I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters. But I do own the rights to this story and any OC there may be. Thank you and enjoy!

Chapter 8

What's happening to me?! The logical part of his brain screamed frantically trying to get his emotions under control. To keep from hurting the girl in front of him he clenched his fist and wouldn't unfurl them even as the scarlet blood ran down from the lacerations his grip made in his calloused palms. All the while he could feel the gaze of the girl on him, searching for something that might give her clue to what was ruining his control. Why am I so angry at her?

"Bankotsu?" his anger continued flared until he realized the worry, not for her but for him, in her voice. He looked down to her to see her eyes sparkle in the moonlight. Her pathetic appearance: her crumpled clothes, the tear streaks stained on her face, her body curled into an open yet defensive position defused his rage that was building up. What could this girl have done to have the very mention of their meeting set him off in such a fit? Did Naraku want Bankotsu to have these feelings so there would be no way for her to worm her way out of the danger that was in store for her, through him? All of it puzzled him so; that all he could do was look at her with a question that he hoped that she could answer. His confusion was so apparent so that even in the darkness Kagome could read it on his face.

Kagome returned his look of question, with one of her own. She wanted so bad just to know what was running through his head, and she felt a tug of emotions that she couldn't describe. It was another feeling of want, but different. It was baffling and strange. Then she saw the gigantic blade resting behind the man glint in the moonlight as a light breeze passes through the trees and her hatred returned. This man had killed hundreds or even thousands of innocent people because he rivedin the feeling of taking life. Bankotsu was a disgusting, blood thirsty mercenary that came back to life, now more than once, and she was at his mercy.

What had she done to deserve any of it? To finally get a chance to become whole with the people who would risk her life for just to be ripped away. She might as well let this killer end it all now, but she had a feeling to get out of this mess it wouldn't be that easy.

The change of her eyes, from uncertainty that matched his, to a look of what he read as disgusted fear. To his confusion his instincts told him to reassure her but he was here to do a job and nothing more.

He put on his cool arrogant playful façade again and answered her. "Why what bothers our little priestess?" he asked lifting one ironic brow. But before she could come up with an answer, he continued, "But then again who could even guess why you would be my special companion." The last part he emphasized by glancing at his Banryuu and back at her.

The one look turned her pale but she quickly recovered by hardening her gaze and narrowing her brows. "Is that a threat or an assumption that I fear you?" she replied, "Because I can assure Bankotsu that I do not fear the dead."

"But Young Kagome can you not see that I am very much alive?" Bankotsu countered without pausing although her accusation of his life did confuse him.

"You may have flesh and bone but you are still as cold as the dead," she shook her head slightly. "You are no more alive then Kikyo herself."

"Cold am I?" Bankotsu asked amused but was carful not to show his irritation with her confusing insults.

"Colder then ice, and with out a heart, you are worse then dead," Kagome finished with the little confidence she could gain.

"Heartless too? My, my Kagome you hurt me," he chuckled and took slow steps towards her shaking his head. Seeing his advance Kagome tried to compose herself enough to stand without scrambling up. "But tell me friend without a heart would I have passion?"

Kagome let out a laugh, "The only passion you have is for killing and you don't need a heart to kill." She finally stood but Bankotsu kept advancing until he had her back against the scared trunk of an old oak tree. To keep her from escaping their proximity, he placed one hand on the bark on either side of her head and moved still closer, trapping her between him and the tree. He gazed into her face as a lover would into his partner's, staring into her eyes with the intensity of all the stars above them, then he inched his lips towards hers and stopped only a breath away.

"Passion you say?" his breathy question nearly melted Kagome on the spot but both fear and anticipation of his inevitable move held her waiting. Her mind screamed run but her body yearned for him to make their lips meet. But before she could stop herself she answered the question.

"Go back to your crypt little boy," it came out in a whisper but he heard it. That was one hit to his pride that he wasn't going to take, he would show her! With the force of his injured pride he took Kagome's lips in his causing an electric impulse that shot through the both of them causing Kagome to arch into him, deepening the kiss. Bankotsu lost his control when he felt the jolt wanting more by grabbing her to hold her close and nipping her lip trying to gain entrance which she easily surrendered to him. He explored her mouth with his tongue while she ran her hands up and down his armor, too frazzled by the feelings she was experiencing to do much more.

Bankotsu was the first to realize what happened when she moaned into his mouth. Smirking he pulled away and chuckled when she came searching for him, wanting more. " Now tell me girl could a boy do that?"

"No," she breathed. With his pride well intact Bankotsu let her go and walked over to pick up his banryuu. Kagome had to lean against the oak that she was trapped on only moments ago trying to get her fuzzy thoughts sorted out and her knees to stop quivering from that kiss. Once he made sure she was fit to travel he grabbed her by the arm and began leading her even deeper into the forest. As the pair walked both were asking themselves the same question. "What happened?"

Finally I was able to find someone who wanted to do an illustration for this story. And thanks to her I got inspiration to write a real chapter. Well any way this is my welcome to summer chapter. :) R&R Please