A Blade of Red Steel

by o.Love.Song.o

Inuyasha betrays Kagome, which results in her death and when she is reborn, he realizes his mistake. But it's too late as fate has already given Kagome her next surprise. A child with a man that after many trials, will still love her with all his heart.

9. Silence

Wow guys. You know i just realized its been soooooo long since i updated? like....10 months? so i think its needed that i APOLOGIZE! im so sorry you guys T.T

Alright, so after all due apologies, i say have fun reading this chap!

Oh right. I need a new beta/editor....im not sure what happened to mine kinda......so if ur iintrested leave me a msg :D i know i can just go 2 the beta/ editor section but....its okay i think ill ask all you guys who read my story first :D

So now that everythings done and said

ENJOY!

---

Silence

The pleasure of love lasts but a moment, but the pain of love lasts a lifetime.

Bankotsu had been hard at work, fighting against Inuyasha. Even though the Shichinintai leader would never have admitted it outright, he did think that Inuyasha had gotten quite good over the time that had passed since they last saw each other, which would have been about a month.

The rest of his team, the Shichinintai, had been hard at work as well, fighting against various members of the Inu-Tachi. It had been Suikotsu facing off against Sango, Renkotsu and Ginkotsu against Miroku, which was a challenge for the monk, and Jakotsu facing off against Kikyou. Of course, the effeminate man was not exactly what you call happy at being stuck fighting a woman, and the fact that Kagome had told him, and him only about what had happened when she herself died, you could say that Jakotsu was burning to snap the woman's neck in half at every chance he got.

No doubt, Bankotsu had been concentrating on his opponent, and of course his attention had not wavered, but even so, the Shichinintai leader could not help but notice that Kagome was missing. And that simple fact was clouding his heart with worry.

'Where is Kagome?' He thought as he blocked a swing from the Tetsusiaga with his Banryuu. 'Nothing bad could've happened to her right?' He added on as he blocked another hit. Bankotsu could honestly say that at the moment, he seriously hated his imagination: 'What if she was attacked? Or poisoned like last time? What if…What if there was no one to save her? What if she's all alone and without a weapon? What if-'

Kagome's form, lying still and motionless on the ground, blood all around her suddenly popped up into his mind. It was this fraction of weakness that caused him to get a small slash on his stomach from the ever persistent Inuyasha.

'Damn it! Even when she's not here she's causing me pain. Kagome….She was already and will be again the death of me if I keep this up.'

During a split second, when both Bankotsu's and the hanyou's weapons were down, as a mutual gesture of a break, he heard Inuyasha call out to a Kouga. What would you have done in the Shichinintai leader's position? Of course, turn around and laugh at the wolf.

But his laugh never came.

For standing there, just behind Kouga and looking at him with an expression of blank shock written all over her face, was Kagome. His eyes met her shocked chocolate orbs. And with that simple connection, he felt as though if he didn't get out of there now, he would break down and confess to her all over again.

And again.

And again.

"Kagome, I wanted to tell you that-"

He lifted his other hand as well to join the other on her waist, also leaning in as close as possible to her without letting their noses touch.

"I love you."

How could she have such an impact on him? Why was it that when she looked into his eyes, he felt as though it was only the two of them and no one else, and the need to beg her to accept him, over and over again burned so furiously in his veins? What was this? He didn't beg! He was Bankotsu, the leader of the Shichinintai. He of all people shouldn't have to beg to get something he wanted.

"Bankotsu?" she whispered.

"Yeah?"

He was looking at her with such hope in his eyes. In fact, so much that she could barely bring herself to say the next words. But taking a deep breath and forcing herself to look away, she managed to blurt her answer out.

"I-I can't..."

Bankotsu saw her mouth move, her lips forming the sounds of his name. That's when he couldn't take anymore. Giving no signal to Inuyasha, giving no signal to Kagome, and giving no signal even to his friends, the Shichinintai leader turned around and ran as fast as he could out of the vicinity. In his wake, he left a trail of shocked people, and to add to that, a confused and slightly hurt Kagome yelling out his name.

But Bankotsu didn't turn around

It wasn't like he didn't hear her, he just wasn't ready to face her again.

'Kagome…. Why are you making it so hard for me to accept the fact that you don't like me at all? Why? You know I'll still do anything for you. You know I still love you….You know…You know…'

And, getting more and more unhappy as thought kept racing through his head, the young Shichinintai leader didn't stop running.

