Labour
By: YunCynImaginator
Muse #1: Well! For once they made it a ONE WORD title!!
Muse #2: Will miracles never cease?
YunCyn: *vein throb* What is THAT supposed to mean?
Muse #2: Nothing... just that most of your titles are usually long winded and definitely more than one word...
Imaginator: ...Yunnie?
YunCyn: I told you to stop calling me that! What?
Imaginator: *smacks fist* Time for a little Muse Discipline.
YunCyn: *smirks* Oh, yeeeeah...
Muses: Waitaminute!! How come the BUNNIES don't ever get punished?!!
Imaginator: *casually glances at bunnies* Because they're cute.
Muses: And we AREN'T?!
YunCyn: ... they have a point.
Imaginator: True... but do you care?
YunCyn: ...Nope! Let's go!
Muses: TASUKETE!!!
Disclaimer: You people are relentless, aren't you? FINE!! Fine, they don't belong to us!! Are you happy now?! Are you satisfied now that our daydreams and wishes have been crushed under the cruel stone of reality?!
Muses: ...
Uh... *coughcough* Enjoy the scene.
~*~*~*~
A groan resounded, half muffled by the roar and rumble of four tires crunching along a dirt road. It was one of those groans that represented utter exhaustion and a wish for a couple of weeks' worth of sleep. As well as a longing for pork buns, chicken fillets, beef noodles, steamed vegetables…
Well, maybe not steamed vegetables.
Hakkai chuckled as he concentrated on the road ahead of him. "Someone certainly sounds tired."
Goku released another groan of the same kind. "Haaaakkaaaaaaii…. we've been traveling for DAYS without a single soft mattress to sleep on… and we haven't had any decent food in a whole WEEK!! When's the next village…?!!"
Gojyo rolled his eyes in the manly way he was accustomed to doing. "You've been repeating that same dumb question for the past week as well. Its getting really tiresome, you pipsqueak of a monkey."
"I am NOT a PIPSQUEAK!"
"Oh, that means you're a monkey then?"
"Neither am I a monkey, you dumb womanizing cockroach!!!"
"HEY, the womanizing part I can handle but I in no way resemble a cockroach!!"
"Oh yeeeah?!" Goku reached up and flicked one of the two strands of crimson hair that stuck out like a sore thumb. "Then whaddhaya call THESE, huh?!!"
Gojyo slapped his hands away. "Get your filthy hands offa my hair, dumb monkey!!"
Hakkai sweat dropped. "Children, this is not the time to be arguing…"
"I am NOT a monkey, dirty, women harassing, chain smoking, water monster!!!"
"The MONK smokes like a chimney and I don't see YOU insulting him, monkey boy with a pit for a stomach!!"
"I have a NORMAL stomach!! It's YOU with the abnormal BRAIN!! It's so small it could fit into my nose!!"
"And then where're you gonna put YOUR brain!? Under your fingernail since it's so damn small!?!!"
CLICK.
"Or maybe I'll just save us all the trouble and put both your tiny brains who can't seem to remember to be QUIET, out of commission." The monk's voice came out low, steady and completely threatening.
Goku and Gojyo stared down at the blackness of the infamous S&W pistol aimed directly at them. Their eyes traveled from the pistol and cringed at the glare (for lack of a better word) Sanzo the previously sleeping monk was giving them.
"Uh….I'd like to keep my brain, if you don't mind, Sanzo-sama…"
Gojyo let out a little "eep" as the gun mouth was pressed directly to his forehead.
"Any more smart mouthed Sanzo-sama shit?"
"I…iya…"
Goku sniggered.
And then clammed up as the cold metal of the pistol touched his forehead.
"Shut. Up."
"Hai…"
Giving them a few more seconds of the you're-extremely-screwed glare, Sanzo finally removed the gun and replaced it back in his sleeves. Hakkai chuckled.
"You do have a way with words, Sanzo."
Sanzo let out a breath. "Comes with three years of putting up with idiot one and idiot two."
"Hey!" began Gojyo but the sight of the silver gun that was swiftly brought out made the redhead decide to fume in silence. The gun was replaced again into the robes.
It was a few peaceful minutes before Goku bounced up to the space between the front seats. "Who's one and who's two?"
Hakkai's merry laugh was followed by a loud painful sounding thwack from a very hard wooden and paper fan.
~*~*~
The jeep rumbled on without complaint for several more miles along the endless dirt road that seemed surrounded by forests and forests of trees.
