Shinku no En: The Crimson Bond
by UltraM2000
Disclaimer: Don't own Saiyuki…yet. Severe fluff, M2000 style, and slight PWPness. GREAT liberties taken with portrayal of Chinese/Tougenkyou hell.
Gojyo emerged from the portal into a roughly hewn tunnel of rock. Blue-green torches very much like those found in the chamber of the Sanbutsushin threw faint, flickering shadows on the wall. The other three were sitting or leaning against the wall in various positions (Gojyo almost tripped over Hakuryuu), and Goku and Hakkai were rubbing their weapons with the strange blue elixir while Sanzo was dipping every one of his considerable stock of crystal demon-killing bullets in a small saucer of the stuff. [1]
"Sorry I'm late," Gojyo drawled.
"If I didn't have to paint every one of these with the elixir, I'd have already shot one through your head, slowpoke," growled Sanzo, but no more grumpily than usual.
"Well ex-key-yoooooze me if the Sanbutsushin called me back at the last moment!" Gojyo snapped, also no more tersely than usual.
"What for?" asked Goku, looking very interested.
Gojyo remembered Panna's warning not to say a word. "Nothing that concerns you," he replied with an irritatingly superior grin. He took some of the potion and rubbed it on the blades of his shakujou—the weapon glowed blue momentarily and then faded to its original lustre. "Now shall we get going?"
"Aww, c'mon, Gojyo!" whined Goku. "You know real well I don't like secrets!"
"Ch', fine, fine. If I tell you will you shut up?" grumbled the half-demon. His young companion brightened up instantly, his nodding head a brown-and-gold blur. Gojyo half-bent, cupped a hand to Goku's ear and mumbled something very quickly.
The demon boy's eyes widened considerably as the crimson-haired troublemaker went on whispering, and he stopped him well before he could finish. "OK, OK, OK, stop! I've heard quite enough!" he spluttered, and grabbing his Nyoibou, raced towards Sanzo, who had already given up on his companions and set off into the darkness ahead. Hakkai gave Gojyo a strange look.
"Just what did you tell him?"
"Not what the Aspects told me, that's for sure," was all Gojyo would say. His eyes twinkled something suspicious. [2]
The four began their trek down deeper into the tunnel, and it got progressively dimmer, danker and stuffier. Even Hakkai was beginning to feel hot under the collar in the claustrophobic environment. After several hundred metres, they arrived at a large, imposing set of stone gates. Barring their way were two very strange men…if they were at all men.
"Halt! State your identities and purpose!" the first one barked out. The being was dressed like a soldier, and stood on two legs, but that was where any human resemblance ended. Its unshod feet were large, sturdy cloven hooves, and the meaty hands gripping its large halberd had five similarly stony digits. Its bones were clad in no shortage of rippling muscle, and its head was much like an ox, horns and all. The being's eyes were pupil-less, and a fiery red. Goku concluded it was a relative of Gyuumaou, the Ox Demon King.
"Pest control people," was Gojyo's quick reply. Sanzo glared at him and dug a bony elbow into the erogappa's ribs.
"Genjyo Sanzo, Cho Hakkai, Son Goku and Sha Gojyo, sent down by order of Tenkai to perform…as this idiot here puts it so succinctly…pest control on the matter of Avici Hell."
The demonic guard seemed to literally deflate with relief upon hearing that, and then sprang right back up in a stiff salute. "My apologies for not recognising you sooner, Sanzo-sama," he spluttered, "and please forgive my rudeness! Ever since Avici began expanding, things have become even more chaotic than they usually are, and all of us are nervous. My name is Gyuutou—Ox-Head—and this is Mamen—Horse-Face. Both of us guard the gates to the Underworld." [3]
Mamen nodded and bowed. He looked no less human than Gyuutou, but seemed a little more cultured. The ikkou heard his hooves clopping slightly as he stepped back in his bow, and the head set on his sturdy neck was really that of a horse, complete with a blaze of white down the centre of his nose, and a long, silky mane cascading down his back. The forelock that fell across pupil-less eyes like Gyuutou's was in extreme disarray, and as he talked, he puffed and snorted nervously much like his terrestrial counterpart.
"Your presence is most welcome here," he whickered softly as he lowered the battleaxe still clutched in his right hoof-hand. "It is becoming harder and harder for all of our levels to contain the Avici rebels. Some of them have already escaped to the upper levels, and from what I hear, they have seized control of the seventh level for their army. Our guards are in shambles, the torturers are the ones being tortured, Enma's tearing his hair out…" He drew a deep breath and checked himself. "Forgive me. I'm sure you want to get right down to business, although I am shamed to admit I am rather doubtful just what it is that three mortals can do against all the souls in Avici. This little fellow, though, I remember well."
"W-Who? Me?" squeaked Goku, eyes wide.
"500 years ago and more, Konzen Douji was sent down here to claim some paperwork from Enma himself. He brought his protégé along…and…er…well, I'm not sure if you remember, Son Goku, but you tweaked Enma's moustache, spilled ink on Konzen Douji-sama's paperwork and generally cause havoc down here." [4]
"I told ya you were trouble, saru," teased Gojyo.
"I don't remember all those things!" Goku countered tersely.
"That is possible," mused Gyuutou. "I hear after The Incidents, they sealed away all his memories of it and shut him in that cave on Gogyou-zan."
"Oh yes, that's right, that was what happened. Now that I come to think of it…don't they remind you of those other officers Konzen Douji used to hang around with? Marshal Tenpou…General Kenren…"
"Oh yes…they do indeed. Perhaps the en…"
"Gentlemen, shall we get down to business instead of wasting time on idle prattle?" Sanzo interrupted coolly, dangling the gun off one finger and smiling dangerously.
