[Episode One : Go to the West / To
the
[Opening Theme “For Real” / English]
Narrator
It was a time when heaven and
earth coexisted, peacefully; where demon and man were more than neighbors –
they were brothers. Here, civilization and faith were born – the foundations of
man. It was Shangri-La.
But then, the brotherhood
of man and demon turned. Man became Abel, to demons Cain. [A/N Essentially the Biblical conflict between the brothers Cain and
Abel, Cain striking Abel down, etc.,etc.. The line could have been a bit more
clear, I think.] They grew angry, and powerful... and hungry. And they
convened far to the west, under the command of one.
[Scene
Change / the monastery of Chang’An]
Monk
1 (indignant) How dare you! Get
down!
Monk
2 This tree does not bear fruit
for one such as you.
Goku
(in the tree) Relax. The bush
is loaded. There’s plenty to go around. And I’m starvin’! (spits peach pit at
monks)
Monks (uh!)
Sanzo (approaches) (resigned voice) What
is it now? What’s he done this time?
Monk
2 Your companion feels entitled
to partake of some of the local produce.
Monk
1 These peaches are offerings to
the Merciful Goddess. (points up at Goku) Get him down now!
Goku A peach is a peach is a peach. Get
over it.
Sanzo (grabs Monk 2 by his robe) He’s not
my companion. It’s guilt by association and that’s all.
Monk
2 If you say so...
Sanzo Get down, Goku.
Goku (pauses in the middle of biting a
peach) Huh?
Sanzo Dinner’s over. Let’s go.
Goku Go where? (leaps down out of tree
and begins bobbing over Sanzo’s shoulders) You gonna take me to a real
restaurant? Huh? Huh? Are ya? Huh? Huh? Hey? Huh? Huh? Hey, are ya? Huh? Huh?
(maniacal laughing)
Sanzo Shut UP! (wields paper fan and slaps
Goku to the ground)
Goku Ow! What the hell did you do that
for?
Sanzo (starts stomping on Goku’s head,
talking over Goku’s noises of pain) Just shut up and get changed or I’ll do it
again. And if you don’t move it now, I’m leaving you behind. (walks away)
Goku All right, fine, I’m going...
Monk
2 (murmuring to Monk 1) He is no
better than an unruly child. Why would a priest with a spiritual heritage so
respectable as Sanzo travel with such a frivolous degenerate?
Monk
1 For this I have no answer.
Sanzo (GLARE)
Monks (realize that Sanzo overheard them)
(gulp!)
Sanzo Don’t act like I’m not here.
Besides, what I pick up or I throw away is none of your business.
Goku (seriously) Pick up? Wha’d’ya mean,
like a disease?
Sanzo (vein throb) Shut your mouth, and move
your ass.
Sanzo /(thinking) Why did I pick him up?
That’s what I’d like to know./
[Flashback: Younger Sanzo stands in front of Goku’s mountain
prison]
/
Younger Sanzo You.
Are you the one who’s been calling to me?
Younger Goku Huh?
No. I haven’t been calling to anyone at all. Wh... who are you?
Younger Sanzo Look,
kid, don’t lie to me. I’ve heard you calling out to me for years. It’s
annoying, and I’m here now, so you can quit calling. (reaches out his hand)
Come on. You’re coming with me. It’s fate.
Younger Goku (reaches
up to Sanzo’s hands, and his chains fall away)
/
[Fast forward – it’s
now obviously later afternoon, Sanzo’s got his crown on and Goku’s in his
traveling cape and clothing. He’s carrying a backpack as well.]
Goku Wait up! (starts bobbing over
Sanzo’s shoulders again) Hey! C’mon, man! Hey! Tell me where we’re going!
C’mon! Tell me, tell me! C’mon! Huh? Are ya? Huh? Huh? Huh?
Sanzo (tiredly) One more sound and I’m
going to kill you.
