Chapter 5

Mine

Bankotsu's POV

"No! Please I beg you! I have a family…give me more time!" the fool pleaded as he lay at my feet, my blade pointing to him.

"You have lived on enough borrowed time, it's time to clear your debt" I responded coldly, nothing moved me, I had seen enough people begging to for their lives and though I may no longer get the former enjoyment , I still remained indifferent.

"Please" he continued to beg, crying like a frightened child, "surly you too have someone to live for?"

His words grated on me and I was suddenly blinded by rage when her face momentarily appeared in my mind. "No!" I yelled as I threw down my blade and ended his life, "I have no one to live for!"

I left his corpse there to be collected by another servant of Shinigami. Four months had passed since the last time I saw her, she was starting anew with the monk. It would have been so easy for me to kill him and take everything he had that I wanted. However something that appeared on the look on her face made me stop, she loved her husband completely, despite everything they had put each other through, they were completely devoted to each other.

I had now completed a total of fifteen assignments over the past few months, when it rains it frickin pours! I had found myself in a town, more of a city really, it was big and lively…lucky for me the guy I had killed had some coins on him, it would by me a room at an inn and maybe even a woman to rest with for the night….

"Will you not eat with me master?" spoke the girl trying to feed me some of her food as we sat in my room, I smirked at her.

"Eat with you?" I spoke lowly my eyes pierced her, I heard a small gasp free itself from her mouth, "how about I just eat you" with those last words still passing my lips I had her pinned, her bowl of rice spilled everywhere. She cried out with immense pleasure…her blood was disgusting, however recently all blood seemed to lose its former taste after having experienced Sango's sweet nectar. Nothing and no one in the world compared to her, she outshone the sun, and even grey wilting flowers bloomed beautifully under her light. Her eyes shamed gold, they appeared far richer and made whoever or whatever feel priceless when she set those glittering orbs upon them. Then there was her hair….more glorious and touchable then the finest of silks and all the fields of flowers in the world combined couldn't possibly liken to the glorious scent that fabricated into those dark tresses. The skin of the girl I suckled from, it was as rough as bark on a tree in comparison to Sango's delicate pale skin. Everything about this woman was irritating me, even the gentle moans and groans she gave from my bite sounded like high pitched shrills, she dug her finger tips into my back roughly, Sango was so much gentler, yet still passionate. Eventually this all became to irritating and I threw the girl aside; she stared up at me shaking with fear.

"Are you going to kill me?" she uttered quietly, I thought about it…that would be so much easier, but I couldn't go around killing every person I drank from, plus I thought of Sango's face, that horrid look of disappointment.

"Not if you leave now and tell no one" I answered, quickly I scrambled to her feet hearing my final warning before she left "if you do speak of this, I will hunt you down and then I will kill you".

Four months…feels more like four years, I wonder how she is…how well she is doing? What if she isn't okay? What if she needs me again? Surly it wouldn't hurt to check in, so long as she doesn't know I'm there…

The village of Edo, why did I expect it to change so dramatically? Nothing had changed at all, it's like I've lived hundreds of years in the space of a few months, I had pictured a baron wasteland and sandy huts, but the place remained evergreen.

First place I went to was our cave of course; it remained in the same condition as before…however her scent lingered, it filled every corner, so I knew she had been here only recently, an hour ago at the most. How often does she still visit this place? Through the trees I flittered till I came to her home. There outside lounged the heavily pregnant priestess Kagome, she was joined by Sango who brought out tea, she was glowing.

"It's nice of Inuyasha and Miroku to take the kids out, we haven't been able to catch up like this in ages" Sango spoke as she handed Kagome the tea, "how are you feeling by the way? Only a month left till you are due, are you nervous?"

The Priestess smirked uneasily "terrified" she confessed, "but I can't tell Inuyasha that, though he won't show it, he's pretty nervous too".

