Poison the Dragon - 2
By: Liv
Disclaimer: Kazuya Minekura created Gensomaden Saiyuki and therefore owns it. I only own the idea. ^^;; And the sub characters! :D
*****
"I didn't like the shrimp." A thief said.
"Neither did I." Another responded. They were asked to guard the loot they have in the tented carriage. The feast was still going on in the town.
"What about that roasted pig?"
"I like the roasted duck better."
"Really?? So did I!"
"Psst!"
"Heh?" The two thieves turned to the outside.
No one was there.
"Pssst!" It came again.
"Who the hell?"
"Pssst!!"
"Stay here, I'll go check." A thief bent to leave the carriage. He stood outside and looked around, hands on waist.
"That might be Mitsu." The other thief stayed and leaned against the tent's frame.
"Mitsu?? Shimata--" The thief who checked was entwined with a chain and dragged.
The thief inside gasped when he heard one final cry from his friend. "Mitsushi!" He leapt out of the tent. "Mitsushi--urk!" He felt a blade pass through him but there was no one in front, just a chain. He dropped to the ground, dead.
Goku leapt into the tent after getting the black cloths from the two exterminated thieves. "Na! There's a lot of stolen goods here!"
"They're probably stolen while the feast was going on." Gojyo busied himself by dragging the corpses to a hiding place he and Goku made. He climbed in next, a paper bag held. He sat down on the floor and settled the bag. Opening it, he carried out a small canister of paint and a paintbrush. "Sit down, Bakasaru." He held the canister with one hand and carefully lifted the lid with another.
"Are?" Goku plopped to an Indian sit. "Na, Gojyo, what are you doing?"
"I'm gonna paint you, saru." Gojyo dipped the brush in the paint and mixed it.
"P, paint?!"
"Identical youkai birthmarks, Bakasaru." Gojyo leaned forward.
"No way!" Goku leaned backward. "I'm not gonna let you make me look like a saru, Ero Kappa!"
"Ba-ka, Kono Bakasaru! I don't want this to take any longer. If Hakuryu dies, we're gonna walk all the way to the west! You want that, saru??"
Goku blinked. By the tone of Gojyo's voice, he seemed serious.
But then again, how many times had Gojyo fooled him?
Goku sighed. He had to content himself with what he thought Gojyo is thinking. So he leaned forward. He winked one eye as he felt the brush move horizontally across his nose bridge. The wind had made the dull teal- colored paint cold.
Gojyo didn't do much design. He just painted across and made it look like it was inborn and that was it. He faced the butt of the brush to Goku, handing it to him. "Now you do mine." When Goku took it and looked at it curiously, he removed his bandana upwards and wore it around Goku's headband rather roughly.
"Oi! What are you doing?!" Goku felt his head continuously being pushed down as the bandana was put on him. He had only been able to glare after Gojyo had finished.
"Orders from the Bakabouzu." Gojyo now took his black band from his pocket and gathered his hair to a tie.
"I don't believe you. You wouldn't follow it if it was Sanzo's."
"Favor from Hakkai."
"Ohhh..." Goku nodded and took the canister from Gojyo's part of the floor, dipping the brush into it. It was done rather childishly, a quarter of it getting dipped along.
Gojyo leaned forward after tying his hair, ready for the design. His rested his elbows on his legs. "Be creative, saru. Don't imitate the same design I drew on you."
"Teme, Ero Kappa! I don't even know what it looks like."
"Chi! Ba-ka!" Gojyo felt the brush on his face. The design was almost the same as Goku's, only that there is a break on his nose bridge.
"Na, Gojyo,"
"Nani?"
"Do you think this paint would come off easily?" Goku kept the set and tossed over the black cloths to Gojyo.
Gojyo caught the two things and shrugged. "How should I know? Sanzo just bought these." He identified which was the mask before he wore the both of them.
Goku imitated the same action.
"Oi!"
Gojyo and Goku turned to look outside. Just then, two men with tied hands were thrown roughly to the floor.
Goku gasped. "Sanzo!"
"What did you say?!" The thief outside demanded.
Goku gulped. "O, ore?!"
"He's just surprised to see a sanzo, that's all." Gojyo glared at Goku after he had covered the boy up.
"Whatever!" The thief shook it off. "These two people tackled on our brother. They're gonna be taken to custody, understand?!" The demon left.
