Chapter 8 - Deadly Fortune Teller
** I don't own the Saiyuki storyline or the amazing characters **
The sun was shining brightly as the group continued their journey, how ever they had come across a small problem... Demons decided to attack. Sand was being thrown into the air a million different ways in an attempt to blind the group, Rayla knew they were being targeted but surely they at least had something else to do in life. The constant attacks were bringing to get on her nerves.
"Where the hell did you guys come from?" Goku demanded of the group of demons they now were fighting in the sand.
Shakugetsujou was thrust-ed through many demons, "This is getting old fast!" Gojyo complained as his blade returned.
Goku was so busy watching him he missed a few behind him, with only a few slashes they were destroyed as Rayla stood behind Goku, "No kidding, talk about spare time."
"Hey what is this? Kill one demon kill four more for free?" Sanzo asked, his back pressed up against Hakkai.
Hakkai looked over his shoulder ignoring the swarm of demons surrounding them, "I'm still waiting for my prize! After all we've been at it for three days!" He summoned a chi ball and blasted another group of demons.
"Somebody out there must be selling demons by the dozen and you know there's not a single looker in the bunch... at least we got beautiful Rayla." Gojyo said walking up to the other side of Hakkai as Goku went to Sanzo's side.
Rayla was in her usual place beside Goku, "Yet you will never get what you want."
"Hey don't these giveaways usually have free food?" Goku asked innocently.
Rayla shook her head but Hakkai spoke first, "Well if that's the case then this is turning out to be an all you can eat buffet!"
Goku's eyes widened and began to twinkle, "Now that's my kind of sale!"
"I know but it's a little much even for you." Sanzo pointed out as they looked ahead.
Demons were pouring out of the sand as fast as Goku could eat a table of food, each hill was covered with enemies seeking their end. The boys were hardly fazed at all, "Okay it looks like we each take ten a piece... Unless Sanzo can piss Rayla off?"
"Lazy men!" She exclaimed slightly antsy for the fight, "What use would there be for you?"
Goku knew how she felt, "Well alright let's go!" With that they all charged head first in battle.
Several demons and used energy later they still found the demons got back up, no matter how many times they took one down several more got back up. Rayla couldn't help but think of them a corpses, they didn't talk their ear off like all the others... That's it! She thought starting to figure out what was happening around them.
"Notice anything strange about these guys?" Goku asked picking up on what the others had.
They stood in a circle with all their backs together, "You mean the fact that every time we kill them they come back to life as zombies?" Hakkai clarified for Goku.
Sanzo's eyes widen before he touches his scripture, "By the power of the scripture... THE DEAD BEGONE!", He called into the desert.
The power of Sanzo's scripture demolished the demons they had been fighting, group by group. Once done the scripture had finished the job leaving nothing but the weapons the demon corpses had been using. It wasn't the first time Rayla witnessed the power but each new time it still managed to surprise her. All the more reason not to get on the monk's bad side...
"Re-animated corpses..." Rayla muttered as she stood closer to Sanzo, he nodded his head confirming her thoughts.
Goku put both arms behind his head, "Boy, I gotta get me one of those!"
"Defeating those demonic nitwits is nothing for a scripture of this power." Sanzo told Goku who just hummed in response.
Rayla was more concerned about who had sent them and for what reason, she had the distinct feeling more pain would be heading their way, "We have far more pressing matters." She told them gaining Sanzo's attention from his scripture.
Sanzo looked her in the eyes with complete silence, she was waiting for something, anything other than his silent stare, "Very well, Shall we go?"
*Anime fall* "Did you really need to take that long to say that?" Rayla demanded of him; her fist in his face.
She only earned a smirk making her far more angry before Goku launched himself onto her back wrapping his arms around her neck with a big smile making her cheek turns a slight pink, "It's okay Ray-Ray, Sanzo really does like you."
0.0 "Th... That's not the issue Goku!" She stuttered.
Gojyo laughed at her discomfort before pointing out some important matters, "Okay, somebody had to be manipulating these guys."
"Could it be Kougaiji?" Goku asked now standing right beside Rayla.
Sanzo opened his eyes thinking, "Perhaps..."
Hakuryuu how had been flying in the air around them landed and transformed off to the side before they all climbed in to continue their journey, the sinking Rayla had slowly became stronger.
Hakkai was driving with Sanzo beside him in the front, Gojyo was behind Hakkai while Rayla sat right behind Sanzo and Goku was beside her sitting next to Gojyo. Goku suddenly leaned right over Rayla's chest making her uncomfortable again but earned snickers from both Hakkai and Gojyo.