Sango smiled kindly upon her friend, a warm and comforting smile that assured everything would be alright. "You'll never get over that fear, no matter how many children you have…but it's exciting too isn't it? Kagome you have such a gentle heart, I know that you will make a wonderful mother".

Kagome embraced her tightly with gratitude, when she released Sango a sudden frown appeared, "you know Sango you can't keep this secret forever….you're starting to show" she said laying her hand upon Sango's stomach and sure enough there popped a small bump only noticeable if you really looked for it. "I don't even know why you would keep it secret especially from Miroku he'd be thrilled to know that he has another kid on the way, I'm even more surprised that he hasn't noticed considering that he always has his hands all over you. You've kept it quiet for four months now, it's safe to tell him".

Sango…was with child, for four months…it all added up, deep inside I knew, I knew that the child she carried was mine! She could not tell the monk because she could not bring herself to lie and act as though he was the father.

Sango shrugged, "I will, of course I will…." She seemed to drift away into a sad day dream.

Kagome noticed, "Sango….why do I have a bad feeling all of a sudden? You're not ashamed to tell Miroku are you….unless…." she came to the realisation and snatched Sango's hands in hers "Sango…the child, it is Miroku's…isn't it?"

Sango took back her hands and averted her tearful gaze away, I listened more closely "I…don't know" she whispered, Kagome gasped and I nearly fell from the tree, the child is mine I know it!

"Whose else could it possibly be Sango" her friend shrieked, Sango refused to meet her fiery gaze and she shrunk away like a frightened violet.

"I'm sorry" she whispered back, "I can never tell you…but I'm certain that Miroku is the father, there really is only a very small chance that it isn't".

She did not sound too convincing, truth was by the tremor in her voice that Sango knew I was the father but refused to acknowledge that fact however plain it was.

I doubt she had ever seen such a look from her friend's face directed at her, who would suspect that such a good little housewife and devoted mother would carry such a secret. She had shocked Kagome whose eyes were wide and pale like to giant moons protruding from a sallow face. "Sango…" was all the words the priestess could manage, I could tell that she had always looked up to Sango, Kagome probably hoped to be as sweet a mother and as loving a wife as she, it was like the image of her friend had completely shattered with no chance of repair.

They sat in silence for a while, when Sango began to whimper, Kagome noticed and took her hand "You're still a good person" she insisted, "you're still a wonderful mother and wife…it's a mistake I doubt you'll repeat" she paused for a moment, "Sango…did you love this other man?"

Sango tensed up and her cheeks burned, I leaned in closer….eager to hear her answers, with a sigh she shook her head "I almost did…almost fell, but no…I have only ever loved one man and that is Miroku and I swear it has remained that way since".

It was like she had punched me in the stomach! No it was worse, like a kick in the crouch! Why did I bother coming here, I should have known it was a stupid idea. With that I flew back to the cave, I'd leave again in the morning without ever letting her know I had come here.

However at the swiftness of my movements, I dare say I caught her eye.

"I knew I saw you! What are you doing here?" her voice echoed from behind me, I hadn't even reached the cave yet, she had followed me into the forest.

I did not turn and face her as I responded with "a woman in your condition should not be out chasing assassins".

I heard her gasp "How much did you hear?" she demanded.

I faced her now and saw her hand resting protectively over the small bump she was trying to hide, "enough" I answered shortly. After a long period of silence I came to her, her dropped to my knees and held my hands over the swelling, "the child is mine…we both know that" I leaned my forehead there for some very unlikely chance that I would hear the heartbeat. "It's a boy, I can feel it".

With a grunt of disgust she shoved me away "Shut up! Don't say such things we don't know that! Don't you think I'm frightened enough as it is? I'm terrified that when I look into its eyes I'll see yours! I loathe that it may have your wicked smile and tanned skin! Even if it does arrive an exact replica of you I will go to my grave swearing that Miroku is the father!" she was getting so worked up now and letting tears course down her face "do you know how difficult it is to love something you have created with something you hate? But I will….I will love this child just as I much as I love the others I have carried, with all my heart and soul to the fullest extent in all the ways a mother should! But that doesn't mean I have to love you" she took in a breath and calmed herself. "But as I said…there is far more chance of Miroku being the father, I truly believe he is".

