AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay... so then. First of all, thank you redbrunja for allowing me to throw plot bunnies at you. I'm sorry you didn't get to do any beta reading on this... but I couldn't wait to post it. So, thank you for letting me throw fluffy objects at you. It was great fun! Second, this chapter had to be broken into two chapters. Chapter 38 is really almost like a continuation of this one as far as sequence of events goes, but I didn't have the time to proof read it or anything, so it won't get posted until a little later. (laughs over emotional cliff hangers) Third, and lastly about this chapter... IT IS MATURE. Yes, MATURE is what this chapter is. Not so MATURE as the last MATURE chapter, but it's still MATURE.
Am I disclaimed enough? Yeah, I think so...
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"Well, g'night, Mr. Sanzo! Watch out for any bed critters," an annoyingly cheerful voice called shortly before the door shut completely.
"Hope those critters bite you on the ass, you sour prick," came another much more annoying voice.
Sanzo glared at the wooden door as he jerked his bag roughly open, waiting until Hakkai locked the door to finally rotate the soreness in his shoulder. Finally, some quiet without persistant whining, shouting and good humor over their little rescue stint with their new 'friends' was at hand. That had been further delayed when everyone (except for him, obviously) had decided to congregate in his room for a game of cards, right before Goku went off to investigate Gat's claims that he could regenerate fast and easy from injuries. And speaking of injuries... His efforts not to get involved had been shot to shit, and as a result for it his entire back and shoulders were aching. Of course, it also could have something to do with being forced to camp out the evening prior. He frowned thoughtfully as he pulled a cigarette from his pack and lit up, inhaling the first calming wave of nicotine gratefully into his lungs.
"Sanzo?" Hakkai asked quietly, using the tone that said he was concerned for the blonde but also wanted to talk about something that was on his mind. It was politely inquisitive, and Sanzo knew if he said no, Hakkai wouldn't start the discussion he wanted to. His movements in unpacking and organizing their room after the impromptu party had halted completely, awaiting his response.
Sanzo turned just enough to give Hakkai an arched brow, silent permission to continue with whatever was on his mind. All he really wanted to do was take a hot bath and relax his body a little. It was why he'd insisted on bunking in with Hakkai, despite Hazel's assurances that both he and his big-ass body guard slept like rocks. When the bishop had actually suggested that he get a massage by that same big-ass bodyguard... yeah, he'd pass on that. That was just too damned creepy for him.
Hakkai finished folding a spare shirt, lowering his eyes as he prepared his thoughts for speech. Sanzo frowned, blowing smoke through his lips as he watched the slightly nervous gesture of smoothing invisible wrinkles in the freshly folded garment. Something was eating at the green eyed man badly for him to openly display his discomfort. "Sanzo... I don't like this."
Again, he arched a brow, tapping ash off onto the floor. Hakkai's eyes never waivered from his beyond smooth shirt that he was still making minute adjustments to. Huh... usually Hakkai would have all but had a coniption over ashes on the clean floor. Realizing during the pause that Hakkai was waiting for a response, he let out a low breath and sat down on his own bed. "You don't like what, the sleeping arrangements? Tough shit, I refuse to share a room with idiots and fanboys."
A half-hearted smile flickered briefly over Hakkai's thin lips before he, too, sat on his bed, back ramrod stiff and head lowered. "While I appreciate not being lumped into either of those categories, unfortunately it wasn't the sleeping arrangements I was referring to."
"I figured that. What happened during the ride back?" He'd noticed Hakkai was particularly cold toward their new traveling (temporarily, he reminded himself with a bit of relief) companions after dropping the female hostages off at their homes. He remained mostly silent to them during dinner and had been very quick to say that the credit card they were using was near full and couldn't possibly pay for a third room when they approached the front desk. Gojyo had thankfully started a fight with Goku right then when the boy almost busted up that lie. Then, when the usual invasion of his room occured, Hakkai had purposely sat apart, participating in the card games only when Goku pestered him to.Sanzo had let it be for the time being, knowing Hakkai probably had a good reason for it and would explain later.
"While we were returning back," Hakkai began slowly, still not looking Sanzo in the eye. His own gaze was narrowed, green eyes gleaming thoughtfully in the glow from the overhead light. Sanzo watched the smoke curl idly from his cigarette as he listened to what Hakkai said. "We came across a youkai."
"Hmph, and?"
"It was a little boy, maybe six years old at best."
Sanzo let out a low breath, his mind already jumping to where this story was going. "And the good bishop wanted to stop and add another soul to his collection, correct?"
Hakkai nodded once, finally turning his head enough to give Sanzo an almost defiant glare. "Taking the souls of people who intend harm is one thing. Murdering a child, no matter what race, is completely different. I don't trust him, Sanzo, and I certainly don't like him. That boy intended no harm to anyone, and wasn't the least bit effected by the Minus Wave. To actually consider killing a child..." Eyes usually the color of jade darkened to a nearly pine green as Hakkai's jaw tightened angrily, fingers curling into tight, shaking fists.
"We knew right off the bat that he wasn't fond of youkai," Sanzo said into the silence, watching the end of his cigarette glow cherry red and acrid black. While what Hakkai had just told him was disturbing, it didn't surprise him. There had always been thin, barely noticed lines between human and youkai, but they'd been overlooked for the most part in the name of peaceful coexistance. The Minus Wave only scribbled over those lines in permanent, stark black ink.
"Yes, but I never would have imagined that hatred would extend to an innocent, homeless child," Hakkai replied sharply, his tone dropping ever so slightly to the one that meant he was being very careful with his anger. Sanzo's eyes narrowed and directed their attention to the still sitting man.
"Racial bigots very rarely differentiate between age or social conditions," the monk said, flicking the cigarette butt to the floor and crushing it under his boot heel. "All they see is what they hate, not who they're hating. However..."
Hakkai's green eyes widened and snapped on him so fast it had to have caused whiplash. Slowly, he shook his head, his back straightening just a touch more in his growing ire. "No... don't even say it, Sanzo. There is nothing good about what that man does!"
Sanzo shrugged the argument away, leaning forward to perch his elbows on his knees and fold his hands together. "That wasn't what I was going to say, you presumptuous bastard. I was about to say that he and his oversized boyfriend are saving us a lot of work by traveling with us and killing off the youkai who do require it. You're the driver. Haven't you noticed how much farther we traveled over the last day or so because we're not spending hours at a time fighting off assassins?"
"I would rather take twenty years on this journey than associate myself with a murdering sociopath."
Sanzo shrugged again, refraining from stating that Hakkai himself could fall under the same category as murdering sociopath. Hell, all of the (with maybe the exception of Goku) could be classified as that, but given Hakkai's agitated state of things, he really didn't think it wise to point this out. Chi was well and good when healing an injury, but he doubted the same was true for creating one. Besides, knowing how Hakkai loved self-punishment, the thought was already slapping around in his too-busy brain.
