Hello to all my readers and admirers (if I have any at all)! I am a bit busy with school and all, but I'm still going to dish out new chapters whenever possible. Also, since I like to be diverse I've decided to place this fanfic on . It doesn't matter too much, but I might get more hits there if I keep typing up lemony goodness. So just keep reading for more Saiyuki action, drama, romance, and more action! (Because too much drama is just plain damn irritating).
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Saiyuki whatsoever and make no profit from the making of this fanfic. I only take credit for my original characters and storyline.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Ghost of You
Gojyo was staring at the wall in his room. "This is boring." He thought he might go visit Azumi.
Goku looked over at Gojyo and shrugged then grinned like a kid who just found candy. "Hey Gojyo, are you and Azumi gonna do it?" he asked him. He knew that would probably make him mad. Gojyo looked over at Goku, a glare on his face. "That's got to be the most stupid question I've heard yet today" he said, picking up his jacket and put it on. "I'm going away from you."
Goku scoffed and turned over in his bed. "Well, I hope that's not all you want from her. I know more about her than you do perverted kappa. I talked with her earlier" he said and then closed his eyes. He had just eaten and he wasn't going to get upset over this.
Gojyo stopped with his hand on the doorknob. "What?! What the hell did you say?" he said looking over his shoulder. This damn monkey was going to ruin any shot he had with this woman.
Goku just sighed and waved a hand. "I told her a little more about our group. Then I listened to her talk about when she was a kid. No big thing, you worry way too much water monster" he told him care freely.
Gojyo sighed then walked out of the room. As long as that idiot wasn't messing up anything. As he walked out of the room there was another. She figured that he was the only one in the room and that she could possibly steal something. Smiling to herself she walked to the door and tried the doorknob finding it unlocked.
Goku heard the sound of the doorknob and sat up almost in anger. Had that stupid kappa left something in here? "What do you want now damn it?" he asked yanking open the door.
The female stood there still as the door opened. Damn, so he wasn't alone. She quickly regained herself. "Maid..." She began. "Here to uh... clean the room." She said, grabbing a maid's tool that was standing behind her for the maid in the room across from Goku's.
Goku sighed and let her in the room. "Just don't touch that bed, who knows what that pervert has been doing" he said pointing to Gojyo's bed. She wasn't dressed like any of the other maids but maybe she was about to be off duty. In any case, he didn't care so he lay back down on his bed and looked up at the ceiling. He wanted to think for a while.
Of course she wasn't wearing the traditional maid's uniform, for the simple fact she wasn't a maid. She was wearing a short red dress that tied up the sides, showing a bit of her cleavage. The dress complimented her curvy figure. On her feet she wore long healed boots. Her long red hair was up in a ponytail with bits hanging on her face. Her brown eyes seemed lost and confused. She turned around grabbing the tools and pulled it into the room. She stared at the bed he was talking about. It looked fine to her. She quickly stripped the bed of its sheets making a small bit of money fell onto the ground. She looked back to see Goku laying there not really paying attention. She crouched down and picked up the money putting it into her boot then stood up straight and finished stripping the bed of sheets then put them in the dirty clothes bin.
Goku looked over to see her doing her job but got a view of her rear instead and quickly turned away. He was not a pervert! He was not Gojyo! "Um...miss?" he asked. "Could you move to the other side of that bed?" He knew it was a weird request but he didn't want her to turn around and get all offended. Or even worse, if she came onto him.
The female turned around, thinking for a moment at his strange request. She shrugged and moved to the other side of the bed while grabbing clean sheets and put them on the bed. She quickly finished, making the bed then looked over at his. She needed him out of the room. "I'm sorry sir, do you think you could leave the room for a minute while I vacuum and make your bed?" She asked hoping he would agree to it.
Goku seemed to zone out and turned over, his back facing her. "I don't mind the noise...and I don't really feel like moving much right now" he said sleepily. He was depressed again and didn't feel like doing much of anything.
The female mentally slapped him over and over again. He wasn't cooperating with her. She needed him out of the room so that she could search through their things. He wasn't even getting up. She sighed pulling out the vacuum and turned it on, she began to vacuum the room all the while planning how she was going to go through their things.
