Hey! I wrote a chapter two! Aren't ya proud of me? Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Saiyuki, and if you're looking for money, this isn't the one to sue, so please don't!
And just for you Render-sama…
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ONWARD!
Gojyo sat up and stretched, yawning widely. The lack of thunder established the fact that Goku had already gone down to breakfast. The kappa rubbed his eyes and snatched up his cigarettes, sticking one in his mouth and lighting it. He'd leave early to get Hakkai, who would hopefully be much better and healed.
Stretching again, Gojyo shoved his blankets back and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. When he was finally up he started to get dressed, pulling on his clothes with a swiftness that he rarely had.
When the kappa was completely dressed he headed to the kitchen, where he found, not to his surprise, a grouchy Sanzo, and Goku devouring food at an un-thought of velocity. Both looked up as Gojyo entered the room.
"Arrrr yooooo grroiinn ta geh Harkkye nroow?" was all Goku managed to say through what seemed to be enough food to fuel an army.
"Don't talk with your mouth open baka-saru!" Sanzo snapped as he whacked the unfortunate monkey on the back of the head. Gojyo just snickered. Sanzo decided to say what Goku had been trying to ask. "Are you going to get Hakkai now?"
Gojyo nodded. "Yeah, I am. Anyone wanna come with?" he offered.
"Naarrraww, oohmm shtrill eeeheeen," Goku managed to decline through his food.
"Whatever…" Sanzo growled. Gojyo then led the way to the door. He had gotten the drift that Goku was staying behind to finish devouring his food.
As the pair walked to the clinic, in slightly less stressful moods than before, both pulled out a fresh cigarette and were soon engaged in a chain smoking contest that had been decided upon silently. So far Gojyo was winning.
When they finally reached the clinic, both a little lightheaded from the continuous smoking, the two extinguished their cigarettes, thinking it the best thing to do before entering a clean environment.
As they stepped inside Gojyo instantly knew something was wrong, and so did Sanzo. It was all too quiet, even for a doctors office. There were no sounds of healing, or even sickness. Gojyo quickened his pace to get to where he had left Hakkai, Sanzo at his heels.
When he entered the room he first noticed the lack of Hakkai, then the lack of doctor, then the presence of the roll of parchment. He suppressed the roar that was rising inside of him and bound over to the table before Sanzo even realized what was wrong. He then scooped up the parchment and unrolled it.
Taboo Child,
We, as to say, I, have your friend, and if you wish to see him again, alive and unscathed you'll do as I say, and follow the orders given to you. Please travel to the heart of the forest outside the village that you are located in. You are to be unarmed, but any comrades you wish to have accompany you may bring their weapons. Once you've reached the center of the forest you'll find a large boulder of odd colors. Tap it twice with your left hand and wait for further instructions.
Remember, we have your friend, Cho Hakkai…
The message was unsigned, but that wasn't what caused Gojyo to freeze. It was the fact that whoever the bastards were that had Hakkai knew that he was special to him and that they had called him Taboo Child. He'd tear them apart if they didn't give Hakkai back.
Gojyo was so transfixed with the letter that he didn't notice that his hands were trembling or that Sanzo was reading over his shoulder.
"Gojyo, I'll go with you," the priest murmured in his ear. The kappa spun around and faced Sanzo, seething with anger.
"No! This is something I'll take care of myself!" he snapped unexpectedly. Sanzo was surprised at Gojyo's response.
"Listen to me, if this is a trap than you could put yourself in danger," he said, for once worried about the kappa's safety. Gojyo's face flushed with rage.
"You think I give a damn about my own safety?" he bellowed. "It's Hakkai that I'm worried about! If those bastards rip one hair out of his head I'll—"
"Gojyo listen to me!" Sanzo shouted over him, cutting him off. "Don't you think that this could be a trap that involves Hakkai? Do you think that your emotions matter to them? They, whoever they are, won't hesitate to kill Hakkai if they've already managed to kidnap him. You've got to remember that he's still in serious condition!" he continued, trying to talk some sense into the redhead.
