Warau Kisetsu

by: yumeneko

Author's notes: Treat the J-words in italics as an 'ending song' Hee hee... I have a reputation for using 'ending songs'.

Chapter 13: Komoriuta

(Lullaby)

I hear the sweet music of the past fill my heart, but where it leads me... I don't know...

Looking into the mirror of shattered dreams, seeing the reflection which really isn't me.

This soul is trapped in a sea of memories.

I struggle to be freed, to live my life again...

It was a dream.

The sound of the music box tinkling in the background.

The sound of the wind brushing against the grass on this hill.

I can never recall the lyrics.

Hibiemi sat upon the hill overlooking her town. As she held the cross-shaped pendant in her hands, she felt someone sit beside her.

"Kanan-san..." Hibiemi murmured, "Fate has always manipulated us. I don't even think I should have been alive... After all, everyone hated me. Onii-chan had gotten angry at me a couple of times. Fate only merged me with eight other lives."

"It's not true..." Kanan looked over to the girl who once hosted her soul, "Gono would never get annoyed that easily..."

"You don't understand!" Hibiemi stood up as her eyes flared green, "This is not 500 years ago! Your Gono is now my brother, Hoshizora Hakkai! You don't understand! I know you used to be one of my lives, but hey, I can't believe you are so stubborn! You can never understand! Being alone... People hating you... It's so painful... And you escaped through suicide! What does death feel like?!?"

"It's a dark, cold place... Until Fate pulled me out of the darkness... It was lonely. You gave me a chance to be with Gono again..." Kanan smiled.

Hibiemi fell to the ground, "I'm just a puppet... Fate just manipulates me... Nobody cares! No one understands! I don't even think onii-chan really loves me!" But as tears fell, she felt the grip of Kanan's arms around her.

"You... You remind me so much of Gono... He was hurt when I found him... You've been hiding all these feelings under that smile... You were hiding under Gono's smile." Kanan whispered, "Can you hear that in the distance? The music box? Someone cared. If no one cares, I'll be here... By your side... Fate manipulated us again. When you killed your first life, it wasn't me you killed."

"No wonder you stayed to haunt me..." Hibiemi murmured, "I understand..."

Kono sekai ga bakudai... (This world is vast...)

Boku ga koko ni matteru (I'm here waiting.)

Tatoe kaze wa tsurai mo... (Even if the winds hurt...)

Kimi wo dakishimete (I embrace you.)

Hakkai parked Hakuryuu at the base of the hill far away from the town.

"Do you remember those vivid days?" Hakkai asked his two companions.

"Aa... We were always looking up into that star-studded sky..." Gojyo closed his eyes as he remembered.

"That was so long ago..." Sanzo said as he laid on the grass. The stars were bright that night.

"The stars were so wonderful back in those days..." Hakkai murmured as he watched the skies and took Sanzo's hand in his.

Nishi e ryokou shite, issho ni taizai shimashou (As we travel to the west, let's stay together)

Boku ga kimi no soba ni yotte iru... (I'll be by your side...)

Tatoe kisetsu ga kawaru mo, (Even if the seasons change,)

Boku ga koko ni iru. (I'll be here...)

Kimi ni totte warau koto, eien ni... (To smile for you, forever...)

Goku looked over the sleeping Lirin. He didn't expect that she would be sleeping after eating so much. And to top it off, she looked quite cute... He smiled as Lirin buried her head into the pillows.

"Ja... I'll see you tomorrow, Lirin-chan..." Goku smiled as he left for his home.

Jien watched the maple leaves fall as he walked along the moonlit road.

"Oi! Jien!" Kougaiji waved from a distance.

Jien smiled broadly as he ran towards his friend.

Kono sekai ga kooru (This world freezes...)

Hitobito wa me ni mienai... (People are invisible.)

Tooku, kimi wo miru (I see you in the distance)

Hikari no naka ni. (Inside the light...)

Hibiemi continued to walk alone as people passed by. She shivered as the autumn breeze blowed past. But looking over to a small moonlit place, she thought she saw someone smile at her...

"It's all just an illusion..." She murmured and continued her melancholy walk.

Nishi e ryokou shite, issho ni taizai shimashou (As we travel to the west, let's stay together)

Boku ga kimi no soba ni yotte iru... (I'll be by your side...)

Tatoe ame ga kimi no kata ni ochiru mo, (Even if rain falls upon your shoulder,)

Boku ga koko ni iru. (I'll be here.)

Kimi ni totte warau koto, eien ni... (To smile for you, forever.)

Snow fell as the four Sanzo-ikkou traveled towards the chapel where Kougaiji and Yaone were going to marry. As Hakkai walked up the stairs, he looked over to Sanzo and held out his hand.

"You'd like to watch this, ne, Kouryuu?" Hakkai smiled at him.

"Sou..." Sanzo smiled as he took Hakkai's hand.

Nee... Ashita wa tooi na... (Hey, tomorrow is far?)

Nee... Yoru wa fushigi na... (Hey, The night is strange?)

Nee... Ano migoto yume, boku wa miru... (Hey, that wonderful dream, I see it…)

Kanarazu inori wa todokete ne... (Without fail, this prayer will reach you, right?)

After the ceremony, Sanzo looked around, Hakkai wasn't there. Instead, he heard the lullaby Komyo used to sing to him coming from outside where the cherry trees were frosted with snow...

Mirai e ryokou shite, issho ni taizai shimashou (As we travel to the future, let's stay together)

Boku ga kimi no soba ne yotte iru...(I'll be by your side...)

Tatoe kisetsu ga kawaru mo, (Even if the seasons change,)

Boku ga koko ni iru. (I'll be here...)

Kimi ni totte warau koto, eien ni... (To smile for you, forever...)

Sanzo hoped it was Komyo who was singing, but instead, he found Hakkai with the music box in hand.

"You remembered... You remembered the words..." Tears of joy sprang up in Sanzo's eyes. Hakkai smiled as he sang the final verses, holding Sanzo close to him...

Tatoe ame ga kimi no kata ni ochiru mo, (Even if rain falls upon your shoulder,)

Boku ga koko ni iru. (I'll be here.)

Kimi wo totte aisuru koto, eien ni... (To love you, forever.)

Owari…

Author's notes: Kyaaaaaaa! Finally! I have finished my Saiyuki masterpiece!! Bwahahahahaha!!! I'm so happy~!!!!! I'll be happy to receive more reviews! sniff, sniff I'm soooo happy… cries but I'm not really sure if this is my best work yet… Although "Get A Cold, Get A Life" was a one-shot, the writing style there was one of the best kinds yet, integrating the average Saiyuki episode style with a vivid "Thought Reader" style. Wai! I wuv Sanzo + Hakkai!