Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Saiyuki characters. They honorably belong to Minekura Sensei. Please don't sue me.
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Ayie: GS-chan…how are you feeling right now? I hope you're feeling better…don't be sad. You make me sad too…after all right now this fic is nearing its end. Wah! I am relief but then I'm sad too…because this is my fav fic. Gomen!
Hakkai: daijoubu da yo minna-san… this fic is ending but then ayie-san got a lot more fic coming and she already got a plan for a sequel…but that depends on readers' responds. After this, she'll be away from home and perhaps she'll be having difficulties on updating her fics… but she'll still be loyal to FFNet. And we'll be helping her since we're also going away with her…
Gojyo: She forced everybody to go with her… and I happened to have this creepy feeling about boarding airplane…Gosh! shivers violently
Goku and Kazo: Fly? Airplane? Sugoii!!!!
Sanzo: Ch! Ba-ka…
Aiko: giggled gleefully Ayie-san said that she'll write and finish another fic before going away… we haven't got a clue about it but she says it's a fic on Gojyo…mainly and there will be a lot of OOCs in it…mostly Sanzo and Goku…gee…
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Chapter 23 – The Parting
Aiko snapped her eyes opened and blinked with tears when the sunlight that penetrated through the window pricked her eyelids. She tried moving her hands and lifted it before her face. Aiko studied her hands and glanced to her side.
She smiled at seeing her lover sitting by her bedside. The dark haired man was dozing off to sleep, anchoring his face on his palm and snored quietly beneath his breath. Aiko chuckled softly when Hakkai's head fell off from his palm and he quickly anchored it again. It was obvious that the man was fighting sleep.
Aiko stirred softly on the bed, trying hard not to wake the sleeping man. She propped on one elbow and pushed herself to lie on one side. The girl then stood staring at the emerald-eyed man with a slight curl upon her rosy lips. She leaned her head on one hand and studied the man's face. Serenity falls upon Hakkai's face when he's sleeping and Aiko just loved the way he looked at that time. 'I love this man…'
Hakkai must have healed her and stayed by her bedside at all time that he could not stayed awake anymore. Aiko shook her head slightly, amused at the man's concern upon her. But she could not blame him. She would the same thing if it was Hakkai in her place.
Aiko looked down to her body. Her body was all bandaged and wrapped with cotton strips. Suddenly her sapphire blue eyes widened at seeing something on her body, under the blanket.
Her torso was wrapped up with cotton bandage and she would be naked from head to waist if it not for the bandage. She jerked awake and screamed heartily. The man by her bedside opened his eyes at sudden and turned to her aid immediately.
"Who…who…did…this?!" the girl stuttered as she pulled her blanket and covered her chest. She looked bewilderedly at Hakkai, stunned at the thought that flashed in her mind. Her face turned white pale and it seemed like her blood was all drained up.
"Nanda?" Hakkai asked, worriedly. He still doesn't have any idea of what Aiko was trying to say. He looked at the girl with wonder and concern flickered in his emerald green eyes.
"Hakkai… are you the one who did this?" Aiko opened up the blanket and quickly covered it again after she revealed her bandaged chest, enough for Hakkai to catch a quick glimpse. Hakkai smiled edgily at realizing the cause for Aiko being so shock.
"Gomen… but no one else knew how to do it properly" Hakkai replied, trying not to be so straight. His face flushed red with embarrassment. He chuckled slightly as he rubbed the back of his head.
Last night was the most embarrassing moment for him. The task of bandaging Aiko's wounds was so difficult, especially when it came to the part of treating the wound on her chest. Lucky for him Aiko was totally dozed off or else the task would be even harder. It was years since he last touched a girl's tender skin and Hakkai had forgotten how it really felt.
Aiko blushed severely at hearing the reply. She looked away from Hakkai with a crimson flushes on both of her cheeks. She felt like the blood from all over her body rushed up to her face. It may sound so weird but no man ever saw her half naked before, even Leon didn't have the chance.
"Gomen nasai… I don't mean to do that but the wound on your chest needed to be healed fast!" Hakkai started to feel guilty. The look on that girl's face clearly showed that she was never touched before. But he never intended to be the first man to ever do that. God knows how hard he tried not to look and at the same time not to touch anything. But then… Hakkai sighed. He hung his head low, not even dare to look at Aiko.
"It's okay…" the reply came with a soft whisper. Hakkai lifted his head and looked at Aiko. The girl didn't turn her face to him but her lips moved slightly, uttering the last word for the second time. "It's okay…" it came again.
