:: Perfect World ::

Gensomaden Saiyuki

Disclaimer: I don't own Gensomaden Saiyuki, which rightfully belongs to Minekura Kazuya.

Rating: PG

Pairings: none

Warnings: AU-ish, mild angst, violence, language

Notes: Normally I try not to incorporate a lot of Japanese into my fanfics, but I'll be making an exception here. Lirin will be calling Kougaiji "Oniichan" as she does in the original version. "Big Brother" sounds too awkward in English, and in Japan it's customary to call an older sibling by their title rather than their name. The story is set in China, but our Saiyuki was originally in Japanese. However, Yaone will not address Kougaiji as "Kougaiji-sama," since the translation sounds natural in English.

Special thanks to Sand3 for pointing out a detail error a few chapters back. I'll try to have that fixed over the weekend.

Constructive criticism and feedback is appreciated.


Chapter Ten

It was the only place he could get away from people he didn't want to see. Most of the demons in Houtou Castle had strict orders not to enter the room. The only people who could get around that rule were people who ranked higher than him, people he gave permission, or people who were leading him in circles with a leash around his neck.

Otherwise the room was sacred. It was bare of any furniture, though once it had been a grand room lush with fine furnishings. It lacked decorations, though an outsider would have said otherwise. He didn't think of the stone statue as a decoration at all. It was too precious for that. His mother was encased in that stone, bound by various spells that were beyond his power to unravel.

Kougaiji's head was tilted back, slanted violet eyes focused on the sightless gaze of the statue. She was the sole reason he continued down his path. She was the reason he fought worthless battles, gave out orders he hated to give, wasted so many of his loyal subjects. All beneath him were more than honored to die for him, but in his eye there was no honor in fighting a losing battle. That was simply unfair.

But as long as Gyokumen Koushu kept twisting his arm behind his back he didn't have any other choice. As much as he respected and loved his companions and subjects, his mother was the most important person to him. Few people ranked as high as she did-- very, very few people.

In fact, the list was short enough for him to count on one hand.

Things had been fairly quiet lately. Normally Gyokumen Koushu -- the demon running the show, the one trying to revive Gyuumaoh, the arrogant woman who acted as though she were his father's wife and not his concubine -- would have him running on some useless errand or another, but at the moment things were unusually calm.

No doubt she's got something up her sleeve, he thought, grimacing in distaste. She was the one who made him waste his forces, sending them to their death with no hope of returning alive. Compared to his mother the woman was nothing. The only thing she had going for her were her looks, but even that Kougaiji found distasteful. Something about women sneering put him off. Perhaps it had something to do with his old-fashioned thinking.

Not only in comparison to his mother, but compared to many women she was distasteful, human, demon, or otherwise.

Kougaiji was impatient to receive orders to go after the Sanzo party again. The first and last time they had met he hadn't been impressed. If anything, he'd been slightly disappointed.

Few demons never heard about the rumor of Genjo Sanzo and his misfit troop. Kougaiji had heard a few stories from the few subjects that managed to report back and they had sounded like promising opponents. Face-to-face, however...

He wasn't impatient because he was excited about fighting them. He was impatient because he wanted to get this over with. So long as he had those scriptures, getting the rest of them shouldn't prove to be a problem. He expected that, while it shouldn't prove too difficult at this point, obtaining Sanzo's Maten scriptures would be the most difficult thing he would have to do.

He really just wanted this whole stupid ordeal over with.

It was nighttime and the entire castle felt restless. No real progress had been made and it was making many people testy. Kougaiji was really waiting for orders, waiting for reports, even just waiting for his half-sister to turn up missing again.

The last thing he'd expected was for the warning alarms to blare.

He started at the sudden wailing of sirens. Already he could hear chaos erupting in the hallways. There were feet trampling the floor, shouts coming from hallways near the outer walls of the tower. With a soft curse he started for the door, jumping back in surprise when he nearly ran straight into someone trying to enter the room.

There was a high-pitched squeak as a young woman stumbled back, a hand over her heart as she stared at him. "Lord Kougaiji!" She seemed equally shocked. "Forgive me..."

"Don't worry about it," he said shortly. She stepped aside to let him pass and he moved on quickly, though she was on his heels. And not without reason; she was one of the few people he trusted in this place. "What's going on?"

"An invasion," she replied immediately. "We're under a full-scale attack. The front gates were blown down. Our forces are going now to stop the commotion."

"Do we have any idea who's attacking us?" Kougaiji demanded. His voice was rough but Yaone didn't appear phased. She knew him well enough to understand he was being a bit coarse more out of stress than out of annoyance.

"No," she admitted. "Dokugakuji is looking into that now."