Gojyo shrugged and turned to the moving bodies. "Just in time, namagusa bouzu."
"Urusai," Sanzo, though a bit disturbed by the rope around his wrists, was able to sit up. Hakkai had no problem at all. "How long have you waited?"
"We just got done making up."
"Chi! Slow people."
"Speak for yourself, bouzu."
"Maa maa, minna. Let's be silent, ne?" Hakkai spoke with a smiling face on. "We don't want to be found."
"Na, Hakkai,"
"Hai?" Hakkai turned to Goku.
"How's Hakuryu?"
"Jia Guo-san is with him."
Sanzo heard footsteps coming. "Here they come." He lied down, facing the outside.
Hakkai bowed his head and slouched as though he was weak.
Gojyo felt the vehicle move and just looked at the outside. He felt eyes on him and turned to see the blond monk looking at him. He smirked, though it was hidden under his mask. "Chi, have to do the dirty job, eh?" He whispered before he crawled close to the driver. "Oi, you know the place where the antidote is?"
"Antidote?? What antidote??" The driver glanced at him but kept his focus on driving.
"The antidote! You know, the cure when you-- we bite?"
"Scratch, you dead cockroach!"
"Scratch, I meant!" Gojyo shook off Sanzo's whispered insult.
"Oh! That." The driver finally said. "It's in the end of the cave. Why do you ask?"
"Are?" Gojyo blinked. *Chi! Inquisitive idiot.*
"Anou.we're asked to check it. Y'know, Zaru and I." Gojyo winked at Goku who glared back at him.
"Teme.!" Goku hissed.
"Really?" The driver asked again. "Whose orders?"
Gojyo gulped. "W, who? Th, the leader!"
"Eh?"
"Him! Y'know??"
"Oh! Him? Okay."
Gojyo leaned against the baskets of loot and sighed in relief. "That nearly got me." He whispered.
"Omedetou, Gojyo." Hakkai whispered back to him with a smile.
"So! How's your family?" The driver's teen voice surprised Gojyo and made the latter turn to him.
"A, are?? Ore no.?" Gojyo looked at his friends. Hakkai was chuckling, Goku was holding his laughter and Sanzo was smirking.
"Kawaisou na youkai." Sanzo whispered, enjoying Gojyo's surprise.
Gojyo lifted his left hand's middle finger and finally engaged into a friendly conversation with the driver.
*****
"Well! Here we are." The driver pulled to a stop in front of a cave. Torches were lit on the walls. It wasn't anything big, but good enough for a pack of thieves to hide in.
Hakkai moved forward and leaned over to the driver. "Arigatou gozaimasu."
The driver turned around. "Dou itashimashite--Oi! Omae wa--urk!"
Before the driver could even complete his sentence, Hakkai had knocked him out with the pinky side of his right hand. "Gomen nasai, demo, it's better than getting shot, ne?"
"Na, he WAS a nice guy." Gojyo shrugged.
Sanzo sat up from his lying position. "Ikuzo." He looked for the rope he had untied along the trip and handed them to Goku.
"Are?" Goku took the rope and saw Sanzo offer his hands to Goku at the back, ready to be tied once more. "Anou.hai." He began to set to work just as Gojyo did to Hakkai.
Sanzo stood to a crouch and left the tent. He hopped down with Goku holding his wrist. Making sure everyone was with him, he started his way towards the cave.
*****
Pass the tight archway was the wide dead end of the cave where the deposit of antidotes was found.
Hakkai waited for Gojyo to undo his rope before he approached the crystals attached to the walls. "Sou ka, so these are the antidotes."
"Hontou ni?" Gojyo followed. "Crystals?" He knelt in front of one.
"We probably have to pulverize it."
"Goku," Sanzo turned to the boy. "Get a chunk."
Goku nodded and approached the west most crystals. He found them easier to pull off since they're at the end. "Na, I smell blood somewhere." He grabbed hold of the crystals and pulled a huge chunk of it off.
"That's nothing for us to know. Ikuzo." Sanzo turned around. Just when everyone was about to leave, an iron gate slammed close on the opening.
"Shimata." Hakkai hissed as he heard laughs and cackles in the room.
"They found us?!" Gojyo was battle-ready even though no shakujou was revealed. All four of them were approaching each other's backs.
"Minna!" Goku pointed to the side of the gate where a demon with dull-teal skin and long black hair approached the center.