Hakkai almost yelped with joy. He was forgiven and that's a relief. The emerald-eyed man took the girl's hand in his and clutched it tight. Hakkai looked straight into Aiko's deep blue eyes and smiled. "I'll be responsible for it…" he said, soothingly as he kissed the girl's hand tenderly.
Aiko stood silent at the remark. She was touched at heart. Without wasting anymore time, the girl flung her arms around Hakkai neck and sunk herself into the man's embrace. Hakkai was astounded. His body went stiffed but soon relaxed as a smile flickered upon his lips.
Hakkai's arms crept on the girl's waist and he pulled her softly to him, hugging her tight as he did so. He locked the girl's body in his embrace, as if he doesn't want to let go off her. He sunk his face into Aiko's silky soft hair and snuggled the girl's neck. "I loved you…" he finally says the magic words.
Aiko smiled at hearing the words. Her arms around Hakkai's neck tightened and they fell into each other warmth.
"Ahem!" an alarming cough made the pair disengaged abruptly. They looked at the door and found Yumi standing with her back facing them. Aiko and Hakkai let go off each other and stood dumbfounded, pretending like nothing happened.
"Yumi-san!" Aiko called with a merry tone. There was still a tiny flush of red on her cheeks but then they faded away slowly. Hakkai handed Aiko a shirt and she hastily put it on.
Yumi turned around and smiled edgily. She bowed slightly. "Sumimasen… looks like I came in at the wrong time" she apologized. How could she forget to knock before she enters the room to send some food for Hakkai and Aiko? "Have something to eat" she said as she put the trail she's holding on the table next to Aiko's bed.
"Yare…yare… gomen for troubling you" Hakkai chuckled nervously. Actually, he was feeling so embarrassed at this time that he felt like fleeting away at instant. Luckily it's not Gojyo in Yumi's place or else matter would have been worst.
"Daijoubu da yo… this is the least I could do to return your favor of saving me and Keiro" Yumi smiled heartily. The pair of brunettes had changed a lot since their first meeting. "Enjoy your meal" Yumi bowed again and headed for the door.
Suddenly, the young mother with the golden hair turned around and smiled. "Aiko-san, your shirt was too baggy for you" with that she closed the door softly behind her.
Aiko looked down to her shirt, the one Hakkai had hand to her when Yumi entered the room. The shirt WAS too baggy for her. It's not her size. Aiko looked at Hakkai.
Hakkai laughed guiltily. "Arara… that's my shirt!" he chirped, rubbing the back of his head with one hand.
Aiko sweat dropped and slapped her forehead with disbelief.
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They entered the room side by side. Aiko and Hakkai glanced around.
"Ohaiyo minna" they greeted their companions.
"Ohaiyo Hakkai, Aiko!" Goku and Kazo chirped merrily. They turned to look at Hakkai and Aiko and then returned their playful attention to Dai or Keiro. The baby crawled up on his knees and arms and headed toward the young itan and young half-breed. He babbled in glee as he crawled over to Hakkai and Aiko.
The girl was the first to bent down and picked the baby up in her cradle. She could not help feeling motherly liked at seeing the cute little being. Hakkai smiled. 'Would it be nice if she's holding our baby in her cradle? Huh?' Hakkai shook the thought away. It was too early to think of marriage, way too early.
Gojyo, lying on the floor and counting the scar on his arms smirked devilishly. He propped his head on one hand and leaned on his side, looking at Aiko and Hakkai. "Have you guys settled together in be…" Gojyo chewed the last word up when he heard a click from the back of his neck. It was well known that the click happened to be from shoureijuu being cocked at a deft movement of Sanzo's fingers.
The redheaded man looked over his shoulder and found Sanzo pointing the spirit-ascending gun to the back of his head. The monk just need to pull the trigger and his head would blow up into pieces of fresh flesh. He raised his arms, surrendering. Slowly, the gun was retreated from his head. Gojyo sighed with relief.
Goku and Kazo darted toward the brunettes and tugged at the elders' sleeves. Hakkai and Aiko looked down to the over excited boys. "Nanda?" Aiko asked, perplexed with the latter's excitement.
"Have you made a baby with Hakkai?" Goku looked up to Aiko with puppy look. The innocence was clearly shown in the glimmering golden orbs of his.
Yumi blushed and chuckled nervously at hearing the question from the naïve boy. Sanzo sweat dropped and then turned his gaze away to the window with tiny flushes of red on his cheeks. Gojyo laughed heartily, slapping his tight hard as he laughed his heart out. The redheaded kappa rolled on the floor, amused by the question.
