Warning: What would be a Saiyuki fic if Sanzo couldn't swear? Well, it would be Reverse Psychology by sf (who writes very good stuff). Quite funny. Anyway, there's a lot of violence in this chapter.
Disclaimer: Are you sure? Please? Not even a little bit? Fine. I don't own Gensomaden Saiyuki. ::sniff::
Feedback: Of course it'd be greatly appreciated, and makes for great motivation. ::hinthintnudgenudge::
My elves really went overdrive on this. Don't let their effort be in vain!
~ ~ ~
"Is everything ready?"
"Hai."
"Good. You know what you must do."
"Hai."
~ ~ ~
"San~zo! I'm hungry, Sanzo!"
"Bakasaru! Who told you to eat the last bento boxes, dumb ape?!"
"I'm not dumb, ero-kappa!"
"Maa, maa...Settle down, back there. I don't think Hakuryuu can take another one of your fights." And I don't like the way Sanzo's eye is twitching. Oh, if Hakuryuu were to get holes in his seats... As if sharing the same thought, the engine growled then sputtered underneath them. Hakkai stroked the steering wheel, muttering soothing words, which where drowned out by the growing argument in the back; the two hadn't gotten the hint, and the tic on Sanzo's face got bigger, followed by many others to accompany it. Finally...
THWACK!!! WHACK!!!
"Itai!!! Sanzo---"
"Why the f---"
"Urasai!" BAM!! "Another word, and I'll shoot both you shitheads!"
Through all that, the smile remained on Hakkai's face; he had to say it wasn't as bad today. Only one shot. Sanzo must be running out of bullets.
They rode in silence, filled only by the humming of Hakuryuu's engine. Endless fields of grass rolled by, and in the distance, a dense forest. The wind was rushing by, running through their hair, and the sun shone like a warm caress. Goku loved days like these; he would never tire of the sun and its light. And on days like these, Sanzo's hair shined more than ever, like the sun's rays where spun into each golden strand.
["So beautiful...and shines too!"]
"Hey, saru. You alright?"
"I was just thinking."
Gojyo ruffled his brown hair, probably with more force than necessary. "Well don't think too much. Don't want to hurt yourself in the effort."
Goku swatted his hand away. "I'm not stupid like you!"
"Dumbass monkey!"
"Pervert!"
Hakkai saw Sanzo reach for his gun, and turned slightly to try to prevent any bloodshed or harm to poor Hakuryuu. Last time when they almost hit a tree and one of Sanzo's bullets nicked the backseat, the little dragon ignored them for weeks. It had taken everything short of threatening to take off his limiters to keep Sanzo from putting Hakuryuu at gunpoint.
"Guys---"
THUNK!
The jeep swerved violently as the youkai on the jeep cover hissed and tried to claw at Hakkai's face. Sanzo moved to bring his gun over to the front, when a sharp pain rushed up his arm. Another youkai had latched onto the side of the jeep, and had lashed out at him. The blood was already seeping into the torn sleeve. In a fit of trademark Sanzo pissed of-ness and the loss of another good robe, he stuck the barrel against the youkai's head and shot at point-blank range. Yuck. Ignoring the splash of things that were normally inside the body, he twisted around towards the front to see the youkai on the hood blasted away by a ki ball.
"They're coming!"
The monk whipped around to see Goku and Gojyo kneeling on the seats, weapons in hand. Past their heads he saw a pack of youkai running after them like rabid dogs. Their eyes were full of primal rage, snarls escaping from their throats, as if they were incapable of speech. They were reduced to animals, hunting dogs, gripped by bloodlust. It sickened him.
Refilling the chambers with a speed that came with practice, he mentally cursed everything under the sun. He had ten bullets left, including the ones already loaded, and from the size of the pack, it was no where near enough for him to pick them off one by one. Hakkai was of no use since he was trying to keep them from crashing, and Goku's and Gojyo's weapons weren't meant for long-range combat.
Whoever sent them was serious.
Fuck.
"Can you lose them?"
"If they give up in the next minute or so, maybe. But Hakuryuu can't keep up this speed for long, and I don't want to lead that pack into the next town."
As if on cue, the outskirts of civilization appeared on the horizon. Sanzo scowled as he looked back at their pursuers. They weren't letting up, and some actually broke from the pack to leap at the jeep. Goku and Gojyo were busy keeping those bold individuals at bay. All the while, they were getting closer to the village.
Fuck.
Villagers were such bitches when it came to youkai, and his nerves were already rubbed raw.
"Hakkai, drive a little towards the forest, then cut the engine."
As soon as Hakkai hit the brake, Sanzo, Goku, and Gojyo leapt out while the Hakuryuu changed. They barely had time to prepare when the pack fell upon them, pushing them apart. Gojyo could see flashes of ki to his right, telling him were Hakkai was. A swift kick knocked the youkai in his way into his companions behind him, creating an opening. But before he could move a few steps towards the brunette, more youkai leapt at him, surrounding him once again.
"Che!" Gojyo swore as he barely blocked a clawed hand going for his neck. "These bastards never give up!"
He was having a hard time holding up against the stubborn youkai who had gone for the kill. The staff was the only thing keeping the claw from puncturing skin. His wine-red eyes caught a slash from the side, and jumped back, breaking the deadlock. As the new attacker was carried forward by his momentum, Gojyo twirled the staff and brought the blade down on the exposed back. He grimaced as he pulled his weapon out of the quickly stiffening body; he had avoided a major blow, but still received a nasty gash to the stomach.