"Welcome!" The leader greeted. "You should be proud of yourselves after successfully trespassing into our territory."
Sanzo heard the three demons behind him ready their offenses but he just stood, unthreatened by the leader's presence.
"Demo! This is as far as you can go, Genjo Sanzo." The leader gave an evil smile.
"Na, Sanzo," Goku whispered. "Could he be.?"
"Another one of Kougaiji's assassins." Sanzo finished.
The leader went on. "As you can seen, these crystals are very precious to us. These crystals came from the blood of humans, demons and shikigamis fossilized for centuries!" Slowly now, the demons revealed themselves.
"Sou ka...that's why I smell blood!" Goku hissed.
"Yes, yes, that's right!" The leader approached them. "And you'll just be another one of them!"
"I've had enough of your impudent talk." Sanzo wielded his exorcism gun and turned around shooting a demon who was ready to attack.
Goku gave a battle cry and charged towards the demons close to the wall. He threw everyone of them off with his kicks and punches and nyoibou. Some of them, he killed by thrusting his trusty weapon over to their chests. "Stretch out! Nyoibou~" He called casting his hand to the opposite end of the room. Upon his nyoibou's growth, demons died and the rest were defeated by Goku's martial art skills.
Hakkai created a huge Chi Gong enough to dispose of the youkais in front of him. He leapt to a graceful somersault missing an attack from an upcoming youkai and threw down a quick Chi Gong to it. Upon landing, he heard more demons attacking from the back and turned around summoning his energy field blocking all the demons from even taking a step closer. A chained blade flew over to them killing each one. He shifted his energy field into a Chi Gong and threw it over to Gojyo's back, killing another. "Kyosukete, Gojyo."
"Chi," Gojyo turned around with a smirk. "Are they THAT in love with me?" He turned around ready to take on the mob of attackers. Once they were close enough, he unleashed his crescent blade and maneuvered the chain with the rod-part of his weapon. Those who came to attack him at the back ended up being kicked and slashed eventually.
Sanzo easily dodged the aggressive attacks of the demons. He was getting more annoyed every second. "Too many morons...!" He casted his exorcism gun and began shooting those demons close to him. His upcoming attackers, he let Goku handle them.
The leader couldn't believe his eyes. "M, masaka.!" He felt a chain entwine around him and locked by the blade at its end.
"Yareyare desu ne, Dorobou-san." Hakkai gave a mocking smile. "I guess we won, ne?"
Sanzo reloaded his gun with only one bullet and casted it on the leader. "Shine."
The leader only laughed. "Baka!! You haven't even tasted our true strength!!!" Gradually, his muscles grew and his face displayed that of a power-hungry demon's.
"Sanzo!" Goku called as all four of them watched the transformation. Slowly now, the demon grew bigger and more alien-like until the chain lost its hold, spinning lose and flying over to Gojyo, throwing the man with great impact.
"Agghhh!!!" Gojyo hit the wall and caught his balance with his weapon's support.
"Gojyo!" Hakkai called.
Finally, the transformation was complete. The shikigami resembled a huge snake with its lower body buried under the sands. His wide mouth opened creating something like a huge Chi Gong. Once enough energy was gathered, he shot this over to Sanzo.
"Hm." Sanzo smirked.
"Sanzo!" Immediately, Hakkai slid in front of Sanzo and casted his hands over to the energy sphere. When the sphere had contacted with his hand, an energy field was formed and he had saved both him and Sanzo. The energy sphere blew causing the field to weaken. Adding to that were the falling debris from the blow's impact.
Goku leapt high enough to meet the shikigami's eye level. He gave an angry cry raising his nyoibou for a strong hit when the shikigami opened his mouth and created another energy sphere. "Nani?!" He let go of his control over his body and fell down roughly as the sphere flew over to the roof causing more rocks to fall.
"Kuso!" Hakkai slid backwards. "Sanzo! I don't think I can hold any longer!!"
"Keep it that way, Hakkai!!" Gojyo charged with full speed. "Until you convince the namagusa bouzu to DO SOMETHING!!!" He threw off his chain blade over to the shikigami's head only to have the snake's fangs deflect it.
The blade ended up getting stuck on the wall.
"Shikuso!" Gojyo pulled it back and heard a mighty whoosh closing towards him. He turned to where the sound came from.