Hakkai and Aiko suffered the worst. Their faces were so red it matched the color on Gojyo's hair. Their ears seemed to puff out smokes due to the embarrassment. Aiko hid her blushing face onto Dai's back. Hakkai chuckled slightly, out of nervousness.
Kazo tugged at Hakkai's sleeve and pulled the guy's arm with all his might. "Are you going to have a baby of your own…?" he asked, not knowing what the question might do to the latter guy.
Hakkai shook his head hastily. He felt his face turned so hot that he badly needs to sink his whole head into a basin full of icy cold water.
Sanzo could not hold this anymore. Even he blushed from the young boys' stupid questions. He grabbed his harisen that was placed next to Harkuryuu and Nimmiku and whacked Goku and Kazo's head with all his might.
"URUSEI!!!" that's the third time he yelled for today. The victims of his whacks of wisdom stumbled head over heels to the floor with a noisy thump. The monk was not finished though, he whacked the laughing kappa hard on the head and only then he settled back to his chair.
"Ittai…" Goku, Gojyo and Kazo rose up and clutched their throbbing heads. The rubbed the new formed lumps and glared at Sanzo with a pout. The latter monk held out his shoureijuu, freezing them at instant. "Ch! Namaguza bouzu…" they whispered softly.
Hakkai and Aiko sighed out of relief. Aiko walked toward Yumi and Hakkai settled himself next to Sanzo. "Arigatou na Sanzo?" he wished at the lowest pitch of his voice. Sanzo replied with a harsh humph.
Hakkai smiled.
"What's your plan after this Yumi-san?" Aiko sunk herself on the bed, next to Yumi. The golden haired mother is weaving a wool band. Yumi put down her task and looked at Aiko. She heaved her breath silently.
"I guess, I'll settle down with my son and raised him somewhere outside the town" Yumi answered, not knowing if she made the right decision. "I was born and breed here and I don't have anywhere else to go" she said with a smile. There's no sign showing that she'll regret her decision later.
"Souka…" Aiko nodded.
"After all… this place brings a lot of memories of me and my husband, Keiro's father" Yumi glanced at her son in Aiko's cradle. Dai did remind her of her husband. The baby bore much resemblance to his father despite of his age. She caressed the baby's cheek softly. The baby flailed his chubby arms frantically at Goku and Kazo who were pinching and tickling his face. "I still have my father's mansion… I ran away from there to save my baby, so I just need to go back to the mansion and settled down" Yumi smiled at seeing her baby laughed in glee while playing with Goku and Kazo.
Aiko stood silent at that idea. She doesn't really favor Yumi's plan since her baby was somewhat extraordinary. The young mother could never live peacefully without any special protection. As long as the baby lived, a lot of people who wanted to take advantage of Dai being a heretic would come hunting for them. After all, the baby was a cross breed of kami and human.
"Aiko?" Yumi called out softly. She realized that the latter girl was so quiet when she told her the plan.
"I don't know about this Yumi-san… I mean your baby was a son of a kami" Aiko expressed her concern. "There's no way you can run away from bad guys who want to take advantage of Dai's ability" Aiko's remark made the three elders of the ikkou turned their heads toward her.
Sanzo, Hakkai and Gojyo kept listening. They knew that the baby was somewhat different, but they didn't know in what aspect. His eyes were different in colors and the colors were the same as Homura's.
"You see… Dai got this different eye colors, golden and blue" Aiko tried to explain in a simple way. "And as long as he got that difference… people would know that he's different and trust me they will do anything just to get him" she added, planting a kiss on the baby's head.
Yumi looked at her baby. Yes! Keiro's eyes were different in colors. "But why?"
"The difference showed that Dai was a cross-breed between human and kami… not many people know what that means but those who knew would turn out to be people with some kind of powerful knowledge and power" Aiko continued. "I don't mean to scare you Yumi-san… but the consequences of raising Dai on your own would be fatal" Aiko finished her explanation with that sentence, almost a warning for Yumi.
Yumi gaped at that warning. She never knew how dangerous it would be having a son with a kami.
The elders of the men stood silent. 'Then Homura was a cross breed of human and kami?'
"You're right… even Tenkai never consider a heretic" suddenly two figures appeared in front of them. A raven black haired lady and a gray haired old man with a funny moustache stood in the middle of the room. They appeared from a swirling dust that gleamed when it was shone by sunlight.
"Ch! K'so" Sanzo and Aiko cursed at instant, all together at the same time.
"Kanzeon Bosatsu?!" Hakkai exclaimed, much to Yumi's amazement. This is her first encounter with the so-called Goddess of Mercy. Gojyo stepped away from the celestial being. He liked being kissed passionately by the Goddess but he didn't like the idea of losing half of his blood when they locked lips. The last time they met, he lost a lot of blood after being kissed by the megumi-sama.
