“Curse or God Sent” Chapter 3
‘The Long Trail To Forgiveness’
They chatted as they walked along as Laney asks Hakkai, “So I did not ask you this earlier, but is your friend alright?”
“Yes Sanzo is fine he will be in bed for the next 3 days and light activities for the next 2 weeks, but he will live.” Hakkai tells her.
“Your friend is lucky that Sanzo is going to live. Now I will only beat her down and not kill her, when she crosses my path.” Goku tells Laney.
Hakkai and Laney laugh, “Well Goku I am sorry for laughing I am sure you are a fine fighter, but I have seen Nori fight and she is ruthless. So I wish you all the luck you may need.” Laney tells him.
“There you are I was starting to wonder if you were coming back or ran off and left me for what I did last night.” Nori says as she walks toward them. They look over toward Nori as Goku’s rage starts to flair.
Goku yells at Nori, “You will pay for what you did to Sanzo you bitch!” Goku attacks Nori with a Bo Staff that he pulled from thin air.
Laney yells at Nori, “Nori do not hurt him.” Nori starts to laugh, but they do not see her anywhere she had vanished before their eyes.
Goku stands their looking around for his opponent as he hears her say, “Now why would I hurt a little boy. I know he is just upset over what happen between me and Sanzo.”
“So I will take it easy on him.” Goku spins around seeing Nori standing right behind him when she said that.
“HA! Take it easy on me. Get ready to get your ass kicked.” Goku says.
“Such words coming from such a young mouth, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” Nori asks him as she moved from his strike. Goku strikes at her again but Nori moves Goku’s Bo Staff not even coming close to hitting her. She laughs as Goku keeps coming after her again and again none of his strikes are even coming close to her.
“She is quick…” Hakkai says.
“Yes she is…” Laney says the fight rages on between Goku and Nori. When all of a sudden Nori is standing right in front of Goku she flips herself over him landing behind him. She places her hands on Goku’s shoulders next to his neck as she gently applies presser.
“I cannot move, what did you do to me?” Goku yells.
“You know Goku, if you would stop and think about it for two seconds. You would know you could not defeat me... Well there is one way… but I am not sure that would be so wise to remover your limiter.” Nori tells him.
Goku stands there as Nori is speaking into his ear, “Let me go… I will defeat you, and I won’t have to remover my limiter to do it.” Goku tells her.
Nori turns smiling at Laney saying, “I think he has a harder head then mine.”
“I do not know if that is possible Nori your head is pretty hard.” Laney says laughing.
“Thanks Laney and I thought you were my friend.” Nori says with a smirk on her face, as Nori goes to turn her attention back to Goku she sees Gojyo walk from the Inn. “Hey sweetie let’s say we finish this another day. I see someone I need to talk to right now.” Nori applies a little more pressure on Goku’s neck and shoulders as Goku starts to fall to the ground.
“Goku!!” Hakkai calls out as he sees Goku falling.
She quickly catches Goku as he goes down she lifts him up walking toward Hakkai and Laney smiling.
“He is fine Hakkai; Nori just put him to sleep.” Laney tells him.
“What’s going on and why is Nori carrying Goku?” Gojyo asks as he stands behind Laney and Hakkai.
Hakkai and Laney turn seeing Gojyo standing there, “Well it is good to see you could join the living Gojyo.” Hakkai says.
“My head is still pounding would you please stop yelling Hakkai.” Gojyo says to him.
“Well if I would have drunk as much beer as you did last night my head would be pounding too.” Nori says laughing Gojyo smiles at her. Hakkai and Laney turn looking at Nori.
Nori holds Goku out to Hakkai, “What should I do with him?”
Hakkai laughs, “You pack him you knocked him out.”
“Just sitting him under the tree he will be fine.” Gojyo says.
Nori shakes her head “Your so mean Gojyo, I will not set Goku under a tree and leave him there he is going to be out for at lest an hour.”
“Well if he is going to be out that long. I guess we should take him back to the room then.” Hakkai tells her.
“That will work for me,” Nori tells Hakkai as they all start walking toward the Inn. They go up stairs to their room as Hakkai opens the door to the room, and then quickly closes it in Nori face as she goes to walk in.
“What was that for?” Nori asks him.
“Sorry I was not thinking.” Hakkai tells her.
“Thinking what?” Nori asks him.
