No way out.
By Julia Macgregor
Goku, Goyjo, Sanzo and Hakkai were chosen for a great experiment. Their jeep was going down a dirt road. Goku was complaining about being hungry for the hundredth time. Sanzo was sleeping as he sat in complete stillness. Goyjo was on the back with a whining Goku. He ignored the brat and watched the ever-shifting scenery. Hakkai drove the jeep as the sun began to set.
The jeep pulled by a roadside stand. Goku's eyes clapped onto the baskets of fresh picked apples. He yearned for a taste of an apple. On this note, Goku began to scream as the jeep drive by, "STOP THE JEEP. STOP THE JEEP!"
His yelping was beginning to nip at the others' nerves.
Sanzo heard Goku's shouting as his body was dragged out of sleep. Slowly he opened his eyes. Gojyo couldn't stand Goku's cries of loud hunger. He rolled up his left hand quickly. Goku always expected a special knock on the head from Sanzo's large paper fan. Sanzo whipped around with his own fist above his own head. He was now in a foul mood as he glared, "Tojikomeru chicchai saru-bouya!"
Letting his fist fall swiftly, Sanzo blocked out Goku's screech of pain. Goku bent his head down from the blow. Gojyo was trying his best to block out this blockhead. He shifted his eyes to the séance passing the jeep. Hakkai was going to be the peacemaker and drive back to the stand. Sanzo turned back to see Hakkai putting on the left turn signal. He asked, "What's this?"
"I have nothing to say. . .when Goku is starving, but I have to admit that we haven't had a bite to eat in a way. So. . .I want drive back and buy something before we go crazy!" Hakkai smiled in his polite way.
Sanzo glared bitterly at Hakkai. Yet, the quiet bookish man was right, he was right!
The jeep pulled up to the stand. Sanzo jumped out the jeep with a half empty Goku following him quietly behind him. The walked past the many baskets of hand picked apples, plums and pears. He stopped at a smaller table, which stood in the middle of the store. There was a prefect basket, small and delicate in shape. The apples were an equal with the basket. The blush of the pinkish-red was a rare colour to find on earth. Sanzo seemed to be drawn to the basket. He wanted to buy it with a great deal of passion.
He was quickly trusted back to earth from Goku's voice yakking like a fool, "Man. . .look at those buns!"
Sanzo slapped his face with a mild hand. He didn't like Goku's babbling; it was like someone scrapping his or her nails across a chalkboard. He sneered as he bolted around to glare at Goku, "Monkey. . .what in the name of the Jade emperor are you doing?"
Then, he had just enough as he cooled down and refocused his mind. He reached over to make a grab for the basket. Finding it a little weighty, Sanzo wrapped his other hand to steady the basket. He said, "I am just getting this and nothing else!"
Goku eager to eat just about anything, asked, "How much?"
He must have grabbed the store clerk's attention when he spoke. The clerk was milling around the fresh corn display.
Then, he turned to see Goku standing in front of the display case of baked goods. The boy knew that these apples were not going to fill the void. Yet, there was just so much to carry. It was a long and hard road form village to village to get the western lands. Some people who were plagued by demons treated the Sanzo's party like kings. Others didn't want the four men to even dare show their faces at the edge of the village gate. Goku gasped with wide eyes, "What . . .are they for free?"
The owner nodded with a long, sad face. He noticed Sanzo holding the basket of apples.
"Where did you find that basket?" the storeowner asked a little surprised.
"Over here, sir . . .they seemed to be good apples!" Sanzo said as he began to carry the basket toward the check out counter.
The storeowner was willing to share the store, if Sanzo would put back the basket. "They were a small, but priceless gift form out little angler girl, Meguro!"
"Meguro!" Goku repeated the name.
The storeowner nodded briskly as he said, "She is the daughter if a wealthy business man from the north!"
"Oh, man!" Goku gaped. He wanted Sanzo to put back the basket before he smashed the apples.
Sanzo noticed the owner's eyes. There was a hint of deep pity for the girl. He asked, "And this girl. What happen to her?"
"Before," the storeowner said as he cast his eyed downwards to the flooring. "Her sixteenth birthday, Meguro was attacked by a swam of bees."
"Bees?" both Sanzo and Goku asked in unison. Sanzo heard about people getting extremely ill over a mere bee sting.
"Yes. Yet, these bees were not of the usual kind!" the storeowner nodded shiftily. He had seen demons in this quiet village up to no good.
"Are you a joke?" Goku asked. He was wondering if the storeowner was pulling his leg or not.
"Goku!" Sanzo hissed sharply. He shifted his eyes to glare at the young man. The priest yearned to silence the rude monkey boy. Then, there was hope the storeowner's story wasn't too long. His face softened slightly as he said, "Go on!"
"Thank you!" the storeowner nodded for a second time. "Meguro was walking in the groves surrounding her house."
"Grooves?" Goku asked. He felt like he was getting nowhere in this story.
"Yes. The house sits on a large area of land!" the storeowner sighed.
"Then, what happened?" Sanzo asked.
"She was walking home. A swarm of black bees came from nowhere. They have been possessed by a demon!"
"Demons!" Sanzo said as his eyes narrowed. He knew that there were stray demons running around loose, causing humans problems.
"Yes. The bees heavily stung Meguro. Her father and some of the workers heard her cries for help. Yet, when they came it was too late.
Sanzo could see in his mind a young girl with her arms and lets covered in welts. Without a second thought the monk had a second vision of Meguro lying in sheer pain from her attack on a cold bed. Then, he felt his own flesh bringing with sickening heat. He believed it was the heat from the weather outside.
Sanzo nearly dropped the basket.
"Sanzo!" Goku yipped after he saw Sanzo stopping over with the basket still in his hands.
"Sorry!" Sanzo gasped. He tired to straighten himself up without dropping any of the apples.
"There you guys are!" a vice said. Goyjo was now entering the shop. He had an unlit cigarette dangling form one corner of his mouth. He was wondering what was the hold up with Sanzo and Goku. He walked to the monk. "Why are you still here?" the half breed, pink haired demon asked.
"I was listening to a story about a girl!" the monk said in a tired, but humble tone.
"And what a story!" Goku added in a smirk.
"Hakkai is waiting," Goyjo said as he raised his hand to the direction of the jeep. "He wants to know when are you two coming?"
"In a minute," Sanzo sighed. Then, he glared at Goku "You go with him!"
"What?" Goku yipped. He hated to be in the same area as Goyjo was in at the same time. That and the fact to be taking order from anyone wasn't his style either. "You want me to go with this water imp! No way!"
