Chapter 19: A Trip To The Beach.

Disclaimer: Last I checked my name was not Kazuya Minekura. It may have changed though. Wait…nope. Still the same.

***

Sanzo was actually enjoying himself on this particular morning. He was in his office and reading his newspaper. He didn't have any pressing work to do and he had told Goku to go to Hakkai and Gojyo's that morning. It wasn't even to awfully hot out even though it was well into summer. He sipped at his tea, which was rather good that morning. And that's when it all got shot to hell.

Goku burst into his office loudly. "Hey Sanzo guess what!!!" he shouted, by the sound of his voice he was obviously really excited about something.

"What do you want saru?" Sanzo glared over the top of his paper.

"Guess what Hakkai told me! He said that the four of us are gunna go on a trip! We gotta pack! He says we're gunna see somethin' called the ocean! I don't really know what that is…but he says there'll be swimming! And then he said--"

"Wait, shut up. Hakkai wants to go on a trip?" Sanzo looked at Goku with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. He said we could 'cause Jeep's big enough to carry all of us now." All four of them had seen just how fast a dragon grew in the last few months. Jeep's vehicle form was now the size of a regular jeep and could easily carry the four men. The little dragon had also gotten quite good at flying in his cute form, as Goku called it.

"I have absolutely no reason to go to the ocean." Sanzo flicked his paper back open.

"Oh come now Sanzo." Hakkai said, coming into his office. "I've already packed your things and everything."

"Why the hell did you do that?!" Sanzo snapped, slamming his paper down.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch, great lord Sanzo-chan." Gojyo smirked as he too entered the office. "We all need a little vacation and you're gunna come."

"And why would I do that?" Sanzo asked with a glare.

Gojyo just blinked and then shrugged. "Fine. No ones gunna force ya to come." the kappa then turned toward Goku. "Come on saru, get packed. When we get there I'll let you have some of those drinks I was tellin' you about. You may feel a little wobbly at first but that'll pass. An' after that I'll introduce ya to this kinda girl who usually stands on street corners but if you give 'em--"

"Fine I'll come." Sanzo snarled, glaring at Gojyo.

"Oh no. don't force yourself on our account." Gojyo said, feigning innocents.

"Shut the hell up kappa." Sanzo growled, putting his paper aside. "Hakkai, you said that you already packed everything, right?"

"Yes. There's just one thing we all need to get before we can go." Hakkai smiled.

"What's that?" Sanzo sent the healer a questioning look.

"You'll see." At Hakkai's smile Sanzo got a strong foreboding feeling.

The next thing the priest knew he was being dragged, forcefully, into a department store by the saru and kappa. "Let me go! I am not getting swim trunks! Get off me!!!" he yelled as he tried to escape this assault on his person.

"Oh come now, Sanzo. We're going to the ocean. All of us need some swim trunks." Hakkai said reasonably.

"Yeah. Its not like you'll be the only one in a pair. The rest of us are getting some too." Gojyo said, pushing Sanzo into the store.

"I don't swim!" Sanzo continued his futile protest.

"Aw, come on Sanzo! It'll be fun." Goku urged.

Eventually they managed to get the gunman into the store. Hakkai led them to the area where they sold men's swim wear. Sanzo stood with his arms crossed, looking quite upset, as the others looked for some swim trunks that suited their taste.

Hakkai was helping Goku pick out a pair while Gojyo looked through a different rack. "Sanzo, look at the ones I'm getting!" Goku exclaimed, running up wearing a pair that Hakkai had him try on. They were yellow with banana patterns all over them. "Do ya like 'em?"

Sanzo looked at them, his arms still crossed. "They suit you." he said flatly.

"Yeah? Thanks." the chibi beamed. "Hakkai says you gotta pick out a pair now."

"That's not going to happen." Sanzo said bluntly.

"Sanzo if you don't pick some we'll have to pick for you." Hakkai warned.

Sanzo shot the healer a glare. Hakkai was smiling innocently. However, Gojyo was grinning in a way that suggested Sanzo pick a pair of be really sorry about it later. With a huff he began halfheartedly looking through the racks. After a while Goku came running up to him with a pair of swim trunks.

