An Unlikely Couple

[This has kinda turned into a series. I really don't want to delete the other fics in this series (because I'd lose the kind reviews), so this and subsequent stories lead directly on from "Spoiling for a Fight" and "Again!?".]

What did you do to my Monkey?

To say Gojyo was surprised was an understatement. He was amazed, dumbfounded and shocked at Goku's behaviour. Not only had the monkey stopped bugging Gojyo at any given opportunity, he had actually been nice to Gojyo. Nice as in offering him the last spring roll, scooting over in the back of Jeep to give him more room and even toned down the amount of times he called Gojyo a pervert. Either the monkey was sick or he had taken Gojyo's comment about behaving to receive a treat as a promise. Either way, Gojyo resolved to enjoy this new side to his travelling companion.

Sanzo and Hakkai on the other hand were a little perturbed at the change in Goku. Gojyo discovered this when cornered by the two of them during a lunch stop. Goku had gone off to do whatever it was monkeys liked to do in forests leaving Gojyo at the mercy of Sanzo and Hakkai.

"Okay, spill!" Sanzo demanded. Gojyo responded with a charming smile and a carefree hug.

"What're you talking about?"

"What have you done to my monkey?" Gojyo's smile faltered slightly when he heard the familiar click that accompanied Sanzo's question.

"I don't know what you're talking about, you trigger happy psycho. I haven't done a thing to Goku. Maybe he just decided to grow up?"

Sanzo lunged forward, pressing the barrel of his gun into the soft flesh under Gojyo's chin.

"Ah, Gojyo," Hakkai gave Gojyo a warning look. "You have to admit Goku has changed lately. Since he last roomed with you in fact."

"Entirely a coincidence."

"I don't think-"

"Hey guys. Whatcha doing?"

Whatever Hakkai was going to say was cut off by the return of Goku. He looked between Sanzo, Gojyo and Hakkai.

"What did he do now?" Goku asked Hakkai, nodding at Gojyo who still had the monk's gun digging into his chin.

With a sigh, Sanzo replaced the safety on his gun and secreted it in its usual hiding place. He glanced at Hakkai then turned his attention to Goku.

"Come with me."

Goku had no choice but to scamper after Sanzo, following the monk deep into the forest, wondering what was going on. When he deemed them to be far enough from the other two, Sanzo stopped, leaned against a tree and lit a cigarette. He exhaled a lungful of smoke and regarded Goku carefully.

"Has Gojyo said or done something to you?"

"Huh?"

Sanzo pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew this was a bad idea; Goku could be so oblivious at times.

"What I mean is, has Gojyo touched you?"

"All the time! He hits me an' stuff." Goku pouted, misunderstanding Sanzo's line of questioning.

"You idiot. Has he touched you inappropriately?"

"Uh..."

"Forget it. We'll talk about it later," he flicked his cigarette away and stomped back in the direction from which they'd come. Goku once more followed along behind, chewing his lips pensively.

They seemed to be travelling through a more populated region, so managed to find a village in which to rest with little difficulty. They were even lucky enough to secure a room each, much to Goku's disappointment. He was looking forward to his treat from Gojyo, whatever it might be. Even if his ass smarted a little afterwards, their last liaison had left Goku hungry for more. What he didn't expect was further questions from Sanzo.

"Let's take a walk." Sanzo had said to Goku shortly after they finished dinner. It was said in such a manner that indicated it wasn't a suggestion, giving Goku no option but to once again follow Sanzo until he found a quiet spot for them so sit. Unfortunately, since the weather was so pleasant, it seemed that the majority of the town had taken the opportunity to take an evening walk and so Sanzo led them into a small, relatively secluded park.

"Sit." Sanzo indicated to a bench and waited for Goku to make himself comfy before sitting down and folding his hands in his lap.

"What's going on?"

Goku cocked his head to the side and gave Sanzo a blank look.

"You've been acting strangely for the past few days and I think Gojyo has something to do with it. Now if he's done something to you or threatened you in any way, I need you to tell me so I can deal with it."

Oh shit, Sanzo knew! Goku fought down the urge to panic and instead concentrated upon looking as innocent as possible.

"Nothing's going on, Sanzo. Nothing at all."

Sanzo looked less than convinced. He gazed off into the distance and tried to think of another way to get his point across. Something caught his eye and inspiration struck. Without a word, he jumped up and marched over to a young woman and child.

"May I borrow this?" he asked. Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed the little girl's doll and made his way back to Goku. He held the doll in front of him and cleared his throat.

"Goku, I want you to use this doll."

"What?" Goku's eyes widened and he gaped incredulously at Sanzo. Had he gone mad?

"Point to the places on the doll where Gojyo touched you."

