Series: Saiyuki
Author: Zelgadis55
Character Chat: Zelgadis55 and Diva Urd
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Saiyuki and all related characters belong to Kazuya Minekura and various license holders. Sue belongs to… Oh, the realisation is too depressing to admit to anymore…
Warnings: Sue, Sue, Sue, Sue, Sue… how many warnings must I give for her…?
Sanzo: (eyebrow twitching) Obviously you didn't warn the kappa enough, and now it's up to us to get rid of this kusobaba again!
Zell: (smiles sweetly) Yes and I do hope you are having funSanzo: (vein pops out under left eye) Do I look like I'm enjoying myself?
Zell: Do I have to answer that?
Sanzo: (wordlessly whips out harisen and starts towards Zell)
Zell: (stares him down for a couple of seconds before backing up into a wall) Um...
Sanzo: (whacks Zell's head and walks away, muttering to himself)
Zell: Ow! Bastard! Up until now, you haven't even had a lot to do with her! Just see how much you get drawn into this in the next couple of chapters!
Sanzo: (slowly turns around and stares at Zell, now with his gun in his hand) What was that?
Zell: Um... nothing... (runs away)
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Gojyo and Mary-Sue
Pt 13
"There isn't anyone here." Goku told them, pointing out the obvious.
Hakkai's face turned ashen as he looked around, nodding. "And from the looks of things, most of Sue's belongings are gone." He observed. Hakkai then slowly added, "They've run off together."
"Are you sure?" Goku asked, beginning to feel miserable again.
Hakkai nodded, "I was in this room earlier to convince Gojyo and Sue to come down to dinner. Most of her things appear to be gone now." He paused a moment before speaking again, looking directly at the younger-seeming youkai. "When you entered the room Goku, was the window already wide open like that?"
Goku just nodded unhappily and despite his own worry, Hakkai did not fail to notice. "Goku, what's wrong?"
"It's all my fault, isn't it? That he's run away with her, I mean."
"Goku, no!" The healer protested, "Its not your fault at all. After you and Sanzo left, I began pushing at them, especially Gojyo"
The teenager did not look any less upset so Hakkai continued, "The way he was acting when you ran off, at least that was normal. Not the words, Gojyo went way too far with them but the anger itself. Afterwards though, he began ignoring me. It was only when I deliberately told Sue why she was so ill that he even reacted… and that was to ask her if she was ready to leave, At least you got a real reaction from him, a fighting reaction. Myself, he was just cold to. If I meant anything to him…"
"Hakkai! You're Gojyo's best friend. You've always meant more to him than anybody else, even I can see that." Goku pointed out.
'Maybe,' Hakkai thought, 'but not enough to make any difference now.' The healer then spoke up, not particularly wanting to carry on this conversation, "We are wasting time here, we've got to find Gojyo. They could be anywhere by now."
Goku nodded, running out the door to get Sanzo.
"Hakuryu, could you please go out and see if you can see Gojyo or Sue anywhere from the air?" Hakkai asked, smiling sadly at the little dragon.
"Kyuu." Hakuryu replied, taking off from his perch on Hakkai's shoulder and flying out the window on his search.
The healer watched Hakuryu fly away for a moment before heading back downstairs.
- - -
"Sanzo! Sanzo! Sanzouuu!" Goku yelled, not quite but almost with his whining tone as he ran back into the restaurant.
The said priest looked up, twitching in annoyance, "What?" he asked.
"It's Gojyo and that suc… succubut or whatever…"
"Succubus!"
"Yeah, her. They're gone!" Goku explained. "We have to go look for them."
"Tch! You mean that you and Hakkai have to go looking for them. I don't have to go anywhere." Sanzo replied stubbornly. "I've already done my share of searching for runaway saru's tonight. I don't need to look for cockroaches as well."
"But Sanzouuu, what if something happens to him? We'll find him quicker if we all look."
Sanzo looked at his charge coolly and lit a new cigarette. "I'm sure." He dragged deeply on the cigarette before releasing a large cloud of smoke as he exhaled. "How do you know she hasn't already consumed his life energy?"
"Con what?" Goku blinked in confusion.
