Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Saiyuki, except for manga.
Edit 8/21/17: Fixed spelling errors and and character grammar.
'What is this?'
The gentle moonlight shone into an inn's guest room, as the guest tossed and turned in his bed. The guest couldn't sleep.
'What is this pestering ringing in my ears; burying itself in my brain?'
Finally, he stood and walked over to the single window in the room.
'This sound has been irritating me since yesterday…I thought I was just tired, but…'
A sigh. The next day, an unrested, tired guest slugged down the stairs, passed the registry counter and dragged himself into the inn's restaurant for breakfast. He slumped himself in an unoccupied chair of a four-person table, three of which were already taken.
"Whoa! You look like shit, Hakkai!" pointed out his redhead companion.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" he answered, giving him his usual smile, yet something about that smile…
"Uh, nothing! It was nothing!" Sha Gojyo answered, trying not to anger his companion even more.
Cho Hakkai gave him a more reassuring smile. This one calmed Gojyo down. Gojyo sat down next to the Monkey King of Legend himself and soon after he and Son Goku started another of their 'food arguments'. Next to the tired Hakkai was the droopy purple eyed Priest Genjo Sanzo, who was quietly reading the newspaper. But because of the monkey and water kappa's quarreling, the monk was rapidly getting irritated. At this rate, Hakkai was certain of what was going to occur next. 5…4…3…2…1…The monk abruptly stood, slapped his newspaper on the table and with his paper fan in one hand he shouted,
"Will you assholes shut the hell up?!"
Hakkai couldn't help but give a nervous smile to the countless people who stared at the sudden racket. He turned his head and to his surprise…
"It's noon already? I overslept?"
Once Goku and Gojyo calmed down the ringing returned to Hakkai's ears. At this, he started picking at his ears.
"Hey, is somethin' wrong, Hakkai?" Goku asked.
Hakkai's answer was a hard stare. This unnerved Goku, so he turned away.
'Sorry I asked…' Goku thought.
Hakkai noticed and had to apologize.
"Ah…gomen, Goku. Something has been nagging me for a while and it's quite irritating…"
"Is that right?" Gojyo came in.
"Mind sharin'?" Goku asked.
"It's nothing really. Just an obnoxious ringing."
"Really?" Gojyo asked.
"I don' hear anythin'." Goku stated.
The two continued to listen. A certain monk also listened, pretending to read his paper.
"Well, I've been hearing it since yesterday…It's as if someone is calling out to me; asking for help…"
'That sounds familiar…' Sanzo though eyeing Goku, who didn't notice.
The ringing has gotten a little louder.
"At any rate, have I missed breakfast?" Hakkai asked trying to ignore the ringing.
"Yeah, you did. It was great, too!" Goku exclaimed.
"I wonder if I may still get some…" Hakkai eyed Sanzo.
"Knock yourself out." Sanzo replied noticing and handing him the golden credit card.
After breakfast, Hakkai went out to stock up on supplies, while the others got ready for departure. When he finished, he put the supplies in its proper place and headed out, driving the jeep. The group had rode for hours and the ringing had only worsened. Then, Goku and Gojyo started their hourly arguing, yet again and the ringing ceased.
'Interesting…' Hakkai thought.
Next to him, the monk was readying his gun, a throbbing vein easing itself on his temple. After a few minutes later, Sanzo shot at the guys, settling them down.
"Do you pain-in-the-asses want to die?!"
Goku completely calmed down and the ringing slowly returned.
'I know the will anger Sanzo, but I have to know if my theory is correct.' Hakkai thought, hesitating.
"Say, Gojyo…"
"Yeah, what?"
"Wasn't you who stole Goku's last dumpling?"
Hakkai checked Goku on the rear view mirror.
At this, the Water Kappa tensed and the priest glared at Hakkai, for they knew what was going to happen next.
"I knew it! I knew it was you!"
"Dammit Hakkai, you ratted me out!"
As they argued, the ringing immediately ceased. Hakkai's eyes slightly narrowed.
'I thought as much…' Hakkai thought.
Sanzo glared at Hakkai, his eyes demanding an explanation.
"Gomen no sai, Sanzo. I just needed to prove something to myself, is all." Hakkai apologized, scratching the back of his neck and an angry vein visibly returned to Sanzo's temple.
