The Calling

Damned monkey. How is it possible that he makes me feel guilty for something I didn't do? Look at him eating. That's not the way he usually eats. Why did I have to pick him up in the first place? He's a pain in the ass. But, I couldn't have ignored his calling. It was driving me nuts. Having this voice inside my head day and night...All right so it wasn't a constant thing, but it still pissed me off. God, what is it about his eyes? They're so expressive. When he looks at me like that...it's as if something deep inside me is touched.

"Goku stop that," I said and he looked at me.

"Stop what?" he asked and I gritted my teeth. Couldn't you be intelligent at least once in your life?

"Stop sulking."

"I'm not sulking."

"Then don't look like it and eat. I've got to go to the temple and I know damned well I can't leave you here. You drove them nuts last time."

"Well that wasn't my fault. If they hadn't made me read those stupid books..."

"Goku, I am trying to make you become more knowledgeable. I can't do that if you keep being a damned idiot. Now hurry up and eat or else you're going to regret it."

"All right, all right. Geez. You don't have to get so pissed off."

"Don't tell me you've been sitting like that on purpose."

"Yeah. There's somethin' about the way you look when you get mad..."

I stared at him, not sure how to retaliate after a remark like that. He grinned then picked up his fork and began eating like the Goku I knew.

"I'll get you back for that," I said and Goku shrugged his shoulders.

"If you do, do it at night."

"So you aren't as dumb as you act, are you?"

"I dunno. Is thery moy more?"
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I guess it was time to move on. Maybe he got a assignment from those floating heads in the temple. Why anyone would take a floating head seriously, I've got no clue. How the hell do they talk anyway? They aren't attached to anything so how can they talk?

"You're being awfully quiet," Sanzo commented and I looked at him.

"Hey why do you have to take orders from a bunch of floating heads?" I asked and he looked at me.

"I think your silence was more productive."

"What's that mean?"

"It means you're starting to piss me off so shut up!"

"Boy, what's with you? First you complain about me being quiet and now you complain about me talking. I wish you'd make up your mind."

"If you don't shut up, I'll put a new opening in your head."

"All right, all right. Geez. You don't have to get so upset. So, where are we going? I hope it's a village. Me and the dog are really hungry."

"Goku, why did you bring the dog along?"

"Because I thought he might be lonely back there with those people. I though he'd have more fun with me. Those people back there would only make him read dumb books and make him behave."

"He's not a person, Goku."

"Yeah I know...."

"Put the dog down and let's get out of here."

"But..."

"Do it and let's go. I'm sorta in a hurry."

"But Sanzo, I jusn'tn't leave him like this. He's got no one to turn to."

"That isn't my problem. Do it and let's go."

"No Sanzo."

"What?"

"I said no. I don't want him to be left alone. I know how it feels. Please let me keep him until we reach another village. I'll let go of him then, okay?"

"Whatever. Let's just go or else we'll never reach the next village."

"Yay! Thank you Sanzo."

"Don't expect it all the time."
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Goku slowed down and I looked at at him.

"Are you trying to piss me off?" I asked.

"Sanzo I'm gonna pass out soon if I don't eat," he whined and I glanced at him.

"I'd like to see that."

"You don't believe me."

"Goku, you would never pass out from hunger. You would never last that long without food."

"But Sanzo, I'm really hungry. Can't we please stop?"

"No."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because I want to reach the next village before nightfall."

"Why? Do you wanna teach me some things again?"

I swear, that monkey isn't always as dumb as he seems. He grinned and I turned away in disgust.

"No. I just fear that these woods would be...unsettling at night."

"What do you mean?"

"You can't smell it?"

"Smell what?"

"Before I left the shrine, I was told to be wary of demons. But there is a halfbreed around this area that I wish to find and that's going to be hard to do. Halfbreeds are rare."

"Why?"

"Because intercourse between a human and a demon is forbidden."

"Um...I wanted to know why you needed to find the guy. I don't care what goes on in his bedroom."

I'm not even going to ask where he pulled that from. I'm sure as hell I don't want to know.

"Because he may have some insight into why certain things are happening," I replied.

"What sort of certain things?" he asked.

"You talk too much."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do and don't start this. I'm not in the mood for it."

"But Sanzo..."

"Eat the dog."

"SANZO!!"

"Idiot. You thought I was serious?"

"Yeah....I know you don't like the dog so I thought...."

Goku is so simple at times. I mean, come on, would I really make him eat a dog? I may not like the mutt, but I wouldn't go so far as to have someone consume it. We continued on in silence. Goku, with that look of starvation in his eyes and me with my own thoughts. It was the kind of silence I needed. The kind that was impossible to get with Goku around.

"Sanzo..."

"Do you really need another hole in your head?"

He fell silent and I shook my head. Why did he have to be so damned pathetic when it came to pouting? I sighed and did the only thing I COULD do. I lit a cigarette and placed it in my mouth.

"Get a move on it Goku. It'll be dark soon."