November 25, 2004

I return. It seems the muses to which I am assigned only deign to bless me with a decent idea for a story once every two months or so. And then, it’s fluff or something of the sort. I’ve lodged a formal complaint; in the meanwhile, there’s this.

Takes place somewhere near the end of the journey, assuming a pre-established relationship. And beware of falling yaoi - a brief scene of it, at least. The story stands on its own without it, but it was an exercise of courage for me to write and leave it in. Enjoy. I hope. :)

Also: I'm really happy with this new and improved QuickEdit. Now, in addition to not formatting stories properly, it also crashes Netscape. Hooray!

A Feline’s Touch
By Pervasive Threnody

It was the hour before dawn; and for no apparent reason, Sanzo was awake.

Though initially annoying the abrupt return to consciousness, which had very rudely interrupted a pleasant dream sequence, was now working in his favor. Lying curled onto his side, surrounded by soft cotton sheets and bolstered by the down pillow beneath his head, Sanzo gave in and drowsed. So rarely was his world in such a state of quiet calm that it was difficult now to not savor what sensory comfort he was afforded.

However, it seemed the peaceful moment was to be short-lived.

The blankets shifted; a warm body pressed itself into Sanzo’s back, and a pair of equally-tempered arms found their way around his midsection. Sanzo inhaled, tensed slightly with the conditioning born from years of shunning human contact, and then relaxed. He closed his eyes again, warm and comfortable and ready to sleep.

And then he heard it. Felt it, too.

Sanzo’s eyes flew open once more. He frowned, tried to trace the source of the noise. It didn’t take much effort. Shifting inside the arms encircling him, Sanzo maneuvered himself until he was partially able to look over his shoulder.

“You’re purring.”

The rumbling against his back stopped. “You know you like it.”

“I’m not answering to that. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Nothing’s wrong with me.” Goku began to purr again. “I’m just super-happy right now.”

In spite of a better judgment, Sanzo found himself soothed by the sensation. Still and all, though pleasantly appeased, it would not do to allow this new development to go uninvestigated. “Where, exactly, did you learn to do this?”

“Didn’ hafta learn,” Goku slurred, mashing his face into Sanzo’s back. The diadem’s metallic coolness stung his heated skin; raising his shoulder, Sanzo shrugged away the affection.

“You didn’t, did you.” It was not a statement, rather a question born of Sanzo’s curiosity upon discovering yet another of Goku’s many talents. At the same time, it was part of the game to not let on that he really wanted to know more.

“Nope, I didn’t.” Goku yawned and stretched forward, pressing his hips into Sanzo’s lower back; fighting a pleased hiss, Sanzo bit his lip and ground his teeth. “And I know how t’do other stuff, too.”

It was obvious what Goku wanted, and Sanzo knew he was going get it. But it didn’t hurt to put up a struggle; in the end, their odd brand of flirtation only served to add to the enjoyment.

“We are NOT doing that here.” With a quick flip of his body, Sanzo turned and captured Goku’s wandering fingers in his larger hands. “So go back to bed.”

“No one’s listening,” Goku said, his eyes glinting. “They’re all ‘sleep.”

They were nose-to-nose now. “No, you’ve probably woken them all up by this time. What the hell are you, a cat?”

“Everyone tells me ‘m a monkey,” Goku said with a wiggle. A hand slipped free of Sanzo’s grasp and walked its way southward. “My name’s Goku. Will you play with me? Eek eek.”

“There really is something wrong with you.” Sanzo groaned and bit his lip, his belly twitching with the effort of holding back a laugh. “Stop it, already.”

“Stop what?” Goku grinned and showed all his teeth. Monkey, indeed. “Somebody’s trying not to laugh, isn’t he…”

“I am NOT. Cut it out, I said.”

It was a lost cause. Goku’s fingers, busy trailing across Sanzo’s abdomen on their trek toward his nether regions, suddenly stopped in mid-crawl. “What’s this? I sense someone is feeling extra stubborn this morning.”

“Yes, he is. And he’s also tired.” Sanzo brushed Goku’s hand away. “Go back to sleep. Monkey or cat or whatever you are, I’m not playing with you today.”

A sigh issued in response. “All right,” Goku said with a boyish pout. He drew nearer to Sanzo’s warmth and twined his arms around him once more, hands coming to rest on the rise and fall of his lover’s ribcage.

Then, he attacked.

“What the!” Before he could get away, Sanzo found himself pinned to the mattress beneath a flurry of fingers.” “St-stop, God-dammit! Goku!”

“Goku’s not here,” was the sing-song answer. “Just a stupid monkey.” Before Sanzo could formulate a proper retort, the murderous fingers moved in for the kill. With a fierce nip to the inside of his cheek, Sanzo fought to get away before he succumbed, but it was no good. Goku was far, far stronger than he; resist as Sanzo might, there was no escape...

“Okay, you win! STOP – TICK-LING – ME ALREADY!”

“Say ‘Monkey’,” Goku whispered mischievously, his fingers digging deeper into Sanzo’s ribs; convulsing with laughter, Sanzo gasped for breath.

“Monkey,” he wheezed as he fought to bring his mirth under control, “You … are dead.”

The fingers ceased their torture. “I knew you’d see it my way.”

