Saiyuki: Jealousy
About three Months had passed since everyone had split up after Jin's alter-ego problem. Gojyo had been helping Jin run her house as an inn, but of course, hadn't been able to keep his hands off her, and she was nearly two months pregnant with his child now. Despite this fact, the two had decided not to marry. As much as they cared for each other, both knew that it didn't go that deep. They had also discussed what to tell the child when he or she began to ask questions, and had decided on just flat out telling the truth-- honesty is the best policy. The two continued to run the inn, but now charged a bit more-- after all, in just a few short months, there'd be a third permanent mouth to feed there.
Hakkai was living in Gojyo's old house, alone-- save for Hakuryuu of course. Since life alone is lonesome, even for a man such as Cho, who could easily lose himself in a world of books and studying and have no problem or guilt doing so, he spent a lot of time going on trips. When he saw something that reminded him of one of his friends, he would buy it and use it as an excuse to go and visit one of them, then hang around for a few days and catch up. Of course, he still spent quite a while reading-- that was how he ignored the rain now-- pulling out a good book. He always had quite a few on hand, and if he didn't, he would make a special trip, or even re-read one he had read many times over, checking for things he missed the first few times.
At the Temple of the Setting Sun, Koumyou had continued to receive trainings in the ways of Buddha and teachings that Sanzo himself thought he would need. Goku would sometimes sit in on these lessons, they seemed to improve his memory-- this proved as quite a mystery to Sanzo, but he spoke nothing of it aloud. There had been quite a few days where the little group had spent the day doing nothing but making paper airplanes and throwing them into the sky, discussing calmly all the lessons before. This was Sanzo's idea of a pop quiz, putting Koumyou in a calm situation where he could check how well the young man was remembering what he was taught. Hardly to his surprise, the boy remembered most of, if not all, of what he had been taught. It was one of these days, and the three were sitting on the ground under the shade of the large peach tree on the grounds of the temple, a stack of paper beside them. Sanzo had gotten up to go and get a snack for them, and of course, Goku had quickly offered to help. Koumyou was waiting calmly back at the tree. He had taken out some ink and a brush, and was gently putting blessing scriptures on the wings of the planes.
When the other two returned, they all took a break from the airplane making to have the snack and just talk. Koumyou revealed his idea for the blessed planes when Goku noticed one of them, and pointed it out.
"Well, i noticed that a lot of them sail right down to the village with the right wind." Koumyou explained. "I thought that maybe if each of them had a special blessing on it, the villagers might be more appreciative of them... Maybe like them better than just plain ones." he smiled. "I was thinking we could probably use them as spirit wards too..." he held up a little mobile he'd made with a few planes, the wings painted with protection scriptures. "If a demon were to try to attack, he wouldn't realize that the innocent paper airplanes were just like talismans." he giggled slightly as Goku took the mobile from him and went to hang it.
"It's probably not very strong, but it would stop a lesser demon long enough to allow the monks time to run..." Koumyou leaned back on the tree, looking up at Sanzo.
The priest nodded, staring off in the direction of Goku hanging the plane mobile at the gates, but his eyes were unfocused. I have a sneaking suspicion that these 'spirit wards' are a lot more powerful than Koumyou realizes... He's so smart, but he doesn't seem to realize all the potential spirital energy he has... For someone to have been able to make even one bullet as he did, with nothing but energy... It would have even drained Hakkai... And yet... His gun always appears full of bullets, if he loads it or not... He had a short backflash of the bullet sailing through the window of Jin's inn, and seperating the two spirits, condemning the darker part from this Earth. And to be able tocontrol it with such accuracy... Could Hakkai have even done that himself...? I'll have to ask next time he comes... I won't be surprised if that's anyday now... It's been a while since his last visit, he'll be missing us soon... The blonde shook his head slightly, his eyes focusing again as Goku came running back from hanging the planes. He sat in silence, just listening to Goku's praises to Koumyou about how smart his idea was.
Sanzo had been right, within the week, Hakkai was strolling across the grounds of the temple over to lean on the tree, and listen to the blonde priest lecturing Koumyou on a teaching of Buddha and how it applied to him and everyone. Quite a bit later, Sanzo finally let Koumyou go to think on what he'd said.
"That was quite the speach." Hakkai clapped slightly as the priest turned to look at him and shook his head.
"You know how i hate giving lectures." he went over and sat down beside Hakkai. "Getting lonely again?"
"Sort of." Hakkai shrugged. "Plus i bought some food for Goku." he looked up at him sharing the food with Koumyou.
Sanzo nodded. The two sat there for a bit longer in silence, before he finally looked at Hakkai. "I have a question..."
"What's that?" Hakkai questioned, looking over at him.
"I'm sure you haven't forgotten the number Koumyou did on Kari..." Sanzo said quietly, watching Koumyou and Goku just sitting with one another now, talking.
Hakkai nodded. "I couldn't forget, it was quite impressive... He has a great deal of spiritual energy.... Even more than i do... I don't know how he controls it..." he looked at the two talking as well. "Do you?"
Sanzo sighed and shook his head. "No... That's what i was hoping you could tell me... I don't understand him at all."
"He is quite the puzzle..." Hakkai rubbed his face slightly. "But he is the way he is for a reason... And the reason will become clear to us soon enough. We just have to wait for it to show."
"Yeah, well, i'm impatient..."
"We all i know that well enough."
Sanzo frowned, looking at him.
"I'm joking!" Hakkai smiled and held up his hands, chuckling slightly.
Sanzo shook his head. "Don't make me hurt you Hakkai."
Hakkai, as always, spent a few days with the group, before finally heading out with Hakuryuu. Shortly after they left, Sanzo found himself being summond once more to the chamber of the Sanbutsushin. Making himself presentable, putting on the gold crown, he climbed the long set of stairs to the top, and entered when announced. He walked to the center of the room and knelt before them.