Goku (runs up in front of Sanzo) C’mon,
at least tell me where we’re goin’. I promise I’ll keep it a secret.
Sanzo We’re going to look for Hakkai and
Gojyo. We find them and go.
Goku (big eyes) Go where?
Sanzo (stops dramatically and looks off
into the sunset. Cue inspirational music)
[Title: Go to the West]
[Katakana: To the Distant West]
[Scene Change / outside of bar. It’s night.]
[inside bar]
Random person Put yer money in!
Another person Read ‘em and weep!
Lady 1 Good luck, Gojyo.
Lady 2 C’mon! You can do it.
Soushi Don’t bet on it. (chuckles) Two pairs.
Two pairs, Jacks over Kings. (laughter)
Gojyo Wow. What a coincidence. I’ve got
two pairs, too. (lays down his cards) A pair of
Lady 2 Ohhh, nice.
Lady 1 Very nice.
Soushi Damnit. (throws down another wad of
bills)
[Outside bar]
Soushi Just take it all! (dark mist starts to
roll down street) Take all of it!
Gojyo Sorry about that, Soushi. Believe me,
these three queens around me are more important than the four on the table.
Soushi [A/N
Ever notice how he never took off a limiter? Could it be that demons can look
human at will? O.o?] (growls and starts to look more and more demonic.
Overturns table at Gojyo and the women. Strikes out at Gojyo, but Gojyo easily
evades the slash)
Gojyo (hands in his pockets) (commanding)
Stop it!
Soushi (growls and obligingly rips off his
shirt and undershirt)
Gojyo /(thinking) He’s lost it. What’s
going on?/
Soushi (growls and move to attack women)
Ladies (squeal!)
Gojyo (attacking Soushi) I said knock it
off! Hyah! (punches Soushi)
Soushi Uh! (hit, flies back through window
outside bar, landing on his feet. Looks up when door squeaks)
Gojyo (stands in door of tavern, shoujou
in hand) (seriously) Step down, Soushi. It was just a friendly little game of
cards.
Soushi (growls)
Gojyo All right then. You can have it
your way. (moves so fast his strike cannot be seen; first in tavern doorway,
then on other side of street)
Soushi (scream of pain; disperses into dust)
Gojyo (straightens) That sucks. I always
made money off that guy, too.
[Scene change / mountains silhouetted over misty forest.
It’s night time.]
Hakkai (driving alone in dark mist in jeep)
God, I need a katana to cut through this shit. Hakuryu, hit the fog lights,
will you?
Hakuryu Kyuuu. (fog lights switch on)
[a child runs
in front of jeep]
Hakkai Holy shit! (turns wheel sharply to
left) Look out, kid, get out of the way! Hakuryu, transform!
Hakuryu Kyuuuuu! (bright light; Hakkai is
deposited on his hands and knees in front of child, dragon hovering above him.)
Hakkai (looks up; sighs) Geeze, kid, that
was too close. (realization) Are you all right, kid?
[child is
obviously a demon]
Child (fast breathing)
Hakkai (smiles) Mmm. You’re just a little
shaken up. C’mon, kid, let’s get up and I’ll help you find your parents, okay?
(stands; Hakuryu alights on his shoulder. Pretty boy shot) My name’s Hakkai.
Who’re you?
Child (clenches fist and growls)
Hakkai Huh? Oh, c’mon, kid, don’t be afraid.
I’m not gonna hurt you, I promise.
Child (lunges forward with a scream and
bites down on Hakkai right forearm)
Hakuryu (flies away)
Hakkai (wince)
Child (gnaw)
Hakkai Don’t do that, we’re practically
family.
Child (blink?)
Hakkai That’s right, man, I’m just like you.
(pause. Smiles) Heh. Well, maybe I’ve got a little more self control. What
happened? Where are your power limiters?
Hakuryu (hovers behind Hakkai)
Child (lets go and back off) (growls)
Hakkai Don’t worry, I’ll help you find them.
