Disclaimer applies to everything
3 January 2003
Author's note: Sorry bout the delay… got caught up in stuff! Anyway, here's th sixth chapter, hope you guys can read n review, thanx everybody who gave good comments, really appreciate it!
At that moment Sarra felt it – the Gate's malicious fingers creeping into her mind. Damn! She cursed inwardly and quickly cleared her brain from the foggy sensations she was feeling. Apparently Sanzo sensed it too, because his look had changed to his usual sullen face. Sarra looked up at his face calmly. "I think I'm warm enough now, thank you."
Sanzo made an impatient noise. He let her go, feeling the cold water fill in the warm space between them. "Tell that pet of your to keep his fangs to himself."
'Too bad." Sarra climbed out of the water. "He likes perverts."
Sanzo did not answer. He did not reply to the word 'pervert'. He slowly slid back into the water and swam back towards the hole.
Sarra watched him go. Part of her wanted to pull him back – the other wanted to give him a beating for intervening her private space. The little voice in her told her that he was dangerous… the little encounter easily tipped her balance, and The Gate tried to take over again. Darn, she clenched her fists, I can't let relax my control at all!
Sometimes she wondered why was she cursed with this Gate… why she had to train herself to be cruel, why she couldn't enjoy life like other Guardians…Other Gates helped their Keepers, but her Gate was about the nastiest of the lot. And the most powerful.
Mara entered his office. Inside, a thin, pale woman awaited with a scroll in her hand. Mara looked at her expectantly. "Well?"
The woman, the Secretary of the Guardians, bowed low. "Sorceress Medea has sent word that she is ready to meet you, the coming full moon, Lord Mara."
'Good." Mara nodded briskly.
"And she has added that there will be an additional number to our party this time… a powerful Sorcerer that calls himself Sorcerer Kikuri."
Mara furrowed his brow. "He's unknown to me."
"Sorceress Medea explains no further."
Mara leaned back in his chair. A new Sorcerer? Medea would not trust anyone, unless he is powerful enough to aid their plan.
Their Plan.
Control of Dyraa and the elimination of the Guardians. Without them, this realm would fall at his feet. Mara snorted. He maybe titled Lord of the Realm, but he wasn't the strongest Guardian. Even Ryudell was stronger than him, but the ultimate power lay in Nigaki. The 7000 year old Guardian, whose powers surpassed any other. His power, the Gate of Life, enabled him to live longer, possibly even immortal. Nigaki was the one who gave him the title, but it was also Nigaki who oversaw every decision.
No more, swore Mara. No more shall I follow that man's words. I shall reclaim what is supposed to be mine. Unfortunately, setbacks are everywhere. And now, the appearance of the Mercenary of Death. Who would have thought that that little girl who appeared powerless could turn out to be the biggest threat? She alone could destroy the whole realm if she wished – but she was a Guardian, and she upheld her vows. Well, Mara smiled evilly, Her, Nigaki and Ryudell were the only ones who posed trouble. The other Guardians had no vision, no principals, living on the name of the Guardians. They would serve him out of fear.
The thought gave him pleasure. But again, unexpected things have happened… the four people who came from another dimension. They seem to be a plain lot, but all the same he didn't want them around. The sooner they return to their dimension the better. Or better still…
"Wow, for someone who can't stand water, you were pretty good," Gojyo grinned as Sanzo resurfaced back in the rock pool. Judging by the innocent look, Sanzo guessed Gojyo didn't have a hint of what had happened. He was about to retaliate with an appropriate retort when he heard it – thudding footsteps like an elephant, and –
"SANZO!!!!" Goku yelled and leapt high and executed a somersault.
It was lucky Sanzo shut his mouth quickly because Goku came crashing down and sent a wave washing over Sanzo. The latter could merely stagger back to the edge of the pond.
'Ah, Sanzo, I brought towels…" Hakkai came around, but stopped in blank amazement. "Why are you dressed?"
Sanzo refused to answer, instead he snatched a towel and walked back inside. He heard Gojyo's strangled laughter though, and kept in mind to deliver a bullet the next time the redhead caused trouble. So engrossed were his thoughts that he didn't realize that he had made a wrong turning somewhere and ended up in a different chamber. He stopped and stared.
