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.
***
The cars entered the village outskirts while the sun was high overhead. Also known as 'feeding time' to the two youngest members of the group. Driving through the tightly packed streets seemed like a bad idea – especially since they were trying to avoid attention – not draw it. Transforming the rides into their smaller counterparts, the group set off on foot, avoiding the curious glances and suspicious glares with the ease of long practice – on both parts. They walked, chatting quietly, laughing and pointing out items of interest (and food in Goku and Suki's case) to each other. Half an hour later, they reached what appeared to be the towns largest inn – easily three storeys, high gables and newly stuccoed walls. It seemed quite prosperous, and the group entered swiftly, looking forward to hot showers, a clean change of clothes and a real bed.
Booking out four double rooms (no one wanting to take any chances from the last inn) they happily grabbed their keys and headed upstairs. Hakkai was taking a few extra minutes to cheerfully (and thoroughly) interrogate the staff on their night time activities. Daja found this comforting, and slightly amusing as she watched his false smile and dark glances terrify the few employees he spoke to. Upon reaching the three flights of stairs, the group noticed that only Sanzo had a different floor number. "I wanted it that way." He growled, successfully ending their hesitant queries. Sanzo made his way to the top floor, Goku growling as he followed him, complaining that climbing stairs on an empty stomach could surely kill him. As the group followed each other to the first level, they heard the echoing THWACK of the harisen, and giggled childishly to each other.
Two of the rooms were next to each other, while the third was on the other side of the corridor further down. Hakkai dragged Gojyo to the room at the far end before he could plead his case to sleep next to the girls. The females simply shook their heads, his antics becoming more and more commonplace to them.
The group split, Suki going with Bella and Daja with Tryst. Upon entering their rooms, Daja and Tryst immediatley dropped their bags on their beds and headed straight into bathroom. After a brief and silent round of rock, paper scissors, Tryst let out a victorious yell and stripped off her shirt as Daja beat a hasty and pouting retreat. "You can always jump in with me!" Tryst teased, feeling Daja's envy through the closed door. Daja poked her tounge out at the closed door, and hummed to herself as she unpacked their clothes, dividing piles into clean, dirty and miscellaneous stains.
Coming to the bottom of her duffle bag, Daja came across the rumpled, stained and torn copy of their much read Cosmo magazine. She huffed a laugh as she idly flipped through the pages, grabbing a seat by the window as she waited for Tryst to finish in the shower. Flipping from one crunched glossy page to the next, she eventually got to the 'sealed' section of the infamous magazine. Daja blushed at the pictures, her reluctance look at the photos and read the articles being an item of great amusement to Tryst. She scanned the page with her eyes, lingering on titles such as "10 ways to make him beg for you" and "guide to stripteasing 101" – that particular page had been dog-eared, and Daja wondered witch of the girls was that interested. Most of the articles she skimmed through, feeling that there was no way in HELL she could do some of these things- they were just too bold! She sighed, dropping the magazine as she stared out the window to the village below.
The bustling marketplace was a good three or four blocks away, but there was still a few stalls set up along their street. They were right at the junction of a T intersection from the main strip to the north/south road. The dust rising over the village spoke of population and life. All the buildings bar the one they were staying in seemed to be single story – a testament to the wealth of the town – they didn't need to build UP to make space. The girl sigh, wondering how life must be back in their old world – their other life. Did anyone even notice they were gone?
The door to the bathroom swung open, releasing a billowing cloud of steam, which knocked Daja from her daydreams. Tryst stalked out in high fashion, with a skimpy towel wrapped around her, barely covering her privates. "God! That's sooo much better!" She groaned loudly as she stood in the middle of the room like the semi naked muse she was. He long black hair was pushed off her face, as she rubbed it furiously with another towel to dry it. Daja took this opportunity to scamper into the open door, claiming the shower as her own.
Trsyt giggled, knowing Daja, like most young girls, just LOVED the feeling of being clean - Tryst didn't mind being a little dirty – but there was a difference between 'a little dirty' and being covered in a weeks worth of muck and road grime. Shit, she was sure the smell would lure in the hounds! As though hearing her thoughts, a lone wolfs' howl sounded faintly through the window, coming from the east. Tryst shuddered at the thought, quite afraid of the furry canines. Wrapping the second towel around her head, she made her was over to her bags and began a thorough search for some clean underwear.
There was a knock on the door at that moment, and Tryst sauntered over to open it, revealing Hakkai. "What can I do you for?" Tryst asked, amused by the way he blushed at her barely covered form. She stretched further up the doorway to accentuate her curves.
