Hey guys I'm back again, I am so sorry for wait, I've been sooo busy it's not funny. Ok so just a big thank you to everyone who has read and continued to read and follow this story, I have currently 2,840 views, I personally never thought I'd get that many but this was the very first story I uploaded to Fanfiction so thank you everyone for your support it really makes my day. I will have the next chapter up tomorrow or the day after that is a promise that will not be broken.

Now just a disclaimer I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters or plots/story lines just my own twists and my own characters: Akira (Wolf Demon/Priestess), Akira's parents (Kentaro and Michiko), Akira's brothers (Isamu and Toshio), Akira's sisters (Natsumi and Kazumi), Takara (Akira's companion), Yukiko (Snow/Ice sorcerer *Bad Guy*), Lord Sesshomaru's mothers name 'Inukimi'. I do have a new character of sorts in this chapter but she has been mentioned before but not in detail so the new character; Masumi (Wolf Demon Priestess). Enjoy :)

This chapter is rated for everyone, affection shown.

Chapter 20: Protective Bankotsu

I sighed softly "Ok but at least let me speak to them first please" I said "Alright" Bankotsu said bluntly "Thank you" I said as I grabbed his hand entwining our fingers, he held my hand in a firm but comfortable grip, we started walking over to the hut, I felt something was wrong. "Wait" I said "Akira what's wrong?" Bankotsu asked I let go of his hand "Just stay here I want to check something out, I have a bad feeling" I said and then walked towards the hut carefully the air turned into an eerie silence. Though something else was here and gave off a pure presence, I sniffed the smell of my brothers was there along with the smell of death and grave-yard soil, my brows knitted together in confusion, they couldn't be. I ran towards the hut and got to the door frame. My brothers were laying on their backs on the ground with a few wounds, the fire pit was lit "Hello Akira" a woman said as she came in from the room where I make all the herb remedies.

She had a small woven basket with some remedies and fresh bandages, she has long black hair with a short straight fringe, dark rich brown eyes, and is wearing a Umanori Hakama, the top is white and the pants are red, white tabi socks and Zori shoes, she had the attire of a priestess yet smelled dead. She smiled "I assume you are Akira?" she said "Yes I am now who are you? And what have you done to my brothers?" I asked growling slightly "I am Priestess Kikyo and I'm helping to heal them, their wounds were great I found them lying injured on the bank of a river not far off here" she replied. "You found and helped my brothers? Why? Why would you help demons?" I questioned "I'm not heartless, if they attack me then perhaps I may kill them depending on their reasons" Kikyo replied "Sorry I judged you but you must know if you dare do anything to them or anything that threatens me I will act without hesitation" I said. "Likewise" Kikyo said "Akira are you ok?!" Bankotsu called out I walked out "Bankotsu it's ok! Come over guys!" I shouted, I looked back in the hut watching Kikyo while I heard them all come over "Akira?" Bankotsu said.

"Who's she? Wait are they your brothers?" Jakotsu questioned "Yes, they are my brothers, the woman is Priestess Kikyo, she found them wounded by the bank of the river near here and has been tending to them since" I replied in detail, seeing my brothers injured made me upset. Though I feared for what happened to Takara, Koga, Ginta and Hakkaku, please be ok "Akira I'm sure they'll be ok" Bankotsu said bringing me to him "I think I should get us something all to eat" I said "Oh no you don't, stay by your brothers and help them get better" Bankotsu said sternly I looked at him and smiled slightly. "Thank you" I said he smiled and then turned to his brothers "Suikotsu and Jakotsu you two go and get something for us to eat, Mukotsu go with them and collect some more things for your poisons, Renkotsu and Ginkotsu guard the area around the hut" Bankotsu ordered. I walked over to my brothers and knelt beside Kikyo "What are you up to?" I asked "Applying a fresh remedy and re-doing their bandages, what are their names?" Kikyo replied with a question as she started treating Toshio "Toshio and Isamu, you're treating Toshio" I replied.

"Perhaps you can tend to Isamu, can you treat wounds?" Kikyo said "Yes I can" I replied and grabbed what I needed from the basket she had and started treating Isamu, Bankotsu was leaning against the inside of the door frame watching Kikyo closely, he knew I always trusted too easily. That and I probably looked like a wreck, I held tears back, I'd never known my brothers to lose a fight yet they'd always defeated their enemy or escaped with only a few marks, I won't lose them. I will find Takara, Koga, his brothers and my sisters I just hope they are all ok, a few minutes passed and finally Kikyo and I had finished treating and wrapping their wounds in clean, fresh bandages, please wake up soon brothers. "Priestess Kikyo was anyone else with them?" I asked as I looked at her, she looked at me "No, no one else was with them or in the area" she replied "Thank you for helping Priestess what would you like in return for helping them?" I said.

"Nothing just yet but I'll come back when I require what I need for now they're safe with you Priestess" Kikyo replied as she stood up and went over grabbing a bow and quiver of arrows that was nearby and went to walk out the back way I stood up "Wait a minute" I said. She stood still "What do you mean they are safe with me?" I asked she looked at me "I think you know already, any Priest or Priestess can see what others cannot and you hold something very valuable as do your friends and I will be back for them all" she said then turned around. "You can try but I will not allow my friends to give up theirs so easily" I said she looked back at me "They will die either way so let them have a peaceful death with friends rather than by his hand" Kikyo said then turned around and walked out. I frowned "Why do you have to be so soft hearted?" Bankotsu questioned I looked at him as he came over to me "What do you mean by that?" I asked as I raised a brow he smiled "One you are too soft on others and two to me you are adorable when you get too soft" he said.

