AN: I'm back. Not a whole lot happens in this chapter, but a majority of things are going to happen in the chapters to come. In a way, this is leading up to it. But, I'm sorry if it's kind of boring.
Disclaimer: No, I still do not own Inuyasha. Can you imagine that?
Two hours later, Bankotsu came in soaked. His eyes briefly rested on Kagome sleeping on a futon and he glowered. He tried to squeeze the water from his clothes but gave up after several tries. Sighing, he sat down on the cold stone floor.
Hikomi watched his actions warily. She had seen the flustered yet shocked look on Kagome's face when she ran in. The miko had quickly given her a change of clothes and set up a futon for her. She watched as Kagome spent nearly an hour tossing and turning before finally falling into a light sleep.
"Bankotsu, I'd like to have a word with you."
Bankotsu looked up at the priestess and sneered at her. "What?"
The elder miko led Bankotsu to the back of the cave, where they could talk without fear of Kagome waking. Eventually they reached the edge. There was a futon and a small chest, leading Bankotsu to assume it where Hikomi slept.
Hikomi sat down on the cold floor, silently ordering Bankotsu to do the same with a pointed glare. Bankotsu sat on the cave floor, not without sparing Hikomi a scowl. "Well what is it?"
"Something happened outside with you and Kagome-sama." It wasn't a question, and it took Bankotsu off guard, he hadn't expected her to cut to the chase so fast.
"Your point?" Bankotsu's expression appeared bitter and his head was turned slightly upwards.
"Why did I have to try and console a crying girl, Bankotsu?"
'Fuck…' That was the only thing that Bankotsu could even think of for the first thirty seconds. He didn't mean to make her cry, in fact, he hadn't even meant to kiss her. It just happened.
"…I don't know. Stupid girl must be homesick." Now Bankotsu just felt like an ass, something he had been feeling unusually often lately.
Hikomi pursed her lips. "I see. When you feel like telling the truth, please, tell me." The priestess walked towards the front, finishing the meal she realized had been left sitting on the fire.
Bankotsu stood there for a couple minutes, quietly thinking. His thoughts kept wondering to Kagome. Now, things were going to be back to the way they started, with them barely speaking. Any words they had spoke back then were hostile. Of course, he should be happy. After all, he wasn't supposed to like Kagome's presence. Somehow, though, over the course of the time they had spent with each other, he had grown attached, a thing the mercenary tried to never do. He only had his brothers, and that was all he needed, even then, Jakotsu was the only one he let in.
Bankotsu supposed that Kagome just had that kind of personality. She was so bubbly and energetic all the time, even when she shouldn't be. It was an act some of the time, created to try and make everyone feel better, but when it was genuine, she was amazing. The young mercenary groaned. The leader of the Band of Seven was thinking nice things about some girl. It was just asking for trouble.
Besides, he could never like Kagome, and she could never like him. They were on opposite sides of a coin. She was pure white, and he was tainted black, evil. Truthfully, he was probably no better than Naraku.
His thoughts were interrupted by Hikomi coming in. "If you don't feel too guilty to eat, you're welcome to help yourself to some of the soup I prepared."
Bankotsu didn't think he could stomach any food, but he knew he had to eat something. Neither him, nor Kagome had anything to eat in a long time. Not since the night before at least. The problem with Kagura and Kanna had taken up most of the day, and they hadn't had anything to eat since. An involuntary shiver went down Bankotsu's spine when he thought of Kanna. Naraku had never told him that she could do that with her mirror. He shuddered once more when he thought of his dreams. Bankotsu had to get back soon, he just had to. If the dreams were real, his brothers probably didn't have much time left.
Bankotsu jogged to the front area, where a big dish of soup was sitting in the middle. The smell of the clear broth was strong enough to cause the stench of chives and other herbs to fill the cave. Hikomi was kneeling on the ground, dishing out three generous portions of the soup. Kagome was sitting beside her, with her back turned to Bankotsu.
Bankotsu froze, not sure what he should do. He made his way over to where the two were sitting and gently sat down, as if making a sound would destroy the silence that had fell across the cave. Hikomi quickly handed him his bowl and Bankotsu eagerly began eating.