When you are in love and you get hurt, it's like a cut... it will heal, but there will always be a scar.

Kagome stared.

Bankotsu, her love.

He had just been there, and now, all of a sudden, he was gone. And with him only a few seconds after, the band of seven.

'Where did they go? Why did Bankotsu leave so quickly? Was it because he saw me? Was it because…'

And the young miko shook her head to clear her thoughts, then focused her eyes and looked around: Sango, putting away her sword and picking up her boomerang while dusting herself off and calling to Kirara. Miroku was resting on the ground while holding a cloth up to his cut cheek, which was his only injury, and Kikyou, slowly putting her bow back on her shoulder and turning towards Inuyasha.

'Had I really blanked out that long? I mean…my friends wouldn't be doing this right after the band of seven left...would they? I….'

Speaking of Inuyasha, he was first to be left without an opponent and was currently staring dumbly around, the look on his face clearly telling her that he was going to blow up and yell at someone really soon.

Really soon.

3…Kagome blinked and sighed.

2…Said miko went over and helped Miroku stick a band aid on his slightly bleeding cheek.

1

"Where the hell did those bastards go!? It was the perfect chance to kill them all in a million years and you guys let them go! You -" the once hanyou raged but unfortunately, his rant was cut short when Sango walloped him on the head with her giant Hiraikotsu.

"Stuff it Inuyasha." The demon slayer casually stated "It was just as much your fault as it was ours."

Inuyasha opened his mouth to argue back, but Miroku cut him off. "Might I ask, Kagome-sama, where did you get that bow from?" as the curious monk looked carefully at the bow that was slung on her shoulder. The fact that he was sitting and she was kneeling and bandaging his cheek put him right at eye level with it.

"It really is a wonderful work of art."

Said miko's face turned red. 'Oh no! What should I tell them?! I can't just go up to them and say that Bankotsu gave it to me! Or…he really didn't give it to me. I just took it from him. Oh no Oh no Oh no…what am I supposed to say now? What should I say? What should I say?'

"Well…um…." She started, but was interrupted rudely by none other then…

"Oh Kagome! You're back! Well then, I have a good question to ask ya and you better know the answer." Inuyasha said while running up to her.

Oh! The nerve of that guy! I've been gone for so long and this is the first thing he says to me? Not even a "Have you been alright"?! Oh I'll show that guy… By the way what's a shiny circle of light doing in his back? It looks just like mine…Anyways, back on topic… But hey. He did help me avoid answering any embarrassing and awkward questions about my bow. So maybe I'll let him off easy…this time…'

"Inuyasha! I've been gone for more than a month did you know that?!"

"Yes I did! And I've waited so long for you to come back so you can finally answer me! So Kagome, tell me-"

"And you don't even ask me how I am when I come back?!" Fire was burning in her eyes, threatening to spill over and annihilate everything around her.

"What? What does that got to do with anything?!"

""In-u-yash-a!" Kagome nearly yelled, her anger separating his name into separate accented syllables.

Said used-to-be-hanyou froze. As much as he really didn't want to apologize to Kagome, and as much as that would hurt his precious pride, he didn't want a face full of dirt. So he gathered up his dignity and did the one thing he could do.

"Alright, Alright! I'm sorry!" Inuyasha yelled while sticking his tongue out. "Now will you get on with it and answer the damn question?!"

"Fine! What's this question that only I can answer?"

"Turn me back into a hanyou."

Silence from the miko "…"

"Well?!"

Kagome looked at her hands, her index fingertips continuously moving from being together to being apart. "Well…you see Inuyasha….I um…have….he he…. no idea….how…"

This time, it was silence from the hanyou. "…"

"Um…uh …sorry?"

"…"

"I mean, I don't think I've even purified the demon out of someone before right? So it's only natural that I don't know how to reverse my spell"

And then all hell broke loose. "What!?"

For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness

"You alright o aniki?" a voice asked Bankotsu, snapping him out of his train of thoughts. Cracking one eye open with an annoyed expressions plastered on his face, he found that the person disturbing him was none other than…Renkotsu.

What the hell? Since when did he ask others if they were alright?

"Fuck off Renkotsu." The Shichinintai leader growled back. He was in no mood to talk at all. And especially not to this hella annoying brother…or not that annoying compared to some other ones, not mentioning any names…Jakotsu.

