Recap: The Sanzo gang has allowed two women to join them. The women are called Tyka and Miana. Where do they come from? What are their pasts? And who is their illusive "boss"? Read on to find clues to these questions and so many more. Welcome to this chapter of Saiyuki: Remedy.
Remedy for My Past Mistakes
Miana, isn't this your hometown?
Yea . . . I wonder . . . I wonder if he's still here . . .
Miana, you don't have to come with us if you don't want to.
Yea I do. I can't run from him any longer. In memory or in person.
Miana, don't do anything stupid.
Tyka . . .
Miana.
Drop it.
Miana glanced to her side at Tyka and shook her head. She then started running to catch up with the guys who had stopped to wait on them. Tyka stared after Miana for a second, then ran after her. The group entered the village and walked over to the small, wood inn. Miana entered first. The receptionist looked up at the sound of the door, his mouth dropped open when he saw Miana standing in the doorway.
" Miana . . . Miana Kazayuki? Is that you?" the young, light-haired receptionist asked walking over to Miana, still staring.
" Yea. That's my name." Miana said, becoming nervous.
" You look so much like Hassara . . . your mother. Come, Come. How long will you be staying?" the man asked ushering Miana over to the desk and picking up a pen.
" I have five others with me. If possible, could we have three rooms?" Miana asked looking at the man.
" I only have two available rooms, Miss Miana. Will that do?" the man asked looking up at Miana.
Miana thought about it for a second, then nodded. The man then scribbled down Miana's name next to two room numbers and handed her two keys. Miana looked at him with a quizzical expression upon her face.
" Umm . . . don't I need to pay you?" Miana asked raising an eyebrow.
" No, not at all Miss Miana. It's been five years since you've been here. It's the least I can do. Please. Take these." the man said placing the two keys in Miana's hand.
Miana stood dumbfounded for a second, then just smiled.
" Thanks, Taro." Miana whispered as her friends came in.
Miana turned to her friends and smiled. She held up two keys and sighed.
" They only had two rooms. So . . . Sanzo, Gojyo, and Hakkai in one room. Tyka, Goku, and myself in the other." Miana said still smiling.
" Why does Goku get to sleep with you guys?" Gojyo asked looking at Miana.
" Because, he's not a pervert. And he's only eighteen and innocent. Unlike you three." Miana said while handing Sanzo the key to the guys' room. " Your room is up the stairs and three doors down on the left."
" How do you know that?" Gojyo asked looking at Miana.
" The receptionist told me." Miana said coming up with the excuse off the top of her head.
" Okay. Right. We'll see you guys later." Hakkai said grabbing Gojyo's blue vest and pulling him towards the stairs. Miana just smiled and then turned to Tyka and Goku. Goku looked up at Miana and grinned.
" Hey! Can I go check out our room?" Goku asked slightly jumping up and down.
" Sure, kiddo. Here. Up the stairs, fourth room on the right." Miana said smiling and handing Goku the key.
" Yay!" Goku said still grinning as he ran up the stairs.
Miana laughed at Goku's enthusiasm, the smile then fell from her face and she turned to Tyka.
" Tyka . . . I'm going out to look around, okay? Can you keep an eye on Goku?" Miana asked looking at Tyka.
" Yea . . . but . . . Miana . . . Don't go to him. Please. If anything happened to you, Goku would be devastated, along with the guys and myself." Tyka sighed as she looked at her friend.
Miana just nodded, turned her back on Tyka, then walked out into the street. She turned to right and walked down the street. As she walked many people stopped and stared at her. She began to hear whispers as she walked by a rather large group of people. Miana whirled around and faced the group.
" Yea. I'm Miana Kazayuki. Yea. I've come back. Yea. Deal with it!" Miana snapped glaring at the crowd of people.
The crowd drew back under Miana's glare and stared at her. Miana just stood looking at the crowd for a while, before she turned around and walked off. As soon as Miana was within an earshot of the crowd, they began to murmur again. Miana just shook her head and continued walking. As she walked, she kept looking behind her as if to check if someone was following her. When she reached the beginnings of the outskirts of the little town, she started running. She ran half a mile then stopped in front of a dilapidated old house. Miana stared at the house for a few minutes with tears forming in her eyes.
