Enter the Rival


It is later in the morning, late enough that Hakkai feels a little guilty for dozing. He starts to stir, arching his back to stretch, and rolls over closer to Gojyo's side of the bed.

Gojyo. If it really is Gojyo's side then the hanyou should be there.

Hakkai sits up in a panic. Gojyo. Gojyo is gone. Hands fly to Hakkai's ears, seeking his limiters. He finds them all, cool and safely in place, but his panic does not subside. He is still disoriented from recent events and doesn't know whether or not he can trust his memories. The very thought that all of the horrors happened but not the joy, the joy that Gojyo is alive and well and still very much in love with him, is more than Hakkai could bear.

Trying to calm himself, Hakkai takes a few deep breaths and throws the covers aside to get out of bed. Just as his feet hit the floor the door opens. Panic rises in Hakkai again, but the welcome sight of Gojyo banishes all remaining reservations. Gojyo. Gojyo more than alive and well but completely healed and walking on two legs. Hakkai can handle the horrors being real as long as the good things are real too.

Hakkai smiles at Gojyo and stands, ready to embrace his companion, but the somber expression on Gojyo's face stops him in his tracks. "Gojyo…what is it?" Hakkai says.

Hovering by the door, Gojyo casts his eyes down. His voice is soft and filled with remorse Hakkai does not want to hear. "I can't find him," Gojyo says, "I'm sorry, Hakkai. I've looked everywhere."

It takes several silent moments before Hakkai understands what Gojyo is talking about. A hand reaches to clutch at his chest. "Hakuryuu."

-----

Nearing town, Sanzo and Goku have returned to one of the welcome forest paths instead of parting and sidestepping brush. Sanzo is thankful for this, and for the presence of Goku beside him. He prefers the monkey to be with him, not bounding ahead of him like some true monkey dancing through the trees. Now that they have talked and put aside their fears and doubts, Goku knows better how to act and so does Sanzo.

Nothing has to change. Goku is powerful. Sanzo is as well. The only difference now is that Sanzo never has to wonder if his power and Goku's will be put to a test against each other. That change is a welcome one.

The town can be seen in the distance and Sanzo is eager to be back. Of course, he isn't worried about those other idiots. He just wants to make sure he won't have to kill either of them in the near future. It is an entirely selfish concern, and if anyone questions him on it he'll shoot them. Yes, Sanzo may call Gojyo and Hakkai friends, but he has to hang on to a little of his bastardly nature.

"Damn."

Sanzo looks down at Goku, wondering what the monkey is grumbling about. "What's with you?" he says.

Goku is staring down at the cuffs of his cut-off jeans, jeans that now only just cover his knees. They were always short, but now they look plain ridiculous. "I need new pants. New clothes," Goku says, and he pulls at his shirt as if to say it too is becoming tight lately.

"It's your fault for growing," Sanzo says with a snort. There is no doubt Goku speaks the truth. His outfit, one that had seemed so fitting when they purchased new clothing after the battle with Homura, is far too small for him now.

Goku tugs a little more at his shirt before giving Sanzo a glare. "Yeah, gonna blame me for aging too, or would you rather sleep with someone who looks like a kid for the next fifty years."

The instinct in Sanzo is too laugh, or at least bop the boy on the head for being so cheeky. But when Sanzo takes the time to think about what Goku just said it makes his steps falter. In fact, he stops completely.

Goku stops a few steps later and turns to look back, questioning.

"Fifty years," Sanzo repeats. It is impossible to tell whether or not Sanzo likes the sound of that or finds it terrifying. Finally, the monk scoffs and continues walking right on past his faithful companion. "Don't make it sound like we're married, monkey," He says over his shoulder.

Some people might take this jibe as a bad sign, but Goku knows Sanzo too well to be fooled. He can hear the monk as well as Sanzo can hear him after all, and Sanzo is far from scared. Just…a little anxious about actually having things work out for a change.

So Goku knows better than to take Sanzo's words at face value.

"Whatever, Sanzo," he says.

And because Goku has read Sanzo perfectly, and replied with an equally ambivalent jibe, Sanzo reaches over to rustle the boy's hair in his usual form of open affection. "We'll get Hakkai to go shopping later today. He'll probably welcome the distraction. Besides, I think we could all use some new clothes."

Goku gives Sanzo a look as if to say, "Even you?"

Of course, Sanzo hears those words as if they had indeed been spoken aloud. "Why not me? I won't be wearing these robes forever. And I certainly don't want to have to borrow Hakkai or Gojyo's clothing like I did before the fight with Kami-sama. I'll need…normal clothing. What?"

