Go To The West

-5-
high atop a mountain, one well taller than the rest surrounding it, some one long ago carved out a shallow cave. bars of stone as thick as a man's waist line the wide entrance and little slips of white fuda, wards, liberally paper bars, walls, floor and ceiling. all in all, a simple, yet highly effective, cage. a cage for one small, skinny, wide-eyed boy. another boy stands outside of it, dressed in the robes of a monk and the cloak of self-assurance.
Monk-  …… oi. Are you the one who keeps calling for me?
Boy-  I… I haven't called anybody. Who're you?
Monk-  Liar. I hear you all the time. It annoys the hell out of me so cut it out, would ya? That's why…

-6-
Monk-  … I'm gonna take you with me. It's not like I have much of a choice.
two hands reach for each other, palms up and open in friendship. the iron chains binding the Boy's hands snap like rotten wood.

In a chaos-riddled age where Heaven and Earth mingled indiscriminately, there was a land where human and youkai(1) could live side-by-side in peace.

-7-
It is known by many names, this land; "Tougenkai", "Shangri La" --- "PARADISE"
In it lies the roots of the first civilization and organized religion.

it's been who knows how long since the Monk rescued the Boy from that mountain cave, but the two are still together, their relationship grown in an… interesting direction. it's a friendly one, though. ………I think.
Boy-  Oi Sanzou! Are we there yet?! I'm so hungry I can't walk another step!

-8-
Boy-  C'mon, can't we---
    WHAP
Sanzou doesn't even let the Boy finish his sentence, whipping out a halisen (folding fan) from Hammer Space(™) and smacking him over the head. … not very patient for a monk, is he? that, and a tad violent, too. but, then again, Sanzou is an odd monk.
Boy-  OWCH!
Sanzou-  Quit whining! Sheesh, it's not like you die even if you get killed…
Boy-  It's 'cuz I'm rechargeable.
Sanzou-  Don't brag!
Boy-  Why couldn't Hakkai come in Jeep and pick us up? It'd be a lot eas---
Sanzou-  Would you be quiet?! We're almost there so walk, you Stupid Monkey!
*note: this work is fiction. any resemblance to real people or events is completely unintentional.

-9-
Boy-  I don't get it, though. Why all of a sudden do Gojyo and Hakkai have to come and meet up with us?
Sanzou-  …… There's something I need to find out.
Five days ago. Choan, Hall of the Setting Sun.
an old-style Chinese pavilion in all its traditional glory stands tall above the forested mountain crags…
Voice-  Hand of the Northern Heavenly Lord, Genjo Sanzou, has arrived.

-10-11-
the images of three heads float disembodied on a pale screen, larger than life. one black haired woman, one dark haired man, and one pale haired woman, each face stern in their wisdom and compassion. in front of them kneels Sanzou.
Man-  Well come, Sanzou, well come. Our apologies for the haste requested of you by our summons.
Sanzou-  No trouble, Lords.
Man-  You may already be familiar with the event, but our concern pertains to the Calamity which is even now eroding our world away. From West to East, this disease has already touched all of Tougenkai.
Sanzou-  The sudden, inexplicable Frenzy which all youkai are contracting, followed by their loss of "Self" -- that which made them who they were.
Man-  Indeed.

-12-
Sanzou-  Nowadays, humans live in fear of youkai, thinking that they rub elbows with Death. Tougenkyou is "paradise" in name only, more resembling Hell. What could possibly be the source of this?
Man-  Do you remember the tales of Gyumaoh, the Bull Demon King?

"Gyumaoh" --- The Greater Youkai buried 500 years ago by Prince Nataku, warrior god, in Houtou Castle, Tenjikukuni. He refused the idea of co-existing with humans. It's said his preference was eating them.

-13-
Man-  It seems that someone is attempting to revive Gyumaoh.

Moreover, they are doing so with forbidden methods-- an unholy combination of Chemistry and Demonology.

-14-
fast forward… present.
Boy-  "Forbidden?" …Why?
Sanzou-  Because nobody knows what'll happen as a result.

Chemistry and Demonology have always been incompatible, even from the start. It eventually got to the point where the mixing of human and youkai became taboo. Thus, the Great Balance tipped, sending out a Minus Wave across all Creation.

-15-
past… five days ago.
Man-  Genjo Sanzou. We hereby order you, accompanied by your past associates Goku, Gojyo and Hakkai, to go West, to Tenjikukuni.

Prevent the resurrection of Gyumaoh.
…to return to all youkai their sense of Self.
…to return Tougenkyou to its former state.

Sanzou-  As you wish.

-16-
back to the present…
Goku-  Sooo~~oo, in other words, all we gotta do is go there and make 'em stop the experiment? Piece of cake!
Sanzou-  You're clueless.    ::simpleton::
Goku-  Oh, didn't you say something about wanting to find out something from Gojyo and Hakkai?
Sanzou-  …… That's--
whatever he was going to say gets cut off. both Goku and Sanzou are aware enough to be able to sense the approach of unfriendlies at a goodly range, and there are some coming now.

