InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Heart Of A Mercenary ❯ Three ( Chapter 3 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha! I do own Catherine AKA Kitty, and the plot, and storyline... There. I said it. (sighs)Most importantly I would like to give a BIG shout out and HUGE thanks to my beta Frog Lady! :)"Talking"
'Thinking'
Scene change....
Chapter 3:Back at camp...Kitty had arrived and walke into the room to retrieve her Hiraiku so she could leave. The others had yet to return.Bankotsu had followed her and stopped in the door way to his room, effectively blocking her path. Kitty looked at him and said sadly, "Move and let me pass Bankotsu! I can't stay here!"Bankotsu shook his his and stayed put crossed his arms over his chest, spread his feet firmly shoulder width apart, looked at her, and demanded, "Why not!?"Kitty looked him in the face and replied sadly with eyes full of sadness, and anger, "How can you even ask me that!? I already told you! He killed EVERYONE that ever meant a damn thing to me! Now I find out you all are working for him! Get out of my way, Bankotsu! Don't make this any harder than it already is! I can't stay! I'm sorry, but I am no stranger to heartache! I am better off alone!"Bankotsu sighed heavily, looked directly at her, and said, "Just because we work for him, dosen't change who we are or what has been happening!"Kitty had tears in her eyes and said, "I'm sorry! I truly am! But I can't stay with you anymore! Try to understand- he slaughtered not just one but BOTH of my homes and everyone I ever knew! I can't stay here! Please just move and I will go off alone again! I don't want to have to fight you four...but if I stay then it will be inevitable! I promise I will NEVER reveal your hideout to anyone! I give you my word of honor! Both as a warrior and a priestess!"Bankotsu sighed heavily, relaxed his stance, and agreed, "I don't want to have to fight you either, Catherine! But if you go against him, it will be inevitable!"Kitty bowed her head, sighed heavily, walked over, reached up and lightly kissed Bankotsu on the cheek and whispered softly, "Goodbye, Bankotsu and please don't follow me either! I will never forget you or your kindness...!"Then using her giant boomerang, she shoved her way past him and walked away.He followed her to the end of the camp and just stood there stunned and watched her leave. He watched her until she was out of sight of the camp and then he sighed heavily, and returned to his room. He spent all night tossing and turning, thinking about Catherine and how much she had suffered at the hands of Naraku. He couldn't really blame her for leaving, but he was very sadden that she left, and worried because she was once again alone.With Kitty...She traveled through the night and the next day, then made camp just before sunset. She walked to the hot springs she had spotted not far her camp site, to soak her tired, sore muscles. While she was in the hot springs, she thought about Bankotsu and everything else. She would also wonder if the others ever thought about her, especailly Bankotsu and sighed heavily and began crying. Then she returned to her camp laid on her blanketts, and cried herself to sleep.Over the next 6 weeks.... Kitty would wake up, eat breakfast, travel alone during the days, make camp as the sun began setting, eat dinner, soak, then think about Bankotsu and the others, wondering how they were doing. She would give herself a pep talk, then eventually fall asleep.Bankotsu would after the daily activities sit and think about Kitty and wonder how she was doing. Usually Jakotsu would try to cheer him up some, and eventually Bankotsu would walk off into the feild and take out his frustrations, practicing with Banryuu. Then he would return to the camp, order dinner made, and sit there polishing Banryuu. The others also would periodically wonder how thier little sister was doing. Even Renkotsu would wonder where and how she was, though if asked, he would usually deny it. He even missed thier verbal matches. After the others went to sleep Bankotsu would stay up thinking about everything, staring at the stars, and eventually let out a heavy sigh and go to bed, then toss and turn untill he fell alseep.Then one day with Bankotsu and the others...Bankotsu was sitting there once again wondering where Kitty was and what she was doing. He would also wonder if she thought about him and thier kisses, as well as the others. The others all walked over to him because they could see he was saddened again.Jakotsu looked at him and questioned, "Big brother, Why haven't