He swiftly turned in his seat, as fast as lightening, stuck out his gun and shot at his two arguing companions. He missed on purpose and also caused them to be as quiet as ever. Sanzo sat properly in his seat once again and muttered,
"Next time I hear another sound from you two, I won't miss."
With that, they were quiet the rest of the way. At nightfall, they still hadn't reached town, so decided to camp out. Before sleep, however, Goku and Gojyo had yet another mini argument, but it didn't last long, so Sanzo didn't have to get involved. Goku started muttering in his sleep.
"Mmm…no…Why're you in there? Mm…the light…follow…"
In his sleep, Gojyo weakly shoved Goku, muttering,
"Goku, urusai, saru!" Goku, shut up, monkey!
Then he shifted to his side. Sanzo was sleeping soundly and Hakkai was just now drifting off to sleep. While he slept, he had a dream…
~Dream~
Hakkai was standing at the entrance of a prison-like place, which seemed more like a cave.
'This place looks oddly familiar…' he thought bitterly.
He turned to exit, but there was only a wall where the door used to be.
'Strange…'
Without reason, he walked forward, slowly. At the fifth cell, two hands gripped the rock-like bars.
"Kanon…?" he asked hesitating.
When he walked in front of the cell and opened his eyes…
"Goku?!"
Goku had his head down completely concealing his face. But when Hakkai walked in front of the cell, he looked up, his eyes were empty, yet hopelessly asking for help. His clothes were worn out and tattered: a white t-shirt and tan short pants. He had unbelievably heavy chains on his ankles, wrists and neck. Behind him, was a wall that the long chains connected to. He reached out, begging Hakkai to get him out. But when Hakkai reached into the cell, an evil darkness replaced the wall and started to suck in like a vacuum, only strong enough for Goku. Hakkai stared at the darkness in horror, until a high-pitched scream forced him to look down. Replacing Goku, was a girl who looked about the same age as Goku and had the same brown hair and golden eyes. Nevertheless, he reached in and grabbed hold of her hand. As she started slipping, Hakkai noticed…blood? The girl desperately tried to hold on, grabbing his hand with her other free one. Hakkai responded back by gripping her hands tighter and pulling her towards him. But it seemed that the more he pulled, the stronger the vacuum became. Just as it seemed like she was going to make it, she slipped out of his hands. She screamed as she was eaten by the darkness.
"NO!" he screamed.
But it was too late. She was gone. Hakkai stood there, eyes wide of surprise. Everything that happened, happened so quickly…he snapped out of it and remembered blood dripping from the girl's hand as he helped her. He looked at his hand and as he suspected, blood was on his hand.
~End Dream~
Hakkai woke up, a little sweaty and panting. He looked around. The sun had barely just risen up and everyone was still sleeping.
'I am NOT going to be able to get to sleep after that…'
He reminded himself of his dream and deeply started to think about it.
'Why was Goku in that cell? Maybe…'
"Hakkai? Hakkai. Hakkai!"
"Huh?"
"Are you alright, Hakkai?"
Goku stared at him questionably, then Hakkai looked away and suddenly found the dirt interesting.
"I'm fine." he replied, looked at him and smiled. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, you were totally spaced out, so…" Goku trailed off.
Hakkai looked at his hands and Goku followed suit.
"Whoa! Hakkai, what'd you do ta your hand!?" he cried.
By this time everyone was stirring and sleepily walked over to see what Goku was freaking out about.
"Did you cut your hand or somethin'?" he continued.
"…No." he replied staring at his bloody hand.
Everyone was silent for a while.
"Goku?" Hakkai broke the silence, his eyes not leaving his hand.
"Yeah?"
"May I ask," he paused. "Do you have a sister?"
Sanzo's lips slightly thinned, but kept his cool, as always.
"No." Goku simply replied.
"Are you sure?"
"None that I know of." Goku shrugged.
Silence.
"Well," Hakkai started, standing and breaking the silence. "Shall we go, then?"
While Hakkai talked, Hakuryu transformed behind him.
"Guys, I think I gotta throw up…" Goku trailed off, his head and arms off the side of the jeep.
As they rode on, the ringing got obnoxious and Goku felt sick.
"Hm. It's about time all that food's getting to you." Gojyo stated, calmly. "Just don't vomit on me."
"Stop yellin' at me! My head hurts…" Goku whined as he slumped in his seat.
Gojyo stared at him with a questioning look. I wasn't yelling at him…
"Goku? Are you alright?" Hakkai asked checking on him on the rear view mirror.
