Hachi No Iro
Written by Mythical-Colors
Disclaimer: Saiyuki and Weiss aren't mine obviously enough. Not making money out of this. Just having a good time.
If there was anyone following this fic, sorry for the long wait. Work kinda gets to me. ^^;
"You're doing it wrong, you stupid stomach brained monkey!"
"What are you talking about? I blocked the entrances just fine!"
"You really are stupid! Why don't we just invite the demons in? Hakkai can make 'em some fuckin' tea while they break the rest of your lame-ass 'blockades'!"
"Lame-ass? I don't see you working here like everyone else, you lazy, perverted cockroach!"
"What was that?"
Hakkai sighed and shook his head. He just finished blocking the last window with a few more pieces of wood. The green-eyed healer was really happy that Sanzo was still knocked out cold, otherwise, he wouldn't know how to explain to his less than willing hosts why a supposed holy monk would fire his gun so carelessly in a room full of people.
He looked up and noticed Omi looking at him. Hakkai could only return a rather sheepish smile.
"I'm sorry. They're always like this."
Omi blinked twice before he managed a small smile. "Wow. And I thought I had it tough." He said, sounding as if he somewhat sympathized. "I'm sorry, what was your name again? –"
"Cho Hakkai." The demon introduced, bowing politely. "And you are?"
The blue-eyed assassin laughed, scratching his head as if realizing a silly mistake. "I guess introductions are the last things on your mind when things like this happen." His smile was a genuine, sweet one. "My name is Tsukiyono Omi." He gestured over to his other three companions who finished their own barricading work. "These are my… co-workers…" he looked as if he took time to think of a word to replace whatever he was going to say at first.
"It's a shame about those flowers." Hakkai said with sincerity, looking up at the ceiling. "You have a very lovely shop, Omi-san."
"I think so, too." The dark-blond boy sighed and pulled his knees to his chest. "Hakkai-san? Why are the demons following you?" he paused, looking up at him. "More importantly, have they always been here?"
Hakkai was hoping Sanzo would be awake by now so he'd be the one tasked to answer these questions. But it didn't look like he had much of a choice. The green-eyed demon sighed. "My companions and I are unsure ourselves how they got here. But I can answer your first question. Yes, they do always follow us."
Aya, who hadn't said a word until now sat by the barred windows his sword nearby. He looked directly at Hakkai's direction. "Because of whatever the priest is carrying?" he asked, gesturing to the sutra over Sanzo's shoulders.
"Yes." Hakkai answered with a nod. In some ways, Aya's quiet demeanor reminded him of Sanzo, except Aya seemed a bit more serious and solemn as Sanzo was just perpetually annoyed. "The demons want the Holy Sutra for resurrecting Gyuumao." He realized how silly or outrageous he might've sounded to normal folk.
"Gyuumao?" Ken asked, joining in the conversation. "An Ox king?"
"Ox demon King." Gojyo corrected, leaning against the wall. The confused looks just made him shrug. "You just gotta be there to understand."
"Well, unfortunately for us. We gotta understand, seeing as the demons are here in Tokyo." Youji answered, slumped against the couch that blocked the doorway.
"Tokyo?" it was Goku who was confused now. "This is what this place is called?"
Youji nodded, lighting a cigarette and then keeping his lighter. "Where are you guys from?"
"Tougenkyou." The golden-eyed boy answered.
"Never heard of it."
Goku looked up at Youji. "Hey, mister. What's your name?"
Youji blew out a smoke and made a mock salute. "Everyone's favorite, Kudou Youji, at your service!"
"You talk to everyone like this?" Gojyo felt a twitch coming on. Sarcasm wasn't funny unless he was the one using it.
"Better than moping around about me possibly meeting my demise in the hands of demons rather than saving or protecting a pretty woman." Youji answered, cigarette still between his lips.
"Ke." Gojyo snickered, taking out his own lighter and pack of smokes. "Finally, someone says something sensible around here."
"Youji, what's wrong with you?" Ken snapped. "Now isn't the time to be thinking about that stuff!" he looked over to Hakkai. "You guys deal with this stuff all the time. How do you get rid of them?"
Omi on the other hand, remained quiet. He sat there, processing everything at the same time. Unfamiliar yet familiar words being said, he had a feeling he'd heard it over somewhere. Was someone talking about these things when he heard the words "Holy Sutra" and "High Ranking Priest"?
