A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who's followed A Force to Be Reckoned With this far! I'm sorry the wait for this chapter was so long. Life has been a bit crazy lately.
Sanzo stared down at the frying pan lying at his feet, the ladle still clutched in his dangling hand. What the hell was he doing? This was insane. How the hell did Gojyo always manage to slip under his guard? With a shiver of pure frustration, he dropped the ladle and massaged his aching temple. His headache was getting worse, not better. That damned quack of an apothecary better not have poisoned him again.
Tenjo was scowling but seemed otherwise unfazed by Gojyo's antics. "Nu, inform the perimeter guard to be prepared for another attack. I want them on full alert."
"Understood, sir." Nu nodded sharply and scrambled off the table. As he reached the tent's flaps, Tenjo stopped him with a hand to his arm.
"I'll coordinate Li's backup. Report back to me at the medical tent when you're through." When Nu nodded again, Tenjo released him and turned back to face Yaone. "You," he barked, pointing right at her, "stay put. Understand? You set one foot outside this tent, and you'll be shot on sight." With that, he ducked through the tent's flaps and was gone.
"Well, that was friendly," Hakkai murmured. Privately, Sanzo thought it was a perfectly reasonable security precaution. He certainly had no reason to trust her.
Hakkai seemed to trust her, though. Sanzo watched her offer him some of her second concoction and fuss over him as he settled himself on one of the tabletops. They looked so relaxed together that Sanzo felt a curl of jealousy. He was attracted to the damn cockroach, that much was clear, but he always felt off-balance around him. He hated feeling out of his depth, and this whole thing with Gojyo, whatever it was, was like wading through quicksand.
"Sanzo?" Goku peered up at him, head tilted to the side and wide brown eyes piercing in their intensity. Stiffening, Sanzo realized that he'd lost track of his surroundings. He hadn't even noticed the monkey leaving his perch, and now the brat was staring up at him with this really unnerving look in his eyes, as if Goku could read his mind. Sanzo's arms crossed unconsciously.
A slow grin spread across the monkey's face. "Don't worry, Sanzo! I'll keep an eye on 'im for ya!" The monkey made a ridiculous victory sign with one hand, then dashed out of the tent before Sanzo could process what had just happened, much less react to it.
"Are you all right?" Yaone asked, placing a light hand on his arm. Why the hell did people think he wasn't all right? He was fine, dammit! And he certainly wasn't worried about the damned cockroach. An involuntary shiver coursed through him as traces of his nightmare resurfaced.
Irritated, he shook off the apothecary's hand. The kappa was more than capable of looking out for himself. Right now, Sanzo had more important things to take care of, like dragging every last useful bit of information out of Kougaiji's minion. They were on a mission, after all, even if no one else was inclined to remember it.
Scowling at the unperturbed woman standing next to him, Sanzo growled, "I'm fine. Now tell me more about the surveillance system. How is it you always seem to know where we are?"
ooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo
"Stop fidgeting," Kougaiji hissed, dragging Lirin's wayward hands away from her ears. He'd already broken two nails on these damn cuffs. How Yaone managed to accomplish anything with these bent pieces of metal was beyond him. He knew what they were. He'd seen them often enough. But he was damned if he could figure out how the hell they worked.
Ten sweaty, irritating minutes later, Kougaiji collapsed against the back of the couch, shoulders tense and lock picks digging into the palm of his clenched hand. Dammit! This was getting him nowhere. Sighing heavily and pinching the bridge of his nose, he watched Lirin slide off the couch with a sulky thump and sprawl on the floor next to it. "Oniiii-chan, Yaone's late, isn't she?"
Kougaiji leaned forward, arms resting on his knees. It'd been a while since she'd been fed, and she chafed at the prolonged confinement even more than he did. Slipping the lock picks into a handy pocket, he reached out to ruffle his sister's hair. "I'm sure she'll be back soon."
Lirin made a face and blew hair off her forehead. Twisting slightly, so she was facing the door, she rested her head against his knee and fiddled with a loose thread on her frayed trouser leg. "Do you think your mom will like me, Onii-chan?"
