Fatherhood Chapter 5

"He left?" Azami stared stunned. "When? How?" She demanded, slamming her hands flat on the table.

Juiko indifferently remained at her seat and sipped her tea. The aged eyes almost adhered against Azami's eyes, burning with determination to know the truth. Sighing heavily, she spoke tonelessly.

"Genjo left as soon as you set off to the market. He says it's for the best for everyone that he leaves. And," Lifting her chin slightly. "I agreed with him."

"What?" Glaring hard as the mountain rock. "He can't leave. Not in his condition!"

"Condition?" Juiko raised a brow. "He has completely recovered from his fever. He is armed and no doubt skilled in hand-to-hand combat. I am confident that he's able to live and die as an old man."

"That's not the issue!" Azami argued. "Physically, yes! Not mentally! He'll not survive the next fight."

"Azami, as such as I admire your spirit to help Genjo but there are things I have to step in to say no. You must not get involved with him." Juiko's stern voice hushed Azami to absolute silence. "Do you know why? Genjo is a full-pledge monk. He is a Sanzo, the highest-ranking title for a monk as marked by the red charka on his forehead. The scroll he has is one of the 5 Sutras of Heaven and Earth that is given to Sanzos only." Standing up. "As a monk, he has to abide by his vows of celibacy. That means he can't have any relationship with women, including you. Just think what would happen if the townspeople knew about you and him together! Their gossips will spread quicker than typhoon till it reached the ears of the monks in Changan Temple. To shield themselves from disgrace, they may accuse you of seducing Genjo. If they need to, they'll kill you and take Genjo somewhere else." Seeing Azami trembling. "Do you understand? For this, Genjo will have to go. I cannot afford to lose my only kin."

Gently wiping away a falling tear from Azami's cheeks. "Genjo knows the risk of his relationship with you. Even if he is released from his monk hood, he may not be the man whom you dream of him to be." Worry furrowed her brows. "He is a wanderer, consistently roaming the lands. It is who he is. Men like him will never stay permanently at one place because he knows the extensive responsibility he has to take if he chooses to settle down. Men like him are cursed to be alone."

"Alone?" Azami whispered faintly. "He doesn't have to be alone. He can have a companion." She turned and hurried walked up the stairs. Juiko, fearing the worst, followed.

"Azami, what are you doing?" Seeing the girl taking out her clothes from the cupboard. "Stop, you can't be!" Gasping. "Azami, are you mad? You can't be going after him?"

"I have to! He needs me." Stuffing them into a bag. "He needs me to be with him."

"You are young, inexperienced with men. What do you know about his thoughts?" Juiko tried reasoning with her. "Whatever feelings you have for him, it'll pass!" Gripping her arm tightly. "Think! What do you know about him? What kind of a life you will lead if you follow him? The journey will be perilous with evil creatures lurking around you. Recently, the demons are becoming more active. A young lady like you will fall prey to them!" Slightly shaking her. "Sit down and let your mind be cleared before making any reckless decisions!"

"I already have!" Roughly breaking away from Juiko. "I want to be with Genjo whether you like it or not!" Azami slung her bag over her shoulders, went down the stairs and out the doors. Half running, she approached the nearest horse and mounted it. Juiko appeared, panting. Her face was blustery with desperation. Leaning upon the fence, she cried out.

"Don't do it, Azami. It will only bring bitter sorrow and regret for the both of you!"

"The only regret I'll have is that I didn't try when I had the chance." Clicking her tongue, the horse neighed and began to trot. "Take care, Juiko and thank you for everything." A pull of the rein and she was carried away onto the main road and soon, fading into the surroundings.

Dismayed, Juiko fell onto her knees, her face cupped into her hands. In between sobs, she prayed.

If gods truly exist, please let Genjo bring her back to me. For where's he going....

