Be Yourself

by: Chrys aka Hakkai no miko

Chapter 2

"Are you.. uh... sure?" Mingling cast a long glance at him. "YA! They always pay attention to Hakkai! And I'm sick of it! Now, they'll be sure to leave me alone when I'll be Sanzo!!!" he raised his voice. "Okay... your third wish is your command......." and with that she snapped her fingers and everything went dark. Then, he opened his eyes later and found himself in Sanzo's robes. "Huh?" his voice had gotten a lot deeper too. And he checked himself as he pulled out some of his golden strands from his head. And he checked his gun. "I've never really gotten to use it before..." a grin appeared in his features then, the ache. "Ow...! It hurts to smile..." he rubbed his jaw.

"Is this why Sanzo doesn't smile... or is it because he's not used to it... owww..." he shook his head as he stared into his reflection in glass. "I look good..." it was hard not to smile. Then, just as he was admiring himself, he felt the need for something. He reached out and grabbed an apple and bit into it. After he finished it, he didn't feel like eating. "I need something..... but what.... I feel like I'm dying here... I need it..." he searched around the room and his eyes landed on his cigarette box. For some reason, he reached out to it and grabbed it from the table and he lit one and put it into his mouth. "That... feels good... for some reason..." he sighed as he puffed a smoke. Then, coughed out later. "This tastes bad, but it feels good...!" then, he coughed out again and he grabbed a glass of beer and drunk it all.

"Disgusting! This tastes like crap! What kind of drink is this?!!" he spat out the beer. Just then, Hakkai and Goku just came in. "We're back from shopping. Sorry though, Goku wanted so much..." he smiled apologetically. "Where is that ero kappa?" Sanzo asked. "He was kind of depressed lately so.. he wanted to go to the bar for a while to drink some booze..." Hakkai explained. "Oh! Your cigarettes and beer!" he tossed them to him. Sanzo turned a little green as he looked at the beer but he snatched the cigarettes and stuffed them into his robe. "Ahem... isn't it time for lunch?" Sanzo coughed out one last time. "OH YA!!!" Goku jumped up and down with glee.

"What about Gojyo?" Hakkai asked. "Forget him! More food for.. uh.. us," Sanzo snorted. "More food for me too!!!!!!!!!!!!" for some reason, Goku's constant noise was making him reach for his robe and he pulled out his paper-fan and he bashed him in the head, "SHUT UP!" //Did I do that?// the Goku in Sanzo thought to himself. All of a sudden, there was a sudden explosion heard outside. "The enemy!" Hakkai declared. "They're here! Good! I could work up an appetite for lunch!!" and with that Goku and Hakkai rushed out. Sanzo caught up with them too. And outside were an army of youkai. "Look! It's Genjo Sanzo! Kill HIM!!!" and all the youkais were charging for him.

"All RIGHT! You asked for it! NOIBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" the Goku in Sanzo seemed to have forgotten something. //I'm Sanzo now. I don't have my weapon!// he suddenly thought. Hakkai and Goku froze in their steps as well as the youkai as they were staring at him stupidly. "Ha! Y-you all will... d-die!" and he pulled out where his gun was... where it was.... Then, a realization struck him. //I left it in the inn room!// a sweat drop broke on his head. What he had pulled out was his pack of cigarettes. Everyone broke into sweat drops even the youkais... sweat drops soon turned into snickers, then guffaws, then, laughter. Hakkai and Goku looked horrified at the sight. "T-they're laughing at us--!" a muscle twitch appeared in both their features much to Sanzo's surprise.

A deep red color tinted his cheeks. "Ano...." "Must I do all the work here..." came a familiar deep voice and a shadow loomed over them. "Gojyo!" the three chorused. "Stand back, monk! I'm gonna start kickin' ass!" and he whipped out his weapon as he swung it around and around killing those who stood in his way. The Goku in Sanzo didn't really see this because in the usual fights he wouldn't keep an eye on his allies and watch them. His eyes was filled with that of awe and admiration as Gojyo began to kill them with ease. "Too easy! Is this the best Kougaiji or Homura's got!?! These youkais are pathetic!" Gojyo flipped his hair aside coolly. "What kept you!?!" Goku bashed him on the head with his stick. "None of YER business!! You seemed to be doing "fine" without MY help!" Gojyo said proudly as he pushed Goku aside. "I still would have beaten them... if Sanzo had--" "SHUT UP!" Sanzo had gotten another paper fan from his robe and flung it at Goku.

"He seems pretty normal. Tell me, corrupt monk! Where do you keep all your fans," Gojyo asked. "Hn.." Sanzo whipped part of the robe around his torso and made them gawk at the line of fans hanging from around them. "So that's where you keep them...." Hakkai piped up. "Let's eat LUNCH!" Goku raised his fists in the air. "YA! I'm starving!" Gojyo rubbed his stomach.