Letting out an exhausted puff of air, he stood and removed the sutra from his shoulders, rolling it up neatly before setting it on the side table by his bed. "I'm taking a shower and going to bed," he announced to his current room mate. "We leave early tomorrow, so that kappa of yours better have his happy ass back by then." He began walking toward the bathroom, removing everything but his jeans in the process.
"And what about Bishop Grosse and his loyal servant?" Hakkai asked bitterly. The question was merely for hope's sake, asked just in case Sanzo surprised him with the answer he wanted but wasn't expecting.
"The minute they get in my way, we'll deal with them. Until then, it's none of my business," Sanzo answered back firmly, shutting the door on Hakkai's wounded puppy face.
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This was really stupid of her.
Yaone's eyes flinched a little as she walked with a slight limp quickly to the dragon pens. It was only days after the attack by those... well... shikigamis for lack of a better comparison. Kougaiji was still furious with Lirin, confining her to quarters and not even paying attention to her. She and Dokugakuji were under orders not to discuss him with the princess beyond polite conversation and reassuring her that he was still mad at her. It was the first time since she'd known Lirin that the girl wasn't smiling or bouncing around Houtu Castle. Kougaiji's new method of chastizing her was working more than adequately.
He'd been angry with her, too, for not running with Lirin. He hadn't shouted but he'd been very intense when ordering her through gritted teeth not the EVER do such a 'damned foolish stunt' again. After that, he'd insisted on helping her to her room himself. And that was where a problem had occured. Yaone's cheeks burned as she remembered him brushing his fingers against her cheek in what could only have been an intimate gesture. She'd been horrified when he'd dropped to his knees in front of her, his eyes betraying everything like they always did. Worry, anger and that little spark she'd always just associated with Sanzo's eyes swirled through his indigo eyes. It was the last that had made her squirm internally and caused her to look away from that too-honest gaze.
Fortunately, Kougaiji only let out a weary, resigned sigh, squeezing her hands affectionately before helping her get her ankle propped and iced. His shoulders had been ramrod stiff as he'd left, and she'd learned later from Dokugakuji that he'd spent the next few hours beating the snot out of a training bag somewhere. It hadn't made her feel any better, even if the swordsman was highly amused over the condition of the bag once the prince was done with it. She didn't enjoy being the source of her lord's frustrations, but how could she return feelings that weren't there any longer?
Or maybe those feelings are still there and you just redirected them on someone more willing at the time to accept them?
Yaone almost tripped over herself at that chilling thought. Could that really be why she'd fallen for Sanzo? He'd expressed an interest, however benign at the time, in her when Kougaiji hadn't. She hadn't known until quite recently how exactly her lord felt toward her. Was that why she loved the arrogant monk? She shook her head, frowning at the very idea, and pushed through the doors of the pen as quietly as the hinges would allow her.
No, that wasn't why. She hadn't maintained their liasons just so he could be a surrogate for Kougaiji. She was in love with the person that was Genjyo Sanzo, right down to that God-awful stubborness of his. Even with the strain on their relationship, she loved him. Whether or not that love meant anything against his internal demons and issues was another thing. She'd realized since their last... argument (she hated calling it what it was) that Sanzo wasn't truly jealous of Kougaiji. Or, rather, she hoped he wasn't. What this amounted to was a battle against his own deep-seated defenses, yet more barriers she had to break through to finally reach the very core of him. And... it was frustrating her to no end how wrapped in spiny layers he was. She understood pain, and she understood being hurt over and over again. Granted, it wasn't the same type of hurt Sanzo had obviously faced, but she still knew how hard it was to trust someone after all that. But God above, when was he going to let her?
Yaone sighed to herself quietly as she rounded a turn and began walking toward her own dragon's pen. Sparky was out of commission for her use at the time, seeing as Lirin was in her room and sulking over her brother being mad at her. With the girl running around and practically untrackable in the Castle, it was easy for her to take Sparky and allow Lirin to take the blame. Was it wrong of her to let Lirin get attached to Sparky's long absences? Yes... but she would argue that away by saying that the dragon was thrilled to carry her anywhere she wanted, if only because he knew he wouldn't be trussed up in a tree four possibly days on end.
Her dragon grumbled, opening a lazy eye as she carefully opened the stall door and slipped inside. The musky smell of dragon hide came to her nose, as well as a trace of burned carbon from a recent mating cycle that had almost ended badly. The lower end of the pen was charred and blackened from a lust enraged female who had been less than thrilled with her mate. Yaone made soothing noises to the grumpy dragon, rubbing the softer hide under his heavy jaw to let him know she didn't mean any harm. He blinked, slowly focusing his eyes on her and let out another rumble of sound, this one more awake and eager to get going than before. She smiled, keeping one hand to the well cared for hide as she moved around to get her saddle from the post on the wall.
"It'll be easier saddling during the daytime."
Yaone whirled around and then quickly pressed herself against the wall as her dragon started from the sharp, sudden movements. Dokugakuji was already in the stall, hushing the dragon and trying to lull him back to a state of calm. Dark eyes met hers in the twilight and gave her a sheepish apology. "Didn't mean to scare you, Yaone," the swordsman said as he continued to rub the base around the dragon's horns in smooth, calm gestures.
"I certainly hope you didn't mean to," she replied with just a touch of annoyance. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you had plans with Lixue."
"I did... but I saw you sneaking out here and followed you," he answered, his lips thinning into a disapproving line. "And the same question to you. What the hell are you up to out here?"
Blushing, Yaone pushed away from the wall and retrieved her saddle that had fallen. "I... was going out, obviously," she said lamely, carefully avoiding his eyes.
A sharp, "Goddamn it," made her look up as Dokugakuji shook his head sharply, eyes now glittering angrily in the darkness. "Look, I'm not trying to be a pain in the ass here, Yaone, but I just don't get you."
"There's nothing to get, Doku. I'm going out for a bit."
"You're hurt. You shouldn't be going anywhere."
She remained silent, her own jaw fixed tightly to keep back any angry words. Sighing, Dokugakuji stepped around the dragon's head, ignoring the disappointed rumble that came when he stopped scratching his hide. Yaone refused to look away this time, even when he took both her hands in his, squeezing gently in the manner of an older brother.
"I've been quiet this whole time, Yaone," the big man said softly. "I've let you do your own thing here, hoping maybe it was just some kinda fling, you know? But... it's not, is it? You love this guy, don't you?"
Swallowing heavily, she nodded once and finally lowered her gaze. "I do, Doku. I can't help it," she whispered.
"And it doesn't matter that Kou's about out of his mind about you?"
"It matters in the sense that I don't want to displease my lord, but otherwise it doesn't. It's not fair to him if I pretend just to make him happy. He deserves so much more than that."
