Oct/06/03.

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In the Silence.

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By Vile Deadboss.

Notes: My first try on the InuYasha - Shichinintai. Been a fan of the group for quite awhile so here's my try of a story on them. Takes place before they died and if they seem Ooc, I apologize for that. Touch of Shounen ai so please be wary. Enjoy!
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I: Thoughts.

You never knew, you never had to know but even if you did know. Why would it matter? The evening, with the sun down from the horizon and the moon taking over it's place, the stars make up for the light lost. Even so still dark the path he was on he stayed, his eyes did not fail him nor did his other keen senses that served him well before, they shall do so Again. Leaves were shuffled through here and there but careful he was not to let a stick break even with his quick movement towards a village. That side of the Village he was ordered to attack alone. I do what you command. I do what you say. I try to show my faith and doubt in you in ways I know alone.

A glance to one side then another to the opposite, seeing nothing he had expected to see, he then immediatly stepped out of the bushes to the side of the building. If anyone had saw him they would of noticed a shadow perhaps or heard then the rustling of leaves, no other sound was let loose not even the clacking metal of blades was heard from the sheath that rested against the form's back. This was where he wasn't careful and found no need too. A few men were up, scouting and guarding this side of the village so the rest of the "soldiers" could sleep, if they saw him, they saw him. Leaning against the side of the building wall, he waited for the signal first, the usual signal that would wake everyone up in this vicinity. where they would scurry like rats and he, the exterminator, would take care of them. I held it back as long as I could. I kept it a secret as best I knew how. But even then you knew, few words that had escaped me, betrayed me. Even though they were words out from another mouth and not my own.

"Hey!"

Attention snapped away from his thoughts, his eyes narrowed immediatly being noticed. He was in position yes, but the others? he was going to have to start before them if any longer. The few soldiers that had noticed him approached him. Katana's unsheathed and on guard now, wary of him being there. "State your business for being here, Woman." One of them demanded. His eyes widen at the command, Not that it was the first time he was mistaken for those -things- but how they were able to mistake him for one was more amusing then not, perhaps suprising at times, it was surprising this time. "This place is off Limits!" The same guard resumed to snap. He leaned against the shadow of the walls further, if that's what decieved his appearence to them then there was no doubt they had not seen the blade yet nor it's sheath. He made no effort in unsheathing his weapon just yet.

I would like to say you don't care but even with that I'm not allowed to say let alone think it.

"nuh uh.." another guard spoke up and stepped nearer to the wall, to the side of where he came from, blocking his chances of escaping back through the bushes. If such thoughts of escaping came to his mind then which they did not, against the shadows he remained, watching the three men that stood around him preventing any escape however not quite yet wary of him attacking. They seemed more interested in trapping then being wary. could it be? "Your not going anywhere now, lass." the second guard spoke, almost sullen and seductive of how that toned turned to speak the last foreign word.

Despite my efforts..

He cringed perhaps almost shivered as he now understood what was going on. A village of all men, all soldiers and from the looks of it, these guards held no honor, no pride not like he did to begin with but nothing like what they had in mind. "If you had heard any warnings from other villages then you would know better to come here." the second guard chuckled and when he did so as the other two followed. An amused chuckle and closer they came.

...What am I to do in a situation where my body betrays me? where I both mentally and physically starve for you. you alone.

"listen well and gentle we might be." the third one now approached, a cocky and toothy grin he showed. out of the three the third guard seemed to be the most handsome one yet still that didn't give him satisfaction enough to move, to reach for his weapon and shove them away. The signal...what's taking them so long?

I grow scared everytime, where I just want to fall.

"she's a little tall but that's not a problem." the second laughed, ever closer they approach. The third seeming the bravest of the two or rather bold. Took more steps close, raising a hand as though ready to snap it down on him. He flinched and then froze. To be hit wasn't what scared him but the situation, it was wrong. To wrong. it should be Him putting this fear on Them, why can't he move?

Every touch I imagine it yours, the command, the control. yours.

