Chapter 4: Remember the Time...
Yuni stood alone by her window. She stared outside. It was raining heavily. She stared out watching the drops drench all that was out there. It had been raining all day.
Nobody had bothered her today. She had made it very clear she wanted to be alone. Part of her was satisfied because Bankotsu came to her with good news...
Bankostu slid open Yuni's bedroom door panting. Yuni looked up from her bed startled. He walked inside still panting. She stared at him waiting for him to explain himself. It was obvious to her that he was running. She folded her ams and watched as he tried to catch his breath.
"I...Know...Where...One of...The jewels are." He said catching his breath at the last word.
Yuni jumped up. She quickly approached Bankotsu, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Wh-where?" She said gripping his shoulder.
He removed her hands. "Around the same area as before."
"Ok ok, but where was it! Where did you locate it?" She said eagerly.
"I was in a forest right outside of the village I attacked. Two little girls came running through the forest. One was just a baby the other a kid. The detector glowed as you said it would and so did the kids side. It started to glow blue."
Yuni clapped her hands together in excitement. She was overly joyed that a jewel was located. 'I'll quickly send Kanna and Kagura out to find the last one.' She thought. She had a huge grin on her face.
"Now what? What's the next step you want me to take?" Yuni's grin went away. She remained silent. She was in deep thought. Bankotsu stared at her waiting for her to reply.
Yuni turned around. She was still silent. She turned her head slightly to look at him. "In order to retrieve the jewel we will need to get our hands on the child."
"Do you want me to kidnap her?"
She turned back around. "We will...Soon." An evil grin formed upon her face.
The other part of her was uneasy. She was worried because of news Kagura had given her yesterday. It was something she should have thought about. All the possibilities of bringing Bankotsu back, but she hadn't.
"What was he doing?" Yuni asked as she sat in her thrown. Kagura stood in front of her. "Well." She asked again, tapping her finger on the armrest.
"He was watching two woman. One was an old woman, but she is of no concern. He kept an eye on the younger one."
Upon hearing that Yuni gripped the armrest. She felt an emotion run through her and she didn't like it. Was she jealous. Why be jealous? She tried to shrug the feeling off. She took a deep breath. "Alright...And?"
"He said that the woman claims to know him." Kagura said.
"Does she now?" Yuni said through gritted teeth.
"And he believes her."
It bothered her that he met someone from his past. It bothered her because it seem like he was slipping from her grasp. He still did his mission, but he didn't sleep with her anymore. It wasn't just that he didn't sleep with her it was that he acted as if he didn't want to at all. All he did for the past three days was walk around in a trance. He seemed to be deep in thought and she couldn't help wonder if it was because of that girl.
She had Kanna go to the village in order to find out who the girl was. Kagura had pointed the female out to Kanna and Kanna had captured her image in her mirror. Because Yuni didn't have any use for the woman she had Kanna use a villager. Kanna had showed the villager the image of Misaki and Kagura demanded the villager to tell them who she was.
Princess Misaki. Yuni thought furrowing her eyebrows. "They say she is the daughter of the late Princess Momoko." Kagura's words echoed in her mind. Momoko the one who selaed her father away all those years ago.
"They say she saved Japan. She saved them from the feared demon Hosen."
Is she really the one who defeated father? Yuni thought. It was no doubt in her mind that this Misaki was indeed a friend of Bankotsu's; after all she did find Bankotsu's remains at her fathers deathbed. If she really caused her father's death she was there as well. She knew Bankotsu!
Her castle is near the jewel's location. Yuni punched the window seal. She couldn't kidnap that girl yet. If she sent Bankotsu it may be a problem because of that girl. She wasn't going herself, not yet anyway. She had to have the other jewel. She has to be strong enough in case she faces the one who supposedly killed her father.
That was the plan. She would try to keep Bankotsu away from the girl, get the fire sphere immediately, go to the town and capture the child whom carries the water sphere. She had already sent Kgura and Kanna off, but she would need to search herself. I have to hurry. She thought flying out the window transforming into a dragon.
Inuyasha was seated on Misaki's balcony rail. He stared out to the sky. It stopped raining for the time being. The sky was still cloudy and the sun was no where in sight. Such a gloomy day. He thought.
His thoughts then drifted to Misaki. He was worried about her. She was extremely quiet for the pass couple of days. He had stayed in the castle to make sure she was alright, much to Takemaru's dismay. Takemaru was rude to Inuyasha and considered him a fithy halfbreed. He would try his hardest to conceal his dislike in front of Misaki of course.
