Author's note: Finally managed to finish my story. Sorry for the long wait .The bits in italic are Goku's thoughts.
To Zeraphic Triomis: A very special thanks for your support. Your taking the time to review after almost every chapter really spurred me on. Hope you like this chappie too. Would love to hear your views on it.
P.S: Thanks for reviewing "Shirin" .The poor kid was really depressed when no one reviewed. But you fixed that. I'll post the next chapter of that fic up soon just for you!
To Saiyukisexy: Thank you very much for your support. And nope it is neither Hakkai nor Sanzo under the tree… But I don't think you'll be too surprised by who it is.
To Ninja Chic: Thanks got your review on Chapter 3.Glad you like it so far. Let me know how you feel about the ending!
And to all who read this and reviewed it :Thanks for your time and support!
From previous chapter:
Experimentally, Goku pushed the tip of the knife into a point on his wrist. He pushed harder and harder until he saw tiny prick of blood.
"So that is how much pressure I need to use," he thought clinically as if he was conducting some sort of scientific test.
He placed the edge of the knife firmly on his wrist and took a deep breath. Closing his eyes he prepared to slit his wrist….
"I wondered when it would come to that!"
Goku dropped the knife startled. He looked down to where the voice came from.
His eyes widened when he realized who it was.
"You…You're…" He stammered.
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"So, Goku you will meet your true love today." laughed Hakkai as they walked up a bridge in the Song's garden towards his home.
Silence.
"Not unless pork buns sprout legs, since that is his true love!" quipped Gojyo.
"Humph, I agree!"
Goku didn't protest. Instead he smiled at them sadly before looking away. Hakkai gave Goku a puzzled glance. The boy looked apprehensive. He hadn't been the same since they arrived in this town. Gojyo and Sanzo had noticed too. Just then a group of girls ran past them. Goku stepped to the side to avoid them, walking very close to the side of the bridge.
"Any minute now... She will be walking up the bridge." Goku thought to himself. His breadth hitched slightly when he saw a familiar figure walking carefully up the steps.
"Jasmine." he whispered her name under his breadth.
"Eh? Did you say something, monkey?" asked Gojyo turning around to face him.
"Found you!" a voice exclaimed delightedly hugging Gojyo around his waist.
Gojyo looked startled for a second.
"What the…Didn't know I was lost to begin with!" he smirked.
Jasmine released her hold on him immediately.
"I…I'm so sorry…we were…"
Goku didn't hear what she said as he gazed at his lover's face. His heart felt light. All he wanted to do grab her and hold her close to and sob his eyes out.
"You're alive! Oh god, you're alive!" his mind kept screaming.
"Damn it, stupid monk, what the hell was that for?"
Gojyo's furious voice brought him back to the present. Gojyo was rubbing his head, glaring at the monk. Jasmine was already running away towards her friends.
"Really Gojyo, that girl's too young for you!" Hakkai sighed shaking his head.
"I…You…" Gojyo sputtered. "For the record SHE hugged me!"
But he was talking to thin air, the others having already walked away. He ran after them, muttering curses under his breadth.
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"We are very honored by your visit Sanzo-sama…." Song began his speech. Goku lay back on his bed and stared at the ceiling. His thoughts strayed to the night he tried to kill himself….
He had dropped his knife startled by the voice. His surprise grew tenfold when he recognized whom it was.
"You…. You're…"He had stammered.
The figure stepped out of the gloom.
"Yo."
The next minute he was standing right in front of the figure.
"Kanzeon!"
The goddess smirked.
"I s that what my name is? I wouldn't have known had you not told me!"
Goku bristled. "Not funny."
"What do you want?" he asked turning away.
"I believe… the question is what do YOU want?"
"I want to die!" he replied listlessly.
"Sorry that is not a possibility. We need you on the quest! What else do you want?"
Goku slumped his shoulders.
"You won't let me kill myself?"
"Nope…. I just keep on resurrecting you." Kanzeon replied cheerfully." So… What else do you want?"
"You can't give me what I want."
"You won't know till you ask." Came the quiet retort.
"FINE!" Goku yelled frustrated. "I'll tell you what I want. I want Jasmine back alive and well! THERE! I've said it!"
He crossed his arms, turning to face her. "Well? Can you? Can you give me what I want?"
The goddess yawned. "Is that all?"
