Disclaimer: Not own Saiyuki, but it would be awesome cool if I did.

Thanks to all who reviewed. Sorry this chapter took so long, I've been spending all my time typing The Demon's Within and I've been sick. I'm slow and lazy. --

Now For Something Completely Different:

Saiyuki: Turning in Circular Motion

Chapter 3: Working Gears in the Machine

-Life spins once in full rotation then it is done.

Sanzo woke up to sunlight in his eyes, the chirping of birds, and a body full of hideous pain. He was confused for a moment as to why. He had actually not really expected to see another morning. The monk attempted to move only to realize that not only was he bandaged very stiffly, that he was also tied up. His anger was immediate. Furious violet eyes scoured the room as much as they could when the grinning face of the werewolf that he had fought earlier came into view.

"Hey, Hakkai! The droopy eyed priest is awake." Gojyo smirked, "Welcome back to the land of the living asshole."

"Where am I?" Sanzo glared.

"My house. You'd better be grateful, Hakkai bought this second bed because you looked so pitiful lying in the floor for three days." Gojyo made a face then moved as Hakkai took his spot.

"How are you feeling, master priest?"

"I'll be a whole lot better when I kill you both." Sanzo tried to move again.

"You really shouldn't try to move about a lot for at least a day. Your wounds were very deep. We almost thought you weren't going to pull through." Hakkai noticed Sanzo's eyes searching about, "If you're looking for the demon boy, he's on a pallet to the right of your bed."

"I could care less about that little shit. I want to know why I'm still alive." Sanzo's glare turned to Hakkai, but to the vampire's amusement, the priest seemed a bit relieved, "What do you intend to do?"

Hakkai chuckled softly, "I don't think that we planned so far ahead as to intend to do something. It was more of a pity thing, I believe."

"Geez, why don't you chill out? It's not like we hurt you or your stupid monkey. More like spend our hard earned cash on you. Salve and bandages aren't cheap you know." Gojyo sat down in a chair and propped his feet on the table only to have Hakkai shoot him a scowl. He put his feet back in the floor and the vampire returned to smiling. Gojyo took out a cigarette, lit it, took and deep drag, then let it out slowly, "You're only tied up because you'd try to do something stupid like kill me or something."

"If you can promise not to hurt yourself or attack us, we'll untie you. I just finished cooking some lunch after all and you don't seem the type that would like to be fed by hand." Hakkai's smile was polite, "We're not going to hurt you unless you try to hurt us first."

"Ch." An arrogant look took Sanzo's face, "I don't make promises to monsters."

"Oh?" Hakkai raised an eyebrow, "Is that how it is?" He left for the kitchen.

"So what were you and your posse doing in town?" Gojyo took another drag, "I'm really dying to know."

"None of your business."

Gojyo's brow creased, "We could have let you die you know."

"I never asked for your help." Sanzo matched Gojyo's glare.

"You better watch your mouth. You didn't have that brat go ape shit on you and try to bite your arm in two!" Gojyo stood up and pointed at his bandaged arm.

"Too bad he didn't." Sanzo sneered.

"Sanzo…"

Sanzo's sneer dropped from his face and he tried to lean over to see Goku as he head the demon's soft voice.

"Sanzo…"

"What?" Sanzo looked annoyed.

Gojyo twisted the used cigarette butt in the ashtray, "Don't bother. He's talking in his sleep. Monkey has not woken up yet but every so often, he'll call for you."

Sanzo was quiet for a moment collecting his thoughts. He was thinking about what had happened during the fight. Hakkai walked back in with a tray of soup bowls. He set the tray down on the table then placed a bowl and spoon in front of Gojyo. Taking a second bowl, he placed it on the other side of the table. A third bowl remained on the tray. Sanzo turned his head with an annoyed sound. Just then his stomach growled. It was reminding him that it had not been fed much over the past three days. He glared up at Hakkai as the vampire walked toward him.

He started to untie Sanzo, "I'm sure that you'd much prefer to feed yourself. Just try to behave."

"Hn." Sanzo sat up as soon as he was untied and made a more sever look at his surroundings. He marked all the exits in his mind for future reference.

Sanzo sat upon the edge of the bed so that his feet touched the floor and looked down at Goku who was curled up asleep on a pallet. He looked much smaller now. In his transformed state, he had nearly been adult human height. Little snores were escaping his mouth. The demon must have really been drained to have slept so long. Sanzo kicked him lightly in the side.

