4Chapter 3: Live and Burn
The trip to the next village lasted days and that time a noticeable change had over com the infant. A few days had him walking around and talking once more much to Gojyo's annoyance. The small child took advantage of his young aperiance by annoying the man in anyway he could think of and when he got punch he also proved that his lungs still carried the very annoying pitch of a small child that must have inspired the banshees wail.
"Cut. It. OUT!" Gojyo yelled trying to be heard over the wailing. It was useless though as Goku had no intent to stop.
"Goku," Sanzo said in a normal voice and the wail stopped instantly.
"Sun-sama?" Goku said turning to Sanzo with a mischievous grin. Sanzo seemed to twitch at that and glared. His eyes darkened and he growled out the next thing he said.
"Don't even think about it." Goku's grin only widened at that.
"Too late!" he said in a singsong voice and twirled around towards Gojyo. "I wanna see if I can burst his ears."
"You, you-" he sputtered before anger crossed his features once more. "YOU LITTLE BRAT! You were doing that on purpose!" Goku stuck out his tongue.
"Nya nya," he said giggling as he leaned away from one of Gojyo's puches.
"Quite moving you twirp, and stop acting like a fricken four year old." Goku's eyes grew large and sad with the cutest pout he could pull off. "What the hell! Don't do that. It isn't working!" But it was as tears came done quieter this time and Goku huddled in the cornr as much as he could trying to look pitiful.
"Oh my, I think you hurt his feelings Gojyo. Remember he's only a child right now," Hakkai said amused.
"A child my butt! He knows exactly what he's doing and stop giving me that look." Goku gave a small whimper.
"Sun-sama. Uncle Kappa's scary," he said and crawled towards the man's lap. Sanzo glared.
"Out," he said firmly and the sad eyes were up at him.
'iPlease,/i' Goku begged through his link.
'iNo. We both know you're not really a child and I will not have you in my lap again/i.' There was a significant change in Goku's sad expression. It wasn't the fakes overly sad look from before but a true fallen one. Sanzo could see the gold eyes dull before they swept downwards. The boy started to crawl from his lap and the faint voice of reply came through the link.
i'K'/i It was the last thing he heard before Goku truly pressed himself in the corner and looked out at the dessert sands. Gojyo was confused and an unsettling silence stretched only by the occasional attempts from Gojyo to get Goku to talk. After a while Goku's eyes turned to Gojyo in a glance that seemed to say "leave me alone or I'll break you" that made Gojyo flinch. He wasn't sure what had happened, but it was obvious that Goku was not the innocent child he had pretended to be and yet this new light wasn't the old Goku. What had happened? The rest of the day was painfully undisturbed until nightfall set in. Goku was the first to go to sleep after the tents were set up and yet sleeping wasn't what actually occurred. Inside his tent the boy brooded with thoughts and memories fresh in his mind that caused him to skirm. 'iI can't have him. What was I thinking! Stupid. After what I did why should I. Some part of him knows I'm sure. Why do I-Why is he-What gives me the right?/i' He turned over again as his vision filled with bloodied memories from those many years ago. He could feel the sadness building in his throat as tears came from his eyes. His head started to swim as he neglected to breath and couldn't cry out for fear of being heard, but he forgot that one person could hear him. No matter how silent his voice was his head betrayed him.
Outside the tent Sanzo flinched at the sheer volume of the scream and only by the others not reacting did he realize where it had come from. He walked towards the tent Goku was in causing a confused look to pass between Gojyo and Hakkai. It was unusual for Sanzo to bother with anyone especially since Goku was being quiet. The tent flaps closed but it did nothing to muffle the sound.
"You're giving me a headache," they heard but that couldn't be right, could it? Sanzo leaned down and reached out to Goku. His hand touched the boy before him brushing his cheek and he instantly pulled it back as a full out wave of anguish and pain slammed into him. Images of blood and a face that distinctly looked like his own yet with longer hair more like his master's flickered across his vision. With widening eyes he also noticed that the form before him wasn't breathing and he did the first thing that came to mind. ib'BREATH DAMMIT!/b/i he shouted through the link and Goku's eyes flew open as if he'd been kicked. His eyes turned upwards with the most haunted look he'd ever seen the boy wear. i'Don't you dare kill yourself like that!'/i He growled mentally without thinking. Goku's eyes couldn't go any wider in shock, but soon tears flowed from them as if some sort of damn that had been holding them in had shattered in that moment. His eyes slowly came out of their widened state of shock before closing completely and he leaned forward into Sanzo. Despite not knowing what was going on he let the boy cry himself to sleep in with one arm resting on Goku's back.
