"Isis!" Goku yelled coming up short as he saw Amunisis standing at the edge of the cliff.
Her pale hair was flung out behind her, balanced at the very edge so that the simplest of movements might fling her over the edge, back turned to them, leaned forward slightly to stare into the dark gaping chasm below. A light wind blew through the trees and she shifted and for a moment Goku thought she was about to jump.
"Isis don't!"
"Goku!" Sanzo's voice snapped behind him as he, Goyjo, and Hakkai came up the cliff.
Goku turned. "Take it back! Tell her you want her to stay!"
"No Goku." Four pairs of eyes turned to look at Isis as she spoke. Her voice was soft and smooth, devoid of the speech difficulties she'd had be for. She gave a soft smile but tears glittered in her eyes. "Master Sanzo is right. I am a liability. I did almost get you killed."
"That's not true! You saved us!" Goku argued.
"Goku." Hakkai said soothingly. "Just listen to her."
Isis smiled at Hakkai then turned her attention away once more. "The sutra that makes up part of what I am is a perversion. It was not needed to create the world or drive away the darkness, it was an experiment. And abomination. A parody of the original sutras." She tipped her head back. "I missed the sky because of it. And people have died because of it. It is not the right of one to take life. It's not even the right of the gods though they made us."
"Isis." Goku said quietly.
"But when humans play god is the worst. Sacrilegious. Blasphemy. There are men who play gods and men who wish to slay gods, whether it is with steel or disbelief. I was created to kill these false gods."
"To kill false gods." Sanzo said quietly.
Isis nodded. "Yes." She smiled. "You are lucky that you met that particular monk when you reached the temple. Any kiss could have wakened me."
Sanzo suddenly looked decidedly irritated. "Are you telling me that monk lied?"
"Yes. But he has the right to. He is over 1000 years old."
"1000 years!" all four of them chorused.
She nodded. "He wanted to make sure the hands I fell into were not hands that would cause me to slay these false gods. Because while mortals play at divinity their lives still belong to no one but themselves. Their souls may be another matter perhaps but until the instant of deathâ€there is chance for a mortal soul to turn from ignorance."
"So that 'nothing between your ears but air' attitude was all an act."
"No. I was....un-learned. I'm a slave to what I am meant to do as well as to my master. And for that to work I had to be ignorant enough to do nothing but obey."
"But what's different now?" Hakkai asked softly.
"Now. Now I'm dying."
"Sanzo." Goku turned to glare at him. "Tell her she doesn't have to."
"I do." Isis said gently. "How will you continue your journey if you must look after me. If there are almost gods after you because of me. I am a threat to your life." Her hands curled into fists. "I will destroy anything that threatens the life of my master." The sun had started to set, the huge red orb throwing fiery light to outline Isis make her form blaze. Shadows started to gather around them as night began to drive out the day.
"But we can protect you!" Goku argued, frustrated tears gathering.
Isis smiled. "I will obey my master in all things and remove myself from your lives forever. Loyalty is what drives me and Sanzo is the owner of my soul. But for your kindness, compassion, and so much more Goku.......you have my heart."
She moved forward, as Goku looked up startled, reaching out till she could lay her lips against his, her eyes fluttering shut softly. A soft ringing went through the area and whispered words road the wind swirling around the gathered company.
'But for you all these events are better left........ forgotten'
A tear tolled down her cheek. "Goodbye." And then light spread over the cliff engulfing everything into blinding white so nothing could be seen. Then suddenlyâ€.everything was gone. Sanzo, Goku, Goyjo, Hakkai, Isis. Even the cliff itself was gone.
All that remained.......was the sky.
