[Akira]

After a few minutes of wandering, the two were leaving the forest behind and headed back towards the village where Bankotsu had been hired and where she lived. This was one other fact she told him. But now she was wondering...

„Why were you in this region anyway?" She asked curiously. The young boyish woman could feel his look of inquiry on her. So she continued a bit nervously, hoping he wouldn't catch that small note in her voice. After all, her companion was still a complete stranger. „I mean it's quite peaceful here. Normally, we don't need help. And we surely don't hire somebody from the outside. No offense."

„Not taken. It was just a coincidence. I was travelling back from another job to my comrades. Then I heared about this incident and offered my help..."

„For money." She added slightly teasing. Then she let him finish his sentence because she didn't wanted to upset him again. But actually, he was still grinning. In contrast to before he had regained his normal composure... and his obviously big ego.

„Yeah, right. But it's not a big amount. I just wanted to fight again. It's been too long." Bankotsu explained. Then, he looked forwards, abruptly standing still. Akira looked interested in the same direction. „Look, we've arrived in your village, pal."

She wanted to add it wasn't her village but she had to admit it was her home momentarily. Then they heared a happy scream that sounded like „Akira-sama!". The source of that scream was a little girl who had spotted her and who ran now into their direction. Smiling, the addressed person kneeled down in the moment the young girl glomped her.

„Hello, Natsuki-chan. Everything alright?" Akira asked still smiling, completely forgotten about her companion again. Actually, the young woman always smiled around Natsuki. The little one was a real sunshine. The younger one nodded fiercely. Then she looking shy at Bankotsu what caused her to look at him, too. But the only thing he did was looking slightly interested back. „Natsuki-chan, this is Bankotsu. He helped me with the demons. Bankotsu, this is Natsuki. She's the daughter of my mentor."

„Nice to meet ya, kid." He said, holding out his hand for a wonder. But the more surprising thing was that the young mercenary had a kind smile on his face. Usually, he grinned, smirked or something like that to the extent she knew. 'Is he acting different because she's just a child?', she wondered. The child took his hand, smiling brightly. Natsuki obviously liked this guy. „Do you want to take me to your father?"

The girl nodded cheerful again, dragging him towards the village which was only a few steps away. Akira followed them lost in thoughts. 'That hothead can be really nice if he wants to. But I guess most of the times his ego is in his way of showing this side.', the young woman thought while she watched the two talking but she didn't listen. Furthermore, the copper-haired was a bit relieved that she hadn't to deal with the girl because she could be quite demanding at times and she was too tired for that. 'So... Job done! I just hope Kunji-sama don't want me to do anything else before my nap...'

„Akira-san." A familiar voice said from her right side. In front of a wooden, bigger hut stood an elder man who had tied his black hair into a low ponytail. 'Kunji-sama.', she stated and stopped while the two others weren't. Maybe Natsuki was bringing the young mercenary to her own hut, so Akira didn't worry about them. Then she turned around to her mentor and bowed slightly. „You are back. That's good because we have to talk. In private."

„Why?" The copper-haired asked a bit grumpry. After all, all she wanted to do right now was sleeping. How hard could it be to release her for a few hours? The she sighed displeased. „What's up?"

„It's about your future. Now come with me." Kunji just answered, walking back inside the hut. Obviously, this wasn't his hut, so something had to be wrong. It was one only for visits from outside. She followed him up the stairs and inside the hut regardlessly. If her mentor wanted to talk to her in private it had to be important. The hut itself was plainly equipped, all one needed to live was right in here and it wasn't much – a fire pit, a futon and some buckets. Silently Akira sat down opposite to Kunji who was already kneeling, waiting for him to begin. This had been one of her first challenges: Being patient. It took her weeks to learn to wait for the other to approach her, to start talking. After a few minutes of pure silence her trainer started talking again, pretty carefully. „Your fiancé's father demanded that you are to marry his son in the next time. An envoy arrived when you were out hunting demons and he left about an hour before now. I... guess you are not very happy about this."

She wasn't. The young woman looked like someone had slapped her right into her face, waiting that he would say he was joking. But this was a vain hope. 'He must be joking! I can't marry this guy, I don't even know him. What if I don't like him? I'm not ready to marry yet! Besides, I have a more important superior bondage. For that I don't need another moral imposition!', she panicked. She had always hoped that this day would never come, although she knew she couldn't marry somebody else because she was already engaged. Warm eyes observed her, waiting for her to calm down. „I... I can't..."