Gojyo stiffened. Sanzo had a point. Whoever wanted him had Hakkai and could probably easily dispose of him, if they hadn't already. But he couldn't think like that. Of course Hakkai was alive, he could feel it. As much as it pained him to think it, Hakkai was practically defenseless in his current state, unless the doctor had somehow managed to heal him overnight.
A thought suddenly flew into Gojyo's head. He spun on his heel, looking around the clinic. The doctor was nowhere to be seen and there was no sign of a struggle.
"THAT SON OF A BITCH!" he screamed, startling Sanzo.
"What is it?" he questioned.
"That doctor helped kidnap Hakkai, that's what!" Gojyo yelled as he flipped over the table. Sanzo stepped back so as to not get hit.
"Damn…" he muttered. Gojyo rounded on him.
"Is that all you can say now?" he yelled. "Fine then! I don't need your damn help to kill those damn bastards that kidnapped m--" he paused. "Hakkai."
Sanzo looked at Gojyo with mild interest at what he was going to say, but pushed the thought aside.
"So are you going to let me help you get Hakkai back?" the priest asked. Gojyo thought about it for a moment, he mind still fuzzy with anger.
"Yes," he finally said. Sanzo almost smiled. Almost.
Hakkai slowly stirred. He couldn't understand where he was or why his hands were tied to something over his head. He knew that he was leaning against something cold and hard, and slightly damp… But his mind was too fuzzy to put two and two together. He remembered the accident, and feeling immense pain… There had been a sand storm…
The brunette's eyes suddenly snapped open. He was in a dark cell, chained to a wall by his hands, which were bound over his head. He didn't have clue where he was, but it wasn't good.
"Oh my, this is a rather bad situation isn't it?" he whispered to himself, trying to keep his usual pleasant personality while at the same time trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his chest.
"Yes, this is a rather bad situation for you," a cool female voice said from off to his left. Hakkai looked in that direction and saw that a woman was standing on the other side of the bars, her back to him and leaning against the metal. "You're my prisoner and bait for the Taboo," she explained. "Where you are I will not reveal to you however."
Hakkai smiled, as he usually would have, trying to ignore the pain in his chest and abdomen.
"So, you're using me as bait to lure Gojyo here? I doubt that he's foolish enough to come here just to rescue me!" he said with a mild laugh. The woman chuckled softly, her blazing red hair swishing around her shoulders slightly.
"Ah, but you see, he is. I know for a fact that he's already on his way, with a friend I might add. A Sanzo priest bearing a sacred scripture," she said. Hakkai stiffened. Gojyo and Sanzo were both coming for him?
"That could be unhealthy for them…" he said quietly, dropping his pleasant smile. The woman nodded.
"Of course, if you and they cooperate, there won't be any harm to any of you," she murmured. Hakkai looked at the ceiling. He sensed her lie.
"I'm not as dense as that. I know that you want Gojyo, so what do you think makes me believe that you'll keep him unharmed?"
"Ah, you're not as dumb as I thought," the woman muttered. Hakkai took that as a compliment. "You're right, I have plans for the one you call Gojyo, but they won't kill him." she said. Hakkai wasn't convinced. He still sensed a lie. Anything she needed Gojyo for couldn't be good. "But now I must leave you. I suggest that you rest to help heal your wounds. The Taboo said that you could heal yourself with sleep so have at it," she said as she walked off.
Hakkai listened to her footsteps disappear before letting his chin fall to his chest. She was right that he should rest, but now he was worried about Gojyo and Sanzo, and who knew where Goku was.
Slowly, very slowly, Hakkai drifted into an uneasy sleep, with the burning memory of her red hair that seemed so much like Gojyo's burned into his mind.
Gojyo easily scaled a felled tree, leaving Sanzo to clamber over it in his priest's robe.
"Would you slow down you stupid kappa!" Sanzo yelled. Gojyo glanced over his shoulder but didn't slow.
