Disclaimer: Wahhhh! No character in this fic belongs to me at all…well, I suppose the really minor one that has an extremely brief cameo does (blinks) but he is not even worthy of a name… Everyone belongs to the amazing Kazuya Minekura. Thank you for giving us these wonderful characters to read about and to watch :-) "Baaaa…"

Rating: PG 13. This is for violence and language. I normally try to avoid using strong language where possible as I don't personally like it (I tend to substitute an equivalent word) but in the case of this story, I deemed it necessary. Gomen, though I do know, most people don't really give a smeg.

Warnings: Kay, this gets a little weird in places and there is a little OOCness, or rather I should say character exaggeration, but that is because (grins) I put Sanzo under a curse! (Cue evil laugh) WHA HA Ha ha ha (cough, splutter choke…)

There is a small amount of yaoi (male/ male relationships for those not in the know), if you don't like that please don't read, but there are no real details and the yaoi is not there just for show, there is a purpose. Hakkai and Gojyo-ness reign supreme! Early in their relationship and they have not said anything to the other two :-)

Oh yeah, I put this fic title out as a challenge. There are details about it on my author's page. I just thought it would be fun to see many different reasons as to why Sanzo MIGHT lose his twitch. Ok then, enough with the warnings and lets get on with the story :-)

The Day That Sanzo Lost His Twitch

Part 1

It was a black day. Friday the thirteenth in fact. It was the day that Sanzo lost his twitch. It was a day that would forever remain seared into the memories of all those that crossed his path, for he had been cursed by an evil witch with her dying breath for daring to call her an 'old hag' just before killing her. Sanzo had scoffed at the idea of being cursed and Gojyo, who had previously once been cursed by a god, thought Sanzo was an idiot.

After slaying the evil witch, the travelers had made their way to an inn. Nothing had happened. There had been four rooms available but Hakkai and Gojyo had insisted on sharing. Nobody knew why. The night was peaceful, the next morning's breakfast was not, however that was normal! As they left the inn, Gojyo brought up the subject of the curse.

"I wonder what will happen to Sanzo?" Gojyo mused as the four drove off.

Goku looked at Gojyo worriedly, "What do you mean, ero-kappa?"

"The curse, bakasaru, the curse!" Gojyo rolled his eyes at having to explain.

"Don't call me bakasaru." Goku said, turning worried eyes on the blonde man in front.

"Stop filling that bakasaru's head with nonsense, idiot cockroach!" Sanzo snapped twitching. "Just shut up about that foolish witch and her non-existent curse."

There was silence in the back of the jeep as the normally quarrelling twosome exchanged worried looks. A few minutes later, Goku whispered to Gojyo, "So, do you think he's worried too?"

"I would bet on it!" Gojyo whispered emphatically then grinned, "Hey, do you wanna bet on how worried he is and how serious the curse is?"

"I CAN hear you, you know!" Sanzo yelled, twitching even more.

The two in the backseat cringed down into their seats as the banishing gun made its appearance. For once they stayed silent for several hours, the fact that Goku hadn't slept much the previous night for worrying over what would happen to Sanzo and therefore falling asleep for a couple of hours had helped. Around twelve hundred hours on this Friday the thirteenth, Goku broke his silence at last.

"Haraheta… Sanzo, can we please eat soon?"

Because the two in the back seat had been quiet for so long, the normally pissy blonde in the front agreed to take a lunch break and a rest from the morning's travel.

The picnic lunch that Hakkai prepared went about as peacefully as one could expect, that is to say, not at all peacefully. As a result, the blonde did not just get pissy again, he became irate.

"URASAI!" The blonde yelled, firing several shots off from his Smith and Wesson.

The saru and the kappa jumped into each other's arms and held on for dear life. They wisely refrained from saying anything, though the saru watched his keeper with large, golden, worried puppy dog eyes. A few minutes later as the blonde began to calm down, the two decided to help the healer to clean up. Anything to keep the pissy blonde silent and calm, for just a few minutes longer. The clock ticked to thirteen hundred hours (one pm :-p) on this dark day, on this Friday the Thirteenth. Sanzo stopped twitching! The others did not realize the significance of this act. They just assumed he had calmed down enough.

Goku and Gojyo began whispering to each other again, speculating about the supposed curse once more.

"Do you think he's worried? That could be why he's acting worse than normal, I mean that was a bit of an over-reaction back there."

"Yeah, his aura was terrible," Goku shuddered at the memory. "I've never felt anything like that in my life."

Gojyo grinned, "How would you know, you don't even remember a lot of your life." Goku fell silent and Gojyo felt terrible, he hadn't meant to hurt the boy.