Kougaiji smiled crookedly down at her bent head. He was still getting used to the idea that his mother was no longer being held hostage.
"Do you think she'll make us food with her own hands?" Lirin continued, mumbling into her bent knee. "I'd help. I think—"
The controlled hiss of the door opening derailed that thought and caused a suddenly animated Lirin to spring her feet. She was already halfway to the door by the time twin horns became visible, causing her to skid to a halt. Oh shit. Kougaiji darted forward, eyes fixed on a frozen Lirin as Lady Koushu advanced into the room, lines of displeasure etched deeply into her features. Smirking guards flanked her on either side.
Slinging a reassuring arm around his sister's trembling shoulders, he tried desperately to formulate a plan. Was Koushu working with Hwan now? Involuntarily, his eyes fell, fixing on the rigged handcuffs. Was his failure going to cost Lirin her life? Dammit, they could have been rid of the blasted things ages ago if only he hadn't been afraid of setting them off! A shiver of self-loathing and frustration caused his eyes to narrow. He was sick of being the damn pawn in other people's power plays.
The corners of Koushu's mouth turned up in a cruel imitation of a smile. "Did you miss me, darling?" she asked, reaching out to stroke one long fingernail down the side of her daughter's face. Lirin pressed back against Kougaiji, her eyes huge as she stared up at the looming figure of her mother.
"Leave her alone," Kougaiji growled, clutching at his sister protectively.
"My, my. Not only a mother fetish but a sister fetish as well?" Her cruel smile morphed into a sneer. "Well, I suppose it's only natural for the son of that woman."
Kougaiji bristled, furious, his claws extending automatically as they lashed out. Koushu dodged easily, her smile broadening. "Oh, please. You're much too weak for that. You can have Lirin, though, if you tell me where Rasetsunyo is." Fury and disgust flashed briefly in her hard, cold eyes.
Kougaiji froze, forcing himself to ignore the bait and focus on what she'd said. The jeering guards were snickering, but Kougaiji's head was ringing. She isn't working with Hwan. She doesn't know about the handcuffs. The deal's off. We have to go. The confused tangle of thoughts tumbled forward in a heap as he tucked Lirin under his arm and darted toward the door. The angry shouts and ripples of cold laughter sounded as if they were coming from a long way off, distorted somehow, as he broke through the ranks of guards, tossing them aside like twigs. He had to get to the long-distance dragons. He had to find Yaone.
ooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo
Sanzo was forced to admit that his attention was beginning to wander. Shaking his head no longer dispelled the unbidden images of Gojyo that insisted on elbowing their way to the surface. This was all the damn kappa's fault. Why the hell wasn't he back yet? Rubbing his eyes irritably, Sanzo realized that he had no idea what Yaone was talking about anymore. Fuck! Shoving his chair back, he stood abruptly and stalked over to the coffee pot. Yaone stopped talking, but he could feel her eyes tracking his movements.
He just needed some damn coffee. That was all. Glaring accusingly at the empty coffee pot, he thumped the pot down on the counter and tossed back the half-filled mug he'd managed to pour. His face contorted, twitching in disgust. He managed to swallow, but it was a near thing. Right. That was it! He was going for a walk and damn the consequences. He needed to clear his head before he lost it completely. If Hakkai wanted to trust the blasted apothecary and her restorative potion, that was his own damn lookout.
"I'll be right back," he growled as he stalked stiffly out of the tent, arms crossed and muddy robes dragging against his damp jeans. The sooner they got out of this vile cesspool, the better.
The brisk, damp air calmed him as he moved forward, striding briskly past scattered clusters of tents. The dim, uniform lighting was soothing after the harsh shadows inside the tent. Muted conversations and the sounds of people moving about provided a convenient distraction, something safe for his mind to focus on. Of course, that thought immediately sparked the appearance of yet another treacherous image of Gojyo, this time leaning up against a wall, his bangs crumpled and chest bandaged.
