A Mother's Devotion

Title: A Mother's Devotion

Genre: Angst/Family

Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki, I only own Torino Kazeyo.

Summary: After Ukoku's event came and went, Sanzo-ikkou has yet to face another danger of losing one of their members. A mother's wrath is very terrifying indeed. Set after Reload 9 manga. Non yaoi.

Beta by: Warrior Nun

CHAPTER FOUR

Mother's Calling

"Even if it's against his will, she will take him back."

The statement hung unanswered for a brief moment. Kazeyo stood there facing Sanzo, his one gold eye bore through amethyst. Sanzo put his cigarette away from his parted lips, exhaling quietly as he let out a grunt. "Hn."

Kazeyo raised one silver brow at the response. Whatever reactions he'd expected from the monk, this certainly wasn't the one he had in mind. He wondered if Sanzo was even taking him seriously.

Why did they choose this ignorant human to become my brother's guardian?

Still in his usual manner of go-fuck-yourself-I-don't-give-a-damn, the blond priest inhaled the nicotine deeply and exhaled slowly, letting the smoke to dissolve quietly into the night air. His calm yet arrogant demeanor started to really piss the silver-haired heretic off.

"I would like to know your response as the chosen guardian of my brother, Sanzo-san." For the first time, he addressed the human by the name. It was quite surprising how he managed to talk so calmly while the voice in his head urged him to choke the human priest to death.

Sanzo stubbornly stayed silent, obviously putting the heretic's patience to a test. He took the last deep breath of his cigarette before dropping it to the ground and stomped its butt off.

"Thanks for the information." He finally muttered, hand reaching into his robes for another nicotine stick.

The statement was as good as a slap for Kazeyo. Having to look at that sour face and watching the damn human dirtying the air with his damn smoke, all he got for response was that?! That's it. He made a mental note to apologize to his brother if he might hurt his beloved guardian, by any chance. He secretly admired his brother for having such a mental power to stand this human's psychotic behavior for years.

Anyway, Kazeyo was extremely pissed off at this point. He reached out and grabbed the priest collar not-so-gently, and hissed in barely suppressed anger.

"Are you saying that you care nothing about my brother??" He growled and for a second his gold eye shifted into its predatory mode before changing back again. "What kind of nonsense is this?!"

"Speak for yourself." Sanzo replied coldly, causing Kazeyo to unconsciously tense as those violet eyes met his own in a piercing glare. "A minute ago you insisted on taking your brother, and now you're begging me to take care of him?"

The statement froze Kazeyo. He couldn't find even a word to retort. Sanzo had proved his point. He was hesitating.

With a grunt, he released his grip on Sanzo's robes, avoiding looking at the priest's eyes. Sanzo straightened his robes, wearing his usual cold mask as he observed the heretic casting his eyes down to the ground. Even he could tell the silver-haired heretic was somehow looked troubled.

"It's because… I don't want him to suffer my Mother's wrath." Kazeyo spoke quietly after a few moments of silence. Sanzo stared back at him, his golden brows met. For the first time, Kazeyo looked exactly like Goku when he was scared of Sanzo's wrath. It looked like he had to admit that those two were really brothers after all.

"Mother wants all of us to unite. That's right." Kazeyo continued, his silver bangs were now shadowing his eyes. "But then… when I found out that my brother—Son Goku—has found his happiness, I wondered if it's right to just take him with us. To take everything away from him… it feels wrong."

Sanzo now stared at Kazeyo, his cold mask fell to reveal curiosity that was rarely seen on his usually emotionless face.

"But Mother is right. Mother can't be wrong. Mother's words are my order. Even though it hurts in here." He pressed his hand on his chest, his expression twisted in agony. It was clear that he had been hiding those inner conflicts within him. He had been trying to accomplish the job his heart didn't give into.

Sanzo let out an exasperated sigh. Siblings or not, now he had another saru to soothe. And it's a pain in the ass. "Listen here…"

"Sanzo... Kazeyo-san!"

Both men turned and saw Hakkai and Gojyo run through the forest approaching them, breathing heavily.

"What is it?" Sanzo asked sharply, registering worried expression Hakkai wore. He had known this man long enough to realize this certainly wasn't a good news. The pair stopped in front of Sanzo and Kazeyo, trying to catch their breath from the night sprint.

"Sanzo…" Hakkai panted, managing to restore his breath enough to talk. "Do you know where Goku is?"

Sanzo raised an eyebrow at the question. "Isn't he supposed to be in his bed?" However, bad feeling started creeping over him as he saw Gojyo and Hakkai exchanged concerned looks. He groaned; this is most likely going to be a long night. "Don't tell me…"

Gojyo let out a grunt as he nodded and spoke. "He's gone."