Goyjo had fire in his eyes as he snarled back, "Jerk. . .Don't be calling me that!"
"Please just do it!" Sanzo pleased in a quiet tone of voice.
"What?" Goku gaped.
"You want him to go with me?" Goyjo gaped in a bug-eyed glare.
"Please. . .I'm tell you this one time. Just do it!" Sanzo very so gentle in his command, it didn't sound like him. He seemed to be so far away that the other two quickly up in their daily spat. Sanzo glanced down at the apples. They were becoming more than just fruit.
Hakkai leaned against the jeep. He noticed as Goku and Gojyo walked out of the store with a confused expression on their faces. He asked, straightening himself out, "What's up with you?"
"Man…talk about being spaced out!" Goku said as he shook his head.
"Yea?" the brown haired man asked. He was curious on their so-called leader's actions and feelings.
"Don't let him hear t at!" Goyjo said.
"Why. . .what is going to do?" the monkey spirited boy asked.
Awe, nothin'. . .expect hit you over the head a couple of zillion times!" Goyjo smirked. He wanted to smoke, but his belly was screaming for some food. He gave up on smoking for little while.
"How true!" Hakkai nodded with his usual grin.
The three heard the shop bell ringing and Sanzo walking out the shop. He looked like had seen a vision of Buddha. The others watched as Sanzo blindly got into the jeep. His eyes were glazed over as thorough he was in a trance.
"Sanzo?" Goku asked with is usual high energized overt tone.
No response from the monk.
"He must have seemed something that scared him!" Hakkai said in his gentleness of voices.
"Let's hope!" Goyjo said as he sensed evil trying to peck at the hard-edged monk.
The other three walked over to the jeep. Sanzo didn't even look at the others as they climbed in. Hakkai started up the jeep. He glanced at Sanzo for a minute. The colour seemed to buy draining from Sanzo's face. There was silence between all four as the jeep pulled away from the dirt drive.
It was couple of miles from town as the jeep bumped along the dirty road. Sanzo was still in his trance like state. For once, Goku and Gojyo didn't started fighting for any reason.
They were quietly thinking of what made their leader grow so deathly still in his speech. Hakkai took a turn which lead into wealthy end of the town. The jeep had past one of the lonely house near an intersection of town. Sanzo didn't see the house, but there was an evil presents made him scream in terror. "DEMONS BEGONE!" he cried out.
Hakkai nearly lost the control of the wheel. The jeep skidded to a halt. Gojyo and Goku held on for dear life in the back. Sanzo felt his heart beating so fast that he nearly stooped breathing. He swallowed for a minute. Gojyo, Goku and Hakkai watched as their leader began to shake. There was no normal demon. Hakkai followed the rhythm of Sanzo's breathing. Then, began to slow down gradually. He took a lung full of air.
"What's with him!" Goku gasped as he watched Hakkai taking special care of Sanzo.
"I'm not sure, man. He sounds like he's terrified!" Goyjo sighed. He ran a hand up his forehead to wipe the sweat from it.
Hakkai said firmly as began to touch Sanzo, "I'm just going to feel your forehead. You look sick!"
Sanzo didn't speak as he instantly became flushed in the face. As soon as Hakkai's fingertips gently touched Sanzo's forehead, Sanzo lurched backwards as if he was held in place by an unseen force. There was something deadly, angry at this turn of events. Goyjo was the first to smell a foul odor coming from the apples. He leapt out the jeep and ran to Sanzo's side of the jeep. There were things coming out from the apples. Little, tiny, white snakes and beetles were oozing out of the apples.
Goku was instantly saw shadows coming towards the jeep. Without Sanzo's there, they were not completely lost. Goyjo gabbed the basket and flung it out of the way of Sanzo's hands.
"What was in there?" Goku asked, as his eyes grew wide.
"A calling card!" Goyjo said. Then, he looked Sanzo. The monk had turned white with a flushed face. He stared at the road with empty eyes. Before he could say another world, he fell over. His head slammed onto the windshield. Goyjo yelled out in total panic, "SANZO. . .SANZO!"
Sanzo felt warmth and light surrounding him. He didn't want to wake up just yet. He heard voices in his ears.
"Is he going to be all right?" a young voice asked.
"Yes. . ." a slightly older voice said in a soothing tone.
A third tone voice reply in a deep way, "He's didn't scare the crap out of us!"
"Yea . . .right. You were freaking out when he passed out!" the young voice squeaked.
Sanzo focused his eyes to open slowly. He blinked up at some blurs that were hovering over him. He groaned, "Where am I?"
Hakkai bent down carefully to get a closer look at Sanzo said, "You are at a local clinic. Do you remember anything?"
He, Sanzo tried to piece what little he could remember. There were demons chasing, surrounding the jeep. He felt terrified for the first time of his life. He winced as he managed
to relieve a little of what happened. Hakkai said in a calm voice, "Slow down. You are hurt!"
"Yea!" Gojyo sighed in a painful remark. He raised his left-hand to smooth out a loose strand of hair, which fell on his face.
"I remember banging my head against something!" Sanzo said as he raised own left and to his forehead.
"It was the windshield of the jeep!" Goku said. "Goku!" Gojyo hissed as he glared at Goku with blood in his eyes.
Sanzo very painstakingly turned his head to see Goku sitting on a window ledge. Gojyo stood next to Goku. Then he raised his head as he winced to see Hakkai looking adown at him. Hakkai was trying to not order Sanzo thought the use of his comforting smile, "You know, you shouldn't be doing that after an injury!"
Sanzo tried to remember what happened to him. He pieced the little he had in his mind. He envisioned snakes and bugs coming off of the apples. He winced at the memory. Hakkai watched as Sanzo's face became frightened. He uttered in a calm voice, "That's not what I told you to do?"
"I don't want to be here without first finding out what happened in the name of Buddha what I did see!" the monk gasped, gripping the bed with both hands.
"You want the nurse?" Hakkai asked carefully. "She can give you a painkiller!"
"No. I'll try to block it out!" Sanzo said as his mind raced with the heady mantras that eased the pain.
"If he's going to rest. I'll take Goku and find an inn," Gojyo said.
"Why?" Goku snipped. He rolled off the window ledge and landed on his feet. He didn't want to go.
"To keep you out of Sanzo's hair. Just a little while. I want you to be a good boy!" Gojyo groaned a little as he turned to face the youngest member of the party.
"I ain't doing it. I wouldn't take orders from a imp like you!" Goku growled softly as he waved his hands at Gojyo.
