Memories of a Life Gone By pt. 15 The Darkest Secret
The rain continued to fall as Gojyo, Hakkai, and Sanzo trudged through the slowly lightening torrents. The three men shivered as they trudged through the rain and mud. The heavy howling wind smacked their hair against their faces.
"Curse that stupid monkey," Gojyo grumbled as he pulled his sinking boot out of the thick mud. "He's gonna pay for making us walk out into the rain like this!"
Hakkai chuckled.
"You must admit though, Gojyo," he began. "It's not Goku's fault that he got kidnapped."
"Yea…" he grumbled again as he tried to light a waterlogged cigarette. "It still sucks though."
"Ch..." Sanzo snorted. "And where is the fox? Why isn't she helping us with this nonsense?"
"Well…" Hakkai began. "She was supposedly running an errand… But I guess she's still hasn't returned…"
"Ch… She's so useless…" Sanzo grumbled.
Gojyo shot him a look. An unsaid admittance sprouted in his mind. Why wouldn't she be here when she should know it's so important? He thought.
"Goku! Gojyo!" Miyuki cried as she ran up to them frightened.
Her heart thundered in her ears as though it were the passing storm. Gojyo caught her in his arms.
"Miyuki-chan! Where were you?!" Gojyo asked frantically. "Didn't you hear the news?!"
She shook her head.
"No…" she began huffing and puffing. "I was just walking... Coming back from the store… Something… Someone… Got me… I can't remember the rest…"
Gojyo stared at the bloodied bandage around her hand and studied it.
"Well, you must've fought, and some guy must've been kind enough to fix you… And take your groceries or something" he replied flatly. "But it's all right… Now… We just gotta find a way to get that bastard Homura out of our hair for the night…"
The remnants of battle were scattered around them as the night sky grew clearer and clearer revealing its first set of stars. The waterfall raged behind the two parties. Sadly, Goku continued to stare down on the waterlogged forest floor. His fist shook.
"What did you say to him?" Sanzo asked a slight hint of worry in his voice.
Homura walked past.
"Oh nothing really…" He replied coolly. "Though… I just realized that I cannot be his sun, Konzen… No matter how much I may try..."
Miyuki watched with silver worry riddled eyes. Gojyo wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders. As he strolled by, Homura turned to them and shot her a wink. Zenon and Shien passed them with small knowing smirks on their faces. Miyuki's golden gaze lowered to the ground.
"Don't worry, Miyuki-chan," Gojyo said sternly as he sneered and smirked at the enemy party. "They're just the type of guys I'm sure girls don't want to meet in a dark alleyway… They're much too sophisticated and refined for your traditional drunken bastard like me."
Miyuki chuckled.
"I think you have that phrase slightly backwards, Gojyo," she laughed nervously with a sweat drop running down her head.
"I never said you were my servant, nor have I ever expected you to be…" Sanzo reassured as he placed his hand on Goku's head. "You stupid monkey."
A small smile lit Goku's face as Sanzo, Hakkai, and Gojyo made their way back to the inn. Miyuki walked over gently cradling her bandaged hand in another. A wave of guilt washed over her.
"Goku…" she began quietly. "Do you remember what happened?"
Goku looked up at her with wide innocent eyes.
"Well… I remember waking up and Homura offering me some meat buns…" he reminisced. "Then… We talked… And after that… Nothing at all…"
Goku smiled up at her while Miyuki felt her insides twist into a painful and sickly knot.
"So don't worry Miyuki," He smiled trotting along to find the others. "I'm ok… Well… I am really hungry though… Sanzo!! Can I get some food?!"
She watched him run off. Gojyo stood waiting for her at the edge of the road lazily smoking another cigarette. Casually, he strolled up to her and draped his arm around her shoulders.
"Now don't worry about that monkey…" he comforted taking a long drag. "Let us occupy ourselves with other amusements… Like me getting those wet clothes off you and 'drying you off.'"
He winked causing a small chuckle to escape her lips. Turning, the walked back towards the inn as Gojyo's free hand slid down her back resting comfortably on her backside.
The shadows and moonlight played on her body turning her ghostly white and highlighting the fire in her golden eyes. Gojyo sat on top of her giving a soft approving growl as his nails ran slowly down her frame. His short claws left light pink runs on the crevasse of her breasts to the valley of her stomach. They glowed a light purple in the blue white light of the moon.
