SailorStar9: This is Chapter 6 of this fic. (Sighs) Remember, boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence.

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and the pairings.

Chapter 6: Lethal Trap

That bastard's definitely gotten stronger since last time. Kougaiji mused.

"You said you'll pay me back twice over, right?" Goku called.

"Damn it!" Kougaiji cursed and charged in.

"It's no fun if you don't get serious." Goku taunted, dodging the punch and appearing behind the older demon, sending Kougaiji to the ground with his staff. Not giving Kougaiji a chance to recover, he shot to the ground for the followup attack. "What the hell are you doing?" he roared, continuing his pummeling.

What am I doing? Kougaiji demanded. Me?

"Quit playing around!" Goku retorted and charged in.

Playing around? Kougaiji echoed. What do you fight for? You're just on an aimless journey. What could you have? Mother... he recalled his sealed mother. I... mother, for you... I'll fight with everything for you. I... no matter who I'm fighting, I can't afford to lose! His determination was solidified and slammed a punch right into Goku's face. This bastard is... he was stunned to see Goku's satisfied smirk. He's smiling. "What?" he gaped, when Goku stood back up.

"What the hell are you doing?" Goku glared. "That didn't hurt at all!"

"Is that all?" Lirin looked at the two adults.

"No, I've got more." Sanzo replied. "Want it?"

"Yay!" Lirin beamed.

"Easy to please." Tokusa chuckled.

"What the hell are you fighting more?" Kougaiji demanded. How is he... "You've got nothing to protect!" How? How is he able to become so strong? "I have something I want to protect!"

"I don't get what you're saying at all!" Goku snapped, letting the punch pass. "What do I fight for?" he leapt. "That's..." he landed right in front of Kougaiji. "For myself, what else?"

For yourself? Kougaiji mused. Is that all? I see. He realized. That's there all is to it. What I felt when I fought him that first time, I felt I didn't have those things. Freedom... confidence... an identity. Just those things make these guys strong. That is... absolute power.

"My, my..." Yisou tsked. "They seem to have having such fun. But if they're going to have a party, it ought to be far more spectacular than this. I shall lend you a hand, especially to you, Cho Hakkai. No, Cho Gonou, to you." and pulled off his earring. "Cho Gonou, to you, with love."

"Goku, behind you!" Tokusa barked.

"What?" Kougaiji gaped as another shikigami appeared.

"Now, the fun is just starting." Yisou laughed as the scorpion's stinger slammed onto the ground, blowing Goku and Kougaiji off.

"Gojyo!" Goku beamed, the half demon having blocked off the claw.

"What's with this thing?" Goku retorted, the scorpion's other claw splitting Hakkai and Yaone apart.

"Hurry up and run." Gojyo warned. "I can't hold him!"

"Run?" Goku echoed. "What're you..."

"Thorn Whiplash!" Tokusa let loose her Rose Whip, forcing the claw off. "There's no way we can fight this monster head on!" she snapped.

"Thanks, we owe you one." Gojyo turned to Dokugakuji having lent a hand.

"Save it." Dokugakuji shot back. "It's no fun when there's outside interference. It's called a truce."

"That's so weird." Lirin whined. "I defeated him just a minute ago!"

"What are you doing?" Sanzo asked, Lirin seated on his shoulders. "Get off!"

"Cheapskate." Lirin pouted.

"You are so dead." Sanzo growled.

"Gojyo!" Hakkai gaped, hearing Gojyo's exclaim.

"Ow!" Gojyo complained. "It had no effect on him at all!"

"Damn, cutting off a leg or two is just a waste of our time." Tokusa snorted.

"We'll have to blow the whole thing to pieces to settle this." Sanzo agreed

"I'll do it." Kougaiji offered. "You probably can't take it alone. Don't underestimate me. Plant girl," he started. "Can you keep the shikigami from moving? If you can buy me some time, I can summon a beast from the demon plane. That's the only way we'll defeat this monster. Monkey!" he turned to Goku. "I'll fight for my own sake. I won't let anyone get in my way."

"That's the way to go." Goku grinned. "It wouldn't be fun otherwise. Tokusa-nee's getting serious." his grin widened as Tokusa focused her nature power, her emerald green aura blazing.

"She never ceases to amaze me." Hakkai smiled, causing Yaone to blink at him. "Even after working with her for so long, her powers over nature manipulation is astounding."

"Sheesh, don't those guys get it that they're enemies?" Sanzo wondered.

"And what's that sitting on top of you?" Gojyo joked.

"Hey, I wanna join in and have some fun too." Lirin whined. "I'm the one who defeated him last time."

"This one seems a bit different from the last one." Gojyo informed. "Just leave it to them. Leave it to your brother."

"Well, well, did you enjoy the show?" Yisou mocked. "Please enjoy it while you can. After all, your fortunes say you're fated to die."

"Wood Spike Ring!" Tokusa unleashed her attack, a semi-circle of wood surrounding the scorpion as spikes formed within the ring before the thorns extended, spearing the arachnid in place.

"Dodge it, Tokusa!" Kougaiji barked, his energy ball powered up. "Come forth, Engokuki!" he let his fire demon loose.

Tokusa recalled her attack and jumped out of the way before the flame beast's attack hit and set the scorpion ablaze, destroying it in a pillar of fire.

"Did we get him?" Goku coughed as the smoke cleared.

"Looks like it." Gojyo agreed.

"We'll excuse ourselves today since that big thing got in the way." Kougaiji informed the group. "I questioned the path I had chosen to follow. I feel it was rude of me to have challenged you to a fight when I was still unsure myself. But it'll be different the next time. I'll defeat you with everything I have. For my own sake."

"You still haven't paid me back enough to be twice over." Goku reminded.

"Put it on my tab." Kougaiji waved. "I'll pay you right back."

"Man, that's a hard enemy to defeat." Gojyo admitted after Kougaiji and his group vanished.

"They're also probably nothing more than someone else's pawns." Tokusa stated. "The one who's plotting to resurrect Gyumaoh and call down the chaos onto this world is behind Kougaiji; and the true enemy we must defeat."

"The flowers have told you something." Sanzo concluded.

"Perhaps." Tokusa replied.

"At any rate, let's get out of this town." Hakkai suggested.

"Let's do it." Gojyo agreed.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.