In These Dying Hours

Chapter Two

After spending several hours tossing and turning, Goku had decided against sleeping, and gone out to train. The dream was disturbing anyway, and he needed something to distract him. So he quietly slipped from the room, and headed out to the small forest he visited before. Because the streets were empty that late at night, it was relatively easy to make his way over to the wall of trees. Within minutes he was training. Kicking at empty air and attempting to clear his head.

It worked. For several hours it put his mind to rest, as he focused on was fighting his invisible enemy. He didn't even realize the sun had risen the next morning until he heard people bustling along not far from where he stood. Turning, he realized the town was alive with people, all eager to get their chores done before the rush set in.

Goku wiped the sweat from his bow. Might as well head back, he figured. Hakkai would be up soon, and start asking him questions about where he went all night. So, he quickly turned and walking through the streets, heading for the inn they were staying at. He went inside, finding the Sinner had indeed awoken, and was now rousing everyone else from sleep. Mostly just Gojyo, who had stayed up late drinking and playing cards. Sanzo was already awake, wandering about in his usual dead-like state. Demons could have attacked and Sanzo would be too drowsy to notice.

Sanzo never was a morning person.

Hakkai asked him where he went, considering he was covered in sweat and dirt. Goku merely shrugged, and said, "Training," before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

After washing up and getting changed, he headed downstairs. Gojyo and Hakkai were seated at the table, gathering breakfast. Sanzo was bumping around for coffee. He needed a dose of caffeine before he would really start waking up. Then he would return to his grumpy self, and beat Goku and Gojyo for acting like idiots at the breakfast table.

It was a routine Goku had gotten used to in the last seven years.

He took a seat at the table, and was about to reach out for some rolls when he stopped, and cringed. Great. It felt like a headache was setting in, a big one too. He retracted his hand, holding his head in an attempt to dull the pain.

"Something wrong Goku?" Hakkai asked, noticing the brunette's behavior.

"Yeah, I think I got a headache," he muttered.

Hakkai smiled a little smile. "That's what you get for spending all night training. Next time, try to get some more sleep or else you'll catch a cold. Then what will we do with you?"

Goku grinned. "Yeah. 'Kay Hakkai!" His eyes then went sharp, as Gojyo grabbed the rolls he was going for. "Hey, those're mine, you goddamn stupid Kappa!"

"I don't see your name on them, monkey!"

As Goku lunged for the rolls, he couldn't help but think something was wrong with him. He'd never been sick before, so why now was he suddenly getting random headaches? He had to think it was about more then just lack of sleep. He brushed the thought from his mind as he began gnawing on Gojyo's arm.

At the moment food was more important to him.

---

Goku was starting to seriously think something was wrong with him.

They had set out early that morning, considering Sanzo was complaining that they were staying too long, and he was convinced someone's mind would suddenly click, and realize he was the great Sanzo who had come to bless them all. Sanzo hated that, so without complaints everyone filed into the jeep, and said their silent goodbyes to warm beds which they would not again see for two nights.

All during the ride Goku could not fall asleep. Even on a normal night of sleep-- ranging usually from eleven to twelve hours-- he could sleep practically all day in the back of the jeep. But today his body would not let him nod off. Even after only three hours of sleep. It wasn't as though he was overly tired, or that his mind was processing thoughts too fast to relax, it was simply that his body didn't desire the need to sleep, therefore, he didn't.

With Gojyo asleep, Sanzo reading his newspaper, and Hakkai driving silently, Goku found himself extremely bored. So he leaned back in the jeep, and surveyed the sky.

It was a beautiful pallet blue. Just as it was yesterday. There was a cloud off to the side, but it hurt his neck to turn and look at it. Goku couldn't help but think the sky was nothing but a painting. Some color in an artists's mind. The man then pained the sky the color in his mind. A beautiful, everlasting blue only blotted occasionally was a fluffy white cloud, making it all the more beautiful.

He couldn't help but think back to the previous day. Seated by the lake with Sanzo. Amazing, godly, sexy Sanzo. He closed his eyes as he let the imagery take over his senses. Instead of simply reliving it, he added things. Sanzo would lean over, capturing Goku in a powerful kiss. He would taste like cigarette smoke, flavored with whiskey and all wrapped in a scent that was all Sanzo's. Most people would find the taste of smoke and whiskey appalling, but Goku couldn't imagine Sanzo without that encircling scent of smoke lingering behind him.

