Disclaimer: I own nothing of importance.
Chapter 8
Sanzo sat in the front seat of the jeep, his arms folded across his chest with his head bowed. The wind flew past him, making his hair dance across his cheeks and ruffling his long robes. One might almost think he was sleeping, were it not for the slightly furrowed brow that betrayed his pensive state.
I don't like this, he thought. Hakkai doesn't seem to be having problems adjusting to Goku's body, aside from trying to control his appetite, but Goku, on the other hand... He shook his head slightly, the gesture unnoticed because of the motion of the vehicle. I'm not sure what's wrong with him. He seemed alright, if a little tired, last night, but that could have been because of his anemia. However, he's been rather subdued all day today, even allowing for the difference in energy levels between his and Hakkai's body. Gojyo doesn't seem to have noticed anything different. He hasn't instigated many fights today, but that's probably because he can't get over looking at Goku and seeing Hakkai. Of course, he's not the most observant person under the best of circumstances, he thought derisively.
Hakkai is most likely too preoccupied to have picked up on this. As difficult as it is to believe, I think Goku may actually be better at controlling his hunger. Hakkai doesn't complain about it nearly as often, but it's obvious that he can't concentrate on more than a few things if he's hungry. That's almost more annoying than Goku's constant whining. And he gets this dazed look on his face if anyone so much as mentions food... He rolled his eyes under his closed lids. I swear, either Gojyo or myself will take over driving if I have to prevent him from running off the road one more time... Actually, Gojyo probably wouldn't be much better. And I'd really rather not be stuck with that chore. Perhaps whacking him with the paper fan would give him more incentive to stay focused. It seems to work well enough with the other two, and seeing as he is currently in the monkey's body... Sanzo let the thought trail off, deciding to ponder the merits of that idea later.
Goku hasn't said anything, and he's usually very vocal about his discomforts. That means he either doesn't realize something is wrong, or he has a reasonable explanation for why he feels that way in his mind. My guess would be the latter. Sanzo grit his teeth in irritation as a stray knee found its way into his back-- courtesy of Goku trying to stretch in the limited space he had in the backseat. It was removed a few seconds later, and the priest returned to his musings. He might associate his tiredness to his anemia, which is most likely correct to a certain extent. I don't think he would still be as tired today. He was massaging his knee when we stopped for lunch earlier today. If it pained him, what would he assume was the cause? Being cramped in the backseat all morning? If so, then why would Gojyo, who is the taller of the two, not have similar difficulties? He frowned, turning the problem over in his mind. Perhaps I am reading too much into this. After all, he crashed down in the ravine and then was washed downstream. That is bound to cause soreness that will last for a few days. But, I'll keep an eye on him, just the same.
"It appears we've made good time these last two days," Hakkai stated, interrupting Sanzo's thoughts. He gestured to the town visible in the distance. "I honestly didn't think we'd get there until tomorrow."
"That's fine by me," Gojyo said, leaning forward and draping his arm over the back of Hakkai's seat. "That just means I'll get to find some female company a day earlier."
The short brunette smiled. "It's also good because our food supply seems to be running low."
"I wonder who's fault that might be," Sanzo commented in a dry tone.
"Now, now, I'm not eating more than Goku usually does," Hakkai protested.
The priest quirked an eyebrow. "I wonder," he muttered under his breath. Although, I suppose that's what we get for letting the person with a bottomless pit for a stomach cook. Of course, it can't really be helped. Goku can't cook without help, I wouldn't touch anything Gojyo made and I'm not gonna do it. So, that leaves Hakkai. I wonder if he'll be as bad as Goku when it comes to the shopping...?
Hakkai raised an eyebrow at Sanzo's muttered comment, his acute hearing catching the soft words easily. Am I eating more than Goku does? It doesn't seem like I am, but it is difficult to look at the amount perspectively when it feels like, to use Goku's words, my stomach is eating through to my spine. And, it's hard to tell if I'm making more when all I can focus on while cooking is how long it's going to take before it's ready to eat. I guess I'll have to take Sanzo's word for it, but why would I be eating more than Goku normally does? Is it simply because I'm in charge of preparing the meals and make more? Or, is it something else altogether? Speaking of Goku, he's been awfully quiet... "Are you looking forward to getting out and stretching your legs, Goku?" he asked, glancing in his rear view mirror.
The emerald-eyed man was leaning against the side of the jeep, his folded arms acting as a pillow for his head. His mouth was hanging open slightly, his shoulders moving up and down as he breathed. His eyes were closed.