The quietness could never last.
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!
THUD!!
"GAAAH!! Hakkai, you bloody idiot!! Can't you ever stop without making us fall to the jeep floor!?!"
"Itei…"
"Ahaha… gomenasai…"
Silence sans the sound of two idiots groaning in the back continued for a few minutes.
Sanzo looked at Hakkai. "What're you waiting for?"
"A-re?" Hakkai blinked then smiled. "Ah, so you didn't fall off after all!! Yokatta ne… I was waiting for the second thud."
Sanzo developed a twitch under his right eye as a vein popped out on his neck. "Hak-kai…there better be a good reason for screeching to a halt…"
"Weell… is a woman we nearly knocked over a good reason?"
In a flash, Gojyo popped his head up. "A WOMAN?! A genuine, true blue, real woman?!"
Sanzo resisted thwacking the woman-crazed red head on the head as he craned his neck to see if Hakkai's reason was good enough.
True to Hakkai and Gojyo's words, there WAS a genuine, true blue, real woman who was on her knees on the ground, staring at them.
Wide-eyed, the poor woman was trembling all over, very frightened…
Sanzo, Hakkai and Gojyo stared in amazement.
And VERY pregnant.
A stunned, pregnant (pun intended) silence filled the air.
Then Goku popped his head up, caught sight of the woman and let out a small whistle, cutting through the silence like a shakujou through youkai.
"How much do you EAT every day, neesan?!"
::BONK!!::
Gojyo glared at him as he removed his fist. "She's pregnant, you idiot!"
"Itei… pregnant? Does that mean she has food? Is 'pregnant' tasty?"
::THWACK!::
"ITEI!! What did you do THAT for, Sanzo?!!!"
Sanzo didn't care to reply as Gojyo summarized the meaning of "pregnancy" to his friend. The monk turned back to stare wide-eyed at the lady who slowly tottered to her feet unsteadily, one hand supporting her lower back. This was the first time he'd seen a woman so advanced in her pregnancy out in the open. Even with his limited experience around women (pregnant or no), he knew that women at her size should have been quarantined to a bed. What on earth was she doing out here? Nonetheless, Sanzo kept his guard up. This could be another ruse or ambush.
But… I don't feel anything threatening. Just… fear. And a protective feeling. Probably for the baby.
Sanzo sat back down, turned aside and debated on what to do in his head. Regardless of her condition, the woman obviously could take care of herself. Otherwise, why else would she be out here all on her own? And to be practical, a pregnant woman would obviously slow them down.
He turned to Hakkai, about to tell him to leave the woman be and drive on. He opened his mouth.
But no words came as he saw Hakkai gently helping the woman into the backseat with Gojyo and Goku scooting to make room.
Sanzo stared at Hakkai as the green eyed man got back into the driver's seat. As he shut the door, Hakkai caught Sanzo's expression.
Innocently, "You weren't about to just leave her there, were you?"
For once, the great Genjo Sanzo-houshi-sama, founder of the term 'scathing' and 'sarcastic', capable of rendering the most holiest of monks to an indignant shivering pile with just a couple of insults...
Was at a loss.
Gaping for another second, he shut his mouth, turned his focus to the road ahead and growled for Hakkai to stop snickering and just drive.
~*~*~*~*~
As it turned out, the woman, Machiko, had been on her way to her home village. She and her husband lived on a small farm quite a long way from the village. Machiko was traveling alone as her husband had died of an illness just three months ago. With no one to help on the farm and with her being pregnant, Machiko decided to return to her village where her brothers and sisters lived. Unfortunately, her only mode of transport, a cart, had been stolen in the night. It was fortunate the robbers hadn't harmed her. The only thing that had convinced Machiko to get in the jeep was the sight of Sanzo-sama, a monk, sitting in the front seat.
"So, how far are you in your pregnancy, Machiko-san?"
Machiko seemed rather embarrassed and hesitated before answering. "Approximately nine months…"
Gojyo choked on some beer as Sanzo drew in a sharp breath of smoke. Hakkai chuckled, a rather nervous tremor to it. Goku blinked in confusion.
"N, nine months, you say?" asked Gojyo in a rather squeaky tone.
"Hai…"
"Yare, yare desu ne…" mumbled Hakkai as he continued driving. Sanzo's face had taken on an unreadable expression. It was either fear, annoyance or apprehension. Heck, it could have been all three.