Sanzo did not leave the tent that night and it was only an overly pale Goku that was carried from the tent the next morning that kept Gojyo from commenting. Sanzo was being caring and that was freaky enough. How Goku had gotten so pale he wasn't sure, but he doubted he'd get answers from the priest.
Wrapped tightly in the large blanket Goku did not remove himself from the jeep since when they reached the next village he had out grown all his clothes but was still too small for his original ones. He had his oversized shirt on from when he had been normal sized but that was hardly enough clothes to be seen in public with. So while Hakkai did the clothes shopping once more and Gojyo and Sanzo booked their room he waited with curious glances cast his way a few times since he did appear to be four years old. Whispering followed the sight of him and he turned his head towards the inn trying to ignore them when Sanzo and Gojyo exited. Goku reluctantly got out being very careful not to let the blanket uncover him and pulled it even tighter when he entered. Too many prying eyes looked at him and he actually hid behind Sanzo in desperation to get eyes away from him. He didn't mind staring if he didn't feel so awkward himself. Until he could get some clothes on he was as good as nude in front of their prying eyes, and this is what made him ask to go up to the room instead of eat. Luckily for him nothing was said against this and they all joined him until Hakkai got back. Greatfully Goku through on the clothes before he was off full speed to get food as if nothing weird or embarrassing had ever happened. Sanzo gave an annoyed sigh and Gojyo complained at how easily the monkey forgot about things.
Goku proved that while growing he could indeed each more then he already did and even the waitress would have bet her paycheck that no one could have eaten that much if she hadn't seen Goku gulp everything down like a black hole. Gojyo and Goku were back at their old fighting again and people would have questioned the morality of arguing with a four year old if they weren't too busy gaping at how much said four year old was consuming. After far too many platefuls later Goku patted his stomach happily before racing upstairs with a squeal of "I'm done!" just to annoy Gojyo. It worked and Gojyo raced up after him only making Goku squeal in delight.
Sanzo and Hakkai wisely stayed downstairs for a while drinking and only went upstairs when they actually planned to go to bed. Surprisingly Goku had already gone to bed and Sanzo didn't have to do anything in order to get silence. It was for this reason that he felt sleep would come to him fine that night, but he could push aside his thoughts of Goku and the few images he had caught a glimpse of the previous night. All of the motions he had felt and the thought of that person who had looked like him aggravated him to no end. Despite him trying to tell himself that he didn't care he felt like there was something important he was missing. It was therefore only around the early hours of the morning when sleep finally came to him and his dreams haunted him with him that image.
He sat behind a cluttered desk and could feel the anger build as he glared at the pile. Finally he got fed up and stood. He wasn't sure how long he had walked but when he came back Goku lay curled up in a ball by his desk. The boy was small and black cuffs with chains from them hung from his wrists and neck from what he saw. He felt a small smile pass over his face as he leaned in the doorway but it didn't last as the scene before him melted away in favor of a new one. Bodies were everywhere and the scent of blood was overpowering. He saw his own hand come up from his side covered in blood but dropped his hand down again as he turned and jogged only for the scenery to melt once again.
He was falling. That was the first thing that he was aware of. His body was in pain and he was falling down what seemed like an endless tunnel surrounded by a circular staircase. His arm was grabbed and he looked up to see who it was to be met by a blurry face. Bits of red smeared together with flesh color but other than that he couldn't see who it was. He willed his eyes to focus and see who it was and Gojyo's face came into view strained and looking down. His hair was cut short and his head turned down when he noticed his other hand was gripping something. In his hand gripped tightly was Goku's small form with his ears showing that he was in his demon form. His heartbeat was quick in panic or adrenaline, he wasn't sure. He felt like everything around him was slipping away as he became weightless and he realized as he became aware of his surroundings that he was waking up.
