Love Song
Chapter Twenty- The Final Countdown
By darthelwig
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I do not own Saiyuki. This story is rated M. Slash warning!
Thanks to GhostHelwig for the never-ending patience and willingness to set aside everything else just to help me out. You're the best ever!
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Gojyo stood amidst the noise and bustle behind Stage Three- the stage they would be performing on very soon if Sanzo found the monkey in time.
Time was running out rather quickly, but Hakkai was certain Sanzo would make it back in time, so Gojyo tried not to worry about it too much. Things would sort themselves out one way or another very shortly. There was nothing he could do to change that, so worrying was a waste of his time, guaranteed to give him nothing but gray hairs.
Instead, he wanted to get a look at the judges. He couldn't care less about checking out the competition. No one could stand up to them anyway. But the judges were another story. He'd heard who was going to be here, but he wanted to see them for himself. It wasn't every day you got to see such important people- and they would be evaluating each performance, so it was best to see what they were all about.
He listened as the judges were introduced. First came the Sanbutsushin- a team of three highly respected music critics. They would have to prove they were original to get past those three. He'd heard they were pretty hard on any band they felt was a cheap rip-off of another. Gojyo thought they'd be okay on that score, though- and if they weren't, well… it was too late to do anything about that now. They were who they were.
The second judge introduced was Kanzeon Bosatsu, CEO of Goddess Music, the label that sponsored this whole contest. They would have to put a lot of energy and spirit into their performance to please that one. Everyone knew the "Great Kannon" had an eye for talent, but rumor had it that a wicked sense of humor lay behind that calm scrutiny. They had to give all they had today. No half-assed attempt would do.
It was the third judge who worried him the most. Li Touten, the most powerful manager in the business and father of Nataku- the most talented guitar prodigy alive. Touten was said to be a ruthless businessman and very unforgiving of mistakes. They would have to play not just enthusiastically, but technically sound if they wanted his vote. He would be aware of any mistakes. They needed to show they were professionals who knew what they were doing, not some stupid punk kids.
Li Touten had managed his son's career straight to the top. Everything they did would be compared to Nataku… and he had a feeling they'd come up sorely lacking.
That was what worried him. They played with all their heart and soul, but none of them had been formally trained, so sometimes their techniques were a bit sloppy. Kougaiji would have the advantage in this area. He had formal training and was as skilled as they came.
Still, all this was presupposing Sanzo even made it here in time with Goku in tow. Time was flying by and his doubts were all growing- but he would continue to try and trust in Hakkai's judgment. If he said Sanzo would be here, then maybe he would.
For the first time since he was a kid, Gojyo felt the need to pray for help. Only, he didn't know if anybody was even listening.
….
Sanzo followed his feet, letting instinct guide him. For the longest time, he had no idea where he was going or even what area of the city he was in. Geography didn't matter to the voice calling in his heart.
It led him onward, pulling him with unseen hands, and as he moved toward it the calling grew stronger until he could almost distinguish Goku's voice. Whatever strange bond had formed between them, he was thankful for it. Their connection guided him as he searched for his lost love.
And slowly the streets began to look more familiar again, until he realized he was walking through a very familiar, quiet little area. He hadn't been in this neighborhood for ages, but he still remembered it well.
With a sinking feeling in his stomach, he stopped in front of Kougaiji's house, wondering if he'd been wrong after all. Maybe he'd been a fool to follow some imaginary voice in his head. Maybe, in his desperation, his mind had played some sort of trick on him. Surely Goku wouldn't be here. He didn't even know Kou, and Kou's entire family would be at the concert right now- where he should be… if he could find Goku.
The voice was silent now, and he cursed his own stupidity. He'd come all this way… and for what?
He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag before lifting his face to the sky and slowly exhaling. His shoulders began to shake in silent laughter as he finally gave up- gave in to the inevitable and mocked his own foolishness.
It wasn't long before he was laughing in earnest- hysterical and sounding not entirely sane, the laughter wracking his body like convulsions.
And that was when he heard it- Goku's voice in his ear. His laughter cut off abruptly and he turned his head around sharply, expecting to see Goku standing by his side with that goofy, stupefied look on his face, but the monkey wasn't there.
Goku's voice came again, this time in his other ear, and it was gone as quickly as it had come. He looked around, but Goku was nowhere to be seen. There was no one on the street at all.
His eyes focused on the house in front of him with deadly intensity as a new certainty formed in his mind. Goku was in there. He was sure of it. He didn't know how he knew it, but he was sure nonetheless. Goku needed him and nothing would stand between them.
His cigarette dropped to the ground unnoticed and then he was in motion, long strides carrying him to the front door. He tried the knob, not surprised that it was locked, but that wouldn't stop him. He'd done this for Goku before.
A few hard kicks were enough to splinter the door, then he was finally through and the voice was back, leading him down the hallway to his left. It was loud in his head, filling his ears, and he moved down the hall with desperate urgency. He didn't bother searching the rooms. The voice was leading him directly to where he needed to be.
And then he found Goku, who was struggling against his bonds, trying frantically to free himself. Sanzo went to him, his fingers fumbling with the knots behind Goku's back. The boy's wrists were red and raw from his struggles against the ropes restraining him, and the sight of that wounded flesh infuriated the blonde. He had to force his own hands to remain steady so he could untie the rest of the knots.
Finally Goku was free, the gag and ropes lying discarded on the bed, and he threw his arms around Sanzo, hugging him tight.
"I knew you'd find me!" he said, grinning happily.
Sanzo had no words for how he felt at that moment. Relief wasn't strong enough a word for the emotion burning in his heart.
