TITLE: Earth's Sun and Moon
SUMMARY: Both the Sun and the Moon have plans for the Earth child. The Sun wants a wish, and he knows offering the heavens a War God will grant him one. The Moon wants to save him from a War God's fate but only so he can use his strength to bring heaven crashing to the ground. Either way he is a sacrifice to someone else's whim. If only one of the two could put the Earth's well being first.
PLEASE NOTE: This story is rated M. According to the FF site, that means it has to be appropriate for ages 16+ WITHOUT explicit content, which includes adult language, themes, and suggestions. This story meets those requirements. Their will be LOTS of cussing because, well... It's Saiyuki.
CHAPTER 3
He's just a Kid
The room they had gotten had three beds so Goku was told to sleep on the floor. He honestly didn't mind, but he would have been lying if he said a bed didn't look comfortable to sleep on.
He had never slept on a bed before. Well, he might have prior to being locked away but if had he didn't recall. Why didn't he remember anything from before? It wasn't as though this was his first time wondering it, but quiet nights like this one would make him think about it again. Then there was the Food Fairy Homura who didn't want him to be a War God. But… Genjo wanted him to be a War God. So he could have a wish… And he was the one, who saved him. So… he owed him… Right? Hhmmm. He wanted to be a Sanzo Priest. What do Sanzo's have that Genjo didn't?
He was sitting in the corner of the room lying on the floor with a spare blanket on top of him while the other three slept. He watched their outlines in the moonlight from the window while he thought.
Dots! He thought. Sanzo's would have dots on their heads. He had met Sanzo Harito once the same day Genjo had brought him down from the mountain. So, he had a pretty good idea of what one looked like, and how they were different from regular Monks. They also have scriptures…
He frowned and then slowly got to his feet letting the blanket fall to the ground. He went to the door and turned the knob opening it as slow as he could, he went through and closed the door behind him. Goku knew exactly what he could do.
"Hey Mister," Goku said happily to the man behind the counter.
"Yes child?" the older man answered. He smiled immediately upon seeing the bright-eyed boy approach his counter.
"Do you have a scroll and something to draw with?" he asked happily.
"Oh, I suppose I could find you something…" he said and he began shuffling through the boxes behind the counter and finally spotted a blank scroll and a box of charcoal. "Ah, yes here. You may have these."
"Thank you!" Goku grabbed them and hurried back upstairs entering their room quietly he opened the scroll out on the floor. And immediately started to make a scripture. He was pretty sure he remembered how a few of the symbols looked on the one that had been draped on Harito's shoulders. The rest however he just made up. Come morning when the other three woke up he was putting the finishing touches on it.
"What are you doing Goku?" Hakkai asked crouching next to him to look at his work.
"I made Genjo a scripture," he said. "There!"
The last line was finally done and he scooped up his scroll and ran over to Genjo.
"Hey, Genjo… Uh… I mean. Sanzo…"
His hands were covered in charcoal and in the process of shaking him awake he left a large smudge on Genjo's robe sleeve, but Goku didn't notice. He was too excited to show him what he had worked on all night.
"Ugh, what is it Monkey?" Genjo growled.
"Look, I made you this!"
He opened his eyes. Goku was holding out a scroll with lots of charcoal smudges and coal finger prints were covering it as well. It looked… ridiculous…
"I made this for you," Goku said again when Genjo gave no sign of having heard him. "It's a scripture, and here…"
He reached up and with a coal covered finger he put a black dot on Sanzo's forehead. "There, you're officially a Sanzo priest from today on, so that's what I'll call you."
Gojyo erupted into laugher. "Yes, why hello there great Mr. Sanzo. How may us pathetic commoners be of service to you…"
Goku glanced back at him frowning. He didn't understand what was so funny, but choosing to ignore him he rolled the scroll up and placed it in Sanzo's hand. "Now we don't have to go to heaven's gate, and I can stay with you."
Groaning he let the fake scripture fall and rolled over on the bed with his back to Goku, "It's too early for this shit."
"But…"
"Hey ass hat he's just a kid. You could at least humor him!" Gojyo snapped frowning, he walked over and picked up the scripture. "It's very good Goku, you did a wonderful job. I'm going to set it in Mr. Sanzo's bag for safe keeping."
He tucked it away in Genjo's ruck sack as he said and then (because of the sad look on Goku's face) he placed a hand on his head. "C'mon…"
He lightly directed him towards the door. "If you'll excuse us oh great Sanzo, we're going to get some breakfast. You're welcome to join us if you leave your pompous attitude up here."
