Memories of a Life Gone By pt. 3 Divided Loyalties
In the early morning sunlight, she slowly rose pulling herself away from his arms. She stretched slowly getting rid of the effects of their familiar passion. She stared down on him and smiled as she tried to slow the fast beating of her heart. Quickly and quietly, she bathed and dressed and suck out into the woods looking for a figure in the trees. A tall lanky god appeared behind her. She turned.
"Shien-sama," she greeted bowing. "They've arrived as you said they would."
The tall gray haired man nodded rustling the ribbons that tied a bun to his head.
"Of course," he began. "You know what to do, yes?"
Miyuki nodded.
"Get the sutra, and bring it to you as promised," she replied.
"That's a good girl, Megumi," he said softly smiling. "We'll be waiting eagerly for your deliverance."
She bowed nodding.
"Oh..." he began again. "Make sure don't let you feelings get in the way. After all, you and Kenren may have been lovers in the past, but that doesn't change the fact that he and the others kill your friends without mercy."
She winced nodding. Shien smirked quietly at his convincing lie.
"Yes sir," she replied gritting her teeth angrily. "I'll personally make sure they pay for what they did. As far as the past goes, that was the past. Kenren and any other of his incarnations are through."
"That's good to know," he smiled. "But do humor him for the time being."
"Yes sir," she replied as he disappeared.
A red haired god with an eye patch smirked as Shien returned.
"She still believing the lie?" he asked.
Shien nodded. The man laughed loudly.
"It's amusing how easy how to get grieving women to believe anything isn't it Zenon?" Shien asked the red head.
Zenon laughed nodding.
"Yes," he chuckled. "Very amusing."
"Is everything going according to plan?" a third god with dark hair as he walked up.
"Yes, Homura," Shien said. "She'll bring us Konzen's sutra soon."
"That's good," he replied as he stared out of the high tower window. "Megumi has no idea what really happened. And she's got no idea what's coming to her either..."
Homura's blue and gold eyes turned upwards in a mischievous smile.
As the jeep rolled on, Miyuki watched the speeding scenery as she cast a discreet glance at the green and white scroll resting on Sanzo's shoulders. A hand wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her close. She blushed looking up at the hand's owner. Gojyo smiled. She smiled resting her head on his shoulder. Slowly, her eyes closed as the past ran through her head stirring familiar and warm feelings.
"What are you thinking about?" Gojyo suddenly whispered into her ear making her eyes snap open.
She smiled.
"Nothing," she smiled. "Nothing important."
She stared upwards as Gojyo slowly laid her into his lap. His calloused fingers ran through the long dark strands. A set of crimson eyes stared down at her kindly.
"Dude. Gojyo," Goku began as he broke the silence. "What are you doing? You're not acting like you would usually would."
"I'll act like how I want to act, monkey!" he glared.
Miyuki giggled.
"Now he's acting like he should," Hakkai laughed.
Gojyo let out a sigh. He cast the others a confident smile.
"You can say what you like," he began. "But you all just don't know how to treat a lady."
A light blush tinted her cheeks.
"I'm not that much of a lady," she smiled shyly.
He patted her head stroking her hair. If you only knew... She thought as her smile slowly faded leaving a sickening feeling in her stomach.
"Something wrong?" he asked worriedly as he watched her turn pale.
She smiled.
"Motion sickness," she said casting him a convincing smile. "That's all."
He continued smiling down on her. Turning away and pretending to sleep, she felt her stomach turn with guilt.
Within the confines of his room, Sanzo sat staring out the inn window. A trail of light gray smoke wafted from his cigarette. He closed his eyes going into a deep thought. Slowly, the door opened. Miyuki walked inside and spied the room's contents. She walked in quietly and stopped at Sanzo's side. Her hand reached out.
"What do you want?" he snapped as he grabbed her wrist in a hard grip.
She gasped.
"I just wanted to know about how long it would take to reach our destination," she replied.
He glared.
"I don't know," he snapped back. "Ask, Hakkai. He's the one with the maps."
She nodded awkwardly.
"Thank you," she said as she headed for the door. "I'll come back when he returns from getting the supplies."
She walked out feeling Sanzo's suspicious gaze following her. What on earth are you thinking! She thought as she walked back to her room.