Sanzo kicked at a discarded pack, scowling. Why the hell was Gojyo taking so long? Snorting, he skirted the tattered remains of a charred tent, barely visible through the fog. The kappa'd probably run into the village brats and stayed for breakfast or something. Right on cue, Sanzo's stomach rumbled. Fine, if Gojyo was going to eat without him, he could just return the favor. Turning around abruptly, Sanzo headed back toward the tent. It was about time Hakkai got up anyway, or headed back to his own damn tent. Sleeping on a table was hardly going to do anyone any good.
The abrupt change in the world's orientation forced Sanzo to reevaluate his priorities. Sharp claws dug into his arms, pinning him face-down and spread-eagled in the cold, slimy muck. Shit! Shit, shit, shit! The fog. The damn fog! Turning his head to the side, he wheezed, drawing in shallow, shaky breaths as he struggled to yank his arms free. This was all the damn kappa's fault. He was sure of it.
Luminous, glassy eyes leaned closer and sharp fangs clacked, inches away from his hair. Gasping, Sanzo realized that he could feel another curved claw scraping across his shoulders. Panic and anger coursed through him. No fucking way! Not twice in one damned day! "Don't touch me!" he roared, channeling all his strength into his arms, jerking them in and shoving himself up on his hands.
Thrown off-balance by the unexpected movement, the spider rocked backward, legs flailing as it hissed angrily. In those crucial seconds, Sanzo's body reacted on autopilot, leaping to his feet and dragging his pistol out of his pocket. Before he could fire, though, the spider had deflected his arm with one long, segmented leg. It leaned forward again, one wicked claw caught on the hand holding the pistol as it forced him to bend backward. A forest of armored legs clacked remorselessly as they closed in, closing off his options.
Not good. Scowling fiercely, Sanzo forced himself to drop back into the muck and roll away. Sharp hissing was followed by a swift lowering of the spider's body as it attempted to physically pin him in place beneath it. Shoving himself forward through the sludge, he managed to grab hold of a leg and swing himself up onto the bastard's back. A violent shiver tore its way up and down the spider's body, causing him to seize the first available handhold as the spider tipped up onto its back legs and shook itself violently. The narrow stem connecting the front and back sections of the spider was easy enough to grab, but the flailing legs kept jostling him, and he could feel his grip slipping. From this position, the eyes were out of reach. When the spider crouched again, legs bent, and launched itself into the air, Sanzo's arm felt like it was being jerked out of its socket. In a desperate bid to distract the spider and force it to land, he fired point-blank at the spider's head. The sound of bullets ricocheting off the armored shell signaled the futility of that maneuver.
The shots had attracted attention, though, judging from the sounds of the soldiers shouting below them as the spider raced along the underside of a tree limb. Stomach lurching and roiling, Sanzo had time to regret the cup of coffee as the spider sped up, leaping from tree to tree. Branches swatted at him and his legs dangled, making accuracy very nearly impossible, but he was damned if he was letting the thieving bastard get away. He was forced to switch hands when a long branch caught him sharply in the stomach, nearly causing him to lose his grip. Sharps claws found leverage and managed to dig into his arm, shoving at it and tearing long furrows in his skin. Grimly, Sanzo hung on and managed to brace himself against a protruding branch long enough to fire off three more shots. They all connected with the spider's straining abdomen.
He could feel the spider's body recoil with each shot and felt a vindictive stab of satisfaction when the spider started sliding downward. Before he could feel too smug, though, he felt a long, segmented leg wrap around him, pinning him against a hard exoskeleton. The sound of furious hissing next to his ear alerted him to the fact that he was dangerously close to twitching fangs. A wild, confused tussle ensued as they plummeted to the ground. The distinctive crunch of a collapsing tent engendered a vague feeling of relief as he rolled away across the rough canvas and fired another shot at the exposed abdomen. The spider shuddered, legs twitching, and began to rise. Sanzo backed away, cursing. He was out of bullets.
Fumbling to reload, he heard the loud crack of gunfire as a hail of bullets connected with the looming monstrosity. It landed heavily on top of him. Guh! Stupid bastards. Who the hell asked them to intervene?
