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Relax and Hang On -- Again	By : cupnjava Category: Gensomaden Saiyuki > General Views: 20723 -:- 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.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
There is no character death.

Summary: Two lovers that value friendship. A careful slip of the lip, causes rough waters. One harbor waits….one piece of salvage limps away into enemy territory… will it return? Can what has been broken be mended?
I’m hoping this chapter reads like a slow motion car wreck. You see it coming. You’re screaming at the people in the way. You don’t want to watch, but you just can’t turn away.

Reminder: All conversations with past lives are mental. One of my betas thought I should make that clear.

Author’s Note: My move has gone from crazy to certifiably insane. Water leaks, floor damage and --- delays in being able to write. I’m sorry. Oh yeah, and I’m going in for surgery -- so I’ll update as soon as I can. (Nothing serious -- out patient and exploratory no biggie) I really appreciate your patience. Thank you.

I asked and you answered. Thank you. I wasn’t talking about kink.

Warning: This is a warning --- a serious warning. This chapter contains torture. Real honest to goodness torture. Not some semblance of torture that turns out to be a scene at the end. This is not a dream sequence. I dusted off some of my darkness and some research books and papers. This is the real deal. This is not a scene. The actions described in here have been known to kill. They are used in Guatemala, Africa and have been historically documented in England and ancient China. I’ve spared you the most gruesome ones. Cuz we gotta heal the victim -- that‘s just the way this fic is. Well, maybe heal isn’t the right word. Repair the body might be a better phrase.
The victim will NOT die, I can promise you that. That’s one wish that won’t be granted.
If it becomes too much, as some readers are sensitive, scroll down. The last three paragraphs are crucial to understanding the rest of the fic.

Saiyuki fans were quoted in NewType magazine as being “Extremely Hardcore.”
Just how hardcore are we? What gives us pause? Will this do it?
I doubt it.
Wanna walk with me as I push the limits?
We can take it, I have faith in us.

Credit where credit is due: A special thanks for my wonderful Ms. Muse, Ashtari-hime, for making me ask her , “Are you gonna write it or am I?” Thus, we have a transition, a plot transition.

Musical influences: Linkin Park and a new fav group of mine: Breaking Benjamin
“You must be out of your mind. This was a simple design. You fuck it up everything time. How could you leave me behind? […] I was livin’ it up. I’ve fallen from grace. There’s no way. There’s no way -- that I’m running away. I’m use to making it worse. Made up of four-letter words [….] Try not to pull it apart. Your aim is straight for the heart.”

“Red Velvet and Crimson Cries”

As Hakkai drove he glanced into the rear-view mirror. He smiled softly at the framing of Gojyo’s eyes and cheeks. There was always something sexy about those crimson eyes as they relaxed when Gojyo stared of into nothingness…lost in his own train of thought.
Much to Sanzo’s delight , although he’d never admit to having ever experienced delight, the fighting from the backseat had tapered off. They’d traveled for , more or less, a whole month now since Hakkai had removed his limiters and nearly killed himself. During that time, the two children in the back had a collective three fights. Only two of which were bad enough for Sanzo to intervene. The peace was nice.
Hakkai sighed. The peace was horrible. He knew something was off inside of Gojyo. The crimson topped Don Juan had become quiet and somewhat withdrawn. He wasn’t being rude or actively pushing people away. He just wasn’t engaging himself with the group. His edginess had faded somewhat. The spring in his step and the urgency in his voice had tapered off. His wisecracks were coming farther and farther apart and the double entendres were practically non-existent. Gojyo wasn’t deflecting with humor nearly enough and he just seemed down…simply down. Come to think of it….the last time they had sex was…two weeks ago when Gojyo thumbed off one Hakkai’s limiters. They’d stayed at inns during the past two weeks and Gojyo didn’t initiate anything.
No sex for two weeks….fourteen days…a fortnight…nothing to Hakkai and everything to Gojyo…meaning….it now meant…..everything to Hakkai. No doubt…the demon chained inside Hakkai was indeed horrible -- wretched --- repulsive. The timing of this could not be a coincidence. Is this the beginning of the end? Did Gojyo see something that night, that he didn’t want to see. Did he see something then, that he still sees?

Hakkai worried his lip as he focused back on the road. Maybe, that wasn’t it at all. No…if it was his ‘other form’; then, that night two weeks ago wouldn’t have happened. It had to be something else. Maybe, he had too tight of a hold on Gojyo. Maybe, he was smothering Gojyo and that caring crimson playboy was too polite to say it. If you love something set it free, right? Gojyo was indeed a free spirit. If free spirits were restrained…they die. Hakkai had a friend and lover in Gojyo. Both aspects were powerful, both aspects were loved, both aspects were deeply desired, wanted and needed by Hakkai. However, the friend aspect….Gojyo as a friend…was more important and anything that could ever happened between the sheets. Gojyo as Gojyo, the jovial , happy-go-lucky, tongue-in-cheek friend…was more important than anything -- even Hakkai’s own feelings. Especially, Hakkai’s own feelings.
Goku had long since fallen asleep. Lured by the lullabies of nature, the gentle rocking of the road and ,of course, the utter boredom.
Gojyo wasn’t down or depressed. He had mellowed. He was just cruising along like a conversion van on a wide-open four-lane with the cruise control set, the music cranked and the windows down. From his perspective, the relationship with Hakkai had left the initial vehemently lustful stage and slid into comfortable. One thing did bother him…it wasn’t so much as a bother as a ponder…maybe not even a point to ponder more along the lines of confusion…well maybe not confusion per se…what it was didn’t really matter. The fact was--- that it was. The question lingered…drifting into his thoughts and leaving nearly as unexpectedly as it entered. What is this relationship with Hakkai?

Relationship, now there’s a heavy word. Loaded with all sorts of connotations and hidden agendas. There are layers of meaning in that word. There is intention in that word. There are….issues with that word. Those emerald eyes had dared to not leave him and this meant Gojyo had to deal with it. He had to think. He had to ponder. This situation was unusual for Gojyo -- Drifter Lover Extraordinaire. Is this a relationship? What kind? Do I even want one? Surely, Hakkai does. That’s just they way he is. He doesn’t just sleep around. He…gets involved. Which isn’t so bad, I suppose. This is the longest I’ve ever been -- no that’s not true. There was that one. Her….but that whole thing was different. That is a whole ‘nother story. What does this mean? Where are my lines? What is ok to cross -- what is dashed and what is a solid line? What future can we have, what future do we want…where is this going? Where is it now?

Maybe, the relationship -- or whatever it was -- hadn’t fallen in to entirely into comfortable.

Why can’t I just roll with it and accept things as they are and as they come. Why…why…why does this just keep bothering me? Why do I have more questions than answers? Why don’t I know what I want? No…I know what I want. I just can’t admit it. Why can’t I? Why am I so reluctant to do this?

What Gojyo wanted…deep down inside…was an honest to goodness relationship with Hakkai. That green-eyed man had wormed his way inside of Gojyo. He had set up roots in Gojyo’s heart and mind and this was just unsettling; and yet, very comfortable. But, what kind of future did two men have anyway? Assuming they survive this quest, assuming they survive tomorrow…where was this going? It’s not like two men can have “the dream”… the whole kip and caboodle with the dog, the 2.5 kids and white picket fence. (Or in their case, the monkey, the priest and the two-bedroom flat.) That’s just not how society or biology worked. Gojyo did want to eventually have kids. One day, when the time was right, he wanted to provide what he was denied. He wanted to create and nurture what was stolen from him. What was the point behind having a relationship that wasn’t going anywhere? What was the point of ….damn it! Why didn’t emerald just leave! Just leave like all the others. Just use him…just the three F’s: Find’em, Fuck’em and Forget’em. Like all the others…and why didn’t Crimson want Emerald to leave?
Why did Crimson want Emerald to stay and be very different from all the others?

At this point, he didn’t think he could see his life without any of these guys…not even the parrot. They’d become his family. They’d become his …life.

Why can’t I just accept the template carved for me? Why can’t I just play the role written for me. Why can’t I just be the drifter lover? When did we get to town?

Sanzo, Goku and Hakkai were standing beside the jeep outside of an inn. They’d been standing there for a good ten minutes, waiting for Gojyo to get out. To hop out of the back…like he always did.
Gojyo blinked at them and stepped out of the jeep. He shared a glance with Hakkai as he grabbed his pack.
The four men stepped into the inn and immediately their attention was drawn to something.
She was beautiful. She was stunning. She was sitting at a small table alone reading a book. A delicate sherry glass with dark liquid in it sat next to her book. Her legs were crossed elegantly at the knee.
Her hair was a soft sandy blonde and it was long. The length rested near her hip. Her bangs swooped to one side. She had her far hand tucked under chin and her hair cascaded down her corresponding shoulder. The other side of those soft, sandy-blonde locks was tucked behind her ear. Her earrings were small clear crystals that tossed spectra of light around her. Her face, back curtained by blonde, had a delicate feminine profile. She wore a hint of make up. Her lips were full and pouted to a nearly perfect bow. Her cheek bones here high and lightly kissed with a ruddy bronze. Her nose was small and slightly pointed. Her eyes were lightly slanted…so lightly they seemed almost fragile. She carried a natural tan, more of a light olive skin tone than a tan.
Her dress was satin. A deep purple with white trim. It was form-fitting but not tight. Her full breasts seemed to just float inside the satin and her tapered waist looked like it just belonged -- just belonged right there under those breasts, next to the edge of that table and just above those softly rounded hips. The bottom of her dress had a slit carried to just above mid-thigh. Her outfit and cross-leg position tantalizingly revealed most of her shapely legs. The slit revealed all of her knees and calves. Around one bare ankle rested a dainty golden spiral chain, with a golden heart dangling. Her shoes were white 7“ “fuck me“ spikes. Her arms were slender and shapely. This look…this whole look …seemed like she owned it. The dress seemed to have been made especially for her. The colors were right. The style was right. The fit was extraordinary.
She slowly blinked, turned a page, sipped her Kahlua; and glanced in their direction. She blinked her eyes back to her book. The look was brief. Barely longer than the blinks that began and ended it, but it was long enough. It was enough to see her crystal clear blue eyes.
This was one woman that was totally and completely comfortable in her skin --- and for damn good reason.
Sanzo had one thought. She’s pretty; she’s probably going to try to kill us.

Hakkai had to fight within himself to deny that she wasn’t the prettiest woman he’d ever seen --- for that title belonged to a woman who had stunning green eyes. He, however, couldn’t contain the slight gasp that escaped his softy parted lips. For the first time since he was in that boarding school…that prep school during his late teens… did someone very special slip from number two to number three.
Hakuryuu peeped. Now, that is a prime example of the female half of the human species. Of course she wasn’t nearly as pretty as a dragon, but for a human …she was primo.
Goku’s mouth dropped open and flew into a wide grin, “Oh my god, would you look at that.”
Hakkai lightly elbowed him and whispered, “That’s not polite.”
Goku looked up at Hakkai, “I don’t care. It’s the truth…there’s nothing impolite about the truth.”
Gojyo knitted his brow. “What?”
Hakkai felt the blood leave his face. Gojyo hadn’t noticed her. Gojyo hadn’t noticed what was the most beautiful woman they’d seen since they began this quest. This is bad. This is very bad.

