sweet honeysuckle scent. His body tightened painfully.
She grunted as she tried to push him off. He found the noise incredibly sexy. It was so feminine.
"Get off of me! I can smell your princess!" She brought her knee into his stomach.
He grabbed her knee and wrapped his hand around her throat, pinning her to the wall.
"You better start talking or ill crush your throat." He threatened.
"You look very cute when you're mad." She purred, arching her back.
He couldn't help drifting his gaze down her body. Why? Why did she have to wear such a provocative outfit?
"Your gaze is burning through my clothes, is it not?" She cooed.
"You're testing my patience." He growled.
"Good."
She dropped down and kicked his feet out from under him.
Riza tried to run away but Bankotsu grabbed her ankle, bringing her down and crawling on top of her to pin her down.
She clawed and fought to get out from under him. He held her wrists tightly on either side of her head.
"Get the fuck off of me!" She growled.
Bankotsu stared down at her. She took his breath away. Her soft white gold hair, a wild mess around her and blue eyes bright with rage.
"You're a witch. That's what you are. You cast a spell on me." He said softly.
"And you're a menace." She whispered back, her eyes locked with his.
His gaze slowly landed on her pink full lips.
"Try it and I'll bite you!" She hissed, color quickly working its way up her neck.
He leaned down and pulled away when she tried to bite at his lips. The sexual tension between the two fighters was overwhelming.
She suddenly flipped him over and straddled him, a soft gasp escaped her throat and she pressed into the hard evidence of his attraction.
"Vous jouez avec le fue, Monsieur Mercenaire."
(You're playing with fire, Mister Mercenary.)
...
"What is going on? Why is someone trying to hurt Father?" Orihime asked Suikotsu.
"I do not know, princess, but it's best you stay hidden." He answered.
Orihime felt unsettled. She hated feeling so useless and weak.
Bankotsu slid the door open. His eyes scanned the room and landed on Suikotsu and Orihime.
"Come with me, princess. It's no longer safe in the castle." He said, no emotion in his tone or face.
Suikotsu stood and inclined his head in respect to his leader.
Orihime quickly followed after Bankotsu. She clutched his arm tightly.
"Is everything okay?" She asked softly.
"Yes." He responded gruffly.
They walked in silence around the veranda of the castle. The moonlight shone brightly, casting a blue glow to the world around them.
"Bankotsu?" She called out his name and slowed to a stop.
Bankotsu turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. His face blank, waiting for her response.
"Will my father be killed tonight? Is that why everyone is on edge? I can't lose another loved one..." she whispered softly, tears glittering her lower lashes.
"Don't you worry, princess. Don't you worry at all." He said with a small smirk.
Orihime found herself smiling but her smile quickly faded as she noticed that Bankotsu's eyes looked different. Everything about him was the same except for him eyes.
What was usually a dark cobalt blue, now violet.