NEVER LET GO
Disclaimer: Do I look like owning Saiyuki?
A/N: Hi! This time I dedicated this chapter for my little brother, whose birthday is just happened to be today. Happy birthday, Andre!
Andre: Sis, you're embarassing me.
Ryokiku: Eeh?! What are you doing here??
Andre: (snorts) You're not the only one monopolizing the computer here you know. What's so surprising?
Ryokiku: No... it's just... I don't know that you can write English!
Andre: (awkward silence) Fine. I'm off. Dasar kakak nggak bertanggung jawab!!
Ryokiku: (panics) Hey! I'm only joking! Come back, you stupid bro!!
Uh well... that's my brother. He doesn't have much ability to communicate in English and thus only speaks Indonesian. Maybe I'll force him to write a Saiyuki fic using Indonesian someday...
Anyway, I know my A/N isa mess... On with the story! Hope you'll enjoy this chapter!
CHAPTER EIGHT
No Turning Back
Homura stared full in concern at the flushed boy before him. A wet and cold compress was placed on the boy's forehead in an attempt to bring the fever down, Shien and Zenon were awake as well, taking turns watching the sick boy.
Two days had passed, but none of them could bring the strange fever down, much less, explain the reason behind it. What was more perplexing was that the fever only attacked Goku at night. When the dawn rose, the golden-eyed boy would come back to his cheerful and energetic self as if nothing had happened. But once the sun set, the boy would suddenly suffer that nasty fever.
It confused Homura to no end. What kind of illness could possibly choose a specific time to take effect? Hell, he didn't even know that Son Goku was even capable of getting sick.
Goku's features twisted in pain, his eyeballs could be seen moving inside his closed eyelids. A slight moan escaped his lips, and beads of sweat trickled down his flushed face. It seemed that the fever wasn't the only thing the boy suffered; he seemed to be having nightmares as well.
And not to mention, all attempts to wake him up were useless.
"This is strange," Shien muttered, his closed eyes frowning in confusion, "I don't have any idea that a being as powerful of Son Goku could catch such an illness. This fever is not normal."
The calm kami eyed the heavily breathing boy.
Zenon scratched his chin, frowning as well.
"This just doesn't make any sense. That kid is so lively; and now all..."
A single un-patched eye frowned as Zenon turned to face his leader.
"Did something happened, Homura?"
The question hung unanswered in the room for a brief moment. Homura just kept silent as he stroked Goku's smooth brown locks with his right hand softly. His long fingers then made their way to the boy's flushed cheek, then down to the neck.
With his left hand on his own forehead, Homura touched Goku's neck gently, feeling the heat radiating from the sleeping boy. The War God sighed. The fever hadn't shown any sign of coming down. Instead, it's gotten worse as the nights progressed.
"I wish I knew," The Toushin finally spoke quietly, stroking the unconscious boy's damp-from-sweat chocolate hair.
"I haven't the slightest clue of what happened after taking that scientist's potion..."
"Scientist?" Shien frowned, showing more interest than he normally did.
"You mean that human scientist who helped you get Son Goku?" pale brows knitted above the closed lids.
Homura turned and stared at the porcelain face of his comrade.
"Yes. What is it, Shien? You looked uncommonly interested."
Shien just shrugged, "Nothing in particular. I'm just slightly curios about Son Goku's limiter. I believe it's supposed to be gold in color, is it not?"
Homura nodded, "Apparently the golden limiter was replaced with this silver one by the scientist. He told me that it was for altering Son Goku's memories to make him join us."
"Did the scientist tell you anything else about the silver limiter, Homura-sama?" Shien pushed on, "Like... a side effect or something?"
Heavy silence fell in the room.
Homura frowned, golden-sapphire eyes narrowed at his comrade's calm ones.
"You don't mean..." he turned his gaze back to the fevered boy, "This fever...?"
"Is possibly a side effect," Shien filled in, straight seriousness on his expressionless face.
Once again, the room filled with silence.
"Soo... what are we going to do?" Zenon finally muttered.
Instead of answering, Homura fixed his eyes on Goku, watching the boy's chest rise and fall in rhythm with his ragged breath.
Goku's dry lips moved slowly, releasing a croaked voice that was a total opposite than the boy's usually cheerful one.
"I can't... the sun... don't... leave..."
Homura could feel his heart torn apart as he saw tears slowly trickle down the boy's face.
"Don't... leave... me..." Goku unconsciously raised his right hand as if wanting to reach something.
With a pang in his heart, Homura held the boy's hand, wincing slightly at the heat coming from it.
"Just hang on, Son Goku, I won't let you suffer... I promise I will protect you..."
The Toushin whispered solemnly before leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on the boy's forehead.
Straightening himself, the War God ordered his comrades.
"Zenon, you stay here and take care of Son Goku. Shien, you come with me. We have a certain scientist to visit."
His statement was followed by weird looks, before Zenon grinned and Shien smiled softly.
"Hai, hai!"
"Very well, Homura-sama."
Filled with determination, the Toushin made his way out of the room, followed closely by his faithful comrade. Before closing the door, he took a last quick glance at the sick young heretic,
Wait for me, Son Goku... I will protect you...
The forest was engulfed with darkness. The only source of light was the pale moon hovering thousands feet above. A river ran slightly, splitting the forest to half.
Near the river bank, a slender figure could be seen. Wearing a white lab coat, the figure—or the scientist—leaned by a tree, cigarette resting between his lips.
