Epilogue:

Sanzo woke to the smell of brewing coffee. This was not something he was expecting as he hadn't expected to wake at all, but there was the distinct smell of coffee in the air, the feel of a firm mattress at his back, and a myriad of other sounds and smells that were very familiar to him. He opened his eyes to stare up at a familiar ceiling, and turned his head to see a familiar view out his window. He was back at his home temple.

"I was surprised as well," a familiar voice said from somewhere in the room. Sanzo turned his gaze to Hakkai who was walking towards him with a cup of coffee. "It seems that Goku managed to spare us after all." Sanzo merely grunted as he accepted the proffered mug.

"We're all here." Hakkai continued sitting on a cot across the room. "Gojyo is off wandering with Dokugakuji and Kougaiji, Lirin, and Yaone are in other rooms in the temple. We're all a little stiff, but we seem to have been healed of all major injuries." Sanzo continued to sit in silence sipping his coffee and trying not to think too much at the moment.

"I wonder if Goku is alright." Hakkai said into the silence. Then stood, and with a sorrowful backwards glance left the room and Sanzo to his thoughts.

o—o—o—o

"Well this is some outfit you've set yourself up with, bro."

"You act like I asked for all this bullshit. It's a pain in my ass."

There was a slight pause as Dokugakuji debated on whether or not he should deliver the next line, but it was true. There was no reason he shouldn't say it…

"I'm glad though." He said avoiding eye contact. He knew his half brother wasn't fond of this "emotional shit" as he called it. "You seem happy." The predicted scoff was delivered as the redhead exhaled an acrid cloud of smoke.

"If this is happiness, then it sure as hell is overated."

Doku accepted the words, but he also saw the slight curve to his brother's lips, his relaxed posture as they say looking over the temple grounds. It had been a long time, but he could still read his brother as he always could. He was glad that his brother had found family after so long; that there was a place that he belonged, and while Doku knew that Gojyo was fairly satisfied with his life to date, there was still a shadow that loomed over him; a shadow born of the recent events that had brought them all here.

"Do you think he's alright somewhere," He asked, "Son Goku?" Gojyo took a long final drag from his cigarette, then put it out against the bottom of his shoe.

"Hell if I know." He said throwing the butt away. "Maybe I used to be a kami, but I sure as hell ain't one now, so I've got no clue what's going down in Tenkai. You'd think that bitch Kannon would at least drop us a hint or something." Doku had nothing to say to that so he let the comment pass into silence, a slight breeze cooling the afternoon sun that shone down on them. There was a long pause before Gojyo spoke again.

"Y'know," he said, crimson eyes staring off towards the horizon. "I think I understand now how you felt. Doing everything you could to help me, but knowing that it would never be enough." Doku's lips curved in a self-deprecating smile. After all of these years, his kid brother was still thinking about all of that stuff.

"Yeah well…" he said picking at the grass where they were sitting. "Sometimes you get to look back and realize that maybe it was enough…that maybe things don't turn out as bad as you fear." Another scoff from the hanyou.

"You're not getting' soft on me now are ya bro? I might have to put a few more years between us if you are."

"Who me?" Doku said with a sharp smack to the back of his half brother's head. "Never. I'm just glad you've found something precious to hold on to." He stood noting that Hakkai had come out of the temple and was apparently heading in their direction. "Things may look bad now, but don't forget about what you still have. Now is the time to hold on to those things the most. Gojyo looked from his brother to Hakkai and pulled out another cigarette.

"Well shit." He said flicking his lighter. Was he really that transparent?

"Only to those who care." His brother said. Apparently now the guy was a mind reader. He grunted in response and levered himself up to his feet. If Hakkai was looking for them that meant that Sanzo was awake. Time to get back to the pleasantries of reality.

o—o—o—o

Goku sat atop a tall column of rock in a valley filled with columns that looked much the same. This was where his life had begun. This rock was his mother, his father, the closest thing to birth family that he had. Looking down at the impassive stone, though it pulsed with and energy that was both warm and comforting, he couldn't help think what a sad substitute for his other family it would be. He would never hear the end of it if Gojyo ever found out about this place. He could hear the Kappa's voice now, 'No wonder you have rocks for brains!' Goku smiled softly thinking about his friends. A familiar presence appeared behind him and he turned to find Nataku sitting at the edge of the rock.

"So are they done debating?" he asked walking over to his friend. They had spent the past several days pleading their case before Tenkai's high council headed by Tentei himself. Goku really didn't care what the council decided. Even if things did not turn out in his favor, he would return to Earth as planned and ignore heaven's demands, but if things did come out in his favor, it would make his life much easier. So he had put up with the questions and accusations, the fear in the eyes of the other kami…and again coming face to face with Li Touten. After he had said his piece, he had been dismissed while the council deliberated, and since his memories had returned, he decided to visit this place once more. Nataku sat quietly looking over the landscape his back to his friend.

