Saiyuki belongs to Minekura Kazuya, not to me.

Thankyou, again, Kelly, for your wonderful beta!

Insult to Injury

Goku was enjoying this so much and Sanzo seemed to be having fun as well! Sure, Goku was pulling his blows and was slowing down his attacks, but Sanzo was good, for a human, he was quite exceptional. And best of all, Goku had his whole, undivided attention. Sanzo was watching every move he made and was taking him very seriously indeed, treating him as a dangerous opponent, worthy of his respect. Those beautiful, violet eyes gazed into his, trying to read his intentions. Sanzo's movements were graceful, sinuous, practiced until they were perfect. Goku would have been happy to watch him all day. Of course, Goku was showing off, too! He considered that this was the one thing he did really well and he needed to prove to Sanzo that he could protect him from any bandit or monster that he might encounter on any of his missions on behalf of the Sanbutsushin. He didn't want to be away from Sanzo again, not even for a single night and having a super-competent bodyguard around was always a good thing, right?

Sanzo watched Goku like a hawk. The monkey was so fast that Sanzo was certain that if he took his eyes off him, Goku would have him bowled over on the turf in two seconds flat. He didn't need to worry about being hurt, of course. The monkey child would never do that, not even in an excess of high spirits. For reasons understood only by that little simian brain, Goku loved him beyond all reason and would never harm him. The thought actually made Sanzo a little warm in his lonely, chilly heart. It was nice to have someone around who'd put up with his moods, his manners, his outbursts, his 'issues' and, by some miracle, love him anyway. Sanzo was in no position to change, not yet, but if Goku was prepared to stick around he might slowly begin to thaw. It would take time and trust but it was just possible. His momentary preoccupation gave Goku the opening he needed and he found himself flat on his back with Goku sitting on him grinning down at him like a maniac. He struggled, mindful of his dignity but Goku had him pinned at the wrists and Sanzo found he was reluctant to break his hold. Goku meant it and was gazing down at him with those glorious golden eyes and the warmth in Sanzo's heart was growing and starting to send out pleasant little tendrils. Goku's eyes shimmered for a moment and Sanzo realized that Goku was about to kiss him. He wasn't sure how he felt about that but he didn't move…

Dougan watched Sanzo sparring with Goku with despair in his heart. He wondered if the kid realized what an honor it was to have tempted his Master into the practice ring. Sanzo hadn't sparred since Koumyou Sanzo's death and here he was practicing hand to hand with Goku. Dougan sighed as he watched. He knew Goku was good and realized that he should be impressed at his strength and skill but he couldn't tear his eyes from the Master. He'd never actually seen Master Sanzo out of his robes but now he was wearing a flimsy cotton tank top that was showing a great deal of glowing, ivory skin. A pair of light, muslin trousers with a drawstring waist riding low on his hips and his slender, high arched feet were bare on the soft grass. His eyes were glowing with sunlight and exercise and the wind ruffled his golden hair. Dougan felt something hot and hungry clawing somewhere deep inside him. He bit his lip until he could taste blood. Then Goku flung himself, laughing, at the taller youth, overbalancing him and sending him sprawling gracefully onto the grass with Goku straddling his waist. The boy laughed and Sanzo looked back at him with mock sternness. Dougan felt the clawing thing inside him stir again, stretching and flexing its talons. Sanzo tried to sit up and shove Goku off but just this once Goku wasn't going to be obliging. He caught Sanzo by the wrists and pinned them. Sanzo struggled, then stilled as it became obvious that Goku wasn't going to let him up and that further struggle was pointless. Or perhaps he was enjoying it and had no desire to move. Dougan found himself trembling with anger that Goku would show Master Sanzo so little respect and went stalking out of the shade and into the sunshine towards them.

"Hello Dougan!" called Goku, friendly to a fault. Dougan didn't answer but strode over to him, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him off Sanzo.

"How dare you treat Master Sanzo like that? Have you no respect for your betters?

"And just what the ifuck/i do you think you're doing, Dougan? Leave Goku alone. I'm quite capable of tossing him off myself if he annoys me. I don't need you to guard my dignity!" Sanzo snarled.

"I was only concerned for your safety, Master Sanzo. We all know that demons can be unpredictable and prone to violence…" Dougan replied primly.

"And you think I'm weak and can't defend myself? You're the one being disrespectful, not Goku." He looked at Dougan through narrowed eyes. Dougan paled. However much he loved his Master, he was not an easy man. He was sharp, clever and didn't suffer fools gladly, or indeed, at all.