"Gojyo! Kyosukete!!" Hakkai called but it was too late, the shikigami's long tongue had thrown Gojyo off his footing.
"Gahhh!!" Gojyo dropped and slid on the floor over to the western wall.
"Teme!!!" The shikigami turned to the angry cry. The nyoibou connected loudly with his skull almost breaking it. He felt a something tear pass his chest and wind around him, locking him tight.
Gojyo held on his chain tightly while he was seated on the ground.
Goku landed perfectly on the ground. By the corner of his eye, he saw a violet aura surround Sanzo as the monk began to summon for power.
The shikigami turned to the energy field and threw off a huge energy sphere drastically decreasing the barrier's strength upon collision.
"Sh, shimata...!" Hakkai cursed feeling his arms go wobbly all the sudden. If this keeps on... "Sanzo! Hayaku!!"
Finally, Sanzo's closed eyes opened. "Makai!" He casted his hands towards the shikigami just as Hakkai had dropped the shield. "TENJO!!!"
The shikigami threw his head back as he was held tight by the sutras that came from the monk. His cry of pain was shrilling and loud.
Hakkai gathered strength and created another Chi Gong that he sent over to the shikigami. Once his Chi Gong had exploded, the shikigami had dissipitated and he was gone...
Silence enveloped the cave for a while.
"Chii~" Gojyo held on the walls for support as he stood. "Damned son of a b*tch!"
"Maa maa, Gojyo. At least we've finished him now, ne?" Hakkai approached the center as everyone gathered.
Sanzo watched Goku bend to take the crystal he once held from the ground.
"Na! There isn't anything else to do here, right?" Goku turned to Sanzo.
"Aa," Sanzo turned around and walked. "Ikuzo."
Just when everyone was walking, Hakkai stayed still. Something was not right... He gasped. "Matte!"
Everyone turned to Hakkai. They seeked for balance as the cave began to shake wildly.
"Shimata! It's a cave-in!!" Gojyo called out.
"Sanzo!" Goku turned to the monk who hurriedly looked for a way out.
Sanzo remembered the demon coming out somewhere at the side of the gate. *Then that should mean...!*
"Hayaku!!" With his best balance, Sanzo ran over to the leader's previous entrance. He was right, there was a room there. From that room, they should be able to find a way out.
And a way out they did find.
*****
Jia Guo had no idea what time it is already. Everyone was gathered to the entrance of the town and it was early morning. Her arms were crossed, she squeezed them to contain her nervousness.
"Daijoubu desu, Jia Guo." Jia Guo felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see her father smiling. She smiled back.
"NA!!!"
Jia Guo gasped and turned just as the town began to murmur. She began to see four figures approaching.
Goku was happily waving the chunk of crystal he took.
Relief surged into Jia Guo's heart just as astonishment came to the town. "Minna-san!" She jogged over to them.
Goku waited for Jia Guo to arrive. When she was in front of him, he handed over to the crystal. "Here."
Jia Guo took the crystal and stared at it. She herself was amazed of these men's skills. She nodded at them and rushed back home.
*****
Hakkai entered the room where he once found Hakuryu and saw that Jia Guo was already serving a bowl of water mixed with the pulverized crystal to the dragon. The other three came behind him.
When Jia Guo had settled the empty bowl aside, Hakuryu's closed eyes had opened. "Kyu, u...!" He saw the four people by the doorway.
A smile grew on Goku's face. "Hakuryu!!"
Hakkai was the happiest of all. "Yokatta...Hakuryu!"
Hakuryu blinked. "Kyu~"
*****
It was the next day.
"Are you sure there really isn't anything else we can help you with?" Jia Guo's father asked Sanzo who sat alone in Jiipu. Hakkai, Goku and Gojyo were busy placing the town souvenirs in the green vehicle.
Sanzo shook his head. "Nai."
"The goods are more than enough!" Hakkai smiled kindly at the old man.
"Mm!" Goku nodded. "Sankyu!"
Jia Guo approached the group. "Thank you for saving the town!"
Gojyo twitched a grin. "Saving...?"
Sanzo faced the townspeople witnessing their leave. "We didn't save the town. We just fought for ourselves."
"They just got in the way of our journey." Gojyo grinned before he hopped over to his place in Jiipu and were followed by Hakkai then Goku.
Jia Guo blinked. "A, anou...?"
Soon, farewells were exchanged and the green jeep of mismatched people had headed off towards the west.