Child (jumps up in air with a scream)
Hakkai (jumps back out of the way. Child
lands where Hakkai was once standing)
Child (crouch)
Hakkai That settles that. This kid didn’t lose
his power limiter – he took the damn thing off and he doesn’t want it back!
(looks up at Hakuryu) It’s time to go!
Hakuryu Kyuuu! (bright light; transforms back
into jeep)
Child (shields eyes from light)
Hakkai (sitting in jeep; shadows with red eyes
surround the clearing) (smiles) Woah, and here I was worried you’d be out here
all alone and defenseless. (seriously) C’mon, Hakuryu. Let’s just leave these
boys alone. They’re not going to need my protection. (reverses Hakuryu and
turns back the way he came)
Hakuryu Kyu, kyu.
Hakkai Yeah, I know. I felt it, too. Dark...
and hungry. There is some serious spiritual shit going down. (cheerfully) So,
you can drive a little faster if you want.
Hakuryu Kyuuu!
[Scene change / forest. It’s day.]
Goku (plops down) Man, I’m hungry.
C’mon, Sanzo, how long until we get there, man? I’m sick of walking and I’m
gettin’ tired of waiting for lunch!
Sanzo (vein throb) (eye twitch)
Goku Hey, I’m talking to you!
Sanzo (whirls around and wields paper fan)
And I’m sick of it! (starts stomping on Goku’s head, talking over Goku’s sounds
of pain) We’ll never get there if you keep taking breaks every five minutes!
Goku Chyah! Why are you being such a
hardass? I’m hungry! You’re a priest, how about a little compassion?
Sanzo Look. You and I know it isn’t
possible for you to starve to death.
Goku Yeah, well you don’t know that for
a fact.
Sanzo Yes, I do.
Goku Well, instead of turning this into
a death march, you could have just had Hakkai pick us up in the jeep.
Sanzo (stomps on Goku’s head!) Shut up,
and get up.
Goku And why is it your sudden burning
desire to go hook up with Hakkai and Gojyo, anyway?
Sanzo (stops)
Goku Yeah, I thought that’d get ya.
Sanzo ...there’s something I need to
confirm.
Goku Wha’d’ya mean? Wha’d’ya need to
confirm?
Sanzo Yesterday I was summoned to the
[Flash back:
/
Announcer Servant
of the Northern God of Heaven, Genjo Sanzo, humbly presents himself.
Male Avatar It
was good of you to come, Genjo Sanzo.
Sanzo (kneeling;
bows his head) Sire.
Male Avatar Time
is of the essence. Pardon us for pressing you.
Sanzo Of
course.
[Sanbutsushin appear]
Male Avatar Surely
you can sense it. The dark disturbance that gnaws at this world.
Female Avatar(right) From
the west, to the east, the affliction now spans all of Shangri-La. The day of
brotherhood is fading. Demons who once walked in peace with man grow now
savage.
Sanzo Yes,
I have seen it. Humans now cower before demons. They live their days in terror.
Shangri-La is but a name or memory; now it is the very picture of hell. Tell
me, do you know what has caused this abomination?
Male Avatar Have
you ever heard a whisper of Gyumaoh?
Sanzo /(thinking)
Gyumaoh.../
Male Avatar Tell
us, what do you know of this Gyumaoh?
Sanzo Gyumaoh.
They saw he is the great demon who refused to coexist with humans and devoured them.
He devoured them as was his pleasure.
Male Avatar Go
on.
Sanzo But
Gyumaoh was put to rest in
Male Avatar But
now Gyumaoh may breathe again. He is being revived... by someone.
Female Avatar(Right) If
unopposed, this person will succeed.
Female Avatar(Left) Using
science from another time and forbidden magic.
/
Goku This sounds bad. Real bad.
Sanzo No one can predict what will happen,
Goku.
[Flash back:
/
Female Avatar(Left) Science
and black magic are diametrically opposed to one another. As forbidden as the joining
with humans; the negative aura will destroy a delicate balance.
