Chapter Twelve: Once More
A/N: This chapter isn't as interesting as the last one. If you think Gyumao's mean by treating his subordinates like that, I've got more. Most of the action parts are inspired by ShadowD who wrote 'Time Trax' in the Gatekeeper section. (Okay, I admit it. I borrowed some of his ideas and I don not own them.)
To Ruby: Sumimasen. *bows* I'm not so good at these things. And in all the romance stories I've ever read, this idea had to come up. -_- Trust me, I don't like what I wrote in that story either. Help. You can write the part that you're typing about and use the review button to send it over. If I can't do it, please show me. The next one should be about when they're all back in Heaven and I can squeeze in your part. ^-^
To Vermillion: Thanks a bunch!!! ^.^ All I have to do now is find something that will teach me HTML......
Arigatou for all the reviews minna-san! ^-^ v
Disclaimer: My wish for X'mas is... LET ME OWN SAIYUKI!!!! *nothing happens besides the fact that the police come to arrest me for being caught in the act of trying to illegally gain copyrighted property*
By: Yamamoto Kou
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Haku: *hands Yoane some bombs she can use*
Yoane: Arigatou Haku-san. *puts them where all-things-that-appear-out-of- nowhere-and-disappears-out-of-nowhere-sort-of-place*
Hakkai: We'd better get going now. ^ ^
Lirin: Baldie Sanzo!!!! *jumps onto Sanzo (again)*
Sanzo: GET OFF ME!!!!!! *struggles to get Lirin off (again)*
Hakkai: Maa, maa. ^ ^ *tries to coax Lirin off (again)*
Nataku: Yare, yare. *shakes head and continues to try to pull Lirin off (again)*
Yoane/Doku: *sweat dropped before helping*
Gojyo: Sanzo's girlfriend is really persistent. I wonder how long it'll be before Sanzo gets engaged- *numerous bullets whizzed past his ear* Fine. *helps with Lirin*
Haku: *shakes his head and goes forward away from the bullet and harisen range*
Komyo: *suddenly appears* Haku! There's something bad going to happen.
Haku: Nani?
Komyo: I followed that impostor. And he's received the Hex Sign.
Haku: *looks seriously at Komyo* THE Hex Sign? So the Emperor is still out there...
Komyo: Yes. That means the Emperor is preparing to rise again.
Haku: Has there been any sign of the Queen?
Komyo: Not yet. Until then, we can safely say that he's not coming too soon. Haku: You might as well try to look out for him. Tell me if you find more.
Komyo: Hai. *disappears*
Haku: *turns to see the others grabbing Lirin to keep her from jumping up again*
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Gyumao picked up his sword and slashed the dogs. He made sure they were dead. He killed every single centipede he could muster and destroyed them too. He started summoning more powerful things and kills them. He then rested himself for the coming event.
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Hakkai: Ano... there's something wrong here.
Yoane: What is it Hakkai-san?
Sanzo: Nothing's happened.
Doku: Nothing attacked us.
Yoane: Sou ka. You mean those centipede thongs right?
Gojyo: Sou. *looks around*
Lirin: Maybe he's afraid that we can get stronger by using them for exercise.
Haku: Iie. [He's got something in mind. He could be using them for some strengthening purposes. But what?]
Hakkai: *looked down* Huh? *bent down to touch the ground* There's very little sand here. There's only hard, dried ground.
Nataku: *bent down and touches the ground as well* Your right.
Haku: *scanning through his mind for the strongest strengthening spell that Gyumao might use*
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Gyumao went into the dungeon to get the bait. His own son was chained tightly to the wall. Kougaiji is still bleeding and sweating from the blows that were given to him this morning. He glared at his father whose approaching him with half closed eyes.
Gyumao released the chains. Kougaiji could hardly stand and was panting. He dropped to the ground on his knees.
Gyumao: Get up.
Kou: *tried to stand but he was too shaky and weak so he fell back down to the ground*
Gyumao: Get up!
Kou: *tried again but failed*
Gyumao: I SAID GET UP NOW!!!!! *takes a nearby whip and starts lashing at his son*
Kou: *on the brink of death and coughed out blood*
Gyumao: *held his son's head by the hair and makes sure that their eyes made contact* And your supposed to be my son. *threw him to the ground* I'M ASHAMED OF YOU!!!! STAND UP!!!! *continues to whip once more*
Kou: *taking blow after blow and muttered* I'm ashamed at you for being my father. *managed to stand up this time despite the blows, the pain, and the exhaustion due to his strong will and determination*
Gyumao: *stopped whipping* Humph. Weakling. *grabs Kou's arm and throws him out the door* MOVE IT!!!!!
As soon as he gets his son to his appointed position, he checked his 'trump cards'.
Gyumao: You will die. Haku. *he spat the name out like poison*
Meanwhile, Kou wants nothing but to get rid of his own father by any means possible.
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Sanzo squinted his eyes to see something in the distance. The only other one who also noticed the microscopic speck in the distance was Haku.
Haku: We're getting close. That's the castle.
Sanzo: *looked at Haku and looked at the speck before lighting up a cigarette*
Hakkai: *looks up* We still have a lot of time to walk. We should reach there in two more days.
Gojyo: We might as well just run and save some time. I want out of this dump fast.
Doku: I'd like to get outta here as well but we've got to find Kou.
Lirin: I'm not leaving without Oniichan.
Yoane: Sou yo. We can't leave without him.
Haku: *looked at them and turned his head back to focus on the speck in the horizon* ...............
Hakkai: We'd better get going. *walks faster*
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Yosuki walked through the streets. She wore her red jacket over a cute white sweater. She was wearing brown jeans along with a white scarf. She also wore some brown gloves. She was strolling down the pavement. It was snowing. She pulled her scarf higher. All around her there were people doing their Christmas shopping. They chatted and went about their business happily.