we just gone after her? We ALL miss her!"Bankotsu looked at him and sighed heavily and answered sadly, "Because she asked me not to...!"Suikotsu frowned, wondering why, then added, "I miss her cooking!"while looking at his brothers.Renkotsu struggled a minute then deciding to admit it, he looked at the others and also added, "I miss the verbal battles we had!"Bankotsu sighed heavily, nodded, and said, "I know! I miss her too! But this was and still is her decision. And we must respect it!" Then he got frustrated and angrily stormed off to practise in the field with his Banryuu.Elsewhere..."Inuyasha, we need to camp for the night! We have been traveling since before sunrise non stop! I am hungry!" Kagome whined.Sango looked over at them and eagerly agreed, "I agree."Miroku decided to add his words as well and wisely added, "Unlike you, we are mere mortals and we need nourishment!"Inuyasha knowing he would most likely end up being sat if he didn't allow it, and not being in the mood to be sat, sighed heavily and replied, "Teh! Fine; whatever!" and crossed his arms over his chest while having a sulking face.So they stopped and the girls set up camp while the guys went off to collect firewood and a few rabbits. After dinner the girls announced they were going to soak in the hot springs.With Kitty...She had decided to stop and make camp for the night. She found a single rabbit, skinned it and boiled it in her pot with the herbs she had collected earlier. After eating, she decided to go soak in the inviting looking hot spring with some rather large rocks surrounding it that she had seen not too far away from her campsite. She walked there and undressed. Descending into the water, she soaked her achy muscles. Her bow and arrows were right on the shore along with her katana and her Hiraiku was propped against a nearby tree.At the hot springs ten minutes later...Kitty was relaxing and enjoying her soak when she heard two girls walk up. They saw her as well. Kagome, with a surprised and somewhat embarrased look on her face, said, "Oh! I'm sorry! We didn't expect anyone to be here."Kitty looked from one to the other noticing they both had black hair and brown eyes, the one talking had on a strange looking outfit that she had never seen before and the other had her hair in a pony tail that fell down her back and a pink and green kimono on and deciding they were not much of a threat, smiled and replied, "That's okay, neither did I. Please feel free to join me. I will be done shortly."Sango smiled and went to set her Hiraikotsu against a tree but spotted the other one instead. She asked, shocked, "Is this yours?" Kitty opened her eyes, looked at her weapon and nodded. Sango looked at her and questioned, "May I look at it?" Kitty nodded again.Kagome was looking for somewhere to lay her bow and arrows and noticed the bow and arrows and katana became surprise and querried, "These as well are yours?"Kitty sighed and answered evenly, "Yes."Kagome nodded set her weapons and bag aside and, undressed and entered the hot springs to soak. Kitty moved over to make some room. the water was nice and steamy and looked inviting.Sango eyes widened in shock as she spotted her father symbol on the weapon and she snapped her gaze to the woman in the water, gasped and demanded softly, "Where did you get this giant boomerang!?"Kitty looked directly at her and replied, "It was made by an old friends father...He gave it to me and trained me with it when I was very young."Kagome smiled at the woman and added, "By the way my name is Kagome and this is my friend Sango."Kitty's eyes widened and she looked at Sango, thoroughly inspecting her and gasped loudly and said softly, "Sango!? Can it really be?"Sango eyes full of sadness and old hurt stated softly, "This weapon... it was made by my father...What is your name?"Kitty looked directly into her eyes and answered softly, "Catherine...!"Sango's eyes widened in shock, she gasped loudly and exclaimed, "That's not possible!" She also undressed and entered the springs and soaked.Kitty still looking in Sango's eyes, softly demanded, "If you are indeed Sango, then what happened!? I returned to the demon slayers village 3 years ago and found nothing but graves!"Sango looked at Kitty thoroughly inspecting her face and said softly, "Catherine!? Can it truly be you!?" Kitty nodded. Sango querried, "But how!? You were thought to be dead! What happened?"Kagome looked from one to the other and said, "Are you telling me you know each other!?"Sango sighed and replied, "When I was just turning 13, my father sent a dear friend of mine away