Goku is grinning up at Sanzo. "Nothing, just imagining you in leather pants and a cropped tank top. Mmm…" Goku's grin turns predatory and he gives Sanzo a wink.

"Knock it off," Sanzo growls, bopping Goku on the head with a little more force than usual, "You're creeping me out."

The only reply Goku can think of is to laugh, so he does, heartily and without reservation. He knows Sanzo will understand and hopefully not bop him like that again. Invulnerable monkey that he is, Sanzo's whacks still pack a punch.

Sanzo does allow the laugh, but walks a little faster, making Goku scramble to keep up while laughing. Goku has almost gotten in step with Sanzo again when he suddenly stops.

The cease of laughter and feeling that Goku is no longer right behind him alerts Sanzo immediately. He turns back. Goku is stopped dead, looking down the path they came from like an alerted animal. "What is it?" Sanzo says.

Goku remains still for some time, looking intently, but finally turns back with a shrug. "I…I don't know. I guess it's nothing," he says, "I'm sure it's nothing."

"Not keeping secrets again," Sanzo prompts, eyes quickly narrowed and watching Goku closely as the monkey steps back in line with him.

"No," Goku says honestly, and he casts another glance down the path, "I just…thought I saw something."

-----

"Hakuryuu!" Hakkai calls again. How many times has he called now? He doubts he could keep track if he tried.

He and Gojyo have long since split up to cover more ground and find the little dragon, but Hakkai is not having any luck. He knows deep down that Gojyo isn't faring any better either. If Hakuryuu doesn't want to be found, he won't be.

"Hakuryuu! Hakuryuu!" Hakkai's voice is sore from yelling. He is in an alleyway, one that had looked so promising with trash bins of food, the cool temperature and cover from the sun. It doesn't seem so promising anymore. Hakkai goes to a crate against the wall and sits down.

Fresh tears rise in his eyes—they have been coming so easily lately. Hakkai once thought he had cried all the tears he would ever shed when Kanan died, but he has been proven wrong again and again. There are new reasons to cry, new attachments in his life that have opened him up to emotions he once sought to close off. It is easy to summon tears over Hakuryuu, even if Hakkai does manage rather valiantly to keep them from truly falling.

"I understand, my friend," Hakkai says, staring down at the narrow, dirty path of the alleyway, "Why would you stay with a master who treats you horribly. I struck out at you, my constant and true companion. Why should I expect you to forgive me as Gojyo does? I do not even deserve it from him…"

"You think sulking and spouting bullshit's gonna make him come back?"

Hakkai starts. He feels instantly ashamed as he looks at Gojyo, who has come from around the corner with arms tightly crossed and red eyes blazing. "Gojyo, I…I was just…"

"Yeah," Gojyo says stiffly.

How can Hakkai blame him? Here they are again, where they seem to end up so often, with Hakkai hating himself over things he had little to no control over, and Gojyo standing their beyond frustrated because the love of his life just will not accept how wonderful he is in Gojyo's eyes.

It is a story many lovers live again and again, and in the worst cases it can tear those lovers apart. They cannot allow such a travesty to happen. Hakkai will not allow it.

"I'm sorry, Gojyo." Hakkai says, and he knows that too is something Gojyo does not want to hear because he has had to hear it so many times. Hakkai gives a great sigh, even angrier with himself now. "Forgiving myself will never come easily," he says.

Gojyo knows he could hold out and continue being aloof, but that would be far too much like something Sanzo would do. Instead, Gojyo drops his arms and his defensiveness. He pulls over another crate and sits next to Hakkai. "I know. I know this will never be easy. But you have to trust that sometimes life will give you what you deserve. And you deserve to be happy. We both do." Gojyo brushes his fingers along Hakkai's right ear, feeling the new limiters lovingly. "I know you're getting yourself down again because of Jiipu. But he'll turn up. He knows we need him."

A small part of Hakkai wants to shrug away from Gojyo's affection since it is being directed at something Hakkai hates about himself—the need to be limited—but he knows to see it as Gojyo means it. Lovingly. "Perhaps," Hakkai says. He wants to be hopeful, but at this rate, he doubts he will ever see his dragon friend again.

"Perhaps?"

This time it is Hakkai and Gojyo both who look down the alley and see that they have been discovered. A certain pissy monk and jubilant monkey seem to have found them.