“Sanzo is in there if he sees you…” Hakkai pauses.
“Bull open the door he is getting heavy.” Nori tells him as she pushes her way into the room. As soon as Nori walks into the room she walks right over to the bed Goku was in last night and lays him down on it.
“Man he is heavy for a little guy.” Nori says as she is shaking her arms at her side she turns around. Nori finds herself face to face with the barrel of Sanzo’s gun.
“Man not this noise again.” Nori says.
“Sanzo stop this Nori was not trying to kill you.” Gojyo tells him.
“What happen to Goku?” Sanzo asks looking right at Nori.
“I put him to sleep; I was not up to the workout he was putting me through at the time.” Nori tells him.
“I was not talking to you.” Sanzo says in a cold tone.
Nori glares at Sanzo, “Then do not look at me when you are not speaking to me.” Nori says in the same cold tone.
“You’re crazy if you think I am taking my eyes from you…” Sanzo says. Nori stands there in front of him as a smile slowly appears on her face.
“Well now me, crazy, is just besides the point… Look I am not up for this noise right now. I have not had breakfast yet, my head is starting to hurt from the darting around I had to do with Goku, and if you want to know the truth about it I am really getting sick of your gun being in my face.” Nori tells Sanzo, “So… tootles,” Nori winks at Sanzo as he finds himself standing there pointing his gun at the window that was behind Nori that was now open. Sanzo quickly moves to the window looking out as he sees Nori walking down the sidewalk.
“Bitch…” Sanzo says looking down on her.
“She went out the window?” Hakkai exclaims. Sanzo grabs his side as Hakkai quickly goes to him, “You should not be out of bed just yet Sanzo.” Hakkai tells him.
“What are you doing bringing them in here?!” Sanzo yells at Hakkai.
“Hey, I am out of here. I am going to have breakfast with Nori.” Gojyo says as he turns to walk out the door. All of a sudden Sanzo’s gun goes off as Gojyo ducks, the bullet just missing his head.
“You crazy Son of a…” Gojyo says as another shot comes his way. “Stop it Sanzo!” Gojyo yells at him.
Sanzo turns the gun on Hakkai, “What are you doing with them? After what that bitch did to me and now you three are hanging out with them.” Sanzo yells at them.
“Look Sanzo I know this looks bad…” Gojyo cuts Hakkai off as he says, “I am out of here dude.” Gojyo runs out the door.
“Thanks Gojyo…” Hakkai says sarcastically looking back at Sanzo. Sanzo is sitting in his bed as Hakkai sees Sanzo’s hand start to go limp and he drops his gun down, Sanzo hangs his head as he reaches for his side.
“Sanzo are you alright?” Hakkai asks him.
“I am fine, now explain this to me and it better be good.” Sanzo says in an angered and hurt tone. Hakkai and Laney start to explain the whole thing to Sanzo from the very beginning.
Sometime after lunch Hakkai and Laney make their way back outside to find Nori and Gojyo. While they are looking Laney starts to laugh,
“What’s so funny Laney?” Hakkai asks her.
“Just thinking about Nori and Sanzo,” Laney says.
Hakkai gives her a confused look, “What about them?” He asks.
“Well Nori and Sanzo are a lot a like.” Laney tells him.
“Yeah in a lot of ways they are come to think of it. I mean from what you have told me about Nori and knowing Sanzo.” Hakkai says.
They contain to look everywhere they could for Nori and Gojyo, when Laney says, “Where have we not looked I cannot believe we cannot find them. This is just like Nori I swear she needs someone to put her in her place.” Laney places her hands on her hips.
When all of a sudden her eyes widen, “Laney are you alright?” Hakkai asks her.
“I have an idea.” Laney says.
“An idea?” Hakkai asks. Laney tells Hakkai her idea. Hakkai listens to Laney’s idea as he smiles and lets out a few laughs.
“You know it could work, but why put it that way to her?” Hakkai says.
“Well it is a long story, but if I put it to her that way she will feel bad and she will do it and if they end up killing each other then at least we will have them out of our hair.” Laney says laughing.
Hakkai gave Laney a strange look, “I am sorry that was wrong of me to say that and I was just joking anyway. I do not know what I would do without Nori.” Laney says.
Just then, Gojyo and Nori come walking out of the bar that Hakkai and Laney were standing in front of. They were laughing and carrying on.