Said pyromaniac sighed. "O aniki, we all know this is about Kagome you know…And I didn't come here for nothing. I just wanted to tell you that she saw you in the clearing that morning. But if you don't want to hear it, I guess I will-"

Bankotsu ears had suddenly unblocked themselves when Kagome's name was mentioned and when Renkotsu said the she had been there, even his eyes had opened wider and he was finally paying his brother full attention. "No! Stay here and tell me everything. Don't leave." He quickly yelled out before the pyromaniac had a chance to leave.

His smug hint of a smile widened into a smirk. "Oh alright then, what did you want to know?"

"Tell me everything. And don't leave anything out no matter what."

'Perfect…Now I can make this idiot think that Kagome really doesn't love him at all… so much so that they would never be together again. Of course…then Kagome will start to actually hate him because he'll treat her like shit 'cause he thinks she hates him. So then will she be more willing to work with me? Well…only one way to find out and this is better than not even trying at all…'

Renkotsu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No…It's too hard to tell you without any sort of beginning…I guess you'll have to give me a place to begin or some sort of-"

The pyromaniac didn't have to finish his sentence before he was cut off by Bankotsu. "Was she there? In the clearing I mean."

"Oh yeah…Kagome was there…let's see…no…she didn't even cry…Yeah I remember now. I saw her there o aniki, she was in the clearing that you were sitting in. She just walked in and saw you…I mean, of course she saw you there, she even went up to you to see if you were still alive. And then after that she went into the rock that you were leaning on and just took the bow and was gone. Yeah…Just like that. Looks like she went back to Inuyasha doesn't it o aniki?"

Bankotsu was silent.

He was listening to Renkotsu with a realization that was slowly coming onto him. 'It…does look like it…Inuyasha that bastard….And Kagome…she wouldn't not care would she? Or…did she think I was still alive after all?' Forcing his lips open, he quietly asked: "Did she…care?"

The pyromaniac thought for another second before he answered. "Care? About what? You in general or the fact that she thought you were dead?"

"…Both"

"Let's see…Kagome was there….no she didn't care I don't think. I mean she didn't even cry. And as for you in general, she just touched your neck and touched your wrist and then turned to get the bow."

'Renkotsu's probably shitting me right now….I should know that guy better than this…but…but…Kagome…She…she did reject me. Does she really hate me? Is this asshole really telling me the truth?

"Was she…surprised at all?"

"Was she surprised that you were supposedly dead? Are you kidding me? Of course not. I mean…it's not like she really cared for you in the first place right o aniki?"

Silence from the young leader.

"Are you still that into her o aniki? After all that she made you do?"

Still, silence as Bankotsu tried to block out the image that was coming into his head, the second time that day

"Kagome, I wanted to tell you that-"

He lifted his other hand as well to join the other on her waist, also leaning in as close as possible to her without letting their noses touch.

"I love you."

"Bankotsu?" she whispered.

"Yeah?"

He was looking at her with such hope in his eyes. In fact, so much that she could barely bring herself to say the next words. But taking a deep breath and forcing herself to look away, she managed to blurt her answer out.

"I-I can't..."

And with that image, came a thought, and a sudden painful realization. 'Kagome….You…you…really don't like me do you? Renkotsu's telling the truth isn't he?'

If you love me, let me know. If not, please gently let me go

Humming a tune that Kagome had taught him once upon a time late at night when they both couldn't fall asleep due to the sugar rush they were on, (for they had both eaten out Kagome's stash of candy with much persuasion on his part), Jakotsu walked merrily into the cave that the Shichinintai were currently residing in, while waiting for more orders from Naraku. True, that after Kagome joined, they had been a little more cautious about the evil hanyou, but still, it was so far so good.

The first thing that the slasher noticed when he entered was Bankotsu, leaning up against one side of the cave with his arms crossed and his eyes shut to make a sort of painful grimace on his face. Jakotsu knew he was mad, but he wasn't surprised at all. The Shichinintai leader had been angry and doing a lot of thinking these days, especially after the day they had seen Kagome when fighting against the Inu-Tachi.

"Hey o aniki? What's wrong?" asked Jakotsu playfully, even though he noticed his younger brother's stormy mood, while plopping himself down beside said leader. "And don't say nothing because I can tell there's something wrong with you."

Bankotsu opened one eye and growled while the slasher pulled out a shell of rouge from his kimono. "Stuff it Jakotsu. Can't you tell that I really don't wanna talk about it?"