"I didn't mean that at all, Master, just that Goku isn't like the rest of us. He's not human, not dedicated to the temple and not one of the novices. Not one of us…" Dougan hissed.

Sanzo stood and looked down at Dougan. Goku hitched himself over to Sanzo's side, sitting at his feet, his hand clenched in the hem of Sanzo's trousers. Sanzo rested his hand on Goku's head reassuringly and the monkey gazed up at him with wide, trusting, golden eyes. So unselfconscious, thought Dougan, and so seductive.

"Goku is under my personal protection for as long as he needs it or chooses to claim it. The rest is none of your concern. Mind your own business!" He tugged gently on Goku's ponytail. "You ready to get back to work, Saru?" His hard eyes softened slightly as they rested on the monkey. Goku nodded enthusiastically, smiling and Dougan felt crushed. His Master had simply dismissed him. He knew he couldn't afford to feel resentment towards Sanzo but Goku was a different matter. His sense of ill usage was considerable and it all focused on Goku but he knew he couldn't be openly hostile to the boy. Sanzo might get angry with Goku but he wouldn't permit anyone else to punish him or even guide him. It was as if he wanted to be the only influence on the creature, the only one Goku depended on. The monkey was a good natured creature, totally without malice but he was very high spirited, chaotic and undisciplined. Some of the monks treasured his sweet nature and forgave the chaos he created but most did not. Dougan frequently found himself wanting to wring the boy's neck. How could Master Sanzo really prefer the company of that brat to his own? Dougan tried hard, he excelled in his studies, he was intelligent, obedient, and loyal and while not in the top rank of martial artists his skills were by no means contemptible. Dougan knew that he had far more in common with Master Sanzo than any uncouth youkai child and would be a far more acceptable companion.

Then he wondered why his Master kept such strange company generally. There was the man who had once been Cho Gonou, but was now called Hakkai. He didn't seem dangerous now, in fact Dougan quite liked him, but there was no denying that he was a murderer. Then there was Sha Gojyo, who was nothing more than a gambler and petty criminal, if rumors were to be believed and there were even darker rumors about his past, to say nothing of his sexual proclivities. Filthy. He was a bringer of misfortune, with his red hair and red eyes and yet the Master tolerated his presence, even asked for his help on occasion. Why did the great Genjyo Sanzo have such a taste for lowlifes?

And last, but definitely not least, was Goku. The boy was a heretic! He was spiritually and ritually unclean. His very presence was dangerous to Master Sanzo's purity and spiritual attainment and he could only bring bad luck and chaos and yet he was Master Sanzo's constant companion. He lived in Master Sanzo's rooms and it was whispered that maybe Goku even warmed his bed. Not that Dougan believed that! Yet, there was no doubt that Goku was a pretty child, in a common, animal kind of way. Cute and affectionate, like a puppy. But puppies grow up into dogs and lose their cuteness and what then? Would Master Sanzo cast him out when he was no longer so attractive and amusing? Or was he waiting for Goku to grow up? Dougan found that thought even more disturbing. Some of the monks did take some of the younger, prettier boys as attendants and bed warmers but if Sanzo had some kind of affection for Goku and was actually waiting until Goku was older then he had more in mind than the odd tumble on a cold night. He glanced at them, still sparring, through the window. There was an ebb and flow between them, a sense of connection that even Dougan could see. Sanzo would draw Goku towards him and Goku would respond without a thought, as if pulled on a string. The most natural thing in the world. Then Goku would fall back and Sanzo would respond. Then, suddenly, it looked less like a sparring match and more like some kind of acrobatic dance, dangerous and sensual, yet graceful and controlled.

They were acquiring an audience; people are gathering to watch, murmuring and whispering to one another. The Master and the monkey seemed oblivious, focused only on one another, looking for an opening, leaping and feinting, striking and dodging. Oh Sanzo was good, very, very good, but Goku far outstripped him and it was obvious that the boy was playing and that if this had been a real fight Sanzo would have been defeated a dozen times over. Eventually Sanzo cheated. He gave Goku a rare smile and the monkey stopped mid-stride, wide-eyed.

"Well, Saru, are you hungry yet? Want lunch?"

"Yay, lunch!" Replied Goku enthusiastically, bouncing happily. And with that, to everybody's surprise, Sanzo swooped on the kid, tucked him under his arm and carried him inside, with sublime and total disregard to the small crowd watching them.

Dougan had to bite his lip in order to keep silent as Sanzo swept past him without so much as a glance. To make it worse, Goku waved to him. What right had the brat to be magnanimous?

Somehow that just added insult to injury.