And where was the damned cockroach? The bastard had better not snuff it before he had a chance to tell him off. As Sanzo shoved his way out from under the oozing, lifeless carcass, he could hear more shots being fired and the confused babble of voices shouting and screaming. What the hell!?
The patchy fog gave the whole scene an eerie, surreal edge, blurring outlines and making it difficult to judge distances, but the loudest screams seemed to be coming from the heaving mass of tangled net off to the left. Scowling, Sanzo finished reloading, using the dead spider's carcass as cover, and cast about for any sign of his opponents. Soldiers were rushing to and fro, ducking for cover and firing at anything that moved. A few of the more adventurous seemed to be trying to free their comrades from the confines of the heavy spider webs that were now falling like rain, pinning soldiers in place wherever they congregated. What a disaster. He couldn't even see any spiders in the mayhem. No doubt they were up in the trees, where the fog was thickest.
Catching sight of a group of fleeing soldiers, his eyes rose to track the movement of the falling net. Following the net's trajectory back to its probable source, he fired off a few shots. He thought he caught a blur of movement through the haze and fired again. When that failed to garner a response, he scowled. This was hopeless. How could he fight an enemy he couldn't see? Closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Oh my god, we're gonna die! This is hell! It's hell, I tell you!" The high, strung-out voice was cut off by a sharp slap.
"Focus, dammit! Where's your rifle, soldier!?" That sounded like Nu.
"There's no way out! We can't get out! The wall! They're waiting at the walls! Oh my God they got Rei, sir! They got him! Skewered him right through the middle! You've gotta—" The man sounded completely unhinged, his breath coming in uneven gasps.
"What wall!? The village walls?" Sanzo could see Nu gripping the soldier by the shoulders, virtually holding him upright. Wait. Gojyo was in the village. Sanzo's brow furrowed, his hand twitching convulsively.
"N-no, the nets. They've strung nets between the trees. Don't you get it!? There's no way out! We're completely surrounded and we're gonna die!"
Sanzo didn't really have time to process that statement because the carcass he was using for cover was ripped away from him, leaving him exposed, and, suddenly, encircled by a forest of hissing, clacking blackness dotted with luminous rows of opalescent eyes.
ooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo
Goku's ears twitched. "Sanzo's in trouble!" he shouted, snagging the back of the perverted kappa's collar.
"I know, dammit!" Gojyo growled, fending off a vicious swipe with the pole of his shakujou. Then his eyes went wide and he frowned, failing to follow through and slash at the exposed black abdomen.
Goku felt his own brow furrow as he thrust upward, skewering the spider before it could sink its fangs into the frozen kappa's shoulder. Gojyo knew, did he? "Watch what you're doing, ya demented kappa!"
"I know, brat!" Gojyo's eyes had refocused, but his face was still a bit pale. "Watch your own damn back!" The wicked, curved blade sailed over Goku's shoulder with a whoosh, and he heard the sharp crunch of contact before a pile of segmented legs fell heavily next to him. "Let's hurry up and finish these damn bastards off already!"
Goku felt his face twist into a feral grin. "Don't hold me back! I'm still ahead by two." He wasn't sure he understood, exactly, but something about Gojyo had changed, and he thought maybe Sanzo had too. The kappa's one-fingered salute hadn't, though.
ooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo
Hakkai's struggle to cling to the tattered shreds of sleep was foiled by the persistent rough, wet sandpaper flicking against his chin. Eyes fluttering open, he groggily registered Hakuryu's intense red eyes glowing down at him from the dragon's perch on his chest. Absentmindedly, he reached up to stroke the dragon's neck, and Hakuryu nuzzled his chin impatiently.
Consciousness slowly returning, he rolled his head to the side and stared in mild shock at the tense, muscled back that was hovering within easy reach. It tapered down to a slim waist that flared out to form gently rounded hips. Oh! He could feel his face flushing. Familiar dark hair fell in gentle fountains, framing the exposed back. Uhhh. Hakkai tried desperately to stop staring, to unstick his tongue long enough to let Yaone know he was awake, but his body refused to respond.
