Chapter 5 Unnatural Talismanic Monk

Another World

"Man, it's definitely gonna rain at this rate." Gojyo commented and stared at at the dark sky. "I wonder if we'll find an inn or something in time?"

"Wanna bet? I've got 1000 yen that says we won't." Sanzo said bluntly.

"I don't want to get wet and turn myself into a mermaid." Davina whined and slam her head. "Please don't let it rain."

"I agree with Sanzo, but that isn't much of a bet." Lydia spoke and sighs. "Davina, I guess you'll have to endure being a mermaid when the rain drops."

"Don't you have a charm or something to prevent you to turn, Davina-sama?" Hakkai asked curiously.

"They tried many time and none of them are effective." Demigoddess sulk. "I just wish not to transform into a mermaid." She sighs sadly and gaze at the brunette boy that is unusual for him to be quite. "What's wrong, Goku? You hungry or something?"

"No, it's just that... Something smells weird." Goku commented.

"Me too." Olivia agreed the young boy. "Now that you mention it..."

Hakkai suddenly stopped as they get off the jeep and see the unconscious Yōkai's.

"What the hell is this?" Gojyo asked and the Priestess silently gasped turning away not wanting to see the Yōkai's dead corpse.

"Those talismans..." Sanzo muttered that he looked so familiar with.

"Lydia..." Davina muttered her sister worriedly and noticed she's shaking. The Demigoddess hug her to comfort the Priestess and she gazing the boys pleading that they need to go.

"Let's go." Hakkai said softly and Davina dragged Lydia gently. He knew the Priestess is not used to it seeing dead corpse despite she killed Yōkai's a lot. But in this scenario, this is all new for her. The Demigoddess used to it seeing dead corpse since she works as Detective for three years and trying to comfort her sister.


Another World

Lydia is being comfort by Davina and Olivia but her hands couldn't stop shaking of what happened.

"We didn't make it after all." Hakkai commented then suddenly someone knock the door.

"I've brought some hot tea for everyone!" The lady announced.

All of them are soaking wet and of course Davina turned herself into a mermaid. Hakkai immediately hide Davina's tail when they went to the inn and asked a room. The newly Yōkai sigs in relief that her tail revert back to legs and now they're clothes are wet. They decided to hang their clothes to make them dry.

"Oh, thank you." Davina thank the lady.

"It looks like the rain isn't going to let up for a while."

"You've got to be kidding me." Gojyo whined.

"On the way here, we saw some Yōkai corpses." Lydia spoke and her hands stop shaking. "Can you tell us what happened?"

"Oh, that must be Rikudo-sama's handiwork." Lady explained still smiling.

"Who's that?" Goku asked.

"You probably don't know him because you're from the East, but he's a monk who's lately become known as our saviour around here. He apparently wanders from place to place, defeating Yōkai's. Few have actually seen him, but they say he's a big man with talismans all over his body. He's supposed to be an incredibly powerful monk, whose talismans can destroy any kind of Yōkai out there."

"Come to think of it, the Yōkai corpses we saw also had talismans." Davina muttered and crossing her arms.

Davina removes all her dress except white tank top that hug her curves and black leggings. Lydia on the other hand wearing black tube on top and black tight short. Their other clothes also wet and they have no choice but to dry them up.

"Lydia-sama, are you okay now?" Hakkai asked worriedly.

"I'm still a bit shaken seeing them and other than that, I will be fine... I guess..." Lydia answered in low tone sipping her tea.

"You've never seen dead corpse before."

"Yeah, the one we fought. I'm okay with it since they died by a dust and seeing dead corpse, I can't help but feel overwhelmed. I'm sorry that you see me like this, Hakkai."

"There's no need to apologise, Lydia-sama." He reassured the Priestess. "Well, in any case, let's rest up here until the rain lets up. Hakuryu doesn't have a top after all."

"True, we should head back-"

"It's better if we stay together, Lydia-chan." Gojyo interrupted her. "It's dangerous for you girls alone in the room with none of us could be there."

"Still-"

"It's futile to argue them, Lydia-sama." Olivia answered and sighs. "They won't stop until you agreed with them."

