THE SHADOWS BEYOND
Chapter 17 -- Where an end is come

Up the stairs, as fast as he could manage – which wasn't very fast at all. Then into the room, and the bag, just there, where he'd left it…

He grabbed it, and raced down the stairs and out the door.

***

Goku hit the ground, hard. The grit scored through his skin, leaving bloody tracks.

Shit. His breathing was harsh in his ears, and the sky spun above. How did that happen?

He could hear footsteps through the ground, a yell from Gojyo, the whine of a blast from Hakkai. Steel rang upon steel, and there was a brief scuffle. Goku eased himself onto his elbows, wincing a little.

He saw the blurred outline of Isir as the youkai ducked an attack from Gojyo. There was another confusion of movement, then the ground erupted as someone fired a blast. Another clash of steel, then he saw Hakkai stagger backwards, blood seeping from his mouth.

How did that happen? Goku thought furiously.

"Rejoining the fight, Goku?" Isir said, pausing before him. Completely unscatched, Goku noticed, except for where he had scored a hit on the shoulder earlier -- a blow largely absorbed by the mesh armor that Isir was wearing.

"You bet," Goku shot back. He sprang to his feet, grabbed Nyoibou from the ground beside him, and swung the end around.

Isir vanished.

Nyoibou collided solidly.

"Eh…?"

"Damn ape! Watch where you aim that thing! You nearly broke my arm!" Gojyo yelled at him. Goku glanced at his companion in shock. He hadn't realized that Gojyo was in his attack radius…

There was a flash of light from the other direction, then something slammed into his side. He saw white, felt the heat sear through cloth, felt his balance going. He slammed into someone -- Gojyo -- and they both went down even as the light snapped off.

He heard footsteps through the earth again, glimpsed Hakkai standing over him. The older man dropped to one knee. "Hold still."

He saw light again, and jerked away, an involuntary response.

"Hold still," Hakkai ordered, and Goku heard the strain in his voice.

"Did you look where you were aiming when you fired?" Gojyo was demanding.

Hakkai didn't reply. The ki seeped from his palms into the wound, and Goku felt the pain recede to leave a tingling numbness--

--then a shadow fell over them. Hakkai rolled to one side as a sword blade whistled through the air, then Isir's booted foot made contact with his ribs. Goku got up in time to watch Hakkai crumble, then Gojyo was attacking, favoring his shakujou's cresent blade. The blade hit armor, and there was a harsh ring. Then something must have happened, because Isir seemed to blur. Goku spun, sensing movement behind him -- and saw nothing but a shadow to his right. He spun again, and saw only the tail of the shadow, feinted to the left and--

--something came flying towards him. He strafed, but it curled around again, and wrapped around his neck.

…"GOJYO!"

"Gotcha," Gojyo's said, as the chain tightened around his neck.

"It's me, Gojyo!" Goku yelled, tugging ineffectively at the metal. His air was going, he was going to be strangled by the stupid kappa… no, scratch that… his neck was going to be broken-- "GOJYO!"

"So sure, you might be little tougher than the rest, but in the end, you all die," Gojyo continued, completely oblivious.

Goku felt his legs give. His knees slammed into the ground with a thump that sent his vision wavering. His head wasn't just spinning, it was throbbing, his muscles screaming for air.

Thump, his heartbeat sounded in his ears. Thump, thump, thump.

The world began to fade away.

"That's more like it," Gojyo's voice came to him.

Thump.

Goku rolled onto his back, taking deep gasps. The sky above was a brilliant blue, with just the barest hint of cloud on the horizon. He'd been doing something, he remembered, something urgent…

…Belatedly, he clutched at the chain, only to find it slack. With an effort from muscles gone watery, he tugged it off, and sat up. Hakkai stood where Gojyo had been. Gojyo was on the ground, rubbing his temple.

"What the hell did you do that for? I was just about to kill him!" Gojyo yelled.

"Look again, Gojyo," Hakkai said gravely. Gojyo glanced in his direction. Looked at his weapon. Stared at Goku again.

