Chapter 25
Sanzo scanned the office, surprised and relieved to find Hakkai sitting there. After a fruitless discussion with the captain's secretary—who, at the moment, babbled excuses and still tugged at his arm—it was an unexpected bonus to see with his own eyes at least one of his missing demons. He had been anticipating a long, tortuous battle before any kind of access to the prisoners was granted.
"I'm so sorry, Wu Tai-sama!" the secretary whined, trying to push Sanzo back to the corridor. "This monk listens to nobody! I've told him that you were busy, several times, and that your shift was past over… I tried to tell him that he must make an appointment, but—Eng Ho, help me here, you idiot!"
With a quick movement, Sanzo jerked his arm free, putting some distance between himself and the two men who hounded him. "Where's Gojyo?"
Hakkai merely sent him a silent warning.
"I told this foreigner you were busy, Captain!" the secretary kept ranting, ready to pounce again. "I'm so sorry for this! Now, Eng Ho, what are you doing just standing there?"
Wu Tai put a merciful end to the noise. "It's all right, Lieutenant. You and Private Eng can go."
The secretary hesitated, then bowed and went to the corridor, Eng Ho following him out. There was a glimpse of several armed men gathered there, craning their necks to look inside, before the door was closed.
Sanzo straightened his breastplate, looked at Hakkai—wounded and clearly unwell, swaying in his chair as if struggling to avoid slipping to the floor—and turned to the man at the desk, barely containing his anger. "Captain Wu Tai. You're in charge here, aren't you?"
Wu Tai stood up and bowed. "Sanzo-sama. Yes, I'm the superior officer of this district."
"So," Sanzo remarked dryly, "could you explain to me the meaning of this absurd situation? I entered your town to rest from a long journey—I'm on a quest for Kanzeon Bosatsu—and now, in the middle of the night, I have to roam streets and rummage through prisons. Under what charges are you keeping my servants in custody? Wrong eye color? Passing through a door? Going to a park? The goddess herself chose the men with whom I travel, Captain." He paused and pointed a finger at Hakkai. "Is this your example of welcome to someone who daily risks his own life to bring peace to our land?"
"Sanzo-sama, first things first," Wu Tai said tersely, sitting again. "Why don't you take a seat—"
"No, Captain, I prefer to stand. Where's the other one? The … youkai?"
"We shared a cell upon arriving here," Hakkai answered, his voice dull. "Gojyo is still there. Please, Wu Tai-sama, can't you send for him? As I said, he—"
"Cho Hakkai-san, I won't bring a youkai to my office," Wu Tai interrupted. "As for you, monk, better mind your manners, or you will be giving your demon company."
"My manners?" Sanzo repeated in his best upper-class tone. "It's you who owes me an apology. I won't—"
"Captain, I thought we had reached an understanding?" Hakkai intruded again, not even bothering to hide his misery.
"Yes, one regarding you, not your demon," Wu Tai replied. "My duty is to put that thing in chains to stop it from causing trouble."
Sanzo coughed to disguise a snort of derision. That would be a good way of keeping Gojyo out of trouble, indeed. He should be the one shackling the damned kappa.
The image sent a spasm to his groin, immediately killing any hilarity caused by Wu Tai's words. He balled his fists, exasperated with his thoughts' recently acquired tendency of going round and round that one and only subject countless times a day; then, sensing the weight of Hakkai's glare, shifted his attention back to his teammate. Something lurked in Hakkai's bloodshot eye, something that Sanzo had never seen directed at himselfbefore.
Disappointment.
And doubt.
Stunned, Sanzo ran his fingers through his bangs. Also, it was not like Hakkai to butt into a discussion he was leading, was it? He lowered his head, feeling offended and ashamed when realization dawned. You don't know if you can count on me to help you in this situation, right? he mutely asked. You need me, and Gojyo needs me, and you aren't sure that I won't make things worse charging around like a bull in a china shop. Fuck, Hakkai, give me some credit!
But he did not deserve any, did he? What had he done so far?
"I have some reports here, Sanzo-sama," Wu Tai said, "if you wish to take a look."
Sanzo released the breath he had been holding. Then, mind purposefully blank, purposefully empty, he closed the distance to the captain's desk, focusing on the only item exposed to view in an otherwise barren room.
A sword.
The scabbard was magnificent, very old, and clearly not just an ornament. More like … an heirloom.
Think! Did Wu Tai have a gun in his belt?
No. And if a blade was the captain's chosen weapon… If he carried a sword when his people had firearms… That might speak volumes about the man.
Would not guns appear as a coward's toy to a die-hard warrior? Where was the honor or the skill in aiming a weapon at an enemy and pulling the trigger? Yes, it was simple to kill like that; all the mastery one needed was a nervous finger ready to move—even a child would be able to destroy the most accomplished fighter. And it was possible to do that at a safe distance, too; a man would not have to look in his opponent's eyes or pit his physical strength and expertise against his. So it was impersonal. It was life cheapened to its lowest level. Sanzo did not feel such pangs concerning his own gun, but he could understand.
Was this the key to Wu Tai?