Goku whispered, “Her…there…her.”
Gojyo looked around the lobby of the inn / bar and shrugged. “Whatever.”
Hakkai felt his stomach twist into a knot. It was one thing to simply not notice her. Maybe Gojyo was checking out someone else and maybe…just maybe … he hadn’t scanned to her yet. But now --- now that she had been pointed out and he still didn’t react. This was more than “very bad“. That’s when Hakkai knew. He knew that something was terribly wrong. Terribly wrong within Gojyo and with the whole situation. That’s when he knew…he was killing Gojyo. He was trampling all over that free sprit. Something had to change.
Gojyo shrugged as he turned to the desk clerk. If Captain Obvious and his two sidekicks, Bungle and Fool, weren’t going to procure the rooms…he was. These guys are such amateurs. Of course, Gojyo noticed her. He might be “doing” Hakkai, but he is still Gojyo. He noticed her before the others’ eyes had even reached that side of the room. He noticed her before his foot crossed the threshold into the lobby.
She was indeed the second…no, the third prettiest woman he’d seen in his life. Of course the first one doesn’t really count…that was Mother. The few times she wasn’t crying…the few times in his memory where he saw her without the rivers of tears…were breath taking. The second place winner doesn’t really count either. Her beauty wasn’t so much as raw beauty-queen beauty, but the deep beauty that only occurs when an attractive flesh shell mates with a gorgeous soul and heart. So yeah… on some levels she was indeed the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
However, he couldn’t let Hakkai know that. How would that make Hakkai feel? He knew Hakkai had a small jealous streak, not that Hakkai would ever admit to experiencing such impolite emotions. This relationship couldn’t be denied any longer. It was here and it was going to be here. He couldn’t lie to himself…he couldn’t deny it anymore. And, if he was going to do this relationship thing then he was going to do it right. He wasn’t going to make Emerald feel like Crimson was settling. Hakkai wasn’t just a convenient fuck. Hakkai was much more than that. Hakkai was a lover and more importantly he was a friend -- a damn good friend too.
His best course of action -- to avoid any kind of issue-- was to just play it coy. To act nonchalant and later, maybe recall this memory at a very specific point in time…later when he was alone and Hakkai was somewhere else. Yeah…that sounds good. That was a plan. Him…alone…with that piece of satin from “their“ bag…and the visual of her…oh yeah…Hakkai better leave to get supplies and quick cuz …uhhh…damn.

He shook the thoughts of a good “solo adventure” from his mind and handed Sanzo a key. Again, the group split with no pointless debate on sleeping arrangements. Everything was out in the open now…there was no need to try to mask anything.
They’d meet back down here in about an hour for dinner.
As Gojyo and Hakkai walked to their room, Hakkai felt that pit in his stomach grow larger and heavier. He had no right to do this to Gojyo. He had no right to restrain that free spirit. This was wrong…this was all wrong. He couldn’t allow Gojyo to sacrifice his spirit for the sake of ….whatever it was they had. No, as much as it hurt…as much as he didn’t want to…he was going to have say something. He was going to have to correct this. For the sake of Gojyo’s spirit, he was going to have to let it go. For the sake of their friendship, which meant more to Hakkai than anything else in the world…even the world itself … he was going to have to release Gojyo before his spirit withered completely way. He was going to have to let Gojyo “off the hook“. He couldn’t…he wouldn’t…make Gojyo settle. He sighed as he dropped his pack.
As Gojyo and Hakkai walked to their room, Gojyo felt those points of ponder poke into his consciousness. He couldn’t keep doing this. He couldn’t keep Hakkai just hanging on. He knew Hakkai was too polite to bring it up and he knew Hakkai wouldn’t press the issue. He knew how Hakkai was and what Hakkai wanted. Hakkai was the commitment type. Hakkai, as was typical of his sweet self-sacrificing nature, would simply live with the stress of uncertainty. Gojyo couldn’t do that to his friend any longer. He was going to say something and it was going to be tonight. He was going to tell Hakkai, that, he was ready and willing to give a “relationship” a try.

He sighed as he dropped his pack.
They turned toward each other, the dying sunlight from the window vouchsafed a gold and ruby square between them, they simultaneously spoke, “We need to talk.”
They smiled and two forced chuckles carried across that sunset bathed sunbeam.
Hakkai blinked, “You go first.”
Gojyo shook his head, “No, you go first.” Relationships were about compromise. He might as well start now. He smiled sweetly and gestured with his hands.
Hakkai sighed, drawing courage from the air. There is no easy way to say this. “I don’t expect you to give up women. I can‘t ask that of you.” for the sake of our friendship.

The blunt words barreled across the sunbeam and hurled themselves at Gojyo. Something kicked him right in the stomach. Something snapped inside his…chest. Something flew inside his mouth and curled up in this throat. Yes, you can. Yes…yes you can. He studied Hakkai’s face…his worried tentative face. Damn…so this is it huh? Tired of me already.

Emerald was leaving him, just like all the others.
He wanted to yell and scream. He wanted to ask why and what and…and… all sorts of questions. He wanted to… cry --- drop to his knees and cry. That just wasn’t his style. For the sake of the friendship he had to …just roll with it. For the sake of his mission he had to make the best of it. He had to….he had to save face. “So, that’s how you want it. Ok…I can live with that.” Gods! Why couldn’t his voice understand the need for confidence right now.
Hakkai blinked. “I think that’s the way it needs to be, don’t you? I, mean, there is only so much I can ask of you, right?”
Gojyo swallowed. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong…WRONG! You can ask anything of me…anything…any --- He sighed. “You know about these things. What do I know, right?” He didn’t need to hear the “still be friends” speech. He’d heard it dozens of times and said it dozens of times. Nothing ever felt like this. “Well, buddy, I’m gonna go for a walk. Catch ya later.” Gojyo tried to nonchalantly walk from the room. He tried to make a graceful exit before he just broke --the fuck-- down. He wasn’t sure if he managed it, but he was now out of that heavy air and on his way to anywhere but here. When did this go from sugar to shit?

Hakkai watched Gojyo leave. There was something off about Gojyo’s voice and he knew it. He sat down on the bed and felt the emptiness of the room. What just happened? Gojyo acted like he was breaking off their relationship -- or whatever this was. Gojyo seemed rather hurt. He pushed his hands to his face. When did the cream sour? When did this change from a suggestion to a command? When did the milk curdle? When did the cake fall? When did the… What just happened?
This was not how it worked out in his head. This was not what he meant to do. Hakkai had no intention of calling off their relationship. Au contraire, he was trying to open up their relationship. He was trying to have his cake and eat it too…or rather…let Gojyo know it was ok for him to have his cake and eat it too. He was trying to tell Gojyo that he was willing to share him. To share this…relationship of theirs. He didn’t want to restrain that free spirit. He didn’t want to kill Gojyo’s soul. He wanted to see that spirit fly and soar and be free -- and flourish. Sure, he wrestled with some jealously issues, not that he liked being vulnerable to such selfish emotions, but he thought this was the best. For the sake of their friendship, for the sake of their relationship, for the sake of Gojyo’s spirit … he wanted Gojyo to know it was ok to sleep with women and with him. Yeah, those nights where he was alone and Gojyo, well, wasn’t would be lonely, but it would be worth it if Gojyo would have that edge back…if Gojyo would have that spring in his step again…if Gojyo returned to being that man Hakkai simply adored.
Fingers curled into thick brown bangs as Hakkai squeezed his eyes shut. What have I done? Of all the wordings available for that sentence, he thought that was the best choice. He didn’t want to imply that he wanted to sleep with other people, just that it was alright for Gojyo to do so. ‘We should sleep with other people’ sounds like a break-up and it feels like an order …a demand. ‘I want to sleep with other people’ was just an out and out lie. Hakkai didn’t want to have sex with anyone other than Gojyo. ‘I want you to sleep with women’, that was definitely an order. That sounded like Hakkai was trying to pimp-out Gojyo for some kind of voyeuristic fantasy. He didn’t want Gojyo to sleep with women. He just wanted Gojyo to know that it was alright for him to sleep with women -- if that’s what Gojyo wanted to do. He wanted Gojyo to know that he didn’t expect that crimson playboy to change. He didn’t expect Gojyo to transform into something he obviously wasn’t meant to be. He didn’t want Gojyo to feel obligated to sleep with women or to not sleep with women. He wanted Gojyo to simply know that he didn’t expect Gojyo to give up women on his behalf. He did, however fully and firmly, expect to be the only man in Gojyo’s bed. Gods! Was that so hard to convey?

Hakuryuu curled up on the bed next to Hakkai. Hakkai stretched a hand out and began to stroke the beautiful creature. “What have I done, Hakuryuu?”
Hakuryuu sighed. I don’t know, Marshal.

“Where did this …no… when did this leave my control?”
Hakuryuu nearly smiled, About a half a millennia ago.

“What was off with my plan? Was my strategy flawed?”
Hakuryuu nuzzled Hakkai’s hand. No, sir, your strategy is never flawed. Hakuryuu knew that was a damn lie, but what could he say? He was in no place to question the Marshal’s logic.
Five fingers danced down feathering hairs as the back of a hand wiped a damp cheek. “What should I, Hakuryuu?”
That was a good question. Why was it that when Hakkai needed someone to really talk to oh yeah…that someone has always been Kenren. Hakuryuu shrugged and peeped. I don’t know.

