Chapter Text
Jakotsu leaned forward excitedly, ignoring Renkotsu’s annoyed glare. They were going to see him! Finally! It felt like ages that they’d been apart – even longer than the fifteen years! Kohaku had gone on ahead, apparently leading them to where Bankotsu had been staying all this time. Jakotsu was bouncing with excitement when they finally broke through the trees and he saw his brother again.
“Bankotsu!” he shouted, jumping off Ginkotsu and rushing forward.
“Hey!” Bankotsu called back, and grinned as he waved heartily at them. Jakotsu slammed into him and swept him up into a tight hug. Bankotsu burst out laughing and swung Jakotsu around – still unnaturally strong despite being the shortest one besides Mukotsu.
“Big Brother,” Renkotsu said respectfully, stepping down from Ginkotsu to kneel before him. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Hell yeah it is!” Bankotsu laughed, still clutching Jakotsu. “Man, it’s been forever! How have you guys been?”
Suikotsu glumly knelt down beside Renkotsu, but Jakotsu just bowed quickly before starting to play with Bankotsu’s long braided hair.
“We have been busy of late,” Renkotsu said coolly. “And now we are finally all here.”
Bankotsu frowned deeply. “Not all of us.”
Jakotsu’s hands stilled, and he caught Bankotsu’s questioning glance. “Yeah, about that,” he said softly.
“Big Brother,” Renkotsu started smoothly. “Kyokotsu and Mukotsu-”
“Were killed,” Bankotsu cut in somberly, but then he shrugged. “Couldn’t be helped. They were stupid to go out on their own like that.”
Renkotsu looked surprised. “You knew?”
“Anyway,” Bankotsu said, waving off any questions. He picked up an inkbrush and scroll and tossed it over. “Renkotsu, you’re the smart one. I want you to write something.”
Jakotsu grinned. Bankotsu was the only other one of them who knew how to read – though Mukotsu had known a little – but Renkotsu had always been the best with words. If Bankotsu wanted that skill, then he had something good planned.
“What should I write?” Renkotsu asked, dipping the brush in the pot that Bankotsu had nudged over.
“I dunno,” Bankotsu shrugged. “Something like ‘prepare for our unwavering vengeance,’ or ‘await our revenge as we claim what is ours,’ or something like that. You know, make it fancy.”
A thrill of excitement ran up Jakotsu’s spine. “We’re getting revenge?”
“You know it!” Bankotsu grinned, wrapping an arm around Jakotsu’s shoulders and steering him towards the cliff where he’d been sitting. It looked out over a large ravine, on the other side of which was a heavily armoured fortress. “You see that?”
“Yeah,” Jakotsu frowned. “Why? Should I know it?”
“Yeah, you should,” Bankotsu smirked. “The bastards in there are the ones who cut off our heads.”
Jakotsu whipped around to stare at him. “Oooh, we get to kill them? Yes! Yes! Oh, I want to burn that place to the ground.”
Bankotsu laughed heartily. “I thought you might. Once we’ve dealt with that, we can get on with the rest of our business.”
Jakotsu just watched him as he walked over to greet the others. He nodded over Renkotsu’s message, admired Ginkotsu’s new weapons, and cajoled Suikotsu until the sullen man finally smiled. He’d always been so good at that. That was why he was their leader – he could always keep them together, make them feel like a real brotherhood. It was what had drawn Jakotsu to him in the first place, back when they were both mercenaries that no one would hire, and bandits that didn’t have a band.
Jakotsu smiled to himself. Bankotsu had been the first one not to balk at his choice of clothes, to accept his lust for other men and encourage his infatuations. Jakotsu had known why the lords refused to have him in their armies. He’d never understood why they didn’t want Bankotsu, the young, charming man with noble heritage and unmatched strength. They’d said that there was a demon in him, but Jakotsu had never seen it. When they started travelling together, he’d seen nothing but the beauty of death that they could bring. They’d been unstoppable, just the two of them, and others had taken note. A monk with big ambitions. An herbalist who preferred poisons to cures. A doctor who got fed up with his patients being killed. A giant samurai that everyone feared. A blacksmith known for making the deadliest weapons around. They’d become the Shichinintai, the most feared force in all the lands. The lords that had turned them away came begging for their help.
Now that he thought about it, he remembered that castle, part mansion, part fortress. They’d just finished another job and had gone hunting for sport. Suikotsu had been in one of his moods and needed to hear some lowlifes beg for mercy before he tore them apart. Mukotsu had wanted to test out a new poison, too. It was a chance for the rest of them to get some easy fun in. Then that snooty general had showed up, demanding their assistance in taking the Eastern territory. Only the offer of as much payment as they wanted, and a promise that they’d be on the front line had convinced them. Jakotsu had been forced to kill the pretty young boy he’d been flirting with before he’d had his fun. On the way to the battle, Bankotsu had promised that they’d stop in a proper town soon enough to really enjoy their spoils. Still, Jakotsu could remember sulking as they’d headed to the fortress.
