Bathing Incident and An Ominous Aura

{A few days later, near a village on the way to Kyoto}

[Bankotsu]

„Hot springs?" Akira asked cheerfully, clapping his hands. Then he slapped Jakotsu slightly on his back, while he was smiling, too. Bankotsu raised his eyebrows. He wouldn't have thought the copper-haired would get so crazy about this news. In a good way. It was even better that there was another village nearby. „Here are hot springs? It's been a while since I last bathed in hot water." He glared at the young leader warningly. Then his face turned pleased again. Bankotsu grinned. Sometimes his expressions were really funny. „I mean a REAL bath, not just the hot water in the villages we passed..."

„If you're so driven to take a bath you can go with me there in a moment." The black-haired suggested while the others prepared for the night to stay here in this place. It was a meadow with a small river nearby, a village a few minutes away by foot and the hot springs were just a minute away in the forest. He had been surprised, too, when Suikotsu discovered them. Then, Bankotsu focused on the young man again whose face turned beet-red once again. 'What's that about?' He wondered, looking surprised. It was completely normal to bath with the same gender, wasn't it? He had always been fine with it.

„No, thanks... I think I'll pass." Akira answered shy, looking down. He seemed very embarrassed. Bankotsu grinned about this new development. The young man had always been mouthy but when it came to the subject of men and women he got shy. „Besides, I'll go with Jakotsu if you don't mind. And he promised..."

„You're such a prude." The black-haired stated, watching the copper-haired going to his best friend, still with a blush on his face.

„So I am. Who CARES?" At that statement Bankotsu began to laugh quietly. It was still amusing to tease that guy. He turned to his own things, preparing to go to the springs when something else came to his mind, so he looked for a specific person.

[Renkotsu]

The fire brother didn't fully understand why they even had accepted this assignment. Of course, there was the issue of the money. It would be a lot. Furthermore, it was easy to gain. Without fighting. But... there was something fishy going on here. Since he first saw the charge he was leery of him. It wasn't the boy itself. Maybe he even liked the kid. 'After all, he and Jakotsu saved us.' He had to admit unfortunately. 'Anyway, something's just wrong. How he walks, how he speaks, his looks, his whole behavior is... queer/off-kilter.' Renkotsu wanted to keep an eye on the copper-haired. That was why he found himself escorting the charge to the next village. He wanted to run errands or something. 'Alright, it's just a few minutes walking but it's still...' He panted slightly, laying eyes on the humble roofs and market. Or something that seemed to be a market with two to three stalls. They seemed to do more farming but when there were stalls there must be a bigger village or town not far away, maybe a few days traveling. His company ran towards one of them as quick as he could. As if his life depended on it.

"Hey, Renkotsu, don't you need new ingredients or something?" Akira asked him when he reached him, smiling friendly at him. Till now he had been always considerate, only sometimes clinical. Another reason to mistrust him. But new ingredients? Did he mean for his weapons? He looked at the objects of sale. 'Only spices and other household items? What is he thinking?'

"No." He shook his head. The copper-haired examined the supply carefully and concentrated. "You should show that to Mukotsu. He's more into natural stuff. You know, making poison." Finally, he had found something. It was fabric. And a brown shoulder bag.

"You're more into fire and explosions, then?" His companion asked curiously while he payed for it. Renkotsu crossed his arms, looking at the vendor but he didn't seem to care about their conversation. Of course he wasn't interested.

"Yeah, always have been." The fire brother answered. He thought about it. Yes, since he could think he had been fascinated with fire. And now... To have control over a natural force was just... thrilling. Even if fire was really erratic and one could be burned easily. The copper-haired took his just bought things. But then he chucked the fabric to him. The bold caught it simply, looking irritated at the cotton. "What's the point of that?"

"I thought you were the smartest person in the whole country." Akira ragged him, grinning ironically. But he didn't care about his comment. After all, the young man hadn't commented like Jakotsu always did. That was nerve-racking enough. Right now, Akira's grin turned into a smile again. Why was he smiling all the time? That was as pesky as Jakotsu's jealousy sometimes, Bankotsu's swagger or Mukotsu's searching for a bride. They always got carried away. "You like explosions. That thing explodes. An old trick and that's it."

The charge shrugged and walked towards the next stall, looking over the weapons that were on sell. A few bows, nunchucks and a few katanas. Normal weapons for farmers and country people. It wasn't a large choice but the copper-haired looked at it for long. Renkotsu still stood in front of the spice stall, considering the cotton. It didn't look special – just like white cotton – but it smelled different. What was that smell? Acid? Something else that was highly combustible? The fire brother attached it to his belt. Maybe it would be useful and the charge wasn't stultifying him. For now he wouldn't thank the boy. The bold approached the younger one.

"Choose one quickly. I'll pay for it. But we should head back."

