Goku: "Hi, everyone! The seventh chapter at last arrived!"
Gojyo: "It sure is another long update! Hey, Rie! Just what is your reas-...?!" (Realize that Rie isn't there) "Huh? Where's she?"
Hakkai: "That's weird... Usually, she always here when we open the story..." (Rub his chin)
Konzen: "What're you doing? I thought you already start the story..."
Hakkai: "Oh, hello, Konzen. We're just about to start, but... Do you know where Rie is?"
Konzen: "Her? She said she had something to do and will join us later. Why don't you just start the story now? You surely don't want to make this any longer, right?"
Gojyo: "Guess you're right. Okay, time for the disclaimer!"
Goku: "Saiyuki belongs to Rie only in her dream! That's all!"
Gojyo: "Hey, I was just about to say that! Get back here, MONKEY!!" (Run to catch Goku who already flee from the scene)
Hakkai: "Enjoy the story!"
Konzen: "Rie said sorry for the long wait and... hope you like it."
...Tenkai...
Kanzeon calmly watched the scenery inside her lotus pond like usual from her seat. On the water, Sanzo-ikkou and Konzen-ikkou's image could be seen clearly; as well as their faces which looked so messed up. The Goddess's face kind of lack of expression, but inside her head a lot of thing flooded. Jiroushin, who stood right beside her, also thought about everything he saw. He took a glance over Kanzeon and just about to say something when Kanzeon cut him.
"I know... He already gets the third pieces of his memories."
"Does that mean he'll remember everything?"
"He will. What I did 500 years ago was locked his memory... I couldn't bring myself to erase it," Kanzeon said quietly. The part when he met Goku at the Heaven's Gate after everything was over played at her mind like a video. She could remember it clearly; Goku didn't even budge and just kneeled in front of that gate. His diadem didn't just crack, it was completely broken. Kanzeon also remembered the tears that flowed from those golden orbs, full with pain that unbearable for such an innocent kid...
"Then... What'll happen if he remembers everything?"
"I don't know. We just have to see and leave everything at his former master, don't you think?"
"Kanzeon-sama...," Jiroushin just stared at the Merciful Goddess.
"Just 1 more piece... When he gets it, his memories will be complete. He'll remember everything, even the most painful one... When that happened, the first thing they'll do will be the hardest task. Do you think we should join in this drama... Nataku?"
A boy with long silver hair sat motionless on the chair near Kanzeon's. He had a pair of Golden eyes just like Goku, but his seemed so dull and empty of life. The boy didn't move and just stared at Goku's image at the pound. He looked like death but the warmth hadn't left his body. His breath still embraced him with the beats of his heart. For 500 long years he kept in that state; far from life but not really close to death. Kanzeon stood and left her chair, then walked to the side of the broken killing doll. She stood there, placed her hands at the side of his seat and lowered her body a bit to balance their height.
"I can't do anything... It's their job now to finish what they had started. Will you forgive me, Nataku?" Kanzeon asked with low voice that almost sounded like a whisper. But the replied was only silence.
Dark already arrived before they could find a way to finish their problem. There were no other choices but camped inside the forest that night. Hakuryuu seemed restless and never left Goku's side even for just a minute. Hakkai placed a wet towel on the boy's head and covered him with warm blanket. There was no blood or scar he found around the impact area, but he couldn't feel any relief crossed inside his heart. Goku hadn't awake since that afternoon and looked so troubled in his sleep. The spectacle man found a bit warm temperature on Goku, but it won't threaten his life. What concerned him most was why Goku didn't wake up no matter how much he shook his body. The monkey he knew will jump out from his bed when dinner time came. But now supper already over about 1 hour ago and Goku didn't show any sign to open his eyes; not even a little...
Hakkai knew well that just sat and kept worrying won't help; he rather chose to start what they wanted to get over with. He patted Hakuryuu and cared Goku's face, then went to the other near the fire. The moon was shining brightly, but their faces were far from light. Sanzo and Gojyo couldn't bring themselves to restrain their will from smoking. They already sucked about 6 packs but the sour look on their face didn't decreased; maybe it just increased as times passing by. Konzen also kept silent with no voice escaped from his locked-tightly mouth. He just stared at both of his comrades with his cold sharp yet expressionless eyes. Tenpou and Kenren were the guilty one in this matter and they had to accept it. The awkward silence won't get away until Hakkai arrived and sat near Sanzo and Gojyo.
"Can we start the conversation now?"
