InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secret Love ❯ Chapter 20

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters as they all belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 20

“What the hell are you doing here!” both males shouted at the same time, harsh scowls marring their faces and tension thick in the air between them.

Bankotsu advanced, closing the space between them, his scowl deepening when Inuyasha growled and pushed Kagome behind him. As Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga, she knew she had to speak up.

“Stop it! Both of you!” she yelled, looking from Inuyasha to Bankotsu who had pulled his halberd from his shoulder and unclothed it and marched to stand between them.

Kagome was dismayed when neither of them stood down. With a bit of difficulty she caught Bankotsu's eye with her own and repeated more softly, “Stop it.”

Inuyasha had a confused look on his face that soon morphed into understanding after observing the soft expression on his opponents face at her words.

“So, this is who you've been seeing, Kagome? This bastard, Bankotsu?” Inuyasha said, disgust clearly written in his voice and the curl of his lip.

“Yeah, you got a problem with that, Inutrasha?” Bankotsu sneered, baiting him as he wrapped his arm around Kagome's waist and pulled her against him.

Kagome frowned up at him, not liking his attitude. “Cut it out, Bankotsu. I really don't need you two fighting,” she said.

Bankotsu smirked at her. “Aw, you're no fun. But it's nice of you to be concerned for your friend and his safety, seeing as I could kick his ass,” Bankotsu said.

Inuyasha growled. “As if. If you think I'd let a human beat me, you've got another thing coming. Let alone a dead one.”

Bankotsu and Kagome both scowled at that. “I'm no more dead than your clay bitch, half-breed,” Bankotsu ground out.

“Feh. Like I said, a dead human,” Inuyasha spat bitterly.

Bankotsu's face twisted into mock sadness. “Oh, what's the matter? Did the happy couple have a fight?” he asked sarcastically sympathetic.

Kagome frowned. “Be nice, Bankotsu. This isn't funny. You have no idea what he is going through,” she admonished, coming to her friend's defense.

His expression lightened slightly, but she could still tell that he didn't feel the slightest bit sorry for Inuyasha. Kagome worriedly wondered how far their hatred actually went toward each other. How was she ever going to get them to act civil towards one another?

“I don't give a damn what Inutrasha is going through. But I'll leave the poor puppy alone for your sake,” Bankotsu declared with a soft smirk down at her.

Kagome forgot her surroundings and disregarded the poorly veiled insult Bankotsu made towards Inuyasha looking into those beautiful blue eyes. With no heed to Inuyasha, who was still watching on with a deep scowl, she tilted Bankotsu's head down toward hers and kissed him. She was deaf to the sound of the growl that rumbled through Inuyasha's chest as the sound of her own beating heart flooded her ears.

Slowly, she pulled away, the kiss lingering on her lips and love and happiness shining in her eyes.

“Excuse me, but I'd like to keep my eyes in working order, thank you. Seeing something so disgusting again would surely ruin them forever,” Inuyasha grumped disdainfully.

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Inuyasha. I doubt if it's that bad.”

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the way Kagome and Bankotsu remained embraced within each other's arms. It wasn't right that Kagome so readily trusted the enemy, let alone formed a relationship with him!

“You know, Kagome, I've been really accepting about all of this up to this point. There is no way I can allow you to be in a relationship with him. For one, he's evil, and two, he works for Naraku, so how can you be sure that he's not just using you.” Kagome opened her mouth to interrupt but he pressed on. “And even if all of that isn't true and you two really are in love and just have a secret relationship, sooner or later Naraku will find out and he'll find a way to use it to his advantage. Then, all of this will come crashing to a painful ending for both of you. No doubt that bastard will try to pin you against each other in a save each other or save your friends situation. That would be just like him,” Inuyasha finished hatefully.

Bankotsu and Kagome frowned, thinking over this information. They had never really thought about Naraku factoring into the secrecy of their relationship, only their friends. Inuyasha had a point, and they were both worried about what it might mean for them. After contemplating, Kagome decided to put her idea forth.

“Why not just have Bankotsu and his brothers join our group?” she said.

