~ The Blacksmith's House ~
You wake up two hours later. Your biological clock never gave up on you, mostly when you need it. You take out a small dagger from your cloths, which are lying next to you, and put it near the though of your leader. “What an idiot, lowering his guard down, so easy… like all man… oh does he?” you suddenly pull back the dagger. “Just one cut, and he is a forgotten memory…” “He is just a child” “I’m a child as well… I wonder… how young is he…” “You can’t kill him…” “Watch me!”
Suddenly a hand grabs your and pins you to the bed. You try to move but it was impossible. He was stronger this time, for some reason, his grip was like of a rock – solid and unbreakable.
“You took too long. Any hesitations… a weakness?” he says with a smirk.
“You were awake! I knew it!” you say acting that you were planning all this… but his blue eyes saw trough you…
“You underestimated me. But because I own you, I won’t kill you.” he let go of your hands and lay back on the bed. You had the chance to stab him and have it all over with… but you didn’t do it… That wasn’t your style… “Don’t think because of your beauty and youth I give you a second chance. This is your last chance to prove loyalty to me.”
“You are better then I though.” You mumbled.
“Yes I am!” he smirked. “And I’m good at fighting too.” He winked.
Dirty jokes never made you even smile, but the way he looked at life, the way he was talking, made you giggle. He gave you a kiss and closed his eyes to sleep.
“What kind of power are you seeking?” you asked, not wanting him to fall asleep and leave you alone with all the questions.
“Powerful power.” he said serious.
“Landlord or strength?”
“Strength. Many people, many troubles. I’m not that kind of guy. I like small groups. Like groups of 7 people.” he open his eyes at the last words and looked in the nothing… thinking. “Shichinin-tai” he whispered.
“How old are you?” you looked at his peaceful face.
“Age doesn’t matter.”
“I am curious.” You demanded. It was like, this question was more important then any other. That curiosity was eating you from the inside.
“If you tell me why you didn’t killed me in the first place…”
“I wanted to see if you will react. I was going to if you didn’t wake up.” you though out fast. “If you didn’t, you were useless and would have failed as leader of powerful guild.”
“16” he says and turned his back to you. “And that was cleaver answer. That’s why I choose you.”
“16? Only a year older then me… he looks so mature…”
“Why so young?”
“Ok enough questions, girly!” he jump up, which scared you. “I guess you need something to shut up!” and he gave you a deep kiss, which lead to another hour and a half of no sleep
At the morning he was already up. You were so tired you hardly open your eyes. The sun was just showing up at the horizon. You dressed up and went to look for him. You only went out of the room when Jakotsu pin you to the wall. You were still sleepy so you didn’t try to escape.
“You slut!” she shouted. “You think you are so cool since he slept with you? Don’t full yourself! You’re nothing special.”
“What makes you think I accept him as something special?” you say with a smirk. Early in the morning you weren’t active, but your tongue was sharper then your dagger.
“Watch your mouth!” she got offended. “If you hurt him, I will kill you!”
You push her away since she was getting too close to you. You just went along the corridor to look for him.
“Good luck killing me” you smirked. “I’m sorry he chose me to you.”
Jakotsu turned and went to her room.
You go down to ask on the bar if they have seen Bankotsu. Since you don’t know his name you describe him. The barman led you to the back of the inn, after some dirty talk of course. You see him sitting at a rock, and watching the sun rising.
“I see you woke up” he says without turning. “Have a sit. And spear me the questions.”
“For sitting I will do,” you say and sat next to him, “but I have more questions.”
“I guess it can’t be helped.”
“When are we leaving?”
“Nice question! Let me finish enjoying this beautiful picture.”
You couldn’t disagree with him – it really was beautiful.
Less then an hour later, you had eaten, paid, and ready to go to the Hidden Mountain. There was your next target. The way was long, but the group was walking fast (even if you were going to move faster alone). It was as if they both were trained warriors since a child, just like you… You remember how you were watching your father teach the young male students. He was a commander and a trainer. He even let you practice with them and when someone does a mistake he screams “Look! Even my daughter can do it better then you!” You father was a grate man and a strong warrior which made him a threat. He was murdered in his house with his whole family when you were 10. You were away that time, somewhere in the village. Your friend, the same age as you, was there, helping your mother prepare the dinner, while you were shopping. The killers mistook her for you and you were though to be dead. For a great shock you came back minutes after they left, to find your parents, and friend, brutally murdered.
