[Generic Disclaimer: Saiyuki and all the affiliated characters are copyright to Kazuya Minekura. No profit has or will be made off of this fiction.]

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~Tadaima~

Summary: Absence makes the heart grow fonder... and a few other things. Reunions should be so fun.

Warnings: R Fairly mild citrus; rated R to be safe.

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"He's back!"

A rousing voice shattered the quiet of early evening at Chou'an Temple. All across the grounds, monks and acolytes, eager to be distracted, abandoned their duties and went scurrying toward the origin of the call. A chattering, excited crowd began to form, jostling for a glimpse at the cause of all the excitement; they were quickly rewarded when the source of the commotion stepped through the large main gate.

Genjo Sanzo, in all his temperamental glory, had returned. Clothed in his finest, golden hair bathed in the waning light of the sun, the highest-ranking monk in the land was a sight to see. As it was nearly anywhere he went, the crowd seemed eager to bask in his aura. They surrounded him as he crossed the courtyard, plying him with all manner of questions, requests and suggestions.

Sanzo-sama, shall I bring some tea?" a young monk asked.

"Sanzo-sama, we are glad to see you've returned," piped up an elder. "We hope your journey went smoothly...."

"SANZO!"

Yet another onlooker had caught up with the procession. Son Goku hurtled down the path, eyes alight, trying his best to maneuver through the crowd. When he was at a sufficient proximity, he aimed himself at his target and leapt, heedless of whoever was still in the way.

"What the hell?" Sanzo spluttered. He took a step to the side, and Goku cannonballed into a group of people, who rolled their eyes and pushed him away.

"I told you not to do that here," the monk warned with a glare. Goku merely grinned, straightened, and dusted himself off.

"So what?" he countered, smiling happily. "Welcome back, Sanzo."

"Hn." Sanzo was moving forward again, and Goku hastened to catch up so he could walk alongside, brushing against Sanzo's arm as they walked.

"Sanzo-sama, the elders request to meet with you...."

"Die," Sanzo threw over his shoulder, striding away with Goku close beside him.

Sensing the commotion was over the crowd began to dissipate. By the time the two young men had reached Sanzo's room, it was only them and a terrified-looking acolyte trailing along behind. Sanzo turned and eyed him pointedly; the boy set down the tea tray he was holding and scurried off. Sighing, he picked up the tray and nudged open the door. Goku followed, shutting the door behind them.

Sanzo had just enough time to set the tray aside and remove his crown before Goku pounced, wrapping strong legs around his waist. He was drawn into an effusive, crushing embrace as the young man wrapped slender arms around his neck and held on tight.

"I'm so glad you're home," Goku whispered, kissing Sanzo's shoulder where it met his neck. He was rewarded with a grumbling response from the ever-cranky monk

"I can see that. Now get off.” Gloved arms encircled the small body in a Sanzo-esque fit of incongruity, and the youth sighed.

"Okay."

Slowly, Goku's legs untangled from Sanzo's waist, one following the other, sliding against his body and coming to rest flush against his thighs. The sound of quickened breathing echoed in the air as they stood pressed together, each waiting for the other to move.

Goku won. Unable to resist any longer, he rose onto his toes, inclined his head, and molded their lips together. Golden eyes slid shut and he tilted his head back, worshiping with his mouth and a gentle murmur that might have been a prayer. He got his answer when Sanzo responded in kind, unable to push Goku away despite his own perpetual reluctance. The result was electrifying. Goku abandoned his reverence and assaulted Sanzo's mouth, kissing him over and over.

"You've gone mad," Sanzo managed to gasp as Goku's lips found his neck and throat. His head fell back and he fought a moan. "Were you really that bored while I was gone?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Goku stopped, pressed his nose into Sanzo's collarbone, and clung to him fiercely. "That wasn't three months, it was three years."

