#i’m so happy actually. you like the funny little sodomy au enough to write for it??? (´；ω；`)

[mars-ipan]

Mars i NEED to write Christian au fanfic. I have so many good puns for title names. CAN I PLS..... AT LEAST A ONESHOT .... A SMUTSHOT EVEN.....

YES JUST LET ME SEE IT AFTER. ABSOLUTELY YOU CAN WRITE PRIEST AU FANFIC ARE YOU KIDDING

[ezra-blue]

You’ve Got Something - 43

For @baronvonriktenstein‘s Messy!AU

43: Gravity

He thinks he’s very nearly through the worst of it, but something is still drawing him no matter how he tries.

Word Count: ~5300

43: Gravity

“Wake up, boy.” Toudai's voice was like a weight on his chest, and Sanzo roused to see his father sitting on the far end of his bed in his day clothes, fidgeting with the snap on his suspenders and a deep, wrinkled mountain of eyebrow arching up his forehead. “There you are.” He seemed relieved that Sanzo had opened his eyes, and he reached out to ruffle his hair. Sanzo pushed his hand back, scowling, and sat up, but Toudai stood over him and took hold of his chin. “Don't you brush me off; I know you normally don't drink that much.” He forced Sanzo to turn his head left and right. “How's your head? Stomach? Are you nauseous?”

“Quit it, Pop.” Sanzo smacked Toudai's hand off. “I'm fine.” He was lying a little; he felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to his skull. Toudai scowled his disapproval, but crossed his arms.

“Then come on. I've made you some breakfast.” He stepped back and pointed to the door, and Sanzo grimaced, but forced himself to stand. He was still wearing his shirt and boxers from the night before and he reeked of gin, but Toudai held up a pair of jeans for him and motioned insistently, and he had no choice but to drag his pants on and be herded down the steps like a stubborn sheep.

Toudai served Sanzo a bowl of muesli, muttering about how the oats held more moisture than dry cereal and would help rehydrate him better, and Sanzo picked around the little bits of almond and dried peaches dotting the oats. The muesli was cold and mild, which he was certain his stomach would thank him for. He ate slowly, mulishly, his head throbbing with each chew, as Toudai settled into his chair across the table and flipped open the newspaper. Sanzo tried to watch him work on the Sudoku, but watching the pen flit to and fro stung at his eyes, too. The light in the kitchen was mercifully dim, as rainclouds gathered outside and what sun there was shifted behind the curtains again. After a few minutes of somber silence but for the scratch of Toudai's pen, Toudai sighed and set the paper aside. "Curse the Thursday edition. Those puzzles are the hardest."

"Mm." Sanzo dropped his gaze to his oats. He found himself empathizing with Gojyo, somehow or other; he didn't feel like eating with so much hanging over him.

"Well, boy." Toudai sat forward, his attention centering on Sanzo, and Sanzo felt the universe narrow to the pinpoint focus of his father's gaze. "Do you want to start explaining why you broke up with that fine young man you were seeing?" Sanzo pressed his lips together, then forced another mouthful of mush in. Toudai exhaled slowly, then pinched his brow. "We all liked him. I could tell how very much you liked him, though you think you're so good at pretending you don't like anything. Moreover, I can tell how low you are after breaking things off with him. Your father and I can't stand to see you down."

“Leave it, Pop. I'm fine.” He shuffled the oatmeal around under his spoon. How the hell was he supposed to explain the panic he'd felt at the notion of Goku loving him, of letting him that close only to see him torn away? Toudai heaved a sigh.

“You can't lie to me.”

Sanzo tried to pretend he wasn't there, but Toudai was like a mountain in his window, too big to ignore, the shadow he cast too black. After a minute, he muttered, “He deserved better than me.”

That got Toudai's brow knit up again. “Son, he liked you just the way you are, same as we do.”

