This chapter is 6 pages in Word document format. I can't belive I wrote so much. I planned it to be shorter, really strange. I hope you like it and comment if you like long chapters or short one.
Pleace, rate & comment. You can take the poll to say which you like more from the 2 bankotsu stories if you had read the first one.
Jakotsu received some flower-covered and Bankotsu got white cloths. (Like in the anime without the armor). You got your stuff packed and ready to leave. The old lady offered you some food for the rode, but Bankotsu refused and said they will pick up some from the near-by village. He couldn’t wait to test his new sword. Ginko wanted to join the three travelers but you made him stay with the old people, saying that he needs to take care of them and protect them. He was sad but agreed with you. You started to think that the time spend with you tree, helps him understand more things, makes him smarted, and traveling with you would help him talk better. But that wasn’t an option for now, so you left the three of you again.
“What now, o-aniki?” Jakotsu asked. “He was the last one in the list.”
“Maybe we need to go back to that short guy in the forest”, Bankotsu smirked. “He was interesting.”
“Short guy?” you asked. “You are hiding something from me, aren’t you?”
“Didn’t you tell her, o-aniki?” Jakotsu asked.
“I though you told her, Jakotsu”, he scratch his head, as a sign of trying to remember. “Though you had one of those girls’ talks…”
“You mind telling me anyway?” you demanded and stopped.
Bankotsu don’t stop walking but Jakotsu did and looked at you. He was looking at your face, and how serious it was. Jakotsu then looked at Bankotsu, who was still walking, proud with his head up and his halberd on his shoulder.
“Hurry up slowpokes,” he said without stopping or turning. “I want to get to the village and have some fun.”
“It won’t be fun to attack a village, that no one visits.” you say annoyed.
“Then hurry up ahead and warn them”, he kept walking and you could hardly hear him, but you knew what he was saying.
“Go on, Jakotsu”, you tell him and give an angry face.
“Aren’t you coming?” he says, not wanting to lose you from the group. You guess that that time at the hot spring gave him some hopes for more enjoyable moments like this.
“I don’t want to walk with him,” you say and jump up on the trees.
You didn’t like how he treated you. For some reason you cared. You got to the village for 5 minutes. You go for the village’s gates but you are stopped from the guards. From the top of the gate’s towers, 4 archers were aiming for you and from the bottom – 2 were pointing their spears to you.
“Identify yourself!” the one spearman shouts.
You stop and smirk.
“The name is of no importance, I’m here to pass a warning, from the Shichinin-tai.”
“Who are they?” he asks. “And why are you warning us about a band of only 7 men?”
“They are not 7 yet, but the numbers are not important. The more you speak with me, the less time you have to get your army ready.”
“An army for less then 7 people? Don’t make me laugh, and go back to on your way.”
“You have been warned”, you say with a smile and jump back up on the nearby tree.
You didn’t have to wait long for your two comrades. Bankotsu smirks when he sees you.
“You warned them,” he says with his deep voice. “Good girl.”
You took out your main dagger (or sword if you wish u.u), without saying anything. The two man walk slowly to the front gate of the village.
“Identify yourselves!” the guard shouts at the two armed man.
“We are the Shichinin-tai,” Bankotsu smirks. “I guess my beautiful messenger had notice you about our coming.”
“You are kidding!” the guard says angry. “Prepare a whole army for 2 men?! A joke like this can cost your lives!”
Bankotsu smirked and you trough 4 needles from the tree you were on. It pinned in the thought of each one of the guards and they dies instantly, which made them to fall from the towers. The guards started moving, but they didn’t get far since Jakotsu slice them all in one hit.
“I like this sword,” Jakotsu smiled and lick some blood from the blade.
Bankotsu force-open the door with his halberd just when you jumped next to him.
“Ladies first,” he say and give you sign to go in.
Jakotsu and you walked in. It seemed the time stopped in that village. Everyone had stopped there doings and were looking at the gate, expecting to enter a lord on a horse with his big army. But the surprise was even greater when only 3 people entered (and two of which were women).
“What now, o-aniki?” you ask, not knowing how to react.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you,” Bankotsu laughs. “Have fun!” and he jumps slashing the people around.
“Fun… hmm… is this how he sees killing?” you though but followed him. You attacked all men you see, and that wasn’t a problem, but the women and children, you couldn’t kill. You entered a house and found 2 children in the corner. They were scared so much that wanted to cry, but tried to not give out any sound. The bigger one saw you and looked at you for a minute or less. Then it stand up from the ground, still with tears in its eyes, it stand still in front its younger sibling, protecting with its little skinny body.
“You know that won’t stop me of killing you both, right kid?” you say cruel, which made the kid cry out a little but then came back to its brave self and kept looking in your eyes. You didn’t know what to do, you were there to kill, but killing a child wasn’t your style. They were innocent and couldn’t defend themselves. How could you take there lives? Suddenly something sparked next to you and blood was all over the corner. The two lifeless bodies fell on the grown. You turn and see Jakotsu at the door. He says nothing and leaves. You looked back to the two children. It reminded you of the body of your childhood friend, who was murdered instead of you. The image blurred and in front of your eyes was the scene from your childhood. The picture that changed your life, for ever… “Better death, then my life.” You mumbled and left the house.