“It’s good luck that the other lords didn’t wipe out this one first,” Jakotsu found himself saying. Bankotsu broke off his conversation with Ginkotsu and looked at him. “I hear they’ve been as busy killing each other as always. They could have easily stolen our revenge out from under us.”
“Even if they did, we’d still have a fight on our hands,” Bankotsu shrugged. “They’ve got my treasure in there. I need to get it back.”
“Ah,” Jakotsu nodded. “That explains it. Can’t Kohaku get it back for you? Or do you want the pleasure all to yourself?”
Bankotsu grinned. “I need to stretch my legs a bit.”
“Big brother,” Renkotsu called, holding out the scroll. “What do you think of this?”
Bankotsu grabbed the letter and read over it, an excited smile spreading across his face. “Aw, hell yeah! I knew I could count on you. Kohaku!” The boy materialized from the trees. “Bring this over to the castle. Make sure they see it.”
Kohaku frowned slightly. “Me?”
“Well, yeah,” Bankotsu looked at him strangely. “You’re a spy, aren’t you? Or a ninja?”
“No, I…” Kohaku paused, and he seemed to deflate a little. “I’ll take it.”
Jakotsu watched him leap off the cliff, skillfully sliding down using his weapon to break his fall. “Take care, Kohaku!” he called after him. “And come back soon!”
He caught Bankotsu smiling at him. “You’ve got a new fancy?” he teased gently.
“Nah, it’s not like that,” Jakotsu grinned. Bankotsu was the only one that would actually talk with him about these things. “I just like the kid. Besides, I cannot stray from my love!”
Bankotsu’s brows lifted. “Oh?”
“His name is Inuyasha,” Jakotsu said dreamily, leaning into Bankotsu. “Oh, you should see him! He has the most beautiful long white hair and these adorable fuzzy dog ears – oh, and he’s so handsome, Bankotsu!”
“Inuyasha, huh?” Bankotsu smirked. “Isn’t that one of the people we’re supposed to kill?”
“Sadly so,” Jakotsu sighed. “And I’ve fought him a few times already. Mm, he really gets me going!”
Bankotsu chuckled and shoved at Jakotsu’s shoulder. “Man, you really can pick ‘em.” His expression fell slightly as he glance over at the others. “And how have things been going?” he asked quietly.
“Oh, you know,” Jakotsu shrugged. “Renkotsu’s being bossy. Suikotsu got attached to a bunch of kids again, and we didn’t manage to kill ‘em. Ginkotsu seems happy with his cannons, though.”
“At least most of us are back,” Bankotsu said softly. “It would have been nice to have the whole band back together.”
“Are we going to the fortress soon?” Jakotsu asked, redirecting into something more interesting.
“Probably tomorrow,” Bankotsu grinned. “We want to give them a chance to prepare first, after all.”
“Prepare?” Renkotsu asked doubtfully, looking up from where he was fixing one of Ginkotsu’s rifles.
“Yeah,” Bankotsu said, following Ginkotsu’s gaze to where a small white butterfly was flittering amongst the flowers. “I want them to know we’re coming. I want them to scramble, and to know that no matter what they do to prepare, it won’t make any difference.”
He jumped into the air and caught the butterfly by the wings between his finger and thumb. He walked right up to Ginkotsu’s face and held it out for him to see. Ginkotsu sighed softly as he looked at it.
“You want to eat it?” Bankotsu asked, but Ginkotsu shot him an affronted look. “Oh, my mistake.”
He laughed easily at himself and held the butterfly for Ginkotsu for a while longer, until Ginkotsu nodded with a happy grumble.
“Besides,” Bankotsu said, jumping down and continuing their earlier conversation. “I want my thousand.”
Jakotsu grinned ruefully. While he’d been happy to rip people apart and collect on the spoils, Bankotsu had always had a goal. His biggest complaint when they’d been sentenced to death was that he hadn’t killed as many people as he’d wanted. It was time to change that.
~*~
It had taken them all day to reach the foot of Mount Hakurei. Not only was Kirara too weak to fly them, but Miroku and Sango couldn’t move too quickly yet, and they’d both refused to let Inuyasha carry them with his injuries still healing. To make matters worse, the closer they got to the mountain, the more Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kirara started to suffer. The spiritual powers sat heavy in the air, prickling along their skin, churning in their guts and draining their energy. Miroku carried Shippo as the kit became faint, and Sango had Kirara tucked against her chest. Inuyasha had been pale and grim-faced since morning.
