Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! Get over it. Besides that, though, I'm back for about a day! I'm getting sick of finding new activities and such for my lesson plans final, so I decided to write! I hope you enjoy this new chapter! And I'm thinkin you'll be noticing something changing between our main yaoi couple! :-)

What Dreams May Come

Chapter 7

The enemy appeared out of nowhere; there were five of them, at least. And they weren't the low-class youkai the group was used to. They were just a little stronger, which worried Goku.

This doesn't seem good. There's five that I can see, and they're strong, and I'm weaker and slower with my cubs. How is this going to work out?!

Sanzo glanced over at the saru after blasting a shot at one of the youkai, who managed to dodge it, although just barely. Then he turned to Gojyo. "You're in charge of keeping Goku safe. Hakkai and I will try to keep them off of you guys."

Gojyo wanted to protest, but one look at Goku's worried face and Sanzo's glare, he changed his mind. Jumping down from Jeep, he helped Goku down, before running with him to get a safe distance away. His weapon, the staff with the retractable crescent blade on top, was hanging in his hands.

"Sanzo, this isn't good. We need to get rid of them, fast." Hakkai was serious as he called upon his Chi.

"I know. But make sure that none of them get to Goku." Sanzo commanded, taking another shot. This one killed the first youkai instantly.

Hakkai nodded and shot out the Chi, kiling another. Now there was only...two? Wait, where did the third one go?!

"Goku!"

Hakkai turned his head at Gojyo's shout, and his eyes widened. The third youkai had Goku by his throat, holding him up against a tree; not an easy feat, mind you. Gojyo was pinned to the ground by a sixth youkai they'd somehow missed.

"Sanzo!" Hakkai turned, then flinched as a youkai swiped his arm.

"I saw it. I'll handle these two; go help them." Sanzo killed the youkai in front of him, before turning to take on the youkai Hakkai left.

Goku almost let out a whine as the youkai's claws dug into his neck, but restrained himself in time. He could feel something happening below his stomach, a strange pushing sensation that caused his heart to race. He felt like something was going wrong, really wrong. No! That couldn't happen!

Hakkai blinked as a white light suddenly flashed, temporarily blinding him. When the stars in his vision finally cleared, he found Goku, collapsed on the ground and holding his stomach, alone. The youkai was gone, only black ashes on the ground remaining.

"Goku! Are you okay?" Hakkai asked, rushing foreword.

Goku looked up, and Hakkai noticed what looked like tears running down his cheeks. "Something's wrong, 'Kai! I can feel it! Something's wrong with my cubs!" He whined, his hands, tipped in claws, scratching lightly at his stomach.

Hakkai knelt and removed Goku's hands, leaving them to claw at the ground. He ran his own glowing hands over Goku's stomach, absently healing the marks on his neck. He frowned, quickly turning it into a frown the lower he drew his hands.

"Hakkai? What's going on?" Gojyo asked, having killed his youkai earlier and was currently wiping off his bloody face.

Sanzo also joined them, pocketing his gun as he did so.

"This is bad. Goku, I need you to calm down; take deep breaths, and lean yourself against that tree." Hakkai commanded, his hands glowing brighter as he placed them on the area just above Goku's pelvic area.

"What is it?" Sanzo asked, watching as Goku tried to do as Hakkai commanded, but ended up stopping on account of a rushing pain filled him, and he whined loudly.

"He's going into premature labor. It's not uncommon with twins to only go 36 weeks before going into labor, but it isn't good, either. I'm going to do my best to stop the contractions; you two do what you can to calm him down."

Gojyo grimaced; anything to not have to deal with this. Going over to Jeep, who was waiting patiently for them, he took out a rolled up blanket and some cooling juice, which he carried over to Goku. Sanzo took the blanket and placed it under Goku's back, to help him recline back as he situated the youkai between his spread legs. Goku had always been a clinger, so maybe being in contact with his "sun" would help him.

Goku reclined back instantly into Sanzo's warm embrace, heaving as he tried to slow his racing heart and ignore the pain in his stomach. His claws dug into Sanzo's wrists, but the chosen human didn't so much as flinch as he watched Hakkai working furiously and Gojyo trying to coax Goku into drinking the juice.

