Disclaimer: I do not own the Characters, only this plot line and all its insane little twists.
A/N I redid chapter 5 making it a smaller chapter. I did this mainly because the focus was supposed to on Bankotsu's dejevu flash, hinting that he briefly remembered playing the game before.
Instead the focus somehow ended up being on what happened at the beginning of this chapter- so yeah, sorry about that. It will work much better this way, trust me.
Chapter six:
With Bankotsu upstairs:
Bankotsu stopped by his door and asked amused, "Are you planning to follow me all night, Kagome?" as he turned to face the ranting teenager.
Crossing her arms over her chest Kagome huffed, "I still can't believe you pulled of one of the most complex combos of the game and beat me."
Bankotsu smirked opening the door and walked into his room saying, "So you lost, get over it girl." Adding in a smugger tone, "I told you that I wouldn't lose to a girl." as he kicked his sandals off.
Kagome huffed, "I still want to know how you did that. I thought you never played that game before?!" as she moved to stand in front of him glaring at him while he sat down on his bed.
Bankotsu sighed and said in a bored tone, "Look I told you it was a lucky guess, now drop it," staring directly at her.
Deciding on the quickest way to get under her skin and get her annoying butt out of his room, he sent her a deadly smirk and stood up towering over her.
She didn't like the devious glint that had suddenly entered his eyes, or the way he was slowly moving a step at a time closer to her, as he purposefully advanced on her until her back hit the wall.
Her eyes widened as her back collided with the solid wall and she gasped in shock as his strong arms settled on either side of her, trapping her against the wall. As his body slowly slid closer stopping only a mere inch from her own, he licked his lips like a hungry wolf about to strike its prey.
He angled his head so his lips were so close to hers that she could feel his warm breath on them. He could feel her chest move up and down as she tried to breathe through her fear.
He smirked and his voice dropped to an almost sensual purr as he said cockily, "Seeing how you've followed me into my bedroom... you must want something, eh?" staring directly into her eyes with mischief dancing in his own.
Kagome's eyes widened even more as the implication registered and her entire face became red with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. Bankotsu watched her face turn red and chuckled adding amused, "So what is it that you want, little Kagome?" as his strong fingertips gently ran across her soft lips.
Having finally regained her nerve she glared at him hard and moved to bite his fingers, but he quickly yanked them out of range. She snapped, "You're delusional!" and began trying to shove him away.
He chuckled thinking amused, "Bingo, now I know how to get under her skin for sure."
He asked in the same purr like voice, "Why else would a young girl follow a man into his bedroom?" as his finger trailed lazily along her arm sending a strange feeling of excitement through her. He could feel her heart racing with fear and licked his lips slowly savoring the taste of it, as the predator inside of him began to stir.
Kagome's spine stiffened when his calloused hand started to slide up under her shirt, brushing against the soft skin of her belly slightly scratching it. He snickered at her reaction and began tracing circles along her belly. Snapping out of a shocked trance, she began pounding her fists against his chest demanding frightened, "Let me go Bankotsu."
He chuckled darkly amused by her futile attempts to free herself. She felt a shiver go through her and her stomach flipped at his dark chuckle.
He tamped down the urge to really scare her and turned completely serious warning, "Next time, don't follow a man into his room, unless you plan on living up to what it implies," as his hand traced the v of her shirt, causing her to shiver again.
Seeing that she understood his warning, he grinned and stepped back just enough that she would be able to slip under his arm and escape.
Seizing the opportunity she quickly ducked under his arm and ran out the door like the devil himself was on her heels, making a bee line for her room. She slammed the door shut and flung herself on her bed fuming about the audacity of what he had just done and mentally berating herself for even getting into that situation.
Bankotsu laughed to himself thinking, "I knew that would work." He calmly walked over closing his door and climbed into bed kicking the bags to the floor. He lay there pondering about the flash he'd had earlier and how he'd known how to shut off the game system. After a minute of no answers he sighed in frustration.
Deciding to console himself, he began thinking of all the things he could do to annoy the miko. Chuckling as he remembered how scared she had gotten by his little tease, he closed his eyes and began dreaming of the various ways he would slowly annoy and torment her, thinking, "If I have to be stuck here, at least I can have some fun annoying her." He soon fell into a peaceful slumber smiling.
