Fatherhood Chapter 6
"Sanzo!" Goku yelled gleefully as soon as Sanzo stepped into the kitchen. The little boy squealed delightfully as Goku swing him in the air, waving his cubby hands all about. His blond hair was flapping up and down. "Sanzo! You have such a cute son. He looks a bit like you!" Pushing the little boy right into Sanzo's face. "Ne? Why don't you try?"
"Stupid monkey," Sanzo uttered, looking around the kitchen. "Where's Azami?"
"She's upstairs, preparing the rooms for the night." An idea came to him. "Ne, Sanzo. I'll find her while you look after him. Okay?" Shoving the little boy into Sanzo's arms. "It won't take long!" Grinning, he sped out of the kitchen before Sanzo could react.
"Oyo! Saru!" Sanzo shouted but it was too late. "Damn him!"
He turned and saw a little boy in his hands, staring blankly at him. Sanzo cursed and gently placed him on the table. Taking a chair, he sat down and examined the little boy who initiated all of this mess. Majority of his features belonged more to Azami's rather than his. Milky white skin, cubby pointed face with a snout nose covered by a messy flop of blond hair. The little boy giggled and stretched out his arms, his fingers curling and uncurling themselves. Pressing his lips together, he pouted them, like the lips of a goldfish. Then, he parted them as he smiled, showing a few of his baby teeth sticking out of the gums. Pleased with himself, he clapped, cooing angelically.
What the hell is he doing?
The little boy shrilled, stretching out his hands again in effects to touch something. Puzzled, Sanzo lifted his hand and held it out. The little boy's hands instantly went towards it, gripping a finger with all of his ten digits. The acorn eyes locked onto its newfound object, staring at the size with awe. He cooed and looked up at Sanzo in wonder.
"Yes, kid. I have bigger hands than you," Sanzo muttered, mentally reminding himself to be more patient. Like he understood, the little boy made a gurgling noise, wetting his lips with saliva. Blinking his acorn eyes harmlessly, the little boy decided to do the next thing.
He put Sanzo's finger into his mouth and bit.
"Hey!" Growling. "My finger is not your food!" Sanzo drew his finger away. The little boy cried at the sight of his toy leaving him. He bent forward so much that he almost fell off the table if Sanzo hadn't caught him in time. Thinking it as a game, the little boy chuckled, clinging on to Sanzo like a Koala bear. Sanzo felt his heart rising up to his throat. Gosh! This kid was a hundred times worse than any of the demons he had encountered. Hardly 5 minutes passed and now, he's wishing that stupid monkey or anyone would come here and release him from this tiny devil.
Then, he heard the crackling of paper. Feeling terribly uneasy, he looked down. To his immense horror, the tiny devil was crushing a section of the Sutras in his little hand. Pulling it up, the tiny devil proceeded on to nibble it. Saliva was dripping from his mouth.
"DON'T TOUCH THE SUTRAS!!!" Sanzo shrieked, immediately placing the tiny devil onto the table. He removed his Sutras and examined it for the slightest physical damage. "Must you put everything into your mouth?" Smoothing out the crumbled area. "Ah?"
The little boy's face was red, his cheeks puffed and his lips bending downwards. He was sniffing and making ominous moans like a volcano at the brink of eruption.
"Oh no…" Sanzo gulped. "Don't tell me you're going to…" Panicking, Sanzo popped up his white fan and waved it in front of the boy. "Here! Play with this!" Seeing his bewildered face, he coaxed more. "Yes, that's right. Focus at the fan." Bemused, the little boy gripped the handle and began to shake it. Fascinated at the fan's wobbling, he cooed in delight. Sanzo sighed in relief.
"You are worse than I thought. How did Azami manage to survive you?
"As not as bad as you," a feminine voice answered. Sanzo turned and saw Azami leaning against the doorway, looking very amused. "Nice to know you two are getting along well with each other."
"Azami…" Sanzo greeted very bluntly. The little boy gave a cheerful cry and held his arms up, desiring to be carried. Azami smiled motherly, carried and placed him into a chair specially made for children. Patting his head, she said, "You have been a very good boy, isn't he, Otōsan (Daddy in formal Japanese)?"
Sanzo grunted, "He's mischievous and probably inherited his mother's spirit."
"He's a child, Genjo. I bet you were like this once before."
"Me?" He retorted. "Never! I have always been serious."
"Yeah right! I bet you were!"
She said nothing for a while, then quietly said, "Either way, I'm glad that I'm able to see you again." Mustering a smile and keeping calm, "I still love you, Genjo. Although you left me without saying a proper goodbye, at least you gave me a part of yourself to remember you by." Her eyes grew moist yet she maintained her smile. It made Sanzo tensed.
Suddenly, Azami laughed softly. Caught between tears and laughter, she continued, "I have made you uncomfortable again, didn't I?" Coming closer and gripping Sanzo's hands tightly. "Like the first time I held your hand."
"You have no idea how uncomfortable I am when you are near me," Sanzo replied, smelling her fresh scent in the air around him, as vivacious as she was. Azami came softly into his arms, holding him tightly, her face resting upon his shoulder. The touch of her body made his hands tingle as memories of their last passion resurfaced in his mind.
"Ever since you left, there hasn't been another man in my heart, you're the only one that I want to spend my life with… as always…"
Gently, Sanzo pulled back a little and raised her chin with his hand. Titling his head slightly, he kissed her, tasting the salty tears upon her lips. Azami responded quickly, pressing him closer to her, kissing him with feverish passion. The heat disarmed Sanzo of all his senses and his body was beginning to return her caresses. Steeling himself back to self-control, he gently disengaged himself from Azami's embrace. Slowly, he forced himself away from her and with regret in his voice, said, "We shouldn't be doing this."