"What? Why?" The copper-haired eyed him wary. That was a thing Renkotsu wondered, too. But the leader especially said that the charge should get a new weapon in the village. That was the only reason they were here on the market anyway.

"Because your bow broke during the fight, according to Jakotsu." He just repeated Bankotsu's words. The charge's eyes narrowed slightly. Then, he turned around. Renkotsu himself rolled his eyes. The boy being proud was a pain in the ass.

"Well, thanks. But no, thanks. I don't need no charity." Akira clenched his hand around her katana. For a second he thought he saw a dark lighting but that wasn't possible. Normal human swords couldn't do stuff like that. They had to be special, like the halberd of Bankotsu. Or Jakotsuto. He shook his head. But maybe there was more to it than just an imagination. The charge started to walk back to their camp. "But you're right, we should head back." The smile returned to Akira's face. "Besides, I can fight with my sword, too."

[Bankotsu]

In the end, Jakotsu had left with Akira, mumbling something about how unfair the world could be what caused the young leader to grin at them. He still couldn't believe the two of them were actually related. So far, they were gone for at least thirty minutes and it was starting to get boring. But... why did Renkotsu return without a new bow for the boy? The bold one said that the copper-haired was too proud to "accept charity". He rolled his eyes.

„Hey, big brother!" Renkotsu called him. Bankotsu turned his head towards the fire brother. He was the one cooking – after he returned from the village – because Akira wanted to bath with his brother and his food tasted not that bad either. „Can you tell Jakotsu and the charge that the food is ready? They've been out long enough I think."

„Why me? Ask Suikotsu or someone else." He just answered, looking bored. Actually, he had nothing else to do but he didn't want to be ordered around by his companion. HE was the leader. In addition, he noticed once more that Renkotsu wasn't really thrilled to be on this mission. 'Too much talking, too little killing for him I guess... But what should the rest of us say? After all, he's least in killing for fun...' Bankotsu thought, closing his eyes.

"Because."

"Fine, I'll go. But it'll be on your head if something happens." He sighed, getting up quickly. Renkotsu just nodded while the leader was walking to the direction of where he bathed an hour ago. Actually, it had been really nice and relaxing and now he could understand the youngster's excitement. Suddenly he noticed the white mist of water that surrounded the springs and then looked around in order to search for his two companions. The black-haired stepped slowly towards the first spring but no one was there. 'Huh? Where might they be? This was the nearest spring...'

He walked at a leisurely pace towards the next one and there he saw a shape. Obviously, the person was human because he couldn't feel any demonic presence nearby. 'Finally...' He just thought. 'This was really starting to get on my nerves...' But when the plait-boy got a bit closer he could see it wasn't one of his friends but a stranger. 'A woman? From the village?' He wondered surprised, raising his eyebrows. Indeed, there she stood with her back towards him, completely uncovered. Her wet, brown hair was falling over her left shoulder, over her dainty body. Bankotsu couldn't move till someone called for him.

"Aniki? What are you doing here?" The woman's head jerked up when she heard the voice of the cross-dresser. Jakotsu's sudden appearance surprised him, too, and caused him to turn to the source of the voice. The cross-dresser just looked at him with curious big eyes. 'Where did he come from?' He wondered surprised, rallying. Within a second, Bankotsu realized his friend was completely dry. But what was he doing out here, then, when he wasn't bathing?

"Telling you food's ready. Again." He said irritated. 'Since when do I play the messenger, anyway?!' He wondered and decided never to do that again. He focused again. "By the way, who is that woman?" Then, he noticed Akira's absence. "And where's Akira?"

"What do you mean? Which woman?" Jakotsu laid his head aside, acting innocent or naive. Then, the young leader turned his head to the nearest spring again but the beautiful woman was gone by now. It was hardly surprising. However, it was startling she didn't scream or throw things at the two men. Suddenly they heard a splashing of water nearby. So much for not throwing anything... But there was still a more important issue.

"Where's our charge, Jakotsu?" Bankotsu asked calmly. He heard a gasp behind him at once. After that, he turned around. There stood Akira, panting heavily while glaring at him. The young leader couldn't really assess the kind of look he was giving him. His dark clothes were partly drenched, his hair soaked and he was holding his part-armour.

"Here, you...!" Akira tried to sound angry between the gasps. But it appeared not authentic. The black-haired just grinned at his state, his best friend looked more shocked, worried. Why was he so wet and why was he breathing so heavily? Was it because...?

"Hey, hey, were you watching that woman?"

"W-what?" The copper-haired flinched, shaking his head heftily. Bankotsu's grin widened, turning slightly his head when he heard a sigh. Jakotsu seemed to be stressed out by their nascent fight, so he started to walk back, leaving the two all alone. He was okay with that. It was more interesting to fight with Akira. Somehow it was even fun. Now the younger one was obviously looking for an excuse. "No, I didn't, you pervert! Why would I?!"

