Hey, domo arigato for reading the next fun filled chapter of my story. As always I hope that you enjoy it and will keep checking back for updates. If you've read this far you have my deepest respect!
Disclaimer: Still don't own Saiyuki… Yeah, it's a shame, I know.
Forget it Render-sama…
ONWARD!
Sanzo stood, rubbing his sore behind. Gojyo was standing before him, looking around at the stone walls of the tunnel that they were standing in. As the priest stood he thought to himself that their surroundings looked almost like dungeon walls.
"So where are we?" growled at the redhead, who shrugged. Sanzo looked up at the ceiling where he had fallen through, only to see solid stone.
"Which way then?" Gojyo asked as he looked both ways. Sanzo looked to his left, then right, down two very long tunnels.
"I'm… not sure," he said quietly. Gojyo grumbled something under his breath and decided to choose himself. He started running to Sanzo's left so the priest had nothing to do but follow.
After only minutes of running the pair hit a dead end. Gojyo and Sanzo halted just before hitting a solid wall.
"Now what wise-guy?" Sanzo snapped.
"Shut up!" Gojyo hissed. "You didn't make a decision so I made one for you!" He was about to turn and follow the withdrawing Sanzo but he paused.
"What now?" asked the agitated priest. Gojyo waved him off.
"Just a second," he whispered as he raised his left hand. With cautious movements he laid his hand on the wall. Instantly it slipped through and invisible opening.
"Whoa! How'd you do that?" Sanzo sputtered, flabbergasted. Gojyo shrugged and started walking through the what apparently was not a solid wall, Sanzo following close behind.
When the pair had crossed through the wall they had entered a vast room, with several doors leading off from the sides.
"Where are we?" Gojyo hissed out of the side of his mouth. Sanzo just glared at him so the kappa shrugged and began walking through the room. There were tables in various corners and what appeared to be several wardrobes. There were even beds. It's almost like a big ole bedroom… Gojyo thought to himself. Sanzo was actually the one to voice the thought.
Hakkai groggily blinked, realizing that he was in a comfortable bed and that a hand was holding his own. A soft hand that reminded him all too much of peaceful nights with someone he cared for deeply and pleasant afternoon walks with the same person. But he couldn't remember her name…
"Ah, you've awakened my Hakkai," a velvety voice murmured in his ear. The brunette looked and saw a woman who seemed familiar. Was she the one from his memories?
None the less, she had a sly smile on her face and an almost possessive glint in her eyes.
"Eh, who are… you?" the youkai said thickly. He had the strange idea that he was drugged. He could think the words but then he would forget them just before saying them. It took extreme concentration to ask who she was.
The woman's smile broadened slightly as she stroked his hand, which he tried to pull away, but didn't have the energy to do so.
"Don't you remember me dear Hakkai?" she asked gently. He shook his throbbing head, clearly confused. She smiled still. "Well, it matters not. But what does matter is the two men that are coming to take you away. No matter what they tell you, you must not go with them. Use everything in your power to stay away from them," she said quietly. Hakkai gazed at her with semi-glazed eyes.
"Alright," he mumbled. He hadn't a clue what she was talking about, but her voice was nice so she must be too, right? The woman smiled again.
"Do you remember my name dear Hakkai?" she asked quietly. He shook his head as she stroked his soft brown hair.
"No. Could you remind me?" he asked softly, becoming painfully aware that his chest was sending stabbing sensations through him.
"It's Kanan," she said sweetly. Hakkai smiled with a glossy look to his eyes.
"That's a pretty name," he stated. The woman smiled.
"Yes, I know… Now, could you please wait here? I need to talk to a friend of mine," she said. Hakkai smiled, almost like his old self. Almost.
"Of course."
The woman walked out of the room and closed the door quietly behind her.
When she had exited the room she wiped the smile off her face and was met by the youkai doctor from the clinic.
"Well?" she demanded. The man grinned devilishly.
"They met up with your man. He gave the ridiculous riddle. Maybe it will throw them off a little," he reported. The woman's fine eyebrows knitted together.
"Hmm, and the taboo is one of them, right?" she asked. The youkai doctor nodded.
"And the human," he said. The woman allowed a sigh.
"Good. We need the half-breed for the experiment. If the legends are true, his blood is the key."
"Of course my lady. And what of the others?" the youkai asked with a bow. The Kanan-imposter thought for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm. The one that is a human, kill him. As for Hakkai… he's mine to play with," she said. "And we may need him as persuasion for the half-breed."
"I see. I'll deal with the human now than," the youkai said as he bowed again and dismissed himself. The woman then walked to a large wardrobe and opened it, revealing a large basin filled with a silvery liquid. She waved a hand over it and an image of Gojyo and Sanzo appeared. They were in the room just beyond hers!
