Standard disclaimer applies.

Ratings: Ratings will vary from one chapter to the other, so on the safe side, I'll keep it at "T". T for language and violence.

Spoilers: Some chapters will contain spoilers for the manga and/or anime. Be warned.

Chapter One

The night was quiet. The only sounds you'd hear were those of the forest crawlers. He sat up, and his eyes surveyed their surroundings, before shifting to the night sky. Guessing it must be a couple of hours before dawn, he decided to just wait by the fire, or what's left of it, until his companions wake up.

Yawning, he searched through one of the bags to find himself an early breakfast. Pulling out a bag of pork meat-buns, he sat against a tree, and as usual, the contents were quickly devoured.

"Next time, we should get more meat buns" He said to himself as a yawn escaped. Can't go to sleep, don't want to go to sleep.

The birds started chirping, and the night sky was slowly turning to a lighter color.

"Goku?"

He turned to him, "Mornin' Hakkai!" Don't let them worry.

"Good Morning, Goku. You're up early, again," Hakkai said, not in the least surprised. After all, it's been almost a week now since their youngest last had a good night sleep. He'd stay awake all night, and then as soon as they hit the road, he'd fall asleep. If he was lucky, they'd make it through the day with out getting attacked. He hoped that today would be a lucky day.

"Goku, can you fill up everyone's canteens from the stream nearby?"

"Sure," Grabbing the said items, he ran off to complete his task.

With the sound of blankets being pulled, the healer turned to face another one of his companions waking up, "Ah, good morning Gojyo,"

"Man, when are we reaching the next town Hakkai, I miss sleeping on a bed! My back freakin' hurts!" Said kappa as he took the hot coffee cup given to him.

"Shut up, kappa!"

"Good morning, Sanzo." Hakkai greeted as he handed him his morning coffee.

"Why is Mr. worldly priest so cranky in the morning?"

Thus, the morning begins. Hakkai though to himself.

Before he can get a reply, he saw the priest look behind him. Turning around, "Damn, not again!" Gojyo cursed. The young boy was walking slowly towards them,

"Huh? What's wrong?" He asked innocently. He wasn't as energetic as before, and black circles were visible around his eyes from his lack of night sleep.

They all knew about it from the start. The first night it happened, they thought he had a bad dream or something, but then it happened the very next night, and now it's almost a week. He wasn't sleeping regularly, and this caused his fatigue.

"Nothin'" Gojyo turned around and helped Hakkai pack their sleeping bags, leaving his empty cup behind.

"What's wrong with Gojyo?" Goku turned to Sanzo.

The question should be what's wrong with you, saru? Sanzo sipped his coffee, and ignored him.

At the other side of their camp, Hakuryuu has already transformed himself into a jeep, while Hakkai and Gojyo placed their belongings.

"What are we going to do about the saru?" Gojyo placed the last of their bags in.

"I told him that I have some herbs that would help him relax and sleep at night, but he refused them." Hakkai folded his arms across his chest, "Maybe it's time for Sanzo to ask him,"

"Last time I checked, he said he doesn't care,"

"But he can't keep going like this, his body will tire."

"Let's try and make to the next town, maybe things will get better then"

"I hope you're right"

Turning to the rest of their group, "Sanzo, Goku! We're ready to go."

They departed for their next destination.

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The road was easy to drive on, and the atmosphere inside the jeep, remained as quiet as the past few days. Gojyo in the backseat, smoking. Sanzo, staring at the road before them, and also smoking. Glancing through the mirror, he saw Goku, fighting to stay awake. His eyelids would slowly close, and then a few seconds would pass, before he'd force them open. They were…tired. Sighing.

"Goku, why don't you take a nap. We'll wake you as soon as we reach the next town" he suggested.

"N-No, I'm fine. I don't want to sleep." He said as he leaned against the jeep, and stared at the road.

Gojyo was officially bored. For almost a week, he hasn't heard the monkey whine for food, and he hasn't tried to pick a fight with him. Hell, he tried to annoy him, just to get some reaction out of him, still he was ignored! Damn it!

Sanzo glanced at the monkey from the side mirror, he drifted to sleep, even though he just told Hakkai, he didn't want to. Bakazaru!
Even though, he enjoyed the peace and quiet for the past few days, he knew it will never sit with him that the saru isn't acting normal. And somehow, the drives were getting rather boring.

After a couple of hours, Hakkai decided they take a short stop. Before asking about him, Gojyo replied, "he's still asleep."

"I just hope we make to the next town before sunset, maybe he'll be able to sleep then."

"Sanzo? Has Goku told you anything?"

"Hell if I know,"

"Here's a suggestion, ASK HIM!" Gojyo almost yelled at the monk.

"He'll tell me, when he wants to tell me! I don't like getting into other peoples fucking problems!"

"Fine, if you won't ask, I will!" Gojyo said.

"Gojyo, I doubt he'll tell you anything," Hakkai said as he got ready to drive. "Shall we go?"

"Che" Sanzo grunted as he got into his side of the jeep.

"Stupid ass monk," Gojyo mumbled as he lit another Hi-lit.

Finally, as the sun was setting, the ikkou made it to the next town. Gojyo was happy to relieve the stress with a few drinks. While Hakkai shopped for supplies with Hakuryuu, Sanzo and Goku remained in their rooms.

Sanzo was reading through the headlines of the newspaper, and Goku was leaning on the table, arms crossed, as his head rested on them. He hasn't whined for food, and he was too quiet. "It's night again," he said in a whisper to himself, and although the priest heard it, he ignored it.

"Sanzo? Can I ask you something?" he spoke in a low voice. Unusual thing for such a noisy saru.

When a reply didn't come, Goku turned his head to the side. Sensing the change, Sanzo decided it was about time he solved his stupid sleep problem or Hakkai and Gojyo will annoy the shit out of him.

"You're gonna keep whining about it, what is it?" He asked without glancing away from the newspaper.

Surprised by the response, still, he wanted to ask, and he wanted an answer,

"Um…"he swallowed before continuing, "Sanzo, do you…do you still dream of the night your master was killed?"

05.10.2007