"Hm, and why not?"

"Because." The Shichinintai leader's eyelid slammed shut again, blocking his view of the effeminate man sitting in front of him. Who was currently dipping his finger in the paint and slowly moving it to his lips, I might add.

"Because what?" 'Why is Bankotsu no o aniki acting like this?'

"Because I told you I don't wanna." His voice was steadily growing louder and more forceful. Shame that Jakotsu didn't take the hint to back off.

"And why not?"

"Because" Bankotsu was near shouting now, and he was going to if Jakotsu pushed him any further and made him more angry and frustrated than he already was.

"O aniki. Please just tell me what's wrong."

He gritted his teeth. "Nothing. Is. Wrong."

"Why won't you just tell me and get it off your chest Bankotsu? Just like I told you about Inuyasha!" asked Jakotsu with a bit of childishness showing when he made the comment about Inuyasha, but it was his leader's reaction to that comment that helped him figure out what was up.

Bankotsu's eyes snapped opened.

'Inuyasha.'

Inuyasha who held the heart of the woman who held his heart.

Inuyasha who had two timed her.

Inuyasha who he hated.

Inuyasha who, he would never admit out loud, he was jealous of. Inuyasha who was loved by…Kagome.

Unfortunately for him, the slasher noticed everything that his face was showing. And also very unfortunate, Jakotsu was being smart that day and put two and two together to figure it all out. "O aniki…You… This is about imouto isn't it? It's about Kagome right?"

'Kagome…'

Bankotsu couldn't take it any longer. He really didn't mean to shout at his favorite brother. He really didn't, but it was at that moment, he felt too hurt, too upset, and too angry to care. And it was all triggered by just mentioning a person who was closely connected to the woman he loved.

"Just shut the fuck up and go away Jakotsu!" he yelled swinging around to glare at said slasher. "I just told you I don't wanna talk about it. And I don't wanna see you right now either! Can you not take a hint and leave me alone?!"

Jakotsu was shocked. His hand slipped, and the lipstick he was-- or used to be applying ended up all around his mouth. He had never expected his o aniki to have such a big reaction to such a simple comment, even if it was about Kagome. The slasher simply had no comment to make back to Bankotsu at the moment and therefore obeyed part of his leader's command and stayed quiet. But he did not leave.

The two Shichinintai stayed like that for a while, long enough for Jakotsu to start getting bored, for he had long since fixed and finished applying his makeup, but short enough that Bankotsu was still deep in thought and swimming in his pit of unhappiness. So, the slasher, being who he was, decided to risk it all and break the silence:

"Tell me the truth o aniki? Do you still love her? Do you miss her?"

Bankotsu's eyes snapped open again. Snippets of the conversation with Renkotsu came back into his head, even though he tried with all his might to block them out.

'Kagome was there….she didn't even cry…yeah just took the bow and was gone…looks like she went back to Inuyasha doesn't it o aniki?'

"I do not love her and I as sure as hell do not miss her!" he yelled.

"Aw, O aniki! Stop lying to yourself. You know you still love imouto with all your heart. Why are you denying it now?" whined Jakotsu, tugging on his leader's braid.

"Why the hell are you asking me if you're not gonna believe the answer I give you?!" Bankotsu shouted back at the third in command.

'Kagome…I have to hate her. Come on Bankotsu, think of everything she's done and made you do. You died because of her and she still doesn't give a rat's ass.'

"Because I know it's not the truth and that you're lying to yourself!"

"I'm not lying to myself!" 'But then again… why does my heart hurt so much?'

"You are!"

"I am not!"

"Stop lying!"

"I can't stop doing something that I'm not even doing!"

'She's gone back to Inuyasha now. She's always liked him way above you…yes Bankotsu, that's it…hate her…yes…you don't love her at all...you hate her.'

"But you are doing it! You know you love Kagome!"

"I don't love her Jakotsu and I never have! Now go away and leave me alone!"

'It's for your own good Bankotsu…now say it, say it out loud!"

"Hmph, fine! Have it your way then!"

And with that Jakotsu, the Shichinintai slasher, jumped up and pivoted around on his heel. With a string of mutterings and curses, he stomped nosily out of the cave. Maybe it was just that his stomping wasn't loud enough, or his mutterings weren't strong enough, but he did manage to hear something come out of Bankotsu's mouth before he had completely left the cave. He was not surprised that his o aniki would say something like that at a time like this, but he was surprised by the fact that Bankotsu's face was absolutely emotionless.

