Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki blah, blah, blah…
A.N. I changed the title because I thought that "My Crimson Moon" sounded more appropriate. ^_^ Seems nice too! Oh, and I made some Japanese grammatical errors at the last chapters (Thanks Hanae-chan!) and seeing that I'm a very slothful person, I'll just leave them to you to find out. Hey, they were words you often find in an anime fic anyway. _. And I'm sorry about the –dono thing; someone corrected me (Thanks again!) and said that this is only used for military and fighting type of phrases. Gomen! So Shien's back to calling Gojyo, Taisho.
About Chapter: (Authors sings)
"I bring you flowers in the pouring rain,
Did you know living without you is driving me insane
I'll bring you flowers; I'll make your day
The tears you cry; I'll dry them all away." ^_^
- Lyrics from "I Bring You Flowers" (chorus)
You might get some idea from that song!
Notes: Major AU-ness and OOC-ness! Don't blame me if Shien doesn't act like so and so; And if this person doesn't seem like this and that. Err… This chapter is drama. PURE drama. I hate myself _. And I added a few little things Gods can do. ^_^ Oh you know, this and that, those and more. And Homura… What did I do to Homura? Oh boy…
.
.
I DEDICATE THIS TO Amy01 WHO, TO MY AMAZEMENT, WAITED FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS AND NEVER GOT TIRED OF REMINDING ME TO GET MY ASS OFF THE CHAIR AND WRITE. ^_^ Hey! You made me laugh with that bathroom bit. =^o^=
Gojyo ½
Act 7 – My Crimson Moon (Part 2)
Shien stopped by another area and hand picked another bunch of flowers. He didn't know, but most of the flora he got was of light red or rather, pinkish in color. He couldn't bring himself to select those with blood-red color. It was as if he felt that it would bring pain. What kind of pain? It didn't flash in his mind.
Thinking that he had enough, Shien strolled along a path of trees and wandered aimlessly to look at the view. He looked once again at the bouquet in his arm. Creamy burgundy blooms, with violets, pink blossoms and rare blue ones. There were even flowers that he didn't knew existed, some of which had such radiance that he didn't know a small thing could have. It reminded him that he himself didn't have the time to stop once a while to relish the beauty around him.
It seemed that it was the time of year when flowers were in full bloom and leaves were lush, quietly sprouting from their braches. Shien looked around, knowing that this was the last time that he is able to look around like this. But something caught his attention; His eyes appeared to be following the swift movements of the floating petals in the wind. And then something flashed in his mind that made him bend down to touch the fallen flower petals.
Looking up, he saw a tree abundant of the blossom that he was looking for. He laid his picked flowers on the ground as he slowly stood up. Then, jumping effortlessly, Shien landed gracefully on one of its braches. He looked around as admired the scene for a while; knowing, at that moment, why the Taisho loved to sit on this type of trees. Grabbing a branch and breaking it, he carefully handled the petals and jumped down to the ground to where he placed his flora.
"Maybe love will bloom as cherry blossoms bloom… [1]"
That thought struck quickly and left faster than when it came. Frowning, he picked up his almost forgotten flora and got ready to leave. But something caught his eye. Something he knew he has, or wanted to get.
.
.
.
.
.
Gojyo stirred once again in her sleep, trying to get the image of Shien out of her dreams once more. Surprisingly, it didn't frighten her to see his face in her sleep at all. Not one trace of lurid ideas came to her in her slumber yet this was the thought that made her uncomfortable.
She finally roused herself, beginning to feel the drug's effect diminish from her body. Opening her eyes little by little, her blurred vision of the ceiling finally cleared and she began to blink. She knew that she didn't want to but her mind wandered to her dreams. It showed her the strangest things sometimes and this was especially the case when a certain God was involved. She still remembered the pieces and in this vision, she saw Shien picking up flowers, various flora that was either hard to find or was visually attractive.
She took her hand and spread it on the bed sheet and felt something soft, almost silky contact her palm. Pushing herself up to a sitting position, her eyes showed great surprise when they met with several cherry blossoms spread on the bed.
The more she became surprised when she saw several vases on different locations of the room filled with beautiful flowers. The windowsill had cream yellow flowers that seem to sparkle along with the sunshine. The pink flora is arranged on the bedside table and some were on the other tables and rest, which had no place on the windowsill and tables, were on the floor.