Hakkai never so much “understood” what Hakuryuu said…per se. But simply was able to read the body language and extrapolate from for the tone of the vocalizations what was being communicated. Over the years, Hakkai had been able to make out and piece together some of the language the dragon spoke…those peeps and coo’s, but it was more intuition …not true understanding. Hakkai /Tenpou/ Gonou had always been excellent communicators -- except for now. Except for this crucial moment…his skills failed him.
Hakkai wiped his face and took in a deep breath, “I suppose he needs some time alone right now. I suppose he’ll be back for dinner and then we can work this out.” He stroked Hakuryuu on the chin, “Misunderstandings happened in --relationships -- we’ll work this out. This is no big deal. Yes, this will all get settled. This will all get worked out.” He tired to convince himself. He tried to hold back the tears and he tried to cap the ache in his chest. He tried, but he failed.
Hakuryuu looked up at strong brilliant man whom he admired and respected. Tenpou’s “humanity” was one of his most endearing traits. His self-sacrificing ways were what his men loved about him. He never treated those under his command as cannon fodder. He never asked them to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. Correction, he never asked them to do anything he wasn’t doing himself. First in battle and sometimes he insisted to be the only one in battle -- an order that wasn’t obeyed by a certain General. And, he was brilliant -- although scatter-brained and impulsive at times. All those traits combined into to a solitary figure that called out for loyalty and respect. He never demanded that of his men…they always offered it. Sir, General Kenren has served beside you for a long time, he’s not about to stop now. Technically, Kenren served under Tenpou, but it never felt like it. It always felt like beside -- like equals.
Gojyo didn’t remember walking out of the room. He didn’t remember storming down the hall, through the lobby and into the street. This time, he really didn’t notice the blonde. He didn’t notice her get up. He certainly didn’t notice that she walked out of that inn shortly after he did.
Most defiantly, no one noticed the engraving on the heart of her anklet. The delicate etching of a bunny. Even if they had noticed, they wouldn’t have known the significance.
He did noticed two things. One, Hakkai hadn’t followed him. And two, here he was in the street -- hurt…a lone and angry.
He gritted his teeth and drew back his arm. He punched the wall. He punched the brick wall with all his might. He was hurt, angry and insulted. He felt rejected and betrayed. Rejected and betrayed by the one person he never expected to reject and betray him. He withdrew his left hand and it trembled. Bits of brick crumbled to the ground.
Now he was hurt, really physically hurt. The skin on his knuckles was torn. The swelling started almost immediately. The throbbing started as crimson liquid came up between broken bits of tan. It wasn’t enough…he still felt the hurt inside. He drew his hand back and did it again. And again…and again…and again. If anyone was going to hurt Gojyo it was going to be Gojyo. And again… And again. And --
Kenren turned to Gojyo, “Dude! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Gojyo glared, “Isn’t this what we always do? Isn’t this they way it is suppose to be?”
Kenren lifted an eyebrow, “Huh?”
“We hurt ourselves before we let anyone hurt us. No one…no one hurts us.”
“Man, you need to calm the fuck down.”
“He left…he fucking left. Just like all the others. Just like always. This is what I get for caring. This is what I get …for thinking…that just once I might have what others have. For daring…for daring to believe…he was different.”
Kenren sighed, “He is different.” Kenren didn’t know what the big deal was. They had an semi-open relationship before and everything worked out just fine. No heaviness, no jealously, no restrictions --just wonderful hedonistic pleasure. Well to be completely honest, there was one restriction, which he did manage to break; however, life was good with Tenpou. Life was simple…utterly boring and work sucked, but the relationship was grand. Why couldn’t that happen now?
Kenren threw an arm around Gojyo, “C’mon, man, let’s have a drink.”
Blood rolled down his fingers and dripped onto the dusty ground as they walked.
Gojyo stopped and looked at Kenren, “Who are you anyway?”
Kenren smiled showing a bit of his upper teeth, “Apparently, a more sensible side of you.”
“Whatever.”
Booze…now…liquor...now…not just any liquor …oh no…they needed Tequila. This was a straight Tequila night.
Gojyo walked into some dive, some hole-in-the-wall, some do-drop-in where the professional drinkers came to drink ---not some namby-pamby place to get a date.
He sat down at the bar surrounded by hearty, blue collar types that knew beer was always better than sake. He didn’t dick around with that lick it, slam it, suck it crap. No. Shots. Straight shots. Lined up in threes. One for him, one for his buddy in short hair and one for that green-eyed prick somewhere across town.
One -- clink. Two--clink Three--clink. Gojyo downed the three shots and nodded at the bartender.
The bartender poured three more shots and handed Gojyo a towel. Gojyo sat his left hand on the towel and watched as the crimson spread through white terry cloth.
“Ya want some ice for that?”
“Nope.” He didn’t want any ice. Ice was for pussies. He wanted the pain. He wanted to see the blood. He wanted this hurt to leave him…if he had to break his skin to let it out then fan-damn-tastic.
The bartender shrugged, he’d seen this before…numerous times. He knew to just keep those shots coming.
Three-clink. Pour.
“And what is up with that red leather bag? The hypocrite! He gets all sorts of pissed off at me over the little creativity I had. But! He busts out with enough shit to stock a goddamn store.”
Kenren lifted an eyebrow, “Don’t be bustin on the red leather bag, man. That shit is cool.”
“No, it’s not the shit that’s in it. It’s the hypocrisy. Who the fuck is he to get mad at me, to get all indignant with me and shit. Then! Just to … get that shit.”
“Ummm, yeah, man. Whatever.” There was no point in arguing with Gojyo. There was no talking any sense, either. Only thing to do was to agree and go with it. All he needed to do now was just to be the nice, supportive, previous incarnation. Yes, just your average normal voice inside the head…voice and figure…voice, figure, co-pilot, and --- ok, there was nothing normal nor average about this. But, Kenren could be supportive and that was exactly what he was going to do. He sipped his rice-wine.
It wasn’t long before the conversation in Gojyo’s head changed from “You’re blowing this out of proportion.” to “Why the hell are we made out to be the bad guy?” to finally “We don’t need this shit.”
He didn’t need it, either. He didn’t need the priest, the monkey, the prick or the mission. He didn’t need to be spending what should be his wild and carefree days heading fucking west. He didn’t need to be thinking about a relationship right now. And, he didn’t even want a relationship right now.
Three-clink. Pour.
The door to the bar opened. Gojyo looked over his shoulder and saw that Hakkai was not walking in. Where the fuck was he? Where was Hakkai with his innate ability to make things right and smooth things over and oh yeah…he’s not liking Hakkai right now. So, good. It wasn’t Hakkai coming in that door. If Hakkai wasn’t walking through that door then he didn’t want Hakkai walking through that door.
This is what he gets. This is what he deserves. This is how it was fated for him to be. Pain and the comfort from a nameless kiss or a faceless glass. Fine. He could deal with that. He could handle that. If that’s what the powers that be wanted for him then fine. Living was pitifully easy before that green-eyed calloused prick fell into his life and it would be pitifully easy after.
Gojyo…Sha Gojyo…drifter….gambler…womanizer…that’s who he was. That was his template and he wasn’t going to fight it anymore.
Three-clink. Pour.
Is this the thanks he gets? The thanks, the fucking, thanks he gets after pushing entrails back inside that ….man. For opening his home to some broken and bleeding stranger. For sharing that home with him for three goddamn years. He’d watched that guy’s back in a fight for how long now? He’d been there when the memories were too hard to bear and the pain too much to take. He was the one that gently urged Hakkai from his shell. He always reached out to Hakkai. Stroking that fragile fucking ego and bending over backwards.
Kenren hiccupped as he popped open a fresh rice-wine flask. “Yeah, man…that’s the way it has always been. We were the ones that looked out for him.”
He was always fretting over Hakkai’s distressed mental -fucking-state. He was the one that protected Hakkai. He solved the problem with Sanzo. He planned shit…planned sexual shit to show…to prove to Hakkai that he was special. He got beast fucked, up the ass, to prove to Hakkai that Hakkai could control that demon and to prove to Hakkai that Hakkai was desirable in all his fucking forms. Is this his thanks? What the hell is that crap, “I don’t expect you to stop sleeping with women” or whatever the hell it was that came from that mouth?
Three-clink. Pour.
Gojyo swayed slightly in his bar chair. A little “alcohol abuse” occurred as the caramel tinged liquid dripped onto the bar.
Gojyo blurrily focused on the door. He’s still not coming. Fine! He didn’t need that drinking buddy anymore. Nope, he had a new drinking buddy. Sure, he was dressed like some B&D reject but who the hell cared?
Kenren swayed a bit in his tree. “Dressed like a what?”
“Look at you man. Chains…a skull…leather…what the fuck is all that?”
“This is my best uniform. The one with red trim….the best one.”
“Whatever, dude. You’re my new drinking buddy from here on out.”
Yep, with Kenren, Gojyo would never need meetings. He’d never be drinking alone.
Kenren tipped his little cup and nodded, “Yep, we don’t need him anymore.”
“Nope. I’ve always gone to him.”
“Yep”
“I was the one that spoke through doors and went to him.”
“Yep”
“I was the one that just took it, ya know. I just took it.”
“Yep”. Kenren had forgotten what they were talking about, but Gojyo was on a roll.
“I was the one that protected him. I took shit so he wouldn‘t have to.”
“Yep”
Three-clink. Pour
“I was the one that took the hits.”
“Yep”
“I was the one that got the scars.”
“Yep”
“I was the tough one. I was the one she hated and I kept going back for it.”
“Yep.” Huh? Whoa…when did the conversation change?

“All he had to do was be a kid. All he had to do was go to fucking school and be a kid.”
“…” Wait a minute…who’s the he now?

“Ya know. I had to fight for every-fucking-thing. I had to put up with the shit from the neighbors. I had to put up with the shit from the other kids. I had to get my ass handed to me more times than I care to count. And I just took it. I took it under the hope that one day, she‘d kiss my cuts. Like she did his. I held out for the one day she‘d wrap my bandage. I held on for that one day she wouldn‘t fucking hit me.”
“Dude?”
Three-clink. Pour.
“Was it too much to ask for one goddamn hug? One goddamn bandage? Couldn’t she at least wrap the ones she caused? Always…always hitting me. And why? Why? I’ll tell ya why, man. Cuz that’s the way it is for me, man. Not her fault. That’s the way I fucking am. I had to claw for every glimpse of a smile I got from her. Then, deal with the tears when she saw me looking at her. I fought for that fucking love and I never got it. I never got it!”
Three-clink. Pour.
“What the hell did he do? Breathe. That’s all he did was breathe. Breathe and … I don’t even want to there. But, he had the love-- it was there. I was eight man…. eight goddamn years old. What the fuck was I gonna do, man? I was eight with a dead mother on my hands, a dead Dad and a brother that walked out left me. Mother left. Dad left. Jien left. I was eight. Scared. Alone. Eight. And to think, I was fucking thankful when they took me in. “
Three-clink. Pour
Kenren lifted an eyebrow. “Man, I don’t know if we need to be going there.”
“Fuck off. I’ll go anywhere I damn well please. I can tell you where we’re not going. We’re not going back there. No. Fuck it. I’m not going to fight for love that won’t be mine. Fuck it! Fucking fuck it! Ya know even if he…”
Gojyo looked at the door, still no Hakkai.
“… even if he were to walk in that door right now. I wouldn’t go back. “
Kenren took in a deep breath, “You know that’s not true.”
“Yeah it is. Damn straight it is. I’m not doing it anymore. No more. I’m done. Life can just pick me up, chew me up and throw me away for all I give a shit. No…I’m done…finished...through. I’m done fighting for what will just be taken away. I done. I’m tired and I’m not doing it anymore.”
“So, you’re just gonna take your toys and go home.”
“Yeah. Home.”

Damn it, that didn‘t work. Kenren just knew that would work. Damn….“You left your stuff at the inn.”
“Shit.”
“…”
“…”
Gojyo reached into his pocket and put more than enough money on the bar. He staggered to his feet and made his way to the door.
He stumbled into the street and looked in the direction he thought the inn was. He lifted his right hand and extended his middle finger. He yelled, “Fuck it! I’ll get new shit!”

Damn it! That didn’t work either. Shit!

It wasn’t a matter of where to go. He had a place to go. All half-breeds have a place to go -- if they know about it. It was a little half-breed club. A club of protection, a club of safety in numbers, a club of sanctuary. Home. He learned of it when he was 10, two years after he was left alone with a dead mother. He could return anytime he wanted. He could go back to The Underground.
Gojyo felt a sharp pain on the back of his head and his world went black.

Meanwhile…at the inn.

Hakkai collected himself and ventured downstairs. He knew…he just knew Gojyo would be there for dinner. After dinner, they would talk. Everything would be settled and wrapped up with a neat bow on top. Everything would go back to the way it was before he’d opened his big fat mouth.
Hakkai’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the lack of Gojyo in the restaurant area. He calmed a bit when he realized the other two weren’t here either. He sat down at a four-top and waited. He waited for Gojyo and the others, but mainly for Gojyo.
Sanzo and Goku joined him at the table. Sanzo lit a cigarette.
Goku knitted his brow. “Where’s the kappa?”
Hakkai put a smile on his face and a sweetness in his voice, “He went for a walk. He’ll be here.” He’ll be here. He’ll be here. He will be here. Any moment now.

The door opened at Hakkai held his breath. He exhaled as not Gojyo walked into the eatery.
The waitress came. Hakkai ordered for Gojyo. He knew what foods, he knew the favorites and he knew the dislikes. He ordered kappa-rolls…special for Gojyo. He bit his lips together as soon as the word kappa left his lips. He knitted his brow and took in a deep breath. He’ll be here. He’ll be here. Any moment….

Sanzo took in a deep breath, “What happened?” He didn’t have to act like he cared, because this time… he really did care.
Hakkai blinked his eyes a few times and ran his tongue between his teeth and lips. He pressed his lips together and took in a deep breath, “He went for a walk. That’s all … a walk. Just a walk. Nothing more. A walk.”
Goku twitched an eyebrow.
Sanzo blinked at Hakkai. You let him go for a walk alone? We’re hunted by demons and gods and you let him go for a walk alone? No…something isn’t right. Fuck.

