InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secret Love ❯ Chapter 21

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

Chapter 21

Bankotsu awoke the next morning with a cold dread in his stomach for the upcoming conversation he would have to have with the men he called his brothers. No one had said a thing last night when he had returned, as by then, everyone was familiar with his nightly comings and goings, only Renkotsu waking as he entered the camp, as usual. Bankotsu knew he would be the hardest brother to convince, even more so than Jakotsu. Bankotsu was not stupid, and he knew disloyalty and distrust when he saw it. He knew Renkotsu held the strongest loyalty towards Naraku and knew he wouldn't welcome his enemies as allies.

He and his brothers went about their normal morning routine. Each brother was given a different job every morning, and today it was Bankotsu's job to collect plenty fresh water from the nearby river while Renkotsu and Jakotsu went to hunt. Suikotsu collected the firewood and any herbs he might need. Bankotsu and Suikotsu got the task of cooking breakfast as Jakotsu and Renkotsu did the “hard” work of catching it. They returned with a few medium sized fish and two rabbits that weren't too scrawny. Jakotsu also carried a pouch full of berries he was fairly certain weren't poisonous.

“It's dead in that forest,” Jakotsu pouted as he threw down the rabbits and the pouch and slumped against a nearby tree.

Bankotsu grinned at his friend. “Don't worry about it Jak. We'll live.”

He went to work at skinning the rabbits and washing them in a small pail of the water as Suikotsu lit the fire before chopping a bit of the herbs which he threw into a flat pan Jakotsu had stolen from a now long dead vendor from the western continent. Before long, each brother had their own pan seared fish and a small helping of a quickly prepared rabbit stew which wasn't very appetizing. Jakotsu was the only one brave enough to try the berries, but even then he only had a couple to lessen the chances he'd immediately seize up and die if they were, indeed, poisonous.

As the meal drew to a close and he and his brothers were cleaning up, Bankotsu knew it was time to break the news to his brothers as he really couldn't put it off anymore. As they all sat back to relax for a few minutes before starting on their way again, Bankotsu slowly and reluctantly began to speak.

“You guys… I have something that I need to discuss with you all. I'm sure by now, you know that I've been more than courting a certain girl,” he said to begin his speech, but Jakotsu interrupted him there.

“Please don't tell me that you are marrying that vile creature, big brother!” Jakotsu shouted in disgusted outrage.

Bankotsu blinked in surprise. As much as he cared for and loved Kagome, the thought of marriage had never really crossed his mind. He just didn't think he was ready for that kind of commitment if he ever would be.

“No! Nothing like that. But, we did discuss a different type of joining that involves all of us.” At their questioning looks, he hurried to explain, figuring the sooner he got this said, the better. “She wants us to join her group to fight against Naraku,” he said, examining each of their faces.

Suikotsu just looked kind of confused by what his leader was saying and didn't show any sign that he was against it or for it. Jakotsu's expression showed his desire to protest, but Bankotsu could see that he was thinking very hard about the part about Naraku. Renkotsu's mouth was set into a grim line and Bankotsu could see that there was no confliction in his eyes. Bankotsu sighed internally, knowing that Renkotsu had made his decision the moment he had finished speaking.

Suikotsu broke the silence. “Wait a second. Who exactly is this girl? I had already figured she wasn't a regular village maiden as you seem to go meet her no matter where we are, so I had thought she was maybe a vendor's daughter of some sort. But now I can see that isn't the case,” he pointed out.

Bankotsu sighed. “I was getting to that. Technically, we're supposed to be enemies, so luckily we haven't came into contact with her group in quite a while as it would probably be pretty awkward,” Bankotsu continued.

“Wait a minute, so we know her?” Jakotsu interrupted, again. “The only group I can think of that had any wretched females in it was… oh, my, Big Brother! She's from my Inu-puppy's group, isn't she?” Jakotsu asks excitedly, before his face once again twisted in disgust.

