Author's note: Thank you to the two who have added my story to their favorites and thank you for following me as well. Here's the deal. From now on, if I do not get atleast one review(anonymous or not) I won't post another chapter. I would like to know your opinions on it and if I am doing something wrong I need to know. If you don't want to review, atleast PM me. I am open to criticism, praise, and even suggestions. Also, I still do not know if Takara is going to end up with Bankotsu or Koga..Hell, I might even twist things a bit and put her with Sesshomaru. It is still early in the story and I'm not sure..So I would like your opinion on that. Please review! Thank you!
Disclaimer: I only own my OC's. I do not own Inuyasha in any way.
Oh no..Takara dropped Seishi when Kagura knocked her out..I hope she will be okay without it until we can get to her.
Pain washed over me as I began to regain conciousness. My sky blue eyes fluttered open and I looked around, trying to figure out where I was. I grimaced as a splitting headache settled in. A castle..? I tried to move my arms, only to find that they were chained to the wall. Damn! This isn't good! I turned my head a little more and saw a young boy around Mayumi's age sitting in the corner of the room I was being held in, looking off to the side. He was in a demon slayer's outfit and he resembled the woman demon slayer I had come across before that wench knocked me out and brought me here. I didn't know if I should try to talk to this boy or not, so I just kept my mouth shut and racked my brain, trying to think of ways to escape.
"Please don't try to escape or anything, Miss..I don't want to have to kill you."
I looked over at the boy only to find him still looking off to the side. I frowned a bit and decided to ask him a few questions.
"What's your name?"
"...Kohaku"
"Well, where are we, Kohaku? Are you being held against your will too?"
He didn't speak and I got a bit frustrated. Why wouldn't he tell me where we were? Maybe he doesn't even know. My thoughts were interrupted by a young man walking in. My eyes widened as I saw him. He looked down at me, acknowledging my presence. I glared at him, hate filling my entire body. He raised an eyebrow and kneeled in front of me, grabbing my chin and tilting it up, toward his face.
"Hey now, what's that look for? If it weren't for me, you would have been slain by my comrades ten years ago. If I were you, I'd be a bit more grateful."
"You let your men kill my village and my father! I have NOTHING to be grateful to you about!"
"Heh. Very well then. But, for now you're stuck with me until we can lure your friend and everyone else here. So, get used to it Takara."
"How the hell do you even know my name?"
"I know a lot of things about you. I'm Bankotsu, by the way. I never thought to introduce myself all those years ago."
With that, he sat down in front of me, staring at my face intently. I raised an eyebrow and looked back at him, confused.
"Why are you staring at me..? Are we having a staring contest or something?"
"You know..your quite beautiful. I never noticed before, but you are."
A light blush formed on my cheeks and I whipped my head away from him, causing my hair to fall into my face. This made him laugh.
"What, don't tell me you have never been called beautiful before?"
"...No"
He laughed louder, shaking his head as he scooted against the wall next to me. I quickly inched away from him until the chained pulled at my wrists. Damnit..This guy doesn't act like the leader of a bunch of murderers..he seems...human? He rested his arm on one of his knees, his halberd leaning against the wall on the other side of him. He let his eyelids shut.
"So, Takara..I've heard you've gotten strong since our last encounter. Is that true?"
"I suppose.."
"And you have that sword I threw away in the woods, right? Does it really only work for you?"
"Yes and yes..Why are you asking these questions, Bankotsu?"
"Well, I figured..if you are as strong as my men say..we will have to fight so that I can see for myself. I bet my Baby will destroy your puny sword though."
"No, it wont. My Seishi can destroy anything in its path!"
"Well, I've never lost a fight to anyone! So, I know I won't lose to a girl!"
"What does being a girl have to do with it?! I could beat you, easy! You're no competition compared to me!"
"What did you say?!"
He was fuming by this point. I had obviously figured out how to get under his skin. We were nose to nose, glaring at each other. He let out a small 'hmph' and crossed his arms, turning away from me like a child who didn't get what they wanted. I giggled a bit. He looked over at me, still visibly angry.
"What are you giggling about..?"
"Nothing, shorty!"
"Don't call me that! I'll slice you open and let the ninja boy throw your body to the demons!"
"I am not a ninja, mister.."
This made me laugh harder.
"You actually thought Kohaku was a ninja? It's obvious that he is a demon slayer!"
"He looks like a ninja! Shut up!"
My sides began to hurt from laughing at Bankotsu. How could he be the leader of those psychotic men and still be so childish, so...human? I decided to try to pry some information out of him while I had him talking.
"So, why are you wanting to lead Mayumi and those other people here?"