"Sanzo, you should get this one!" he said, holding it up excitedly. The pair he was holding were dark purple with a sunflower pattern going up the sides. Sanzo didn't actually mind this pair but before he could voice his opinion Gojyo ran up.

"Bakasaru, the great Sanzo-sama doesn't want that kind. He wants these." as he said this Sanzo found a pair of bright pink girls bikini bottoms shoved onto his head like some sort of ridiculous hat.

Sanzo froze as the rage built up in his body. It was less than a second before he exploded. The Smith&Wesson was out and Gojyo was busy running for his life. It took Hakkai fifteen minutes to calm Sanzo down enough not to kill Gojyo. At which point the figured it was best to lease the store. He used Sanzo's credit card and bought their trunks. Sanzo had went with the pair that Goku had suggested. Hakkai had gotten a green pair with black palm trees going up the sides while Gojyo had went for a red pair with a black flower pattern on the sides.

After they were all checked out they went about getting their bags and putting them into a transformed Jeep. This was Jeep's first real trip and Hakkai was patting him encouragingly. Jeep honked and revved his engine eagerly. "Lets get going then, shall we?" Hakkai smiled.

They finally finished packing up everything. The map that Hakkai had gotten said that the nearest beach was a day away from their current location. So with that they set off for their happy beach fun. The monks at the temple wondering where Sanzo had disappeared to.

***

"I am never riding for that long with you three ever again." Sanzo glared as they finally arrived.

The ride had been rather chaotic at best. What with the two children fighting in the back and Goku asking if they were there yet every five minutes, which inevitably led to even more fights. Sanzo didn't think he had ever before used so many bullets in one day.

"So you'll be walking home then?" Hakkai asked the irritable monk with a smile. He received a death glare for his efforts.

"Can we please get something to eat? I'm so huuuuuuuungry!!!" Goku whined loudly.

"We're only here for two days so lets get something to eat and then get a room. In the morning we can head to the beach." Hakkai suggested.

"Yeah!" Goku enthused, throwing his arms into the air.

After they ate they checked into a nice inn that was close to the beach. There was a balcony out their rooms window that Goku immediately rushed out onto. It faced the ocean and offered an amazing view. Goku inhaled the salty air fondly and gazed out on the huge expanse of ocean. The full moon shone down on the water, reflecting off the waves. It was beautiful and Goku couldn't take his eyes off it.

"How's the view, saru?" Gojyo asked, strolling out onto the balcony with the chibi.

"It's…really awesome." Goku said, still not looking away from the seemingly endless expanse.

"This is the first time you've ever see it, right?" Gojyo looked away from the view in favor of lighting up a hi-lite.

"I saw it in a book that Hakkai got from the library once." Goku said, still staring at the scene before him.

"Come on saru. Its time for bed." Sanzo said, coming out as well.

"Aw! But I'm lookin' at the ocean!" Goku pouted.

"You'll have plenty of time to see the ocean tomorrow. Now go to bed." Sanzo ordered.

"Fine." Goku whined, going inside, Sanzo and Gojyo following after him. "We're gunna go first thing in the morning, right Hakkai?" the chibi asked excitedly.

"After breakfast, yes." Hakkai smiled as he got ready for bed, taking off his monocle while Jeep curled up on his pillow. Following his example, all four guys also climbed into their beds and were soon asleep.

***

"Lets go! Letsgoletsgoletsgo!!!" Goku whined loudly.

"We're getting ready saru! Keep your pants on!" Gojyo yelled as they got everything ready to go to the beach.

"Calm down Goku. We'll get there." Hakkai smiled.

"Gojyo, move your ass and grab these bags." Sanzo ordered, glaring.

"Why don't you ever carry any bags, oh exalted one?" the kappa asked angrily.

"Why would I do what you're supposed to be doing?" Sanzo shot back haughtily.

"Now, now. Lets just get the bags into Jeep and go. Do you honestly have to argue about it?" Hakkai asked as he carried a picnic basket freshly stocked with food. He loaded into Jeep, who had transformed in front of their inn.

The sun was shining brightly and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was going to be a hot day but there was still a nice breeze on occasion. When they arrived at the beach all Sanzo could do was glare. There were crowds of people everywhere. And while this beach really wasn't that crowded it had just enough people to make Sanzo hate it with a passion. It also had just enough cute girls in swimsuits to make Gojyo gawk.

