Saturday, June 25, 2005

A Man And A Woman: The curse of the monk’s hand
*episode 8*

Akume is shock for the first moment as the windtunnel is opened, but not shocked enough. A flash of blue light reveals a demonic barrier rising between them. The wind forms a slipstream around the bubble of the shield and the demoness looks amused. Her barrier extends around herself and her lover and it contracts as she moves to stand next to him. Clearly safe, the two watch as the monk tries to force the sutra beads back onto his hand. He can feel his hand tearing, but he cannot summon the strength to reseal the void. As he prepares to meet his father and grandfather, two things happen simultaneously. First, Miroku feels a body pressing against his back, its right arm reaches around him and grabs his right wrist holding it steady while its left hand grabs his left elbow and forces it forward with strength greater than the monk’s own. Second, the Hiraikotsu slams into the back of the barrier diverting its strength. With Sango’s help, Miroku closes the windtunnel and collapses forward. The wind gone, the shield deflects the weapon and sends it flying. Kutsumaru throws his nunchaku toward the pair. With lighting speed, Sango draws her sword and entangles it in the chain. No longer as a buzzsaw, the weapon goes soaring. The demon dashes to retrieve it then turns to see the slayer armed with her own projectile. Weaken from the slayers attack and the constant drain of projecting a barrier between the forest and the village, Akume collapses. Her lover hurries to her side and, sending venomous glances at the humans, heads off into the woods, carrying her. With the threat gone, Sango helps Miroku back to his knees. She asks, “Do you see where your lecherous ways have gotten you? Chasing after that woman nearly got you killed.” The monk says, “Sango, you don’t understand. She was an incarnation of Naraku; both of them actually.” She asks, “And that should excuse what you did?” “No, no,” he says, “You have it all wrong. I knew she was an incarnation all along. I was seducing her in the hope that she would lead me to a jewel shard. I didn’t count on her having backup, but the same goes for her.” A look of contentment and joy floods Sango’s face. “You mean you weren’t going to sleep with her?” she asks. “Well…” the monk says nervously. “It might have been necessary to get her to lead me to the jewe…wait, no Sango!” As the slayer reaches back her right hand for the grandmother of all slaps, Miroku raises his injured right hand defensively. Swallowing her rage, Sango admits that his injuries must be treated before he gets what he has coming to him. Letting out a dejected sigh, Sango says, “Alright, but don’t think I’ll forget this. Let’s go back to the village, Miroku…Miroku?!?” The monk collapses again, and this time he is unconscious. His wounds are serious, and Sango throws him over her shoulder then, not forgetting her weapons, walks back to the others.
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