Chapter 9: Uh-Oh
Ai sat down at one side of the table and accepted the sake from the waiter. Worriedly, she drank it while pondering over something.
"Yuuki, what's wrong? You are unusually quiet," Hakkai asked. Sanzo's news paper rustled as he set it down. He took out a cigarette and took a puff.
" You wouldn't have left Homura just to come 'see' us, would you?" he said nonchalantly while looking the other way. "Sanzo! Why wouldn't she come just to see us?" Goku asked. "Yeah, we're so close to her and all," Gojou said, one eyebrow raised. Sanzo's hand shook and a vein appeared at the side of his head. "URUSAI! If you've got nothing better to say then just shut up!"
Yuuki laughed. "Aah, I've missed you guys so much. And yes Sanzo, I need your help again." Then she looked downcast.
"Don't worry, you can tell us, " Hakkai said gently.
"Well you see...." Suddenly Yuuki's gasped in horror and doubled over, holding her head.
"Yuuki?! What's wrong?!" Goku, Hakkai and Gojou exclaimed. Sanzo remained expressionless except for an eyebrow which twitched up.
"Urrgh..... itaiii....." she held her head, groaning. Then she suddenly stood up. "My sister!I can't sense her 'ki'!" She swerved unsteadily. Suddenly she fainted. Hakkai caught her just in time before she fell. "Ya-re ya-re, I wonder what's happened to her."
My head hurts. God, it still does. Yuuki slowly opened her eyes. Where am I? she thought. Then out of her blurness, she made out a figure. Someone was sitting beside her. Someone with blond hair. "Sanzo!" she exclaimed sitting up suddenly. "You got to.. oaauuuchhh...."
Sanzo pushed her down. "What happened?" He asked sullenly. "Don't waste my time."
"My sister... her 'ki' disappeared. You've got to help me find her!"
"How?"
"Just do it Sanzo! If you don't...My matchmaking ball prophesied that.. that she will fall in love....."
"So what's wrong with that?"
"You don't understand! It said that she will fall in love... with a youkai!" Yuuki grabbed Sanzo arm sleeve desperately. "I really need you to help me prevent it. For if not...-"
"It's taboo for a goddess to be with a youkai."
"Yes! Daddy will surely kill her! And the youkai... I don't know what they will do! And even now, everywhere's filled with negative energy....."
"And you want me to stop it?"
"Yes, yes, you and Hakkai, and Gojou and Goku! You are the only ones that can help us now! Please! I'm really worried for her...."
"Who will she be falling in love with?"
"Kougaiji! A Youkai prince called Kougaiji, Gyumaoh's son!"
Sanzo staggered back. "What the hell?" Then his eyes narrowed. He turned towards the door, and fired a few shots.
"Yikes!"
"Oww, watch it!"
"Baka zaru, get out of my way!"
"Ahh....!"
Sanzo walked over to the door and pulled it open. Gojou and Goku fell through, looking surprised. Hakkai stood at the doorway, rubbing his head and smiling apologetically. Sanzo clenched his fists, and took out his halisen. "BAKA!" "Itaiii, Sanzo!"
Gojou got up and with a more serious look said, "Are you sure that big ribbon girl is gonna fall in love with that guy?"
"Yes..." Yuuki looked more desperate now. Her body was suddenly surrounded by light.
"Oh no... I have to go... I can't stay long on Earth in my goddess form... and I didn't bring my power-control device." She still looked worried.
"Don't worry. We'll save her." Sanzo's voice came from behind. Yuuki looked at him hopefully.
"Trust me."
Yuuki smiled happily. "Thanks, Sanzo....." She said as she dissappeared.
Gojou looked at Sanzo skeptically. "Trust me? When has our Sanzo-sama became so generous as to offer help?" Sanzo whacked him with the halisen. Goku laughed, "Haha! You got hit and not me this time, ero-kappa!" Sanzo turned and whacked him too. Then he headed downstairs.
"Hakkai, IKU ZO."
"Aah, hai." Hakkai followed him.
Once they were seated in the jeep, Hakkai asked, "Where are we heading to, Sanzo."
"The west."
"The west?!" exclaimed Gojou. "But we're supposed to save Natsumi!"
"Yeah Sanzo, how are we going to do that if you keep on insisting we go west?"
"URUSAI! Just go!"
After a few moments Sanzo said, " I have a feeling we're near Kougaiji's 'palace. And that is also where the resurrection of Gyumaoh is being done."