“I'm not right for him. He'll just get hurt.” He thought back to the expression of betrayal and heartbreak Goku had tried to hide when he'd refused Goku's love. “He... He needs someone softer. Gentler.”

That only made him recall Gojyo's forlorn counter to that from the night before: “... he doesn't want that. He wants you.”

Toudai, from the somber frown he wore at that, clearly agreed. “You were good to him, up until that day. Certainly, you were prickly, but he actually seemed to find that funny and charming instead of off-putting!”

Sanzo shook his head again. “He should be with someone better. Someone who's not me. Someone who wouldn't hurt him.”

“Kouryuu.” Toudai put his palms on the table and pushed himself to his feet. “I know you're not interested in ancient history, but I very nearly made the same mistake. I tried to break up with your father once.” Sanzo rolled his eyes, but Toudai crossed his arms. “It's true. I hated having to be discreet with our romance, I didn't want to put him through that. I thought, between the pressure of my career and sodomy laws, he deserved things to be easier. If our relationship became public knowledge, I would have been a pariah in the sports world, and no amount of discretion on the part of Koumyou's employer would protect him from the backlash if his name was known in the papers.” Toudai bowed his head. “I didn't write him for a whole week.” Sanzo snorted, but Toudai huffed and leaned towards him. “Besides all that, he was much too kind for a grouch like me. I thought we could never be happy together. I thought that, given the nature of our relationship, the cold shoulder would be enough to make him give up on me.”

Toudai paused, then admitted, “Of course, he wrote me and told me he missed seeing my handwriting, and I broke like a clay pigeon.” Sanzo slid his chin into his palm and raised an eyebrow at Toudai. “My point is, boy, when I did explain how I felt, he shot me down! He didn't care that I was half the world away, nor that I would never be able to give him a normal, quiet life, nor my calumny or roughness or blunt edges. Those things were features, not bugs!” He heaved a sigh and ran his fingers into Sanzo's hair, tilting his head back to make him meet his eyes. “He wanted a chance to make things continue to work, until we could make the life we wanted, and it took longer than I would have wanted, but we have what we have now. I don't know what my life would have been without him, but I will never regret my patience. I will never regret giving him that chance.”

Sanzo slapped Toudai's hand off. His grip was only making his headache worse. “He gave me a chance. I decided it wasn't worth it.”

Before Toudai could retort, there was a blur of motion behind them, and both Sanzo and Toudai turned around to see Gojyo storming down the stairs, still reeking of liquor. Toudai scowled, as Sanzo watched him snatch his jacket from the rack and stumble out the door, clearly still half-drunk and more than a little angry. In the wake of that display, Toudai could only heave another pained sigh and shake his head.

“Kouryuu, I can't make you be happy. I can only encourage you not to make the same mistakes as me.” Toudai settled back into his chair, but leaned over the table towards him. “What are you going to do?”

“Sober up.” Sanzo shrugged, but it was true; he could still feel a little fuzziness warping his senses. “Probably check in at work.” He felt Toudai staring through him, but averted his gaze. “I don't know.”

“Hrm.” It was an unhappy sound, and Sanzo hoped Toudai didn't see him grimace at it. “That's your decision to make. It's a shame that this is the choice you're making, though.”

Sanzo sneered at his cereal bowl. “No temper tantrum?”

Toudai narrowed his eyes, but he didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he exhaled slowly and sat back. “I'm too old to keep getting angry at my old mistakes.” He hefted himself to a stand, groaning. “I'm sixty-eight now, son, and I'm sick. And I know I'm sick.” He thinned his lips, lowered his eyes, either penitent or pensive, perhaps both. “If you want to make mistakes, at some point, I have to step aside and let you make them.”

With that, Toudai trudged for the stairwell, but paused at the threshold and glanced back. Sanzo had already fished his earbuds from his pocket and popped them in. Toudai watched hims push his muesli away and lay his head on the table. He closed his eyes tight as Toudai ascended the stairs, not caring that his head ached at the reverberation of the bass, or that when he closed his eyes, he could still imagine Goku smiling.

