Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End
You never know when or why a disaster will strike. It could wipe out a snake, or your entire family, but it will be a disaster. I witnessed many a disasters in my journeys when they came. I was afraid at first, but who wouldn't be when the world depends on you? A long time ago, there was an evil dictator named Gyumoh, he dominated all of Tokyo, Japan and everything between the United States. He was an evil ruler, killing anyone who got in his way. After a few years of domination, the gods finally decided to take action. The war prince fought long and very hard to defeat Gyumoh, and in the end, the war prince, unable to defeat Gyumoh, sealed him and his wife in stone. Now, in today's time, the only way to free him was to gather certain scriptures, scrolls of writings that the priests of today guarded with their lives, they were known as Sanzos. When a certain group with an evil dictator, started gathering the scrolls to revive him, a Sanzo, and 3 youkai, or demons, set out to stop him. It was strange because lately all the youkai in the area began acting erratic, more evil. Killing and slaughtering became habits of new, and now 3 of them would save us. How would the world live on? Well, I was going to be in on it.
Hot and muggy mornings were common now. I spent my known life developing a career at a local inn. Since I couldn't remember anything before the age of 10, I was condemned; no one in the village would take care of me. It was when I was out in a street, my dirty, craggy clothes peeling to my skin, that an old man stood in front of me. It was raining, something we didn't see often anymore. He held a cane, and his hair grayed, and perfected the bowl shape directly around his head. He looked down at me with sad eyes, before he moved his umbrella over me to shield me from the rain. I glanced up, my knees held up to my chin. I wore no shoes, but I felt light as air at that first generosity shown to me. He held out his other hand, and while staring at him blankly, my sea-blue eyes shinning in the dim light, I took it, hope growing in my chest. Though that was eleven years ago, and by now, grandpa, as I called him, helped me grow exponentially. The day began, hot and muggy, just like always. I was up at about 8:30 in the morning. I began cooking break feast for the soon-to-be-awake guests we had in. One by one, seven different people walked down, and one by one, I handed them bowls of cereal with an orange or apple and a drink of milk. They each smiled and said polite thank-you. At about 11 a.m. I was put on check in duty. I sighed, hating this part of the job. I fiddled with my blue jeans that stretched down to my ankles, my small, heeled shoes made light noises as they flipped and flopped on the hardwood floor. I played with the sleeve of my shirt, the long blue sleeve cascading down my arm and opening up widely at the wrist, giving me plenty of cloth to play with. I sighed again and half-closed my eyes. It was when the door opened that my heart skipped a few beats to make me wake up.
"You'll shut up or you can sleep outside" A man said walking in. He had blond hair and was clouded in a white robe; a large canvas-sheet covered his shoulders and a red dot on his for head. He wore what looked like sandals and I kept myself from laughing at the absolute comedic look he had on his face. He looked mad, but sort of happy. His face contorted and he had his teeth ground together as he pulled on his neck strap to cool himself down. His eyes were large, and slanted, though right now, closed with anger.
The next voice made you want to almost laugh. "But I'm Hungry" A boy, about my age walked in. He was instantly categorized as cute in my book. His hair was a deep brown and spiky everywhere and some kind of golden head band encircled his head. He wore a white shirt with elbow-length sleeves that left a nice gap between his sleeve and his orange bracelets that were edged by cotton. He wore some kind of orange looking flap with black outlining on top of his white shirt. His pants were a white-jean combo with a brown belt. His pants extended down into his brown army boots with golden designs at the top. He wore a waist length, orange cape that flowed behind his back, and for some reason his shoulders were topped by spikes. His brown eyes pleaded at this first man who walked in. "Come on Sanzo?" He asked, and I instantly recognized the name. Sanzo didn't do anything but clench his teeth harder.
I did straighten a little, after all it isn't everyday your next to a Sanzo. The next man made me gag a little. He walked in and instantly his red hair stood out. It seemed like he had antennas on his head that were just above a blue head band. His head band matched his blue, sleeveless shirt that revealed way too much of his arms. He wore bandaged wrists I guess as bracelets. His white tank top that was under his blue jacket was tucked into his brown pants, which strangely bowled around his waist, just above his black belt. His tan pants grew in width near his knees, and then were sucked into his shoes like a black hole. He wore simple, gray shoes with a blue jewel on the bottom. "Shut up you stupid monkey" He said, whacking him on his head.
This 'monkey' glared at him, "The name is Goku dick head" He spat, getting another noogie from him.
"Yeah?" He asked, "And mine's Gojyo, what is it to you chimp" He asked.
Goku spat, "Stupid Kappa" he growled. I thought for a minute. Kappa? I thought, doesn't that mean water sprite? I was getting confused, but I smiled as this Sanzo walked up to the counter.
