The Storms That Bind Us

Chapter 10


The youkai had scattered once they saw he needed no arms or legs to attack. His snaking vines had broken the bonds and bent the chair into an unrecognizable pile of metal. One unfortunate capturer got snatched, screaming and thrashing to get free of the strong vines pulling him back. Hakkai gave him a taste of his claws and slashed his throat, turning the screams into a wet gurgling death throe. Unfortunately, it wasn't the one who had his limiters.

He looked at the body of his victim and felt no remorse, only anger that he was forced to this. He had killed many in his life, all for good reason he believed, and these youkai were no different. His mind was clear, the wave wasn't snaking it's way in, he had time to hunt them down. He ran from the stone room and saw it wasn't a house or shelter of any kind. The long stretch of stones walls and moisture of the place was obvious. They must be under the streets of the town.

Hakkai swayed and caught himself against the wall, cursing under his breath. He was still inebriated by the drugs. That wasn't good, he may not have as much time as he thought to keep the wave at bay. His body broke out in a cold sweat as he forced himself to walk quickly down the darkened corridor. Small holes in the ceiling let enough light in for him to make his way, but with his youkai eye his vision was sharper, and he could see farther than he ever could with his human eye, even without the dull illumination. His artificial eye was still a blur to him, but it didn't matter, he'd find them and make them regret they did this.

He picked up a soft noise ahead, like a scraping of a boot against pebbles. A shadow shifted and he threw a few vines out and was satisfied with the responding frantic yell that echoed through the tunnel. He dragged the thrashing youkai toward him, yanking him up by his shirt front. He smiled when he recognized him.

"Oh, it's the limiter thief. Give them back."

"I threw them away somewhere! Dude, please."

"Please?"

"Don't kill me. You're one of us!"

"One of you?" He smiled, vines snugly wrapping around his enemies throat. "You make me want to puke with your insane logic. I'll never be like you." He cut off his air and watched his eyes bulge with panic. "I could drag this out, but I really need to find your friends and my limiters," he said in his most cheerful voice and smiled. His vines held the helpless youkai up like a rag doll. His clawed fingers stabbed into his stomach and ripped him open, only the vines choking his voice off prevented him from screaming with the intense agony as he was gutted. Warm blood splashed over him, but Hakkai paid it no mind. He had no time for frivolous worries.

Hakkai searched the body for his limiters but came up empty handed. He left it behind in a bloody heap and moved on, dripping a crimson trail as he went. He scanned the area for his limiters, hopeful that he'd find them on the ground, but luck eluded him. He stopped again after minutes of fruitless searching and leaned his back on the cool wall for support, panting softly. The potency of the drug surprised him. He shook his head to clear it, keeping his eyes focused on the tunnel ahead, then looked back the way he had already come to make sure he wasn't being trailed.

Only two were left. The brother and sister duo. The most dangerous of the group that had captured him. Hakkai cursed again and pushed off the wall to move along. He lost track of time in the dark maze of tunnels as he trudged along. He would hear the trickle of female laughter, but would fall short when the sound would stop and emerge somewhere else behind him. Now it was a cat and mouse game for them. He wanted no part of it, but he'd have to play if he wanted to get out of here.

"How long do you intend to do this?!" His voice bounced off the walls, and he stood there in wait for an answer. Nothing. They were smart. They wouldn't give away their position so readily. His ears perked for any shift or scrape, but was met with absolute silence except for the slow dripping of water from the ceiling. He shivered in the cool dampness of the foreboding tunnel, wishing he had never left the restaurant for his need of self reflection. His vines swished and moved absently as he stood there thinking about his next course of action.

The longer he stood there, the more his anger grew, twisting in him until he was gasping for air. Blood. He wanted to spill their blood like the rest and bathe in it. His eyes closed to imagine it, his own blood soaked fingers moving to his lips to taste the sticky crimson fluid that coated them. The copper taste rocked him and shook his sense and he fell to his knees, gripping his head.

"No...no.." It was starting. The wave was making it's way inside him. It was a dull thudding pressure pushing against his body that begged for him to let it in.

"It's happening now, isn't it?" she asked, her voice floating to him like a caress he couldn't resist. "Don't fight it. It's so wonderful if you just open up to the power."

"Shut up!" His claws dug into his scalp. The pain did nothing to shake him of the insistent pressure that wanted to take him over, it only made the lure more potent.

"So strong, the way you fight so bravely." Her voice came closer and he looked up to see where she stood, shivering and feeling sick like a junkie needing a fix. "Just let it in, and it won't be so painful for you."

