It was like a bolt of lightning struck Hakkai in the forehead, he still was able to hold onto reality, but it was so much harder with one of his barriers gone. He couldn't help the small whimpers that escaped his lips as he could practically feel his irises slimming just like his grasp on reality. Sanzo growled as he looked through the pouring rain into Hakkai's now slit-pupil eyes.
"Tell me, what are you going to do, Sanzo?" Gojyo taunted as he took hold of the next cuff down Hakkai's ear.
"Damnit." Sanzo looked over to Goku but found he was missing. He looked back to Gojyo and Hakkai and caught a glimpse of a bush shake a little from behind the possessed half breed. *Ch. He's clumsy* Sanzo thought to himself.
"Please, Gojyo. Don't do this." Hakkai twisted his head as best he could and stared into Gojyo's eyes, pleading with all he had. Hakkai's voice shook as he held back the hate bubbling inside of him and concentrated on not ripping Gojyo's face in half. "I know you can...fight this, Gojyo."
The Kappa looked back, his tone turning soft and familiar. "Hakkai, I'm so sorry..."
Hakkai smiled, ecstatic that he could finally get through to his best friend. "Thank Gods."
But as a streak of lighting cracked the sky and Hakkai could see a twisted smile snake across Gojyo's lips. "Sorry...That this might hurt you a bit. See you on the other side, Hakkai." With that, Gojyo yanked off the second ear cuff and threw it over his shoulder.
Hakkai did everything in his power to keep from biting his tongue off as his brain began to split in half. He let out a hoarse scream as the effects of the poison that rained from the sky made the remaining restraint more and more obsolete by the moment. All the hate he bottled up inside of him for years was pouring out. Chin Iisou, the Black Crow Clan, every single demon that stood in his way of Kanan. Oh, Kanan....how could anyone disgrace her like that?!! The blood that would have to be spilt in order to make up for such a deed was unfathomable. He'd make them pay. He'd make them all pay!
Gojyo grinned as he held tightly onto Hakkai. The thoughts that began to resurface made Hakkai jump forward unexpectedly or threaten with a growl to rip out Gojyo's neck every few seconds. "Never thought he was capable of this." Gojyo finally managed to hold Hakkai still enough and just as he was about to go for the last cuff, he was knocked in the head with a hard, blunt object from behind. He lost his hold on Hakkai who fell to the ground and immediately curled into a ball. He grabbed his head to keep it from dividing as he tried to shut out the images of carnage that flooded his consciousness.
Gojyo stumbled forward in a daze and tried to keep his balance as the ground swayed in front of him. It was then Sanzo decided that he should use the sacred scripture to at least hold down Gojyo for the time being and possibly Hakkai if he couldn't hold himself together.
Realizing who had hit him, Gojyo spun around to face Goku who was barely able to keep himself standing by leaning heavily on his Nyoi-bou. The posessed half breed bared his fangs, "Stupid monkey!" Gojyo lunged at Goku and to his surprise, Gojyo was easily able to pin him to a tree. So hard in fact, that the bark cracked around Goku's frame and the tree groaned at the force it took. "What's with you, man?! Why are you doing this? Gojyo!"
Gojyo grinned and held up a hand to strike his victim, when he was suddenly enveloped in the glowing scripture controlled by the priest in back of him. Gojyo roared in frustration as he struggled to finish off the chimp, clawing at the air until his arms were wrapped to his sides. He was lifted into the air and held there, his fierce eyes the only part of his body exposed from the holy scripture.
Goku sighed in relief, but the feeling was washed away as he was bit with another plague of images. He closed his eyes tight and hunched over, trying to keep the pictures from going deeper into his mind as unconsciously, his hand began to creep to the golden coronet around his head. Goku caught himself just as the fingers brushed the cool metal, "No!" Digging his claws into the tree out of frustration, he screamed up into the heavy rain clouds, "What the hell is going on?!"
* * *
Sanzo was doing all he could to hold onto Gojyo, who had become much stronger than he anticipated. "Hey, Hakkai?!" The priest glanced over to the shivering heap that was Hakkai with concerned violet eyes. *Oh man...He's not going to make it.* Sanzo bit his lip anxiously as Hakkai slowly lifted himself from the ground.
Calmly, Hakkai looked to Sanzo and smiled, barely revealing the sharp, elongated fangs he now possessed. A delicate vine pattern snaked across Hakkai's face and he shook his lengthened, shaggy hair from his cool eyes.
