Title: What You Are Worth – Chapter 1
Author: Namaguza Bouzu
Pairing: Gojyo x Sanzo
Rating: T
Warning/s: OOC. Rating will go up for future chapters. If you are not ready for future NC-17, skip this. Otherwise, step right in.
Disclaimer: Saiyuki is Minekura's.
Notes: None for now.

It was then when he knew for sure what he meant to the kappa, and surprisingly, what the kappa meant to him. He suddenly understood everything the kappa had said in that tavern. He was tired of running away from it. He was an idiot for realizing it too late.

It was another pothole on the road that woke Gojyo up from his deep stupor. They have been on the road for three consecutive days and everyone was just hoping to get to the nearest town as soon as possible. None of them got much rest when they had to rough it out. Gojyo looked around to see that they were still in the same damn path they've been on before he fell asleep. He was so bored he wanted to annoy the saru just for entertainment but he was too lazy to do even that. He vaguely remembered that his dream was composed of scenes of gold and violet.

The heat of the sun was definitely affecting Gojyo's brain. He had been doing it a lot this past week and he was at it again – staring at Sanzo through the jeep's side mirror. Whenever he watched, it never ceased to amaze him how those little lines on Sanzo's forehead would disappear whenever he drifted off to sleep. The monk also unconsciously played with his hair when he had nothing else to do. There were times when he wondered if it was as soft as it looks. He silently cursed at himself for failing to hide the blush staining his cheek when Sanzo returned his stare and raised one perfect eyebrow. He quickly averted his eyes and to his surprise, the monk did not say anything.

He would not deny the fact that one look at Sanzo was all he needed to say that the blonde is very attractive. Hell, he thought so the minute he saw him, until he opened his mouth and demonstrated his talent in cussing that would put the devil to shame. Plus, Gojyo just did not find dudes attractive. It was not in his personal bible. He did not usually think about them at all, that's why he just can't wrap his finger around why lately, he had been feeling this need to be closer to the monk, especially during battles. He was sometimes so aware of Sanzo's presence that he always knew when he needed to cover the monk's back so that he could reload his gun. He will blame it on the heat. And right now, the wind, which was currently wafting the smell of the blonde's vanilla shampoo right his way.

The rain had been pouring down since they ran to the inn they found that afternoon for shelter. Not one of them had the energy to stroll around town and check out what it had to offer so they agreed to eat in the inn's diner. All of them did except for Sanzo. Of course, the monk would be found in his room, staring outside the window, talking to no one and eating nothing. During these times, he was best left to his thoughts alone.

Hakkai had tried to coax him out and into the dining room twice before he gave up and sent Goku who also returned with no Sanzo. The kappa should not have cared at all. It was just the pissy monk being himself when it rained but he deliberately ordered extra food so he could bring some to Sanzo's room later.

He knocked on the door to Sanzo's room and as expected, got no response. Did he take that as a sign to buzz off? Of course not. So he used the key he got from the cute receptionist at the lobby and went right in.

"Get out," the monk said quietly.

Gojyo ignored him, placing his offerings on the small table beside the bed. "Dinner, Your Majesty." Gojyo noticed that Sanzo was still by the window, smoking, and still in his wet clothes looking like a drenched rat.

"I said get out." The monk was too tired to give the kappa some decent beating for barging in on his privacy but too depressed to talk to anyone, especially the kappa.

"Hey, I just figured you need to eat now because you haven't eaten much during lunch either…" Why did he even notice that?

"Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?" Sanzo finally faced him and stared at him coldly.

"I'm the sexy, long-legged Sha Gojyo and I'm just trying to help, man." Gojyo used to leave Sanzo alone when it was raining. He knew he wouldn't get anything from the monk. It puzzled him why he is bothering to go through this abuse from the monk now just to get him to eat something.

"Do you really have a death wish?" Sanzo's patience was wearing thin.

"Well, since you still need me, at least for the fucking mission, I wouldn't be worried about that." Gojyo said, giving the monk a gloating leer.

As the kappa thought his day could not get any worse, the monk stood up and left, but not before delivering his final line.

"I do not, and would never, need anything from a worthless kappa bastard like you."