Bankotsu paced around the entrance to the inn, waiting for Ayame to return. The mission should have taken this long, he thinks, she should have been back here hours ago. Groaning out in frustration, Bankotsu turns on his heel, "I'm heading out!" he barks to the Band. Jakotsu pops his head out from a room, his eyes drooping with sleep.

"Where are you going, big brother?"

"To find Ayame, she's been gone for too long."

"Ugh, right. I guess I'll go with you."

"Me, too," Renkotsu speaks up, following Jakotsu out of the room.

Bankotsu smiles brightly at the two of them, thinking he couldn't have better friends. The three of them head out into the night, walking towards the home Ayame was supposed to be exercising. They walked for almost five minutes before Renkotsu noticed markings on the ground.

"Big brother, wait," he bends down and traces the upheaved earth with his hand.

"What is it?" Bankotsu asks.

"There was a fight here. Two against one from the looks of it."

"Do you think one of them was Ayame?" Jakotsu asks, "Then again, who would attack her?" he ponders aloud. At the words, Bankotsu stiffens, "I think I know: her father. He must've sent people after her."

"They must've over powered her," Renkotsu states. "Big brother, there's some blood here too. Not a lot, but still."

Bankotsu curses under his breath, fury igniting behind his eyes. He begins to walk back to the inn, not stopping to inform his companions what he has in mind. The two of them follow without question. As soon as they return to the inn, Bankotsu grabs his Banryuu and barks out orders to his gang of mercenaries.

"Everyone up! Grab your gear and some food. We're leaving. Now."

"What? Brother, what's going on?" Suikotsu asks.

"Ayame's been kidnapped," Renkotsu answers for him.

"And we're getting her back," Jakotsu adds.

Without further ado, the Band began to gather their things, not at all concerned that they're bailing on another job. If their leader is going after Ayame, they were going to back him up.

Ayame's head snapped to the side when Akihiro's hand came into contact with it. The beatings began as soon as she was awake and her breathing was turning shallow. Akihiro unleashed all his anger towards her, beating her with sticks, his fists, whips, even small daggers. Her back was now marred with multiple lashes, her clothing seeped with her own blood, and still Ayame would not tell him where her brother hid. She would protect him until her very last breath.

A part of her mind whispered to her to tell him. Her brother would have a good life now that Akihiro's heir was dead. He would become the lord of a wealthy land. He could have his pick when it came to the woman he'd want to marry. He would never have to worry about food or shelter ever again. The voice continued to whisper the many pros of telling her father her brother's whereabouts, and she was tempted several of times; even opening her mouth to speak on many occasions, but then stopped herself ever time. Yes, her brother would receive many things if he was named Akihiro's heir, but then she would remember what it was like for Atsuo growing up under this man. It was horrible. There were many beatings; daily, almost. Ayame even suspected that he poisoned himself so he could die. The few times she was allowed to visit him, he showed no signs of any usual illness, but she would never give up his secret to anyone. If he wanted a way out, she wasn't going to get in his way.

Another smack to her face brought Ayame's thoughts back to the present. Coughing, she spit up some blood that rushed into her mouth. Trying to take in some deep breaths, Ayame looks up at her father. Akihiro looked back down at her, a sneer on his face, "All of this will end, my dear, if you just tell me where my little bastard is."

"You keep using words like bastard and brat," she heaves out. "Do you even know his name?"

Akihiro gives her another slap, the sound of contact echoing in the room. "I'll take that as a no," she continues. The lord lets out a growl, grabbing his daughter by her hair and pulling her up to his eye level. Ayame lets out a small whimper, but otherwise stayed silent.

"This is your last chance. Tell me where your brother is or I'll start chopping off limbs. Perhaps I'll start with your fingers and work up your arm?" he says with a hint of laughter in his voice. Ayame looks back at him without fear. She won't let him even chop off a lock of her hair, she'd rather bite through her tongue and suffocate on her own blood.

Dropping Ayame on the floor, Akihiro walked over to grab a sword from a corner of the room. Ayame placed her teeth on her tongue, prepared to end it all when she heard movement outside the room. Akihiro stopped mid-walk and looked at the door. The paper door was bashed open by two of Akihiro's guards. "M'lord!" one of them starts, "we're under attack!"

