Seiko: I don't own Saiyuki, and never own it until I die, got that? Now read the chapter already and I don't want to say anything about reviews. Just do it if you want to, if you don't, just leave it. Understood? Good.
Goku: {sweat dropped} Why so short, ne Seiko-chan?
Hakkai: Yare yare desu ne…Stop sulking like that, Seiko-chan.
Sanzo: Ch, that's great she stopped that baka conversations already.
Gojyo: But…But…
Seiko: Shaddap. {closes door} {starts typing} {looks at readers} I'm not the same old seiko, mind you. I'm extremely disappointed about myself, I can hardly think of any baka #insert every curse you know# JOKES. So, you too, shaddap and just read this baka fic until I finish. {cries} (T-T) Now stop looking at me like that!!! Uuuuu…
Goku: Poor Seiko, ne?
Sanzo: Let her be like that, she's a baka alright.
Seiko: {singing 'Evolution' by Ayumi} Konna toki ni umaretsuita yo, da kedo nan to ka susundet'te, da kara nan to ka koko ni tatte, bokura wa kyou o okutte'ru, wow yeah…wow yeah…wow yeaaahhh!!!
Others: ………She's crazy for sure.
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MISCHIEVOUS SPIRIT
Chapter 7 – Truth LiesIt was a very fine day with soft warm comforting breeze blew the atmosphere surrounding the four boys and the girl. The wind brushed their faces soothingly, and the scent of maple trees pricked their noses, while the sun was shining restfully and it brightened the whole day with its glow.
The shady trees lined up all along the route, fringing the way to the next village.
The boys were feeling fine, none of them felt like arguing, fighting or what so ever it was, they were sitting silently on the jeep, listening.
Listening to the silver-haired girl who was doing all the talking. Her hair swayed freely by the wind, and she halted for a while, making the elders had the chance to ask her almost all about everything she had just explained.
It all started when Goku asked Izuko about the spirit, the pendant…
…And herself.
"…Izuko? May I ask you something?"
"Sure, just name it"
The girl somehow felt rather odd when for the first time Goku sounded so serious about it. He was setting his golden orbs right on her black ones and Izuko didn't know that saru could be THIS kind of person, ABRUPTLY.
"…What actually happened to the spirit, inside this pendant?"
Goku clasped the pendant around his neck firmly, before he turned to the black-eyed girl once again. The female latter stared back at Goku when then she started talking her thoughts out.
"…That's a long story, Goku. And it's not necessary for you to know. Once we killed that man, it would vanished and never disturb you anymore."
The elders were all quite stunned by that explanation, short, but it sounded as if she was hesitating to tell them the whole story.
"We have enough time to hear them, Izuko-san." Hakkai interfered.
Izuko looked at the dark-haired man, and she saw a slight smile was formed neatly on his calmed face. She turned to Sanzo, who was pretending to sleep, trying not to response to any of the girl's talk.
"…It's too difficult, either to understand, or to explain about it."
"…Onegai, Izuko. We really want to know, please?" Goku voiced out again, and his expression was more than serious.
Gojyo threw away his cigarette before he lit up another one, and he was wondering what made this saru interested in this matter at the first place?
'…I thought his head is filled with foods, foods, foods, all over.'
Izuko laid her aching back, relaxing herself after she had bent for almost two hours, staring at her pendant. Nothing else to do, since the saru and kappa were both bored by the same fight, and they had just eaten their supplies just then.
Izuko sighed and she faced the elders, before she started her story.
"Saa, what do you want to know?"
"…This pendant." Goku showed the pendant, which started to reflect the sun's bright light, making Izuko's face in front got brightened vaguely.
"…Well, you see…You might not believe in what I'm going to tell you, but that's the truth."
The elders waited patiently, even Sanzo opened his eyes and stared at the girl behind through the rear mirror. Hakkai, Gojyo and mostly Goku, paid their attentions toward the girl, ignoring everything else.
By that, Izuko continued.
"…This pendant is one of the four sacred pendants in the world, as far as I know. They are all made of different jades, but they only have THREE abilities. First, it can give you whatever that you desire, secondly it can give someone another chance to live and third…"
"…It can destroy anything. Absolutely anything."
The boys were shocked, and they stared at Izuko in such disbelief. Izuko inhaled some air into her lungs before she continued her story while clasping her fingers altogether and placed them right before her pinkish lips, elbows on each lap.
"…But with one condition. The pendants must have a spirit trapped in it, as its energy source."
"…That means this pendant, also has the power to do that?"
"Yes, to bring happiness, as well as destroying this world."