" He's let it go so much. The shutters are gone . . . the paint's peeling and it's turned black . . . and . . . the windows are busted . . . along with the front door . . . " Miana whispered to herself, tears beginning to fall down her dusty face.
Miana just shook her head then turned her back on the house. She began running back to the small town, tears running freely down her face now. She continued running, even when she reached the hotel. She took a sharp left turn down a narrow dirt trail, and kept running. She slowed down as she neared a small field. She stopped completely when she reached the entrance of the field, that had headstones seemingly growing out of the ground. Miana walked over to a simple granite headstone and sat down as tears began pouring down her face once more.
" Hey Mom. Guess it's been a long time since I last came here to talk to you. Dad's let the house go. The shutters are falling off . . . it looks like it's being eaten up with termites. I just got back in town . . . oh! You'll never guess who I've been traveling with! I met a girl named Tyka and we've been traveling together for a few years now. A few months ago, we ran into four guys. One's a Sanzo priest, we just call him Sanzo. There's a human turned demon called Hakkai. Then there's a little kid . . . well I guess he's not that little, he's eighteen and his name's Goku. He's a demon too. Last there's a half youkai, like Tyka and myself. His name's Gojyo. A big womanizer and lecher. Don't worry, Mom. He's harmless. We're staying at Taro's hotel. He's letting us stay for free, a treat for my homecoming. Well, I guess I better go now. I've gotta talk to Shuuichi before I go back. I'll come back and say goodbye this time. Promise. Love you." Miana rambled, sitting by the headstone with the name "Hassara Kazayuki" imprinted on its surface.
Miana quietly and slowly stood up. She began wiping the tears from her eyes as she walked deeper into the graveyard. She paused at the roots of a large cherry tree and looked down. Fresh tears began welling up in her eyes as she looked down at the headstone that read "Shuuichi Kobaya." She sat down between two of the roots next to the grave and smiled through her tears.
" Hey Shuuichi. Sorry I haven't stopped by in so long. Been really busy lately. Fighting demons and traveling. Yea. I've been traveling with this woman called Tyka for a few years now. She's really nice. And a few months ago we met up with four guys. One's a Sanzo priest! We just call him Sanzo. Then there's Goku, the monkey demon, and Hakkai, the human turned demon. Don't worry. These demons are actually nice. Nothing like my father. Oh! And the fourth guy, he's a half youkai, like me. Long crimson hair, and bright crimson eyes. Though . . . he's a big perv. It's really funny when Hakkai and Sanzo get mad at him for messing with Tyka and me. Really funny. . .," Miana said through teary eyes, she then looked at her surroundings and saw that the dusky dark of twilight was about to envelope her, " Sorry Shuuichi. I've gotta go. But I'll promise you like I did Mom, that I'll come back and say goodbye this time. Promise."
Miana then stood up and began walking to the exit of the graveyard. She gazed up at the silver moon as it was rising into the navy blue sky. The air grew cool as she walked slowly back to the hotel, she stopped when she reached the end of the narrow dirt road before heading into the town. She looked behind her and half smiled, then wiped the tears off her face. She then took off running down the main road until she reached the hotel. Miana stopped, then walked up to the door of the hotel, and into the lobby.
"Where have you been, Miana!" Goku's voice rang out before Miana even got halfway in the door.
Miana's head jerked up and she saw that Gojyo, Goku, and Hakkai had been waiting for her to return. She half smiled at Goku as he ran up to her, and shut the door.
" I've been doing some errands. Sorry if you were worried. Tyka knew where I was. No biggie." Miana said still half smiling, though with a distant look in her eye.
" What kind of errands? You didn't bring anything back that I can tell." Gojyo said looking at Miana through skeptical eyes.
" Personal errands. Just drop it there, Gojyo." Miana said looking at Gojyo in a serious manner.
" Okay. Sorry I asked. Well, we're going to head up to bed. Are you sure only Goku can stay in your room?" Gojyo asked looking at Miana pleadingly.
