Chapter 2
The next morning I woke up to the sun shining in my face. I laid for a moment in complete bliss, before I realized where I was. Sitting up I looked around the room to see it was empty. The smell of food cooking made my stomach growl and I decided to get up. Looking at the window beside my futon I contemplated escaping. I shook the thought away once I thought of being caught by Bankotsu again because I have no idea where I am.
I got dressed in a pair of jeans and plan white t-shirt. I pulled my curly hair into a high pony tail, and walked out the door. Following my nose to where the smell of food was coming from I found the group of men sitting around the table while a pair of young women placed food down in front of them.
"Good morning." I said while walking up to the group and yawning.
"Good morning Em," Jakotsu said.
"So you two are getting along?" asked Suikotsu raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah we kinda talked it out." I said while sitting down, and immediately food was placed in front of me.
"She told me all about the dreamy InuYasha." Jakotsu said looking like he was about to drool.
I smiled at Jakotsu taking a huge bite of my food. "What are the plans for today?"
"Nothing, relax all day." Bankotsu said while putting his feet up on the table.
"No arguments from me," I sighed. "I'd rather take all the time in the world before having to go to Naraku."
"You're a prisoner," Renkotsu said bluntly. "I suggest you stop talking to us like we're old pals."
I was taken aback by Renkotsu's comment, he was right though. Here I am, chatting with the enemy trying to become friends with them. I did need to stop, but how could I?
"Aw, calm down Ren." Jakotsu said. "She's the most cooperative prisoner we've had."
"Exactly! Theres something wrong with that!" Renkotsu slammed his hands on the table. "What are you trying to do? Warm up to one of us so we won't kill you? You hear we had money hidden somewhere? That must be what she's after!"
I gulped, scared for my life. My fearless attitude gone in a matter of seconds.
"Say something bitch!"
"N-no," I hardly managed to get out.
"No what?" He glared at me.
"No to all of it." I whispered, fearing I might say something wrong.
"Stupid fucking bitch." He said and then continued eating his food.
Bankotsu was sitting there, eyes closed with a smirk on his face. Jakotsu was sitting quietly eating his meal. Suikotsu was sharpening his claws. Ginkotsu was too large to fit inside.
Then I realized, these men do not care. I was acting like an idiot! They wouldn't care if Renkotsu had physically hurt me, as long as I was alive they would be fine. All I am to them is a package. They don't care if I get a little damaged along the way.
I sat quietly for the rest of breakfast.
Hours later I was sitting outside with Jakotsu, the wind was light and cool. It was fairly warm out, and the sun was at its highest. The run down village was sad to look at, there was dry blood on some of the buildings but no bodies.
They must've moved them, I thought once again reminding myself that this small group of men was far too powerful and deadly to try to mess with.
"You know," Jakotsu said. "I would watch out for everyone, except me of course."
"Why?" I asked without looking at him.
"Well, they are men. You're not ugly, and they have needs."
"I thought thats what those poor girls are for," I said and motioned to the three girls dressed in pretty kimonos pouring Sake for the three men Ginkotsu wasn't able to drink on his own so Renkotsu was having one of the girls repeatedly walking back and forth to bring Sake to him and help him drink it.
"Yeah, for now. My brothers rotate them, then they get bored and kill them."
I sat quietly. Disgusted by what Jakotsu had said.
"So," he continued. "I'd be really careful around them if I were you. Although, if I had to pick any girl to be with Bankotsu it would be you. After all, you're the only girl I like."
"I don't think I'd ever be with someone like that," I said and then mumbled. "No matter how good looking they are."
"You think Bankotsu is good looking?" He yelled loudly, so the rest of the Band of Seven looked over at me.
Jakotsu got up, grabbing my hand and lead me over to Renkotsu, Bankotsu, and Suikotsu.
"Ember," Suikotsu smiled at me.
I half smiled back, really scared of the three men and slightly embarrassed from what Jakotsu had yelled.
"Hey Big Brother" Jakotsu said sitting next to Bankotsu.
"Hey," he said clearly drunk. "How have
"Good," Jakotsu filled his cup with Sake and began drinking it. "Want some?" He held out the cup to me.
"No thanks, I don't think getting drunk around you guys would be a good idea."
"Aw, why not?" A very drunk Suikotsu said while putting his arm around me.
I ignored him.
"Listen men," Bankotsu announced while getting up nearly falling over. "I'm so fucking tired of having to take orders from Naraku all the time."
"Yeah!" the men yelled.
"Once we deliver this girl unharmed, we demand to keep these jewel shards and the many others we have and will collect."
He grabbed his Banryu and walked over the women that were pouring his sake. "As for you ladies, it was great while it lasted but I'm growing tired."
I closed my eyes, feeling blood splatter all over my face, arms, and legs. I opened my eyes, and saw the three women cut in half. Their faces frozen in horrified expressions, when I looked at the men they we're smiling and laughing. Renkotsu complained he didn't get to burn any of them alive.
I screamed, unable to move and panicked. My breathing became short and I began to wheeze.
I need my inhaler, was my only thought.
"W-where is my bag?" I wheezed.
The men stared at me, not moving completely confused.
"Get my bag!" I yelled as best as I can through the wheezing and I began to cough severely.
Jakotsu ran to the room he and I were sharing and brought me I bag. I began digging through it throwing things trying to find my inhaler. Finally, and luckily I found it. I took off the cap and exhaled putting the inhaler in my mouth, letting the medicine fill my lungs I finally sighed. Doing another puff to help my breathing more.
