Standard disclaimer applies.

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

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

Author's Note: This was from an lj challange from 25 streetsigns, unfortunatly the community has been deleted, so I decided to upload what's I've posted before. The prompt is: Ahead. Reviews are appreciated!


 Chapter Eleven: Not Running Away

He always wondered what would happen when it was all over. Maybe he should ask Sanzo. Sanzo knows everything, so he'll have an answer.

Goku walked over to where said priest was sitting at the table, and reading the paper, with a cancer stick hanging from his mouth.

"Sanzo?" he waited for a sign or notice from the busy priest. When none came, he repeated his name again, "Sanzo?"

Sanzo on the other hand, was hoping that ignoring him, will make him go away, but after hearing his name for the fifth time, he was irritated. He placed the newspaper on the table, and waited for the food whining part to start, "What?" almost yelling.

"Um, I was wonderin', ya know," Goku shifted his legs, before continuing, "about what'll happen when this is all over?"

It wasn't "I'm hungry, and I want meat buns", or "I'm bored," Sanzo can sense the worry and uncertainty in his words.

"I couldn't care less about those two idiots," Hakkai and Gojyo can take care of themselves, and he has a feeling he'll see them whether he likes it or not.

"What about you?" Golden eyes intently waiting for the answer.

"I'll have to go back and run Chang'an temple, of course, it'll be peaceful and quiet, without any of you three,"

Sanzo saw the disappointment his reply left in the monkey's golden eyes, he picked back his paper, and added, "Though I'm not sure how that'll happen when you're around. Climbing trees or brining in stray animals, so much for peace and quiet."

"Sanzo?"

"Don't worry about it, I told you before, I can't leave an idiot like you alone."

"Yeah, I forgot," he smiled as he realized that he will always be with his Sun, even after the mission to the West.

"Sanzo?" he wanted to ask something important.

"What is it this time?" he replied without putting down the newspaper.

"I'm hungry, can we go out for meat buns?"

Sanzo's headache started, just as Goku started whining about food, and being bored. He cursed and wondered how long it's taking Hakkai to shop for them, he cursed more as he guessed that Gojyo must be the one slowing him down to check out the bars, or trying to flirt.

"No," he calmly answered.

"But Sanzo"

Sanzo had a feeling that even when it was all over, it was going to be hard getting rid of those three, even if he tried. The monkey's voice would be in his head, unless he was with him. As for those two, well…who's going to complete the missions given to him by the Three Aspects?

06.03.08