Hakkai reached over to take Sanzo's temperature. His hand had need gently to the touch. Sanzo asked in a murmur, "What are you doing?"
"You don't a have a fever. I'm just checking. That lump on your forehead is a nice sized one!"
"Oh, man...you have to be all goody two shoes!" Goku yipped at the two who were looking after Sanzo. He noticed that Hakkai was being the good aide to Sanzo.
"Shut…up, monkey boy!" Goyjo snarled as he grabbed Goku's shoulders. He lifted the young boy to fling him over left shoulder. "Listen, Hakkai. I'll go and get something to eat. That will keep Goku busy for a while!"
"Did you say food!" Goku asked as he ears perked up. His hunger took over the rest of his body.
"Yes. I'll see about getting you a bun!" the pink haired half demon said he sundered over to the door.
"I want one with pickles. Can you let me go?" he whined as he tried to wriggle of his captor's grasp.
"No way! I don't need you running back after you ate and wake up Sanzo. We need to look for an inn!" Goyjo said as he fumbled for the door handle.
"Those two are pains in the neck!" Sanzo murmured loudly as he felt sleepy. The mantra was working. The pain was easing itself away.
"I can relate to that!" Hakkai smiled.
Goyjo opened the door and proceeded to leave the room with a yipping Goku attached to his shoulder.
"Let me rest?" Sanzo implored the quiet man who was sitting at his bedside.
"Yes. I will do that after I find a book to read. I'll tell the nurse I will be gone for a little bit!" Hakkai nodded.
Sanzo closed his eyes to let sleep take over his body. Hakkai watched as the troubled monk drifted off into a comfortable rest. Placing a hand on Sanzo's shoulder, Hakkai said in his quiet voice, "Let your mind go. Just relax. I'll get you a nurse!"
Goyjo knew Sanzo was freaking out. He said to the yipping Goku, "Come on!"
"What?" Goku aked in protest.
It was some time before Gojyo and Goku returned to Sanzo's hospital room. Hakkai was reading a newspaper when there was a knock on the door. He looked up and said quietly, "It's opened!"
The door opened and Gojyo stepped in. He entered the room quietly as he asked, "You want me to take over?"
"Yes. I would like to get some sleep!" Hakkai sighed before blinking his eyes. He felt tired after such a long day.
"O.K." Goyjo nodded as he walked up to Sanzo's bed. The half demon glanced down at the monk. He noticed Sanzo hadn't moved since the early afternoon. He asked, "How is he?"
Hakkai glanced down at his lap and began to fold back the paper when he said, "Sleeping like a baby. The nurses would wake up him for a minute, but he would fall back to sleep so easily!"
"The dope that they use in these places, it helps out with the pain…but you feel like sleeping for days!" Goyjo smirked. "He looks like an angel in some ways. Yet, he's a demon in others!" Hakkai said as he glanced at Sanzo's peaceful face.
"I hope he didn't wake up screaming. What ever he saw in his vision really scared him!" Gojyo shook his head.
"Yes. I have no idea what or who is behind it. This was no ordinal demon."
Sanzo was still sleeping when Hakkai felt something cold. He stood up front he chair he sat since Sanzo was admitted to the hospital. He bent a little forward, trying to see what was making the room so cold. Gojyo asked he noticed the change in Hakkai's facial expression to the one of puzzlement, "What's up?"
"I feel a present!" Hakkai murmured loudly. He raised a hand up his spectacle. There was a sharp whistle, which hit their ears. Am image of a young woman flashed in front of Goyjo and Hakkai. She stood near Sanzo's bed. Goyjo screamed as the worst feeling of dread hit him at the same time, "WHO ARE YOU!"
The young woman didn't speak as she walked towards Sanzo's bed. She was dressed rather plainly with her black hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Hakkai had fear teasing him, but he didn't frighten him. He said as soft as a murmur,
"What are you doing here?"
She appeared translucence to the point of being a thin, watery spirit. Hakkai asked as his own suspicions kicked in. He could see right through her face as she turned to glance at him for a second. "What?" he asked the female vapor.
The air grew cold around Goyjo. He whipped around to see what was causing the sudden chill.
The girl's voice was small and delicate as she asked, "Who are you?"
There was no expression to her face. There was an evil, which pricked deeply into Gojyo's being. A little green around the gills, Goyjo swallowed before he said, "Uh?"
The young woman looked down at Sanzo. He was still sleeping. Hakkai watched as the young girl placed a hand over Sanzo's mouth and nose. She was going to steal his very breath. Hakkai snapped in a loud tone to draw attention to himself, "Don't you even think about it!"
Goyjo had to stop this demon. He had no weapon to defend himself or the other other two. He had to use his fists if this girl was made out of flesh. He wouldn't hurt her to the making her cry out. It was one swift punch in the belly and lights out for the girl. But, how was he going to get to this creature. She appeared like a non-living creature.
Hakkai had to used his powers to protect Sanzo. This was going to be a test of raw nerve.
It was a long time since he had fought with a ghost. He was starting to gear up for a fight. He looked at Gojyo was in the same boat. "You are going to do something?" he aksed the pink haired half demon.
"I'm not sure. This is the first time to be winging it. Sanzo usually takes care if the dead spirits!" Gojyo said.
"I just want to have him!" the girl said in an echo, which rang in their heads.
"What?" Goyjo gaped as his jaw dropped. It was his first time that he had actually heard a ghost talking to him.
"Did you say something?" Hakkai asked as he turned to see Goyjo's face drain of its color.
The girl gazed at them with such innocent eyes. It was like she wasn't guilty of the crime that she was about to perform. She said, "I need his help. I'm trapped!"
Then, another present came into the room thought the window. It was an enormous paper wasp. It was trying to break through the window. The young girl turned to see the giant insect scrapping at the window with its front feet. He had no choice. Remembering, Hakkai started to pat down his shirt and pants pockets in a frantic search for a rock. He thought he had picked up from the road. He wanted to keep a record of where his was going. Then, the wasp finally broke through the window. The young girl screamed after she noticed the insect's attack on the window.
Goyjo out of a snapped his fear and into gut instinct when he began to charge at the bug. He was going to take it to the ground. The insect's forelegs quickly blocked him. He was thrown to the ground. He was now pinned to the floor with two of the bug's foregoes.
"Goyjo!" Hakkai hissed loudly as he watched Goyjo fall to the floor.
Goyjo was now blacking out from the apparent weight of the insect's weight. He groaned as his eyes were closing to block out the pain, "H-h-hakkai!"
The name was a hoarse whisper.
