The Seven: Wanted Dead or Alive
Chapter 37: The man in the room
Title: The man in the room
Prompt and Word Count: Pursuit-456
Characters: Bankotsu, Jakotsu and Renkotsu.
Prompt Summary: Bankotsu learns who started the fire.
"They were all supposed to die," a voice called out startling Bankotsu and it took him a moment to realize it had come from the man sitting in the middle of the room. Confused as to why he was still sitting there when the building was about to burn down around him if he was still alive, he had assumed the smoke had already gotten to him, Bankotsu could only stare at him for a moment in silence.
It wasn't until the owner moaned, reminding Bankotsu of his presence, that he remembered what he was supposed to be doing and went to take a step toward the door, deciding to come back for the other man when his hands were empty, when he realized exactly who the man in the room was. He was the one that had started the fire.
"Look, I don't know what they did to make you hate them so, but I doubt it was worth them being burned alive for. Or you dying in here by yourself since they have all already made it outside. Stay if you want, but you'd be staying alone," Bankotsu informed him before continuing on outside; deciding his pursuit to learn why the fire had been started didn't matter anymore.
Realizing at that moment just how hard it was getting to breath, let alone carry the dead weight on his shoulder, Bankotsu sped up and was soon out in the mostly fresh air. Though there was plenty of smoke out there as well, it was no where near as thick as inside. Once he was sure he was far enough back, he gently placed the saloon owner, who was beginning to come to, on the ground and instantly felt arms going around his waist.
Glancing down at the man who was soon wrapped in his arms, he couldn't help but smile to himself for a brief moment before the shouts of those trying to put out the fire finally caught his attention and he remembered there was still work to be done. Carefully prying Jakotsu off of him, Bankotsu gave him a reassuring smile before rising to his feet and grabbing the nearest bucket before joining the others at the water trough.
As Bankotsu tried to put out the fire and Jakotsu began checking on the owner, who was now semiconscious and wondering what was happening, a figure exited the burning building without either of them seeing and began making his way toward the hitching post a few buildings over. Knowing everyone was too busy paying attention to the fire to notice him, Renkotsu grabbed the reigns of the nearest horse and was soon galloping out of town; leaving the others to deal with his mess.