The Seven: Wanted Dead or Alive
Chapter 100: Cattle drive: day one
Title: Cattle drive: day one
Author: Hairann
Prompt and Word Count: Teammate-446
Characters: Bankotsu; others mentioned
Warnings: None
Summary: Part 100 of The Seven.
Prompt Summary: Bankotsu notices just how well the family works together.
Won third place for prompt!
The first day on the trail went by quickly even though most seemed to be scrambling to figure out what to do. For their part, the two brothers and their wives seemed to be the only ones completely sure of what they were doing. Bankotsu had quickly decided that they had done this before as they almost immediately fell into a perfect rhythm with their teammates.
The women spent their time in the wagon while they were moving, one driving while the other did jobs in the back; getting food ready to be cooked as soon as they stopped, mending clothes torn on the trail or even just taking inventory of what they had.
After each meal they would switch jobs without a word passed between them. As far as the two brothers went, they kept up the same position all day; Sesshoumaru leading the way in front of the wagon and Inuyasha pulling up the rear. Though they barely said two words to each other all day, as they were usually too far apart to speak, Bankotsu could swear they were communicating with glances alone.
Sesshoumaru would look back, apparently seeing something on Inuyasha's face and call for a meal break. Even the women seemed to know when he was about to stop even before he would announce it; whoever was driving at the time would already be beginning to slow down by the time he called for everyone to stop.
As Bankotsu watched them, he found himself quite impressed with how well they worked together; more than once thinking to himself that he had never experienced such a thing before. Glancing over at Jakotsu, not surprised to find him looking back, he happily reminded himself that he could have that now.
Some how, even though they had only known each other for a short time, he knew without a single doubt that Jakotsu would never betray him, never stab him in the back. It was more than just him helping him to escape or not turning him into the sheriff and it wasn't even his feelings for him that allowed him to be so sure.
There was just something in Jakotsu's eyes that left no room for fear in his heart. He was safe and if ever he needed it, he would be protected. And all he ever had to do was the same and he would do so in a heart beat. Anything Jakotsu ever asked him to do would be worth it just to experience what it was liked to be loved and feel as though he had someplace he belonged. Neither of which had he felt since he was a child.