“It’s just as Kikyo said,” Miroku murmured, looking up at the looming mountain. A faint barrier shimmered through the air. “It’s in the ground and the air and the plants. The spiritual power is…intense.” He glanced over at the others. “How are you all doing?”
Kirara mewled softly and buried her head into Sango’s robes, her fur bristling. Shippo groaned.
“We won’t be able to stay here long,” Sango grimaced.
“I should be able to break through,” Inuyasha grumbled, stepping forward. He grunted as the spiritual power crackled along his skin, eating away at his youki until he stumbled back with a gasp.
“Inuyasha, stop,” Miroku said, catching hold of his shoulder. “You’ll only hurt yourself. If you manage to break through, what then? It will destroy your youki. Would you even be able to use Tessaiga?” He watched the hanyou glance down guiltily at the sword. “It’s not worth it.”
“But this barrier is protecting something,” Inuyasha muttered.
“It could just be the force of the mountain’s purification,” Miroku suggested, though he silently doubted it. “But I have to wonder. Everything so far has been leading us towards this place. Do you think it’s possible that Naraku could be hiding inside?”
“No way,” Inuyasha snapped. “The mountain would purify him instantly if he so much as stepped foot on its grounds.”
“I suppose your right,” Miroku admitted. “He wouldn’t be able to get in on his own.” He shared a glance with Sango while still speaking to Inuyasha. “But what now? You three shouldn’t stay here for much longer. It’s making you ill.”
“We have no business here,” Inuyasha shrugged gruffly. “Naraku can’t be here, and the Shichinintai isn’t here, so let’s go. We’ll track down those monsters and rip them to shreds before we find Naraku.”
Sango shot a grimace at Miroku. Neither of them liked leaving the mountain unexplored, but Inuyasha was unlikely to accept their proposition of splitting up. Especially when every member of their pack was in a weakened state.
“Perhaps if we can find where the Shichinintai have been, they can lead us to Naraku,” Miroku suggested. “Or at least Kohaku might be there.”
Sango nodded firmly. “No matter what else we do, I need to see him again.”
“Come on,” Inuyasha said, swinging Sango onto his back and gesturing for Miroku to join her. “I want to get out of here.”
They headed back the way they’d come. At first Inuyasha kept on sniffing the air, trying to pick up any scent of the Shichinintai, but even as they left the mountain behind, he found that he was exhausted. With the pounding in his head fading, he was smothered by the pain and nausea coming from Shippo and Kirara, and the stress coming from Miroku and Sango. He slowed to a stop in a clearing by a river and let them down off his back. He looked them over appraisingly, and he sighed.
“We need to rest,” he admitted. “We’re in no shape to face the Shichinintai, especially since they heal so quickly.”
Neither Miroku nor Sango protested at all, and gratefully sank down to the ground with their backs against some trees. Inuyasha began gathering firewood for them, and sent Shippo off to do some fishing – the kit was still a little uncomfortable around fires. They were all quiet as they ate the roasted fish and roots. Inuyasha kept on glancing around suspiciously, even the slightest noise making his heart pound. It just didn’t feel right – and it wasn’t just because of the strange power from the mountain. The Shichinintai could attack at any moment. They could be watching his pack without him noticing. The fear that had been swirling around him ever since Mukotsu was rearing its head once more.
Sango wrapped herself and Shippo up in a blanket, and Kirara purred beside them, not quite asleep yet. Thankfully her wounds had stopped bleeding, but they were still far from healed. They would need to watch out for her, and make sure she didn’t drain herself. Speaking of which… Miroku longed to lie down, his eyes sticky with exhaustion, but Inuyasha clearly needed to talk. So he snapped off small twigs from one of the branches Inuyasha had found and fed them one-by-one to the fire. It didn’t take long for him to feel a heavy gaze settle on him.
“You should go to sleep,” Inuyasha murmured.
“I would love to,” Miroku met his eyes solidly. “Will you join me?”
As he suspected, Inuyasha’s ears flattened and he turned away. “I need to keep watch tonight.”
Miroku frowned. “You must be tired as well, though. At least let us sleep in shifts.”
Inuyasha shook his head firmly. “You and Sango still need to recover, and Kirara needs her rest if she’s gonna be able to fly us around anytime soon. Besides,” he shifted guiltily. “I won’t be sleeping no matter what.”
“Anything you want to talk about?” Miroku asked gently, propping up his head with one hand. When Inuyasha made a noncommittal sound, he tried again. “Anything I can do?”
Inuyasha grimaced. “Just get some rest. I’ll feel better once you and Sango are better.”
Miroku shifted his features into his best negotiation face. “And what if you joined me for the night? You don’t have to sleep, but you can still be my pillow.”