"Hyaah!"
The half-breed turned to see a youkai who was ready to strike him from behind brought down by a blur of brown and red. Golden eyes met his briefly before both their attentions focused back to the battle. In a blink, Goku leapt over Gojyo's head, smashing Nyoibou into a youkai trying to sneak up on the distracted kappa. At the same time, the redhead sent his chain flying, slicing another attacker who was charging from behind Goku. Back to back, the two kept cutting at their opponents, yet the numbers didn't seem to go down.
"Gojyo, I can't find Sanzo!"
He could hear the strain and desperation in the young boy's voice, beads of sweat dripping down the side of his face. A warm thick liquid was staining the back of his vest where he was touching Goku. Sneaking a glance, he saw the orange cape was shredded, a set of claw marks running down the boy's back. Shit, it looked deep.
"Don't worry, saru." He grunted when a kick connected to his forearm. "That monk's one stubborn bastard. He won't die 'til he sees the rest of us to Hell. And I don't plan to die anytime soon."
"But Gojyo, I haven't heard a gunshot for some time now."
The half-breed swore. He knew better than to question Goku's instinct, especially when it concerned Sanzo.
A loud blast scattered a group to their left, sending youkai flying, knocking into others as they crashed to the ground. A familiar white form zoomed towards them, landing on Goku's head, cooing softly. Quickly following was Hakkai, throwing small ki balls left and right before reaching his teammates.
"Have either of you seen Sanzo?"
"No," Goku growled as he sidestepped a charge, smashing the pole against the back of the youkai's head. "I have to find him, Hakkai. He could be in trouble."
"Goku, you're injuries---" Hakkai grabbed the shirt of a youkai swiping at his abdomen, smiling. "Excuse me, we're still talking." Next thing his attacker knew, the brunette pressed his glowing hands against his chest, a power ripping through his chest cavity, snapping the bones, and ran straight to his heart. And then there was nothing.
Hakkai let go of the youkai's shirt, letting the body fall to the ground like a sack. The smile never left his face yet did not reach his eyes. Calculating green eyes set themselves on the youngest boy, who was heading towards what must have been the direction of the missing Sanzo. He noted how Goku limped slightly, more weight put on his right foot, yet his head was held high, and the older man knew determination was burning in those golden eyes.
The boy stumbled forward where the forces were thinning out, but only got as far as three steps before having to lean against Nyoibou. Through his jagged bangs, Goku could see the evil grins on the youkai's faces as they closed in. A snarl growing at the back of his throat, he swung out wildly, catching a few off-guard. His head tilted in a silent cry as he felt nails tear into his back, shredding it even more. With inhuman reflexes, he jabbed Nyoibou back and up, catching the youkai in the chin, then whirling around sending a kick to his temple. It wasn't a strong kick, and wasn't without consequences. He could feel the pain shoot up his leg, then settle back to a dull throb at his ankle.
His back had gone numb, and though he knew it was a bad sign, he was thankful to be unable to feel the burning and stinging, the blood dripping and staining the ground. All he could hear was his harsh breath, in and out. In and out. But he couldn't give up. Sanzo needed him; he could feel it. And nothing would stop him, not Hakkai, not these youkai, and not his wounds. Especially not his wounds. A wave of lightheadedness washed over him as he moved, and he nearly stumbled. Shaking his head, he waited for his vision to clear up before taking another step. Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on Nyoibou; there was still two youkai in his way.
With a war-like cry, he charged the closest one, staff raised above his head. His target disappeared as Nyoibou crashed down, creating a dent in the ground. Almost immediately, the youkai appeared next to him in mid-air, sending a kick at his ribs, causing the young boy skidding across the dirt. The two youkai (Or was it four? His sight was wavering.) stalked up to him, while he sat on the ground, a hand over his bruised rib cage. His fatigue and wounds blunted his reflexes; he was helpless. Nyoibou was lost at the last attack, rolling from his reach.
Goku had to shield his eyes as a ki ball, bigger than any he had seen that day, bowled into the pair, knocking them to the ground. He turned to see Gojyo holding off their attackers and Hakkai leaning over, panting heavily; he must have given it everything he had left. The older man smiled at him, a quick nod. Goku grinned weakly before scrambling up and retrieved his staff. A quick glance to make sure the others were okay, and he was off, ignoring the soreness in his chest every time he breathed.
"Hakuryuu, go with Goku and find Sanzo." The little dragon kyuu-ed at his master, and flew after the brown-haired boy.
"Stop worrying about that saru and that damned monk and start worrying about us." The redhead next to him growled as another youkai charged him. Hakkai didn't have time to check if Goku got away, as he had to block a clawed hand from reaching his face. With no ki left, he only had his hands and feet.
Facing his nearest opponent, he felt his lips shift into the smile he had gotten so used to over the years. "Hello..."
Meanwhile, Goku was running. Running towards Sanzo. The air was heavy with metallic blood and sweat and things thicker than blood. But none of that would stop him, none of it could cover up the scent of gunpowder and ashes and the smell that was uniquely Sanzo.
Sanzo...I'm coming, Sanzo.
~ TBC ~
Author's Note: I forgot the name of Gojyo's weapon. Gomen. And I really didn't expect the fight scene to be so long. It was all #3's doing.
Elf #3: Zzz...Zzz...
Hey! Don't go to sleep! You still have Sanzo to do! Hey!