Author's Note: Hello everyone! How are you? I'm finally back and I've finally decided to finish up the story since I ended my last chapter with a cliffhanger. Honestly, I don't know where this is going anymore, but I decided to give it a try anyway. So after…7 months, here's chapter 9!XD

The days rolled on rather swiftly and smoothly. Naraku had still been laying low and with Kagome in the company of the remainder of the band of seven their violent ways have become scarce. However, there were still the two rogue members of the Shichinintai on the loose and there was no telling what they were scheming.

Inuyasha laid on his back feeling the soft, cool grass beneath him as he gazed up into the blue sky. Things really have been boring as of late. Naraku was still in hiding and he saw no purpose in bothering the band of seven, even though he'd love to stomp a certain cocky, braided-haired leader into the ground. Inuyasha sighed. He couldn't do that, besides it would hurt Kagome. 'Kagome...why should I care about her!?' he thought angrily. Now that Kagome was gone, everyone seemed distant or everything was all work and no play. It was better that way, things would get done faster...that is...if they had things to do.

Miroku glanced over to Inuyasha and sighed as he closed his eyes. 'He's been daydreaming like this ever since...well...ever since Kagome left.' he recalled. Things really have been slow and they had absolutely no leads on finding Naraku. Their chances did lie within their pursuit of the band of seven, but they were as clueless as they were. Miroku walked over to Inuyasha and stared down on him. "We're well rested if you're waiting for us. We should press forward." he suggested.

Inuyasha sat up with a grunt. "Where to now? I'm tired of helping the villages we pass with their petty problems without leads on how to find Naraku."

"We'll find something, Inuyasha, just keep going forward." the monk advised.

"Yeah, whatever. Let's just go then!" he snapped, hopping to his feet and walking off into no particular direction.

Miroku watched him walk with nothing to say. Sango approached him with both Shippo and Kirara in her arms. "Well, what did he say?" she asked.

"We're at a complete loss, but we'll keep moving nonetheless." he told her.

Sango nodded. Her gaze then drifted up towards the sky. 'Hmm...I wonder how you're faring Kagome...'

Her bare feet slapped against the cold floors of the castle as she walked through the misty desolate halls. She was being summoned to her master, no doubt to give him her latest news. She approached two large double doors and they slid open, welcoming her into the room. She walked towards the pelted figure without saying a single word.

"Kanna." the cold voice said. As if ordered to do something, the white-haired child held her mirror up to him and an image appeared.

"Ku ku ku ku ku." he laughed. In the mirror, the image of three undead mercenaries and a young priestess was displayed to him. He laughed again. For a while now he had known about the controversy that occurred between Inuyasha and Kagome, and he found it most amusing. All he had to figure out was how to use this to his advantage.

"There is more." Kanna informed in her emotionless, monotonous voice. Her mirror shun brightly again and an image of Renkotsu appeared. Then Kikyou appeared in her mirror and afterthat Inuyasha.

"It seems they all have enjoyed the luxury of peace too long. Let us stir things up once again." he said, with maliciousness lacing his tone. "Kohaku...Kagura." he called forth.

The two came forth from the shadows with blank expressions, ready to execute any plan he had in mind.

Three mercenaries strangely accompanied by a priestess, casually walked through the forest. Bankotsu walked in front of course, with Kagome behind him, and Suikotsu and Jakotsu behind her. Everyone had walked in silence since there was no need to exchange any words. For a while now things have been boring, but no one was really upset about that. They all seemed to be getting along nicely, save for the few scrapes Jakotsu and Kagome got into every now and then.

Kagome walked quietly lost in thought. 'Hmm, a whole two weeks has passed and we haven't heard a peep from Naraku or Renkotsu. That's good. I wonder what Bankotsu thinks about all of this? He hasn't said much pertaining to Naraku, Inuyasha, or Renkotsu. Well, I guess no one wants to think about that. Just concentrate on what's happening now.' she thought to herself.

Kagome's eyes flew open as she felt Bankotsu grab her hand and pull her closer to him. Kagome blushed at his actions and blushed even more when he still held her hand. 'Oh...Bankotsu...' she thought.

Jakotsu and Suikotsu looked at each other quizzically for a moment. "Hmm, big brother seems awfully affectionate at the moment." Jakotsu whispered to the man next to him.