Female Avatar(Right) That
which must always maintain separation can never be brought together.
Sanzo And
it is this spiritual imbalance that is causing the savagery of the demons and
humankind.
Male Avatar Yes.
And that is why we are forced to make this demand of you. You have those with
whom you share a past: Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai. You four must travel to
Female Avatar(Right) Discover
who is conducting these experiments to revive Gyumaoh, and why.
Female Avatar(Left) You
cannot allow the monster to be resurrected.
Male Avatar So
the demons can be recalled to themselves.
Female Avatar(Right) Then
Shangri-La can once again be restored to a land of peace and tranquility.
Sanzo As
you wish.
/
Goku Hmmm. So we hoof it to this India
place, where ever that is, find out who’s messing with magic, make sure this
Gyumaoh guy stays dead, you look good for the three heads and the demons go
back to being our buddies, right? Let’s do it!
Sanzo (sigh) It’s not as easy as all that.
Goku You worry too much. It’ll be a
piece of cake, Sanzo, relax!
Sanzo You don’t get it.
Goku Sounds like a done deal to me.
Wha’d’ya need Hakkai and Gojyo for?
Sanzo Because, monkey boy, we –
[rustle – two
demons launch themselves into the air and attack]
Goku Oh, shit! (summons staff) (blocks
blow from demon with sword and strikes back, throwing demon across clearing)
Sanzo (evades blows from weaponless demon,
circling around him) Watch your back. (strikes and sends demon to ground. Aims
gun at demon – left handed)
Demon (turns and begins to get up; stops
when he sees gun)
Sanzo Freeze.
Demon Hah. Do you honestly believe a puny
little pistol will have any effect on a demon such as I?
Sanzo Actually, no, I don’t. But this
isn’t just a puny little pistol. (cocks trigger) It’s a banishing gun. Ever
heard of it?
Demon (gasps)
Sanzo Thought so.
Demon No! No, wait!
Sanzo (fires. Demon screams and scatters
into dust) Y’know, they never listen. Why don’t they ever just listen?
Goku (appears, putting his back to
Sanzo’s) Uh, Sanzo? (at least thirty demons surround the pair) So all these
guys are friends of Gyumaoh?
Sanzo Took off their power limiters and
switched to the other side.
Random Demon I smell human...
Random Demon I’m hungry...
Sanzo /(thinking) There are too many of
them.
Goku (sweatdrop) This journey’s not
starting off too good.
[cresent blade
swings in and kills two demons]
Gojyo So... things are bad all over.
Y’know, it looks to me like Shangri-La is going to hell in a hand basket. But
I’m betting you guys have a good idea how to get it back.
Goku It’s Gojyo! And look, Hakkai!
Hakkai Long time no see, Goku!
Gojyo Nice to see you both. Even you, you
stupid monkey.
Goku Listen, water wimp, why don’t you
watch your mouth, huh?
Gojyo Hey, you wanna start somethin’?!
Come on!
Hakkai (chuckling)
Goku Uhh, pee-you, your breath smells
like ass!
Hakkai Oh, boy.
Gojyo Huh, well that’s definitely an odor
you’d be familiar with.
Sanzo How’d you find us?
Goku Ah, suck my [A/N Couldn’t make out the rest XD!]
Hakkai The demonic aura is strong. I followed
its sense here. Unfortunately Gojyo and I have witnessed scenes like what
you’ve just experienced. Gojyo, Goku, and I are the only demons who seem in
control.
Demon (runs up, attacking) Die, all of you,
die!
Gojyo (grabs demon by the face and smashes
his head up again a cliff face) Kinda sad. Got all the attitude in the world,
but not a god damn clue how to use it.
[two demons
attack Hakkai]
Demon Get him!
Hakkai Hakuryu, give me a second, would you?
Hakuryu Kyuu!
Demon An easy one!
