I was thoroughly enjoying the company of the other members of the Sanzo-ikkou*. It is nice to have some company who don't know about my past. Well, at least the past I'm not too fond of. I thought. To me, Goku was like a little brother I never had, whom I could baby as much as I saw fit. The monkey seemed to need it. Hakkai was intelligent and polite; the perfect person to hold a conversation with. And I have to admit, messing with Gojyo was pretty damn funny.
"So, is Kouryuu still in the bath?" I asked the green-eyed youkai.
He shook his head. "No, he left before we did for a cigarette and didn't come back."
That surprised me. "I didn't know he smoked. Oh, well he wouldn't have when we knew each other, now would he?" I laughed, but felt a little concerned. Finding Kouryuu in the middle of a crowd was just pure luck. I didn't expect him to be the same boy I had known. He was a man now. A full grown, respected, strong Sanzo priest. Hopefully, any changes that happened to him were for the better. The things that happened to me sure as hell weren't.
Goku piped up. "Do you want me to go and find him, onee-chan? You said he liked sesame dango. He wouldn't want to miss it." I shook my head.
"Nah, he's probably in his room. I'll just bring it up to him. Even when we were kids, he liked to brood like this on his own. Guess some people never change."
I grabbed a plate of dango and poured a fresh cup of tea. "I'll be right back."
Quietly, I walked up the stairs and knocked on his door. "Kouryuu?" When there was no response, I just thought that he had fallen asleep. Oh well. Can't expect to get him to talk much anyway. I wanted to see how he had really been since he left.
Coming back downstairs, I set down the items I'd brought with me.
"Is the stupid monk asleep or something?" Gojyo asked.
"Yeah. Didn't answer his door."
"That is a damn shame. Later tonight, why don't you try knocking on my door? I promise I'll be there in a flash." He purred, leaning provocatively on the counter.
I couldn't help myself. "Might just take you up on that offer, kappa-kun." His mouth dropped to the floor, totally caught off guard by the unexpected answer. Before I started laughing hysterically and ruined the ruse, I turned around and walked towards the entrance to the baths. Purposely, I swung my hips with each step. Right as I turned the corner, I winked at him suggestively. "I'll hold you to it."
Then I walked off, both hands clamping my mouth shut. I only let it out once I got to the men's changing area. After letting it all out, I wiped a tear from my eye and headed towards the roten-buro. The trees on that side still needed to be tethered down, and the doors needed to be checked for a tight water seal.
*Sanzo-ikkou= Sanzo party/group.
