Chapter Four

The Song Of Two Bullets

Disclaimer: Gensoumaden Saiyuki is not mine, yadda, yadda, yadda. You get it. Kazuya Minekura own these batch of absolutely edible young men and I'm just playing around with them in my spare time.

Author's Note: Here we go again… Standard pairings. 38 (Sanzo-Hakkai) and possibly 59 (Gojyo-Goku) –hangs head in shame- I gave into the power. I could not stop it. I could not help it. The idea was just so cute! I have to thank a certain authoress for this. Probably this is the shortest chapter I'll work on for this.

Gojyo grumbled and muttered under his breath as he finally crawled up to the back exit. He took deep breaths and winced a bit, lowering his head as the gunshots did not stop, the bullet shells were falling as he could hear the clinking of the golden metal against the marble floors not from a far. Whoever it was that was shooting at them was following them, wanting to make sure they died before they could even get out to start the game. He opened his eyes and looked beside him as Goku immediately caught up. Both of them shut their eyes as more bullets came and they seemed stronger and the gunshots seemed louder this time around. Gojyo knew what that meant, their opponent who still remained unknown to them was using a bigger gun.

He looked at Goku and groaned in frustration as he started to push the door open. ''Well, it's about time you caught up.'' He shook his head.

''I was trying to hurry, okay!'' Goku called back as he watched Gojyo pushing the door open. ''What's taking you so long?''

''I don't know what the hell this door is made out of but –'' He shielded his head as bigger bullets slammed against the door making a hole right through it. Goku's jaw dropped in awe, as he noted the size of holes that the bullets made.

''Oh, to hell with it!'' Gojyo cried out loudly as he was able to push the door fully open with half of his strength. He winced as he heard his arms crack, from the weight and the force of the door and his action of pushing it forward. He immediately got up and Goku followed him, both of them running, their bags on the shoulders, ignoring the weight as they ran faster to where they knew Sanzo and Hakkai were both waiting for them.

''Gojyo!'' Goku called as he ran faster. He looked at the redhead who was looking ahead, taking deep breaths as he ran.

''What?'' Gojyo asked as he glanced at Goku momentarily.

''Your arms! – '' Goku didn't finish as he ducked a bullet which went right through a tree trunk, blowing a huge hole right in the middle of it.

''I'm fine, you idiot monkey!'' Gojyo called. ''Watch it!''

''Where are those two!'' Goku said loudly as they looked around yet again.

''You got me! They said they'd be around here somewhere!''

Goku gasped as his eyes widened. His expression was a bit frantic for a moment as he tried to regain himself but found it a little difficult. He knew that something like this, a person disappearing was not exactly a good thing. The terrible scenarios started to enter his mind, though it was quite unusual for it to happen to him. But he was really and sincerely worried about Sanzo and Hakkai. Though he knew that those two would not have died so easily as they all promised each other in one way or another in the room where they were all oriented by Li-Touten. He couldn't help but wonder.

His thoughts were disturbed as he saw the bullet going right through his bag, ripping the cloth apart. A few things fell like the paper and pen, but most of them were saved. Goku looked up to see another bullet headed right for Gojyo's back. His golden eyes widened as he dug his hand right through the hole of his bag and drew out what seemed to be a moderately short thick bo-like stick. As soon as he pressed on it tightly, it extended into a full-length wooden-bamboo sword with a spear at the very end.

Though Goku was surprised at what his weapon could do. He had no time to react on it, he immediately jumped right behind Gojyo and swatted the bullet away. Though the bullet seemed to be powerful, it was not enough to break the bo into half.

''Goku! – Careful!'' Gojyo called as the two of them made a left turn.

Finally, the redhead stopped and pulled Goku by the hand. Both of them hiding behind a tree with a thick trunk, enough to hide them both from sight. It was then that he opened his bag and pulled out the small ax, gripping it tightly and ready just in case. Goku frowned as he held his bo and kept quiet, both of them catching their breaths.

Gojyo noticed that the gunshots stopped. There was no sound for a few moments; the wind blew, making the trees sway. The leaves rustled against each other as they stayed on the branches. The smell of the damp earth, now mixed in with the metallic smell of blood. The skies were simply dark, mixtures of blue, black, violet and gray all melding together, although this made it harder to see.

Which wasn't good if you were running from people who were trying to kill you.

Just then, feet stepping over twigs and broken branches which were scattered around the ground. The sounds of the gun being loaded again followed, Gojyo put a hand over Goku's mouth as he tried to talk. He leaned out a bit, his left eye getting a got glimpse of who had been chasing them with mad gunfire.

He was a young man with black hair, with the messy white streaks. He was dressed in a different kind of uniform. He wasn't from Wakayama that was for sure. It had a green overcoat, green pants and a black undershirt. He seemed deathly pale from what Gojyo could see, his hands holding the gun as he had his back turned and he looked around.

The young man turned to his direction, Gojyo hid fully again and waited a few minutes. He still had his hand over Goku's mouth, the boy was blinking at him, giving him a look that asked what was going on. Gojyo shook his head as he waited for a few more moments, slowly and carefully – he gripped his ax and peered out slightly yet again. He saw that the young man was looking sideways. His eyes were blank shades of gray, Gojyo's own eyes widened a bit as he realized the truth.

The young man was blind.

Gojyo removed his hand from Goku's mouth and took his hand, they quietly made their way to the left, making themselves hidden through the shade of the trees. He knew that if that guy ever saw them, he wouldn't give them another chance. Goku blinked and looked at Gojyo.

''Where are we going? '' he whispered.

''We're going to find Sanzo and Hakkai, that's what.'' Gojyo answered, a little more quietly. ''But don't make too much noise. That bastard's gonna pump our guts full of lead if he sees us.''