So close, to close. The guard finally rested fingers on his face, curiously, tenderly. Touched, he still refused to move and stared at the third soldier, showing no emotion but a calm yet confused one. If fear was seen in eyes, if his eyes betrayed him then he knew the soldier took advantage of that. "yes, good. warm you are, Agreeing to relieve us three through this cold lonely night?" that same toothy grin showing once again as he sheathed his katana and the second hand reaching for his robe now.

This is not yours and this is where I want to cry in shame. Because I allowed it, because I wanted it to be yours.

Fingers brushing over his yukata lightly, searching warmth and then sliding lower, traveling over his robe and trying to search what this "woman's" body is like past shadows. Blind still? was standing near the torchlights to much for them or what little the moonlight offered? the hand at his cheek slid lower to his throat, shivering lightly he gave in to that much and shut his eyes. Shivering , giving in not to pleasure but to fear. So much fear held in and he knew why.

It doesn't matter if you knew, I wish you cared like -that- but I know you cannot go beyond. This time though allow me to cry, allow me to say your name to ease me. Even though I know that you wouldn't come...

"Very pretty indeed, and going to be quite busy too." the soldier chuckled, his hand slithering up the robe.

..Bankotsu...

"what...?" fingers brushed over his chest, over the armor, finally understanding why "she" was so tall, why "she" was so quiet. "...Who Are You?" the third soldier demanded immediatly. If there was anything that had to be said, or anything he wanted to say he couldn't then for a rather large boom was overheard from another part of the village, sounding so far yet close enough that a rumble could be heard. Yes, it was the signal. However, before he could take any action, the second soldier that was blocking his way suddenly fell. Not a cry came to his lips for there was a sharp slash of the wind and something large had fallen on the soldier before a word from anyone even from the fallen solder was uttered. The dead soldier fell with a sloppy splat of being split in two. Another form that came out of the shadows weilding a much larger blade, to large for any normal man to handle but ah...that familiar form was neither normal even so very much a man like anyone else about, the forms eyes narrowed angrily it made him wonder...at who?

"He is Jakotsu. Third of the Shichinintai!" The form said calmly enough til he snapped at the end and swung the blade down on the third shoulders arms, forcing Jakotsu to move away from the striking large blade even though it would miss him he didn't want -that- soldier's blood on him. Having lost both arms the soldier fell back stunned then soon after screamed in horror moreso then pain. The first stood there stunned himself and even more at watching his comrade to be struck like that. "...Punishment, Nobody touches him like THAT!" the form growled and again the blade move fast, slicing the head off the armless soldier and slicing the other with one sweep of the blade. Standing no more they were, The form let the blade rest down on the ground. the Banryuu...

"Jakotsu." demanding yet unusually soft, he forced his head up at the call of his name and eyes meeting the form's, He didn't know what to say he wanted to explain why that happened, how that happened. He knew those soldiers were going to discover "who" he was and he was going to take advantage of that, he has before and would again. But...to be stopped by him, the leader. "Bankotsu..? What are you doing here? I thought-"

The leader cursed under his breath as he took a glance at some soldiers taking off, making a run for it but a mistake for them to run near the building the two hid near, for Bankotsu dashed out before them and swung the blade across, the blade cutting them through and their bodies falling aside with another gruesome splat upon the ground. Painting the sand and earth red with their blood. "I -was- going to let Renkotsu make use of his rank. I was going to sit back and watch from the hill above." he answered, ceased for a moment because he was about to chase other soldiers but Suikotsu who seemed finished with his side of the territory which he was chosen to take care of had made his way ahead of the leader, chased after the fleeting soldiers before him. Smirking lightly at the sight of that he returned his eyes on Jakotsu. "But I could see clearly at you from the top of the hill and the soldiers."

So he was watching me.

"..Not like of you to let them trap you like that." he added with a bit of a scoff, turning away then but he froze when a soldier had snuck up and prepared to strike from behind. However before the katana could dive down the screaming soldier fell to a side, slammed away from the leader by a chain of blades, linked together that made of jakotsu's sword. swinging the main blade back that ripped the blades from the now dead man and return back in place with a snap. That soldier's blood now stained his blade, the Jakotsutou. "..I had my reason for letting them trap me like that." Jakotsu answered calmly enough.

