A/N: Let me tell you of the agony of seeing 3/4 of a chapter at 90% completion disappear into a corrupted floppy disc. I only managed to recover half of it. I just about wept, and I definitely said many naughty words at high volume. Had to take a little break, recenter and then went out and bought a nifty USB portable hard drive (it is sooo cool!) and began again. Many, many naughty words. Wow did it hurt. So this chapter is a little later than I had planned on releasing it, but here it finally is!
RazZadig: While I don't know how "far" Gojyo and Hakkai/Gonou's relationship will go yet, no one will ever come between them. As for babes? Well Gojyo is a sexually active 19 y.o. male...
MoMo-kun: Yep, Sanzo did whip out the Maten, hope you like what the outcome is!
Kath: While I love angst, I don't write death fics (of major characters). The quartet is reasonably safe in my paws!
Badgerwolf: ah yes, the villagers... boy are they in for a rude shock.
UltraM2000: Just about got my pattern set for the boys, just a few more threads to tie in!
Chiefraz: Thank you so much for your kind e-mails! It really helped me get this done after the chapter crashed on me.
Krimson/M-chan: Danke. Gonou channeling Tenpou was the only way I could figure out how a skinny 19 y.o. teacher was able to take down 1000 demons (and 300 villagers) all by his lonesome.
Veszelyite: I love the boys' past lives, so expect to see more of them in the future.
Icediamond: I unfortunately have no beta reader, so grammar problems do slip through. I try to keep it to a minimum, as I hate making those mistakes.
Hakkai-san: humor has always been one of the most important parts of Saiyuki for me, so I try to slip it in when I can.
Lizalou42: Gonou facing his crimes is one of the "closure" pieces I wanted to give him (as the castle burned down and he never got any closure in the series).
Anna Xang-Jiao: Well, as Minekura-sama has yet to describe Gojyo's childhood after Jien killed his mother, I went ahead and extrapolated that bad things happen to small children with no protectors. (I'm pretty sure that my pen name is a coincidence as no on in my immediate family watches any anime but me. And I've never lent out my Mirage of Blaze to anyone!)
Firnheledien, Blades of Ice, Nikki, Wind Wanderer, BranBlack: Thanks so much for your patience and here is Chapter 9!
Disclaimer: I am not allowed to charge any money to anyone for reading this. The characters and setting are not mine. Trying to hypnotize the author into signing away the rights only gets a restraining order slapped on you. (Look at the pretty watch... you will give me Gojyo... you will give me Gojyo...)
_________________________________________
It had been very hard for Goku not to leap into Sanzo's fight at first, he could smell the demon scent on the red haired man and knew that he was trouble. But Sanzo recognized that too, and went for his gun. Goku watched the man dodge the bullet, *He's fast. I wonder what he'd be like to fight if he wasn't injured?* His fingers twitched on the smooth wood of the staff as a coil of eagerness began to unfurl in his body. Goku had always loved battle, two people testing their strength against each other. It made him... hungry? Not food hungry, but there was a need there.
Gonou's appearance was almost startling. *That's him? He looks so ordinary!* A glitter of metal in the inn's lights revealed the magical limiters gracing one ear. *Three of them. He has to wear three limiters to hide his nature. How strong is he?* Focused on Gonou, he missed Gojyo's lunge at Sanzo, knocking them both away from the brunette. Goku began moving at the same instant as Sanzo's shout for him, sliding across the wet gravel and facing down the person they had been searching for all this time. *Let's see how good he is.*
Goku sent his staff whirling in a solid opening pattern that Dr. Yang had patiently drilled into him, testing the reflexes and skill of his opponent. Gonou dodged or deflected each attack, moving with a speed that surpassed anything Goku had previously encountered. *He's really good! Guess I'll have to take him seriously!* The thing inside Goku that loved fighting was awake fully now, and Goku could feel it pressing against his own limiter. It wanted more, and Goku accelerated his own pace to match Gonou's abilities. They twirled together again and this time he managed to connect, sending the former teacher sprawling.
