Oh, but Sanzo doesn't have to do anything*grin*. I'm kidding ^^;;. And pardon me if I got Gyuu's weapon incorrectly. Its been a while since I watched my dvds. And Sanzo has boots now, according to Saiyuki RELOAD. So don't mark me down on that XP.

This chapter is Angel Sanctuary-influenced.


Messiah

by Doc(Sakura Blackwolf)

[Blood-red sunset; Ruby Sky]

'I associate love with red, the color of my heart when she's dead. Red in my mind when the jealousy flies. Red in my eyes from emotional ties. Mainpulation- the danger signs.' -- Symphony in Blue, Kate Bush

He had seen red everywhere in his life. From the scarlet sunset to this very day. And he had never seen so much until the battle with Gyuumao. Death loomed like a shadow over Tenjiku. He remembered hitting a bundle of rocks, cutting open small wounds on his back and shoulders. The demon ox king faced him, gigantic sword raised in the air. Goku's leg was sliced badly and Hakkai was trying to heal the wound. The picture blurred from white to black repeatedly. White. Black. White. Black. Light. Dark. He heard three voices ring throughout his head.

"Sanzo-!"

His head was pounding when he realized the blade was set toward him. He swore under his breath and tried to move to the side. He was sure at that speed, the blade would've at least put a cut into his shoulder on down, but instead of the sound of flesh ripping, the ring of metal against metal graced his hearing. Sanzo peered over his white-clad shoulder from where he dodged the blow that would've occured and saw Gojyo had blocked the attack. From the way the weapon was bending though, it didn't seem like the redhead would be able to at least nudge him away. Ruby eyes turned toward him and narrowed in a glare.

"What are you doing?! Get out of here!"

They all knew if Sanzo got hold of the Maten Kyomen then Gyuumao would be momentarily paralyzed by the sutra. That is, if he was able to chant the whole thing without getting killed first. The high-ranking priest caused the giant youkai a bigger threat than Seiten Taisen Son Goku would ever. Gyuumao knew that if his body was stopped, then these people could kill him for good.

So naturally he was aiming for the priest.


Sanzo shook his head clear of that surfacing memory. The youkai had succeeded in making sure he would not be able to retrieve his sutra. much to his dismay. He looked up to the ruby sky as he walked pass the damaged trees. To him, failing was not an option. He failed to protect Koumyou Sanzo, so he stopped protecting. He failed in getting back the Seiten Kyomen, so he stopped looking.

He was the only one in Togenkyou with the name 'Sanzo' now. Before there were four protectors of the sutras. Three died, and he survived. Sometimes he wondered how he mangaged to live. After every single incident he had gone through, how? Why?

The town was up ahead. He could tell even when the lights weren't on. Nobody left their lights on anymore. They were all too scared a youkai would know they were home and burst inside and kill them. A year ago, he would've said it was silly and paranoid. Nowadays, these things happen from time to time. A year ago, these people would've been laughed at for being so jumpy. But no one's laughing anymore.

The rustle of dry grass underneath his boots clicked through his ears. The rest was silence, except for the occasional bird who would pass overhead. The ruby sky faded to black. He had to keep going before it got too dark to see and too cold to move.


The blonde stuffed the new cigarette pack into his sleeve pocket and walked out into the sidewalk once more. The cement was stained with dry blood, rubbed into the pathway from traveling feet. Adjusting his robe, his heels clicked against the pavement lightly. The walkway was abandoned..or so he thought. From the alley ahead he saw a woman, who looked as if she were pregnant, on the cement. The scarlet that flowed from her body had spread out into the middle of the road. It was obvious she was dead from the blank shock in her light green eyes and the scream that died at the tip of her tongue. But Sanzo heard it loud and clear in his mind.

The sun..

yes, the sun..

the-...

the sun..-

sun..su-.

The sun...is not here...

Where is it?

The two youkai then came out of the alleyway, each holding a knife that was stained in blood. And immediately the priest knew they were running around, killing anyone on the streets. Sanzo frowned deeply when they turned and smirked at him. "What have we got here? A hot-looking monk?" He didn't respond.

"What's the matter? Shy, baby?" They laughed loudly which made the blonde even more irritated. It stopped and choked the minute a gloved fist slammed into one of the youkai's gut. The demon took a sharp breath of air, before he backed away a few careful steps and fell to his knees, trying to control the amount of air he was taking in. The other youkai growled at Sanzo and swung a punch at his head. The priest ducked and smashed an elbow into the other's chin, sending the youkai reeling and flat on his back. The youkai held onto his bleeding chin as he helped his companion to his feet as well as himself, looking cautiously at the monk when realization struck through his head.

"Y-you..! You're that guy- the one the humans have been babbling about, aren't you!?" One eyebrow raised in question but before he got an answer, more youkai came out of their hideout to surround him in a tight circle.

"We've heard about you, Messiah. We won't let you take Gyuumao down!" Gyuu's youkai? No, all youkai were servants of Gyuumao. Sanzo reached into his sleeve to light another cigarette.