After they had sat silently eating for a good five minutes, Hikomi grew frustrated. "Well?"
Bankotsu's left eye twitched, and all of his built up frustrations rise to the surface once more. "Well, what?"
"I'm sure you know the answer." The miko averted her eyes and let out a tired sigh.
"What do you want me to say? I'm madly in love with Kagome? I kissed her because I just find her so wonderful that I couldn't keep away? Well, I didn't. She's attractive, damn it! There's no use denying that. She's just a pretty face, that's all, okay? It was a mistake."
Kagome listened to his outburst, averting her brown eyes from his. She could feel heat rising towards her face, and the teenager turned her head, hoping to hide her blush. She was hoping that they could just not mention it. Things would go back to the way they were in the beginning. Their slowly forming friendship would be wiped away. It was still, in Kagome's opinion, better than addressing the situation.
Hikomi closed her eyes, this was taking longer then she had originally thought. She had no idea the two could be so stubborn. She gathered Bankotsu's discarded dish and her own, before setting them by the edge of the cave to wash later. Hikomi walked away, leaving Bankotsu and Kagome alone.
Neither spoke a word for the longest time. Kagome stared at her hands. She willed the tears that had began to pool at her eyes to leave. Now would not be the time for crying. She stared at Bankotsu's side, noticing his eyes were fixated on the cave walls. Soon, he felt she was staring at him and matched her gaze with his own rebellious one.
"I'm staying for a while." Kagome whispered. Although it was only a whisper, there was a firm tone to it that showed she would not be arguing on the matter.
"You don't understand." For the first time, Kagome could hear the faintest hint of stress in Bankotsu's voice. An almost urgent tone could be heard. If Bankotsu felt it was that important, then he probably had a good reason, but Kagome knew there was no use getting it out of him. That didn't stop her from trying.
"Bankotsu… Tell me why you want to leave so badly. That's all you have to do."
The mercenary's breath hitched in his throat, and an air of urgency could be felt around him. "It's… We just have to okay! You'd think you would trust me a little more."
Kagome glared. "Why should I?"
Bankotsu looked up to meet Kagome's gaze. Then he snorted and picked up Banryuu.
"Where are you going?" Kagome asked uncertainly, she was not quite sure she would like the answer.
"On a walk."
"Did you forget that five steps outside the cave there will be a hoard of demons?" Kagome hid her concern with a scathing look.
"I'll be fine." Bankotsu stepped out the cave. The only sound that could be heard was his frustrated, pounding steps.
Not a minute later, Hikomi appeared. "Kagome, would you care to join me when I do the dishes? It gets incredibly lonely sometimes. It has stopped raining, and the sun's starting to come out."
Kagome would have loved to say no, but her nature wouldn't allow it. She couldn't stand seeing people upset. Maybe it would even take her mind off of Bankotsu. She mustered up a small smile and stood. "Sure, it sounds nice."
Hikomi smiled, now she could finally get a chance to really talk with the younger women. It was something she had been looking forward to since she saw her. Besides, Kagome and Bankotsu needed to settle their differences if they were to stand even a fighting chance against Naraku.
"But, Hikomi, won't there be a bunch of demons?" Kagome looked out of the cave's entrance and tried to hide the fear from her expression.
"Yes, but I'm used to it. Most stay away from me, only the stupid weak ones try anything." With that, they headed around the edge of the cave, down a small path that Kagome never noticed before. They headed to a small stream that went barely up to Kagome's ankles. She was grateful for the change in atmosphere, she hadn't smelled the outdoors since she had come into the cave the first time, but it was surprisingly refreshing. Kagome sat down on the grass, sticking her hands in the clear water while Hikomi did the dishes.
"Tell me Kagome-sama, do you like Bankotsu?" Kagome stopped playing in the water and turned to look at Hikomi. Her bangs hid her eyes from Hikomi's prodding gaze.
"I'm afraid I don't understand…"
Hikomi's eyes shone with amusement. "Kagome dear, do you or don't you enjoy being around Bankotsu?"
