Disclaimer(s) - I don't own Saiyuki or ANY of the Saiyuki Characters nor am I affiliated and therefore I am not making any profit from this story whatsoever. Saiyuki and its characters belong solely to Kazuya Minekura and all other respective creators/owners. I am just a fan. A BIG fan. A HUGE fan. A... well, you get the idea. I don't own anything but the 4 girls' characters in the story.
***
"Good morning!" Hakkai chirped, to Sanzo who grunted in reply. "I want to get on the road as soon as possible. We can reach the next town by dark if we leave now." Sanzo said grumpily.
The others all groaned, still too sleepy to think about getting on the road. Only Hakkai seemed fully awake. Every one packed as fast as they were able to in their tired state, Suki sneaking back into the group unnoticed, her face washed and cleaned. The cars were packed and ready, though everyone still seemed half asleep. Goku yawned, his jaw cracking with the effort. Suki chorused with him, the two of them mirroring each other in their effort to catch flies. Sanzo grimaced; he wanted to get as far away from the early morning skirmish as possible. The day had dawned bright and hot, steam rising from the morning dew as the cars drove away from the rising sun.
Hours had passed in near silence, radio's turned off and nearly all passengers, bar Sanzo, asleep in their seats. The group had exited the small forest, entering a dense grassland, the hills in the distance a faded purple which became darker the closer they approached. The two cars stopped to have their midday meal, much to Santo's frustration. They shared around the stew and rice with eager fingers, all of them having missed breakfast due to the monk's haste. Twenty minutes later, they were back on the road and approaching a stand of tall, dead pine trees, which blended into an expansive woodland.
The cars drove easily through the widely spaced trees, the girls CD player (now pumping out the sounds of R&B) echoing strangely. Daja turned the sound down, the eerie silence of the woods pressuring their eardrums.
"What kind of woods is this?" Suki asked, her face ashen. Bella turned in her seat and grabbed Suki's hand in concern, not liking the girl's complexion. "There's no sound... no sound at all... where have all the animals gone? I can't hear them anywhere..." Her voice shook and Tryst placed a comforting arm around her shoulders from the seat beside her.
"Suki's right – something's not right here..." Daja murmured. The jeep continued moving through the undergrowth, the boy's backs' showing their tension. "I had dream like this just now, while I was asleep..." Suki said suddenly. Each of the girls knew what that meant. Premonition. Bella grasped her hand, her eyes widening in shock. "What was it? What happened? Quickly!" She said, her usually calm demeanour snapping, causing Tryst and Daja to tense up also.
"There were all these crows... but I couldn't hear them... so many crows. And a big dead tree. They were perched on its branches. It was grey, and the sun was setting. There was no sound... no sound at all... just like now..." Bella's breath came in short gasps, as images came flashing through her mind. What is going on? She thought, scared of the images she was seeing. This is just what Suki's describing – am I seeing her thoughts? "Suki, are you seeing the figure standing on the middle branches of the tree?" Bella asked as calmly as she could. Suki gasped, confirming it for her. "What's going on?" Tryst asked, the fear in the air causing her to be confused and disorientated.
"Suki's powers are developing – she is seeing the future, or one possibility of it. I can see it too cos I'm holding her hand." Bella panted as Daja gasped in surprise and Tryst stared wide eyed at the young red headed girl, who was pale faced, her mouth open slightly. It was the eyes that scared Tryst the most – they had bleached from the normal deep indigo into a scary white – like a ghost. She could only guess that this was how she was during her visions. "What else are you seeing?" Daja asked from the front seat.
"I see a figure, all in black. It's holding a sword... a golden sword... and talking to the crows. But I can't hear it..." Both she and Bella shouted out suddenly, panic in their voices. "What? What is it? What's happening?" Tryst asked, as she grabbed Suki's other hand. The vision rolled into her, leaving her breathless. The images formed on the inside of her eyelids, flickering like fluorescent globes. She saw it all, the tree, the figure, the crows... and then... the bodies. The human bodies.
Their blood had stained the ground deep maroon, their presence serving to make the entire scene as macabre as possible. The two vehicles arrived on the scene, the eight figures all undefinable from one another. The figure in the tree spoke with the group on the ground, its words not able to be heard. Then it struck, the crows following it, and the group fought back. It was a harsh fight, pieces of it blacking out here and there, until only one figure was left standing amongst the bodies as the crows began devouring the eyes of the others. The remaining figure was left standing for a moment in it loneliness, and it screamed in silence, before being cut down from behind by a figure with the golden sword. A day and a night passed in the vision, and the following morning, the lonely figure got up and continued walking west, limping.
