Finally the third chapter of the first story in my Renkotsu/Suikotsu trilogy. In looking for a place to stay while Suikotsu recovers from his fever, the Shichinintai come up upon a very familiar village with a very interesting past involving a half demon. This story is of course pre-resurrection.


Hehe! I've always wanted to draw a pick of Jakotsu tweaking Inuyasha's ears just like Kagome did!

Enjoy!

<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER


***

The Shichinintai continued down the road to the next town. Jakotsu was leading the horse by the reins, Suikotsu was bent forward catching some much needed sleep, and Renkotsu was holding on to Suikotsu's side to make sure he did not fall off. Kyokotsu was following closely behind them with Mukotsu riding on his shoulders to cover the rear of the group. Up in front Bankotsu and Ginkotsu were keeping a sharp eye out for danger.

Suikotsu began sliding towards Renkotsu it as the movements of the horse were manipulating his position. Renkotsu raised both hands to help push him back into place.

“Huhn?” Suikotsu murmured, waking up a little.

“You were starting to fall off, just put yourself back into place.” Renkotsu whispered gently.

Suikotsu nodded and settled back into the saddle. “Thanks.” He smiled gratefully.

“Well, we wouldn’t want you to fall and crack your skull on the ground would we?” Renkotsu’s gentle smile betrayed his sarcastic remark.

“Nope, we wouldn’t” Suikotsu grin tiredly.

Jakotsu giggled quietly to himself at the scene, but made no comment as he did not want to interrupt the moment.

“You know I think that's the longest that Renkotsu and Jakotsu have been in that close a proximity and not gotten into a fight” Bankotsu smirked, looking back at them.

Ginkotsu glanced over his shoulder. “Gesh. Is because Renkotsu is making cow eyes at Suikotsu.”

Bankotsu stopped and burst out laughing, almost loosing his grip on Banryuu. This caused everyone to stop and stare at their leader in confusion.

“Bankotsu Oo-aniki? What is it?” Renkotsu quirked an eyebrow at his leader, Jakotsu looked equally confused.

“Nothing, nothing.” Bankotsu tried to stifle his giggles.

***

Kaede was a little startled when there was a sudden loud knock on her door just as she was trying to go to sleep.

“Anyone in there?” a voice called from directly outside the door.

“Just a moment.” Kaede called back as she quickly put on her red miko hakama.

She opened the door expecting to see one of her villagers telling her that someone was ill; she did not expect to see the infamous destroyers of cities the Shichinintai.

“One of my men is ill and we need a place to spend the night, is there an inn in this village, miko-sama?” Bankotsu stated with the utmost formality.

Kaede swallowed hard, this situation was a double-edged sword. If she took them in, they might cause trouble in her village, not mention her village might be threatened by the region’s daimyo for harboring these dangerous warriors. On the other hand if she turned them away they might destroy her village out of spite.

“Our village is too small for an inn, but you are welcome to stay in my home, as long as your intentions are truly peaceful.” Kaede matched Bankotsu’s formality.

“They are, ma'am.” Bankotsu nodded affirmatively, and then looked over at his comrades. “Miko-san said we could spend the night with her as long as you behave.”

“As good as little angels” Jakotsu chirped.

***

Suikotsu awoke and felt his forehead. His fever had returned. The exertion from his fighting had weakened him enough to allow the sickness to gain another foothold.

“Suikotsu?” Renkotsu who lying nearest to him, quietly got up and crept over to him.

“My fever has come back…” Suikotsu groaned quietly.

Renkotsu’s eyes widened a little in alarm. “Shit! Do you want me to wake Mukotsu?”

“No, there’s not much he can do.” Suikotsu murmured dully. “Could you get me some water please?”

Renkotsu nodded and got up. After a few minutes he spotted a jug of water in the corner of the room. He carefully and quietly made his way over to it, and poured a cup for Suikotsu.

“Here,” Renkotsu sat back down next to Suikotsu. “Can you sit up?”

Suikotsu, shakily and stiffly sat up. “Thank you…”

Renkotsu gently put an arm around him to steady him while he drank. “You’re welcome.”

In response to the arm being around his shoulders, Suikotsu leaned in a little more toward Renkotsu. “I’ve…I’ve never been this sick before.” He whispered when he finished drinking.

“Come to think of it, you’re right.” Renkotsu shifted Suikotsu little so he would be more comfortable. “You’re the one who is always taking care of us.”

“It’s frightening. My heart is beating so fast, but I fear it might break down and stop at any moment.” Suikotsu shuddered. Automatically Renkotsu pulled him a little closer.