Gojyo bets that Goku sniffed them out or something, which he might in some ways consider a good thing but in other ways considers scary as hell. It is while thinking this that Gojyo really looks at Goku beside Sanzo and notices the change.

Goku. It's Goku, unlimited but…human-looking. Feeling Hakkai unconsciously grip his hand tightly tells Gojyo that his lover just noticed this too.

"I am not walking back to Chang'an," Sanzo says with authority, "We're finding the parrot."

Sanzo's determination is welcome, but Hakkai is not as optimistic. He finds his voice despite needing time to digest this new Goku. "I…I don't know how we can," he says.

Gojyo guesses what the monkey is going to say before Goku even speaks.

"I can."

-----

Walking back into the surrounding forests, Sanzo and the others are reminded of their fight in Houtou Castle when Goku followed his nose to the sutras. The only thing keeping Gojyo from making cracks about this is Hakkai's worried expression. Hakuryuu means far more to the healer than just a pet or vehicle. Hakuryuu means more to all of them than just that.

The good thing so far is that Hakkai and Gojyo know they no longer have to worry about Goku, the awakened being. He seems entirely himself, if a little more focused and talented in his beastly ways. The lack of a limiter only makes his human form seem all the more fitting and right.

But the search for Hakuryuu has their spirits low even if Goku's talented nose manages to track the dragon down. There is no guarantee Hakuryuu will agree to return to them if they find him.

"I was out here with Sanzo before," Goku says, leading the way through the trees, "Should have sensed him right away, but I wasn't thinking about it. I feel bad we forgot about him."

"I think he'll forgive us since we were bringing his master back to his senses," Sanzo grumbles. In his mind there is no refusing to come back for Hakuryuu. They need transportation and Jiipu is it, whether he likes it or not.

Hakkai's steps slow and he falls behind the others. "How can he call me master after this? After how I treated him."

"Hakkai…" Gojyo has no more words than that. He has said his piece. Many times. The only thing left is for Hakkai to come to his senses and realize that he can forgive himself. Of course, if Hakuryuu refuses to return to them, Gojyo doubts Hakkai will be doing that any time soon.

"There!" Goku shouts, pointing up into one of the nearby trees, "Hakuryuu!" Goku runs ahead, shouting joyfully. At first the others cannot see any signs that the dragon is indeed nesting somewhere in the branches of that tree, but soon there is a flutter of white they know well. Hakuryuu swoops out of the tree and down to Goku, apparently very pleased to see the monkey.

The others hang back, not wanting to spook Hakuryuu or disrupt this pleasant exchange. At least Hakuryuu didn't make a run for it when he saw them.

Hakuryuu perches on Goku's shoulder as he so often perched on Hakkai and the two seem to talk for some time. Up until now, there has been no signs that anyone other than Hakkai in some strange sense can understand the dragon. Goku speaks with full confidence that everything said between them will be perfectly understood.

At one point Goku gestures over to Hakkai and his extra limiters, having explained the whole ordeal of getting Hakkai back. "Yeah, I know, pretty crazy, huh?" he says, and Hakuryuu nods his long neck in reply.

"Since when do you speak parrot?" Sanzo says, quite annoyed with the whole thing.

Goku just shrugs.

"Hakuryuu…?"

Hakkai is hesitant and takes cautious steps closer to the two animals of their group. Hakuryuu is equally hesitant and timid in regards to Hakkai despite hearing Goku's story. This only sinks Hakkai's heart lower into the pit of his stomach. He thinks he might be sick. Tears sting the corners of his eyes and it is a wonder they don't fall.

"Hakuryuu, my friend," he says, "I can never earn your forgiveness. I attacked everyone I care about, willingly and knowing what I was doing, even if the others will say it wasn't really me. With you I am most regretful, because I acted out against you when you could not possibly defend yourself as the others could. Please, I…I'm so…sorry."

Hakkai cannot even bring himself to look at his pet, so he does not notice when the dragon leaves Goku's shoulders and flies over to him. Hakuryuu does not touch down at first but remains hovering above Hakkai, carefully sniffing and testing the air. Whatever it is he finds in his instinctive ways, he gives a sudden kyuu of delight and finally floats himself down to Hakkai's shoulder.

It is Hakuryuu's call that alerts Hakkai first, but when he feels those familiar talons gently perching on his scarf, two tears that had been threatening to fall stream down his face in release. Hakuryuu nuzzles Hakkai's neck and Hakkai reaches up to pet the dragon on the head. It is too easy, Hakkai thinks, because he does not deserve such ready forgiveness. But then he thinks of his friends, of all of them, and the many things they have had to forgive each other for, and he thinks perhaps he understands why he can get up in the morning and still look himself in the mirror.

