InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Story of Seven Men ❯ Chapter-4 ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

By: jaimed1968

Okay... sorry for the delay. Here's the next installment of SOSM. I've had some personal issues that resulted in it's delay, mainly a bit of writers block mixed with a slight alteration of my normal work schedule. I'd love to thank my wonderful Co-author and MMA for helping smooth over part of the chapter Charlie! I couldn't have done it without your help and guidance.

Not much to say about the chapter, though I don't claim the statement by Samuel Clemons that's mentioned... rephrased yes, claim it no. Wonder what's going through Tempest's mind as she's cleaning up the mess that is Bankotsu... Guess that you're going to have to read and find out.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Inuyasha, just my own OC, the plot and ideas. I make no money from this, just the profits of gaining a vaster literature perspective.

Hope that you enjoy this as much as I have in writing it. Please read and review. Thanks.

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.02.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 185 | Status: Work In Progress

Chapter 4- The Rivals

Koga Deacero glared out the window of the headquarters of the Rojo Lobos. His blue eyes harden in frustration at having been played by Renkotsu. He leaned against the frame, his arm braised above his head as he worked his fingers into a fist, digging his nails into the palm of his hand, drawing blood. “Damn him… what the hell was I thinking?” he berated himself as he heard the duo of equally pissed voices behind him.

“We should have taken that bastard out ourselves when we had the chance,” the irate tenor of Inuyasha Colmillo shattered what little resolve Koga had left.

Whirling toward the silver haired officer, Koga snapped, “Because he came here under a flag of truce. That's why we didn't blow his ass sky high,” poking his finger into the younger man's chest. “If that was the only thing the ol' man taught me it was to never stab someone in the back under a truce.”

“True, except that he didn't reciprocate that truce,” Sesshomaru pointed out, drawing the blue eyed glare from his younger brother to his own person. “He murdered over two hundred of our lackeys without batting an eye between the fire fight and the captives that we found slaughtered in the warehouse district as well as the ones that had been gunned down in the streets, by only seven men, mind you. Renkotsu Feuer is not a man to be trusted, Koga.”

Dropping his gaze to the floor, his mind reeling at the losses, Koga replied softly, “I should never have agreed to helping over throw Bankotsu.”

“No, you shouldn't have what were you thinking?” Inuyasha ground out as he pulled a cigarette from his mouth. “That was a decision that should have been made by all three of us instead of just you.”

Glaring at the irritant mongrel, Koga snarled, “Don't you think that I know that? He came to me out of the blue, pressuring me for an immediate answer. I never thought that he'd double cross us like this or that he had his own agenda.”

“That is why there are three leaders of the Rojo Lobos, Koga,” Sesshomaru's smooth baritone sounded over his shoulder. “So that we can look at all the aspects of the opportunity, weigh the benefits and the costs in a logical manner. Though I've wanted to take down the Band of Seven myself, for other reasons, of course, I don't deny that opportunity was too good to pass up.”

A smirk crossed Koga's face at the bit of insight into the stoic façade of the elder Colmillo. “So… he wants their heads on a pole just as badly as I do?” he thought as he looked once more back out over the city his mind planning their next move to recoup some of their losses.

Bankotsu awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright in bed before his body registered the pain that he'd just put it through. Wounds that had barely scabbed over broke open, tearing the fragile edges of the skin that had just begun to heal. A scream of pain slipped across his lips as he fell back once more against the white sheets and pillow easing the blinding agony to a dull roaring ache.

A howl sounded out as Coda joined Bankotsu's scream, causing him to turn his head toward the sound of the dog. His eyes widened slightly to see the German Shepard gazing contently at him from the next bed, lying protectively over a black duffle bag. “What the hell?” he thought as he rolled slowly onto his side, taking care not to make any sudden movements.

Coda followed the stranger with curious eyes, knowing what Tempest had said; she kept her eyes on the stranger as he moved gingerly from the bed, leaning heavily on the furniture. She whimpered slightly as he moved toward the bathroom, moving her body to where she could continue her vigil. Nosing the air, Coda could smell the fresh blood and whined once more, knowing that Tempest wasn't going to be happy with his movements while she was gone.