"You called me?" he questioned softly, his head bowed. Another mission, it has to be... But what meaningless thing could it be? Shangri-La is back to itself... Had there been any disturbances, Hakkai surely would have been able to tell me... Yet he mentioned nothing...
The first of the two female demi-goddesses closed her eyes. "Yes, Genjo Sanzo. We have a request from the Gods."
The man picked up where she left off. "As you know by now, Goku is neither demon, nor human."
The second female took her turn, "He is the great Sage, born from the Earth itself, his power matching that of the Heavens."
Sanzo nodded. "Yes, i know this. Is something happening with Goku?"
The male spoke another time. "The Earth has been returned to Shangri-La much faster than expected." he ignored the slight eyeroll from Sanzo and continued, "And the Earth's energy is pent up again. It must be set free early. Another Sage is about to be born."
"Another Sage?" the priest looked up at them and frowned. "What about Goku?"
"This brings us to why we have summond you." the first woman spoke again. "The Gods have requested that Goku be taken into the Heavens and be trained as the next war prince." Seeing Sanzo ready to protest, she sped her explanation up. "You would take care of the new Sage, until which point in time you pass the name of Sanzo down-- then you will return to Heaven with Goku."
The blonde man sat in silence, unsure about all of this. "...Goku will be the one to make that decision. If he chooses to stay, you'll have to have the Gods train this new Sage as their war prince." He didn't bother to wait for dismissal, getting up and leaving.
It was a few days before Sanzo could bring himself to finally approach Goku with the news of what the gods wanted. He shook his head and sighed, walking up to the boy, looking down at him as he talked with Koumyou.
"....Goku, you and i need to talk." he said seriously.
The monkey blinked, then stood up, waving to Koumyou and following Sanzo off to the same place he always took someone when he wanted a private conversation, then sat across from him. "What's up, Sanzo?"
Sanzo closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, then explained slowly to Goku what the Gods had ordered him to do.
Goku stared at him for a few moments. "....They want to turn me into another Homura, or Nataku?"
The blonde priest sighed. ".....I'm afraid so, Goku."
"....And you're just going to let them?!" Goku stood up, his fists clenched in anger. "You're just going to replace me?!" he ignored Sanzo's started protest. "Shut up! Don't talk to me, you jerk!" he ran, leaving the temple all together. Through the town, ignoring the people and demons staring at him, heading for Mt. Gogyo where he was imprisoned all those years before, breathing hard. If he didn't want me, then why did he save me? He's just a stupid stuck up priest... I hate him... Goku fumed as he ran, taking deep breaths.
When he finally arrived, Goku collapsed onto the ground, looking at all the stones around him.
It's the biggest one he'll be born from, i know it... He continued to scan around, frowning, until he spotted the largest boulder on the landing.
He sat there glaring at it as he caught his breath. His stomach rumbled loudly. I'm so hungry... But i have to destroy this... I can't let it be born...
The monkey stood and started toward the rock, the nyoi-bou appearing in his hand. He slowly approached the large object, as though it were going to grow legs and arms itself and suddenly begin to fight with him for the right to give birth to the horrible creature. He raised the staff over his head, screaming as he began to bash that rock. It fell to pieces so easily that it was laughable, and Goku did find himself laughing out loud. His laughter echoed through the mountains as he continued to bash every stone withing the reach of the nyoi-bou. The skies had become dark, rain had begun to pour. Thunder echoed across the sky and lightning lit up the pathway to the Heavens that Goku seemed to get closer and closer to with each rock he bashed. The Earth itself began to shake and rumble, seemingly splitting every inch of itself apart from the sheer amount of energy trapped inside. At the oceans and lakes of the world, waves had picked up and were crashing rampantly against the shore, and further. Everywhere was flooded. Volcanoes were spitting poison gas, smoke, and firey lava. It was obvious that the Earth couldn't stand the pressure inside. It was only a matter of minutes before the tension reached it's peak, and the Earth's very structure disintegrated, everyone's sudden panic ending just as quickly as it had begun.
Goku felt himself slip into a pleasurable darkness.
The Gods had quickly brought him to Heaven, frowning down at his unconcious form. Sleeping, he looked so innocent, but they knew he was still wild and untamed. Kanzeon, the merciful Goddess, was shaking her head in disgrace.
He held such promise... But being so close to Konzen... I should've known that just the idea of being taken away from him would push the little chimp over the edge... The only way to keep him in control now would be to erase his memory... But i'm sure they won't hesitate to do such a thing... Sighing to herself, she turned and left the room, shaking her head again.
As she had suspected, the other Gods wasted no time aruguing over what must be done to control him. They quickly wiped all of Goku's memory of his Earthly adventures and companions, and then took him to his chambers, placing him in bed. Goku slept in blissfully, and they left him to it. Until they trained him, he was nothing but an unholy child that was soon to become their puppet-killer.
Earth was re-built, and everyone was returned to themselves, their memories of the disasters wiped clean, as if nothing had happened. The only one who recalled clearly the events was Genjo Sanzo. On the outside he seemed not to care, and even if he had shown care about what had happened, not a soul would believe that they had all died and been brought back to life.
The blonde priest called Sanzo made his own way to the mountain, waiting in silence. The new Sage had been born shortly after he arrived to wait for it to be created. He looked at the creature as it opened it's golden eyes and looked at him. The Earthy creature reminded him greatly of his now lost Goku-- only female. He could hardly believe the resemblance. , Kimi." he said quietly, giving her a name right off. The two started back for the temple, the man promising himself in the back of his mind that he wouldn't make the same mistake with Kimi as he had with Goku-- and that he would get Goku back somehow.