24 January 2003

Chapter 10 The Journey Continues

Author's note: The end of part 1! Thank you everyone, even though I didn't win the Pulitzer prize, but you guys were giving me so much to look forward to (sob)

            "Will you miss me, babe?" Gojyo grinned at Ryudell, who promptly slapped him playfully.  Gojyo pretended to cry in pain.  "I'd rather die at your whip than Sanzo's harisen…"

            "Oh really?" Sanzo's harisen had made its appearance.  But he wasn't really thinking – his attention was drawn to the girl near him, talking animatedly with Hakkai about qi and stuff.  Things he didn't care about.  He wanted to pull her aside and say something – anything, but after what happened yesterday, he didn't fancy being the object of snide remarks again.

            'Well, here goes," Ryudell closed her eyes and slowly, they heard a roar of wind, and the dimension began to twist, revealing a gaping hole in front of them.  Hakkai shielded his face from the wind.  'Who's going to go – "

            "Yeah!" Goku jumped and disappeared through the Portal, brandishing his Nyoi-Bou.  Gojyo uttered a cry of frustration.  "Blasted monkey! Oi, saru!" He rushed through the portal, his scythe ready.  Hakkai turned to Sarra and bowed, smiling.  "thank you for your hospitality, Miss Sarra."

            I'm sorry for any inconvenience," Sarra returned the smile, trying to keep the wind out of her hair.  She watched as Hakkai disappeared from view, and then Sanzo moved towards the Portal in his usual calm manner.  But at the mouth of the portal, he stopped.  Sarra's throat tightened.  Don't turn around… don't make this harder for me… She bowed down her head, trying to fight back the tears.  Just then she saw his feet come into view, and she looked up into his face.

            "Wind sting?" he asked calmly.  Sarra blinked, and then smiled suddenly.  Her heart became lighter as she gazed up into his eyes – She would miss him, but he would be with her.  Always.

            He leant down and gently pressed his forehead to hers, chakra meeting chakra.  Sarra closed her eyes, smiling softly.  "Goodbye, Sanzo."

            And then he was gone.

            Sarra hugged her body, her chakra tingling.  Tears fell freely, but she didn't care.  "They're gone, Ryudell."

            The portal vanished and Ryudell brushed her dress back into their proper state.  She came to Sarra and gave her a hug.  "They'll be fine, Sarra.  Don't lose faith."

            "There will be a way," She smiled and looked up into the bright sky.  "There will always be a way."

            Hakkai screeched into a village and politely asked a startled farmer the date.  The answer was pleasing indeed.  "We've been gone for an hour," Sanzo calculated.  "Not bad."

            Gojyo chuckled. "I few knew we can make it like this, I would have asked to stay longer."

            "Na, ero-kappa, you'd rust if you stayed in such a place," Goku grinned.  Hakkai laughed.  "The war was interesting! Now, shall we?"

            "To the west," Sanzo said curtly.  The rest grinned.  "Let's get this over with!"