Author: Camry Maxwell
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Son Goku and Genjo Sanzo (main)
Disclaimers: Gensomaden Saiyuki characters and setting don't belong to me. ^_^
Journey To His Heart
Chapter Seven: Cherishing A Moment
"SANZO!!! GOKU!!!!"
The pair woke up from their slumber and watched with amused eyes as Gojyo and Hakkai burst into their room, wearing nothing but a sheet around their body. Sanzo knew that there was some sort of attraction between the two from the moment they met, so he wasn't too surprised with the picture they presented. Goku, however, looked like he was swimming in the ocean like a fish, his mouth opening and closing while his eyes widened to the size of plate saucers. Seeing that his lover was in no condition to speak, Sanzo took the responsibility unto himself and asked with a cool look, "What the hell do you guys want? We're trying to get some sleep here."
Gojyo was currently blushing like nuts when he noticed that Goku and Sanzo were naked underneath the sheet covering their bodies, so he couldn't say anything. Hakkai, however, shouted, "It's GYUMAOU! He's back!"
Sanzo stood up straight at that, his arms around Goku tightening their hold. "What?"
Hakkai came closer. "The manager of the inn told us, which is why we are in this - uh - state, at the moment. We warned him not to burst in on you guys, knowing that you'd most likely be in the same situation we were in-"
"That aside, Hakkai." Sanzo interrupted. "Where's Gyumaou right now?"
Hakkai looked like he was ready to faint as he answered, "Coming straight at us."
Sanzo cursed angrily under his breath, his hold on Goku loosening. Goku's head plopped down on Sanzo's warm chest and he stayed there, his mind still in the foggy state. He closed his eyes as Sanzo continued to speak to Hakkai, gathering all the information that was available, when Goku heard someone whisper,
"Son Goku..."
Surprised, he opened his eyes and stared in shock at the angel in front of him. She was right beside Sanzo, but it was as if Sanzo couldn't see her. None of his companions could. Goku didn't move from his position, his body too tired and his mind too dazed.
The angel came forward and touched Goku's cheek, a tear making its way down her cheek. She shook her head and thought mentally into his head, I'm so sorry...I wanted to make you understand, but my time is up...
What are you saying? Goku thought back.
Looking as if the girl wanted to cry even more at his reply, Goku felt his heart go out to her. She was suffering, but he didn't know what she was suffering from. Then, right in front of his eyes, the girl changed. There was no other way to describe it. Her face matured, her body grew, her hair color changed, and before Goku knew it, an entirely different woman stood in front of him. She had shiny black hair, pale skin, a white garment on...and amethyst eyes. Suddenly, Goku recognized her. How could he not? She was the one who almost killed Sanzo. She was present in the dungeon in his past...
Kanzeon Bosatsu.
He gaped at her. Kanzeon seemed to know the reason for his shock, but didn't smirk. Instead, tears fell form her eyes as she whispered, "Yes. It was I all along. I have been sending you those images of me and the orb, but believe me, if only Nataku wasn't watching my every move, I could have explained it more clearly-"
"Nataku?" Goku stared at the Goddess. Then, he said, "You're against Nataku? But in the past, when Konzen and the rest were about to be executed, you were with him."
Kanzeon was momentarily shocked, "How'd you know? How'd you know that?"
"I saw my past. Rather, I lived a small part of it for a while."
"How?! How'd you see the past?"
She looked really confused. Goku sighed, knowing that he should make her pay by almost killing Sanzo, but he couldn't. "When I slept this afternoon."
"Slept..." She stared at nothing for a while, then looked back at Goku, her face masked with doubt. "That can't be."
Goku was insulted. "You think I'm lying?"
"No, no...It's just..." Annoyed, he ran her hand through her hair and said softly, "Nataku is the only one in Heaven who has the power to send the past to a person such as yourself this easily."
Goku shrugged. "So what if Nataku sent it to me? I owe my life to him, don't I?"
Kanzeon looked shocked. "OWE?!"
