Chapter 13 - Crude Fruit
Rayla's thoughts
"Talking"
Someone else's thoughts
*Actions*
It was bright and sunny day, something Rayla was thankful for but no matter what the weather there was always something likely to go wrong. She sat between Sanzo and Hakkai since Gojyo and Goku could never control their fighting between them.
"I'm starving!" Goku complained... again!
Gojyo didn't seem to care all that much, "We just ate for crying out loud!"
"You call that eating, nibbling more like!" Goku rested his chin on Rayla's shoulder with the puppy dog look on his face.
She sighed, "Sorry Goku, You ate all I had for you."
"I've got some bad news... We seem to have run out of all our supplies as well." Hakkai informed the others with a bashful smile.
Goku went wide eyed, "What!"
"For pete-sake..." Gojyo held out some of his own food for Goku, "Here eat this."
"Are you sure? Thank you!" He didn't even grab it with his hands just open mouth swallowed it down.
Rayla shook her head, "Honestly Goku you should be careful of what you eat..." She muttered but Goku didn't hear her.
"Hm, what is this?" Goku asked Gojyo.
She had a feeling she would be grossed out by his answer, "Used Kleenex."
"You ass wipe!"
"It's your fault for being so pathetically gullible."
"This time you've really done it!"
"You did it to yourself!"
Hakkai smiled trying to ignore the two, Sanzo had another irk mark on his cheek though Rayla began to think it had become permanent.
"Eat this dick wade!"
"Bite me!"
Before Goku was going to hit Gojyo he stopped, using Rayla's head he stood up to smell the air. An irk mark appeared on her brow as it slightly twitched in annoyance, "Something smells delicious!"
"You've got to be joking..." Hakkai muttered.
Goku wasn't about to give up as he leaned right over Rayla pushing her into Sanzo's chest, the pink on her cheeks wasn't noticed, "Quick turn right here!"
"Well let go of the steering wheel!"
"GOKU!" They all yelled at him as he suddenly did a sharp turn to the right.
They pulled into a rock ridge near the forest, there were far to many stairs for Rayla's liking and a shrine all the way at the top. As they slowed to a stop a familiar orange haired girl happened to be there as well, not doubt following her nose.
"AH! Not you guys again!" Lirin said pointing at them until she spotted Rayla, "Ray-Ray!" She called happily as Ray got out of the jeep.
Lirin gave a hug around her waist her head reaching just below her breasts, when Goku stood annoyed, "What the hell do you think your doing?" He jumped out and grabbed one arm of Rayla's while Lirin held the other and they tried to pull each side of her. She sighed before looking at Sanzo, he let off a warning shot and both of them dropped her arms.
Both of their stomachs happened to growl at he same time making Rayla giggle only for a moment, both them realized something and cried out before they both bolted up the stairs with far to much energy.
"I smelt it first!"
"I was here before you!"
The other four just stood at the bottom and watch the crazy pair run up to the top, "Huh? I swear the both have the exact same behavior."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's Goku's little sister rather than Kougaiji's." Hakkai agreed while Sanzo gave 'tsk' sound. He grabbed Rayla by the arm and the four of them began to walk up the endless staircase.
"I hate stairs..." She grumbled but was ignored not wonder he chose to drag her up.
It hardly surprised any of them that the two got there at the same time, They stood at the bottom of a large tree that reminded Rayla of the tree Goku had climbed before the set out on this journey.
"Yippy! What a huge tree!" Lirin said excited wasting not time to climb up it.
Goku hated to lose, "Outta my way!" He hollered as he climbed up next.
Ever since they had arrived in this area Rayla had felt something was off but as soon as she smelt Goku's blood she hustled even faster as Sanzo and the rest watch her figure shrink and her long hair flow behind her. The second scent she smelt must have been Lirin's, she made sure to remember the scent.
"Hey not fair!" Lirin called to him. Goku reached for one of the odd shaped and smelling fruit but a tree branch hit him on the hand which is where the smell of blood came from.
Both of the younger ones called out a pained 'ow', "This tree branch stung me." Lirin called out to Goku who was just above her.
"What a weird tree..." Goku complained.