"Are you crazy?" Goku squawked. "I told you nothing's wrong and Gojyo didn't touch anything that I didn't want him to touch, so quit bugging me."

With that, Goku fled the park leaving Sanzo standing, holding the doll and looking after him with equal measures disgust and disbelief.

Goku didn't stop running until he reached the inn and from there he made his way to Gojyo's room as quickly as he could. He gave a cursory knock then burst into the room, panting.

"You call this behaving? Aw and you'd been doing so well up till now."

Goku was in no mood for Gojyo's jokes. He scowled at the man then breathlessly broke the bad news.

"Sanzo knows."

Whatever Goku had been expecting from Gojyo, it hadn't been raucous laughter, but that was what he got. He stamped his foot and glared.

"I'm serious. He keeps asking me questions about it, like if you've been touching me against my will and stuff. He even had a doll."

Gojyo laughed harder and slapped his thigh.

"Oh man, that's priceless. I wish I'd seen that," taking a moment to picture the scene, Gojyo's mirth increased until tears rolled down his cheeks. "Fan-fucking-tastic. Hey! That's definitely not behaving."

No longer laughing, Gojyo grabbed Goku's hands to stop the boy hitting him.

"Gojyo..."

Despite a return of Goku's whine, Gojyo tugged him down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around the small frame and pulled him close.

"Hey, don't worry about it. Sanzo doesn't know anything, he just thinks he does," in a rare show of affection, Gojyo kissed Goku's brow. "And besides, there's nothing to know, is there?" he asked with a wink and Goku gave a non-committal shrug.

"But," Gojyo continued. "Perhaps you should tone down the 'well behaved monkey' act. It is a bit weird. And you should probably sleep in your own room tonight," he held up a hand when Goku opened his mouth to protest. "Trust me, you'll get your reward soon enough, but for now let's just act normal. Okay?"

Reluctantly agreeing that Gojyo's suggestion made sense, Goku bade him goodnight and went off to his own room. Gojyo shook his head and gave a light chuckle, imagining Sanzo's discomfort at the thought of a relationship between Gojyo and Goku. As it happened, he didn't have to rely on his imagination for very long. Just a few minutes after Goku had closed it, the door to Gojyo's bedroom swung open to reveal the very monk he'd been thinking about.

Making no move to enter the room, Sanzo stared at Gojyo, sitting on his bed looking for all the world like the proverbial cat who got the cream. Were Gojyo and Goku an item? Or were they merely fucking? At the same time as he wanted to know the answers to those questions, he didn't want to know. The idea of a sexually active Goku was bad enough without thinking about him being active with Gojyo. To cover his involuntary shudder, he leaned against the door frame, drew out a cigarette and put it to his kips.

"I'll ask you once more," he paused to bring a flame to the tip of his smoke. "What have you been doing to my monkey?"

"Heh, he ain't your monkey..."

Rather than finish the sentence, Gojyo left his statement dangling, knowing full well that Sanzo would reach his own conclusion at any moment. Ah, there it was in a raised eyebrow. Sanzo got it alright.

"Oh? Are you saying he's your monkey now?"

Gojyo shrugged and tossed his hair back over his shoulder. There was something particularly fun about this - the way Sanzo pretended to be unconcerned about the situation, but still desperate to know. Gojyo knew he would relish this moment for a long time to come.

"I don't belong to anyone therefore I cannot claim ownership of anyone," he said with a flourish. "Goku is his own monkey, capable of making his own decisions and if he decides he wants me, then who am I to argue?"

"So he's a plaything until you get bored?"

"I didn't say that."

"Hmph," Sanzo snorted, perfectly conveying his doubt at Gojyo's sincerity. "Break his heart and I'll kill you."

For a moment, the pair looked at each other, both serious and neither wishing to be the first to break the silence. Gojyo cracked first, a small grin playing on his lips.

"So the cold monk cares about his charge after all?"

"No, I just can't stand to listen to him whine."

He had made his point, Sanzo thought, satisfied that he had at least warned the kappa. He really didn't want to have to deal with a devastated Goku. It would further complicate what was an already complicated journey. More than that though, he didn't want to see Goku hurt.

Gojyo relaxed on his bed. He fully intended to continue with whatever it was he and Goku had going. He knew perfectly well that they weren't exactly a match made in heaven and was under no illusion about a future together, he was just content to educate the younger man. That's what it was. Goku might have a crush on Gojyo, but it was nothing deeper than that. He merely looked up to the man and his vast sexual knowledge, and who could blame him? Sha Gojyo would have a crush on himself if he could.

In the privacy of his own room, Goku had been thinking. Gojyo might have told him to spend the night in his own room, but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy himself. Casting his mind back to the night Gojyo 'punished' him, Goku set about curing himself of his ache.

TBC…