Ban leaned heavily against the sink, staring at the reflection of him self in the mirror. What he saw nearly made his blood curdle as he saw the puce, purple blackened eye socket with the reddened eye; numerous cuts crossed his once handsome face as well as his shattered lip. He moved slightly to look at his right shoulder only to be deterred by the expertly wrapped bandage that covered most oh his upper arm. “Shit… that fucker did this?” Ban seethed as he took a closer look at his wrapped limbs, chest and shoulder. He could feel the same tight bandages covering his legs, chaffing as he moved just the little bit from the bed.

Realizing that this definitely wasn't his brother's usual hang out, nor his own home, Bankotsu turned gingerly toward the room, taking in the dog, duffle bag and other standard motel stuff. He moved toward the duffle bag, only to be greeted with a low growl and raised lips. Taking the hint to `back off' Bankotsu moved away from the double bed, back toward the sink as he caught a whiff of his own body.

“Damn, that's rank,” he thought as he eased toward the bathroom one last time, ridding him self of the remains of his clothes. Throwing the offending garment into the nearest garbage bin, Bankotsu eased into the bath tub as he started the water for the shower head. Getting just the right temperature, he stood up as he worked the water through his hair, washing the dirt and dried blood from its length as well as the knots and tangles. The water flowed down his body, eased the tightness from his battered muscles as he rinsed the shampoo from his hair.

By the end of his shower, his shoulders ached from not having been used for some time and the bandages had been thoroughly soaked. Most of the major wounds had bled through and needed to be re-bandaged, but he was cut short of those thoughts as he exited the bathroom as the hotel door swung open.

Tempest walked into the room, juggling the bag of clothes and the hotel key as she looked up, getting an eye full of tan chiseled bandage covered chest and a white towel wrapped about the waist. She pulled her eyes from the tanned chest to the face of the man she'd saved, an utter look of horrid shock upon his face.

“What the hell…” he started to say only as Tempest realized that she was standing with the door still open. Quickly she threw the bag onto the bed closest to the door as she whirled the door shut, the loud click of the dead bolt ringing in her ears.

In the beat of a heart, she was slammed back first into the door, his left forearm pressed firmly into her throat. She glared into the blue eyes of the stranger, her hands balled into fists as she seethed at his actions. As he pressed his full weight into her lithe frame, Tempest's anger flew into a rage. On pure instinct, she used the leverage of his own body to throw him away from her, as she grabbed at the knife at her back.

Seeing the stranger move in an aggressive manner toward her owner, Coda leaped from her post on the bed, putting herself between the two combatants, snarling and growling in warning. Bankotsu landed heavily against the bed, his ribs aching as a fresh reminder that he was not to full strength.

“Damn wench! That fucking hurt!” he snapped as he eased his way back into an upright position.

With her knife held in a defensive position, held out toward Bankotsu, but not far enough to where he could disarm her, without a fight.Tempest ground out between clenched teeth, “No shit Sherlock! Why else do you think you're covered in bandages?”

Moving to sit on the edge of the bed, leaning heavily against his legs, exhausted from his brief exertion, Bankotsu looked once more at the feisty female and her protector. Feeling the pains of a headache coming on, he commented, “Could you call off the dog?” moving his head into his hands.

Seeing that he wasn't in any condition to continue the fight, Tempest replied, “Only if you'll put some clothes on,” turning her gaze away from the open towel about his waist. She put a gentle hand upon Coda's raised hackles at her neck as she said, “Stand down.”

Coda responded to the command by moving into a sitting position at Tempest's feet as she slipped her knife back into its sheath. Slowly, still unsure of his reaction to her presence, Tempest moved toward the bag of clothes, rummaging through them to pull out a new shirt and pants for the guy on the bed.

Tossing them toward Bankotsu she said softly, “Here… I guessed at your size since yours were pretty messed up. If they don't fit I can take them back.”

Looking toward the clothes that now lay at his side, seeing the tags still attached to the garments he said in almost a whisper, “You didn't have to do that you know. You could have just left me lay.”