Lirin's hungry took over all other thoughts as she reached for one of the hanging fruits, "Oh well..." As soon as her clawed hand grabbed it, the fruit became rotten, "What the hell's going on here?"
Goku did the same and earned the same reaction from the tree, "Hehee, that's mine." It dried up before he even touched it, "What the- Now it's bad!"
Most people would have stopped to figure out the logic but these two didn't think like normal people when their stomachs were empty. They continued to try and grab other ones but each one dried up and became bad. They finally gave up and jumped down to the bottom of the tree as Rayla ran up to them.
"Goku-kun, Liri-chan are you injured?" She asked slightly winded.
They looked at her heartbroken making her jerk back slightly, Lirin latched onto Ray's waist, "I'!" She complained in one big breath. Thankfully Rayla's was used to it since she was with Goku all the time.
"What a mean tree! Ray-Ray will you get the food for me?" Goku whined latching onto the other side of her waist but he how ever was slightly taller and his face had a breast in it making Ray slightly uncomfortable.
Rayla froze when she knew what was coming their way as a familiar chill ran down her spine and sadly they needed to learn. Ray unlocked herself from the two quickly and moved back in time to avoid the incoming old man fan.
"YOU IDIOTS!" Sanzo cranked his arm back and smacked them both on the head.
Rayla's sighed and stood infront of them to make sure he didn't go nuts with hitting them. Lirin peeked around Ray, "What's the big idea?" She demanded.
"You two are trespassing in here." Sanzo looked at Rayla, "And you shouldn't encourage them!"
"Smacking them doesn't seem to help either!" She snapped back.
Hakkai leaned around Ray's waist to look at the two behind her with a warm smile, "You know he's right, you should ask the people in the temple for permission first." The warmth of his body surprised her but also made her feel something odd.
"But what if they say no? Can't you see I'm freaking starving to death over here!" Goku complained with an innocent look on his face.
Lirin felt the same way, "Ya! Besides we already tried to eat them but all the fruit are rotten!" Her look was so much like Goku's.
Rayla turned around and now faced them, "That tree smells wrong to me Hakkai, I want you two to stay away from that tree and anything to do with it! Do you understand me?"
"But Ray-Ray..." They started together.
She sighed and gave them a hard, stern look, "I will find food for you both till then promise me!"
They nodded their head with enthusiasm, Hakkai and the other turned to look up at the tree, "They smelt tasty to me, why do they smell weird to you?"
"I am not like others Goku, surely you have figured that out by now?"
Gojyo already didn't care about the stupid tree, "What are you wasting your time for if their not even eatable. Besides Ray said their not good for you... Hey where is everybody?"
"Good question..." Rayla muttered still looking at the tree.
Hakkai decided to call out, "Hello? Is anybody here"
A large wooden door to the side of the temple creaked open gaining all of their attention, A young bald boy stood in the small opening with his brown eyes suspicious, "Who are you?" He demanded.
He eyed each one of them, Sanzo with his blank stare, Gojyo bored, Goku hungry along with Lirin. Both stood on either side of Rayla who was pinching the bridge of her nose and Hakkai the kind and friendly one, "Were just travelers on our way west, no one to be suspicious about despite how we look."
"Dumb-ass..." Rayla muttered, I know he means to help but even telling someone that it never helps...
Gojyo looked at Hakkai with an annoyed expression, "Hey don't you look at me when you say that!"
"Correction, two dumb-asses." Sanzo muttered to Rayla.
Goku's face lite up and they all knew what was coming, "Hey! You got anything to eat around here? Were really very hungry!"
Sanzo and Rayla look at each other, "Three dumb-asses..." They said together but were ignored the whole time.
The young boy stepped out and another one stepped out as well, they were twins but something about them rubbed Rayla the wrong way, "You are travelers?"
"Twins?" Hakkai whispered to himself.
The second boy stepped forward, "Excuse me... but are you?"
The other came forward as well, "You couldn't possibly be the legendary Monk Sanzo?"
"No you have the wrong guy." Sanzo stated without even blinking.
Rayla sighed and Goku leaned out behind him, "Hey, I don't get it. Tell them who you are Sanzo."
