Date Written: 9/7/05
Word Count: 621
Rating: T
Warnings: Potentially offensive view of religion. Read with caution.
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There were days when the road seemed to stretch into infinity, never-ending, no matter how fast Hakkai drove. The scenery was the same, day in and day out: sand, from horizon to horizon.
So when they did manage to stumble upon a town, it was always a beautiful sight to behold, no matter how run-down or dirt poor it turned out to be. If it had beds, fresh food, and spare water, it was Heaven.
The sun was close to the western horizon when they pulled into the town. The sky was beginning to turn fabulous colors above them, the clouds taking on orange and pink hues.
The townspeople were all gathered in the town's square, but they weren't watching the beautiful scene before them--they were crowding around a handsome young man, not much older than Sanzo, who was standing on a bench and waving a black leather-bound book around. Hakkai stopped the Jeep, the four of them listening to the strong voice.
"...And I submit to you, my brothers and sisters, that we are the Chosen Ones!" he cried, pausing at the crowd's cheer. When it subsided enough, the clergyman continued his sermon.
"And as the Chosen, we have a duty--yes, I said a duty!--to do certain things for Him!"
Hakkai leaned over the steering wheel: This was starting to sound a little too familiar for his taste. Gojyo and Goku had stopped their fight, watching the black-clad man with intent gazes. Only Sanzo wasn't looking at him, his violet gaze hidden under pale eyelids as he puffed on a cigarette.
"We must be God's hands and do His work and wipe the demon race from the face of the Earth!"
Sanzo cracked an eye open to see the shocked look on Goku's face. The other two travelers looked almost sad: They, Gojyo especially, were well aware of bigotry and hatred spread under the guise of religion.
"The demons are the source of all our suffering, the servants of Satan walking among us! As servants of the Lord God, we should take joy in such a task--we shall bathe in their blood as we praise God!"
The cheer from the crowd was deafening. Sanzo just barely heard Hakkai mutter, "Just wait until they become what they hate most."
"And we're the demons," Gojyo agreed, lighting a cigarette behind Sanzo.
Goku was very--almost dangerously--quiet. Sanzo saw confusion and anger warring in the wide golden pools, and the blonde turned to face his young charge.
"It's not worth anger, Goku," he told the boy calmly, tangling a reassuring hand into chocolate brown locks. What the earth spirit needed now was physical contact to placate him. "Nothing we can say or do will ever change their minds. Simply pity their ignorance."
During this exchange, Sanzo and Goku missed the look that passed between Hakkai and Gojyo. The two old friends grinned wickedly at one another.
The half-breed stood up on his seat. Hakkai hit the gas, causing Hakuryuu's engine to roar.
"Hey, dip-shit assholes!"
The crowd turned to stare at the jeepful of demons. They immediately recognized Gojyo's bright red hair and began hurling insults, a few stooping to pick up rocks.
"Please hold on," Hakkai told Sanzo and Goku polite, a hand on the gear shift.
"See ya in Hell, losers!" Gojyo crowed at the mob, raising both middle fingers.
Hakkai quickly shifted gears, his foot pressing the gas all the way to the floorboard. The jeep spun out, rear tires flinging gravel and dust as they sped out of town.
"That was stupid and pointless," Sanzo informed Gojyo.
The redhead shrugged as he sat back down. "It was sure as Hell satisfying, though."
Sanzo, for once, was in agreement with the kappa.
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