Hello. My second fic. Can't say my first is all good, but I've got an obligation to my few reviewers. It's called "A Gift for Kou." Try it; maybe you'll like it, ne? As for this fic, please review; even flames are appreciated and responded to, though constructive criticism would help more. This fic'll be Goku/OC, which should be kinda fun. For those of you who think some of this chapter looks like Gojyo/Hakkai or Gojyo/Goku (Yuck!), you are sadly mistaken. Not that I have anything against that, I like some shonen-ai fics; this just won't be one. I'm telling you now, all reviews will be responded to, though I'd rather answer nicely; for what reason I wouldn't, who knows….. Right now I'm sitting at my computer, trying to think of a name for this fic and getting bitten by ALL THESE DAMN MOSQUITOES!!!! Sorry, they really itch. Grrrrr.
Disclaimer: I don't own a monkey. I don't have a cat either, but I'm getting one soon….
The four companions sped down the road to the town not far ahead. The gate, still open for the day, was visible as the road rose, then disappeared again as they sank into a rut. In the front, Hakkai drove steadily, avoiding potholes and bumps, as Sanzo read the newspaper he picked up in the last town, his reading glasses perched neatly on his nose; a cigarette held in his right hand.
In the back of the jeep, Gojyo sat sprawled on his seat, a similar cigarette held precariously between his lips, while Goku was asleep, his head leaning against the side; bumping as Hakuryuu sped down the road.
Gojyo's cigarette soon burned out and he fished another one from his vest pocket. He pulled out his lighter and stuck the cigarette in his mouth; positioning the lighter under the tip, he flicked it until it sparked, holding down the gas. He waited for it to light but no flame showed. Dropping the cigarette, he held up the lighter and flicked it a few more times.
"Damn it," he muttered. "Out of gas. Hey, Sanzo! Can I borrow your lighter?"
"No."
"Come on Sanzo, I need a light!"
"No."
"Why the hell not? I need a cigarette!"
"No."
Goku managed to stay asleep throughout the conversation, his feet propped up on the seat, his head supported by his pack.
"Don't worry Gojyo," Hakkai told him. "We can pick up another at this town."
"Fine," Gojyo grumbled. "But I need a smoke now!" He bent down and rifled through his bag. Reaching in the very bottom, he pulled out a small black lighter.
"See," Sanzo said. "You do have a lighter."
"Pretty crappy one," Gojyo muttered, but held it up to his mouth. He flicked it and pressed down the gas. After a second he yelled and dropped it on the jeep floor, receiving a small 'kyuu' from Hakuryuu.
"Damn it!" he yelled. "I told you this lighter sucked, Sanzo! Look at this!" He displayed a bright red thumb, skin slightly shiny.
"Go figure," Sanzo said, not putting down the paper. "It doesn't work. He actually got something right."
"Stupid monk! You knew that would happen if I used that lighter!"
"Of course. You use it every time the silver one runs out of gas." Sanzo finished the last page of the newspaper and folded it neatly, sticking it under his seat. He closed his reading glasses and stuck them back into some pocket in his voluminous robes.
Gojyo glared but, as usual, stuck the faulty tool back into his pocket.
Sanzo reached into his pocket, pulled out his lighter, and tossed it back to Gojyo.
"Dumbass monk! You just wanted me to get burned!" He glared at the white robed figure in the front seat, but still used it to light his singed cigarette. He sat back, flipped the lighter back into Sanzo's lap, and settled down.
Hakkai smiled, but said nothing.
"Gojyo."
Gojyo looked at Sanzo. "Yeah?"
"The last town we went to, people weren't all that excepting of you. I think you should cover your hair and eyes until we see whether or not they like demons."
"What? We don't have anything like that."
"Yes we do," Hakkai cut in. "Before the last town chased us out, I saw how hostile they were, so I bought these."
He directed Gojyo to reach into his bag and pull out a woolen cap and sun glasses.
"I'm not wearing these! I'd look like an idiot!"
Sanzo frowned. "Unless you'd rather us get banned from the town before we can sleep or stock up on supplies."
Gojyo glared, put his hair up in a tail; sliding the cap over his head, he placed the darkened glasses over his eyes.
Sanzo looked him over scrutinizing. "It'll do."
Gojyo glared but kept silent.
Soon they were pulling through the town gates.
"Business?" the guard inquired.
"Travelers," Hakkai told him. "Stopping for the night and supplies.
"Weapons?"
Hakkai and Sanzo displayed their knife and gun. Hakkai pulled his blade out from its sheath and laid it on the table in front of the guard tower. Sanzo brought his revolver out from some hidden pocket in his robe and placed it next to Hakkai's.
