Guess what? Saiyuki doesn't belong to me!!! (Surprise, surprise!! :p)

Here's Ch 2 Kenren Taishou! As you know, I couldn't write anything this week….

About the name Shunrei… Sorry people!!!!!! I really didn't know it had been used already in Saiyuki!! I see the Italian dubbed version, so perhaps some of the names might have been changed a bit… (Konzen sighs) And me trying to use a nice original name…. Well, too late to change it, but thanks for telling me!! And thanks for the reviews, they make me want to write more (^_^) (big hint…so keep on reviewing if you want to see how it ends)

Sanzo: Huh!

Konzen: (looks at him suspiciously) What do you mean by "huh"?

Sanzo: And you think that threat is going to work?

Konzen glares at Sanzo as her fingers tap away at the keyboard.

Hakkai: (smiling nervously) Uh, Sanzo? I wouldn't mess around with the author if I were you….

Konzen: (evil grin) that's right! Even though you're my favourite guy… I might be tempted to make you suffer more!!

Sanzo: (gulps and glares at Konzen) So… uh… why don't you get on with writing instead of wasting your time?

Konzen: (winks) As you wish Sanzo-sama…. 

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Gojyo

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We made him swallow that foul stuff the woman gave us. Not that I really trusted her, but we didn't have much choice.

I stared down at Sanzo, moaning in pain, feverish and weak, knowing that I could do nothing to help him…nothing. Hakkai was sitting by his side, holding Sanzo's hand, deep in thought. I shifted slightly and he started. Hakkai looked at me and smiled, with the 'everything is perfectly fine' smile I hated so much, because I knew it was false. "It's all going to be ok," he said, as cheerful as ever. "Soon he'll…"

I suddenly lost control, and slammed my fist on the table and I started yeling at Hakkai, furious with him, furious at Sanzo, but mostly furious at myself.

"Stop smiling, damn you! You're not sure that he'll live; you're as scared as I am! I'm not the saru... you can't comfort me with a few fine words!!"

His lips trembled, and I stopped yelling, horrified at the change in his face. The mask he wore broke into fragments, and Hakkai buried his face in his hands. His shoulders shook, and I stood thunderstruck. I cursed myself silently. Why had I flown at him like that? Hakkai wasn't to blame, and I had vented all my anger on him. He too was suffering, wishing that he could help Sanzo, but knowing that he couldn't. Hakkai always had to bear the burden of all our troubles; we always looked to him to give us courage. Now he was like us, scared, looking for someone to offer him comfort.

"I'm afraid," he whispered, and those words pierced through my heart. If Hakkai thought that Sanzo might not make it, then… then…."

I looked at my two companions, and I felt as helpless as a newborn child. I had never seen them like this. Hakkai had never shown this weaker side of his, and I blamed myself for hurting him so much. Sanzo instead, was showing no signs of getting better. He'd drift in and out of consciousness, and moan in pain. Those unearthly groans… Sanzo never would speak up when he was in pain. He'd see it as a sign of weakness. But now…

I moved toward Hakkai and gripped his shoulder tightly. He looked up, and smiled, not that false cheerful smile he'd use to comfort the saru, but a weary smile of thanks. I noticed that his hands were shaking.

I took a deep breath, and steadied my voice. "Don't be. The bloody monk is so crafty he'll manage to cheat death any day! I should know, I've played poker with him too many times now…" I babbled on, hating myself for not being able to comfort my friend better. My voice trailed away and we stood there in silence, together, praying that Sanzo would make it.

Wake up you corrupted monk! Wake up and glare at me... please... Can't you see that we need you?

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"I don't think Goku should come near Sanzo."  I looked at Sanzo and back at Hakkai, and I nodded slowly. Goku would go crazy if he'd see his beloved monk in that state. But, I didn't know how I was to keep him away. I'd already had enough trouble making him stay in a room, waiting for me. The saru needed the monk, as much as he needed air to breathe. 

"Did he drink it?"

Both Hakkai and I were startled to hear her sharp voice. Dammit! The bitch walked like a cat. I glared at her. I couldn't forget her harsh words, the pain in Gokus eyes. She stared back at me, her expressionless blue eyes meeting mine. I shivered involuntarily. I couldn't shrug off the feeling that this woman was miserable, that a weak soul hid behind her steely gaze, drowning in a sea of bitterness and hatred

A frozen beauty…

She reminds me of sorrow… of death….

What could have hurt this woman so much?  I watched her as she moved closer to Sanzo and touched his forehead. The monk flinched and moved his head. Even when unconscious, he hated being touched, especially by women.  I saw her frown at his sudden movement, but she didn't move away. She just stared at the unconscious monk and seemed oblivious of our presence.

We stood like that for a few minutes. I couldn't bear it any longer. "Well?" I sneered at her. "He's going to die now or next week?"