I felt my face grow hot "Bankotsu…" I said as I turned away he pulled me back to him and wrapped his arms around me "More so when you get embarrassed" he said softly then kissed my cheek then grabbed my chin lightly and turned my head so I was facing him. He kissed me while he drew me closer to his body holding me firmly against him I moaned then separated from him "We have time to spare for us to have a better more romantic catch up" he said with one of his lecherous smiles and a loving gaze. "We can't not with my brothers and your brothers here" I said he frowned "So what was the difference last time? You never objected to us making love then" Bankotsu with a raised brow I looked away slightly as my ears turned back a little. "Is it because I'm dead?" Bankotsu asked I looked to him in awe "No of course not, I…" I started as I got out of his grip "I just want us to have a moment, just us no one else like we used too but everything's changed so much…" I said sadly.

"And that's why I want us to make the most of the time we have together, once my shard is gone I'll return to being dead and I want to make the most of the time we have left together" Bankotsu said I turned around "I-I know, I just don't know if I'll be ready to let you go…" I said sadly with a wavering voice. Bankotsu pulled me into his embrace "I'll always be in your heart and in your memories, you can still look back over all our times we've had together" he said "It won't be the same though" I said "And what of Koga? Will you just abandon him?" Bankotsu questioned. I shut my eyes as I held on to Bankotsu tightly he placed his head on mine gently "Once I'm gone you must go on but I will have to meet this Koga, I don't want you being with just any man, he has to put you first" Bankotsu said protectively. I didn't know what to say all I could do was live in the moment I heard a groan and separated from Bankotsu and looked over to see Isamu waking, I rushed to his side "Isamu… Brother?" I said in worry "Mmm… My head…" Isamu groaned.

I sighed "Thank kami, what happened?" I asked Isamu opened his eyes he still looked slightly out of it "Koga went to the northern mountains since that tall ugly guy from the band of…." Isamu said but stopped seeing Bankotsu. "Uh I mean that nice tall guy was there, he was eating anything he could get his hands on" Isamu said "His name is Kyokotsu and I already know that Koga killed him" Bankotsu said "Isamu why aren't you and Toshio with them?" I asked. "Well the northern wolf demon tribe had a lot injured so Toshio and I went to come back here to get some remedies while Ginta, Hakkaku and Takara stayed to help" Isamu said "And Koga?" I asked. "He… He went off to think this female wolf demon came along and said that he promised her ages ago that he would make her his mate" Isamu replied my ears turned back as I looked away slightly "Does he love her or does he love Akira?" Bankotsu asked.

"He kept rejecting her but she wouldn't give up Koga looked determined that Akira was the one for him but he wouldn't stay in the northern tribes' territory because she was pestering him" Isamu replied just then Toshio groaned and muttered something. "Heh looks like grumpy is up…" Isamu said "Stop it, let's just get along for once no more arguing or fighting got it?" I said sternly "Understood sister" Isamu said "Good I'll get the remedies and in the morning Takara can pick you both up and take you back there" I said. "You're not coming?" Isamu asked "No I'm going with Bankotsu I have a couple things to do yet, I'll call Takara if I need to speak to you or need help" I said "Akira I'll tend to your brothers while you get what you need" Bankotsu said. I looked at him and he had a look I knew all too well, I gave a nod I stood up and looked to Isamu "You and Toshio behave yourselves got it?" I said Isamu gave a nod as Toshio just started to open his eyes.

"What… Akira?" Toshio said "You listen to what Bankotsu has to say and don't mouth off" I said then went over to Bankotsu giving him a hug and a short kiss to make sure they understood at least some of the situation "Don't go too hard on them you know how scary you get when you're mad" I said. He chuckled "Me scary?" he questioned with a playful-awed look I smiled as I shook my head "I'll be down stairs" I said and went to the leaver making the passage open then walked down stairs it was quite for a little while, I was packing some vials, herbs and bandages into some baskets. "Does it look like I care?! If you so much as speak to her wrong again I'll cut your heads off understood?!" Bankotsu yelled I sighed once I finished I went upstairs to see Bankotsu still lecturing my brothers "Hey sister we've started on dinner" Jakotsu said. I smiled seeing Mukotsu, Suikotsu and Jakotsu around the fire with a deer on the spit and some fish on sticks roasting around the outside of the fire pit "Smells good so far, where's Ginkotsu and Renkotsu?" I said as I went over and sat beside Jakotsu leaving a spot for Bankotsu.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I'm happy to receive any and all feedback as a comment or a PM *Private Message* anyways until next time guys happy reading.

Special thanks to those who comment and express their feeling for this story;

Snow-Owl65

Maxine Linley

Beryl Linley

Guest

MORE chapters

Devin sands

snowbarry11

Thank you very much and please let me know if I forgot you I didn't mean too, hopefully I can make it up since I would like to offer if anyone would like a certain type of story or set couple matched or a certain plot written I will be happy to do my best in writing it up and will dedicate it in your honour, so anyone who wants to put a recommendation in for a story please message me privately. Once again thank you all for all of your support.

PS. If you want to see photos of the characters for this story see my profile for my facebook page that has all pics of all my characters on my all my stories and for my forum as well.