Chapter 6 - Unchangeable Past

** I don't own the Saiyuki storyline or Characters ***

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"Shit, it looks like it's going to rain." Sanzo pointed out clearly annoyed by the weathers chosen time to interrupt their trip. Yet again they were driving in the jeep hoping that they would be able to make it to some shelter in time, night had already fallen.

Gojyo tried to be re-assuring, "There's got to be an inn around here somewhere."

"I've got a thousand yen that says it's going to start before we find a place!"

Gojyo didn't back down, "Your on!"

"That's a sissy bet, let's put some real money on it?" Hakkai suggested.

Rayla shook her head, "Weren't you supposed to be the mature one?" She asked him.

"That's why your here Ray." Hakkai said with his charming smile, she sighed, "What's wrong Goku? Have to take a piss?" Sanzo asked him making Ray look over towards Goku.

"No it's just... I smell something weird."

A black crow flew out of the branches and into the sky, "Ya, somethings not right." Sanzo agreed.

Goku's eyes widen all of a sudden as he yelled to stop, the car spun sideways and into an abrupt stop, "Damn it!" Rayla as she bashed her head off of Sanzo's.

They got out of the car and found bodies all over the area, "What the hell happened here?" Gojyo wondered out loud.

Several demons were dead against the tree on the side others were scattered ceremonially all over the area. Upon closer looks something was seen on them, "Those talismans..." Sanzo muttered to himself yet Ray still heard him a she stood beside him.

The rain had begun to poor just before the five of them made it to an inn located in the closest town, "Looks like I owe you a thousand yen." Hakkai said to Sanzo as a young women came into their room with a knock. Rayla was behind a screen as she changed into something dry for the time being which happened to Hakkai's button down top.

"Here, I've brought everyone some hot tea." She offered with a kind smile, "Over there please." Hakkai said kindly to her.

"Your lucky I had a last minute vacancy, you know?"

It was beginning to creep Ray out on how much the women smiled as Rayla came out behind the screen, "This is a dump..." Gojyo stated rudely, "Do you have any manner's cockroach?" Rayla asked the rhetorical question.

"I have many things for you..." He purred back, "Shut it you two and I thought the demon corpses would be the low point of the evening." Sanzo added. How ever it never stopped any of them from noticing Rayla's long legs that were now exposed.

Smiles had some useful information, "Oh! That must be Rikudo again."

"Rikudo?" Hakkai asked as more clothing was set on the hanger to dry.

"Who's that?" Goku added in wanting to know as well.

She giggled slightly, "You don't know who Rikudo is? Then you all must be from the east, we don't know much about him but he's considered a savior around here. People say he's a monk who wanders the country side slaying demons. Few have ever actually seen him but those who have say he's seven foot tall with talismans all over his body capable of destroying a hundred demon in a pop! Now if you'll excuse me, I've got cookies in the oven. I'll bring you some."

Then women left and Rayla couldn't help herself, "She smiles so much it creeps me out more than Hakkai..."

He smiled at her again to annoy her, succeeding his face turned serious, "So that explains the talismans we saw on those corpses."

Sanzo's mind drifted off as Gojyo got up to go flirt with another women living at the inn, "So you live here too? Where's your room?"

"Um, I'm not sure I should tell you..." She answered back nervous.

Gojyo didn't give up how ever, "Oh that's okay, ya ever done it in the rain?"

A vein popped on Rayla's brow listening to the pervert, "Uh... why... you..."

WHACK!

Sanzo hit Gojyo right over the head as lightning cracked out side, "Damn it Gojyo can't I leave you alone for one minute without you chasing after some tart?" Rayla stood beside Sanzo nodding her head in agreement.

"Hey don't you two you take out your sexual frustrations out on me lovers!" Gojyo replied hotly.

Rayla went to go hit him again when Sanzo stopped her from intervening, "Remember the mess you got us into after your last escapade?"

"What kind of faggot fight's with a fan anyway?"

"The kind that can kick your ass!"

"Just hit the idiot again already you lazy monk!"

"The witch is calling me lazy?"

"Look the lover's are having a spat!"

WHACK! WHACK!

"It's so nice of you to put us up for the night and thanks again so much for the wonderful tea!" Hakkai said holding the tea as he sat in his chair, "I promise you'll hardly even know were here at all!"

It was early in the morning when the rain began to poor harder the sun still had yet to shine, Sanzo had awoken abruptly which in turn woke Hakkai. Rayla had been awake for half an hour certain something was bound to happen and when a scream rang through the inn she knew she had been right.

All of them were up and running to were they heard the scream come from, "It came from the kitchen." Hakkai informed them.

When they got to the kitchen they found the inn keeper collapsed against the door, "What's wrong?" Gojyo asked her concerned.