"Just how I like my women," he grinned whispering huskily. "Just a hint of something feisty with an angel's exterior."
Still grinning, he collapsed onto the bed beside her his mind reeling with an orgasmic euphoria. She smiled as she stared out into the clear moonlit night. A short time passed, and Gojyo's light snoring filled the room. Miyuki let out a sigh. It's ok old girl, She thought. No on knows the truth… At least not yet… Her shoulder began to throb. She winced and fell asleep as the pain slowly passed.
On her skin, large bulging veins made their way across her shoulder like vines taking root in fertile soil.
"Sanzo?" Hakkai asked as he lay awake in his bed.
His working eye stared up into the cracked and chipping asbestos in the ceiling.
"What?" Sanzo growled. "I'm trying to sleep, Hakkai."
The green eyed man sighed. Sanzo continued to grumble in his bed. The moonlight splashed through the balcony window. Their dark shadows floated across the room.
"And if it's about that fox, then I already know," he muttered grumpily and sleepily.
"You think she's acting suspicious too?" Hakkai asked worriedly.
"No, I just think that disappearing as soon as major crisis starts is absolutely normal," Sanzo replied in his usual cold and sarcastic tone.
"Not to mention her wound too…" Hakkai added, his eyes dancing as they followed a crack along the ceiling. "Where did you think it came from? And what kind of wound do you think it is?"
"I'd guess that would be some sort of bite mark judging by the way it's wrapped," He replied, his eyes closed. "Be careful and keep an eye out on her."
"I would think it best for us to not let her wander off alone," Hakkai added again. "We'll speak with Gojyo about it in the morning…"
A rapping on the door awoke him. Groggily, he walked to the door and opened it giving Hakkai a sleepy glare.
"Gojyo," Hakkai called out softly. "May we speak with you?"
Mumbling, he walked out and softly closed the door behind him.
"Well, what is it, Hakkai?" he asked.
The monocled man looked around and leaned in close to whisper.
"Just keep an eye out on Miyuki-san," he began. "Sanzo and I can't say we like her recent disappearance very much."
"So I'm not the only one that noticed," he replied smoothly. "I can't say I like it much either…"
"I'm glad you noticed," Hakkai responded smiling. "Sanzo and I were rather worried that you were blinded by love."
Gojyo snorted.
"'Blinded by love'?" he quoted. "What are you talking about, Hakkai? You know I don't love. I only fool around and fuck."
Hakkai laughed.
"Oh don't try and fool me, Gojyo," he started. "There's something about when you look at each other that just reminds me of my earlier days with Kanan."
He sighed while Gojyo gnawed on the filter of an unlit cigarette in contemplation. Hakkai turned to leave.
"Well, I'm glad we had this little talk, Gojyo," he said returning to his room. "Just don't forget to keep what we told you in mind…"
Opening the door and staring at the bed, he let out a quiet sigh and tossed his unlit cigarette away. He laid down beside her and placed a cool hand on her bed sheet warmed shoulder. An ancient and familiar tingle danced its way into his fingertips. He pulled her close to him. She barely stirred in her sleep. The tingling grew into a warmth, triggering old nerves and synapses lodged in the unconscious recesses of his mind. Desperately, he tried to ignore the sudden racing of his heart. Still sleeping she turned toward him resting her head on his chest. A murmur began to escape her lips.
"Kenren…" she mumbled quietly.
The incorrect name blew away the cobwebs covering an album of memories in the back of his mind. He looked upon her for longer his lips moving in the unnoticed pronunciation of a name.
"Megumi…"
As the jeep rolled and rumbled off with the eastern sun on their backs, darkly veiled blue and golden eyes watched. A chilling smile grew on his face. The pieces of his plan were quickly falling into place.
Memories of a Life Gone By Side Story: Romancing the Memories Pt. 14 A Special Place
The warm eternal spring-like sun shined down on them in spots as it drifted down through the willow leaves. Megumi's white gown spread around her relaxing on the grass. Her gold eyes fluttered as the weight of an afternoon nap rested on her eyelids. Kenren laid beside her his arms under his head. His black leather uniform mingled with the white folds of her gown. The brook murmured just passed their feet.
"Megumi-chan," Kenren grinned as he took her hand and began leading her out of the room. "Come with me. I have something to show you."