"Hakkai..." Sanzo looked to Hakkai with an almost sad expression on his face. At that instant, he knew he was royally fucked. At that instant, he knew he wouldn't escape this situation with his life without banishing one of his friends and for once, he realized how much he cared for them all. The idea made him slightly nauseous and even more irritable than he already was.
"Yes?" Hakkai cocked his head to the side as he responded to the sound of his name that he heard with his now pointed, demon ears. He laughed lightly, just barely audible over the sound of the grating wind and pounding raindrops. "You know..." Hakkai looked down at his soaked, clawed hands and grinned, "I've never felt so very...alive." With that statement, Hakkai vanished into the wind, appearing as though his body was blown away with the cold breeze.
"Shit." Sanzo got ready for anything to be dealt to him and growled in frustration when he realized he couldn't sense Hakkai aura anywhere. Out of nowhere, Sanzo felt a warm breath on his ear as a small laugh escaped through Hakkai's lips. "Boo."
Sanzo grabbed his gun, but wasn't able to aim as his wrist was grasped by an solid, unforgiving hand. The priest was trying with everything he had to hold onto Gojyo with the scripture, but he could see his predicament with Hakkai caused its power to waiver. Sanzo cursed under his breath as he tried to pull his arm free of Hakkai's steel hold.
The priest found himself for the first time, wishing he could have the help of the monkey, but he saw that was out of the question as he watched Goku from the corner of his eye. Goku was leaned against a tree with his forehead to the bark as he raked his claws down the unfortunate oak. Sanzo had no doubt Goku was trying with everything he had to maintain his sanity and for once, Sanzo was truely terrified when he realized what could happen if Goku let go.
Goku had tears streaming down his face as the world slowly tore apart. He was so angry with himself for being so weak and continued to take his frustration out on the tree. *I have to hold on...I can't...Sanzo!* "Oh Gods....I'm so sorry." Son Goku let out a small sob as his hand formed a mind of its own and took hold of the golden coronet that kept him grounded in reality. Slowly, the barrier that kept the monster at bay was peeled away and discarded as if it were nothing.
* * *
Sanzo's hope disintegrated as he was spun around to stare at Hakkai's perpetually smiling face. Though as he looked into Hakkai's eyes, he could see a falter in his expression. The one ear cuff that remained was just barely holding onto any reason Hakkai had left, which made Sanzo feel a little light of hope in this dark situation. But that feeling was crushed as Hakkai sensed the object of Sanzo's attention. With a fateful movement of his hand, Hakkai took hold of the cuff and pulled it from his ear, waving it in Sanzo's face. Sanzo's stomach dropped as Hakkai was lost and a new wave of dread washed over him.
"Ah, it feels so good to get these off. You have *no* idea how uncomfortable they are to sleep on." Something clicked in the demon's head as he stared into Sanzo's tired eyes with his own cold, unfamiliar ones. "I noticed you haven't been getting enough sleep lately and it's starting to show." Hakkai's smile twisted into a sick grin. "Let me help you remedy that...*friend.*" Hakkai practically hissed the last word as he yanked on Sanzo's arm.
Sanzo gasped in surprise as he was pulled forward and felt a shockwave ripple through his body as Hakkai's knee severely bruised all the internal organs in Sanzo's gut. He felt the wind knocked out of him and blood rise in his throat as he was tossed to the side. "Hak--kai..." Sanzo could barely get enough air into his lungs to gasp out Hakkai's name as a small trickle of blood streamed from his lips.
Hakkai stood over Sanzo with the "cheerful" smile situated back on his face as he tossed the useless power limiter onto the priest's chest. "Well, I'm going to go play with him." Hakkai looked over as Gojyo was finally free of the scripture and casually dusting himself off. "But don't worry, I'll come back and tuck you in."
* * *
The Merciful Goddess watched eagerly at the scene unfolding as her right hand, Jiroushin looked over her shoulder. "Well, it looks like they've gotten trapped in quite a difficult situation this time."
"Aren't you going to assist them at all?" Jiroushin suggested as he focused on Sanzo's pitiful form.
The goddess smiled, "We'll see how these events unfold a little further. Though I may have to intervene if everything keeps going downhill for Konzen. After all, I want them to finish this mission first before they go and kill each other."
"But why wait?!"
"I hate to say this, but it's fascinating to see the side of Tenpou, rather Hakkai that has been restricted by the power limiters."
"Merciful Goddess! Sometimes I wonder if you truly have any shred of humanity."
