Part One: I Think
The monkey looked up, stupefied. The voice of one priest had made him come back to reality and look beyond the cave he was trapped within.
"Huh?"
"I said shut up. Your voice is annoying the hell outta me." Sanzo said, preparing to point the gun at his head. He thought about blowing the monkey once, but something had stopped him. He looked up toward the sun and then back at the dazed creature before him. He slowly exhaled and extended his hand. "Come on, Goku. Let's go."
Goku reached for his hand still dumbfounded. "But I… I didn't say anything…" he started following Sanzo out of the dark isolation.
"Shut up. Just follow me." He turned and started heading toward the west.
I know I heard him calling me…
Goku stood before the cave, watching Sanzo walk down the mountain. He looked back at the cave that had once held him captive for what seemed forever. Freedom had finally opened its doors to him.
It's here. I'm finally…free
"You better hurry up before I leave your ass behind!" Sanzo called, looking back at the monkey, still wondering why he didn't hit him when he had the chance. "And wipe that stupid look off your face before I take it off for you."
Goku snapped out of his reverie once hearing the priest's voice again. He slowly caught up to Sanzo. "I… uh… thank you…" he looked back once more at the cave that would now become a memory of the past. "…Just, thank you."
Sanzo cocked an eyebrow and looked back at the monkey. "Feh… Whatever."
He took out a green lighter, lit a cigarette from the pack inside his robe, and continued slumping grudgingly into the sunset.
---
"Come on, Sanzo! I'm gonna die of starvation!" Goku whined, while acting as if death were an inch away. "Hey, Sanzo? If Hakkai and Gojyo don't show up in the next five minutes, can we go eat something? Huh? Can we?" the starved monkey looked up at the priest with his wide and shiny brown eyes, hoping for a positive reply.
"If you don't shut up in the next five seconds you won't even make it to civilization! So shut it monkey!" Sanzo pulled out his fan from inside his robe, and whacked the monkey across the left temple
Goku rubbed the bruised spot. "Well sor-ry! I can't help it if I'm hungry!" he groaned, and dragged his feet, annoyed.
"Just shut up before I hit you again!" the priest cried, using his body language to threaten hurting him once more.
Goku fell silent, while Sanzo continued walking down the street. The five minutes seemed to have passed rather slowly. The tired, sweaty priest sighed as a simple bar up ahead caught his eye. "Whatever, Goku… Go ahead and get us a table…"
Goku raised his head slowly and looked toward the bar. "YAY, FOOD!" He ran towards the building as if he was a child and the bar was a candy shop. Not that that didn't define him already, laughing and scampering around like crazy…
Sanzo walked in, seeing Goku already slurping away at his ramen. He slipped into a chair and lit a cigarette. "Slow down, monkey. You're gonna choke, and I'm not gonna be the one to save your sorry ass." He warned cocking an eyebrow. He glanced over at the entrance, expecting them to walk in any minute, but no one was there.
Goku slowed down but continued to mimic a vacuum cleaner. "So, Sanzo…" he said in between bites - "…when do you think…" - he drank the broth left from the ramen and set the bowl down - "…they will get here?" He grabbed a sushi roll and looked back at Sanzo.
"Beats the hell outta me…" He smashed his cigarette in the ash tray, and took a sip from his beer.
"Hey there guys!" said and anonymous, yet friendly voice.
"Yeah. That stupid monkey can never stop eating, can he?" muttered a second voice from behind.
Goku looked up from his plate to see Hakkai and Gojyo standing by their table. He leaped out of his chair and ran to give Hakkai a small hug. "Hakkai! Gojyo! Where were you guys?"
"Hey there, Goku!" Hakkai placed his hand gently on the monkey's head.
Sanzo pulled out yet another cigarette and lit it up. "Hey… Go ahead and order. Just know I'm not paying for you since you were late." He muttered, exhaling a ring of smoke
"You wouldn't have even paid if we were on time." Gojyo laughed trying to steal a scrap from Goku's plate.
