[The lights begin to come up, accompanied by a few notes plucked from a guitar.]

BANRI: Hey, move over, Hanna-Barbera--Studio Pierrot's doing El Kabong and Baba-Louie now!

[Perched on the high stool, Dokugakuji looks up from his enormous 12-string folk guitar...and then back down to strum a phrase, savoring the sight of his little bro's jaw unhinged. Another glance up finds Gojyo about to boil. Doku raises an eyebrow, Gojyo splutters down to a simmer...and Gojyo and Hakkai's duet (with chaparone) begins: to the music of Gensomaden Saiyuki Image Album Vol. 3's "Bitter Fruits," it's Tavam's "Roads"!]

GOJYO: If I walked a long and winding road
Still I could turn a bend and find you
Every time we meet I know we've met before
Walking down a long and winding road

[Hakkai has entered and stands at a quarter-angle upstage, face mostly hidden, his back toward Gojyo and turned away from Dokugakuji.]

HAKKAI: There's a shadow that's been haunting me
I've forgotten how to see the sun
I'm just waiting for the sky to rain down
walking alone

[Choreography abandoned from the start, Hakkai has Gojyo mildly freaked to have to sing to the backside of that green tunic.]

GOJYO: Then I turn one last corner and I see you
Crying in the pouring rain just like the last time
HAKKAI: You can't save me from myself but you won't leave me here alone
won't die alone
GOJYO: won't let you go

[Hakkai has turned a bit, revealing more of his face; he stands almost in profile.]

GOJYO and HAKKAI: It's the ending and beginning here with you
HAKKAI: Smiling while the pain is drowning me

[Hakkai is slowly pivoting toward the front, to Gojyo's visible relief.]

GOJYO and HAKKAI: Walking now beneath a sky that's clearing
HAKKAI: Still the rain is falling in my soul
Shadows should not ever come between us
If I cannot see, please lead me home

[Hakkai steps at last toward Gojyo.]

HAKKAI: You know that I'll always stand beside you
Even when the shadows cloud my eyes
I can always see your heart shining
leading me to the sun

[Hakkai is still moving--and almost walks past his partner before Gojyo catches the cue and catches up.]

GOJYO and HAKKAI: But to walk along beside you drives the rain away
We will not eat the bitter fruit called revenge
We will stand against the world and we will bend before the wind
woah, never alone

[Now at center stage, they look out into the night and sing to the brightening stars.]

GOJYO and HAKKAI: There's a road that lies before us to the west
A new tomorrow waiting for us 'round the bend
We can't leave our sins behind us nor forget
There's forgiveness for us, up ahead.

[The crowd showers them with applause, Dokugakuji even finding himself nodding with a smile, as Gojyo grins and Hakkai makes a polite bow before exiting.]

ENSUI: *snfl* That was so...beautiful...

BANRI: GO GET A ROOM, YOU TWO! Ohhh, silly me, I forgot--they ALREADY DID! BARF! And then there's Dokugakuji, making like a damn MUPPET--why do they always nod at the end of songs?! And-

ENSUI: Banri, whoa, hey--check it out! If this songbook is right, the next song is the last one tonight!

BANRI: Please tell me it's not more Sa Gojyo.

ENSUI: Nope, it's someone just as fond of him as you are...!

Or return to JOURNEY TO THE REST

This page was created March 7, 2006. Last updated March 12, 2006. The music of "Bitter Fruits" (from Gensomaden Saiyuki Image Album Vol. 3) was written by Ryosuke Neriki. The lyrics of "Roads" are copyright Tavam. This page's source code is copyright Kagenami Q. Saiyuki Reload GUNSTOCK logo is by Avalon Jones. DO NOT REPRODUCE. Saiyuki, Saiyuki Gaiden and Saiyuki RELOAD are copyright Kazuya Minekura/Ichijinsha; Gensomaden Saiyuki is copyright Kazuya Minekura/Issaisha, Saiyuki Project and TV Tokyo 2000; the Saiyuki RELOAD anime is copyright Kazuya Minekura/Issaisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Pierrot 2003; Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK is copyright Kazuya Minekura/Issaisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Pierrot 2004. All images are copyright their respective artists and creators. No copyright infringement is intended or implied.