Chapter 2: The Dark Past
The night was silent. The trees danced following the rhyme of the wind, making an eerie scene. The youkai could fell to icing breeze down to his spine. Clutching on his injured arm, he staggered alone across the dessert. The moonlight was his only guide that night.
He knew the nearest town was a few miles away. He prayed hard for a miracle to happen. All he wished now was to unite back with his friends and the prince. His hands held firmly onto his trusty sword. He need to be fully alert with his surroundings. Taniba and his men could be watching nearby.
His sharp eyes caught a glimpse at flash of light. He hurried off as the light becoming brighter. The howling of the hungry demons could be heard. This is great. First, the psycho and now I are hunted by a pack of wild demons. What could get worse than this?
He posed himself for battle. There are two on his left and four more behind him. Perfect. He whipped out his sword and stroke. Yeah, bring it on! With his swordsmanship, he managed to vaporize those youkais in a sip. The others freaked out and ran away. Hmm, cowards!
" Not bad for starters. I guess you are an interesting specimen to play with."
"What the hell!"
Before he hadn't enough time to recognize to new speaker, he felt his body being transported into a wrapping and endless vortex. He found himself laid on the ground. He took a quick view around. The demons and the desert weren't there any more. Somehow the surroundings looked kind of familiar to him.
"Whose there? Onichan, is that u? "
He new the voice well. It belonged to his half little brother, Sha Goyjo. He remembered clearly about his dark past. How well they both get along and cared for each other. Those sweet memories came to a sudden halt.
Wait a second. His so call family ties had been long broken. And if this happened again.
A though came to his mind. He had gone back to the past! He was stunned to see his red haired bro standing in front of him, smiling.
"Mister, who are you? Are you alone? "
Don't act like a fool. Answer him. A small voice inside of him called out.
"I.I'm lost. I got separated with my friends."
"It's ok. I'm alone too. My brother has gone away so has my stepmother. They won't come back ever again, " cried the boy.
Dokugaiji felt sorry for the poor kid. He recalled the horrible incident that took part a few years back before he became Prince Kougaiji's right hand man. It was a terrible. Till this day he couldn't forgive himself for his deeds. He remembered the day he came back from the field with a bouquet of beautiful yellow flowers for his little brother. Out of the sudden, Goyjo's shouts could be heard. He knew his mother was beating his brother again. As quick as a fox, he headed towards his brother's frightening scream. He was horrified when he saw his mother threaten Gojyo with a mad look and pointed a knife at him.
The next thing he knew his mother lay motionless on the floor with a puddle of crimson blood. It took him a few seconds for him to realize he actually killed his mother. Driven by guilt in his heart, he ran away leaving his terrified brother alone. He left his past behind him and started a new life under his service for the youkai prince.
"Mister are u ok?"
"Yeah. Just feeling little woozy. That's all. So, how long had you been alone, kid? "
" A few months now. But it doesn't matter anymore. I'm happy with my life now."
Little Gojyo shoved his hand on Dokugaiji's shoulder.
"I wanna go to the field to pick flowers. You interested? "
Dokugaiji nodded at his request. At least that is the last thing he could do to cheer the gloom atmosphere. He tugged behind the small boy whom lead him to an outstretch of Grass and carpeted with colorful flowers. He couldn't help but smile when Gojyo handed him a bunch of multicolored flowers. If only the old Jien was here, he sighed.
" I wish onichan was here. I'm so scared. It's his entire fault our family felt apart. If it wasn't for him mum would still be here."
He lost his words. Guilt overcame him. He never really knew his brother would react in such a way after he left. For a second then, he thought it was the best option he could take to escape the pain and reality.
Suddenly Goiyo sweet voice turned demonic. Before he knew it, the little boy grabbed him around his neck trying to choke him. He tried to push him away but Gojyo's hand held firm.
"Why did you have to go? Why do you leave me? It's all yours fault, Jien. You killed mother mercilessly. YOU KILLED HER!" "Gojyo, what's wrong with you? Let me go! * Choke* "
"You killed okaasan. You are a coward."
"I didn't do it on purpose. I had no choice."
"Just admit it, Jien .You are traitor. You turned against me."
"NO!!!"
Without thinking he whipped out his sword and thrust it into Goyjo's body, instantly killed him. Red blood splattered on the floor. It was the same scene that had haunted him for all these years. The unforgivable murder he had done. A voice whispered inside in mind.
"You had killed him. You had killed your only brother."
Dokugaiji let a bloodcurdling scream and sank into his knees.
An eerie voice echoed, " I am going to enjoy your death, my foe. Every last bit. I'll make sure all of you will pay back for what that bastard had done to me 500 years ago. Ha.."
