31_days | Sept 14, On friendship, Saiyuki

Title: The Noble Eightfold Path 4/8
Series: Saiyuki
Disclaimer: Characters are the creation of Minekura Kazuya and are used here for fun only
Pairing/Notes: Sanzo/Goku. Swearing, especially from Gojyo. Non-explicit violence.
Summary: Sanzo acts according to his nature. So does Goku.

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Four of them climbed on Jeep to continue the journey. One was sheepish and hated to meet anyone's eyes. One clutched a paper fan like a shield. One was smirking and the last was smiling.

Despite the normality of their outward demeanor, Hakkai and Sanzo were worried. Gojyo, studying the increased in frequency at Sanzo's twitches of annoyance and Hakkai's peeks at the side and back-view mirrors, could sympathize, though his primary reaction was still of amusement.

The monkey was infatuated with Sanzo. Personally, Gojyo couldn't see why; he would rather snuggle up with a rabid dog than get into bed with that. Sanzo had a filthy temper and even worse anger management skills. Gojyo could appreciate the fun in taking out one's temper out in violent pursuits, but cycling through the steps of ignoring, yelling, and fan-using pointed at a level of repression that just wasn't healthy. All those Sanzos must be really fucked up, he thought.

Sanzo must be aware of the Goku's problem, after the little exhibitionist act the monkey had inadvertently put on, Gojyo thought with an inward snigger. Sanzo was pissed off, judging by his twitches, and the way he was still holding his fan. There was probably a rule against... carnal relationships, or something, for a monk, though Sanzo hadn't struck him as the sort of person to be restricted by that.

Hakkai, of course, was worried. This development must have been as much a shock for him as for Sanzo. Gojyo hadn't realized it, but the monkey was really growing up, becoming less boyish from the time they first met him.

Then he realized that the monk had stopped twitching, and Hakkai had stopped peeking. Ah.

The clearing in the forest was not much further ahead. Jeep stopped just in time for Gojyo to take down two.

A burst of bright light indicated Hakkai at work, and he got rid of another six.

"Show off," Gojyo muttered, leaping to the side as a group of five rushed him, before turning around to take them down from behind. Gojyo was not a believer in honorable combat. "Damn it," he yelled as more tried to overpower him. "Did you losers coordinate this or something?" he asked one before aiming a punch at him. "I thought I dealt with you two days ago," he said to another.

The rhythm of the fight sang in his blood, and Gojyo could feel a nasty grin fill his face as he worked through the attacking youkai, his senses telling him of Hakkai doing the same. If there was one thing that bound them together, it was this companionship, the sweet knowledge that your allies--no, your friends--were fighting as well. Even Sanzo, not to mention the monkey...

Gojyo blinked, his arm stretching out to send another one flying into the trees by pure reaction, too taken aback to give voice to his shock. My friends...

Goku was not fighting.

Neither was Sanzo.

Not for lack of trying, though, Gojyo realized a second later. The monkey was standing between Sanzo and Jeep, sheltering him from the attackers. Once in a while he swung his staff to wave off a foolish youkai or two, but he made no motion towards defeating either.

If he concentrated, Gojyo could hear Sanzo shouting at Goku to give way. But the monkey ignored him, and refused to let him through.

Even in the midst of fighting, Gojyo found Hakkai, and exchanged frowns. In the last year, Goku had grown in height as well, and he was no longer a runt whose presence could be ignored. They all knew how strong the monkey was. If he wanted to stop Sanzo from fighting, then there was probably nothing Sanzo could do...

Well, except that, Gojyo's mind amended.

The paper fan had disappeared from Sanzo's hand, and in its place was the gun. Aimed directly at Goku.