Sighing, he squeezed her hands again, his thumbs rubbing over the tops soothingly. "You're right about that, and I'm sure as hell glad you realize that, too. I don't think I'd forgive you if you faked it all just for him." He chuckled, but it wasn't with any humor. "Shit, you like to do things the hard way, don't you?"
She shrugged and offered a faint smile as she met his gaze again. There wasn't much point anymore in pretending she wasn't seeing Sanzo. Doku was anything but stupid, and it really wouldn't be that hard to figure out if one knew what to look for. "It's not like we chose the hard way on purpose. We really don't have a choice."
Dokugakuji chuckled again, this time with definate humor, as he took the saddle from her hands. "It'll be easier with two of us working. We don't wanna keep your cyclops boyfriend waiting much longer. Just... be back tomorrow afternoon, okay? I'll tell Kou you went back to the battle scene to see if you could find any other clues."
Yaone frowned as she looped the cinch strap under her dragon's belly and over to Dokugakuji. "My cyclops boyfriend?" she questioned, confused for a moment as to who he was eluding to.
Rolling his eyes, the big man pulled sharply on the strap, using his knee to try and push any puffing of the sides out. He remembered from an incident before that Yaone's dragon liked to do that when saddling. "Hakkai? Wears a monocle? Do you get the cyclops referrence?"
"Oh... You still think I'm seeing Hakkai?" she laughed. She would have thought for sure after their little talks that Dokugakuji would have figured it out by now! Apparently, it wasn't as obvious as she'd thought, which worked well in her favor should anyone else suspect anything.
"Wait... are you saying you're not?" he asked incredulously. "But... it's gotta be him! No way in hell would you put up with Gojyo. Goku's too young and has a personality way too much like Lirin's. And Sanzo's a..."
Yaone continued sliding buckles into place calmly, letting him draw his own conclusions. She could almost feel the shock dripping off of him as Doku suddenly realized which of the four she truly was seeing. "No... aw, hell no! No way in... Yaone, you can't be..." His eyes were wide to the point of nearly falling from his head.
"Something wrong, Dokugakuji?" she asked sweetly, finally turning his way with a smug little smirk.
Dokugakuji shook his head and took two steps back and away from her. "You... and him? Shit... just... holy SHIT!"
She opened the stall door and tugged gently on the reins to lead her dragon out, leaving a completely dumbfounded Dokugakuji in the stall. "We'll talk later, Doku, but I really have to get going now."
"Wait, Yaone... Hey!"
She was already mounted and urging her dragon out of the pen, ignoring his startled calls and the footsteps pounding after her. What did finally make her pause and blink in surprise was when he grabbed the reins and stood directly before her. "Dokugakuji..."
"Two miles outside of a town called Choudhre," he said. "Some punk gang of youkai were killed recently. Bullet casings were found at their hide out. You should start there, it's not that far from the forest you and Lirin were attacked in."
Yaone's jaw dropped a little at the news, her eyes widening. "How did you find this out? And why are you telling me?"
"The report just got sent to Kou, and I happened to be present when he was reading it through," he explained with a wicked grin that was exactly the same as his half brother's. "And I guess I'm telling you so you don't waste your time looking around. I like this even less than if you were seeing Gojyo, but if it makes you happy... Be safe and be careful, okay?"
Her shoulder relaxed a bit, a soft smile touching her lips as she leaned down and kissed his cheek. "Thank you," she said quietly as she dug her heels in to urge the dragon forward. Whatever he shouted after her was drowned out in the heavy creaking of wing joints followed by the sharp puffs of air as the dragon took a running leap into the sky, quickly gaining altitude and putting distance between herself and Houtu Castle.
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Goku snarled and kicked with everything he had at the wooden crate out behind the inn and tried not to think about anything except crushing those little pieces of wood into saw dust with his fists. It was really late out now, and he was expecting a bullet to come outta nowhere for him to get him to shut up, but he really didn't care. And, as much as he tried not to think about what had made him run out back and start kicking wooden crate asses, the more he ended up really thinking about it.
"Somebody, please help! My baby..."
"... I asked y'all earlier, didn't I? To stop the Jeep..."
This was beyond lame! What was the point of being able to bring someone back from the dead if they went crazy from it, and to even get THAT far in the process you needed someone else's soul! He'd thought it was cool before but now... He'd rather never eat again than have a power like that. Also, there were the really weird vibes he was picking up from that Hazel guy which he didn't like. Oh, the man was pretty nice... especially to Sanzo... and everything, but there was something about him that made Goku's tongue wanna curl up and die. It made his skin all prickly like he had ants crawling all over him, and those eyes were the same type of creepy cheerful as Hakkai's. Well... not quite. Hakkai usually was cheerful, even when he was killing people. Hazel wasn't. His cheerful face really was a mask, he was sure of it!
Now, Gat though... He liked the gi-normous man. Thing. Whatever the hell he was. Gat kinda reminded him of Sanzo in a way. A really tall, REALLY muscley Sanzo, though. Who didn't hit him or call him stupid or monkey depending on how angry he was. No, what made Goku think of Sanzo when he saw the big man was that sorta sadness to him. Even when angry, Sanzo always seemed so sad to him, and Gat was the same way. Not to mention the fact that Gat didn't let anyone get in his way either... but it was mostly the sadness. Gat looked like he might hate the rain, too, which made him feel bad. It made him ache in his chest the same way it always did when he saw Sanzo during the rain. Nobody should be so sad they can't find a reason to smile at least once in a while, especially not if they were still alive. If they were alive, and whoever was trying to hurt them was dead, wasn't that a good reason to smile?
He didn't know. Sometimes, he felt like he was so close to understanding everything at last, and other times he felt like he really didn't get anything at all. He missed talking to Sanzo about all this. Despite being hit in the head, cussed at and told to get more cigarettes regardless of weather conditions, if he needed to talk, Sanzo listened to him. He would sit and be quiet, then ask a question or say something that would instantly help Goku understand. It was frustrating and it pissed him off that he couldn't do that now, and it was all because of Yaone.
Stupid Yaone!
His scowl darkened as he kicked a crate up, smashing through one side and then spun and punched between the two halves before it could hit the ground. What did she know about anything anyway? She wasn't there when Sanzo got poisoned by the scorpion youkai. She wasn't the one to watch in horror as Sanzo put himself in front of Rikudo's staff. Hell, she didn't even know what kinda cigarettes he smoked! Goku had thought trying to date women would help him understand why Sanzo seemed to really like the healer, but it wasn't working. Yeah, he kinda liked kissing Sima, but he just didn't get it! Why did everything have to change because she was sleepin' with him?
Those frustrations added to the ones from earlier and made him grit his teeth hard enough to hurt as he spun around, looking for another box to kill. Nothing, not even an old tin can. "Aw... damn it," he muttered, fingers still curled into tight fists. There was nothing left for him to hit or kick and, and he was still angry! Goku looked around again, ignoring the way his lungs rose and fell sharply and the dull ache in his knuckles. Sanzo had always told him to take it out on something instead of holding it in. Well, he needed to take it out, but there was nothing to take it out on.