+owari~+
Disclaimer: Kazuya Minekura created Gensomaden Saiyuki and therefore owns it. I only own the idea. ^^;; And the sub characters! :D
*****
"I didn't like the shrimp." A thief said.
"Neither did I." Another responded. They were asked to guard the loot they have in the tented carriage. The feast was still going on in the town.
"What about that roasted pig?"
"I like the roasted duck better."
"Really?? So did I!"
"Psst!"
"Heh?" The two thieves turned to the outside.
No one was there.
"Pssst!" It came again.
"Who the hell?"
"Pssst!!"
"Stay here, I'll go check." A thief bent to leave the carriage. He stood outside and looked around, hands on waist.
"That might be Mitsu." The other thief stayed and leaned against the tent's frame.
"Mitsu?? Shimata--" The thief who checked was entwined with a chain and dragged.
The thief inside gasped when he heard one final cry from his friend. "Mitsushi!" He leapt out of the tent. "Mitsushi--urk!" He felt a blade pass through him but there was no one in front, just a chain. He dropped to the ground, dead.
Goku leapt into the tent after getting the black cloths from the two exterminated thieves. "Na! There's a lot of stolen goods here!"
"They're probably stolen while the feast was going on." Gojyo busied himself by dragging the corpses to a hiding place he and Goku made. He climbed in next, a paper bag held. He sat down on the floor and settled the bag. Opening it, he carried out a small canister of paint and a paintbrush. "Sit down, Bakasaru." He held the canister with one hand and carefully lifted the lid with another.
"Are?" Goku plopped to an Indian sit. "Na, Gojyo, what are you doing?"
"I'm gonna paint you, saru." Gojyo dipped the brush in the paint and mixed it.
"P, paint?!"
"Identical youkai birthmarks, Bakasaru." Gojyo leaned forward.
"No way!" Goku leaned backward. "I'm not gonna let you make me look like a saru, Ero Kappa!"
"Ba-ka, Kono Bakasaru! I don't want this to take any longer. If Hakuryu dies, we're gonna walk all the way to the west! You want that, saru??"
Goku blinked. By the tone of Gojyo's voice, he seemed serious.
But then again, how many times had Gojyo fooled him?
Goku sighed. He had to content himself with what he thought Gojyo is thinking. So he leaned forward. He winked one eye as he felt the brush move horizontally across his nose bridge. The wind had made the dull teal- colored paint cold.
Gojyo didn't do much design. He just painted across and made it look like it was inborn and that was it. He faced the butt of the brush to Goku, handing it to him. "Now you do mine." When Goku took it and looked at it curiously, he removed his bandana upwards and wore it around Goku's headband rather roughly.
"Oi! What are you doing?!" Goku felt his head continuously being pushed down as the bandana was put on him. He had only been able to glare after Gojyo had finished.
"Orders from the Bakabouzu." Gojyo now took his black band from his pocket and gathered his hair to a tie.
"I don't believe you. You wouldn't follow it if it was Sanzo's."
"Favor from Hakkai."
"Ohhh..." Goku nodded and took the canister from Gojyo's part of the floor, dipping the brush into it. It was done rather childishly, a quarter of it getting dipped along.
Gojyo leaned forward after tying his hair, ready for the design. His rested his elbows on his legs. "Be creative, saru. Don't imitate the same design I drew on you."
"Teme, Ero Kappa! I don't even know what it looks like."
"Chi! Ba-ka!" Gojyo felt the brush on his face. The design was almost the same as Goku's, only that there is a break on his nose bridge.
"Na, Gojyo,"
"Nani?"
"Do you think this paint would come off easily?" Goku kept the set and tossed over the black cloths to Gojyo.
Gojyo caught the two things and shrugged. "How should I know? Sanzo just bought these." He identified which was the mask before he wore the both of them.
Goku imitated the same action.
"Oi!"
Gojyo and Goku turned to look outside. Just then, two men with tied hands were thrown roughly to the floor.
Goku gasped. "Sanzo!"
"What did you say?!" The thief outside demanded.
Goku gulped. "O, ore?!"
"He's just surprised to see a sanzo, that's all." Gojyo glared at Goku after he had covered the boy up.
"Whatever!" The thief shook it off. "These two people tackled on our brother. They're gonna be taken to custody, understand?!" The demon left.
