"So what's the plan?" asked Goku.
Gojyo shrugged and slung an arm over Hakkai. "He's the brains of this outfit."
"I know that," said Goku, "and I wasn't asking you."
Hakkai had to grin while Gojyo rolled his eyes. It was a pleasant warm feeling to have Gojyo's frame against his side, their legs evidently having worked out a rhythm to avoid colliding. The dark-haired healer said, "We'll go in, congratulate the couple, then grab Sanzo, smash things up, and leave."
"Will there be food?"
"Perhaps."
"Then can we eat before we save Sanzo?" asked Goku, a pleading tone in his voice. His stomach growled. "I'm really hungry."
Gojyo took a long drag on his cigarette, thoughtfully blowing out smoke away from Hakkai's direction. "I doubt you'll want to risk the cuisine at the wedding feast."
"But... but... Food!"
Hakkai shook his head. "We don't know when we need to move, so if you're halfway through shoveling in your meal we might lose the chance."
The delicious scents from the assortment of snack stands were not helping Goku's resolve. He had to satisfy himself with some skewered meat and a roasted corn-on-the-cob. People milled about them, some openly admiring Gojyo or Hakkai, and not all of those female. Jeep fluttered above the crowd, keeping an eye out from a higher vantage point.
There was so much noise that, even if there was a commotion, it was unlikely for the trio to detect it. Still, they had a plan B – if nothing happened at the festival, they would head to the demoness brothel. Privately Hakkai preferred the second option. It did mean less chances of the innocent populace being embroiled in whatever trouble there might be.
Gojyo looked different in darker hair, but his innate dangerous charm still oozed out as he chatted up a few girls. Hakkai observed discreetly as he scanned the crowd. It was the usual din of crowds everywhere. The good thing was that he could not sense anyone tracking them: that unease ever since they came back from the brothel had faded.
Having indulged in his flirtation quota, Gojyo waved the girls goodbye and returned to his best friend. "I think it's time to go plan B," he muttered under his breath.
"I agree," Hakkai said.
Goku looked away from the mountain of steamed peanuts that was one stall across them. "Are we going?"
"Yes." Hakkai whistled for Jeep to meet them on the edge of the town square so that they could drive up to the brothel.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Sanzo sat in lotus position on the bed.
I really should have kept up my hand-to-hand drills, he thought angrily. He had grown so used to the Smith & Wesson that his unarmed combat skills were rusty. The three stooges had better pray he didn't get out, because when he did get to them he would be ripping some new orifices in their useless skulls.
At least he had found out the name of the so-called Big Sister. The name he heard was Ada, but if he remembered his studies she could be Adachigahara, the child eater. The minus wave would not have affected her if she had never cultivated the – for the lack of a better term – human side if her nature. There weren't many demons that got into the studies back when he was still the resident Sanzo. Those that did get into the syllabus were notorious or had great impact.
But not the great demons were written into the texts. Up till now, Sanzo still had no clue how he knew Goku was Seiten Taisen, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. He just knew, like he just knew that Goku was calling for him and no one else.
He didn't have much time, if Hari's word was to be believed. He still had to get the sutra, but between the sutra and his life, his life was more important, regardless of the teachings of the rickety old monks back in the temple. His teacher – Sanzo bit back a small pang of sourness – would have done the same. Life was more important. Anything is possible when you are alive.
Sanzo wondered if Koumyou would have enjoyed this journey to the west. He would probably enjoy it more than Sanzo himself was. After all, the constant bickering between Goku and Gojyo would have been great entertainment to Koumyou, and Sanzo was certain his master's compassion for Hakkai would outweigh his own.
And he would have a far easier time in this bloody stupid predicament, his mind added tauntingly. Sanzo snarled and slapped the thought away.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Hari swore under her breath as she stalked to the monk's room.
"Don't make me come in there to get you," she warned imperiously. She waited, tapping her lacquered nails on her arm. Outside, in the main hall, music played and the guests were enjoying the feast.
There was only silence from the room.
Still, Hari could sense Sanzo's presence inside. It was a brilliantly clear aura that blanketed her senses – much as it did to the others in the brothel – and blocked out all other influences. It was as if she was able to breathe again after a long period of smog.
