#Kougaiji

[saiyuki-ing]

Group Photo!

The cast gets a group photo, but maybe they shouldn't have asked the Magnificent Zakuro to take the picture

[sakuplumeria]

To all Saiyuki fans, Mods and some friends have been hosting some Saiyuki events and we want to know your opinion for future events...

If you would kindly fill this short interest check survey~

THANK YOU! Reblogs are very appreciated

[adhdnojutsu]

"Pixels who did more for my development than my father"

My favourite character from each of my favourite shows, though it was a close call between Tasuki and Tamahome. Also, Shura is a filler character.

Let's see who they are. Shura is a pirate leader with integrity, probably taught me it's okay to rob big corp and mooch off the system a little.

Zelgadis is a man-made chimera who'll do anything to be human again. I found him relatable because of his unfixable body image issues and the prejudice he encountered as a result.

Tasuki taught me to do right by the people you love, even if it means getting your ass beat.

Kougaiji puts his found family before his orders and despite being the antagonist, he'll help the protagonists for the sake of the greater good because he's not his father (the literal devil).

Itachi is the older brother I'd want mine to be, as in, he makes me an only heir to make up for the shit I had to take from both of them...

Inuyasha is like me, the younger bastard sibling who deserved more than the shitty older sibling who deserved nothing.

Draken is just the son of a whore & born in a brothel, and I'm really nostalgic about my 3 years in that profession, so learning of his background made me all warm and fuzzy.

Reference: a photo of my own found family

[mechadeimos]

[keirasanimeblog]

Imagine how each person reacts to you getting hurt in a fight.

You're normally a fighter and can hold your own. This injury takes you and your companions by surprise.

Sanzo

Sanzo didn’t rush to your side when you collapsed after the fight. Instead, he stood there with his revolver still smoking. His amethyst eyes scanned the battlefield with a sharp glare. His lips were pressed into a grim line, and it was hard to tell if he was angry at you, himself, or the situation.

Once the dust settled, Sanzo walked over to where you lay. “Idiot,” he muttered as he crouched down beside you. You were surprised that his voice sounded rougher and quieter than usual. There was no bite to it. “What were you thinking, taking on that many by yourself?”

His hands hovered over your wounds, his touch light and surprisingly careful despite the harshness of his tone. When you winced, he froze, his amethyst eyes narrowed. Luckily it wasn’t life threatening. You both realized this at the same time. His hands were slightly shaky as he pulled away.

Hakkai quickly came and began to tend to your injuries. Sanzo stood and lit a cigarette. He turned his gaze away from you and exhaled a plume of smoke through his gritted teeth. “You’re lucky it wasn’t worse,” he said coldly.

Later that night after being healed you stirred uneasily. You blinked and caught sight of him sitting near you in the inn. His head drooped in the chair and you realized that perhaps he was more worried than he let on. You know if you brought it up he’d deny it instantly.

Gojyo

Gojyo froze the second he saw you fall. “Hey!” he shouted, his voice cut through the chaos as he charged toward you. The playful smirk he usually wore had vanished, replaced by a look of raw determination. The last demons fell under his Shakujo, his movements were faster and more vicious than you’d ever seen.

As soon as the fight ended, he dropped to his knees beside you. “What the hell were you trying to prove?” he demanded. His voice cracked slightly as he added, “You’re supposed to be better than this, damn it.”

You could see his crimson eyes flicker with worry. The usual cocky demeanor was gone. Instead it was replaced seriousness. Something you rarely saw. “What happened to that fighter I know, huh?” he muttered under his breath.

Hakkai quickly stepped over to heal you but Gojyo stayed close. His hand on top of yours.

Later, after your wounds had been healed he sat next to you. He’d never left your side. “Next time, don’t be a hero.” He ran a hand through his crimson hair. “That’s my job.” His eyes then softened when a smile appeared on your face.

Hakkai

Hakkai noticed the moment you faltered. His sharp green eyes darted to you. “Hang on!” His movements became precise and efficient before he rushed to your side.

It only took moments for him to fight his way to you and when he did get to you he knelt by your side. He quickly assessed your injuries before sighing in relief. “You’ll be alright,” he said softly, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his concern. His chi glowed when he healed you. His touch was firm yet gentle.

“You’ve been reckless before, but this…” he murmured. “This was something else entirely. Don’t make me have to do this gain.” You couldn’t help but feel guilty for the worry in his voice. When the healing was done, Hakkai lingered and put a hand on your shoulder. “You scared me,” he admitted, his gaze met yours. “Next time, let us help you before it gets this bad. We are a team for a reason.”

Later that night after you’d been healed Hakkai made sure you were well fed with dinner. He was stern about making sure you had a sufficient amount of food after such an injury.

Dokugakuji

Doku’s roar of anger shook the battlefield when he saw you fall. He fought his way to you with a single-minded determination. His sword strikes were faster and harder than normal. He cut a clear path to you and by the time he got to you they were all defeated or retreated.

Once next to you he dropped his weapon, completely forgetting about it as you are the only thing he can think of. He knelt down beside you, his hands trembled slightly and he helped you sit up. “You’re too damn stubborn for your own good,” he growled, his voice rough with emotion. “Why didn’t you call for help? You know we’ve got your back.”