„I understand you, Akira-san. I really do. But it is your duty to your father to fulfill his promise." He said sternly, causing her to crumble a bit. Now he couldn't see her face anymore, it was covered by her bangs. Why did he had to remind her of the code of honour of her strict upbringing? That was really cruel. „If you don't want to you have to tell him in person. Either way, you have to travel to the town your fiancé lives in and I don't want you to do that on your own."

„What?" The copper-haired looked up surprised. Did he really wanted to help her, to bail her out? Usually Kunji-sama was very conscientious and a bit frumpy... „What do you mean with that?"

„You have to travel to your fiancé's town but not alone." Suddenly her head jolted up. She heard something, a certain undertone. Did this mean he would...?

Silently she closed the slide door, walked to a small cabinet and opened a drawer where something precious rested, enveloped in an old white cloth. Akira didn't want anyone to notice she still had the heritage of her old man. Warily, she took charge of it, stroked the cloth aside and an old blade was revealed. 'Surudoi... Why do I feel like somebody walked over my grave whenever I see it?', the copper-haired wondered and had a long close look at her father's katana. This heirship was given from ancestor to ancestor but... she didn't want it. She never had. This sword had seen too many battles and slaughters. 'It just spilled too much innocent blood, father...', she stated grieved, feeling ashamed. Akira clutched her hand to the hilt and the blade, trying to control the sudden storm of emotions. After a moment they were gone again and the young woman attached it to her belt quickly without noticing that blood was goating to the wooden floor, jumping to her feet. She had to get back to the main room. 'I guess I can forget about my nap... Oh boy...'

[Bankotsu]

The young mercenary sat cross-legged at the small table, in front of him a cup of tea. He hadn't asked for it, it just had been served by this little girl who was so fond of Akira. 'By the way, where is that guy anyway?', the plait-boy wondered. A few minutes before he ran through the main room in a hurry, disregarding their presence. The copper-haired acted irrevent again, although he had looked like he had a few things on his mind. Bankotsu shook his head, concentrating his attention once again on the man who came with Akira. He had explained Akira's situation and expressed his wish that Akira shouldn't travel on his own. The young mercenary raised his brows.

„That's the job? You want us to babysit Akira? That's everything." He rubbed his chin like he always did when he was thinking. Where was the catch? This job couldn't be as easy as Kunji described it, except it was a pretty long journey to his fiancée. The trip would take quite long. „Sure about that?"

„Well... this kid can be really defiant and stubborn. I'm afraid Akira could do something stupid like running away. That wouldn't surprise me if I'm honest... And I can't send normal warriors because of her origin. Akira's just too strong by now even if..." He stopped his explanation suddenly as the addressed person walked in and took a seat between the other two men at the table, although Akira gazed on the table in abstraction. He wasn't even listening. 'What's wrong with that guy? It's not that bad to marry into a high-class family when you come from this kind of village. Especially when he's lucky and his bride is beautiful...' The black-haired eyed Akira observantly and then noticed a red bloodtrail down his right hand which rested on a katana he hadn't seen before. But why did he even bothered about that stupid boy?! He decided to proceed the conversation.

„What about the payment? You know the normal expense is pretty... high."

„The lord gave me this for hiring people." The old man stated, pulling out several strings with coins on them. It was a small fortune and Bankotsu looked satisfied. That would be easy money. „I guess that'll be sufficient for two weeks at least, am I right? The rest of your reward you'll receive from our lord himself if you guarantee Akira's safety."

„Alright then. We have a deal." The young mercenary emptied his cup and put it on the table again. Smirking slightly, he stood up. „Where we have to travel to?"

„Kyoto."

Bankotsu smiled, appreciating the silence that dominated right now between the two travellers. He looked over the serene, clear forest they were transitting. A few hours had passed since they set off the small peaceful village but his copper-haired companion hadn't said a word since then. He was just following the plait-boy with his dark eyes semi-closed and his arms crossed. The young mercenary shook his head once again, causing his plait to jump as it always did. He just couldn't make sense of that boy. At some times he was feiry and belligerent, then he was silent and calm again. Like now. Bankotsu looked ahead again. 'We should meet the others any time soon. If they waited like I told them to...' He smiled. Actually, the young man looked forward to be back, to travel with his comrades again. 'Being on my own is sometimes really nice but it's nothing compared to fighting with my friends. Although my last job turned out to be pretty... relaxing...' His smile turned into a cocky grin again by the time recalling the last night with that black-haired beauty, though he couldn't remember her name. 'But she got a bit clingy in the morning...' The young mercenary came back to the present, realizing he didn't heart any footsteps behind him. Irritated the black-haired turned around – after all, he had to keep an eye on that guy – and thought about renouncing his faith if he had had any. Akira had placed herself on the meadow of the forest glade in a meditation position, legs crossed.