Demons. They were everywhere, all around him, chasing him like nails to a magnet. Although they came in numerous forms with bountiful sorcery techniques, their thoughts were one – a Sanzo had to die at all costs. Hiding low beneath the bushes, Sanzo surveyed the area for them. Like he expected, they were lying low in their hideous wolves form. Down on his belly, he crawled his way towards them. Stained in mud, he crept up to a fallen truck and stayed very still as he studied this breed of demons.

Almost on all fours, they sniffed the grass and the roots as their muscular limbs stamped over the delicate mushrooms, smashing them to pulp. The blackish silver fur coiled around the beastly body and powerfully built legs, their faces ugly red like raw flesh and thick saliva was dripping out of its jaws. Gleaming lime eyes were searching for its preys as its scaly tail swished the soil. Their claws scratched the tender tree barks, leaving behind brownish unsightly scars. One of them lifted its pointed nose and sniffed in the air. Opening its protruding jaws, it gave a shrill cry, sending a chill down Sanzo's spine. Then, all was quiet and still.

Sanzo frowned at their behaviour. The wolf demons were not continuing their pursuit. Instead, they were lying down, their heads on the ground, their ears bent low like they were sleeping. Siesta time? Impossible! It should be a trap to catch him in his most unaware moment.

You are safe. You are safe here…

Sanzo shook his head furiously. No, I shouldn't be thinking about her at a crucial time like this! Focus, Genjo Sanzo! Focus!

I'm falling in love with you, Genjo...

How could she fall in love with a man like me? I cannot bring her happiness.

Nobody is going to hurt you anymore...

Your feelings for me are hurting me.

Stay with me...

I can't! There is no place for me. There never will be.

Suddenly, a deep hungry growl shattered his thoughts. An odious stench clouded above him. Sanzo didn't have to turn to find out.

In a breath, the demon swept its paw and tossed Sanzo aside, making him crashed into the trees. He threw up blood and saliva. Launching forward, the demon rammed Sanzo in the midsection. Cursing, he held out his gun to shoot but another demon jumped in and bit his wrist. The gun fell into the second demon's jaws and the demon flung it away where it skidded and clattered against a tree. The first demon stood on its hind legs, reached out and took Sanzo by his shirtfront, dragged him forward and head butt. The blow snapped Sanzo backward, leaving him blinded and stunned. Biting his shirtfront, he held him suspended in the air and threw him down, sending him sprawling onto the ground. A ripped piece of the shirt dangled loosely in its teeth. The demon spat it out and roared for its comrades to come.

Half-dazed and bleeding profusely, Sanzo crawled to his feet, battling against the menacing dizziness. Soon, he heard the other demons coming. The ground shuddered under their enormous weight. The air around him was dense with their loathsome bloodlust. Between the blurred and defined images, he saw the dim gleaming of his gun hidden among the tall grasses. Biting his lower lip, he forced himself to stand up, bearing with the pain. The wolf demons gnarled at him as they advanced towards him. Sanzo smirked.

"Come and get me, filthy beasts," He taunted. "Let's see if my flesh can make you immortal."

Snarling, one wolf demon jumped forward. Sanzo whirled and kicked the demon in the stomach. Acting quickly, he stepped on its back and leveraged himself up in the mid air, barely evading the others. Rolling on the ground, he grabbed his gun and shot them from behind. Some were hit and they evaporated into black vapour, howling in defeat. The survivors became vicious, their speed fasten so much that Sanzo hardly had time to aim properly. Cursing, Sanzo ran towards the river as he blasted the bullets aimlessly. The wolf demons were hotly behind him, avoiding the fiery bullets endlessly.

Then, one of them leaped forward and knocked him flat to the riverbed with its massive weight. Its jaws firmly bit Sanzo's right shoulder. Sanzo winced in pain at the tearing of his shoulder. The river was soaking him, dragging him in its watery chains. More of the wolf demons came and threw themselves onto him, sinking their jaws into his flesh, sucking his blood, zapping him the life out of him. Numbness and shock flooded through his body. Lightening flashes swept past him like a roller coaster ride, turning him into lead. Everything around him was becoming red and was falling apart.

