Title: Starvation
Chapter: 1/2
Authoress: Hikaru R. Kudou
Genre: Shounen ai, General, Romance, mild Angst, mild Humour
Pairings: Sanzo/Goku, Gojyo/Hakkai
Warnings: Quite OOC, the authoress's poor English, a little cliché-d, typing errors
DISCLAIMER: Minekura Kazuya-sensei owns Saiyuki, I own the storyline, additionally Sanzo and Goku belong to each other.

Authoress's Notes: My first Sanzo/Goku fic. If there's any fic that is similar or quite similar to this one here, I apologize profusely. It's purely coincidental.
            I think the fic's one of those overused clichés, but I might be mistaken. Oh, well…enjoy the story! *bows*
*Thoughts are in italic.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

            It was a beautiful day, where the chirps of the birds were in a harmonious rhythm, as if composing a divine piece of music for the gods, humans and youkais alike.
            Yet, a note was out of place.
            "YURUSEI!!!!" *thwack, thwack, thwack—one for Gojyo, the rest for Goku*
            "Itai!! Sanzo~!!!" wailed Goku.
            "Oh dear…here we go again…" commented Hakkai.
            "Damned corrupt monk…" muttered Gojyo, touching the lump on his head gingerly.
            "I see we're approaching a town," declared Hakkai, "Let's step on it, Hakuryu!"
            And so they found themselves a motel, where they were hoping to stay for a while before they continue to be on their journey. Oh, and to have lunch, on top of that.
            Goku sniffed the air. "Wow! The buns smell nice!"
            Hakkai was busy talking to the waiter. "Saa…we'd like to have…" He pointed to numerous dishes listed in the menu.
            Gojyo chipped in comically, "Na, Hakkai…are the words 'beautiful girls' anywhere in the menu?"
            Sanzo, impatient as ever, flicked his cigarette lighter on.
            The waiter noted what Sanzo was doing. "Ano…sumimasen…but this is a non-smoking restaurant…"
            Sanzo, his eyes narrowed, glared murderously at the poor waiter, his eyes emitting fire of anger. Consequently, the waiter flinched in fear. "…but I'm sure one exception won't really hurt…"
            "Hn." Sanzo lighted his cigarette and got up to leave.
            "Where are you going, Sanzo? The food is not here yet…" questioned Goku.
            Sanzo retorted after tossing the cigarette box in with an air of displeasure. "None of your business." He left the restaurant, ignoring Goku who was calling out to him.
            "Sanzo! Sanzo!"
            The waiter, as he served their food, stated, "Just so you know, it's not safe to wander around alone in this town."
            Goku looked at him, perplexed. "Ah? Doushite?"
            "Youkais going berserk, you see. Happens everyday. A huge number of them, too. That's why this town seems dead at a glance."
            "Naruhodo." Hakkai fingered his chin. "That explains why the streets are empty."
            "You've nothing to worry about." Gojyo folded his arms, smiling confidently. "That decadent monk has his own ways of dealing with youkais. He can take care of himself."
            Out of the blue they heard cackling laughter. Intrigued, they rushed to the window to have a look at what was going on.
            "Youkais…I should say there are about 40 of them…" informed Hakkai.
            "Look!" Goku pointed in realization. "Isn't that Sanzo in the middle of them?"
            Sure enough, nobody could overlook that bright yellow fleck of hair sticking out of the mob of youkais.
            Youkai #1 was scoffing. "What do you know…it's a Sanzo!"
            "We can't let a good opportunity of gaining immortality go to waste, now can we?" Youkai #2 rubbed his hand gleefully.
            Sanzo murmured coldly under his breath. "*******s." Without warning, he started shooting every single youkai down
            In the restaurant, the four were still goggling at Sanzo's outstanding feat. The waiter was awed beyond words.
            "…simply amazing…"
            "Sanzo!!" cried Goku.
            "He did it again. He wiped out all 40 of them—without our help," said Gojyo.
            "He's extra touchy today…" Hakkai observed.
            They continued to watch the blond monk until he disappeared from sight. Goku, Hakkai and Gojyo then returned to their seats.
            "Should we wait for him?" asked Hakkai.
            "Nah, let's dig in." Gojyo grabbed a pair of chopsticks.
            Hakkai and Gojyo began to eat, the former occasionally popping pieces of meat into Hakuryu's mouth. But something was missing.
            "Goku…? Why aren't you eating?" Suddenly he felt odd asking the last possible question on the planet to Goku.
            "Something's wrong with the monkey." Gojyo arched an eyebrow.
            "Ne, Hakkai…" Goku started, "why is Sanzo mad?"
            "He's always mad," pointed out Gojyo.
            "But today he's worse than ever. His temper, I mean."
            "Now that you mentioned it, the last time he was more peeved than right now was when it rained…"
            "anzo hit me with his harisen more than once at a time…that means he's very angry with me, doesn't it?"
            Hakkai and Gojyo did not know what to say in response. They realized Goku knew and recognized Sanzo for a longer duration of time compared to them.
            "Is it because I keep on nagging him for food? Is my mere presence a disturbance, a reason for Sanzo to be irritated?"
            "No, Goku, you must not think—" objected Hakkai kindly.
            Goku lowered his head miserably. "Shikashi…I cannot control my hunger…I can't help myself…"
            "He understands, Goku, trust me…"
            Goku was clearly suppressing his tears. "How would you know, Hakkai? Nobody can really decipher Sanzo…"
            "You think too much…"
            Goku stood up at a snail's pace. "I…I'm taking a stroll…"
            "But it's too dangerous out there. You look exhausted—how are you going to defend yourself if any youkai attacks you?"
            "I think he needs some time to be alone," Gojyo said. "Saru, chotto, don't go anywhere." The pink-haired half-youkai called the waiter, who attended to them at once – since he had no other customer.
            "Yes?"
            "Is there a vacant room in the motel? This saru needs to rest." Gojyo pointed his thumb in Goku's direction.
            "I believe so. I can fix up for one with the motel keeper."
            "Thank you very much." Hakkai beamed gratefully to him.
            Without much protest, Goku departed with the waiter. The former had no mood to do anything else, thus he went on with Gojyo's idea.
            "He's taking it really hard," remarked Hakkai.
            "Honestly, Hakkai, those two lovebirds have enough problems to last them for a lifetime."
            "Lovebirds? Ah, I knew there was something going on between them…"
            "Yeah, you and the rest of the shounen ai and yaoi fangirls."
            "What should we do? We can't just watch tem and their love only spinning on air. I mean, poor Goku…"
            "I know that, Hakkai…but this is one problem we shouldn't solve. Just leave it to Sanzo."
            "Sou da na…" A long sigh.
            "Let's worry about something more important, shall we? Like…let's worry about us…" Gojyo smiled suggestively.