In Kagome's room:
She pressed her face into her pillow not wanting to disturb her family and took a deep breath, letting out a scream of frustration which was muffled thanks to the pillow. She sat huffing, "That stupid arrogant jerk!" and flung her pillow against her door.
The pillow hit her door with a 'splat' and fell to the floor crumpled up. She crossed her arms over her chest and growled to herself, "Here I am trying to help that baka and he goes and does something perverted! What kind of thanks is that?!" glaring at her door.
She snorted, "He's probably an even bigger hentai than Miroku was and he was bad enough!"
Her anger turned to sadness as she mumbled, "Wonder what Miroku is doing now?" missing her friends. Rolling her eyes she answered her own question. "He's probably getting knocked upside the head by Sango right now, for flirting with a village girl." She shook her head adding sadly, "That baka hentai Miroku will never learn."
As her thoughts turned to the girl she had begun to consider a sister, her lower lip began trembling and she whispered, "Oh Sango, I miss you guys so much." and hugged her knees to her chest feeling so alone.
Silent tears fell onto her knees and she fell over on her bed nuzzling into the soft pillow seeking comfort. She closed her eyes pretending it was her friend holding her and cried softly feeling absolutely miserable. Hours later her soft sobs ceased as her breathing even out.
The next morning:
Kagome woke up surprised to find that she had even slept at all, wincing when her lower back protested her sitting up. Deciding a hot shower was just what the doctor ordered, she slowly walked into the bathroom locking the door.
She was glad that only her mother was moving about. She stripped her clothes off and started the shower. Staring at herself in the mirror she thought, "I hope he doesn't try anything like that again- the jerk." and tore her eyes from her naked image in the mirror, relieved there were no marks on her.
She climbed in to the shower and stood there allowing the warm water to relax her body thinking, "Ah yes, that's much better." luxuriating in the warm water easing the tension from her tight muscles.
She poured a small circle of her favorite body wash onto the sponge and began slowly lathering it up by squeezing the sponge in her hands and muttered, "Those stupid boxes are so heavy." Blinking she thought, "Oh crap, I only got them half done yesterday."
Sighing heavily she mumbled, "Guess I know where mama will start me off this morning." Leaning against the tiled walls of the shower she stared at the sponge thinking, "Man this really bites. I hate chores."
She closed her eyes and bumped her head against the wall muttering, "May as well enjoy the quiet while I can. There is no telling what will happen once Souta and Bankotsu wake up."
Deciding to enjoy her morning shower, she pushed all of her worries away and slowly rubbed the sponge all over her body sighing happily, "I've missed this so much."
After her body was fully soaped, she grabbed up the shampoo and lathered her now wet hair into a nice thick foam and then rinsed the soap out chanting happily, "Real shampoo."
Once her hair was soap free, she rinsed her body and blushed wondering why she had never noticed how soft her skin was before. Frowning she shut the water off and climbed out wrapping a big soft towel around her body and dried off.
Confident that she was now ready to face whatever would happen today she dressed in fresh under things and slipped in to some comfortable jeans and a loose fitting top and brushed her hair.
Happy with the result she hung up her towel and left the room walking down stairs. Her mother greeted her in the kitchen. "Morning dear."
Kagome smiled. "Morning mama, can I help?" she replied after noticing her mother was already half finished making breakfast.
Sora answered, "Thank you for offering Kagome, but I'm just about done. Come on sit down and eat." She placed the fresh squeezed orange juice on the table adding, "Souta will be here any minute since he is walking Hitomi to school." with a smile.
Souta blew into the kitchen stopping by the table and said excitedly, "Oh wow mom thanks!" and sat down eating his breakfast. He gulped down his juice and stood saying, "See ya later!" and ran out the door with his book bag in hand, nearly colliding with Bankotsu who was standing on the top step, on his way down the stairs.
Bankotsu blinked and side stepped the incoming speeding boy and said, "Hey slow down kid." chuckling at the boy's obvious rush.
Souta bowed saying embarrassed, "Sorry, please excuse me."
Bankotsu smirked and said amused, "Don't worry about it squirt. Better get going." Souta grinned at him and ran off towards Hitomi's.
Sora watched from the kitchen window and chuckled yelling, "Have fun dear and tell Hitomi I said hello." waving her eager son off.
Kagome blinked and asked shocked, "Since when is Souta Mr. speedy?" unused to his rushed actions.