"Captain," Sanzo temporized, feeling calmer, "let's be reasonable here. I was told that I have three days to get some kind of pass for the youkai, or he'll be executed." A gasp from Hakkai's direction. Didn't you know this? Good for you or your evening would have been even shittier. "Now, I don't have three days to spare in a mad chase for a piece of paper authorized with some idiot's signature. I'm a man of action, Captain. And what's a piece of paper compared to a man's word, a man's honor? I don't trust bureaucrats." Sanzo took his documents from an inner pocket and dropped them on Wu Tai's desk. "I, too, have papers, Captain—letters signed by several authorities, attesting to my story. If you wish to deal with papers and signatures."
Wu Tai shook his head. "I don't trust bureaucrats, either, Sanzo-sama, but—"
"So, let's resolve this little problem here, between us, Captain. Like men."
Silence.
Wu Tai took Sanzo's folded papers but did not read them. Sanzo pressed his advantage. "Wu Tai-sama, people are dying out there because I haven't attained my objective yet. I can't abandon my holy mission like that; I can't waste three days. Every single hour is important. Innocents are dying. I have this on my conscience; do you want to have their deaths on yours, too?"
"Sanzo-sama, I understand that you—"
"I knew you would understand, Captain," Sanzo said softly. "We are very much alike."
Wu Tai smiled and offered a chair again.
o o o
Hakkai blocked their voices and leaned back in his chair. Like Sanzo, he had perceived this possible way of dealing with the captain as soon as he had spotted the sword on its shelf—in fact, he had been wondering how he would be able to tip Sanzo off about it. Fortunately, his human was very observant.
A full-fledged migraine was making it difficult to keep his eyes open in such harsh light. He wanted to rub his temples, his forehead, his very brain, but it was impossible to use his hands. Gods, he just wanted to get out of this town, Sanzo and Gojyo and Goku by his side. He wanted to feel Hakuryu's heart beating against his neck. He had had enough of these people's bigotry; he didn't want to hear their dirty comments anymore. Or their laughter.
"It's not only a matter of observing petty laws, Sanzo-sama," Wu Tai protested, tapping his desk with a finger. "These reports—"
"Captain," Sanzo replied, "as I told you, I don't care about papers. Why should we…"
Hakkai drifted, his chi still focused on Wu Tai. The man believed their story and did not want to get in their way. He would let them go, eventually; but first they would have to carry out a long, complicated act of verbal sparring—a theater to appease his sense of duty. If Sanzo played his part as he was expected to, counterattacking the token objections, Wu Tai would allow himself to be convinced. He had serious qualms about some of the directives he was obliged to follow, Hakkai could tell. The captain's goodwill was not limitless, though; the word 'youkai,' and all the connotations it implied in such a racist environment, was becoming a determining factor in his recalcitrance. Sanzo had also noticed that and had begun referring to Gojyo by name or as 'my servant.'
Yes, Sanzo was now doing a good job, despite his untactful beginning. And it was so soothing to have their leader back, in all his aloof rationality…
"Captain, we didn't know about your rules," Sanzo was arguing patiently. "How can you condemn someone…"
From the barred window, the fresh breeze kept coming, ruffling Hakkai's hair.
Very soothing, indeed…
And he wanted to be outside, on the road, under the stars, feeling this caress…
"Sanzo-sama, you know it's not that simple!"
Hakkai jumped, startled; he had dozed for … seconds? minutes? And how could he have slept with such a hammer inside his skull?
What's the matter with you? he chided himself. Think of Gojyo in that cell, while you're here, sleeping!
He tried to concentrate, to understand what was being said. As if from a long distance, he saw Sanzo shaking his head, Sanzo mouthing words he could no longer hear. He saw Wu Tai soundlessly answering them, or trying to. It was like watching a scene from under water. He struggled to stay afloat, but his eyelids were so, so heavy…
"I'm claiming this area as my territory. Hakuryu can go and find himself another chest to cuddle up with."
That voice…
"Gojyo?" he whispered. He felt a weight on his chest and looked down. Gojyo was once again resting against his body. Surprised, Hakkai reached up to stroke his hair. It flowed through his fingers like silk, like water. So beautiful! He loved that red hair—that tabooed symbol of bad luck. "Gojyo, how did you get here? I was—oh, never mind. I'm so tired; we can talk later." He regretted the words as soon as he voiced them; Gojyo already had a lot to worry about.
There was noise nearby—noise of unsettled horses and rusty, screeching sounds of wheels. And how strange it was, to have all this in their little cell! No, stable, they were in a stable…He was going to ask Gojyo if he knew what was happening, but his petting hand plunged into a viscous warm liquid and he recoiled. "What is this?" he asked, appalled. "Is this blood? Gojyo? Is this your blood?"
Gojyo tilted his face up to him, and there were only two empty sockets where the red eyes should have been.
Hakkai woke. And froze.
Gojyo?
The pantomime between Sanzo and the captain was becoming more incensed.
Gojyo?
He straightened in his chair, feeling the alert thrumming in the air: Danger.
Twisting his hands against his bindings, Hakkai moaned.
Gojyo is in danger. Gojyo is in danger. Gojyo—
"…that's a big favor you're asking of me, Sanzo-sama." Wu Tai's voice suddenly broke in, half-drowned by the thundering of Hakkai's heart.