"I bet you did. And I thought you weren't interested in women." He teased his companion even more. The young leader wanted to tick him off. The boy was the first who had the guts to start a fight with him constantly. So now he wanted to enjoy this argument. It was like a game to prevail over the other, just without killing.

"That's none of YOUR business! Only MINE!" Akira got louder with an aggressive tone, his eyes smoldering with truculence.

[Akira]

His blue eyes twinkled with roguery. Akira couldn't believe him. He simply showed up, watched her bathing and then he made fun of her?! She wouldn't let the young leader get away with that! 'Well, he didn't watch you by design. And it was just your back...' A little voice in her head said which she ignored completely. The young woman snorted and turned around, shaking. It was colder in the shadow than she would have predicted. And it wouldn't be such a good idea to stay there any longer soaked to the skin. So she walked back towards their camp. Bankotsu ran after her.

"We're not finished talking!" The black-haired pointed out directly. Apparently, he wanted to continue their argument. She was alright with it, she still had a bone to pick with him. But Akira remained silent, knowing that he hated it. "You can't just ignore me. What's your problem?!"

"Nothing." She answered with a wintery smile on her face. The young woman knew it sounded and looked contrived. Actually, she felt deeply ashamed. Because of that she had been angry with him but now she could control herself again. "I don't think you're as adult as you want everyone to believe you are. Quite the contrary. You're rude and immature for a self-declared grown man."

"And evidently you're spiky." The young leader snapped back. Apparently, the copper-haired finally got under his skin. 'If we'll only insult the other there's no need for a fight anymore. That'd be just a waste of time...' She thought, not in the mood for an argument anymore. "Just like a bitchy girl!"

"Alright... Agree to disagree." She said intensely cool-headed, trying to soothe the conflict. The young leader still followed close behind her but Akira didn't look back to him. If she did that she would lose it certainly. It was only a matter of time till the young woman flipped out when it came down to the black-haired. In the last few days she had argued more than in the last few years.

"No, no way. This quarrel isn't over yet. Not until you apologized." Bankotsu sounded tense. So the copper-haired quickened her pace, still seeping. Fortunately the camp came into sight again.

"Me? You're not serious, are you?"

"Of course you have to!" The leader grabbed her underarm – not too tight but firm enough to cause her to slew towards him. It was testier than expected. Akira almost crashed into him because he was so strong.

"For what? For telling you my opinion about you?" Now that she could look him in the eyes her temper resurfaced again. The black-haired frowned as well."Okay, I'm sorry for being HONEST!"

"See? Was that SO hard?!" Bankotsu asked feigned pleased. Even she heard it but still couldn't believe he would accept a not serious excuse. That would mean he played her again.

"I was being sardonic!" The copper-haired snarled, breaking free from his forceful grip. Maybe the young leader released her, too but it didn't matter. He looked somewhat astonished, then this stubborn idiot turned upset again. "Can't you even catch the slightest glimpse of sarcasm? How did you manage to survive unscathed till now?!"

"Obviously, because I can read people's behavior. I don't think you callous ice block will understand that!" Their fight really reached a turning point. Didn't he have something else to do? Akira really didn't want to listen to such insults.

"Ice block, huh? That coming from an insolent hothead." She branched off of him, trying to get to her other companions. Maybe she could avoid further fighting with him. "I'm sorry I have my doubts about you being an expert in knowing people!"

"You know what? The only thing keeping you alive is money. So just shut up or you'll be dead in a sec." His voice was dangerously low. But not even this fact got the young woman anxious like Bankotsu intended to. Rather angrier. A part of her wondered how many time was left till the fight ended up in violence. She faced him once more.

"I'm not afraid of you or death." The copper-haired claimed absolutely stern whereupon his indignation deepened in his face. Obviously she had been too irreverent but that did not bother her a bit.

"I bet you are thinking I wouldn't kill you."

"Try me." Akira hissed lowly when Renkotsu suddenly appeared between the two without being noticed from a single one of them. Maybe they had been too busy with arguing. Anyhow, he stepped between them and shoved them apart so they could not come at each other. What was likely.

"That's enough, you two!" Renkotsu intervened, sounding annoyed like Jakotsu before. The copper-haired turned to her other companion with a – still angry – look on her face. Bankotsu did the same thing. Under their collective gaze he tensed up but did not retreat a bit. "Play nice."

[Jakotsu]

He hurried to the other three persons to intervene if necessary. When both of them started arguing again a while ago he wanted to let them clear their figth up but apparently that was impossible for the two. Because they were equally stubborn.