As the group arrived in the restaurant, Goku and Gojyo were devouring food much to Sanzo's new found irritation. //They're eating... ALL MY FOOD!// the Goku in Sanzo's head was crying. "You guys.. eat like pigs!" Sanzo said bitterly. "Ara ara... you know how these two feel about food... please understand them..." Hakkai said as he gave Goku some of his dumplings. Hunger rumbled through his belly but just looking at the food didn't make him feel hungry at all... especially with the constant bickering of the two. "SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!" he grabbed another fan and thwacked both their heads. "Don't eat like pigs! There are other people eating here not only the two of you!" he said as he resumed eating his noodles. Then, a woman at the next table approached Gojyo. "You're that hero, right? Please... take this..." she handed him a lunch box.

"Aah, most kind of mi-lady..." Gojyo's face broke into a grin as he glanced at Goku's expression. "I saved the town too!" he pouted. "Here, have some more," another giggling woman gave him another lunchbox. "Both of you are most kind... I will surely enjoy these lunches...!" Then, an idea hit Sanzo in the head. //If I would be Gojyo, I could... get as many lunchboxes as I want.. and... I can also use the same kind of weapon as me! Then, I would still be cool!!!!// he thought to himself. Sanzo stood up. "Where are you going, Sanzo-san?" Goku asked, trying to ignore the lunchboxes Gojyo received. "Outside. I need.. to uh... breathe.." and with that...he left in a hurry, almost bumping over the low ceiling though.

When he was outside he sighed, "Being Sanzo sucks. How can he like beer? And how can he keep his gun to himself. This is no fun!" Before he could call Mingling, two bandits appeared behind him. "Whatdya know? A monk! Right here in this town... I bet he's rich.. from the looks of him. And.. he is kind of beautiful..." the two snickered. "He looks just like a woman," the other reached out and cupped Sanzo's chin to which he jerked away. "So, you two are interested in THAT kind of thing," Sanzo scowled. "Tsk tsk... we'll go easy on you... just relax. This might be your first time to---" and with an uppercut he sent those men over the roof. "What do they THINK of me!?!?!" he was in a rage as he took out his actual gun and began shooting at them, but knowing Goku's real accuracy, he did better with a stick because it would hit the person, his aim with a gun wasn't so good though. He started firing like crazy throughout the town.

"Sanzo!" the other three of his companions peeped their head outside. "Aah! Nan demo nai!" and with that he took off running. "Mingling! Mingling!" "Yes!" she appeared next to him and as usual, it was as if time stopped. "I know what I want to wish for next! First, I don't want to be Sanzo anymore!" "Your wish is my command," she snapped. And he turned back into Goku. "I don't want to be this monkey either! I want to be.. Gojyo!" "That's okay... I can take it too..." she giggled as she gave him a toothy grin and she spun around him in circles and then, everything went black again.

Then, he found himself over the roof overlooking the village square, the strong wind was caressing his face and playing with his blood-red hair. A grin was plastered on his lips as he saw Hakkai, Goku and Sanzo fighting off an army of youkai in the center. They were already back-to-back against them. "I killed 17!" Goku announced. "I got 16," Hakkai looked disappointed. "Hn, 21. I win," Sanzo said smugly. "It's not over yet. There are still more of them," Goku reminded them. "Looks like you could use MY help," came Gojyo's voice from overhead. "Gojyo!" Hakkai and Goku chorused. "Hn. You're late!" Sanzo muttered. "Time to kick some youkai ass!!!" and he made a mad dive down the house and jumped over some youkai heads easily and swinging his staff over them with ease, killing at least three at a time.

"ORA ORA ORA!!!" he waved his staff around with force that he was making something like a spinning sickle and all the youkais that got in the way with it dissolved into ashes. "22!" Gojyo grinned proudly. "Tch, you're trying to show off again..." Sanzo grunted. "You're just jealous of my capability to extend my weapon to such an extent while yours is only--" and a gun-click was heard as the gun was poised under his nose. "...Only ehehe, one of the best..." he added. And Sanzo pulled the gun away from his face. "Gojyo~!!!" girlish screams were heard as they all dashed towards him. "Ooh! Are you hurt? Oh! Your arm!" the girls surrounded him in about three seconds. "It's nothing really! Hahaha," he loved his new attentions.

"I made this for you. Take it," the girl handed him a lunchbox. "No! Take mine!" another girl rudely pushed the first one over. "Ohoho, don't start fighting over me now, ladies. I know I'm good-looking and all, but I know I can spend time with each and everyone of your lunches.. er I mean.. you...!" he grinned. After the lunch, he returned back into the hotel and met up with Hakkai. "Hakuryu's still resting so it'll be a while until we can go travel again," he explained. "Good! I'm stuffed and the women's lunc-- er.. I mean the women will keep me company until then..." Gojyo grinned. "Aren't you the least bit full? You're turning into Goku," Hakkai meant that as a joke.