''I don't think he's from our school anyway.'' Goku said frowning a bit. ''Who was that guy anyway?''

''I don't know. He just suddenly showed up.'' Gojyo said as he lead Goku through the patches and leaves. ''But what would another guy from another school be doing here, anyway?''

Goku paused as he followed Gojyo, looking around himself, he then spoke.

''Maybe they put him here… To make the job easier or something.''

''That's the most stupid thing I've ever heard.'' Though the truth was, he knew that Goku might've had a point to say the least. Maybe it was part of Li-Touten's sick tricks. After all, if he was so devoted to his government as to cleaning Japan off its scum. He would need a whole lot more people to make it happen faster. The students would hesitate at some point. Maybe the plan was to get someone who wouldn't even flinch.

''Well, what do you think it is?'' Goku said softly, a bit irritated.

''If I knew we wouldn't have this problem.'' Gojyo said as he shook his head. ''We'll find out somehow I guess.''

Gojyo pushed one of the bushes back and let Goku go through first before he followed, Only the crickets were heard and the tall trees had cover the moonlight that would've usually lit down on them. He took a deep breath and looked behind them, then he sighed and stood still for a moment, starting to feel for the cigarettes in his pockets as he knew he left it there somewhere.

''Taku.'' He sighed as he lit a stick up, putting it between his lips. ''All this trouble… This is one hell of a field trip.''

Goku sighed and then closed his eyes, looking a bit distressed. ''I just realized I hadn't eaten anything yet all day…'' his stomach made a soft grumbling sound.

''Well. You were too busy getting shot at.'' Gojyo said as he shook his head. ''We couldn't stop for something to eat.''

''Yeah. But now I'm so hungry, I don't think I can run…''

''Look through your bag, there's got to be something there.'' Gojyo said as he blew out another smoke.

Goku looked and saw that his bag was a few steps away from him where he had plopped it down when they had finally stopped running. He stood up, took a step forward and started to reach out for it.

Just then, the ground underneath him began to shake a bit, it suddenly broke apart – leaving nothing but a pit, a hole with the dark insides which god knows what things inside were. Goku let out a short yell as he fell to the ground soundly and hard. Gojyo's eyes widened as he immediately rushed to where the pit was, standing – he peered inside.

''Goku? What the HELL happened to you?'' he asked in half-irritation and in half-concern.

Goku was on safe ground, which relieved him a whole lot. The pit didn't seem too deep at all, it was nothing Goku couldn't jump out from without difficulty. Gojyo squinted as he saw Goku blinking and looking up.

''Are you alright?'' Gojyo asked.

''Yeah… I think so…'' Goku tried to get up. But his eyes immediately widened as a pang of pain immediately surged up from what seemed to be from his leg straight up to his spine. He winced and let out a cry as he landed right back where he was sitting. His hands firmly and gently grabbed his leg as he pressed on it lightly. His eyes were shut tightly as he took deep breaths, letting the pain settle in.

''Oi! Goku!'' Gojyo called again, with more concern this time around.

''I landed on my leg and now I can't move it!'' Goku answered.

''What the! – '' Gojyo trailed off as he moved forward. ''Okay, hang on – I'll –''

Before he could continue, there was a loud gunshot that was heard from inside the pit where Goku was in. Gojyo's eyes widened as he immediately called.

''Goku!''

There was no answer.

From down the pit, Goku was frozen. His golden eyes were wide as he opened and moved his mouth to answer Gojyo. But only a slight sound managed to escape his lips as he felt a cold, hard, metallic edge of a gun aimed at the back of his head. He gasped softly and glanced behind him. And from there, he could see blue-violet eyes glancing back at him. They looked pretty intense at that moment, determined to keep his guard and kill him if he tried anything.

''Don't move.'' A low, young and yet hoarse voice said.

The sounds of gunshots were heard echoing from a far. Birds fluttered away in their packs, black and white feathers raining down as they flew in a panicked hurry, scared off by the sounds. There were a few moments of silence that followed. The clouds gathered up in the dark midnight-blue skies, making it even darker as their shades of gray blended in. It was only then that the crickets started chirping, after a few more moments.

The ground was soon soaked; their color became that of a darker brown. The metallic smell of blood. It was being carried around by the strong gusts of wind, the grass-covered parts, which were only a few, was now smeared with the color of dark red.

Sanzo stood there, the gun still aimed and smoke arising from the edge of the barrel. His expression remained calm and dry. But inside, it was all too different. His heart was pounding on his chest, the grip around the handle of his gun grew even tighter. His hand soon began to shake. As he looked at the dead body now lay in front of him. Bleeding all over the ground, his wide black eyes staring back into his dark violet ones. His mouth slightly parted as blood dripped out of it.

''Sanzo?'' Hakkai asked, approaching him calmly.

There it was again. Like years ago. Staring at him in the face.

He had killed again.

Hakkai put a hand on his shoulder. ''Sanzo, are you alright?''

Sanzo's eyes widen a bit as he immediately shook his head. He scowled again and nodded. ''I'm fine.'' He said in a dry and low voice as he immediately began to reload his gun with new bullets.

Student Number 00462532, Kurota Noboyuki, DEAD

FOURTY FIVE MORE TO GO.

''We should find the others.'' Hakkai said with a nod as he looked around. ''Maybe after we find them, we can find a temporary safe haven of some sort.'' He looked at Sanzo. ''I'm sure some of the students will get tired anyway. They'll wait till morning.''

''Aa.'' Sanzo said, remaining calm. ''But it's best not to let our guard down. Right now, anything can happen.''

''Eh.'' Hakkai nodded and looked at him. ''Shall we go?''

Sanzo nodded back and both of them went on their way.

TSUZUKU

Again, so sorry it took so long. Thanks for the support! To all my reviewers! Thank you so much!