His expression softened slightly. He pulled his shirt off and used it to stop the bleeding, frustration still lingered on his face. “You don’t always have to do everything alone,” he said. “You’re not invincible, no matter how strong you think you are.”

Once your wounds were patched up by Yaone, he stayed close. He kept an arm around you for support. Later after your wounds had been patched up he sat close to you. His arms were crossed and brows furrowed. “You’re tougher than most people I know,” he murmured, almost to himself. “But don’t scare me like that again.”

Kougaiji

The moment you went down, Kougaiji’s eyes locked on you. His expression hardened and he abandoned his current fight to charge toward you. He unleashed a flurry of powerful attacks that obliterated the enemies around you. His violet eyes burned with fury. His movements were laced with an urgency he rarely showed.

When the battlefield was clear, he knelt beside you. There was tension in his jaw despite how steady his hands were. “You’re reckless,” he growled. “And it’s going to get you killed one day.”

Despite his scolding tone, there was a gentleness in the way he supported you as you tried to sit up. When you started to apologize, he cut you off with a sigh. “I don’t need your apology,” he said, his voice softening. “I need you to stop putting yourself in danger like this.”

Later, after you’d been healed by Yaone you noticed him standing against the wall near you. His arms were crossed and his usual stoic demeaned cracked just enough for you to see his worry. “You’re strong,” he said quietly. “But even the strongest need someone to watch their back. Let me do that for you.”

[vorondil]

Feeling nostalgic lately

[ciaossu-imagines]

I'm back with another Saiyuki ask ✌️

So you know, the Ikkou is really famous, anywhere they go, they get stopped by townspeople who want Sanzo to chant Sutras and such... So, that's kinda Sanzo's fanclub.

Do you think Hakkai, Goku and Gojyo have a fanclub too ? How good would they be at handling it ? Maybe Kogaiji, Dokugaku, Yaone and Lirin have one too, they seem really loved among yokais.

Anyway, I got "inspired" while listening to the Idol drama-cd lol

This one made me laugh quite a bit! I love this idea and had a lot of fun answering this one! Thank you so much for the request and I hope you'll enjoy the headcanons!

Okay, realistically, I don't think Hakkai, Goku and Gojyo have fan-clubs all their very own, though they are recognized and known. I think it's more that they're recognized and known though as companions to Sanzo and fans of theirs are normally already part of Sanzo's fan-club and they're liked by extension.

But just because the idea of it really amuses me, we're going to put that realistically aside and pretend that yes, all three of these dorks have their own fan-clubs and that they're all just as sizeable as Sanzo's.

Now, Gojyo definitely would get a little bit of a swollen ego when he first learns he has a fan-club. He's going to be pissed if it turns out that most of his fans are men...he's really hoping his fan-club consists of mostly beautiful women. He definitely would be the one to take advantage of a beautiful woman being a fan of his already to get laid, if the click and connection was there with that person. Otherwise, he might have a drink with a fan, if they amuse or seem cool to him. He tends to be pretty okay and friendly to his fan-club, but only if they don't come off as being annoying or wanting too much from him.

Hakkai is the most level-headed and realistic about having a fan-club. He knows that his so called fans really don't know anything about him at all, that they're infatuated with an idea of him and not who he actually is. So he never really has moments of ego or lets it get to his head at all. He'll remain polite and civil to any of his so-called fans and he won't go out of his way to be rude to them at all. He's generally pretty okay with being approached, as long as they don't take up too much of his time or cross any of his boundaries but for the most part, he prefers not to interact with his fan-club all that much.

Much like Gojyo, I do see Goku enjoying the idea of having a fan-club and he thinks it's really cool. He sees most of his 'fan-club' as friends and it might go to his head a little at first. For the most part, he's cheerful and nice to everyone who is his fan, though he really hates it when they start to get demanding or if they get too touchy-feely with him and that's when he has no problem letting them know they need to back off. While probably the friendliest of the three, Goku has no problem putting his foot down and making people back the fuck off and he does have a temper. If people annoy him too much, he's just going to walk away and if they try to stop him, he's cool with a fight too, if they look at all strong.

Okay, but honestly, when it comes to Kougaiji...you know how teenage girls hang posters and cut out pictures of their favourite celebrities and such all over their walls? If such things existed in the Saiyuki universe, I think Kou would be plastered all over so many demon girl's walls and probably a fair few demon boy's as well. He's a huge deal to demons and as he's fairly handsome, I think that really helps his popularity among the demon girls in particular. However, he's really not that great about handling the whole 'I have a rabid, insanely passionate fan-club' thing. He appreciates their support, sure, but like...they're more terrifying than some of the enemies he has faced and he can't just kill them like he does his enemies. He largely tries to avoid them as much as he can and it's part of Yaone and Dokugakuji's responsibilities to help him do such.

[returntoclear]

#最遊記ワンドロワンライ

お題【マフラー/ニット帽】 遠くて寒い地域へ遠征する紅孩児

[saiyuki-ing]

Their Journey So Far!

The Sanzo party has met a lot of colorful characters on their travels! It's been about 15 years since I've read the original Saiyuki manga, but even then, I couldn't fit every memorable character here

[tofueggnoodles]

Saiyuki Reload Blast Drama CD 2 – Track 1: Superhero Team

Summary: The Ikkou forms (or rather, attempts to form) a superhero team. Will they ever agree on which of them will get to play the Red Ranger?

