(For those who haven't figured it out yet, Xiahua, Quihua, Shunhua, and Donghua are the girls from ep. 19, The Maidens of Sorrow episode. They're NOT o.c.'s. And for filling and for plot uses, I'm gonna put in some of what happened in the real show, just to touch upon it and add some believability so forgive me if the lines sound wrong. I don't want to totally copy it after all. Oh and they'll be a combination of the sub and the dub.)
Memories of a Life Gone By pt. 5 Blossoms of the Present
. . .A few months before. . .
Miyuki let out a despairing sigh.
"Now what's to be all mopey for kid?" a tall blond hair woman said as she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"The fact that you four sisters get all the best guys while I get no second glances," Miyuki sighed. "Xiahua... How do you do it?
A small girl with pigtails and braids giggled.
"It's because Xiahua has big boobs!" the small girl giggled. "You don't get any glances because they can't stop staring at her chest!"
Xiahua cast the small girl a pouting glare. Miyuki laughed.
"Now, now, Donghua," a third girl with long black hair chided smiling. "Xiahua has got other traits too."
"Like the rest of you can talk, Quihua," Miyuki sighed again as she laid her head on the table. "Xiahua may have a rack, but the rest of you got prettier faces..."
The fourth girl with long blue hair smirked.
"Men aren't the most important thing in the world you know," she began resting her hand on her hip. "But don't worry you'll find one at some point."
"Yea!" Xiahua winked as she and the others began loading bags in a wagon. "And if we find a good one for you on this trip, we'll be sure to bring him back with us!"
Oh, I'll find one all right, she thought skeptically. When all the men in the world stop being interested in Xiahua's breasts... Xiahua, Quihua, Shunhua, and Donghua climbed into the wagon. Whistling, Shunhua gently smacked the horse with the reins. The others waved.
"Bye!" Donghua cried as she stood and waved.
"Don't do anything that we wouldn't do!" Xiahua added. "And if you do, make sure you invite us!"
Quihua waved. Miyuki waved back.
. . .The Present. . .
Miyuki let out a sigh as she replayed the old memory in her mind. And that's the last time I ever saw them... She thought as she stared out the inn window just above her and Gojyo's bed. A slow wind rustled the blossomed branches. She frowned. And now, ironically enough, I'm traveling with the men who defiled you all, and even sleeping with one! This can't get anymore weird... She thought again. But... Then why doesn't it feel weird? The memories continued replaying in her mind.
. . .The Memory. . .
A loud rapping came from the door.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Miyuki cried as she opened the door finding three strange men on the other side. "... May I help you?"
"Yes," a man with a gold and blue eyes began in his deep, gentlemanly voice. "Is this the home of Xiahua, Quihua, Shunhua, and Donghua?"
Miyuki stared at the three worriedly.
"Yes," she nodded. "Is something the matter?"
The man with the two different colored eyes smiled a comforting smile. His two attendants, a man with gray hair and another with an eye patch, smirked and turned away.
"Yes," he began gravely. "I fear your friends are.. Dead."
Miyuki paled. The man smirked to himself.
"What?" she stared in shock. "... No!"
With weak legs, she shuffled into the house. The man and his attendants quickly followed her inside.
"We," the gray haired man began. "Will spare you the awful details, but we know who did this to your friends... And if you should wish for revenge... Then..."
"We got a little proposition for you," the third man with the eye patch proposed with a mischievous grin.
She let out another sigh.
"What a memory," she murmured to herself.
She flopped back in bed as she stared up at the ceiling. Hakkai walked in.
"Are you all packed, Miyuki-san?" he smiled. "We'll be leaving soon."
She turned and smiled.
"Hai (Yes)," she replied. "I'll start taking my things down. "
Standing, she grabbed her bags and slowly made her way down to the jeep. The others continued packing their things into Hakuryuu as Sanzo sat patiently in his seat. Another day... Another a few hundred miles traveled, Hakkai thought smiling as he sped off. Another chance for me to get that scripture... Miyuki reminded herself. Don't keep putting it off...
Hakkai slowly guided Hakuryuu around the curves of the steep mountain. Gojyo, Goku, and Miyuki groaned with boredom.
"I'm tired," Goku groaned.
"Hakkai," Gojyo complained. "When did Hakuryuu turn into a turtle? And I'm so bored I think I'm gonna die."
