Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Reload Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Fan Fiction ❯ Cho Hakkai: Murderer? ❯ Chapter 7

Cho Hakkai: Murderer?

Chapter 7

 

They all looked in the direction Goku was peering. Far away, from the direction of the town, they could see small figures heading towards them.

 

“Oh shit,” Gojyo spat. He bent down to put a few things in his backpack, quickly rolled up his bedroll and threw it among their other bags. “I'll meet you later, guys,” he said and began running into the forest.

 

“Stop!” Sanzo called out after him.

 

Gojyo stopped and looked back. “What? I can put some kilometers between them and me; they won't be able to catch me.”

 

“Maybe, maybe not,” Sanzo answered. “But they will search for you all day, and I'm not in the mood to help you out of prison, too, if they should catch you. The sheriff might even leave men in this camp to make sure you don't return here. And that would make it difficult for us to make another attempt at a jailbreak.”

 

“You have a better idea, bastard?” Gojyo growled, while keeping an eye on the tiny figures that slowly were getting bigger as they came closer. There was still time for him to run.

 

“Get over here,” Sanzo commanded. “Now!” he added as Gojyo hesitated. “Goku, give me the ropes.”

 

Gojyo stopped. “Oh, no, you bastard. You're not gonna tie me up.”

 

“Wanna be hunted in the forest that bad?” Sanzo asked. “Fine, do as you want.” He sat down on his bedroll and took out his cigarettes.

 

Gojyo was thinking rapidly. Whatever he did, it must be done before the people approaching had come so close they could see him. He hated to admit it, but Sanzo had a point. They probably could not make another attempt to get Hakkai out tonight if he ran to hide in the forest. Sighing, he threw his backpack on the pile of bags beside the jeep. “Alright, you shitty monk,” he said in as indifferent a tone as he could master. “This bloody well better work, or I'll make sure to pay you back, you bastard.” He glared at Sanzo. “Hurry up and tie me before the sheriff, or whoever is coming, can see us.”

 

Sanzo gestured to Goku, who understood and brought the ropes. “Tie him securely to that tree,” Sanzo ordered, and pointed at the tree nearest to the jeep.

 

Gojyo sat down and leaned back against the trunk, while Goku tied his hands behind his back on the other side of the tree. “Not that hard, stupid monkey,” Gojyo complained. “I'm not a real prisoner, you know.”

 

“It has to look real,” Goku explained. “They might check on it.” He finished the job by drawing a few slings of the rope around both Gojyo's body and the tree. It was rather tight, and Gojyo groaned when Goku tightened the rope even more while tying its ends in a knot.

 

Sanzo blew out some smoke. “Hit him on his face, Goku,” he said calmly, “but don't make him pass out.”

 

“What!” Gojyo could not believe what he had heard. “You fucking asshole! And you… Don't you dare touch me, monkey.” He glared at Goku who looked regretful, but determined to do as Sanzo had said.

 

“It's supposed to look real,” Goku repeated.

 

“Yeah? Then why don't the two of you punch each other to look a little ragged? You don't think it's realistic I would surrender to you without a fight, eh? On the other hand,” he smirked at his two partners, “it's not realistic that I would surrender to you at all.”

 

“Well, you did,” said Goku. “I'm sorry, Gojyo, but I think Sanzo is right.” His fist suddenly impacted with Gojyo's jaw.

 

“And once again the corrupt monk lets others do his dirty business,” Gojyo grunted.

 

Slam! He felt another blow on his cheek.

 

“Feel better if I hit you myself?” Sanzo asked, almost amiably. “Now, sit still and be quiet, while I talk to these people.” A few minutes later the people approaching were so close they could make out their number and recognize some individuals.

 

“The sheriff's coming,” Goku said, standing watching them. “That's no surprise, but the girl who manipulated our memories is here, too.”

 

“Remember, she thinks we don't recognize her,” Sanzo said calmly. “Act like you've never seen her before.”

 

“Sanzo-houshi-sama,” the sheriff greeted as he was the first man to reach the campsite. His eyes moved instantly to Gojyo, who sat tied to the tree, smirking at him. “I'm here to arrest this man.” He gestured towards Gojyo.

 

“Why?” Sanzo asked.

 

The sheriff blushed. “You must already know. You've tied him up for the same reason, haven't you?”

 

“I tied him up because he tried to free Cho Hakkai from the jail last night.” Sanzo glared at the sheriff. “If that's why you want him, you can just turn around. As you can see, I have already taken care of him.”

 

“B-but, your holiness,” the sheriff stammered. “You said yourself, you don't take any responsibility for your travel companions. I'll be happy to take him off your hands.”

