No Way Out, saiyuki fan story

[julia]

No way out.

By Julia Macgregor

Goku, Goyjo, Sanzo and Hakkai were chosen for a great experiment. Their jeep was going down a dirt road. Goku was complaining about being hungry for the hundredth time. Sanzo was sleeping as he sat in complete stillness. Goyjo was on the back with a whining Goku. He ignored the brat and watched the ever-shifting scenery. Hakkai drove the jeep as the sun began to set.

The jeep pulled by a roadside stand. Goku's eyes clapped onto the baskets of fresh picked apples. He yearned for a taste of an apple. On this note, Goku began to scream as the jeep drive by, “STOP THE JEEP. STOP THE JEEP!”

His yelping was beginning to nip at the others’ nerves.

Sanzo heard Goku’s shouting as his body was dragged out of sleep. Slowly he opened his eyes. Gojyo couldn’t stand Goku’s cries of loud hunger. He rolled up his left hand quickly. Goku always expected a special knock on the head from Sanzo’s large paper fan. Sanzo whipped around with his own fist above his own head. He was now in a foul mood as he glared, “Tojikomeru chicchai saru-bouya!”

Letting his fist fall swiftly, Sanzo blocked out Goku’s screech of pain. Goku bent his head down from the blow. Gojyo was trying his best to block out this blockhead. He shifted his eyes to the séance passing the jeep. Hakkai was going to be the peacemaker and drive back to the stand. Sanzo turned back to see Hakkai putting on the left turn signal. He asked, “What’s this?”

“I have nothing to say. . .when Goku is starving, but I have to admit that we haven’t had a bite to eat in a way. So. . .I want drive back and buy something before we go crazy!” Hakkai smiled in his polite way.

Sanzo glared bitterly at Hakkai. Yet, the quiet bookish man was right, he was right!

The jeep pulled up to the stand. Sanzo jumped out the jeep with a half empty Goku following him quietly behind him. The walked past the many baskets of hand picked apples, plums and pears. He stopped at a smaller table, which stood in the middle of the store. There was a prefect basket, small and delicate in shape. The apples were an equal with the basket. The blush of the pinkish-red was a rare colour to find on earth. Sanzo seemed to be drawn to the basket. He wanted to buy it with a great deal of passion.

[julia]

He was quickly trusted back to earth from Goku’s voice yakking like a fool, “Man. . .look at those buns!”

Sanzo slapped his face with a mild hand. He didn’t like Goku’s babbling; it was like someone scrapping his or her nails across a chalkboard. He sneered as he bolted around to glare at Goku, “Monkey. . .what in the name of the Jade emperor are you doing?”

Then, he had just enough as he cooled down and refocused his mind. He reached over to make a grab for the basket. Finding it a little weighty, Sanzo wrapped his other hand to steady the basket. He said, “I am just getting this and nothing else!”

Goku eager to eat just about anything, asked, “How much?”

He must have grabbed the store clerk’s attention when he spoke. The clerk was milling around the fresh corn display.

Then, he turned to see Goku standing in front of the display case of baked goods. The boy knew that these apples were not going to fill the void. Yet, there was just so much to carry. It was a long and hard road form village to village to get the western lands. Some people who were plagued by demons treated the Sanzo’s party like kings. Others didn’t want the four men to even dare show their faces at the edge of the village gate. Goku gasped with wide eyes, “What . . .are they for free?”

The owner nodded with a long, sad face. He noticed Sanzo holding the basket of apples.

“Where did you find that basket?” the storeowner asked a little surprised.

“Over here, sir . . .they seemed to be good apples!” Sanzo said as he began to carry the basket toward the check out counter.

The storeowner was willing to share the store, if Sanzo would put back the basket. “They were a small, but priceless gift form out little angel girl, Meguro!”

“Meguro!” Goku repeated the name.

The storeowner nodded briskly as he said, “She is the daughter if a wealthy business man from the north!”

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“Oh, man!” Goku gaped. He wanted Sanzo to put back the basket before he smashed the apples.

Sanzo noticed the owner’s eyes. There was a hint of deep pity for the girl. He asked, “And this girl. What happen to her?”

“Before,” the storeowner said as he cast his eyed downwards to the flooring. “Her sixteenth birthday, Meguro was attacked by a swam of bees.”

“Bees?” both Sanzo and Goku asked in unison. Sanzo heard about people getting extremely ill over a mere bee sting.

“Yes. Yet, these bees were not of the usual kind!” the storeowner nodded shiftily. He had seen demons in this quiet village up to no good.

“Are you a joke?” Goku asked. He was wondering if the storeowner was pulling his leg or not.