"…But how?" Gojyo bent nearer to the young girl.
"…When the wearer of those sacred pendants got killed, then that's the only way to make the spirit trapped inside. Otherwise, it would be free."
"If only they were killed?"
"…Sou, Hakkai-san. Since these jades have the power to control the world WITH a spirit locked in it, those who wanted to conquer the world before had killed the heirs in order to make the pendants reactivate."
They were shocked, stunned. Gojyo was the one who protested the cruel acts.
"…Why so mean??? Innocent beings got killed, just because of those damned pendants??"
"...What are you trying to say is...the spirit owned the pendant, and got killed, making her trapped in it for 10 years already. But since Goku had picked it up without any special ritual made, the spirit controlled him before, right?"
Hakkai seemed to understand the story well, and he replied the girl clear enough. Izuko nodded before she continued.
"….Yes, unfortunately. And I found out that there are only two of them which are still exist, while the other three might be destroyed entirely or maybe they're still subsist, I'm not sure…."
Goku jerked back, followed by Sanzo's usual 'ch'.
"Destroyed? How come?"
"Once the jades were used to do the biddings for that cruel person, they were self-destructed."
Gojyo started to get worried, and he suddenly moved even closer to Izuko, making the girl yanked back and met with Sanzo's seat.
"What???"
"…Are you telling us the truth?"
Gojyo's crimson eyebrow lifted a bit, making Izuko felt rather uncomfortable. But unexpectedly, Goku pushed the kappa back to his seat hard, piercing a sharp glare toward Gojyo.
"…Shut up, Gojyo!!! I wanna know the whole story!!"
Gojyo was dumbfounded, that he quickly sat back followed with a cheeky grin.
'Ch, I guess I don't have any chance to date her, ne? The saru got her first.'
Izuko sighed in relieve before she turned back facing Goku, hugging herself quite tight.
"…There's another cause that might made those pendants vanished."
The ikkou widened their ears as Izuko started to explain another fact.
"…When the wearers sacrificed themselves to save other people, I mean they gave their life to that person. Willingly, without any doubts."
Four shounens gawked at Izuko with such dubious, confused expressions. First, the killings and then sacrifices? What made those pendant heirs determined themselves to own that sacred pendants anyway?
Hakkai voiced out all his thoughts about the sacrificing matter.
"…So, you mean that those who had these pendants before had the ability to 'donate' their own souls to save others?"
Izuko nodded, making her silver fringe shook slightly between her forehead.
"…What about the others?" Hakkai turned back before he looked back on the road.
"…Well, as far as I know the pendants are now safe, since they are no villains who take them and use the pendants for bad things. Dakara, we must protect this pendant Goku wear, or else. This is one of the sacred jades left…"
"Wait. You said once the pendant fell in any bad guys, and then it will self-destroyed, ne? So how come this one's still like this? Didn't the man take it away?" Gojyo voiced out.
Izuko stared at the pendant, puzzled by the question.
"Hmm…It makes sense, Gojyo-san. But I don't know about it, and in this case, I guess the man didn't do anything bad using this spirit. Just don't know why…"
The elders were fully understood. They found it weird at first but it did make sense after all by using living spirits as the energy source, it was just that the way to kill the innocent humans and youkais was too mean. Too selfish.
Hakkai finally recalled something about the pendant, and he abruptly asked the girl.
"By the way, is your pendant one of the sacred pendants?"
Izuko was dumbfounded by the sudden question, and she was shocked hearing it abruptly. It was about HER pendant, for crying out loud. Not that around Goku's neck, but HERS.
She hesitated for a while, making the boys felt rather restless waiting for her reply. She was struggling with her mind whether to tell them or not. They were strangers, and what if they killed her after they heard the whole story about her?
"Izuko? Daijoubu ka?" Goku tapped the girl's hand, and she abruptly jerked her hand back, shocked by Goku's sudden act.
"…Well, do tell us about yourself now, and I shall date you after this, how's that?"
Gojyo giggled, and Izuko was damned sure that kappa was joking, and she could hear the bouzu cursed over and over again, with Hakkai's chuckling, facing the road. While Goku, he was staring deeply into the lass's eyes, pleading her to continue speaking.
"…I can't tell you that."
That was the answer Izuko gave out, and the elders were quite stunned by the reply. She sure was hiding the whole thing about herself, and her pendant. It was shown clearly by her abrupt response on revealing her true self.
"Aaaa??? Why is that??" Gojyo protested, joined by Goku's 'arghh' as well.