He just wrapped his arms around Goku's thin body and squeezed him- reassuring himself that this was real. Goku was safe. He was here and it was all okay again.
"We have to go," he said, reluctantly letting go and pulling away. He took Goku's hand in his own and led him from the room, not willing to part from him completely but feeling the pressure as time ran out.
"The contest has already started," he called out as he nearly dragged Goku out to the street.
"What?" Goku said, speeding up. He stopped suddenly as Sanzo changed direction.
"What are you doing?" he yelled, stumbling after the blonde as he hurried them along.
"We can't run the whole way," Sanzo said over his shoulder, heading straight for a man who was just getting into a jeep parked down the street.
"Hey!" Sanzo yelled, catching the guy's attention. The guy's hair was nearly white, but as they drew closer they could see that he wasn't old at all. The man seemed startled but friendly, and he looked at them curiously.
"Can I help you?" he asked, and Sanzo nodded.
"Yeah," he said, slightly out of breath. "We need to borrow your car."
"Uh… can I give you a lift somewhere?" the stranger asked, watching in stunned amazement as Sanzo and Goku climbed into his jeep.
"Yeah. Get us to the park. We're supposed to be at a contest right now," Sanzo said, looking impatient, and the stranger smiled.
"Oh yeah! I heard about that! You in a band or something?" the guy asked, scratching his head and grinning good-naturedly.
"Would you get in and drive already?" Goku said, his voice shrill. "If we don't get there real soon, we'll lose!"
"Why didn't you say so?" the man asked, getting in and starting the jeep. He looked terribly amused by the whole situation.
"Better buckle up!" he said, putting the jeep in gear and stepping on the gas. He accelerated at a breakneck pace, and Sanzo and Goku were thrown backwards against the seats as the stranger sped them away at an entirely unhealthy speed.
"Who the hell are you?" Sanzo asked, yelling the question over the noise of the rumbling engine.
"My name's Gojun, but my friends call me Hakuryu," the guy said, eyes never leaving the road as he broke every possible traffic law.
"Hakuryu? That's a weird name," Goku shouted, and the man behind the wheel just nodded and grinned.
"So I've been told!" he said, laughing loudly. "But you two are in luck today! You managed to hitch a ride with the right person if you want to get where you're going in a hurry!"
He stepped on the gas a bit more, and Sanzo closed his eyes as they went careening down the road. They ran a red light without slowing down in the slightest and Goku crowed in delight, enjoying the wild ride.
"Great," he muttered, gripping his seat in white-knuckled fingers and praying they made it to the show in one piece.
….
Kou hadn't meant to end up face to face with Hakkai and Gojyo, but he hadn't realized they were so close until the last minute, and by then it was too late to pretend he hadn't seen them.
The crowd had ended up forcing them closer together, separating him from Doku in the process. But that was fine by him. He'd rather his friend didn't see the guilt that he suspected was written all over his face. Seeing his old friends brought it all surging up to the forefront of his mind, and he swallowed the bitterness that coated his tongue.
"What's the matter, guys? Feeling a little out of your league?" he asked, covering his guilt with a heavy dose of arrogance. He knew exactly why those two looked so freaked out. Their little friend was tucked away all safe and secure in Kou's house at this very moment, and they were left without a guitarist and without a chance in hell of winning this thing.
And it was all his doing… because he'd let this happen. He hadn't stopped Ni's plan and freed the boy while he had a chance. He'd played his stepmother's dirty game like a good little boy and destroyed these men with underhanded tricks. He couldn't find excuses for his actions. These men had been his friends once upon a time. But he wasn't going to let that stop him either.
"Shut up," Gojyo said, glaring at him. "We're just fine. Not a worry in the world."
It was an obvious lie, but Kou let it pass. He didn't want to hear about their problems, didn't want to think anymore about what he'd done to them. He didn't want to chance feeling any more guilty than he already was. He was having a hard enough time living with himself as it was. He couldn't let his emotions get in the way so close to achieving his goal.
He just pasted a smirk on his face and turned his back on them, heading back into the crowd in search of Doku. It was almost time for them to go onstage, and they had to make certain they were ready.
"I'm sorry," he said, speaking only to himself. It was all the apology he could give them. They probably deserved much better than that, but he had an agenda of his own and he couldn't allow his guilty conscience to get in the way of that.
It would all be over soon anyway.
….
"Damn it!" Sanzo said, glaring at the traffic jam ahead of them as if by sheer willpower alone he could make the cars move. He resisted the urge to glance at the jeep's clock. He didn't need to see it to know that time was rapidly running out. He could feel it, could sense the minutes slipping by, unstoppable.
"Sorry, guys. I guess we're stuck," Hakuryu said, raising his hands in mute apology.
"Aw, man," Goku moaned, standing up in the jeep and trying to see into the distance. "I think it goes on for blocks!"
"It's the contest," Sanzo said, frustration filling his vice, and he grimaced. "Come on, Goku," he sighed, getting out of the jeep with a distinct look of distaste on his face.
"Where are we going, Sanzo?" Goku asked, climbing out of the jeep on strong, limber legs.
"We're running," Sanzo muttered, not waiting for Goku's response. He ran off and Goku turned back to Hakuryu and waved.
"Bye!" he yelled, his legs already carrying him forward to follow his angel. "Thanks for the ride! It was awesome!"
Hakuryu watched them go and chuckled to himself.
"Those are two very determined guys," he murmured, shaking his head in bemusement.
If they made it to the contest in time he'd be very surprised, but he also knew that it they did make it they'd probably do just fine. He'd never seen two more focused individuals.
"Good luck," he muttered, watching them disappear off into the distance.