Goku turned over again and saw her vacuuming and looking a bit angry. Had he done something wrong? Oh well, maybe she was angry that she couldn't do her job right. He closed his eyes and began to drift off into sleep.
The female finished vacuuming and looked back over to Goku. He was asleep. He looked so peaceful. Though when he woke up he wouldn't look like that. Smiling to herself, she moved over his their bags and began to rummage through it. She started on Gojyo's throwing clothes onto the floor that she had just vacuumed. She found some yin and placed it in her boot. She lifted up a box of condoms and shuttered putting them back. She then went over to Goku's bags and starting throwing clothes away from the bag. She didn't find anything in there. Nothing she wanted anyway. Standing up she moved over to a sack finding some meat buns and some beer. Smiling she quickly took out all the rest of the stuff leaving two cans of beer and some meat buns and rolled up the bag placing it under her arm. She moved over towards the door and waved a hand. "Thanks." She said softly and walked out of the room.
The female walked down the hallway, happily carrying the bag in her hand. She soon left the tavern heading down an alleyway where she would eat their food and drink their beer.
Azumi was in her room working on more herbal medicines, pulling another all nighter. She was going to leave tomorrow and she still needed a ride into the next town. Not to mention her money was quickly draining from all the expenses she had to pay. So now she had some serious work to do, not her job that earned quick cash on the side.
Gojyo walked down the hallway, and headed towards the room where Azumi was. He knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. Azumi got out of her seat and opened the door. "It's nice to see you again Gojyo. I'm sorry if I look terrible" she said bowing. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a black turtleneck with her long hair pent up into a bun and her glasses hanging from the bridge of her nose.
Gojyo looked Azumi over. "You don't look bad. You look cute" he said, leaning against the doorframe.
Azumi blushed and pushed her glasses on her nose. "Thank you... but I shouldn't look as if I've been holed up in here. Anyway, come in" she said walking into the room, kicking some of her scattered clothes away. It wasn't messy but she had just thrown them off when she woke up earlier.
Gojyo walked in, not really minding the clothes on the floor. It wasn't the first time he'd seen discarded clothes on the floor. He closed the door behind him after looking around for a second. She sat down at her desk that was littered with papers and went through it to find a six pack of beer and took two out. "Here you go, I remembered to leave it where I could find it" she said with a smile. Yes, she had a knack for finding things under papers for some reason.
He took one of the beers and popped it open. "Thanks" he said, and began to drink some of it. It felt nice the way he went down his throat. She nodded and took a small sip of her beer and looked over at him. "So what brings you here Gojyo? Bored out of your mind sitting in a hotel room when such a beautiful woman is right down the hall?" she asked. She enjoyed having him around; he was nice to talk with.
Gojyo took another drink looking over at her. "Is it that obvious? I'd rather stare at a beautiful woman's face then a chibi monkey" he answered.
Azumi smiled and put down her drink. "Gojyo? You don't think of me as just another lay do you?" she asked with her head down and her loose bangs hiding her eyes. She hated being treated that way, sometimes she felt it was all she was good for.
Gojyo looked her over for a moment. "No, I don't think of you as just a lay" he answered holding his beer in his hands. He could hear the monkey snoring from where he was sitting. Damn he was loud.
Goku snored very loud actually, too bad her room was only a few doors from theirs or else they might have been saved. Azumi sweatdropped and laughed a bit. "You put up with that I see" she said to him with a smile. She knew he wasn't lying, but only distracted.
The snoring was beginning to get on his nerves. His eye twitched lightly. "Yes, I have to put up with that." He placed the beer can on the floor and stood up. "If you would excuse me, I'll be right back."
He walked out of the room into Goku's room. Instantly he saw the mess and the maid's tools in the room. "Goku get your ass up!" he yelled walking over discarded clothes and shook the monkey fiercely.
Goku only snored louder and snuggled against the kappa. "Kiora…" he said drooling on Gojyo's shirt. Azumi watched this from the doorway and giggled. "Oh my, I didn't know you could so nice to him" she teased.
Gojyo stared down at the monkey. He was dreaming about Kiora that was for sure. He pushed him away. "I'm not..." He then slammed his hand into the side of Goku's head. "Wake up you stupid monkey!" ee shouted again hoping he would wake up.