“I, I will be King, and you, you will be Queen...”

Maybe he should write Goku a letter. Explain what he could explain, at least. Maybe not the parts about Nii, fuck, no, but maybe tell him he wished him better. That Goku should have someone who would say those words back to him and not be terrified of what they meant. He thought of Pippi, and wondered if he should tell Goku she was interested, but his chest ached at the thought of passing him off like a torch he found too heavy to carry.

“Though nothing will keep us together...” Sanzo mouthed the words, “We could steal time just for one day...” He shook his head against the table, desperately trying not to think about Goku, struck down by his rejection like a bird with a bullet in its breast. “We can be Heroes...”

The sky outside only seemed to darken. Sanzo's headache wasn't going away; it was just echoing down through the rest of him now, like one giant ache.

Upstairs, Toudai tiptoed into the den to see Koumyou standing at the window. “Dearest?” He approached, already reaching for him, but when he did touch his shoulder, Koumyou shook his head.

“It's nothing, darling.”

Toudai frowned, then embraced him. Koumyou only ever called him 'darling' when he was in trouble, or when something was genuinely wrong. Koumyou clearly needed the affection, though he'd never ask. “I suppose I owe you an immense debt of gratitude.” He leaned forward, rubbing his stubble against Koumyou's baby-smooth jaw, then pecked him just under the ear.. “I'm glad I was worth fighting for.”

Koumyou failed to stifle a tiny giggle, and Toudai felt relief rush through him when he sighed his tension out and settled against Toudai's chest. “My love, despite it all, you were very much worth all of our struggles. I can only hope that those who come after us are ready to fight the same uphill path towards happiness, no matter how great the obstacle may look from how low he stands.” He let Toudai hold him a moment longer, then turned around and got on tiptoe to kiss his nose. “Did you speak with Kouryuu?”

“He's a wall, but I tried.” Toudai patted Koumyou's shoulder. “I hope something stuck, at least, but time will tell. Did you try to contact Hakkai?”

Koumyou nodded. “It went to his messages, unfortunately.” His mouth twitched with sorrow. “I'm afraid the last he and I spoke, our conversation ended on difficult terms, and he may not wish to speak with me.”

“A pity.” Toudai exhaled sharply, and slung one arm over Koumyou's shoulder. “Then perhaps, this afternoon...?”

“Yes.” Koumyou nodded, and his smile returned. “Perhaps there's one boy we can still help.”

Goku was still a little shaken up after Gojyo's brief visit to the garage, but Gat was fine letting him return calls and check inventory for a little while. He had no idea what had happened to Gojyo last night, but whatever it was had obviously only driven him a little further up the wall. “Wish I could help him,” he muttered to himself, forgetting for a moment that things weren't great for him either.

Meh. It sucked, but he was trying not to let it ruin his day. Not today, anyway. The ache was starting to recede, he wasn't going to let himself sink back into it.

The phone rang – as good of a distraction as any – and he picked it up. “G's Auto--”

“Goku. Please let me talk to Gojyo.”

Goku came up short at that gruff demand, but after a second, recognition registered. “Oh, um, Jien, right?”

“You remember me.” Jien sounded a little relieved. “Uh, been alright since winter?”

“Y-yeah.” Goku smiled weakly and leaned against the counter. “How's Mr. Kougaiji and Ms. Yaone?”

“Fine, just fine. But, uh, I really need to talk to Gojyo.” Jien sank back towards despair. “I tried his cell, but he hasn't picked up, and it's been days.” Goku winced.

“I heard him saying his phone's broken, and he's not here.” Goku scowled at the desk. “He came in smelling like booze, so Gat sent him home – oh crap!” He gasped when he realized he'd said that out loud. “Um, forget I said that, please!”

