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DISCLAIMER: I don't own the boys, nor the plotlines of the show and manga. Story and chapter titles are actually from a song from Wicked…because the song is stuck in my head. Bah. The little centerized quote is from the same. There wouldn't be enough chapter titles to insert bits of this verse, and it fit's the presentGoku/Gaidenboys relationship nicely.

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For Good

Because I Knew You…

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It well may be that we will never meet again

In this lifetime, so let me say before we part

So much of me is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way my story ends

I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend…

"Oi, saru, pass the rice," Kenren called, holding out his hand the next morning at breakfast.

Goku glared and roughly shoved the bowl into the beaten General's hand; for some reason he had come back the night before with a fidgety Gojyo, a smug Tenpou, and a black eye. Goku didn't bother asking since he was sure he didn't want to know.

Right now, a more important question was plaguing him, "Why in fuck's name did 'monkey' carry over through lifetimes, of all things?!"

"Because you are one," both blondes and both perverts said in unison, smirking at one another as Hakkai sighed and chided 'Language!' in a defeated tone.

"Ch'," Sanzo intoned around his dangling cigarette, "I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you that you were nothing but a loud ass monkey."

"Me too," Konzen groaned.

"Yep, same here," Kenren smirked.

"Hai, hai," Gojyo said, his smirk eerily identical.

Goku growled and contemplated throwing the remainder of his sticky rice at them all…but that would be sacrilege. He clutched his bowl tighter for even having let the thought cross his mind.

"When are we fucking leaving?" Sanzo huffed, snuffing out the butt and glaring at his driver.

Hakkai smiled awkwardly, "Well, I can only assume that your aunt -" dismayed coughing sounded and Hakkai's smile turned knowing, "Konzen's aunt took away Hakuryu in order to keep us here…we could walk…"

"Oh hell no!" Gojyo cried, "There's a damned road outta here, why walk when we don't have to? Isn't there some fucking mountain range coming up? Hell if I'm gonna walk before then…." he moaned, burying his face in his hands.

Sanzo, though he hated to admit it, felt the same. He merely sulked moodily and glared at the group, "Well, that old hag's ass better get down here and take you all home soon, because this journey isn't going to wait on us…"

"Ano…" Hakkai interrupted, "Isn't it the Merciful Goddess that set us on this journey?"

The blonde's glare intensified.

"So it's settled!" Gojyo rejoiced, grinning.

Goku held out his bowl silently to Hakkai for more, hiding his morose expression with his bangs and down turned face.

"Goku…" Hakkai said softly, but the monkey looked up and gave a parody of a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Hakkai shook his head and doled out more food to the young man.

"Sanzo-ikkou!" a voice called boisterously, an obvious cocky chuckle within the tone, "We have come on orders of our Prince Kougaiji to collect the Maten Kyomon, and with it, your lives!"

The ikkou rolled their eyes and Goku angrily put down his bowl, "Fucking youkai always interrupting my meals…"

"Language!" Hakkai called ineffectually as he walked calmly with Sanzo to cover the monk.

"First one to fifty, saru?" Gojyo asked, summoning his shakujou and grinning.

"You are so on!" Goku called, already racing to the hoard of youkai mercenaries.

Kenren joined the Sanzo party, his blade out and a grin on his face, not even bothering to speak as he jumped into the fray.

Tenpou followed behind him, looking morose to have his book time interrupted, "For this…you shall not be forgiven!" he called, unsheathing his saber and striking a badly dramatic pose. Konzen, the only one to witness the foolishness, sweatdropped awkwardly and mumbled under his breath about idiots.

Since he had little skills beyond the ability to beat the crap out of his errant charge and obnoxious friends, he stayed back to watch. His eyes stayed on Goku most of all, watching the so much taller monkey twirl with effortless grace and absolutely demolish all his challengers. There was a morbid beauty in the carefree spirit causing such destruction, and Konzen felt an odd thrill go through him as he watched the boy's adversaries go down.