Goku instantly held his head which was pounding from the hit. "Goddamn it you stupid ass kappa! What was that for!?" he yelled at him. He was going to make Gojyo pay for that! He brought his fist to the red head's cheek and punched him good. He was going to embarrass this guy in front of the pretty doctor if it was the last thing he did.
Gojyo's head went to the side with the blow. He immediately grabbed Goku by the head and slammed him against the wall. "Someone stole our things! Look! My beer and your food is gone!" he yelled. "Just look at this mess!"
Goku got out of his grip holding his head in pain. "There was only a maid in-wait...what!!? She took the food! I'm going to hurt her!" he yelled and looked for his shoes in all the mess.
Azumi walked in stepping over the scattered items and picked up a box. "Well, she didn't want these apparently" she said shaking the box of condoms and looking at Gojyo with a smile. Goku snickered and began to inch out of the room. He was going to find the meat bun thief and take his things back by force.
"Get my beer back too while you're at it!" he said, taking the box of condoms out of Azumi's hand. He reached a hand up and scratched the back of his hand. "Its being prepared... that's all." He quickly began to pick up his things and shove them back into his bag.
Azumi chuckled and started to help clean the room. "I guess so Gojyo, that is a good idea I suppose" she said picking up some of Goku's clothes and putting them neatly in his bag.
Gojyo finished picking up his things and looked around. "My money is gone." He said. "Damn it. Goku wasn't watching this chick, she totally stole from us." He said putting his bag back in the place he had found it.
Azumi sighed and finished helping find all Goku's things. "If you want, I'll lend you some. You'll just owe me big Sha Gojyo" she said to him. Oh yes, he would owe her. She didn't give away free money to anyone, not even friends.
Gojyo turned to look at her and sighed. He wasn't about ready to take money from Azumi. He would earn some of his own money, some how. A thought popped into his head. "Well I don't need your money. I'll just go play a couple rounds of poker and get what I had back." he said.
Azumi nodded and then gave him a devilish grin. "Hope you don't run into someone like me or you'll just stay broke" she told him and grabbed the box of condoms from his dresser. "I think I'll keep these as hostage, until you come back. I'll be waiting for you Gojyo" she said with a smile. She liked him a lot. She wanted him to at least treat her like they were more than friends though, since that was how she thought of him.
Gojyo stared at her for a long time. She was keeping his condoms hostage. That means that he would have to get them back. He smiled at her then nodded. He was off to the local bar to win him self a couple of games of poker, then he would go see Azumi.
Meanwhile, the girl was enjoying a nice long drink of the beer and holding a half eaten meat bun. She sat down in the alleyway enjoying her self.
Goku on the other hand was searching with his nose, following the scent of meatbuns and booze. The smell went into an alleyway and he looked around angrily. "Give back the meatbuns girl!" he yelled walking in the alleyway.
She could hear him coming down the alleyway. She hiccupped from eating so fast and drinking. She quickly picked up another meat bun and shoved it into her mouth and yelled with her mouth full. "Too late, I ate them all."
Goku glared over at her and picked her up by the arm gently. "You! You owe us! Come back with me" he said walking and taking her along with him. She was not getting away that easily.
The female looked up at Goku as she was being dragged away. "No! I don't have to do anything!" she yelled trying to get out of his grip. He was really strong. He was sure pissed about her taking his meat buns. He dragged the struggling girl to the inn and slammed the door behind him. "You, what's your name?" he asked.
The female stared at him for a moment, before answering. "I'm Kastukami," she said, "Kat..." She then tried to struggle out of his grip. "I want to walk without your help, you know."
Goku eventually let her go and blocked off the exit. He could catch her if she tried to run. "You had better give back our things... or I'll make you deal with two pissy monks" he threatened. Even if they didn't care, they both wouldn't like the idea of someone stealing from their group. "And mine is Goku since you'll need to know" he added with his arms crossed.
She stared at Goku, he was blocking her only exit. She had no other choice. "I can't give them back. For one I'm poor, and for two I drank and ate it all." Her head lowered as did her voice. She hated being caught. Which reminded her she still had Gojyo's money, though he didn't know that.
