{Bankotsu's POV}
"Êtes-vous prêt, Bankotsu?/ Are you ready, Bankotsu?" Mom asks, staring into the mirror and fixing her hair. My mom, Sasai, is a natural beauty, you could say. She's about 39, but only looks to be 25. That, I suppose, is the good of demon blood. She has shoulder length maroon hair and narrow magenta eyes. And while I admire my mom, I hate her.
"Sure, mom. I'm ready." I stretch my arms over my head, stand behind her, and observe myself in the mirror. 'Damn, I'm sexy.' We're going to meet the father I've only spoken to a few times on the phone. He says I have a sister and a brother.
The first time we spoke, I was pretty cold to him, until I realized that he was genuinely trying to get to know me. He asked a lot of questions, and actually seemed remorseful for not knowing my existence. I blame my mother, but what can I do? She birthed me, raised me, put me through college. I owe her.
"Banryu, come on! We're leaving!" Banryu Merle is my little brother. His father, a french man named Jon, was killed in an accident. I never liked him, so I was perfectly fine with seeing him die. In fact, I was ecstatic. He couldn't torture me and Banryu anymore.
We suffered countless beatings by that bastard's hands, and my mom just sat there, smoking a cigarette and watching. She blamed me and Ryu for his death, since we was in the car too. She didn't seem to care that we ourselves were lying in hospital beds with concussions and broken bones. No. She was worried about that gay ass punk of a husband she had.
"Attendez, Ban!/ Wait, Ban!" He cries from the bathroom.
"I'm tired of waiting!" My brother and I are both multilingual, speaking French, Japanese, and English. Our mother, however, only speaks French and broken English.
Finally, Banryu steps out of the bathroom. He's 18 to my 26, and has spent his entire life trying to be like me. He dresses the way I do, he even wears his hair the way I do, in a long braid down my back, only his isn't as long. "Bon sang, mec, je viens de finir mon tressage de cheveux./ Damn, man, I jsut finished braiding my hair."
"Learn to braid faster then." I snap, crossing my arms.
"Venez, les gars./ Come, boys." Mom waves for us to follow her out of the hotel room. We climb into the rental car, and take off.
Staring out the window, I smile a bit. It's finally happening. I'm going to meet the rest of my family. If all goes well, I may just move here. I've contacted the TPD, Tokyo Police Department, and after seeing my accomplishments in school, they offered me a job. I plan to take it if I stay in Tokyo. My eyes widen as Mom pulls up to a three story house.
I never imagined it looking like this, huge, white, with a copper gate surrounding it. The lawn is so big, I can imagine what it was like for my siblings to grow up playing in it. When Mom finally stops the car, I unbuckle my seatbelt and head toward the house, her and Banryu just behind. I push the doorbell, waiting eagerly for it to be answered.
Turning to my left, I notice mom unbuttoning the top button on her blouse and scowl. "No."
"Non?/ No?" She asks innocently.
"Don't even think of it. He's happily married now. He made it clear that he didn't want you when he left." With that said, I rebutton her shirt, turning just in time to see a woman open the door.
"Oh, you made it." She grins, and I'm shocked to see that it's real. "I'm so glad. This way to the dining room."
I follow closely behind her. She smells nice, familiar. There's a calmness, yet slightly tangy scent to her.
"Oh, where are my manners? I am Ayumi Higurashi, Kenji's wife. You can call me Ayumi, or whatever you like." She pushes open some double doors and I see a man who closely resembles me and a young guy who looks a lot like him. "Dad?"
The older of the two approaches me, tears in his eyes. He grins, embracing me. "Bankotsu."
{Normal POV}
Kenji drew back, his eyes dry. "It's good to finally meet you."
"Likewise." Bankotsu agreed, smiling. "Um, you remember my mom, I'm sure." He says blandly, then beams. "And this is my little brother Banryu."
"Hi." Banryu greets, waving his hand nervously.
"Hello there. I was looking forward to meeting you as well." He suprises the young boy, as well as Banryu and Sasai, by embracing him as well. he nodded at Sasai. "Sasai."
She smiled flirtingly. "Kenji." Her smile deflated when he turned away from her, leading Bankotsu and Banryu to the table. Huffing, she followed, glaring at Ayumi.
Kenji grinned pridefully. "Bankotsu, this is your younger brother, Sota. He's 19. Banryu, you might as well think of him as your older brother."
Sota stood, his face cold. Then suddenly, he smiled. "Oh thank God, I have a brother! You don't know how sick I was of just having an older sister. And I finally get to be an older brother."
"Pfft." Banryu shrugged with a smirk. "Only by a year."
"Let's sit, shall we?" Kenji instructed, and everyone did so.
Bankotsu smiled a little. "So, dad, where's my sister?"
Kenji's face immediately fell. He looked away in pain. "She's late."