Goku frowned. "Hey, so she's nine months pregnant! So what?!"
"That means, Goku," explained Hakkai patiently. "That Machiko-san will be due any day now."
"That's right…" said Machiko softly. "And I'm very sorry for inconveniencing you all…"
Hakkai quickly pacified her. "It's alright, Machiko-san. It's really no trouble at all."
Sanzo silently refuted that obvious lie with an unseen roll of the eyes.
"…I still don't get it."
Gojyo whacked him on the head with the beer can. "That means, you numbskull, she's gonna give birth at any moment!!"
Goku, as he rubbed his head, grew wide-eyed and stared at Machiko. He leaned forward.
And poked her experimentally in the stomach.
"…"
::THWACK! THWACK!!::
"BAKASARU!! DON'T DO THAT!!!"
"Itei..!!! What?!! I was just trying to see how a whole BABY could fit in there!!"
Machiko smiled and sweat dropped.
~*~*~*~
The fact that Machiko could be bringing a child into the world at any moment of any day made the Sanzo-ikkou travel a week's journey in mere days.
The first day was peaceful and trouble free. (You thought there'd be trouble!? Shame, SHAME on you for wanting them to get into trouble so quickly…)
"Uh, Hakkai-san?"
"Yes?"
"I've got a craving for ice-cream…"
"…"
The second day was the same, everything was fine and at ease.
"Hakkai-san?"
"Yes, Machiko-san?"
"I need to use the toilet…"
"…"
It was on the third day that… things started to happen.
(Two authors start snickering. Muses stare in disbelief then turn on the Plot Bunnies.
Muse #1: How COULD you do this?! To a BABY!!
Muse #2: To an innocent CHILD! You, you TRAITORS! You, you, you MISFITS!! You, you…
Muse #1: Fluffs?
Muse #2: *sweat drop*
Plot Bunnies: *Blink innocently*
Authors kick plot bunnies and muses out of the picture)
Hakkai squinted in the distance and shook his head. "Oh dear…" he murmured.
Sanzo eyed Hakkai. "What do you mean 'oh dear'?"
The driver sweat dropped. "It seems, gentlemen, we have some guests up ahead."
Oh, WONDERFUL. Add a bunch of low classed idiots to a pregnant woman, sure… thought Sanzo sarcastically.
Gojyo and Goku were, as always, raring to go.
"Alright!! A fight!! Man, it's been what? Eight days since our last one?"
Goku grinned. "I can't wait!"
Machiko who had been on the verge of dozing off, jerked awake. Seeing the over-enthusiastic, practically glowing looks on Gojyo and Goku's faces, she tentatively spoke up. "…um… what, what's going on?"
"Unwanted company, Machiko-san. Goku, please keep her from jolting out of the jeep…" requested Hakkai, getting ready to stop the jeep in his normal, run-of-the-mill, crazy fashion.
"Hai! Machiko-neechan, hold on tight!!!" Before she had any time to respond, Goku pulled her, as gently as he could, to the jeep floor. Covering her with his body to keep her steady, the jeep swerved and spun in a full 360 degrees before screeching to a halt.
As usual, the opponents spoke before fighting.
"GENJO SANZO!! YOU'RE-"
Sanzo, with an impatient air, interrupted his speech. "Skip the formalities. Let's get on with business." Since we've a pregnant woman with us and you brainless morons wouldn't give a damn. Added the monk silently as he got out of the jeep. He may not have wanted to bring the woman along but he be damned if these idiots killed Machiko and her child without having to go through them first.
Not to mention, the saru would make endless noise about it if these buffoons DID murder the woman.
"Why you!! ATTACK!!!"
Springing into action, the Sanzo-ikkou did what they did best.
Counter-attack the youkai.
In the midst of the blood-curdling screams, the booms of ki balls, gunshots and energized yells from the Sanzo-ikkou, Goku managed to get Machiko out of Hakuryu.
"Hang on tight, Machiko-neechan! Don't worry!" reassured Goku as he battled and stabbed youkais intent on giving him a pre-mature death.
"Don't worry?!" squeaked Machiko as she clung to Goku for dear life, trying not to get herself killed.
"Yeah, don't worry! We'll get you to a safe spot- *STAB* Just *WHACK!* trust us!" Saying so, he whacked one last youkai, ran a few meters then passed Machiko to Gojyo who winked at her.
"I believe *SLICE* it's time for you *SLASH* to get some rest, eh?"
