Author: babyg @ babygxpress

Foreword: Before I lose this very enlightening information, let me just put it down here. Thanks to the episode I just watched, 'Missing Desire'. There was a part where Sanzo dropped to the floor, Goku in his arms. His expression there was priceless. He, for the first time (as I ever seen) showed a really, really kind expression. So, he's just rough and tough on the surface, but he's really good inside!

Note: Destiny only tells her real name, Miramei, to very special people. In the last chapter she told Sanzo that he calls her Miramei when he was Konzen. I will refer to her as Destiny, unless it is Sanzo or some other talking to her or something.

Chapter 19: Natsumi's Awakening

Akuma/Kougaiji stopped in front of the mirror. He cackled evilly and loudly which sent birds flying out of the forest.

"You are mine now, my darling."

Just as he stooped down to pick the mirror, a huge green jeep suddenly burst out from the trees, practically flying above him. Kougaiji looked up and hesitated, thinking whether to take the mirror and be crushed, or save himself and lose the mirror. Just as the jeep was about to drop down, he leaped away in a flash. Better save myself first. I'll get that mirror soon enough.

Destiny leaned from the jeep and relievedly picked up her mirror. Akuma, who saw what was happening, roared in anger. She's back! He sent fireballs flying towards them. Hakkai used his 'ki as a shield while Sanzo shot at him. Goku was about to jump out to fight, when Destiny laid a hand on him. He turned to look at her, as she shook her head.

"But.....!"

"You'll only get yourself killed. I have a better idea."

She placed her two hands together in a praying motion, and chanted. An orb of light appeared between the space of her hands, growing larger and larger. As soon as the orb grew as large as a beach ball (which is pretty large), she flung it at him with lightning speed.

Akuma saw what was coming, and quickly put up a shield. The impact was amazing as Akuma slid backwards a few steps from the immense power of the orb. Finally, the orb exploded and thick white smoke appeared, making it impossible to see anything outside the shield.

"Kusooo." It took all his strength to shield himself, he couldn't fire anything until the impact lessened. Finally, it did. He quickly swept away the huge billows of smoke. And found himself surrounded by the silence of the forest, and the afterimpact of the orb.

"BAKA YAROOO! She tricked me! Jikushooo!" He cursed loudly. Even Homura and Ai were gone.

"Master, are you okay?" A worried voice of the crow came at him. He saw then, his crow flying at him through the smoke which hadn't been cleared fully.

"Aa-ah. Of course. Miramei's power is as immense and almost bottomless, as she was the last time I saw her. She is really worth this trip. I can't wait to see her again." He smiled evilly up at the sky and shouted, " Miramei! I know you can hear me! I'll be coming for you! You won't get away from me!" His booming voice echoed for miles around and even up in Heaven there was a slight tremor.

And so of course, his echoes could reach where the green jeep was. The jeep was flying up, halfway through the sky, heading for Destiny's 'home'. She had created some kind of energy shield so that no one in Heaven could sense her presence. She didn't want Kami-sama to know about her released from the seal.

The jeep was pretty full, what with the extra additions. Homura, who was still unconscious, was lying between Gojou and Goku, who were both complaining loudly. Miramei sat at the very end of the jeep. Sanzo was forced to carry Ai, as Hakkai had to drive.

He looked down at her. Although Miramei told me I'd loved her before, I don't feel it. Ie, not anymore. That was the past. He brushed some of Ai's bangs away from her face as he stared at her tenderly. And this, is my unattainable future.

Even though she couldn't see his face, she could feel his love for Ai. She was Destiny, after all.

The jeep landed roughly on solid ground. The conscious occupants of the jeep looked around in awe at the place. What was the dark hallway which Ai and Homura had gone through, were all now beautiful pure white, chandeliers hanging everywhere. Yes, when Destiny was awakened, the place had changed its image. Everyone felt a sense of peace that they could not sense before on Earth.

Destiny jumped down and approached a huge pair of doors. Just as she came, the doors opened by themselves, as if welcoming her. She beckoned the others inside. After hauling Homura with great difficulty inside, Goku and Gojou dropped him like a hot potato and started exploring around the vast room. Sanzo walked in, carrying Ai by himself, followed by Hakkai.

Destiny first went to Ai, after glancing briefly at Sanzo whose face had turned expressionless. She placed something under Ai's nose.

Ai regained her consciousness, coughing.

" What the hell stinks in here!" She exclaimed sitting upright, coming face to face with Destiny. Destiny smiled.

"Destiny! Its good to see you." Suddenly she remembered. "No! Dsetiny, Homura! He's been knocked unconscious! And Natsumi!!! Akuma....he...."

"Shhhh. Everything's all right."

" Yeah, don't make such a loud noise around here."

Ai turned and saw Sanzo. Eyes brimming with tears of delight, she flung herself at him. Sanzo looked surprised and taken aback. Destiny got up, still smiling, but her hands were clenching tightly at the thing she used to wake Ai, went to Homura to wake him.

"Hoi. Don't touch me like that." Sanzo finally said, pushing her away. Ai, already used to him, remembered Homura again, and rushed to where Destiny was. Homura was just about to wake up.