Two things happened that completely altered the unfolding fight. The first was the explosion of power behind Goku that bore the familiar signature of the Maten Scripture. *Oops. Guess Sanzo got really pissed off!* The second was Gonou himself. *Dr. Yang always told me never to lose track of where things are in a fight... I should have listened.* Gonou was still on the ground where he had landed, but he was no longer
unarmed. Sanzo's gun was firmly in his grip, the barrel was pointed squarely at Goku, and the look in Gonou's eyes... was the look of someone who would kill a thousand for the sake of one.
"Let. Him. Go."
*****
The Maten leapt for Gojyo, splitting and growing like a tentacled sea monster. The half-breed didn't even have time to blink as it ripped him from the ground, wrapping him securely in its unfolding lengths. Sanzo stood at the center of the maelstrom, eyes radiating fury. "I gave you the chance to back down, but you just wouldn't take it. So now I'll have to shut you down." His captive was struggling for breath as the Maten constricted around his ribs.
Using the Maten was like riding a lightning bolt. All the power of the gods at your fingertips, but one misstep and you fried along with the target. Even after seven years as it's keeper, there were still elements of the scripture he had yet to master. Binding was easy, there was little karmatic retribution in holding someone still. But with his gun gone, Sanzo would have to follow through with a psychic strike which required a precise mantra to prevent the Maten from backlashing through him. He reached for Gojyo's forehead, blood dripping from where his hand had been torn open during the struggle with the half-breed.
"Let. Him. Go."
Sanzo turned to see Gonou holding Goku at bay with the banishing gun. "I don't make deals. Surrender, or he dies." Blood continued to trickle from his hand, sliding down Gojyo's face, merging with the blood oozing from the torn shoulder and disappearing into the Maten. "This isn't a standoff, Gonou. He's suffocating right now." The gun barrel trembled for a moment and then the hammer clicked back, inducing a low whimper from Goku. "Don't try it Gonou. Even if you kill both of us, I will take you and the half-breed with me." He began to throw power towards the Maten, and the scripture writhed in response, the writing glowing and shifting according to Sanzo's demands.
"I..." a shuddering gasp, "won't be..." a red eye rolling backwards as the final tendrils of air escaped his lungs, "your bargaining chip." Bound together through the Maten, Gojyo's surface thoughts were crystal clear. Sanzo slammed his hand sideways into Gojyo's mouth before the half-breed could bite through his tongue. Teeth snapped closed a moment later, and only the metal ring anchoring his sleeve to his hand prevented the loss of several fingers. Sanzo hissed through his teeth and began to pant. He couldn't seem to get enough air.
"I didn't want this." The voice was sad, an odd counterpoint to the deadly expression on Gonou's face. "But this is your fight. You came after me. You are holding the life of the one person left in this world that matters to me. If Gojyo dies, then I will kill you both. This isn't a deal, it's a choice. Yours."
Sanzo sensed rather than saw Goku's shifting stance. The young demon was about to do something very stupid. But then, Goku was never one to back down. *None of us are willing to give. We'll kill each other because of this.* Gray tinged the edge of his vision, and his lungs burned. *Damn it, it's him. I'm getting feedback from the Maten; I wanted the link to push past his defenses, but I wasn't expecting this. I hate having to be the reasonable one.* "Goku, don't move."
Sanzo started to collect the excess power to ground it off so he could safely retract the Maten and somehow get this situation back under control when a group of men ran around the corner." That's him! There's Gonou! Get him!" A gun fired, Goku let out a frightened yelp, and for one crucial moment Sanzo faltered and lost control.
The Maten flared back into brightness, slamming through the mental walls he had so laboriously created over the years. He was screaming, echoed silently by Gojyo as the half-breed's mind was ripped open. For one moment, Sanzo could see past all the defeated barriers into the other's soul, and knew Gojyo was doing the same. *I... I know you...* Agony sent them tumbling together, minds brushing , beginning to merge...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Master? What are you doing?
Father? Where are you going? *Jien?*
It's a child, he was calling to me. *Master Koumyou?*
He's your brother, take care of him.
