Echoes: Bankotsu IV

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

Glossary

Shinobi - A covert agent or mercenary. They specialised in espionage, sabotage, infiltration, assassination and guerilla warfare. Basically the Sengoku Jidai equivalent of a ninja.

Jizou - A deity who protects travellers and children. He is also the patron deity of deceased children and aborted foetuses. His statues are often placed at the intersections of roads and paths to ensure that the right way will be chosen.

oooooooooooo

Bankotsu IV

Bankotsu's fist closed around thin air. His breath froze in his throat. His heart leapt up to join it.

"Ja-"

A hand clamped over his mouth.

He didn't have time to scream. His attacker slammed him to the floor. He thrashed beneath him, twisting and writhing. The stranger clung to him like a leech. He pushed himself up on one elbow, only to be flattened again. He bit down and sank his teeth into man's fingers.

The stranger let out a choked squeal.

Jakotsu? Bankotsu stopped squirming and released his bite. The older boy's breath came heavy in his ears. His hand remained over his mouth.

Bankotsu was about to pull his hand away when a creak sounded from the roof.

"Don't. Move."

Jakotsu's whisper was his only warning. A dart slammed into the floorboards, inches from his head. Jakotsu gave a yelp and rolled across him. His body fell limp.

The roof gave another creak. Both boys stayed still as death. Hushed voices came from outside the hut. Moonlight slanted through the doorway as the curtain was drawn aside.

Two shinobi stole into the hut. Each was swathed in cloth from head to foot. Only their eyes were visible. They paused to examine the two boys lying on the floor.  One gave a nod and crept closer. He bent down to check Jakotsu's breathing.

Jakotsu was on him in a flash.

His companion rushed to his aid. Bankotsu tackled his legs.  He rammed his shoulder into the shinobi's ribs and took him down. He had him pinned with a knife to his throat before he could draw another breath.

"Who sent you?"

The man gave no reply.

Bankotsu pressed the knife deeper into his throat. A trickle of blood welled from the shinobi's neck.

"Who?"

The shinobi coughed and gagged. Bankotsu frowned as a series of coughs racked his body. His eyes widened as the shinobi's head fell back and hit the floor.

He was dead in seconds.

Bankotsu swore under his breath and tore the mask from the shinobi's face.  His mouth lay open and foaming. Whatever he'd swallowed had to be pretty potent. His pulse was as still as the night.

He shot a glance at Jakotsu. The shinobi beneath him had suffered the same fate.

Shit.

He rifled through the shinobi's kosode for any clues to his identity. His search revealed only a dagger, two smoke bombs and a few more darts. He pressed half the darts and a smoke bomb into Jakotsu's hands.

"Here. We might-"

"Are you boys okay in there?" A low voice asked from outside the hut.

Daisuke? Bankotsu tensed. Jakotsu put his finger to his lips. He stuffed the bomb inside his kosode and slipped a dart inside his sleeve. He sidled past Bankotsu without a word.

Bankotsu gave him a questioning look. Jakotsu paid him no mind. He slunk towards the doorway and pressed himself against the wall.

They waited with bated breath.

"Guess I'd better check on them." Daisuke pushed the curtain aside and entered the hut. "Is everything-"

Jakotsu yanked Daisuke backwards and shoved his hand over his mouth. He plunged the dart straight into his neck.

Daisuke gave a muffled yell and thrashed in Jakotsu's grip. Jakotsu clung to him until the fight left his body. Daisuke slumped against him with a shudder. He laid him down without a sound.

"What the hell?" Bankotsu hissed.

"He would've screamed." There was no missing the tremor in Jakotsu's voice.

"That's still not-"

"He'd talk." Jakotsu's voice shook like a taut rope. He grabbed Bankotsu's arm. "We should go."

Bankotsu twisted his arm free. "Quit grabbing me."

Jakotsu's hand fell to his side. Even in the darkness it was clear he was shaking. "We should go." He repeated. His tone was almost apologetic.

