Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Crimson Shadows ❯ The News ( Chapter 4 )

"She's been here," Gojyo said and Hakkai looked at him.

"Who?" he inquired as Gojyo lit a cigarette.

"Rianna. How many redheaded chicks are there?"

"Yay! I can give her my present! Can we eat now, Sanzo?" Goku asked as he hopped down from the wall top that he had been walking on.

"First I think we should address a dilemma," Hakkai said.

"There's no problem," Sanzo said. "You'll just have to find your own place to sleep."

"My hair, right?" Gojyo asked.

"I'm sure we can work something out," Hakkai said.

"Don't bother. I'd like to do some investigating anyway."

"Please be careful. The villagers are extremely uneasy. I fear something will happen soon."

"All right. I'm a big boy. I'll watch out for myself."

He waved his hand in goodbye then picked up his weapon and strolled off. He turned the ring on his finger as he walked down the street, fully aware of the looks of hate and fear that followed him. There was an uneasiness that breathed in the air as he walked to the edge of the village. He saw a house a little off to the side and walked towards it. He knocked on the door and forced it to stay open when a woman inside attempted to close it as quickly as she had opened it.

"I have some questions I'd like answered. I'm not going to hurt you," he said and the woman grudgingly allowed him to enter the house. He glanced at a photograph of a young girl with red hair. He picked it up, trying to picture the crimson haired woman that had stepped into his life as a child. He glanced at the woman, who stood off to the side and held out the picture.

"Who is this?" he asked.

***

"Is she gonna come back with Gojyo?" Goku asked as he started at the gift he held in his hand.

"I don't know. I'm sensing a great uneasiness in this village," Hakkai said as Goku rolled over on the bed.

"We're near the demon king Rynna's castle. That must be the reason for the uneasiness," Sanzo said as he turned the page of his newspaper.

"Yes but times change."

"I'm fully aware of that but I can't see King Rynna as being the cause of all this uneasiness. There has to be something more."

"When's he gonna be back, Sanzo?" Goku asked as he laid his feet on the wall.

"Would you shut up?" Sanzo asked. "What's wrong?"

"I smell blood."

"Where?" Hakkai inquired.

"He went off on his own. It's his problem," Sanzo said.

"You're not willing to help?" Goku asked.

"I'm not getting involved with affairs of the heart."

"But he's your friend, isn't he?"

"He asked to come along. I have nothing to do with his problems."

"That may be true but you're still going to help him out," Hakkai said and Goku sprang to his feet.

"Yay!" he cried. "Let's go!"

***

"I don't tell many people about Lenora. I was extremely ashamed at the fact that my sister became involved with the demon king. It was an act of passion and I just couldn't accept that. She came to my house and I allowed her to stay for awhile but when she was out shopping, she was taken. I don't know if the demon king's men took her prisoner or what. I was left with Lenora but I didn't want to be involved. I left her at an orphanage, hoping that she would have a better life away from all this," the woman said as Gojyo lit a cigarette.

"You have no idea what she's been through as a result of your fear of getting involved," Gojyo said.

"I assume that you've met her. How is she?"

"She's a lot better now than when I first ran into her. When she had first seen me, she ran into the forest and attempted to kill herself. My hair color and my eyes reminded her of every single moment of pain that she has suffered throughout her entire life. I was able to speak to her, though. I'm the only one that knows what she's been through but a lot of this could have been avoided if you just accepted her and not worried about your own reputation. Seeing woman cry and suffer like that has always affected me. Now, she was here in this village."

"She was?"

"Yes. You were not aware of that?"

"No."

"What's the easiest way to the demon king's castle?"

"You're going there?"

"Yes. I told her that I'd see her again after my mission is over. I'd like her to be around for that."

"It's nice to know that she has someone that cares deeply for her."

"I care for her because I know what it's like to be outcast from society. I know this must be a little melodramatic but I seriously think that this chick is the one I want to stay with."

Gojyo narrowed his eyes and picked up his weapon. He walked over to the window and scanned the area. He saw something move in the shadows and turned to the woman.

"Go somewhere safe," he said and she looked at him.

"Why?" she asked.

"There's danger out there."

"No. The youkai have come here. The king must want me."

"I thought King Rynna was a fair king."

"He was but the loss of Lenora has played heavily on his sanity. He has grown quite unstable over the years. He is no longer the wise king of the past."

"All right. Thanks for the information. I'll watch out for myself. I'll get her back," Gojyo said and walked out of the room. His eyes narrowed as he watched a shape slink through the trees. He readied his weapon as a youkai stepped out of the trees. Then, as if something had called them out of hiding, more and more youkai came as if they were a herd of scorpions or some other type of poisonous insect teeming from the shadows.

"Gojyo!" Goku cried and Gojyo glanced in his direction.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"It appears that you need some assistance," Hakkai said and Gojyo glanced at him.

"Yeah. It looks that way."

"Did you find anything out about Miss Rianna?"

"I found out a lot. As soon as these bastards are taken care of, I'm going to Demon King Rynna's castle. Come if you want. I don't care whether you come or stay behind with the worldly monk. This is my business and not yours."

"Why are you intent on going to the demon king's castle?"

"That's where she is."

"Miss Rianna? Why?"

"She's the demon king's daughter."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. I just spoke with her aunt. She was against her sister's involvement but she cared for Rianna for a short time. She gave Rianna to the orphanage because she didn't want to get involved with the youkai. Now it appears that these minions of the demon king are trying to keep us here and that pisses me off."

Gojyo swung his weapon, the chain sweeping out from the staff as the blade, crafted in a half-moon fashion sliced through several youkai. Goku watched for a moment, then jumped right into the melee. Gojyo glanced beside him and Goku grinned.

"So you got a head start. I'm still gonna beat you," he said.

"I wasn't aware we were keeping score," Gojyo said.

"Oh, let him have his fun. Sorry about that," Hakkai said as he chopped a youkai in the neck.

"I'm gonna come with you to the castle," Goku said and Gojyo looked at him.

"This isn't going to be a pleasure trip, you know," Gojyo said.

"I know but I still wanna go with you. Hey, I've gotten three."

"I got five."

"Well, you started before I did."

"Pests," Sanzo said and fired his gun.

"My this is invigorating, isn't it, Sanzo?" Hakkai asked as he blasted another pair of youkai.

"This is a waste of my time."

"But it seems that Goku is having so much fun."

"That monkey always has too much fun."