NEVER LET GO
Disclaimer: Do I look like owning Saiyuki?
Author's Note: Hi! I'm updated!! Here come chapter three!! Finally our great and mighty Sanzo sama will make his appearance for the first time in this fic!! And brace yourselves for Homura tachi's rather out of character-ness! Please don't beat me up... I should've put a warning before... (sighs) Anyway, this chapter is dedicated for melchan13, for being reaaaally nice since my first story and never absent reviewing! Arigatou, melchan! (bows)
Anyway, hope you'll enjoy this chapter!
P.S: As usual, special thanks for Peeps17!
CHAPTER THREE
LONG LOST
"Ugh…" Homura moaned as he rubbed his aching head. He felt strange, as if he was half-sleeping. And it had started the moment he agreed to accept that scientist's proposal. He didn't know what the heck he was thinking in agreeing to drink Nii's potion. He was indeed blinded by the scientist words that he'll be able to get Son Goku if he drinks the potion.
Wait… Son Goku?
The Toushin's eyes stared down to see the presence of a small body pressed against him. His mismatched eyes widened as he realized it was none other than Son Goku. Exactly the same Son Goku he used to spy upon. He gasped. How'd…
"My, my, I see you awake, Toushin Homura Taishi,"
Homura turned and met eyes with the crazy scientist.
"I'm afraid you have some explaining," the Toushin said grimly.
The scientist just chuckled, "I'm afraid there's nothing to be explained, Homura sama. I've helped you get your Son Goku, see?"
Homura looked down at Goku. He straightened himself as he carefully lifted Goku's small body into his arms. Only then, he noticed that Goku's golden diadem had been replaced with a silver one.
"His limiter… what happened?" He asked as he eyed the scientist curiously.
Nii just smirked, "You'll see by no time, Homura-sama. Believe me, you won't be disappointed…" his smirk grew as he stared back at the half-heretic.
Yes… won't be disappointed at all…
(Sanzo at the inn)
Sanzo was sitting near the window, smoking his umpteenth cigarettes of the hour while reading a newspaper. He was all alone; that annoying kappa had gone out to check whatever the hell was taking Hakkai and Goku so long.
He felt something wrong, a few moments ago. Like a bad feeling or something. He didn't know what exactly happened, though. He reached for another cigarette when he found that the last pack was empty. He cursed.
"Fuck. I should've asked that asshole to buy one for me earlier," he muttered as he put down his newspaper and crushed his last cigarette into the ashtray.
The monk was halfway to the door when it suddenly slammed open, revealing the very panicked and pissed off Gojyo holding the very battered and bloodied Hakkai.
"What the heck…?" was the only thing Sanzo was able to say when Gojyo forced his way towards the room and laid the barely conscious Hakkai down on the bed.
Sanzo looked at Hakkai and rage immediately consumed him. Hakkai's body was all covered with slashes and deep cuts. Crimson blood dripped from nearly every part of his body. The healer's breath was harsh and labored, as if every new breath he took brought him new sets of pain.
"What happened?" Sanzo asked as he touched a large gash at Hakkai's chest.
Gojyo kept silent as he took Hakkai's ragged clothes off and started to bandage his seemingly uncountable wounds. The kappa looked really close to blowing up despite his attempt to stay calm. Sanzo didn't blame him; Hakkai was, after all, Gojyo's best friend. After a few moments of silence, the red-head finally decided to answer,
"Found him on the street. Lying in a pool of blood, surrounded by townspeople. They thought he was dead already," he stopped as he stared at Hakkai's face, "Like hell he could die that easily…"
Sanzo noticed the rage in Gojyo's voice as the kappa tried to stop Hakkai from losing more blood. He wondered what kind of assassin was capable enough to beat Hakkai this badly.
"Youkai?" he suggested.
"Impossible," the kappa answered, "There's no way that a simple youkai would be capable of something like this," he spoke full of rage as he gently placed bandages around Hakkai's slashed arms.
Sanzo just watched the half-breed attended to his injured friend.
"Goku? Where's he? Was he attacked as well?"
The red-head stopped in the middle of bandaging, then turned his head to the monk, "Couldn't find him. I'm sorry." His crimson eyes shown regret.
Sanzo felt like his heart stopped beating. Thinking about Goku out there all alone, with Hakkai's attacker still around…
Without thinking he grabbed Gojyo by the front of his shirt.
