Series: Saiyuki

Title: The Circle of Revenge

Author: cesmith

Beta: None. All errors are mine.

Rating: E

Disclaimer: Saiyuki and all of its characters were created by Kazuya Minekura. They belong to her and were used without prior permission. No profit is made through this story.

Summary: The cost of Kougaiji's deepest wish.

Warnings: Character death

A/N: It's been a while. I hope this is my jump start to begin writing again.

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The Circle of Revenge

Cautiously Kougaiji picked his way along the natural walkway that rimmed the huge cavern. Pebbles, stones and boulders littered the narrow pathway, making footing treacherous. Above him was the eternally entombed figure of his Mother. More than 100 feet below, the bizarre ritual to resurrect Gyumaoh was preparing to begin. Lying on the ground, the five sutras were evenly spaced, forming a circle with a large table placed in the middle. Ni Jianyi, no Sanzo Ukoku, was orchestrating the final details. Gone was the unassuming, conniving, ingratiating person Kou had known, and hated, for years. Dressed in his robes, the man oozed confidence and power, but also malevolence and evil.

With a feeling of guilt Kou looked at the Maten Sutra. Sanzo's sutra. On it was the dried blood of it's former owner. In that final battle, brother had killed brother, healer had killed healer and he had personally run Sanzo through with his sword in front of the dying eyes of the Seiten Taisei. That fateful day he had vowed to no longer be denied the final piece of the puzzle to free his Mother. He had risked all, and lost all, to accomplish his goal.

Only Lirin had been spared that terrible day. Kou had found an excuse to keep her in the castle, though in the week since he had returned Kougaiji had not seen her once. He assumed she was grieving the loss of her dearest friends and possibly angry at him for allowing them to die.

The chanting from the cavern floor brought him back to the present. The power of Ukoku and the sutras made the air crackle with electricity.

Four youkai brought in a shrouded figure, arms and legs bound in such a way that when they placed the figure on the table the limbs lined up with four of the Sutras. Ukoku took his place by the fifth Sutra as he continued to chant.

Soon Kou found that he could focus on nothing but that hypnotic voice. He shook his head, trying to free his thoughts.

As the shroud was removed from the body, Kougaiji recognized Lirin.

In horror Kou realized too late that Gyukumen Kuoshou was sacrificing her daughter, using Lirin's life to be the life force to revive their father.

'No,' he thought. 'NO! I can't, I won't lose her too. Mother, I can't.'

"No!" he yelled, his voice echoing throughout the cavern. "NO!"

Even at such a distance Sanzo Ukoku looked up, his eyes meeting Kougaiji's. His mouth formed a cruel smile as he plunged the ceremonial dagger into Lirin, completing the circuit that connected the power of the 5 sutras.

Ukoku was bathed in light.

There was a rumbling as the great Gyumaoh started to awaken.

The power vibrated off the walls causing huge pieces to separate and tumble to the ground below.

Next to Kou, the vibrations caused his Mother to fracture and fall, piece after piece breaking into thousands of smaller pieces as they struck the cavern floor far below.

'All lost. All lost.' he thought as he stumbled and tried to keep his balance as the walkway rippled. Then he was simply falling as the ledge broke free and tumbled down. The last thing Kou heard was Ukoku laughing and yelling, "I win."

Then there was darkness.