“You’ll be all right. Don’t panic.” Renkotsu sated calmly, but firmly.

Suikotsu put his hands over his face. “Ugh…It’s the fever. It’s making me irrational.”

“Iie. You’re just tired.” Renkotsu whispered, unconsciously allowing his thumb to gently stroke Suikotsu’s shoulder.

Suikotsu lowered his hands and gently rested his head on Renkotsu’s chest. “Thank you…”

Renkotsu felt his heart rate quicken and his cheeks flush as Suikotsu rested his head against him, but managed to keep his voice formal and steady. “No problem... Feeling better?”

“Less afraid.” Suikotsu murmured, closing his eyes. “Thank you for your strength.”

For one of the few times in his life, Renkotsu found a complete lack of words to say. He decided just one to let down the walls of formality around his carefully guarded heart. When next he spoke, there was no trace of the distancing formality in his voice.

“You're welcome...now get some sleep...” He whispered softly, resting his cheek on top of Suikotsu’s head, pulling him a little closer.

***

Ginkotsu opened his one working eye, as the morning light poured in through the window. From his vantage point leaning on the wall next to the doorway, he spotted a sight he did not expect to see that morning. On the wall adjacent to his he saw Renkotsu and Suikotsu leaning against it, all cuddled up together. Renkotsu had his head resting on Suikotsu’s and his arm around the other man’s shoulders. Meanwhile, Suikotsu had his head resting on Renkotsu’s shoulder.

The man/machine chuckled quietly to himself and carefully stood up. Very slowly, so his metal limbs would not creak too much and wake the others, he made his way over to the sleeping couple. He reached out to wake Renkotsu, so he would not be the victim of any jibes from Jakotsu, but stopped as he saw how peacefully the two were resting.

It had not been missed by Ginkotsu of how exhausted Renkotsu had looked when they arrived at the village, not mention Suikotsu needed all the sleep he could get. Instead he grabbed a blanket and gently wrapped it around the two men. He then stood up and returned to his place by the door.

***

Bankotsu awoke with a large yawn and glanced around the room and spotted a sight he did not expect to see that morning. On the wall across the room from him he saw Renkotsu and Suikotsu leaning against it, all cuddled up together, with a blanket over them.

“Jak, Jak look.” Bankotsu nudged his bed partner, trying not to laughing out loud and wake everyone up.

“Huh? What?” Jakotsu sat up rubbing his eyes.

Bankotsu motioned over Renkotsu and Suikotsu. Jakotsu’s eyes widened and his face lit up like the sun. “Well I'll be... he does have a thing for him! I knew it!!!”

Bankotsu and Jakotsu laughed together in whispered giggles. “It’s so cute! Look how Renkotsu Oo-aniki has his arm around Suikotsu Oo-aniki.”

“I bet I can guess what excuse Ren is going to give.” Bankotsu stifled a laugh.

“What?” Jakotsu licked his lips.

“He had a chill.” Bankotsu straightened, imitating Renkotsu’s voice. “I was keeping him warm.”

“Will you two shut up? I'm trying to sleep here...” Renkotsu mumbled half asleep, not fully realizing the position he was in.

“Are we disturbing you two?” Jakotsu smirked.

“I don't know Suikotsu looks pretty out cold to me....” Bankotsu smirked as well.

“I think he's just over come by Ren's charms...” Jakotsu giggled.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Renkotsu grumbled waking up a little more. It was then he noticed the sleeping Suikotsu in his arms, and felt his heart skip a beat.

Jakotsu could not hold it in anymore. He rolled off his futon laughing till his stomach hurt.

“Shut up or you’ll wake him.” Renkotsu hissed, carefully moving his arm out from under Suikotsu and gently guided him down to the futon. Fortunately, the sickness was making Suikotsu a heavy sleeper.

Renkotsu swallowed hard, but straightened up and tried to keep his voice calm. “He's never been this ill before, and it was causing him great anxiety. If his situation was not comforted his mental state might destabilize.”

“Yeah right!” Jakotsu continued to laugh, although he had no idea what Renkotsu had just said. Bankotsu however did understand and blinked in surprised. It was not the answer he had expected.

Renkotsu sighed in annoyance, at the ignorance of his teammates. “In other words I was trying to prevent him from reverting to his other personality, from his fear of the illness, you nitwits.”

“I’m not a nitwit!” Jakotsu stopped laughing and started pouting.

“Is he all right?” Bankotsu scooted closer to Renkotsu and Suikotsu.

