Title: The Sacrifice

Chapter 5

"Nooo…"

Goku's screams rang throughout the chamber. Hakkai sat motionless, still trying to absorb what Gojyo had just said. He could not believe that he and Goku had committed such atrocity. And to save them, Sanzo had willingly sacrificed himself.

"No, Sanzo! Please don't die! Please don't die! I…I promise I won't cause you any more problems! I won't…I promise! Just please….don't die! Don't die!"

The sight of Goku sobbing uncontrollably was enough to break anyone's heart; even the iciest and stoniest of them all. And though his vision was practically gone, the tears in Goku's voice were telling enough.

"I can…I can still probably heal you," Hakkai mumbled absently as he tried to undo the brown cloth on Sanzo's arm.

"Yamero, Hakkai," Sanzo mumbled as he gently pushed the healer's hand away. Gojyo hastily removed the cigarette from the monk's lips, allowing the latter to continue. "I've lost too much blood. I'm going to die, and there is nothing you or anyone else could do." He cocked his head towards Goku. "Oi, saru…stop crying." Slowly, he raised his hand and placed it upon the lad's head. "I hate tears." He paused. "Smile….please."

Goku's eyes widened. Sanzo had never asked anything from anyone before. He gazed at the face of a man who had given him a world brighter than the sun, the one who had given him meaning in life. If his sun wished for his smile, he would not hesitate to give it, even though all he wanted to do was to let his tears flow on and on. He nodded his head and wiped away the tears with trembling hands as his lips struggled to ease into a smile.

Even though he could hardly see it, Sanzo knew the saru was smiling. He turned back to Hakkai. "Knowing you, you will probably take it upon yourself what had happened today. Don't. As I've told you before, never look back to the past with regrets. I have none, for I finally achieve what I've set out to do." His hand moved to lightly caress the Holy Sutra draped around him, after which he gazed back to Hakkai. "You shouldn't have regrets too," he said simply.

The smile that appeared did nothing to hide the betraying green eyes that had narrowed sadly. Hakkai reached for the monk's hand and patted it lightly. "Daijobu, ne. Forgive me for causing you so much trouble."

Sanzo opened his mouth to speak but ended up in a coughing fit. Bright red blood sputtered out and the poor monk held his chest, his face contorted with torment as he desperately tried to stop coughing.

"Sanzo!" The three gasped in unison.

They watched helplessly as Sanzo's body shook and convulsed. They knew his time was near. Goku was especially pained, as he felt a mixture of emotions surging through him. He was partly responsible for the state Sanzo was in. He, who had secretly sworn to protect his sun, had instead become the cause of his sun's death. I am responsible! I am responsible! And as those words danced across his mind, Goku could not help but feel he had been through a similar situation before. A similar situation which seemed to have happen long ago, and the same guilt, sorrow and fear had dwelled….

For Sanzo, the intolerable coughing was tearing at his throat, which felt parched. And all he could see was whiteness everywhere. He felt himself losing consciousness. He heard the voices of his companions calling out to them; they sounded distant and strange images began appearing. He saw a man in slinky black military uniform, whose hair was short and red and there was a chakra on his forehead. Then it was replaced by another man with shoulder length dark hair, wearing glasses and clad in a white lab coat and brown pants. The two looked familiar to him. And then he saw a back view of a man with plaited grayish brown hair and clad in a long yellow robe. Sanzo knew who he was instantly. Master…

Koumyo Sanzo turned and smiled at him. How Sanzo missed the warm smile. He tried to grab at his master but it felt as if they were separated by a great distance. Then, without moving his lips, Koumyo Sanzo spoke. "You've done well, Kouryu. You've become strong, just like I know you would. I'm proud of you. Now, be strong…for the last time."

Sanzo watched he beloved master slowly fading away. He felt like calling out to his master, but a strange calmness had engulfed him, making it possible for him to let his master go…something that he could not do previously. He closed his eyes and smiled, for now he could really die in peace. When he re-opened his eyes, he saw a little kid, with sleeveless black shirt and jeans, long brown hair and a diadem encircled his small head. Just then, the boy was joined by the two familiar looking men and they were all smiling to him, beckoning him over. As he approached them, he finally realized who they were and who he was.

"Welcome back, Konzen. We've been waiting for you." No sooner had the boy said those words, Sanzo saw a rainbow of lights encircling him and he glimpsed the faces of his companions surrounding him.

"Sanzo?" Hakkai called out. The monk had stopped coughing and was looking at them, one by one, finally stopping at Goku. Goku inched nearer and he thought he saw the monk smiled.

"Be strong…." Sanzo managed to croak as his lids slowly slid down, hiding the pair of amethysts.

"Sanzo…." Goku whispered hoarsely.

Silence.

His sun was gone.

The three remained quiet for a while, absorbed in their own thoughts before Hakkai finally broke the silence. "I guess we will have to find a suitable spot…"

"Yeah, we should…." Gojyo let his sentence hang. What should one say in such a situation?

"Can I carry Sanzo?"

Gojyo and Hakkai turned to the tearstained Goku. The young lad had bitterly swallowed his tears and put up such a brave front. They knew how much Sanzo meant to him, so it was only right to let him have the honor. Gojyo nodded his head.

"Saankyu…" Goku whispered as he prepared to gather Sanzo in his arms.

A sudden burst of bright light illuminated the chamber and the three had to shield their eyes. When the light dimmed, they saw a tall woman with flowing dark grey hair and behind her, a stout man who was dressed in a suit of armor.

"Kanzeon Bosatsu!" Hakkai exclaimed.

