All in the Family
The three-fourths of the Sanzo party struggled through an insurmountable overgrowth of trees. There was vegetation everywhere, and it was all packed so close together that they basically had to crawl through the forest. Hakkai slipped effortlessly though a tight opening between two trees, Sanzo climbed over a fallen trunk, and Goku grabbed into a low-hanging branch and swung over the mess.
"Tch... he really is a monkey," Sanzo said.
"No, I'm not!"
"Nevertheless, that was very chimp-like behavior," Hakkai added.
"I'm not a monkey!"
"Shut up!" Sanzo yelled. "You're too noisy even without the perverted kappa!"
For a moment everyone froze, as though remembering why they were in this mess in the first place. Several days ago, they had woken up to one empty bed in the motel they'd been staying in. Hakkai and Goku had been instantly crushed. Sanzo- in spite of all his denial- was actually worried too. At least, Hakkai was fairly certain that he was. Or perhaps he was simply aggravated that Gojyo had disobeyed a direct order. It was hard to tell with Sanzo.
Even as they resumed climbing through the overgrowth, the mood was strangely silent. Sanzo was the first to move on, jumping down from a fallen tree trunk and moving straight ahead. Hakkai continued to to move in a zigzagged pattern through the trees. Goku decided not to swing on the branches anymore. He was tired of being called a monkey. Instead he followed Sanzo, who was struggling straight through any obstacles in his path.
"Hey, Hakkai?"
"Yes, Goku?"
"Earlier, ya said somethin' about us bein' a family, right?"
Hakkai stopped to gaze at Goku curiously while Sanzo huffed and continued on through the trees. Hakkai had made a comment that they were like a little family earlier, while they were down by the river. Sanzo and himself had been under the shade of a tree, watching Goku bathe like a married couple out on a picnic with their son.
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"If you guys are the parents and I'm the kid, then what's Gojyo?" Goku didn't like being called a kid, but it didn't really matter. He felt that Gojyo needed to be included, even if he wasn't with them right now. Gojyo was a part of their family too.
"Hm..." Hakkai held his chin and thought about it for a moment. Then he raised his index finger and said, "Gojyo is our rebellious teenager."
"Like hell he is!" Sanzo angrily shot back.
Goku laughed. He thought it was funny, even if Sanzo didn't. "But, how come?"
"Well, he's not responsible enough to be an adult." Hakkai answered. "But he's not small enough to be a child, and he's certainly not innocent."
"Also, because he's older than me, right?"
"Yes, that's another reason."
"But why the rebellious part?"
"Because he doesn't listen to his parents."
"I'm really going to kill you," Sanzo threatened, an irritated tone to his voice.
"The father doesn't approve of the rebellious teenager's actions..." Hakkai added, looking at Sanzo for a moment before referring to himself. "But the mother is always concerned about her child."
Goku laughed even harder.
"Didn't I tell you to shut up!" Sanzo yelled.
"Would you prefer that I switch the roles of 'mother' and 'father' then, Sanzo?" Hakkai mischievously replied.
"I'm not a part of your fake family!" Sanzo insisted, as he angrily stomped off into the woods.
"Oh dear, it seems I've angered your father."
"I hate it when you guys fight."
Hakkai and Goku looked at each other for a moment. For some reason, this pretend family was starting to seem all too real. Hakkai had the sudden urge to run off after Sanzo and say something completely ridiculous to lighten the mood. Maybe something like, "What about the opera you promised to take me to on Friday night, Dear?"
Sanzo would definitely shoot him.