Sanzo appeared annoyed at having to explain. "Consumed, eaten, like what you do to food. It's probably too late already so why waste the energy."
Goku and Sanzo heard a small gasp behind them and looked to see a shaken, pale Hakkai standing not far away. They hadn't noticed him arrive and Sanzo felt the smallest twinge of guilt for his words before dismissing it or rather, trying to dismiss it. He sighed and stood, scraping his chair back as he rose. "Fine," the monk grumbled, "we'll split up to search for the cockroach." And with that said, he stalked out of the restaurant with the firm intention of making sure that Goku and Hakkai could see how pissed off he was at having to do this. After all, he didn't want them to think that he, Genjo Sanzo was worried or anything. Ridiculous!
- - -
Throughout the night, each man searched the large town, going to all the nightspots and other inns, finding no sign of kappa or succubus. There were three other inns in town and not one of them had anyone even willing to try to help out, especially that late at night. More than anything else, it pissed Sanzo off getting physically thrown out of one of them.
He had been a little too insistent for the innkeeper to help him. Actually, the truth was, Sanzo had been a lot too insistent, resulting in a security guard, a big, burly bruiser by the name of Wilbur, according to the receptionist who had shrieked for him, in coming from behind to grab the monk and drag him physically into the street. Needless to say, Sanzo was not impressed. Still, he mused, perhaps he shouldn't have pulled his gun when she refused on principle to give him any information. 'That damn kappa better be grateful when we find him.' Sanzo thought angrily, 'if he's not or if he ever says anything like that to Goku again, I'll kill him myself. I don't need that saru's damn 'voice' crying in my head again.'
Goku had been the reason why Sanzo initially refused to help search for the missing redhead. The monk hoped that annoying or preferably making his charge angry would have snapped him out of his self-pitying state. The drawback with that plan had been Hakkai coming up behind them and overhearing his callousness. Even now, Sanzo could still 'hear' Goku and dammit if it wasn't as annoying as hell.
- - -
"Gojyouuu." Goku called as he ran through town in search of his friend. "Gojyouuu." He knew the hanyou was unlikely to respond considering the way he had been acting all day, especially that evening but still, he had to try.
'Where are you?' he thought. The youth had never had a big brother before, not that he could remember anyway, still he knew that that was what the annoying ero-kappa was like to him, an aggravating, bothersome big brother who liked to tease him on a regular basis. Goku hated the teasing and fights when they were in progress but it was normal and right now, he was missing normal. He wanted to find Gojyo, he wanted a chance to apologize to him in the hopes that the kappa would stop hating him (even if, as Sanzo said, that Gojyo didn't really mean any of what he had said or done) and he wanted things to just return to normal. Was that really so much to ask for? Oh and one other thing, he also desperately wanted to be able to finish a meal. Goku was really hungry but due to what had been happening, his appetite was low and right now, he couldn't eat even if there was food in front of him.
"Ero-kappa!" he called, hoping that the insult would elicit more of a response than Gojyo's name had been receiving.
Suddenly, something warned Goku to move and he jumped to the side just as something smashed right in his previous path, "Shut the HELL up!" someone from a nearby house yelled furiously. "Do you know what time it is? Some of us are TRYING to sleep!"
"Sorry." Goku called back. "Hey, you haven't seen a cockroa… ah, a tall red-haired guy wandering around with a succu… succubus have you?" The only response was the slamming of the window. Goku frowned and muttered, "Would it have killed you to answer me? GOJYOUUU!"
- - -
Hakkai paused, taking a deep breath. 'Well, that was remarkably unsatisfying.' He thought in annoyance. He had been so close to a lead too. Hakkai, in his search had hit various nightspots, pubs and clubs around the very large town with no success, until the last one, that is.
Flashback
"Yeah…" the woman had said dreamily, "I've seen the guy you're talking about."
Hakkai straightened in excitement, happy to finally be on the right trail at last. "You have?" he asked, a genuine smile lighting his face.
She nodded, "Yeah, oh… he looked like he knew a thing or two about pleasing a woman. He sure knew all the right things to say at any rate." She giggled a moment, "He was a hunk too but he only spoke to me a few minutes before telling me sorry. He walked away after that." Her bright blue eyes filled with sadness for a missed opportunity.