"Yare yare. I've got enough here. Sides, I am kind of full," he punctuated it with a belch and he sat next to Hakkai. All of a sudden, Goku burst into the scene. "Look!" he tearfully pointed at a bird. Gojyo's expression softened. And the Goku cried. "His wing is broken! Can you fix it Hakkai?" "Don't worry. He'll be better in no time," Hakkai gave him a smile and waved his hand over the small bird, a soft light emitted from his hand and the bird slowly got up and chirped happily as it flew around the room. "Wow! It's flying! It's flying! It's really FLYING!!!" Goku jumped up and down. "Thanks so much, Hakkai!!!" and he opened the window so the bird flew out. "Bye~!!!!" he waved to it.

"You might think it's silly, Gojyo-san, but that boy needs special attention and care," Hakai interrupted his thoughts. "W-what do you mean special attention and care?" Gojyo eyed him. "Goku is unique in our group. Although you always keep me at bay because of your nightly dates, and Goku with his eating habits. It won't be the same without him," Hakkai said as he petted Hakuryu who just flew in. "But he's just a stupid monkey! He's a good for nothing!" Gojyo spat as he glanced away at the seemingly oblivious boy waving out the window.

"No, you can't say that Gojyo. If Goku weren't in our party, who else would be our sunshine?" Hakkai pointed out. "Sunshine!?" Gojyo arched an eyebrow. "You know, he's the spirit of the group. He makes everyone smile. He even makes you smile sometimes, Gojyo. Although it may not look like much, Goku is capable of changing the moods in our battles. In battle, we stress while we fight. He makes it look like so much fun. It is fun. Sometimes we just forget that, but he makes us remember. His high-spirits is also one of the things that keep us going... that is why Goku is important in our group. That's what makes him... one of us," Hakkai explained while glancing at the boy who came back to them.

"I'm gonna go and see if I can cheer up Sanzo!" he said before leaving. "And without him, Sanzo would be so inactive, who else is he going to practice his fan-bashing skills with just you around..." Hakkai gave out a soft laugh. Gojyo fell silent. //Is this how much I mean to everyone?// "Sometimes, the smallest things can change everything, doesn't it?... Huh?" when Hakkai turned around Gojyo had disappeared. "That's funny. He was just here a minute ago... oh well..."

Gojyo was running out in the road. "Mingling! Mingling! Mingling where are you!?!" he called out loud. "You're so noisy!" came the woman, she was no longer fairy sized, but a normal-sized woman. "What is it? All your wishes are used up! All five of them," she said as she folded her arms over her sides. "Five of them!? But I only made four!" Goku argued. "Nu-uh. Let's see. There was when you wanted to be Hakkai. Then, you didn't want to be him. That's two. Then, Sanzo, then, when you didn't want to be Sanzo, that makes two. And now you're Gojyo. Five," she explained. "But... but...! I didn't know it was five already! I want to be Goku! I want to be Goku!" he was in the verge of tears. "I'm afraid I can't do a thing..." she shook her head. "Please! I'll be good! I'll do anything! I want to be Goku again!!! ONEGAISURU!!!" he fell on his knees and hugged her. "Okay! Okay! Just GET OFF me! Just remember! You're special so I'll do this for you only..." and she dumped cold water over him...

"AAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Goku woke up with a start as the freezing water hit his back. And he woke up with a start. He was obviously wet and he glance upwards and saw Hakkai with Gojyo holding a bucket over his head. "Bout time you woke up, monkey! Rise and shine!!!" Gojyo ruffled his hair. "HEY!" he slapped his hand away. "Monkey? Did you just call me monkey!?!" Goku's eyes grew huge. "What other brainless apes do you see in this room, ha!?!" Gojyo rolled his eyes. "I'm back! I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!" he jumped around for joy. "Oi, Hakkai, did he eat anything funny?" he whispered to his comrade. "I don't think so, Gojyo..." he sweat dropped. "I'm me! I'm ME AGAIN! Good morning Hakkai! Good morning ERO Kappa! Good morning world! Good morning bed! Good morning... oooh, I need breakfast!" "You guys are so noisy!" came two fans and it hit Gojyo and Goku.

Goku was laughing as it hit him. "I missed this! I'm back to my old self again!" he hugged all three of them. "What is WRONG with you!?!?!" Sanzo looked homicidal as he jerked himself off the other three. "Oi, Gojyo! I think your girl got the wrong room! She's lookin' for you!" Sanzo dragged the woman in. "Hi. My name is Mingling... Nice to meet you." A look of horror befell on Goku's eyes, "Nooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE'S COME TO TAKE MY SOUL!!!!!!!!!!!! AGH!!!!! I DON'T WANT ANY OF YOUR WISHES!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and Goku dashed out the door as fast as he could.

The other three stared at his form as it grew smaller and smaller from the road. "Definitely something he ate..." Gojyo shook his head.

~End