Wind streaked down from the night sky, each time a gust passed the branches form a nearby tree made a soft thud against my window. Seconds ticked by as I waited for 9:30 to arrive. Master Sonzo had called for his apprentice and exactly 9:30. That was quite usual for his apprentice, but I had never been told to come at a specific time. He had only ever told me to come at my leisure. Since leisure is all that I had had I would show in the first few minutes. Tonight was different…
I pondered on. There was no logical reason for me to be called to Master Sanzo at a specific time, and such a ridiculous one at that. My gaze slid to the window. Just beyond the glass, three tall men and one short one wearing hooded cloaks stepped through the gate to our temple. Wind streaked by pulling at the long dark cloth that the men were using for a cover against the chilling wind. The branches continued their endless assault on my window. My mind began to drift. The clock began to pass second slower and slower. Each tick of the second hand rang through my head and echoed with loud banging. I let my mind drift further away and tuned out the banging. I began to rehearse the new sword movements Master Sanzo had taught me earlier this morning.
Placing my feet where I should for each counter attack I began to practice alone in my room. I had only candle left to light the small cramped room. Soon I began to exaggerate the movements; ending is some sort of strange fight dance. The small, lumpy bed that lay to the back of the room became the prime enemy. After that, the lamp joined into the fray. Just after the lamp came the desk, the window, and the drapes. Later certain stains on the rug turned into flowing rivers of lava. To say the least, I was bored stiff. My imagination runs off with me when I have nothing better to do then sit play around.
Suddenly, the banging stopped. There was a moment where I didn't notice that anything had changed. Once I did I turned and pointed my sword toward the offending clock. My great old clock was finally out of battery. Drat, and he had been working for so long too. Now paying more close attention I realized that it was 9:25. Well I sure hope Master Sanzo doesn't mind me a little early, considering the circumstances.
As I walked to my master's room I paid little heed to anything in my surroundings. My demon blood allowed my eyes to see clearly in the dark. Each time something got in my way I would just avoid it. By now I was so used to avoiding things in cluttered hallways that I walked on subconsciously. The hallway was unlit, and the moon was bright. The wind had died down so I had no problems waking though the open breezeway. Down the stairs and to the second hall to the left lay my masters room. I had mapped out the whole sanctuary out and memorized every turn from my room to my masters. Two right turns and then a left.
Voices drifted down the hallway from my master's room. The door was shut and the blinds were closed. Perhaps he had a meeting with some other masters tonight. That could be why he didn't want to see me any sooner than 9:30, assuming that is when the meeting ended. Suddenly I heard a shout that sounded a lot like my master's battle cry he used in or training sessions, and a tick of a clock. No, not a clock tick; it sounded just like the banging I had heard before in my head as my infernal clock teased me. What was going on? Could it be a…gunshot!
My feet froze and I tensed the mussels in my body, ready for swift movement. I gazed around, paying more attention to what was near me. My mind roared into overdrive, going through each step Master Sanzo had taught me to check if I were being ambushed. I was just realizing that the lumps on the floor weren't piles of clothes or crates of random stuff, or even overflowing garbage pails, like what usually crowded the hall ways. Instead, they were unmoving bodies! Cautiously, I stepped out of my shoes and snuck down the hall to my master's door. Step by step, inch by inch, I crept along. On my way I began to assess the body's left by the intruders.
All of them had either been shot, or were beaten to death. I also realized that the certain scorch marks on the walls and ceiling could only be left by a powerful magic casting demon. Attackers such as these were rare. The combination of a gun man, a magician, and two staff fighters were uncommon, and usually ineffective. There was only one group of people that I could think of that would have such a combo…no…they couldn't be here.
Finally I reached the door. My hand slowly twisted the brass knob. Anticipation and fear caused my body to shake. Now was not the time to break down, whoever was behind the door had probably been slain by my master. Still, there was a small chance that he could be the one who was defeated. After all, they had managed to takedown every other person in the hall. If they had killed all of those demons then what chance would my master or I stand against them? I was already assuming the worst. This situation couldn't be that bad.
There was a small click as the door separated itself from the door frame. Someone inside said "What was that?" As soon as I heard them speak I realized that my position had been given away. I launched myself into the room as fast as any demon could go. Just inside the room my head connected with the butt of a staff and I was knocked flat. My body hit the floor almost as fast as I had entered the room.
"Goku, you know it's not polite to hit a girl."
The sheer force of the blow had rattled my brain and caused my eyes to cross. It took me a moment to realize what was just said. But that voice…that name…no.
"Common Hakki, she surprised me. What would you have done is you were here."
I missed the rest of the conversation because after a great effort I finally uncrossed my eyes. Sure enough, the Sanzo Party was standing above me. These four men were responsible for the deaths of thousands of demons just like me and those outside. According to legand, it takes only five minutes for just one of them to take out fifty demons. All on his own too, without help from the others. They also are renowned for killing three gods of high power and a few weaker gods.
The first member of the party was Genjyo Sanzo. He was a tall, blonde, violet eyed priest, and fought with a small hand gun. The second member was Son Goku. He was just a child born from the center of the earth, short with wild brown hair, golden eyes, and fought with a staff. The third was Sho Gojyo. He was a half demon half human. By character trait they have crimson hair, crimson eyes, and he happens to fight with a staff also. The last was Cho Hakki. He was a full on demon who had become that way by bathing in the blood of a thousand demons, had brown hair, green eyes, and used magic.