"And then?" the healer prompted eagerly.
"I saw him flirt with a few other women before standing alone over there." The young woman casually pointed over towards the bar. "Not long later, some drop dead gorgeous, green eyed, brunette went over to him, they sat in the booth over there and not long later, left together. Guess she had something I don't…" she pouted.
Hakkai felt a sudden surge of disappointment… and suspicion. "How long ago was this, miss?" he asked, trying hard to disguise the urgency within his voice.
"Hmm, this was last night." She answered thoughtfully.
'I knew it.' Hakkai thought, his hopes crashing with her answer. "May I ask you one more question?"
The slightly inebriated woman giggled again. "Besides that one?" she asked. At Hakkai's nod, she added, "Sure!"
"Besides the four inns this town has to offer, is there anywhere else a traveller might stay? Any boarding houses, bed and breakfasts?"
"Um…" she mused, "Yeah! Quite a few actually. Due to festivals and other events, our town swells to about three times its normal size several times a year so a lot of people rent out rooms to make extra money." She giggled again. "My mum is one of them."
Though he was normally a patient man, Hakkai found that he was having trouble maintaining his calm. "Would you be able to give me a list of them?" he asked.
She shook her head emphatically. "Nope! 'Fraid not!" She then grinned before continuing, "There's too many for me to remember, 'specially when I'm tipsy. There is a listing at the Town Hall though."
Hakkai perked up. "There is? Thank you very much, miss." He bowed deeply with his thanks and turned to leave.
"They don't open 'til eight!"
Hakkai paused, of course they wouldn't and if he hadn't been quite so worried, he would have realised that. It was well after midnight now. "Thank you again." He replied.
She smiled a little shyly, "You know, you're almost as cute as your friend. Would you like to keep me company tonight."
The healer blinked, a little taken aback by her proposition. "I'm flattered but I can't. I need to keep looking for Gojyo." He explained, heading out onto the street again as quickly as possible.
End flashback
There was a mournful cry from above and the sound of wings beating. Hakkai looked up to see Hakuryu descending towards him.
"Kyuu…" the little dragon repeated in a sad tone before landing for a break on the healer's shoulder.
Hakkai smiled gently as he reached up to scratch his pet's throat. "You found no sign of Gojyo either." He observed quietly. "Thank you for trying, Hakuryu." The healer added gratefully.
"Kyuu…" After another minute, the small white dragon jumped from Hakkai's shoulder, taking to the air once more.
Hakkai sighed and like Hakuryu, he began searching for Gojyo again, calling his friend's name the whole while.
- - -
About another hour later, Hakkai met up with an irritated Sanzo and an unusually quiet Goku. Hakuryu had also found him again and perched himself on the healer's shoulder yet again.
Hakkai discovered that the others hadn't found any sign of their missing companion and told them what he'd found out from the young lady he'd spoken to earlier.
"Tch! We won't gain anything by continuing to search tonight. We'll try again after getting some sleep." Sanzo said with a hint of annoyance filling his tired voice.
Hakkai nodded, "I will continue searching now. Goku, could you please take Hakuryu back with you?"
Goku nodded, "Yeah." The teenager held out his arms to take the dragon.
Sanzo narrowed his eyes, "They're not going to be in the open. There is no use searching the streets further tonight. If you are that worried about the cockroach, get some sleep. You won't do yourself or him any good otherwise."
"Sanzo, I will be fine." Hakkai replied, putting on his best fake smile.
"Don't make me have to shoot you."
The healer sighed in defeat. "Alright but I doubt I will be sleeping tonight."
"Then just rest." Sanzo said.
The incomplete Sanzo-ikkou headed back to their inn.
- - -
Nearby, the subject of their search suddenly awoke, feeling a profound sadness. He frowned as he tried to recall the dream he'd just had and the reason for why he was feeling this way. If Gojyo had chosen to look out of the window, he may have seen a particular small group walking by but he didn't look. Instead, he looked beside himself at the cold, empty half of the bed as realising that Sue wasn't there.
