Title: Whipping Tree
Author: Elf Asato
Written: September 17, 2005
Summary: Kouryuu has dreams. Mild crossover with Final Fantasy VII.
Disclaimer: Saiyuki is by uh...ohnoIforgothername, Whipping Tree is by The Dandy Warhols.
Notes: For Trenchkamen, who technically asked for Genjo Sanzo/Professor Hojo, but I've never been good with directions...

Whipping Tree
By Elf Asato

When that Sanzo priest - he knew him as Nii now - visited Koumyou, Kouryuu always knew he wouldn't get a good night's sleep, always plagued by an awful nightmare...

Strapped to a hard board.
Unable to move.
Tubes everywhere.
...Hell.
Can't scream.
Getting hot.
Convulsions...?
"Call me...Professor Hojo, dearest river rat..."
Pain.
"We're going to play a game now."
Ohgodohgodohgod.
I am not your toy.

The dream was the same every night the priest spent. Kouryuu couldn't stand it because it constantly occupied his thoughts the waking day, and his body always ached like hell. The boy simply didn't know what to make of it.

There came a day, though, when Kouryuu knew...that it wasn't just an awful nightmare.

"Be glad you only got off with a monster in your heart," the priest whispered as he touched Kouryuu's nose affectionately and then left forever.

There was something bad inside him that ached to come out.

He couldn't let it happen. No, he wouldn't get close to anyone.

End