"Hey brat, get up."

There was a loud waking snore, and then Goku rolled over and rubbed his eyes, "Sanzo…is it time to eat? I'm really hungry."

Sanzo smirked. Same old idiot.

Goku sat up with a little yawn and looked around, "Where are we?"

"You're friend the werewolf's house."

"Huh? Friend?" Goku noticed the other two then he jumped up and pointed at Gojyo, "Ah, it's that roach guy!"

"Don't you start with me you shitty little monkey!" Gojyo turned a glare at him.

"I'm not little you, you –" Goku seemed to get frustrated trying to think up a response, "You red kappa!"

"Where the hell are you getting these stupid insults?" Gojyo growled back, "Only a retarded monkey would think up such crap."

"Now, now. Gojyo, don't insult our guests." Hakkai smiled at Goku, "Would you like some soup, its vegetable."

"He started it." Gojyo grumbled before snatching up another cigarette.

"Food?" Goku's eyes brightened, then he smiled, "Thanks,…er…"

"Hakkai." The vampire prompted, then he motioned to Gojyo, "And this is Gojyo."

"Hi, I'm Goku!"

Hakkai laughed softly, "I'll go get you a bowl."

"He can have mine. I don't trust anything you make." Sanzo reaffirmed his glare.

With a sigh, Hakkai handed the bowl to Goku, "If you would like to make something for yourself, the kitchen is just in there."

Goku skipped using a spoon and downed the down. He held it out, "Can I have more?"

Hakkai chuckled, "Looks like someone has a healthy appetite."

"Feh. Nothing healthy about that endless appetite." Sanzo watched Goku for a few moments waiting to see if there would be any effects of a poison. Watching the demon bolt a second, then a third bowl, he intercepted the fourth bowl and ate it himself.

"See, it's not that bad, a bit on the salty side but good for you regardless." Hakkai refilled the bowl.

Sanzo made a noncommittal sound then ate the second bowl, "Tell me what you intend to do with us now?"

Gojyo took out a cigarette, "I don't know about my friend here but I want to know what you were doing in my village. Come to slaughter a bunch of heathens, did you?"

Sanzo started to say something snide back when Goku's voice spoke out, "What's a heathen? We were supposed to find a Hakkai guy and irrigate him."

"You idiot!" Sanzo hit Goku with the bowl.

"Ow! Sanzo what was that for? That hurt!"

Gojyo burst out laughing, "Irrigate? What are you now, farmers?"

Hakkai found himself locked under Sanzo's gaze. The human was anticipating a negative reaction, but Hakkai merely returned a smile, "I assume he meant interrogate."

"Yeah, that's the word." Goku was hit upside his head again.

"Keep your mouth shut…" A slight grin set itself upon Sanzo's lips as he remembered the earlier insult. It seemed to fit him anyway, "monkey."

"You too?" Goku crossed his arms and pouted.

May I ask what was so important that a group of hunters came all the way here to drag it out of me?" Hakkai asked calmly.

"I'd like my belongings back."

"You're being evasive, Sanzo-san."

"No, I'll ask you when I have my gun back in my hand." Sanzo stared hard, this was not a debate."

"Goodness, there's really no need for that. Regardless of what you think of our kind, we are not going to turn on you at the drop of a hat." Hakkai spoke, "It's apparent to me that you're not as cruel as you want others to think you are." His eyes turned to Goku.

"Ch." Sanzo crossed his arms, "He's my slave."
"Really?" Hakkai looked amused.

"What kind of slave?" Gojyo grinned at his own joke, "Such a corrupt priest."

"Sanzo, why are you so mad at these people?" Goku innocently inquired. He perked up for a second, listening. The demon got out of his chair and walked up to the window.

"What is it?" Sanzo's attention was zeroed in on the little demon.

"Sanzo, other people from home are coming." He smelled the air.

"Reinforcements already?" Gojyo looked alarmed, "You Hunters sure work fast."

"I guess I will go ahead and turn myself in to your custody." Hakkai bowed to Sanzo.

"Wha? But." Gojyo became confused, "I can't believe this."

"It's alright Gojyo, I have faith that Sanzo will do what he needs to, one way or another." Hakkai seemed to be thinking.

"Sanzo."

"You should give up too, were-boy." Sanzo smirked at Gojyo, "I'll make your death quick."

