Echoes: Bankotsu III

DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan Publishing, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.

Glossary

Onigiri - a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylinder shapes and often wrapped in seaweed. They can have a variety of fillings, including pickled plums or salted salmon.

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Bankotsu III

"Rats." Daisuke shuddered as one of the dying youkai let out a squeal. "Why did it have to be rats?"

Bankotsu held back a sigh. Clearing out a hut full of rat youkai wasn't quite what he'd had in mind. Even the largest one was no bigger than a boar. No doubt he and Jakotsu were cheaper than hiring a taji-ya. He shoved his bisento into the youkai's throat, silencing it.

Jakotsu shot him a grin. "Nothing like a challenge, eh?"

Bankotsu ignored him. Sarcasm was still better than silence. At least this should be more than enough to get them a room. The youkai hadn't managed to lay a single blow on him or Jakotsu but they'd done more than enough damage to the tanners' hides. By the looks of the bones littered around the floor they'd made off with more than a few corpses too. Hiroshi had certainly got his worth out of them.

He yanked his bisento free and wiped the blade on a patch of grass. Jakotsu wandered over to join him. He unslung Jakotsutou from his shoulder and bent down to give it a good wipe. He hummed to himself as he worked. The slaughter seemed to have cheered him up a little.

Bankotsu glanced over his shoulder at Daisuke and Hiroshi. Hiroshi stood with his arms folded across his chest, his bow slung over his shoulders. Daisuke hung back behind him, his spear trembling in his hands. He motioned for them to approach.  

Daisuke edged towards them, his spear held ready. He stopped to give one of the youkai a nervous prod. "You got them all, right?" His hands were still shaking, despite his best efforts to calm them.

"Right." Bankotsu nudged Jakotsu with his elbow before he could start giggling.

Hiroshi curled his lip in disdain. The rat youkai hadn't fazed him but he'd been in no hurry to fight them either. At least he'd brought his torch.  Hunting the youkai in near darkness might have been more of a challenge but it wouldn't have done the village any good.

Bankotsu strode towards the largest rat youkai and jabbed at it with his bisento. It made no sound. Better make sure.  He took off its head in a single blow.

Bankotsu lifted the youkai's head up for Hiroshi's inspection. Hiroshi frowned.

"And this is?"

"Their mama. Rat youkai breed like crazy. Better seal up that hole in the floor if you don't want another brood."

Hiroshi nodded. He almost looked impressed. None of them had taken so much as a scratch from the youkai. Even the hut was still in one piece. Mostly.

 "We'll start on that tomorrow. Daisuke will put you up for the night." Hiroshi turned on his heel and strode back towards the watchtower.

"Well, a 'thanks' would be nice," Jakotsu sighed.

Bankotsu gave him another nudge. "We didn't come here for the company." He turned to Daisuke. "Mind showing us the room?"

Daisuke let out a cough. "Well, actually, we don't have a guest hut. But you're more than welcome to spend the night at my place."

Bankotsu and Jakotsu exchanged glances.

This day just got better and better.

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"... but you should have seen the one that got away!"

Bankotsu started as Jakotsu prodded him awake for the third time. If he could say one thing for Daisuke, he was the perfect cure for sleepless nights. Even Jakotsu was nodding off a bit.

The lack of attention didn't seem to bother Daisuke. He prattled on as his wife tended to the pot bubbling on the hearth. The scent of tea mixed with toasted rice wafted through the hut. Daisuke and his family had already eaten but he'd insisted on offering them some tea. Perhaps he thought it'd help them sit through his stories.

His wife had barely said a word since they'd come in.  She sat hunched by the hearth, her eyes fixed on the pot. The hearth and a bamboo screen were the only furnishings they had, apart from a sleeping mat. Even the floor was just bare earth.  No wonder the villagers were short on hospitality.

Bankotsu's eyelids were beginning to droop when Daisuke dropped a name that started him awake again.

"Akayoru?"

Daisuke blinked at the unfamiliar show of interest. "Sorry? You want some tea?" He offered him a cup.

Bankotsu took the cup. He wasn't big on tea but it was better than nothing. Jakotsu accepted one from Daisuke's wife. She shuffled back to her spot beside the hearth.

"Akayoru. He's with the bandits, right?" Bankotsu asked.

Jakotsu sat up a little straighter.

Daisuke cleared his throat. "To be honest, I don't really know all that much about them. I just spear the bastards if they get too close." He let out a nervous chuckle.

Bankotsu frowned. "You've fought them?"

"Well, they never stick around for long. Hiroshi says they've got themselves holed up in some old temple deep in the forest. Probably trying to stay out of Iwakami-sama's way."

Bankotsu sneaked a glance at Jakotsu. No reaction. Although he did seem very interested in his tea all of a sudden.

"Still, I wouldn't tangle with Akayoru if I were you," Daisuke continued. "Worst of the lot of them, Hiroshi says. That last village he passed through..." He gave a shudder.

"And what does Edo-sama have to say about all this?"

Daisuke's laugh caught in his throat. He gave another cough. "Well, the Daimyou has bigger things to worry about."

"Like the Onuki?"

Jakotsu's teacup clattered to the floor. Daisuke's head snapped round. A small girl peered from behind the screen with one hand clapped over her mouth. The other clutched a ragged blanket.

"I'm sure I sent you to bed, young lady."