“Goku!” Sanzo hissed sharply. He shifted his eyes to glare at the young man. The priest yearned to silence the rude monkey boy. Then, there was hope the storeowner’s story wasn’t too long. His face softened slightly as he said, “Go on!”

“Thank you!” the storeowner nodded for a second time. “Meguro was walking in the groves surrounding her house.”

“Grooves?” Goku asked. He felt like he was getting nowhere in this story.

“Yes. The house sits on a large area of land!” the storeowner sighed.

“Then, what happened?” Sanzo asked.

“She was walking home. A swarm of black bees came from nowhere. They have been possessed by a demon!”

“Demons!” Sanzo said as his eyes narrowed. He knew that there were stray demons running around loose, causing humans problems.

“Yes. The bees heavily stung Meguro. Her father and some of the workers heard her cries for help. Yet, when they came it was too late.

Sanzo could see in his mind a young girl with her arms and lets covered in welts. Without a second thought the monk had a second vision of Meguro lying in sheer pain from her attack on a cold bed. Then, he felt his own flesh bringing with sickening heat. He believed it was the heat from the weather outside.

Sanzo nearly dropped the basket.

“Sanzo!” Goku yipped after he saw Sanzo stopping over with the basket still in his hands.

“Sorry!” Sanzo gasped. He tired to straighten himself up without dropping any of the apples.

“There you guys are!” a vice said. Goyjo was now entering the shop. He had an unlit cigarette dangling form one corner of his mouth. He was wondering what was the hold up with Sanzo and Goku. He walked to the monk. “Why are you still here?” the half breed, pink haired demon asked.

“I was listening to a story about a girl!” the monk said in a tired, but humble tone.

[julia]

“And what a story!” Goku added in a smirk.

“Hakkai is waiting,” Goyjo said as he raised his hand to the direction of the jeep. “He wants to know when are you two coming?”

“In a minute," Sanzo sighed. Then, he glared at Goku “You go with him!”

“What?” Goku yipped. He hated to be in the same area as Goyjo was in at the same time. That and the fact to be taking order from anyone wasn’t his style either. “You want me to go with this water imp! No way!”

Goyjo had fire in his eyes as he snarled back, “Jerk. . .Don’t be calling me that!”

“Please just do it!” Sanzo pleased in a quiet tone of voice.

“What?” Goku gaped.

“You want him to go with me?” Goyjo gaped in a bug-eyed glare.

“Please. . .I’m tell you this one time. Just do it!” Sanzo very so gentle in his command, it didn’t sound like him. He seemed to be so far away that the other two quickly up in their daily spat. Sanzo glanced down at the apples. They were becoming more than just fruit.

+++

Hakkai leaned against the jeep. He noticed as Goku and Gojyo walked out of the store with a confused expression on their faces. He asked, straightening himself out, “What’s up with you?”

“Man…talk about being spaced out!” Goku said as he shook his head.

“Yea?” the brown haired man asked. He was curious on their so-called leader’s actions and feelings.

“Don’t let him hear t at!” Goyjo said.

“Why. . .what is going to do?” the monkey spirited boy asked.

Awe, nothin’. . .expect hit you over the head a couple of zillion times!” Goyjo smirked. He wanted to smoke, but his belly was screaming for some food. He gave up on smoking for little while.

“How true!” Hakkai nodded with his usual grin.

The three heard the shop bell ringing and Sanzo walking out the shop. He looked like had seen a vision of Buddha. The others watched as Sanzo blindly got into the jeep. His eyes were glazed over as thorough he was in a trance.

“Sanzo?” Goku asked with is usual high energized overt tone.

[julia]

No response from the monk.

“He must have seemed something that scared him!” Hakkai said in his gentleness of voices.

“Let’s hope!” Goyjo said as he sensed evil trying to peck at the hard-edged monk.

The other three walked over to the jeep. Sanzo didn’t even look at the others as they climbed in. Hakkai started up the jeep. He glanced at Sanzo for a minute. The colour seemed to buy draining from Sanzo’s face. There was silence between all four as the jeep pulled away from the dirt drive.

+++

It was couple of miles from town as the jeep bumped along the dirty road. Sanzo was still in his trance like state. For once, Goku and Gojyo didn’t started fighting for any reason.

They were quietly thinking of what made their leader grow so deathly still in his speech. Hakkai took a turn which lead into wealthy end of the town. The jeep had past one of the lonely house near an intersection of town. Sanzo didn’t see the house, but there was an evil presents made him scream in terror. “DEMONS BEGONE!” he cried out.

