Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Saiyuki Outside ❯ Chapter 30: Heart of Ice ( Chapter 22 )

Chapter 30: Heart of Ice

Sanzo and the rest walked deeper into the tunnel. There was suddenly a cold chill emanating from the other side of the tunnel.

"It seems to be getting colder."

"True."

The tunnel came to a halt. They gazed at the room. A room which walls was covered in glittering icicles and floor frozen hard. There was a tall swirling stairs made out of ice heading above.

"Should we go up?"

"It's the only way, Goku…"

"Let's go…"

"Let's follow what the corrupt monk said…"

The four of them walked up the stairs. Goku could see his breath formed before him. Goku was looking around.

"Stop looking around or you'll slip and fall."

"Okay…"

Goku walked up fast but carefully, not to fall behind and hit the rest behind him. He could feel his blood freeze within his blood vessels. He could feel his blood vessels on the verge of breaking.

"Sanzo, I think I feel my blood vessel about to explode."

"The temperature here is cold. Of course you'd feel your hands and its blood vessels about to break."

"What Gojyo said is true, Sanzo. If we go on any further, we'll catch frostbite."

Sanzo looked grim. Frostbite was the last thing he'd wished to face. He can't take any chances what might happen to him up there. But the thought of Shyirin lingered in his mind.

`I promised I'd protect you… and that's what I'll do if no one is beside me. I just want to be with you… That's all I ever wished for….'

"Move."

Goku stared at Sanzo in astonishment but obliged to his Master's orders. He moved a little as Sanzo went ahead alone.

"What about us, Sanzo?"

"It's not my problem whether you want to follow me or not. I'm going up there."

"Corrupt monk on his crazy crusade of love again."

"Oh, boy…"

Sanzo went up higher. He could feel the air pressure pushing him down and his body began to freeze. The rest trailed behind him but they too began to feel the danger.

"Sanzo, it's too cold up there! Let it go!"

"Not until I finish my mission…"

Sanzo ran up higher until the others couldn't catch up to him. He felt the frost gnawing on his ear as air began to become tighter. He could feel the end of the stairs right above him.

`Just a few more steps… I can do it…'

Sanzo walked a bit more, as much as his legs could carry him. He could feel his body giving up. Still, he pursued and went on higher. He walked until he felt an opening. He couldn't hear the rest anymore. He finally climbed into the hole but the air was suffocating him. Sanzo felt his body go down weaker. He felt tired and passed out to the dominating atmosphere.

Shyirin pulled herself together. She was ready to go. She looked around outside her window.

"Good! Now, I can make my escape and out of here…"

She jumped out of the window silently and ran as fast as she could into the dark jungle. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her and finally, she stopped. Finally, she was out of the boundaries of the Land of Shadows. She made her grand escape. She caught her breath and lay against the tree.

"Finally, away from Akiyoshi…"

She looked at her necklace and felt a sudden chill from the sapphire stone. It was freezing icy cold. She held it in her palm.

"What's happening? Is Sanzo in danger?"

She felt her worry. She began to think. Sen No Kanashimi was not far from here. But it would take her half a day to get out of the jungle. Worries cross her mind. She bit her lip and clenched her fist.

`What are you going to do?'

"Whatever I do is none of your business!"

`You know you must see him… why hesitate?'

"Finally, you're talking some sense. Now, buzz off and let me be!"

Shyirin picked up her feet and ran as fast as she could. She didn't care what the stupid voice in her head was saying. She needed to see Sanzo now. She needed to be near him forever. Her wish became stronger as her will increased. Shyirin could not stop now.

"Wait for me, Sanzo… I'll be there…"

Sanzo could feel an icy finger making its way around his cheek. Sanzo opened his eyes and looked at his new enemy. It was a beautiful woman, gleaming like crystals, hair of bright sapphire and skin of icy cold snow. She had cold eyes, of turquoise and her face seemed of crystalline. She smiled as Sanzo awaken.

"Welcome to my humble abode, fair warrior."

Sanzo could not feel his body. He could only see the floor view.

"It's no use moving around. Your body is sealed into the ground."

"And you won't let me tour around your house? Pity…"

"You have a sharp tongue, I see."

The woman in ice chuckled maliciously. She looked at Sanzo and put her foot on top of his head.

"Let's get to know each other before all else. I'm Queen Salfatora, the rightful heir of the White Blessed Legacy…"

"Didn't the White Blessed Clan were massacred by the 100-Eye Demon Clan?"

"Indeed, the 100-Eye Demon took most of our women and massacred our men, but my clan will live on through me."

She pushed her foot against Sanzo's head harder, making him go lower. Sanzo flinched as Salfatora pushed him deeper. It was as if an icicle was pushing his head below.

"So, Sanzo, I suspect that this might be your end?"

"No, you're only making me angry… This makes it easier for me to kill you now!'

Sanzo breaks out of the ice and leaps above. He gracefully lands on the slippery ice and aimed his gun at Salfatora, who is not a few meters away. There was silence in the air… until Salfatora's laugh broke the silence. Sanzo knew he must not let her out of his sight. She'll kill him the moment he drops his guard.

"Sanzo, have you not heard of my Maiden's Ice Touch?"

"Whatever it is, I don't give a damn. It all depends on your ability to at least, successfully kill me."

Salfatora curled her finger as a small energy of ice gather around her palm. She chuckled and looked at Sanzo in the eye.

"If that is your wish, I'll send it to you, right now!"

Hakkai shook his head as Goku and Gojyo waits for his answer. They look devastated.

"I'm sorry, guys. I tried finding a way but there seemed to be a thick layer of ice covering it. I don't really know if we can get through this barrier."

"Well, what do we do now?"

The three sat in revered silence as they began to think. If they don't act fast, Sanzo might die up there and the chances of him in risk are 80%. Goku began tapping the ice.

