Disclaimer: Do I really need to say that I don't own Saiyuki?
Please Note: I have slightly modified the previous chapter, as I omitted a few details. Sorry!
And now, chapter 10 is finally up!! Sorry for the suspense, but I really couldn't resist putting in a little cliffie back there… Anyway… prepare yourself for a long chapter, an interesting revelation, and very bad action scenes!! Three cheers for Konzen! Hip, hip! Hurr…*notices that no one else is cheering… and drops head down despondently* Oh well… here goes…
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Chapter 10
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Sanzo
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I scowled at the big, ugly one in front who looked stupid enough to be their leader. "You never give up do you?"
He barred his yellow fangs at me and laughed. "We have orders to get our hands on the sutra." He licked his lips. "And permission to do what we like with you…something to which we're looking forward, right ? " His minions grunted or laughed in agreement, and I could feel the priestess's grip on me tighten.
"Oh really?" I twisted my lips into a smile, as I looked straight into his eyes. "And what makes you think you'll manage to get your hands on me?" I drew the shoureijou from my robes. I knew I looked and sounded confident, but I felt my heart sinking. What could two people and five bullets do against twenty youkai? Last time they had been less, and I had all my strength, but still they had nearly killed me. Anyway, I'd rather die fighting than give up the sutra to that brute.
"Cheap scum." Her voice was loud and clear. I looked at her angrily. What was she up to now? I had enough problems on my hands without trying to deal with her too. She ignored me, and continued to speak to the youkai leader, blue eyes flashing with rage. "How dare you attack us and contaminate this place by your presence?"
The arrogant bastard smirked. "Don't worry, milady… your turn will come too after we finish with the pretty boy beside you." He leered at her, and she tensed up, eyes narrowing in revulsion.
"Dream on, you filth!" she spat back. "Try to come closer and I'll tear your guts out before I'll let you lay a finger on us." She and the ugly brute glared at each other. I tightened my grasp on the shoureijou. This was getting on my nerves. I had no patience with people risking their lives for something which did not concern them. Her place was not out here, but with the rest of the women. This was my battle, and I should be facing them alone, not with her around.
"Why don't you stay out of this?" I hissed in undertone. "Get away while you can. I can deal with them alone!" She turned her gaze towards me, eyebrows slightly raised.
"Of course you can Sanzo-sama," she replied, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Assuming you can stay upright long enough, that is." I glowered at her as she smiled back at me sweetly. I swore to myself softly. If they don't kill her first, then I will.
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Gojyo
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I leapt deftly to the side as he tried to stick his dagger into my gut, and I returned the favour by plunging the blade of my shakujo into his back. He screamed and his body fragmented into a thousand particles. "And that's another one gone," I muttered darkly. Hakkai was blasting away kii balls as fast as he could generate them. They were many, and we had to stop them reaching Sanzo. A sudden movement caught my eye. "Oh no you don't!" I yelled, as my blade tore through the body of one of the more astute ones who had made for the door, trying to reach the other rooms to search for the monk. I stood up quickly, ready to rejoin the battle…
"Gojyo, look out!" I turned to see another leaping at me, claws bared, ready to bury themselves into my flesh. There was no way I'd manage to avoid this attack in time…
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Goku
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The last few stared fiercely back at me. I grinned as I swirled my Nyoibou. Sanzo would have been proud of the way I was handling this so quickly. "Do you give up?" I yelled at them. Their reply was to hurl themselves at me, screeching loudly. I sighed. They didn't know when they had to stop. "Then die!" I shouted as I leapt to meet them. I twisted my body to avoid a straight kick to the face and blocked the punch the other one threw at me. One of them grazed my cheek with his claws as I dodged him but I dug my knee into his stomach and he howled, spitting out blood. He dropped to the grounds as I raised my nyoibou. This had been going on far enough.