"Shit."

"My sentiments exactly," Hakkai nodded.

"So we've been taking each other out instead of that Isir fellow…" Gojyo said in horror.

"That explains all the blows that came out of nowhere," Goku muttered, flopping back onto his back. Speaking hurt. Thinking hurt. Everything hurt.

"It's not over yet, gentlemen," Isir said from somewhere.

"We need to rethink our strategy," Hakkai told Gojyo.

"You might," Isir agreed. "Except that you don't have time to." There was an explosion. When the dust settled, Hakkai was several feet away, coughing blood.

"And now to finish the job," Isir murmured, the satistfaction clear in his voice.

"Well done." A familiar voice cut through the surrounds, the dry tone doing nothing to mask the sarcasm.

"Ah." Isir turned. Sanzo stood at the far end of the bridge. "He finally graces us with his presence," Isir commented. "Notice how the human general drives his troops ahead of him while he stands behind and… let's see… smokes a cigarette. Marlboro reds, is it?"

Sanzo shrugged. "Humans, at least, know how to enjoy life."

"They should, since their lives are so pathetically short. Or should I say… pathetic and short?"

Sanzo blew smoke at him. "At least we aren't so pigheadedly stupid as to underestimate our opponents."

Isir paused. "Underestimate, you say?"

Sanzo took a final drag on the cigarette, then allowed it to fall. Deliberately, he ground it out. "Your target is me. Aren't you going to do something other than stand around?"

"Oh, I see. There's a human saying, isn't there? 'Play hard to catch?' Especially where it comes to the pretty ones?"

Sanzo cocked an eyebrow. "Your intelligence is incorrect. It is not a saying. It's a way of life." Then he turned, took two deliberate strides down the road, and took off at a run.

"Then let us pursue," Isir growled. "The rest of you! Polish off those three miscreants then join me!" Sheathing his sword, he set off in the direction that Sanzo had taken.

"San—" Goku struggled to feet, only to find his path blocked by a wall of enemies.

Chiro nodded. "Kill them."

"Whoa, whoa, not so fast," Gojyo said. "Now that big bad boss has run away, it's just you guys and us." He pushed himself to his feet.

"The odds are not in your favor, half-breed," Chiro said.

"Yeah! We'll slice you up in no time!" a voice cried out from the youkai crowd. Other voices sounded their agreement, throwing cheers and insults onto the pile.

"Hey, it's not so bad. There're only twenty of you," Goku pointed out.

"Twenty one. Which, of course, means that we outnumber you seven to one. Not to mention that you are in less than good health. I'm afraid that it's a lost cause. You might as well as fall upon your own weapons."

"A little difficult for me, don't you think?" Hakkai asked. "Besides, as Sanzo put it : We aren't so pigheadedly stupid as to underestimate our opponents."

Several more insults flew at that, insults that were rudely cut short as the loose blade of Gojyo's shakujou curved out to decapitate one unfortunate soul. As the rest froze for just that moment of shock, Hakkai's ki blast obliterated two more. Even as Chiro furiously ordered an attack, Goku caught another youkai by surprise, smashing his skull.

"We should finish up quickly here," Hakkai said conversationally. "Sanzo might need our assistance."

"Yeah!" Goku replied.

"Not so quickly, my young friend," Chiro said calmly from behind him.

Goku whirled – not quite quickly enough. He saw the silvered edge of the blade, and Nyoibou was –almost- there to counter the stroke. Half a second too late. The sword passed through flesh like butter, carving a gash that severed the jugular. Goku staggered back, blood gushing from his neck, a scream not quite reaching his lips. Chiro raised his sword for a second strike-

-and the chain of Gojyo's shakujou wound its way around the blade, before wrenching it away. Chiro abandoned the attack immediately, leaping away to salvage a fallen comrade's weapon.

Hakkai was by Goku's side in that instant, the green glow of ki already gathering in his palms. He grabbed Goku as he fell, supporting him with his left hand as his right swept down to encase the wound with a web of energy. The fountain of blood drained to a trickle.