to a village to be trained as a priestess! She was never heard from or seen again! EVERYONE thought her to be dead!"Kitty sighed and informed evenly, "After my training was complete, my mentor died. The village headman refused to let me leave! I was under guard 24/7! I was a prisoner basically. He was even going to force me to marry a man I didn't even know...But one day a nearby village became deathly ill, he had no choice but to let me leave and tend them because I was the only priestess in the entire four surrounding villages. While I was away the entire village was slaughtered. With his dying breath my fiance's cousin told me it was a hoard of demons ordered by Naraku...I returned to the demon slayers village only to learn they had been slaughtered as well! So I set out on my own to track down Naraku! I have been completely alone for over 3 and 1/2 years now...I have been hunting down and collecting the jewel shards."Sango stared Kitty directly in the eyes and announced, "We thought you were dead!"Kitty holding her gaze answered, "I thought you dead as well! Tell me, Sango, has anyone else survived?"Sango replied softly, "Only me and Kohaku, but he is being controlled by Naraku!"and looked away but not before Kitty saw the over whelming sadnees in her eyes.Kitty's eyes softened a little as she sighed and said, "I am sorry, Sango! I know you two were close!"Sango sighed and mentioned, "I am sorry as well! If I had known you were alive, I would have found you!"Kitty smiled sadly and said, "Don't worry about it Sango! I am used to being alone now...!"Kagome looked at the woman and suggested, "Catherine, Why don't you come back to camp with us at least for tonight?"Kitty thought this over, shrugged and agreed, "Sure, why not?"So the three girls got out, dressed, collected their weapons and walked back to Kitty's camp together so she could collect her things, then walked to the girls camp..Back at the camp...Inuyasha saw Kagome and Sango returning. He ran up and demanded, "What the hell took you two so damn long?" Then he saw Catherine behind them and demanded, 'Who the hell are you?'Kagome yelled, "SIT BOY!" Inuyasha hit the dirt. Kagome turned to Catherine and informed, "Don't mind him, Inuyasha can be such a jerk sometimes!"Kitty nodded and responded evenly, "I'm used to it by now."Miroku looked Kitty over thoroughly then walked up stared her dead in the eye and queried, "Excuse me miss, but would you kindly bear my child?"Kitty's eyes widened in shock then narrowed in anger, she became angry and slapped the hell out of his face, knocking him on his ass. As soon as he got up, Sango looking pissed off, hit him in the head with her Hiraikotsu and angrily commanded, "Can it, you lech!" Then she turned to Catherine and apologized, annoyed, "Sorry about that lecherous monk! Miroku can be a real idiot sometimes! Just ignore him!"Kitty smiled at her old friend and nodded. The three girls sat down and began talking.Inuyasha having pulled his self out of the crater, stormed over and demanded irately, "WHO the hell is she? And why is she here?" while glaring at Kitty.Sango looked at him and replied evenly, "She is from my village and was thought dead a long time ago! Now, sit down and be nice, Inuyasha, or she will kick your ass!"Inuyasha scoffed and retorted, "Like that wench could really beat me!" Kitty quickly drew her bow, notched an arrow, and released a sacred arrow right past Inuyasha's head. His eyes widened in shock as did Miroku's. Inuyasha gasped and stuttered, "A s...sacred arrow...But...But how is that possible?"Kitty smirked and responded evenly, "Because I am also a priestess, you mutt. Oh, and next time I won't miss! That was mearly a warning. NO ONE calls me wench! Got it!?"Inuyasha numbly nodded.Kagome mumbled, "Men can be such thoughtless fools." Kitty and Sango nodded their agreement. Kitty put her bow away and sat down. Kagome, Sango and Miroku sat down as well. Kagome looked her in the eye and insisted, "Tell us; earlier you said you were collecting the jewel shards. So how many do you have?"Kitty holding her gaze replied evenly, "I had 5, but left them with a friend who helped me out a lot..." Then she looked away sadly.Inuyasha became upset and bellowed, "STUPID WOMAN! How could you just let that friend have the jewel shards?"Kitty narrowed her eyes at him and retorted angrily, "That is none of your damn business, mutt face! Sheesh! He is just as bad as that damn wolf Koga from the other day!"Kagome completely surprised gasped and questioned, "You saw Koga!?" staring at Kitty.Kitty looked at her and answered dryly, "Yeah, saw