The Seven: Wanted Dead or Alive

Title: Pale hand in ebony waters

Author: Hairann

Prompt and Word Count: Good old days-515

Characters: Bankotsu and ???

Warnings: None

Summary: Part 122 of The Seven: Wanted Dead or Alive.

Prompt Summary: Someone attempts to save Bankotsu at great risk to their own life.

 

Just as he felt his last bit of strength fading from him, Bankotsu put everything he had into once last attempt to reach the surface; managing to get his hand above water before his body finally gave out on him and he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. A split second before his hand would have sunk back down into the ebony waters, causing him to be lost forever, a lone hand managed to take hold of it as its owner fought desperately to keep himself from being swept under; his fingers threatening to slip from his slippery grip.



Knowing he did not have long before they were both lost, he put everything he had into a single heave and pulled him out of the water with one hand. Feeling his fingers beginning to slip, he called out, "Bankotsu wake up! I can't hold on for much longer!" Receiving no response, he looked back toward the mountainside to find a way to get a better grip, but there was nothing he could do without first releasing the already weak hold he had; which would of course be counter productive.



"Bankotsu I need you to wake up! I can't do this on my own," he insisted as he felt his grip beginning to slip even more. Knowing it would not be long before he was forced to let him go in order to save his own life, he decided to try something a little risky and roughly shook the man in attempt to rouse him. When that didn't work, he dug his blunt nails as deep as he could into his skin causing little droplets of blood to seep to the surface; reflecting what little bit of the moonlight that could be seen through the storm.



Still receiving no response, he cried out in desperation, "Bankotsu!" His voice finally able to penetrate his unconscious mind, his eyes suddenly snapped open as he sucked in a deep breath of air. "Grab on now! I'm gonna drop you!" he called out even as his own fingers were slipping free from the rock and he found himself plummeting down into the icy water. In the two seconds it took him to hit the water, his entire life flashed before his eyes and he couldn't help but long for the good old days when he didn't have to worry about anyone other than himself.



When he wouldn't have risked his own life for someone else. But as he felt himself sinking deeper, his arms far too tired to try to swim back up, Renkotsu realized there were much worse ways he could go. He could have died in that fire with nothing but the thought of revenge in his mind making him angry and bitter. Now, he was beginning to realize, that it was far better to die when you are calm and relaxed. Perhaps now when he died, he would actually be able to see his parents and baby sister again.



But it would seem, as he felt himself being pulled upward, it was not yet time for his demise.