A/N: Sorry! Sorry! Life keeps pulling me away. I didn't think I'd be able to update tonight, but this chapter didn't really need too much editing or anything. I think things start getting a little tricky next chapter and after, as I have to completely re-write some sections and changes quite a bit around. But eventually (no deadlines, (laugh)) I will get this puppy out! Thanks for sticking with! Read, review, and above all, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4: Shots to Thoughts

Gojyo threw back another double shot of whiskey and reveled as the liquid slid down his throat, effectively warming his insides. He lit a cigarette and sighed out the smoke in a large puff.

'Four days.' He thought to himself bitterly. 'Gods, will he ever wake up?'

Gojyo looked around the tavern he had managed to wander into. It was just another small non-descript pit stop in the ever-continuing journey west. The only other people even in the place were the bartender and what appeared to be a suspiciously young couple in a booth in the back. He sighed again and took a long hit off his cigarette before ordering another shot. No, make that a double shot. Despite a few cuts and bruises, Gojyo had managed to come out of the fight with no serious damage. Sanzo had also faired well, receiving only a large cut to his arm as a 'serious' wound and the usual bruises. Hakkai sported a very nice lump and a dislocated shoulder from his landing into Gojyo. But Goku…

He sighed again and mumbled softly, "God damn monkey, always getting into trouble."

"Once you start talking to yourself then I know you've had too much to drink."

Startled, Gojyo looked up and into the sullen green eyes of Hakkai.

"How is he?" Gojyo asked suddenly.

Hakkai smiled sadly and shook his head. "Still asleep. It doesn't surprise me considering the lack of sleep he had been getting and the wounds he received."

The silence stretched between them, comfortable and yet tinged with a hint of shared frustration. Goku had not been as fortunate as the rest of them. The back of his head had been cracked open from his collision with the tree, his wrist broken, the left side of his face was swollen and purple; but the most serious wound had been from the weapon that had sent him sailing through the air like a doll. From the right side of his jaw nearly down to his left hip was a deep crooked gash. It was amazing the demon's sword had not cut him straight in two.

"Gojyo?"

The redhead glanced at his friend from the corner of his eye and nodded, indicating Hakkai had his attention.

Recognizing the familiar gesture, Hakkai started. "It's been four days and yet," he hesitated suddenly causing Gojyo to look over at the man until he continued, "And yet I still don't know what happened after I was knocked unconscious. I can understand not being able to get a word out of Sanzo, but for some reason I've felt that I wouldn't be able to get a word out of you, either."

This last statement stunned Gojyo and deep inside he felt like he had been slapped. He shook his head and answered; amazed his voice didn't betray his unknown feeling.

"You can always talk to me, Kai." He said, making sure to lock eyes with his friend. "I would never keep you in the dark."

Hakkai smiled again, a bit of genuine happiness behind it at hearing those words.

"Then what happened?"

Gojyo closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair a bit, letting his cigarette dangle lazily from his lips for a moment before he spoke.

After his breath had finally returned and Gojyo had made sure the unconscious Hakkai on top of him was only unconscious, he had stood in time to hear the demon standing in front of Sanzo speak.

"My challenger."

Those two words sent chills straight down his spine, accented by the fact that the demon was obviously staring straight at Goku's unmoving figure. Before he could raise his weapon to ready an attack he heard a gunshot ring out.

'Damn.' He thought to himself. 'The monk got the bastard first.'

But there was nothing. No body, no scream of defeat. Just silence. Sanzo stood with his gun still raised, a whiff of smoke leaking out the barrel, but his target had vanished. The unnamable feeling that the demon had brought with him had vanished as well, leaving Sanzo and Gojyo to ponder if the entire thing had been real at all. A sudden cry answered them and both head shot towards Goku, weapons raised in ready. The demon had the boy lifted up off the ground by his neck and was looking him over as if he were a suit the creature was thinking of buying.

"Yes." The demon purred suddenly, "He will do."

Before the two men could react, the demon dropped Goku and turned towards them both, a cat-like grin having broadened in his appraisal of the young man.

Sanzo cocked his gun and aimed straight between the demon's eyes.

"Who the hell are you?"

The demon seemed almost puzzled at this question, staying silent for a few moments as he contemplated his answer.

"Shouri." He said quietly, but firmly.

He turned slightly and gazed down at Goku before slowly fading from existence.

Hakkai was silent for a few moments, slowly digesting this new information before he turned an up-raised eyebrow at Gojyo.

"You think he named himself at that moment…"

He trailed off, still thinking. The question/statement hung in the air between them as they both gathered their wits.

Gojyo stubbed out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray and sighed. He'd been doing way too much of that lately. He had been trying to put the whole sorry thing out of his head. But the image of Goku's body flying through the air, that damn bastard's grin…

"It's sure as hell what it seemed like to me." Gojyo leaned back more and put his hands behind his head before closing his eyes. "Goofy fucking bastard if you ask me. Who just names themself like that?"

Hakkai shook his head for a moment and began to think. When he had woken up everything was over. Sanzo was wrapping strips of cloth around Goku's head and torso vainly trying to get a lease on the bleeding, while Gojyo was shaking Hakkai by the shoulder trying to bring him back to consciousness. Hakuryu, having transformed from the Jeep into his white dragon body, was flying between his owner and Goku kyuuing his worry. Hakkai had done what he could for Goku; mostly that had just been to stop the bleeding, before he had nearly passed out. Luck had been with them though, after only forty-five more minutes of driving they had come across this town.

To both Hakkai and Gojyo's surprise, Sanzo had yet to leave the boy's side for more than a few minutes. It was almost like he expected an attacker to assassinate Goku any moment. It was the most blatant display of true affection that the priest had ever shown. Not, of course, like Sanzo would admit to that. He had only said they were leaving the absolute second Goku woke up and he simply wanted to be ready.

His daily tirade of how much time they were wasting here in an effort to back-up his 'Goku watching' excuse amused Hakkai more and more each time.

"It was really strange though, Kai."

The healer looked over at his companion at this soft statement, successfully broken from his thoughts.

"The second that bastard vanished," he said, then opened his eyes to look at Hakkai. "Goku immediately went unconscious."

The rest didn't need to be said. As if that was what Goku was waiting for to be able to sleep.

"It's almost dinner-time." Hakkai said quietly. "Why don't we go get something to eat?"

Gojyo simply nodded and stood, a bit aggravated to find his muscles ached from sitting too long. He stretched a bit and headed for the door, not needing to look to know Hakkai was right behind him.

'Shouri.' Hakkai mused to himself. 'Victory…'

(-end chapter-)