Machiko just stared.
In one smooth motion, Gojyo sliced through some more youkai, dumped Machiko into some bushes and ran off to join in the fray again.
Eyes wide, Machiko sat up in the bushes to watch. In pure awe, she gaped as Sanzo turned several youkai surrounding him into dust. Her eyes widened some more as she saw Hakkai blast some youkai with pure inner energy (known fondly to us as ki balls). She held her breath and winced a little as she saw Gojyo slice through even more youkai. Goku amazed her with his agility and strength as he battled on coming youkai with a grin on his face.
In fact, ALL of them seemed pretty cheerful as they yelled comments to one another, thought Machiko in wonderment.
"I think we're doing pretty well considering we haven't practiced for
quite a while!" called out Hakkai.
Gojyo let out a derisive snort. "HAH! These losers are as easy as peas! Doesn't count!!"
Goku let out a yell and brought his Nyoibou onto another hapless youkai. "For once, the ero kappa's right!!"
"Whaddhaya mean 'for once', bakasaru!?"
"SHUT UP AND FIGHT, YOU IDIOTS!! YOU'RE WASTING TIME!!"
Hakkai happily obliged. "Hai, hai, Sanzo…"
Gojyo slashed through two youkai then grinned. "Aw, getting tired and weak already, Sanzo-sama?"
BLAM!
"GAAH!! It was an innocent comment, you asshole! You don't have to KILL ME over it!!!"
The sound of a youkai hitting the ground resounded behind Gojyo.
"You were saying?" said Sanzo dryly.
Gojyo growled. "I'M NOT THANKING YOU FOR IT!!"
Sanzo snorted and shot a couple more enemies in the head. When his gun was out of bullets, he battled the on-coming youkai with his fists and legs, pushing them towards Hakkai who easily subdued them.
"Sanzo, this really isn't fair…"
"You're telling me it's unfair when you're blasting eleven youkais in one go."
Hakkai chuckled. "How true…"
Sanzo struggled to reload the gun when Machiko yelled out a warning.
"Sanzo-sama…!! BEHIND YOU!"
Reacting quickly, Sanzo spun, threw out a leg, kicked a youkai right in the face and resumed trying to reload his bullets.
"Sanzo, aren't you even gonna THANK the lady?" called out Gojyo with an amused grin.
"Cockroach, you're going to DIE after this is over…"
As Sanzo finally reloaded his gun, he shot several more youkai in the head when Machiko called out again.
"Sanzo-sama…!!"
Sanzo ignored her as he continued fighting to stay alive and not get eaten under the foolish presumption that eating him would bring about immortality. He rather suspected Hakkai's comment about him giving them indigestion for a few months was true.
"Sanzo-sama!!"
Still, the monk was too busy to respond as he continued shooting more youkai into oblivion and beyond.
"SANZO-SAMA!!!"
Ok, now she sounded panicked enough to gain his attention.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT, WOMAN?!"
"I… My waters just broke…"
Sanzo vaguely heard Gojyo face fault and Goku asking Hakkai what did she mean by her "waters just broke" as he stared unflinchingly and disbelievingly at her. He knew enough to know that waters breaking at this time was Not Good. The monk absent-mindedly shot a youkai on his right and continued to stare at Machiko, speechless and wide eyed.
A tug on his sleeve made him turn to meet Goku's frantic expression. It was pretty clear Hakkai had explained just what usually came after the breaking of the waters.
"Sanzo…!!" Goku's voice had gone up a notch higher. "You DO know how to deliver babies, right?! RIGHT?!!"
GLARE.
"… HAKKAI!!" The saru bounced over the heads of several youkai who had paused to wonder who this woman was, why they hadn't noticed her, and was Sanzo the father?
"Hakkai, you've multi-purpose talents, right!?!? YOU know how to help her, RIGHT?!!"
Hakkai gulped, gave a nervous chuckle and sweat dropped. "Un, unfortunately, I'm, I'm not particularly an expert in childbirth…"
Goku stared at him.
"That means I'm not exactly sure on what to do, Goku…"
Time for the last resort. "GOJ-"
"I MAKE EM', I DON'T DELIVER THEM!!!" The kappa's voice seemed to have gone into soprano.
(In case you were wondering, the youkais weren't attacking because of two things.
Their youkai brains were trying to figure out why there was an unexpected guest (female, no less) with the Sanzo-ikkou.
