It's been a while…but enjoy! This chapter may be a little slow, but I have planned more action in coming chapters…

"Goku…don't you want to come in for dinner…at least?" He said nothing and continued to stand. The stars and moon shone brightly and their house gave out a warm glow in the middle of the dark field. Nataku hesitated about approaching him, he moved a step forwards but changed his mind and turned back towards the house.

"…" Nataku heard muffled sounds and paused.

"Goku?"

"Ken-niichan…"

"Huh?" Nataku turned sharply and saw shadowed figures coming out of the forest.

"Ten-chan…" The figures came into the light of the moon and eyes widened. Their faces became clearer and Goku started to run towards them.

"KONZEN!" he collapsed into him and hugged him longingly as his cries softened. "You're late…" The other two sighed and moved in closer to ruffle his hair.

"Better late than never, right Goku?" Tenpou smiled and they all made their way towards Nataku who was waiting patiently in front of the house.

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"Welcome back! Just in time for dinner!" Yaone finished setting the table and put aside her apron. They all sat down together on the round table and shared the heaps of food, specially prepared for Goku.

'Everyone was smiling, it was the happiest I've seen Goku in over forty years, he's practically shinning .'

"Ne, Ken-niichan! Can I have that last pork bun?"

"NANI? You can't take anything I already have on my plate!"

'It's a miracle to have him pull out of that darkness that surrounded him the day Sanzo, Gojyo and Hakkai left his side.'

"Urusai bakasaru! Sit down and eat properly!"

'It's amazing how one moment he can be the most ruthless fighter…then the next the most innocent being in the world…'

"Another bowl please, Yaone-san!"

"Hai!"

'Though sometimes I wonder whether it is real or just an act…'

"Ah…Goku…gomen-nasai…but you've finished all the rice…"

"Goku! What am I supposed to eat now?" Kougaiji rose from his chair and glared at Goku as he hid behind Tenpou.

'It must be hurting him on the inside, knowing that in reality Sanzo is out to kill him…and doesn't remember him at all…'

"Why don't we all just calm down?"

"Yeah, and maybe Goku should do the dishes to pay for all the food he ate." Kenren teased.

"NEVER!" Goku glared secretly at the last pork bun that still lay on Kenren's plate, and then suddenly he snatched it and ran out of the room.

"GOKU!" Kenren followed as Goku ran all over the house then finally out into the field. "GOKU! KONO-…eh?" Goku paused all of a sudden and Kenren felt a little uneasy as he approached him. "Woi, what's wrong?"

"Someone's…"

KAABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM!

They turned and watched the house become engulfed in an orange flame and the blast threw them off their feet.

"Goku, are you hurt?"

"Wha?" he felt dazed for a moment and then as soon as he faced the house, his eyes widened.

'Momentarily, Goku's light faded.'

"No…" a rush of emotions soared through his mind…confusion, fear, denial…anger. He scrambled to his feet and ran head first into the smoke. "Konzen! Ten-chan! Kougaiji!" He started to cough and tear as the ash and the heat burned his eyes.

"Woi!" Kenren caught up from behind and followed him as he frantically searched for the others. He slowed down a little as the smoke began to clear and there in front of him, Konzen's golden hair peaked out from under the rubble.

"Kuso…" Goku buried through the debris and lifted Konzen out.

"Goku, get him outside!" As he watched Goku make his way out, he heard faint grunts not too far away. Then there was Kougaiji, trying to lift a large wooden beam off of his leg with Yaone and Dokugaku unconscious at his side. He helped and soon enough they were on their way out and passed Goku. "Look for Tenpou; I'll wait for you outside."

He shoved tons of wood and brick out of the way, hoping that Tenpou lay beneath one of them. "Tenpou!" he searched pleadingly, "Tenpou where are you?"

A former field marshal of Heaven's West Army opened his eyes to only see darkness. 'Right…there was an explosion…' he tried to move, but there he was, stuck. 'How about my hands?' he brought them as close as he could and began to build up an energy ball.

