Chapter one: Miscalculation

The Sanzo party… how is it a monk and a few half-breed demons could cause so much trouble. Thinking back to all the battles, the many pointless battles of assassin youkai and their wasted blood and for what… it hadn't gotten them anywhere. They still had no sutra and Sanzo was still headed toward India. It was up to me to stop them… up to me to take the sutra from the monk… and so far I had failed just as miserably as the assassins had.

I heard the slight creek of un-oiled hinges and quickly broke away from the window I was previously gazing out of shaking my head clear my thoughts. However there was no need to question who had entered I knew who it was even before the meek voice uttered its meager request.

"You've been called to the throne room Master Kougaiji"

I turned to see one of the many spineless, mindless, servants my "mother" used for her bidding. Id often thought that they would be better off if she had just killed them… perhaps it would save some of them from being Dr. Nei's new genii-pigs. I expelled an exasperated sigh.

"The throne room… very well I'll be along in a moment" I said giving him a dismissive wave.

"Yes… well um… "he fidgets a little shifting from foot to foot, "Master Kougaiji the Mistress was very explicit… she wants to see you right away sir. "

"Right away…" I turn to the nervous messenger temporarily un-veiling my annoyance" What is so important that she would have to distract me from hunting the Sanzo Party? Is that not what I was ordered to do or perhaps she has changed her mind." I spat disgustedly.

The slave cowered by the doorway stammering apologizes "S-sorry… forgive me M-master Kougaiji, I w-was simply r-relaying a m-message I did not m-mean to upset you!"

"You didn't" I mutter while gliding past him watching from the corner of my eye as the ragged form sinks away into the shadows bowing clumsily as if he somehow couldn't accomplish departing fast enough.

I don't bother looking back as I clatter down the marble hallways listening to the steady clopping of my boots as the sound resounds off the high walls. It was such a waste really… all this space and luxury stolen for a mistress that never left the throne room to enjoy any of it. The halls darkened as I ascended the steps to the throne room all the statues, rugs, and curtains being stripped from their rightful places leaving only torches flickering their warnings onto an endless movie of dancing shadows clinging to the walls. The doors appeared like a black abyss above as if they where a mirror into the black heart of the women who lay behind them.

The doors opened automatically as I approached moaning sadly as if I had betrayed them… the stale air inside whispering my pertinence to me as I stepped into damp dark.

"Kougaiji I had expected you earlier"

I suppressed a shudder as that grease coded mockery melted into my ears. "I was dealing with a previous engagement what is it you wanted?"

She frowned "I hate the way you look at me like that… but I have no time for your somber expressions I have a new job for you."

I scowl "Besides dealing with the Sanzo party?"

"No not exactly" came a cryptic melody from a nearby shadow.

Stepping out into the dim light of candles and half dead electric bulbs came the slinking Dr. Nei… like a snake slithering out from its hole.

"You see besides the maten scripture the Sanzo party possesses something else…. "necessary" for our little experiment so luckily you will not have delay yourself from your sparring partners."

"Necessary… what do you mean; what else do you possibly need?" I glared grudgingly as a watery smile creased his lips. Something was wrong but it was too late I had already asked the question and now… I had to receive the answer.

"Why… well we need energy…. to be specific life force energy in order to use the power of the maten scripture of life." Nei stated rather matter-of-factly.

"Life force I don't understand." I thought the power of the maten scripture WAS to give life why do we need energy?"

Nei's smile slipped momentarily "Unfortunately I misinterpreted the powers of the maten scripture… it seems that it cannot create life on its own but harness life in order to transfer into something else… much like a sponge sucking up water holding it until you squeeze it out again."

My stomach lurched as what Nei said sank into my consciousness… "How many will you have to sacrifice to get enough life force to revive Gyumaoh?"

Nei looked at me blankly for a moment before grinning " Oh no, no Kougaiji you have it all wrong it is not souls we need it is energy we will not have to kill any of your youkai brethrens for this process…. save one that is. You see what I mean is we need to use a life force power… more commonly known as chi, or kii.

I was getting the answer to my question…. and I was right in not wanting to hear it. I hid my emotions for later, this was not a place to voice an opinion so I had no choice to obey Koushu as she called my attention.

"Kougaiji these are your new orders. I want you to bring me the demon slayer Cho Hakkai."

To be continued…