Pleasurable Thoughts

Gojyo was taking his sweet time following the impatient priest, not particularly thrilled about continuing this little adventure.  Eventually, he stood, yawning greatly, and wandered slowly over to where Sanzo stood.  "And it feels like heaven…."

            Glancing over at the redhead, the corners of Sanzo's mouth twitched in the general direction of a frown.  "I'm not going to ask what you're babbling about, but I have a fair guess.  Get your head out the gutter for once in your miserable life."


            Yes, this was exactly the wrong moment to sling an arm casually around the blonde's shoulders, therefore also the perfect moment.  And Gojyo did just that, remarking, "I think you need to see the gutter before you knock it, my friend."  The results of the kappa's little venture where quite satisfactory—Sanzo's back stiffened visibly at the sudden contact—but he was not prepared for a swift elbow to the ribs. 


"I don't remember giving you permission to touch me, asshole."  

The redhead groaned loudly and let go in favor of massaging the area where the priest's bony elbow made contact.  "I don't need your permission…." He growled, thinking seriously about grabbing Sanzo again just to prove his point.  Before he could act, the priest had stalked off, heading down the far side of the hill in what he hope was the direction of the town.  The combination of heat, lack of sleep, and having Gojyo as a traveling companion was wearing on his already frayed nerves.    

            With his hands in his pockets and an irate look on his face, the half-breed grudgingly followed behind.  He caught up to Sanzo, stepping deliberately too close to the man's ear.  "Look," he said, pointing a dirty finger at the dark patch near the horizon line.  "I think it's a cabin…."


"…You sure?" Sanzo asked after a skeptical pause and stepped away from Gojyo's invasion on his personal space.  


            "Yeah…."

"Well, damn…. I thought it was a town…" the priest said, squinting at the newfound cabin.  "Must have been a mirage.  I suppose we should head toward it."


            "Hell yeah, we should head for it!" he replied, as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world.  "I want some rest and food and cigarettes and alcohol…." 

"Alcohol would be a dream come true right now…" Sanzo commented, massaging his head with one hand.  "We shouldn't get our hopes up, though—it might be deserted or something."  He grimaced at the thought of a whole night, in a deserted cabin, with Gojyo, and no beer in sight. 

            Gojyo tugged on his pack, bouncing it easily due to its light load.  "I hope not.  We don't have provisions to feed one person, let alone both of us."


            "If you didn't eat so damn much we'd be better off.  The last supply was for a month, not two weeks."  Sanzo began walking rather fast, determined to get to shelter as quickly as possible. 

"What are you talking about?  Compared to the monkey, I'm anorexic!  I don't eat more than any other man would," Gojyo snapped, feeling that the priest had no room to talk when his idea of a meal was beer and a bread stick.

            "Shut up and walk, water beetle."


"I am walking, Sanzo sama."  The kappa was walking a step or two behind Sanzo, grumbling as he strode along.  "If I need energy, I'll eat how ever much I need.  Besides, to deny yourself a simple pleasure constitutes a severe head-case, in my opinion." 

            "What the hell is pleasurable about stuffing yourself stupid?" 


Pushing strands of blood red hair out of his eyes, Gojyo sighed as if the priest had answered a basic math problem wrong.  "I never gorge myself.  Eating stops being pleasurable if you overdo it.  Something the stupid monkey is not likely to learn…."

            "Could've fooled me…. If I had a whole year I couldn't eat the amount that you and Goku eat in one month. 

"That's because you have some weird aversion to pleasure.  I guess it's a monk thing."

            The night was descending fast now, as the sun dipped down beyond the horizon.  Fortunately, the cabin seemed to finally be within reach.  They had walked the rest of the daylight away and both travelers were tiring quickly.  The kappa's beer-and-cigarette dreams were dashed to pieces as it became clear there were no lights in their destination.  He trotted ahead, just to be sure that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. 

            As he passed Sanzo replied to his last statement, "Duh, idiot.  Haven't you learned anything about Buddh--" The priest stopped short, having heard the telltale crack of a footstep somewhere near by.  Listening carefully, he attempted to locate the direction of the sound.  Gojyo had gotten several feet away before he realized his companion had stopped.  Turning to see why the priest wasn't following, it dawned on him that the other was listening intently.  Surveying their surroundings slowly, Sanzo slipped the gun out of his robe and peered into the growing darkness.  Whatever had made the sound was nowhere to be seen and did not make any more noise.  Sanzo began to doubt he had actually heard it.  Perhaps his tired mind was creating imagined threats.

            Gojyo tuned his more sensitive ears to the wind, trying to pick up a snatch of whatever it was that had made the priest stop.  The only sounds he could make out, however, was the normal drone of insects and light whisper of the evening desert breeze kicking up.  Shaking his head and attributing the delay to his fried nerves, Sanzo replaced the gun in his pocket and began walking again.  There was obviously no real threat, so he was more eager than previously to reach the cabin and a good night's rest.  The kappa raised an eyebrow at him, but withheld any comments.

            As they approached the cabin door, Gojyo reached out a hand and twisted the knob—which promptly fell off.  "Bad luck…. It's abandoned…."


"Fuck, whatever."  Sanzo sounded weary and was glaring heartily at the little building as if it was the biggest disappointment of his life.  "We're staying here anyway.  There might be a bed or at least some blankets left behind."

            "Fine by me."  The kappa moved into the structure and began the search for a light.  A pull sting brushed against his shoulder, which he grabbed and tugged downward.  The tiny light bulb cast a feeble glow over the dismal room.  "Wonderful.  How…cozy."
 

A bit from the author:  Didn't any of y'all read the note at the beginning?  I most definitely stated that this is a pointless fic--no meaning to speak of! XD   As for Hakkai and Goku--simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!  I don't feel it necessary to explain their absence, as it has nothing to do with the story.  Plus it would detract from the uselessness of this piece.  ^^  Sorry, guys, but you'll have to bear with this poor writer and her odd devices.