A/N: This is my first ever Bankotsu/Jakotsu shounen-ai story! I'm very excited about this, and well, knowing me, I probably can't write this kind of stuff without it having an overflow of angst in it. Sorry to disappoint. I'll try to minimize the angst and up the fluff – although I honestly think that that is impossible for this particular fanfiction. Sorry, everyone! By the way, has anyone ever noticed that most of the doujinshi out there always has Jakotsu as the seme role? Goodness gracious – Bankostu is so seme! So, I am protesting! XD Bankotsu is the seme in my story. You don't like? Simple. You don't read. Don't overcomplicate things, peeps.
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.
Note: Drinking and drunkness ahead. XD
Only Between Us
By: ArtemisiaMoon Part One
The first time that Bankotsu had met Jakotsu, it was within a small run-down bar, with the obviously gay man chugging down bowl after bowl of sake, giggling girlishly as he fluttered his eyelids at every good-looking man that happened to walk through the entrance. The young mercenary hadn't even bothered to offer a second glance at the feminine looking male, choosing instead to walk towards the opposite end of the bar to drink his alcohol in peace. Bankotsu never particularly cared for the man's strange attire, his uncommon usage of snake skin for armour, or the flirtatious way that his yukata was lifted up to show the creamy porcelain skin of his leg. He never even bothered to study his fang-like sword, which was strapped almost carelessly onto the back of the homosexual man.
That, in itself, was strange. Bankotsu was always on the lookout for a strong opponent to fight against, in order to improve his own physical strength and finesse – plus his already notorious reputation. However, something about the smiling and promiscuous man that sat on the other side of the room seemed beneath him, something that he shouldn't waste his time and energy with.
Let's face it: Bankotsu was always a loner, and he always would be.
"Yo! Old man!" The owner of the sake house glanced up warily, the creased skin around his eyes wrinkling even more as he realized that another troublesome young man had entered his bar. "A few rounds over here, would'ya?" The bartender scowled darkly as he nodded, standing up awkwardly as his shaking hands poured the rice wine from the clay gourd into the small bowl. A few seconds later, a shapely young woman – the owner's granddaughter – of around the ages of fifteen or sixteen glided towards the area where Bankotsu was sitting, smiling tightly as she eyed his devious smirk and enormous Banyru beside him with distrust.
"Here you go, sir."
"Thanks, darling." A large calloused hand reached out and grabbed the bowl from her small dainty hands, shooting the clearly disgusted woman a charming smile before drinking the entire contents of the bowl in one go. The female handed him the black jar of sake, and walked away hurriedly, avoiding his heated gaze.
Damn, she's probably one of the finest bitches if I've ever seen one. Bankotsu poured himself another round, blatantly ignoring the whispers and furious glances from the elderly bartender as his descendant complained of the mercenary's attitude towards her.
The symptoms of the sake soon took effect on the statuesque man, his mind humming pleasantly as his vision began to blur. Bankotsu closed his eyes gently as he held the bowl at his lips, his mouth formed into a permanent arrogant half-smile.
"Hello, stranger. Come here often?" Those words came out slurred and smooth, the voice a bit of a gurgle as it struggled to form coherent and understandable sounds. Bankotsu opened his eyes reluctantly, and to his amazement, there sat the "giggling-like-mad" gayboy that was previously across the room, not having even noticed the younger of the two coming into the bar.
The seventeen-year-old azure-eyed male studied the person in front of him with a critical eye and irritated exhalation of breath. He had not expected him of all people to come and chat with him, and for some reason, that annoyed him more than he cared for.
"What's it to ya?" retorted the younger man with a dramatic wave of his sake bowl, spilling a few drops of its alcoholic contents. Bankotsu scowled as the tangy liquid splattered over his hand.
The man before him pulled his lips back slightly, grinning merrily at him as his white teeth contrasted brightly against his dark mouth (his lips are ruby red, the colour of cherries, Bankotsu notices). "Now hold it there, cutie! Can't a man be curious? I'm just askin', that's all."
Bankostu scowled even more. "Well, I say you're askin' too much! Who the hell are you, anyway?" He wiped his hand hurriedly on the upper part of his white pants, annoyed and itching to use his halberd on the nosy man.