Hakkai parked Jeep and Goku was immediately out. "Yay! Ocean! Ocean! Ocean!" he shouted as he tried to break into a run for the beach. Sanzo snagged the chibi by his hair just before he could get away.

"Help carry bags, bakasaru." Sanzo ordered.

"Aw! But Sanzo…it's the ocean!" Goku gave his sun a pleading look.

"And its still going to be there when you're done helping." Sanzo snarled.

"Fine." Goku grumbled, grabbing about half of the bags and running off for the beach.

"Well he certainly seems to be excited." Hakkai smiled as Jeep transformed back into his dragon form.

"Hey, why aren't you helping to carry things mighty lord Sanzo-chan?" Gojyo glared.

"Why should I?" Sanzo dead-panned.

"Why you lousy excuse for a priest." Gojyo grumbled.

"Guys! Hurry up!" Goku yelled from the spot he had chosen. He had already laid out a blanked and dumped the beach bag onto it. There was already a group of giggling bikini-clad girls who were eyeing Sanzo, Hakkai, and Gojyo. All of them whispering behind their hands and then giggling again. 'I'm in hell.' Sanzo thought grumpily.

Goku was splashing in the waves, laughing joyously. Gojyo was busy flirting with the bikini girls. Hakkai was sitting on the blanket, putting on sun screen. After he finished that he pulled a book out of the beach bag and began reading while stroking the soft white feathers on Jeep's neck. Sanzo had gotten a newspaper from the inn before they had left that morning and was currently sitting next to Hakkai and reading it.

"Hey Gojyo!" Goku yelled, interrupting the kappa's flirting.

"What do you want, bakasaru?!" Gojyo turned to glare at the chibi. He was doused with an oversized bucket of water. They had stopped at a dollar store and bought some stuff for Goku to play in the sand with. He had filled a giant plastic bucket they had gotten him with sea water and waited for just the right moment to soak the kappa.

"Ha ha! Stupid kappa!" Goku laughed, sticking out his tongue.

"You are so dead!" Gojyo rushed at Goku, deciding that for the moment this was more important then flirting. Goku wasn't able to dodge before he was tackled into the waves. The girls that Gojyo had been flirting with giggled as the two resurfaced. Both of them still wrestling and trying to get the other back under the water.

"Juveniles." Sanzo grumbled without looking up from his paper.

"Indeed." Hakkai smiled, his attention on the two children instead of his book.

The two less mature members of the group continued their fight until Gojyo got an idea. "Hey Goku, come'er." Gojyo called.

Goku, completely forgetting about the fight, ran over to Gojyo. "What?" he asked. Gojyo pulled him closer and whispered his plan to him. By the end of his explanation Goku was grinning from ear to ear. "Lets do it." he grinned.

Sanzo was still simply sitting on the blanket, doing the crossword, and having a relatively nice time. He didn't notice the idiot brothers sneaking up on him from behind. In fact he didn't notice them at all until they let out twin screams of, "TSUNAMI!!!" and emptied two buckets of water over his head.

The idiot brothers wasted no time running for their lives. "Sanzo?" Hakkai questioned as Sanzo stood. The priest looking at the newspaper that had been ruined by the water, threw the paper down and raced after the two. They soon found themselves thrown into the sea.

To say that the moron duo was almost drown would be an understatement. They had been lucky to escape with their lives. Sanzo, after having thrown them into the ocean, had also gotten in and held them under water for a bit. They had finally been aloud to resurface, Gojyo immediately splashing Sanzo with Goku joining in. They continued the splash fight until Hakkai called them. "Sanzo, Gojyo, Goku! We're going to have lunch now!"

"Yay! Food!" Goku cheered, racing out of the ocean and jumping onto the blanket. Hakkai had laid out supplies to make sandwiches, helping Goku make his in the interest that he didn't get peanut butter and jelly all over the place. Sanzo and Gojyo sat down on the blanket as well, getting their food ready.

They ate their lunch, Goku and Gojyo having the expected squabble over food until Sanzo whacked them over the head with the fan-o-doom. "Where do you even keep that thing?! You're not wearing anything but swim trunks!" Gojyo yelled, holding his head.

"None of your business." Sanzo answered without so much as looking at the kappa.

