Chapter 4
Goku's POV
I woke up extra early today, because I've got a long day ahead of me. I've decided last night that I'll start solving my and Nataku's problem. I just hope that Hakkai had remembered where the last members of the tribe of Ariadne might be. They are my last hope. Without them, I'll be a lost cause.
So instead of raiding the inn's refrigerator just like I used to do, I settled myself at the table directly in front of the staircase patiently waiting for Hakkai's descent. I don't want to disturb them again like I did last night. Gojyo might throw a fit again. And it's very unhealthy for me to start a fight with Gojyo early in the morning. He's not a morning person you see.
Back to the long day. If Hakkai wasn't able to remember where the tribe might be, then it'll be the library for me. I mind it on usual days but this is definitely for an unusual cause, so I guess being branded as an 'intellectual saru' by the one and only pain in the ass, Gojyo, is worth it.
I've not waited too long when Hakkai went down. Unlike Sanzo and Gojyo, he already looks awake and raring to go. I don't know if he's a morning or an evening person, since he always looks so genky and full of life. By his standards okay? Don't put him up to my genkiness standard because he'll be left out in the dust. He smiled at me, and I pounced on him.
"Ohayou, Hakkai!!! I woke up earlier than you!" I said proudly as I eyed him taking a sit in front of me. He laughed softly.
"I can see that. Did you sleep well last night?" He asked me. I smiled at him ruefully.
"Not really. I kept thinking about you." Sanzo picked that right moment to come down. He looks grumpy as usual.
"So that's it. You're thinking of Hakkai. And you told me you had the migraine." Sanzo grumbled to himself as if the idea of saru's getting headaches are absurd.
"I wonder what will Gojyo think?" He continued as he took a cigarette from his robe and started smoking. He puffed some smoke on my face. I coughed.
"Sanzo! It's not what you think! I kept thinking if Hakkai got the answer!" I said my voice whiny. Sanzo smirked.
"You should be." Hakkai just laughed.
"Do want to know my answer Goku?" He asked me. I turned to him puppy eager mode.
"Well, I think I know where it is. Although I'm not quite sure."
"Why?" Sanzo asked, puffing circles of smoke.
"Well, the person I heard this from was quite unreliable. She looks as if she came out of a mental hospital."
"A mental?! But what did she say to you? And where did you meet her?" I asked him.
"From the last town. She came up to me stealthily. I was surprised I didn't sense her presence." Sanzo raised his eyebrows.
"That's why I thought at that time she might be telling the truth. She told me she cloaked her presence so that why I can't detect her." I creased my forehead, confused.
"Cloaked? But how did she do that?"
"That's what I asked her too. She told me it was sorcery. She also said that they were the only tribe to be able to do that." Hakkai said as he brought his hands to his chin thinking deeply.
"The tribe of Ariadne!" I exclaimed.
"Yes. She did mention that name. And she told me that their community lives where not a sign of life can be seen."
"Not a sign of life? You mean no animals, no plants no any living thing except them?" Sanzo asked getting interested. Hakkai nodded.
"I thought it was absurd too. But I heard of folklore that the chosen maiden of this certain tribe used all of her powers to wipe out the enemy. As a consequence, the entire area was also wiped out of life."
"So what's this folklore got to do with our missing tribe?" I asked Hakkai. He smiled, as if acknowledging my great question.
"This woman said she knew this chosen maiden. That it was not folklore after all. She even said that this maiden is still alive and is their sage."
"But that would mean that she might be hundreds of years old!" Sanzo said, once again raising his eyebrows unbelievably.
"I know. But I think it's worth a try checking this story out right? Besides it really falls in some of the missing pieces." Hakkai said as he acknowledges his koibito's entrance. Gojyo still looked groggy, as if he hadn't got any sleep, and he looks pissed about something.
"Ohayou." Hakkai greeted Gojyo.
"What are you talking about?" He asks grumpily as he took a seat beside Hakkai.
"Oh nothing. We were just talking about leaving you behind." Sanzo said his self satisfied smirk pasted on his face.
"TEME..." Gojyo growled as he stood up.