"Good."

Red lights throbbed on and off along the ceiling. The alarm was still wailing but the sounds were muffled by other commotion in the tower. He could hear Yaone's soft panting as she ran behind him. He opened his mouth to say something, intending to give her an order, but a sudden shout followed by a streak of orange made them both halt in their tracks.

"Oniichan"

It was all Kougaiji to do to stop before he and his sister collided. Even after years of spending time with the girl he could never get used to her antics and habits. Right now he was staring almost directly into her eyes, too taken aback at the moment to react as she wiggled on her toes.

"You're going to fight, aren't you?" she asked excitedly, unable to contain herself as she cracked her knuckles. "All right! Let's show them what we're made of! No one can stand up to Lirin!"

She has no idea how right she is, he thought, momentarily forgetting their situation as he was torn between fondness and annoyance for his sister.

The flashing lights couldn't keep his mind off the crisis long. Shaking his head, Kougaiji put a hand on Lirin's head, trying to calm her enough so he could speak. "Look--"

"Kou!"

Barely able to supress a growl, Kougaiji looked over his shoulder. His annoyance disappeared almost instantly at the look on his companion's face. "What's happened, Dokugaku?" he demanded.

The demon who spoke was clearly older than he, built a bit wider, and had a comfortable sense about him when he wasn't looking as grim as he did now. "All our main forces have been wiped out."

He saw Yaone cover her mouth in dismay at the news. His reaction was stronger, his voice incredulous. "Impossible! Are you positive?"

"I wish I wasn't." Aside from Yaone, Dokugakuji was the only subordinate he trusted. Lirin was his sister, his precious sister, and when adding her to his most trustworthy companions Kougaiji had the three sole people outside of his mother he would trust with his life. Kougaiji rarely doubted a word any of them said.

Therefore, if Dokugakuji said their main troops were dead, they were.

Kougaiji grit his teeth, his fists clenching as Dokugakuji brought even worse news. "Not only that, the few that managed to get away have reported the invaders claimed to be gods. Their leader definitely had a chakra on his forehead."

"What?" The fact their invaders were strong was bad enough, but for them to be gods? The gods were the ones who had created this mess in the first place! Kougaiji growled in frustration, resisting the urge to punch the wall. He had to keep his cool.

"Yaone."

"Yes, sir?"

He didn't turn back to the girls, his gaze fixed ahead. "I want you to take care of Lirin for me. Take her someplace safe." These were gods they were up against, and while he knew his sister would protest the idea he couldn't stand the thought of losing her. He especially hated the idea of losing her because of his own foolish decisions.

"Yes, sir," Yaone repeated, looking determined. He trusted her to do as he asked, no matter what resistance she came up against.

"But Oniichan!"

"Just do as I say," he snapped. Lirin flinched, looking stung. He watched her a moment longer, willing her to understand. Her hurt look slowly transformed into something like resigned disappointment.

He didn't want to leave her on that note but time was of the essence. He glanced back at Dokugakuji, only saying, "Let's go," before running off again. He heard Lirin cry out to him.

It was always a struggle to not look back.

Kougaiji quickly ran through all the information he had gathered in that short time. Gods hadn't touched Houtou Castle in well over five hundred years, not since the subjugation of his father and the sealing of him, his mother, and the rest of the tower's occupants. If they were back then there was only one reason he could think of: his father.

They wanted to stop the experiments before they even succeeded. Perhaps they were impatient with the Sanzo party's progress. That was understandable.

However, no matter how understandable it was, that didn't mean he could go along with it; not when the revival of his mother was at stake. Not when the possibility of being sealed away was also at stake-- and especially not when being sealed again would this time include more people he cared about.

"Doesn't this route ultimately lead us downstairs, Kou?" Dokugakuji asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Yes," he said grimly, coming to a stop at the elevators. He pressed the down button once, twice, then in rapid succession as he grew impatient. "They're gods. They have to be after my father. Nothing else makes sense; that's the only business the heavens have with us! Impatient bastards," he added in a frustrated afterthought.

The elevator didn't seem to be working. It wasn't jammed; the light indicating it was working wasn't lit. The emergency alarm probably included the shut-down of all machinery not hooked up to Gyuumaoh or a main escape route.

Disgusted, Kougaiji quickly gave up. "We'll have to take the stairs. This way!" He ran off toward the south end of the hallway. To the right was a door to several flights of stairs; they were the alternative in rare cases like this.

The door three stories down led to the platform around Gyuumaoh's comatose body. Kougaiji threw the door open and burst in, expecting to see someone, anyone, even the ever-abhorred Gyokumen Koushu, but there was absolutely no one in sight.

