Through sheer force of will, Goku managed to make his tingling muscles relax before he tensed all of them all at once. The stinging, sticky threads clung to him remorselessly, unaffected. Dammit! So much for that idea. They were to tight and too strong for him to be able to burst through from the inside, and he had no room to maneuver. Goku's eyes flew open again and glared in pure righteous anger at the nimble black spider legs as they swiftly and efficiently separated the bundle from its hanging cord and began to lower the sleek dark body back out of sight.
"You bastard!!" Goku yelled at the retreating form. "Put it down!" He struggled again, uselessly, against his bonds. His whole body bobbed and swayed gently. Stomach rebelling, Goku had to swallow several times to suppress the urge to vomit up what little was left in his dizzy and uneasy body.
The spider paused in its descent, and then ascended once more, this time advancing upward at an angle until its massive eyes were level with wide, unfocused golden-brown eyes. Breathing shallowly, Goku concentrated on remembering what he wanted to do next. The world seemed to be spinning a bit, and the objects in his peripheral vision blurred unless he focused on them. There was a vague grayish bundle clutched between the spider's back legs. That seemed important somehow.
Gasping slightly, Goku shut his eyes again, and then squinted blearily at the shape directly in front of him, which no longer consisted of glassy opaque eyes. It now appeared to be the underside of the main body of the spider. Curious. Something seemed disturbingly familiar about the jagged reddish markings on the dark abdomen. Two crescents pointed ominously toward each other, one plunging downward, and the other cutting it off from the right. Kinda like Gojyo's shakujou. His vision dimmed again, and his mind wandered away. "There were two red dots," he thought. They kinda reminded him of Sanzo. ... "SANZO!" Goku gasped, eyes stretched so wide that they stung. What if that bundle ...
Two sharp fangs plunged into Goku's gut, causing him to convulse sharply and then drift off again into wandering, confused dreams in which Sanzo was out of reach and stalking back and forth angrily as Gojyo cheated effortlessly at mahjong.
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Gojyo thought, on balance, things really could be worse. At least his leg wasn't caught between steel jaws anymore, although it still felt alternately numb and tingly in its bindings, and he had managed to rescue Sanzo's pistol, not that it was going to help much right now, stuck in his waistband. He rather felt as if he were being split in half by the priest's bony shoulder as his damp hair swung back and forth at the level of Sanzo's thighs. They were in no position to run, even supposing the soldiers hadn't been armed with military rifles.
Sanzo wasn't saying anything as they sloshed through the mud in the increasingly dark forest. Maybe he had a plan. It was too bad, in a way, that this was the one time that the humans hadn't recognized Sanzo's robes and chakra and offered to help. Of course, they hadn't killed them yet, either, and the chick in charge had looked kind of cute in an aggressive, competent sort of way. Given time, Gojyo was sure he could convince her to loosen up some. After all, she couldn't be nearly as defensive and uptight as the man currently carrying him over his shoulder.
The priest paused again to readjust the limp, and decidedly heavy, body slung over his shoulder. The soldiers around them murmured impatiently, suspiciously scanned the surrounding trees, and shifted their boots in the mud.
"Hurry it up!" one of them barked.
The arm around the backs of Gojyo's thighs tightened. "Carry him yourself, then," Sanzo ground out. "You're the ones who broke his leg."
The red-haired commander strode over to the group. "What's the holdup?"
"They're stalling, sir," one soldier answered, his forehead creased in suspicious anger. "Probably hoping their friends will catch up to us."
The commander's eyes flicked assessingly over the two bedraggled men in front of her. "Keep moving, or you'll be taking up permanent residence here. Understood?" She turned to her men. "Let's move. I want to make camp before 2100."
The commander pivoted made her way to the front again. Sanzo shifted his burden one more time and slogged forward after her. The soldiers returned to their positions and continued forward, flanking their prisoners.