“Hell no! And have this asshole think he can boss me around? I don't think so!” Inuyasha roared.

Kagome huffed. “Well, it'd help a bit, I think. We wouldn't have to keep our relationship secret, he wouldn't be working for Naraku anymore, we'd have more man power on our side, and it might grate on Naraku enough to draw him out of hiding. I don't know what could be so bad about all of that,” she said, clearly pleased with herself for thinking of it.

Inuyasha growled. “Like I give a damn. I'm perfectly fine with him being on the bad side. And we're close enough to getting Naraku on our own. We don't need him,” he snarled.

Kagome scowled. “Well I say we do! You don't get to make every decision yourself, Inuyasha. We all have a say in this,” she said heatedly. She turned to Bankotsu. “What do you think, Bankotsu? Do you think you and your brothers would be up for it?” she asked him hopefully.

Bankotsu considered it. He had watched on in amusement as their little argument developed. He didn't think it was such a bad idea, but he didn't think his brothers would share his sentiments. Especially Jakotsu. By now, his brothers were aware that he had a female that he was `courting', but they didn't know who. If Jakotsu knew that the vile woman who was monopolizing his big brother's attention almost every night wanted him in the daytime as well, he wouldn't be too happy about that. He shared all of this with Kagome.

“Well, if you're alright with it, I'm sure they'll come around. That's two votes in favor of it against Inuyasha's one. So, I say it's settled until we ask everyone else about it,” Kagome said happily.

“Like hell you do! What I say goes around here,” Inuyasha said superiorly.

Kagome's face reddened in anger. “Inuyasha, sit! Sit, sit, sit!”

Bankotsu's face brightened in delight as Inuyasha was continually slammed into the ground, creating a large crater that surrounded his prone form.

“Amazing! How did you do that, Kagome? I bet that could come in handy,” Bankotsu said, mirth shining bright in his eyes.

Still annoyed, Kagome ignored the now cursing and squirming Inuyasha and grabbed Bankotsu's hand, storming towards the village.

“It's a subduing spell charmed into the beads around his neck,” she clipped out.

Bankotsu decided not to take offense at her tone and wondered where they were going. After a bit of walking, a village could be seen ahead. The moon shone on the rice paddies that surrounded them. Inuyasha had long since caught up and could be heard grumbling behind them. When they reached the village, Kagome led him to a small hut. She drew back the bamboo curtain that served as a door to reveal its occupants that were all asleep.

Kagome didn't really want to wake her friends up in the middle of the night, but she felt this was important enough that it didn't have to wait. She went about waking each person and then lit a fire so there would be some light. As their sleep shrouded minds cleared a bit, they were instantly on alert at the sight of Bankotsu. Kagome hurriedly tried to calm their fears.

“You guys, I'm sorry for waking you all up so late at night, but I have an announcement to make and I didn't want to wait until morning. Bankotsu and I have been secretly dating for a few months now and I wanted to ask all of you how you would feel about he and his brothers joining our group,” she announced.

Silence followed as the faces of each of her friends registered varying degrees of shock. Kaede was the one to break it.

“Kagome, child, I was not aware ye had feelings for any other than Inuyasha,” she said in surprise. Miroku and Shippo nodded in agreement.

“I was,” Sango spoke up, “I just wasn't aware of who. So, Bankotsu. Who would have ever thought you could be soft and cuddly?” she said in amusement.

Bankotsu scowled, offended while Inuyasha snickered. “I am not, nor have I ever been `soft and cuddly.' What possessed you to suggest something so ridiculous?” he scoffed. Sango raised her eyebrows and Kagome giggled softly.

As if sensing something important was about to happen, Sesshomaru appeared at the entrance to the hut sans Jaken and Rin, who presumably remained with Ah-Un at their camp grounds not far from the village. Sesshomaru didn't dare sully himself by residing with humans.

His gaze fastened on Bankotsu and narrowed. “What is the reason for your presence here, human?” he asked coldly.

Bankotsu eyed him. “How is it any of your business, demon?” he asked snidely.

