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Chapter 11 – In Her Eyes
Gojyo's shakujou and Tetsuo's bugnuks clash with a loud clang. The pair then leap away from each other, colliding in yet another great clash of metal. Once again they part but this time Gojyo releases the chain of his shakujou, catching Tetsuo off guard. However, skilled as a fighter and with swift hearing, Tetsuo manages to dodge the crescent blade and launches at Gojyo with an attack of his own.
Tetsuo's bugnuks slice into Gojyo's left shoulder, the three claws tearing the skin more so as Gojyo pulls back.
"K-Kisama[1]!" Gojyo growls, looking at his injured arm in disgust, "you'll pay for that!"
Gojyo and Tetsuo charge at each other once again as the real fight begins.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Sanzo-ikkou have made their way down to the cells, as have hordes of youkai.
"Well this is an unforeseen turn of events…" Taisho comments from where he is chained beside you, "for once I have to say it was a good thing that Gojyo was around!"
"I agree," you sigh, focusing on Gojyo's battle.
"Don't worry, _. He'll win, everything will be okay."
"I hope so Taisho, I really do…"
~Sanzo's POV~
The youkai numbers are slowly diminishing as you, Goku and Hakkai fight through them. You are keeping half an eye on _ and Taisho, you don't want anything to happen to her, that'd really piss you off.
You quickly take care of the youkai in your vicinity and head towards the wall that _ is chained to. You are almost there when three youkai block your path, pissing you off further.
"Don't worry about these guys, Sanzo!" Goku tells you, jumping into the fray, "They're mine!"
You nod an understanding to Goku and carry on towards _ only to be sidetracked by another bunch of angry youkai.
"No worries, Sanzo," Hakkai called to you from where he is standing by _ and Taisho, waving a set of keys at you, "I'll have them down in a sec!"
You sigh with relief as Hakkai starts to free your old friend and you continue to blast the youkai…
~Your POV~
Hakkai quickly release you from the chains and you immediately take to fighting. You use your talismans on many of the youkai whilst Taisho uses his fists.
You try to keep half an eye on Gokyo, but it's becoming increasingly difficult with the growing numbers of youkai coming down into the cells. You give up trying to see him and hope that he's okay when an idea comes to you. You reach into the right hand sleeve of your keokogi and pull out a small, thin box. You open the box to reveal two talismans, one of which your brother had used and in doing so became Rikudo, taken from hid body and the other, 'the Hand of Oria'.
The Hand of Oria, the talisman that your brother had given you for protection many years ago. There was only one, one Hand of Oria, your brother had given it to you and had therefore had to use the Curse of Oria, which resulted in the end of his life.
You gulp and activate the Hand of Oria and, for the next few minutes, everything becomes a blur…
~Sanzo's POV~
From out of nowhere, a bright light shines from _ and every youkai she touches disintegrates. Her speed and agility has increased tenfold and she takes the youkai out mercilessly, like a demon herself.
Within minutes, all of the youaki in the room, apart from Tetsuo, Goku, Hakkai and Gojyo (half-demon but nonetheless) are gone, nothing remaining of them but dust on the ground.
At this point, panting heavily, _ falls to her hands and knees, gasping and apparently severely weakened.
"_!" you hear Taisho yell, running over to her, "you idiot! Why did you use the Hand of Oria?"
~Your POV~
"S-Sorry…" you apologise on hearing Taisho's angry exclamation as you take his hand and struggle to your feet, "But it only physically weakens me for a while, there's no lasting effect."
"Wow! That was so cool!" Goku exclaims, running over to you, "How'd you do that?"
"Are you okay Miss _?" Hakkai asked, assisting Taisho in helping you to stand.
"Why'd you take the risk?" Sanzo growls at you, taking a drag on his cigarette.
"Because there were too many of them. It had to be done."
"What about that guy Gojyo's fighting?" Goku questions, "Why didn't you get rid of him too?"
"Because that's not my fight. Gojyo would never forgive me for doing that."
