'Tadaima!' I yelled, closing the door gently behind me. As I stood
listening, however, I did not get any answer. In fact, my legs were really
starting to numb before my strained ears finally caught a sound. Soft sobs
echoed through the empty house, coming from one of the rooms. My younger
brother's room to be more exact. Worried, I immediately set out to find
what was wrong.
The door creaked slightly as I gently pushed it opened. But the creak had alerted my brother and he stared at me from behind a veil of tears. 'Doshita no, Goku-chan?' I asked. He looked at me and before I knew it, he had flung himself on me, almost knocking me over. I slowly led him to the bed and allowed him to curl on my lap as I sat, cradling his head. My fingers ran through his untidy mop of rich brown hair even as his entire being trembled, wreaked in sobs.
Finally, when his crying had lessened, he looked up at me, his eyes brimming with tears. It still amazes me how enchanting those golden orbs could be, filled with nothing but innocence and at that moment pain and grief. He grasped my wrist in mid-stroke and gently set in down on my lap. 'You remind me of him,' he whispered, 'All those times when I cried, he used to hold me in his arms exactly like this. He would run his fingers through my hair and ask me to stop crying, calling me "Bakasaru!"'
More tears rolled down his cheeks as I pulled him into another hug, clutching at his trembling figure. I knew exactly to whom my dear brother was referring to. It was none other than his ex-keeper, Genjo Sanzo. 'I guess you miss him huh?' I asked. Then, it struck me what a stupid question that was. But it didn't matter because Goku just nodded meekly. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. 'But I thought you were happy here with Mama and me,' I blurted, 'After all, we are your family.'
He wasn't looking at me now. His dangling legs fidgeted even as his fingers traced the patterns on the blanket. 'I'm sorry for crying,' he whispered, his voice thick with guilt, 'I shouldn't have. You're right. You are my family now. Sanzo is part of my past.' As he said this, I noticed the catch in his voice and my own guilt rose. 'I didn't mean it the way it sounded,' I said, awkwardly, 'I just...' Goku just smiled, and said in a falsely cheerful voice, 'Don't worry, Aya-chan. You were only trying to cheer me up. Thank you for that.' He got up at walked to the door but even someone as dense as I was would have noticed the pain.
Startled he must've been to feel my grasp on his wrist. 'No, don't run away,' I said firmly, 'You don't have to hide from me.' I guess there must have been something in my tone because he simply sat down beside me once more, without so much as a word of protest. The next thing he said struck a deep core inside of me. 'Oneechan, what is your definition of "family"?' he asked. I stared at him, dumbstruck. 'In the dictionary, "family" means the people whom you're related to by blood,' I said, finding solace in my book- knowledge, to cover up my apparent fluster. 'No, I want to know your definition of "family",' he insisted.
I opened my mouth but no words came out. '"Family" is...' I began but trailed off. Suddenly, the thoughts of Mama brought a torrent of emotions. '"Family" is people who love you, whom you can go back to after a long trip and yet still feel comfortable. "Family" is people who are there for you when nobody else cares. "Family" is people who hold you and comfort you, driving your fears and loneliness away. "Family" is there for you no matter when nor where,' I burst, '"Family" is solace, hope and peace, a place you can belong and always return to.' Even as I say this, my eyes were opened. 'That's my definition of "family",' I said firmly. My brother stared at me and just as I was about to doubt his understanding, he asked, 'So, where is my family?'
It was then I realized. Mama and I may be Goku's family by the dictionary but by the words of the heart, we were not. And as I gazed into his eyes, I knew it to be the absolute truth. 'Goku-chan, go where your heart leads you,' I advised, my own aching in longing, 'It's not too late.' His eyes widened and a look of pure happiness crossed his features. 'Sankyu na,' he said, hugging me, 'Honto ne arigatou, Aya-oneechan.' 'Ore to Mama wa wasurenai,' I whispered, returning his hug, tears streaming down my own cheeks.
*
Sanzo stared out at the village that lay before his window, deep in thought of a certain young saru. 'Sanzo, we have to leave,' said Hakkai, jolting him from his thoughts, 'It's getting late.' Wordlessly, Sanzo walked out of the door Hakkai held open for him. In the Jeep awaiting them was Gojyo, a cigarette dangling from his slightly parted lips. Before he could say a word, Hakkai shushed him with a look that clearly said, 'Now is not the time'. Sanzo, though clearly aware of what went on around him, ignored the two.
Suddenly, however, a shout rang out behind them. 'Mou...I was only a little late!' said a very familiar and welcome voice, 'You guys didn't have to leave me behind!' There was a loud screech as Hakkai slammed his foot on the brakes, which sent a running figure flying into their Jeep. 'Osoiyo saru,' said Gojyo, grinning as he threw at knuckled fist at Goku. 'Saru ja nai wa yo, kono ero kappa!' protested Goku. 'Yare yare desu ne,' murmured Hakkai, 'It was just getting to be so peaceful.' Then, he stared at Goku and scratched his head absentmindedly. 'Ano...Goku...Uhh...' he said, as Gojyo sniggered.
Goku pouted and was about to voice his feelings when he realized something. Well, the first thing was, he wasn't sitting in the backseat behind Gojyo and the second thing was that his seat was warm and...and...'Uh oh!' he muttered, scrambling but not fast enough. Beneath him, Sanzo glowered as a telltale sign twitched at his forehead. 'KONO BAKASARU!!!' Goku yelped as the Harisen hit his head. He was surprised though when it only landed gently. Hiding a gleeful smile, he pretended to pout and whined, 'Mou, ittai yo...Sanzo kechi...'
