31_days | Sept 13, Go west, Saiyuki

Title: The Noble Eightfold Path 3/8
Series: Saiyuki
Disclaimer: Characters are the creation of Minekura Kazuya and appear here for entertainment only
Pairing/Notes: Sanzo/Goku. Swearing, especially from Gojyo. Non-explicit violence. Inspired by researchotaku's rant.
Summary: Sanzo acts according to his nature. So does Goku.

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"Where's Goku?" Sanzo asked the first thing, the next morning.

"Sanzo, you better come and take a look," Hakkai said to him.

It had been a long night. After Sanzo went back to his room, Hakkai had indulgently let Goku eat a huge meal, before sending him to the bathroom to clean up the dust from his run to 'get' Sanzo. By the time Goku came back, his hair still wet from his shower, Gojyo was already on the verge of dozing off.

Throughout the night, though, the monkey kept muttering in his sleep. Gojyo was pissed off at him. He had finally got used to the snores, but talking in his sleep was too much. He had planned to yell at the monkey, but to his and Hakkai's astonishment, Goku remained fast asleep. He shouted at the monkey, and Hakkai shook him, but Goku continued to lie there, oblivious to their attempts to wake him.

Sanzo frowned at Hakkai's words. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"He's asleep," Hakkai said. "But he won't wake up, and only mumbles in his sleep."

"Yeah, not even when I said that I was going to eat his share of the breakfast," Gojyo said. It was probably nothing--the monkey must have been tired out from running all the way to the temple yesterday--but he waited to see what Sanzo would do, just the same.

Sanzo's eyes narrowed, and he came to a decision almost immediately.

They followed Sanzo's suddenly determined stride towards their room, exchanging nervous looks.

Goku was still asleep on the bed where they last saw him, but now his feet was tangled in the sheets as he tossed about restlessly. His arms were stretched out on either side--his usual sleeping posture.

"Goku!" Hakkai called again, and shook him on the shoulder.

No answer, only a slight mutter that issued from his lips.

"Goku!" Sanzo said.

Still, Goku remained asleep. However, the name 'Sanzo' was now audible from his mutters, and even as they watched, Goku's arms and hands shifted towards himself, so that he appeared to be hugging himself.

"What... is he feeling cold?" Gojyo wondered aloud

He had to stifle a snicker when one of Goku's hand reached inside his shirt, and the other reached south towards his crotch, while a moan left his lips.

"Get up, you stupid monkey!" Sanzo shouted. With a motion neither Gojyo or Hakkai saw, he whipped out the fan and slapped Goku on the chest with it.

Goku's eyes flew open.

Gojyo thought he had never seen the monkey turn that shade of red before. "Good dreams, Goku?" he snickered.

Goku sat up in bed, his eyes never leaving Sanzo's. "I thought we were back at the temple," he said. "You said you were going to stay there."

Sanzo gave him another whap on the head for good measure, then several more, whether out of frustration or embarrassment, Gojyo couldn't tell.

"Ow, Sanzo!" Goku tried to shield his head.

Sanzo stopped after a few seconds, glaring down at him. "Get ready," he ordered, looking at Hakkai and Gojyo to show that it was aimed at them too. "We continue to go west today."

He left the room.

Gojyo snorted. "I know I've said this before, but..." he took a deep breath. "We're not your servants!" he shouted.

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