The weeks begin to fly by and Ayame can't help but relax into a state of security, thinking that Bankotsu was right when he said she wouldn't have to worry about her father. Ever since the news of Atsuo's death reached her, Ayame hasn't heard anything about her father. Not about his search for his illegitimate heir, the panic his region must be in, not even a peep about the funeral had reached her ears. Hopefully this meant he gave up on her.
Then again, probably not.
Still, Ayame thinks about how nice it is to not have a worry in the world at the moment. The only possible problem that could arise would be her expenses, and she's been saving her money well enough that soon she'll be able to repay Bankotsu for all his kindness and have enough left over for a couple days.
The Band are once again in a new village, hearing news about a possible civil war about to break out against the Lord. Rumor has it plague has taken most of the Lord's guards into the spirit world. They decided it'd be an easy sum of money to squash down the rebellion for the Lord. Ayame didn't like the idea that they'd be fighting the people of this region as opposed to an actual army. Sure, she was glad it'd be easy and there was little to no threat, but she knows what it feels like to have a tyrant for a Lord. He probably deserves it, she thinks. If it were up to her, Ayame would swindle the Lord of his money and leave him to the anger and revenge of his people, but this is Renkotsu's plan, and she'd rather not get on his bad side. She's noticed the sideways glances he sometimes gives her and it unsettles her.
"So, Ayame, do you have any jobs set up yet?" Bankotsu asks, casually walking into her room in the castle that the Lord gave to each of them. She huffs in frustration and leans back from her sitting position so that she is lying on the ground. "Right. Yeah. I have loads of jobs lined up for me today, because all these villagers want to do is hire someone when they can hardly feed themselves."
"Oh, right." Bankotsu grunts, rubbing the back of his head for a moment before sitting down next to her. Running his fingers gently through her hair, he continued, "That's a bit of a shame, I guess."
The two remain in deafening silence, just staring at one another, until Ayame opens her mouth to speak, thinks again, and closes it. This goes on for the next ten minutes until Bankotsu stops her by rolling onto the floor next to her and laughing. Ayame scowls at him until he's finished, "Get on with it already! What is it that's on your mind?"
"I just—I just don't like what you're all doing here."
"Ayame, you know we're mercenaries. We kill people all the time. This time isn't any different."
"Yes, it is! Bankotsu, these aren't trained soldiers! They're completely defenseless. Besides, it sounds like this Lord of theirs is a real ass. He shouldn't get away with how he treats his people."
"Maybe, maybe not. Who're we to decide that? Besides it's easy money."
Ayame stayed quiet for just a moment before turning her head away from Bankotsu and mumbling. "There's an easier way to get his money."
"Oh, really? Well I'm all ears."
"We just have to swindle the Lord."
"What? Petty theft? We're not thieves, Ayame, we're mercenaries. And trust me, killing people is easier than stealing from them."
"We wouldn't just be stealing from him. That would mean that we'd be sneaking into his castle or something. All you'd have to do would be act normal, gather the money upfront and then instead of killing the people, we'd just leave."
"Yeah, maybe, but no way would he ever pay us upfront. If anything, he'd just pay us half now, half when the job is finished."
"But didn't you say that he's under a lot of pressure from the peasants? People don't always think clearly when they're under so much stress. The least you could do is try, you know. Those people don't deserve to die."
"A lot of people don't deserve to die, Ayame, doesn't mean they don't."
"You think I don't know that, Bankotsu?"
No more words pass between the two. Instead, Ayame averts her eyes to the ceiling and Bankotsu stands up to leave. Neither says a word as he does so. Ayame frowns, wishing he would've listened to her. She doesn't want to hear the screaming from the villagers once the Band begins their slaughter. Standing up, she packs up her things and walks out of the castle to find one of the members of the Band. Preferably one that isn't Renkotsu, or Bankotsu either, at the moment. Finding Suikotsu on the outskirts of the village, Ayame waves him over from his viewing spot and tells him she'll be waiting for them in them along the path leading out of the village straight ahead. The job will be finished by the end of the night, she knows, so they'll just meet up with her when they're finished. Without waiting for him to ask her why, Ayame heads on her way.
The Band catches up to her much sooner than Ayame would've ever expected. Must've been a complete slaughter, she thinks. It's hardly past sundown. What could've happened? Did no one fight at all? Did they all line up for their deaths silently? Bankotsu walks up to her and takes her chin in his hands, forcing her to look at him. A large smile is on his face, and Ayame finally realizes there's not a drop of blood on the mercenary. Usually after their killing, they're drowning in their victim's blood.
"What happened?"
"You were right about people under stress. They definitely don't think straight."
Ayame's mouth falls open with a small pop. So they didn't kill the villagers. Bankotsu went with her idea. The villagers are safe. A smile even wider than Bankotsu's appears on her face, and before the leader knows what has hit him, Ayame wraps her arms around his neck kisses him hard. She pulls away, smile still on her face, when Bankotsu pulls her back up for another kiss. This one earning many jeers and hollers from the other members of the Band.
A/N: FINALLY! I was able to update. Dear God, I've had a test almost every week since starting school and I feel like I'm about to die. Anyway, hope you enjoy and maybe review?
~Pastry