"No. My throats sore."
"What are ya pregnant?!" Gojyo exclaimed. "What's with all the status problems all of the sudden?"
"Shuddup, I'm not in the mood." Goku replied in a Sanzo-like tone.
"Holy hell, you are pregnant!"
"I said, shut up!" Goku attacked him.
"Guys, don't start…" Hakkai threatened in a tired tone.
Suddenly, a figure ran in front of the jeep. Hakkai stomped on the brakes and everyone launched forward.
"Ow! My head!" Goku cried putting a head on his injury.
"Hakkai, what the hell?!" Gojyo yelled.
Hakkai dropped his head and put a hand on his forehead.
"…There was a figure…" he replied.
"Where?" Gojyo asked.
"No one ran in front of Jeep. That'd be stupidity." Sanzo stated.
Hakkai hadn't moved a muscle and neither did Goku.
"We have to head east…" Hakkai muttered.
Goku lowered his head as Hakkai spoke.
Sanzo stared at Hakkai.
"Y'know," Goku spoke.
Everyone was silent. All that was heard was bird calls and the soft hum of the jeep.
"I had a dream last night." he paused.
No one spoke.
"…I was in a cave, th' one I was trapped in before Sanzo saved me…but…" he paused for a second. "There was someone else there…someone beside me…"
Hakkai and Sanzo seemed knowledgeable; like as if they knew who he was talking about.
"Sanzo, I have a serious question to ask you." Hakkai informed.
"What do you want?"
"May I head east?"
"Have you gone insane?!"
"I promise I'll return back on track. It won't take long." I have to find out what's going on! And I have a feeling it's east."
Sanzo refused and isn't letting up. Goku abruptly stood up.
"I sense somethin' over there…" Goku paused, trying to sense who it is.
Silence. Hakkai stared off in the direction Goku was facing. East. He sensed something as well. Pure sentiment popped into Goku's eyes.
"…Crying…loneliness, Sanzo we HAVE ta save her!" he looked down. "We have ta…"
He understood all emotions he's sensing.
"…Loneliness…" Hakkai repeated.
Goku and Hakkai eyed Sanzo, pleadingly.
"Sanzo…" Hakkai pleaded.
"Please, Sanzo!" Goku pleaded as well.
Shut up! "Do what you want." Sanzo decided and slumped in his seat.
Hakkai and Goku looked at each other happily, excitement jumping around in Goku's eyes.
"It won't take long." Hakkai assured Sanzo.
"How long exactly?" Sanzo asked.
"Oh, about a day…"
Hakkai turned around and drove east. Sanzo stared straight. From afar, the group could make out what looked like trees.
"…If we hurry." Hakkai finished.
Sanzo glared at him from the corner of his eye.
"I'm giving you a day, no later." Sanzo replied and continued to stare in the distance. We have absolutely NO time for this.
"Not counting today, I hope?" Hakkai questioned.
Sanzo didn't answer, Goku hadn't saw down and Gojyo was slightly confused. Hakkai drove faster. By noon, the group arrived to the entrance of a forest, across a bridge. Hakkai took out his map, found where they were located and quickly put it away.
"Whoever it is, they're in here." Hakkai said, then looked at Goku who nodded in agreement.
Hakuryu transformed to its original form, flew to Hakkai's shoulder and rested. The group walked in the forest and Goku and Hakkai began their search. They searched for about four hours, when everyone agreed on taking a short break. They've already progressed pretty far.
"We're close, I can feel it!" Goku exclaimed.
"Yes, so can I." Hakkai agreed.
"So…what are we looking for?" Gojyo asked.
"Some kind of entrance." Hakkai replied. "That entrance should lead to the girl."
"You're looking for a girl, Hakkai?" Gojyo asked as Hakkai stood up with Goku following his action. "And here I though you weren't like that…" he muttered to himself.
"Goku…"
"Got it!"
Sanzo stood up, boringly and got ready to follow Hakkai. Goku ran up ahead, jumped over a fallen, rotted log and disappeared.
"'Ey, monkey! Wait up!" Gojyo called.
Goku didn't answer. As they progressed, the sound of a waterfall became clear. The group looked at each other and in panic, ran over the fallen log and found the waterfall…but no Goku.
That's all for now! Please bear with me, I'm new at this and I'm still trying to figure out how do several things...Anyways, the next chapter will be up soon, promise! X3