I've noticed no matter how many times I read through a chapter I never notice the typos until after it's posted. Go figure. Anyway, the ending of this fiction is approaching so everyone can expect about 2-3 more chapters of RK goodness. I thank everyone for reading along so far and I hope that everyone will stay tuned for the conclusion of Raising Kouryuu. Thank you for reading and reviews! Enjoy.

Chapter 15: Business

Gojyo rubbed his cheek as he stared at the ceiling of their hotel room. He was sure that the flesh had turned to a lovely shade of black now that it had been a day or two, and it was definitely still tender. The part that bugged him most was it made his two scars stand out even more against the color of his skin. And it happened after he opened his big mouth and let the statement slip about killing Sanzo. And really, Gojyo thought as he rolled over onto the non-injured side, he should have known better. Even a moron would have known the kid would have been pissed off at that sort of statement. Hell, Goku was probably pissed because he knew it was true more than any of them.

Still, didn't mean the brat had to hit him so damn hard.

Gojyo scratched behind his ear as he listened to the small creaks coming from the room next door. At least someone tonight was having a good time. Unlike the rest of them, simmering in their own pathetic angst. He wondered if the three of them really could kill Sanzo as easily as he had suggested it. Not that it would be hard, the guy was human after all. Stronger than he was before, sure, but still human if that last fight had proved anything. The three of them working together could take him down, but then again: it's not a question of 'could' but 'would,' isn't it?

"How are you feeling, Gojyo?"

"Shit," Gojyo jumped from his thoughts at the intrusion of the familiar, calm voice. He turned up to see his roommate peaking in through the hotel room door with that quirky smile still on his face. "Don't sneak up on me like that, Hakkai."

"I'm sorry," Hakkai chuckled a bit before closing the door behind him. Gojyo looked like a wounded puppy curled up on the bed like that. It seemed he was still tending to his wounds from the earlier incident. "But I did knock before I came in."

"Sorry man. I just can't think today."

"I doubt many could with the noise coming from next door." Hakkai looked up to the wall as a slight rhythmic pounding hit the wall.

"Yup we'll blame it on that."

"Though I doubt it is the main source of your latest depressed mood."

"What was your first clue?"

"The bruises on your face can tell me that much on their own. I can hardly imagine what you were thinking back then."

"Just putting it out there. It's true, isn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose it is in more ways than one. You've always been frank like that, Gojyo." Hakkai sighed and wrung a hand in his pant leg slightly. "Not to mention, I almost think Sanzo would want us to kill him in a situation like this."

"Yeah, but he's got a death wish anyway, so what he wants really doesn't matter."

Hakkai laughed a little as he sat down next to Gojyo on the bed. He took the ice pack he had been holding and gently laid it on the bruise forming between the man's eyes and his ear. "I'm sure he'd shoot you for that statement, but really, you could have brought it up when Goku wasn't around."

"He needed to hear it the most."

"Let's just make sure he isn't the one to do the job."

"Or see it." Gojyo shuttered a little and told himself it was from the sudden chill of the ice. "You saw him freak out just talking about it, what do you think he'll do if Lord Sanzo actually kicks the bucket?"

"I think Goku is stronger than what we're implying. I think he hit you because you were insensitive, not that he couldn't handle the thought of killing Sanzo for his own good."

"Maybe. Ouch! That's cold you bastard!" Gojyo ripped the ice pack from out of his lap and threw it back at the one-eyed evil person. "What's your deal?"

"I was bored?" Hakkai smiled and chastised himself slightly. That little prank was just a tad beneath him, not that he regretted it. "I'm sorry, I've had enough of this depressed atmosphere for one night. For this lifetime, actually."

"You and me both. Shit, how'd we end up so pathetic?"

"I'm not quite sure when that happened, my friend." Hakkai tilted his head back in a deep stretch and felt his bones crack. The inactivity was causing unnecessary stress. "Why don't we take your bruised face and pride and get smashed until we can't see straight?"

"Hakkai, that is the best thing you've said all day." Gojyo pushed his legs into the air to swing them over his demon buddy and down onto the floor. Standing he stretched as far as he could reach. "What about the monkey?"

"He's underage."

"You moron, I mean what's he going to do while we're off getting wasted?"

"I suppose the same thing he's been doing since we lost our beloved leader." Hakkai shrugged.