"Naraku wants to slaughter them all..I don't know why he wants to kill a blind girl, but he does.."
"What is going to happen to me after that?"
"Naraku says we can do with you as we please.."
"You do realize he is just using you, right? He will probably do away with you and your men after he gets what he wants.."
"I trust him."
"You shouldn't.."
"Well, if he gets in my way or tries to betray me I'll just kill him!"
I just shook my head and looked away. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. That was the bad part. I definitely wasn't going to let them hurt Mayumi, either. Screw the others, I just wanted to protect Mayumi.
"You know, that cocky attitude of yours is going to end up being your downfall, right?"
"Ha. Whatever."
He turned his attention away from me to a man who entered the room. This person was wearing a baboon pelt, so I couldn't see his face. I still knew who it was, though. I'd never be able to forget him.
"Naraku.."
"Hello, Takara. I see you haven't tried to escape yet. Why don't you call your sword?"
"Ha, nice try. Mayumi has my sword and I'm not leading her to her death..What do you want with me?"
"Well, you are very strong. I've watched you over the years. As soon as I kill the priestess you travel with and the others, I'm going to make you my slave just like Kohaku, here."
"Wait, I thought you said me and my men could have her, Naraku? Why are you changing things now?"
I looked over at Bankotsu and was surprised to find him angrier than I had made him. Naraku just laughed.
"Calm down, Bankotsu. I will find you another wench. I've decided that this one will be mine to do with as I please."
This made me disgusted. I knew what Naraku was getting at and I was not going to let that happen. I yanked at my chains, trying to get to the demon. My face was twisted in anger.
"That will never happen, Naraku! I would never let myself be a slave to the likes of you! Unchain me and fight me!"
"You don't have a choice in the matter, Takara. You will be my slave whether you want to or not. And I will not unchain you and chance you escaping now that I finally have you."
"Damn you, Naraku!"
"I don't want another wench, Naraku. I want her."
I looked toward Bankotsu, surprised. Why me? I started to realize that I had bad luck. I stopped struggling with the chains and watched the two men, waiting to see what would happen. Naraku laughed again.
"Okay, Bankotsu. You can have the girl. I will just take the blind priestess instead."
"NO! Leave Mayumi the hell out of this! She is just a child, Naraku!"
"Then choose. You or her. Either way, I will have one of you. By the way..they are on their way here as we speak. I'd decide quickly if I were you, Takara.."
I let my head drop as he left the room, my bangs and hair covering my face. I clenched my teeth and held back tears as images played in my head of Naraku having his way with my young friend. I can't let that happen..if it's me or her, it will just have to be me then..She is too young. Kohaku had sat back, watching the scene play out in front of him before deciding to speak to me.
"So, Miss..how old is your friend, anyway?"
"She is still a child..she is only twelve.."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to give myself to him..I'd rather it be me than her.."
"No, you're mine. I won't let him have you."
"You act like I'm your property or something! It's MY choice!"
Bankotsu was fuming by this point. I didn't care though. He was nothing to me. I despised him for what he did ten years ago. Now, all I had to do was find a way to get out of here before Mayumi and the others got here. Bankotsu stood and left the room without a word, his long black braid trailing behind him. As he passed me, I saw anger clouding in his cobalt blue eyes. I ignored it and began to make a plan to escape. I'd have to call Seishi to me if I wanted to escape anytime soon. Hopefully it wouldn't be too late, though.
I stormed out of the room, angry with Naraku and myself for wanting this woman so badly. I didn't understand why I wanted her as much as I did. I kept telling myself that it was because I always got what I wanted and now I wasn't. It pissed me off. As I walked I became even more frustrated. I stopped and punched the wall beside me, sending broken wood flying everywhere.
"What's wrong, Big brother?"
I looked over and watched as Jakotsu walked up, looking a little worried as he saw the broken wood laying everywhere. I calmed down a little when I saw him. Jakotsu was the only person in the world that I trusted. I knew I could talk to him about Naraku.
"He promised us the girl and now he wants her..He is making her choose between herself or her young companion.."
"Her companion is just a child, though. I hate all women, especially those two..but even I'm not that sadistic..what should we do? I know you don't like not getting your way, but Naraku is the only reason we are alive again..If we betray him, he might take our jewel shards."
"I am Bankotsu, leader of the band of seven! No one controls me! You are a good friend, Jakotsu..the only person in the world that I can trust. Thank you."
Jakotsu grinned at Bankotsu, his eyes shining with happiness. Bankotsu gave him a quick hug and smiled back.
"You really mean that, Big brother?"
"Of course!"
"Let's break that stupid wench out then!"