Hardening his voice as he looked at his son drooling onto the white fan, "Though this child is my son. However," Pausing. "This will remain as a secret between you and me. Nothing more nothing less." Heading towards the door. "That's all I have to say to you."
"Don't you dare walk out of that door, Genjo Sanzo!" Azami responded, with a burst of fierce anger. "Don't think for a second that you could walk in and out like you would in some inn! While you are in my house, you abide by my rules. Answer me, Genjo Sanzo! Why couldn't you accept your son like a normal father would? Why must we keep his identity like he's criminal? Are you afraid of tarnishing your holy Sanzo image if those monks find out? Huh? Tell me!"
"I'm not a craven to face those hypocrites. It's the youkai (demons)! Once they found out about you and my son, you two will never find a moment of peace and so will I!"
"Youkai… Youkai," She exploded, infuriated. "It always has to be them, isn't it? You have to evolve yourself around them, don't you? Everything you do, that has to be the reason, isn't it? Well then, Genjo. Your reason to be here is well justified! Not just for your son but for someone whom I hoped you haven't forgotten!" She breathed in deeply.
Genjo stared bluntly, in thought of her last sentence. Scanning around, the kitchen did look the same as he last saw it. Stone-earthen oven, bundles of herbs hanging from the ceiling, chopping boards and Juiko's endless collection of assorted culinary… Then, a memory struck his nerve cells acutely, heightening his dharma senses. Though the structure was the same, there was something absent, a soul who made this place homely and heartwarming.
"Juiko…" He whispered, looking at Azami. "Where's Juiko?"
"Dead," She turned away. "The wolf demons killed her."
"When? How? I thought I've got rid of them!"
"Sorry to say this, Genjo but you didn't!" She hissed acidly. "You didn't totally annihilate them because you didn't do your job properly! Do you want to know how Juiko die? They tore her limb from limb as they spilt her guts out. She was eaten alive!" Tears gushed down. "I could still hear her screams ringing in my head every time I think of her." Her voice became high and hysterical with grief. "All I did was to run. I left her behind because the only thing in my mind was to protect our son. Your son, Genjo." She rushed forward and buried her head into his chest, grasping his arms. "I am so afraid that they will come back. Don't you see? We need you, Genjo. We need you to be here. I understand why you left me but you cannot leave our son." Sobbing. "Our son needs a father, a father to protect him from the youkai until he's old enough to protect himself!"
Sanzo remained still as he held her in his sturdy arms. Gojyo was right. He was an irresponsible man. He had let Azami down. Blinded in his effects to suppress his love for her, he had let the wolf demons stayed alive to continue the cycle of bloodshed, the expensive price of his foolishness.
Suddenly, Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku ran into the kitchen, panting. Seeing the weapons in Gojyo & Goku's hands, Sanzo needed not words. Their actions spoke enough.
"They are coming, Azami," Sanzo said quietly. "I want you to stay as close to me as possible. Don't leave my sight at all times." Glancing down at the little boy whose angelic smile was thawing his soul. "Somehow they knew I was coming. Juiko's death was a warning sign." Rubbing his son's cheek. "They were waiting for me to come so that they could get rid of us in one mighty blow."
"They have to pass through us before they could do that," Gojyo smirked.
"Sou you! It's not as if they are the strongest demon!" Goku chipped in.
"We have been tighter situations before," Hakkai smiled. "Isn't it so, Otōsan?"
"Fine!" Sanzo not wanting the trio could step all over him. "The plan is plain and simple for you morons to understand. Either you or the wolf demons get killed. Got that?"
"You couldn't put it in a better way," Gojyo grinned. "By the way, what's your son's name?"
"Err…" Sanzo quickly turned to Azami for help. "What did you name our son?"
"Hmm…" Azami blushed. "Actually, I haven't named him yet. I was hoping you would since it's more appropriate for the father to name his son." Her little son cooed, waving the white fan all about.
"My goodness! You two haven't named him yet! What kind of parents you are?" Hakkai teased. "Based on the fact he's a boy, his name could be related to strength, wisdom, kindness, intelligent…"
"Blah blah blah," Gojyo cut in. "How about Genjo Junior? Very straightforward."
"I don't think Sanzo would appreciate that…" Hakkai frowned disapprovingly.
"I know! I know!" Goku jumped up and down excitedly. "Why don't we name him?" Looking at the little boy very sweetly, "After me! Goku the second!"
WHAM!!! A white fan spontaneously slammed itself so hard onto Goku's head that he collapsed facedown on the floor. The little boy immediately squealed joyfully at his newly discovered ability.
"Like Father Like Son," Hakkai commented silently.
"ITAI (OUCH)!!!!" Goku wailed, rubbing his bruised head. "Why the hell did you hit me for? I thought we were friends!"
"Obviously, he didn't like your brainless suggestion!" Sanzo replied, taking the fan from his son. "Here, let me show you how to hit a monkey!" Skillfully whacking Goku on the head once more. Handling it back to his son. "See? This is how you do it."
"Mo ii, Sanzo!!" Goku moaned. "Argh!!!" He cried as the white fan fell upon him for the third time. "Sanzo, you are showing a bad example to your son!"
"Who cares?" Gojyo spoke. "At least I can see the father and son resemblance. Now that I'm truly convinced that he's your son, corrupt monk. Let's go and… hehehe…" Laughing nervously at the feel of Sanzo' gun onto his skull. "Sanzo, you couldn't be doing that in front of your son. Like Goku said, you are showing a bad example…"
To Be Continued
Sorry for the grammatical errors for the previous chapters. As you can see, GeneWeiß hasn't think of a name for Genjo's name. (bummer). Who or what are the wolf demons? Find out in the next chapter!
