Chapter 2: Their proofs and a red festival of tangerines.

A/N: Hi again. The second chapter is now up! Damn it, I'm suppose to post this up by the 9th of February, which is also the first day of the Lunar Chinese New Year. That's MY deadline! Not to mention that I'm always punctual... YEAH! Tangerines, YUM! And I'm sorry, Itchan, I've implied the CNY FESTIVAL in this chapter (or so you believed me! Nyaahha!). Okay enough squabbling from me, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope. They're Kazuya Minekura's, not mine and never will be... just wished to have Sanzo's paper fan, feel like torturing a few friends of mine with it... Hehehehe (BIG evil grin). BUT, I own this fanfic, plot, and the crazy fact about Sanzo's long-sightedness.

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"So... how Sanzo got this...long-sightedness? " Goku changed their subject. " Do you catch it like a cold? "

Gojyo and Hakkai stared at Goku with their mouth half-opened and wide-eyed. Until Gojyo laughed out hysterically, breaking the solemn ambience and causing the innocence-filled Goku to jump up slightly and was startled by him. "BWAHAHAHAHAHAH-HAAH! Hakkai-heheh-did you hear what Goku said..HAHAHAA!" Gojyo said in between laughter.

"Gojyo..hmmhpm..you know it's not polite to do so...hmphmm-heh..." Hakkai was definitely chuckling, he had his hand clamped over mouth, trying his best to hold back the fury of laughter running all over his nerves. And managed to cool down too"Well, Goku. You can't 'catch' long-sightedness."

"But you two still doesn't have to laugh at me..." Goku frowned, he was a little hurt by their actions, and reached for the paper bags to searched for some tidbits to snack on. Food seems to be the best medicine to him. Gojyo had finally calmed himself down with eyes turned to Goku, he snorted and ruffled Goku's hair. "Geh, what are you doing, you gokiburi kappa! " the golden-eyed kid grunted as he pulled out a tangerine from the paper bag and flung Gojyo's hand away.

"Trying to be tough, huh? Don't get all blue, saru. We're just taking that question as a joke, and thanks to you, I'm all refreshed now! " Gojyo remarked with a smirk, and ruffled Goku's brown hair some more. "You were asking how Sanzo got his long-sighted vision, huh? Well, I'd say he's turning old! Hehe! "

"Err, long-sightedness isn't affect by adulthood's age...Actually, it's inherited or due to certain circumtances that could cause defects of vision, " Hakkai chuckled a little and smiled. "Looks like Goku isn't the only one with less intelligence."

"Oi...please stop bursting my bubbles..."

"Ahaha, sumimasen. Let's get to the point, anyone noticed Sanzo's reading the newspaper every time we're hitting the road ?" Hakkai positioned a chair properly before sitting.

"Yeah, he'd been doing that more frequently than before. Hey... you mean reading while in a moving vehicle can affect one's vision? I've heard of it but I thought it's an old wives tale, don't give a damn about it."

"Wow, is that true, Hakkai? "

"Yes, Goku. It seems that the vibration on a moving vehicle is strong enough to affect our eyes concentration on an image, especially near images."

"Oooh." Gojyo and Goku said in unison.

"That's right. Or, Sanzo already inherited long-sightedness."

"Inherited, as in what..." Goku asked as he peeled the thick, orange-colored skin of a tangerine in his hand.

"Ah, it means he was born with that vision defect."

"Ooooh." Both of them replied in unison again with Goku placing a piece of tangerine into his mouth.

"Hey, Hakkai, why's there so many tangerines in the bag? It tasted great too! " Goku chewed the fruit slowly. He doesn't want to spurt the fruit's flesh around.

"Oh, that reminds me! There's a big festival going on in town tonight, it's kind of about some Lunar New Year this town's race celebrate every year. It's also known as the festival of happiness, prosperity and luck. And tangerines, it's like a special, yet common symbol of luck, so it's on big discount when the festival is near. It's selling out fast."

"Well, that explains ALL the red and gold-colored decorations around the whole town, it's totally freaking me out...Are those tangerines all so great? " Gojyo cocked his eyebrow, then asked for a piece of tangerine and tasted it. Much to what he'd expected, it has the sweetest and juiciest taste he'd ever know. "Wow, it is that great."

"Told you so, " Goku said gleefully as he grabbed another tangerine out of the paper bags and peeled it.

"Right...about the topic we've discussed earlier, I don't think it's good enough...we need proof, " Gojyo's easy-looking expression changed serious mode.

"Huh? What do you mean, Gojyo? " Hakkai exchanged looks with Gojyo. Then he smiled. But it's not that usual, gentle smile. It's a smile of a great idea that would satisfy the last need, plotted in his mind. Or so you can say that's a grin. "I'm thinking what you're thinking, Gojyo."

"Yep."

"Eehhhh..." Goku gazed burly as the two adults threw familiar looks at him. Goku sweat dropped"I've got a bad feeling..." He mumbled under his breathe as Hakkai signaled at them for a group 'meeting'. A private and confidential one, only to the three of them. Hakkai carefully explained 'the plan' to the brunette kid and the crimson-haired adult. After 10 minutes of Gojyo and Goku's ranting, which Hakkai could barely calm that state; and spent another 10 minutes thinking hard, they've came up with a conclusion.

"And that's how we'll get it done, okay? " Hakkai concluded.

"Oi, just one more thing...who's the decoy? " Gojyo asked suddenly, only realizing their plan it's not fully-filled in yet. Upon hearing Gojyo's statement, Hakkai looked at Gojyo's questioning face and smiled.

"Of course it's Goku's responsibility."

"WHAT? BUT... HAKKAI? WHY ME!" Goku gasped.