-17-
two youkai. both young and fully contaminated by the Frenzy. two lone humans look like easy pickings, apparently, and they leap at Goku and Sanzou with gusto. it should go without saying that this is Big Mistake Number 1 on their parts. not in the least worried, Goku holds out his hand and calls for his Nyoibo, the magic staff appearing in an instant. he meets the attack of the one youkai who was intelligent enough to bring a weapon…

-18-
…easily throwing the punk off. the other youkai bull-rushes Sanzou, who sidesteps the attack breezily, slipping unnoticed behind his young attacker.
Sanzou-  You're slow.
WHAM.
the force of the blow sends the youkai sprawling. he doesn't get back up.

-19-
yay! the fight is won! well, that one anyway. now how 'bout the next dozen or two youkai who showed up in the meantime?
Goku-  Don't tell me ALL these guys…
Sanzou-  every one a youkai turned to Gyumaoh.   //thinking// …dropped my guard…
Youkai-  …humans…
Goku-  Yipe! They're all nuts!
Youkai-  …humans…
Youkai-  …eat…
Youkai-  …eat them up!

-20-
Youkai-  ea---
that particular nutcase is rendered incapable of completing the word, mostly because the upper half of his head is suddenly disconnected from the lower half. if that hadn't killed him, getting bisected at the waist probably would have. nearby youkai suffer the same fate, all in the same instant collapsing into bloody pieces. a silver crescent blade at the end of a long, snaking chain flashes in the sun, streaming blood.
Voice-  There they are.

-21-
two figures appear atop a conveniently located cliff. one is long-haired and laid-back, a cigarette dangling from his lips. the other is more collected, a white dragonet perched on his shoulder and polite smile on his face.
Gojyo-  What the hell's gone wrong with the world, an' why the hell do we have to be the ones to fix it? Well? Rotten Monk and Stupid Monkey.
Goku-  Gojyo! Hakkai!
Hakkai-  Hello! Long time no see.

-22-
aaah, the reunion of old friends. knowing each other as well as they do, they quickly revert into old habits and camaraderie. …… uuhm… maybe I should rephrase that- "things quickly degenerate into familiar bickering and unresolved arguments…"
Goku-  Don't call me "Stupid Monkey", you Letch Kappa (2)!!
Gokyo-  Well how 'bout "Chimp" then, huh?
Hakkai-  ahaha, peace you two.
Sanzou-   -.-;*   Hakkai, how'd you find us?
Hakkai-  I felt a large concentration of malignant energy in this area. It seems that Goku, Gojyo and I are the only youkai in Tougenkai left with our sense of Self.

-23-
somehow, there's still one youkai left alive. how he survived I have no idea, but seeing the crew immersed in conversation and ignoring him he takes the opportunity to strike.
Youkai-  SURPRISE ATTACK!!
though yelling it out kinda defeats the point of "surprise", don'tcha think? not that anyone would have been surprised, anyway. Gojyo smirks and snickers at the poor youkai's delusions. whipping around quickly, he catches the sap by the face and squeezes. the not-so-surprise-attacker's skull is crushed in a messy crunch.
Gojyo-  Stupid moron. You'd need another 2 bzillion years before you could pull that off.    ::whoops, you can't hear me any more, can ya?::

-24-
more youkai show up. geez, you'd think they're growing on the surrounding trees…
Youkai-  Go after that weak-looking one! :: it's a cheap shot, but hey::
"weak-looking" one meaning Hakkai, of course. the mild-mannered ones always look weak. Hakkai is unconcerned, however, sending the little dragon flying off with a quiet "it's dangerous". then Hakkai himself seems to fly, arching over the heads of the two assailing him, power gathering between his cupped palms. a curt exclamation and the energy blasts into the two youkai, effectively vaporizing them.
Hakkai-  my, I think I've been watching Gojyo play too many video games…   ::eheh, "hadouken"::
Goku-  's not funny!

-25-
Youkai-  //thinking//  Those earcuffs… that gold circlet…   //aloud//  Power Limiters?! You three are youkai?
::Gojyo-  so what of it?::
Youkai-  Then… why are you fighting us?
Goku-  Well let's tell them then, 'kay guys? If they survive, that is!
youkai screams echo through the trees…

-26-
back to the past… five days ago
Sanzou-  Sanbutsushin-sama. If I may, I would like to ask a question. Why appoint three confirmed youkai to this mission?
Male Sanbutsushin-  That they are youkai is undeniable… however, they are human as well. Thus, they will not be affected by the Minus Wave. Only those three can----   …being acquainted with them, this is something of which you should already be aware.