"He's sleeping again?" Hakkai asked a little surprised.
"Well, it's not like there's much else to do back here," Gojyo stated, leaning back and putting his hands behind his head. "I think the monkey has the right idea. Besides, if he's asleep, then he's not disturbing our illustrious leader's meditation."
Sanzo's eyebrow twitched, but he didn't deign to reply.
"I guess that's true," Hakkai agreed, laughing. He slowed down as houses replaced the trees on either side, people scurrying here and there on errands. A few suspicious glances were cast their way, mothers hurrying children inside as they passed. Hakkai didn't have time to ponder this as a tantalizing aroma wafted across his nose, making his stomach clench as he remembered it was dinnertime. He quickly located the restaurant, pulling the jeep up next to the building.
"What do you think you're doing, Hakkai?"
The amber-eyed youth blinked, turning to the priest next to him. "Well, it's dinner time, so I thought..." he let the sentence trail off, wondering what was wrong.
Sanzo narrowed his eyes, irritation clear in his expression. "What's the first thing we do upon reaching any town? And try to avoid thinking with your stomach, this time."
Hakkai blushed, embarrassed. "Ah, we need to find an inn first, don't we?" he asked, already pulling back out onto the street.
Gojyo laughed. "Man, Hakkai, you're becoming more and more like Goku everyday!" he chortled.
Hakkai blushed harder. "Well, it's hard to concentrate on anything other than food," he admitted a little defensively. He winced at the whine that had crept into his voice, noting Sanzo's hand clench as if to keep himself from reaching for the fan. I guess Goku really can't help it, he thought, feeling more and more sympathetic towards the saru.
"Did someone mention food?" a drowsy voice asked.
"Ah, Goku, you're awake!" Hakkai stated a little too enthusiastically, jumping on the opportunity to turn the conversation's focus away from himself. "Did you enjoy your nap?"
"Nah, I was too hot," he replied, rubbing his eyes. He yawned widely before leaning forward, resting his arm on the back of Sanzo's seat. "I just dozed on and off. So, are we going somewhere to eat?" he asked, more out of habit than actual excitement.
"Not just yet," the golden-eyed teen said. "We're going to find an inn first, like we always do." Gojyo snickered and Hakkai studiously ignored him.
It didn't take long to find an inn and the group headed inside. Sanzo booked four singles for the night, putting their names down in the registry while the others carried all their equipment up to their rooms. It wasn't long before they were all seated around a table in the dining area looking over the menus, one with much more enthusiasm then his companions.
Although Hakkai was trying his utmost to control himself, his wide eyes shown brightly with anticipation as he looked over the many different dishes offered. There're so many to choose from, and they all look so good! Which ones should I try? How many will Sanzo let me get? I can really understand why Goku tries to order the whole menu at every restaurant we go to! Sanzo doesn't seem to be in too bad a mood, but I probably shouldn't push my luck... But, how can I limit it to only a few? His stomach growled, as if telling him to hurry up and decide.
Soon, the waitress came up to their table, pad and pen in hand. "Hello, what can I get for you today?" she asked, smiling politely.
Hakkai glanced as the priest, receiving a slight nod. Grinning, he launched into his order, being sure to give the waitress time to write out each dish before listing the next one. "I would like some katsu-don, liver and onions, spring rolls, shrimp, stir fry, pizza, motsu-yaki..."
The smile had slipped from her face by the time he had finished and her large eyes scanned the extensive list. "W-will that be all for you?" she asked, looking around the table.
Goku opened his mouth to add his order, but Sanzo beat him to it. "Yes, that will be all," he stated, plucking the menu out of the saru's hand and giving it to the waitress.
"But Sanzo, I didn't even get to order!" Goku complained loudly.
"Hakkai ordered enough for everyone, baka saru," the monk replied, leaning back in his seat as he lit a cigarette. "Besides, did he list off whatever you were going to get?"
"Well, yeah, but--"
"Then quit whining. There will be enough to go around."
Hakkai nodded, feeling that the words were meant for him even if they were spoken to the tall brunette. Sanzo tolerated gluttony to a certain extent where Goku-- or, in this case, Goku's body --was concerned, but that was a subtle reminder not to overdo it.
The food was brought out as it was prepared, the order being too large to fit on the table if it were to be brought out all at once. As soon as the waitress had set down the first few platters, three sets of hands were eagerly filling their plates. The monk sipped his tea, waiting until the grabbing hands had subsided before dishing up his own food.