"This is going to be a lot harder than I thought," she muttered to herself as she flopped down her bed.
"Gojyo-san," Hakkai called out smiling.
"What?" he asked as he lit a cigarette.
He turned to him smiling. He leaned in.
"If you and Miyuki-san should become... Preoccupied.. Or rather busy..." he smiled as Gojyo smirked. "I suggest you prepare yourself. After all, we don't need any 'little burdens' while on this trip, hm?"
Gojyo chuckled. Hakkai kept smiling.
"Yea, sure," he replied chuckling. "You ruin all my fun."
He kept smiling.
"Oh!" he chirped cheerfully. "And do keep it down next time. Some of us are trying to sleep."
Gojyo's smirk grew.
"Hakkai! Gojyo!" Goku cried as he ran up. "Can we buy some meat buns and fried noodles?"
Hakkai smiled chuckling.
"All right, all right," he replied. "Lets go get some meat buns and fried noodles."
She laid in her bed impatiently fidgeting.
"Come on," she whispered longingly to her self. "When will you come back?"
She stopped. She sighed. She chuckled.
"You fool," she whispered again. "You're missing him..."
"Miyuki-chan!" he suddenly called out as he burst into the room Goku in tow.
She smiled.
"Gojyo-san," she giggled as he sat beside her. "Okaeri nasai." (Welcome back)
"How you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm fine now," she smiled. "After all, we're not in the jeep anymore."
He smiled as he ran his fingers through her hair. She smiled.
In the doorway, Hakkai stood. He motioned for Goku to leave. Quickly and quietly, he walked out.
"Hey.. Since when did Gojyo get all mushy around girls..." Goku whined.
"He doesn't," Hakkai said. "This one is apparently different."
"I don't trust her," Sanzo muttered glaring. "She gives off an air that I'm not liking."
Hakkai and Goku turned.
"You think she could be working for Kougaiji or Homura?" Hakkai asked worriedly.
"I don't know, but she's probably working for one of them," Sanzo replied. "She was in here reaching for the Maten Scripture."
"But she seems so nice..." Goku whined quietly in disagreement.
"Well..." Hakkai sighed. "I guess not all looks as what it seems.."
"You treat me so kindly," she whispered. "Just like in my dreams..."
He smiled.
"Nah," he grinned in reply. "I'm just making do. If I weren't on this trip, I'd flirt with you good and proper."
At his wink, she giggled.
"I didn't think there were ways of 'good and proper' flirting," she laughed.
"Why of course there are!" he grinned as he stood pulling her to her feet. "Candlelight dinner, dancing, moonlight walks in a park, cherry blossom watching..."
He moved with her in a slow sway as he danced with her around the room. She giggled following his movements.
"Well," she grinned. "I wasn't expecting that reaction from you."
Suddenly, he stopped. His arms dropped from her waist and from her hand.
"Actually," he awkwardly replied as he rubbed the back of his head. "Neither was I..."
She stared up at him. He stared back. She turned away blushing. He turned away awkwardly silent. She sighed listening to the deafening beat of her heart in her ears.
"Well..." she began as she broke the silence. "Maybe... After this trip, you.. Could... Do all those things..."
He grinned walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her.
"Or I could steal the Sanbutsushin's credit card from Hakkai or the monk, and we'll do it tonight," he snickered as he pulled out a gold credit card from his pocket.
She giggled.
"All right," she replied mischievously. "It sounds like a good idea..."
"Then sweetheart, you go and make yourself look pretty, and I'll be waiting downstairs," he smiled as he walked out and slowly shut the door behind him.
Quickly, she brushed her lightly frazzled hair and changed from her simple black cheong sam into a plain red and gold one. She rushed out slipping on her black shoes. Gojyo grinned as he grabbed her hand and started running. She followed giggling.
"Come on," he grinned. "We gotta go before that monk finds out."
"Hakkai," he began. "Are you done with credit card?"
Hakkai smiled.
"Oh yea!" he replied as he reached for his wallet. "It should be right he--. . . . "
He sweat dropped.
"Well," he began smiling nervously. "It should've been right here."
Glaring, Sanzo pulled out his gun and pointed.
"Find it," he snapped. "Find it now!"
Goku rushed from the room in fright.
