InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Stormy Knight Seduction ❯ Preparations ( Chapter 18 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. I only own my little plot line.

XOXOXO:

Preparations:

As Bankotsu and Kagome climbed out of the well, the sun rose. A soft wind carried dandelion fluff towards them, some of which settled in their hair.

Bankotsu held out a hand for Kagome and pulled her out of the well. Soon as her feet touched the ground he pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "You look so beautiful in this light." He tenderly cradled her face between his hands and stared deep into her eyes. "Baby, are you absolutely sure about this?"

She blinked and pearl drops slipped down her cheeks. Her heart squeezed tightly. She gave him a firm nod. Her hands lay over his and she stared directly into his eyes. "I love you Bankotsu." She lightly squeezed one of his hands. "I want to live here, surrounded by nature's beauty, with you."

Her arms fell to and slipped around his waist. She hugged him and buried her face against his chest. His arms went around her waist and he pulled her body closer to him. His cheek rested on top of her head. "I love you too Kagome. I will do everything within my power to always protect you and keep you happy."

She smiled and closed her eyes feeling his love envelope her as strongly as his arms physically embraced her. She wiped away her tears. "I will miss Mama, Souta and Granpa, but I know I will be much happier here."

She took a deep breath. "You've seen a little of what my time is like. Way too crowded, with too many restrictions. If I had stayed there I'd have graduated at least a year or two behind my friends because of all the school work I've missed over the past two years. I barely passed middle school last year."

She sighed heavily and shook her head. "Here I don't have to worry about school. All I have to do is keep on my toes and keep my bow handy. Plus, it's not nearly as crowded and the buildings do not clutter the skyline. I like all of these trees around me."

She leaned up on her toes and pulled his face down so she could kiss his purple star. "Best of all I can be with you and I'll still get to see Sango and the others too."

Bankotsu pulled back to cup her face and then kissed her with a long, drugging kiss. She draped her arms around his neck and stood on her tip toes to kiss him back. He pulled back to stare into her warm brown eyes. The back of his forefinger caressed her cheek. "After Naraku is defeated, I'll build us a cabin anywhere you like. I'll make sure we have plenty of water and we can even try to build you an herb and vegetable garden if you like."

She smiled. "Promise?"

He grinned. "Whatever you want, it will be yours babe. I promise."

She hugged him and whispered. "Thank you."

'She's giving up her home to be with me, so together she and I will make a new one.' He hugged her and closed his eyes. 'My enemies will never touch her. If they come into our lives, I'll destroy them before they can even get near her.' His arms tightened slightly around her slender frame. 'She deserves that much at least.'

A voice cleared loudly. "Hope I'm not interrupting?"

They pulled apart and glanced in the direction of the voice only to find a scowling hanyou. Kagome's cheeks flushed and she buried her face against Bankotsu's powerful chest.

He squeezed her and then turned to face the poorly timed interruption. One hand firmly pushed Kagome behind him and the other hand tapped Banryu. "Iie, not at all."

Amber eyes widened and took in Kagome's appearance. "Where did you find that get up?"

Her hands slid down the sides of her armor and she smiled sadly. "It was a gift from my granpa."

"Why did he wait until now to give it to you?"

She stared at the ground. Bankotsu squeezed her hand and she smiled at him.

Inuyasha snorted and crossed his hands over his chest. He pinned them with an intense glare. "If you two are finished with your little excursion, we really need to find the remaining jewel shards."

Bankotsu tackled Inuyasha, hitting him like a linebacker and knocked him onto his back.

"Oi, what the hell was that for?"

Bankotsu quickly caught Inuyasha's fists in his hands and wrenched his arms behind his back. He maneuvered Inuyasha onto his stomach and sat on top of Inuyasha, putting his leg in the back of Inuyasha's knee. He leaned forward with his weight on the leg and wrapped one arm around the hanyou's neck. His other arm pressed against the back of Inuyasha's neck and grabbed the elbow of the arm in front of Inuyasha's neck.

"Tap the grass and I'll let you go."

Inuyasha grunted and tried to break free, but it was impossible to throw Bankotsu's bulky weight off his back with only one leg and his hands available. Every time he started to push up on his hands, the mercenary applied more pressure to his throat to where he could barely breathe. With a vicious snarl he tapped the grass.

Bankotsu removed his arms and rolled to his feet. He back flipped to dodge Inuyasha's swipe and landed next to Kagome with a smirk.

Inuyasha jumped up to his feet. His nostrils flared and his chest heaved. "What the hell kind of cheesy attack was that?"

Bankotsu calmly placed Banryu against his shoulder. "Wrestling." His free arm wrapped around Kagome's waist and they walked off towards Kaede's hut.

Lines formed between Inuyasha's eyebrows and he tilted his head to the side. "Wrestling? What the hell is that?" His eyes went cloudy and distant and then narrowed at the mercenary's retreating back. He stomped after them. "Oi, don't ignore me you prick. Get back here!"

Bankotsu offhandedly waved a hand over his free shoulder and then ran with Kagome towards the hut.

When they reached the hut Kagome stopped and bent over holding her stomach. She laughed and then stared up at her lover. "You are so bad."

"Must be why you like me so much." Bankotsu grinned his hand squeezed her firm butt.

She blushed and tried to swat his hand, but he danced out of her reach and smirked. "Come on, you know you liked it."

Miroku pressed his back against the outside hut wall and cleared his throat loudly. Amusement danced in his eyes and a smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. "I see you two have returned."

Kagome's cheeks flushed. 'Tell me he did not just see that.'

Bankotsu laughed. "Hai we have." His hand snaked around Kagome's waist and pulled her to stand in front of him, hugging her from behind.

She blinked. "Where is Sango?"

"She's bathing with Shippo, Kirara and Lady Kaede."

