Against the Stream parts 1 & 2

Saiyuki Reload
...the body of a bird that flies without thought, and claws that hunt in search of food, in exchange for that heart whose weight was too heavy for your wings

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act 6 against the stream 1
...even if all that waits ahead for us is tragedy

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Gokuu: 'Mug-mug-mug'
F/X Jiip's vroom
Hakkai: What's that, Gokuu?
Gokuu: Sound effects
Gojou: Mnh. I'd say 'humid' for this
Gokuu: It's *mug*
Sanzou: Who cares which it is?
F/X click of gun chamber
Sanzou: Cut this depressing conversation or I'll throw your dead bodies out of the car
Hakkai: (laughs) Given how humid it is they'd rot very fast
Gojou: You say that so calmly, you put my discomfort index at 90%

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Gokuu: Yuck I'm so sticky- I wanna go swimming in a river somewhere
Hakkai: Speaking of rivers...
Sanzou: What is it, Hakkai?
Gokuu: WOW!!

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F/X gasp?
Hakkai: I've never seen a river this wide myself
Gojou: Not bad, huh, saru? Off you go on your swim
F/X calm water sounds?

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Gokuu: (huffy) Me, go swimming? I'm not a kid!
Gojou: Oh? You talk like one lately
F/X fierce argument
Gokuu: shaddup you muggy cockroach!
Gojou: Who're you talking to, you muggy monkey!
Gokuu: Don't copy me!
Sanzou: ...isn't there a bridge?
Hakkai: Not on the map. But we can ferry across
Sanzou: Ordinarily, yes, but I haven't seen anything that looks like a boat for a while
Voice: You can't cross

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Boy: You can't get to the other side
Hakkai: Uhh, who are--
F/X boy steps
F/X boy runs away
Gokuu: Oh--
Gojou: What's with him?
Gokuu: Your face scared him so he ran away.
Gojou: ---you know, lately you've been taking after Sanzou--
Gokuu: What? How am I like Sanzou!? I'm not as mean as he is--

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Sanzou: I'll go ask in the village about getting across the river
Hakkai: Sanzou, what do I do with these two?
F/X battered to ground by Sanzou's harisen
Sanzou: Put weights on 'em and sink them in the water
Nii: You mustn't take rivers too lightly. The surface may look calm but if you try to go against the current, the great power of nature will remind you just how powerless human beings are
Nii: Which reminds me- there was this child called Kouryuu once.

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Hwan: Nii hakase, this is no time for playing games
Nii: Ohh?
Hwan: Gyokumen Koushu has been asking me how Kougaiji-sama is making out. If we can't get Genjou Sanzou's sutra the revival project will remain at the present standstill
Nii: Yes yes, I hear you. Don't worry. Pretty soon the 'event' will begin. (J note: as in fan event, I believe. Half convention, half party.) Without a hitch... right?

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Hwan: You've got a good opinion of yourself. One of these days you'll trip over your own feet
Nii: I don't have feet to trip over. I'm a ghost. (J note: Japanese ghost don't have feet.)
Sanzou: This is crazy. You can't take your boat out?

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Hakkai: Why would that be?
Villager: It's true there's no bridges hereabouts. We used to cross over to the village on the other side in our boats- But a year ago, a bunch of youkai came to live in the river. They attacked sixteen boats one after the other. Since then no-one at all will cross.
Villager: You don't know how inconvenient it is, but we're just glad to be alive
Gojou: Well that's fine, but we're going west and we've got to cross that river

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Villager: West. Well in that case, nii-chans, if you make a detour into the mountains there's a rope bridge, if that's any use.
Gokuu: Huh? There's a bridge then!
Villager: You gotta cross five mountains. Takes about two months
Gojou: TWO MONTHS?!!
Hakkai: I see. That's why the boy by the riverside said we couldn't get across
Villager: You people have met Kon? That kid-- Kon- he comes from the village across the river

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Villager: He came here on an errand from his mother and he's been here ever since. Nobody can take a boat across, and so- he can't go home. He's got a mother and a younger sister waiting for him on the other side
Kon: nh
F/X effort?
F/X splash of stones thrown into the river
Villager: ...Poor guy. He's so young still

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Kon: (panting)
F/X stones splash
Kon: (pant) Shit--
F/X sound of Gokuu's step
Gokuu: It really is a big river
Kon: .......
Gokuu: Fact is, I've never been in a boat. Good swimmer, though. But I guess you can't swim across *this* river
Kon: ...toleja. You can't get to the bank there any more

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Kon: They don't take the boats out cause the youkai might attack. I keep asking them but they say No. I can't row a boat by myself, and I can't cross the mountains. They say Too bad, and I know what they mean, but- But--
F/X Gokuu throwing stones in river
Gokuu: But. It's right in front of you but you can't have it. That's tough

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Hakkai: ...so, what do we do, Sanzou?
Sanzou: Hmph. Do we have a choice? I'm not going trailing around through those mountains
Gojou: Oi, Gokuu! We're going in a boat
Gokuu: Kidding!
Kon: Huh--
Gokuu: You coming? Across the river?

