Chapter 1: True Freedom

"Sanzo… I'm hungry."

"Shut up or else I'll kill you."

"But we've been walking for a long time now. Can't we stop and have lunch?"

"No."

"But why not?"

"Because I said so."

And that was the end of the discussion. Goku knew very well not to anger his friend, Sanzo; no matter how hungry he was. So they continued walking. It was a clear, cloudless day. The sun danced on their faces as they walked across the fields. Sanzo continued walking, and Goku followed closely behind him. Like a man and his shadow on the ground, they seem to reflect an image of their pasts. Sanzo and Goku have been together since childhood. Sanzo, being the hot-tempered and natural leader of the duo, and Goku, was the faithful follower.

"Sanzo…"

"Yeah? What do you want, Goku?"

"How long has it been… since you came and saved me from that prison?"

"Ten years, Goku. It's been ten years," Sanzo said without any sign of significance or tolerance for the stupid and random questions Goku always asked. "Why'd you ask?"

"Oh, it's nothing," Goku smiled childishly.

As they continued on their journey to freedom, the cool, refreshing breeze blew, and the warm autumn sun shown brightly in the sky. Nothing seemed to be able to be disturbed or to be tainted. It was a beautiful day.

"Hey, Sanzo…"

"What is it this time?"

"I had a dream last night."

"Yeah… so? Hurry up and tell me what you want me to do about it. And if it's another stupid question or statement, I'll have to kill you," he replied impatiently.

"I dreamed of the day you came to me. I was all alone. It was cold, dark, and very quiet. I had no one to talk to or anything to do. I just sat there, waiting for something to happen. I remembered crying each night before I slept on the cold, dirt ground. Then you came. You said that I've been calling to you 'for a long time now and it's getting really annoying,'" Goku chuckled at the thought. "It was relieving to just see someone. You held out your hand to me and said that we'd stick together from that day forth. I thought I was truly free."

"Is that so?" Sanzo looked into Goku's eyes. "But I also recall that if you bring up that story again, you're dead."

"What! Wait a minute, Sanzo! What the hell's that suppose to mean?"

"It means that you're screwed, monkey boy."

"Why? I didn't do anything wrong… —hey, Sanzo! Wait for me!" Goku ran after the irritable leader. When Goku finally caught up to Sanzo, he asked him, "Why'd did you leave me back there in the fields? I thought we'd stick together!"

"That's a stupid question. Minus seven points. And Goku…"

"Yeah?"

"Another word from you and there won't be any lunch today."

Once again, an awkward silence fell between them. The remainder of the day, they rested their tired feet and bodies under a large tree planted on top of a hill. The view from the hill showed the sea of jade-like blades of grass and the little tiny purple wildflowers that swam amongst the grass. The sun was soon setting and the two travelers had to get ready for another night sleeping outdoors. The birds that rested their wings in the tree took flight again. They flew off into the horizon and back home to where they belonged, only to return the following day.

"Goku, who do you suppose, decided that the birds are free? Even if they can fly the skies, unless they have a destination and a branch upon which to perch and rest their wings, they might come to resent having those wings. True freedom... true freedom may be just having somewhere to return to." Sanzo turned to look at his younger, more innocent friend, to find him already fast asleep. Sanzo's hardened, serious face diminished and a smile swept across his face. It was a pure, true smile. "You are a stupid monkey afterall…" He leaned forward and kissed the boy on his forehead.

(to be continued... in Chapter 2)

Chapter 2 will be posted next week!

Author's Notes:

"Minus seven points" refers to the game the Saiyuki boys played in the beginning of the series where they rated on 'how worthily is the demon of their time to fight against' for a demon that attacked a Temple they were staying for the night.