A Brand New Life

Gojyo stopped cold at the sight of Yaone gently pushing Hakkai’s hair back from his forehead. She looked at Gojyo with weary eyes and shoulders slumped like the weight of the world was on them. Kougaiji’s group was silent as Gojyo walked towards them.

“What happened to him? What the hell happened to Hakkai?” Gojyo went to Yaone and bent down to pick up Hakkai when a large hand stopped him. “Get your hand off me, Dokugakuji.”

“Hold on, brother.” Dokugakuji put both hands on Gojyo’s shoulders and turned him to face him. “Let Yaone take care of him. He’s in good hands with her.”

“Who did it? Who killed Hakkai?” Gojyo screamed at Dokugakuji. “Was it you,” he said pointing to Kougaiji, “or you, Lirin?” Gojyo lunged at Lirin. Kougaiji stepped between Lirin and Gojyo.

“Are you that stupid? Can’t you see he’s breathing? Yaone has been by his side since he fell and this is how you thank her and us for keeping him safe? You accuse us of cold-blooded murder?” Kougaiji sneered at Gojyo. Gojyo couldn’t meet his eyes but he did look at Yaone.

“Thank you, Yaone. I’m really sorry I jumped to conclusions. I know you have feelings for Hakkai and would never do anything to harm him.” Gojyo walked over to Yaone and sat down beside her. “Can you tell me what happened?”

Yaone didn’t understand what Gojyo meant by her having feelings for Hakkai but she would ask about that later. Right now, keeping Hakkai still until they could get him somewhere else was a bigger priority. She looked at Gojyo and began from when she first saw Hakkai fall.

Kougaiji and his party were finishing the fight in the palace with Gyokumen Koushu and Dr. Nii Jianyi. Kougaiji found out that Gyokumen Koushu never planned to have Dr. Nii Jianyi bring back his beloved mother. In fact, the reason they needed her was she was the final sacrifice to bring back Gyoumao. Kougaiji would loose his mother for good and Lirin would never know a loving mother; for Kougaiji was sure that his mother would accept his little half sister. She would never blame Lirin for being born and never use her like Gyokumen Koushu did.

Yaone broke off from the rest of the party, following a bright light that she was sure was Cho Hakkai. She always liked battling the calm man and felt they were quite alike. They always started their battles very politely asking each other if they may have the privilege of fighting each other. But this time, they wouldn’t be battling each other for they were on the same side.

As Yaone got closer to where Hakkai was fighting, she could hear him laughing. She didn’t know him as well as she knew Kougaiji but whenever she watched Hakkai fight, he usually had some quick comebacks that made her giggle. But seeing the look on his face, she didn’t feel like giggling now. He looked like a man possessed.

“Is that all you’ve got to show me? Do you really think that would affect me?” Hakkai sent another gust of chi to the three youkai surrounding him. He was able to dodge the swords and arrows coming at him with the help of Hakruyu swooping in front of him from time to time but the little dragon was quickly wearing out. “Hakruyu, don’t worry about me so much. Find somewhere safe to hide!”

Yaone broke through the trees and could see Hakkai clearly now. He was fighting two regular youkai and a very nasty shape shifting youkai. Yaone crept up through the tall weeds to wait for a good time to break in and help Hakkai. Suddenly, he gasped and yelled, “NO!”

Yaone looked over the weeds to see what happened and she was shocked to see Hakkai standing motionless, his hands at his sides. Yaone couldn’t make out what the youkai looked like very well, she just saw that the youkai turned into a female. Nothing happened for a few minutes. It looked like Hakkai and the youkai were talking. Strange, Yaone thought, that in the middle of a battle these two men were having a conversation and from what she could see, Hakkai was getting more and more agitated.

“And then the two youkai who weren’t talking to Hakkai, crawled around behind him and jumped him and pushed him to the ground. The beat him badly before I could get there to stop them from doing the most damage. I’m really only an alchemist, nothing more. I’m useless really.” Yaone wiped tears from her eyes. Kougaiji walked over and put his arm around the beautiful youkai. “ Yaone, if it hadn’t been for you, many times we would have died.” Kougaiji looked at Gojyo. “Can you tell this little dragon to go find Sanzo and Goku? We have been trying to get him to leave Hakkai’s side for hours and find the rest of you but he won’t leave.”

