Disclaimer: I do not own Saiyuki by any means…I only own them in my dreams (^_^)
A/N: ello dear readers…this fic is just about Sanzo…GASP!!!…Sanzo MUST leave his "friends" Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku??!!!!… this happened after the Gensomaden Saiyuki TV series [when they defeated Homura and now they're on their way to finish their business with Kougaiji…which means Sanzo already know about their Gaiden life]…hope that you'll like it…reviews are always welcome (",)… and one more thing, there will be a few Filipino words here…don't worry, I enclosed them in brackets (^_^) [by the way…this fic do not…I repeat…DO NOT…contain yaoi madness or Shounen-ai…but if you want…{smiles slyly with innocent eyes shining, heavenly wings flapping, and halo shining on head}]
p.s. Gomen x 10000 to the nth power if ever there are wrong grammar and bad stuff like that [I suck in grammar…I don't focus much in my English subject…GOMEN]…so please don't be too harsh on me k? (^_~) tao din ako…nagkakamali din! [I'm only human…I make mistakes too]…so let's begin…
VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP CHAPTER I: orders from the god By dragon_wing_masterSometimes…there are things in life which are forbidden, unfortunately, for the Sanzo-ikkou, their life is a real circus…a journey to the west full of ruckus and rumble, a life with no care and no worries…but usually…in these crazy life…a lot of things could be developed…one of which is called…FRIENDSHIP…
"Yare yare desu ne…" Hakkai said with his usual smile on his face "…they started again"
The brunette was referring to his companions; Goku and Gojyo, who is fighting in the back compartment of Hakuryu…this time, the two are fighting about WHOM the very last pork bun belongs to
"Hey, saru, I don't see your name written in this pork bun, it means that you have no right to own this…THIS IS MINE…YOU HEAR?…MINE…MINE!!!!" Gojyo said while shoving Goku's hand away from his face.
"Your name is not written on it EITHER!!!!" Goku said trying to reach for the pork bun which Gojyo held out high above his head.
"URUSAI!!!!" and two gunshots from Sanzo stopped the commotion that they're starting, he took out his harisen and started beating Goku and Gojyo's head "That doesn't belong to ANY of you because the two of you already ATE all of the food that we brought for our trip…that means the only person who have the right for that pork bun is either me… or Hakkai!!" Sanzo shouted while hitting Goku and Gojyo's head with his almighty fan.
"Itai Yo Sanzo" Goku and Gojyo chorused. "We're just hungry…aren't we in the next town yet Hakkai?" Goku added, addressing to their driver.
"Gomen minna-san…but judging the map…we'll be in the nearest town by dusk…" Hakkai said while rummaging through the map. "Since Sanzo said that you two ate all the food that we have…It means no lunch for all of us…"
"NANI????!!!! Harahetta Hakkai!…I can't take it anymore…" Goku shouted and by doing so, he received a full blast of Sanzo's almighty harisen.
"Urusai! Baka saru! Is food the only thing that you can think of?" Sanzo said. "Now look at what the two of you did! What are we going to eat now, you idiots!!" and the two received another WHAPACK! from Sanzo's harisen.
"Itai yo Sanzo…errr…Perhaps you can have this last pork bun instead" Gojyo said handing Sanzo the pork bun while he rubbed his sore head.
Sanzo looked at the pork bun…then he looked at Gojyo's face…he looked at the pork bun again…then on Goku's face…Goku is sobbing…looking longingly at the pork bun with teary puppy eyes…then he looked at the pork bun again. The once white pork bun was now distorted and was now black in color and it's filling was dripping. Sanzo looked at the two again…the two just smiled…
"%$#@! Darn the two of you…{WHAPACKs! from his almighty harisen}…you expect me to eat THIS!!!" Sanzo said, throwing the pork bun out of the jeep. Goku looked at the pork bun with teary chibi eyes.
My pork bun…nyummy nyummy pork bun…the VERY LAST pork bun…Goku thinks to himself in between sobs. [A/N: awww…poor Goku, want me to feed you???…unfortunately…me author only…can't interfere…bye bye…POOF!]
"Maybe there's an inn nearby or a restaurant perhaps" Hakkai said in between sweatdrops to cheer up his companions.
"In the hinterlands???!!!" Gojyo and Goku chorused.
Hakkai sweat dropped…just trying to cheer you up people… I know it won't work. "Well, the best thing we could do right now is to camp…Hakuryu is kinda tired already". A few faint Kyu Kyu's was heard as a reply from Hakuryu.