Kagome thought for a moment, before replying with an answer she deemed satisfying, "I normally do. But, lately, ever since those… dreams, he's been distant, and even quicker to snap than normal."
"Interesting," Hikomi mumbled while scrubbing furiously at what once held the delicious soup the trio had ate. "Tell me, why do you like him?"
Kagome thought long and hard. She didn't really know why she liked Bankotsu, she just liked being around him. "I can't really say. I suppose I like that fact that even though he acts so mean and rude, he's really nice sometimes. And, it's a front. I don't think Bankotsu's as mean as he'd like everyone to believe. He reminds me a lot of Inuyasha."
"You don't like him just because he acts like Inuyasha do you?"
"What! No, of course not! I would never, I know how it feels. The dream only made it worse."
"What's all this talk about dreams about? You've mentioned it twice already."
"Oh," Kagome's expression turned cloudy. "We had a run in with one of Naraku's incarnations before we came. Kanna, she did something strange. I don't know what though. She didn't take my soul; I know what that feels like. It was like she sucked my consciousness out of me…"
Kagome lowered her eyes, trying to hide the tears that were forming at a fast rate. "It was as if I was stuck dreaming for who knows how long. It's just most of the dreams had to do with Inuyasha choosing Kikyo over me. I've never felt so hurt."
"I understand. You feel like you could never live up to Kikyo." Kagome nodded while Hikomi laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. She blinked back a few tears, but couldn't stop some from falling. 'You don't understand, you'll never understand.'
"It's just ever since I met Inuyasha, I've always felt second best to Kikyo. But lately I haven't been thinking about it. In fact lately, I have actually been enjoying myself. I don't think Bankotsu's met Kikyo, so I don't feel the constant comparison I felt with Inuyasha."
Hikomi frowned, Inuyasha had unknowingly or not, caused Kagome to loose a lot of self-esteem. She hoped that maybe Bankotsu could change that. It seemed he had already started without him even realizing it.
"You seem to talk decently about Bankotsu, but he's a mercenary. He kills people for a living." Hikomi felt bad about baiting the girl, but she needed more answers.
Kagome swerved around from where she was sitting so she was facing Hikomi. She gave her a dirty look. "So what? Everyone has faults! You've all but destroyed the world, and now Bankotsu and I have to fix your mistakes. So don't you dare bring something like that up."
"Just what is Bankotsu to you?" Hikomi picked up the now clean dishes, and began walking, not expecting Kagome to answer.
The younger priestess stared at Hikomi, flabbergasted. She stood up and jogged a bit to catch up to her. Hikomi was already off in the distance, fighting a demon stupid enough to attack her. Years fighting alone had made her incredibly good with a bow an arrow.
Kagome sighed, not answering her question, as Hikomi predicted. She didn't know, just what was Bankotsu to her? An acquaintance, a friend, someone who stole her first kiss, or something entirely different?
They reached the cave in record time; due to Hikomi walking at a pace that rivaled Bankotsu's when he was angry. Kagome reached the futon panting. Stamina was definitely something she needed to work on.
Kagome looked throughout the significantly sized cave and couldn't find any sign of Bankotsu. That worried her, even though she was still mad at him, she didn't want to see him hurt. The last time she had seen him, he stormed out of the cave in a huff.
Kagome ran up to Hikomi and without looking at her, muttered, "I'm going to look for Bankotsu, he's not back yet."
"But, it's dangerous out there. You don't have proper-" Hikomi stopped suddenly. One look at Kagome's eyes and she knew there was no use even attempting to argue. "At least take my bow an arrow."
Kagome nodded gripping the large bow. It was longer than what she was use to, but she'd make do with it. She wouldn't admit it, but she was worried about Bankotsu.
Bankotsu hacked through another demon, enjoying the adrenaline pumping through his system. Last time, he had to protect someone, but now it was just him. There wasn't anyone to worry about against his will.