The guard narrowed his eyes. "What for?"
"Protection," Hakkai told him. "Traveling on the road can be dangerous these days."
The guard nodded absently. "Mmm hmm. Those demons are gettin' at bit out of hand. Glad we built this wall 'afore they started goin' mad."
He asked for Sanzo and Hakkai's names, and wrote down their information. "Any trouble happens, we'll know it's you two," he warned them.
Hakuryuu pulled into the town and drove slowly down the road. Goku, who had slept the whole day, sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"We there yet Sanzo?"
"What do you think moron? Houses, walls, and people. I just wonder." Gojyo answered the remark, shaking his head at the boy's thick question.
They drove a few more houses down when Hakkai spotted a girl walking slowly across the street. She had a kerchief on, a shopping bag under one arm, and she was reading a book.
"Move!" he yelled. "Hakuryuu, transform!"
They jeep disappeared from under the four of them, reappearing as a small white dragon circling worriedly around their heads. They fell to the ground, landing in a puddle of mud from the recent rain.
They looked up at the girl, whose book had vanished, and had both hands pressed up against her mouth. Her eyes looked at the ground as she dropped her shopping bag and knelt to help them up.
"Oh Goddess! I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking; I apologize!"
The four of them stood up stiffly, picking up their bags, and brushing off mud.
"Oh dear!" she cried, bowing repeatedly. "I am so sorry! Really I am!" She burst out in tears and grabbed her bag; dashing across the street, she disappeared into the nearest building.
"That was odd," Gojyo remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Goku said. "Even I can't read and walk at the same time! She was pretty good, though."
"Stupid monkey!" Sanzo stood over him with the harisen and swiped at his head.
"Owww!" Goku complained. "I don't get it!"
"Look, over there." Hakkai pointed at the building the girl had gone into. There was a sign over it: The White Dragon Inn and Restaurant.
"Hakuryuu sure likes it," Goku said laughing, watching the dragon screech energetically.
"I'm fine with it," Gojyo said. "Maybe the girl's got an older sister." He laughed as well at the look on Goku's face.
"Fine." Sanzo brushed the rest of the mud from his robes and walked over to the inn; pushing the door open, they walked inside.
The room was dim, the candles guttering down. Tables were set up in a square pattern around the kitchen door, for easier accessibility. About four tables had occupants, townspeople comfortably talking to others throughout the room.
They sat down at a table and waited for a waitress to come. Soon a girl in a white apron came hurrying out bearing menus. It was the same girl from the road! She now wore a clean blue kerchief and darkened glasses, and her bag was nowhere to be seen.
She saw them and paled; keeping her eyes downcast, she placed the menus on the table.
She pulled her notepad out from her apron pocket and her pen from behind her ear. Flipping to a clean page, she held the pen poised over the paper. "What'll it be?" she asked her voice shaking a bit.
Hakkai ordered for them. "A plate of each of these. Dumplings, meat buns, teriyaki chicken, fried noodles, watercress on pork, and steamed vegetables."
She paused a moment, but wrote it all down. "A-and how will you be paying?"
Sanzo pulled out the gold card and held it up for her to see. "I'm paying."
She nodded and hurried into the kitchen to get their orders as Gojyo mumbled something about floating heads being too damn rich.
Soon she came out with their platters and a big man right behind her. She set the trays down on the table and stood still as he put his hand on her shoulder.
"I apologize for my daughter Hong-san." His voice was deep as he frowned down at his offspring. "I heard what had happened from the cook."
"It's quite alright," Hakkai assured him. "Hong-san?" he asked the girl. "What was that book you were reading; you seemed quite taken with it."
She stiffened under her father's grasp. "Book?" he asked. "She shouldn't have been reading; I guarantee it won't happen again." He glared at his daughter. "Her inattentiveness will be taken care of." Pulling her with him, he hurried to the kitchen.
Hakkai glanced at Sanzo. "I hope I haven't gotten her in any trouble," he murmured.
"Ch."
They finished their meal with no problem; when it came time to pay, an older woman, maybe twenty, came out to take Sanzo's card.
"Hello," Gojyo told her as she came back. "I've got a room booked upstairs; maybe you could show me where it is and stay awhile."
She bowed politely. "I'm sorry, I can't. My husband wouldn't like it." She pointed out the stairs and walked away, smiling slightly.
"Minus one from the sex crazed pervert!" Goku crowed. "Man, she's the first girl this whole trip with enough nerve to stand up to you!"