"... Speak up," Konzen commanded.
"A-about what?" Kenren asked, pretended like he didn't understand what Konzen talked about.
"Try to run from our conversation and it won't be just your hair that has red color," Sanzo pointed her evoker at Kenren's head, and the Western Army's leader knew it wasn't just a threat.
"I-I understand..."
"Tell me everything. Now."
"Konzen... We're doing this for you and Goku's sake," Tenpou explained.
"I don't care! For fucking GOD's sake...!! You don't have the right to hide it from me! So tell me the freaking thing you know, all of it!!"
"Calm down, Konzen," Hakkai put his hand on Konzen's shoulder and pushed the man down. "Tenpou, Kenren, all of us want to know about this matter as well. Tell us everything," he said. Even Hakkai sounded so serious this time, more than when he talked to Tenpou at the picnic.
"...I guess we should tell them, Kenren. They're right, we can't hide it from them forever..."
"But, Tenpou...!" Kenren wanted to protest but he realized what Tenpou said was more than right. "...Ck, fine! I'll tell you guys everything. Goku's memory... maybe will come back soon."
"WH-WHAT?!" the entire team; except Kenren, Tenpou, and Goku; shouted in surprise.
"Hey, what's with the shocked voice?"
"What do you mean?" Hakkai asked, his voice was far from calm.
"Just like what I said, Goku's memory maybe will come back soon," Kenren repeated what he just said. "I know, you want to ask how did I know about that, right, Konzen? You've seen the proof too, haven't you?"
"Proof? What proof?" Konzen now started to get confused by his comrade's words.
"Remember about how Goku called me Ten-chan?" Tenpou started to get his part. "That's the one. Goku remembered about me, so do with Kenren."
"Kenren?"
"The day you punched him because that clothes, that was the day when Goku called him Ken-niichan. There's something I want to ask you... Have you seen the sign of Goku that probably proofed he gets a piece of memory about you?"
"I-...," Konzen was starting to recall about everything that appeared inside his head when Sanzo's eyes widened all of a sudden. The entire team focused their eyes at him who showed an expression that didn't looked so nice...
"What did Goku use to call you?" he asked seriously to his ancestor.
"It's Konzen... Wait. Could it be...?"
Sanzo nodded and drowned inside his own thought. The other changed their looks while Konzen worked on his brain to remember the night when he first met with Goku again. That night, the time when he, Goku, and that Bouzu slept inside the same room...
*~FLASHBACK~*
"NOOO!! KONZEEEEN!!!" Goku shouted and sat up, waking up from his sleep and back to reality.
"Goku, what's wrong?!" Sanzo asked, 100% worried.
"K-Kon... Kon-Konzen...!! Wh-where's Konzen?!"
"I'm here, Goku. Hey, what's wrong?"
"Konzen... I...," Goku talked but then stopped on his own. He thought about it for a minute and then started to speak again. "No... It's nothing, really..."
"Really? Goku, you look so pale," Konzen placed his hand on Goku's forehead. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah... I'm sure..."
"... Well, go back to sleep then. You surely need it," Sanzo said, pushing Goku to the bed and covered him with blanket.
"Okay... Thank you, Sanzo, Konzen... Good night."
"Good night, Goku," Sanzo and Konzen answered.
*~END FLASHBACK~*
It was the sign that he thought was nothing to think about. That time, the only thing that crossed inside his mind was just Goku dreamed about him. Just that and he forgot about it on the morning. Now he realized it was something that even more important than fighting with Sanzo to get Goku's attention. That night, Goku suddenly woke up from his dream world and called his name like crazy. His voice was shaking, so was his medium-sized body. If what Kenren and Tenpou said were true, that it was the sign that could become a proof that Goku caught a piece of memory about him... What the hell was wrong with him that made it took this long to realize about that? Even Kenren that dumber than him could find about it sooner...
For Gensomaden team... Hakkai and Gojyo slowly understand where this conversation was going to just with looked at the other expressions. Goku's memory will came back soon, but for some reason that didn't shake their heart with happiness. Actually, a small wave of hope just left their body that moment. Sanzo felt the same thing with them. It was a good thing that Goku will remember about his past, but that meant... The possibility that he'll leave three of them will be bigger than before. Just the thought that it would happened soon was enough to spread anxious feeling at them.
"Why-... Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" Konzen barked at both of his comrade.
"And let you mess everything up?! Ask if!" Kenren replied. "I know well about you, same with Tenpou. You won't stay still if we tell you that and you'll probably confront Goku right away and force him to remember..."