Meanwhile, Gojyo and Tetsuo's fight didn't seem to be getting any easier. Both Gojyo and Tetsuo are covered in injuries and seem to be tiring. However, neither is ready to accept defeat just yet, though their energy levels are at a critical low.
"You ready to surrender yet?" Gojyo growls at Tetsuo cockily.
"Not by a long shot!"
"Cih, yeah right. Tell you what; we're both tiring, let's finish this in one more attack? I'll kill you in this one shot, you got it?"
"One more attack, fine with me. Better say goodbye to your girl before this is all over and you've lost."
"There's no need," Gojyo spits back as the two charge at each other in one, final assault.
You hold your breath as Gojyo and Tetsuo charge, hoping that Gojyo has enough strength left to deal the final bow. Your eyes are intently fixed upon your long time friend, your love and tired as you are, you fail to focus on Tetsuo. You breathe out as Gojyo's shakujou slices straight through the youkai that kidnapped you, from his hip through his chest and out of the opposing shoulder. You feel relieved but wonder why Taisho has just pushed you. However, you believe things can only get better… until Taisho collapses in front of you…
~Gojyo's POV~
You're tiring, you know that and you don't know how much more strength you can muster. Tetsuo turned out to be a much more challenging opponent than you had first thought and you're now regretting your cockiness.
"You ready to surrender yet?" you growl at Tetsuo, still acting cocky in an attempt to look confident.
"Not by a long shot!" his face wears a cruel smirk and his eyes never leave yours.
"Cih, yeah right," you know that _ believes in you and you want to prove her right, you want to show her the man you've become, "Tell you what, we're both tiring, let's finish this in one more attack? I'll kill you in this one shot, you got it?"
"One more attack, fine with me," Tetsuo agrees, his eyes lighting up at the prospect, "Better say goodbye to your girl before this is all over and you've lost."
"There's no need," you hope that you are correct in this statement as you charge at each other.
As you and Tetsuo move into range, the youkai reaches into the breast pocket of his shirt, pulling out a medley of assorted throwing weapons, a sly smile on his face. You raise your shakujou, releasing the crescent blade in a hope to hit Tetsuo before he hits you, only to realise his intentions. As your shakujou starts to slice through his flesh, Tetsuo throws the assortment of weapons behind him… towards _...
You retract your weapon and run forward, only to stop dead at the sight before you… Taisho…
~Your POV~
"Taisho? What's wrong?" you questions, weakly moving towards him. As you draw closer, you see blood seeping out of his lifeless body, "TAISHO?" you yell in panic.
Gojyo is quickly at your side and, with his and Hakkai's help, you turn Taisho over, tears welling up in your eyes at the sight. His body is full of throwing weapons penetrating his arms, legs, neck and torso.
"T-Taisho…" you murmur, moving to your childhood friend's head, "Please speak to me…"
"G-good…" comes a muffled reply as Taisho's eyes open slightly, tears welling in them, "you're okay…"
"Baka[2]! Why?"
"I couldn't think of another way to save you… after using the Hand of Oria all of your senses and reflexes are more or less diminished… you didn't even know that they were coming…"
"Hakkai!" Gojyo requests, "Can you heal him?" Hakkai nods and moves to start healing the wounds, only for Taisho himself to stop him.
"T-They are poisoned… I can feel the poison in my blood… I have no time left…"
"Why? Taisho, why?" you sob, shaking your head in disbelief. How can you be losing your 'best friend'? "Don't leave me Taisho, please!"
"Because I am not a hero… I am not an angel… I am just a man… a man who has always loves you _... Gojyo…" Taisho requests, holding onto your hand.
"Yeh?" Gojyo asks, not sure how to act, he and Taisho were never friends but both felt the same about you. Taisho takes his hand and puts it on top of yours.
"Look after her for me… please…" he begs, tears freely falling down his face and he coughs and blood trickles out of the corner of his mouth, "_, know that I am happy to die like this… that I always wanted to protect you… you have always been there to help me… thank you… I will always l-lo…ve..y…" his words trail off a gurgle as his last breath passes his lips…
Translations:
[1] kisama – bastard
[2] baka - idiot