Title: Song of Sun Author: Madyamisam Disclaimer: I don't own anything pertaining to the franchise of Saiyuki, which makes me sad :(

Summary: A street parade has come to Chang An Temple and is disturbing the peace so Sanzo has to find a way to solve the problem as well as dealing with an errant monkey who has taken a liking to the festival.

A/N: This story is set before the original Saiyuki journey starts. It is set in a couple a months after the winter season when Goku overcomes his fear of snow. Goku should be I think 16, Sanzo is 21 and Hakkai and Gojyo would be 20. This is part of the Secrets of Sun collection. 天望下地地望上天

Right on schedule the singing had started at the crack of dawn. It had been like this for the past two weeks since the caravan came and set up camp outside the temple walls which meant that nearly all the acolytes would come flocking towards him in droves, complaining about the loud music and the scantily clad dancing women. Sanzo hated these kinds of festivities too, preferring to sit quietly by the window sill with a newspaper, a cup of tea and his cigarettes. However, the song being sung in the morning was a simple tune and the foreign words that rolled out of the singer's voice in the early hours didn't bother him in the slightest. On the contrary, it was a welcoming feeling, carrying warmth and comfort but with a hint of sadness.

It was likely the only reason why he had not made more of an effort to try to relocate the caravan away from the temple yet. Closing his eyes, Sanzo listened to the lullaby in its entirety before he forced himself to get up and attend to his daily duties such as paperwork and petty problems the Chang An idiots would throw his way. What was most on his mind, however, was the biggest idiot of the lot whom he had unwittingly developed a close attachment to the past three years. Not that he would ever admit it out loud to Goku's face but at least, the monkey's antics were easier to stomach than some of the hypocritical bullshit amongst some other members of the shrine.

So, when Hakkai informed him of what was going on with the golden eyed youth and the rest of the monks while his back was turned, he was naturally irritated. Although the gossiping about why he bothered taking Goku in had stopped now, it seemed it had given rise to something Sanzo detested even more. The short song had ended too soon as did the 5 minute lie in. Sanzo could feel his head start to throb the moment there was a knock on the door of his room.

"Master Sanzo, are you awake?"

"Yeah, what is it?" "We humbly ask for your presence at the main hall. We would like to discuss with you an issue of great importance." Sanzo sighed. He really needed a cigarette. - By the time the important meeting had finished Sanzo was about ready to not only kill someone but eviscerate them, slowly. It was the same asinine allusions that the monks were under the risk of getting distracted from their daily routines. Women were sinful after all. "Isn't it their own lack of discipline that allowed for such temptations in the first place?" he muttered under his breath. It took the blonde priest a while to notice a familiar green eyed brunet who was standing at the entrance watching the monks mill out of the room. He mentally groaned when he recognised the 'we need to talk' smile. "Aren't you supposed to be tutoring Goku today?"

"I decided that we could finish early. It's the Flower and Fruit Festival after all. Gojyo and I would like to get a chance to see that dance troupe caravan that has been camping outside the temple these past two weeks."

"Well this might be your last chance. They're leaving first thing in the morning." Sanzo glanced around and noticed something was off. He sighed taking the cue towards the actual issue of their discussion.

"Where is the monkey anyway?"

"A friend of his dropped by to say hello, I think her name's Mala." Sanzo could feel another headache come along as he was reminded of the claims made by the monks. It didn't take him long to figure out where they had based their accusations on. His suspicions were confirmed upon seeing the so-called friend sitting on the top of the wall swinging her legs loosely while watching Goku shovelling fresh compost for the temple crops. He was about to head over to tell the brat to take a hike when the Hakkai stopped him in his tracks.

"What are you-?"

"Just hold back a moment Sanzo," Hakkai replied with that annoying enigmatic smile of his. The blonde priest growled but remained rooted to the spot to continue to observe. The gypsy girl was silent while watching Goku go about his chores and seemed deep in thought. Sanzo could tell that she was nervous about something as she was playing with the ends of her long dark braid and chewing on her bottom lip. A faint hue of pink started to show on her cheeks as she finally gathered up the courage to speak.

"Hey Goku?" "Hmm?" the golden eyed youth looked up from his work. "I was just thinking that temple life really doesn't seem to suit you. For one thing, you're too nice and so, I was wondering if you might want to come join the caravan?"