Hakkai was now the only left in the room to fight. He had the rock in his hand. Quickly closed his own eyes and prayed, "Dear ones of the Heavens…please grant this rock a speedy landing in the monster's forehead!" His power was starting to charge up in his hands. His fury was clear and focused on the bug. He said, "Now…monster be gone!"
A large ball of white light surrounded the rock. Hakkai quickly threw it at the bug. He watched as the rock hit the bug. The bug felt the sting of heat as it shirked in pain. Shaking its large head, the bug smashed through the window once again. It didn't finished what it wanted to do. Steal Sanzo's life force and devoir the ghost girl.
Hakkai slumped to the floor, somewhat relieved at the outcome of saving Sanzo's life.
After the long period of piecing their lives back in short order, Hakkai and Gojyo went to the inn that Gojyo had checked in. Goku met up with the two in the small tavern in the back the inn. Goku said on a stool as he asked, "you need a drink?"
Running a hand through his hair, Goyjo said, "I think I need a good stiff one, after that!"
Hakkai looked at the bruise on Goyjo's arm and noticed it was a bad one. There was purple and blue knot at the end of it.
Goku said as he toss his head a little, "You can order one here!" "You?" Goku asked Hakkai with concern.
"Maybe, just a cup of tea. That's all I want…" Hakkai sighed. He reached up to brush back his bangs from his forehead.
Leaping off the sofa with a soft step, Goku nodded, "O.K."
"After my drink. I'm going to bed!" Gojyo sighed. Then, he glanced at Goku. He warned in his usually whiny snarl, "Don't wake me up. I need a good night sleep!"
"O.K." Goku sighed, as he knew that he was going to be crossing that line in the morning.
A childlike voice asked from out of the blue, "How is bald Sanzo?"
Instantly, three pairs of eyes glanced around the lobby to stare at a young demon with short ornery red hair named Liran. The mere demon girl demonisms stood near Hakkai's chair in the lobby. Smiling one of her wicked smiles, Liran giggled softly. Goyjo snarled as he raised both hands to jerk them in front of her, " Damn brat…leave us!"
"Oyo!" she cooed in her baby voice. She was mocking the half-breed as she smirked, "Look, I'm scared!"
"Witch!" Goku hissed as he stood up quickly.
"Bald Sanzo will be mines to play with!" she pouted as she placed both hands behind her back. She instantly stretched out the kinks from her arms.
Hakkai being the sensible one in the group wondered if they were going nowhere in a hurry with Lirin. He spoke right up interrupting Goyjo, "What do you mean? Sanzo will be yours. What are you powers? I can see someone is controlling you from afar!"
There was no word leaving Lirin's lips. Usually she was a big pain in the neck for Sanzo and the others. She acted like a complete copy of Goku. This time was a little different. She appeared to be more threaten to anyone who stood in her way than just a mere nuance. Hakkai's green eyes were now in fire with cold suspicion. He murmured under his breath and a tiny bit off of his personality, "Damn little wench!"
Liran swung loosely to face herself towards the exit of the lobby. She huffed raising her hands an upwards arch, "I heard that!"
Goku jumped with a growl into the conversation with the thought of hitting her, "Little girls shouldn't push their luck!"
"Humph!" she pouted as she stuck her noise in the air. Hakkai continuance was being pulled from the stress that Lirin was throwing at him and the other two. He asked in a concerned voice, "I can I ask you a question?"
"What?" she sighed. She felt a wave of bruised emotion wash over her.
"Do you have any power of control?" he stared at her point blankly.
She started to walk away from the group. This was a mere test from Doctor Nii of how far he could control Lirin with simple tasks, like pulling on the Sanzo party chain.
Hakkai glanced at Goyjo and Goku. There was more than just plain worry on their faces. This was a look of preparing for death glance. Hakkai turned back to the retreating Lirin and warned, "Why are you doing this to us!"
No response from the demon girl as she walked further from sight. Then, he warned the other two, "Don't get her any more mad than she is all ready. It was pointless even if we see her in the near future. Sanzo might be dying and we can't stop it!" +++
Later that night, after finishing up his third beer, Goyjo was sitting on the window ledge of a large hotel room he and the two were sharing. He felt better after his second beer, yet the third wasn't going to do any more damage than just two. He stared at the darkened sky. Sprawled out in own his bed, Goku was snoring in his sleep. Hakkai with the aid of a small lamp read a paperback as he sat cross-legged on his bed. Goyjo was done with his can as the last drops of amber colour liquid hit his lips. On licking them off with the tip of his tongue, he carefully smashed up the can. The half demon sighed, "Damn!"
"Hmm?" Hakkai hummed when he heard the careful noise of a beer can being folded up into a long flat piece of metal. On asking, Hakkai glanced up at Goyjo, "What's wrong?" Goyjo looked at his traveling companion. Hakkai closed his book slowly, his eyes cast in a weary glance. He said, "It's the first time that Sanzo got hurt to the point we can't help him!"
"No," Goyjo growled softly. He remembered the countless times in which Sanzo was injured. "He…" the red haired half demon folded his arms over his chest. "…will get into more danger before we even reach west!"
Hakkai had to give Goyjo's statement a second thought. "Yes. I agree," Hakkai nodded. He heard the gentle snoring coming from Goku before saying, "We have countless broken hearts and bones. Sanzo had seen entirely too much blood shed. Yet, he will see more as we journey along!" The beer can was tossed into a trashcan with a quick, almost soundless throw from Goyjo's hand. He sat up in bed with his legs stretch underneath a coverlet. On closing his eyes, Goyjo let the beer relax his body.
As if a word of prayer, Hakkai sighed, "Sanzo!"
Hakkai leaned back his head until he saw the darkened ceiling. The night was going to be long and unpredictable.
It was morning once again. Hakkai had already left to pick up Sanzo at the clinic. Goku and Goyjo were at the inn. Goku hurried as he bathed in a tub. He hoped not to use too much water. Goyjo forced down a bowl of rice and pickled fish. His mild hang over didn't make him sick to his stomach. It felt like someone left a hum in his brains instead of a hang over.
The quiet clicking noise of chopsticks against a wooden bowl was nerving bit of peace. The mere murmur of either a god or demon could drive Goyjo and Goku up a wall if happened. For once the worlds between heaven and hell were as still and soft as a woman's breath.
The sun shone in pale streams the light morning mist. It was a delightful sign of life form the Merciful Goddess. She was granting a little bit of heaven to this band of mismatched of persons.
"Hey, Goyjo…are you finished?" Goku's voice questioned when the monkey boy stepped out the bathroom with a robe clumped around his frame.