"I hate you Kagome. Everything about you."

Jakotsu shook his head. 'He's telling me he hates imouto but I'm just thinking that he misses her more than he realizes.'

Falling in love is awfully simple, but falling out of love is simply awful.

Not so far away, at the core of Mount Hakurei, another someone was also doing some fuming. He had such a long list of things that he could be mad about. It could be that he had told Kagura specifically that she was supposed to be guarding the entrance to the sacred mountain and the areas around it.

And she had failed.

Or it could be that he could see the Shichinintai and the damn miko becoming closer than he had anticipated. He had counted on the band of seven to give her a hard time, and work her and humiliate her to no end.

But that hadn't turned out right either.

The one thing that he could say had worked out quite nicely, was imbedding the orb into the once upon a time hanyou, Inuyasha. That had worked so much easier than anticipated and it was one of the only things that was keeping his anger at bay right then. That had worked like a charm. Three days ago, the Inu-Tachi had still been Kagome-less as they wandered in search of her. Inuyasha had sensed his presence and ran off with Kikyou towards him. Of course, Inuyasha didn't know that Kikyou was working with him, and with no effort at all, the orb was in his back.

Simple as that.

Now all he needed was the perfect time to put his pair of orbs to use. And then…

All would be perfect

But then he sighed.

No.

He couldn't celebrate anything right now. He still had plenty of work that needed to be done before he could start dropping his defenses.

"Kohaku" Naraku turned around and spoke in his quiet, commanding voice to the young demon slayer. "You are to patrol the base of this mountain, as Kagura was unable to do so. While you, Kagura are to try and find Inuyasha's group and decimate them which will save Kohaku some work and regain my trust in you."

"But I never-" started the wind witch.

"Quiet Kagura. Do not forget what I can do to you at any time." Naraku said as his fingers moved slightly, in a motion that indicated squeezing a heart. And with that subtle movement, a few moments of silence fell on the cave.

"And lastly, Kanna." The evil hanyou started once again, "At all costs, protect this orb." The eerie child accepted the orb that her master gave her while he started to fade away into the darkness, but no before one last command. "Let no one take possession of it."

"But why?" Kagura asked impatiently.

And as if she had not asked, there was no answer except for an echo of his fading command.

"Let no one…"

Why do people have to lose things to find out what they really mean?

It was early morning, the Inu-Tachi were currently camping out in a small abandoned hut they had found in the forest. Of course, it was not the best that they could've hoped for, but it was much better than nothing.

Even if there was no blankets or even a futon in the hut.

Even if there was a suspicious scurrying sound coming from one of it's poorly lit corners.

At least they had a roof over their heads.

Kagome, Shippou and Sango were all snuggled up against Kirara in her big form, trying to get whatever heat they could for it was a pretty cool morning. Miroku, Inuyasha and Kikyou were not so lucky; the hanyou and priestess forced to curl up with one another and the monk forced to huddle in one of the corners that didn't have any odd noises coming from it. All of them were fast asleep, even Inuyasha for he was still a human and therefore, tired at the same rate as the others.

But not for long.

Kagome, now also an undead priestess opened her warm chocolate eyes. She had been having a very strange dream, but she couldn't remember exactly what it had been about. It was one of those kinds of dreams that slipped away faster and faster the harder and harder you tried to grasp at them. However, one of the things that she could remember was that she felt very happy, protected and comforted and then all of a sudden, she had felt lonely, despairing and cold. And…the people that had been with her when she had felt so contented…it had not been the Inu-Tachi…but the Shichinintai.

The miko slowly lifted herself from Kirara's side and rubbed her eyes. It was early in the morning, as mentioned before, but she wasn't tired at all. On the contrary, she was wide awake with no more chance of going back to sleep than the Inu-Tachi going to her era. So, she stood up and walked over to one of the corners of the hut, where all of the weapons were laid. The bow and quiver that Bankotsu had made for her were picked up, and slung over her shoulders; the cloak that they had gotten for her in the last village was put over her back.

Quietly, without a sound, Kagome slipped out of the hut.

She really had no destination in mind right then, so she just let her feet take her anywhere. She didn't really care where she ended up; she just wanted a place where she could think without the interference of her friends. Not that it wasn't a good thing she was with them again, it just got on her nerves sometimes even though she knew they had good intentions.

