Kyandi: Wow, we're back!
Yuai: This makes the third chapter today, right?
Kyandi: Yep! And with another possible two on the way.
Yuai: You really do get going when you're bored.
Kyandi: I can't help it.
Yuai: Then lets move on.
Kyandi: Right. Enjoy and review!
Yuai: Kyandi-sama does not own Saiyuki.
Chapter 11 Returning Nightmares
Thankfully the rain had cleared out by early morning, the rain heavy clouds clearing away in the early dawn light, leaving the next day sunny, if not muddy. When Hakkai woke up he was surprised to find Yuai, as well as Goku, still asleep.
It was usual for Goku to still be asleep. It was almost impossible to get the boy up in the morning unless you had food on hand. Then he woke up very quickly and nearly took out whoever had the food. But usually Yuai was up before them all already getting things together and starting breakfast if they were camping out. It usually cut Hakkai's duties down by half and for that he was very grateful for the girl.
Yet, despite that little fact, when he woke up in the morning and looked across the room he found Sanzo and Gojyo sitting at the table having a smoke by the window, while Goku and Yuai were still asleep. Hakkai got to his feet and walked over to the bed.
Goku was sprawled on his back, limbs thrown every which way and sheet kicked off, snoring, as he usually did whether he was in a bed or not, while Yuai was curled into a tight ball on one side, resembling Kokoro when she slept.
Hakkai was actually a little amused to see the girl sleeping curled in a ball like the small cat like creature that was her Koken'nin. It was actually a little cute to look at her like that. Almost like the girl herself was part cat.
Said Koken'nin was curled up on her mistress's side with Hakkaryuu, the two raising and falling as Yuai breathed. Yuai had her arms wrapped around her thighs pulling her knees closer to her face, her hair sprawled out around her like a white sheet.
She looked cute but what caught Hakkai's attention was the dried tear tracks that marked the girl's cheeks. Had she been crying in her sleep? It must have been a scary dream to make her cry like that. Or a sad one.
"She was up half the night because of the rain." came Sanzo's voice drawing Hakkai's attention to the monk. "Because of the rain?" Hakkai asked. Usually he and Sanzo were the ones that had a problem with the rain. He didn't know Yuai did too.
"She woke up a little after the rest of us went to sleep. The moment the storm started. She bolted up in bed, shaking from a bad dream. She didn't go back to sleep until well after the storm ended." Sanzo told Hakkai from behind a newspaper.
A bad dream that had her shaking? That would explain the tear tracks on her face. A nightmare that scared her into jumping nearly out of her skin. "Its not surprising." Gojyo remarked with a yawn. Hakkai looked at his friend.
"She's been having them for a while now. She bolts up, sweating and hyperventilating and then can't sleep for a while." Gojyo remarked. Hakkai looked back at the girl. "She hasn't said anything." Hakkai remarked.
"I caught her a while back and asked her about it." Gojyo told him. "All she said was that it was just bad memories playing over and over in her dreams." Gojyo added. Hakkai watched Yuai's face as she slept. He knew how she felt.
Waking up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep because of memories haunting the dreams that should have offered escape from those memories. It was an awful way to spend a night.
Maybe he should talk to her. Maybe she might be willing to open up a bit more and allow him to offer her the same comfort and acceptance she offered them. Maybe. It certainly didn't hurt to try. The most she would do was say no.
A loud snort like snore snapped Hakkai out of his thoughts as Goku suddenly flopped over in his sleep, invading Yuai's side of the bed before giving a mighty kick….into Yuai's backside. The young girl flew out of the bed, into Hakkai, letting out a loud epp, sending Kokoro and Hakkaryuu flying to the floor as she did.
Hakkai was knocked off his feet as the girl hit him right in the gut. Hakkai landed on his butt, Yuai sprawled in his lap. "Ow, ow, ow!" Yuai said as she rubbed her lower back. "Goku! Why did you do that!?" Yuai asked looking at Goku who was sitting up in the bed blinking sleepily at them all.