Goku gaped at her. A very small flicker of hope sprung in his heart.
"You can…. bring her back to life…."
"Not really…But I can prevent her from dying."
Goku stepped up to Kanzeon.
"How?" he asked quietly, hope lighting up his heart.
Kanzeon smiled softly at the young man.
"By changing destiny," she replied.
Goku frowned, "Change destiny?"
He looked up startled as Kanzeon ruffled his hair.
"You were never destined to love a girl…" she sighed.
Goku was completely lost now. He filed away her last comment to analyze later. There were more pressing issues at stake.
"So you can save her…Right?"
Kanzeon nodded. "Sacrifices need to be made"
Goku nodded furiously. "Anything…I'll do it just name it!"
Kanzeon studied Goku's face closely. His eyes were full of steely resolution. But his determination wavered with her response.
"Forget her."
"This is my daughter, Jasmine…"
Goku started out of his reverie. But he still kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling. Looking at her may break his resolution. He couldn't have that- not if he wanted her to live.
"Uh…Goku? …Goku are you alright?"
Goku gave the worried Hakkai a reassuring smile.
"Never been better."
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"Quit it, monkey!" Gojyo stubbed out his cigarette irritated by Goku's behavior. "You have been staring at me since I lit up. What is your damn problem?"
Goku smirked, "Trying to make you quit!"
Hakkai laughed, "And it seems to be working!"
As the light banter floated around him, Goku heaved a sigh of relief. He had not realized that his staring had been that obvious. He realized now why Sanzo and Gojyo smoked almost non-stop. Nicotine was sooo addictive.
"What I wouldn't do for a smoke!" Goku thought as he ran an irritated hand through his hair.
"I'm going for a walk." He stated, standing up.
The other stared at his retreating figure.
"You know I can't place it …But something is not right with him" commented Hakkai.
Sanzo grunted. "Just leave him."
He turned his face away and stared out the window at the figure walking down the bridge, his violet eyes full of concern for his young ward.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Goku carefully placed the tiny bird back into its nest. He leaned back against the trunk after making sure that Jasmine hadn't turned up yet.
"Forget her."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"Wha…what?" Goku whispered disbelievingly.
Kanzeon sighed.
"Goku, Jasmine was destined to die…just like she was destined to fall in love with you. These two events have a …"She frowned as she searched for the right word.
"…A…cause and effect relationship .Do you understand what I am trying to say?"
"She died because she fell in love with me… .It was all my fault….ow!" He glared at the goddess who was looking appreciatively at the fan in her hand.
"I can understand why my nephew has a fixation with this…it is so…relaxing."
The fan disappeared.
"Goku, nothing that happened was your fault. She chose to give you her heart. Just like she chose to die in Sanzo's place. But this can be undone."
She stared into Goku's confused golden eyes.
"It MUST be undone. I don't think you truly understand the impact Jasmine's death has on your friends. It's like they are reliving their past all over again….Helpless to save the one they love."
"So if she doesn't fall in love with me, then she'll live?"
Kanzeon nodded. Goku stared at his feet. Clenching his fists he looked up, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Then she won't…fall in love with me. I'll make sure of that! I mean…"
He turned away.
"All I have to do is make sure we don't meet or…or talk. Piece of cake…."He tried to convince himself.
"Goku…"
He turned back to Kanzeon.
"Lets do this. I said I'll do anything to have her back alive and I mean it!"
Kanzeon studied the pain etched on his face.
"Just one thing…"
Kanzeon looked at Goku questioningly.
"Tell me …Tell me what her life will be like without me? Will she be …happy?"
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Hakkai stood looking out of the window sipping his coffee. He smiled to himself when he heard a bed creaking and some muttered curses.
"Good morning Gojyo." He greeted with out turning around.
"What is so good about it?" yawned Gojyo.
Sanzo was already seated at the table with a cup of coffee and his papers.
Gojyo looked around.
"Where's the monkey?"
"Goku left for a walk quite early in the morning." Said Hakkai walking back to the table.
"He said he'd back by noon."
"Eh? You mean the monkey woke up early to walk?" Gojyo stretched his shoulders. "Doesn't sound like him!"
Hakkai placed his cup down.
"I know," he muttered under his breadth.
Sanzo sneaked a glance at his friend.