Yumi kneeled before the megumi-sama, bowing her head respectfully. The 'merciful' Goddess of Mercy held her shoulders and pulled her up softly. "You've being blessed with the baby but like Akina…ops! Shimatta! Aiko had said… There are terrible consequences of raising him up all alone" Kanzeon repeated the girl's explanation.
"Then… what you should I do Kanzeon Bosatsu-sama?" Yumi's eyes drenched with tears. "I'm willing to die for my baby but I won't give him away" she pled. She took her baby and cuddled him lovingly.
Kanzeon Bosatsu smiled. "Except you, me and all in here… no one knew he's a cross breed between human and kami and the fact that he probably possesses some kind of extraordinary power" she put one hand on Dai's head and caressed it softly. "But people who wide knowledge and power would find it out by the differences of his eye colors" She swept the baby face, almost lovingly.
"No one would know if he had blue eyes like this" Kanzeon Bosatsu lifted her hand from Dai's face and revealed the baby's eyes. The golden color of the baby's eye had already changed into blue. Both of his eyes were blue in color, just like Aiko's.
The rest of the people in the room gawked at seeing the event before them. The megumi-sama had changed the baby's eyes color. Now, the sign of taboo has completely vanished from the little being's face.
Kanzeon smirked. "I've concealed his golden eye… the true color would only emerged when he reached the age of eighteen" she explained and giggled when Dai sucked her forefinger. Yumi's eyes widened with fear at seeing her son's act. She quickly grabbed Dai away and released Kanzeon's finger from his mouth.
"Gomen nasai!" she apologized.
Kanzeon chuckled as she waved her hand frantically in front of her face. "Nande monai" She glanced at Sanzo and his companions. The megumi opened up her arms wide and walked toward Sanzo. "Konzen...!"
Jiroushin slapped his head in disbelief. 'She's doing it again!'
"K'so yarou!" Sanzo muttered as he held out his shoureijuu. "Don't you dare!" Sanzo warned and pointed the shoureijuu toward the darting megumi. Kanzeon Bosatsu ignored the threat since she knew the bullet wouldn't do any harm upon her. She caught Sanzo's face in her palm and kissed the latter's cheek lovingly.
"K'so!" Sanzo smacked Kanzeon's hand away and rubbed the lipstick mark on his cheek with his oversized sleeve. Kanzeon laughed cheekily and suddenly turned her gaze at the sapphire-eyed girl stood by the window.
"Akina!" She called as she headed toward Aiko, again her arms spread opened.
Aiko sweat dropped. She looked over her shoulder, to the window behind her. Aiko almost decided to jump off the window when Kanzeon Bosatsu caught her by her shoulders and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Sanzo, Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku jaw dropped at seeing that prestigious moment. They recalled that megumi-sama calling them Konzen, Tenpou, and Kenren but they never heard the name Akina being mentioned before. 'This old hag probably has a list of different name for every being on earth'
Aiko struggled furiously to let go from Kanzeon's hug. She cursed as she tried dodging the latter's kisses from reaching her face. Words that would surely 'expanse' Goku and Kazo's vocabulary came out from her mouth repeatedly.
"Ma…ma… Aiko is worse than Sanzo when it comes to receive a kiss from the megumi-sama" Hakkai shook his head with disbelief. 'So, this is the woman Kazo was saying about before'
Finally, Aiko surrendered. She let that old hag kissed her right on her cheek, at the same spot where she had kissed Sanzo. Kanzeon laughed and released the girl from her embrace. Aiko backed away at instant and rubbed her cheek where the megumi had planted a kiss with the back of her palm. She rubbed it like her skin almost came off. Kanzeon looked at her with a devilish smirk, making her ran away and hid behind Hakkai.
Hakkai laughed amusingly. Now he had two persons to protect from the megumi. First, Gojyo seek for protection by clinging to his arm and now Aiko seek for a hiding right at his back.
"Yare…yare Tenpou, looked like you have a lot of people to protect from me ne?" Kanzeon smirked. She waved her hand at the direction of the emerald-eyed man and laughed. "Never mind… they were always under your protection anyway" the images of Akina and Tenpou hugging each other in the meadow flashed before her eyes. 'So romantic…'
Kanzeon turned around to Jiroushin. "Well Jiroushin… I'm finished, let's go back to that boring place right away" she ordered.
"Kanzeon Bosatsu?" Jiroushin was not in favor of having his master insulting Tenkai.