"Hey Sanzo, you know that vest you always wearing?" Goku asked him.
Sanzo was confused, "What are you talking about?"
"He means the Matan scripture." Hakkai clarified for him.
Goku smiled and leaned more towards Hakkai, "Ya! If you don't mind me saying so that scripture kicked some serious ass! All those zombies in one shot, Whoa!"
"Your ass is going to get kicked if you don't get off me..." Rayla growled out the warning to Goku who decided to position himself so he was now barely sitting her lap, she sighed. Why do I bother arguing with any of them... She thought to herself.
"Yes Goku..." Sanzo said but it was obvious his mind had drifted.
Goku turned to Rayla, "Hey Ray-Ray? Are you able to control elements like Kougaiji's fire?"
"Yes, I was curious of that myself." Hakkai agreed pushing to know more.
She sighed, this would only mean more work for her, "Yes, Water and Wind though I don't control them just manipulate them."
"That's so cool! Can you-" Goku stopped mid sentence as something in the distance caught his attention.
Goku didn't notice how ever as began to call his name to get his attention, "Sanzo... Sanzo... Take a look at that!"
Sanzo's eyes widen before they looked into the direction Goku was nagging him about, Slowly the sand receded before a town came into view. Rayla knew it was only a matter of seconds so she reached into her pack, "Ah all that zombie killing sure made me hungry!" Right on time... Ray thought as she handed Goku a meat bun.
His eyes sparkled as he took the food from Ray, "Ray-Ray you are the best!" He praised before he downed it in one bite.
"If we stop we might run into more of them though." Gojyo stated making Goku turn and glare, "But I'm still starving!"
"Tough shit." Gojyo brushed him off.
Goku stood to yell at Gojyo, "Look I'm hungry, I'll eat you if we don't get a burger right now!"
"Your damn right your gonna eat me you twisted little monkey faggot! At least you have Ray looking after your lazy ass!" Gojyo yelled right back using his head to push Goku done.
Goku did the same thing back, "I'm not the one with girly hair and your just mad cause Ray-Ray doesn't like you!"
"My hair? My hair? Your in a bitch because your nothing but a kid! A stupid kid monkey!" Gojyo yelled back.
Hakkai smiled as Rayla sighed, "When they get like this I usually just like to go to my own happy place." Hakkai told her and Sanzo.
"Are you really able to tune them out?" Sanzo asked skeptical.
Hakkai put a finger to his cheek thinking, "Mmmmm Nope."
A vein popped on Sanzo's cheekbone, "Now Sanzo I'm sure they'll stop..." Rayla tried to soothe him but it was pointless as Sanzo leaned over to hit them both over the head with his 'old man fan'.
Once they had made into town the arguing a cease to a minimal, the streets were bustling with humans. The appearance made Rayla think there was a celebration going on but that thought was over ridden by Goku's needing stomach.
"Wow, Do you know how long it's been since we've been shopping?" Goku asked as he lead the group with his arms behind his head.
Sanzo was behind him with Hakkai and Gojyo on each side, Rayla was trailing behind keeping her senses sharp, "I'm actually relaxed." Gojyo added.
"Good." Sanzo put simply not caring.
Hakkai smiled, "I forgot what it feels like without having demons around causing trouble." He paused and looked behind at Ray, "Try to relax, Ray. Your under far to much stress." "Hm."
Goku's eyes widened as he became excited coming up to a meat bun stand, "Wow!" he stated standing infront, "Your beautiful!"
He turned his stared eyes on Sanzo, "HEY SANZO! I want to you to buy me some of these!"
"Nah ugh."
"Why not I'm not fasting..."
"I'm not listening!"
"Ah just give the kid a meat bun." Hakkai said enjoying the situation.
They bickered between each other till Goku realized something, he ran over to Ray and hugged her. She was wide eyed stunned, she looked down to find the 'puppy dog' eyes, "Ray-Ray... Sanzo's being mean to me again and I'm so hungry!"
"Don't even try it Rayla! Brats only whine cause you give them what they want!" Sanzo snapped at her.
Gojyo leaned on Sanzo, "My, My, My, My, look how quickly the droopy eyed priest and the evil witch became the mother and father around here."
"Wanna say that again?" Sanzo and Rayla said together as a blade was pressed against his neck and Sanzo's revolver pressed to Gojyo's nose.
