SailorStar9: This is Chapter 17 and the end of this fic. (Sighs) Every time I write these B.S. disclaimers, I die a little inside. Remember, boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence.

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

Chapter 17: Westward

"Sanzo," Goku voiced. "Sorry, but I want to be the one to defeat him. Thank you." he grinned, Sanzo having lit his cigarette and turning his back.

"So, you'll stand on that side till the end?" Homura sighed.

"Here goes!" Goku charged. "Bastard!" he roared, slamming Homura's blade out of his hands and leveled a punch on the fire wielder.

"You okay, Hakkai?" Gojyo asked, supporting the injured half-demon.

"Actually, I'm just barely managing to stay conscious." Hakkai admitted.

"You just try fainting on me, I'll leave you behind like I did Dokugakuji and the rest." Gojyo warned.

"I know." Hakkai muttered. "Besides, you're never carrying a man to bed again, right?"

"If I didn't know you two very well, I'll think there's another meaning to that question." Tokusa snorted.

"Oh, shut up, Flower-Princess." Gojyo retorted.

"Kyu!" Hakuryu fluttered over the exhausted Tokusa.

"Sorry, Hakuryu." Tokusa gave the dragon a tired smile. "Come on," she pushed herself up. "We're going."

"Son Goku," Homura reclaimed his blade. "Sorry, but I'm going to end it now." and unleashed a fire dragon at his opponent.

"You're the one who's going to end." Goku retorted, letting himself get engulfed by the dragon before destroying the beast from the inside. With a strike with his bo, he knocked Homura's sword out of his hands and hammered a punch into Homura's stomach. Not giving Homura any respite, he let loose a series of punches and kicks, eventually sending Homura flying.

"Things have been settled it seems." Tokusa remarked, the trio approaching the group.

"What the heck?" Gojyo whined. "It's over already?"

"You really hung in there, Goku." Hakkai added.

"You stole all the good scenes." Gojyo snorted.

"Sanzo, we can't just leave this place as it is, can we?" Tokusa sighed, already knowing what was going on in their leader's mind.

"You're right." Sanzo agreed and trained his brandishing gun at the glowing mountaintop. "I'll put an end to this, Homura." and released his shot. "Let's go." he led his group out.

"Wait." Homura stopped them. "It's not over yet." he got back to his feet.

"Asshole has more lives than a cat." Tokusa muttered.

"You're going to atone for the sin of destroying my future" he released his cuffs. "I don't need to hold back on you anymore, now do it? You better prepare yourself, Son Goku."

"Everyone, get back." Goku readied himself for the next fight.

"Let's hurry." Homura powered up. "There's no time." with a shout, he charged towards Goku, sending him into a mountain with a kick. "Don't you die yet." he slammed Goku against a rock. "The fun's just beginning." and continuing pummeling Goku.

"Hey Goku." Sanzo advised. "Drop your stupid reservations. Give him exactly what he wants."

"Hey Sanzo!" Gojyo barked.

"What he wants is a fitting place to die." Tokusa remarked.

"That doesn't matter." Homura powered up. "Fight in earnest, Son Goku." and the two clashed, Goku gaining the upperhand this time. "You've grown strong, Son Goku." he admitted. "In that case..." he leapt over Goku and jumped straight for Sanzo. "Die, Konzen!"

"Nyoi-bou!" Goku reacted, his bo extending and stabbing Homura from the back. "Homura!" he hurried over. "Bastard, you didn't dodge on purpose!"

"No, you defeated me." Homura corrected. "And I enjoyed fighting with you. I'm grateful, Son Goku."

"Homura." Tokusa voiced.

"Hasu." Homura acknowledged. "It's over."

"All of it." Tokusa concurred as the landscape started crumbling. "There was a limit to your life. Because there is human blood flowing in your veins."

"Then he's..." Hakkai breathed.

"That's right." Homura confirmed. "I, too, am a heretical being considered to be a nuisance by the Heavens. That's why there is no way I was going to die in the rotten Heavens. However, I am a War God. As I'm a War God, I'll die in battle. But my opponent has to be my strongest enemy ever. You should be honored, Son Goku. You're the one and only being that I, War God Homura, acknowledge as the strongest. Hasu," he reached his hand up. "I'm not in a position to ask a favor of you. But please leave me here and seal this world away. I... we... ever since that time five hundred years ago... we've always envied you guys." with that, he breathed his last.

"I've been wanting to beat Homura for a long, long time." Goku hissed. "But now, I don't feel like I've won."

"In truth, it may be Homura who won." Tokusa remarked. "Since everything turned out just as he wanted in the end."

"Damn it!" Goku fumed, punching the ground.

"Goku, take a good look at his face." Sanzo chided. "He looks so satisfied."

"At the very least, he's in a better place now." Tokusa added. "At Rinrei's side."

"I don't really understand." Goku stood up. "But I get it."

"Guys, can we discuss this after we get out?" Tokusa reminded as the landscape broke apart.

"Makai Tenjou!" Sanzo released his Scripture's powers, teleporting the group outside.

Ending song sounds as the group headed westwards.

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