The Seven: Wanted Dead or Alive

Title: Snake in the blanket

Author: Hairann

Prompt and Word Count: Bloody-656

Characters: Bankotsu, Jakotsu and Kagome

Warnings: None

Summary: Part 104 of The Seven.

Prompt Summary: Jakotsu wakes up.

 

The rest of the trip to pick up the cattle passed without any further incidents; allowing the group to make up the lost time with having to move slower. As soon as the sun was beginning to rise, Sesshoumaru made his way onto a ranch to meet the man he would be buying the herd from.



The others waited just outside the gate where they had made their camp the night before. Just as he was sitting down to an a cup of coffee that Inuyasha had just handed him, Bankotsu heard his name being called and made his way over to the wagon. He found Kagome standing beside it with a smile on her face.



"He just woke up," she explained, taking the coffee from his hands without being asked so he would be able to climb inside without spilling it. Seeing Jakotsu's wide eyes staring up at him, Bankotsu couldn't help but smile in relief.



"You gave me quite the scare," he informed him as Kagome was walking away unnoticed by either of them. "I would appreciate if you do not do that again," he continued as he sat down beside him and rested back against the side of the wagon.



"I never had the chance to get away from it. Dang thing was inside my blanket when I unrolled it," Jakotsu explained, shivering as he recalled the sound of the rattle.



"Wait a minute," Bankotsu began as he turned fully toward him in shock. "It was inside your blanket? Not under it?" he continued, receiving a nod from Jakotsu in response. "That means," he begins again.



"That someone had to have put it there on purpose," Jakotsu finished for him. In the mere seconds it took for the rattler to bite him and for him to fall unconscious, it was one of two things that crossed his mind. The other was Bankotsu. "Do you think it might be the man you know? I overheard you talking to him before we left on the drive. Who is he anyways?"



"He is the man that started the fire," Bankotsu explained, knowing he did not have to remind him of which fire he was referring to. "But no, it was not him. I did not let him out of my sight until after you got bit."



"That means that there is still someone here trying to kill me," Jakotsu pointed out, neither of them liking the sound of that. Instead of answering, Bankotsu glanced out of the back of the wagon; looking at each of the remaining group members in turn. Hopefully things wouldn't get bloody before they could find out what who was after him.



"Well whoever it is that is trying to kill you, would have to know you someway. They would have to have a reason to want you dead. Do you recognize any of them?" Bankotsu inquired, and after he glanced around at them for a minute, he shook his head.



"Any chance it could have been your friend?" Bankotsu inquired, though he doubted it would have been him.



"Inuyasha's not like that and besides, he had weeks to try if he wanted to kill me. No it has to one of the newer guys, but I can not imagine anyone hating me enough to want me dead," Jakotsu insisted, doubting he would be running into another kid from the orphanage so soon.



"Well until we get this figured out and deal with whoever is trying to kill you, you are not to leave my side or my sight. And your belongings are not to be left alone. Last thing we need right now is to give them another chance to put a snake in your bedding."



"Sounds good to me. It will be fun having to spend so much time with you," Jakotsu told him with a smirk before making sure no one was watching and rested back against his chest.