Chance

Chapter Seven - Heaven's Rain

Disclaimer: I do not own Saiyuki nor any of its characters. If i did, Konzen's extentions would have been glued on more carefully, Goku just pulling them off won't do for a god.

Enjoy.

The seemingly endless rain continued to fall from the heavens blurring everything in sight. Sanzo clenched his teeth, aching with every fiber of his entire being to lash out at anything and everything. He hated rain. Unlike Gojyo, it reminded him of nothing but a tragic past, one that he could not shake off, like the annoying pitter patter of raindrops hitting different surfaces. A thin trail of smoke traveled upwards as the priest lit another ciggarette, letting the last one fall aimlessly to the ground.

"Sanzo..." Hakkai watched the blond man as he himself was reminded by what the rain brought. They were quite the same, and yet, their actions were so different.

"My name is Renlong. As for why I am here..." At this he paused momentarily, before closing his eyes. "I'm here for the Maten Kyoumou."

Gojyo laughed jeeringly. "Oy, oy. Don't act so arrogant, you cocky little bastard. Do you think we'd just hand over the scripture? Jeez... and they have to ask every time. Come, kid. We'll even let you have the first shot."

Renlong did not smile. "As you wish." Was his final words before disappearing at the spot. Goku braced himself. "Where is he...?" But he did not have to wait for long before the younger and smaller boy appeared again right in front of them, and sent a quick blow to Goku's head. He easily ducked from having countless battles, and took a swing with his nyoibou. Smashing a rock into pieces, the boy appeared again, but this time, it was Gojyo's turn to attack.

"You're pretty good, kid." Gojyo smirked, sending multiple swings with his jakujou. Renlong escaped their mercyless blows one at a time. Of course... for you, I won't lose. Anikki...please watch over me. Jumping onto Gojyo's extended weapon and charging forth, he barely managed to make contact with the red haired man, but it was enough. "Heh, you barely to-" Eyes widening, Gojyo gasped and sank to the ground, soundless.

"GOJYO!!!" Goku ran forth to his fallen comrade and friend with worry etched into his voice. "DON'T, GOKU!!" But Hakkai's warning was too late as Renlong send a full forced blow from his open palm onto Goku's backside. "Aaghh!! Teme!! What did you-" Once again, another victim fell to the ground.

The boy did not flinch. "You see, I can see everything that goes on in your body. One touch in the right spot and you're finished." He turned to the remaining three. "But of course, I did not kill them. I will not kill." BANG!!

"That's enough." Sanzo voice was so quiet and low that it was hard to hear even with straining. BANG!!! BANG BANG BANG!!! His banishing gun accompanied by Hakkai's chi powered attacks rang through the forrest in time with the cracking lightning above them. For a moment, everything was silent as the two men watched carefully for the boy. He burst out in a surprising speed, and was inches from reaching them in a second-no, almost touched Sanzo's priest robes-if it weren't for something who stepped in between the two.

Hakkai smiled, turning around. "Don't lose, Sanzo. I'm counting on you." He sent a final punch to the boy sending him crashing to a nearby tree before collapsing himself. Renlong cried out in pain, the wet soil beneth him staining his clothing. A small click made him look up at a sight that he knew was coming along. "Were you sent by Kougaiji?"

The boy looked up without a trace of fear in his eyes. "No. I'm not here by anyone's command. I'm here because I choose to be... because I want to save him." Sanzo looked back at his friends whom were piled up in Hakuryuu's truck form, and being looked over by that annoying woman. "Don't worry. They're not dead. It's my policy, you know." Sanzo felt a prickle of interest in the boy. "Why do you want the Maten Kyoumou?" He could not help himself but to ask.

There was a small hesitation. "That scripture can turn everything right again. I want to save him. Because... because to me he's like my anikki. Ever since I was small, I could see everything; when a person is about to die, how they are going to die. I can chose to save him, or kill him. That's why nobody liked me, they didn't like the fact-the truth. I was always alone. But then he came, and he didn't care. That's why I wanna save him now, when he's about to die. The doctor said that only the five founding scriptures could cure his sickness. Anikki said he heard a voice calling out to him for help and that's how he found me. I can't hear anything, but I will try my best..." A sob escaped the boy's throat, but Sanzo did not take notice, not even when the gun slipped out of his hands and onto the ground.

The rain soaked up everything, drenching him to the skin and bone. And he did not feel the cold, nor the continuous heavy rain. A voice... Was... was what he said for real? That the other boy had heard a voice and had come to seek him? His own master, Koumyou Sanzo Houshi had appeared to him in his time of need because he had heard a voice. And he had became everything to the young boy. And he had in turn, heard a voice, the voice that brought to him Goku. And in the same way, he had become the boy's most trusted and dearest friend to a point of brothers, his hope, his rising sun.

Sanzo blinked twice, returning back to reality. Picking up his gun, he turned to walk away. Renlong, stunned, watched the priest walk away. "Nan...de?" He whispered, tears running freely down his face. Sanzo got onto the car, his drenched hair hiding his eyes. But he did not have to answer the boy.

"This piece of wet paper's not going to do anything for you." An abrasive voice said, lifting a corner of the soaked through scripture riding on top of Sanzo's shoulders. Pushing Setsu's hand away harshly, Sanzo lit up another ciggarette.

The boy was looked into her eyes and found the truth. Hopeless, he gave a small dead laugh before striking himself at his heart, piercing through the flesh until he was able to pull out his heart still pumping, out into the steadfast rain. The tearstreaked face fell to the ground, as his eyes painfully dulled.

Sanzo could only watch silently. Once again, all he could do was watch.

Thank you for reading.