"Ah, gomenasai Goku. You see, I'd think Sanzo is much more lenient when you're around with him. It appears that if Gojyo and I were to distract him, it possibly won't result in our goal." Then, someone, somewhere in the same inn let out a sudden sneeze.

"It's the festival night this evening so it's gonna get feisty here, try your best to please your keeper, saru-chan, " Gojyo grinned, with hints of sarcasm showing itself.

"But...what if I screw up..? He'll definitely get mad at us..."

"Daijoubu desu, Goku. Just stay calm, don't say a word about our plan, don't let Sanzo get suspicious, AND don't let him out of your sight after Gojyo and I split up with you two, okay? " Hakkai patted Goku's shoulder lightly and gave a warm smile. Goku just nodded slowly without much determination.

"The saru's such a worry-ward, " Gojyo snickered.

"Ara, aren't you too? Then, why bother pulling of this scheme? " Hakkai remarked sharply. Gojyo never expected such words coming out of Hakkai's mouth.

And he grinned sheepishly"Heh, got me there, but you are to no avail, right? "

Hakkai let out a sighed. "Well...it's too tempting and I'm very anxious to know, " He'd made it sound like a matter of life and death. Well, it do qualifies as one.

"Yeah..." Gojyo muttered as he glanced outside the window"Better plan what to do and say your prayers before the night, saru." He'd gone back to teasing with tons of sarcasm.

"Ceh, I bet I could pull this off swiftly and better than you, ero kappa! " Goku yelled back as he threw tangerine peelings at Gojyo.

"Oi, don't litter your rubbish all over me, bakasaru! "

"Then, eat it! It's tangerine peels! "

"I CAN tell that! Why don't you taste it first before ordering someone else to actually try it! " Gojyo forced the peelings into Goku's mouth.

"Wha-wahrh daah-BLEH! Ack! Why'd you do that, kono ero akai gokiburi kappa! " Goku spurted it out.

"Ooh, I'm shaking."

"Darn you! I-I'll beat you up! "

"Try me! Stomach-brain saru! " Gojyo sneered. Now, both of them are exchanging punches and insults. Hakkai, who was watching their current situation, sweat dropped.

"Yare, yare desu ne..." Is all he could say.

(When the night falls, with four of them ALMOST done with dinner...)

"Next bowl, please! " Goku said energetically, handing out an empty rice bowl to one of the waitress, hurried with the orders of the customers, placed another steaming bowl of fried rice in front of Goku's hungry-looking face. "Thanks!" Goku quickly responded to the perfectly done fried rice as light tapping sounds of chopstick twanged in the air.

"Oi, saru…aren't you done yet…?" Gojyo questioned impatiently as he pushed a mountain of plates and bowls aside.

"Ah, just one more bowl."

"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Sanzo commented for the umpteenth time and thwacked Goku square on the head with his harisen.

"Owwh…" Goku whined in sharp pain, but tolerated the sore spot on his head and silently continued eating.

Hakkai just smiled at Goku, while taking moderate sips of Chinese tea. A short chuckle escaped Gojyo's lips, then focused outside the window into the distant night sky, and lighted another fresh cigarette. Sanzo, whom out of boredom, slowly finished his can of beer.

After 30 minutes of waiting in boredom, Goku was finally done with his meal"Aah...that was great! I'm so full! " That short sentence was awaited from three very tired-of-waiting adults.

"Finally..." Gojyo rolled his eyes. As Sanzo paid the bill, all four strode out of the restaurant. Sanzo, was unfortunately, having a short temper ever since they've been out for dinner. Hakkai would wished that all the unexpected blames went to Gojyo for snooping on him earlier that afternoon. Rather than having Sanzo threatening the three altogether each time they said or done something that, which to Sanzo considered as 'unnecessary' or 'worthless'.

Hakkai's thoughts was drowned by loud music with festival performances up ahead their path. He didn't notice they were entering the festival district, except for the drumming and chiming sounds of cymbals, there's a really big crowd and stalls of many varieties that are decorated fully in red and gold.

"Hey, hey! Hakkai, over here! Over here! " Hakkai could've sworn he heard faint callings for him, it's so noisy with all the cranky instruments playing it's so-called melodious tone. He looked left and right, only to find out that he'd lost himself in the stuffy crowd.

"Huh...? " Hakkai turned around, as he felt a tug on his sleeve. Goku was there, with Sanzo and Gojyo trailing slowly behind him. Goku, in fact made a face which he could easily traced out, 'Hakkai, are you all right?'. Hakkai could just smiled gently and patted twice over his shoulder.

Goku looked up at the green-eyed youth and grunted lightly. It's their signal... the signal that starts it all... The hunt for 'it'...

"It's about to start...Goku."

Chapter two: FIN

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Ice Queen( ): Yeah! Thanks a lot! LuV ya! I hope you'll like this chappie better! Here! (Throws it to Ice Queen). Happy Chinese New Year! Have fun!

Languish-Dreams: Yes, they are going to! LOLZ! But not yet... Let them have a little fun first, festival fun that is...then I'll make Sanzo AND the other 3 suffer. MUAAHAHAHHAHAHA, haaah...this is so fun..! I hope you'll like this part, although the settings are weird, so as how I wrote this... Thanks for reviewing too! LUV YA:D

A/N: So, so, soooo? How was it? I know...you may think it started out as a general fiction, but don't know what's gotten into me and I've kind of accidentally 'turned' it into a serious fic full of tension. It's NOT SUPPOSE TO GO LIKE THAAAAAT! NOOOO! (Runs around, yelling like a maniac.) Anyway, please review and tell me! Okay? Thank you:)