Chapter 10

Bankotsu was the first to wake when the false gray of dawn peaked through the overcast leftover from the storm's havoc the night before. He calmly surveyed the room and found the young woman still sleeping but instead of facing the wall, she had turned over in her sleep and now he could see the girl's face. She looked so pleasant with out hatred and pain that had always grace her elegant features around him. Bankotsu's cheeks gained color when he remembered the last time he saw her face like that. He was pulled out of those thoughts when he heard her speak.

"Grandpa," she whispered her eyebrows knitting together. "Please don't leave me. I don't want to be alone," her voice became frantic and she stirred in her sleep before she settled and continued to dream in peace. Grandpa? At first Bankotsu's reaction was to comfort the strange girl that caused his foreign feelings but before he could even get up to move in her direction the mercenary leader's mind took over. Let her fight her own battle. I have a job to do.

Bankotsu got up grabbing Banryuu and made his way to the door, he would have to get provisions for their trek across the region and for some unforeseen reason; he didn't want the girl to see exactly how he was going to get them. Sighing he took one last look at the sleeping girl and shook his head at his foolishness. I am starting to regret thinking this was going to be an interesting journey. And without another sound he vanished into the dawn with his gleaming weapon, ready to do what it was made for.

Kagome was roused awake by the chattering of birds outside the hut and the dull light shining though dissipating clouds. The fact that it was the birds that awoke her and not early morning traffic of Tokyo told her she wasn't in her room. That sad, dark, hopeless room. No! You promised Sota! Kagome, desperate to pull herself out of the depression, shook her head and opened her eyes.

But the usual view of Kaede's hut and all her friends sleeping was not what had met her eye, instead the calculating gaze of Bankotsu from across the fire was there. He did not react to her eyes opening or the return of his gaze until she could feel the heat rise to her cheeks when she finally broke the contact by looking away.

"Where did your Grandfather go?" she heard him ask as she tried to will the blush to fade. She gasped as she felt the metal bands around her chest begin crush her heart at the mention of her poor confused relative.

"He died," she whispered in response not meeting his gaze so she could hide her tears. She knew now that she told him he could use it against her, but her telling him loosened the bands so she could breathe. But how did he know something happened to Grandpa?

"Were you aware that you talk in your sleep?" Bankotsu question while simultaneously answering her question. When she did not answer his question, Bankotsu appeared at her side, grabbing her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "I'm waiting…" he reminded in his quite but cocky tone, but frowned slightly at the silver streaks on her cheeks. She's crying. Is that wound too fresh to even look at? If that may be, she will tell me in time weather she wants to or not.

"No, Bankotsu, I was not aware," she uttered with what little fight she could come up with at the moment. Bankotsu released her and stood once again.

"Well, now you are. Guard yourself with your weaknesses, Kagome. They may become your strength in the end," he advised and went back to his previous spot and once again he stared at her from across the hut. Kagome stared back in awe at his advice, but in the end she broke the contact again.

Bankotsu stared even after the girl looked away, confused. He reached over to the basket that he had "acquired" that morning without taking his eyes away from her and tossed it to her. Kagome look at what was thrown at her and she nearly let out a gasp. In the basket was fresh fruit and vegetables, a smaller bag of rice, Sakai, as well as traveling food; dried meats, fruit, hard biscuit like bread, and a hollowed out gorge to carry liquids. Kagome's stomach called out for the food demanding something better then the watery soup it had been given last night.

Not sure what to do, Kagome looked back up at Bankotsu, who was now wearing a smug expression. "Eat," Bankotsu supplied to her wondering look. "Besides you wouldn't be off much use dead," he chuckled while raising a suggestive brow. Kagome blushed deepen as she mumbled into the basket of food. "What was that?"

"I said, just as bad as Miroku and his 'cursed hand'" she huffed louder still with her attention on the basket. She searched through it twice to avoid looking at Bankotsu, but it was on the third time she looked through it that something caught her eye. It was a silver butterfly pendant that was inlayed with precious stones on a matching twisted silver rope. "Ban…Bankotsu! Where did you get this?" she asked holding it up to it caught the light, "In fact where did you get all of this." Kagome gestured to the bountiful supply of food in front of her.