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Kon: Yeah!
Villager: Oi, oi. You can't be serious about going, nii-chan-tachi. It's dangerous!
Sanzou: We'll buy your boat. That way you've nothing to complain about.
Gokuu: If we see any youkai we'll wipe the floor with them. And then you'll be able to cross the river again too, right?
Villager: (wipe the floor...) But who's going to paddle the boat? Sorry, but it isn't going to be us!
Hakkai: Anh I see. That's a problem

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Gojou: Oi- oi- Why're you looking at me?
F/X water
Gokuu: Wow!
F/X boat moving

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Gokuu: This is totally neat!
F/X squeak of Gojou's pole?
Hakkai: (laughs) Gokuu, stay down or you'll fall in
Gojou: You got your nerve, shoving the hard work on to me.
Kon: Umm- thanks for letting me on board.
Sanzou: No need. If we don't get across here, we can't go on ourselves. You're just along for the ride.
Gojou: But the current's faster than I'd expected
Kon: It slacks off around here. I used to go fishing here with Dad

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Hakkai: Fishing? Sounds nice.
Gokuu: Yeah-- maybe we'll see some fish. Hm-?
F/X bubbles
Gojou: What--
F/X whirlpool
Gojou: What the hey--!!

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Gojou: ACKK--
F/X bubbles rising to surface
Sanzou: So they've come
F/X rough waves
Hakkai: Everybody- careful you're not shaken out!! They want us to fall into the water!
Gokuu: Why're you saying that...
F/X hand comes up from water

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F/X youkai attacks
Gokuu: Wha---

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Youkai: Food! It's food!!!
F/X jumps on prow of boat so it rises and splashes in water
Kon: Uwaaaa---
Gokuu: Kon!
F/X grabs wrist

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F/X splash
Hakkai: Gokuu! Kon-kun!
F/X splashing
Gokuu: (choking on water)
Youkai: Hyaa!! Fools! You'll all be food for us!
Gojou: Shutup, you half-mermaid!!
F/X pole breaking

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Gojou: Geh!
F/X gun clicks
Sanzou: Move, Gojou!
F/X gun fires
Youkai: GA--
F/X boat goes flat in water again
Hakkai: Gokuu, are you alright?
Gokuu: ...kinda--

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Gokuu: It's no good! The current's too fast to swim! Sheesh-- get longer- nyoibou!
F/X nyoibou digs into rock face
Gokuu: Grab it, Kon!
Kon: OK-
Hakkai: Gokuu!!

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Gokuu: Hakkai!!
Hakkai: We'll meet up later! Look after Kon!
Gokuu: Ohh!
F/X echo
Gojou: Oi, what do we do. It's running pretty fast
Sanzou: Our luck's run out now you've gone and broken the paddle
Gojou: You saying that's my fault?!
Hakkai: ...looks like it's only just starting

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Gojou: Oi oi, quite some catch.
Hakkai: We killed their friend. They'd seem not to be pleased
Sanzou: Chi- we're at a disadvantage, here in the boat
Hakkai: We'll be at a worse one if we fall out of it

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Gojou: No-one told me to expect a tour group!
F/X many many bodies
Sanzou: Move, dammit!
F/X thud as youkai grabs boat
Gojou: Uwaa--
F/X boat tipping
F/X splash as it capsizes
All: Aghhh--!!

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All: (choking)
Hakkai: (thinks) Damn! We have to get to the surface
F/X bubbles
F/X pulled down

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-by three youkai
Youkai: (evil grin)
Sanzou: Quit fooling--
F/X choke
Gojou: Leggo, dammit!!
F/X choking

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Sanzou: ...damn them ALL...
F/X choking

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Sanzou: Makai Tenjou!!
F/X explosion in the water

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Gokuu: ...Sanzou?
F/X ripples reach them from the explosion
F/X bubbles come to surface
Gokuu: Gojou... Hakkai...
Gokuu: SANZOU--!!!!
F/X frightened birds fly away

Saiyuki Reload
It's dark...
Water------- the sound of water
A river?
Voice: What's the matter?
Someone's figure ... who is it?
Koumyou: I thought... it seemed somehow-
--- so bright
Koumyou: I heard a voice
.....the light?

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"...don't look away."

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act 7 against the stream 2
Saiyuuki Reload

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(panting breath)
(pants) Aghh
Gojou: Thought I was gonna die
Hakkai: Ahh- I haven't swum like that in a while
Gojou: So now how do we get back up?
Sanzou: ...hey, don't get too close to me. Keep your distance

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Gojou: *Lissen, you!** It was you kicking up back there got us into the drink in the first place!
Sanzou: Then go ahead and sink- and don't come back to the surface again, you damned kappa!
F/X disturbed water
Author note: Kicking each other below the surface
Hakkai: Oh come, guys...
Yaone: What--? Sanzou-san and his men?
Dokugakuji: What're you guys doing?
Gojou: Dokugakuji... Yaone!?
Hakkai: Oh, hello. Haven't seen you in a while.

