Eeeep! I'm going to love writing this one! Please, enjoy reading it!

I sat just inside the 'barrier' of Hakureizan.

The remaining members of the Shichinintai have gone up the mountain, leaving me to think by myself.

I was still thinking about what Bankotsu'd told me yesterday... and beginning to think he was right.

My father... he always preferred my brother over me. My brother got all the special lessons, and treatments. I don't think my father even knew I existed until... three moons ago...

I held my head firmly between my hands.

I don't know why... but... I don't want to remember what brought my father to notice me more.

I hated the feeling of that memory trying to surface. I felt... bad... about myself... when I felt that memory coming back.

Something bad happened... that's all I knew...

I shook my head, and looked around, trying to keep myself from crying again.

I found myself looking up.

Mist covered the sky, for the most part. There wasn't much to see... except for a dark shadow, high over-head, circling over me.

Hmmm... I don't feel anything... I guess it's just a hawk hunting a rabbit in my general area.

"Oi!" came a voice.

I sighed, as I got to my feet.

Bankotsu came through the mist, without his brothers.

"Let's go. We've got a long trip ahead." He said.

Bankotsu walked right by me, without stopping.

I followed him away, without fuss.

As we headed away, I began to feel a bit uncomfortable.

Bankotsu probably felt it, too, as he kept casting glances back at me.

Something was following us. And it wasn't friendly.

I was feeling like this often, now. Ever since I was kidnapped... And the feeling was always confirmed by some creature attacking.

Perhaps I should...

I brought my eyes up to look at Bankotsu's back.

Remembering all he'd done to me... No. I would not warn this barbaric creature of any danger coming this way. I could defend myself now. I didn't need him.

I jerked my gaze back down to the ground as he turned to look back at me.

"What?" He asked.

I remained silent, as I continued to stare at the ground.

He could think what he wanted. I wasn't going to become vocal, now. My throat hurt too badly.

"Hmm. I like your answer." Bankotsu said.

He looked ahead, as we continued on.

I cast my eyes around, looking for a sign of our pursuer.

There were no traces around us... surely this person wasn't stupid enough to come at us from the front. With Bankotsu up front, they're sure to be slaughtered in a second.

I, however, was on the weak side. Even if I wasn't helpless, I was a woman. No creature would suspect me to be very powerful.

Finally, I started hearing something. Lots of footfall, and metal clanging.

Perhaps they were this stupid?

I raised my hands to my swords.

Bankotsu was perfectly calm even though I was sure he'd heard this, too.

What was going through his mind?

I started spotting shadows running around. Not really fast though. Almost like power-walking.

"Jakotsu said you can fight." Bankotsu said. "The villagers said you slaughtered those bakeneko back there. Care to show me your skills?"

I looked up at the back of his head.

He... wanted to see me fight?

Hmm. I guess it couldn't hurt to let him live a while longer... at least until I could see my castle...

I pulled my swords out, and hurried around in front of him.

Human soldiers started coming through the trees.

I started cutting through them, using the most impressive moves I'd learned from my brother.

Each time I killed, I cast my eyes over at Bankotsu, briefly, and saw him watching me.

He watched closely, but, he was not impressed with anything he saw from the looks of things.

Frustrated, I fought just a little harder to make the moves look professional.

Bankotsu's POV:

She ran at those soldiers, and began slaughtering them.

I noticed their expressions... they had none.

Something was wrong with these soldiers.

Whatever it was, it made them easy targets for her attacks... her some-what expert attacks.

Expert, as in, I didn't expect her to know these moves.

Some-what, as in, she obviously didn't practice basic moves before trying these.

She was copying moves she'd seen somewhere. Clever, I guess. For the brat that she is. Still, I can't take this anymore, she's much too clumsy.

I put Banryuu down, and slid past a couple of the soldiers to get to her.

I took hold of her hands, holding them on the swords.

She jerked her head around to look at me.

"Chill out, it's me." I said. "Your technique is all wrong. It should go somethin' like this."

She looked ahead as I guided her hands through the moves as they were supposed to be done.

"It's interesting that you know these moves." I said. "I'm guessing yer just copying 'em from what you saw. Impressive. But, yer missing a few key elements."

I guided her through some new moves, which she allowed easily. She knew these, too, huh?

"Strength, and speed. You can gain those within another month or two, if you work at it." I said. "Then, there's practice. I can help you there."

I helped her slaughter the rest of them before I released her hands.

She fell to her knees, panting in exhaustion as she looked back at me.

I put my hands on my hips.

"'Course, I'm not gonna teach ya if ya ain't willing." I said. "I don't wanna make you scream anymore than I have to."

She scoffed, and stood up.

For a moment, this brat just stared at me, distrustingly.

She was interested in the offer. But, at the same time, she felt wary of me.

The brat raised her swords, and pointed them at me.

I looked down at the two points aimed at my chest, and then the one wielding them, and smirked.

"Alright. Let's do this, then!" I said.

Bakeneko - Ghost Cat (look this up, it's really interesting).

Sad that this is my only translation... but, I'm happy with this chapter. Please, review!