"Ditch the robe and you'd move faster. I've gotta find Hakkai!" he said as he dodged a low branch. Sanzo sighed and did as the redhead said. He peeled off his robe, revealing the tight black top and jeans that he wore underneath. He was then able to easily keep up with Gojyo, apart from the fact that his sandals kept slipping.
Suddenly the pair broke into a clearing. An extremely large boulder sat in the center of the area. It was made up of many different hues; blue, red, purple. Gojyo ran up to it breathlessly and turned to look at Sanzo.
"You ready man?" he inquired. Sanzo bit his lip.
"It might be a trap," he warned. Gojyo stiffened angrily.
"Hakkai's in danger and you're worried about my safety?" he seethed. The priest shrugged.
"Do as you wish, I couldn't care less."
Gojyo spun on his heel to face the priest.
"Are you saying that you don't care about what happens to Hakkai?" he said with a deadly calm. Sanzo was taken aback. He'd never seen Gojyo like this. So angry, emotional and possessive all at once. He knew that Hakkai was Gojyo's best friend but this was… different.
"No I'm not saying that I don't care what happens to Hakkai!" the priest snapped. "Just do as you wish!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Go already!"
"Fine!"
"Go!"
"Alright!"
The two just stared at each other for a while before Gojyo turned, raised his left hand and pounded on the boulder twice. For a moment nothing happened.
"Maybe this is the wrong boulder…" Sanzo whispered. Gojyo sunk to his knees, his head bowed so that his red tresses surrounded his face.
"This has to be it," he muttered. "It has to be!" He placed his forehead against the stone, expecting to feel a cool surface. Instead it was pulsing warm. "Huh?" he sputtered, startled.
"What? What is it?" Sanzo asked. Gojyo jumped to his feet.
"It's the rock. It's… warm…" he said. Sanzo stepped forward and laid a hand on the boulder but jumped back suddenly with a screeched.
"What's wrong?" Gojyo asked, surprised at his actions.
"It's not warm! It's burning hot!" Sanzo hissed. Gojyo reached out and touched the stone again. It was just barely emitting any heat.
"You're crazy Sanzo," he said as he looked at the blond priest. "It's barely letting off any heat at all."
"Well, I'm telling you that I got burned!" Sanzo snapped. "Look!" He held out his right hand and sure enough there was a shiny burn on it. Gojyo stared at it for a minute.
"How come I can touch it and you can't?" the water sprite asked. Sanzo shrugged, still nursing his injured hand. Gojyo touched the boulder again, still feeling its warmth.
"I, I don't understand… We're supposed to get instructions," he whispered.
"And instructed you shall be," a voice said from off to the pair's left. Gojyo snapped his attention to the trees in that direction and saw a young man sitting on a branch that sat about six feet off the ground. He had jet black hair that hung around his face and bright yellow eyes peered at them from behind the curtain. A taunting smile was plastered across his face.
Gojyo glared at the newcomer, pure hate shooting from his eyes. Sanzo had to grab his arms to keep him from charging at the black haired.
"Where's Hakkai?" the kappa bellowed. "Where is he?" The man just snickered. He leaned forward, causing his hair to slip forward, exposing pointed youkai ears.
"Anger is oh so unbecoming of you, but free your friend it shall," he said. Gojyo tried to step forward again but Sanzo held fast.
"Where's Hakkai dammit!" he screamed. The man laughed impishly.
"Shadows, shadows, everywhere. All the clues but nowhere to look," he said. This only angered Gojyo more.
"Can't you give a straight answer you pansy?" he seethed. Another impish giggle was his reply.
"Gojyo! Calm down!" Sanzo hissed in his ear. "Yelling isn't going to save Hakkai!" This didn't calm the redhead any.
"You're supposed to instruct us on how to find Hakkai! Now do so!" he yelled. The black haired man's smile broadened.
"Fine then, as ye wish," he said from behind his grin. He cleared his throat as if he was going to say something important, only trying Gojyo's patience.