"But hide everything from me is-...!!"
"We understand about that, Konzen. We're the wrong one in this matter, but we did that because we don't have any choice," Tenpou said.
"Why don't you tell any of us about it?" now Hakkai also spoke up. Sanzo and Gojyo stared at Gaiden team with the same curious eyes; they wanted to know the same thing as the green clothed man.
"Don't think badly of us because of it, but... For us right now, you're still our enemy."
"E-enemy?"
"What do you mean with that?" Gojyo tensed up a bit.
"You don't want to let us take Goku, right? Anyone who gets in our way... Is our enemy. And please, don't try to deny it. Behind your friendly act, I know you also feel the same thing."
"Good if you know, I don't have to explain about it again," Sanzo stated coldly. "Just for you know, I've never, since the first time we met, think any of you as my friend. You're my enemy, and anything happened won't change that fact."
"Sanzo-..."
"Don't cut him, Hakkai. To tell you the truth, I'm on the same boat as him," Gojyo confessed. "You too, right?"
"Well, I..."
"I heard your conversation with Tenpou before, so I know well about it. You can't fool me," Sanzo blurted everything. "So, we know where this conversation is going to. Let's get this over with-..."
"NOOOOOO!!!"
The entire group snapped back from the sudden loud voice. Every pair of eyes turned into the new object that trashed around over the ground. It was Goku... Hakkai stood up right away and rushed toward the monkey, as well with the other. The green clothed man placed his hand on Goku's shoulder and used all his strength to calm him. Gojyo also participated in this; knew Hakkai couldn't do anything if Goku didn't stop struggling. For some reason, Goku didn't stop cried and yelled like he was in pain. Fear and suffer described perfectly on his face in his restless sleep. Tears leaked out from behind his eyelids that covered both of his eyes, kept flowing like a small river. This kind of picture made all of those men didn't have enough power even just to see it.
Just with a little physical contact, Hakkai found something was wrong with Goku. His temperature seemed higher than before and of course it worsened his condition. The fever made him saw illusion or probably gave him a nightmare. Whatever that was, surely it had a bad effect for the brown haired boy. Sweat covered his body just like a second skin while his breath also started to get heavier by the times.
"Hakkai, do something!" Gojyo said in panic, his voice heard unstable due to tire from restrain Goku from kicking Hakkai who treated him.
"I try!" Hakkai responded. "Goku, wake up! C'mon, open your eyes!"
"Hey, it's not funny, Chibi! You can't keep sleeping now!" Kenren got carried with the situation.
"N-no...!! D-don't...!!"
"Goku-...!" Konzen grabbed one of Goku's hand. His hands were shaking terribly, even almost same with the sick one.
"Don't g-go...!! Konzen...!!!"
"Wh-... What?" everyone blinked in confuse.
"Ken-niichan...!! Ten-chan...!! DON'T LEAVE ME!!!" Goku shouted like crazy and tightened his grip on Konzen's hand. He started to trashing around wilder than before like tried to get away from something.
"Goku, calm down!!" Sanzo grabbed Goku's empty hand and held it tight. "No one will leave you, so calm the hell down!!"
"NO!! DON'T DIE...!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE!!!"
"Ck! What the fuck is he talking about?!"
"D-die...? Don't tell me he...," Konzen's brain started to work in it's on. "He remembers about it."
"About what?!"
"The time I die, and also the moment he lost Kenren and Tenpou... He remembers it!" he said about it again. He supposed to happy because Goku remember another important part of his memories, but now he couldn't show any of that feeling. It even buried deep down with worry in his heart that he couldn't feel it. "From all the time he can remember, why must now?!?!?!"
"This's not good...," Hakkai mumbled. "Fever already makes him at this state. If that memory comes to him now...!!"
CRACK!!
A sudden cracked sound heard clearly by the entire team before drown in Goku's painful scream. All of them knew that voice won't be a good sign, but they didn't have any choice but to make sure. They lowered their head and then stared at the diadem on Goku's head. There was a big crack on the surface that it looked like the youkai limiter ready to break down even just by a slight touch. And if that thing really broke to pieces, The Great Sage Seiten Taisei surely won't let them live for long after he came out to the stage. But with Goku's condition, maybe even Seiten Taisei won't last long... That was one of the good point, but double bad point. Now they had two good reasons to do their best to fix everything in such a limited time.