Hakkai stopped the jeep and Hakuryu transformed into his dragon form. Hakkai took a mat from their baggage and laid it on the desert floor. "Perhaps we could get some rest…since we have nothing to eat for lunch"
"Thanks to our stomach-brained saru here" Gojyo said eyeing Goku dangerously.
"Stomach-brained saru??? Look who's talking!!! Then you're a stomach-brained erro kappa!!!" Goku replied while summoning nyoibu, ready to attack Gojyo while Gojyo took out his blade-and-chain, ready to attack too.
BANG! BANG!
"Move a finger and both of you dies" Sanzo said, smoke coming out from his Smith and Wesson while he points it to Gojyo and Goku's direction. "You two keep quiet…I'm going to get some sleep, I need some rest" Sanzo said and lay on the mat.
"Ch'…almighty Sanzo-sama's dozing off again" Gojyo said. "You two keep quiet…I'm going to have my beauty sleep!…I…URF!!!" Gojyo said but before he finished mimicking Sanzo, and before he knew it, he received a flying harisen, which went directly into his mouth. [A/N: Great shot Sanzo-sama!]
"urfff!!! WHATDARHERFLARFURFTHIRKING??!!!" [translation: what the hell are you thinking?!] Gojyo said with the harisen stuck in his mouth.
Gojyo spit the harisen out of his mouth so that he could speak properly again. "Exactly what was that FOR???" but when he looked at Sanzo… he was already asleep…or pretending to be asleep.
"Ne minna-san…I think Sanzo is not in a good mood today, let's just…give him a break, Ne?" Hakkai said.
"And since when, is our dear Sanzo-sama in a good mood?!" Gojyo said. "Perhaps we could play cards while that corrupt monk is sleeping" Gojyo said taking a deck of cards from his pocket.
"All right!!! I'm going to win this time!!!" Goku said getting cards from Gojyo's hands.
" at sinong may sabing kasali ka??? [and who the hell told you that you're invited to play???] KIDS are not allowed to gamble!!…and anyways, ANIMALS don't play cards!" Gojyo said taking the cards from Goku's hand.
"Gojyo-san, don't be too hard on Goku… perhaps he could be a substitute for Sanzo…" Hakkai said smiling. "…the more the merrier, Ne?"
"Ch'…Alright…" was Gojyo's reply and cheers from Goku could be heard…
…Yes…this is a very normal scene for Sanzo's group. So normal… that almost everyone knows it. But this time… everything will change… because while the three are playing cards… they didn't know that Sanzo is in deep thoughts…they didn't know, that Sanzo have a very hard decision to make…a decision… that could change their lives…a decision that could change their normal lives…and it is a decision about Sanzo leaving the group.
***FLASH BACK***
in heaven…
The lotuses are floating beautifully like myriads of stars in the pond. It was a very serene place…so calm and still. But approaching footsteps suddenly broke the tranquility of the said place…and it was Jiroushin; Kanzeon Bosatsu's confidant.
He whispered something to the goddess who is blissfully watching the pond where scenes about her nephew materialize. And by the looks of her reaction when she received Jiroushin's message…It is obviously bad news.
"This will break Konzen's heart…" Kanzeon uttered silently.
"We have no choice…it was HIM who decided on this" Jiroushin said. And by the word HIM, he referred to the highest-ranked god, the one who seats in the almighty throne…constantly ordering people around, making their life in heaven a world of ennui. He just have his birthday last week, and a grand festival was made just for him…a celebration that everyone in his kingdom of heaven must attend…and one celebration that Kanzeon Bosatsu slept on because of boredom.
"…but why?…it was so sudden…" Kanzeon said while watching his nephew Konzen in the pond together with his companions. "Gods like us should not interfere with the living…we just have to watch them…" she added looking at the pond again.
"What must we do then Goddess of Mercy?" Jiroushin said, weariness in his eyes.
"I must talk to HIM," Kanzeon said. She stands up from her chair, Jiroushin following her trail.
…meanwhile…in an inn…
The Sanzo-ikkou is sleeping peacefully, unfortunately, they have to share one room for the night and they have to play cards to know who's going to sleep in the nice, comfy bed…and as usual, Hakkai won. Gojyo, Goku and Sanzo are sleeping in futons the innkeeper provided for them.
But unfortunately…one of them, is about to be disturbed…
Sanzo…… Sanzo…… Sanzo……Sanzo woke up and looked frantically around him… "Who's there?!"