"Ya what have you got to hide?" Lirin asks leaning behind his other side.
Sanzo closed his eyes annoyed, "Your both dead... I swear Rayla..."
She nodded and grabbed the two of them by the back of their shirts and set them on either side of her, Gojyo and Hakkai smiled at the group of them, "Now now, all you have to do is something Sanzo like and we get free room and board."
"You can put up with a little hero worship for us can't you? Think of poor Ray, Oh illustrious one." Gojyo added in with a smirk.
Ray groaned, "Don't drag me into this, I'm already playing 'keep Sanzo from killing Lirin and Goku' game... not fun."
"No... I can't"
*Irk*
Okay Rayla had to admit he could have said yes, "Stupid monk! Make yourself of use for once!" Rayla snapped at him with a fist in his face obviously sick of sharing a jeep with them.
He merely looked off to the side pretending she wasn't there.
Despite Sanzo's harsh behavior and stubborn mood they were invited into the temple due to his status. They were brought into a very similar room bearing the statue of Buddha. Something was bothering Rayla she couldn't figure it out but something was off about this whole area.
"My name is Chingpo, I am an apprentice here at Gosoucan." One of the twins introduced.
The other felt the need to do so as well, "I am Ingescou, Please come in Priest Sanzo."
"What a pain in the ass..." Sanzo grumbled.
Rayla glared at him, "I feel the same about you..."
The two twins were seated just under the statue, Sanzo, Gojyo, and Hakkai were seated down one side. While Goku and Lirin were seated on either side of Rayla down the other side.
"As you can see we live modestly." Chingpo told them.
Ingescou finished for him, "But please take what we can offer you."
Rayla eyed the food set before them, seeds... They smelt the same to her which made not even want to test them.
Goku eyed them as well, "What's this?"
"It is called Soukonton made from Ninginca seeds. Two of them are enough to make you full, please eat." Chingpo informed them but Rayla doubted it could fill Goku's bottomless pit.
Ingescou continued yet again, though it must be a twin thing, "Sorry but I'm afraid this is all we have to offer you."
Lirin and Goku sighed at the same time, "Well I guess if they'll fill me up, Bon Appetite!"
"Down the hatch!" Lirin agreed.
Rayla snapped her arms out to grab both their hands, "No, you two. You promised you would only eat what I prepared for you-" Rayla was cut off by a hit to the back of the head along with Lirin and Goku. Sanzo had decided it was a good idea to hit all three of them.
"You stupid monk, don't hit me!" But Rayla was ignored.
Sanzo glared at them, "Don't eat!"
"Why the hell not?" Lirin demanded.
Sanzo turned and looked at the twins, "So why I don't I see anyone else at this temple huh?"
"Well, usually our senior disciples are here but they-"
The second started, "They all left with our Master about a month ago for a long journey."
Hakuryuu sniffed the seeds and he too knew something was off as he turned his head from it, Hakkai's suspicion grew as well, "And you two have been watching the temple alone all this time?"
"Yes."
"I'm just surprised you haven't been attacked by thieves or demons since then." Gojyo mentions also knowing something was off by the explanation.
Ingescou answered first for once, "That's probably only because of the holy powers of the Ninginca here to protect us from harm."
"Speaking of which, why can't you eat them?" Goku asked one of the two that hadn't picked up on what the others felt.
Rayla was hardly surprised since his appetite over ruled all his sense, "They rotted the second we touched them." Lirin informed, that's second that's two slow.
Chingpo answered that one, "That's because you need special tools called Kinkakishi and Tanban if you want to be able to pick the fruit from the tree."
"Besides the fruit of the Ninginca are not yet ripe to pick."
Goku slightly pouted, "I figured that much out."
Sanzo stood after listening to their tale, Gojyo was next followed by Hakkai and Rayla, "Thank you but we must go."
Sanzo and the rest started to walk away, Rayla paused only a meter or two from Goku and Lirin who were still seated, "You wouldn't dare go without eating at least snack would you?"
"Yes I would." Sanzo stated simply.
Goku tried to argue, "But can't we just-"
"Never mind, let's go."
Rayla smiled at Goku hoping she could change his mind, "I'll get you food, I promise Goku."