Behind the yelling 'children' walked in another man. This man had black hair that spiked in the front and had the most unique montage of clothes. He wore a simple, but elegant green headband on his forehead. On his face, beneath his dark eyes, was a small pair of glasses. On his shirt, I saw a few stitches on the right shoulder of the shirt. The sleeves lead down to his elbow which then turned into black, sucked-on sleeves. His tan pants were held up by a brown belt that looked like it connected to this white wrap he carried around his shoulder. His pants lead to just above his ankles, where brown, slipper-shoes meet his pants. On his shoulder was the cutest dragon I'd ever seen. It was a pure white, with wings spanning this man's shoulder, when they were closed. It had red eyes and looked amazing on his shoulder. "Please forgive them" He said, putting his hand on the back of his head, and smiling happily. I shook my head; it had taken me a minute to snap out of my stasis.
"Kappa" Goku shot.
"Hair-brain" Gojyo shot back.
"Drowning lunatic".
"Human stomach".
"Walking pheromone".
"You don't even know what that means stupid" Gojyo yelled and I giggled.
I nodded as Sanzo handed me a card. "Room for 4 please" He said through gritted teeth.
I looked down to check our sign-in book and sighed. "I don't have a room for 4, but I do have 4 singles" I told him looking up. "There is also an inn down the street you can use, though they have lesser quality" I smiled.
Sanzo shook his head, opening his eyes for the first time. "That is perfectly fine" He said. I thought he seemed a little too happy about being away from his obvious friends.
I nodded and entered keywords into my notebook. "All right, I have you all signed up and ready to go. The rooms are up the stairs, to the left, go up the stairs on the right, and they are the first four there" I smiled. I saw Goku's dumbstruck look, but I noticed him looking past me, into the kitchen.
He stared at me hungrily. "Food?" He whimpered, his brown eyes bulging lightly.
I felt my face redden as I nodded. "Room service is available 24 hours a day here" I assured. "And we have a variety of foods to eat. Just tell us what you would like, and we will bring it to you" I smiled.
Gojyo strolled up to the counter and leaned lightly on it. "Hey" He said, nodding at me. "What time are you getting off?" He asked, and I stumbled back a few inches.
I was about to call for gramps, but the small boy, Goku landed on Gojyo's head. "She's getting me food stupid pervert" He said, jumping up and down on his head. Gojyo began cursing, and within an instant Goku was sent flying into me.
I heard the man with the dragon gasp as I crashed into the wall, with Goku right on top of me. "Sanzo, that was a bit harsh" He said, smiling at Sanzo.
"I don't care" Sanzo said, taking a room key. "Stupid monkey" He ground his teeth again and walked away, Gojyo quickly disappearing as well.
"Hakkai that was really harsh" Goku had complained.
Well, now I knew all of their names. This had been, by far the weirdest set of people to ever check in at the hotel. "Sorry miss" Hakkai said handing me his hand and helping me off.
"No… it's fine" I said quietly.
"Well, then I suppose you'll be delivering our food Miss…?" He asked.
I gasped. "Oh, Luna, my name is Luna". I said, bowing politely. "What food would you like?" I asked smiling, still a little offset.
Hakkai laughed quietly. "Meat would be nice, but he will be a different story" Hakkai said pointing to Goku, who hung on to my extra roomy sleeve.
I nodded, "I shall deliver it sir" I said, turning to Goku as he walked away. "Would you like to come pick out your food?" I asked, still a little taken about how handsome he was.
His face lit up like a bulb. "YES" He shouted, and I smiled, more than happy to have someone my own age here.
I began walking in the kitchen, and showed him the enormous room. Sharp utensils marked every counter top next to large pans and papers ready to be used for dinner. "Be careful not to cut yourself" I warned him.
Just has I had said that, he placed his hand down on the counter, and sliced his finger on a knife. "Ok…" He said, "OW" He cried, and I rushed over to him.
"Here" I said, quickly using my extra sleeve length to clean his wound. His expression was dumbfounded as I cleaned the wound. I made him sit down on a stool as I washed his hand, carefully, not letting him see my blush from just touching him. After about five minutes, his hand was bandaged, and I mentally noted I couldn't wear a blood-stained blouse like this. I would have to change after he ate. I looked at his face and smiled, "Feel better?" I asked.
He stared at me, his face moving from mine, to my hand to his cut. "Why did you do that?" He asked confused.
Now I was confused. "Do what?" I asked. "I just cleaned your wound for you" I stated.
He shook his head slightly, picking up the bloody-slack of my sleeve. "But your shirt" He said, sadly.
I giggled. "Don't worry, I can change it won't affect me" I smiled. At that moment the cook walked in and Goku's attention went from my hand to Lydia, our head chef. I laughed and turned to Lydia. "Lydia" I said, catching her attention. "Could you fix our young sir here some food? Whatever he wants is fine" I smiled.
Lydia smiled as well. "Of course Luna, what happened to your shirt?" She asked, horrified.
I shook my head. "I was just cleaning up some blood, its fine. I'm going to go change ok?" I said, as I stood. I waved goodbye to Goku, who was drooling at the menu. I walked up to my room, that was close to the new check in's. I would get their food after I changed, I decided. I walked into my room, and thinking it would be quick, didn't lock the door. I walked over to my dresser, that was plainly fashioned, though extravagant to me, and reached in the third drawer. I pulled out a blue button up and took off my shirt.
As soon as I was standing in nothing my pants and underwear, I heard the door click and someone walked in.
