31_days | Sept 17, Scenes from the life of a double monster, Saiyuki

I had chapter 6 all ready last night, and I posted it to my journal, but forgot to post it here. So here's the link, just so the story could be complete: Chapter 6, for the Sept 16 theme, 'Older ghosts'. Sorry.

Title: The Noble Eightfold Path 7/8
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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"Sanzo!" Hakkai yelled, and lunged towards them. Tried to, anyway; Gojyo managed to pull him back by holding on to his arm.

"Are you crazy?" he shouted in Hakkai's ear.

Hakkai's face as anxious as Gojyo had ever seen him. "You know that Goku isn't himself," he said. "I have to help..."

Giving him a shake, Gojyo tightened his grip. "Look carefully," he growled. "I know you like the monkey, but this time the problem isn't with him."

"What are you talking about? Of course it's..." he turned again to Sanzo and Goku, and his mouth fell open.

Gojyo knew that he had seen it too. The problem was not that the monkey was now missing his limiter and the rest of his wits, but that Sanzo seemed to have no compunction against shooting Goku again.

"It can't be..." Hakkai began, even as Sanzo fired again. This time the bullet hit Goku right in the torso, and his chest instantly grew red. "Goku!" he shouted, trying to go towards them.

"Wait," Gojyo said, and they watched as the monkey continued to remain upright. Goku didn't seem to be aware that he had been shot in a vital place. Instead, he growled like a wild animal and launched himself at Sanzo. The monk's face, too, was transformed by rage--Gojyo could hardly recognize him--as he grappled with Goku. The two of them began to pummel each other, and Gojyo found himself gritting his teeth. They could only watch, and look for an opening to stop either.

Hakkai shook his head, helpless. "How... this is insane!"

Though the monk had fired on them more than once, he had always aimed wide. His first shot at Goku was not so surprising, at first glance, but the monkey's devotion to Sanzo was well known--even that stupid confession didn't warrant anything more than a slap with the fan, at most.

"Something's up with Sanzo," Gojyo said. "I thought it was because the monkey had been making cow's eyes at him, but now that I think about it..."

Hakkai nodded. "It was actually Goku who guessed that something was up," he said, his voice shaky. "That day, after we finished that fight, he kept watching Sanzo."

"Even got him a beer, when the monk asked," Gojyo said. "Then the next day, when he saw that Sanzo was leaving with the other monks..."

"He must have been worried..."

"When I mentioned that Sanzo was going to leave him behind, he got even more uneasy," Gojyo said. "Damn, why didn't I see it? Goku always knew better than to disturb Sanzo, in the past!"

Hakkai's eyes had turned analytical. "It must have been in that fight. You heard the youkai leader just now. They've been planning this. They meant for either Goku or Sanzo to kill us both!"

"Shit, how did they think of such a despicable plan? Sanzo might be a Sanzo, but he's still a human, he can't hold up to Goku like the monkey's like this. If he were in his right mind, he would have taken care of the monkey right away, instead of trying to shoot him!"

"We have to do something," Hakkai said.

Gojyo looked at his determined face. "Right," he said. "Here goes nothing. I'll go after the monkey. Hopefully the bullets have slowed him down. You try to get the gun from Sanzo, then see what's wrong with him."

Hakkai nodded. "Be careful," he said.

They approached the two, keeping all these senses alert. Inwardly, Gojyo had to admire the way both Sanzo and Goku were still struggling against each other. One a human and one a badly-wounded youkai, and neither of them let up even an inch--they were still tearing and aiming punches like demons. "They deserve each other," Gojyo said, before he and Hakkai rushed in to try and separate them.

His hands were red and slippery with blood by the time he managed to drag Goku from the fight. The stupid monkey, of course, was still struggling rabidly, which only made his wounds bleed even more fiercely. "It's a miracle you haven't bled out," Gojyo muttered, as he tied the monkey to the nearest tree, to stop him from fighting. Normally, Gojyo knew, there was no way that ordinary restraints were going to stop Goku, but he the monkey's movements were sluggish, and he seemed to be gasping for breath. Bullet must have hit a lung, he thought, looking to see how Hakkai was doing.

He was relieved to see the gun lying in the reddened dust, while Hakkai struggled to overpower Sanzo with his hands and weight.

No strength like the insane, Gojyo thought, rushing over to help.

"Sanzo, fight it!" Hakkai shouted, as he and Gojyo tried to hold him down. "Whatever the youkai did to you, you know it's not you!"

"Do you know what it is?" Gojyo asked. "A post-hypnotic suggestion?"

"I'm not sure... maybe a possession of some sort... how is Goku?... Sanzo, listen to me!"

"I tied him up with the ropes we had, but I don't know how long they will hold him. And his chest wound is worrying--it's a miracle he hasn't died yet, but he needs to lie still for you to treat him. We need Sanzo in his right mind, damn it!" Gojyo swore at Sanzo tried to bite him. "Goodness knows what Goku sees in you!" he said. "It would serve you right if he died!"

For a moment, Gojyo could have sworn he saw recognition at the sound of the name 'Goku'.

"Sanzo!" Hakkai, always more observant, had seen it too. "You've got to fight it. Goku needs your help!"

"Yeah!" Gojyo exchanged a look with Hakkai. Could it be this easy? He gave a growl of pain and swore again as sharp teeth sank into his wrist.

Who says this is easy? He managed to extricate his hand, thinking fast. "Damn," he waved his bloodied sleeve in front of Sanzo's eyes. "Look, you stupid monk. This is that monkey's blood. He's bleeding out, and he's going to die if you don't pull yourself together."

"Sanzo!" Hakkai said. "Goku needs your help..."

Sanzo continued to struggle, but his eyes followed Gojyo's blood-smeared hand, and he began to breath faster and faster, almost hyperventilating, before...

Sanzo screamed suddenly, like a man in great pain, and Gojyo's heart gave a leap. He exchanged a look with Hakkai, who looked as though he was gritting his teeth with resolve.

The scream died away, though Gojyo was sure he would be remembering it for weeks to come.

"Let. Me. Go."

The voice was hoarse, but the tone in them was familiar. Gojyo narrowed his eyes. "What's going to stop you from tearing my head off?" he asked Sanzo.

He had rarely seen that much emotion in Sanzo's eyes--even if it was all anger, and beneath that, desperation. "Because before I do that, I have a stupid monkey to take care of," Sanzo said. "Now take your hands off me."