"Echos Through Time" - Son Goku/Genjo Sanzo [Saiyuki]

[iapetusneume.livejournal.com]

Title: Echos Through Time
Pairing: Son Goku and Genjo Sanzo
Author: Iapetus on ff.net (aka iapetusneume)
Spoilers: Episodes 1-26 of Gensomaden (anime), volumes 1-6 of Gensomaden (manga), Saiyuki Gaiden (all current released chapters)
Warnings: The pairing consists of two men, so if slash/shounen ai/yaoi isn't your thing, just skip this over. Also, there are two story recommendations that are NC-17. Lastly, on some of the manga scans I provide links for have pictures of Kanzeon in her manga form, and this means that her breasts are VERY visible. Be careful when clicking the Gaiden manga scans.
Disclaimer/Notes: All forms of Saiyuki belong to Kazuya Minekura, among other people that are not myself. Any manga scans that are used as reference were scanlated by MangaCity, and credit to the translation is attributed to them.
Also, much thanks to illainaka for helping me with the rough points of my essay and ouri for hosting the images I used. Without them this essay would not be possible.

Also, minus three images, all pictures and manga scans will be linked and open in new windows to make it easier on those with dial up.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Because of a server problem, all of my photo links are currently down. Until I get a new server to host them on, the photo links will remain broken. I apologize for the inconvenience.


~Preface~

The pairing of Sanzo and Goku is one of the most popular pairings of the Saiyuki fandom, if not the most popular one. However, popularity comes with a cost, and the pairing is often looked down upon by other fans due to the immaturity of the pairing’s fans and the massive amounts of bad!fic that exist for them. In the shadow of this mess, sometimes some of the rest of the fandom forgets that there does exist hints for the pairing, and that it can be approached logically and intelligently. This is my attempt to show my fandom why Sanzo/Goku works, why it is a respectable pairing, and why I happen to love it so much.

Many fans are often put off by the idea of anyone with Goku in any romantic sense due to how he looks and acts. Many believe that Goku/Anyone is shota, but this is not always true. If one is to read a story based in the current storyline or past it, Goku is technically of legal age. Whether he is mature enough to handle a romantic relationship is often up to the opinion of the reader/watcher, but I personally believe that in the middle and towards the end of Gensomaden that he could have a romantic relationship if he wanted to, and is mature enough for it.

Also, because I have heard accusations before by some anti-Sanzo/Goku fans that all of the proof for the pairing exists in an anime-only season and is therefore not canon since it is not technically part of the manga that Minekura originally wrote, the only anime episodes that will be used in this essay will be the ones that tie directly into the manga. Also, since not all of the Saiyuki manga is currently released in the US, I have only taken my evidence through volume six, which has already been released.


~Series Introduction~

Where the heavens and the earth have brought an era of chaos, there was a world where both humans and youkai lived in harmony. It was called “Tougenkyou.”

One day, a “minus wave” spread over the land, driving the youkai insane. Genjo Sanzo was summoned by the Sanbutsushin and told that the reason for the youkais’ insanity was that someone was attempting to revive Gyumaoh – a great youkai that was subdued 500 years ago by the war prince Nataku. Gyumaoh had refused to coexist with humans, and would eat them whenever he wanted. It was for that reason that the gods had him sealed away.

Sanzo is also ordered to take with him three companions to aid him on his journey – Son Goku, Sha Gojyo and Cho Hakkai. After a run in with some demons while trying to meet up with them in the first chapter/first episode, they start on their way west to Tenjiku, where Gyumaoh can be found.

Saiyuki is composed of three manga series and three anime series which span four seasons. The manga series are Gensomaden Saiyuki, Saiyuki RELOAD and Saiyuki Gaiden. The anime series are Gensomaden Saiyuki (seasons 1 and 2), Saiyuki RELOAD and Saiyuki RELOAD Gunlock. Despite the names given, all of the series belong to the same universe of "Saiyuki" created by Kazuya Minekura.  "Saiyuki" is (very) loosely based off of the Chinese classic novel and legend, Journey to the West.


~Characters~

Genjo Sanzo



A Buddhist priest of the highest rank and honor, the title of “Sanzo” is given to a priest who has given responsibility to guard one of the holy texts used to create the world - the Five Scriptures of Heaven and Earth. Genjo Sanzo’s full title is Toua Genjo Sanzo Houshi the 31st.  However, do not let his priestly name deceive you, for he is not the pious man that the masses (at least in the story) think he is. Swearing appears to almost be his first language, and he also drinks, kills, and pretty much acts how a Buddhist priest shouldn’t act. In short, he could be classified as a corrupt priest.

