Chapter 2
Humans and Demons
A/N: More reviews or there will be no chapter 3.
Firerose1300: Yo! This one was hiding in my computer for two years. It's my remake of the original that was lost on the computer I had when we first met. o.0 I wasn't going to publish it but I got all emotional so… Glad you like it!
Sakura2112: Yay! Thank you! That makes me feel so awesome!
Sanzo glared down at the scroll in his fist, just that little role of paper in his hand was enough to put so much pressure on him. He tried not to think about what happened to him earlier today. He collapsed in the shower; his lack of sleep finally taking its toll. He ran a hand roughly through his hair and successfully tuned out the monks outside his door. But he wasn't prepared when one of them entered the room, "Sanzo-sama, are you-?"
The monk stopped mid sentence to scream at the sight of the revolver in his face and slammed the door closed. Sanzo felt a hand on his, "Relax Sanzo, put that down."
Sanzo blinked and put his arm down, dropped the gun to the floor and turned to bury his face in the woman's chest. Nai just let him gather himself, not touching him, she knew better than that, "You ok?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" he lifted his head but stayed close.
"I was coming to tell your ass to get some sleep."
He glared at her then noticed the darkening bags under her hazel eyes. "There's nothing I can do."
Nai sighed, moving away from him, "Your nightmares are really hard core."
"You say it like I don't already know."
She picked up his Smith and Wesson, rubbing her thumbs over it, "You've killed people with this."
He nodded, "I'm leaving."
"Already? It's only been two weeks and you haven't visited me yet."
Her smiling face only affected his mood more and he couldn't tell if it was good or bad. He didn't have anywhere to go if he did leave, but he felt like he had too, he'd rather die than stay here.
Nai moved to the window, "Dying doesn't make anything better. But if you feel like that's what you have to do…"
"Get out of my feelings." He snapped.
It was her turn to glare, "I don't do it on purpose. It's just something about you…I can't shake it. It's chilling."
"There's something you're not telling me. The abbot says-"
"That I'm a demon." She chuckled and fumbled with the frayed edges of her shorts, "I know."
"Why?"
"My mom. She was half-breed. Rumor is her dad was a demon who could manipulate the feelings of others."
Sanzo turned his face to the window and noticed the moon, it was no longer full. "You're not a demon."
She smiled, "No, but I'm not human either."
The room grew quiet and stayed that way. It was almost comfortable; after a while Nai stood, "Well c'mon if your leaving. I can't send you into the woods with no food."
Sanzo packed up his belongings and followed the woman out the window. Not too far away the abbot chuckled to himself, "Running away does nothing Genjyo Sanzo."
Nai was sure she would rub the wood polish off of the bar if she kept scrubbing it as hard as she was. But it was the only thing quelling her anger at the moment. She didn't know the monk that well but something about him made her like a moth to a flame.
She was pissed that he really did leave. She threw the rag at the bucket just as one of her waitress' screamed.
Nai ran to the door and slapped a hand over the girl's mouth, "Sshh. Take everyone and go in the kitchen."
The girl, only sixteen nodded and ran to the back, the other girls hot on her heels. Nai cursed lightly and grabbed the shotgun off the wall behind the bar. She barely ever touched the thing, considering it was what her father used to end his life.
She moved to the door and cracked it open to see a nice sized group of human degenerates running for the temple. She'd heard of these guys, they were just as bad as demons. "Shit."
The woman slipped out after them, locking the door to the bar behind her, and ran in the opposite direction. She needed to find Sanzo, she would bet everything that he was who those men were looking for.
"Sanzo!" at first the blonde monk thought he was hearing things but when he heard the feminine shout again he shot out into the trees.
"What the hell do you want woman?"
Nai fell on the ground as the bullet ripped through a tree branch, "Did you have to shoot at me?"
"Why are you here?"
"Thugs are heading for the temple."
Sanzo eyed the shotgun in her hand and narrowed his eyes, "You're lying."
"I am not you piss poor monk!"
"Shut up!"
Nai grabbed his wrist, "Those men will kill every monk in that temple."
"So what?"
"So what? That's almost one hundred lives on your head! What if they take on the town too?"
Sanzo looked at her but before he could retort, loud, gong-like, bells started to sound in the distance. Nai froze, "That's the town's fire alarm."
Sanzo looked out past the trees and spotted the pillar of smoke. Nai almost bit her tongue as Sanzo grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him. The run seemed a lot shorter than they both would have expected and Nai quietly cocked the shotgun, "Now what?"
"Cover me."
She reached out and grabbed his shoulder as he turned to go inside, "Thank you Sanzo."
"Whatever woman, just watch my back."
"I know Genjyo Sanzo is here! We'll kill everyone here until we find him!"
"Your business is with me."
The abbot held up his hand and proclaimed himself as Genjyo Sanzo. He gazed right over the head of the man before him and at the woman sitting on the wall that wrapped around the temple.
"Genjyo Sanzo eh? Than you can die first."
"The ending of my life, will exact Buddha's will…"
"ABBOT!"
"SANZO!" Nai chimed in right with the monks calling fro their leader. Sanzo didn't move fast enough though. His bullet reaching the offender after the abbot fell against the great peach tree behind him.
"So you returned." He chuckled painfully and shakily lit a cigarette, "I hand over all duties to you boy…good luck."
As his cigarette hit the ground and continued to burn, Sanzo shouted for Nai to have no mercy.
"He's coming, be patient." A monk whispered to the woman next to him. She had been allowed in simply because of the Abbots funeral, as a guest.
Nai couldn't stop tapping her leg "Yeah yeah baldy."
The chanting in the room was deafening but she heard the door open loud and clear. People started to whisper as Sanzo made his way to the front of the room. His new formal attire was an amazing white and a gold crown sat on his head. Nai couldn't help beaming in pride. Sanzo glanced over at her and she winked, causing him to scowl.
He gathered himself and fully faced the crowd, "I, Tao Genjyo Sanzo the 31st of Eastern Asia, under the order of the sanbutshin, will be running things at Keiun temple from now on." He paused to narrow his gaze, "If anyone has a problem with that, speak up."
The monks bowed in respect, and Nai had to cover her full-fledged smile. After the ceremony the monks crowded Sanzo with gifts of respect. He was finally able to retreat to his room as the sun started to set.
A knock on his door made him groan, "What now?"
The door slid open and Nai walked in, closing the door behind her. She placed a bottle of sake on the table and two small cups. "Just thought you could use a little help relaxing after today."
Sanzo allowed her to sit across from him. She looked around the plush room and noticed the pack of cigarettes on the floor next to him. "You smoke?"
He lit one with the candle above his head, "I do now."
The young woman poured a little sake into the cups and handed him one. He peered into the small, saucer like, cup, "First you people have me smoking, now you have me drinking."
Nai smiled, a genuinely happy smile, "It's good for you. You're too young for wrinkles on your brow."