Bankotsu bit back his anger and took stock of their situation. At this rate, it wouldn't take long for Hiroshi and company to show up. Go outside and they'd be sitting ducks if there were any more shinobi about. Then again, staying inside wouldn't be safe for much longer. Unless...

"Okay, we're getting out of here. Keep your eyes on the door."

Jakotsu gave him what might have been a nod. He unsheathed his sword and slipped back into the shadows. His chest was still heaving.

Bankotsu groped his way along the wall until his foot caught on a crack in the floorboards. He reached out and found the crate. He lifted it with ease. Setting it back down was a little trickier. He swallowed a few more swearwords as his feet teetered on the edge of the hole.

"Bankotsu..."

"Shhh." He put down the crate and fumbled for the wall. It didn't take him long to find his bisento. He retraced his footsteps and paused on the edge of the hole. He prodded his bisento into the darkness. It was deeper than he'd expected, maybe six feet. A little wider too. They might just-

"They're coming." Jakotsu's voice was urgent.

"Bring the lantern. Stay close. "

Bankotsu took a deep breath. He gripped his bisento and leapt down the hole.

His feet landed in soft earth and Buddha knew what else. The tunnel was pitch dark but at least he wouldn't have to crawl the whole way. His nose was grateful. He glanced up and caught Jakotsu's outline on the edge of the pit.

"Jump."

He scrambled aside just in time to stop Jakotsu from flattening him.

Jakotsu swore and scrambled to his knees. There was a few moments' scuffling before he lit the lantern. Pale light flickered around them, scattering the shadows. Faint voices came from above them, growing louder and more urgent by the second. There was only one way to go.

He glanced over his shoulder at Jakotsu. "If we get split up, meet me by the Jizou statue at the crossroads."

Jakotsu nodded and fell in behind him.

The tunnel was longer than he'd expected. Deeper and danker too. The wan light was barely enough to guide his footsteps. Jakotsu was soon on his knees, his sword sheathed against his back. Bankotsu could get away with crouching, although he had to drag his bisento along the ground. He pressed on, ignoring the bile at the back of his throat.

He was on the brink of choking when the tunnel began to slope mercifully upwards. Cool air wafted towards them. He tilted his head back and glimpsed starlight. Almost there.

A shadow fell across the entrance.

Bankotsu's footsteps ground to a halt. Jakotsu almost dropped his lantern. They held their breath as the shadow loomed closer. Bankotsu reached into his kosode.

His dart thudded into the sentry's thigh.

The man gave a gasp and clutched at his leg. Bankotsu hurled another dart at him before he could shout the others. The sentry keeled forwards and slumped to the ground. Right across the tunnel's entrance.

Bankotsu scrambled towards him. He shoved the man's body away and poked his head above ground.

The tunnel emerged from a wooded bank to the east of the village, opposite the river. They were well clear of the trench. There wasn't another sentry in sight. He hauled himself out of the tunnel and let out a small sigh. Jakotsu passed him his bisento and clambered up to join him.

Bankotsu scanned the clearing for any signs of movement. The night was still as ever. He turned to Jakotsu. "Looks like we-"

"Get down!"

Bankotsu ducked aside as a dart whistled past him. He scrambled for cover. Jakotsu shot off in the opposite direction.

Bankotsu dodged behind a bush. He cast his eyes upwards, searching the trees for any signs of shinobi. The branches above him shivered. He reached for another dart.

A cry came from the village. "Over there!"

The branches rustled. Bankotsu's shoulders tensed. Before he could make another move a group of watchmen emerged from behind the watchtower, torches and spears in hand. They took one look at the commotion and broke into a charge.

"Shit!"

Bankotsu reached into his kosode. His hand stopped short as a bang sounded from behind him. He covered his mouth as a wave of smoke rushed past.

"Run!"

Jakotsu didn't have to tell him twice. Bankotsu took one look at the choking watchmen and hurled his smoke bomb towards them. The explosion was met with coughs and curses.

He took off through the forest as the night broke into chaos.

oooooooooooo

Constructive criticism is very welcome!

I update every Sunday.