Bankotsu shrugged, "I'll leave it up to you imagination. And that," he nodded to the pendant," I didn't know that was in there. Keep it, it might come in handy." Bankotsu watched as the girl gave him once last suspicious look before putting the pendant on and proceeded with making herself breakfast.

He wasn't expecting it when she, again, walked over to him and placed down next to him. This time she looked at him and muttered a thank you before walking over to the wall she hung her layer on. Bankotsu ate silently, and continued to watch her every move as she wiggled back into her clothing. She pulled the pendant out from under her clothes and took a second to admire it again, what she didn't see was Bankotsu's small but proud smirk tug at the corners of his lips.

…The Unbreakable…

Bankotsu walked beside Kagome as he continued on their journey. The girl had been unusually observant of her surroundings. She would stop to pick up a plant or herb of some sort and the hurry to catch up with him. He wanted to know what she kept picking up, so to find out the next time she stopped he stopped with her. He looked over her shoulder as she picked a strange plant and stood. She turned to look for Bankotsu but couldn't find him walking away like he normally did.

"What's that?" his voice came from behind her, making her jump in surprise. She turned to find him looking at the newest herb she had found. The herb had dark green oval shaped leaves and what could be the ugliest root he had ever seen.

"Ginsing, it's supposed to help when you are sick and weak," Kagome answered and handed him the herb. Bankotsu accepted it from her and smelt it.

"How does it do that?" he asked marveled at her knowledge for such a young woman, but then again she was a priestess.

"Well you can eat it, or boil it to make tea and drink it," she replied holding her hand out for him to give it back. She was surprised to say in the least, that Bankotsu noticed and even had questions about the herb.

"You don't say," he replied and gave her the root. "Tell me more about these herbs," and with that invitation the two entertained themselves as the walked. Their conversation would jump from an herb to Kagome's time in Kaede's village. Although he had a nonchalant expression Bankotsu listened closely to her words for any hint of his past or her grandfather. By the time night had fallen Kagome had noticed that she had been doing all of the talking and he had only asked his questions.

"Bankotsu?" she asked looking at him trying to find something to ask him about without getting too personal

"I'm listening Kagome," he said thinking that she was trying to get his attention.

"Um…why do you use a halberd as large as Banryuu?" she mentally shook herself for her odd question, but to her surprise Bankotsu lifted his weapon off his shoulder and looked at it, as if trying to figure that out for himself.

Her question was reasonable enough to acknowledge with and answer but he wasn't quite sure what the answer might be. He vaguely remembered wanting the blade in the beginning. Something made him want to fight with Banryuu until he formed a bond with the weapon and its demonic aura. Now he never went into a battle with out it.

"I didn't have a choice," he began and chuckled at her confused look, "Banryuu chose me to be its wielder. The bond I have with it makes it feel more like a partner then a weapon, it's strange." Bankotsu looked back at the girl. "Banryuu makes every other weapon seem dead, I guess I am just spoiled," he shrugged giving the girl a humorous smile.

Instead of seeing her with a confused expression that he got from Jak-Jakotsu he found her with a smile of understanding. Wait! Jakotsu?! He was the third in command of the Band of Seven. The image of the feminine man in pink linked its self with the name and a feeling of deep friendship and brother hood. The more Bankotsu tried to remember the clearer the image got. His odd bun, snake like sword, Jakotsutou!, and ranking strips under his eyes.

"Bankotsu?" Kagome asked when his eyes had widened and receded back into his mind. Hearing her voice Bankotsu looked at her then saw the hallowed out gorge. Renkotsu! That traitorous bastard! Bankotsu now saw the bald bandana clad fire breather with the vertical strips that connected his jaw to just above his eyebrows. And his that damn arrow! He didn't deserve it. Why did I give him that rank? Jakotsu was stronger and more loyal. Damn him! Bankotsu thought as he remembered the murder of his closest friend.

Kagome waved her hand in front of his face when he still didn't answer. Bankotsu blinked, returning his thoughts to the girl. He grabbed her hand and smirked darkly at her, his thoughts still murderous. "Let's make camp."