They went down stairs after that and took a seat at one of the tables. Gojyo and Hakkai ordered some food with what little money remained. Goku had put his chin on the table and appeared to be sulking.
When the food arrived Gojyo glanced at Goku and pushed to of his plates toward him. "Here you can have this."
"Wha! Really!" he immediately began eating before Gojyo had fully confirmed.
Hakkai smiled, "I thought we weren't supposed to buy him food since he doesn't need it…"
"We didn't buy him food, I just gave him some of mine, I'm not that hungry today alright," the growled before lighting a cigarette and leaning back in his seat.
"Whatever you say," Hakkai answered looking towards Goku who was digging into his food like an animal. He was using his coal covered hands without washing them. Bits of food were getting all over the table in his haste.
"So just how far is it to this Heaven's Gate. I don't think we ever actually discussed it," Gojyo asked with genuine interest.
"Oh… Traveling the way we are… Maybe a year. Year and a half…"
"WHAT!? Are you serious! I didn't sign up for no epic journey here! I was thinking a couple weeks, a month tops!"
"Well, I can't help how far away it is," Hakkai explained. "We don't actually have to go you know. We could just go about our days as we have been…"
"Tsk and wait around for my old boss to kill me?" he frowned. "I rather spend my time chasing a dream than wait for that…"
"Then I guess you shouldn't complain."
"I wasn't complaining! I just wanted to know how long till we get there…"
Genjo came into view and plopped down in the empty seat between Goku and Hakkai. He motioned for the waitress and put in a simple order. Then he eyed Goku who was licking the left overs on the plate. He frowned, "Who bought the Monkey food?"
"Relax, I gave him some of my share? Is that that so terrible?"
"What you do with your food is none of my business," Genjo answered grumpily.
"Hey Sanzo, what did you order?" Goku asked curiously.
He rested his chin in hand eyeing him, "Don't call me that?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Because I'm not a Sanzo."
"Yes, you are, you are now. I gave you a scripture and a dot."
He opened his mouth to retort and then paused. "Is that still on my head…"
Gojyo snickered, "Yeah…"
"Damn it!" he snapped grabbing the edge of the table cloth he rubbed it against his forehead but had only managed to smear it more. They all laughed at that, "Everyone just hurry up so we can get moving already!"
Gojyo wasn't quite sure what is was but the Monkey had gotten to him. He had always had a soft spot for kids so he supposed that was why. Over the coming weeks he shared his food with Goku whenever they would stop to eat, and even though he liked to pick on him quite a lot he was measurably kinder to him than Sanzo was. Hakkai seemed, rather indifferent to everybody so whether or not he was getting attached to Goku, Gojyo couldn't tell.
"Man, sometimes I envy you," Gojyo said to Goku after who knows how many weeks had passed into their trip.
"Me? Why?"
"You're going to be a God, I can't begin to imagine all the hotties that must be up in heaven… Damn I wish I was the one getting to be a God."
"All I hope they have is yummy food!" Goku admitted.
"I'm sure they must, it's heaven right? So it should have all the joys of earth just… for eternity…"
"I don't know," Hakkai said. "With all the supposed rules heaven instills upon earthlings, like commandments and sins. I would imagine the rules up in heaven are probably pretty tight and anything that would be a sin on earth is probably also one in heaven."
"On second thought, never mind. I'll just settle for my wish…"
"Hey look! A shiny temple!" Goku said pointing to the roof that was peeking just over the tree tops.
"Well, looks like we found our next place to stay, good job Monkey."
Hakkai drove up to the building and let Hakuryu turn back into his dragon form, he came to rest on his shoulder happily.
"Excuse us!" Hakkai called to the large doors before them. "Would you by any chance let us stay here tonight?"
"We're not an inn." The voice had not come from within' the building. But rather from the voice of an elderly monk who was walking toward them from around the corner of the temple. He opened his eyes and looked at them for the first time. "I mean… please come right in!"
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Gojyo mumbled under his breath as the man led them inside. Goku kept looking around the temple all wide eyed. Everything was exciting to him.
"Please all of you, make yourselves at home," the man said after taking them to the main entrance where a beautiful statue held a rather decrepit looking pot that didn't match the stone of the statue.
"Oooh what's in there!" Goku asked rushing towards it only to have Genjo hit him over the head with his fan.
"Ow! Sanzo!"
The kid hadn't stopped calling him that since the day he made him the fake scripture. He had given up trying to stop him. But in a place like this… Genjo immediately covered his mouth, "Shut up! That actually means something here…"
"Did he just call you Sanzo…"
"Uh, no. It's his little game," Genjo responded. "Don't worry about him."
"Well would you like food first or would you want to go upstairs and rest?