"Maybe someone's willin' to exchange their life for the child's? Hn... I thought not."
Growling, Goku began exercises from when Sanzo had first taught him how to fight. They were simple, but they at least kept him moving and got rid of the nasty feeling in his gut. He wished Hakkai would have lost it on Hazel and decked him out good. He wished they'd never met that stupid Hazel to begin with. He wished... well, he wished for a lotta things, but right then he just wanted everything to go back to the way it was before, just the four of them traveling west. He spun around sharply, compensating for the rapid motion by putting more weight on the ball of his foot while the other one followed the spinning movement around and through...
To be caught in a big, meaty fist.
Goku froze, dropping his leg down awkwardly as Gat released it, wiping the sweat that dripped down the sides of his face. Hooded, yellow eyes stared down at him, the sharp angles of the face above never creasing to show any emotion. Goku waited, panting hard, for the big man to say something. "It's a little late to be training," that deep, thunder-sounding voice finally said.
"I couldn't sleep," Goku explained, ruffling the damp hair off his forehead and neck. He wished he could take his limiter off and itch the sweaty pieces underneath, but he couldn't. The only time he ever really noticed the piece of metal was when he worked up a sweat or it was summer out. Gat towered over him, the relievingly cool breeze that swept through lightly tossing the thick pieces of hair and pulling gently on the feathers at the end of one. "So... what about you? Why're you still up, Gat?"
"I don't need to sleep."
Oh... well... yeah. That explained that. It was starting to cramp Goku's neck having to look up and up to see those shadowed eyes, but he didn't wanna look away. Even if the face never betrayed it, he could still see that little bit of sadness there in his eyes. Just like with Sanzo... "I... I was just practisin', ya know," he added quickly, in case Gat thought that maybe those simple drills were all he knew how to do. "I was just warmin' up is all."
"I'm sorry for interupting. Please continue." Big shoulders like boulders of rock that happened to look like a man turned around as heavy steps began to head back for the inn.
Goku had no idea why he shouted, "Wait!" Maybe it was because of Gat's sad eyes. Or maybe because he really didn't wanna be alone. Or maybe because I really miss Sanzo and I really need to talk to someone, he thought to himself. Whatever it was, Gat froze, glancing back over his shoulder with a slight quirk to his dark brow. Goku hesitated under that heavy stare, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to find what he wanted to say, which was really hard because he didn't know he'd wanted to say something to begin with. Taking a deep breath, he made the decision to just talk and see what happened. At any rate, it might make him feel better to say it outloud.
"You remember that baby earlier?" he began quietly, taking just a half step closer to the giant before him. "For a second... I really wanted a youkai to attack or somethin'. That way, we could save him, y'know? I just... I didn't know what to do an' it pisses me off..." His words trailed off as he finally broke their stare, eyes darting over to the cracked and splintered crates as his fists tightened once again. Great, now he sounded like a big baby!
A shuffle of heavy feet made him look back up as Gat turned around again, cracking the knuckles on each of his meaty fists. "If you're not going to sleep, I'll join you," he rumbled. "I never tire anyway."
For a split second, Goku thought as he grinned and dropped into an offensive position, he could have sworn he saw a faint crook of a smile across the face at least three feet above him. All of that disappeared as he launch a kick at the giant man's chest.
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Yaone smoothed out the wrinkles in her green dress that riding on a dragon's neck caused as she stood just outside the door to the inn that reportedly housed not one but two holy men inside. She wasn't sure who the other was, but the description given to her by a young lady fit Sanzo perfectly. That description also meant the woman had been staring just a bit too long at her boyfriend, seeing as she'd made sure to include 'the hottest ass to be wrapped in silk' in her description of the blonde man. The woman's only saving grace from any retaliation on Yaone's part was the fact that the tart didn't know Sanzo was a taken man. She hoped he was still taken, at least. After that last fight they'd had, it was hard to tell.
Well, there was only one way to end the suspense. She had to just walk through the door and somehow get him to either come down and talk or allow her up in the room. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly to calm herself, Yaone checked her limiters to make sure they were securely fastened around her wrist before entering the inn. It was relatively quiet for the hour of evening. The place sported a bar in the common room, and she was a little surprised to find there was only one card game going on and a few people scattered to chat in mumbled voices. A quick scan of the faces told her none of Sanzo's companions were in there, which was relieving.
The clerk behind the desk quickly marked off a spot in his book and smiled as she approached. "Need a room, miss?" he inquired politely.
"No, thank you," she said, giving him one of her most polite smiles. "I was actually wondering if you might deliver a message to Master Sanzo for me?"
The clerk frowned ever so slightly, a nervous blush touching his cheeks. "Well... normally, miss, I would, but Master Sanzo left very strict instructions that he wasn't to be disturbed all evening."
Yaone laughed softly, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as she played coy. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of bothering Master Sanzo unedr those orders, naturally. But, you see..." She leaned forward before continuing, lowering her lashes flirtatiously as the clerk's eyes dropped to her breasts. Even covered completely by the high neck of her dress, a man's eye was usually drawn to her chest. It was one of the reasons why having large breasts was both a blessing and a curse at times. If it worked to get her message to Sanzo, then they were most definately a blessing. "It's not every day a girl gets to meet the most holy of monks. Isn't there any way you might give him a message for me? Please?"
The man swallowed, lips parting a little as she traced a curved, human shaped nail along his jaw, giving him a look she hoped was properly encouraging. Slowly, he nodded, that same movement becoming more enthused when she smiled, leaning even further over the counter top for a pen and a piece of scrap paper. She quickly scribbled her message, folding it before holding it out to the clerk between her fingers. "Thank you so very much," she purred, fighting the urge to roll her eyes as he swallowed again and took the note with eager fingers.
"Just... wait here until I get back, miss," he stammered, tripping a little over his own feet as he quickly ran up the stairs. He glanced back a couple times on his way up just to ensure she was still there.
Yaone let out a little sigh, arching a brow briefly before wrapping her arms around her stomach to wait. She watched the clock tick by in minutes, each one seeming to last a year in length. God, this was nerve-wrecking! She really wasn't looking forward to this meeting, but it had to be done, for both their sakes. The sudden, horrifying thought that perhaps he would refuse to see her crept through her mind and made her nails dig into her sides sharply. Dear lord, if that happened...
"Evenin' miss. Pardon me for interuptin', but have you seen the clerk about?"
She turned toward the warm, pleasantly accented voice and smiled as she shook her head. The man leaning against the door frame of the common room smiled back, his white teeth catching in the light. Everything about him was pale and delicately made, almost like an angel. Clear blue eyes, silvery blonde hair and pale skin with just a hint of pink at the cheeks that were turned up in that million dollar smile. "Sorry, but he just left," she answered.
