NEVER TOO LATE

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Disclaimer: Saiyuki belongs to Minekura-sensei. I'm just borrowing it for fun.

Summary: One wouldn't understand how regret feels...until it's too late. After Homura took away two of Sanzo's most precious things, will the high-prided monk abandon his pride to retrieve back his things, or he'll be too late and regret it?

A/N: This fic is more or less my debut in the world of fanfiction. I wrote it almost two years ago, and when I reread it to find ideas for my currently on-going fics, I just realized that this one is just downright PATHETIC. And so, I decided to put it under reconstruction. Can't promise it'll turn like a masterpiece or something, but at least I'll try to make it worth reading instead of plotless, swear-filled crap made by a greenhorn fifteen-year-old this fic used to be. Of course, me being seventeen now maybe wouldn't do much, but at least I can make it more bearable. Hope you'll enjoy.

CHAPTER ONE

Heavy Price

He's undoubtedly gotten stronger, Homura mused inwardly as he raised his sword, shielding himself against Son Goku's aggressive attacks.

Not only in power but also his speed and skills… they're also increasing. It's hard to believe, he's gotten stronger this fast… he thought as he blocked Goku's nyoi-bou once more with his flame sword causing the boy to move backwards a bit, just for him to rush forward once more.

This Goku is totally different than the one I met not so long ago under the rain, and trembling under my touch…

"Homura! Where are ya looking at?" He heard a usually childlike voice, which was now filled with unwavering determination, as a staff was aimed right towards his face. He raised his sword to shield himself, but saw the owner of the staff was nowhere in sight. He felt a sudden presence behind him and turned to see Son Goku's furious face.

"Look at meeeee!" The younger man shouted as he rose to the air to kick the startled Homura, who was surprisingly caught off-guard.

Suddenly, Zenon rushed in attempting to block Goku's kick. But, was ineffective as Goku continued and kicked Zenon away without changing his position. Homura watched in astonishment, his mind kept repeating: He's definitely gotten stronger.

To Homura's surprise, Goku spun after kicking Zenon and aimed his fist right to Homura's face.

"Homuraaaaa!!!"

The fist hit its target. It wasn't strong enough to knock the War Prince off balance, but Goku was surprised enough at actually hitting Homura. Until now, Goku had basically been Homura's punching bag. He had been thrown, slammed, and punched by the war god…their last encounter had resulted with him having his shoulder dislocated and imprisoned in a dungeon while Homura tried his best to lure the poor kid to his side. It was much to Goku's annoyance that he had never hit Homura even once…until now. Goku lowered his fist, still hardly believing what he has done.

"I hit him…?" Goku muttered in amazement.

Homura at first looked surprised, but then smirked, an amused one. "You passed, Son Goku."

In a flash of a second, he grabbed Goku's head and slammed it to the ground. He heard the boy gasp under his fingers and left him almost unconscious on the ground.

"Goku!!!" Gojyo and Hakkai shouted as their companion was taken down. Homura smirked at them, he gave a slight signal and suddenly Homura's comrades, Zenon and Shien, appeared in front of Gojyo and Hakkai, forcing their attention on them.

Homura approached Sanzo, now practically defenseless, who was stubbornly trying to shoot him down. Homura just smirked lazily as the bullets vanished uselessly before even touching him, and sent Sanzo flying in the air with a slash of his flame sword.

"Sanzo!!" Both Gojyo and Hakkai shouted, as they watched the monk collapse, blood covering the front of his robes. Homura took the sutra off the wounded priest's shoulders, smirking at Sanzo's unconscious form by his feet.

"You…!" Gojyo was about to attack Homura; but Zenon cocked his machine gun just behind his head.

"Aa, don't even try it; if you still want that red head of yours staying on your shoulders, pretty boy." the patched-eyed kami threatened, preparing to pull the trigger of his gun.

Hakkai, seeing that Gojyo was in trouble, started to form a chi-ball to attack Zenon. But, Shien had reacted faster. He appeared behind Hakkai and hit the healer at the back of his neck. Hakkai collapsed instantly, eyes went blank and not moving anymore.

"Hakkai!!" Gojyo shouted as one more of his friends was defeated. He glared at Homura, "Bastard!! You're going to pay!"

Homura smirked at him, "Never an expert at controlling that hellish temper of yours, Kenren Taisho?"

"Or...should we purchase you one way ticket to hell?" Homura added, smirking smugly as Zenon cocked his gun again.

"SANZO!!"

The voice caught their attention. Goku was barely standing, staring at Sanzo's bleeding body. His golden eyes were focused on the blood spilling on the ground, and then moved to the black liquid that covered Homura's sword… Sanzo's blood.

"Bastaaaaaaaaard!" Goku yelled before rushing in Homura's direction. Homura could see that Goku was still unsteady from his recent damage to the head, so he simply dodged and sent Goku away with a blow of his sword. Goku landed just next to Sanzo, close enough to see how much blood was gushing out his sun's wound. He looked around in search of Hakkai, only to find that the healer had been taken out.

Kneeling beside Sanzo, Goku tried to stop the bleeding by putting pressure on it, but it only bled more.

"No, NO! Sanzo!! SANZO!!" He yelled desperately; futilely trying to stop the bleeding. Hakkai was unconscious, Gojyo had a gun to his head, and Homura stood there, smirking at him as if nothing happened.

Goku stared at his trembling, blood-stained hand.

Sanzo's blood. His eyesight started to blur.

No… this can't be happening…

Things started to move inside his head. He fell on his knees; hands digging into the ground.

Not now… I can't lose control right now… Sanzo won't be able to stop me in his condition… I might kill them all… please, stop…

Homura watched with the same calm expression as the boy's entire body started shaking, his hands clutching his head, trying to stop his surfacing madness. Gojyo also watched the boy, and fear wound its way into his scarlet eyes as he realized what was happening.

"Oi, Goku! Get a hold of yourself! Don't tell me you're losing control now with that monk's condition! Pull yourself together! Baka saru!" Gojyo yelled at the top of his voice to the trembling kid.

Goku's eyes opened slowly, gritting his teeth as he tried to hold something inside him, something which was forcefully coming to the surface.

"Gojyo," he hissed, "…get away…"

"Wha…?"

Goku suddenly yelled, unable to control himself longer.

"AAAAH! STOP! STOP IT!" He clutched his head tighter, and as he did so, Gojyo could see a crack appear on his diadem.

"GOJYO! RUN! TAKE SANZO AND HAKKAI AND RUN! AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO! I CAN'T HOLD IT ANY LONGER!" Goku screamed as more cracks appeared.

"It…? Goku… I… you…" Gojyo tried to argue but Goku's voice stop him.

"I beg you… please… I won't let any of you get involved in this… not again…"

He smiled weakly towards Gojyo's worried face as he yelled in pain again, before the battered diadem shattered.

"I'm sorry…"

The monster had resurfaced.

Author's Note: Is it bearable enough? I could only hope... Ok, on with the next chap!