Sanzo unwittingly became tense, recalling the time when he first brought Goku to the temple and had been trying to figure out what to do with him. He remembered going through the various possible options in order to put Goku to foster care so he would never have to deal with him again. Most annoying of all he remembered the boy's face looking confused and frightened, something he had not picked up on at the time. Now, three years on Goku was being offered that opportunity to have a family that Sanzo had once promised him. Admittedly, it was impossible given the circumstances of Goku's mental state should the golden circlet on his head ever come off but Sanzo also knew that the life at the temple was not something Goku really needed. "Everybody there really likes you. The Chief even thinks of you like a son. I know we're not the conventional home but you get to see all sorts of things and try out different kinds of food. I think you'd be really happy with us and…" Mala stopped herself at that point and silence fell between them.

Goku pursed his lips, deep in thought. It was a rarity for even Sanzo to see considering the youth was constantly hanging around him most of the time and chattering non-stop for the past three years. This of course it usually ended with a smack of a large paper fan that kept Goku quiet for a little while before the whole process started all over again. At the moment though, Sanzo found himself holding his breath as Goku continued to ponder about the proposal.

"I suppose you're right about the temple and stuff. I don't really like most of the things around here." Goku's pout turned into a grin. "But it's ok." Goku replied cheerfully as he continued working. "As long as Sanzo is here, I think I'll be fine." Mala's expression fell with disappointment and watched him continue to work a little longer. Sighing, she carefully stood up on the wall and then flashed him a smile, exuding with an exotic confidence that proved she was a veteran performer of her caravan.

"Priest Sanzo sounds like a pretty cool guy if he can get you to stay in this crap of a temple." Goku looked confused for a moment at the sudden change of demeanour but smiled back as she elegantly tip toed across the wall like a street wise tom cat.

"I don't know about 'cool' but he is ok."

"You'll at least come to the show later right?" Goku laughed at the girl's antics as she did a cartwheel.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it." With the conversation over, Mala skipped back over the wall. Sanzo sighed and leaned against the wall he and Hakkai were hiding behind.

"What. A. Moron." drawled a voice that had always annoyed Sanzo. He glared at the lanky red eyed, red head that was Sha Gojyo who had just arrived to join them. "A chance to leave this stuffed up temple to travel with a caravan filled with plenty of food, drink and hot chicks and he rejects it for your sorry droopy eyed ass?"

"It's none of your business, kappa. Besides he's made his choice."

"More like he doesn't know any better, you stinking monk,"

"Now, now there's no need to get testy. Loyalty isn't a bad trait. I personally find it quite endearing." Hakkai said stepping between the two. It seemed that Sanzo and Gojyo would always have some level of animosity towards each other even on friendly terms.

"To hell with loyalty, it's just plain stupid. I ought to knock some sense into that freaking brat." Gojyo was about to step up to smack the teenager upside the head when someone else had stormed into the courtyard. A monk, one of the older acolytes whom Sanzo recognised had been in the meeting earlier that day. He was also one of the loudest of the protesters and had a face wrinkled with the obvious look of disdain. Sanzo knew that the man had it in for Goku.

"Boy," he addressed spitefully. "Have you finished with tilling that soil yet?"

"Nearly done, just this patch left." Goku replied curtly knowing that the monk was probably going to give him another earful.

"Unacceptable, you should've gotten it done hours ago."

"I would've done it hours ago if everyone else hadn't just dropped their chores on to me to go to that meeting." It was at that moment a loud grumble from the young brunets stomach interjected with its own protest. "I didn't even have enough time to finish breakfast today."

"So I presume you also helped yourself to more food from the kitchen again." the monk sneered. "Whilst I find your level of gluttony deplorable, what I find the most disturbing is your recent behaviour. You realise in accordance with Buddhist teachings, this temple forbids women to set foot on sacred ground, yet I know you not only allow these gypsy girls to enter here you openly fraternize with them." Goku blinked a few times and scratched at the gold crown on his head.

"Fra-tar-ta? Is that yummy?" he asked innocently, genuinely confused with the strange word. The monk's face went red with rage.

"You're an absolute disgrace. Don't you even feel a shred of gratitude to Master Sanzo's generosity in taking you in?" Goku visibly flinched as the words left the acolyte's lips and the young monk knew exactly how to manipulate the situation to subdue the teen's unruly behaviour. He smirked triumphantly. "Why don't you make yourself useful and draw some water from the well? Perhaps it'll get you to think about disciplining yourself and not cause Master Sanzo any more trouble?" Gojyo was ready to give the upstart monk a piece of a knuckle sandwich when Sanzo stepped from behind the wall and blocked his path, his own rage radiating out in waves.

