AUTHOR'S NOTE: This takes place shortly after they all meet. Sorry for the delay!
Goku bounced happily in front of the other two, grinning and singing a song about going shopping for food. Hakkai and Gojyo had gone up to the temple to see if Goku wanted to go out with them. It was obvious from the relieved expression on Sanzo's face that the boy had been more annoying than usual. Shoving him toward the other two, the monk had snarled, "Here, take him," and then locked himself in his office.
"Oi, monkey! Slow down, would ya? Your owner won't be happy if we lose his favorite pet," Gojyo called as Goku kept skipping and singing further into the crowd of people.
Scowling and taking the bait, Goku shouted, "I'm not a monkey! I'm Goku! Go-ku!"
"I don't care what kind of fancy name those idiot monks gave you, you're still Stupid Monkey to me. Stu-pid. Mon-key!"
Hakkai smiled as a brown blur launched itself predictably at Gojyo, who caught it, swinging Goku up over his shoulders, one arm locked behind the boy's neck and the other around his knees. Goku hollered and squirmed, causing people to stare in bewilderment at them, but Gojyo's pin was solid. "You know, Gojyo, you'd make an excellent father."
The comment shocked Gojyo so badly he dropped Goku without warning. "Are you fucking kidding me? Me, a dad? Noooo, thanks!"
Smiling, pleased that his plan of getting Gojyo to release the youngster worked, Hakkai pulled out his list, scanning down it quickly. he already knew what they needed and was trying to think of the best way to do it. "Why don't we each take half of the list and meet back at the noodle stand in an hour?"
"Noodle stand! Can we have noodles at the noodle stand?" Goku asked hopefully.
Laughing, Hakkai tore the list neatly in half and handed one part to Gojyo. "If you're back on time, I don't see why not."
"Aw, for the love of... Hakkai, you gave us the harder list," Gojyo shouted.
All he got in response was an airy wave as the dark haired man walked away.
"Dumb bastard," the red-head muttered, looking over the list more closely. First thing on the list was new pillows. "Come on, chimp, let's get going!"
"Stop calling me chimp and monkey and-,"
"How 'bout shit head? You like that better?"
"NO!"
About an hour later, Gojyo and Goku were sitting outside the noodle stand. Gojyo had broken down and bought the kid a plate of noodles, which disappeared in record time. He didn't mind buying a second and third plate. The girl at the stand was hot. Hotter than hot, actually. She was probably one of the most gorgeous girls he'd yet to see.
As he was buying Goku the third round, he decided it was time to work his charm. After all, he couldn't let a catch like this just walk on by. "Sorry."
"Oh? For what?" she asked, eyes crinkling with a big smile.
"For him. See, he came from a shelter for abused boys. I took him in."
"Aw... that was so sweet of you!"
Sighing, Gojyo leaned against the stand and a little closer to her. "Yeah... used to be one myself. I know how hard it is for kids like him. Tragic, really."
"You... You don't say," she breathed out, leaning closer to him. Just a little more...
A sharp pull on his pant leg made him look down, checking any cusses back quickly. After all, he didn't want to be yelling at his "charge". A big shit-eating grin and wide eyes met him. "More noodles, please!"
"You just had three plates," Gojyo said through a tight smile.
Laughing, the girl leaned over the stand, rubbing her breasts up against Gojyo's arm. Damn... He shook his head, grinning to himself. She loaded Goku's plate up with more, winking at Gojyo as she stood back up. "It's on the house."
"Hey, thanks... sorry, what was your name?" This could be a good thing for both of them. Goku gets free food, he gets free sex... he'd have to remember to take the kid out more with him.
"Aiko," she answered, blushing.
"Aiko? That's very pretty. My name's Gojyo."
She laughed, running a finger down the sleeve of his shirt. "Mm... I like that. Is your girlfriend around?"
Smiling again, he said as he leaned in, "I think we both know I don't have a girlfriend."
"Good answer." Their lips met briefly before breaking apart and coming together again.
"Ahem."
Gojyo pulled back, eyebrow raised. Damn it, Hakkai was back... and the monk had joined him. "Yeah?"
Sanzo's jaw was clenched so tight he was surprised it wasn't breaking. "Does your perversion have any limitation?" he gritted out. "This is a PUBLIC PLACE!"
"What, jealous?"
Growling wordlessly, Sanzo's hands balled up to keep from pulling his gun in the middle of the food court.
Hakkai remained smiling as he shrugged helplessly. "Goku, let's find a table to sit at. It's better than the ground."
"Okay! Can I have some more?" Goku asked brightly, bouncing after Hakkai and Sanzo.
"Of course," Hakkai replied with a gentle laugh.