"A demon!" she cried.

They busted the door open and stood to find her claims were correct a is breathed heavily, "Why you bastard, how could you? You ate all the cookies!" Goku screamed as he charged forward not watching his back.

"Goku look out behind you." Hakkai yelled and Rayla reacted instantly. She stood at Goku's back prepared, one katana's blade sliced through the demon in one quick attack. It paused briefly before falling to the ground defeated.

"Thanks Ray-Ray!" Goku said with a smile, "But I had it!" (Irk)

Gojyo had to comment, "You know I've never seen you two this active in the morning."

"Stuff it!" Rayla snapped while Goku smirked, "I have my days, kicking demon ass is better than coffee for me."

Talismans flew through the air landing and covering the demons body catching everyone else's attention. They screamed in agony as they began to go up in spiritual flames, "That is so disgusting man..." Gojyo put in.

"I draw upon the power of the Talisman to parish these demons from the land of the living and send them back from where they came." A scratchy voice chanted making Sanzo turn surprised, "Hear my name demons, I am Rikudo and I will rid the world of every last one of you."

Sanzo kept staring at the priest while Rayla stepped out to stand in front of the other three making sure her posture wasn't aggressive, her nerves were set on edge at the determination in his voice, "Shuei..." Sanzo whispered into the morning air.

Not long after the women that they came to rescue of earlier came with the inn keeper in hysteria so thankful for being saved but ignored the rest of them.

"How can we ever thank you, Master Rikudo?" The cook asked sincerely.

His scratchy voice declined, "Slaying demons is my only reward."

Gojyo was skeptical, "This guy's Rikudo?"

Sanzo kept staring the back of the priest, something was clearly on his mind that was bugging him. Rayla watched him concerned as to what could be bugging him, she knew the main points of his past after being with them the longest. Something about the name Shuei was nagging at the back of her mind, she could swear she had heard Sanzo mention him once to her.

"Who ever he is, he sure took care of that problem for us." Gojyo sounded grateful, "I believe I had already dealt with one..." Rayla argued as she began to walk away with Goku.

"That's right now back to bed." He commented as he yawned.

"Wait." Rikudo called to them, "Not all of you are human." The three boys looked at Rayla with clear question marks, "What?" Gojyo asked.

"So tell us mister brainstorm, what ever gave you that idea?" Hakkai asked taking some of the attention off of her.

Rikudo didn't back down, "I can smell you, I can smell your stench from here. You!" He pointed at Ray, "You carry several scents..."

"Your no bed of roses either pal." Goku shot back slightly annoyed.

Rikudo pulled out four talismans prepared, "You, I made a vow to destroy all demon kind!"

"Well I don't that's very nice, you could at least get to know us." Goku suggested. It only made him throw his talismans at their intended targets, They all jumped out of the way as the talismans landed onto the wall behind where they once stood. Goku landed further away from the others on the other side of the room and over Rikudo.

Rikudo went to attack Goku from behind with his staff when it hit a males arm before it could touch Goku, Sanzo had stopped the attack making Rikudo pause, eyes wide, "Shuei, is that any way to greet a friend?" That's it! I remember now... Rayla thought as her own eyes widened briefly. Shuei had been one of the few who treated Sanzo as a human being throughout his childhood, it wasn't often Sanzo talked about his past so when he does Rayla plants it in her memory.

"It can't be..." Rikudo/Shuei said stunned.

Sanzo no longer seemed surprised or quiet, "Certainly there's no point in wasting your talent offing these pussies."

Irk, "What did he just call me?" Rayla grumbled annoyed.

"Wait, you know him?" Goku asked over looking what Sanzo said.

Rikudo became to chuckle and not long did it turn into a full blown crazy man laugh, "Funny, I heard a rumor about a renegade Sanzo priest heading west. Never thought I'd find him and his demon misfits in a place like this. So Koryu or should I say Genjo Sanzo, did you forget that it was vile like this that killed you predecessor? Are our enemies now friends?"

"Well Shuei, if that's still your name. Did you forget what it means to be a holy man of faith?" Sanzo countered.

Rikudo became angry, "Shuei didn't forget, Shuei died the day you left the temple 10 years ago..." Rikudo relived Shuei's last moments and explained how Sanzo became the monk he is, his fellows accused Sanzo of killing his master while Shuei tried to defend him. Sanzo had requested a chance for revenge in return for the killing of his master, that was why Sanzo had left the temple.

"In the morning, you descended the mountain to exact your revenge but that night the demon burglars attack again for the Matan Scripture they failed to cease before not knowing you had taken them with you! If they could defeat you and Master Sanzo you can image what they did to those defenseless monks." The truth was hard to swallow for Sanzo and the pain was obvious for Rikudo, "I had no choice but to use a forbidden Talisman to cast a curse upon myself and acquire the power to destroy all demons."