Hakkai gave Gojyo a 'you've done it now' smile and spoke up, "Well, mina, we are ready to travel once more." And so, they left.

The saru had remained quiet and somewhat withdrawn, no matter how much the kappa tried prodding, poking and teasing him. Goku just continued staring up ahead, into the side mirror, watching his keeper's face. Sure he had been stung by the kappa's thoughtless words but that was not enough to result in his reaction. He was worried. Something was wrong with his sun. He could sense the mood that the blonde was still in, in fact the more Gojyo continued trying to provoke him, the more Sanzo's mood seemed to be deteriorating. Yet… his face showed no sign of the turmoil within. To Goku's worried observation, the blonde was looking more and more… peaceful?

"Chibi saru, oh chibi saru," The kappa sang, prodding the monkey like boy once more, "This is the mighty Gojyo-sama calling the chibi baka saru!"

Goku finally had enough. He tore his gaze away from the reflection of the blonde in front. "Just leave me alone, you jerk!" he snapped, punching out at the kappa.

The said kappa caught the punch, happy that he had finally gotten a reaction from the boy, now maybe Goku would act normally. He opened his mouth to further provoke the saru when he felt the pissy blonde monk's harisen come crashing down on his head.

'THWAP!'

Goku pulled away from Gojyo, settling back into the corner of his seat and staring up at the face of his keeper. He felt cold, that expression that featured on the blonde's face was not normal.

Gojyo yelled in pain, the harisen had hit harder than usual.

Sanzo growled, his voice terrible, "Leave! The damn! Saru! Alone! He was actually being quiet for once in his life. You just had to go and spoil it, didn't you?"

The kappa looked up and fear filled his eyes and face. Sanzo was furious. Sanzo was not twitching like he normally would have been. Sanzo was… smiling. It was a beautiful smile but, it just didn't fit in with the mood that the monk was projecting and Gojyo felt a cold dread pass throughout his body. Sanzo was a man whom smiles really suited, unfortunately he was also a man extremely reluctant to give them. So reluctant that one could even say he was anal about it. Sanzo himself did not seem aware of his current facial expression or if he was, he did not show it.

Hakkai brought the jeep to a halt as he stared in surprise at the blonde monk. Sanzo noticed the unscheduled stop and turned, glaring at the healer while demanding to know why they had stopped. At least he thought he was glaring, whereas in fact, his smile grew even brighter. Hakkai however, could see into the pissy blondes eyes and they themselves told the truth of the matter, even if no one could have told from the voice or physical actions of the man.

Goku whimpered. Usually it was the monk who could more strongly hear/feel the monkey but this time it was Goku who was doing the feeling and he was scared.

Sanzo turned back to the saru, "What the fuck are you whimpering and cowering for?" When Goku didn't immediately reply, Sanzo's smile brightened further. Anyone would have thought it impossible that it could do so but somehow, it did. His amethyst eyes remained icy and angry. "Well?" he demanded in a furious tone.

The saru whimpered again, closing his eyes against the intensity of the blonde's gaze and that… smile He opened his mouth but no sound emerged. Sanzo raised his harisen with the intention of beating an answer out of the boy. As his arm began its descent, he suddenly felt a strong grip hold his arm in mid-air and Hakkai's normally calm voice could be heard, though this time, it held a hint of… fear?

"Please stop it Sanzo. You are scaring Goku." Hakkai persuaded.

Sanzo turned his gaze back to the healer and noticed him actually flinch slightly, though he did not remove his hand from the monk's arm nor back down. "Oh, I'm scaring that baka am I? Well, that just goes to show how much of an idiot he truly is then, doesn't it Hakkai?"

"He's not the only one you are scaring. Hakuryu is quite frightened also." It was true. Hakuryu was letting out small chirrups of fear and the entire jeep was shaking and it wasn't due to the engine either. That was turned off. Neither had Gojyo said a word. He was just staring at the monk, staring at that beautiful smile "You are over-reacting just a little, aren't you Sanzo?" Hakkai pressed.

The blonde ripped his arm from Hakkai's grip and actually went to strike the healer. Goku finally found his voice at that moment.

"STOP IT SANZO! Just stop it!" Goku yelled.

Sanzo turned, still smiling and looked down at the teenaged boy with fury in his eyes. Goku flinched again but refused to look away, he had found his voice at last and was not going to let his current fear rule him.

"Stop what?"

"Stop smiling! It's just… wrong! Twitch, scowl and glare but don't smile when you're angry." Goku cried, a desperate note in his voice.

