As the days passed at Chouan Temple, the atmosphere of the place became more and more depressed. Even the most junior of the monks knew that Genjo Sanzo wouldn't last more than another day. Early yesterday evening, Sanzo had collapsed while reciting a sutra and the temple's doctor had determined that it was a re-occurance of his previous attack, although this time, it had been much stronger. Sanzo had been in bed since then talking with the elder monks and others that he wished to speak to before he finally passed. There was only on more person Sanzo had yet to talk to…

            Since Sanzo's latest attack nearly 33 hours ago, Goku hadn't slept or eaten. The idea that his precious sun would really die soon disturbed him more than monks had expected. Immediately after Sanzo's attack, Goku had tried to get into the enlightened monk's room and spend time with him, but the others… they said that when Sanzo called for him, Goku would be let in, and not a minute before that. Goku had returned to his room and waited. He sat by the window and stared at the door, willing a monk to enter.

            When the monk finally did, Goku thought it was a figment of his imagination.

"Goku!" the monk had to shout to get Goku out of his daze, "Genjo Sanzo-sama is calling for you! Please, you must hurry, Sanzo won't…. he's going to.." the monk could barely get the words out of his mouth.

            Not that it mattered. Goku was already running down the hall towards Sanzo's room. For nearly a week, he had been telling Sanzo that nothing was going to happen. That he wouldn't die and everything would be alright. At Sanzo's room, the door was already open and when Goku appeared in the doorway all the other monks quietly stood up and left. The only one who remained, was the severely ill Genjo Sanzo.

            Goku stepped into the room and closed the door.

"Ah, Goku," Sanzo's voice was barely a whisper, "I'm so glad… you've come. I was afraid… you might not."

"Of course I'd come." Goku sat down next to Sanzo, "How… how could I not come, Sanzo?"

"All my life Goku… I've heard your whiny voice. For as long as I can remember… and when I finally got up to that crappy little cave… I couldn't believe that tiny little creature was making all that noise in my head." Sanzo patted Goku's face, "You've really grown, Goku. You're not a child any more."

Goku rubbed at his eyes, trying to stop the tears, "Sanzo…"

"You make all your own decisions. You even… got rid of that diadem I always had to replace when you went crazy." Sanzo paused, "I'm worried, Goku. Even though you've grown, you still need some one to take care of you. Goku… I think… I think you should go stay with Hakkai. You'll both need some one… to stay with."

            Goku wasn't even trying to hide the tears anymore.

"Goku… I know that I made you wait for a long time. For 500 years… you sat there, alone, and waited for me. I swear Goku, I won't make you wait so long again."

"It doesn't matter…" Goku was hiccupping every so often because of his sobbing, "It doesn't matter, Sanzo! I'll wait… I'll wait for as long as I need to… it doesn't matter, Sanzo."

"Goku," Sanzo smiled and closed his eyes, "be sure not to die. If I went through all the trouble to come back and find you and you had gotten yourself killed, I'd be very… upset…… with you."

            Sanzo's voice has disappeared by the end of the sentence and his light breathing stopped all together. Goku stayed next to Sanzo for a few more minutes before leaving. He walked two doors down to the doctor's room and woke him up.

"Ah…. What do you want, Goku?" he rolled over onto his other side.

"Sanzo died."

"Mhmmmm, died…. Yup."

Goku picked up the doctor by the back of his robe and threw him into the hallway, "Sanzo is dead."

            The doctor, now finally really awake, rushed down to Sanzo's room.

            The next morning, the temple released the awful news of Sanzo's death. Three times as many people showed up that day for Genjo Sanzo than the previous day. Goku had already gone out and pawned out the "sell" pile and now he only had two boxes and a bag left of items he wanted to keep.

            When Goku returned to the temple, Hakkai was there, but said himself that he wanted Goku to finish everything he had to do before they left. Goku made sure to tell the elder monks that Genjo Sanzo wanted to be buried next to his master, Koumyou Sanzo. And after saying goobye to a few of the monks that didn't despise him, he and Hakkai left Chouan Temple.

            From the letter that Hakkai received from Sanzo just a day before his death, Hakkai was expecting Goku to stay with him. But the next day, when Hakkai woke up, Goku was already getting ready to leave. His two boxes were up in the attic and he was adjusting the straps on his bag.

            "You're leaving."

            Goku didn't stop, "Yes, I need to go wait for Sanzo."

            "That's fine. Do you want me to make you some snacks for your trip?"

            "No, Hakkai. That's alright." Goku turned around, "I'm going to go now."

            Hakkai smiled and walked up to Goku, "Anything Sanzo mentions, you take to heart. He'll have to recognize you in this." Hakkai tapped the diadem that was once again resting on Goku's forehead.

            "We'll meet again, Hakkai."

            "Of course, Goku! Of course."

            It took Goku 2 weeks to travel back to Mt. Gogyo. He never really got lost, most people knew the generally area where the secluded mountain was. The real trouble was finding his cave. Goku had spent 500 years there, and it took him 4 days of hiking around the mountain to find the cave he'd been trapped in. Talismans still covered the ground, walls and ceiling, and several of the rock bars were still in place. Goku set down his bag outside the cave and went in. Goku sat down on one of the larger flatter rocks and waited for his sun to return.