Goku was confused again at her expression. It was as if he was in the presence of a deranged being. He continued cautiously. "I'm saying that in the past, I turned him down. His love, that is. He lost hope in everything, but in the end, he still managed to save me from being killed by suggesting to God that he just erase my memories. I owe him my life. He tried so hard to save Konzen and the rest, but in the end-"
"SHUT UP!!"
Goku shrank back, noticing that Kanzeon's eyes were burning with so much hate that her aura was flowing out of her body.
She seethed with rage as she grounded out, "True, I sided with Nataku at the start, but when I overheard his father talking to his companion about how his son acted so well that he gained my trust, I was enraged. I tried to stop the killing, but they locked me up and didn't release me for a month and a half. I couldn't save him...I couldn't save my own nephew. Then, when I heard that you were sent back to Earth with your memories erased, I knew exactly what Nataku's intentions were." She pointed a finger at Goku. "He wanted-"
But she didn't get to continue. Her entire body was suddenly engulfed with fire that Goku jumped back in surprise. She screamed in agony, each sound sending cold streaks up Goku's spine. He wanted to save her, but when he tried to get close, the fire strengthened, making Kanzeon scream more. Goku fell back. Kanzeon held her body together, fighting against the pain, as she shouted to Goku, "Don't be fooled by Nataku! That's why I had to hurt Sanzo before. It was to make your emotions come out, otherwise-ah!" Tears were streaming down her face as the fire strengthened. "You would die again..." Then, before Goku could say anything, Kanzeon disappeared.
Goku breathed in and out rapidly, his heart ramming against his rib cage as he looked at where the Goddess once stood. Then, when he came to, he saw that all 3 of his companions were staring at him in an odd manner. Feeling drained, he asked tiredly, "What?"
Gojyo swallowed. "Goku...omae..."
"Nani?"
"You were...glowing." Hakkai finished.
"So?" Goku didn't get it. So what if he was glowing a while ago? He looked up at Sanzo. "What's wrong with that, Sanzo?"
Sanzo looked disturbed, but nonetheless, he answered. "Goku...when someone glows the way you just did when you fazed out..."
"Yeah?"
Sanzo blinked. "You have to be a God to emit that much power."
Goku nodded. "And I am one. So?"
Silence.
Then,
"NANI?!" Hakkai and Gojyo shouted as Sanzo stood stunned.
Goku sighed as he repeated, "I am a God."
Silence again.
Then, Sanzo came forward to grasp his arms. Goku looked up at the blonde, wondering what was wrong if he was a God. Sanzo stared at him and asked, "What do you mean by that, Goku?"
Goku shrugged. "When I was asleep, I saw my past. Actually, I lived it...And I realized that I was in Heaven, together with the other great Gods. I mean...doesn't that make me one too?"
Sanzo looked confused.
Hakkai looked as if he wanted to ask more questions, but gasped instead when he looked outside. "Minna! Look!" They all turned and felt their eyes bulge out of their eyes at the sight of fire and a huge monster with blood-red eyes making its way towards them, the screams of the villagers echoing throughout the area. Gyumaou stopped for a while, looked at the left side of the area, and in a blink, the area blew up, destroying everyone and everything within the vicinity. Hakkai swallowed. "Oh my God..."
Sanzo shook his head and shouted, "Get dressed! We'll talk about this later!"
Everyone agreed and started changing. When they were all ready, Hakuryu shot off Hakkai's shoulder and transformed into a jeep. Everyone jumped in the vehicle and rode off towards Gyumaou, their hearts beating fast. True, all of them had wished that the day they would face Gyumaou would come at last, but now...Just by looking at how strong and powerful the demon was, they couldn't help but feel...scared. Especially Goku. He had just told Sanzo that he had loved the blonde and he didn't want to die just yet. He wanted to spend more time with the monk...
Sanzo, seeming to feel how tense Goku was, turned in his seat to give Goku the most mind-blowing kiss they've ever shared. When they drew back, Sanzo said possessively, "Don't you dare die on me."
Goku smiled, tears pricking his eyes. "Hai!"