"Does he sense danger?" Suikotsu wondered.

Bankotsu glanced around in the trees with a smirk gracing his features. 'I know you're here you bastard.' he thought. If someone with keen enough senses were to look around, they could clearly see a blur of red hopping through the trees. For a while he had a creeping suspicion that the hanyou was lurking about. On average, he would secretly see the hanyou at least twice a day.

Inuyasha silently watched the group, fuming. 'That son of a dead bitch!' His thoughts raged. He figured that Bankotsu must've sensed him...again. The last time he saw them, Bankotsu dropped whatever it was he was doing to all of the sudden kiss Kagome...HIS Kagome! He didn't want to be seen by Kagome, but this could go on no longer!

"What's the matter, Bankotsu?" Kagome asked, curious about his actions.

"Huh? Oh, I just felt a little lonely up here and I needed you by my side." he told her. 'You hear that you half breed?!'

Inuyasha was about confront them until remembered Jakotsu's and Suikotsu's presence, mainly Jakotsu's. He cringed and decided to head back to the others. 'I'll get you! I'll get all of you and have Kagome back with us!' he thought with resolve.

Bankotsu smirked again when he figured that the hanyou left again. What did the idiot think? He wasn't going to let him take Kagome away from him. 'If we find a way to kill that bastard Naraku, we can all keep the jewel shards. No, we will kill that bastard.' he thought.

Jakotsu yawned and his eyes were becoming droopy. "Big brother? Can we stop now, it's almost sundown and we haven't had food since this morning." he said, trying not to whine in futility.

"We should at least find a place to set up camp before nightfall." Suikotsu added.

Bankotsu snapped out of his thoughts and acknowledged the pleas of his comrades. "Yeah, we'll be coming up on a good clearing in a few." he said.

Kagome stared at Bankotsu in a mysterious fashion. 'He's been acting strangely lately. What's on his mind? Wait of course I know, but he would never admit to that.' she pondered. She felt him squeeze her hand slightly and she looked over to him.

Bankotsu smiled. "Hey, don't think too much...it shows on your pretty little face." he teased.

Kagome stuck her tongue out. "You should talk."

"I'm gonna gag!" Jakotsu said with a roll of his eyes.

Later in the evening, they all sat around a campfire after enjoying fish roasted over the fire. Luckily for them it was a warm night so they wouldn't have to worry about shelter. Kagome finally got a chance to talk to the other two members of the band of seven about miscellaneous things. If she had her backpack she could teach them to play cards or something. Now that she thought about it, where was her backpack?

"Yeah, in my time we can see all the way into the sky with a telescope!" she told happily.

"A what-a-scope? Who would want to look at stars? They're just lights in the sky." Jakotsu commented, not really understanding what she was babbling about.

"Scientists use them to study constellations, it's called astrology." Kagome explained.

"A scientist...you mean like a witch doctor?" Suikotsu asked in confusion.

Kagome sweat-dropped and scratched her head. "Um...I guess they're alike. Oh, and do you guys know what a televison is?"

"Tel-e-vis-ion?" They both said in unison.

Not too far from them, Bankotsu rested on the grass staring up into the aforementioned stars. He smiled as he heard Kagome talking to his brothers about her time. He was glad that they were getting along with her so well. 'She probably misses her home...but she's never asked to go back...she said something about a well in that forest...where she first found that half breed pinned to that tree. So, that's how they met...' his thoughts were interrupted when he spotted another one of Naraku's insects. "Saimyoshou?" he said under his breath.

He popped up and looked over to the others. Suikotsu and Jakotsu seemed wowed about Kagome's conversation so he could slip off easily. He quickly but quietly picked up his Banryuu and followed the insect into the forest. He continued walking until the insect stopped and flew upwards into the trees. A few seconds later some ninja boy jumped down before him. "Kohaku?" Bankotsu said. 'Naraku...what are you planning?'

Kohaku looked up at the older boy with a blank expression. "Bankotsu sir, Naraku has a proposition for you." he informed.

"Proposition? Heh!" was all he said.

"If you kill the priestess Kikyou...he will give you more shards. If you kill Inuyasha...and Kagome...he'll let you keep the shards." he informed. Kohaku's eyes widened when Bankotsu rushed towards him and lifted him by the material of his slayer uniform around his neck.

