OK, this is kinda long.... *saiyuki spoilers*
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Immediately inside teh gates of teh temple, a middle-aged monk scurries up to meet us.
Monk: Ah, hello! Um...may I help you?
Chichiri: Yes...is your Master in residence, noda?
Monk: I am very sorry, but Master Sanzo is away....
Me: Um....if we may ask...could you tell us where he's gone?
Monk: Oh, that is common knowledge. He has been sent on a mission by teh Sanbutsushin to hunt down teh murderer Cho Gonou.
Chichiri and I let out a big sigh of relief. We came just at teh right time!
Monk: I apologize that Master Sanzo is away, if you wish to petition for an audience with him, you will hafta return--
Me: Oh, no, no! We're not here to see Cranky-Sama.
Monk: *sputtering* Wha--
Me: Could you tell us where we can find Dougan?
Monk: *vein-poppy-outy-sign-whatsitcalled(*)* Dou....Dougan? But, surely, he's just a boy....
teh monk immediately starts addressing Chichiri ('this crazy
girl obviously doesn't know what she's talking about!')
Monk: Dougan is merely an apprentice, no one of consequence. Surely there is someone else you would like to speak with....
By now a small group of monks has gathered, and they all start muttering when they hear "Dougan".
Chichiri: *smiling brightly* No, it is most definately Dougan we wish to speak with, noda. I am...a monk from a temple to teh north, noda. We have been ordered to retrieve teh boy, and transfer him into our care, noda. Now, if you would be so kind.....?
All teh monks start muttering even louder, and we hear a few whispers...."teh little orphan, isn't it?"...and, "What could they possibly want with teh weird little runt, anyway?"
Chichiri immediately fixes that last speaker with an uncharacteristically hard glare.
Chichiri: This transfer order comes directly from teh Sanbutsushin themselves, noda.
(lots more muttering)
Chichiri: *smiling brightly again* So, we'll just go get him now and be on our way if it's not too much trouble, of course! Thank you very much, noda! Come along, Peleia, noda......
And we head off purposefully toward teh temple building, a monk finally scurrying after us to show us teh way. He leads us to a room where we find a young boy standing at teh window, leaning on a broom and staring somewhat forlornly across teh countryside. He looks to be 11 or 12, but small for his age, with a short black pony tail and wide, trusting black eyes behind thick glasses.
Monk: Dougan! Quit daydreaming! You have visitors!
teh boy flinches at teh stern tone, and immediately starts straightening out his robe when he catches sight of us. He bows low.
Chichiri gives teh monk a very pointed look, and after a moment teh man leaves us.
Me: Hello, Dougan. I'm Peleia, and this is my friend Chichiri.
Dougan: It is very nice to meet you. How may I be of service to you, ma'am?
(Hmm. Now that I'm here, I realize I have no idea how to go about this!)
Me: Um. Well, we have heard of you, Dougan, even where we come from.
Dougan: *astonished* Me?
Me: Yes. You are a very special young man. And....I have a special proposition for you. Let me tell you a story......
So I explain to Dougan all about teh world where we come from, and teh people who live there, and he looks confused at times but he does not doubt me. His Buddhist training and his naturally curious nature has left him open to teh mysteries of teh universe, and has taught him to have a trusting soul and to sense when people have good intentions.
Me: ...and, that's about it. And....well, we would like to know if you would like to join us there. It would be...quite an adventure.
For a moment he looks excited, his eyes gleaming as though he can see new horizons already in front of him, but then teh look is replaced by something else, some different kind of passion. He turns to us very seriously, and bows low.
Dougan: I......I very much appreciate your offer, but I must refuse. I must....I must wait for my Master, Sanzo-sama, to return! He is my Master in all things...I must stay by his side!
Chichiri and I exchange pained looks. I take a deep breath, and kneel down on teh floor in front of teh boy, trying to speak as gently as I can.
Me: Oh, Dougan......I......I don't think it would be....good for you to stay here, with Sanzo-sama. It.... I can't explain, I really can't....but you hafta believe me.. it's not teh best thing for you.
Dougan: But... but he is my Master! My place is with him. My devotion is a part of my soul! What can be wrong with that?
I see teh fervor in his eyes, and I know I am never gonna convince him to come with us. I didn't wanna resort to this, I dont wanna encourage his obsession, but I see I have no choice.
Me: Dougan, can you keep a secret?
Dougan: Yes, ma'am....
Me: Sanzo-sama....he.... he has decided to stay in teh world where I live. He is there now.
Dougan: He's....he's not returning.... to us?
For a moment Dougan looks devastated, lost, but then his expression resolves into one of complete determination.
Dougan: I will travel to this world with you. I will follow wherever Sanzo-sama may lead.
Me: (Well, it's a start!) I'm very glad, Dougan. There are many other interesting people there, too...I think you will have fun there.
Chichiri: *smiling broadly* Yes, me too, noda.
Dougan smiles then, and immediately jumps up, and starts hurrying off.
Dogan: Just let me get my things! I....I think Imma like this temple of yours!
Me: Er....well, it's not exactly....a.....temple.....oops. He's already gone.
Chichiri: Looks like we have another lively resident, noda!
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(*) What IS that thing called, anyway? Ya know that thing... teh three little lines in a circle, sorta, teh 'I'm pissed' thing....grr.... I know it has a name....