A Fools Dream
Chapter: 7
The scent of blood was strong in the air…the iron filling the scent receptors of the nose, causing the head to spin and the body to go weak with need. The desire for more was too strong, they were barely aware of the ghostly echoes…reverberating screams of those who had donated their lives for this addictive sense. Their mouth watered at the enticing abundance that surrounded them…wanting more spillage to satisfy the dark needs within.
A sudden sound caught their attention…something which broke the sacred atmosphere, interrupting the silent echoes. There it was again…a stifled whimper, choked even…then the startling tracks of something warm tracing their way down their face. A smile broke across their crimson stained face, forming cracks on the dry blood…all the while the whimpers continued, then rose in pitch and became laughter – malicious and vile in its character. Their head was thrown back as they continued to laugh at their act, then suddenly it became choked and a hand clutched at their throat as they staggered, and fell to their knees. Their body began to convulse as some kind of battle raged within, their face rose skyward, as the back arched and their fingers dug into their scalp, a cry escaping them which reverberated about them, ringing for some distance, then they went slack, doubled over.
She felt her body shuddering as she sobbed, warm tears tracing their way down her face, only to drip down and land into her lap, forming a wet-patch in her robes that clung to her thighs. She became aware of the tangy scent in the air…completely unfamiliar with it, and raised her face, slowly opening her eyes and allowing them to focus on her surroundings.
Ena's eyes snapped open and she threw herself up into a sitting position, breathing heavily, as she tried to steady herself. A momentary black slate hanging before her minds eye, then the images rushed forth, completing the visions she had seen moments before. She felt something rise up within her, and she gagged, diving out of her tent and scrambling her way as far as she could, before retching, the digested contents of her stomach forcing their way through and forming a strong-smelling, soupy puddle in the grass.
She struggled to breathe and coughed up any stragglers in her throat between vomits, cringing at the terrible aftertaste, only to continue as soon as the haunting and disturbing images flashed by. Soon enough there was nothing left, and she was forced to continue gagging as the thoughts swam through her. When she finally came to a stop, the tears continued to fall and were soon accompanied by sobs, as she grieved for the victims in her vision, knowing that the events were true and had already happened.
She had lost track of how long she had stayed there, simply crying openly, gasping for breath when she needed to. When she felt that she had nothing left to give as physical grievance, she came to her feet, her movements indicating the absence of her reactive mind. The sounds of running water became apparent to her, and she made her way automatically towards its source. She continued to draw closer to the sound, and broke through the trees and bushes, coming to the banks of a flowing river. Ena walked towards it and knelt, plunging her face into the cool rush, feeling the liquid cleansing her face and hair. She pulled her face out and shook it, then scooped water into her mouth and spitting it out into the nearby brush.
Once she was done, the young woman came to her feet, her dull mind registering the few rays of light beginning to appear, heralding the early morning of a new day. She turned about, walking back the way she came, towards the place the four would probably be waiting for her. In her current state of mind, she could care less, it didn't matter whether they had left or not…they would soon be memories anyway, and memories didn't last forever…already she could feel them beginning to disappear.
"Ah, here she is," a cheerful and kind voice announced in relief, as she came into their view, "good morning," they greeted.
"Ena!" another, more energetic voice called out, the owner seeming to be running towards her, as she came to a dazed stop. "Hey, Ena…are you okay?" they asked, coming to a stop before her, noticing her blank and empty expression, "hey…answer me…" they urged softly, becoming a little worried.
"Leave her alone, will you…she probably doesn't want to be bothered by your troublesome manner," a third person retorted, their tone mocking in its manner. The second speaker ignored the words, and reached out their hands, placing them on her shoulders.
"Please…what's wrong?" they asked, their tone still soft and coloured with worry. When no immediate answer came, they gently shook her form, the motion beginning to stir something within. She felt she knew them, these people…her mind began to awaken slowly, as she tried to place these voices, "Hey, Hakkai, can you see if she's okay?" the person asked. With this question and plea for help, her mind came awake, and she was able to recognise these people.
