“Curse or God Sent” Chapter 10
‘The Time Has Come’


When they get to Kanaan village the group splits up going off looking for Nori. Sanzo goes to the temple that his Aunt mentioned looking for her and hoping he might even run into her Grandfather there. When Sanzo entered the temple he saw Nori kneeling at the alter.

“Go away Sanzo, this is not your fight and I will not have you interfering in it.” Nori tells him not even turning around to look at him. Sanzo stopped; shocked she knew it was him that entered the temple.

“Why Nori?” Sanzo questioned her. Nori said nothing to him as she sat there with her head hung down.

“Nori…” Sanzo says walking toward her slowly.

“Leave Sanzo I will not ask again.” Nori tells him. Sanzo picks up his pace walking toward her. When he gets up behind her he reaches out to grab her as she stands to her feet spinning around she shoves Sanzo back a few steps. Sanzo exhales hard as the wind was pushed from his lungs from her shoving him back. He looks at her stepping forward again with a fowl look on his face.

“I am not going any where.” Sanzo tells her grabbing her arm. Nori jerks away from Sanzo shoving him again her eyes start to glow the radiant blue as the color swirls in her eyes.

“Kill me if you want Nori, because that is the only way I am leaving you here alone to face your Grandfather.” Sanzo tells her. She steps forward wrapping her hand around Sanzo’s neck as she squeezes tightly Sanzo gasp for air grabbing at Nori’s arm and hand.

“NORI!! LET SANZO GO!!” Laney screams as she runs into the temple toward Nori and Sanzo. Nori looks toward Laney throwing Sanzo across the room then walking toward Laney. Nori smiles at Laney as she sees Hakkai and the others running in behind Laney.

“I am glad to see you all listen so well. I told you I would take care of this and then you all come running like scared children to their Mothers side.” Nori tells them stopping in the center of the room.

“Nori we are only here to help you.” Goku says pulling his staff.

“Goku are you planning on fighting me in the temple, shame, shame.” Nori tells him.

Sanzo gets to his feet finally as he says, “We are here to help you like it or not so get over it.” Nori turns seeing Sanzo has his banishing gun pointed right at her.

“Sanzo this is really getting old if you are going to shoot me this time at least kill me this time as well.” Nori tells him.

“I am not trying to kill you only stop you.” Sanzo says.

Nori starts to laugh saying, “Stop me… Well I have to say you have failed miserably in your attempts to do that, because here I still stand and breath.”

Just then Nori feels someone grab her from behind holding her tight. It was Goku, Nori thrashing in his arms to get lose, as Laney walked in front of her.

“Hurry Laney I do not know how long I can hold her.” Goku tells her. Laney quickly slides a locking neck band around Nori’s neck as she clicks it into place.

“Let her go Goku.” Laney tells him. Goku lets Nori go as she drops to the floor on her knees.

Nori reaches to the limiter around her neck pulling on it she tells Laney, “You have sealed our fate.” Nori gets to her feet and starts to walk out of the temple as Gojyo calls out to her.

“Laney was trying to save you from yourself Nori.”

Nori turns looking at Gojyo saying, “From myself… she should be more worried about what Grandfather will do to us if he is not pleased with our request.”

“Grandfather will listen unlike you charging into this ready to fight.” Laney tells her.

“HA, he is a God he listens to no one Laney...” Nori tells her, “You have one day and Grandfather will be here good luck figuring out what to say to him and then what to do if he tells you no.” Nori leaves the temple with them all still standing there.


Nori walks off into the forest to be alone as she walks along she hears someone behind her she spins around looking not seeing anyone there. She looks around turning back to finish her walk as she sees the Merciful Goddess standing a little ways in front of her leaning against a tree.

Nori keeps walking not paying any attention to her as she walks by her getting a few steps from her she says, “I know you can see me Nori so why act so coy about it at least you could tell me to get lost or something.” The Merciful Goddess tells her.

Nori stops walking she does not turn to look at her as she says, “What do you want?” Nori could hear her moving behind her as Nori sighs under her breath. “Tell me what you came for I am in no mood for your trivial games.”

She starts to laugh at Nori, “Trivial you say, so I guess what I have to tell you is trivial as well.” The Merciful Goddess told her crossing her arms over her chest. Nori turns looking at her. The look on Nori’s face is far from a look of being pleased by the Merciful Goddess’s appearances.

