Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of this… I don't own Saiyuki, okay?
A/N: Aww… I still have readers… Thanks so much you guys… Here's a hug…
Ah…Totemo gomenasai ne. Sorry it took a while… just got out of a really tiring life… : )
Anyway here's chapter 1…
Plain, simple, brooding, and…
I don't know if you're gonna like it… so just please read and review… then, you may throw those rotten tomatoes at me afterwards (hehehe…)
Lost by Kage Kurokawa
Chapter I The Journal
A cool breeze blew softly from outside. The sun is well hidden beyond the veil of clouds. It was hard to believe that only yesterday, three people were roving down a hot, harsh, dry desert terrain all day on a small brown army jeep. By nightfall they had crossed the desert and entered through a forest, where the company had spent an uneventful night, in unfamiliar silence and continued on their way before dawn. By morning they have reached a village beyond the forest and settled at a small, cozy looking inn within the village. People curiously stared and peeked at the newcomers as they find it quite strange that these people arrived from the direction of the barren lands of the east. Folks in this area are quite suspicious of strangers nowadays, with all the rumours of violent youkai activity spreading all over the place. So far, this small town has been spared, townspeople are living a relatively peaceful existence and are ever so grateful to the gods.
And thus, once they realized that one of the foreigners that came to their humble little town was none other than the highest ranking monk of their faith, they begged him to give a sermon at the village square. Which was of course met with a scowl, a glare and an adamant dismissal from a certain blonde sutra bearing priest before rudely taking off to the nearest village inn leaving behind a stunned and disappointed crowd that slowly dispersed while muttering about proper manners and arrogant monks. Said arrogant monk went straight to the counter, got a key, stormed off, and locked himself in his room, as his two still mute companions walked with heavy steps, baggage and dragon in tow, oblivious to their surroundings. Pretty girls passing and crimson eyes never even dared take a glance. Spicy aroma from a dining room seemingly failed to entice a certain monkey boy. Into the inn they go, stacking their stuff and going back to their own little world of brooding thoughts. It may take a while yet before they wake up from their present dream woven reality. Let them sleep some more…
Inside one room, something not quite right seems hangs in the atmosphere despite the cheery looking décor of bright hues and pale mint green paint covering the wall. The bed is neatly made in white and yellow sheets where two small bags lay, hastily dumped by their carrier. Beside the bed was a small coffee table by the window, with two crafted wooden chairs accenting it. One of the chairs was occupied by one stubborn figure with the sun kissed hair.
Violet eyes looked blankly out the window of a room. The familiar scent of cigarette smoke clouds the air around that seated, solitary, half-robed figure in a tight fitting black top and gloves. Several crushed beer cans and forgotten half empty one lay at the nearby table together with the remaining stubs of used nicotine sticks carelessly tossed beside an unused ashtray. Pale hands gripped a small open notebook atop a white-clothed lap. The black leather covering still fairly new. Violet ink covered the ashen pages with characters legibly written despite the hasty strokes. Yes. It is a journal.
It was a journal.
The opened page was dated a week back. It read:
Entry XOXWe are at a nice little town by a river. Sanzo insists that we continue at once by daybreak tomorrow. Or is it today already? It's so beautiful here. The river is such a calming place to visit. Gojyo, tells me that there are a lot of beautiful women around here. Poor guy, that's all he seems to notice about a place. I wonder where he's gone off to tonight? Ah, probably off to his midnight escapades. I never really got the hang of that. Goku's most likely asleep. In deep sleep, no doubt. Dreaming of food and fight. I could almost envy him. M poor little abused pet is asleep too. Currently took possession of my bed. Oh well, he's gonna need his strength for tomorrow. I wonder what a dragon dreams of? The night is so quiet here. I swear I could almost hear the river's current flowing steadily in the night. I wonder what Sanzo is doing?
Maybe he's asleep. That is however quite unlikely. Not when the midnight stars are beckoning to be gazed upon. Ah, what am I saying? If I didn't know better, I'd say Sanzo's probably cursing his insomnia instead of looking at the heavens. I can just picture him now… and am smiling at the thought.
