Chapter 3

The next morning, Gojyo think that he had dreamed the softened look on the monk's face, because this damn man is worst than he had been in months. It's a little like if the monk take his frustration upon him and poor Goku. The only one spared was Hakkai, but it was not unexpected. Gojyo had often wondered why Hakkai was a special case, but he don't had found the answer yet. But currently Hakkai don't seem to be aware that the monk is worst than normal. All of his attention was focused on Goku. And Gojyo was frightened to see the worry on his friend face.

Goku was aware that his friends don't acted like normal. So, he acted more cheerful. He don't liked when they are different than normal. It was his self-appointed job to make them happy. And he was successful in his own way. He finally succeed at fighting with Gojyo, which means that soon Sanzo was hitting them and Hakkai try to smooth the monk's anger. Things were back to normal, and some worries left Goku's heart. He don't know for how long it will last, but for now everything is perfect in his world.

Sanzo wanted to run away from the bickering pair in the back of the jeep, but he can't. His run away with Gath and Hazel was enough proof of it. He felt some regret for leaving Goku and the others behind, but at this time he can't have done anything else. For one minute he had live again the death of his beloved master, but worst this time. Because as much as he don't wanted to recognize it, Goku had become more important to him than his master once was. His thought drifted to his dream from a week ago and he can't help himself but take a look in the rear-view mirror to see if the saru is indeed in his place. Seeing him there, he let a silent sigh escape him. Then he let his mind drift until the two idiots needed him to teach them how to properly act.

Hakkai was worried. He tried to hide it the best he can, but he can't shake the feeling that something is wrong with Goku. The boy, no, the young man, acted like always, but it don't convinced Hakkai that everything is right. He remembered the strange golden halo who had surrounded the young man a week ago, and it frustrated him a lot that he can't found any explanation of the phenomenon. He had tried to talk with Goku about it, but it was like when Goku change to his other self, the young man can't remember anything. Hakkai had wondered if he needed to talk about it with Sanzo, but the current mood of the monk don't give him a lot of hope to be heard and understand. So he keep a watchful guard of Goku, and so does the others as it looks like. And the only one who don't seems to be aware of it is Goku himself.

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Sanzo and the others were not happy to camp again, but they don't have the choice. The storm who had hit them was unexpected. This morning was sunny, but the more they have come close to the mountain, the more the weather had become bad. The villagers have advised them of avoiding the mountain at all cost and take the longer road, but Sanzo had refused to heard them. And so, the five of them found themselves on the tent this evening with rain pouring outside. No one dared to talk, because they all are all too aware of the mood of two of them during raining night. But the silence was too much for Goku, and soon he left the tent to keep his first watch.

Three hours later, Goku go to the tent only to found all of his friend dead asleep. He tried to wake up Hakkai but with no success, and Gojyo and Sanzo were the same. He wondered if some Yokai had put a spell on them. He was ready to take drastic measure when he heard the voice.

Come to me, my son. Don't worry for your friends, they are under my care. No one will hurt them tonight, you have my word.

Goku was stunned. He know better than believe some strange voice, but this voice don't seem to be so strange to him. It's like if he had known the voice from even as longer as he can remember. And he trust the voice without any question. He felt the urge to follow the orders of the voice, and finally he give up and leave the tent after taking a last look at Sanzo's sleeping form.

Goku climbed the mountain and he found himself at the top. There is nothing here except for the big rock who was cut in two. Goku felt like if he had known this place all his life. The villagers have called this place the mountain of the fruit, but it don't had ring any bell in Goku's mind. Nor had the story of a monster who had live there hundreds years ago. That's because of this monster that this place had become taboo for the human. But Goku feel only peace and love in this place. He sit on the rock and waited for the voice to talk again.

My beloved son. I'm so happy you have returned to your birth place. I have longed to be able to talk to you again.

" Who are you ?" Asked Goku. " Why do you call me your son ?"

Because, that's what you are. The human called me Earth, and I have a lot of different name. But I'm still your mother. It was me who had helped you when you were badly hurt. Don't you recognized me ?

" I think I do. But, why don't you have talked with me when I was prisoner in the mountain before Sanzo come and freed me ?"

Because, I can't have. I only can talk to you in this place and in two other place in the world far away. But you were never alone, I always was with you, don't doubt it. My precious son ! It had hurt me so much to let you go.

" Letting me go ? For where ?"

You were born for a great purpose. You will be my voice in the world, since the human have begun to stop the heard my voice. But, for you to succeed on your mission, you have to meet the gods. I have allowed them to take you in the heaven. I would not have thought that you will suffer so much, and for this I am sorry.

" What had happen ? Can you tell me why they have imprisoned me ?" Asked an anxious Goku.

No, I can't. Your memories were sealed, and there is no way for me to brake the spell. But that's not why I have called you tonight. I need to undone what the gods have done to you.

" What do you mean ? I don't understand anything !"

You will. In less than an hour, you will. The gods have split your personality in two in the way to make you manageable to them. But they only have created a monster who was bloodthirsty. The one they have called Seiten taisen is nothing more than the dark part every living being had in them. By separating him from you, they have created what they worried the most. It's time for you to become one again. I'm sorry for all the pain you have suffered and for the one you will suffer now. But it's for the greatest good.

Goku don't have the strength to answer that, because a wave of pain like he had never felt washed through him. He can't think, nor even cry because the pain is too strong. Mercifully, he soon lost conscious with the rain pouring even more around him.

When he finally regain conscious, he is aware that something had changed in him. He can't no longer feel the beast inside of him who was fighting to gain control of their body. Instead, he felt a peace like he never had possibly thought existed. But except for this he felt like himself.

" Does it had work ?" He asked with an uncertain voice.

It had work, my son. You are one again. Try to take your limiter off.

Goku wondered for a minute if he could do that, but he trusted the voice. He carefully take his limiter off, waiting for the pain he associated with his transformation. But when nothing happen, he looked at his hand who still have the limiter in. He make a double take when he saw claws in his finger. Carefully, he touched his now pointed ears. He looked at himself in a pool of water and for the first time he see his real self, with his longer hairs and cat like eyes.

You can use your power now. Your limiter will only let you look like an human being. You will never again become mad, but be careful. You will have access to all of your power from now, so use it wisely. I wished you can stay with me, but you have a mission to finish with your friends. Take a good care of them, because they are linked to you in more than one way. A great destiny awaits you, the four of you. They have decided of their destiny when they have created the bond between you and them. And pay a special attention to the one who hold your heart, because soon you will find the true extend of your bond.

" What are you talking about ? You don't made any sens !" Said a puzzled Goku.

Learn, my son. Work hard for becoming my voice. But now, sleep well. You still have time. There is always time for you now.

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Goku wake up outside of the tent. The storm had passed and a sunny day awaits them. Goku wondered if he had dreamed of the voice of the Earth. He know that there is a way to know if it was a dream or the truth but he is scared to take his limiter off. So, he decided that it was a dream and let it be this way. His musing was cut by Gojyo complain about the lack of cigarette. He smiled and go to the tent, only to find his friends ready to go. He take his place on the jeep and take a needed nap. He had to learn ! He was sure of it. And maybe Hakkai could help him with this.

In the rising sun, no one noticed that the golden halo had surrounded the body of the saru for a second again.

To be continued.

I hope you have liked. It's a longer chapter, but I wanted to write this part. Everything will fall in place from now. Please, at last, leave me a review. (°_°)

next chapter : fight.