Yosuki watched them and envied them. They couldn't feel what she was feeling now. Evil was lurking at every corner. Always hiding in the darkness. Those little minions of evil were all different. Yet, there was a hint of that familiar feeling. It was THAT evil. Although there was a stronger and different one quite a few nights before, she couldn't help but to ignore it. She kept on walking.
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It's now about one day fifteen hours since we were last with our bishounens.
Lirin: Yoane-san. This place is creepy. *gets closer to Yoane*
Yoane: Maa, maa. *strokes Lirin's head*
Doku: *looks at Lirin* I don't like this place too.
Gojyo: Your not the guys aren't the only ones you know.
They have travelled closer and closer to their destination. But as they got closer, they realised that the feel of the place was starting to get to them. It felt like a heavy weight pressing you down but you strain and strain and can't feel where the weight is coming from. They also felt like they were running around in a place with four walls. The redness around them seems so...... mocking. The ground was much more drier than the other areas. The sand was so dry that and you don't have to stomp hard to hear the sand crumble into microscopic particles.
Haku managed to keep these feeling at bay by thinking all sorts of nice things. He told the others to try it too but the cursed feelings managed to wash their concentration away as if it knew that thinking things like those over here would require a lot of concentration. Haku had by now figured out what Gyumao was going to use along with the reasons why he sent so many things after them. And he can't avoid what he will do when the time comes.
Hakkai: We're here. *stopped walking*
Haku: *snapped out of it and realised that they were a few feet away from the large castle doors*
Everyone had gotten their weapons ready. But thanks to the feel of the place, everyone except Haku's energies were lower than usual.
They were about to take one more step forward until a gust of dry wind burst through the doors and swept over them. When they opened their eyes once more, they saw that the wind was blowing up sand and surrounding the place.
Then they all heard the sound of something walking towards them.
Gyumao: Don't think you can escape. *throws the piece of rock that was in his hand into the sand*
They saw the rock enter the sandstorm. Then an amazing sight unfolded in front of them. Like you would see a piranha eating a cow, the sand was practically eating at the rock. In a matter of seconds, it joined the dust particles.
Yoane: Where's Kougaiji.
Gyumao: *pointed up*
They all looked up to see a sight that horrified them. High up on the castle was a pole. Kougaiji's arms and legs were tied to that pole. Thorns surrounded him so any small movement he made would send shockwaves of pain up his senses. Kougaiji was unconscious and terribly wounded. His gashes marked themselves clearly all over his body. Haku squinted and realised it.
Haku: You tied him with rope made from stinging nettles didn't you?
Gyumao: Of course I did.
Lirin: *very angry* YOU......... YOU......... YOU *BEEPING* FREAKLING FIEND!!!!!! *launches herself at Gyumao with a speed that would make Mach7 look like a snail's pace*
Gyumao: *swung his arm and knocked tried to knock her into the sandstorm*
Lirin: *landed on her knees and tired to skid to a halt*
Unfortunately, her elbow didn't escape so Lirin jerked it out only to realise that the flesh was now hanging from her bones. Lirin looked at it with cold hard fear in her eyes accompanied by the after effect: Pain. She feinted right away. Gyumao waved his hand and the ground cracked and groaned as it rises to wrap Lirin up in a crushing embrace.
Gyumao: You were always weak.
Yoane/Doku/Kou: LIRIN!!!
Kou had managed to open his eyes in time to see his imoto get hurt. He longed to help her and kill his father right there and then for doing this to her.
Kou: *hatred burned fiercely in his eyes and even though his voice was extremely parched, it nevertheless holds as much spite a voice could ever hold* I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!!!!!!!! *struggled but only got pain surging around his body*
Gyumao: *smirked and used a voice dripping and overflowing with mockery* Really?
Yoane/Doku: *is extremely vexed and charged at Gyumao, faces filled with ferocious spite and anger and their every action was strengthened by their now overloaded emotions*
Gyumao just looked lazily at them lazily. Gyumao glared daggers at them. And knives appeared out of nowhere and shredded their skin. They were soon covered with large bleeding gashes and dropped to the ground in a bloody puddle. The ground rose up and did the same to them as it had done to Lirin. The knives disappeared as fast as they appeared.
Kou: YOANE!!!! DOKU!!!! *feeling dizzy due to loss of blood, exhaustion, and pain and eventually feinted again*
Gyumao suddenly felt something graze his face. He turned around and got two more things that grazed him again in the face.
Gojyo's shakujo had a black stain on it. Sanzo's gun had a few wisps of smoke coming from the nozzle. Hakkai was getting ready for another ki ball. Then all three attacked once more.
Gojyo/Sanzo/Hakkai: TEME!!!!!!! *attacked*
Gyumao was ready for them this time. He grabbed Gojyo's shakujo and dodged the showers of bullets and the ki balls easily. He crushed the blade of the shakujo and tugged on the chain. Gojyo was then dragged through the air and he let go. Gyumao used the chain and wrapped the three and he wrapped it so tight that it made some wounds and they can hardly breathed. They felt like they were about to feel their bones crush.
Gyumao: *smiled an evil smile and made it even tighter*
Soon blood was coming from their mouths. If Gyumao pulled any tighter, they would've died. Gyumao couldn't wait to begin. They were weak. He can finish them off later in one go.
Nataku immediately starts to attack with the fire dragon. But he dodged it and threw something at Nataku. It was an exploding orb. Nataku held out both his arms to protect himself and ended up with two very bloody arms. He soon fell to the ground motionless.
Gyumao: The spellbinding should last for quite a while.
Gyumao turned to see Haku restraining himself. He was trying very hard to keep calm. But his hands were balled into a tight fist and he kept his mouth tightly shut. His eyes alone showed how much he was trying to keep himself from ripping Gyumao to shreds. But Haku knows that any quick moves will be fatal at this stage. Especially when Gyumao is using some sort of charm that will make sure the offending person get very injured.