"Whatever man." Gojyo slapped Hakkai on the back and tossed an ice pack he'd been holding over his shoulder. It hit the ground with a 'thunk' and the ice splattered all over the floor. Hakkai sent him a discerning look, but Gojyo ignored it. "I wonder if I could play the pity angle with these bruises of mine and get a few chicks while I'm at it. What do you think Hakkai? I tackled a demon and escaped with my life!"

"Only you, Gojyo."

"What? It's a good idea!"

"Sure, sure."

"And then I can get revenge for the guy next door!"

"Are you sure he isn't revenge for all the times you brought a lady home?" Hakkai laughed as his friend scowled. "A bit of karma perhaps?"

"Sometimes you're a real bastard, you know that?"

Hakkai simply laughed and led the way out of the room. His own guilty pleasure was calling for him from a bar down the street. Thank the many heavens for wine.

Kougaiji stormed down the hallway towards his step-mother's chambers. He was going to get some answers to this little Sanzo issue once and for all and she was going to stop avoiding him. When he reached the room he noticed that it was shut tight which could only mean that she had a visitor. Kougaiji slammed both doors open and Nii would just have to pull up his knickers and deal with it because this prince was pissed. "Koushuu!"

"Well if it isn't our dear little prince, what can we do for you?" Nii drawled as he looked over his Lady's shoulder as she moaned softly. It was just like Kougaiji to act so rashly, and things were just getting fun, too. "We would have greeted you at the door but as you can see we're a little tied up at the moment."

"I don't have any time for your games." Kougaiji knew that the image of his god-forsaken step-mother and Nii twisted together like that would be burnt behind his eyelids for the rest of his life, but sacrifices had to be made. He held his ground firmly as he continued. "Tell me why Sanzo is here and saying he's on our side."

Lady Koushuu was not amused. She did not need her brat of a step son busting in on her quality time alone screaming about plans that didn't involve him. Her next words were throaty as she attempted to maintain her cool as Nii continued with his own business. "What's there to explain, Kougaiji dear? You failed and Nii produced someone better for the job."

"It's my job and you have no right!"

"As I said, you've not given me any results worth looking at twice. I found someone better." Koushuu felt her lipstick stretch along with her lips into the perfect smirk. "And I have every right to do as I please. Who better to get the scriptures than a Sanzo? It's rather poetic, don't you agree?"

"What the hell did you do to him anyway?" Kougaiji grit his teeth as he attempted to keep his temper in check. Being irrational wouldn't help him in the slightest in this situation and he was stupid to have burst into the room unprepared. This was all Sanzo's fault for that incident with Lirin. It still had him writhing.

"It's not really any of your concern, my little prince." Nii chuckled as he snuck his hand down Lady Koushuu's back. He wasn't one to be shy in front of an audience. Maybe if he was obvious enough the prince would leave on his own, or prove to be a voyeur. One of the two was sure to be revealed, and either would be interesting data to record. "But I can assure you it's quite different from your own little time under the knife. He's no bunny prince the second, so rest assured your title hasn't been taken."

"You bastard."

"Sticks and stones, little bunny prince."

Kougaiji watched in disgust as Dr. Nii continued playing with his mother's skin as the conversation continued. Her little moans were making him nauseous and he knew he'd have to lose this fight to the other man. There was only so much of the vulgarity before him that he could stomach. "Mark my words, if he gets in my way I'll kill him."

"Of course." Nii chuckled. "But don't be surprised if he's harder to handle than the Sanzo you know. My Kouryuu is quite the contender."

"You've been warned."

Lady Koushuu shifted slowly into a better sitting position as her beloved's first son stormed out of the room. The tiny blush on his face made her grin, but not as much as the door slamming with so much force. "He's too easy to manipulate to be my beloved's son."

"He just has a short temper." Calloused hands moved their way lower and lower down the exposed skin. "He'll fume and in the end not do anything. It's a short fuse."

"So you're not worried about your little toy?"

"I doubt he does anything unless Kouryuu instigates it." Nii laughed. "And even then that might be fun to watch. The prince is outmatched."

Koushuu leaned into the touch and imagined Gyumaoh's strong grip circling her waist and his heated breath traveling down the length of her neck. It's the only way she could stomach being touched by the monster lying with her. "You may be right about that. Soon, we'll have the scripture and my beloved Gyumaoh will be revived."

