Final Act
Departure
I do not own InuYasha
It didn't matter which way Sango looked at it, but she was positive there weren't that many fish in the river.
She gazed at his face then turned her attention back to the back as they made their long journey to the village. "Tell me."
Bankotsu laughed for the fifth time. When would she learn that he could never reveal his secretes, "Marry me and I'll tell you everything...?"
"Hah…" the hunter mumbled, but he caught it, "I think it's a nice deal. Become my bride and everything I acquire will be yours."
"So basically you think I can be bought?"
"Not at all, I'm just laying all my cards on the table."
The last comment actually made Sango laugh.
"Are you sure it won't be a problem if I show up?"
"I doubt it. I mean Rin is going to be there as well…"
"Really?"
Bankotsu received his answer when they entered the village.
InuYasha was pissed when Shippo was seen bringing Rin into the village hand in hand, and judging by the lump on his head, he would have to deal with it.
"Bankotsu!!" the little girl giggled as she ran towards her new friend.
"What!?!"
Kagome also showed alarm and ran after the girl. "Oh…" the miko smiled when noting crescent insignia on his forehead, "They say that third times the charm!" she giggled and grabbed Sango by the hand, "Let's get cooking! InuYasha, SIT!"
A loud thud was heard.
Bankotsu made note to cover Rin's ears while InuYasha made his way from the hole, "Nice trick."
"It's what he gets for trying to ruin my birthday!" exclaimed Shippo as he kicked more dirt into the hole, "Why you…come here!"
"Ah!!"
InuYasha didn't really have a chance to chase Shippo since the young kit ran up to Bankotsu's shoulder.
"How did I end up being so good with kids?"
"You! I hacked you in half, how are you alive!?!" apparently InuYasha didn't even notice the crest on his forehead; the answer was obvious once you saw it. "Does it really matter InuYasha? I didn't come here to start anything…"
"Oh it's not you Bankotsu, InuYasha is threatened by any male that comes around Kagome."
"Really…?"
"Well you see he's a two timer and he really doesn't deserve Kagome and he knows that she'll leave him one day…"
Bankotsu and Miroku actually laughed at that one, "Well he has nothing to worry about. Kagome isn't the one I'm interested in."
"Shippo, you brat! Stay out of grown folks business!" InuYasha shouted, but Shippo merely stuck out his tongue, "Make me, haha!" and the chase was on.
Bankotsu let Rin down and she went off to help the other girls make the food.
Bankotsu couldn't help but smile as he watched the little girl run off, Sango met her outside the door and they walked off to get something.
"What would she look like, holding my daughters hand?"
"My good man!" his thoughts were interrupted by the all too friendly slap on the shoulder by the Buddhist monk. "Although I'm glad you don't seem to want to take Kagome away from us, it seemed to me that you are indeed interested in someone."
Bankotsu narrowed his eyes, "What of it?"
Miroku grinned, "There are no available girls in our group, so I suggest you take your interests else where."
"Is that so?" he asked while removing the monk's hand from his shoulder, "I could go on a on about how you completely ruined your chance to get Sango back and that at the end of the day, she will be promised to me, but that's her choice now isn't it?" he grinned in return and waited for a reply.
When he received none he reached over to pick up Banryu and stalked off towards a more secluded area, "I do have to thank you though…" he added, "Because idiots like you make it much easier for men like me."
The party wasn't such a disaster. InuYasha and Bankotsu actually managed to get along all night and many of the villagers' children came to play with Shippo and Rin.
The people used Shippo's birthday as an excuse to take a break and have a good time, which was fine since they brought more food.
Old men told old war stories and some of the new couples took the time the enjoy themselves.
Kagome couldn't help but gush with all the festivities and excitement; she could help but be happy for Shippo, and for Sango.
Anyone from the outside would have thought she and Bankotsu were young lovers, they played together like best friends, and the way he looked at her…was the way she wished InuYasha would see her too.
She smiled and stared out towards crowd, a few of the kids wanted to play samurai and monsters, InuYasha being the monster.
That's when she noticed someone standing amongst the trees behind her, "You're early…" she mumbled while looking for Rin.
The little girl was seen standing by Shippo, a wooden sword in her hand as she helped to defeat the 'monster'. Notably she actually had a good form.