Gyumao looked at him with a little respect. He knows when to restrain himself and he can tell the difficulty of the situation without showing much of any signs of distress. It was a very, very important thing not to show much or else face the consequences.
Gyumao: So, Haku. I see that you will make a worthy opponent. *started pacing around him* You have defeated most of my best demons bare handed and managed to stay alive until now. I'd make you my right hand youkai at once. You would've made an excellent one. But I'm afraid that. *stood back* You end here.
Gyumao started to look blurry. Like you're seeing him through gas and hot air. Below him was blood that slowly leaks out of the ground to form a pattern. Then the whole thing started to glow black and the darkness swirled high to form a spiralling pillar. Gyumao started to say something used during the ancient youkai civilization. Fiery forms started to gather around the pillar and one by one turned into sparks and sink into the pattern like butter in hot water. Gyumao was performing what was known as the Dark Pillar Ritual. It summons all the spirits of the dead in that world no matter good or evil and put all their energies and strengths into the one who performed the ritual's body and exclude the weakness. But there is a price. That is to painfully disintegrate after five hours. Unless...
Gyumao took out his 'trump cards' that are really cards. On the cards were pictures of pure beings. Untouched by anything impure and stained. They were all beautiful. There were patterns on the other side of the cards that give them dharma powers that kept them protected from impurities like demons blood and shredded darkness. Gyumao also took out the two sutras. He threw the cards in when all the fiery forms had sunk in. The cards were trapped inside the pillar and they tried to get out but the pillar was far stronger than them. But they didn't sink into the formation. If any interruption occurred even now, it will be fatal and it will drag the entire place with it.
In order to avoid paying the price, you have to make a worthy sacrifice. And sacrificing those was far more than worthy. But you had to make them combine with the pattern first. Gyumao started to read the sutras. But it sounded very twisted and warped than it should sound. He was reading it backwards. The ancient words of the sutra are all the language of the ancient youkai civilization that performs very powerful spells. The cards shrieked and screeched like the tormented souls of hell. You can see the pattern behind the cards fading and the cards started to burn up and the ashes fell into the pattern. The pattern seemed to grow smaller for a while before Gyumao suddenly started to become bigger, muscular, and more powerful. His form changed slightly. He was now a muscle and vein covered bulk wearing red leather armour. His eyes took a darker hue than usual.
Gyumao: Yes! *raised his voice* Yes! *flexes his now power-enhanced fingers* Now you will feel the wrath of my power! *fire burned in the background, literally* And if I'm correct, *eyes on Haku* that limiter has the same ability of Son Goku's. Let me see your true strength!!!
Gyumao lifted a hand up and the ground rose up and knocked his limiter off. Haku closed his eyes before reopening them again. They were no longer just plain gold. They were like the one's when he foiled Impostor Li Touten's plans. Burning gold. Those eyes sealed an impression onto Gyumao that would last for all eternity and beyond.
Haku: *smirk* You were saying.
Gyumao: *shook the shock off* So what!? You will end right here and right now!!! *a large battle-axe appeared in Gyumao's hand* SSSHHIINNNEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! *swung the mighty axe while heading for his target*
There was a loud 'clang' made by the clash of enchanted steel against hexed metal. (Yes. Haku's weapon is now very unique.) Gyumao had forced his axe down on Haku and soon looked enraged but still slightly stupefied all the same.
Gyumao: *pitting all his strength and weight to drive the axe through* Th-
Haku: *holding his Nyoibo-sword up for defence* This sword can't still intact?
It was a wonder that it didn't break. The sword had white lighting streaking through it every once in a while. This thin piece of metal managed to stand the force of divine strength that had been entitled 'flawless invincibility'. Nothing like this had ever happened before. The battle-axe is supposed to be the legendary unmatched axe known as 'Black Blood' that had been used by a nameless evil monster years ago and had hidden it somewhere before it died a victor in any and every battle it fought. With Gyumao's new strength, it should be more invincible than it was before. Now downgraded by this... this... thin sheet of steel that has no superior invincibility power at all. That's what Gyumao thinks anyway.
Gyumao: *gave out a battle cry* K'SO!!!!! *tried to aim for his legs*
Haku: *flipped himself upwards and slashed his sword through the air*
As it sliced through the air, the sword released a wave of energy that came at Gyumao who quickly cancels it with a swing of his axe. The force ripped the ground in half with an ear splitting rip. Gyumao himself sent a blast of energy at Haku who shielded himself with his sword since it was too near to evade. The force pushed him back until his back almost made contact with the sandstorm around them. Gyumao sent another one and Haku swerved to one side to avoid the incoming blast and with his Nyoibo-sword, now turned into Nyoibo-gun, he fired several power-encased shots. Gyumao also released a bigger burst of energy. The shots and the energy collided and blow up due to impact, sending the dust and sand particles flying all over the place and created a sort of smoke screen.
Haku shielded his eyes and scanned his surroundings for Gyumao. Then alarm bells started going off in his head as he quickly dodged Gyumao's axe. Out of habit, he swerved around and fired more shots at where Gyumao was a quick, robotic like motion. Gyumao barely dodged it since the dust and sand had weakened his senses. Now both of them battle blindly. One barely missing the other.
The sand and dust slowly descended to the ground. Soon they were able to lock on to their opponent. Soon, Haku managed to fire seven consecutive shots at Gyumao while Gyumao had six. One of Haku's shots managed to turn the battle-axe into a pile of splinters and twisted metal. Haku soon fired a big one that hit Gyumao right on with its force no less than when he fired to the ground to save the others.