Goku frantically shook his head; he couldn't drink anything right now for he'd just throw it back up. That horrible pressure in his lower stomach was intensifying, and more tears coarsed down his tearducts. It was horrible! What was happening?!

Hakkai immediately tightened his own hands on Goku's stomach, glancing up at Goku's pained face. Dammit! Something's blocking my Chi; he has to calm down more! He looked at Sanzo, who nodded.

Sanzo withheld an annoyed sigh, and placed his right hand on Goku's forehead. It used to work to calm the Seiten Tasei; maybe it'd work at calming him down. He felt the warm medal of the newer diadem against his palm, and heated skin with a gentle flush to it. The coolness of his palm did seem to calm Goku, though; he stopped hyperventilating, and relaxed a little beneath Sanzo's touch.

Hakkai exhaled in relief; his Chi was able to get through to the fetus. There he felt the two energies from the babies Goku was carrying; they were restless within his small body, scratching in the amniotic fluid surrounding them. Hakkai did his best to calm them with his Chi even as he checked to make sure no harm came to them. Apparently, Goku's youkai body and youkai energy absorbed any harm, though; they were perfectly fine.

Goku gasped from somewhere above him, relaxing even more. Good; he'd been successful in stopping the contractions. Now to repair the damage the contractions had done, which would be much more painful for Goku. The only good thing to do would be to put Goku to sleep, which he did effortlessly.

Sanzo caught Goku's limp body, and gave Hakkai a weird look.

"It's alright; I just put him to sleep. I have to push the babies back up through the canal they fell into, to make sure he doesn't go into premature labor again. It'll be painful, and him sleeping through it is the best."

Sanzo nodded, saying he understood. Then he looked around. "Where did Gojyo go?" He wondered aloud.

"I felt Dokugakuji's Chi earlier, so he's probably just meeting with his brother. Don't worry about him, worry about Goku."

Sanzo rolled his eyes. "Don't order me around." But he did turn his attention back to Goku.

"I'm surprised you're here this early. Didn't you say you'd come later on, such as at night?" Gojyo wondered, plucking out a cigarette and lighting it up.

"I had a little business west of here, and heard the commotion. What's going on with the kid?" Dokugakuji mused, accepting the cigarette Gojyo handed him. (a/n: If he didn't smoke before, he smokes now.)

Gojyo wondered how much he should tell his brother, but then decided it couldn't hurt to tell him all. After all, they weren't enemies now; they were more like friendly rivals. So he told all, excluding the fact that it was Homura who did it to Goku.

Dokugakuji widened his eyes in surprise; he hadn't expected that story to come out. Then again, Goku had looked really big, lying there on the ground.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Gojyo asked, staring up at the sky.

Doku shrugged. "It's not that important right now. We can talk about it later. But hey. Aren't you guys worrying about protecting the saru, now that he's pretty much useless?" He wondered, already forming a plan in his mind.

Gojyo gave him a strange look. "Yeah, we're worried, but he isn't as useless as you think. I think he's got a weird defense mechanism that his youkai has formed, in life or death situations. Why do you ask?"

Doku smirked. "We could offer you protection, you know. Since Kou's the prince, he has a lot of power."

"What would be the price, though?" There's always a price.

"Kou would consider it helping out a friend in need; of course, I can't speak for him. Yaone would consider it a rarity to study, in a purely medical sense. Me? It gives me a chance to get to know you." Doku replied, still smirking.

Gojyo was going to decline, but then a sound caught his attention. It was a faint whine, and sounded like Goku, in pain. He blanched; he hated this. He hated that assassins had caused this to happen. It was that feeling that caused him to accept Doku's invitation.

"Fine; we accept your offer of protection. Give me about an hour to get them used to the idea, and then you can come for us. Does that work for you?"

Doku nodded. "Perfectly. We'll take you to Kou's palace with some silver dragons; one will be specially equipped for the saru."

Gojyo nodded, and went to rejoin his group. Doku stared after him for a few minutes, before grinning widely.

"This is just what Kou needs to bring him out of the funk he's been in since we finished that huge fight with the Wargod. It's perfect!"