Sanzo gulped and unconsciously slipped his hand to touch the cold iron on his weapon. Fear rushed inside him as he imagined the worst thing that could happen if nothing changed. There were just two option for him when everything out of control. First, just kept dodge the Great Sage's attack. That fierce creature would run out of energy faster since Goku didn't give him much good now. When the times come, he'll probably die from fever and tiredness. Then the second choice... Actually, Sanzo rather chose the first option even though he didn't really want to admit it and hate both of it. He remembered what he said to Goku on that snowy day. When Goku lost control, when he gone crazy... Sanzo would be the one to finish him off. And maybe the day had come now for him to fulfill his promise. Just shot him right when the diadem broke. Easy to say, hard to do.
Konzen stared at Goku and felt tears started to fill both of his eyes. He didn't want to see Goku like this; he wanted to run away and hide until everything is over. Until Goku finished with his suffer and back to his feet with his cheerful smile. But he knew that he didn't have the courage to leave his small precious sun in his horrible pain. It had happened before in Tenkai, and everything ended smoothly. Seiten Taisei released for the first time and gave Goku a lot of trouble to handle; as well for the other three who took care for him. But then Konzen could make everything better and Goku back to his normal form. Still... Even though it happened back then, will the same result come out for this matter he faced now? What if it's different...? What if the Great Sage won't turn back into the happy-go-lucky monkey? And what if Seiten Taisei died as Seiten Taisei, didn't even give Goku a change to remember all of his past? Didn't even give Goku a second change to call Konzen like 500 years ago...
The same distress also crossed in the other's mind. Hakkai, Gojyo, Kenren, and Tenpou did their best to make a better situation. Goku's scream echoed in their head and they wanted to stop it. It was horrible, scary, and hurt them every time they heard it. Just like thousand needle stabbed them at heart... They wanted it to over, but didn't know what to do.
"G-Goku, listen to me! LISTEN TO ME!" Gojyo commanded, his voice shaking so bad like his hand. "You've got to calm down!"
"That's right, Goku! Take a deep breath and calm yourself!" Tenpou placed his hands on Goku's cheeks and turned Goku's head to face him. The heat on Goku's skin felt bad when he touched it, but he didn't willing to pull back.
"Stop making me worry! Open your eyes, Goku! OPEN YOUR EYES!!" Kenren shouted in panic.
"Konzen, Sanzo! Help us here! Hold Goku's arms and legs, try to stop him from struggling! Kenren, use the bowl in the bag to get a water from the river near here! Gojyo, get another blanket and new towel, we need it right away!" Hakkai gave his instruction.
Both of the blonds did as they told to. Sanzo grabbed Goku's arm and felt how powerful yet weak the kid right now. He was so hot, burning up from his bone to the last of his hair. As for Konzen, he held Goku's feet in his hands and silently begged everything would over soon. If only he could, he won't even think twice to change his place with Goku. He didn't mind to suffer and die if he had to, if that meant Goku will be okay.
"Please, Goku...! Enough with this...," he bowed his head and placed it on the legs he gave a grip. "Open your eyes, Goku. Please..."
"K-Kon... zen....," Goku mumbled. His lifted his eyelids and revealed the blurry eyes behind it.
"Yes, it's me... It's Konzen."
"S-San... zo... Where-...?"
"Right here, I'm right beside you," Sanzo tightened his hand as he spoke. His voice was far from calm, but he kept trying to hide it. He wanted to scream and kill someone; anyone, he didn't give a shit who it was; just to throw away his stress.
"I'm scared... Don't leave me, please...!" the monkey started crying and stopped trashing around. "Don't want... to be... 'lone any-... more...!"
"You won't be alone, Goku! I'm here... We're here for you!"
"Lie... You're lying...! Y-you told... me... you're go-... going t-to... stay with m-me...! But you... leave me-...!!"
"God, please stop it...," Konzen begged as crying his heart out. "Goku, look at me. Look at me...," he said as released Goku's legs and pulled Goku's face toward his.
"Ko-...Konzen..."
"Yeah, it's me. I'm here for you, so you're not alone anymore. See, we're here... We're here for you..."
"R-really...? You w-won't leave me... again?"
"Promise. I'm promise..."
"Th-then... I'm gl-... glad... Konzen... San-...zo...," Goku mumbled unclearly and then drifted back to his dreamless sleep.
