Title: A Lesson in Romance
Author: quietviolence
Summary: Genjo Sanzo is a 23 year old teacher who thinks all high school students are self-absorbed and obnoxious. Son Goku is the one senior that just might prove him wrong. AU, Shonen-ai.
Pairing: 393 (references to previous 383)
Disclaimer: I do not own Saiyuki. If I owned Saiyuki, many many people would be fucking each other's brains out, and they would completely forget about their mission. Which I suppose would be bad… So maybe it's a good thing I only get to use them in fan fiction.
Chapter 4:
"So, Sanzo, you decided to show," Hakkai said, though not in an insulting manner. "I have to admit, I wasn't sure what you'd say at the prospect of a week camping outdoors with the students. I'm glad you came though, I could use someone to talk to." After Hakkai had finished his monologue he followed his companion's gaze to wear it rested on the face of a bouncy, golden-eyed young boy. "Of course, I almost forgot the reason you're here," he said knowingly.
"Shut up, I'm not here for that baka," Sanzo retorted, but his anger only made it apparent that he was embarrassed about the comment. "He's annoying, for one. At least he's finally started getting to school on time," the blonde finished off, but he still found himself unable to keep his gaze from lingering where his student was chatting animatedly with a pink-haired boy.
Another knowing chuckle escaped the lips of the man beside him. "Only a couple more months until graduation," he said, obviously taunting though still managing to sound innocent.
"Genjo Sanzo, Cho Hakkai, come here to receive your assignments," another of the teachers who was in charge of the trip called out to them. The two men went over to her, and she began to brief them on their trip. "The rest of the day they're free to explore, but they must be back to camp by seven for dinner. They should be asleep at midnight at the latest, and wake-up is at eight A.M." She laughed at the two sighs that showed their opinion of the wake-up time. "I could change it to six, you know," she informed them, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "And finally, tents. We're letting most of the students stay in tents alone, but there are a couple students we have to keep an eye on, so you two are in charge of them. You're to share your tent with Son Goku and Sha Gojyo. Goku is in trouble for tardiness, so bunking with you is his punishment – Not that it won't be fun or anything," she added when she saw the displeased look on Sanzo's face. "Gojyo is simply known for sneaking off with girls during the night, so you need to watch and make sure that doesn't happen. And that's just about it," she finished and waved them off, ready to brief the next two teachers.
"Interesting," Hakkai said, smiling yet again. Sometimes Sanzo wanted to shoot that smile off Hakkai's face, but at other times it calmed him and made him glad to have that man by his side.
Sanzo quickened his pace to escape the other man. "I hate camping," he muttered as he headed towards the place where his two charges were beginning to set up the tent. By the looks of it, the two weren't doing a very good job with the assembly of the dark green canvas. "Move," he said harshly before fixing it in only a couple of minutes.
"How'd you do that, Sensei?" Goku questioned, looking at the man with adoration.
"It's not hard, baka," Sanzo said without softening his tone and walked away, headed off towards the river and pulling out a cigarette. It was chilly, seeing as it was March, and Sanzo found himself wishing for a warm jacket.
Sanzo heard footsteps behind him, but chose to ignore them. He found it difficult to pretend the person didn't exist, however, when he was standing right beside Sanzo. Long magenta locks invaded Sanzo's peripheral vision as Gojyo sat down to his left and turned to face the teacher.
"What the hell are you doing?" the blonde said gruffly, not wanting to be pestered by the younger man, and already in quite a bad mood from the weather.
Gojyo didn't seem at all surprised or upset by harshness of the older man's tone. "It's more what the hell are you doing. The monkey loves you. And that kid may annoy the shit out of me sometimes, but I have to keep an eye out for him." Gojyo looked deeply into the blonde's eyes with a death glare many assassins would kill for. "And that includes hurting anyone who hurts him. So don't fuck this up," he said, not at all worried about the obscenities he had addressed his teacher with.
"I can't help that he loves me," Sanzo replied coldly. "It's foolish, really. He doesn't even know me."
Gojyo stared off towards the trees surrounding them. "You can't help who you love," he said, almost with a hint of wistfulness in his voice. Sanzo was sure he'd imagined the remorse in Gojyo's voice, though, when the younger man hopped up suddenly, once again spouting off energetically, "So don't hurt the monkey, and we're all good. I'm watching you, Sanzo. Bye."
Once he was alone again, Sanzo reflected back on his student's words. Of course he had known that Goku was in love with him; that boy's heart was about as opaque as glass. But what bothered Sanzo was Gojyo's assumptions that he returned the "monkey's" feelings. The blonde wasn't even sure in his own heart how he felt about the little baka, and yet here was a student of his telling Sanzo exactly how he felt. And yet maybe… maybe Gojyo knew something Sanzo had been keeping from himself.
A/N: Yes, I know this chapter is even shorter than usual. I keep trying to make them longer and yet I can't seem to make them work out the way I want them to and still be long. Who knows. I hope you liked it, and I promise now that school is officially out that the next chapter will be out in the next three days.