and fought the idiot wolf! Why you know him?"Kagome said, "Yeah..."Inuyasha glaring seethed angrily, "That mangy ass wolf is ALWAYS flirting with Kagome!" Then he looked and Kitty and demanded, "And what do you mean you fought him!? How is that possible when you don't even have a scratch on you!?"Kitty smirked at him and informed, "I am demon slayer, stupid mutt! Not only did I fight him, but after talking to him I sparred his miserable life!"Kagome gasped and stated seriously, "Well, thank you for that, Catherine."Kitty smiled sadly and retorted angrily, "Yeah well, I couldn't kill him after I found out why he was attacking. He was only trying to do the same thing as me- get revenge on Naraku for slaughtering his people! That bastard Naraku slaughtered BOTH of my villages! AND I WILL KILL HIM FOR IT!"Inuyasha held her gaze and informed seriously, "FEH! You don't stand a chance against that bastard alone!"Kitty holding his gaze smiled. She warned, "Don't under estimate me, Inuyasha. I am stronger then anyone thinks! I am as good a slayer as Sango here and a VERY powerful priestess as well!"Sango nodded and added seriously, "She was an even better slayer then me when we were kids!"Inuyasha stared at the woman and seethed, "No matter, you still can't beat that bastard alone!"Kagome looked into her eyes and requested, "Why not join us?"Kitty shook her head and replied seriously, "Sorry, but I am better off alone!"Sango sighed heavily gazed into her eyes and insisted, "At least stay for the night and actually get some rest for once!"Kitty nodded. Everyone then stood up and spread out as they settled in for the night.The next morning...Sango woke up and saw Kitty already awake and gathering her stuff. She approached Kitty stood directly in front of her, holding her gaze, and begged softly, 'Stay with us! We could use another good fighter!'Kitty returning her gaze sighed and replied seriously, "I am sorry, Sango, but lately anyone near me ends up hurt or dead. Forgive me, but I must go!" Sango sighed and hugged her childhood friend. Kitty hugged her back and mentioned seriously, "I am used to being on my own, Don't worry about me, Sango! I can handle myself better now then ever before! I am however very grateful you are still alive! Goodbye my old friend."Then Kitty turned around and left and set off alone again. Sango sighed heavily, sat down and watched her childhood friend leave, with eyes full of sadness.An hour later everyone else woke up.Kagome looked around and noticing Kitty was missing looked at Sango and asked sleepily, "Where's Catherine?"Sango still staring in the direction her old friend had left sighed heavily and answered sadly, "She left."Inuyasha walked up to Sango and demanded, "What the hell do you mean she left!? Dosen't that stupid wench understand she has no chance against Naraku alone!?"Sango faced him and added seriously, "Once she makes up her mind, there is no changing it! She was and is determined to leave. Even if I had tried to stop her; she just would have kicked my ass and left anyway!"Kagome walked over to Sango and hugged her. She soothed, "Don't worry Sango; she will be ok! We will find her again."Sango returned the hug, nodded, and responded, "Thanks, Kagome!"Kagome smiled and nodded.Inuyasha scoffed, "TEH!"Miroku walked over and queried, "Where would she have gone to? Didn't she say she has no one now?" while looking at Sango.Sango sighed and nodded, then informed softly, "She said she is used to being alone now, and she doesn't want us to get hurt. Everyone around her has been getting hurt or killed!"Kagome responded softly, "Can't really blame her then; she is most likely only trying to protect us!" Sango nodded.Inuyasha demanded, "Well, either way, we still have to find the stupid wench and bring her back! Let's go!" Everyone nodded and they took off.Halfway through the day...Kitty got hungry so she decided to stop and eat some fish. She made a small camp fire, caught some fish, smoked and ate them.While she was relaxing with her back against a tree weapons easily in reach, Kagome and the others showed up.Inuyasha stormed over to her stood in front of her glaring and demanded irately, "Just what the hell did you think you were doing just leaving like that, anyway!?"Kitty rolled her eyes and retorted dryly, "Why, don't tell me you missed me already, mutt!" while staring into his furious golden orbs.Inuyasha stated, "Teh! As if! But Sango and Kagome were worried about you!" while stepping back a foot and crossing his arms in front of him.Kagome walked over and yelled, "SIT BOY!"Inuyasha hit the