Chapter 01
The jeep stopped in the middle of the wood. According to the map that Hakkai bought in the last town, they would last more three days to go to the next village. They got out of the car, starting building their tents. The monocled man went to make dinner. Grumbling could be heard from the hanyou and the monkey king. Sanzo was the only one who didn't participate in this happy family. Instead, he found himself wandering in the dark forest, an unlit cigarette between his mouths. That wasn't usual for Sanzo to be gone alone like that. He had a reason. An unbelievable one.
Sanzo was, though slowly, turning into a youkai.
Sanzo has noticed his changes since he had killed the first youkai. As the number of monsters dying under his hand rose quickly, the changes were shown even more obvious. Sanzo could feel, physically, that his ears were becoming pointy and that his nails were more difficult to be cut once a week. After the Chin Yisou event, whenever he killed a youkai, he felt as if his blood was boiling, as if encouraging him to finish off more and more monsters. Especially when these feeling went stronger in the last month, regardless of the youkai limiter that he bought just a few weeks ago. This youkai limiter had his form as a ring. Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku had all asked the priest its origin, and had all received a simple answer: 'Somebody I know asked me to keep it for him' The ring fit perfectly his index finger, and it was said by the seller to be able to control a huge amount of evil aura. Although Sanzo didn't believe the seller's words, he still bought it, as the last solution he would ever think of.
Worry and slight fear wormed his way in Sanzo's mind as he thought of his three friends. They, of course, had to sense his abnormality. Despite the fact that they didn't show anything, Sanzo could say that they must have known, or at least, have noticed.
'Sanzo! Dinner's ready! Sanzoooo…!!!'
'Ok, ok, stupid monkey!'
Sanzo went back to the tents, where his three fellows were waiting. The food was hot and delicious, but the priest really didn't feel like eating.
'Hey monk, what's wrong with you? You've been acting like shit all the time!'
The complaint coming from the annoyed redhead somewhat startled Sanzo, who was in the middle of thoughts. Quickly, the monk covered by his everyday-droopy face: 'None of your business'
'Really, Sanzo,' Hakkai spoke up 'Gojyo is right. My intention is not to disturb you, but if there is something that is wrong with you, you need to say it out'
'I don't see anything wrong with being uncomfortable after a whole day stuck in a car with a goddamn bunch of idiot guys,' retorted Sanzo stubbornly 'I go to sleep'
You can't lie to the people who know you best. Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku all saw the unstability in the priest's deep amethyst eyes. They chose to ignore him, since they knew that it wasn't yet the right time to ask.
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The Sanzo-ikkou finally arrived to a town at sunset. It was small and poor, plus, it seemed like the villagers have never been attacked by youkais. So, the four knew that they couldn't stay long.
This town rarely received any travelers; therefore, the only inn here was very miserable. Two rooms that Hakkai booked for the whole group were considered 'suite', but still, they were only one quarter of normal rooms in normal inns. The ikkou had to put up with this anyway. Hakkai was to first to choose to room with Gojyo but since Sanzo didn't want to hear Goku's snore, the hanyou had to pair up with the priest. The night quickly fell as they all drifted to sleep after a long day.
Around midnight, Sanzo woke up. He couldn't sleep anymore. Not only the night birds' sing disturbed him, his anxiousness and sleeplessness also had killed his slumber. The priest decided to have a walk around the village.
The weather was pleasant. Light breeze caressed the skin, somehow made Sanzo feel more comfortable. Absolute silence reigned this entire place. Sanzo stopped at a bench and lit a cigarette. To him, the timing was perfect to be left alone and enjoy a Marlboro cigarette, forget all things these days. Still, his mind was filled with thoughts.
'Sanzo'
Sanzo twitched. Not that the disturber had violently dragged him out of his thinking, he also ruined the priest's precious time.
'Goku, what the hell are you doing here? Go to sleep'
'I won't, Sanzo' Goku stood in front of him, replying firmly.
'Why?'
'I know you're hiding something from all of us, Sanzo. And this 'something' is hurting you'
'Why would I do that, hurting myself?'
'You've been changing. Even a five-year-old kid can notice'
Sanzo didn't say anything. Turning away from the monkey king, he knew Goku was right. In an instant, he felt so painful in the finger as if the ring just squeezed it.
'Sanzo!'
Scream. Dead youkais' scream. Gunshots. Blood. Dead bodies. Pulps of decaying flesh. Sanzo held his head tight, tears flowing from the glowing amethyst eyes.
'Sanzo? Are you all right?'
He couldn't control it anymore.
'Sanzo, what's wrong?'
'LEAVE ME ALONE! STOP BUGGING ME! GET LOST! FUCK OFF!'
Goku stopped dead, staring at his master's frightful face. Sanzo now looked like an enraged monster. The monkey king stepped forward: 'Sanzo-'
Not letting Goku finished, Sanzo ran as fast as he could into the deep forest, where the darkness was always ready to swallow his soul…
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