"Sorry, Gojyo," Hakkai smiled as he slowly eased his way around the bend. "But this is the best he can do. Unless you'd like me to risk driving us off the cliff."
"Sanzo, I'm so hungry!" Goku whined louder. "I think my stomach is gonna tie itself in knots if I don't get something to eat!"
Sanzo aimed his gun.
"Well you want me to loosen up some of those knots for you, you stupid monkey?" he threatened.
Goku smiled nervously rubbing the back of his head.
"No!" he grinned. "I'll wait."
"Ch. Good," Sanzo replied. "I'll kill you if you don't."
Amused, Miyuki watched. Her ears suddenly twitched as she heard a distant rumbling. They gasped as a large boulder came rolling towards them.
. . .A while before. . .
Zenon smirked as he looked down on the five men kneeling on the ground.
"So these are Souto's boys, eh?" he said still smirking. "So why have you all run away from heaven to join our humble little group?"
"I've heard some of your stories..." Shien began. "You've got quite the reputation."
"We promise!" the leader cried out. "We won't fail in anything you ask us!"
"Well, Homura?" Shien asked as he studied Homura's pondering look.
A smirk grew on Homura's face.
"You've heard of the Sanzo party, yes?" he asked. "Take care of them, and bring me back the Maten Scripture... And tell Megumi I said 'Hi.'"
"Hai!" the soliders replied as he rushed off.
"Homura?" Shien questioned curiously.
"Yea," Zenon added as he lit a cigarette. "What do you have planned up that sleeve of yours?"
"Why absolutely nothing," he smiled. "Though.. I can't help but think our little Megumi is becoming.. A little different..."
"You've noticed it too?" Shien asked.
Homura smiled. Zenon smirked.
"Who hasn't noticed?" he added. "Too bad she's as clueless and as blind as some of those humans come."
"Of course I've noticed," Homura began. "After all... Who wouldn't notice when a woman falling in love?"
Miyuki. Goku, and Gojyo sat behind the boulders and rocks waiting impatiently. Goku and Gojyo's articles of clothing lay strewn about the rocks. Miyuki threw her shoes in with them.
"How's the situation, Outou?" the commander asked as he surveyed the wide valley and dense forest.
"I've got a visual on clothing," the watcher said as he stared through his spyglass. "It appears to be Gojyo, Goku's and the girl's."
The commander nodded smirking.
"Good," he began. "Now we just need you three to take care of the others."
"Hai!" the three men kneeling cried as they flitted into the forest.
Don't fail me, Jikoku, Sekieki, Ryokusho, he thought determined.
"Grah! I'm so bored!" Goku whined. "Why do Hakkai and Sanzo get to have all the fun!"
Gojyo smirked. Miyuki smiled.
"Well then, monkey," he began as he stretched and pulled out his shakujo. "I guess you can go find that stinking monk, and Hakkai if you want. After all those explosions, I think that should be enough of a head start."
"Woo hoo!" Goku cheered as he quickly snuck out and grabbed his cape. "It's about time!"
The watcher on the hill gasped as he watched the orange cape suddenly disappear. He worried.
"Looks like it's just you and me now," Gojyo grinned as he wrapped arm around her shoulders.
"If you're thinking of doing anything while the rest of them are fighting, don't," she smiled. "It wouldn't be all that fair."
Gojyo chuckled.
"And here I was hoping for a quickie..." he smirked as he slowly stood. "But then again... You go and meet the others. I'm just going to take care of the old guy coming our way."
Chuckling, she shook her head at his antics.
"All right," she smiled as she took his hand in hers and gave it a light squeeze. "If you die, I won't forgive you."
He laughed.
"Yea sure," he replied. "But it's gonna take a lot more than that old man to get rid of me."
She nodded and quickly ran off grabbing her shoes from under Outou's nose as she went. Slowly, Gojyo climbed to the top of the pile of rocks.
"So you finally come," he smiled. "And I thought I was gonna die of boredom while waiting for you."
Outou gasped.
She ran around the forest looking for signs of the others. The blue haired commander appeared behind her. Gasping, she turned.
"Homura says 'Hi'," he smirked.
She glared.
"Homura?" she questioned suspiciously. "Why did he put you up to this?"
The commander shrugged. A grin grew on his face.
"Maybe it was because one of his subordinates wasn't doing so well on her mission," he explained sarcastically.
"I was doing fine," she glared as she lied. "Things are going according to plan in my book!"
