A/N: Ack! People are threatening to kill me in my sleep if I don't update within a decent amount of time, so I'm writing this now. Please don't kill me, if you do, no one will be around to finish this story.
Chapter 3: Memories
Sanzo and Goku walked along the faint paths, both their brows creased in worry, they knew that it should have taken them only 15 minutes or so to find an exit, but the sky had already turned pitch black. At long last Sanzo gave up and sat down against a tree, taking out his cigarettes and lighting one as he did so.
Goku stopped walking and stood in front of Sanzo, "How can you just sit now?! There's someone after us, we've got to find an exit!" He yelled.
Sanzo sighed, "Don't be stupid, monkey, we've already played into this guy's trap. He's successfully separated us and trapped us in these woods. We're not leaving unless we kill him, and since he wants to kill us he'll have to show up eventually. So, instead of wasting my energy, I'm going to sit here and wait." the monk said in an exasperated tone.
"Oh," Goku said as he lowered himself to a seat next to his owner.
Sanzo glanced over at the monkey he was forced to travel with and noticed, with some level of disturbance, that his charge was perfectly silent and he seemed to be deep in thought. The monk shrugged inwardly and turned the other way, sinking slowly into his own thoughts.
Sanzo's thoughts were given free reign to wander and backtrack over any and all memories he had, and thankfully they chose not to wander back to the death of his dear master. However, they instead drifted to the teachings he had learned all those years ago.
Komyou Sanzo sat high in an apple tree smoking a cigarette and drinking a flask of fine wine from the temples supplies. Kouryuu made his way to the tree with a broom, sweeping the path as he went. He could smell the familiar scent of smoke that followed his master around, along with the sweet smell of fermented wines.
Kouryuu stopped sweeping and looked up into the tree, he caught a glimpse of a long brown braid and the creamy color of his master's robes. "Master Sanzo?" He called, "What are you doing up there? The other monks are looking for you!"
Kouryuu knew what was coming next. He heard the cheerful laugh of his master as he poked fun at Kouryuu's fake concern for the wishes of the other inhabitants of their temple. "Stop pretending you care, Kouryuu." his master called back, "Besides, it is far to nice outside to be teaching those stuffy sermons inside those even stuffier rooms around the thick-headed monks. Why don't you join me, Kouryuu, I know you'd enjoy a private lesson out in the sun."
"Of course, Master." Kouryuu said, a light coming to his purple eyes. Without a sound he dropped the broom and nimbly leapt up the trunk of the tree and perched on a thick branch next to the priest.
Komyou seem not to notice him young student, but instead gazed up at the ripe red apples, "Kouryuu," he said at last, "I believe today is the day I teach you the difference between rejoicing that past, and living in it."
"But Master, I already know this." Kouryuu pointed out politely.
Sanzo laughed, "But do you? Let me ask you something Kouryuu, what would you do if something happened to this temple and I was no longer here to guide you?"
Kouryuu was shocked, "But, why ask me such a question, Master? You are plenty strong enough to defend us."
"I just wish to know…call it plain curiosity if you will." Sanzo said, his normally smiling mouth beginning to form a frown.
Kouryuu looked to the treetops, "I would mourn for you, then I would most likely leave this temple and make my way in the world using my own strength and your teachings to guide me." he answered.
Komyou nodded, "Very good, Kouryuu, if this reason and knowledge of yours keeps up, you will be a Sanzo like myself one day and have control over one of the scriptures I carry." He plucked an apple from the tree and tossed it to his student, "Remember this, Kouryuu, do not dwell in the past, it will only make you weak. Instead, remember and use those past experiences to learn and grow."
Kouryuu nodded and looked up at his master, "I will, sir."
Komyou smiled once more, "Now, run ahead and finish your chores. I will be here when you are done, then perhaps we will make paper airplanes."
"Of course, Master." Kouryuu went to leap to the ground when his master added something.
"Oh yes, and please do not tell the other monks where I have gone for today." He winked at his pupil and went back to smoking his cigarette,
Kouryuu let a rare smile loose as he jumped from the tree and resumed his duties.
Sanzo slowly reverted from memory to real life as he heard crying sounds from his own pupil next to him, 'Gods, I never bet my Master had as much trouble with me.' he thought irritably.
Sanzo sighed, "What is it, monkey?" he asked.
Goku lifted his head, it was obvious that he had been crying for some time, his face was splattered with tears, "I was just thinking," he muttered.
"I'm not a mind reader, you're going to have to tell me, because I'm sure as hell not going to guess." Sanzo retorted.
Goku was silent for a few minutes before he spoke, "I was thinking about…what happened a few days ago."