"I wasn't gone that long," Sanzo grumbled, giving a final try at appearing annoyed. But he matched him kiss for kiss when their lips met again, pushing aside rational thought as heat swept over his body in waves. The hell with appearances.

They traded kisses back and forth. Suddenly wanting the upper hand, Sanzo swept his tongue across Goku's teeth and demanded entrance to his mouth.With a half-groan, half-purr, Goku relented. His knees sagged and he fell forward, pressing his hips into Sanzo's involuntarily.

"I hate it when you do that," he breathed, breaking the kiss and looking up with lust-glazed eyes.

"Do you?" Sanzo smirked. He shifted, pushing back with his own hips, and was rewarded with a strained whimper. "I'll bet you hate this too," he breathed in Goku's ear, licking it. Goku cried out softly, thrusting his hips forward and rubbing against him.

"San*zo*...." the voice, low and husky, aroused Sanzo more than he would ever dream of admitting. "Shut up," he ordered, tangling his fingers in soft brown hair before reaching down to tug at Goku's shirt. The owner of the shirt obliged, lifting his arms. Once it was gone, Sanzo wasted no time showering the bare skin with licks and kisses as his hands worked on removing Goku's jeans. Weak-kneed, the young man nearly collapsed, his breathing completely ragged. With a sporting roll of the eyes Sanzo half-dragged, half pushed him to the bed.

"There," he growled, pressing him backward. "Before you pass out." And their bodies fell, melting into each other in a tumble of arms and legs.

Somehow, in the midst of it all, Goku managed to untangle himself, pulling away as if to get up. Instead of leaving, however, he rolled back the way he'd come. It brought him on top of Sanzo, who tried to push him off, but his hands were knocked away as Goku proceeded to divest him of his clothing. The distraction was enough to make him forget about the point he was trying to make, and he let it slide.

He had to sit up for Goku to get his robes off, and the cloth obscured his vision before it was tossed aside. "You wear too damn much clothing," Goku rasped, tugging on the leather top and dropping it over the edge of the bed. He pressed his lips to Sanzo's chest, kissing it hungrily as he fumbled with the rest of the man's clothing.

"I do it to annoy you," Sanzo responded with what little wit he had left, pretending to ignore his partner and watching with interest as his gloves were flung aside. It worked. Spurred on by the jab, Goku made short, impatient work of Sanzo's jeans. They fell effortlessly from his slender hips and were kicked aside.

Once the final item of clothing was gone, Goku's mood shifted. He pushed Sanzo back to the bed, and then leaned forward until his head was resting against bare chest. "I missed you so much," he murmured, turning his face to nuzzle the warmth.

"Did you, now?" Sanzo’s deep voice reverberated through his body and rumbled against Goku’s cheek. Content, he laughed at the pleasant feeling.

"I did," he whispered, lifting his head. His eyes sparked with mischief. "I was swimming in this bed all alone."

Sanzo rolled his eyes. "Did Gojyo teach you that? You've spent way too much time with that pervert."

"Have I?" Goku leaned forward, a sly smile gracing his features. Planting soft kisses on Sanzo's face as his hands traveled elsewhere, he whispered, "I'll make you glad I did."

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When it was over, Goku refused to let go. He curled up by Sanzo's side, head on his chest, and listened to his thudding heartbeat as it gradually slowed.

"That was incredible," he purred hoarsely. "Don't ever leave again."

"What if I do?" Sanzo's hand fell on his head, brushing aside damp, sweaty tendrils of hair.

"You won't," Goku murmured, leaning for a final kiss. Golden eyes drooped shut, and he yawned. "I won't let you."

A smirk in the darkness. "I'd like to see you try."

"Oh, that would be fun...."

"Shut up."

"Okay, okay." Lulled by the gentle heartbeat that was so much like his own, Goku melted into dreamland, his hold on his sun never loosening. Sanzo soon followed, arms sliding up to hold him close before exhaustion took its toll.

Reunited once more, they slept.

[~:.:~]

[owari]