Souto smirked. Her shoe clad foot landed a rough and hard kick in between his legs. He grunted still looking up to her with a smirk as he doubled over slightly.
"And how, if I may ask is lying on your back with your legs spread wide open good for this mission?" he challenged his smirk growing.
Standing straight as he could, he walked past her nudging her shoulder hard.
"Now," he condescended as he disappeared. "Why don't you go back to that Gojyo fellow and just keep your legs wide open. I know it's what you women from this world do best!"
She glared after him seething as she ran off to find the others following the sounds of explosions and screaming in the distance.
"I'm sorry! Let me make it so you can understand!" Hakkai cried as Ryokusho charged toward him. "But I cannot be killed by such brute tactics!"
A ball of light went flying through the large, burly man making him disintegrate.
"Well," Hakkai smiled as he rubbed the back of his head. "That was technically revenge for what he did earlier."
"Ch," Sanzo snorted. "And I thought I was gonna go and repay him for making me run so much. We might as well take care of the small fry and be done with it."
"Small fry!" Sekeiki cried. "Don't you underestimate me!"
He ran as Sanzo blasted his gun. A small bullet lodged itself in Sekieki's bomb pouch. Sanzo turned away as the man blew into bits.
"I hate letting people get away with making a fool of me," he muttered as he rested his silver pistol on his shoulder.
"Well, well, well," Gojyo grinned. "All your friends are dead. What will you do now?"
Souto smirked. Through the trees, Miyuki watched. Souto looked her way. Smirking, she pulled down a lower eyelid, and blew him a rasberry. He continued to smirk. Arrogant little jackass... She thought idly as she watched. At least he's gonna get what's coming to him...
"So, Genjo Sanzo," he began. "If these men and that woman had really died, would you have accepted my offer?"
"No," he retorted sharply. "You got your answer the first time."
Souto nodded.
"Heh," he chuckled. "We were ambitious, and rather than serving an incompetent general up in heaven, we came down here to make our own fortunes with Homura. And even if I have to do it alone, I'll kill you all and take back that Maten Scripture!"
"Ch," Sanzo snorted. "Goku.. You know what to do."
"Ok!" Goku cried as he rushed in swinging his staff. "Leave it to me!"
Miyuki watched as the forest rang with the clinging and clanging of metal. She smirked. Souto glared growling.
"You're mocking me aren't you!" he cried as he blocked Goku's staff with his sword.
"I've got no idea what you're talking about!" Goku grinned as a swear left Souto's lips.
"Oh my," Hakkai smiled. "Goku seems to be having a lot fun..."
"Heh," Gojyo chuckled. "It's nothing but a game to him."
"Ch. Stupid monkey," Sanzo muttered.
Surprised, Goku stared as Souto lay impaled on his staff.
"Why?" he asked.
"You fool," Souto began smirking. "I know when it's my time to die... But.. I must know... In heaven, we've never known defeat.. So, why did we lose? What is your secret to your strength?"
Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai cast him a thoughtful and slightly pained look.
"... All the battles we've survived..." Gojyo began.
"... The fact we're alive..." Hakkai continued.
"And the fact, that we don't believe," Sanzo finished.
Souto nodded a bloody smirk on his face.
"I see..." he said as he burst into dust.
"This is stupid," Sanzo muttered bitterly. "You can come out now fox."
Miyuki walked out into the clearing smiling. She clapped.
"A most wonderful show," she smiled.
"I should kill you for not helping," Sanzo chided as he reloaded his gun.
"And steal all you boys' glory?" she bantered chuckling. "I think not. You're quite the act you know."
Smirking, Gojyo wrapped and arm around her shoulders. She smiled up at him.
"Ch. Whatever," Sanzo replied.
Memories of a Life Gone By Side Story: Romancing the Memories pt. 4 The Price of Mischief
In his arms, entangled in the silk sheets, she awoke her limbs stiff and sore. She chuckled to herself. Ai ya, she thought smiling as she placed her hand on his. I didn't know I could that... Her stomach let out a quiet and hungry cry. She cast her eyes to a small cart filled with partially eaten bowls of fruit. Smiling, she sweat dropped. The next time you say you're sending for dinner, I'm not going to believe you... She thought with another chuckle. Slowly and gently, as he pulled away from his grasp, she covered herself in a black sheet and slowly stood. She started to walk suddenly stopping as he felt a sharp tug on her tail. She pulled. The object held to her fast. She turned. With a piercing playful look in his eyes, Kenren stared up at her with a mischievous smirk on his face. His hand held her tail in a firm grip.