"Oh, deary-dear... Well, I guess I better wait for his return," the man continued with a patient little sigh. He brushed his gloved hands across his hat to clean it of dust particles she doubted were there. Yaone glanced down at the long coat he wore, eyes darting to the pendant that swung from a chain around his neck. She shivered, rubbing her arms lightly through the long gloves covering her skin. The air suddenly felt a little chill, as if the taste of mint suddenly had texture to feel. She could sense just a faint trace of aura coming from the man, probing her curiously. Not that he could sense much, though, seeing as she wore her limiters. "Seems we've got a nice, clear evenin' tonight, doesn't it?"
Yaone blinked, her gaze snapping back up to the smiling face. "Sorry?" she questioned, having not heard what was asked. She clutched her arms a little tighter at the look on his face. He was still smiling, yes, but... his eyes were ice cold. She suddenly had the queasy feeling that perhaps he knew more about her and why she'd come than he was letting on.
"The weather," the man repeated. "It's mighty lovely, a nice bit of wind kickin' in. Where'd you say you were comin' in from again, miss?"
"I didn't say, sir," she replied stiffly. The vibes had changed with that look from his blue eyes. Gone was any of the warmth that voice had suggested to be replaced with a chillness that spoke more of the grave. She began to wonder where in the hell that clerk had gone off to now.
"Oh, yes, that's right! We hadn't gotten that far in introducin' ourselves," the man 'suddenly' remembered, a soft chuckle breaking from his lips. "Silly me, gettin' too far ahead of the conversation. I do apologize, miss. My name is... say... those are some mighty fine lookin' bracelets ya got there. Hand crafted?"
Yaone jerked her arm away sharply as he reached a hand out, eyes narrowing at the shrewd, knowing look those blue eyes gave her. Shit... he knew. He had to know exactly what her bracelets were. What else would explain that look on his face? She shook her arm loose a little, making the bracelets tinkle and clink together at the motion. Slowly, she traced the fingers of her other hand around the body-warmed metal pieces and didn't bother to try and return the socially polite smile he gave her. "These were a gift from my mother, and I'd rather you keep your hands to yourself. It's rude to force your attentions on a lady, especially if you're a holy man."
That got the smile to fade almost completely out. It still lingered in tight traces around the corners of his mouth, but that coldness was starting to seep into the rest of his body now. "My, my, you certainly are an observant little thing," he replied through gritted teeth. "Where's your momma at now, miss?"
"That's really none of your business, sir."
His laughter surprised her, causing her to arch a brow as he wiped at the corner of one eye in humor. "Mercy, but this conversation's gone south right quick, hasn't it? Just a simple question about fashion accessories, and now we're gettin' down right hostile with our speech!"
"It looks to me like you're accessorized enough, don't you think?" she asked, nodding to indicate his necklace. And where, by all that was holy and unholy, was that damned clerk?
The man traced his gloved fingertips around the pendant, seeming to caress the metal lines in a loving fashion. "You really are such an observant girl. This here is a special kinda pendant."
"I guessed that."
"If you want, I can show you how it works, little lady. It won't take long, really." The smile lifting his cheeks now made her step back and away from him, fear gnawing at her stomach. It was nothing but predatory glee she saw there. Her hand began to reach for the slit in her dress at to the string of explosives attached to her thigh. Whatever that pendant could do, she knew on instinct that she didn't want to be shown how it worked. The coolness in the aura was expanding to fill the room a bit more, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end sharply. She took another step back as he took one forward, their eyes locked but truly watching the other's movements.
Footsteps coming down the stairs broke through the battle-ready tension of the room. The man's shoulders instantly relaxed and that easy, friendly smile returned as if it had never been gone. "I'm sure I'll be seein' you again, miss. And I do hope you... enjoy... your evenin'." He placed his hat on his head and stepped outside the inn just as the clerk came into view, beaming happily.
"Okay... so I talked to Master Sanzo. I don't know what that note said, but he wants you to come straight up," the young man said excitedly, not noticing that her attention was anywhere but on him. Yaone stared after the dark, trailing edge of the man's robes as she forced the fear away and her body to relax again. Okay... that was close. The man obviously knew she was a youkai, but she doubted she would be seeing him again. EVER. Or, at least that was her most sincere hope. There was something about him that told her it would be very bad meeting him again.
Yaone took another calming breath before flashing a fairly convincing smile to the clerk as she looped her arm through his. "See, I just knew you'd get me an audience with Master Sanzo," she gushed, slipping back into the role of flirting tart as best she could.
The clerk continued to talk during their walk to Sanzo's room, talking about the inn's history, it's additions... where his room was. Yaone only half listened to the man as the walked down the hall, her fingers still brushing over her limiters in a nervous gesture now instead of a protective one. She almost wished that man would come back and start some trouble, if only to delay the inevitable unpleasantness that was waiting for her behind one of these doors. She nearly jumped out of her skin when two doors ahead of the one they were currently passing opened, allowing Hakkai to exit. He was obviously already in a state of preparing for bed seeing as he was bare foot, in pajamas and without his monocle. His clothing was tucked and folded neatly against his chest, his shoes carried in the opposite hand. Yaone froze in her tracks, eyes slightly widened. Hakkai already knew... but it still didn't make meeting in a hallway and knowing that she was the reason he was abandoning his room any easier.
Fortunately, Hakkai's reaction immediately made her feel a little more at ease. She should have trusted him to take the kinder road in this regard. His smile brightened just slightly upon seeing her and he bowed at the waist just enough to be respectful. "Good evening, Yaone. It's good to see you again," he said pleasantly, keeping his voice just low enough for her to hear.
Yaone offered a smile back and a slight bow in return. "Hakkai. I'm... sorry. I didn't know if you were-,"
"Oh, it's quite alright! Please, don't mind me. Gojyo's out for the evening, so there's an extra bed across the hall. Have a good night."
She nodded, unsure if the last had been a subtle joke or just him being his usual polite self. Oh, dear God, she hoped it wasn't him eluding to her sleeping with Sanzo! That would be beyond embarassing! The clerk was looking at her with a confused expression as Hakkai crossed the hall and disappeared behind the door. "Wait... so, you know them already?" the boy replied. It was obvious everything was starting to sink in with him, his eyes widening a little in hurt.
Yaone rubbed her eyes briefly to try and ease the growing headache from coming on full force. "I never said I didn't," she muttered as she walked past him. "Thank you for delivering my note, and for walking me upstairs. It was very kind of you."
"Hey... Wait a second!"
She already had the door open and was slipping inside the dimly lit room just as he spluttered his demand for her to stop.