“25… 26…” Bankotsu was counting. “27! Need more!”
“What are you counting, Bankotsu?” you asked when all the people around you were dead.
“For my record,” he says and jumps on the roof of the nearby house. He looked around to see that the village was so small that for less then 10 minutes they killed everyone. The ground was covered with lifeless bodies and the air was soaked with blood smell. “Damn!” he says after he got down. “All dead… Girl, go find if someone is alive in the houses. I’m hungry.”
“I have a name!” you say angry.
“Oh you do?” he says surprised. “You never told me, though you don’t have one.”
You got even angrier at him and sit on the grown.
“You are disobeying me?” he looked with anger in his eyes.
“Seems so…” you say and look aside.
“I give you one more chance.”
“Jakotsu! Go find this jerk some servants to give him food!”
Jakotsu signed and was just going to object when Bankotsu said: “I make the orders here and I ordered you!”
“I’m not going as you see.”
“You are!”
“I’m not!”
“You are!”
“I’m not!”
“You are!”
“I’m not your slave!”
“Actually, you are!”
“I’m not!”
“You are! Remember the bet?”
“I…” you silence. You got up pissed and went to look around the village.
The village was only one street, and you could simply go in every house and look around to see if someone was hiding. When you found someone you just killed him without thinking about it. Your mind was taken by other thoughts.
You finally got to the end of the rode. You could see a Tempe, not far from here. The day was still young, and you decided to go check on it, but you remembered you ere no longer alone. You think it for a while; you look behind you to see that nobody is there and then look at up at the temple. You decide you can go and come back before they notice. If Bankotsu won’t share his plans with you, you won’t as well.
You needed few minutes to get to the Temple. You were looking around when you heard a voice:
“May I help you, young traveler?”
You looked at a young handsome bald man, in yellow and pinky-red cloths. A monk as it seemed. He gave you an innocent smile that made you blush.
“I’m just passing by,” you say and look aside.
“If you are looking for a place to spend the night at, you are more then welcome to stay,” he smiled and searched for your eyes.
You didn’t know what to do. You decide to not say about the village and the shichinin-tai, so you just looked at him with a smile and went back down the rode for the village.
“This girl, smells of blood.” he though. “Who is she?”
You fine Bankotsu and Jakotsu in the same house you left them. They were drinking sake after finishing their meal. You see two girls, dirty and scared to death behind them.
“So what did you find in the temple?” Bankotsu asks.
“I guess nothing can be hidden from you,” you ask and sat down to get something to eat. You grab some meat and start eating.
“I guess we will see that temple as well,” he says and looks at Jakotsu. “Take care of them.”
The two girls jumped and started crying.
“You said you won’t kill us!” they cried.
“And I won’t. Jakotsu will.” he says and drinks the last sake.
Jakotsu gets up and with one slash he kills the two of them.
“You could have waited until I finish eating.” you say calmly.
“Ups… sorry,” he smiles. “I’ll go wash,” he says and runs off to the nearby well.
Bankotsu then looks at the sky.
“I’m not use to it…” he says in a low voice.
“Not use to what?” you ask not looking at him.
“To think about 2 people. It’s been so long, since we had someone travel with us. Nobody was strong enough.”
“Then it’s time to get used to it. I don’t die easy.”
“I didn’t make it on purpose.”
“Make what?”
“To not tell you about the plan,” he then look aside and almost whispering he says: “You did a nice job.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing!” he jumps. “If you heard it – fine!”
“No, no! Tell me!” you jump with a smirk.
“Shut up! I said nothing!”
“Fine!” you gave up. “Tell me about that guy you met?”
“Oh yes, some little guy tried to attack us with some poison or something. But he ran off.”
“Poison users are useful and dangerous,” you noted.
“He didn’t look strong so I didn’t bother making him join.”
Jakotsu came back and looked at you two.
“Are we going?” he asked.
“Yes. Let’s see this temple.” Bankotsu got up, and you joined.
Near sundown you got to the temple. You were welcomed by the monks. Bankotsu didn’t felt like destroying, he clamed he was tired, but you saw he didn’t found it a challenge enough. He wasn’t seeking only power, he was seeking a worthy opponent. Just like a child, he wanted to have fun… in his own strange way. The monks gave you room to rest and supper. After a nice shower you went outside to look around the temple grounds. Bankotsu joined you, while Jakotsu said he will have his well-known beauty sleep. You saw how the monks go for the late prayer in a little shrine. You were walking around the back when you saw the young monk. He saw you and stopped with him nice smile.
“I see you changed your mind,” he says polite while looking in your eyes.
“It seems so,” you blushed. “Why aren’t you at the late prayer?”
“Oh… well…” he didn’t knew how to answer. “Because… there was some work to be done.”
“The work could wait for after the payer,” Bankotsu noted with sparkle of entrust in his eyes. “How long have you been a monk?”