"The hell is matter with you!? There's no way I'd kill her! I don't give a rat's ass about that dead priestess or that filthy half breed!" he yelled in anger. "Tell Naraku that he'll have to do better than that or else he'd better prep his neck for me!" he warned. He let go of the ninja boy and walked away.

The saimyoshou appeared once the mercenary left and Kohaku nodded. It seems that Bankotsu had failed Naraku's test, he and the others were to prepare for the worst. The boy leapt into the trees and bounded off into the night.

It was sweltering in that damned cave, hell it had to be fifteen degrees hotter in there than it was outside. He had no choice, he had to remain hidden until he figured out his next course of action. Right now he just had to concentrate on repairing and even upgrading his mechanical friend. Renkotsu pulled off his bandana and wiped his head clean of the sweat trickling down his forehead. "Damn it!" he cursed. "This isn't working I can't finish with limited resources, but at least your guns have better fire power." he smirked.

Ginkotsu began laughing in his mechanical voice. "Renkotsu, we are stronger."

Renkotsu pulled his damp bandana back on. "No, we're not. Bankotsu has always been the strongest and with his shards he'll be even harder to beat. If I devise a plan, we'll be able to take him down." he pondered malevolently. He glanced around the dimly lit cave and sighed. "I'm going to get some fresh air." he said as he began walking towards the exit.

He exhaled once the fresh spring air hit his face, brushing the stale, stagnant cave air from his senses. It was almost sunrise and he hadn't slept a wink since he had been fixing up Ginkotsu. He dedicated most of his time to help Ginkotsu because if it weren't for him, Bankotsu would have killed him for sure. For the last few weeks he had kept himself and Ginkotsu in hiding and he didn't give a damn if Bankotsu thought him to be a coward. Once his plan was together he would come back ten times stronger and defeat that arrogant little bastard.

Renkotsu walked until he reached the small, narrow stream that wasn't too far from the cave and knelt down to splash some cool water on his face. He closed his eyes as he scooped water into his palms and doused it over his sweat and dirt ridden visage. He opened his eyes once more and his heart began to race when he noticed the reflection in the water beside his own. "Kohaku?!" he breathed out as he turned around. He faced the young boy feeling a strange sensation of malaise wash over him. Was he there for his jewel shard? Naraku finally had no use for the band of seven and now he was done for. It was all Bankotsu's fault!

Kohaku stared at the bald man as if he was reading everything about him. He concluded that he was completely oblivious about his sudden appearance. "Renkotsu, sir. I have a proposition for you." he informed.

Renkotsu's eyes wavered for a moment. He was surprised yet relieved all at once. 'Hmm, what's this about?' he thought suspiciously. "A proposition, what about?" he finally asked.

"Naraku will grant you these shards to aid you in defeating Bankotsu." he told, as he held out his hand and opened it.

Renkotsu widened his snake-like eyes and gazed upon the three shining shikon shards in Kohaku's palm. "These are for me?" Kohaku nodded. He held out his palm and Kohaku emptied the jewels into his hand.

"If you defeat Bankotsu, he will allow you to keep these shards and the ones you take from the others, if you can. However, if you fail, the shards will be taken back...along with the one in your neck." Kohaku further warned.

Unconsciously, Renkotsu brought his hand to his neck and gently stroked the area where his lifeline resided. This was an opportunity that he couldn't let go to waste. He would have to defeat Bankotsu in order to live, then he could easily kill the others and rob them of their shards as well. A malevolent smirk graced his features as he thought of the many possible ways to kill Bankotsu and the others. He then looked over to the boy. "Tell him that I accept his proposition."

Kohaku nodded. "Good luck to you." With that said he took his leave.

Renkotsu clutched the jewel shards in his hands and laughed darkly. 'This is your end, Bankotsu!' he thought sadistically.

Author's Note: Well I just realized that I probably won't be able to post up future chapters because I just got a new laptop and my Microsoft Word trial ends on the 31st! At this moment….I don't have 149.99 to purchase the full version! ARGH!! I hate you, Microsoft!

Anyway I hope enjoyed the chapter(if short) and hopefully I'll be able to put up more. R&R:)