The next morning, Hakkai awoke to the sun as usual. His body felt still and his eyes sore. After rubbing his eyes, standing, stretching, everything from the day before came back to him in a single wave. They're going to hate me. I just know it. I'd better prepare. Maybe making food for Goku will keep him from hating me for too long. Perhaps I should go get Gojyo more cigarettes. Last time I looked he was almost out. And Sanzo- His face flushed red as he remembered the amethyst eyes boring into his. How angry those eyes had been, and how he'd confessed his love for a man to a Buddhist priest. Suddenly he felt so very stupid.
Since he'd been thinking so hard, he didn't even notice the three missing figures until he turned around. Sanzo, Gojyo, and Goku had left, leaving only a note on the wooden table. You rest. We'll be back soon. Gone to town to get food. He smiled. How unlike them. Some how I still don't understand why we slept here rather than in town. Everyone knows how Goku loves cuisine, and how Gojyo loves looking at women. And of course Sanzo. Even the thought of sleeping on the floor makes him shudder. Well never mind. But without them here, I've nothing to do. Perhaps I could read. Or train or something. I wonder what the others do when left by themselves. He smiled at the thought. Goku is probably thinking of food. It really does sometimes seem as though that's all he knows. And Gojyo probably thinks of woman or sleeps. That's all he ever does besides fight. Although he might actually train. That would be a site to see. And Sanzo. Every knows what he does. First he reads the newspaper while smoking, then lays down and then probably prepares himself to yell at Goku and Gojyo. At that he let out a short laugh. It amused him slightly.
"Ah. The peace and quiet is so nice." He muttered. "I guess I'll just sit here and wait. I'm not much into training, reading, or eating." Hakkai walked over to the single window in the room and sat on the single bench, staring out into the forest.
What seemed like ages later, Hakkai hear the familiar sound of Hakuryuu's engine. Slowly he stood and stretched. Sitting for so long he felt stiff. A moment later the other three stepped into the room smiling and joking. Well, except Sanzo. He held his fan up, about to strike them, stopping short when they'd suddenly stopped laughing.
He followed their gaze, it stopping on Hakkai. "Good morning." He said hesitantly.
"G'morning." Gojyo muttered, setting the bag down on top of the note they'd left. Goku didn't even do that much. He noticeably ignored him, turning instead to Sanzo to complain.
"Sanzo, I'm hungry!" He complained, grabbing the priests sleeve.
Sanzo glared. "What am I, your mother? Make it yourself!" He growled.
"You know I can't cook!" Goku whined, tugging the white sleeve.
Sanzo ripped it away, straightening it. "You think I can?" Goku gave him puppy-eyes, and Sanzo waked him with the fan. "God damn. Just ask Hakkai to do it." He'd faltered slightly on the name, the word funny on his tongue.
Goku's body went rigid. "Never mind." He said quietly. "I'm not that hungry. I'm sure I can wait." Everyone stared. Had he really just said that? "Gojyo, let's go train or something."
"Sure." Gojyo floated after Goku. Both Sanzo and Hakkai watched them leave. Then, there was silence. Awkward silence surrounded them, so thick they couldn't breathe.
"L-look, Sanzo. I-I'm sorry." Goku stuttered, turning away and looking at the floor. "I-I shouldn't have said anything-"
"They why did you?" Sanzo growled, turning his back to Hakkai. "If you were going to regret it, why the hell did you say anything in the first place. You know damn well how I feel about gays. God. It's taken me long enough to get used to the thought of Goku and Gojyo-"
"What?" Hakkai's eyes widened.
Shit. "Nothing." He said a little too quickly. Hakkai turned around and stared at the blonde's back.
"What did you say, Sanzo?" His words held poison. Had he heard correctly?
"Ah what the hell. Not like you wouldn't figure it out eventually. Stupid womanizing water sprite and baby monkey are in love with each other. God just the thought of it makes me sick." Sanzo sneered as he imagined it. "It's like I'm the only straight one left. First them now you." He sighed and rubbed his forehead.
Hakkai's jaw hung open. "You've got to be kidding. There's no way! Those two fight like a cat and a dog! Or an old married couple!" Then it struck him. Like an old married couple. Man and woman. Cat and dog. Monkey and water sprite. It all clicked like one big puzzle. "Whe-? How-? Huh?!" He felt so confused.
"Hell I should know! Dumbasses just had to confess when they though I was asleep." He grumped. "If I had the choice I'd boot them from this little trip and you too but I can't. This isn't a one man trip."
"Yes. You're quite right. I suppose I should make breakfast for Goku when he comes back. He's probably more hungry then he'll admit. Just don't tell him I made it. There's no point wasting food." Hakkai took the bag of food out back and started a small fire. The information was still sinking in. I hope Goku is hungry when he gets back.
"What's up with you, monkey?" Gojyo asked, lighting a cigarette as he leaned back against a tree. Goku laid stretched out beside him, resting his head on his hands.
"Don't call me that!" Goku muttered.
"Whatever. Do you hate him so much you won't even eat his food any more?" Gojyo's crimson eyes looked at Goku in question.