 

“Very considerate of you,” came Sanzo's cold answer. “But since you've already had to take care of one of my servants, I've decided I'll take care of this one myself. I wouldn't want to impose any more on your town's tax money.”

 

Gojyo snorted to himself. Sanzo could talk a lot of bullshit when he wanted to.

 

The sheriff looked uncertain, but he did not want to give in completely in front of his men. “Then I must insist on asking a few questions of the half-breed here,” he demanded.

 

“If you like,” Sanzo answered and went to sit by the fire, lightening another cigarette.

 

The sheriff walked over to Gojyo. As Goku had expected, he tried the ropes to see if they were properly tied. Gojyo's eyes narrowed when the sheriff placed himself in front of him. Feet apart and arms crossed over his chest, the man looked down at Gojyo with hard eyes, pondering the fresh bruises on his face. “I understand from his holiness's words that I was correct in my assumption that you were the one who attempted the jailbreak last night,” he started.

 

Gojyo swore silently. Fuck the damned monk. If he had let him run off into the forest, they could have made up some convenient lie about not knowing a damned thing. If the sheriff had insisted on a guard in the camp, they could have knocked the guard down any minute. Suddenly Gojyo could think of a thousand different possibilities of what he could have done, if he had not agreed to being tied up by that bastard. This way Sanzo had made it clear that it was Gojyo who was guilty of the attacks on the guards and the attempt to free Hakkai. If the sheriff wasn't so overwhelmed by Sanzo's supposed holiness, Gojyo would have been dragged back to the jail by now.

 

As if he knew at least part of Gojyo's thoughts, the sheriff smirked down at him. “I would love to take you back with me,” he said. “But I'll leave it to your superior to deal with you.” He crouched in front of Gojyo. “What I really want to know is why you never finished the jailbreak.”

 

Gojyo glared at him. He did not want to answer, but maybe the truth would help Hakkai's case some. Not that he sincerely believed anything could help Hakkai, except for a confession from the real murderer, but it could not hurt. “Hakkai didn't want to come,” he answered. “He is under the impression that you guys actually are going to give him a fair trial, and he wants to await that.” That statement was not entirely true, but close enough.

 

The sheriff nodded. “Or he knows he's guilty, and his conscience has made him decide to take the punishment.”

 

“Listen closely,” Gojyo said angrily. “Hakkai is not guilty. He is not the one responsible for the murders, and if you could just fucking imagine the possibility that someone else did it, you might even find the real murderer.” Was it his imagination, or was there a slight movement in the small crowd where the girl stood, when he said this?

 

The sheriff smiled unpleasantly. “Who?” he asked sardonically. “Who in this town would murder a pair of well-liked and respected boys? Or do you know some other stranger who happened to have threatened the two boys and also was at the scene of the murder at that time?”

 

Gojyo could not come up with a good answer. He knew he could not mention the girl. It would only be his word against hers, and he knew perfectly well who the sheriff would believe.

 

“See, there you are. You should be as convinced as I am of his guilt.” He rose. “But of course, I'm still not entirely sure you didn't have something to do with the murder, but I have nothing to charge you for except the attempted jailbreak last night. By the way, I'll need to say a few more words about you to his holiness.”

 

Gojyo watched him walk over to Sanzo and draw him a little aside to talk to him in private. His attention was caught by the girl, Tomi, who now left the group of people who stood huddling together, trying to look superior, at one side of the clearing. Gojyo's eyes followed her as she approached him. He reminded himself that he was not supposed to remember her.

 

“Hi,” the girl said. “I'm Tomi.”

 

“Hi, beautiful,” Gojyo answered, thinking it better to keep his act as a womanizer up, so as not to raise any suspicion.

 

Tomi smiled, but it was a creepy smile. “You know,” she whispered and leaned closer to his ear. “Your friend,” she emphasized the word in an annoying way, “Hakkai, or should I say, Gonou, really is to blame for these murders.”

 

Gojyo started. He had not expected that. “No,” he denied, trying not to show that he had any idea of what the girl was talking. “Hakkai did not commit the murders.”

 

“I never said he did,” Tomi answered, and Gojyo caught a crazed glance in her eyes. “I said he is to blame.”

 

“What do you mean?” Gojyo asked cautiously. The girl looked more and more insane the more he looked at her.

 

Tomi laughed bitterly. “You see, if he only had loved me instead of Kanan, none of this would have happened. He wouldn't have gone insane when they let the youkai take her, and he would be living a happy life with me back home now. And,” she looked grimly at Gojyo, “you wouldn't have gotten him.” Then she smiled sweetly. “But thanks to Nii-hakase, I can get my revenge, and both Gonou and you will be punished. He will be dead, and you won't have him.” She stood up, laughed again, and left with a wink of her eye.