Goku gave her a big sleepy grin before flopping back on the bed, now taking Yuai's pillows. "Are you alright?" Hakkai asked her looking down at her as she continued to rub her back. "I'd be better if he hadn't just planted the heel of his foot in the lower part of my spine." Yuai told him.
Hakkai held back a chuckle. It was funny to say the least , but then again he couldn't laugh at her when her backside was hurting. "And I had just fallen to sleep not too long ago." she added pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes.
Hakkai's smile faltered but before he could say anything to her she turned and headed for his bed. "Hakkai, I'm stealing your bed." she told him before dropping face first onto the bed, instantly wrapping her arms around the pillow and burying her face in it.
With a big sigh she sank into the bed and was soon asleep once more. At this Hakkai had to chuckle. "I'd want to steal your bed too if the Monkey had just kicked me in the tailbone." Gojyo said with a laugh of his own.
Hakkai smiled as he walked over to the bed pulling the blanket up to cover her. She seemed better now that she had woken up from the nightmare once. Maybe she wouldn't have another one. Just in case he would keep an eye on her as she slept.
Thankfully she didn't seem to have any more nightmares, though if Hakkai had caught her in the midst of one those nightmares then she would have to tell him what they were about. She wouldn't be able to avoid it.
But he had no such luck. For the rest of the day though, Yuai was distant, withdrawn, off in her own little world. She didn't even notice when Goku talked to her and she usually always replied to Goku if no one else. Hakkai had a feeling that whatever the dream had been about, it had really shaken the girl bad. But just what was it?
-0-0-0-0-
"I love your hands. You have such beautiful fingers. Is it weird to describe a man as beautiful?" A bloody scene, a flash of lightning, the roar of rain in the back ground. "I'm sorry, my love, but its too late for that."
Hakkai jolted awake, staring up at the night sky above them. It was another one of their nights camping out and he had fallen asleep sitting in the driver seat of the jeep. Sanzo was leaning on his arm, sound asleep beside him.
In the back Goku was sprawled out across Gojyo, while Yuai, as usual was sleeping on the ground in the protective circle of Kokoro's body. Hakkai heaved a sigh as he held his hands up to look at them. It looked like Yuai's bad dreams episode was being passed on to Hakkai.
"A dream. And I thought I'd forgotten that whole nasty episode." Hakkai said quietly before pushing himself up out of the seat to take a short walk. He didn't stop to look at Yuai or any of the others either. He just walked off, not really paying attention to anything.
As he walked the words of the old fortune teller came ringing back to his head. "And a scar on your belly." Hakkai pulled the Mahjong tile that had come from the shikigami out of his pocket and looked at the symbol for sin on it.
"Ever since I've met that old geezer, my past wound has started to ache again. He obviously blames me for what happened, but why does he keep playing games like this?" Hakkai asked himself as he put the tile away.
His attention then turned to his hands. "With her blood on my hands I can't allow myself to ever love anyone again." he remarked. He stared at his hand remembering what Kanan always use to say about his hand.
Then a flash of a scene played in his mind. A scene of Yuai wrapping his hand in bandages. "I was just thinking…you have beautiful hands. Beautiful fingers." Her words were so close to Kanan's that it was no wonder she flashed into his mind at the moment.
But now that he thought of it, he knew why the cross in Yuai's hair seemed so familiar. Kanan had worn a cross too and seeing Yuai wear one had reminded him of the one that Kanan had worn. The girl was so much like Kanan in some ways that it was no wonder he got along with her so well.
"Now that….is one short life line." Hakkai jumped not expecting to hear Gojyo's voice. "Ah! You scared me!" Hakkai exclaimed. "Whoa, that should be my line. I can't believe how easy it was to sneak up on ya." Gojyo replied.
