Chapter 18

Electric Feel

A/N: in my opinion the flow of this chapter is all over the place. Let me know if I should fix it. I just didnt want to take any longer getting it posted...

Konzeon smirked at the Jade Emperor of heaven as he sat, lent forward, in his throne with his chin in his hand and his elbow on his knee. "Are you sure this is your final choice?" she asked.

"Merciful goddess, do you have any other reason why it shouldn't be?"

She shrugged and paced a bit, "It won't end well."

"They have no say in how this journey ends. We were to choose one of them to become the War God from the beginning. A god of war is the only one that can defeat that monster. That was the plan."

"If it was the plan stick to it. Why do you need my say?

He shifted uncomfortably in his throne, "You know them better than we do."

"Oh? Do I?"

"Merciful Goddess…"

"Why send them on the mission if they won't succeed anyway?" she interrupted, "Gods can be so arrogant. Doing everything the hard way…"

"The journey would shape them and then we would choose."

Konzeon rolled her eyes and left the room, "Like I said, arrogance."

The screams of merriment that wafted into Sanzo's room would have upset him if there weren't still a warm body in his arms. The screams and giggles continued as he sat up and carefully slid his arms from under Nai's torso and removed his hand from her hair.

She rolled onto her back and opened her eyes, "Why can't we just lay here?" She said groggily.

"Do what you want."

"I said 'we', smartass."

Sanzo grunted and stood from the bed, "How can I lay around all day with that racket coming in from outside?" he almost barked as he stalked to the window.

The sight of Goku running in the street with about eight kids in tow made him sigh. Nai sat up, "What is it?"

"The monkey. Who else could it be?"

She laughed and moved across the room to stand by the window also. She just watched the sun light his hair and sparkle on his pale skin. After a moment she moved and made the bed, "Well since we're awake we might as well find something productive to do."

Sanzo lent against the rim of the window and folded his arms. He watched Nai make the bed, her tanned hands contrasted on the white sheets. Her hair was curlier than usual from sleeping on it. She glanced at him and smirked, "What are you looking at?"

"Tch, nothing much."

Nai glared at him, "Pretty sure that's not how you felt last night."

Sanzo turned his flushed face away from her and scoffed. He heard her sigh, "I'm gonna go to my room and shower. See you downstairs?"

"Whatever."

She crossed her arms on defiance, "Sooner or later you're gonna tell me why you do that."

"Do what?"

"Blow me off right after you try to get close. What the hell are you afraid of?"

Sanzo glared at her and reached for his cigarettes, "I'm not afraid of anything."

Nai snatched them off the small table, "You're a damn liar." His glare became that much more intense and she just rose her brows, "Mad because I'm right? You should be, I'm tired of this bullshit and neither of us is leaving this room until you tell me what you're so damn afraid of!"

"I said I'm not afraid."

The woman sat on the floor, blocking the door and sighed, "None of you can lie to me. I can feel you panic when we get close in any way."

"So?"

"So this isn't new Sanzo. I've been feeling this since you found Goku and I started spending more time around you. What do you think I'm going to do to you?"

The blonde approached the door and looked down at her, "Move."

Nai watched him with a straight face. "No."

"Move."

She stood up, "No, and I dare you to tell me to move again."

"Damnit! Mo-!"

Sanzo couldn't really decide how he felt about this. He liked the hands almost tearing his leather undershirt and definitely liked that she tasted like peach wine. But he decided he'd kill her later for cutting him off. He didn't like to be interrupted.

Nai backed off and glared at him, "Now, what are you afraid of?"

The blonde stared for a while. No real expression on his face. He just...stared. What was he afraid of? It was evident, obvious; it was something she already knew...

Nai frowned, "I won't leave."

"It's unavoidable."

"Can't you love me anyway?" she said it without taking a breath. Waiting for his answer.

Sanzo embraced her. He held her so tight her breathing labored some, "I can't."

She nodded, "I understand."