"Indeed, but for right now we'll leave business for another time." Nii chuckled. "Daddy only gets to play for so long before Mommy gets lonely."

"This family thing you've set up is almost creepy."

"But efficient."

"And that's the best way to run things."

"Indeed it is."

"Hey!"

Goku jumped and tumbled down a few feet before catching his balance from the sudden shout in his ear. Growling and trying to pull himself up straight from the roof he turned to find out who had caught him off guard. His grip on the roofing tiles slipped a little as they were still wet from the rain earlier that day. What he found was coming face to face with a certain demon child. "Lirin?"

"Where's baldy Sanzo?" Lirin snickered as Goku composed himself. She hadn't come to visit in a long time and she had missed this sort of fun. Baldy Sanzo and his friends were always so entertaining. "I got something to tell him!"

"Sanzo?" Goku stood up from the roof to face the hyper active princess. The name of his master and friend got his complete attention. The idea of getting information that might help him find Sanzo sent Goku's heart into slight palpitations. "What are you talking about?"

"I wanted to come play with him because I had something really neat to tell him, but I can't find him anywhere." Lirin shrugged. "I figured asking you would be the best way to find him."

Goku considered the situation for a minute and hesitated a bit in drilling Lirin for information. If he played his cards right, he might be able to use her dragon and actually go get Sanzo. From the sound of things, it seems like Kougaiji and everybody else might not know about what happened to Sanzo or she wouldn't be asking for him. Goku needed to be patient. "What'd you want to tell him?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but there's this guy back at the castle who looks and sounds just like him!" Lirin giggled at the memory. Her big brother didn't seem to like Kouryuu at all, but Lirin still thought he was fun to play with. She'd snuck out to meet him a few more times after they first met and he always had some fun game to play. "Only he's a lot of fun and has a sense of humor. He's way more fun than baldy!"

Patience had decided not to grace Goku with her presence and Goku found himself losing his self control before he could think twice. "You've seen Sanzo! Tell me everything right now!"

"No! I'm looking for him! I haven't found him yet." Lirin huffed. "And no need to shout at me either. This guy just looks and sounds like him. There's no way this guy is baldy Sanzo, which is why I want them to meet! I think that would be too much fun! It'd be like twins or something."

"No! It's Sanzo! Dr. Nii or something messed with his head and made him all funny!" Goku was near pleading at this point and took a step up the roof towards the other girl. "Please! You have to take me to him right now!"

"So, that guy I met was really baldy Sanzo?" Lirin took a step back. Baldy Sanzo smiling and laughing? Flirting with Yaone when she came to get Lirin or playing in the doctor's lab? There was no way that could be right. "That's so weird."

"We don't have time for this, you can think about it later!" Goku thrust out a hand and grabbed Lirin's shoulder. "I'm begging you. I want to make sure he's okay."

"He was fine." Lirin winced a little as Goku's grip tightened on her shoulders. "If that was Sanzo, he was happier than I've ever seen him."

Goku flinched at that statement and could feel his temper rising. There was no way Sanzo was happier with that maniac than he was with the rest of them. Hakkai, Gojyo, Goku. Those were Sanzo's friends, not some loser with a child fetish. Goku felt his hands twisting deeper into Lirin's shoulders of their own accord. Sanzo needed to come home now before there wasn't any hope left of reminding him just where he came from and who he was. "Take me to Houtou Castle."

"I can't do that."

"It wasn't a question." Goku growled. "You're going to take me to Sanzo!"

"Let go! You're hurting me!" Lirin kicked Goku in the gut and jumped back a few feet. Goku had a scary look in his eyes and the young princess didn't think it suited him. "I told you I can't do that! Kougaiji would get really mad!"

"I don't care!" Goku's fingers itched as they were tempted by the notion to withdrawal the Nyoi-boh. He'd make Lirin take him there by force if he had to. Nothing was going to stop him. "I have to save Sanzo!"

"No!" Lirin needed to talk to her brother about this. There was no way what Goku was saying was true. But then again, Kouryuu did resemble Sanzo quite a bit. Lirin was confused and decided to make a run for it. "I'm leaving!"