"Well, to be honest, Ken-san." Hakkai paused, looking troubled, then suddenly laughing sheepishly. "We just fight them until they're all gone. Then fight them again when they appear."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Ken half-yelled. "You mean to tell me we gotta fight every single one of these things in Tokyo just so we can get out of here?"
"You can't beat them."
A hoarse voice resounded from the protected corner of the room. All eyes turned to the one who spoke and only Goku seemed to brighten up.
"Sanzo! You're awake!" the heretic demon ran toward the high ranking priest who sat up. Sanzo didn't look up or acknowledged Goku's greeting. He only leaned against the wall and took a deep breath, closing his eyes.
"About time you got up, shitty monk." Gojyo masked his relief over the usual harsh sarcasm. "Monkey won't shut up as long as you're out cold."
"Don't call me a monkey, you stupid cockroach!"
"I call things as they are, stomach brained ape."
"Well, then, I'll do the same and call you a perverted water cockroach, you perverted water cockroach!"
"You pickin' a fight with me?"
"I'm gonna beat you up! –"
A shadow loomed over them moments before a big paper fan was produced out of nowhere and smacked each of them down. Sanzo gritted his teeth, gripped his harisen and glowered over the two.
"Both of you shut the fuck up or I'll rip you both apart!" Sanzo cussed bitingly. "You're making my head hurt with all your yelling!"
Omi and Ken stared in disbelief. They exchanged glances and then looked at Hakkai.
"Uh, not calling you a liar or anything, Hakkai." Ken paused. "Is he really a monk?"
Hakkai only smiled. "Yes, we get that question a lot, too."
Youji shook his head to shake off the initial shock and then spoke. "Well, Mister High and Mighty holiness." He said coolly. "If we're so weak against these things, then can you kindly get rid of them for us so we can all go back to our lives?" he frowned in annoyance.
Gojyo snickered, showing a toothy grin. "Well, corrupt bastard's right. Not a whole bunch of anyone can stand up to these things."
Sanzo scoffed and turned away, he had his gun in hand once more. "We're leaving." He simply said, walking to the barricaded door. He stopped and threw a glance at Omi. "Sorry for the trouble. You can be damned sure we're going to clean this shit up. By ourselves. "he didn't bother waiting for a response.
"Wait, Sanzo!" Goku called, following after him. "How are we going to get back?"
The blond monk sneered, scoffing once more. "The hell should I know? Just keep killing those things until we find a damned way."
Aya said nothing. He took a deep breath and remained in his seat, even after Ken stood beside him, leaning against the wall.
"Do you think we should let them leave?" the brunet asked.
"It's none of our business." Aya answered bluntly. "They should do what they want and need to do." He said nothing more after that, but kept his sword ready.
"Gee, you're welcome." Youji said again, waving, a smirk on his face.
"Hey, what the general bastards says, we do. Unfortunately." Gojyo smirked right back before turning away. "I'm gonna follow so I can kill these bastards, go back home, have a drink and meet a pretty lady."
Hakkai was the only one who threw a worried glance at Manx and then back at Omi. "Will she be alright?" he asked. "If she has any wounds, I can most certainly close them at least."
Omi smiled, shaking his head. "We really appreciate your concern for us, Hakkai-san. Manx doesn't have any injuries. She'll be fine." He paused. "I'm… not really sure you should be going out there. But if that's what Sanzo-san and the rest want to do."
The green eyed healer bowed. "Thank you for everything. We're sorry for the trouble."
"Bye, bye!" Goku smiled brightly and waved at Ken before hopping off. "Sanzo! I said wait!" they'd moved the block away from the door.
Hakkai and Gojyo followed after the two. A moment of silence passed before Ken sighed and shook his head.
"What do we do now?" he asked.
"We wait." Aya said again. "If those guys know what they're doing, this will all blow over in a few hours. "he looked over to Ken. "Block the door again."
"Holy Sutra." Omi repeated to himself, groaning a bit in frustration. "Why does that sound so familiar?"
A faint moan from where Sanzo laid earlier made Omi look over, running to Manx who now had her eyes open. Her thick black lashes fluttered up and down as she adjusted once more to waking up.