And the more perverted, pragmatic ones were trying to figure out who may have been the father out of the four men.)
Goku emitted a squeak as he stared helplessly at Machiko who stared helplessly back at them.
Youkais, he could handle, easy peasy.
Kougaiji, he could handle, no sweat.
Homura, he could handle, no problem.
Pregnant women.
[System failure. Please re-boot.]
His saru brain had been trying to and successfully understand exactly how the babies came about.
What he COULDN'T understand was what to DO when the baby came.
So, the saru brain came up with a saru style solution.
"Neechan?!" (His voice was still an octave or two higher than his normal range)
"Y, yes, Goku-san?"
"D, do you think you could tell the little guy not to come out first…?"
Machiko was too stunned to note the insanity (Machiko was too nice to use the term 'stupidity') of that request. "I, I'll try…"
Nodding in temporary satisfaction, Goku turned his back on Machiko and glared as fiercely as he could at the remaining youkai.
"ALRIGHT, YOU SCUM!! LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH AND NOW!!"
That broke everyone out of the 'Your-WHAT-just-broke!?' shock and back into the original scuffle.
As he battled the youkai quicker than before, Sanzo swore he could hear Machiko murmuring to her stomach to please stay inside there and not come out till they reached the village.
"DIE!! DIE, ALL OF YOU, DIE!!! DIIIIIE!!!"
"Goku, yelling at them won't hasten their death…"
"Machiko-neechan needs someone to help her!! And there's no one else around!!!"
"I know but-" Hakkai sent some more youkai flying. "There seems to be no END to them!"
"You mean we're STUCK HERE?!" said Goku in horror. "That means Machiko-neechan's gonna give birth WHILE we're fighting!!"
"THE HELL SHE IS!" responded Gojyo as he sliced and slashed harder and faster than before. "I'm not gonna let some baby be born in front of THESE sort of creatures!!"
The youkais who had been trying to figure out which of the Sanzo-ikkou was the baby's father (gag ALL you want) turned and grinned maliciously. So, the woman was important to the Sanzo-ikkou…
"GET THE WOMAN!!!"
Before any of the Sanzo-ikkou could respond, five youkais of several colour and shape charged towards Machiko.
Sanzo, Gojyo and Hakkai spun around in horror. "MACHIKO!!!"
Goku's eyes widened as he ran alongside the rest to help her. "MACHIKO-NEECHAN!! NOOO!!"
::THWOCK! THWACK! THIACK! THWOCK! SMACK!!::
The Sanzo-ikkou screeched to a halt and stared once again in amazement.
Machiko stood akimbo amongst five fallen unconscious youkai bodies. In one fist was tightly clutched several rocks. By her feet were a foot high pile of sharp rocks and other dangerous, pointy looking objects. She glared at the rest of the youkai and lifted one threatening finger.
"I'm about to have a baby. I've been carrying this child for NINE EXCRUCIATING MONTHS. I've vomited until I feel like an old rag, my ankles have SWOLLEN, my back ACHES, I haven't had any decent sleep in weeks and I feel like a BLOATED WHALE AND A HIPPO PUT TOGETHER. And now, you INTERRUPT the ONE event I've been patiently WAITING FOR, FOR NINE MONTHS. So help me, if I DON'T GET THIS CHILD OUT OF ME WITHOUT YOU MORONS GIVING ME MORE TROUBLE, I'll make sure YOU PAY DEARLY!!! Now who wants a piece of me?!"
…
"Obviously no one…" commented Gojyo as he, Goku, Sanzo, and Hakkai watched more than thirty youkai turn tail and run for dear life.
"Wow! If we'd known pregnant women had this kind of power, we should've taken one with us!" said Goku enthusiastically.
::THWACK!!::
"Quickly, minasan, we need to get-" Hakkai was duly interrupted by a groan. "Machiko-san!"
Machiko, having exhausted herself yelling at the youkai, slumped to the ground. Gojyo took off his coat and quickly made a pillow for her as she lay on the ground and emitted some more groans.
Goku resumed being frantic. "What?! What's going on!? What?!"
"Machiko-san, what's wrong?"
The lady took a deep breath. "My stomach… it's like… it's being squeezed." She bit her lip then relaxed.
Hakkai took in a sharp breath of air. Sanzo knelt beside him and asked in a low tone, "What is it?"
"She may be going into labour now."
"What?!" exclaimed Gojyo. "She…now?! HERE?!"
