ppA/N: Kami-sama! It's been a long time since my brain last worked on this fic! Damn the school works and the assignments (I have a prof. who keeps on rambling about his milk and oatmeal everyday, and the examples he gives are way too far from the book's lecture!) I hate it when we get locked up inside our accounting classroom where it's damn cold we can't focus on the lesson much. Anyway, this is the last chapter and I don't know what to say about it. But I wish it's good enough for everyone to enjoy! THANKS A LOT to my REVIEWERS and READERS who kept on with this fic no matter how mushy and screwed up this is! By the way, special thanks to DARKSTAR51 (a.k.a YUME) and NEKO-CHAN (a.k.a. NIJI) for the great help they gave me! Believe me guys, I couldn't have done a single Saiyuki fic without them!
Zelgadis55: Yeah. I figured it's just right to make the poor kid happy.
Koinu-Chan: Thanks a lot for staying with this fic!!!!
Lirin-Chan: Arigatou gozaimasu for everything!!!!
Hayashi-kutsuki: I really think you're okay. And thanks for correcting me. I didn't have the chance to check on my work. So thanks a lot!!!!!
Darkstar51: ß (YUME) Sorry but I have more plans for Yume. It looks like you just have to sit this one out! BWAHAHAHA!!!! :D
Niji patiently waits inside the weaving room for Ummei. The girl went to her chambers to a few hours before and hasn't come back. She's been watching the tapestries and grew tired of it and so decided to sit besdie the throne. She knew Ummei is looking into the future, she's worried about what will happen to Goku and to the others that's why she went into her room. After some time she fell asleep and woke up only when she heard footfalls coming closer. After opening her eyes, she saw Ummei standing inf ront of her.
"What will happen now? Gojyo and Hakkai have already found the monk's spirit, and Yume's on her way to Konzen and Homura. What's next?" Niji asked standing up.
"We just have to wait." Came the only answer.
"Come on. By this time you can already see what's coming. What's the use of waiting when you can just say it!" the girl whined.
"So, you really want to know?"
"Yeah!"
"Then bring me my deck." Ummei said looking at her seriously.
"Is it going to be that bad?" Niji asked looking at the looms in front of them.
"It's just the start Niji, it's just the start."
Gojyo and Hakkai are on their way to the forest where Sanzo and Homura are. And after filling their ghost companion of what took place, they stopped for a quick refreshment before hitting the road again.
"So, you are telling me that youkai still lives?" the monk asked.
"Yeah. And he's been inside the body of our friend for quite some time now." Hakkai answered.
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have made harsh decisions when I faced that youkai before. I intended to kill him but since he's so strong, I imprisoned him inside my staff thinking I can gain greater strength to kill him in due time but clearly I was wrong."
"That's okay Tai, you didn't know how powerful that youkai can be, and your purpose of challenging him to help the town is a good one. No one will blame you for it." Hakkai said talking to the monk.
"Thanks. Don't worry, I will do my best to help you and your friends out."
Yume silently made her way inside the forest with the map in her hand. She's looking at it once in a while to make sure the path she's walking will lead her to Sanzo and Homura. Seeing that the two are close, she heaved a deep sigh and continued her walk.
"Great! The sooner I can give this. I sooner I can leave." She said to herself as she approached the two.
When a few feet away from the two, she moved the thick leaves in front of her in order to pass but a gunshot startled her followed by the bullet that nearly hit her.
"What the hell?!?! Will you stop doing that you damn stupid monk!" Yume shouted knowing it was Sanzo who fired.
"Yume? What are you doing here?" Homura asked coming out of the bushes while Sanzo glared at her.
"Ummei wants you to have this." She said presenting the map.
"Another map? For what?!"
"Listen you corrupt monk, this one will solve your problems. See that silver orb that represents Goku?" Yume said pointing at the orb.
"Yeah. Now what?"
"Let me explain first okay!" the heretic spat.
"As I was saying, that orb that represents Goku will show you what he's currently doing if you press it." She continued as she pressed her finger lightly on the silver orb.
A few seconds after doing this, the whole parchment was wiped out of the map and instead, Goku's face appeared enjoying himself in eating some fruits. But a few seconds more, the scene disappeared and the face of the back came back.
"Wait, what happened?! Why did it just disappear like that?!"