Suki's eyes darkened back to normal as she cried out in despair. What had happened? Who was the figure with the golden sword? Oh... god...
Tryst hugged Suki to her chest tightly as the younger girls shoulders shook in grief, her own emotions forcing the girls to calm down. Bella was in shock, and tried to put her rational mind to work to overcome it. Suki had visions. Visions which inspired. Which made them subjective. Therefore that vision was subjective – open to interpretation. "It might not even happen," the blonde muse said suddenly, her own breathes calming as she said this to the other three. "Remember, Suki's visions are subjective, and, she has only just begun to use them – not to control them. So it is safe to assume, we may have gotten the entirely wrong end of the stick on this one." Daja waited patiently for an explanation, as Tryst laid Suki in her lap, the young girl having passed out from the exertion. Bella gave Daja the quick rundown on the vision, and Daja agreed that it may have been interpreted wrongly.
***
Almost here. They were almost here! Only another two hours or so and she would be holding the scripture in her hands. Misa grinned insanely, a crazy gleam in her eyes as she hushed the hundreds of crows around her. Her companions, her loyal swarm. Her murder. She cast a quick glance down at the freshly slain human bodies. Such a useful tool, humans, she thought, pleased with how the bodies had completely walled off the only viable road through the forest.
Misa had worked hard, using her youkai magic to flash ahead of the convoy and set up this little trap. Her fanaticism growing as she slaughtered the weak humans from the small village up ahead. Her crows followed her faithfully, obeying her command to leave the bodies intact until after the battle. She had chosen this spot carefully, the only place in the entire dying forest she was sure that the Sanzo Ikkou would have to travel through. She grasped the handle of her ornately decorated gold sword, her heirloom, and waited. Her mind was teetering on the brink of insanity, but she could wait, she could hold out. At least, she could until she finally had the scripture in her hands – then she would join her crows in their feast.
***
"What have we here?" Lady Gyokumen Koshou mused, her reflection in the mirror fading to an open scene of a kneeling youkai girl. The red stone had been most useful, showing her images of not only what her young Prince saw, but also his whereabouts. She twirled the crystal in her hands, enjoying the cool touch of its faceted sides. She brought the mirrored side back to her face and watched the silent scene unfold.
Kougaiji had obviously come across Misa, and was exerting his 'royal authority' – she snorted at the idea – once again. Misa's lips moved in reply, and the Lady was surprised at the rigid tines to her shoulders, indicating her anger. Flames surrounded her vision, and the mirror returned to showing her reflection.
So, Kougiji is interfering yet again, is he? She pondered to herself as she rose gracefully and headed out of the resurrection chamber, and towards the science labs. He must have asked Misa to halt her mission – nothing else would make her that angry – only when someone interferes with MY orders does her true youkai anger surface. She sighed, the girls usefulness was undeniable, which was why she had hesitated to send her out on the mission of the scripture, despite Misa's insistence that she could handle it. Not that she cared for the girl; she would sacrifice her in an instant if it was for her own benefit. But still – she was loyal and dedicated. Difficult qualities to come across without brainwashing these days. Too bad about that face, too. She might have had her trained as an assassin if not for the inconcealable facial mask. She sighed. Such a waste. The lady continued her leisurely journey into the scientific catacombs, her thoughts on moving from her youngest Lieutenant to that yummy scientist...
***
Misa was brought to the castle as a scared twelve year old. Her family was living in the surrounding farmlands, and food was scarce due to the harsh nature of the environment. Misa's mother and father forced her to steal from the castle supplies, threatening her with severe punishment if she didn't come back with sufficient offerings. As the girl was the eldest of three, and still small enough to fit inside the crates that were taken to the kitchens, it was up to her to provide for her family. One night, Misa came home with only a cabbage and a crock of rice. Her father flew into a rage, beating her severely, cutting a large gash across her right eye and nose, and telling her to go back and get more. Her mother supported him, yelling at her that she was supposed to be the responsible elder child and support her siblings. So Misa returned, sneaking in through the back gate and into the kitchen.