Priestess sighs and nod knowing they won't take no for an answer. Davina is also at disadvantage for this since she already fall asleep on Goku's side.


Another World

Lydia wake up and noticed she fall asleep next to Sanzo. She frowned to see Sanzo is having a nightmare.

"Sanzo, wake up it's just a dream." Lydia whispered and shaking him. She silently gasped when Sanzo suddenly sit up and their face are close that they could kiss in a minute. "Are you all aright?" She asked worriedly and ignoring being close to him.

"Lydia..."

"You were having a really bad dream and I decided to wake you up."

"Sorry." He looked down.

"It's alright, I'm not going to ask what dream you had." She smiled slightly. "I'll wait until you're ready to tell me." Pulling away from him and frowned. "I don't remember sleeping with you, Sanzo."

"Hakkai put you here and Lydia..."

"Yes?"

"I-" they hear a girl shriek.

"It came from the kitchen! Let's go!" The six of them already dressed up and went to the kitchen.

"Help! Yōkai." The woman plead.

The six of them see Yōkai barge in the kitchen to eat.

"You bastard! The kitchen isn't for doing this like that!" Goku growled and kick the Yokai.

"Goku! Behind you!" Lydia warned the brunette boy.

Goku turned and knock down the Yōkai out cold.

"Hey, you sure woke up fast today, Goku." Gojyo commented and impressed at him.

"I have my days." Brunette answered. "Now, what'll we do with these guys?"

Suddenly a talisman appeared and attack on the Yōkai's. They looked shocked to see the outcome.

"What the hell?" Gojyo muttered.

Lydia hear someone chanting and turning around to see a monk with full of talisman been covered up by his body.

"My name is Rikudo. I'll destroy every last Yōkai on the face of this Earth." Monk announced.

Lydia frowned at the monk and can't help but feel uneasy for him. Davina on the other hand, couldn't believe he's that guy leaving the dead corpse and hold Lydia's hand gently.

"Thank you so much, Rikudo-sama!" The woman thank the Talisman monk.

"I require no thanks. This is my mission." Rikudo spoke.

"So this guy is Rikudo. But I guess we lucked out since he took care of it for us." Gojyo pointed out.

"Let's sleep, let's sleep!" Goku announced and just as Hakkai, Gojyo and Hakkai about to leave.

"Hey." Rikudo stop them. "Are you all humans?" He asked.

"What?"

"What an incredibly rude question to ask." Hakkai said bluntly.

"You can't fool me! You three are all Yokai's!"

"So what if we are!?" Goku said.

"I told you, didn't I!? That I would destroy all Yōkai's!" He grab the talismans.

"What's with this guy? He could at least hear what we have to say."

"Hyah!" A sudden blur and strong wind deflect the talisman. "I'm glad that I made it on time." The person closed her fan to reveal an orange curly hair woman.

"Hello, pretty lady." Gojyo whistled and earn him a loud of slap by the fan. "Oi!"

"Geez, Gojyo can't you focus on the crisis before me." Orange curly hair woman said bluntly and readying her both twin fans.

"Who is she anyway? How did she know my name?"

"The one that you flirt is Olivia." Davina said bluntly and they looked shocked to see the Kitsune turned herself into a beautiful woman.

"Shuei, what the hell are you doing?" Sanzo asked demanded.

"You're..." Rikudo looked shocked to see him.

"You should know that even if you kill these guys, all you'll be killing are some idiots."

"You know him?" Lydia asked Sanzo in a surprised tone.

Rikudo or his real name was Shuei smirked then laugh. "I see. I'd heard the stories, but I never thought I'd meet up with you in a place like this! They say there's a recalcitrant among the current Sanzo Priests. That he has chosen boorish subordinates to journey west and engage someone from the Takamasa clan known as Priestess Holland Lydia or should I say Takamasa Himeko II with. Kouryuu! Or should I say, Genjo Sanzo! Have you forgotten it was these very Yōkai's who took the life of your predecessor!?"

"How people change, Shuei. I never thought I'd head such words from your mouth."