My brain was screaming at my body to do something, but my body must have cut itself off from my head because there was no response from any part. I glanced around and saw my masters limp body lying on the floor. If they had killed him in a matter of minutes, no seconds, then there really was no hope for me. The legs that barred my way to him parted and I crawled as fast as I could to reach him. I cradled his head in my hands. Time slowed down as it does in crises like this one. A solitary tear rolled down my check and fell on his face. When it landed his lips parted, the tear must have alerted him to my presence. His life force was draining away, he could not hold on much longer. Yet, if I were human I may have not heard what he said to me then.
"Akimoto, is that you?"
"Yes master, it's me."
"(cough, cough) Please listen."
"Master, I'm listening."
"Good (cough, cough) take the scripture, take it."
"Master—"
"No just listen. Take the scripture and protect it. You (cough) you (cough)"
"Master. Master! What am I! Speak to me. Master Sanzo!"
And with one final breath Mater Sanzo lived no longer. My shouting had abruptly ended the conversation around me. Tears fell faster now that he was no longer alive. I cried like I had only done once before. I lifted my clouded eyes to see if I was really the center of attention or if something else had disturbed my captors. The blond one was staring straight at me. His violet eyes bored into me. Something behind those eyes caught my attention. Was it remorse, or regret, or something deeper.
A sharp pain on my forehead caused my hand to automatically rise to my face. From experience, and sorties that the younger apprentices spread around, I knew that if a Sanzo priest died before choosing his heir the chakra would appear on his youngest apprentice's brow. I observed my reflection in a broken mirror behind the blond persist. My long brown hair flowed around my face, and my usual darker complexion had become white and droopy. There, where my bangs had parted slightly I saw the small red chakra burning its way onto my face. But to have me chosen was, well, not proper. For one thing, I was female. There had never been a female Sanzo before. Also, I was too old. The time to choose an heir is when the child has not yet reached manhood.
Still Sanzo stared at me. A rumor that a friend of a friend of a friend's grandpa had said was that each of the four in the Sanzo party had a deep past that wasn't mentioned, ever not even to each otehr. I'm not sure how reliable grandpa was, but I was ready to believe that if they had a deep past, Sanzo's involved his master before him. Seconds ticked by in silence. Sanzo and I continued our stare down. After what seemed like half of forever, the child spoke.
"Sanzo, are you alright."
Sanzo didn't speak, neither did the other two. Two, three, four, five; I was counting seconds again. I do that when I'm nervous.
"So, you're his apprentice?"
The staring contest was over, now it was time to exchange harsh words.
"Yes."
My voice cracked. Seven, eight nine…
"And now the official heir to the Raysend Scripture."
"Yes."
"Sanzo." It was the tall one with brown hair that spoke, was it Hakki?
I saw my chance. The scripture was hanging loose out of the speakers pocket. Again I launched myself from my position. I reached, and the scripture was in my hand. Diving and rolling I pushed against the door when I reached it. I didn't expect the door to be locked and there to be no key in the lock. My sweaty fingers gripped the scripture in my hand tighter. The first time a sanzo really becomes a true "sanzo priest" is in his first battle to protect the scripture. So the legends said, and so it was. In a sudden rush, my mind cleared and I had a good idea what to do. I pretended to break down at that instant, which wasn't hard since my face was already tear stained. The first person to lay his hand on my shoulder regretted it instantly. I spun quickly and tossed one end of the scripture at the small group. Not one of them reacted quickly enough to stop getting tangled in the web of paper that swirled around them. They wrestled with the scripture for a few minutes. I stared and watched, crying again, this time for having lost my master so much sooner than what should have happened. Master Sanzo should be here now, seeing all this.
"Alright, what do you want, demon."
Gojyo, the one with crimson hair, challenged me. I brought myself back to the present. I was confused by what he asked me.
"What do I want?"
"That's what I said isn't it. Now tell me, what do you want!"
"Nothing."
"Do you mean to tell us that this trick was all for nothing?" Hakki said.
"Trick!" Anger boiled under my skin. "You think that getting my friends and master killed was all a trap to thwart the notorious Sanzo Party from their journey west! If I had had my choice you all would have passed strait through and never have caused any of this."
The four looked rather ashamed of themselves. Especially Sanzo, he seemed to be tortured by something. I had to sit down again, even though I hadn't realized that I was standing. The four talked amongst themselves and seemed to come to some sort of agreement about something.
"We have a proposition for you." Hakki started
"You want me to come with you."
"Well, umm."
"Hold it, where did this come from, is she coming with us!"
Gojyo really seemed fired up about this. Was I that unappealing?
"You can't have some random demon wondering around with a scripture; isn't that right."
"She's right you know."
Hakki was directing his attention to Sanzo. Apparently he was the leader of the group, or something along those lines.
"I see no problem in letting her come along."
"I don't have a problem either, it's not like I have anywhere else to go."
"You've got to be joking me."
We talked for a few minutes more, they proved to me that they were safe and wouldn't hurt me once I let them go. They held true to their word and let me join them. Still I can't say why I joined them. Maybe since they were what was left in my options list I felt I had no choice. Turned out that was the biggest mistake of my life, but the only mistake that has kept me alive this long.