The two stared at each other before Hakkai corrected himself. "Okay dude, so which one is the life line?" Hakkai asked holding up his hand. "That one right there." Gojyo said pointing to a line in Hakkai's palm. Hakkai held up his hand to look at it.
"Oh, you're right. It is short." Hakkai remarked. "See. Mine go all the way down to the wrist." Gojyo told him holding up his own hands. Hakkai chuckled and slowly it died off. "Did you wake up to tell me that?" Hakkai asked.
"Nah, not really. I just wanted to get a good look at that gloomy face of your's." Gojyo told him. Silence fell over the two as they both fell into their own faults. The night air sent a breeze through the trees, rustling the leaves.
"So the seer…that's what this is about?" Gojyo asked. Hakkai gave a grim smile as he bowed his head. "Yes its Chin Yisou ." Hakkai replied. No sooner had he said that a voice called out. "Hello! Hello, hello, Cho Gouou, you will die!"
Hakkai and Gojyo turned as a little doll came walking towards them holding another mahjong piece in it's hands. "You die!" it called happily. "Why does that toy call you by your old name?" Gojyo asked as Hakkai looked at the Mahjong piece in the doll's hands.
"It says hate." Hakkai said. "Chin Yisou." Hakkai added. "You are very bad man, Cho Gouou! That is why you shall never know piece in this life. Or any other. That's because you are big, fat, blastimer." the doll said. "Listen here, ya little block head, let me remind you, your flammable." Gojyo told the toy.
"I think I understand what you're trying to say." Hakkai said making Gojyo look up at the dark look on his face. "But if you have unfinished business with me, why not speak to me face to face, like a man?" Hakkai asked.
"Yes, those are the eyes I know. Show us your true face, Cho Gouou." the doll said. "Dolls aren't suppose to speak and hold conversations like that." Hakkai and Gojyo looked up to find Yuai walking towards them.
"And you! You are a very disobedient girl, Yu-Yu!" the doll said making the three turn to look at the doll. Yuai grimaced as the doll's head rocked to the side so sightless eyes could look at her. Her fist clenched at her sides.
"Very, very bad girl! You shall be punished for your sin, Yu-yu! For all the blood that stains your skin! For that you will never know peace or love! Hahahahahaha!" the doll said cackling. Yuai was froze on her spot, her wide eyes set on the doll. All of the color drained from her face.
"That's it!" Gojyo snapped giving a mighty kick and sending the doll flying back into a tree. "Ya should have stayed in your box!" Gojyo snapped. "Come on, Hakkai, Yuai." Gojyo added turning to leave. "I've had enough of this toy." Gojyo added as Hakkai turned to follow him, but Yuai was still watching the doll.
When it turned it's head towards them and opened its mouth, Yuai turned. "Gojyo!" she exclaimed. Hakkai turned to see the glow that announced that the doll was about to shoot something out of its mouth. "Hey Gojyo, look out!" Hakkai yelled.
Gojyo turned in time for the doll to shoot him right in the chest. "Gojyo!" Hakkai yelled. "Hahahaha! That's what you get!" the doll called. "You little….jerk." Gojyo squeezed out before he fell. Yuai shot forward to catch Gojyo as he fell.
She sat him down gently. "Hakkai, what's happening!?" Hakkai turned to see Sanzo, Goku, Hakkaryuu and Kokoro heading towards them. "I'm not sure!" Hakkai replied. Yuai sat back watching as, first, the veins around the wound turned purple and bulged and slowly the effect spread to all the veins in Gojyo's body.
"G-get it…out, get it out!" Gojyo said voice clenched in pain. "Wh-what's happening?" Goku asked as the other three males crowded around Gojyo. "I don't know." Sanzo breathed.
"It's a seed. A living seed taking root in his veins that lives on blood. He's a goner!" the doll exclaimed. Goku and Sanzo turned to look at the doll "Who the hell is the midget?" Goku asked. "One of Chin Yisou's messengers." Hakkai replied.