"Hey," Goku said as he called out. "Where's Gojyo and Miyuki?"
". . . . . I'm gonna kill that stupid kappa..." Sanzo glared. "And his little fox too..."
In a nearby restaurant, Gojyo and Miyuki turned sweat dropping as gunshots rang down the street.
"Check please!" they both called out to the waiters in a panic.
An angry monk burst into the restaurant firing off several rounds as he went. The customers and workers went scattering.
"Where are you, Gojyo!" he cried rushing out. "Come out, come out from wherever you're hiding!"
"Ooo the monk's angry!" Gojyo laughed as he and Miyuki sat up high in a tree.
"Well..." Miyuki began to reply grinning. "What we did could be considered potential credit card fraud."
Chuckling, he slowly started climbing down from the tree.
"Either way," he smiled as he stopped on a lower branch to light a cigratte. "I say we don't let that cheap-ass monk ruin our fun."
She hopped down next to him.
"I'll drink to that," she nodded.
"You read my mind," he grinned as he pulled out the gold credit card from his pocket once more.
Author's note: Well, hope you liked that chapter. If anyone is even reading.
And a Cheong sam is those Chinese style dresses. As seen here: h t t p / w w w . c h in e s e c l o t h in g – g if t s s t o r e . c o m / im a g e s / W G – 1 0 2 0 3 3 . j p g ...
Just remove the spaces so you can see what it is. no longer allows links. Gr.
And PLEASE tell me if this o.c. is in anwyay Mary-Sue-ish. I'm trying hard to make her not one and to make use speech that "the average person" uses and not something all fluffed up and flowery. And according to the Mary-Sue Litmus Test she's rated as a non-sue, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me if she's becoming one!
Memories of a Life Gone By Side Story: Romancing the Memory pt. 2 The Second Meeting
"I'm telling you man!" Kenren cried. "I saw her! And I'm not drunk! Or sick!"
Konzen shook his head looking away in boredom. Tenpou sighed.
"Then..." he began smiling. "I'd say you two were bothing working too much, but you never work..."
Kenren and Goku groaned.
She continued staring at the flowers as they sat quietly on her nightstand resting in a glass vase. A small smile grew on her face as she slowly walked out and down to Nataku's room. In her hands, she carried her bandages and herbs.
As she walked inside his room, Li Touten sat waiting.
"Megumi," he commanded. "You're to accompany me and Nataku to the Jade Emperor."
"Yes sir," she replied obediently.
She sighed and began covering her fox ears with a cloth. She pulled her pigtails out letting her dark hair cascade down to her ankles hiding her tail. Long bangs hid her eyes. Slowly, they walked in an awkward silence. Why would Li Touten want me to go with him to the Jade Emperor.. This has never happened before, she thought worriedly. Have I done something wrong?
"Li Touten-sama," she began quietly as she stared up at him with worried gold eyes. "Have I done something wrong?"
He turned to her suddenly gripping her throat in a vice-like grip. She gasped for air clawing at his fingers.
"That stupid boy of Konzen's saw you!" he screamed making her ears ache. "How could you be so careless!"
He threw her against the wall. She slid down to the marble floor gasping.
"Now it seems, he and the other rulers wish to see you for themselves!" he glared as he kicked her hard in her sides making her cry out.
Through her bangs and silver eyes, she stared up watching as Nataku stood casting her sad glances and casting discreet detesting glances at his father. It's all right, Nataku, she thought to herself. I understand. You would never go against your father in anyway. Wincing, she stood and kept walking behind them.
The Emperor's court stood filled with men as Megumi followed Nataku and Li Touten down the wide aisle. They stopped and bowed low. Quickly, she followed their example. Under the cloth covering her ears, she listened to the curious whispers running through the crowds of men.
"Who is that?" a man whispered as he spied the chains on her wrists.
"I've got no idea," another man replied. "But it appears to be a heretic."
"Ch.." the first man muttered. "Not another one. Heaven is being overrun with them..."
"If you don't have anything good to say," Kenren whispered sternly as he stood behind the two men and knocked their heads together painfully. "Then, don't say anything at all."
"Yes sir!" the winced obediently.
Her ears perked hearing a familiar voice. She turned her head slightly in Kenren's direction. He cast her a smile. She blushed and quickly turned away.
