Someone I Care

Chapter XXII

"Wah... this battle is so much fun. I wish (Y/n)-chan could join us, but she's a miko, so she can't do our job," said Jakotsu. "Well, yeah, that's how it is," said Bankotsu. 

"But seriously, the ruler there is so stupid," Jakotsu continued, laughing, followed by the others who agreed with Jakotsu's words. 

"Look, we'll get our payment there," said Bankotsu, pointing to a castle. Not long after that, they arrived at the castle. 

They saw a samurai wearing a mask on his face. "Where is your leader?" Bankotsu asked a samurai. 

"Hooo... you're already here," said the samurai. Bankotsu then chatted with the samurai.

"Nee... Who is that, Renkotsu?" Jakotsu asked. "Oh... He seems to be the general of the samurai here. I think he's about to give us another mission," Renkotsu replied. 

"Hmm... Strange, usually the leader of this castle gives us mission instructions," Jakotsu said. 

"Hmm... Maybe they're busy," Renkotsu replied. Bankotsu glanced at Jankotsu and the others, then walked toward them. 

"Let's go," Bankotsu said to the others. They then set off, leaving the castle behind, and continued on their mission.

On the other hand, I was at a small shop enjoying a cup of tea and also danggo. Then someone came and gave me a letter. 

"Forgive me, Miko-sama, this is a letter from our leader. He wishes to speak with you," said the messenger, handing me the letter. 

I accepted the letter, "thank you," I said to the messenger. I opened the letter, and its contents were an invitation for me to come to the castle. 

The leader of the castle wished to seek my assistance, and the location and time of the meeting were stated. I sighed and went back to enjoying my tea and dango. 

I had a bad feeling about this "I have to go there, whether I like it or not," I muttered.

In the afternoon, I went to the usual place where I meet Bankotsu and the others. I waited until they came, and I looked up at the sky. 

'The sky is getting dark and they still haven't arrived, they're usually never this late,' I thot to myself. 

'Shi... I have a bad feeling, I hope they're okay, it's not like them to be this late,' I said. 'Hmm...' Shi replied, 'Hey... from your tone, it sounds like something is bothering you,' I asked worriedly. 

But Shi didn't answer; he just remained silent. Sighing, I said, 'It seems they won't come, we'd better go back,' and left the place.

The next day, I arrived at the time and place stated in the letter. Someone brought me to meet the leader of the castle. "Ah... you must be the Miko everyone's been talking about (Y/n) the wandering Miko," said the castle leader. 

I nodded, and he then invited me to sit down and offered me a cup of tea. I, appreciating the kindness of the castle leader, drank the tea and began to enjoy it. 

The leader was pleased that I enjoyed the tea he offered, and he chuckled softly "I apologize, but Miko-sama, I will get straight to the point. 

I haven't been able to rest peacefully for the past few days for certain reasons," the leader said. I nodded, understanding the situation the leader was experiencing.

"Alright, yesterday I just killed the most feared group of merchants, they call themselves the Ban of Seven," said the leader. When I heard that, I was very surprised. 

The leader was speaking, but I didn't hear him, as if the world had stopped for a moment. Until someone opened the door carrying a very large sword. 

I saw the sword, 'Banryu??' I thot to myself. "Aaa... thank you for bringing it here, you can put it over there," the leader said. 

I looked at the sword, "Aaa... this is the sword of their leader, Bankotsu," said the castle leader. When I heard the name Bankotsu, my hands trembled and I started gripping my clothes very tightly.

"I'm sorry, I'm going to continue. I hope you can seal their souls so they can't bother people. Can you do that? I'll give you anything you want," said the leader. 

I tried with all my might not to show my anger and sadness. I nodded. "Wow... thank you so much, I'll give you anything you ask for," he said to me.

I stood up and said, "I don't need anything, I don't want anything, but remember this, I can only seal their souls once," to the leader of the castle, and then disappeared from the place. 

'SHIIIIII!!!' I screamed in my mind, 'Tell me honestly, you knew this, didn't you?' I asked him. 

'SHIII, DON'T JUST BE SILENT, TELL ME!!' I screamed again. 'Yes, forgive me,' Shi said. 

I fell to my knees with tears streaming down my face and sobbed loudly. "Forgive me, (Y/n), but you must go and pick them up and seal them," Shi said with a sad tone. 

This was the first time Shi had seen me experience pain from sadness, and he didn't know what to do.

After I finished crying, I started my duty of collecting the souls of the deceased. "I wouldn't have believed (Y/n)-chan would pick us up," said Jakotsu. 

"I told you, (N/n)-chan's real job is to pick up the souls of the dead," said Bankotsu angrily. 

"Hmm... I believe you, aneki," said Renkotsu. Soon after, they heard footsteps. 

They all turned toward the footsteps. Bankotsu smiled while the others were surprised. They saw me carrying a scythe and a lot of spirits following me. 

I approached them, "I've come to pick you up," I said, my voice trembling slightly.

Bankotsu smiled, "I knew you would come to pick us up," said Bankotsu. I took off the hat and veil I was wearing. My eyes looked very sad, and tears ran down from them. 

"Forgive me," I said, trying to act strong. Bankotsu smiled and gently touched my cheek. 

"It's okay, this isn't your fault," Bankotsu said softly. "Heee... (Y/n)-chan, so this is your real job?" Jakotsu asked, followed by the others waiting for my answer. 

I nodded, "I'm sorry for hiding this from you," I said. Suikotsu said, "It's okay, if I knew something like this would happen, I would have been scared, so it's fine". 

Kyokotsu nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, to be honest, I'm afraid of ghosts, so it's better to keep it a secret." The others nodded in agreement, making me smile. 

"Y/n-chan, don't cry, we don't like seeing you sad, so please smile like that, you look so beautiful when you smile," Jakotsu said, then smiled. I chuckled, wiped away my tears, and smiled at them. 

"Alright, it's time, let's go," I said to them. They all nodded, and I then opened a portal to the gates of death to guide the spirits of the deceased.

I directed the other spirits to enter the gates of death. After everything was in place, I then approached Bankotsu and the others toward their destination. 

"Forgive me, but I must seal your souls because of your sins. I must send you to the realm of limbo," I said. 

They all smiled, not blaming me; they understood I was just doing my job. "Alright, I can only accompany you this far; you'll have to go through this door," I said. 

Ginkotsu entered first, followed by Kyokotsu, who said, "Thank you to me." Then Mukotsu, then Renkotsu. "Thank you, (Y/n)-chan," he said, bowing. I told him not to bow and just nod.

Then Suikotsu flicked my head, "See you again, (Y/n)-sama," he said. I nodded, and tears began to flow again. 

Then Jakotsu hugged me and kissed my forehead. "See you again, I hope we meet again," he said. I nodded and hugged him back. 

And finally, Bankotsu, I couldn't hold back my tears. Bankotsu touched my cheek again and then gently wiped away my tears with his thumb. 

He smiled at me, "I'm sorry, I have to leave you first. Don't cry, I want to see you smile. Can you do that for me?" said Bankotsu. 

I nodded and smiled. "That's better," he said, smiling, and he kissed me on the lips. I was very surprised, "I love you so much (N/n)-chan, see you," he said before leaving.

to be continued...