Enjoy!
I stirred, just a little.
Somehow, though, it was enough to slide off the side of the tree, and begin falling.
I narrowly caught myself on my beaten hands, and sighed in slight relief.
I looked up to see if I'd woken anyone.
No one seemed to have been disturbed... by me, anyway.
Bankotsu came out of the trees, and reclaimed his spot by the long-dead camp fire.
He looked just a bit thoughtful.
As thoughtful as a stupid barbarian can look, anyway.
I leaned back against my tree once more.
"Oi." Bankotsu said, quietly.
I raised my head, slightly.
"Get ready to work hard tomorrow." He said. "We'll be splitting up, and you'll be stuck with one of us for a while. Do a good job, and I'll stick you with Renkotsu this time."
I frowned at him, as he leaned back against a tree, and closed his eyes.
Splitting up? Whatever for? And what's good about being stuck with Renkotsu? He's not the worst, but, it's not like I like anyone here!
I can't say anything, though. He'll kill me.
I sighed, settling back down, and closing my eyes to go to sleep.
Bankotsu's POV:
Morning had arrived. I was up, and stretching the sleep out of my body, getting ready to wake the brat.
I'd just gotten a new assignment from our 'employer' telling me that he needed us to take care of a few nuisances for him.
Why he asked us to do this without even letting us complete our first task, I can't be entirely sure.
But, he has enough enemies to split us all up, and spread us across the land.
This was going to be difficult to do, considering we hadn't really separated since we formed the Shichinintai, and I only knew so much about each of our opponents, so, I didn't really know who to send where.
I was going to have to talk it out with the others, but, first, I had to make sure they got fed so that they'd be in a listening mood.
I went over to the still-sleeping brat, hooked my foot under her ankle, and pulled her to lie flat on the ground.
The sudden movement shocked her awake, and she let out a yelp of surprise as her head hit the ground.
She sat right back up, holding her head in pain.
"Get to work." I said. "We've got a long day ahead of us, and we don't have much time to dawdle!"
For a moment, she just sat there, shaking.
I leaned to the side, trying to see her down-turned face.
I couldn't see anything that would tell me what she was thinking.
"You heard me." I said. "Get up, and get to-"
All of a sudden, out of nothing, she threw her head back, and took a deep breath.
"I HEARD! I HEARD! NOW STOP PESTERING ME!" She shrieked.
Everything else seemed to lose its sound in the wake of her scream.
The others were all awake now; frozen and staring at her in shock.
It'd actually been a little while since her last scream, and we'd all gotten used to the quiet, again.
The brat huffed, stood up, and began gathering the things she needed to start on a morning meal.
What the hell? I woke her up, made her mad, made her scream, and now she's going to do what I asked of her? What's her deal?
She picked up one of the pots, and started toward the river, not even bothering to wait on my word.
"Oaniki." Renkotsu said.
I shook my head. "She'll come right back." I said. "She doesn't know how to get herself home, or ward off youkai."
I leaned back against a tree, and waited for the brat to come back, and finish cooking.
She was moving really fast, with a scowl that could kill on her face.
Slowly, one by one, everybody moved away from her, and even began inching toward hiding behind something.
"Quit fidgeting." I said. "She's only pitching a fit, it's not like she's gonna do anything!"
The brat paused, and looked at me.
She had a problem. I could see it in her eyes, but... I couldn't tell what it was.
The brat raised the knife, and pointed it at me.
Moments of silence passed, and I began to wonder if she was challenging me.
Her message became clear when she held up the brown sack that usually held our food.
"You're out of rice, and running short on vegetables." Her voice was strangely mature, all of a sudden.
Another moment of silence passed, as she continued to point the knife at me.
Then, slowly, she turned back to what she was doing.
Soon, she was dishing up bowls, and everyone was getting to eat.
She was particularly slow to get to her food, though... as though something she didn't like was in it.
I can't believe she's still so picky. She cooked the stuff, too.
Once everyone was finished, and the brat was off washing dishes, I had everybody gather around, so that I could explain our new mission.
"That guy wants us to destroy his enemies." I said. "There are three that he spoke of, but, if we're going to split up, we might as well take out some of our old enemies, as well."
They all smirked, beginning to fiddle with their weapons.
"It's just a matter of deciding who goes where." I said. "I haven't quite figured that out, yet, so, here's how we'll do it..."
Mori-hime's POV:
I set the pots down, and turned to see who'd been sent to follow me.
To my shock, no one was there.
Oh, no. They were not leaving me out here. Not after they made all that fuss about keeping me prisoner, and with all those youkai in the forest.
I went right back to the camp site, ready to ask them why they'd just left me.
Until I got there...
"We'll send Kyoukotsu after this guy, 'cause he'll be easiest to defeat, with comrades to knock around, and distract him." Bankotsu said. "Mukotsu, you should go for the wolf youkai. He's got jewel shards, and no skills in particular. Suikotsu, the last youkai is very quiet, very steady. Knock that out of him. The rest of you will come with me."
They all smiled and nodded.
"Honestly, are you that stupid?" I asked.
They all glared up at me.
I stepped back once, realizing I'd insulted them, slightly.
"T-That plan is insufficient." I said. "You'll get half your group killed in an instant, should you execute it."
"Yeah?" Bankotsu asked, still glaring.
Be careful, now. They're all watching you, practically begging you to make a mistake. Say something wrong, and they'll kill you.
"Assuming everyone in that group knows how to fight, you'd do best to send someone who can attack from a distance, and Mukotsu." I said. "A wolf youkai will be very strong, so, send someone stronger. A quiet youkai is a confident one. He knows he's strong, and he probably won't even bother you if he doesn't think you're worth his time. It'd be best to leave him be."
Slowly, they all turned to face each other.
"What do you think, Oaniki?" Suikotsu asked.
"She's a war lord's daughter, I guess she might know something." Bankotsu said.
I folded my arms in irritation.
"The plan makes sense..." Bankotsu went on. "Alright, brat. If you're so worried, we'll do it."
I scoffed. "Hardly." I said. "At least, this way, you won't lose as many men..."
He glared at me. I stepped back once. What did I say? I most likely saved his brothers! He should be thanking me, at least.
"S-So, who am I stuck with?" I asked.
That was a very big mistake. But, I know better than to ask that question again, I promise you...
Oi - Hey (call for attention).
Youkai - Monster (roughly).
Oaniki - Older brother.
Now, maybe I made them seem a little too dim, here, but, they seemed like the careless type in the anime. So, there. Please, review!