“Yeah right,” Tempest retorted as she dug through her duffle bag once more. “You were in need of help and I did just that, helped you.” She looked over her shoulder at the dark haired man, her green eyes boring into his back as she continued, “If I'd have left you there, buster, you would have been dead.”

“Why… Why the hell would you help a complete stranger?” he demanded, turning his hard piercing gaze toward the woman. His eyes wandered over her lithe frame, noting the slight muscular definition of her arms and legs as revealed by her blue tank and shorts. Only to be drawn to the slumped shoulders and gentle shake of her back as she tried to stifle her emotions.

Cut deeply by his words, tears came to her eyes as she thought about what he asked. Turning her equally hardened eyes toward the stranger she replied, “Unlike others, I fucking care about people. Despite the shit that I've gone through that's hardened me, I still care about those that can't help themselves.” Quickly she grabbed up her duffle bag, slinging it over her shoulder as she motioned for Coda to her side.

As she moved toward the door, walking past Bankotsu, she looked at him and said in a mere whisper, “Feel free to stay the night. I'll just get out of here since you're obviously not interested in any help.”

Before her hand even reached the handle of the door, a huge foot slammed into the thick metal door, shattering the wood that held the door in place. Caught by the edge of the falling door, Tempest lay sprawled under the door, her check quickly darkening from where she'd been hit. Bankotsu turned toward the now open door, his eyes blazing in anger at the hulking man that blocked what little light remained of the day. Coda stood over her mistress as she held her ground, hackles rose as a deep throated snarl sounded in the enclosed room.

Kyokotsu glared at his former boss as he stepped into the room, his large booted feet crushing Tempest as he moved into the room, oblivious of the lump under the door. A wicked sneer crossed his lips as he advanced toward the bed as he commented, “I seem to recall that you were supposed to be dead.”

Moving as fast as his wounded body would allow, Bankotsu moved away from the bed, backing toward the bathroom as he replied, “Rumors of my death were severely exaggerated. I see that you're taking orders from some one else now.”

“Yeah, Renkotsu sends his regards,” the giant darkly chuckled, taking another step toward Bankotsu, only to have the large German Shepard attack. Coda jumped from her spot next to Tempest toward the thick corded neck. Her jaws wrapped around his raised arm instead as he'd moved to strike the dog down. Refusing to relinquish her hold on the meaty arm, Coda continued to growl deep in her throat, infuriating Kyokotsu. With a cruel twist of his arm, Kyokotsu tossed the 70 pound dog around like a rag doll, pounding her several times against the wall to loosen her grip.

Bankotsu watched the one-sided fight cautiously as he crept toward the door. The towel that had hanged loose around his waist had been quickly replaced with a pair of jeans that he'd slipped into. He glanced at the feminine body beneath the door, nearly crushed by Kyokotsu's strength. As he moved the beds over toward his only means of escape, Tempest had begun to stir nervously when the door was lifted.

Quickly he pulled her to feet, fearing for her safety, noticing the bruises that'd begun to show along the side of her body that had been struck by the door. “Come on,” he ground out between clenched teeth, as they started to run.

A sickening crunch and a yowl of pain drew the couple back to the fight at hand. Tempests eyes flared wide as she saw the slumped body of her beloved companion thrown harshly across the bed, her rib cage badly crushed and unresponsive. “You Bastard!!” she screamed in rage, her eyes lit with fire.

She launched her lithe frame into the more massive mountain of a man, with the intent to kill. Without much effort, the back of his hand charged into her body. Kyokotsu flung the wench into the opposing wall, causing her to land heavily into the wall with a groan.

The giant turned his eyes toward Bankotsu as he sneered, “Your luck's run out Banky boy,” as he cracked his massive knuckles.

“I doubt that Kyokotsu. You forget that I lead on sheer strength,” Bankotsu replied, his hardened eyes sparkling with mirth as he looked toward his former comrade.

Cracking his neck in a threatening manner, Kyokotsu chuckled, “You keep forgetting you never stood a chance against me, even at full strength,” as he closed the distance between the two, blood running in rivers down his injured arm.