The fight would have continued if Goku hadn't landed a well aimed ball of sand on Gojyo's head. The kappa gave a shout of outrage as Hakkai called, "Now Goku, don't throw sand!" Goku was too busy laughing at Gojyo to notice the chastisement. Gojyo let out a snarl and lunged at the chibi, tackling him to the sand.

This fight ended once Gojyo had successfully buried Goku up to his neck, his head sticking out like some kind of ridiculous flower. "Gah! Let me out you stupid butt-faced kappa! Let me out!" Goku yelled, trying to squirm free of this sandy prison.

"No way bakasaru. You can have a nice time-out here in the sand." Gojyo grinned.

"Sanzo! Hakkai! Help me!" Goku called.

Sanzo looked over and almost laughed at what he saw. It looked as if the boys head was growing out of the sand. The chibi was obviously trying to squirm out and failing. Gojyo was laughing at him while spraying him with a dollar store water gun. "Now Gojyo, don't you think that's a bit cruel?" Hakkai laughed.

"Hm…" Gojyo took on a thoughtful look at Hakkai's question. "Nope." he decided with another grin.

In the kappa's momentary distraction Goku had managed to get an arm above the sand. While Gojyo still wasn't paying attention the chibi grabbed his ankle and pulled. Gojyo, losing his balance, landed on his back with a muffled thud.

Goku laughed and finally managed to break through the sand. He proceeded to tackle Gojyo, grinding a handful of sand into the older mans hair. "Get off 'a me you little ass monkey!" Gojyo yelled, pushing Goku off him and tossing a handful of sand at him. Goku snarled and tossed some sand back at him. This caused a huge sand fight. Other beachgoers retreating to another part of the beach to prevent getting an eyeful of sand.

"Goku I said not to throw sand! Gojyo, act like an adult!" Hakkai called with a frown that was reminiscent of a mother whose children were not behaving.

"Hakkai watch out!" Goku yelled. The wad of sand he had just thrown had gone slightly off course, flying strait at Hakkai. Hakkai ducked, the sand flying over his head…hitting Sanzo in the side of the face.

Goku and Gojyo watched in horror as Sanzo slowly got up and turned toward them. "Um…sorry Sanzo. I, uh, didn't mean to throw it that way." Goku stammered. Sanzo slowly looked up, the sand falling from his cheek. His eyes were alight with a fire of rage.

"I'm going to kill you both!!!" Sanzo yelled, pulling out his fan and beginning the chase after the moron duo, who had been smart enough to start running.

"Well that should teach them not to throw sand, shouldn't it?" Hakkai asked Jeep as he sat back down. Jeep let out a cheep of agreement as he watched his brothers be beaten to a bloody pulp.

***

The rest of the day went by in much the same fashion. Goku managed to get Sanzo to come play in the water with Gojyo's help. Though "play" may not have been the right word. It was more like the saru and kappa finally managed to taunt the monk to the extent that he would come out into the water in hopes of drowning them. Whatever the cause Goku found it quite fun.

The sun was now setting and things had calmed down. Gojyo was happily flirting with some cute girls while Goku made sand castles. Hakkai was still reading while Sanzo stood beside the blanket drying his hair with a beach towel. With the light fading Hakkai realized that it was time to go.

The healer stood, brushing himself off. Jeep resting comfortably on his shoulder. "Gojyo! Goku! Its time to go!" he yelled.

"Aw! Already?!" Goku whined.

"Come on saru! We're coming back tomorrow!" Sanzo yelled.

Gojyo walked over to Hakkai who was busy shaking out the blanket. "Hey 'Kai? Wanna see somethin' funny?" Gojyo smirked. Hakkai looked at him, recognizing the smirk at once as the one Gojyo wore when he was planning something that was sure to get him into loads of trouble.

"Is there any way to stop you?" Hakkai asked with a small smile. Gojyo's only answer was another flash of that smirk.

Sanzo was still drying himself off, staring at the ocean. Perhaps it was because he was tired but for whatever reason he didn't sense it when the kappa snuck up behind him and he certainly wasn't expecting the kappa to grab the bottom of his swim trunks and pull them down, leaving them around his ankles.