“What do you have to tell me?” Nori says placing her hands on her hips.

“Well now that I have your full attention.” The merciful Goddess says walking toward Nori. “Your Grandfather is shocked that you are far from pleased with the what is going on in you and your cousin life.”

Nori starts to laugh at her, “Pleased… how and the hell can we be pleased with being cursed? The arrogant bastard.”

“Well he seems to think that with the way things are going on down here you would be glad you can defend yourself from attackers.” The Merciful Goddess chuckles at what she says.

Nori turns walking away from her, “Well then I hope you do not need his arrogant ass up there with all of you, because if I have my way about it. He will not be returning after tomorrow’s appearance down here. I figure with his death I will at least get one thing I want, curse lifted or not.”

“You say he is arrogant… You and he are birds of a feather the more I watch you the more of your Grandfather I see in you everyday.” The Merciful Goddess tells her.

Nori turns giving her a dirty look, “I do not appreciate being compared to a man that has no feeling toward is kin.” Nori turns walking away again.

“You know you can defeat him with the powers of The Last Children and your powers of the Gods.” The Merciful Goddess tells her turning and walking the other way as she says, “Your Grandfather is not that powerful you will have no problem defeating him.”

Nori turns looking back at were The Merciful Goddess was standing seeing nothing but empties Nori calls out to her, “Why did you tell me this, do you want me to kill him?”

All of a sudden Nori hears, “I am only trying to help.”

“Right and what is in it for you?” Nori asks her.

The Merciful Goddess starts to laugh saying, “Entertainment… You keep me as entertained as the boys do. I cannot just let you go off and get yourself killed now can I.”

Nori shakes her head and starts walking back toward the village saying, “And they say us humans have a sick since of humor.”


Once Nori gets back to the village she goes looking for the guys and Laney, when she walks into the last Inn in the village she walks into the lobby as Goku was walking down the stairs.

“Nori…” Goku says running toward her giving her a hug. She smiles at him hugging him back.

“Where are they Goku?” Nori asks him.

“Come on I will take you up to them they are worried sick about you.” Goku tells her taking her hand and leading her up the stairs. Nori follows him as they walk up the stairs and down the hall on the second floor.

Goku opens the door to their room as they hear Gojyo says, “That was quick.”

Goku walks in with Nori in tow.

“Nori?!” Laney says standing to her feet.

“So I see you changed your mind.” Gojyo says.

“I changed nothing. I am still going to kill him if he does not give me what I want and none of you are going to interfere with it.” Nori tells them.

“Wont that be a little hard with that limiter around your neck there?” Sanzo asks her.

“No not from what your Aunt tells me. She says my powers of The Last Children and my powers of the Gods out does Grandfathers without a problem. So if he refuses to remove the curse I will remove him from existence.” Nori says sitting down at the table across from Gojyo.

Sanzo gets up from his bed side walking over to her he takes her arm pulling her up from her chair.

“Sanzo what are you doing?” Nori asks him.

Sanzo looks at Laney saying, “Give me your keys to your room.” Laney tosses them across the room to him as he catches them in mid air. Sanzo starts walking from the room as he pulls Nori behind.

“Sanzo?!” Nori exclaims.

“Shut up and come with me.” Sanzo tells her walking out the door of the room and across the hall to Laney’s room. He unlocks the door and pulls Nori around pushing her into the room Sanzo walks in locking the door behind him as he stands there looking at her.

Nori catches her footing and spins around looking at Sanzo, “What the hell are you trying to prove here?” Nori exclaims.

Sanzo walks quickly up to her getting into her face, “That is the question I should be asking you.” He barked at her.

“Back off Sanzo!” Nori tells him pushing him back a few steps. Sanzo steps forward getting back into her face grabbing her and pulling her close to him.

“Killing your Grandfather is not the way to get what you want.” Sanzo tells her.

“I am not going to kill him unless he refuses to remove the curse.” Nori tells him jerking away from him stepping back.

“So you are telling me you are planning on talking to him first?” Sanzo asks her.

“Yes but from what your Aunt said he does not sound like it is something he is planning on doing.” Nori told Sanzo.

“And you believed her?” Sanzo asks her.