"The map has its own mind. It will show only a glimpse of what Goku's doing right now. Nevertheless, it will help you guys a lot." Yume explained
"I understand. Tell Ummei thanks for this." Homura said
"By the way, an order from Tenkai reached us saying that after sorting this matter about Goku, we are to go back to our usual life and you are to go back immediately to Konran Tower." Homura flinched at what the girl just said.
"So, that's all for today, ja ne!" she said disappearing in a dust cloud.
Goku suddenly dropped the peach he's eating and his eyes grew wide. A pain suddenly seized him and he began to squirm on the ground. His eyes started to change from gold to red and his fingernails started to grow long. He tried to fight it but this time, the youkai's force is stronger for her just sensed something, Goku's not alone in this woods, someone else is there, watching them. A dust cloud, he felt it though he's not sure who it was, it can either be Homura or Ummei, but it also means that they are on his trail again. He knows where the power came from, it's just near, near but not near enough, he must win this fight over the boy to make sure, He will never let his plans go wrong again.
"What the hell is this?!?!" Sanzo exclaimed seeing Goku's orb moving around rapidly.
"Let's see what's happening to him." The fighting god said pressing the orb.
The scene appeared before them, Goku writhing in pain on the ground, his eyes changing. Surely something bad is happening and they know what is it. The youkai is fighting for dominance, Goku then struggled to get up and when he did, dashed to the nearest tree and banged his head to it a couple of times. Sanzo and Homura watched in disbelief and pity but they know they can do nothing about it now. Goku sank to the ground, breathing heavily and after a few seconds, he fell unconscious. Sanzo made a motion to run to the boy but the fighting god quickly grabbed his arm to restrain him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"I just can't watch him like that!" the monk spat shaking off Homura's grip.
"We're not sure whether the youkai won over him or not, what if he finds out we're here? It will ruin the whole plan, it will endanger Goku's life more. So if you want to help, just wait till the others get here." Homura shouted back
"Who the hell are you to tell me what I must do?!?!" Sanzo yelled pulling out his gun.
"So, you wanna fight?"
Goku stirred and fluttered open his eyes, he can hear screams somewhere but he isn't sure whether it's real or not. Somehow the voices seem familiar, he tried to move but found out he couldn't so he just sat there filtering the noises and listening intently to the yells. His eyelids began to weigh heavier by the second and it closed again, after some time it flew open revealing blood red eyes and his lips curved into a devilish smile.
"Do you know what the hell you just did?!? You disappeared right there and then, with Goku near you. You know how the youkai can sense that and still you did it!" Niji shouted hysterically as soon as Yume appeared.
"It was an accident!" the heretic girl spat.
"Now, look what you've done." Niji sighed pointing at the scene in front of them showing Sanzo and Homura getting ready for a fight.
Ummei appeared beside the two and looked at the scene with a grim face. Then approached the loom where Goku's fate rests and with a wave of her hand, a scene from Goku's cloth joined that of Sanzo and Homura's. They saw how Goku opened his eyes and looked around for the voices. They saw when it closed again and the second time it opened, they knew the youkai has finally gained control of the boy. He stood up, looked around for a long time before dashing to where Homura and Sanzo are.
Not knowing that the youkai knows their presence, the two started out a fight, Homura charged at Sanzo but the latter was quick to dodge the fighting god's attack but he unknowingly let go of the map causing it to fall to the ground. After another failed attack by Sanzo, Homura managed to inflict an injury to the monk knocking him down for a while. While looking to the ground, he saw the map, picked it up and examined it and saw Goku moving again. He pressed the orb and noticed the change in the boy and hat it means. Sanzo managed to get up, and is now steadying himself without Homura knowing it. Homura, still absorbed I the parchment noticed it late that his opponent is again on his feet ready to attack when a gunshot startled him. He ran straight to Sanzo, not for an attack but to pull him to safety as he saw Goku running towards their direction.
"What the---?!" Sanzo uttered as Homura nearly dragged him away from the site.
"I'll explain later. But we need to get out of here fast." Homura said as they ran.
"What's happening? Why the hell are we running away?!?"