Gojyo shut his eyes again and wondered, for the hundredth time, where the blasted monkey was. It wasn't like him to leave a battle before it was over. Maybe he'd seen Sanzo, but, then, why hadn't he been with the priest? And what was Hakkai doing? They'd never get out of here if they had to spend forever looking for people. Gojyo bit his tongue on his questions and focused on not letting his chin swing too close to Sanzo's ass. It was hard to think much about anything with all the blood rushing to his head. At least the ground seemed to be firmer here; it meant that Gojyo's injured leg was jostled less.
The rest of their journey was spent in relative silence, broken only by the muted noises of insects around them and the occasional muttered exchanges taking place between the soldiers. The first warning he had that they'd reached their destination was the challenge issued by the watch and answered in clipped and reassuring tones by the unit's commander. Most of the soldiers scattered shortly thereafter, pursuing their assigned errands.
A small knot of four soldiers stayed close and alert, however, and soon they began passing camouflaged tents. Appetizing smells were issuing from one of them. Gojyo turned his head toward it hopefully, but the soldiers marched their prisoners straight past it, then ordered them to take a sharp left between two smaller tents, occupied by soldiers who paused in cleaning their guns or huddling over their rations to stare openly at the group as it passed.
"Through here," the soldier on their right ordered, gesturing toward the tent in front of them and separated somewhat from the others. In the vague firelight, Gojyo could only catch glimpses of legs and boots and dry clumps of grass below him. Damn, but this position was undignified. And exhausting. It felt as if his whole lower body were being assaulted with vicious little pins and needles, and the blood rushing to his head made him feel dizzy.
Sanzo had to duck somewhat to make it through the tent's entrance flaps, but he straightened up as soon as he was inside. The soldier behind them followed but stayed carefully out of reach, rifle hoisted higher now that they were in an enclosed space, and the soldier that had been in front was already inside. Their guns were trained unerringly at the two potential enemies in their midst. Two of the soldiers remained just outside, flanking the tent flaps.
"Right, set him down over there," the soldier in front ordered, gesturing with his weapon. Sanzo dropped Gojyo unceremoniously on the narrow army-issue cot. The water sprite was so relieved to be stretched out and free of the bony shoulder that he almost didn't notice the stiff cast of the priest's shoulders and the slightly hunched angle of his back.
"Unnh," Gojyo grunted, stretching out carefully, mindful of his leg. Priesty boy was tough. He'd be fine. The canvas beneath him felt heavenly, but the metal rod behind his head was a bit painful. He wished he could scoot just a bit lower on the bed, so he seized hold of the sides of the bed to get some leverage.
But, before Gojyo could get any further, he could feel a pair of rough hands jerking his hands into place over his stomach and manacling them together. "Heeeey, easy there," Gojyo drawled, squinting up at the dark shape looming above him. "'M not going anywhere for a while."
The sound of clinking next to him announced Sanzo's similar confinement. "See that you don't," a gruff voice responded, the soldier standing at the mouth of the tent. "You'll be shot if you do."
With that, the two soldiers vacated the tent, leaving Sanzo and Gojyo alone in the semi-darkness.
Gojyo turned his head to catch a glimpse of the back of the muddy and disgruntled priest, who seemed to be staring fixedly at the opposite wall of the tent. There was a short silence.
Gojyo sighed and blew at a stray strand of hair hanging in his eyes. He squirmed a bit, trying, unsuccessfully, to scoot lower on the cot. After a few more increasingly frustrated attempts, Gojyo carefully turned his head toward the back of the priest's messy blond head. "Give us a hand, here, Sanzo, wouldja? There's a nice, helpful priest."
"... No." The blond head didn't turn.
"Oh, what the hell!?" Gojyo exploded, irritated. "My head's killing me, here. This metal bar is really digging into me. I'd move myself if I could."
"It's your own damn fault for getting caught in a fucking animal trap," Sanzo growled, twitching. Gojyo could hear the sound of clinking coming from next to the cot.
"I couldn't see it, Sanzo-chan." Gojyo's voice was a bit strained, mostly because he was frustrated that some part of him couldn't help agreeing with the heartless bastard. "It was hidden, you know," he continued, "and I was kind of busy taking down those blasted assassins. And where the hell were you during all this?"