Inuyasha pretended to consider the proposition for a moment before he shuffled over to Miroku’s side. He grabbed the blankets that Sango wasn’t using and wrapped them around the monk, his arms soon following suit as he nestled them against the forest floor. Sure enough, Miroku’s head was pillowed on his chest, and he began rubbing gentle circles along the monk’s back.
“I’m worried about Kikyo,” he said haltingly. “She seems to be chasing after Naraku just like we are, and I’m worried she’ll do something stupid like go after him on her own. And I don’t like the fact that she can be cut off from her soul collectors. Naraku could use that against her.”
“It’s possible,” Miroku admitted. “But as you said, nothing with youki should be able to pass into Mount Hakurei. Naraku wouldn’t be able to send anyone but Kohaku into there as a trap, and I don’t think he could take down Kikyo.”
“He could use the Shichinintai,” Inuyasha muttered. “That might be why he brought them back to begin with.”
Miroku nodded slowly. “Maybe, but there’s nothing we can do until we know for sure. Besides, she said that she would stay in that village for a while.”
“I guess,” Inuyasha said, and sighed deeply before hugging Miroku closer. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be bothering you with this, especially with Kikyo.”
Miroku shifted so that he could meet his partner’s eyes. “You can talk to me about anything, and that includes Kikyo. I know that she’s somewhat of a sensitive topic for both of us, but I trust you, and I know that she won’t come between us.”
Inuyasha pulled him in for a kiss, then pressed their brows together. “It still feels so weird seeing you two together. I can’t help but remember all the times she’s threatened you. I should want to kill her because of that.”
“But you love her,” Miroku pointed out. “Things don’t always make sense in love.”
They were both silent for another moment, and Inuyasha’s hands continued stroking up and down Miroku’s back and sides.
“I don’t, though,” Inuyasha said quietly. “I mean, I guess I do, and I definitely still care about her even though I know I shouldn’t. But, it’s mostly in the way that I also care about Sango and Shippo and Kirara.” He met Miroku’s gaze with stark sincerity. “I still have feelings for her, but I’m not in love with her. I want you to know that.”
“I do,” Miroku smiled gently, and pulled him in for an embrace. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“And she’s doing better, isn’t she?” Inuyasha asked nervously. “She’s helping us now, and I heard you call out for her yesterday. You think we can trust her?”
He sounded so lost and hesitant that Miroku’s heart ached.
“Her anger towards you was because she thought you’d betrayed her,” Miroku said calmly. “After she learned about Naraku, she learned to let go of the animosity towards you. It’s been harder for her anger towards me, because I’ve essentially taken you away from her. Anyone would be upset by that, and I feel for her. I’m honestly amazed that she’s been able to let that go as well, at least mostly. I don’t necessarily trust her enough to want her as a constant travel companion, but we’re definitely fighting on the same side. It just took a while to figure that out.”
Inuyasha sighed and pressed his face into Miroku’s hair. “I still don’t know how to feel about her.”
“You don’t have to figure it out just yet,” Miroku reminded him gently. “There’s so much else going on. We should just be grateful to have another ally. You two can have a long conversation once Naraku’s gone.”
“Oh, that will be fun,” Inuyasha drawled, glad that Miroku couldn’t see his expression. It hadn’t been all that long ago that he was fully prepared to follow Kikyo into the afterlife. If, by some miracle they all survived Naraku’s demise, he had no idea how he would feel. He knew that he didn’t want to leave Miroku, and he was long past choosing anyone over his monk. But…If she survived, and she asked him to go with her, what would he say? He didn’t know. He was pretty sure that if he had to break her heart, to betray her for real, it might destroy him.
~*~
If Naraku was using Mount Hakurei in whatever new scheme he’d come up with, then he was probably keeping the Shichinintai relatively close by. So they decided to make a pass around the outskirts of the mountain, to see if they could find any hints of the band, Naraku, or Kouga’s pack. They set off in the direction that the Shichinintai had gone after the fight, though there was no guarantee that they were still there. As the morning wore on, and nothing came of their search, they decided to slow down their pace in the hopes of not missing anything. None of their hearts were truly in it. As soon as Inuyasha picked up the scent of a village nearby, Shippo launched into a familiar speech on why they should stop there for sweets. The others ignored him entirely even as they started towards the houses. Inuyasha put up his usual argument on how Shippo needed to start acting like a demon instead of a spoiled human child. Miroku interjected with hums and nods of agreement at the appropriate times, already counting up how much they could afford to spend. He didn’t fail to notice Shippo watching him from his perch on his shoulder, looking incredibly smug.
As they cut through the village, though, an old man called out to them from his house.
“Stop!” he shouted. “What do you think you’re doing, showing your faces outside? Those men from the castle will snatch you before you can blink?”
“Will they?” Miroku asked, instantly wary. “Has a conscription been enacted?”