Gojyo couldn't take her eyes off the breath-taking scene before her. It was too stunning. She swung her legs to side and had a glimpse of something that fell from her bed. Looking down, she saw a single pink rose and blinked at it before she picked it up carefully. She put it near her nose to smell its fragrance and smiled. This was the only time in her life, as a she and he, that she ever took time to literally smell the flowers. It was very relaxing.
Picking herself up and walking near the windowsill, she stared for a few moments at the flowers and then out the window. The redhead saw that she was up high, almost taller than the trees. And when she looked down, she saw that there was a garden, verdant and green, below.
Putting the rose once more near her nose, she smiled almost forgetting that she was kidnapped. She didn't even notice the door quickly and silently open and then close.
"I don't think that you should be standing just yet, Taisho."
Damn, how many times a day would she be caught off guard? She reeled herself causing her head to rapidly ache again. Clutching the sill, she tried to steady herself cursed herself for the lack of immunity to drugs. She felt her knees weaken and sensed that they were shaking badly, but nevertheless, she tried to carry her body weight that seemed to have doubled over her little nap.
The half-breed didn't hear anything else. Instead, she felt herself being lifted off the floor, and without having time to react; she was carried by Shien to the bed once more.
"What the hell do you want?" she growled.
Like before, Shien didn't utter a word but walked silently towards a table near the door. A tray was retrieved by the uncommunicative god and yet again strolled over to the bed. As he sat quietly, Gojyo didn't take away her eyes from him and almost missed the tray that he placed in front of her.
"What's this?" asked the redhead as she noticed the tray with plates filled with different types of food.
"Food," he said quietly. "You haven't eaten for nearly twelve hours."
"Twelve…?" She asked in wonder. She had been gone that long? The others must be out looking for her by now. But… where will they look? Where was she in the first place? She didn't even know. "Do you really think that I would anything that you will give me?" asked Gojyo as she turned her face away from the tray and from the God.
"Just leave the tray beside the bed after you're through," said Shien. He slowly got up from the bed and walked to the door and stopped just as he turned the knob. "Just summon me if you need anything." And then slowly, he walked away.
Gojyo quickly relaxed herself and slumped at the headboard of the bed. "What hell is wrong with these guys? I'd think that they'd do after Goku like they usually do. I mean, come on! Homura's kind of obsessed with him or something. Hmmm… Now that I think of it, he does have that strange obsessive look when Goku's around. Gak! I must be going crazy talking to myself."
As she shifted on the bed, she heard a strange grumbling sound that seemed that it came from… "Oh man, I am hungry." She took a longer look at the dishes Shien apparently prepared for her. It was truly a remarkable sight: fish, dumplings, stir-fry, cakes and other foods that were proud to be called tour de force. "Oh, what the hell." And with that, she began to dig in.
.
.
.
.
.
"Oi! Shien!"
Shien stopped at the sound of his comrade's voice. He guessed beforehand that the fire-haired god would be waiting outside Gojyo's room to ask him about something. He was also sure what the other was going to ask.
Zenon smirked at the look that Shien gave him. If anybody would know what he was thinking, it would be Shien. "So you did bring them?"
For Shien, what Zenon said was more of a statement than a question, but nevertheless, he answered still, "Yes."
"Yare yare. I still have no idea why you brought her those flowers. I really don't think that it'll do any good to her or us at all," he stopped for a moment, like he was reflecting on something. And then a sparkle seems to have reached his eye. "And if I recall correctly, Homura will also give her something… interesting."
"Interesting?"
"We'll find out soon enough, now, won't we?" Zenon turned his back and walked away as Shien stared at the retreating god. He didn't know what Homura was up too. He guessed that it was something that gave them to an advantage. He looked at the door of Gojyo's room and stared for a few minutes.
He waited for Homura to come and open the door but he had a gut feeling that Homura would not use it. In fact, he really didn't need to. He would just go by the window.
Shien sighed and sauntered away.
.
.
.
.
.
Gojyo took the last bite she could muster on her plate and looked out the window. It looked like a very nice day to walk but it didn't even cross her mind. Instead, she thought of faces that seemed to be embedded on her mind.
She walked towards the window and sat on the pane. Moving the pot, which contained flowers, she then sat silently and rested her head aback. Looking out, she realized that she was in the middle of nowhere. Trees, shrubs, and no town anywhere near the tower she was in.