The meal was a surprisingly quiet affair and Sanzo looked around the table at his companions. Goku was eating slowly, giving his plate an odd look. He gave every other bite to the dragon that was perched on his shoulder. Gojyo was eating as he usually did-- one eye on his plate and the other on the remaining food, to ensure no one took it while he wasn't paying attention. Hakkai was eating with an odd mixture of Goku's usual exuberance and his own table manners. It seemed he couldn't get the food from his plate to his stomach fast enough.
"Hakuryuu...?"
Sanzo glanced up at the uncertain tone in Goku's voice. The creature in question was leaning up against the green-eyed man's ear, ruffling his wings a bit as he settled into a more comfortable position. The dragon's long neck was curved towards the brunette, his small head hidden within the soft locks. The hair moved as the animal sighed before becoming still. Apparently, he had chosen his roost for the night.
"What's he doing, Sanzo?" Goku asked, trying to look at the white creature from the corner of his eye. He didn't move, not wanting to knock the dragon from his shoulder.
"By the looks of it, I'd say he's going to sleep," the priest replied, taking another bite of his spring roll. I thought Hakkai had been driving faster than he normally does. That must be part of the reason why we made such good time reaching the town.
"Sleeping?" Goku repeated, blinking at the monk. "But, why would he be so tired? I mean, he's never fallen asleep at the table before..."
"We haven't been taking nearly as many breaks as we usually do," the blonde explained. You're the one who complains about sitting in the car the most, but now that Hakkai has your body... The priest reached for his cup, sipping the hot tea inside it. I suppose it hasn't been as bad for Hakkai because he's been driving. Although, I wonder if he's driving faster than usual because he wants to get his body back as soon as possible, or because he knew there were restaurants in town, he mused, remembering the beeline the amber-eyed youth had made for the restaurant as soon as they had entered the city. But, it doesn't really matter either way, as long as we get where we're going quickly.
"Yeah, I guess that would make him tired," Goku agreed, holding Hakuryuu in place with one hand as he carefully stood.
Sanzo watched his movements like a hawk, his eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed the stiff way Goku moved. The gestures were slow and controlled, as if he were trying to minimize the pain caused by moving. He pushed his chair in, unconsciously rubbing his elbow as he started walking from the table. "Where are you going?" the monk asked, still scrutinizing the green-eyed man's movements.
"I'm gonna put Hakuryuu to bed," he replied, not turning around as he answered the question.
The priest watched him go, sipping his tea as his thoughts mulled over the possible reasons behind Goku's apparent increasing soreness.
The food continued disappearing off the table at a rapid pace as the remaining two members of the team raced to finish everything off. Gojyo spied the last fried shrimp on Hakkai's plate, swiping it and popping it in his mouth before the youth could react. He smiled, waiting for the yelling fit that was sure follow.
Hakkai stopped, chopsticks raised halfway to his mouth, as he saw the hand steal the last shrimp. He turned, staring into the crimson orbs reproachfully. "Gojyo, that was incredibly rude."
The redhead jumped, remembering a bit late that it wasn't Goku sitting next to him. He rubbed the back of his head a bit sheepishly. "Sorry, man," he apologized, talking around the pilfered morsel in his mouth. "I forgot it was you."
Hakkai continued staring at him, letting him squirm a bit under the cool amber gaze. "It's alright this time-- just don't let it happen again," he said, smiling.
Gojyo easily read the promise of a fate worse than death in what he dubbed as Hakkai's 'scary smile'-- which, he couldn't help but notice, was no less effective on Goku's face. He swallowed hard, trying not to choke on the half-chewed piece of shrimp as he forced it down his throat. "Y-yeah, sure man," he stuttered, going back to his own plate.
Sanzo rolled his eyes at the exchange as he finished his own meal. He glanced at the partially eaten plate next to him and then at the doorway, noting that Goku wasn't back yet. He closed his eyes, taking another sip of tea. Goku only ate half of his plate, and half of that went to the dragon. It doesn't look like he's coming back down to finish it, either. So, he's tired, sore and has little to no appetite. However, he hasn't complained of nausea, a sore throat, headache or any other symptoms that might suggest his was sick, which means there is another cause. And, I think I know what it is. He drained his cup, setting it back down on the table as he stood. Gojyo and Hakkai were both still engrossed in polishing off the last of the crumbs and didn't give him a second glance as he walked by them.