In lightning quick movements, Sesshomaru had Bankotsu against the wall with his hand around his neck. Bankotsu stared at him defiantly, not in the least afraid.

“This Sesshomaru suggests you not over-step your boundaries, human, or you may just find yourself back inside the grave you crawled out of,” Sesshomaru warned.

“Hey, Sesshomaru, I suggest you let go of him this instant, or you may just find yourself purified to hell where you belong,” Kagome said, hands on her hips.

Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder at her, not loosening his hold on Bankotsu, clearly not taking her threat seriously.

“It's okay, Kagome. I can handle this asshole on my own,” Bankotsu said, smirking into Sesshomaru's face.

Sesshomaru looked back at him and narrowed his eyes while his grip on Bankotsu's neck tightened. Bankotsu watched with amusement and some pride as Kagome ignored him and grabbed the hand that was still wrapped around his throat, a glowing light shining as Sesshomaru's hand began to sizzle and burn with the warning of worse than a scorched hand in Kagome's grip. Slowly, he released Bankotsu, all the while narrowing his eyes at Kagome, his face never once giving away any pain he may have felt. He stepped back, eying her contemptuously.

“Be grateful, miko, that this Sesshomaru doesn't punish you severely for daring to touch this one in such a manner. This Sesshomaru will let this act of yours slide this once, if only because this one is curious to learn why you would protect your enemy, but do not attempt it again as you will not be so lucky next time,” Sesshomaru said emotionlessly.

“For the last time, my name is Kagome! Not miko, human, girl, or any other thing you'd call me. I don't care what you think because I'm not afraid of you, Sesshomaru. But since you've decided to join our group, I guess your opinion does kind of matter. I'm asking everyone how they would feel about Bankotsu and his brothers joining our group,” Kagome informed him grumpily.

Sesshomaru's confusion did not show on his face as he held his expressionless mask. “What is the reasoning behind this? Why would you want them or they themselves want to join this group against the man they ally themselves with?” Sesshomaru asked.

“Well -,” Kagome began, but Bankotsu interrupted her, bringing her against his side with an arm around her shoulders.

“Because Kagome and I are together now. And as Inutrasha so helpfully pointed out -,” insert growl from our always testy hanyou, “our relationship would be a liability to all of us if that slimy bastard Naraku was to find out about us while I was still in his employ. I don't know about my brothers, but I speak for myself when I say that I don't like Naraku any more than any of you do. He might have brought me back to life but that doesn't mean I feel or have ever felt any loyalty towards him. I can accept joining the `good guys' so to speak if it means that I'll gain my freedom from that vile bastard; I'll take great pleasure in allowing my Banryuu to rip into his rotten flesh. But I'll take the greatest pleasure in being able to see this lovely woman all day, everyday instead of having just stolen nighttime moments when our duties allow it,” he said gazing down at her with warm eyes and lips curved in a smirk.

The others watched on in somewhat uncomfortable silence as Kagome smiled brightly up at him before planting a peck on his lips and wrapping her arms around his waist in a loving embrace while her head came to rest on his shoulder. Miroku cleared his throat politely.

“Pardon my interruption, but I'd like give my opinion so that I may go back to sleep. It is very late,” he kindly reminded them.

Kagome jumped away from Bankotsu. “Oh, I am so sorry you guys. I'm so used to being up this late I forgot that you all aren't. How about we start with Kaede, then Sango, and then on across the room,” Kagome suggested.

Kaede gave a slight, uncertain smile. “So long as ye are certain about this one, child, I do not object to it. Ye will need all the help ye can obtain to go against Naraku,” the old woman said wisely. Inuyasha scoffed softly in the background, but said nothing more.

Kagome smiled at Kaede before turning her sights to Sango. Sango gave her best friend a warm smile. “Kagome, I still mean what I said. I don't care that you chose Bankotsu to love. I'm very happy for you. And I can tell that he feels the same way, which is all I could ever hope for. You trust him, and I respect your judgment, so I have no objections to Bankotsu and his brothers joining us,” Sango said.