“If he wasn't we would probably either be seeing a lot more blood, or he would have wondered off somewhere with no memory of himself.” Renkotsu answered pensively. “More likely the latter. I haven’t seen his hyperviolent side since before he got sick. It seems that just as his pure side flees from blood and violence, so his warrior side flees from infirmity.”

***

Bankotsu and Jakotsu walked through the forest, enjoying the beautiful scenery, of white snow flakes falling from the sky and meeting the trees. As much as they enjoyed the thrill of battle and killing, they did also enjoy these quite moments alone together.

“I think snow flakes are a good look for you.” Bankotsu grinned, gently tugging on one of Jakotsu’s bangs.

“It looks good on you too.” Jakotsu picked up Bankotsu’s snow covered braid and kissed it.

Bankotsu smirked and continued to walk, but stopped when he felt a tug on his braid. He looked back and saw Jakotsu smirking and twirling the braid around his fingers playfully.

“You know. We’ve never done it in snow before.” Jakotsu purred.

“Eh?”

No sooner had the thought registered in Bankotsu’s mind then Jakotsu launched a surprise attack and tackled him to the ground.

“What the? Jak, stop it!” Bankotsu frantically tried to keep Jakotsu from undoing the laces that held his armour together, but was laughing at the situation all the same. “Not here!”

“Why not? It’s so pretty here.” Jakotsu grinned, giving Bankotsu a kiss on the neck.

“Because, being sweaty and naked in the snow is a sure fire way to get sick again.” Bankotsu chuckled.

“But we could keep each other warm.” Jakotsu purred again, sliding his hands under Bankotsu’s breastplate.

“Yeah but---“ Bankotsu stopped when something caught his eye over Jakotsu’s shoulder. “Hey, what’s that?”

“It’s an attempt to try and distract me.” Jakotsu frown and tickled Bankotsu.

“Hahahaha! No…ha-ha…No…ha…I’m serious...ha-ha…There’s something there!” Bankotsu managed to get over his laughter enough to point.

Jakotsu looked around to see a huge tree with what looked like someone pinned to it. The two Shichinintai got up and carefully approached the tree. They found there was indeed a person pinned to the tree by an arrow through his heart.

The man wore blood red clothing, and had white hair that made the snow around him look gray. Giant vines entwined around his body to help hold him in place on the tree.

“Well this is an odd place for someone to be hanging around.” Bankotsu chuckled, but Jakotsu didn’t seem to be listening as he passed Bankotsu to climb up the tree and get a closer look at the man.

“How strange I can still hear is heart beat, it’s more like he’s asleep instead of dead.” Jakotsu examined the man very carefully.

“Huh? An enchantment maybe?” Bankotsu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“What a waste… He’s cute! Oh wow! Look at his ears!” Jakotsu looked like a kid in a candy store.

“His ears?” Bankotsu quirked an eyebrow.

“They’re like a little puppy dog’s! I think…I wanna touch ‘em!” Jakotsu reached up and gently tweaked the enchanted man’s ears.

“STOP!” a voice shouted from behind the two warriors. “Don’t touch him!”

Kaede came running up to them, her bow ready.

“Hey, ease down we’re not doing anything.” Bankotsu frowned at Kaede, but motioned for Jakotsu to come down.

“I am sorry. But I cannot take the chance someone setting Inuyasha free. Even if it is unintentional.” Kaede quickly explained as Jakotsu walked up to stand next to Bankotsu.

“So what’s the story behind him?” Bankotsu tilted his head in genuine curiosity, and Jakotsu also seemed very interested in the history of the handsome man pinned to the tree.

“What did you say his name was again?” Jakotsu cocked his head toward the puppy eared man.

“Inuyasha…”

***

Renkotsu groaned. He was sitting next Ginkotsu on the porch of the miko’s house, feeling dreadfully bored. Ginkotsu on the other hand seemed to be thoroughly entertained by watching a group of children playing with a ball a few feet away.

Bankotsu and Jakotsu had gone for a little private walk, Suikotsu was still sleeping, Kyokotsu had gone off into the woods somewhere probably to eat something – hopefully not a villager-- and Mukotsu was nursing a large lump on his head having received a good whack from the miko Kaede for trying to hit on her.

If only he had not left his new sketchbook in that house they had stayed at for the duration of their sickness. It was probably ashes by now. At least the snow had stopped falling.

Renkotsu’s attention was diverted when the shoji opened behind him. Suikotsu, fully dressed and wrapped in a blanket came and sat down cross legged next to Renkotsu.