The goddess and Jiroushin approached the three. Gojyo narrowed his eyes and stood up, blocking the two. "Haven't you people done enough?" he lashed out angrily. "What do you want now?"

Kanzeon Bosatsu calmly shifted her gaze from Gojyo to Sanzo. "You can blame us as much as you like, but all I can say is his time here on earth is up. And I'm here to bring him back to Tenkai and have him revived back as Konzen Douji."

"Konzen Douji?"

"Do not believe her, Hakkai!" Gojyo warned, his eyes flashing with revulsion.

"I'm not letting you take Sanzo either!" Goku cried out.

Kanzeon's violet eyes glittered with understanding. "I know the pain all of you went through. It's time to tell you the truth. 500 years ago, in Tenkai, the four of you forged a bond that was destined never to be broken. But a terrible incident occurred, one which I shall not reveal for what's done is done, causing Son Goku to be imprisoned at Mt Kaka and the three of you transmigrated to earth, with all memories of Tenkai expunged. The mission was more than just have Gyuumaoh stopped. It was to unite the four of you once again and this is the last leg of your journey... on earth. Konzen was meant to die here, but the rest of you have a choice. Either you return to Tenkai now or later, when you are ready. The choice is yours."

Goku, Hakkai and Gojyo exchanged glances. What the goddess said had seemed a bit farfetched but looking back at what they had been through, nothing was impossible any more. Goku gazed upon Sanzo's pale face. His choice had long been decided, since the day Sanzo freed him from his cold and lonely prison.

"I'm going with Sanzo…"

Kanzeon Bosatsu nodded her head. She gazed at the ember haired man, whose anger seemed to have eased. "What about you, Kenren Taishou?"

Can her words be trusted? I'm beginning to realize that there is nothing much I can look forward to, now that the mission's over. And come to think of it, Sanzo, Hakkai and even the saru have nothing to look forward too. Could it really be true, that we were gods before? But I did made that promise to Jien. "I have some unfinished business to attend to."

"Tenpo Gensui?"

Hakkai glanced at Goku who was cradling Sanzo in his arms, then turned to Gojyo. He could still recall that rainy day he had stumbled into the forest and death had seemed inevitable. But a man with red hair and eyes had saved his life; a man whom he thought to be an admonition, but turned out to be his second chance at life. Here was a chance for him to repay back his debt.

"He needs to be reminded when garbage days are," Hakkai said easily, to which he received a pointed but grateful stare from the half breed.

"Hakkai, Gojyo…."

A tawny arm found its way around Goku's shoulder. "Don't worry; we will see each other again. Besides, you cannot get rid of me that easily, baka saru!"

"Don't call me saru, kono erokappa!"

"Yare, yare…some things never change."

Kanzeon Bosatsu and Jiroushin exchanged glances. "Sometimes, change is not always good, especially when it comes to them, right Jiroushin?"

"As you say, Kanzeon Bosatsu!"

The goddess let out a laugh. "That's enough, now. Let's go, Son Goku. You and Konzen will see the others soon enough."

Goku nodded his head and walked over to Kanzeon Bosatsu. As a golden glow began to surround them, Goku gazed at Hakkai and Gojyo, his eyes beginning to moist. "Hayaku, ne!" He saw the two smiling, and he knew he could count on their unspoken promise.

Just as the golden light finally diminished, Hakuuryu came flying in and into Hakkai's embrace. "Ah, sumimasen Hakuuryu, but you have missed quite a lot. I'm sorry you had to stay outside but it was just too dangerous for you. Let's go back, alright?"

"Kyu…kyu…"

As they prepared to leave, Gojyo stopped and looked back. "Wait for me outside. I'll join you in a while." And without waiting for Hakkai's answer, the half breed walked back into the revival chamber.

Hakkai drummed his fingers on the wheel, wondering what was taking Gojyo so long. "Ne, Hakuuryu…you think I should go back in and look for him?"

"Kyu…kyu…"

"You say no? You're right. I'm such a worrier, ne?"

"Kyu…kyu…"

"Miss me?"

"Gojyo…" Hakkai looked up to see Gojyo approaching the jeep.

The ember haired man grinned as he slipped into the passenger seat. Hakkai noticed there was something black in his hands. Reaching over, he gingerly lifted whatever the thing was.

Hakkai gasped. Sanzo's gloves! He looked quizzically at the man beside him.

"Something to remind us of the bouzu and his pet, in case we might get nostalgic."

Together, they looked up to the endless stretch of dark violet canopy above their heads. Two twinkling stars winked down at them. And as they drove off into the breaking dawn, they smiled, knowing that wherever they were, they had two guardians watching over them.

The journey to the West had finally ended.

In this world when life can be so tough,

You must be strong,

Just believe in yourself and don't you fear,

So open up your mind and close your eyes,

Take another look… from the other side

Open Up Your Mind by Mirai

~Owari~

Ending notes:

(1) Forgot to put a proper disclaimer so here goes:-

Gensomaden Saiyuki belongs exclusively to Minekura-sama. Song, too, doesn't belong to me. Ending to this fic is purely imaginative. It's not the real deal.

(2) I would like to thank those who had reviewed – my deepest gratitude;

MLi / mlisubaru, Mag Magenta, UltraM2000, saiyuki-girl, gohans yoyo, Konzen, cmquietone, Gozilla, Akita

(3) My deepest apologies if the last chapter's not up to standard. I had wanted to make the sadness last but the temptation of logic was too much for me. I mean, the fact that the ikkou is finally reunited after 500 plus years…maybe it is time they return to their rightful place? Also, I wanna blame it on exams and writer's block. Heheh…

That's all….Have a nice day…. Best regards (",)

*hakkai-san*