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Disclaimer: I no own Inuyasha
Chapter 2
Later that evening they set up camp in the forest. The Band of Seven sat around a roaring fire chatting about the battle while sipping sake.
"Then I took both of the men and smashed them together using my bare hands!" Kyokotsu roared, making hand movements, as he demonstrated his latest battle move to Suikotsu.
"Bet that made them run." Suikotsu replied.
Across the fire Jakotsu and Bankotsu sat with Mukotsu on a large fallen log. Bankotsu leaned over and noticed that Jakotsu looked a little troubled.
"You alright Jakotsu?" Jakotsu was startled, he had been so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't realise that Bankotsu was staring at him. I really need to quit being so jumpy. It makes me look weak.
"Yeah, I'm okay Bankotsu. I was just thinking about all the fun I had cutting all those warriors up today! There were some pretty good looking guys in that army." Jakotsu said, smiling an obviously forced smile.
"Glad you enjoyed it." Said Bankotsu said smiling back. He turned back towards Mukotsu after Jakotsu went back to his own thoughts.
"Hey, Mukotsu? Do you think you can tell me a little bit about what kind of potion the assassin used?"
Mukotsu laughed strangely. "HeHeHoHoHE! Of course I can Brother Bankotsu! I came up with the hypothesis that the assassin used a type of stun powder."
"Stun powder? I've never heard of it before." Bankotsu said
"Yes, it's not very common." Mukotsu started."It's just mostly used by shamans and assassins. In fact, I have some right here with me." Mukotsu turned around and pulled a small satchel out of his poison box. Inside was a small amount of white finely ground powder. Bankotsu reached over and rubbed his finger in it and examined it for a while, then flicked it off his finger and rubbed the rest off unto his white harakamas. Kyokotsu had apparently walked over and was now hovering over them leaning in towards the powder.
"What's this stuff?" He asked as he leaned even farther towards the satchel. Then Kyokotsu took a great big sniff sucking in a large amount of stun powder through his nose. It took about 2 seconds for both Kyokotsu and Mukotsu to realise what he had just done. Then without warning Kyokotsu fell backwards, with a startled expression on his face, onto the ground.
"What the hell did you go and do that for!" Bankotsu yelled at Kyokotsu. Mukotsu just rolled his eyes, walked over to Kyokotsu's head and started to revive him using smelling salts muttering something about him being "dumber than a lizard demon". Mukotsu turned to Jakotsu after he had finished. He had been watching the entire scene unfold and was silently laughing to himself.
"So, Jakotsu? Do you think that was the stuff the man used?" he suggested to Jakotsu.
Jakotsu agreed with his suggestion."Yah that seems like the stuff." Jakotsu seemed unsure with his decision thou, but no one noticed. Pushing the thoughts out of his head, he decided to go to bed. "Bankotsu..." Jakotsu began.
"Yes?" Bankotsu replied.
"I'm going to bed, I'm tired and I don't feel so hot." said Jakotsu as he walked over and grabbed a bedroll from their pile of supplies.
"Sure thing Jakotsu. Hope you feel better in the morning." Bankotsu added.
Renkotsu stood up "Well, I think it's time for everyone to get some rest." He had been oiling Ginkotsu's joints and restocking his ammo. "We could all use some sleep. Are you on watch duty tonight Big brother?"
"Yep, I'll switch with you part way through the night." Bankotsu grabbed his Banryu and walked off towards a clearing by their camp while everyone started to get ready for bed.
~Bankotsu~
Bankotsu sat upon a large rock, overlooking the valley from his view on the cliff. It was a very clear night. There were no clouds in the sky and the full moon casted just enough light to illuminate the night. Everything was just so peaceful, but Bankotsu's mind raced with thoughts. He was still worried about Jakotsu. Something just didn't feel right. During the battle when he was charging towards the assassin he remembered seeing Jakotsu' s eyes turn a reddish colour other than his normal blackish-brown colour. And when Kyokotsu sniffed the stun powder he was instantly unconscious. Jakotsu never did fall unconscious; he had just sat there with a blank expression on his face, eyes widened in fear.
*Chink Swish!* Bankotsu turned around, only for his eyes to meet a blade coming towards him at full speed.