“It's fine, kiddo.” Jien groaned on the other end. “I'm just worried.”

“Yeah, me too.” Goku bit his lip. “He hasn't been himself since he and Hakkai broke up.”

There was a beat of stunned silence on the other end of the line. “They... they did?”

“Oh, crap, you didn't know?!” Goku gaped, spinning and looking over both shoulders in case Gojyo sprung up just in time to slug him for talking behind his back. “Oh crap, oh crap, please don't tell him I--!”

“I won't! For God's sake.” Jien sounded somewhere between disgusted and dejected, Goku couldn't be sure which. “But, they split?” He moved his mouth from the receiver, but Goku still heard a distinct, “Gojyo, you idiot.” Jien spoke into the phone again. “I'll stop tying up your line, kiddo, but... can you call me if he's in tomorrow?”

“You got it.” Goku heard a click, then groaned and put the phone down. Jeez, why did things have to be so complicated?

He somehow made it through the afternoon, or at least until Gat approached from the garage at around three, toweling the back of his neck clean. “We're caught up. I'm closing up. Good work today.”

It was early, so Goku was a little surprised, but they were short-handed today, so it made sense. Gat's short but well-meant praise was helpful, too, and Goku grinned at him. “Sounds good, thanks!” Gat smiled and set his hand on Goku's head, mussing his hair.

“Have a good night.”

Things were pretty okay. Even without Sanzo, most of his life hadn't changed. He still rode the same bus back to his side of town, since it was easier than walking three miles in his binder, hanging tight to the pole as they passed over the railroad tracks, two hard bumps that shook him every time. He still walked the two blocks from the stop towards his apartment building. Maybe he'd put the mac and cheese powder on the ramen tonight – it'd be nice if he had some tomatoes left to throw into it, but it'd be nice to change things up no matter what. He could smile a little as he got to the door, reassured that things were okay.

Except the shadow cast in the lobby now touched his toes, as Nii Jianyi stood against the empty receptionist desk, hands tucked in his pockets. He raised a hand to hail Goku, smirking. “Long time, no see, Goku.”

Goku raised an eyebrow into a flat scowl. “Get out of my apartment.”

“This is a public lobby.” Nii shrugged out of his slouch and took a few steps towards him, the solid heels of his shoes clicking on the grubby tiles. “I admit I'm here for you, though; is it true my idiot baby brother split with you?”

Goku grounded his heels. "Why, trying to snap up another one of his boyfriends?" He discreetly tugged his collar back into place and made for the stairs. "Screw off, I don't have anything to say to you."

"That's funny; when we met, you had a big mouth." Nii pivoted to face him as he crossed the lobby. "I like your spunk. It's cute."

"You're like twice my age, creep-o." Goku glared back at him, upper lip curling, hoping his glower was as intimidating as Sanzo's could be. From Nii's amused expression, it wasn't. "I can't get you on trespassing, but I asked to you leave once already. I don't feel like going to jail, so, like I said, screw off."

"Really? It was my understanding you were open-minded to anyone who might want to talk to you."

"And who the hell told you that?" Goku crossed his arms.

"My old man." Nii waved the question off and took a step towards Goku, and Goku took a step back, repelled by the obvious lie and Nii’s odious smirk. "And really, age is only a number, I've dated younger men before. You excite me. You're different. All I'm asking is a conversation -- somewhere nice." Nii looked pointedly around at the drab surroundings. "I understand you like coffee drinks, and--"

"-- took Hakkai for coffee on your first date with him, too. He told me all about you. You're not even all that creative of a creep, are you?" Goku raised an eyebrow and cocked a hip out. "Seriously? You mess with Hakkai and make him break it off with Gojyo, you make time in your life just to mess with Sanzo, I mean, do you even work? Get a hobby! One that doesn't involve screwing with the lives and happiness of everyone around you!" Nii frowned, and Goku was satisfied that he'd broken his stride. "Oh, and for the record? I'm open-minded, but I'll tell you what I told Sanzo: I don't date jerks!" Ready to claim the last word and victory, he spun around and marched up the first three steps, but behind him, Nii chuckled.