Look, it's the master's pet! Hey driftwood, don't fall in! *... the past?*
Hey it's the freak! Let's throw him in! *How?*
That river rat's a demon! No human has powers like that! *What's going on?*
He's not even a real demon! He's powerless! *What did you do, priest!*
Sacrifice. He died for you. *NO!*
Murder. He killed for you. *STOP IT!*
You left, walking away from others. *Don't TOUCH me!*
You followed, seeking what you lost. *LET GO!*
**GET OUT OF MY MIND!**
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Separation. Alone. Lying curled on his side on wet, muddy gravel had never felt so wonderful. No one else but him inside his skull, sharing his thoughts. Gojyo was crumpled on the ground next to him taking in deep shuddering breaths of air, but there was wonderful distance. Two whole blessed feet of space between them, and each one safely tucked inside their own heads, with all barriers intact. The Maten Scripture was back around his shoulders, quiet and inert, no more than a decorative silken scroll now.
"Sanzo! Sanzo are you OK?" Golden eyes stared worriedly into his. "You were screaming so loud. Are you hurt?" Small, strong hands were picking him off the ground, and for a moment, Sanzo leaned into the support. Just for a moment. He'd stand on his own feet once the world stopped spinning.
"You are so noisy." Sanzo muttered. A crunch of gravel dragged his attention up. Gonou stood a few feet away, smoke curling from the barrel of the pistol. Two figures were lying in the street, and curses and shouts could be heard from behind the inn. "What happened?"
The dark haired demon turned slightly to look at Sanzo. "It seems I now have a choice to make." Blood stained Gonou's shirt, spreading rapidly from his stomach.
*****
Things had almost calmed down, Gonou could see the priest beginning to back off, telling the smaller demon to stay still. When the group of men came around the corner, the shock of recognition froze him for one moment that he didn't have. A gun roared, and fire exploded across his stomach. The little demon yelped in fear as Gonou staggered, his finger convulsively tightening on the trigger. The pistol fired, the round expending uselessly into the ground.
Gonou felt the monk's artifact blaze and twist out of control, the light pouring from it illuminated the intruders clearly, eight of them, all from his old village. They shouted and flung up their hands, trying to protect dazzled eyes, and Gonou brought the pistol back up. Two of them had guns, and he fired at them, struggling to ignore the screaming of the monk behind him, the screams of Gojyo in his heart. Both gunmen fell, the other six fleeing around the corner of the inn as the light behind him vanished as quickly as it came.
"Sanzo!" the boy demon called, rushing to his companion's side. Gonou remained where he was, listening intently to his surroundings. The frantic voice of the boy demon, the sour snarl of the monk, the hasty yelps of his attackers, the thundering of his pulse, and most importantly, the living breaths of Gojyo. His free hand slid over his belly, feeling the sticky warmth that was now mixing with the cooler rainwater. The bullet had torn laterally across his abdomen, and the longer he stayed upright, the worse it was going to get.
"What happened?" The monk was being assisted up by the boy... Goku, he had been called. The blonde swayed, stubborn pride keeping him upright with a discreet hand from his companion.
"It seems I now have a choice to make." Gonou replied absently, the now empty pistol dangling from his hand. "Death," his gaze flicked over to where the attackers had fled to regroup, "escape," he turned towards Gojyo, now slowly rolling up to his knees, "or whatever you came here for." Gonou slipped the pistol into the waistband of his slacks.
"I am Genjo Sanzo, and I have been charged to bring you before the Sanbutsushin. I don't intend to return without you." It was quite a confident statement coming from a man who had less equilibrium than a newborn foal.
"Heaven's Justice then." Gonou replied. "Not quite the Toushin Taishi coming for me, but a Sanzo priest. I'm flattered."
"Gonou, go." Gojyo had gotten his feet under him, crouching with his hands shakily pressed against his head. "Get away from here, get away from *him*."
A step, and Gonou felt the muscles tear further. Ruthlessly suppressing the pain, he gave Gojyo a small smile. "I'm afraid that choice is gone." He tilted his head slightly, listening. "And my former neighbors have managed to regroup." Rain streamed down his upturned face. "I know what you want of me, Gojyo. I know what the priest wants, what that little mob about to come around the corner wants." His eyes closed, feeling the drops skitter off his lids. "What about me?" *What do I want?*
One small part of him continued to pay attention to the unfolding scene. The rest of him turned to answer his own question. Three choices, three paths, three outcomes. As much as he understood Gojyo's point of view, running from his actions really wasn't acceptable to him. He preferred to face his consequences. *I'm not running.* Two choices left.