Sanzo froze. The girls that had been passing by froze and stared. Hakkai froze. Goku froze. The entire freaking world seemed to freeze as if waiting for the inevitable. When the top layer of shock broke Hakkai was able to look at Gojyo. His look plainly stated, "Do you want to die?!" Goku still stared at his sun, even he didn't know what Sanzo would do.

When the second layer of shock broke Sanzo bent down and pulled his swim trunks back up. He slowly turned to look at Gojyo who was hiding behind Hakkai. The Smith&Wesson seemed to appear in his hand from nowhere and Hakkai, whose survival instincts were actually very good, turned and grabbed Gojyo by the shoulders, forcing him out from behind him. This was enough to break the third and last layer of shock.

"DIE YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!!!!" Sanzo began firing, Gojyo running away as fast as he could. Sanzo chased after him, gun leading.

"Hakkai?" Goku asked, looking up at the healer.

"Yes Goku?" Hakkai looked down at the chibi.

"Is Gojyo gunna die?"

"Why yes, Goku. I do believe he is." Hakkai smiled.

***

Later that night, after Hakkai had convinced Sanzo that shooting Gojyo seven times was enough, all four guys back at the inn. It had taken a while for Sanzo to calm down enough to get into the jeep without firing in Gojyo's direction. It had also taken a while for Hakkai to heal all the bullet wounds on Gojyo while giving him a stern lecture on how if he was going to attempt suicide again there were less painful methods to do so.

Three of the four were now in their beds. Sanzo was out on the balcony, enjoying a Marlboro and watching the way the full moon reflected on the waves. He was finally able to have some peace. "Sanzo?" Or at least he thought he would finally be able to have some peace.

Sanzo turned his head to see Goku standing in the balcony door way. "What is it, saru? You should be asleep." Sanzo looked away from his ward to watch the ocean for a while longer.

"Meh. I woke up and saw ya out here." Goku explained.

"And you just had to come keep me company." Sanzo frowned, exhaling smoke.

"The ocean was real fun today. Don't ya think?" Goku grinned up to his sun, ignoring the frown.

"Just another pain in the ass." Sanzo grumbled.

"Ya think so? I liked it. Its real pretty and real big. You really don't like it?" Goku looked curiously at him.

Sanzo looked down at the chibi, his golden eyes shining in the hope that Sanzo didn't hate the ocean that he loved so much. Sanzo let his hand land on the boys head, ruffling the mess of hair. "The oceans fine." he said quietly, grinding out his cigarette in the ash tray. "Alright, bed. Now."

Goku simply smiled up at him. But then frowned when he looked at the bed. "Um…the thing is…I'm really hungry." he whispered the last word.

"Unbelievable. Grab a snack and go to bed baka." Sanzo grumbled, whapping the chibi with the fan-o-doom before climbing into bed.

"Okay! Goodnight Sanzo." Goku beamed.

"Night." Sanzo mumbled.

***

Hakkai was, as always, the first to wake up. He went about freshening up and then proceeded to make coffee. This usually got Sanzo out of bed. The priest making a zombie like walk to the table at the smell of coffee. This morning, however, it didn't seem to be working.

Hakkai shrugged, figuring that yesterday must have tired the monk out. So he went about making breakfast. That always got them out of bed. He finished breakfast and set it out on the table. Usually all three members of his little dysfunctional family would have gotten up at the smell of breakfast. Especially Goku.

Hakkai went in to the sleeping quarters of the room. "It's time to wake up everyone. Breakfast is ready." he said smiling.

"No. Got no sleep. Go 'way." came from Sanzo's bed, the owner of the voice still obviously half asleep.

"Goku, if you don't get up there will be no breakfast." Hakkai said, looking at Goku's bed. The lump that was under the covers began to stir.

"Ow. Ow ow ow! My body hurts!" Goku said, still under the covers. He pushed the blankets off him and Hakkai nearly burst out laughing. He went over to Sanzo and then Gojyo's beds, pulling the covers off the men. He couldn't help it after that. As the other tow men sat up he dissolved into laughter.

The two older members glared but this also just looked funny. All three of the guys bodies were as bright red as Gojyo's hair. "Damnit, it's not funny Hakkai!" Sanzo snarled.

"Ah hahahaha. Maybe next time you'll all use sunscreen." Hakkai managed at last, still giggling. There would be no beach today. Not with three of the four having a severe case of sunburn.

***End Chapter***