"How is he?!" Gojyo yelled, taking out another youkai and sparing a moment to glance back. Blood was foaming out of the corner of Goku's mouth.

"Missed the trachea by a hair!" Hakkai yelled back. "I can stop the bleeding, but he's going to be totally useless from bloodloss!"

"Shit! Bloody useless ape!" Gojyo railed. "Hakkai! Behind!"

Hakkai fired behind him without turning. There was a brief scream.

"Goku? Goku, can you hear me?" Hakkai called. Blood splattered on him as Gojyo took out another nearby attacker. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and fired. And saw the blast streak through thin air.

"Watch it—" Gojyo's warning came too late, but Hakkai had already avoided the sword thrust and brought a barrier up to protect himself and his charge. Chiro stood in front of him for a moment, then ducked aside to avoid Gojyo's attack.

"You're slowing down, half breed. Injuries getting to you?" the youkai taunted.

"You can shut that trap of yous," Gojyo replied, flicking the staff around to used the fixed blade.

"The problem with exotic weapons," Chiro said, countering his strikes, "is that they usually lack the pure functionality of a simple katana."

"Sh-" Gojyo got half an expletive out before Chiro cut under his guard and lunged—

--and never noticed the ki blast that blew him into bloody fragments.

"Are you okay there?" Hakkai demanded.

"Okay… yeah… okay…" Gojyo wiped ineffectively at the blood from the splash. No matter how many times it happens, being in the splash radius of a kill is never pleasant… "Was that guy the last of them?"

"Yes, but stay with Goku," his companion directed.

"Where-" Gojyo began to ask, but Hakkai had set off at a run. He glanced at Goku, who seemed to be slowly returning to the land of the conscious. A closed gash ran across his throat, a wound that would have been fatal save for Hakkai's timely intervention. Just a second later… just a little deeper…

Suddenly, he felt all too mortal.

"Don't get up, kid," he told Goku, sitting down beside the youth.

"Sanzo…?" Goku whispered.

"He'll be fine." He'd sure as hell better be fine…

***

Perhaps, Sanzo reflected, perhaps accepting Hakkai's offer of healing would have been a good idea…

His palm hit the trunk of a tree as he paused, gasping for breath. He thought he tasted blood, but it could have been anything.

"Out of shape, are we?" Isir said. "How do you expect to kill me in your current condition?"

Sanzo glanced up. A cold bead of sweat traced its way down the side of his face. He'd led Isir to the edge of the forest, some distance away from the scene of the original fight. With any luck, only Isir had followed him.

And luck did seem to be on his side. The youkai stood alone, his back to the sun and his face shadowed.

Sanzo smiled bitterly. "You defeated the three idiots through the dint of trickery. I'm afraid that light and magic won't work on me."

"It did the first time."

"You'd be surprised. Humans learn quickly."

"Really." Isir studied him curiously, obviously suspecting a trap. "And you intend to kill me with your bare hands?"

Sanzo snorted, and pulled a long dagger from his belt. "So are you going to stand around all day or what? Not that it's a problem, really. Gives me time to catch my breath."

"Ah," Isir said noncommittally. He freed the katana from its sheath. "It's long past time to end this game."

*

Sanzo dived two steps back and countered Isir's next stroke.

"You insult me, Sanzo-sama," Isir growled. "A mere dagger? Not even a proper sword?"

There was another clash as steel met steel. "It's good enough for the likes of you," Sanzo returned.

"Good enough for countering, yes," Isir pointed out, "But given the lack of range, hardly usable for attacking."

Sanzo didn't reply. He disengaged and fled a few more steps into the forest. There was a quiet crunch under his sandals. Excellent. Almost where I want him. He leapt backwards to avoid the sweep of the sword, anticipating Isir's next attack and smoothly bringing the dagger to counter.

