Disclaimer: Do I ever own anything? Well, I own Tsuki I guess, but that's it.
Summery: What if Sanzo was actually a woman? How long will she able to keep it a secret? And how will the others react when they find out? Read what it would be like if Sanzo was actually a woman!
Pairing: Sanzo x Just about everyone
Note: This is just going to be the basic original story in the books, with a few minor changes.
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The sky in the clouds darkened and began to thunder.
"Aaaah, it looks like rain." said Goku.
"I hope we make it to an inn in time." said Hakkai.
"A thousand yen says we soak." said Gojyo.
"I'm with you." said Sanzo. She didn't know why, but she had a bad feeling. But thanks to the pills Tsuki gave her she felt almost normal.
"Me too." said Goku.
"Um... It's not a bet if you all agree." said Hakkai. Suddenly Goku became really quiet and Sanzo noticed.
"...What's wrong, Goku?" she asked. "Not food again."
"Mm. No, not that." said Goku. "It's just... I smell somethin' weird." replied Goku as he sniffed.
"Come to think of it..." said Sanzo. Suddenly Hakkai came to a stop, surprised.
"Wait, what's that? Look over there!" he exclaimed. Everyone stared in shock. In front of them... was a heap of demon corpses covered with talismans.
"Shit..." breathed Gojyo. "What the hell is all this?"
//Later//
"Just as we thought... The rain was a step ahead of us." said Hakkai as he dried Hakuryu off.
"Hey! Lighting! Lighting! Cool!" said Goku childishly.
"Hey, that one's close."said Gojyo. Sanzo sweat dropped at them.
'They sound like children.' she thought. She was only wearing her black shirt, her gloves, and a pair of jeans. But since she always kept her chest tightly bound, she just looked like a very thin man, which made Hakkai worry. Gojyo had once tease about her figure, but that got him thrown out a window, so no one ever commented on that.
"Come here, Goku." said Hakkai. Then he began to dry Goku off. "You'll catch a cold if you don't dry off."
"I brought you some tea." she said.
"Oh, thank you." said Hakkai.
"It's too bad the rain caught you. And I'd guess that it'll be sticking around for a while." the inn lady said.
"Blah. That bites." said Gojyo.
"Hey." said Sanzo. "Do you know anything about the Yokai corpses nearby?"
"Oh, that sounds like... The work of Rikudo." answered the inn keeper lady.
"'Rikudo?'" repeated Hakkai.
"Who's that?" asked Goku.
"You've probably never heard of him since you come from the east. He's a priest around here they've been calling 'Savior.'" explained the inn lady. "He's supposedly roaming the countryside exterminating Yokai, but few have actually seen him. They say he's a great man with charms all over his body...and that the spells he casts can destroy any Yokai."
"Charms, were they? Come to think of it, the dead Youkai we saw... were covered in charms." said Hakkai thoughtfully. Sanzo put a hand to her chin in thought.
'Those talismans looked familiar. Could it be... no. It can't be. There's no way.' she thought to herself.
"So, do you live here?" Gojyo asked the inn lady, bringing Sanzo out of her thoughts. "Which room's yours?"
"Oh, my that's rather inappropriate." giggled the inn lady, blushing a little.
"Nah; It's raining outside, so let's get wet too." said Gojyo using his pick up line of pride, with the word 'Lust' on his forehead.
"Oy. Sexual harassment kappa." said Sanzo, appearing behind him with her fan of doom. When would he learn?
"Ow! Hey, my conquests are none of your business!" yelled Gojyo when Sanzo hit him with her fan. "And where do you keep that fan?"
"Didn't I tell you not after that Kougaiji incident that you're not to go off on your own?" yelled Sanzo.
"The tea is getting cold." said Hakkai cheerfully. By this time the inn lady had snuck out.
"Yeah, Kougaiji! I can't wait until he comes back!" said Goku happily.
"Are you two friends?" asked Gojyo with a sweat drop.