"I'd rather die."

"I told you. We should just kill him." The other walked from the shadows to join her side.

"And I said he'll be valuable, Evon. You see how powerful he is. He took care of the others easily."

"Yeah, what about that? He killed all our friends."

"I expected as much," she said, smiling with sharp cunning. "Besides, there are plenty more of our kind to join us, brother. Others with much stronger power, like him." She motioned to Hakkai.

"You're the boss, sis."

"Don't forget it."

They both laughed at the sick joke. They had no feeling, not even for the ones who were dead. He watched the two, trembling with his losing battle. He needed to attack, but just couldn't do it. If he did, he wouldn't be able to resist the wave, and there was a very small sliver of doubt. Did he want to hurt them? They hadn't tried killing him. Why attack? No, it's taking over. I can't let it control me. I need my limiters. But they were gone. He closed his eyes tight and felt defeat pushing him down further into his agony. Without their power, he was lost to be this monster forever.

"You're nearly as you should be, Hakkai. Soon you'll wonder why you fought so hard against your true nature."

"This isn't...my true fucking nature!" He groaned, held his head, and took quick lungfuls of cool air. His vision was going red. He couldn't stop it for much longer. Red. The color of blood. He wanted to shed it. Kill them. Kill...them...Those two controlling bastards he was forced to travel with. It's their fault this happened to him. Arguing over him like they owned him. No one could fucking own him. He was strong. He didn't need them. Goku was no better with his constant whining.

"Are we interrupting anything, kids?"

Gojyo?

"Finally decided to join us?" she asked. "I thought the great Sanzo party would have found us much sooner than this. Don't you agree, brother?"

"Yeah, they're practically connected by their asses, these guys. You'd think they'd have more care their friend went missing."

"Shut up, fucking scumbags."

Hakkai looked over at the blond who spoke and tilted his head, tongue coming out to lick over his fangs. His neck looked good to bite into. The monk's blood would be warm, perhaps even sweet. He chuckled a little, standing from his crouched position, vines shifting about and eager to wrap around and squeeze them until their lives got choked away.

"Hakkai?" Goku looked at him, big brown eyes wide and confused.

"Shit. What the fuck did you bastards do?" Gojyo yelled.

"Tsk, isn't it obvious, Kappa?" Sanzo grunted and looked at Hakkai with sharp, searching eyes.

"You're already too late. He's free like us now. Feeling guilty yet?" she asked, walking to stand beside Hakkai. He looked at her and smiled when her hand caressed one of the absently writhing vines. "How long did you think you could keep him bound?"

"It's finished assholes. Might as well start running now," her brother laughed.

"You're really boring me," Sanzo said, pointing his gun at Evon and firing one shot. The bullet hit the wall beside his head, sending chucks of the stone over his shoulder.

"Missed, asshole. Not a very good shot, are you?" he said, brushing off the pieces from his shoulder and smirking.

"I hit where I aimed. Proving a point, so listen up, jerkoff. This area is cramped, nowhere for you to just get away without getting stopped in your tracks." He cocked the gun and pointed again. "Die." His finger pulled back on the trigger, but the shot went wild and hit the ceiling making stone fragments rain down over them. It happened so fast that he didn't realize what it was until he felt the vine wrapping tight around his wrist. He grunted, the pressure like a vice tightening to the point of grinding pain until he dropped the gun with a clatter across the stone floor.

"Hakkai, stop!" Goku yelled and grabbed at the vine while Evon laughed.
"Shut up!"

"Fuck you, little shit! You're the ones who are in trouble here." He moved closer to Hakkai and his sister, seeming content to let the new member take them out like Erossa wanted. "Bet you're shitting yourselves now."

"Hell no!" Gojyo spun is jakujou, the blade hurling toward Erossa. Hakkai smirked and deflected it's path with a sweep of more vines, yanking the weapon away like it was no more than a plastic toy. "Hakkai, dammit, snap out of it!"

"Give up, he's lost to you now," she said, and laughed more when vines twisted and grabbed at the three men like trapped animals.

"Hakkai!" Goku was too late in jerking away and his arms were pinned hard against his sides, his eyes panicked when one wrapped around his throat to cut off his air.

"Kai, dammit..," Gojyo couldn't finish, choked off and fighting uselessly as he suffered the same snaking trap.

"Take your time. Really enjoy snuffing them out, Hakkai," Erossa urged.

"Skanky bitch," Sanzo grunted, barely managing the words as the tightening coil wrapped around his throat.