Inhaling the nicotine deeply, eyelids behind the glasses were closed, hiding those dark and sinister eyes. The corner of the man's lips curved slightly as he opened his eyes, his glasses glowed beneath his dark locks.
With an amused smirk on his face, the scientist spoke lazily.
"Well, well, it seems that I have guests. What business do you have with me, Toushin Homura Taishi?"
Shadows in the place split apart, exposing two dark figures. Homura approached the scientist, with clear determination in his steps.
"Nii Jen Yi, you have a lot to explain." The raven-haired man spoke calmly; yet, Nii still could notice barely suppressed worry and guilt within the man's mismatched eyes. The scientist smirked.
Ah... so it has started already?
Smirking wider, Nii answered, "What do I have to explain, Homura-sama? I believe I have told you everything you need to know. I told you that Son Goku will finally consider you as his sun. What complaints do you have against me?" the scientist asked, feigning innocence.
This time, it was the subordinate who answered.
"You did not exactly tell Homura-sama about the side effect of the silver limiter." Shien's calm voice hissed as cold as the night.
Again, the scientist chose to play innocent.
"Side effect?"
Shien opened his eyes; his rare gaze pierced the scientist.
"Stop playing innocent. You know something about the strange illness Son Goku suffers from, I believe?" Pale eyes narrowed.
Nii looked slightly amused.
"I see... so it has started? My, my, as expected from a being of Son Goku's caliber..."
Hearing this, Homura grabbed Nii's collar, pressing his nose against the scientist's, with rage swirling within his mismatched eyes.
"You! The fever is because of you?!" the War God hissed threateningly, staring at a dangerously close distance.
Nii just stared back at those raged gold-sapphire eyes.
"Easy, Homura-taishi, I did nothing to your precious boy, don't worry..."
This drove more rage out of Homura.
"He's suffering and you say it's nothing?!" The Toushin practically yelled, his eyes narrowed, "You promised me you wouldn't do anything to harm Son Goku, or else you can expect consequences."
Again, Nii just smirked.
"Technically, I didn't do anything to harm Son Goku, Homura-taishi. It was YOU who placed the silver limiter on him." His sinister lips curved into a smug smirk.
Homura looked taken aback for a brief moment before hissing, "You are the one who made me do that. I was under that stupid potion of yours."
Nii chuckled, "Ahh... but technically, you're the one who touched him, right? And if my memory serves correct, you said you wouldn't forgive me if I touched your precious Son Goku. Well, as we both know, I haven't laid a finger on that boy." the scientist said wickedly.
Homura stared at those dark and sinister eyes. But he was at a loss for words. He knew he was trapped inside the scientist's plot, and there was no turning back.
"You wicked bastard," he hissed, "Now tell me how to cure Son Goku from his fever, or I'll rip you apart." The War God hissed threateningly.
The said scientist just smirked as he responded lightly, "There's no cure."
Before the Toushin could retort, the scientist added, "But it will soon disappear by itself; because it's a process, not a side effect." Nii spoke calmly, keeping his gaze to the widened eyes of the Toushin.
"Process...?" Homura whispered, slowly digesting the information.
Nii nodded, "Yes. The fever is the sign of Son Goku's body struggling against the limiter's effect. You can't expect me to completely control his mind only within a few minutes' time, without a bit of...pain, hm? Especially if what you desire is a perfect result." The scientist's glasses glowed once in the dim light, "But don't worry, Homura-taishi. The boy won't suffer very long. Even a being as powerful as Son Goku, doesn't stand a chance. I estimate it will be all over in three nights. By the sun rise on the fourth day, he will completely become your possession."
The scientist smirked wider from the look on Homura's face.
"Unless, if you don't want him to suffer any longer, you could always take off the silver limiter. The fever and nightmares would disappear, as well as his newly acquired memories about you as his sun." His dark eyes pierced Homura's mismatched ones.
"Of course, the choice is yours, Homura-taishi."
Tension fell over the place. Homura stared at the scientist, eyes widened.
He still had to witness the boy suffering for another night. He couldn't stand seeing Goku suffering because of the limiter, but if he removed it, the saru will forget everything about him, and become Sanzo's charge once again.
Homura grit his teeth. He had finally possessed the boy, and there was no way he would ever let him go. No matter how painful it was.
"Very well," The Toushin closed his eyes, barely hiding the pain and conflict within his mind.
"I shall wait another day, if it means Son Goku will completely become mine. But," his mismatched eyes pierced Nii's dark ones threateningly, "If he is still suffering the fever after three nights, there will be consequences." Homura spoke, his voice dark and serious.
The scientist just nodded, the sinister smirk never wavered from his face.
"Of course, Homura-taishi."
The War God sent the scientist a last threatening glare before turning his back and proceeded to leave.
"Shien, let's retreat," he ordered shortly.
The calm kami glanced at the scientist's dark eyes for a brief moment before turning as well and following his leader.
"Yes, Homura-sama."
Nii smirked as he watched the two figures disappeared within the darkness of the forest. His lips curved to a sinister smirk.
Be careful on your steps, Homura-taishi... From now on, there is no turning back...
A/N: That's it. Schoolwork bugs me and now I can no longer keep up with my beta, so this is just about it. I might be able to post chp9 soon but don't expect the future chapters very soon. I'll be needing my mess of a brain for something else.
And as usual, thanks for reading, any comments will be appreciated.
Ja ne!