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Hakkai: Here, in a certain town, due to youkai raids stemming from Gyumaoh’s empire, the people are in distress. In order to save them and keep the peace, a team of superheros has been formed. Its name is – West Rangers!

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Hakkai: All right! Today’s our first meeting, which is itself worthy of commemoration. Let’s put in our fighting spirit in our new roles as superheroes!

The other three (with varying levels of enthusiasm): Alright!

Sanzo: What a bother. You guys take care of this mess as you see fit, between just the three of you.

Gojyo: What are you saying? In the first place, you were the one who received the order from The Three Aspects.

Sanzo: Like I care. It’s something they arbitrarily decided on their own.

Goku: Why a superhero team?

Hakkai: It’s just the whim of a certain merciful and benevolent personage, isn’t it? But, in this way, a secret base of operations has been especially prepared for us, so let’s do our best to live up to their expectation!

Sanzo: What are you getting so hyped up for.

Hakkai: Who among us have not admired superhero teams at some point in our youth?

Gojyo: “Our youth....” You make it sound like we’re geezers already. To begin with, what you call a secret base is just a meeting room in a coffee shop.

Hakkai: By the way, we can make our order via the telephone they’ve provided here. I heard that the food and beverage costs will be covered by The Three Aspects.

Goku: Alright! I’d like a cream soda, a club sandwich, a pizza toast, a ham sandwich, a milk sandwich, a chicken sandwich and a pork-cutlet sandwich.

Gojyo: One ice coffee for me.

Sanzo: A lemon squash and a maple French toast.

Goku: Ah! I want a maple French toast too.

Gojyo: Are you two girls?

Hakkai: I’ll have a plain tomato juice. Well then, I’ll make our order. (picks up the phone) Hello, I’m calling from Room Number Three. Yes, I’d like to make an order. One ice coffee, one cream soda, one lemon squash, one plain tomato juice, two maple French toasts. On top of that, one of the following: club sandwich, pizza toast, ham sandwich, milk sandwich, chicken sandwich and pork-cutlet sandwich.

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Goku: Talking about superheroes, one would expect that thing, right? A belt you can wear and switch on in order to transform?

Hakkai: Unfortunately, we don’t have a transformation belt. However, our costumes have arrived. (heaves a heavy box onto the table and opens it)

Sanzo: What are those clothes?

Hakkai: When it comes to superheroes, costumes with different colors are essential, you know. Let’s see – they come in red, blue, yellow and black.

Gojyo: Isn’t that a large amount of clothes for four persons?

Hakkai: The spares are included. There are lots of them, so feel free fight to your heart's content without worrying about dirtying or ruining your costume. Well then, without further delay, shall we decide the color for everyone?

Sanzo: Something like the color of our costumes is just a trivial matter.

Hakkai: No, it is not! For superheroes, the color assignment is important. For example, the leader is almost always dressed in red, a color which symbolizes passion, vigor and victory. In short, the color of the costume is directly connected to the character of its wearer. The different colors represent the superheroes’ different personalities coming together in teamwork. Moreover, through their righteous conducts, superheroes provide extensive guidance to children and adults alike. Without these characteristics, one has no right to call oneself a superhero.

Gojyo: Y–yes.

Goku: Hakkai sure knows a lot about superhero teams.

Hakkai: It’s just something I enjoy reading up on early in the morning, since I’m an early riser.

Gojyo (sighs): Well, one way or another, we have to form a superhero team. So let’s hurry up and decide on the colors already. Shall we start with Sanzo?

Goku: For Sanzo... Sanzo... Sanzo... well, it should be yellow!

Gojyo: I bet you just decided that based on his hair color. So predictable.

Hakkai: What do you think, Sanzo?

Sanzo: Hmmph. Have it your way.

Hakkai: Alright, it’s yellow for Sanzo then. Here are the costumes and the boil-in-the-bag curry sauce.

Sanzo: Hah? What’s the latter for?

Hakkai: According to superhero team lore, the yellow-clad superhero tends to be a curry lover. From today on, please have curry for every meal in order to get into character.

Gojyo (bursts into laughter): Three curry meals a day? You’ll get fat in no time!

Sanzo: I’m not going to do it!

Goku: I like curry, so let’s exchange colors.

Gojyo: You like anything as long as it’s edible.

Goku: But, I’d like to be the red one too. The leader of the superhero team is the one in red, right? The leader is the coolest!

Gojyo: Hold on, hold on. Hold on! The leader is the one with the highest approval rating, isn’t he? Then it should be me, the guy who’s the most popular with the ladies.

Goku: When was it decided that you’re the most popular with the ladies?

Hakkai: I don’t recall us ever holding such a popularity poll.

Sanzo: It’s a kappa’s delusion.

Gojyo: Hah?

Sanzo: The main point is that the one in red is the leader, correct? If that’s the case, it should be me.

Gojyo: You just go and eat curry for the rest of eternity, curry monk!

Sanzo: Hah?!

Hakkai: Wait a minute, please! I can’t entrust the color red to any of you, because none of you have even an inkling of what superhero teams are like. Therefore, I’ll be the superhero in red.

