ing to swat a fly with a hammer." the priest replied.

It wasn't the same; fighting without Hakkai. He had to watch his back more because...and he hated to admit it so he didn't...Hakkai took it upon himself to ALWAYS be at Sanzo's back. The feeling was as reassuring as having an extra set of his own eyes behind his head- maybe even better because he didn't have to think too much about what was going on beyond his line of vision.

There was no way in Hell that he'd give Tenpou that responsibility.

Energetic shouting over to his far left indicated where Goku was having his fun. Just a bit over the hill must where Gojyo had run off to; the glint of whiplike metal shining through the snow was an assurance that the man was still going at it. Now where was the other idiot?

They were starting to get separated. Not that it worried Sanzo any. Everyone could take care of themselves, but still...if he had his choice of battle scenarios...it wouldn't be anything like this one because:

#1. He was running out of bullets.

#2. He needed bullets.

#3. He needed TIME to load the fucking bullets

Then there was something warm and solid against his back. Green light like fireworks shot in all directions and not a youkai could get within five feet of either of them. He reloaded, as usual taking his dear sweet time. "Mmh. Thanks." Sanzo muttered.

"Am I doing a good job being Hakkai?" Tenpou smiled. It was almost starting to look like a Hakkai smile too.

"I'd give you a 'B+' for effort."

"That's cruel, Sanzo. Is there any way to get extra credit with you?"

The implication was there. Sanzo hadn't missed it, but he pretended to anyway because Hakkai never suggested things of the sort. And when Hakkai came back, he wanted to see Hakkai...and not think of any idiocies of the sort. Especially not THOSE types of idiocies.

No wonder Tenpou and Gojyo had taken to each other.

"Yeah."

"Oh?"

"If you figure out a way out of this. That's a Hakkai thing to do."

"Really? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Really, he could have shot him in the head, right then and there. "Spit it out. What do you know?" Sanzo went to shooting again, noting how tired the other man was getting.

"Well...these youkai seem to of a primitive species, their thinking capabilities closer to that of pack animals than of more reasoning creatures. But better topare them to insects, their existences revolving around the life span of a single queen who reproduces an heir once in a generation. The rest are simply pawns...their energies feeding off hers. And so therefore..."

"We have to kill the queen bee, am I correct?" interjected Sanzo, his patience wearing very very thin.

"You are correct."

"So which one is she?" Sanzo scanned the sky, but it had already gotten dark and all he could discern was the cloud of buzzing youkai...then there...a little ways off was a single youkai hovering in the air emitting a pulsating light from the chest. With the wings of a butterfly, she hovered, her eyes closed in meditation and her mouth moving in an instinctive battle chant- the words of resurrection. Sanzo narrowed his eyes and aimed.

"I'll kill the bitch."

Bang.

But it hit one of her pawns instead. Another shot. Another pawn. "Fuck." With each bullet, a youkai appeared to block. It was a living shield, easily replaced. "Are you just going to stand there!? Fight like the rest of your kin..." Sanzo taunted. "Or are you so stupid of a beast that you can't even do that?"

That got her attention. "Uh...Sanzo..."

"What?"

"Perhaps you should have chosen a more...how shall I say...tactful way to go about the situation." Tenpou pressed closer. The youkai had stopped in mid-flight and were simply hovering there...hollow ice blue eyes that stared into nothing...limbs that hung limply...like otten puppets...

"What's done is done."

...and the queen stopped her chant, turned towards the two men, and opened her eyes...black and blue and gold whirlpools; tantalizing and seductive...they pulled...tugged at their minds... 'so cold'...they said... 'so tired'...they said... 'so still' the bewitching orbs called out...And Sanzo's body suddenly felt so...so...

"Sanzo!" Tenpou clapped a hand over Sanzo's eyes.

"Tenpou, get off!"

"Don't look at her. She's a...a...on!"

The feeling that was there before was suddenly shattered. Only then did he sense that the fringes of his robe were solid ice. "A what?"

The chanting resumed; this time undulating and less hectic, causing the violent winds around them to ceasepletely. The air died and an absolute stillness fell down upon them with the shock of thunder.

"A medusa. If you look into her eyes, you'll turn into ice." Tenpou murmured, his eyes squinted shut. "And as pretty as you are, I don't think I want to see you as a statue."

Sanzo pushed him off... "Say that again and die."...but before Tenpou couldpletely back away, the monk grabbed his wrist. "Stay HERE you idiot!"

"I must say though..." Tenpou continued uneasily. "...having my eyes closed whilst surrounded by enemies is an invitation for a quick execution."

