Hello Erika here :) with the newest update. I would start blabbing on but you dont know how excited i am about this chapter like no lie! So im going to shut up and let you read this chapter :D
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I own nothing *sighs* except maybe this orange ice cream Popsicle here :D *bankotsu comes, takes it, and eats it* i officially own nothing now :(
Man has will, but woman has her way.
-Oliver Wendell Homes
**
Kagome: Hang in there Miroku, can you swallow this medicine?
Miroku: P-Perhaps if they are transferred…mouth-to-mouth…
Kagome: Shippou! You take care of it!
Shippou: Yup! Kissy Kissy Miroku!
Miroku: Uh…Actually, I think I can do it myself…
**
Jakotsu: Do we get to kill people?
Bankotsu: Yeah. Remember that castle?
Jakotsu: Why? Should we?
Bankotsu: Yes. The inhabitants of that castle are the deceitful bastards who chopped our heads off.
****
Chapter 8: Past the woods and up the village
Shiori pov
Leaving Totasi's village with my pretty new katana in my grasp gave me a sense of pride..and allot of it. The pride made me think that i was one bad ass. I began swinging it absent mindfully around like a child, not even noticing the direction we were going in. Frankly i was hoping that Bankotsu's mercenary skills of being out in the wilderness would guide us straight to the village and right to a nice hot springs!
Darkness was being to creep into the forest and NO SIGN of even the dimmest light of the village could be seen!
I sighed out loud "Do you think we should have asked Totosai's for a better direction of the villa-"
"He said it was up the woods so we're going up the woods."
Men and directions seesh. The two of us walked in silence, i still swinging stealth crane happily, and Mr big head ego walking right in front of dialect began to form after he hushed me, i didn't want to talk anyways since stealth cream looked nicer to swing around with but why Bankotsu didn't want to talk wasn't anything new.
I thought maybe after out small interaction earlier, we would at least get on acquittance terms...nope, not even close.
The walking took us deeper into the darkest part of the forest. Shadows llurked and became darker as we pressed into the forest, i could feel as if something was watching the mercenary and eyes wandered. Tall trees sheltered the both of us in. Now we were TOTALLY engulfed in darkness, only the shinning light from the moon was lighting the two of us. I already began to feel my heart pick up its beat and my blood starting running a bit thinner.I didn't want to the dark....creepy woods with scary shadows.
The fear of the dark was pretty high up on my phobia list along with many other things that could set me off screaming or get me paranoid. My paranoia was horrible. I could trick myself into thinking something was lurking or that something..or someone was going to pop out, i was my own worst enemy during these situations.
I stopped swinging the katana and looked up to Bankotsu. He kept his saunter to a nice walk but still a few steps ahead of mines. No sign of being effected by the darkness.
Swish.
I heard something move with a utter quick run and that got me in a flash to idiot's side.
"Yo-you think the village is close by?"I tired to keep my voice leveled and hide the immense fear i held underneath it.
"Nah, we might just have to find a cave or maybe a nice tree just for us to sleep for tonight."
Sleep,
in the dark
in the creepy woods
with no camp fire
in the dark!
"WE'RE FINDING THE VILLAGE!" Whatever creepy demon thingy was around the two of us left in a instance because the yell i belted out even had Bankotsu jump.
"Shhs...woman stop yelling Gods." Bankotsu face the fully paranoid me. He kept his cobalt iris on my face and left them their for quiet a good minute or two. "Whats gotten you all spooked? We have been traveling like this for a good days..week now, but you wer-"
I flipped my eyes up to his. I was praying that he saw who scared shitless i was, how much i wanted to get out of this creepy forest.
"Your not scared are you girl?"
"N-no...ha why-why..whats got you saying that?"
Banktosu paused, then shrugged "Hm ok then lets make a small sleep place..." The man's cobalt eyes took a good look around the forest,
Please don't fine a tree please dont fine a treee, "here" Banryu gleamed at the darkest scariest and largest tree in the forest!
My mouth dropped, not just because he HAD to get the scariest tree but because he just totally over looked my lie!"YOU DUNNDER HEAD CANT YOU SEE IM SCARED BEYOND BELIEF!"
