Tottering friendship.

By vermillian.

Starting date: 20.03.2003

Rating: PG

Summary: The new long series of mine. Goku made a decision to choose his own way without being with Sanzo. The sign of broken relationship was slowly marked on their friendship. How could it be?

Notes: This series is being more serious than the other project of mine. Don't know what to tell. I don't even know whether this series would become Sanzo-centric or Goku-centric, or even genre of it. *sweat dropped* If you know it, please tell me. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: I do not own saiyuki. I own only its DVDs.

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Prologue: - Where the thing… happened.

"It's finally over," said Gojyo while he lighted up his lighter for smoking. Hakkai, Sanzo, and Goku were also being there with him. Being there in front of the place where was to become the history. Being there in front of the ruination of Houto Castle, and their victory against Gyumaoh.

After a year and a few months of journey to the west, Sanzo-ikkou finally reached Houto Castle. Unfortunately, Gyukumen Koushu, with the help of her sciencetists, could resurrection Gyumaoh just in time. As a result, Sanzo-ikkou had to take a tough fight with the Bull Demon.

Kougaiji, who had been broken the promise of revival his mother by Gyukumen Koushu and had a poor relationship with his father, took the revenge by cooperating with Sanzo-ikkou and overthrew Gyumaoh and Gyukumen Koushu. Why did Kougaiji want to kill Gyukumen Koushu when she was the only one who could retake the magic and revival his mother? The reason was his stepmother was not only being broken the promise of revival his mother, but she was also destroyed his mother's body to end his hope of getting his mother back. Those motives were enough for him to take the revenge. There was no doubt that Dokugakuji, Yaone, and Ririn took the same side with him of joining Sanzo-ikkou and defeated Gyumaoh and Gyukumen Koushu.

With the associate of Kougaij-ikkou and the extreme amount of Goku's power, Sanzo-ikkou could finally defeat Gyumaoh and eliminate him with Houto Castle. Gyukumen Koushu and her scientists were trapped, and there was no any of chance to sneak out upon the collapsing of the castle. To make sure that there would be no one would able to resurrect Gyumaoh again, everyone agreed to burn Houto Castle with its master.

And it was a past.

The battle was ended. Before Sanzo-ikkou got back to their place, Kougaiji offered them a place for resting for a few days. Strangely, Sanzo accepted it. There might be due to the result from the long hard battle. Both him and his companion wanted a time for resting and discussing. No one knew this would have changed something important. Something was called 'friendship'.

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The Sanzo-ikkou took a week for resting. Finally they decided to leave Kougaiji's place at the early morning.

Even though Hakkai could sense that Goku was quieter than usual in the last few days, he did still not prepare for it. That kind of thought was never getting through his mind until the day…

At the early morning of leaving day, everyone of Sanzo-ikkou was already on Hakuryu in the jeep form, except Goku.

"Oi! Saru, come on. Do you want to be here forever?" shouted Gojyo the question. Without waiting for the reply, he continued. "Or else you are changing your mind of being here with Ririn?" And that caused he laughing his own joke.

With some reason, which might be the age or whatever, Gojyo started teasing about Goku-Ririn couple. Whenever he did it, the boy would reject and begin arguing. But that situation did not happen in this morning. Not for this morning.

Goku kept silencing. His belonging was still on his back, not in the jeep.

The silence made Hakkai to be wonder and starting worry. He didn't have a chance to say anything. No one did when Kougaiji was there with some creature. It was dragon. It was the same with the small one, which Ririn always used.

"Here you are," said Kougaiji. He handed Goku a robe that was binding to that dragon. "It's yours."

Goku accepted it. He looked on it, and contacted eyes to no one. "Thanks."

Dokugakuji and Yaone said nothing. They were just staring at the boy, worrying.

Ririn didn't know what it meant for. "Dragon!? Onii-chan, why did you give it to him? That saru did not even know how to use it…" She wanted to complain more, but had changed her mind when her eye contacted with her brother's.