"Well I'm not in a hurry, so I'm going to try one." Lirin said picking one up. Rayla's eyes widened as she popped it into her mouth, "Liri-chan... NO!" Rayla tried to stop her but to no avail.
She turned slightly blue in the face, "Ugh, tastes like puke!"
The five of them stood at the top of the stairs that they had climbed up, Rayla couldn't help but look over her shoulder concerned for Lirin's safety. Enemy or not she was still a child and she found it hard to think of Lirin and Kougaiji as enemies. Her eyes widened as Lirin suddenly bolted past them, "Bye! See ya later!"
"Lirin!" Rayla called after she started to chase after her but Sanzo stopped her, "No, Rayla."
"Sanzo she-". "I know!"
Rayla sighed in defeat only staring after the young girl that continued down the steps, "What the hell is that little girl on?" Gojyo asked as he stood beside Rayla and Hakkai.
"Let's go." Sanzo stated and started down the steps as well still dragging Rayla by the arm despite her complaints.
One of the twins called out to them, "Wait!"
Goku turned around to find them holding out a cloth, "Please take this."
"It will help to ease your hunger while on your journey."
Goku's eyes lite up, "Thank you! Your the greatest."
"We have not had guests in so long, it's to bad." One told him.
The other continued, "We would've liked you to stay with us until our aster returned but we understand."
Goku looked at them sympathy obvious on his face, "Goku, what's the hold up?" Sanzo demanded further down.
"Listen monk, You can't just haul me around-!" Rayla started to complain at him again before she was yanked once more.
Gojyo smirked at her expense before yelling at Goku, "Will you get down here before Ray gets mad Monkey!"
"Don't call me that!" Goku yelled back as he quickly ran down the steps before turning around to look at them twins, "You two wait here a moment, I'll be right back."
"You sense it right? Ray is this what you felt?" Gojyo whispered out to them.
Rayla nodded her head with worry on her face, Sanzo had to agree, "Ya. Their defiantly demons."
"What do you think? Should we go back there and take them out?" Hakkai asked bluntly.
Rayla sighed, "I just want Goku away from this stuff."
"Besides who do you think we are? Some champions of Justice or something." Gojyo agreed on leaving.
Sanzo was obviously going to agree to continue west instead of dealing with this, "I just assume not getting involve with those two."
Sadly nothing ever seemed to work the way this group wanted to, avoid demons and humans a like was a rather difficult task... and it was beginning to make Rayla a little grouchy.
"Hey guys!" Goku's voice rang out, "Those poor kids said their lonely! Let's just with them a little while!"
Goku finally caught up as all four of his companions turned around to look at him, "Come on, Let's go." Gojyo told him with a slight smile, "There just something not right about those two."
"What do you mean?" Goku asked not understanding what Gojyo meant.
Sanzo was a little grouchy himself, "Can't you see that the Ninginca allows them both to cover up both their demon scent."
Goku holds out the food the twins had given him earlier, "But take a look at what they gave me. Isn't it possible their good demons."
"Goku. I don't think it's safe to put to much faith in other people right now." Hakkai informed him.
Goku's eyes widened confused and shocked at his friends words, "I have complete trust in Ray-Ray so why not others? Why should I have to distrust people?"
"Goku, I have given you many reasons to trust me. There is a difference and if you trust me now then believe me when I say we need to keep going." She told him not sure how to explain it to someone like Goku. Hardly any experience in the world and his heart was so sweet.
Sanzo was sick of the talk he knew it was going to be difficult to explain to Goku, "Enough! It's pointless trying to reason with him."
"Sanzo!" Rayla shouted at him for his rude words and Sanzo grabbed the gift from the demons and also holding his old man fan.
Goku was irritated, "Hey! Give that back, It's mine!"
"You shut up! Your idiocy is breath taking!" Sanzo snapped at him turning and starting to walk away.
Rayla wasn't sure what to do, She never wanted to turn back on Goku but she also has a sworn debt to Sanzo... her life.
Goku wasn't about to just back down, "Okay, so what? I'm an idiot! What's wrong with that huh?" Goku gave an irritated huff before turning and walking back up the stairs.