"…Sumimasen, but I will never tell anyone. Especially to you, Gojyo-san! I consider you as strangers, no way I'm going to tell you anything about me."
Izuko ignored the screaming saru and kappa, she kept staring at her pendant before she turned to Hakkai, forming her best smile.
"I'm sorry, but do understand Hakkai-san. I'll tell you once if we know each other better."
Hakkai looked back straight to the girl's face, and she was smiling cutely that any boy's heart would melt seeing her like that. No doubt, she was as naïve, as adorable as Goku. Furthermore, she was still a teenager like the saru.
"No, I really don't mind Izuko." Hakkai smiled, and it made Izuko felt eased. She turned to Sanzo who was still cursing both Goku and Gojyo who were fighting over…
…FOODS, what else??
"…Let go of MY meat bun, kono baka saru!!"
"…What?? I don't see any names on it!!! Kono kappa!!!"
"NANI??? Kono baka baka baka baka saru!!! Give it back!!"
Miraculously, this time there was a winner, Goku! He jumped and jumped and he reached the bun from kappa's hand, stuck in the bun into his mouth hastily.
"ARGHHH!!! Give it back, saru!!"
"…I've eaten it, baka kappa!! Hahahaha!!"
"…KONO BAKA SARU!!!"
"I'm NOT A SARU, EROTIC HENTAI GOKIBURI KAPPA!!!"
"What??? Baka saru saru saru saru!!"
"…Kono kappa kappa kappa kappa kappa!!!"
Izuko sweat dropped along with Hakkai and the monk in front, felt rather amazed by the boys' childish acts. They looked exactly like kids, despite of their age…
Izuko desperately moved away from the fighting saru and kappa to avoid any injuries, and she pushed herself between Hakkai and Sanzo, sitting there and viewed the entertaining show performed by those scalawags.
"Saa, I guess this is much more better than the Kabuki and No*, ne Hakkai-san?"
She giggled gleefully with Hakkai, and the bouzu was longing to smack their heads out cold so much, for making such a fuss about foods. His hands itched for the harisen, and then…
"ARGHHHHHH!!! URUSAI!!!!!!"
'THWACK, THWACK, THWACK, THWACK, THWACK, THWACK!!!!'
"ITAI!!!!!"
"…IT HURTS, BAKA BOUZU!!!"
Izuko couldn't hold it anymore that she burst out laughing at those three. Sanzo was now standing at the back, letting Izuko sat on his seat. He was still tormenting Goku and Gojyo just to make them shut up their mouth. Not to mention his curses…
The trio stopped suddenly when they saw Izuko giggled in front, and they felt like dumb when their 'thwacking session' became an entertainment already, due to that girl's laugh.
"…Stop it already! I just can't hold it!!" she giggled again, and it surely made Sanzo retreated back his sugoku harisen.
Izuko was still chuckling while switching back her place with cursing Sanzo, when all of a sudden…
'THWACK!!!'
"Owww!! It hurts, Sanzo!!!"
This time, not that both saru and kappa became the victims, but Izuko!
Izuko shut her mouth up, and Hakkai in front was calming Sanzo down with all his might, while those two stared at her amazingly.
"…What are you staring at? Itai...."
She kept on rubbing her head, when then both Goku and Gojyo laughed at her, followed by her laugh along after that. They sure felt amused when they had something in common, at least.
Sanzo was damned mad with the noise, when Hakkai interrupted his cursing.
"…It's like a dream, ne, Sanzo? Just a night before Goku almost died, and right now he was laughing with that girl."
"…Aa, and I feel more than worse."
"…But don't you think she was trying to hide something from us?"
Hakkai was almost whispering and those three behind were totally ignoring his conversations with Sanzo, they kept on giggling to their dumb acts.
"…Like hell I care about it."
Hakkai chuckled nervously by that weird reply, when then Sanzo stood up again and…
'BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!'
"…URUSE!!!!!!!"
"Yare yare desu ne…"
Hakkai was feeling disturbed by the girl's true identity, and he was sure that the pendant she wore was one of the sacred ones.
'But if it did, then whose spirit was in it?'
'She's not an assassin as I can see…'
'…But for sure, she had a dark past. Maybe worse than us…'
'…And those eyes, I just don't know…'
'…Yet, she has this 'ki' energy, although I don't sense any yuki form from her, none. She's not a youkai.'
'…What is she anyway?'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun was about to buried itself and the sky turned its blue colour to orange, and the scene was more than wonderful when several little birds chirped merrily as they flew together in a group back to their nests.