As a baby he was abandoned and put in the Yangtze River, where he was found by Koumyou Sanzo. Koumyou took the baby in and named him “Kouryuu.”

For the first 12 years of his life he lived with his master at the Kinzan temple, where he was raised and trained in the ways of Buddhism. However, he does not believe in gods – all of his faith is in Koumyou Sanzo, his master.

Kouryuu was hated by the other monks and priest of the temple for his shady background (to this day no one in the series knows who his parents are) and for his skill in martial arts and the prayers and chants.

When Kouryuu was 12 years old the Kinzan Temple was attacked by youkai in an attempt to take the Seiten and Maten Scriptures – the scriptures that Koumyou was protector of. In the struggle Koumyou was able to protect the Maten Scripture, but the Seiten Scripture was stolen, and so was his life. Before he died, he gave Kouryuu his holy name, which he currently goes by.

After that for the next several years he wandered in search of the demons that killed his master to take his revenge. During this time people tried to take advantage of him, rape him, and even kill him. As one might suspect, it made him not very trusting in others.  When the series starts Sanzo is 23 years old, and is the "oldest" of the four main characters.

Sanzo's weapons are his martial arts skills, the Maten Scriptures, a banishing gun (specifically a Smith & Wesson M10) and a paper fan.

( Other pictures of Sanzo [picture 1] [picture 2] )


Son Goku



Every series needs an energetic character in the group, and at first glance Goku appears to be just that.  He is the strongest character in the series, and appears to draw his energy from his almost limitless reserves.  With his active attitude it gives him a very large appetite, and the most common phrase to hear coming from his mouth is "I'm hungry." He's also the "youngest" character of the group, and therefore often approaches situations very differently than his friends would.

Goku is probably the most unique character in the series. Born where the auras of the earth gather on top of Mt. Kaka, Goku is neither human, god or youkai. He is a spirit of the earth. However, like youkai, his power functions similar to youkai. When he wears his limiter (for Goku, his golden diadem) he takes on a human appearance, and when it is off he looks like a youkai.

Roughly 500 years ago Goku was captured by Heaven, he was put in the custody of Konzen Douji, Sanzo’s past life. Here he is often seen to be around 8 years old, and he acts like it. This younger Goku (often referred to as Gaiden!Goku ( [picture] ) when talked about within the fandom) gets into lots of mischief, and eventually meets his first real friend in Heaven in this manner – War Prince Nataku. Nataku is also a child, despite what his title suggests.

Both Nataku and Goku have golden eyes. Golden eyes are said to be a source of great fortune, but whether good or bad one cannot be sure. For this reason all who have them are marked as “heretics,” and are despised by (most of) Heaven. It is also important to note the significance of heretics because they are the only ones allowed to take the title “War Prince,” and are the only individuals in Heaven permitted to kill.

Later in Gaiden due to a series of events caused by Nataku’s father as well as the actions taken against it by Konzen, Kenren and Tenpou (Sanzo, Gojyo and Hakkai’s past lives), Goku’s diadem breaks, releasing his “youkai” form – Seiten Taisei. In his rage he leaves behind a bloody massacre, and after he is caught he is sentenced to be imprisoned in Mt. Gogyo and have his memories suppressed. While it is not known how exactly it happens, it is known that Konzen, Kenren and Tenpou die. They have to, because if they didn’t there would be no way they could be reincarnated into their current forms.

Goku does not remember any of this. His first memories in the current timeline are of him in his rocky prison. He lives like this for 500 years, and his body ceases to age during this time.  At the start of the series, he is 518 years old, but for conversation purposes he is referred to as being "18."

Goku's weapons are his fighting skills and his staff, the legendary Nyoi-bo.


Other important characters worth mentioning

Sha Gojyo

[picture]

A youkai/human half-breed with a youkai father and a human mother. Half-breeds are taboo in Tougenkyou, and the mark of their bloodline is shown by red hair and red eyes. Gojyo was raised by his youkai stepmother and his older half-brother who is also a full youkai. When he was young his stepmother tried to kill him but his brother intervened and saved his life.

Today he is a chain smoker, drinker and womanizer. He fights with Goku constantly over the most ridiculous things, but he is like a big brother figure to him. To Sanzo… well, Sanzo calls him a pain in the ass, and so I shall leave it at that. Gojyo also has an affinity for card games, although not nearly as much as the next person.

Cho Hakkai

[picture]

Formerly human, Hakkai is an individual who became a youkai after killing 1000 youkai himself. He was on a quest for revenge for the kidnapping and raping of his lover, who happened to also be his older sister. It is the time period soon after he commits his crimes that he meets Gojyo, and that the two later meet Sanzo and Goku.

For the most part he is calm and level-headed, and is often the peacemaker in the group. His polite mannerisms and the way he carries himself provides a stark contrast to his other three companions, especially since he doesn’t swear at all (please take note that in the English dub of Gensomaden he does, but this is an incorrect adaptation and should not be considered part of his character). It is also Hakkai who is the driver of the jeep in which these four are heading west.

( [Both Gojyo and Hakkai] )

Kougaiji

[picture]

Primary son of Gyumaoh, he was also sealed away in Hotou castle along with his father and mother (and many other people). He is helping with the resurrection of his father not for his father’s sake, but his mother’s. She is sealed away in far too strong a spell for him to break, and has been promised that if he helps with the resurrection, his mother will be freed.

In the process to revive Gyumaoh, all five of the Scriptures of Heaven and Earth are needed. This includes Sanzo’s Maten Scripture, and so Kougaiji is (for a time) put in charge of retrieving it. Most of the time he sends assassins after the group, but there have been a few times where he and his group has run into them themselves.

Whenever there is to be a fight between these two groups, Goku and Kougaiji always face off. They both consider the other a rival, but there is much respect for each other. I do not believe that Kougaiji is a villain, but an “adversary.”


( Groups Shots of Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo and Hakkai: [picture 1] [picture 2] )


~Their History and Relationship~





Sanzo and Goku have one of the most interesting relationships I have ever seen in a series. If one were to try to classify it by a term, I think it would be impossible. While there are hints of master/charge, it isn’t completely that. They also don’t have a brotherly relationship, or any other type of familial relationship for that matter. You can’t say they are best friends (or even friends for that matter, it doesn’t seem to be the right word to define what they have), especially since I believe that both Sanzo and Goku have different people to which they’d give the title of “best friend” to. And even if one were to look at them from a romantic standpoint and call them lovers, I still think that it would be an insufficient term for what they are.

So what are they, exactly? They are Sanzo and Goku, and that’s how I define them.

As I mentioned in the characters’ introduction, Goku and Sanzo have ties that go back 500 years and past other lives. More specifically, Kanzeon Bosatsu entrusted her nephew Konzen Douji (Sanzo’s godly past life) with the care of Goku. Upon Goku seeing Konzen, he says that his hair is shiny and he shines like the sun ( [scan 1] [scan 2] [scan 3] ). Kanzeon says later that it is the best compliment that one can receive ( [scan] ). This starts the famous comparison of Sanzo to the sun in the Saiyuki series.

Later in the chapter, Goku has already started to cause trouble, and even though he "angers easily" he (Konzen) is beautiful.  It is a strange word for a little boy to use (and in the English dub he says "pretty"), and I don't think he would use it if he didn't mean it.  This is something that he canonically says, and whether or not one is a fan, this cannot be denied.  ( [scan 1] [scan 2] )

Fast forward to the start of Gensomaden. The very first page of the manga is actually a flashback to when Sanzo and Goku first meet. Obviously Minekura found it important enough that it had to come first, and it is something that intrigues me to this day. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] ) When Sanzo heard Goku’s voice he followed it until he found him, and when Sanzo reached out for Goku the seals on Goku’s prison dissolved and Goku was freed.

In the first chapter of the manga there is also a page in which shows a glimpse of the defining moment for a majority of either Gojyo, Hakkai or (if he could remember) Goku’s angst, during the conversation between Sanzo and the Sanbutsushin. ( [scan] ) If you look closely at Goku’s, you’ll see that he is younger, and that a man with long hair appears to be falling and bleeding. This has suggested to the fandom that the way Konzen dies is by protecting Goku. However, when this was first published, the Gaiden manga was not available, and so fans were unable to make the connection at that time. Konzen, while different than Sanzo and yet similar at the same time, is not the kind of person who would just sacrifice his life for anyone. The fact that he would for Goku proves that Goku had a profound affect on his life.

As the journey gets underway, the Sanzo party does not just encounter assassins sent by Kougaiji. They also encounter those from their pasts, who for whatever reason have a vendetta against them. Two of these instances – one with Sanzo’s past and one with Hakkai’s past – are some of the best examples of the early roots to their deep bond.

While the story of how Hakkai’s past comes back to him technically happens after Sanzo’s encounter, I’m addressing it here first. As mentioned in the Character Introductions, Hakkai killed 1000 youkai when attempting to avenge/rescue his sister. This family was mostly the clan of Hyakugan Maoh, and the person pursuing him in the current storyline is Chin Yisou, Hyakugan Maoh’s son. ( [picture] ) His goal is not to kill Hakkai, but to break his spirit, and he knows that the best way to do that is by attacking those Hakkai cares about – in this case the other three.

At one point the stress over the mind games is too much for Hakkai, and he faints. Sanzo tells Goku to get some water, and on the way Goku is attacked by Chin Yisou and is unable to get back to the others immediately.

Later after Hakkai wakes up, Goku “returns” to his friends, but something is very off. Those who know Goku know that something is wrong with his demeanor, and one wouldn’t even have to sense their presence (as Sanzo, Gojyo and Hakkai would be able to) to figure out that it isn’t Goku. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] ) Sanzo is so sure, he has no problems pointing a gun at the fake Goku, and making it clear that he is not happy with someone trying to make a copy of Goku. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] [scan 3] )

“Let me add another thing. The only one allowed to call my name carelessly, is that bakazaru!”

Those who have taken Japanese as a language or even learned from watching subtitled anime know that there are a variety of different ways to refer to someone by name. Also whether or not a suffix is used depends on the relationship between the two individuals. The fact that Goku can call Sanzo by his first name and without a suffix shows an incredible amount of trust and that their relationship is very close. Yes Gojyo and Hakkai call Sanzo by his first name as well and Sanzo doesn’t protest to it, but here specifically he says that only Goku is allowed to.

Taking a step back again, we find ourselves at the confrontation with Sanzo’s past. After Koumyou’s death, Sanzo left Kinzan temple in search of the youkai who killed his master and took the Seiten scriptures. What he didn’t know was that the next day the youkai came back in search of the Maten scripture, and in the process slaughtered (almost) all of the monks there. In an effort to stop them, a good friend of Kouryuu’s named Shuuei used a forbidden spell to give him the power to kill all youkai. ( [picture] )  However, this power comes at a price, and it corrodes Shuuei’s soul and turns him into a shell of the man he once was. His new name as a youkai slayer is Rikudo, and makes a name for himself killing youkai.

This quest to kill all youkai does not just affect the bad, but also the good. After an encounter with some crazed youkai in an inn, the Sanzo party meets Rikudo, and Sanzo recognizes him as his old friend Shuuei. However, Rikudo is not the man he once was, and he proceeds to attempt to kill Goku, Gojyo and Hakkai (since they are all youkai, or in Goku’s case feel like youkai). At one point he is about to strike Goku down with his staff, but Sanzo moves to block Goku and is stabbed instead. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] [scan 3] [scan 4] ) Sanzo passes out from the pain, and if he is not treated soon the wound will kill him. However, before they can treat him a change overcomes Goku. He starts to get dizzy and the voices he hears are warped. He sees flashes of someone who looks like Sanzo (who is later discovered to be Konzen), and his diadem shatters into pieces.  ( [scan 1] [scan 2] [scan 3] [scan 4] [scan 5] [scan 6] [scan 7] )

The end result is that Goku has changed into his “youkai” form, Seiten Taisei, ( [picture] ) or the “Great Sage Equal to Heaven.” It is in this form that he committed his great crime 500 years ago, and is the essential reason that Goku keeps his diadem on at all times. In this form, Goku is unaware of those around him, and will strike at anything that moves.

That is what is believed for awhile, anyways.

After Goku returns to normal thanks to some divine help, he keeps a close watch over Sanzo as he rests and recovers from his injury. He is confused about the images he saw while transforming, and is frustrated that he can’t do anything to protect Sanzo. Sanzo is the most important thing to him in the world, and he doesn’t want to be a burden. After he talks with Hakkai, he cheers up a bit, but Hakkai comments to Sanzo (who has been awake during the whole conversation but feigning sleep) that it is he who is the only one who can make Goku so depressed and worried. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] [scan 3] [scan 4] [scan 5] [scan 6] [scan 7] [scan 8] )

Later on in the story the Sanzo party is passing through a desert and hears news in a town that a demon ate a Sanzo priest that had passed through the area not too long ago. Knowing that the priest would have had a scripture on him, Sanzo and the others decide that they need to go and find the lost scripture before possibly Kougaiji and his followers.

Their plan backfires, and they fall into a quicksand trap with lands them in the demon’s castle. While they are able to kill the demon, in the process the castle becomes unstable and Sanzo is poisoned. The building collapses around them, but “coincidentally” (I use quotations because I don’t believe in coincidences for either this series or RL) Kougaiji is nearby, and he discovers that they are down there and is able to blow the sand away with his powers. Before, during, and after the collapse of the castle, Goku can be seen protecting Sanzo by carrying him in several shots. I only picked out two of the general ones – there were plenty more that I decided not to show. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] ) Goku is the one who immediately went to Sanzo’s side and did his best to take care of him, and is the one who protected him against the sand the best he could.

Later, after they are freed, Goku is even willing to carry Sanzo on his back and walk all the way to the village (which is a ways away) if that is what it takes to get Sanzo an antidote to the poison, since their usual method of transportation is unavailable. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] )

Kougaiji offers him a deal. A fight to settle their rivalry of theirs once and for all – to the death. If Kougaiji wins, he gets Sanzo’s Maten Scripture, and if Goku wins, he gets Kougaiji’s flying dragon to take Sanzo to safety. Goku knows that he can’t kill Kougaiji or even hope to defeat him as he is, and so he entrusts Sanzo’s care to Hakkai… and takes off his diadem. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] [scan 3] [scan 4] )

Seiten Taisei is more than enough for Kougaiji, and soon the youkai prince is unconscious. Seiten then proceeds to go after the rest of them, and none of them can hope to fight back. Several attempts are made to get his diadem back on, but he is just to fast and too powerful for any of them to get close.

Then, miraculously, Sanzo is somehow conscious (in an event that even the fans can’t explain), and shoots his gun in the air to catch Seiten’s attention. He then issues a challenge for the earth spirit to attack him - if he’s able to. In their exchange Sanzo purposely throws his gun to the ground – making it clear that he does not need to use bullets against Seiten. Knocked to the ground, Sanzo is vulnerable to Seiten’s attack, but as Seiten looks at Sanzo’s face, he hesitates. Seiten Taisei, who was said to lash out at everything that moved indiscriminately, hesitates.  ( [scan 1] [scan 2] [scan 3] [scan 4] [scan 5] [scan 6] [scan 7][scan 8] [scan 9] [scan 10] )

In that moment Sanzo is able to use his Maten Scripture to help restrain Seiten, and the diadem is replaced. Goku returns to normal, and exhausted, they both pass out.

Afterwards they are able to get back to the village, where they are treated. When Hakkai goes in to check on him, he finds Sanzo awake. After a short chat about the events that transpired, Hakkai informs Sanzo that Goku is in the other room. Sanzo appears to brush it off, but they both know that Sanzo was thinking of Goku. He also comments that Sanzo once said that he doesn’t need any excess baggage, and any they have will be left behind. Goku has his place and can pull his weight. This line was said much better in the anime dub than this translation, and that is the version I am quoting. But the main point is that he (Goku) is important in Sanzo’s eye. ( [scan 1] [scan 2] )

After that Goku is afraid to confront Sanzo in lieu of what he has done. He’s overwhelmed with the notion that he tried to kill his friends and has no memory of it. When he talks about it, he says “even Sanzo,” as if Sanzo is of a whole different class. ( [scan] ) Despite Gojyo’s attempts to cheer him up, he still can’t face Sanzo even though he was the most worried of them all. It’s only with Gojyo holding him in place does he stay, and is forced to face Sanzo. There is an awkward pause when Sanzo enters the room, and the priest breaks it by asking Goku to fetch him a beer. When Goku won’t look him in the eye when he gives it to him, Sanzo puts his hand on the earth spirit’s head, causing him to look up.  ( [scan 1] [scan 2] [scan 3] [scan 4] [scan 5] )

… and yes the moment is ruined by Sanzo hitting him over the head with his paper fan, but Sanzo is not one to show affection easily, so him covering it up with something like a paper fan attack is completely normal.

Seiten Taisei's appearance in the main story is an essential part of Sanzo and Goku's relationship.  It is his concern and worry for Sanzo's safety that Goku searches for the power to protect what is most precious for him.  The first time it happened he had no control over it, but the second time he knew what he could do, and knew this was the only way he could help Sanzo.  Goku would never go to such drastic measures to protect anyone else.

There are also many things that are hard to pinpoint down with a particular event in the series.  As the story progresses, it becomes obvious how much Sanzo hates to be touched.  If someone will attempt to touch him or actually succeeds in doing so, he will shrug them off, knock their hand away or even sometimes react violently.  However, he has no qualms with Goku coming right up to him and touching or tugging on his robes.  Yes he often hits Goku with his paper fan and often tells him to stop irritating him like that, but if Goku was "just another person" he wouldn't be able to get that close.  Also, there are little things like how in the jeep they travel in, Goku always sits behind Sanzo. (ex. [picture] )  From a completely non-story glance, the various pictures that Minekura has drawn for the series outside of the actual manga often have Goku and Sanzo next to each other.  Yes they are sometimes with others or next to other people, but it is a consistent trend that shouldn't be ignored.  That, and there are some pictures (ex. [picture] ) that really make the reader wonder where Minekura's mind was when she drew it.  Perhaps it is just a fan taking it out of context, but with the implications within the series, the chance that it is "just a coincidence" becomes less and less.


~Why?~

Why Sanzo and Goku? The answer is different for every fan, and I can only answer it from my point of view. For me, they are the first fanon slash pairing I ever saw that worked. Previous to reading Sanzo/Goku fan fiction I disliked fanon slash/yaoi/yuri, and one large reason for this was because I could not find valid reasons for the pairing in question. And interesting turn of events happened in November of 2003, and with that turn of events I was willing to give shounen ai another try. Venturing into the Saiyuki section, I started to look for pairings involving Sanzo – who happens to be my favorite character of the series. The first one that I found was a Sanzo/Goku one, and the summary intrigued me and I read it.

I didn’t realize at the time how fortunate I was to find a quality Sanzo/Goku fic in The Pit on the first try. That story helped point out how Sanzo and Goku could work together as a couple, and I dearly wish that I hadn’t lost that link or I would have recced it in this essay. And while I have come to like many other yaoi pairings in the series – and many with Sanzo or Goku with different people – Goku/Sanzo remains my favorite yaoi pairing of Saiyuki, as well as all of anime. They were meant to be, in my eyes, and that is how I will always picture them.


~Community and Story Recommendations~

LJ Communities

blondes_n_sarus

sanzoxgoku

Fan Fiction Sites

Monkey Love - The largest selection of quality Sanzo and Goku fan fiction on the internet that I am aware of.  It features all variations within the pairing as well as all ratings.  HIGHLY recommended.

Tarnished Gold - The FanFiction.net C2 community devoted to them.  It is a selective archive, and per regulations of FanFiction.net only features stories up to the R level.

Individual Stories

( Note:  I did my best away from stories containing explicit sexual content, but there are two stories below that I believe are an exception to this rule due to how Sanzo and Goku are portrayed in the stories.  This, by no means, does not mean that smut for Sanzo and Goku hasn't been done well and in character, but the two stories containing it below showcase their feelings in how I was trying to address them in this essay.

Also, there are two stories below that are my own.  I believe that showing how I personally write Sanzo and Goku together would help explain some of the finer points of my essay. )

Awakenings by stitcher2ficcer
Amid sleepless nights and trying days, Goku comes of age and throws the relationships of the Sanzo-ikkou into chaos.  PG-13
(Also Test of Rain, R)

Bashert by Iapetus
There is no greater peace than finally being with the one you love - and realizing that they love you back. And while physical touch is nice, it's the emotion behind it that means so much more. PG-13

Fade to Black by D-chan
After Gyumaoh's defeat Sanzo finds himself plagued by dreams and nightmares even more than he realizes. PG-13
(Also Breathe Again, R)

Good Enough by iamzuul
Sanzo's in the bath, and he's not washing up. NC-17 WARNING.

Last Christmas by Iapetus
AU. Sometimes what a person really wants for Christmas is not theirs to ask for. NC-17 WARNING.

Rebellion by D-chan
Because Sanzo wasn't ready for Goku to grow up. PG-13

Soliloquium by Pervasive Threnody
There is nothing inherently remarkable about the sight of Sanzo at his morning repast; Goku has seen it umpteen times already, since being brought to this place. But today, he watches with new eyes. G

The Honeymoon by Hth
Deep down, Sanzo has a heart. We're reasonably sure. R

Ticklish by Diva Urd
Goku's thoughts during a certain procedure in Reload Ep. 20... involving a paintbrush. No real spoilers for the end of Reload. PG-13

Undone by Neko-chan -Silvered Tongue-
Sanzo refuses to admit any type of weakness--and Goku tells him that it's okay to admit a weakness sometimes. PG

Winter of Our Discontent by Hallucination
Sanzo struggles to accept the presence of others in his life, and the changes that they bring. PG

::Fin::

Comments and criticisms about my essay would be greatly appreciated.

-Iapetus