"Shut up, monkey boy!" Gojyo grabbed a last dumpling and stuffed it in his mouth. "I'm going for a walk," he told them. "The ape better leave me some room when I come back." Walking to the bar/store, he gave the man some money and got a new lighter in return
He walked to the door and stepped out, the little bell ringing behind him. Putting his hand to his head, expecting to run his fingers through his hair, he encountered the woolen cap Hakkai had lent him, along with the glasses.
"I suppose it was necessary," he muttered, remembering the attitude of the guard at the gate. "Oh well, what're you to do?"
He walked along for a few more minutes noticing the colors in the darkness of the night. The blue of the closest house looked closer to purple, and the red bricks and roof tiles seemed to be pitch black. Gojyo walked down the road and back before turning in a gradual circle back to the inn. He passed by the back ally and sat down on the curb to catch his breath. As he breathed, the sound of yelling came from behind the closed door. He tilted his head and strained to hear the conversation.
"You stupid girl!" It was the innkeeper's voice, Hong-san's father. "Stupid! How many times have I told you not to read? Where's the book? Where are all of them? I want them all!"
"Please." Gojyo had to struggle to hear her soft pleading voice. "Please."
"Give 'em to me," the man roared. "And a match!"
"No, please don't," Hong-san begged. "I won't read them. Please."
"If you won't read them, you don't need them!" There was the sound of a match striking the box, and a sob.
"No!" Hong-san cried, and was silent.
"Get up!" her father yelled. "Chores, work; you've got stuff to do!"
The door burst open and slammed against the wall; Hong-san was propelled out into the ally, a black rubbish bag clutched in her hand. She landed against the far wall as a large hand reached out and pulled the door shut.
Hong-san dragged herself to her feet and opened the rubbish bin; dropping the bag in, the fell to the ground again. Leaning against the wall, she put her knees to her chest and began to sob.
Gojyo considered going over to her, but he suspected his known presence would make her feel worse.
After a moment she shook her head, took off her glasses and wiped her eyes in the hem of her skirt. She brushed herself off and sat up straighter. Pulling a lighter from her pocket, she took a cigarette out of her waistband sash and stuck it in her mouth. Flicking the lighter on she pressed the gas; nothing happened. She tried again with the same results. She flicked it a few more times before scowling and throwing it down the ally. "Damn it! What more can go wrong?"
Gojyo decided some help would not be amiss. He pulled out the lighter he had just bought and stuck it under her nose. "Need a light?"
She jumped, as if struck. "Yaah! What're you doing here?" then seeing the look on his face, hastily added, "No disrespect meant, of course."
"I'm just taking a walk," he told her. "And offering you a light." Then thinking of something, he yanked it back out of her reach. "Wait a sec, how old are you? I may not like rules, but I'm not gonna get you addicted too."
"S-seventeen," she told him timidly. "And no thank you." Taking the cigarette out of her mouth, she stuck it back in her sash.
"Alright," he said, and pulled out his own cigarette. Lighting it, he took a long pull and blew the smoke in a steady stream away from Hong-san.
He noticed that she had drawn her knees back up to her chest, and was hugging them, eyeing his warily. "I'm not gonna hurt you; you know that right?"
She nodded yes, her face clearly saying, no. Gojyo sighed, and took another long pull at his cigarette. "Why are you wearing sunglasses?"
She cautiously looked up. "No doubt for a different reason then yours." Of course she had noticed his ridiculous attire.
"No doubt," he agreed, and stubbed the burned end of his cigarette on the ground. "Well," he sighed, getting up. "Time for bed." The sun had set during dinner and it was getting hard to see.
Hong-san stood up as well. "I must be going in as well." She bowed politely to him and as she rose, he noticed her eyes, gleaming black in the darkness. Then she turned around and walked swiftly down the ally to where, Gojyo guessed, more work awaited.
He walked back to the front of the inn and pushed open the door; hearing the bells ring he walked through the entrance. He was met by Hong-san's father.
"I must apologize for my daughter again." His deep voice echoed in Gojyo's head. "It was quite wrong for her to be so negligent. Come, let me show you to your room."
It took a lot from Gojyo to refrain from taking a good whack at the man's jaw as he led him up the stairs and down the hallway. He adjusted his glasses, nodded to the innkeeper, and let himself back in the room.
Goku was curled up on his bed, a forlorn look in his eyes. "Sanzo went out to smoke, Hakkai wants to talk to you and Sanzo said you get first pick of beds." He pouted as Gojyo tried to conceal his surprise. Sanzo was being…. unusually nice.