"I… uh… wanted to see if you girls would join us for lunch..." He stuttered, his face turning redder and redder, "B…But I can see I've interrupted you – so why don't you meet us in town, later? Near the marketplace?" He tried to regain his composure. It was at that moment they both heard a loud, unrestrained moan from the bathroom. Tryst raised an eyebrow in a suggestive manner. "You all right in there, babe?" She called out, her voice tight with held back laughter. Hakkai was now the colour of a beetroot.
"This water is just FANTASTIC!" They both heard Daja groan loudly. Hakkai cleared his throat, his knees wobbly as he tried to leave as quietly as possible. Tryst grinned, grabbing his arm and trying to steer him into the room. It was like trying to move the Great Wall – Hakkai wouldn't budge. Tryst huffed, annoyed, and nodded her head in agreement as she closed the door in his face rudely.
Stepping back into the room, she spent the next 15 minutes looking for a decent outfit, before coming out with a pair of long legged, army printed cargo pants, which sat ridiculously low on her hips. A black tank top and a flimsy red half jacket, that wasn't muck more than see through cotton pieces. Pulling her hair back into a tight ponytail, she slipped on her daggers into their various locations, and finally stepped into her only pair of white running shoes. Feeling comfortable, she sat back at the table with the Cosmo magazine, and waited for Daja to come out.
She didn't have to wait long. The door opened and Daja breezed out dramatically, strutting to her bag as she continued to proclaim how wonderful it was to be clean. Tryst just nodded, not really listening as Daja dressed in a pair of black, low rider jeans, a white fitted t-shirt and a pair of black army boots. Tryst glared at that, wanting those boots but knowing they wouldn't fit her. She put down the magazine and stood fluidly, grabbing Daja's hand as she swept out of the room and into the hallway, heading straight for Bella and Suki's, next door.
***
Hakkai had stared at the closed door for a further minute, allowing the cool air from the hallway to chase the flush from his cheeks. He turned slowly, his mind still flustered and embarrassed, not just by Tryst's scandalous behaviour, but by Daja's arousing noises. He shifted as he walked, trying to ignore the message his body was clearly sending him – a message he had been able to ignore for the past few years. Reaching his room, he found Gojyo ready to leave for lunch, so he turned on his heel and followed the taller man out.
They found Sanzo in reception, with a very annoyed look on his face as he waited with his younger ward. Goku looked downright grumpy and it only took one glance at him to realize it was the threat of starvation by Sanzo that had kept him quiet this long. As the four left together (with much griping between Gojyo and Goku about who was the bigger idiot), the two 'adults' decided upon a noodle house they had passed on the way through town.
The streets were busy with human traffic, the sights and smells surrounding the four as they headed down the main strip, passing cheerful families, burly stall vendors and their guards, and young men and women, going around their business. Goku was left, right and centre, tugging here, pointing there and basically annoying the hell out of the monk. Hakkai laughed mirthlessly as they entered the single storey building, where awaited them a most welcome sign: "Noodle Bar – All You Can Eat."
Goku promptly fainted.
***
Tryst and Daja entered Bella and Suki's room to a find them already showered and dressed. Suki was wearing an overly large sky blue t-shirt which almost completely covered her denim bike shorts, and a pair of open brown sandals. Her damp hair was tied into its usual long plait – making Daja scrunch up her nose. Didn't the girl know that tying back damp hair was one of the leading causes of dandruff? Tryst snorted at the look on Daja's face, turning her attention to Bella. The blonde girl had dressed in a pair of long, black, fitted sweat pants. She stood up as she finished slipping into a black, cotton shirt, its long sleeves successfully covering her arms all the way to her fingers. She gently shifted her shoulders, making her weapons lie almost invisible against them, not even peeking out of the top of the low necked shirt. Tryst was still amazed by that – the fact that such oddly shaped instruments could fit so well against Bella's back. Fuscia eyes snapped up to meet hers, and Tryst smiled shakily – caught!
Suki bounced around the room, desperate to get outside as she pulled on Daja's sleeve. Bella walked gracefully to the door, her bare feet padding on the light wooden floorboards. Tryst glanced down in confusion, where were her shoes? "Hey, Bella – aren't you gonna get, like blisters or something, babe?" She queried, concerned for her friend. Bella just smirked, "I think I'll be alright," she replied, laughter in her throat. Tryst just shrugged, Bella knew best – most of the time. She grinned evilly – except when it came to admitting her own feelings.
Leaving the room together, the girls strolled through the markets, eyeing the goods on display as the pointed in curiosity at their clothes (or lack of). They wandered along, chatting about the strange fruits and vivid colours that were so lacking in today's environment. The sun beat down, a few stingy white clouds drifting lazily overhead, giving a relaxing 'summer-days' atmosphere to the otherwise busy marketplace.