"When you ran into that tree instead of being sensible enough to see that I wasn't going to hit you because of the seriousness of the matter?" The monk said to him, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I'm sorry, Sanzo, I shouldn't have said anything, I don't know what came over me." Goku apologized.
Sanzo lowered his head, "Shut up." he said.
Goku raised his head to look at Sanzo, "What?" he asked nervously.
"I said, shut up." Sanzo replied, "I know you meant what you said, stupid."
"What?" Goku asked again, this time even more surprised.
"I know you meant it, I'm not deaf or dumb." He tossed his cigarette on the dirt floor of the forest, "I can't return your feelings."
"What?! Why?!" Goku nearly yelled, "I've never cared about anyone so mu-" Goku cut himself off, images of a strange man that strongly resembled Sanzo flashed through his head. That man…Goku had seen him so many times before, he knew that this golden haired person was from the part of his memory that was locked away. Suddenly, as if a great puzzle had been
given another piece, a name finally came with that picture, "Konzen…" he whispered.
Sanzo heard that name and a pain ran through his heart, Goku had cared for someone else, long before Sanzo had rescued him from his prison in the mountains. But…it was a familiar name, one the monk recognized, yet did not know.
He lit a new cigarette, "I knew it, there was someone else you loved." he said bitterly.
Goku watched Sanzo, "No…" he whispered, "Konzen, whoever he is, died. I love you now, Sanzo, please don't reject me!" he said, his voice gaining volume with every word.
"I will and I am." Sanzo replied, his next retort sent tiny daggers into his own ice heart, "Even if I did love you, our number one priority is to stop Kougaji and whoever is controlling him from resurrecting Gyumaoh."
"B-but, Sanzo!" Goku cried.
Sanzo turned his head sharply to look at the monkey king, "Shut up and accept it, my mind is not going to change. I have no regrets in my life and I don't plan to start having them now. What's done is done, it can't be changed, don't dwell on it. Only fools dwell in regrets."
Goku was about to reply when an icy voice cut in, "Oh my, how very touching, the young boy confesses his undying love for the icy monk, but, alas, he is rejected. For another lover, mayhap? Or maybe the priest really does harbor regret…maybe…the death of his master?" Tenkou chuckled as his appeared.
Sanzo turned and shot at the demon, "Shut up, you damn bastard, I'll send you back to hell." he spat.
The demon laughed, "Touched a nerve, didn't I, Kouryuu? Wondering how I know about that when not even the boy there has found out?"
Sanzo glared at him, his gun trained on the demon.
"Ha! What fun it is to play with you all," a gunshot pierced the night sky, "Touchy aren't we, young Sanzo? Well, if you must know, I was the very demon who killed your precious master!"
Sanzo's eyes opened in shock and his gun arm wavered, "Master…" he whispered.
His memories flooded into his head and he unwillingly went back to that night when his master had fallen, leaving him the name of Sanzo, past teachings, and the Maten scripture. The monk fell to his knees, his gun falling as his hands clutched his head.
Goku flew to his love's side, "Sanzo?! Sanzo?! Stop it, Sanzo!" he yelled, the tears still pouring from his eyes at the sight of Sanzo breaking like that.
He slowly rose to face the demon, "How dare you do that to him." Goku said forcefully, "His past is not your business!" He screamed in fury as he charged at the demon.
Tenkou smiled, "How fun you are, Son Goku." he said as the monkey king charged at him, the fury in his eyes coming out to grasp the evil demon.
Tenkou didn't see the danger he was in until it was too late, Goku ran his heart straight through, "How could you kill me, Son Goku? Why didn't you break, like your lover? You were supposed to die and help my torture of Gonou." he said as he died.
Goku stood at the demon's body and kicked it, "Bastard, I'm not that weak and Sanzo is not my lover." he turned from the body and walked the other way, "Oh yeah," he added, "His name is Hakkai, not Gonou. I should know, it took me ages to learn." he said coldly.
He hurried to where Sanzo was kneeling, his face the very picture of pain and agony. "Sanzo!" he yelled as he shook the monk's shoulders, "Snap out of it! He's dead, Sanzo, I killed him, I killed him." he told the tortured man, the blood from the demon soaking through Sanzo's robes and into his skin.
Sanzo let out a pained scream, "Master!" he yelled.
"Sanzo stop it!" Goku yelled.
Sanzo began to thrash around, the memories of his past coming at a rate that was killing the priest.
Goku, in a panicked attempt, threw his arms around Sanzo, but the monk wouldn't stop. "Please, Sanzo, you're scaring me." Goku cried.
"Get off me!" Sanzo yelled.
Goku held the man tighter, "I wont!" He screamed back, "Not until you stop!" and in a last, desperate attempt, crushed his lips to Sanzo's in a passionate kiss. 'I can't live without my sun' he thought desperately, 'Please come back, Sanzo!'