"HEY! Get your own food you perverted kappa!" Goku snatched the plate off the table and held it close to his chest as if he were a baby.
"Heh. You're right. You lose either way, don't you? Anyways, since we're on the subject, I'd be stupid not to ask: Why were you guys late?" Sanzo snarled and took another sip of his beer.
"Well, as you can see…" Hakkai held his forearm to show it bandaged up. "We had a little… bad encounteron the way here. We were fortunate enough to stumble into a hotel near by here and the owner offered to treat our wounds." Hakkai then lifted up his shirt to show to show chest covered in bandages and cloths.
Goku stopped yelling at Gojyo, noticing Hakkai's injuries. "Wha-? When did this happen?" he looked over at Gojyo to see that he had a band-aid poorly attached to his left cheek.
Sanzo pulled out his fan and whacked Goku across his head again. "For once, just listen! He just explained what happened! If you were too busy fighting with that kappa then too bad!" Sanzo pulled out yet another cigarette to smoke.
"Owie! That hurts, Sanzo! That's like the second time you've hit me there tonight!" He moaned, rubbing his head in the same place, feeling a bump begin to form there
"Yeah. Whatever…" Sanzo looked towards the entrance, slightly surprised to see five youkai walking in. He reached for his gun just in case. "You guys can watch your own sorry asses…" He smirked, looking over at Hakkai, Goku, and Gojyo.
"You've gotta be shitting me? These are the same fools from earlier! Haven't they learned anything from last times fight?" Gojyo hissed, slamming his cup on the table.
Hakkai stiffened at eh sight of the youkai that had slashed at his chest and successfully wounded him.
"Oh man! I don't like fighting right after I've eaten. My food hasn't even digested fully yet!" Goku whined as he looked toward the pack of youkai.
"Well, well, well… Look what we have here guys. It's The Cockroach and Mr. Pretty Boy. Oh, and look! They have some friends. What pleasure it would be to kick all of you bastards…" One of the youkai said while cracking his knuckles.
Gojyo turned toward Hakkai. "You probably shouldn't move; stay here. Got it?"
"But I-"
"No buts. Stay." Gojyo stood up and turned toward the youkai. "So… I see you guys have returned for another ass beating."
"Don't get cocky with me, you kappa!" One of the youkai, who seemed to be their leader, charged at Gojyo. The other four followed close behind accept their targets were Sanzo, Goku, and Hakkai.
CLICK! In an instant, Sanzo aimed his pistol at the youkai's head. "Die. you piece of shit." He snarled; his cigarette still popped in his mouth. BAM! BAM! Two shots were fired, thus leaving the youkai to fall to the floor.
"Die, you faggots!" Goku yanked out his Nyoi-Bo and knocked out one of the three youkai leftover.
Hakkai stood up seeing one of the last two youkai still living coming toward him. He stuck out his hand and started chanting. "Nyozegamon Ichiji Haku Ga Bou Sei Shuu-"
"NYOI-BO!" Goku smashed the youkai's head before it was even in a three-foot-range of Hakkai. He looked up sympathetically at his green-eyed friend. "You're not supposed to be fighting, 'member? So sit back and watch. 'K?"
"Heh…sorry." Hakkai smiled back at Goku, scratching the back of his head uneasily.
"Took you guys a while." Gojyo smirked as he sat on top of the leader of the youkai gang, who's lifeless body had now become a comfortable place to sit. "So you guys ready to hit the sack? 'Cause I'm tired as hell."
Goku yawned and slumped toward the entrance. "Yeah. Let's go. I'm sleepy too."
---
"WHAT? ONLY TWO ROOMS?" Sanzo looked at the clerk to make sure he heard him correctly.
"I'm sorry sir. We could bring in mats, pillows and blankets for your other companions but you will still have to share the rooms."
"Bah. Whatever. Just get the rooms, Sanzo. Me and Hakkai can share a room and you and Goku can have the other," Gojyo shrugged while slipping the money from Sanzo's grasp and handing it to the clerk.