Hakkai (back flips over the demons, creating
a chi ball and throwing it at the demons. The demons scream and scatter into
dust)
Goku Man, that was great, but what the
hell was that?
Hakkai Actually, that was the first time I
used it.
Goku (sweatdrop)
Hakkai I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off.
Okay, I kinda copied the move from someone else.
Goku So you basically stole it from
someone.
Demon He has ear cuffs. And the other wears
a band.
Other Demon They limit their powers by choice.
Demon You are demons, are you not?
Goku (sticks out tongue) Biii!
Gojyo And if we are?
Demon You are our kind! Why do you fight
against us?
Goku Good question.
Demon Huh?
[Gojyo, Goku,
and Hakkai all attack at once]
Sanzo (merely watches at this point)
[Flashback /
/
Sanzo My
lords. I have one question to ask, if I may. Why have you appointed these three
to be my companions - they are demons.
Male Avatar They
are demons, this is true. But they are also human. This is why they can
maintain their sense of self, and not give in to the darker aura.
Female Avatar(Left) You
have lived long, Genjo Sanzo, so you should know this well. Ironic, yes: but
the scars each of them bear from their pasts are what form the web that
connects you all.
/
Goku We’re against you... because we’re
not like you!
Hakkai Not technically.
Gojyo Like you can talk!
[Flashback /
/
Male Avatar They
have a power and a spiritual strength. They are the trump cards in your hand.
Remember this.
Sanzo It
is true that I can not deny their unique abilities. But nor can I forget that
demonic blood flows within their veins. My lord, can we truly divine that this
blood could never gain supremacy over their souls? To place our faith blindly
in a lot such as this would be foolish, perhaps fatal.
Female Avatar(Right) Your
concern has been noted. Still, this does not change what is true.
Male Avatar They
are to be your companions. And it was not the Sanbutsushin who appointed these
demons to be your missionaries; the Merciful Goddess of the Heavens has decreed
it to you.
Sanzo The
Merciful Goddess? (bows head) With all due respect, I must confess that the
only one I can trust in this world is myself. Ever since I lost what was
dearest to me my heart has believed this. That cannot change.
Female Avatar(Left) Things
can appear differently if you look with the eyes of your heart, Genjo Sanzo.
Sanzo I’m
sorry, I don’t understand.
Female Avatar(Left) Go
and meet them, and perhaps you’ll see for yourself. Confirm that what you
believe now is actually true, and look with different eyes.
/
Goku What’s done –
Gojyo (slaps hands with Goku) - is done!
Sanzo /(thinking) Confirm... what is
true.../
Demon (laying on the ground, injured)
(grabs a hold of Goku’s ankle) Trai..tors... you would take the side of the
powerless and arrogant humans... That is not where you belong... Do not betray
your own kind! (points a finger at Hakkai, Gojyo, and Goku) Join us, and raise
your voices with ours! Long live the demon
[Hakkai,
Gojyo, and Goku all attack the demon at the same time, destroying it]
Gojyo Huh. What a load of crap. Taking
sides with the humans.
Goku Heh. From when I was born to the
day I die, the only side I’m on is mine.
Sanzo /(thinking) The eye of the
heart..../ (looks to Goku.) Goku.
Goku Hnh?
Sanzo (Looks to Gojyo) Gojyo.
Gojyo Yeah?
Sanzo (looks to Hakkai) Hakkai.
Hakkai Yes.
Sanzo (smiles slightly and turns) We go.
(Points dramatically to the sunset) There. To the west.
[Closing Theme “Tightrope” / English]
[Next SAIYUKI]
Goku Well that didn’t take long. Just a
coupla days into our trip and they’re already sending assassins after us. I
hate this job. Oh yeah, and this bunch of freaks is lead by this nasty spider
skank. Not pretty. Then of course there’s the usual dilemma about dinner. Look
at him, I hate that dude.
Gojyo Ah, bite me.
Goku You wish. Stay tuned for the next
episode!