"Anyway, I guess we're staying here until the rain lets up." said Hakkai, changing the subject. "Jeep doesn't have a top."
"Fine." said Sanzo. "It's not like we have a choice."
Later that night when she fell asleep, she dreamed of ten years ago at the Kinzan Temple.
//Dream//
Back then Sanzo was 13. She had short golden hair and deep lavender eyes that stared into one's soul. She wore porter robes at the time.
"They say rain brings many blessings." said a old man with long brown hair and kind brown eyes. His name was Kyoumyou Sanzo. And... he was Genjyo Sanzo's first love(actually it's more of a crush.). "But much more and I'll get depressed. What about you, Kouryuu?" he asked, addressing young Sanzo as she bent down to picked up some dishes.
"I suppose. But it should let up by nightfall... Master." Kouryuu said as she smiled at the one and only man who she would ever call Master.
"Hey, look." said some of the other monks as she walked down the halls. "It's that kid who washed up."
"Thrown into the river after he was born. He's got a lot of nerve acting like Sanzo's favorite pupil!" said another.
"He may be good at martial arts and Buddhist magic, but he's still just a kid. Even though he doesn't practice Buddhism, they say he's going to get a official title." said a third.
"So even Master Sanzo plays favorites." snickered another.
'I can still hear you.' Kouryuu thought as she tried to ignore them.
"What a weird kid." the monks laughed. "If you ask me, he should be wearing diapers, not robes of a priest in training!"
"Hee, hee! He really does look like a baby! EEEEOW!!"
Kouryuu turned her head and saw a man with a mop of and 5 o'clock shadow holding the monk's ear.
"Shouldn't you be working? What are you standing around for?!" the man asked the monks.
"I-Instructor!" one of the monks gasped.
"If you're so full of energy, maybe I should have you clean the entire grounds? Hmmm?" the man said. Then he kicked them. "Back to your posts! Slackers don't get dinner." As the monks scurried away, Kouryuu sighed.
"...You never change. Do you, Shuei?" she said. Shuei chuckled as he looked at her.
"Look who's talking, Kouryuu." he said. Besides Master Sanzo, Shuei was the only who knew Kouryuu was actually girl and he accepted her just the same. He was the only one Kouryuu had ever called, her friend. "So, just because you're teacher's pet to Priest Sanzo... You think you can kick around a bunch of adults?" he asked he as he leaned against a railing.
"They're not a challenge. They're scum." said Kouryuu dryly. Shuei laughed.
"And an additude. You're gonna make a man really happy one day! That or you'll drive him to insanity." he laughed. Kouryuu glared at him. "But really. No wonder they hate you. But who cares what they think?" Kouryuu didn't reply. "Aaaah. I'm glad I'm an instructor. That way I don't have to compete with you." Shuei continued as he folded his arms behind his head. Kouryuu stuck her tongue out.
"Like you're scared, 'Charm Master' Shuei." she said. "You became a teacher right after your training. All the priests know the power of your spells."
"Ooh, flattery." said Shuei. Then he changed the subject. "So it's true what they say? You're getting a title?"
"It's Master Sanzo's idea. Whatever, Kouryuu's a crappy name anyway." she replied.
"But you refuse to follow Buddhism. Though with my mop of hair, I shouldn't talk." chuckled Shuei."And I think your name's adorable." Kouryuu looked up at him seriously.
"I don't serve Buddha. There is only one person I shall ever follow and that is Master Sanzo. This is my will." she told him.
"Oh?" said Shuei as he looked at her.
"And it's not just because he's the highest priest... Or because he saved my life." she told him. "Even if I don't believe in god, I believe in myself. Priest Kyoumyou Sanzo is my one and only Master." Shuei let out a breath as he smiled at her. That was one of the many the things he admired about her...
"That's so like you." he said. Just then a monk came running, looking frantic.
"Instructor! There you are! It's an emergency!" he cried. Shuei, hearing the fear in his voice asked,
"Huh? What's wrong?" he asked.