Even though she couldn't remember it, this path was not a new path to Kagome. She had traveled here once before, when she was out cold and unconscious. If she had been conscious at the time, she would've recognized the dried up waterfall, the poison ivy that grew in abundance along the path, and the fact that the path was going up a mountain.

She kept ascending and ascending, while thinking.

'Miroku and Sango really do look happy together. I think they seem closer than I remember; I have to make a note to ask Sango 'bout that a little later. And Shippou. He must've grown a few good inches in the month that I've been away from them. Maybe it's his growth spurt time... Nah, too early maybe in a couple good years.

Kagome was now at a clearing.

A clearing with a rock in the middle.

A clearing with cherry blossoms littering the ground.

A clearing…That she remembered well…

"Kagome, I wanted to tell you that-"

He lifted his other hand to join the other on her waist, also leaning in as close as possible to her without letting their noses touch.

"I love you."

She brushed her fingers along the cool surface of the rock, and then pivoted around to sit on it. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, towards the never-ending sky and continued to think.

'Inuyasha…this is the first and last time I'll say this, out loud or inside my head.'

"I love you with all my heart, Inuyasha."

'I...I really do. But I think you made your choice pretty clear to me when we were in a life or death situation, and still, you chose Kikyou over me. Yes, I know. I can't compare to her, but it doesn't mean that it didn't hurt Inuyasha.'

Kagome sighed, but didn't break off on her thoughts.

'I have to give up on you. The moment I came back to life, my first thought was of you, then of the rest of our group after. But it was at that moment that I realized you had my incarnation with you now, and that you really didn't need me anymore. So I made up my mind that I would not love you anymore; that I would give myself a chance to fall in love with a guy who will love me back for who I am, and not for my powers, but truly for me.'

She opened her eyes again and brushed away the single tear that was slowly making its way down her cheek.

'No…I won't cry for you again, Inuyasha. I will still be your friend, but I will not think of you as anymore than friend.

'So, I wish you all the best with Kikyou, Inuyasha. I'll be happy for you two so that when I find true love as well, you two can be happy for me. Oh and also I think I've found-'

"What are you doing here Kagome?" a voice rudely interrupted her train of thoughts. It was a voice filled with strength that only someone alive and warm could have, but to contradict, it was hinted with the icy cold edge that only an uncaring and unloving person could have. Startled, she jumped and turned around, only to be faced with the very guy that thought of her the way she used to think of Inuyasha.

Even though she didn't quite know that.

"Bankotsu…" she breathed.

Once again, his cerulean eyes met hers, as her chocolate eyes met his. There were no words spoken between them, but in their hearts, both of them were talking silently to each other, trying to convey the emotions that they were feeling at the moment.

'Bankotsu, it's you! You're really alive! I thought I was imagining things when I saw you at the castle! How have you been?'

'Kagome…my love…'

'You know Bankotsu, now that I've come to terms with my feelings, I just want to apologize for everything, I hope that we can start all over again'

'Kagome, I forced myself to hate you, but seeing you again…and we're alone together…this is so perfect I could spend the rest of my life like this. Right here.'

'Will you give me the chance Bankotsu? Will you let me start all over again with you?'

'Kagome, I swear on my life, my halberd and my band's life that this is the last time I will think this. I love you Kagome. I honestly do.'

'And this time Bankotsu, when you tell me you love me, I'll tell you that I love you too.'

'I understand that you can't love me when you love that damn bastard InuTrasha. That's why I have to make myself hate you because there's no point in hurting myself any further for nothing. I have to give up on you. You proved that you loved him to me well enough when you did all those things that Renkotsu told me about.'

'I hope you aren't mad that I took the bow Bankotsu. And I hope you're not mad that I haven't read your note yet. I want to read it when I know you still love me too.'

'So, Kagome I have to do what I'm about to. I've made my decision and I can't change my mind now even though it's gonna break my heart.'

'Bankotsu, I need to tell you. If I don't I'll be left wondering for the rest of my life.'

'I never fell in love with anyone before you, and I promise I never will again. That's why I'll go back to being an emotionless mercenary, because in doing that, I know you'll come to hate me too. That's what I want.'

'And I can't stand being left like that.'

'And I can't regret it after, no matter how much it hurts.'

"What are you doing here?" Bankotsu finally said out loud, repeating the question he had asked just a few moments earlier.