"Sanzo."

"Fat chance you corrupt monk!"

"Sanzo!"

Sanzo turned to Goku annoyed, "What is it now?"

"They're here. Hazel's with them." Goku pointed out the window.

"Please let Gojyo get away. You at least owe us that much." Hakkai spoke.

Sanzo seemed to think for a moment, "Fine, whatever. Go hide somewhere wolf. I'll tell tem you got away. You get caught after that, it's none of my business." He held out his hand, "My gun."

With a bit of coaxing from Hakkai, Gojyo went to hide in a hidden storage room. Sanzo tied Hakkai's hands together and marched him out of the house toward the oncoming Hunters. Hazel met them with seven others at his side.

"I see you survived." Hazel seemed almost disappointed.

"A pity I'm sure." Sanzo growled beneath his breath, "I'm taking Cho Hakkai back to Headquarters, Kanzeon can deal with this."

"What of the werewolf?" Hazel asked.

"Bastard ran away when I got my gun back." Sanzo turned to walk away, "Hurry it up. I want to get back to the Guild as soon as possible and get checked for infection." Sanzo pushed Hakkai forward.

He continued past Hazel and his men only to stop as he heard a shout from Goku. Sanzo wheeled about only to see that two of the men had apprehended the little demon by his arms. He narrowed his eyes at Hazel.

"What's this?"

Hazel smiled, "Surely you haven't forgotten what happened to Shuuei at the inn have you?"

"What does that have to do with him?" Sanzo did not like where this conversation was going.

"Why, the fact that he tried to pull another demon into the living world through Shuuei's body." Hazel looked mock surprised, "Surely, I thought you would have figured that out."

"Sanzo, they're hurting my arms." Goku looked imploringly at Sanzo.

"He didn't do anything to Shuuei." Sanzo glared darkly.

"Really? I think he did. The little rat was the only one in the room when Shuuei got possessed. Who else could have done it?" Hazel's grin was becoming wider.

"He told me that there was already something inside Shuuei even before I left him alone in the inn."

"A clever lie to cover up the fact that he was going to try and resurrect one of his little friends."

"Shuuei attacked him."

"A plot to throw you off the right idea. He wants you to think that he had nothing to do with it."

"What do you intend to do ?" Sanzo was forcing the words out from his clenched teeth.

"Execute him." Hazel's face was filled with maliciousness, "That is the punishment for attacking a Hunter or have you forgotten that as well."

"Denied."

"Sanzo! Help me!" Goku looked panicked.

"You can't let this slide Genjo. He must be punished. Besides, you have no proof that he did not have anything to do with it."

"And you have no real proof that he did."

"He was the only one there."

"Circumstance, it proves nothing."

"He must be tried for it, he's a demon." Hazel looked like he was becoming annoyed.

"That is for Kanzeon to decide." Sanzo crossed his arms.

"Then I'm taking him prisoner."

"You have no right. He's my charge." Sanzo glared.

"You're prisoner or mine, but I demand that he be restrained under suspicion of his crimes." Hazel was almost yelling as he was angered by Sanzo's blatant refusal of the rules.

"Go screw yourself." Sanzo turned his back to Hazel.

Hazel shook with rage for a moment, "If you don't do it, then I will take him prisoner myself." Hazel turned to one of the men, "Kaleb, your holy water."

"Sanzo! Sanzo!" Goku began to struggle madly as he saw the vial of holy water enter Hazel's hand.

Sanzo spun about, furious, "Fine, asshole. I'll do it myself." Sanzo was barely restraining the anger that threatened to surge forth, "Release him. Goku, come here."

Goku cautiously approached Sanzo with a fearful look. The monk looked so angry, he was afraid that he would get in big trouble. Sanzo made an irritated sound at Goku's scared face then called for some rope. Under Hazel's 'helpful' supervision, the little demon's arms were bound to his sides and his wrists bound together with a lead rope attached to them. Goku looked as though he were going to cry.

Sanzo sighed then spoke in a low voice, "Just deal with it until we get home."

He then took the lead rope and with Hakkai walking before him and Goku behind, he started back towards home. Hazel seemed pleased with himself as the started off and that just made Sanzo that much more pissed. He wondered what kind of trouble that ass was going to try to stir up when he returned. He wondered what had already been said. No matter, Goku was safe, Hakkai was apprehended, and he was still alive for another day.

End Chapter Three