“Finally!” Jakotsu sighted. He was tired from the long walk. “Behind this forest there is a path, which leads to the house, which is located at the other side of another forest, which is at the end of a field.”
After saying this long description which needed 10 minutes to understand, she sat on a rock to rest. Bankotsu looked though the forest, and kept going. Jakotsu sight again, and got up.
“I suggest we rest next to the hot spring.” she smiled. “That place is said to have divine powers, and makes you look young and beautiful again.” Her eyes started shining to the though.
“Then let’s set up there for the night,” Bankotsu said, “The sun is setting, and I want my sleep.”
“I will go in the water.” Jakotsu said after you got to the spring waters. “Want to join me o-aniki?”
“The idea sounds nice.” He said and took off his top. “Join us, girly.”
“No, thank you.” You say, not wanting to get naked in front of him… even if it wasn’t the first time,
“I insist!” he says and grab your hand. “Don’t be ashamed of us. We have seen naked female bodies.”
“It’s not that. I’m not ashamed from my body,” you say offended.
“Then you have no excuse. This will make us closer, and that is what we need in your guild.”
He took the rest of his cloths and jumped in. You took of yours as well and went to join him. Jakotsu took hers as well.
“You are a guy!” you almost shouted. You knew something is wrong but that you never thought will happen.
“Not by spirit!” he says offended and joins in.
“I’m sorry, I never though… I…”
“It doesn’t matter the gender, likings and so on…” o-aniki said and relaxed.
Hour and a half later, you really got closed. You trusted them more. Even Jakotsu liked you. Bankotsu shared with you that your mission from now on is to keep an eye on the new members. He admitted he trusts only Jakotsu and you. At the question why he trusts you, the one who tried to kill him, he only answered “You could, but you didn’t. This is my leader’s instinct.” You liked how he looks to things. You staid in half an hour more, not wanting this warm feelings between friends to end. It seemed you all haven’t felt something like this from a long time.
Everyone fell asleep as soon as they covered with the warm blankets.
Before the sun rises, Bankotsu and you were already up.
“Glad you are up,” he says while approaching you. “I have a mission for you.” He shortens the distance between you and him, so it will be only around 2 inches. “We are moving slowly, I know you will get there faster alone. Go, ahead and ready them for us.”
“What do you mean?” you ask.
“Don’t you know how to make friends, girly?” he smirks.
You gave a sign you understood and went head with your way of high jumping on the trees. It was a ninja move but you have learned it around your father. You weren’t a full-trained ninja as you weren’t a full-trained warrior too, but sneaking, fast walking and other useful tricks for spying was enough for you.
It took you a day to pass the forest and the field. You decided to not rest for the night on open and kept going though the second forest. Since it wasn’t a big as the first one you got there just on sunrise.
You saw a little lonely house, with a big field of crops around it and a beautiful flower garden. At the back there were 5 chickens and a hock, a donkey and a little barrack with a big chimney. Obviously the house was of a blacksmith. When you got near for just few meters you could see leftovers of burned houses. It was a village once, but if this house was part of it, or not, you couldn’t tell. You slowly go near it, as much as you could. You had hurt your leg while passing the second forest. It may have been small, but it was deeper and more dangerous.
You see a machine in front of you. It looked like human and yet it wasn’t. You stared at it for few minutes until it spoke:
“You… gggrirrrl…”
You didn’t know how to react. What was this? Was it human?
Ok, this one is 2 times longer then the last one. I guess you already know who the new guy is, but I want to know, for who-ever reads these comments. Since the manga doesn't gives alot of spotlight to this one, I will use an idea that the anime gave of him (which wasn't in the manga). I am just warning you that it may not fit your seeings, but I think you will all agree this character will fit him.
Rate and msg, don't forget to comment by msg or in my journal. I love to read your msg's. Say what you think even if it's negative, Don't be shy... Next chapter coming up in the next few days. The chapter is in progress on paper and finished in my head. ^^