…back in heaven…
"Kanzeon Bosatsu…are you sure about this?" Jiroushin said but did not receive a reply. They reached the quarters of the God; Kanzeon opened the heavy golden doors.
"Will you explain to me what's happening around here?" Kanzeon demanded.
The room was full of people; courtiers and other gods, busily talking crap to each other…and in the farthest part of the room was a huge throne…and the person sitting in it gave them a sinister smile.
"I've been expecting you." The head God said. "So…you've heard…"
"Exactly, why…" but before Kanzeon Bosatsu could finish her sentence, the God has spoken…
"You see my dear Goddess of Mercy, you know that your nephew; Konzen did his task perfectly well down there…Homura is no more, heaven is at ease…"
"…and bloody-darn BORING as usual?" Kanzeon said in disgust.
"Kanzeon Bosatsu…Please watch your words before the God…" Jiroushin whispered, tone of fear in his voice. But the God started to speak again…
"As I was saying… Konzen, together with his youkai companions did their task in defeating Homura very well…and now that they've finished…"
"So…That's why you're planning to separate them?!!!…" Kanzeon said, loosing all her control and posture. "You think that… since Homura is no more, their journey to the west must be put to an end??…Let me remind you if you're forgetting something…they're journey hasn't even started!…the true nature of their journey to the west is to stop Gyumao from being resurrected!!!" Kanzeon said taking deep breaths and taking back her control.
"…actually, that's not the case here…" The God replied. "You see… Now that Gyumao's resurrection project is starting again, the overuse of magic and science is causing a lot of havoc down there…" he said, gesturing below. "You, see, as head God, I have reasons for my plans…"
"…And exactly, what is that reason?" Kanzeon said eyeing the God suspiciously.
The God looked at Kanzeon cannily and said "You know that one of the effects of Gyumao's resurrection is the youkai's going berserk…out of control…attacking people, smudging disgusting blood in their hands…such filthy manners…and now that the resurrection project is getting stronger and the misuse of magic and technology getting…… "
"Hmmpphh…so you're trying to say that Konzen's youkai companions will go "berzzzerk" one day and try to eat him?" Kanzeon said sarcastically. "It is I, who ordered that Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku to be Konzen's, I mean, SANZO's companions to stop Gyumao's resurrection…they've experienced a lot together already and learned a lot along the way…and…and…" Kanzeon stopped.
"…developed FRIENDSHIP???" The God said. "Do you really think that they're friends??!!!" The God said and laughed. It was not a pleasant laugh…a laugh not good to hear…it is the kind of laugh people use when mocking others…and it echoed in the room.
Kanzeon didn't speak, she wasn't that sure. All her life in heaven [and who knows how long and boring it was] she spent the happiest hours watching what's happening down below. But all those time, she didn't realize if Sanzo, Hakkai, Goku and Gojyo really developed TRUE friendship.
"…Actually, I think that it will be good news for Konzen to know that he is now free to leave those filthy youkais!…" The God said laughing.
"How dare you!!!…you don't know MUCH about them!!!" Kanzeon said in rage. "Every day I've been watching them…and I know how they get through things! How they helped each other out! How they managed to survive!!"
"I'm sorry, but I have decided…" The God said. "Do you really trust those youkais?!!…"
"We all know that they've been Gods too like us before!!!" Kanzeon corrected.
"...But I can't risk having Gyumao resurrected…and if those three youkais are becoming a hindrance for Sanzo into finishing his task…then we'll all be damned!…without a fighting god, imagine what will happen to the world when Gyumao is revived!…We can't just trust anybody…just looked at what happened to Homura? We let him live here in heaven even if he's unclean…but how did he repay us?!!! By creating a new world and almost destroying heaven!!!" The God said, his voice echoing loudly in the room. Everyone in the room was looking at them already. Amazed by what they have heard.
"…You're not thinking quite clearly…The four of them BEING TOGETHER, is what made them finish every task given to them!!! It's what urges them to continue!!! They're destined to be together!" Kanzeon said.
"You really think that this friends of your nephew can help!!!" The God said. "I know that I know little about these people!! But I've heard a lot about them everyday!!! I heard that two of them are always fighting for mere food, one has a dark past, and wait…I heard that one of them is unclean, a taboo to be precise, and I also learned that sometimes they've been helping their OWN enemies!!! Actually, I even doubt if that nephew of yours can do this task!…"
Kanzeon just smiled and replied. "…Have you heard about the value of friendship???…"
The God did not reply.
