A Time to Kill

By: MurasakiHonou

Disclaimers: Gensoumaden Saiyuki is not mine. It belongs to Kazuya Minekura-sama, my manga goddess (well, right next to Maki Murakami anyway...) These characters are her intellectual property.

Author's Notes: But anyway, this is an AU (alternate universe) And I have based this story line on the original Japanese movie BATTLE ROYALE. My credits to the creator and director, Kenji Fukasaku (and may he rest in piece). Uhm, standard pairings apply. SanzoHakkai (38) Yes! I am a 383 shipper! Loud and Proud, thank you much! Rated for violence and language, and of course same sex sexual implications. Then again, that's one of the most fun parts. And that really isn't anything new around here, ne?

Anyway, Read and Review.

Onto the Chaotic Ground...

They had no hope for us, and that's why we were the ones picked.

When we wouldn't listen and when we just got worse – they all turned their backs and gave up on us...

And we just didn't give a damn.

Until we found out what they really did to people like us.

Trash of the generation, what's it all for.

The bus was filled with loud and shrill yelling and giggling from both sides of the bus. They didn't listen even when the teacher told them that the boys would be separated from the girls. The bus driver was getting annoyed, twitching and flinching every time someone started screaming. Food and papers were thrown back and forth from time to time. A lot of brawling, teasing and noise were coming from the senior students of Wakayama High School. Of course, the other buses were just as bad if not worse. Wakayama was not known to be a school of refined and educated people, in fact. Only the hopeless slums of life were found there. Either that or those people who hardly had any funds to support themselves, much less their children.

He himself was getting annoyed as he sat by the window. A few girls started to flirt with him just earlier. Of course, as usual – he was not interested at all. The boys tried their best to stay away from him, since he was not the most sociable of the bunch. He leaned back, running a hand through his tossled golden blonde hair as his intense deep violet eyes glanced outside the window. It had been almost half-an-hour that this bus was ongoing and the longer they lasted, the noiser it got. He tried to ignore the random noises buzzing in and out of his ear. He had even sighed in frustration as a bunch of boys started mock fighting at the back.

He picked up the newspaper, and tried to read. No words entered his head. He sighed and shook his head, his eyes turned to the date by the side of the paper. November 29th . Why did the date seem familiar? He felt that all morning he had been forgetting something. Something that was supposed to be important but had slipped his mind. He tried to think again as he closed his eyes.

A sarcastic grin suddenly spread slightly across his face as he remembered. It was his birthday. November 29, he was born – they named him, Genjo Sanzo. His mother and father? – What about them? He hardly knew them. His father was always away as his mother was, too. He grew up, around the hired help and soon, when he was old enough and his father lost his job and drowned his sorrows away in a bottle of good whisky, his new past time was to beat his wife up. Not to mention, from time to time – his son. His mother's condition was never the same after that kind of treatment, she also lost her job and was forced to support her five year old son and her drunkard for a husband by getting screwed by other men. This went on for ten more years until his mother went crazy and killed her husband and herself. Of course, he was left alone with whatever amount that his family saved up when they were still capable. He had to take care of himself, and he'd learned how to as well.

It had been two years ago since that day that his parents both died. It was his birthday then.

And people wondered why he never felt like celebrating.

He continued to get lost in his thoughts as he dropped the newspaper by the side of his seat and looked back out the window. Suddenly, someone sat beside him.

''Happy birthday, Sanzo.'' A quiet and gentle voice greeted.

He looked over to see a young man sitting on what was once an empty seat. The young man smiled kindly, his long brown hair tied up in a braid, which was slung over his shoulder. His black eyes looked into his own violet ones. Seeing him, his expression lightened as he sighed and leaned back – looking outside again.

''I didn't expect you to be in this bus, Komyo-sensei.'' he said, rather politely now.

Komyo smiled again as he leaned back and looked ahead. ''I knew that you and your friends would be here, so I chose this bus myself.'' He looked at his student again and nodded. ''It's always a delight to talk to you.''

Sanzo smiled slightly as he sighed and looked at him. ''Sometimes, it makes me wonder what you're really doing here, sensei.''

Komyo-sensei was one of the teachers who taught in Wakayama. He was a history teacher, and strangely enough – he was the ONLY teacher in the faculty that the students cooperated with and listened to. He was a school favorite and what it was about him – no one really knew. But they were glad that he was around, and he had been for twelve years. He was particularly close with Sanzo. It all started when he found his ideas on a term paper to be very interesting and something he'd like to hear more about. Then, their friendship seemed to have started from there. He looked to Komyo like his father. After all, he never had much of one when he did.

''I like teaching. And I like the kids here.'' Komyo said with a smile. ''Even if they are a little – active.''