Hakkai nodded his head. Just a stroll.

They sat in heavy silence as Goku and Sanzo watched Hakkai’s quiet consternations.
Their food came.
Hakkai zeroed in on those kappa-rolls. He broke his gaze, picked at his nails and zeroed right back in on them. He looked at the door and back at the kappa-rolls. He looked at his hands and back at the kappa-rolls. Goku…kappa-rolls, the empty chair beside him, kappa-rolls, the door, kappa-rolls, his empty plate, kappa-rolls, the empty plate beside him, kappa-rolls, the wall, kappa-rolls, the door, kappa-rolls, the floor, kappa-rolls, the ceiling, kappa-rolls, violet eyes, kappa-rolls and back to violet eyes. “Yes. Yes. You are right, Sanzo. It just makes things complicated. Excuse me.” Hakkai stood from the table and walked toward the room.
Sanzo watched Hakkai leave. Aw, shit. Shit, shit, shit.

Hakkai walked to the room where Gojyo surely was. The room where Gojyo would be so they could talk and make everything alright. Where Gojyo would be standing. .. no … sitting on the bed. He’d have one leg bent at the knee and he’d have a cigarette in one hand. He’d have his hair in a pony-tail halfway up the back of his head. Those two unruly locks would be standing and would slightly twitch when Hakkai stepped into the room. Gojyo would smile slightly and let out an uncomfortable little laugh. His Crimson harbor would speak; he’d say, “Where were we?” or he’d say, “What were we talking about?” And, Hakkai would say --
Hakkai opened the door to the room. He looked at the bed.
There was no Gojyo. No ponytail. No cigarette. No little laugh and no words.
Apparently, Hakkai did share a place with Gojyo for three years for nothing.
Hakkai fell over on to the bed as his neat package lost it’s bow.
Hakuryuu landed on a pillow and watched Hakkai.
Hakkai grabbed the available pillow and clutched it to his chest. That package lost the pretty wrapping paper.
Hakkai drew his knees up and he heard a knock at the door. Hakkai smiled as the package got wrapping paper once again. He turned the door knob and ….the bow was still gone, “Sanzo.”
Sanzo walked into the room and sat down in a chair, “What happened?”
Goku put the wrapped food on the table and sat on the bed next to Hakuryuu.
Hakkai sat in the window. He sighed. “I believe we had a misunderstanding.”
Goku looked at Hakkai, “How bad?”
Hakkai glanced out the window. “Not that bad, I hope. “
Sanzo sighed, “Hakkai, is he coming back?”
Hakkai’s stomach flipped. Of course Gojyo was coming back. He said ‘catch ya later’ -- Gojyo wouldn‘t lie to me. Of course we was just on a walk, right? He was coming back. He was. He was. He was. “To be honest, Sanzo, I don’t know.”
Sanzo lifted an eyebrow. “That bad, huh?”
Hakkai looked at Sanzo and back out the window. “What have I done?” Why doesn’t this window open? He wanted to open the window and yell and scream for Gojyo. He wanted to run the streets looking for him. He …he just wanted Gojyo here… now… so he could talk. So…they could talk. So, he could have his package and bow and …oh god. “If he’s not here by morning, you, Goku, and Hakuryuu head on west. I’ll catch up.”
Tenpou pressed his hand to his face. He’d never had this problem with Kenren. Kenren would handle this. Kenren would fix this…Kenren was the only one that could.
Goku tilted his head, “Why don’t we go out and look for him?”
Hakkai looked over at Goku, “I don’t know where he is. If we’re gone when he comes back then he’ll think we left him. No, it’s best if we just …if I just stay here.”
Hakuryuu looked at Hakkai. Leave the Marshal?

That’s…just…not…gonna happen.
Sanzo looked at Hakkai. Head west without Gojyo and Hakkai?

That’s… just… not…gonna happen.
Goku looked at Hakuryuu, Hakkai and Sanzo. West? Missing Gojyo?

That’s… just … not…gonna happen.

.

.

.

.

Gojyo come back to that inn tonight?

That’s … just .. not …gonna happen.

As Hakkai watched the sunset and the sunrise, no one thought to leave one of them at the inn while the others went out looking. All Hakkai thought, was that he needed to be here when Gojyo returned…so that Gojyo wouldn’t think he’d been left behind.

Meanwhile…with the Kappa

Even if Gojyo had been awake, he wouldn’t have known it. But, he was now west. He was now where they were trying to be. He’d made it all they way to the Houtou Castle. He was just floors below where that demon was being resurrected. If he’d been conscious, he’d know he was just floors away from his brother instead of miles. If he’d been conscious, he’d know he was deeply underground … in a stone dungeon.
The blonde walked across the stone floor. She looked at one of her demon minions. “Close that door. You…,” another demon looked at her, ”… get him in those chains. No… not the ones one the wall. The ones on the vertical frame. I want to be able to turn him. Oh, he’s not one to be taken lightly make sure they’re tight. You…,” still yet another demon looked at her, “…get the black hood. Get it over his head, don’t tie it so tight so he can’t breathe. I like the screams. “
She walked to a black table and slid the false-top. Two legs released as the top pushed all the way back, giving her a nice flush surface. Her fingers danced across her assortment of tools. Her assortment of tools of persuasion. Her tools floated on a bed of red velvet. She smiled and her tongue grazed her teeth: Fabric shears; clamps… with teeth … sharp pointed teeth; a six foot whip; a cat o’nine talis; a riding crop; a metal poker; a butane torch; a bamboo cane; 20 small, slender, sliver, pointed sticks (reminiscent of toothpicks); a bottle of seltzer water; a single-edge razor blade; a glass bottle which contained a clear liquid; and her personal favorite a solid wood baseball bat.
She tossed her hair and removed her earrings. She gripped the edge of the no-longer hidden drawer and groaned as the change took effect. She panted and her ankles trembled ever so slightly. Her thighs shook. Her stomach quaked. Her eyes fluttered. Her head rolled back and her jaw quivered as she settled into her new appearance. She sighed. “I love that. Ahh yes, normality.”
She ran the pointed, right, index, fingernail across her bottom lip, “Pity, it’s not the priest. We could get the sutra. Oh well, we’ll get them all…eventually.”
One demon pulled a black wooden throne with red velvet trim toward her. Another demon poured her a glass of red wine. The third nameless, pointless demon lit a red candle that was settled in a long-since spent wine bottle. The melted wax of former candles held it firmly in place. She sat down on the red velvet seat cushion, crossed her legs at the knee and sipped her wine.
She eyed that traitorous half-breed tied up so nicely in front of her. Standing there , standing of sorts, in a nice square, black, wooden frame. The frame rested on a very short pedestal that branched into a “U“. This frame could rotate vertically and horizontally. It was her own personal delectable design.
His were arms straight and out at a perfect 45 degree angle. His feet just a little farther than shoulder width apart and flat on the black frame. His ankles had metal cuffs around them and two round metal links connected those cuffs to their respective sides of the frame. His hands were limply hanging through their metal cuffs. Each of those cuffs had two chains , four link chains, connecting them to the top of the frame and their respective sides. His head was covered in a thin black hood, that was tied around his neck. His unconscious body sagged just slightly. His head rested lazily forward. His knees were just slightly bent. Oh, look….there’s already blood. His left hand was already damaged. She smiled. As she looked at the now dried blood that decorated his fingers.
She stood up and walked to him. She eyed that hand. Yes, it appears broken. She could use this. She would use this.
She wrapped her fingers around the edge of the frame and gave it a good push. It spun vertically. Centrifugal force pushed on Gojyo’s center of gravity and his body bowed slightly. His hair flew out and traveled through the circle. She stopped the spinning, his hair rested back down, and she pushed him back to center over his feet.
With her heels, her height, and the pedestal, her eye level was his shoulder. She’d need a step ladder or to pull the frame flat to reach his hands. She snapped her fingers and a step ladder was unfolded, but not brought forth. She laughed softly.
She walked back to her throne and swirled her wine. She sniffed the bouquet and crossed her legs. Didn’t he know what side he was suppose to be on? Didn’t he know what ran through his veins? Didn’t he know he couldn’t trust the humans? She let out a little huff and sipped her wine. If he didn’t know, he would shortly. He would know. He would deeply understand and completely agree once she got her talons into him. She had a way with persuasion. She could sit, sip and wait for however long it took for him to wake up. For the longer it took for him to wake up, the longer she thought.
The pointless, pawn demon stepped to her and poured her another glass of wine. She looked over at him, “Light the torches. It is too dark in here.”
He bowed his head and he backed away. Slowly, the clusters of four torches on each of the four walls began to light the room. She smiled. The smile left her face. That was enough praise for that peon.
She waited. She sipped. She sat. She thought. She smiled.
Gojyo was trapped in a world of painful darkness. I am never drinking that much again. Never…again Tequila. Never.

Kenren managed a groggy smiled, “Famous last words, man.”
“No, I mean it. “
“This time?”
“Yeah, this time.” Gojyo fluttered his eyes open. “My eyes aren’t working.”
“What do you mean?”
“Shhhh…not so loud.”
“My eyes aren’t….oh wait a minute…. there’s my nose. There’s something over my head.”
“Oh really?” Kenren whispered.
“Our arms aren’t working either.”
“Fingers?”
“Awww shit… that fucking hurts. What the hell happened to my left hand?”
Kenren shook his head, “I have no ideal.”
“Hey…wait a minute. We’re tied up.”
“Oh really?” Kenren smiled.
“Yeah….that’s a pretty dirty trick for Hakkai to take advantage ----” He suddenly remembered most of last night. He remembered why his hand hurt. Why he’d gone drinking in the first place and how he couldn’t remember a thing after the bar. “Umm do you remember where we slept last night?”
“Has it been a whole night?”
“I don’t know. But, I guess that answers my question. And…I smell demons. I smell them all over the place like nobody‘s business.”
*Tap-clap* *tap-clap* *tap-clap* *tap-clap*
Neither man wondered what that sound was. They both new that unique sound. That was the sound of high-heels on a hard floor.
Gojyo smiled, “There’s a woman here.”
Kenren smiled, “At least we didn’t make that mistake, again.”
Gojyo raised his eyebrow, “What mistake?”
Kenren rolled his eyes up, “Uhhh… never mind.”
“No, seriously …what mistake?”
“Uhh nothing man. Nothing at all.” That mistake was between Kenren and Tenpou not between Hakkai and Gojyo.
“Fucking tell me, prick.”
“Look dumb-ass, keep that shit up and I’ll leave you hanging here by yourself.” Gojyo didn’t need to know about the time he and Tenpou had a fight and he ended up in the arms of another man. A blonde man….behind Tenpou’s back. He and Tenpou had this agreement. Anything was fair game in regards to women outside of their relationship, but when it came to men… now, that was different. Oh, sure there was the occasional threesome, but nothing with men without the other. That was a steadfast rule. And, he broke it. He paid for it too…he paid for it for a long time.
Gojyo turned his head and his mind eventually caught up. There was pressure in his head that just throbbed. It pounded. It swirled. Oh, he thought he was gonna get sick. He took in a breath and calmed the butterflies in his stomach. His mouth felt like a mixture of dry, raw cotton and shoe leather.
*tap-clap* *tap-clap* *tap-clap* *tap……clap*
Gojyo caught the briefest wisp of perfume.
“So, you’re finally awake.”
He swallowed, “Yes, yes I am. Now, if you’ll kindly untie me. We can got get some breakfast and ---”
“I don’t think so half-breed.”

