Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ In Season ❯ Chapter 2

Major non-canon alert: I have been waiting for more of Yaone's past before I wrote this part but decided to create one instead... Plus, the relationship between Yaone and Dokugakuji... Gomen to ze canon nazis...don't hurt me? >_< * Twitches her wolfy tail, goes pleading sparkly-eyed, flattens her wolfy ears and grows puppy paws like Tsuzuki from Yami no Matsuei*

Spoilers: some for Yaone but is confused with non-canon stuff.

Warning: OOC for lack of sleep, hee!

Part 3 - Out of the Frying Pan

Sanzo turned around so fast that he could've gotten a whiplash injury. As frayed as his nerves were, he nearly jumped out of the jeep as he pointed his gun at Hakkai.

"Ne, Sanzo, don't worry. I'm not going to do anything to you." Hakkai said, looking injured at the assumption. Sanzo didn't believe him one bit. Hakkai was a past master at looking harmless, proven again.

Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth... Yeah, right...and I'm as holy as they say I am...until they know me...

"I'd rather not take the chance, thank you." Sanzo said wryly. He carefully got out of the jeep, backed away slowly and started to run.

"Ne, the woods aren't safe. I can feel youkai auras..." Hakkai called out.

I think I'll take my chances with strange youkai...thank you... At least I can fight them honestly...

Meanwhile, somewhere in the woods...

Yaone sighed as she sat upon a pine tree. She was fast running out of water. It was very tempting to go down onto the forest to find the dragon and go home into the palace. She wondered if it was safe now to go down when a voice drifted from down the forest floor...

"Yaone-chan, where are you?" Dokugakuji shouted.

"Yaone?" That was Kougaiji.

Then a few thumps and crashes, a fist striking somebody else…

Yaone sighed.

Okay it's not safe to come down...

She remembered what it took to get to subdue her comrades last night. She wasn't going to do it again.

Yester-night...

"Yaone, how would you like to walk with me in the moonlight?" Kougaiji asked.

"Why would she?" Dokugakuji bit back.

"I'm asking her not you."

Thwack. Whack.

"Sumimasen, Kougaiji-sama and Dokugakuji-san." Yaone said, as she looked very embarrassed over the still forms of her comrades. Tired of their constant bickering the blue haired girl had knocked them both over with butt of her spear.

Maybe they'll be normal tomorrow morning... Hope springs eternal...

Not that Yaone had that much hope. That's what she'd been hoping for the past two days since her master and fellow retainer had been fighting. But what else could she do?

I wonder if there's some sort of chemical in their system that's making them act this strangely? Maybe an aphrodisiac? But I could have sworn that they didn't eat anything that we didn't prepare ourselves. Airborne? Something in these woods? Maybe I should try to get them out of here and they'll behave normally again.

Yaone hoped that that was it. She hated to lose Kougaiji-sama because of something as trivial as this. Besides, Doku had been quite a friend since they had been serving together in the palace...

I will not have them killing each other over me... I'm just not worth that...

Her eyes inadvertently fell on Kougaiji-sama, she remembered being held in those strong arms when she had so carelessly tried to end her life for failing him. She remembered...

Feeling of strength that was there for her to lean on...a commanding voice that told her she had worth and she was cared for…

Yaone had been alone for most of her life. She didn't remember her parents, if she had parents at all, just the streets. The mean streets, she learned to survive by thievery. One day, she had managed to impress on of her marks and the man took her home as an apprentice-bodyguard. He had been a rogue chemist who trafficked in illegal drugs and explosives as well as legit substances but in his own way he had been honorable. He had Yaone trained to fight and able to survive without him. It was a good thing, too. For only a mere two years, the man's sins had caught up with him. One night, he didn't come back from one of his dealings. Yaone never found out what happened.

Assassins, maybe...or a deal gone sour...

It was of no matter, really. What mattered was that she was alone again...

He might not have been much, but he did care for me in his own way...

Yaone had tried to look for him for a month but hadn't been able to find even a clue to his whereabouts.

Everyone I care about seem to die or leave me...

She decided then to fend off for herself and was caught six months later. Kougaiji-sama had come in like an angel to rescue her from the horrible fate that awaited her in the 100 Eyed Devil's hands. She didn't wonder her loyalty to her lord.

Kougaiji-sama is so good to me...

Or her dedication to his cause...

I was willing to die when I thought I had failed him... After all, I do owe him my life...and he care for me…

She couldn't doubt that after that incident with Huang Long 'mercenaries'. She had been careless, captured and beaten. Still, she knew that Kougaiji-sama would come for her.

