Beyond the Woods and Mountains

Chapter 10

Gojyo looked down at Sanzo and his body froze completely. What was he doing? He had Sanzo right where he wanted him and he had finally managed to shut that mouth of his, but this was not right. He swore he would never do this and even if he did push a little bit, if the other gave in, then it was good. If not, he would back off, and he had to that now no matter HOW tempting it was. For months he had dreamed of having Sanzo under him but not like this. Work and ale had gone to his head and hearing Sanzo’s constant cruel mouth pushed him to the edge. Now for sure Sanzo would NEVER have anything nice to say about him. With that, Gojyo backed up slowly away from Sanzo who gave him an angry, crazed look.

“S-sorry…I got carried away there. You just piss me off so much! I want nothing more than to punch that gorgeous face of yours!” Sanzo slowly stood on his feet and clenched his fists. Gojyo got to his feet but backed away a few paces. Sanzo could now do one of two things. One, he could punch Gojyo out or two, his pride would make him run.

“Out of all the lousy sex crazed males here and the gawking women, not one of them has EVER tried to do what you just did to me! Anyone who dare try would loose a finger or worse! And THAT’S what I’m going to do to you!” He said in a dangerous tone and he had all the features of an animal cornered. It was either fight or flight, and Sanzo was choosing fight. “No one ever touches me!” In a flash, he wiped out a small dagger from his arm band and it flew past Gojyo’s head, leaving a small but long cut starting from the corner of his eye and through his scalp. He watched as a few strands of hair fell and felt the tiny trickles of blood drip down his face.

“What the hell?! You had a weapon hidden?!”

“Damn straight! And I was going to use it but you backed off so you must have some sense in that perverted head of yours! Now THAT will leave a scar. Every time you see your reflection or anyone asks you about it, you will remember what you did this night and how I got you for it!” he pointed his finger at him. “Stay away from me and I damn well mean it! If I ever catch your fucking face around me or Hakkai, I won’t hesitate to kill you!” he had that crazed look again. “Try something like that again without my consent or Hakkai’s, and I’ll cut your cock off in the blink of an eye and toss it to the hungry dogs! Maybe if I get rid of that tiny, useless thing you’ll actually use the pea-sized brain in that big head of yours! Got that, asshole!?” With that being said, Sanzo stormed out of the hut into the snow.

Gojyo just stood there, slowly bringing his hand up to wipe at the blood. He looked at his hand and his eyes widened slightly. People would ask him about this and what could he say? He would have to make up a lie. He knew Sanzo would not run around telling everyone because it would destroy his reputation, hurt his pride, and embarrass him to no end. The only person he would probably tell would be Hakkai. Uh oh. Gojyo stopped at that last thought. If he told Hakkai what Gojyo had done to him, Big Brother would come over like a raging bull! For some reason, Gojyo was now more worried about the enemies INSIDE rather than the enemies outside.


Goku carried a bowl of soup through the village, heading to the old huts to give some to the traveler he found. He was glad that he was helping someone in need but there was this nagging voice in the back of his head saying it was wrong. He was only helping someone out who had lost his way. He was not giving out secret information about the village or its people. He pushed the flap over and stepped inside, seeing the man sitting up with the cloak tight around him.

“Hey there! I brought you some soup!” The man looked up at him and smiled.

“Thank you, young man.” He took the bowl and blew on his first spoonful before eating. “It’s delicious! Perfect for a snowy night like this.”

“Yeah, but the snow looks like it will let up soon. The flakes are getting bigger and that usually means it’s going to stop.”

“If that is the case then I’ll be on my way as soon as it stops.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to rest for another day or so?”

“No, I have to get back to work. No work, no eat.” He took another spoonful. “By the way, this is a rather big village you have here. More clan members then I’ve seen in my various travels.”

“Oh, yeah. We’ve always been this big!” Goku said, not wanting to tell him the whole truth just in case.

“I see. So-“ His words were cut off as the sound of horses riding through the snow passed by the hut quickly.

“Hey! I bet that’s Jien and the others!” Goku peeked his head out to look. “It is! You just stay here and finish your soup! I have to go say ‘hi’ to them!”


“GOJYO!” Jien shouted as he raced his horse to his brother’s hut. “GOJYO!!” Kou and two other men followed behind him as they rode to the hut. Gojyo heard his name being shout and he rushed out of the hut to his brother come riding. “Gojyo, I need to speak with you!” Jien jumped off his horse and met his brother half way. “We just came from the Misty Valley!”

“And what happened?”