"Just hut up we need to get as far away as possible!!" Homura continued
A strange sound was heard afterwards, it sounds like a jungle beast of some sort but they can't be sure, they stopped for a while to catch their breath. Silence ensued for some time and the two was able to calm down, but as Homura was about to tell Sanzo what he saw on the map, the bushes behind them moved and Goku, now taken over by the youkai sprang out of it. Before one of them can be grabbed, Homura and Sanzo disappeared into thin air.
Meanwhile, Gojyo, Hakkai and the monk Tai are nearing the forest but none are aware of what's happening to the others. They are currently going through a rough, uneven road when Tai suddenly dropped his staff and clutched his chest hard. Gojyo, noticing this, motioned for Hakkai to stop the jeep and looked at Tai.
"Hey, anything wrong?" Gojyo asked as he reached out to pat the monk's arms but as expected, it just passed through the ghost's transparent body.
"T-the youkai, I can feel his powers growing strong again." The two was shocked and Hakkai quickly made a grab for the map.
"K'so what's happening to them? Why are two of the orbs moving so fast followed by a third one?" Gojyo asked looking at the map.
"How is your heretic friend when you last heard of him?" Tai asked as he picked up his staff.
"Bad. He's weak in mind and body." Hakkai answered.
"Can it be possible that---?" Tai said looking worried.
"What?!?!" Gojyo blurted out.
"Can it be possible that the youkai has finally taken over your friend?" Tai whispered gravely as Hakkai started the jeep again.
"Does that mean Goku's already dead?" Niji asked the goddess beside her.
"Not yet." Came the only answer.
"What do you mean 'not yet'? Will he die?" the two looked at Ummei expecting an answer.
"I don't know. And I wouldn't want to know."
Ummei walked to looms and examined them one by one, with a sigh, she went back to her throne, glanced at Goku's tapestry that has stopped weaving and heaved a deep sigh and closed her eyes. Meanwhle her two subordinates have other thing to discuss.
"It's all your fault! If you didn't do such a reckless thing, none of this would happen! Now what?!?" Niji said to Yume.
"I told you it was an accident! And besides, I was just forced to do it."
"Ummei, you can turn back time can't you? Why don't you turn it back now to the time after you have finished the map and make Niji send it to them." Yume suggested.
"No I can't." was the only answer Ummei gave them.
"But why?"
"If I send Niji down there, things will go on smoothly except when the time comes to extricate the youkai from Goku. They will be able to kill the youkai but Goku will die." She explained with eyes still closed.
"But how did you know that?!" Yume gaped at her
"That is what I saw in the future." Niji's eyes widened.
"You changed the course of time?!?! But in doing that, you can be exiled!"
"No. I am the first to know what will happen in the future in the whole of Tenkai."
"But changing the course of time will alter everything in their life! If something worse happens, you know you are the cause of it!!!"
"I know that Niji, but I just can't let Goku die. Because if he did, I won't be surprised if Sanzo and the others will not resume their journey, maybe they can save him." Yume and Niji looked at the tapestries in front of them then back to the goddess.
"What will happen to them now? And what if they can't save him and the result would be more lives?"
"I don't know. The future hasn't presented itself to me yet. Only then can we know if my decision was wrong."
"Was that Goku?!?!" Sanzo asked as they went inside an abandoned cave.
"Yes. It looks like the youkai has overpowered him now." Sanzo punched the nearby tree hard.
"Shit! Where the hell are Hakkai and Gojyo?!?!" Homura looked at the map.
"It look's like they're near. And if I'm right, they have the spirit of the monk with them." He said noting the gray orb he saw.
"But they have to hurry before the youkai gets the better of us. The table is turned against us now." Sanzo sighed.
"Looks like we have to work this one out together." Homura said.
"Yeah. Guess so."
By now, Hkkai, Gojyo and Tai are walking inside the forest trying to find Sanzo and Homura. They are keen to avoid places near Goku and not to make so much noise. After a few more minutes of trek, they found themselves with Sanzo and Homura. After a few discussions, they went into planning their move.
"Okay, so how can we get that youkai find us?" Gojyo asked as they gathered around in a circle.
"We're going to meet him head on. Konzen and I will make him follow us to this cave where the rest of you are waiting. When we are here, Kenren and Tenpou will block the way he came and that's when you come in." Homura explained pointing to Tai
" After we beat him up, You're to subdue him while Konzen will try to get that youkai away from Goku's body and when he does, in to the jar he goes and off to Tenkai." Homura continued.
