Soft sounds filled the night air. One by one, Sanzo ticked them off.

Chirping of crickets, the rustling of animals in the underbrush, calls of night birds. Beside him was the soft sound of Hakkai sleeping.  Even when he was unaware, Hakkai seemed to be attempting to keep the calm.

Calm which was disturbed by the louder breathing of Gojyo. The redhead liberally sprinkled his snores with mumbled words and perverse noises. Almost as if he was unconsciously trying to make up for Goku's lack of noise.

It was that missing sound that told Sanzo Goku was still awake. Unusual, since Goku burned up so much energy fighting with Gojyo that he tended to drop off once everything was set up for camp.

"Sanzo?"

The soft voice was barely loud enough for the blond to hear. Not wanting to wake the others, or be forced to listen to their whining if it did happen, Sanzo twisted in his seat.

He didn't expect the hug.

Goku wrapped his arms tightly around Sanzo, burying his face into the older man's chest. Without thinking, Sanzo whipped out his fan, and then paused. Frantic whispers were echoing in the back of his mind.

/dontgopleasestaydontsetstaystaystay/

The monkey was in a near panic. Physically, he began to shake, clinging harder, cutting off Sanzo's air.  Sanzo contemplated using the fan. Instead of bringing the wrath of Sanzo down on Goku, however, Sanzo did the unexpected.

Slowly, as Goku shook and babbled mentally, Sanzo's empty hand rose. It settled on Goku's head, resting on the thick brown hair. Goku froze for a moment, then began to relax as Sanzo stroked his hair.

The sensation was soothing. It reminded Goku of a long time ago, when he had had long hair. Sanzo had helped him brush it, always muttering about knots and noisy monkeys. It had been something that had helped both of them calm down before they went to sleep.

Feeling Sanzo pet his much shorter hair induced the same feelings.

Once Goku relaxed fully, the hand left, and he felt a light bop on his head. It wasn't really a hit, more of a tap. Looking up, he saw Sanzo putting the fan away.

"Go to sleep. I'm not going anywhere."

Extremely relaxed, compared to how tense he had been earlier, exhaustion seemed to drape over Goku. With a sleepy smile, he sat back.

"Night, Sanzo."

As Goku's snores fought Gojyo's mutterings for the title of loudest noise, Sanzo turned to face the front of the jeep again. He watched the crescent moon, mentally sorting out what Goku had 'yelled.' It must have truly terrified the boy if he could make actual thought heard. Normally, all Sanzo received was a general state of being and emotions.

A plea to stay, to not leave. Easy enough. Ever since he had been found, Goku hated to be alone. He was starved for contact, sentient or otherwise.

But what had 'don't set' mean?

Sighing, Sanzo let his head tip forward. If he didn't figure this out, then this would most likely happen again. Goku was the only person he allowed to touch him so freely, but even that had its limits.

Moonlight flashed off the hair that fell into his eyes, and Sanzo paused.

He was Goku's sun. At least according to Goku. And he had noticed golden eyes being fixed on sunsets the last few days.

Ah, shit.

Sanzo shook his head mentally. There was no way that Goku thought he was going to act like the sun and actually 'set' once they reached their goal. Did he?

/Don't set/

Fuck. The idiot probably did.

Was he really that far off? Sanzo knew that, if anyone did die on this road trip from Hell, it was most likely going to be him. He was the biggest target. How many times had they been attacked just because he was a Sanzo, or because he bore a sutra? Too many, thanks to that stupid 'unaging, undying' myth of the demons.

And he was all too human. He had already come close to dying more times than anyone else, so far. Only good luck and skillful healing from Hakkai had kept him alive this long.

That, and the sutra.

Fingering the Maten sutra as it hung quietly on his shoulders, Sanzo gave a wry smile.

The sutra itself might end up killing him.

Memories of his master flashed by his mind's eye.

/"These are more than the sutras that we chant every night, Koryuu."

Stifling a sigh, Koryuu looked at the sutra that his master held in his hands. "I know that, Master Koumyou."

A soft smile crossed Koumyou's face. "Of course you do, Koryuu. This is the Maten sutra, one of the five Heavenly Sutras. Across my shoulders is the Seiten Sutra, another of those special ones."

It was easy to see the weary look on Koryuu's face. He was not a child, nor forgetful. He knew that his master carried two of the sacred sutras.

"But these are not just sutras." Koumyou's voice was suddenly serious. "They are power. These frail things were used to help create the world we live in. The gods themselves used these. That is a great deal of power to put in a mortal's hands. Used properly, they can do a great many things. But, there is a price to pay."

Koryuu wasn't sure why his master was telling him this, but he listened carefully. This was important to Master Koumyou, and he would do his best to learn everything that the master wanted to teach him.

"No human has every used the full power of the sutra. To do so is to court death. That is why the rank of Sanzo was created. To save the foolish from themselves. If someone tried to pull out the full power of even one of the Heavenly Sutras, they would most likely die. This power was created to be used by the gods, and the gods alone."

Koumyou and Koryuu locked eyes. "Someday, Genjo Sanzo, you may have to use the full power of the Maten. I want you to be aware of the consequences of such an act."

Genjo…Sanzo?

"Ma… Master Koumyou, what are you…?"

The sutra that Koumyou held in his hands was draped over Koryuu's shoulders. "You are Genjo Sanzo, bearer of the Maten Sutra. When I pass on, you will also take up the Seiten Sutra. Use them well."

"But, Master Koumyou…"

And the world shattered./

Stirring himself from his thoughts, Sanzo looked at the moon once more. Gauging the time, he reached back and shook Gojyo awake. "Time for your watch."

Gojyo grumbled quietly, but quickly set himself up to take his shift of watch. Satisfied that the half-breed was awake, Sanzo settled in for his own rest.

One thought nagged at him still.

If Gyumaoh was resurrected with the taboo rites, the mixing of science and magic, it might take both the Maten and the Seiten to tear those false bonds apart. That much energy though a frail human body….

Sanzo closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. There was no point in worrying about the future now. He didn't plan on dying, anyway. Slowly, the monk drifted off, surrounded by the small, living sounds of his companions.