Gyuutou grinned nervously. "Er, but of course. Yes. Time is of the essence. No doubt about it. Ah, follow us, please."
Gyuutou and Mamen led the ikkou through the stone gates and into the compound of the Underworld. There was a flurry of activity going on around them—souls being shepherded along by bristling guards, the beasts assigned to hell and its tortures taken from their posts for safety, their peeved cries filling the dank air, officials of hell running around trying to get things done, and far above them all, the ruler of the Underworld, King Enma himself sat atop his throne, surveying all and deep in thought.
"Your Majesty," Mamen and Gyuutou said, prostrating themselves before the throne, "these are the ones ordered Tenkai to subjugate the souls rebelling in Avici." Enma looked up, his thoughts interrupted. He wasn't at all bad looking, considering the place he had to govern. Although the face was a little care-worn, with the slightest of wrinkles upon his forehead and at the corners of his eyes, the skin was still smooth and unblemished, like a child's. He was dressed in clean, flowing robes, his moustache and beard were well kept and trimmed, his sleek salt-and-pepper hair was tied back in a bun and his eyes held a highly dignified spark.
"Oh, it's you, Son Goku," he murmured. "No more tweaking our moustache, if you please."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," protested the poor lad. "We just came here as ordered to solve the problems."
"You will watch your tongue around His Majesty King Enma, mortal!" Gyuutou cautioned.
Enma waved his faithful guard off. "Leave it be, Gyuutou. We don't mind." He then turned to Goku and said, "As strong as you are, Son Goku, even with your limiter intact, what can you and your three companions do? This is not just a simple matter of an errant soul running wild. Death has not quenched any of his rancour—somehow, he has survived the torture of Avici until now and kept his consciousness intact. A strong soul, stronger than we gave him credit for. It will not be simple to defeat him or the souls he now has swayed towards his control."
"Sure it will!" Goku beamed confidently, waving his Nyoibou about. "We've done it before, all four of us together. Don't worry, Your Majesty—we're on the case."
Enma smiled—he seemed suddenly weary now, as if a mask had dropped from him. "We are glad, then, Son Goku, Genjyo Sanzo. Our finest troops await your command."
It was Sanzo's turn to come forward and speak. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, we have no need for your troops," he declined, choosing his words very carefully. "We will, and always will, fight alone."
"Hey, speak for yourself!" protested Gojyo, hissing angrily under his breath. "We could use the firepower!"
"If the whole of Hell can be sent into uproar because of Go Dougan, what makes you think even Hell's finest troops could do anything against him, cockroach?" Sanzo hissed back. Gojyo fell silent—he hated to admit it, but the bouzu had a good point there.
Enma appeared not to have heard seemed only slightly taken aback. "Of course, Genjyo Sanzo, we understand. Your principle of non-attachment is most exemplary."
"It's not a case of non-attachment…more like I don't need anybody else in the way of my bullets," came the monk's calm reply. Hakkai cringed at his fellow's bluntness and Gyuutou let out a curse and threw himself at Sanzo.
"Gyuutou, enough! Leave things be," Enma interrupted again with an impatient wave of his sleeve. He had not ruled hell for a thousand ages without developing some thickness to his skin. Besides, this one wasn't dead yet, and therefore was not under his power. "Do as you please. We wish you the best of luck, and rest assured that you only need call for our troops to be fighting at your side. I only warn you now, though: you had best stay good when you go back up to the living, or you will find your existence down here with us before reincarnation VERY unpleasant for your indignities."
"I would not expect any less."
"Avici is only accessible through this portal before you," Enma continued, raising his hand and gesturing towards another set of gates not far away. "Waste no more time and be on your way."
Sanzo and the gang bowed, stepped away and walked towards the gates. Gyuutou and Mamen went forward to open them, but as their hooves touched the ornately carved handles, they began to vibrate of their own accord. The whole door soon began to judder on its hinges, and the doors were suddenly flung right open. Gyuutou and Mamen were bowled right over and crashed into the ikkou. A high, keening wail pierced the silence, and was followed by a very similar symphony of grunts, squeals and moans. Pale, glowing eyes could be seen coming at the six through the darkness microseconds before a horde of undead erupted upon them like a furious wave. Their eyes glowed an eerie, empty gold-white colour, and they screeched like banshees at the sight of the ikkou.
Sanzo locked and loaded his gun. Gojyo and Goku summoned their weapons. Hakkai unsheathed his sword.
"And here we go," Hakkai murmured.
[1] Spandex space saucer *grin*
[2] Seeing it's Gojyo, no prizes for guessing what kind of garbage he fed Goku. Must have been something about Dougan's evil habits. ^_~ *sprouts horns and little pointy tail*
[3] Gyuutou and Mamen are the Chinese Ox-Head and Horse-Face guards to the Underworld.
[4] Because the original Sun Wukong…while he was still just plain Handsome Monkey King…had a dream in which he marched down to hell and crossed his name and several other monkeys' names off the registers of Death, in effect making him immortal.As usual, review thanks --
Kurtain -- First reviewer, so thanks a bunch! There will be a few very quick cameos, so if you like the oilier Saiyuki villains keep an eye out for an upcoming chapter in which they will all feature.
Ashura -- Unfortunately, Kanan is not down here. Although suicide is considered a great sin in Buddhist hell it doesn't qualify you for Avici. I update!