~Jakotsu~
Jakotsu couldn't fall asleep. He was still worried about what had happened earlier today. Normally something like this wouldn't bother him, he hadn't gotten hurt so why worry about it? Something just felt off to Jakotsu and his instincts told him that something was wrong. He didn't think that it was stun powder he was attacked with, it had to be something else. The stun powder that Mukotsu had was odourless; the stuff he had inhaled had a clean, fresh scent, almost purifying. It had made him want to smell more. He had felt sick to his stomach and couldn't move until Bankotsu drove away the assassin, he felt fine after that. Now lying down on his cot Jakotsu felt sick again. Uhgg...I wish this would just go away already. Suddenly the sick feeling increases and the pain in his head became unbearable. I think I'm going to puke... Jakotsu turns around and starts to retch, throwing up nothing but bile. After he finished he lies on his cot clutching his stomach and quivering. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve he starts to see images flashing through his head. Images of a man in a darkened room. Jakotsu couldn't make out his face.
In control. An eerie voice says in his head. In control. No he wasn't imagining anything. Jakotsu couldn't beilieve what he was hearing. He sat there holding his head wincing in pain. He realized he couldn't move. It was just like last time. Then the wave of red washed through his head and his mind went blank.
Without warning Jakotsu stands up almost unnaturally and grabs his Jakotsuto. He heads in the direction of a nearby cliff. Upon reaching the clearing he raises his sword above his head and swings in the direction of the person sitting by the cliffs edge.
~Bankotsu~
Turning around Bankotsu raises his Banryu in front of his face deflecting the first attack, but the attacks just kept coming. Bankotsu crouches behind his Banryu, trying to block the attacks. The attacker seemed to move with amazing agility in the way that they just kept attacking over and over again never taking a second to pause. Looking up Bankotsu catches a good look at the attacker's blade. It looked like many blades strung together. Only one person had a sword like that, Jakotsu. As if on cue the attacks stop and Bankotsu is able to stand up. Sure enough Jakotsu stood at the edge of the forest holding his still retracting sword over his head. He had a blank expression on his face and his eyes were a red colour. Red? Ohno… They were the same colour as before when he was attacked. Except now they were a blazing red colour and they teemed with anger and hatred.
"Jakotsu?" Bankotsu yelled hoping for an answer "can you hear me?" but no answer came.
Jakotsu's brow knitted together and his former blank expression turned into scowl.
"Die!" Jakotsu yelled, pure hatred rung in his voice as he swung his Jakotsuto again.
Bankotsu dove back behind his weapon shielding himself from the imminent attack. At that moment he realised what had happened. Ever since Jakotsu had inhaled the powder he had been not acting like himself, and now he's trying to kill me. That powder must have the power to allow someone to control the victim. Bankotsu cursed himself for not realising it sooner. How could they do something like this?
Suddenly a series of blades curves around his make-shift barricade taking him by surprise. Jumping backwards, he try's to avoid the bending sword, just barely making it out of the way. Blood starts to pour out of a wound on his left arm; the sword had just nicked him. Clutching his arm Bankotsu grabs his Banryu and makes a run for the camp, dodging and jumping Jakotsu's furious swings of his Jakotsuto. Running towards the camp he starts to piece together the controller's plan. They probably intended to use a member of The Band of Seven to help them kill all of them off. Using Jakotsu as their pawn was perfect. Bankotsu wouldn't be able to seriously hurt Jakotsu. He was his best friend, the only one he could really trust, he could never hurt him.
~Renkotsu~
It was almost time to switch guard duty with Bankotsu, and Renkotsu had just come back from getting a drink at a near by river. Once back at the camp Renkotsu noticed that Jakotsu's bed was empty and that he didn't seem to be anywhere. Strange, Renkotsu thought, Jakotsu normally sleeps through the entire night. No worries, he probably just couldn't sleep and went to sit with Big brother. Renkotsu walked over to his bedroll and sat down. He still had a while till he was on guard duty. Sitting down he could faintly hear the familiar sound of metal clashing against metal coming from the direction of the clearing. Renkotsu hears this and prepares for the worst. He quickly gets up and runs towards the cliff.
~Bankotsu~
The camp was only a short distance away and Bankotsu was almost there. He could just see the dim flickering of the campfire through the trees. Wait…There's someone coming! Bankotsu grinds to a halt, and the figure comes closer and stops in front of him.
"Big brother? Is that you?" said Renkotsu stepping into the moonlight so Bankotsu could see him. Bankotsu let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, Renkotsu. It's just you."
"Is everything all right?" Renkotsu then noticed Bankotsu's arm was wounded and that most of the sleeve on his left arm was soaked in red blood.
"Big brother! Your arm!"
"It's just a scratch nothing to worry about." but Renkotsu could see it wasn't just a scratch.
"Who did this to you?" Renkotsu asked
Bankotsu's eyes swirled with unreadable emotion, and then his expression became serious "I'll tell you later, right now we need to wake everyone else up!"
Bankotsu ushered Renkotsu back towards the camp. Upon reaching the site they were quick to wake everyone up. Suikotsu was the first awake.