A man's voice caught all of their attention, "Excuse me gentleman and young lady! Over here!" That chill Ray felt crawled down her spine as she faced the voice of a man.
"Your all travelers, yes? Come here, sit and I will tell you what awaits you on your journey." He offered. His hair was short and spiky pale blue, his eyes were closed as his hands held each other infront of his face.
Rayla stood closest to front as if acting as shield, "Humph, we've got no time to listen to you and your fortune's buddy." Gojyo told him as Goku continued to ask for a meat bun from Sanzo.
Rayla sheathed her blade before grabbing Goku's hand and pulling him to the stand not even a few inches from the creepy fortune teller. She stopped short as he chuckled at them, Goku too turned and looked.
"Tell me now, do you know how closely you walk with death?" The unknown man said as he finally opened his eyes.
Ray was once again nervous, her hand on her handle of her blades as she stood right behind Goku, Sanzo noticed her actions, "Hey! Mind your own business!"
"Yes. Yes. No need to answer I see it in your face." The creep told them.
They whole group was on alert now, "Who are you?"
"Death walks especially with you!" Creep said as he raised a boney finger to point at Hakkai, Rayla jumped infront of him ready to attack. The action made him chuckled as Hakkai placed a calm hand on her shoulder as thanks, "You can deceive those others with those pretty boy looks but I can see the darkness behind those eyes, sins beyond atonement and a scar... yes! A scar on your belly."
Hakkai's green eyes widen as his hand reached down to the very scar the creep mentioned, "Hey freak! Your just a con artist!" Goku yelled getting angry himself.
"I can shut him up forever for you..." Rayla whispered to Hakkai making him snap out of his nightmare. He looked at her and blinked, "No need Ray, Thank you."
"Why young sir I only say this out of concern of your group, Who am I but just a silly man who tells fortunes. Perhaps you would prefer to look at my Mahjong pieces? Your female friend is far to angry it might help." Creepy said still pointing in their general direction.
Ray ground her teeth to hold back her anger, "Mahjong pieces?" Goku was confused.
"Yes, My pieces tell people's fate's. See." He said as he held up a single piece and the black slowly came to the white side of the piece, "Things do not look good for you."
"Hey how did you do that?" Goku demanded but an explosion made them all look away, "What the...?" Sanzo asked shortly.
Black smoke rose not far from them as waves of dust was being flown around, "What the hell is that?" Hakkai asked no one in particular.
The dust cleared and there stood a massive crab, the towns people panicked as they quickly ran away. Ray couldn't blame their fear but she had yet to meet a human with any courage...
"Well Goku, looks like you got your wish. That there is one hell of a meat bun." Gojyo told him.
Goku looked at the giant creature, "Looks a little tough to me, you try it!"
Sanzo pointed at something, "Hey everyone check that out. Look at it's breast plate!" They followed the direction of his arm and found writing on the creatures chest, "It's sandscrid!"
"Looks like a shikigomi!"
"He's right!"
"That means it was created using black magic to seal an evil script inside it's chest." Sanzo informed them.
Gojyo didn't seem all that fazed, "What ever it is, it hardly seems fair to send something that big. It's just... in-human." Hakkai's attention was brought to the creep who was no longer at the table he once sat at. Sanzo too was looking in the same direction, no doubt wondering if that man was to blame for the giant crab.
Rayla drew her blades, "Who cares, I could feed Goku for months with this sucker!" Ray said as she walked up behind Sanzo.
The creature noticed her stance and charged at them, they all dodged as the dust once again began to clear, "Boy, he doesn't hold back. What ever should we do?" Gojyo asked with sarcasm.
"Isn't obvious? Kick its ass and let Ray-Ray cook the bastard!" Goku said with a fist pump in the air.
Gojyo smirked, "hm, I don't know if any of you guys are hungry but I'm gonna help serve up some crab stew!" He summoned his staff.
"When are these guys gonna learn?" Goku asked no one as he summoned his Nyoi-bo, "Don't mess with me when I'm shopping!"
They all waited as the crab charged them head on, but suddenly all their eyes grew wide. A little girl stepped out infront of them, a demon girl! When the crab got close she punched it with all her strength and blew a massive hole into it's chest with a huge explosion!
When the dust cleared for everyone a little orange haired girl demon bounced up into their view, "All right! Who wants a piece of me?"
They blinked, "She's... Adorable!" Rayla muttered as she earned a few odd looks from her companions, "Deny it all you want but it's true."
