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+ Burgundy Bruises +

WARNING: I will repeat, this is a yaoi story. That means, for those of you who don't know, the action of two men dating. Some violence along with male/male sexual encounters will happen. Do not read this if you are offended or dislike such a thing occurring.

Disclaimer: I do not own Saiyuki, Gojyo, or Hakkai. I do however own the few original characters in this fan fiction.

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Chapter 3

The next morning at breakfast, Hakkai couldn't help but feel that someone was watching him. Maybe I'm just being paranoid after all that attention from yesterday, he tried to think optimistically.

He looked down at his plate and sighed, and moved some of his eggs around with the tips of his fork.

Unable to shake the feeling of being gazed upon he pushed himself steadily away from the table, his chair screeching on the wooden floor, and stood up.

As usual it looked like no one noticed his sudden departure as he turned around to make his way into the kitchen.

On entering he instantly spotted Rousoku, who was standing over a very large pot on a rusty stove and having a difficult time stirring some kind of thick, bubbly liquid.

"And what would that be?" Hakkai asked with laughter hidden in his voice, still trying to keep an emotionless expression.

Rousoku's head snapped around so fast that shoulder length dark blue hair whipped across his face.

Hakkai strood over to him and noticed that the substance in the pot was the same as the orange goopy smudges on Rousoku's face and used-to-be white apron.

Getting over the sudden surprise of the intrusion in his kitchen, Rousoku looked back down at the bubbling pot of goo fondly, "I'm not quite sure yet, but that's what makes it so interesting."

He turned back around to Hakkai and said enthusiastically, "You want to test it with me once it's done?"

Hakkai held a hand over his mouth, pretending to yawn while concealing his laughter. His friend could really be a child at times with the way he loved cooking so much. He actually was only about four years older than Hakkai himself.

This caused him to wonder frequently why he became the cook, even though he enjoyed it, and not simply be a member of the dojo. That way there would be no dirty dishes, and why does he live here? What about a family? But he always kept those kinds of questions to himself, and oddly enough, so did Rousoku. The never had never asked him much of anything aside from what he liked to eat.

"Though tempting, I think I will pass on the offer," Hakkai answered politely.

He took a seat at one of the chairs clustered by a table full of pots and bottles of ingredients covered in flour and who knows what else.

The pair then descended into conversation while Rousoku stuck his foot on the edge of the cauldron-like pot and tried to pry the wooden spoon from the confines of orange goop that seemed to have a mind of its own.

Elsewhere, a select few sitting around a particular red head were starting to get scared at the gleeful expression that has been in place since said red head had woken up.

"Come on Gojyo, tell us what your so happy about already."

Gojyo grinned into the spoon he was using to eat his soup with.

"Trying to keep a record of my activities, now are we?"

The apprehensive glances turned into annoyed stares. They had quickly found out that any behavior such as this from Gojyo would most likely lead to irritating trouble.

Still grinning widely, he turned to the man next to him that he had dubbed last time 'Mr. Information Highway' and asked, "So, could you be a pal and tell me when we are finally going to get a sparring session?"

The brown haired boy looked at him curiously, "Well, we should have our first one today. Every Tuesday and Friday evening we have matches…why?"

Gojyo let his spoon drop from his hand with a clank and stood up. "Mind your own business. Later. "

Striding out of the dinning hall with his hands in his pockets, his eyebrows creased as he fell into deep thought.

"That means my first chance will be today to find out exactly why. Or so I hope, anyway." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a cigarette.

"Hmmm…" He stuck the cigarette between his lips, put the pack back into his pocket, and reached for the other one, pulling out his lighter.

He however, did not get around to lighting it due to the fact that the hallway floors started shaking.

"What the fuck is going on!" Gojyo yelled as he wobbled a bit before regaining his footing.

He was about to reach down his dropped lighter, when he noticed someone up ahead running towards him.

Mike was blundering from the other end of the hall straight for Gojyo, not even bothering to slow down as he practically squashed two younger boys on the way to their room.

Shoving two poor unsuspecting boys into opposite walls he pounded to a stop in front of Gojyo, who looked dumb stuck.

He snatched the cigarette that was already tipping out of the kappa's lips, threw it aggressively to the floor, then proceeded to stomp on it with his right foot.

In between stomps he was declaring triumphantly, "There-will-be-no-smoking-within-this-facility!"

Looking up he took a step forward, while Gojyo took a step back.

"No smoking," he said briskly. Then walked past the startled red head with such an air of authority that one may think that he had just been crowned king of insanity.

Behind him Gojyo looked down at his wasted cigarette and muttered gloomily, "Okay…so the sensei is a psycho, is that bad? Well when I get a nicotine fit I suppose it will be."

Sighing, he quickly turned on his heel and marched to his room, coming across two traumatized boys staring at him as they pressed closer to the wall as if in fear of being roughly shoved again as he passed.

He threw open the double doors to the bedroom they all shared. Not bothering to close them he walked purposely to the sliding paper doors at the other end of the room that led to a small balcony while every one else took no notice, and resumed their chatter.