"Gojyo..." Hakkai said warningly. Almost immediately Gojyo sits down and pouted. I couldn't help but laugh. You'd think Gojyo is the dominant one between the two of them. The truth is that he's putty in Hakkai's hands.
"What are you laughing about saru?"
"You." I said in between laughs.
"TEME..." But before he could reach out to grab me, Sanzo had already reached for his harisen and struck us with it.
"OWWW...."
"As we were talking, before some rude kappa arrived..." Gojyo looked at Sanzo sour. Sanzo just smirked.
"We're going to leave town to look for the tribe." He finished with a flourish. I turned to Hakkai.
"Do you know where this lifeless place can be seen?" I ask him uncertainly.
"Its just east of Kougaiji's palace. There's this huge area of vast land almost like a desert, only difference is, there no living thing there. And it's also where the lady told me where it is." Hakkai answered as he motions for the waitress to get our order.
"Wait. If you said that this land is lifeless, where the heck are they living there? And where do they get their food?" Gojyo asked doubtful.
"The lady said that the sage provides for them. They can't leave that place until the prophecy of their sage is fulfilled." Hakkai answers him.
"But what about the woman you said you meet? I thought you said they weren't supposed to leave there?" Gojyo asked yet again at Hakkai, but it didn't really register to me. I mean how could I get started if I'm hungry? So the waitress had grabbed my full attention as of the moment. Shrimp dumplings, meat buns, fried rice and lots of curry here I come! Hakkai shrugged.
"That's why I said it's unreliable."
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Li Touten's POV
So that abominable foursome had already figured out the mystery of Ariadne. I must do something about it. It should not be left about. I thought to myself as I recalled the painful past.
Because I have overlooked that bastard, Tenpou Gensui and his equally insufferable Taishou, Kenren, I met my down fall. It's where it all started anyways. If they didn't stir the suspicions to me then all of that wouldn't have happened.
But I'm a different man now. Thanks to all the meditations and all the hours I spend in my exile thinking, I've learned the wrong of my ways. And its time to do that in action. Now that I've been given another chance, I won't ever waste it. I turned away from the viewing pond, a glint in my eyes.
"I think it's time for my toy to do his work." I mumbled as I let my face adopt a kind, fatherly face.
"Nataku? Nataku?" I called out loudly to my son, who is in the bed of flowers in the field. Just as he woke up from my dream of lies, his eyes were still dull and almost lifeless. He just goes on about with the slightest consciousness.
I watch him stand and straightened himself before walking towards me. I smirked. At least he still remembers what I taught him. I've always told him to act tall. Act like he's king of heaven. Because he's going to be one when I get tired of sitting on the throne. He approaches me and drops on one knee. Just like I taught him, I thought pleased.
"Yes father?" He asks me. I motioned to the viewing pond. His gaze traveled to it, uninterestedly.
"The foursome, the one we both HATE." I stressed the word hate for emphasis before continuing.
"They're going to further hurt your feelings. That wretched Son Goku will break all the ties that bind the two of you together." Nataku's eyes suddenly regained some life. I'm pleased to note that his hateful golden eyes held anger in them. He turns his gaze on me.
"Is it true father?"
"I'm afraid so son. But we won't let them right? We won't let them have their way."
"Of course." Nataku said with much conviction.
"That's good. Now go on and do what you must." I shoved him gently towards the viewing pond.
"I'm going to finish this once and for all." He informed me as he looks at the viewing ponds contents. It shows the foursome in their jeep. The two saru's in the back were bickering as usual, while the blond monk had a vein throbbing in his head. The monocled one was smiling happily.
"Oh?" I said, hiding my suppressed happiness.
"Yes. I won't return unless I've killed Son Goku." Nataku proclaimed as he jumped into the viewing pond and out of my sight. I dropped to the ground laughing heartily.
"Now that's a job well done!" I proclaimed as I clutched my aching sides. Once again, Nataku will finish all things for me while I sit in comfortable heaven, watching all things unfold before my very own eyes, the way I want it to.
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Goku's POV
"Oi! Ero Kappa!!!! That's my dumpling! I've carefully reserved it for me!!" I yelled as I wildly twisted and turned in my seat trying to reach my dumpling which was completely inaccessible since Gojyo was putting it high above his head. I growled in frustration.
