Disclaimer: In case no one's noticed, I don't own Saiyuki. (^_^)

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Chapter 6

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Gojyo

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I had crept in to find both Sanzo and Goku asleep, the latter with his head resting on the bed, covered with a blanket… Hakkai's work probably. He shifted gently as I moved around the room. The saru had nearly gone out of his mind with worry. Now that he knew that his precious Sanzo was in no danger of dying, he seemed to have returned to the normal ever-hungry ape. Well, not exactly normal. At times his eyes clouded over and he would fall silent, eyes never leaving the monk's face, their expression begging him to wake up and talk. He rarely left Sanzo's room, now that woman had let him in. He seemed determined not to let the monk out of his sight.

I passed my fingers through my hair, and grinned slightly. He had better snap out of it fast. I doubted if Sanzo once restored to his normal high-and-mighty self would appreciate having Goku clinging to his robes. Watching them sleep wasn't much fun. I slipped my hand into my pocket and swore softly on discovering I had forgotten my cigarettes. Back to our room again. I walked out again. The corridors were empty, as usual. It seemed everyone had strict orders to keep out of our way. Probably that frosty priestess was afraid we'd contaminate her women. Hn. Most of them were old hags anyway. Shunrei wasn't that young, but she was good-looking still. I had caught Hakkai looking at her a few times. Maybe I should start suspecting something… I chuckled. Hakkai wasn't that type of guy...  I arrived to our room and picked up my cigarettes and matched, taking care not to wake Hakkai who was resting, with the usual smile back on his face. He had suffered too…I shivered as I remembered his face…. I slipped out again and made my way to the sickroom quickly, trying to put the memory of those awful nights out of my mind.

I placed my hand on the doorknob and was just about to go in, when I heard Goku's voice.

"Sanzo you're awake at last!" I edged the door open slightly, hoping that they wouldn't notice me. The monk was frowning… "Where the hell am I?"

"It's a monastery Sanzo." Goku seemed slightly tense, and was fidgeting. I could sense Sanzo's irritation growing.  "We brought you here after you were attacked when… when…" Here Goku faltered and fell silent, eyes downcast.

"I remember." The monk's voice was dry and devoid of any emotion. His golden bangs covered his face, and I couldn't see his expression.

"Sanzo?" The saru seemed to hesitate, and he lifted his golden eyes to the other's face.

"What?"

"I'm sorry." His voice seemed to break and the sound of muffled sobs intermingled with broken fragments of sentences was all that could be heard. "I never meant to leave you… it's my fault because I'm always hungry…I thought you'd die… I'm sorry…"

 Sanzo did not speak or move, but continued to watch Goku. What the hell was he doing, letting the kid continue to blame himself like that? I had to restrain myself from bursting into the room.

"Baka." Sanzo's voice seemed almost gentle for once. "I'm not dead yet." He stretched out his hand, and let it rest on Goku's head. The kid's sobs subsided, and soon he looked up.

"You're not mad at me then?" Goku sounded hopeful, golden eyes wide and full of expectancy.

"You damn well know I'm mad at you! You never stopped pestering me!" The crabby monk was back on the scene, and Goku lowered his head. The silence was broken only by Goku's sniffs. "Ch… Stop sniffling. And how come you still haven't started grumbling that you're hungry?" I grinned to myself. Sanzo could pretend all he wanted to, but there was no denying that he cared for the saru.

"I… uh… I am a bit hungry… but can I do anything for you Sanzo?"

Sanzo snorted. "If you feel like being so helpful get me a cigarette!"

"But Sanzo! There's no place were I can buy them!" The monkey's voice rose to a whine.

"Yup, and no way you can pinch them from me!" The deadly glare I got as a greeting when I decided to make my presence known, made me sure that Sanzo was well on the way to recovery. I grinned back at him. Man, I was glad everything was slowly returning back to normal.

"Give me a cigarette kappa."

I shook my finger at him. "Hasn't anyone ever taught you how to say please, oh so Honorable Genjo Sanzo?"

"Bastard."

"Give Sanzo a cigarette you selfish ero kappa!" The monkey came over and tried to snatch a cigarette.

"My, my, just got together and already creating havoc are we?" Hakkai's amused voice joined the fray. I glanced at him and grinned, welcoming him, and the saru taking advantage of my distraction, snatched one of my cigarettes. Dammit!

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Hakkai

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I hadn't realised how much I missed their bickering before I saw them together again.

"I got you a cigarette Sanzo!" Goku pranced happily over to Sanzo who made a grab at the cigarette, but before he could take it, Gojyo snatched it out of Goku's hand.

"Ero kappa!"

"Stupid saru!"

I smiled at the two, and drew up a chair next to Sanzo's bed. He glared at Goku and Gojyo who were still arguing over the cigarette. I could tell he was itching to hit them with his harisen. Luckily, I had removed it from his side. He turned to me abruptly. "How long have I been here?"

"A few days," I answered carefully.

"What kind of monastery are we in?"

"It's a women's temple. The high priestess Shunrei is a healer, so we brought you here." Sanzo seemed lost in thought for a moment. His next question took me by surprise. "Does she have blue eyes?" I nodded. It was unusual for him to ask such a question. Perhaps while unconscious, he too had sensed something familiar in her when she was near him. I knew it was useless to ask for an explanation anyway.

