19 January 2003

Disclaimer applies to everything.  End of story.

Chapter 9 Victory? Defeat?

Author's note: The story's coming to an end for the first part – I planned the story in two parts, so… it's not really the end! ^-^ Thanx a lot for all you reviewers… it's nice to see one's writing commented on, so I can improve my next one!

            Sarra was about to break Mara's backbone when she heard a screech, and heard Goku yell.  She turned around, and in the space of a few milliseconds, Mara pushed her away and disappeared. 

            "Get – of – me – you – youkai!" Snarled Sanzo to something that was latched onto his back – Kikuri!  "Think you've gotten rid of me, huh? Well, I'll take this!" He grabbed Sanzo's Evil Sutra and jumped high into the air, laughing madly.  "Nyoi-Bou! Grow!" Goku commanded, but Kikuri was too high – too safe, at least that's what he thinks.  "Black Blizzard!" Sarra cried and there was a roar, and Kikuri plummeted to earth, shrieking horribly.  Before he hit the ground, several of Sanzo's bullets slammed into his body, killing him instantly.  Gojyo pushed the corpse with his foot at Sanzo retrieved his Sutra.  "Pretty compassionate of you." Gojyo chuckled.  Goku was massaging his stomach.  His hunger was too much…

            "Ku!" Sarra stumbled, and fell.  Exhaustion overcame her as she felt someone pick her up, and the last thing she saw was Sanzo's face over hers.

            Moshuyume hesitated.  "Don't trick me."

            "I think you've been tricked all this while…" Ryudell sneered.  She was too tired to get up – was this going to be it? No… Nigaki said she must not die… she cannot die… A Guardian must honour her duty!

            "This is the end then…" Moshuyume held up her arms and a howling wind gathered around her – Ryudell winced.  "What good is it even if you kill me? Do you think Lord Mara is still alive?"

            "Alive or dead, I must fulfill my duty! Die!"

            "And I mine…" Ryudell grit her teeth and with the last vestige of strength she possessed, summoned the Teleportation Portal.  Banish her – Dunes of Despair! She picked a random destination and with a sweep of her arms, heard Moshuyume scream, and dissolve into nothingness.  The effort proved too much, and she passed out from pain.

            "How is she?"

            "Maa, maa, Sanzo, don't threaten me with the gun… she's fine."

            There was a patter of footsteps, and then…

            Silence.  Sarra slowly tried to focus her swimming concentration.  She was – lying down.  And… "Ah!!!"

            Hakkai spun around in shock.  Sanzo wasn't in sight.  "Sarra!"

            Sarra clutched her blankets close to her chest.  She was wearing her dress robes – where the heck did her leather go? "I – um…"

            "Oh," Hakkai saw her stumbling for words.  "Is it your clothes? Don't worry," He laughed at the scandalized look on her face.  "My, my, I'm being threatened twice in the same evening.  Ryudell came and dressed your wounds.  And I washed your clothes." He indicated to a pile of neatly folded clothes on the table.  Sarra blinked.  "You washed?"

            "The Citadel is under extensive repair," Hakkai smiled.  "The four of us are staying at, ah, Nigaki's house." He said, rather uncomfortably.  "As I understand, Ryudell is the highest ranking Guardian right now… she has sent those who are still alive back to their homes… and buried those who have died." He adjusted his monocle.  "Goku and Gojyo are helping her," he added brightly.  "Here, eat something.  You've been out for three days." He set down a bowl of something hot in the bedside table.  Sarra peered at it, uncertain.  "I've been out… three days?"

            "A full three days," Hakkai beamed.  "Not to worry, I've closed your injuries – no peeking, of course," He said hastily.  He suddenly chuckled.  "Even if I tried, Sanzo would have fed me some bullets."

            Sarra almost smiled when a thought struck her.  "Ryudell is safe?"

            Hakkai nodded.  "Then…" Sarra stared in confusion, "Why are you still…"

            "…Here?" Hakkai helped.  "Well…" Hakkai smiled suddenly.  "Goku kind of likes the food here, besides, Ryudell said she could transport us in time as well, so we could stay here as long as we wished.  And, she needs to recover her traces, which could take a little time…"

            Sarra bit her lip, nodding. 

            "But of course, you would know who won't let us go…"

            Sarra started. She watched Hakkai leave the room, and she cautiously left the bed and outside. 

            The evening air caressed her skin like a blessing.  The sun was glowing golden-red, and without thinking, Sarra found herself walking to the waterfalls.  It was a welcoming sight to see the majestic waterfall crashing into the pool, and gaze right through the crystal waters into the bottom of the lake.  She walked right over to the edge of the pool and only then did she realize that she was barefooted, and only then because the sharp pebbles cut into her foot.  "Ouch…" She sat at the edge and dipped her foot in, cooling the sting.  Darn it… she would have to be careful when she goes back…

            As she stared at her reflection in the water, she wondered how much the past week had changed her – the scars on her body were gone, but…

            A week ago, she thought she had her life planned out to the very end.  Duties, responsibilities… and then came 'them'.  And since then, life turned topsy-turvy.  Not only had her powers changed, but… inside, she knew she had become different.  Why? She wondered.  She had led a perfectly solitary life… and worse, why did she have to fall for… him?