Gojyo shrugged and turned to the moving bodies. "Just in time, namagusa bouzu."
"Urusai," Sanzo, though a bit disturbed by the rope around his wrists, was able to sit up. Hakkai had no problem at all. "How long have you waited?"
"We just got done making up."
"Chi! Slow people."
"Speak for yourself, bouzu."
"Maa maa, minna. Let's be silent, ne?" Hakkai spoke with a smiling face on. "We don't want to be found."
"Na, Hakkai,"
"Hai?" Hakkai turned to Goku.
"How's Hakuryu?"
"Jia Guo-san is with him."
Sanzo heard footsteps coming. "Here they come." He lied down, facing the outside.
Hakkai bowed his head and slouched as though he was weak.
Gojyo felt the vehicle move and just looked at the outside. He felt eyes on him and turned to see the blond monk looking at him. He smirked, though it was hidden under his mask. "Chi, have to do the dirty job, eh?" He whispered before he crawled close to the driver. "Oi, you know the place where the antidote is?"
"Antidote?? What antidote??" The driver glanced at him but kept his focus on driving.
"The antidote! You know, the cure when you-- we bite?"
"Scratch, you dead cockroach!"
"Scratch, I meant!" Gojyo shook off Sanzo's whispered insult.
"Oh! That." The driver finally said. "It's in the end of the cave. Why do you ask?"
"Are?" Gojyo blinked. *Chi! Inquisitive idiot.*
"Anou.we're asked to check it. Y'know, Zaru and I." Gojyo winked at Goku who glared back at him.
"Teme.!" Goku hissed.
"Really?" The driver asked again. "Whose orders?"
Gojyo gulped. "W, who? Th, the leader!"
"Eh?"
"Him! Y'know??"
"Oh! Him? Okay."
Gojyo leaned against the baskets of loot and sighed in relief. "That nearly got me." He whispered.
"Omedetou, Gojyo." Hakkai whispered back to him with a smile.
"So! How's your family?" The driver's teen voice surprised Gojyo and made the latter turn to him.
"A, are?? Ore no.?" Gojyo looked at his friends. Hakkai was chuckling, Goku was holding his laughter and Sanzo was smirking.
"Kawaisou na youkai." Sanzo whispered, enjoying Gojyo's surprise.
Gojyo lifted his left hand's middle finger and finally engaged into a friendly conversation with the driver.
*****
"Well! Here we are." The driver pulled to a stop in front of a cave. Torches were lit on the walls. It wasn't anything big, but good enough for a pack of thieves to hide in.
Hakkai moved forward and leaned over to the driver. "Arigatou gozaimasu."
The driver turned around. "Dou itashimashite--Oi! Omae wa--urk!"
Before the driver could even complete his sentence, Hakkai had knocked him out with the pinky side of his right hand. "Gomen nasai, demo, it's better than getting shot, ne?"
"Na, he WAS a nice guy." Gojyo shrugged.
Sanzo sat up from his lying position. "Ikuzo." He looked for the rope he had untied along the trip and handed them to Goku.
"Are?" Goku took the rope and saw Sanzo offer his hands to Goku at the back, ready to be tied once more. "Anou.hai." He began to set to work just as Gojyo did to Hakkai.
Sanzo stood to a crouch and left the tent. He hopped down with Goku holding his wrist. Making sure everyone was with him, he started his way towards the cave.
*****
Pass the tight archway was the wide dead end of the cave where the deposit of antidotes was found.
Hakkai waited for Gojyo to undo his rope before he approached the crystals attached to the walls. "Sou ka, so these are the antidotes."
"Hontou ni?" Gojyo followed. "Crystals?" He knelt in front of one.
"We probably have to pulverize it."
"Goku," Sanzo turned to the boy. "Get a chunk."
Goku nodded and approached the west most crystals. He found them easier to pull off since they're at the end. "Na, I smell blood somewhere." He grabbed hold of the crystals and pulled a huge chunk of it off.
"That's nothing for us to know. Ikuzo." Sanzo turned around. Just when everyone was about to leave, an iron gate slammed close on the opening.
"Shimata." Hakkai hissed as he heard laughs and cackles in the room.
"They found us?!" Gojyo was battle-ready even though no shakujou was revealed. All four of them were approaching each other's backs.
"Minna!" Goku pointed to the side of the gate where a demon with dull-teal skin and long black hair approached the center.