The way that he looked at her was starting to creep her out slightly. And not in the perverted way, but in a way that made her feel as if he would jump and kill her at any given moment. It was a look on his face that had never been directed at her, but she was finally feeling the brunt of it this time. She stammered for a reply. "Oh I was um, just here…you know…thinking…and uh…yeah just thinking…"

"Don't lie to me Kagome." 'That's right. Don't even ask me how I am, or why I'm still alive. Damn it Ka- You stupid bitch!'

"But I'm not lying to you." 'Don't you not trust me anymore Bankotsu?'

"Whatever." The young Shichinintai came and joined her in the middle of the clearing, but not sitting on the rock but choosing to stand a few feet away from it instead. "But get the hell outta here right now. I came to this place to think and I don't want any distractions." 'Looks like everything Renkotsu said is getting proven true right now…'

Her jaw dropped open slightly.

'What's happened to Bankotsu? How come he's changed so much since I last saw him? He seems like…the guy from the stories that the villagers told us back then, and not the guy that I've come to know in the past few months'

She was unable to find her voice for a while, but when she finally regained it, she shouted out at her love…slowly turning into dislike. "And I'm supposed to be a distraction?"

With no hesitation, he answered her. "You are." 'Kagome, Damn it! I hate my imagination! I can just picture her there. What Renkotsu was saying… Oh yeah "I saw he there o aniki… She was in the clearing that you were sitting in."'

"What's wrong with you?

"Does it look like something's wrong with me?"

"Of course she saw you, she even went up to you to see if you were still alive."

"Of course it does. I mean, you…are so much more mean and rude. You're like the guy from the Shichinintai stories that the villager told us about. You don't feel like the guy that I've fallen in-"

"There's nothing wrong with me."

"Was she surprised that you were supposedly dead? Are you kidding me? Of course not. I mean, it's not like she really cared for you in the first place, right o aniki?"

"There is Bankotsu! Please just tell me what's bugging you!"

"Leave me alone"

'No wonder she and Jakotsu are such good friends. She feels like a second Jakotsu right now.'

"There's nothing wrong with me, and even if there was, I wouldn't tell you about it anyways."

"Do you honestly think that if you don't talk about it, it'll just go away by itself?"

"Yes. And you better get outta here right now! You're really starting to piss me off, you know that?!"

"Sheesh! You are just like Inuyasha! Why are the guys in the feudal era such idiots?!"

"You're comparing me to that bastard?"

"Yes I am. Something wrong with that Bankotsu?"

"Never compare me to him. He's not-"

"I will if I want to! You guys are both brainless idiots who think power is everything and that everything should be settled the caveman way: with a fight! But I'll admit there are things that are different about you two!"

"Oh yeah? And what would they be, I'm so interested to hear."

"Even though he caused my death, I can say that Inuyasha is loads better than you, in every single way!"

"Seriously, in every single way? And how strong is your precious 'Trasha now? He's a human like us now." He shouted at her, even now, mostly out of jealousy at hearing her defend him like that.

"I bet he can't even protect himself now, let alone anyone else with his wimpy rusted trash of sword!"

"You're just saying that because you're jealous of Inuyasha!"

'Bankotsu you've changed way too much…I feel like I really hate you right now!'

"Maybe that's why you left that time in the castle courtyard! Because you knew you were no match against-"

"You dare talk to me like that?" he growled low in his throat, his eyes sparkling with the anger that was starting to build up. And it was real.

"What? I shouldn't? You think you're so great just because you killed so many people and that you're the great Shichinintai leader? You think I should bow down and respect you just because of your infamous reputation. You-"

"Yeah I do! And for your information, this 'great Shichinintai leader' can snap your pretty neck in half any old time!"

"Like you would!" 'Come on Bankotsu. Don't say that you really would...'

"You wanna bet?"

"Huh, you wouldn't do it"

'Bankotsu…'

"Oh really? And why 'great miko Kagome would' you ask me a question if you weren't gonna believe the answer I give you?"

"Because I know you better than that! Or I thought I did!" yelled Kagome, close to tears now.

"I know that only a little while back, you were in love with me! And when I finally see you again right now, in this clearing, I just wanted to tell you that you are the person, and not Inuyasha that I've fallen-"

"I didn't come here to listen to what you have to say! And I don't wanna hear it now either! Just go back to your pretty 'Trasha and leave me the hell alone if you-"

"Bankotsu! You really are a big stupid jerk you know that? Would you calm down for a moment and listen to what I have to say? Sheesh. You don't make any sense at all! First being all calm and cool, the all of a sudden blowing up on me. What's your problem?"