She was caught immediately and brought before Lady Gyokumen Koshou for punishment. The Lady had seen her as no more than a farm brat, starved, beaten and useless. It was then that Misa had looked up, catching eyes with the great Lady. The Lady herself was taken aback – the girl had gold eyes! The eyes of a warrior. She immediately called for her release and took her into the castle as a personal servant. Misa accepted all this in a daze, not understanding her new position.
Three years later, cleaned, fed and trained, the young girl had been accepted as a pupil into the royal guard for her exceptional skill with the sword. Misa felt confident for the first time in her life, and felt it was finally time to revisit her old family home. Leaving the castle grounds, she entered the farmhouse expecting a not so warm welcome. Instead, she found the house dark, and empty. The open windows allowed the cold night air to whip through the small establishment, creating a ghostlike howling.
"Misa?" A quavering voice cam from the back of the house. Her mother's voice. Making her way cautiously back to the direction of the sound, she found the woman broken and dying her dress the brown colour of dried blood. "Mother!" She gasped, crouching down to help the injured demon lady, and removing her now ever present facial mask. "It's alright, dear. Misa – it's too late. I know I'm dying. It was your father... he..." She coughed harshly, her hands staining with blood. "I've been sitting here for 2 weeks; such is the fate of a dying youkai. It was two weeks ago that I told your father that you were not his child, that I bore you to another. His name was Katuoru, and he was not a man. You are a child of the heavens, my Misa – a heretic. And as such, your father left you this." She struggled removed a plank from the floor, pulling out a long object wrapped in a dark rag.
"He was not a deity of heaven, but a merely a resident, and I loved him. He died two years before I met your current father, informing me that I must give you this when my time had come." She smiled gently, "I have not been a good mother to you, my Misa, but I will obey my loves final wish. I have been waiting until you would arrive, and now you're here, I can finally rest." She closed her eyes, a peaceful smile on her lips as her life drifted away.
Misa let go of the body slowly, not a tear being shed for the woman she had once called mother. She picked up the object and removed the cloth, revealing an incredibly detailed sword, forged of solid gold, and glowing slightly in the darkness. She hefted it aloft, a grin on her face. This was her weapon now, and she would use it to forever follow her new mothers' wishes – Lady Gyokumen Koshou.
***
Dr. Nii was tired. The Lady had insatiable appetites, and today's 'session' was no exception. He smoked a cigarette lazily, his coat thrust back, shirt torn, and pants only halfway up his legs. He was glad he was sitting down; not being sure that his legs would support him was a bit of an embarrassment. He hoped that whatever had got her hackles up would calm down soon; there was no way he could continue on his own work with all these 'distractions'.
***
The vehicles continued on their way through the ghost tree forest, all greenery either dead or dying the further they got into it. The cars began to drive closer and closer together, their speed decreasing as the uneasiness grew. Kit was practically tailgating Jeep, and even the cars were cheeping at the unnaturalness of it all.
Suddenly, a lone wolf howled in the distance. Suki immediately woke up, sitting up straight from Tryst's lap as she listened for the sound of wildlife. "Oh, thank GOD." She said her voice full of relief. "What the heck are you talking about?" Tryst whispered in reply, her voice harsh from the tension. "Wolves are not good – wolves eat people!" Suki looked at her like she had gone mad. "Uh, last time I checked, we are more than a match for a couple of wolves. I meant that there is finally a sign of wildlife out there – even if it IS a wolf." Daja nodded her head in agreement, Suki's words made sense.
A strong smell assaulted the cars suddenly, coming from the west. "Ugh! Oh gods, what IS that?" Tryst asked as she and Suki blocked their sensitive noses. Daja coughed lightly and Bella pinched her nostrils together.
"It's carrion." Goku called back to the girls, his voice travelling easily in the near silence. The girls visibly blanched, not wanting to believe his words. "Carrion?" Suki whispered, her memories of the vision flying back. Bella suddenly stood up in her seat and yelled out to the jeep. "Hakkai! Stop the car! NOW!" The man hit the brakes, causing both cars to stop in the middle of the road.
"What's going on? Why did you make us stop?" Sanzo asked curiously. Bella got out of Kit and strode over to the passenger side of the jeep, grasping its sides as she leaned in to speak covertly with the men. "Suki just had a vision of what's up ahead." Sanzo visibly jerked, as the others eye's widened in surprise. "Suki has visions?" Goku asked, his head tilted to the side in confusion. Gojyo slapped him up the side of the head as both Sanzo and Bella replied, "Yes." Bella looked at Sanzo curiously – usually the man was always sceptic, but here he seemed convinced... strange.
