(reload, even a worm: 37)

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A Certain Weight
shuddering against the earth

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Ultimately, Sanzo refuses to be carried. It's undignified, and he can walk just fine on his own, thanks. That doesn't stop the priest from tripping over ground that's been churned by trees, and wayward blows, and Nothing - on legs that are ready to give out underneath him. To be honest, all four of them are faring about the same. Gojyo lights a cigarette, but it falls from his lips after only a couple of drags when he stumbles over an uprooted tree. He swears, but doesn't have the energy to bend over after it. Hakkai tries to orient them in the correct direction, a hand buried in his hair to ease the throbbing in his head, so that maybe they can get to a town before Sanzo - sorry, that's incredibly rude - before one of them dies.

Goku walks most of the way with his eyes closed, letting his body move on it's own.

He can hear the others' footsteps, their sharp breaths and small noises. He can feel the sudden warmth against his sides when one of them is closeby. Without really meaning to, he smiles real wide. No one sees it in the dark. And it's the peaceful kind of dark, not the nerve-wracking stuff from before that was swallowing Sanzo whole. A shudder jolts Goku's body at the memory - that big cloud of darkness, Sanzo's voice breaking, his hand reaching out.

The feeling goes up his spine, swimming thickly, and Goku shakes his head, his whole body, like he's throwing off water.

That doesn't matter anymore.

His sudden movement must startle Sanzo. A second after Goku does it, the priest loses his footing. Goku feels Sanzo's foot catch on the ground. The sound of it in the air, the impact shuddering against the earth. He lifts his head and opens his eyes, turning toward Sanzo as the priest stumbles into his side. Sanzo's hand jumps out to steady himself so he doesn't sprawl out on his face, grabbing Goku by the elbow, and Goku tenses his arm to support the sudden extra weight, his feet sliding apart.

He waits a second, "Ya okay?"

"Fine," Sanzo grumbles.

His grip is like iron, but his hand's shaking.

The hike back to the Jeep is taking it's toll on all of them. It's slow as hell. They're all dragging their feet, ready to collapse. But they're alive and they're together and, wow, Goku missed this. That's all he's ever cared about. So when Sanzo let's go of his arm and starts walking again, Goku doesn't even think about it. He snakes his hand out in the dark and grabs onto Sanzo's. Not like before. Lose, just his fingers wound around Sanzo's, hanging onto him so he doesn't drift away again.

Sanzo hesitates, but Goku keeps walking and pulls him along.

Gojyo's walking with his hands buried in the pockets of his coat, like they're so heavy he'd leave them behind if he could. Goku puts his other hand in the pocket of Gojyo's jacket and holds onto his hand, too.

The kappa makes a curious noise, turning his head.

Breathing out a sigh, Goku lets his eyes drift closed again, squeezes their hands so they don't let go. Sanzo's hands are cold, his fingers twitching every now and then. He's reluctant to hold onto anything, but he doesn't throw Goku off. Maybe he just doesn't have the energy. There are callouses on the inside of Gojyo's palm. His hands are bigger, and he swings his arm a little, but doesn't pull his hand back.

Just a few seconds later, Goku hears Hakkai, his voice soft, "Oh? Are we forming a chain so we don't get separated?" and Gojyo quips back without a moment's hesitation.

"More like a life-support line."

"I see. I'm expected to keep Sanzo alive, even from all the way over here."

"You two are getting on my nerves..."

"Ah, I hear it working already!"

"Damn you're fast, Hakkai!"

Goku breaks into a grin again. He's too exhausted to even laugh. He's so happy. He missed this. They're here and they're together and they're arguing and kind of biting at each other with what little energy they have left, and it's the greatest thing he's heard in a long, long time. Goku squeezes their hands again. His body shakes, a warmth spreading through his chest. He grins and ducks his head, breathless when Sanzo mutters, "What the hell's so funny, Goku?"

I really love you guys is what he wants to say.

But they already know that, so he shakes his head and mumbles, "Nothin'.

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-BobTAC