Goku: Eh? Everyone wants to be red?

Gojyo: Since it’s come to this, we’ll have no choice but to decide via a game.

Hakkai: Then shall we make it a game of cards? Mahjong’s fine with me, too.

Gojyo: You’re sure full of confidence.

Sanzo: There’s no need for a game. I’m the leader and you guys are the underlings – that’s a conclusive fact.

Gojyo: Who’d want to be your underling?

Goku: Hmm....

Hakkai: What’s the matter, Goku?

Gojyo: If you need the toilet, hurry up and go already.

Goku: That’s not it!

Sanzo: Then, what is it?

Goku: What I’m trying to say is, if everyone wants to be red, why not just go with that?

Hakkai: Eh?

Sanzo and Gojyo: Hah?

Goku: Why not? Let’s just form a team of red superheroes!

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Woman: What’s that?

Man: A bunch dressed in red....

Woman: They look scary.

Goku: Hey.

Gojyo: Hah?

Goku: We kind of stand out, don’t we?

Sanzo: That’s obvious. A group clad in red uniforms is bound to be menacingly conspicuous.

Gojyo: On top of that, we’re wearing these weird masks which cover our whole faces. It’d be strange if we aren’t looked on with suspicion.

Goku: What’s with the complaints? In the end, even Sanzo and Gojyo agreed to everyone being red.

Gojyo: That’s because we couldn’t come to a decision even after thirty rounds of rock-paper-scissors.

Hakkai: That was why I suggested deciding via a game of poker or mahjong.

Gojyo: Yeah, like we’d go with your suggestion. Those are games you know you’re good at.

Hakkai: Well, these days there are groups in which each member is a superstar in their own right. I guess this would be acceptable for a superhero team too.

Goku: Leaving that aside, there seems to be no youkai around.

Sanzo: Indeed.

Hakkai: That’s strange. According to the information that’s recently come in, there should be some youkai in this area. Furthermore, the youkai frequently sighted around here are said to be high-ranking ones.

Sanzo: High-ranking? Someone like Kougaiji?

Gojyo: Judging from his name, he seems to be another red guy. Gimme a break! We’re swarmed with the color red already.

Goku: Oh! The shop over there is selling some delicious-looking stuff. Can we stop there?

Sanzo: Forget it. They’ll call security on us if we do that.

Goku: Why?

Gojyo: If a group in red like us were to suddenly walk into my shop, I’d report them too.

Hakkai: Ah!

Goku: What’s the matter, Hakkai?

Hakkai: How could I’ve forgotten that, me of all people? I’ve not yet prepared our signature phrase and pose!

Gojyo: Do we need those things?

Hakkai: Yes, we do! They’re indispensable! Ah, what should I do? Even if I have to improvise, I must come up with them now. Let me see.... The signature phrase could go like this: “In order to keep world peace, we, West Rangers, shall defeat the villains!” As for the signature pose–

(A loud crash resounds, followed by a menacing laughter.)

Youkai leader: From now on, this town shall come under the rule of the Gyumaoh’s empire! This is a foregone conclusion! As the citizens of a vassal state, hand over your valuables!

Goku: The youkai have appeared!

Hakkai: Right. This is West Rangers’ first job. Let’s put in our fighting spirit and do it!

Sanzo: I can’t go on like this.

Gojyo: That’s some fighting spirit you’re showing in support. Never mind that, let’s go!

Goku: Yeah! (approaches the youkai) Oi, you’re Kougaiji, aren’t you?

Youkai leader: Hah? Who are you guys? What’s with the bizarre get-ups? A procession of superhero-wanna-bes like this–

(A gunshot rings out. The youkai collapses.)

Sanzo: Do you think I’m dressed like this by choice?

Youkai underling: You bastards! (to his comrades) Attack them, guys!

(The youkai rush toward the Ikkou.)

Goku: Bring it on! The fight’s just begun!

Hakkai: Wait a minute, please! First, get into a line formation. Then – “In order to keep world peace, we, West Rangers–”

Gojyo: We don’t have time for that! (shouts and starts to fight a youkai)

Woman: What are you doing?

Hakkai: Ah.... I guess it can’t be helped. The signature pose will have to wait until the next time. (unleashes a ball of chi)

Man: My house!

Woman: Someone please stop them!

Sanzo: Tch.

(Crashes and gunshots are heard in the mayhem.)

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Gojyo: The place is cleared out thanks to the damage.

Goku: That Kougaiji guy was sure weak for a high-ranking youkai.

Hakkai: As expected of them, superheroes always win and save the day.

Gojyo: It’s all fine and dandy that we’ve won, but I’m a fix, because my coolness just now has probably won me more fans than ever.

Hakkai: Eh? But we’re all wearing masks, so how would it be possible to tell which one is you?

Gojyo: Oh. That was a mistake on my part.

Sanzo: Whatever. Let’s leave right away.

Goku: Let’s grab something to eat first. I’m hungry!

Gojyo: Hey, we’d better make some improvement to our get-ups. If no-one can tell us apart, there’s no point to this superhero stuff.

Hakkai: What are you saying? Making sure that the opponent has no idea you’re the one fixing the mess is the real thrill of being a superhero.

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Dokugakuji: How terrible! The buildings and the streets have all been smashed. What on earth happened?