She had twenty minutes before the ceremony was to begin. Deciding that the wrath of Big Sister was the greater risk, Hari entered the room.
The monk was nowhere to be seen.
"What the-mmmmmph!" Something fell on her and then clamped a thick rag over her mouth. Hari tried to breathe but was unable to break free of the hold. Her knees folded and she struggled. However, her efforts did nothing but to exhaust her oxygen supply; her vision swam and then there was another pressure just below her jawline, and she blacked out.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
It was good that Hakkai decided not to drive all the way to the brothel. Considering the state of the road, it must have been some special blessing done on their jeep for it to have survived the entire trip. Gojyo discreetly checked that his kidneys were still intact. It had been unbelievably bumpy, far more than their first foray up the hill.
"I thought they would go to the festival," said Goku.
Hakkai nodded. "Me too. That would have been an easy meal, wouldn't it?"
"Maybe they aren't turned yet," said Gojyo.
"Your cigarettes have damaged your sense of smell," commented Hakkai casually. "The stench of human flesh was in the place. Goku, you must have smelled it too."
"I thought it was 'cause they haven't cleaned the place," Goku answered. He took an experimental sniff now. "We're downwind. And there are a lot of scents."
They could see the strings of lights, pretty lanterns all hung up outside the cavern, and hear the music coming from inside. Gojyo stuck his hands in his pockets and bounced on his heels. "Shall we crash the party?"
Goku called out his staff. "Let's."
Hakkai smiled his most insincere smile. "At least knock on the door first."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Hari glared at Sanzo when she came to. She could do nothing else; her limbs were firmly tied and she was expertly gagged. Not the amateur style of just a strip of cloth over the mouth which blocks nobody's voice at all, but a thick knot that forced down her tongue and gagged her every time she tried to breathe.
The monk had just blocked the door with the heavy chest of drawers and the table. He also broke the legs off a chair to use as a weapon. Now he sat just in front of Hari.
"If you scream, I'll smash this chair leg into your throat," said Sanzo. The gleam in his eyes was one of deadly intent. "You won't die immediately. You'll choke to death on your own blood and spittle, and you won't be able to make a sound to beg for help. So in your best interest, you don't scream. Understood?"
With great reluctance, Hari nodded. Her gag was yanked down without much ceremony. The jagged end of the chair leg was now placed just before her left eye and she had to resist an urge to shrink back. She would NOT back down from this human!
"I won't ask it twice." Sanzo's voice was very low. "Where did you put my gun and sutra?"
"I'll tell you over my dead body," hissed Hari.
"That can be arranged."
"If you kill me, you won't find it."
Sanzo snorted. "I kill everyone here, and then search at my own leisure."
"For someone supposedly among the holiest and most powerful, you really are stupid," sneered the demoness. "If I kept it in this cave, others would find it in no time. I had to take it out of here."
The monk narrowed his brillant amethyst eyes, contemplating her words. Then he smiled – there was no humor in it – and asked, "You said you just want to live."
"Yeah."
"Then get me out of here in one piece, and I will guarantee your life. If you don't, then when the three stooges break in and start tearing things down, I'll leave you to your fate."
The demoness leaned forward, ducking the chair leg, and whispered, "Are you relying on your enemies now, monk?"
"As my teacher used to say to me," murmured Sanzo, his mouth almost brushing the demoness's lips, "rely on anything that can save your arse, because otherwise you don't even have an arse to land on."
"Very wise of him," quipped Hari. "There's a secret tunnel right here in this room. I'm surprised you didn't find it."
Sanzo frowned. "You wanted me to escape."
Hari's lips curled in a sarcastic smile. "Care to untie my legs so I can show you where to go, or do you want Big Sister to send Ame in here instead?"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Though Hakkai had knocked, he didn't expect anyone to open the door. After all, the noise of a feast within was loud enough, and there seemed to be a good number of guests.