"They are." He said at length. "There were many who spoke out against you. Even after all of this time and all of the evidence to prove your innocence, there were many who wanted to lock you away again. There were others though who were disgusted with what my father had done, and that seemed to over power any other feeling they might have had." Nataku continued looking out across the valley of stone columns, refusing to face Goku. It was making Goku uncomfortable. What was the problem? They had already discussed how they would deal with any negative decision made. Why was Nataku acting this way?

"In the end, my father has far too much influence in Tenkai to be truly punished for his actions. He was stripped of his control of Heaven's armies, but he will not be banished or imprisoned…neither will you." For such good news, Nataku didn't sound very happy.

"What aren't you telling me?" Goku asked sitting down beside his friend.

"They've put me in charge of the armies in my father's place. The position was rightfully mine to begin with, but, well….you know what happened." Goku nodded silent acknowledgement. "It was suggested by some that perhaps it would be best for you to still remain in Tenkai where the kami could keep a closer eye one you. The suggestion was dismissed, but I had already been thinking of asking you to work with me. You would be second in command leading all of heaven's armies to defend the world and Tenkai both…but it would mean that you would have to stay in Tenkai, and limit your contact with the surface world.

Goku simply stared at this friend; the first real friend that he had ever made. He knew what he was asking. Nataku wanted him to chose between him and Sanzo, Hakkai, and Gojyo. To stay in heaven and never see them again, or return to the world and never see him again. He couldn't be serious.

"Nataku, what the hell?" He said looking at the War Prince…no he was a War Lord now. "You know I can't stay there with those people, they're everything I hate and some! I don't belong there."

"Nor do you belong on the surface. You're an immortal; not human, not youkai, not kami, but a unique existence in this—"

"Don't give me that bullshit! You know it doesn't matter to me. I may not belong on heaven or earth, but if there's one thing all of this has taught me, it's that I belong with them. I know they'll get old, and one day they'll die and leave me behind, but even if it takes another 500 years, I'll find them again, and again if I have to."

"And what about me?" Nataku said finally turning to look Goku in the eyes. "The only memories I have of Tenkai are of me being used as a tool in my father's schemes. The other kami look down on me, aside from Kanzeon Bosatsu, I have no support in the council. I no more belong there than you do. Would you really leave me alone there, after everything that's happened?"

Goku looked at Nataku in shock. So that's what this was really about. He didn't want to be left to the vipers alone.

"Nataku, I…" He didn't know what to say. They had each spent 500 years locked away in their own personal prisons, and now that they were both finally free, there were about to be separated yet again. It wasn't fair…it wasn't right…it wasn't—

wait a minute…

"Nataku, you're actin' like we only got one choice or somthin'."

o—o—o—o

Ending 1:

Sanzo was pulled from his sleep by the sound of angry feet running towards his room. It was a sound that he was very familiar with, and one he hadn't heard since he had left the temple with Goku over a year ago. Kougaiji and his party had left a couple of days ago so it wouldn't be his brat sister causing problems, so what the hell had the monks' tunics in a twist now?

"Sanzo-sama! Sanzo-sama!" Came the predicted summons.

"What is it now?" Sanzo asked squeezing the bridge of his nose. Had these idiots always been so fucking annoying?

"Sanzo-sama! This is unacceptable! We were willing to accept the presence of your ward because the heavens had ordered it, but two of them?"

Sanzo had exited his room as soon as the word 'ward' had left the other man's mouth and he only vaguely heard the rest of it. He rushed out into the courtyart and over to where the rest of the monks were hovering like a swarm of angry wasps. They were gathered around the peach tree that was meant to be an offering to Kanzeon Bosatsu. Sanzo walked over to the tree and looked up. Sitting amongst the branches were two rumpled youths merrily munching away at the sacred peaches.

"Nah! Sanzo!" The excited voice of a familiar saru called down. "You wouldn't mind if Nataku stayed with us would you?"

Sanzo could feel the veins pulsing at his temples. That bitch Kanzeon was probably watching this right now and laughing her ass off. Glaring daggers at the sky, Sanzo reached up, grabbed a peach and tore into it with relish.

Ending 2:

Gojyo, Sanzo, Hakkai, and Jiipu sat staring in a kind of bemused confusion at the mess of blood and limbs that surrounded them. They were in a council room of some kind, and the whole area seemed to glow with a kind of ethereal light. None of them knew how they had gotten there. One moment they had been sitting down to dinner and the next here they were. In a sudden dazzle of light two blood stained figures appeared, broad grins on their faces.