The youkai doctor suddenly ran into the view that the basin gave. He said something and Gojyo tried to run forward, screaming something. Sanzo was stuck holding him back. The doctor laughed and said something more, seemingly only angering Gojyo more. Sanzo snarled something in the kappa's ear, causing him to let up a bit.
The woman dipped a finger in the substance and the image changed to the room where Hakkai was resting. He was slumped back on the pillows of the bed, his head in his hands. She smiled as she gazed at him and then dipped her finger in the water again and Gojyo, Sanzo and the youkai doctor appeared again. Sanzo appeared to be having trouble holding the kappa back.
"Kill the human! Bring the half-breed to me!" she screeched into the bowl. Gojyo froze, as did Sanzo. The youkai just nodded and pulled a gun from seemingly nowhere. He fired once at Gojyo, hitting him in the shoulder. The bullet passed through his shoulder and hit Sanzo in the chest.
The priest fell back, blood spreading from his chest. Gojyo spun around, dazed, to face him. The woman that watched them just laughed cruelly.
"Leave the human to die. Bring the taboo to me," the woman commanded. The her youkai lackey nodded and dashed forward, grasping a frozen Gojyo's arm. Instantly the two disappeared, leaving a bleeding Sanzo behind.
The woman closed the wardrobe and turned around just as the youkai and Gojyo appeared out of thin air.
"Welcome!" she said warmly. Gojyo glared at her with pure hate.
"Where's Hakkai you bitch!" he screamed. "And you can't just leave Sanzo there to die dammit!" he went on. "I hate him as much as anyone but you can't do this!"
The woman just smiled.
"You want to see your beloved Hakkai do you not?" she asked calmly. "Or would you rather see him dead as well?"
Gojyo froze and the woman's smile broadened. She had him.
"Where is he?" the kappa asked venomously.
"In the room just beyond here," the woman said as she pointed to the door. Gojyo rushed for the door but the woman was faster. She blocked his path quickly.
"Uh uh uh," she cooed. "You have to be patient." Gojyo raised his hands as if he was going to strangle her but dropped them as excruciating pain erupted in his wounded shoulder. "Now, you have to let my doctor clean you up before you see your friend."
"That bastard isn't touching me!" the kappa yelled. "It's his fault that Hakkai is here in the first place!"
The woman nodded.
"Yes, that is true. But he works as I command." she explained. "He won't hurt you, I promise. And then you may see your friend."
Gojyo was silent and finally nodded. The urge to see Hakkai was greater than his hate for this woman and her doctor.
The youkai stepped forward and pulled Gojyo's sleeve. It ripped easily under his touch. The kappa snarled something inaudible but didn't move or flinch. Then the doctor began to clean the wound with a golden liquid that came from a flask that he produced from his pocket. The solution burned the redhead's skin slightly but he didn't show that it hurt.
In minutes the wound was wrapped tightly.
"Now, you may see your friend," the woman said. Gojyo didn't waste anytime running to the door and flinging it open. Hakkai was still slumped on the pillows, his head in his hands. When he heard the door open he looked up.
His eyes were slightly less glossy, but he didn't smile when he saw Gojyo.
"Do I… know you?" he croaked. The kappa rushed into the room.
"Hakkai! It's me! Gojyo!" he said breathlessly. "What has that bitch done to you?" Hakkai frowned.
"You shouldn't talk about Kanan that way. She's a very nice lady," he said sternly. Gojyo froze.
"Hakkai, that woman isn't Kanan. You loved Kanan. You do not love that woman," he growled. Hakkai's frown deepened.
"What?" he whispered. His eyes scanned Gojyo. "I swear I know you…"
"Hakkai! I'm your best friend!" the kappa cried. "Don't you remember?" As much as he hated to admit it, tears were welling up in his eyes.
Hakkai blinked slowly. Slowly memories flooded his mind.
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"G-Gojyo?" he whispered. The kappa allowed a small smile as he raised a hand to stroke Hakkai's cheek.
"Hakkai," he murmured. "I'm so glad that you're alright. But we have to help Sanzo. That bastard of a doctor shot him through me!"
"S-Sanzo?" the brunette stammered. Gojyo nodded jerkily.
"You two aren't going anywhere," a cruel voice said from the door. Gojyo spun around to face the woman.
"We're getting out of here Hakkai," he hissed over his shoulder. A soft hand reached for his own and tightened around his fingers.
"Gojyo… I'm… sorry…" Hakkai whispered in his ear. The kappa's eyes widened as he felt a harsh grip on his neck. Slowly his vision turned black and he fell into his friend's arms.