Rayla went to start after him not noticing Sanzo had still been holding her arm, "Hey! Where the hell do you think your going?" Gojyo demanded.
Rayla yanked forward slightly already knowing what he was going to do, Sanzo however held firm, "I'm going back! To prove your wrong about those guys!"
Goku ran up stairs and further from them, "Goku!" Rayla called after him.
"Come on Goku!" Hakkai called out as well.
"Sanzo let me go with him!" Rayla growled out at him furious of the restraints she had, "Should we go after him?" Gojyo asked with a similar thought.
Sanzo was trying to teach Goku, "No we should probably just let him go. It will be useless to try and talk to him anyway and Rayla some lessons can only be learned by living with your mistakes. You can't shield him from emotional pain, protect him with your life nothing more and nothing less."
Four of them continued forward leaving Goku behind, Rayla was silent the whole way. Surely trusting others isn't the worst thing in life but there are those whom you can't trust even I know that. There had to be a better way of teaching Goku that, surely this was a little harsh! The thoughts were driving her nuts. Nightfall had already come and the moon lite up the night sky with bright white glow. The fire was already going, Sanzo sat on a log, while Gojyo and Hakkai sat on rocks under the tree's. Rayla was by Hakkai leaning against the tree.
"Goku's certainly been gone awhile." Hakkai pointed out.
Rayla's hand closed into a fist still worried about his safety, "I suppose that means we have to camp out in this place huh?" Gojyo stated before looking at Rayla concerned about her and Goku, "I don't mean this as an adage or anything but... I'm hungry."
Rayla frowned slightly, it was driving her insane both Lirin and Goku have likely already fallen into those twins trap while she stood here. What could she do, Sanzo was right yet this felt wrong.
"Hey!" Gojyo earned all of their attention, "Look here."
Lirin emerged from the bushes repeating the same phrase not even looking at them, Rayla pushed herself off the tree and looked wide eyed.
"I have to go there, I have to go there, I have to go there, I have to go there."
"Liri-chan?" Rayla said hesitantly with Hakkai, Sanzo and Gojyo beside her as they walked towards the young girl who seemed to be in a daze.
Hakkai called out as well, "Lirin? Where are you going?" She stopped walking, "Liri-chan?"
She swayed before turning her upper body to look at them, Her eyes were empty and veins were popping along her fave as if something was feeding from her blood... like a seed! Rayla flinched remembering what Chin Yisou had done to her. Lirin cranked her head to the side and gave a dangerous smile before turning around and continued walking still chanting.
"What do you make of that?" Hakkai asked Sanzo.
Sanzo closed his fist which held the gift he had taken from Goku earlier, "I'd say it means that we should never eat these."
Rayla lowered her head, "It's like when the seed was placed into my body however instead of pain and death they seem to be in a trance." She raised her head to look at them, "I'm going after Goku."
She went to leave but her arm was grabbed again, "Were all going." She knew the voice didn't belong to Sanzo, she turned and gave a grateful smile to Hakkai.
She never noticed the glares from her two other companions...
They followed Lirin through the woods as they sky grew darker, never once did Lirin turned to look at them or even yell at them. Slowly they came to a long cave and traveling inwards, it appeared to be under the temple. The feeling Rayla had wasn't wrong in the end but she felt helpless since they choose to follow her instead of going straight for Goku. The failure she felt towards being by his side was ripping at her heart.
"I had no idea it was like this behind the mountain." Gojyo commented.
Hakkai had an unsure question, "Soo you think maybe we should stop her?"
"How?" Sanzo asked with his arms across his chest.
"Good point."
They came to a dead end of the tunnel and illuminating the night was the roots of the Ninginca. They were large and spread around something which is where the light came from.
"So those are the roots to the Ninginca." Sanzo stated for everyone.
Bodies of dead monks were trapped inside the entanglement of roots as Lirin walked towards it, Hakkai gasped quietly, "Will you look at that!"
"I see. Their human bulbs"
"That plant is using these people as fertilizer."
Lirin collapsed onto her knees and Rayla went towards her, veins wrapped around the young girls waist before Rayla could stop it. She pulled out her blades ready to destroy them. "Wait Ray!" Gojyo called at her making her stop.