"What the hell are you talking about saru? Have you gone insane or blind?" Sanzo could 'feel' the twitch and dammit, he was glaring! There was no way he would be, could be smiling, he didn't even smile at the best of times.

"But you are smiling and it's scary!" Goku insisted

"It is true Sanzo." Hakkai agreed.

Gojyo nodded emphatically several times.

"Take a look in the rear vision mirror if you do not believe us." Hakkai gently pressed.

Sanzo did as the healer suggested and was shocked at the sight. That was a smile, a really beautiful, bright smile. It was rare you saw a smile like this on anyone let alone on himself. His fury faded from the shock and the smile began to fade. The monk fell back down into his seat. "What the hell is going on?" he asked hollowly.

"You were cursed, remember Konzen?" A new voice spoke up highly amused.

Sanzo felt his scowl return, or rather his smile as he saw by glancing in the mirror once more. He looked where the voice had come from and smiled even more brightly. Damn it, he knew it, the so-called Merciful Goddess had turned up, again. In his opinion, the old hag was even more annoying than Goku.

"There is good news though," she continued cheerfully, "the witch was unable to complete the curse before she died. It should wear off in time."

"How long?" Sanzo growled.

Kanzeon Bosatsu smirked, "Even if I knew, I wouldn't say. It's much more interesting this way, don't you think?" She turned serious for a moment, "If I were you, dear Konzen, be a little more aware of your actions. As a result of the curse, your face shows the opposite of what you truly feel and your irritability has also increased by about ten-fold. You wouldn't want to kill someone just because you can't entirely control your own actions while under the influence of this curse, now would you?" She smiled again.

"Don't be so sure!" Sanzo snapped, "Killing an idiot or four might help."

Kanzeon Bosatsu laughed and then disappeared in a splash of light.

"So, what now?" Gojyo finally asked sometime after the goddess had left.

"You all shut up if you want to continue breathing for starters!" The blonde snarled.

All three nodded in silence.

"How long till the next town?" Sanzo snapped at Hakkai.

"At our usual speed, about two hours." Hakkai replied, if anything sounding calmer than usual.

Sanzo swallowed back his irritation. He was trying. Very! "Fine! Where possible, go faster than you would normally drive. We will find an inn, I will have a room by myself and no one will disturb me!"

Hakkai gave a nod of acknowledgement, started up the engine and drove.

Sanzo closed his eyes and tried to ignore the other three. To his amazement, there was dead silence from them, almost as if they were trying to not even move. Inwardly he gave a slight laugh, 'Like it matters.' He thought. Even just their mere presence was getting under his skin now. It was like the annoying drone of a mosquito on a hot, muggy, summer's night, only much, much worse.

As the next couple of hours progressed, the cursed monk found himself giving in to more and more incidents of extreme irritation. For example, at one stage, the wind picked up and changed directions, blowing the kappa's hair across his face. As a result of the long crimson hair tickling his nose, he had sneezed. Sanzo reacted badly! His smile grew beyond any smile the other three had ever seen. If one had compared his smile to that of Pollyanna, the eternal optimist would have come away looking like a manic depressant. The blonde had then started hitting Gojyo with his harisen repeatedly. Probably the only reason he had stopped was the combination of Hakkai verbally pleading with Sanzo to take back some control and Goku silently begging him with his large, golden eyes.

A short time later, there was another incident. Goku was starving and he had mouthed his complaints to the kappa seated beside him who had nodded understandingly and had then silently passed a packet of beef jerky to the boy. Goku had eagerly ripped the packet open and was all set to devour the contents like a 'dust buster' sucking up balls of dust. Unfortunately, the rustling of the packet had driven Sanzo to near insanity and this time it took Hakkai stopping the jeep and literally holding the irate, smiling monk back until he calmed down sufficiently to see reason. Gojyo had also had to help hold the blonde in place as well.

Once he had calmed down, Sanzo had felt really terrible about what he had done to his trusting charge, especially when he saw Goku's overly emotional eyes. Hakkai had then insisted on looking after Sanzo's harisen and just in case, his banishing gun. The blonde did not take kindly to that but had acquiesced reluctantly with the assurance from Hakkai that if they ran into any youkai, he would return the gun.

Before they reached town, there had also been a couple of punch-ups between the monk and the kappa, over pathetic, minor things. This Friday the thirteenth had been progressively getting worse. Sanzo was like a time bomb, ticking away with a motion sensitive trigger attached.

The group finally reached town and found an inn, Hakkai went in alone and secured the only two remaining rooms before bringing in the other three. They gave Sanzo a room of his own like he had requested earlier and shared the other room, resulting in them being a little cramped.