Gojyo weaved his arms around Hakkai and gave the green-eyed man a loving kiss as he murmured against his lips. "I love you, so don't give up."
Hakkai kissed Gojyo back and murmured, "You do the same."
Goku smiled. Everyone...everyone had love in their hearts and mind. At first, he thought that if he were to witness something like this, he'd be coughing like nuts or making gross sounds. He wasn't much of a cheesy person, more so, he wasn't one who thought of love so much, but now...He smiled and looped his arms around Sanzo's neck. When Sanzo gave him a chaste kiss he smiled even more. He wished that this moment would stand still. A moment where everyone was cherishing the love they had for one another and saying the truth to each other. It was a rare and beautiful moment...
But the moment couldn't last. They all knew that. They all looked up at the enemy they were going to fight, stopped a few kilometers away from the monster and got off Hakuryu, their weapons poised and their body taut. They all had serious expressions on their faces, but none of them moved. They remain silent.
Finally, Sanzo looked at all of them, his eyes lingering on Goku, as he said, "Let's go."
"Aa." Everyone answered.
Sanzo took a few steps forward, stopped, then addressed them again. "Remember the time I told Rikudo that I didn't consider any of you as my friends?"
Goku cocked his head to one side. Hakkai blinked. Gojyo arched an eyebrow
Sanzo grinned softly and tossed over his shoulder, "I lied."
Goku's face lit up as he hugged Sanzo around the waist, laughing happily on the blonde's chest. Hakkai smiled that smile of his as Gojyo shook his head. "He just had to say that, didn't he? Geez, it's like a drama line or something."
Sanzo snorted. "Urusai."
Hakkai smiled and looped his arm around Gojyo. "Hey, it was a sweet drama line."
Sanzo narrowed his eyes at Hakkai. "I'll kill you."
Goku laughed and commented for everyone to hear, "Demo, drama line or not, I still thought that it was way cool."
Sanzo looked down at Goku with a warm smile. Hakkai scratched his cheek with his finger as Gojyo burst out laughing. He moved closer to the other pair and ruffled Goku's hair playfully. "Kono yaro! You sure know how to make a serious situation disappear with your silly comments!"
"Nani?! They aren't silly!"
"Oh? And what are they? Cheesy?"
"You're the one who's cheesy! Hah! Saying stuff to Hakkai like, 'Oh! Don't die on me, baby!' Hahahahahaha!!!"
"Urusai, baka saru!"
"Nandato, kono ero kappa!"
"You annoying brat!"
"You're the one that's annoying!"
"No!"
"Yes!
"No!"
"Yes!
"NO!"
"YES!"
"URUSAI!!!!!" WHACK! WHACK!
"Ite~ Nanitsu na yo?!"
"Yosh..."
"'Yosh', ja ne!"
Hakkai smiled and kissed Gojyo's bump as he watched the pair in front of them argue. "Ah~ Just like the happy times."
Gojyo rubbed his wound, winced in pain, but smiled afterwards. "Yeah, well...we don't know when we'll be able to enjoy another moment such as this, so we should cherish it."
Hakkai smiled and nodded. "Sou desu." Hakkai looked at Gyumaou, saw that the others were doing the same, and murmured, "But now, I think it's time to face the music." And he was certain everyone agreed with him. Gyumaou had it's red eyes locked on them and solely them, his breathing irregular and his mouth foaming. The Sanzo-ikkou knew that they were in for a battle that may very well decide their fate and the fate of the world...But they weren't that scared.
Because, at that very moment, they all had faith in their hearts.
TBC
Camry: Ah! Done! ^_^ You like? If you do, please REVIEW! Ummm...I have some good news and bad news. The bad news is that this is the second to the last chapter. (Awwww...) The good news is that the last chapter will be out tomorrow - I think - and it will be longer than all the others combined, maybe 2 or 3 chapters crammed into one. ^_^ Sorry that I had to end this story early, but I have to go back to school this Monday, and I need to be focused on my studies...so there! ^_^ Thanks for all those who reviewed! I love ya guys!