Laney whispered, “Not again…”
“Hey Laney look here we made a haul.” Nori says holding up her hands that were full of money.
“This little lady can play some cards let me tell you.” Gojyo says, Nori starts to laugh as she bumps into Gojyo in a friendly gesture,
“Part of this is yours, so do not go saying it is not.” Nori tells him.
“You won all that on your own I had nothing to do with it. I got my share right here.” Gojyo reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wad of cash as well.
Laney’s eyes widen as she says, “What did you two do rob the patrons of the bar.”
“Yeah, in a card game they thought they knew how to play.” Nori says laughing.
“You two are not good together.” Hakkai says.
“Oh why do you say that Hakkai?” Gojyo says.
“Out drinking all hours of the night together coming in drunker then who knows what and now gambling, you two are a bad influence on one another.” Hakkai tells them.
Nori and Gojyo look at one another with a bewildered look, “He is a party pooper…” Nori tells Gojyo then looking at Hakkai. “You and Laney are perfect for one another. She is a party pooper too.” Laney starts to blush putting her hand to her forehead and casting her eyes downward by what Nori said.
“Nori I swear one day…” Laney says.
Nori starts to laugh, “What’s wrong Laney…” Nori starts to bend over to look under her hand and up at her face,
“Did I embarrass you in front of Hakkai? You did say last night you thought he was cute, right?”
“Nori Nanba Mutsu!!” Laney yells at her trying to grab her,
“Opps… not quick enough Laney,” Nori tells her has she dodges her.
“Fine I will fix your little red wagon.” Laney tells her.
“Wow you have a little red wagon?” Gojyo says jokingly.
“Yeah, I park it next to my Big wheel.” Nori says laughing harder. “I take them into town ever Friday and Saturday night to pick up guys.”
“Your drunk…”Laney exclaims. Hakkai looks at the both of them as he starts to laugh as well.
“I had a few drinks so what I had to be sociable.” Nori tells her.
“Well NO MORE for you for the next few days.” Laney tells her.
Nori looks at Laney bewildered, “What do you mean No More?” Nori says, “You’re not my Mother… you cannot tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“You’re going to be sitting with Sanzo taking care of him for the next few days for what you have done to him, from sun up to sundown. When Hakkai gets back to the room for the night then you can leave and you will start now so we can go get something to eat.” Laney tells her.
“WHAT!!! You couldn’t get me take care of that arrogant Monk if you offered me the world to do it.” Nori exclaims.
“Well to bad you have some atoning to do, and it starts with Sanzo.” Laney tells her as she emphasis the last part of her statement.
Nori gives Laney a strange look wondering what she is trying to get at, but to keep face she goes along with her.
“Great… you had to put it that way didn’t you?” Nori says as she turns and starts to walk slowly back to the Inn.
Laney looks at Hakkai smiling, “It works every time.” They all start following Nori to the Inn as they go up to the guy’s room. Gojyo opens the door for them as they all walk in Noir walks in last as she stands there glaring at Sanzo; Goku is sitting next to his bedside.
“You hungry Goku?” Hakkai asks him.
Goku jumps up, “YOU BET I AM!!”
“Great then lets go get something to eat. Do you want anything Sanzo?” Hakkai asks him.
“Yes I would, you know what I like, just get me something.” Sanzo tells Hakkai.
“I will do that… now you two have fun, but not too much now Nori. Sanzo is not up for much.” Hakkai says as he laughs they all walk from the room.
Sanzo and Nori stare at one another starting to get irritated at what their friends are doing to them they yell at them as they walk out,
“You are all going to pay for this…” Nori and Sanzo are still glaring at one another.
“Leave I do not want you here I do not even want to look at your face you make me sick.” Sanzo tells her.
Nori goes to move as she hears Laney’s voice echo in her head, “Starting with Sanzo…” she sighs sitting down on the foot of Gojyo’s bed.
“I told you to leave!!” Sanzo says in a more angered tone.
“Sorry… UMM… Sanzo right? I am here like it or not, and believe me I do not like this any more then you do, but we are stuck at least until you get to where you can get around better. So all I can tell you is Get Over It.” Nori tells him.
Sanzo starts looking around for his gun, as Nori holds it up for him to see it, “If you are looking for this it is right here. I thought we might be able to get along a little better if you were not always sticking a gun in my face.” Nori tells him.
