The Elemental Jewels

Chapter 4: Captured

--- Mt. Hakurai---

    As the Shichinintai rode on their comrade Ginkotsu to the new location Naraku told them to meet Kohaku at, they all were still curious of the young boy they saw Kagura have possession of.

When they neared the hut they saw Kohaku and Kagura patiently waiting for them.

"Bankotsu sir," greeted Kohaku while Kagura just sighed in annoyance.

"What is it we will be doing here Kohaku?" asked the young mercenary who eyed Kagura suspiciously, 'I haven't seen her till just recently. Is she a incarnation of Naraku such as the albino child to?' he thought to himself.

"You will be guarding the travelers that I've captured along with the rest once I bring them here," she said bluntly as she transformed one of her feathers and flew off.

"Kagura has already acquired the one they call Kyo and the other is Haruhi," Kohaku informed, "they are not to be harmed in anyway." The mercenaries nodded their understanding as they watched Kohaku bound off in the direction Kagura went.

They entered the hut and saw the two teenagers on the floor unconscious. They eyed them carefully. Bankotsu noted the boy had tan skin and black hair just as he did while the girl, Haruhi, resembled a woman he knew long ago.

"She looks like Kimiko... just different hair..." stated Jakotsu with disbelief in his tone. Suikotsu grunted at his comment and walked out of the hut and stood with Ginkotsu and Kyokotsu. Soon after just hanging round relaxing Kyo began to stir. Bankotsu, Renkotsu and Jakotsu eyed him carefully as he opened his cobalt eyes slowly. He sat up forgetting his fight with Kagura and hissed in pain clutching his torso.

"I'd be careful if I were you," Bankotsu said trying to hide his shock at looking at the young boy, "Suikotsu just bandaged you up so we wouldn't want your wound reopening."

The boy looked up at the men for a moment then looked around the room till his attention was brought to Haruhi. His eyes widened, "Haruhi?" he carefully moved to her and looked over her making sure there were no wounds. He sighed as he concluded she was alright just passed out.

"Why does Naraku want you all?" asked Renkotsu the boy looked to the bald man and shrugged.

"I'm not sure, plus, I don't even know who Naraku is," he said as he looked to all 3 men, "anyway who are all of you by chance?"

"I am Bankotsu, leader of the Shichinintai. This is Renkotsu my second in command, and over there is Jakotsu. The others are outside," he said as he pointed to his comrades.

Kyo's eyes widened, "wait so you are the ones who attacked the village," he said mainly to himself, " where is the rest of my group?" His eyes turned to a stormy blue, the same way Bankotsu's would when he'd grow angry.

Jakotsu held his hands up, "hey we don't know kid. We aren't the ones who captured the both of you."

"Yes Kagura is the one who was told to collect all of you, but from what I saw the rest must have gotten away," stated Renkotsu nervously. 'This guy is just like Big Brother...'

Kyo's face softened and he heard Haruhi begin the stir so he directed his attention to her. She opened her eyes and shot up quickly in a panic. She started shaking uncontrollably when Kyo had gently grabbed her shoulder. "Woah Haru calm down," he soothed, "it's Kyo. Are you alright?" she looked at him for a moment as tears formed in her eyes.

She flung herself to him and cried softly, "Kyo you're alive, thank Kami!" he chuckled as he pat her head ignoring the pain.

"Geez you'd think you all would have a little more faith in me," he fake pouted as she punched his good shoulder.

"Don't joke around we were all worried sick," she scolded, "especially Kisa." She crossed her arms over her chest as he chuckled ruffling her hair playfully.

"I know," he smiled, "I'm sorry for worrying everyone I just needed you all safe."

"Well as far as I know everyone is quite safe though they're all split up..." she said as a frown formed on her face, "Takashi is with Kisa and our mothers are all together. Though I fear Takashi and Kisa could easily be picked up next since I was with those two when that woman got me. Takashi is in really bad shape as he got hit with the same attack as you did."

Kyo nodded and sighed, "well lets hope Takashi can fight her off long enough for Kisa to get away if worse comes to worse," he said sternly while Haruhi's face paled as she just realized they weren't alone.

"K-kyo who are these people?" she asked as she moved closer to Kyo.

"The Shichinintai," he answered coldly.

"Do they know?" she whispered to him he shook his head and she sighed a little relieved.

At that Suikotsu and Mukotsu entered the hut. Mukotsu eyes Haruhi lustfully which sent chills up her spine. Kyo moved her behind him and glared coldly at the older man.

"Touch her and you'll find yourself being beheaded again old man," he scoffed as Mukotsu gulped fearfully as he nodded his understanding.

'Why does this kid resemble big brother so much, I feel that maybe Hanako-' thought Renkotsu before Bankotsu's statement brought him from his thoughts.

"Don't threaten my men boy," Bankotsu stood up and held Baryu to Kyo's throat.

"Then don't let your men touch the girl," Kyo stated his eyes challenging the mercenary. The air in the room grew thick with tension as the group eyed the two. The Shichinintai noted all the similarities they are seeing between their leader and the captive. All while Haruhi is hoping Kyo doesn't blow up on these people.

'They may be ruthless mercenaries and our fathers, but Kyo will not stand for any of us to be hurt. He gets really scary at times when people threaten us...' she thought nervously as she carefully got up and moved towards Kyo.

She put a gently hand on his shoulder, "Kyo I'll be ok as long as I'm not alone with any of them," she pleaded, "just don't do anything reckless." He looked at her with his stormy eyes and she didn't flinch. Her and Kisa were the only ones who were ever able to calm Kyo down before he really was able to hurt someone. He may be a carefree type of person but once you threaten anyone he holds dear he could possibly go on a storming rampage.

This baffled the Shichinintai as they felt a brawl was about to go down but instead Kyo's body relaxed as he nodded to Haruhi. "If any of them touch you without your consent I will not hold back though," he stated sternly, "I don't care who they are nor the fact they're ruthless killers. You are my priority and I will keep you safe under any circumstance, do I make myself clear?" Haruhi nodded and smiled slightly at Kyo who returned it with his own warm smile. Bankotsu stared for a moment as that smile brought back memories of Hanako so he left the room hastily.

'That smile, it's Hanako's... would she really have gone and had my child without my knowing?' he thought to himself as he trudged into the forest to clear his thoughts.

The rest of the members of the Shichinintai just stared at their leaders back all thinking the same thing, that if the women they had treasured so dearly were out there, alive... then are these children related to them in anyway? If so then they hoped they would find out soon.