Kougaiji: One of our followers was supposed to take control of this area, but–

Dokugakuji: Should we ask around? (to the town dwellers) Excuse me.

Man 1: Yes? What do you guys want? We’re all busy clearing away the rubble.

Dokugakuji: What happened here? This town seemed to have suffered frightful damage.

Man 2: What happened, you ask? Hear me out! A group of four dressed in red appeared out of nowhere and went on a rampage!

Man 1: Hear, hear. It’s great that they went and defeated a bunch of youkai, but they also ended up making the mess you see now. Some favor they did us!

Kougaiji: What?

Dokugakuji: So some guys are fighting against us youkai? Looks like they killed all of our followers. Hmm, this bunch of red-clad four must be quite skillful.

Kougaiji: At any rate, this is a dreadful spectacle. Even if we’re at war against humans, our followers were at fault too. As their leader, it’s my duty to make up for their misconduct. Dokugakuji, let’s help the townspeople clear away the rubble.

Dokugakuji: You’re really not suited to the role of the villain honcho. Well, that’s just like you though.

Kougaiji: All right then. (to the town dwellers) We’ll lend you a hand.

Man 2: Really?

Dokugakuji: You could use some help here, right?

Man 2: Yes, we sure could! Oi, everyone! These guys said they’ll lend us a hand!

Other town dwellers (sounding grateful): That’d save us some trouble!

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Gojyo (rifles through the newspaper): Now, I wonder if yesterday’s event will grab the headlines. Maybe something like “West Rangers’ Heroic Exploit....” Hah?

Hakkai: What’s the matter, Gojyo?

Gojyo: What’s this?!

Sanzo: Be quiet!

Goku: What is it?

Gojyo: Look at this!

Hakkai: Hmm? “Knight in Shining Armor Kougaiji Aids Town’s Reconstruction?”

Goku: Ah! So this guy’s Kougaiji. He sure looks strong.

Gojyo: That’s not the point.

Hakkai: Instead of us, it’s him and his followers who are being featured extensively in the news. As for us–

Goku: Huh? “Mysterious Red Bunch On A Rampage?”

Gojyo: We’re being painted as some bad guys who’ve destroyed a town!

Goku: Why? We beat those youkai!

Sanzo: That’s probably because we also wrecked the buildings and the streets aside from beating the youkai.

Hakkai: I see. We should have protected the town infrastructure even as we defeat the villains. Being a champion of justice is not that easy, is it?

Gojyo: Jeez, I’ve had enough! I quit! This superhero stuff’s just impossible!

Hakkai: What are you saying? This is just the beginning of West Rangers’ great efforts. Let’s make sure to do things properly the next time.

Goku: Yeah!

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Hakkai (strikes a pose): “In order to keep world peace!”

Goku (strikes a pose as well): “We shall defeat the villains!”

Both: “We’re West Rangers!”

Hakkai: Why are you two not continuing?

Sanzo: I don’t give a damn anymore. Count me out.

Gojyo: Same here.

Goku: Eh? Let’s do it together.

Hakkai: I’ve even come up with the signature pose, you know. (strikes a pose) Like this! What do you think? Excellent, isn’t it?

Goku: Like this?

Gojyo: “Like this?” he said. You can’t convey that in an audio drama, can you?

Sanzo: That’s a blunt way of putting it. I agree.

(Hakkai and Goku continue striking poses.)

Hakkai: No, stretch your arm more there.

Goku: Like this?

Hakkai: Yes, like that. Now, if you angle your hand a bit more higher, it’d be even better. One, two–

Both: Like this!

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(Round brackets): actions and sound effects.

[theauthorityvol1]

[mechadeimos]

[beccaelizart]

So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade You touch me like a razor blade I wish there was some other way right now, oh oh Like a house on fire we're up in flames I'd burn here if that's what it takes To let you know I won't let go of you, oh oh ->"House on Fire" - Rise Against

I just like drawing my otp with fire. As you do.

[fuckyeahanimebirthdays]

Kougaiji (Gensomaden Saiyuki)  » January 6

[bullprince]

Went into Saiyuki already liking JTTW and caring for Red Boy as if he were my own child and having a Red Son LMK alter who I am dating and any character based off Red Boy is automatically my favourite so I assumed I would really like Kougaiji. I was wrong abt this. Welcome to the family £70 Gojyo plushie.

[ciaossu-imagines]

Saiyuki, Circus/freakshow AU

Of course, anon dear! Thank you so much for the request and I am sorry it took so long to answer! I hope you'll enjoy the headcanons nonetheless and the AU I came up with!

So, in this universe we're setting up here, there is still a fantasy element. Magic does still exist, but it's very much not a normal and everyday thing. Most people can go their entire lives without seeing anything magical. Magical items and creatures tend to be hard to find and hidden away and those people with magic in their veins…they learn to hide it very well as they are often feared or exploited.

There is one place people can go to experience magic at least once, if they have the money to pay to experience it, of course. And the magic people and creatures they see are definitely exploited. Gyumaoh's Magical, Mystical Travelling Circus is something everyone has heard tales and rumours about. If you're lucky enough for them to come to your town, people flock to even catch a single glimpse of the brightly coloured tents, hope to sneak a peek at the 'sideshow's' hidden within. People will sell precious treasures, take loans against their homes, anything to see the show because the Circus represents really the only chance most people will get to experience something truly magical, especially in a safe manner and though people do fear magic, they are also enchanted and curious and full of the desire to witness it for themselves.