"You said that you were fine earlier!?"
"DEAR GODS ARE YOU THAT OBLIVIOUS!" If my frantic level couldn't get any higher. I began flipping my head back and forth, hyperventilation was about to occur i could feel it until.
"." Bankotsu's hard voice and eyes had me stone cold shutting me up. "Now tell me, what the hell are you scared about." Even thought his voice had a lighter tone to it, the steel cobalt eyes didn't cease giving me the awkward feeling
.
"Im...sorta...kinda........allota....afraid of the dark." The forest floor held my attention and i focused on it as i confessed one big secret not even Yuki, my best friend, knew. Real big ego hit was all i felt..and a strange calmness. Now that he knew, i prayed that Bankotsu took my small confession into consideration...ha yea right!
The forest floor didn't leave my eyes, until i heard a small snort come out from the boy standing besides me.
"Wren..Girl, you are traveling with one of this era's most notorious...INFAMOUS mercinarys and the DARK is what scares you!?"
"Stop-p its not funny!" Embarrassment colored my checks. Damn blushing, and i knew he saw it since his snorting became small laughs. "In this waring era girl, the dark IS something to scared of..you don't know what be hiding in it."
I felt goose bumps grow on my arm.
His creeper voice,
the voice that reminded me that he really was one the guys you didn't want to find in the dark..yet at this moment i didn't want him more than 5 steps away from me.
"Look woman, im not going to hold you or...or shit and say like 'its going to be ok.' .....we'll just walk out of this woods find a lighter shaded area then stay there ok...happy?" My heart and soul dropped. He wasn't even trying to comfort me..give me a small reassurance!
Those harsh words broke the small glimp of a nicer Bankotsu coming out. I harden my eyes and stared at this ass with pure hate.
Bankotsu wasn't going to change.
I need to drop the idea that he was.
"Fine.." Venom filled replied ended our small quarrel.
Mercenary idiot walked with a good distance ..not to far yet not to close. I didn't look at him heart pounded loudly in my chest, then its was over filling with emotion that led to a over load. So much emotion couldn't be held by my heart any more and small tears shed down my cheek. I ran my hand over my eyes then threw my hair. I tried to play off the idea that i was brushing my hair, anything could get passed this jerk anyways.
But still the tears would stop. AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY I WAS CRYING. Yeah i was mad and scared but crying..i didn't think i was that emotional.
I couldnt hold the stupid water works and in just a few moments i had full fledge streams coming down.
"A-are you crying!?" No acknowledgement was made towards the mercenary. I kept one hand gripping stealth crane with a breakable force and the other wipping away my tears.
"Why are you crying?!"
"Fuck..OFF!" The attempted yell i was plaing on at the end broke into a sob. I finally realized why these tears were continuously coming..and I cried even louder becasue of this realization.
I cried because i was so useless in this era,
i cried at how much, even though i hate to admit it, but how i didn't want Bankotsu to hate me. I didn't want him to think i was the weak girl he made me out to be..but this show of tears did nothing but add more fire to that idea.
Fatigue and hunger didnt help either.
I remember crying like this on the first night i stayed with Bankotsu but now these tears seemed heavier...To me it was as if my tears were for the both of us. Bankotsu wouldn't be caught DEAD crying so i guess i just took the tears he kept locked away and cried for him.
Ha, i know that sounds so silly but i felt its stange convication beam brightly deep inside my aching heart.
I shed tears for the both of us..
Because the two of us had no idea what was ahead of us, or what these demons wanted. I let his and my tears stream down my cheeks.
Bankotsu stopped talking and walking. He had his face staring at mines again. I dare not look at him and see how annoyed he was..or how furious he was. The feeling of disappointing a parent was the emotion that quiet hit the nail on the head of how much i felt. The sobs coming out of me became hiccups and keeping my glare at the tree i did one last pitiful cry. My crying lasted ..to me about a eternity so it must have seemed longer for Bankotsu.
"Are you done now?"
HOW HEARTLESS COULD THIS MAN BE!?, I began to quiver with anger mixed with the hiccuping. Stealth crane was the only thing that held my hand back from slapping him.
What did he want me to cry myself to my death....or die of over rage emotions?