"Get back here!" Goku gave chase when Lirin jumped from the roof and made a dash for it. She wasn't getting away.

The younger girl ran as fast as she could down the street but realized Goku was close behind her. She'd have to lose him before she went for Sparky or there was a good chance that he'd capture the dragon too. Lirin forced her feet to move faster on the pavement as she heard his footsteps echoing loudly behind her. For the first time, Lirin was scared of her friend.

"Man, I'm sloshed. Were do you put it all, Haa'kkai?"

Lirin looked up when she heard a familiar drunken slur. Just up ahead coming of a bar were the other two friends of baldy Sanzo. That guy Yaone liked and Dokugaku's little brother would help her! "Hey!"

"Is that Ms. Lirin?" Hakkai looked up as he heard the energetic shout. Lirin was running at them full force with a frightened expression on her face. "What could have possibly scared Lirin so badly?"

"Got me." Gojyo hiccupped and leaned on Hakkai's shoulder. Not a single girl had looked his way all night and the liquor only made him more depressed. Why did he keep getting drunk again?

"Help me!" Lirin shouted as she ducked behind Hakkai and shoved her face into his shirt. She hated being scared and acting so weak, but there was just something vicious about the other boy. "Goku's gone crazy."

"Goku?"

"Don't let her go!" Goku shouted as he came to a sudden halt in front of his two friends. They'd have to help him out. Goku's breathing was heavy as he continued. "She's seen Sanzo!"

Hakkai stared at the ragged boy pointing a menacing finger at the girl trembling behind him. He didn't like where this situation was going. "Is that true, Ms. Lirin?"

"I'm not sure! I've met a Kouryuu who looked a whole bunch like baldy Sanzo, but he acted totally different. I came here to tell baldy Sanzo about it but then Goku went all crazy and stuff."

"Kouryuu?"

"Yeah! He said his name was Kouryuu and he played with me."

"Goku, did you explain to her what happened?" Hakkai looked up and tried to shift Gojyo's weight slightly to a more comfortable position. The other man was still holding tightly to the last bottle of wine the owner had let them walk out with. "And why does she look so scared."

"I told her it was Sanzo but she didn't believe me! So I told her to take me to Houtou Castle but she ran." Goku was shaking with the adrenaline that was coursing through his body. He need to hurt something and soon.

"It looks to me like you tried to ruff the kid up." Gojyo slurred.

"I wish I had! She's helping that jerk keep Sanzo away!" Goku shouted.

Hakkai realized that they were starting to become a bit of a side show for the people in the street. Lirin wasn't helping much by drawing even more attention to them due to her demon status, though Goku looking like he was going to go berserk didn't help much either. "Why don't we take this back up to our rooms and discuss it civilly."

"We don't have time! We need to get Sanzo now!"

"Goku."

The word was a request and a command contained in a single breath. Goku lowered his head and gave up the argument. Hakkai nodded at the consent and turned to ask Lirin to follow him to their hotel. Goku dragged his feet behind them and all the while could feel his anger still smoldering in his heart. The conversation had better be a fast one.

"I'd suggest washing your eyes out with soap, but considering what you saw you might actually do it." Dokugakuji laughed a little as Kou banged his head in a corner. Seeing that bitch and the psycho getting it on couldn't have been pleasant.

"It might make me feel better." Kougaiji rubbed his head and resigned his pride for accepting yet another loss into his resume. "Remind me never to do that again."

"Right, door is shut keep the hell away." Dokugakuji nodded and patted his lord on the back. "I'm impressed you haven't vomited yet, so points for you."

"Oh shut up."

Yaone smiled a little as she listened to her lord and Dokugaku converse from the doorway. She'd have to ask for the details later, but Yaone had to frown when she remembered why she was there. "Excuse me, Lord Kougaiji?"

"What is it Yaone?" The young prince looked up from his laughing swordsman to his favorite apothecary.

"Have you seen Lady Lirin?" Yaone sighed. "She's been so good for the past few months about running off and I can't seem to find her anywhere. I figured she might be with you or Dokugaku."

"No, she's not with me."

"Oh dear. I wonder where she could have gone? I wonder if she's with Mr. Kouryuu." Yaone paused. "She has been to visit him more often lately."

"What?" Kougaiji snapped. "She's been doing what?"