''Loud and annoying you mean.'' Sanzo said as he muttered.

There was a moment of silence between them, before Komyo looked at him. ''You've lived for seventeen years. You should congratulate yourself for making it this far.''

''Hm.'' Sanzo said softly and sarcastically as he shook his head. ''I suppose I should, sensei.'' he nodded and looked at his teacher. ''But, I really don't see what the big deal is, I guess.''

''Then suppose, we just sit here and celebrate quietly.'' Komyo suggested with a nod, he smiled again. ''The fact that you're alive...'' he trailed off. ''Is enough reason to, don't you think?''

He was quite surprised at his teacher's reply. He stared at his mentor for a moment, Komyo continued to smile at him before he looked ahead. After a few moments, he himself sighed and closed his eyes.

To be alive... after those horrible years.

It felt... good.

He was suddenly disturbed by a warm, bright voice calling to him.

''Sanzo!''

He knew who it was. He continued to look out the window, ignoring the calls as he did. But the voice got closer and closer. Until finally, it was right at his side.

''Sanzo! Happy birthday!'' Son Goku greeted happily as he presented him with a small box.

Komyo smiled and looked at Sanzo, who looked puzzled at his companion's present.

''What's this?'' Sanzo asked, not touching the box.

''It's a present! Open it!'' Goku said, smiling.

''Now, now – Goku. He doesn't have to open it yet if he doesn't want to.'' A warm and sensible voice came up beside Goku. Sanzo looked up to find a young brunette with emerald green eyes smiling at him.

''Happy birthday, Sanzo.'' He greeted warmly as he bowed. ''Goku and I prepared the present for you. We hope that you like it.''

''Hey, hey! Don't forget about me!'' another voice added. A young man with long crimson red hair and eyes stood beside the other two. He ruffled Goku's hair and grinned.

''Sanzo-sama. We present this present for the lovely ocassion!'' he said as he grinned sarcastically. ''So, where's the drinking and the women?''

''Gojyo, you didn't help!'' Goku said as he frowned at the redhead. ''You only made a mess out of things! You almost ruined the present, too!''

''I told you, it slipped out of my hands! It's not ruined, is it?!''

''It wouldn't have slipped if you weren't busy staring at Kanako-chan! You pervert! –''

''Who you calling a pervert?! You stupid ass monkey!''

''Na, Hakkai! Tell him it's his fault!''

Hakkai laughed softly as he broke the two apart. ''Come on, let's not add up to the noise and give Sanzo aggrevation for his birthday. At this rate, that's how it's going to end up as.''

''I'm glad to see that the four of you are still as lively as ever.'' Komyo again, said with a smile.

''Ah, Komyo-sensei.'' Hakkai said as he bowed. ''We're sorry, we almost didn't see you.''

''It's alright.'' He said with a nod. He sighed and smiled as he got up. ''Now seeing as Sanzo-kun has his company, my work here is done.'' He started to walk off, but he looked at Sanzo and nodded.

''Sanzo...''

Sanzo looked at him. ''Hai?''

''The present you have now... Is very precious. Please don't take it for granted.'' He said as he walked off.

Sanzo found the behavior of his teacher strange today. It was almost as if he was trying to tell him something, or that something was going to go wrong and he knew about it. He tried to think that maybe he was thinking too much again, but something about Komyo's words lingered on and on.

''Sanzo? Are you alright?'' Hakkai asked.

Sanzo looked up and shook his head. ''I'm fine.'' He answered. He looked at the box again, and gingerly, he removed the ribbon, and set it aside, lifting the cover of the box open – he looked inside. It was a small light brown cake with white icing on the top. It had a few chocolate bits on the icing as well, he looked at his companions.

''It's a coffee flavored cake.'' Goku said brightly as he nodded. ''Hakkai made it... Gojyo and I went shopping for the ingredients and the ribbon.''

''Yeah, good thing you didn't eat it.'' Gojyo muttered under his breath.

''You were the one who almost dropped it, remember?'' Goku reminded him again.

Hakkai laughed softly as he sat down beside Sanzo. He looked at him and smiled.

''Don't you like it?'' he asked.

Sanzo paused for a moment before he leaned back. ''It's not that.'' He answered plainly. ''You guys didn't have to trouble yourselves.'' He said with a sigh.

''Oh, it was Goku's idea...'' Hakkai blushed slightly as he continued. ''Mostly mine... the other two it was a good idea.''

Sanzo looked at him and nodded. ''Thanks, then.''

