"Your Voice, Your Heart" by: Setsuna X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary: Stuck in a town for days Goku finds himself enraptured by a young girl. When the time to leave comes, will he leave with Sanzo, who always treats him badly, or stay with the girl who promised to love him forever?
Disclaimer: Can't say I own them….however….*sneaks off*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 8 - Ideas in Motion
"Why?" asked Hakkai first, voicing the question of the other youkai. "Is something the matter?" he continued gently.
"It's just that the people of this town aren't really nice to me and I feel that they're going to hurt me again," she ended in a near whisper.
"I hear some foot steps outside...what if they're after me?" clambered Teitiel, suddenly frightened, though she did narrow her eyes slightly.
"Calm down, everything will be alright," Goku said quite gently, surprising the other members around the table. "Even if they managed to make their way in here all we gotta do is beat them up. Right guys?" Goku declared as he shot a look at Hakkai and Gojyo, asking them to agree.
"Hell yeah we would," declared Gojyo, actually meaning it.
"Of course we would," replied Hakkai gently, though his eyes opened up and the emeralds steeled slightly.
"Um, then can we leave now? Actually, there was something I wanted to show you three," Teitiel continued, really needing to get them out of there. It would be so much easier to deal with the Priest if there weren't so many people in the way. Besides, the forest she planned on leading them to gave her an advantage.
"Something you wanted to show us?" asked Hakkai, a little wary. Goku just jumped out of his seat, full of energy.
"Come on then! Let's go," the boy chirped as he bounced on the balls of his feet. Gojyo smoothly stood and tucked a crimson strand behind his ear.
"Alright, we're going already," said Gojyo in a slightly whining voice, but was actually amused by Goku's behavior. It was good that the kid was able to get along with people around his own age. It was a miracle he got out of living at that temple with Sanzo as his major influence as happy and carefree as he is.
All four made their way out of the room, Teitiel leading the way and walking briskly, knowing she had little time left and that they were able to keep up with her as well. The rest of the Sanzo Party had their auras masked simply because they already had Teitiel's mind tendril implanted in them. It required more power to mask their auras, but it was worth it if they were able to sneak past the Sanzo priest.
"So what is it that you wanted to show us?" asked Goku as he caught up to her strides and walked beside her. They passed through the main floor and walked outside without much hassle. The innkeeper had ran to the kitchen after hearing several things fall. Teitiel inwardly smirked and commanded the youkai that had infiltrated the kitchen to run back into the forest.
"It's a secret," she said with a wink and a light giggle. Goku looked on, transfixed. He could here Gojyo laughing behind him.
"What's so funny, Gojyo?" asked the chimp.
While laughing, Gojyo managed a response, "Oh, no reason." He added a sharp grin. Hakkai just smiled serenely at their little group. Hakuryu flew off Hakkai's shoulder and transformed into Jeep. Teitiel exclaimed in surprise, and Goku was all too happy to explain to her about Hakuryu.
It was still raining, but only lightly, so it wouldn't be much of a problem. 'I hope we don't get too soaked,' thought Hakkai to himself. Gojyo was thinking around the same thing, but looking at the genuinely happy face Goku was sporting was enough for him to not mention anything.
Hakkai, ignoring the conversation behind him as Teitiel and Goku climbed on the back, looked at the passenger seat that was normally occupied by Sanzo.
"What's up? The monk disturbing your thoughts?" asked Gojyo as he adjusted himself into the seat.
Hakkai frowned. "Something like that." He managed a pointed glance at the two in the backseat without them the wiser. "Though I don't care to mention anything at the moment." Gojyo caught on to what Hakkai was saying, but didn't say anything. His face had gained a frown, but quickly replaced it with a slight grin when he noticed that Goku was staring at him.
"What is it, monkey?" Gojyo teased.
Goku huffed in return. "I have nothing to say to you, water sprite, just that Teitiel was wondering when we were gonna start moving."