The guys he played cards with yesterday looked up briefly but did not ask him to join in.

Sliding this delicate looking door open a little more carefully, he shut it with a snap.

Leaning his back on it he tilted his head up while closing his eyes, listening to the sound of the many voices on the other end.

Then standing up straight, he opened his blood red eyes and took a few steps, coming close to the dark railing at the front end of the small balcony, briefly wondering with annoyance why there were no chairs.

Gojyo sat down with a plop and reached into his back pocket to pull out another cigarette while his legs dangled over the edge.

Once in his awaiting lips, he looked behind him to see if his energetic instructor was about to come crashing through the sliding doors. Then turning around, he brought cool metal close to his face. The finger poised on his lighter gave the small switch a flick and a tiny flame rose up.

Snapping it shut, he placed the lighter back in his pocket and took a long drag from between two fingers.

After letting out a particularly long stream of smoke, he draped his arms over the railing above his head.

Gojyo watched the smoke trailing from the burning embers he held close to his hand for a few minutes when he noticed the half moon still in the early morning sky.

While lightly kicking his legs in a purely childish way, he asked curiously, "I wonder who you really are."

Below him, Hakkai was in the kitchen at the sink with the cook, helping him scrub his pot from the remains of a failed recipe, while staring out the window at the shy moon, thinking the same thing.

v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

Gojyo struggled to not show a pained face as time dragged on in the most plain, boring room of the dojo. It had absolutely nothing to stare at, no stains on the wall, no upturned carpet, it was all just a bare room with hard polished floors.

He didn't know if he'd be able to survive this for two days a week the entire summer. Soon he'd need to find something to amuse himself with during these lessons of agony.

Everyone, all ages, were required to pay attention in the verbal lessons from Mikes teaching partner, Jacob. For half the period, Gojyo quickly found out, Jacob liked to have idle chatter with randomly selected people like he was one with the age group.

As if, you should hear yourself talk buddy, he thought disdainfully.

Wanting nothing more than his time in this room to be over, his eyes wandered away from Jacob talking enthusiastically to Information Highway about some private school.

It didn't take long for Goyjo to spot a head full of dark wiry hair, tilted slightly while listening with interest to the boring conversation taking place.

Oh yeah. Times almost up for you Green Eyes.

This afternoon, he recalled, there were going to be matches. One on one, two people in intense opposition. All to see how everyone's talents had changed over the span of a year.

In Gojyo's case, how they began.

The kappa knew people were excited when he first entered the dojo, and not just for the sake of seeing a (his smirk abruptly increased in size) gorgeous new face. They wanted to see how this newcomer would fair in their little world, secluded on a hilltop of solitude and green all around.

Though he didn't really mind the place being so far from civilization, he couldn't help but think that there was sixty miles between a member of the opposite sex and himself.

"Al-right!" Jacob said in a loud singsong voice, causing Gojyo to lazily pulled out of his thoughts and look up.

"I think that about does it for today. Why don't you all take a little break before we start the matches?"

Some relieved, some grumbling because of the extended time they would have to wait until they could kick ass, preferably a particular red head, shuffled out of the room.

As Gojyo left among them, he looked around the crowd for his 'victim'. Spotting him, he quickly darted through the crowd and skidded to a stop next to Hakkai. " So…you nervous?"

Hakkai merely blinked before answering, "Oh, well, I usually don't partake in these kind of sessions."

Grinning, Gojyo feigned ignorance and asked, "Why's that?"

Hakkai stopped walking. The kappa halted a few steps ahead and turned back, "Hakkai?"

Hakkai then met his eyes, and he winced. The cut on his face was still very noticeable through wisps of dark hair.

After a few moments of having a furiously serious face, he smiled politely, "Your awfully curious today Gojyo…it's nothing personal. Most people just don't like to join me in these spars."

Then without another word he walked past the red head and continued down the hallway.

Gojyo stood there for some time after that. He was definitely more determined to find out about the green-eyed boy now. But he also couldn't help but wonder about just what happened.

"What the hell…was that?"

Hakkai seemed to not really be himself.

Then again, I barely know the guy. But still, I can't help but feel that I've known him before. And for all I know this could just be normal behavior.

Shrugging he continued once again down the path, up a staircase and down a few more hallways coming to a stop at the bedroom. Hakkai wasn't in there, though everyone else was.

Gojyo figured that it was best not to worry about it at the moment and sat himself down for a few rounds of cards.

Time ticked on and still, Hakkai never showed up. Pretty soon it was time for the matches, and everyone was standing up and making way downstairs into the main room, which was by far the largest in the dojo.

(Gojyo made sure to leave his cigarettes under the cover of his futon in case a certain psycho decided to check his pockets.)

Filing into the room in twos and threes, Gojyo came in last alone. He didn't want to be labeled as anything by walking in with any group of people.

He casually walked over to the far corner of the room and plopped down onto one of the mats.

Sighing, he looked up at Mike who was standing in front of all of them, arms crossed.