"What was that?! Is it you growling or your stomach?!" Gojyo asked completely enjoying my discomfort.
"Give me that!! It's mine!!" I yelled once again, trying to reach it from his hands.
"Oh?! How do you know its your? Your name's not written on it."
"Who would write his name on a dumpling! That's stupid."
"URUSAI." Before I knew it, Sanzo's harisen had made contact with my head and I feel it exploding with pain.
"Owww... Sanzo so mean." I whined as I rubbed my aching head. Then all of a sudden I felt depressed. I don't why, I just did.
"I think we are here." Hakkai whispered as we took in our surroundings. Surprisingly, the lifeless place the folklore says exists. My mouth fell wide open in awe. It really looks like a dessert, although the sand here is much finer and it's black-grey in color.
"Wow. The old lady may be saying the truth." Hakkai said as he turned around in his seat, trying to face me. I let out a smile and let my hope go up a notch. But then it went into a frown again. The area is large. Very large. How are we supposed to find a handful of people? As if reading my mind, Sanzo turned to face me and let out a small smile.
"We'll find it. Don't worry." I smiled too, feeling immensely happy. But then I felt that my bladder can't hold off anymore. I skipped of the jeep and turned to Sanzo, shifting weight in my two feet.
"Wait here I have to piss." I said as I jogged to a place that can't be seen by them. I heard Gojyo scream after me.
"Be careful with the snakes here! There really poisonous! Ahahahahaha..." I smirked. Stupid ero kappa. He can't scare me. There's not a life in this place. Much less a snake.
I lowered my pants and pissed. It was weird. I thought someone is watching me. I looked around but I don't see anyone, anything. I shrugged, but then I heard something creak. I almost jumped out of my skin when directly in front of me, mind you I still have my pants lowered, a door opened from the earth revealing a young maiden with beautiful blue eyes. She stared at me for the longest time.
Registering the fact that she was a woman and my pants were lowered, I screamed like a girl would.
"SANZO!!!! HELP ME!!!!!" The maiden just laughed.
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Goku's POV
I woke up extra early today, because I've got a long day ahead of me. I've decided last night that I'll start solving my and Nataku's problem. I just hope that Hakkai had remembered where the last members of the tribe of Ariadne might be. They are my last hope. Without them, I'll be a lost cause.
So instead of raiding the inn's refrigerator just like I used to do, I settled myself at the table directly in front of the staircase patiently waiting for Hakkai's descent. I don't want to disturb them again like I did last night. Gojyo might throw a fit again. And it's very unhealthy for me to start a fight with Gojyo early in the morning. He's not a morning person you see.
Back to the long day. If Hakkai wasn't able to remember where the tribe might be, then it'll be the library for me. I mind it on usual days but this is definitely for an unusual cause, so I guess being branded as an 'intellectual saru' by the one and only pain in the ass, Gojyo, is worth it.
I've not waited too long when Hakkai went down. Unlike Sanzo and Gojyo, he already looks awake and raring to go. I don't know if he's a morning or an evening person, since he always looks so genky and full of life. By his standards okay? Don't put him up to my genkiness standard because he'll be left out in the dust. He smiled at me, and I pounced on him.
"Ohayou, Hakkai!!! I woke up earlier than you!" I said proudly as I eyed him taking a sit in front of me. He laughed softly.
"I can see that. Did you sleep well last night?" He asked me. I smiled at him ruefully.
"Not really. I kept thinking about you." Sanzo picked that right moment to come down. He looks grumpy as usual.
"So that's it. You're thinking of Hakkai. And you told me you had the migraine." Sanzo grumbled to himself as if the idea of saru's getting headaches are absurd.
"I wonder what will Gojyo think?" He continued as he took a cigarette from his robe and started smoking. He puffed some smoke on my face. I coughed.
"Sanzo! It's not what you think! I kept thinking if Hakkai got the answer!" I said my voice whiny. Sanzo smirked.
"You should be." Hakkai just laughed.
"Do want to know my answer Goku?" He asked me. I turned to him puppy eager mode.
"Well, I think I know where it is. Although I'm not quite sure."