There was an argument brewing, the villagers demanding the right to kill him, Gojyo telling them to do something Gonou was sure was anatomically impossible and the monk finally cutting through it all with a simple statement. "If you want to kill him, go right ahead and try. But those who seek to kill have to be ready to be killed in return." The law of consequences, the words rang deeply inside him. He had been willing to give up everything on his search to reclaim Kanan.
*"I didn't have to accept what life threw at me, I could throw it right back."* Gonou remembered his friend's words. He had not been willing to accept what the village wanted. They had made their choice, to be weak and compliant. He had chosen to be strong, to sacrifice everything: his career, his honor, his innocence, his humanity. Footsteps were rushing at him, trying to take advantage of his seeming inattention. *I'm not dying for them.* One choice left.
The onrushing sailors had seen the blood that was staining his belly, noticed the fact that he was no longer holding the gun, and assumed that he would now be an easy target. Gonou's fist snapped out, meeting the lead attacker with a lethal strike, vertebra popping audibly as the man's head was twisted around. Before he hit the ground, his machete was in Gonou's hands and a second man was falling, the blade bright with his heart's blood. Executing a tumbling roll that stabbed deeply into his wounded stomach, Gonou came up behind them and swung hard, sending a head flying.
"Is this what you wanted?" Gonou asked in a deceptively calm voice, circling around the remaining three, rain pouring off him in bloody streams. "Are you going to make me finish this? Killing you gives me no pleasure, but make no mistake I won't be dying here tonight. Stay and die or go and live, your choice."
The stalemate stretched for an impossibly long moment until finally one of the assailants took a shaky step backwards, his eyes flickering around the battle site. His movement seemed to trigger the other two, and they fled back towards the river. *What a waste.* Gonou thought tiredly. *What a stupid waste.*
Gonou swayed in the street, a hand clamped over his midriff. A small part of his mind dispassionately evaluated his injuries. He had lost quite a bit of blood, the wound had been torn open dangerously deep, and he was definitely slipping into shock. Perhaps passing out might be a viable option? "Ah, I do apologize, but I think I'm going to fall down now."
As his legs crumpled under him, a warm arm was there, easing him down. "Stupid bastard. I won't let you fall." Gojyo. Of course. He could always count on Gojyo to catch him. He could hear the Sanzo priest barking out orders, feel small, callused hands holding the wound closed. As the darkness rushed up to greet him, Cho Gonou got out one last sentence.
"Sha Gojyo, I'll have you know my parents were married."
RazZadig: While I don't know how "far" Gojyo and Hakkai/Gonou's relationship will go yet, no one will ever come between them. As for babes? Well Gojyo is a sexually active 19 y.o. male...
MoMo-kun: Yep, Sanzo did whip out the Maten, hope you like what the outcome is!
Kath: While I love angst, I don't write death fics (of major characters). The quartet is reasonably safe in my paws!
Badgerwolf: ah yes, the villagers... boy are they in for a rude shock.
UltraM2000: Just about got my pattern set for the boys, just a few more threads to tie in!
Chiefraz: Thank you so much for your kind e-mails! It really helped me get this done after the chapter crashed on me.
Krimson/M-chan: Danke. Gonou channeling Tenpou was the only way I could figure out how a skinny 19 y.o. teacher was able to take down 1000 demons (and 300 villagers) all by his lonesome.
Veszelyite: I love the boys' past lives, so expect to see more of them in the future.
Icediamond: I unfortunately have no beta reader, so grammar problems do slip through. I try to keep it to a minimum, as I hate making those mistakes.
Hakkai-san: humor has always been one of the most important parts of Saiyuki for me, so I try to slip it in when I can.
Lizalou42: Gonou facing his crimes is one of the "closure" pieces I wanted to give him (as the castle burned down and he never got any closure in the series).
Anna Xang-Jiao: Well, as Minekura-sama has yet to describe Gojyo's childhood after Jien killed his mother, I went ahead and extrapolated that bad things happen to small children with no protectors. (I'm pretty sure that my pen name is a coincidence as no on in my immediate family watches any anime but me. And I've never lent out my Mirage of Blaze to anyone!)
Firnheledien, Blades of Ice, Nikki, Wind Wanderer, BranBlack: Thanks so much for your patience and here is Chapter 9!