As his vision started to trail off-- hands in various places, harsh breathing-- the jeep hit a bump, causing Goku to ram his head on the back of the vehicle, dragging him back to an all painful reality. He sat up and grumbled, rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head. Damn, reality was harsh.

So, he was hungry, bored, couldn't sleep, and it seemed heaven would not even allow him the relief of imagining a relationship with Sanzo. What else could go wrong today?

---

He had to ask.

"Goku!" Hakkai called over the incessant sounds of pouring rain. "Please grab the tarp for me?"

Goku turned to grab the tarp from the jeep, no longer caring how wet he got. He was already soaked to the bone, and no longer cared anymore. He pulled the bag, continuing the tarp from the jeep, allowing the small white dragon to revert to his normal form, and fly towards Hakkai, taking shelter as it wiggled up into the warmth of his shirt. Goku lugged the tarp back over to where Hakkai was finishing nailing the large tent to the ground. Gojyo was busing himself with the tarp on the other tent, while Sanzo was inside, taking shelter from the rain. Gojyo made some snide remark about the monk, but it could not be heard over the sound of rain.

After the tents had been pitched up, the four retreated into Sanzo and Goku's tent for dinner. Hakkai made a small fire, and cooked dinner. It was eerily silent. Hakkai had a faraway look on his face, as he stirred the pot over the fire. Sanzo just smoked, staring off into the rain. Goku sighed through his nose. He'd seen the two this way. It was why he too, had come to detest the rain.

Dinner was eaten in silence. Goku tried to get the monk to eat, but the man simply said he could have his share, and as Goku continued to pester him, the man had snapped at him. Goku placed Sanzo's dinner off to the side. He was sure he'd be able to convince the man to eat it later.

Gojyo and Hakkai retired to their tent after that. Gojyo actually wished him well, before turning to tend to his own, sorrowful lover. Goku had no doubt that Gojyo would be able to cheer Hakkai up, if even just a little bit. Goku on the other had had no idea what to do with Sanzo.

"Sanzo?" the monk did not even look up at him, but merely sat on his bedroll, staring out into the rain. "I think you should eat something. It's not healthy to skip dinner," he gave a small smile. "It's a real important meal you know. Right up there with all the other six vital meals your supposed to have."

Sanzo did not crack a smile, or even look over at him. Then again, Goku wasn't expecting otherwise. He sighed, making his way over to the melancholy monk. "Please Sanzo? Eat it, for me?"

Sanzo turned his purple eyes over to him, tossing away the cigarette as it began to burn away at the filter. "Leave me alone," he muttered sourly, lighting up another Marlboro Red. "You're really annoying."

Goku frowned. "I'm just asking you to eat it Sanzo, nothing else."

"And I'm just telling you to shut the hell up!" Sanzo snapped.

"Why?" Goku shouted back, his hands balling into fists. He hated how cold the Sanzo priest could get sometimes. "Why should I shut up just because I care about you!?"

Sanzo paused for a moment, his retort cut short. Though his natural guard flew up, as it always did. "Because I don't want to hear it from an idiot like you!"

Goku finally groaned, and turned away from the monk. Sanzo turned his attention back to his cigarette, glad that he'd won. Just as he was about to light the thing, arms wrapped around his neck, and he found a small body clutching him from behind. He had actually dropped his cigarette in surprise, but immediately growled. "Let go of me, Goku."

"No."

"I said let go of me you stupid monkey!"

"Not until you eat dinner. If you won't eat dinner, then I'm never going to let go!" Goku cried, his grip on the monk tightening.

A voice in the back of Sanzo's mind chirped that the monkey was actually quite warm, despite still being wet from the rain. He immediately dismissed that thought. The last thing he needed was to have his will cave because the monkey was too adorable to turn down. He wasn't going to lose to him tonight. So he positioned his elbow to stick into the monkey's neck, trying to pry him off that way. Sanzo pushed as hard as he could, but Goku would not let go. He decided to try a different approach, and pry his fingers from his middle.

He pulled at the boy's hands, twisted skin, bent fingers back, but still the monkey wouldn't let go. "Let me go you goddamn monkey!" Sanzo yelled.

"Not until you eat!" Goku cried again, his voice growing more and more desperate.

Sanzo was not about to give in. This had turned into a battle of pride. If he gave in, then he would never be able to live it down. He finally decided that the monkey would get tired eventually, and then he would be able to pry him off. An hour past, then two, and still the monkey had not relinquished his hold on him, nor had it loosened. If anything his grip had gotten tighter, as if afraid to let him go.