"You-re such-h ..such a.."
Right as i took a deep breathe in, a warm calloused hand rested upon my head. Warmth passed down onto my head, comforting me in a weird way. The grave yard soil made hands, the zombie hands, felt human enough to me right now. I blink bring my wide eyes up to his.
"Crying is a sign of weakness..and usually...fatigue...or exhaustion.." Bankotsu sighed then continued "This forest is a bit dark..please ..... try and survive until we hit a small tree ok?"
Were my ears tricking me..but by the sound of what he said...Bankotsu was trying to calm me down. Blinking wide eye, Bankotsu turned his tanned faced up towards the moon lit sky sighing.
"Just don't cry..i cant handle woman when they cry ..you're species become all..."
"Emotional?" I quietly hiccuped.
"Yes..that."
Mustering up a small amount of smile i could, i beamed with a small smiled at the boy who kept his cobalt eyes looking at the moon.
"Its-s just a bit over whelm-in-g when you're traveling with someone you don't know-w..." small sob "and when one of your greatest-t fears is-s around you-u and...yeah i shwuoldntt be-e talk-king now."
Bankotsu brought his face down. Eyes looking down on me with hidden emotion. Moments passed with his eyes on my face like before. Then his mouth ends curved and formed a sly grin. The warm hand still resting on my head patted me. "You need rest and that's it." Smile plastered on my face along with tried tears and my body quietly shaking from hiccups, I gave the mercenary a small came over me, a strong urge to hug him and i agree with it gladly.
He froze,
I didn't care.
"Hm..sleep sounds-s good right about now." I mumbled into his arm. Bankotsu's body warmth was engulfing me and i could feel my eyes drop with the beautiful feeling of being safe. "Uh...gir-...Shiori."
He said my name.
He said my name
He said my real name
The small whispers of how his voice sounded when he spoke my name was the last thing i remember.
Then i let Bankotsu warmth over ride my sense and send me to a deep black out called sleep.
******
I was sleeping on forest floor..again..nothing new anyways so i have no idea why i still wake up surprise i find myself lying on leaves or lying next to a bug..or lying next to a siting mercenary!?
My body urked with exhaustin so the idea of me spring up in a wild surprise was ruined.
"You're up pretty late." said the deep voice next to me.
Banryu laided right beside Banktosu and his eyes filled with thought looked out into the clearing. His leg, inches away from my face moved over and he was now siting in a crossed legged position.
"Ar-are we out of the creepy woods?" Conversation starter maybe?
"When we get to the village and get all the crap we need...i think slaughtering the village might give us ...especially you, fighting practice..and its been a good while since ive killed-."
Slaughtering...village...me...with him...slaughtering.
"We're not killing ANY ONE!" I interrupted him quickly but the ugly spat i was hoping for turned out to be more of a croack.
"Ha, you forget miko, i did this for a job. This killing is in my blood, Im a Mercenary threw and threw." Bankotsu's cobalt eyes still held their stare.
"Yes but im not..and killing the village which has done NOTHING wrong to you sounds horrible so as long as we are traveling no killing random people."
"Your no fun." He pouted liked a child and the steeled cobalt eyes shown a small hint of emotion.
Annoyance.
Ah i was just probably seeing things.
"You know, your armor..your uuu neee forrm whatever is pretty see threw."
WHAT!? My body ignored what ever exhaustion was left. I shot up and shoved his side. He definitely couldn't stay talking in one conversation.
*****
The sun was gleaming happily on my back and i was brimming as brightly as it was. No darkness and the village was fast approaching.
"Do you think any of the villagers will know something about these head demons Totosai-sama talked about?"
"We can ask around..but what i want to know is if this village has a sake house so YOU can ask around." Bankotsu smirked proudly.
"Ugh" I smacked my forehead. "Sakes bad you know!?"
"Yeah i am to but you dont...well you do complain so never mind."
This was going to be a longgg.....day.
A change of scenery hit the horizon in a matter of minutes. Huts that looked exactly the same as the ones in Kagome-chan's village stretched a good distance. The only difference in this village was the huge and i mean HUGE shrine that had a omnious lurking sense since it stood in the back of the village. Red with black wood and steps that made the Mayan pyramids look nice to climb gave the shrine a even DARKER LOOK.