Kenren back with a bowl full with water when Gojyo brought a thick blanket and towel with him. Tenpou took the blanket and tucked Goku under that cover, his expression still a bit sour. Hakkai thanked Kenren for his help and drowned the towel into the water, then squeeze it and placed it on Goku's forehead. The monkey stopped moving and screaming, the only sound that came out from him was a small snore that everyone could barely hear. But it was better than saw him noisy in pain, not in happiness. The heat on Goku's body hadn't reduced even just a bit and it concerned Hakkai a lot. For about 2 hours he didn't left his position and kept monitoring his friend's condition. Sometimes, the other gave Hakkai time to rest while they did the watch job for him. Goku moaned a couple time but didn't showed any sign to open his eyes. Konzen and Sanzo sighed as put their focus on the monkey. There was just one thing that important right now; the bad situation hadn't over, but at least it was getting better...
Morning had come at last, but the group didn't feel refreshed at all. Instead, a great urge to catch some 'Z's kept flooding in their head. Hakkai's head moved back and forth, showed how tired he was for the tight watch job. Konzen and Sanzo tried to keep their eyes open, but failed right before the sun rose. Kenren, Tenpou, and Gojyo didn't had a chance to complete their mission as they fell asleep after Goku calmed down last night. They just woke up a couple times to help Hakkai, but then back to sleep again not long after Hakkai ready to continue his duty.
Hakkai thought maybe it won't be so bad to get some rest for a moment. After all, nothing bad happened about 3 hours ago and Goku already calm in his sleep, his temperature was going down a couple hours ago and now back to normal. The green clothed man rubbed his eyes and loosened his numb muscle. Just when he about to lie down and closed his eyes, a small whimper came out from Goku's mouth. Goku stirred a bit and moaned, he turned his head left and right as his hand reached his face to rub a small circle around the middle between his eyes. Hakkai rose up and calling Goku's name with ridiculously loud voice. The other heard it, of course, and snapped back from their sleep. Gojyo jumped and turned his head like crazy, just as a sudden attack came to them. Kenren and Tenpou gave a long 'Whaaaa-...?' and rubbed their eyes. Konzen and Sanzo blinked a bit before could use their brain to observe the situation.
"Everyone, I think Goku just about to wake up," Hakkai informed.
"Seriously?!" Kenren stood up in excitment. He forgot that Tenpou leaned on his back and fell when he got up.
"Man, that took long enough for the monkey," Gojyo smirked, his heart full with blooming flower when the news arrived at his ears. "C'mon, Saru! Time to rise and shine!"
"Goku!" Sanzo and Kozen said at the same time, but now didn't even bother to bark at each other. They rushed toward Goku and knelt there, waiting until the kid lifted his eyelids and greet them with his smile.
Goku opened his eyes with a slight groan slipped out from his lips. The sunshine sure was bright enough and blinded him for a moment. The older men sighed in relief as the youngest-looking member came back to them. The monkey rubbed his eyes and the back of his head, and then yawned like nothing had happened. It felt like the horrible moment last night was just a nightmare. Konzen smiled and put his hand on Goku's shoulder, pulled him closer to him and gave him a warm hug.
"Thank God...! You're awake, Goku! I'm so glad-...!!"
"Hey, back off!!" Sanzo growled and pulled Konzen away from 'his' monkey. "Don't you dare to lay a hand on him!"
"Who do you think you are?!" Konzen yelled back.
"Sanzo-... Konzen-...??" Goku said, tugging the blonds' cloth as he called.
"Yeah, Goku?"
"Who're they?"
Konzen stared at Goku in confuse when Sanzo looked at the point that Goku showed. Hakkai, Tenpou, Kenren, and Gojyo didn't had a chance to speak as Goku gave them an unfamiliar eyes. He didn't recognize them...
Rie: "And that's all! How is it? Good or bad?"
Sanzo: "Where've you been all this time?"
Rie: "Well... I have something important to do."
Sanzo: "Something that more important than us?" (Glare at Rie)
Rie: "N-no... Maybe yes. But all of you are important for me, too! Seriously!" (Try to convice Sanzo) "Anyway, now's time for the VOTE!"
Goku: "Let me! Let me! Let me!"
Rie: "Sure, go ahead!"
Goku: "Alright! Ahem... The winner for this time is...!"
Gojyo: "SANZO!!!" (Push Goku aside) "There, now we're fair!"
Goku: "What?! You Kappa-...!!!" (Fight with Gojyo)
Rie: "......... Well, I get 9 for the vote. 5 for Sanzo, 3 for Konzen, and 1 for none of them. It may change later, so... keep review and vote, please! Thank you very much!" ^_^