He had come down to save me?

"and to touch you?" Bankotsu lifted the banryuu from the ground and rested it on his shoulder, one hand needed alone to the hold the handle. Glancing around to make sure no other escaped as the rest of the shichinintai members went to work.

Why should he care if they had touched me or not?

"That was unexpected." Jakotsu turned his gaze down at the now dead soldiers, somehow still chilled from their actions but easily brushed aside. Suddenly he ran forward not away from the leader but to be close enough to some more soldiers running away, abandoning their posts, making use of his jakotsutou by swinging the single curved blade and out of it came the chain of blades. Zig zagging down fast on the fleeing soldiers, tearing their flesh and ripping the ground also wherever the chain hit. Once they were down did he twist his blade back, resetting the chain.

"They scared you."

Freezing in his place despite the noise of screaming solders and the sound of cannons used from the other side of the village, to large thumps and loud crunches and the use of claws tearing armor. Despite all that noise and so soft that voice was to hit him hard then any other sound. He almost dropped the jakotsutou then and there and why? why did he want to feel helpless then? "I came down to help you. If I knew you had the situation covered, I supposed I wouldn't have bothered...but to let Him touch you." Bankotsu again huffed as though annoyed. Jakotsu straightened his form and looked back to the leader...shocked somehow, surprised. dare he think what he thought then? dare he say it? dare he ask?

Were you jealous?

Unable to say anything yet again, the ground shook with the larger form of the shichinintai approaching, loud thumps of feet hitting the ground and crunching for the larger form snacked on a random soldier as he made his way to that part of the Village. "Kyoukotsu." Bankotsu said randomly while he turned to face the giant, smirking lightly. "Finished your side already? working faster then usual tonight."

"Because there isn't really much here to work through." Suikotsu snarled lightly as he approached the two, keeping his senses wary for anymore soldiers that he may have missed. leaving a trail of blood as he walked, the claws soaked in crimson. "Most are Hiding in their houses or the number is smaller then expected."

"Smaller then expected, it was a random small job offered after all. Accepted because Renkotsu insisted." Bankotsu shrugged mildly, Not that they needed the money much but still useful. Tossing whatever was left of the mangled soldier aside Kyoukotsu finally spoke his reason for leaving his his side of the job. "Renkotsu thinks more are still in hiding, He wants to smoke them out with Mukotsu's poison now."

"Alright, Suikotsu head on west of the village and make sure none of the soldiers escape that way, and stay clear of the poisons. Jakotsu and I will back to the hill and keep an eye out for any survivors up there. Kyoukotsu, head back to Renkotsu and tell him this side of the village is covered." Bankotsu ordered immediatly. With a simple nod Kyoukotsu made his way back to tell Renkotsu of the order. Suikotsu doing as he was told headed back to where he was, doing as he was commanded rather eagerly so. Jakotsu seeming the most confused of the group he frowned at this but did not question, not yet. When Bankotsu began his way back up the hill only then Jakotsu followed quietly. Past the village, through trees he previously ran into to get to the village before and up the hill they climbed.

When I think you don't care you show that you do.

Once atop the hill Bankotsu lifted banryuu from his shoulder and stabbed the large halbard into the ground, leaving it to stand while he turned his eyes back down to the village, back to what he was doing before. Watching, the ongoings of the mission from afar, this time with some ease at his side.

When I think you do care you show that you don't.

with silence that frustriates me to no end.

Jakotsu, he stood beside but some steps away from the leader, he then had slipped down to his knees soon after. Resting the jakotsutou down on the grass and wiped whatever blood that was on the weapon, cleaning for now but would do more of it later for his favored blade. Bankotsu pulled his eyes away from the village for now to watch the third in command. Watching him smear the ground, the grass green now fashioning another color of red that looked almost black, clash of the two colors. Some cries were heard along with a few booms of a cannon, Jakotsu, who was through cleaning his blade for the moment looked up to watch what was going on. Keeping a look out for any soldiers that managed to escape from their small village. Bankotsu did the same now thinking about the mission accepted. "We are probably going to deal more of these groups later, One corrupted village down and four more to go."

