31_days | Sept 18, Arrangement in black and gold, Saiyuki: The Noble Eightfold Path

Title: The Noble Eightfold Path 8/8
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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Even wounded, Sanzo's steps did not falter as he stalked towards Goku.

Seeing him, Goku became even more agitated, and fought harder against the ropes holding him. "Should we duck?" Gojyo asked uneasily, studying the scene. "I mean, what if..."

Goku chose that moment to break free of his restraints, and leaped at Sanzo with a growl.

"Sanzo!" Hakkai shouted in warning.

But Sanzo was able to overpower the monkey, Gojyo saw. Goku must be weaker than he thought. It was incredible that he hadn't died instantly from the gunshots, but then they had always known that Goku was not simply a youkai. He watched as Sanzo push Goku to the ground. "What the hell is Sanzo doing?" he muttered.

Hakkai suddenly gasped. "The gun!" he said.

Sure enough, Sanzo was now holding the gun firmly in his right hand, even as he tried to struggle with Goku.

Gojyo and Hakkai shared a look of absolute panic. As one, they ran towards the pair. Don't tell me he's still under the influence, Gojyo thought, his eyes fixed on Sanzo's gun.

Slowly, Sanzo managed to press the barrel of the gun directly on Goku's forehead.

"Shit!"

Even as the curse left his lips, Sanzo flung the gun to one side.

Flying sutras ensued.

Finally, Gojyo thought, and stopped in sheer relief.

Sanzo remained crouching on the ground even after the glint of the limiter reappeared on Goku's forehead. There was a second of total silence, before Sanzo shouted, "Hakkai!"

***

Goku needed time to recover, they knew, as they checked into the inn in the next stopover. Being tackled by the Makai Tenjyo tended to do that to him, and there were both gunshot wounds to deal with, as well. Hakkai did his best, but the gun had unusual properties that made injuries from it difficult to heal properly.

Instead of his customary shell of indifference, Sanzo remained by Goku's side the whole time. He said nothing, and his face showed nothing, but Gojyo thought he could sense the monk's concern.

Then, on the second day, there was a motion from the bed, where Goku wriggled, and woke up, easy as a child. "Sanzo?" Goku rubbed his eyes with his fists, looking up blearily, before he sat up suddenly. "Gojyo, where's Sanzo? I hurt him..."

He fell silent as Sanzo leant forward, entering his direct line of sight. "I'm here," Sanzo said flatly.

"Sanzo!" Goku said eagerly, then cringed. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be an idiot," Sanzo said. He paused, before he went on, "I shot you. I should be the one to say sorry."

Gojyo restrained the urge to laugh out loud, but instead retreated to the end of the room, hoping that the two of them wouldn't notice him.

Goku looked down on himself. "But I'm all right..."

"Only because Hakkai helped to take care of you."

"Oh," Goku scratched his head. "Er, Sanzo?"

"What."

"Before, when I said that I liked... you..." He leant back just a little, probably remembering what happened the last time.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry!" Goku's eyes were huge.

The fan came out of nowhere, and landed with a loud 'thwap'. Gojyo was interested to note that it landed on the mattress rather than on any part of the monkey. "What do you have to be sorry for, you idiot monkey?" Sanzo said.

Goku jumped at the sound. "Because!" he began. "Because..." he looked fearfully at Sanzo. "Because..." he said again, his voice softer.

Gojyo could not see Sanzo's expression clearly, but he could see that the monk had locked gazes with the monkey.

After a long while, the monkey swallowed, and the fear left his face, to be replaced by his usual cheerful expression. "Sanzo!" he shouted, and leaned forward to wrap his arms around the monk.

Amazingly, Sanzo made no protest. Gojyo allowed himself a moment of sentimentality to savour the picture they made: Sanzo's black undershirt topped by his gold hair, mixed with Goku's shining eyes. Perfect arrangement. Ah, the stony exterior cracks, he thought. He fancied he could hear a 'crick' sound, if he listened for it.

After a few seconds, Sanzo pulled Goku free from the embrace. "Rest now," he ordered, his face neutral again.

"But I'm hungry!"

Ah, the restoration of normalcy, Gojyo thought, stepping forward. "I'll order some food," he said. "Maybe you lovebirds can feed each other, huh?" he suggested.

Sanzo's head whipped around at the sound of his voice. "You were listening to us?" he asked dangerously, but Gojyo thought he heard embarrassment in his voice.

Maybe I won't tease him about the monkey being in love with him, he thought, nodding.

Sanzo's eyes narrowed. "Get me a beer!" he ordered Gojyo, "Then get out!"

Then again, he asked for it, Gojyo thought sourly as he shouted, "I'm not your servant!"

--------------the end-------------------