            In the motel room, Goku was all by himself. Curling on the cosy bed like a sleeping baby monkey snuggling close to its mother, deep in the latter's motherly hug.
            Except that Goku was alone.
            Slowly the boy opened his eyelids. His eyes, those golden orbs that used to shine with innocent enthusiasm, now had lost the light that breathed life into them; give the impression of absolute weariness. The same eyes fell upon one corner of the room, where the sunlight coming through the window descended from the firmament.
            'If this was deep underground, I wouldn't have wished for the sun…'
            He recalled those words only too easily. His fingers slid together and folded, forming a fist.
            He thought his existence was a burden to Sanzo.
                        Flashback
            Goku yelled out. "Sanzo…I'm hungry~!"
            "Yurusei, baka saru!" Sanzo took his potent harisen out and slammed it on Goku's head.
            Gojyo had to stiffen his amused chuckles, which only gave Sanzo a reason to whack him as well.
            "As if a troublesome saru who only eats is not enough a nuisance…" Sanzo mumbled crossly.
                        End of Flashback
            That's it! I'll refrain myself from eating…maybe that way I won't pester Sanzo anymore…maybe he won't hate me…

            After hours of performing his disappearing act, Sanzo finally returned to the motel, where Gojyo and Hakkai were still struggling to finish the abundant amount of food on their table. Hakuryu was refusing another of Hakkai's offerings, motioning at its round stomach.
            Gojyo leaned back on his chair. "I've never eaten so much before…"
            Hakkai agreed whole-heartedly. "Maa…neither have I…Oh, Sanzo, you're back."
            Sanzo sat down indifferently. "Goddamned town."
            "A-re?"
            "This damned town doesn't have anything. Worthless piece of crap…"
            "I cannot blame them. The townspeople locked themselves in their homes to avoid running into youkais."
            "Ch'. I killed all of those pesky youkais."
            "Hai, hai. One of these days they're going to call you the youkai-buster," Gojyo interjected.
            "Shut up if you know what's good for you."
            Gojyo only managed to glare at the monk.
            At this point Sanzo noticed the unoccupied chair—formerly Goku's. Sanzo, curious of Goku's absence and whereabouts, wanted to ask the two but he stopped himself as he became conscious that the question was rather un-Sanzo-like. No, scratch that. Very un-Sanzo-like.
            Of course, Gojyo and Hakkai deduced what was going on in Sanzo's head. Hey, it doesn't take a detective to figure that one out, especially since Sanzo's deep heliotrope eyes were glued to Goku's seat.
            Hakkai explained helpfully, "By the way, Goku's taking a nap. You don't mind, I hope?"
            Sanzo deliberately snorted loudly in contempt. "Whatever."
            "Ano…should we move now?" Hakkai wiped his hands with a napkin.
            "Hrm. We're wasting time in this lacklustre place."
            "Perhaps we should ask the waiter to pack all these leftovers? Just in case the saru gets hungry on the way?" asked Gojyo.
            "That's a revolutionary idea, Gojyo!" nodded Hakkai. "Who knows how much he's going to eat once he wakes up, na?"
            Gojyo glanced at the blond. Damn it, isn't Sanzo going to ask anything about Goku?
            Sanzo acted as if he was not at all interested in Gojyo and Hakkai's topic of conversation, but he could no longer keep his enquiries about Goku to himself. He simply had to ask, for his own sake. His anxiety was driving his sanity all the way to the nearest asylum.
            "Oi."
            Woo-hoo! He's going to ask at last! Strike one for the home team!
           
"Hai?" Hakkai smiled encouragingly at Sanzo.
            "How long has the saru been sleeping?"
            "Ever since you were gone."
            "Masaka…"
            "Sanzo, you wouldn't demur to waking Goku up, would you?"
            Sanzo grunted again. Hakkai took this as a positive answer that he thanked him.
            "Thank you so much."
            Sanzo, after asking the fellow behind the counter regarding Goku's temporary room, ascended the staircase. He treaded on the corridor until he reached the end. He twisted the doorknob noiselessly.

- - - - - - [tsuzuku] - - - - - -

Authoress's Notes: Not much going on in this chapter, but the next one is almost 97.9% Sanzo/Goku-ish. Hai, please wait for the continuation! Meanwhile, leave me a review, onegai shimasu! *bows* Thanks again for reading!