The Goddess made herself more comfortable as she shifted in the hard marble seat. "So do I." With that said, she ignored the rest of Jiroushin's unimportant chatter and continued to watch the happenings of the lower world through the lilies.
"Tell me, what are you going to do, Sanzo?" Gojyo taunted as he took hold of the next cuff down Hakkai's ear.
"Damnit." Sanzo looked over to Goku but found he was missing. He looked back to Gojyo and Hakkai and caught a glimpse of a bush shake a little from behind the possessed half breed. *Ch. He's clumsy* Sanzo thought to himself.
"Please, Gojyo. Don't do this." Hakkai twisted his head as best he could and stared into Gojyo's eyes, pleading with all he had. Hakkai's voice shook as he held back the hate bubbling inside of him and concentrated on not ripping Gojyo's face in half. "I know you can...fight this, Gojyo."
The Kappa looked back, his tone turning soft and familiar. "Hakkai, I'm so sorry..."
Hakkai smiled, ecstatic that he could finally get through to his best friend. "Thank Gods."
But as a streak of lighting cracked the sky and Hakkai could see a twisted smile snake across Gojyo's lips. "Sorry...That this might hurt you a bit. See you on the other side, Hakkai." With that, Gojyo yanked off the second ear cuff and threw it over his shoulder.
Hakkai did everything in his power to keep from biting his tongue off as his brain began to split in half. He let out a hoarse scream as the effects of the poison that rained from the sky made the remaining restraint more and more obsolete by the moment. All the hate he bottled up inside of him for years was pouring out. Chin Iisou, the Black Crow Clan, every single demon that stood in his way of Kanan. Oh, Kanan....how could anyone disgrace her like that?!! The blood that would have to be spilt in order to make up for such a deed was unfathomable. He'd make them pay. He'd make them all pay!
Gojyo grinned as he held tightly onto Hakkai. The thoughts that began to resurface made Hakkai jump forward unexpectedly or threaten with a growl to rip out Gojyo's neck every few seconds. "Never thought he was capable of this." Gojyo finally managed to hold Hakkai still enough and just as he was about to go for the last cuff, he was knocked in the head with a hard, blunt object from behind. He lost his hold on Hakkai who fell to the ground and immediately curled into a ball. He grabbed his head to keep it from dividing as he tried to shut out the images of carnage that flooded his consciousness.
Gojyo stumbled forward in a daze and tried to keep his balance as the ground swayed in front of him. It was then Sanzo decided that he should use the sacred scripture to at least hold down Gojyo for the time being and possibly Hakkai if he couldn't hold himself together.
Realizing who had hit him, Gojyo spun around to face Goku who was barely able to keep himself standing by leaning heavily on his Nyoi-bou. The posessed half breed bared his fangs, "Stupid monkey!" Gojyo lunged at Goku and to his surprise, Gojyo was easily able to pin him to a tree. So hard in fact, that the bark cracked around Goku's frame and the tree groaned at the force it took. "What's with you, man?! Why are you doing this? Gojyo!"
Gojyo grinned and held up a hand to strike his victim, when he was suddenly enveloped in the glowing scripture controlled by the priest in back of him. Gojyo roared in frustration as he struggled to finish off the chimp, clawing at the air until his arms were wrapped to his sides. He was lifted into the air and held there, his fierce eyes the only part of his body exposed from the holy scripture.
Goku sighed in relief, but the feeling was washed away as he was bit with another plague of images. He closed his eyes tight and hunched over, trying to keep the pictures from going deeper into his mind as unconsciously, his hand began to creep to the golden coronet around his head. Goku caught himself just as the fingers brushed the cool metal, "No!" Digging his claws into the tree out of frustration, he screamed up into the heavy rain clouds, "What the hell is going on?!"
* * *
Sanzo was doing all he could to hold onto Gojyo, who had become much stronger than he anticipated. "Hey, Hakkai?!" The priest glanced over to the shivering heap that was Hakkai with concerned violet eyes. *Oh man...He's not going to make it.* Sanzo bit his lip anxiously as Hakkai slowly lifted himself from the ground.
Calmly, Hakkai looked to Sanzo and smiled, barely revealing the sharp, elongated fangs he now possessed. A delicate vine pattern snaked across Hakkai's face and he shook his lengthened, shaggy hair from his cool eyes.
"Hakkai..." Sanzo looked to Hakkai with an almost sad expression on his face. At that instant, he knew he was royally fucked. At that instant, he knew he wouldn't escape this situation with his life without banishing one of his friends and for once, he realized how much he cared for them all. The idea made him slightly nauseous and even more irritable than he already was.
