A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who review/alerted this story: kittyb78, Yuti-Chan, Water-Goddess-Mi, and kyana-chan1985! You guys rock! Thanks so much for your support! You all get pocky as me and Liz promised! Anyways, onto the story!
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Chapter 3
"You two better settle down!" Izayoi warned as they all sat around the table, eating lunch. Sentarou and Itsumi had been arguing for quite some time now. Fortunately, Izayoi and Bankotsu had learned to discipline the twins quite well and learned not to give in to their every demands.
"Yes, Mom," Sentarou said obediently.
"But he's the one that started it!" Itsumi whined.
"That's enough!" Bankotsu said sharply. She immediately stopped complaining, and looked down at her food. She tended to obey more than Izayoi, who had more control over Sentarou.
"Hey Dad," Sentarou spoke up. "Do you think you can help me with my sword fighting later?"
Bankotsu smirked. "Of course! I expect you to one day form your own band of mercenaries!"
"But my band's gonna be better than yours will ever be!" Sentarou smiled.
"Oh yeah? We'll see about that! Come on!" Bankotsu got up from the table, opening the door leading to the hallway. Sentarou got up, following his father.
Izayoi helped collect the utensils from the table, Itsumi remaining quite still. After giving them to the servants to clean up, Izayoi placed a hand on her daughter's head. "Is everything okay, Itsumi?"
Itsumi looked up at her mother. "Oh, everything's fine. I was just wondering…why did you fall in love with Daddy?" Izayoi took a seat beside Itsumi saying," Well…I guess I just really liked how he was. He's nothing but a bloodthirsty, ruthless mercenary in the eyes of others. But…he isn't like that with me or you two." Izayoi paused for a moment, stroking her daughter's jet black hair. "Oh and let's not forget that he's very strong and handsome!" Itsumi giggled.
Izayoi smiled and got up. "Let's go see how your father and Sentarou are doing!"
"Okay!" her daughter agreed and grabbed Izayoi's hand. They walked outside where they say Bankotsu and Sentarou already engaged in "battle".
xXx
"Thanks for hypnotizing the boy for me, Naruaki!" Kiyumi whispered. "No problem," he hissed softly, wounding himself around Kohaku's neck.
"How did you manage to do it, though?"
"It was easy! I saw the boy sitting idly under a tree and thought it was the perfect opportunity to do it!"
Kiyumi nodded approvingly and addressed her captive," Now…Kohaku, was it? Can you tell me how Izayoi and Bankotsu met?"
xXx
Bankotsu and Sentarou had finished their fighting session for the day. Izayoi ushered the twins inside the house to get them ready to take them to stay with Naraku and Kikyo for a couple of days. She picked up Itsumi's hair into a short ponytail before braiding Sentarou's hair.
"Hey you really look like Dad!" Itsumi pointed out.
"Really? I had no idea!" Sentarou replied sarcastically.
"There you go being mean again!"
"I'm not being mean."
"Yes you are!" Izayoi sighed and stood up. "Don't you two start again! And you better not give your obaasan(1) and ojiisan(2) any trouble while you two stay with them."
"Yes, Mom," the twins replied simultaneously.
"Good. Let's go then. Your father's waiting outside." Izayoi led the children out, where Bankotsu was leaning against a wall, waiting for them. "We're ready!" Itsumi exclaimed, running to her father. Bankotsu picked her up, ruffling the top of Sentarou's head as well. "Well, shall we get going?" Izayoi asked. "Yeah. Come on." Bankotsu wrapped his free arm around Izayoi's shoulders and kissed her cheek. Izayoi smiled as she pulled away. "Okay, let's go."
xXx
"You know, Naraku, I must say that I'm impressed that out daughter managed to live a normal life after everything she's been through," Kikyo said softly as she stood next to Naraku. He had sent Kagura to go find Kohaku who had suddenly disappeared. And apparently she hadn't been able to locate him.
"I didn't really…approve…of Izayoi marrying a human but that was what she wanted…" Naraku replied.
"But she is happy with him and their children." Kikyo place a hand on his shoulder gently. Naraku remained silent, secretly brooding over his daughter's choice.
"Looks like Izayoi's bringing her children over for a visit," Kikyo spoke. Naraku looked up and saw that Kikyo was right. "Obaasan! Ojiisan!" Itsumi cried, jumping out of Bankotsu's arms and running up to her sofubo(3). She hugged Kikyo tightly, saying," I missed you so much!"
Kikyo smiled slightly. "I missed you too, Itsumi."