„Hey you!" He walked towards his bold, stubborn companion with an annoyed look on his face. Was he doing this on purpose? Certainly. About this he was very sure. „Get up already!"

„And why would I do that, Ban?" The copper-haired asked back without even opening his eyes. He seemed like he weren't afraid of anything. 'No one ever dared to be this irrevent around me without paying his life! If I wouldn't be paid a lot of money for this that guy would already be dead by now...' Bankotsu was growling silently without showing his annoyance on his face. But the young leader had no chance to answer the question of his temporary companion because he was called for.

„Bankotsuuu!" The voice sounded enjoyable familiar with a slightly female hint in it. The copper-haired opened one eye slightly to see who was coming. Then he groaned exaggerating while he managed to keep his neutral countenance. Bankotsu himself turned around just to see his oldest friend ran in his direction, his sword on his back, waving his hand. 'How does he manage to run in that getup?' He wondered once more, lifting his hand as greeting to his comrades. After Jakotsu the five others followed but were not as excited as Jakotsu was. Sometimes he reminded Bankotsu of a child with his kinda naive attitude. The young leader headed towards his friend, knowing that Akira would not move an inch.

[Jakotsu]

„Jakotsu, I want you to watch after our new charge, although he's not doing anything. I'll tell the others about him.", the leader told his friend calmly while Jakotsu tried to get a good look to the new person they had to protect for now, their comrades right behind him. But Bankotsu was still standing in his way which caused the feminine man to pout. He could not just arouse his curiosity by giving him orders and then put him on the reck!

„Alright. Not a big task. I'll take care of him.", Jakotsu smiled cute, hoping this guy was good-looking. 'No, it's better if he isn't. Then I won't harm him.' He giggled silently. He tried to get another look but the leader still blocked his way. „Is he handsome?"

„Guess so... Don't know. You have to decide for yourself." His friend answered peculiar calm but Jakotsu didn't give that much thought. He knew Bankotsu was temperamental at times. Eventually, he stepped aside, walking in the direction of the remaining Shichinin-tai. Then, he stopped for a moment. „Ah, and don't hurt him!"

Then he rushed off for good, leaving Jakotsu very curious and interested behind. The young man walked closer to the other person with interesting copper hair. This colour suddenly reminded him of an old childhood friend who had had the same hair colour. But that was a long time ago. His friend ought to live in that village where he had brought him himself. Standing now directly next to the sitting, he watched him for a while before he squatted down behind him while he eyeballed him from every angle. But all he got was a closer look to his shiny hair. Sighing, Jakotsu got up again, circuited around the guy who was still focused on his meditation. Normally, the person would've been irritated by now but this one was toughie. The cross-dresser liked that. He kneed down in front of the charge, raising the other's head with his hand, though his eyes and front were still covered by his bangs. But the black-haired could feel his strained jaw. Then Jakotsu looked surprised. 'Could it really be...?' He thought stunned. To be sure about his hunch he removed the coppery bangs from the youngster's face. But by now the other person was starting to get really angry. She – as the young man remembered his friend to be – opened her eyes annoyed.

„Would you stop that?!" She snarled, flashing at him. He let her jaw go, eyeing her. His old friend was dressed like a man, her gender well hidden by the breast-plate. Even he did not recognize the young woman at first. Gosh, she was even carrying a bow with arrows and a katana which she mastered definitely. But the copper-haired didn't seem to realize who he was in the first place. Of course she didn't. It had been a while and both of them had grown up but the cross-dresser was pouting anyway. But not for long.

„Long time no see, Acchan.", he said with a cute smile on his made-up lips. Stunned her mouth opened itself slightly, causing him to giggle. After a moment she rallied after this surprising encounter, thoughts still rushing through her mind what Jakotsu noticed. It was a surprise for him, too.

„Jakotsu? Is it really you?" She asked still puzzled and surprised in one. He nodded slowly and gave her time to recollect.

„You aren't wrong, nee-chan. But what're you doing here? I mean... shouldn't you already be married and have kids and stuff like that?"

„Don't call me that..." She complained ludically like she always did in the past, smiling still surprised. Then she leaned forward and hugged him tightly but not for long, leaving him pretty surprised. Her sitting position didn't allow a longer hug. Akira smiled brightly at him, then got stern again, answering his question. He scratched his head perplexed. „I shall be escorted to my fiancé by warriors who turned out to be your group."