Regret, remorse, anger and hatred at oneself, it means so very little when you are loved.

"Thank you, my friend," Hakkai says, stroking Hakuryuu's neck, "Will you continue to carry us on our journey?"

Hakuryuu kyuus a clear yes in response and everyone sighs relief. Entertaining ideas of other ways for them to travel is not something Sanzo wants to repeat.

Hakkai casts Sanzo a knowing smile, as if the healer just read the monk's mind.

"About time things were going our way," Sanzo scoffs.

One by one the group begins to head back the way they had come, allowing Hakkai to linger and speak with Hakuryuu a bit more. Hakkai follows soon behind them though, for they are all eager to leave this town and continue on the journey. They can only hope things will be easier from here. They know that is more than they can ask for, because surely the more towns they come to the more likely there will be unrest in one of them concerning the return of the youkai. They will need to be ready for that.

Following the same paths they have traveled before, Goku feels even more reminiscent of these woods. H can remember frolicking here when he was younger, a free spirit of the earth meant only to live and inspire others to live better. Now he can go beyond that—live, inspire, and be inspired too. Sanzo has made sure of that.

Although he had been distracted by his straying thoughts, Goku still feels it, whatever it is. He stops. His friends pass him, not realizing he has been alerted to something. Even Hakkai walks past him with little thought, still chattering away to Hakuryuu about how well the dragon will be treated from now on, though he will not be spoiled of course, because that never helps anyone.

Realizing he will be left if he doesn't pick up the pace, Goku continues after his friends, but he cannot seem to shake the feel that something is wrong. He senses a presence, of that he is sure, but he cannot pinpoint it or be certain it is anything more threatening to them than a bear. Goku is more attuned to things like that now, but he needs to re-hone his skills. He would hate to call to his friends and make them worry only to have the presence be a flock of bunnies.

"I'm just saying," Goku hears from Gojyo as he catches up to them, "You know we love you, Jiipu, you're just not comfortable. If only you could turn into a mattress…"

"Gojyo, don't get any ideas," Hakkai reprimands. Hakuryuu kyuus in angry agreement. He doesn't like being called uncomfortable.

Goku chuckles to himself, thinking how funny it is that the great dragon king of the west wants to be thought as comfortable.

"Oi, Hakkai."

"Yes, Sanzo?"

"Mind stopping in town before we leave? Goku's about to bust out of his jeans these days." Sanzo turns to Gojyo quickly, "Shut up,"

"I didn't say anything," Gojyo says with far too much innocence. Sanzo is certain he hears a mumbled, "I'll bet he's busting out of his pants," afterwards though. He really wishes shooting a few rounds at the kappa was still acceptable.

"I don't mind doing a little shopping, Sanzo," says Hakkai, returned almost fully to his usual self now with extra limiters secure and Hakuryuu on his shoulder, "It's about time for all of us, I suppose. Even you." Hakkai looks over at Sanzo with a warm grin.

Damn Hakkai's near perfect mind reading. "Yeah. Even me," Sanzo grumbles, "Why is that so fascinating to everyone?"

Gojyo and Hakkai share a laugh. They can't help it. The idea of Sanzo trying to live as something other than a monk is too funny to imagine. The first thought in Gojyo's mind is Sanzo in an apron at some restaurant like mother Meiyuu. Hakkai, however, imagines Sanzo as an elementary school teacher like in the dreamworld. Both ideas are beyond humorous.

When two of the four are laughing like idiots, it is reasonable to assume that the third idiot will join in. Sanzo turns back to look at Goku with a scowl, sure he will find Goku in stitches. He is surprised when he finds nothing of the sort. Goku is keeping in step with them, but is clearly in his own mind, walking blindly with constant looks behind them.

"Goku…"

"Finally!" Gojyo exclaims, "Last clearing until town. Damn that was a walk you put us through, Jiipu. You couldn't have been in that nice alleyway we found?"

Hakuryuu kyuus in disdain as if the very thought of him choosing an alleyway over Mother Nature is deplorable. Sometimes the dragon really does seem to have some sort of superiority complex, at least as far as Gojyo is concerned.

The group steps into the clearing, Hakkai and Gojyo leading the way now with Sanzo lingering back with Goku.

Much as he proclaims the opposite, Sanzo does not like a silent monkey. "Goku, what is it? And don't say nothing because I know better."