"You see the big shrine in the back?"
"Who couldn't girl."
What happened to my name, he said it fine yesterday..YESTERDAY! Two and two finally clicked. I couldn't have ended up at the tree by walking since i was asleep, so there was either two options.
One Bankotsu dragged my body to the tree, or two, he actually carried me.
Ugh stop hoping Ri. I tried not to think about that subject again.
The two of us were now into the front of the village. A eerie feeling of a ghost town came upon me, all it needed was a tumble weed blowing and it be the perfect scenario.
"Bankotsu...Don't you think people should be out ?"
"Yes, this village is strange..and i haven't spotted a nearby whore or sake house!" He sighed in defeated and brought Banryu onto his shoulder.
"Is that all you can think about, we should be looking for a nice place to stay or a-"
"Ssssh."
"What!? Dont-"
"Pipe down, i heard something move."
I didn't even catch that sound he said he heard. Bankotsu lifted Banryu off it, her, the halberd's normal place on his shoulder. He darted his eyes back on forth, trying to find the source of the movement that i now heard also. Sleath crane was ready at my side, ha i would be able to test this mean piece of sword right now.
"Come out , I can hear you!" Bankotsu's voice was loud and intimidating. And he could at least say WE can hear you, stupid head. The sounds of movement and footsteps stopped.
"Maybe you scared them off?"
I spoke to soon. In a loud bellow, a small mob of villagers came out and ambushed us. The leaders were obvious, a priest and a priestess. Both very old.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH US WITCH!? WE ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH DAMNATION BESTOWED UPON OUR VILLAGE SO BE GONE!" Loud agreements rang out after the priest yelled towards Bankotsu and me.
"Witch?" Were these people talking about me?
Bankotsu lowered Banryu and gave the villagers a look. "Are you talking about here?" His eyes still hard flickered towards my face.
"She is not of this world!"
"WE MUST DESTORY HER!"
"DOWN WITH THE WITCH!"
"KILL HER, KILL HER!"
Yeah i don't think its a complement when you have people yelling for your demise. The yelling got louder and louder, then i decided to voice my own voice.
"WILL YOU STUPID WRENCHES BE SILENT FOR A FEW MOMENTS OR WILL MY BLADE HAVE TO SILENCE YOU!?"
Bankotsu took my yell aww. The power of his voice surprise me thought, he silenced the villagers in a instance. The death threat was a bit much.
"Wait," The older miko spoke up. Her old and wrinkled face gave Bankotsu a thoughtful look, then she took in a sharp breathe. "You, Young man...are you not Bankotsu, the leader of the band of seven?"
Bankotsu's lips beamed his signature smirk. The 'im-better-than-you-and-i-can-so-kill-you-in-a-blink-and-ill-look-damn-good-doing-it-to" smirk.
"Heh,did my Banryu give it away?" Every villagers face present drop in color.
"It seems we have a witch..AND A DEAD MERCENARY!"
The crowd began forming around the two of us. I stared in absolute disbelief. These people were actually going to attack! Bankotsu sighed.
"Ok, your idea of taking the villagers down is starting to sound reasonable now!"
"Like i needed your approval girl." With a loud out cry Bankotsu swing Banryu up in the mid air. From the looks of his face he was about to bring it down with a vengeful force ..that was until a calm 'stop' silenced the villagers fearful yells and froze Bankotsu.
Out from the crowd came a man..a real young man. His serene eyes focus only on the mercenary next to me looking really stupid with his hand still in the air with Banryu ready to swing down at any moment.
Mind you that i was still mouth open in shock at everything that was occurring. The man, looking about Bankotsu age was wearing a traditional monk robe and had deep black hair that sprouted out all over in a messy inky fashion.
"Villagers please, i think these two are just passing travels no?" Reasuring smile. Bankotsu didnt seem to buy the man's kind act. I was still just amazed at how the villagers just shut up at his command!
"Young girl," EK! My eyes blinked in surprise at his acknowledgement towards me. Icy sea foam green iris's widen in absolute shock. "You are a miko, and not just any miko, You must be the miko that guards the sacred Tenshi Houskei are you not young madien."
