When Kagome woke up that morning alone, she could still feel Bankotsu's warmth and knew she didn't imagine it. Bankotsu's arms keeping her safe from the silver haired hanyou's attacks aiming for her heart, she heard him whisper in her ear and she knew she was okay. In her dreams, nothing mattered anymore. It didn't matter that Bankotsu is a mercenary, it didn't matter that Kagome had feelings she couldn't understand, it didn't matter that they were supposed to be enemies. Reality didn't matter. She could stay in his arms forever but that strange desire was snatched away the moment she opened her eyes.

Her hand rested on the spot Bankotsu's body laid. He must've moved her into bed with him last night, the notion brought an unfamiliar sensation, one that she was not used to with Inuyasha.

Inuyasha. Though his face haunted her at night, thinking of him or hearing his name didn't sting as much as it used to. She was almost numb to the rage and heartache he inflicted. Once, it felt like Inuyasha didn't need much effort to cut Kagome so deep to leave a scar and call it 'love'. Now, he'd need to cross an ocean before she'd let him scar her again. She sat up and found an entire ocean in two eyes looking right at her. She wasn't staring into the cold abyss of yesterday but the smooth, welcoming waves that felt good on her skin and made her want more. She could drown in those eyes if he'd let her.

"G-Good morning, Bankotsu," Kagome greeted him shyly. The way he was looking at her spoke a hundred words in a thousand foreign tongues. She wanted to crawl under the blanket for how ridiculous she felt.

"How did you sleep?" She wasn't sure what she was expecting him to say but this surprised her.

"Um … fine."

"You're lying." He already knew and her wide eyes were proof enough, but he didn't wait for her to respond, "Why were you sleeping on the floor instead of the futon?"

She wanted to tell him how the look in his eyes scorched her skin, that whatever she did to upset him in the first place, she wouldn't do again. But her pride refused her. She tore her eyes away and her skin grew hot.

"I didn't think you'd want to share your bed with some lowly bitch." Hearing those two bitter words from Kagome's mouth made Bankotsu wince. He completely forgot saying that to her and wished to the Kamis that he could take it back. But the look in her eyes, the tears begging for release, he knew the damage was done. He then understood why she fell asleep on the floor now and how deep those two words had cut.

It was that moment Bankotsu experienced a new emotion that was unknown to him. Guilt. There was a lump in his throat too big to swallow and a pressure growing in his chest he thought his heart would burst. He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her that he was sorry, that he didn't see her that way and beg for forgiveness. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn't. He couldn't allow himself to act so foolishly because of some absurd feelings. He will fight these unwanted urges. The need to memorize every inch of her skin with his fingertips. The desire to mold her body to his like a missing puzzle piece. He will fight it all to his last grip of sanity.

He wondered how the young woman in front of him managed to shatter everything he once believed without lifting a finger.

The first time he laid eyes on her, he knew she was strong. Even though she didn't do much in the fight, he could tell by the way she spoke to her comrades, protected the little fox kitsune and shot an arrow without shaking that she had a heart of gold and spirit full of fire. After destroying that village and taking her as a hostage, that fire was still burning but it was withering like it was holding onto what little strength she had left to offer. It was like she had given up. He knew he shouldn't care but he did. He wanted to ignite that flame and burn away her pain and sadness. He wanted to see more of the girl she once was.

He still doesn't know how or why the girl who once used to scream and fight with all she was in the face of death became so empty. He hadn't put much thought to why she was separated from the half-breed or her friends when he found her. He would get his answers soon enough.

Bankotsu didn't know how long he and Kagome sat in silence but his eyes never left her. She could feel the intensity of his gaze on her and couldn't bring herself to face him.

The floorboards creaked under Bankotsu's feet. She thought he was just gonna leave her and the conversation behind until he looked over his shoulder.

"You just gonna sit on your ass all day or are you gonna get up?" She scrambled out of the covers hearing the challenge in his tone.

He led her outside and found Ginkotsu parked under a random tree's shade, one large enough for his size at least. For a man with gears as organs and wheels for feet, he never looked more human staring into the wind silently. Bankotsu reappeared by her side with a water filled bucket and a rag. When did he even leave?

"Use this to clean Ginkostu's metal. He's getting dirty and it's not good for the gears, he'll start to rust." Kagome nodded in understanding. She noticed the softness in his voice but didn't want to overthink it. She grabbed the bucket and moved towards the metal-man while Bankotsu turned back towards the castle.

Ginkotsu was so lost in his own serenity he didn't pay Kagome any mind when she started cleaning the blood and dirt off him. Washing him was going to take more elbow grease than it took to clean Bankotsu. The sudden memory made her blush.

Kagome glanced up at Ginkostu. If she could see his mouth, she'd bet by the look in his eyes that he was smiling. It almost felt wrong to be there in his personal space.

Gersh.

She heard the word, if you can call it that, and looked up. White butterflies. Not one. Not two. Not four. But seven or eight fluttering their little wings around him and they kept coming until he was surrounded completely. Kagome gasped at such a sight. She'd never seen so many all at once.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Kagome wasn't expecting an answer but continued anyway, "You know, in my village, the elders teach us many things that you wouldn't even think of. They've taught us about 'symbolism'. That means that there's a message in everything we see, like something as small as a flower or a pattern in the stars or an animal or insect can be a sign. I don't know if they made it up or not, but they say that if you see a butterfly with wings as white as snow then that means something is coming in your life. Change. Happiness. Hope." She hung onto that last word for a moment before letting it fade into the wind. "It's a really beautiful thing." She didn't know if he was paying attention to her or if he even cared that she was speaking at all, but it was the closest thing to talking to someone without hostility or resentment, so she didn't stop.

"Seeing them makes me think that no matter how hard things get, there's at least something worth smiling about." She looked up to see Ginkotsu's gaze already on her, and he wasn't the only one. Bankotsu stood within the threshold of the castle's entrance, watching over his half metal companion and the raven-haired girl. It was the most he heard her speak in days. For the first time since they met, she wasn't in a shell. She actually looked alive. And that's when he saw it; that brilliant smile that held enough beauty to put the crowd of butterflies they attracted to shame. That sleepy curve of her lips from last night didn't do her justice. The kamis blessed the world by bringing her into it for her presence was enough to stop time.

"Looks like the little bitch is getting comfortable, smiling and giggling like that instead of doing her job," Renkotsu's condescending tone broke Bankotsu out of his trance, "Don't worry, Big Brother. I'll fix that."

Bankotsu could almost see the fire breather's malicious smirk in his voice and knew exactly what he had in mind, having seen it many times over the years.

"Stand down." The authority in Bankotsu's voice brought him to a halt.

"Big Brother?"

"Unless you want to end up like Mukotsu, you will not touch her."

Renkotsu has never heard the voice of his leader so cold and demanding before. If his pride didn't make him so stubborn, he'd probably bow his head in submission the moment Bankotsu got the words out. He stayed silent and still beside his leader thinking over what he just said.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen the toad in a couple days. I didn't think anything of it until now. The ugly fucker must've done something to the wench and Bankotsu killed him for his disobedience. Interesting.

Renkotsu didn't utter a word while observing his leader out the corner of his eye. His focus was still on the girl as if she was all he could see.

Why protect her and go as far as killing one of your own when she's nothing more than a prisoner?

Renkotsu racked his brain for all possible reasons for his leader's behavior and one thing was clear to him.

If Bankotsu has feelings for the girl, that makes her a weakness.

His lips curved at the thought.

I'll have to keep an eye on the two of them. If my insinuation is correct, then I could definitely use this in my favor.