Sanzo's purple eyes widened at the strange feeling that flowed through him, along with familiar words that seemed to appear from nowhere, 'Don't live in the past, if you do, you are weak.' it then said, 'Be strong, Kouryuu.' the words and feelings severed his past from the present.
He could finally see the young man in front of him, kissing him in a desperate attempt to save him, that had worked. He let out a rare smile and pushed Goku away weakly, "Thanks." he said to Goku for the first time in five years, then collapsed against his charge.
Goku was just standing up, the unconscious monk in his arms, when Hakkai and Gojyo ran into the clearing, "What happened?!" Hakkai shouted frantically.
Goku stood up straight and smiled, "I killed him for you, Hakkai, he's gone. I'm alive, so is Sanzo, we just had a little trouble with that bastard." he said.
Hakkai jogged to Sanzo and Goku, "Let me at least heal his…wounds?" he said, noticing that Sanzo was perfectly fine in body, "Isn't he injured?" Hakkai asked.
Goku began walking, "He's fine, don't worry about it, man."
Gojyo ran up beside the monkey, "So, chimp, what'd the asshole do, faint like a pussy." he teased.
"Shut up, Gojyo." Goku said.
"Aw, c'mon, monkey boy, what happened?" Gojyo insisted.
Hakkai drew Gojyo back, "I don't think this is a good time to provoke him, Gojyo, not with Sanzo like this." Hakkai whispered.
Gojyo nodded reluctantly, "But only till the bastard of a monk wakes up." he grumbled.
Hakkai grinned, "It warms my heart to see you so kind, my friend."
Gojyo growled, "Shut up, Kai." he said, his use of his friend's nickname not putting much emphasis on the threat.
Hakkai just grinned and continued to walk.
The four men slowly made their way back to the jeep. It actually did not take that long after they figured out that Tenkou possessed the power of illusion as well, making it seem as though they were about a mile or so from their camp, when in reality they were in a clearing about five minutes due east of Hakuryuu.
They laid Sanzo in the backseat with Goku while Gojyo took the unconscious monk's usual seat up front next to Hakkai. "Looks like I have to act like a bastard houshi now." Gojyo joked as he leapt in next to Hakkai.
"Hey!" Goku yelled in response, "Sanzo isn't a bastard!"
"Aha! Something did happen between you and the asshole back there!" Gojyo wiggled his eyebrows at Goku, "So clue me in, you two fuck or something?"
Goku turned bright red as his mind flew to the kiss he had given Sanzo, followed by the monk's thanks, "W-what?! Hell no!"
"Are you getting hotter Goku? Or is it just me?" Gojyo teased, "Goku's gay!"
Goku decided to use something Hakkai had taught him on the pervy kappa, reverse psychos or something like that. He stuck out his tongue, "So what if I do like Sanzo? At least I admit it!" he retorted.
This time it was Gojyo's turn to turn red, "What're you getting at, monkey?!"
Goku pointed at him, "I know you like Hakkai! I've read your stupid little diary, I know all about your secret love!"
Hakkai screeched to a stop and the other two conscious men turned to look at him. Hakkai was smiling, "We're here, this looks like a decent little establishment." he stated cheerfully.
He turned to Goku, "Would you mind looking after Sanzo for a few moments while I go book us some rooms?" Hakkai asked politely.
"Sure Hakkai!" Goku exclaimed, ready and willing to help his friend.
"Excellent, Gojyo, you come with me." he ordered.
"Of course, oh great Sanzo two." Gojyo agreed teasingly, but he was secretly worried about how Hakkai was taking Goku's little comment.
As if Hakkai could read Gojyo's mind he spoke quietly as they entered the establishment, "We'll let Goku watch Sanzo tonight, I think I should talk to you." he said.
Gojyo nodded, wondering about the events of the night to come.
A/N: So how was it? Did this chapter live up to everyone's expectations? I hope so, feel free to review, I would love it very much. Also, if you're a member of , please try to sign in before you review if you feel like it. I accept anonymous reviews, but it's so much easier to email people to tell them when new chapters are up than trying to see if the name you leave me is real.
Thank you very much everyone, especially to those of you who have reviewed chapters 1 and 2, I love you all!!!!!!!!!
Please tell me if I've made any errors or if there is anything that I've unintentionally made unclear or confusing or something. Oh yes, I'm not especially sure how you spell 'Komyou' and 'Kouryuu' so please tell me how to spell them if you know, I'd look them up myself, but my Sukiyaki box set (EPS. 1-50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) is on lone to my friend. Thank you all very very much, I appreciate your reviews more then you know!
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