Kanzeon smirked for the umpteenth times. "Soreja Konzen, Akina" she waved goodbye before teleporting away from the room.
"Ch!" Sanzo is still wiping the red stain on his cheek, which is so reluctant to come off.
"I hate that kusobaba" Aiko exclaimed, swinging her fist frantically on air. She looked at Yumi. The young mother cuddled her baby lovingly in her arms. Aiko's smile returned to her face. Now she knows the pair would be save. She hated that Goddess of Mercy for kissing her every time they met but then she thanked her for helping Yumi and her baby.
Gojyo walked closer to Yumi. "Now you don't have to worry a thing" he reassured as he reached out a hand for the golden haired lady. Yumi looked up to him and smiled. She nodded and took Gojyo's hand in hers and let herself being pulled upright by the latter.
"So… Aiko and Hakkai never made a baby?" Goku's voice rang out at sudden, popping out a vein on Sanzo's forehead and making Hakkai and Aiko blushed with embarrassment. His silly question made Gojyo and Yumi burst into uncontrollable laughters.
Sanzo reached for his harisen and down it went, whacking the daylight out of the saru.
It took ten minutes for Goku to revive from Sanzo's whack.
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"Take a good care of Dai" Aiko held Yumi's hands in hers. She landed a peck on Dai's cheek and ruffled the baby's hair. Tears almost fall down on her face, realizing the fact that she's parting away from the baby and might not be able to meet him again.
Yumi nodded. "He's my son but he's yours to Aiko-san… and you're welcome to come and visit him at anytime" Yumi assured.
"I will" Aiko made a promise she knew she could not keep. She's not good at keeping promises.
"You guys too can come and visit us anytime" Yumi glanced to each of the men's faces. A smile flickered upon her red lips.
"We will someday" Hakkai smiled. He knew he would…if he ever survived the journey. Hakkai reached out a hand and pinched the baby's nose playfully. The baby returned his favor by gripping his finger with his chubby fingers.
"Arigatou minna-san for helping me and my son… I would never forget your kindness" Yumi bowed her head slightly. Suddenly, she kissed all the men on their cheek and later hugged Aiko tight. She kissed Aiko on both of her cheeks and let go off her embrace. "Arigatou!"
The men gawped at the reward they had just received. Only Sanzo turned his face the other way around, blushing severely by the kiss. Gojyo smirked devilishly at seeing Sanzo's face.
Yumi bent down before Goku and Kazo and presented each of them a motherly liked kisses on their forehead. She ruffled their hairs and let them played for one last time with her baby that they were so used to call Dai. The latter two cried sadly as they kissed the baby continuously. Even Dai's face turned bitter, as if he too feels sad at parting with the ikkou.
Goku and Kazo quickly hopped into the jeep. They didn't glanced for second look at the baby, fearing that they could not leave him if they did so. Aiko, Gojyo and Hakkai settled in the jeep after they waved Yumi and Dai goodbye. Sanzo, who never leave his seat on jippu turned his gaze for one last time at Yumi and Dai, then looked away again.
"Sayonara" Yumi wished and waved goodbye when Hakkai switched on the ignition and stepped on the accelerator. The jeep moved swiftly, away from the mansion, leaving the two figures waving them goodbye.
"I'm going to miss them" Aiko said softly as she waved her hand at the fading figures.
"Yeah!" Gojyo agreed.
"Wah!!!" Goku and Kazo burst out into tears.
"URUSEI!!!" Sanzo turned around abruptly and whacked the poor guys' head hard. He settled back to his seat when he completed his task.
"He's sad too" Aiko nudged Goku's side with one elbow. She winked as the latter laughed softly, fearing that Sanzo would hear them and turned around again to present them his favorite whack.
"Ma…ma… what a peaceful day" Hakkai voiced out his favorite line.
To be continue….
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Ayie: Wah! This fic is almost finished. I'm sad… no..no.. I can't! Or else GS-chan wouldn't be happy. I'll end this fic in the later chap, a very short chap it will be. Yah! Gomen if this fic sucks and if it bores you to death. This is my first fic and I know I made a lot of mistakes in it… please forgive me.
Sanzo: Finally… the end.
Gojyo: Oi! Mister worldly monk… this is not the end, after all ayie still planning for a sequel and a lot more fic after this.
Sanzo: URUSAI! whacked Gojyo's head with the harisen
Ayie: Ma… what a long story this fic turned out to be… I
finished four other shorter fics while writing this one. Amazing that I could
actually finished this…phew!! Warning… some of you might not like the ending
but then… I already promised a sequel… so daijoubu da yo minna-san.