Placing the bowl on the his bowl down on the table, "Yea…just about!"
"I have to get dressed. Sanzo is O.K. Is he?" Goku's face was a mix of sadness and fear. He had seen Sanzo loose his calm, cool demeanor. Yet, the monk had a calmer inner self.
"The doctor says, Sanzo…" Gojyo sighed as he placed the hand, which held the chopsticks up to his forehead. "He's O.k. yet, he's just a guy who looks at your insides that's all. He's not a monk like Sanzo!"
Shrugging his shoulders, Goku said, "Oh!"
There was a glance of worry in Goyjo's eyes. He ordered softly, "Look. Hakkai will have Sanzo with us. He needs to rest!"
The sound of the jeep pulling up to the front drive made Gojyo glance down. He noticed another person in the jeep. He hoped it was Sanzo. Hakkai finally had the jeep parked. Hakkai noticed Sanzo's reflection in the rear view mirror. The monk was even quieter as he slept. Sanzo was now lying, curled up on the backseat of the jeep. Goyjo could scan the pale Buddhist monk's face. It appeared like Sanzo was gravely ill. "My God!" he whispered when he leaned foreword to get a better look.
"What?" Goku asked when he over heard Gojyo's statement.
Goyjo snapped back to a ramrod pose, sitting perfectly still. He had a feeling that these new sort of demons were after Goku. He was going to throw the demons off the scent. He began to order the young boy with a quickened voice, "Get dried off and put some clothes on. Sanzo is coming!"
"Uh?" the young boy gapped with a slack jaw. Jumping off the window ledge, Goyjo ordered in half tense voice, "He ain't lookin' so hot. I'm going down to help Hakkai!"
"What about me?" Goku asked, feeling left out.
"What you have in your ears. Wax?" Goyjo huffed as he crossed the room. Time was extremity previous to them if they wanted Sanzo to live. He quickly opened the door, "Get dressed!"
"Yes sir!" Goku sighed as he turned to shuffle back to the bathroom.
Sanzo was half there. He felt hands helping up to a standing pose. He cracked opened his eyes under protest. His legs were like rubber when he turned to move out of the jeep. Feeling his body slipping from Hakkai's hands, Sanzo groaned, "Oh, god!"
"No you don't!" Hakkai gasped in a hurried tone of voice. His hands hurried as they wrapped themselves around Sanzo's chest.
"I need to rest!" Sanzo groaned for the second time. He never experienced so much pain before like this. He was nearly killed by many demons that were under their own ideas of stealing the Maten Sutra or the legion under the ruling of Lady Gyokumen. Now facing death one last time seemed like a sweet treat from all the years of being carrier of one of the many students of Buddha.
Hakkai nearly hugging Sanzo started to walk towards the entrance of the inn. The doors swung open to relieve Goyjo standing in the doorway. Goyjo asked a worried glance, "How is he?"
Hakkai scanned the area when he heard Goyjo's worried voice. When the two came up to the entranceway, he whispered, "Not good. He's extremely sick!"
Having the urge to scream instantly halted by a local vendor hocking his spring rolls, Gojyo bit his lower lip. Sanzo wanted to die in the worst way. The black hole in soul was letting in the long surprised nightmares that he had come back. He did have from time to time horrific dreams of the monastery he was staying at burnt to the ground and there was nothing he could to do to stop it. He raised his head to hear Goyjo's voice asking him if he wanted to stop the pain he was in. squinting at his friend, he didn't even break into a scowl.
"He needs rest and some hot herbal tea!" Hakkai ordered gently to Gojyo.
Hakkai appeared to need help. Goyjo offered to carry Sanzo up to room. He said, "Wait…I'll carry him up to the room. You can get the tea!"
"Thanks, I wouldn't be long. Make sure that Goku is quiet. The trip over here nearly made him throw up. The least amount of agitation will cause him to get to sick to his stomach!"
Sanzo felt another set of hands lifting up into the air. Goyjo turned to walk into the entranceway of the inn. A young man who was left the inn, noticed Goyjo carrying Sanzo in his arms. Goyjo mumbled a lie, "Car sick!" as he waited for the door to held open for them to pass.
Knowing the rough country roads could make anyone sick, the young man held the door wide open.
He watched as Goyjo walked past him. Hakkai felt cold for a second. It was like the old saying speaking of someone walking over a person's grave. Was he going to be next? He stood there for the second minute before turning the direction of the town's main square. Goyjo took his time in order not to make the monk ill. Sanzo stared up at the ceiling hewn he was carried up the stairs. He noticed the passing walls and other things when he came into view with them. His hearing became fuzzy as the noises became clouded in his ears. He mumbled a mantra and was growing worst by the minute as he tried to remember what was in his mind. Words were thick and tended to stick in Santo's mind. He wanted to speak, to scream. The evil inside of him was shutting down his freedom of speech and thought down. He felt Goyjo's arms bob slightly as Goyjo take the stairs to the floor the others' room was. With quick light steps, Goyjo entered the room. Goku was playing two-handed go fish with himself when he glanced up at Goyjo carrying Sanzo. The young monkey boy yipped as he flew up form his chair where he was sitting at for a while. He yelped, "My God…what in the heck happened?"
"Shh! Don't start with your babble!" Goyjo hissed through his teeth. "Sanzo's really ill. He doesn't need you to be yipping like a short tailed cat in a room full of long rung rocking chairs!"
At that Goku felt very much alone when he watched the pink haired half demon tend to Sanzo's weakened body. His voice shook as he asked in almost frightened tone, "Goyjo?"
"Yea, what?" Goyjo asked without even brothering to look up the boy.
"Can I do something?"
"Right…you can get me a bowl of ice water and a wash cloth!" Goyjo said as he walked over to the bed where Sanzo was going to rest.
A little crest fallen, Goku gasped, "Oh?"
"H-h-hakkai?" Sanzo said in a slow slur. He tried to open his eyes after a quick sleep.
"Shh! You hush," Goyjo ordered in a quick yip. He quickly moved to the bed. Gently, he lowered Sanzo on to the bed. Then, he found a blanket on the foot of bed. He grabbed before unfolding it over Sanzo.
He had watched as Sanzo drifted back to sleep. He was now in dangerous area with a high fever. The demons and the spell that was cast on him weren't letting him go. It was going to eat him alive with pain.
Goku quickly darted out of the room. He noticed Sanzo breathing heavily. The slightness movement of the monk's body gave Goku pause to think about the near future if any for them all.