Finally, Destiny got up and headed over to a wall in the room, pressed something, and a crystal ball shot out into her hands.

"Ai, I am ready to fulfil your wish."

Ai rubbed her tears away, and nodded grimly.

"Now, please kneel in front of the mirror. As soon, as I finished chanting, you will enter the dark place where Natsumi is. You will have to convince her to leave that place. And its not as easy as you think. One word of caution; everything that is in there are all floating dreams. Do not let yourself be caught in one, or there'll be no way back for even I have no power over dreams."

"I understand." Ai knelt down and shut her eyes.

She felt the ground sway beneath her as she heard Ai's melodious voice chanting through the darkness. The tremors grew stronger and stronger until suddenly, and abruptly it stopped. Everything seemed to have stopped. There was complete silence. She opened her eyes warily.

She came face to face with Homura. At first, she held out her hands happily, thinking that Homura had come with her, but just as he was about to take her hands, she suddenly remembered Destiny's words and pulled away. That Homura slowly dissolved in front of her into darkness.

That was scary. She sure wasn't kidding. Ai walked cautiously, picking her way through the darkness. All the way, her past dreams kept coming , haunting her, but she managed to pull through, only barely.

Finally she spotted a faint pink light. Remembering that Natsumi's body had emitted a pink light, she hurried towards it. Suddenly an image of Kami-sama looking very angry appeared in front of her. She stepped back, surprised. He let out his thunder shot, which striked her and she was pushed several feet away. She stared in total surprise. This dream can actually hurt me?

Kami-sama kept coming, kept showing the angry look that he always did when Ai had seemingly done something wrong, the look that terrified her. She couldn't fight back. As each attack burned searingly through her, she thought, No... I can't fight him...what am I going to do?

"Fight him back. Fight him back, Ai. You can do it. Its all in the way you think."

Ai woke up with a jolt. Destiny? She looked around but saw no one except Kami-sama. She finally gathered up her courage, and with all her might fought him back. Finally the image dissolved. She breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't think I was that strong to be able to do that. She's right. It's all in the way you think.

She reached where Natsumi was, curled up in a ball. She tried calling loudly; but Natsumi didn't budge an inch. She tried recalling every past happy memory she could remember with Natsumi; of course she couldn't forget any. But there was still nothing. Ai nearly gave up with despair.

Suddenly, she thought she heard Natsumi calling to her. Faintly. She strained to listen.

Natsumi:
Dancing feet, Happy days,
Things I almost remember
Loving words, Someone sings
Once upon a December

Ai listened with surprise. She thought of a phrase.

Ai:
Far away, long ago
Though you dimly remember
Things your heart, used to know
Once upon a December

Faintly, but tinged with hope, an answer came.

Natsumi:
Someone holds me safe and warm,
Happy voices here they come,
Figures dancing gracefully,
Across my memories

Ai nearly cried with relief! She was remembering!

Both:
Far away, long ago
Though I (you) dimly remember
Things my heart (Things your heart),
used to know
Things that yearn to remember


Natsumi:
End of song, someone sings
Once upon a December

Ai:
Soon you'll be, home with me
Once upon a December

Just as she sang the last notes, Ai felt the ground trembling again. She gasped; but not for long. Natsumi was slowly uncurling herself. Finally she stood upright, with a very confused expression on her face. Ai rushed over to her. Natsumi's face slowly changed into pleasure, and happiness.

The ground gave a final tremor, and everything dissolved into nothingness.

"Do you think she'll be okay?"

"Don't worry, she's fine. Just a little exhausted."

The voices sounded far, but near. Familiar too.

Ai suddenly sat upright. Homura, noticing the sudden movement, went to her, obvious joy and relief on his beautiful features.

They hugged each other for what seemed like eternity before Homura finally pulled her gently away, and stared deeply into her eyes.

"You scared me. So much. Don't do that ever again."

Ai smiled. "I won't. Where's Natsumi?"

"Outside. Want to go see her?"

"Mochiron!"

They walked out together, Ai leaning against Homura for support. He felt warm, and nice. As they walked through the hallways, Ai oohed and aahed at what she ddin't see before. Finally, they seemed to reach a courtyard. Happy voices and tinkling laughter came from it. They reached the table where everyone were.

"Natsumi! You're safe!"

A petite, brown haired girl with extremely fair skin, someone whom all of us has missed, got up from the table and enveloped Ai in a bear hug.

"Onee-sama! I missed you! SOOOOoooo much!"

"Me too!!!"

And both of them did a silly hand dance with each other.

"Do you know, when this little mite arrived, she was just like a baby? And totally naked too!"

Ai giggled. Natsumi, bright red in the face, shot back at Gojou.

" At least I wasn't the one who nearly fainted out of fright when we landed on you!"

Both of them stuck out their tongues at each other.

"But, Gojou did a great job of helping you, and dressing you and......." Hakkai's voice trailed away as he noticed the other two were staring with murderous looks and steam shooting out of their ears at him.