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"What did you just say? The youkai prince is on the run."
Shocked expressions formed on the faces of the four companions. The hunters are now being hunted. No wonder why haven't Kougaiji and the others had attacked them for sometime, the priest thought for a moment. Unlike others, they still had concern of them even though they are their enemies. Especially Goku.
"How long had this thing happened? ," asked a worried Gojyo.
"A few months already. The Mistress had sent packs of demons in search of the prince. Many had suffered consequently. The villagers lived in fear now for Taniba's men will come and searched the houses and torture them for information. We had no choice but to join in the search to protect our families, " explained the solemn man.
" Had they found anyone yet?"
"So far, no. But there are rumors that the prince pretty badly during a fight. How true is that story, I'm not very sure."
After a long talk, the four left the bartender. Everyone returned to their rooms with numbers of questions playing in their mind. Gojyo was the most restless person amongst them. He couldn't leave a thought about his elder brother, Jien. No longer Jien. Dokugaiji. As the saying goes, Blood is thicker than water. Even if is half blood. He believed in that proverb well. And he's going to make sure nothing will happened to his beloved brother.
The green eyed man stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. He sighed and headed towards his master's room. When he reached there, he twisted the knob and entered. He was quite surprise when he saw the rest were there too.
"Hoi Hakkai, hurry up before I shoot you," said the monk in a threatening tone and pointed his gun at him.
Hakkai was used to the monk's bad temper and joined in. At his left were pieces of ace cards. Goyjo was busying lighting up his new poked in cigarettes. He smiled.
"Yare yare desu ne. Look like we had to get involved again. Isn't it Sanzo?"
"Hmph. I had no intention to get involved with this matter. One's dust must dust by himself."
"There he goes again. Always care about yourself only, you good for nothing monk."
"Watch your words, Gojyo. Don't make me put my gun into your stinking mouth."
"Come on, guys. Are we going to keep arguing or what?"
Everyone turned around looking at the new speaker. Goku was restless and in high spirit. His Nyoibou staff held firmly in his hand, waiting for the others to decide. Sanzo sighed and nodded in agreement. The others smiled at the priest's cooperation. The four friends went outside the inn. Harkuryu let out a chirp and transform into a land rover. Hakkai stepped in and started the vehicle. The dragon's engine purred and brought them to the night horizon.
The night was silent. The trees danced following the rhyme of the wind, making an eerie scene. The youkai could fell to icing breeze down to his spine. Clutching on his injured arm, he staggered alone across the dessert. The moonlight was his only guide that night.
He knew the nearest town was a few miles away. He prayed hard for a miracle to happen. All he wished now was to unite back with his friends and the prince. His hands held firmly onto his trusty sword. He need to be fully alert with his surroundings. Taniba and his men could be watching nearby.
His sharp eyes caught a glimpse at flash of light. He hurried off as the light becoming brighter. The howling of the hungry demons could be heard. This is great. First, the psycho and now I are hunted by a pack of wild demons. What could get worse than this?
He posed himself for battle. There are two on his left and four more behind him. Perfect. He whipped out his sword and stroke. Yeah, bring it on! With his swordsmanship, he managed to vaporize those youkais in a sip. The others freaked out and ran away. Hmm, cowards!
" Not bad for starters. I guess you are an interesting specimen to play with."
"What the hell!"
Before he hadn't enough time to recognize to new speaker, he felt his body being transported into a wrapping and endless vortex. He found himself laid on the ground. He took a quick view around. The demons and the desert weren't there any more. Somehow the surroundings looked kind of familiar to him.
"Whose there? Onichan, is that u? "
He new the voice well. It belonged to his half little brother, Sha Goyjo. He remembered clearly about his dark past. How well they both get along and cared for each other. Those sweet memories came to a sudden halt.
Wait a second. His so call family ties had been long broken. And if this happened again.
A though came to his mind. He had gone back to the past! He was stunned to see his red haired bro standing in front of him, smiling.
"Mister, who are you? Are you alone? "
Don't act like a fool. Answer him. A small voice inside of him called out.
"I.I'm lost. I got separated with my friends."
"It's ok. I'm alone too. My brother has gone away so has my stepmother. They won't come back ever again, " cried the boy.
Dokugaiji felt sorry for the poor kid. He recalled the horrible incident that took part a few years back before he became Prince Kougaiji's right hand man. It was a terrible. Till this day he couldn't forgive himself for his deeds. He remembered the day he came back from the field with a bouquet of beautiful yellow flowers for his little brother. Out of the sudden, Goyjo's shouts could be heard. He knew his mother was beating his brother again. As quick as a fox, he headed towards his brother's frightening scream. He was horrified when he saw his mother threaten Gojyo with a mad look and pointed a knife at him.