"Yes?" Hakkai cocked his head to the side as he responded to the sound of his name that he heard with his now pointed, demon ears. He laughed lightly, just barely audible over the sound of the grating wind and pounding raindrops. "You know..." Hakkai looked down at his soaked, clawed hands and grinned, "I've never felt so very...alive." With that statement, Hakkai vanished into the wind, appearing as though his body was blown away with the cold breeze.
"Shit." Sanzo got ready for anything to be dealt to him and growled in frustration when he realized he couldn't sense Hakkai aura anywhere. Out of nowhere, Sanzo felt a warm breath on his ear as a small laugh escaped through Hakkai's lips. "Boo."
Sanzo grabbed his gun, but wasn't able to aim as his wrist was grasped by an solid, unforgiving hand. The priest was trying with everything he had to hold onto Gojyo with the scripture, but he could see his predicament with Hakkai caused its power to waiver. Sanzo cursed under his breath as he tried to pull his arm free of Hakkai's steel hold.
The priest found himself for the first time, wishing he could have the help of the monkey, but he saw that was out of the question as he watched Goku from the corner of his eye. Goku was leaned against a tree with his forehead to the bark as he raked his claws down the unfortunate oak. Sanzo had no doubt Goku was trying with everything he had to maintain his sanity and for once, Sanzo was truely terrified when he realized what could happen if Goku let go.
Goku had tears streaming down his face as the world slowly tore apart. He was so angry with himself for being so weak and continued to take his frustration out on the tree. *I have to hold on...I can't...Sanzo!* "Oh Gods....I'm so sorry." Son Goku let out a small sob as his hand formed a mind of its own and took hold of the golden coronet that kept him grounded in reality. Slowly, the barrier that kept the monster at bay was peeled away and discarded as if it were nothing.
* * *
Sanzo's hope disintegrated as he was spun around to stare at Hakkai's perpetually smiling face. Though as he looked into Hakkai's eyes, he could see a falter in his expression. The one ear cuff that remained was just barely holding onto any reason Hakkai had left, which made Sanzo feel a little light of hope in this dark situation. But that feeling was crushed as Hakkai sensed the object of Sanzo's attention. With a fateful movement of his hand, Hakkai took hold of the cuff and pulled it from his ear, waving it in Sanzo's face. Sanzo's stomach dropped as Hakkai was lost and a new wave of dread washed over him.
"Ah, it feels so good to get these off. You have *no* idea how uncomfortable they are to sleep on." Something clicked in the demon's head as he stared into Sanzo's tired eyes with his own cold, unfamiliar ones. "I noticed you haven't been getting enough sleep lately and it's starting to show." Hakkai's smile twisted into a sick grin. "Let me help you remedy that...*friend.*" Hakkai practically hissed the last word as he yanked on Sanzo's arm.
Sanzo gasped in surprise as he was pulled forward and felt a shockwave ripple through his body as Hakkai's knee severely bruised all the internal organs in Sanzo's gut. He felt the wind knocked out of him and blood rise in his throat as he was tossed to the side. "Hak--kai..." Sanzo could barely get enough air into his lungs to gasp out Hakkai's name as a small trickle of blood streamed from his lips.
Hakkai stood over Sanzo with the "cheerful" smile situated back on his face as he tossed the useless power limiter onto the priest's chest. "Well, I'm going to go play with him." Hakkai looked over as Gojyo was finally free of the scripture and casually dusting himself off. "But don't worry, I'll come back and tuck you in."
* * *
The Merciful Goddess watched eagerly at the scene unfolding as her right hand, Jiroushin looked over her shoulder. "Well, it looks like they've gotten trapped in quite a difficult situation this time."
"Aren't you going to assist them at all?" Jiroushin suggested as he focused on Sanzo's pitiful form.
The goddess smiled, "We'll see how these events unfold a little further. Though I may have to intervene if everything keeps going downhill for Konzen. After all, I want them to finish this mission first before they go and kill each other."
"But why wait?!"
"I hate to say this, but it's fascinating to see the side of Tenpou, rather Hakkai that has been restricted by the power limiters."
"Merciful Goddess! Sometimes I wonder if you truly have any shred of humanity."
The Goddess made herself more comfortable as she shifted in the hard marble seat. "So do I." With that said, she ignored the rest of Jiroushin's unimportant chatter and continued to watch the happenings of the lower world through the lilies.