All she did today was stay in her room and lay around. Inuyasha turned around to get a peek of her. She laid on the ground with her sleeping kimono on. It was loose and was open around her chest area, barely covering her breast at all. Her long black hair laid spread out and flat on the ground. She seemed to be in a daze.
Inuyasha frowned and swiftly turned his head. Her depressing attitude was aggrivating him. It was aggrivating him more that she wouldn't talk about it. She remained stubborn. No doubt that they were related.
He climbed off of the rail and walked into her room. He looked down at her annoyed. She didn't pay his presence any mind. "Would you get over whatever is bothering! You can't just sit around all day looking all meloncholy!"
He bent down grabbed her by the sleeve and pulled her to sit up. "What the hell, Misaki!" She looked away from him. She pulled her arm away.
She turned her head and glared at him. "Leave me alone alright. I am fine!" She shot back.
"The hell you are. All you've been doing-"
"Is being silent." She interrupted. Why does that have to mean something is wrong? I just had nothing to say to anyone." She folded her arms.
"What ever." He said turning around folding his arms as well.
Bankotsu was standing in the door way of Yuni's castle. The rain had started up again. It was now pouring harder than before. He let out a sigh. He was bored.
Earlier he had went out and slayed a few weak demons, but that didn't arouse him. He definitely wasn't going back out there not with it raining as heavy as it is. Leaving the doorway he decided to roam around the castle. He never really did that. The one spot in the castle he spent most of his time was Yuni's room.
He started to walk around the halls. As he walked he peeked his head into a few rooms. A lot of them were empty. He wondered why she even lived in a castle. As he walked through the main hall he came to a dead end. So he thought; there was a staircase leading to under the castle.
He was curious. He never knew there was a basement or possibly a dungeon here. He decided to go down the stairs. It was very dark. He barely could see anything.
There were only a few candles lit on the wall. The area gave off an eerie feeling. He started to walk. He made sure he was careful with his steps since he couldn't see well. He placed a hand on the wall as he walked. He suddenly saw a torch up a head. He went over to it and grabbed it.
He turned it towards the rest of the room. He didn't see anything. Well this is boring. He thought frowning. He decided to put the torch back. He placed his back against the wall and slid down. He had nothing to do. He closed his eyes and before he knew it he drifted off into slumber.
Morning came, and the sun light shun over the sleeping pair. The door was still open, letting in the morning breeze. Bankotsu woke up before Misaki. He sat up and looked at her sleeping form. He then got from under the blankets. His movements woke Misaki up. She opened her eyes slowly before shifting her body to him.
She watched him as he put his armor back on. She sat up, and went behind him. She started to put his long hair back into a braid. It was so familiar to the both of them. She often use to do this when they lived in the village together. After she was finished she put her kimono back on.
Bankotsu stood up. "I want to take you some where, Misaki."
She looked up to him puzzled. He reached for her hand and grabbed it. He pulled her up. "Come on, grab your weapon."
She nodded her head, still puzzled. She then bent down to pick up her staff. Once she had it in her hands Bankotsu said, "Alright, lets go." he started to walk, Misaki followed.
Bankotsu walked through a path in the woods, followed by Misaki. She was looking around trying to figure out where they were going. Ahead Misaki could see an opening. They reached the opening. Around them were mountains, and around those mountains were swarms of demons. The demons flew through and from the mountains.
"What are we doing here," she said looking around.
"You talk about how you're weak...So train, kill as many demons as possible."
She stopped looking around to stare at him. "Seriously?"
He nodded his head, as he made his back comfortable on a stone wall.
"This is simple...These demons are not strong enough."
He leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "So you can do it? Well, let's see you kill over a hundred."
She turned her back, and walked to a large stone ahead. She stood on top of it. The demons noticed her, and came rushing to her. She lifted up the hand holding her staff. In her hand she spun her rod. It spun fast in her hand, hitting every demon that tried to come near her.
Bankotsu watched her as she continually fought demons. He was keeping count; it is what he did when he killed. Bankotsu had killed 1000 demons, and 1000 humans. So far with ease Misaki had killed eighty demons. He could see that she was tired, but she refused to quit.
Misaki panted as she took a quick break. She then leaped to hit more demons with her staff. She constantly hit the demons on the head. She was tired, I have to be strong enough! She thought as she continued.
It was getting late. Over the mountains, the sun set was visible. Bankotsu looked up to view it. He then looked back at Misaki. Now she had killed one hundred and twenty demons. He pushed himself off of the wall and walked to where Misaki was.