Bankotsu laughed, loving the fight. The past frustrations seemed to be melting away. Slicing through swarms of demons made his mind empty for the first time in who knew how long. It was refreshing. Not everyday did he fight like this. Demons were everywhere, but the anger from earlier hadn't worn off, giving him a boost in strength.
An hour later, all of the demons seemed to have disappeared. Bankotsu noted this with disappointment. He panted heavily, which took him by surprise. Just when did he become so tired?
'I wonder where the demons went.' The mercenary wondered to himself. He began walking up the mountain. 'I wasn't done yet.'
Bankotsu climbed up a tall tree and scanned the horizons. It was strange, before demons could be seen for what looked like miles. Now, everything was quiet.
Bankotsu stayed on the tree, contemplating if he should go back or not. On one hand, it was getting pretty dark out, on the other, he still did not want to see Kagome. He felt guilty that he shouted at her, but he couldn't tell her that he was actually worried. It was a disgrace to show weaknesses, especially to the enemy. But, Kagome was hardly his enemy anymore. They had both helped each other on more than one occasion, and he didn't want to kill her. On the contrary, he hated seeing her in danger.
Bankotsu pushed up his bangs while sighing. He was becoming soft. It was bad enough he enjoyed her company. No matter what he did, she just would not go out of his head. Bankotsu yawned and shifted positions. The tree was actually pretty comfortable. Maybe he would crash there tonight to avoid Kagome…
Speak of the devil. The girl was walking through the forest with an arrow notched. She spotted him and came bounding towards him.
"What do you think you're doing?" She asked hotly with her hands placed firmly on her hips.
"Trying to sleep. Why are you running around here? It's getting dark." Bankotsu yawned and lazily jumped down from the tree. He stretched and looked at her questioningly.
"It's getting late. Since you were stupid and just wandered off, I was… I thought you might get hurt or do something stupid."
Bankotsu raised an eyebrow. He picked up Banryuu and lazily slung the weapon over his shoulder. "I don't see why you were so worried. You're the one who's walking around alone at night."
"So were you!"
"Yes, but I can take care of myself. You can't." Bankotsu started walking in the direction of the cave.
Kagome caught up easily. She glared at the mercenary, but this went unnoticed. "I'm not totally helpless, you know."
"Okay." Bankotsu brushed the comment off. He knew that she had the potential to become strong, but was baiting her. Actually, she wasn't even that weak to begin with.
"Give me three days to get stronger with Hikomi. Then I'll prove to you that I can be strong." Bankotsu regarded the statement with surprise. That meant staying even longer than he wanted to, but maybe he could at least give her a chance. She could use it, and admittedly, he wasn't exactly perfect either. They would just have to find a way to go back right after that.
Bankotsu held out his hand, waiting for Kagome to shake it. "Deal."
"Hey, Bankotsu… have you noticed how there haven't been any demons?" Kagome asked. It had been making her nervous. From the trace of sweat on Bankotsu, they had obviously been there before, but Kagome hadn't seen one. That was strange; she doubted Bankotsu managed to kill them all.
Bankotsu scoffed. He noticed Kagome seemed incredibly apprehensive about the matter. She was being paranoid. Bankotsu probably just killed so many of them they backed down. "Don't worry about it, okay? It's nothing."
"If you say so. Bankotsu! Does this mean you'll let us stay for a little bit?"
Bankotsu looked at the miko who was giving him puppy dog eyes. He rolled his eye and pushed his worries to the back of his mind. "Fine."
"But just for the record, I would have stayed not matter what." Kagome smirked at him. She could see the cave in the distance and was grateful. She was exhausted.
"Oh, I'm sure. By the way, I'm- Never mind…" Bankotsu walked into the cave door.
"Wait, what?" Kagome looked at Bankotsu, but he brushed her off, muttering something about being tired. Kagome huffed and pouted. She had been so close to getting an apology out of that jerk. She supposed that would never happen. Kagome cursed his stupid pride. A glare marred her face. She'd see how he liked it. If that jerk thought for one minute he could get away without apologizing…
'Never mind that. Tomorrow, I'll ask Hikomi to start training with me. I'm tired of being weak. I'll prove everyone wrong.'