Sora chuckled replying, "Since he and Hitomi started walking together in the mornings." as she collected his dishes carrying them over to the sink.
Kagome shrugged and sat down to eat her meal. Hiromasa walked in greeting cheerily, "Good morning family." as he sat at the table mumbling, "I wonder if that new kid is still sleeping?"
Sora asked, "You mean Bankotsu? No he's up. I saw him walking around outside just before Souta ran off."
Kagome blinked, "He's already up?" staring at her mother with a bite of food just a few inches from her mouth.
Sora said, "Yup, he's over by the well house now." as she washed Souta's dishes.
Kagome set her food down and ran outside thinking, "He better not do anything with that well." as she ran over to the well house and stopped at the steps huffing.
Bankotsu had been staring at the old dilapidated looking well deep in thought when he heard her enter and turned around asking, "What's your problem?" staring at the girl like she was nuts.
Kagome glared at him still huffing and waited to catch her breath before saying, "Don't do anything to that well." as she straightened up and walked towards him, stopping three feet from him so as not to get within grabbing distance.
Bankotsu asked unamused, "Why would I do anything to the one thing that I know might be the only way back to my time?" staring into her eyes thinking amused, "Is she afraid to be near me now?" mentally scoffing, "Good, then she will keep her distance."
Kagome's eyes went to the well as she frowned thinking sadly, "Is it really so bad for him, being here in this time?" Her body refused to move any closer to him at this time so she sighed asking, "How long have you been up?"
Bankotsu blinked a few times and said, "Since your mom started moving around down stairs. Why?" staring directly at her, noticing with pride the hesitation in her eyes as they rested on him.
Kagome answered honestly, "I'd have not thought of you as an early riser." locking their eyes together.
Bankotsu scoffed, "I'm a mercenary, remember?" adding, "You learn to adapt to your surroundings and take advantage of the chance to sleep when you get it." waving it off as if it was no big deal.
Kagome's eyes went to the ground as she asked, "So um, have you eaten yet?" scuffing her foot on the ground. She chewed her lower lip nervously waiting for a response.
Bankotsu blinked a few more times thinking, "She came all the way out here, to ask me that?" staring at her confused.
He stood there staring at the girl thinking, "She's so puzzling. I mean, I'm one of her biggest enemies and she welcomes me into her home. I scare the shit out of her in my room to run her off and the next morning she comes out here to ask me if I ate yet." He just stood there continuing to stare at her trying to figure her out.
Feeling his intense gaze she raised her head to meet his eyes and asked, "What?" wondering why he was staring at her so hard.
He scratched the back of his head confused and mumbled, "Nothing," giving her a sheepish grin as she frowned. He added sheepishly, "No I haven't eaten yet." Before teasing, "I didn't think you would be so worried about me." sending her his signature smirk.
Kagome gasped, "I am not!" and turned on her heel walking inside muttering under her breath, "Baka is so thick headed and ego centric. As if I would actually care if he ate or not."
Smirking wider Bankotsu followed her sniggering and teased, "Gee Kagome, I had no idea you cared about me so much." enjoying teasing her.
Kagome scoffed, "Yeah right, get over yourself." and sat back at the table intending to finish her food.
Bankotsu taunted, "oh yeah? Then why did you track me down just to ask if I had eaten?" as he sat down with a chair spun backwards.
Sora smiled greeting warmly, "Morning Bankotsu," before adding sternly, "Now turn your chair around and eat." As she placed a plate heaped with pancakes and sausage in front of him and poured him some orange juice.
Bankotsu was about to mouth off about her treating him like a kid, when his stomach grumbled and he sighed deciding he was too hungry to scold her this time. Reluctantly he turned the chair around and sat down. Minutes later he started wolfing down his food and blinked asking, "What?" when the three of them sat there wide eyed staring at him.
Sora smiled. "My, you must have been rather hungry huh?" as she stood up to refill his plate. Bankotsu blushed lightly saying, "Um yeah I guess." Before smirking and saying, "Besides, who could ever turn down such delicious chow?" giving the older woman his boyish grin.
Sora beamed saying proudly, "Thank you," and placed a second helping in front of him encouraging, "Eat up." Not needing to be told twice he gladly ate that plate full as well and swallowed his juice.