Sanzo was being dragged back onto the nightmares. Goyjo bent to down to take Sanzo's temperature. The fever started to play tricks with the two. It quieted down when Goyjo felt slight warmth coming from Sanzo's cheek. Sanzo began to mutter a chant that he had long forgotten. Goyjo had bent down to loosen Sanzo's outer robe. He hoped to make the monk more comfortable. On pulling back on the shoulders of the robe, Goyjo hissed under his breath, "My gods!"
There staring right back at his eyes was a long black snake-like dragon. It appeared to slither its way on Sanzo's chest. He heard Goku entering the room. Without even turning around to see Goku, he ordered gently, "Goku…go to the lobby!"
Completely floored by the words coming from Goyjo, Goku asked, "What?"
The half demon didn't speak, but went on fixing the robe to make Sanzo rest easy.
An unknown terror gripped Goku as the word, "Why?" formed on his lips.
"Nothing! Go and see if Hakkai is back from the herbiest!" Gojyo barked out in a soft tone of voice.
Goku was trying to see what made Goyjo's face turn so white. The pink haired half breed hated to be stared at from all the years of being himself. He turned to stare back the young boy.
Trying to read the expression on Goku's face, Goyjo tried to figure what was on the young boy's mind. Goku noticed a black figure on Sanzo's belly. A panic feeling swept past Goku at the sight. It meant Sanzo was being drawn in even futher in the web of demonic control.
Feeling Goku's eyes falling on him, Goyjo snapped at him a defiant tone, "Go now!"
"What?" Goku yipped, a little bit startled.
The halfbreed snorted, folding his arms over his chest. He uttered, "Just do it! I haven't got the time be staring at Sanzo!"
Goku quickly swallowed his fear. He spun around on his heels in the direction of the door. Speechless, he headed toward the door. Goyjo glanced at a faint crack in the wall before hearing the door opening up. It meant Goku was fleeing the room. Goku ran down the stairs. He began to cry out his own fright. How many times that he seen Sanzo hurt, even ill. It hurt his head, just thinking or even trying of the things could break the bond between the monk and the monkey boy. "Damn!" he whimpered in a gasp. He nearly fell down the stairs as his legs began to tremble. He had to control himself if wanted Sanzo to live. STopping at the landing, he felt the hot tears falling down on his face. He whined, "Why?"
He to pull himself together for the sake of Sanzo. He wiped the tears off of his face as he sniffed loudly. Then, he breathed in a lung full of air. A mantra buzzed inside of the young man's mind in order to calm him. The voice sounded like Sanzo's. "If you meet the Buddha... kill your Buddha...If you meet your father...Kill your father...Live the life that is given to you!"
Goku climbed down the stairs as his mind hummed into a peaceful area. The words floated like leaves on a pool of clear water.
Hakkai was nearing the inn. He was quick in filing the hebral tea order. The day was warm and quiet, a too little quiet for Hakkai's nerves. Yet, this was the day Sanzo would have loved to be alone with his thoughts, a rare treat for a monk who was surrounded by three people on a daily basis.
"That monk!" Hakkai shook his head. "He is very rough. Yet, he is always searching for that inner peace in himself!"
He noticed a blur rancing out of the inn's enterance and heard the figure crying. On recongnizing the sound, Hakkai said, "Goku!"
Goku was down the street so fast, Hakkai to run to catch up with him. He wasn't sure what was going on at the time. He only knew that Sanzo could be dying at time...right in front of him and the other two.
"GOKU!" Hakkai shouted as he finally caught up with the boy.
Goku wanted to find that blasted grove to mull every tree he could find. he had the feeling of running away from the life he had for now.
Hakkai wasn't as fast as Goku. He had a hard time trying to catch up with the boy. "Damn!" Hakkai thought. "By this rate, Sanzo's illness can spread if left unchecked."
Then, Hakkai noticed that Goku has stopped in an alley way. It was maybe due because of the lack of air his lungs were not getting. then, he saw it. It made Hakkai stop and think.
he saw the young man crying and vebarlly beating himself u p. It was the first time in a long while that Goku was crying.
Hakkai was deeply touched at the young boy's brokenness. he noticed Goku was now standing at a local bakery. He didn't have to guess that Goku was starved. Hakkai started to fish in pockets for spare change.
Walking over to Goku, Hakkai hope he didn't startle his travel companion.
"Damn! i'm so empty in the belly and i don't have any money even for a cookie!" Goku groaned as he found that his pockets were empty of money. Then, he felt a tap on the shoulder. He gasped, his heart leaping a little in thoart.
"You are starving?" a vioce asked in a gentle tone.
"What the..." Goku gasped loudly. His sides were starting to hurt. staring at the money through the blind tears, Goku tried to piece himself togehter.
"you are straving?" Hakkai asked gently, he shook his hand. the coins gingled a little in his hand. "i have some extra...here take it!"
HAkkai placed the money in the young boy's hand. "Hakkai!" Goku sniffed.
"I'll be fine!" Hakkai said as he glanced at the golden eyes of Goku. then, he placed a hand on Goku's shoulder. "you and get your stomach filled. I'll be with Sanzo!" he nodded trying to convince goku.
There was a minute of just figure out what was on Hakkai's mind on goku's part. He watched before nodding blindly back. Not knowing when he was coming back from a local shop, Goku asked, "Are you sure!"
"Yes. i'll be at the inn...in five minutes, Goyjo will come to take you back to the inn. Promise me you will meet him here!" Hakkai asked, pointing at the corner between two buildings.
Trying to force a smile on his lips, Goku said, "O.K."
Sanzo was trying to rest as best as he could in his sick bed. he heard about what happened to Goku. He growled at Goyjo in a low voice, "I can't believe you sent that half breed to go fine that monkey boy!"
"Listen. Don't worry about it!" Goyjo sighed. He was standing at Sanzo's bed side. he was now wringing out a face cloth in a small bowl of water. "That's stupid monkey boy is out of out hair for a couple of minutes!"
He began to wash Sanzo's face. He could tell the monk was burning up with a fever. the two heard a door being opened up and two sets of feet entered the outter room as quietly as they could. "They're back!" Goyjo said, looking at the bedroom door.
Hakkai talked to Goku for a minute before entering the bedroom. He said as he stood in the opened doorway, "I found the things you wanted, Goyjo!"
"Thanks!" the pink haired half demon said.
"I'm going to the kitchenette and make up some tea!"
Sanzo shifted his head to one side of the pillow. He spatted out in a low growl, "Tea!"
"Yes, tea!" Goyjo huffed. He placed the cloth back into the bowl. "you need to have water...or you will die!" Sanzo shot a weak, but sour glare at his nurse. he wanted to growl at Goyjo, but his mind still fought with the inner demons locked away.