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I fell on my feet, and I leaned on the wall, wiping away the few drops of blood that had trickled down from the scratch on my cheek. I wondered how Gojyo and Hakkai were faring. I passed my fingers through my hair thoughtfully. These youkai were defeated, and Sanzo should have been already taken to safety. So why did I still feel uneasy? He couldn't be in danger…
"Kill him!" I raised my eyes to see another group of demons approaching and groaned inwardly. Didn't they ever learn? I got ready to meet them. The sooner I got rid of these idiots, the faster I would get to Sanzo.
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Sanzo
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"Well? Have you decided to give us the sutra?"
We looked up as he approached slowly. "A stupid question like that doesn't deserve and answer," I answered back. We had to act fast. They weren't going to stay still without attacking us much longer.
"Keep a civil tongue in your head monk!" he yelled, red with anger. "Or I'll make you rue the day you were born!" I shrugged my shoulders trying to seem indifferent. I felt Shunrei tug at my sleeve gently, and I looked at her with growing irritation, to see what she wanted now. Are you or aren't you a Sanzo? she mouthed at me. I frowned. What the hell did she mean by that? What it another of her riddles? I was about to snap back when I followed her gaze to see that her eyes were focused on… Then it dawned on me. How had I managed to be so bloody stupid?
"Here you! Stop talking!" the demon shrieked. "This is your last chance to give up the sutra! Do you get it?"
I understand, I mouthed back at her. Take this. I pressed the shoureijou in her hands, hoping that the high priestess knew how to pull a trigger.
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Gojyo
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"Gojyo, look out!" I saw the demon lunging at me, and there was no way I could avoid him. His high pitched scream resounded in my ears as he came closer and closer…
No…it can't end like this... how could I have been so slow…
"Hakkai!" I yelled thankfully as a kii ball blasted the youkai from this world to the next. I sighed in relief; that had been one close shave…
"You should be more careful Gojyo," he said as he pulled me up, his emerald green eyes half laughing, half concerned. "I doubt my lady would enjoy having another patient so soon."
"Huh!" I smirked, trying to regain my composure. "Any patient would be better than that cranky old monk!" I positioned myself, ready to continue with the fight, determined to avenge myself this time. "Come on… let's get rid of these morons!"
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Shunrei
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My heart raced as I grasped the shoureijou tightly, hiding it between the folds of my robes. I knew what I had to do now…
"Please don't hurt me!" I took a step forward, letting Sanzo go, hoping that he would not collapse. I looked towards the leader. "I have nothing to do with him… just take him and spare me and my temple…" I knelt down on the ground, letting my head bow before him.
"I see that you've regained some of your good sense, woman." His voice was that of one satisfied with himself. He chuckled evilly. "I'm afraid I can't let you go, but don't worry, I'll see that my men won't toy with you longer than necessary…"
I clenched my fists hating the very sound of the very tone of his voice. Stupid, conceited jerk. Your arrogance will be your downfall. I looked up and smiled. "That's so kind of you… you insignificant dolt!" He gasped as I hurled a handful of gravel into his eyes. He howled, and tried to claw out the stinging particles from his eyes. "Kill her!" he screamed and his minions rushed towards me. I raised the gun and fired. It hit one of the demons who disappeared as soon as the bullet made contact with his chest.
"Oh no you don't!" Another lunged at me from my side, and the gun flew out of my reach. I tried to go after it, but he grabbed my wrists, trapping me. I struggled uselessly with the demon but he was too strong for me… this was the end… "Got you now," he sneered as he trust his face into mine, forcing me to look at him. I shuddered feeling his stale breath on my face …
"CELESTIAL PURIFICATION OF ALL EVIL!" *
I gasped as the youkai dissolved, screeching, as the folds of the sutra entwined themselves round its miserable body. The incredible power of the sutra overwhelmed me. I dropped back on the ground, panting, and I lifted my eyes to look around. They were all dead … It was over…. all over … Sanzo? I turned round quickly too see him collapse and fall on his knees. I scrambled up, afraid that it had been too much for him.
Then I saw him… the damned youkai leader was still alive! Sanzo was breathing heavily, head bent down, and he didn't notice him creeping slowly closer…He prepared to lunge, dagger in his hands, ready to kill my son… "NO!" I heard myself screaming and I leapt in front of Sanzo to face the demon, trying to shield my child from that deadly blow. I braced myself, ready to die if it meant saving my son.
