Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki, though I wish I did. Please don't sue me…
It was a dark night, and it had been raining for hours.
Far from any civilization, a tiny village with no name nestled in the mountains. It had no wall around it for protection, and had only one real road that was not even paved. It passed through the center of the little town and spiraled on through the mountains, and it appeared to the entire world as if the little village had just happened to grow on it like a wart.
In the center of the little village stood its one inn, a tiny, ramshackle place that was nevertheless the largest building in the area, having two stories. The inn boasted the only tavern in the village as well, though the tavern, too, had clearly seen better days and, while clean enough, carried the marks of far too many brawls and drunken fights. As usual for a dark, cold, rainy night, it was as busy as it ever got; the weekly poker game was in full swing in one corner, and the usual customers were hard at work getting drunk at the bar and over dinner. Tonight, though, conversation was subdued and watchful faces shot cautious, suspicious, or wary glances over their cards or their mugs at the group of strangers that sat at the table in the center of the tavern, enjoying the table full of food.
W
"Well, this place might not be much to look at, but the food is nothing to complain about."
"You said it, Hakkai!" Goku looked up from his plate long enough to grin enthusiastically at the others. "This is the best I've eaten in weeks!"
"Yeah, well, save a little for the rest of us," Gojyo shot back, reaching out with his chopsticks for the last dumpling on the plate. Goku dived for it as well, and the two struggled over it for a moment.
"Hey, you already got some, that one's mine," Goku protested and Gojyo glared at him.
"It's not like you haven't eaten everything else," he shot back.
"If you two don't stop it," Sanzo interrupted, voice even despite his gritted teeth, "I swear I am going to kill you both right here."
"Huh, I'd like to see you try," Gojyo snapped, managing to stab the dumpling and get it into his mouth before Goku could snatch it.
"HEY!" Goku cried. Sanzo glared at him.
"Just order another plate, all right?!" he finally shouted, losing his temper as Gojyo gave them both a self – satisfied grin.
Hakkai sighed, smiling in spite of himself, and wondered idly when he had last had a meal somewhere that didn't end in a food fight or a tavern – wide brawl. Certainly not on this trip; not that they'd been on it long, but still…
"It's kind of pathetic, really," he murmured aloud, presumably to the white dragon that was happily draped around his shoulders. Hakuryu made a little sound in response that sounded rather like a cat and Hakkai smiled absently and reached up to feed him a bit of the chicken that was still on his plate.
It wasn't so much that he minded the food fights. It was just that there were some places where it was more appropriate than others, and he wasn't entirely sure that this was the place to be starting trouble – even innocent trouble. Hakkai took a sip of his sake and leaned back in his chair casually, scanning the room over the rim of his cup.
Yeah. They're still watching us, he thought, a little grimly. And they still don't seem too happy…
"Doesn't look like these people like outsiders much," Sanzo murmured quietly. Hakkai glanced at him and smiled.
"So you were watching," he murmured back. "Think there'll be trouble?"
"If they start it, I'll finish it," Gojyo warned, abruptly focused on the conversation. Goku had fallen silent, munching on his food, but he, too, was watching Sanzo.
"Well, it's not like we can go somewhere else," Sanzo pointed out. "Still…"
"Hey, sorry it took me so long to get over here, we're kind of busy tonight."
Hakkai looked up sharply, startled at the first friendly voice he'd heard all night. A young woman stood next to the table, smiling at all of them cheerfully, a full tray in her hands. She was wearing a short dress and an apron, and her long, black hair was pulled away from her face in a ponytail.
"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt," she added quickly, and Hakkai returned her smile.
"Not at all," he assured her and she grinned again.
"I figured you'd want something more to drink," she explained lightly, setting down another bottle of sake between him and Sanzo and placing a beer in front of Gojyo. "And more food, right? Here." Deftly, she cleared away a few of the empty plates to replace them with fresh, steaming dumplings and more chicken.
"Hey, this is great, thanks!" Goku laughed and the girl tilted her head to one side, still smiling as she considered them.
"I haven't seen you in here before, so… you must be passing though, right? Wherever you're going, you must have come pretty far to end up here for the night."
"Miya!"
Across the room, the bartender was glaring at them all. The young woman glanced over her shoulder, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Stop it, Tanaka, that's no way to treat our guests." There was a trace of command in her voice and the bartender turned away sharply. The girl he had called Miya glanced back at them with an apologetic look.
"We… don't get a lot of visitors here," she explained, a little dryly. "You'll have to excuse us if we seem a bit rude. We don't mean any harm. Anyway, if you need anything else, just ask for it, OK?"
"Oh, we will!" Goku reached for the food happily.
"Anything else we need?" Gojyo was eyeing her appreciatively. "I can think of something…"
Hakkai sighed, waiting for the inevitable. Sanzo had already sprung up with his fan and was beating the protesting Gojyo over the head with it. The waitress had taken a step back, laughing, but she turned to Hakkai as he spoke.