A few days had passed. Natsumi, having made firm friends with Ririn and Yaone, could be seen always together with Kougaiji. And day by day, Kougaiji found he was falling in love with her. Finally, he decided. I have to send her back or I might end up doing something I'll regret.
Kougaiji called Yaone. "Take care of everything while I'm gone. I have to take Natsumi somewhere." Yaone looked puzzled. "Don't ask me anymore." He walked off. Now where the hell was Natsumi. He walked peering into the rooms he knew Natsumi often went. But she wasn't there. Damn, he cursed.
He passed by Rasetsunyo's shrine, where she was imprisoned. He would've passed it if he hadn't suddenly noticed that the door was ajar. Now who would dare come in here, he thought angrily as he marched in.
He stopped abruptly. There, under a light which shone on Rasetsunyo, was Natsumi. She was on her knees, and with her chin on her hands, was staring up at Rasetsunyo. At that very moment, it dawned on Kougaiji. She's really beautiful. I love her. I can't help it. I do.
Natsumi realized he was there without having to turn around.
"Kou-kun, is this your mother?" she asked softly.
"How-How.. did you know?"
"You look just like her. And you feel like her too. Because, " Natsumi got up and hugged Kougaiji, "Both of you don't have the bad 'ki' I feel around the other youkai. And Yaone, and Dokugakuji too."
Kougaiji shut his eyes, unable to control his emotions which were flowing through. Damn this girl, she just had to do unexpected things like these! And his mother! His mother would know ! She always did. He parted her arms, and said, a little roughly, " Lets get out now."
Natsumi's eyes opened wide. "Where are we going?"
"Back."
"Back?! But I want to stay with her! I WANT TO!" Her shouts and frantically pointed fingers at Rasetsunyo proved fruitless as Kougaiji dragged her out.
"Saa. Now lets go find the people you knew last time." He walked up ahead into the forest.
"Kougaiji what are you talking about? I have only you." Natsumi's eyes brimmed with tears. " You found me, and you took care of me. I won't leave you. Ever."
"Do you know what are you talking about? What about your family! I'm sure they are worried about you, and God knows what they do to me when they find out! (He wasn't kidding about that!). Now be a good girl and come along."
" I WON'T." She sat down obstinately.
Kougaiji sighed. If there was one thing about her that sucked, that was her stubbornness. He walked over to her slowly.
"Okay, Natsumi. Lets just go find them first before you make up your mind okay."
"NO.... ummph!"
Kougaiji kissed her passionately. I love you and I don't want you to leave, he longed to say. But the words couldn't come out. It must never do. What was he doing, taking advantage of a goddess when she didn't know who she was. He released her.
"Lets go, okay?"
Natsumi glanced up at
him. "But you must promise me something first."
"What?"
"Don't leave me."
"I can't do that."
"If you don't I won't budge."
*siggghhh*" If you insist." For he was powerless against her. He
couldn't fight her even if he could.
Natsumi, overjoyed took his hand and skipped up ahead, pulling him along.
"Sanzo!! I'm hungry! We haven't eaten a decent meal in three days!" Goku whined.
" For once, baka zaru is right. I don't want to be a monk so fast, " Gojou complained.
"Don't worry guys, we'll reach somewhere soon." Hakkai reassured them.
Goku drooped. "But by the time we reach there I'll be dead. Sanzooo....!"
"URUSAI!" *WHHACK*
"Itaiii! Sanzo, you're heartless!" Goku held his head in pain.
Suddenly Hakkai stiffened. Sanzo caught a faint rustling in the bushes. Gojou squinted, then said, " Someone's here to greet us."
"Who? Gojou, who?"
"How would I know baka!" He knocked Goku on the head.
The bushes parted. Sanzo held up his gun, ready to shoot. Gojou shouted, "Who's there?"
In front of them, a girl stepped out of the bushes. Tall, slim, and very fair. Uhmmm, she's pretty, Gojou observed. But... wait, hadn't he seen those blue eyes before?
"Natsumi!" he exclaimed. Sanzo narrowed his eyes. "Natsumi, you're safe!" Gojou exclaimed again, jumping off the jeep. He ran towards her.
The girl turned at the sound of her name, but looked puzzled.
"Kou-kun, do I know them?"
Gojou stopped short. What? Kou...what?
Kougaiji stepped out from behind her. He grinned sneakily at them.
Sanzo eyes narrowed till they were just slits.
"What did you do to her?" Sanzo demanded.