There were noises of water being poured into a tea pot. A door slowly creeked opened and foot steps padded across the floor in the next room. Hakkai said, "Goku...are you better?"
"Yea..I guess so!" Goku's vioce was a little softer than normal. he didn't seem like himself after the meeting with Hakkai in the streets near the inn.
"While the tea water is boiling. I am going to make some food. YOu want some soup?" Hakkai asked.
Sanzo and Goyjo heard the word soup. Goyjo said, "You need to have some soup. the herbs that Hakkai are very bitter and you will get sick on solid food."
"Soup?" Sanzo asked.
"Yes," Goyjo said, returning the cloth for a third time to the bowl. On after dunking it for a full minute in the cold water, he picked it up. He twisted hard until most of the water was out from the cloth. Quickly placed the rag on Sanzo's forehead after folding it into a small square. "You need to rest for a minuite. YOu are lucky that another monk was in town. he heard about your bout with those crazy apple loving bugs!"
"He talked to you?" Sanzo asked. he felt the cold hitting his skin. he didn't realize that he had a strong fever until now.
Hakkai entered the room for a minute. He said forcing a fake cheerness in the room, "I heard you two talking. How do you feel, Sanzo!"
"I want to be truthful," Sanzo uttered loudly. His head shifted back toward the ceiling. he stared at the small cracks in the ceiling. he said, "I feel like i was going to die. Would you do me a favor!"
This was something either Goyjo or Hakkai didn't know what to say or do.
then, his boldness forced Goyjo to speak. he asked, "What is it?"
Sanzo shifted his glance at the two. he tried to remain collected as he said, "If i do die. Please keep on the mission."
the two were a little stunned, but was waiting for the answer as if they were reading his mind.
hakkai turned very so slightly to Goyjo. he stared at his friend for a second before returning his gaze at Sanzo. he said slowly, "What are you saying. We can't go without you! Yet, it is the will of your temple to carry out the mission!"
"There is no way around this one!" Goyjo added, his face was solemn as he stared at the young monk.
"Yet, there are thousands of demons and possible humans who are just waiting around for us to loose Sanzo!" Hakkai warned. he was very cold as he spoke. he had a bad feeling since the fall of their leader. he hoped that they were not walking into a trap.
"You are not telling me any thing new! We have got to be on our toes if we can do it!" Goyjo hissed. he felt like having a smoke.
"You are not yourself..." Hakkai breathed slowly. he was not his usually calm, cheerful self. He like the others didn't get much sleep. They took turns on watching over Sanzo. It had been nearly three days. The poison he was exposed to was a deadly one.
Now, he was possible facing his own death.
Sanzo became very bitter with his thoughts. he didn't want to leave the others hanging. It was the bond all four searched and shared as the long road to the west was played out. he gasped, "I have been thinking about the topic since i left the monanstry!"
"Wait!" Hakkai cut in with his usually degree of pure logic. sanzo's death glare was still capitable of coming out when he needed to prove himself. he was going to sit up and give the other two a yelling out.
he felt tired to the point of just giving up. he said, "I want to go on...for the sake of the rest of the blasted world, but i want to give up right now."
he turned his gaze upon Hakkai. "Not even your skills could help me...this is a poison that dates back when Buddah was young!"
The two were a little stunned as Sanzo spoke. Goyjo thought,"A posion that is older than the time itself?"
Sanzo's eyes turned back to the ceiling. he remained cold as he said, "I have a feeling that the posion is not even from here."
Puzzled, Goyjo asked as he wondered if Sanzo was going complete mad from the illness, "Where then?"
Hakkai had to give Sanzo's statements some thought. he knew of very old and rare poisonous plants growing between the two worlds of heaven and earth.
They were not even mentioned in the text of books speaking of the links between Heaven, Hell and Earth. They were spoke of in whispers in the dead of the night when normal people were asleep. The only people had heard about these plants were the ones who direct contect with the Merciful Goddess and the high ranking officers of Heavens armies. Yet, how did Sanzo knew about those plants and roots. He would have opened the scrolls to see what he was carrying. There was no idea of not checking on what or why those scrolls were so costly.
"Did you read them?" goyjo asked, getting to the point before anything else was lost.
Normally Sanzo would have bitten off their heads and spat them back out. NOw, he was too weak to even think of such a thing. he glared at them weakly, "I had to...it was before we started out. The temple had a copy of each scroll...yet i was told to read only the one i was ordered to take!"
"Then, we have to find those plants!" Hakkai said. he knew it was going to be a test of raw courage for all.
To seemed to Goyjo that this was more impossable of a task for the three to find the plants instead of going to the west and stopping Koushou bring back her comastone husband. he wondered if Hakkai was bit was well. Then, the mere thought of having Goku was traveling companion made the half demon shiver just a tiny bit.
The last words from Haikki to Gyojo, before Haikki began to pack up any personal items in the inn room was an order to go Goku.
"What is it now?" Goku asked as he followed the pink haired half demon up the stairs leading to their rented rooms
Turning on his heels, Gyojo sighed feeling wore out, "We are leaving."
Goku was stunned in a heart beat. he believed that there was no way of leaving. Sanzo was too ill to be moved about. in not so many words, Gyojo told Goku that Sanzo wanted to have a cure.
"Where is this cure?" Goku asked, blankly. Yet, his eyes became filled new hope. He followed Gyojo into the room after the pink haired half breed opened the door. He noticed Sanzo still laying in bed, yet this time the monk was awake.
Turning his head very slightly, Gyojo said, "Haikki had found some ancient text talking about this flower or herb of Buddha!"
Goku tried to picture in his mind about the strange plant he had never seen before. "Why did Buddha have these plants in which he let only a few people know about?"
Gyojo said in a half tense voice, "Can we go now!" His mind was trying to figure out on how he and the other two were going to get Sanzo out of the inn before the demons found out.
"Yes," Haikki nodded slightly. He noticed Gyojo's eyes. He was trying to study what was on his friend's mind.
Gyojo walked over to the bed where Sanzo was laying on. He scooped up the young monk and proceeded to carry him down the jeep. Haikki finished up the last of the packing with some help from Goku. Sanzo remained in a twilight sleep until he was placed in the back of the jeep. He opened his eyes to see the sky in the most brilliant of blues ever. He tried to remember things of his youth which were not painful. His thoughts trailed off to his master, Komyo. He wondered if Komyo wasn't killed, would he be able to live his life as a simple monk.