" Positive. He's the only one I trust to keep his hands to himself." Miana said half smiling at Gojyo.
Gojyo just grumbled as Hakkai grabbed his white shirt and pulled him up the stairs. Miana smiled and looked down at Goku, who yawned really wide then looked up at Miana with sleepy eyes.
" Okay Goku. We're going to bed too." Miana said starting to walk up the stairs.
Goku just nodded and followed Miana up the stairs. They both walked four doors down and stopped in front of the door on the right. Miana turned the knob and pushed the door open. Tyka had already gone to sleep in one of the two beds. Miana shook her head and looked down at Goku who was dead on his feet.
" Hey kiddo. Sleep in the bed with me? Or do you want to sleep on the floor? Or do you want the bed and I'll sleep on the floor?" Miana asked starting to yawn a bit herself.
" Sleep with you." Goku mumbled before walking over to the bed and laying down.
Miana giggled at Goku's sleepiness. She then walked over to the bed and sighed. She looked out of the window, and her eyes brightened. She leaned down and gave Goku a quick kiss on the forehead. She then pulled the covers up over the little monkey demon and turned away. She walked over to the door and quietly opened it. She just as quietly shut it back and locked it. She then tiptoed down the hallway and down the stairs to the front door. The front door she opened quietly and shut it, just the same. She then turned to her right and ran down the street again, toward the outskirts that she had visited earlier.
She held her hand on the thin white ribbon at her side, squeezing it. She kept running until she reached the outskirts of town, there she slowed down into a walk. She walked until she stood in front of the house she had been looking at earlier that afternoon. She swallowed then shook her head. She straightened herself up and walked up to the front door, which was only swinging on one old rusty hinge. She raised her wrist and banged loudly on the doorframe. She heard a string of curses come from within the house, and then the thud of footsteps came closer. She stepped back from the doorway as a middle aged dark-haired male youkai appeared where she had been standing. The man looked around then his eyes landed on her, and there they sat for a few minutes that to Miana seemed like hours.
" You. I see you've come back. What are you doing here?" the man asked, the edges of his wrinkled mouth turning up into an evil grin.
" You know good and well what I came here to do. Something that should've been done a long time ago, after Mom . . . and after Shuuichi. I'm here to finish you off." Miana growled, narrowing her bright red eyes at the man.
" You really think you can take me, you little half human slut? You don't even deserve to be called half youkai. You're just like your mother, stubborn and obsolete. Face me and you die. Still wanna take a shot at your old man, whore?" the youkai said still grinning, causing his dark mahogany eyes to glitter.
Miana didn't say anything but just kept glaring up at her father in disgust and hate. Her hand moved to the white ribbon at her side, but she wasn't quick enough. Her father grabbed her and slung her against the wall, making her head crack against the aging wood with a snap.
" Too slow, whore." the youkai said his mouth still upturned in the same fiendish grin.
Miana swung her leg forward and kicked her father in the loins. He staggered back, groaning and cursing. She took that moment to distance herself from her father and regain her composure. After recovering from Miana's damaging blow, the youkai glared up at her. He charged at her with one arm outstretched. Miana jumped up, planted one foot on his back, and pushed as hard as she could down as he ran beneath her. This sent her father flying face first into the splintering, rotten wood of the front porch. Her father jumped to his feet and spun around to face Miana.
" I see you've improved since the last time you tried to kill me, bitch. But you can't win against a full-blooded wind youkai that's lived as long as I have. Plus, you don't have the nerve to kill me." the youkai laughed in arrogance in his own skill.
" Listen to me, you heartless bastard. I've hated you since that day when I was six years old. The things that happened after that, only made me hate you even more. You're nothing but a sick, drunken, old bastard Muskato!" Miana shouted at her father, her red eyes blazing.
" Well, Well now. A foul little mouth you have on you. Learned that in those bars you hang out in? How many men have you let sleep with you since you ran away?" Muskato chided, grinning at the effect he saw his words had on Miana.
" No one. No one's touched me since you that night." Miana growled, still glaring at her father through fiery crimson eyes, dropping her guard a little.