"A huge bear has entered the grounds. It must be hungry because it's lashing out at anything!" the monk cried. Without hesitation Kouryuu and Shuei ran outside. They saw the monks trying to fight the bear off with their spears, but the bear batted them away and killed the monks.
"Hey, tell them to back down!" Shuei told one of the frighten monks.
"This is terrible! It's batting away our spears!" the monk cried as the bear let out a loud roar. Silvia flowed out of it's mouth. Shuei cursed.
"Damn! I'll seal it's movements." he muttered as he pulled out some talismans. Kouryuu suddenly stopped him.
"Kouryuu...?!"
"Sorry." she said as the rain slid down her face. "But let me do it." Shuei stared at her. She walked toward the bear and said,
"Go. There's no food for you here." The bear let out a roar and raised it's paw to attack her. "Don't touch me." she hissed, her eyes gleaming. "I don't tolerate rudeness." The bear froze and stared at her. "We have to share this land." she told it. "We won't invade your territory.. But in return, you mustn't invade our. Understand? I swear it to you." The bear, now calmed, stared at her then turned and started to leave.
The others stared in awe and they began to whisper.
"How did..."
"He's just a kid!"
"Well he is Priest Sanzo's favorite pupil. But those eyes... They're like a demon's."
Shuei didn't say anything.
//Later//
Shuei knocked on Kouryuu's door.
"It's me." he called. "Kouryuu, Master Sanzo has something important to--" he trailed off when he saw her. She was sitting on her bed and in the moon light she glowed so heavenly... Like a goddess. Kouryuu looked at him.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention. What?" she asked. Shuei tried to regain himself.
"M-master Sanzo wants you." he said.
"Shuei? What wrong?" Kouryuu asked. Shuei smiled as he spoke.
"This afternoon everyone was saying you looked like a demon. But to me, you looked like something else..."
"Um, what?" asked Kouryuu, not noticing the admiration in his voice. Shuei sweat dropped too embarrassed to answer.
"Hm. What indeed..." he said instead.
'God-like golden hair, deep violet eyes... And it's as if the full moon gives you a halo as it shines on you.' he silently said to her. 'In the moonlight... you looked like a goddess.'
"Oh, right." said Kouryuu as she suddenly remembered something. She dug in robes and pulled out some prayer beads. "These are for you. Here take them." Shuei stared in shock as he took them.
"Uh... Weren't you wearing these when you were found?" he asked. "Are you sure?"
"Take them." she assured him. "Besides... Since I've never given anyone a gift before... They're kind of a collectors' item." she said with a smile. Shuei stared at her as she walked away. "I'm off." she called back.
"O-okay." he said. Then he gripped the beads. "Thanks, kid."
The night flowed quietly into silence... and paused and then came the morning from hell.
"Master Sanzo!"
//End Dream//
Sanzo woke up with a start from her nightmare. She sat up, panting.
'Dammit. How many years has it been... Since I've had that dream?' she wondered as she continued to pant.
"Are you okay?" Hakkai asked as he held out a glass of water.
"Hakkai?" panted Sanzo.
"A nightmare I suppose." said Hakkai.
"I guess. Thanks." said Sanzo as he took the water, his breath becoming even.
"No problem." said Hakkai. "You know I hate them too. Rainy nights, I mean."
"...Yeah." said Sanzo.
'Maybe it is because of the rain.' she thought. 'Yes, that must be it.'
Just then they heard a scream.
"Now what?" Sanzo growled.
"Let's find out!" yelled Hakkai. They all got dressed, the opened the door and saw the inn lady running down the halls.
"No! Save me!" she screamed.
"What is it?!" asked Gojyo as he caught her.
"Th- there's a Youkai in the kitchen!" she screamed. They all went to the kitchen, threw the door open, and saw a demon eating some human intestines.
"Damn it..." growled Gojyo. "Don't eat your shit... in the god damned kitchen!" he kneed the demon in the stomach.