Gojyo didn't see those silencing signal. "Hey, Saru! What did you want it for? We already have Hakuryu!" He continued when he was thinking of some joke. "Or do you want it for fleeing from Mr. Worldly Monk when he get angry." He laughed, but stopped when there was no one responding to him. That was when he realized something wrong. "What's wrong?"

Everyone stared at Goku, who was still looking at his rope and his feet.

"Saru, would you say it now or never?" ordered Sanzo. He also sensed something wrong about the boy, and he HATED that anxious feeling. What the hell is the feeling disturbing me? He asked himself.

The boy finally mumbled something in his throat. "…ple."

"Huh?" complained Gojyo. "Say it louder, saru!"

This time, Goku faced with his companion. The certain decision was in his eyes. "I will not be back to Chou An Temple."

Gojyo's jaw was hanging. Sanzo did nothing but cursing some thing in a low voice. Hakkai could do nothing but recovered his words and said it. "Pardon, Goku?"

Goku took a deep breath and repeated his sentence. "I will not be back to Chou An Temple."

"What the hell did you mean?" Gojyo asked with angry in his voice.

"I made the decision," said Goku, "and I decided not to be back to Chou An Temple again."

"What are you thinking?" This time, Gojyo did not only shout, but also tried to climb out of the jeep. He would successfully do it if only Sanzo did not obstruct him.

"Stop it!" shouted Sanzo.

"Huh? What the hell do the people be today?" yelled Gojyo. He was about to climb out of the jeep again when Sanzo said it.

"If you do, I will leave you hear," said Sanzo without a glance. "You heard him. If he did not want to go back with us, just leave him here." He said it with the emotionless tone.

"But Sanzo…" Hakkai tried to protest but Sanzo didn't give him a chance.

"Don't you hear me? We would be late if we still stuck in here!"

Hakkai was about to protest. But he was interrupted again. This time was by Goku. "Just do what he said. I won't change my mind," said Goku, "please."

The golden eyes, which were ever filled with fun and a lot of emotions, were left only the only decision and… nothing. The rest was just emotionless and could not be read.

Hakkai was speechless. He did never think that this day would come in one day, but he had to admit it no matter how hard it was.

"What happened to you!?" shouted Gojyo. He was about to say something more but he was interrupted.

"Gojyo!" This time was Hakkai. "You heard him. We cannot change his mind."

"But!" protested Gojyo. However, he changed his mind when he saw his friend's face. "Even you, Hakkai?" He didn't want to believe it. It just had to. "Ch'. Do whatever you want."

Before the incomplete Sanzo-ikkou would leave the place, Hakkai turned to the boy. "Will you take a visit on us and tell the reason of leaving when you are ready?"

Goku hesitated for a while. "I will." He pressed the smile on his face.

Hakkai saw it. "Arigato. Sayonara, Goku." Without waiting for the answer, Hakkai drove the jeep, and left the empty behind at the next few minutes.

"Sayonara," replied Goku to the empty space. When he turned, he found that Kougaiji already stared at him.

"Do you sure…" asked Kougaiji.

"Yes, I do," replied the boy without hesitation.

The guy sighed. "I already teach you how to control the dragon. This is some stuff. The rest is up to you."

Goku nodded. "Thanks."

"If you want something, you know where you can find us."

"I won't," refused Goku.

"Don't be sure," said Kougaiji. "See you later. Let's go." The last sentence, he said to his sister and subordinates.

Except Kougaiji, they took the last glance at the boy and it was Yaone who said it. "Please do take care of yourself." Then they disappeared.

There were only Goku and the dragon in the place. Something was shown up in the boy eyes for a short time. He turned to his dragon. "Now, we have our journey. Let's go!"

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Finished! I can't believe in myself how to start the new series while the old one is still not finished! By the way, I can't just leave this plot. What do you think about this fic? Please read and review.