----------
Sanzo glanced over his shoulder at the sound of the door opening and shutting quietly before it was locked. He saw her hesitate in the shadows, her bag still draped over her shoulders. Even with as pissed as he was about everything, he still had a hard time ignoring the hurt look in her eyes in favor of returning his gaze out to the moonlit court yard below, where Goku was going ape-shit (no pun intended) on a bunch of empty crates and boxes. That same moonlight caught on the leather covering his chest, now bare to the eyes without the robe to cover it. Neither of them said a word to the other, still standing at opposite ends of the room. Sanzo's gaze dropped to the quick little note crumpled in his hand shortly before he scrunched it even further in his fist.
Are you coming down, or am I coming up?
That was all it had said, but those few words conveyed quite a bit to him. He could tell she was uncertain about whether or not she should even be here, and he knew there was no way he was getting out of a conversation about what was going on between them. Fine, he could do that. He wasn't sure if it was going to help or hinder the process, but leaving it to sit and stagnate wasn't doing shit for them. Sanzo dropped the note onto the window sill and opted for lighting a cigarette to stall for time. Once they started speaking, he knew everything was going to go badly. The silence, however awkward, was prefered at this point than the fight he could feel lurking in the wings.
Soft footsteps approached hesitantly from behind, and he had a brief moment where he thought she might come and wrap her arms around him from behind. That thought created a conflict of physical and emotional responses in him. His back stiffened with the need to not be touched at all, while his stomach flipped with the thrill of her hands on him. His brain was torn between the anger that she would dare try and get close to him after what had happened, and what he almost would have termed as his need to have her close to him. It was damned frustrating!
Yaone seemed to guess at his conflicts because she chose the middle road. She moved until she was standing next to him, her face hidden in the shadows cast from the curtains while the rest of her was bathed over in the same silvery light of the moon. The light reflected on the bracelets at her wrist and drew attention to the curved nails she sported instead of claws. She leaned against the window frame, mirroring his position except for her hands being folded before her instead of nursing a cigarette. "It's rather pretty out, don't you think?" she asked softly, her eyes following Goku's fluid movements below.
"He certainly seems to think so," he replied, watching the boy with her. They were simply avoiding the topic, which was fine for now. He wasn't quite ready to have the nearly relaxing mood disrupted quite yet.
She smiled, her fingertips tracing a series of cracks in the glass window. "I don't think he's really paying much attention to the weather or the scenery," she stated.
Sanzo agreed with her, taking a hit off his cigarette and blowing the smoke out slowly. It surprised him just a touch that, despite all that was sitting between them, he still remembered to blow the smoke away from her. Why should he care about that? For all he knew, she was sleeping around on him. It would serve her right to choke on those wisps of grey smoke. "Goku's pissed off," he muttered. He didn't need to see those expressive golden eyes to know that. He felt the kid's anger almost like it was his own.
"Is he, about what?"
"Probably the two bastards that are tagging along for a bit."
Yaone's gaze fell on him curiously, one hand pulling away from the glass to push a small piece of hair back and away from her face. "Oh?"
Sanzo still wouldn't meet her gaze, taking another hit before continuing. "Something about the one hating all youkai and trying to get Hakkai to stop the Jeep to kill a kid."
Her startled gasp and her hand shooting up to her mouth finally did cause him to shoot a glance out of the corner of his eye at her. "Hakkai refused, but ever since then Goku's been angry."
"I don't blame him," she replied fervently, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "Why would anyone harm a child?"
Shrugging, Sanzo finished his cigarette and stubbed it out in the tray on the sill. "Do you need a reason other than hate to do something like that?"
"But still... This man didn't kill the child, did he?"
"As far as I'm aware, no."
Her relief flooded across her features and made her shoulders curl over just a little. After a few seconds to process that, she looked up again, meeting his eyes across the distance of about two feet between them. Gods, how he wanted to just close that distance... Instead, Sanzo turned and leaned his shoulder against the frame work, cross his arms over his chest. They were now facing each other, both preparing themselves for the conversation to come, but neither one willing to initiate it quite yet.
Finally, letting out a low sigh, she tipped her head down and began it, just as he'd hoped she would. "Sanzo... this isn't good."
"No, shit," he replied.
"I don't think it's either of our faults," she continued, hugging herself just a little tighter. She still kept her head down, and it bothered him a little that he couldn't see her face. It was so easy to read her when she was looking at him. "I think... maybe... it's a miscommunication, or a lack of it, that's the problem."
"We're communicating now," he pointed out. shifting his position by the window a little. This was starting to feel a little uncomfortable for him, but he couldn't back down now. If he wanted this... if he wanted her... he would have to deal with the discomfort and step up. "What do you suggest we do about this?"
Yaone's breath was a little shuddery as it left her. Her fingers curled into fists as she forcibly lifted her head to meet his gaze. He could see tears just under the surface, but they weren't ready to fall yet. A determination also lit those copper colored eyes, which urged him just a step closer. She flinched a little at his movement before she said in a whispered voice, "I suggest honesty, Sanzo. I... I do have something to tell you, and it's something I thought would be easier left unsaid. Unfortunately, it's not that easy and I've regretted the decision ever since I made it."
Sanzo's stomach roiled over, like it was trying to make him sick. He knew it. He'd known it all along, and now she was about to lay it open for him. Part of him was relieved to finally have her confess to sleeping with Kougaiji, while the other half wanted to track the mother fucker down and kill him slowly. He remained silent, waiting for her to say it when she was ready.
What she finally did say surprised him in the fact that it wasn't what he'd expected. "I... I told Lord Kougaiji you were staying at Peeraj. There were... circumstances... behind him asking this of me, and I couldn't refuse once it was asked. But, there wasn't supposed to be an attack like that. Lord Kougaiji was planning his own raid and was beyond furious when he learned others got a hold of this same information. We don't know how the leak happened, but... I swear to you, you weren't supposed to be attacked."
He waited, processing the information as best he could. He'd known the entire time that it had to have been her, and deep down he knew the attack wasn't Kougaiji's normal style. Usually, the youkai prince like to wait until they were out of the cities and towns to spare on innocent bystanders. The fact that they got attacked on the very day they were leaving, inside the town limits no less, was proof enough that Kougaiji hadn't ordered those attacks.
Letting out his own slowly controled breath, he nodded once. "I knew that already."
Her eyes widened, lips parting in shock. "You knew, and you never said anything?"
"Why should I have said anything? I knew the answer to the question, and guessed the rest from there. It's just like I said; what Kougaiji asks of you, he gets no matter what."
"That's not entirely true," she argued, pushing away from the window sill and moving back into the room.
Sanzo remained where he stood, turning to face her back. The anger was slowly pushing away any concerns he might have had for her tears, and fueled him to get to the matter that truly was the problem. "Do you want him?"
"What?" she exclaimed, whirling around so fast her braids nearly whipped into her eyes.
"You heard me. Do you want him, Kougaiji? It's not a terribly hard question to answer, Yaone."
