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Forgotten Buddha	By : talxthorn Category: Gensomaden Saiyuki > General Views: 3573 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gensomaden Saiyuki, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Forgotten Buddha

Tal and Thorn

Chapter Four:

I�ve Made It This Far

          Hakkai reluctantly stepped forward and looked over the weapons. They were just as the evil Sanzo priest had told him: a lasso, a six-shooter, a bullwhip, and a set of six throwing knives. He�d been thinking about this all day and had decided who would be best suited for each. He�d come to the unsettling conclusion he wasn�t suited for any of them. By process of elimination, he�d decided on the knives.

          Gathering them up, he gauged their weight and balance. Not that it would help him but at least he didn�t look totally incompetent.

          �These then,� he said to the old man.

          �Alrighty, that�s a good choice. Them�s antiques. Some even say they have magic powers but I ain�t never seen em glow like they say they do.� Pa moved over to Gojyo. �Okay long hair, what�ll it be?�

          Though he hated the attention afforded him as a high-ranking priest, Sanzo still found himself a bit put off at how the old man had passed him by.

          Gojyo passed over the gun without a second thought. But the lasso and whip were going to be tough to choose between. The lasso he could handle much like his scythe which he then realized he could just use that.

          �No thanks, pops. I�ve already got a�� He reached behind his back to call the scythe to his hand only nothing happened. �Hey, what the hell?�

          Shit, Hakkai thought, fingers shifting their grip on the knives. Just in case.

          Sanzo raised a brow in amusement. �Did someone waste a little too much youjitsu on getting those pretty things to come home with him?� Thinking, of course, Gojyo couldn�t summon his scythe because he�d wasted too much energy on the previous nights� many feasts. �I�m sure it�ll come back before the fighting starts if you pace yourself. If not, once those �demon outlaws� take a gaze here at this (he was speaking in a voice sarcastically mocking the townsfolk) they�ll head for parts unknown.� He reached to display his own six-shooter. �Where the fuck is my gun? Hakkai, did you pick up my gun?�

          Hakkai�s eyes slid away from Sanzo�s but before he could speak Goku cried out. �Sanzo! I can�t summon Nyouibou!� He was at Sanzo�s side pulling on his sleeve. �Sanzo�� Goku looked up at the monk with golden brown eyes wide, trusting he would know what to do.

          �What?� Sanzo put a protective hand on Goku�s head. �That�s impossible.� Not weak from the poison yet, he took a few steps towards the old man threateningly, Goku behind his sleeve. �I don�t know what�s going on here but I know not just anyone could harness the power of Nyouibou. Whatever you are, demon or evil human, you should be aware this parchment scroll I wear around my neck does more than display Buddha�s cheerful sayings.�

          �Boy, you�d best sit down or you�ll be inviting that poison to work a sight quicker.� Pa stood his ground and pushed a finger in Sanzo�s chest. �And all I see around your neck is a tattered collar.�

          �You�re mistaken. I fell with it still attached and not in use. And as I�m not dead it would require a great deal of youjitsu for someone to take it from me as I wouldn�t give it up very easily. The only other way I could lose it is if someone I trusted tore it off.� He reached to touch it sure it would be there while saying, �And I only trust three beings in this whole world and none of them would--the scripture! The scripture, it�s gone!� He looked to Goku, Gojyo, and then Hakkai. �How could it be gone?�

          Gojyo paled, cigarette very nearly falling from his mouth. Goku�s eyes widened even farther.

          �You!� Sanzo turned on Gojyo so fast Goku, caught off-guard, was knocked to the ground. �How could you? You decide to side with your big brother? Sure you can�t summon your scythe. Yeah right, you fucker! You set me up!� Sanzo sent a nasty kick the water sprite�s way. �You�re demon scum like all the rest.� The monk was out of control. One of them had taken the scripture from him, a fact he could not begin to accept. Anger was his only option and it wasn�t pretty.

          �Me?� Gojyo threw his cigarette down. �Why the fuck would it be me, priest?� He dodged Sanzo�s kick fairly easily. Kicks weren�t the monk�s strong suit. But if he started throwing punches� �What about your pet monkey? He does turn into Ultimate evil at the slightest provocation!�

          As if switching tracks, Sanzo stared down Goku. �So what is it, monkey? Tired of me stopping you from killing everything in sight. Or are you working with your old business partner? You waste your time hating me. I freed you. But then maybe that�s why you called out to me. 500 years is a long time to plot. Maybe it was all a set up.� He was too furious to move to attack. �But if I knocked that crown off your head, you�d be nothing more than a thoughtless killer. One good hit, Goku, and I can make that your destiny.�

          Goku looked up at Sanzo from where he�d landed on his butt. Tears formed, and he blinked rapidly to keep them from escaping. �Sanzo,� he muttered. He scrambled to his feet and ran away from the man he�d always been able to run to. Blindly into the woods, away from the hateful words.

          Hakkai looked away from Sanzo and turned to head after Goku.