"You think that too?" Sanzo retorted sarcastically, his grip on Tenpou's wrist tightening by the second.

The queen's voice changed, omitting an ear-splitting shriek that sent the ground beneath them shaking. Something like a rushing wave could be heard at a distance, getting closer and closer...their legs started to sink into the snow...

"Fuck." Blindly, Sanzo aimed and shot, but to no avail. He had to take the chance...so when he opened his eyes, it was enough to see a tornado ripping its way through the ground towards them.

At its approach, Tenpou followed suit. "Gods..." he gasped. "Sanzo! We have to get out of the snow!"

"No shit!" Having the rest of his body torn from his legs was definitely NOT something he wanted to think about right now...or ever. Dammit, it was hard to think, especially with that hellstorm getting nearer. He almost didn't hear Tenpou speak...stay close to me?...is that what he said?...Then a green bubble began to form around them- close, warm, slightly suffocating, but it melted the snow...the earth was convulsing more as the tornado neared ...or was that him shaking? A strong arm wrapped around his shoulders. A calm voice whispered in his ear. "Trust me. Just stay close, ne?" Like the earth was being severed from his very feet...and then there was total blackness. And then there was nothing.

****

The blood ran warm over his hands, ran in little rivulets on the floor, little rivers of tainted celestial blood. Hakkai rammed the sword through the gut of his fifteenth, leaving fifteen more. The body fell against him and he shrugged it off. Wet and sticky, the red fluid stuck to his boots as he kicked one corpse to the side, as he swung back and beheaded another one. That's sixteen.

Smoke crept over his head, the fire that he started spreading from its source into other rooms. He checked his shoulder wound. It had reopened, yet he didn't feel it. Another scream, another stab, but this time, Hakkai fell to the ground as well. The room was spinning, suddenly getting colder. He felt a gust of icy wind, his vision going blurry and for a moment...a flash of an instant...he could see the snowy mountain town where he had been...no...not now... The healer shook his head. Stay here! he scolded himself stubbornly.

In a fit of desperation, Hakkai heaved himself up and impaled two youkai into the wall as if they were butterflies. He didn't bother retrieving the sword. Instead, he picked up a dagger dropped by a fallen enemy, trying to ignore the sound of pouring rain that was echoing in his ears.

Twelve more.

When Tenpou opened his eyes, his gaze was met by two beady blood red jewels ingrained in the head of a small creature...white...with wings...that looked like...

"Kyuu!" Hakuuryuu squeaked.

"Sir?" Tenpou responded.

"Kyuu!" Hakuuryuu replied.

Tenpou paled. "My god..." Goujun...what have you done to yourself?

"Kyuuuuuuuuu!" the little dragon was frantically pulling at his sleeve.

"Okay, okay, I'm up sir...errrr...you." This was certainly one more thing to think about. Tenpou gingerly rubbed his head, not surprised to find a few sore spots. A quick glance at his surroundings told him that the tornado had carried them rather far; maybe a mile or so.

Now where was Toto?

A groan and a curse escaped a pile of snow next to him.

"Ah! There you are. Thought I had lost you." Tenpou said cheerily as he stuck his arm in and hauled the monk out by the collar. Sanzo came out choking and coughing.

"You only wish."

"Now that wouldn't be a very Hakkai thing to do."

"Ch." the monk mumbled. "At least you got our asses out of there in once piece."

Tenpou shrugged. "Your wee."

They were by the lake now, far from the battle that was still raging farther up the mountain. From the sounds of it- the squeals of dying youkai- Gojyo and Goku hadn't been touched.

"So..." the marshal said, getting up and walking to the edge of the frozen water. "Do you think she's finished with us?" Sanzo followed suit, violet eyes scanning the darkness and finding nothing but the glaring moon.

"Doubt it. She seemed really pissed."

"No thanks to you."

The priest didn't dignify thement with an answer, nor did Tenpou seem to be expecting one. The kami was too deeply engrossed in the reflection staring back at him lit by moonlight and fireflies. Kneeling, he saw that it was his own- the one with two good eyes, long hair and a labcoat. The fool who thought that he could change heaven by himself.

"An idiotic desire." Tenpou scoffed quietly, unaware of Konzen's reflection staring critically back at him.

"Well you've always been an idiot." shot Sanzo. "You always will be, whether it's this life or the next. Not that I blame you too much. It takes a crapload idiots to take on the jobs we do."

"Touché." the marshal replied with a sad smile, petting the dragon's head as the creature landed on his shoulder to nuzzle him. "At least I won't go alone, right?"

"A wise man never does."

Ten

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