Sanzo sat up knowing he wasn't going to fall back asleep and the sunlight pouring in the window seemed to say it was ok to get up now. He slid from his bed and made his way to the window that he perched in front of and looked out of as the images from his dream ran themselves through his mind once more. "Sanzo?" came Hakkai's voice. Sanzo's eyes turned towards the man in response and he could see that Hakkai was clearly still sleepy. Whatever time it was was obviously too early since Hakkai didn't have too much problems with waking up early. He turned his gaze back outside and decided to ignore Hakkai since the man could just go back to bed if he wanted. A rustle of sheets and a soft creek registered to his ears. Hakkai would not be going back to bed. The sound of the door opening and closing was followed by another and then grumbling. He was waking the other two for an early departure since it was obvious neither of them were going back to bed and those two could sleep in the car if they really wanted more sleep. This didn't quell the complaints any though and Goku's grated whining was joined in agreement by Gojyo's.
Despite this they were out before anyone else was awake except for the person behind the counter and Hakkuru was ready for travel. Snoring was the first part of the journey for that day but as if sensing things were too peaceful the jeep came to a screeching halt to avoid slamming into the figure before them. Smirking face and all Kougaji stood proudly before them. Goku straitened fully awake and looked out. "Heh, one of your crucial members seems to have shrunk. Maybe this will be easier than I thought," Kougji said.
"Baldy-san we came to play!" Lirin said popping up behind her brother.
"You won't think that after I kick your butt!" Goku yelled ignoring the girl that Sanzo seemed to be irritated with.
"Oh really?" he asked seeming genuinely curious and he rushed at Goku as Hakuru dispelled into a dragon again. Goku leapt backwards hardly registering that the other three were fightingtheir own battles, and let a smirk come across his own face.
"Man it's been a while. What have you guys been doing? Planting flower gardens?" Goku asked as he dodged more of the kicks and punches sent his way. "It sure seems that way with how slow you are." Kougaji gave a small laugh.
"Well then why don't I speed up a but for you," he said and notably increased his speed, but Goku didn't seem fazed. He may not have been as strong as in his older body but his speed was just fine. A thought came to him as he felt excitement spark within him as well as a flare of power. He could feel it course through him and he brought up his hand in a fist sending it forwards in a blaze of power that seemed to set his fist aflame. Kougaji dodged to the side in surprise.
"What was that?" he asked there fighting temporarily stopped.
"A new trick. Like it?" Goku asked amused before he pushed off with his fist at ready. His whole body was pulsing now with the energy and small wisps of black flame flickered occasionally from his form. Kougaji didn't know what it was, but he was certain he didn't want to be hit by it. With Goku's speed increasing he was certain he couldn't keep dodging that long and blocking had already proved a bad idea since the flames were able to lick at his flesh when he did. Panic built up as a punch came in that was certain to land, but it never hit him. Goku stopped when he felt his diadem crack slightly and he leaned back in a hurry pushing off so he was far away. "Sorry looks like a got too carried away," Goku said his hand coming up towards the gold circlet on his forehead. He looked truly regretful and it was only the memory of the last time that thing had broke that stopped him from attacking the boy. What should he do? If he found him his death would be assured as soon as that headpiece broke, but stopping now would mean losing the scripture. "I'll wrap this up. Hopefully it won't be too much," Goku said and the boy was gone only for him to realize the hand on his throat. "Sorry, but you need to leave now," he heard and saw a said smile. The hand on his neck was slowly heating up and he struggle to get free. It wasn't until he yelled retreat that he was let go and grudgingly he left.
"Sir, your neck!" came the startled cry of Yaone. His hand came up as he cringed. On his neck was a clear burn in the shape of a hand. It's deep red only as bad as a sunburn still cause prickling pain to course throw him in a sharp jolt every time he moved his head. There was one thing he was certain of from this encounter. They had missed something crucial happening to the Sanzo party and specifically involving that golden eyed boy.
Yay! Another chapter rewritten. This one came out so different then the original that I feel bad just replacing it. The original version of this chapter will be posted in a new chapter at the end of the story titled EXTRA.