"You... you used the spell of Araya?" Sanzo asked stunned.

Rikudo didn't avoid anything, "Of coarse, but once cast the spell of Araya can never be reversed and I will never again know mercy..." He removed the right side of his clothing to reveal the Talisman stuck to his heart beating with veins popping all around it, "The talisman craves the blood of demons only the devouring of their dark souls can satisfy is and ease my suffering."

It was obvious that Shuei was no long in control, "I will only know pain so long as demons walk upon the face of the earth for ten years I have murdered their kind innocent or otherwise but now that demons have started attacking humans people have begun revering me as some kind of hero." His crazy laughter began as he cackled at his own joke.

Rayla felt sick to her stomach, "Isn't that delicious?" He asked.

"He's just cracking himself up." Goku pointed out.

Rayla cringed, "I think I might be sick..."

"Ya and he calls us demons." Gojyo agreed.

Rayla paused to look at Sanzo, she realized this must have been causing him some pain. She couldn't help feel bad for the situation he had now been placed in.

"Shuei, surely you can see the talismans turned into some kind of a monster." Sanzo tried to reason with him.

Rikudo didn't feel the same way, "How about I show you, just what kind of monster I am?"

"I... I think it's about time to go." Hakkai suggested wanting to avoid the fight.

Goku didn't seem to pick up on that, "But it's raining."

"Ya, ya and your point is?" Gojyo said as they all booked it outside before Rikudo could attack.

Once outside they were instantly drenched with the pouring rain, Rayla wasn't bothered by the rain but rather the problem they now had. I doubt he will just let us run away... She thought looking around.

"God this rain sucks!" Gojyo complained.

"I can't see a thing." Hakkai added in his own complaint.

Rayla could feel a shiver crawl up her spine. "Hakkai, Ray-Ray! Behind you!" Goku called to them a little to late.

Hakkai turned with arm in air for a punch but Rikudo caught it with ease, "Let him go!" Ray screamed as she went to help release Hakkai. Before she could touch him, his staff slammed into her stomach hard causing her to cough up a bit of blood and fly backwards into a tree.

"Ray! How dare you touch her!" Hakkai glaring at Rikudo with pure hatred.

Hakkai's arm began to steam and sizzle, "I wouldn't try that, I could dissolve you by the mere touch of my hand."

"She said, LET GO OF HIM, Prude face!" Goku yelled as he charged with Nyoi-bo ready. Goku was hit with the man's staff as well and knocked him back far more gently.

Rayla stood to let the others know she was alright as Hakkai was released roughly, "Ugh well don't just stand there." Goku said to Sanzo who stood of into a near by building to avoid the rain.

"Yes, aren't you going to help your demon friends?" Rikudo taunted Sanzo.

"No, I'm not because you know it doesn't matter very much if I help these guys or not. Believe me they won't die anyway." Sanzo pointed out soundly slightly disappointed by that fact.

Gojyo smirked at the comment, "Ya that's true enough."

"Besides he probably wouldn't be prayer for our souls anyways, well maybe Ray's." Hakkai informed him.

Rikudo became annoyed by the comments, "We'll see about that!"

"Some of our spells are useless against this guy." Goku said concerned.

"None have my attacks have worked and even Ray was chucked around." Gojyo comment making Rayla slightly annoyed, "Any of you guys got any bright ideas?"

Hakkai was sarcastic, "Have we tried running away yet?"

Sanzo gripped his gun slightly tighter and he began to walk forwards, "Shuei, your avenging days are over. You know this is only one way to end this curse."

"No!" Goku yelled making Sanzo stop, "Get out of my way!" Sanzo yelled at Goku who was standing infront.

Rayla tried to go to Goku but Hakkai held her back, "How can you go and kill him like that without thinking. Isn't he your friend?"

Goku and Sanzo stared each other down, "Huh?"

"You make me sick!" Rikudo said as he appeared behind Goku and went o stab him through the back. Eyes widen at the sight that was before them... Sanzo had jumped in between to protect Goku.

The rain seemed to pour harder, "Wait... Sanzo..." Goku was sitting on the ground with Sanzo in his lap unconscious, "SANZO! Sanzo you gotta wake up! Sanzo, wake up!" Goku cried as the rest of them came over to check on Sanzo.

"You weren't meant to die like this just hold on man!" Gojyo tried to urge as Sanzo rolled himself out of Goku's lap, bleeding heavily.

Rayla stared wide eyed, "S-S-SANZO!"

"SANZO!"

To be continued...

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