"Now and here. We'll just have to be here and keep her calm. Machiko-san, just relax and calm down. Don't panic…"
"I'll try…"
Hakkai smiled. "If you can yell at youkai, you can do this. Excuse me…" As he lifted Machiko's maternity dress over her knees, he spoke quickly to Sanzo.
"She's having contractions. We'll need to wait till her cervix dilates till 10 centimeters before she can actually push the baby out."
"In the mean time…?"
"We help keep her calm."
Sanzo nodded. "How long will we have to wait?"
Hakkai smiled uncertainly. "Uh, that depends… it could be in a half hour to 24 hours…it's really uncertain…"
Sanzo gritted his teeth. Goku sat beside Machiko and gripped her hand. "When the pain comes, you can squeeze my hand, Machiko-neechan."
Gojyo shifted Machiko's head gently onto his jacket covered lap and took her other hand. "We'll do the best we can, Machiko. Don't you worry." The lady smiled gratefully.
"Waaaaait a minute. Hakkai, I thought you didn't know what to do when a woman gave birth!?"
"Uh, well… I said I wasn't an expert but I'm not completely clueless…"
The rest sweat dropped as they sat themselves down to wait.
~*~*~*~
"Hakkai-san… the pain's getting… ow… stronger… ow…!"
"That means you're getting closer, Machiko-san. Don't worry, you'll be fine…maybe if you shifted a little…?"
"Yes… yes, it's less…ow…" Machiko's face turned into one of pain as she let out a groan.
"Just take deep breaths, Machiko-san… hang in there…"
Gojyo winced as Machiko gripped his hand. "For a lady, she's got a strong grip…" His face contorted. "… I think my fingers have been crushed…ow…"
"It's probably very minor compared to what Machiko-san is going through, Gojyo…"
Goku dabbed at Machiko's sweat drenched forehead with Hakkai's shoulder cloth and with great concern. "Is she gonna be okay, Hakkai? She really looks like she's in a lot of pain…"
"That's why it's called labour, Goku. Don't worry, she'll be ok… I'll make sure of it…"
Sanzo who was sitting near Hakkai glanced at Machiko. Hakkai noticed the flicker of concern in his eyes and spoke just loud enough for Sanzo to hear. "Sanzo, we need some cloth to receive the baby when it comes…"
Sanzo looked at Hakkai through the corner of his eyes, disbelief projecting from his amethyst eyes.
Hakkai smiled back innocently. "You're the only one with enough cloth and besides, you've got more than one extra robe in Jippu's trunk…"
Cursing Hakkai rather audibly, Sanzo got to his feet and removed the sutra. He took out his things from his sleeves, shed his outer robe and gave the robe to Hakkai. Now only wearing his black undershirt, jeans and arm guards, he sat back down.
Hakkai smiled. "Arigato, Sanzo."
Goku and Gojyo stared in utter disbelief. "San-"
He shot them a 'Say-anything-and-you-won't-live-to-see-this-kid-being-born' glare.
They shut up.
With the exception of a snicker from Gojyo to which Sanzo whacked him on the head with the harisen.
~*~*~*~
"More porridge, Machiko-neechan?"
"No thank you, Goku-san…"
Sweat drop. "I can't believe you're cooking when this lady is about to give birth, Hakkai…"
Smile. "Well, she still needs to keep her strength up, Gojyo. And still the baby hasn't come so…"
"I get the point."
Sanzo glared from his position in front of Machiko's upraised knees. "Quit chatting, Hakkai and get back here. NOW."
Gojyo sniggered. "Sanzo-sama, are you actually embarrassed at your point of view?"
BLAM!
"AARGH!! You psycho!! You could've hit Machiko!!"
"I never miss." Said Sanzo dryly as he watched half a red antenna float down from the kappa's head. Gojyo grumbled and then winced as Machiko squeezed his hand when another contraction came.
~*~*~*~
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
"That's right, Machiko-san, let it out… now breathe… inhale… exhale..." Beads of sweat tumbled down the sides of Hakkai's face as he concentrated.
Sanzo's eyebrows met. "What now, Hakkai?"
"GAK!! My hand's getting crushed!!"
"Urusei, Gojyo! She's giving birth!!" reprimanded Goku.
"IYAAA!!" Machiko's sobs rang out. "It hurts…!!"
"Machiko-san, listen to me. You need to push. It's time."
Goku cheered her on as best as he could. "Come on, Machiko-neechan, you can do it!" Gojyo gripped her hand tighter.