“Not even,” the old man sighed as he stepped out to meet them. “The daimyo’s lost his mind. He sent out his soldiers the night before last to drag any able-bodied man to the castle. Apparently he received some threat, and it has him terrified. His men are gathering more and more people for the guard, and there’s no exceptions for travellers.”
Miroku shared a glance with Inuyasha and Sango. “Thank you for telling us. We’ll keep it in mind.”
“Do you happen to know what the threat is?” Sango asked.
“Depends who you ask,” the old man said wryly. “Some say that his prize treasure will be stolen. Others say it’s the spirits of the many people he’s killed who have come back to haunt him. Whatever it is, he believes it’s true.”
“We’ll be careful,” Miroku said, bowing quickly before they hurried away. He shared a wry glance with the others. “That sounds conveniently suspicious.”
“It could just be more human nonsense,” Inuyasha offered, though he looked unconvinced.
“I suppose we have to check it out regardless,” Sango sighed.
“But wait,” Shippo said, tugging on Miroku’s robes with an earnest expression. “Does this mean we can’t stop for sweets?”
The others chuckled and Miroku and Sango were about to reassure him – and Inuyasha opened his mouth to tease him – when something in the air shifted. Inuyasha’s head snapped over to a ridge running along the far end of the village, which had been converted into a wide pathway. Wide enough for several heavily-armed samurai to ride on horseback, apparently.
“You there!” the lead samurai called down to them. He was dressed in a General’s uniform. “Who are you?”
“Just travellers,” Miroku said, passing Shippo over to Sango before cautiously making his way closer to the men.
“Travellers, huh?” the General scowled down at him. “A bunch of demons shouldn’t be wandering around in broad daylight. I know you’re up to no good.”
Inuyasha growled and took a threatening step forward. “What’re you-”
Miroku held up a hand and sent him a quelling look. He turned back to the General with a calm but hard expression. “We have done nothing wrong, and we don’t want any trouble. By your leave, we’ll be on our way.”
“Not so fast!” the General barked. “We have orders to bring anyone we find to the castle.”
Miroku’s brows lifted on their own. “Is that so?”
“Not the demons,” the General said as though it was obvious. “Just you.”
Miroku bit down a smile. He could feel Sango seething behind him at not being mentioned, and only sheer force of will was keeping her from ripping these men a new one. “I’m a Buddhist monk. I will not and cannot be a soldier.”
The General sneered. “Do you think I give a shit, boy?”
Inuyasha snarled and stalked to Miroku’s side. The General’s horse reared in fright. The man shouted and lifted his spear, and thrust it at Inuyasha. He and Miroku both jumped back, and Inuyasha drew Tessaiga.
“You bastard!” he shouted, held back only by Miroku’s hand on his arm. “You’ll just go around attacking people for no reason? You slimy, bloodthirsty-”
“Silence!” the General spat. “Get out of my sight at once. I won’t be so lenient next time.”
He kicked his horse into action, and the rest of the samurai followed him as he continued along the path. Inuyasha growled after them, hackles raised, but not a tinge of red in his eyes. Miroku pulled him into an embrace and smiled into his neck. When they pulled apart, the old man was standing further in the village, cheering for them.
“I take it they’ve been unkind to this village,” Sango said as she walked over to him.
“I’m afraid so,” the old man sighed, deflating slightly. “They took my son. They’ve taken everyone that could hold a spear. All over this Shichinintai nonsense.”
Sango resisted the urge to groan loudly, even though it was exactly what they’d been looking for. “The Shichinintai? You know about them here?”
“But of course!” the man said in surprise. “Why, the daimyo was the one who had them killed, back when he was the General!”
“How did he manage that?” Miroku asked.
“The Shichinintai had challenged the daimyo before, and killed some of his men when they worked for another lord. They had no loyalty, you see, except to each other. They would work for whoever had the money to hire them. So when they agreed to work for the daimyo here, he sent them into a trap. They escaped several armies that went after them, but eventually they were captured in the mountains and brought to the daimyo’s castle to be executed.” The old man leaned in conspiratorially. “This isn’t to be repeated, but he became the daimyo afterwards mostly on the reputation he’d gained from capturing them. He still has the leader’s sword displayed in his great hall, to remind everyone of his power.”
“And now he’s terrified that the Shichinintai are coming for him,” Inuyasha huffed, crossing his arms. “They can have at it as far as I’m concerned.”
The old man’s face paled. “I don’t know what threat may be coming for the daimyo, but I pray that it isn’t serious. He will send out my son and all the other boys he’s stolen, and he won’t care if they’re slaughtered in his defense.”
Miroku set his jaw and nodded at the others. “Then we will pay the daimyo a visit and see what’s going on.”
“Don’t even think about it,” the old man warned earnestly. “If you go near the castle now, you’ll be killed!”