"Not him again." Sanzo grumbled. "Tick tock, tick tock. The clock is ticking. Not much time left for you to save your friend. The seed is buried snuggly next to his heart. What will you do Cho Gouou, what will you do?" the doll asked.
"Enough…What is it that you want?" Sanzo asked. "Hahahaha! What fun! I really like this game! Lets play again real soon Cho Gouou! You too Yu-Yu!" the doll cackled. Before the doll could say another thing Sanzo shot it.
"So that's what this is about. You know for a puppet he has quite a sense of humor." Sanzo said. "Sanzo?" Hakkai asked. Yuai looked up from Gojyo. "Goku…hold down Gojyo's arms." Sanzo told Goku. "Wha? Okay." Goku said confused by the order by he did it none the less. Yuai looked up at Sanzo with wide eyes.
"Sanzo?" she asked, worried. "Are you happy now, old man? Isn't this what you wanted?" Sanzo asked, raising his voice, turning his gun on Gojyo. Yuai's eyes grew even wider. "Sanzo! What are you doing?" Goku asked.
"Hakkai get ready to close Gojyo's wound." Sanzo ordered. "Are you nuts!? The target is so small. Its too close to the heart. You're going to end up killing him!" Hakkai exclaimed. "You can't shoot him!" Yuai exclaimed from beside Gojyo.
"I guess I shouldn't miss." Sanzo replied. "I'm a good aim. If he dies then its because he has a weak heart." Sanzo added. Gojyo tried speaking but the pain made his words clipped. "Close that mouth, or you might bite your tongue." Sanzo told Gojyo before he pulled the trigger. Yuai jumped more out of shock that Sanzo had actually shot Gojyo then anything.
Hakkai hurried forward to close the wound. When he was done he sat back. "I think I've closed the wound. He's still unconscious but his pulse is normal." Hakkai said. "That makes one of us." Goku remarked.
Yuai silently agreed with Goku. She was gripping her chest over her heart, her own heart racing as she shook lightly. "This is all my fault, isn't it?" Hakkai remarked. Yuai looked at his back as Sanzo and Goku turned to him too.
"I seem to be the one that Chin Yisou wants so badly." Hakkai added. "That's enough." Sanzo told him. "Its not just you." Sanzo added looking at Yuai who was staring at the ground. "So that's enough." Sanzo added.
"It's not!" Hakkai snapped jumping to his feet. "Shut up!" Sanzo snapped back. "You listen to me!" Hakkai yelled at Sanzo who just grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "Now cool it! If you lose it now that would be exactly what Chin Yisou wants you to do!" Sanzo yelled back.
Yuai on the other hand was still staring at the ground her eyes wide. Her thoughts were racing every which way and she couldn't think straight. She was lost in her own little world and didn't know what to do.
When Goku jumped to his feet Yuai looked up noticing Hakkai had passed out. She was on her feet in a second. "Quickly bring water!" Sanzo told Goku. "Right away! Come on Hakkaryuu!" Goku said taking off to do as told.
"Kokoro go with them." Yuai told the Koken'nin who bounded after Goku. Yuai turned back to Hakkai. "I was wondering why you haven't been getting much sleep lately, friend." Sanzo said more to the unconscious Hakkai then to Yuai.
Sanzo stared at Hakkai's face before his eyes went to Yuai. She was knelling next to him, her eyes on Hakkai's face. She was shaking slightly and she looked like she was close to losing it herself. However Yuai played into all of this, it was clear she was terrified by it and if the girl was scared that much, then whatever it was, it wasn't good.
END
Kyandi: And Yuai's scared.
Yuai: Can you blame me?
Kyandi: Since I know your past…..no.
Yuai: Exactly.
Kyandi: Since I bet you're all dying to know what Yuai has to do with this, we'll move on.
Yuai: Please enjoy and review. And we'll be back shortly.
Kyandi: Bye, bye!