"Thank you sir. Room 134 and 135. Enjoy."
"Whatever. Come on Goku," Sanzo mumbled, marching grudgingly up the stairs and to their aisle, leading them to their rooms.
"'Night guys. See you tomorrow morning." Hakkai yawned, waving to Sanzo and Goku.
"Night Hakkai!" Goku closed the door behind them. "Okay, so who's gonna get the -"
"Me. I get the bed." Sanzo said softly, yet firmly, sitting on the edge of the bed and lighting a cigarette.
"Aw, come on, Sanzo. Bah. Whatever… Sanzo?" Goku sat on the mat, and looked up at his companion.
"Hm?" Sanzo lied down, still puffing smoke rings into the air.
"I'm worried," Goku whispered. He lied back down on the mat that was parallel to the bed, and placed his hands casually behind his head.
"God! What now?" Sanzo smashed his cigarette angrily in the ash tray.
"Well…" He looked over at Sanzo with melancholy eyes. "You've been smoking a lot more lately. It worries me… Is there something wrong?" Goku sat up now, still looking at Sanzo. "Maybe I can fix it. That's all…"
Sanzo turned over, facing the wall. "Feh. I can smoke whenever I want. And it's not like you could fix anything anyways."
Goku stood up and sat at the edge of Sanzo's bed. "Yeah, I could! And I'm just concerned, Sanzo! That's all!" Goku's face was now hovering over Sanzo's.
Sanzo pushed the monkey's face away. "Feh. Yeah right… Now go to bed."
Goku crossed his arms and then lay down again. He turned over, his back facing the bed.
I was just concerned…that's all…
---
Hakkai walked in, followed by Gojyo.
"Okay. Go lay on the bed while I get the bandages." Gojyo ordered, facing Hakkai.
"Huh?" Hakkai whispered, dumbfounded at Gojyo's comment.
"Your wounds. They need to be treated, otherwise they'll get infected."
Gojyo went into the bathroom and came back out with gauze, bandages and a small bottle of alcohol. "Lay down."
Hakkai lied down on the bed, and took off his shirt. "Uh, Gojyo? I could do it myself if you -"
Gojyo placed a silencing finger on Hakkai's mouth. "No. I'll do it. You're gonna hurt yourself if I let you." He slowly started to unravel the old bandage.
Hakkai blushed slightly after having Gojyo's finger touch his lips.
Gojyo took the gauze and poured a little alcohol on it, "Now this may sting a little. Okay?" He warned, before he slowly dabbed Hakkai's wound.
Hakkai winced slightly. "Oww…" he groaned a little while clutching the bed sheets.
"I'm sorry Hakkai. I don't mean to put you through pain, but I can't have you dying on me." He poured a little more alcohol on the gauze, and started wiping the wound again. Though this time, for some reason, he started admiring Hakkai's physique.
What the fuck am I doing? Thinking of Hakkai like that… well… he does have a nice body but…
"Ow!" Hakkai screamed, clutching the sheets tighter.
Gojyo was brought back to reality, once hearing his friend scream in pain.
"Oh! Sorry! I was… uh… thinking… that's all. Sorry…" He quickly grabbed the new bandage and wrapped it around Hakkai's chest, with as much tenderness as he could muster.
Hakkai stopped wincing and peered at Gojyo for a moment.
This man… he's always there for me… He was there when it was raining that one night and I was just lying there… And even, he's keeping me alive…
"There you go. You should get some sleep, but I'm gonna stay up," Gojyo whispered and stood.
Hakkai nodded. "Okay… and… um… Thank you." Hakkai lied down and turned toward Gojyo. "You know, you are always there for me... You were then and you are here now…"
"Huh? What's this about?" Gojyo turned toward Hakkai with his eyebrow cocked.
He smiled and turned around, facing the wall, and closed his eyes. "I just thought I'd tell you 'thank you'… That's all"
Gojyo just sat there, thinking about his friend… And his comment.
You don't need to thank me… You just happened to be there on my way home. That's all… I think…