"You seem to be pretty much in charge here. Are you the owner of this little establishment?"
"Oh, no." She looked amused at the thought. "I'm just the waitress and cook, that's all. Tanaka, there, actually owns the place. I've just worked here the longest…"
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
Several of the men had come up to the table, sneering a little as they eyed the little group. Sanzo paused, still holding his fan, watching them with narrowed eyes; Gojyo had the predatory grin he sometimes got when he smelled a fight coming. Next to him, the girl had shifted a little, holding the tray lightly, watching them coolly.
"You're awfully friendly toward the strangers, aren't you, Miya?" the leader continued, leering at her. "Kinda makes a guy wonder, when you aren't this nice to you're regular customers…"
"Maybe because you're an asshole," Gojyo suggested casually. The leader smirked.
"Better than what she is," he shot back and the young woman lifted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing.
"Look, we don't want to start trouble," Hakkai replied, all friendliness, "but you really shouldn't insult a lady like that."
"A lady." The leader snorted. "She ain't no lady. Demon trash is more like it." In a sudden movement, faster than Hakkai expected, he grabbed the waitress' arm, pulling her close to him and speaking into her ear. "So what aren't you telling us, Miya? You're not this friendly to us humans, and I am starting to think that your 'guests' are more trash like you. Come on, now, it's not nice to keep secrets."
"Let her go." There was an open threat in Sanzo's voice.
"No, I don't think so," the man replied, looking up suddenly, real coldness in his expression. "We got a rule about demons here, and she knows it as well as any of us." He pulled her arm up behind her as Gojyo stood up…
The girl twisted in her attacker's grasp, a knee flying up to catch him in the groin and as he gasped and doubled over, she executed a quick, deft movement, sending him over her onto his back, the wind knocked out of him.
"Very nice." Gojyo grinned at her.
"You bitch!" The leader managed to get to his knees, glaring venom at her. "You are gonna pay for that little stunt."
"You know, I really don't think she will." Gojyo turned to eye the three men, all very clearly drunk, who staggered forward at the leader's words. The girl glanced over at him, looking a little startled.
And then the front door was blasted in.
For a moment, everyone froze, clearly confused. Sanzo was already on his feet, and Goku looked up from his plate, surprised. Hakkai had stood up also, his attention divided between the other tavern patrons, who were glaring at them with open hostility, and the door, which was oddly silent.
For a moment, everything was still. Outside, rain poured off the roof and pattered on the little stoop, shimmering against the shadows beyond…
Something moved out in the night and a shadow resolved in the doorway. It was disarmingly normal; just an old man in a cloak, holding a walking – stick and wearing a wide – brimmed straw hat. Still, there was something sinister about the shape, and Hakkai let his own eyes narrow as he sensed the old man's power.
"Shit." Next to Gojyo, the girl's words were barely a whisper in the silence. "I don't get paid enough for this crap."
"I am looking for Genjo Sanzo and his companions." The old man's voice was surprisingly deep and unsettlingly steady. "Hand him over and I will let the rest of you live."
"Damn it, another assassin." Gojyo sounded disgusted. "Where do they find these assholes?"
"You want to get killed, fine with me." Sanzo stepped forward.
"Genjo Sanzo and his companions are guests here." The girl also moved forward steadily, putting herself between the old man and the group around the table. "They are under our hospitality." She tilted her head to one side and offered him a sweet smile. "You want them, you have to deal with me first."
"Umm…" Hakkai considered her a little quizzically. "It's really kind of you to do that, my dear, but you might want to let us deal with this."
"Shut up," the girl replied absently, not taking her eyes off the figure in front of her.
The old man cackled, revealing cracked teeth. "You're a fool if you think you can stand up to me, little girl, but if you are truly that sick of this life… well," he grinned, his voice quiet. "I'll be happy to end it for you." He backed up a step, out into the night, and made a little mocking gesture. The young woman smiled quickly to herself and started forward.
"Hey, wait a minute." Gojyo caught her arm. "I hate to say it, but the ugly guy is right. You're gonna get killed out there."
"No, I won't." The girl glanced up at him, and Hakkai saw her eyes twinkle suddenly. "Watch."
The old man lunged at her, his stick glowing with a strange, eerie light. The girl had already slipped free from Gojyo and was standing near the door; a quick, effortless movement put her behind him and she danced backwards, out into the rain. The old man cackled again, following her.
"Idiot," Sanzo muttered, heading after her. Hakkai smiled to himself, following with the others. He was beginning to get the sneaking suspicion that the waitress was more than she seemed.