The sound of rapid gunfire outside the tent broke the spell. Shoving himself upright, he grabbed Yaone's arm. "What's going on? Where's Sanzo?"
Yaone spun around to face him, her brow furrowed. "I don't know. He left a few minutes ago and said he'd be right back, but—"
"Let's go." Hakkai slid off the end of the table and strode forward, Hakuryu hovering at his shoulder, but he paused at the tent flaps, confused. Yaone hadn't followed him. Turning to frown over his shoulder, he asked, "Aren't you coming?" Yaone was still standing where he'd left her, her arms crossed uncomfortably.
She avoided meeting his eyes. "I ... I'm not supposed to ..." He could feel conflicted concern showing through on his face. He knew he was slipping, but he couldn't seem to help it. Her hands tightened briefly on her arms, then she dropped them. "Yes. Yes, I'm coming," she said in a rush, her eyes lifting to meet his. Her face shone with resolution as she moved to join him, and, as they passed through the tent flaps, their hands brushed.
The warm flush he'd felt when Yaone had joined him evaporated as his eyes adjusted to the shifting fog that prevailed outside the warm cocoon of the tent. The camp had erupted into chaos while he'd slept.
Spotting a large, dark writhing mass in the fog, he took off running toward it. Soldiers were darting to and fro. It was hard to hear anything over the shouts. A sudden hand appeared on his shoulder. His mind registered Yaone's presence and allowed himself to be dragged backward. A feeling of horrified fascination settled over him as he watched a large, grayish-white net drop directly in front of him and pin a group of running soldiers in place.
The hand on his shoulder released him, and Hakkai bent forward immediately to free the trapped soldiers. The strands of the net clung to his fingers and burned. A frowning Yaone bent next to him and pulled his hands free. A panicked soldier was struggling to reach his rifle, but the net kept clinging, hampering his movements. Between them, they managed to cut through enough of the net to provide an escape route for the soldiers. Without waiting to see how the soldiers would react, they moved forward again, Hakuryu chirping impatiently and tugging on his arm.
Suddenly, through the drifting bands of fog, Hakkai caught a flash of long, white robes. Weaving his way through the fray, Hakkai sped up. He could sense Yaone at his side, her determination and anger fueling his own.
A sharp claw hooked itself inside the back of his collar, catching him off guard. Choking, Hakkai tried to spin in place to face the new threat, but he suddenly found himself being thrown to the side, Yaone's arm wrapped around his chest as they landed in the squelching muck. The claw was still digging into the back of his neck, but it no longer seemed to be attached to anything. Over his shoulder, he could see a small white blur change shape and drop heavily on the advancing spider. It connected with a sickening crunch as rugged tires rolled over twisted legs.
Pinned in place, the spider hissed, its eyes flickering as it shoved itself forward relentlessly, its back legs still responding. The jeep's headlights flickered in panic as it revved its engine. Hakkai took a deep breath and felt a warm burst of chi well up inside him. Channeling it down his arm, he fired off a blast aimed at the spider's head. The jeep vanished as Hakuryu flew off just before the blast connected. When the spider twitched again, Hakkai fired off a second blast, aimed at the trembling abdomen. Finally, it stilled, its eyes glazing over and gelatinous ooze seeping out to mix with the churned mud.
With a high-pitched kyuuu, Hakuryu landed on his shoulder and nuzzled the hair on the back of his neck. The sounds of terrified screams and erratic gunfire slid back into focus, muting the fleeting sense of triumph. "Thanks, Hakuryu," Hakkai murmured grimly as Yaone yanked the claw out of his collar and pulled herself to her feet, spear held at the ready. Hakkai followed suit and glanced around for Sanzo.
The vague, dark seething mass had resolved itself into a menacing tangle of thrashing black limbs. Tapping Yaone on the shoulder, he rushed toward it once again, dodging nets, the destroyed remains of tents, and gunshots. Yaone followed, this time taking up a defensive position. He hadn't caught sight of the priest, but Sanzo was bound to be in the thick of things.
