Summary: Okay, so basically Bankotsu and Kagome are reluctantly binded together by some mystical chain and the way of breaking it is unknown. The chain has special rules and conditions (explained in story) and abiding by them is crucial. Two very seemingly different people stuck together...Is this fate?
Disclaimer: Inuyasha (c) to Rumiko Takahashi. Gotta love her brilliance.
Bankotsu and Kagome: Linked by Fate
Chapter 1: Binded
"Take it off or I'll break your neck old woman!" bellowed a rather handsome young gentleman. He was the leader of the Band of Seven, Bankotsu his name.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," replied a raggedy, withered voice.
"And just why the Hell not?" retorted the mercenary coldly.
"Once my spell is cast, there's no breaking it. Especially a binding spell. However, you can break it, just not I nor anyone else." said the old woman, taking slight amusement at the sight before her.
Bankotsu stood with his feet about a foot apart and his fists balled up. His left hand was gripped around the hilt of his Banryuu. A sour look wrapped his face and the glare in his eyes was simply deathly. On his right wrist hung a chain, almost in resemblance to hand cuffs. It wasn't the chain that bothered him so much, but rather what was attached to the other end of it. There she stood, almost clueless on what had transpired. Kagome looked down at her left wrist and could feel the cold metal that clenched onto it. She looked back up the to old woman with an attitude bitterly written on her nose as she scrunched it up slightly. "Listen! Just take the chain off, please!" she begged, yanking at it with everything she had.
They were in a dreary cave. Though not morning, dew droplets could be heard, falling and making a blooping sound against the cold, rock ground. The walls were tightly packed in and only a handful of people could have possibly fit in the ancient-themed cave.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," the hag sounded off again.
"Fine! I'll just kill this wench," Bankotsu murmured and yanked at the chain with a jerk, trying to stop Kagome from continuously pulling at the chain. It was quite annoying.
"There are some rules, young ones."
"Rules?" replied Kagome and Bankotsu in unison. Although, Kagome's tone was soft from curiosity, Bankotsu's cold from annoyance.
"Yes. Listen up, and listen up good because I'll only be sayin' 'em once!" the old sorceress raised her voice. "These are the rules and conditions of that chain ye be binded to:
One: Killing the person on the other end of the chain will end your life consequently.
Two: There are currently five chain links between each cuff. With each passing day, a link will fade and the cuffs will become closer. Not to fear, your time doesn't start until tomorrow's Sunrise.
Three: If, by the fith day ye have not gotten rid of the chain, the both of ye will perish into the depths of Hell.
Four: The chain is not visible by any other living creature.
Five: Telling others of the binding spell will result in all of the links fading. And once the links have faded, only one thing will come of it; death."
Bankotsu rolled his eyes, not impressed one bit at this wench's game. How dare she toy with someone of his power. "And so how do you supposed we get this burden lifted?" he inquired smartly, not caring the level of sass he showed. In fact, he would've killed the old bitch right there and then had it not been that she was a spirit.
Alas, his question was too late. It just hung there in the open, being as the lady had faded away.
"Let's go," Bankotsu growled, walking out of the cave, Kagome being dragged along.
"Where are we going?" the young miko asked. As she was pulled out of the cave, she stared up and saw night was already upon them. She had no clue where they were, or where they would go. The past day's occurrences seemed to be erased from her memory, or so she thought.
"First thing tomorrow morning, we're getting this damned thing off. But for now, we'll rest." he grumbled. This was NOT making his day one bit. Being tied to an annoying little girl didn't exactly strike his fancy. Stabbing his Banryuu threw her right now didn't seem like such a bad idea, but then the realization of his life being at stake walked his mind and his annoyance subsided...Just a little.
Kagome nodded, not wanting to upset him. The last thing she needed was to aggravate some stranger, although good looking, who appeared to be strong and a no-nonsense kind of guy.
The two had found a nice little tree to rest under. Its branches outstretched further than one could see. The bark was peeling off, but at the base of the trunk, the roots formed a nice spot for Bankotsu and Kagome to sit in between.
Bankotsu sat back against the tree, his head cocked up and his eyelids shut. His left arm rested on his left knee which was halfway drawn-up. His right arm limply lay on the ground, the freezing metal of the chain starting to annoy the Hell out of him.
"So, uh, what's your name?" Kagome asked politely, trying to make friends. It was hard to take in the current situation. Her mind was cluttered. Part of it being the chain...And part of it being Inuyasha. He had earlier that morning proclaimed his love to Kikyo in front of Kagome. It wasn't more like making an announcement...But more like an accident. Kagome knew all along, but hearing those words made her heart cringe inside. She had walked off to clear her mind before being snagged by something. The next thing she knew...She woke up next to the mercenary, Bankotsu who was chained to her left arm.
"Bankotsu, now shut it."
"You don't have to be so rude, you know," Kagome snarled. Okay, so maybe she wasn't afraid to give him some lip, but damn it people needed to learn some manners.
Bankotsu wrinkled his eyebrows and opened his eyes, looking down and over to Kagome. "Listen, girl, I don't care to know you. In fact, I would kill you right now if it weren't for that stupid rule." he hissed back.
One: Killing the person on the other end of the chain will end your life consequently.
Kagome sighed. "We better learn to get along if we ever want to get this chain off." she mused, staring at him with no fear. He couldn't touch her, and that's all she needed to know.
"Listen wench, you may think that just because I can't kill you, I won't harm you. That is not the case. I will do to you whatever I damn well please. And that includes my 'special' needs," he lusted, moving his eyebrows up and down at her.
Kagome's face filled with rage and she took her right hand and swung it at him. However, she was too slow as she often was.
Bankotsu simply raised his left hand and grabbed her forceful wrist. His fingers wrapped around her thin bones all they way and he only seemed to tighten his grip. "Oh, you got spunk, do ya? Just my style," his infamous smirk showing. Ah yes, that smirk. It was simply stunning in a way which words cannot describe.
Kagome frowned and pulled back, trying to break free of his grip.
Bankotsu's grin still remained and he let go of her small wrist, leaning his back back against the tree once more. "What's your name, kid?" he asked.
"It's Kagome, and I'm not a kid. I'm fifteen," she pouted.
Bankotsu let out a small scoff mixed in with a brief laugh. "You better get to sleep, we're leaving as soon as the Sun rises." he said and cleared his throat, folding his arms. When he crossed his arms, it yanked the chain and Kagome's arm was nearly jerked out of socket. However, Bankotsu didn't seem to care.
Kagome rubbed her shoulder and stared at him, only to see he had closed his eyes and drifted off to a slumber. She then scooted over so her arm wasn't outstretched from her body and leaned against him with a sarcastic sigh. 'Great. What'd I get myself into now?' she groaned in her mind.
In a few hours, the Sun would rise, thus starting Day 1 of their five-day Hell; figuring out how to break the binding spell.
Author's Note: Hehe, I hope everyone likes my plot idea. I'm going to see what reviews are like and if they're positive, I'll continue -Ami