dirt creating a new crater and Kitty laughed shaking her head.Kagome looked at Inuyasha and angrily scolded, "You don't have to be such a jerk Inuyasha! Now behave or I will S-I-T- you over and over again until you do! GOT IT!?!" Inuyasha grumbled, but decided to behave.Kitty sighed stood up, approached Sango and said evenly, "Sango, I told you this morning why I can't stay." while looking into her chocolate eyes.Sango looked at her and answered, "Yeah I know, but I was worried about you! Just because you have spent the last 3 and 1/2 years alone doesn't mean you have to stay alone!"Kitty holding her gaze exclaimed seriously, "I don't want to see you all hurt or dead!"Inuyasha after pulling his self back up out of the crater walked over to and stood in front of Kitty and informed her seriously, "We are stronger then you think! You would be better off with us! We are ALL after Naraku! So it makes more sense to stick together!"Kitty sighed and said evenly, "It would, but I can't!"Shippo hanging over Kagome's shoulder looked at her and added seriously, "Just give in, Catherine, because he will just keep chasing you down until you do!"Kitty looked at the kit, then back at the others and responded dryly, "While I admire you determination, I can't stay with you! Sorry!"Just then the wind picked up. Inuyasha's face became angry,as he growled and demanded, "What the hell do you want mangy wolf!?"Koga stepped out of the whirlwind and replied, "I smelt Kagome's lovely scent and decided to pay a visit." Then he looked at Kitty narrowed his eyes at her, stormed over to her and demanded, "What the hell are YOU doing here!?"Kitty looked at him smugly and retorted dryly, "Well hello to you too, Koga. Did you miss me already?"Koga growled and scoffed angrily, "Yeah, right!" still glaring at her.Kitty smirked and retorted dryly, "Here for a rematch, then? Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I refuse to fight you! We are after all working for a common goal! To destroy Naraku!" She seethed with pure hatred in her eyes. She had spoken 'Naraku' with such venom in her voice that Koga was surprised also by the look in her eyes.He looked into her eyes and asked, "Why did you let me go that day?" with shock clearly written on his face, as well as confusion.Kitty sighed looked directly in his eyes and answered, "After our little chat, I let you go because you were only trying to do the same thing I am. Destroy Naraku! I left after that day! I couldn't stay knowing they were working for that bastard! And had I known, I never would have stayed with them at all! Now does that answer your question!?" Koga nodded. Kitty mentioned seriously, "Good, then perhaps we can put this little misunderstanding behind us and move on?"Koga nodded.Kitty nodded.Inuyasha pissed about being left out of the conversation, walked over to the pair and demanded, "What the hell are you two yapping about!?"Kitty sighed glared at Inuyasha and retorted irritated, "None of your damn business, mutt! So butt the hell out!"Koga threw his head back and laughed then looked at Kitty amused and added, "I see you can't stand the mutt either, huh?"Kitty rolled her eyes and responded, "DUH! A bossy, arrogant wolf and a mouthy, rude ass mutt! UGH! I have GOT to find me some better people to hang around with!' Then she walked over, stood by Sango looked at her friend and questioned seriously, 'What is it with all these bossy, overconfident, perverted, and rude men anyway!?"Sango smiled at her friend and replied, "I don't know, but aren't they?"Kitty laughed and mentioned seriously, "Sure are! UGH! Just once I would like to meet a sweet, kind, caring guy who DOSEN'T think of the woman as property or slaves, ya know!?"Kagome laughed and added, "Same here!"Inuyasha whirled to face the yapping women and glaring at them demanded, "What the hell are you stupid wenchs yapping 'bout anyway!?"Kitty sighed and mumbled annoyed, "Guess this is yet ANOTHER damn male who needs to be taught some manners, huh!?"Koga's eyes widened and he turned to the mutt and warned seriously, "You had better apologize, mutt; BEFORE she gets angry. I got my ass kicked a while ago for calling her that!"Kitty chuckled looked into Koga's eyes and mentioned, "Ah! So you can be smart after all, eh, Koga?"Koga held her gaze and replied seriously, "I learned my lesson! I hope I never get on your bad side again, Catherine."Kitty smiled at him and added, "Then maybe we just might get along after all!"Then she turned and faced Inuyasha, raised a brow, and queried seriously, "Inuyasha, must I get out my arrows again!? Hm?"Inuyasha