Goku began to sweat both hot and cold sweat. The heat around him was starting to take his toll, but he was still scared to the bone about not being able to find Tenpou. Then suddenly a huge beam shot through a pile of debris and a familiar face began to sit up.

"Tenpou!"

"Goku…" he smiled as the little monkey rushed over and helped him up and out of the destroyed building.

"You found him." Kenren smiled.

"How's everyone?"

"They're fine. Yaone's doing a great job patching us all up." He turned and showed her busily working on Kougaiji's wounds.

"You give me too much credit Kenren-san." She modestly replied, tying a knot on one of the bandages.

"Minna…" Konzen suddenly interrupted. "There's something we need to discuss."

"Konzen…" Tenpou began. "Is this the right time?"

"If we waste anymore, who knows what else will happen."

"Konzen, what is this about?" Kou impatiently asked as he sat up.

"Careful Kougaiji-sama."

"In Tenjiku, we ran into some trouble."

"Nii Jien Yi." Kenren clarified.

Kougaiji felt a little uneasy and agitated as he heard the name. "What did he do?"

"He separated us." Goku's eyes widened and stared deep into amethyst ones, wondering if he meant what he said.

"Kougaiji-sama…does that mean…?"

"Hai Yaone…"

"No way! So my idiot brother is not a part of you anymore Kenren?"

"No. We couldn't risk bringing them back here."

"But Konzen…" Goku asked as he looked nervously at the ground.

"They're still the same."

"I couldn't get any information from Nii, sorry Goku." Tenpou added, wanting to approach him.

"Don't be…" Goku hovered his hand over the bandaged wound on his stomach that Sanzo gave him. He walked away and watched the smoke rise to the sky and disappear.

"Are…you okay?" Nataku followed.

"Hmm, it's kinda sad. For a moment in there, I was living my dream where everything was peaceful…that we've finally settled down after so many years of fighting…" Nataku remained standing and respectfully listened to him, hoping that he knew what he was doing and exactly what he wanted. "…but Konzen knew that without them – without Sanzo, Gojyo and Hakkai – I wouldn't be complete…losing them would be like losing half of my entire life…" He let out a heavy sigh and looked down at his wound. "What am I supposed to do? I know it's not really them 'cause-"

"Goku…they're not dead…just lost. They're still inside there somewhere."

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"Nii! How could you let them get away?"

"But with them gone, Gyokumen Koushu-sama…Sanzo-ikkou are 100 efficient."

"Oh? So what do you suggest we do now?"

"We could send them out, but why go through the trouble when we can wait for them to come to us?"

"The brats?"

"Should I start working on the welcoming committee…Gyokumen Koushu-sama? I've already sent the invitation." She smirked her answer and Nii bowed and made his way to work.

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Nataku came back with an expression that caught everyone's attention.

"We have to take what we can salvage from the house, we're leaving."

"But Nataku-san, Goku's wounds aren't fully healed, same with everyone else's. It's not enough to make a journey all the way to Tenjiku."

"Say what you like, but his mind won't accept anything else. I suggest no one argues and gets ready. We're leaving in one hour."

Everyone nodded and Yaone went into the wreckage to hopefully find something that'd be useful.

"Are you sure you're well enough for the trip, Yaone-san?"

"There's nothing to worry about Tenpou-san, you treated me remember?"

"Yaone, we should get going." Kougaiji stated as he walked pass.

"Hai."

They all collected at the edge of the woods and waited patiently for Goku to make a move. "Goku, shouldn't we go now?" Nataku asked.

"Yeah…"

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"Lirin-chan…I'm going to have to ask you to do me a little favour." Nii smirked as he cornered her in a shadowed room. "There's something very important that you need to protect. You have to kill whoever approaches you…no matter who it is."

"What…is it?"

"You don't need to know that. Just remember…you kill them…or you suffer, it's your choice."

:-D