Chapter 02

The monkey king would have stood frozen for hours, if Hakkai and Gojyo didn't storming out of their rooms due to the horrible scream. Hakkai was the first to ask.

'Goku, what just happened? Where is Sanzo?'

'I… I don't know…' Goku was still dumbstruck that his voice couldn't be clear 'Sanzo… he… I know he's been acting weird so I went to ask him… but… he said nothing… screamed… and ran into the forest…'

'We have to find him and bring back. He's not safe anymore' was all the monocled man's reply.

---

The scream has stopped. Dead bodies disappeared. No more blood. But Sanzo felt worst than ever.

The large bower was the only thing that kept the rain from soaking Sanzo. Still, the monotone sound of rain drop was driving him crazy. The priest wore only a pair of jeans and a leather black shirt. Water kept invading his now-turning-pale skin, freezing his lungs. The ring started squeezing his finger again. Sanzo bit himself to take over the pain and to keep him awake. Meanwhile, the rain didn't show any sign of ceasing.

'Master Koumyou…'

'I wish I hadn't killed those bastards… I…' It was so hard for his dry throat to form just a soliloquy.

'Well well well, what do we have here?'

Sanzo looked up to see who was coming. Under the rain, his eyes were only able to detect the dimnish figure of two people. His still-shape instinct told him they were youkais. He wanted to run away, but couldn't. His limbs were all frozen.

'Trying to run away, aren't you? A helpless prey in the rain. What a perfect timing'

One of them bent over, lifted Sanzo's chin to look clearer. Then he snickered: 'You almost look like a girl. What shall we do now, pal?'

'Don't tell me you're talking of that perverted thing' the other sneered.

They dragged Sanzo into a dry cave, which was not so far from here, and began ripping his clothes off. The priest has no force to fight back. Running and paining had already taken away all his strength. Searing pain ran throughout his spine but he didn't feel it anymore. Life energy escaped from him every thrust he was given…

Maybe it would be too late to wait for the light to shine at the end of the dark tunnel…

'ARRRGHHHHHHHHHH!!!'

Scream.

Fresh blood spilled on everything, tainted red Sanzo's face. Two heavy bodies tumbled down, remaining motionless.

The ring on Sanzo's finger was broken into pieces, showing its dull color from the inside.

Sanzo slowly stood up. He was naked from head to toes. Black vine ran throughout his bodies like a spider web. Fang showed up. Pointy ears replaced human's ones. Pupil became yellow and cats-liked.

Sanzo was dead. But a youkai, a powerful one, was born. Without any restraint.

The light has really shone at the end of the dark tunnel. But what kind of light was it, bringing more pain?

---

'Quick! Sanzo's just somewhere here! I still can smell him!'

Gojyo, Hakkai and Goku have searched in the forest for almost an hour. The rain was the main reason that slowed them down, by swallowing Sanzo's track. Their footsteps, though slowly, were becoming heavier; their breath shortened. But they all knew that finding Sanzo was foremost.

'There! Found him!' exclaimed Goku. The voice was overjoyed, yet somewhat fidgety.

'We're too late'

Looking after Hakkai's finger, they immediately understood.

The creature that stood in front of them, growling, definitely wasn't Sanzo anymore. It was a youkai. The youkai that has taken over Sanzo. The youkai that has stolen Sanzo from them.

'Goku, Gojyo, watch out!'

Right after Hakkai's yell, the youkai started attacking. He dashed at the hanyou first with incredible speed. The stunned Gojyo couldn't keep up with dodging, receiving a punch right in the stomach. Blood spilled from him mouth, reddened the ground. Hakkai managed to make an energy shield as he tried to heal his friend the fastest he could. Only Goku was left to deal with the demon. His nyoibou continuously hit the air, yet Sanzo succeeded in dodging them without any effort. The monkey king had to yell for help:

'Hakkai! Are you finished? He's way too strong I can't fight him alone!'

Hakkai already decided. He took off his youkai limiter.

'Oh no, Hakkai…'

Goku was petrified witnessing the monocled man transform. Black vine surrounded his whole body, nails and teeth getting sharper, ears becoming pointy. Sensing the appearance of another powerful youkai, Sanzo turned back to him, smirking.

Two youkais assailed each other. Gojyo and Goku couldn't tell who was going to win. Deadly blows were exchanged in the blink of an eye. Hakkai was careful not to let Sanzo hit him, but the youkai-priest was bright enough to find out his weakness. Playing up Hakkai's mistake, Sanzo immediately plunged the razor-shaped claws into his stomach. The youkai let out a painful howl when the other threw him right into a haulm, like a dead rat.

'Hakkai!!'

The blond youkai stood there, the invincible smirk still reigning on his flawless but blood-tainted face.

Goku had no choice. He raised hands high, ready to throw away the golden diadem.

'No need to do that, son' a voice stopped him.

'Kanzeon Bosatsu!'

The black-haired lady let out a laugh: 'Mine, mine, you let yourselves being beaten like this? My nephew is so reckless' Then her face changed 'Goku, this is another heaven-made limiter. Sanzo's demonic power is somewhere near your level. Try to make he wear this before it's too late'

Hollow mist rose along with her disappearance. The bracelet fell on the ground.

'Ok guys, we need teamwork'

Gojyo and Goku got what Hakkai said. They had to bring the true Sanzo back. The fight started, again, with three desperate men who were betting their lives to save one.