Standard disclaimers apply.

"Ano." Hakkai began as the four of them stared at the large lake, its banks covered with green grass and small shrubs alternating with grey rock. Beyond the lake, trees rose high until their tops reached just below the ridges far away behind them, forming a forest wall a few steps from where the water lapped against the green shore. "I guess we'll have to cross the lake, ne?"

"'Cross the lake?'" Goku shot forward, his hands on the front seat. "But it's cold out here! I don't want to get cold!"

"Urusai, bakasaru," Gojyo drawled, crossing his arms behind his head as he leaned back. "Unless you've got a better idea in that empty head of yours, we've got no choice."

"Don't call me a bakasaru kono ero kappa!"

"Shut up, you idiots!" Sanzo's toned brooked no arguments even if the harisen didn't make an appearance. But it had its desired effect as the two quickly shut up.

"Daijoubu desuka, Sanzo?" Hakkai turned to the monk beside him, deep green eyes clouded with concern.

"I'm fine." The monk climbed out of the jeep, not meeting anyone's gaze as he walked towards the lake. It was pristine as far as lakes go; light glancing off still blue water, a cool breeze brushing against his face, bringing with it the smell of pine trees and fresh water.

"It looks so peaceful, ne?" Hakkai's soft voice said as the youkai joined him.

"Hn."

"Is something wrong?"

Sanzo watched the lake quietly for a moment before answering. "It's too peaceful."

"You deserve it, Sanzo-sama," Gojyo's devil-may-care tone answered him, hands in his pockets and a wide smile on his face. "For an aging guy like you, you should be resting on a mat in front of the river instead of getting drunk and being trigger-happy."

The gun was out and pointing at him before anyone could move, followed by Sanzo's deep voice. "I'll send you to hell if you don't shut up."

Gojyo grinned wider though his hands gradually rose in surrender, a moment before energetic footsteps bounded over to them with a white blur gliding to a stop on Hakkai's shoulder.

"Sannzzooooo.." whined Goku. "Can't we look for another way other than crossing the lake? I don't want to get cold!"

"You'll get cold even if I shoot you, dumbass ape!"

"Minna!" Hakkai's voice cut through the argument before it got worse, as he stepped closer to the lake. Sanzo didn't even notice the youkai move off, busy as he was silencing the two idiots. He watched as the youkai bent to pull away at a shrub, revealing a long, dark object floating on the water. "I guess we won't have to get wet after all."

"Really?" Goku practically bounced to Hakkai in his excitement, eagerly pulling at the shrub and revealing more of the object. "Sugoi! It's a boat!"

"An old one by the looks of it." Gojyo commented as he strolled to them. "Think it'll hold all of us?"

"It feels sturdy enough." Hakkai tested his weight against the boat's sides. "I don't see any leaks either."

"Just because you don't see anything wrong with it doesn't mean it's perfect." Sanzo stated, his gaze on the dinghy. The wood was worn on its edges, its paint chipped off in places and water-stained in others. Two oars were attached on either side of the dinghy, just as damaged as the rest of the wood. A tattered rope tied to one end kept it from floating away.

"Well, it's either this or we swim across." Hakkai's smile never wavered from his face. "Or we find another way to pass."

Sanzo glanced at the towering cliff face that bordered the forest, as well as the lake sides where the forest thinned out. The townspeople had said there was no faster way to pass other than the lake. Discounting the lone youkai that was supposed to be living near here, that is.

"I'm not going to swim across!" Goku announced as he hopped into the boat, quickly finding his balance as the dinghy bobbed on the water. "I don't want to get cold!"

"Quit whining around and stay steady, you immature saru." Gojyo lifted his foot to secure the dinghy. He turned to the monk. "Oi, Sanzo-houshi-sama. There isn't anyone coming after us."

"Don't count on it." Sanzo muttered darkly and moved to the dinghy, outvoted once again. Gojyo had stepped into it before he did, taking a seat across the saru where the two immediately began to argue. Sanzo's jaw tightened. He focused instead on getting into the dinghy, pinpricks of rough wood pressing into his hand as he steadied it.

Something... didn't feel right.

"Sanzo?" Hakkai's hands came to rest beside his. "Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing." He pushed the feeling out of his mind and slipped into the dinghy. No need to worry about something that wasn't there... yet. "Iku zo."

"Hai."

It was Hakkai who pushed the dinghy off the bank before jumping inside; he was also the one to take up the oars, smiling all the way as he fell into the methodical cycle of rowing.

Sanzo watched the cliff face bordering the lake drift past. He hated lakes. He hated having to cross large bodies of water. He hated having to rely on pieces of wood strapped together to float on water, not when it reminded him of...

"Are? Did you see that?" Goku's voice interrupted his thoughts. The boy was leaning on one side of the dinghy, tilting the boat precariously.

"Nani - bakasaru!" Gojyo held onto the other side of the dinghy as he glared at the young youkai. "What have you eaten for lunch that made you so heavy?"

"I'm not heavy, you pervert!"

"Nandato!!"

The red-haired half-breed raised his fist to pummel Goku - if only the world didn't tilt so suddenly.

"Fuck!" The expletive was out of his mouth a scant second before water closed in. Sanzo swam to the surface instinctively, his robes hampering his movement. But that didn't stop his ascent. His legs gave a final kick as his head broke the surface. Someone was already waiting for him.

"You bakasaru!"

The boy flinched as though he expected the harisen to connect with his skull. Upon feeling none, he turned a sheepish grin at Sanzo. "Ahh... wari..."

"I guess we did get wet after all, ne?" Hakkai laughed, water sluicing off his black hair.

"Tch. Don't laugh, 'kai." Gojyo treaded water towards them. "It's bad enough we have to travel with a wet saru."

"I'm not a saru, you ero ero kappa!"

"Chibi saru! Bakasaru! Stomach-brained saru!"

"Perverted cockroach! Cockroach kappa! Ero ero kappa!"

"Uruse!!" Sanzo reached for his gun. He would've gotten off two shots - but the stabbing cold to his gut changed his mind. Youki. "Shit!"

Something wrapped around his legs. His fingers touched his gun but something had pinned his arm to his side.

"Sanzo!" yelled Goku as the monk was plunged into the waters again.

Pressure on his other arm as he felt it ensnared. The coils around his chest tightened. Sanzo struggled against the retraining coils. He only had to get his gun-arm free.

A shimmering tendril darted to encircle around his neck, the icy grip taking away whatever breath he managed to hold. Kuso...!

Bubbles floated upwards from his open mouth. His chest started to burn.

Sanzo strove to free his arm - in vain. The coils around his neck constricted.

Darkness surrounded his vision. There was a shadow as something blocked the light streaming down from the surface. For a moment, he thought it was Goku.

But the thought faded quickly as darkness closed in.

A/N: *nervous twitch* Uhm, this is my first Saiyuki fic so if there's any mistake, anyone care to tell me?