"I'm seeing double over there." Rayla turned to where he was pointing to find the bodies of the same boys they had seen earlier.
All their eyes widened, "Then who were the two in the temple?" Hakkai questioned allowed.
"Pardon me. Could you be priest Sanzo?"
A deep scratchy voice caught their attention and all their eyes followed to the same spot the voice came from. Deep among the tangles of roots was an older man with long hair, her was obviously the master of that temple and he barely clung to what little life he had left.
"And you are?" Sanzo asked.
Rayla had an irk mark, "The Master here, idiot."
"Correct. You must pardon my manners, I am Chin Genchi who serves as the head of the Gousoucan."
Hakkai was surprised but with awe, "Your impressive. How do you maintain consciousness with this thing draining all your chi?"
"Oh I doubt I'll last much longer. The Ninginca is supernatural powers increase by the day."
Sanzo's face was serious and calculating, "Tell me what happened here."
"Various items are brought here to the temple as offerings. One day a small seedling was delivered by a man in glasses. We planted it out in the yard but we could see immediately this was no ordinary tree. It grew at such an alarming rate that we feared the Ninginca was created by some form of black magic. We tired to cut it down but blades could not scratch it and it's bark was impervious to fire. Not knowing was else to do and the tree eventually bore fruits. I forbid my pupils to eat them but Chingpo and Ingescou disobeyed me. Two clones were created, without knowing it they served the fruit to us and we wound up here."
"Wait a second. What did you say Chingpo and Ingescou come from?" Hakkai asked him.
The old man was obviously close to his limit as the four of them listened to his story, "They are Ninginca fruits. It steals peoples genetic codes and then grows an exact duplicate out of their seeds. Identical replica's."
"Their clones!" Hakkai muttered.
Rayla gasped, "I know smelt Goku and Lirin's blood earlier today."
Gojyo nodded grimly, "Yeah, Goku and Lirin tried to pick those fruits."
"It must have taken a sample when they were pricked by the Ninginca veins." Hakkai agreed.
Rayla looked over to where Lirin now lay, her eyes still hollow and empty, it was wrong! That was not Lirin should look enemy or not, her lips seemed to be moving as if she was still chanting.
"If that's the case even he may have... met his match." Sanzo said out loud.
Rayla stiffened. Goku!
They got up above the underground cave in time to see a bunch a fake Goku's and Lirin's swarming the courtyard around the evil tree. Rayla found the real Goku wrapped up in veins that appeared to be coming from his own body. He had eaten far to many of those stupid seeds. The cloned twins stood infront of him with a devious and triumphant smile.
"Stop right there!" Sanzo called out earning everyone's attention.
All eyes were on them now, "Shesh, I thought one Goku was bad enough." Sanzo muttered.
"Ya, think of all the trouble they'll cause other folks." Gojyo said with a smoke in his mouth.
Hakkai smiled in their direction, "Besides, illegal copies are an infringement of copyright."
"I want my Goku back and I'll kill a thousand fakes to find the real one." Her eyes were serious as she point one of weapons and in the twins direction.
"S-Sanzo... R-Rayla... Gojyo... Hakkai!" Goku whispered out losing his energy.
One of the fakes chuckled, "We knew you guys would come back here for your friend."
"You saved us the trouble of chasing after you."
The four of them leaped off the roof to land gracefully on the ground, "So these guys must be Kougaiji's assassins."
"His own sister has become roots bait." Hakkai commented, "I find that unlikely."
Rayla nodded her head agreeing, "He seems far to fond of her."
"In that case it's the mastermind who's pulling all of Kougaiji's strings."
Gojyo agreed on that, "That makes sense but twisted personalities seem to point in that direction."
"HA! Useless babble!" A fake twins snapping smiling.
The second order the minions, "Kill them at will."
The group of fake friends and enemies charged at the head on, Sanzo shot with slightly annoyance but enjoying to be able to kill even fakes, "Now your compost heap!" It's shots were timed and had perfect accuracy.
Shakugetsujou's chain was seen slicing through the copies with ease, "Ha! I love this! Beating up a gang of monkeys feel pretty good." He said happily hardly moving from his spot. The control Gojyo held was elegant... even for a pervert.