Blinking slightly at the sudden mention of the mission he glanced to Bankotsu a moment before looking back down, checking carefully for anyone that could be escaping. Also trying to think of what to say to that. "Being paid well enough to get rid of them, if we took out the rest of the villages and the castle too we could take a nice long break from our work for awhile." he shrugged lightly at the thought, However he doubt anyone would want to do that especially Suikotsu. Bankotsu smirked at the idea. "Sure, enough money to buy what Renkotsu needs, food and Sake. and stay at a beach or perhaps the mountains, a little hiding place to relax in."

Jakotsu nodded lightly, moving to stand now and brushed whatever grass from his legs and robe before he picked up the Jakotsutou by it's handle. Bankotsu again looked to the third and watched him until Jakotsu noticed he was being watched, raised a brow at his leader. "...However..." The smirk he had on his face gone and now held a serious look. "We have enough to do that now and I think this will be the last mission we do until the next suitable job comes up. I'm not interested on taking down those villages nor it's kingdom and I know Renkotsu won't like that idea." Once that said he looked back to the village, noticing the sounds of firing cannons has ceased and a fog was taking over the village slowly. Jakotsu frowned slightly at what his leader said but he too turned his eyes back down to the village, again keeping an eye out for any soldiers. "Renkotsu will likely protest so why deny that for him?" Jakotsu asked, curious of the sudden decision.

"Because he would most likely have his mind on what to do, not all of us have our minds concentrated on our jobs."

Flinching at that Jakotsu knew exactly what he was talking about but was it really such a big deal? "Bankotsu.." he began but the other held a hand up to silence him. biting his tongue he did not continue. "Jakotsu, I trust you. You know between us I favor you out of the group. Your mind wasn't on this job and that could of had you killed, it will most likely bother you again if I accept these other missions."

"It will not happen again Oo-aniki." Jakotsu said in a firm tone, eyes narrowing not impressed of being placed down because he couldn't kill those three damn soldiers. However his frown lightened when he rethought what Bankotsu said. "...you're worried about me?"

"And the rest of the group." Bankotsu finished it there as he turned his eyes over not to Jakotsu but to another form near who happened to walk in on the conversation. The figure taller then the two and with a smoking cannon at his side, the bald figure raised a brow at the end of the conversation he happened to catch. Jakotsu cringed.

"Aniki." the figure said calmly, glancing to him then to Jakotsu, sliding the cannon from his shoulder and placed it down on the grass for now beside him and stood up again, Folding his arms before his chest."..The soldiers are taken care of, all of them. An easy mission."

"Nice job Renkotsu." Bankotsu grinned as he watched the fog do it's work and the soldiers that were hiding ran but did not make it far when the poison began it's work, seems like going down to kill them was pointless. However using those as an example he pointed to the few fleeing soldiers. "You missed a few."

"Actually they were from Jakotsu's post." he stepped up to stand beside Bankotsu and glanced to where they were hiding from. "Infact most of the soldiers that are still alive are from the section I asked Jakotsu to deal with." he turned his eyes away from the soldiers that were falling over from the poisons anways and to the third. Jakotsu looked away from the other's stare. "Why did you not do what I commanded?"

"I..was going to but.."

"I pulled him out of there." Bankotsu said with a calm shrug. tossing his braid behind him that was resting on his shoulder. Renkotsu looked back to the leader somewhat confused. "Why?" "You said so yourself, it was an easy mission, I wanted to see how well it was taken care of if one of the members were missing from their post." Bankotsu explained his reason for doing so however keeping the actual reason out of it. Jakotsu's eyes widen and looked to Bankotsu when that was said. Renkotsu frowned at this and turned his eyes down to the village, the poisonious mist now dying down slowly. "That was unnecessary and dangerous, I would like to be informed the next time you want to do something so..."