          Watching Goku run away, Sanzo froze then melted. �Wait, Goku, I didn�t mean�� He ran after the both of them. If it wasn�t Goku or Gojyo then it had to be�but that was the craziest of all. Hakkai knew everything.

He knew Sanzo better than the others. Even the darkest parts of his soul.

�Three years ago�

          �So if you could run where would you go?� The monk asked half-interested as he lit a cigarette and offered the green-eyed man one. It was near dawn and as soon as Goku woke up they would be headed back towards the temple and Cho Gonou would know his fate.

          Cho Gonou shook his head at the cigarette then thought better of it and took one. �I�m not sure�� He leaned forward to accept the light Sanzo offered. �No, that�s a lie� There�s a place near where I grew up that�s sacred to me. I�d go there, I think.�

          The only light came from a cloud covered moon and their cigarettes. As Sanzo brought his to his mouth he said, �Care to leave it to game of chance?�

          �That depends on the game,� Cho smiled slightly as he took a deep drag off his cigarette.

          Sanzo stood and finished off his cigarette while staring at the moon. Walking away with his back to Cho Gonou, he spun around fixing his gun on the murderer. �Would you prefer I kill you?�

          Cho flicked the ashes off and refused to meet Sanzo�s eyes. �Better you than a total stranger,� he muttered.

Gun still pointed at Cho, Sanzo asked calmly, �Do you think you�ve got something to live for? I ask myself that everyday sometimes the answer is that bundle of energy and hunger sleeping over there.� He�d decided this was as good a night as any and Cho Gonou might as well be the kind (if captive) ear he could never find. �But then I remember what happened the last time I lived for someone and it all seems so pointless. If you can�t live for yourself and only yourself, might as well hang it up. You�ll always be too weak, too small, too in love, too foolish to do what needs to be done when the time comes. So I�m asking you, Cho Gonou, can you live a selfish life or should I waste you here?�

Cho ran a hand through his hair and looked up at Sanzo. �Damned strange question from a monk of your standing.� Cho shrugged. �I guess I�ve become accustomed to living my life with only myself in mind� It�s really sick how easy it is to hide that fact behind a pretty smile.�

�Guess you�ll live to see another day.� Sanzo said though he was pulling the hammer back getting ready to fire. �And as I�m only a monk of my standing because the only person I have ever loved or trusted was murdered in front of me. Died while I did nothing but cower, it�s not so strange. Pick a number, one through six.�

Cho shrugged, his mind caught by Sanzo�s revelation. �Four�s always good.�

�Four, huh? Ok, well I suppose you could have said six.� Sanzo lifted his gun to his temple. �It�s funny but ever since they gave me this, it�s kept me sane. One.� He pulled the trigger, �Guess that wasn�t the chamber the bullet was in.�

�Are you mad?� Cho asked, moving to Sanzo�s side. His hand covered the one Sanzo held the gun with. �You�re too beautiful to die this way.� Cho turned bright red as he realized what he said.

Sanzo pushed him away. �Don�t say that. He thought I was beautiful, so much so he couldn�t let the river take me. Every one else knew. They all whispered that Kouryou would be Komiyou�s undoing. Two.� Again the shot would have been point blank if it had gone off. �You know, I know what you�re thinking but this gun keeps me going. I tempt fate, fate says keep going and I do. But I always know if it gets too hard, or I get too weak I can load the bullet in the right chamber. Three.� Sanzo had grimaced as if sure that�s where the bullet was. �Merciful goddess, not one of the first three? C�mon that�s 50/50. Aren�t you going to let me die tonight?�

�Perhaps you�re missing the point entirely,� Cho offered. �It would be best, perhaps, if you turned the shot on me.� He reached up to remove the cuffs he wore on his left ear. �Let me make the choice easier.� Each cuff relinquished more of his human form to the newly acquired demon one as he pulled them off.

�You�re truly youkai. I guess that legend�s true. Though I�ve killed my fair share of demons and I don�t sprout pointed ears or fangs. You don�t scare me demon nor can I let you have this last bullet. It�s mine.� The gun backfired as Sanzo took the fourth shot and the bullet jammed. �Should have stayed human, Cho. This would have been hilarious.� He put away the gun. �Well, another day as a fool it is.�

The sun just starting to mingle with the night sky. He took a step towards Cho Gonou, speaking in a language only demons could comprehend, �You have lost much but it is not your destiny to die here nor mine. Fortune has made us her fools, sweet demon. For what reason, I can not say but I will stand and speak for you if you come with me now.�

�Like I said, you missed the point entirely,� Cho replied, replacing his ear cuffs. �Hers and mine.�

�I will stand by you.� Sanzo leaned down and lay a hand on Cho�s face. �Will you keep my secret? Goku would never understand my relationship with my revolver. But you more than anyone, I think can. And I�ve decided you I will trust. You, sweet demon, will never betray Kouryou, this I know.� He seemed in a daze though he clearly meant every word he said. �I know you, I know your true heart.�

�Hakkai? Is Goku�?   Goku, I�m sorry please come to me. Come to your Sanzo.� Sanzo called as he reached them. The anger he felt had turned to something much more bitter and painful.