The saru, the kappa and the healer all breathed massive sighs of relief to have finally gotten out of the line of fire before collapsing in various places around the room.

"Kuso! Thank god this curse is only temporary. Are we gonna stay here till it wears off?" Gojyo asked.

Goku sat back up at the kappa's words and watched Hakkai as he replied.

Hakkai winced slightly as he sat up, he was sporting a few new bruises from trying to subdue the blonde earlier. He then gave a wan smile, "I believe that would be for the best. Don't you?"

Goku nodded in agreement while Gojyo answered.

"Actually, I think it's a great idea. I can't stand the idea of another day like today. That bouzu is bad enough on the best of days."

They were all silent for a few moments until Goku spoke up, his voice lost and forlorn. " Ne, Hakkai, what if… what if the curse doesn't wear off? I couldn't live without my sun."

Hakkai smiled gently, walked over to Goku and put a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry Goku, Sanzo will be back to his normal self soon enough. We have the assurance of the Merciful Goddess."

"Yeah, but…"

"But nothing Goku, its just a matter of time. Just believe in that fact that Sanzo is not the type to let something like this beat him." Goku nodded, still with that lost look covering his face, so Hakkai continued, "In the meantime, why don't we take a walk around town, its still early yet."

Goku nodded eagerly but both the healer and the kappa could tell that the saru was just putting on a brave face.

= = =

It was just starting to get dark when the three returned to the inn. Hakkai had made sure to pick up a couple of cartons of cigarettes in the realization that Sanzo would be going through his supply the way that Goku went through food at any mealtime. He was just about to take them to the monk when Goku jumped up with an odd expression in his eyes.

"Ne, Hakkai, can I take them to him? Please?"

Hakkai looked doubtfully at the boy, "Are you sure that it is safe?" he asked.

Goku shrugged, "Not really but… I need to see him Hakkai." Goku didn't tell the healer that he was still sensing his keeper and that the monk was practically pinging off the walls, he was so worked up. If Goku had mentioned that, then he knew that Hakkai would never agree.

"Alright Goku." Came the reluctant reply.

Goku grinned his thanks, took the cartons from Hakkai and left the room.

Gojyo looked up at the healer and raised his eyebrows while lighting one of his own cigarettes. "You do realize that you probably just sent the kid to his own execution, don't you?"

Hakkai sighed, "Possibly, but Goku was determined. Who can say no to him when he looks at you like that? Even Sanzo has a hard time doing so. Besides," he added after a brief thoughtful pause, "who knows. Those two, they have a connection, that may just go in Goku's favour."

Gojyo snorted, "Then again, it may not!" Hakkai nodded. "That 'connection' has often irritated the hell out of that bouzu."

"That is true," Hakkai agreed, "but I don't think it annoys him quite as much as he lets on."

"I hope not, for the kid's sake. Anyway," Gojyo said with a sudden grin, "lets take advantage of the fact that we're alone for the moment."

Hakkai laughed, "You and your one track mind. However, now isn't the time."

"Really? Goku is out of the room and the three of us are going to have to share tonight and for god knows how long. Tell me, when is the time then?" he smirked.

"You've got me." Hakkai shrugged with a smile.

Gojyo jumped to his feet "You don't know how right you are." He grinned and dragged the other man over to the bed with his arms wrapped around him.

= = =

Goku hesitated at Sanzo's door, suddenly too scared to knock but refusing to admit defeat. An extremely irritated voice called from within.

"If you plan on entering, then damn well do it! You're annoying me by just standing there."

The boy swallowed but hesitated no further. He opened the door and walked in. The room was in darkness and the curtains drawn, making the room almost impossible to make out, though he could just see Sanzo sitting there on the end of the bed.

"What the hell do you want, saru?"

"Um… We brought you some cigarettes while we were looking around town." Goku answered, walking over to the blonde and handing the two cartons to him.

Silence… and then a slight grunt of thanks. Sanzo immediately opened the first carton and lit up a cigarette. He sighed in relief.

Goku stood there for a few minutes. Sanzo finished the first smoke and instantaneously lit up another. He then looked up at the standing Goku.

"What?" he demanded.

"Do you mind if I stay here for awhile? I'll be quiet." Goku assured the monk.

"Do what you want, just don't blame me if I kill you."

Goku nodded, "Is it ok if I sit down?"

"Thought you said you would be quiet."

"I will!"

"That's impossible for you. You've been noisy all afternoon. Saying my name, over and over."

"Huh? But, I… wasn't even here."