Hakkai almost couldn't believe his ears. Sanzo actually said thanks instead of some insult towards them or the present. Usually, that's the way he would talk to them and it was up to them to understand what he really meant by all of that, or what the underlying emotion behind his words were. Today, he seemed different. There was something very sad about the way he acted or talked. He was always like this during his birthday, he never really told them. Hakkai guessed that he would never do that either. But sometimes, he wished he knew.

He hoped that maybe the present would've made him feel better.

''I'll be eating this then.'' Sanzo said as he fixed the way he was seated. Hakkai smiled and nodded.

''Na, aren't you going to share?'' Gojyo asked, jokingly as he looked up and ruffled Goku's hair.

''No. It's my birthday. It's my cake. Now get lost.''

Just then, the bus made a stop and everyone cheered loudly. Sanzo winced at the noise and Hakkai sighed.

''Yosh! We're finally here...'' Gojyo looked up.

''Just where are we anyway?'' Goku asked as he blinked.

Sanzo looked outside. He scowled as he looked around. It didn't look like they were anywhere but some sort of forestland. There were trees, other plants and the ground was muddy and rocky. He looked up as the driver wasn't moving or planning on driving on. He sat behind the wheel, nervously glancing to the door.

After a few moments, the students looked up as the bus door opened. Komyo, who was sitting in the front seat was sitting down. He wasn't smiling nor frowning, but he looked to the door as it did open. They all saw a woman with curly brown hair and silver rimmed glasses. She was wearing a teacher's uniform and everyone recognized her right away.

''That's the freshmen science teacher, Huang-sensei...'' one of the girls at the back whispered to her friend.

''What is she doing here?''

Huang looked at them as she cleared her throat and spoke sternly. ''We've arrived at the location. If you students will participate, then there'll be no reason for hostilities. No questions asked, when you wake up, just follow everything we tell you.''

''Wake up?'' Goku asked as he looked up. ''What does she mean?''

Sanzo scowled again as he looked ahead, Hakkai was waiting for the next word, Gojyo was frowning a bit, as he was sensing something off as well.

Just then, all the windows opened and small black bombs were thrown in. As soon as they hit the ground, yellowing mist arose out of them and spread across the bus. Everyone started to scream and run for the door, but was blocked as a few men, in what seemed to be military uniforms blocked any student from getting out.

Gojyo was thrown a back as he landed on one of the seats and he looked up.

''The hell? –'' his eyes widened as he started to choke and gasp for air. Hakkai looked up worriedly and got up as he began to approach the red head.

''Gojyo! Gojyo!'' he called, he gasped as Gojyo choked for one last time before, falling back, unconscious.

Goku fell to the ground, but Sanzo caught him and pulled him aside before he could get stomped over by the avid crowd of students trying to push through the door. As he did, he ignored his present, the small white box falling to the floor. He looked at Goku who was unconscious already. With that, he covered his nose and his mouth – he looked up and saw half the students of the classroom already passed out on the floor. He looked up as he and Hakkai were the only ones left.

''Sanzo! Don't inhale any of the mist!'' Hakkai called through his covered mouth. Sanzo nodded and started to get up as he set Goku aside, he reached out his other free hand – trying to grab Hakkai back who was trying to carry Gojyo towards them.

His eyes widened as suddenly one of the men in a gas mask suddenly came up. He was holding a small wooden club and was clearly going for Hakkai, who looked up and readied himself to move out of the way and take Gojyo with him. But Sanzo pushed through, moving him out of the way.

''Hakkai!''

The club had hit the side of Sanzo's head, he cried out in pain and coughed out blood as he fell to the ground. He felt the warm, liquid flow down from where he was hurt. He was bleeding, he saw from the corner of his eye. He winced as his vision started to double, he struggled to get up – but the pain racked right through every part of his body.

''Sanzo!'' he heard Hakkai's voice call for him, he glanced up. ''Sanzo! Please hold on!''

His eyes widened as he saw Huang, now wearing a gas mask, still standing where she was earlier. She was holding what seemed to be a pistol. With that, he pushed himself upwards, but the gas was already getting to him. Hakkai was still covering his mouth and his nose, he had been able to kick Sanzo's offender down and now was heading to save all his friends.

But she fired... and a small dart came out. It hit the side of his neck, his emerald eyes widened as he stumbled back and slowly – staring at the woman, he fell to the ground.

Sanzo watched him, the body hit the floor of the bus – his eyes were now closed. His own eyelids were starting to feel heavier and heavier by the moment. He heard footsteps heading towards them, but he no longer had the strength to look up or fight back. His eyes gave one final scan as she was walking closer and closer, he saw his present a few steps away from him, on the ground – he could no longer reach out to it as he was weak. He heard her voice as his eyes finally closed.

''Area one is clear... We won't have any more trouble.''

To Be Continued...

That was only the introduction... the whole story follows.