"What'd you mean by that?! How couldn't you find him when he's supposed to be with Hakkai?? What if he was also attacked like Hakkai without any of us knowing?? What if he's already losing blood and dying by now??"
Gojyo struggled out of Sanzo's grip, "Get your hands off me you crazy monk!! I don't know where the baka saru is, and if you're worried about him then just search for him by yourself!!" He shouted to the monk, half-hoping to irritate him more.
"Fine!" Sanzo shouted back, "I'd rather search for the saru myself than rely on a fucking annoying kappa!" he was about to go out from the room when Hakkai's voice halted him.
"Ya-Yamette kudasai, Sanzo…"
Sanzo stopped mid-step and turned to look at Hakkai. The green-eyed youkai had forced himself into a sitting position, causing him to cough blood in the process. The extremely worried Gojyo immediately rushed to his aid.
"Baka! What do you think you're doing?! You're no condition to speak, let alone to move!!"
"D-Daijoubu desu, Gojyo. I'm definitely alright," the healer smiled at the worried kappa, trying to assure him.
"Datte…!"
"It's alright, trust me," Hakkai smiled at Gojyo again, and this time, Gojyo's face slowly relaxed.
"Okay, but if you dare die I'll make sure that I'll kill you one day!!" the kappa threatened the injured youkai.
Hakkai chuckled at Gojyo's statement, but his face went serious when he met eyes with Sanzo.
"Sanzo, I have something important to tell you," Hakkai spoke solemnly. The said monk just stared back at the healer, eyebrows twitched.
"What is it? Hurry up or I'll leave you with your stupid tongue to finish your stupid statement. I'm in a hurry; Goku is out there, all alone. Probably injured."
Hakkai's eyes darkened, "No, he wasn't. I'm so sorry, Sanzo. I couldn't afford to protect him. He's uninjured, but he was… taken away." His tone was full of anger, regret, and sadness.
Sanzo frowned, "What do you mean by…?" He twitched as he noticed burnt marks at Hakkai's clothes. And the wounds are likely caused by something sharp like sword or something.
Burnt marks and cuts… fire and sword… fire sword… oh, shit…
Sanzo cursed as he put the pieces together and figured out, "It's Homura again, isn't it?"
Hakkai nodded. Gojyo let out a string of curses.
"So that fucking kami got the monkey again? When'll he learn that the monkey will only cause trouble? Remember last time? Now that I think of it…" Gojyo stopped, "I don't think we should worry about it. Once that fucking kami realizes that he can't control the monkey then he'll return him to us, just like the last time."
Hakkai bowed his head, "I doubt that. Homura looked so much determined this time. And he said that this time he'll keep Goku with him, forever."
Silence fell in the room. Suddenly Sanzo stood and walked towards the door.
"Oi, bouzu! Where do you think you're going??"
Sanzo answered without even looking back, "To take back my monkey. I won't ever let the same thing happen twice."
"Then Sanzo, we'll go with you, like the last time," Hakkai tried to stand up.
Sanzo glared at him, "No, you won't. You're gravely injured, you will only cause trouble. Besides, Goku is my responsibility, not any of yours. Don't worry, I'll be fine. All I have to do just find the fucking kami and claim my monkey back. It won't be very difficult since the kami also chasing me around for my sutra."
"Demo…" Hakkai couldn't hide his worry.
"I'll be fine, trust me. And Gojyo, you better take good care of Hakkai while I'm not around." Sanzo then proceeded his way towards the door.
Gojyo, for the first and possibly the last time, accepted Sanzo's order, "Got it. And say hello for the bi-colored-eyed freak for me! And don't forget to whack the bakasaru for me, too!!"
Sanzo sighed, "You fool, I'm not going on a picnic…"
(At Homura's headquarters)
Both Zenon and Shien stared in disbelief as they watched their leader come in carrying the unconscious golden-eyed heretic boy AGAIN.
Zenon's reaction was, "NANII???"
"……………………." was Shien's comment, as usual.
Homura stared back at his two comrades; eyebrows twitching in annoyance, "What? What kind of response is that?"
Zenon looked like he's about to faint anytime, "You're still asking?? Remember what happened the last time when you planned something concerning Son Goku? All of us nearly became supper for Seiten Taisei!! Sorry, but really don't wanna face that monster again, I still value my life, thanks!!"