"Oh, is that how it is? No wonder Sanzo split up with you." Something foul curled from those words, stopping Goku dead in his tracks. "You do have quite a mouth on you. Don't you know, kid? Men hate little bitches who talk too much."

Goku whipped back around. "SHUT UP!"

Goku's voice cracked. Nii's eyes went wide. Then, his smirk went wider. "Oh. Oh, I see. Is that how it is?"

"Shut up!" Goku wrestled control of his voice back. Damn it, years of practice and he still can't keep it in line when it counts! "I hate assholes who don't know when to give up! Fuck off, or I'll make you!" With that, he stormed off, reminding himself: can't go to jail. Not today. Payday's not until next week and Nataku can't afford my bail. He ignored Nii, knowing that actually throwing a punch would only make everything suck worse.

Goku threw the door open and pitched his jacket at the ground as hard as he could. He wanted to swear and scream, but he settled for punching the kitchen cabinet, slamming the door shut, and throwing himself onto his futon. The springs and gears groaned at the impact, and he groaned back, disgusted with himself. He wished he could have punched Nii; it probably would have hurt his hand less, and giving that jackass what he deserved might have made him feel a little better, no matter how much jail sucked. "Stupid, idiot."

"Usually--" Goku gasped at Nataku's mild voice from his bed. "-- If one of us is coming home in a snit, it's me." Goku turned to see Nataku closing his book and standing up from his usual spot, only to come close and crouch at eye level with Goku. "Is something wrong?"

Goku groaned and tilted his head back into the cushion. "There was this creepy jackass hitting on me in the lobby."

"Oh." Nataku scrunched his face, but patted Goku's head. "Is that all?"

"Yeah." He tried to shrug Nataku's hand off, but the contact felt a little too nice. "Sanzo's brother. He's like forty and skeezy."

Nataku raised an eyebrow. "His brother? Forty? That's gross. Tell his parents."

"Ah, I would, but..."

"Or does Sanzo wanna deal with him himself?" Nataku rose to his full height and wandered towards the kitchen.

"Ah..." Goku broke off, not sure how to answer.

"I could go have words with him if you want." Nataku poured two glasses of orange juice, brought one to Goku, and sipped on the other for himself. "How many times has he done it? You've been down a few days, does he keep showing up?" Nataku raised an eyebrow, and Goku suddenly got the feeling he was being interrogated.

"No, no, it's -- look, it's okay." He tried hard to sink through the futon, but just gave himself a knee cramp. "I'd'a dealt with him, but honestly, he ain't worth the jail time. If he shows up again, I'll call the cops."

"Not Sanzo?" Nataku was still scrutinizing him, and Goku sighed. There wasn't much point in hiding it.

"He broke up with me. Said he didn't love me."

Nataku choked on his orange juice for a second, then swallowed hard. "Really." A hard line set in his features, but Goku, wishing the floor would open up and swallow him, just sighed.

"Yeah. Sucks."

"So he breaks up with you, leaving you vulnerable for his vulture older brother to pick at you -- and he directly said he doesn't love you?"

"I guess it's how he is." Goku flipped his hand around. "He liked me for a while, we had fun, but... I don't mean anything to him. It's fine. It's not like I haven't been left behind before." He grinned feebly towards the ceiling, as Nataku drained his juice and went to get his jacket. "I'm not so good at keeping friends. Just you, Nataku."

Nataku planted his hand on his head again, his fingertips gripping just a little too tight. "You're a good guy, Goku. Anyone who can't appreciate that... they deserve whatever karma they have coming to them." He ruffled his hair. "You're like a brother to me, okay? I love you."