"And where are you going?" he purred as he suddenly pulled her into the bed and pinned her in his arms.
She giggled as he laced her shoulder with hungry and passionate kisses.
"Kenren!" she giggled. "I've got to get back. They'll know I've been gone!"
"Let them know," he smirked as his mouth moved to her neck. "I don't care... Just tell them you were giving a very, very sick patient some much needed treatment."
She purred laughing.
"You know that will never work. Not in a million years," she whispered passionately as his hands roamed around on her skin.
She shivered. With a playful pout, he moved off her and wrapped his arms around her from behind as she sat up. He smirked.
"I know," he sighed nuzzling into her shoulder. "But it would be most interesting just to see the look on Li Touten's face if he found out that I had screwed his son's doctor. That would just make his blood boil."
He smirked letting out a light chuckle. She smiled reaching back and letting her fingers run through his hair.
"But at what price would it come?" she smirked.
"I don't know," he shrugged grinning. "But I'd pay to see it!"
She laughed hesitantly pulling away from him. She tossed his black silk sheet over his head as she began to dress. Quickly, he pulled it off and grinned as he watched. She turned to him laughing.
"You're such a pervert," she grinned.
"Hey!" he began smirking. "I may have no control over my groin, but I didn't hear you complain about it last night."
She smirked nodding in agreement.
"I'll give you that," she smiled as she headed for the door.
"Oi!" he cried as he suddenly scrambled out of bed and stumbled into his clothing. "Matte! (Wait!) I'm coming!"
"I can walk back on my own," she laughed.
"I know," he countered grinning. "But so?"
She grunted as she pulled her self onto a branch. The branch whined under her weight.
"I know, I know," she sighed as though the tree would hear plea. "You don't like my chains. I get that already you darn tree."
Kenren smiled down at her as he sat up in a few branches laughing.
"Oh laugh now while you can!" she grinned calling up to him. "But it's not easy weighing over three or four hundred pounds, if not more, while climbing a tree in a dress and heels!"
She leapt onto her balcony with a heavy grunt. He followed after her chuckling. She smiled.
"Well..." she began sheepishly. "I guess... This is goodbye for now, ne?"
He nodded.
"Well," he smirked. "Until you meet me by Kanzeon's lotus pool tonight."
She giggled.
"All right," she smiled.
"Good," he smirked. "I've got a nice candlelight dinner and dancing planned. You should be there."
He winked and leapt back into the cherry tree. She smiled.
"I didn't think you were the type to do that, Kenren!" she called down to him as he popped his head out from the branches.
"I'm not!" he grinned. "It's just good and proper flirting!"
She smiled as she watched him slowly descend. She turned and walked inside.
"It's nice to see you've come back," a deep voice smirked. "Where did you go? And why was it necessary to climb out your balcony and down the tree?"
Megumi gasped.
"Li Touten-sama!" she cried. "I... If I could expl--"
"SILENCE!" he bellowed as he walked up to her glaring and dragged her outside tossing her to the floor. "Guards! Restrain her!"
Two men pulled her up roughly to her feet and held her arms in a firm grasp. She struggled.
"What are you doing!" she screamed and kicked. "Let me go! I've done nothing!"
"Oh really?" Li Touten smirked as he walked up to her and held her face roughly in his hands. "Then that must mean you've got nothing to hide... And if you've got nothing to hide... Then... It should all right if I do this..."
Quickly, he pulled up her skirt and reached inside.
"No!" she cried as she tried to kick his hands away. "Stop it! Let me go!"
His hand crept along her thigh. A shameful red stained her cheeks.
"Please! You wouldn't!" she pleaded as she dug her heeled foot into his shoulder trying to knock him away.
Instantaneously, another set of guards restained her legs. Prying fingers reached inside her sore orfice looking and scraping. She winced biting her quivering lower lip. Defiling tears shined in her gold eyes. Li Touten stared at his white coated fingers as he pulled them out from under her dress. She glared. He smirked.
"Just as I thought," he grinned maniacally.
The hard sound of skin hitting skin rang through the hall. Megumi cried out painfully as a large red mark on her face with two white streaks throbbed. The guards threw her aside. She continued glaring.