He sighed and gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Damn it... oh well, no use in dragging it out" he said with a warm smile. She was kind of cute and her name was pretty. Plus he felt sorry for her so he would let her go. He moved out the way and pointed outwards. "You can leave if you want... though I would let you stay in my room" he said. "I'm sure that pervert won't be back tonight... hopefully" he said.
Looking up at him, she gave a slight smile. "I'm sorry. But a person has got to survive one way or another. And this is the only way for me. You see my mother and father were both murdered and our house was torched" she explained her head lowering a bit as she did.
She listened to him speak slightly. A warm bed to sleep in? She hadn't had one of those for a long time. "Seriously? Do you mean it?" She said looking back up.
Goku nodded and took her hand gently. "That pervert is probably too busy trying to get a girl so you can have his bed. Besides... I feel sorry for you Katsukami and I want to help you" he replied. He was still a bit upset that she took their things but in the end she did have to survive and if that was her way so be it.
She smiled again. "Thank you. I wish everyone was as nice as you are, Goku" she said.
Gojyo was walking past Goku and the girl and heading on his way out towards the bar. Goku looked back and started to say something about Katsukami staying in the room but instead grinned evilly and yelled to him. "Hey Gojyo!? Are you gonna play doctor with Azumi-chan?" he asked and took Katsukami upstairs quickly before the kappa could seize his chance and kill him.
Katsukami followed after him, he sure did like to bother the other man. If it were her she would have turned around and knocked him a good one. Sighing, she followed after him knowing she would sleep good tonight.
Gojyo stopped and turned around, he didn't see Goku anywhere. He would have to pound him later, stupid monkey.
Goku opened the door for her and looked around the cleaned room. "I see they cleaned up" he said. It actually looked cleaner than when they first got there. "If you promise not to steal anything else of ours, I won't tell the monks about you" he said with a smile. That was a bluff in itself but she didn't know that.
Katsukami looked around the room. It certainly was cleaner than what it looked like earlier. Obviously they had done some cleaning after her big mess she had left for them. Oh well. "I won't steal anything else" she said. She didn't need to. She knew she'd be hunted down if she did.
Goku smiled and went over to his bed taking off his shoes and shirt. "If you want, I can give you something to sleep in. I know you won't be comfortable in that" he said pointing to her tight dress. He then dug around in his bag that had been packed up neatly and pulled out a folded t shirt that was big enough to cover down to her knees. "You'll need this" he said handing it to her.
Katsukami took the t-shirt and looked it over. It was rather large, but she could make it work. She went into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She pulled off the dress then pulled on the t-shirt. Coming back out she had her dress draped over her arm. Walking over to the other bed she sat down.
Goku smiled sweetly at her and plopped down on his own bed. "I'm gonna make sure you get a good night's sleep Katsukami okay? Don't worry about that damn kappa coming in because I'll just make him sleep outside" he said with a grin. He was putting on his best smile, like Hakkai told him to. He was still hurting over Kiora and he didn't really want to be energized at the moment. But he would since he had a guest for tonight.
"Okay." She did not know who this pervert was, probably the male who the condoms belonged to. She shrugged it off, hearing a small voice in her ear. She turned her head slightly coming face to face with a pale black haired woman.
"Tell him" she said.
"No" she whispered. "He'll think I'm a freak. He already dislikes me" she whispered again.
"He won't think anything like that. Just tell him."
The small female waved at the air as if swatting a fly.
Goku blinked and stared at her. "Um... Katsukami... what are you doing?" he asked curiously. He had only seen crazy people do things like that and Sanzo told him to stay away from them. But she couldn't be crazy, she seemed perfectly sane to him. Katsukami blushed slightly.
The dark-haired woman moved over towards his bed and sat down beside him. She reached out a hand to grab his face but her hand simply went through him. "Please, he needs to know I'm still here for him."
Great, now the names were going to come again. She sighed and pointed to the empty space beside him. "How much did you love her?"
Goku titled his head to the side and stared at her. Could she read minds or something? "I don't know who you're talking about..." he said bluntly. If she meant Kiora... he didn't want to talk about it. It always made him sad, it made him stoic. "But I loved her more than anything... " he told her and turned his head away, his golden eyes hidden by his messy hair.