She stood and followed him to a spot further down the stream. Warily, as they came upon a grove of dead and rotting trees, she looked around. Dark and gnarled, the branches clawed and ripped at the sky above her. The branches tangled and strangled each other as though they were trying to fight away the sunlight.
"Kenren?" she asked. "Where are we going? It's rather… Bleak… Here…."
Kenren laughed.
"Well don't mistake the wrapping for the gift my little fox," he quipped as he stopped at he edge of the dead tree grove. "Why don't you just take a look and see what this area really has to offer…"
She stepped just passed him and out of the grove. Surprised, she blinked. Wild bluebells and white bells bloomed all around her and along the brook's edge. Tall and wide leafed grasses intermingled with the other flora. A tall willow tree grew amongst the center. Its thin and frail branches brushed the ground and dipped into the water.
"Kenren…" she began. "Where and when did you find this place?"
He thought carefully on her question.
"I'm not sure actually," he replied with a grin. "I think some solider told me about it, but I had forgotten until now. Shall we claim it as our own?"
She chuckled.
"How do you intend to do that? By having us desecrate the place with our bodily wastes?" she asked with heavy sarcasm.
He wrapped his arms around her.
"No," he began. "I thought dousing the entire area out our 'love puddles' would be a better way to handle this situation."
"Kenren!" she cried as he stepped back smiling perversely.
He tackled her to the ground as her articles of clothing went flying into the flowers.
"When Megumi pulled back the sheets it was as though there was a doll sleeping in the bed instead of Nataku," Tenpou started. "And because of this 'doll' Li Touten has climbed up the social ladder quite quickly… It's like he's a man made killing machine…"
Konzen and Tenpou sat in Konzen's office Tenpou smoking as Konzen listened to Tenpou's rather strange tale.
"You know yourself how Nataku has acted since he took the position of Toushin Taishi," Tenpou finished.
"But you're leaving the most important part out of your explanation," Konzen replied. "How could Li Touten get a hold of such a thing, and how could it even be made?"
Tenpou shrugged taking another drag of his cigarette. His free hand rose up to confirm his shrugging.
"I've got to leave the rest out. Everything up to this point is what I've heard myself," he reasoned. "What comes next is only my guess…"
Konzen turned away to ponder. Nataku's true nature is the top secret of the emperor's and Heaven's highest echelons, he thought. As though his mind were being read, Tenpou broke the silence.
"It's possible the Li Touten manufactured Nataku himself," he said blowing a puff of smoke into the air.
A man made human being? A military weapon? Konzen thought again.
"Even in the army there's a rumor going around that he's got the blood of the Gods and the blood of a demon…" Tenpou interjected between his thoughts.
"That would never be allowed," Konzen replied curtly.
Tenpou nodded and took another long drag from his cigarette.
"It was just… That Heaven needed a Toushin that badly, but I'm convinced that Li Touten himself created the circumstances…" he trailed off.
Konzen's eyes grew wide.
"What did you say?!" he cried.
"I think the likelihood is pretty high," Tenpou began pulling out another cigarette. "The army being called out and there not being enough men available, and then a Toushin arrives. The timing is just too…"
Tenpou hesitated in his silence chastisizing himself for wanting to admit it.
"Opportune…"
Kenren lay in the flowers enjoying the warm sunlight on his skin. The gears in his head slowly turned. It's been awfully quiet for the last few weeks… He thought worriedly. What does it all mean? His stomach tightened into a hard knot as the old feeling of sickening dread washed over him. He sat up and watched as Megumi waded in the river.
Her white gown grew water laden as the softly splashing waves tried to carry her dress down the stream. Her dark hair mingled with the white folds and the water. Her gold eyes watched the small fish swim by. Her eyes seemed to glisten as she lifted her heavy chained hand in her silver gaze. She could feel her feet give way under the sand and silt with her weight. If only these bonds would wash away with the river… She thought. Then I'd truly be free again…
She turned to him. She smiled. They said this was going to be a dangerous game you were playing, she dictated to herself again. And you said you would never want to stop playing… It would be nice, though, if I could play without so many rules…
Pushing his negative thoughts aside, Kenren stood and pulled on his jacket. He walked to the stream and offered his hand to her.
"Come," He offered with a small serene smile. "They'll know we're gone; my commander is gonna have my ass on a skewer, and Li Touten will probably just be pissed even more."