"When can we leave?"

"I don't know… you'd better ask the high priestess."

"Already wanting to leave monk?" asked Gojyo, pausing momentarily from the barrage of insults he was exchanging with Goku. "I still need to check out the women here… funny, a temple full of women and I've only talked to two!"

"Probably they ran off on hearing that a horny water demon was around!" cut in Goku.

"Why you …"

A timid knock on the door interrupted the start of a quarrel. "Come in!" I said, hoping that perhaps this would stop the three from killing each other.

The young novice who was always with the high priestess came into the room, head bent down and blushing furiously. "Please… please, my lady sent you this… to drink… Honorable Sanzo-sama…" She lifted her head slightly, and when she met Sanzo's gaze, her eyes widened and she gasped. Then she bent her head down again, blushing even harder. "Thank you, I'll take that." I took the wooden cup from her hand and gave it to Sanzo before she could drop it. She bowed down so low that I wondered how she managed not to damage her spine.

"I f… if you need something just call… anything Sanzo-sama…" She backed out hurriedly, but not before snatching another gaze at "the honourable Sanzo-sama" who looked like anything, but a high ranking-monk. I tried to hold myself from laughing before she had left.

"Oooo! Our dear Sanzo-Sama has a little admirer has he?" said Gojyo winking at Sanzo. "Huh… and we thought he was dying while all he was doing was trying to pick up a girl."

"Die kappa!"

"Ha! You wish! You haven't got your shoureiju or harisen have you? Now I can say what I … ouch! That hurt you bastard!" Gojyo rubbed his head where the now empty wooden mug made contact with his head, while scowling at the blonde monk.

"Oops. Sorry!" Sanzo smirked at Gojyo, while Goku laughed.

"I prefer you as you were before you corrupted bouzou!"

"Huh! He was as worried as much as we were Sanzo!"

"I was NOT! I was only worried that my supply of cigarettes would not last until we got out of this place!" I smiled. Nothing would ever make Gojyo admit that he had been worried about Sanzo... like all of us were.

"Ch. Cigarettes bought with my card. Give me one Gojyo."

"Invalids shouldn't smoke bozou."

"I agree, and neither should you." We started at the sound of her clear voice, as none of us heard her come in. She was standing at the doorway. Again I felt that overwhelming sense of familiarity… almost a déjà vu but why? Would Sanzo feel it too? Her gaze fell on my blonde companion, and I shivered suddenly.

Violet eyes meet blue eyes.

Monk stares at priestess.

Sanzo meets Shunrei.

Sanzo was the first to break away, as he bowed his head gently, acknowledging her as a priestess. She returned the nod slowly

"I am glad that you are better Genjo Sanzo, but I think, the less excitement, the better," she said, as she moved closer to the bed.  Gojyo and Goku moved out of her way.

"Perhaps we should leave," I said. I should have noticed before that Sanzo seemed tired.

"But Hakkai! We haven't been here for more than a few minutes!" grumbled Goku

"Aiya is taking some dinner to your rooms if you'd care to have some," said Shunrei quietly. Gojyo winked at me behind her back. Even she's understood that the saru has a stomach for a brain, he mouthed at me silently. Goku brightened up immediately. "Really?" he said eagerly. "I'm sooo hungry! I…" Then suddenly, he frowned. I wondered what caused this sudden change in him, when I saw him glance furtively at Sanzo  "Well… actually, I think I'd rather stay here." Gojyo's mouth hung open, and he seemed to be on the point of saying something, when Sanzo cut it.

"Get out and go stuff your face saru," he said. Goku turned round to face him, and met the monk's glare. "I don't want you whining about how hungry you are in here. Get it?

"But…"

"No buts. I want to get some rest. So beat it!" Goku was about to argue, but suddenly his stomach growled. He reddened, and grinned. "I'll go eat, but then can I come back. Can I? Please? I promise I'll be quiet!"

"Ch... I don't care what you do." That closest Sanzo would come to telling Goku that he didn't mind his company. We nodded to Shunrei, and left. I wondered how the two 'holy' people would get on together. Sanzo, when conscious, was not a very good patient, and definitely antisocial. I sighed as I closed the door. Maybe he'd behave himself seeing that it was a woman. Or perhaps it would be worse. Whatever happened, I was glad that he didn't have his Shoureijou at hand.

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Hmm… my paragraphs so need a bit of checking out! Thanks Hanae, will reformat asap! (Constructive criticism always appreciated!!!) Quantum, thanks for clearing that up too. UltraM2000, I received Firnheledien's pics…. They are GREAT! I loved them!!

Reviewers… THANK YOU!!!!!!

Sanzo: And tell GS that they can't steal the gold card from my corpse!

Konzen: (puzzled) Why not?

Sanzo: (smirks) Ha! Cause only I know how to activate the special compartment in my jeans in which I keep all my stuff! So there! If I die, the secret dies with me! Hahahaha! (evil laugh)

Gojyo: Aaaargh! Mean old monk!!!

Will update soon! (I hope)