She turned her head to face me. "Perhaps. The poison doesn't affect everyone the same way." I reeled back at her words, shocked by her directness. Her hard eyes met mine. I was trembling. With anger perhaps? Or was it fear? She touched Sanzo's face again, but her touch seemed gentler.

Her voice was soft. "Your friend said he's strong. Do you think he can make it too?"

I clenched my fists: "Of course he can! No other would have been able to survive what he's been through!" I hated her. Her hands, her robes, that soft voice, her beauty.

"Then seeing you're so convinced, why do you ask me if he'll die?" She seemed almost amused. I nearly flew at her with rage, when I felt Hakkai's restraining hand on my shoulder.

"Excuse me, my lady," His voice was tense. "If you're so sure that he'll die, why are you helping him?" I stared at her, wondering how she would reply.

She looked at Hakkai, and I could have sworn that her eyes softened.

"Perhaps because I too, like you, always hope for the impossible." And with that, she left.

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Shunrei

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Looking at them there, both clutching at any sign of hope, praying that the monk would live, I felt a trace of pity stirring in my heart, something which I had not felt for a long, long time.

The monk… I almost felt hurt when he flinched at my touch. Had I grown so repulsive then? I shook my head. He'd been unconscious. And anyway, why should I care? People had shunned me all my life. I was the ice maiden after all…  

His face was familiar. Maybe, I had seen him before, but where? I had never left the temple. There might be one of the women in the temple who was a relation of his, or who looked like him. I sighed. It was not important. I busied myself with the herbs, cleaning them before preparing another ointment. He would probably die. It was unfair…he was still so young… maybe the same age as my child… if he were still alive. I looked out of the window. It was a dark night, and clouds were scurrying across the sky  

Why did I answer that way?

I too like you, always hope for the impossible…

Because it was true…

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Hakkai

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He couldn't rest. He'd been tossing and turning, moaning and talking to himself. Sanzo had called for Goku several times. He was burning hot and I washed his face gently with damp cloth. I had sent Gojyo to Goku. The poor boy would be worried to death about Sanzo. I clenched my fists. I had lost control in front of Gojyo and hadn't been able to hide the truth in front of him. I was afraid that… that…

I closed my eyes.

Stop it! Sanzo's not going to die! You must believe it! He's strong!

Yes, but… he's human…

Was I simply fooling myself, trying to believe that everything would turn out fine? Every time I looked at his worn face, I felt a fresh pang of guilt. It was all my fault.

Suddenly he opened his eyes. He licked his cracked lips and looked into my eyes. Sanzo's voice was harsh. "Tell him to stop calling me. I can't sleep with him talking all the time…" his voice faded away, and he drifted back into unconsciousness. "Sanzo," I murmured, as I swept back a stand of golden hair from his face. I took hold of his hand, and pressed it. I hated myself. Why was I was never there when people needed me? Why? Why?

Forgive me Sanzo. If I had been there none of this would have happened. I'm so sorry…

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Shunrei

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It was late at night and there wasn't a sound.

I had sent the green eyed man to rest. He was exhausted by keeping watch over the blonde monk. I had slipped a sleeping draught into his glass, to make sure that he would sleep without worrying. I told the half-breed, Gojyo, that I would stay up with Sanzo. He had looked unsure about trusting me alone with the man, but had given in, and had gone to join the golden eyed boy.

I left them in one of the rooms, fiery red head trying to convince the boy, Goku that Sanzo did not want anyone around, inventing all kinds of excuses to prevent him from seeing the monk. I didn't blame him. The child probably would not be able to bear seeing him thus.

The bond between these four men went beyond the common friend ship. The death of one, would destroy the rest, not physically but spiritually, as had happened to me when I lost my family. I had been left there, an empty shell, left only with bitter memories, tormented by guilt. Perhaps that was why I was trying to make him live. I did not want to share my fate with others. I could not condemn others to live in the hell in which I lived.

But it was not only that. I could not ignore the feeling that I had already met this man before. He was familiar, yet a stranger. Something drew me to him, linked me with him.  Maybe we had met in another life. Or I had simply grown into a silly old woman whose imagination played tricks on her?

I frowned as I drew back the blanket covering his chest. The bandages were again soaked with blood. The medication was not working as well as it ought to. I removed them, trying to be as gentle as possible. He winced as I cleaned the wounds, groaning softly. What must he have felt as the claws tore at his flesh? I could only imagine the pain, the fear. Why did there have to be so much suffering in this world?

Why, why, why? So many questions, so few answers...

I stood up and went to get the rest of the ointment. I heard the man shifting slightly.

"Who are you?"  I froze at the sound of his weak voice as I had not been expecting him to regain consciousness. I turned with the bowl in my hands to meet his gaze.

Hiroshi's eyes stared at me.

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Next chapter will soon be up… I promise!!!!! (^_^)

A/N: Hope no one's getting to bored or confused with all these POV's, but I thought that it's important that all the characters have some sort of chance to speak their mind… I mean, I think it's more interesting seeing what all of them are feeling!