The Circus sounds wonderful, at least to the normal citizens of the world. The truth is, for those 'employed' by the Circus, and that word is in quotes as I'm using the term extremely loosely, the reality is very different. A magic hunter from the time he was very young, Gyumaoh built his Circus by stealing magical items and capturing and enslaving any creature or human with magic in them. But wait, you might say. How can a mere mortal enslave someone or something that is clearly magical and probably has defenses and powers they do not?

One, a lot of magical beings, be they creature or animal, are normally either outcast by society because of that attitude of fear and distrust, or they're trying so hard to hide their magic that they've ended up homeless, just barely scraping by if they're not homeless, they've ended up without families and close friends to better keep their secrets, or they've ended up in worse situations, with much more powerful people using them, oftentimes for extremely hard and dangerous labour.

Gyumaoh seems to have an almost uncanny luck for finding those magical things and creatures, and even more luck finding the downtrodden or exploited magical people. He seems nice and charming at first and the Circus is so well-known at some point that these magical people really believe the well-crafted and sold lies Guymaoh or his people give them…that the Circus can give them a clean, soft, comfortable home full of people who will love them, and they can use their magic to entertain people, to show the general populace that magic isn't a bad thing, but a wondrous one. Gyumaoh is good with words and charm, as are his fellow recruiters, his mistress Gyokumen Koushou, and his right-hand man Dr. Ni Jianyi. They're wily, silver-tongued and it's very, very rare they need to use force to get what they want, though all three of them are capable of doing so. Normally the magical people sign the contracts to join the Circus all on their own…and these contracts themselves are magical.

The second these magical beings prick their fingers and put their bleeding fingertip to the paper, as is the way to sign it, they sign over their lives to Gyumaoh, become his to control and command. These people, because of the contract, cannot seem to get further than fifty feet away from the Circus once the contracts are signed and if they do, the contracts are written in such a way that the person would be in unimaginable pain every second if they did venture further than that, making them easy to track down and bring back, if they did not return willingly themselves.

Gyumaoh's Magical, Mystical Circus really does succeed and it makes Gyumaoh himself a very rich man. Gyumaoh travelled alongside the Circus for many years, but because he is only human himself, he does what all people do. He grows older and older. He exploits magic he's found to extend his life and his health, but nothing completely stops the passage of time and he is growing old and sickly. He's currently not able to continue travelling with the Circus and it's rumoured among the Circus folk that he might finally be on his death bed, though they know better than to honestly hope for such a thing.

While he can no longer be there, day to day with the Circus, it is left in the hands of his beloved left-hand woman and aforementioned mistress, Gyokumen Koushou. And if the Circus folk thought Gyumaoh was bad…this woman is brutal, cold, and honestly seems to get off on making the Circus folk miserable. She sees them very much as less than human and she's cunning and crafty enough to do anything to achieve her own goals. And what are her goals, you might ask? For one, she wants to be absolutely filthy, stinking rich. Not only does she want a fortune of her own, but she wants the huge fortune Gyumaoh himself has amassed, and rumours state she might not only be behind Gyumaoh's illness but his wive's recent disappearance. For another, she wants the secrets to magic and to know how to harness those for herself.

Which is where Gyumaoh's trusted right-hand man comes in. Dr. Ni Jianyi seems to have with the Circus for as long as anyone can remember. Though he, in title, serves as the Circus' doctor and is supposed to look after the health and wellness of every single magical person, he's really with the Circus because Gyumaoh and Gyokumen Koushou both allowed him what he really wanted - research subjects. He's allowed to perform countless human experiments on those with magical powers as he seeks to gain all the knowledge about magic, what it truly is, where it comes from and why, and how normal, every day people can use and harness it. And he performs these human experiments with an almost terrifying zeal and level of sadism that makes him, quite honestly, the most feared person among those who are 'employed' by the Circus.

Now to go into the actual members of the Circus. Son Goku has actually been with the Circus the longest. Nobody's quite sure just how long besides those running the Circus. He was, in fact, Gyumaoh's first recruited member, sold to the public under the name of 'The Immortal Boy'. He is magical, yes…he never ages. Not even Goku himself knows where he actually comes from or how long he has been alive and he heals from all wounds. Members of the crowd are selected during Goku's exhibit, where he is chained to the floor, hands and ankles shackled, and those selected get to do any amount of harm, especially things that would kill normal folks, to prove his immortality. For his entire servitude with the Circus, when not on display, Goku was kept contained in a cage he cannot escape from, with only Circus' upper three as companionship. Gyumaoh couldn't allow his precious treasure to have any freedom, independence, or chance of escape, especially as Goku is not only his biggest draw and the crowd favourite, but is sort of a cautionary tale among the other Circus members of how much worse things can get whenever they feel the need to rebel.