The door creaked slightly as I gently pushed it opened. But the creak had alerted my brother and he stared at me from behind a veil of tears. 'Doshita no, Goku-chan?' I asked. He looked at me and before I knew it, he had flung himself on me, almost knocking me over. I slowly led him to the bed and allowed him to curl on my lap as I sat, cradling his head. My fingers ran through his untidy mop of rich brown hair even as his entire being trembled, wreaked in sobs.
Finally, when his crying had lessened, he looked up at me, his eyes brimming with tears. It still amazes me how enchanting those golden orbs could be, filled with nothing but innocence and at that moment pain and grief. He grasped my wrist in mid-stroke and gently set in down on my lap. 'You remind me of him,' he whispered, 'All those times when I cried, he used to hold me in his arms exactly like this. He would run his fingers through my hair and ask me to stop crying, calling me "Bakasaru!"'
More tears rolled down his cheeks as I pulled him into another hug, clutching at his trembling figure. I knew exactly to whom my dear brother was referring to. It was none other than his ex-keeper, Genjo Sanzo. 'I guess you miss him huh?' I asked. Then, it struck me what a stupid question that was. But it didn't matter because Goku just nodded meekly. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. 'But I thought you were happy here with Mama and me,' I blurted, 'After all, we are your family.'
He wasn't looking at me now. His dangling legs fidgeted even as his fingers traced the patterns on the blanket. 'I'm sorry for crying,' he whispered, his voice thick with guilt, 'I shouldn't have. You're right. You are my family now. Sanzo is part of my past.' As he said this, I noticed the catch in his voice and my own guilt rose. 'I didn't mean it the way it sounded,' I said, awkwardly, 'I just...' Goku just smiled, and said in a falsely cheerful voice, 'Don't worry, Aya-chan. You were only trying to cheer me up. Thank you for that.' He got up at walked to the door but even someone as dense as I was would have noticed the pain.
Startled he must've been to feel my grasp on his wrist. 'No, don't run away,' I said firmly, 'You don't have to hide from me.' I guess there must have been something in my tone because he simply sat down beside me once more, without so much as a word of protest. The next thing he said struck a deep core inside of me. 'Oneechan, what is your definition of "family"?' he asked. I stared at him, dumbstruck. 'In the dictionary, "family" means the people whom you're related to by blood,' I said, finding solace in my book- knowledge, to cover up my apparent fluster. 'No, I want to know your definition of "family",' he insisted.
I opened my mouth but no words came out. '"Family" is...' I began but trailed off. Suddenly, the thoughts of Mama brought a torrent of emotions. '"Family" is people who love you, whom you can go back to after a long trip and yet still feel comfortable. "Family" is people who are there for you when nobody else cares. "Family" is people who hold you and comfort you, driving your fears and loneliness away. "Family" is there for you no matter when nor where,' I burst, '"Family" is solace, hope and peace, a place you can belong and always return to.' Even as I say this, my eyes were opened. 'That's my definition of "family",' I said firmly. My brother stared at me and just as I was about to doubt his understanding, he asked, 'So, where is my family?'
It was then I realized. Mama and I may be Goku's family by the dictionary but by the words of the heart, we were not. And as I gazed into his eyes, I knew it to be the absolute truth. 'Goku-chan, go where your heart leads you,' I advised, my own aching in longing, 'It's not too late.' His eyes widened and a look of pure happiness crossed his features. 'Sankyu na,' he said, hugging me, 'Honto ne arigatou, Aya-oneechan.' 'Ore to Mama wa wasurenai,' I whispered, returning his hug, tears streaming down my own cheeks.
*
Sanzo stared out at the village that lay before his window, deep in thought of a certain young saru. 'Sanzo, we have to leave,' said Hakkai, jolting him from his thoughts, 'It's getting late.' Wordlessly, Sanzo walked out of the door Hakkai held open for him. In the Jeep awaiting them was Gojyo, a cigarette dangling from his slightly parted lips. Before he could say a word, Hakkai shushed him with a look that clearly said, 'Now is not the time'. Sanzo, though clearly aware of what went on around him, ignored the two.
Suddenly, however, a shout rang out behind them. 'Mou...I was only a little late!' said a very familiar and welcome voice, 'You guys didn't have to leave me behind!' There was a loud screech as Hakkai slammed his foot on the brakes, which sent a running figure flying into their Jeep. 'Osoiyo saru,' said Gojyo, grinning as he threw at knuckled fist at Goku. 'Saru ja nai wa yo, kono ero kappa!' protested Goku. 'Yare yare desu ne,' murmured Hakkai, 'It was just getting to be so peaceful.' Then, he stared at Goku and scratched his head absentmindedly. 'Ano...Goku...Uhh...' he said, as Gojyo sniggered.
Goku pouted and was about to voice his feelings when he realized something. Well, the first thing was, he wasn't sitting in the backseat behind Gojyo and the second thing was that his seat was warm and...and...'Uh oh!' he muttered, scrambling but not fast enough. Beneath him, Sanzo glowered as a telltale sign twitched at his forehead. 'KONO BAKASARU!!!' Goku yelped as the Harisen hit his head. He was surprised though when it only landed gently. Hiding a gleeful smile, he pretended to pout and whined, 'Mou, ittai yo...Sanzo kechi...'