Hakkai nearly lost the control of the wheel. The jeep skidded to a halt. Gojyo and Goku held on for dear life in the back. Sanzo felt his heart beating so fast that he nearly stooped breathing. He swallowed for a minute. Gojyo, Goku and Hakkai watched as their leader began to shake. There was no normal demon. Hakkai followed the rhythm of Sanzo’s breathing. Then, began to slow down gradually. He took a lung full of air.

[julia]

“What’s with him!” Goku gasped as he watched Hakkai taking special care of Sanzo.

“I’m not sure, man. He sounds like he’s terrified!” Goyjo sighed. He ran a hand up his forehead to wipe the sweat from it.

Hakkai said firmly as began to touch Sanzo, “I’m just going to feel your forehead. You look sick!”

Sanzo didn’t speak as he instantly became flushed in the face. As soon as Hakkai’s fingertips gently touched Sanzo’s forehead, Sanzo lurched backwards as if he was held in place by an unseen force. There was something deadly, angry at this turn of events. Goyjo was the first to smell a foul odor coming from the apples. He leapt out the jeep and ran to Sanzo’s side of the jeep. There were things coming out from the apples. Little, tiny, white snakes and beetles were oozing out of the apples.

Goku was instantly saw shadows coming towards the jeep. Without Sanzo’s there, they were not completely lost. Goyjo gabbed the basket and flung it out of the way of Sanzo’s hands.

“What was in there?” Goku asked, as his eyes grew wide.

“A calling card!” Goyjo said. Then, he looked Sanzo. The monk had turned white with a flushed face. He stared at the road with empty eyes. Before he could say another world, he fell over. His head slammed onto the windshield. Goyjo yelled out in total panic, “SANZO. . .SANZO!”

+++

Sanzo felt warmth and light surrounding him. He didn’t want to wake up just yet. He heard voices in his ears.

“Is he going to be all right?” a young voice asked.

“Yes. . .” a slightly older voice said in a soothing tone.

A third tone voice reply in a deep way, “He’s didn’t scare the crap out of us!”

“Yea . . .right. You were freaking out when he passed out!” the young voice squeaked.

Sanzo focused his eyes to open slowly. He blinked up at some blurs that were hovering over him. He groaned, “Where am I?”

Hakkai bent down carefully to get a closer look at Sanzo said, “You are at a local clinic. Do you remember anything?”

He, Sanzo tried to piece what little he could remember. There were demons chasing, surrounding the jeep. He felt terrified for the first time of his life. He winced as he managed

to relieve a little of what happened. Hakkai said in a calm voice, “Slow down. You are hurt!”

“Yea!” Gojyo sighed in a painful remark. He raised his left-hand to smooth out a loose strand of hair, which fell on his face.

“I remember banging my head against something!” Sanzo said as he raised own left and to his forehead.

“It was the windshield of the jeep!” Goku said.

[julia]

“Goku!” Gojyo hissed as he glared at Goku with blood in his eyes.

Sanzo very painstakingly turned his head to see Goku sitting on a window ledge. Gojyo stood next to Goku. Then he raised his head as he winced to see Hakkai looking adown at him. Hakkai was trying to not order Sanzo thought the use of his comforting smile, “You know, you shouldn’t be doing that after an injury!”

Sanzo tried to remember what happened to him. He pieced the little he had in his mind. He envisioned snakes and bugs coming off of the apples. He winced at the memory. Hakkai watched as Sanzo’s face became frightened. He uttered in a calm voice, “That’s not what I told you to do?”

“I don’t want to be here without first finding out what happened in the name of Buddha what I did see!” the monk gasped, gripping the bed with both hands.

[julia]

“You want the nurse?” Hakkai asked carefully. “She can give you a painkiller!”

“No. I’ll try to block it out!” Sanzo said as his mind raced with the heady mantras that eased the pain.

“If he’s going to rest. I’ll take Goku and find an inn,” Gojyo said.

“Why?” Goku snipped. He rolled off the window ledge and landed on his feet. He didn’t want to go.

“To keep you out of Sanzo’s hair. Just a little while. I want you to be a good boy!” Gojyo groaned a little as he turned to face the youngest member of the party.

“I ain’t doing it. I wouldn’t take orders from a imp like you!” Goku growled softly as he waved his hands at Gojyo.

Hakkai reached over to take Sanzo’s temperature. His hand had need gently to the touch. Sanzo asked in a murmur, “What are you doing?”

“You don’t a have a fever. I’m just checking. That lump on your forehead is a nice sized one!”

“Oh, man...you have to be all goody two shoes!” Goku yipped at the two who were looking after Sanzo. He noticed that Hakkai was being the good aide to Sanzo.