It was a room similar to his, but filled with runes and patterns that he supposed must be magical. In the center of the room was a table, and a women lay on it, seemingly fast asleep. But he noticed that she sported bandages on several parts of her body.
"Hey you, what are you doing here???"
The demand made him turn around. Judging by the sparkling red chakra on his forehead, the person must be a guardian. His offender changed once he saw who it was. "Priest Sanzo?"
Sanzo did not reply. He motioned to the sleeping figure. 'Who's that?"
"Ah, that is Mistress Ryudell," he smiled. "As you can see, she is still unconscious. Pray have patience, we are trying very hard to restore her health."
Sanzo approached the figure. He felt it - the nearer he got, the more intense the atmosphere became. "What is this? Magic?" he looked around the room.
"Protection spells," the Guardian replied proudly. "And of course, healing ones. They're strong enough, of course – " he paused, and then added as an afterthought, "But Mistress Sarra still insists on assisting to heal Mistress Ryudell."
"Assist?" Sanzo wondered. "Isn't she the Guardian of Death?"
'Well, yes, and that makes it all the better, doesn't it? She can absorb people's injuries as her own, as she won't die easily." The Guardian explained. Sanzo nodded a little. He remembered the night when Goku was poisoned, and he realized that the shaking wasn't just overtaxed body, but the pain…
"Excuse me, Priest Sanzo, but this is actually a restricted area, may I accompany you out?"
Sanzo did not reply. He simply excused himself. When he finally found his room again, everybody was ready. "Ah, Sanzo, what took you?" Hakkai had laid out his sakaya on the bed. Gojyo and Goku were playing bridge. Sanzo's sharp eyes caught Gojyo trying to pull a fake card on the monkey, but apparently Goku saw it, and soon they were engaged in a fight again.
"Ah, Sanzo, you're going to dirty your robes again," Hakkai countered cheerfully when Sanzo cursed loudly because his warning shots brought bits of cobwebs and dust onto his head. After that the room became relatively quiet again, because Gojyo went outside to scout some chicks, and Sanzo reread yesterday's newspaper. Goku, out of boredom went to play with some of the apprentices. "Don't hurt them," Hakkai called after him. For a boy of eighteen, Goku had the strength of fifty men.
All too soon the shadows crossed the sky and the activity in the Citadel dwindled as everybody exited outside. An apprentice came to their room. "Masters, Lord Mara invites you to the ordination ceremony. He awaits you at the hall."
"Sanzo, hurry, let's go down!" Goku tugged at Sanzo's sakaya. "I smell roast pig… or something like roast pig…"
"I think it's roasted monkey," teased Gojyo. "Or something like monkey,"
'Shut it, you." Sanzo thwacked both of them unceremoniously. He glanced outside the window. Outside, torches have been lit and he saw that a stage had been erected facing a sand arena. They followed the apprentice down to the entrance.
Not just Lord Mara. Standing next to him was Nigaki, resplendent in a shining silver robe and sword, and next to him, was Sarra. She certainly looks like the Death Mercenary, thought Gojyo eerily as he surveyed her attire. She wore robes of a deep black fringed with gold thread, and she carried a polished spear – the same one she used to threaten Sanzo on their first encounter. Mara was his usual jovial self. "Is everyone here? Good," He motioned for Sarra to walk in front. Nigaki waited on the four friends. "Sarra will lead the procession… That way she can prevent anything or anyone that might attack Lord Mara," Nigaki explained. True enough, Sarra lead the procession, but anyone could see she had no impression for it whatsoever. They climbed the platform and soon they were seated, except Sarra and Nigaki. They stood at either end of the platform, on guard. The other Guardians mulled around the lower platform, enjoying the show.
"What kind of crap did you force me into?" hissed Sanzo to Hakkai, a little over half an hour into the program. The ordination began with oaths, and little mock fights that was really dull. After about an hour, even Goku was sleepy. 'Sanzo, I'm sleepy. And hungry. When are we gonna eat?" He whined sleepily. Even Sanzo hadn't the heart to whack his head.