He walked the length of the platform, eyeing the room critically. The machinery still hummed as it ever so slowly worked its way to bringing Gyuumaoh back to life. The chair Gyokumen so often occupied was empty. It seemed like she had been in the middle of a manicure session; nail polish had been knocked over and pooled on the metallic platform. The stench was powerful and made Kougaiji wrinkle his nose. When he turned to Dokugakuji his companion also seemed to find the smell too strong for his tastes.

"So the she-fox isn't here," Dokugakuji said dryly.

Kougaiji shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe she ran and left my father behind," he muttered. If ever she was trying to make a good impression on him, she had just succeeded in scoring another mark against her.

Not that the bitch had ever tried making good impressions period.

Not only had she just up and left, she seemed to have taken the Seiten scripture with her. It was always in her possession; she trusted no one else with it, not even her most loyal subject Doctor Nii. That was understandable to Kougaiji-- he never had taken a liking to the doctor, not with his too-slick personality. His very presence made Kougaiji agitated; disgusted as though he'd been drenched in the filthiest sewer slime.

Then again, Gyokumen Koushu was just as slimy as Nii was. Her reasons for never letting the Seiten scripture out of her sight were probably more akin to the power she felt possessing them. Often when he was summoned to her she would have them in her hands, unfurled across her lap as though she could read and comprehend the complexities within the scrolls.

Kougaiji really hated this room. It always made him think unpleasant things.

Dokugakuji snapped to attention, his head turning to the front of the room. "Kou--!"

Kougaiji followed his gaze, narrowing his eyes as the door at the other end of the room creaked open. A figure stepped out-- a sole person. That raised some suspicion, since Dokugakuji had said there was more than one of them.

He could ask questions later. Kougaiji spoke clearly, stopping the figure in his tracks successfully. "I thought you'd come here."

The figure looked up. Upon first glance it was easy to tell it was a man, one that made a positive impression upon first glance. His demeanor, though relaxed, demanded immediate respect. His appearance was a strangely appealing mix of neatness and disorder, his black shirt tucked into his jeans, hair disheveled as though he had run his hands through it a few times. Kougaiji noted in particular the shackles on each of the man's wrists and large sword resting on his shoulder.

"My name is Kougaiji, Gyuumaoh and Rasetsunyo's son." Introduction somehow seemed necessary with this man; he didn't appear to recognize Kougaiji upon first glance.

"And I'm Kougaiji's swordsman and loyal subordinate, Dokugakuji." Had the situation been different Kougaiji might have smiled. Dokugakuji always realized when his cooperation was needed.

The figure below them didn't smile, regarding them seriously. "War Prince Homura."

"War Prince," Kougaiji repeated quietly. He didn't look at all like the war prince who had subjugated his father. The former one had been much smaller; child sized. The idea that this was him as an adult seemed too far-fetched. Despite the distance Kougaiji could tell there were few likenesses between the two. "So you have come for my father. The heavens sure have grown impatient, haven't they?"

The war prince scoffed, closing his eyes. "Whether or not Gyuumaoh is revived has nothing to do with me. I have come for the Seiten scriptures."

What? That can't be right! Kougaiji thought. He was suddenly at a loss. What would the gods want with that?

"It seems what I want isn't here," he heard Homura say. The god had barely spoken louder than a murmur, but in the vast room covered by metal from floor to ceiling sound carried easily. Kougaiji grew alarmed when Homura's eyes suddenly fixated on something just below the platform. "A secret passageway..."

Kougaiji cursed softly to himself. What morons left that door open?!

He began to take a step forward, but Dokugakuji was moving faster. He stopped immediately; the man needed no help from him.

Dokugakuji jumped down from the platform, grim-faced as he blocked the secret passageway's entrance. "Sorry," he said. "But I can't allow you to go any further."

For the first time Homura's expression flickered. He smirked, suddenly seeming full of confidence that hadn't been there before. Perhaps that was because it hadn't been needed. "Do you intend to fight me with that?" he asked, sounding amused as he referred to Dokugakuji's sword.

Dokugakuji didn't reply. Instead he charged forward, swinging with deadly force to bring the blade down on their intruder's head.

In a blur even Kougaiji couldn't follow, Homura dropped his sword and swung his fists up at the same time. The chains of his shackles were pulled taut, blocking Dokugakuji's blow. Kougaiji blinked, unsure of what he had just witnessed was even possible. The power behind his blow didn't break the chains...?

"You need practice," Homura said. His voice was light, still amused, as though he were a teacher patronizing a student. "That's not how you use a sword."