"If he doesn't turn up by lunch time, we'll search for him."
"Hai,Sanzo"
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Goku looked at the carnage around him panting. Since the element of surprise was with him, it had been easy to kill off the demons. Their bodies littered the ground. A silvered haired one, in particular was even more badly beaten up than the rest.
"Bastards" muttered Goku under his breadth walking away.
He found a steam nearby and began washing himself up as best as he could. He felt himself relaxing as the cool water washed over his face.
"Will …She be happy?"
Kanzeon gave him a sympathetic smile.
"She will fall in love with a nice young man named Hiko. They will get married a year from now and they will have a son."
"She won't have any twin girls?"
The goddess looked puzzled for a second then she smiled.
"I'll see what I can do." She said.
Goku turned away.
"This Hiko…"he tried to sound nonchalant, "He will keep her happy, right?"
"Hiko will remain devoted to her for the rest of his long life as will Jasmine." She replied.
Goku grunted. It hurt so much knowing that she will never be his, that she won't even know him….that she won't remember.
"But there won't be anything for her to forget in the first place." He muttered to himself.
He took a deep breadth and turned back to face Kanzeon.
"Lets do this!" he said.
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Goku was already seated in the jeep, waiting impatiently for the rest as they went through the formal mandatory goodbyes. He wished they would hurry up. The faster they left, the better. The boys were becoming suspicious about Goku especially since when he turned up slightly battered from his fight yesterday. They thought it was strange that he seemed to have known exactly where to find the demons and they weren't convinced by explanation that the demons had found him instead.
"Ano…."
Goku nearly jumped. Jasmine was standing beside the Jeep with a parcel in her hand.
"Shit! Where did she turn up from?" Thought Goku, his heart was thumping wildly.
"Will my efforts…my pain be for nothing?"
Despite himself, he found himself pleading for Kanzeon in his mind. A sudden warmth filled his heart.
"It will be alright, Goku. Stay calm."
Goku shut his eyes and willed his heart to calm down.
"Um…excuse me, are you alright?" a timid voice broke into his concentration.
He opened his eyes and found himself drowning in Jasmine's blue eyes. He physically shook himself and forced a small smile on his lips.
"Yeah, I'm O.K" he replied.
He stared at the parcel she shyly held out to him.
"I made some dumplings for you and your friends to eat along the way."
"Oh…Er thanks" he took the parcel from her and placed it on his lap.
Jasmine looked up at him smiling before giving him a bow.
"Good luck on your quest."
Goku gave her a small nod of acknowledgement. He watched as she ran back to her father.Reaching into his pocket,he took out the small bottle that Kanzeon had given him.
"Time for the final phase" he told himself as he stared at the crystal blue liquid inside the bottle.
"Take this." Kanzeon tossed a small bottle at him. "I want you to drink this as soon as this is whole ordeal is over .It will make you forget…everything."
Goku stared at the bottle.
"I don't want to forget," he whispered.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. Goku looked up at Kanzeon, his vision blurring from unshed tears.
"I don't want to forget," he repeated.
"Goku …When I turn back time…there will be nothing for you to remember, because nothing has happened yet. Try to understand."
Goku shook his head, staring at the bottle in his palm.
"Fine, the decision is yours, but remember…" Kanzeon lifted his chin up and stared intently into his eyes.
"If you don't drink that you might end up jeopardizing everything. What if you can't stop yourself from going back to look for her after the quest?"
"I…I won't…."
Kanzeon let go of his chin.
"Suit yourself, " she exclaimed exasperated.
"Go back now and try to sleep. With the new dawn, time would have turned back to when you first arrive in this village."
Goku stared at the bottle. He looked up to where Jasmine was standing before looking back at the bottle in his hand. Then reaching a decision, he drank the entire content of the bottle.
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The jolting of the jeep woke him up. Goku rubbed his eyes as he slowly stretched.
"Finally decided to come back to the land of the living, eh saru? " smirked Gojyo, the ever-present cigarette in his mouth.
"Shut up, Kappa!"
"Saru!"
"Kappa!"
Thwack!
"URUSAI!"
Goku was ruefully rubbing the bump on his head when he realized the package in his lap.
"Huh? What's this?"
Gojyo glanced at the package. "Food. I think…That girl at the…."
He stared astonished as Goku quickly started ripping open the package.
