Chapter 5

The small golden-eyed boy crept silently beside the wall. Peering around, he found the place empty and grinned happily.

Obasan se gae, he beamed, …the plan worked. Goku scurried over to a dark barred cell where a furtive figure fumed in the corner. His fingers curled around the bars as his face peeped in between.

"Oji-chan! Oji-chan!" Goku called out quietly.

Kougaiji lifted his head, nani…

"Goku?"

With a giggle, Goku's eyes lit up, "I've come, oji-chan...iko, iko."

Kougaiji scratched his head, "Ahh, shikashi..." He rattled the bars in frustration. Grinning mischievously, Goku squinted his eyes and flipped out a key. He unlocked the gate and tugged at the demon prince, "Haiyerkun...iko, iko..." and the two stealthily made their way to light.

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"Where is he?! Baga saru...! Wait till I get my hands on him...! Baga gaki...hontoni ku ruke seu!! Baga..." seethed the irritable blond-haired god as he stomped along the hallway.

His infuriated mumbles were stopped by a willowy figure in front of him... the Goddess of Mercy, with an annoyingly mocking smile that practically screams out I-know-something-you-don't-and-you-won't-like-it-at-all.

Konzen narrowed his eyes, " Nani, kono baba?!"

Kanzeon Botatsu flipped her hair back and laughed, " Na, nephew...betsuni...and don't call me that."

Konzen's eyes slitted to a dangerous point, "When you say nothing's going on...something always going on, and I'll call you whatever I want..."

"Mmmmmm, Konzen, you'll never change, che... ja ne." she sashayed past him, "Oh, and you might want to check up on your little pet," she disappeared, leaving Konzen staring at the empty space, biting on the word pet.

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Goku tucked his legs under him while his hands fiddled with the flowers. He and the demon prince were in the eternal garden with no one to disturb them.

Silence passed between the two, until Kougaiji glanced over to Goku, "Why did you save me?"

"Eh? Doshite?" Goku scratched his head, then beamed, "Because oji-chan is nice," he looked back to the flowers with a sweet rueful smile, "Because oji-chan can play with me...Konzen always yells at me, and Ten-chan and Ken-onichan don't have time to play, and Natak…" an incredible sadness washed over Goku's face, "Nataku don't play with me anymore...and I never got to tell him my name..."

Kougaiji looked at the pitiful boy, feeling almost sorry for him... this can't be the Goku that I know, and that Sanzo with long hair...I don't...matte...Nataku? Nataku Taishi? The fighting god who sealed Gyumao, my father? And okasan? Kougaiji gripped his hands- so Nataku is here...but Homura, isn't he suppose to be...how...I must be in the past! Swirling thoughts raced through the demon's head... that spell! With Sanzo's party...I must have somehow opened a door to the past! But how am I going to...I'm in the past...in the past...so this is Goku last time and Sanzo...no wonder he look so stupid...

"Oji-chan? Ne, oji-chan..."

Huh?

Enormous golden eyes peered up at Kougaiji, Goku shyly pulled at the demon's sleeve.

"Goku..." Kougaiji whispered, the finality of his plans clicked into place. He grinned back to the waiting boy, "Want to play?"

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Meanwhile, in the present, the surly Genjo Sanzo was brushing his robe neatly, "Ikkuseu!" he called out.

"Matte!" Yaone pleaded, "Kougaiji-sama, he is gone, onega..." she stopped, as Dokugakuji placed a hand on her shoulders.

Sanzo's eyes narrowed, "That baka demon is not my concern. Now!" he barked at his companions, "Get into the jeep, or I'll leave you behind!"

"Hai!" said Goku, jumping in to jeep, after Sanzo, with Gojyo right behind. Hakkai glanced back at the forlorn Yaone and the determine-looking Dokugakuji and Ririn who yelled after them, "Baga baldie Sanzo!"

Sighing and shaking his head, Hakkai started the engine and droved off, thinking Kougaiji...what will happen now? Huh...nani?

Goku poked at Hakkai, "Ne, is Kougaiji gone? Is he coming back? We didn't finish our fight..." Hakkai laughed, "Dai jou bu, Goku. I am sure he will be back. Ne, ikkuseu..."

Goku nodded, "Hai!"

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