"What if we tried to break through the ice?"

"It's worth a try but my Chi Gong won't work."

"Well, it's up to me and Goku to break this."

Gojyo and Goku raised their weapons and pushed their weapons hard and finally making a hole in the wall. Their faces enlightened.

"Let's go before our time runs out!"

The three of them climbed their way through the hole and up above.

Sanzo hid behind an icy pillar. Salfatora have gone a little stronger than before. She must've combined magic with her fist power, causing everything in contact to freeze over the limit and shatter into pieces. Sanzo reloaded his gun quickly as Salfatora got ready for her next attack. He could feel an immense energy coming from her. He quickly leapt as the pillar he stood behind broke. He could hear a soft thud under the icy pillar. Salfatora smirked.

"Now, I just broke your only escape from here and the only way your friends can come through here."

"Damn!"

"Ouch!" Goku exclaimed as the pillar hit him on the head.

"What happened, Goku?"

"She must've sensed us coming. Are you okay, Goku?"

"I'm fine….. Ouch….."

"We can't get through for now. It's up to Sanzo to finish all this."

"We'll just hope that the corrupt monk will get through this."

All of them looked at the ceiling and all they can do is just wait and hope that Sanzo gets through this without their help… safely.

Up around the thick vegetation that grew, something was coming closer. The noise it made was loud. It was not just one… but it was many. Soon, the noise stopped. Akiyoshi stepped out of the jungle with his two followers. Venus spotted a footprint on the ground.

"She left a trace."

"So, it's true. She's heading for Sen no Kanashimi's base to save Sanzo."

"Even so, she must've have gotten there by now. There's no chance we get to her first, Akiyoshi. It's pointless."

"Aki, we should go back. Kikka is right."

"NO. BOTH of YOU head back for the CASTLE. I'll handle this."

"But, Akiyoshi--"

"Go! Both of you are only slowing me down! Go, before I change my mind!"

Akiyoshi commanded in a very ferocious way that made Kikka and Venus nearly jump out of their skin. They could sense the frightening terror within Akiyoshi. They moved back and bowed.

"As you wish, my lord," the both of them said unanimously and disappeared.

Akiyoshi held his pain as he let his black wings spread wide open. The raven black feathers shone brightly as reflected in the sun and each like solid knives. The pain stopped and Akiyoshi sighed in relief.

"Shyirin… the pain you've made is deep but I'll get you back for it…"

Salfatora laughed as she shot hit three icicles at Sanzo. He dodged but the last one nearly got him. It was a close shave for Sanzo. He had no time to sigh in relief or rest. It was as if Salfatora was playing with him.

"Enough already?! And I thought you were having fun."

"You're a sadistic little creature, aren't you?"

"Watch your mouth when you speak to me!"

A bunch of icicles shot out from her body and hit Sanzo, pinning him on the wall. One went deep into his shoulder. Sanzo groaned in pain as the ice went deep into his flesh. Salfatora laughed gleefully and approached Sanzo. Sanzo knew that he can't escape now. He had no escape. Salfatora's got the better advantage and Sanzo knew he had no chance winning. Blood trickled from his mouth as he watched his last moments. He shut his eyes, knowing he will not survive this. Her steps seemed closer and suddenly there was silence.

"So this is the end… Well, I failed everybody… I failed Goku, Gojyo and Hakkai… I failed everybody who was counting on me… I failed myself… But most of all, I failed Shyirin… I hope that I won't be forgiven for this…"

"Even if you die, you won't be forgiven!"

Sanzo opened his eyes at once. It was Shyirin standing before his eyes. He shook his head and turned away.

"Is it just a dream… or are you real?"

"Sanzo…don't you even know it's me?"

"How can I be sure that it's you and not Salfatora or some other dreams I've been through?"

"Believe me."

The figure moved away as another figure lie on the floor. It was Salfatora, lying unconscious without a single sound.

"Shyirin… you are here…"

Shyirin's eyes overwhelmed with tears as they trickled down her face. She wiped Sanzo's mouth with her finger as Sanzo smiled a moment.

"Why are you smiling? You're injured badly and you still can smile in this situation?!"

Shyirin wiped her eyes and then, tried to release Sanzo's from the icicles. She tried to pull it out with her bare hands as Sanzo laughed a little with a groan after that. The pain was intense.

"You can't pull it out, Shyirin. It's too tough for you."

"It's not tough. Just you see."

She moved a little back as her wings came out from her back. She put her hand on the icicle as the heat from her hand melted away. Sanzo groaned in pain as the first one and all the other icicles simultaneously melted away. He fell weakly as Shyirin caught him in her arms. She laid him to rest against the icy walls and bent beside him. Shyirin put her hand on Sanzo's wound.

"This is gonna hurt…"

She used her power again and healed back Sanzo's wound, trying to pull the skin and flesh back together. Sanzo groaned in pain but Shyirin's other hand grabbed his, reassuring it'll be okay. Sanzo calmed down a bit and soon, the wound disappeared from sight. A bead of sweat trickled from Sanzo's face. It was all over. The worst for now was over. Sanzo felt his body rejuvenated again with energy. Shyirin tucked back her wings into her body once more and let her grip on Sanzo's hand go. She pulled her dark brown hair back and smiled with relief, her eyes glimmering with tears of happiness in her eyes.

"I'm so happy... to see you again… You can't imagine what I've been through for you…"

"Oh… but I know how it feels--"

Sanzo pulled Shyirin to his body as he took out his gun and fired. Shyirin screamed in fright as the shot was released. She turned to see Salfatora's body on the ground, melting away. She turned away as held on close to Sanzo's robe. The both of them turned their heads away as the last remains of Salfatora began to melt away like cold ice on the ground of a hot summer's day.