There was no answer from Sanzo until he’d finished sucking air. When he could talk again he grabbed at his aching sides and groaned. “That…wasn’t funny,” he finally said. “Don’t ever do it again.”

“No guarantees,” his attacker panted, a little out of wind himself. “But at least I got you to laugh.”

And then Goku kissed him, pressing their hips together, his lips curving in a smile of contentment as Sanzo’s body responded in kind. “Y’might as well kiss back,” he murmured, gently rubbing against his lover and emitting a soft rumbling growl. “Cause I know you’re good ‘n’ awake now.”

The hell with it; he’d already lost his dignity once today, and trying to resist Goku’s affections was useless anyhow. “You,” Sanzo proclaimed, “are a very, very bad monkey.” So saying, he gave his offender a swat on the ass. Goku’s eyes lit up and he gave a surprised start.

“Yes, I am,” the monkey then said happily. “I need to be punished.”

“For once, you’re right,” Sanzo deadpanned. “But that’s just what you want, isn’t it? Give me one good reason why I should give you what you want.”

----

“Shit!”

As his strangled cry pierced the air, Sanzo’s white-knuckled grip on the bed sheets tightened and his back arched. With a loud groan, he fought for control of his senses. “Stop and I’ll kill you,” he hissed as he gasped for breath.

The hand encircling his erection suddenly ceased its motion. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” Goku whispered, reaching up to kiss him as he spoke; with a growl of frustration Sanzo nonetheless leaned forward to accept the proffered lips.

And was promptly denied as Goku’s head disappeared under the rumpled blankets.

Sanzo abandoned rational thought with a loud groan as Goku’s mouth took him in, all the way down. Fierce waves of pleasure gripped him tightly and he bucked upward; Goku took it in stride, lips forming a smile around Sanzo’s member as he followed the movement, and then he began to suck. Gently, teasingly, with maddeningly slow strokes of his tongue. Sparks danced in front of his vision; in a single movement, Sanzo disengaged a fist and used it to fling the concealing sheets forward. Goku’s exposed eyes began to sparkle when he saw the look on his lover’s face.

“Are we having fun yet?” he murmured around the flesh in his mouth. Sanzo clenched his eyes shut at the sensation and moaned.

“You,” he rasped with tremendous effort, forcing himself to breathe, “You are ten times worse than a monkey.”

To that Goku smirked. “No, I’m better, ‘cuz monkeys can’t do this.” He returned his lips to Sanzo’s erection, thrusting it deeply into his mouth and starting to purr once more. The gentle vibrating sensation and warmth of Goku’s lips and tongue at last proved too much for Sanzo’s body. With a hoarse cry, he came.

As the incredible high ended, Sanzo opened his eyes to find Goku’s face resting peacefully on his stomach. “You always taste good,” the youth said with a giggle, and ducked the weak thwap aimed at his head. “Does this mean you’re going to punish me now?”

Well, if he wanted “punishment”, Goku was going to have his way. “You asked for it,” Sanzo said huskily. Then, energized once more at the prospect he commanded, “Come here, you little brat.”

As he was rolled onto his back, hands pinned above his head, Goku merely laughed at the threat. “I’m a glutton for your discipline,” he said with a pleased sigh.

Time ceased to exist.

----

The sun had risen before Sanzo returned again to wakefulness. Its warmth spilled through the window and illuminated the slitted amber eyes locked on his face. A calloused hand, fingers lazily threading through waterfalls of golden hair, stopped and rested against his cheek.

“’K’you,” Goku finally whispered, burying his face into Sanzo’s neck; Sanzo fought a smile.

“You’re purring again.”

“Muh huh.”

“You’re so confusing.”

“Yuh.”

“And annoying.”

Goku sunk his teeth into the column of Sanzo’s throat. “Just shuddup already.”

“Fine, fine. Just stop biting me like that. It hurts.”

They lay together a bit longer. Then Goku said, “Y’know, you’re the real cat.”

“Oh?” Sanzo couldn’t stop himself from sounding surprised. “Do tell.”

“Yup, y’are.” Goku yawned. “Cause you know what you want, but ya won’t ever admit it. So I gotta chase ya, an’ catch ya, an’ rub y’r ears ‘til you stop tryin’ ta get away.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” Sanzo huffed. “Plus, what does that make you, then?”

“Just the monkey.” Goku made a sleepy noise. “But I guess that’s okay.”

“Monkeys aren’t supposed to purr,” Sanzo pointed out before answering with his own exhausted yawn. “Stop being such a contradiction.”

“Too bad. This one does,” Goku answered. His eyes drooped. “I can’t help it, it’s your fault anyway… but I’ll try an’ stop if y’want me to…”

There was little point in trying to lie about it. “I don’t mind it so much,” Sanzo admitted. “Just don’t do it in public or I’ll kill you.”

“No guarantees.”

“You’d forget you made them anyway.”

Two very satisfied felines, they curled around each other and slept.

-Owari-

My thanks to you for reading! Yes, purring!Goku is rather weird. But I couldn’t resist; it does seem like something he ought to be able to do. He’s multi-talented, that monkey. -grin- Just another of his Sanzo-taming tools…

-whistles innocently and walks away-