Her lips moved, but nothing came out for several seconds. She shook her head, pressing her hand to her forehead as she back another step away from him. "I can't believe you're asking me that," she said in a low voice that was edging very close to being angry. Sanzo finally moved away from the wall to stand before her growing ire. He could deal with her anger, it was something he understood. Her being hurt and upset were things he didn't know how to handle. "It was never about Peeraj, was it? You were never mad about that."
"At first, yes. It wasn't until I thought it through that I realized why you would do that. You want Kougaiji, and therefore will do anything to get him."
"That is complete bullshit, Sanzo!" she finally snapped, eyes blazing as the anger finally washed over her. "Perhaps that's the way your twisted sense of reasoning operates, but it's not mine. How dare you even say something like that!"
"There's nothing twisted about the logic," he replied, his voice rising just a bit. "It's been this way since day one with you! If Kougaiji ordered you to give up the name of who you were fucking, would you?"
"Why are you-,"
"Answer the damn question, Yaone!"
Yaone flinched as he shouted at her, one hand raising to wipe the tears away with almost violent swipes. "No, I wouldn't," she whispered. "You know I wouldn't, Sanzo. I was raped and tortured for it by Zakuro, and I never gave your name to him. I've had to sit quietly while Dokugakuji tried to get it from me, and I've not once said your name. It doesn't matter who asks for it, I'm not saying. This is ours, not anyone else's."
Sanzo remained staring at her tear drenched eyes, and he wanted very badly in that moment to just accept what she said and let it drop. But, this particular scab was already picked at and bleeding freely. No amount of bandaging in the world could stop it. It had to stop itself. "You expect me to believe you after you confessed to betraying our location, especially when I'd asked that you not do it? How gullible do you think I am?"
She shook her head, her fingers running through her bangs before taking a tight grip that had to hurt. "I don't know what I expected," she replied honestly, sniffling a little. "I guess... I guess I expected that being honest with you about that would make things better. I thought that was what the wedge between us really was, but it looks like I'm wrong."
"It was never the wedge. It was the sign pointing to it. Answer my first question. Do. You. Want. Him?"
Yaone shook her head again, meeting his gaze head on. She was opened to him, every emotion from the outrage to the softer affections, could be seen there. Silently, he willed her to answer him, tell him once and for all the truth in regards to her precious lord. He almost screamed at her when she closed her eyes, shoulders slumping a little in defeat. "I used to," she whispered, so softly he barely heard to words.
"What?" he demanded. He'd heard her, he just needed her to say it again to prove he wasn't going crazy.
"I used to, back when he first saved me," she repeated more firmly. "It was more an infatuation or a fantasy than anything else, never anything tangeable. Kougaiji was... my knight in shining armor. But, that same knight only ever returned my affections during my fantasies. In realy life, he was a prince and I was his servant and... I got sick of pretending that it could feasibly happen. It took nearly a year to realize I really wasn't in love with Kougaiji, just the idea he represented to me."
"And what idea was that?"
"Safety. Protection. All of this happened shortly after my father was killed. Lord Kougaiji was about the only sane, constant thing in my world at the time, so it really isn't a surprise that I imagined I truly loved him." She moved to sit at the small table, resting her elbows on the surface as she raked her fingers back through her bangs again. "Kougaiji... doesn't make me feel any of the things you do, Sanzo."
Sanzo's heart was speeding just a bit, his fingers itching to touch the bared curve of her shoulder, forget his line of questioning and just giver her the physical contact they both wanted. They weren't shouting at each other anymore, but the anger was still sizzling in the air, waiting for the match to be dropped so it could ignite again. And he was the one holding that match now, his happy, pyromaniacal ass getting ready to drop it with the next question. "What about now?"
Yaone gave him a wary, confused look, her hands dropping to the table top again. Her fingers curled against the wooden surface, as if preparing for this next round of battle. "I don't understand. Are you talking about us?"
"No. I'm talking about Kougaiji. Do you want him now that he's showing interest in you?"
A soft snarl broke her throat as she stood abruptly, nearly toppling the chair over. "Goddamn it, Sanzo! I thought I just answered this question!"
"You didn't," he answered firmly, moving closer to the table as she circled around to the other side, her hands on her hips as she shook her head in frustration. "You told me you used to want him, you never said anything about it now. You can't stand there and tell me you haven't noticed how he looks at you! You're either blind or you're lying if you say otherwise!"
"I just now noticed the other day," she growled, slamming her palms on the table as she leaned over. The glaring in her eyes darkened the color to a rich brown, and the intensity in that look nearly made him take a step back. She was more pissed off than he'd ever seen her. "Before he tried to kiss me, I honestly hadn't been aware of it!"
"KISS you! That fucking son of a-,"
"TRIED to," she repeated, her voice carrying over his snarls of rage. He barely heard her though, he was so wrapped up in tracking that cock sucker down and punching a hole clear through his skull. "Kougaiji tried to kiss me. He didn't. Stop acting like a child!"
"Did you stop him, or were you interupted?" he asked, fists balling at his sides. Something had to die. NOW. That bastard prince almost put his lips on his girlfriend! Kougaiji had to know by now she was seeing someone, so the excuse that he didn't know Yaone was taken was fucked right through a cheese grater. What the hell kind of man made a move on someone else's girlfriend?
"We were interupted, but that doesn't-," Her jaw snapped shut, eyes narrowing as he cut her off by slamming his own hands on the table and leaning closer to her. The fierce tension between their glares was ready to explode at any minute now. This was either going to make things better or end things in a spectacular display of pyrotechnics.
"-And if you weren't interupted, would you have stopped him?" Sanzoe demanded.
A heavy silence fell in response to the question. Yaone's lips pressed together tightly, her breasts rising and falling with her sharp, shallow breaths. He could see the fine tremor running down her arms, heard the scrape of her nails as they dug into the wood harder. Slowly, she shook her head, the anger in her eyes starting to fade to a near hopeless sadness. "It doesn't matter what I say, does it?" she asked bitterly. "No matter how many different ways I say it, you won't believe me."
"You left me for him," he replied with just as much bitterness and anger in his voice. "I asked you to stay. Just a simple request between lovers. And you walked away from me. For him. Tell me you wouldn't have done the exact opposite of our roles were reversed. Tell me you wouldn't have obeyed Kougaiji if he'd asked you to stay."
"He has asked me. On several occassions. And I've ignored the order more times than I care to count, just so I could spend at least a few hours with you. I had my reasons for leaving that night, and it wasn't to hurt you ego. I had things I had to get done because it is my job to do them. Just as it is your job to kill the youkai who threaten you. Do you honestly think that if I were given the choice I would have left you? Do you think if this struggle between youkai and humans didn't set us on opposite sides of the playing field I wouldn't be with you more regularly? We've both risked so much for this, and you're going to throw it away over something so stupid as jealousy?"