-27-
Male Sanbutsushin-  It's ironic…
…Goku stares in wide-eyed horror, a faceless figure with long hair toppling in front of him, blood trailing…
Male Sanbutsushin-  each of you bears scars from your pasts…
…Hakkai stares vacantly, blood liberally smeared across body and hands…
Male Sanbutsushin-  … and like a spider's web they weave between you…
…a young Gojyo stares helplessly, blood-spattered, as a male figure walks definitively away from him…
Male Sanbutsushin-  … holding all four of you together.

-28-
Male Sanbutsushin-  Power to rival that of youkai lords, coupled with a strength of human spirit. They are Our final trump card.
Sanzou-  They certainly wield considerable power. However, also certain is the fact that cursed youkai blood flows in them. As long as it does, there remains the possibility that they will turn their fangs on us. I believe putting faith in that lot to be a suicidal course of action.

-29-
Black-haired Female Sanbutsushin-  False motives. False stance. Neither changes the truth.
Sanzou-  …… preposterous as it may sound, I must say that the only thing in this world in which I have any faith is my own self. That may be blasphemy, coming from one devoted to the path of Buddha, yet…
…a young Sanzou stares in disbelieving shock, a figure robed as he is lies blood-soaked on the floor, a broken rosary dangling from a broken body, prayer beads slowly scattering…
Sanzou-  //thinking// from the moment I lost someone irreplaceable to me…
Blonde-haired Female Sanbutsushin-  Well then, believe in what the eyes of your Heart show you.
Sanzou-  "eyes of my Heart"?

-30-
Blonde-haired Female Sanbutsushin-  Meet with them once again. Look at them with your Heart's eyes and determine for yourself what is important to you, and in what you should place your faith.
fast forward, present. fight's over. for real this time. …I think. Gojyo and Goku slap high-fives.
Gojyo-  Aw yeah! Who's the best!
Sanzou-  //thinking// "…in what I should place my faith…"
a clawed hand reaches out and grabs Goku by the ankle. yes, dear readers, yet another youkai still holds tentatively to life, somehow. then he has to go and do the stupid thing and draw attention to himself.
Doomed Moron-  …wait… we're brothers…

-31-
Doomed Moron-  You betray your own kind to side with weak and arrogant humans, but you cannot belong there. Re-think your decision, brothers. Join us again, won't you? In the new Youkai Reich of 1,000 years BWAHAHAHAHA-urk!
one boot, one Nyoibo and one crescent staff come together to rather dismissively squish the offending Moron.

-32-33-
Gojyo-  Boo~~~~ri~~~ng. These dweebs need their lines re-written. "…side with humans"? HA! From birth to death, the only side I'm ever on is my own.
the sentiment is shared, Goku and Hakkai standing companionably close to Gojyo, all three looking on the dead Moron with contempt.
Sanzou-  //thinking// "…believe in what your Eyes show you…"? Hn.

-34-
Sanzou-  Let's go. To the West.

about the same time, Tenjikukuni, Houdou Castle
Girl-  Kougaiji-sama. The Eastward expansion…
Kougaiji-  I hear you. Interruptions will NOT be tolerated.

-35-
Kougaiji-  Dokukakuji. Yaone. You two will accompany me. You have until tomorrow to prepare, then we go East.
he walks to the back of the room, where a stone pillar reaches for the ceiling three stories up. near the top, the figure of a woman stretches from the stone, carved in amazingly lifelike detail…
Kougaiji-  Mother. For your sake…

West and East, each makes their first move.
…to the place where the sun rises.
…to the place where the sun sets.

Sanzou-  …Oi…

-36-
Sanzou-  This is NOT a road trip, you TWITS!!!
a no-top army jeep is just big enough to contain the newly christened "Sanzou Ikkou", though it doesn't quite seem it with Goku and Gojyo sprawled across the back seat. of course, whenever those two are in close proximity, it gets noisy and boisterous. for the moment, fortunately, it's a friendly ruckus.
Goku- Yes! Got the squid!
Gojyo-  Whoa, cool! Now pass me a beer.
Hakkai-  Oh, it isn't one? Well then, perhaps it is something similar.

let the journey begin!

notes
(1) youkai.   most dictionaries equate youkai with "monster" or "demon", but that is not quite true. in many cases youkai seem very human, except for a few things; superhuman strength and durability, paranormal powers, some inhuman physical feature (usually elf-like pointed ears, claws, sometimes slit-pupil eyes or a tail or some such bestial thing, sometimes tattoos). there really isn't an English term that means anywhere close to the same thing as youkai, so I am leaving it as is.

(2) kappa.    a uniquely Japanese bogey, kappa are essentially water-goblins. they are usually very amphibious in appearance, being scaly (blue or green), with large, frog-like eyes, webbed hands and feet with long fingers (sometimes they're knobby at the end like frog-toes). sometimes they have turtle-beak like mouths. their most distinguishing feature, however, is their heads-- they have a bowl-shaped indentation on the top of their skulls, one that must always be filled with water. they live almost exclusively in marshes, bogs, lake-shores or other swampy and wet areas. whether they are friendly or mischievous depends on the myth you're reading. they are generally not very powerful.

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