"It isn't a favor, Wu Tai-sama," Sanzo answered. "I'm merely asking you to do what your conscience knows is right."
Gojyo. In danger. Gojyo. In danger. Gojyo—
Hakkai tore open his wrists on the unyielding rope. His senses were so expanded now that he could hear the drops of his own blood falling onto the floor. Each one intoning the same warning:
Gojyo. Danger. Gojyo. Danger—
He looked at the closed door, vision swimming. Trapped. They were trapped. There were armed soldiers outside this office. He wanted to yell, to call Sanzo, but he could not, the atrocious throbbing in his head sending him into a paroxysm of impotence and pain.
And Gojyo…
Gojyo was in danger!
Suddenly, Hakkai launched himself forward and slammed what he could gather of his coherent mind against the captain's, seizing it. Wu Tai jerked in his chair, then grew totally still, eyes fixed and glazed as if he had suffered a stroke. Send for Gojyo, Hakkai projected at him. He's free. And then you'll let us go. Away from this prison. Away from this town. You'll let us go. You. Will. Let. Us. Go.
"What the fuck are you doing, Hakkai?" Sanzo demanded.
Hakkai ignored him. Wu Tai rose with jerky movements, went to the door, opened it, and called his secretary.
"Hakkai? Answer me, damn it! I won't—" Sanzo broke off when the captain's secretary appeared at the door. Hakkai felt his legs buckling under him, felt himself falling, but that was not important. His numb body was not important. Only the other's body was important, the one that had to speak now and give orders. Steady hands on his shoulders—Sanzo's?—eased him to the floor.
"Send for the youkai," Hakkai murmured and, to his relief, Wu Tai spoke out those very words. Above him, Sanzo gasped in shocked surprised. "Everything was a misunderstanding," Hakkai went on. And so did Wu Tai. "I'm going to set the foreigners free."
"Captain?" the secretary rasped, lowering his voice further. And Hakkai knew he was also hearing his words through Wu Tai. "Sir, are you sure? Last time—"
"Do as I say," Hakkai whispered back and Wu Tai repeated the order aloud. "It's late, and everybody is tired and wanting to go home. I want to go home."
"I—yes, sir."
Hakkai commanded Wu Tai to close the door. The captain, Hakkai knew/felt, had now his lips parted in a mute scream. From Sanzo's distracting touch came questions and half-formed accusations about his rash act. And concern. Hakkai tried to push Sanzo away, his request to be left alone coming out as a pathetic whimper. He was also shaking as if he was having a seizure.
Sanzo seemed to have understood that he did not want physical contact and withdrew after untying his wrists. There was a knock on the door and, drenched in sweat, Hakkai struggled to his knees.
Answer it, he commanded Wu Tai.
Uncoordinatedly, the captain opened the door. Hakkai squinted, seeing the scene bizarrely through his and the human's eyes. The secretary and more than a few soldiers hovered there, though only one tall man stepped into the room with a harassed expression.
"Captain," the tall one said, "I don't know how to explain this, but—sir, the prisoner is no longer here. It seems that Sergeant Chen Dan decided to transfer it to the Anthill of his own accord."
Through his connection with Wu Tai, Hakkai caught an idea of what that meant, what was synonymous with that strange name: death.
Death. Death. Death DEATH DEATH DEATH—
"I saw them going, sir," the tall soldier continued. "I even went with the sergeant to the cell. I thought you had ordered the thing away. I realized what had happened only when Fei Ru-sama told us that you sent for the creature."
Wu Tai began fighting Hakkai's control, really fighting, and Hakkai sobbed, afflicted. He would not be able to maintain his hold. The human was slipping away. Slipping…
"Captain? Are you all right, sir?"
Despair. Such undiluted, total despair, and Hakkai's head was exploding now, in a blast of excruciating, white-hot pain. He gasped once, rolling up his eyes and pitching forward with a last mental scream: Gojyo!
o o o
Kneeling by an unconscious Hakkai, Sanzo stared at Wu Tai. The man stood motionless, red-faced, eyes burning with fury.
"Captain? Wu Tai-sama?" Fei Ru entered the room, elbowing Zhou Jun aside. "Sir, what is going on here?" Behind him, the soldiers were already drawing their guns. "Captain?"
Sanzo locked his eyes with Zhou Jun's—who nodded at him, smirking.
"Sir, do you need to sit? Eng Ho, bring him water! Quick!"
Sanzo pulled Hakkai to his arms. It was over. And he wanted to howl in frustration. If he were also in a cell, how could he go after Gojyo's papers? And Hakkai… Buddha, what would happen to Hakkai after such a stunt?
"What have these foreigners done to you, sir?"
"Damned youkai lovers!"
From the direction of the door came the click of several guns being cocked.
Sanzo tightened his arms around Hakkai, shielding him with his body in case the captain gave the order to shoot, and closed his eyes. And as he waited for the bullets, waited for pain and for death, a part of his mind still reeled, still planned, denying this nightmare, seeking a way out of the treacherous maze that had ensnared his team and threatened to devour them all.
End of Part I