"What did it show?" Hakkai interrupted, drawing Bella's attention back to him. She quickly explained the premonition, the tree, the crows, the bodies, and the figure with the golden sword. She also explained the battle as best she could, knowing that there were large parts of it missing, though the ending seemed clear enough. The men took the news well, their faces calm and composed, Goku even grinning slightly.
"Why are you all so calm?" She asked, irritated that they perhaps did not take this seriously. Gojyo looked at Bella pityingly, causing her to become even more irritated. "Because now we know what's coming we can be prepared for it, of course." He said lazily, one eyebrow raised in superiority. "And that means we can beat the crap out of Mr. Golden Sword." Goku said cheekily, his eyes sparkling in anticipation.
Bella looked at each of the men in surprise, their confident faces calming her nerves. She shyly smiled back, and nodded her head in agreement. Returning to the idling bug, Bella gave each of the girls that same confident smile, assuring them that everything was going to be fine. Suki seemed worried, but accepted Bella's words as always, and took a deep breathe to calm down. Daja and Tryst took a little longer to assure, but as the cars continued on their way, the two girls began to feel more at ease – especially since Tryst was learning to keep her own anxiety from flowing throughout the air and disrupting everyone else – for which they were ALL happy about.
Rounding the last bend they came across the scene of Suki's vision: The tall dead tree, probably 30 feet in all. The hundreds of crows resting on its branches, cawing to each other in alarm at the arrival of the group. The human bodies, laying in a wall across the road ahead, their limbs and faces bloated, flies rising in a cloud above them. And the black figure with the golden sword. The youkai woman from before, Suki thought, shocked.
The men took in the scene with grim faces, their anger at the mound of bodies, hidden behind their focus of the figure in the tree. Sanzo smirked suddenly, amused at the situation. Goku looked at him strangely, "Sanzo?" He asked, confused. Hakkai and Gojyo also eyed him curiously, waiting for his answer. "So, couldn't kill me this morning has you thinking that you CAN kill me this afternoon?" He called out to the dark form in the tree.
A bright smile formed, illuminating the youkai woman's face, throwing into relief her decidedly striking features. Gojyo whistled in appreciation (which caused Tryst to glare at him, huffing as she crossed her arms – Gojyo pretended to ignore this). She looked about 20 (though, looks can be deceiving with a youkai), her figure trim, yet shapely. She had long black hair with silvering tips, which was tied into a tight ponytail. Her tanned skin was well hidden through her tight black jumpsuit. Her facial features (those that could be seen) were soft, and friendly, which was horribly deceiving – making the elite Lieutenant look more like a timid housewife that a trained killer. She had a black mask that covered the upper half of her face, revealing only her eyes, and it was her eyes that caught Goku's attention. Gold eyes – she had gold eyes – Just like him!
Those eyes bore into the group, taking in the four 'new additions'. Her mind wavered, demon blood howling to take over and destroy these petty humans. She fought for control, and won – barely. "So nice to see you, Sanzo party. I have been expecting you." She grinned again, this time the group witnessing her barely sane eyes gleam and murderous intent. The girls shifted into more balanced stances, while the boys simply stood watching the youkai woman, waiting for her little speech to end, so their fight could begin.
"I am Misa. Lieutenant of the Royal Guard, and personally sent by Lady Gyokumen Koshou to eliminate you, and retrieve the Maten Scripture. There will be no bargain for any of your lives. You will give me the scripture, and die." Sanzo's eyebrows had risen, and even Hakkai seemed impressed. A Lieutenant, huh? Sanzo thought, also impressed, She might be more of a challenge than the usual rabble. He removed his gun from his sleeve, pointing it at Misa's face, as Gojyo and Goku called in their own weapons.
Misa opened her mouth and cawed loudly, the noise identical to a crow. In one massive movement, every bird in the tree lifted itself into the air, their sharp claws and beaks glinting in the afternoon sun, as they flapped overhead, waiting. The demon woman hefted her sword to one hand, holding it in a relaxed battle stance as she prepared herself, her demon blood finally taking hold of her mind, and telling her to kill. Kill. KILL! The group below watched the birds and the youkai woman, ready for anything, as Sanzo cocked his gun.
"Alright, woman – come try it." He growled, as he pulled the trigger.
***
END CHAPTER 13