"Food!" Goku answered happily.
"I shall prepare it then," he rushed to do so and four other monks who had been standing off to the side hurried quickly to assist.
"Well, never expected such good service from a bunch of monks, but there you go," Gojyo seemed impressed with their accommodating nature. "Unlike your temple who don't even let outsiders step foot on the grounds."
Genjo pulled out his gun and pointed it at Gojyo. "What did you say about my temple?"
"Sanzo don't cause a ruckus here," Goku said in a slightly pleading tone. "They're going to feed us, so let's not make them angry. Besides, you're not paying for it, so I can eat as much as I want right?"
"Yeah sure, eat till you puke," Genjo responded before storing his gun back in his robes.
"Yea!"
"Doesn't it seem odd that we've been left completely alone in the main hall of this temple?" Hakkai asked frowning slightly.
"Yes it does seem odd. It almost seems like it is a trap."
"Shit I know that voice," Gojyo snapped glaring up at the top of a long staircase. Kinrah was standing at the top and slowly emerging from every corner. Were demon thugs that were obviously working for Kinrah as well.
"Damn how did you get ahead of us…"
"Seems I have faster transportation then your little dragon," he teased. "Alright boys, remember, every one of them has some wroth to them. The prices go as follows: $5000 for the unique dragon car, $1000 for whoever captures the pretty Monk, $500 for spectacle boy there, we'll say $10 for the red head."
"Hey I'm worth more than that!" Gojyo snapped.
"And we'll say $800 for the boy. I always have buyers willing to purchase an adorable face like that."
Goku looked up at Gojyo, "Do I have an adorable face?"
"Yeah kid, it's fucking precious." Gojyo snapped. Still evidently pissed that he had been priced so low. "Now hurry up and do that thing where you start kicking everyone's ass!"
"Okay!" he answered cheerfully before running forward and back kicking one of the guy's faces sending them into the walk causing a noticeable hole. They had all begun fighting, and it was pure chaos. Goku at one point rushed forward and grabbed the jar from the statue's hand in an attempt to throw it at someone when Gojyo grabbed a hold of it.
"What the hell are you doing, that looks expensive and we'll probably have to pay for it once this is all over!"
"Stop it! I need something to hit them with!"
"Then find something else, this is—"
CRASH, they both dropped it.
"Ooops…" Goku frowned looking down at it. "I guess there is no going back now huh…"
"Damn it Monkey!" Gojyo cursed and then noticed one of the attackers was trying to sneak up behind Goku. "Duck!"
In his hand appeared a long metal stick with a moon shaped blade. The blade of which shot out and cut the attacker in half, and nearly Goku too who happened to duck just in time to avoid it.
"Hey! You almost hit me!" Goku complained.
"What the hell is this thing?" Gojyo asked looking down at his weapon. He had never see it before and didn't know how it appeared. But a monk, who seemed to be cowering behind a pillar not too far away let out a great sigh.
"Oh no, they released the Goddess weapons… Our master is sure to be angry now.."
"Goddess weapons huh… Hey Goku I think that means you got one too. Try to make something appear."
"How?" Goku asked effortlessly punching a guy who was sneaking up behind him without so much as turning around.
"I don't know, I just kind of held my hand out and it appeared."
Goku tried the same and a long stick with two orbs at the end appeared in his hands. "Wha! Hey look it's something to hit them with!"
And with that he spun around sending his new toy into the head of another attacker.
Then suddenly…
"TENJO!"
A bunch of ribbons seemed to be shooting around them and all of them started feeling physically weak as it wrapped around them.
Then next second the ribbons were gone and they all collapsed to the floor. "Hey, guys… I can't… I can't stand anymore…"
But Goku was the only still sitting up. The rest of them had fallen to the floor unable to even do that much. A soft clatter of wood on stone and Genjo looked up to see Harito walking forward.
"Harito Sanzo!" gasped one of the Monks.
"My… defiling and messing up a sacred temple. You should have known better than that river rat," he scoffed as he walked by without so much as looking down.
"I don't normally associate with the likes of slave traders, but these people cause damage at my temple," Harito snapped looking towards Kinrah. "Genjo is coming back with me. Sadly he is one of my flock regardless of how much I dislike that idea. You can do with the rest as you please as long as you leave this sacred place immediately."
"Of course," Kinrah responded grinning. "Gather them up boys!"
Hakuryu let out a painful squeal as one of the men grabbed him roughly by the neck. Two pulled Gojyo up by his hair and grabbed each of his arms. His feet were practically dragging he could barely use them. Hakkai was grabbed as well, he looked beyond pissed and kept glancing in Hakuryu's direction. The little dragon was being held too tightly and look like he couldn't breathe well.