So, Goku had never known anyone but Gyumaoh, Gyokumen Koushou, and Dr. Ni…that is, until the Circus 'recruited' Genjo Sanzo. Sanzo was an orphan, left to die of exposure in a basket on the river. He was found, at that time, by Ukoku Sanzo, who gave the baby a name and took him in. Ukoku raised Genjo with a completely normal life…almost. See, both Ukoku and Genjo were people blessed with magic, and Ukoku drilled it into Genjo early on that their magic was to stay hidden, to never use it. He told the young boy what Genjo always thought were just tall tales, cautionary tales, of a group of evil thiefs who came to steal magic if it was ever left loose and who would kill anyone who got in their way. But, unbeknownst to Genjo, at least at that time, not only were the tall tales all true but his precious father figure, the only person Genjo ever grew close to and loved, was the only member of Circus to ever escape, to ever thwart the contract and though his name was different then, he's become the stuff of legends to the Circus members, their own bedtime story.

Though it took years and year, Circus did find Ukoku though. In particular, Dr. Ni found Ukoku, who had formerly been his second-favourite test subject, right behind Goku. Honestly, it was only due to Genjo accidentally breaking the one rule, his magic exploding on a group of older boys who were badly bullying and almost torturing him. That hint of magic led Circus to investigate and when they investigated, Ni recognized Ukoku out in town. While Genjo was out to run errands, Dr. Ni tortured, interrogated, slaughtered Ukoku and, when the boy came back, Ni abducted the just tweenage age Genjo to take back to Circus.

Genjo is an odd addition to Circus. After Ni's repeated taunts about how Ukoku's death was all his fault, after all his experimentation on Genjo, Genjo refuses, even under torture, even under Ni's experiments, even under threats and severe mistreatment, to use his magic. Not only won't he use it for Circus, he refuses to use his magic again period. He had broken the rule once, after all, and it had led to the destruction of his whole world. He would respect Ukoku and love him moving forward by making sure to never break that rule again. So, since he cannot be made a side-show, and to continue his punishment and try to get him to break and grow compliant, Sanzo becomes the servant of even the servants. He's made to serve, set up, clean up, cook and feed the many performers and Circus' top three. He's underfed himself, exhausted physically and allowed little rest time. However, it's through that work that Sanzo meets Goku and the two strike up an odd, but enduring friendship. In the little time Sanzo can scrape out, he ends up camping besides Goku's cage, and the two boys grow to rely on each other, make each other feel stronger, more normal.

And the two boys grow to three and then to four with first the addition of Sha Gojyo. And oh boy, my lovelies, buckle up because the story of how Gojyo came to be a part of the Circus is not for the faint of heart. Gojyo was a bastard child, born out of his magical father's affair with a normal woman. The woman, after learning her child would likely be born with some degree of magical ability, and of her lover's own magical abilities, was disgusted, devastated and frightened. She wanted to get rid of the unborn child and would have…if Gojyo's father had not stopped her, held her captive until she birthed the child. The official story is she died in childbirth but only three people know the truth…Gojyo's father was actually married and his wife, after learning of her husband's affair and after months of having to look at his lover and take care of her snapped and attempted to kill Gojyo's mother. Gojyo's father stopped her, at first…then he made a bargain. He allowed his wife to butcher Gojyo's mother, with the compromise that she never harm his bastard son and agree to raise him alongside their legitimate son, Sha Jien. The worst part? Jien might have been very young, but he was old enough to realize what was happening and he witnessed the whole thing. However, the wife kept to her side of the bargain, raising Gojyo, though reluctantly so (as in she very much ignored and insulted him at every opportunity), at least up until Gojyo's late childhood, when his father died. After that, with her husband no longer around, her rage at the child grew and she started to brutally beat him whenever she could. Jien was always Gojyo's best friend, his protector, his beloved big brother, and Jien stepped in to calm his mother's temper, to protect his younger brother. What with Gojyo's father being magical, the wife being magical, and Jien being magical, the family had always been on the Circus' radar, but they didn't swoop in to grab anyone until that day…when Jien's mother tried to kill Gojyo. It was chaos and Gojyo's own magical powers awakened that day, though in the end it was Jien who actually killed his own mother, doing so to save his brother.

Gyumaoh was the one to actually take in the brother's. Well, kind of. See, it was decided that taking both into Circus as performers or servants would be too risky. The two together would be too much a source of support to each other, would give each other too much confidence and power. So Gyumaoh, in the aftermath of the chaos, when the boys were too dazed or, in Gojyo's case, unconscious in the wake of his powers, separated the two boys. Sha Jien was the boy left conscious, the one most aware, the one considered the most powerful and the one who Gyumaoh decided was the biggest threat. So he used a threat of his own - join Circus, and with Jien's superhuman strength and proven willingness to kill, become the private guard of Gyumaoh's own son, Kougaiji. And in return, Gyumaoh would spare the life of Jien's precious little brother and would take him in and give him a good life somewhere lovely. Too bad Gyumaoh doesn't exactly keep his promises, though Jien, renamed Dokugakuji to hide his status as the missing Sha Jien, witness and person of interest in his mother's murder, spent most of his life believing that Gyumaoh had.

