Onna: *dodges harisen Bluejay throws at her* Standard disclaimers apply!
Bluejay: *dodges bullets being shot by Sanzo*
*****
"You thought you heard what?!" Gojyo's right eye twitched in annoyance once again, a hand raised as though to slap his forehead. "First the saru is getting dizzy and now he's starting to hear things too!"
"I did hear Sanzo!" Goku protested indignantly. "Hakkai, you believe me, don't you?"
Hakkai could only smile as he scratched his chin, not knowing what to tell the young youkai. On one hand, he had to agree with Gojyo that he didn't hear anything. On the other hand... "Anou..."
"Hakkai!" Goku's insistent voice came again, already large golden eyes growing wider with impatience.
Gojyo dropped his raised hand on the young boy's head, ruffling the mud-brown hair. "Bakasaru, stop pestering Hakkai and let's just get the bouzu, eh?"
"Saru ja ne yo!!!"
With an inward sigh of relief, Hakkai followed his companions as they began to run again. The house loomed larger in their view, an imposing structure with the pointed arches and sharp sloping roof. Its walls were an aging cream color and weathered with stains here and there. The wood itself was polished and carved with elaborate designs, the stains only adding to its daunting appearance.
But Goku and Gojyo pressed on forward, probably with only the thought of getting Sanzo back crossing their minds. Being the last, Hakkai couldn't help notice the boy's increasing stride or the rising agitation in the boy's face when he managed to catch glimpses of it. Even Gojyo was beginning to look uneasy.
Of course, it didn't help the sense of foreboding in his chest.
They reached the weathered door shortly and without a word, Gojyo kicked it down. It fell unnoticed to the floor as the trio jogged inside. There were no lights in the room except for the one spilling through the opened doorway. Hakkai stopped in the middle of the room to let his eyes adjust to the darkness.
Then Goku opened his mouth to call. "San-MMMPH!"
"Bakasaru," Gojyo hissed as he released his hold on Goku's mouth. "You're gonna give away our position."
"I think the fact that you kicked down their door is enough to signal our arrival, Gojyo," Hakkai pointed out, smiling.
Gojyo's eye twitched in annoyance for the third time this day. "Sankyu, Hakkai," he drawled sarcastically.
"Your friend is quite right," the voice that came floating to where they were wiped the smile from Hakkai's face.
"Although, we were expecting you."
"Where's Sanzo?!" Goku demanded, bringing out his Nyoibo.
"Why, he is safe. With the people he belongs with."
"You kidnapped him!" the young youkai snapped. "He doesn't belong with you!"
"No..." the room was suddenly filled with light, revealing several figures clustered together across the large room. "He doesn't belong with you, youkai scum. He is one of our kin." Hakkai glanced around to find more figures coming to join the first one. "And we will protect one of our own from the likes of you."
"Chi," Gojyo said, casually slinging his shakujou over his shoulder. "You guys are nuts."
"Are we?"
That was all the warning they received when the figures that surrounded them surged forward. Hakkai raised his hands to block the oncoming strikes, concentrating all his ki into an energy barrier between his palms. Goku and Gojyo countered the onslaught of attacks beside and behind him, making many fall at their feet.
"We're ready for you..." the hooded man spoke once more. "You will not win..."
Hakkai let out a strangled yell when pain jabbed at his sides, pinning his arms down. The energy ball between his palms flickered before fading completely as he lost his concentration. Sharp stings struck at his knees, and he stumbled.
Another force slammed between his shoulder blades, and he fell face flat to the ground, unable to move.
With an effort, he twisted his head to see his two companions similarly flattened on the floor. And yet he couldn't see anything that actually held them there.
So this is what Yaone-san and the others felt like...
The figure who spoke came close to where Hakkai lay prostrate with the rest not bothering to hold him down, at least not physically. The human-turned-youkai gazed back at icy blue eyes that stared at him with his lips curling into a cruel smile.
"Die, youkai scum," he whispered, nodding at one of his companions.
Hakkai caught the glint of metal at the corner of his good eye as another hooded figure approached. The wielder grinned at him, and raised his arms to strike.
"Kuso!!!" the high-pitched voice came one second before the small form slammed against the knife-wielder, knocking the blade from his hands.
The same small form stood over the fallen human with an accusing finger pointed at him. "Hage Sanzo wa doko?!"
"L-Lirin?!" Goku gasped out. "N-Nande-"
A few dark objects thumped near the figures that surrounded them, and flashed brightly as they ignited. The figures drew back with cries of alarm, interspersed with coughing.
The smoke cleared and Hakkai found himself looking at the back of the soft-spoken, purple-haired youkai with her spear pointed at the people before her.
"Y-Yaone-san?"
