Grey Liliy here one last time!

Again: Thank you to all the other authors that helped with this, even if I haven't spoken or seen you in years. This story has a lot of good memories for me from a very fond time of fandom. I'm glad I decided to turn around and finish this.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 8

"I need to tell everyone something," Kugo said, putting his hands on his lap. "Before we head back."

"Yeah?" Zosan patted Kugo on the head. "What do you have to say?"

"You guys are the most important people in my life."

Goku tilted his head back and smiled. He pointed at Gat and Hazel. "Zelha can be annoying at times, but he means well. Toga is an awesome friend and I'm really glad we got to know him."

Hazel snorted in response, and Gat grinned behind him.

"Kaiha, of course," Goku said, pointing to Hakkai. "Is the common sense that keeps us all together. Her cooking and guidance are great for both my stomach and mind. I also love how Kaiha keeps the peace!"

"Kaiha is very glad you enjoy her cooking," Hakkai said, smiling. "She is more than happy to feed Kugo any time he likes."

Gojyo snorted. "You spoil him enough as it is."

"And I can't forget Jyogo!" Goku said, slapping his hand on the table. "She's plain and kinda dumb at times, but I trust her to have my back in a fight."

"Plain? I'm not plain!"

"I'm just kidding!" Goku laughed. He smiled wide and held his stomach as he laughed. "You're very pretty, Jyogo."

"Damn right I am!" Gojyo said. He huffed and crossed his arms with a smile. "Don't you forget it, either!"

Goku turned to Jeep and scratched him on the head. "Peje can't be forgotten either! He's the best pet a group could ask for."

Jeep cooed under the attention and Hakkai nodded in approval.

"And of course, there's one person left to thank: Zosan," Goku said. He looked at Sanzo and smiled, lowering his shoulders. "You already know why I'm thankful to you, but it still stands that I don't know where I'd be without you."

"I'm sure you'd be fine." Sanzo said. He leaned back in his chair. "You turned out pretty okay for a monkey."

Goku smiled and kept going.

After saying his words of thanks to everyone in the group, Kugo stood and declared, "Let's go home!"

So they all left together to see what the future had in store.

"A very fitting ending, little one!" Hazel said, clapping his hands together. "Don't you think so, Gat?"

"It was very nice."

"Took him long enough to figure out what we were doing, though," Gojyo said, snickering. "When did you figure it out?"

"I—I totally knew the entire time!" Goku shouted. "I was just playing along!"

"You didn't notice at all!"

"Come on, stop fighting," Hakkai said, holding up his hands. "It was all in good fun."

Sanzo watched the others laugh and joke, however there was one other in the room who was listening in: The demon girl. Or ghost. Sanzo still couldn't quite tell. The girl sniffed and had a sweet smile on her face. Tears lined the edge of her eyes, moved by Goku's last minute chance to share his feelings.

She floated up and kissed Goku on the head, unseen and unfelt, before she clasped her hands together and disappeared in a flash of light.

A loud thump sounded outside the door in time with her departure and the group turned to the door.

"What was that?" Hakkai asked. "Did something fall off the roof?"

Gat got up from his chair and opened the door. He looked out and pulled it back, pointing. "The snow is cleared."

"Well look at that!" Hazel said, getting up. "It's even clearer than the path that we made. It looks like we're no longer trapped here, gentlemen."

"Thank goodness." Gojyo said, leaping to his feet. "Let's get out of here before the snow comes back."

Together they all gathered their things and left the small cabin. They chatted and joked down the hill, all happy to be free of the cabin. The story they created together, however, would stay long in their memories until they had a chance to pick it up again.

The end.