I have some very interesting news. I'm starting my own web site that should be up within the next week or so. It is an archive of my stories, fan art, and some other things. At the moment it has the first chapter of Oh Sister Where Art Thou? Some info on upcoming stories, and a character bio for Takara along with a picture. As I said I hope to have it up in the next week…so there will be more info the next time I update.
Disclaimer: Nope I still don't own Saiyuki. Oh well I do own Ai Takara though and would appreciate you asking before you use her. Kay?
Chapter 13: Unwanted Proposal
Last time on Saiyuki:
"Very well, you see this village has a very special blessing on it. Hundreds of years ago a plague killed all the women in the village. When the villagers prayed to the Goddess of the Heavens she granted the village a blessing. That all women that passed through this village that are twenty one or older and unmarried must marry within three days or they will parish." The man said quietly hanging his head. As the five companions stood staring at the man.
"So you're telling me that I have to get married in three days or I'm going to die?" Takara asked in shock. "Yes, the blessing causes the body to age rapidly." The man said quietly. "What if we just leave this god forsaken village?" Gojyo asked his voice rising in anger as he clenched his fists. "I'm afraid that it will have no effect. The blessing will still run its course." The man said turning back to look at Takara. "So she doesn't have much of a choice." Hakkai stated from where he'd been setting listening to the whole conversation.
"I'm afraid not. Though we do have several eligible bachelors here in the town." The man said giving Takara a large hinting smile. He gulped when he noticed the dirty looks he was getting from the other three. "Very well, since this is an unusual case seeing that you are accompanied by male companions. One of them may if they choose." He said looking at Sanzo who glared at him. "I'm not marrying my sister." He said slowly giving the man a dirty look. "Ok, three then." The man said looking over at Goku sweet dropping at seeing the young boy passed out on the floor. "Alright make that two." The man said looking between Hakkai and Gojyo.
Takara sat her hugging her knees to her chest as tears flowed down her cheeks. How could this be happening? She thought as she rested her head on her folded arms.
Gojyo stood still leaning against the wall a thoughtful look on his face. He sighed as he closed his eyes and pushed himself off the wall and looked at Takara. "I'll do it."
Gojyo looked at Takara who was sobbing into her arms. "I'll do it." His eyes grew wide as did his other two companions as they heard the quiet voice from the chair beside the bed. They all looked a Hakkai who was setting with his eyes closed and his head bowed. "Excuse me?" The man asked looking at him. "I said I'll do it." Hakkai stated once more opening his eyes and looking at the man.
Takara who'd been setting with her head down suddenly looked up at Hakkai who turned his head and gave her a small smile. Despite the distant look in his eyes. Takara reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand before returning the smile.
"Alright! Very good." The man said drawing their attention back to him. "If you would sir I'd like to speak with you. About the ceremony." The man said motioning for Hakkai and the other men to follow him. Takara watched as they left the room.
She sighed as she rested her head once again on her arms. So many things had happened so fast. First she'd nearly left because of Kouryuu, and then she'd discovered she had to get married within three days or die, and now she was marrying Hakkai. She shook her head, way to much for one day. She winced as she moved the ache in her muscles making its Self known. A small smile slowly formed as the last part of the day slowly clicked in her mind. She was marrying Hakkai. She shook her head again wincing at the motion. No she wouldn't think about it. She knew that he'd volunteered, but that didn't necessarily mean he cared for her in that way. He may have done it just to save her from the fate of marrying a complete and total stranger, or worse marrying Gojyo. She shuddered at the thought.
Voices from outside her door drew her attention. She sighed looking at the door. Other than the whole ordeal that had just taken place there was something else weighing on her mind. She wanted to talk to Kouryuu about the fight they'd had earlier. She knew it wouldn't get her anywhere, but there was no harm in trying to talk to her brother. Sighing again and wincing as she moved she slowly climbed out of bed and made her way to the door. She paused when she once again heard the voices on the other side recognizing them as Hakkai's and Gojyo's. Quietly she opened the door and listened to their conversation.
-
Hakkai and Gojyo are seen standing in the hall Gojyo leaning on the wall opposite of Takara's room a cigarette in his mouth. Hakkai is standing a little further down the hall a look of deep thought on his face. "It's kinda surprising." Gojyo commented as he blew out smoke. "Hmmm?" Hakkai answered absently not looking at him. "I mean we all figured you liked her, but marrying her? It's just a little surprisings all." Gojyo stated as he flicked the butt of his cigarette away. Hakkai sighed as he looked at his friend. "You're wrong Gojyo." He said quietly shaking his head as Gojyo gave him a puzzled look. "I'm not doing because I like her. I'm doing it as a favor to a friend." He stated simply as he turned to walk away.