“How did you get that?” Sanzo says even more angered.
“It was not hard; you were so busy with Hakkai and Goku to notice me taking it from you.” Nori tells him.
Sanzo starts to get to his feet. “No… No… Not good Sanzo stay in your bed.” Nori tells him.
“If you think taking my gun has saved you your wrong and as far as us getting along you can forget about that.” Sanzo starts to stand, “It will be a cold day in hell, before…” Sanzo starts to fall as Nori sees him going down she darts to his side and catches him.
Sanzo’s cold eyes lock with Noir’s for a brief moment as she sits him back on the bed and walks away from him, back to Gojyo’s bed.
Sanzo looks across the room at Nori as he works his way back into his bed; he says nothing as he lies back down. Nori falls back onto Gojyo’s bed looking up at the ceiling thinking to herself, “My God what is Laney trying to do here, get us to kill one another.”
About 2 hours later Laney and the others return to the room. Nori is still sitting on the foot of Gojyo’s bed and Sanzo is asleep in his bed.
Gojyo sees Nori as he sits next to her, “Now this is where I was trying to get you last night.” Gojyo says smiling wrapping his arm around her.
Nori cringes and gets up irritated pushing his arm from her. “Stop it Gojyo I done told you last night…”
Nori was cut off by Sanzo, “Well at least she’s got brains enough to stay away from Gojyo.”
Nori turned looking at Sanzo she glares as he glares back at her. “You were asleep, why are you awake?” Nori asks him.
“Who can sleep with all this noise?” Sanzo says, pushing himself up in bed, you could see the pain on his face.
Nori stands there watching him and the pain he was in, “You making it Sanzo?” She asks him in a cold tone.
He looks at Nori with his cold eyes, “I do not need your help if that’s what your getting at, you have helped enough don’t you think?” Sanzo says coldly to her.
Nori turns looking at Laney, “We need to talk NOW!” Nori scolds.
“I will be in our room when you are ready come get me. I can only take so much of the arrogant bastard.” Nori tells her as she storms out.
“Good get out I wanted you to do that hours ago!” Sanzo yells in an arrogant tone. Nori slams the door to the room and goes across the hall.
“You know Sanzo you could try to be a little nicer to her. She is here looking after you to atone for what she did to you.” Hakkai tells him.
“I am being nice to her. I have not shot her yet have I?” Sanzo says sitting up in his bed to eat.
“Well I think if you have had this you would have shot her.” Gojyo says as he holds up Sanzo’s gun that was on his bed. Sanzo, Hakkai, Laney and Goku look over at Gojyo.
“How…” Hakkai started to say but was cut off by Sanzo,
“Give that to me NOW.” Sanzo says. “She took that way from me.”
“I cannot say I blame her, if I could take it away from you I would.” Gojyo says as he hands Sanzo back his gun. Sanzo slides it under his pillow and goes back to eating.
Laney stands up and walks toward the door, “Where are you going Laney?” Hakkai asks her.
“Well I thought I would go talk to Nori.” Laney tells him. Laney walks out of the room and across the hall to their room. Nori is standing looking out the window as she hears the door open.
She turns yelling out in a cold tone, “WHAT IN THE HELL WAS YOU THINKING?”
“Nori, look I know he is overbearing, but you and Sanzo are a lot alike. I thought if any one could reach out to him it would be you.” Laney tells her.
“REACH OUT TO HIM!!” Nori yells at her. “The only reaching out I want to do to him is to chock him!!” Nori turns looking out the window again.
“Nori… I know you’re really upset right now, but hear me out.” Laney tells her.
Nori turns looking at Laney, “Yeah why should I?” She says in an irritated tone.
“Well Hakkai told me about what happen between you and Sanzo last night, and even though I am a little mad about you stabbing him I can understand he did try to shoot you at the same time.” Laney says.
Nori laughed, “He tried and he succeeded.” Nori lifted her shirt and pulled the bandage covering the wound on her side that Sanzo gave to her that night.
“Nori you need to see a doctor that does not look good.” Laney tells her walking to her side.
“I am fine Laney, you know in a few more days it will be gone… all healed.” Nori replies.
“Still that was not an ordinary gun you were shot with.” Laney says.
