The late afternoon sun cast long, dark shadows across the forest floor. Sanzo walked quietly in case anyone happened to be watching, however remote that possibility may have been. There was barely any birds in the trees let only the possibility of another person hiding among them. It was far too quiet for his comfort.

A terrifyingly loud bang suddenly echoed from somewhere in the distance. Sanzo felt his body go numb in recognition of the noise. The sound of gun shot was something a person never forgets.

Completely forgetting about his prior caution, Sanzo broke into a run in the direction the bang had come from.


The building that appeared among the trees was not quite what he was expecting. The walls were stark white and a small cross was painted across the front door. At fist glace, the building almost looked like an abandoned church or hospital. However, despite its pristine appearance, the unmistakable stench of death hovered in the air around the building like a fog. Clenching his teeth and cocking his gun, the priest walked into the unholy building.

The front door swung open easily, the hinges squealing in protest as a harsh, sterile smell followed along behind the door. Dim florescent lights hung from the ceiling and flickered spasmodically, threatening to go out at any minute. A hallway curved sharply away from the front room, more flickering lights trailing down its length.

Sanzo pulled his pistol from his robe, gripping it tightly at his side, and turned the corner, fully prepared to shoot anything that moved. As he made his way down the dim hallway, empty white cells lined the walls beside him, heavy metal doors blocking them off from the outside. Through the small windows embedded in the metal, Sanzo could make out faded blood splatters across the walls and floors of some of the cells. With growing dread and anxiety, the priest continued down the grim hallway.

The light seemed to stop at the end of the hall, casting the walls into dark shadow. There was the creak of a door and a bloodstained old man stepped out from one of the cells at the end of the hall.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice harsh and frail from irritation and evident pain.

"Are you Reinsin?"

The old man frowned darkly. "What do you want, I'm very busy."

"Answer me." Sanzo growled. "Is your name Reinsin?"

"And if it was?"

The blond felt a muscle in his jaw twitch. "Then I'd have to kill you."

Reinsin laughed and flicked blood off his hand. "I'd like to see you try that." However, by the time he finished his sentence, Sanzo was in front of him, punching him hard in the face and effectively shattering his nose and cheekbones.

Stumbling backwards, Reinsin hit the wall and fumbled to retrieve his gun. Sanzo, unfortunately, was a little faster and quickly relieved him of his weapon, pressing it hard into his sternum. Adjusting his grip on his own gun, the priest pressed the other barrel into Reinsin's forehead.

"Where is Goku?" he demanded, pressing the guns hard into bone.

Reinsin spit and sneered at him. "Why do you want to save a demon like that?! Don't you see that without him the Minus Wave will end?!"

"Sorry to burst your bubble but that's bullshit." Sanzo hissed, his violet eyes gleaming with rage. "Now where is Goku?"

The man laughed incredulously. "I'm destroying the youkai for the sake of humanity! Can't you see?! It's my job to protect people from monsters like him!"

Sanzo had lost his patience and fired one gun into Reinsin's chest, puncturing a lung and leaving him to hack up blood. "And it's my job to protect him from people like you." He growled, squeezing the trigger for his own gun and blinking as blood splattered across his face.

As Reinsin's lifeless corpse fell to the floor, Sanzo spit in its general direction and stepped over him. "Burn in Hell, you sick bastard."

The cell across from him smelled strongly of fresh blood as Sanzo turned the corner. His heart fell instantly at the sight that greeted him.

Goku lay in a crumpled pile in one corner of the room, dark blood pooling around him. His breathing was ragged and shallow and he trembled faintly with every breath he took.

Dropping his gun, Sanzo rushed to the wounded boy's side and carefully flipped him over. Goku's face was bruised and pale, dried blood matting the hair on the back of his head. There was a tiny bullet wound above his collarbone that, while bleeding profusely, was not life threatening. The boy was battered and bruised but most definitely alive.

Sanzo let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and gently touched Goku's cheek. "What have you gotten yourself into now, you stupid monkey?" he muttered softly, watching the boy breathe for several seconds.

Goku's eyes slid open slowly and attempted to focus on the face above him. The voice sounded familiar but was difficult to place.

Sanzo looked down, watching for any sign of recognition in the boys eyes. He couldn't find any but what he did see chilled him to the bone. Goku's eyes were tight slits, the same as they were when he was a youkai.

A feeling of dread swept through the blond as he gazed down at his injured companion. "Goku." He said, a little more forcefully that he intended to.

The teen's hand reached out slowly, shaking as it came up. His palm rested against Sanso's throat and his fingers curled, squeezing weakly as if trying to strangle him.

Sighing irritably, Sanzo reached into his robe and retrieved his fan. One quick hit was all it took.

Goku blinked slowly a few times, his eyes fading back into the soft, compassionate gaze that belonged to him. "Ow…What…was that for…?"

"For being an idiot," Sanzo started, keeping a firm yet gentle arm around the boy's shoulders.

Despite the insult, Goku smiles weakly, a hint of recognition glimmering in his eyes. His hand faintly brushed against the other man's face before he passed out once again.

The blond caught him and cradled him close. "And for always managing to scare me the way you do." He finished, pressing a soft kiss to the top of the brunette's head. Standing carefully with Goku cradled in his arms, Sanzo turned and made his way back to town.


Hah!! Take that you dick! Man, I'm the one who created him and I don't like him -.-; Guess that means he's a good villian