"That's out of question." His best friend grumbled obstinately. Finally he reached Renkotsu who stood between the brawlers to keep them apart. Jakotsu layed his hand on Bankotsu's muscular upper arm calmingly as Akira took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Leave me alone for a while, okay?" The copper-haired mumbled firmly and disappeared in direction of the river while their leader looked in a different direction and snorted snidely. Apparently this fight had been a lot more boisterous than the ones during the last week. But this was their business as long as they did not kill each other.

"This is resolved." Renkotsu stated relieved and wanted to go back to his boiler. "Then we can eat in a few minutes."

"Aniki, I would leave Akira alone for a while if I were you. Everyone who'll come near to he... him he bites one's head off." The fire brother just nodded but he did not look very interested. Just as little as Bankotsu looked who stood still next to the young cross-dresser.

"I am not hungry anymore..." He grumbled and wanted to bolt in the adverse direction. But to Jakotsu he seemed more reflective than angry.

"Aniki..." Jakotsu started hesitant to hold him back. Bankotsu paused for a moment and gave him his attention once more. The elder did not want two very important persons to be so heavily on each other's throat. Furthermore, their travels were always calmer, more fun and not so taut. And the cross-dresser did not have to keep secrets from his friends. "Your fights get on everyone's nerves and you know that. Could you just apologize to my... to Akira?"

"This fight was not my fault." He only huffed as an answer.

[Akira]

The young woman sat under the lonely, big tree and let her gaze run over the landscape. Akira gave ground to the others because she was still too ashamed and too mad to face the young leader again. An hour ago she had been so angry that she had been able to, but now... She shook her head, then she rested her head on her hands, watching the green grass wafting and some birds flying around. It was a beautiful, placid scenery. But something was interrupting: Surudoi suddenly started to pulse. The ominous energy rose again. Akira touched it casually, letting her own strength float to the sword. It calmed down but it still emitted an aura. Her hand remained where it was. The energy Surudoi absorbed from the demon days ago didn't decrease, it stayed steady in the sword as if it had an own jyaki*. But if this was true that meant her katana turned into aYōtō*, a demonic blade. Moreover, it would have a will on its own. 'But why and why now? It killed many demons before.' Akira thought concerned, looking down on Surudoi which she still could control easily. Then, a person came to her mind. 'Maybe the old swordsmith can tell me what happened to my blade. And what I can do about it.' But that meant a detour for more than a week. The young woman sighed. 'Bankotsu will never agree to make this long way round...' Her eyes widened suddenly when something wooden appeared in front of her face.

"Here." The leader's voice sounded next to her, this time calm. Akira looked up just to see that he was holding a long bow towards her in one hand and in the other one a quiver with arrows. What did that mean? Was this a compensation? She knew she looked uncomprehending, too surprised to feel the emotions she wanted to feel.

"I don't need a reward. Or an apology." She just answered, staring into the distance again. The copper-haired didn't need replacements or stuff like that. If she needed something she could buy it on her own. When he raised his voice once more the young woman eyed him again.

"Just take it." He sounded impatiently at the moment. The black-haired gave her an eager look, moving the bow a few times in front of her face. Akira could feel a slight gust of wind yet. "As a gift."

"Mhm." She answered opaque, taking the bow from him. This bow was larger than her old one and had a darker color. But it would definitely do its job. Without an own will. "Thanks."

Bankotsu plunked down next to her, still holding the quiver in his hand. He murmured something but the young woman couldn't understand a word he said. As far as the copper-haired knew her companion wouldn't apologize. It wasn't like him. But he could at least try to be nicer, that was out of question. But Akira had to, too. She wasn't sure whether she could handle that action.

"Friends?" The leader asked instead. Right now, she couldn't read his face, so she looked down on the bow again, stroking over it gently.

"Yes, that'd be nice, Ban." The young woman answered quietly after a minute of silence. Her interlocutor laughed silently as if she told him a joke or something. She frowned.

"And a lot easier." The black-haired responded, a bit relieved and a bit disappointed. Now he was the one staring into the distance. The young woman knew immediately what he was talking about. A small smile returned to her former serious-looking face.

"That doesn't mean we won't fight anymore." Akira stated amused, feeling the gaze of his blue eyes on her again. She returned the look, feeling a bit overwhelmed from the situation, without knowing why.

"Definitely not." Bankotsu grinned at her. But this time it was different. His lopsided smirk seemed amicable, so she returned a smile elate. The copper-haired realized she even liked him. 'When he's being nice, of course.' She constrained her thoughts quickly. All of her shame disappeared all of the sudden. "So next the hanami* in this certain village? We'll pass that village anyway."

"Why not? It's said it's very beautiful to watch."

*jyaki: the malicious aura around a yokai, a bit like the yoki. The stronger the demon, the stronger his jyaki is.

*Yōtō: A Yokai sword – a blade which possesses demonic powers.

*hanami: Watching the cherry blossoms