Chapter 10 - Rain

Rain is Saiyuki's tenth chapter.

Summary
While trying to drive to an inn before the rain starts, the Sanzo-ikkou come across a pile of yokai corpses covered in paper talismans. They continue on their way to the inn and don't quite make it in time to avoid being soaked in the downpour. As they dry off in their room, the innkeeper brings them tea and Sanzo asks her about the yokai corpses. She tells him that the corpses must be the work of Rikudo, a wandering monk who has been exterminating yokai in the area. She says that Rikudo supposedly uses paper talismans that will kill yokai upon contact. Hakkai remarks that the yokai corpses also had talismans on them. Sanzo thinks to himself that he recognized those talismans, but brushes off the thought as being not possible. Gojyo starts hitting on the innkeeper, and Sanzo reprimands him with the paper fan. Sanzo says that they need to avoid going off on their own. They need to stick together in case of another encounter with Kougaiji. Goku expresses excitement at the prospect of meeting Kougaiji again, much to Gojyo's disapproval. Hakkai suggests that they stay at the inn until the rain stops, and Sanzo agrees.

As Sanzo watches the rain through the window, the familiar talismans trigger memories from when he was a young apprentice named Kouryuu under his master Koumyou Sanzo at Kinzan Temple.

Ten years earlier at Kinzan Temple:

Kouryuu brings a tray of food to Koumyou's room during a downpour. On his way out of the room, Kouryuu overhears some of the temple monks gossiping about him disparagingly, calling him a stupid, spoiled brat who acts like Koumyou's favorite disciple despite that fact that he hasn't even converted to Buddhism. Laughingly, they suggest that Kouryuu is more like a page boy than a disciple. One of the monks suddenly cries out in pain as Shuei, a senior instructor monk, grabs his ear and yells at the group to stop slacking and get back to work or else face disciplinary punishment. As the gossiping monks hurry off to work, Kouryuu remarks that Shuei never changes. Shuei replies that Kouryuu doesn't change, either. Shuei comments that not only is Kouryuu the favorite disciple of Koumyou Sanzo, he is also a big shot with an attitude who is capable of beating up the older monks. He warns Kouryuu that he is making enemies of the other monks, but that Kouryuu shouldn't let that bother him. Shuei says that he is glad that he himself, as the instructor, will never have to spar against Kouryuu. Kouryuu responds by reminding Shuei that Shuei also has formidable skill, especially in the use of talismans. The two then discuss the fact that Koumyou is about to give Kouryuu a Buddhist name, despite the fact that Kouryuu has no intention of becoming a Buddhist. Kouryuu says that although he does not follow Buddhism or believe in any gods, he can believe in himself, and the only one he chooses to follow and acknowledge as his master is Koumyou Sanzo. Their conversation is interrupted by a panicked monk who informs them that a hungry, rampaging bear is attacking people on the temple grounds.

Out in the rain, the bear roars and lashes out as monks futilely try to fend it off with spears. Shuei and Kouryu arrive on the scene, but as Shuei is about to immobilize the bear using his paper talisman technique, Kouryuu stops him and says that he will handle the bear himself. Kouryuu fearlessly approaches the bear. As the bear lunges towards him, Kouryuu demands that it stop its attack and leave the temple grounds. The bear turns and calmly walks away as demanded. Shuei is speechless. The other monks, impressed, remark that, although it is no wonder Kouryuu is Koumyou's favorite, his eyes are more like those of a shura or rasetsu demon. Meanwhile on the veranda, Koumyou Sanzo has quietly observed Kouryuu's interaction with the bear.

Later, after the rain has stops, Shuei knocks on Kouryuu's door to tell him that Koumyou wants to see him. As he enters the room, he is struck speechless by the sight of Kouryuu sitting by the window, thinking to himself that Kouryuu's golden hair and violet eyes are godlike, and that the moonlight illuminates him like a halo. Shuei delivers his message and then he tells Kouryuu that he looks like something much different than a shura or a rasetsu. Kouryuu asks Shuei what he is talking about, and then offhandedly offers Shuei his bead necklace as a gift. Shuei asks whether Kouryuu is sure he wants to give away the beads, as he was wearing them when he was found as a baby. Kouryuu replies that he is sure, and says that Shuei should consider himself lucky because Kouryuu has never given anything to anyone else before. Shuei accepts the beads and Kouryuu leaves to go meet with Koumyou.

The next morning, disaster strikes at Kinzan. Koumyou lies dead and Kouryuu is covered in blood...

Back in the present day at the inn:

Sanzo is woken up by a nightmare of the past and muses that is has been years since he last dreamed about those days. Hakkai asks him if he is all right and says that he himself is also not fond of rainy night. There is a scream and a loud crash from elsewhere in the inn, and the ikkou hurry to see what's going on. The frightened innkeeper tells them that there is a yokai in the kitchen and asks for help.

In the kitchen, they find a yokai who is in the middle of eating a person. Gojyo strikes the yokai with his knee, and Hakkai warns him of another yokai attacking from behind. Goku joins the fray and sends the second yokai flying across the room. Suddenly, the two yokai are covered in paper talismans and begin screaming in pain. Someone begins to chant and Sanzo recognizes the voice. A monk wearing tattered, bloody, talisman adorned robes enters the scene with more paper talismans at the ready in his hand. He introduces himself as Rikudo and says that he will destroy every yokai in the world. When Sanzo sees Rikudo's face, he knows without a doubt that Rikudo is Shuei.