Inuyasha snorted. “I’d like to see them try.”
They left the old man with the promise to do whatever they could to help free his son and all the other men from their conscription. They couldn’t help but feel like it was a trap. Why the hell would the Shichinintai send warning? And why would Naraku send them after some human castle? What did he have to gain?
~*~
“There it is,” Bankotsu grinned as the fortress came into view through the trees.
“It makes me sick,” Suikotsu muttered, and spat on the ground.
“Same here,” Jakotsu scowled. “But that will make killing them all the sweeter.”
“Serves them right for treating us so cruelly,” Bankotsu nodded. “Their tricks were cowardly and dishonourable! And they called us the monsters.”
Jakotsu remembered that as well, the samurai standing around them, telling them that they didn’t even pass for humans after what they’d done. Like their actions made a difference. Just because they’d become the strongest warriors around, suddenly they weren’t good enough or something? At least they’d always fought fair, more or less. Not like those sneaky assholes, lying and trapping them. The General must have known that they wanted to be the advanced guard – because who wouldn’t?! Going in alone, they didn’t have to worry about who they hit or bother with any stupid orders. They could just kill. But that stupid, lying, worthless General had sent them into an ambush, surrounded on all sides by the armies from seven different lords! At least they were right about one thing – nothing less than an army for each of them was enough to bring them down.
Jakotsu glanced back at Renkotsu, who’d been quiet as they made their way to the fortress. That day, on their way to what they thought would be another good old battle, was the first time that Renkotsu had said anything about working for something more. He’d asked Bankotsu about becoming a daimyo, maybe even shogun someday. Bankotsu had laughed it off, saying it’d just be a pain. Then he turned the question back on Renkotsu. He’d denied wanting anything to do with it either, but something about it had rubbed Jakotsu the wrong way. Why the hell would they do anything other than what they were already doing? That politics nonsense sounded so boring, anyway! What was wrong with just killing people? Most of their brothers had said the same, but Bankotsu had offered to help Renkotsu if he wanted. All Bankotsu wanted was to get his thousand kills.
“Hey, Bankotsu,” Jakotsu said. “What was your count before we died? I remember you being pissed about how close you were.”
“Nine hundred and ninety-nine,” Bankotsu grinned. “And that’s why the four of you are going to take the lead once we get to the fortress. I’m saving my thousand for that bastard who betrayed us.”
Jakotsu threw his head back and laughed. “Now that’s what I like to hear!”
“Just make sure you don’t mess up and kill him instead,” Bankotsu said, only half-teasing.
“Please,” Jakotsu scoffed. “Like we’d ever mess up a real battle!”
“That coward will probably be hiding in the armpit of his fortress, anyway,” Suikotsu growled, flexing his metal claws.
“I’ll race you to him,” Jakotsu challenged, finally getting a smile out of Suikotsu.
“You two go ahead,” Renkotsu said flatly. “Ginkotsu and I will focus on bringing down the walls.”
“Sounds like we have a plan!” Bankotsu smirked as they pushed through the treeline.
The shouts from the guards were immediate. They were swarming around the walls, screaming and pointing and afraid. Excellent.
“Stop, there!” a samurai shouted down at them from the wall, while a group of guards rushed forwards from the main entrance. “Identify yourself.”
Bankotsu nodded at Jakotsu. “Feel like making the introduction?”
Jakotsutō struck in a wide arc, slicing the group of guards in two. Suikotsu laughed.
“We’re the Band of Seven,” Bankotsu said pleasantly up to the samurai. “And we’re here as promised. Now, what have you done with my treasure?”
“Surround him!” the samurai barked, and even more guards rushed forward. Some had spears or arrows, but most were armed with nothing but bo staffs. After all that preparation, they wouldn’t even put up a real challenge!
“Well, there you have it,” Bankotsu sighed, crossing his arms. “I guess we’ll have to go in and get it ourselves.”
Ginkotsu’s cannon punched a hole through the fortress wall. Jakotsu shoved at Suikotsu’s shoulder and took off, laughing as he followed suit. They fell like blades of grass. Screams filled the air, punctuated by the occasional boom of a cannon. Jakotsu glanced back to see fire growing around the outside of the fortress, trapping everyone inside. Good. No one would escape.
He and Suikotsu left Renkotsu and Ginkotsu in the courtyard to catch the stragglers. Inside the main house, Jakotsutō could cut through walls and people alike, tearing through any barriers that came between them and that stupid daimyo. A group of samurai stood between them and a chamber deep inside the mansion. Jakotsu let Suikotsu have at them first, just to be fair, before he ripped through the walls. Bankotsu gave him an approving nod and stepped into the chambers.
“Yo!” he called out to the daimyo who was cowering inside. “There you are. Did you get my letter?”