I grabbed hold of her wrists "Liar!" I snarled, "you can't take this from me, what you carry is all I have worth caring for, you can't be that cruel…do not deprive me of this….this one good thing!" my voice was breaking with emotion; she stared up at me in shock. I did not loosen my grip, in fact I tightened it. "I won't let you get away with this! I didn't have a father, you know that! I won't be like my parents…you can't make me!"

She screamed in anger "why did you have to come back? I'm trying my best to get on with my life. You're a murder Bankotsu…you love taking life, you are not someone who is meant to be a father!"

I don't care how true that was…I knew the child was mine, it was all that was mine…I had nothing else! I pulled her in so that I could whisper in her ear "come away with, leave all of this behind".

She tried to pull away "never, everything I love is here!" she refused "please let me go, I will never abandon my family! You'll have to kill me first"

There was no escaping my grasp, "I love you" I divulged, "there I said it! I love you Sango and I want you to be with me, there has to be a small part of you that wants that too, why else would you keep going back to the cave?"

She was speechless for a moment, "I will always care about you Bankotsu, we shared something very special, that is why I return to that place because you are nothing more than a fond memory to me now" she looked up at me tenderly , "but I can easily live my life without you, I do not yearn to see you again, whereas the mere thought of living without Miroku hurts more than anything, if I lost him it would destroy me".

I knew how much they had been through together, more than most couples have, but still… "Why him?" I dared to ask "what makes him so special?"

She thought for a moment "because through all the pain and sorrow I suffered after my friends and family were taken, after my home was destroyed….he performed the greatest miracle, he made me smile…he made me love when all I thought I could feel was hate. He said in return I gave him hope, for a brighter future beyond his curse, he almost gave his life for mine….I know that man would live a life of misery if it meant that I could live happily. Even if I did turn to him and declare that I was leaving with you, he would wish me all the love and happiness in the world even though he was dying inside and he would still refuse to hate me".

It was a good answer, I knew that he loved her selflessly…unlike me, the love I felt was indeed a selfish one. I would leave those children of hers motherless so that she and I could raise a family of her own. "Come away with me" I repeated as though I had not listened to everything she had just said.

"No!" she yelled struggling away

"Come away with me"

"No!"

"Please Sango!"

"No let me go!"

"Never!"

There suddenly came a loud crash and I felt myself being thrown off my feet and Sango taken from my hands. When the dust cleared there stood Inuyasha with Sango behind him "I thought I smelled a rat!" he growled.

"Shut it mutt or I'll muzzle yah!" I retorted, "now stand aside!"

He pointed his old friend Tessaiga at me and snarled, "you were a fool to return…leave my friends alone!" he looked over his shoulder and down at Sango "go home to Miroku, Kagome told him you were out for a walk…he's waiting anxiously for you!"

She nodded eagerly and scurried away, in the distance I heard her husband calling for her and her calling for him, then I heard an embrace.

I glared at Inuyasha for interrupting, a fight broke out, "you realise the monk will hear this?" I told him as our blades clashed "let him, let him know that his wife carries my child!"

His fist connected with my face "No! The child is hers and the father is whoever she says it is! I realise that I cannot kill you but I will fight you to my last breath in order to keep my friends and family safe…leave us all alone".

I felt a familiar pain in my hand, a burning sensation at the centre of my left palm and there I knew what occurred, my next assignment. I checked my hand and saw a name that gave me great pleasure.

"What are you smirking about?" he demanded.

I showed him my palm where burned the name that made his eyes turn wide and breathe the word "no".

"You see now mutt" I started, "I now have no choice but to take his life"

Miroku…..

Final chapter is next; please tell me what you think so far