Gojyo was about to ask what the hell was going on when Goku lept in front of him and gave a gentle flick to his forehead. It was obvious that the saru had done more than flick because there was a strange tingling sensation spreading through his head, like blood rushing back to once bound limbs. Gojyo closed his eyes against the sensation, and a moment later, Kenren opened them. He looked to his side to find Tenpou and Konzen staring back at him.

"An interesting course of action." Tenpou commented mildly.

"Bakazaru!" Konzen yelled jumping to his feet. "What the hell did you do this time!"

"It's alright, Konzen!" Goku said grinning at the group. "Nataku and I took out the council. We're in charge now! We can do whatever we want!"

The golden haired kami stared at the saru in disbelief. He had two lifetimes worth of memories to let him know exactly what a Tenkai ruled by this dumb-ass would be like. He suddenly desperately needed a drink.

Actual Ending:

Sanzo hated the heat. He hated muggy days like this. He hated how everyone sweated and how there seemed to be no respite from the humidity. It always made him tired. He had stretched out on the ground where it was cooler to go over some paper work, and before he knew it, he was asleep. The room had been so quiet and the paperwork so dull that he just could help it.

Imagine his irritation when he was pulled from his sleep by a slight rise in temperature. The air around him just seemed to have gotten warmer…almost as if another person had laid down near him, not touching, but close enough for body heat to be felt. Sanzo cracked an eye open to see what was causing the rise in temperature and froze. His view of the figure was obscured by a mass of messy chestnut hair, but he would have recognized that hair anywhere. Obviously, the saru had not been sleeping because as soon as Sanzo's breath caught, though he had not made a sound, a pair of golden eyes turned to beam up at him.

"Sanzo. Tadaima." He said simply, and just that quickly, Goku was home. He was changed to be sure, but it was Goku all the same. Sanzo sighed to himself. There was only one response to such a greeting…

o—o—o—o

Hakkai and Gojyo had been chatting in their room when the commotion began. Now they were both rushing down the hall to Sanzo's quarters wondering what the hell had happened now. Was it a youkai attack? Was heaven trying to take them out again? Was Sanzo having a temper tantrum?

As it turned out, it was kind of a combination of all three. The two men opened the monks door to find a young saru defending himself from an attacking harisen that was descending with the fury of the gods themselves.

"Hakkai! Gojyo! Help! He's gone nuts!" Goku said rushing behind his two other companions for protection.

"Goku?" Hakkai said turning to face the "boy." "You're back?"

"Un!" the saru nodded. "Nataku set me free. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you guys, but we had to deal with a lot of crap in Tenkai." Gojyo leaned over and took Goku by the shoulders leveling his eyes with the kid.

"And it's for real this time. No more fucked up head games?"

"Un. I'll be going to visit Nataku every now and again to make sure he's ok and that those asshole kami don't forget about me and what I can do, and he'll visit me whenever Tenkai gets to be too much, but other than that, I'm back for good."

"Well shit." Gojyo said pulling Goku into a gruff, one-armed embrace. "Maybe my bro actually knows what the hell he's talking about sometimes."

"Just where do you bastards get off ignoring me?" The three 'youkai' jumped like kids with their hand caught in the cookie jar and turned nervous eyes to the priest that had just been on a rampage. They had actually momentarily forgotten about him. I was never good when Sanzo got like this…there was just no telling what he would do next, but to all of their surprise, they turned to find the young man standing there with his equivalent of a broad grin.

"Oi! Goku!"

"Aa?"

"Okaeri." Goku looked up at Sanzo and acknowledged all of the unspoken meanings within that one word. He gave a small grin of his own and nodded once.

"Un."

The end…for real this time.

End Notes:

Kannon – Another name for Kanzeon Bosatsu

Tadaima – Basically "I'm home!"

Okaeri – Basically "Welcome home."

Ad – a vocal acknowledgment

Un – Another vocal acknowledgement

Author's notes:

So this is actually the end. I took me a year and some months, but I actually finished this story. I hope you enjoyed the Clue-style multiple endings. There were some scenarios that were just too funny not to write. The last one is the actual ending though…hence the "Actual Ending" heading. Thank you so much to all of you who read and reviewed this story. A special nod to Kryscylla who has been poking me faithfully through the process. I know that I've had my doubts and worries as I've been writing this, but I've really enjoyed working on this plot. Now that I've read through the later Gaiden chapters of the manga and know what actually happened, I feel kind of awkward writing this version, but that just really grounds in the fact that this is an AU story. Anyway, final reviews are strongly encouraged. I'll be working on stories in other fandoms so…keep and eye out…especially if you're into Digimon. That's all tho! Thanks again everyone!