"Oh! No worries. I'm always with her when she visits and he never does anything." Yaone blushed. "Well, to Lady Lirin anyway."

"I'm going to kill him."

"My lord?" Yaone questioned as Kougaiji began to fume all over again. "Shouldn't we find Lirin first before jumping to conclusions?"

"Yes, you're right. I'll go down to the stables and see if Sparky is missing." Kougaiji sighed and stomped out of the room. He was sure Dokugakuji and Yaone would follow behind later.

"At least that got his mind off his earlier trauma." Dokugaku laughed. "He's so overprotective."

"What trauma, Dokugaku?" Yaone asked. She had been looking for Lirin all day so she hadn't had time to see what her two friends had been up to.

"He saw Koushuu doing it with Nii."

"My poor Lord. That would haunt anyone."

"Tell me about it!" Dokugakuji let out a hardy laugh and gave Yaone a pat on the back. "Let's go get him before some poor sap sets him off and he sets a summons beast on them."

"You wanted to see me, old man?" Kouryuu asked as he peaked into the main lab room. His mom was typing on the computer with her usual scowl plastered on her face, and Grandpa was on the other side of the chess board, opposite from his father. The good doctor, had an amused look on his face that turned serious when Kouryuu took the final steps into the room. Kouryuu swallowed a little as those spectacled eyes traced down his figure.

"Yes, it's time for you to finish the mission I gave you." Nii moved the knight on the board in classic 'L' fashion to take down one of Wang's rooks. The older demon had been boasting earlier that he might win this game. Nii had no choice now but to crush him mercilessly. "Since you failed the last time."

"As reported, I underestimated them. I won't fail this time and I will get the scripture you need."

"That's what I like to hear from my beloved son." Nii smiled as Wang pondered over the pieces on the board. Games, like life, needed to be handled delicately and with thought behind them. Everything needed to be set up in advance and in preparation for the moves to come. You needed to figure out your opponents move before they even knew it themselves. "But before you leave, tell me something."

"Yes?" Kouryuu tried to force the knot in his throat down. His father's eyes had a chill gathering around them that would make ice look warm. He was the only man that could get him to feel like he was two feet tall.

"Do you love your father?"

Kouryuu paused and all his anxiety was replaced with confusion. That was a question he hadn't seen coming. "Of course I love you."

"Even if I'm not your real father? Even if I made you right here in this lab to be what I wanted you to be?" Nii chuckled as Wang dropped the piece he was holding in shock. Even his favorite toy Hwang had to stop what she was doing to stare at him. Nii moved a pawn to take out one of the old demon's knights.

"Yes." Kouryuu's answer was without hesitation. "Even if these feelings are artificial, it doesn't change the fact that I feel them. I love Mom, and I love Grandpa. I love this family and I'll protect it, which means that I love you, too."

"Such a long winded answer, Kouryuu. It doesn't seem to suit you." Nii licked his lips as Wang moved his next piece.

Kouryuu blushed a little and started feeling a tad out of place in his own skin. Those words dripped so easily off of his tongue, but he couldn't help but feel that they weren't meant for his father, but yet they could only have been for his father. "I guess, is that all you wanted to know?"

"Would you do anything for me?"

"What? Yes, you know I would." Kouryuu scowled a little as the man continued to play chess while questioning the boy's loyalties. It pissed him off a little. "What's with the third degree, anyway? It's like you don't trust me."

"Would you follow me anywhere I go?"

"Yes! I'd follow you anywhere." The younger man narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. "Why are you asking questions you already know the answers to?"

Dr. Nii smiled slowly as the boy turned to leave the room in the predictable huff. He could see Hwang and Wang staring at him from their respective places in the room. Wang had somehow managed to get his king in a check. Well, that just would not do.

The blonde raised his arm in a wave as he walked away from his family. It was to be expected, he loved his family but man did they have issues. He'd deal with these weird events after he completed his assignment. "I'm going now."

"Kouryuu."

"Something else to add, Dad?" The former Sanzo came to a halt at the deadly silence that surrounded his name being called. Even the computers seemed to have hushed themselves at the beck of that venomous voice that he loved and hated all in the same breath.

"If you don't kill them," Nii stood and jammed the cigarette butt into the top of the table. The ashes smoldered and the lingering smoke hung in the air. "Don't bother coming back."