She was busy fighting off demons, she did not notice him behind her. It wasn't until she felt his hand around her wrist that she noticed. She turned to view him. She was still panting, and she was also sweating. Looking into her eyes he could see determination.
"Misaki, that was over a hundred."
She turned back to face the demons. "No...I...Need...To train.." She spoke in between pants.
He tugged at her wrist and pulled her away. "Come on, Misaki...Let's go."
Bankotsu swiftly lifted his head. "That dream...It seemed so real." He mumbled. He looked around and he was where he was last. He knew that was just a dream, but it didn't feel as such. It seemed so real to him, like it happened or was actually happening. It was also a dream with Misaki in it.
He had dreams featuring Misaki, but not like this. Before he would just see her face appear. This dream was about him and her. He was with her. He leaned his head against the wall. His eyes were half opened. "I wonder..." He mumbled.
His back ached, so he shifted to make himself comfortable. "Huh?" He said looking behind him. Did the wall just move? He turned to face the said wall.
He was on his knees as he placed a hand on the wall. He moved it and it slid. He raised an eyebrow. A door? He thought while standing. He slid it open all of the way.
There was indeed a room. It was small and dark. He decided to go grab the torch. For a moment he stepped out to grab the torch. He stepped inside of the small room.
The room seemed empty except for one item. A huge halberd was placed into the ground. Bankotsu walked over to it. He used the torch to examine it. He whistled. "Now this is a weapon."
He used his free hand to grip the handle. At first touch he felt a tingling sensation come from it. It started to flow through his body. There was a pulse and his heart and mind began to throb. He shut his eyes tight to the feeling. The feeling traveled until only his head throbbed.
He dropped the torch and grip his head. He began to groan. "What in the..." Before he finished his sentence a series of images started to flash through his head. The images turned into scenes. He could see himslef and others. He could hear them, feel them. They were...Memories.
So many of them appeared before him. There was an image of a young Misaki, about twelve or thirteen, running through a field of tall grass. She had a wooden sword in hand. She was laughing and seemed to be enjoying herself. A young Bankotsu came running behind her with a wooden sword in hand as well.
The two giggled as they clashed swords. They began to play fight with them. Laughing and chatting. They continued to play until fell into the tall grass. They laid there and laughed breathlessly.
Another scene appeared in his head. He was sitting in a circle. He was surrounded by six other men. They were all drinking out of small cups. They were laughing and enjoying them selves. They lifted there cups up. "Cheers for our victory!" A feminine one said. Jakotsu...
Still clutching his head and the halberd Bankotsu dropped on his knee. All of the memories flowing back to him was too much. He was remembering things, people, places, times, feelings. They were coming back to him in a rush. Just from gripping the handle.
An image of him and Misaki by a lake. They were there together unintentionally. It was his second time seeing her after a year of absence. It wasn't a happy moment. She was hurt and he knew why.
"Misaki," He had said facing her. He took a step forward, but stopped once she stuck her rod out to him.
"Stay back!" She yelled
"Misaki?" He said quietly.
"Don't come near me. You and your Band of Seven just stay the hell away from me!" She turned and ran off.
Another scene came to him. He remembered the mission he once had as the leader of the Band of Seven. They were to kill Misaki. He eventually refused. He should have done so right from the start, but thought it would be better to keep his relation to her a secret.
Bankotsu sat there imagining a dead Misaki. That image didn't sit well in his head. When did I become a man who tries to kill there friends, he thought, that is if she doesn't hate me.
Bankotsu stood up, and walked over to the general. He looked him dead in the face. "Tell the lord to cancel that mission."
The members of the band of seven gasped.
"What?" The man had said. "You can't just go against the lords wishes that way-"
"I can do what I damn please," Bankotsu put his halberd, Banryu, over his shoulder. "The hell I would betray or harm my friends under some order."
The man gritted his teeth under his mask. "Very well," the man then pulled at his horse to turn around, and he was off.
The sensation and throbbing stopped. Bankotsu opened his eyes and stood up. He pulled Banryu from the ground and held it up. "I remember...I remember everything." He whispered.
He frowned at the thought of Yuni. She brought him back to use him. The fact that she used him didn't really bother him. It was the fact she lied to him about his life. Who gave her the right to make up his past. The right to keep him from who he was.
Well now she's in for a rude awakening. He was back. He knew everything and remembered everything now. No longer will he work for her. He will deal with her, but first... "Misaki." He thought aloud.
He walked out of the room, and back up the steps from where he came. He had to go find Misaki. He had to tell her of Yuni's plan. He had to let her know he was back, really back. He had to do it and he will.
R&R