“Guards!” the daimyo shouted frantically. “Guards!”
Suikotsu grabbed one of the last men standing and tossed him in the air for Jakotsutō to catch.
“Wait!” the daimyo shouted as Bankotsu walked towards him. “You’re after the sword, right? I’ll give it to you! And I have money-”
“Hey, Banryuu!” Bankotsu said excitedly. He pushed past the daimyo and lifted the giant sword from its perch on the wall. It was even bigger than Jakotsu remembered. With their newfound strength from those weird pink Jewel things, Bankotsu would probably want to make it even bigger still.
“How is that possible?” the daimyo gasped as Bankotsu lifted Banryuu triumphantly above his head. “It took three men just to carry it in here! How can-”
“Oh, don’t you know?” Bankotsu smiled at him. “We’re the Shichinintai.”
The daimyo swallowed thickly. “What do you want?” he whispered.
Bankotsu sighed. “Didn’t you read my letter? Revenge! ‘Unwavering vengeance’ or whatever it was.”
“I can offer you something greater,” the daimyo said desperately. “I don’t care if you’re a specter – serve me! I will pay you everything! Together we can conquer the world!”
Banryuu levelled at the man’s head. “The only thing you can offer me is your neck, number one thousand.”
The daimyo seemed confused. “One thousand?”
Banryuu swung, and the daimyo’s head toppled to the ground.
“Nice!” Jakotsu cheered. “Finally!”
“Hell yeah,” Bankotsu said, running his hand along Banryuu’s blade. “They took great care of this. It’s so shiny!”
“Big brother!” Renkotsu called from the courtyard. “We’re almost done here, right?”
“I’ve got what I wanted,” Bankotsu shrugged. “You all have fun.”
And they did.
~*~
“There are more Jewel shards than ever before,” Miroku said urgently as Kirara sped through the air.
“This much blood and smoke can only mean an attack,” Inuyasha snarled, racing even faster through the trees. “They must have slaughtered half the castle by now!”
“What do you think Naraku’s plan is this time?” Sango asked quietly, glancing back at Miroku. “Have us killed by the Shichinintai? Or is this another diversion?”
“I suppose we’ll find out,” Miroku said grimly. He picked Shippo up from his shoulder. “You’re going to stay back. Do not come to the castle unless we call you. If you don’t hear from us, find Kouga or even Sesshomaru. Alright?”
Shippo’s eyes were wide and frightened. “Don’t let yourselves be killed, please! I can’t- I mean, what if-”
“We’ll be fine,” Miroku promised firmly. “But you have to go, now!”
Shippo launched from his arms and floated up into the sky in his pink orb form. Sango let out a breath and tightened her grip on Kirara’s fur.
“What about you?” she asked the twin-tail. “Are you well enough to fight?”
Kirara grumbled unenthusiastically. Ideally, she wouldn’t be even flying for another day or two, but that would require a level of control over their lives that simply didn’t exist. For better or worse, and as weakened as they were, they had to fall into Naraku’s trap.
~*~
“I found some!” Jakotsu called over to the others.
Bankotsu looked up from where he was cleaning off Banryuu and smiled. “Finally! See, I told you we shoulda left someone alive to serve us drinks – or at least lead us to them.”
“How was I supposed to resist?” Jakotsu complained, setting down the barrel of saké next to him. “I got excited!”
Bankotsu laughed and broke open the barrel before pouring them both a drink. He leaned back and stretched, enjoying himself. Jakotsu wanted to be that relaxed, but something was bothering him.
“How long are we gonna stay here?” he asked, gulping down the drink. “I wanna see Inuyasha as soon as possible.”
“Don’t worry,” Bankotsu assured. “I’m sure he’ll find us sooner or later.”
“He’s a dog demon,” Renkotsu added from where he was cleaning out Ginkotsu’s cannons. “He will be able to follow the scent of blood here.”
“There you have it!” Bankotsu patted Jakotsu on the back. “You’ll get your chance to play with him again.”
Renkotsu was watching them with an unreadable expression. “But Big Brother, aren’t you worried about Naraku?”
Bankotsu frowned. “What about him?”
“We still don’t know what he wants from us,” Renkotsu said. “Why did he go to the trouble of reviving us?”
“He wants us to kill whatever’s standing in his way,” Bankotsu shrugged. “Like Inuyasha and Kouga and whoever else. It’s the same as anyone else who’s hired us, just with extra steps.”
“Then why is he keeping us from meeting him?” Renkotsu pushed. “Brother, you’re the only one who’s even spoken directly to him.”
“What does it matter?” Bankotsu said, a little more harshly than before. “We’re back, and we get to keep on doing what we did before. We’re allowed to keep all the loot we want from whoever we attack, and we can kill whoever so long as that includes Naraku’s enemies. Isn’t that good enough for you?”