And with a determined nod of her head, Machiko began pushing her newborn child into the world.
~*~*~*~
Some minutes later...
"It's coming! It's coming, the head's coming!! You're doing well, Machiko-san!"
"What?!" Goyjo gave Machiko's hand to Goku and went over to look.
"Gee… I've never seen a woman THIS way before…"
Sanzo dryly replied as he helped Hakkai arrange his robe to receive the baby. "That's because you're never around long enough TO see."
"I resent that remark-"
"I wanna look! I wanna see!" Goku called out from Machiko's side.
"You're too young, Goku."
"But, Hakkai-!"
"You gotta give Machiko moral support, Goku!"
"Kono ero kappa!! YOU ran there!!"
"No looking, Goku." Came Sanzo's voice.
Grumble. "I NEVER have any fun…!"
~*~*~*~
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"
~*~*~*~
12 exhausting hours from the time the youkais attacked…
Sanzo, Hakkai and Gojyo lay on their backs, more tired and numb than after a thousand battles against Kougaiji and Homura put together.
They had delivered…
A baby.
Goku, the only one who hadn't witnessed an entire baby exit from a woman's body but had helped clean the baby off, stood over them.
"Mataku, why do only you guys have all the fun…"
Hakkai, Gojyo and Sanzo exchanged incredulous looks.
"Please, Sanzo. SHOOT him."
Sanzo ignored Gojyo as he just thumped his head back on the ground, wishing fervently for sake and cigarettes. Hakkai who had performed the job of midwife most beautifully, turned his head slightly to see Machiko's back to his view. He could see the tip of what had once been Sanzo's sleeve, now baby wrapper, jutting from Machiko's elbow.
Goku was about to bound over to see what was going on when Hakkai stopped him.
"I'll explain later." Was all Hakkai said when Goku queried as to why he wasn't allowed to go see the little tyke whom they had just helped bring into the world.
Gojyo sniggered as he mumbled something about "suckling".
And hidden from view was a mother's teary smile as she watched her newborn child.
~*~*~*~
A day later found the Sanzo-ikkou, Machiko and her new child safely in the village.
Machiko cradled the little baby lovingly in her arms and then looked up, her eyes telling them more than she could say.
"Hakkai-san, Gojyo-san, Goku-san, Sanzo-sama… I can never repay you for what you've done…"
Hakkai smiled. "As long as you and your child are safe, that's enough, Machiko-san."
Goku grinned. "Not to mention the GREAT dinner we had last night! That's thanks enough!"
Gojyo, having grudgingly agreed not to smoke while visiting Machiko for the sake of her and the baby's health, looked at the child before commenting.
"It looks pretty tiny."
"Baka! The baby will GROW! DUH!"
"Hey, who died and made you the expert on children, bakasaru?!!"
"At least I'm not like some people who don't even BOTHER to know and just LEAVE after impregnating a woman!!"
"Why YOU-"
Hakkai tossed the squabbling duo a look.
"Shutting up…"
Machiko chuckled. "Since you helped deliver my child, Hakkai-san, I'll make sure my baby grows up to be like you."
Hakkai smiled, deciding not to explain that he wasn't all that he seemed. "That is a great honour. Thank you. But I think your child should grow up the way it wishes."
"I know…" Machiko turned to Sanzo who was sitting by her left. "But at least I'll help make sure my baby takes after you as well, Sanzo-sama."
Gojyo snorted. "Meaning the kid will grow up to be a crazy trigger-happy, foul mouthed corrupted monk."
"As well as a passion for drinking when he's not supposed to and with a strong disregard for the rules." Added Hakkai cheerfully.
Goku, not wanting to be left out, spoke up. "Oh, oh and he'll be grumpy on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays!!"
Gojyo smirked. "He's grumpy every day, bakasaru!"
Hakkai laughed. "True, true…"
Sanzo turned and awarded them with the foulest, most poisonous glare his face could ever show. "Are you idiots finished?" This was asked, no, hissed in a soft viper-like tone.
Gojyo and Goku gulped and opted to whistle innocently. Hakkai smiled placidly and resumed looking at the tiny bundle of joy.
Machiko, deciding not to entertain the ideas of her new child with all the said qualities, just smiled. "Sanzo-sama?"
"What?" he brusquely replied.
"Would you do me and my late husband the honour of naming my baby?"