Disclaimer: I am not allowed to charge any money to anyone for reading this. The characters and setting are not mine. Trying to hypnotize the author into signing away the rights only gets a restraining order slapped on you. (Look at the pretty watch... you will give me Gojyo... you will give me Gojyo...)
_________________________________________
It had been very hard for Goku not to leap into Sanzo's fight at first, he could smell the demon scent on the red haired man and knew that he was trouble. But Sanzo recognized that too, and went for his gun. Goku watched the man dodge the bullet, *He's fast. I wonder what he'd be like to fight if he wasn't injured?* His fingers twitched on the smooth wood of the staff as a coil of eagerness began to unfurl in his body. Goku had always loved battle, two people testing their strength against each other. It made him... hungry? Not food hungry, but there was a need there.
Gonou's appearance was almost startling. *That's him? He looks so ordinary!* A glitter of metal in the inn's lights revealed the magical limiters gracing one ear. *Three of them. He has to wear three limiters to hide his nature. How strong is he?* Focused on Gonou, he missed Gojyo's lunge at Sanzo, knocking them both away from the brunette. Goku began moving at the same instant as Sanzo's shout for him, sliding across the wet gravel and facing down the person they had been searching for all this time. *Let's see how good he is.*
Goku sent his staff whirling in a solid opening pattern that Dr. Yang had patiently drilled into him, testing the reflexes and skill of his opponent. Gonou dodged or deflected each attack, moving with a speed that surpassed anything Goku had previously encountered. *He's really good! Guess I'll have to take him seriously!* The thing inside Goku that loved fighting was awake fully now, and Goku could feel it pressing against his own limiter. It wanted more, and Goku accelerated his own pace to match Gonou's abilities. They twirled together again and this time he managed to connect, sending the former teacher sprawling.
Two things happened that completely altered the unfolding fight. The first was the explosion of power behind Goku that bore the familiar signature of the Maten Scripture. *Oops. Guess Sanzo got really pissed off!* The second was Gonou himself. *Dr. Yang always told me never to lose track of where things are in a fight... I should have listened.* Gonou was still on the ground where he had landed, but he was no longer
unarmed. Sanzo's gun was firmly in his grip, the barrel was pointed squarely at Goku, and the look in Gonou's eyes... was the look of someone who would kill a thousand for the sake of one.
"Let. Him. Go."
*****
The Maten leapt for Gojyo, splitting and growing like a tentacled sea monster. The half-breed didn't even have time to blink as it ripped him from the ground, wrapping him securely in its unfolding lengths. Sanzo stood at the center of the maelstrom, eyes radiating fury. "I gave you the chance to back down, but you just wouldn't take it. So now I'll have to shut you down." His captive was struggling for breath as the Maten constricted around his ribs.
Using the Maten was like riding a lightning bolt. All the power of the gods at your fingertips, but one misstep and you fried along with the target. Even after seven years as it's keeper, there were still elements of the scripture he had yet to master. Binding was easy, there was little karmatic retribution in holding someone still. But with his gun gone, Sanzo would have to follow through with a psychic strike which required a precise mantra to prevent the Maten from backlashing through him. He reached for Gojyo's forehead, blood dripping from where his hand had been torn open during the struggle with the half-breed.
"Let. Him. Go."
Sanzo turned to see Gonou holding Goku at bay with the banishing gun. "I don't make deals. Surrender, or he dies." Blood continued to trickle from his hand, sliding down Gojyo's face, merging with the blood oozing from the torn shoulder and disappearing into the Maten. "This isn't a standoff, Gonou. He's suffocating right now." The gun barrel trembled for a moment and then the hammer clicked back, inducing a low whimper from Goku. "Don't try it Gonou. Even if you kill both of us, I will take you and the half-breed with me." He began to throw power towards the Maten, and the scripture writhed in response, the writing glowing and shifting according to Sanzo's demands.
"I..." a shuddering gasp, "won't be..." a red eye rolling backwards as the final tendrils of air escaped his lungs, "your bargaining chip." Bound together through the Maten, Gojyo's surface thoughts were crystal clear. Sanzo slammed his hand sideways into Gojyo's mouth before the half-breed could bite through his tongue. Teeth snapped closed a moment later, and only the metal ring anchoring his sleeve to his hand prevented the loss of several fingers. Sanzo hissed through his teeth and began to pant. He couldn't seem to get enough air.
