I'll Wait Forever

Chapter Eleven

Dominic missed.

Goku had pushed the gun up in time, causing Dominic's shot to diverge. Sanzo let out a pained yell, grasping his shoulder and stumbling backwards. Dominic prepared to shoot him again, when Goku sprang forth. Grasping Dominic's hand, he pushed the gun away from Sanzo, as the man pulled the trigger. A shot rang out, and a nearby window exploded. Suddenly, people in the marketplace were running every which way, trying to avoid the gunshots. Goku fought and wrestled, until finally the gun was thrown from Dominic's hand, sliding across the ground. As Dominic raced for the gun, Goku grabbed Sanzo's hand, hurrying him away from the scene.

He yanked Sanzo into an alley as two more shots were fired. Goku's breathing became ragged quickly, but he would not allow Sanzo to stop running. It felt like so many twists and turns until finally Goku and Sanzo found themselves back at Hakkai's car. Pulling themselves inside, Goku fell back against the seat, clearly exhausted. Sanzo gripped his shoulder, where blood was rapidly pouring out.

Without a word, Goku tore the sleeves from his sweatshirt, wrapping them tightly around Sanzo's wound. He watched as the white from his sweatshirt was quickly soaked red. His eyes flickered up to Sanzo as the man started the engine, despite the pain shooting from his shoulder. "Sanzo…" Goku whined softly, wishing he knew what to say.

"Shut up, we don't have time for this." Sanzo started the car, and slammed on the gas, attempting to get as far as he could from Dominic. They'd managed to get out of the small town without any trouble, and it almost gave Sanzo the impression that they'd lost Dominic. Sanzo knew better. He knew the man was probably tailing them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Goku began coughing next to him, and he glanced at the brunet out of the corner of his eye. He watched him pull his hands away from his mouth, showing blood. He was quick to wipe it off on his shirt, before looking up to meet Sanzo's eye. There was understanding there. He knew that if they didn't find a hospital soon, they would both die.

It was only an hour later when the car began to make short, chopped noises and the speed slowed. Glancing at the gas level, Sanzo cursed when he noticed that it was empty. In his drowsy state, he hadn't realized how low on gas they were. "C'mon Goku, we're walking," Sanzo snapped, as he pushed open the door, climbing out.

Goku nodded in understanding, grasping the bag full of food and heading after him. Though they both knew they wouldn't need much food now.

The two headed along the road slowly. Goku hung back, kicking at stones and occasionally hurrying to the man's side. Every once in a while, they would have to stop when Goku's coughing became too much to handle. But they managed to carry onward. The pair walked for hours, and gradually the sun set, darkening their path. Sanzo knew they would have to find some place to spend the night. Even at full strength he doubted neither he nor Goku could walk the entire way there and not pass out from exhaustion. Besides, the gradual blood loss from his shoulder was driving him to his knees more then once.

It had taken a while, but finally the pair stumbled across a small abandoned barn. The two headed over to it, crawling inside. Goku had fallen down on a large bed of hay, moving aside to allow Sanzo to sit. He fussed over Sanzo's shoulder, but Sanzo batted him away. There was nothing he could do, and he didn't want the brat fucking with his shoulder anymore. Though he didn't stop the boy from applying pressure, attempting to stop the blood flow. He could understand the boy's distress. His entire right side was caked with blood, and his head was getting very weary. Goku's own sweatshirt was covered in blood, some of it Sanzo's but mostly his own. The coughing fits were coming in more regular and closer together. Sanzo feared that neither of them would live through the night.

Leaning back against the wall, Sanzo allowed Goku to rummage through the bag of food, eating whatever it was the boy offered him—beef jerky, energy bars, chips—whatever he could get his hands on. The blood loss was draining his energy and he needed something to eat.

Eventually, the two fell back against the wall, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. They knew that either one of both of them would wake to a nightmare. Neither of them expect otherwise. So they allowed themselves to enjoy this moment the pair could share. This was one thing that Dominic could not ruin.

"Hey Sanzo?" Goku whispered hoarsely. It had gotten so dark that Sanzo could barely see the boy's silhouette against the darkness. But his voice was right beside him, reassuring Sanzo that he had no yet died on him. It was more comforting then he'd ever admit. He could tell Goku's voice was tinged with fear.

"What?" Sanzo replied softly, eyes starring groggily up at the ceiling.

"I don't want you to die," he whispered.

"I'm not going to die, idiot," he whispered hoarsely. "I'm only seventeen. I intend to live to be an old man, no matter what any fucking gangster says."

He could hear Goku shuffle next to him, before small arms were wrapped around his waist and Goku's face was buried into his chest. "I don't want you to leave me. Not again. M'tired of waiting… Sanzo…"

Feeling a pang of guilt, Sanzo could remember back to when he'd left Goku last time. He could remember getting cut down, dying, watching Goku sob before him, unable to hold his tears back. He remembered asking him to wait, and the immense pain that ripped across his middle. He winced at the phantom pain that suddenly plagued him, though Goku failed to notice his inner turmoil. He would be damned if left Goku again after such a short time. Damn the heavens. Damn reincarnation. And damn Dominic. He was staying, and Goku would be his.

"I'm not going to die, I promise," he whispered again, closing his eyes as exhaustion began to seep into every corner of his being. "We're living our own way. You, me, Hakkai, and Gojyo." He couldn't help but let a pang of worry go out to his two friends. He hoped they were okay.