"Waaah…. Dumplings!"
Goku gave an experimental sniff. He closed his eyes in relish.
"They smell so nice!" he murmured before he started gobbling them up.
"O…Oi! Monkey. Leave some for me."
"Mmf …"Goku swallowed the dumpling in his mouth. "No way…they are too good for you."
"Why you…"
Just then the jeep slowed to a halt.
The two of them looked up from their bickering to see a young man around Goku's age standing by the door. Judging from the backpack on his shoulder, he seemed to be a fellow traveler. A lost one.
"Can we help you?" asked Hakkai pleasantly.
The young man pushed a strand of dark hair from his eyes and smiled.
"Um, could you tell how far it is to the next village?" he asked.
"Oh, about half a day walk." came the reply. "Are you visiting someone there?"
The young man shook his head.
"My name's Hiko. I'm just looking for work….I heard that this village needed a blacksmith so I thought I'd try my luck."
"Hiko…"Goku frowned. "The name sounds familiar…"
"You are a blacksmith then?" asked Hakkai pointedly ignoring the throbbing vein on Sanzo's forehead. He didn't care- just as long the two in the back would stop arguing.
Hiko gave a sheepish laugh and shook his head.
"Like I said I 'll try my luck!"
Hakkai laughed as well.
"Well in that case, I suggest you look for Mr. Song the village head. He might be able to help you."
Hiko shook Hakkai's hand gratefully and offered him his thanks before walking away.
"Wait!"
The ikkou looked on startled as Goku jumped out jeep and ran to Hiko.
"Here." He pushed the dumplings into Hiko's hands. "You must be hungry!"
Hiko stared at the generous offering for a minute.
"Tha…Thanks! I am hungry!" He gave Goku a grateful smile.
Giving Goku a bow, Hiko once again took his leave.
Gojyo stared at this exchange in astonishment.
"The saru gave his food away." He commented disbelievingly.
Sanzo and Hakkai nodded, speechless with shock.
"Maybe he's sick," suggested Hakkai.
Sanzo stared at Goku's back as the young boy stood looking at Hiko's retreating figure.
"We've wasted enough time", he muttered under his breadth.
"Goku, hurry up or we'll leave you behind."
Goku jumped back into the jeep.
"Oi, Goku." Gojyo nudged Goku with his foot. "Why did you give the dumplings away?"
Goku sighed and looked up at the sky.
"I don't know. I felt like it belonged to him for some reason."
A small tear slid down his face unchecked and unnoticed by anyone.
Gojyo stared at Goku puzzled before turning to Hakkai.
"You 're right Hakkai. We have a sick monkey on our hands!"
Goku sat up wiping away his tear.
"Who are you calling monkey, Chain-smoking Kappa?"
"What did you call me, Brain stomach monkey?"
"Stupid water phobic water sprite!"
"Idiotic bottomless pit monkey!"
"Kappa!"
"Saru!"
"Kappa!"
"Saru!"
Bang! Bang!
"Do you want to die, you idiots?"
"Ahh!" yelled Gojyo and Goku together.
Hakkai just sighed.
"Everything's back to normal. Seems like I was worried for nothing ,eh…Harkyu?"
"Kyu!"
After a few minutes of blissful silence….
"Ne, Sanzo, I'm hungry!"
"Humph! Should have thought of that before you gave those dumplings away."
"Saanzo….SAAANZOOO!"
Thwack!
"URUSAI!"
Kanzeon chuckled at the scene.
"You 're right, Tenpo…Everything is back to normal"
Her gaze flickered to Sanzo.
"You were never destined to love a girl …Son Goku!" she murmured under her breadth.
Back on earth, both Goku and Sanzo started and looked around them as if they had heard a voice. Their eyes met and held each other are gaze a moment longer that it should before Sanzo broke it with a smirk. Goku gave a sheepish grin before he turned to look at the setting sun that they always seem to be heading towards.
THE END.
Author's note:(Throws confetti into the air.) Whoopee! Finally done. I already have another story in the works. This time the guys have to deal with a new threat other than demons…. VAMPIRES. They need to call for an expert who is based loosely on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. LOOSESLY! And a romance is a brewing! Ha! Ha, ha, ha!
Ahem!
(Bowing deeply) Please look forward to it!
Bye, Bye!