When they finally managed to beat a path through the dense wall of spiders, they found a grim Sanzo wedged between two mutilated, lifeless spiders. He seemed to be using them as cover, but thick, twisted gray strands had managed to wrap around his arms and were slowly but surely dragging him out. When he caught sight of Hakkai, his eyes narrowed and a particularly sharp jerk from one of the strands managed to pull him out so that his entire torso was exposed.
"Where the hell have you been!? Get over here and make yourself useful, dammit!" Blood dripped down the side of Sanzo's angular face, and his arms were shaking, but the grip on his pistol was firm and so were his eyes as they glared down at him.
Smiling tightly in relief, Hakkai summoned his chi and managed to fire a few key shots, severing the strands holding Sanzo in place."Sorry we're late," he called as he leapt forward to join the priest, sliding down into the crevice flanked by spider carcasses. Yaone and Hakuryu were working as a team to beat back the more aggressive spiders, and Sanzo was reloading, his hands deadly accurate even as they trembled with blood loss and exhaustion. Hakkai fired off a pattern of chi blasts designed to push back the hordes, but the spiders kept coming, and he could feel the edges of exhaustion gnawing at him. "Where's Gojyo?" he called over his shoulder, brow furrowing. He hadn't seen Goku or Gojyo since he'd woken up. It wasn't like them to miss out on the action, especially when Sanzo was involved.
"How the hell should I know!? I'm not the damn kappa's keeper." So Sanzo was worried too. Well, it wasn't like they didn't have their own problems. The priest fired off a few more shots, but the spiders were wickedly fast, so, even though every shot seemed to find a target, most only connected with a limb. The spiders were starting to cooperate, too, their bodies crushing together to form an armored wall, and Yaone and Hakuryu were being hard pressed, forced to fall back against the relentless tide of black. He couldn't even see any of the soldiers anymore, but, through the shifting fog, he thought he could make out several spiders advancing on the writhing nets.
"We need a plan," Hakkai called over his shoulder, his voice calm but tight.
When he received no response, he risked a glance over at Sanzo. The priest was leaning heavily against one of the corpses, his fingers pressed into a familiar pattern and his lips moving steadily. Hakkai couldn't hear the chant over the sounds of conflict raging all around them, but he didn't have to. The scripture around Sanzo's neck was starting to flutter at the edges. Breathing a sigh of relief, Hakkai turned back to the battle at hand, his eyes automatically searching out Yaone. It was reassuring, knowing he could sense her presence. When he finally found her through the shifting curtain of fog, she appeared to be pinned down, but Hakuryu was hovering overhead, searching for an opening.
Firing off a chi blast in her direction, he managed to wound the spider that had seized her spear arm. Raising his hands for a second shot, he caught sight of a flicker of white in his peripheral vision just before thick, twisted strands dropped in place from overhead, stinging as they clung to his face and pinned him down, turning their defensive bunker into a prison. Twisting around, he could see that Sanzo had been pinned under the same net. The priest was still chanting, unmoved by the chaos surrounding him. An aura was beginning to glow around him as he built and focused power.
Firing off chi blasts now would be suicide, and Sanzo was too vulnerable right now to protect himself, with all his energy focused on one task. That only left one option. Defense. Conjuring up his chi, Hakkai constructed a barrier large enough to cover both of them. It began to spark and waver almost immediately as the spiders started crawling over it, their fangs and claws disturbingly close as they made inroads, weakening the defensive barrier.
The protective dome would hold, though. Hakkai could feel prickles of energy crackling behind him. He could do this. Sanzo had to be getting close now. Even through his exhaustion, his eyes flickered over the chaos surging all around them, seeking out Yaone. He had to know that she was safe. He could sense her presence, but that wasn't the same as seeing her. When one of the spiders clawing at the barrier suddenly convulsed, a sharp metal point showing through its abdomen as it slid down off the barrier, he finally caught sight of her. Her hair was clinging to her back and arms, and a long diagonal slash starting at one shoulder grazed the edge of her hip, but her body was coiled and ready to spring. His heart sped up.