"We goin in there?" Nai watched the blonde warily as they stood in the entrance of the underground cave.

He nodded. In the last three days, the group did nothing but train and work. Gojyo and Nai helped in the fields, Goku worked odd jobs around town, Hakkai started cooking in the Inn and Sanzo studied in the town's small temple. They moved in with an old woman who had plenty of space for the five.

She smiled, "It's not dangerous."

Gojyo peered into the dark. "I don't know about that."

Hakkai chuckled, "Are you scared Gojyo?"

"Well no. But if Nai doesn't want to go in there I can stay here with her."

Goku laughed, "You're scared!"

The redhead pouted, "Shut it Monkey."

The old woman placed the lantern in Sanzo's hand and ushered them all in. "You'll be fine."

Sanzo stepped on the cigarette he had and grumbled over his shoulder, "Let's see what's so special about this place."

The males headed in ahead of Nai who stood back for a moment and watched how almost perfect they were, just the four of them, it was scary how untouched they looked without her. She tried not to think about it but lately all she could remember was Sanzo telling her she couldn't go with them, then telling her again that he couldn't love her…even though she knew he did.

Hakkai walked back to her, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I guess."

They rejoined the group in time for Nai to step in-between the bickering Goku and Gojyo. Sanzo sighed in relief of the silence and Hakkai chuckled.

Nai looked over to the blonde, "Hey Sanzo, what do you think we'll find?"

"I don't really know." He said gruffly, "But hopefully something useful."

Gojyo stared up at the ceiling, "Can you imagine how much it took to do this."

Nai patted at her cheeks to try and stop the tears. They had hit her from nowhere. She sniffled, catching the attention of the males. She shrugged, "I guess I can."

Goku frowned, "Why are you crying?"

"I don't know. I don't even think it's me."

Gojyo smirked, "Jeez girly, you're so…girly."

Hakkai smacked his arm, "Hush up Gojyo."

The woman chuckled despite the water pouring from her eyes, "I think it's the god and goddess. The story never said what happened to them. Maybe they're here."

Goku looked around, "I don't see anybody."

She smiled, "No Goku, I think they were laid here too."

Sanzo approached her, the light from the lantern alighting the walls to show that they were a deep blue color. Nai sighed, "There's nothing here to find or the villagers would have found it. I think it's more of something you have to feel."

The blonde scoffed, "Feel? I'm not getting touchy feely with a big ass hollow rock."

Nai was frustrated by his remark, "Just shut the hell up and listen for a minute!"

Hakkai chuckled and everyone looked to him. He was standing a little ways off with his eyes closed, "Is this how you feel all the time Nai? It's strange. Being inside someone else feelings."

She nodded, "Yeah. Its hard to separate them from your own."

Goku approached the healer, "Hey Hakkai, what does it feel like?"

"It sort of…tingles."

"Oh! I want to try!" Goku shut his eyes tight and poked out his tongue, after a while he balled his fists and went really quiet. Then his face relaxed and he smiled.

Gojyo stood from the wall; "Hey now…" and he closed his eyes too.

Nai raised a brow at Sanzo, "Don't be a party pooper."

He scoffed and Nai smirked, closing her eyes. Sanzo watched her face and stepped really close, "What does it feel like?"

"Safety. …Love. Like every fear I've ever felt never existed." She started to cry again, "It's amazing."

Sanzo touched her cheek and eventually cupped her face. He kissed her softly at first until she held him back. The other three bodies of their group didn't move, unaware of the duo off on their own. The blonde watched her expression as Nai watched his. She whispered, "Well?"

Sanzo offered her a very small smiled, "It's alright."

The old woman smiled at the five as they exited the cave. She took the lantern and blew out the light, "Did you find what you were looking for?"

Goku giggled and Hakkai shrugged, "Perhaps."

Gojyo smirked, "Not a whole lot to tell about."

Nai winked at him. "Yup, nothing particularly amazing."

Sanzo lit a cigarette, "Just a big ass hollow rock."