"Sounds good to me. Ya know, it's only now that I realize you have some brains too." Gojyo said
"But if I am to do that, I'll need a great amount of energy. I nned to use the body of either Hakkai or Gojyo for the process." Tai said.
"You can use mine." Hakkai said smiling at him.
" Thanks. I don't think anything can go wrong with this plan." Tai continued.
"Now, we just have to wait until tomorrow morning to put acytion to this plan.
Ytume stood ijn front of the looms watching everything that is happening. Ummei is sitting in front of a crystal table with a deck of cards on top. She started to shuffle it and after a while, cut it into three then she bring the three together before getting an amount of cards. She then started spreading out seven cards.
"Yeah. I agree with what Gojyo said. The whole lot of it." Yume said relieved and convinced with Homura's plan.
"That their plan will work?" Niji asked. Yume nodded
"Well, it might work." The girl shrugged.
"I don't think so." Ummei said. The two turned to her
"Why?"
Ummei motioned for the two to come to her. The two complied and saw the cards in front of her. Four out of the seven are already opened. The first is showing a scale. The second a devil. The third one, shows a bent figure trying to carry ten heavy poles. And the fourth, the one Ummei just turned a while ago shows a hanged man. The two asked for the meaning s and the goddess answered.
"Their past is Justice. Events happening in their past are those of a 'cause and effect' situations. It leads them to their present stae, The Devil. It may stand for ignorance as well as hopelesness. The third one represents the issues they are facing now. Ten of Wands meaning struggling over a heavy burden. The fourth as you can plainy see is that of a Hanged Man. It is their obstacle right now. It means reversal. So I don't think they pull that plan easily." She explained as she dismissed the two.
When morning came, Ummei, entered her weaving room closely followed by her two subordinates. There's a change with the young girl overnight. She seems to be happier and her face looks brighter now than yesterday. They checked on the others and saw them preparing for the big fight when Niji questioned the goddess.
"Why are you happy today? Is there some good news?" Ummei turned to her and smiled.
"But you just said that their plan will never work out. Why are you smiling now???" Yume asked puzzled.
"There. See it for yourselves" Ummei said pointing to the crsytal table in front of her throne.
The two went in front of t and saw the seven vards all facing up and Niji, knowing something about it tried to read the three other cards.
"Fifth card stands for their hopes and dreams. Chariot meaning victory, they are wishing to triumph over that youkai and bring Goku back." Niji explained to the heretic girl.
"Sixth card Wheel of Fortune." Niji said, her voice getting excited.
"Seventh, Star! Ummei! This is great! You sure you didn't alter them or something?!" Niji asked running to the girl.
"I didn't it's what the card says. And as you know they can enlighten us about the future. But I'm sure I can make the reading come true." She smiled.
"Can anyone tell me what's going on?" Yume said irritated.
"It's this. The sixth card represents where the situation leads and the card is the Wheel of Fortune. It means destiny, a turning point. And the last card is the outcome, Star it means Hope." Niji explained.
"And so?"
"They may have a chance to win this fight." Niji added
As for the group woke up ready to face the youkai and bring back Goku. They made the necessary arrangements and went to the cave before the time comes for their plan. When noon came, Homura and Sanzo went looking for Goku while the monk took over Hakkai's consciousness and waited for their time. Upon arriving to the cave where Goku is, Sanzo wen inside and saw the sleeping Goku. With sadness in his eyes, he brushed the stray hair from the boy's sleeping face and for a moment watched him. After that, he stepped back, took out his gun and pulled the trigger. The noise woke up Goku who snarled when he saw Sanzo. Sanzo made the run for it and when Goku went out of the cave, Homura greeted him with the blade of his flaming sword.
"I'm sorry Goku." He whispered as they ran.
"Are you sure this plan is going to work?" Sanzo asked as they went near the cave.
"Honestly? I'm not."
"Well, it's better than doing nothing."
The cave's in their line of sight and they know the second stage f the plan is about to begin. When Goku entered the cave after them, Gojyo pushed a rock to barricade themselves in and Hakkai, Sanzo and Homura lit torches inside.
"You have nowhere to run now you stupid youkai." Homura smirked.