Without warning, Kyokotsu reached out a massive paw, swatting Bankotsu heavily into the wall, reopening wounds that had barely started to heal yet again. Looking up from the floor, fresh blood trickling from his lip, flames leapt into the young mercenary's eyes. His hand found the hilt of Tempest's knife, which had fallen in the initial attack. With the hilt in his hand, roughly unsheathing the blade, Bankotsu roared in anger as he shot from the ground toward the massive man.

Seeing the attack coming, Kyokotsu leaned into the rush, allowing the knife to strike the thick corded muscles of his shoulder as he grabbed in one massive hand the throat of his attacker. A wicked sneer crossed his lips as he pulled back his massive fist of the injured arm, smashing it soundly into Bankotsu's gut, with a crunch. He dropped the groaning mass onto the floor, kicking it quite soundly a few times for the fun of it.

As he pulled the hilt of the knife from his shoulder, Kyokotsu snorted, “Big, bad Bankotsu… looks like you're nothing but a roach that needs to be ground out of your misery.” Lifting one heavy booted foot to emphasize his point, Kyokotsu moved over the struggling form of his former employer. A blood filled grin filled his face as he brought his clad foot down onto the soft body of his victim, only to be stopped, dead in his tracks.

A strange look of confusion crossed the giants face as a second report from the Kel-Tec .380 ACP barked a second time. Blood erupted like a fountain as the Hydra-shok bullet excited the back of his skull, spreading gray matter all over the beige walls. In the space of a heart beat, Kyokotsu turned his head, to stare at the wielder of the handgun that had killed him.

The heavy scent of sulfur lay thick in the air as Tempest glared at the mountain of a man. “You killed my dog,” she snarled as she lowered the weapon.

A whiff of air blew through the open door, tumbling the dead giant over, sprawled across the floor as blood pooled underneath his body. Tempest turned toward the carcass of her beloved companion, petting the dog once before she removed the collar. Moving past the crumpled form of Bankotsu toward her truck, Tempest cried as she opened the truck's door. After a few minutes of grief, she regained her composure and picked up her cell phone.

Her fingers flew over the buttons, dialing the number by heart as her heart sank at her loss. When a welcoming `Hello' sounded from the other end, Tempest replied, “Koga… I'm in trouble.”

A good ten minutes later, having finished her phone call, Tempest slipped once more from her truck, hanging for dear life to the door as the weight of what had happened finally took its toll. Tears streamed down her face as she sank slowly onto the steps of her truck. With the days events cascading through her mind, all Tempest could do was take solace in the fact that this was her last trip for the fall.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Tempest moved back toward the nearly demolished hotel room, her arms across her chest, more for self comfort than for warmth. As she neared the splintered doorway, her reddened swollen eyes wandered over the remains of the giant that she'd killed. The memory of the blood filled grin caused a shudder down her spine. Her eyes moved around the room once more, stopping for a brief moment upon the unmoving body of her beloved dog. Fresh tears rimmed her eyes as the fresh memories flooded through her mind. Turning away, her gaze fell upon the one man who seemed to be at the crux of it all.

Bankotsu had moved once more to the bed curled around the agonizing pain that racked his body. An arm lay uselessly against his side, the bones askew as a grave reminder of their torment. Breathing came raggedly as the muscles moved over the cracked and broken ribs. He turned his head slightly toward the sound of footsteps, taking in the even more haggard appearance of the woman who'd saved him yet again.

Standing near the edge of the bed, seeing that the bandages were practically dripping with blood, Tempest glared at the mercenary. With her arms still crossed she demanded, “What the fuck is going on?”

Taking a deep ragged breath, Bankotsu turned as much as he dared toward the irate woman, cringing in pain as he tried to speak, “That was Kyokotsu… of the Band… of Seven. He was sent… to kill me.”

A brief moment of shock crossed her flaming eyes at the mention of the Band of Seven, before it was replaced with even more hatred. “It was because of them that Gramps had died!” she though angrily, digging her nails into the skin of her arm.

Bankotsu closed his eyes as a fresh wave of pain coursed through his body, as a hacking cough overtook his muscular frame. Drawn back to the present by the injured stranger's agony, Tempest moved once more toward his body, slowly removing the blood soaked bandages, cleansing the wounds, probing for broken bones and such before the cavalry arrived.