"Hey! Listen you-!" The lighter clicked as the small flame popped out to burn the drug the blonde held between his teeth.

"Ch'. What a bunch of morons."

"Why you-!" A youkai stepped out of the circle to attack the priest with a knife. Sanzo stepped back and held a foot out, tripping the man. Angry growls wafted through his ears. A flash of light at his side. He dodged the dagger coming at his side and kneed the youkai in the stomach, before catching the blade that fell from the youkai's grasp by the handle. He turned around to block another's fist and slash at the wrist, then knocked him away. One mangaged to trip him, and his head spun from harsh impact. Kicking out to one of the youkai's ankles, he slammed his boot's heel into the flesh, causing a scream to echo through the area. But he was still on the ground. Before a horde of hands could grab him, he rolled on his side, stabbing in a youkai's foot with the knife he held onto for dear life. Taking advantage of the man's sudden shock of pain, he scrambled to his feet and knocked him aside to make a run for it. Fingers grazed his robes, trying to grab on and pull him back. No. No. He had to run. Run. Run. Run...!

Sometimes he wished he still had his gun.

Boots slapped against the cement as Sanzo dashed for a place to hide. A bundle of footsteps behind him. Sure, he could fight them fist to fist, but he'd rather not risk it. One, because they were armed with god knows what. Two, if he attacked one another would react the half-second later, which wouldn't be a problem if there weren't so many youkai behind him. Run. Run. Run. You can outrun a god, so surely you can outrun them.

Surely...


A beam of light was what made Sanzo and the youkai group behind him stop. He watched with violet eyes as a familar flicker of light descended down to the miserable civilization of Togenkyou. A woman, more correctly, a hermaprodite with the transparent shirt and lily-white dress. Bangles and hoops of gold that clung to her skin, seeming to weight more than the woman herself. That familar long black hair, the all-knowing blue eyes, and that smirk that seemed a little thin nowadays. Kanzeon Bosatsu waved her hand as she stood in front of the blonde.

When Gyuumao was free to roam the world, he first attacked Tenkai, the place where the war god, Nataku, slept. He crushed bulidings, leveled palaces, and slaughtered all in Tenkai, even the seemingly lifeless killing puppet. He missed a god though. Kanzeon's eyes flickered back to the youkai who were staring at her owlishly. She bid them no further attention as the woman's arms were set akimbo when she looked at Sanzo. "Ne, boy? Where are you going? Shouldn't you be searching for the rest of your motley group?"

One eyebrow raised in question. "Why should I?"

She smirked, shaking her head as if she expected that sort of answer, "Genjo Sanzo, your mission is not over. It was to stop Gyuumao from doing what he's did. You're still tacked to this assignment."

"I refuse. Get someone else." His reaction did not suprise her the least bit.

"The world needs this. While it may seem frivolous one man can change the way the future, isn't it about time some light spread upon Togenkyou?"

Sanzo's eyebrows narrowed. "I don't know where to go." That was a lie. Almost, he could hear a voice calling him from a certain direction. Almost.

"Gyuumao intended to imprison you and the rest of the Sanzo-ikkou in the directions north, south, east, and west. Genjo Sanzo, on behalf of the fallen Tenkai, I request that you continue your journey." She leaned in closer, her smile getting wider. "After all, the world needs their Messiah." A lazy wink. The blonde waded in silence, before pushing past the god. Kanzeon chuckled and turned around. "Oi. I think you'll be needing this."

Sanzo shifted and on reflex caught the Smith&Wesson revolver that was thrown to him. He shifted once more and walked away. The bodhisatva smiled before turning around once more. A knife drove itself through her chest. Strangely calm blue eyes stared at the youkai who dared to kill the last remaining heaven dweller. The man's hands twitched as he let go, sweat dripping down his face.

Lips that were painted with lipstick quivered as the blood fell to the pavement. A wry smirk crossed the woman's face as the world seemed to spin. It was so strange. Was this death..Konzen? Was this how you felt?

Blood. Blood. Blood. Dark. Dark. Dark. Cold.

Her midnight hair trembled in waves as she collapsed. So moist along her chest. And sticky. The stench of blood which she was so familar with these days entered her nostrils. How long had she been alive? Very long. Too long. Seemed like forever. The ruby sky blurred and swirled. The world was disappearing..until there was only black.


Sanzo did not want to look back. Not to more death. The stink of decay wafted overhead and somehow he knew there were no more gods left in the world.

Voices. Yes, voices...A woman's voice. Kanzeon's.

[I hate things that don't change. They bore me. Isn't that what you once said?]

[You're such a kid...]

[Isn't that right..Konzen?]

[Can you be the sun for that little child?]


Michael of the north wind, Raphael of the south, Gabriel of west, and Uriel of east. Genjo Sanzo headed north. He was going to find Sha Gojyo.