"…it's just plain obvious that you didn't have any friends…" Kanzeon said. "Come Jiroushin…" Kanzeon said and they exited the room, smile still on her face as Jiroushin closed the doors, they could hear that a great commotion started inside, particularly people talking about what has just happened.
"Kanzeon, what will happen now?" Jiroushin said as they entered the place with the pond again. "Without Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku…specially Goku!…how will your nephew finish the task alone!"
"That stupid God!!! Deciding on pointless things!!" Kanzeon said looking at the pond again as vivid figures about what's happening below appeared.
"hmmm…but somehow…I kinda liked his decision…a little bit…" Kanzeon said smiling slyly. Jiroushin saw that smile plenty of times already, and he knew that Kanzeon Bosatsu have something in mind again.
"…the only problem is…now that you've mentioned it…is how his companions will react on this…" Kanzeon said, "specially Goku…"
hmmm…can you live without the sun? Kanzeon thinks to herself as she dropped a lotus flower in the pond and the reflection of Goku, Hakkai and Gojyo sleeping took place.
…back in the inn…
"Who are you?" Sanzo repeated again. He looked around…Goku was muttering in his sleep again, talking about the last pork bun, Gojyo was snoring and so was Hakuryu, Hakkai was peacefully sleeping; the only one who is quiet in the room. Suddenly… the scenario changed… the room turned blue, and the sound of waterfalls could be heard…suddenly, waterfalls really poured on the walls…and the walls…actually they're now gone. Sanzo is like being swallowed by the waterfalls, he prepared his gun just in case enemies might be lurking in places. But no vicious youkais appeared…only three familiar heads appeared in the falls…The San-Butsu-Shin…or the Three Aspects…
" Sanzo…we have a very important message to deliver to you…" The middle one said.
"We don't know how to say this to you…but…" The left one said.
"What is it?" Sanzo asked, hiding his gun. "Is it about a new task? If it is, then count me out, I have my hands full and there are other Sanzos out there anyway…why not ask them?" Sanzo said quite annoyed. "I really need sleep now…"
"No, Sanzo, it's far more important than that…It's about your friends…" The right one said.
"Ch'…friends???…you're forgetting something, they are my servants…" Sanzo replied.
The Three aspects just looked at each other. The middle one begun to speak…
"Will you still call them your servants even if we'll tell you that God's ordering you to leave them??"
Sanzo was silent for the moment…he cannot believe his ears, at first he was asking them why he has to be acquainted with youkais, but now…they're asking him to leave them??? At first, Sanzo don't know how to react…but he collected his courage and asked…
"And what's the reason?"
The three aspects did not answer.
"So…you're trying to tell me to leave them because I just have too and because some God is ordering me to?" Sanzo said sarcastically.
"It's because they're youkais" the middle one said. No tone of conviction and certainty could be heard in his voice.
"Ch'…that's not a good explanation" Sanzo said. "You know that Hakkai was once human and Gojyo is a half-breed taboo…and anyways, I already know about the past! We're once gods and…"
"Yes…we know that, but this is an order…and anyways, your companions didn't know about their past life…only you knows about them" said the right one.
"We know that it will be hard to convince you, but God ordered us to tell you this other message…" the left one said.
"If you will not follow HIS order…you will loose your power in using the sutra…and you will not be able to use your credit card anymore" the right one said.
"Ch'…so you're bribing me?" Sanzo said. "Such a cowardly manner for a god…"
"We're sorry but our task is finished now, we've given you the message…Now it's up to you to decide…we'll be giving you five days to decide and explain the situation to your comrades…" the middle one said.
"Ch'…and exactly how will I stop Gyumao from being resurrected without their help?" Sanzo asked.
"That's not a problem, they'll have substitutes, you'll meet them once you've decided" the middle one said.
"substitutes???" Sanzo said.
"Yes…humans like yourself, the best among the land will help you to stop Gyumao's resurrection" said the right one.
And before Sanzo could ask another question, the three Gods disappeared into nothingness.
Sanzo was back in the room; he can't believe what just happened. He looked at his companions who are still sleeping and remembered the things that they've been through. Now he must decide…
***END OF FLASH BACK***
"NANI??? You've won again!!!" Gojyo said looking at Hakkai's cards.
"I'm just lucky I guess" Hakkai said smiling.
"Harrahetta!!!" Goku said holding his stomach. "Hakkai, you've won five games in a row…loosing makes me more hungry!!!"
"I guess it's time for us to journey now, Hakuryu have slept too much already…and speaking of dozing off…when will that corrupt monk wake up!!!…urf!!!" Gojyo said and again, before he knew it, a harisen came flying through the air and was stuck right into his mouth.