Gyumao got full blown of it and felt a sting. A sting? He soon felt that there was an urge to throw a bigger energy blast Haku. The blast wasn't like the one he intended. It was much stronger. Haku managed to avoid getting the entire force but it still knocked him off his feet and found that his legs and right arm got a couple of grazes. Both of them soon realised what had happened. Because of the over worthy sacrifice, he had gotten something extra. Whenever Gyumao gets an attack that will surely do some big damage, his body will reduce the force and damage of the said attack and return it back double along with the usual energy.
Gyumao now gained even more confidence and sent rays of dark energy firing for Haku. Haku ducked and evaded the rays but one had grazed his shoulder.
Haku: K'so.
Gyumao didn't stop there. He started to release half of his real strength as the ones he had used earlier on were a warm up. He showered the place with dark antimatter and red pellets, making sure that his opponent had nowhere to run. The castle was at its limits and will eventually fall to gravity's will. Thanks to the blast, the particles started up into the air again. Haku was wildly flailing around in a desperate attempt to keep himself from being hit. If this continues any longer, his chances of winning are going to dwindle to nothing. He was fighting now not because it's not save his friends or to destroy the enemy.
But for his own survival.
Haku's reflexes were moving and bending with every second. All his time spent on trying to figure out what move to make. While his brain was contemplating and calculating on his chances, his body moved according to years of self-training under Heaven's nose and also due to his senses that's sending tingling sensations throughout his nerve system, getting his entire body to evade the close coming attacks. When he was done, he braced himself for the next step.
Haku ran forward, he was pitching himself deeper into the danger field. The blasts and pellets are flying through the air furiously and growing in numbers as Gyumao turned up the power. Haku half-dashed, half-bounded and half-threw himself towards Gyumao, he leaned forward . He now relied on his eyesight though the sand and dust had a tendency to cloud his vision, his ever-quick reflexes and his never failing instinct to avoid the hazardous enemy shots that came in waves.
Even though Gyumao was a bit shocked to find his opponent coming right at him, his attacks and his expression never faltered. Instead, he believed that it was a stupid thing to do and now he would now show him the fruit of his foolishness. Gyumao got ready to release a bigger energy blast than his strength will allow. It will tire him but it will finish the job.
Haku was covering yards with each step he took. He was getting closer and closer. Soon they were only centimetres away from each other's face. Gyumao then launched his energy blast. It shook the ground and shattered the air. Haku's eyes reflected the ball of energy that came streaking towards him. It blasted right through the sandstorm. The sandstorm slowly stopped.
When the energy blast worn itself out, the entire ground was more singed and cracked than before. The air was hot. Gyumao panted. It took a lot out of him but he got the results he wanted.
Gyumao: Mess with me will you? Humph! *realised that he was crouching and stood upright*
Suddenly, a wave seemed to pass over the entire place including the sky. The wind blew like a current under the sea. It was wet with something. Everything felt like it was withdrawing itself but still remaining in the way it should be. Lifeless, unmovable objects that are empty of life besides Gyumao and the three members Sanzo-Ikkou along with Kou and the others. And one other. Gyumao suddenly heard something. He turned around and he couldn't believe it.
Haku was alive. He had dodged the attack. He had been behind Gyumao these past few minutes and was gaining a lot and a lot of energy. Gyumao's power absorption has a have a limit. He held his Nyoibo-gun high over his head. It crackled with white lighting and you can see energy collecting at the nozzle to form a ball of energy matrix that will surpass all the strengthening charms, curses, hexes and formations that were, are and will be. Haku himself has the very root of power hidden somewhere inside him. He had managed to get all this energy in a matter of minutes.
Haku: You will regret that. *aimed and fired*
Gyumao has no time to counter it as he was now too late and his power has no time to charge up. He had to rely on his extra gift now.
Gyumao struggled as the damage seemed to worsen as the pain became a burden. The energy inside him couldn't be released due to the fact that his body was too busy and was greedily absorbing it. Gyumao soon realised that he will reach his limits and disintegrate like mere youkais if he keeps it up.
Gyumao: No!!! No!!!! *feels the blast taking it's toll* NNNOOOO!!!!!!!!
Gyumao's body started to puff up like someone is filling him with air. Soon he was imploding instead. The ground that bound his friends all went back into the ground, leaving them sprawled limply on the ground. The tower sank down slowly and the things that bound him disintegrated. Haku then fell to his knees suddenly due to using too much energy in such a short time. He panted a bit and started to heal the others.
As soon as he was done, he picked up a noise around him. He turned around to look closer at his surroundings. The entire place started to shift. The scenery was starting to look like sand being shifted through a filter. Soon the skies were gone. Then the ground beneath them began to break up into clumps.
Haku: *looking down and realised that the piece of ground under hum was breaking up into very little pieces* ?-?! *fell into the opening darkness along with the others* YIPES!
After some falling and a few more 'yipes', everybody finally found something to fall onto. The others landed face down in a place somehow identical to the Red Realm but Haku knows perfectly well that he's back. And he also fell flat on his back.
Haku: Itai! (Don't forget that he hasn't healed his injuries yet.) *tries to sit up*
Haku slowly got up and started to check on the others.
Haku: Sanzo, Hakkai, Baka Ero-Kappa, Kougaiji, Dokukakuji, Yoane, Nataku and.......... Where's Lirin?
As if on cue, the still unconscious Lirin fell from the sky on top of Haku, knocking him flat on his back again.
Haku: Itai! @_@ Mou... Lirin... Get off me. And can somebody get the number of that truck? *lies on the ground for a while before he got his senses back* Eh? Oh. *pushes Lirin, gently so not to wake the too hyper genki one, of from on top of him and checked on his injuries* (Gomenasai Ruby-san.)
Konzeon Bosotsu: *suddenly appeared* So, you're back. How was your little trip?
Haku: What do you think? *heals his shoulder*
AFN: So, what do you guys think? Still no review limit! (Yayness!) What do you guys think their expressions will be when they find out Haku's identity? Have a good holiday!