“Of course,” Renkotsu said quickly, looking away. Jakotsu watched him, trying to figure out what was going on. But Bankotsu went back to his drink, and Renkotsu went back to Ginkotsu.
“Ugh,” Jakotsu groaned. “I hope Inuyasha gets here soon.”
“I wonder what Naraku did to piss off so many demons,” Bankotsu muttered as he sheathed Banryuu. He glanced at Jakotsu. “You think we can trust him?”
“What’re you asking me for?” he frowned. “You’re the one who’s met him.”
“Yeah, but Renkotsu’s got a point, as usual. It’s kinda weird that he’s hiding behind Kohaku. And what even is he? No human would have that many demons around him.”
“I mean, people are saying we’re not human anymore,” Jakotsu shrugged. “It doesn’t make any difference to me.”
“I guess.” Bankotsu looked over the rest of their brothers, humming to himself. “Hey, Suikotsu! Anything yet?”
“Something’s coming,” Suikotsu called back from the remains of the gate. “But it’s not the dog.”
Jakotsu hurried to his side, and saw a twister of dust flying towards them. Huh, that looked vaguely familiar.
“Oh!” he exclaimed excitedly. “At least that’s something.”
The twister burst apart in front of the fortress walls, and an angry-looking wolf demon glared at them.
“Hey, Koga!” he waved at him. “How’s it going?”
“You bastards!” Kouga growled. He could see the bodies of dozens of humans strewn across the courtyard, all sliced to pieces or blown apart. And these monsters didn’t seem to care. A bolt of guilt twisted his gut as he realized that, before meeting Miroku, he wouldn’t have cared either. The bodies would have been nothing more than an easy meal for his wolves. Now, things were different.
“You’re the Shichinintai, aren’t you?” he asked, trying to stall while the rest of his pack caught up.
“Who would have thought,” one of the specters said casually, walking over and leaning his elbow on Jakotsu with a bowl of saké in his other hand. “The wolf got here faster than the dog.”
He was shorter than Jakotsu, and looked barely old enough to be considered an adult. His long hair was braided all the way down his back, and he had a sword strapped to him that was even bigger than Inuyasha’s. Most insultingly, he and the rest of his gang all had markings painted on them that mimicked demon symbols. The nerve. They didn’t have the right!
“I know you’re working with Naraku,” Kouga growled, balling his hands into fists. “Where is he?”
The shorter one scratched his head thoughtfully. “Dunno. I’m not the right person to ask.”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll kill you!” Kouga snarled, baring his teeth.
The man didn’t even bother to look worried. Kouga leapt at him, but his fist connected with the blade of Jakotsu’s sword before it could punch through the man’s head – and he hadn’t even bothered to move. He met Kouga’s eyes steadily and took another drink of saké. Jakotsu’s sword snapped back and struck for him again, and only the speed from the Jewel shards kept him from being stabbed through.
“Our fight was only half done,” Jakotsu said pointedly. Kouga glared beyond him to where three other specters had gathered.
“I’m already finished with you!” he spat, and threw himself past Jakotsu towards the others. There was a metallic thud, and then a boom like thunder split the air. Kouga launched himself up as high as he could, and the stone wall exploded to his right.
“He dodged it?” muttered the bald specter with purple streaks down his face. He was standing on the platform that seemed to support the body of another of the Shichinintai, who looked more weapon than human.
“You bet I dodged it!” Kouga shouted. “And I’ll dodge my foot right up your-”
“I get it,” the short one, who seemed to be the leader, cut him off. “You wouldn’t be able to put up such a fight without those Jewel fragments in your legs.”
Kouga swore quietly as he instinctively stepped further away.
“Naraku wanted me to bring those back to him,” the leader continued.
He reached behind him and pulled out the giant sword. Despite it being almost as tall as the man himself, he was able to wield it with one hand. Kouga leapt and landed on the roof above them, out of reach of all the stupid weird-looking swords. But then the specters smirked as one, and another explosion split the air. Kouga was thrown to the ground along with most of the remains of the stone wall.
He’d barely landed before the largest specter was rushing him, strange metal claws attached to his gloves barely missing his neck. Kouga barely dodged out of the way before Jakotsu’s sword flashed out and cut across his thigh. He tried to scramble back, and the leader’s giant sword crashed into him. It bit deep into his side and flung him back into the rubble. He saw the giant sword swinging down on him, but his leg had buckled and he couldn’t get out of the way.
The screech of metal-on-metal filled the air as Tessaiga struck the giant sword dead in the air, stopping it a hair’s breadth from Kouga’s face. Kouga stared up at Inuyasha, gasping out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding.
“Here you are,” Inuyasha growled as he pushed Tessaiga further against the other sword. “I’ve found you at last, you monsters.”