That scene made her remember the nights that she and Hakkai would stay up late and talk as she watched the moon shine down on both of them. Deciding to let her guard down for a few minutes, she closed her eyes and contemplated on the pleasant moments of her life.
Goku… Yes, even the irritating baka saru gave her a little laugh now and then. Just thinking about it made her chuckle.
Sanzo… She didn't know why but the image did flash in her mind and it didn't bother her at all. She wondered why.
Hakkai… How could she forget her own best friend that stuck by her, or him, through thick and thin? They seemed to have a friendship that didn't waver regardless of how many things seemed to differ or come between them.
Thinking about them seemed to spark a sick and nostalgic emotion in her. It hit her so strong that a single tear almost escaped from her eye. But it didn't; she held it back while she continued to think about her friends.
Anywhere would be better than where she was right then. Even with Kougaiji would be better. Memories of the day that Kougaiji rescued her from thugs appeared in her mind and it made her think about how secure she would feel if she were still with him.
But of course, it would be better if she was with her friends. She imagined that Goku would be chattering away, saying that he was hungry. Sanzo would be trying as hard as he could to drive the noise away and halt himself from hitting the boy. Chuckling, she knew that when it comes to Goku, Sanzo couldn't stand the boy and would throw the famous fan on his head. Not that Sanzo hated Goku. Actually, it appeared as though Sanzo has in fact taken a liking to the boy, regardless what people might think.
And Hakkai? Well, Hakkai and her would most probably be talking to each other, like all best friends do. Actually, she would talk and Hakkai would listen endlessly to whatever she was talking about. He would sometimes slip in a few comments but it would probably be her that would be talking. That's what she hated about Hakkai; he has a hard time opening up. She wanted him to tell her what exactly he was feeling because it hurt her each time when she sees him concealed. Even just thinking about it pains her.
The nostalgic feeling washed over her once again but stronger than the last. She wanted to hold the sick feeling back; it was like the feeling when she got the news of Cho Gonou being dead but… more intense. She wondered what would Hakkai say to her now.
"Damn those women hormones!" mumbled Gojyo. "I know what he'll say. He'll tell me that this isn't like me and that I should get off my lazy bum and find a way to get out of here. He would tell me they'll always be there for me and that he will be there for me and silly things like wishing on a shooting star. Then he'll comfort me and ask me to wake up. Wake up and do something. To wake up… Just wake up…"
She stopped and imagined all of their faces. They all seemed so real. Then she saw Hakkai touching her cheek softly, whispering words of encouragement to her. She leaned to the touch and soaked in the word that seems to be blown by the wind.
"Wake up."
The feel of touch is just so reassuring…
"Wake up."
It was just so reassuringly real…
"Wake up."
Too real…
"Wake up, Kenren."
The name hit her like a ton of bricks. She realized that she must have dozed off and dreamed about her friends. Hastily opening her eyes, she saw a smiling face, which greeted her with sparkling eyes. She whipped her face away and growled.
"Homura!"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
To be continued…_____________________________
[1] "Maybe love will bloom as cherry blossoms bloom": I used this as a title/summary in my 5x2 story. I love this phrase so much!!! Don't ask why…
Author's Notes: Vacation can turn you into a lazy bum, you know… I think I read too many Hitchcock Mystery Magazines… I'm beginning to write like those dead guys.
Oh, I'm sorry that I couldn't answer your reviews this time. I wanted to, really I did, but I knew that you guys wanted to know what happened already so I skipped the review part.
And someone was asking about the frailness? Methinks it was Silent Viewer, correct? Well, hehehe… I was thinking that Gojyo would have a hard time adjusting to his new girl body. You know, hormones. AND she only had about 3 – 4 days of using that body. But the truth is: I just got a little carried away. Hehehe…^_^ And Amy01, this one's for you. Hey, exactly how many times did you review me in the last chapter? ^^'
Would you guys mind if I asked you to check for errors? I didn't bother to go through the whole editing thing… I take art lessons from an official and known painter in my country, did you know? ^_^ (a voice in the author's head says: They don't care…) ^_^' okay, well… Just tell me if I have errors. Thanks!
WHERE ARE THE SPACES!!! THE SPACES WON'T APPEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!