All of a sudden, loud thunderous shot sliced through the air, followed by high-pitched shrieks. The crushing weight vanished. Someone flashed in front of him and pulled him out of his watery grave. A fair maiden with chestnut hair was calling out to him in his trance. Engulfed by exhaustion, he fell into the icy cold darkness.

When he awoke, he saw the ceiling fan again, spinning its blades slowly. He could smell the herbal incense from a table and feel the soft wet towel upon his forehead. Slowly, he attempted to get up but barely an inch; an electrocuting pain clouted him flat on his back. Sucking in air in thin wisps, Sanzo feebly complied his body and laid still. Turning his head, he saw the lavender wisps of herbal incense twisting and turning as if it was telling him that he was lucky to be alive.

But who could have saved him?

Just then, the door opened and an elderly man walked in. Someone else was by his side.

"Azami?" Sanzo's face twisted with pain, slumping back onto the bed. "What are you doing here?"

"You are very fortunate that Azami has found you just in time," The elderly man spoke. "A lone traveler like you is no match against the wolf demons. In fact, nobody dares to take that route to here. You must be out of your mind to use a puny gun. What we use is a good old shotgun. It damages them more." Inserting more herbal incense into the ashtray. "Nevertheless, you are still alive. I'll leave you two alone now. Don't worry about Juiko, Azami. She's an old friend. I'll send her a messenger dove to let her know that you are with me."

"Arigatou, Shinko-san."

The moment the door was closed. Sanzo parted his lips but Azami was faster and spoke out first.

"What the hell do you think you are doing, going to the Wolf demon forest by yourself?" Her voice rose higher. "Are you intending to commit suicide by letting the demons tear you apart? You are an idiot, you know that!" Acorn eyes turned misty. "You shouldn't have leaved me. If you wanted to go, at least say a decent goodbye to me."

Sanzo opened his mouth to speak but paused at the sight of Azami's teary face. The tears gnawed into his heart with guilt. He didn't mean to make her cry. He didn't mean to hurt her. What could he do to ease her? Without thought, he reached out and fondled one side of her cheeks. She cupped his hand and held it tightly.

"Gomen (Sorry)." He said sincerely. "I didn't mean to make you cry but believe me, if there's a way, I'll take you with me. Even if it has to be in the next life."

"Then, take me with you," Azami bent closer, strands of her chestnut hair brushed against his face. "In this life and the next."

"You do not know what you're asking," Sanzo replied almost inaudibly as her fragrance was awakening an unknown ardor in him.

Barely lifting his chin, he pressed his lips against Azami's. His cheeks tingled with the sudden gush of warmth as she went into his arms. As they lingered in each other, their tongues locked together in the honey sweetness and their fingers roamed around each other, exploring their physical differences, peeling away the obstructive clothes on them. Sanzo was getting lightheaded and his mind was dissolving at the caressing, aflame with the growing heat from both their bodies. He felt himself getting closer and closer to her, hearing the beat of her heart and her virgin moans, feeling the rise and fall of her chest and smelling her heavenly scent. The senses aroused him, making him dizzy with excitement to the point he reached the most ecstatic sensation of his life. So blissful and petrifying that he prayed that the gods would not punish him for this ignominious deed. Was there anything wrong for a man and a woman to be united as one?

A few hours later, Sanzo buckled up his pants and slipped into a shirt. Gathering his belongings, he bundled them up and slung it around his shoulder, cringing at the sharp pain of his wounds. He walked noiselessly to the bed. Azami was sound asleep, her curves outlined by the blankets. Sanzo hesitated for a moment, then reached over and gently brushed the stray strands from her foreheads. Kissing her tenderly on the lips, he said what he prayed to be his last words to her.

"Forgive and forget me."

To Be Continued


Ahem... GeneWeiß apologizes if the 'scene' was short. At any rate, it's too feverish to think of Sanzo breaking his vows of celibacy. Thanks for you suggestions for Sanzo's son's name!