When Words Aren't Spoken

Disclaimer: it’s Kazuya Minakura’s universe, I’m only playing in it.

Author’s Note: nothing really noteworthy. And after writing this, I’ve gained a whole new respect for Minekura-sama. Trying to keep Sanzo in chara is so damn hard!!!

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Chapter 2 – Strange Beginnings
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He gave up trying to count all the reasons he hated the situation. So he counted the hours.

It’d been three since they’d gotten there. He was almost through his second pack. The only movement had been Gojyo going into the kitchen for some ashtrays. He was being forced to choose between joining the kappa or finding some place to dump his when the door opened. Hakkai stepped out, wiping blood off his face and hands, a grim look on his face. “So…” Gojyo spoke up.

He sighed as he turned back to the room, “We did everything we can. There’s still too much poison for us to close the wounds, but thankfully none of them are serious. We set the broken bones and Nozomi’s applied the antidote… now it’s all up to Goku.”

They stepped back in to an odd site, for them anyway. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, calmly giving the very sweaty, bloody boy a sponge bath. Softly humming to him, she smiled at his little whimper when she finished. Bringing the cloth back to his face, she frowned at his diadem. Scaring all those watching, she put her hand over it, covering his forehead as if she’d remove it. A strange new energy and Goku’s approving “Aaahh” pulled
them to his bedside. Taking her hand off, everyone was amazed at the thick layer of frost covering the coronet. “You try having a temp of 140 with a wide metal band around your head,” she spoke softly, turning from him.

She calmly walked by them all with her pan, tossing the dirty water out the window before refilling it. Rejoining them, Sanzo finally snapped everyone back, “Who the hell are you?”

“That’s right, in our concern for Goku, we forgot to introduce you,” Hakkai jumped as she placed the pan back on the nightstand, “Nozomi,” he waited until she turned back, “this is Genjyo Sanzo, and unfortunately you already know Son Goku."

“And great Genjyo Sanzo-houshi,” Gojyo finished, slinging his arm across Sanzo’s shoulders, “this is the Dragon Child, a local goddess herself, the seductive Nozomi-sama.”

“Shut up!” they replied in unison.

“Aww look, they’re already thinking alike,” Gojyo continued joking as he backed toward the door.

Two different kinds of shots flying at him made Gojyo run.

“I thought, no hoped the years would make a difference,” she shook her head, turning towards Hakkai.

Plastering on that placating smile, he added, “But then he wouldn’t be Gojyo.”

“You talk like that’s a bad thing.” Sanzo jumped as Nozomi took the words from him. All he could do was glare as she walked over to the cabinets, pulling together another medicine.

“It’s gotten rather late, I’ll go fix dinner,” Hakkai offered, turning back towards the door. “Should I bring anything for Goku?”

Nozomi paused briefly before she started pounding the ingredients, “There’s some juice in the fridge, bring that. Anything more will be too hard for him.”

He simply nodded, even though she never turned as he walked out, leaving Sanzo there with even more questions. “Uhh,” Goku trying to move pulled his attention back to the room. Nozomi turned enough to realize he wasn’t still trying, and started that humming again as she turned back to the mortar. Trying to catch the tune as he started for the door, Sanzo stopped cold as he heard it.

“Dragon Child…” he muttered as he turned, remembering the kappa’s introduction.

He’d just realized the two small dragons were still there, curled up at each end of the bed, cooing the exact same song. Violet eyes looked on in amazement as Goku slowly relaxed; tense muscles easing, the pained expression on his face just fading away. Movement made him turn, finding Nozomi standing at the foot of the bed watching him, smiling at his confusion, “I can’t do the cooing Genjyo. They coo like we hum.”

Before he could respond, react; Hakkai slipped up behind him. “Here’s the juice Nozomi,” he said, bringing the pitcher and a small glass.

“Arigato,” she replied, pouring in the medicine she’d made before adding some juice.

Almost as if on cue, Goku stirred, calling out the first thing on his mind, “Sanzo…”

“Goku,” he jumped at his automatic reply, the fact he’d said his name.

Glazed golden orbs shifted around the room, searching for something familiar. “Where’re we...?”

Hakkai smiled as he stood at Goku’s bedside. “It’s okay Goku, an old friend of mine found us. We’re at her place.”

Nozomi stepped forward, standing to his right holding the glass. “How are you feeling Goku?”

Those glazed eyes slid closed as he smiled, “I ‘member you,” he muttered before a twitch made him cringe, his left hand shifting to his shoulder, all the bandages. “So c-cold… an’ it hurts… stings…”

She smiled as she leaned closer, “Good, it means it’s working,” she slipped one hand under his head, gently lifting him, “Drink up Goku, there’s more medicine in here, it’ll help with the pain.”

He slowly took it in, scrunching his face at the flavor. “It taste funny…”

“That’s just the cherries, now drink up,” she replied, slowly tipping it as he finished it off. Still smiling as she put his head down, she placed the cup down on the nightstand as she turned to him, her left hand moving to his face. “You just close those gorgeous eyes and get some sleep, ‘kay Goku.”

“Itz gettin’ hot ‘gain Zomi,” he mumbled as his eyes slid shut.

Her hand paused briefly at his ‘nickname’ for her, she could only chuckle slightly as she moved it higher. “I’ll fix it, you just sleep.” The cooling energy seemed to ease him right to sleep, his light snore filling the room.

Nozomi calmly took her place at Goku’s side again, taking a clean cloth as she started wiping him down again. Hakkai simply turned away, stopping at the look of skepticism on Sanzo’s face. A soft shake of his head and a true smile was all he gave him as he left to finish supper. Returning to find Gojyo trying vainly not the overcook the vegetables, keep the rice from sticking, and not blacken the chicken; he actually jumped a little in surprise as someone grabbed his shoulder. “What the hell was that for?”

He didn’t turn to the priest, “Is it so hard to believe somebody could care about Goku and not care what he is? Everybody doesn’t have ulterior motives Sanzo.” The grip loosened so he joined Gojyo at the stove, “Besides, it’s about time Goku had a feminine presence in his life.”

Sanzo turned his death glare to the kappa, waiting for his remark.

“I’d love to have her feminine presence in my bed for once.”

The glare fell off, turning to intrigue, “So, the womanizer’s been shot down,” he replied with a smirk.

They had a whole different argument over dinner this night.

~-~-~-~-~-~

Hakkai told him at dinner he’d put his things in the last room on the
right, upstairs. He’d started up as soon as they’d finished, following Hakkai
as he took some food to Nozomi. For some reason he only got two steps up,
Hakkai’s words carrying to him. “Changing the bandages already? You should have
called for help.”

“Hmmph, it’s not like I can’t do it myself. Besides, the antidote’s really working, look.”

“So it’s supposed to do that.”

“Yeah. I’ll have to do this three, maybe four more times tonight. Of course, what we’re really waiting for is this fever to break.”

“Why don’t you get some sleep then, let me watch him for a while.”

“I’m fine Hakkai, besides the antidote can’t be made ahead of time, it has no shelf-life. I’ll come get you if I need help.” The pause reminded him she was supposed to be eating too, “Same rooms as last time.”

“Yeah, I put Sanzo across the hall from us. Figured it’s best, he’s a light sleeper sometimes.”

“Like it’ll matter much tonight… but the next few days, hmm… it probably is better.”

That got him moving again. “Great another fucking distraction! That damn baka saru!”

~-~-~-~-~-~

What the fuck was wrong!

He was finally able to read the paper clear through, no distractions. He’d taken his own damn time showering. He’d even smoked half a pack before going to bed: a nice clean comfortable bed in his own private separate room.

And he couldn’t fucking sleep.

Sure, he had his problems with getting to sleep, but there wasn’t a single damn cloud in the sky. Getting out of bed, he reluctantly admitted why. Every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was those massive jaws coming for him, closing down on Goku. He kept trying to convince himself that it was only because he was the one who released the brat. He was responsible for anything he did.

And anything that happened to him, some tiny voice replied.

Ignoring it, he wasn’t too surprised to find himself standing outside the brat’s room. What he saw inside surprised him.

Nozomi was sitting on the floor, leaning on the bed. She had her right arm draped across Goku’s legs, her head pillowed on the edge of the bed, dozing. The saru appeared to be sleeping, if it weren’t for the sweat running down his nose, tickling it. He absently went to wipe it off, of course using the wrong arm. She jumped as he cried out, Sanzo fighting himself to stay where he was.

“You need to stop using your right arm Goku. You’ll just make it worse,” she calmly reprimanded him, wiping his face off.

“Itz not my fault, I was sleepin’” Goku whined his usual backtalk.

She gingerly ran one hand down his arm, the bandages stopping across his bicep, “I’ll just have to wrap it better next time I change the bandages.”

“ ‘kay,” he answered, nodding slowly as he nodded off.

Smiling softly as she brushed those unruly bangs from his face, she calmly turned to Sanzo as she sat back. “You can come in, you know. He was asking about you earlier.”

He only grunted as he walked in, sitting in the only chair. Goku shifting
drew their attention; the saru had turned his face to Sanzo. “…like the sun,”
he caught himself muttering Goku’s words.

All she did was smile at Goku as Sanzo turned to her. She must have left him alone or with the others at some point: her long auburn hair hung loose down her back, the tunic and jeans had been replaced with a simple cotton nightie. Jumping slightly as Goku started shivering again, she checked his temperature before checking the bandages. It wasn’t until she’d reached for the cloth that he finally noticed the color of her eyes. Soothing blue-green.

Why the hell did he just think that?

Trying for his usual superiority, Sanzo pulled his cigs from his pocket, about to light up, “So how long is this gonna--”

Nozomi suddenly stood, snagging the cigarette and his lighter. “I don’t care about the rest of the house, but nobody smokes in the patient rooms. And I mean nobody.” She calmly ordered as she turned back to the cabinets, placing them by the mortar before she started checking over her supplies. “As for Goku, it looks like the antidote’s working, but I’ll feel a lot better when this damn fever breaks. If it doesn’t by dawn, then… we were too slow.”

Sanzo just sat there, waiting for her to… Apparently, she wasn’t going to. “The other effects will kick in…?”

She stopped, sighing, “I wouldn’t wish those on anyone. The blood starts slowing, organs start shutting down… and the poison turns into acid. Burning through anything and everything… wherever it’s circulated to…” she paused, the images forming in both their minds.

The thought of the overly-genki saru lying there, sick and injured was hard. But the thought of Goku slowing down, shutting down… then such agony… such pain… He didn’t want to die like that.

He couldn’t let him die like that.

Fading away… melting into pieces…

A touch on his shoulder thankfully brought him back. “Keep an eye on him, I’ve got to go to the next room for some more herbs.” Nozomi spoke softly, leaning in closer to whisper, “Don’t worry, I won’t let him die like that."

He just stared in shock as she walked out, jumping slightly as Goku whimpered in his sleep, muttering nonsense. The dragon by his head sat up, gently fanning its wings as both of them started cooing again. Neither thing seemed to relax him as he started squirming, the muttering suddenly becoming coherent, “…gotta… Sanzo, no…”

“I’m fine saru,” Sanzo found himself answering as he stepped closer, taking Goku’s hand, “You did Goku. I’m fine.”

Goku’s grip was almost painful as he realized the truth even through his dream-induced haze, the small smile as his entire body relaxed showing Sanzo he did. His grip may have eased, but Goku was not letting go, so Sanzo found himself taking Nozomi’s seat. The shivering wasn’t so often, so obvious. He wasn’t sweating as badly either. A strange bluish tint was developing on the bandages.

“The antidote draws the poison out, that’s why it’s blue.”

He spun at her words, tearing his hand from Goku’s, stopping on his gun. “How the hell…?!”

“Where do you think he learned it from?” she replied, giving him one of Hakkai’s fake smiles. “Honestly Genjyo, it’s not that hard when your target’s distracted.”

‘Damn monkey!’he thought, turning his glare to him, a tiny smirk curving his lips as Goku shivered in his sleep.

Nozomi only shook her head as she turned to the cabinets, restocking what she’d gotten before pulling together the antidote. “Here’s number three,” she mumbled to herself, “Let’s hope this time it works.”

Sanzo just stepped back, sitting in the chair again as she brought it over. As she slowly and carefully removed the old bandages, Sanzo was surprised to find the injuries across the top of Goku’s shoulder still bleeding. He must have responded somehow, Nozomi turned to him, “The poison was too far into his system already, we can’t heal anything until the poison’s been defeated.” She answered, “Yet another reason we need to get this done as soon as we can Genjyo.”

There it was again. He just glared at her as she carefully applied the antidote, managing to roll Goku over and covering those injuries too. Being mindful of the broken bones, Nozomi began the process of painstakingly re-bandaging Goku’s injuries. It wasn’t until she sat him up, started wrapping another bandage around him to keep his arm tight to his body that Sanzo realized she was ignoring him.

That was even more annoying.

“Why the hell are you doing that?”

She blinked once in surprise, “He keeps trying to use his arm. You’ve seen him Genjyo.”

He could feel a throbbing in his forehead, “Why the hell are you calling me Genjyo?” he almost yelled.

Nozomi turned to him with an exasperated look, “Isn’t that your name?” she paused, sighing. “I could give you some bullshit, like I don’t believe in Buddhism. Truth is I’ve lived too long and seen too much to call anyone by any title until I know they deserve it.”

Nodding at her logic, Sanzo realized what she said, “ ‘lived too long…’?”

“Three… no four.”

“Decades?”

She stood, shaking her head as she approached the cabinets, “No, centuries.”

“Centuries…” Sanzo muttered in shock, turning to Goku.

“Yeah, whole ‘Dragon Child’ thing and it’s perks,” Nozomi replied, pulling together another medicine. “I don’t remember much before it happened, but that was so long ago, not to mention he took away so many of them…”

“Who?”

She sighed as she grabbed the pestle, “The Yellow Dragon, this river’s guardian spirit.” The grinding stopped. “The village was about a full day’s journey upstream. I wasn’t quite as old as Goku looks, orphaned and forced to fend for myself,” she paused, turning to the end of the bed. Petting the dragon near his feet, she smiled, “I’d made friends with a few of the little dragons and they helped me find food. I’d helped the larger one from earlier corner some prey once, so he started leaving me some… That’s when the ‘Dragon Child’ name started. Mocking me ‘cause I was being ‘cared for’ by them.”

She turned back to the medicine. “Then some bandit youkai showed up, demanding money or they’d destroy the village, kill everyone. Of course, the amount was too high, so they offered me instead.”

“Pay in flesh instead of cash. I’m surprised they didn’t demand more,” Sanzo added.

“There were only four… young vain assholes. A lot like Gojyo. The village head realized the leader kept eyeing me, so he gave him what he wanted.” Nozomi stopped, pouring the medicine into the juice. Walking back to the bedside, she sat, nudging Goku awake and helping him take it. Placing his head back on the pillow, she continued. “They took me downstream a ways and started pawing at me, fighting over who gotta fuck me first. I tried to fight back the whole time, even as they started taking bites… I had them all over, one sucked out an eye,” She paused, her right hand running up her thigh, revealing more leg, “One even managed to peel out this entire muscle. The entire time I screamed for
help, but it wasn’t until they were really gonna start eating me that it came. All I remember is a loud roar and flames before I passed out.”

“I woke up once, surrounded by yellow scales. I still don’t know if I said it or just thought it, but I asked whoever to end my pain. I figured it’d kill me, but suddenly all these little ones showed up, taking bites out of the yellow scales and filling in mine. A voice said, ‘Sleep My Child. All is well.’ Next I knew, I was waking up by a roaring fire. An older man was tending to some fish in it, he had on a long jacket with a yellow dragon embroidered on the back.” She turned to Sanzo.

“His human form.”

She nodded, “Told me what he’d done and why. I spent two weeks with him, learning how to work my new powers. He taught me the basics, said I had to learn the rest myself. The last night, he told me to follow the river. There was an old woman who knew the Nature magic and was looking for an apprentice before she died. He said it wasn’t far and she’d know why I came.”

Turning to Goku, she grabbed a cloth and started rubbing him down. Chuckling, she just shook her head. “Talk about surprising. There was this tiny old hag chewing out twenty-some people trying to get her to teach them. She shocked them all, saying that she had a dream that the river would send her student. Of course, that’s were I come in, walking in the water, five of the little ones either on me or flying around me, that larger one walking beside me.”

“Spent her last years learning--” she stopped, turning to Sanzo, finding him asleep in the chair.

Shaking her head, she got up and pulled a spare blanket from the closet, draping it around his shoulders. Stepping back around him, she knelt at his feet, looking up at the sleeping face hiding behind that blond hair.

“The kid wormed his way in. Didn’t he?”

She got up, placing a ghost of a kiss on his cheek.