"Is that Yuuki's sister? Hi!" Goku waved happily. "Now we can go find food!"
Gojou looked shocked. He was so overjoyed, that he didn't notice it at first. Why, the girl was....
"Why does she have youkai power around her?" Sanzo demanded aiming the gun directly at them.
"I'll explain. But first put down that gun... Sanzo." Kougaiji said.
Kougaiji leaned against the jeep and began telling everything. Natsumi, bored, quickly made friends with Goku and both of them went off hunting for food in the forest.
"Are you making this up, youkai?" Gojou asked after Kougaiji finished telling his tale.
"Believe it or not. I've just came to return her to you."
" I still don't believe you." Sanzo took out a cigarette.
"It's the truth. I'm going now." Kougaiji said remaining expressionless.
"Are we going already, Kou-kun! Me and Goku just caught three lucky chickens! Can't we stay and eat?" Natsumi came into view holding one chicken.
Goku followed behind. "You should have seen her, Sanzo! She caught all three chickens at one time with her rope! It was THAT fast!" he exclaimed.
Kougaiji turned sadly. "I have to go, Natsumi. You're following them back. To where your family are."
Natsumi dropped the
chicken in shock. "You promised! Are you going to break your promise!"
"I'm sorry." Kougaiji walked off.
Natsumi was about to run after him when Gojou put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. He shook his head. Natsumi became angry. Who was this complete stranger who told her what to do. I only want Kougaiji, she told herself.
"Kou-kun, you proMISED ME!" Her last words were as loud as thunder, and her eyes suddenly begin to shine dangerously. The power and wind surrounding her pushed Gojou off balance. "What the hell...!" he cried out.
A change came over Natsumi. "You promised me you won't leave me! Why did you have to break it?" she said. The power, youkai power around her grew enormously.
Shit! Kougaiji knocked himself. All these days, he had noticed the power he had given her was growing, but he didn't take it back. If she united with the power... well he just had to stop it!
Kougaiji walked slowly to her, holding out his hand.
"It's okay, Natsumi. Now calm down, and hand me your hand."
"You're leaving me and you still want to pretend all this! I LOVED YOU, Kougaiji, but you betrayed me!" Her power grew again, nearly knocking Kougaiji off.
Damn! He didn't know his power would grow that strong on her! I love you too, much more than you ever know, he wanted to cry out. If he did that, it would be okay, they could go back to the palace and leave happily ever after and nothing would come between them..... but for how long? He couldn't bear to think of the consequences if they were found out.
Natsumi was being enveloped in a tornado wind. Is this me? she thought to herself. Is this really me? I can't control myself anymore. The power, is taking over. Oh Kou-kun, why couldn't you have just told me you loved me too? Then I won't be this way..... If I let this power take over me, I won't know anyone again. I'll be left alone again. Left alone... again? What?
"Almighty Staff!" A long stick appeared. "Yuuki-chan, I hate to do this but.... !"
In her half-conscious mind, she turned.
"Hahaha, you can't stop me, you puny thing!" She let out a burst of power. Goku flew back and hit into Hakkai with great impact. "Ouff!"
"No one can stop me!" No this wasn't her voice. No, I can't let this power take over me. NO! Natsumi cried out silently, please! Someone! Help me!
Sanzo started. He heard something. A faint, very faint voice. It called, help me. Could it be? No, he wasn't sure. He could try. He turned to the other three.
"Hakkai, do you know what's causing this?"
Hakkai frowned. "I can't seem to find out. There's nothing..."
Kougaiji, who was rooted to the spot, suddenly said, "Her necklace! I gave her the necklace to keep the youkai power in!"
"I'll stop her, and you three, destroy that necklace."
Sanzo started chanting.
Natsumi half conscious mind heard the chanting. Her power grew again. No.... stop it... stop chanting! she cried out silently. I can't control myself like that.. no!
Sanzo's sutra came flying towards her. At the same time, Hakkai, Gojou, and Goku used their weapons, each trying to destroy the necklace.
Alas! The power wrapped itself around Natsumi fully, and united with her. Natsumi had lost her consciousness. She knocked back their weapons, even Sanzo's sutra easily.
All of them gasped in
shock! The first time, Sanzo's sutra couldn't work?!
"Shit."
Kougaiji stared in horror. Out of the mist, stepped Natsumi, but she now had long youkai's ears, and the claws. Her mouth was twisted into a wicked smile, fangs stuck out from either side of her mouth, gleaming brightly.