A/N: This chapter isn't as interesting as the last one. If you think Gyumao's mean by treating his subordinates like that, I've got more. Most of the action parts are inspired by ShadowD who wrote 'Time Trax' in the Gatekeeper section. (Okay, I admit it. I borrowed some of his ideas and I don not own them.)
To Ruby: Sumimasen. *bows* I'm not so good at these things. And in all the romance stories I've ever read, this idea had to come up. -_- Trust me, I don't like what I wrote in that story either. Help. You can write the part that you're typing about and use the review button to send it over. If I can't do it, please show me. The next one should be about when they're all back in Heaven and I can squeeze in your part. ^-^
To Vermillion: Thanks a bunch!!! ^.^ All I have to do now is find something that will teach me HTML......
Arigatou for all the reviews minna-san! ^-^ v
Disclaimer: My wish for X'mas is... LET ME OWN SAIYUKI!!!! *nothing happens besides the fact that the police come to arrest me for being caught in the act of trying to illegally gain copyrighted property*
By: Yamamoto Kou
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Haku: *hands Yoane some bombs she can use*
Yoane: Arigatou Haku-san. *puts them where all-things-that-appear-out-of- nowhere-and-disappears-out-of-nowhere-sort-of-place*
Hakkai: We'd better get going now. ^ ^
Lirin: Baldie Sanzo!!!! *jumps onto Sanzo (again)*
Sanzo: GET OFF ME!!!!!! *struggles to get Lirin off (again)*
Hakkai: Maa, maa. ^ ^ *tries to coax Lirin off (again)*
Nataku: Yare, yare. *shakes head and continues to try to pull Lirin off (again)*
Yoane/Doku: *sweat dropped before helping*
Gojyo: Sanzo's girlfriend is really persistent. I wonder how long it'll be before Sanzo gets engaged- *numerous bullets whizzed past his ear* Fine. *helps with Lirin*
Haku: *shakes his head and goes forward away from the bullet and harisen range*
Komyo: *suddenly appears* Haku! There's something bad going to happen.
Haku: Nani?
Komyo: I followed that impostor. And he's received the Hex Sign.
Haku: *looks seriously at Komyo* THE Hex Sign? So the Emperor is still out there...
Komyo: Yes. That means the Emperor is preparing to rise again.
Haku: Has there been any sign of the Queen?
Komyo: Not yet. Until then, we can safely say that he's not coming too soon. Haku: You might as well try to look out for him. Tell me if you find more.
Komyo: Hai. *disappears*
Haku: *turns to see the others grabbing Lirin to keep her from jumping up again*
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Gyumao picked up his sword and slashed the dogs. He made sure they were dead. He killed every single centipede he could muster and destroyed them too. He started summoning more powerful things and kills them. He then rested himself for the coming event.
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Hakkai: Ano... there's something wrong here.
Yoane: What is it Hakkai-san?
Sanzo: Nothing's happened.
Doku: Nothing attacked us.
Yoane: Sou ka. You mean those centipede thongs right?
Gojyo: Sou. *looks around*
Lirin: Maybe he's afraid that we can get stronger by using them for exercise.
Haku: Iie. [He's got something in mind. He could be using them for some strengthening purposes. But what?]
Hakkai: *looked down* Huh? *bent down to touch the ground* There's very little sand here. There's only hard, dried ground.
Nataku: *bent down and touches the ground as well* Your right.
Haku: *scanning through his mind for the strongest strengthening spell that Gyumao might use*
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Gyumao went into the dungeon to get the bait. His own son was chained tightly to the wall. Kougaiji is still bleeding and sweating from the blows that were given to him this morning. He glared at his father whose approaching him with half closed eyes.
Gyumao released the chains. Kougaiji could hardly stand and was panting. He dropped to the ground on his knees.
Gyumao: Get up.
Kou: *tried to stand but he was too shaky and weak so he fell back down to the ground*
Gyumao: Get up!
Kou: *tried again but failed*
Gyumao: I SAID GET UP NOW!!!!! *takes a nearby whip and starts lashing at his son*
Kou: *on the brink of death and coughed out blood*
Gyumao: *held his son's head by the hair and makes sure that their eyes made contact* And your supposed to be my son. *threw him to the ground* I'M ASHAMED OF YOU!!!! STAND UP!!!! *continues to whip once more*
Kou: *taking blow after blow and muttered* I'm ashamed at you for being my father. *managed to stand up this time despite the blows, the pain, and the exhaustion due to his strong will and determination*
Gyumao: *stopped whipping* Humph. Weakling. *grabs Kou's arm and throws him out the door* MOVE IT!!!!!
As soon as he gets his son to his appointed position, he checked his 'trump cards'.
Gyumao: You will die. Haku. *he spat the name out like poison*
Meanwhile, Kou wants nothing but to get rid of his own father by any means possible.
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Sanzo squinted his eyes to see something in the distance. The only other one who also noticed the microscopic speck in the distance was Haku.
Haku: We're getting close. That's the castle.
Sanzo: *looked at Haku and looked at the speck before lighting up a cigarette*
Hakkai: *looks up* We still have a lot of time to walk. We should reach there in two more days.
Gojyo: We might as well just run and save some time. I want out of this dump fast.
Doku: I'd like to get outta here as well but we've got to find Kou.
Lirin: I'm not leaving without Oniichan.
Yoane: Sou yo. We can't leave without him.
Haku: *looked at them and turned his head back to focus on the speck in the horizon* ...............
Hakkai: We'd better get going. *walks faster*
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Yosuki walked through the streets. She wore her red jacket over a cute white sweater. She was wearing brown jeans along with a white scarf. She also wore some brown gloves. She was strolling down the pavement. It was snowing. She pulled her scarf higher. All around her there were people doing their Christmas shopping. They chatted and went about their business happily.