A shame it was that he had to rescue me but still…

She remembered walking through the burning carnage in the camp, the sound of her name echoing with desperateness in his voice and wondered…

All this for me… Oh, Kougaiji-sama I swear I'll never fail you again…

Then she and Hakkai-dono had met her Prince. The tender concern in his eyes was almost more than Yaone could bear. She acknowledged then that she meant more than just a retainer did to her Prince, more than Yaone, the chemist.

He actually cares for me…

Still, Dokugakuji had been the first friend Yaone had. Not master, but equal...

Doku and she had the responsibility of guarding Kougaiji-sama's back. He had taken hits for her and she had for him and more...

"Gazing up at the stars?" A gruff voice said behind Yaone.

"Aa." Yaone replied, not knowing what to say to this giant of a youkai who served Kougaiji-sama. He was as faithful as she and was in the inner circle of the Prince's confidence.

"So what do you want to be?" Dokugakuji asked, when the silence stretched.

"A faithful retainer of Kougaiji-sama's."

"Is that all?"

"What do you mean?"

Is he testing my loyalty? I haven't done anything to betray Kougaiji-sama...and certainly not to that uppity bitch...

Yaone thought frantically. She knew well enough the intrigues of court that swirled around the Gyokumen Koushi and Kougaiji-sama.

"Oi, don't take it like that. We're probably the only two people here that Kougaiji-sama can be certain of to watch his back. I'd like us to be friends. I see you following our Prince around along with me and wonder what does Yaone want for Yaone?"

That was unexpected. The astonished silence stretched out yet again as delicate as the spun starlight thread of a shooting star hanging in the night.

"Me, if I had a chance... I'd have stayed to take care of my younger brother. He's such a troublemaker..." Those words and in the wistful look in Dokugakuji's eyes as he looked into the starry night sky touched something in Yaone. It filled and warmed a place that she never thought existed.

"I never had any family." Yaone volunteered, surprising herself.

Why did I...do that?

It was easy enough to live day to day without thinking of questions like "What do I want?" when you had food on the table, clothes to wear, shelter for the night and important work to do. All four things that Yaone thought were vital to living. But what did she want?

"No one to protect or to love?"

"No one but Kougaiji-sama and not to love."

"Then Kougaiji-san is your family and if you'll let me..."

What does Yaone want for Yaone?

That was the first time someone asked Yaone that question. Everyone expected her to conform to something. First, it was the chemist. He told her to be a bodyguard-apprentice if she wanted a safe haven for the night, food and shelter. Then it was Kougaiji-sama who told her to serve her as his chemist after rescuing her from the 100 Eyed Devil.

Not that she resented them... Especially not Kougaiji-sama! He cares for me, more than anything, I don't doubt that. Besides, that was what I was trained for. But...

But she did wonder...

What do I want for me?

Sometimes, she felt that the pleasant accommodating Yaone had smothered all that there is of her, that there was nothing more to her than chemist who followed Kougaiji come hell or high water. The truth was she didn't know what Kougaiji-sama and Dokugakuji saw in her besides that.

Who am I really?

It was a very disquieting notion. Then she heard a groan and all thought fled her head.

Where can I hide? I don't want to bop them again... I might do some permanent damage this time...

Yaone sighed again. There was just no way she could harm her adored master or her beloved friend.

Not even by accident... I'll just to wait till they run out of steam and sneak past them...

Sanzo dashed through the woods with inspired speed. Tired as he was, he didn't want to be caught by his crazy teammate any time soon. He panted as he came to a stop in a clearing.

Maybe this is far enough for the night...at any rate, I'm too tired to run any longer...

"Yaone!"

The shout startled Sanzo. He whirled around to see the youkai prince.

"Yaone?" Kougaiji peered into the woods with his youkai night vision. He was so preoccupied that he didn't even notice the blond monk.

This is an opportunity to rid myself of him...

Sanzo took out his gun and aimed it at the youkai and shot. Kougaiji looked up and ducked just in time to avoid the shot.

"Have you seen Yaone?" Kougaiji asked Sanzo, mildly. He absolutely ignored the fact that the monk had tried to attack him.

Sanzo recognized the intense hungry look in the youkai's eyes almost immediately.

It's the same look in Gojyo's and Goku's eyes... I don't think he's going to be much of a menace when he's in this condition... He doesn't even think to fight me...

"No, I haven't."

And I wouldn't tell you either if I knew...

