Chapter 8

"God help us."

That was the only phrase that escaped Gojyo's lips. He would have loved to say more but he was far too shocked to comprehend what was happening. The next few minutes were a blur. Everything seems to go in slow motion and that few minutes lasted forever to Hakkai and Gojyo.

Sanzo was on the ground unmoving, unconscious because of the one, single blow Nataku had thrown. The bouzo was in a graceless heap on the ground, a trickle of blood flowing on the side of his head. The former Toushin Taishi was looking down satisfactorily at the bouzo, a smirk adorning his usually stoic face. He had contented himself leering at the helpless Sanzo when he started to move.

Twin warning bells erupted from Hakkai's and Gojyo's heads when they realize that Nataku had moved to land his gaze upon them. They instinctively braced themselves for the upcoming losing match. Nataku walked towards them, moving very slowly. He had mischief written all over his face but his eyes held the unmistakable emotion of anger and betrayal. He stopped inches short from them.

"So, how've you been Kenren Taishou and Tenpou Gensui?" Nataku asks them in a conversational tone. Gojyo just snarled at him making Nataku grin.

"Life on Earth didn't change you, huh Kenren?" He asks the kappa, who on impulse clutched his shaku jou tighter.

"Same old, same old, I guess." Gojyo answers back, unsure whether talking back to the powerful heretic is a good idea.

"Oh no. I'm afraid not. Everything isn't the same as before, only a few had managed to remain unchanged." Nataku says, looking highly amused. He turned his gaze on Hakkai.

"Tenpou. How about you? Still the same intellectual man I knew from before?" Nataku asks Hakkai. Hakkai however didn't know how to answer that question. He just shrugged his shoulders.

"Hmm… I see." The former Toushin Taishi exclaimed as he looked back to examine Sanzo's form again.

"Konzen's still the same man I knew from before. Still hopelessly arrogant." He snorted disgustedly.

"What are your intentions? Are you playing with us?" Hakkai blurts when he can't bear Nataku's conversation anymore. It feels like he's stalling for whatever reasons Hakkai can't figure. It's not normal to talk like old friends to the persons you intend to kill you know?

"What? Do I need reason to talk with my old time buddies? Oh wait. You're not my buddies…" He said, mock sad.

"What are you talking about? Aren't we friends then?" Gojyo asks. All this talk about things from 500 years ago is making him dizzy. How could they play up Nataku's emotions when they don't know what happened then? How could the defend themselves? When they don't know the root and cause of Nataku's grudge? Gojyo feels that they are just prolonging their deaths by playing dumb and having a little confusing chit-chat with the heretic.

"I don't need to answer your question." He says sharply as he retraced his steps back to Sanzo. He picks the bouzo from his collar and held him up.

"I want audience when I kill Konzen. This man stole my best friend away from me…" He looked distant when he said the word 'best friend' and a flash of knowing crossed his eyes a moment later.

"Where is Goku?" He asked after a moment of thought. Gojyo looked at Hakkai questioning. Would it be better to tell the truth, that Goku is out to get his memories back and to restore his friendship with Nataku or to tell a lie?

"Goku is trying to find the missing pieces of his memories." Hakkai asks, obviously thinking that this might be the best path for them.

"Lies. He's just hiding from me." Nataku said as he gritted his teeth and held Sanzo closer.

"No! He's trying his best to get them back!!! He wants to be friends with you again!!" Gojyo butted in.

"Oh, I see… I see what you are doing… You're messing up with me… You're messing up my mind…" He murmured to himself, completely forgetting or maybe, ignoring Gojyo and Hakkai's presence. Hakkai nodded to Gojyo, it wouldn't be much but they think it would be better to attack the former Toushin Taishi now than any other time.

Gojyo launched his shaku jou to enwrap Nataku. Surprisingly, he caught the heretic. Nataku was brought out of his mind and looked up to see Gojyo struggling to keep him on hold. Instead of looking enraged he looked amused once again.