"You," the emperor called out as he pointed to Megumi as she slowly looked up. "Come here."
Slowly standing, she nodded making her way to the throne. He took her face his hand studying her features closely. He glared.
"You are a heretic," he said as he pushed her sending her stumbling down the steps leading to his throne. "Li Touten! Why didn't alert any of us about this!"
She grunted as she hit the floor. Li Touten stumbled for an answer. The Emperor eagerly wiped his hand clean as though it were covered with dirt.
"Because Your Highness!" he began fervently. "I was hoping to present her to you as gift! This poor heretic from the Lower World begged me to bring her back and turn her into a civilized heavenly being like one of us!"
The Emperor glared down at her.
"Is this true?" he asked sternly.
Megumi looked back to Li Touten. Glaring, he nodded. She let out a quiet sigh as she kowtowed suppressing her disliking in her voice.
"Yes Your Highness," she replied humbly and convincing as she could. "Life amongst the Lower World beings has grown tiresome. They are uncivilized and uncouth. I wish to be amongst your Gods' greatness with the hopes that I may one day be as regal as you are."
The Jade Emperor smiled.
"If that is the case," he smirked. "You may stay. We'll make sure you find out what a truly civilized society is like."
"Thank you, Your Highness," she and Li Touten said.
She gritted her teeth and let out a quiet growl.
"You are dismissed," the Emperor said as he waved his hand.
They bowed as they slowly stood and walked out. She turned back. Kenren cast her another smile. She blushed.
In her room in the darkness, Megumi sat smiling a small smile. She stared at the cherry blossoms sitting on her nightstand in the vase.
"I guess..." she began to herself. "I should thank that 'Konzen's boy' for what he did... Whoever that is... At least I might have a little bit more freedom... Ch... If Li Touten weren't around..."
She let out a sigh as she turned to her balcony door and walked out staring up at the clear afternoon sky. A figure down underneath the trees stopped and stared up at her.
Tenpou stared up from his book as he stopped walking. In the balcony through a small window of pink petals, a woman in chains stood. He smiled a sweat drop running down his face.
"I must be working too much!" he smiled. "Yea that's it.. Too much work!"
He kept walking reading as he went.
Quickly, Kenren scrambled up the cherry tree grinning as he found her standing on her balcony.
"Hi there," he grinned as he popped his head from the branches.
"It's you!" she cried as she jumped back surprised.
"Call me Kenren," he smiled. "It's a wonder you've never heard of me. I have quite the reputation."
"You do?" she asked tilting her head curiously.
He chuckled.
"I do," he began as he leapt onto to her balcony railing. "But you can find out about it later."
He winked. Her eyebrows rose in an indifferent response as she smiled. Quickly, she stepped to one side.
"Come down," she smiled. "You might fall."
"Nah," he grinned confidently. "I'm not gonna get killed that easily. So, how do you like your new freedoms?"
She smirked.
"What freedoms?" she bantered as she turned away leaning on her balcony. "I still technically belong to Li Touten. He can still do what he wishes of me, and he wishes I would stay in this dolled up birdcage in a cluttered and unknown corner of Heaven with the door tightly shut. You best leave if you don't want to get caught."
With another quiet sigh, she turned and started heading for the her door. With a swift movement, Kenren blocked her retreat grinning. He leaned in.
"Well what Li Touten doesn't know, won't hurt," he whispered grinning.
A mischievous smile grew on her face.
"All right," she chuckled. "What did you have in mind?"
"A tour of heaven," he smiled.
"How will we leave?" she asked. "Someone will see you."
"I already got that covered," he replied as he hoisted her over his shoulder. "Ugh... Man those chains are heavy..."
She gasped struggling in his arms.
"Kenren!" she panicked as he climbed onto the balcony railing. "What are you doing!"
"Don't worry!" He grinned. "Just trust me!"
Grinning, he leapt into the branches of the cherry tree. The branches creaked under the sudden weight and the weight of her chains.
"Kenren..." she began worriedly.
"Don't worry," he smiled comfortingly. "Just trust me."
She smiled and nodded.
"All right.." she whispered loud enough for him to hear. "I will."
A smile grew on Kenren's face as he slowly descended down the tree.