Goku looks up, having just recently looked behind them again. His brow knits and it is clear he does not know how to answer Sanzo. "But it is nothing. That's what I don't get. It's like it's moving too fast, or…I don't know. Has a shield or something. Or maybe it's just some wild dog or a mountain lion for all I know. I can't…I can't figure it out."

Goku is rarely this perplexed. His nose is foolproof and his otherworldly sense is even better. If Goku senses something then something is there.

Sanzo looks ahead at the others who have now also stopped, looking back at them in concern. "Come on," Sanzo says, pushing forward until he has all three of his companions at his back, "We're leaving. We're getting out of here and back on the road. Period. I swear to the gods, nothing is going to keep us from—"

"Sanzo, look out!" Goku's calls, and almost too late. It is a wonder Sanzo's reflexes are as good as they are. The monk jumps back, missing the impact of a blade by inches.

The others take defensive stances instantly, summoning weapons and readying chi. Goku's nyoibou glows with power now, as if Hakkai infused it with his abilities too. But this power is entirely Goku's, burrowed straight from the earth.

Sanzo jumps back again, again missing the blade that strikes too fast for any of them to see who wields it.

"What the hell is it!?" Gojyo calls, sending out his shakujou to strike the last spot he saw the sword come from, already knowing it will strike nothing.

"It's a god!" Goku calls, sure at first, but then his face contorts and he shakes his head, "Or…something like a god."

"Goku!" Sanzo shouts, finally finding good footing again and taking out his Smith and Wesson. Oh how he has missed using it with real intention.

"I'm sorry, Sanzo!" Goku calls back, "I don't…I don't know. It feels…familiar…"

Sanzo does not like the sound of that. What if it's the god that first took Goku to Heaven, the one that placed the limiter on his head, and now the bastard wants to do it again? If that is the case, then he'll have to go through Sanzo, because Sanzo is not giving Goku up again.

"There!" Hakkai yells, shooting a blast of chi into the branches of tree on the edge of the clearing. It shatters the bark but does not bring down any signs of a god.

"No, there!" says Gojyo, sending shakujou towards a different tree and coming up equally empty.

In turn, Sanzo shoots at the other end of the clearing entirely. None of them hit anything. They are out of practice in fighting gods. They are out of practice in having a real enemy.

Watching as his friends shoot and release their weapons in seemingly haphazard patters, Goku alone stays still. He holds his empowered nyoibou close, standing in the very center of the clearing. He closes his eyes, thinking calm and clear as he calls upon the very nuances of feeling in the Earth. Even speed cannot lie to the Earth; she always knows who treads upon her.

"There," Goku says, too quietly for any of his companions to hear. He swings nyoibou around, calls on it to extend, and slams it into the invisible enemy's chest.

The god, or almost-god, stumbles but does not fall. He is not so invisible anymore, but he does not try to run or return to his previous speed. He readies himself before the group, eyeing them all with disdain as they gather before him. Only to Goku does he cast a kind eye, and even in that the kindness is sharp.

Goku understands now why he couldn't zero in on the presence following them. His mind had been trained to forget everything about this…half-god…for hundreds of years. Now, however, Goku remembers everything.

"Nataku…"

"You will go no further…Goku," Nataku says.

Goku starts. He had only just told Nataku his name the day…the day everything ended. He has never heard his once-friend say it before.

The others can only stare. They do not remember Nataku. They are not allowed to remember. They do not realize, as Goku does, how Nataku, though healed from the last wounds he bore, looks just as he did all those years ago. While Goku has aged and become a man, Nataku still looks like a young teenager. Now, tt is Goku who stands taller.

"You do not have Heaven's permission to give up your immortality, Seiten Taisei Son Goku," Nataku says, reciting Goku's full name and title now, "I cannot allow it."

Goku starts again. It was easy to become mortal. He had been mortal all those years he lived with Sanzo and aged along their journey. Becoming whole again gave him his immortality, but he gave it back. Goku does not want to lose his friends again.

"Like hell you can't allow it," comes a growl. Goku does not have to take his eyes from Nataku to know Sanzo has spoken on his behalf.

Nataku looks at Sanzo, his disdain renewed, and repeats, "I cannot allow it. It is wrong for him to live as a mortal." Nataku gives Goku a warning glance before raising his sword. "Even if I have to kill these former gods to prove it."

As fast as he had moved before, Nataku charges forward…at Sanzo.

tbc...

A/N: Sorry this is short. I'm tired. Goodnight. Next gets even more interesting, I can assure you. What does Nataku really want? You may not guess right.

Crim