The group reached an inn in a matter of minutes, and they had no time to lose. Goku wasn't responding to words or touches anymore, and he wasn't breathing. They really freaked out the inn owner when they ran in holding a bloody body, but he allowed them to use a room, telling them that they would take care of the paperwork later. Then, he called a doctor, and the group brought Goku up. It was a large room with four beds, but that wasn't important right then.
Sanzo laid Goku on the bed, and the sheets were quickly stained red. Then, Hakkai nearly pushed him down as he went to the boy's side. He put an ear to the boy's still chest and cursed. Gojyo and Sanzo were told to stand back, and watching Hakkai give the boy CPR made Gojyo feel very badly. It was like there was a vice putting pressure on his heart. He couldn't stand to look, and he was clenching his fists so tightly that they were white.
Sanzo, on the other hand, couldn't stop looking. His eyes were fixed on the unmoving boy. his mind was racing, and his strong, emotionless mask was breaking. He simply watched Hakkai as he tried to revive his friend, but the other man was crying now, and his movements were slowing down. There was barely any pressure on the boy's chest anymore, and that simply wouldn't do. Hakkai stopped.
"God, no… I can't… I can't get him to start breathing! Oh, Goku…"
Sanzo put on a stern face and pushed Hakkai slightly to the side, near Goku's head, and he mimicked Hakkai's hand positions.
"It's like this?"
"Sanzo…"
"Sanzo, don't… there isn't a point anymore… Goku is-"
"It's unacceptable."
"Huh?"
"I wont let that stupid brat die here…!"
Sensing his friend's concerns, which were often hidden from the world, Hakkai was filled with renewed hope, and he wished against wish that they could bring the younger back.
"Am I doing this right?"
"Yes…now, press down as hard as you can in time with your own heartbeat!"
"Right…"
Sanzo was not very good at it at first, but once they got started, he was pressing down very hard. Hakkai kept breathing into Goku's mouth, hoping that their combined efforts would work, but wasn't sure if they would. They needed the doctor there with them!
--
Goku couldn't understand what was going on. He remembered that he was outside in a forest, fighting, but he was currently sitting in a vast, yellow meadow. There were flowers all around him, and the sky was bright and the most beautiful blue color he had ever seen it. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the breeze was cool and refreshing. He loved it there. In that place, there were no demons, no fighting, no yelling; there was only peace and relaxation. But… something didn't seem right.
"Sanzo?"
Looking around, the demon boy tried to find something or someone familiar. A face, a voice… but there was no one. Suddenly, he became very afraid. He couldn't feel anything, and he didn't know where he was. He wanted to be with his sun, ad he called for him, but instead of receiving an answer from his savior, there was another sound. It was an eerie voice on the wind; one that whispered heretic.
Then, out of nowhere, dozens of dark hands reached out of the darkness and grabbed him. He yelled and tried to fight against them, but he didn't have any strength. They held firmly onto his arms, legs, torso, and even one went around his neck. Goku felt hot all over, and the meadow that was once there was shrouded in darkness. The hands that held him were tight and it felt as though they were needles, stabbing him.
"Sanzo! Save me, Sanzo!"
Everything was fading away.
--
On the other side, Gojyo saw Goku's hand twitch, and then his brow was lightly knitted in pain. Sanzo and Hakkai were still trying to revive him.
"Guys! I think he's coming back!"
"Good! We've almost got him!"
Yes, they almost had… until something in Goku's chest cracked. Startled, he pulled back his hands.
"Oh crap… I think I broke something!"
Hakkai took his place and lightly felt along the boy's chest.
"One of his ribs broke… Damn."
"What does that mean?"
"…It means we can't do chest compressions anymore…"
"No…"
"Well I'm not ready to let him die!"
Gojyo's outburst startled Sanzo, as that was what he was thinking. But, what more could they do?
"Gojyo, our last chance is the doctor! Hurry and find him!"
"I'm on it!"
Gojyo rushed out of the room, and the other two could do no more for their friend. Hakkai sat by his head and set a hand on his forehead. Sanzo sat on the floor and buried his face in his knees. After a minute, Goku's hand slipped over the edge towards Sanzo. It was the boy's last movement. Sanzo grabbed onto the boy's chilled hand and said a silent prayer for him.
--
Goku was glad to see that after the hands had disappeared, he had seen the image of his savior. However, as soon as the image had appeared, Sanzo was gone, and Goku found himself back in the meadow. He didn't like it. He wanted his sun. So, he ran around, trying to find him.
"Sanzo? Sanzo! I hate this place! Sanzo!"
He gasped. Once again, the hands found him, and he as helpless against them. They hurt him, even more than they had before, and he hated it. He was feeling faint, and he almost gave up completely. However, just when he was about to give into oblivion, a bright light surrounded him. a woman's voice was speaking to him; it was a voice he knew, but he couldn't remember.
"Hello, little chimp…"
"Mm… let go… Sanzo…"
"Do not be afraid. None of them are ready to let you go just yet… and besides…"
She touched her lips to Goku's forehead, and he was engulfed in light and pain.
"…You're far more entertaining when you're all together."