"Why?" Sanzo asked, puffing circles of smoke.
"Well, the person I heard this from was quite unreliable. She looks as if she came out of a mental hospital."
"A mental?! But what did she say to you? And where did you meet her?" I asked him.
"From the last town. She came up to me stealthily. I was surprised I didn't sense her presence." Sanzo raised his eyebrows.
"That's why I thought at that time she might be telling the truth. She told me she cloaked her presence so that why I can't detect her." I creased my forehead, confused.
"Cloaked? But how did she do that?"
"That's what I asked her too. She told me it was sorcery. She also said that they were the only tribe to be able to do that." Hakkai said as he brought his hands to his chin thinking deeply.
"The tribe of Ariadne!" I exclaimed.
"Yes. She did mention that name. And she told me that their community lives where not a sign of life can be seen."
"Not a sign of life? You mean no animals, no plants no any living thing except them?" Sanzo asked getting interested. Hakkai nodded.
"I thought it was absurd too. But I heard of folklore that the chosen maiden of this certain tribe used all of her powers to wipe out the enemy. As a consequence, the entire area was also wiped out of life."
"So what's this folklore got to do with our missing tribe?" I asked Hakkai. He smiled, as if acknowledging my great question.
"This woman said she knew this chosen maiden. That it was not folklore after all. She even said that this maiden is still alive and is their sage."
"But that would mean that she might be hundreds of years old!" Sanzo said, once again raising his eyebrows unbelievably.
"I know. But I think it's worth a try checking this story out right? Besides it really falls in some of the missing pieces." Hakkai said as he acknowledges his koibito's entrance. Gojyo still looked groggy, as if he hadn't got any sleep, and he looks pissed about something.
"Ohayou." Hakkai greeted Gojyo.
"What are you talking about?" He asks grumpily as he took a seat beside Hakkai.
"Oh nothing. We were just talking about leaving you behind." Sanzo said his self satisfied smirk pasted on his face.
"TEME..." Gojyo growled as he stood up.
"Gojyo..." Hakkai said warningly. Almost immediately Gojyo sits down and pouted. I couldn't help but laugh. You'd think Gojyo is the dominant one between the two of them. The truth is that he's putty in Hakkai's hands.
"What are you laughing about saru?"
"You." I said in between laughs.
"TEME..." But before he could reach out to grab me, Sanzo had already reached for his harisen and struck us with it.
"OWWW...."
"As we were talking, before some rude kappa arrived..." Gojyo looked at Sanzo sour. Sanzo just smirked.
"We're going to leave town to look for the tribe." He finished with a flourish. I turned to Hakkai.
"Do you know where this lifeless place can be seen?" I ask him uncertainly.
"Its just east of Kougaiji's palace. There's this huge area of vast land almost like a desert, only difference is, there no living thing there. And it's also where the lady told me where it is." Hakkai answered as he motions for the waitress to get our order.
"Wait. If you said that this land is lifeless, where the heck are they living there? And where do they get their food?" Gojyo asked doubtful.
"The lady said that the sage provides for them. They can't leave that place until the prophecy of their sage is fulfilled." Hakkai answers him.
"But what about the woman you said you meet? I thought you said they weren't supposed to leave there?" Gojyo asked yet again at Hakkai, but it didn't really register to me. I mean how could I get started if I'm hungry? So the waitress had grabbed my full attention as of the moment. Shrimp dumplings, meat buns, fried rice and lots of curry here I come! Hakkai shrugged.
"That's why I said it's unreliable."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Li Touten's POV
So that abominable foursome had already figured out the mystery of Ariadne. I must do something about it. It should not be left about. I thought to myself as I recalled the painful past.
Because I have overlooked that bastard, Tenpou Gensui and his equally insufferable Taishou, Kenren, I met my down fall. It's where it all started anyways. If they didn't stir the suspicions to me then all of that wouldn't have happened.
But I'm a different man now. Thanks to all the meditations and all the hours I spend in my exile thinking, I've learned the wrong of my ways. And its time to do that in action. Now that I've been given another chance, I won't ever waste it. I turned away from the viewing pond, a glint in my eyes.