"Childish?" Bankotsu finished. "Think of it as a test for when it actually happens. And besides that, no soldiers escaped as again you said all were taken care of. A job well done! now to accept the payment for this one." Reaching for the Banryuu's handle, he slowly pulled the blade out of the ground he stuck it in and twisted it about enough to rest it on his shoulder all again done with one hand. Renkotsu nodded slowly at that however still confused with what Bankotsu did. "What about the other Villages?" Renkotsu asked, already wanting to deal with the rest. The leader himself was about to leave instead paused at the question and turned to look at the other. "Renkotsu. Do we need the money?" He asked first. As though expecting that to be asked the other shook his head slowly. "No, we do not need it however I would like for us to take the rest of the jobs that was asked of us to do, I want to try again."

"Why?" Bankotsu slid a hand up to rub the back of his head and yawned. "You did a good enough job here minus the missing member, I don't think we should take care of the other villages nor it's castle."

"but why Aniki?" Renkotsu frowned at this. "IF you do not want to accept it that's fine, but what if the others want to participate on taking care of them?"

"And what if they don't?" Bankotsu frowned in return. "It's still to early for any decisions Renkotsu, I say take the money and let us rest for the night, it took a whole day and night for you to take care of this. and look how it turned out. Leave it for tomorrow when the other's want a say in it." Bankotsu waved a hand to him and left it at that. making his way down the hill calmly to where the other shichinintai were, Renkotsu only cursed to himself as he went up to his cannon about to pick it up until he watched the leader further, mostly at the Banryuu that held blood to it.

"...I was not aware he particated in the battle."

"He took care of some soldiers himself when he came to get me." Jakotsu answered that for him, sliding the sheath that was resting on his shoulder and placed the jakotsutou in it despite it still had blood on it, he would clean them both when they return to where they were staying. Renkotsu shook his head slowly and picked up the wood and metal weapon, brushing the grass off it. Once the weapon was sheathed Jakotsu slung it around his shoulder like he had it before, giving the village one last look before he began to walk away from it and towards the path Bankotsu took. Renkotsu then grabbed the other's arm.

"Nh?" Jakotus paused once his arm was grabbed and looked to Renkotsu. The other held a serious look to his face. "He didn't go down there to test me, did he." Jakotsu turned away from the question he wasn't sure how to answer that and honestly? "What happened down there Jakotsu?" The tone turned from serious to concern and this made the third cringe somehow, he never heard such a tone and from Renkotsu of all people. Looking back to him he was about to answer til he noticed even the other's features seemed slight concerned. "..I wasn't concentrating what I was doing so Bankotsu came down to help me, And then I was asked to remove from my position." He didn't want to say what exactly happened but he was hoping that answer was enough to satisfy. He screwed up.

"You didn't get hurt?" Renkotsu asked as he pulled his hand away. Jakotsu shook his head slowly. "So it was a test." Jakotsu shrugged lightly, trying to feign that he was confused of the situation itself. The other seemed fine with that so there wasn't anymore to be said. Freezing suddenly in his place, he noticed the hand lifted and this time not for his arm but more for his face, he expected a strike but recieved instead the brush of fingers on his cheek.

"R-Renkotsu..?"

The other stepped close to Jakotsu and leaned a little also as though he was going to kiss him but he just remained close, lips near Jakotsu's ear that made him shut his eyes. "..At the same time he favors you, huh? what made you lose concentration down there, I wonder." Cringing at what was said, Jakotsu pulled away with a bit of a hiss. Glaring slightly at Renkotsu. "It's not what you think! just because I chose to do that with my victims doesn't mean I would do that to Bankotsu."

"I actually wouldn't care if you did that to him." Renkotsu chuckled. "Infact I know I would favor you next if you did." He walked past the other continuing to snicker to himself and gave Jakotsu a pat on the shoulder as he walked by. Refraining to hit the other for that one he just flinched and continued to glare even as Renkotsu walked past him. "Don't take it so seriously Jakotsu kun, not like of you."

"Well don't Tease me like that!" Jakotsu grumbled as he followed feeling a slight eased knowing all that was a joke but even so it Freaked him out. "Or I'll take interest in you and then maybe end up killing -you- like I do usually in battle!"

"You didn't do any of that this time." Renkotsu said calmly enough.

"No...I didn't."

