Bonded Mercenaries and Broken Souls

What Happened to Kalel & Bankotsu

---Chapter 3: What Happened to Kalel & Bankotsu? ---

{The Next Day}

After everyone had woken up Bankotsu ordered everyone to pack up as they'd be heading out soon. Kalel still seemed quite shaken up over what happened last night and this did not go unnoticed by her friends.

"Kal sweetie is everything alright?" asked Angelique as she gently placed her hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Huh?" Kalel seemed to be lost in her thoughts and barely noticed Angelique speaking to her, "oh Ange, yeah I'm alright just had a bad dream last night. I can't stop thinking about it, I just have a really bad feeling ya know?" she looked to her friend with worry written in her eyes.

"Do you wish to talk about it?" asked Jaclyn as she helped Suikotsu pack up the last of their supplies they gathered in the village the day before.

"Yeah but not right now, thank you though," she smiled softly and Jaclyn nodded her understanding.

As everyone got everything packed and were ready to go Kalel took her spot in the front of the group with Bankotsu. They headed North since earlier that morning Bankotsu had received a request from a Lord to slay a powerful demon that plagues his castle and the surrounding villages.

The day dragged on, Bankotsu and Renkotsu discussed many strategies pertaining to their next job. Rosaline and Kalel groaned in boredom hearing nothing but battle plans throughout most of their day's journey.

'How exactly do they think to defeat an enemy they know nothing about yet?' thought Rosaline as she rolled her eyes and Kalel giggled at her friend.

"Hey Rose, how has your granpa been lately? I know he hadn't been feeling too well," asked Kalel in a tone that held some concern, "I know you two are close." At this the two mercenaries directed their attention to the two girls who walked closely behind them, curious as to what was going on.

Rosaline looked at her friend and smiled softly, "he's been doing very well actually. The doctors say that after this surgery he should be completely cancer free," though her face then turned sad, "I just hope with me being gone he doesn't become too stressed and make himself sick..."

"All the more motivation to get home right?" Kalel said smiling at Rosaline who nodded with a new wave of determination in her eyes.

As the group traveled they finally came upon the Lord's castle and were greeted by his soldiers. They were escorted to the Lord's meeting room, leaving Ginkotsu and Kyokotsu outside. Though the way the soldiers were eyeing the girls made them uncomfortable. Kalel subconsciously moved closer to Bankotsu which caught the curiosity of Renkotsu. They all sat and patiently waited for the arrival of the Lord.

"Those guys make me nervous..." whispered Rosaline to Renkotsu.

"Why might that be?" he asked not really paying attention to the soldiers of the castle.

"I just feel like they're undressing us with their eyes and I don't like it..." she said nervously and she scooted closer to Renkotsu, "why couldn't Ginkotsu and Kyokotsu come too?"

"They wouldn't fit very well in here due to their size. And don't worry we won't let them do anything to you, besides we can't really leave you girls unattended anyway," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

'This is the first time I've seen her act like this, same with all the girls. I wonder if Big Brothers notices it too... lets hope for the jobs sake none of these men try anything that would result in us having to step in.' he thought as he heard the sliding doors open and the Lord enters the room.