"………………………"
"Hey Shien, say something, will ya!! Do you wanna become a prey of Seiten Taisei once again?!" the panicked eye-patched kami asked the calm eye-closed kami.
"……………………… Homura-sama, is Son Goku knocked unconscious or just asleep?"
THUD (sound of Zenon fell anime-style) "What kind of question was that??????"
Homura just shrugged as he shifted Goku in his arms into a more comfortable position in order to prevent him from waking up, "Asleep, I think. I don't know precisely."
Shien frowned as he spoke again, "How can you say that you don't know, Homura sama? You're the one who captured him, right?"
Homura shrugged, "No. I was under a potion's effect that time."
Both his comrades' eyes widened at this information, "You were under a potion's effect? By whom??
"Yare yare, so you haven't introduced me to your two comrades, ne, Homura-taishi?"
Zenon and Shien looked around in search of the voice, and found the evil scientist walking from behind Homura, smirking evilly.
"Who the heck are you?" Zenon asked harshly. Nii pretended to be scared at Zenon.
"Ooh… don't be so scary, Zenon-senpai! I'm just a mere human who masters a bit of knowledge by luck, and I'm here to help Homura-taishi to fulfill his wish about Son Goku. I've helped him to get the boy already."
Both Zenon and Shien looked at Homura, "What does this mean, Homura? You let a human to join us?"
Homura nodded, "Yes. This human has proven to be able to get Son Goku for me, and he promises me to make Son Goku mine, forever. He'll help us to create our new world, but he wants the Seiten and Maten Scriptures. Don't worry, we won't need them once we finished."
"Datte…!"
But Zenon's protest stopped when Goku suddenly stirred and tensed in Homura's arms. His features twisted in pain even though he was still asleep. He seemed to be in a nightmare of some sort. He whispered, audible enough for Homura to hear,
"The sun… where is it…?"
Homura stared at the sleeping boy for a while, before continuing on walking passed his comrades.
"Homura-sama, where are you going?" Shien's polite voice asked.
"To get a room for Son Goku. I can't carry him like this forever, can I? Although I don't think it is a bad idea…" he mumbled, mainly to himself.
"Do you need me to put lock on his door or something, in case he escapes?" Shien suggested.
"He won't," Nii suddenly spoke, his voice filled with certainty, "Son Goku will not escape you this time, Homura-sama. Believe me, this time he will certainly be yours. Although I suggest you still have someone watch over him. After waking up, he might be a bit… confused," the smirking scientist added.
Homura thought of it for a while, "Very well. Zenon, Shien, you two will watch over Son Goku. Inform me as soon as he wakes up. And don't do anything to him; he's mine," he pressed threateningly at his comrades.
"Hai, hai!"
"…very well, Homura-sama."
His loyal followers nodded faithfully as they followed their leader in search of a room for their new guest.
After some time, Shien secretly pulled Zenon away from Homura, and whispered in his ear.
"Zenon?"
"What is it?"
"I just happen to notice… Isn't Son Goku's limiter supposed to be gold?" the calm kami spoke, brows knitted in curiousness.
The patched-eyed kami just shrugged, "You're right. Well whatever it is, I'm sure it's no big deal."
But Shien couldn't hide his curiousness, "Don't you think it has something to do with that human scientist?" he pushed on.
Again, Zenon just shrugged, "For goodness sake, Shien, Homura trusts him. And we trust Homura, right?"
With that, Shien gave up, "Uh well… alright."
The three of them proceeded their way towards Goku's new room. They're not exactly aware of a pair dark eyes stared at their backs; sinister smile played on its owner's lips.
Soon…
Author's Note: Hehehe... no cliffies in this chapter Go me!!
Sorry for the out of character ness... there'll be more in the next chapter, please don't beat me up... And don't forget I'm trying to make Homura a good guy here...
Ok, I know I'm repeating, but I dedicated this chapter for melchan, whose birthday is coming soon If I can't afford to post the next chapter before 26th January, please consider this as an early birthday present from me
Anyway, thanks for reading! Any comments will be appreciated!
Hope to see you in the next chapter!!
-r&k
P.S: Where did you go, neko-chan? I didn't see you in the previous chapter... I miss you... (sniffs)