A Time To Kill

Chapter Three: Running for your life

Disclaimers: Ugh. Again! I swear I do not own Gensoumaden Saiyuki. And I still praise Kazuya Minekura-sensei with all my being.

Author's Note: Waaah! It's been such a long time since I updated! I've been receiving an update request from a certain reader of this fic. And I really, really apologize for taking such a long time to update. (Especially to you, dear reader) I hadn't had any time until now and I'm still busy during the holidays. Anyway, This chapter maybe more or less not so good. But, here's hoping it is anyway. I'm a little rusty at this fic writing thing.

Anyway… where was I?

Sanzo watched with wide eyes as Komyo-sensei's blood trickled from all over his body. He was hardly recognizable now if it weren't for the face. His expression showed no regrets, he looked very serene and almost as if he had fallen into deep slumber. In fact, if you had looked closely, you'd see that it was almost like he was smiling. Though it wasn't the same smile that he knew.

He died before he could really smile.

The smell of burned and used bullets filled his nostrils and the vision of his dead teacher was starting to become blurry. The side of his eyes felt hot, as if they were going to bulge out any moment now. There was something streaming down from his eyes – he lifted a shaky hand to brush against his cheek. It was wet, were they tears? Yes. He was crying and the tears wouldn't stop coming – he looked up at the sinister general that stood in front of the men who shot Komyo-sensei down.

His blonde eyebrows met, sneering as he suddenly spat out roughly.

''Kisama! –'' Hakkai pulled him back by the wrist before he could do anything. Goku stared at Komyo's body, still in disbelief. Gojyo glanced at Sanzo, wanting to help Hakkai in case something happened. Of course, he glared at Li Touten and his men from time to time.

''Student 00122104, Genjo Sanzo. Let what happened to Komyo-sensei be a lesson to you.'' Li Touten said sharply. ''If you treat me like shit, I treat you ten times worse…'' he stepped forward, his dark eyes looking straight into Sanzo's deep and angry violet ones.

''Hakkai…'' Sanzo whispered hoarsely. ''Let go of me..''

''Sanzo, please…'' Hakkai cut him off as he shook his head and looked at him rather sternly. ''Don't do this. This is reckless…''

''He killed him… That bastard –-''

''Sanzo!'' Hakkai pulled on his wrist harder. ''Calm down.'' He looked the blonde straight into his eyes as he then glanced over to Komyo once again. ''Do you want to waste what sensei did for you?''

Sanzo's eyes widened as he froze, taking deep breaths – he remained quiet. The streaks of tears still on his cheeks as he looked down for a moment, hiding his gaze from Hakkai. The brunette looked at him, calmly.

The fact that you're alive… Is enough reason, don't you think?

You died… So I could live…

I couldn't protect you…

No… I am not…

Am Not…

''Teme! You can't get away with this!'' Goku called as he frowned and looked up.

Li Touten ignored his threats and proceeded to bark his instructions.

''The game begins as soon as you step out here with your necessity bag.'' He said as he looked around the room. ''Be aware that once you get out there, it's every man for himself and no one should hesitate to kill anyone anymore.'' He looked at them.

''You no longer have any friends. You cannot trust anyone anymore.'' He picked up one bag. ''Let's not waste anymore time.'' He looked over to the list on his table as he picked it up and cleared his throat. ''Let's start with the attendance call.''

''Student 0090923, Amaya Endou!'' he called towards a student shivering in fear by the corner.

He ran towards the door and his bag was roughly tossed towards him. He caught it, stumbling back a bit – looking at his fellow classmates; he paused and took a deep breath before running outside.

Gojyo looked back at Hakkai.

''What the hell do we do?'' he whispered in a low tone.

''We don't have much of a choice, Gojyo.'' Hakkai said with a sigh as he looked up, rather worriedly. ''We just have to make sure that we find a way out of this thing…''

Goku blinked. ''But – he said only one of us could leave the Island…'' he looked up at his three other companions. ''What happens if some of us are still left by then?''

Li Touten, who seemed to have heard Goku's question grinned crookedly. ''You have three days to finish everyone off. And if more of you are still left by then, then I off you all.''

Goku looked at the three again, Hakkai looked quite stern and irritated as well, Gojyo looked at them and at Li Touten.

''I ain't dying here…'' Gojyo said through his breath as he looked at them.

''Don't think I am!'' Goku chimed in with a nod.