"Gojyo, behind you!" Hakkai yelled in warning as a demon jumped at Gojyo from behind. Goku punched the demon in the face and sent him flying back.
"You woke up pretty fast." Gojyo commented.
"I can when I want to." said Goku. "If these guys are gonna mess up the kitch--" Suddenly some threw some talismans on the demons and began chanting.
'I know that voice!' Sanzo thought in shock. But there was no way...
The demons screamed in pain.
"Wha... What the hell?!" exclaimed Gojyo, a little fear in his eyes. Goku was behind him like a frightened child. Sanzo looked towards the voice and saw a priest covered in talismans.
"...I am Rikudo." he said. "I will destroy... every last Youkai in this world."
'The beads. That face. There's no doubt in my mind...' Sanzo thought with wide eyes.
"This guy is... Rikudo?!" exclaimed Gojyo.
'That's Shuei, all right.'
"Oh! Thank you so much, Lord Rikudo!" said the inn keeper lady later when she saw the demon corpses.
"No thanks needed. This is my mission." said Rikudo. Something wasn't right Sanzo noticed.
'That 'Rikudo' guy is Shuei. But there's some kind of evil aura emanating from him... It's like he's a completely different person.' she thought as she stared at him.
"I don't get it, but I'm glad he cleaned up." said Gojyo.
"Whatever. Back to bed." yawned Goku. Rikudo looked over at them with shadowed eyes.
"Hey, you three." said Rikudo. He put his staff in front of Gojyo's neck.
"What's up, pal?" asked Gojyo.
"I don't think you're human." Rikudo said.
"Isn't that rude. What a thing to say." said Hakkai. He looked normal, but he had a feeling this was going to get bad.
"You can't fool me. You three are Yokai." Rikudo said.
"So what's your point? The three of us--" Goku started.
"Goku, easy." interrupted Hakkai.
"I already told you! I'll destroy every last Youkai in this land!" yelled Rikudo as he got ready to attack with the talismans.
"Man, this guy's off the deep end!" exclaimed Goku.
"Just get out of the way!" yelled Gojyo as he jumped out of the way of the talismans. Goku jumped above Rikudo, and tried to attack him, but he dodged.
"What the..." he trailed off.
"Goku, look out!" Hakkai yelled. Rikudo lifted his staff to strike Goku, but then Sanzo swatted it away with the back of her hand.
"All right, Shuei." she said. "What the hell are you doing?" Rikudo stared at Sanzo in shock.
"You..." he said.
"It's not worth it." said Sanzo as she stared coldly at him. "Killing these guys will only reduce the idiot population."
"Wait, you know him?" asked Goku. "That was freaky."
"Shh!" shushed Hakkai. Rikudo started laughing.
"Ha, ha! Now I get it! I heard the rumors, But I never thought we'd meet. 'The current Sanzo is traveling with outlaws. His followers are disgusting lowlifes.'" he laughed. "What am I doing? That's my line, Genjyo Sanzo. Surely you haven't forgotten that Youkai like them killed your master?"
"People change, Shuei. Clearly you follow your own predictions." said Sanzo with a frown.
"Oh, I haven't changed. Shuei is dead. He died 10 years ago. When you left the temple!" Rikudo yelled.
//Flash Back//
"Hey, let me through!" Shuei yelled as he pushed through the crowd of monks. His eyes then widened in shock and fright at the sight before him. I the room, Priest Kyoumyou Sanzo laid in his own pool of blood. Dead.
"What in..." he breathed.
'Priest Kyoumyou Sanzo!'
He looked around the room and saw Kouryuu standing in shock, cover in blood. She was staring at her hands that was stained with Kyoumyou's blood.
"Kouryuu? Hey, snap out of it! What happened here?!" Shuei yelled as he shook her thin shoulders. "Hey, Kouryuu!"
"...im..." Sanzo said in such a quiet voice, Shuei didn't hear her.
"What?" he asked.
"I couldn't protect him." she whispered in a higher voice as tears flowed down her face.