Yosuki watched them and envied them. They couldn't feel what she was feeling now. Evil was lurking at every corner. Always hiding in the darkness. Those little minions of evil were all different. Yet, there was a hint of that familiar feeling. It was THAT evil. Although there was a stronger and different one quite a few nights before, she couldn't help but to ignore it. She kept on walking.
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It's now about one day fifteen hours since we were last with our bishounens.
Lirin: Yoane-san. This place is creepy. *gets closer to Yoane*
Yoane: Maa, maa. *strokes Lirin's head*
Doku: *looks at Lirin* I don't like this place too.
Gojyo: Your not the guys aren't the only ones you know.
They have travelled closer and closer to their destination. But as they got closer, they realised that the feel of the place was starting to get to them. It felt like a heavy weight pressing you down but you strain and strain and can't feel where the weight is coming from. They also felt like they were running around in a place with four walls. The redness around them seems so...... mocking. The ground was much more drier than the other areas. The sand was so dry that and you don't have to stomp hard to hear the sand crumble into microscopic particles.
Haku managed to keep these feeling at bay by thinking all sorts of nice things. He told the others to try it too but the cursed feelings managed to wash their concentration away as if it knew that thinking things like those over here would require a lot of concentration. Haku had by now figured out what Gyumao was going to use along with the reasons why he sent so many things after them. And he can't avoid what he will do when the time comes.
Hakkai: We're here. *stopped walking*
Haku: *snapped out of it and realised that they were a few feet away from the large castle doors*
Everyone had gotten their weapons ready. But thanks to the feel of the place, everyone except Haku's energies were lower than usual.
They were about to take one more step forward until a gust of dry wind burst through the doors and swept over them. When they opened their eyes once more, they saw that the wind was blowing up sand and surrounding the place.
Then they all heard the sound of something walking towards them.
Gyumao: Don't think you can escape. *throws the piece of rock that was in his hand into the sand*
They saw the rock enter the sandstorm. Then an amazing sight unfolded in front of them. Like you would see a piranha eating a cow, the sand was practically eating at the rock. In a matter of seconds, it joined the dust particles.
Yoane: Where's Kougaiji.
Gyumao: *pointed up*
They all looked up to see a sight that horrified them. High up on the castle was a pole. Kougaiji's arms and legs were tied to that pole. Thorns surrounded him so any small movement he made would send shockwaves of pain up his senses. Kougaiji was unconscious and terribly wounded. His gashes marked themselves clearly all over his body. Haku squinted and realised it.
Haku: You tied him with rope made from stinging nettles didn't you?
Gyumao: Of course I did.
Lirin: *very angry* YOU......... YOU......... YOU *BEEPING* FREAKLING FIEND!!!!!! *launches herself at Gyumao with a speed that would make Mach7 look like a snail's pace*
Gyumao: *swung his arm and knocked tried to knock her into the sandstorm*
Lirin: *landed on her knees and tired to skid to a halt*
Unfortunately, her elbow didn't escape so Lirin jerked it out only to realise that the flesh was now hanging from her bones. Lirin looked at it with cold hard fear in her eyes accompanied by the after effect: Pain. She feinted right away. Gyumao waved his hand and the ground cracked and groaned as it rises to wrap Lirin up in a crushing embrace.
Gyumao: You were always weak.
Yoane/Doku/Kou: LIRIN!!!
Kou had managed to open his eyes in time to see his imoto get hurt. He longed to help her and kill his father right there and then for doing this to her.
Kou: *hatred burned fiercely in his eyes and even though his voice was extremely parched, it nevertheless holds as much spite a voice could ever hold* I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!!!!!!!! *struggled but only got pain surging around his body*
Gyumao: *smirked and used a voice dripping and overflowing with mockery* Really?
Yoane/Doku: *is extremely vexed and charged at Gyumao, faces filled with ferocious spite and anger and their every action was strengthened by their now overloaded emotions*
Gyumao just looked lazily at them lazily. Gyumao glared daggers at them. And knives appeared out of nowhere and shredded their skin. They were soon covered with large bleeding gashes and dropped to the ground in a bloody puddle. The ground rose up and did the same to them as it had done to Lirin. The knives disappeared as fast as they appeared.
Kou: YOANE!!!! DOKU!!!! *feeling dizzy due to loss of blood, exhaustion, and pain and eventually feinted again*
Gyumao suddenly felt something graze his face. He turned around and got two more things that grazed him again in the face.
Gojyo's shakujo had a black stain on it. Sanzo's gun had a few wisps of smoke coming from the nozzle. Hakkai was getting ready for another ki ball. Then all three attacked once more.
Gojyo/Sanzo/Hakkai: TEME!!!!!!! *attacked*
Gyumao was ready for them this time. He grabbed Gojyo's shakujo and dodged the showers of bullets and the ki balls easily. He crushed the blade of the shakujo and tugged on the chain. Gojyo was then dragged through the air and he let go. Gyumao used the chain and wrapped the three and he wrapped it so tight that it made some wounds and they can hardly breathed. They felt like they were about to feel their bones crush.
Gyumao: *smiled an evil smile and made it even tighter*
Soon blood was coming from their mouths. If Gyumao pulled any tighter, they would've died. Gyumao couldn't wait to begin. They were weak. He can finish them off later in one go.
Nataku immediately starts to attack with the fire dragon. But he dodged it and threw something at Nataku. It was an exploding orb. Nataku held out both his arms to protect himself and ended up with two very bloody arms. He soon fell to the ground motionless.
Gyumao: The spellbinding should last for quite a while.
Gyumao turned to see Haku restraining himself. He was trying very hard to keep calm. But his hands were balled into a tight fist and he kept his mouth tightly shut. His eyes alone showed how much he was trying to keep himself from ripping Gyumao to shreds. But Haku knows that any quick moves will be fatal at this stage. Especially when Gyumao is using some sort of charm that will make sure the offending person get very injured.