"I'll take that one," Gojyo said, pointing to the bed next to the window. He knew Goku wanted to be close to the door, incase he got hungry at night. A common thing. He was startled to see Goku frown slightly. "Unless you want that one," he told the youth.
Goku immediately cheered up, grinning widely. "Thanks Gojyo!" He pulled on his cotton nightshirt, climbed into bed, and was snoring before Gojyo even got out of the room.
Gojyo walked to the next door, Hakkai and Sanzo's room, and opened the door. Hakkai was sitting cross-legged on the bed, eyes shut. He was wearing his night attire, a loose white shirt and a pair of baggy black pants. His monocle was on the table next to him. "Hakkai?" he whispered, hoping his friend wouldn't be asleep. He wasn't. Hakkai cracked an eye open; seeing Gojyo, he quickly uncrossed his legs, then winced at the blood rushed to his cramped limbs. Gojyo laughed, then walked across the room and sat down on the bed next to his friend.
"Goku said you wanted to see me. What's up?"
Now it was Hakkai who laughed. He feigned astonishment. "What? Now I need a reason to want to talk with you. You, my best friend, are doubting my motives to just have a friendly conversation with you? Oh dear…"
Gojyo scowled teasingly. "So I can go to bed? Because if you don't need me, I bet the damned monkey will take my bed as well as his own!"
Hakkai smiled and waved at the door. "Feel free to go. I just wanted to say goodnight."
"Goodnight Hakkai."
"Goodnight Gojyo."
Gojyo paused at the door he was about to open. "Yes."
Hakkai looked at Gojyo with bewilderment. "What?"
"I'm afraid you did get her into trouble, I heard from the ally." He quickly walked out before his friend could ask him any more questions.
Arriving back in his room, Gojyo changed into his night clothes, just a looser version of his regular outfit. He climbed beneath the cool sheets and breathed deeply, trying to fall asleep. After a few moments of steady breathing, his eyelids began to flutter and his hands relaxed from their grip on the blankets. Before his eyes closed and he fell into unconsciousness, a noise startled him back into the world of the living.
Goku had climbed out from under the sheets and was sitting on his knees looking out the window.
Goku stared out into the cold night, his breath frosting the cold windowpane, his nightshirt tangled around his small body. 'I wonder if Gyumoah could be alive yet,' he wondered. 'Or maybe someone else will help us stop his resurrection.'
His golden eyes blinked, then opened again. He looked off in the direction that the sun had set, though no evidence of its passing remained in the sky. 'West is an awfully long way from here,' the boy wondered. 'It's going to get pretty boring unless something happens, Homura excluded. I just want him to leave Sanzo alone.' he shivered at the memory of their last meeting, with the conclusion of Homura, Shien and Zeon disappearing again as he lay bleeding on the ground. When he had woken up, he swore to beat Homura the next time they met.
Goku shook his head and sat still, staring out at the dark horizon.
Gojyo watched the youth's motionless form, wondering what the boy was thinking about. 'He's not such a boy anymore,' Gojyo realized. 'He seems… older. Different.' Gojyo let his eyes wander over the demon's body. His skin was tanner after spending so many long hours under the sun; the muscles underneath were larger, though not unattractively so. His hair was a bit longer, though still not long enough to put in a tail like his own red mane; its chocolate brown locks were mussed and sticking out in some points.
After watching Goku sit like this, he slowly slid out from under the covers and padded across the room. Sitting down next to the boy, he hung his arm around his shoulders. Startled, the boy turned around and found himself gazing into crimson eyes.
"Gojyo!" he cried. "Damnit man; don't scare me like that!"
Gojyo looked out the window to where Goku had been focused on. "It doesn't help to get worked up about it," he said. "Something always happens whether it's demons, Kougaji or even Homura and his backup idiots. Nothing we can do about it, except to get there faster."
Goku nodded and lay back down under his sheets. Gojyo did the same, walking back to his bed and sliding under cool, white linens.
"Goodnight Goku," Gojyo told him.
"Night Gojyo," was Goku's sleepy reply. Then both of them closed their eyes and slipped back into the world of dreams.
A/N
Not bad for a first chapter, ne? Sorry for Gojyo's contemplations, someone had to think it and it sure as hell couldn't be Sanzo. I'm strictly against OOCness, though when referring to changes, Goku getting older for example, it's alright, though only a bit.
PLEASE REVIEW!!! Pretty please with whips and chains and thumbscrews on top! :::Cute little face with imploring eyes::: Thanks for reading,
Gonou