"Knowing her, she isn't coming. You know how dramatic sis is, dad."
"She'll be here, Sota." Kenji said assertively. 'I hope so.'
{Kagome's POV}
I shake my head and flop back on the bed. "Alright. That's final. I'm not going."
Sesshomaru, amused, sinks onto the bed beside her. "Miko."
"No." I reply, knowing just what he plans to tell me.
"Miko, you told your father you would be there."
"I can't bring myself to do it."
Sesshomaru strokes my thigh gently, tracing lazy circles with his fingertips. "Do you think that I wished to meet Inuyasha?"
I frown. Sesshomaru was the last person I thought would try to persuade me. "No."
"But I met him, and though I treated him badly, I accepted him as my brother."
"I can't stand you. You've been so wishy washy lately."
"Would you like em to accompany you?"
I shrug. "Nah. You head on back to work. I'll deal with this." Sliding into my shoes, I grab my purse and start, "So, I'm going to Paris this weekend to visit Jakky."
Sesshomaru's eyes narrow in confusion, then narrow further when he realizes who I'm speaking of. "That homosexual male?"
"Jakotsu isn't homosexual." I bite. "He's bisexual. he only cross dresses on the days when he feels that he's into men." That even sounded awkward to me. I glared at him. "Don't say a word, you smug bastard. I'm leaving." I storm out of the room.
'You and master are closer now?'
'Why would you say that?'
'Not too long ago you weren't even comfortable enough with him to call him a bastard.'
'Oh? I guess.' Kneeling, I kiss Amaimaru, "I'll see you before you go to sleep, K?"
He nods with a grin. "K, mommy. Bye!"
'So, can we leave Naraku alone?'
'No...I really like him.'
'You're hopeless.'
'Whatever.'
The conversation ends there. I swear, my beast aggravates me so badly. I'd kill her if I could! I swear. Why she won't let me be, I don't understand. She's supposed to be my beast, my friend, the only person I could go to when I have issues, and I can't do that. My phone rings, and I sigh. My father's calling me for the third time in an hour.
I turn on the radio to tune out the sound of it ringing. I arrive at the house way to early for my liking, but I get out of my car nonetheless. Withdrawing my keys from my purse, I unlock the door and head inside, straight to the dining room.
"Kagome!" Daddy jumps up, grinning.
But my eyes don't go to him, instead traveling to the guy sitting beside him. "You." He whispers.
I grimace. "You. What the hell are you doing here?"
{Normal POV}
Kenji frowned, then glared at his daughter. "Kagome, that is no way to address your brother."
"That's him?!" She cries.
"That's my sister?!" Bankotsu asks, shocked.
"Oh, ew! Ugh!" Kagome scowls. "You sick bastard."
Bankotsu narrowed his eyes. "Hey, it wasn't like I knew you were my sister!"
"Silence!" Kenji's voice boomed, silencing both. "What happened?"
"He hit on me the other day!"
Bankotsu blushed a bit. "I didn't know you were my little sister. I'm disgusted."
"You weren't disgusted when you groped me."
"I didn't know!"
Kenji shook his head, sitting down. "Kagome, dear, have a seat." When she looked as though she'd defy him, he glared harder. "Have. A. Seat. Here. By your brother."
Features cold, Kagome sat down beside Bankotsu, forking at the food that sat before her.
"Now, make conversation you two."
Bankotsu sighed, scratched his head, then held out his hand. "I'm Bankotsu Merle, your older brother."
Kagome glared at his hand, stiffening when her father barked her name. She grasped his hand gently, then took it back. "Kagome Taisho."
"So, um, when's your birthday?"
"August 15th."
"Seriously, what year?"
She heaved a bored sigh. "1983."
His eyes widened. "So we were born on the same day? I thought I was your older brother."
"Well, you're not." She said, sounding more rude than she'd meant to.
"Well, what time were you born?"
Kagome shrugged. "Umm, 1:02 a.m., right, Mom?"
"Yes!" He pumped his fist up in the air victoriously. "I was born at 12:01 a.m. I am your older brother!"
Kagome smiled a little at his antics. "Fine."
"Ooh, I got a smile. I guess you don't hate me after all, huh?" He nudged her shoulder with his own.
"Hmph." She turned away from him with a frown. 'There's something about him.'
'I like him. He's pack.'
'Hardly.'
'There is no such thing as hardly pack. He shares our blood.'
'If Daddy hadn't been an idiot, he wouldn't be here.'
'Still pack.'
Bankotsu hummed to himself about, causing everyone at the table to stare at him. "What?"
Kagome cocked a brow. "Were you just humming?"
"Yup."
"And what were you humming?"
"Just a little beat. I hum when I think."
Kagome bit her lower lip curiously. "Thinking about what?"
He smirked evilly. "Oh nothing. Right now, just about how much you love me already."
Kagome snorted. "Think again."