Outside, the old man lifted his staff, crying something out in a strange language. Next to Hakkai, Sanzo's eyes widened suddenly and he gave a little start, apparently recognizing the spell. Lightning cracked down from the sky, hit the staff, and shot outwards, but the girl was already gone, flipping over his head in a graceful movement. She landed as he spun, but there was something in her hand, something that looked like a short rod topped with a bell – shaped head.
"What's she got in her hand?" Goku asked. No one answered; light flared briefly from her hand and all of a sudden, something cracked out like a whip around her. The head caught the demon full in the stomach and he screamed before shattering into darkness.
It was abruptly very still in the little square. The young woman – Miya, Hakkai remembered – wandered forward a few steps, looking down at where the demon sorcerer had been before heading over toward where the four companions stood, staring with open mouths, and pausing before the priest.
"So you're the legendary Sanzo." She considered him, head tilted to one side, eyes sparkling wickedly even in the dim light. "I'd rather expected that assassins sent after you would be a little more… difficult."
"Hey, that was incredible!" Goku cried. "You really kicked his ass. Nice!"
"That was impressive," Hakkai smiled at her, unable to help an answering trace of mischievous humor. "I doubt we could have done any better ourselves."
"Takes a demon to kill a demon," someone muttered, loud enough for them to hear and Miya half – turned to look out into the night, sudden caution on her face.
"Yeah, what's so bad about that?" Goku demanded. Several of the men were drawing closer and by the lantern light, they could see that the men's faces were closed and hostile.
"Trouble," Sanzo muttered and Gojyo grinned.
"You think?"
Hakkai glanced quickly at Miya. She wasn't moving, but there was a shadow across her face, something he couldn't read in her eyes.
"We don't like demons here." It was Tanaka, the bartender, who answered, eyes narrowed. "We got one to deal with trouble, but that's all."
"Some of us think that's one too much," someone said from the crowd and another answered, "Especially as she's so friendly to her own kind…"
"Kinda makes you wonder what side she's on," another person yelled, and Tanaka glared over his shoulder.
"That's enough. We don't have a quarrel with Miya. At least, not right now." He turned back to the small group. "But we don't have a place for strangers here. You'd best be moving on."
"They can't make the next town at this time of night, and you all know it."
Miya's voice was calm and even. Tanaka turned a warning look on her.
"That isn't our problem. They may not have meant anything, but they've already brought trouble."
"What d'ya mean, they didn't mean anything by it?" One of the men pushed forward through the crowd, stepping into the circle of lantern light to glare at the group with open hostility. "You trust the lying bastards? Just because that demon said he was after them… they probably hired him themselves. What, is this some kind of a scam? You send demons to attack our town, then offer to get rid of them for a price, is that it?"
"You stupid assholes, you think we'd bother with that?" Gojyo shot back. "If I had hired the fucking demons, you can bet I wouldn't bother to stop them now."
"Gojyo, I don't think that's helping," Hakkai said, and turned his most disarming smile on the crowd. "I'm sorry, we didn't realize that our presence would be a problem here…"
"And we'll be more than happy to get the hell out of here," Gojyo finished harshly.
Miya shifted and reached out quickly to lay a hand on Gojyo's arm.
"That's a more dangerous proposition than you know," she said softly, "even for you four." She stepped forward into the circle of light, facing the mob.
"Long ago, you hired me to protect your town from demons," she called, her voice carrying over the patter of the rain and the restless muttering of the crowd. "Whether you regret that contract now or not, you have not yet released me from it, and I still consider it my obligation to you… as you well know." She caught the eyes of a few members of the crowd. "I have heard of Genjo Sanzo and his companions, and I know that they do not mean you any harm, and…" she went on, before the rising murmur could become shouting, "I will vouch for them. They can stay the night at my home, and if they cause any trouble, I will accept whatever punishment is deserved, in their stead." She smiled, her expression hard. "Surely you realize that they can hardly be in a place where they will be able to do the least harm, staying in the house of the town's demon protector."
For a long moment, there was uncertain muttering. Hakkai glanced over quickly at his own companions. Goku was watching everything uncertainly. Gojyo was eyeing the crowd. Sanzo's eyes were on the girl, and Hakkai couldn't read his expression.
"That's acceptable to us," Tanaka answered, half to Miya and half to the others. "But if they cause any trouble… rest assured that we will insist on justice from them and from you."
"Fucking bastards…" Gojyo muttered, turning away. Hakkai allowed himself a little sigh and glanced at the girl.
"Fine." She inclined her head mockingly, then turned her back to the crowd, her attention back on them.
"That is," she added with a far friendlier smile, "if you want to stay with me. Otherwise, you can risk the road, but…"
"Your place will be fine," Sanzo assured her, just a little shortly. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm getting tired of standing in the rain."
"Sanzo," Hakkai chided gently and smiled at Miya. "Thank – you."
She returned the smile easily, not looking the slightest bit hurt at Sanzo's brusqueness.
"Come on," she said. "Let's go home."