Goku lay sprawled on the ground where he�d fallen, sobbing softly. Hakkai was hovering over him, looking lost. He turned green eyes on Sanzo and they were emotionless as he spoke. �You are all he has. You are his world, Sanzo,� Hakkai rose and spoke softly. �There is no excuse for your cruelty.�

�My cruelty is mine to give.� Sanzo moved past Hakkai to be next to Goku. He pulled out his fan and tapped it on Goku�s head. �Since when do you listen to one fucked up thing I say when I�m on a tirade, you stupid monkey? If you don�t know how I feel about you�that I�d never hurt you�well there�s no cure for idiocy.�

Hakkai stepped back, away from the two, knowing he had no place here in a moment that belonged to Goku and Sanzo. Perhaps that applied to more of his life than he wanted to admit.

�It�s not easy, is it?� Gojyo said to Hakkai, as he met him halfway between the monk and his monkey and the townspeople. �Watching them together. It�s hard for you.�

Hakkai stole the cigarette from Gojyo�s mouth. �That�s not your concern is it?�

Goku looked up at Sanzo. �But�that was different, Sanzo�What you said�it was really mean.� His lower lip started to treble, and he fought not to start crying again.

�Yeah, well, maybe it�d be better if you thought I felt that way. You�re going to be hopeless if this little diversion takes my life, and I don�t want to go to Buddha knowing there�s either some depressed monkey or some rampaging killer because I�m not there with him.� He hugged Goku. �I�ve given no thought to how you�d feel. I�m sorry.� His apology was for far more than just this incident but Goku wouldn�t know that.

Goku crawled into Sanzo�s lap and wrapped his arms around the monk�s chest. �It�s ok. Just don�t die, Sanzo.� He nuzzled in close, practically curling inside Sanzo�s robes. It wasn�t often that Sanzo opened up for physical affection and Goku intened to make the most of it. �Promise me.�

Sanzo looked up at sky like the clouds would spell out what he should say. �Yeah, whatever. Look why don�t you go and pick yourself a weapon and if you take the gun�I swear I�ll take the whip and your ass will be sore throughout this ordeal. Got it?�

Goku grinned at Sanzo, the hurt gone from his eyes completely. �Okay, Sanzo.� He disentangled himself from Sanzo and scurried off to choose the whip, just so Sanzo couldn�t have it.

Sanzo stood up and quickly crossed to where Hakkai and Gojyo stood. �One question Hakkai. It�s simple. How many people do I trust and multiply that by two.�

Hakkai dropping the cigarette, crushed it underfoot. Jamming his hands in his hands in his pockets, he looked Sanzo in the eye as he answered. �The answer should be four.� Then he turned and headed back to where the townspeople waited for them.

Sanzo�s planned remark wasted away at Hakkai�s response. �You should have said six,� he called out. Though whether he meant three years ago, today, or both only he knew.

Hakkai turned and shrugged. �Somehow, four�s always just enough, but never as many as you hope for.� Hakkai turned his attention back to the argument over the whip that had broken out.

�Take the stupid rope, you damned ape!�

�And let a pervie water sprite run around with a whip? No way!�

Sanzo catching up pushed Hakkai forward. �Well, go on Sheriff, sort it out. And let me decide if four�s enough.� He added in a whisper. Then taking the gun whilst avoiding the whole Goku/Gojyo rope vs. whip fiasco, he sat on the ground feeling a lot heavier than he had five minutes ago. He counted the bullets out loud as he loaded them.

�Gah! It�s disgusting the way you fantasize about me, monkey!�

�Don�t make me puke, you cock sucking kappa!�

�OK, that�s quite enough,� Hakkai stepped up between the two arguing demons.

Sanzo, finished loading, held out his hand clutching his paper fan. �You can borrow this if you need it though you should look into getting one of your own�� He gave Hakkai his once in a blue moon smile and an even more rare laugh. �And before you ask, yes I am enjoying myself.�

�Glad to hear it,� Hakkai eyed the fan with a covetous glance. �But I�ll handle this my way.� He grabbed Gojyo and Goku�s wrists and sent a short blast of chi energy up their arms. They both looked offended. �Let Goku have the whip,� Hakkai handed it to the young boy. �Gojyo, you�ll do better with this.� Hakkai handed him the lasso.

�Ah, I�m ashamed of you guys, I�d have let him squirm at least a little longer.� Sanzo commented pretending his head wasn�t starting to throb without mercy.

�Well, then, if y�all are ready. We�ll be getting your lame member to the wagon �fore he falls over.� Ma said as Sanzo mumbled something about not being lame though he made no attempt to prove otherwise. �Then you�ll want to get to bed �fore dawn cause no doubt those vermin�ll strike soon as they know there�s a new law in town.�
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Forgotten Buddha