"Oh!" exclaimed Hakkai, a bit embarrassed. "Pardon me," he said as he turned on the ignition. "Where to?" he asked gently.
Teitiel just smiled warmly at him, although on the inside she was becoming steadily nervous and irritated. She really didn't want to be caught now. "Just head to the area I assume you found me. The thing I want to show you is around there."
"Very well," responded Hakkai as he began to drive in that direction.
Meanwhile…
Sanzo exited his room with a new purpose in his stride. He decided to go to Hakkai's room first. After no one answered his knock he tried the door and was surprised to actually find it open. He searched quickly, but everything was in place and there were no clues as to where they could have gone.
Next he decided to try Gojyo's room, since it was just next to Hakkai's, but once again there was nothing. Sanzo was becoming irritated and he ended up lighting another cigarette to keep himself calm. Finally he checked Goku's room. The rolled up futon was lying on the bed. On top of the table that was in the middle of the room was a box. Upon closer inspection Sanzo realized that it was their game of mahjong they usually end up playing when they have nothing better to do. It seemed that they had played a game since Teitiel would have been the forth person necessary. But nothing in the room gave away to where the rest of the party could be.
With a low grumble from his throat Sanzo made his way back down to the main floor to have another chat with the innkeeper.
In the Forest
After getting out of Jeep Teitiel began to make her way into the forest.
"This way, it's just a bit further," she said, leading the way. Goku followed immediately while Gojyo followed next. Jeep transformed back into Hakuryu. Once the small, white dragon perched on Hakkai's shoulder the green eyed demon whispered something to him. Hakkai looked up at the sky to watch as Hakuryu flew away. Once done he followed right after Gojyo.
"This forest is really dense," commented Hakkai once he caught up with everyone.
"Yes, it's like a natural deterrent. It acts like a shield to keep others away from here. The forest is also sort of like a maze. If I wasn't here to help navigate then you three would have probably gotten lost for several hours at the least," explained Teitiel.
"Oh my, that does sound like a deterrent alright," replied Hakkai.
"Detergent?" asked Goku in a whisper toward Gojyo.
"Not 'detergent' you stupid monkey, 'deterrent'. It means to hold back someone or something," answered Gojyo in an exasperated tone.
"I'm not a monkey," hissed Goku, but ignored Gojyo's comeback and caught up with Teitiel, walking next to her.
As they continued on walking Teitiel checked the tendrils she had implanted on the three other youkai. The one in Goku was exceedingly strong, probably because he was so infatuated with her. His trust made it easier to take over him.
The one in Hakkai was still struggling since the green-eyed man's mind was locked pretty tightly, but that didn't mean that small parts of the tendril hadn't been able to sneak in. If anything, the tendril itself was breaking down and entering into Hakkai's mind ever so slowly, but it was better than nothing. Once enough parts of the tendril entered they would combine together once more and become even stronger.
The one in Gojyo was behaving around the same way. Because he was a half-breed, the tendril-magic was not being absorbed into his mind as readily, but since he trusted her more than Hakkai did it was easier to get the pieces of the tendril slip inside.
Things were progressing, albeit a little slower than she would have liked, but it was better than nothing and she realized this was her only chance.
Finally they came across a small clearing. The trees were thick around the clearing, but at the center it was just grass and some weeds.
"It should just be a little further. This clearing lets us know that we are already three-fourths of the way there," explained Teitiel. As she took one more step further, a knife sung through the air and landed just an inch from her foot. Teitiel let out a shriek. That had been close. Hakkai, Goku, and Gojyo were already in their battles stances, having summoned their weapons. Their backs stood to Teitiel as they guarded her from each side.
"Shit! Did anyone see where that came from?" voiced Gojyo.
"Teitiel! Are you alright?!" asked Goku worriedly.
"Yes, I'm alright, just a little scared."
"Don't worry, we'll protect you. Right guys?"
"Of course Goku. Now concentrate. Can you sense anything?" asked Hakkai as he strained his vision to look through the thicket of trees.