Gojyo began to feel a rising desperation as he began craving her presence the way a yaoi fan-girl would crave those subtle hints that showed the validity of her favourite pairing. The thought of 'Why isn't she here?' crossed his mind before remembering that she had been having bad stomachaches half the night. 'That's right, it was something she ate.' Gojyo frowned, he was so sure that there was something important that he needed to remember about why she had eaten those foods but… he was having so much trouble remembering any of the details and on top of all that, he missed Sue so much that he was unable to concentrate anyway.
The door to his room opened quietly. In the dark, Gojyo couldn't see who it was that opened it but still, he knew. "Sue!" he called quietly as he clambered out of bed in relief of her return, "You're still not feeling well?" Gojyo asked in concern.
"No but I'm a lot better than before. I should be fine by sunup." She smiled wanly. "At least, I hope so."
Gojyo melted as Sue gave him a loving smile. It was hard to make out in the dark but he managed. Gojyo had never felt so loved and wanted in his life as he did right now. It was a heady feeling and he loved Sue all the more for providing it.
"I'm sorry, Gojyo. I hope you don't mind if we just go to sleep. Due to your little friend, I haven't been able to sleep yet and I'm really tired." Sue explained softly as she dragged him back to bed.
"Sure," Gojyo smiled understandingly in the dark, "I understand… Uh, what little friend are you talking about?" He asked in sudden confusion as the full impact of her words hit him.
Sue stopped where she was and looked at him with a sudden smile, Gojyo was ready. However, this wasn't the place and she was a way too tired. "Never mind, it's not important." Sue yawned as she crawled under the covers. "G'night Gojyo."
"Good night Sue." He replied, pulling her into his warm embrace. Soon, she was asleep but Gojyo remained awake, puzzled by her comment. Finally, several minutes later, Gojyo drifted off to sleep and if Sue had been awake, she might have heard him murmur a single, almost forgotten name, "Hakkai…"
To be continued
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A/N: Well, I never thought I would say this but prepare for the rating to go up in the next chapter…
Oh yeah. When I first started writing this fic, it really wasn't one I wanted to do. I had another fic that I have been wanting to write for ages, ever since I was halfway through rewriting 'Distorted Mirror', plus the night I had the inspiration for this, which was also the night I wrote the first chapter, typed it up and then posted it, I was also unexplainably pissed off at the world, just pretty much freaking out with no real reason. All of that contributed to the fact that I didn't do my best for the first chapter (especially) and the following few chapters. I was aware of that back then and am even more painfully aware of that fact now. I needed to reference the first chapter to make sure I got something right that was refered in this chapter andI saw that it was even worse than I originally thought it was. As a result, I have revised and reposted the first chapter and plan to do so for the following few as well. Just have to get motivated to do so. I believe it's a little better now, if nothing else, the glaring grammar and spelling mistakes are at least gone and it's been fleshed out a little better.
Thanks to Diva Urd for all the help she has given at various times, especially with some of the character chats lately, or pre-omake as I like to call them, considering I don't know the actual word for it :-P
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed.
Tora Macaw: Thanks and you're welcome.
ZL: What I am writing in my draft copy is the downfall of Sue but I am not going to say what chapter that is :-P Heh heh! Either way, you will need to put up with her presence for a bit longer as I just don't want to rush things. Thanks! I really enjoyed writing the Sanzo/Goku part from the previous chapter, though I was a little worried about it before a friend reassured me a couple of weeks before posting. Just have to think of it as practise for a story I have been wanting to write since well before I even started this fic and that I probably wont have the guts to write to its full potential… Well, I will just have to listen to my Hoshi Souichiro playlist lots when I do get to write it. I absolutely love the man's singing voice. Heh! Listening to him as I type this up.
SweetSnowCherryblossomDarkness: That's not good about the computer. I don't think I could cope without mine anymore. I would go insane. Sorry for not being able to post a few days ago though. I'm beginning to have trouble sitting here and typing. When I had time off work a few weeks ago, I typed up a few chapters ahead of what I was up to posting but as of this one, I am going to have to start doing some serious typing again.