Ah, Sanzo, Sanzo, Sanzo. Why am I thinking of you in the middle of the night? You'd probably finally find a reasonable excuse kill me when you find out. At last I'll be at the receiving end of that fine exorcising gun of yours. I must say it's a fine piece of work, that gun. You pay more care and attention to it than you would to the rest of the world.
You know, I find it quite surprising, really. These past few nights that I couldn't sleep, I find myself haunted by the piercing gaze of those amethyst eyes. And strangely I find a sense of comfort at the thought of drowning into them… it's disturbing. I shouldn't be feeling this way. Not with you for heaven's sake!
But irony of ironies, I find myself having the weirdest of fates.
Oh, look at me, talking with you on my journal. Silly Hakkai. Can't talk to the real thing, thus satisfying his delusional self to conversing with a piece of paper. Isn't it funny?
Anyhow, I find myself wondering just now… which is better: awake with this impossible daydream or asleep with those vicious nightmares?
Yes. The nightmares. For some reason, they are back. For about a week and a half now. Maybe longer. I don't know why they are back. Sometimes I can't even remember having them. All I remember is being jolted awake, panting, and sweating. My chest feels tight. Once or twice I woke up with tears in my eyes. But can't fully recall the dreams. Bits and pieces here and there. Nothing really coherent.
All I see is darkness. Then sounds, images, sensations…
Of screams.
Of blood.
Of pain.
Of broken glass.
Of me being ripped apart.
Of bells softly jingling.
I see a shadow. Of who or what I do not know. It's too obscure.
Everything else seems to be so vivid, I could almost swear it was real.
Then nothing.
It's like being forcibly pulled in the middle of feeling a sensation that I could almost scream. I recall doing just that in my sleep. But no ever really come out.
And everything else feels empty.
I feel so drained.
Should I tell someone of these nightmares? Gojyo? He wont know what to do with me, he'll probably worry too much. I wouldn't want that. Goku? I do not think he'll understand. That leaves me with…
Sanzo… He'll probably tell me to mind my own business. Besides, I believe he has his own nightmares to deal with…
Ah it's almost dawn. I'd better get even just a bit of shut eye. Or Sanzo's going to go ballistic if I fall asleep on the wheel later. It's going to be quite a long drive. Maybe the nightmares won't come today…
I hope.
End of entry.
A soft breeze once again entered the window carrying with it one small green leaf that fell in the on the opened page of the journal. Violet eyes slowly losing that glazed faraway look. He looked down on the notebook on his lap and slowly loosened his grip. Picking up the stray leaf, he scanned the page again. Digesting once more its contents. He held the leaf before his eyes and stared at it intently for a moment.
"But the nightmares did continue," An uncharacteristically soft voice spoke. "Until such a time that they were bad dream no longer."
He placed the leaf once more upon the journal.
"They didn't leave you alone did they…"
The journal was closed, the leaf pressed against the pages.
"You should have just… baka…"
The sound of a can opening. A cigarette being lit.
"Now it's too late."
Fresh smoke billowing in the air. There are two half empty beer cans on the table.
"Hakkai."
And the afternoon wore on. Cool wind blowing softly to and fro…
And somewhere, far beyond the horizon. In darkness. Unseen. Unheard. A scream pierced the still air…
End Chapter 1
A/N: So guess who owns the journal… man, I'm so corny. I really do need to take those writing classes when I get the free time… after about ten years… so for now I guess you're stuck with what I can dish out… sorry… (hehehe) (bad Kage!)
This fic has seemingly turned out to be centered (understatement!) once again on my favorite chara… guess?
So what do you think? Stop? Continue? Or what? R&R. Onegaishimasu. Please.You know… the common things… comments, suggestions, questions… reactions (violent or otherwise)… the usual stuff…
Author trying to prepare for an onslaught of flying objects…
Happy Holidays minna san!!!
Ja mata… : )