Gyumao looked at him with a little respect. He knows when to restrain himself and he can tell the difficulty of the situation without showing much of any signs of distress. It was a very, very important thing not to show much or else face the consequences.
Gyumao: So, Haku. I see that you will make a worthy opponent. *started pacing around him* You have defeated most of my best demons bare handed and managed to stay alive until now. I'd make you my right hand youkai at once. You would've made an excellent one. But I'm afraid that. *stood back* You end here.
Gyumao started to look blurry. Like you're seeing him through gas and hot air. Below him was blood that slowly leaks out of the ground to form a pattern. Then the whole thing started to glow black and the darkness swirled high to form a spiralling pillar. Gyumao started to say something used during the ancient youkai civilization. Fiery forms started to gather around the pillar and one by one turned into sparks and sink into the pattern like butter in hot water. Gyumao was performing what was known as the Dark Pillar Ritual. It summons all the spirits of the dead in that world no matter good or evil and put all their energies and strengths into the one who performed the ritual's body and exclude the weakness. But there is a price. That is to painfully disintegrate after five hours. Unless...
Gyumao took out his 'trump cards' that are really cards. On the cards were pictures of pure beings. Untouched by anything impure and stained. They were all beautiful. There were patterns on the other side of the cards that give them dharma powers that kept them protected from impurities like demons blood and shredded darkness. Gyumao also took out the two sutras. He threw the cards in when all the fiery forms had sunk in. The cards were trapped inside the pillar and they tried to get out but the pillar was far stronger than them. But they didn't sink into the formation. If any interruption occurred even now, it will be fatal and it will drag the entire place with it.
In order to avoid paying the price, you have to make a worthy sacrifice. And sacrificing those was far more than worthy. But you had to make them combine with the pattern first. Gyumao started to read the sutras. But it sounded very twisted and warped than it should sound. He was reading it backwards. The ancient words of the sutra are all the language of the ancient youkai civilization that performs very powerful spells. The cards shrieked and screeched like the tormented souls of hell. You can see the pattern behind the cards fading and the cards started to burn up and the ashes fell into the pattern. The pattern seemed to grow smaller for a while before Gyumao suddenly started to become bigger, muscular, and more powerful. His form changed slightly. He was now a muscle and vein covered bulk wearing red leather armour. His eyes took a darker hue than usual.
Gyumao: Yes! *raised his voice* Yes! *flexes his now power-enhanced fingers* Now you will feel the wrath of my power! *fire burned in the background, literally* And if I'm correct, *eyes on Haku* that limiter has the same ability of Son Goku's. Let me see your true strength!!!
Gyumao lifted a hand up and the ground rose up and knocked his limiter off. Haku closed his eyes before reopening them again. They were no longer just plain gold. They were like the one's when he foiled Impostor Li Touten's plans. Burning gold. Those eyes sealed an impression onto Gyumao that would last for all eternity and beyond.
Haku: *smirk* You were saying.
Gyumao: *shook the shock off* So what!? You will end right here and right now!!! *a large battle-axe appeared in Gyumao's hand* SSSHHIINNNEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! *swung the mighty axe while heading for his target*
There was a loud 'clang' made by the clash of enchanted steel against hexed metal. (Yes. Haku's weapon is now very unique.) Gyumao had forced his axe down on Haku and soon looked enraged but still slightly stupefied all the same.
Gyumao: *pitting all his strength and weight to drive the axe through* Th-
Haku: *holding his Nyoibo-sword up for defence* This sword can't still intact?
It was a wonder that it didn't break. The sword had white lighting streaking through it every once in a while. This thin piece of metal managed to stand the force of divine strength that had been entitled 'flawless invincibility'. Nothing like this had ever happened before. The battle-axe is supposed to be the legendary unmatched axe known as 'Black Blood' that had been used by a nameless evil monster years ago and had hidden it somewhere before it died a victor in any and every battle it fought. With Gyumao's new strength, it should be more invincible than it was before. Now downgraded by this... this... thin sheet of steel that has no superior invincibility power at all. That's what Gyumao thinks anyway.
Gyumao: *gave out a battle cry* K'SO!!!!! *tried to aim for his legs*
Haku: *flipped himself upwards and slashed his sword through the air*
As it sliced through the air, the sword released a wave of energy that came at Gyumao who quickly cancels it with a swing of his axe. The force ripped the ground in half with an ear splitting rip. Gyumao himself sent a blast of energy at Haku who shielded himself with his sword since it was too near to evade. The force pushed him back until his back almost made contact with the sandstorm around them. Gyumao sent another one and Haku swerved to one side to avoid the incoming blast and with his Nyoibo-sword, now turned into Nyoibo-gun, he fired several power-encased shots. Gyumao also released a bigger burst of energy. The shots and the energy collided and blow up due to impact, sending the dust and sand particles flying all over the place and created a sort of smoke screen.
Haku shielded his eyes and scanned his surroundings for Gyumao. Then alarm bells started going off in his head as he quickly dodged Gyumao's axe. Out of habit, he swerved around and fired more shots at where Gyumao was a quick, robotic like motion. Gyumao barely dodged it since the dust and sand had weakened his senses. Now both of them battle blindly. One barely missing the other.
The sand and dust slowly descended to the ground. Soon they were able to lock on to their opponent. Soon, Haku managed to fire seven consecutive shots at Gyumao while Gyumao had six. One of Haku's shots managed to turn the battle-axe into a pile of splinters and twisted metal. Haku soon fired a big one that hit Gyumao right on with its force no less than when he fired to the ground to save the others.