Sanzo didn't say anything, he only scowled. Hakkai sighed and nodded as he looked at the students around them.

''Of course… I think the other students will have a different say on that.

Sanzo stepped outside, carrying his bag of necessities, looking around as he did. Anyone could leap at him and kill him in an instant. To him, the game started when he found out just what the hell was going on. He didn't know what weapon he had, he hadn't checked yet. Because as soon as he was given his bag, he was shoved out of the place. They weren't about to be treated or pampered around here.

The wind was cold, it hurt against his skin when he moved. He winced a bit but he kept moving as he saw a which was big enough for him to stay under. Of course, he knew that someone could very well be waiting for him to get under there so he could be killed. He decided that it would be good to check what his weapons were just in case. Opening his bag, he reached a hand in only to feel a cold kind of metal. He raised an eyebrow as he slowly pulled out the heavy object.

He saw a Smith and Wesson revolver. He peeked in the small hole and saw the silver bullets that were meant for reloading the gun. There was only a limited supply of them, so he had to use them wisely. He checked and saw that the gun had bullets. He started to walk off and wait for the others to be called.

Just then, he heard footsteps right behind him. He froze and gripped the gun's handle, he turned around and aimed it right on someone's forehead.

Of course, when he did a double-take. It was Hakkai, holding his bag and looking at him with wide emerald green eyes.

''S-Sanzo… it's me.''

The blonde drew his gun back immediately and stepped back. ''Suman na…'' he said softly, rather regretfully as he kept the gun by his side, still holding it.

''It looks like you're rather tense…'' Hakkai said as he sighed.

''Aren't you?'' Sanzo started to search his pockets for his cigarettes as he remembered he had them with him. He looked at Hakkai.

''Gojyo to Goku wa doushita?'' he asked, rather calmly this time around.

''They haven't been called yet. But they promise to look for us as soon as they do.'' Hakkai answered immediately.

''Good. They better NOT slow us down either.'' Sanzo scowled as he finally found a stick and lighted it up.

There were a few moments of silence between them as the cold wind passed by again. Hakkai looked up and took a deep breath. He glanced at Sanzo as he watched the blonde, smoking and looking so far away. His eyes softened a bit as he knew what he was thinking about. Komyo-sensei was a very important person to him as he was the only one he really respected and loved. And now that he was gone, killed in front of his eyes. He couldn't imagine what it would be like for him, right now.

But he knew what it felt like – to lose someone he loved so much.

His hand started to shake a bit, but he shook his head and took a deep breath.

''I'm sorry…'' he whispered silently.

''What?'' Sanzo looked up, he looked quite perplexed. ''Sorry for what?''

''Komyo-sensei…'' Hakkai said again. ''I know how much –''

''He's dead…'' Sanzo cut him short. ''There's – There's nothing I can do about it anymore…''

''Sou…'' Hakkai inched a little closer towards him. ''But of course, it doesn't stop it from hurting now does it?''

Again, there was silence. Sanzo looked a little thrown back by the comment, Hakkai noticed this and nodded immediately, bowing slightly.

''Gomen nasai…'' he said. ''I shouldn't press for answers…''

''You're right… you shouldn't…'' he said.

Hakkai decided it would be best if he remained quiet.

''But… you're right…'' Sanzo said again.

Hakkai looked at him again and sighed. ''Eh… I suppose I am…''

Sanzo looked up, getting a little impatient and trying to push aside the feelings that he had as of the moment. He looked at Hakkai and nodded.

''It doesn't matter now… we just have to keep going…''

''Eh. Sou desu ne.''

Just then, they heard running footsteps coming towards them. Sanzo immediately gripped his gun and readied himself to aim it. Hakkai opened his bag to find a sharp bladed dagger, pulling it out he readied it and looked ahead.

''Hakkai…'' Sanzo called.

''Don't worry. I know…'' Hakkai assured him as they both remained quiet.

A young girl came towards them, crying as she held her bag. She looked up at them as tears spilled down her cheeks, she fell on her knees and started crying hysterically.

''Yuiko-chan!'' Hakkai said as he recognized the girl. ''What's happening? –''

''Hidoi yo, Cho-kun…'' she said looking up as she then slowly started to close her eyes. ''What am I supposed to do now?''

Before any of them could approach her, she suddenly fell on the ground. Hakkai's eyes widened to see that there were arrows plunged deeply into her back. And a lot of blood started to pour out from her wounds.