“The place was destroyed! There was only a handful of survivors! Apparently, a man came wondering into the village some bit ago, saying he was a fur trader who had been jumped by some thieves! They gave him shelter and food and one day he was gone. Then, they saw the same man leading a large army into their village! They completely destroyed the village! The huts were burned and the farm animals were slaughtered! Hundreds of their clan members were killed!”

“Shit…how did they know it was this man they helped?”

“They said he had funny eyes. One was a yellow-ish tint and the other was a blue!”

Goku had stopped dead in tracks as he heard the last bit of the story. Strange eyes?! Fur trader?! That was the man he had in the hut! That was Homura?! He just let Homura into the village! Now he knows where they live! He turned back to run to the hut.

“But that’s not all.” Jien looked around “Where is Sanzo?” Gojyo gulped at that name.

“He…he’s not here. I don’t know where he is. Why do you want to know?”

“Well, its about HIS clan. Where his mother is from. Apparently, they too have been completely wiped out.” Gojyo gasped.

“How can that be?! They had all that water on one side of them!”

“True, but Homura must have known that and his army flanked them on three sides! They had no where to go but into that water! And you can bet that if any of them did try to swim away, Homura’s men would either what for them to come back or swim out after them.”

“We passed that way.” Said Kou. “I’ve never been to that part of the world before…the water is huge! It has no end! There’s sand covering miles of this large water! These people practically live on the sand and in the small grassy areas around it…but there was no one left.”

“Kou and I looked around, in all the houses and in the immediate area. We found nothing but dead bodies. Their clan was not that big…not enough to hold off an army like Homura’s. If that army could take out the Misty Valley, then we have a real threat on our hands.”

“We thought Sanzo might want to know that he’s probably the last one his clan.”

“I seriously doubt he cares about that.” Said Gojyo. “But don’t tell him now. We’ll wait for that. Right now, we have bigger problems on our hands.”

“Right! The Misty Valley is the closest clan to us! That means he must have his army in the general area!” Said Gojyo.

“But would he really attack in the heavy snow like this?” Kou asked them, getting off his horse. “It’s a LONG climb for an army up a snowy hill.”

“Regardless, we can’t depend on that.” Said Gojyo. “I want scouts posted all around the mountain! They can send a smoke signal if the army is coming anywhere near us! Get them gathered and send them out IMMEDIATELY!” Gojyo ordered. “They’re still far away from here so tell the village they can rest easy for a time.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea.” Said Jien. “I’ll get right on it!”

“Wait, have Hakkai sent to my hut. I want to know what his thoughts are on this.”

“But what about us?” Asked Kou. “We’re your military advisors too.”

“I know, but we’ll have a normal meeting tomorrow. Right now, you help Jien rally up the scouts. And don’t forget to tell Hakkai to come see me.”

“Of course.”


Goku ran as quick as he could back to hut. He was not even sure what he could do in this situation, but he had to do something. He was not worried about Homura attacking him for he was a powerful fighter and could give it back tenfold. But he was more worried about he had done to the village. He should not have taken that man in! He should have listened to his gut and kept him away. But the man was so nice and understanding that Goku found it hard to believe that this man was the dangerous Homura he had hear so much about. Unless he was one of those people Sanzo had warned him about long ago since Goku was always to friendly with strangers. He was so stupid! He should have listened to Sanzo and stayed away from that man!

“HEY YOU!” He shouted as he burst through the flap. His breath caught in his throat as he saw that Homura was still there. “Y-yo-you-“

“Yes?” He replied with a soft smile.

“Y-you’re Homura…aren’t you?!” The man’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How did you know?”

“I heard that you tricked the Misty Valley clan into letting you live in their village as a wondering fur trader who was jumped by thieves! That’s the same story you told me!” The man smirked then chuckled softly.

“Oh well, what can I say? I was found out.” He smiled at Goku “Yes, I am Homura and yes, I did attack the Misty Valley clan.” Goku stood there in shock. He was staring at the man who was the reason for joining both clans. Homura stood up and casually walked over to him. “But you were nice enough to help me so I’ll spare your life on the battlefield. I shouldn’t reward stupidity, but I can’t help it. I’m a softy that way.” He suddenly gave Goku a swift blow to the stomach with his boot, knocking the breath out of him as he fell to the ground. Goku started to cough and gasp as he held his stomach. “It would appear I have overstayed my welcome. And if you were a smart boy, I wouldn’t say anything to your clansmen. What would they think knowing you let the enemy into the village and gave him food AND shelter? Why, I would hate to think what would happen to you. All it takes to bring down a full village is the stupidity and kindness of one little boy. Thanks for the soup. I’ll be going now.”