            Fall… She thought ironically.  It was a fall that broke her ice.  A fall that gave her a new mission, a new purpose.  Was it a good thing? Sanzo was… well, strange.  If she had met him alone, she would have killed him on the spot.  But his friends… they showed her that Sanzo had a different side. And it was that side that drew her… besides those mesmerizing eyes…

            Get a grip, she told herself.  They're going back, they have a mission just like you.  No matter what you feel, duty comes first above all.  Above all.

            Somehow she couldn't avoid the deep sadness that settled in her heart. 

            Sanzo watched as Sarra stared into the water, her eyes hooded, deep in thought.  He had come here to clear his mind, instead found the object that made it confusing in the first place.

            Who would have thought one day he would have feelings for a woman? No, it wasn't because she was a woman… she was something he wanted to protect – like Goku, but this time, his heart got in the way.  It wasn't just the way those cold eyes beheld the world; but it was the burden on her shoulders; her suffering, and her strength to prevail.  To top it off, the perverted kappa had commented she had one hell of a figure.  He snorted, and the slight noise caused her to look over her shoulder.  "What are you doing here?"

            "None of your business." He said shortly.  "Keep on dreaming."

            "I wouldn't be caught dreaming ten feet from you." She said, a mischievous smile on the corner of her lips.  Maybe it was that smile, he thought absently.  "Good.  Keep ten feet away from me."

            "You're closing the distance," Sarra turned away.  "And I wasn't dreaming," She added as Sanzo sat next to her. 

            She stared at her submerged foot.  "Going soon?"

            "As soon as possible."

            "Then why are you still here?!" She burst out.  "You could have just left…" And I won't have to suffer saying goodbye…

            Silence.  "A lot of reasons."

            "Well, keep them to yourself." She got up unsteadily and turned to leave, but was stopped by a firm hand gripping her wrist.  She turned harshly on him.  "Let me go."

            Sanzo had already stood, and at his full height, he towered over her in a way that took her breath away.  She gazed defiantly into his eyes, not wanting him to see the hurt.  "Let me go." She repeated.

            "I should be asking that." He said suddenly, causing her to turn away.  Did he mean what she thought he meant? 

            Sanzo saw, behind the anger, was the hurt that was directed at him.  And somehow, it made him sad too.  "Sarra…"

            He said her name in such a soft, endearing tone that it made her choke with tears.  "Sanzo, I can't – "

            "Neither can I," He said shortly.  "Hell, I'd go nuts if I could help it, but you have to understand."

            Sarra pressed her forehead against his chest.  It was warm, comforting the pain she felt; driving away the sadness.  "You're not good with words either," She said, smiling a little.  Sanzo made an impatient noise.  "That's Gojyo's department.  My bullets speak for themselves."

            Your eyes too… she gazed up at his face.  "You don't need words with them…" She reached up and gently brushed away the fringe of golden hair.  Her heart skipped a beat when she felt his body harden, and then hammer hard as his face came closer.  

            "Ow, don't push me, you saru… you're making me miss the best part…" Gojyo hissed as he pushed Goku's face away.  They were perched high on a tree a little way off from the pool, but their excellent sight gave them the opportunity to see what they wanted to see.  "What is she doing?" Goku peered from a different branch.  "Wah! Is he going to kiss her?"

            "No, he's counting her eyelashes.  Keep your voice down! You're being a monkey…" Gojyo hissed excitedly.  This was one scene he didn't want to miss… He bit his lower lip as he saw Sanzo's face extremely close to Sarra's.  "Just a little bit more…"

            "Don't lie to me, ero-kappa! What is he doing really?" Goku cried angrily.  That threw Gojyo off balance.  "How can a person be so stupid…" he groaned and reverted his attention towards the monkey.  "can't you see they're going to kiss? This is a moment in history you prat!"

            "DIE!!!!" And following that shout was a stream of bullets that came through the leaves straight at Goku and Gojyo.  "GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE I REALLY KILL YOU!!!!"

            "I still got to find me a girl!" Gojyo hastily jumped down, ignoring the fact that it was a long way off.  Goku flowed suit, examining his bullet-shot cape.  "He's done it again…"

            Sarra laughed as she saw the leaves rustling and two figures drop to the ground.  She turned back to Sanzo, who still had his gun aimed at the tree and a vein throbbing in his forehead.  "I'm going to kill them…" He muttered.  Sarra hastily stepped away from his embrace and flashed him a dazzling smile.  "I will see you later… maybe after you murder those two."

            "Gladly." Was his clipped reply.  Sarra's lips twitched.  "Gladly? To see me, or to kill them?"

            Sanzo shook his head. 

            Well, that's chapter 9! Hope you guys like it, cause I'm planning a Cross Dimension:2 or maybe should I just continue? Please give me your opinion and reviews please!