Forgotten Buddha
ch1- On Your Shoulders Now
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Forgotten Buddha
Chapter One:
On Your Shoulders Now
Tal and Thorn
Instant Infamy
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“Don’t look
so sour, Hakkai. It’s your fault you’re
here, after all. Your little romp in
the woods made you sloppy. And now
though I doubt you’re comfortable with my proposition, I’m sure you see you
aren’t in a position to refuse.” The
dark figure stepped into Cho Hakkai’s line of sight. There was no mistaking who
or what he was and even less of a reason to doubt the validity of the man’s
claims.
Only a
Sanzo priest could possess and use the powerful Daitzuian scripture and as Hakkai
was frozen to the spot in spite of the fact he’d removed a limiter to fight
back, he couldn’t argue with the man’s ability either.
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st
style='mso-tab-count:1'> What he’d just been told was not to be
believed. Yes, he’d heard of the
existence of a scripture that could drive humans to act as vicious as demons if
they had enough hatred in their heart.
But to say there was evidence that young Kouryuu had killed his beloved
Master under the influence of that scripture, and beyond that, Sanzo could now
be held responsible if the truth came out, was not to be believed.
monk could be tried and as Buddhists don’t kill per say, the penalty would be a
severe lifetime sentence. He would be
locked in an inner sanctum of a remote temple to repent.
Alone. Unless Hakkai agreed to
this man’s terms.
been gone. He’ll come for me.
entirely clear on what you want from me.”
harder than it has to be. If Sanzo were
imprisoned, then this journey would be over and I could return to the life I
was starting to enjoy. Return to a
place where the wounds of my heart can heal.
Sanzo? The limiter cuff.
youkai. Without the protection of the
limiter, he was vulnerable.
you make it a habit of sleeping in the same bed together I doubt he’ll miss you
until his pet monkey wakes up begging to be fed.” The man seemed to read his thoughts. “Surprised? Trust me,
Hakkai I’ve done my homework. The terms
are simple I’ve gotten in some trouble and I need you four to get me out of it.
the last Sanzo priest inheriting all five scriptures. I could rule heaven and earth.
Unfortunately if they lock Genjo Sanzo away, I’ll have to go through the
process of getting rid of his successor.
Besides it’s easier and more fun this way.” He ran a gaunt hand through Hakkai’s hair.
say. Starting with bringing me Gojyo’s
scythe, Nyouibou, and Sanzo’s banishing gun and Maten scripture.
the line…they are loyal to a fault, I know that, and get them to finish the
tasks I communicate to you. Simple,
really.”
realize they’ll all turn on me in a second if they’ve lost their weapons and
prize possessions and I’m the only one left unburgled.”
sly demon friend. However, I have a
nice little pen, well mor more like a small cage, for your little
beastie. So you’ll lose something
too. That is, unless you want to see
your monk friend penned instead.” The
Sanzo priest reached up and replaced Hakkai’s limiter, stepped back and let the
scripture release him.
monk. “Like I said, loyalty is a funny
thing.” He glanced up at the sky, and
spoke again. “Give me until tomorrow,
dawn, and you’ll get what you need.”
instructions. There is a part of
Shangri-La about three miles north of where you were originally headed that is
like another world. Demons run amok but
with amazing organization. The people
fight back by basically kidnapping able-bodied travelers and forcing them to
become well…deputies. It’s how I lost
my party and barely escaped with my life.
The demons love the game and allow the deputies only four simple
weapons. A six-shooter, a bullwhip, a
lasso, and throwing knives. Guess who
just got recruited?”
quite a task ahead of me. Dislodging
Sanzo’s scripture from his shoulders will take hours itself.”
dozen different ways to strip Sanzo of his weapons.
new positions, I’ll make sure you lose everything dear to you.
regretted was the last cigarette in the pack, Genjo Sanzo rested against the
wall of the inn they’d stopped at. Seeing
that Hakkai had gone for a morning stroll leaving Hakuryu sleeping peacefully
on the windowsill and knowing Gojyo and Goku would try to sleep in after the
feast they’d managed to acquire the night before, he felt he could enjoy a few moments
of fresh air and peace. Not that he was
big on peaceful repose. It was sort of
boring. Boredom ceased as he heard a
demon--not so good with stealth--approach.
He rolled his eyes and set a hand on his banishing gun.
tried to ambush him. Amused, he pointed
the barrel at the inept demon.
yet. Two, I am not a morning
on.
hour.”
the earthly form of a fresh pack of cigarettes?” Hakkai asked, rounding the corner, soft smile in place.
direction, not stopping on his way to the door of the inn.
accompanied by these,” Sanzo said, holding up the cigarettes.
am.” He promptly ignored his own
half-smile.
chipper, no matter wtimetime of day it is.”
Hakkai responded as he ducked inside.
He paused and stuck his head out.
“I was kept up most of the night, so I’m going to try to catch a quick
nap before you start herding us westward.”
you can fit pleasure in with our schedule, that’s fine.
your nap count.” Sanzo said in
annoyance. Did everyone go and spend
the night with Buddha knew who except him?
Well, not Goku anyway, his snoring was always present.
an
style='mso-tab-count:1'> Hakkai headed upstairs, knowing he’d
pissed Sanzo off. And knowing the monk,
he wouldn’t let Hakkai forget it all day.
Good. That would provide
him the cover he’d need to be missing tonight.
And hopefully, keep Sanzo from noticing the slight change in direction
they’d be taking today.