Usual unclaimers pertain to this fic.

*****

Chen Ming wasn't expecting Sanzo to have recovered the next day, stating the night before that it usually takes a couple of days for the poison to be fully drawn out. But Goku and the others knew better. So it wasn't that surprising for Goku to find a pair of violet eyes scowling at him from the bed when he returned to the room after a small lunch.

"Sanzo!" He immediately rushed to the monk's side as the latter moved to sit up. "You're awake!"

"Tch. Bakasaru." Sanzo rubbed at his temple, his eyes squinting shut. "Stop yelling."

"I wasn't yelling-"

"Urusai!"

Stars exploded in his vision briefly. Goku reached up to rub the sore spot on his head and glared at the monk, who was tucking away his infamous harisen. "What'd you do that for!"

"I told you to stop yelling! You're making my headache worse."

The young youkai pouted and sat on his stool.

"How long?"

"Eh?" Goku blinked in confusion before he quickly regained his cheer. "Ah! You've been asleep for the whole morning and I've been waiting right here."

"The whole time?"

"Hai!"

"Tch." Sanzo slid his legs to the floor. "Bakasaru."

"Am not!"

"Where's Hakkai and Gojyo?"

"Outside. They're waiting for Chen Ming-san to get back."

Sanzo turned sharply to him, suspicion in his violet eyes. "Naze?"

"Anou…" Goku blinked again at Sanzo's sudden seriousness. "Chen Ming-san said she needed to catch more food and left before lunch. She said Hakkai could cook well enough for us if she didn't come back by then."

"And you let her go?"

"She insisted! And Hakkai didn't mind."

"Hn." Sanzo pushed himself off the bed, swayed a little, and grasped one of the bedposts for support. "Damn youkai."

Goku sprang to his side to support him but was waved off when the monk straightened. "Call Hakkai. We're leaving."

"Eh?" Goku blinked in confusion as Sanzo sat on the bed, a hand to his temple. "Nan-"

"I said, 'call Hakkai!'" He roared and the boy dashed out of the room in a panic.

"Hakkai!"

"We know, Goku," the green-eyed youkai was already halfway towards the door. "We heard."

Gojyo snorted behind him, arms crossed behind his head and a lighted cig on his lips. "Guess the bouzu's fine if he can shout like that."

"Hai hai-"

Hakkai froze in mid-step when they heard a scream – and strong wave of youki surged against their spines. The scream lasted only briefly but Goku thought he recognized Chen Ming's voice.

"Chen Ming-san!" He was already out the door and running towards where the scream came from. He had heard enough to know that it came from somewhere to his left –

"Yamete, Goku!"

The boy skidded to stop and turned around to face Hakkai as the latter jogged towards him. "Nanda?"

"You stay here and guard Sanzo. Gojyo and I will look for Chen Ming."

"Demo-"

"This isn't the time to argue." Hakkai glanced behind him, saw Gojyo following at a dead run, and turned back to Goku. "If I'm right about Chen Ming, then this might be a trap. I want you to stay with Sanzo in case something happens, ne?"

The boy nodded. "Hai."

"We'll meet you back at the cabin."

Goku nodded again and jogged back to the cabin.

*****

A/N: *in a singsong voice* Picking up the pace, picking up the pace. I'm getting a school break so I'm picking up the pace. Dang, I hope I didn't make much mistakes here.