Disclaimer: Saiyuki belongs to Minekura Kazuya.

Sanzo resigns to his desk, ready with a pack of cigarettes, an ashtray and a cup of tea. The last item is not by his choice, but even he knows that alcohol will only slow the paperwork process - and that's the last thing he wants. He hears a bit of humming coming from a point where his feet should be, and although he cannot see its source, he knows that it's Goku. Apparently the monkey decided that the floor in front of Sanzo's desk is the best place to draw pictures. Normally, Sanzo would kick him out, god knows the monkey can be loud, but today, Goku seems content with being quiet. In fact, his lilting voice almost seems soothing – there's no melody to the sound, it's just a bunch of notes going up and down. Sanzo feels okay about it, and after taking in some smoke, he starts reading the documents to be signed.

A few hours later, Sanzo stretches his arms and looks at the time. He's been working straight with no breaks and he wonders why he finds that strange. Then, he remembers Goku. …Was the monkey still there? He doesn't remember the little noises residing, but he realizes that it's because the notes are now in his head, replaying themselves over and over again. In Goku's voice. When he leans over his desk and glances down he is surprised. Goku is curled up into a tiny ball, looking very defenseless and very much asleep. There is only one sheet of paper near his hands and Sanzo picks it up to have a closer look. A dull pang echoes within while he scrutinizes the scribbles. The crude lines seem to form a human figure – Sanzo recognizes that the yellow splotches must mean hair, and for a second he wonders if it's a portrait of himself. Then he realizes that it can't be – Although Goku is no artist, there's no way he could have messed up the yellow so much that it's all over the page. Sanzo concludes that it's a person. With a lot of blond hair.

Suddenly he feels something warm behind his ear, and when he looks, Goku is leaning over his shoulder, looking into the picture with an unwavering gaze. Sanzo's eyes must be playing tricks on him, after all, there's no reason for Goku to look… lost? Sanzo can't identify the expression he's seeing, but he notices that Goku's hands are clenched into fists. Sanzo slowly traces the yellow lines with his fingers.

"I was drawing a picture of you, but I got carried away with the yellow. I'm sorry."

The apology is sudden, but it stings for some reason. The hurt is quick and dull, and by the time Goku looks into his eyes it's faint, like a far-off memory. Goku almost looks as if he's testing for something, but Sanzo doesn't know the answer and he suspects that Goku doesn't know it either. Sanzo lets out a sigh and leans in; he rests his head on the small plane which is Goku's shoulder.

"Bakazaru."

And all the while, inside of his head, Goku's voice is singing that little song, and Sanzo decides that somehow… that makes everything okay. He ignores the tears that are falling off Goku's face into his hair.

"Baka."

And Goku's hands finally unclench.