"Listen to me you bunch of do gooders! Prepare to meet your doom!" She told them pointing her finger at them.
Majority of them looked dumbfounded besides Sanzo who looked bored and Rayla who was staring at the child, "I'm not really up for it, why don't you guys take her?" Gojyo suggested with that same expression. -.-
"Maybe we should just... ignore her?" Hakkai suggested.
Gojyo noticed something, "Hey Hakkai, Doesn't she remind you of someone that we know?"
"You know she is a little like Goku, Ray likes her so the point stands." Hakkai agreed.
"Shut up, Hakkai!" Rayla retorted with a vein popped.
"Goku, you go play with her."
Goku turned and looked at Gojyo, "Ah, send Ray-Ray!"
That seemed to annoy the little girl, "You guys aren't taking me seriously, I'm not a little girl!" She yelled at them.
She went and charged at them head, she paused and realized she had been grabbed by the back of her collar. Sanzo held her in the air, "Let me down! Put me down! Let me down, Let me down!" She repeated over and over again swinging her arms and legs.
"Sanzo! That's not how you treat a girl!" Rayla snapped at him angered as she grabbed a bun from her pack.
The child stopped suddenly as Rayla held out the meat bun, "Finally, now shut up and eat!" Sanzo said clearly annoyed.
She looked at the food in Rayla's outstretched hand, "Okay!" She said before snatching it and stuffing it into her mouth.
Gojyo and Hakkai were stunned, "Oh my!" They watched as Rayla handed another one to Goku, Sanzo stood beside her so they were between Goku and the girl hanging from Sanzo's arm, "They sure are good at taming wild animals" Hakkai said.
Gojyo snorted, "What did Ray call him? Ringleader of the Primates! Suits well."
"Put her down!" A familiar voice called out.
They all looked up to find Kougaiji on the rumble, "Well if it isn't Sanzo!"
"Kougiji..."
"You hand over my little sister right now!"
Hakkai smiled and called out, "Please come down and take her by all means."
"Shut up Hakkai! I happen to think she's adorable!" Rayla said but Kougaiji and his companions heard, "Were not keeping another Monkey, Rayla!" Sanzo told her with a glare.
The little girl waved at her elder brother before taking another meat bun from Rayla, "Hey there, it's good to see ya!" She called out contently.
Kougiji placed a clawed hand over his face, "You idiot! Get your ass up here!"
"Oh so you think your getting out if here that easily do ya? I'm waiting!" Goku taunted.
Kougiji smirked, "Hm, be right there!" He disappeared from sight.
"All right! Let's finish what we started the last time!" Goku said pumped as he too disappeared from sight after Kougaiji.
Above them the blurs could be seen as they matched punch for punch, kick for kick. Hakkai and Yaone were next to squared off as they smiled at one another, "Hello again!"
"What's up?"
"I was wondering, if your not doing anything would you consider maybe being my opponent? If you want to!"
"Why I would be honored!" They bowed before taking offensive stances.
Rayla sighed, "Wonderful there two Hakkai's now!"
Sanzo was squatting still holding the young girl while she continued to eat, he too gave a bored sigh as he looked over at the last of their companions. Gojyo flung his sickle at the last of Kougaiji's companions, he how ever caught it with ease, "So it looks like it's just you and me, shoulder pad" Gojyo exclaimed with over confidence.
"Gojyo, Huh it is you. You know I wasn't a hundred percent sure until I saw you face to face." He said.
Gojyo was stunned wide eyed as Rayla and Sanzo listened closer, "It can't be..."
"Yeah." He confirmed Gojyo's thoughts as she snapped the chain with his wrist. Gojyo was silent for a moment, "It is you... brother but why did you come back after all this time? huh?" He demanded.
That's Jien? Rayla thought to herself, "Sorry for the late introduction but I'm afraid I've given my allegiance to Lord Kougaiji." He informed Gojyo as he summoned a sword into his hand, "and once I've made a promise, no man, enemy or brother, can ever make me break it!" He exclaimed as he pointed the blade at Gojyo.
"Hm, Well that's to bad because I don't break them either!" Gojyo yelled the last part as he charged head on.
It was now set that all of them had someone to either fight with or in Sanzo's case babysit. Rayla waited knowing she couldn't interfere with any of the fights, she wasn't helping Sanzo at all! She could hear Goku enjoy his battle when she suddenly felt a deep shiver crawl down here spine, "Sanzo, I were being watched..."
To be continued!