“Should I not believe her Sanzo? You were the one that told her to speak to him before this all came about.” Nori said.

“Just because I ask her to do it does not mean she did. She could just be telling you that.” Sanzo replied.

“I thought that as well, and I also ask her what was in it for her if and when I killed my Grandfather.” Nori told him looking out the window down at the villagers getting ready for her Grandfathers arrival tomorrow.

She shakes her head saying, “The fools if they only knew how the Gods played them. They would stop paying tribute to them. They think the Gods help them when all they are doing is benefiting themselves they do not care about us and never did.” Nori says.

Sanzo grabs Nori’s arm turning her to look at him saying, “They are not all like that and you should watch what you say.”

Nori gets a smart ass look of fear on her face saying, “OOOO Why Sanzo are you afraid they may strike me down or cast a curse on me. Who the fuck cares any more I think I am all cursed out I do not believe there is one curse out there I do not have. The curse of The Last Children pretty much covers it all, and as far as killing me go for it, they would be doing me a favor and they know that. With this the curses I have on me I will never have children of my own I will never put them through what I am going through right now. I welcome death any more I am sick of this what do I have to live for any way?”

Sanzo slaps Nori across the face with her last statement she looks back at him licking the blood from her lip where he busted it open she smiles at him.

“Are you mad now?” Nori asks him.

“So you’re giving up?” Sanzo asks her.

“I gave up a long time ago Sanzo. The only reason I am doing this is for Laney.” Nori tells him.

“So what about us?” Sanzo questioned her.

Nori starts to laugh saying, “US… was there such a thing Sanzo or was it just a good time between the two of us. You got what you wanted just like I did I never asked you to fall in love with me that was your foolish heart that lead you down that road.” Nori tells him turning and looking back out the window down at the street.

Sanzo grabs her arm turning her to look at him saying in an angered tone, “Look at me and tell me you do not feel something for me tell me you have not fallen in love with me Nori. If you can do that I will walk out of your life now never to return.”

Nori looks at Sanzo glaring into his eyes seeing all his pain and hatred he has carried through out his life. She turns looking back out the window she sighs as she feels all her feelings for Sanzo wash over her. She hangs her head as she closes her eyes as a tear falls to the floor she tells him, “I do not feel anything for you Sanzo and I do not love you.” She lifts her head wiping her tears away before she turns back looking at Sanzo.

“I do not love you Sanzo.” Nori tells him again looking him straight in the eyes as she fights back her tears. She quickly turns back to the window as a tear makes its way down her cheek.

She hears Sanzo walking across the floor as the lock turns and he opens the door he says, “You’re a lousy liar Nori.” He walks from the room leaving her there alone.

Nori drops to her knees in front of the window resting her head on her arms on the window sill as her tears start to flow from her eyes.


A few hours have gone by as Nori is lying on the bed she hears a knock, “Go away I am not in the mood for company.” Nori calls out to them.

“Ok then I will just leave your food here and be on my way.” Hakkai tells her walking in setting a tray of food on the table. She looks up at him as he smiles at her.

“What are you smiling about life is not good?” Nori tells him.

“Oh contra Nori life is great. It just depends on how you look at it.” Hakkai tells her.

“Well I must have a fucked up way to look at it because I think it sucks.” Nori says.

“Wow such colorful words coming from your mouth.” Hakkai says.

“I am sorry Hakkai I am not in the best of moods right now.” Nori tells him.

“I do not see why not you’re alive…” Nori cuts him off setting up in the bed giving him a dirty look she was getting ready to say something as Hakkai walks toward her and sits on the bedside next to her saying, “Now wait before you say anything about that. You have Laney… you two are the best of friends not to mention cousins. You have Sanzo’s love for you even though he has a weird way of showing it.” Hakkai touches her lip were Sanzo struck her earlier, “And you have me, Gojyo and Goku. You have all your past memories be they bad or good. Sure you have a few glitches I your life, we all do but is that a really good reason to hate life? Remember Nori what does not kill you in life only makes you stronger.”

Nori smiles shaking her head as she cast her eyes downward to her lap she looks back up at Hakkai saying, “Did you rehearse that before you came over here Hakkai or is that something you truly live by?”

Hakkai’s smile grows bigger as he touches her hand saying, “Well some of it I live by the rest was just to make you smile… and it worked.”