"Fine, say what you want. But the thing is Hakkai, you may be able to fool your self and your heart; but you can't fool the rest of us." Gojyo said quietly as Hakkai paused and looked at him over his shoulder. "You need to tell her, before it's too late." Gojyo said as he walked by his friend. "Trust me I should know." Gojyo whispered a hint of sadness in his voice as he continued on to his room.
Takara sat her back against the door as she sobbed. She'd stopped listening when she'd heard Hakkai say that this was a favor to a friend. She'd sort of figured that was the reason, but deep down inside she'd hoped that may be he really did care for her. She sighed as she leant her head back on the door. She'd been crazy to hope for such things. A sudden realization hit her. Here she was once again being selfish. Just like she'd been for wanting to live and costing all those people their lives. Here she was about to do something that would once again cost someone something, and not just someone but someone she cared about whether he did or not.
Quietly and painfully she stood up and grabbed her pack. She'd rather die then go do it again.
Hakkai is seen setting at the empty bar his hands knitted as he rested his forehead on his fingers and stared down into the half drunk glass of wine setting on the bar. For some reason he couldn't get what Gojyo had said out of his head. Did he really care for Takara more than a friend? He sighed as he thought. His feelings where so jumbled up. Every time he thought of the subject a picture of Kanan would run through his mind. He'd vowed never to love anyone again, and he'd built up a wall around his heart. But now he knew even if he couldn't admit it that that wall had been breached.
And that was what he felt the most pain over. Because deep down inside he felt as if he'd betrayed Kanan. That he'd failed that last promise he'd made her. And that was why he was having these thoughts as he sat at the bar.
Takara winced as she descended the stairs, her pack slung painfully over her shoulder. She paused at the door as she reached for the door knob. She sighed as she held back more tears as she once again reached for it. Her stomach suddenly growled making her stop and sigh anime style as she hung her head. Maybe a last minute snack wouldn't hurt. She thought as she placed her bag at the bottom of the stairs and headed to the bar.
Takara yawned as she entered the bar and sighed at finding it deserted. So much for her snack. She sighed again as she turned to leave stopping when she noticed the lone person setting at the bar. Tears came to her eyes as she recognized Hakkai setting at the bar in his black under shirt and normal pants. She once again turned to leave but stopped when she noticed the way he was setting like he was in deep thought or confusion. She sighed as she looked to the roof. "Damn my conscience." She muttered as she approached the bar.
Hakkai was deep in thought when he noticed Takara climb on to the bar stool next to him on the left. He noted the look of pain on her face as she climbed up onto the stool. He sighed as he felt a small tinge at seeing the pain on her face, but the tinge was quickly replaced as an image of Kanan went through his mind.
The two sat in silence for several minutes before Takara spoke.
"Hakkai? Can I ask you something?" She asked quietly looking down at the bar. "Yes," He said repositioning his head to look at her. "Why do I have to be so selfish?" She asked still not looking at him. Hakkai furrowed his brows in confusion. "What do you mean?" He asked as she turned to look at him tears brimming in her eyes. "Why is it that so many have had to give up their lives or something else for me to live?" She asked as the tears began to flow down her cheeks.
Hakkai felt the tinge again as he watched the tears flow down her cheeks. "I don't think you're selfish for wanting to live. And I think that everyone who gave up something for you to live did it because they want you to live." He said quietly as she tried to regain control of her voice. "Your right." She said her head still down. He gave her a small smile.
"But this time, I'm not going to feel like I am." She said quietly wiping tears from her eyes. Hakkai narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. "You don't have to worry about the weeding. I won't be here." She said looking at him her red eyes burning in the dim light.
"What do you mean?" Hakkai asked not liking were this conversation was going. "I'm leaving." She said simply looking back down at the bar. "You're leaving? But what about the curse? If you leave you'll die." He said placing his hands on the bar and looking at her. He blinked when she suddenly slammed her hands on the bar. "What does it matter?" She yelled as tears fell from her eyes. "Kouryuu doesn't care whether I live or die, Gojyo and Goku I just don't know about…" She yelled as she climbed off the bar stool and stood next to him. "And I know that you don't care." She cried as she turned and began to walk away.
Hakkai reacted quickly when he noticed her turning to walk away. As she turned he reached over and grabbed her wrist. He wasn't surprised when she whirled around her other hand raised to slap him, deftly he caught her other wrist and held them in front of her as she tried to pull away tears still pouring down her cheeks. After a few minutes she stopped struggling and stood her head down as she sobbed. Hakkai still sat on the bar stool holding her wrists.