"I didn't want this." The voice was sad, an odd counterpoint to the deadly expression on Gonou's face. "But this is your fight. You came after me. You are holding the life of the one person left in this world that matters to me. If Gojyo dies, then I will kill you both. This isn't a deal, it's a choice. Yours."
Sanzo sensed rather than saw Goku's shifting stance. The young demon was about to do something very stupid. But then, Goku was never one to back down. *None of us are willing to give. We'll kill each other because of this.* Gray tinged the edge of his vision, and his lungs burned. *Damn it, it's him. I'm getting feedback from the Maten; I wanted the link to push past his defenses, but I wasn't expecting this. I hate having to be the reasonable one.* "Goku, don't move."
Sanzo started to collect the excess power to ground it off so he could safely retract the Maten and somehow get this situation back under control when a group of men ran around the corner." That's him! There's Gonou! Get him!" A gun fired, Goku let out a frightened yelp, and for one crucial moment Sanzo faltered and lost control.
The Maten flared back into brightness, slamming through the mental walls he had so laboriously created over the years. He was screaming, echoed silently by Gojyo as the half-breed's mind was ripped open. For one moment, Sanzo could see past all the defeated barriers into the other's soul, and knew Gojyo was doing the same. *I... I know you...* Agony sent them tumbling together, minds brushing , beginning to merge...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Master? What are you doing?
Father? Where are you going? *Jien?*
It's a child, he was calling to me. *Master Koumyou?*
He's your brother, take care of him.
Look, it's the master's pet! Hey driftwood, don't fall in! *... the past?*
Hey it's the freak! Let's throw him in! *How?*
That river rat's a demon! No human has powers like that! *What's going on?*
He's not even a real demon! He's powerless! *What did you do, priest!*
Sacrifice. He died for you. *NO!*
Murder. He killed for you. *STOP IT!*
You left, walking away from others. *Don't TOUCH me!*
You followed, seeking what you lost. *LET GO!*
**GET OUT OF MY MIND!**
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Separation. Alone. Lying curled on his side on wet, muddy gravel had never felt so wonderful. No one else but him inside his skull, sharing his thoughts. Gojyo was crumpled on the ground next to him taking in deep shuddering breaths of air, but there was wonderful distance. Two whole blessed feet of space between them, and each one safely tucked inside their own heads, with all barriers intact. The Maten Scripture was back around his shoulders, quiet and inert, no more than a decorative silken scroll now.
"Sanzo! Sanzo are you OK?" Golden eyes stared worriedly into his. "You were screaming so loud. Are you hurt?" Small, strong hands were picking him off the ground, and for a moment, Sanzo leaned into the support. Just for a moment. He'd stand on his own feet once the world stopped spinning.
"You are so noisy." Sanzo muttered. A crunch of gravel dragged his attention up. Gonou stood a few feet away, smoke curling from the barrel of the pistol. Two figures were lying in the street, and curses and shouts could be heard from behind the inn. "What happened?"
The dark haired demon turned slightly to look at Sanzo. "It seems I now have a choice to make." Blood stained Gonou's shirt, spreading rapidly from his stomach.
*****
Things had almost calmed down, Gonou could see the priest beginning to back off, telling the smaller demon to stay still. When the group of men came around the corner, the shock of recognition froze him for one moment that he didn't have. A gun roared, and fire exploded across his stomach. The little demon yelped in fear as Gonou staggered, his finger convulsively tightening on the trigger. The pistol fired, the round expending uselessly into the ground.
Gonou felt the monk's artifact blaze and twist out of control, the light pouring from it illuminated the intruders clearly, eight of them, all from his old village. They shouted and flung up their hands, trying to protect dazzled eyes, and Gonou brought the pistol back up. Two of them had guns, and he fired at them, struggling to ignore the screaming of the monk behind him, the screams of Gojyo in his heart. Both gunmen fell, the other six fleeing around the corner of the inn as the light behind him vanished as quickly as it came.
"Sanzo!" the boy demon called, rushing to his companion's side. Gonou remained where he was, listening intently to his surroundings. The frantic voice of the boy demon, the sour snarl of the monk, the hasty yelps of his attackers, the thundering of his pulse, and most importantly, the living breaths of Gojyo. His free hand slid over his belly, feeling the sticky warmth that was now mixing with the cooler rainwater. The bullet had torn laterally across his abdomen, and the longer he stayed upright, the worse it was going to get.
