Author's Note: Hey, yeah it's me, and this is the end of the story (. I'm sorry that last chapter was so short. It originally was part of this chapter but I decided to break them up. Hope you enjoy the end; I'll have Suikotsu's part up in a few days. ( Thanks for the reviews!

SpeakThaMind: I'm happy you think the story seems like something that could have happened. That's my goal ;). I hope I do a good enough job with Suikotsu... he's a little harder lol. Hey, do you know who joined after Suikotsu? I want to think it was Renkotsu and Ginkotsu and those two probably joined together. Well, thank you for the wonderful review! Take care!

Cattico: Thank you (. Sorry about the brevity issue lol. I can't really say I make up for it much in this chapter though. It's still a little short, but the next story will be up soon. ( Thanks for always leaving a review!

MageofDarkness: Lol, yes the bad men did get what they deserved, but Bankotsu made it to where Jakotsu could not get into too much trouble for it. There was no evidence in which to convict him cause Ban burned it, ;). People may start to ask question, but they'll be long gone by then (. Not too much action in this chapter I know, and hopefully you'll enjoy the conclusion. Yes, the next story is Suikotsu. Thanks for the great review. I love reading them! Take care!


Chapter 7

"Are you sure you're ok?" Bankotsu was asking Josue as he stared at the old horse he

was going to be riding upon. Nasuti had draped a soft blanket over the horse's back for Josue

to sit on to make the ride a little more comfortable for him.

Josue nodded softly, keeping his weary eyes to the ground. Bankotsu sighed. His friend

hadn't taken his eyes off the floor since Bankotsu had gotten him up that morning. Bankotsu

wanted to take his chin in his hand and raise his head, but he didn't know how Josue would

react to being touched in such a forceful manner.

Bankotsu had originally planned to leave earlier in the morning, but he had taken one look

at Josue and decided to give his friend more time to rest. Nasuti had been in to check on them

both that morning, her large eyes tired and puffy from lack of sleep. Wordlessly she had held out

the royal purple sheath with an over-the-shoulder carrying strap she had made for Jakotsutou.

She had gasped at the sword Bankotsu had brought back and fretted over how they were going

to carry both the new sword and Banryuu.

Nasuti came up to them, opening one of the saddle bags and tucking yet another parcel of

food inside. "I put some extra money in there too. You'll have to stop in the next town to rest

and to bathe in warm water. Josue must keep his wounds clean."

Bankotsu nodded as if accepting orders from a military general. Nasuti leaned in to

whisper, "Don't push him too hard, Bankotsu. He's in a lot of pain, even though he hasn't said

anything. This trip is going to make it worse. There's special tea in one of the pouches meant to

alleviate pain, but it will make him drowsy."

"Thank you," Bankotsu whispered back. They both turned to study the silent Josue. The

boy had woken, biting his lip in unexpected pain and had hobbled around, brushing off any

hands extended to help him. He thanked both Nasuti and Bankotsu quietly for their help the

previous night and hadn't spoken another word since. He'd accepted the clothes Nasuti had

given him and had stood still when she had altered them to fit him better. He had also taken his

hairbrush and hairpin from Bankotsu. He'd twisted his hair up and pinned it back in a female

fashion to keep it off his back and shoulders, long bangs falling to either side of his pale face.

Bankotsu had wondered about Josue's face. It seemed to be the only part of his body that

didn't have any marks on it what-so-ever. He'd asked Nasuti her opinion and her eyes had

watered. "Men try not to leave marks on....prostitutes. It lowers them in value...but if they feel

they have to, they try not to touch the face."

Bankotsu sighed, sorry he'd asked.

"We had better get going," Bankotsu said. He stared at Nasuti a moment before opening

his arms to give her a hug. The woman held him tight, kissing the top of his head. Bankotsu

memorized her sweet floral scent and the tenderness of her embrace. He would never forget this

woman. "I'll never forget you, Nasuti-sama."

"You had better not." Nasuti held him tighter, then finally released him. She fluffed his

bangs with one hand, then stifled a sob behind the other. "Take good care of yourself... and

Josue. If you ever need anything, know that you can always come here to me."

Bankotsu nodded. He knew he would always be welcome in her home, but he also knew

that he would probably never see Nasuti again. His road would not lead him in her direction

again, because it would cause him to go backwards or walk in circles. The only paths Bankotsu

had been taught to take in life were the straight ones.

He would not be back.

He watched Josue use a small wooden stool to stand on, so that he could climb onto the

horse's back. Once his friend was in place, Bankotsu gave Nasuti a beautiful smile. "Good bye."

"Good bye."

Bankotsu turned his head away from her then, directing his attention to lifting Banryuu and

patting the horse's bottom to get it moving. Josue waved to Nasuti briefly, then rested both

hands on the horse's neck.

A few people stared at them as they took the road out of town. Most pointed at Josue,

wondering aloud where he was going and who the little boy he was with was. Didn't the boy's

parents know that Josue was a pervert? Little boys shouldn't be left in his company lest he

pollute them too?

Bankotsu scowled at their words and glanced up to see Josue's face void of all emotion.

He sat stiff backed on the horse in another world. Their words bounced off his head and rolled

down his back easy.

He was used to it.

It was all he ever heard.

Bankotsu growled. "We're going to make a new name for you, Josue. No one's ever

going to dare to say anything bad about you again."

Josue sighed. "I don't care about them, Bankotsu."

He'd spoken! Bankotsu didn't know whether to be pleased or angry– he chose angry.

"Yeah, well I do. I don't want anyone making you feel like trash. You're not!" Bankotsu

was fuming. They passed into the woods, finally leaving town.

"As long as I am Aiko Josue, I am," Josue said solemnly.

Bankotsu made a face. "Well then... you'll no longer be Aiko Josue."

"What?"

"You'll have a new name. What would you like to be called?" Bankotsu trotted beside the

horse casually. A new name for Josue. He hadn't thought of it before, but it could be a good

idea. Josue was a poor village prostitute, now he had the chance to leave that person behind for

good.

"I...don't...know," Josue sounded faraway as he thought about it. "I don't really care. Why

don't you think of something, Bankotsu."

Bankotsu pouted. "I don't know." He really didn't. He had never had to name anything

before. What's in a name? Did Josue like names with meaning? What did "Josue" mean?

Perhaps, he would like something that simply sounded nice.

He frowned at his friend, wincing at the bright light reflecting from the hilt of Jakotsutou as it

rode like a small child strapped to Josue's back.

Hmm...

Jakotsutou...

Bankotsu.... Jakotsutou.... Jakotsu.

Jakotsu.

"How about Jakotsu?" Bankotsu asked, watching Josue for his initial reaction.

Josue blinked, "Jakotsu?" He seemed to think it over, playing with the name in his mind.

"After my sword?"

"Yeah...and uh...after me, kinda," Bankotsu said, feeling a bit sheepish.

Josue was quiet for a beat before he nodded. "Jakotsu. I could get used to it."

"So...?"

"Jakotsu it is." Josue ran a hand through the horse's thick mane. "Jakotsu and Bankotsu.

People will think we're related."

"Let them," Bankotsu shrugged. "We'll tell them we're brothers."

"I don't look like you."

"We're half brothers," Bankotsu rectified flatly.

"That's a little better, aniki," Josue retorted.

"Hey, shut up, Jos... er... Jakotsu. Shut up, Jakotsu," Bankotsu snapped.

And Jakotsu smirked. "Whatever you say... Aniki."

The End


Author's Note: Well that's it for this one. I'll have the next one up in a few days. Tell me how you liked it! Please review! Take care!