The next morning Kouryuu had explained everything that had happened to the High Priest.
"I understand." he said to her. "So thieves broke into Master Sanzo's room... And slaughtered him for the Seiten Sutra. Is that correct, Kouryuu?" he asked.
"It is." said Kouryuu calmly. She had a bandage around her head now. Shuei stared at her sadly after hearing the story. How much pain she mush be in...
Kouryuu continued.
"My master shielded the Maten Scripture and me with his body, so it remained safe. From what I could see, the burglars appeared to be Yokai. They took my Master's life and a treasured scripture of this temple. This is my responsibility." she said as she clenched her fist.
"You think you can fool us with those lies?!" a monk suddenly yelled. "That brat killed Master Sanzo! Check his room for the Seiten Sutra! We all know he's a monster!"
"Watch your mouth!" yelled Shuei angrily. "You have no--"
"Forget it, Shuei." interrupted Kouryuu. "I request permission to leave the temple. I will avenge my master and regain the sutra, even if it costs my life."
"Liar! He's making up excuses to escape!" yelled the monk. Kouryuu glared at him coldly and he shut up in fear. The high priest spoke up.
"But Kouryuu, vengeance aside... The responsibility for the lost sutra falls on us all. It's not a sin you should bear alone." he said.
"It's not that." said Kouryuu. "I just want back what's mine."
"What?" asked the high priest. Kouryuu started to remove her bandages as she spoke.
"Master Sanzo called me to him last night. Before he died, he bestowed upon me my offical title." The bandages were completely removed now, and on her forehead was a red chakra. "Genjyo Sanzo. From this day forth, that is my name." she told them. The other monks gasped.
"His forehead! He's wearing a chakra!" Shuei stared.
"Kouryuu..." he breathed.
"...I see." said the high monk as he stood. "So this is Buddha's will?"
"High Priest, you can't!" exclaimed the other monks, but the priest ignored them as he held Kyoumyou's crown.
"This is Kyoumyou Sanzo's golden crown. I hereby recognize you as Priest Genjyo Sanzo of China... Thirty First Successor of the Seiten and Maten sutras."
//End Flash Back//
"That was it. You left the mountain that night alone. But right after you left... The youkai murderers attacked again." Rikudo explained. Sanzo's eyes widened. "They were after the Maten Sutra they'd missed. They didn't know you'd just left with it. The monks stood no chance against them. No surprise, as nether you nor Kyoumyou Sanzo could even scratch them the first time. I had no choice. I cast a forbidden spell on myself. It gave me the power to destroy all Youkai!" Sanzo eyes widened in realization.
"...Wait. Not the curse of Araya?" she breathed.
"The very one. It gave me the power to butcher those demons. But once I released the power, I couldn't control it. Now my body's just a tool for eating the souls of Youkai!" Rikudo yelled as he pulled his shirt down enough to reveal a talisman that was eating away at his body. Sanzo's eyes were wide at first, then they saddened.
'The curse has completely rooted itself in him. At this point he'll never...'
Rikudo continued while laughing manically.
"For ten years I've ruthlessly killed innocent Youkai. These charms give me power... and leak searing pain into me when I don't use them." he laughed. "After the Youkai went insane and started attacking the humans... People called me a savior for what I did. Isn't that rich?"
'Rikudo... That's the name of a corpse's soul.' Sanzo thought sadly as she stared at her old friend.
"He's completely snapped." said Gojyo as he stared. "And you call us demons..." Rikudo suddenly threw his talismans at them, yelling,
"Wretched, disgusting Yokai! Monster! Join the dead and feed my curse!"
"Everyone outside! Now!" yelled Hakkai.
"Ack! But it's still rainin'!" yelled Goku. But he ran outside anyways.
"This rain is insane!" Gojyo yelled as he ran in the rain. Then suddenly Rikudo appeared behind Hakkai! Hakkai whipped around to hit him, but he caught it and Hakkai's arm started to burn.
"The spell's absorbed my body. Touch me and you touch death." Rikudo told him.