Sanzo, who was leaning his back against a big tree trunk and he was the one who felt most calmed. He recalled back that incident with Oshio-sama, where he suddenly realised…
…For the first time he admitted there was something that was prettier than him.
Ch, baka namaguza stingy bouzu with such miserable attitudes always thought that he was the only beautiful thing in this world!
Sanzo threw away his cigarette, and his beautiful amethyst eyes were both set on the bright sun, which was going down and welcoming the night warmly with its touch.
"Oi, Hakkai. When will we start moving?"
"…I'm afraid we have to wait until tomorrow, Sanzo. It's almost two days non-stop, and I don't want to take risk on having an injured dragon while traveling."
Sanzo grunted, but he didn't cursed. He had no idea why did he feel strange that day, was it because of his hungry stomach, which he didn't care much, as long as he could eat his whole cigarettes. Or was it because…
…Goku had stopped whining for food.
That chocolate-haired boy was sitting crossed-legs with Gojyo and that strange mysterious girl with them, and they were playing 'Truth or Dare' together with Hakkai and Hakuryu.
Sanzo grunted again, since his 'servants' didn't look like they cared much about this spiritual matter. He somehow lit up his next cigarette, and he found out that he was almost out of his nicotine supplies.
"Ch, baka."
The other four were still talking and talking cheerfully, and they were actually arguing about who was going to start first. Hakkai pointed to Izuko, and she pointed to the saru before the saru pointed to the kappa. It went on over and over again as Gojyo pointed back to Hakkai.
"Yare yare desu ne………Then we'll never start playing, ne?"
Everyone looked at Gojyo, who was relaxing himself like a lazy kappa already. He realised that, and he quickly sat up before the saru argued with him again, and he sighed heavily.
"Okay, okay! I'll be the first!!"
"Yatta!! You're gorgeous, kappa!" Izuko replied joyfully.
"…Oi, was that a compliment or an insult??"
"Hayaku, Gojyo!! Hayaku, hayaku!!" Goku's eyes widened in excitement.
"…That's right, Gojyo-san! Truth or dare?"
Gojyo rubbed his chin hilariously, and he suddenly voiced out.
"DARE!!"
"Okay then, let's see…" Izuko pulled the other guys near her and whispered something to them, while glaring at dozing Sanzo behind.
"Woah, that's great, Izuko!! But are you sure you're not going to be whacked??"
"…Well, that's the most powerful dare ever! We'll run away after that!"
Izuko turned to Gojyo who was feeling rather nervous when the latter grinned devilishly towards him. She crawled next to Gojyo's ears and whispered his dare of the day when…
"...OI, ARE YOU CRAZY OR WHAT????"
"…Maa, maa Gojyo! You want a dare, right? So, that's what we chose for you!"
Goku giggled together with Izuko when Gojyo abruptly stood up and glared at those people.
"You better be right about this, onna!"
Gojyo walked towards Sanzo, who was totally ignoring his companions and he was having his own private sleeping time when that kappa suddenly came in front of him and…
…………….
...………….
'WHACKKK!!!'
"Kono hentai yarou kappa!!! nani shiteru???"
Gojyo was groaning painfully on the ground, while Sanzo started to thwack that kappa's head out burst and he 'accidentally' turned back to those behind, and…
"………MUARKH HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
Sanzo's face was filled with black marker's stain all around his eyes, and it looked so much like a pair of broad glasses, while there was a thick, I mean it, THICK moustache right upper than his mouth! Not to mention A LOT of black beard around his chin up to his ears.
His eyes were garlanded with curly eyelashes, and his blonde eyebrows were blackened by the pen! (...Just imagine his eyebrows almost looked like Shin Chan's dad...SO THICK!)
His cheeks were 'decorated beautifully' with some hand-made cat's whiskers, and there was a heart-shaped mark right surrounding his red small chakra on his forehead! But the funniest thing was that there were several dots on his cheeks and they looked like...pimples!!! BIIG ones!!
"Hahahahahahahah!!!"
They laughed so hard that the calm night became such a noisy night already. Goku was laughing so hard that he rolled all over the ground with Izuko. Hakkai was trying to hold on his laugh, and he kept on telling those kids not to laugh, when actually he WAS laughing along with them.
Their eyes were filled with tears, they were crying caused by the laughing!
Sanzo was damned mad that time. His veins all popped out MORE than usual, that his hands reached his harisen and……
'THWACK, THWACK, THWACK, THWACK!!!'
"Itai yo, baka bouzu!!"
"Itai da zo!! Why did you do that?? Iteeee…"
"Kono gaki…"
Yeah, yeah, like usual those kids would be the victims of the night, and Hakkai had already ran away with Hakuryu deep into the woods, preventing himself from being smacked together with them.