There was a clatter of chains, a flutter of cloth, and then Homura was striking upward. The edge of his sword cut a long, thin line up Dokugakuji's chest. The blow was enough to send him flying back, crashing into a tangle of machinery.

Kougaiji panicked. "Dokugaku!" He only moved a couple steps forward before pausing. At first glance it seemed that Dokugakuji's neck was broken, but closer inspection proved it was just the angle of a thick pipe beneath him supporting that illusion. Kougaiji breathed a sigh of relief. The blood from the long cut wasn't flowing freely, barely more than a trickle.

Unconscious, his mind told him. Unconscious and the cut is shallow. He'll be fine for now. Right now his attention had to be given undividedly to the war prince-- and he looked up just in time. Homura had started for the door again.

"Don't think this is over yet," Kougaiji snapped, leaving his position. He landed a few yards to Homura's right, not blocking the door. Homura still turned.

"How rude of me," the god said calmly. "I should have known such a loyal subject would have a protective leader. Are you going to take revenge for him?"

"I'm going to stop you from going any further," Kougaiji said hotly. "Revenge has nothing to do with it." And I can't let him get in the way, not if I want to save my mother!

Homura suddenly seemed to regard him with new interest. "So be it."

This time it was the war prince who attacked first. Kougaiji barely anticipated the sword in time to dodge; he tackled the floor, tucking himself into a roll before finding his footing again. Just as he did another blow was delivered and he had to move again, this time jumping up. He caught himself on a railing, pulling himself over.

Homura paused in his attacks, looking up at him and tilting his head. The smirk was back on his lips. "Your speed is commendable," he praised.

Kougaiji scoffed, taking the time to brace himself in case of another abrupt attack. "I was told there were more of you," he said, ignoring the compliment.

"That is correct."

"I was under the impression gods worked alone."

Homura actually chuckled, the amusement on his face suddenly sharpening into something a lot closer to wickedness. What he said only heightened Kougaiji's suspicions-- and the way he said it aroused worry.

"What makes you so sure we're all gods?"

------

When she had first met Kougaiji's younger sister Yaone hadn't been sure if she could handle her. The girl was a handful, a bundle of energy no matter what you did to calm her down. Humoring her only brought exhaustion and trying to outlast her was never a good idea.

Despite Lirin's hyperactivity, Yaone found herself very attached to the girl. She was sweet when she wasn't causing trouble and thoughtful even when she was. Yaone was touched whenever Lirin would come to her with a problem, even when Lirin ran to her in attempt to hide from one. In the short time they had known each other -- only a few months at this point -- Yaone felt that Lirin was her little sister in so many ways.

That was why she felt guilty for what she was doing. Even though they were orders from her lord, even though ultimately it was for Lirin's own good, the disappointment clinging to the girl's usually cheerful aura was contagious.

Lirin was cooperating, which would have only been strange if anyone else had told her to stay behind. Lirin looked up to her brother, openly adoring him as much as any little sister could. Naturally, that included the way she purposefully antagonized him for sheer enjoyment.

Yaone felt awful. She had to say something; Lirin's somber attitude was too depressing. She put a hand on the girl's shoulder, leaning down to the girl's level when she obediently hesitated and looked up at her.

"I really am sorry, my Lady."

Lirin blinked, puzzled. "For what?"

Yaone opened her mouth to reply, to explain what she was thinking right then, but suddenly Lirin seemed distracted. Yaone followed her gaze, startled to find herself staring at an unfamiliar boy.

The boy stared back, equally amazed. He definitely wasn't a subject in the castle. While they weren't treated poorly, nor given the worst choice of clothing, his appearance was too clean, his clothes too noticeable. His hair was long, the mess at the top spiky and tousled. His weapon was a staff of sorts, whereas most of their subjects had swords or were trained in simple hand-to-hand combat.

Plus he wore a diadem snugly around his forehead, a device that limited only demonic powers. The only people with human appearances in Houtou Castle were two doctors working on the Gyuumaoh experiments, Nii and Huang.

Lirin abruptly broke the silence, her interest piqued by the stranger. "And just who're you?" she demanded in her infamous bratty tone.

"I should be asking you the same thing," the boy retorted, though he seemed equally interested in the girl. "You guys got the Seiten scripture?"

Lirin grinned, turning to fully face the boy. Yaone let go of her, unsure if she should stop what she sensed coming. "If you want it, you'll have to go through Lirin first!"

The boy grinned broadly, falling into a fighting stance. He gripped the staff in his hands tightly. "Sounds like a challenge to me."

"You're on!"

Yaone stepped back, rubbing her arm anxiously. What should I do, Lord Kougaiji...?

Well, she should have expected it. Every simple thing with Lirin always turned into a complicated mess in the end.