They stopped at the promised noodle bar, Suki quickly recognising it as an all-you-can-eat buffet bar. Tryst leaned down on her head, whispering sweet nothings about how Goku was probably waiting for her inside. The younger girl blushed, quivering in excitement. Daja laughed throatily as Bella walked ahead of them, into the busy restraunt. Passing through the steam of the doorway, the girls spotted the four familiar faces at a nearby table. Suki waved energetically at Goku, who was wrestling Gojyo for a spring roll – chopsticks flying like a Katana.
Hakkai was sitting by, serenely sipping his tea while Sanzo read his ever present paper. Green eyes lit up like lamps as Hakkai saw Daja enter the room. "Looks like someone's happy to see you." Tryst drawled teasingly in the girls ear. Daja puffed out her chest, and beamed – proud to be noticed. They took a step forward together, thoughts resting on anything but the danger that was swiftly approaching them from behind.
"ROOOOOAAR!!!"
The sound ripped through the congestion of the bar, causing silence followed by pandemonium as every human in the immediate area tried to flee through any means possible. Before the terror broke out, a clawed yellow hand had slid through the mist of the entrance, an snaked around Suki's waist. She screamed, dropping her glaive as she was yanked back, disappearing into the afternoon sun outside. "Suki!" Bella cried, sprinting after the girl.
"What the HELL?" Goku yelled over the heads of the frantic patrons, before jumping from his seat to grab onto an overhead fixture, and vaulting over the crown in a single leap. He landed in a crouch by the door, Nyoibo materializing in his hand as he rushed outside. Daja turned to Tryst as Hakkai, Gojyo and Sanzo headed quickly towards them.
"I thought nothing could take her weapon away from her?" Daja cried, panicking. "I don't think that counts if she drops it herself!" Tryst replied hotly a the boys reached them.
"Gojyo – Sanzo and I will stay with the girls, you go help Goku and Bella... Go! " Hakkai said urgently as they exited the building through the empty doorway – the managers having opened the rear exit for the other patrons to exit through.
The sunlight streamed down harshly as the group left the building, displaying a miserable and ugly scene. There were roughly sixty youkai, and they had panned their ambush well. They had emptied the street (by murderous means, no doubt), spreading themselves in a full circle around the group, covering rooves and alleyways alike.
Goku was in the middle of the street, Nyoibo in hand as he stared at the leader of the youkai – the one who now had Suki in his grasp, a knife held to her neck. Bella was at the opposite side of the circle, behind a second Youkai, her hands being tied tightly behind her by a third. She looked calm, and determined as they pushed her to the ground, forcing her to lie on her chest.
Gojyo walked up to flank Goku's left, his Shakujo materializing in his hand. Hakkai stood protectively by Daja, a chi energy ball in his hand, as Tryst removed two of her knives. Sanzo moved out further into the street, coming to stand between Hakkai and Goku, his gaze taking in each and every youkai, his gun peeking through his robes as he grasped it in his crossed arms.
"Sanzo Ikkou! We are the personal army of Lady Gyokumen Koshou, and we want the Maten Scripture. Give it to us now, or your companions die." He nodded to the youkai guarding Bella, who grinned maliciously and delivered a hard kick straight into the girls stomach. Bella grunted and curled into a tight ball, eye's clenched tightly shut. Daja gasped, hands to her mouth.
Gojyo frowned, his eyes blazing at Bella's treatment. He turned to Goku, a reckless grin on his face, "Hey monkey, you wanna split 'em, or take 'em as they come?" he asked, grip tightening on his staff.
"I don't care." Goku growled in a voice very reminicient of his 'other' self, causing Sanzo to look at him sharply. "I just want Suki back.... NOW!" He cried, and dove into battle, heading straight for the leader of the youkai/ The demon jumped back, protecting his hostage, as Goku ended up fighting the five that took his place. The youkai attacked the group as one, snarling bloody murder at the defenders.
In short, the battle was messy. Bloody and rough and messy. Gojyo's chain was dancing in the air like a geisha, gracefully flowing past one target to hit another. Tryst was fighting hard, none of her usual moxy apparent. Crossing her daggers to catch a down swinging sword, she shoved back and in a double slash, brought her blades together to behead her opponent. She turned, blood dribbling down her cheek as she sought for her next challenger – her eyes were a crystalline silver. Daja's needles were flying like iron rain in the wake of Hakkai's energy blasts, her position still being protected by the coffee haired man. Sanzo was blasting away, his bullets shattering blades and skulls alike. Blood filled the street as the youkai died, the sharp smell of the coppery life being drained, drifting through the air in waves. Only the sound of sharp grunts, yowls of pain and the gurgle of death being visited could be heard echoing throughout the area.
Suddenly, a loud, piercing scream tore through the air. On the ground, Bella's eyes snapped open. SUKI.