"Sorry, Papa. I-I couldn't sleep." The girl stared at the two boys as if she'd never seen one before. "Who are these people?"

"Just a couple of guests. Some very tired guests."

The girl's eyes widened as she caught sight of their weapons. "Are they here to fight the ban-"

"Hana. Bedtime. Now."

Hana stuck out her bottom lip. "But Papa-"

"Listen to your father, Hana." Daisuke's wife bent down to mop up Jakotsu's tea. Her eyes didn't leave the floor.

Hana deflated with a sigh. "Yes, Mama." She gave Jakotsu one last stare before she ducked behind the screen.

"Honestly..." Daisuke sighed. "Don't mind her. Things have been a little tense since that business in Sukegawa."

"Sukegawa?" Bankotsu frowned. "We were-"

Jakotsu got to his feet. "You have a free hut, right?"

Daisuke arched his brows. "You sure? I'm not having my guests sleeping on the floor."

Jakotsu shook his head. "It's fine. We'll let Hana-chan get some sleep."

"Well, if you-"

"Thanks." Jakotsu ducked out of the doorway without looking back.

Daisuke's wife lifted her eyes to watch him leave. Hana peeked out from behind her screen. Even Daisuke seemed at a loss.

Bankotsu resisted the urge to shake his head. He gave Daisuke and his family an apologetic smile. "Sorry, he's not been feeling too good. I'll go check on him."

Daisuke's wife looked him in the eye for the first time. "We can make space if you'd like to stay." Her gaze held more than a little worry.

"Ah, it's okay." Bankotsu gave a stretch and picked up his cup. "Uh, thanks for the tea."

Her gaze was still at his back as he slipped through the doorway.

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Bankotsu soon retraced his footsteps. It didn't take much persuading to stop Daisuke from following him. The hut stood silent except for the faint scrape of stone on steel. A dim light glimmered from the doorway. The villagers had cleared away most of the corpses. The crows would take care of the rest come morning.

Bankotsu unshouldered his bisento and entered the hut. The villagers had also taken care of most of the mess. Jakotsu had shoved the rest of it into the furthest corner. He'd pushed a crate over the hole and pulled out a few empty sacks to sleep on. They'd both slept in worse spots.

Jakotsu was crouched beside a lantern, honing Jakotsutou's blades. He paid no attention to Bankotsu. Seeing him awake wasn't a surprise. Heavy sleepers didn't keep knives under their pillows.

Bankotsu propped his bisento against the wall and settled down beside it. "Hey."

"Hey." Jakotsu didn't even glance in his direction.

"I got you some more tea."

"Thanks." Jakotsu took the cup without looking at him. He set it down beside the lantern and reached for his whetstone.

"Listen. I know they were kind of-"

"They're scared, Bankotsu." Jakotsu's voice was as flat as his expression.

"But if the bandits come then we're-"

"They won't. Not when it's this dark."

Bankotsu furrowed his brows. "It's not like they had a problem with me staying."

"You don't look like a problem. You look ten."

Bankotsu gave him a blank stare. "And you do?"

"You saw what they thought." Jakotsu took a sip of his tea.

"What? Like you're going to eat me or something?"

Jakotsu's tea shot straight out of his nose. Bankotsu scrambled to his side. He patted Jakotsu's back until he sputtered. Jakotsu winced and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"You okay? What's- oh. Oh."

Bankotsu's cheeks flushed pink. He looked away and busied himself with his carrying cloth.

Jakotsu hid a giggle behind his sleeve.

Well, that was a start. Bankotsu willed his blush away and began sorting through their supplies. He pulled out an onigiri and broke it in half. He offered the largest piece to Jakotsu.

"Here."

Jakotsu waved him away. "Thanks, but I'm good."

"You've had nothing since breakfast." Bankotsu frowned. "I thought you wanted to sleep?"

"You need it more than I do."

Bankotsu suppressed a sigh. "Jakotsu, you're shattered. Just take a break. You've been like this since-"  

"Bankotsu..." Jakotsu put down his whetstone and fixed him with a stare. "How many times to I have to tell you to forget about-"

"Okay, forget him. I'm asking about you."

Jakotsu's eyes widened. "Me?"

"This isn't like you. Why won't you-"

"I'm not-" Jakotsu's breath caught in his throat. His voice trailed away. A flash of something indescribable crossed his face.

And was gone before Bankotsu could grasp it.

"Okay, you win."

Bankotsu cocked his head to one side and blinked.

Jakotsu heaved a sigh. "I'm going to sleep." He blew out the lantern and settled down on the sacking. "Happy?"

"Jakotsu."

Jakotsu didn't answer. The sacks rustled as he shifted his body. Bankotsu leaned closer.

"You can talk to me you know."

His only reply was silence.

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Bankotsu's eyes opened to darkness. The village was still as death. The only light came from the stars peeking through a gap in the roof. The hut was silent as ever.

He'd spent the last few hours drifting in and out of sleep, never able to stay in one state for long. Jakotsu's mood was catching. His silence hadn't helped much either. Though to tell the truth, it was his eyes that bothered him. He'd never looked so... hunted.

Sleep wasn't coming any time soon. Bankotsu rubbed his eyes and rolled onto his stomach. He inched towards Jakotsu and reached out to tap his shoulder. Better cut to the chase.

His hand found only empty sacks.

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Constructive criticism is very welcome!

I update every Sunday.