It was late when they all turned in for the night and the full moon shone pale blue light though all the windows. Hakkai helped an exhausted Goku to bed. Gojyo had worn the boy out playing games, wrestling, and wrapping him in bolts of fabric only to unroll him and leave him dizzy. The noise they both created was nearly intolerable.

Sanzo had felt better as the day turned to evening, and the effects of the poison had seemed to pass completely. He prepared for bed, washing his face in the basin, and laying out the things he would need the next day. They had already decided that Gojyo would don a hood and they'd both start their search fresh.

When Sanzo had seen Gojyo on the island, he'd not thought the curse monstrous so much as startling, and within a few hours, he'd grown used to it. He'd noted that since their return, that Gojyo had cleaned up, and the handsome, smiling face was still there when he turned just so.

Sanzo was aware of Gojyo watching him now from the open doorway. He set his short sword and scabbard that Hakkai had found and cleaned, beside the dresser, and turned to face Gojyo.

"Were you planning to protect my honor again by standing guard all night?"

"Haven't seen you in a month and when I do, you're dying. I'm just reassuring myself you're okay." Gojyo crossed his arms and leaned back against the doorframe. "And I'm imagining what I'm going to do with you after I get rid of this curse."

"Hn." Sanzo smirked and sat on the edge of the bed. "If it bothers you, close the door and turn down the lamp."

Gojyo straightened, his gaze intent. "It doesn't bother you?"

"No more or less than any other part of you." Sanzo barely finished speaking and Gojyo had the door closed, and was leaning down to claim Sanzo's mouth in a careful kiss. The bed dipped as he climbed in. "I just want to lay with you. We don't need to do a damn thing."

"That's all your imagination could conjure up?" Sanzo could feel the length of Gojyo's body pressed against his own, their hands wandering over each other. It wasn't like anything they'd done before; so often fast and needy and a little rough. But it felt right.

Gojyo chuckled, puffs of air against Sanzo's neck. "Ah, there might have been a little more of this." And he slid his hand down to squeeze Sanzo's ass. "But the whole package seemed too good to resist." He brought his hand back up, and Sanzo shivered as Gojyo stroked fingers over his chest.

A sharp tapping noise filled the room and they both stopped and looked at the each other and then the door. The tapping sounded again and they both turned toward the window.

"It's that damned raven." Gojyo sat up and kneeled across the bed to the window. "Go away!"

Sanzo could see the bird tilting its head to peer inside. It raised and lowered its wings, and then spoke.

"The moon shines down upon Gyokumen tonight!"

Gojyo looked over his shoulder at Sanzo, and then swore, and turned and opened the window.

"What do you know?"

"The Lady Gyokumen is vulnerable on a night such as this. I can take you to her." The raven bobbed its head and then hopped atop the window frame. The room's lamp reflected sharply in its black eyes. It looked at Sanzo. "You've fared well. Newly arisen as the morning sun."

"What do think want?" Gojyo reached for the raven and it hopped further into the room. Gojyo slammed the window shut.

"An excellent question. What do I want, I wonder?" The raven leaned closer. "Something from Lady Gyokumen. If you can catch her." The raven flapped and lifted itself to land on the edge of the washbasin. It leaned close to the mirror and pecked at its reflection.

Sanzo stood and dressed. "Who cares what it wants. We'll catch her." He moved up behind the raven. "But we need to know how to silence her magic. What can you tell us about that?"

The raven spread its wings dramatically. "Remove her tongue."

Gojyo scoffed. "You make it sound easy. How do we stop the spells before that?"

"I can guide you. The rest is your decision."

"Tch." Sanzo finished fastening his weapons and drew his short sword and pointed it at the crow. "It sounds evasive to me. Maybe you're leading us into a trap."

The raven ignored the sword. "True, I will not lose anything if you fail." The raven looked at Gojyo. "Did I lead you astray when I told you how to make him well? And did -"

"What about him?" Sanzo pointed at Gojyo. "What needs to be done to remove his curse?"

"So many questions! She cursed him with his own blood. Let him bleed on her." The raven fluttered back to the window sill. "Time is wasting."

Gojyo let the raven back out the window, and then looked at Sanzo. "Are you well enough for this?"

Sanzo nodded, grabbed the lamp, and opened the door.

Hakkai stood outside the door on the landing. "Oh. Well I thought I'd heard voices."

Sanzo felt Gojyo crowding up behind him.

"The raven is taking us to Gyokumen," said Gojyo. "But you probably heard that."

Hakkai's cheeks flushed dark. "Ah, yes. I'd like to help if I can."