At this point he was figuring he better learn to sleep with his eyes open if Mike was preparing to give another lecture like the first day, when Gojyo heard a soft voice whisper to his left, "Hello again."

Tumbling sideways, Gojyo frantically turned to Hakkai who was apparently sitting next to him.

Damn it! Has he been down here this whole time?

He was about to reply when Mikes voice rang throughout the dojo cheerfully, "Alright everyone! It's time to get started on our first matches."

Shooting a fist it the air he slapped his muscled arm shouting, "Let's see this year how all of you fair up this! Hopefully some of you pansies have gotten better!"

Shouts, jeers, and angry yells sprouted from the crowd.

Well what do you know, teacher knows how to rouse up a crowd, Gojyo thought with mild amusement.

"But before that," Mike said after the noise settled down, "we need to see what a certain newcomers talents are!" Then dramatically twisting his body, he jabbed a finger at Gojyo (who only rolled his eyes) and yelled, "OK ROSEY! LETS SEE WHAT YOU GOT!"

Cheers surrounded them as Mike called, " MONO! Get up here! You will be his first opponent."

On one knee to lift himself up, he asked, "Who the hell is Mo-"

Gojyo tumbled over, unable to finish as 'Mono' stood up. This guy was huge!

Holy shit…I never even noticed this guy was here, what the hell?

Hakkai wrapped his fingers around Gojyo's arm as he started tilting when Mono had shown himself, who was now lumbering over to the center mat.

"Are you alright? Gojyo?" Hakkai had paused because for some reason Gojyo was staring at him strangely. He let go of his arm and said, "You better get up there."

The strange look vanished from the kappa's face and he stood up immediately. "Oh, yeah."

Walking purposely over to Mono he put one hand on his hip and outstretched the other, pointing his index finger dangerously close to Mono's face.

"Listen up. I don't want to spend too much of my time on you. I have something, or rather someone else I gotta take care of before the day ends. So let's make this quick."

Smirking he finished under his breath, "Ready to feel the hurt?"

Mono definitely looked like he was from the wild with his messy black hair sticking up in all directions, bulky form, and upturned nose as he roared in anger at Gojyo. In which the red head snapped his arm back to his chest, in fear that Mono was about to bite it.

Hakkai's wore a sheepish expression, well if there was one thing he knew about Gojyo now, he was certainly a flamboyant one.

Mono lifted a heavy arm and swung it toward the red heads face.

Tilting his head back, he easily escaped contact.

"There is no point in being a tub of moving muscle if you can't even move quick enough."

Mono grit his teeth and charged at him, then unexpectedly slid on the matted floor, ready to collide bodies with the other. It was easy to tell that if that happened who would be hurt the most.

Gojyo, already thinking that he would be bored with this fight in no time, easily leapt into the air to avoid impact.

Mono grinned triumphantly at this, and hoisted his arms into the air, grabbing Gojyo with his sausage like fingers around the ankles. Then he slammed him, face first, into the mat.

Hoots and yells could be heard as Gojyo lifted his face from the floor, now sporting a fat red lip.

"Ou…ouch."

Mike, being the only one knowing it wasn't over, yelled, "I wouldn't insult Mono if I were you. He can be quite sensitive."

Pulling himself to his feet he yelled sarcastically to Mike, "Sensitive!? No, couldn't be."

Everyone was dead quiet now. Apparently surprised that the kappa was back on his feet. Gojyo swayed on sight for a moment, due to the impact on his head making him slightly dizzy.

He turned fully to face Mono, whose mouth was hanging open, making him look as stupid as he probably was, the red head grumbled to himself.

Gojyo narrowed his eyes, "Enough of this, I have things to do."

He sprinted to Mono with such speed that mere human eyes could see nothing but a blur, and landed a punch squarely in between the eyes on the large boys face.

Mono went flying back, smacking the back of his head into the dojo wall, and crumpled in an unconscious heap to the ground.

Wasting no time the kappa turned to Mike, "Well? How was that for a newcomer?"

Mike only nodded, although a completely different reaction was received from his classmates. There was two things, many a pair of wide and awed eyes staring at him, and a deafening quiet.

"Then that settles it. As a treat of welcome, how about I get to pick the next fight?"

Mike said nothing to signal his approval. He just leaned back against the wall with his arms crossed and an attentive face as if waiting for a show.

Smirking, Gojyo turned to face the one boy he has been dying to fight since he had got there.

"Hakkai," he said softly but firmly. His burning crimson gaze bore into the other boy's startled emerald ones.

If their classmate's eyes were wide before, they were saucers now.

What is Gojyo doing, Hakkai couldn't help but think with dread.

"Get up here. You're my opponent now."

TBC…

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A/N: This chapter has been revised as of 11:54 PM on March 20, 2009. I'm picking up speed with the fixing up of this fic, two chapters in one day! That's pretty amazing for myself. I find it hard to focus on a fan fiction when all I can do is edit, edit, and edit some more before I get the new stuff up. Patience I suppose would be good.