The woman stepped forward and smiled wickedly.
"Good work my Hakkai," she praised. "We need the half-breed's blood in order for my experiment to work properly. Will you be our first subject?" she asked. Hakkai looked down at the unconscious Gojyo. He then looked back at the woman and nodded slowly. She clapped her hands together with delight.
"Excellent!" she cried. "Grab him and follow me," she commanded. Hakkai nodded briefly and picked up his friend. He then followed the woman.
She lead him out of the room, her red hair swirling, and back to the one with the wardrobe. From there she lead him through another door and down a stone corridor. The small party turned left, then right, right again and another left. The woman stopped outside of a door. She flipped her blood red hair over her shoulders and looked at Hakkai.
"Inside her, my dear, is a room where the future will be born. The taboo you hold in your arms is the key to a revolution!" she said. Hakkai just stared ahead, his eyes glazed. The woman smiled broadly and opened the door.
Inside was a small laboratory. Glass vials and jars lined the walls and a large monitor was blinking down at them. The woman motioned for Hakkai to step inside and he obliged. She then commanded him to set the unconscious Gojyo on a table. He did.
"Tie his hands down," the woman said. "And his ankles." Hakkai fumbled with the buckles on the table for a moment before the kappa was secured. The woman then handed the Demon Slayer a needle connected to a tube and vial. "Insert this in his arm. Fill the vial with his blood," she instructed. Hakkai gazed at the woman, taking in all of her features. It only then occurred to him.
"You have red hair and eyes as well. Are you not a taboo as well?" he asked. The woman froze, her back to him as she was observing the monitor, which had many diagrams on it.
"I am," she said softly. Hakkai's hands shook slightly.
"So why do you need Gojyo's blood? Can't you use your own?" he asked, easily masking the anger in his voice with confusion. The woman turned and looked at him, insanity and power shining on her face. He was startled by the power that radiated from her.
"Because this experiment may very well kill your friend my dear," she sneered. "And I don't particularly want to die. Already dozens of taboo experiments have failed, their subjects perishing," she said, an insane smile spreading across her face. "And now, if this one succeeds, all that work will not have been in vain! Ultimate power can be sold to every youkai! You see, a taboo does not need power limiters. Legend says that their blood is the key. Taboo blood mixed with my own creations will create the ultimate potion that will allow all youkai to have supreme power!"
Hakkai could no longer hide his anger. He threw the glass vial and tube at the woman. The potion she had used on him had worn off and he had complete control once again.
"BITCH!" he screamed. "Damn you to hell! You've used innocent people for your sick experiments?" The woman stepped back, fear spreading across her face. "Where's Sanzo?" Hakkai yelled. The woman remained silent so he grabbed her by the throat and yanked her face close to his. "I said, Where's Sanzo?" he said very quietly. A moan sounded from the table. Hakkai threw the woman and spun around to see Gojyo waking up.
"Hak…kai?" the kappa muttered. The brunette rushed to him and undid the buckles and pulled Gojyo to his feet.
"Gojyo!" he gasped. The red head rubbed his forehead and gazed at Hakkai.
"We have… to help… the damn priest," he muttered. Hakkai nodded and grabbed Gojyo's wrist.
"Lets get out of here," he said quickly as he headed out the door. A scream sounded from behind him.
"NOO! THE TABOO IS MINE! BRING HIM BACK TO ME!" the woman screeched. Hakkai dragged Gojyo down the hall trying to make sense of which direction was which.
"Uh, lets see… we went left, right, right, then left… So that means we have to go right, left, left, then right, right?" he muttered to himself. Gojyo shrugged, obviously lost. Hakkai glanced over his shoulder to make sure that the woman wasn't following. She was.
"Dammit Hakkai, just kill her," Gojyo mumbled. Hakkai shook his head.
"I won't kill her," he said as he rounded a corner. He jerked Gojyo along with him, and the kappa just allowed the brunette to drag him. After a few moments they were back to where the youkai doctor had first brought Gojyo, the room with the wardrobe. Hakkai froze for a moment, looking around the room, but when he spotted a door he took off again. Unfortunately his pause allowed time for the woman to catch up.
The brunette felt long and cold fingers wrap around his neck. He let go of Gojyo's wrist and raised his hands to try and pry the ones off his neck.
"I will kill you!" the woman hissed in his ear.
WHOA! CLIFF-HANGER time! Don't you just hate me for that? But I promise that you'll have your next chapter. Oh and to the readers, the "this banner is silly!" thing at the beginning of some of my chapters, inside joke so just ignore it. Just review for me okay? I love reviews…