Gojyo picked up Hakruyu and held him close. “Hey, little guy. Can you do me a favor? Go get Sanzo and Goku for me.” Hakruyu gave a sad little cheep while looking at Hakkai. “Yeah, I know, he’s hurt but I’m here now for him and I really need Sanzo and Goku. I don’t want to leave him either and you can make better time than I can. Will you do it?” Hakruyu jumped out of Gojyo’s arms and walked to Hakkai. He nuzzled his master’s sleeping cheek, let out a little cheep and took to the sky. The group watched him for a few minutes until they saw him dive closer to land. They knew he had found Sanzo and Goku.

A few minutes later, Sanzo and Goku could be heard crashing through the weeds. Goku was the first to come to the little group but stopped when he saw Hakkai laying on the ground. Sanzo followed at a more sedate pace but he was still hurrying.

Goku ran to Hakkai screaming, “Is he dead? Please don’t be dead. It took me so long to remember your name and now I’ll never forget it. I don’t want to learn anymore new names. I like the names I know now.” For once, neither Sanzo nor Gojyo took out their frustrations on Goku. Gojyo walked over the boy, no… not a boy anymore, a man and grabbed his face between his palms. “Listen Goku, he’s not dead. I made that mistake too because Yaone put him in a drugged sleep to help him heal.” “So he’s fine?” Goku asked to Yaone.

“No, he’s not totally fine. He has several large wounds that I could close but it’s the wound he took to his spine I’m most worried about. I closed up the wound but I couldn’t see if there was any nerve damage or damage to his spinal cord. There were some broken vertebrae but I was able to heal those. It’s the other damage I’m concerned with.”

Goku asked the question the other two men were either unwilling or unable to ask. “Will Hakkai walk again?” Three pairs of brilliant jewel colored eyes looked at Yaone, each begging for a positive answer.

“I honestly cannot say. He will need someone to be with him every minute of the day and night. The first thing you can do after you are settled is find a doctor and have Cho Hakkai evaluated. I would suggest that you can take a few of our dragons instead of relying on Hakruyu to take you where you want to go.” Gojyo looked at her. “Why? He’s taken us this far, he should be fine to take us where we want to go.”

“Yes but the dragon’s flight is smoother than a bouncy jeep and you will have to keep Hakkai’s back supported and flat. We can make a carrier that will go between two dragons and he can be stable and comfortable throughout the flight.”

Sanzo took a drag of his cigarette. “Hey, you bastard! You stole my smokes! I thought I lost them and her you are, pretty as you please, just smoking away.” Gojyo grabbed his pack back and shook one out. “Now I can think. And stop rolling your eyes, Goku. You know I hate that when you do that!” Gojyo exhaled and said, “Ya know, we never thought about what we would do after we defeated Gyoumao.”

“I didn’t think we would make it at all so what was there to think about.”

“Yep, mister ‘think positive’ right there. With that happy attitude, I’m surprised that you have any frown marks.” Gojyo gave a sly look to Sanzo. He hated anyone remarking on his frown lines or his droopy eyes. “Ya got any ideas pretty boy?”

“I want to stay near lots of good places to eat..”

“Nobody’s talking to you, monkey!”

“Shut it you two! I wish just once one of you would have jumped in front of my gun so I could have shot you with a clear conscious! Now are you going to shut up and let me talk or do I have to shut you guys up?”

Goku and Gojyo sheepishly looked at the ground. “Go ahead, Sanzo. I want to hear what you have to say and I promise I won’t be like the pervy water sprite and interrupt again.”

“Why you little bas…”Gojyo couldn’t finish his insult because there was presently a gun pressed up against his nose. “Alright Sanzo, I’ll behave.”

