Disclaimer: I do not own Saiyuki and I do not wish to.
Summary: Sanzo's last moments, funeraland how Goku delt with it.
On Death
By Lena Claire
Goku was running. He had been running since he heard the news. He could not suppress the overwhelming feeling of dread rising in him, and that spurred him to keep running.
He streaked into the hospital and to the Reception Desk.
"Where's the Intensive Care Unit?" Goku breathlessly panted out in a gush, clutching the desk in desperation.
"The Intensive Care Units are on the third level. May I know the patient's name?" The receptionist asked in leveled tones.
"Sanzo, Genjo Sanzo." Goku hurriedly replied.
"He's in-," The receptionist answered as she typed Sanzo's name in the computer, "Room 301."
The moment he heard this, he pushed himself away from the desk and started running to the lift.
He managed to run into one just as it was closing, and hurriedly whacked the button to the third floor. Waiting to go up was almost agony as he stood in the lift and twisted his shirt in impatience. People were staring at him but he barely noticed them. They were of no importance to him.
When the lift door finally opened to the third floor, Goku dashed out and immediately started looking at the labels on the side of the rooms indicating their own numbers.
"298…299…300… 30..1"
Goku stopped outside the room. He felt abit choked up, and quite scared all of a sudden. He stood there wringing his fingers for a moment. Taking a deep breathe, he pressed a button to give him access, watched the door slide open on its own accord, and he went in.
Sanzo lay in bed. Age had caught up with him, even though Goku had tried hard to deny it. Sanzo's blond hair, once golden that shone in the light, faded to a dusty blond with streaks of sliver white. His body, once lean and muscular, now faded to loose and weathered skin. His girth had not increase, maybe even shrunk a little. He almost looked frail lying on the bed.
Wires were attached to his chest from a monitor. Goku could tell it was an indication of his heartbeat, breathing… his vital signs. A slow, but steady beat from the monitor was resounding through the room in time with the jumps on the screen. Numbers showing the rate of his heartbeat was beside it. They were low. A bag of blood and some other fluid were hung above Sanzo as they were being pumped intravenously into his body through his wrist.
He looked away from Sanzo and saw Hakkai and Gojyo already there. Gojyo was leaning against a wall, looking away from both Goku and Sanzo. Hakkai was holding one of Sanzo's hands and indicated to Goku to come.
Goku almost turned around to flee. But he didn't. He walked to Hakkai and Hakkai pressed Sanzo's lifeless hand into Goku's. Goku couldn't help but compare his tanned taunt hand with Sanzo's wrinkled, pale one. Goku turned and looked at Sanzo. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was labored through the oxygen mask.
"Hey Sanzo, I'm here." It took all of Goku's will power to plant a soft smile on his face as he saw Sanzo's eyes open.
He saw Sanzo's mouth opening and closing. Sanzo was speaking, but he couldn't hear it through the mask. Hakkai noticed it too, and gently peeled it off Sanzo's face.
"- going soon so you better look out for yourself, idiot." Was said in between breaths and the insult at the end was said without malice.
"Sanzo, you'll be fine." Goku said and it was encountered by a look from Sanzo.
Goku's eyes welled with tears.
"I am not immortal." Sanzo gently said this.
"I know, its just-" Goku's throat felt clogged up. He couldn't speak anymore.
Goku felt Sanzo's hand tighten a little in comfort. That seemed all that Sanzo could do, and Goku realized that.
"Then go. I can take care of myself Sanzo. I'll be fine. Rest now." Goku said this as he reached out and stroke Sanzo's hair.
Sanzo gave Goku a small smile as he closed his eyes. Goku heard the beeping from the machine become one long monotonous tone. He suddenly realized Sanzo was too still.
Hakkai's hands gently pried his hand away from Sanzo's as the nurses and doctor rushed in. He noticed the unnatural way it flopped down. Goku distantly saw Gojyo walk out of the room.
They tried to do some resuscitation. To no avail. After the fourth or fifth attempt, the doctor turned to them.
"I'm sorry, but-" Goku didn't hear the rest of what he said. Hakkai answered the doctor and thanked him as he gently pushed out Goku out of the room, and out of the way as the nurses prepared the body in a straight, neater position before rigor mortis set in.
Goku let the tears fall. He was shaking. Trying to wipe away the tears, but more came and Goku felt so hopeless. He could only crouch down to cry.
He felt Hakkai's hand around his shoulders; Hakkai was trying to comfort him. Goku found it hard to stop shaking as he looked up.
"He's gone isn't he." Goku said this as a form of confirmation.
"Yes, he is." Hakkai replied softly.
Goku felt a hand on his head. It was Gojyo offering his own condolences.
Goku was drained from all the emotions he had, all the crying.
"Don't worry about the funeral preparations, we'll deal with them." Hakkai said this in assurance.
"Do the monks at the temple know?" Goku asked.
"Yes, I told them awhile ago, they are praying now." Hakkai replied.
"I want to go home." Goku said, almost listlessly.
"Want us to walk you back?" Gojyo asked.
"No, I'm fine."
And Goku left.
Not completed yet, but it'll be a 2 or 3 part story. I will complete this soon though, tell me what you think.