"Welcome!" The leader greeted. "You should be proud of yourselves after successfully trespassing into our territory."
Sanzo heard the three demons behind him ready their offenses but he just stood, unthreatened by the leader's presence.
"Demo! This is as far as you can go, Genjo Sanzo." The leader gave an evil smile.
"Na, Sanzo," Goku whispered. "Could he be.?"
"Another one of Kougaiji's assassins." Sanzo finished.
The leader went on. "As you can seen, these crystals are very precious to us. These crystals came from the blood of humans, demons and shikigamis fossilized for centuries!" Slowly now, the demons revealed themselves.
"Sou ka...that's why I smell blood!" Goku hissed.
"Yes, yes, that's right!" The leader approached them. "And you'll just be another one of them!"
"I've had enough of your impudent talk." Sanzo wielded his exorcism gun and turned around shooting a demon who was ready to attack.
Goku gave a battle cry and charged towards the demons close to the wall. He threw everyone of them off with his kicks and punches and nyoibou. Some of them, he killed by thrusting his trusty weapon over to their chests. "Stretch out! Nyoibou~" He called casting his hand to the opposite end of the room. Upon his nyoibou's growth, demons died and the rest were defeated by Goku's martial art skills.
Hakkai created a huge Chi Gong enough to dispose of the youkais in front of him. He leapt to a graceful somersault missing an attack from an upcoming youkai and threw down a quick Chi Gong to it. Upon landing, he heard more demons attacking from the back and turned around summoning his energy field blocking all the demons from even taking a step closer. A chained blade flew over to them killing each one. He shifted his energy field into a Chi Gong and threw it over to Gojyo's back, killing another. "Kyosukete, Gojyo."
"Chi," Gojyo turned around with a smirk. "Are they THAT in love with me?" He turned around ready to take on the mob of attackers. Once they were close enough, he unleashed his crescent blade and maneuvered the chain with the rod-part of his weapon. Those who came to attack him at the back ended up being kicked and slashed eventually.
Sanzo easily dodged the aggressive attacks of the demons. He was getting more annoyed every second. "Too many morons...!" He casted his exorcism gun and began shooting those demons close to him. His upcoming attackers, he let Goku handle them.
The leader couldn't believe his eyes. "M, masaka.!" He felt a chain entwine around him and locked by the blade at its end.
"Yareyare desu ne, Dorobou-san." Hakkai gave a mocking smile. "I guess we won, ne?"
Sanzo reloaded his gun with only one bullet and casted it on the leader. "Shine."
The leader only laughed. "Baka!! You haven't even tasted our true strength!!!" Gradually, his muscles grew and his face displayed that of a power-hungry demon's.
"Sanzo!" Goku called as all four of them watched the transformation. Slowly now, the demon grew bigger and more alien-like until the chain lost its hold, spinning lose and flying over to Gojyo, throwing the man with great impact.
"Agghhh!!!" Gojyo hit the wall and caught his balance with his weapon's support.
"Gojyo!" Hakkai called.
Finally, the transformation was complete. The shikigami resembled a huge snake with its lower body buried under the sands. His wide mouth opened creating something like a huge Chi Gong. Once enough energy was gathered, he shot this over to Sanzo.
"Hm." Sanzo smirked.
"Sanzo!" Immediately, Hakkai slid in front of Sanzo and casted his hands over to the energy sphere. When the sphere had contacted with his hand, an energy field was formed and he had saved both him and Sanzo. The energy sphere blew causing the field to weaken. Adding to that were the falling debris from the blow's impact.
Goku leapt high enough to meet the shikigami's eye level. He gave an angry cry raising his nyoibou for a strong hit when the shikigami opened his mouth and created another energy sphere. "Nani?!" He let go of his control over his body and fell down roughly as the sphere flew over to the roof causing more rocks to fall.
"Kuso!" Hakkai slid backwards. "Sanzo! I don't think I can hold any longer!!"
"Keep it that way, Hakkai!!" Gojyo charged with full speed. "Until you convince the namagusa bouzu to DO SOMETHING!!!" He threw off his chain blade over to the shikigami's head only to have the snake's fangs deflect it.
The blade ended up getting stuck on the wall.
"Shikuso!" Gojyo pulled it back and heard a mighty whoosh closing towards him. He turned to where the sound came from.
"Gojyo! Kyosukete!!" Hakkai called but it was too late, the shikigami's long tongue had thrown Gojyo off his footing.