After finishing her own food Sora reminded, "Kagome, you grandfather told me you didn't finish those boxes yesterday. I expect those finished today before you start the rest of the list."
Bankotsu was about to jeer her about having to do work when Sora added seriously, "And since he's such a strong young man, I'm sure that Bankotsu won't mind helping you- especially with the boxes."
Bankotsu's jaw dropped and Kagome gasped. Bankotsu demanded, "Why should I?"
Sora set down her juice and replied calmly, "Because you live here too now and we can use a good strong back for the heavy lifting. Father isn't as young as he used to be anymore and Souta is still too small."
Bankotsu was about to protest rather harshly when Kagome kicked his shin under the table sending him a 'you don't want to make her mad' look. He huffed, "Fine," pouting cutely and rubbed his abused shin.
Sora smiled saying happily, "Wonderful," leaving the list on the table adding, "With the two of you working together, you should be done in no time."
Spotting the list on the fridge Sora announced, "Oh and I want both of you ready on time for when we leave to go to Souta's school tonight at five-thirty sharp. We are all going tonight to show Souta some family support for his game."
Sora stood and announced, "Kagome, I am going to the store. I left a list of chores for you two to do. I expect them done when I get home."
Kagome replied, "Yes mama." Bankotsu just grunted his acknowledgement. Deciding it must be due to his lack of being used to chores Sora let it slide this time. She grabbed her purse adding, "And no more exorcising out guest father." earning a scowl and nod from the older man.
Sora nodded and added, "Oh and you're both coming to his game tonight, no excuses." Staring at Kagome she reminded, "You know how much having everyone there during his games means to Souta." and walked out the door.
"Thanks, mama," Kagome replied. "Could you pick up some chocolate ice cream too please?"
Sora laughed, "Sure dear," knowing it was her daughter's favorite desert. She walked out to the garage and got in her car driving to the grocery store.
"So, your mom seems really nice." Bankotsu smirked and commented. Adding a bit sulky, "Even if I do have to help out around here."
Kagome smiled brightly and stated affectionately, "Yeah she's always been rather understanding."
Deciding to console himself by teasing her Bankotsu chuckled and said, "And, we have the place to ourselves, eh?" wiggling his eye brows suggestively.
Kagome blushed and mentioned quietly, "No, lucky for me gramps is still here." inclining her head to indicate the older man who had walked outside towards the shed.
Bankotsu sent her a deadly smirk asking seriously, "Do you really think one little old man would keep me away from you, if I wanted to get a hold of you?"
Kagome's eyes winded as she whispered, "No, and don't hurt him." quickly walking outside to get some distance between them.
Bankotsu chuckled before assuring solemnly, "I won't hurt him. I just wanted to make sure you knew that if I really did decide to get a hold of you, no one would be able to stop me." He casually walked outside with her as if he hadn't just spooked her and added nonchalantly, "May as well get those chores done."
She scowled at him and walked back into the kitchen followed by Bankotsu, who was chuckling again. She found the list on the table and picked it up and read it out loud.
Finish the shed.
Take out the trash.
Wash and dry the dishes.
Sweep and mop the floors.
She looked at Bankotsu and suggested, "Well, I guess we will start with the shed first."
He nodded and answered, "Whatever works for you." following her over to the shed.
She walked into the shed saying, "Here gramps, let us get these boxes for you." as she bent down to life one of the smaller boxes.
Hiromasa said, "Okay, that one goes up in the top corner."
Bankotsu watched amused as the weak girl struggled to lift the box. When it was obvious she would not stop, he rolled his eyes plucking the box from her strained arms replying, "Man you really are a weak girl," and effortlessly carried the box to its place and put it on the shelf.
Kagome huffed, "Yeah well, not everyone has your powerful strength braid boy." glaring at him.
Hiromasa said, "Kagome, be a dear and get us some lemonade while we finish these boxes will you?"
Kagome answered, "Sure gramps," figuring she would only be gone a few minutes.
Hiromasa turned to Bankotsu and said, "Okay this one," pointing to one of the larger boxes, finishing, "Goes on the top shelf over there." Bankotsu snorted and rolling his eyes picked up the box placing it in place.
A/N: The Japanese name Hiromasa is - composed from elements meaning "wise" and "straightforward" so I figured it pretty much described her grandfather- thus his name. Okay there is chapter six- enjoy.