Oh shit, this isn’t good. Gojyo had heard that term enough times in his life to tell the difference between and adjective and an insult. That was most definitely an insult. Great, a chick with an agenda. Why…why…why? Do I always pick the flakes? “Not ready for our little date to be over, huh? Ok. I’m cool with that. Can I at least get some water?”
He heard her walk away. Something clanked and suddenly something was being sprayed in his face. He turned his head trying to get away from the spray. The pounding in his head made him gasp. Water came through the fabric over his head and sprayed into his mouth. He swallowed what he could and then began to choke. He coughed and more water came in to his mouth. He turned his head and snuck a breath. The spray moved. He was playing a game of tag with a stream of water. A stream of water that was messing with his ability to breath. Every time he opened his mouth to protest water filled it. Again… swallowing, choking, swallowing, choking, swallowing, choking. He began to panic. He hadn’t picked up a flake. He picked up a freak…a sick freak.
Finally, the water stopped. He coughed and sputtered under his hood.
“How was that? Get enough to drink?”
He sniffed deeply, coughed one more time and spoke, “What was that?”
“Your drink. You asked for a drink and I provided. You should be thankful.”
“That was Seltzer water. That is nasty.”
He heard that *tap-clap* rapidly come toward him.
*SLAP*
His face jerked to the side under her backhand. He shook his head. “Bitch!”
*SLAP* *SLAP* *SLAP* *SLAP*
His head jerked from side to side. His face began to sting. His hang-over screamed.
“You don’t have the right to protest. You have no place to complain.”
He clinched his teeth. He hadn’t picked up a sick freak. He’d picked up a psycho.
“What -- “
“Before you speak half-breed. I should let you know. You are in a dungeon. You can scream and scream, but the stone walls will only hold your screams. I repeat. You have no right to protest. You have no right to complain. As of this moment. I own you.”
“Look lady, I don’t know what kind of man issues you have, but you don’t own me.”
She smiled, “You have no right to disagree. When this gets to be too much for you, all you have to do it say one word.”
“And that is?”
“Yes.”
“To what I am I agreeing?” Did that just come out of his mouth? Yeah, he’d been around Hakkai too long and too much. Old emerald eyes was messing with his speech pattern.
“Let us back up a moment. First, let me ask you. Why are you doing this?”
“I woke up here.”
She laughed. “No, you pitiful being. Why are you helping the humans?”
Gojyo rolled his eyes and clenched his teeth. Not this shit again. That’s when he realized he wasn’t part of some twisted sexual game. He hadn’t picked up a psycho. A demon had captured him. “I’ve been through this with some of your comrades. I’m not on any particular side. I’m on my own side, with my own purposes.”
“See that’s where you are mistaken. This is one of those if you aren’t with us, then you are automatically against us situations. Therefore, you are against us and I want to know why. Do you deny your demon heritage?”
“No, I don’t. I don’t now nor have I ever denied the demon blood in my veins.”
“Well, then…this is your last chance before the ---persuasion -- begins. Will you join us?
“No.”
His fingers were beginning to get cold. His arms were beginning to go numb. His feet were beginning to hurt. How long had he been here? She’s walking away. She’s walking back. She’s stopped.

*crack*
He heard a whip snap in the air.
*crack* *whump* The crack sliced the air and the whip crossed his right leg. It wrapped around his pants and tagged him all the way around the thigh.
*crack* *whump* The other leg. He was thankful he still had his clothing on.
*crack* *whump* Back on the first leg. This was beginning to sting. It wasn’t too bad. He could handle this.
She continued and cracked the whip five additional times across each leg.
She coiled the black whip in her hand and smiled, “Well?”
The hooded figured before her lifted its head up and nothing came from it.
“Tsk” Slipped between her lips.
She walked back to the table and her hands slipped around the clothing shears. She slid her fingers in the holes and licked the closed blades. She walked to him and tugged on the full part of his pants by his knees. She began to cut.
The smell of her perfume grew stronger as she came closer. He felt the cool blade slide against his skin and heard the *rrrruuummmmbbbb* *snip* of the shears. He felt his clothing go loose. He knew his clothing was getting cut from his body.
She cut a line up the front each leg. She cut a line up the back of each leg. She pulled his belt off and tossed it to the floor. She wrapped her fingers around his waist band, intentionally scraping her nails against his skin, and she tugged.
She tugged and she yanked.
His hips jerked forward pulling on his arms and transferring pressure against his broken hand. He cried out. His fingers had gone numb, but not that numb.
She laughed at his yell.
She tugged again.
He yelled.
She yelled with him and then laughed.
He bit his lips closed. He swallowed the yells coming from his lungs. He pressed his eyes closed. He felt his teeth pushing against the inside of his lips, but he was not going to relent.
Finally, his waistband tore and his pants fell to a khaki pool beneath his outstretched legs.
She left his boxers on.
She cut a slit up the center of his white tank-top and snipped the shoulders of his blue button up. Once the blue shirt fell, she snipped the shoulders of his tank top. It too fell.
A peon immediately moved to pick up the clothing. He folded it as best he could and placed the white tank-top and the blue button-up side by side on the flat half of the table top.
She turned away, took a few slow methodical steps and turned around. She stood about six feet away from him. She surveyed her prey.
Gojyo, delicious Gojyo, with a black hood over his head. Hands and feet bound. His chest stretched slightly and his muscles pulled under his skin. His abs slowly flexed as he breathed. His slim hips were covered by black silk. His leg muscles were highlighted by the spread-eagle position. The “diamonds” in his thighs just above his knees were brought out by the flickering torch light. The line down the outside of his calves seemingly carried a darker shade of shadow in the fire light. The definition in the back of his tense calves protruded as he held this static “X” stance. His pants, torn and cut, stretched below him.
She walked forward and scanned him more closely. There they were. Her friends. Her little pink stripes from the whip. Ahh yes, her friends. Her friends that always came out to play. She licked the outside of his left knee, just because she wanted to.
She bent at the knee and spiraled her arm up his leg. Her talons tickled the tender skin of the upper-inner thigh. She curled her fingers and raked her sharp talons around his leg. She smiled as four more friends joined the party on his leg.
He took in a sharp breath as her nails scraped down and around his leg. This would have turned him on if the situation had been just slightly different.
She walked back to the table.
He heard her walk back to him. She stopped and he felt several thin strips of knotted leather lightly brush against his stomach.
“Do you know what that is?”
“A cat o’nine tails?” He was a perv…he knew the feel of leather against skin. He could handle this.
“Very good.”
“Do you know what a real one is capable of doing?”
“…” That he didn’t know. He knew the mock-up’s used in “games”, but not a real one.
She let out a soft breathy chuckle, “Well, let me tell you.” She walked around him as she spoke, lightly brushing the leather against various parts of his body. “Well, a real one. A real naval one, which is what this is -- sort of.” She held up one of the strips. “See, oh I that’s right, you can’t see. So, I’ll tell you. Each of these little strips of loveliness holds three knots. When used properly, one swipe can break a ¾ inch thick piece of pine in three pieces and cleanly break a 1 inch thick piece in two swipes.” She laughed. “How thick are you… exactly?” She cackled. She bellowed at her own joke. She took in a deep breath and continued. “That test was done with the old naval style cat o‘nine tails. That had 2 inch long strips of a rope like material. These are indeed much longer and leather…so who knows what this can do.” She snickered. She knew…she’d used it enough. She could indeed swing it properly. She, most certainly, had designed this room with plenty enough space to ‘swing a cat.’
Gojyo was done playing around now. He wanted out. He wanted out of this sick little fantasy.
Kenren looked at Gojyo, “Two feet away and to the right.”
“Gotcha!” He conjured his staff in his right hand and swung.
He missed.
She laughed. “Oh my, you are going to be fun.” She drew her arm back and ‘swung the cat‘. The 5 inch spread centered right between his legs.
He tried to resist. He tried to keep it in. He tired to clench his jaw and hold his breath, but… he had to….he had to scream. He screamed long and loud. He felt the blood run to his face. He felt the voice break in his throat. He felt his hang-over get over powered by the sharp pain from his dick.
He swung his weapon again. He missed again.
She swung.
He hollered. His hips jerked back sharply and he pulled on his arms. His left hand screamed. His hips jerked forward, releaving the pain from his hand, but putting his groin back in the line of fire from that cat o’nine tails.
She bounced him back and forth four more times. Allowing him to choose which pain he wanted more; she was nice in that manner. She like to give a choice between pains. She thought that was rather gracious of herself.
He dropped his staff. It fell with a clang. He dispersed it.
She cakled.
His hips and dick felt like they were on fire. The sharp pain from the hits shot through him and then the dull heat began a crescendo across his skin. He slowly caught his breath. Tears slowly dripped down his cheeks. He felt something trickle down his legs. It was wet and warm…then it cooled quickly. He knew that was blood. He knew his skin was broken somewhere down…there.
She smiled, “Oh now, look at that. We can’t have that. You’ll soil your boxers.” She sat the cat o’nine tails down and picked up the sears. She cut his boxers from him. This time as a random act of mercy, she cut the waistband instead or tearing it.
There was no delineation between crimson pubic hair and what once was tan skin. His hips were a splattering of pink and red. His dick was solidly red. His skin was broken on the side of his left testicle.
“Now, let me ask you again. Will you join us?”
“No.” There was no wavering in his voice.
Kenren sighed. He’d been here before. He looked at Gojyo. “We can get through this.” again.
Gojyo gritted his teeth. “Damn right we’ll get through this. Then, were gonna kill her.”
Kenren’s lip curled, “Kill her twice.”
Crimson eyes narrowed under a black hood. This bitch wasn’t going to win. He’d been through hell and back during his life. He didn’t know it, but he’d been through heaven and back during his last life -- which by many standards was worse. No one had broken him and no one would. Even that green-eyed prick hadn’t broken him. Her winning?

That’s…just… not….gonna happened.
Gojyo looked at Kenren, “Ya know this is Hakkai’s fault.”
“Don’t go there, man.”
“No, it is. This is all on him.”
“Don’t do that.”
One of her peon’s moved the step ladder to Gojyo’s right side.
She walked over to the table and pulled out five of her little, silver, pointed, sticks. She clacked toward Gojyo and stepped up on the ladder. “Now, this right hand is becoming a problem.” She lifted Gojyo’s thumb. One of those sticks slid between his nail and his nail bed. She lightly tapped it.
Gojyo felt the sharp pain raced down his thumb. “This is Jien’s fault, too.” He was thankful his hands were partially numb. He gritted his teeth.
“How ---” He saw what Gojyo was doing. “Yeah, and Tenpou’s fault.”
His index finger was lifted. The sliver twinkled in the torch light. She slid it slowly under his nail, she savored the sight as she watched silver point cut into light pink.
Gojyo began to pant through his teeth. “Sanzo’s fault too.”
“Yeah, Konzen the prick. Stuck up fucking snob. His fucking fault.”
His middle finger got lifted. She tapped the stick in.
Gojyo slammed his eyes shut. He felt his arm shake. He tired desperately to keep his hand still. The shaking of his arm shifted the two other placed sticks, renewing their pain.
“And Goku….Goku had a hand in this.”
“Yeah man, he probably set it up.”
Gojyo couldn’t hold it in anymore more. He vocalized, “Stupid fucking monkey!” His yell echoed off the stone walls just slightly.
She blinked at the hooded figured. “There’s no monkey here.”
He didn’t respond to her. No, she’d hear his voice when he simply couldn’t contain it. She’d hear him only when it was used to releave his pain. His voice … his terms.
His ring finger was lifted. She tapped in the stick.
Gojyo clenched his eyes shut. “Fucking dragon. Bastard dragon.”
Kenren nodded, “Yeah, man. Gojun what a fucking prick.”
Gojyo didn’t know who Gojun was and now wasn’t the time to ask. Now, was a time to get a grip on his body.
His pinky was lifted. The stick was tapped in.
“But, mostly Hakkai.” Gojyo gritted his teeth.
“Yeah man mostly him.”
“Fucking prick, he is.”
“Yeah man…Hakkai….it’s all about Hakkai.”
She ran the back of her nails down all the sticks, renewing all the pain.
Gojyo cried out vocalizing again, “HAKKAI !!!!”