She chuckled.
"You need not worry about him," she replied. "I just want to enjoy what's left of our day."
He grinned.
"Well then!" he quipped. "Let us try to have that dinner and dancing we had first tried to plan."
She smiled.
He kissed her hand.
"I shall come for you within the hour," he grinned as he dramatically bowed showing off a false snobbish accent. "Please be dressed and ready for dinner as a proper lady should be."
She laughed and nodded turning to walk into her room. Kenren groped her backside quickly before strutting down the hall. She wondered and looked down at her waterlogged and mud stained gown.
"'Dress like a lady?'" she wondered out loud. "But this is the only dress I have other than my sleeping clothes… And this already takes quite the beating…"
As she turned on a light, she let out a sigh. Suddenly, she gasped. A deep burgundy off shoulder gown rested beautifully on her bed. A small envelope and a long pair of black gloves rested beside the gown. She opened it.
Megumi-chan,
The past is behind you. It is time for a new start at this immortal life. Shall I "Good and properly flirt" with you tonight as you join me for dinner and dancing?
Kenren.
P.S. Wear the dress. You need something much sexier than the same ol' dress you always wear. Then again, I'm not saying it's not sexy either…
She let out a light chuckle and rushed off to her bath.
She stared at herself in the mirror spinning and watching the wide hoop skirt of the gown flutter as she twirled. She laughed. It was a gown of burgundy silk brocade and taffeta. Thin strips of black wound around her shoulders elegantly at her center as a wide thick band of black silk wound its way at the bottom hems of her gown. Pushing the gloves through her chains, she pulled the long silky accessory up past her elbows. Quickly, she wound half her hair into a large bun at the top of her head and let the rest cascade down her back. She tied a simple black ribbon around her neck and twirled once more in front of her mirror. Smiling, she turned back to her room and let out a small sigh.
Her soft and large king sized bed stood bare and naked of sheets, and very few possessions lay around the room. Her white gown lay tossed over the back of an elegant lacquered chair. Her beaten white low heeled slippers lay ripped ad shredded at her dress's feet. She kneeled down at the edge of her bed and looked underneath.
"Well…" she began. "At least Li Touten was good for one thing."
She pulled out a box and opened it revealing a pair of black silk heeled slippers. As a knock came to the door, she slipped them on and quickly answered it. Kenren let out a low purr.
"Well I knew my penis was definitely telling me the right thing when I saw this little number!" he exclaimed.
"Kenren!" she cried blushing. "Though… You certainly don't look so bad yourself, my dear…"
He grinned as he brushed the imaginary dust away from the sleeves of his black suit and rechecked the collar of his white slightly open shirt. He held out his hand. She placed hers in his leading her down the hall and out a large and empty garden. Across a stone bridge, a wood and paper lantern shined softly through the intricate wood lace working of a wood and stone pagoda. The evening crescent moon glowed over the glistening water as the water lilies ghostly floated on the tops of ripples. Kenren led her across the bridge to a low table piled high with roasted duck, vegetables, soups, and rice. Eagerly, they ate their fill.
Afterwards, they stood. Kenren began to lead her around the garden pulling her close and initiating a waltz.
"You look beautiful tonight," he smiled resting his face just near her ear.
She blushed.
"Megumi-chan," he continued as he studied her in the moonlight. "I… Want you to stay in my room from now on…"
A shiver ran up his spine as the burgundy dress took on a glowing blood red hue. The black ribbon around her neck stared at him as though it were a gaping bleeding mouth. Quickly, his stomach grew ill as he pushed the brief premonition aside. Instantly, her gown returned to this burgundy hue, and the ribbon was nothing but a ribbon. Megumi opened her mouth to speak.
"But Ken—, " she began.
"No," he interjected sternly. "It's been awfully quiet for these past few weeks regarding Li Touten, and I don't like it. I have the feeling that something big is going to happen, and it will happen soon."
She let out a small sigh and nodded. He smiled and pulled her closer digging his nails into her skin lightly.
"Bring your things to my room tomorrow," he whispered tangling his fingers in her hair. "And we'll get you settled in as soon as possible."
She nodded. You noticed it too? She thought. I can't say I like that it's been quiet either, Kenren… I really can't.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait guys, and I hope it was worth it! Thanks for reading!