Sanzo still smoked, as the rain began to let up, making sure to blow the smoke deliberately in Goku's direction, hoping that would cause the brunette to let go. Instead Goku buried his face in the man's shoulder, trying to avoid the smoke. Sanzo immediately stopped trying to irite the boy, as his actions were causing shivers to run down his spine.

Sometime during the silence, both men had drifted off into slumber.

---

Once again he was running. And once again everything was burning. Why was he running? He felt like something was chasing him, yet he had not even turned around, and saw the beast pursuing him. But he knew it was there. He could practically feel it breathing down his neck.

He was sobbing as he ran as well. The man who had tried to protect him was dead. They were all dead. He had no idea who they were, but he just knew that there had been more then one person protecting him, and they had all perished to help him escape.

Chains were clanking together as he ran. They were beating against his body, making it all the more difficult to keep running. As he stepped down again, and the chains around his ankle hit the earth, it practically opened up, grabbing the chains and causing him to fall to the ground, flat on his face.

He turned around and quickly began clawing at the earth around his chains, crying. He had to free himself. He had to get away. But as the ground hardened into stone, he found he was only dragging his fingertips along the stone, causing skin to be torn away and blood to quickly cover the ground. He retracted his hands, and turning to glance up as someone approached him.

It was two girls. Both about the same age, perhaps two or three years younger then him. They were both wearing identical dresses-- save for one was white and the other black. He could've sworn he had seen them before, but couldn't place his finger on it.

"You have been a bad boy, Son Goku," the one in the white dress said, her eyes solid and annoyed.

"What?"

"Lady Nuriko shall have to punish you," the one in the black said.

"Indeed she shall," agreed the one in white.

"What's going on?" he choked out. "What's happening?"

"This is your warning," the one in white said. "We are merely here to tell you what is to come."

"We shall see you again soon, though," agreed the one in black with a smile.

The one in white held up a single finger. "First, we must cleanse you of your human toxins. I'm afraid you'll be sick for a while."

"Second," the one in black said, holding up two fingers. "We must take away your ability to sleep. It is only for a short time, so do not worry."

"Then third," the white continued. "It is your will to eat we will steal."

"Fourth," he was having a hard time trying to process al the information they were given him, while switching back and forth between the two. "You must give up your ability to feel."

"And finally," the white said, causing a small smile to catch her lips. "It is your voice we will steal. When you find your voice has been stolen, expect Lady Nuriko's presence. We will look forward to our meeting, Son Goku."

"Why is this... Nuriko haunting me?!" he cried out.

The two girls looked between each other, smiling. "Trust us," they both said in perfect unison. "You know why she is haunting you." They both clapped their hands and suddenly--

Goku bolted awake. He found himself out of breath, as he lay panting. He wiped the sweat from his brow, hoping to calm his thundering heart. What was that? Another dream? Why was it he was being haunted lately? He managed to calm himself, repeating to himself that it was just a dream.

Something stirred beside him, and he glanced over, finding Sanzo asleep next to him. Did he really fall asleep with Sanzo? A small smile caught his lips as he found one of Sanzo's arms flung across his middle. Perhaps Sanzo really did care for him! Before he let it develop, he brushed that thought away. He didn't want to set himself up for disappointment.

With the dream all but forgotten, he settled himself down next to the monk, wrapping his arms around the blonde's middle. For some reason, as soon as his eyes caught the monk, he knew that everything was going to be all right. It sometimes bugged him how Sanzo could so easily make him calm, or depressed, or angry even. The monk had more power then he could ever imagine.

Goku closed his eyes, surrounding himself in Sanzo's scent. He couldn't help but wonder if the monk's presence would scare off his nightmares. None the less, Goku allowed himself to completely enjoy the moment, as he slipped into slumber.


A/N: Yes, I understand that the dream is rushed and confusing, but it's supposed to be that way. You'll have to keep reading to find out what it means.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. I have lots of fun writing every chapter, actually. Also, I've written ahead, and there's a lime in chapter five, which is why the rating suddenly jumped up. I understand if you don't want to read it. I'm going to put a warning in that chapter as well, whenever I get around to posting it up. I don't know if there will be any more limes. I don't think I'll be writing any Lemons, because well... I'm still an innocent child! (cough) but it all depends on the perviness of my reviewers! Please review, and tell me your thoughts.