"Nee, Hakkai, Gojou really did handled her like a baby, didn't he?" Goku said, smiling brightly as he ate. Suddenly, realizing what he said, jumped off the chair and ran just as the other two went after him.

"Matte, bakazaru!!!"

"Yaikkes!! I didn't say anything wrong!"

Sanzo ch'ed, and leaned back in his chair. "What a bunch of kids."

"Don't act so matured before your time, Konzen." Destiny laid down a tray of food, as she beckoned the newcomers to sit down.

"I like being matured. At least I can for myself."

Destiny smiled slightly, and hung around Sanzo's chair, as if wanting to say something but not in front of other people. At first, Sanzo ignored it and continued drinking his tea, but she was so annoying that he finally set down his cup with a loud paak. He pushed his chair away and walked resolutely away.

"Matte yo, Genjo. Doko e iku?" Ai called after him.

" Betsu ni." He disappeared behind some pillars.

Destiny gave everyone a victory sign and skipped after him.

Sanzo's steps echoed in the largely empty room. He stopped.

"What do you want?"

Destiny stopped behind him.

"Let me get straight to the point. Akuma is very strong, and I think he is impossible to defeat if you and your friends were to meet up with him now. I have decided, I shall restore back your previous' lives, together with your powers. That way....."

Sanzo interrupted her. "Who are you decide for us? Don't underestimate us. Anyway, Akuma has nothing to do with us. We'll mind only our own business."

"Don't be too sure. He will find you, to find me, now that he knows about all of you, through that youkai's memories."

"Kougaiji....ka."

"Yea. Also, that's where the problem arises."

"What problem?"

"Natsumi will surely want to meet with him. And Akuma, will surely be able to sweet talk her into doing anything, into believing him. He is the greatest sadist known. Also, as it is, youkai and Kami can't get with each other. More so, the Princess of Heaven and the Prince of Darkness. Chaos will surely be aroused if they were to get together."

"......... What do you want me to do?"

"Take care that those two may not meet. Or...... if Akuma were to have got her, do your best not let her get swayed by him."

"I'm not a babysitter."

"But you are Konzen. Sanzo. You have to do this."

Suddenly Destiny keeled over, coughing terribly. Blood sputtered out and some of it landed on Sanzo's robe. Sanzo turned to look at her, still unwilling to go to her.

"What's wrong with you?"

"..... my power.... is weakening. I have not used so much of power before.... First to stop Akuma.... and now to awaken Natsumi.....*cough* *COUGH COUGH*."

"What place was Natsumi in?"

"...... *COUGH* A very dangerous one.... she and Ai... lucky ..... to come out...alive..."

Destiny tried to stand up, but couldn't. She reached out for Sanzo's robe instead, pulling him hard until he was forced to bend down.

"Konzen. Whether you like it or not, this is trusted to you. I will grant you your powers. But now... I can't stand it much longer, I must go back to my rest. The seal hindering me. Lead the others far away from here now, for I am defenseless while meditating. I will need several more days to break myself free of this seal. I know its a hard task, Konzen....."

"Who said anything about tough? Forget this. I'm going off now."

"*cough* Thank you..... Konzen." She held up her arms, and a trail of shiny dust blew from her fingertips, around Sanzo.

At first he felt light headed, then he felt himself changing. His body suddenly grew much stronger, he felt the weakness melt away. His hair grew longer, longer and then his clothes melted away to reveal his original purple robe inside. The dust, having done their job, danced in the wind to the others outside.

Konzen looked at himself, too absorbed to notice that Destiny was slowly fading. Suddenly her coughs made him look up, and he saw her. She smiled faintly.

"Can you stop this world from falling apart? Konzen.... until you realize..... then I shall awaken again.... till then.... sayonara."

"Realize what??" He shouted but it was too late. She had faded away, leaving nothing but.... her sword which she carried all the while didn't fade. Instead, rather solid, it dropped to the floor. He walked over and picked it up gingerly. Is this for me?

He walked out and found the courtyard in a mess. Kenren kept exclaiming "Kakkoi na, anta wa! " to himself, Goku minus the shackles was staring at himself rather bewilderedly. Tenpo... erm.... looked rather Hakkaish..... (what's there to say?!)

Everyone turned to look at him. He looked at each and everyone of them in turn.

Tenpo, the tactician and genius, Kenren the brash but brave ex-Taisho, Goku, the monkey, Ai and Natsumi, in their goddess forms now,..... and Homura. They were his companions now.... ie, his new servants. They were given a new job now, one much more dangerous than their journey. To stop Akuma. Save the world? What crap.

"IKU ZO." He walked off the edge of the courtyard, stepping on the clouds, off to Down there.

babyg: *Yawwwnnn* This took me so long to finish! I'm so sleepy.... Not much to talk about this time, just that Sanzo ikkou are going to be referred as the Konzen ikkou from now on. Actually I liked Sanzo's personality a lot.... maybe I'll bring his personality back again. But probably as Konzen now, he'll be much more childish. Hehehhh..... more pranks await in the next chapter!...... *Yawnnnnnn*