Disclaimer: I don't own anybody in Saiyuki!
Author's note: Hey people! I want to say THANK YOU for reviewing in the previous chapter. Hey, I have a question for you guys and I hope you guys know the answer… Do you know how many episodes there are in Saiyuki Reload Gunlock? And I kind of need the answer as soon as possible! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Read and review!
Chapter 17: Clarity
Shiey tossed and turned around on the bed. Hakkai looked at her with worry in his eyes. 'This has been going on for 3 straight weeks already. Why doesn't she tell us what's going on?' Hakkai thought. It had been three weeks and Shiey was still having her series of endless nightmares. She wouldn't talk, eat or even smile. They were all worried about her, but if they asked what the reason was, she would just fake a smile and say that she's all right. But it was the total opposite. She had been running a very high fever since that morning and they booked the inn for the next four days. Hakkai was deeply troubled. Why didn't Shiey want to tell them what was going on? It was not like he was forcing her even if she didn't want to. He just wanted things to be clear. One more thing was, Shiey always said she could hear a voice. A voice of a young boy about Goku's age calling out to her. Gojyo would say she might just be hallucinating. That night, he agreed to stay and watch over Shiey while the others went to bed. Suddenly, Shiey moaned, making Hakkai look her way. He sat down on the edge of the bed and placed a cold, wet towel on her hot forehead. "Shiey…" he whispered.
In Tenkai…
"Just a little more…" Kanzeon remarked. "Only a little more, Shiey. After this, you can get rid of your nightmares." She mumbled, facing Nataku. She looked at his golden eyes that were used to be full of life. Just then, she was shocked to see what had happened.
Blink. Blink.
"Nataku… are you…?" she whispered, looking at him with wide open eyes.
Shiey's dream
/I miss you/
"Who are you?" she asked. A young boy with big, golden eyes and black hair was standing in front of her. "I'm Nataku." He replied. "Na-ta-ku." She spelled. The boy looked at her in confusion. "Reija… it's me." He said. "Reija?" Shiey asked. "Don't you remember? You're my sister." Nataku said. "W-what…?" she asked.
"I sentence Konzen, Kenren, Goku and Tenpo to be beheaded." Li Touten informed. "What!" Reija protested. Good thing Nataku wasn't there to see this… because who knows what he could've done. "Father, please. They have absolutely nothing to do with this! It's all my fault! Don't blame Konzen or Tenpo or Kenren and Goku. It was my fault!" she insisted. "That's why I'm giving you a bigger punishment. I'm going to spare you so that you can always remember that they died at YOUR hands." Li Touten emphasized. And that very day, they all gathered at the garden to start with the beheading ceremony.
"Behead him first." Li Touten ordered, pointing at Tenpo. The guard took Tenpo and shoved him to the ground. Tenpo still had his glasses on, but his hands were tied behind his back. "Tenpo! Father! Please! I beg you not to push through with this!" she pleaded over and over again. But his father didn't react. In a moment, the sword of the guard was high in the air, ready to cut off Tenpo's head. "Reija, don't look." He told Reija. Reija looked at his eyes and said, "Tenpo, I'm so sorry." Tears were already trickling down her cheeks. "Please, turn around and don't look." Tenpo said. Reija did as she was told. She turned around and closed her eyes, allowing more and more tears to escape from it. "I love you." Tenpo remarked. Reija only cried more and more while her hand was clamped over her mouth. And in a matter of a second, the sword ripped through Tenpo's neck and beheaded him. Reija ran over to Konzen and hugged him, crying onto his shoulder. "T-tenpo—I'-I'm so-sorry." She stuttered. Konzen looked at her, and for the first time, pity could be seen through his eyes. "Next." Li Touten ordered and the ceremony went as planned. Konzen, Kenren… and then Goku.
"Aaaaahhhhh!" Shiey yelled as she sat up in bed. "Shiey! What's wrong!" Hakkai asked, sitting beside the bed. She looked around her and saw that she was in a room… with Hakkai… "Shiey, are you all right?" Hakkai asked again. Then, an image of Tenpo replacing Hakkai entered Shiey's mind. "Reija, are you okay?" Tenpo asked. "Shiey… Shiey!" Hakkai called. Shiey snapped back to reality. "I-I'm fine." She covered up. Hakkai had a serious face on right now. He wasn't in the mood for jokes. He wanted answers. "Shiey, this is the third week in a row. What's the matter? I just want to help you." He said. Shiey looked at him and hugged him, crying. "Hakkai… why? I-I don't know what's happening. Why am I having these dreams?" she said. Hakkai looked at her and said, "Shiey, tell me… please. What are these dreams you're having?" Hakkai asked. Shiey wiped away her tears and explained everything to Hakkai.