Hakkai smiled with a ball of chi in his hand with his back against Rayla's, "I know it's hard but do try not to destroy the original will you?" He threw his ball of chi at his half of duplicates before continuing as they blew up, "Rayla will have your head." The chi blast destroyed several in one direct hit.
She sliced threw her own group with quickness still angered for what had been done to Goku, "Don't even think about it monk, I'm keeping that monkey!" Diagonal, downwards, vertical and horizontal; each move was precise with great skill. She was able to finish by going two by two.
She quickly went towards Goku who was still trapped he looked up at her as she got close, "For some reason it others me their having this much fun defeating me! Just who's side are they one anyways?"
"I am on your side Goku-kun!" She told him but no matter how much her blades cut they couldn't break through. She tried to put all her might into slicing through vines but the old man had been right, no blade could cut them.
The twins were stunned at their skill and how easily they destroyed the fake copies, "I don't understand! They should have the same powers as Goku!"
Sanzo's back was to them, "Don't underestimate us! Goku may be nutty be he ain't no fruit. The Goku is much more..." He swiftly turned towards them pulling his gun with him, "DAFT!" He shot the copies that were attacking from behind.
"Next time you take a DNA sample from Goku you might wanna make sure he's not hungry first." Hakkai said he destroyed more fakes.
Gojyo jumped back from doing the same and stood infront of Hakkai, "They may hang from trees but they sure make pathetic excuses for monkeys."
Sanzo walked up to the trunk base of the Ninginca , "Look like your out of tricks!" He pointed his gun at the tree as the two fake twins became fearful, "Now end this game."
"NO!"
"DON'T SHOOT!"
*BANG!*
The bullet went through the tree and began a crystallized form as did the fake twins as all became encased before the two shattered into several tiny pieces. Goku was released as well and started to fall forward till Rayla caught him and held him up. He smiled at her before grabbing his Nyoi-Bo and stood up with her help.
"What the hell?" He asked out loud before walking towards Sanzo. "Why didn't you do that from the very beginning instead of having to fight them all?" Goku asked with his weapon his shoulders.
Sanzo still hadn't looked at him, "That wouldn't have been satisfying."
"What?"
"For you I mean."
"Ugh..."
"Now hurry up and finish the job!"
Goku smiled brightly and twirling his staff, "Listen up Ninginca! You tasted like puke..." He jumped into the air with full force coming down, "Now your saw dust!" Goku sliced right through the crystal tree destroying it all once and for good. The crystal sparkled as it rained down around them. Hakkai, Gojyo and Rayla looked up to watch.
Goku gave a peace sign at them, "Yes!"
The next morning they were out front of the temple with all of the priests and monks of the temple who had been saved once the tree was destroyed. Goku stood infront of them with the others further behind him, "We are eternally grateful."
"We shall be more weary of our offerings from now on." Another told them.
Chingpo, the real spoke to him as well, "You have done so much for us!"
"How can we show you our thanks?" Ingescou asked.
Goku smiled, "You don't have to thank us but you got any food?"
The twins look at each other and one held out a purple sac, "Perhaps this will meet your approval." He held it out in his palms.
Goku took it happily, "Awesome, Thanks!"
"Let's move!" Sanzo commanded and Rayla waited for Goku this time as he called over his shoulder, "Sure thing!"
They finally got into the jeep and were heading west once again, Rayla was between Hakkai and Sanzo like usual but kept turning around to check on Goku who sat with Gojyo in the back of the vehicle.
"Hey Sanzo?" Goku asked quietly.
Sanzo didn't even look up from his paper, "What is it?"
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry? What for?"
"I'm sorry I'm such an idiot."
Sanzo's next words surprised Rayla, "Don't let it bother you, your in good company."
"Got that right!" Gojyo agreed.
Rayla grabbed Goku and hugged him, "You fine the way you are Goku."
Hakkai kept his eyes on the road but still added in his own piece, "We wouldn't be going on this journey unless were all a bunch of idiots."
And they continued forward...
**So Sorry it took so long to get another chapter out and thank you all my readers, your all awesome! I will have another out soon, Thanks again! 3 **