Not only that, he was essentially wanted to pick up some firewood, so that the night wouldn't be too freezing. Hakuryu came along with his master, flying over Hakkai's head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Nee, Izuko?"
Izuko was sitting with legs stretched straight in front, enjoying her midnight snack, after been kicked by Sanzo numerous times as the result of her stupid dare. She turned to Goku, who was approaching her slowly.
She waited for the boy to sit down, and she started to get worried about Goku, since she predicted that the spirit might have told him anything about that man.
Goku sat crossed-legs next to Izuko, as the young lass moved a bit and gave some space to him. She handed one of her buns, and was gleefully taken by the saru.
"…What is it?"
Goku munched and munched, and he seemed like he had forgotten about what he was going to ask Izuko before. Foods, always affect Goku's attitude, don't you think so?
"Goku! What is it you want to talk about?"
"Eh? Hmmm…Oh, about this pendant."
"Again? I've told you everything about it ne?"
"…Not THIS pendant, THIS pendant."
Goku raised his hand and clasped Izuko's pendant in his palm, and Izuko's veins popped out like crazy on his head as Goku looked so baka and he was actually ALMOST touched Izuko…
"…Itai yo!!! Nan da yo??"
"You…hentai saru!! Get away from me!!"
They started arguing again, making Sanzo who had just came back from the river together with Hakkai grunted and cursed those two youngsters. Hakkai looked at his face and chuckled nervously.
"Sanzo, there're still some on your cheeks! Go wash them, hayaku before Gojyo awakes and laughs at you again!"
"…Kuso that kappa!!"
He took almost FIVE hours just to wash away the marker's mark on his face, but still, some of them couldn't vanished. So, ignoring others, he went to the river once more followed by Hakkai and Hakuryu at the back.
Thankfully the marker wasn't the permanent one, like how Goku did to Hakkai's palm long time ago.
Back to the gakis, they were having such a great fight and Izuko suddenly gave up, as she didn't want to wake that swollen kappa up and he might as well makes chaos again.
"Huh, then what is it about my pendant?"
"…Like what Hakkai asked you before, does your pendant has a spirit in it?"
Goku halted rubbing his head, and stared at the dumbfounded girl in front, leaning against a tree.
"…Should I tell you this? What for?"
"…I'm curious about you, to say the truth. Why actually did you save me?"
"Because you're in trouble, that's why!"
"…But you looked so much like you want something from us! Don't tell me you want Sanzo's Evil Sutra too??"
Izuko was shocked. She had never thought about Goku scolding her like that, just because of his curiosity, he was persistent, all right. Goku kept on staring at her eyes fretfully, and he waited for something…
…tears.
Goku had his own way to make others do what he wanted, and in this case……….
…he was making Izuko cry.
'…Is she a heretic just like me? Is that so? I must know this, Hakkai told me her eyes turned gold when she cried…'
"Goku? What happened to you?"
"…Admit it, you want to kill Sanzo, right??"
"…Goku!"
"…That's why you saved me, and you don't want us to know about yourself, as you're trying to steal the sutra away!!"
"…………"
Izuko lowered her head, facing the dirt while then her tears started to gather in her eyes. Her shoulders shook a bit, due to the sobbing. She wiped away her tears harshly, but still, it wouldn't stop falling.
She didn't have any intent to kill anyone, nor to steal anyone's belongings. She asked herself why she had saved that boy before, who was a stranger who didn't know anything about her past.
'…Nan da ka? Why did I save him? Because he's a heretic, like ME?"
Izuko sat on the ground once more, sobbing quietly while hugging her white coat tight. She was shaking in fear, as her thoughts went thinking about her past, as if it happened again right in front of her eyes.
Goku felt miserable. He himself didn't know what was he doing, making a girl cry just to see her true self. But still, he knelt before the weeping girl, to make sure that girl was an itan after all.
"…Izuko?"
Still, she didn't stop sobbing.
"…Izuko, I didn't mean to……"
"…Shut up."
Goku halted. He looked at the girl, and he tried hard enough to see her eyes, but failed since Izuko's silver locks kept covering her orbs. He then heard the girl whispered.
"…Shut up, you don't know me, Goku…"
Goku's heart soothed as he heard the girl's soft, sad voice. He was sure Izuko was having such a terrible past, just hearing her voice. So innocent, and pureness was shown clearly as she sobbed again, and she had managed to lower her sobs.