Sanzo blinked then turned his gaze onto the child in Machiko's arms. It was fast asleep, feeling warm and secure. It was so innocent, unaware of the dangerous world it had been born into, unknowing of the disappointments and bitterness it was being sheltered from.
It was all the more reason to stop Gyumao from being revived and stop the madness that was spreading in Togenkyo.
As he looked longer at the little baby, images of a rushing river emerged. The river carried a little baby with prayer beads looped around it's neck. And Sanzo's mind's eye saw a smiling man in the robes of a monk stoop to pick up the baby thus rescuing it from uncertain death…
"I know, I know!! I have the PERFECT name for your baby, Machiko-neechan!!"
Snort. "Knowing you, you're gonna name it Pork Ramen."
"Ero kappa! Of course not! That's just DUMB!"
"Ok then, bakasaru! What "BRILLIANT" name do YOU have?!"
Goku, with a proud air, puffed out his chest and grandly declared,
"NIKUMAN!!"
A 'THUMP!' was heard as Gojyo fell over. Hakkai sweat dropped with Machiko.
The redhead soon peeled himself from the floor, grabbed Goku by the neck, and shook him, demanding to know what KIND of MORONIC name was that?!
"It's a GOOD name, ero gokiburi!! EVERYONE likes nikumans!! If YOU think you can do better, YOU come up with a name!!"
Gojyo promptly released Goku and smirked. "That kid's BOUND to grow up to be a great looking devil! Considering what a looker it's mom is..." He winked at a blushing Machiko.
"The name should be GOJYO."
Goku snorted in an effort not to laugh.
He failed miserably.
"GOJYO!?!! Wahahaahahahahaa!! That's the WORST name yet!! That kid's gonna be teased for LIFE!! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaa!!"
"KONO bakasaru!! You're just ASKING for it, aren't you?!"
"Why not?! Bring it on if you can, cockroach!!"
:: THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! ::
"URUSEI, KONO BAKAYARO!!!"
Hakkai smiled apologetically at Machiko as Sanzo proceeded to teach his comrades a lesson in keeping quiet while a baby was around. Machiko smiled understandingly. When you traveled with the Sanzo-ikkou, even for an hour or two not to mention three days, you get used to the violence. Besides, the baby hadn't stirred through out the chaos and was still sound asleep.
Sanzo sat back down with a grunt, the two idiots face flat on the ground behind him, steam rising from their skulls.
"Well, Sanzo-sama? What will be my child's name?"
Sanzo gazed at the sleeping baby once more. Memories washed over him like a warm tide over sand. Memories of better times, of happier days when everything seemed less cloudy and less complicated. When a man with a gentle smile and a kind heart made an orange paper airplane sail through the air, a brilliant bright blue sky as the background.
"Koumyou." Said Sanzo softly. "Name your child Koumyou."
Aside, Hakkai smiled gently as Machiko nodded.
"Koumyou it shall be."
~*~*~*~
"Goodbye!! Have a safe journey!!"
Goku and Gojyo waved cheerfully back to the villagers as Hakuryu took them further away and onwards to the West.
Sanzo turned his head and watched Machiko's village recede from view.
He knew the baby would be okay.
Even when the world seemed insane and everything around it was confused and lost, that little baby would make it. Sanzo half felt that his master may have laughed at him. But…
It had felt right to name the child Koumyou.
Who knew, maybe one day, the kid may turn out to be as great as the man he had been named after. But for now…
Sanzo was sure the child would be all right.
Hakkai's soft murmur broke through his thoughts.
"Sanzo?"
Still lost in the memories of his master, Sanzo absent-mindedly replied.
"Hai?"
"I think the baby was a girl."
The End.
~*~*~*~*~*~
We'll leave you to imagine what came after that. It's clear enough for us. *authors snigger away*
Ah, we also would thought it was high time to thank all of you by name for the reviews you guys were so kind to give. ^__^ SO, a huge "Arigato" from us (in no particular order) to...
UltraM2000, Yamamoto Kou, Fuuei, Neko_Jinx, Erutan Xiku, Metajoker, DMJewelle, Shiroki Kietsuki, Double Vision, Kodomo Hikari, hakkai-san, IceFire3, Genjy0-Sanz0, Blades of Ice, Sariyuki, Crouge, Megu-chan, DreamsMadeFlesh and Kurtain.
YunCynImaginator&Muses: Thank you all for your support!!! ^__^
Bunnies: *twitches noses*