"By whom?"

"We don't know! They don't carry any flags, m'lord!"

"How many are there?"

"Seven, m'lord."

Ayame's head snapped up at these words. Tears of relief fill her eyes. They came for her, she thinks. "What? How could seven men overcome my entire army? I had hundreds protecting this castle!"

"I don't know m'lord! They're not like normal men. They fight like demons!"

Before the lord could reply, wires flew into the room and tied around one of the two soldiers. The soldier was able to let out half a scream before the wires set ablaze and set the man on fire. The second soldier stood in front of his lord, sword drawn. Bankotsu walked calmly into the room. Quickly glancing over at Ayame and determining for himself she was alive, he turned his attention back to Akihiro and his guard.

"You!" Akihiro cries out, recognizing the young man before him.

"Yeah," Bankotsu starts, "me."

"I'll pay you whatever you want if leave this place at once!"

"You think I want your money?" Bankotsu practically spits out. "I may be a mercenary, but I still have some honor, and I would never take money from a bastard like you."

Akihiro howls in rage, the soldier in front of him raises his sword and runs towards Bankotsu. Drawing herself up onto her knees, Ayame activates her switch blade and cuts through the ropes binding her arms and then cuts the ones tying her feet together. Staggering to her feet, she looks up to see Bankotsu easily twirl Banryuu over his head before slashing at the soldier, cutting off the man's head. Akihiro takes a step backwards, away from the mercenaries gathered in the broken entryway, still not noticing his daughter's escape. Limping towards her father, Ayame walks up behind him, and without hesitation, stabs him in the back with her hidden weapon, making sure to feel the break of his spine before whispering in his ear, "His name is Akio, and you'll never get your hands on him you bastard."

Ayame lets his body fall unceremoniously to the ground and looks up to Bankotsu. He quickly strides towards her and gathers her into his arms tightly. Ayame whimpers in pain, making him pull back. Noticing the blood on his forearms where they touched her back, Bankotsu growls and turns her around to see the cuts in fabric. Opening the tears in her clothing tenderly, he sees the open wounds on her back. Bankotsu winces in sympathy before asking, "Can you walk?" She nods slowly, not having enough energy to respond verbally. Wrapping his arm around her waist, trying to avoid the lashes, Bankotsu helps Ayame walk out of the room with the rest of the Band following them.

After a month on the mend, Ayame was finally back to normal, with the exception of the multiple scars now adorning her back. Bankotsu noticed that with the death of her father, Ayame seemed lighter and more carefree, like she was no longer holding the weight of the world on her shoulders. The two of them were currently in Ayame's room, sipping on some tea. Setting his cup down, Bankotsu scooted closer to Ayame with a certain look in his eyes. Noticing his look, Ayame put her cup down as well and leaned into Bankotsu. Their mouths clashed, Bankotsu deepening the kiss by placing his hand on the back of Ayame's head and leaning forward, leading her down to the floor.

Ayame placed her hand on Bankotsu's neck, playing with the fabric of his collar. Groaning at her light touch, Bankotsu moved his own hands to her waist, playing with the tie keeping her clothes closed. Before he could undress her, Ayame placed her hand on top of his, pulling away from him.

"Bankotsu,"

"Hmm? What is it?" he asks, moving his mouth over her cheek, kissing his way down to her neck. Blushing at his ministrations, Ayame continues, "You know I'm a bastard."

"Technically," he replies before sucking on her earlobe. Inhaling sharply, she tries to focus on what she's trying to say.

"Yes, well I'd rather not sire one, you know?"

Pulling away now, Bankotsu looks down at her, a confused look on his face. "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's just, I—I don't want to have sex out of wedlock…in the case that I do get pregnant." She looks away from him now, sure that he'll be angry with her. To her surprise, he begins to laugh.

"Well then," he begins, "I guess we'll just have to get married."

A/N: One more chapter and then the epilogue! So close now! I hope you like this chapter. I thought it was a better one. Please let me know what you thought, R&R!

Pastry~