And so the differences between his monkey and this one became clear. He loved them both terribly…enough to die for them, enough to willingly go into a painful reincarnated existence…but this lithe young man was not his. He was Sanzo's, and it showed in every adoring smile he flashed the monk, in every longing glance. Konzen's heart clenched, but at least he knew his favorite animal would be well cared for.

The battle wound down and a grinning monkey won the bet, crowing and puffing in delight. The fight had erased the melancholy from the boy, leaving his chattering aimlessly to everyone and himself. Konzen watched fondly as he was taken into a headlock by Kenren and tackled to the ground. Goku got the upper hand only to be thwarted when Kenren phased a foot away and cackled at the monkey's ineptitude.

Somehow, it was Goku who had the thought none of them had beforehand, "Hey…why don't we get them to do that cool phasing thing and take us to India?"

A long silence filled the clearing, then loud cursing from the two of the three elder members of the traveling group. Even Hakkai looked flabbergasted that he had not been the one to think of it.

"Well hell, the monkey has a brain after all!" Gojyo called, relishing in the glare he received.

"Baka ero kappa, I am not a monkey!"

A twinkling light called all their attention to the right, and Goku paled. In a distinctive flash of light, Kanzeon Bosatsu was smirking at them all, "Sorry boys, but I can't allow that."

Sanzo stormed up to the supposed Goddess of Mercy, "Why the fuck not, you stupid old bag?!"

Kanzeon glared, "Watch your mouth, Konzen. And none of you are ready yet to face the opposition you will encounter in the West. This journey is to hone you up to being strong enough for it, as a group and as fighters. Now shut up."

All the men were slightly taken aback by the biting tone, but realized the truth in her words. They really weren't ready yet. Sanzo's glare intensified but he didn't bother speaking. The haughty demeanor of the Merciful Goddess returned, casting a look on the three gods, "Time to go, boys."

Goku, who had never let his eyes leave the ground, began to shake, trying to ignore the pain that was shooting through him like a physical injury at those words. It wasn't long before a hand was ruffling his hair playfully, "Buck up, chibizaru. You already know we'll see you again…seems to me that we're all stuck together," Kenren said in a laughing tone thrown off by the seriousness of his blue eyes.

He was joined by Konzen and Tenpou in front of the young earth spirit, who looked them each in the eye and took a deep breath, holding back the pain and giving a weak smile, "Thank you. All of you, thank you."

"For what?" Konzen asked gruffly, his eyes on the ground and his shoulders tense.

"For keeping your promise," Goku said softly, a true smile stretching his lips, "What more could I ever want?"

It was with a fair amount of confusion that the three deities regarded him, but none of them asked. They figured they would understand at some point. The earth spirit launched himself at the three, hugging each of them around the waists tightly and giving morose goodbyes. The Sanzo party gave more reserved farewells, with Konzen and Sanzo ignoring one another rather than arguing, at least. As Kanzeon Bosatsu stood before them, she smirked, "Tell myself hi for me, boys."

And with a bright flash, they were gone, leaving the ikkou alone with a goddess. She turned her smirk on them, "Well, on with the journey, guys. I'm expecting a good show, so you'd better give me one, right? Oh, and I shall return Goujun to you now… Ja," she winked and disappeared, leaving an agitated looking Hakuryu behind.

Silently, the group packed their things and prepared to leave, none of them venturing to break the silence. Sanzo because he didn't feel like it, Hakkai and Gojyo in deference to Goku's feelings, and Goku simply because he was still trying to cope with his losses.

The sun was high in the sky by the time they set out once more, the jeep much quieter than usual. It was nearly an hour into the journey when Goku suddenly laughed, long and breathlessly, a few silent tears escaping his eyes as a wide grin relieved all worries of his companions.

"Yo…what's so funny?" Gojyo ventured, nudging the younger man with his elbow.

Goku's smile didn't fade as he turned to look directly at his guardian, "Once upon a time…"

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A/N: The last line won't make sense until the next chapter. ;) And moreso when we hear the end of it in the next story.

I hope people are still interested in this story… -sigh-

I got so very few reviews for my Complementary lemon. -sniff- Makes me oh so sad! -sniff-