Fatherhood Chapter 1

The sky was in a kaleidoscope spread of crystal blue and so clear that thick cotton clouds looked transparent. Though the afternoon sun was high in the sky, the light breeze spread across the field and onwards to the nearby town, cooling the townspeople of the heat, refreshing their mind off the hard morning's work. In the heart of the town, the townspeople gathered around the food stalls or restaurants for their noon meal. Everyone was eating heartily, slurping down bowls of noodles mixed with meat and vegetables as they washed it all down with a mug of beer or two. There was absolutely no particular reason for anyone to make any commotion.

Except for 4 persons.

"Gojyo!" yelled Goku, a lanky lad of brown hair and golden eyes. "You ate my dumpling!"

"Oh really?" replied the red haired ruffian, chewing on one end of a toothpick. "I didn't see your name on it, baka saru (stupid monkey)!"

"It was on my plate! You kappa!"

"Did you write your name on any of these plates I see before my eyes?" Besides," Grinning. "The one who gets to put the dumpling in his mouth wins."

"Curse you water-leaking red hair!"

"What was that? Brainless monkey!" Gojyo glared.

"Yeah!" Goku shook his fist at him. "You heard me, water leech!"

"Damn you dimwit!" Stood up and towered over the lad. "Do you want to ask for a fight?"

"Sure! Go ahead!" Goku undauntedly replied. "I'll beat you to a pulp!"

"Alright then! Let's go outside!"

"SHUT UP!!!!" hollered their companion, a blond haired man as he shot two bullets at them with one hand and ate his food with the other. The two instantly quieted down and submissively returned to their seats. "One more crap from you two and I'll kill the both of you!"

The group nearest to them was staring at them awkwardly, especially the blond man. His fair face was painted with sternness, enhanced by his piercing violet eyes. Dressed in smooth flowing robes, a red charka on his forehead and scroll of scriptures donning his shoulders. The group was very curious in whether this man could be what they think he should be.

"He's a monk, isn't he?"

"I think so but he used a gun just now, didn't he?"

"Err… excuse me?" A man appeared soundlessly behind the startling group, in oriental shirt and jeans with half a pair of glasses upon his right eye. "My companion just used a gun. Were you injured or harmed in anyway?"

"No…" One of them answered slowly and cautiously.

"Yokkatta (What a relief)!" Smiling politely as he bowed. "Please continue enjoying your meal."

"Hakkai!" The blond man yelled. "What are you doing? Let's go!"

"Yes, Sanzo," He bowed again. "Excuse me." Holding both Goku and Gojyo by the arms towards the door. "Let's go or else Sanzo will get angry and start shooting again."

"We can't!" Goku wailed, stretching his hands in the empty air. "There's dessert!"

"Beer!" Gojyo whined. "Women!"

Once more, two gunshots were heard. "HURRY UP!!!" More gunshots. "TOO SLOW!!!" Sanzo yelled again as he took his seat. Hakkai sat onto the driver's seat and the other two helped themselves to the back. Goku was moaning. Gojyo was grumbling.

"Damn this corrupt monk. Why is he always never running out of bullets?" He heard the engine rumbling. "The next town, I'm going to make sure that I have enough beer till my belly explode."

"I can make it happen right now," Sanzo smirked, pointing his gun at Gojyo's stomach. "Your stomach will explode so much that you can see your intestinal organs on the spot!"

"Genjo!" Someone called out to him. Everyone turned and saw a lady running up to them. She was waving to them cheerfully, the chestnut braids swaying across her milky face. The acorn eyes twinkled the energy of her youth as her cerise lips parted again. The sound was like a lark singing a summer's song. "Genjo!" She said again, her dainty hands grasped the edge of the jeep's door. With a huge smile, "My goodness, I thought I will never see you. If you haven't use your gun, I would have missed you."

"Hmm…" Gojyo leaned over to Sanzo. "Seems like you have gotten yourself a girl. Who's she? Sanzo? Sanzo?" Waving his hand over Sanzo's face. "Are you there?" Tapping his head.

Sanzo didn't say anything. Instead, he got out of the jeep and stared at the lady. Still, he didn't say anything. The trio was finding this completely odd. For once, their Sanzo was speechless and his face said it all. It went on for a while before he could say something audible.

"Azami." He held out his hand and caressed her cheek. "Azami…"

Tears brimmed in Azami's eyes as she pressed his hand. Then, before anyone knew it, the two were in each other's arms, hugging intensely, shocking Gojyo and Goku, even the ever-composed Hakkai. For the first time in the history of their journey, Sanzo was actually in an intimate physical contact with a woman! The monks back in Changan Temple would definitely condemn him to the pits even lower than the pits of Hell. Yet, they could see the joy glowing in Azami's face, melting away the exterior iciness of Sanzo into contented happiness.

Just then, a bubbly little boy came ran up to them. His messy mop of blond hair was tossing up and down his fair smiling face. He looked at Sanzo, his acorn eyes blinking innocently. Noticing the boy, Sanzo loosened his arms on Azami, who bent down and picked him up. The boy giggled, cooed and stretched out his cubby hand towards Sanzo.

That was it! I have to say something before I go crazy!!

"SANZO! Who is she?" Gojyo desperately questioned, his red hair literally standing on its ends. This entire mushy lovely dovey thing was killing him.

"Sanzo!" Goku echoed. His golden eyes burnt for an answer. "What's going on?"

"It's…" Hakkai not knowing what's he saying. "So unusual of you to behave like this."

"I'm sorry," Azami replied, "My name is Azami. And this little man," Holding the little boy close to her. "This little man is my son." Turning to Sanzo. "Our son, Genjo."

Instantly, the jeep's engine went silent. The trio shot their eyes at Sanzo, eyes wider than the Earth's fireball. Rooted to the ground, Sanzo stared blankly at chirpy little boy waving his cubby hands at him. With little strength that remained from this shocking revelation, he faintly stammered.

"I'm a father?"

To Be Continued

Hee! Another Sanzo fic! GeneWeiß always believes Sanzo is actually a nice, caring person beneath the brutal frankness, indifferent, ruffian exterior. Thank you for reading. GeneWeiß awaits your reviews…