glared at her and bellowed, "You just try it!"Kagome yelled, "SIT BOY!" Inuyasha hit the dirt so hard a rather large crater was now surrounding him.Kitty smirked then smiled at Kagome and mentioned sweetly, "Thank you Kagome."Kagome smiled and nodded at Kitty. Kagome turned to face Inuyasha and scolded him, "Inuyasha, unless you plan on eating A LOT of dirt, BEHAVE!"Inuyasha looking at Kagome whined, "But Kagome..."Koga looking at Kagome scolding Inuyasha, laughed and taunted, "Stupid mutt never learns." while shaking his head and grinning.Kitty walked over to Koga inspected his arm and stomach briefly, looked up into his eyes and said, "I see your wounds are fully healed. I am glad I didn't injure you any worse!"Koga nodded and agreed seriously, "Yeah me too! You are one helluva impressive fighter!" while gazing into her eyes.Kitty smiled at him and said, "Thank you!" with a genuine smile on her face.Koga held her gaze and raised a brow then queried, "So what are you doing now?"Kitty looked at him and evenly responded, "I am traveling alone again, like always."Koga gazed into her eyes and questioned, "Then why are you here with my Kagome and her friends?"Kitty unafraid held his gaze and answered, "I ran into Sango and camped with them last night. I left this morning alone, and when I stopped to eat and relax a bit, Mutt Face tracked me down. Then you showed up."Koga nodded and asked dryly, "So they haven't tried to find you, huh?"Kitty stared him dead in the eye and said evenly, "I told them not to."Koga nodded and requested, "Why not join me then?"Kitty laughed. She stared into his blue gaze and stated, annoyed, "What is with everyone? Sheesh! I won't join the mutt's friends, so they track me down again, Now you want me to join you! Why can't you all just understand I am better off alone!"Koga narrowed his gaze and demanded angrily, "Then why were you with THEM, when we first met!?"Kitty rolled her eyes and responded annoyed, "You already know why, or have you forgotten already, wolf boy! Look I won't go back to them, as long as they are working for HIM! I won't join mutt face! AND I won't join you either wolf boy! Don't ANY of you get it!? Now will you all just leave me alone!?" She turned around, walked to wards her stuff then gathered her weapons and stormed off again.Sango looked at everyone, sighed heavily and suggested seriously, "We better just give her some space."Kagome sighed and nodded. Inuyasha stormed over to Koga got right in his face and demanded, "Yo WOLF! Who the hell are you talking about that she was with anyway?"Koga narrowed his gaze at Inuyasha then growled and retorted angrily, "Shut the hell up, Mutt Face!" Then he turned around and approached Kagome, held her hand in his and said sweetly, "I'm sorry my sweet Kagome, but I must leave once again!"Kagome nodded looking into his eyes and said, "Bye Koga."Inuyasha glared at Koga growled and commanded, "Get back here and answer me, you stupid wolf!"Koga turned into his whirlwind and ran off again just as Kagome yelled, "SIT BOY!"Inuyasha hit the dirt and growled, "Kagome! Why do you keep letting that stupid wolf go!?" while glaring at her.Kagome sighed and said, "Don't be such a jerk, Inuyahsa!" Then she walked over to Sango and sat beside her.Relaxation and a visitor...After two months of constantly telling Inuyasha and Koga she wouldn't join them, Kitty was finally able to camp in peace. She decided to make camp and soak in the hot springs. She set Hiraiku against a tree, and her katana and her bow and arrows were with her clothes on the bank. She gently lowered herself into the water and sighed. Her muscles were tight and sore from always dodging Inuyasha and Koga.She began leaning back against a rock and relaxing when she heard a familiar, amused male voice say, "Well, well, fancy meeting you here!"Kitty eyes closed, and instantly recognizing the voice and who it belonged to, sighed and greeted, "Hello, Bankotsu."Bankotsu smirked at her and mockingly stated, "After all this time all you do is just say 'hello', huh? I am hurt Catherine." as he fully emerged from out of the trees to approach the springs.Kitty eyes still closed, smirked and responded evenly, "You will get over it."Bankotsu chuckled and mentioned, "To answer your question, I came here to soak and bathe, same as you."Then he undressed and entered the springs. He looked over at her and with eyes mischevious suggested amused, "Now, why not come over here and greet me properly?"Kitty sighed heavily and quipped, "Not this time, thanks."Bankotsu chuckled and teased, "Why not?"Kitty opened her eyes, saw