"Even when you're not around, you never cease to amaze me." She threw another glance towards Bankotsu and Sango, "But he isn't human?"
Sesshomaru nodded once, "He would have been hunted down if I didn't claim him as a part of my family."
"But why revive him at all?"
"He has led armies in the past to complete victory, has held high honor. We are at war Kagome, I only take the best."
"I suppose so." She agreed, "Either way you're still early."
Sesshomaru sighed, "I will come back for her in the early morning…"
"Will you take Shippo as well?"
There was a long pause, they had already discussed that when the battle with Naraku came near, Shippo would return to the west with the great dog demon. "I will do as you wish."
He could hear her sigh of relief, then she walked off, not once did she looked in his direction.
He stayed for a while longer, just watching her interact with the other humans and play with the children. With the death of Naraku came the completion of the Jewel.
And this Sesshomaru knew exactly what the hanyu would wish for….
"InuYasha…" Kagome signaled and gathered her bows and arrows into her arms.
The hanyu had sensed it as well, a growing and strong demonic presence back in the wooded area.
The village of course was safe, but what had them on edge was the fact that Sango had went out there alone.
---Midnight.---
Before InuYasha could even tell the others what was happening, Bankotsu was already charging in, Banryu on his shoulder.
"What's going on?" Miroku had just caught up to the others.
"I don't know…"
"But we're sure about the find out." Finished InuYasha.
She couldn't tear off of her cloths fast enough, she was so hot.
"Ah…" Sango whined; the damn fabric just wouldn't come off. She couldn't remember what happened, or even why she was out here.
Her green obi was somewhere, the only thing she was left in was the pink kimono she usually wore under it and that was wide open. The cold breeze did nothing to sooth her skin.
"He left you…"
"Wha?"
Sango looked around desperately to see who was talking to her, and then she felt his body. Someone was roaming her body. From the way that he touched her she would have though that it was Miroku, but it wasn't.
There was something strange about the way he felt, the way he whispered her name.
"He's using you…" The voice spoke once more.
This time Sango looked into the man's eyes, and instead of a soft violet, they were a misty blue. "Bankotsu…" she breathed, but the man continued to caress her. Kiss his way down her neck and to her chest.
"No…"
"I know who you are…" he whispered and before Sango could answer, he found his way into her mouth, his tongue seeking hers but Sango pushed him away, "Stop…"
"Do you really want me too? Didn't you believe my lies?"
Sango couldn't believe what she was hearing; this couldn't have been true, it couldn't be happening again. Not Bankotsu. Not her friend.
There wasn't much more time to think.
A solid punch landed right in her stomach and threw her back into the ground. There was no real pain from the area affect; instead there was a tear in her head.
Everything was tinted red; the world no longer had any meaning.
"Sango!" Bankotsu called but she could hear no more.
A smile played upon her lips; her newly developed fangs displayed. The first step she took was rather graceful, and then she struck. A right arm extended in an effort to take out his eye; which he blocked and knocked off with a side step.
He couldn't fight her. Everything that he said to her back then was the truth, but he knew the parasite inside her head would make sure that the world was set out to get her.
"Damn…" he growled and dodged another blow from her reeking claws.
Poison no doubt, he knew better than to let her draw blood, should the demon find a physical wound on him and get into his blood, it would be over for a few villager. He may have turned into a demon but he wasn't heartless.
"Fight me!" she cackled.
Her legs buckled, but he didn't fall for the trick.
Sango proved him wise when she lunged forward and sunk her hands into the ground, lifting her body up into the ground and shot her self forward; feet first.
The blow landed, but as he went down his hands found purchase on her exposed ankle and threw her over his head as he fell.
Bankotsu landed on his back, but Sango landed on all fours and charged again.
By the time the Inu group made it to the scene a full scale battle had already begun. InuYasha whipped out his sword and prepared to tear the former specter to shreds, but Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder, hold him back.
"Are you crazy Kagome, if we don't something now Sango's done for!"
"Look at her!"
The hanyu growled but did as he was told. When he peered closely one could see Sango's natural aura, but this time it was dark. She was possessed.
The half demon sighed and sheathed his sword, "What do we do?"
"No…" Miroku sighed.
When the others turned around they were shocked to see him sitting down calmly, his eyes were strange and cold. "Let him handle it."
