Disclaimer applies to everything
31 December 2002
Happy New Year everybody! May this year bring us prosperity and good health (And a whole lot of ideas for fanfics…)
Chapter 5 Battle of Discovery
Sanzo slowly walked towards the Citadel's yawning entrance. Somewhere in the shadows, he saw a small glow of light – the end of a cigarette. "Don't you think it's a little cold for a walk, Gojyo?"
Gojyo emerged from the shadows, grinning. "Nah, I couldn't smoke up there… Goku keeps whining and the window's too narrow for me to lean out. So what's a fella to do?"
Sanzo made an impatient noise. 'What floor?"
Gojyo pointed up. "Exercise, monk. You gotta be in shape, you know. We can't have you wadding around wielding a gu – " He quickly dodged as Sanzo fired a bullet at him. Geez, he thought grumpily. If Sanzo were a cowboy, he's win a quickdraw anytime. Be it in any shape he is. But still, imagining Sanzo as a roly-poly holy was tickling.
Hakkai looked up from his reading as Sanzo entered. 'How is Sarra?"
"Alive," Sanzo grunted and took off his robes. Hakkai suddenly laughed. Sanzo glared at him. "What're you laughing at?"
'Ah, no…" Hakkai grinned. "It's just that… Miss Sarra wears, ah, she looks nice in your uh…"
'Underclothing," Gojyo finished, cracking up with laughter. Sanzo chose not to reply. Gojyo sat on the floor, convulsed in mirth. 'I can't believe it! Of all the things I expect a girl to wear… bwahahahaha!!!!"
Sanzo really felt like strangling Gojyo. He had been through a rough day, not to mention a rough night, and these goons are having a joke at his expense. "I'm retiring. Good night."
"Ah, sweet dreams, Sanzo," Hakkai looked over to another bed where Goku lay snoring.
Sarra slowly got up. Her body was aching, but somebody had bathed her cuts and left a small pail of water next to her bed. She vaguely remembered Sanzo and Nigaki, but her battered mind didn't recall more. That's what happens when she uses too much power, or when her body receives too much pain.
The small plain outside her hut was fresh with morning dew, and she walked around it slowly, coaxing her body to loosen up again. Then she headed towards the waterfalls behind the forest to meditate. She had to keep her Gate under control…
"Ah, Sanzo, your robes are spoilt…" Hakkai said in dismay as he examined Sanzo's sakaya. Sanzo watched with a cigarette at the corner of his mouth. "So?"
"Ah, No… do you remember that there is a little ceremony that we have to attend tonight? Oh, you were asleep. Lord Mara came and told us… as guests, we are the honoured party," Hakkai sweatdropped at Sanzo's obvious dislike. Sanzo certainly dislike big crowds. Or returning favours.
"A ceremony?" Goku's delighted voice broke through the silence. He looked at Sanzo eagerly. "Sanzo, there's gonna be lots of food, right? Come on, let's go, please…" He begged, tugging at Sanzo's arm.
"Baka!" Sanzo growled through gritted teeth. But he had to give in. Goku would do anything when it comes to food, and he was afraid that he might go to all ends of Sanzo forbade him to attend. "Alright. Hakkai?"
'Ah, I'll clean your robes.." Hakkai smiled. "But Sanzo, why don't you freshen up while I clean them? Gojyo is bathing in the rock pool at the back of the Citadel…"
Displeased he was at the thought of getting in a pool with Gojyo, he went anyway. True enough, he saw Gojyo leaning against the edge, a blissful look on his face. He quirked his eyebrow when he saw Sanzo approaching. "What's this? The corrupt monk finally wants to purify himself???"
That comment made Sanzo decide to enter the water fully clothed.
The water was cool, and Sanzo plunged his head underwater to cool his head. The pool was really deep, and the water clear, so Sanzo looked around, admiring the play of light underwater. It was at that moment that he caught a small tunnel leading away from the pool. It was discreet, and only thanks to the light that Sanzo saw it. He came up for air, thinking about it. Then he made up his mind. He plunged down again and headed for the hole.
Gojyo watched him dive to the other end of the pool. That monk taking my exercise advice seriously?
Sanzo swam into the hole. He expected it to be pitch dark, but up ahead he saw a pinprick of light. Feeling curious, he swam on. The hole turned out to be a tunnel, and a long one at that. Sanzo swam quickly, and soon emerged in another pool. It was then that he saw it – a huge alligator-like creature charging towards him. Not wanting to be chow, he swam up and broke the surface of the water close to the edge, and nearly yelled in shock.
Sarra was meditating on a rock when she heard Ruzzar splash into the water. Ah…some punk from the Citadel must have come through the tunnel in hopes of catching some of the women from the village bathing. Too bad… when Sarra is around, she summons her creature to guard. Well… the pervert might have scuttled though the tunnel now…
The water at her feet suddenly broke and a golden head emerged. Too startled to move, Sarra stared in shock at the person, who was also giving her the same look.
Sanzo.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They both yelled, and just that moment Ruzzar burst out from the water, teeth bared. Sarra looked up horrified at her creature. 'Ruzzar, stop!"
It twisted in midair and fell back into the water. Sarra sighed in relief. Then she furiously turned on Sanzo. The latter had hauled himself up from the water and sat next to her. 'What was that?"
'My pervert repellent," She shot back, driving her point home. That enraged Sanzo. "Are you calling me a pervert?!"
"Any other suggestions? Holy Priest?" she asked edgily. It was then did she notice it. Her eyes narrowed. "Is that my clothes?"
"No, It's mine. Don't ask why." Sanzo snapped back. That made Sarra stung. "You're pretty grumpy, aren't you?"
"Yeah? Who's got a face carved from granite?" Sanzo inquired, a mocking smile on his lips.
'You – " Sarra raised her hand to slap Sanzo for his cruel remark, but the monk was faster. He stopped her hand and with one swift movement, threw her into the water. She screamed as she plunged in, and somehow that made it funny. Sanzo sort of snorted, and then sot of giggled, and soon his shoulders were shaking with laughter. Sarra emerged from the water and glared nastily at his laughing form. 'Two can play at that game," She hissed and lunged at the Monk, dragging him into the water.
For Sanzo, twice getting wet was enough. He wrestled to release her grip, but she was strong. They wrestled underwater; Sanzo trying to pull upwards, and Sarra, grinning, pulling him deeper. Finally, realizing that escape was not possible (He had tried to kick at her, but she wasn't affected) he pulled her arm and gripped her tightly, forcing her to lose air. That did it. She struggled, eyes murderously glaring into his deep violet ones, and soon the both of them broke the water's surface, gasping for air. "That… That wasn't fair." Sarra gasped, and Sanzo grinning. That smile took her breath away. She had never noticed it – but now she saw him smiling. "You're smiling." She said bluntly. Sanzo's smile vanished, but there was still a lingering shadow. "You did too."
It was absurd, a part of her mind screamed. Suddenly the situation weighed on her; she was still in Sanzo's embrace, and the feel of his arms, the warm wall of his chest made her heart skip. She was confused. "Sanzo?" She half-whispered. She didn't think she needed to be louder. His face was close – so close that their breath mingled; so close that she couldn't escape those eyes. They were deep, mysterious, and seemed to draw her whole soul into them. Warning bells screamed, but she couldn't get away.
Sanzo gazed into those chilly grey eyes. Not chilly, his mind countered. They were… strange. Sparkling, like water. He was dimly aware of her body pressed to his, but he wasn't sure if this was the cause for the sudden ache somewhere in his body. His eyes travelled down her face, and lingered on her lips. They were slightly parted and very, very near. Dare he?