Goku shifted, and a second later, Sanzo could feel soft lips pressed against his own. It was weak, compared to the boy's normally mischievous kisses. Sanzo answered back with as much strength as he could, which wasn't much. "I love you, Sanzo," he whispered before settling back against his chest.

Sanzo was momentarily overcome by stun, unsure of what to say. But he found he didn't need to reply, as Goku had fallen asleep in his arms.

---

The incisive beeping was driving him nuts. It was as though with every beep, someone was pounding a nail into his brain. Scratch that, it felt like someone was driving a railroad spike into his mind. Slowly, he peeled open his crimson eyes, staring up at the white ceiling. It was very boring, he found. He must've been in a hospital, but he could find no reason for him to be. It felt as though huge chunks were missing from his memory without any explanation.

"Gojyo? Are you awake?"

Turning his head slowly, Gojyo found himself staring into Hakkai's swimmingly green eyes. The man was smiling, though he was obviously in pain. Gojyo couldn't help but crack a smile at the familiar face, glad for something that made sense. "Hakkai…" Gojyo whispered softly. "What happened? I can't remember stuff… and since when did I land myself in the hospital?"

Hakkai smiled softly. "I can't answer all your questions, Gojyo, as I'm afraid I can't remember much either. All I know was that some young woman brought us both to the hospital. Apparently, we were shot, though I can't imagine why," his hand was laid gently on the bandages covering his chest. "But… the doctors found this on me. They think it has something to do with our short term memory loss." He produced a strange looking scroll, in Gojyo's opinion, and placed it on the bed. It looked very old, and yet well preserved. "Do you remember anything about it?"

Gojyo shook his head. "No, I don't," he whispered softly, shaking his head. Though he couldn't help but feel as though this strange scroll was very important, and they should protect it, though he couldn't imagine why.

Hakkai gripped the scroll tightly to his chest, as though he felt the same. Smiling softly, he simply said, "Well, I'd better get back to bed before the nurses come after me again."

Gojyo chuckled. "All right. See yah Hakkai." Closing his eyes, he wondered why fear and anxiety kept nipping at his chest. It felt as though he had to do something. Like he had to find out if someone was okay. "Whatever," he muttered, turning over and drifting off to sleep.

---

Kanzeon stared down as she watched Gojyo drift back to sleep, Hakkai following suit. Changing back to Goku and Sanzo, she found the pair was still asleep, oblivious to the world around them. Sighing, she leaned back in her throne, knowing that soon her form of entertainment would be lost to her again. She wished she could do more for them, but she knew her position of a god was meant to overlook, not to interfere. Besides, she'd interfered enough.

"Uh, Kanzeon-sama," Jiroshin said quietly from his spot next to her. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you wipe Tenpou and Kenren's memories?"

Kanzeon smiled softly. She loved to share wisdom—or gloat over the fact that she knew more then most people. Whatever. "It's like asking why birds don't fly upside down or why the sun doesn't revolve around the earth. Because that's the way it was meant to be. People aren't supposed to remember past lives. It's the natural order of things. It clutters the mind, and makes it difficult for people to think properly. Memories swirl and eventually it becomes so much," she sighed softly. "As entertaining as it was, I needed to wipe Gojyo and Hakkai's memories. Now they can't remember their past lives, Sanzo, Goku, or the last few weeks."

"About that, Lady, why did you wipe Sanzo and Goku from their memories?"

Kanzeon sighed softly through her nose. "Because Goku and Sanzo are about to face their own punishment, and I just thought it would be best if Hakkai and Gojyo no longer had to worry about those two." She let a small smile catch her lips. "Goku and Sanzo are in for a wild ride. My favorite show is reaching its climax, and I can't wait to see how this ends."

"Really Kanzeon-sama, you are enjoying this far too much," Jiroshin muttered, stiffening his shoulders and frowning deeply.

Kanzeon chuckled dryly. "Perhaps I am, Jiroshin. But haven't you noticed how much they've changed? It pays to watch something long enough, for you can notice the distinct changes as it ages," she sighed softly, smiling. "Konzen has really grown up since his time in Heaven. He's finally looking around him, and allowing that mischievous monkey through his barriers. Tenpou is finally letting go of his own self-loathing, and opening up to the world around him. Kenren, that pervert, sees beyond women to what's most important. Though I doubt his habits will ever change. And Goku, Goku's grown up so much since his time in Heaven, don't you think? He's suffered through so much, and yet that glimmering innocence will not disappear."

She smiled softly. "So I think I would like to see how this plays out. How will our beloved Konzen and his pet monkey wiggle out of this one?" Her eyes strayed to Jiroshin beside her, and her smile stretched into a grin. "What do you think Jiroshin? Will Sanzo stain his hands again? Will Goku die? Will Dominic succeed?"

Leaning back in her chair, she watched Goku stir in his sleep. "Let's find out, shall we?"

A/N: (cries in a corner) This is my second last chapter, and I'm so proud! It's almost over, and I have to say I enjoyed every step of this little journey. The last chapter is my favourite. And as I've said before, I wrote soemthign that takes place after the end of this, and it's called, Irreversible. It's just a oneshot, and it's kind of like an epilogue, but it didn't fit on the end of this, so check it out. It'll be up with chapter twelve.

Anyway, I hope someone out there's glad I didn't kill anybody. (Yet) I hope I fooled some of you.

C&C appriciated.