"Manx!" Youji headed over to her with Omi, he offered his hand, which the redhaired woman took. Gently, the taller assassin helped her up. "Slow down. You might still feel a little dizzy."
"I do, actually." Manx groaned once more and looked up at them. "Where are we?"
"Basement." Aya answered her, still not moving from his spot. "You were attacked."
"Attacked?" Manx asked again. "By –" her pale blue eyes widened. "Those things!" instinctively, her hand felt for her bag where she kept her gun. "Where are they?"
"Gone for now." Ken said with a sigh. "Don't think about it too much. Lie down until this all blows over."
Ken stood in front of the wall. His shadow cast against the wall and over the floor. Normal conversation resumed among the other three Weiss assassins who tried to explain to Manx what was going on (it was a little hard considering they were clueless themselves). Aya let them; instead he contemplated everything he had heard by himself. Never had he heard of demons before – not outside any books at least. Every encounter with anything paranormal they ever had were mostly because of forbidden, psychotic science. There was the Schwarz, who were blessed with unnatural and inhuman abilities and traits, but that was an entirely different case –
Just then, Aya's eyes widened. He jumped off where he sat and unsheathed his sword.
"Ken!" he called, getting into stance. "Behind you!"
Ken whirled around, clenching his fist where the bugnuks were. The claws gleamed and grew long. But nothing prepared him for what he saw.
Someone stepped out of his shadow. A demon returned Ken's look, staring right into his brown eyes. The creature smiled, flashing his sharp fangs. His flame colored eyes glimmered and narrowed into slits. Black figures and curved lines were intricately marked onto his arms and neck, making themselves part of his pasty white skin. His hair was ugly streaks of red and green tousled together.
"Yo." He greeted, suddenly making a quick turn and slamming his foot against Ken's stomach. The brown-haired assassin let out a choked cry before spiraling and slamming against the wall.
"Ken-kun!" Omi cried, frowning and aiming his crossbow at the demon. The youngest assassin fired two successive shots. However, this was merely dodged by the creature who then, kicked off the group and lunged at the blond boy, arms extended forward and claws brandished. He let out a hoarse laugh which then turned into a scream.
"Shit!" Omi cussed, firing two more arrows. His blue eyes went wide as the demon swatted them away with his arm. The demon landed just beside Omi, inches away from his side. Once more it raised its leg sideways, his foot landing hard on Omi's side. The younger assassin let out a cry as he flew off and slammed against Ken, who was just about to get up.
"I guess dealing with you all would be easier than I thought." The demon cackled, his claws shone. "Next time you want to side with the enemies and take the Princess Ninghong, make sure you're strong enough to back the decision up.
"You picked the wrong people!" Youji drew out a long string of wire and threw it at the demon's direction, hoping to catch his neck around it. The demon dodged it, rather quickly, then threw his arm forward. Bladed star-like weapons seized Youji's wire, snapping it in half. The taller assassin was missed by the blades only by inches after he moved to the left and away from them.
Aya clutched the handle of his katana and dashed forward, hoping to slash from across the demon's body. The creature snarled at him before throwing more bladed stars at him, laughing heartily as the red-haired assassin knocked them all out of balance with his sword. Taking the opportunity of his distraction, the demon made another turn, ending up behind Aya. He kicked the sword yielder forward, blowing him back against the wall.
Gunshots zoomed past him. The demon looked up and snarled, turning his attention to Manx who knelt on one knee, both hands holding the gun handle and aiming like a professional killer should. A tight frown was on her lips as she fired the gun twice more.
"Princess Ninghong!" the demon called, dodging the bullets. One of them grazed his shoulder. He hissed and clutched onto the wound but not much after that.
"Manx, get out of here!" Youji called, throwing more wire at the demon, aiming for both his wrists. The demon moved back and threw more bladed stars, Manx ducked, landing on her stomach but still aiming her gun. The wire zoomed over her head.
A shadow loomed over her. As she opened her eyes, she stared into the demon's flame colored ones. Next thing she knew, her gun was kicked away from her grasp and she was now being carried over the demon's shoulder.
Omi and Ken, Aya and Youji surrounded the demon, clutching their weapons.
"Manx!" Omi called, shooting more arrows.
The demon lunged to the blocked window, breaking it apart as he jumped right through it. He sped off, Manx still over his shoulders.