She laughed.
Gojyo laughed. Finally, those endorphines kicked in. Oh yeah, this was getting easier. He looked at Kenren, “Yeah man….Hakkai’s fault.”
Kenren smiled, “It’s all about Hakkai.” And, this was how Kenren got through his interrogation.
Her laugh was cut short by his. She never had prey that laughed before. She stepped down off the step ladder and sat on her throne. She crossed her legs and sipped her wine. He had broken bones, he was bleeeding and he had the sticks in his nails. Yet, it laughs?

The little break was exactly what Gojyo needed. He panted over the pain. The over abundance of oxygen in his mind muddled the senses just enough to allow the endorphines to kick in a bit more. He slowly got control over his breath and briefly closed his eyes.
She wasn’t going to have laughing prey. Not her. No one laughs at her. She stood. Walked to the table and pulled out the cane.
Gojyo heard her clacking shoes walk behind him.
She swished the cane in a figure eight through the air. “Do you know that sound?”
“…” He wasn’t going to give her the pleasure of his voice. He knew. He knew what the fuck that was. He knew it was gonna hurt like a son of a bitch too.
Kenren looked at Gojyo, “We can get through this.” Kenren couldn’t feel a bit of this, but he wasn’t about to make Gojyo feel like he was shouldering this alone.
Gojyo nodded at Kenren, “Yeah we can.”
“We can take it.”
“Yeah, I have faith in us.”
“Fine! Don’t play see if I care.” She drew her arm back and swiped a red “X” across his ass.
Gojyo winced. He could take this.
Swipe-swipe.
He could take it.
Swipe-swipe.
This was nothing.
Swipe-swipe.

Ok, that hurt a bit.

Swipe-swipe.

That hurt a bit more.

Swipe-swipe.

Yeah, that hurt.
Swipe-swipe.

Ok….that hurt a lot.

Swipe-swipe.

Hakkai, where are you?
Swipe-swipe

This is your fault, Emerald.

Swipe-swipe.

All your fucking fault.

Swipe-swipe.

You’re doing this shit!

Swipe-swipe

Ya hear me ya prick! You are doing this to me!

He lost track of how many swipes she took. He just kept blaming Hakkai. He just kept screaming Hakkai’s name in his head over and over. Each lick of pain, each pierce, each touch, each streak of torture….it was all pushed onto Hakkai.
She tucked the warm cane under arm and smiled. His ass was criss-crossed with streaks of red, purple, blue and crimson. Such a lovely crimson too…especially the crimson that ran vertically ….down his leg in it’s wet trajectory. She raked her nails across his tortured flesh as she walked around him.
Gojyo was panting and clenching his teeth.
She stood in front of him and laughed.
He forced a laugh back at her.
Blue eyes narrowed. She threw her cane it across the stone floor. She turned sharply and grabbed the candle.
She marched up the step ladder. She tickled the sticks under his nails again and tipped the candle. Red hot wax began to drip down his chest.
Gojyo laughed, this time for real. Did she really think he hadn’t ever experienced the delicious kiss of hot wax? Damn, he shouldn’t have laughed, now she would stop.
She pressed her lips together. She stepped down the ladder and grabbed his dick. She tilted the candle.
He took in a hissing breath through his teeth. This was a little much given the current state of that flesh, but with his emerald harbor he could get through it. His emerald harbor and his new drinking buddy.
She jerked her hand from his cock and threw the bottle across the floor. The glass bottle broke when it floor.
She stormed over to the table. “Laughing are you? Well maybe, I need to take a moment…” She picked up the razor blade and the bottle of clear liquid. “And remind you of what your proper response should be.” She clacked back toward him. She motioned with her finger and a peon moved the step ladder -- moved it directly behind Gojyo. She stepped up half-way. The blade twinkled as she turned it in her fingers. The side of her hand pressed against his shoulder blade. “You are suppose to say…..” She pressed the blade in to his skin…she shifted the blade…she lifted the blade….the pressed again….she shifted again….she lifted again. “Y” She spoke as she “wrote” the letters in his flesh. “E….S….which spells, ’yes’. “
The blade felt cool at first against his skin. He didn’t feel any pain, initially. He felt the pressure of her hand against him and then a tugging, but no real pain. A soft burning feeling gently rose as the blood form now broken capillaries welled up over tan skin. He could feel his blood rolling down his back.
She draped a hand over his shoulder and lightly trailed her sharp pointed talons against his chest. She leaned over slightly and kissed her instructions. She licked his blood from her lips, “You’re 22 right. Hmmm….yes that was a good year for half breeds.”
Gojyo has been cut before. He could take this. This was no big deal. Sick…freaky and definitely disturbing, but not to bad.
She draped her other hand, which held the small bottle, over his other shoulder. Her hands met just beneath his nose. She turned the bottle upright and slowly removed the top.
His eyes widened and his heart raced. Alcohol. Rubbing alcohol. Aww shit. Aww fuck. Aww damn. This was going to hurt. This was going to burn. This was going to sting like a mother-fucker. Damn it.

Kenren looked at Gojyo. “It will only sting…for a little while.”
Gojyo nodded, “Yeah, for a little while.” He clamped down on his mental-vice grip. This bitch was not going to win. “Think of it this way man, at least we won’t get an infection.”
Kenren rolled his eyes. Humor…always with the humor.
She slipped her hands from around his shoulders. She hovered the bottle just above the crimson lettering. “Join us.”
“…”
She tilted her hand. A clear cold liquid trickled down his skin.
The deceptive coolness of the liquid lured his body into a slight shiver. Then… it….hit…the ….broken skin. His eyes watered and his nose ran as the burn raced from his flesh. The sting welled up and the prickly heat stabbed at him...over and over… and over again. He felt phonetic flames form on his skin. He felt a word emblaze itself into his body. He gritted his teeth. Only for a little while…only for a little while…only for a little while…I can take it….I can --- Thankfully, alcohol had a high evaporation rate. It was intense, but it was like a match: quick burst of energy and then it fades. He was thankful it wasn’t salt or lemon juice…those linger. Yes, there are times where intense quick heat was better than a lower level long lasting heat. Emerald….come save me.

A slow hiss escaped his clench teeth.
She huffed and stomped off the ladder.
She stormed over to the table and picked up three clamps and three more slender sliver sticks. She clacked over to him. A minion moved the ladder…to the right of Gojyo. She stepped back to the step ladder. She spoke through her teeth, “Laugh through this, prick.” She unscrewed one of the clamps and placed the teeth around his right nipple. She tightned the screw.
Gojyo gritted his teeth and panted as the sharp pointed teeth cut into his skin.
She continued to tighten.
Gojyo’s eyes popped open and he slammed them shut again. His face tightened. He was sure he was going to missing one nipple once this was over.
She tightened the screw all the way. The metal teeth nearly met under his skin. Beads of crimson blood welled up around the clamp and a few trickles travled down his abdomen.
She tapped one stick into the underside of his bicept, just above his armpit.
She stepped down and pushed the peon helper demon out of the way. She’d move the step ladder herself.
She tightend the clamp around his other nipple.
Kenren watched Gojyo carefully. He whispered. “Hakkai.”
Gojyo was struggling through the pain. The tendons on his neck stood out. Sweat broke across his forehead. He hissed his breath through his nose. His nostrils flared.
She tapped the another stick into his other arm, same location.
She stepped down. She stood directly in front of him and grabbed his dick.
Fear washed across Gojyo’s face.
She opened the clamp and grazed it across the head of his dick.
Panic slammed across Gojyo’s face. His body shook with trepidation.
She began to close the clamp.
He felt the teeth press into the head of his cock. His jaw began to tremble.
She stopped and tapped a stick into his scrotum.
Crimson eyes began to tremble.
A paniced Gojyo turned to Kenren.
Kenren turned to Gojyo, “It’s all about Hakkai.”
She tightended the screw on the clamp.
Kenren whispered, “All about Hakkai.”
She tightend some more.
Gojyo whispered to Kenren, “All about Hakkai.”
The head of his dick began to mushroom around the clamp as she tightened the screw.
Gojyo swallowed. His teeth clenced. His tongue pushed against the roof of his mouth. His endorphines couldn’t keep up with this. He opened his mouth to breathe and a scream flung itself from him.
The scream ripped through the dungeon. It bounced around on the stone walls.
She smiled as she felt his blood begin to drip off the clamp. She released his limp cock. She pushed the ladder away and bent over. She tongued the clamp lightly brushing her wet muscle against the flesh of his flaccid cock. Yes, indeed a good year for half-breeds.

She stood upright, tossed her hair and stepped back to watch the dance that was about to begin.
Gojyo’s chest heaved behind another scream. His lungs struggled to get air. The heaving pulled on the skin around his nipples. Pain shot through him from the evil pressure. It crossed inside his body. It spun around him.
She laughed. “Simply delicious when your own breath becomes a weapon.”
Every twitch jostled the clamps…taunting him with jabs of pain. He twitched. He jostled. He trembled. She smiled and licked her lips.
Gojyo chanted Hakkai’s name in his head. He visualized those emerald eyes. He put all of this on him. He called out for his emerald harbor. He cried out. He screamed tried to find his harbor. He needed his harbor, the hell with what happended before. Alas, that harbor was forsaking him. That horbor had left him. That harbor wasn’t here. That horbor wasn’t coming. Where the fuck was his salvage? He needed emerald right here, right now…and sadly emerald wasn’t there. Hakkai, Hakkai, Hakkai, Hakkai.
Ahh finally. Some more endoprphines were kicking in. The pain from the clamps was fading being filtered by his brain and the chemical soup running through his veins. His pants slowed. His breath, although still heightend, began to calm.
“Join us.”
“…” That bitch didn’t deserve an answer.
She picked up the riding crop. “Join us.” Her voice was firmer this time.
“…”
She slapped the crop across his knees. “Join us.”
“…”