"Of course not! I just..." He paused. "I just don't think I can forgive him that easily after what he said." His golden eyes stared in the crimson ones that stared back.
"You're not usually one to hold grudges." He let out a puff of smoke, staring now at the open blue sky. "He was just remembering some shit that happened. Hakkai has had it pretty rough. You know he's not always been demon. He used to be human in fact. Just like Sanzo. Then he killed a thousand demons, being stained in their blood, and became on himself. That's pretty harsh, don't you think?"
Goku shrugged. "Yeah, I guess but what about you? Your mother was a wreck and you got to watch her die. No one wants you because you're a half-breed. And Sanzo. He watched his master die by the hands of a demon and had the name Sanzo forced on him at a young age. That's horrible. Then me I mean God... I was locked up in a mountain for five hundred years, not aging a day. All I could do was watch the sun rise and set, day in and day out." He argued.
"But you've always been a demon, I've always been a half-breed and Sanzo's always been human. Hakkai was human. Then his life was changed forever. His girlfriend committed suicide in front of him and he became a demon. Just like the ones who had impregnated his girlfriend. Like the ones who had raped her and put her in a cell."
"How do you know so much about his past?" Goku wondered aloud.
Gojyo laughed. "I've known him for awhile. He would tell me things."
Goku didn't have a reply. Instead he stared at the sky with his boyfriend, wondering what life would be like if the four of them had never met. The thought was a little scary. He'd still be in a cell on a mountain far from here. They'd have never been able to go on such an exciting trip. He'd have never found Gojyo.
"Hey," he said suddenly, "do you love me?"
Gojyo looked down with surprise in his eyes. "What's this suddenly?"
"Well... Do you?"
"Of course I love you, monkey."
Goku's face turned red. "Kappa no baka!" He was quickly on his feet, attempting to hit Gojyo. But he was surprised when Gojyo grabbed his wrists and pulled him into a kiss. "What was that for, kappa?"
"I don't know, monkey. You tell me." He smiled, ruffling Goku's hair.
A few hours had passed before Goku and Gojyo returned to the hut. Immediately Goku whined loudly, "I'm hungry! I skipped breakfast, and then lunch! I'm starving. What's to eat?" He looked around and nearly ran to the table full of food that awaited him. "Is this for me?" He asked, looking up at Sanzo who sat in the window reading.
"Of course it is. Who else would it be for? Hakkai and I've already eaten. The rest is for you two." Goku began shoveling food into his mouth before Sanzo could even finish. "Where do you get all that room in your stomach?" He said in wonderment before returning to the paper.
Before picking up his food Gojyo looked around and asked, "Where's Hakkai?"
Sanzo shrugged. "He and Hakuryuu went some where and said he'd be back soon."
"Whatever ya say priest man." He too shrugged and then delved into the food, ignoring Goku's loud protests.
Outside in the forest, Hakkai sat cross-legged in a trance. He was trying to concentrate his chi. It wasn't working. Hakuryuu sat snoozing on a nearby rock when suddenly, he sat up, rigid. His little body trembled and he let out a loud, "Kyu!" Hakkai's head shot up, too. He felt the presence of another demon. One much stronger, and smarter, then the others that had been sent before it. Shit! He thought, standing. His eyes scanned the area before him, hoping to find the fiend before it found him.
Suddenly there was an ear-piercing scream from the hut his friends resided at. And before he could stop himself, Hakkai was running full force back to where he'd come from. The world was a blur as he ran. He was soon back at the little hut. But something was wrong. A body lay on the ground, covered in blood. But the skin was nearly translucent white and the hair golden blond. What is the demon doing wearing the Maten scripture? He thought. And why is he so blond? And... He stopped. There was something else wrong with the picture. Both Goku and Gojyo stood protectively in front of the figure. Nyoi-bo was fully extended and Goku's eyes were snake slits. Gojyo held his weapon defensively in front of him.
"Hakkai, watch out!" One of the two screamed. Hakkai couldn't tell which. He'd realized who that was on the ground. It wasn't the demon. It was Sanzo. It was Sanzo who was covered in blood. It was Sanzo who'd let out the ear piercing scream. And it was Sanzo whom the other two companions were trying to protect. Hakkai's blood boiled. He refused to lose another person he loved. He easily dodged the demon who'd come up behind him. Slowly he reached up and removed the earrings in his left ear. His body began to transform until finally it was complete.
The two younger boys stared. When Hakkai moved they couldn't see him. He's so fast. Goku goggled him, eyes wide. Is that what I'm like when I don't have my headband on? The question floated in his head as he watched.
Gojyo stared too. He'd never known Hakkai was so powerful. Is this why he keeps those earrings on? To keep from hurting others in this form? All he could do was watch in awe.
But before either of them understood what was really happening, Hakkai and destroyed the demon and was pushing them out of the way. The healer knelt down next to Sanzo and took his hand,measuring his pulse. "God dammit Sanzo! If you die on me now I'll never forgive you!" Slowly he began trying to patch up the wound.
"Hakkai." A familiar voice said. "Hakkai, are you in love with Sanzo?"
Sorry for the short-ish chapters. I wrote this on a school night so I kind of ran out of time. Chapters one and two are complete. Please R&R.
