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Prologue:
They had made camp where the damp would not seep into their bones so Gokuu and Gojou could recuperate from Chin Issou's vicious attacks. Sanzo had advised going against the mad fortuneteller until Gokuu had at least been partly healed and Gojou was allowed a chance to regain his strength. Good old strategist Sanzo. Having a fully operational party against an extremely dangerous foe was better than running off to wrest an unlikely victory.
It was quiet at that night's fire, Gokuu had been too tired to even complain about his stomach and Gojou had slipped into a coma-like sleep once they had rolled out the sleeping bags. Only Hakkai and Sanzo had stayed awake, the latter pulling on a cancer stick while he contemplated the dubious looking fog.
Hakkai shifted uncomfortably, "I..I'd like to ask something, Sanzo."
"Ask a stupid question and mark my words, you die."
"Umm.. well.. Forget it then."
"You're picking a fight."
"Alright. I was just wondering if you knew for sure I won't turn on you."
"I'm not sure."
"Oh." it was a small, slightly discouraged sound. Sanzo lifted an eyebrow and turned away, perhaps in a little embarrassment.
"You've got to trust yourself," he bit out, uncomfortable at saying anything that did not equate to a hostile remark, "In a world where you can't trust your own shadow."
Hakkai smiled, "Good night Sanzo. And.. thanks."
Sanzo snorted and took a long drag of his cigarette.
***
His eyes were heavy lidded, but underneath the sleepy looking, unassuming hoods, the pupils were a deep and inky black. Those, coupled with his style of dressing made him look distinctly Oriental. When he leaned in too close, his Chinese cut clothes one could see traces of incense clinging to it as if he had been lying in a wake for seven days. And his breath. Sweet and putrefying at the same time, the smell of rotting chrysanthemums.
"Cho Gonou, " he breathed, his voice sounding much like a dry wind through un-oiled windows, insubstantial and creaky, "How I love to see you suffer."
Hakkai started awake, then stiffened as a clawed hand brushed across his cheek in a mockery of a lover's caress.
"Chin Issou, who are you? You're trying to ruin me, aren't you? Why?"
"So right you are! My... you catch on fast." it was derisively stated, with a touch of hilarity. Indeed, he seemed to rock back and forth in half contained laughter. He made an exaggerated gesture of turning away to look at the sleeping members of the Sanzo party. Gojou turned over and wrinkled his nose as a chill breeze gusted from the cave entrance.
"Why can't they sense you? There's such an outpouring of youki from your person. Sanzo and Gojou wouldn't sleep through this. What have you done to them?" Hakkai demanded.
"Actually, " Issou played with a lock of Sanzo's golden blonde hair, "I haven't done anything to them at all. But I could be lying. Who knows? It's obvious you can't and won't trust me."
Hakkai's eyes narrowed, "You're playing with them all to get at me, but you've gone through all of them already."
"No, not quite yet. What about him?" a claw ghosted over Sanzo's thick lashes.
"You made him shoot Gojou."
"He's a tough cookie. I don't think that was quite enough. Hardly enough, in fact. Besides, why concentrate so much on him? My vendetta is against you."
"Who are you, why are you doing this?" Hakkai reiterated, his pitch rising.
"Why, I'm hurt. You don't remember at all."
A quick motion, like a blur of dull silk and he was standing before Hakkai again, shoving him hard against the crude wall of the cave they had taken temporary residence in.
"Doesn't this seem familiar? Don't you recall how I slashed you wide open, preparing to let you pay for your murders? My blood made you what you are, youkai."
In that split second, his memory was threaded through with a sharp silver needle of recollection. The generously wide mouth, the slitted eyes, partly depraved chuckling. Less than zero sympathy for the crumpled figure of Kanan on the dungeon floor. That voice..! It made his head hurt to think about it.
"You!" Hakkai choked, his fingers peeling at the iron grip Issou had around his neck. He couldn't breathe, for his windpipe was slowly but surely being crushed. Wait, Chin Issou didn't plan on killing him. That was not his ultimate goal, for it would end his suffering.
His confused mind struggled to comprehend it as revoltingly cold lips closed over his own in a kiss he was only too unwilling to perpetuate. He gagged when the tongue went snaking between his teeth, too weak from his earlier attack to resist the horrifying intrusion. It very much resembled a slug that had ingested a slug pellet.
He felt the keen points of Issou's nails drag across his chest, under his shirt, pushing his indignation and panic up one more notch. He wanted to push away... His hands fell limp when he thought he was going to pass out from his stolen air supply.
Chin Issou broke away, licking his lips as he did so, "You taste different. Back then you just tasted savage and raw, but now... it's like you're trying to mask the decayed flesh of yours with an air of gentlemanliness. Pathetic. Imagine trying to hide your sins under such a civil guise. You'll never be able to do it completely, even if you can fool yourself now. It runs too deep in you."
Hakkai coughed violently, trying to spit the vomit-inducing taste out of his mouth before he became so nauseated he would meet his supper again. It was difficult, for the bitter-sourness that made him think he had eaten bad meat persisted in his mouth no matter how much he tried to purge it.
"If you dare, if you wish to solely receive your full retribution from my hands, by all means, " Issou waved a hand towards the mist curtained forest, "Come after me. Chase me. If you can fight me and win... well, that's not too likely. But you'll make me very happy I'll expect. "
He kissed his fingers and trailed them over Sanzo's lips, "If you don't, then you won't even have the guts to stand up to me when I take full liberties. I'll be so disappointed if that happens."
The man took three steps backwards, smooth as you please, then disappeared into a whorl of fog.
Hakkai gathered his bearings, staggered to the cave entrance and peered into the shifting swirls of moisture, his eyes searching orbs of verdant green.
He had to do it. He owed Sanzo, Gojou and Gokuu too much. If he sought out Chin Issou and slaughtered him in a satisfyingly gruesome way, the fog would disperse and they would be on their way to the West. If not, Issou would be content and the journey could continue anyway.
Without him.
End... for now? ^_^;;
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