„Okay... that explains our task." Jakotsu answered, deliberating. Then, another thought crossed his mind which irritated him. „But why did Bankotsu told me you were a guy?"

„Well..." Akira started, looking down a bit embarrassed and guilty. 'What happened to her and then?' Jakotsu wondered while he listened to her explanation. „Because he took me for one. I tried to resolve this misunderstanding but... that jerk did not let me finish..." She got silent for a minute, then added: „Anyway, I want to keep it that way, Ja-chan."

„Why?" The cross-dresser asked, grinning. Obviously, his close friend already had upset her whithout even knowing it when he read her mien correctly. 'Well... he's kinda good at this stuff.' He raised his eyebrows. „I don't see any reason for it."

„Really?" She deferred caustic, raising her brows. Jakotsu slightly turned his head to his right shoulder, thinking about the topic. „What do your comrades do with women? Whether captured or not doesn't matter."

„They amuse themselves like almost everyone..." Jakotsu answered slowly, then turned into a happy voice again, pointing his index finger towards the sky. „I bet Bankotsu had a woman after his last job, too. That's completely normal." Only then he noticed her gazing at him in a menacing way. It was like her eyes said 'You're kidding, right? That's my point!'. But the cross-dresser didn't even flinched. After all, he was used to this kind of gaze. Jakotsu crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He decided to give in this time. „Alright, alright. I won't say anything, Acchan." His eyes suddenly opened again, giving her a rigorous look. „But only because you're my sister and on condition that you tell me everything that happened to you in the past few years." Akira smiled bright again, giving him another hug, while Jakotsu didn't look uncomfortable but neither comfortable. Jakotsu just wasn't used to this kind of body contact.

„Hey, you two!" A familiar voice called. „Are you coming?"

„Huh? Why?", Akira asked surprised, releasing the cross-dresser from the hug.

„Well, someone has to cook and no one else wants to do that." Bankotsu answered with a shrug and he seemed like he has no care in the world. The young woman stood up, still remaining next to Jakotsu who was watching the scene interested.

„So you expect us to cook?" She asked dangerously calm with a provoking look on her face, walking towards the leader. Jakotsu still sat there moving not a bit and watched the ruction with big eyes. 'Two hotheads in one place. This can't end well.', he thought but he didn't interrupt them. He remembered that the girl went wild every now and then at occasions she didn't like or when she was provoked back then. And he knew Bankotsu. Maybe this was amusing. His friend must have seen her look, too, because he decided to tease her.

„Yeah. I thought you could do that. After all, we have to protect you, remember?" He stated rebellious with his normal arrogant grin on his lips. This seemed to make Jakotsus childhood friend even angrier. Jakotsu could almost see her aura rising up in red flames. Now she appeared like a demon.

„Just so you know, I am NOT playing the stay-at-home mother for you!" Akira answered direct and louder than before, stepping a bit forward. Then, she stood there silently with her impressive aura, akimbo.

„Who said anything about mother?! You're a GUY!" Bankotsu snapped back. He really didn't take any shit from her but unfortunately this attitude was mutual. Akira grunted already. Obviously he had hit her sore point unknowingly. 'Well, in his defence... he doesn't know Akira's a woman...', Jakotsu thought, getting on his feet smoothly. Maybe it was time to stop their fight. He started to walk towards the squabblers but then he realized it was already too late. „You'd look weird in a woman's kimono. What you would've to wear!"

It seemed like his close friend had crossed a line. Akira screamed furiously „BAKA!" and striked the black-haired's head with her bow. The blow came out of nowhere and even Jakotsu saw the strike hardly, cringing. 'That'll leave a bruise...'

„Ouch! What was that for?" The plait-boy yelled unbelieving. But Akira only shouldered her bow again, crossed her arms and walked off, offended and pretty upset, without even looking back. She even forgot about Jakotsu. However, Bankotsu himself rubbed his aching head as if he couldn't believe what just happened. Normally, the young leader never got punched or hit. And if it did, he always repaid it. 'And this bickering we have to bear for a long journey... That sounds really great.', Jakotsu sighed, shaking his head in disbelief.

„Are you alright, Aniki?" He made his presence felt. After all, it had been a pretty strong blow and Jakotsu was a bit worried about his companion.

„I will kill him..." Bankotsu mumbled sorely without answering his friends' question. But this statement answered it for the elder of the two: Bankotsus head would heal quickly but his pride was another issue. Jakotsu sighed again. Maybe this was becoming a new but bad habit in the future. 'We may as well expect the worst...'