The priest exited the dining hall, making his was up the stairs. He paused outside of Goku's room, pushing the ajar door open a little farther. The window had been thrown open and the shoes had been left where they'd fallen on the floor. Goku was still dressed in his regular clothes, lying curled around Hakuryuu on the bed. Both were fast sleep.
Sanzo stepped into the room, shaking his head slightly as he removed the monocle and set it on the bedside table. He grabbed a blanket that was folded at the foot of the bed, spreading it over the bed's occupants. He froze as Goku muttered something unintelligible, a frown creasing his brow as he tossed his head to the side. It didn't take long for the saru to settle down once more, allowing the monk to breathe a sigh of relief that he hadn't been caught. He quietly left the room, pulling the door shut softly behind him.
Claiming the room next to it as his for the night, he took off his robes, folding them and setting them on the table with his gun and the sutra. He lit a cigarette, moving over to the window overlooking the darkening streets, his thoughts still on the sleeping saru. He took a long drag, watching the smoke as it rose from the smoldering end, curling and swirling in the air before a gentle breeze pulled it outside. I hope I'm wrong.
. . .
Goku rolled over, squinting as the first rays of the sun fell over his face. Groaning softly, he pulled the blanket back up over his head and tried to go back to sleep. After several minutes of tossing and turning, he gave it up as a lost cause, throwing the blanket aside as he sat up. An indignant chirp drew his attention, and he glance over his shoulder to see the dragon wiggling out from under the blanket Goku had unceremoniously dropped on him.
"Sorry, Hakuryuu," the tall brunette apologized, lifting the cover to free the dragon. The white animal leapt into the air as soon as he was free, fluttering his wings as he landed on the back of a chair a few feet away.
Goku yawned widely, stretching his arms out above his head, only to jerk back as his sore muscles informed him it was not a good idea. Noting his clothes were sticking to him from sweating during the night, he pushed himself to his feet, absently rubbing his arm as he walked to Hakkai's bag. Ruffling through it to find a fresh set of clothes, he headed down to take a bath.
Soaking in the warm water had helped his aching muscles a little bit, but he was too hot to stay in their for long. After he had dressed once more, he made his way down to the dining hall, not surprised to see Sanzo already at a table. And, judging by the amount of food, he had ordered for everyone, despite the fact that no one else was up yet.
Goku sat down across from the priest, getting a plate and dishing some food onto it. "Morning, Sanzo," he greeted.
The priest nodded in acknowledgement, apparently too absorbed in his newspaper to respond verbally.
Not surprised by the monk's silence, the green-eyed man took a bite-- and sighed softly. It was the same as last night. He had never really been able to understand the phrase, 'food turning to ash in the mouth,' despite Hakkai's numerous attempts to explain it. How could food turn to ash unless it was burned beyond recognition? Food was food and tasted good. Ash was ash and didn't taste like food at all, as Goku knew from experience. Not even burned food tasted like ash. So, how food could turn to ash was a mystery. Or, at least, it had been.
The brunette looked down at his plate-- it looked tasty. He smelled it, taking in the aromas that rose from the hot morsels. It smelled good. He put another bite in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. It tasted almost bland. The flavors weren't quite what they should be, almost muted, somehow.
Hakuryuu butted his head against Goku's cheek-- a mild rebuke. The brunette obligingly offered a bite to the dragon, who eagerly took the proffered food. He kyuued happily, clearly liking the taste. The brunette gave him another bite, happy that someone was able to enjoy the meal.
He continued feeding the dragon as he pondered this new development. Why doesn't the food taste good anymore? I don't think it's Hakkai's body. I mean, the food was fine a couple days ago. And, everyone else likes the food here, so it's not the food itself. It must just be me then. But, why? He put down the chopsticks, picking up his cup instead and letting Hakuryuu take a drink of water. Come to think of it, Hakkai said the food tasting like ash means that something is wrong. Does that mean there's something else wrong with me?
"You should eat."
The heretic looked at the priest, who was still looking at the newspaper.
"Even if you're not hungry, you still need to eat," the monk continued, finally glancing away from the paper and looking into the green eyes.
Goku stared, studying him for a few seconds, noticing something off in the violet gaze, but not being able to put his finger on it. Finally, he nodded, taking another bite. Sanzo knows something's wrong, he realized, chewing thoughtfully. He didn't yell at me, so it's not my fault. But, he didn't say anything about it, either. That means, there's either nothing to be done about it right now, or it's nothing to worry about.