“I know that, it was a banishing gun. Thank God he did not shoot you; you would be gone right now.” Nori says laughing.
Laney looks down at the floor, “Nori can I tell you something?” Laney asks her.
“Sure I do not see why not Laney.” Nori replies.
“I told them you were one of the Last Children?” Laney tells her.
“YOU DID WHAT?!” Nori exclaims.
“I had to tell them something. I also told them we were banished from our village because of you and I being what we are. ” Laney tells her.
Nori laughs, “So they know you are a demon as well?” Nori asks her.
“Yes, I had to tell them something I could not tell them why we are really here. Not right now anyway.” Laney says.
“I guess that will come out soon enough.” Nori tells her with a smile.
“We get what information we can from them Nori and then we go on our way to find Yukihiko understood, no more trying to kill them. That means you have to start getting along with Sanzo he is the one we will get most of the information from.” Laney tells Nori.
“Fine I will do my best Laney but Sanzo is so arrogant.” Nori tells him.
“Then you two should get along great.” Laney tells her.
“HAHA that was funny Laney.” Nori says sarcastically.
“Who said I was trying to be funny?” Laney said. Nori looks at Laney and gives her a smug grin.
“I will work on Hakkai and Goku for information and since Gojyo has taken a liking to you, you can work on him and Sanzo.” Laney tells her.
“That’s cool me and Gojyo have fun together, but how do you expect me to work on Gojyo when you have me locked in a room with Sanzo Sociopath?” Nori asks her.
Laney laughs, “I am sure you will figure that out.” Laney tells her laughing. “You knew this was not going to be easy, by the stories we were told about them.” She added.
“Yeah I know.” Nori tells her walking across the room to the table to get her tiles. Laney watches Nori as she pulls out her Mah Jong tiles.
“Hey Sanzo likes playing that game.” Laney says.
“I know that’s why I am taking them over there with me.” Nori says smiling.
“Yeah it is his favorite and he loves to play cards as well. At least that is what Gojyo said.” Laney tells her.
“Great then maybe…” Nori paused, “No I am dreaming.”
“What Nori?” Laney asks.
“I was think maybe me and Sanzo might be able to get along and do something then, then I realized I was dreaming.” Nori says chuckling.
“Well maybe if you told Sanzo you were sorry for stabbing him he might ease up on you a little.” Laney says looking at Nori.
“You really think so?” Nori says looking at her.
“No not really, but it could not hurt to try.” Laney and Nori start to laugh as Laney looks at her and says, “Come on lets go back to the room you do not need to be over here all alone.” Nori smiles and nods as they walk from the room back over to the other room.
They enter the room smiling and laughing, “Well you look like you’re in a better mood.” Goku tells Nori.
“Yes I am, “Nori says as she looks at Gojyo’s bed seeing the gun is gone.
“Great I like you better when you were in a bad mood at least you did not talk.” Sanzo says to Nori.
“Will you stop that Nori, you know that gets on my nerves.” Laney says.
“Sorry I had to.” Nori says.
Everyone looks at Laney and Nori trying to figure out what they were talking about.
“So Sanzo…” Nori pauses.
Sanzo looks at Nori with a look of do not talk to me, “What do you what to annoy me with now Nori?” Sanzo says.
Noir is walking toward Sanzo when she stops right at the side of his bed, “Nothing really I just wanted you to know that I would not be talking to you that much while I was here with you, so that away you won’t get on my nerves.” Nori tells him Nori is leaning down on the bed right in front of Sanzo at this time as she smiles at him.
She lifts off the bed and turns as Sanzo goes to reach for his gun, “It is not there Sanzo.” Nori tells him.
“You bitch!!” Sanzo says in an angered tone.
Nori turns smiling, “As Long as I am babysitting you no toys that go bang.” She tossed the gun onto Gojyo’s bed. Hakkai and the others sit there in shock seeing how Nori is treating Sanzo none of them would even think of crossing the line that Nori just crossed.
“Well…” Hakkai says standing, breaking the tension in the room, “I guess you have things under control. I guess we will be out of here.” Everyone gets up following Hakkai from the room.
Hakkai closes the door as all of a sudden it opens back up, “Umm Nori, Sanzo needs that bandage changed could you do it please?” Hakkai says closing the door not even waiting for an answer.
Curse or God Sent Chapter 4