"Megumi," Li Touten commanded smirking as he motioned for the guards to her. "You will be confined to the dungeons for fraternizing with one of the men."
He turned to a guard smirking.
"Make sure she gets 100 lashings with a cane," he smirked as she stared up at him wide eyes. "If she screams.. Double it..."
"Yes sir," the guard replied as he and the other guard led her away.
She smirked quietly to herself. Well, Kenren.. She thought. I saw the look on Li Touten's face when he found out I had slept with you... And apparently this is the price...
She shivered at the cool air as it blew across her bare skin. The top of her dress rested bunched and ripped around her waist. Nervously, she panted as she pulled at the chains holding her arms above her head. She gasped as a bucket of icy water suddenly splashed on her wetting her skin and her hair. The guard behind her swung the thin bamboo cane around in warm up swings. She winced at the sound of the soft swishing and swooshing.
With a loud swish, the cane cracked on skin as she sucked in a painful gasp. Her warm blood mixed with the cold water on her back as her tears began to fall.
The seemingly distant light under the iron dungeon doors slowly shifted as she watched. Still above her head, her arms ached. Her tears continued to fall as the deep gashes continued appearing on her skin. The guard walked around and leaned in close to her face.
"You only brought this on yourself," he smirked. "Tsk, tsk, if only you hadn't broken down at the last moment. Then, you wouldn't have to be receiving another 100 lashes."
She glared. A hard hand hit her cheek making a small cut run with blood. The guard continued smirking.
"Hope you don't have any important going on tonight," he chuckled. "You'll be stuck here for a good long while.
She hung her head letting out a hoarse sigh. I'm sorry, Kenren... She thought. And I was really looking forward to your dinner too...
He stared up at the dark sky slowly filling with stars. He looked around worriedly. He lit a cigarette and took a long drag. The white smoke flew out of his mouth.
"Damn..." he sighed. "Something just ain't right..."
He turned and walked off to her tree. He scrambled up and peered into her room. A rare soft light cast itself through the window. A small smile lit his face as he leapt onto the balcony. He stared through the curtains as Li Touten opened them smirking. Kenren glared.
"If you're looking for that little whore," he smirked as he opened the door. "She's been in the dungeons all day."
Growling, Kenren launched his fist at his face.
"You hit me," he threatened. "The girl gets another 50 lashes with a cane."
His hand stopped.
"That's low you scum-sucking bastard!" he cried.
Li Touten smirked.
"But it worked didn't it?" Li Touten asked grinning. "And for every disobedience you cause me and your army, the girl pays. I really must thank you for giving me such a good pawn to add to my chessboard."
Kenren glared and turned away angrily jumping into the cherry tree climbing down as fast as he could. Don't worry, Megumi-chan... He thought. I'm going to make sure that you're not going to be paying for my sins...
She winced as she hit the cold and dusty stone floor as the guard stood outside locking her cell. The dirt and dust stung her wounds. Blood continued to drip onto the floor. Her ripped dress sat bunched on her waist heavy with blood and cold water. In the shadowed cell across from her, a woman with long blond pigtails and a green kimono walked into the dim light shocked. Megumi laid on the floor looking up at her through her silver eyes.
"What happened to you?" she asked worriedly.
"What does it look like?" she answered hoarsely and harshly.
"Forgive me," the woman replied. "I guess it was kinda obvious... I'm Rinrei."
"My fault as much as yours," Megumi said wincing. "I think most people would be a little cranky after several hours of torture... I'm Megumi... What did you do?"
Rinrei stared at her with tears in her eyes. She wiped them away.
"I fell in love with someone I wasn't suppose to..." she murmured.
Silver eyes changed to gold. Rinrei smiled.
"Your gold eyes remind me of him," she smiled. "But... I guess it won't be long now... I'm going to be sent to be reincarnated tonight..."
Megumi watched as a guard walked up to Rinrei's cell and unlocked it. Rinrei waved as she walked off.
"It was nice meeting you," she smiled as a set of tears fell from her eyes.
"Quit making friends with the heretic, Rinrei," the guard commanded as he pushed Rinrei along. "You're in enough trouble as it is with this Homura issue."
The blood running in Megumi's veins and through her wounds seemed to freeze. She... She... Loved a heretic? She thought shuddering and wincing. She looked in the corridor hearing a muffled scream as a guard fell by her cell unconscious. She looked up a small smile coming to her face as Kenren looked in from outside the iron bars.