The next thing he knew his mother lay motionless on the floor with a puddle of crimson blood. It took him a few seconds for him to realize he actually killed his mother. Driven by guilt in his heart, he ran away leaving his terrified brother alone. He left his past behind him and started a new life under his service for the youkai prince.
"Mister are u ok?"
"Yeah. Just feeling little woozy. That's all. So, how long had you been alone, kid? "
" A few months now. But it doesn't matter anymore. I'm happy with my life now."
Little Gojyo shoved his hand on Dokugaiji's shoulder.
"I wanna go to the field to pick flowers. You interested? "
Dokugaiji nodded at his request. At least that is the last thing he could do to cheer the gloom atmosphere. He tugged behind the small boy whom lead him to an outstretch of Grass and carpeted with colorful flowers. He couldn't help but smile when Gojyo handed him a bunch of multicolored flowers. If only the old Jien was here, he sighed.
" I wish onichan was here. I'm so scared. It's his entire fault our family felt apart. If it wasn't for him mum would still be here."
He lost his words. Guilt overcame him. He never really knew his brother would react in such a way after he left. For a second then, he thought it was the best option he could take to escape the pain and reality.
Suddenly Goiyo sweet voice turned demonic. Before he knew it, the little boy grabbed him around his neck trying to choke him. He tried to push him away but Gojyo's hand held firm.
"Why did you have to go? Why do you leave me? It's all yours fault, Jien. You killed mother mercilessly. YOU KILLED HER!" "Gojyo, what's wrong with you? Let me go! * Choke* "
"You killed okaasan. You are a coward."
"I didn't do it on purpose. I had no choice."
"Just admit it, Jien .You are traitor. You turned against me."
"NO!!!"
Without thinking he whipped out his sword and thrust it into Goyjo's body, instantly killed him. Red blood splattered on the floor. It was the same scene that had haunted him for all these years. The unforgivable murder he had done. A voice whispered inside in mind.
"You had killed him. You had killed your only brother."
Dokugaiji let a bloodcurdling scream and sank into his knees.
An eerie voice echoed, " I am going to enjoy your death, my foe. Every last bit. I'll make sure all of you will pay back for what that bastard had done to me 500 years ago. Ha.."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
"What did you just say? The youkai prince is on the run."
Shocked expressions formed on the faces of the four companions. The hunters are now being hunted. No wonder why haven't Kougaiji and the others had attacked them for sometime, the priest thought for a moment. Unlike others, they still had concern of them even though they are their enemies. Especially Goku.
"How long had this thing happened? ," asked a worried Gojyo.
"A few months already. The Mistress had sent packs of demons in search of the prince. Many had suffered consequently. The villagers lived in fear now for Taniba's men will come and searched the houses and torture them for information. We had no choice but to join in the search to protect our families, " explained the solemn man.
" Had they found anyone yet?"
"So far, no. But there are rumors that the prince pretty badly during a fight. How true is that story, I'm not very sure."
After a long talk, the four left the bartender. Everyone returned to their rooms with numbers of questions playing in their mind. Gojyo was the most restless person amongst them. He couldn't leave a thought about his elder brother, Jien. No longer Jien. Dokugaiji. As the saying goes, Blood is thicker than water. Even if is half blood. He believed in that proverb well. And he's going to make sure nothing will happened to his beloved brother.
The green eyed man stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. He sighed and headed towards his master's room. When he reached there, he twisted the knob and entered. He was quite surprise when he saw the rest were there too.
"Hoi Hakkai, hurry up before I shoot you," said the monk in a threatening tone and pointed his gun at him.
Hakkai was used to the monk's bad temper and joined in. At his left were pieces of ace cards. Goyjo was busying lighting up his new poked in cigarettes. He smiled.
"Yare yare desu ne. Look like we had to get involved again. Isn't it Sanzo?"
"Hmph. I had no intention to get involved with this matter. One's dust must dust by himself."
"There he goes again. Always care about yourself only, you good for nothing monk."
"Watch your words, Gojyo. Don't make me put my gun into your stinking mouth."
"Come on, guys. Are we going to keep arguing or what?"
Everyone turned around looking at the new speaker. Goku was restless and in high spirit. His Nyoibou staff held firmly in his hand, waiting for the others to decide. Sanzo sighed and nodded in agreement. The others smiled at the priest's cooperation. The four friends went outside the inn. Harkuryu let out a chirp and transform into a land rover. Hakkai stepped in and started the vehicle. The dragon's engine purred and brought them to the night horizon.