Gojyo meanwhile, was taken immediately to Circus, told that his whole family had died and that he had been the one who killed both his 'mother' and his brother. Ni performed various experiments to enhance Gojyo's weak magical strength, told him he was giving the boy the chance to atone by using his magic, the magic that had murdered his family, for something good, for the amusement, astonishment, and delight of people. And so Gojyo becomes the Circus' strongman act, though he isn't treated much better than most of the performers, and still has to abide by the strict contracts that make his time in the Circus more indentured servitude. However, it's during this time that he and Sanzo meet. The two definitely don't get along, they fight more often than not, but maybe it's because the boys are around each other's ages, the only kids really around each other's ages at that time, but Gojyo kind of becomes interested in making friends. He follows Sanzo on one of Sanzo's visits to Goku and the three meet and it's with the addition of Goku that the three of them really stumble into this dysfunctional, bickering, weird and wonderful little friendship.

A friendship that is only added to when the Circus recruits a sixteen year old boy named Cho Hakkai. Hakkai's another one with a troubled past. An orphan who learned to use his own innate magic, the ability to know things simply by touching a person or object, to survive, becoming an expert grifter and pickpocket, found, at some point in time, a girl named Kanan who he ended up falling in puppy love with. Together, the two of them managed to make enough money to settle into a small town together. They lived together, presenting as a young couple starting their life together, both of them keeping their magic secret. Problem is, their magic was very similar and, as their relationship grew more loving and physical, they learned the truth - they were actually siblings. By then, though, they were too much in love, they were already a couple and they wanted to continue living their lives together. Both of them were already on Circus' radar, but Cho became a real target after, on his travels to make money, he found an injured baby dragon, something very, very rare. He named the dragon Jeep and took it in. The possibility of gaining a magical person and a rare magical creature was too much for Circus and Jianyi was sent to bring them in. And he managed to bring Cho and Jeep in…by having his own fun. It's unknown how exactly Jianyi gained his knowledge but he knew about the siblings actual connection to each other and he let it loose, through the grapevine, of their being not only siblings, but twins, in an incestuous relationship. The village not only shunned them, but bullied them badly in the next weeks, to the point where Kanan could no longer handle it. Jianyi had properly called her as too weak-minded for Circus, it seemed, because under the extreme persecution from the townspeople, she took her own life.

Left grieving and with his life in shambles, the only happiness he'd ever found taken away, the recently re-orphaned Hakkai was left susceptible to Jianyi's offer. He could find a new home in the Circus, where he would be taken care of and could learn to really harness and improve his magical gifts…improve them enough to take revenge on the town that had caused Kanan's death. The Circus could give that to him. So he signed the contract without a second thought.

Too bad that Circus was definitely not what Jianyi advertised it as. Hakkai was experimented on and he did gain much better control and more power, but he was so heavily drugged up and exhausted that he couldn't even think about getting away. He became the Circus' slave, both keeper of Jeep (as the dragon refused to behave and obey anyone other than Hakkai) and an act as a fortune teller, which people paid handsomely for. Unlike Sanzo and Gojyo, who didn't get along at all at first, Cho and Gojyo really hit it off when they met. It was through Gojyo that Hakkai found his first friend and grew to find more friends in Sanzo and Goku.

The four boys grew together, talked late into the nights, and though they argued and fought and seemed at times to almost hate each other, their bond became almost unbreakable, though they were all smart enough to keep it under wraps just how much so it was. Sometime throughout their years together in the Circus, the idea of a break-out, of an escape from Circus, got tossed out. At first it was just talk, just a wonderful dream to pass the time but I think at some point, the four of them really began to take it seriously. They plotted, planned, studied…and it worked, because they found a secret. They not only figured a way to break Goku loose from his chains, but they find a secret, a way out and they orchestrate the second breakout in the entire history of Circus.

Now, Gyokumen Koushou and Dr. Nii are definitely not happy about this breakout, especially given how precious and treasured a few of those escapees are. With Gyumaoh sick, Gyokumen Koushou really runs the show and she hasn't just been running Circus, but she's been meddling in other things. Her lover's legitimate wife, Rasetsunyo…nothing can be proven, but it's a pretty open secret that Gyokumen had the woman institunionalized. Rasetsunyo, mother of Gyumaoh's legimate son and heir to his fortune, is so heavily drugged and the institution won't allow Kougaiji visits with her, on Gyokumen's orders, as she's Gyumaoh's power of attorney and she gets to make those decisions.

And this is something she uses to her advantage to manipulate and use Kougaiji. She orders Kougaiji to track down and recapture the escapee's, using his own team, consisting of his bodyguard, Dokugakuji, and his childhood friend and a magical person with the ability to heal, Yaone. However, she also adds her own child with Gyumaoh, Lirin to his team, with orders to her daughter to keep an eye on the team and let her mother know if they weren't taking their orders with the utmost serious attitudes. However, this plan doesn't quite go to plan because honestly, Lirin has never really been coddled or even noticed by her mother, has always been super curious about the world outside Circus itself, and because she was never allowed to meet her half-brother, she's really just interested in getting to know him and spend time with him.

So the story really becomes the tale of their breakout, of their race to keep Circus from finding them, and Team Kougaiji really getting into all these hijinks trying to first find and then recapture the Sanzo Group, since they always seem to evade Team Kougaiji or end up beating them and re-escaping. It's by turns fun, funny, angsty, and uplifting and if I was to sit and write out the story, I can guarantee this would be a long, epic one, with a large focus really being on the character's, their stories and growth, and the bonds the characters all begin to grow and develop with each other.