him sitting in the water stared into his eyes and queried seriously, "Why are you here, Banky?"Bankotsu raised an eyebrow at her and asked confused, "Banky?"Kitty eyes full of laughter gazed at him and laughed and stated dryly, "Yeah, why? You got a problem with it!?"Bankotsu sighed heavily locked his gaze to hers and replied sternly, "I suppose not, just as long as you only use it, when it's just the two of us!"Kitty laughed, and then asked seriously, "Why are you here?" once again gazing into his dreamy sapphire orbs.Bankotsu held her gaze and replied evenly, "I already told you; I am here to soak and bathe."Kitty shook her head and stated evenly, "That isn't what I was asking and you know it."Bankotsu sighed and responded, "I was out around the area, looking for information."Kitty looked at him catiously and asked, "What kind of information?"Bankotsu gazed into her eyes and answered, "About Naraku."Kitty gasped shock evident on her face and . She queried, "I thought you all worked for him, so why would you need information about him?"Bankotsu said seriously, "We haven't worked for him for a few weeks now after we were brought to life as flesh and blood again.."Kitty cut him off by gasping loudly eyes wide from shock and asking softly, "Wh...What did you just say?"Bankotsu held her gaze as he replied seriously, "I don't know why, but a girl named Enju who claims to be the daughter of some old witch named Urasue, brought us back to life as flesh and blood. Shortly after that, we decided not to work for Naraku anymore. Especially after he tried to kill us by using the shikon shards to try to turn us against each other!"Kitty's eyes softened and she mentioned softly, "Oh Ban! I didn't know! I am happy for you all to be alive again!"Bankotsu looked directly at her and added, seriously "I have also been hoping to run across you, Catherine. Come back with us. We are now hunting Naraku down as well. And you know damn well we make one helluva good team!"Kitty smiled sadly and informed seriously, "You know, leaving was the hardest thing I have EVER done! I consider everyone of you my family! But I just couldn't stay!"Bankotsu said seriously, "Things have changed! We no longer work for him, but are hunting him down to destroy him! We ALL want you to come back! Jakotsu can't wait to show you how much he has improved since your last lessons! Suikotsu misses your cooking! Even Renkotsu says he misses your battles of wits! And I just miss you! I miss our sparring sessions! Your laughter! Your beautiful smile! I have been going crazy with worry about you! Not because I was afraid you would die fighting, but because I was afraid I would loose you! That you would find someone... That.....that I would never see you again....!"Kitty gasped and mentioned seriously, "I have missed you all as well! Even that pain in the ass Renkotsu! But mostly... I have missed you Ban! Your cute little smirks! You sense of humor! Our sparring sessions! Our talks"' Then she blushed lightly and added shyly, "And your kisses!"Bankotsu chuckled, leaned over, and whispered sweetly, "Well babe, we will just have to fix that now won't we!"Then he captured her mouth in a gentle kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back greedily. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her to him and continued kissing her gently. She moaned and leaned into the kiss. He changed the kiss from gentle to demanding and passionate. She continued kissing him back, matching his passion with her own. This time she broke the kiss and lightly pushed against his chest.He reluctantly let her go and they both caught their breaths. Bankotsu looked into her eyes and said huskily, "Come back to where you belong, Catherine! Come back to our new hideout with me!"Kitty smiled at him and replied seriously, "Give me a few days to think it over."Bankotsu nodded and mentioned seriously, "Fine, but until then, I will just have to stay with you!" while staring into her captivating eyes.Kitty laughed, got out and dressed. Bankotsu also got out and dressed.Then they gathered their weapons and walked back to Kitty's camp site.Back at Kitty's camp site...Bankotsu and Kitty arrived, sat down by the fire and ate and talked for hours.They talked about all the times they spent training together, and what each of them had done in the months since she had left. After a while, they decided to settle in for the night. They slept with their weapons within reach, but they were cuddled together as they slept.Author's Note: Okay guys and gals there is chapter three please remember to read and review thanks.