Sanzo remained silent to this, still meeting her glare with one of his own. Something was breaking inside him, he could feel it and... he didn't like it at all. Breaking wasn't what he did. Whatever it was, it was pushing hard and cracking at his wall of anger and hurt (yes, he could admit to feeling that now), chipping away at it like sunlight on ice. He shifted a little, struggling with the uncomfortable feel of this new thing. "You didn't answer me," he finally stated, his voice low and controled more than he thought he could have managed. "If you weren't interupted, would you have given him your cheek or kissed him full on?"
"I don't know, Sanzo," she whispered back. "It was happening so suddenly, and I didn't have time to think that far ahead. I can't honestly answer that for you, and I know that's going to hurt you. I can't help it, and I'm sorry for that."
He let out the breath he hadn't known was locked in his chest. He shook his head, allowing his hair to fall in front of his eyes and shield them. Right then, he didn't want her to see his eyes and know just how much that really did cut him. She didn't know? Bullshit! Unless that bastard prince threw himself on her in a crazed fit of passion, she had to have known his intentions. He'd wanted her to say yes, she would have turned away. He wanted anything but the truth that she didn't know how she would have reacted. "What's to say you don't change your mind again?" he forced himself to ask, knowing that he'd moved beyond picking at the wound at this point. He was now happily slicing it open further and rubbing gravel in it as he went.
"Come again?" she demanded, the softened anger now hardening to a dangerous point again. He didn't want her shouting, and he didn't want to shout back at her, but he had to know. He had to pick this thing to pieces so that he couldn't put it back together again and cause trouble with it.
"How do I know you won't suddenly change your mind about him?"
"What do you want from me, Sanzo, physical evidence?" she demanded sharply. "I can't give you any physical evidence to prove I'm only with you. All I can do is reassure you with words that you ARE the only man I'm interested in. You have to just trust me on this."
Trust... Her words cracked through his anger even further, lending to the confusion in his mind. He'd never been this conflicted before in his life, and he had no idea how to deal with it. Something was urging him to just drop it, hold her and forget the jealousy and pain. It was urging him to listen to her and let it go. Trust her... "Like I trusted you not to say shit about Peeraj?" he sneered, falling back on his ever reliable anger. It was the one thing that made sense to him at this point, and about the only thing he knew to use for this moment.
Her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. Sanzo refused to look away, drinking in the frustration and the stab of hurt in her eyes. He felt strangely justified by the last, a little triumphant that she now felt a fraction fo what he did. He wasn't prepared for her snarled, "Asshole." And, he certainly wasn't expecting her to whirl away for the door.
Panic took over, quickly stomping down the jealous rage inside him. Shit, she was leaving! He didn't want her to go, or at least not to leave like this. Sanzo caught up with her before he realized he was moving, grabbing her arm as she reached for the lock. Yaone's outraged words disappeared as she gasped, startled, when he spun her around and reacted without thinking. He kissed her. Hard. He pushed her back against the still locked door, his tongue pushing between her lips to swipe inside her mouth in long, wet movements. He tasted her against his lips while his tongue continued to search for whatever he was looking for in her mouth, one of his hands moving up her back to cup her head, tilting her better for the brutal kiss.
He didn't stop until they were both breathing hard and her hands were digging into his silk covered hips. He pulled back, forehead pressed to hers, and looked down the tight line of their bodies so close together. Lust and the need to make things better rode him as he watched the subtle shifting of their hips, the heavy panting that rubbed her breasts against him, the slight gasps that trembled from her parted lips. Her hands shook as they circled to his front, finger tips teasing below the belt on his jeans before moving up over the leather. She didn't stop until her hands were around his neck, curling around the ends of his hair. Even with her lashes lowered to the point where he couldn't see her eyes, he could tell the tears were there again. And yet, her hips continued to roll against his, nearly tearing a groan from his throat at the teasing contact between layers of clothing.
"Do you want to stop?" he asked, his voice harsh and a little deeper as one of his hands circled around her hip to her ass, squeezing just enough to make her moan as it rubbed their hips together harder. She bit her lower lip... and shook her head. Sanzo moved in then, pressing closer to her and returning to the bruising kiss he'd initiated before. Yaone responded to him in like kind, a low moan of pleasure vibrating from her throat and into his own mouth. He drank it down, eager to end their fight however he could.
There was a slight tearing sound as the slit in her skirt ripped higher up, the result of him lifting her under her thighs so she could wrap her legs around his waist. No chain garters met his hands, just the thigh highs that were quickly being rolled down her long legs. Their kiss never broke, their mouths straining and working to take more of the other. A sharp tug on his jeans was his only indication that she had jerked his belt off, the buckle thudding unnoticed on the floor behind him. She gasped before giving a low, desire drenched moan as he finally broke his mouth away to suck and lick at the spot just beneath her ear, the one that caused her to make such delicious sounds for him.
Sanzo pushed away from the door, supporting her weight easily and with the intent of making it to one of the beds. Ideally, he would have prefered his own... but Hakkai's was closer, and the green eyed man wasn't there to protest their abuse to it. Her boots thudded behind him as she kicked them off, her stocking clad heels digging into his ass as he lowered her to the bed, letting her tight thighs take him down with her. The clashing emotions still pressed agains the back of his mind and drove him to move quicker in getting rid of clothing. Her limiters came off, along with the gloves. A hiss escaped him at the sudden wash of youkai energy all over him. He'd forgotten how it stung whenever he was touching her and she removed her limiters. That stinging sensation was quickly over run by her eager fingers working between their shifting bodies for the zipper of his jeans.
The minute her hand disappeared inside his pants was when he finally gave voice to his passion with a choked back cry, his hips surging closer to her hand. "Yaone.." he rasped out, ripping through the buttons that kept her trapped in her dress before yanking it roughly over her head and tossing it aside. His shirt, sleeves and jeans were quickly followed by the remainders of her clothing. It was the contact of skin on skin that finally pushed all the confusions aside and allowed him to concentrate on making her feel very, very good. He wanted her to forget the fight. He wanted her just to remember what was good about their relationship. He wanted this to be his apology, and he wanted it to be damned good.
Sanzo focused on the areas he knew drove her mad. The joining of her neck and ear, her breasts, the small of her back, between her legs... his hands and lips moved across all of this until she was panting and pleading with him in gasping breaths. Her back arched and his mouth sucked on her curved neck at the first thrust against her, his hands supporting her back as she dug her claws into his shoulders, pulling him as close as he could get without actually crawling inside her. Her hands groped for his, taking their entwinted fingers and shifting so that he now pinned them over her head, his nails and her claws pressing in near pain against the opposite flesh. All the while they moved, groaned, gasped and demanded more from each other, he couldn't bring himself to look into her eyes. He kept his face buried between her shoulder and neck, kissing the soft skin there as an excuse not to see the truth there. Even as he strove to make her forget their earlier emotions by drowning her in far more pleasant ones, he knew the truth.
No amount of amazing sex would fill the void growing between them.