The sound of owls howling seemed like coming from far away to him. He didn't even flinch as his bare feet stepped on sharps tugs scattered on the ground, dripping crimson streaks onto the forest floor. He continued to walk slowly, drowning himself deeper and deeper into the heart of the forest. His mind gave no attention to where he was going; all he needed to do was to follow that marvelous voice. The alluring voice that seemed to echo within his very soul was intending to draw him closer and closer, like a relentless calling.

Come to me, my child. Towards the warmth of my arms…

Though he was like half-conscious, he noticed the trees had become less and less. Upon passing one big oak tree, he finally saw it. There, stood in the middle of a clearing, was a huge willow. The gigantic tree stood majestically over the other trees, making them seemed like grass in its comparison. His lips curved to an unconscious grin, his eyes stared blankly.

Come to me, my child. Towards this realm where you will feel no pain…

The voice grew stronger, more alluring, almost enchanting. He made no hesitance as he stepped onto the clearing towards the willow. Stretching out his hand as if wanting to reach for a nonexistent hand, his mouth voiced out in a sheer, almost creepy happiness.

"Mother…"

"What do you mean by 'he's gone'?" Sanzo asked sharply, his indifferent mask fixed upon his face.

"He's gone. Missing… Nowhere to be seen." Gojyo replied as if it would help.

Sanzo grunted in clear displeasure. "Aren't you supposed to take care of him while I was gone with his brother?" He barked, unintentionally made slight worry clear in his tone.

This time, it was Hakkai to the answer. The green-eyed man stared at the upset monk as he spoke apologetically. "We are. And we're sorry to let you down, Sanzo. I just went down to the river to get water and leave him in Gojyo's care for a while, but by the time I returned…"

"Well, I couldn't help it!" Gojyo scowled as Hakkai gave him his rare deadly glare. "You have no idea how badly my stomach hurts that time… I have no choice but to get it done!"

"Enough with this unnecessary bickering." Sanzo grunted impatiently, rubbing his temples in clear weary. "Where's he now?"

"If we knew, we wouldn't be running all the way here, Mr. Almighty Monk." Gojyo replied sarcastically. "Geez, and here I thought you were smarter than…"

"It's Mother."

Gojyo stopped his ranting as he and the other two turned to see the silver-haired heretic. They had almost forgotten Kazeyo's presence had they not heard his barely hearable whisper. As they looked carefully, they noticed Kazeyo's expression was laced with fear and his body trembled slightly.

"Kazeyo-san?" Hakkai asked carefully, putting what he hoped as a calming hand on the heretic's shoulder. "Is something wrong?"

Instead of answering, Kazeyo slapped Hakkai's hand off his shoulder as he placed his other hand on his eyepatch and ripped it off roughly. Gojyo and Hakkai stared in awe as Kazeyo's demon form emerged, along with his wings. Once he finished, he raised his huge wings and taking his body off the ground.

"Fuck…!" Gojyo cursed as the momentum caused the air around them to spin and showered them with dust and dry leaves. "Hey, can't you just take off more elegantly or what?!"

Ignoring the ranting red head, Kazeyo kept raising until he had reached a certain height, then he turned and started to fly away.

"Wait, Kazeyo-san!" Hakkai called, running after the flying heretic. "Where are you going?" He tried to make his voice heard through the raging sound Kazeyo's wings created.

Without even looking back, Kazeyo replied. "I'm going to my mother. She's here, right now. And she's not pleased. Not pleased at all." It was impossible to read his emotions in such height. Assuming the conversation was over, Kazeyo increased his speed and soon was gone among the darkness of the forest.

Gojyo cursed silently at the departure, muttering about a stupid saru and stupid brother. Hakkai stared at Sanzo, feeling like he could predict the monk's reaction even before he asked.

"Sanzo?"

"Follow him." Sanzo grunted and caused Hakkai to smile a little as his assumption was proven right. "We've had enough with one berserk heretic without needing to experience another one." He had given up searching on his cigarette pack and instead reaching for his Smith-and-Wesson. He opened the container and checked its bullets before clenching it back and led his remaining companions.

"Ikuzo." He spoke.

-to be continued…

Sneak Peek for Chp 5: Mother's Devotion

No written sneak peeks! Actually, I drew the sneak peek into a one-page doujin. I'll send the sneak peek to everyone who reviewed this chapter. Just drop me your email address and I'll send it to you. Oh and by the way, the next one will be the last chapter. I appreciate everyone who following this story until this far (bows)