Sanzo stared into the golden eyes, his own narrowed, as Goku spoke. No matter how reluctant he was about telling him, Sanzo was certain he was telling the truth.

From the sounds of it, they'd all somehow appeared outside of the coliseum. If Goku had been able to carry him back, then that meant his wounds had been healed the moment Sanzo had collapsed. Landel had made sure that he'd screwed with the monkey's head one last time.

He abruptly released Goku.

In silence, Sanzo finished removing the cigarette, and put it to his lips. With his free hands, he struck up a match, and lit the cigarette. Shaking the match out, he let it drop to the floor, where he ground it out with a sandle.

He took in a few drags, but it wasn't as soothing as it usually was. He had to live with the fact that what happened to him wasn't natural, that he didn't know exactly what occured in that period between blacking out and the morgue last night. Goku had seen everything.

Sanzo let out a small breath."...You did fine."