"Me? In heaven? Who's Tenpo?" Hakkai asked. "It isn't clear to me too. But all of us have our counterparts in heaven. Konzen is Sanzo, Kenren is Gojyo, You're Tenpo, I'm Reija and Goku's still Goku." She said. "What does this have to do with you?" Hakkai asked. "I don't know. But what I want to know is… is this happening right now, as in the present? Or did it happen in the past?" Shiey asked herself. "Well, now that that's settled, why don't you go back to bed and we'll figure it out in the morning." Hakkai said, kissing Shiey on the cheek. Shiey sank into the bed once more and slept again.
Reija walked through the corridors lifelessly. She didn't feel alive since the day Tenpo and the others were killed. Even Nataku was starting worry about her. Or… should I rephrease that correctly… ONLY Nataku was worried about her. She once again sat in the garden, playing a sad song on her flute. She tried conjuring up a happy time, when all of her friends were still alive. But, the illusions that came out of her flute was the scene of her friends being killed. She stopped and cried once more. Why? Why did this have to happen to her? Why did she have to love? He didn't deserve her. And that very day, she knew how she could finally end her suffering.
That night, when everyone was fast asleep, she snuck into Nataku's room quietly. She kissed the young boy's forehead and then, proceeded to take the sword from his bed side. She took it and drew out the sword. She was ready to end her life now… and with much joy. Who would notice that she died anyway? No one. She lifted the sword and was about to plunge it through her chest when suddenly someone stopped her. "Reija… what are you doing?" Nataku asked. Reija looked up at her brother and cried, "Nataku, please let go of the sword. Please…" she pleaded. "No. I don't want you to kill yourself. What will Goku and the others say when they come back from the world below?" Nataku asked. Reija looked at him in awe. So, they lied to him too, huh? "Nataku, they're not coming back. They're dead." Reija explained straight forwardly. "What do you mean they're dead?" Nataku asked. "It's father's fault! He commanded them to be beheaded. No… actually it's my fault." She said. "Reija…" Nataku said. ""Nataku, please. I can't live like this anymore. Nothing good will happen again." She said. "No!" Nataku insisted, pulling the sword back. So, instead of pushing the sword into her body, she moved forward so that the blade of the sword went through her chest. Blood escaped from her mouth as she dropped to the floor. "R-Reija… Reija! Please wake up! Reija!" Nataku screamed, now crying. Reija lifted a hand to touch Nataku's cheek, "N-nataku… I-I l-love you…" she said slowly, then, just like that, she died. She died in the arms of her beloved brother. "Reija… hey. I know you're still alive. Wake up. Don't leave…" he pleaded, shaking her awake. But she just lay there, cold. "Reija!" he yelled. And that very night, he sealed himself. Nobody knows how. Nobody knows… But one thing's for sure… it was because of his sister's death. You know, Reija was wrong. Somebody would miss her after all… and that person was… Nataku.
She woke up that morning feeling good. She knew she had already told Hakkai what was bothering her and she felt like some of the burden she carried on her own vanished. But, one thing still bothered her… who was calling put to her? Could it possibly be Nataku? But he sealed himself five hundred years ago. How could he call her? She shrugged and went downstairs to join the others for breakfast.
"Hello? Is anybody here?" she called out. The dining room was completely dark and it seemed like Sanzo and the others haven't come down yet. She walked up back to the stairs and thought she'd go to Sanzo's room and see for herself. When she was just a few inches away from the door of Sanzo's room, she heard a woman's voice talking. "Who?" she asked herself. She turned the doorknob and walked inside and saw the four boys with the infamous Kanzeonbosatsu. "I-it's you!" Shiey said, pointing a finger at her. "No need to point." Kanzeon remarked. Shiey put her hand down, "Sorry." She said. "Well, as I was saying, it'll only be a matter of days." Kanzeon finished. "And you're sure she'll be fine when she gets back?" Hakkai clarified. "Of course." The goddess answered. "Um, excuse me, what are you guys talking about?" Shiey asked, sweat dropping. "You better be sure about what you just said." Sanzo emphasized, not minding Shiey's reaction. "I already said yes." Kanzeon grinned, then she turned to look at Shiey, "I'll return her as soon as I can." "Wh-what? Where am I going?" Shiey asked as Kanzeon took hold of her wrist. "We're going to clear things up." Kanzeon answered her as they both vanished into air. Hakkai looked at their fading figures. "Shiey, please return safely." He whispered.