Sanzo's head pitched forward, as he rolled onto his knees. Gojyo realized that the priest must have been leaning against the cot before. This new position allowed Gojyo to note that the blond's hands were cuffed behind his back. Sanzo's body wobbled somewhat as he awkwardly turned around, still on his knees. Suddenly, the fierce violet eyes glared directly into Gojyo's. "Looking for your sorry ass."
Gojyo turned his head away to stare at the shadowy expanse of canvas above him. That face was just too intense, somehow, especially this close, and the last thing he needed right now was to irritate the priest even more. They should be working together to find a solution to this situation, not bickering. He turned his head back toward the blond, stoically matching the gaze leveled at his. "C'mere, and I'll grab you a smoke," Gojyo offered. He knew he could use one himself, and he hoped it was a sufficient peace offering.
Sanzo grunted, and his eyes lost some of their belligerence. He tottered to his feet, then dropped heavily and unceremoniously onto the edge of the cot, his back mostly to Gojyo. "Back left pocket," the priest instructed.
Gojyo stared at the muddy white ass perched next to his hands. He had an irrational urge to squeeze it. That would make his highness jump. An unbidden smile stretched briefly across Gojyo's exhausted face, but he smothered it quickly. This still left the undeniable problem that Sanzo's robes were hampering access to his jeans pockets. "Uh, man, I'm gonna need you to stand up for a sec. I can't get to your pockets when your dress is in the way." Damn! Why had he baited him again? It was just too easy.
Sanzo's head whipped around, eyes once again narrowed dangerously. "Watch it," he snapped, but he did manage to stand again, even though he was obviously feeling stiff.
"Easy, easy," Gojyo muttered appeasingly, twisting on the cot to reach the robe, causing a stab of pain to shoot through his broken leg. "Nnnn," he groaned, and then managed to grab a double handful of the coarse cloth and drag it up to the level of the cuffed hands hanging just below the black belt tied around the priest's waist. "'Kay, sit down again," he instructed, handcuff chain rattling.
A solid weight returned to the side of the cot. Gojyo started to reach his hands toward the indicated pocket, but then he stopped short. There was the possibility that the soldiers might offer medical treatment, and that might inconveniently reveal the fact that Gojyo had stowed Sanzo's gun in his inner side-trouser pocket. It might be safer with Sanzo at this point, as they'd already frisked him. Gojyo's eyes flicked toward the tent opening. He could see two shadows outlined on either side of the entrance. Even if they did look in, Sanzo's current position would, at least temporarily, block the view of what Gojyo had in his hands.
Hesitation cast firmly aside, Gojyo reached into his own trousers instead, and tugged the damp pistol out. The stiff back in front of him twitched at the noise and lack of cigarette fetching. The blond head swiveled suspiciously, and violet eyes widened considerably when they landed on the muddy firearm clutched in Gojyo's manacled hand. Gojyo shook his head slightly, crimson eyes willing Sanzo to understand. Mouth slightly open, as if he wanted to say something, Sanzo nodded his head fractionally and indicated his right pocket with a jerk of his chin.
After the furtive transfer had taken place, Gojyo once again reached for the pack of cigarettes in the left-hand pocket. It felt decidedly strange to be this close to a priest and touching him in this undeniably intimate area. Tired, miserable, and tense as Gojyo was, he couldn't help feeling a delightful frisson of excitement mixed with guilt. Flushing slightly, Gojyo snatched the packet of Marlboro reds and tugged the bunched robe more or less back into place.
"Here," Gojyo offered gruffly, as he shoved the packet at Sanzo's lap, then felt immediately stupid as he realized that the priest could hardly fetch one for himself. Jerking the crinkling red package back onto his chest with a sigh, he closed his eyes.
Sanzo stood up without a word, then turned around and knelt again, this time facing Gojyo, his eyes sliding pointedly toward the cigarettes. "Well?" he prompted impatiently.
Gojyo pulled a damp and crushed cigarette smoothly out of the package, and shoved it gingerly between the waiting teeth. It was really annoying the way he couldn't separate his hands more than a couple of inches, and the blasted cuffs were holding his hands so that the palms were facing away from each other, making it virtually impossible to hold something in both hands. Focusing on this safer line of thought, the water sprite dug awkwardly into his left pocket for his lighter. After a couple of failed attempts, he dragged it out, opened it, and flicked it to life. The blond head leaned forward imperiously, impatient for that first heavenly drag of nicotine.