 

Gojyo stared after her. She had not admitted to committing the murders herself, but between the lines he could read that she knew Hakkai had not done it.

 

He looked at Sanzo and the sheriff, who still were talking. He could not hear what they were arguing about, but it was clear that the sheriff was trying to convince Sanzo of something, and it was not going well. Finally the sheriff bowed to Sanzo, his cheeks flushed with withheld anger, while Sanzo looked as calm and cool as always.

 

The sheriff beckoned to all his companions to follow him, and they all left. Gojyo let out a sigh of relief. “Hey, monkey,” he called to Goku. “Untie me, will ya'?”

 

“What did you call me?” Goku looked down innocently at Gojyo. “I'm not sure I heard you.”

 

“What the fuck,” Gojyo started, but then changed his mind. He really did not feel like getting into an argument at the moment. “Fine. Would you please be so kind and untie me, Goku?” he asked, overly politely.

 

Goku grinned. “Sure, Gojyo.” He released the ropes restraining Gojyo to the tree.

 

Gojyo got up and stretched. Dammit, that little monkey really had done a good job tying him up. “Shit, monkey,” he said as he massaged his wrists, “I hope you haven't caused a fucking stasis in my hands.”

 

“Uh-uh.” Goku shook his head. “You're exaggerating. I didn't tie you up that hard.”

 

Gojyo looked at his hands. “At least they're not blue,” he muttered and turned to face Sanzo.

 

“Hey, monk,” Gojyo addressed him. “What did you and the sheriff argue about?”

 

Sanzo blew out some smoke and dropped the butt to the ground, smashing it with his sandal. “The fucking sheriff told me the trial is going to be held this afternoon,” he told his companions.

 

“This afternoon?” Goku repeated. “That's soon!”

 

“Oh, shit,” Gojyo growled. “Change of plans again. Now what? Anyone for a jailbreak in the middle of the day?” He was not really serious about that last question, and the other two did not bother to answer. “Didn't think so,” Gojyo continued. “So we still do the jailbreak tonight, after the trial, huh?” He sighed. “There's gonna be a fucking million guards then.”

 

“Unless he's judged not guilty,” Goku said, but it was clear from his voice he did not believe that himself.

 

“Yeah, right,” Gojyo snorted sarcastically. “If the verdict is `not guilty,' I'm gonna be Sanzo's fucking slave for a year.”

 

Goku raised a brow. “Fucking slave?” he asked, pretending concern. “Are you sure Hakkai won't mind that?”

 

A click from Sanzo's gun made them both turn to look straight into the barrel pointing at Gojyo's head. “You two had better shut up, or I'll have two idiots less to deal with,” he threatened.

 

“All right, all right.” Gojyo lifted his hands in defeat, and decided to change the subject. “Did the fucking sheriff tell you anything more? Like that the trial is only a fake because they already know he's guilty?” he added bitterly.

 

“He said you couldn't attend the trial,” Sanzo said calmly.

 

“What! Why not?” Gojyo yelled.

 

“He wants me to keep you here, safely tied up and guarded by Goku, while I go to the trial, should I so choose.” Sanzo observed Gojyo with cold eyes. “After all, he knows you're the one responsible for the jailbreak last night—,”

 

“And the holy Sanzo-sama had nothing to do with that, of course!” Gojyo interrupted angrily. “That's something that brain-dead excuse for a sheriff can't even begin to imagine.”

 

“He also believes that you somehow are connected to the murders,” Sanzo continued as if he had not been interrupted. “If it wasn't for his stupid reverence for this Sanzo business, you would be sitting in the cell next to Hakkai right now. Probably standing trial together with him, charged with some fake accusations.” He smirked. “The sheriff really doesn't like you, kappa. Can't imagine why,” he added sarcastically.

 

“So you're planning on letting me and Goku stay here during the trial,” Gojyo exclaimed furiously. “The hell I'm gonna let you tie me up again, and I sure as hell am gonna be at the trial. There's no way you can force me to stay behind, you bastard.”

 

“Sanzo,” Goku pleaded. “You can't make us stay here. Whatever the sheriff said, you know we must be there for Hakkai.”

 

“Neither of you should jump to conclusions,” Sanzo answered dryly. “I told the sheriff that we all would be at the trial, and that he wasn't in a position to stop us.”

 

“Is that true, Sanzo?” Goku asked. “Isn't he in that position?”

 

“How the hell should I know.” Sanzo smirked. “The important thing is that the fucking sheriff believed me. He obviously doesn't want to question one of the highest ranking monks there is.”

