Chapter 15

Kill or Be Killed

A/N: I suck at writing fights. Short chapter but I think it's pretty intense. By the way, you guys have to promise not to strangle me over the ending until you read the next chapter.

The villagers cleared the streets pretty quickly per Sanzo's orders. It was so silent, even as the other three parts of their party approached them slowly. Nai clenched her fists, she could knock them around a bit sure, but shooting at them was impossible.

Sanzo loaded his Smith and Wesson; apparently he didn't think the same. "Nai."

"I'm fine. Let's just figure out a way to get those things off without killing them."

The blonde nodded in response, he was sure that if they attacked with the intent to kill, he had to protect himself. It was a toss-up. Nai was an emotional creature, literally. How badly would she break down if he killed one of their party? One of their family?

The little electronic bugs were blinking adamantly, ready for anything. Goku grinned wickedly as Hakkai's smile was now a blank look and Gojyo's head was hung, his hair covering his face.

Nai took a deep breath and fought back her tears. "Alright, how are we splitting them?"

"I'll take Goku." Sanzo's look of concentration was set on his pretty face as he turned to Nai, "I'll take it you want to work on Gojyo."

A few tears escaped as she nodded, "Hakkai too. I think I can handle them both."

It was almost a shock when Goku darted at Sanzo, Hakkai right behind him. Nai cut off the healer's path to Sanzo by tackling him to the ground.

Nai had always imagined Hakkai to be light, but when he rolled them over and proceeded to choke her, she erased that thought.

"Ugh, Hakkai get off."

He refused to let go so she swung at his head, hitting him soundly in the temple and sending him rolling off of her.

She scrambled to her feat and tried to run to the opposite side of the street. Hakkai stayed on her heels and used her split attention to his advantage, waiting until she glanced at the stationary Gojyo to push her mid run and send her into the nearest brick wall.

"Dammit woman, pay attention!" Sanzo shouted, out of breath.

"I'm trying!"

Nai balled up her fists and closed her eyes, "Sorry Hakkai." With a good smack to his nose his hands flew to his face and Nai reached out for the bug on his chest. She tugged but it didn't budge.

"Shit…"

Hakkai came back and hit her harder. Her back hit the pavement and she looked up into his blank face, "Hakkai please."

She rolled in time to miss a concentrated blast of his qui and to see Sanzo throw Goku just to have the little one hop up and come after him again.

Sanzo was trying not to use his gun. He had taken a couple swipes at the bug on the boy's shoulder but couldn't pull it free. He had also noticed that Gojyo still hadn't budged and his head was still hung. "Gojyo you idiot! You better not be faking it!"

"I don't think he is!" Nai found the time to shout as she dodged a high kick from Hakkai. She knew what he was doing. He was fighting internally, cutting off everything else externally. She could still feel him fighting.

"Ugh!" Hakkai's blow to her stomach brought up blood and she stumbled. He hit her again before she could regain herself, then again, and again, and again.

Sanzo was nursing a good-sized scratch on his chest and barely keeping up with Goku who wasn't even at full power. His diadem was still intact but the boy was still stronger. He looked over at Nai and cursed under his breath.

Goku caught him off guard and chomped down on his arm, refusing to let go. He hit the boy over the head with his gun but he didn't let go. He shot the ground at their feet, which made him back off and gave Sanzo enough space to shoot him.

Nai's back was against a wall and she was too disoriented to really pay attention. She heard a shot and a few tears escaped her eyes. She could see Hakkai's qui but it fizzled out with another shot, "Sanzo…"

The woman almost lost her balance but grabbed the wall in anger, "Dammit Sanzo!"

"I had too!"

It was quiet for a few seconds before she heard a voice, a familiar voice, "Sanzo, c'mon man. Don't point that thing at me."

"Gojyo!" She ran to the middle of the street where Gojyo was till standing completely still, "Sanzo stop!"

"Girly…"

"Move Nai!"

Nai glanced at a bleeding Goku and Hakkai, "No!"

"I didn't hit anything vital! Now move!"

"No! The human in him is fighting! Let him fight!"

"Nai!"

"Sanzo ple-!"

"I'm sorry girly. I can't."

Gojyo's arm around her from the back was crushing her neck. Her air stopped coming out completely but before she could struggle at all a bullet grazed her shoulder and Gojyo let go.

Nai stared at Sanzo and he stared back. She turned to the man behind her and fell to her knees, grabbing his brown jacket tightly in her hands, "Gojyo? Gojyo!" She shook him and screamed, "Wake up! Please!"

"Nai."

She glared at Sanzo, "You stay away from me."

"Dammit he was going to kill you!"

The woman didn't have a retort and turned back to the half-breed, "He didn't hit anything vital Gojyo! C'mon! Please! This isn't a joke!"

The metal bug crawled from behind his head and was promptly crushed by a boot before Sanzo walked away from the woman to check the other two and let her see his bullet for herself.

The red on his chest made her blood run cold and she released his jacket, laid her head on his stomach, and cried.