"I'll be up front if you need anything!" Gyojo said as his voice was some what disjointed from the rest of the scene
Sanzo didn't speak. He wanted to sleep. He had over heard Goku and Gyojo starting into an argument over the passenger side of the jeep. Goku wanted to ride shotgun for a long time. Gyojo had to be up front if any demons were going to pop up from nowhere. Haikki was checking a map he had gotten from a local map merchant. Sanzo closed his eyes for a while. The poison in his body was not from Yaone's labs. She couldn't make something so deadly taste so sweetly to the senses. She had her hands full with an outbreak of poisoning of her own. Someone or something got a hold of Kougaiji and made him critically ill. He had been still on his search for the rest of the scriptures of Heaven and Earth when he was struck violently with a high fever. He was taken home by his officer Dokugakuji. He had been in bed, barely surviving the fever. Lirin wasn't allowed to see her big brother for a while. In the back of Haikki's mind, he had wished Yaone was going along with them for her skills in finding medicinal herbs.
Haikki began to drive slowly down the dirt road. There was nothing to see outside of the tiny shops and other buildings in the village. He had turned left on to a main road which lined with trees. It seemed strange to be taking a road which wasn't planned in the first place.
"Where is the place were the plants grow?" Goku asked, trying to keep things going on the conversation.
"It's in an east part…outside of town. We have to go now…Sanzo is willing to take the risk!" Haikki spoke up. He knew Goku was worried for Sanzo. Sanzo was the link to him past as well as the present for all three. He spoke of the place where the apple orchard was well. He knew it was going to be a very long night ahead of them.
"We have to be very careful…" Gyojo added. He knew without Sanzo, it would be a lost cause.
The jeep stopped in front of a very tiny Buddhist monastery. Haikki said as he looked at the many rows of plants on the other side of the road, "I think this is the place!"
"Are you sure?" Goku asked in doubt. He noticed a couple of monks tending the garden. He remembered most monks were vegetarians. Sanzo was acceptation to the rule. He noticed the high walled area surrounding the monastery. There was something about the walls in which his suspicions ran high.
"Yes…" Haikki said. He pulled out a yellowed piece of paper from his shirt pocket. He had a copy of a map leading up to the monastery and series of notes on the bottom of the page. He had taken the liberty of copying the notes of local myth from a book had found in a used book sellers. He had wanted to be sure that there were no unneeded surprises which could lay ahead for them.
A young monk stopped his work when he had head the jeep pulled up. He walked to the edge of the garden and said, "Welcome strangers!"
"Thanks," Gyojo said as he hopped out of the jeep.
Slowly, Haikki climbed out of the jeep, saying, "The same to you…we have been looking for your monitory!"
"Thank you…stranger. Why did you come here? We don't get many visitors," the monk asked, as he placed a long rake handle on his left shoulder. He noticed Gyojo and Goku now standing near the jeep. He wondered why they showed up here of all places.
Talking in a slow draw, Gyojo said, "It's kinda hard to explain."
"Oh?" the monk's curiosity was peeked.
Then, Sanzo started to chant in a semi soft voice a mantra. The monk knew the mantra from all the years of his learning from the local priest. He walked over to the jeep to see who was in the back. He asked Haikki before glancing down at Sanzo what was in the jeep. Then, he gasped out of surprise to see the young priest lying in the bed of the jeep. He asked, "What happen to him?"
Then, he stared for a minute before asking very softly in order not to disrupt Sanzo's waking up, "Is he a priest Sanzo?"
Haikki, Goku and Gyojo stared each other for a second. Trying to come up with a suitable answer was a little hard, but Haikki said as best as he could, "Yes…he is!"
"Ah! Welcome…my brother!" the monk said with a soothing tone of voice. He reached a hand over to gently touch Snazo on the shoulder. "It's all right. You are safe!"
Snazo quieted down for a minute. He opened his eyes to stare up at the young monk. He is fevered state of mind; Sanzo realized he was staring at twin of his teacher. On an attempt to reach out and touch the monk, Sanzo said, "Master?"
The monk was taken aback very slightly. He said, "What happened to him?"
Haikki said trying to piece everything together, "This is Master Genjo Sanzo, Sanzo the thirty-third. He was a former student of a Koumyou Sanzo. We were on a trip west!"
"Oh," the monk pursed his lips. He heard about the story about the Sanzo party going to the west for the scriptures. He wondered why they ended up here. He said with a slow nod, "it is a privilege for you to come!"
Returning the nod, Haikki said, "Thank you for letting us enter in your monastery."
Sanzo was sent to a small infirmary to have the monk who was in charge of the ill or the wounded. The monk was going to give a very thorough examination to Sanzo's wounds to see if he needed treatments. Goku and Haikki went to the hall of records and library to see what the history surrounding the monetary. Gyojo went to the head priests to see if they could stay with Sanzo until he was well.
Gyojo sat in a plan room with two large scrolls of prayers in an ancient script. He felt a little uncomfortable as he waited for the main priest to show up. It was his first time to be speaking on the group's behalf. He always let Sanzo do all the formal business work. He was used as a sort of body guard and demon slayers. He loathed the bossiness of people who were in the high stations of the church. He heard the noises of children playing outside of the building. He wondered if the monks took care of orphaned children. He didn't realize that the war between heaven, hell and earth in this strange paradise called Shangri-La was taking a toll on the children for the most part.
A door slid opened. An old man with a Sharon robe was kneeling at the doorway. He said slowly, "I bid you welcome to our humble temple…stranger!"
Gyojo turned his head to see the old man kneeling at the doorway. He wondered if the old man was about ready to keel over from age. He wanted to get up and help the man stand up. He uttered in a befuddled tone, "Thanks!" He wasn't sure what was going to happen next. He was going to be happy to have a roof over his head for the night.
The priest said, "You are seeking some aid in a poisoning, so I hear?" the priest stood up before entering the room. He noticed the red hair and eyes of Gyojo. He was not going to take sides with the war between good and evil. He was only there to help people who needed help.
Gyojo didn't try to hide the facts, Sanzo was still gravely ill. He nodded slowly to the priest. "Gomen!" he said, trying to figure out what to say.
"That is all right, my son. You have to realize you are in a very special path in your life. Fraught with many dangers, you and your friends are taking a great risk in saving all of humanity," the old priest smiled gently.
Gyojo was very much puzzled. Word does travel fast in such remote places. He wondered if the rest of the world outside of Shangri-La was like that. He said trying to sound humble, "Thank you…I'm not good at make speeches. I leave that one up to Sanzo!"
"Sanzo is the most valuable person in the world right now. The weight of this mission has a great importance even to me!" the priest nodded.