Gyumao got full blown of it and felt a sting. A sting? He soon felt that there was an urge to throw a bigger energy blast Haku. The blast wasn't like the one he intended. It was much stronger. Haku managed to avoid getting the entire force but it still knocked him off his feet and found that his legs and right arm got a couple of grazes. Both of them soon realised what had happened. Because of the over worthy sacrifice, he had gotten something extra. Whenever Gyumao gets an attack that will surely do some big damage, his body will reduce the force and damage of the said attack and return it back double along with the usual energy.
Gyumao now gained even more confidence and sent rays of dark energy firing for Haku. Haku ducked and evaded the rays but one had grazed his shoulder.
Haku: K'so.
Gyumao didn't stop there. He started to release half of his real strength as the ones he had used earlier on were a warm up. He showered the place with dark antimatter and red pellets, making sure that his opponent had nowhere to run. The castle was at its limits and will eventually fall to gravity's will. Thanks to the blast, the particles started up into the air again. Haku was wildly flailing around in a desperate attempt to keep himself from being hit. If this continues any longer, his chances of winning are going to dwindle to nothing. He was fighting now not because it's not save his friends or to destroy the enemy.
But for his own survival.
Haku's reflexes were moving and bending with every second. All his time spent on trying to figure out what move to make. While his brain was contemplating and calculating on his chances, his body moved according to years of self-training under Heaven's nose and also due to his senses that's sending tingling sensations throughout his nerve system, getting his entire body to evade the close coming attacks. When he was done, he braced himself for the next step.
Haku ran forward, he was pitching himself deeper into the danger field. The blasts and pellets are flying through the air furiously and growing in numbers as Gyumao turned up the power. Haku half-dashed, half-bounded and half-threw himself towards Gyumao, he leaned forward . He now relied on his eyesight though the sand and dust had a tendency to cloud his vision, his ever-quick reflexes and his never failing instinct to avoid the hazardous enemy shots that came in waves.
Even though Gyumao was a bit shocked to find his opponent coming right at him, his attacks and his expression never faltered. Instead, he believed that it was a stupid thing to do and now he would now show him the fruit of his foolishness. Gyumao got ready to release a bigger energy blast than his strength will allow. It will tire him but it will finish the job.
Haku was covering yards with each step he took. He was getting closer and closer. Soon they were only centimetres away from each other's face. Gyumao then launched his energy blast. It shook the ground and shattered the air. Haku's eyes reflected the ball of energy that came streaking towards him. It blasted right through the sandstorm. The sandstorm slowly stopped.
When the energy blast worn itself out, the entire ground was more singed and cracked than before. The air was hot. Gyumao panted. It took a lot out of him but he got the results he wanted.
Gyumao: Mess with me will you? Humph! *realised that he was crouching and stood upright*
Suddenly, a wave seemed to pass over the entire place including the sky. The wind blew like a current under the sea. It was wet with something. Everything felt like it was withdrawing itself but still remaining in the way it should be. Lifeless, unmovable objects that are empty of life besides Gyumao and the three members Sanzo-Ikkou along with Kou and the others. And one other. Gyumao suddenly heard something. He turned around and he couldn't believe it.
Haku was alive. He had dodged the attack. He had been behind Gyumao these past few minutes and was gaining a lot and a lot of energy. Gyumao's power absorption has a have a limit. He held his Nyoibo-gun high over his head. It crackled with white lighting and you can see energy collecting at the nozzle to form a ball of energy matrix that will surpass all the strengthening charms, curses, hexes and formations that were, are and will be. Haku himself has the very root of power hidden somewhere inside him. He had managed to get all this energy in a matter of minutes.
Haku: You will regret that. *aimed and fired*
Gyumao has no time to counter it as he was now too late and his power has no time to charge up. He had to rely on his extra gift now.
Gyumao struggled as the damage seemed to worsen as the pain became a burden. The energy inside him couldn't be released due to the fact that his body was too busy and was greedily absorbing it. Gyumao soon realised that he will reach his limits and disintegrate like mere youkais if he keeps it up.
Gyumao: No!!! No!!!! *feels the blast taking it's toll* NNNOOOO!!!!!!!!
Gyumao's body started to puff up like someone is filling him with air. Soon he was imploding instead. The ground that bound his friends all went back into the ground, leaving them sprawled limply on the ground. The tower sank down slowly and the things that bound him disintegrated. Haku then fell to his knees suddenly due to using too much energy in such a short time. He panted a bit and started to heal the others.
As soon as he was done, he picked up a noise around him. He turned around to look closer at his surroundings. The entire place started to shift. The scenery was starting to look like sand being shifted through a filter. Soon the skies were gone. Then the ground beneath them began to break up into clumps.
Haku: *looking down and realised that the piece of ground under hum was breaking up into very little pieces* ?-?! *fell into the opening darkness along with the others* YIPES!
After some falling and a few more 'yipes', everybody finally found something to fall onto. The others landed face down in a place somehow identical to the Red Realm but Haku knows perfectly well that he's back. And he also fell flat on his back.
Haku: Itai! (Don't forget that he hasn't healed his injuries yet.) *tries to sit up*
Haku slowly got up and started to check on the others.
Haku: Sanzo, Hakkai, Baka Ero-Kappa, Kougaiji, Dokukakuji, Yoane, Nataku and.......... Where's Lirin?
As if on cue, the still unconscious Lirin fell from the sky on top of Haku, knocking him flat on his back again.
Haku: Itai! @_@ Mou... Lirin... Get off me. And can somebody get the number of that truck? *lies on the ground for a while before he got his senses back* Eh? Oh. *pushes Lirin, gently so not to wake the too hyper genki one, of from on top of him and checked on his injuries* (Gomenasai Ruby-san.)
Konzeon Bosotsu: *suddenly appeared* So, you're back. How was your little trip?
Haku: What do you think? *heals his shoulder*
AFN: So, what do you guys think? Still no review limit! (Yayness!) What do you guys think their expressions will be when they find out Haku's identity? Have a good holiday!