 

Gojyo laughed a scornful laugh. “Heh, I guess even a corrupt monk can be of some use at times.”

 

That afternoon they once again broke camp, packed all their belongings in Hakuryuu, and drove into town. They parked in the same spot they had parked the night before, and asked Hakuryuu to wait for them. The jeep kyuued in a way that sounded like a promise.

 

Gojyo took the lead and rounded the prison first, and then he stopped dead, which made the others bump into him.

 

“Hey, don't stop like that!” Goku grunted, but silenced when he saw what had made Gojyo pull up short. Even Sanzo was taken aback by the sight.

 

The square outside the prison was filled with people. It looked like the whole town had met here to watch the trial. What had made Gojyo stop was a big platform that had been built in the center of the square. On one of its halves was a construction with a purpose that was easy to understand. A whip had been placed beside it, and Gojyo cringed. Flogging Hakkai? No way they were gonna go through with that! Even from over here he could see that the whip was a nasty one with knots and spikes to increase the pain. His eyes slowly moved to the construction on the other half of the platform. A gallows. The sight of that made him not only cringe, but shudder. His features hardened into a determined expression. There was no chance in hell he would let them put that rope around Hakkai's neck!

 

“Seems like you don't have to be Sanzo's slave,” Goku said seriously. “They have already decided he's guilty.”

 

“No surprise,” Sanzo remarked.

 

Gojyo could not move. He stared at the platform and at the people surrounding it. How could they build this platform before the trial? Shouldn't they at least pretend they were going to give Hakkai a fair trial? He reached out and grabbed the man closest to him by the shoulder. “Why is this gallows already built?” he accused. “Isn't there gonna be a trial?”

 

The man glanced at him and snorted. He clearly recognized Gojyo. “He'll hang. No doubt about it, why wait?” He eyed Gojyo's grip on his shoulder. “Let go of me half-breed, or I'll have the sheriff arrest you for abusing me.”

 

Gojyo looked furious, but released his grip. A woman standing next to the man gave him an apologetic look. “I'm sorry, mister,” she said, “my brother can be a little rough. About the platform, it's built in pieces, and it's always placed in the square before a trial, as a kind of reminder. It has nothing special to do with your friend.”

 

“Thank you, miss.” Gojyo forced a smile. “Tell me, does everybody here believe that Hakkai, my friend, is guilty?”

 

She nodded. “Yes, and before you ask, so do I.” She looked him straight in the eyes. “It's not because of your relationship with him. I just think the evidence shows he did it.”

 

Goku looked around. “Where will they hold the trial? Out here?”

 

Sanzo shook his head. “No. It will be in the building over there.”

 

On the other side of the square was a large official-looking house that could probably take in half the town. That could be a problem, because it looked like the whole town wanted to attend the trial.

 

“Let's go.” Sanzo started to walk across the square to the building. Goku immediately followed, and after a moment Gojyo did the same.

 

It was not an easy walk, even if the distance was short. It seemed to Gojyo that every person close to him took the opportunity to punch or elbow him. The knowledge that these people disliked him so much that they wanted to inflict pain on him was awful. Most of the time, the people looked innocent when he tried to catch their eyes. “Cowards,” he thought. But sometimes, one or another gave him a malevolent look, challenging him to pick a fight. Gojyo never responded to these challenges. He was not about to do anything that could lead to his ending up in jail, too.

 

It was annoying that everybody seemed to know him. They could not all have been at the inn during the incident with the boys and the men, nor during the breakfast the day after the murders. The rumor about him must have spread, together with the news about the crime.

 

They reached the building and managed to step up the stairs at the same time as the doors were opened and a man called out, “The trial will begin in fifteen minutes. Please enter in an orderly way!” He stepped aside to let the people who were waiting outside come in.

 

Gojyo and his companions were among the first, and they followed the few that were before them to a big hall lined with many chairs and benches. Balconies on the sides offered even more places to sit. At the front was an open space with a sole, large table in its center, and to the right, as seen from the spectators' chairs, a smaller table was placed at a 90-degree angle to the bigger one. On the side opposite the small table were two rows of benches with long tables before them; apparently that's where the jury would sit.

 

The hall quickly filled with people. Since Sanzo, Goku, and Gojyo had entered early, they managed to get seats close up in front, near the small table.

 

After the hall was filled and the doors closed to anyone else, a sturdy woman walked up to the big table and seated herself behind it. Everybody in the hall silenced. The woman opened a book in front of her on the table, read something in it, and then raised her head. “Let the jury take their seats,” she said.

 

Twelve jury members walked in and took seats on the benches at the side. When they were all seated, the judge ordered, “Bring in the accused, Cho Hakkai.”

 

 

TBC