Making sure to stop by Chou An for things like fresh bullet shells and necessary supplies, the heels of his boots made contact with the dry earth as he headed from the east to the north. He had a slight suspicious of where the kappa may be. Once, he had heard of a place called the Water Garden from Koumyou. It was a place that was to originally be in the west, but was shifted to the north for reasons unknown. Koumyou told him that the garden was filled with blue and white flowers. Rivers ran through the area from a waterfall that got water from sources not known. The brunette Sanzo commented on how he wished to see it once in his life. He never got to. Besides, the Water Garden was only a rumor. There was no proof it was real.

I'm here...

Where are you?

Where?

Are you...coming?

That voice...so familar. It was not Gojyo though. It came..from the west.



When it rains, it means something awful has happened. That's what he overheard Hakkai say once to the kappa when the redhead asked him why he hated rain. When it stopped raining, that's when heaven would watch their children once again. In rain, they abandoned them to death. To Lucifer, the so-called Lord of Hell. It seemed to rain a lot. Awful things happen all the time.

Sanzo laid back against an old but very soft couch. Along the way he came across a small inn, cleverly hidden from sight with the way it was bulit and painted. Earlier in the day, the youkai from before had found him again. This time with his gun he was able to send them to kingdom come. Rubbing the bandage that wrapped along his right forearm from long, painful claw marks and the one taped to a low point on his cheek, the priest sighed as he let the nicotine in the cigarette balanced on his lips drift into his system. He could remove them tomorrow. He later discovered that people rarely came to this inn and if they did, they usually hid in a place underneath the buliding.

He was tired. He needed to go to bed. Long trip tomorrow.

He was not exactly sure where the Water Garden was placed in the north, whether it be northwest or northeast. He recalled Koumyou once saying it was directly north, where the land got colder and the wind rougher. And if the secret garden wasn't there, tough break.


Indeed the further he traveled the colder it got. The rougher the wind. The harder to stand on two feet without one suddenly lifting in the air. All the wind was making his ears cold and his head hurt. Not many youkai resided in the north(especially in the direct path he was going), for that reason alone. Most of them were either in the west to be near Gyuumao or in the south. Exortion gun gripped tightly in his left hand, finger grazing the trigger, Sanzo did his best to avoid the powerful wind that wanted him to stay away.

Go away.

He did not run back.

It started raining. One more life for Lucifer.


For a moment, Sanzo thought he was going to go flying back from the strong gust of Archangel Michael.

Until the wind suddenly stopped.


Looking up quickly, Sanzo spotted a light blue barrier situated between the emerald trees. Out of breath, he tried to get there as quickly as he could. Hurry. Hurry. Reaching a gloved hand into the soft blue glow, he fell inside and landed in a river of water. The Water Garden.

Pushing himself out of the ice-cold liquid, he groaned to himself as he imagined the north wind turning him into a ice statue the minute he went south. Rubbing his knuckles warm, he slowly waded through the field pf plants. Koumyou Sanzo was right. Small rivers of blue ran to the edge and disappeared from existence. A large waterfall poured on and on into the small pool below it. The flowers grown were a beautiful ice blue and deep sapphire, as well as a few growths of pure white. Softly, he walked through sky-painted petals. The swirls of water and shades of blue and white made him feel strangely at peace. Was this for real?


The corner of his eye caught another color. It was a brilliant contrast to the rest of his surroundings. A blood red.

Sanzo came closer. Gojyo. It was Gojyo...It had to be. Through the ice blue colors glistening with dew, he nearly ran until he stopped at a secluded pool of freezing water. Beautiful sky-blue vines snaked up the wall of the barrier it was against, blossoming lovely white flowers that hung like bells. The blonde's gaze fell from the flowers, trailing the vines down to where he spotted another figure, sitting in the shallow pool of cold water in bloodied clothes that were still torn and tattered. The crystal growth tied the person, who he confirmed to be the one he was searching for first, to the grass underneath that was surprisingly white instead of green like outside the watery dome. Scarlet locks of hair fell over the man's tanned skin, closing off his face from the world. He didn't age or change at all since the last time Sanzo saw him. Was the taboo character's body preserved when he was sealed? Then again, if he wasn't he probably would be dead from the cold before his wounds could've killed him. Speaking of wounds, there didn't seem to be any on him. This made an golden eyebrow raise in question before he shrugged it off and stepped closer. With the barrel of his gun pointing at the long blue vines, he fired a few bullets, tearing into the plant and forcing it to drop to the ground.

Gloved hands pushed away the remaining vines into the water where they drifted to the edge of the small pool that was as shallow as a big puddle. He lifted the sealed man's head. A porcleain mask on the redhead's face. He tore it off. Nothing seemed to happen. A few silent and tense moments later, ruby red eyes fluttered open. The color of the sunset he was banned from seeing a year ago.

"My ass feels numb. What the fuck did you do, bouzu?" he mumbled sleepily.

Definitely Gojyo alright.

"I hear the wings of death."
A world without color
Not women's lips-
Not flowers-
Only blood is red
Vivid red
-- Stigma, Minekura Kazuya

TBC

Sorry if there's grammar errors in this chapter. I have to do a shitload of homework after I finish the chapter so I tried to be very careful while also becoming a nervous wreck ~_~;;. And yes, I am incredibly inspired by the words in Minekura's "Stigma".