''Yuiko-chan…''

Student Number 00675430, Azure Yuiko, DEAD

FOURTY SIX MORE TO GO.

More arrows suddenly came towards them, there was a loud screaming, hysterical voice that sounded as if he were laughing and crying at the same time. Hakkai knocked a few arrows out of the way with his dagger, Sanzo aimed his gun and pulled the trigger twice.

There was a loud thud.

They paused and took a step forward, no sounds were heard yet. Sanzo looked around, keeping his gun close, his finger already on the trigger. Hakkai gripped on the dagger.

Just then, more arrows came flying again, a young man in their uniform came out holding a crossbow. His legs were wounded and bleeding from the gunshots that had hit him. Though he still held the crossbow and kept aiming the arrows.

Sanzo pulled Hakkai towards the tree, running towards it as fast as they could. Staying behind it, Sanzo peered out and started shooting some arrows out of balance. He then started to aim for his head.

''Kurota-san!'' Hakkai called to his now half insane classmate.

''Don't come near me!'' Kurota said as he screamed, tears falling from his eyes. ''I'll kill you!'' the arrows kept flying towards them. ''I'll kill you!''

Sanzo remained quiet as he aimed his gun.

It's not so hard…

Just aim and pull the trigger…

Just like years ago…

Gojyo slung his bag over his shoulder and looked up as Goku trailed along behind him. He frowned and called loudly in his usual voice.

''Come on, baka saru! Hurry up a bit!'' he looked ahead.

''Wait for me!'' Goku caught up to him immediately and looked up.

''We better get there soon of that corrupt bastard will be all up in our business again.'' Gojyo opened his bag only to find one small ax in it, he sighed and shrugged as he knew that it was good enough.

''What weapon did you get, Goku?'' he asked.

''I hadn't checked yet.'' Goku answered with a shrug. ''Let's just see when we get to where Sanzo and Hakkai are.'' He looked at the redhead. ''Do you think something's happened to them by now?''

''What? Those guys? No way!'' Gojyo said as he shook his head. ''Let's see anyone try to get past any of those two.'' He looked ahead and sighed. ''They'll be fine. They can handle themselves.''

''Sou da na…'' Goku looked down a bit. ''I just feel sorry for Komyo-sensei, he was so nice to us, too.'' He said.

''Ah, I know…'' Gojyo sounded a little remorse as he nodded. ''Damn. We have to get that fucker for doing this, playing around with us and killing people who don't have anything to do with his crap.''

''I'm worried about Sanzo, too.'' Goku said again thoughtfully. ''Komyo-sensei was close to him… Did you see the way he was earlier?''

''We can't blame him, Goku…'' Gojyo trailed off as he looked at Goku. ''You'd be upset too if it were Sanzo, right?''

''Atarimai da!'' the young boy answered without even blinking. ''If anyone would try and hurt Sanzo, I'd never forgive him!''

Gojyo chuckled a bit and looked ahead. ''Yeah, well… not if he hurts them first, you mean…''

The redhead looked at Goku who was looking down, obviously still worried about his kaimeshii. ''Look.'' He said. ''Sanzo isn't about to die just like that. Especially not here.'' He smirked a bit. ''None of us will, you got that? You'd better not die too – or I'll kick you senseless. ''

''I told you, I wouldn't!'' Goku protested.

''Well, good…'' Gojyo sighed as he looked up. ''Well, everything seems to be in order for you, let's –''

Suddenly there were gunshots that were aimed towards them, Gojyo pulled Goku down to the ground as the sounds of a machine gun were heard, bullets were continuously raining down on them. They both looked up as they heard running footsteps, though no one was found anywhere.

''It won't stop!'' Gojyo said as he ducked, a bullet missed him by an inch.

''What do we do now?!'' Goku asked as he looked at Gojyo.

Gojyo paused for a moment, seeing that he knew there was a back exit here somewhere. He knew that Sanzo and Hakkai were in a different direction, but they didn't have a choice now. If they moved to the direction where the gunshots were coming from – they'd be swiss cheese in no time.

''Oi, saru!'' Gojyo called as he started to crawl, using his arms to support him. ''Start crawling or else we're gonna end up dead!''

Goku didn't protest, he started to follow Gojyo to the other direction, which was the way that would lead them to the back exit.

TSUZUKU

Author's Notes: Whoah! That was a rush! I think I will be able to continue this sooner or later. Hopefully, anyway reviews? Comments? Please do.