"Let him go, you!" yelled Goku as he attacked Rikudo with his nyoi bo. Rikudo blocked.
"Stupid... RRGH!" Goku growled as he slipped back on the wet ground. "This footing really sucks!" Then he noticed something. Sanzo was standing under the roof completely dry while the others were fighting in the rain. "Sanzo? Cheater."
"What's wrong, Genjyo Sanzo? Can't bring yourself to help youkai?" sneered Rikudo.
"Think what you want. But I have no intention of joining in." said Sanzo. "Those goons can live without me."
"Wooow. Prick got faith in us." said Gojyo as he rubbed his head.
"If we do die, he probably won't give last rites." laughed Hakkai. Rikudo glared at them with... Envy in his eyes?
"Hmph. Keep talking, trash." he growled. Sanzo just watched them.
'They won't die like this.' she thought.
//Flash Back//
"Uh, master?" said Kouryuu to Kyoumyou Sanzo. "Why aren't you at Lecture?" she asked him.
"Oh, Kouryuu." Kyoumyou greeted as folded orange origami papers into paper airplanes. "I'm making paper airplanes. I don't really consider myself qualified to pass on teachings. But do make pretty good airplanes." he said as he tossed it. Kouryuu stared at it as it soared through the sky. She thought it was beautiful.
"Isn't it pretty?" Kyoumyou asked. "The orange brings out the blue. The opposite colors enhance each other's beauty." Kouryuu stared at him. She loved him so much...
"I'm sorry. This is rather boring, isn't it?" Kyoumyou said.
"Uh... No. Not at all." said Kouryuu. "It is pretty." Kyoumyou smiled at her.
//End Flash Back//
'I found something I wanted to protect. When I lost it, I realized how worthless I was... And that my hands were full taking care of myself. I don't want that again. I don't want another reason to live. I don't want to have something so dear to me... That I couldn't bear to lose it. I want something I don't have to protect. I don't want... to have anymore scars.' Sanzo thought as she continuedto watch the others fight.
"Let me end this farce." said Rikudo. Goku rubbed his mouth.
"We can't get near him. Our attacks bounce right off! What're we suppose to do?" asked Gojyo who lost his cigarette.
"Hey." said Sanzo as she stepped into the rain. "Stop trying to save him. There's only one way... To free him from the curse." she said as she pulled out her gun. Hakkai stared at her, not uttering a word.
"You can't, Sanzo!" Goku suddenly yelled as he grabbed her arm. "Maybe he's nuts now... But that guy was your friend, right?"
"...Goku!" hissed Sanzo. How dare he stop her? Friend? Ha! She had no friends.
"Seriously, quit it!" Goku yelled, looking straight into her eyes. Damn. How did he always do this to her?
"You idiot! He's right behind you!" yelled Gojyo suddenly. Just then Rikudo appeared behind Goku. He raised his spear to attack Goku. Sanzo's eyes widened.
'Wha...' she thought as she remembered Kyoumyou blocking her. 'Damn it...' Sanzo pushed Goku out of the way and he fell to the ground.
"Ow! Ow, ow, ow! He hit me in the head!" Goku whined. Then he noticed something. "...Huh?" His hand was covered with blood. He saw Sanzo laying on the ground with Rikudo's spear in her gut. "S-Sanzo...?" he breathed.
"SANZO!" yelled Gojyo and Hakkai as they ran towards her. Sanzo began to cough up blood as she removed the spear from her.
"Sanzo! No!" Goku yelled as she bent over. She fell to the ground. "Sanzo, open your eyes! Please Sanzo!" Goku begged in tears.
'Sh-shut up.'
"What the hell were you thinking?!" yelled Gojyo.
'That's... What I'd like to know.' Sanzo thought before she blacked out.
"SANZO!"
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GWNL: Awesome! My first cliff hanger!
Tsuki: I wasn't in this one at all!
GWNL: I think the readers are thankful for that.
Tsuki: How mean!
Please Review!!