"Who's causing me trouble now?" he growled dishing out the mother of all death glares. The acolyte's face blanched completely white, his eyes wide with absolute terror.

"M-m-master S—S-Sanzo." He stuttered and it was plain to see that the man could end up fainting at any moment.

"I saw you at the main hall. Shoran, I believe your name is right?" the monk nodded and Sanzo relished watching the man squirm.

"You were sure hollering out really loudly today. So loud, in fact, I thought your voice would give out. It would've been an improvement if it had." Sanzo got right into the young man's face staring down with his ferocious violet eyes.

"Now since you've just said that Goku's completed a number of chores from the other acolytes, you could perhaps finish off some of his duties to make up for all the time you wasted this morning? That would be fair wouldn't you say?"

"I… y—y-yes sir" gurgled the panic stricken monk. Sanzo then went to take the spade from Goku and shoved it towards the petrified man.

"Then you can start with finishing this job off. Make sure to do all the other duties as well and they better be finished by the time I come back. Goku, get over here." Sanzo stalked away from the courtyard followed by Hakkai, Gojyo and a bemused Goku. Shoran trembled as he started to work. He gave a small shriek when Sanzo spoke again. "Oh and Shoran, if I hear even a whisper of you or any of the other monks throwing my name and position about like that again, I'll make sure that completing the daily chores will be the least of your problems." -

When they were out of the courtyard and out of ear shot, the red head chortled. "The look on his face, it was priceless."

"Well Sanzo can get quite frightening at times."

"You're one to talk Hakkai, you're one of the scariest people in existence."

"Dear me, that's not a very nice thing to say to me, Gojyo." Hakkai pouted at the friendly tease but his attention turned to an unusually quiet Goku who was looking at anything but his guardian. Sanzo walked up to the 16 year old that was busy staring at his feet.

"Goku?"

"Yeah?" A loud resounding crack was heard as Sanzo's fan connected with the youth's head. Goku glared at the harisen then yelled at its owner. "What the hell was that for?"

"For being an idiot, you stupid chimp." Sanzo growled and smacked the young brunet a few more times for good measure. "Because you went around doing everyone else's chores, those bastards had more free time to come bother me with their moronic whining."

"Ow, ow, ow. Will you quit it? I just didn't want to give them another reason to complain to you about and they would've dumped their chores on some other kid anyway if I didn't." Goku ranted back rubbing the sore spot on his head. Sanzo sighed and placed his hand on the brunet's forehead and pushed it slightly back to make Goku look at him. 'Damn monkey and his noble sensibilities' he thought as Goku appeared lost and confused.

"In case you haven't heard earlier I'll sort that out. In the meantime, you just do the chores you've been assigned to and nothing else. Got it?" It took a moment for the words to register but what happened next disturbed Sanzo more than anything.

"Ok" Goku replied wearily. His gold eyes had glazed over and seemed appeared to stare past him. Sanzo frowned when he saw that. It was one other thing that he had noticed recently, the kid had started spacing out a lot, sometimes dropping off to sleep altogether during lessons. Sanzo remembered the number of times he called out to him, usually followed by another smack of the fan to snap Goku out of his daze and this occasion was no different. "Come on, let's go."

"Where're we going?" Goku had blinked a few times rubbing the spot where the paper fan had hit him again.

"Out to eat. The kappa insists on treating us." While Goku lit up immediately at the prospect of food, Gojyo's chuckled humourlessly.

"Heh, and here I was thinking you had a soft side." -

TBC

Sam: Ok I had hoped to write this as a one shot but it just seems easier to separate this into chapters and make it flow better. I guess… :S apologies for the big lump of text when I first posted. I've rectified that now so you can actually see what you are reading. At any rate, this story will soon provide our first major clue in unravelling a mystery. A mystery that involves the secrets of So-

Gojyo: Boooorrrinnng…

Sam: You haven't given me a chance yet.

Sanzo: We don't need to, you're a shitty writer. That's why you don't get any reviews. You don't even beta this crap…

Sam: T_T

Hakkai: Now, now, Sanzo. There's really no need to say such things.

Sam: Aww… Hakkai…

Hakkai: Even if they are true. It's not right to dash the poor girl's efforts.

Sam: You guys are the worst muses ever. :(