Goku felt pity for the girl. Although they didn't know each other, he felt like this girl was a long time friend of his. He too felt guilty when he raised his voice before, really, he didn't mean to hurt that lass's feelings.
'…but I must know the truth! Gomen, Izuko.'
Unexpectedly, Goku lifted his hand up and held Izuko's chin up slowly. Her white pale face faced Goku's and her tears were still rolling drop by drop down her cheeks. She looked so pitiful that time, and it looked like as if serenity fell on her pure face, making it shone vaguely at night.
Right when Goku lifted her chin, their eyes met.
Goku couldn't believe what he had just seen. Although it was such a dark night, Goku could see it clearly by the flames' slight light.
'Masaka…'
Their eyes met each other for quite a long time, and Goku was still stunned by that…
'…golden eyes.'
Izuko was actually felt rather puzzled when Goku looked at her like that, when abruptly she realised…
'He saw it…'
She hastily stood up and turned aside, but still, Goku's eyes were still on Izuko, refusing to gawk elsewhere…
…but her.
Izuko wiped away her tears hastily with her white coat and she was still facing towards the river, not Goku. She felt like running away, but then she had courage to open her mouth at last.
"You saw me, my true self. So now I guess it's useless for me to stay here any longer."
She turned to Goku once more, and her eyes were still gold, making the other itan stood up facing her, shocked about what was she talking about.
"…I don't want you to know about me, but now you do. So, I'm leaving then."
"What are you saying?? Why are you hiding yourself as an itan like me? And now you want to go??"
"Dakara, I've told you. Before you knew about me, my past… I need to leave."
"…BUT WHY???"
"…You'll cry over my death. IF I tell you what I am."
Goku was astonished as he felt a sudden chill ran through his body, cold freezing breeze blew slowly and it seemed as it was saying goodbye to Izuko already.
"...But you're just an itan like me!!"
"...Chigau(=it's different). I might be a heretic, but I'm totally different than anyone else in this world."
"...Nani? What do you mean by that??"
The girl bent and took her backpack after she tied her coat around her waist, and she started to step away from Goku.
"Dakara, I've told you, I can't tell you what am I. You won't believe it..."
'No…she's not going to leave…'
'After all those talking, laughing…And she goes away like that?'
'She's…a stranger, why should I care, actually?'
'…Goku?? What happened to you? Why are you feeling like this?? Why don't you want her to leave?'
'…She's a friend.'
'…No, she's not.'
'But I don't want her to go…'
'Why?'
'…Because…'
Goku was struggling with his own thoughts, puzzled by his own feelings.
But then, Goku grabbed Izuko's wrist tight, making the girl turned back and faced the itan once again. She looked at Goku in puzzlement, and her gaze changed towards their hands, which got attached firmly like they were glued together.
"…Don't leave me."
Izuko was perplexed. That boy sounded serious, and it was damned WEIRD, seeing Goku like that. His voice was straight, but full of emotion.
"…Just don't go."
"…Goku, let go of my hand."
"…I won't! Tell me you're not leaving!"
"I am leaving. So, let me go."
Izuko was struggling hard to release her wrist from Goku's grab but she just couldn't. Not knowing what to do, Izuko stared at Goku with such worried expression. She hadn't seen Goku this unrelenting, making her puzzled.
"What do you want from me? Just let me leave. I don't want to make you suffer!"
"…I want you to stay. Please, Izuko."
"…No, I'm going! Can't you understand me??"
Izuko struggled again, this time with her other hand's help. But Goku refused to let it go, and his attempt to make Izuko stay was a success when the girl gave up and sighed. She abruptly sat on the ground, making Goku jerked down together.
"Okay, then tell me why you want me to stay."
Goku was speechless.
'…Why? I…don't know why…My feelings said so, I just don't want you to leave us. But why?'
"…Goku? Answer me. Naze?"
"Well, I…don't have any idea why…"
"Then let go of me."
"No way!! I'm not going to let you leave us like this!!"
"But I have to! Like what I've said, you'll cry over my death, when you find out what I am!!"
"…I don't understand what're you talking about, just stay!!"
"…I won't!!! HANASE!!"
Izuko pulled back her hand hard abruptly making Goku let her wrist go. She rubbed her wrist as red marks started to form around her wrist due to Goku's firm grab. She stood up again, taking along her backpack along and stared at Goku.
"…You see, Goku. I have my own reasons why I'm leaving, and it's for your own good. I have my own past, and I don't want to trouble you, Hakkai-san, Sanzo-san or even that kappa over there. Dakara, I must leave."
Goku shut his mouth, and he let out his 'ch' while his fists shook in rage, angry with himself as he failed to stop Izuko from leaving.