Muskato saw Miana's guard drop and he leaped toward her, slamming her entire body down onto the rotten porch. The wood splintered under the force of the two bodies and collapsed. Miana and Muskato both fell to the hard ground below the porch. Miana's face, arms, legs, and abdomen were bleeding with splinters that had forced themselves into her skin, as was her father. Miana jumped to her feet before Muskato and drew her ribbon. Before Muskato could ready himself for an attack, the ribbon was around his neck and pulled tightly.
" You play with ribbons now too, slut? How cute, just like a little girl. It must drive the guys you hang out with wild." Muskato said as Miana tightened the pull of the ribbon, causing blood to drip down Muskato's throat.
" It's not just any ribbon, Father. Thread thin steel wires are wound into its edges. One more yank and you'll be without a head." Miana said calmly as her father's eyes grew wild.
" Miana, daughter . . . I didn't mean all of it. I promise I didn't. Don't kill your dear old dad. I didn't mean it that night. Promise . . . and your friend . . . I didn't mean that either! I promise! Let me go?" Muskato pleaded with his daughter through wide and worried mahogany eyes.
Miana just closed her eyes and shook her head.
" Sorry, Dad. I can't and will never forgive you for what you've done. Goodbye. See you in Hell." Miana said giving the ribbon one last pull.
The wire in the ribbon cut through the skin and bones in Muskato's neck. Miana turned to look as the severed head fell down and Muskato's body fell next to it. She grabbed the head by the hair and started crying. She then looked into the dimming eyes and grinned.
" I'm not crying because I'm sad, I'm crying tears of joy because now Mom and Shuuichi can rest in peace now that you're in Hell." Miana said before chucking the head into the woods next to the house.
Miana began to walk off when a sharp pain shot from her foot, all the way up her leg. She stopped and looked at her ankle. It had begun swelling up and turning red. She gritted her teeth and began limping back into the town. Her ankle had swelled up to three times its normal size as she neared the hotel. As she limped the last few feet to the door of the hotel, it swung open before she could get up the stairs.
" Miana . . . where the hell have you been? And what the hell happened?" Gojyo's voice asked as the door swung open.
Miana's head jerked up once more and looked at the door. In the doorway stood Gojyo and Tyka. Miana just looked up at them for a few seconds then put her head back down.
" Personal errand. Got in a small scrap . . . that's all." Miana said as Gojyo walked down the steps to her.
" Small my ass. Come on. I'll carry you inside." Gojyo said picking Miana up in his arms and holding her close to him, before she could protest.
" Come on Gojyo. Take her in my room and lay her on the unoccupied bed." Tyka said walking up the stairs in front of Gojyo.
As Gojyo carried Miana up the stairs, he didn't stop looking at her. He followed Tyka into her room and walked over to the bed. He then laid Miana down gently.
" Thanks Gojyo. You can leave now." Tyka said looking at Gojyo.
Gojyo nodded and gave Miana one last hard look. He then turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Tyka looked at Miana's swollen ankle and cuts and just shook her head.
" What the hell were you thinking? Going to face him alone! Shit, Miana! That's suicide! Just what the hell were you thinking?" Tyka whispered harshly as not to wake Goku.
" I was just doing my duty to my mother and Shuuichi. That's all." Miana whispered back looking Tyka in the eye.
Tyka sighed, closed her eyes, then shook her head.
" Dammit Miana. Next time you decide to run off, make sure we're all asleep before you do. Gojyo saw you running down the road and I heard you leave the room. It's a good thing I decided to walk down into the lobby, otherwise the only person there to greet you would've been Gojyo." Tyka said looking down at Miana.
Miana just half laughed and smiled.
" Umm . . . if it's not too much to ask . . . could you please hand me a wrap for my ankle? It's killing me." Miana whispered sheepishly.
Tyka just sighed and shook her head. She then looked at Miana and smiled. She walked over to Miana's bag and pulled out a bandage and tossed it to her.
" Thanks, Tyka." Miana whispered starting to wrap her ankle in the bandage.
" No problem. I'll start cleaning up your other wounds so they don't get infected." Tyka whispered pulling out a cloth and a bowl.