One of the other men walked forward grabbing the few links of chain dangling from Goku's collar and attempted to pull him to his feet, but Goku swiped out at him almost immediately, and the man jumped away and Goku fell back down to his knees shaking. His muscle didn't seem to want to let him move.
Straining he held out his hand so his new weapon would appear in it once more and he attempted to pull himself to his feet, but slipped again.
"How on earth is he still able to move? My powers should have paralyzed them all," Harito Sanzo took the corner of his scripture in hand almost as if asking it why it didn't do its job.
"He can only just barely move, it did its job. Hurry up now, get them out of here so we can get on our way!" he snapped.
"So is this truly how weak you all are? That you could fall victim to such a simple trap?" Everyone who could turn, looked up at the silky voice.
"Food Fairy…" Goku exhaled looking up at him through his bangs.
"Hello Son Goku it's a pleasure to see you again," he said softly as he walked forward stepping over Genjo's body like he was nothing.
"I'm disappointed in you Genjo. You have found this incredible treasure and yet you would let someone take it from you so easily?"
Genjo was wondering for a moment what he was talking about but he walked over to Goku and knelt down in front of him. He continued to speak to Genjo but his eye's never left Goku's tired looking face. "How you don't understand is beyond me…"
"Understand what?" he snapped from his spot on the floor. With great effort he was able to lift his head.
"That Goku is the key to all successes. Limitless power, unwavering loyalty. The sooner you realize this the better…"
"Excuse me, just who are you?" Harito snapped. "I am Harito Sanzo and I demand—"
Homura cut him off, completely ignoring him. "His only worth to you is becoming a War God so you can get something you desire in return, and yes he would make an amazing War God, of that there is no doubt. But I would not wish that existence on my worst enemy," he placed a hand on Goku's crown. "So… Okay… I'll let you see it. A small taste of the power he possesses."
He move his hand up, slipping his fingers below Goku's diadem, removing it. Goku's eyes widened, his pupils turned into slits. He began to scream, claws grew, his hair as well. He looked like he was becoming a demon but no demonic presence could be sensed.
"Go wild Son Goku," he said softly. "Show him your worth."
He turned back towards Genjo crouching beside him. "I'll leave this with you," he placed the diadem next to him. "Placing this back on his head is the only way to return him to normal. In the meantime, watch. See the power you're willing to throw away on something as trivial as a wish."
With that he stood up again this time stepping right on Genjo. He winced bracing for an impact that didn't come. Was he a ghost? He walked right through him. When the man was out of view he saw Goku standing in the center of the room. His weapon laid forgotten on the floor, and he looked more monstrous than he ever thought possible.
Harito and Kinrah took off the second Goku moved, he began attacking their assailants with merciless ease. What the hell was Goku?
"Shit that little Monkey is insane!" Gojyo snapped from his place on the floor.
"His spell was powerful, but it doesn't last very long," Hakkai said. "I'm already starting to get some movement back. The moment you can stand just get out…"
"Well a lot of good that does us since we'll probably be dead in a minute…" Gojyo groaned trying his best to pull himself onto his knees, but he failed and fell down to his stomach again. "Damn it!"
Goku shoved his claws into one of the attackers who was attempting to run away. He let out a gurgled scream as the blood filling his throat muffled the sound.
Goku spun around spotting the nearest living person to him. Gojyo.
"Ah, shit…" Gojyo winced bracing himself for whatever Goku planned to do. Only as he was about to take a step closer the sound of a bullet echoed through the halls creating a small hole in the ground right in the spot where Goku had been about to step. They all turned. Genjo had somehow managed to pull himself into a sitting position by the nearest pillar.
"That's right, come and get me…" Sanzo growled through gritted teeth. Just holding his gun up was exceedingly difficult.
Goku smiled, and spun on his heel rushing towards him.
Before he had reached him however a blast of light from behind him made him turn. Hakkai was on his knees breathing hard. He had shot a small energy blast at him, which burned his shoulder and singed his clothes. Growling he turned towards Hakkai next rushing forward, and before he reached him a crescent moon blade had shot forth cutting his face. Gojyo wasn't quite used to his weapon yet and hadn't quite meant to hit him there. Goku licked the blood that ran down his cheek before taking off towards him next.
"Shit!"
"No, this is good," Hakkai said. "We'll keep him on the run until we can think of something."
Genjo aimed another shot at Goku and he headed towards him again.
"It's like the most intense game of keep away ever, except we're playing keep away from me…" Gojyo sighed using the statue to help him stay balanced on his feet. They were all, slowly but surely regaining their composure.