She laughed. "Don't cut him off yet. I want them to suffer for hours."

"Oh yeah, me too," Evon said and moved close to the bound monk. Sanzo choked out a groan when the youkai punched his gut.

"Co..ward...youkai piece of shit.." He fought to say it through painful hitches of breath. His eyes moved to his lover, cold and angry. "You going to kill me, Hakkai? You pull me close and look me in the eyes and do it then," he growled, and gasped again for a sliver of air. He saw Gojyo and Goku had went limp and unresponsive. Shit.

"Fine, I will," Hakkai said, not sounding like himself at all, with cold indifference. Sanzo was pulled over, feet dangling inches from the floor. He looked into his purple eyes and smirked.

"This is pathetic, Hakkai," he said, paying no attention to the other two youkai now that he was face to face with his lover. "Are you really going to let this bitch do this to you?" He fought to keep his head clear, taking in air with growing difficulty.

"It's my will, not hers."

"Bullshit. She's fucking playing you. Her and her fucking limp dick partner there."

"Limp dick?! Fucking asshole!"

Sanzo felt another sharp jab, this time to his back and he groaned out a laugh. "Hakkai, have you forgotten? It's filth like this that took your sister away. That raped her! That made you what you hate!"

"No.....I haven't forgotten," he whispered, eyes softening, but his hold held firm.

"Then snap the fuck out of this."

"You can't break the waves hold, priest, stop trying," she said, smiling soft. "Though I do commend you for trying to save your lover."

"Fuck this, waste them already so we can get the damn scripture and bail," Evon snapped.

Hakkai watched Sanzo struggle. The vines closed tighter, but Sanzo had no fear in his eyes, only that pissed off, annoyed look he got whenever someone really got under his skin. It said, Hakkai, keep it up, and I'll kick you fucking ass. Hakkai hesitated, then heard the screech of Hakuryu as he flew in and clawed at Evon's face in a surprise attack. The youkai screamed as his eyes were violently gouged out by the angry dragon's claws.

"Evon!" Erossa went to grab at the dragon but he flew back, leaving the now blind and screaming youkai to clumsily shamble down the corridor with blood pouring through his fingers as he covered his eye sockets. "Kill them, Hakkai!" she screamed, her collective control and calm crumbling.

"Shut up, bitch." Sanzo mustered the strength and kicked his boot up and smashed her throat. She fell back and spasmed on the dirty floor, choking on her own blood until she moved no longer.

Hakkai shook himself, vines loosening more as he fought for some kind of control. When he turned to look at Sanzo again he gasped, eyes widening when his hand came up and clamped over his ear. Warmth filled his hand, and an intense light filled the dark. Gods. His body seemed to stiffened and relaxed at the same time as he felt the change happening. Gods, this light, it's so warm and comforting. Then he fell into the dark again, but this time felt safe in it's embrace.

*~*

"Hakkai, wake up." He felt a warm hand on his cheek and he groaned, cracking his eyes open. He blinked, wondering why half of Sanzo's face was a blur, then remembered his monocle was gone. "Hey." His voice softened, along with his eyes.

"What happened?" Hakkai asked, voice raspy and tired. He felt sore all over. He turned his head to see he was in a hotel room. Goku sat in a chair and waved to him. He looked for Gojyo and saw him standing by the door, smoking a cigarette and smiling soft.

"You don't remember?"

Hakkai thought quietly, then sighed soft. "Unfortunately, I do." He closed his eyes again and felt a shame so deep that it made him feel ill. He'd nearly killed the three of them. Sanzo touched his face again and he felt obligated to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry. I was weak."

"Don't be stupid. You fought as hard as you could. You have a strong will, and I was able to get through to you even though you were poisoned by the minus wave."

"My limiters." He touched his ear and felt comforted by the three clips that cupped his earlobe. "How did you find them?"

Gojyo chuckled. "He didn't, Kai. He whipped up his Sanzo Priest mojo and put them there. Bastard calmed you down like he does the monkey when he goes nut bar."

"I don't go nut bar, ass lick!"

"Shut up!" Sanzo rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Is it remotely possible for you two to not argue, even at a time like this? Hakkai needs rest, so knock it off!"

Hakkai chuckled and couldn't stop. His body throbbed, his insides hurt, but he laughed harder until he was making the bed shake. He felt Sanzo's hand touch his side, and heard him softly ask if he was okay. He could only nod, red faced and eyes streaming. It felt damn good to be back to normalcy.