Itsumi let go of her obaasan and turned to hug Naraku. He looked quite uncomfortable as Itsumi embraced him. "I assume you and your brother are staying with us for some time, right?" he asked as she let go of him. "Yes they are, Father," Izayoi said approaching her parents. "Father?" Naraku questioned surprisingly. "You certainly seemed to mature Izayoi. I see you finally learned to respect your parents."
Izayoi rolled her eyes. "Are you saying it's disrespectful if I call you 'Dad'?"
Naraku nodded and smirked as he recalled how childish his daughter used to behaved.
"Sentarou, I hear that you're working on your swordsmanship with you father. How much have you progressed?" Kikyo asked.
"He still needs a lot more practice, but it's all good!" Bankotsu replied proudly, patting Sentarou's back roughly.
Naraku turned towards Itsumi. "What about you, Itsumi? Are you doing well in your lessons?"
"I've been…okay I guess. It's really boring doing all that stuff! I wish I could learn how to use a sword instead."
"Itsumi you're still a very young girl. You shouldn't learning how to fight yet," Kikyo assured her granddaughter. "But Sentarou's as old as I am. Why does he get to learn to fight?" Itsumi whined.
"Maybe it's because I don't complain as much," Sentarou mumbled.
"I don't complain too much! Do I, Daddy?"
Bankotsu remained silent for a while before nodding in agreement with Sentarou.
Itsumi was about to open her mouth to complain some more, but Izayoi interrupted saying," Okay, okay! Don't start fighting again!" Izayoi sighed and continued," Anyways, is it okay if we leave these two with you?"
"Well we can't really say no," Kikyo replied. "So they may stay here."
"Yay!" Itsumi cried out. "Bye Mommy! Bye Daddy!" She ran into the castle, Sentarou following her inside. "And just like that they leave," Bankotsu said surprised. "It's as if they don't even care about us!"
Izayoi smiled. "What do you expect? They are kids after all." She turned to walk towards the castle's gates. "Well goodbye! We'll be dropping by to pick them up later!" Izayoi called out to her parents. She saw Naraku walk into the castle and Kikyo waving goodbye.
"Come on, Izayoi!" Bankotsu wrapped an arm around her shoulders once more. "Finally, we've got those two off our backs!" He leaned down and quickly pecked Izayoi's lips.
"How about we go watch the sunset in peace?" Izayoi suggested.
"Sounds good!"
xXx
"So where can I find this Hakudoshi?" Kiyumi questioned.
"He's dead," Kohaku replied.
"Dead?!" Kiyumi shook her head. "What use is he to me if he's dead?!"
"What if you reverse time enough, we can prevent his death. This Hakudoshi sounds like he could be quite useful-" Naruaki started. "Wait!" Kiyumi exclaimed suddenly. "I know just what to do!"
"And what exactly would that be?" the serpent questioned.
"You'll see! I have it all planned out! By tomorrow morning the spell I have in mind should be in place!"
"Spell?" Kiyumi didn't answer the snake and took off suddenly into the forest. "Hey where are you going? You could at least tell me what you're gonna do!" Naruaki hissed impatiently after her.
xXx
Izayoi and Bankotsu sat under a sakura tree as they waited for the sunset. Bankotsu stretched and fell back onto the ground. "Feels good being away from the kids for a while doesn't it?" he asked, looking up at Izayoi.
"Sure is! I needed this break!"
"I'm glad I'm with you?" Bankotsu yawned.
"Really?" Izayoi replied, brushing his bangs away from his face.
"Of course! I'm with the woman I love."
Izayoi simply smiled, content on having heard that from him. She remained looking at the sunset in silence as she thought about everything that had happened to her since she had arrived in this era a few years back. She still missed her friends and hanging out with them at the movies or mall. "Wow. Dad was right. I really have matured since then," she thought as she suddenly heard soft snoring.
Izayoi looked down and saw that Bankotsu had already fallen asleep. She couldn't help but grin slightly and whispered," I love you, Bankotsu." She laid down beside him as well. She admired how he had never given up on her despite all the obstacles that stood in their way. As she laid her head on his chest, her eyes slowly closed as sleep had begun to catch onto her.
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A/N: This was a sort of filler chapter. The drama starts in the next one! Hope you liked this chappy though! Don't forget to submit your reviews. They make authors happy! Cookies to all who review! Thanks!
Translations:
1. obaasan - grandmother
2. ojiisan - grandfather
3. sofubo - grandparents