The strong, angular face was briefly outlined in the warm glow of the flame, softening features. "Man," Gojyo thought, "Mr. Worldly Priest almost looks angelic like that." The long blond lashes flickered as the eyelids closed in contentment. Gojyo looked away and let the flame go out. What was wrong with him? Setting the lighter carefully on his stomach, he started to reach for his own Hi-lites.
Sanzo had settled again on the ground, his back propped against the cot. A stream of smoke wafted upward, teasing the redhead's nostrils and making him even more desperate for a smoke. He renewed his efforts to wrestle the package out of his pocket. His hands kept getting in each other's way, though, and Gojyo grunted in frustration.
Rustling at the tent flap announced the presence of company. "Shit!" Gojyo thought. "They'd better not steal my damned lighter."
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"Permission to enter, sir?" Li called briskly from the entrance to the captain's tent.
"Lieutenant!?" Tenjo sounded startled. "Enter." His tone had hardened. She was supposed to be guarding the entrance to the mine.
"Yes, sir." Lieutenant Li ducked into the tent, hands clasped behind her back. She snapped to attention once through the tent's flaps.
"Report." Tenjo was hunched over a series of maps, but she had his full attention.
"Sir, we left camp at 1900 hours as planned, and encountered a band of youkai at approximately 1930 hours. We eliminated all of the youkai we could find, but, when we were patrolling the area for stragglers, we discovered that one of the traps had been set off."
"One of the traps?" Tenjo asked, interest and anticipation flaring in his eyes.
"Yes, sir." Li hesitated. They'd been hoping to catch whatever it was that had attacked Honshu. As tricky and bothersome as the marauding bands of youkai had proved to be, the stealth attacks that had left isolated soldiers missing for weeks had begun to drain morale. Finding the husk of Honshu like that, almost unrecognizable, had made her sure that they were up against something far worse.
"We found two of them. One of them had a leg caught in the trap, and the other was ... helping him, I think," she finished uncertainly. The blond one had seemed to be threatening more than helping at the time, but they had seemed to know each other, and the blond had helped splint the redhead's leg.
Tenjo frowned. "Sir, I don't know what they are, but they're not villagers. I had them brought here immediately," Li continued quickly.
Tenjo's frown deepened. "I see. Are they youkai?" he asked sharply.
Li bowed her head slightly. "I don't know, sir. I brought them here immediately for questioning. They've been restrained, and two of my men are standing guard."
Tenjo nodded slightly, rubbing his hands under his eyes and massaging the bridge of his nose. "Understood. What about the mine?"
"Sir, I sent Sergeant Rei and ten soldiers to investigate and set up a defensive position at the mine's entrance." And they'd better still be alive.
"I see." Tenjo's eyes slid to the tent flap. "Sergeant Nu," he barked.
A tousled head poked through the canvas. "Sir!"
"Tell Lieutenant Po I want him to mobilize his men immediately and report to the cave entrance. Sergeant Rei should already be there."
"Yes, sir!" The head bobbed and disappeared.
"Sir!" Li protested. "Sir, request permission to lead the rest of my men back to the mine to carry out their mission." They were her men, dammit, and it was her mission.
Tenjo's fierce eyes swung back to her. "Request denied. You're needed here. You did say one of them was caught in the trap, yes?" Li nodded, swallowing her impatience. "Then we'll need your medical expertise. Also," Tenjo continued as he slung his flak jacket on, "you were the one who picked them up. Take responsibilities for your actions."
"Yes, sir." The muscles in Li's arms tensed in frustration, but she bowed her head in acknowledgment and prepared to follow her captain out of the tent.
As they traversed the camp, Captain Tenjo called out orders and listened attentively to Li's detailed report. Their prisoners became more and more interesting by the minute. Although neither of them had appeared to be armed when they were captured, more than half of the youkai had been killed before Li's troops had arrived.