They sat in silence for a few minutes more, the brunette taking one bite for every two that he gave Hakuryuu. He stopped eating when the dragon was full. I never thought I would ever think of eating as a chore, he thought, forcing himself to swallow.
Gojyo came down the stairs, yawning widely as he entered the inn's dining area. He spotted Sanzo and Goku sitting at a table piled high with food and made his way towards them, pulling up a chair. The priest was reading a newspaper and sipping a cup of tea while the green-eyed man stared almost sorrowfully at his food, seemingly more content to push it around on his plate with his chopsticks than to eat it.
"Hey, Sanzo," Goku started, looking over at the blonde, "when are me and Hakkai gonna get our bodies back?"
"The innkeeper said there's a temple to the north of here," the monk replied, turning the page. "If we leave after we've stocked up on supplies, we should get there tomorrow morning."
"So, it looks like we're gonna have to go out of our way to get them fixed, huh?" the half-demon stated, filling his plate with food.
The violet-eyed man nodded. "We don't have a choice-- we can't very well leave them like this. Goku is just as dangerous to us as he is to our opponents in a group fight and Hakkai is worse than the saru when it comes to food," he stated.
"Speaking of which, where's Hakkai? I mean, I assume most of this food is for him..." Gojyo looked around the room, as if expecting the short heretic to suddenly appear.
"Still asleep, I'd imagine. He sleeps like the dead these days..." The blonde took another sip of tea, quickly scanning the column to find where he had left off.
The table was quiet for a few moments before Gojyo reached out and swiped an egg roll off Goku's plate. He grinned cheekily, a comeback already on the tip of his tongue as he waited for the saru to complain. However, he was surprised when, instead of demanding the return of the pilfered item, Goku simply pushed the plate towards him.
"You can have it, Gojyo," he said, dropping his chopsticks onto the table. "I'm not hungry." The tall brunette folded his arms on the table, resting his chin on top, as he stared moodily at the food. Gojyo thought it almost looked like he was pouting.
Sanzo folded the newspaper and stood, walking around the table. He laid his gold card, as well as a long list next to the redhead. "When you're done, head to the market," he said.
"What? Why do I have to do the shopping?" Gojyo complained, not wanting to be roped into that chore again.
"Because Hakkai currently can't be trusted to buy anything more than ready-to-eat foods, most of which likely won't make it back here. And I need another carton of Marlboro Reds, which he is almost certain to overlook," the priest explained matter-of-factly.
"Well, why can't the monkey go?" the half-demon argued.
The blonde glanced at the man in question and, for just an instant, Gojyo was able to read the thoughts behind those carefully guarded eyes. Because he shouldn't still be this sore. Because, even in Hakkai's body, he should have more of an appetite. Because there's something else wrong with Goku. It passed as quickly as it had come as the violet orbs settled again on the kappa, once more closed to the world. Aloud, he said, "Because I told you to do it," as if that was explanation enough. And for Sanzo, it was.
Grumbling, the kappa pocketed the list and credit card, keeping up a constant stream of profanity aimed at the priest, who could hear every word.
The monk ignored it, heading out of the room. "I'm going to wake up Hakkai," he called over his shoulder. "We'll leave when you get back."
"Might as well get it over with," he muttered, standing up. He let his eyes wander back to Goku, who hadn't moved during the conversation. "You'd better go get your stuff together-- Sanzo wants to leave as soon as possible," he said.
The emerald gaze lifted from the food, meeting the crimson orbs before he nodded, scooting his chair back. He winced slightly as he stood, carefully stepping back and pushing his chair in.
Gojyo's brow furrowed in concern. "You alright, man?" he asked.
" 'M fine," Goku murmured, slowly making his way towards the door. "Just tired."
The redhead watched until he had disappeared around the corner, wondering what was bothering the tall brunette. He shook his head, sliding his hands into his pockets as he left the inn. The sooner I pick up our supplies, the sooner we can head to that temple. Hopefully, whatever's wrong with Goku will be fixed as soon as they switch back. If not... He shrugged, getting his bearings before heading towards the marketplace. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
. . .
Goku latched the bag closed, setting it next to the door. He let his gaze wander around his room once more; absently stroking the dragon on his shoulder as he made sure he didn't forget anything. Satisfied everything was in the pack, he stepped out into the hallway and knocked on Sanzo's door.