"…Please understand, Goku."
The latter was still there, speechless. But Izuko could predict that Goku was imprecise with his thoughts. She knew well about this boy, he was childish. But sometimes he did act mature time by time.
Izuko knelt before Goku, placing her palm over Goku's diadem and flowed her bluish 'ki' through his head.
"…I'll seal your diadem for a while, until the spirit's free. She might throw it away if I don't."
But then, before she finished her ritual, a smooth grab reached her wrist once more, and yes, it was Goku who clasped Izuko's hand in his fist.
"…Tachisaru na. (=Don't leave)"
Izuko was astonished for the second time that she couldn't say a thing to that boy. Her eyes were both set on the itan's face, trying to reveal what was he thinking about that made him acted like…
…He wasn't Goku anymore.
The comforting wind brushed those teenagers' faces, making their hair swayed slightly. They kept on being speechless dolls when Goku made up his mind.
…that he wasn't going to let this girl go…
…that he wasn't going to lose her…
…that he'll pay her kindness back…
…for sure.
Goku moved his head nearer Izuko, and his body moved forward towards that girl, right after he let the girl's wrist go. Without any expectations…
…Goku hugged the girl. TIGHT.
His arms were placed firmly around that girl, embracing her tautly. He didn't know what was he doing, but he would never let her go if she kept on saying she was going to leave.
…never.
"…Don't leave us, please?"
"…Goku??"
Izuko was blushing severely due to what Goku did to her. The hug somehow got tighter and Izuko's head was positioned right on Goku's shoulder, her hands were down, she didn't hug back.
It was fine if Hakkai hugged her, as an elder brother. But this Goku? He might be older than Izuko, but that didn't mean she would treat him like her brother!
They were almost at the same age, and having someone like that to hug her, then it would be more than embarrassing.
Izuko pushed Goku's shoulder away, and he let his hug go right when he felt Izuko's hands pushed him away. He faced Izuko again, who was still blushing but something was wrong…
…She smiled calmly towards Goku but then…
"…I won't go, Goku. But…"
'THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!'
"…Hugging me like that is ILLEGAL in my dictionary!!! Baka hentai saru!!"
"Itai yo!! Stop it already!!"
Izuko kept on thwacking the saru's head hard with a stick she found on the ground, hitting him like crazy.
The noise somehow made Gojyo woke up from his unconsciousness and halted seeing the girl smacked hard Goku's head. He scratched his head, not having any idea why did she get angry that much. But for sure, he found it funny and all of a sudden, he laughed.
Both of the youngsters halted and stared at Gojyo, when then…
'THWACK, THWACK, THWACK!!'
A harisen smacked hard Gojyo's head, making him stopped laughing and started groaning. It was Sanzo, who suddenly appeared from his back, and he was entirely wet!
"Yare yare desu ne…"
Hakkai came out from the woods, and he too, was damned all wet!
"Hakkai-san! What happened??"
"…Sanzo was mad when the mark didn't come out, so he jumped into the river…"
Hakkai was lying, obviously. He then chuckled when he recalled that event, when Sanzo had became more shocked than ever.
Actually, they were both ACCIDENTALLY fell into the river as Sanzo jerked back all of a sudden when he saw Goku hugged Izuko before, and he bumped onto Hakkai...
...And they fell into the water together! Huh...
"KONO KAPPA!!! SHII---NEEE!!!"
"ITAIIIII!!!!!!"
Goku and Izuko sweat dropped hearing Hakkai's explanation. Well, they didn't know Sanzo would be THAT 'mad', besides, he hated rivers, as far as they knew. They looked at each other, when then Goku stood up and took the stick from Izuko.
"Now, pay back time!!!"
"…Oh uh…"
Izuko ran away when that saru chased him round and round the campsite, trying to hit the girl's head. They acted as if nothing happened just then, but the elders knew well about it.
…ALL of it.
"Saa, our Goku's turning into a man already, ne?"
"…Ch, he's stupid, that's what I know."
"Anyway, were you two listening to them before?" Gojyo suddenly asked.
The other two death-stared at the kappa, and it sure made him sweat dropped even more. Sanzo's glare was deadly, but Hakkai's stare was more than that, deadliest!!
"…You ever tell those baka gakis about it or I'll…"
"…You mean, WE will, Sanzo."
"…FINE!! Just let me go already!! I can't breathe!! Arkkk…"
Sanzo retreated his strangle, and Hakkai moved to the fire and threw in some more firewood. They gawked at the two youngsters as they started to strangle each other on the ground, making such deafening noise.