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Sanzou: Ch-- why now?
Yaone: Forgive the sudden question, but---
Yaone: You haven't happened to see Kougaiji-sama?
Hakkai: Hn?
Hakkai: No, I'm afraid we haven't had the pleasure recently... Is something the matter with his Highness?
Yaone: Ah no- I see. Please excuse us--
F/X Dokugakuji and Yaone rush away
Gojou: Oi- just a sec-- HELP!!!
F/X birds startled by the shout

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F/X grab
Gokuu: There ya go. You up?
Kon: Yup. I'm OK. Hope the other guys are OK...
Gokuu: Sanzou and the others? They're fine, probly. If I can wait at your place they'll show up eventually. We're still going west now?
Kon: Unh-hunh! My mom and my sister will be really happy. This way, o-nii-chan!
Gokuu: Coming, coming

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F/X wind blowing through deserted village
Gokuu: This is kinda...
Kon: (gasps)

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F/X runs
Gokuu: Hey- Kon!
Kon: (panting as he runs)
Kon: Unh--
F/X throws door open
Kon: Mom!! Rin!!

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Kon: Mom! Rin! Where are you!? I'm back!
Kon: O-nii-chan!
Gokuu: Kon
Kon: They aren't here! Mom and my sister! What do I do! They must have been attacked by the youkai! Everyone's been killed! That's why nobody's here...
Gokuu: Kon--
Kon: Mom- and Rin- the youkai killed them...
Gokuu: Calm down!!

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Kon: -nh
Gokuu: They're not dead
Kon: Hunh...?
Gokuu: The village's been torn apart and it must be the youkai who did it. But there's no bodies. And I don't see much blood. So they must have gone to hide somewhere
Kon: Really?
Gokuu: Yup! So now we go find them and show them you're OK- right?

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Kon: Yeah...
Gojou: AH-CHOO! Lissen, I'm *cold*!
Dokugakuji: The famous Sanzou Ikkou turns into 'the capsized trio.' What a comedown.
Hakkai: Ahh- thank you for rescuing us.
Dokugakuji: (laughs) Nice of you to say so.
Hakkai: Incidentally, you seemed in something of a hurry. Is something the matter with Kougaiji-san?
Yaone: Oh- no... We just... lost sight of him

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Gojou: Yeah well, he's after this sutra, isn't he? Just wait for him and he'll be along here to get it
Sanzou: HEY-- careful how you handle that!
Gojou: Oh shaddup- I'm only drying it off
Dokugakuji: You guys- if you happen to meet Kou, just drop the sutra and run, OK?
Gojou: Whaa-at? What's that supposed to mean? Just hand it over, 'yessir here you are'
Yaone: **No**!!

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Yaone: No, that's not it
Sanzou: Then what is it?
Dokugakuji: Hey, you guys, where's Gokuu?!
Hakkai: Hm? Oh- well, the fact is, we lost sight of him too
Dokugakuji: Uh-oh. That's a problem...
Yaone: Yes. If the two of them run into each other--
Gojou: Oi- just a sec! What *is* all this you're saying? We're enemies just now- of course we fight! That's only sense. So what're you all worked up about?

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Hakkai: What on earth's happened to Kougaiji- and to you two?
Yaone: The thing is--
Voice: That's enough
F/X sudden appearance

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Zakuro: Thinking of changing sides? Dokugakuji? Yaone?
Dokugakuji: You-!!

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Kon: That hill there- once when there was a flood after a storm the village took shelter there
Gokuu: I see. So if there's a place nearby they could be hiding in
Jiip: Piii---
Gokuu: Jiip? Did you find something?
Gokuu: A cave!
Kon: Hey!! Anybody in there! It's me- Kon! Mom! Rin! I've come back!

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Man: Kon? Is that you, Kon?
Kon: Ojisan!
Villagers: Kon! It's really Kon!
Kon: Everybody-- Mom! Rin!
Rin: O-nii-chan!
Kon's mother: Kon! I'm so glad!

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Kon: Ne, Mom- this is the o-nii-chan who brought me here
Kon's mother: Ohh, thank you!
Gokuu: Anh it's OK. It wasn't anything.
Gokuu: But we saw the village- I suppose it was youkai?
Villager: Yeah. Just a few days ago. We managed to run away and hide here. But the ones who were too slow- they...
Gokuu: I see...

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Kon's mother: When it happened- I thought I'd never see Kon again...
Kon: Mom...
Gokuu: Oh- yeah- I can't stay here. I've lost my friends
Villager: Oh, I see. We were just about to leave here ourselves. We can't stay in this place forever either
Gokuu: It's true there aren't any youkai in the village, but isn't it dangerous?
Villager: Well, yes but--
Youkai: Ahh-hah!
F/X sudden appearance

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Youkai: So this is where you were hiding. No wonder we couldn't find you
Villagers: (screech) The youkai!! Iyaaaaa.....