"What's wrong? Is something up?" Suikotsu said still half-asleep.
"Gesh" Ginkotsu butted in "What's all the fuss?"
"Listen up men!" Bankotsu hollered then he took a deep breath "Jakotsu's been possessed."
A large collective gasp made its way around the group.
"Possessed? But how could this have happened?" Renkotsu exclaimed
"Well I believe that the stuff he was attacked with is the culprit." Bankotsu said walking towards Mukotsu "it seems that it wasn't stun powder he was attacked with." Bankotsu cracked his knuckles.
"Well, maybe my reasoning was a little off." Mukotsu stuttered
"Damn right it was!" *Bonk* Bankotsu walked off and Mukotsu rubbed the large bump on his head.
*Snap!* Everyone's heads turned towards the direction of the noise. There stood Jakotsu, sword raised and eyes blazing with anger.
"Ummm, what's he doing?" Kyokotsu asked totally oblivious to their recent conversation. Jakotsu swung.
"Duck!" Renkotsu yelled and everyone ran/jumped out of the path of his sword.
Bankotsu landed farther away from most of the men. Jakotsu spotted his chance swung his Jakotsuto towards him. Jakotsu's sword cut through the fire, slicing most of the wood in half. Bankotsu gracefully back flipped over the coming attack and landed behind some bushes, out of sight of Jakotsu. The rest of the Band of Seven stood there in plain sight of Jakotsu, but he did not attack them, he seemed totally fixated on attacking only Bankotsu. Bankotsu ran towards his comrades who were now hiding behind a large rock.
"I believe that the only way to break the control over Jakotsu is too destroy whoever is controlling him." Bankotsu began "The one pulling the strings. I noticed the assassin had a crest on the shoulder of his shirt. It looked like a white flower over a three wavy lines. I think that this is the crest of a lord that lives not too far from here. I want you guys too to find that castle and destroy the controller."
"What about you Big brother?" Renkotsu asked.
"I'll stay here and fend off Jakotsu. He seems to be only after me so you guys should be fine." Bankotsu hoisted his Banryu onto his shoulder and prepared to face Jakotsu again. "Now go! Before it's too late!"
The remaining members ran off into the woods leaving Bankotsu behind. Good they trust me. Bankotsu walked around the rock and stood before his possessed friend. Jakotsu turned around right away as if sensing his very presence. But Bankotsu had already begun to flee. He needed to buy some time to let his partners get away.
Ugg...It's bleeding again... Bankotsu stopped by a tree and leaned against it. He reached down and ripped a piece of his red sash off and tied it as tight as his could around his bleeding arm. He couldn't let something so petty slow him down.
*Snap, Snap, Snap!* Jakotsu was hot in pursuit. Bankotsu needed a place to get away. Faintly in the distance he could hear the sound of rushing water. He remembered Renkotsu telling him something about a small river not far from the camp. Bankotsu decided that it was his best bet and ran off towards the sound of rushing water. Looking back he could see Jakotsu easily keeping up with his very fast pace. Jakotsu was never the fastest runner, maybe the potion also increases physical strength and abilities! If that is the case then I'd better be extra careful.
Jakotsu tried to take him out again but he easily dodged the blade and tumbled out of the forest. The ravine was straight ahead. Bankotsu ran to the edge of the cliff, looking for a way down. Holy crap that's a long way down! He thought to himself looking down at the raging water far below.
Jakotsu then burst out of the trees and jumped towards Bankotsu. Bankotsu also jumped towards him meeting him head on. He landed a hard punch on Jakotsu's face. Jakotsu landed and staggered back for a second, but appeared uninjured by the blow. Bankotsu jumped back as well and braced his weapon in front of him. Did it work? Bankotsu thought. He had amazing strength and a punch from him could easily knock an average man out. He wasn't sure if it would work on someone who was possessed thou.
They were close to the drop now and Bankotsu stood only a few feet from the edge. Suddenly Jakotsu's sword comes out of nowhere and wraps around his Banryu. To Bankotsu's disbelief Jakotsu manages to fling his large halberd up into the air and out of his hands. Bankotsu stared at Jakotsu and then back at his weapon in disbelief. The power of that potion was truly amazing. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Jakotsu charging for him. In the split second he had to move, Bankotsu rolled out of the way. He rolled too close to the edge of the cliff and as he stood up, he began to lose his balance. After failing for a moment he almost regains his footing, but it was all in vain.
Jakotsu lunges again and this time Bankotsu has nowhere to go. Jakotsu knees him hard in the stomach and sends him flying over the edge. Bankotsu screamed as he plunged downwards towards the icy water of the rapids.