Sanzo took his time answering the two men. He had an idea but he wasn’t sure what Gojyo would say. He wasn’t too concerned about Goku, for he knew the little monkey would follow him anywhere.

“There was a nice town we passed about halfway through this journey with a monastery nearby. The last time I was contacted by the Sanbutsushin, it was suggested to me that I settle in a monastery and help with any rogue youkai that may be left after the defeat of Gyoumao. I would have a house and the freedom to travel where I am needed. And it was agreed that Gojyo and Hakkai would be compensated for their part in the journey.”

“Can I come with you, Sanzo?” Goku looked worried as if he was afraid that Sanzo would leave him and he would be all alone again.

“Yes”, Sanzo said with a sigh. In his heart of hearts, he knew he could never leave Goku to fend for himself. When he rescued him, it was only to stop the calling he heard in his head, but somewhere along this journey, the little pest became like a little brother to him. Even though he complained about being hungry most of the time he was awake, drove Sanzo nuts with question after question and generally made a bother of himself, Sanzo couldn’t imagine life without him. And he would be a powerful ally to have by his side.

“Ya know, I always wanted to own a bar.” Gojyo leaned back on his elbows and looked sideways at Sanzo. “Free beer, card games and most importantly, women.” Gojyo sighed. “All those women.”

“I figured as much, seeing as we were always dragging you out of a bar when we had a break. And don’t even get me started about the women” Sanzo glared at Gojyo.

“And it would have an apartment above it, too.” Gojyo grinned, thinking about how much fun he would have in his own place. “Wait, what about Hakkai? We don’t even know how bad he’s injured and doctor’s care isn’t cheap. I mean, I would be willing to have him stay with me and all but he’s gonna need care from someone who knows what they are doing. Cuts and bruises, sure, but this is more that I can do.”

“I’m sure once we get to the town and get Hakkai to a doctor, he suggest somebody we can hire. And don’t worry about paying for the doctor. Leave that to me.”

“As long as she’s pretty, that’s good enough for me”

“Typical.”

“Gentlemen, I hate to interrupt, but I really feel you should make your plans and get Hakkai settled as quick as possible.” Yaone laid Hakkai’s head on the ground so Hakruyu could curl up next to him. “If you three can build something for Hakkai to lay on during flight, Kougaiji and Dokugakuji can get the dragons ready. I will pack enough medicine to keep him sleeping until you reach the town where you will settle.” With that, Yaone and Lirin went in search of herbs and other things Yaone would need.

Everyone finished their tasks and all that was left was to say good-bye. Gojyo pulled Yaone away from the group. “You are coming with us, right? I know you want to stay with Hakkai and I’m sure we can set you two up in a house that you will like.”

Yaone looked at him in confusion. “I’m not going with you.”

“What the hell…what do you mean? You’re not coming with Hakkai? Is it the fact he would rather stay in his human body and not youkai form? I didn’t think you were so shallow.”

“I’m not coming with him because my path lies with another.” Yaone blushed as she looked at Kougaiji. “For one who claims to know so much about women, you have a lot to learn.”

“Well, maybe I can find a great teacher in my new home.” Gojyo winked at her and walked to where the dragons waited. “Hey, Doku! See ya around, huh?” Gojyo punched him on his upper left arm. Dokugakuji gave Gojyo an equally hard punch back.

“Try to stay out of trouble for more than one day, little brother.”

Gojyo made a rude hand gesture to his brother and mounted his dragon. Sanzo and Goku were already waiting on their dragon and when Gojyo nodded that he was ready, they gave the commands to the dragons and were soon little specks in the sky.

Lirin turned to Yaone. “Why did Gojyo punch Dokugakuji before he left?”

Yaone put her finger to her lips, giggled and said, “Men are strange creatures.”



Meanwhile…

“Did anyone see this last bill from Priest Sanzo? Who does he think he is? He bought a bar with a fancy apartment above it and a house in the same town! And look at these doctor bills! I didn’t think that gold card we gave him had that high of a limit! Somebody’s head is going to roll for authorizing this!”