"Good," Mara nodded after a while. "Only four left? Excellent. Time for the grand finale then," He rose and the whole arena fell silent. He surveyed the four survivors intently. "I congratulate you on your splendid performance. However, these is one last task for you… and in this final bout, only one will emerge the winner. The remaining three will serve as instructors at the Citadel. Fight!' He boomed. "Fight for your place as a Guardian! Now," He turned to Sarra, who swept forward silently and jumped down from the platform, landing easily. She faced the four young boys with no expression at all, while the four, observed Sanzo, were practically quaking in fear.
"Mistress Sarra, Guardian of Death," Mara intoned solemnly. Then he chuckled. "Never fear, she won't attack you. In fact, you must do your best to attack her – " Sarra held out a long chain, at the end which was attached a golden key; "And try to take the key away from her. Mistress Sarra will make no move to harm you, only to defend and evade. Is everybody clear? Good. BEGIN!!!!"
The four apprentices were hesitant, but one quickly gathered his wits and lunged at Sarra. The latter lazily dodged. "Too slow."
Another, and another, but Neither could lay even a hair on Sarra. She hardly left the ground, instead crouched, bent, swevered and generally looked like a flexible pole which no one could hit. Realizing that private attacks were worthless, the four combined attacks, and this time they used magic. Sarra calmly deflected each spell, all the while looking quite bored. It was then did she hear it – a loud roar, and suddenly one part of the audience were engulfed in flames. Sarra quickly looked upwards.
A huge dragon-like creature was hovering above them, visible in the bright light. Sarra thrust her arm upwards and sent a bolt of energy sizzling through the air and hit right on target. To her enormous surprise, there seemed to be no damage. She wheeled around the the platform, where Nigaki was ready with his sword. 'Nigaki! Protect Lord Mara and the others!"
Nigaki understood. He turned to Sanzo, but to his horror they had disappeared. He rushed to the barriers and looked down – "Priest Sanzo!"
Sanzo halted in his steps, but Gojyo, Goku and Hakkai kept on running. "We don't need protection," He cocked his gun and continued running.
"Nyoi-Bou!" Goku summoned his faithful staff and jumped high into the air. Sarra meanwhile was directly below it. A Red Fang, she thought. Medea's creature. Goku swung his staff hard, but the creature was quick to dodge. It caught sight of Sanzo on the ground and suddenly burst a stream of flames at the monk.
"Watch out!" Hakkai rushed to the rescue. His barrier just saved Sanzo from becoming charred flesh. Sanzo growled and fired a shot at the Red Fang. Sarra quickly summoned the Gate to her aid.
Meanwhile there was another commotion. "Medea's men are swarming the grounds!" yelled a Guardian. Sanzo turned to Hakkai. "Go and help the others. Me and Goku will take care of this thing."
Hakkai nodded. Nigaki followed suit, and so did Gojyo.
Sarra channeled the Gate's power to her spear, and threw it at the Red Fang. "Goku, get out of the way!"
Goku
quckly jumped away just as the spear hit the Red Fang's neck. With a scream, it whitered… and nearly 5
tonnes of scale and flesh plummeted to the ground. From her view, Sarra saw what Goku could not see – "SANZO!!!"
"Wha – Sanzo!" Goku
screamed. Sanoz heard it all, but he
knew too… he was directly under the thing.
Shit, I'm not gonna die, he cursed, but he couldn't escape. He looked up and could just stare at the
falling creature…and then it hit something and bounced off, 100 meters
away. Sanzo looked around and saw Sarra
standing near him, arms outstrethed.
She had formed a barrier in the nick of time. But clearly she didn't expect the thing to be so heavy. She was wincing in pain.
"You're okay?" Sanzo asked. Sarra did not answer. "We still have company."
In the moment of the aftermath, almost a hundred of Medea's men had surrounded the. Sanzo and Sarra glared at them. "They're trained in magic." Sarra observed. Sanzo snorted. "Magic or not, anybody who gets in my way will die."
"Right on, corrupt monk," drawled a voice and in a split second ten or so of their attacker were thrown high into the air.
Hhaki came through, with Gojyo, and soo they had formed a circle facing outwards. "Sanzo, I'm hungry," whined Goku. Gojyo playfully hit him. "Get through this first, you idiot!"
"EH? Is that it?!" Goku grinned mischevously. "Then, what are we waiting for?"