I looked around again, and even though I took my inhaler seeing all the blood all over me and the dead bodies on the floor I began to feel dizzy and my stomach hurt. I passed out.
When I finally woke up, I was alone in a room completely alone. Stripped down to my bra and underwear. I tried not to panic again for fear of another asthma attack. I sat up feeling slightly dizzy when Suikotsu walked in. He didn't look like the crazy killer Suikotsu, in fact he looked quite different. He walked up to me telling me to calm down since he was a doctor.
He picked me up bridal style and carried me to a bathtub, he instructed me to strip down and to get in the bath to clean all the blood off of me. I did as he said making sure he wasn't looking when I did so. Once I was finished washing up, and once Suikotsu left the room, I got out of the bath and began to look for a towel.
Jakotsu walked in and looked at me, he sighed relief. I thought for a moment maybe he did care about me but then he said, "I thought we were goners for sure." he turned around and yelled out. "Hey Ban! She's alive, Naraku won't kill us after all."
I closed my eyes, I'm an idiot. Why would they even care about you, you're nothing but a ticket to immortality to them. I have to remember that.
"I want to go home." I said in a quiet voice.
Bankotsu walked in not knowing I was undressed, when he saw me naked I screamed and threw whatever I could find to get him out of the bathroom. He stood there, mouth open as he looked at me.
"PERVERT!" I yelled as I frantically tried to cover myself.
"Damn," he smirked at me and left the room.
I felt my face turn bright red. "Damn it Jakotsu, what the hell?" I threw something at him.
"What? How was I supposed to know that he'd walk right in here."
"You should just know!" I yelled finally finding the towel and wrapping myself up in it.
He laughed a sinister laugh, like he had planned the whole thing and said, "Your bag in on the bed in our room, go ahead and change."
I walked out of the room and all the men were standing there, watching me walk down the hallway in nothing but a towel.
I glared at them, they were trying to humiliate me on purpose and I really didn't like it.
"Drop the towel," Renkotsu said tugging on my towel slightly.
"Back off," I tried to punch him and then ran to my room. "I don't think this one bit."
Later that night, feeling a bit more like myself, I began chattering with Jakotsu.
"What do you guys do for fun?" I asked.
"I'm sure you know the answer to that." Bankotsu said.
"You guys don't do anything else besides kill people?"
"We have ourselves some fun with beautiful women." He smiled at me.
I sighed, annoyed by their answer.
"Well what do you do for fun?" Jakotsu asked me, his voice genuinely curious.
"Um," I started thinking for a minute. "It all depends where I am and who I'm with back home with my friends I play things like Truth or Dare, Hide and Seek, but I'd be scared to play that with you guys, and there are many games I can list."
"What is 'Truth or Dare'? Bankotsu asked sounding like a little kid.
"Truth or Dare is when you ask someone truth or dare and they pick one if they pick truth you ask them a question and they have to tell the truth, if they pick dare you tell them to do something they have do it. It's really fun once you play it."
"What do you say men, shall we try this game of Truth or Dare?"
Jakotsu was excited for the game while the others weren't so sure. I looked at Suikotsu who was back to his evil self, then to Renkotsu. They both agreed, and Ginkotsu went along with whatever we wanted to do.
"Okay, I'll start." I smiled. "Renkotsu, truth or dare?"
"Truth," he said plainly.
"Okay," I thought for a moment "What do you really think of Bankotsu being your leader?"
"Big brother is a great leader." he said emotionless, clearly lying but I wasn't going to call him out on it.
"Okay, now it's your turn to pick Renkotsu." I smiled, pretending I didn't know he lied.
"Bankotsu, truth or dare?"
"Dare! I'm not afraid of anything you'll make me do!" he said with his chest swelling up with pride.
Renkotsu smirked at me, before saying. "Then I dare you to kiss Ember."
"What," I said looking at Bankotsu who was equally as shocked as me. I didn't want to kiss him, sure he was good looking but he was a cold blooded killer. Couldn't have Renkotsu picked something else. Then I realized the smirk Renkotsu had on his face. Renkotsu knew something we didn't, and I had a gut feeling it had something to do with Naraku.
"You have to do it." Renkotsu said matter of factly toward Bankotsu.
Slowly Bankotsu walked up to me. I got up and then he kissed me. It was wow but I wouldn't say that out loud. Then he rushed back to where he was sitting. After all the men 'ooed' at us, like children in middle school.
"I swear you are all immature." I said. "Bankotsu you pick."
"Jakotsu, truth or dare?"
"Hmm, truth." He smiled
"Out of all the women you've ever encountered if you had to pick one who would be the most beautiful women you've ever seen?"
"Women are disgusting, but if I had to pick one I would pick Em. She's the only girl I know who can punch like a man"
"You know, I'm gonna take that last part as a compliment." I laughed.
Jakotsu thought for a moment before he called my name.
"Truth. I'm scared of what you might make me do if I pick dare."
"What do you think of Big Brother?"
"Well, um.." I trailed off thinking of what to say. I'm scared of him, yes he's attractive but he's terrifying. He could instantly kill me..
"Just hurry up and spit it out!" Suikotsu said.
"Well he's very good looking, he's a great leader from what I can tell. He's terrifying, I know that you would be the last person I would try to mess with, and he's a good kisser." I said trying to hold back my blush when I said the last part.
Suddenly someone yelled "Raise your hand if you're a virgin."
I raised my hand and looked around and noticed I was the only one with my hand up.
Fuck.
"Hey I'd be willing to change that for you," Suikotsu smirked at me, and moved to put his hand on my thigh.
"No thanks," I smacked his hand away from me.