Standard you-know-what works.

*****

The power of the sutras died down, the sound of his gun still ringing in his ears. The cabin was now totally wet, thanks to those tendrils. With Chen Ming dead, the youki she used to control the water simply disappeared.

Sanzo calmly tucked the gun into the waist band of his robe and turned on his heel.

"Oi, matte Sanzo!" Goku bounded to his side.

"Where's Hakkai and Gojyo? We're leaving."

"Ah! They're both outside!"

Sanzo turned to look at him with narrowed eyes, a silent command for the saru to explain further.

Goku grinned stupidly and launched into his narrative, his arms gesturing wildly. "We heard a scream. I was going to go and look but Hakkai told me to stay with you so I ran back. But then these tentacle-things were blocking the doorway and I couldn't get to you so I-"

"Hmp." Sanzo turned abruptly and started walking towards the door.

"-got my Nyoibou and- Oi! Nanda yo, Sanzo! You didn't let me finish!"

"I've heard everything I needed to hear. Iku zo."

"Matte Sanzo!" The boy held a hand to his stomach as soon as he reached the monk's side. "Haraheta…"

"Urusai."

"But the fight made me move around so much! I feel like I used up my entire lunch already…"

"If you don't stop complaining I'll shut you up permanently!"

The saru pouted. "Kechi."

Sanzo pointedly ignored that and swung the cabin door open. The smell of the surrounding forest quickly overpowered the scent of the water inside the cabin. Leaves rustled as the wind blew, bringing with it the various sounds of insects. It was almost a peaceful contrast to what happened in the cabin.

As if conscious of his mood, Goku remained silent beside him as he walked. He didn't have a goal in mind. He just…walked. Whether he was bound to meet up with the other two idiots in his company or not he didn't care. In the end they would all be resuming their journey anyway.

"Sanzo! Goku!"

"O-oi. I told you the bakasaru and namagusa bouzu'd be okei."

Sanzo looked up at the pair that came running out of the woods as Goku greeted them cheerfully. "Gojyo! Hakkai!"

"So, did we miss the big fight then?" The half-breed immediately started to ruffle Goku's hair – hard.

"Yamero, ero kappa!"

"Maa maa," even as Hakkai spoke, Sanzo saw the other glance at him critically, as though making sure the monk wasn't hurt further.

Sanzo snorted in disdain. He didn't ask him, any of them, to worry. He hadn't asked for their friendship. If he had his way he would have gone alone and finished the whole damn mission. Instead, he had to deal with the noisome lot each step of the way, and maybe a few twists and turns as well.

But as long as they didn't get in his way, he didn't have an excuse to kill them off. It was a truce…of sorts.

*****

A/N: Wasai! It's finally finished! Thanks to everyone who reviewed: Queen of Darkness and Mustard for being the first (Onna wasn't fair since she's the one who formats my fics and therefore gets first pickings?), Jenny, Kanon*Altrui, Suteki Hakkai, Kawaii Syaoran, dref, sf (sorry dear, but I'm becoming shy of writing much Sanzo-abuse), K.Firefly, eiree, hakkai-no-megane, Mei Cera aka Gensui Meia, Ranka, Emerald Phoenix524, Caer, Ryla, Rook, NosyAsshole, poignance, Genjy0-Sanz0, Ayce Shade, silbern-spell (I'm working on a couple more Saiyuki fics), and gallatica (Sorry if I got you confused.). In short, thanks to everyone I've ever met :D

I sure hope I've explained everything in this final chapter and that I managed to wrap everything up nicely.