A single shot rang out.
His evil face was contorted with rage as he realised that this was truly the end. "Damn you!" he screamed before joining the rest in the world of the dead.
My son… he had saved my life… I thanked the gods that he had retrieved the gun, for otherwise I would have died… I tried to stop myself from trembling. True terror was not something I had experienced very often, but never had I been face to face with death. I turned to face my child, thankful that he too was safe now. "Sanzo…" My voice faltered as I saw the look on his face. He was staring at me with those amethyst eyes, face pale and drawn. Concerned, I moved closer to him. "Are you injured?" I asked him anxiously as I reached out to touch his forehead. He slapped away my hand and glared at me.
"What the fucking hell got into you, you stupid bitch?!" he exploded. "Who told you to interfere? I don't need any help from anyone!"
I gaped at him. Had he taken leave of his senses? "I try to save your life, and that's the way you thank me?!"
"Save my life? You nearly got yourself killed!!" he snapped back angrily.
"I had to protect you!" I felt my voice rising… anger was taking hold of me…
"You had to protect me?" He snorted incredulously. "Who the hell do you think you are, my mother?"
I felt the blood drain away from my face as I stared at him. He was looking at me with those violet eyes, so familiar, yet so alien, full of anger. I swallowed trying to maintain my composure. "I…I…" My voice seemed unnaturally high, and I fell silent. He continued to glare at me, and I felt as though my heart was going to burst. What should I do now?
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the image of those eyes, which reminded my so much of what I had loved and lost. Hiroshi… I knew what he would have done in my place. I opened my eyes to meet those of the second man I had ever cared for. The blonde man was looking at me warily now, puzzled by my sudden silence. I sighed, but felt strangely calm as I knew what had to be done now. It was time to put an end to all this.
"Yes," I said softly. There was no sound but the slight rustling of leaves as the gentle breeze danced through the trees. I smiled sadly at my son. "I am your mother."
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The End…
…of Chapter 10. *dodges the bullets fired from Sanzo's gun by readers who are out for blood* Ok, Ok… silly joke, I know, but I'm writing this remember? Sorry you had to wait so long for that, but at least Sanzo did finally get to know that she was his mother. (See? I'm not heartless after all!) You must admit, it's a wonder what youkai attacks can do these days *grins*. I wonder how Sanzo will react to this… your guess is as good as mine… :p
Well? Was it good/ bad/ hopeless? (Hopefully not the last one, but if yes, please tell me! Giving valid reasons please…)
Azzie@Az, Blades of Ice, UltraM2000: Thanks loads!! I really didn't know what I was going to make Gojyo fight with! :p *Gojyo and Goku wave their thanks too!!*
GS 1: Don't say that!! You're sounding too much like me! Please cheer up!!! I'm sure that someone who writes such good stories can't really be such a disaster ^_^ Hope you manage to read this, and thanks for the info on the shakujo! About school, I go to sixth form… we spend only two years here, after 5 years in secondary school. Compared to other schools it's rather small, and horribly strict! But I admit I'll miss it when I leave…
Ruishi: Have tried to update as soon as I could, so you wouldn't have to kill to know what happens… ^_^ thanks for reviewing!!
UltraM200: Tried to follow your hint and lengthened the Sanzo bit in the previous chapter, hope you liked it! (thanks for correcting my spelling of Goku's weapon!)
Kenren Taishou: It's your fault this story is so long! Who told me I should write a sequel to the Ice maiden and then told me the sequel I'd written was too short?? But yes, it was nice getting a review in my language (plus a smattering of English and Japanese thrown in :p) Thanks loads habiba…
THANK YOU to all reviewers! This is my first story which has proved so popular, and I'm really grateful to all of you who took the time to write a few lines. I'm sorry, for not answering every reviewer separately, but I want you to know that I really appreciate your comments and suggestions!
* Just wanted to say that I translated this straight from Italian; I have actually no idea how it should actually be… so please excuse if it is incorrect!