He let out a laugh, before boarding the flying silver dragon he'd ridden over. Now to get Kou to agree to the plan.

"Absolutely not." Sanzo said, deadpan. He finished placing the unconscious Goku in a comfortable position in the back of Jeep, and stepped away, scowling.

"Come on, Sanzo. Do you want to keep have close calls like what happened earlier? Agreeing to this would be the better choice." Gojyo pleaded his case, helping Hakkai fold up the blanket they'd taken out earlier.

Hakkai was silent right now as he watched, climbing in the driver's seat to rest his body a little. He was weary from stopping Goku's body from doing what had seemed natural at the time.

"Oh, yeah? And did he say if Kougaiji knew about this so called plan? Or did he just make it up on the spot?" Sanzo asked, taking a beer out of the cooler laying next to Goku.

"Well, no, but that doesn't mean he'd automatically object! Think about this, Sanzo!"

Sanzo just glared as he popped open the beer and took a long drink. He turned when Hakkai suddenly spoke in a tired voice.

"Perhaps we should let Goku decide on what we should do, hm?" He wondered, watching as Goku's golden eyes wearily opened.

Sanzo growled and turned to the boy in question, while Gojyo smirked.

"What am I deciding?" Goku asked in a hoarse voice as he rubbed his eyes tiredly.

Sanzo was about to speak up, but Gojyo beat him to the punch. He told Goku of the offer Dokugakuji had told him about, and watched as Goku placed his hands around his middle in a comforting and protective gesture. He waited, just a little uncertain of what the saru would do.

Finally, Goku spoke up. "Sorry, Sanzo, but I agree with Gojyo. It's really hard to protect my cubs; my strength, speed, and defense have all dropped do to them. I can't protect them as well as I want to. If Kougaiji is offering to help me protect them, then I want to accept. I don't care what the price would be; I will do anything to help bring them safely into this world." His voice was whisper-soft, as if he were afraid of a reprimend.

Sanzo sighed; well, if that's what he wanted to do then he'd do it, even if he thought it was a trap. Hakkai smiled tiredly, and Gojyo nodded eagerly. All started at a voice from many feet away, suddenly breaking the tense silence that had descended upon them.

"That's good to hear, although I don't really expect much in return for my protection. So, you're agreeing to come with us?"

Goku looked up, and found Kougaiji standing some twenty feet away from Jeep, Doku and Yaone standing slightly behind him. Goku gave a little wave and Gojyo and Hakkai smiled, but Sanzo had his trade-mark smile on his face.

"Yes, I'm agreeing. You say that you can help me keep my cubs safe, within me, until it's time for them to be born?" Goku asked, serious for the moment.

Kougaiji nodded, just as serious. "Yes. As prince of youkai, I command everyone in my domain. I can promise you safety from those in that domain, and with the guards at my disposal, I can help fight any assassins sent your way."

Goku nodded. "And this isn't a trap? You promise you won't try to steal my cubs once they're born, or...or kill them now?" His voice slowly trailed off, and Kougaiji sighed.

"I have no need of your cubs, Goku. They're yours, and yours alone. I'll admit, I have an ulterior motive for welcoming you into my protection, but that has to do with problems I'm having with my own state of mind, not anything to do with you. And besides, I consider us...allies, of a sort, after you helped me during that last big battle."

Goku nodded once more, before his expression became distant. It appeared he was having a conversation with himself, or with Go. Suddenly, he smiled, and tried to get out of Jeep. Gojyo was immediately there to help him.

"Yes; I trust you. Can we leave now, though? I don't wanna run into more of those youkai."

Kougaiji nodded and turned to Yaone, who smiled at Goku and led him over to a fat silver dragon. Inside, Kougaiji was relieved that Goku had accepted his proposal. Very, very relieved. This was just what he needed to dispel that odd wrath that seemed to take him over at weird times of the days.

And we're ending it here once more! Man, is it just me, or was that a really long chapter, compared to the others? I don't know. But anyway! What'd you think? And if you're wondering, yes, it is true that most women can only hold twins for about 34-36 weeks before their body usually forces them into labor. But can you really blame them? Anyway! Please review for me! This is probably the last chapter I'll be writing for a few weeks yet!

Ayame