“Are you sure you should be out here? The cold air can’t be very good for your lungs.” Renkotsu knitted his eyebrows in concern for his comrade.

“But the fresh air is. Plus I’m getting tired of Mukotsu’s incessant moans and groans over his lost miko love.” Suikotsu grumbled, but it conjured a laugh out of Renkotsu and Ginkotsu.

“Besides my fever has broken and my throat hurts a lot less.” Suikotsu managed a tired smile.

“Gesh. Sleeping with Renkotsu was good medicine for you. Ischi, ischi, ischi.” Ginkotsu chuckled at the startled and slightly embarrassed faces on his two comrades.

The discussion might have continued further if the ball the children were playing with had not come their way. As if it were the most natural thing in the world to him, Renkotsu caught the ball in the curve of his foot then bounced it off his knee back to the children.

“I played when I was young,” was Renkotsu’s quiet response to the raised eyebrows of his friends.

Suddenly all of the little children gathered around the porch. A little boy who caught ball bounced back by Renkotsu, stepped forward. “That was really cool mister! Could you teach us some tricks please?”

“I don’t play that game anymore!” Renkotsu snapped coldly at them. “Be gone you little brats!”

Simultaneously, all of the children’s eyes welled up with tears, and they burst out in loud wails.

“Now look what you did...” Suikotsu growled, looking very annoyed. “They won’t stop until you give in to their demands, or,” he shakily stood up. “Amuse them with something else.”

“No, no, you sit down.” Renkotsu grabbed onto Suikotsu’s blanket cape and pulled him back down to a sitting position.

With a groan Renkotsu got up and walked over to the children, who immediately stopped their tears and began cheering.

“How did you learn those tricks mister?” The boy asked, handing Renkotsu the ball.

“Practice, patience, balance, and” Renkotsu spoke in his best formal teacher voice, while he threw the ball up and caught it in the curve of his foot again. “And a very well curved foot and ankle.”

Both Suikotsu and Ginkotsu grinned as they watched, the mighty, cold, straight backed, hard assed, no nonsense Renkotsu, playing ball with a bunch of little children…

***

“A very interesting story.” Bankotsu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“I still think it’s too bad for him to be so lifeless, he’s so hot.” Jakotsu sighed defeatedly.
“Good looking or not, he is too dangerous to allow him to live.” Kaede said firmly, though there is a touch of sadness in her voice.

“Kaede-sama!” the three turned to see one of the villagers running toward them. “Kaede-sama! I was gathering fire wood. I saw a youkai heading toward the village!”

“Oh that’s probably our teammate Kyokotsu.” Bankotsu said casually. “He has a very demonic disposition, but he’s human none the less.”

Kaede relaxed a little, but still looked very apprehensive.

Just then the aforementioned Shichinintai came through the woods behind Bankotsu and Jakotsu.

“Hey, Kyo we thought you were heading back to the village.” Bankotsu greeted his teammate.

“I am now. Now that my belly is full.” The human monster replied.

“That’s not the youkai I saw!” the village woman cried.

Kaede’s eyes widened a little, and without another word she took off towards the village at a run.

“Uh, oh…” Bankotsu murmured. That meant there was indeed a youkai heading toward the village, and Suikotsu was still sick. Hopefully Renkotsu was up for a fight; at least they had Ginkotsu with them.

***

Renkotsu was just showing the children how he was able to bounce the ball off his toe and catch it between his shoulder and his neck, when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye.

He turned around fully only to see what looked like a giant centipede with a woman’s body.

“What a quiet little village, and with the miko gone, prey shall be easy.” The centipede hissed. “Particularly with some plump little children right here.”

Renkotsu was a little startled when he felt several little hands grasping his hakama. The children gathered behind him whimpering and crying in fear. It was strange. No one had ever sought his protection before.

“You talk as if I’m not standing here.” Renkotsu spat coldly at the youkai before him.

“The children’s flesh is much more tender, but I wouldn’t mind ingesting yours as well.” The beast sneered.

“I’d like to see you try.” Renkotsu smirked back, and took up his flask full of flammable liquid. He took a drink then blew out a huge ball of flame.

When the fires cleared the centipede stood, burned, scarred and angry, but very much alive.

“Foolish human!” The beast snarled and lunged at Renkotsu and the children.

A steel disc hit the centipede in the side where the human form connected to the centipede form. Ginkotsu ran up to stand at Renkotsu’s side in case of another attack. Renkotsu set out his steel wires and encircled the youkai, then ignited them creating a net of fire. The creature screamed and writhed, but grew angrier by the second. It finally tore its way out of the fiery net.