Hakkai hit him with another blast, purposely not making it too powerful. But Goku already had many cuts, burns and bruises on his body from before he transformed, and Hakkai was getting a bit concerned.
This last time however Goku seemed fed up with their little game and he crouched down jumping up to one of the rafters on the ceiling. Then he began kicking the pillars one by one putting cracks in them.
"What is he doing?" Gojyo gasped.
"He's trying to bring the roof down on us!" Genjo gasped.
"That idiot," Gojyo gasped. "He'll die too!"
"If you can run I suggest you do so," Hakkai said hurrying towards the exit. He was more hobbling rather than running, but he was still making it.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!" Gojyo cursed the whole time as he also struggled to head towards the exit.
How they managed to make it, they would never know. They were knocked to the ground by the force of the falling building after just making it out. Debris still hit them. Stones and rocks of varying sizes collided with them and they covered their heads in an effort to protect themselves.
When the noise calmed down they turned towards the wreckage.
"Holy shit," Gojyo sighed and after a moment he added. "Well there goes our wishes…"
Genjo had been holding Goku's diadem the whole time, and he had a feeling it still wasn't over.
"Get ready, we're going to have to put this back on his head…"
"C'mon Genjo," Hakkai said getting to his feet. "There is no way he survived that."
"Yeah," Gojyo sighed grabbing a cigarette from the pack in his pocket. "The little shit's dead."
Even though his words sounded rather callous, he did look genuinely sad, which Hakkai noticed. But Genjo was too busy looking towards the rubble to take note of that.
"No, he's not. After what he did in there. I doubt a building collapse would kill him…"
He struggled towards it climbing up on to the stone as best he could manage with his limited mobility. But he had almost all but got it back by now. "Where is he…"
"Alright then…" Gojyo grunted to his feet swaying slightly before moving to follow Genjo.
"Where are you going?" Hakkai asked. He was still on the ground.
"We got to find his body, I mean… I think we at least owe the brat a burial…" he explained. His eyes looked distant and hurt. Hakkai wasn't sure what was going on exactly, but he had a feeling something about Gojyo's past was making him act this way.
"Alright, I'll help as soon as I recover the rest of my strength back."
CRASH!
Something had broke through the rubble and Goku landed crouching on a pillar awkwardly sticking up out of the debris. He was covered in cuts and blood and bruises, he didn't seem to care. Or maybe he just didn't notice.
"What the hell—" Gojyo mouth fell agape and his cigarette fell to the ground, which seemed to be the signal for Goku to lunge forward.
Genjo was closest. He had one hand on his cloth belt and as Goku drew closer he pulled the sash so his robe would fall. Grabbing the edge of the discarded garment he threw it over Goku's head. He rolled across the rock tangled in the cloth and when he finally managed to pull it off him Genjo slammed the diadem back on head.
Goku's eyes widened, his hair shortened, his claws retracted and he fell unconscious on the rubble.
"Well, damn… He did it…" Gojyo gasped.
Genjo was left in a black skin tight shirt and jeans looking exhausted. Weakly walking over to him Gojyo grinned. "So this is what Monk's wear under their robes. Here I thought they were naked…"
"Pick him up," Genjo demanded. "We're leaving."
"To where?" Gojyo asked and with great effort he knelt down picking Goku up along with the robe he was still partly tangled in.
"Where else? Heaven's fucking Gate."
"Really? After that ghost guy's warning?"
"I'll be damn if this brat is going to cause me this much trouble and I don't get anything out of it, and on top of that no one tells me what I can and cannot do with my things!" Genjo snapped. He walked over to where Hakkai was still seated on the ground. "Where's the dragon?"
The small dragon peeked out of Hakkai's shirt mewing softly.
"Have him transform and let's go…"
Gojyo hadn't yet made a move to bring Goku over. He looked down at him. Goku was really heavy, though he imagined most of that weight was due to the chains on him as he was a rather tiny kid. He could help but frown at the wounds on him and the way he breathed weakly.
"Move your ass Gojyo!" Genjo snapped from the passenger seat of the jeep.
Hakkai started the vehicle eyeing Genjo from the side. He had a feeling that Harito's appearance in there had attributed a lot to Genjo's anger right now.
Gojyo climbed in the back with Goku in his arms. He didn't say anything as they took off by light of the sunset. Yeah, okay. They were still going through with the plan, but for the first time (to Gojyo at least) it didn't feel right…
Yea! I updated again. Their probably be a bigger gap between this and my next update as I'm getting kinda busy. But if you want me to continue tell me and I'll try to do so sooner rather than later. :)