After the last couple of days, Sanzo had some sympathy for a fellow sufferer of unwavering sexual attentions.

That is if she wasn't affected by what ever this is...and gone off with the other one, Doku-what-his-face...

"Yaone!" Kougaiji yelled several times more into the forest. He wandered in and out of the trees and shook the bushes.

Sanzo watched all this without interest. He was dropping off into a doze when he felt a hand on his chin.

"Say, you aren't bad looking yourself...Since it appears that my Yaone has gone with Dokugakuji…" Kougaiji mused. He was leaning over the blond with a predatory expression on his face.

"Um..." Sanzo said in a dazed manner. He was drowsy from the long day he had and wasn't primed for a fight.

This is unexpected...

Sanzo watched as the sun-kissed features approached, still a bit too sleepy to care. He looked at the glowing gray eyes blankly. Then he felt the warmth of those lips on his.

I should try to stop him..

Sanzo readied his hand to give the youkai prince a push but before he could do so it was grabbed. Forestalled by the other's strong grip, he had no choice but to let the kiss happen.

Kougaiji tasted of the woods and mint freshness. He kissed with slick sophistication, gently lapping at Sanzo's lips until he was let in. He twined his tongue around Sanzo's with slow deliberateness until...

Kaboom! Crash! Smash!

Kougaiji was thrown into a tree in the opposite side of the clearing.

"It's not nice to attack Sanzo while he's tired and has his defenses down." Hakkai said, smiling sweetly but a vein throbbed on his forehead.

"I wasn't attacking him." Kougaiji replied, just as mildly. He threw a fire attack at Hakkai.

Hakkai dodged but the attack was a near miss.

I shouldn't just stand here...help Hakkai...

The monocle-wearing youkai directed a blast that ricocheted off one of the trees hitting Kougaiji straight on, rendering him immobile as several trees were also felled caging him.

On the other hand, he seems to be able to defend himself handily...

Sanzo continued on his interrupted sprint away from lust-crazy youkai.

There must be some place safe in these woods…

"Now that's done." Hakkai dusted his hands as he stood over the sprawled, unconscious Kougaiji. The youkai prince was so artistically sprawled with his vest in tasteful disarray and torn pants in were creatively revealing but the monocle-wearing youkai barely gave the other a glance. His mind was still preoccupied with important things, namely with the purple-eyes, silky blond hair and a slender body of a certain monk.

No one tries to take Sanzo away from me...not you, not Gojyo, not Goku...without consequences...

"Oi, Sanzo!" Hakkai caroled.

Sanzo sighed, he was tired and he could hear the faint echo of Hakkai's voice. The issue seemed to have been decided in the brown-haired youkai's favor.

Should've know that Kougaiji was no match for Hakkai's hidden reserves of hostility... Where do I hide?

Sanzo saw the good-sized pine tree.

This strong pine scent should confuse my trail until he's no longer frisky enough to care...

Yaone started as she heard the rustle of pine needles under her.

Did Doku or Kougaiji-sama find me? I could almost wish...

Yaone squashed the thought before it could fully form. She really couldn't choose in between them. After all, who ever she chose, the one left would be hurt. She popped out her spear just in case.

Oh well, might as well be certain...

The beautiful blue-haired chemist looked down to see tousled blond hair and white robes through the needles.

Oh, it's only Genjo Sanzo...what is he doing here?

"Don't you mind sharing this tree with me?" Yaone asked as Sanzo settled on the branch opposite hers on the trunk.

If he does, he could find another tree. I was here first!

"As long as you don't start chasing me...youkai..." Sanzo smirked at her.

Oh, what gall...!

Yaone had just about enough of this. First, the peculiar behavior of her comrades, and now this uncalled for conceit of her primary enemy. She brought the spear-butt down hard on the blond's head.[1]

* The NC17 voting is still on. Though the lucky yaoi couple's more or less fixed already. ^__^

Author's Notes:

[1] Both of them are really stress out. >:D What do you folks think? Was it justified concern or arrogant conceit on Sanzo's part? Hehehe.

* Sorry for the seriousness in the chapter, I will try to do better next time. -_-; I can't help it, there has to be some. Sorry also for the mush, all will be revealed to necessary in the final reckoning.

* I like Yaone. I thought of linking her with Doku or Kougaiji. Depends on what's more humorous to me. Yaone gets a good man either way, an important thing.

NEXT: Sanzo decides to ask an answer from a source he can trust above all else...and gets more than what he bargains for…BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Meanwhile, where are Gojyo and Goku and what're they up to?