"Didn't stop you." Sanzo retorted. He was actually starting to feel better. The cigarettes were helping and with Goku being near him, the saru wasn't fretting anywhere near as much as he had been and Sanzo wasn't able to mentally hear him now the way he had been before Goku had entered the room.

Goku was true to his word and they sat in silence, to Sanzo's surprise, for about an hour until Hakkai knocked gently on the door calling Goku down to dinner. He promised to bring something up for Sanzo a little later.

= = =

After dinner, the three went back to their room. Goku was the first to enter and upon looking at the state of it, he stopped dead, causing Gojyo to crash into him.

"Oof! What the hell didja stop in the middle of the doorway for, baka saru?"

"Someone's been in here."

"Yeah, us!"

"No… it looks like there was some sort of struggle…" Goku paused, "You don't think… Sanzo came in here and then something happened to him, do you?" Panic suddenly seized the boy as he pushed Gojyo hurriedly aside and ran to Sanzo's room, calling the monk's name anxiously on the way.

"Goku!" Hakkai called though he was too late. Goku had already thrown open the door to Sanzo's room and switched on the light.

"Shimata!" Gojyo cursed, dreading the consequences.

Goku looked frantically into the room, spotting the brightly smiling Sanzo very quickly. "Thank…" he was cut off as all sorts of objects, some sharp and others blunt, some heavy, some heavier and then some light as Sanzo ran out of things to throw, came flying furiously across the room, crashing into the stunned Goku.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING BAKAZARU?" Sanzo screamed in an irritated fury.

"I… I'm sor… sorry!" Goku stammered from where he had fallen. "Our room was a mess and I… I thought that maybe you went in there for some reason and that someone had attac…"

"GET OUT BEFORE I FUCKING KILL YOU!"

Goku hurriedly picked himself off the floor, "Go… gomen." He pushed past Hakkai and Gojyo, running back to the room that he and the other two were sharing.

Hakkai closed the blonde monk's door with a disapproving look on his face and then he and Gojyo followed the boy back to their room.

"Goku? Are you alright?" Hakkai asked after a couple of minutes. Goku was lying face down on the rumpled bed. He didn't answer. "I can… explain what happened in here. Gojyo… had an accident and knocked a few things over in his… enthusiasm."

Gojyo, unseen by Goku, raised his eyebrows, "I don't remember being the only one enthusiastic one, or the only one knocking things." He smirked. "But, I am sorry Goku. We should have cleaned up before going to dinner."

Still no reply, Hakkai frowned and touched the boy's shoulder, Goku flinched. "Goku?" he asked, suddenly even more concerned than he had already been. "Please turn over."

"Don' wanna." The boy mumbled.

"Goku." Hakkai repeated firmly in a tone that brooked no argument.

The boy slowly and reluctantly turned over. There was already dark purple bruising and several cuts covering his face. Blood ran freely from one cut in particular and from the other cuts, the blood had only welled to the surface. Goku blinked back the tears that he had been desperately trying to hide and refused to look at his friend. "I… I was only worried ab…" he choked, "about him."

Hakkai frowned disapprovingly, "You weren't only hit in the face, were you?"

The boy shook his head.

"Where else?"

"My chest and shoulders." Came the mumbled reply.

"Let me take a look, please."

Goku wasn't very thrilled with the idea but acquiesced.

"Oh man…" Gojyo said softly as he saw the dark discolouration covering much of the boy's upper body. "That bouzu has gone too far this time. I'm going to go give him what he deserves!" The kappa made to leave the room.

Goku looked panicked and neither was Hakkai too thrilled either. "Gojyo, stop right there! I don't you coming face-to-face with Sanzo. I don't wish to even think of the consequences."

"Something has to be done!" Gojyo said angrily.

"Maybe, but please let me deal with it. First though, I need to look after Goku."

Gojyo glared but sat down again, watching as Hakkai cleaned up the cuts on the saru's face. Hakkai let his healing ki wash over the worst of Goku's cuts and covered the more minor ones with bandaids.

After Hakkai had finished, he said, "Try to get some sleep, Goku."

Goku lay back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. "I can't sleep, not with this… not with Sanzo like this."

"I don't want to see you getting sick." The healer insisted, "Would you like me to fix you something to help you sleep?"

Goku shook his head and turned over once more, "Please just leave me alone."

Hakkai sighed and exchanged a glance with his best friend and partner. They then silently left the room and went downstairs to the bar.

To be continued

= = =

Part 2 has been written and typed up and it will be posted either on Thursday night or Friday night :-) When I first started this, I didn't realize there was a Friday the thirteenth coming up and once I did when I was about halfway through the story, I decided I would wait before putting it up.