Tyak walked over to the sink and filled the bowl with cool, fresh, clean water. She then walked back over to Miana, wet the cloth, and began dabbing the blood off of her wounds.
:few days later:
Miana walked out of the hotel, shouting to the others that she was going somewhere, as she ran out the door. She ran down the dirt trail again and into the graveyard. There she began walking, then stopped at the first grave.
" Hey Mom. I just wanted to say goodbye, and that Dad's gone now. We don't have to worry about him anymore. I promise. I love you, Mom. I promise I'll be safe, and maybe one day I can come back and see you again. Love you. Bye." Miana said as tears began running down her face again.
She stood staring at the grave for a little while after she stopped speaking. She didn't notice when a crimson haired man walked up behind her, until he put his hand on her shoulder.
" Hey, Miana. What are you doing down here?" Gojyo asked, making Miana jump.
Miana turned her head to Gojyo and half smiled through her tears.
" Mom, this is Gojyo. Gojyo, this is my mom." Miana said looking back down at the grave.
" Your . . . your mother's dead?" Gojyo asked raising an eyebrow.
" Yea . . . this is my hometown . . . I've got to say goodbye to someone else, . . . hold on." Miana said turning and walking down to the cherry tree.
" I'll come with you." Gojyo said following Miana, though staying a bit behind her.
Miana walked over to Shuuichi's grave and smiled through her tears.
" Shuuichi . . . my dad's gone now. You can rest in peace, okay? I wish things had been different . . . but . . . thanks. I owe you. I've just come back to say goodbye. Oh! And this is Gojyo, one of the guys I told you about. Gojyo, this is my best friend, Shuuichi Kobaya." Miana said, fresh tears rolling down her face.
" Miana . . ." Gojyo whispered walking over to Miana's side.
Gojyo put his arms around Miana and she buried her face in his blue vest and white shirt. She started sobbing and crying uncontrollably. Gojyo just tightened his arms around her and waited until she stopped crying.
" Miana . . . you okay?" Gojyo asked looking down at the top of Miana's dark red head.
Miana lifted her head up and looked at Gojyo through teary eyes. She reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes and half smiled.
" Yea. I'm fine . . .," Miana said turning back around to Shuuichi's grave, pulling fully out of Gojyo's arms, " Bye Shuuichi. I love you."
Miana then turned around and walked toward the exit of the graveyard again. Gojyo closely followed her. When she reached the edge of the graveyard she turned around and gave one last long look at the graves standing so still in the valley. She then turned around and began running down the dirt road. Gojyo had to start running to catch up with her, when he did he saw that tears had started running down her face again. She tripped over a rock in the road and fell to her knees. Gojyo stopped running and walked up to her. He extended his hand and helped her to her feet.
" Sorry . . . I'm such a klutz . . ." Miana apologized wiping her eyes off again, " It's these stupid tears . . . they won't leave me alone."
Gojyo just half smiled and reached up to wipe a renegade tear off her cheek. He then leaned toward her and her a little toward him.
" Hey! What are you two doing! We're leaving! Come on!" a feminine voice rang out, startling the two.
" Sorry, Tyka. I was just saying goodbye to some friends." Miana said walking over to Tyka, smiling.
" Down to the graveyard? What friends could you have there?" Goku asked looking at Miana.
" No one Goku. No one." Miana said smiling down at the little brown haired youkai.
" Whatever . . ." Goku said rolling his eyes at Miana.
Miana giggled, then turned back to Tyka. Gojyo had already joined the guys ahead of the girls. Goku ran up to join the guys, leaving the girls behind him. They all began walking out of the town, towards the west.
You almost kissed him.
Did not.
Then what was that?
I was crying, I fell, he helped me up. That's all.
Right. You almost kissed him.
Did NOT!
Whatever . . . I'm not going to fight with you.
Well I didn't! . . . Did I?
. . .
Tyka?
:sigh: so blind . . .
TYKA!
The End
In the next chapter of Remedy:
Miana's past still remains shrouded in mystery. Can the guys stand not asking? Or will they just remain in the dark? The guys pull a bold move in the next chapter of remedy:
Remedy for My Tainted Blood