“Shut…up, monkey boy!” Goyjo snarled as he grabbed Goku’s shoulders. He lifted the young boy to fling him over left shoulder. “Listen, Hakkai. I’ll go and get something to eat. That will keep Goku busy for a while!”

“Did you say food!” Goku asked as he ears perked up. His hunger took over the rest of his body.

[julia]

“Yes. I’ll see about getting you a bun!” the pink haired half demon said he sundered over to the door.

“I want one with pickles. Can you let me go?” he whined as he tried to wriggle of his captor’s grasp.

“No way! I don’t need you running back after you ate and wake up Sanzo. We need to look for an inn!” Goyjo said as he fumbled for the door handle.

“Those two are pains in the neck!” Sanzo murmured loudly as he felt sleepy. The mantra was working. The pain was easing itself away.

“I can relate to that!” Hakkai smiled.

Goyjo opened the door and proceeded to leave the room with a yipping Goku attached to his shoulder.

“Let me rest?” Sanzo implored the quiet man who was sitting at his bedside.

“Yes. I will do that after I find a book to read. I’ll tell the nurse I will be gone for a little bit!” Hakkai nodded.

Sanzo closed his eyes to let sleep take over his body. Hakkai watched as the troubled monk drifted off into a comfortable rest. Placing a hand on Sanzo’s shoulder, Hakkai said in his quiet voice, “Let your mind go. Just relax. I’ll get you a nurse!”


Goyjo knew Sanzo was freaking out. He said to the yipping Goku, “Come on!”

“What?” Goku aked in protest.


+++

It was some time before Gojyo and Goku returned to Sanzo’s hospital room. Hakkai was reading a newspaper when there was a knock on the door. He looked up and said quietly, “It’s opened!”

The door opened and Gojyo stepped in. He entered the room quietly as he asked, “You want me to take over?”

[julia]

“Yes. I would like to get some sleep!” Hakkai sighed before blinking his eyes. He felt tired after such a long day.

“O.K.” Goyjo nodded as he walked up to Sanzo’s bed. The half demon glanced down at the monk. He noticed Sanzo hadn’t moved since the early afternoon. He asked, “How is he?”

Hakkai glanced down at his lap and began to fold back the paper when he said, “Sleeping like a baby. The nurses would wake up him for a minute, but he would fall back to sleep so easily!”

“The dope that they use in these places, it helps out with the pain…but you feel like sleeping for days!” Goyjo smirked.

[julia]

“He looks like an angel in some ways. Yet, he’s a demon in others!” Hakkai said as he glanced at Sanzo’s peaceful face.

“I hope he didn’t wake up screaming. What ever he saw in his vision really scared him!” Gojyo shook his head.

“Yes. I have no idea what or who is behind it. This was no ordinal demon.”

Sanzo was still sleeping when Hakkai felt something cold. He stood up front he chair he sat since Sanzo was admitted to the hospital. He bent a little forward, trying to see what was making the room so cold. Gojyo asked he noticed the change in Hakkai’s facial expression to the one of puzzlement, “What’s up?”

“I feel a present!” Hakkai murmured loudly. He raised a hand up his spectacle.

[julia]

There was a sharp whistle, which hit their ears. Am image of a young woman flashed in front of Goyjo and Hakkai. She stood near Sanzo’s bed. Goyjo screamed as the worst feeling of dread hit him at the same time, “WHO ARE YOU!”

The young woman didn’t speak as she walked towards Sanzo’s bed. She was dressed rather plainly with her black hair pulled back into a ponytail.

Hakkai had fear teasing him, but he didn’t frighten him. He said as soft as a murmur,
“What are you doing here?”

She appeared translucence to the point of being a thin, watery spirit. Hakkai asked as his own suspicions kicked in. He could see right through her face as she turned to glance at him for a second.

[julia]

“What?” he asked the female vapor.

The air grew cold around Goyjo. He whipped around to see what was causing the sudden chill.

The girl’s voice was small and delicate as she asked, “Who are you?”

There was no expression to her face. There was an evil, which pricked deeply into Gojyo’s being. A little green around the gills, Goyjo swallowed before he said, “Uh?”

The young woman looked down at Sanzo. He was still sleeping. Hakkai watched as the young girl placed a hand over Sanzo’s mouth and nose. She was going to steal his very breath. Hakkai snapped in a loud tone to draw attention to himself, “Don’t you even think about it!”

[julia]

Goyjo had to stop this demon. He had no weapon to defend himself or the other other two. He had to use his fists if this girl was made out of flesh. He wouldn't hurt her to the making her cry out. It was one swift punch in the belly and lights out for the girl. But, how was he going to get to this creature. She appeared like a non-living creature.