"See how he fights you, see how everyone watches? No one cares for you, no one ever cared. They'd sooner let you die by the hands of this demon than continue to travel side by side with them. They think you pathetic."
Sango hesitated, leaving an opening for another punch I her gut. But again there was no pain, just a horrible scream echoing through her head. The huntress fell and clasp her hands to the side of her head, "Stoop!!" she screamed curling into a ball.
Bankotsu stopped a few feet from her, "Fight it Sango…" he demanded. "DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!"
The demon hissed and the dark shadow of the red mantis appeared Cackling, "Ssshhheeess mines…we will win the war and you ssshhaalll perissshh."
Bankotsu merely smirked as he watched Sango fall over, the demon was now exposed, "Joke's on you…she belongs to me."
He lifted his blade over his head and slashed it once in the air. A blade of light appeared and slashed through the demon, leaving nothing but a shocked face and an unconscious Sango.
When the battle was clearly over the monk stood and eyed the two carefully, then he turned around and headed back to his village. InuYasha of course was confused and followed suit, but Kagome just rushed over to her friend to help put back on her cloths while Bankotsu kept a respectful distance from them.
By the time she finished and made sure that there were no serious wounds, she looked over to the dark haired demon.
She had wanted to ask and literally had to bite down on her lower lip, but the young boy sighed and nodded for her to go ahead.
Kagome looked back down to Sango then over to Bankotsu. "I hope things work out between you too, I'm sure Miroku won't give up. Even if he knows he lost the war."
Bankotsu just stared at her for a moment and chuckled. "I'll be happy to kill the survivors."
Kagome just smiled, "Well then…I'll leave you to say your farewells then."
Bankotsu just watched as she walked off; a sudden and sad look crossing his features as he thought of what he had to do.
She had never felt so warm before…it was as if she were bathing in the sun. The sound of birds chirping peacefully and the smell of sweet hay.
When Sango opened her eyes she was greeted by the sight of Bankotsu looming over her, but instead of flinching away or shoving him off, she reached and stroked the side of his face with her hand.
He placed his hands on top of hers; slowly closing his eyes as he savored the warm feeling of her skin on top of his, "Good morning…" he whispered softly.
But the huntress remained quite all of the night's happenings pouring into her mind; the memory was so sweet that she found it hard to smile. She wanted to cry. She belongs to me.
When she heard those words and felt his heart the control stopped, the voices stopped and all she could see was his light.
She honestly couldn't believe how stupid she was not to realize how much this man loved her, and how much she had grown to love him, how much she could grow to love him.
She sighed softly as she spoke, "I have to go now…"
When Bankotsu opened his eyes, she saw something that just about broke her heart, she saw tears.
Slowly they stood and gazed into one another's eyes and Bankotsu pulled her into an embrace.
"We both have our duties…" Sango said as she wrapped her arms around his waist. When the demon was inside of her, she saw things, terrible things, and knew that there were people who needed Bankotsu. "…and I might not come back…" she pushed to look deep into his eyes, "…but you swore on your very soul that if I came back you would make me your bride."
Bankotsu just looked at her a smile on his face. He was more shocked when he felt soft lips brush against his, but sated his hunger when he held her to his body fiercely, his hands gripping her hair and her own in his back.
By the time they both let go each were panting, smiling happily. "Come back to me?" he almost pleaded and Sango laughed as she parted from his embrace. "Of course I will."
With no more to say and no more strength to gaze at one another without giving up what they had to do; Bankotsu watched as Sango walked away.
Kagome smiled softly as she watched the two from the shadows.
"Do you envy them?" A soft masculine voice spoke behind her a wave of shivers traveled down her spine. "A little."
She blinked when a hand was placed on her shoulder. Kagome turned to look up into his amber eyes. He was always so curious, "Why?"
At the question, Kagome couldn't help but giggle and smile; true sadness and realization shown in her own eyes, something that she only allowed him to see. Before the tears could fall, she wrapped her arms around her friend's torso and cried softly into his yukata. "Because Sessho…I'm dying for the man that I love."
And rather she liked it or not it would be her destiny.
Well there you go, all finished lol.
I hope you all enjoyed the story and will continue to watch me work.
Read and review.
God bless :3