The sharp crack of a rifle firing at close range was followed by the slow crumpling of Yaone's taut form. As she slid down the pile, Hakkai felt his whole body freeze. "Yaone!" he screamed, his focus broken, as he tried desperately to claw his way over to her. He barely registered the claws digging into him and the blood running down his hands as he tore at the confining strands. A second Yaone had appeared, a cruel smile twisting her face. The clone leaned heavily on the booted foot planted squarely in Yaone's midsection and leveled a rifle at her head. Yaone's face was pale and her shuddering breaths were coming in pained gasps. No! His mind reeled in distressed anguish. He couldn't lose her. Not now! Anger boiled deep within him, tingeing the world around him with a vivid reddish glow.
A strong arm materialized around his neck and a hoarse voice hissed in his ear. "Hakkai! Hakkai!! Focus, dammit! You're going to get us both killed."
But that didn't matter. Nothing mattered. He had to save Yaone. He couldn't watch her die. He couldn't. Fighting against the sticky mesh, he cursed his powerlessness and lashed out at the corpse hemming him in. The impostor had bent forward to speak to Yaone, rifle nudging her pale throat. He couldn't hear what was said, but, suddenly, a red-streaked Hakuryu swooped down like an avenging angel, seized a mouthful of the clone's hair, and yanked, hard. The momentary diversion allowed a wincing Yaone to knock the clone off balance and roll over, clutching her side.
The impostor shrieked, fury rolling off her in waves. When she raised the rifle to her shoulder, Hakuryu kyuued in protest and dropped the hair to flap desperate wings in her face, preventing her from getting a clear shot as she fired off the first round. Pausing to seize Hakuryu's madly swishing tail, the clone hurled the dragon against the nearest tree. Hakuryu's limp body landed with a soft whump just as Yaone wrenched the rifle out of the clone's grasp. She was clutching her side and bleeding heavily, but the world had sped up again, and Hakkai could feel Sanzo slumped heavily against him.
"I'll never lose to an impostor," Yaone announced, voice dripping with cold anger. Deliberately emptying the rifle's ammunition into the ground, she glared at the clone's scratched face. "You didn't need this to win, did you?" Twin sets of nails shot out to form long, vicious stilettos. Yaone's face twisted into a grim smile. "I thought not."
Shit! Torn, Hakkai wavered for another agonizing second before turning, his hands still wound in the mesh overhead, to face Sanzo. Curved black claws were sunk deep in his shoulders, and the spiders seemed to be attempting to drag him upward through the net. Sanzo was bleeding heavily from both shoulders, and his eyes were squeezed shut. Furious, Hakkai ripped his hands free, blood flowing freely as he focused a clumsy ball of chi and fired it upward. It managed to miss Sanzo, but only barely. The spider shuddered but managed to dodge the worst of it. Hands flying forward, Hakkai tore the claws away from Sanzo's shoulders and reinstated the barrier. It was thinner than it had been, and it flickered fitfully, but it held. Yaone's presence still lurked in the back of his head, and he forced himself to trust her, trust in her strength. If Sanzo couldn't pull this off, they were all dead, and Sanzo needed him more now.
"Sanzo!" he shouted, his voice rough and unsteady. He knew he was unraveling. He knew that. But he was damned if he was going to let an army of clones get the better of them. "Sanzo!!"
Sanzo's eyes flew open. "Gojyo?" he whispered.
"Sanzo, the sutra! Quickly!"
"Ah!" The vague, vulnerable glassiness in his eyes evaporated, his face falling and then hardening. Grunting, he blinked, and, after several failed attempts, managed to slide his fingers back into position and resume the chant. The sutra flared to life immediately, glowing and fluttering. Distantly, Hakkai felt relieved, taking this as a sign that the sutra could retain stored power even when the chant was interrupted.