"HANASE, BAKA SARU!!!"
"I'M NOT A SARU, KONO STUPID MOUNTAIN WITCH!!!"
…sweat dropped.
"Mountain-witch???" Gojyo almost choked as he was smoking and he coughed like crazy after that.
"…Hmm, that's a good name for that crazy onna."
Hakkai chuckled nervously as he realised those two had something in common after all. Besides, after hearing what Goku and Izuko just talked about before, made him more than satisfied.
'She's an itan, at last she admitted it! So, I was right about it…'
'Now, it's just that I'm confused.'
'What did she mean by…we'll cry over her death once we knew about her past?'
Hakkai turned to Sanzo, and was about to ask the question without the girl's awareness, and the bouzu could read his mind that he raised his newspaper and started reading.
"Don't ask, like hell I know about it."
"Demo…"
"OI!!!! Let go of me, kono baka saru!!"
Hakkai turned, and he found out that TWO itans were kicking him, and pulling all his hair out.
"You watch your mouth, baka kappa!! I have nothing to do with this saru, mind that in your baka hentai brains!!!"
"…That's rig…Wait, I'M NOT A SARU, BAKA MOUNTAIN WITCH!!"
"What did you say???"
"Huh…They started it again…"
…tsuzuku.
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*Kabuki and No - One of the famous Japanese plays. Quite interesting, but still, a bit boring if you're new with it.
Seiko: Okay, I'm done. Ja, that's that.
Hakkai: Eeee??? That's it? Talk something Seiko-chan!
Seiko: Say what?
Hakkai: At least, well, go and fight with Gojyo and Goku!
Seiko: Haa???
Hakkai: And hurry up, we're going to the clinic. Hayaku, hayaku!
Seiko: Why should I?? {locks door} {sings 'Unwanted' by Avril loudly!!} You don't know me, Don't ignore me, You don't want me there, You just shut me out... MAKE ME GO AWAYYY!!!! ARGHHHH!!!!!!
All: {sweat dropped}
Gojyo: ...She's...
Goku: ...more...
Hakkai: ...brutal...
Sanzo: ...than me.
Seiko: {sings 'A song for XX' by Ayumi} Itsu mo tsuyoi ko da nette iware tsudsukete'ta, nakanaide erai nette homeraretari shite ita yo, bla bla bla...!!!{cries}
All: ...
Goku: ...Let's...
Gojyo: ...Get...
Hakkai: ...out...
Sanzo: ...of here.
Seiko: Fine!! Get out of my house! Oh and it's TQ's time! (^--^)
Shazaoblossom - Gee, thanks for reading and reviewing! Hontou ni arigatou gozaimasu! Say, and also thanks for mentioning about my mistakes in the previous chaps! I'll try and check those fics again if I have any free time later, ok? Oh, and about that committing suicide thing, I was an immature gaki after all, that's why... But not to worry, I won't kill myself just yet... but cutting myself, it's my routine! Shinpai shinaide, I'm used to it. Blood's everything to me! Hi-hi-hi-hi-hi...{grins devilishly} WEIRD me, ne? TQ too, for explaining to me about that raven thing, Thanks!!
sillycrazy (I don't mean to call you this way, uuu...) - Woah, thank you, thank you, thank you for liking MS! I'm most glad! So, you're confused with the plots, ne? Don't worry, I'll try and make this story more simple, and easy to understand okay? Thank you again for your support!!
Goku: Did you just hear what I heard?
Others: Absolutely, yes.
Gojyo: Ch, you saved her before, baka bouzu!!
Sanzo: ...I don't care. I don't bother. Now urusai! Korosu!
Seiko: Okay then, see you in the next chap!
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Next chapterSaa, I have no idea whether to tell you about Izuko's past first, OR the ikkou's arrival at the village where that murderer was supposed to stay there before? If I publish the second one, then I'll tell you about Izuko's past in a 'flashback' form where she told Goku, alone, about it.
How? How? Do review, and tell me your choice!!
Not only that, please give me some ideas too. I'm not good at making romance touching scenes, and I bet the scene above was quite lame, isn't it? Oh great! Now I have to start reading romance books!! (^--^)
And gomen ne, for the grammatical errors and the spellings too. I am still sick right now, not knowing what to do, and I created this baka chapter with such a dizzy head. Huh…
Oh, and don't you want to see Izuko's actual face? Do tell me if you want ok? I'll surely send them to you.
What else? Thanks for reading. v(^O^)V = WOAH!!
~~ja, see you in Chapter 8!!~~