"I think it's time for my toy to do his work." I mumbled as I let my face adopt a kind, fatherly face.
"Nataku? Nataku?" I called out loudly to my son, who is in the bed of flowers in the field. Just as he woke up from my dream of lies, his eyes were still dull and almost lifeless. He just goes on about with the slightest consciousness.
I watch him stand and straightened himself before walking towards me. I smirked. At least he still remembers what I taught him. I've always told him to act tall. Act like he's king of heaven. Because he's going to be one when I get tired of sitting on the throne. He approaches me and drops on one knee. Just like I taught him, I thought pleased.
"Yes father?" He asks me. I motioned to the viewing pond. His gaze traveled to it, uninterestedly.
"The foursome, the one we both HATE." I stressed the word hate for emphasis before continuing.
"They're going to further hurt your feelings. That wretched Son Goku will break all the ties that bind the two of you together." Nataku's eyes suddenly regained some life. I'm pleased to note that his hateful golden eyes held anger in them. He turns his gaze on me.
"Is it true father?"
"I'm afraid so son. But we won't let them right? We won't let them have their way."
"Of course." Nataku said with much conviction.
"That's good. Now go on and do what you must." I shoved him gently towards the viewing pond.
"I'm going to finish this once and for all." He informed me as he looks at the viewing ponds contents. It shows the foursome in their jeep. The two saru's in the back were bickering as usual, while the blond monk had a vein throbbing in his head. The monocled one was smiling happily.
"Oh?" I said, hiding my suppressed happiness.
"Yes. I won't return unless I've killed Son Goku." Nataku proclaimed as he jumped into the viewing pond and out of my sight. I dropped to the ground laughing heartily.
"Now that's a job well done!" I proclaimed as I clutched my aching sides. Once again, Nataku will finish all things for me while I sit in comfortable heaven, watching all things unfold before my very own eyes, the way I want it to.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
Goku's POV
"Oi! Ero Kappa!!!! That's my dumpling! I've carefully reserved it for me!!" I yelled as I wildly twisted and turned in my seat trying to reach my dumpling which was completely inaccessible since Gojyo was putting it high above his head. I growled in frustration.
"What was that?! Is it you growling or your stomach?!" Gojyo asked completely enjoying my discomfort.
"Give me that!! It's mine!!" I yelled once again, trying to reach it from his hands.
"Oh?! How do you know its your? Your name's not written on it."
"Who would write his name on a dumpling! That's stupid."
"URUSAI." Before I knew it, Sanzo's harisen had made contact with my head and I feel it exploding with pain.
"Owww... Sanzo so mean." I whined as I rubbed my aching head. Then all of a sudden I felt depressed. I don't why, I just did.
"I think we are here." Hakkai whispered as we took in our surroundings. Surprisingly, the lifeless place the folklore says exists. My mouth fell wide open in awe. It really looks like a dessert, although the sand here is much finer and it's black-grey in color.
"Wow. The old lady may be saying the truth." Hakkai said as he turned around in his seat, trying to face me. I let out a smile and let my hope go up a notch. But then it went into a frown again. The area is large. Very large. How are we supposed to find a handful of people? As if reading my mind, Sanzo turned to face me and let out a small smile.
"We'll find it. Don't worry." I smiled too, feeling immensely happy. But then I felt that my bladder can't hold off anymore. I skipped of the jeep and turned to Sanzo, shifting weight in my two feet.
"Wait here I have to piss." I said as I jogged to a place that can't be seen by them. I heard Gojyo scream after me.
"Be careful with the snakes here! There really poisonous! Ahahahahaha..." I smirked. Stupid ero kappa. He can't scare me. There's not a life in this place. Much less a snake.
I lowered my pants and pissed. It was weird. I thought someone is watching me. I looked around but I don't see anyone, anything. I shrugged, but then I heard something creak. I almost jumped out of my skin when directly in front of me, mind you I still have my pants lowered, a door opened from the earth revealing a young maiden with beautiful blue eyes. She stared at me for the longest time.
Registering the fact that she was a woman and my pants were lowered, I screamed like a girl would.
"SANZO!!!! HELP ME!!!!!" The maiden just laughed.
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