Author's Notes: August and I started writing this immediately after "A Wish" was finished. This story is based off the song "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling. It is such a beautiful song and we figured it fit the story perfectly. This story takes place immediately after the Kami-sama arc. They had just defeated him, and are back on the road again, injured and all. It is in first person again. August wrote for Hakkai, and I wrote for Gojyo as always. This story will be broken up into six parts as well. Enjoy! And positive feedback is appreciated!

Wherever You Will Go

(Hakkai's POV)

For the first time in what seems like months, it is eerily silent in the Jeep.

I never expect Sanzo to be an avid speaker; my seat mate is antisocial at his very best, and he usually sleeps or simply stares off in the distance, to the west, whenever we travel. It is always Gojyo and Goku who fill the miles with noise, whether it is raucous laughter or defensive bickering. But for once, even Goku has been cowed into silence, and we ride like that for hours.

One would think that our near defeat at the hands of Kami-sama would unite us as a group, bring about a sense of camaraderie that we usually skirt around when thrown together, but it hasn't. Sanzo refuses to acknowledge our existence, and any time Goku so much as ventures a question, he is greeted by quick gunfire and a steely glare from the surly monk.

Even I can't look at Gojyo in the rearview mirror; I feel his eyes on the back of my neck. Anytime I so much as begin to, I'm jolted back into reality by the memory of his departure. He left and never said a word. Just made his bed and took off on his own twisted rescue mission. Though it makes me seem like a spoiler child, I can't help but be angry with him. He vanished without a trace for days, while I fretted over the fact that I forgot to leave a note telling him I was going to the market back when we lived in the village. It wasn't fair for him to do these things; to act like he was the only one who mattered and that he could just do this without anyone caring. He didn't understand how much his absence mattered to us, mattered to me, and I don't think he ever quite will. I'm living on edge now; even though I don't want to be, because even though he's come back, what's to keep him from leaving again?

(Gojyo's POV)

I shoulda known they'd come after me.

And lemme tell ya, they did not look very happy to see me. Not at all.

Especially, Hakkai.

I had good (at least, I thought they were good) reasons for leavin'. That Kami-sama bastard killed Kinkaku and his brother Ginkaku, for no real reason at all. The murder o' anyone is bad n' all, but Christ, they were kids! I still can't wrap my mind around how someone could have the balls to kill. 'Course Kami-sama was a pretty twisted son of a bitch. He got what was comin' to him that's for sure. Wish I coulda done more, but he's gone now.

Good fuckin' riddance.

But now, I got other things to worry about. No sense in dwellin' on the past, I suppose…

He hasn't looked at me once. Four hours of drivin' and he doesn't spare me so much as a glance. Guess he has a decent reason and all, but I'm beginnin' to wonder how long its gonna take for him to get over it.

It would be stupid for me to ask myself 'Why does he care so much'? He's my best friend, so why would he not be worried?

I can't stop myself from lookin' at him, even though its only the back of his head. I would try and start a conversation, but he'd probably give me some smart ass response, or not bother sayin' anything.

I don't even have the will to argue with Goku, and that's sayin' a lot. All I can do is watch him and the monk have the occasional back-and-forth, and that only keeps me amused for so long.

The sudden stop of the Jeep jerks me uncomfortably forward, only makin' my already sore muscles hurt even worse. I just caught the gist of the current conversation.

Apparently the monkeys roomin' with Sanzo tonight.

That means Hakkai is with me.

Great…

-End of Part One-