"Goku…?" she said, her tone of voice hinting at some uncertainty. The young boy turned and looked up at the sound of his name, smiling in relief, as he noted the change in her appearance. She managed a weak smile in return, as she looked into the golden eyes, surrounded by brown locks, "I'm sorry if I worried you," she said, her smile becoming apologetic as she placed a hand upon the youths head, and looked up to meet the gazes of the other three. Sanzo simply tutted, as he went back to smoking his cigarette, while Gojyo sighed and went back to packing his tent up. Hakkai smiled in acknowledgement, and went back to focusing on the breakfast. Ena laughed lightly, then remembered that she had to pack her belongings up as well, and looked about to locate them, only to find them neatly placed under the tree she had been at the night before, "Who…?" she began to ask, but looked down as she felt the young youkai step back and heard his light laughter.
"I took care of it, all you have to do is place them in Hakuryuu when we're ready to set off," he explained, then took hold of her hand, "come, join us, Hakkai's cooking is the best, you have to try it," he said, and began to lead her towards the rest of the group. She laughed in an amused and nervous manner, as he pulled her along, then stopped, indicating for her to take a seat, which she did, as she saw no way to avoid this. Once she had sat down, Goku occupied the space between her and Sanzo, smiling brightly as he anticipated the morning meal – the enticing aromas playing with his desires. The young woman watched in amusement, then looked up as the half-breed came and took a seat opposite her and promptly lit up a cigarette, drawing on its vapours. As he did so, his crimson eyes flashed upwards, meeting her gaze in a sharp manner, which was broken as she realised she had been caught staring.
"Right, breakfast is ready," the green-eyed youkai announced, to which Goku cheered openly. Hakkai laughed in amused fashion, as he brought the steaming pot over and placed it in the middle, the evident anticipation of the meal gleaming on the youths face. Continuing to smile, the cook began to ladle out the breakfast, handing out steaming bowls to each person and Hakuryuu, before helping himself, "Oh, if anyone wants seconds or more, help yourself, okay," he said, handing out buns that had softened from the heat of the pot.
Expressing their gratitude, everyone began to eat their meal, and almost immediately an argument began to manifest itself, as both Gojyo and Goku began to fight over who should get the next helping first. Sanzo was evidently beginning to get irritated at this, for even now he couldn't eat a meal in peace. He grit his teeth, as the two continued bickering, throwing insults back and forth, then intervened, whacking the two across the head with the paper fan.
"Shut up the both of you! Can't you eat your damn breakfast in peace?!" he yelled, the evident threat of granting the two a painful death, should they continue on like this, visible in his violet eyes. The two growled angrily at each other, while rubbing their aching heads, and then resumed eating their meals. Hakkai smiled in amusement, and prepared to spoon some of his breakfast into his mouth, when Ena's bowl caught his attention.
"Are you okay?" he asked, noticing that she had simply been staring into the contents of the bowl, without disturbing it once. She stared blankly for some time, and then it appeared as though something had registered and she turned her attention towards the green-eyed man.
"Sorry?" she asked, shaking her head slightly to clear it of whatever was preoccupying her mind. Hakkai smiled and chuckled lightly.
"I asked if you were okay…you don't seem too well, and you haven't touched your meal," he said, indicating her still full bowl. Ena blinked and looked at her bowl, then looked back up, smiling in return.
"I'm sorry…the meal looks very delicious…but I'm afraid…I'm not all that hungry," she apologised, the smile melting away as her expression became sad. The dark-haired man blinked and set his bowl down then placed a hand upon her forehead and one on his own.
"Hmm…you do seem a little under the weather…" he commented, comparing her temperature with his, then folded his arms as he leant back a bit and appraised her appearance, "did you get enough sleep last night?"
"W-why do you ask?" Ena stammered, turning her face away slightly as the events of the previous night flashed through her mind.
"Just that you seem a little pale…and troubled by something-" Hakkai's reply was cut short, as the young woman set her bowl aside and stood up. The sudden movement caught the attention of the other three travellers, as they looked up over the rim of their bowls to watch the scene.
"I'm sorry, but I think I need a little space," she said, bowing for a moment, "thank you for the meal," she added, then straightened and walked away towards her belongings.
"E-Ena," Goku said, looking up from his bowl and watching her go. His brow furrowed when she didn't answer him, and he turned back to read the expressions on the other three men.
"Was it something you said, Hakkai?" Gojyo asked, taking another bite from his bowl. The green-eyed man couldn't and didn't answer, as he watched her sit down, her back against the bark of the tree. After a few moments, she drew her knees up, hugging them to her chest as she rested the side of her face against them, looking off into the distance, away from the dining males. Sanzo cast a glance at the full bowl that was left behind, and then looked up as he noticed Hakkai resuming his meal, and continued with his own, making a mental note to think about how long she should stay with them.