"I don't have a problem. You do."

"What? That's just-"

"And it's not like you make any sense"

"Of course I do!"

"Okay, so then if I really am such a big jerk and so stupid, then why the hell are you still standing here arguing with me?"

Even now at a moment like this, there was no hesitation in her voice. "Because I wanted to tell you I love you too!"

Silence fell.

And silence reigned until he broke it with his stammer. "…What!?"

"I love you too you big idiot!"

And he went silent for another moment, in which a thousand thoughts were running through his head.

'She loves me too…Finally. It's what I've wanted so much to hear for so long, since Suikotsu made me realize that I…No! I can't love her! I have to hate her because she hates me too and there's no point in hurting myself any longer…But she just said…Can I trust her word that she loves me now? Can I, or not? But Renkotsu; he was telling me the truth back in the cave wasn't he? Kagome…she really did that when she thought I was dead right? I…I still love her so much. No! I can't think that….I can't….I….'

"Bankotsu? You okay?"

It was in that instant, he quickly made his choice. "You know what? Why the hell are you saying and asking me anything at a time like this?"

Kagome was, as an understatement, rendered speechless. She had no idea what caused the sudden shifts in Bankotsu's mood all this whole time, and it was really confusing and hurting her.

Bankotsu didn't stop.

"No answer Kagome? So when I tell you that I love you too you can have another chance to throw it all back in my face?

"So that you can hope that I'm still depressed and a hopeless romantic for you?"

"No that's not-"

"Or maybe then you can add my name to the long list of guys that you've managed to seduce and do anything for you? Or do you wish that I really was dead again, so you don't have to deal with me anymore?"

Kagome thought this was getting a bit ridiculous.

Really.

"Well maybe I'm asking because I just wanted to know if you were alright! And maybe I confessed to you because I wanted to know if-"

"Then you're stupider than I thought! It's not like I wanted you in the first place! Go back and fuck your precious InuTrasha for all I care! Hell go and fuck all the guys in Japan if that makes you happy!"

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Kagome screamed back at him, angry tears burning in her eyes.

"Can't you understand bitch? I never want to see you again!" he yelled with much more hate in his voice than he actually felt in his heart for her, but being caught in the moment, he didn't really care. The young Shichinintai raised his hand.

He drew it back.

Her face controlled with anger and surprise.

He brought it down.

Her eyes widened. 'He's going to-

Smack

-hit me…'

Bankotsu really was hurt and jealous right then, so even though he was so mad and caught up in his feelings, he couldn't bring himself to hit her with strength any harder than this, but it was still enough to leave an ugly bruising mark on her otherwise flawless skin and throw her to the ground.

"Leave now and never come back!" he shouted again, then lowering his voice, added a threat. "Or I will not hesitate to harm you again."

What would you have done in Kagome's position?

What could you have done?

So she did the only thing that could be done at that moment in time.

She did what seemed most logical even though she was breaking her heart into thousands and thousands of pieces along the way.

As she got up, holding her purple, swollen cheek, she could only let the tears roll down her face as she turned and walked away.

Away from the clearing that meant so much to these young lovers.

And away from the only hope they every had in their hearts these past 2 weeks of making up.

Step.

Slowly and painfully, she walked away from where her heart was left.

Step.

Slowly and painfully, she walked out of his life.

If only…

If only she had turned around, she would have seen the regret and love burning in his eyes, glossy with unshed tears. If only he had called out her name once more, he would have seen the pain and hurt in hers, glossy with the tears that poured down her stinging face.

And if only, the wind hadn't been so loud overhead, moaning along with their pain, he would have heard her whisper, right before she disappeared out of his sight.

"Goodbye, Bankotsu... Forever…"

ANDDDDDDD CUT! there you go:D theres the chapter! Bankotsu was unsure about himself and Kagome, but after his talk with Renkotsu, he thinks that she really truly doesnt like him. ANd the cherry on top is his talk with Jakotsu, where he decides he wont like her again except Jakotsu knows the truth.....or thinks he does. THen, Bankotsu and Kagome have their final talk in which he decides to break everything with her. Its over for the two lovers.

NEXT CHAPTER: three new people...or should i say characters join the story and just adds to the love....square? but then again, maybe another person was just what Bankotsu and Kagome needed to realize a few things.