Aiko stared after them for a second, hand covering her mouth. "You know Master Sanzo?" she asked.
Sensing yet another way to ensure some company tonight, Gojyo said, "Uh, yeah. Master Sanzo and I go way back. Maybe I can arrange a private audience with him for you."
"Oh... would you?"
"Sure. Why don't we talk about it later tonight? I'll meet you back here around... say, seven?"
Nodding enthusiastically, she quickly went back to work. A line was beginning to form and people were getting impatient. Gojyo wandered over to the table, grinning. It wasn't a big deal, he was sure, to talk Sanzo into it. After all, the guy was human. How could you deny a pretty girl a private audience with 'His Holiness'. Taking a seat next to Hakkai and across from the other two, Gojyo held his lighter out when he saw Sanzo pull out a cigarette.
Arching a golden brow, the blonde leaned in, violet eyes watching him suspiciously. "Whatever it is, the answer's no."
"You don't even know what I was going to ask," Gojyo complained.
"And I don't care either."
Running his fingers through his still woefully short hair (it was down to his chin now, but not nearly as long as it had been), Gojyo pleaded, "I just need you to act like a monk for five minutes and talk to that cute noodle girl for me. Please, Sanzo? She really wants to meet you."
Eyes lifting from the spot on the table he'd been staring at, Sanzo said, "I'm changing my answer."
Gojyo's smile widened. YES!
"It's hell no now."
"You prick! You totally made me believe you were capable of emotion!"
"Hmph, not my fault you're easily duped."
Growling in frustration, Gojyo slumped back in his chair, glaring death at a man who wouldn't even look up to see it. Damn him!
Hakkai stood up, ever smiling and said, "I'm a bit hungry. Would you like something, Sanzo?"
The priest stood as well, muttering, "Like I'd trust you to order correctly for me." Hakkai's response was a little chuckle as the two went to stand in line at the same noodle stand Aiko was working.
"GET SOME FOR ME, TOO!" Goku shouted. He was already going through the bags Hakkai had bought, knowing that the green-eyed man would have picked him up some candy.
Gojyo continued to glare at the blonde's back, shaking his head. "Man, he is one serious tight ass," he complained, not really caring if Goku was listening or not. "Half his problem is that he doesn't know how to have a little fun. All he needs to do is get a BJ and he'll be so much happier!"
"Wuzza E-Jay?" Goku asked around a mouthful of sugar wafers. His eyes were wide and innocent as he continued shoveling the cookies into his mouth.
"A BJ? It stands for blow job. It something that makes you feel good. Hell, knowing how uptight that prick is, it might even make him smile," Gojyo answered without really thinking about his audience.
Swallowing, Goku followed his gaze over to Sanzo and stared at his back thoughtfully. "Make him smile, huh?"
The two came back over with food, Sanzo sliding a plate over to Goku without a word. Gojyo grinned up at Hakkai as his friend dropped a plate in front of him as well. "Unlike some others at our table, Hakkai, you are one decent guy!"
"Why, thank you, Gojyo," Hakkai replied, ignoring the insult clearly directed at Sanzo.
Scowling as he picked up his chopsticks, Sanzo said coldly, "I did what you asked. I talked with her for five minutes. That's about how long it took her to get our order down."
"You are such a sarcastic bastard."
"Please, you flatter me."
They continued to eat in relative silence, settling on muted glares across the table. Hakkai sighed, twirling his sticks together through the noodles to gather them up. "It would be nice to have a meal together that didn't result in fighting, swearing, or inappropriate-,"
"Hey, Sanzo, can I give you a blow job?"
The other three weren't the only ones to drop their utensils. The four tables surrounding them did as well. Gojyo spit his food across the table, hitting Sanzo square in the chest. The monk was too livid to even notice. Hakkai's head thunked on the table, the blush extending way below his neckline. "Oh, dear God..."
"What did you just say?" Sanzo asked in a deadly low tone. His body was shaking with the attempt to keep from killing his young charge.
Goku blinked big confused eyes. "I just asked if I could give you a blow job. It might make you smile!" The people around them were beginning to whisper, some even snicker.
Snarling, Sanzo's fan came out of nowhere and connected with a head.
"OW! Mother fucker, what the hell is wrong with you?" Gojyo demanded, clutching his head.
"You goddamn pervert!"
Goku whimpered and quickly scurried out of the fan's way and over to Hakkai's side. Hakkai picked his head up, still red all the way up to his hairline, and continued to eat. "Hakkai, why's Sanzo so mad? All I wanted to do was make him smile by givin' him a blow job! Gojyo said-,"
"Goku, do us all a favor and don't ever listen to Gojyo again," Hakkai pleaded, ignoring the continued beating going on beside him.