The demon holding the younger girl had begun to panic as his minions were strategically and methodically defeated. In his fear, he had slipped, and the knife had plunged deep into Suki's shoulder, causing her to scream out in agony.
SNAP. SNAPSNAP.
The cracking sound broke through the battle atmosphere, reverberating oddly off the nearby buildings. On the far side of the battle, a lone form stood shadowed under the harsh light of the sun, three youkai gurgling as they fell - their death appearing in human form before them. A heavy moisture filled the air, pushing on the panting breaths of all the fighters.
Upon seeing her cousins' blood, Bella had felt it. The change in her eyes, from their deceptive pink to a deep blood red, her pupils disappearing in favour of the color. She was mad, no, furious. Enraged. Her anger grew in her like a spit fire hitting dry wood. She ignited. Flexing her arms, she had felt the ropes snap loudly. She stood, the youkai around her falling under the rage of a single fisted punch to the spine.
Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. She felt calm, and in control, the fire within her turning to lightning, singing her nerves as she took deep, slow breaths. Her skin felt tight and she was cold despite the heat in her veins. Her hair fell from its ties falling to drift around down her back, the fuscia streaks illuminated by the lughtining with her. Her skin was beaded with icy water, like rain, and in her chest, her breath rumbled like the deepest thunder. She slowly lifted her arms to the back of her neck, and reached into her top. Grasping the handles of her hidden weapons, she slowly and deliberately slid them out, finally revealing them to the world. A declaration. A message of death.
Everyone, human and youkai alike had faltered in their fighting to watch the glowing blonde woman as a howling wind began forming around her, whipping her fringe back and forth, revealing glimpses of her pure blood red eyes. The men on the ground and the remaining youkai gasped at the items she held in her hands. Sanzo was speechless, his eyes wide and mouth parted in open shock. So this was her true form, the Muse of Strength. Isabella.
She held the handles of two impossibly long and beautiful psi in her hands. The grips were wrapped with soft black leather, moulding comfortably with her hands, but the tri blades – the one on her left looked like it was carved out of pure diamond, and it glittered intensely in the afternoon sun. The other, black onyx; the purity of its darkness seeming to draw in all light from the surrounding area. The blades held a ghostly sheen, as though they had a sheath of pure light protecting them. The air around them bent and hummed, their hidden power flexing upon their release to the world once more.
While they had all stared, Bella had moved, faster than the eyes could see, to where Suki was being held. Any youkai in her way recieved a fatal stab to the forehead, so fast, that their brains had turned to ash before they hit the ground. Before she reached Suki, Bella adjusted her grip, placing the middle blade of each psi between the middle and ring fingers of each hand, pointing them outwards. Slowing down to walk up the youkai in the most terrifying way, she pointed the diamond blade at him, in a warning – and a promise.
"Let her go. Now. I will not ask again." The demon trembled at the sound of her quiet voice – it was rumbling like thunder and cracking like lightning. The very depths of her whisper sent chills of icy cold running down his spine like chips of falling ice. The wind blowing around her grew in strength.
Suki had lost consciousness from the loss of blood from her shoulder wound. The youkai hauled her limp body closer to him, the knife at her throat once more as he barked, "You drop yours and I'll drop mine!"
Bella stood completely still, like a deadly marble statue, her eyes shrouded by her fringe as she took in his false words.
"You're lying." She whispered. The moment the words left her lips, the wind died, leaving an eerie silence. The group on the ground watched the display uneasily, the few still standing youkai, leaving as quietly as possible, their tails between their legs in the face of this new, unknown threat.
Before the doomed youkai man could move again, a gale force wind howled against his back, making him stumble forward. Still keeping his knife up, he raised his head, and came eye to eye with the darkness, as Bella impaled her black psi in his heart, red eyes boring into his as she leaned in to whisper seductively in his pointed ear.
"Don't ever lie to me."
She thrust forward again, the demon letting out a high pitched squeal as the power of the psi burnt the blood in his veins to crystal. Bella stayed that way for a moment, head bowed, before removing her blade, his body dropping to the dusty ground. His eyes has turned as red as her own from the heat of her power.
Bella stood suddenly, her psi disappearing back into their holsters as she lifted the unconscious Suki into her arms, and turned to the group. She headed immediately to Daja, her face tight and controlled, her eyes slowly changing back from red to pink, their black centres returning to normal. As she headed towards them, a strong gust of wind blew past her, pushing her fringe back. Though Gojyo, Hakkai and Goku were preoccupied with checking on the girls and each other, it was Sanzo who saw it as he turned to check her progress towards them. His eyes widened, and his lips parted as he saw what the wind had finally revealed to him –
Her face.