"I always thought you were a good fighter, Kenren Taishou." He said as he raised his pinned hands from behind his back and broke the chain of the shaku jou by just shrugging it off. Nataku looked up when he heard whooshing sounds. His golden eyes turned wide for a moment before smirking. Hakkai released the enormous ki ball he'd been gathering and launched it to Nataku. Nataku didn't even move to deflect or evade Hakkai's attack.

Hakkai's ki ball exploded on contact and everything from within 10 mile radius were dusted off. Hakkai got Sanzo out on the nick of time and he and Gojyo ran for cover while they waited for the dust and grime to settle. When it did, they saw that in the midst of all the destruction stood Nataku, still standing tall. When Nataku spotted them, unbelief written all over their faces he laughed… And laughed.

"Nice try, Tenpou Gensui but you have to do better than that!!!" He screamed as he launched himself. He disappeared in thin air and when he emerged he was beside Gojyo.

"BOO!!!" Nataku kidded as he started raining the kappa with punches. Gojyo had no time to defend himself or to react. Nataku delivered 5 punches for every second… the kappa didn't even see the former Toushin Taishi's hands land on his stomach.

Nataku disappeared once again and when he reappeared he was at Hakkai's side. Gojyo sputtered at the other side. He was still conscious; as Nataku used only enough force to knock the other man silly without causing the kappa to loose consciousness. Gojyo coughed up blood and saw stars.

He never saw Nataku's attack on Hakkai which left the fair mannered man bruised in several places of his body and face. Hakkai had obviously landed a blow on the heretic because Nataku was sporting a cut lip.  

"Exactly what I expected from you, Tenpou." Nataku said as he wiped the little blood from the side of his mouth. He focused his attention on Sanzo. He smirked just before we noticed that he was gathering power from the fist of his hands. Just like Hakkai's ki ball but his was glowing golden.

"I'm gonna kill Goku's precious Konzen and then I'll kill his most beloved friends." He eyed us and grinned cheekily.

"That means: You." He said to us grinning. Then he raised his fist, his eyes glinting maliciously.

"You'll have no one to return to now Goku. We'll be even once I'm also through with them." He said more to himself then to us. He waved his arms. This is it.

"Sanzo!!!!!" Hakkai yelled us the ki ball was thrown to Sanzo. We closed our eyes as the explosion occurred. Everything stilled and then Nataku was growling mad.

"What the fuck happened?!!" He asks himself as he eyed the still glowing indigo barrier around Sanzo. It was obviously so strong to withstand Nataku's power.

"Goku are you there?!!!" Nataku asks as he wildly looks around. Hakkai and Gojyo looked at each other. Yes, if there is one person who might have a chance against Nataku it will be the infamous saru. But instead of Goku, it was Hestia who was emerging from the settling dust. 

"Who are you?!" Nataku asks indignantly as he scrutinized the woman.

"Your mother." Hestia said simply, as her tears spilled from her eyes.

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"Oww…" Goku exclaimed as Ladon successfully hit the top of his head using the end of his tail. The saru held his hand up to wipe the blood of his face when his fingers caught something: His power control device.

"Why didn't I think of it before?!" Goku asks himself as he smacked his forehead.

"Little one, what have I told you about dozing off?!!!!!" Ladon yelled angrily as he spit fire. Goku rolled to his side, cleanly evading the green toasting fire. Goku smiled as his hands worked double time to unfasten his band.

"Uh… to not take your mind of the fight?" He asked as the power control device gave way.

"Right and I…" Ladon stopped short when he noticed that Goku was making hissing noises and that he was transforming. His ears were getting longer as well as his nails. He sputtered for a few moments and Ladon was staring at him completely stunned. When Goku finished, he grinned up at Ladon.

"Where were we?" Goku asks cheekily.

"I believe we are right about here." Ladon answered, pretending as well that nothing had happened, as he bore his samurai like claws upon Goku who was calling forth his nyoibo.

t.b.c

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A/N: Ahhh…. Finally, I got this written!! Long time ne? Anyway, I hope you still remember the story…. And tell me what you think okay?

P.S. I get to write faster when I have inspiration and my inspiration comes from your comments!!!! *hinthint*