In Tenkai…"Here we are." Kanzeon announced as they reached their destination. "Where are we?" Shiey asked. "We're in Tenkai." Answered Kanzeon. Shiey looked around. This was the place she saw in her dreams. Not too far was the garden she loved to hang out in. The cherry blossoms were falling elegantly, as if welcoming her back. "Well, it would be nice if you could stay here longer, but I made a promise to your keepers that I'd give you back as soon as I can." The goddess muttered. Shiey grinned sheepishly, knowing that Sanzo wouldn't allow her. "So, why don't we go? Your brother's waiting for you." Kanzeon informed as she smiled and led the way. Shiey blinked a few times and followed her down the hall. She continued taking in her surroundings. She felt like until today, she still knew this place very well. Kanzeon led her to a room that seemed very familiar to her. "Well, I'll leave you alone with your brother." Kanzeon said as she walked back to her quarters. Shiey gulped and then opened the door…
"Reija!" a boy about eleven pounced on her. "I missed you!" he remarked. Shiey just stood there, staring at him. His black hair and big, golden eyes were full of life. "Reija? Are you okay?" Nataku asked. "U-um, yeah. Sorry." Shiey replied. "Are you sure? You seem distant and troubled." He declared, raising an eyebrow. "I'm fine…" Shiey insisted. Shiey went back to her thoughts… Nataku… he was her brother back then in heaven. And since she knew that she wouldn't be going back to Sanzo and the others for quite a while, she decided to enjoy her stay here. "Hey squirt, I missed you too." She remarked, causing Nataku to smile. "Come on, let's go to the garden and talk there." Nataku said as he grabbed Shiey by her arm and led her out.
"I really missed you, Reija." Nataku said, smiling at his sister. Shiey smiled back, "Nataku, I want you to call me Shiey from now on." "Shiey?" Nataku asked. "Yeah." Answered Shiey. "Okay! That's fine!" Nataku complied. "So, how were you these past… uh… years?" Shiey asked. Nataku looked away, "I've been really sad and lonely." He replied. Shiey was surprised at his reaction. "I sealed myself, Shiey. That night, when you killed yourself, I couldn't bare the fact that you wouldn't be here anymore, so there…" he said. "Well, that's in the past now, isn't it? I'm here with you right now, aren't I?" Shiey asked. Nataku looked up again and smiled, "Yeah." "How about you?" Nataku asked. "How have you been doing?" "Well, the first few years of my life were not so good. But, these past few months were one of the best." Shiey explained. "Really?" Nataku asked. Shiey nodded. "I'm traveling with Sanzo and the others to stop a demon named Gyumao." Shiey informed. "Gyumao! I thought I subdued him 500 years ago!" Nataku concluded. "Well, someone's conducting an experiment to revive him." Shiey answered. "Oh… so, who are you traveling with again?" Nataku said. "Sanzo and the others." Shiey answered. "Who are they?" Nataku asked. "Oh yeah, they're Konzen, Tenpo, Kenren and Goku." Shiey added. "Goku! He's still alive? Where is he?" Nataku asked. "He's in the world below." Shiey informed. "Can I go down there too?" Nataku asked. "Uh, I don't think so." Shiey grinned. "Aw, no fair!" Nataku remarked. "I'll just greet them for you." Shiey said. "Okay, that'll be nice." Nataku agreed. "This place looks better than before." Shiey said. "Yeah. I think it's because father's gone." Nataku said. "Father? Li Touten?" Shiey asked. Nataku nodded a yes. "I think he died in a battle. I heard Kanzeon say so." Nataku revealed. "Oh, that's why." Shiey replied. "So, Shiey, until when are you staying here?" Nataku asked. "Well, I'm not so sure. Kanzeon didn't tell me." Shiey replied. "Okay, so why don't we get something to eat? I'm starving." Nataku invited. "Sure." Shiey smiled and followed him.
Back to the guys…"Hey guys, what do you think Shiey's doing right now?" Goku asked. "I don't know." Gojyo replied. "Hakkai, I'm hungry. When's dinner?" Goku asked. "Just a few more minutes, Goku." Hakkai replied. "Okay. Should I call Sanzo now?" Goku asked. "Yes, thank you." Hakkai answered. Goku ran upstairs to let Sanzo know that it was almost supper. "Sanzo! Hakkai said supper's almost ready." Goku said. "Yeah." Sanzo answered, taking a long drag from his cigarette. Goku closed the door and ran back downstairs. Sanzo stood up from his seat and walked to the door. Then, he looked back at the window, "Shiey…" he remarked.
Tenkai…"Hey Shiey, what's it like in the world below?" Nataku asked. "It's okay. Sometimes it can be good, sometimes bad." Shiey replied. "I bet it isn't as boring as up here, huh?" Nataku questioned. "Yup." Shiey agreed. "Nataku…" Shiey said. "Yeah?" Nataku asked. "I love you…" Shiey remarked. "I love you, too, Shiey." Nataku said as they closed each other's eyes while they were still lying on the grass.
"Well, well, well, I guess she'll be staying with us for a while, huh?" Kanzeon said. "Indeed." Jiroushin replied. "It is something…" Kanzeon said, staring at the two who were lying in the garden. "It's been such a long time since they last did that." She said.