"...I thought about it, still got the same answer. So, I guess that must mean you love me. Guess what else I was thinking about?" He propped his elbow on the table, leaning his chin on his fist.
"I don't want to know."
"Sure you don't. Anyways, I was thinking...I've missed out on years of protecting you, harrassing you, driving you insane. I've got to make up for that. I didn't even get to teach Sota how to be a man."
Sota frowned. "I'm a man already."
Bankotsu smirked at him. "And I'll make an even better one of you. Yup, I'm going to drive you two to an asylum. Warn them, Banryu."
Banryu shuddered. "I just got checked out last month. I'm still not right."
"Uh huh." Kagome nodded sarcastically.
"Ban," Sasai called. She'd been busy glaring at everyone at the table for the longest.
Bankotsu sighed. "Yeah, mom?"
"Éloignez-vous de ce petit pute/ Stay away from that little whore."
"Pardon?/ What? or Excuse me?" He sneered.
"Elle est le flirt. Tu ne vois pas qui?/ She's flirting. Can't you see that?"
"Peu importe./Whatever."
Kagome glared furiously, growling, "Cette «putain» parle français./ This 'whore' speaks French."
"Kagome, dear," Kenji called. He didn't understand much French, but he knew Sasai had said something to upset her.
"What?" She snapped.
His eyes narrowed as he frowned. He missed his daughter. How long would she be so stubborn? "Why don't you go out and spend sometime with your brother? And you, Sota, can show Banryu around town."
Kagome sighed, grabbing her purse and leaving the room.
Bankotsu left the room after sending one more scathing glare at his mother. "Later dad, Banryu, Sota, Ayumi! Hey, Kagome, wait up!" He sprinted after her. "I could get lost in this place!" When he climbed into her car, he whistled. "Damn, this is nice."
Instead of answering, Kagome turned on the radio, backin out of the driveway.
"About what my mom said..."
"Don't worry about it."
"So, where are we going?"
"My mate's office."
He nodded slowly. "Mate? You're with a demon?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Nothing gets by you, huh, big bro?"
"Nope. Nothing does, little sis." It should be illegal to have this must fun harrassing a sibling. Sure, it stung a little that she was giving him the cold shoulder, but hey, what could he do but remain the big brother he was. "So, you speak French? What else?"
"French, English, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish. I had to learn them for my dad's lawfirm. People travel from all over the world to see him. The only reason I'm not working there now is because of my mate."
My dad. Her words echoed in his head. Did she really hate him that much? Should he back off?
"Bankotsu?" Kagome called as they pulled up in front of Sesshomaru's building. 'Great, he's thinking more.' She thought as she heard him humming. "Bankotsu...Ban!"
He snapped out of it instantly. "What'd you call me?"
"Ban." She shrugged. "You didn't answer the first few times I called. Get out of my car. I don't want your scent embedded in it." Smirking, she whipped and headed to the building, with her hair whipping behind her.
"Now now, Kagome, that wasn't very nice!" He hurried after her, shoving his hands in his pocket and slowing his pace when he reached her. "And I smell nice."
"No, sweetie. You reek of cologne. Cheap cologne."
He snorted. "I'll have you know, I don't wear cologne."
"Then your natural scent is horrible." She stopped at the front desk. "Ayame, hi!" Over the past weeks, she and Ayame had actually formed a typ of friendship.
"Hey, Kagome! Who's that hot guy with you? Your mate won't be too happy."
"Neither will yours, knowing you're drooling over my halfbrother." She referred to Koga, who had mated Ayame the week before.
Ayame blushed a little. "Want me to tell Sesshomaru you're on the way?"
Kagome nodded, then waved. She turned to talk to Bankotsu, only to find him flirting with some random woman. Grabbing his hand, she dragged him to the elevator. "You flirtatious idiot."
He winked at the girl he'd flirted with as the doors closed, then turned to Kagome. "Don't be jealous, little sister. All of my time will be dedicated to you, if you wish."
"I don't." She hissed, looking up when the doors opened. "Follow me." The instant she stepped out of the elevator, her hands was captured and she was yanked out, "What the- oh, N- Kuro-san. Hello."
"Taisho-san, how nice it is to see you in the office again. Who is this...gentleman?" He glared at Bankotsu.
Kagome opened her mouth to speak, but Bankotsu beat her to it. "I'm her big brother, Bankotsu Merle. Just who are you?"
"I am an associate of Taisho-sans."
"We'll see you later, Kuro-san." Kagome waved at him as she urged a glared Bankotsu toward Sesshomaru's office, pushing his back as hard as she could.
"I don't like him." He voiced.
She grunted, pushing him harder. "Your opinion doesn't matter."
He fell through the double doors when Kagome pushed him. Kagome fell directly on top of him, her face buried in his back. He stiffened when he heard a number of loud growls. "Oh shit. Kagome, you sure this is the right office?"