"Dokugaku!" he heard Gojyo call out as the light bounced off a curved blade. "What the hell-"
"Hmph," another voice, Kougaiji's, chimed in. "I guess this returns the favor."
"You again...!" The figure who led the humans glared at the newcomers.
"Yes, us again!" Lirin snapped. "It's payback time!"
Hakkai watched from the ground as Yaone and Dokugakuji charged at the group, not giving time to the leader to do the same paralysis technique on them. The figures, once huddled together, began to disperse, and with their distraction Hakkai felt the pressure on his body give way.
Gojyo stood and flexed his limbs, looking a bit perplexed.
"We can move!" Goku cheered before receiving a strike at his head.
"Bakasaru! We know that!"
"Maa maa," Hakkai smiled again. "There's still a bit of pressure, but I think we can fight back now." He crouched, once again forming the energy ball between his palms.
With his companions' assent, they leapt into the thick of the battle, joining the Kougaiji-tachi as they fought back. It wasn't long before Hakkai found himself thrust against the same group Yaone was fighting.
"You fight well, Yaone-san," the words came out of his mouth despite the situation they were in. "We should fight together more often."
She struck an attacker on the chin with her foot, then jabbed her spear into the shoulder of another. As the human crumpled to the ground in pain, Yaone flashed him a small smile. "Sou desu ka? You fight just as well, Hakkai-san."
He did not miss the added color on her cheeks though and it left him wondering as he tossed ki balls at their enemy consecutively. Did he embarrass her or was that from her efforts in the fight? And her smile... did it mean anything? At that point, he noticed that the humans were beginning to regroup. Hakkai cautiously stepped beside his companion and smiled at her. "Shall we?" he nodded towards massing humans.
Yaone nodded, and he released one of his larger energy balls from his hands. She quickly followed it up with a handful of grenades, splitting the group into two smaller ones. They both took a group to fight off and stood with their backs to each other. No need to let these humans take advantage of their blind side.
He released more of his Chi Gong, and parried as much strikes as he could with his arms. Pain throbbed at his arms and shoulders where some of the attacks managed to slip past his defence. Then a kick to his chest forced him to crash back against Yaone. And from the weary grunt she gave, he knew the purple-haired youkai was none the worse for wear. But they had to keep up their efforts, before the humans could render all of them immobile.
A loud shriek came from behind him interrupted his thoughts. Hakkai turned just in time as Yaone was thrown at him by a powerful explosion. He speedily recovered from his surprise and caught her in his arms. "Yaone-san, daijoubu desu ka?"
"D-Daijoubu-" she murmured, one eye squeezed shut as blood ran over it. It didn't cover the fact that her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. Hakkai thought she looked cute like that but quickly dismissed it in favour of the battle.
Without warning, the onslaught halted and their opponents stepped back. Hakkai glanced around in confusion, taking note of the condition of his friends and fellow combatants. Everyone looked as worn out and injured as he himself felt. He looked around some more, seeing hatred in the eyes of those they fought, but not one of them moved.
What is going on?
The atmosphere became tense and heavy, and not one seemed to dare to shatter the silence. Slowly, their opponents cleared a way as a shadowed form approached them, with a more slender figure trailing behind. Hakkai felt a tiny energy moving around them, so small even he would not notice if he didn't concentrate hard enough. He looked at his red-haired friend, and Gojyo returned his look. He felt it too. Even Goku seemed to feel it, only more so. The boy shuddered a little as the energy passed, yet his golden eyes held defiance at the figure approaching them. The form's features gradually resolved into a tall human as he neared, one with cold, pale eyes.
One of the other humans made a low sound, almost a growl, but one look from the man in front of them made him shut his mouth. Hakkai guessed he was the leader. The stranger halted several steps in front of the seven youkai, and spoke. "I am Facheung, head of my kin."
Hakkai's eyes narrowed. What did this all mean?
"I will tell you this once. Youkai are not welcome in this town. Leave while you are able."
"Where's Sanzo?!" Goku demanded, his hands steady on his Nyoibo despite the cuts and bruises on his arms.
"Somewhere he belongs," Facheung answered. "Now leave."
"Not without Sanzo!"
"Not without the sutra!" Kougaiji added.
"Sanzo and the sutra stay with us. He has no need of murdering youkai as travelling companions."
"TEME-!" Goku and Lirin growled at the same time.
As if on cue, the figure behind him stepped forward to the light, and Hakkai gasped in recognition.
Blonde hair.
Violet eyes.
The chakra on his forehead.
It couldn't be...
"S-Sanzo-san...?" Yaone whispered in disbelief.
*****
Onna: *still dodging harisen* Not enough HxY fluff! *weeps while running*
Bluejay: Stand still, kono bakainu! *also still dodging bullets from Sanzo*
Onna: *drops grand piano on Bluejay*
CLANG!!!
Bluejay: *evades like a very agile neko*