Goku growled impatiently next to him. "I'm done waiting," he announced to no one in particular, and kicked the door in.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
The secret tunnel was supposedly behind the bed and, against his better judgment, he released Hari's arms so she could help shift the bed. Thankfully the path was where she said it would be. Damp, dark and humid, Sanzo was not thrilled about going down that tunnel and said as much.
Hari rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll lead the way." As she was about to head down, she smirked at him. "Prissy asshole."
"Bossy bitch," retorted Sanzo. "Go on."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Their entrance did not go unnoticed. Gojyo, Goku and Hakkai were greeted by two large muscular male demons, both covered with tattoos, and both with wicked spiny-looking weapons in their hands.
"Must be some party," remarked Gojyo, as irreverent as ever. Hakuryuu chirruped with agreement and settled on Hakkai's shoulder.
"Who the hell are you?" demanded the muscle on the left.
"Sha Gojyo."
"Wait a sec. If you're Sha Gojyo, who is Wunan following down at the town?"
Hakkai actually beamed at Gojyo. "I knew dying your hair would be important!"
The lanky hanyou shrugged. "Yes, yes... but I don't know if there is another hanyou back in town. Will he be in trouble?"
"If he has survived this long, having a tail follow him around shouldn't be a problem."
Goku frowned. "You two are kinda... I don't know, too casual about this thing, maybe? Won't the redhead be hurt?"
"I think you mean we're cavalier about this thing," supplied the healer helpfully.
"Why Goku," teased Gojyo, "I didn't know you cared!"
"Not for you, stupid water cockroach!"
The two guards had stood there, listening as they bickered, but one of them snapped, "HEY! You three – why the hell are you here?"
"To wish Genjyo Sanzo a happy marriage, of course," said Gojyo.
With one hand Hakkai lifted the bags of gifts they bought in the afternoon. "For the newlyweds."
"That's if he gets married." Goku gripped his weapon. "And if he doesn't wanna get married, we'll drag him outta here."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
The drip of water onto the already slimy floor made Sanzo's skin crawl. It was disturbingly reminiscent of the more unsavory memories of his early travels, especially of the places he had to hide to avoid being tracked.
He learned then to build a hard shell about himself, but even the toughest armor had chinks. Weaknesses. His was a complete revulsion of dank, enclosed spaces.
Hari looked over her shoulder at him, her face a pale oval in the dark. "Keep close or you'll be left behind," she warned quietly.
Sanzo almost snapped at her but restrained himself. No need for her to see how disturbed he was.
When they came to a fork in the path, she jerked her head to the left and said, "That's the hiding spot."
The monk breathed in through his mouth and cleared his mind. There. The sutra was inside, a steady, warm aura that called out to him.
Suddenly there was a loud shriek from where they had come. Both Sanzo and Hari looked back instinctively.
"We've been missed." Hari's eyes widened. She dragged Sanzo by his hand and pulled him towards the sutra's hiding spot. "Get your sutra and gun and get out."
"You'll have to lead the way out," said Sanzo, already ducking into the narrow cave
"Fine. Grab what you came for!"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
The loud shouts from someplace deep inside caught all their attention. Gojyo pointed in the direction of the screaming. "I think your talents might be better used inside."
"Seems like something serious happened," added Hakkai innocently.
"WHERE IS SANZO!"
The screeching voice would have cleaned crystal. Goku winced and rubbed his ears. The two muscled guards exchanged looks and ran inwards, leaving the ikkou at the door.
Hakkai dropped the gifts. "Let's follow."
As they sauntered towards the source of the screaming, Gojyo said, "What about the presents?"
"Oh, I think these lovely ladies ought to get some reimbursement for what we're about to do," answered Hakkai.
Goku grinned. "What are we about to do?"
"YOU!" The same tall demoness that had shooed them out of the brothel before now stormed towards them, her face a visage of fury. Her clawed fingers swiped a few symbols in the air and suddenly the atmosphere was icily cold. "You three don't belong here!"
The demons and demonesses in the room all turned to face the ikkou.
"Um. Maybe you should've brought those gifts along," Gojyo whispered.
"Maybe." Hakkai smiled pleasantly as chi gathered in the palms of his hands.
The imperious demon pointed at the three intruders. "Get them!"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx