What child is this?

What child is this?
Pt 3


A month. It had been one solid month since Sanzo had heard anything from Gojyo, and it was beginning to piss him off.

They'd had a huge fight. Things were said, fists flew and Sanzo had told the half breed to get out and not come back, ever. He didn't mean it of course, but leave it to that idiot to take him seriously. If the jerk showed up now he'd meet the business end of Sanzo's trusty side kick: his beloved gun.

There was something else that was pissing him off. For some strange reason his lifeline, Cheng, was not coming around as often, leaving him to take care of the baby. He was mad yet surprised at how well he was doing on his own. At least the kid was alive and seemed relatively happy, so all was good in that respect.

A light knock broke into his thoughts, “Master Sanzo? May I enter?”

“God yes, Cheng, and quit being so formal.”

“Yes sir,” the young man was twisting his fingers in obvious distress. “I really need to talk to you about something important.”

Sanzo sighed deeply. “What is it? Is there a problem with the baby?”

“Well no sir, not exactly,” he fidgeted with his fingers some more. “It's just...I, I just over heard some of the other monks talking about sending me away because they think that caring for the little guy is taking up too much of my time.”

“So is that the reason you haven't been around as much? Are they bullying you?” A golden eyebrow edged upward.

“No, not bullying, just making sure I don't have the time to be helpful to you. I'm feeling kind of guilty about that.”

Sanzo drummed his fingertips against the desk. “I guess I'll have to put a little fear into them.”

“I don't want to be a problem.”

“Kid, you're far from a problem, you've been a godsend in helping me with this little situation.”

“That's just it: I don't think they really like having the baby here either, and they don't like that I'm helping you instead of doing whatever chore they want me to do.”

“Dammit! I thought that i took care of that problem when I asked for some time off from your daily duties.”

“I did too, sir,” there were tears forming in the corners of his eyes, “I really love being able to help you, and the baby is no problem for me.”

Sanzo's fingers were rapidly tapping on the desk. “That pisses me off to no end. Leave it to me, I'll find a way to solve this.”

“Thank you, sir,” he swiped his sleeve across his eyes. “I really don't want to be a pain.”

“Trust me, after dealing with the three idiots I did two years ago, you're the furtherest thing from a pain as can be,” rising from his chair he stood in front of the upset child, and placed a comforting hand on the boy's head. “Just take it easy Cheng, and leave everything to me.”

Cheng sniffled several more times, then raised his head, eyes glowing brightly, “Thank you so much, sir.”

Just as the boy was leaving his office, the baby began to cry. Cheng turned around, ready to head down the hall to attend to the baby's needs, Sanzo waved him away. “Off with you, I've got this covered.” Cheng nodded and continued on his way as Sanzo made his way to the baby's room.

“What the hell do you want now, pipsqueak?” Upon hearing a familiar voice the baby quieted down, but did not stop crying. “Let me guess, you're hungry,” he picked up the baby and then turned to pick up a bottle. Sighing, he sat in the rocking chair that the midwife had sent and stuck the nipple of the bottle into the tiny mouth. The baby began to suck hungrily and Sanzo chuckled lightly. “Guess I got this one right, ya know what kid? It's amazing that you've managed to stay alive this long with me taking care of you,” the little bundle in this arms blinked at him.

Sanzo had begun to notice slight changes in the little one, such as his hair was beginning to get a reddish tint to it and the eyes were darkening. “You're really starting to look like a halfbreed, there's no denying it,” once satisfied Sanzo carefully placed the child back in it's sleeping spot and returned to his office. Only to find that there was an intruder, sitting in his chair of all things.

Sanzo's anger flared “Get the hell out of my seat.”

“Yo! Hi there baby,” red eyes sparkled at him.

“Don't 'hi there baby' me, get the fuck out of my chair you fucking idiot.”

“What! No kiss hello?”

“No!” Sanzo stubbornly said. “Where the hell have you been? And how dare you just stroll back in here like nothing happened.”

Trying his best innocent look Gojyo merely blinked several times, “What?”

“Get out of my seat, you're contaminating it with your moron germs.”

“Aren't you glad to see me?”

“Thrilled, now get out,” Sanzo strode over to his desk, “I've got work to do.”

Gojyo remained seated. “So what'cha been up to lately?”

“Not missing you, have you gotten even stupider? I told you several times to get out of my chair.”

“Don't want to,” the red head leaned back in the chair. “I kinda like it here.”

“You've got a lot of nerve, showing up here a month after you ran away.”

“Ran away! Hell, you told me to get out and not come back, ever, if I remember correctly.”

“'Ch, of course you'd say it was all my fault,” Sanzo sat on the edge of the desk. “Leave it to a complete idiot like you to place the blame somewhere else.”

“HA!” Gojyo let loose a barking laugh. “You did miss me. Come here your holiness,” he hooked several fingers in the sash at Sanzo waist and tugged, pulling the priest off balance and landing on the halfbreed's lap.

“Let go,” Sanzo struggled to get up. “I told you, I've got things to do.”

“Like what?”

Sanzo was getting distracted by the hand that was steadily rubbing his back. “Paperwork, and, a...meeting,” he sighed, “Damn that feels good.”

Gojyo began to rub and massage in earnest. “Wow! You're a bundle of tension, what the hell do those crappy monks have you doing?”

“It's not just them, I've been busy with other things.”

Burying his nose in the silky, golden hair, Gojyo muttered, “Like what?”

“Nothing that concerns you,” Sanzo began to relax slightly. “What are you doing back here? And what took you so long?”

“One: I missed you very much, and two: I needed to think.”

“You mean there actually is a brain under all that red hair?”

“Ha Ha! Smart ass, and yeah I did a lot of thinking.”

“Along with a lot of drinking, gambling and whoring,” Sanzo's tone had turned sarcastic.

“Well yeah, all but the last one, I swear to you baby I didn't sleep with anyone else the whole time.”

“You'd better not have if you want to keep your little friend intact,”

Gojyo chuckled, “yeah there's that.” pulling the blond closer, he whispered in his ear. “I really missed you, sweetheart.”

A sneer spread across Sanzo's pale face. “You missed me so much you had to wait a whole month to tell me?”

“Ya know, you're not that cute,” Gojyo squeezed the body in his arms. “I could have had anyone I wanted to.”

“You're not that irresistible, and fuck you very much for reminding me about your sexual prowess, you smug bastard,” Sanzo struggled to pull away. “Like I need a reminder that you're sex on legs.”

“Nice – long – sexy legs, thank you very much.”

Sanzo groaned with exasperation. “How the hell do you manage to confuse me all the time?”

“It's part of my natural charm,” Gojyo turned on his thousand watt smile, and Sanzo lost all hope of sanity. “Ya know, it's a shame we're here: makeup sex is awesome.”

“That never stopped you before.”

“How very naughty of you, Priest Genjo Sanzo,” Gojyo began to kiss Sanzo, “You still suck at being a priest, and why do you have this rag on your shoulder?”

Sanzo blanched slightly. He had forgotten to take off the towel he had tossed across his shoulder when he had burped the baby after he ate. Mentally smacking himself, he was just about to tell Gojyo about the new arrival, when the baby did that all by himself.

“Sanzo what the hell was that noise?”

The blond slid of the halfbreed's lap, and motioned for him to follow. Gojyo was shooting off questions in rapid fire succession.

“What's going on? Is that a baby? Why are we going towards that noise, I thought you hated loud noises.?”

“Gojyo, shut up, and let me introduce you to what's been keeping me so busy.”

Gojyo stared at the squalling baby, opening and closing his mouth several times. Finally, “So who's kid is that?”

“Well, I guess by process of elimination, mine,” Sanzo stated.

“Is it mine?”

“How the hell should I know? I don't keep track of the whores you've been with.”

Gojyo shook his head. “No I mean...well is it ours?”

“You dumb fuck, do I look like I could have a baby? Did I look pregnant when you took off a month ago? How would I have it? Shoot it out my ass?”

“Sanzo! Did you have sex with some woman?”

Sanzo smacked the back of Gojyo's head. “No you dumb ass,” he reached out and picked the baby up, “Hush you,” he began to pat the baby's back. “He was born just outside the gate, and since no one would take him in, I became his caretaker. Fucking people wouldn't even take in a foundling 'cause it was a halfbreed.”

“You're raising a baby?” Gojyo's jaw was hanging open. “You?”

“Well obviously, he's here. Which brings me to my other problem...” he placed the baby in Gojyo's arms. “Here watch him for me for a short bit: I've got something to straighten out.”

“Um! Sanzo? What the hell am I suppose to do with this?” Gojyo wished he had a free hand to scratch his head.

“Simple, keep him quiet,” seeing the look of fear cross Gojyo's face he added; “Just hold him, make small talk – anything – he'll settle down soon.”

“He doesn't need to be changed, or fed, or anything?”

“No, he's good,” Sanzo began to pull on his full Sanzo priest outfit including the golden crown. “I've got some heads to bash together.”

“Hey Sanzo..what's his name?”

Sanzo shrugged. “Beats me.”

After Sanzo left, Gojyo and the baby stared at each other for a short bit. “So...umm! You got stuck with Sanzo for a father, huh? Poor kid,” the baby blinked. “You really need a name, but I suppose since you belong to him, I'd better let him figure it out,” the baby began to happily blow little bubbles. “You really are kind of cute. I guess you don't talk yet, do you?”

While Gojyo was getting acquainted with the baby, Sanzo was putting the fear of the gods into some reluctant monks.

“I understand that some of you have a problem with young Cheng helping me out with the baby that has come to live at this temple, to those of you who did not know, I made a special request that he be released from his daily duties for a time, in order to help me acclimate to the whole pattern of getting the little one safely settled. And for the few that have taken exception to this, I have one thing to say to you...tough shit, he's here, it's up to you to deal with the situation.”

There was a general mummer of discontent from the crowd. “If you have something to say, now is the time to bring it up, after this if I hear anything bad I'm gonna personally start to crack some bald heads together.”

One spoke up, “We don't like the idea of a halfbreed being here, they're bad luck.”

“Are you followers of Buddha, or old women who believe in stupid rumors?” There were several surprised gasps, “Anything else?”

Hearing no more questions he left with an abruptness that bordered on rudeness. Pulling the crown off, he entered his room to stash the extras away, then turned to see how Gojyo was doing with the baby. He had to clap a hand over his mouth when he entered the room...Gojyo was laying on the floor, with the baby sprawled out on top of him, both sound asleep. Smiling, he carefully lifted the child from the sleeping man, and placed him back on the mat.

Sitting down next to his dozing lover, he brushed a few hairs off his face, then leaned down, and kissed his forehead. Gojyo stirred slightly. “Hey, kappa, wake up,”

“Huh? What? Where's the kid?”

“He's fine.”

“So how'd the head bashing go?” Gojyo yawned, and stretched.

“I suppose it went all right, it's like talking at a big brick wall.”

“Can't be any worse than trying to explain something to the monkey.”

“Or you.”

“Hey!” Gojyo's hand landed a solid smack on Sanzo's backside.

“Fucker!” Sanzo almost shouted.

“Quiet, I just got him to go to sleep,” Gojyo pulled out his cigarettes and lighter, and started to light one, Sanzo smacked it out of his hand. “Hey! What gives?”

“I get told off all the time that you're not suppose to smoke around the baby, if I have to you have to, so suffer, sucker,” he poked a finger at the door. “Take it outside.”

Gojyo made an exaggerated sigh. “Well fine, to be honest I should get back to the house anyway, I just wanted to come to apologize for being such a jerk off, and I really needed to see you again,”

“Good, now you've done that so you can take off again,” Sanzo said sourly.

“It's not like that baby, I just haven't been home yet, and I need to shower and eat something.”

Sanzo sighed, “Okay, you do that, I'm not going anywhere.”

Gojyo pulled the pouting blond into his arms, “I just need to get cleaned up and eat something princess, I'll be right back,”

Sanzo leaned into the embrace and huffed petulantly, “How do I know you won't take off again?”

“I promise.”

“That's suppose to reassure me?”

“I swear to god on that baby's life.”

“That is reassuring in a way, I've missed you, you big jerk.”

“I've missed you, too, my grumpy dumpling,” Gojyo kissed Sanzo's forehead, then on the lips. “I'll be right back, I swear.”

“You'd better, or I'll hunt you down this time, and with less pleasant results.”

“One more thing Sanzo, name that kid will you! Even a foundling halfbreed deserves a name,” Gojyo waved, and sauntered away.

Sanzo turned, and strode into his office. Several hours later a panicky Cheng pounded on his door. “Master Sanzo, Master Sanzo..you've got to do something, they're sending me to another temple tomorrow! I can't leave my family, or you, what can I do?”

“...The hell? Goddamn them to hell.”

“And the worse, they say, since I'm taking care of the baby, that he's going to go with me 'cause it'd be less trouble,”

“FUCK! NO WAY! Go get your stuff together, then come back and help me gather the baby's things, we're leaving,”

“But...but...Master?”

“No questions, now go, I'll take care of everything.” Sanzo donned his priestly attire once more, “I see I've got some heads to crack,”

Sanzo nearly stomped into the meeting hall, his anger fully charged, “Apparently I didn't make myself clear earlier, so to solve this problem I'll take Cheng with me to help settle the baby into a new place, were there's less bigotry. We'll be back sometime tomorrow, then Cheng is staying here, he is not to be sent off anywhere, and you pious pinheads can be rid of the one thing that you see as a blight.”