"What happened?" The monk was being assisted up by the boy... Goku, he had been called. The blonde swayed, stubborn pride keeping him upright with a discreet hand from his companion.
"It seems I now have a choice to make." Gonou replied absently, the now empty pistol dangling from his hand. "Death," his gaze flicked over to where the attackers had fled to regroup, "escape," he turned towards Gojyo, now slowly rolling up to his knees, "or whatever you came here for." Gonou slipped the pistol into the waistband of his slacks.
"I am Genjo Sanzo, and I have been charged to bring you before the Sanbutsushin. I don't intend to return without you." It was quite a confident statement coming from a man who had less equilibrium than a newborn foal.
"Heaven's Justice then." Gonou replied. "Not quite the Toushin Taishi coming for me, but a Sanzo priest. I'm flattered."
"Gonou, go." Gojyo had gotten his feet under him, crouching with his hands shakily pressed against his head. "Get away from here, get away from *him*."
A step, and Gonou felt the muscles tear further. Ruthlessly suppressing the pain, he gave Gojyo a small smile. "I'm afraid that choice is gone." He tilted his head slightly, listening. "And my former neighbors have managed to regroup." Rain streamed down his upturned face. "I know what you want of me, Gojyo. I know what the priest wants, what that little mob about to come around the corner wants." His eyes closed, feeling the drops skitter off his lids. "What about me?" *What do I want?*
One small part of him continued to pay attention to the unfolding scene. The rest of him turned to answer his own question. Three choices, three paths, three outcomes. As much as he understood Gojyo's point of view, running from his actions really wasn't acceptable to him. He preferred to face his consequences. *I'm not running.* Two choices left.
There was an argument brewing, the villagers demanding the right to kill him, Gojyo telling them to do something Gonou was sure was anatomically impossible and the monk finally cutting through it all with a simple statement. "If you want to kill him, go right ahead and try. But those who seek to kill have to be ready to be killed in return." The law of consequences, the words rang deeply inside him. He had been willing to give up everything on his search to reclaim Kanan.
*"I didn't have to accept what life threw at me, I could throw it right back."* Gonou remembered his friend's words. He had not been willing to accept what the village wanted. They had made their choice, to be weak and compliant. He had chosen to be strong, to sacrifice everything: his career, his honor, his innocence, his humanity. Footsteps were rushing at him, trying to take advantage of his seeming inattention. *I'm not dying for them.* One choice left.
The onrushing sailors had seen the blood that was staining his belly, noticed the fact that he was no longer holding the gun, and assumed that he would now be an easy target. Gonou's fist snapped out, meeting the lead attacker with a lethal strike, vertebra popping audibly as the man's head was twisted around. Before he hit the ground, his machete was in Gonou's hands and a second man was falling, the blade bright with his heart's blood. Executing a tumbling roll that stabbed deeply into his wounded stomach, Gonou came up behind them and swung hard, sending a head flying.
"Is this what you wanted?" Gonou asked in a deceptively calm voice, circling around the remaining three, rain pouring off him in bloody streams. "Are you going to make me finish this? Killing you gives me no pleasure, but make no mistake I won't be dying here tonight. Stay and die or go and live, your choice."
The stalemate stretched for an impossibly long moment until finally one of the assailants took a shaky step backwards, his eyes flickering around the battle site. His movement seemed to trigger the other two, and they fled back towards the river. *What a waste.* Gonou thought tiredly. *What a stupid waste.*
Gonou swayed in the street, a hand clamped over his midriff. A small part of his mind dispassionately evaluated his injuries. He had lost quite a bit of blood, the wound had been torn open dangerously deep, and he was definitely slipping into shock. Perhaps passing out might be a viable option? "Ah, I do apologize, but I think I'm going to fall down now."
As his legs crumpled under him, a warm arm was there, easing him down. "Stupid bastard. I won't let you fall." Gojyo. Of course. He could always count on Gojyo to catch him. He could hear the Sanzo priest barking out orders, feel small, callused hands holding the wound closed. As the darkness rushed up to greet him, Cho Gonou got out one last sentence.
"Sha Gojyo, I'll have you know my parents were married."