"Oh ho ho! Now who's askin' the questions?" He giggled and winked, briefly startling the younger boy with his subtle behaviour. "My name is Jakotsu. What's yours, handsome?"
He furrowed his dark eyebrows in frustration, and quite unconsciously, placed his right hand on the hilt of the gigantic weapon that rested beside him. Drunk as they both may be, Bankotsu felt a bit more secure with his weapon at his side, and Jakotsu recognized a threat when he saw one. Liquor might dull your senses, but it doesn't eliminate it.
"None o' your business, sweetheart. Now why don'tcha do me a favour and get your gay ass outta here?" His grip around the halberd tightened just momentarily…
Jakotsu eyed the Banyru with an amused glance. "This ain't no way to treat an elder, young man!" teased the older male. "I'd say that you're…what? Sixteen? Seventeen? All I know is that I'm older than you, so you might wanna start treatin' me with some respect, 'kay, love?" His tone suggested that he was merely toying with the long-haired man, but his eyes held a certain danger to them, backing up his non-existent threat unnecessarily. Bankotsu nearly beamed at the challenge, the sake obviously having gotten to his head.
"I –" hiccup "don't havta listen to you! I'll treat you however the hell I want to."
"You're such a naughty boy." His charcoal eyes sparkled with mischief. "Of course, you must be a strong one as well, having the ability to wield that weapon of yours."
"Hn."
"However," Jakotsu smiled flirtatiously as he licked his lips (Bankotsu noticed this as well; something about this man forced him to see every detail, every movement – either that, or it's the alcohol), "I doubt that you could best me in a fight. My Jakotsuto is full of surprises."
Bankotsu smirked at this. "We'll see."
The duo basked in each other's presence, the silence having somehow taken over the majority of their drunken conversations. However, this never stopped Jakotsu from giggling at the man in front of him, or placing his (warm, Bankotsu notices, soft and delicate-looking too) hand on top of the calloused ones of the seventeen-year-old, flirting shamelessly.
They both figured that the alcohol was responsible for their previous actions and words that day.
Soon, a pretty petite village girl came stumbling into the bar, eyes searching as she scanned the numerous amount of heads inside the little sake house. Finally, her eyes locked on their target.
"Darling!" Her demure voice rang throughout the entire room, turning the many heads of men. She walked quickly towards the Banyru possessor, smiling slightly, completely ignoring the questioning glances of the man that her current lover was sitting with.
"Hey, baby," cooed the aforementioned man in a seductive purr. "What'cha doin' here?" Her face contorted to that of a disapproving expression when she smelt the scent of sake upon him.
"Father has one more assignment for you. He'd like you to return immediately."
Jakotsu glared menacingly at the woman, and locked his gaze at the masculine arm of Bankotsu as it snaked around to hold the girl around the waist. Bankotsu noticed the stare, and realized that gayboy over there had an extreme distaste for women. Figured.
"'Kay then, love, let's go." He staggered in his step as he stood up, shouldering his Banyru in the process.
"Tell me, handsome," began Jakotsu in a laughing manner, "what are you going do to? And how will you do it if you're as drunk as hell?"
"You're one to talk," slurred the young man. "I'mma go make me some money, and don't underestimate my abilities, gayass." Bankotsu slammed down a few coins as payment for the sake onto the wooden table, and kicked the small sitting mat aside.
Jakotsu watched the couple almost drag themselves out of the bar, Bankotsu's wandering left hand sliding lower and lower until it reached the woman's rear, before patting it almost affectionately. To his surprise, the girl merely giggled at the contact, and tightened her hold around his waist to support his staggering walk.
"It's Bankotsu!" the young mercenary yelled over his shoulder, much to Jakotsu's delight. "You said you wanted my name. Now you've got it." And with that, they left.
He smiled, his hand touching his red lips, feeling them as they formed his next words. "I know."
The End
A/N: This is the first installment to this small series. Please review and tell me what you think! Just remember, all of them all relate to each other – think of it like a timeline. No flames please…
Quote: Homosexuality has been recorded since ancient times in Japan; indeed, at some times in Japanese history love between men was viewed as the purest form of love.