You all know the one-liner that usually goes here.
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Sanzo squashed his cig against the ashtray. He refolded the piece of parchment and tucked it into his sleeve as he straightened. It was time to go.
He paused on his way when the door burst open, a furious Wen Lan stalking towards him.
"You!" She screamed and pointed an accusing finger at him. "You taught her to be like this! You taught her to follow that bastard youkai! You killed her!"
Sanzo narrowed his eyes. "I didn't teach her anything."
"Liar!" she moved to slap him, hesitation in her eyes as if she remembered he was a monk. Her hand clenched into a fist but it lowered to her side. "You taught her to do as she desired. To do what she wanted! And it led to her death." Wen glared at him again. "Now I have no daughter left to pass on this inn! You killed my daughter!"
Hakkai took that moment to appear at his door. "Sanzo?"
"Aa."
Wen didn't move to block his way but followed him with her accusing glare as Sanzo stepped around her. Hakkai himself kept his face devoid of any emotion.
"I didn't teach her anything." Sanzo called to her without looking back. "She taught herself. It's as good as saying you killed her."
He heard Hakkai close the door as he continued towards the stairs. Goku and Gojyo were seated at one of the inn's tables, arguing over the last dumpling.
"Tch." Sanzo continued towards the exit. "Oi. Iku zo."
"Nani?" Goku's voice reached him. "Oi, Sanzo! Matte! Na- Kono ero kappa! That dumpling was mine!"
"Too slow, bakasaru."
"Teme...!"
Sanzo had closed the inn's doors behind him, effectively cutting off the two. He climbed onto the jeep's passenger side and pulled out the piece of parchment again. He was still staring at the butterflies on the parchment when the inn's doors opened again and the others finally came out.
"Na Sanzo," Goku jumped into the backseat behind him, jostling the jeep. "Why'd we leave all of a sudden? You said we could stay for another day! I- Is something wrong?"
Sanzo closed his eyes as he exhaled through his nose – and tore up the parchment in his hands. "Iya. Betsu ni."
"Sanzo?" The jeep rocked as Goku jumped into the backseat.
A light wind suddenly blew past. Sanzo opened his hands to let the torn parchment free. Sunlight caught them as they fluttered in the air, scattering into the distant horizon.
With the light flashing against their sides, they almost resembled butterflies.
-END-
*****
A/N: I just couldn't get the movie's final scene off my mind. It was so touching…! But I figured it was too fantastical to happen in the world of Saiyuki. Anyhow, much thanks to Rook, my no. 1 fan, whose reviews always flatter me so. If you're still reading this, I'm sorry you didn't like my planned ending. I actually forgot to tell Onna to post the epilogue together with the last chapter so there's a slightly 'happier' ending. To regency in ruin, my light in a depressing storm of self-doubt:); to lang and gemini, I'm hoping the outcome is okay for you; to ruishi, I'm sorry if you didn't like Xia; to vez, XiaoLi, and jashuang, I'm actually more used to original pov's and I'm very happy you didn't see Yuen as a Mary Sue. And finally, thanks also to Secret Admirer, whoever you are. Your review got me choking and worrying over my planned outcome. To the rest who are still reading until this part, thanks for sticking it out with me. I love you lots:)