"Give up and bring Goku back." Gojyo spat. Sanzo said his piece with a gunshot.
"I'm not going to bow to anyone of you. You just made the biggest mistake of your lives by closing the mouth of the cave. You will all die here and I will live!" he laughed. Gojyo, Homura and Sanzo attacked him.
The fight lasted for hours until all of them are beaten, tired, and wounded. Homura, Gojyo and Sanzo are all catching their breaths while the bleeding Goku still held on. When Sanzo fired another shot at Goku's chest, the boy fell down and Hakkai with the monk's spirit taking over him, who was watching the fight stepped out, grabbed his staff and stood in front of the now staggering Goku.
"You will pay for all the sins you've done!" He said as he chanted his prayers.
Goku's amber eyes widened as his body fell limp. He couldn't move a muscle. Then Homura and Sanzo though bleeding stood up, and with their sutras tried to extricate the youkai from Goku. It went on for several minutes until at last, they were able to pull the youkai out. Goku then fell to the ground half dead but with a faint smile on his face.
"A-arigatou gozaimasu minna-san." He said weakly before fainting.
After Sanzo and Homura heard this and saw Goku's life ebbing away, they lost their concentration and the youkai shoved Hakkai to the cave wall trying to pull an escape. Gojyo tried to stop him but with injuries, he too was thrown back by the youkai. Even the stone that blocked the cave's opening shattered when the youkai threw himself to it making an escape. Homura and Sanzo tried to run after it but their wounds slowed them down. But a few seconds more, a great cry was heard disturbing the peacefulness of the whole forest. They managed to look at what caused it and saw the youkai struggling inside a crystal block. In front of it stood Ummei and her subordinates flashing them a smile.
"Quick you two, it won't hold him for long." Ummei said to Homura and Sanzo.
"We're going to need the monk." Sanzo said
"Niji, Yume. Tell Tai to use Gojyo's body for a while. Goku's in dire need of help right now.
"Hai." The two ran towards the cave.
The crystal block started to shatter but then Gojyo came out from the cave and they started again. This time they succeeded and the youkai was placed inside the crystal jar. Everyone heaved a sigh and in no time, Sanzo went inside the cave to check on Goku while Ummei is healing Homura's wounds.
"Is he okay?" Sanzo asked Hakkai who nodded with a smile.
"He'll be feeling weak for a while though." The brunette added.
"S-sanzo?" Gokua sked, eyes startting to open.
"Hai. I'm here."
"Thanks for everything." Goku weakly said. Sanzo nodded.
Then, Ummei, Homura, Tai and Gojyo entered the cave and gave Goku a smile. Goku thabked eachnone of them even Homura for saving him. Seeing that he's still weak, Ummei produced a berry in her hands and gave it to Goku to eat. After swallowing, he felt his strength coming back and he's well again. Ummei also gave the berry to Sanzo and Gojyo who needed it. Homura was shortly nowhere to be seen but Ummei and her subordinates stayed for a while.
"It's better if you guys stay here for a while." Niji suggested.
"I think so too." Hakkai said.
"Ne, thanks a lot for helping them mister." Goku smiled at Tai.
"That's nothing. At least I can rest assured that the youkai will never pester anyone again." Tai smiled.
"By the way, won't you be punished for helping us?" Hakkai asked the goddess.
"Iie. I'm the best goddess of fate they can find." She winked.
"So, you guys take care okay. We'll be leaving you guys now but We'll be watching you closely." Ummei said as they disappeared with Tai.
"Well, loks like we're stuck with you again." Gojyo teased.
"Ah shaddup ero-kappa!"
After Hakkai and Gojyo went out to find some food, Goku approached Sanzo.
"Ne. Thanks a lot for helping me. Really." He said softly.
"That's nothing. Forget it." Sanzo said avoiding Goku's citrine eyes.
"Hai. I'll be going inside the cave now." Goku said as he walked away.
"Matte Goku!" the heretic stopped and turned to look at Sanzo."
"Thanks for being back with us." Sanzo smiled.
OWARI
A/N: At long, long last I'm finished!!!!! Kami-sama! I can't believe it!!!! Well, another one is coming up entitled Between Good and Evil so please watch out for it. I'm really glad I was able to finish this!!!! Well, please tell me what you think. Until next we meet. Love ya all!!!