Sanzo slowly pushed himself onto his hands and knees, head hanging as he fought to remain kneeling. His throat ached every time he drew breath and he knew he was dehydrated almost to the point of no help. He lifted his head and blinked once as a bucket swam into view. He crawled over to it slowly, barely aware of the chains that dragged behind him. The water within the bucket was dark and there was a thin layer of mold over the top. Despite this, he dipped a peeling hand into it—wincing slightly at the pain as the slimy water touched his open sores—and scooped up a handful of water. He took a halting sip and groaned as the slick water rolled down his throat.

"The famous Genjo Sanzo is reduced to this: a crawling, feeble man who is willing to die of poisoning than dehydration," a voice sounded from above the sore man; it contained a hint of scorn and sarcasm.

Sanzo looked up at peered blearily at the man sitting on the edge of the pit that he was in. The man had a chain connected two shackles hanging from his wrists and dark black hair…"Homura…"Sanzo croaked, sinking into a sitting position.

Homura smirked. "Very good, my dear Sanzo," he said, the smirk fading. "I believe you had wanted to see your friend, am I right?"

"Where is he?"

"Safe and content: he has plenty to feed on with me."

"Give him back!" Sanzo scrambled to his feet, clawing at the stone walls, trying to get to Homura. "Give me Goku!"

Homura laughed softly and vanished from the ledge, a plan forming in his mind. He grinned as he heard Sanzo fall to the floor. He twirled the limiter in his hands and walked over to Seitan Taisei, who was crouching beside the bloody body of once had been a man.

"Seitan Taisei, I have a request of you," Homura said softly, kneeling in front of the creature and holding out the limiter. "Put this on and go down into the pit."

"Why?" Seitan Taisei asked, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Because the little birdie is down there and wishes to see you with it on."

"Really?" Seitan Taisei's ears pricked up at that and he held out a hand for the limiter, not waiting for a reply. He placed the limiter onto his head and snarled with pain as his body began to revert to the little boy it had once been. He swayed slightly, collapsing to his knees as his ears shortened and his claws sank back into his hands.

Homura grinned once more and lifted Goku's body and walked to the ledge of the pit and dropped him in, being careful for the body to land lightly beside Sanzo. "Enjoy, my dearest Sanzo," he called down before vanishing once more.

Sanzo, startled awake by the thump of Goku's body, roused from the stupor he had already begun to sink into. He blinked and stared at Goku, not comprehending right away.

"Goku!" he coughed, rolling his friend onto his back.

Goku's golden eyes fluttered open and he smiled slightly. "Sanzo, you look horrible," he said, lifting himself onto his knees. "I'm hungry."

Sanzo's face split into a smile of relief and tears began to slide down his face. He wrapped his arms around Goku and pulled him into a hug.

"Sanzo?" Goku asked, confused by his friend's demeanor, but he hugged the priest back.

Sanzo pulled back after a minute, still crying silently. "I…I thought…" he coughed again, but collapsed against Goku, pressing him into a kiss.

Goku's eyes widened, but he smiled. "You act like I was never here."

"You weren't...not at all…"

"You've been in the sun too long."

Sanzo smirked slightly at Goku's try at humor. He cuddled into the smaller boy and held on as he slowly passed out.