“Eeeewwww! Big Brother, both of those girls are so horrible, why would you consider them! That slayer chick is a man in disguise, I'm sure of it, and that other girl always dresses and hangs all over my Inuyasha like a little village tramp who has probably lain with every guy she has ever met, besides me, of course,” Jakotsu sneered, not noticing the way Bankotsu's face began to darken at every word he said about Kagome.

“Jakotsu, shut up! You know nothing about her!” Bankotsu growled angrily at a shocked and clearly taken aback Jakotsu.

“Sorry, Big Brother, but it isn't like I have taken or, to be honest, ever would take the time in the middle of battle and say, `So how's it goin', there? Are you really a man?' or `Hey girlfriend, you wouldn't happen to remember the village you left the rest of your clothing in, who you?' But then again, I've never seen you stop to make small talk with your enemies, either!” Jakotsu shouted back defensively.

Bankotsu paused to calm down a moment before speaking again. “I'm sorry, Jak. But I do care a lot for this girl, just as much as I do you guys. How can you not expect me to defend her, as I would you? But, yeah, she's in Inuyasha's group and I guess now his demon brother has joined them as well. To their knowledge, the whole confrontation with Naraku thing is coming up real soon and they're trying to gain numbers to defeat him. I think Kagome even said that those wolves and their leader, the one that killed Kyokotsu and Ginkotsu, are staying near in the event that Naraku shows up. We just figured that there was no point in keeping our separate groups now that Inuyasha and the rest of her friends know about us. I wasn't sure you guys would go for it, so I thought it would be better if I asked what you thought before I just went ahead and completely accepted before discussing it with you guys first,” Bankotsu said.

Again all of his brothers' faces, aside from Renkotsu's which still held its set and grim line, seemed to take a contemplative look as they considered further their leader's words. As Bankotsu was wondering why Renkotsu was so reluctant to voice his obvious opinion on the matter, he noticed his eyes take on a suspicious gleam before he smiled slightly.

“Bankotsu, I think it is an excellent idea. In my opinion, it is wonderful that you were able to find your light among all the darkness that surrounds this profession. I think we should do it,” Renkotsu says, surprising him.

`Just what are you up to, Renkotsu,' Bankotsu thinks, eying him.

“Alright,” Bankotsu says, hiding his shock well. “What about you, Suikotsu?” he asks his friend.

“Well. I can easily say that I don't care too much for this Naraku character and wouldn't mind being out of his control. But I'm not so sure about joining forces with our enemies. I mean, their allies were the one's that killed our brothers. I'm not certain I can accept that. Still, if you think it is best, I trust your judgment. I should be content with keeping to myself and avoiding conflict,” Suikotsu says, resigning himself to the allegiance that was about to take place.

Bankotsu turned to look at him as Jakotsu sighed dramatically. “I guess this means that we're going no matter what I say, right? Oh, well. At least I'll get to see my yummy Inuyasha everyday. And his brother just as cute! Oh, and how about that monk that is so fond of touching every derriere he sees. I wouldn't mind him touching mine…” Jakotsu goes on, in his own little world, and Bankotsu tunes him out as he smiles widely.

“Okay! Then let's be on our way, then. I'm sure Kagome is wondering why we aren't already there,” Bankotsu says, smiling slightly.

“In that case, I say we take our sweet ol' time. I'm not rushing anywhere for some wench,” Jakotsu says, a scowl on his face.

“Jakotsu, I'm letting you know now. Though I'm fairly certain that Kagome is capable of handling you on her own, I won't hesitate to step in on her behalf if I think you are being a bit too rude. Please try to keep your smart comments and name-calling to yourself, or at least to a bare minimum if you feel you just can't restrain yourself,” Bankotsu warns.

Jakotsu let out a huff, pouting and grumbling to himself as he gathered his things to make the short trip to join this hussy who was trying to steal from him the only true friend he had in this world.

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