"No, nothing really, but I can smell them," responded Goku, his eyes narrowed.
"How many?"
"I can't say for sure, but at least 10."
What the three youkai didn't know was that the longer they used their powers and weapons the faster her tendril magic worked and invaded their minds. Their demon powers were pretty stagnant, almost dormant, but once they summoned their weapons, even Hakkai's chi energy, their demon power began to flow through their bodies, making them more susceptible to her tendril's power.
In both Hakkai and Gojyo the broken off pieces of the tendril were able to swim through their mind barriers and were now beginning to reattach themselves. The one in Goku was pulsing with power; it was already reaching the limit. Soon enough she would be able to control his body and actions.
Another dagger was suddenly flung from the trees, but Hakkai was quick and flung the a chi ball in that direction. All that resulted from that was a sharp cry as the demon died. Tietiel released a small gasp once the power returned to her from controlling that demon, although it was well hidden as a gasp of astonishment.
Soon demons began pouring out of the forest, their movements odd. Their arms were slung weirdly, as if they were simply hanging there, but their agility was something else. Gojyo, Goku, and Hakkai danced around Teitiel, making sure she was still being protected while at the same time killing as many demons as they could.
Every time another demon was destroyed its power flew back to Teitiel, making her stronger. The strength of the tendrils she controlled inside the remaining members of the Sanzo party increased as well. It was almost time for her plan to be set in motion.
Back at the Inn
Sanzo made his way back down to the main floor and called over the innkeeper.
"Did you see anyone from my party leave the inn?"
"No, nothing Master Sanzo," stuttered out the innkeeper.
Sanzo released a small 'che' as he continued toward the front door.
"Wait!" called out the innkeeper. Sanzo stopped, turned back and lifted an eyebrow at the innkeepers' direction.
"I do remember something strange that did happen. I was standing here after you left, but then I heard a loud noise from the kitchen so I left the room and went to investigate. It took me probably around 7 minutes. Lots of pans were on the ground and several dishes were broken, but no one was around. It was possible that your party could have left during that small time that I was away," explained the innkeeper as he wrung his hands nervously. He hoped that Master Sanzo wouldn't be too irate with him.
Sanzo glared at the innkeeper, but then nodded his head in acknowledgement. Seven minutes would be enough time for a group of people to just walk out. The innkeeper hadn't moved from his station all day except for that small time frame, which meant that those fools were in the inn the whole time and had just left. That, however, didn't help him figure out where they had gone to.
Sanzo walked out the door of the inn and stood outside the building, leaning against the wall deep in thought. From what he heard from the villagers, it always rained when the girl-demon was using her powers. From what he discerned those powers included controlling other youkai. But how did that work? And had she managed to already take control of the three idiots? Probably Goku and Gojyo gave into her already, but he had a little more faith in Hakkai.
The villagers also often spoke of the forest. They were wary of the highly dense area and would avoid it at all costs. Some even went as far as to tell him that any human who entered there never came back. It seemed highly suspicious and his only lead. But just where should he enter the forest from? It was vast and had many openings.
Sanzo bit down on his cigarette in irritation. He had told himself that he was going to let the morons take care of themselves since he didn't want to get mixed up in anything having to do with that Teitiel demon, but to hell with it. He'd probably been the main target from the start.
And if he rescued them after telling them there was something fundamentally wrong with the girl-child then he could hold it over their heads for a while.
Yes, some things were just worth all the trouble.
TBC
A/N: Wow, this update should have come way sooner, but I admit I'm not much into Saiyuki at the moment. I've been exploring some new anime (finally) but regardless I promised myself that I wouldn't ever abandon a story. The whole concept is written out, I just need to type the individual chapters. Thanks to DarkSiren49 and to Angelwahalla and Spazwahalla for their reviews, and thanks to those of you who've read.
Previously Updated: 02-08-2008
Updated: 12-30-2009