Homura left the hut and left Goku writhing on the ground. It took Goku some time to get his breath back and into a sitting position. He held his head as he started to cry. Everything was ruined now because of him. Homura knew where their village was and he would do the same here as he did with the Misty Valley clan. The last he had heard about the Misty Valley clan was that they were a large village with many warriors. But Homura’s army must be twice as big! What were they to do?! They could not take on Homura’s army! Not if his army was able to wipe out a whole clan in a short time! And he led Homura right to them!

He had to tell somebody what happened. But who? Who could he tell? He was going to be in a lot of trouble if he told Gojyo. Gojyo might just banish him from the clan! Sanzo would be angry and would hit him until he had one ounce of breath left in him. Kou was nice enough but he would right away tell Gojyo. The last person he could tell was Hakkai…but Hakkai was the last person he wanted against him. Hakkai was the only person who was nice to him on a general basis and what would he think of Goku now? But Goku could not go on with this hanging over him. The guilt alone would drive him mad. He decided he would only tell Hakkai. Hakkai would be the least likely to harm him but he would probably get a sound scolding.

After he was able to stand, he hurried out of the hut as fast as he could and over to Sanzo’s. He saw Hakkai getting ready to leave with Kou and quickly shout out his name. Both Hakkai and Kou turned to look at Goku who trotted over to them.

“Wait Hakkai! I need to talk to you!”

“What is it, Goku?”

“I need to talk to you privately!” Goku grabbed his hand and started to pull him.

“Bu-but Gojyo called for me! It has something to do with the Misty Valley and I have to go now!”

“Please Hakkai! It will only take a second! I really need to talk to you!”

“Alright…Kou, tell Gojyo I’ll be right with him after I finish with Goku.”

“Sure. Don’t be long, though.” Goku pulled Hakkai inside the hut and sat him down on the chair.

“What is so important, Goku?” Goku bowed his head and suddenly fell on his knees before Hakkai and rest his head in his lap.

“I’m so sorry!” He whispered.

“Sorry? Whatever for? What’s happened?”

“You’re going to be so mad at me…but I had to tell somebody!”

“Shh…it’s alright, Goku. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

“W-well…when I was picking up wood for the fire…I found this sick, lost fur trader in the woods! He begged me for a place to stay and he didn’t look dangerous and-“

“Fur trader?” Hakkai raised an eyebrow, recalling something Kou had said about Homura disguising himself a fur trader.

“Yes! And I brought him here and put him in the old huts and gave him some soup…then I heard Jien saying how Homura pretended to be a fur trader and how he destroyed the Misty Valley and when I confronted him he attacked me and ran off! I’m so sorry, Hakkai! I didn’t mean to bring him here! But I didn’t know! He looked so ill and cold and helpless! I felt bad leaving him there all alone! Now he knows where we live and he’ll attack just like he did the Misty Valley! I’m so sorry, Hakkai!” Goku finished his story and felt Hakkai’s hand start to stroke his hair. The touch was gentle, but Goku could feel Hakkai’s nails digging into him slightly as they stroked.

“It’s…it’s alright, Goku. You did what I told you to do before.” He had told Goku never to turn anyone away who was helpless or sick or in need of shelter, but that was at a time of peace.

“I didn’t tell him anything though!”

“Well, that’s a good thing. He would have found us eventually, Goku, whether you picked him up or not. He was already in the area when you were looking for wood. A bit more traveling and he would have stumbled on our village anyway. But remember, we have a steep mountain and heavy snow for an army to climb. Gojyo is already setting guards at all posts around the mountain to watch for the army. We are aware of this and we’re taking full precaution.” Goku looked up at him with teary eyes.

“So…so you’re not mad at me?!”

“Well, I can’t say that I’m pleased…but given the circumstances, he would have found us anyway. You just led him to the entrance. I know you didn’t mean it, Goku. You were just being a nice person. I should have warned you better about picking up strangers at this time of war.”

“That crossed my mind too…but I still gave in!”

“It’s over now, Goku. So you can stop worrying so much. Lets just keep this to ourselves, okay?” Goku smiled at him through his tears.

“O-okay! Thanks Hakkai, I knew you would be understanding!” he hugged him tight and Hakkai held him back.

“Just be more careful next time. Now you get some rest here while I go and speak to Gojyo. Try to wait up for Sanzo if you can. He hasn’t come home yet.”

“Uh, yeah sure. I’ll stay up.” Goku watched as Hakkai left the hut and he sat down at the table, wiping his tears. He had to dry his eyes quick before Sanzo came back or he would ask what was wrong. And Sanzo had a way of
beating anything out of somebody. He just hoped that his mistake would not end up being something that would bring down the whole clan. But he had faith in Hakkai’s words and he was sure they would be able to defeat Homura’s army. And if he ever saw Homura again, he would give him the beating of a lifetime!