She slapped the crop against his stomach, “Join us!”
“…”
She whipped the crop in the air around herself and against various parts of his body Her strokes became wild and uncontrolled. He aimed for the clamps. She aimed for his legs. She aimed for his balls. She hit and missed, but she swiped so many times she hit every where she wanted -- eventually.
Gojyo’s body trembled with pain, thus increasing the pain, thus increasing the trembles.
He shook. He opened his mouth to scream and no sound left him. His lungs seized in pain. Frothy saliva welled up from the back of his throat. Bubbles of spit drifted from the corners of his mouth. This bitch wasn’t going to win. He forced himself to cough -- if he was going to kill her later -- he had to breathe.
He began to go into convlusions.
He screamed… he screamed sputtered screams. No sooner did his breath enter his lungs, it was pushed out again as a scream. All the while he was chanting, chanting…Hakkai’s name in his head. Chanting, chanting, chanting….he tired to visuallize Hakkai in his head…Hakkai with that smile.
She whacked the crop across his left hand. Her stokes whet wild again.
Hakkai with that smile.
Hakkai with those eyes.
She stumbled on her heels. She tilted forward to catch herself. Her nails scratched into a quaking thigh. She flipped her long hair out of her face. She dug her nails into his thigh and scratched off a few layers of skin. Pink steaks formed …little dots of crimson welled up. She swiped his other leg. She swiped across his chest and stomach. She slapped the crop across his face eight times and tossed it away.
Hakkai propped up on his fucking elbows.
She stumbled back to the table. She leaned against the table her breath caused her satin covered chest to heave.
Gojyo began to calm. He began to ride the waves of the pain and searing heat. She didn’t know his limits. He could take her. He could beat her.
Kenren closed his eyes and softly shook his head. What he went through was nothing like this.
Her eyes scanned her tools. The poker or the baseball bat? Hot poker…basebal bat….hot poker…baseball bat. Her eyes darted back and forth as she weighed her plan. Her fingers wrapped around the baseball bat. She swung it and it hit the floor. That made her arms hurt, but she wanted him to hear what was coming. No…she wanted to see his face for this. “Remove it’s hood.”
A peon demon stepped up to Gojyo and removed the hood.
Wet crimson eyes and a tear streaked face looked around the room. He memorized every face that looked at him. He burned them into his memory…into his soul. He was gonna hunt these fuckers down for lifetimes.
She smiled at the brusing that was already beginning to rise under his sexy face.
Gojyo smiled at the blonde he saw earlier. This wasn’t the “solo adventure” he wanted, but he did at least get a date. If he’d been able to see her face through all this then it would have been one step away from not total and complete hell. He might have killed her in a nice way.
Kenren rolled his eyes…humor…always deflecting with the humor.
“Join us.”
“…”
She stepped toward him softly patting the bat in her palm. “Join us.”
“…”
She twirled the bat around her hand. “Join us.”
“…” He was about to be beaten with a baseball bat. Big fucking deal. He slowly blinked at her. He could taste the salt on his lips, from blood, sweat or tears he didn’t know -- and right now he didn’t care. He just hoped she’d hit him right the first time and end his miserable existence. That way he could be reborn and hunt her down like a demon…no… like a dog. No, he wouldn’t do that to a dog. Hunt her down like --- like he would Chin Yisou. Like Kenren would hunt Li Touten.
She placed the end of the bat against the inside of his left ankle. “Join us.”
“…” Great, she was gonna beat him little by little. This is gonna hurt.

She slid the bat to the inside of his knee. “Join us.”
“…” Damn it, not the knee. Once a knee is screwed up it never gets right, no matter what.

She slid the bat to his inner thigh. “Join us.” She smiled, at this point she didn’t want the yes.
“…” His eyes widened. Oh FUCK. He figured it out. She wasn’t going to beat him the this the baseball bat. She was gonna fuck him with it.
Kenren faced Gojyo. “All Hakkai’s fault.”
Gojyo faced Kenren. “Hakkai.”
They began chanting. Gojyo felt the wide end of the bat slide up his thigh and push between his legs. He forced the visual of Hakkai in his mind.
They chanted….chant…visual…chant…visual…chant.
She shoved.
He felt his skin tear and rip. He felt that cold hard wood push into his body. Searing pain shot through him. Pain, pure raw pain, jolted his body. He screamed. He screamed until he had no air left in his lungs. He felt blood run down his legs. He took in a breath and screamed again. His body shook. His went into convulsions. His jagged screams hinted at “Hakkai”. His mind flashed emerald and his body registered pain.
He broke. His world went black.
She smiled. She removed all her tools of persuasion. She’d wait until he woke up. She was a patient person. She should sit, and sip her wine. While she waited, she’d sleep and then she’d wait some more. While she waited…she thought. She thought about how she was going to do that same thing to him tomorrow…and the next day and the day after that and so on….she’d do it….the same way….until it gave in.
He woke up…and again with the water. Again with the whip. Again with the cat o’nine tails. Again with the …with the… everything.
She shoved that baseball bat and he screamed. He chanted. He visualized. Kenren did what he could, but Gojyo’s abused body just couldn’t take anymore. His world went black one more time.
His head rolled limply forward. His final scream had been loud enough to make her tools vibrate on their red velvet beds.
She yanked the bloodly bat from him and threw it across the room. She smiled. He hadn’t relinquished the word she wanted, but she’d beaten him. She knew she’d beaten him. She’d beaten him because if he lasted this long, she was going to keep him or kill him ---which ever --- it didn‘t really matter. Either way…he was now her toy. He now had her respect. She was going to sign him. She wanted a permanent signature of sorts on her beautiful new creation. Now…to mark him.
She turned and walked back to the table.

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There it is again. Now, she was confident she’d heard someone scream. It was most definitely a man’s scream. No doubt. Yaone turned down the hallway. She was checking doors. Someone somewhere was in a world of hurt and she was going to find them.
Doukugaijkigi heard someone screaming too. He wasn’t too far behind Yaone, but he didn’t know it.
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The blonde picked up the poker and tucked it under one arm. She lifted the torch and grabbed the striker.
She flicked the striker and smiled at the cascading sparks.
Yaone turned to face a thick wooden door.
The torch lit up.
Yaone put her hand on the door handle.
The poker began to glow red.
Yaone opened the door. Her eyes popped open.
The blonde turned.
Yaone didn’t even need a split second to recognize the crimson haired person on that black frame. Her scream pushed it’s way through her shock. She shrilled. She shrieked. She dropped to her knees.
A peon demon ran to close the door.
The blonde stepped toward Gojyo. This poker was aimed for his belly-button. The source of his taboo vile nature.
Dokugakuji’s head snapped up. That was Yaone. There was only one shrill like that in the entire world and that shriek…that ear splitting scream belonged to Yaone. He should know, he’d heard it enough -- in battle and a more tame version in bed. He took off running.
He rounded the corner and saw a demon standing over Yaone. She had been rendered speechless by whatever she saw through that doorway.
Dokugakuji ran to the doorway. He looked up and saw his kid bother….chained in an “X” and some blonde demon. “Stop right there!”
The blonde turned. She rolled her eyes. Can’t I get any peace?

Dokugakuji picked up Yaone and shook her gently about the shoulders. He locked his eyes on her, “Get Kou. Get him now!”
Yaone nodded took off running.
The blonde smiled. Yes get ‘Kou’. Once he finds out that I have one of the Sanzo party … it will be beautiful. Run ya little twit. Run now…get him quickly. She turned to finished what she started.
She did have one of the Sanzo party, she just didn’t know she had a certain someone’s kid brother.
Dokugakuji’s sword appeared in his hand without even thinking about it. He stormed across the stone floor and knocked the poker from the blonde’s hands.
The blonde looked down at her hands and blinked. She felt his blade against her neck.
The peon demons took off running to the doorway. Seconds later, they walked backward into the room.
Kougagji stepped in and his eyes widend. His mouth dropped open. His stomach twisted. His eyes twitched. His nose wrinkled. His hands balled into fists. “What the hell is this?!” He bellowed. A thought softly escaped his lips, “When did we get a torture chamber?”
The blonde smiled, tossed her hair and stepped away from the blade. “One of the Sanzo party. It is the half-breed. I’ve nearly persuaded him to join us.”
Dokugakuji dismissed his blade and slowly walked toward his brother. A pit in his stomach hardened with each step. His blood boiled with each step. He carried the bitter taste of anger…of fury in his mouth.
Kougaiji stomped toward her. He extended a finger and held his pointed fingernail just a whisper from her nose, “We don’t work this way! This is dishonorable! We don’t take prisoners! We certainly don’t torture people!” His yell made her blonde’s hair flutter. “Who are you?” He’d personally met everyone in his service. He made it a point to meet everyone that volunteered to join his cause. And..this…this blonde psyco … he didn’t know.
She smiled nervously, “I-I-I’m Flaxen.” Her air of confidence quickly faded under the power of that princely gaze.
“Flaxen, you have brought dishonor to his house. You have..” He curled his fingers around her neck, “… you have lost your right to be here.” He squeezed his fingers. Her mouth began to vainly gape and her eyes started to bludlge from their sockets. “You have relinquished your right to breathe.”
Her blue eyes faded to empty. He felt her pulse stop and he threw her down to the floor.
He looked at Yaone. “Can you help him?”
Yaone swallowed and nodded. She walked up to him and frooze. She frooze for the sight of the blood, of the clamps, of the sticks, of the bruises, of the scrapes and of the sheer brutality. Her hands trembled. Her body shook. Her eyes watered. “My Lord!” She fell over. She fainted.
Kougaijji looked at the peon demons as Doukougakji ran to Yaone’s side. Kougaiji slowly spoke, “Who put you up to this?”
One of the demons pissed himself.
Kougaijji gritted his teeth, “Leave and never….never come back.”
Doukougakiji scanned his brother. His jaw trembled. His sword reappeared and he glared at Kougaiji, “Kou, tell them to stop. Tell them to come back here.”
Kougaiji narrowed his eyes, “Dou…..why?”
“I gotta kill’em. I have to kill them and I don’t feel like a hunt.”
“Dou, we don’t know what she did to them to make them do this. They may have not had a choice.”
He pointed at his brother, “Look at him, Kou! Look at him! And then, tell me that!”
Kougaiji looked at Gojyo. He bit his lips. “I’ll help you find them, later. We need to get him attention now.”
Doukougakiji dispersed his sword and turned toward his brother. His hand trembled as he removed the clamp on his brothers cock. Tears tried to pushed their way out as he saw the blood run from the cutting teeth. He took in a deep breath. That was the hardest one. The rest he could handle.
He removed the “tools of persuasion” from his borther’s body. He wouldn’t let Kougaiji help and he was glad Yaone fainted. This was a pride thing. This was a brother thing. This….this was personal. Every drop of blood. Every bruise….every scratch made him thirst for the blood of those pissant demons. He draped Gojyo over his shoulder, tried to cover him as best he could with the cut khaki pants and kicked the limp body of the blonde.
Kougaiji picked up Yaone. Kougaiji would send someone down here later to get rid of the body, to get rid of the “tools”, to get rid of the frame….to get rid of everything. This had no place in his house. This had no place in his plan. This had no place in the recovery of his pride.
No one thought to check the anklet. It wouldn’t have done them much good. Ni had nothing to do with this. Sure, that was an anklet from him. Sure, she was a trained interrogator. Yes, she was trained by him…but even Ni wouldn’t do this. Dr. Ni never taught her to do this. Ni taught her how to get inside people’s minds…how to illicit information…how to fool people….not this. Ni might be guilty of a lot of things, but not torture --- not torture like this.
On the other had, maybe they should have noticed the anklet. That little smirk does seem to hide a lot. It does indeed carry secrets to a brilliantly twisted mind. Which leaves one lingering question….how twisted? Could it possibly be twisted enough for this? Is training “Interrogators” working as hard as he is paid to?
Bunny knows….but Bunny isn’t talking….not even if you hurt Bunny … Bunny is a good bunny….Bunny’s been trained.
Bunny keeps secrets.
“Isn’t that right, Schnookums? Heh, heh, heh, heh,” He held Bunny up in the air, “Never let go of what is precious to you.”