Hakkai had to used his powers to protect Sanzo. This was going to be a test of raw nerve.

[julia]

It was a long time since he had fought with a ghost. He was starting to gear up for a fight. He looked at Gojyo was in the same boat. “You are going to do something?” he aksed the pink haired half demon.

“I’m not sure. This is the first time to be winging it. Sanzo usually takes care if the dead spirits!” Gojyo said.

“I just want to have him!” the girl said in an echo, which rang in their heads.

“What?” Goyjo gaped as his jaw dropped. It was his first time that he had actually heard a ghost talking to him.

“Did you say something?” Hakkai asked as he turned to see Goyjo’s face drain of its color.

The girl gazed at them with such innocent eyes. It was like she wasn’t guilty of the crime that she was about to perform. She said, “I need his help. I’m trapped!”

Then, another present came into the room thought the window. It was an enormous paper wasp. It was trying to break through the window. The young girl turned to see the giant insect scrapping at the window with its front feet.

[julia]

He had no choice. Remembering, Hakkai started to pat down his shirt and pants pockets in a frantic search for a rock. He thought he had picked up from the road. He wanted to keep a record of where his was going. Then, the wasp finally broke through the window. The young girl screamed after she noticed the insect’s attack on the window.

Goyjo out of a snapped his fear and into gut instinct when he began to charge at the bug. He was going to take it to the ground. The insect’s forelegs quickly blocked him. He was thrown to the ground. He was now pinned to the floor with two of the bug’s foregoes.

“Goyjo!” Hakkai hissed loudly as he watched Goyjo fall to the floor.

Goyjo was now blacking out from the apparent weight of the insect’s weight. He groaned as his eyes were closing to block out the pain, “H-h-hakkai!”

The name was a hoarse whisper.

Hakkai was now the only left in the room to fight. He had the rock in his hand. Quickly closed his own eyes and prayed, “Dear ones of the Heavens…please grant this rock a speedy landing in the monster’s forehead!”

[julia]

His power was starting to charge up in his hands. His fury was clear and focused on the bug. He said, “Now…monster be gone!”

A large ball of white light surrounded the rock. Hakkai quickly threw it at the bug. He watched as the rock hit the bug. The bug felt the sting of heat as it shirked in pain. Shaking its large head, the bug smashed through the window once again. It didn’t finished what it wanted to do. Steal Sanzo’s life force and devoir the ghost girl.

Hakkai slumped to the floor, somewhat relieved at the outcome of saving Sanzo’s life.

+++

After the long period of piecing their lives back in short order, Hakkai and Gojyo went to the inn that Gojyo had checked in. Goku met up with the two in the small tavern in the back the inn.

[julia]

Goku said on a stool as he asked, “you need a drink?”

Running a hand through his hair, Goyjo said, “I think I need a good stiff one, after that!”

Hakkai looked at the bruise on Goyjo’s arm and noticed it was a bad one. There was purple and blue knot at the end of it.

Goku said as he toss his head a little, “You can order one here!”

[julia]

“You?” Goku asked Hakkai with concern.

“Maybe, just a cup of tea. That’s all I want…” Hakkai sighed. He reached up to brush back his bangs from his forehead.

Leaping off the sofa with a soft step, Goku nodded, “O.K.”

“After my drink. I’m going to bed!” Gojyo sighed. Then, he glanced at Goku. He warned in his usually whiny snarl, “Don’t wake me up. I need a good night sleep!”

“O.K.” Goku sighed, as he knew that he was going to be crossing that line in the morning.

A childlike voice asked from out of the blue, “How is bald Sanzo?”

[julia]

Instantly, three pairs of eyes glanced around the lobby to stare at a young demon with short ornery red hair named Liran. The mere demon girl demonisms stood near Hakkai’s chair in the lobby. Smiling one of her wicked smiles, Liran giggled softly. Goyjo snarled as he raised both hands to jerk them in front of her, “ Damn brat…leave us!”

“Oyo!” she cooed in her baby voice. She was mocking the half-breed as she smirked, “Look, I’m scared!”

“Witch!” Goku hissed as he stood up quickly.

“Bald Sanzo will be mines to play with!” she pouted as she placed both hands behind her back. She instantly stretched out the kinks from her arms.

Hakkai being the sensible one in the group wondered if they were going nowhere in a hurry with Lirin. He spoke right up interrupting Goyjo, “What do you mean? Sanzo will be yours. What are you powers? I can see someone is controlling you from afar!”