"Takara listen to me." He said quietly as he stood still holding her wrists. "Your wrong Sanzo does care for you, more than you realize he just doesn't know how to show it." He said loosing his grip oh her wrists. "Goku loves you to death; you're like the sister he never knew. And Gojyo despite his nature cares more about you than he lets on." He said as he let go of her wrists and placed his hands on her shoulders. "But the one thing I don't ever want to hear you say is that I don't care about you." He said firmly gently shaking her shoulders. Takara's eyes grew wide as she looked up at him. "I care more about you than you'll ever know." He said not realizing what he'd just said. His eyes grew wide when it hit him.
Takara stood still looking up at him as more tears fell from her eyes as she placed her hands and head on his chest and began to sob. Hakkai stood a stunned look on his face before giving a small smile as he hugged her and gently stroked her hair.
(Please forgive me Kanan.) He thought quietly as Takara stopped crying and looked up at him. "Come on, we need to get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be crazy. He said giving her a small smile as they left the bar.
Houto Palace, India
Kougaiji can be seen looking out the balcony towards the west. "Lord Kougaiji?" Came Yaone's gentle voice as she walked into his chambers. "Yes?" He asked not turning around to look at her. "I'm sorry, My Lord. But it's late I was wondering what is troubling you." She said as she walked out on to the balcony and stood beside him.
Kougaiji sighed as he looked down at her. "I'm just thinking about how we can get the Maten Scripture." He admitted turning his head to look back to the mountains. "But My Lord, if we get the other scripture won't that put Lady Lirin in danger?" Yaone asked looking at the demon prince in shock. "Not if we get it first. If we do, perhaps we can talk them into a different way of doing the rejuvenation process." He stated crossing his arms as Yaone rolled her eyes.
"But how do you plan on retrieving it from Sanzo and his party?" Yaone asked worry in her voice. "You did say that the female half breed is Sanzo's sister. Right? Maybe he'd be persuaded if we take her." Kougaiji said smirking at his idea. He was surprised when something hit him across the face. Slowly he reached up and rubbed his cheek as he looked down at Yaone who still had her hand raised.
"Have you forgotten your place?" He snapped as she lowered her hand. "No, but I won't allow you to go about that course of action." She said sternly her eyes blazing. "And why not?" He questioned still rubbing his cheek. "Because think of how you'd feel if someone took Lirin, do you honestly want that?" She yelled at him as what she said sunk in Kougaiji sighed as he looked back towards the mountains. "Your right, we'll just think of another plan." He said quietly blinking when he heard sobbing from next to him.
He turned to find Yaone setting on the floor sobbing with her hands over her face. Slowly he kneeled down in front of her. "Yaone? What's the matter?" He asked waiting for her to put down her hands. "I'm sorry my Lord, I should not have hit you." She sobbed as she removed her hands tears still falling.
She blinked when she felt a gentle clawed finger wipe away a tear. "It's alright. I deserved it." He said giving her a small smile witch made her blush. "M…My Lord?" She asked. "Besides I could never be angry with you." He said as he lifted her chin and gently kissed her lips.
Yaone's eyes went wide with shock before he pulled back. "I'm sorry. I made a promise that you'd be nothing more to me than my apothecary. And intend to keep that promise." He said looking away from her. "Kougaiji?" She asked quietly his eyes widening when he noticed that the normal title was gone.
"That promise means nothing to me. The promise I made to follow you means everything to me, and it always will. The same as I will always love you, no matter what you say." She said quietly smiling at him as he thought for a moment. "Alright then I will make a new promise to you, no matter what that I will always love and follow you until the ends of the earth." He said as he gently took her hand and pulled her to her feet. As the two looked out towards the mountains hand in hand.
Well that's it for chapter 13. I hope Kougaiji wasn't to out of character, I think he was. But this scene turned out cute none the less. And Yay Takara doesn't have to marry Gojyo. Though after watching Requiem and seeing how sarcastic Hakkai can be…well.
And once again thank you to everyone who reviewed. The next chapter will be longer I promise. And I will have more info on my website in the next chapter.
Preview to next chapter: Hey Goku here! You don't want to miss the next episode of Saiyuki. It's wedding time in the village. Unfortunately in this village a wedding is a big deal, and that means lots of preparations, and one very cranky Takara. Also a few uninvited guests drop in and add to the mayhem. Next Time on Saiyuki: Wedding Disaster.
Until Next Time. Happy Trails.
Dragongirl4