“My father is the owner of this temple. I come from a long line of monks,” he said with his calm voice. “And this work needed my attention.”
“What kind of work could that have been?” you joined Bankotsu’s idea. A man so young and handsome was unlikely to be a monk. More likely a thief or something, yet to say he was the son of the head monk, was unlikely story.
“I would not like to discuss this with strangers, if you excuse me.”
“My name is Bankotsu,” Bankotsu said before the monk could make his leave. “I’m no longer a stranger.”
The monk stopped and froze on his position.
“The mercenary?” he whispered so that only the two travelers near him to hear.
“The same,” o-aniki said with pride.
“What business you have in this lands, there is nothing of value here for ages.”
“I think I’m free to pass by anywhere I like.”
“You are, but I would ask you to leave as soon as the sun rises,” the monk said and made his leave with a serious expression.
“So this is the young mercenary Bankotsu, the man that can slave army with his who hands. But what business he has here?” he was thinking on his way to the exit of the temple.
“Follow him,” Bankotsu ordered you with serious face. You gave sign and slowly walked on the way where the monk was headed.
The monk got to a cave near the river that was running around at the bottom for the hill. The sun had set minutes ago and the darkness was taking over. A heavy mist was in front of the cave, but the monk seemed to have visited it so often that he didn’t need to see the way. You on the other hand, had difficulties to follow him, without his knowing, and at the same time to not lose him from your sight. He entered the dark cave. The eco was bringing the sounds of dropping water. The air, unlike other caves along the river, was warm and stuffy; you could swear the water that was dropping on the grown was vaporized. After a minute of silent walk, you saw light up ahead. You got close to the wall, so your shadow won’t be visible and got closer to the well lighten chamber. In the gallery was burning big fire; on the walls were wooden racks with all kind of heavy weapons. You could see big barrows of gunpowder and oil on the opposite wall of the fire. The monk sat on a chair and started feeling some liquid in cucurbits, as it looked like. It wasn’t water. It was darker and with heavy smell, that was all around the room. You watched him for several minutes. After feeling the 3rd cucurbit, he got up and said to himself: “Let’s try it now.” He took a swig, and brought up a fire wave. You couldn’t believe your eyes, without noticing, your mouth slightly opened and you stepped back, which made a sound from the small rocks. He heard it and jump for the source of the sound. But you were long gone by then.
You told everything to Bankotsu when you returned. He was impressed by the new technique and asked you to lead him to the monk before he lives the cave. Running made you get to there for no time. You waited for him to come out of the cave. When he saw you two, he jumped back with mixed fear and anger written on his face.
“My friend here,” Bankotsu says when pointing you, “wants to test your new technique.”
You liked that you had to fight with him, and you knew this was one of those demonstrations. You took out your main dagger and gave it to Bankotsu. You took a battle position for attacking with hands and gave him a sign to attack.
“I’m not fighting,” he says and makes a step back.
“Too bad for you then,” Bankotsu says with a smirk. “Attack him first!”
[Mature (M) rating] You know I like to warn you guys. Go down untill you see my next notice if you are 16 or less, or you wish to not read such violence.
You jumped and attack him with a right-hand punch, but he jumps back. You hit him with your left hand from down of his chin. He flies back and falls on the dusty grown.
“Attack her before she kills you,” Bankotsu was enjoying himself.
“You are crazy,” the monk shouted.
“I can give you a break to go take some weapons,” you whisper with a smirk.
“You two are serious,” he trembled from fear.
“Attack me, and don’t worry for my safety,” you say and jump to hit him again, but he jumps up.
“Nice jump for a monk,” Bankotsu comments.
While still in the air he takes a swig from the cucurbit, which he takes out from his robe, and attacks you with his fire breath. You jump up, to avoid the fire and hit him down with your left hand. He falls on his legs 3 meters away from your landing spot.
“She is moving too much,” he though. “I can’t catch up to her speed. I’ll need to make her immobile.”
He took out something from his robe again, but you couldn’t see what, it was too dark and misty. He casts some fire at the river which creates even heavier mist and you lost sight of Bankotsu and the monk. You started looking around, and moving as less as possible, to be able to hear something approaching. Suddenly something flew for you, something thin like a needle. You heard how it went though the air. You raise your hand to block it with your iron bracelet (which had this purpose). You heard it fly around you after redirecting from your defender, but you still couldn’t see anything. Suddenly you found out you couldn’t move, since you were tide up in some kind of invisible metal strings. They smelled like oil. You knew where the other end of the strings is and you didn’t like it. You tried to get to one of your daggers to cut it, but it was impossible. You saw how the fire was coming close to your by the strings… Suddenly the strings loosen up and the fire faded in front of you. The mist also faded and you could see the 2 men.
[M-rating ends here] For the one who read it, I hope you liked it.
“That is enough of demonstration,” Bankotsu says.
He had cut the strings before the fire could get to you. You take off the leftovers of the strings and looked at the monk. His face was twisted in a smile. It seemed that the idea, that he will burn you to bones, made him happy. Bankotsu couldn’t help smiling.
“Welcome to the Shichinin-tai, my friend!” he says.
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