She could tell he didn't want to talk about her but she kept insisting that she tell him. "Well... she wants me to tell you that she's around you. She's sitting right beside you as we speak... Please don't call me a freak." Her face fell slightly. "But I can see her." The dark haired woman held up a thumb as if giving her a thumbs-up.
Goku sighed and looked back over to Katsukami. "Okay...since you can see her..." he said softly. His eyes seemed a bit happier but the sadness was still there. He couldn't even talk to Kiora on his own, which was the irony of it. That was something he really wanted to do himself. "What is she saying now?" he asked.
The dark haired woman began to speak. Katsukami nodded slightly as repositioned her self on the bed, sitting on her knees now. "Well she says she doesn't like it when you're sad. It makes her feel bad. She doesn't care if the smile is fake, she wants to see you smile more."
He turned his head to see nothing but air but waved a hand trying to feel her somehow. "I can't...not knowing I could have saved you. It's my fault you're dead Kiora... and I can't really forgive myself for not doing anything..." he said putting his hand down where he thought her own would be. He couldn't feel nor could he see her, but he sort of felt a presence next to him.
"It was fate." Kiora saw his hand move over her own. It only went through her hand, causing a slight tingly feeling that went through her body. She didn't care, this was as close of contact that she could get with him. "It was fate, she says. You couldn't have done anything, it was the way Kami wanted it."
Goku sighed and wiped away one of his tears that were now streaming down his face. "But Kami always takes things away from me... you didn't have to be one of them Kiora..." he said sniffling. He looked like a little kid now, one who had lost his way somewhere and wanted to get back so much that he would cry for help. "I'm sorry Kiora... and I don't want to smile. You're not here to make it happen..." he stated.
"But I am here silly." This was taking too long. Kiora moved from the bed over towards Katsukami and pushed her way into her body, taking her over. Moving her body she walked over towards him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm always here. It's creepy I know, but I am always watching over you, just like my mother watched over me. Just think I don't hurt anymore. Life doesn't weigh me down; I can lounge around without a care in the world. When you come here you'll understand."
"Get out of my body."
"Can't you see I'm talking to him?"
Both these voices were coming out of Katsukami's mouth.
Goku started to snicker and grabbed Katsukami's face with both hands. "I get it Kiora...I just wanted to hear it from you... and... well... since you can feel and all..." he said nervously. His eyes gleamed and he pushed her by the small of her back towards him and kissed her softly. It was something he never found himself able to do with Kiora in life and something that had been bothering him for the longest.
Kiora was stunned for a moment before she returned the kiss. Fortunately for him she could feel this bit of affection while in Katsukami's body, but she could only do this for so long. It would only be a matter of time before she was pushed from Katsukami's body. Pulling away, she placed a hand on Goku's head and ruffled his hair a bit.
Goku smiled at her and touched her face, as if he was reaching out for her. "I'm still gonna miss ya Kiora... and I promise I'll make that pervert suffer for you" he said happily. He knew she couldn't stay long, even he was not that dense. But he wished she could, even if it was in another girl's body.
"Make sure he suffers real good" she said. Kiora couldn't stay inside Katsukami's body anymore, and was forced out. Katsukami took a deep breath and looked over towards Kiora. "Don't ever do that to me again" she said before looking over to Goku. She hated when people did that to her, it was a total invasion of her personal space.
Goku smiled at Katsukami and wanted to hug her but he controlled himself. "Thanks Katsukami... and Kiora? Could you not watch me in the shower?" he asked teasingly.
Kiora began to laugh; she didn't watch him like that. But it was fun to at least play with him. "But it's so fun to see you naked, Goku." Katsukami looked over towards Kiora. "I'm not repeating that" she said crawling under the covers.
Goku snickered and had an idea of what she said. "You're gonna be as bad as the pervy kappa Kiora...night" he told her and Katsukami. He was tired and... he was going to have a good dream for the first time in almost two weeks. He yawned and got under the covers then reached over for the light. Before he turned it off he looked around the room and smiled happily just knowing that she really was still there.