Young maiden, i really wanted to giggle at that, but i just nodded sharply instead. "Then tell me Rimiko, if that is you..why are you wearing odd clothes and traveling with a vagabond?"
"VAGGABOND?" Bankotsu outburst
"Why yes, the lovely Rimiko doesn't need to traveling with such evil afoot next to her!"
"Uhm..excuse me."
"Do you want to die right now because my Banryu and my self are itching for your blood to be spilled on the dirt!"
"NO PLEASE DONT KILL KAI HE'S OUR VILLAGE MONK!"
"Uhm...excuse me." nope nobody listens to little me. I took a deep breathe in then bolted out a loud "EXCUSE ME!" The monk look at me with gleaming eyes, if that didn't make the situation worse.
"Im dearly sorry lovely Rimiko-"
"You called me Rimiko." I tried to speak with a wise tone that Kaede spoke with...yeah that wasn't working out with the villagers glare piercing at me from every angle, "But that's not my name."
The monk's brows showed questioning, "But you looked exactly like the Tenshi Houseki priestess, you must be her."
"Sorry asshole, this girl right here is the reincarnation of the miko Rimiko." Bankotsu's two sense got me biting the inside of my cheek in annoyance.
"Is this true?" The question was directed to me and the look on the monks face was pleading. What was i not a good enough priestess?
"Yes. My name is Shiori Hikaru and i am the reincarnation of the priestess that first guarded the houeski." I stood with pride and Banryu growled next to me.
Destroy..monk...destroy
Creepy vibes again, but Bankotsu sensed them like me. He raised the halberd towards the monk. "So now that you know, i think your pitiful village needs to be taught how to treat travelers, ESPECIALLY since you all know how we are."
Oh yea a reincarnated priestess and a resurrected mercenary, very intimidating.
"Please forgive our horrible welcoming, we have just been on the edge lately since a terrible demon recently has been taking two villagers a night." The monks depressed and worried tone had me feeling sorry for these people in a quick instance.
"Well don't come crying to us, we just need a place to stay and resupply-" Bankotsu could be a bit cold..
"Please!" The older miko rang into the conversation, "With your strength and Rimiko's reincarnation the demon should be a simple ease to destroy!"
"Heh true..well for me," I shot glares at the man next to me. "But if we DO destory this demon...what do we-"
"A free nights stay, and whatever your heart desires." The young monk answered Bankotsu's rude comment.
"Done," he simply stated.
"Uh..aren't you going to ask if i even want to stay!?" Whispering deadly to the mercenary, his cobalt eyes turned amused once he heard me.
"Like you would say no?" He got me there and was chuckling from my silent pout. Bankotsu began walking towards the direction the elder miko and followed her to the smaller shrine next to the scary one.
I troded quietly along not focusing on anything but the surrounds. "I hope you enjoy your stay here Shiori-sama."
Neh?! The monk stood in front of me, warm smile and all. "Oh, arigatou...really." I beamed a smile at him.
"Come lets go eat, you must be starving." My stomach growled in happiness. "Ha did you hear that?" The monk chuckled and the two of us sauntered slowly to the shrine.
"Oh and i forgot to tell you my name, my apologies...I am Kai."
'WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED!?'
Hahahaha yea i know that chapter had a few of those moments.
AH! I reallyyyyyy and i mean reallyyy hope you liked it! I had a good time writing this whole chapter and yeah because i have no life sadly T.T i tried to start drawing how the two duo would look but my Bankotsu looked sick, and not in the good way ha!
i will gladly answer the question of 'who the hells this kai!?' next chapter so sit tight for that crazy ride
Review, i would like to see if you enjoyed this chapter as much as i enjoyed writing it :))
Song to listen to- 'Louder Than Thunder' by The Devil Wears Prada.
It has a great ballroom waltz tone to it and if your not a fan of screaming than this song shows how amazing t.d.w.p without the screaming. If Ri and Ban were a cannon, this song would be a perfect amv song to do with them :) and i was humming this song when the forest scene went on.
Review loves :)
Ja ne!
erika