“Your as crazy as the rest of us you know that Hakkai” Nori tells him.

“Well to live in a crazy world I guess you have to be a little crazy yourself.” Hakkai tells her.

“You can say that again.” Nori says getting to her feet walking to the tray of food Hakkai brought in with him.

Hakkai turns watching her picking food up from the try and eating it she looked up at him and smiles, “Thank you for the food I was getting kind of hungry.” Nori tells him.

“I thought you might be.” Hakkai says.

Just then another knock came at the door, Nori turns look at it saying, "Come in.”

“Nori sweetie there is a poker game going on down at the corner bar we need one more. Want to go with?” Gojyo asks her.

She smiles at him asking, “Can I eat first?”

Gojyo walks over to her taking her hand saying, “I will feed you at the bar. Come on the game is getting ready to start I told them I would be right back with you. They liked the idea of a girl sitting in on the game they think you will be easy to pick off in the game.” Gojyo tells her dragging her from the room.

“But Gojyo I like what Hakkai brought me to eat.” Nori says in a saddened tone.

Hakkai walks to the door calling down the hall to Nori, “I will save it for you Nori so you can have it for later.”

“Thank You Hakkai…” Nori’s words trail off down the stairs as Gojyo drags her along with him.


Hakkai picks up the tray walking back into their room, Sanzo looks up at him saying, “Well how did it go?”

“I got her to smile and eat a little and then Gojyo came in a dragged her out to a poker game at the corner bar.” Hakkai tells him.

“Damn Gojyo what does he think he is doing?” Sanzo says in an irritated tone.

“Well at least he got her out of the room and he is going to get her mind from Grandfather for a while tonight.” Laney says. Sanzo looks over at Laney and nods at her agreeing with her.

“Maybe that will help her a little in trying to figure out what she wants to do.” Goku says.

“Taking her mind from it will help her rethink a lot of things Goku.” Hakkai says setting her tray on the table.

“Is Nori done with that? Because if she is I want the rest of it I am starving.” Goku says getting up and walking quickly over to Hakkai and the table.

Sanzo stands from his seat as he pulls a paper fan from his robe, *WACK…* “What was that for Sanzo?” Goku says holding the top of his head.

“That’s Nori’s and you keep your hands off it. I am sure she will want it later tonight when she comes in.” Sanzo tells him.

Goku still rubbing his head walks back over to his bed sitting down on it he says in a wining tone, “Well you did not have to smack me with that damn fan all you had to do was say no.”

Hakkai and Laney chuckle at Goku as he sits there rubbing his head.

“Just stay away from it I know how you are you stupid monkey.” Sanzo tells him, sitting back down at the table.

A little while later at the bar Gojyo and Nori are cleaning house on their poker playing buddies. Gojyo smiles at Nori from across the table as they hear one of the guys say, “I am calling your bluff there red.”

Gojyo looks over at him saying, “Ok…” Gojyo lays a couple of his cards on the table saying, “You caught me… I guess I have two Queens.”

The other guys look at him and laugh as the one guy that called him throws his hand down showing two Kings with an Ace he reaches into the middle of the table for the pot still laughing.

“But wait…” Nori says, “He still has 3 cards in his hand I want to see them all.”

Gojyo smiles saying “Are you sure about that that one.”

Nori smiles nodding as she says, “What I have beats him.” As she looks over at the guy pulling the pot toward him he stops saying,

“WHAT! How can you beat that?”

“Easy I have 3 Aces.” Nori says laying her cards down for him to see them.

“Damn it!” The guy exclaims.

“But I am not touching the pot until I see his whole hand.” Nori says.

Gojyo smiles as he starts to lay the rest of his cards down. Nori and the others watch as Gojyo lays down another Queen then another Queen as well with her and the other two.

He holds the other card up with the back facing them saying, “Do you really want to see this one as well?” Gojyo says smiling.

“I want it all.” Nori says to him.

“Just like a woman always wanting it all.” Gojyo says tossing his last card into the pot, the card lands revealing an Ace.

Nori leans back into her chair as she smiles at him saying, “The ladies like you tonight Gojyo,” as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“The ladies always like me my dear.” Gojyo says reaching for the pot smiling at her. They continue the game well into the night as Nori and Gojyo clean house on their opponents.



Curse or God Sent Chapter 11