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Doukougakiji laid Gojyo on his bed. The least he could do is get his brother in some clothes. He pulled out a pair of black pants. He removed Gojyo’s boots, that now had blood stains…rounded streaks of crimson… and he removed the tatters that were once khaki pants…pants that were just like the pair he wore then he left that house all those years back.
He slipped his brothers feet into the black fabric and nearly broke down when he understood the blood and damage between -- Oh dear god! His hands balled into fists and he pushed his head against Gojyo’s stomach. He wept. He just let go and wept. How could his brother go through this right here and he not know --- not even sense it?
Kougaiji carried Yaone into one of the viewing rooms. She woke with a gasp. Her eyes pleaded with Kougaiji.
He looked down at her and pushed her to his chest. “No, you really did see that.” He wanted to lie to her. He wanted it to be a lie. But, he could not. He couldn’t lie to her…no she deserved better than that.
She swallowed and pulled from her Prince’s chest. “I have some things that might help him…some salves and stuff. You find the rest of the group and I’m sure with Hakkai and my salves we can….we….we can’t fix anything like this can we?”
Kougaiji softly shook his head, “No… not something like this. We can heal the skin, but we can’t…we can’t fix this.” Shame and disgrace burned under his skin. Those four are honorable fighters….they deserve better than this.
Doukougaiji tightened his mental hold on himself and finished pulling his black pants over his brothers limp body. He draped the slightly shorter man that was still eight years old in his eyes, especially right now, over his shoulder and walked down the hall.
Kougaiji located the other Sanzo party members. This was not the time for a flying dragon. This was the time for folding space and time…to blurr there.
If Gojyo had been awake he would have known that this was his second time traveling like this.
If Gojyo had been awake he would have known this torture took place over three days. Three repeating days -- repeating everything…for three powerfully intensive days.
If Gojyo had been awake he would have known the whole story. If Gojyo had been awake, he would have known why people were so loyal to Kougaiji. He would have seen it first hand, the high level of honor that for which Kougaiji strove. He would have witnessed the reason his borther was so decidcated to Kougaiji.
If Gojyo had been awake, he would have still said ,“No.”
If Gojyo had been awake he still would not have seen the horrible flaw in his plan. Kenren didn’t see it either. He used his memories of Hakkai to get through the pain…to play a game in his head…it helped some. Alas, it also hurt. It hurt a lot. For he now associated that name, that face and those eyes with pain. Horrible excruciating pain and deep…deep… fear.
Gojyo’s association --- tragically inversed and mercifully much less powerful, yet sadly similar to the association Hakkai has to “Relax and Hang On”.
Sanzo was right… this has made things complicated. Complicated indeed.

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End note: It disturbed me and made me question my humanity, when I realized the hardest part to write was the “Bunny” bit. What is wrong with me?
Saiyuki is indeed an interesting paradox… an enigma. It is an entity where the characters know more than the authors and the audience knows more than either.

Ending here?

That’s… just … not … gonna happen.
To you, my readers, with all my love,
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*
******************************Reviewer feedback ***************************

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CloeyKujaku2004-09-24
n.n;; I really SHOULD of reviewed much sooner, I've consistantly checked this story ever since the second chapter was put out, and am NOW finally reviewing? God, I'm so lazy.

Ahem. -Straightens up and looks profesional.-
DEAR GOD I LOVE YOU! ALL TIME FAVORITE AUTHORESS EVER. FIVE STARS. A+. TWO THUMBS UP. MARRY ME! ;____;

Okay, maybe that was going to far.

How brutal is too brutal? Kuku, I'm up for anything. Just...Don't end up killing them. Crying doesn't make me happy.
I'm so sad you won't update for a bit, I'm really looking forward to the next chapter. I'm deeply impressed that you're able to create such DAMN good lemons and not have them seem repetitive. You're the only authoress I've seen do this, which is probably why I keep reading. It's such a thrill reading your fictions, since you never know what'll happen next! So, I hereby claim myself to review every chapter from now on, because you DAMN well don't get the credit you deserve. -AWE.-

-Sits down and refreshes page repetitively for next update.-

Loves it!

-Clojaku

Clojaku--
Thank you for taking the time to review, it really does mean a lot. You’re favorite authoress? Oh goodness *BLUSH* , what a compliment. I’m very glad I could entertain you. Thank you for letting me know. I’m married, sorry maybe next lifetime? LOL Hahahahaha. So, as a consolation prize how about more chapters? Yeah, kinda lame huh?
Thank you for noticing the difference in the lemons. It gets difficult keeping them all original. I know it may feel like lemon for lemon sake, but each lemon is meant to bring out another layer of their relationship and their personalities.
Thank you again for your kind words. I try to keep the stories original and surprising. I promise you if you look hard enough you will see a plot. Hahahaha.
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*

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Hakuryuu2004-09-25
You've done it again. Hi-larious. Amazing! You never stop raising the bar. The little "fight" scene... lol. And does Gojun have a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittle crush on somebody??? Or is he just, um, upset? Lol. Nice job with the characterizations and such (like al... al... WOW I just got the Gojun thing. Like, Hakuryuu? Wow. Way late on *that* bandwagon. >< hooooooeeeeeee. :) Very nice all the same. Seems like he grew up a little in his next life tho ;)). 8's were hilarious... 888.H... gonna remember *that* one! And the stuffed animal thing??? oooh am I gonna have a story to tell you ;). Yeek what else! It was all so brilliant I can't even start. Go Tenpou/Kenren. Just go them. They kick butt.
And as for going too far... you know me, I'd tell you to do what you felt, and you can tone it down for others but KEEP the original. On the other hand, I love my boys and would *hate* to see them hurt lol. But I think you should do whatever's best for the plot ;). Good luck and merry writings!

So sorry, this would have been longer but it's midnight and I'm exhausted. Goodnight!

- Hakuryuu (gyu!)

Hakuryuu --
I see Gojun as just seeing this behavior as utterly unprofessional and conduct unbecoming an officer. Nope no crush, but the ground work has been laid out for someone else to have a crush --- and no one had mentioned it.
Oh, you didn’t know Gojun was the past life of Hakuryuu? Whoops!! I’m sorry I didn’t realize that was a spoiler.
The stuffed animal thing --- hmm do I *want* to hear that story? Is it what I wonder about Ni and that bunny? CREEPY! LOL . So do tell --- c’mon we’ll share a cup of java and share. Bwwwhahahaha.
We hate to see our boys hurt huh? Please! Why are drawn with blood and bandages all the time? Why are they so SEXY when they are bleeding? Ummm ok maybe it’s just me and my sick twisted mind. What is WRONG with me?
Thank you SO MUCH for all your feedback. You and a few others have been with me since my first fic. You guys really are very special. Sometimes in moments of daydream, I see all of us getting to meet at some anime convention. I see us forgetting all about the con, hanging in some room getting drunk and reading our fics to each other. Yeah, I have NO life. LOL
HUGS!
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*

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purkledragongoddess2004-09-25
On your question: it all depends on how far you as the author feel safe going. Readers have various degrees of things they will/won't read--but as long as you are comforatble with what you are writing it shouldn't matter. You can always leave a warning about what is coming up but you shouldn't and can't cater to every whim of readers. Write whatever the boys in the scene demand you to write (trust me on this one--they know what they are doing even if you don't).

Now about that last chapter: shit! Just completly blew me away. I adore Tempou period and that was an excellent rendering. Thank you

Purkledragongoddess--
You are right, I shouldn’t worry myself with what the readers will like and what they won’t to the point of compromising the fic. Thank you. I read your review and knew it was going to get at brutal as the story wanted. That’s what I was doing, I was fretting over disappointing my readers and I was about to let go of why (I think why) people like this fic to begin with --- the unpredictability and non-condescending way sexuality is presented. If there is one thing I want is to ALWAYS have respect for my readers -- for their intelligence, imagination, and their raw courage. Thank you for putting it in perspective.
Tenpou -- wow yeah he’s something else. Hakkai without the sorrow. If I had a choice as to which one would be chained up in my bedroom --- and could only have ONE --- I’m no so sure whom I would pick. I think it would have to be Hakkai -- just to see the look on his face when I get freaky, cuz we all know Tenpou is an utter FREAK.
Thank you for your feedback and insight.
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*
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shinigami_senpai2004-09-26
That...was...AWESOME! I feel like Chris Farley, "Remember that time when Kenren and Tenpou...That was awesome..."

I love the concept. I also agree with other reviewers that your story is about as close to "in character" as you can get any still have naughty grown-up action. Also, about the future chapter, I'm in the Just Shy of Death and Dismemberment camp. Go, go, go! You rock

Shinigami_Senpai--

Just Shy of Death and Dismemberment --- well, there we go. Thank you for the reassurance for the characterizations. There is a certain level of OOC you have to have for the nature of an adult fic -- that’s a given. But, I do want make it believable. Oh, Tenpou and Kenren were too much fun to write. You know there will be another chapter with them. There has to be. Tee-hee.
Thank you for reviewing,
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*

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Rya-chan2004-09-26
Mmmm...this chapter was spicy. xD

The little rule-book thing was very cute - play-doh is fun :p I should...sculpt some time as well. Oddly enough next Semester I'll actually be taking sculpture. Damn. I'm going to have fun with that. *falls over*

Kenren and Tenpou are just to hot for their own good O.o;

Gojun really needs to have better cover-ups~ Or maybe one time he should just tell out the truth. And um, the 'wtf moment' was a good wtf. No worries, it just took me by surprise~ I'll elaborate more when I get my lazy ass to type an email.

I'd also have to say, the line is also just shy of death and dismemberment. Because I'm just that kinky. >.>

So, good luck with your move ^^. I hope everything goes well!

Rya-chan--

Make sure you fire your work properly -- after all it is the only way it will properly harden. LOL
Kenren and Tenpou are INDEED hot. Whew.
Gojun is trying to lie to himself. After all, a person that out-ranks him would not possibly act in such and unbecoming way. Hahahahaha. I think they do it they way the do partly just to get under his scales. I see them, “Hey, ya know what would totally piss off that dragon?” LOL Hahahahaha.
The move -- yeah well. I didn’t even get box one in before I noticed the leak under the kitchen sink and the way they jacked up the bathroom. So… well… I’ve been moving over the past three weekends. Sigh.
Kink? Yeah, well this chapter wasn’t kink. Sorry --- Gojyo really got to be the victim. Now, we have to clean up this mess.
Thank you for reviewing,
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*
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addictedtomarbles2004-09-27
Hurrah, Gaiden goodness and yes I read it at work *slaps wrist*. I did read it again when I got home though. Aww a rule book as a memory book takes me back to younger days. I enjoyed the smashing up idea and the sweatdropping Goujun.

How brutal? Umm well I'm a kinky bugger so like the others death and dismemberment is probably my line. (The books you mentionned in one of the chapters, I recognised most of the titles ... er ...you didn't need to know that)

I look forwards to your next installment and suggest sending you gingerbread shapes (hopefully stars and smileys if I can find my cutters and wine-bottle rolling pin).

Addictedtomarbles ---

The 40 lbs I lost will be back on in a heartbeat if we lived in the same country. Sheesh!
Shame on you for smutting it up at work. Yeah, well I have a notebook and I write story ideas when they won’t leave me alone. I mean -- it really is for the utmost concern for my employers. I mean -- if these ideas won’t leave me alone then I can’t focus and I’m useless. So writing smut at work is TOTALLY justified --- right? Yeah. LOL
The books, I own most of those titles and have given them as gifts --- ok we’re totally in the realm of T M I !!!! LOL.
And, if you EVER get your hands on “O” buy it and keep it locked up in a fireproof safe. That thing is extremely difficult to find now-a-days. I made huge headlines when it came out and it was all over the place. Now, you can’t even order it. Sigh. I should have bought it when I saw it. Don’t make my mistake.
As always -- thank you so much for all your feedback,
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*
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Relax and Hang On -- Again