"He didn't change! Shuie died the day you left the temple ten years ago! That night, you secretly descended the mountain, but... Right after that, the demon burglars launched another attack, trying to get the Maten Scripture they had failed to seize before, not knowing you had already left with it." Lydia could see the shock look from Sanzo's face. "All the powerful monks in the temple pooled their resources, but they didn't stand a chance. Not surprising really, since even you and Sanzo-sama couldn't stand up to them. So I cast a curse upon myself using forbidden talisman. Grant me the power to destroy all Yōkai's!"

"You use the Spell of Araya!?" Lydia asked in disbelief while Sanzo was surprised that she could also know the forbidden talisman as well.

"I did! Thus, I obtained great holy power and defeated the Yōkai's. However..." He removed his top robe with a talisman on his chest. "Once released, its power can't be suppressed. My body is nothing more than a means for it to continue devouring the souls of Yōkai's." Rikudo explained and Lydia stared at him disgrace.

"He's insane." Davina muttered and clenching her hands into fist.

"For the last ten years, I've endlessly murdered innocent Yōkai's to escape this talisman and the excruciating pain it inflicts! But now that the Yōkai's have begun to attack humans, people revere even someone like me as a saviour!" He laugh evilly. "Isn't that hilarious!?"

"This guys has totally lost it." Goku commented.

"You're not a saviour!" Lydia snapped at him angrily. "You're nothing but a murderer! Killing innocent Yōkai by your hands is nothing to be called as saviour!"

"You know nothing about me! Little girl! Why don't we see who is the Yokai here?" Rikudo asked.

"Outside, it's too dangerous here." Hakkai announced.

"We gotta wet again!?" Goku whined.

"I'm going to turn myself into mermaid for this Hakkai!"

"Better than being killed in here."

"Hakkai, you carry Davina."

"Yes!"

"Oi! Hakkai!"

The seven of them left the inn to run away from Rikudo. Hakkai is carrying Davina in bridal style when she turned herself into a mermaid.

"Man, this rain sucks!" Gojyo whined.

"Visibility is bad." Hakkai commented.

"Olivia! Behind you!" The Kitsune turned and about to punch him.

Rikudo gripped her wrist tightly. "My body has been completely assimilated by the talisman. You guys won't be able to touch me!" He explained to them.

"Let go off her!" Goku screamed and Rikudo deflect him. "The footing's awful!" They turned around to see Sanzo is holding Lydia covering themselves not to get wet. "Sanzo, no fair!" Olivia kick him strongly and she back flip went to their side.

"What's the matter, Genjo Sanzo? Do you not lend your help to Yōkai's after all?" He asked the Priest.

"Naw, it's just that, whether I help them or not, these guys won't die anyway." Sanzo answered bluntly while Olivia grew angry thick mark on her forehead.

"Oi, you do know that I'm not a guy Sanzo." Olivia said bluntly. "That's true. It takes a lot of time taking down on us."

"And he probably wouldn't pray for our souls even if we did die." Hakkai added.

"I'm also not a Yokai, Sanzo." Davina spoke and still holding Hakkai.

"Ridiculous!" Rikudo shout.

"None of our attacks are working." Goku pointed out.

"We can't go near him! He deflects our spells! What the hell are we supposed to do with him!?" Gojyo asked.

Lydia stared at the Priest amethyst eyes. She can't stand back and do nothing, the Demigoddess is also disadvantage that there is no lake or river she could swim at yet it's raining that could turn her into a mermaid. Sanzo sighs and grabbing his gun while the Priestess know what he'll do.

"Hey… Forget about your silly sense of justice. There's only one way to release him from the talisman." Sanzo explained.

"Stop!" Goku screamed at the Priest.

"Goku..."

"He might be like this now, but he used to be your friend, right!?"

"I mean it! Don't!" They stared at each other.

Lydia's eyes wide opened and pushed the boys. She gasped in pain taking the stabbing of the staff. Laying down on the ground, been soaked in blood.

"Lydia-sama!"

"Lydia!"

"Lydia! Wake up!"

"You idiot! Why did you take the hit for us!?"

Lydia cough in blood and gasped in pain. Her vision went blurry and consumed by darkness.

~To be continued~