It didn't matter, though. He was determined to hold out till the end. Closing his eyes and leaning back against the corpse behind him, he felt Yaone's warm, reassuring presence wash over him.
ooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo
Sanzo could feel himself slipping, struggling to remember the next sequence in the chant. Eliminating this many opponents without causing any collateral damage took immense power and concentration, and, right now, Sanzo wasn't entirely sure he could manage lighting a cigarette, much less digging one out of his pocket. The crackle of power from the sutra resting on his shoulders was very nearly painful now. He must be close, very close.
Dully, he started the final sequence, feeling the last of his reserves drain away with each syllable. "On, ma, ni, ha, tsu, mei, un." The furious whistling and rustling of paper around him very nearly drowned out the exhausted rush of "Makai Tenjyo!" that tore itself free in one hoarse breath.
The flash of light was blinding, even with his eyes shut, but he couldn't manage to summon up the energy to shield them. Everything ached, leaving behind a vast, terrible emptiness. As he crumpled, head crooked at an uncomfortable angle, he had the vague thought that this must be what it felt like to be a marionette whose strings had been cut. It was ... frightening to let go, but, also, somehow liberating. Distantly, through the muddled haze, he thought he could make out the faint echo of a familiar voice calling his name.
"... ryuu, Kouryuu, wake up. You'll catch a cold if you fall asleep out here." When he blinked his itching eyes open, he caught sight of long, soft blond bangs framing a gentle, smiling face.
"Hai, sensei," he whispered, registering the familiar bright-red chakra. For some reason, his throat was sore, and that irritated him. But the warmth of the hand resting on his forehead was soothing, so he was content to bask in the comforting presence, saying nothing.
When the smiling eyes turned to face the setting sun, he felt a vague, unsettling stab of panic. "Don't leave, sensei," he wanted to say, but that sounded childish, so, instead, he watched his sensei's profile, admiring the loose weave of the braid trailing down to brush the rough wooden planks.
"You've done well, Kouryuu. You have a home of your own now." A wispy stream of smoke drifted away from the shallow bowl of the long, thin pipe.
Sanzo watched the smoke for a while, mesmerized. Then he frowned, irritated. He hated cryptic comments. Finally, goaded, he rolled over until he was perched next to his sensei, bare feet dangling over the edge of the temple's rough wooden porch. When his pointed glare failed to produce results, he scowled at the vivid streaks of color hovering on the horizon. "Humph."
A gentle hand landed on his shoulder. "I'm afraid I have to go now." Sanzo started, the peacefulness of the moment shattered as another curl of panic clutched at his chest. "Don't stay out too late."
"I'll go with you!" he gasped, springing to his feet.
Koumyou-sensei's smile was wistful as he rose. "No, no I don't think so. Not yet, Kouryuu," he murmured, reaching down to ruffle Sanzo's unruly hair. "Someday, but not today."
"Sensei!" Sanzo called, stricken and angry. Why? Why was sensei leaving him behind? A vast chasm of emptiness welled up in his chest as he stood, blinking in frustration and disbelief, on the edge of the porch. The calm, gentle sway of the long, loose braid shone like a beacon in the setting sun. He clenched his fists, feeling the sting of dampness gathering at the edges of his stupid long lashes, but he refused to blink, staring after the golden pendulum until it disappeared from view, obscured by the deep shadows of the twilit trees.
Collapsing in a frustrated heap on the porch, he leaned against a support pillar and frowned, determined not to move until his sensei returned. The riot of sunset was quickly fading into deeper, subtler shades as the stars began to flicker overhead. His eyes fixed on the smug sliver of moon that appeared above the horizon. For some reason, every time he looked away, his eyes always ended up being drawn back to its wicked curve. There was something maddeningly familiar about it. Gradually, he found himself staring at the moon instead. The brilliant white crescent winked at him, and he frowned at it, sure it was mocking him somehow. It aggravated him, so he glared back at it, determined not to back down. He'd hear his sensei returning, after all. For now, he'd keep an eye on the mischievous moon. Who knew what it might get up to on its own?