Kagome's eyes grew misty. “Thanks, Sango.”

Miroku, deciding it was his turn, spoke up. “I could never try to claim a woman who is already spoken for, so I am very sad because this means you can no longer bear my children, Kagome.” This earned him dark scowls from both Sango and Bankotsu and Miroku backtracked with a nervous laugh. “And I never had any intentions that you would. But either way, I am very happy that you have found that special someone, my friend. Of course, what right do I have to stand in the way of you being together? Let him stay, I say,” Miroku said with a small smile.

“I don't like him,” Shippo piped up grumpily and all eyes turned toward him.

Inuyasha brightened and smirked to hear that someone else was finally on his side. “Yeah, neither do I,” he said crossing his arms over his chest.

Shippo continued. “How do I know that he won't turn out to be a big fat meanie like dog breath and Naraku?” he said with a childish scowl on his face.

Inuyasha growled. “Why, you little -.” Shippo yelled and jumped from his spot as Inuyasha lunged for him.

“Inuyasha sit!”

CRASH!

Bankotsu laughed outright as the half demon was sent through the floor. Kaede sighed wearily as the feuding duo once again damaged her newly repaired flooring. Shippo stuck his tongue out at the struggling Inuyasha from behind the safety of Kagome's shoulder.

“Would you guys stop for two seconds!” Kagome yelled with a scowl. “It seems that already majority rules, but I'd still like everyone's opinion…” She trailed off as she turned towards the silent Sesshomaru standing in the corner of the hut by the door.

Sesshomaru returned her regard for a few seconds before turning towards the door with a dismissing air. His words, thrown over his shoulder as he made his exit seemed to linger in the room even as he disappeared.

“The boy stays.”

Bankotsu's face twisted into an offended scowl as Kagome's brightened in happy excitement.

“Boy? I'll show him -,” Bankotsu began.

“Yay! I can't believe it! We get to see each other whenever we want!” Kagome interrupted him excitedly.

Bankotsu's face smoothed out as he looked on at her joy. He'd deal with the cocky demon's insult later. Right now, his beloved miko was more important. He smirked as he wrapped her in his arms and ignored the other people in the room as his lips fell onto hers. Kagome blushed prettily as she felt the eyes of her friends watching them. She broke the kiss in embarrassment. The red in her cheeks only grew at what he whispered in her ear, which they were both aware that Inuyasha could hear every word of.

“What I can't wait for is to be able to steal you away to make love again. Only next time, I want the sun shining bright so that I can easily see every part of that beautiful body of yours,” he said seductively.

“Bankotsu, really!” she said, embarrassment heavily coloring her tone.

Bankotsu laughed softly even as they both could hear Inuyasha growling loudly before he angrily stalked out of the hut, no doubt to go brood grumpily in a tree somewhere.

As the rest of her friends laid down to go back to sleep, Shippo now curled up with Kirara in where he hoped was only a temporary sleeping place, Kagome tugged on Bankotsu's fingers in an attempt to lead him to her abandoned sleeping bag. Bankotsu stood where he was with an apologetic look on his face.

“My brothers will be worried if I don't return to camp tonight. That is to say, Jakotsu will be worried. He's grown accustomed to me returning every night and no doubt will dramatically run off thinking you have used your wicked womanly charms to seduce me to my death. It's better if I just spend this last night with them alone and explain everything in the morning and meet back up with you then, okay?” he said.

Kagome looked up at him disappointed. “I guess I understand that. We won't be going anywhere unless either a jewel shard or Naraku turns up. You promise that you'll come as soon as you get your brothers to agree?” she asked firmly, more command than question.

Bankotsu rolled his eyes. “I promise. Don't worry about it,” he said as he gave her one last kiss then turned out the door.

Kagome sighed as she put out the fire and lied down in her sleeping bag. Though she was disappointed he wasn't staying tonight, but it didn't subtract from her excitement that he was going to be with her every night after that and the days too! As she settled down and drifted to sleep, the thought that crossed her mind was that her life was approaching just where she wanted it to be.

Until next time! Please review!