Seeing that it would not get past the impenetrable wall that was Renkotsu and Ginkotsu, it spotted the seemingly helpless man sitting alone on the porch. The centipede made a sharp right and charged toward the lone man.

“SUIKOTSU!” Renkotsu yelled. The speed was too quick and the distance to short even for Ginkotsu to shoot off a projectile.

At the last second, when the centipede was mere inches from him, Suikotsu jumped up and lashed out at the creature with his claws his had hidden under the blanket. He slashed the youkai savagely across the face, taking off its nose.

The beast shrieked, made an about face, and disappeared into the forest. Once the youkai was out of sight, all of the children cheered for their new found heroes.

“I should have known you wouldn’t be completely helpless,” Renkotsu chuckled as he walked up to Suikotsu on the porch. However, the chuckle was short lived when he noticed the look on his teammates face as he stared at the youkai’s blood on his claws.

Renkotsu grabbed Suikotsu’s arm and began quickly unlacing the claw gauntlet, all the while keeping up the conversation with a calm face, to distract Suikotsu’s mind from thoughts of blood and slaughter. If Suikotsu reverted to his berserker personality, and when on a killing spree it would be too much for his sickness ravaged body to handle.

“You know this really wouldn’t be a good time for you to go hyperviolent. The energy expenditure would only make you sick again. Your body has all ready been taken by sickness and fever twice. You may not be able to handle it a third time.” Renkotsu untied the final lace on the gauntlet and stood up. “I’ll go was this off for you.”

“Yes, you do that.” Suikotsu murmured. Renkotsu was relieved to see the lifeless blank stare that almost always preceded a personality change when blood was involved, become lively again, but not with a ravenous hell bent look.

***

Bankotsu entered the village expecting to find some demon to fight, but instead found sight that made him almost fall over with laughter. There was the mighty armoured Ginkotsu sitting on the ground with a bunch of little children climbing all over him. And he seemed to be enjoying it.

Kaede seemed equally shocked at the sight, until she saw evidence that a battle had indeed taken place.

“Children are you all alright?” the priest approached them.

“Yes! Renkotsu-sama and Ginkotsu-sama saved us!”

“Saved us from a giant centipede!”

“He breathed fire!”

“It was awesome!”

All of the children clamored around Kaede to tell their version of how they were saved from the scary centipede lady.

“Looks like you’ve made some new admirers.” Bankotsu chuckled, when Renkotsu came back out of the house after he had finished washing Suikotsu’s claws.

“Well the youkai was annoying so we killed it.” Renkotsu answered nonchantally.

When the children saw their other hero had emerged, they ran from Kaede over to Renkotsu and hugged his legs.

For once the Shichinintai second in command found himself in a situation in which he had no strategy or battle plan to deal with it.

***

Two days later Suikotsu was finally well enough to travel again. They might have stayed longer to ensure his complete recovery, but being the group that they were, it was never a good idea to stay in a populated place for too long.

The group had just reached the edge of the town when they heard little voices calling to them. More specifically for “Renkotsu-sama”.

“Your worshipers are back.” Jakotsu giggled.

Renkotsu rolled his eyes before turning to the children. “What is it children? Be quick.”

The little boy, who had asked Renkotsu to teach them the ball tricks, stepped forward again. “We…We have a gift for you Renkotsu-sama. We made it ourselves.”

A little girl held out the “gift” to Renkotsu. The second in command kneeled down and took the gift. At first it seemed to be just a stack of blank papers bound with twine, but then he noticed the top page was covered with little drawings from all of the children.

It was a sketchbook.

“We heard your sketch book got burned so we made you a new one.” The boy spoke again. “And you will remember us and you’ll come back and play ball sometime.”

“I am very grateful for this gift.” Renkotsu stood up and addressed them formally as he would anyone else, but then his face softened ever so slightly. “And if I can I will come back and play ball with you again.”

“Yay!” The children cheered and waved, as Renkotsu turned back to the other Shichinintai and they continued down the road.

“Now I wonder where they heard about my sketch book, or the fact that I could draw at all.” Renkotsu cast glare over at Ginkotsu and Suikotsu, both of whom were trying to contain their laughter.

“I’m sorry Renkotsu,” Suikotsu chuckled. “Children are a dangerous trap, and they ask a lot of questions. No matter how much you try to resist them, you always given in to their charms.”

“Yes, you do.” Renkotsu murmured looking down at the sketch book one more time, before stowing it away in his satchel.