"What is it?" came the muffled reply from within.
Taking it as an invitation, Goku entered the room. The blonde priest was sitting on the bed in his black shirt and jeans, his wet hair indicating he had just finished bathing moments before. He looked up as the brunette entered the room, but didn't comment.
The emerald-eyed man took a seat at the small table next to the window, watching the monk putting his socks on. He was silent, debating whether or not he should ask his question.
Sanzo finished with his socks, rising and moving over to a small mirror hanging on the wall. "Did you need something, Goku?" he asked, running a brush through his golden locks.
The heretic glanced out the window. "I just... I just wanted to know..." He bit his bottom lip, transferring his gaze to the priest's back. "Sanzo, what's wrong with me?" he asked softly.
The monk paused, setting the brush down.
"You know what it is, don't you?" the brunette pressed.
"I have an idea," Sanzo replied, turning around to face Goku. "I don't think the limiter is enough."
Green eyes blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
The priest picked up his robes, pulling the garment on over his clothes. "Hakkai said that when you two initially switched bodies, you transformed to your demon self. That was too much for his body to handle and was destroying it. He tried to remedy that by replacing the limiter, sealing most of your demonic power."
"Yeah..." Goku said, not sure where the blonde was going with this.
Sanzo adjusted the robes, tying a black sash around his waist. "However, I don't think that was enough. Your soul is simply too powerful to be contained in a mortal body. The limiter helps, there is no question about that, but it is merely prolonging the inevitable. Giving us weeks instead of hours to fix the problem."
The brunette was silent for a moment, digesting this new information. "So, if we don't fix the problem at the temple, then I'll only have a few weeks to live?" he asked after a pause.
The priest shrugged. "Weeks, months, a year... Who knows? It depends on how much the normal rate of deterioration has been accelerated."
Goku frowned. "What do you mean by that? Deterioration-- do you mean dying? Hakkai's body is dying anyway?" he asked.
"Everything dies, Goku," the monk stated. "From the moment it is born, its days on this earth are numbered. In this case, you are merely expediting the process."
"So, does this mean that, even if we switch back, Hakkai is gonna die soon?" he asked, a note of fear creeping into his voice.
Sanzo shook his head. "I don't think there will be any lasting damage done to Hakkai's body. Your soul isn't causing any physical injuries-- more like forcing Hakkai's body to run on overload."
"Overload? What do you mean?"
The blonde paused, trying to think of an example Goku would be able to understand. "Do you know what happens when you fill a bottle with water to the rim, put the cap on tightly and put it in the freezer?"
The monkey slowly shook his head, wondering what water bottles had to do with souls.
"As the water freezes, it expands. With nowhere else to go, it will force the lid off of the bottle, or sometimes break the bottle itself, depending on the strength of the container," he explained.
"Okay..." the green-eyed man said, still clearly confused. "But, what does that have to do with this?"
"In this case, the water bottle would be Hakkai's body and the freezing water would be your soul. At first, there doesn't seem to be a problem. However, as time passes, pressure builds up until the vessel can no longer hold in its contents and breaks."
The brunette blanched. "You mean, my soul is gonna break out of Hakkai's body?!" he asked, eyes widening as he pictured the end result.
The priest snorted. "I doubt it'll be anything that dramatic. More likely, Hakkai's body will simply shut down and your soul will leave. But, I don't think it'll come to that." He unrolled the sutra, placing it on his shoulders. "I have a couple other ideas to try if the ceremony at the temple doesn't work."
Goku was silent for a moment, thinking over the conversation. He finally smiled, running his hand down Hakuryuu's back. "Thanks, Sanzo," he said, truly meaning the words.
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "What are you getting so emotional about? Hakkai's more annoying in your body than you are," he stated, checking to make sure his gun was fully loaded before concealing it in his robe.
The brunette laughed, feeling more hopeful than he had the last several days. A knock at the door interrupted whatever he was going to say.
"Oi, Sanzo, is Hakuryuu in there?" Gojyo's voice called through the door. "Hakkai's almost done eating, so we can go as soon as we get everything loaded."
The monk nodded towards the door. "Go help him get everything ready to go," he instructed.
Goku did as he was told, moving a bit stiffly towards the door. "Okay," he said, the grin never leaving his face.
Sanzo shook his head as the monkey left. "Some things never change," he muttered, gathering his things and placing them in his pack.
. . .
To Be Continued
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