Unlikely Pairing

Written: 25 April 2003
A/N: Finally chapter 3... not much to say except sucky chapter... please RR.
HOW COULD I FORGET? Thanks to: [gallatica, win, chris, NC, Isil, Azzie, Chiam Harkem, and Kenren19] for reviewing!! You guys are my angels!! :D
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Chapter 3 - Radiant Smile

They traveled in silence for several hours, until Sanzo felt his head would explode. He berated himself mentally, All this time I've been fighting for some peace and quiet, and now that I have it, I miss the noise!

The monk glanced back through the corner of his eye. Goku was sprawled out, staring up at the sky blankly, and Gojyo was looking at the saru with a strange expression on his face, a peculiar half-smile that mixed tenderness and protectiveness. What the-? Sanzo looked forward once more and closed his eyes in irritation, vein beginning to throb lightly.

Suddenly, Goku's stomach grumbled loudly and the saru sat up, while Sanzo prepared his harisen for some stress-relieving fan smacking.

"Gojyouu! Totemo harahetta yo!" Sanzo blinked in shock, and when he saw Gojyo calmly pull out a meat bun and give it to Goku, he blinked even more. Goku popped the meat bun into his mouth with a bright smile and a few seconds later began to wail again. "I'm STILL hungry!" For some reason, Sanzo could not bring himself to whack the saru, no matter how annoying he was.

Hakkai chuckled softly in response to Goku's whining, "We'll be stopping for lunch soon, near a lake. Wait till then."

~`~`~`

When they finally got to the lake Sanzo's nerves were in pieces. He paced the clearing as Hakkai began to prepare lunch, eyes flicking every now and then to where Goku was standing. Gojyo sat down, leaning against a tree, and pulled out a cigarette. Looking around suspiciously, Goku, thinking he wasn't being watched, slipped off through the trees. Sanzo was quick to follow. He caught up with the saru, and found him curled up at the base of a tree, sobbing softly, as if he were afraid of being caught, and muttering to himself. Sanzo leaned forward to hear what Goku was saying.

"Why?"

Why what, saru?

"…said he'd always be there for me…"

Who said that?

"…that we'd be together forever…"

What the fuck?

"…at least… at least now I have…"

Ok I've had enough!

Sanzo stepped out from his hiding place, behind a tree, and walked up to Goku, "What's wrong?" he crossly demanded, staring down at the boy at his feet.

Goku looked up, eyes widening in shock, and he rubbed the tears off his face hastily, leaving only puffy red eyes as evidence of his tears. "Nothing…nothing." The saru sneered inwardly when he realized he had said the same thing three times in the past two days.

Sanzo stared down harshly at Goku, who returned his fierce gaze timidly. The monk softened inside at the picture before him: two tear-filled golden orbs framed by spiky, wild, brown hair; such a tender face that tapered down to outline soft, sensuous lips. Goku, sensing a change within the monk, smiled softly - that radiant smile that had always be his, and only his.

Abruptly, Sanzo stiffened, What am I doing? I am letting myself build ties with others! He narrowed his eyes, and spoke roughly, "If nothing is wrong stop crying all the time like a weakling! I'm not going to drag a crybaby around with me!"

Goku stood up slowly and glared at Sanzo angrily, as hate blossomed within his young heart. The frown marred his face and made him look ugly and vicious, something so uncharacteristically Goku that it shook Sanzo's composure. The saru returned in the direction he had come from, heading back to the camp, and… to Gojyo.

When Goku was long out of earshot, Sanzo leaned heavily against a tree and tried to calm down. Straightening himself after a while, he smiled, It's true, then: a frown can tarnish even the most beautiful of faces. Sanzo realized what he had just thought and cursed loudly, punching a tree. Then he took a deep breath and repeated his master's most important lesson.

"If a Buddha…"

~`~`~`

Sanzo, based on some sixth sense, knew the second before he entered the clearing exactly where Goku would be. He stepped out and saw that the saru was - as he had known - sitting right next to Gojyo.

The monk then noticed that Hakkai seemed to be glancing almost longingly at the two, talking idly by the tree, and he grimaced. Hakkai will never stop yearning for Gojyo. Even drunk and with me, he called out for that ero kappa. Why can't people stop themselves from falling in love? They are fools, every single one of them.

He looked back at Gojyo and Goku, and his heart gave a strange pang when Goku laughed happily at something the kappa had said. That smile…that laughter…it has always been mine - until now. Sanzo felt relieved when Hakkai called Gojyo over to help him, and the monk looked at Goku once more.

Could it be…that Goku's acting strangely because… he saw Hakkai and I sleeping together? Sanzo angrily pushed the thought out of his head, I don't care.

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A/N: Hahaha Sanzo jealous!! :D (sugar induced happiness - after reading sucky chapter wallowed in ice-cream...) The plot thickens!! In case you didn't understand, here's the story:
Goku loves Sanzo at first, but then he thinks Sanzo loves Hakkai so he turns to Gojyo
Gojyo loves Goku (for now)
Hakkai loves Gojyo
And Sanzo...? He's in denial...
Please review...