He left without saying anything more. Cheng tugged on his sleeve, “Master why did you want me to get my things together if you're going to have me stay?”

“Yeah! Sorry about that kid, but you will need something for overnight,”

“Yes, sir.”

The two walked out the temple gates together with the baby, and nearly all of the supplies.

“Where are we going?”

“To a friend's house, not too far from here, the baby will be safe there.”

“Are you really gonna leave him there? The temple will seem so empty, aren't you going to miss him?”

Sanzo made a noncommittal grunt. “We're here,” he knocked on the door, getting no answer he let himself in, giving Cheng directions where to put everything, and pointed him to a room the boy could use for the night.

When Gojyo stepped out of the shower he padded his way to the kitchen to get a cold beer, completely naked.

“You really don't have any shame, do you?”

The startled red head jumped, “What the hell? Sanzo? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Inquisitive little water sprite aren't we?”

“Excuse me master, but I've got the baby settled, and I think I'll...” Cheng stopped mid sentence taking note of the naked man in front of him. “I...umm, I...” he stammered.

“What's the matter Cheng? Never seen a naked man before?”

“Well...of course I have, it's just...”

“Ha! See Sanzo, nothing can compare to the awesomeness of Sha Gojyo in all his buff, naked glory”

“Settle down lover boy, now that you've finished preening like a prize rooster, go get dressed. We've got some things to talk about.”

Once Gojyo pulled on a pair of jeans (a pair Sanzo noted were indecently tight), Sanzo introduced Gojyo to Cheng, and explained what had happened.

“So you see, I need a place for the baby to stay,” Sanzo finished his story.

“That's fucked up Sanzo,”

“Tell me about it, so what do you say?”

“Sure you know you can count on me, baby,”

“But Master Sanzo, you don't have to do that,”

“Yes I do Cheng, it's the only way, don't worry so much, and go get some sleep, we've got a long day ahead of us.”

“Yes sir,” with lowered eyes Cheng shuffled into the room that Sanzo had told him to use.

“He seems like a nice kid.”

“He's a great kid. He's been a huge lifesaving help with the baby. I've got to get some sleep,” Sanzo reached out and stroked Gojyo's face. “Forgive me for just tonight love, I'm too tired, and not with Cheng in the house.”

“I understand, and forgive you this one time, but when we're alone you'd better be ready, I'm gonna wreck you.”

“Promises, promises,” Sanzo teased.

The next morning Sanzo and Cheng returned to the temple. Sanzo was ready for a fight. Cheng shuffled along behind the blond priest. The boy was acting like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was.

“Cheng, make sure everyone is gathered in the great meeting hall, I've got an announcement to make.”

“Yes, sir,” his whole demeanor was downcast.

Sanzo placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, “Cheng, I promise you, it'll be alright.”

“I'm sure you're right, but it seems so wrong.”

Patting the thin shoulder, Sanzo entered his room and got the remainder of his possessions together.

A short time later Cheng knocked on his door, “Master, everyone's gathered.”

“Good,” Sanzo placed the crown on his head, making todays meeting all the more official. “Let's get this over with.”

Sanzo glowered at the assemblage. “To let all who are here know: the baby in question has been removed from the premises, and will not darken these halls ever again. Cheng, who has been instrumental in helping me care for the child that no one wanted, or cared about, will be remaining here: to continue his studies,” he paused to take a deep breath to continue. “With that done, I take my leave of this place. A temple may benefit from a Sanzo, but this Sanzo has not benefited from this temple as of late, in fact you can be a major pain in the ass. I can be a Sanzo priest anywhere, and so I shall. Cheng, please feel free to visit any time, and he'd better be allowed to come and go as he pleases,” proudly he strode out the door, through the gates and continued onward to Gojyo's, and now his, house.

Gojyo was standing in the doorway, holding the baby, “Welcome home, sweetheart.”

“Yeah! this is home now,” he snatched the baby from the water sprite, “And welcome to you, too, An Bao.”




A/N: the two original characters names were tough so I went to my handy baby name source page.
http://www.baby-names-and-stuff.com/chinese-baby-names/a-meanings-1.asp

the first one
Cheng: means 'to become'
and the baby,
An: means 'peace'
Bao: means 'treasure'

if those are not what you feel is correct or know different please let me know. I can only go by what a web page tells me. I'm horrible at coming up with OC names.