"Hey! lets go you two!" Bankotsu waved to the two who finally came down from the hill. Seeing the rest of the Shichinintai was with the leader, Renkotsu took a glance around to make sure all was there. Mukotsu who was putting away his poisons, Kyoukotsu who was snacking on an animal, Ginkotsu who was watching Suikotsu wipe the blood from his claws. Satisfied with the sight he nodded. "Alright, back to the mansion in the forest." Bankotsu then began his way with the others picking up their weapons and began to follow. Jakotsu quickly caught up to Suikotsu and Mukotsu wanting to walk with them, Ginkotsu slid back a little to walk with Renkotsu. "Ginkotsu." the bald figure called out as he eyed one of the other's arm, noticing blood dripping and not the soldiers blood. "Gesh?" Ginkotsu lifted his wounded arm to show Renkotsu a flaw in the cannon that he had built into his arm. Renkotsu shook his head slowly. "Another Failure, I'll fix that immediatly when we get back. Are you hurting?"

"A little, I'll be alright." Ginkotsu lowered his arm for now. Renkotsu watched that carefully a moment before he returned his eyes on the path and the figures ahead.

"No woman, No sake, no treasures to take this job wasn't as satisfying then what we usually take care of." Mukotsu muttered suddenly. Jakotsu smiled lightly somewhat pleased to hear that he wasn't the only one not happy with it. "That's why the next kingdom is paying Bankotsu alot of money for us to take care of one of the villages."

"So little soldiers too." Suikotsu said showing his disappointment on this mission also. "Did Bankotsu chose that village because of how little soldiers there were?"

"I made a deal with Renkotsu, he wanted to take lead on this attack as long as I got to chose the village, I had gave doubt to Renkotsu's strategy." Bankotsu said aloud, not really caring if Renkotsu was close enough to catch it, however the three that were following the leader did. Suikotsu grinned a little. "A test for him leader? could of warned us of these disappointments earlier." Bankotsu smirked lightly as he shifted the banryuu on his shoulder, having felt it brush against some branches. "I suppose I could of done that but I wanted your opinions on this After the mission, second if I had told you guys anything would you still have the anticipation to deal with this?"

"I would." Suikotsu answered. "Even knowing there wasn't going to many men to kill there."

"I wouldn't." Mukotsu shook his head slowly. "No reward in it for me."

Jakotsu was the only one not to answer, He was still trying make sense of the night. From the soldiers to being saved by Bankotsu and now Renkotsu acting all strange on him? Joke or not the words that were said now made him wary. Since only two out of three didn't answer Bankotsu glanced back to Jakotsu, making note of how silent the other was and his gaze seemed elsewhere to top it off. He then shook his head and returned his eyes back on the path. Suikotsu and Mukotsu both blinked at their leader then glancing to Jakotsu who seemed to be somewhere else, his eyes seeming distant and thoughtful.. However soon feeling their stare Jakotsu looked up and at the two, blinking. "...something wrong?" He asked somewhat nervous of their stare on him.

Suikotsu shook his head. "Nothing." he said with a bit of a gruff tone, Mukotsu who didn't have the chance to answer mearly shrugged it off, it was something he was going to ask later. "Nothing." he mimicked the skitzo. Jakotsu raised a brow at the two but shook his head slowly after and returned his eyes back to the path, this time more aware and not allowed his mind to drift off this time. He couldn't help but glance to Bankotsu however...

No matter how many times I look away. No matter how many times I decide not to think about you. It hurts when I try to do either one.

The other in lead stepped over a large tree and eyed it a moment, a tree that he recognized was knocked over by the larger member of the group he continued walking on and gave Jakotsu another glance. This time both their eyes met, Jakotsu gave the leader a smile. Bankotsu returned the smile before he returned his eyes on the path.

I don't care if it's wrong to dream about you anymore. If there was anyone I love, it is you Bankotsu.

And you, I know will stay in my heart here and forever on.
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To be Cont.

More notes: Non of the Characters belong to me, just borrowing them for awhile, hence fanfic? Shichinintai are copyright of Rumiko Takahashi - InuYasha. So no suing, you wouldn't get anything out of me. ..-blinks.- did I spell her name right? -sweatdrops.-