Goku blinked back surprise, then smiled for Nataku. This was supposed to make him happy, but Goku could only feel like Nataku was trying to show him mercy. He didn't want to be pitied. Even so: "I love you, too. Like a brother, and all."

"Good." Nataku smiled, but he looked strangely weary behind it. "Listen, I got something to take care of. Made a promise to a guy. Hopefully, I'll see you later."

"Yeah, sure." Goku sank back down with a sigh, ignoring the mundane noises of Nataku tying his shoes and closing the door as he left. He shut his eyes but flung a hand out to fish around the coffee table drawer for his headphones. Just as he found the jack, he heard his cell ringing, and fished it from his pocket, only to find an unfamiliar number.

He still rolled from his back to his belly and answered: “Hello?”

Two familiar voices sounded from the other end: “Hello, Goku!”

“Goku, m'boy, it's been too long!”

Koumyou and Toudai! Goku sat up, heart racing in his chest. “Oh! H-hi! I, uh, I wasn't expecting you to call!” Ever again, he wanted to say, but Toudai chortled and Koumyou giggled.

“Goodness, why wouldn't we? I've missed seeing you.”

“Well.” Goku shifted uncomfortably into the back of the sofa. “It's just, I mean... you know Sanzo and me... um, we're not seeing each other anymore.” He bit his lip, a bad taste rising into his throat at having to say it again. “So, I'm sorry, but--”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Koumyou tsked softly. “We know our son made that mistake. But I told you, I'm friends with whoever I want to be friends with, regardless of Kouryuu's decisions.”

“Stupid decisions,” Toudai added under his breath.

Goku tried to answer, but it felt like something was thick and sticky in his throat. “You... you guys...”

“I know it must be difficult for you, dear, but I'm proud that you've remained strong.” Koumyou's voice soothed, and Goku could almost imagine the hug he'd be getting if Koumyou were in front of him. “I wanted to tell you something important.” Goku cocked his head, as Koumyou giggled off the receiver. “We – the Sanzo family, I mean – got in touch with your Mama, and we've made a special arrangement.”

Goku's heart jumped into his throat. “What?”

Toudai answered, proudly: “We've matched your current savings.”

The words echoed in Goku's head, his heart pounding, and he grabbed at his chest as if he could stop the sudden ache that radiated out of him. “But! That's! I had--!”

“Yes, dear, we know.” Of course Koumyou knew how much was there, and Goku knew that was a lot of money.

“B-but, Sanzo said--!” Toudai's medicines. Goku choked on the thought of Toudai going without for his sake. Toudai seemed to understand, tsking him down the line.

“Dear boy, don't worry for us. We wanted to do this, and we still have the ability to spoil a child. Kouryuu, too. Honestly, the bulk of our gift is coming from him – he has a healthy savings and is remarkably frugal with his own money. Though, we give the boy a little spending money and it goes right out the window!” Toudai cackled, but Goku just felt a huge weight on his chest, and not just because he'd been in his binder all day.

“S-Sanzo...”

“He didn't want to give it to you directly, dear, and he didn’t even want us to acknowledge that he was involved,” Koumyou explained. “He said he wasn't your, er, 'sugar daddy,' but he still very much wanted you to have it. He wanted you to be happy.” Goku cringed, the silence as striking as a heavy rainstorm.

“Take it back,” he mumbled. “I can't accept it. I can't owe you that much.”

“We want you to have it!” Toudai insisted. “It's not a loan, it's a gift!”

“It's done, dear,” Koumyou added, still smiling through his voice. “We were going to wait for your birthday, but that's a few weeks out, and we got so impatient!” Goku's chest twisted up again. “Perhaps you can schedule your surgery for after you blow out those candles! I know some lovely, kind surgeons who would be overjoyed to assist you, and I'd be happy to take you to consultations – though, you'd have to suffer my driving.” Koumyou laughed at his own joke, and Goku didn't know whether to weep for joy or for something else.

Sanzo had done that for him. Had wanted to do it anonymously. Had really, truly wanted Goku to be happy.

“I... I dunno what to say.” The mix of emotions flooding him had him on the verge of all-out tears. “Except, thank you, and God, I miss you both, so much.”

“Don't be a stranger, lad. We'd still be happy to see you.” Toudai's rumbling voice, like the crackling edge of an earthquake, was nothing but warm now.

“A bond can form so very quickly, you know?” Koumyou sounded as light and bright as his heart, so loaded with fondness that Goku felt a little overwhelmed by it. “I knew I wanted to have Kouryuu as my son the moment I lay eyes on him, and I feel the very same about you. You're always welcome in our home, and you can call anytime. You're a son to us, Goku.”

That was it. The waterworks were going. Goku sniffled hard and smeared at his eyes. He tried to thank them again, but all that came out was a whimper. He heard Toudai quietly scolding Koumyou, but he sucked back tears. "Thank you, D-dad. Pop."

Both of them were quiet, then Toudai chuckled. "Of course. We'll let you go, son, but give us a call some time, alright?"

"Okay. Bye!" He hung up and dabbed his eyes dry, then hugged his chest tight. He couldn't even describe the feelings bursting out of him! It was like there had been a hole, and it was full.

Toudai and Koumyou loved him. Nataku did, too. Even Sanzo. Even if Sanzo had told him he didn't care, he had still showed it. Goku smiled weakly at the thought that when he had surgical scars, he could still think a little fondly of the man who'd helped to give them to him.

Sanzo was never all that good at saying what he meant, anyway. Always had to hide the good stuff behind pretending to be mean. Like he was scared of being seen as nice. "Nothing wrong with bein' nice, Sanzo," he mumbled to himself. Maybe that was why he'd reacted like he did and pushed Goku away, like he wanted to bounce back anything good, and why the nicer it was, the harder he pushed back. "Guess I should'a figured." He rubbed the back of his neck and settled into the futon again. "Doesn't make what he did okay, but..." He put a hand over his heart. "Thanks, Sanzo."

He could love Sanzo a little longer, even if it meant hurting a little longer. There was still some fondness there, and probably always would be. As complicated as their relationship had been, Goku had enjoyed it. Maybe someday, he'd be able to look Sanzo in the eye again.

That would have been the end of his day. He would call Koumyou on his next day off and have a nice long chat. Nii wasn't worth worrying about. So what if the jackass knew he was trans? What was he going to do about it? He would have flipped on Netflix and watched one of his favorite old Extreme Food specials, made some mac and ramen, or – heck, today was a good day – gone out to get some hot dogs to put in the mac and ramen – but then he thought about the conversation he'd had with Nataku again.

"Made a promise to a guy."

Hadn't Nataku once promised him that he'd hurt anyone who hurt him?

And hadn't he just told him that Sanzo had broken his heart?

"CRAP!" Goku jumped up to his feet, knocking right into the coffee table and tumbling over it, but he bounced right back up and ran for the door and his shoes. He snatched his phone from his pocket, dialing Nataku as he tied his laces, but it rang twice and went to voice message. Goku still shouted: "STOP! DON'T HURT HIM!" before killing the call. He checked the time -- there was no way he was making the bus pickup. He bit his lip for a second, but there was no second way about it. "Fine!" He yanked his shirt off, tore away the Velcro on his binder, and grabbed a sports bra out of his drawer. "I won't let anyone hurt him!" He fastened it tight, gritting his teeth. It pinched a little through the ribs and didn't compress him the same as the binder, but that didn't matter. He had to protect Sanzo.

He knew he still loved Sanzo. If Sanzo hated him for doing this, then let him. It wouldn't change Goku's mind for a second.

Drawn helplessly like the Earth in the Sun's gravitational pull, Goku ran out the door under a darkening sky. Even if he couldn't beat the storm, maybe he could beat Nataku to Sanzo!