Kagome's eyes widened and she pinned him with an amused look. "So that's why you aren't trying to get an eye full."

Miroku's cheeks tinged pink. "Lady Kagome whatever are you implying?"

Bankotsu grunted. "Can it letch, everyone knows you're a complete pervert."

Miroku adjusted his robes and stared at him with mock hurt. "Good sir, I am a monk."

Bankotsu scoffed and his eyes narrowed. "If you're a monk then I'm just a hired hand."

Miroku grinned. "So, was your trip… fruitful?"

Kagome's spine stiffened and she swallowed. Bankotsu's arm tightened around her waist. Her eyes fell to the ground. "Actually, I won't be returning there anymore."

Miroku blinked and tilted his head to the side. "Eh, is that so?"

Kagome nodded and spoke firmly. "That isn't my home anymore. My home is here."

Bankotsu nuzzled her neck. She relaxed against him.

Miroku rubbed his chin. "I see. Did Bankotsu - "

Her eyes flashed and then narrowed. "Iie! This was my decision."

Miroku's brow rose.

"I don't fit in there anymore. I'd never catch up on the schoolwork I've missed in time to graduate with my friends. Being kept behind would only bring shame and trouble for my family. Mama would get into serious trouble with truancy officers for starters."

Bankotsu's hand stroked her stomach and she settled down. "My place is here. You all are my family as much as my blood relations are. I feel so out of place in my time anymore."

Bankotsu's lips grazed her neck. "Once this whole Naraku business is finished, I will dedicate my life solely to your happiness."

She blinked and then her eyes sparkled. She bounced on her toes, spun around and kissed him. Bankotsu eagerly kissed her back and pulled her closer to him.

Miroku cleared his throat and stared away.

Sango walked up with her wet hair hanging over her shoulders. "Welcome back Kagome. Nice armor."

Kagome blushed and spun around just in time for her friend's bear hug. She stepped back and smiled. "Thanks Sango."

Inuyasha stomped over and pushed his way into Bankotsu's face. "What the hell is wrestling?"

Bankotsu smirked and his eyes twinkled.

Kagome moved between them and pushed them apart. She faced Inuyasha. "It's a type of male bonding from my time."

Inuyasha blinked a few times. "Uh…Okay…" he stepped back. His eyes zeroed in on the mercenary. "Next time you won't take me by surprise."

Bankotsu grinned and opened his mouth to say something, but Kagome placed a hand over his mouth. She stared from one male to the next and then cleared her throat. "What's our next move?"

Bankotsu's brow rose and he stared at her. He stepped back and captured her hand in his. "For starters it's time for you and I to train together."

"But - "

"Now wait just a -"

"I don't think -"

Bankotsu held up a hand immediately silencing them. His gaze pinned Kagome. "We will be a liability if we have to face Naraku without knowing how each other thinks and reacts in battle situations."

All mouths closed and the others nodded.

Bankotsu stepped towards his beloved. "You and I have no idea exactly how powerful our new moves are. It could be very dangerous to use them in battle without knowing our limits or strengths."

"How can - "

He placed a finger against her lips. "At the very least we would end up killing everyone around us, maybe even each other." He watched sadness and slight fear enter her eyes. "We should test them now, while we have a peaceful time to do so."

Her eyes widened and her breath hitched. She removed his finger and nodded. "You're right."

Miroku looked up at the mercenary. "Why do I get a feeling that Renkotsu wasn't the only strategist in your group?"

Bankotsu smirked and turned to address the group with a blank face. "Kagome and I are going to train in the field not far from here. I'd strongly suggest you all steer clear of the field until she and I know what we are dealing with." He led Kagome away by the hand.

Miroku rubbed his chin as he watched the couple walking away. "There is far more to that man than meets the eye."

Sango nodded. "Well, he was the leader of the most notorious, ruthless band of blood thirsty killers in all of Japan's history. At least according to Kagome's history book." Her brows furrowed. "My gut tells me it wasn't just his formidable strength that kept them in line either."

Miroku shook his head. "Hai, same here."

Inuyasha sat Indian style and snorted. "We haven't even seen the full tip of the iceberg when it comes to that guy. He's been holding back, probably from the very start. He keeps everyone at bay, except for maybe Kagome."

"At least that's one person he isn't hiding from."

Inuyasha slammed the bottom of his fist into his open palm and grunted. "Still I don't like it! He's too mysterious for my tastes. What the hell is he still hiding?"

"He's had a rough life and it's tempered his outlook on life." Blue eyes pinned the hanyou. "You weren't exactly forthcoming with your past either Inuyasha. Perhaps he just needs time."

Shippo looked up and tossed an acorn into the air, catching it in his hand. "He's a lot nicer than you think Inuyasha." He continued taking inventory of his weapons.

Sango polished her large weapon. "He's done nothing to make us distrust him since he joined our group. If anything he's proven he has serious restraint and that he genuinely cares about Kagome and her feelings, by not killing Kouga."

"That's true my dear, especially when you take into consideration that Kouga is responsible for killing one of his men. Men he saw as his brothers no less."

"I'm telling you, he's still hiding something from us and I don't like it! He's like a viper waiting in the shadows, coiled and ready to strike."

Miroku quickly surmised how many sutras he had left and then tapped his staff across his knees. "Be that as it may, he's entitled to his past and some secrets, as we all are."

Inuyasha shoved his hands into the sleeves of his fire rat haori. "Whatever, just don't say I didn't warn you."

The companions sat in silence and stared in the direction the young lovers had disappeared.

XOXOXO:

A/N: Okay that's it for chapter eighteen. Only six chapters left. Reviews are any author's greatest motivation, so don't be shy to tell me what you think. Good or bad, I promise I can take it. XD