"Gahhh!!" Gojyo dropped and slid on the floor over to the western wall.
"Teme!!!" The shikigami turned to the angry cry. The nyoibou connected loudly with his skull almost breaking it. He felt a something tear pass his chest and wind around him, locking him tight.
Gojyo held on his chain tightly while he was seated on the ground.
Goku landed perfectly on the ground. By the corner of his eye, he saw a violet aura surround Sanzo as the monk began to summon for power.
The shikigami turned to the energy field and threw off a huge energy sphere drastically decreasing the barrier's strength upon collision.
"Sh, shimata...!" Hakkai cursed feeling his arms go wobbly all the sudden. If this keeps on... "Sanzo! Hayaku!!"
Finally, Sanzo's closed eyes opened. "Makai!" He casted his hands towards the shikigami just as Hakkai had dropped the shield. "TENJO!!!"
The shikigami threw his head back as he was held tight by the sutras that came from the monk. His cry of pain was shrilling and loud.
Hakkai gathered strength and created another Chi Gong that he sent over to the shikigami. Once his Chi Gong had exploded, the shikigami had dissipitated and he was gone...
Silence enveloped the cave for a while.
"Chii~" Gojyo held on the walls for support as he stood. "Damned son of a b*tch!"
"Maa maa, Gojyo. At least we've finished him now, ne?" Hakkai approached the center as everyone gathered.
Sanzo watched Goku bend to take the crystal he once held from the ground.
"Na! There isn't anything else to do here, right?" Goku turned to Sanzo.
"Aa," Sanzo turned around and walked. "Ikuzo."
Just when everyone was walking, Hakkai stayed still. Something was not right... He gasped. "Matte!"
Everyone turned to Hakkai. They seeked for balance as the cave began to shake wildly.
"Shimata! It's a cave-in!!" Gojyo called out.
"Sanzo!" Goku turned to the monk who hurriedly looked for a way out.
Sanzo remembered the demon coming out somewhere at the side of the gate. *Then that should mean...!*
"Hayaku!!" With his best balance, Sanzo ran over to the leader's previous entrance. He was right, there was a room there. From that room, they should be able to find a way out.
And a way out they did find.
*****
Jia Guo had no idea what time it is already. Everyone was gathered to the entrance of the town and it was early morning. Her arms were crossed, she squeezed them to contain her nervousness.
"Daijoubu desu, Jia Guo." Jia Guo felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see her father smiling. She smiled back.
"NA!!!"
Jia Guo gasped and turned just as the town began to murmur. She began to see four figures approaching.
Goku was happily waving the chunk of crystal he took.
Relief surged into Jia Guo's heart just as astonishment came to the town. "Minna-san!" She jogged over to them.
Goku waited for Jia Guo to arrive. When she was in front of him, he handed over to the crystal. "Here."
Jia Guo took the crystal and stared at it. She herself was amazed of these men's skills. She nodded at them and rushed back home.
*****
Hakkai entered the room where he once found Hakuryu and saw that Jia Guo was already serving a bowl of water mixed with the pulverized crystal to the dragon. The other three came behind him.
When Jia Guo had settled the empty bowl aside, Hakuryu's closed eyes had opened. "Kyu, u...!" He saw the four people by the doorway.
A smile grew on Goku's face. "Hakuryu!!"
Hakkai was the happiest of all. "Yokatta...Hakuryu!"
Hakuryu blinked. "Kyu~"
*****
It was the next day.
"Are you sure there really isn't anything else we can help you with?" Jia Guo's father asked Sanzo who sat alone in Jiipu. Hakkai, Goku and Gojyo were busy placing the town souvenirs in the green vehicle.
Sanzo shook his head. "Nai."
"The goods are more than enough!" Hakkai smiled kindly at the old man.
"Mm!" Goku nodded. "Sankyu!"
Jia Guo approached the group. "Thank you for saving the town!"
Gojyo twitched a grin. "Saving...?"
Sanzo faced the townspeople witnessing their leave. "We didn't save the town. We just fought for ourselves."
"They just got in the way of our journey." Gojyo grinned before he hopped over to his place in Jiipu and were followed by Hakkai then Goku.
Jia Guo blinked. "A, anou...?"
Soon, farewells were exchanged and the green jeep of mismatched people had headed off towards the west.
+owari~+