AN: I'm gonna attempt to write angst. No, really! I am! I am such a humor writer but this idea came to me last night as I went to bed and, well, it was too good an idea to pass up. So we'll see where this goes. :D Please note, this is definitely a WiP so I don't know when I'll get around to updating or finishing it, like almost all my other works, I sorta just go with what I feel like writing. I'm also in the process of moving so it's gonna be slow. But I'll try to update as often as I can.

Yes, the prologue is short, but I promise it's just for the prologue ;)

Summary: Sanzo says he doesn't care. But what he doesn't know is that the boy only has a short time to live. 39.

For those of you who read "Mud Fight" my muse suggested a parody of it with the guys fighting in speedos with chocolater sauce. Mm... yummy.

Disclaimer: teh phoe does not own. nuuu... all hail minekura-sama.

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With My Last Breath

Prologue

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Wide, golden eyes looked up at the doctor through shaggy chocolate bangs, for the first time, full of uncertainty for himself. "A-are you sure...?"

The doctor nodded solemnly, a comforting hand on his shoulder, giving him a soft squeeze. "I'm sorry, Son. I can prescribe some medication so you won't feel any pain."

The boy nodded, staring down at the floor, not really hearing. The words fell on deaf ears. 'I'm going to die...' rang in his head. It was strange. The words were foreign. Never in his life had he feared death for himself. It was always for everyone else. He put himself in the line of danger to protect others and now...? Who would protect him? Who would save him? Nobody...

The doctor placed a small bottle in heretic's hand, closing the boy's fingers around it tightly. "Take one to two of these when the pain comes back. Take with some sort of fluid and maybe a light snack if they upset your stomach."

Goku nodded blankly, head moving slowly, blank eyes boring holes into the doctor's forehead. "H-how long...?"

The older man paused, his worn features softening in pity for the young man who didn't look a day over 18. "Given your current state, I estimate two months tops. That's if you don't press your body too hard."

"T-that's it?" The boy's voice hitched as he struggled to swallow the lump quickly forming in his throat.

"I am afraid so. The disease has embedded itself deep into your body. Perhaps.. if we had caught it earlier, you could have had it removed... however, it's far too late for surgery or medical treatment. I'm terribly sorry."

"No... it's... it's OK. I guess it's my own fault for not seeing someone sooner." Goku mumbled softly, eyes glistening with what seemed like unshed tears. He should have saw someone the first time he felt the ache in his body. But, no. He hadn't had time. He didn't make time. Constantly being on the road... he should have asked Hakkai to convince Sanzo to buy him an extra day back then. He should have...

- - -flashback- - -

Goku winced as he got up that morning, chest throbbing with some raw ache. Rubbing his chest with his hand, he looked over to see the sun barely up. Any moment Hakkai would be in there to wake him up so they could be on the road. He began to lay back down when the pain overtook him and he curled up into a fetal position, arms wrapped around his body as he clenched his jaw. Well, he could rule out the beans he ate last night as the source of his pains.

Tears pricked the corners of his eyes from frustration against this new enemy until a knock at the door alerted him Hakkai was there. Sucking in a deep breath, the boy closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep as the pain slowly subsided.

"Ohayo, Goku. It's time to wake up..."

"Hnn? Already? Can't I have five more minutes, Hakkai?"

"Iie, I'm afraid Sanzo is already prepared to depart." Hakkai mumbled, tousling Goku's brown hair. The boy forced a smile and faked a yawn, wincing slightly as his muscles cramped.

"Mmkay. I'll be down in a minute or two..."

- - -end flashback- - -

He should have... said something. But he didn't want anyone mad at him if it turned out to be nothing. How foolish he had been. None of them knew the phrase "Better safe than sorry."

This was the price he was going to pay.

The doctor stared as a strange, empty smile spread across the boy's lips. He had made a pact that he wasn't going to die. That night Sanzo was struck down by Rikudo.. he had made a promise to stay strong. He wasn't going to die pathetically in front of those guys.

And that's what he would do. He would appear strong and live until his body gave out. They wouldn't know until it was too late. He wouldn't let them suffer. He wouldn't let Sanzo suffer.

Sanzo had already suffered the loss of someone close to him. Goku didn't know if Sanzo held him in the same light as he did Koumyou Sanzo, but he did know if it were the case, he would not let the man suffer because of his weakness.

They wouldn't know. They-

"Goku! There you are! What in the world are you doing here?" Goku's head shot up to see Hakkai staring at him in the doctor's office, green eyes giving scrutinizing look to the boy on the table, eyes like those of a deer's caught in headlights.

'Oh, shit.'

End of Prologue.

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AN: Well, that was short, but I think it sets the mood. I think. ::cough:: Hope you all like so far. Feedback is much appreciated. As for Gojyo/Hakkai? Um, there might be a little bit in there but I'm more of a Sanzo/Goku fan. So we'll see. And my muse hasn't even seen this fic yet! XP

R&R! You know you want to ;)

-Ignore the grammar, I do-

Phoe-chan