Goku strolled in and walked forward, his eyes closed, his hands full of food. He stopped after about 4 feet in the room, his eyes darted open, and saw me, half-naked, standing there, holding up my blue button-up shirt about half way, blocking the scar on my stomach. "Luna?" He asked, "I thought this was my room".
I took a deep breath and shouted, "GET OUT GOKU" I yelled, pulling up my shirt and with great forced, kicked him out of my room, locking the door swiftly. I began gasping quickly as I pressed myself up against the wall of the door.
I heard his plate of food drop as he banged on the door. "I'm Sorry" he said, "I didn't know, I thought this was mine." I sunk down to the floor, pulling my knees up to my chest, blushing too hard to think straight. I spent the rest of the day in my room, and when gramps had come to check on me, I had told him "I can't come out… I don't feel good" He had warned me that a large party would be checking in, and staying below us. He asked if I could come out to help if I could and I assured him I would.
It was about 2:30 in the morning when I finally dragged myself into my bed and sighed as I pulled the covers up. I still wore my blue jeans and blue button-up shirt, but I didn't want to change. I closed my eyes and fell asleep. It was around 4:00 a.m. that I felt a tug at the bottom of my bed. I rolled over, not wanting to care. But as I rolled over, I heard a sharp snap in my left arm as I realized I was caught on something. It didn't feel broken, but it hurt enough I didn't want to move it. I tried to push myself up to see what was going on, but something restrained me, forcing me to angle my head to just avoid suffocation. I heard a chuckle behind me as I was forced harder into the bed. "To bad, they won't make it back" This person said, as whatever was holding me down, flipped me over. I saw pretty much black, except for the skinny, stick figure person standing in the room, her fingers attached to small strings that led straight to my bed. While my arms were folded over me, I noticed the room was trashed and this woman looked like an evil demon… a youkai. I noticed the large blue skirt that flowed flawlessly around her. It cut itself off just before it reached her large, high-heeled shoes. Her shirt billowed around her as an invisible wind lifted and put it down. Her hair was a dark purple that cascaded down her back, matching her purple, cold eyes and she grinned, showing sharp fangs. "I'm sorry" She said, "Does that hurt?" She asked, tweaking her fingers a little, and I felt immense pain creep up my arm. I felt a deep pop as I realized she had broken the bone. The pain shot through my body causing me to groan through my gritted teeth.
"I…Won't…Scream…Hag" I pushed out, the pain increasing.
It was in a flash she appeared next to me, her face near my neck. "Ah, I can smell your intoxicating blood." She said, sniffing my neck lightly. I felt my heart jump as she put her mouth further onto my neck, opening her mouth slightly. Her fangs dug in ever so slightly, and all I could see was red. I screamed with all my might and heard blurred sounds of fighting, afraid for gramps I wanted to rush up and help, but her teeth dug in further and I began to feel faint, my eyes closed slightly before she was harshly wrenched off me.
Kind, soft arms came under me, and a relaxing smell wafted into my nose. "Get her out" I heard someone yell. I was picked up, but all I could feel was the blood gushing from my neck, the pain in my arms, and this person's soft, melodic heart-beat. My arms dropped and my legs soon followed, a hand caught my head, and I could feel myself being rushed to a different side of the room, where I was laid on the floor. "Hakkai" The same person yelled, "Anything?" He asked.
Hakkai grunted and spoke "Poison, she has to have an antidote" He replied, and I felt the same soft arms pick my head up and place it into a small crevice that felt like someone's lap.
This one spoke quickly. "She's burning up Sanzo" He said. The names were becoming familiar, but the cascading pain kept me from doing anything but going limper. I felt rustling about me, but I tried desperately to focus on this one person's voice. I felt like I was fading out, his voice going further and further away from me. "Hakkai" It seemed to whisper, "She's not breathing, fix her" He cried desperately. I felt so strangely attached to him; I didn't want to leave him. I felt like I was being pulled apart into two directions. I snapped back into life, shutting my eyes closed. "Hurry Hakkai" Goku yelled.
Hakkai grunted, "I can't stop the poison, only slow it. Hurry it up Sanzo" Hakkai had yelled, and distantly, I heard gunshots.
I felt a soft object against my forehead. It felt so much like cotton, almost in a ball shape. "Hang on" Goku said, feeling my forehead. "Hold on Luna" He said, and slowly I managed to feel him start rocking lightly.
One final screech from my attacker seemed to mark them as gone. "Here" A stern voice said.
"Stupid bitch" I heard a rough, annoying voice echo.
"Is she going to be alright Hakkai?" Goku answered, I felt I could almost see his pain.
A small drop landed on my neck, and within minutes, each ounce of pain left me, except for my arm. "There" An exhausted Hakkai panted. "That should stop…it" I heard a light trip as my rescuers began collapsing from what I could tell.
"Stupid" Gojyo had insulted Hakkai, though worry over powered any anger that lingered in his words. "I think we should all leave. Sanzo?" Gojyo asked.
I wasn't even able to focus to register what he meant. Within minutes, I was picked up again, but the arms that carried me now were harder, not as gentle, and more muscular. I felt cloth rub up against my numbed arm, and right before I blacked out I heard someone say: "She comes with" And that was it for me.