"NGYOURAWEYKORALWRONGFR!!!!" [translation: You're awake all along!!!]. Gojyo took the harisen off his mouth so that he could speak properly again.
Hakkai fixed the deck of cards and neatly placed the mat back in their baggage. Hakuryu turned into a jeep once again and everyone hopped in. Hakkai started the engine and an "Ikuzo" signal from Sanzo told them that it's time to go.
They spent the whole trip normally [which means: Gojyo and Goku fighting about nonsense in the back, Sanzo stopping them with his gun and his harisen and Hakkai smiling, saying "Ah! So peaceful!"] until dusk came and they reached the town.
They looked for an inn to rest and everyone have their own rooms. They ate at a good restaurant like they've been to war, wolfing almost all the rations of the restaurant [specially Goku and Gojyo…and Hakuryu] and went back to the inn and into their rooms.
Before Hakkai entered his bedroom he said to the other three "We're kinda lucky today Ne minna-san?…I just noticed that we're not attacked by youkais today"
"That's right! And now that I'm full I can't wait to exercise" Goku said cheerfully.
"welll….I'm going out today…I'll just look for some you-know-whats in you-know-where and will do some stuff" Gojyo said with a wide grin and left the inn.
Hakkai and Goku entered their rooms. Sanzo was left staring at the bright moon that just appeared after the sunset…
Three days left…what would I do now??? In myself something's telling me that I must leave them…anyway…I objected being with them in the first place…but somewhere…here in my heart most particularly…someone's telling me that I should not leave them…could this be what they call friendship???…
Sanzo's thoughts was broken by a light tug in his sleeves…it was Goku.
"Ne Sanzo…daijoubou? Is something bothering you?" He said, Golden eyes shining.
Sanzo looked at him…Goku…the voice that he always heard…the one that he calls his pet…and usually baka saru…but now, as he looked at his eyes, Sanzo felt something different…he saw in his eyes something warm…is this lil' guy his friend?…
Then Hakkai stepped out of his room and joined them… "Is there a problem?" green eyes looking at Sanzo and then at Goku.
…and Hakkai…is he a friend too? …Is he not just a nice guy who always gives him advice?… A person who always smiles and cheers everyone's spirit up?…Is he not just a person who have a rich sense of humor that makes fun of them sometimes?…a person who's so good in gambling and drinking booze?…a driver?…Is he a someone to be called friend???
Then someone entered the inn…it was Gojyo "Hey, everyone's still up? I'm back because I can't find any girl here that's my taste…this town is kinda boring so I returned instead…Er…did I miss anything?" He said, red eyes wide.
…and this redhead?, this person that he almost killed alongside with Goku whenever they're arguing…the person they called erro kappa because of his ways…the happy-go-lucky guy, the person Goku also calls gokiburi or redroach because of his hair…the scandalous rogue everyone knows…is he deserving to be called a friend too??
"Hey Sanzo…are you alright?" The three chorused.
Sanzo went back to reality and looked at his companions…companions?…or more of "friends"???
"I'm all right…" Sanzo said and then thinks to himself…how about me? Am I a person to be called a friend??
And for the first time that day…Sanzo smiled. …Well…I have to find out…
__________________********____________________
To be continued…
….what do you think will Sanzo do now???
….will Kanzeon interfere??? [btw…sorry if she's a lil' OOC in this fic]
….will they learn the true value of friendship??? [ngerks!
Cornie!]
….how will Goku, Gojyo and Hakkai react???
….let's wait for chappie two!!! (^_~)
A/N: thank goodness this chapter is finished [looks at time…exactly 5:34 a.m.]…Yipes! My dad will kill me for this if he finds out! Well…It's just that I can't sleep if my work is not done…I dunno…I just can't sleep… I'll just end up twisting in bed waiting for morning to come so that I could start working [actually it's already morning and I haven't had any sleep yet]. I hope that you like my fic…please review…(^_^)…and please…don't be harsh on me [I'm just a begginer]…If there's part of it that you don't like…you can tell it to me nicely ne? oyasumi then…ooops…I mean ohayou!!!
(-_-)zzzzzz {doze off to dream land}
dragon_wing_master mumbling while sleeping…
dragon_wing_master: Ummm…{sleep sleep}…what…for me? {sleep sleep}, You're giving me hakuryu? {sleep sleep}…Awww…Hakkai, how sweet {sleep sleep}