Title: Impromptu Father

Series: Saiyuki Gaiden

Pairing: Sanzo x Goku (sorry, no H this time)

Rating: G

It's odd and more than a tad unpleasant, knowing you're responsible for another living being. Making sure they're fed, clothed, sheltered, that no one picks on them, to comfort them when they're upset or hurt, to defend them, to love them.

It's also a bit hard sometimes, watching them make new friends, turning away from you as they grow, coming back when the world's not as nice as they thought it was, and that small swell of pride when they've lived up to all your expectations.

So what am I supposed to do now that they've dropped this big eyed child in my lap? Oh, they smiled pleasantly enough, all the while telling me he's now my responsibility, my gift, for being so...well, that's probably why I'm sitting here with something between a cat and a monkey crawling around me with those saucers they call eyes looking up as if to say, 'I don't know about this one,' and then giggling as five clawed little fingers grab a fistful of hair and swing it back and forth happily, mumbling something about the sun and all that.

"Well, at least he's out of his nappies." There's the glint of light on glass and a soft laugh behind me and I'm not sure, but I don't think I'm allowed to kill anyone while some midget curls up in my lap and falls asleep, a gentle snore sighing out of him as he burrows in deeper, my hair still clenched tightly, like he's afraid I won't be here when he wakes up.

"He's cute in a lost puppy sort of way don't you think?" another glint from the sun and I can almost hear those lips twitch into a curl.

"As long as he's quiet." My answer's gruff, but my hand is gentle as I lightly brush back a few wayward strands from his eyes, smiling softly as he curls in closer.

Fin.