Exactly where I want him, and without the interference of friend and foe and idiot alike. I should not have put it past those three to fall so completely into Isir's trap…

He countered one stroke, a second, a third. Even if he hardly ever held a sword, he used the exorcism gun to shield attacks so often that this was nothing new. And Isir was, for all his claims, not a fantastic swordsman. Fast, yes, but…

...Predictable. As with any youkai that rises to power... so certain in his invincibility. And now that I know his style...

In some ways, carrying a katana would have made Isir suspicious and alert. As it was, the youkai was pressing the attack, confident of the kill…

Sanzo saw the opening and lunged. Isir spun to one side, narrowly avoiding the dagger.

"Is that all?" Sanzo asked. "I can keep on countering all day, you know."

"Agreed," Isir replied, narrowing his eyes. "Time to try something new, perhaps?"

Here it comes.

Isir seemed to shift into a higher gear. His form blurred, as if he were moving almost too fast for the eye to catch. Attacks came faster. From nowhere. From everywhere.

There, there, there--

He caught the first two attacks, mistook illusion for reality the third time and misjudged. Pure luck saved him from being run through. Isir pulled back for a moment.

Sanzo glanced at him, then ducked aside. The real Isir struck from behind and missed.

"Impressive. I daresay that you've actually learnt something. Maybe my father's death wasn't purely a fluke."

Sanzo whirled, kicking up dust. Almost. Almost. All I need is for him to close for the kill...

He evaded another thrust, hearing the rip of fabric as it sliced through his shirt sleeve. Almost.

"Well, it seems that I have no choice," Isir's voice said from somewhere.

Yes, you don't. Do it, damn you!

He held his ground, the dagger clutched tightly in his left hand. His palm was sweating, but there wasn't any time to do anything about that. He took a deep breath, forcing calm.

Isir's form blurred. Sanzo found himself surrounded by a circle of clones. He stared at them, looking from identical face to identical face. The illusions were perfect, Sanzo noted. One had to give him credit for his skill. He'd privately hoped for a way out, and Isir avoided him none at all.

"In the end, however, no matter how much you have learnt, there is simply no counter for this attack," a dozen Isirs told him gravely.

The circle closed in. Sanzo closed his eyes.

In the darkness, he could hear the silence of the forest. He tuned out the constants, the sound of his breathing, the drone of invisible insects, the barely audible rush of running water from the river. In the darkness, time had a different texture, slower and tauter, as if it had been stretched. In the dark, he could feel his nerves firing impulse after impulse, tensed in expectation of a blow. In the darkness he could feel the fear he'd ruthlessly suppressed, coursing the slow path of molten lava through him.

When the cue came, it rang like thunder through the dark.

Sanzo spun. Dagger met sword and flew from his grip. He opened his eyes, and saw Isir's face and discerned the surprise in it. He moved through the slowness of time, catching the descending blade between his palms.

"How did you know?" Isir hissed.

"So here I am, breaking mirrors to reveal the truth," Sanzo countered.

Isir glanced down, where his booted foot rested upon shattered glass. He shifted his weight, and the glass crunched underfoot.

"Illusions don't make a sound," Sanzo pointed out. Blood trickled out from between his hands, running down the length of the blade.

"But you still haven't won."

"No," Sanzo agreed. His eyes flicked from Isir's face to the shape standing beyond, in the shadow of the trees.

And who can you trust?

The shadow was still, awaiting his command.

And if we have been lied to all along and perhaps, there are no allies in this fight...
...If the only one I can trust in is myself, what do I when my own strength is insufficient?
No
, his brain said, no, I rely only on myself, I take no gambles on the loyalty of my followers...

The blade was biting into his hands. The blood loosened his grip, and he could feel his hands slipping as Isir tried to wrench his weapon back…

...That's a lame excuse, Sanzo.

The blade slipped from his grip. In the moment of blind panic, thought dissolved, and instinct charted his course.

He made a desperate grab at the blade, and flung a command: "HAKKAI!"

The shadow moved, and the world exploded in a maelstrom of light.

***
To be concluded.
***