InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secret Love ❯ Chapter 22

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

Chapter 22

“Kagome, stop worrying. I'm sure they'll be here soon. I don't expect his brothers were very welcoming to the idea of joining us and they probably took more than a little persuading,” Sango said, trying to calm her friend who kept getting up impatiently to check for Bankotsu in the distance.

“Well, we finished breakfast an hour ago. I know that Bankotsu and his brother's get up way earlier than we do and he said they'd be here after they finished breakfast, which must have been about two hours ago, at least. His brothers couldn't dislike us that much to take two whole hours to convince!” Kagome said huffily.

“Well, maybe their camp was set up further from us than you thought. Maybe they are just taking all this time to make it to us instead of talking about us,” Miroku piped in.

At that moment, Shippo came running from outside, where he had been playing some game with Rin, the only child in the village brave enough to do so.

“Kagome! Kagome! That guy, Bankotsu, and his friends are right outside the village and I think they are making some of the villagers nervous. They have those big swords and stuff and are walking up looking all mean,” he said, jumping around in circles around her.

When it looked as if she could step forward without stepping into him, Kagome rushed out of Kaede's hut and scanned her surroundings to catch a glimpse of her boyfriend. She soon found him coming from the direction the Bone Eater's well was in and ran towards him, smiling brightly and waving.

Bankotsu smirk-smiled when he saw her, pausing to take the impact as she crashed into him and wrapped her arms around his neck as if they hadn't seen each other in ten years rather than ten hours. He ignored anything his brothers, especially Jakotsu, had to say about it and hugged her back as he brought his lips to meet hers. They were rudely interrupted by disgusted retching sounds coming not only from the predicted source, that being Jakotsu, but also from a childish Shippo and a suddenly present and disgruntled Inuyasha. They broke apart and smiled.

“Hi,” Kagome greeted breathlessly, her cheeks dusted a bit pink in embarrassment at having an audience.

“Hey,” Bankotsu replied, smirking at the blush on her face, which was rapidly becoming one of his favorite sights.

Kagome grabbed Bankotsu's hand and led him back to Kaede's hut. His brothers, Shippo and Inuyasha followed close behind. When they got there, Kagome let her gaze touch the faces of her friends and those of her - hopefully - soon to be friends. She felt introductions were in order; this time on friendly terms.

“Bankotsu, why don't we properly introduce your brothers with the rest of the group, and they with them?” Kagome asked cheerfully. Jakotsu was rolling his eyes and scoffing softly at her tone, and Bankotsu gave him a look.

“Sure, I think that would be good. This here is Jakotsu,” he said, patting slightly too hard on the back to point him out. He continued on, pointing at his other brothers as Jakotsu grumbled over his rudeness. “Suikotsu, and my second-in-command, Renkotsu.”

Each gave their own form of greeting; Jakotsu, a haughty sneer, Suikotsu, a polite “hello,” and Renkotsu, an articulate grunt. Kagome gave the best smile she could and gave out her own introductions.

“Well, I'm Kagome,” she said with a bright smile and a slight wave. She then turned to her friends for their introductions, indicating each with a point of her finger. “This is Sango, Miroku, Kaede, the owner of this hut by the way. Kirara, Sango's companion who has been very helpful to us all. Shippo is back outside playing with Rin, and I'm sure you know who Inuyasha is. There is also Inuyasha's brother, Sesshomaru, who has also agreed to help us fight Naraku and is somewhere around here. I think that's everyone,” Kagome said.

There was an indignant squawk heard from the doorway, its source an eavesdropping toad demon.

“How dare you not include me in your introductions, you daft, insolent girl! I'll have you know that I am Jaken, the most trusted servant of the Lord Sesshomaru, and should therefore not be treated with such disrespect,” Jaken said, and even though his rant didn't stop there, they were all no longer listening.

Kagome spoke right over him as if he wasn't there. “Well, everyone that's important, anyway.”

Jaken stopped mid-word, let out another put out squawk, then continued on a new tangent of his rant, which went completely ignored by all present.

~*~*~

It was mid-afternoon, and this day was classified as a lazy one. Inuyasha had spent his time with the trees, either sulking in them or destroying them. Sango, who had by this time acquainted herself with the village women, accompanied Kaede and spent her day discussing with them whatever it is that village women of that era discussed, and helping with herb gardens. Miroku had went off to find a nice, quiet place in which he could meditate in while Shippo and Rin continued on with their child's play, Kirara joining them. Jaken chased after them, directly trying to prevent Rin from injuring herself, while indirectly, he was trying to prevent his imminent death by Sesshomaru's hands were that to happen. Sesshomaru continued to be missing, as he did what he pleased and answered to no one. Jakotsu, Renkotsu, and Suikotsu all ran off to do their own things, as if this was any other day in which they had no orders to follow.

This left Bankotsu and Kagome to their own devices, and they soon found themselves enjoying the sunshine streaming through the leaves of the Goshinboku, which they were currently sitting under, thoroughly immersed in a make-out session. Bankotsu had made moves to take it a step further, but Kagome didn't feel comfortable doing that when any one of her friends or his could stumble upon them. But she did promise that he wouldn't have to wait for long...

Kagome broke the kiss finally with a sigh, “I can't believe we can finally do this and really relax at the same time without having to worry that someone will find out,” she said happily.

Bankotsu smiled slightly and settled down further. “Yeah. Though I was never that worried about us being found out. Inuyasha doesn't scare me,” he said with a cocky smirk.

Kagome rolled her eyes and continued on, ignoring his comment. “I almost wish that we hadn't kept us a secret at all, but at the same time I'm glad we did because then we probably wouldn't have experienced all of those wonderful nights together.”

Bankotsu returned the smile she sent up at him and slowly lowered his lips back to hers.

On this beautiful day, Naraku crossed none of their minds, and they were all happy to not have the though of him burdening them. All except one, who was quietly plotting against his “allies.”

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