"Get on with it!"
"Fine, fine. Keep yer hair on!" the man said with a chuckle. He then recited:
"If you search for what you wish to find,
Look for one who's beauty divine.
Only those who wish to seek it,
Have a chance to truly see it.
Your friend is here, but also there,
Enter this realm, if you dare."
The man finished and blinked at Gojyo and Sanzo, smiling.
"What's that supposed to mean you bastard?" Gojyo snapped. Sanzo had to strain to keep him held back. The impish man giggled.
"Follow me if you want to find what you hunt for," he said. "Follow the riddle to find your friend."
With that he jumped off the branch, over Gojyo and Sanzo's heads, and onto the strange rock. Well, actually he fell through the rock, disappearing from view.
"How… how did he do that?" Gojyo gasped. Sanzo released him and stared at the rock.
"I don't know. I'm just as surprised as you are," he said. The kappa and priest bound over to the rock. Gojyo knocked on it with his left fist, but nothing happened.
"Whaddo we do?" he asked, his voice getting frantic. Sanzo could tell that he was truly worried for Hakkai's safety.
"I… I don't know…" he whispered. Gojyo growled something under his breath before proceeding to climb on top of the rock. As he clambered on top, he instantly fell through an invisible opening with a yell. Sanzo snapped his gaze to the top of the boulder.
"Gojyo? Gojyo?" he shouted. "Where'd ya go?"
"Sanzo! Climb on top of the rock! There's an invisible hole-thing-a-ma-bob!" Gojyo's voice called. Sanzo crossed his arms and glared at the place where Gojyo should have been.
"Invisible hole-thing-a-ma-bob?" he said. There was a pause.
"Shut up you damn stuck up bastard of a priest and just get in here! There's some sort of tunnel. That black haired creep must've went down this way!"
Sanzo sighed. The kappa was really determined to find Hakkai. So he slowly and cautiously climbed upon the rock, which no longer burned him, and immediately fell through.
Hakkai woke with a painful start. He found that he was no longer in a cold, dank cell, but in a feather cot. He sat up and found that his chest was killing him. He raised a hand and gripped his side, which throbbed painfully.
"Whoa… What happened?" he whispered.
"You don't remember?" a familiar, cool, voice said from off to his right. He turned to look at the woman from earlier. Hakkai managed a strained smile.
"Uh, no I don't remember anything, except being in that cold cell," he said pleasantly. The woman smiled, matching his pleasant disposition.
"Than allow me to inform you of what happened after you lost consciousness the last time we spoke," she said. "I sent one of my men in to check on you a few hours ago but you somehow managed to get out of the chains that had bound you to the wall. What I want to know is how you did that without realizing it…" she said. Hakkai shrugged.
"I'm not sure," he said. The woman flipped her long red hair and flashed a smile before continuing.
"Well, as I was saying, you were standing in the corner, hiding in the shadows if you will," she said. Hakkai blinked but didn't interrupt. "When my man tried to grab you, you started fighting back. Hard. He called for help and soon I had four unconscious men and an injured you. It took a total of six guys to get you hurt enough for me to get you here, with a little help from this concoction," she said as she waved a small glass vial in front of his face. Hakkai raised a hand to grab the bottle, which contained a silvery liquid but the woman pulled it out of his grasp.
"What is it?" he questioned, dropping his hand. The woman smiled.
"Just something I've been working on. It helps put even the strongest youkai in my control," she said. Hakkai stared down at his hands, memories flooding his mind.
HappinessKananbloodpainmurderdangerdeathlossselfcontrolmoredeathrainbloodmudpaineyesredhairlight
It was too much for him. He swayed slightly and tipped sideways, into the waiting arms of the woman. She smiled softly as she took in the scent of his hair.
"You're never leaving my side Cho Hakkai…" she whispered.
Well, what did you think of this chapter? I thought that this would be the perfect place to end, leaving all of you readers begging for more. The next chapter promises much so I'll keep you posted. Review if you liked it!