A/N: Thank you to everyone for their reviews and support during the course of this story. I hope that I continue to improve in my future works and that you continue to enjoy my silly little stories. Special thanks to Shin-no-nekochan for sticking around to beta my entire first Saiyuki multi-chapter story, in particular this chapter.

A/N2: Thank you, Oozaru Angel. I have fixed the mistakes that you pointed out.

Eight: Vision

Kougaiji marched down the stairs towards the basement with Dokugakuji in tow.

The swordsman noted the determination radiating off of his prince and was silently thankful that he was not in the line of fire. Seiran could possibly survive this day, but it might not be in one piece.

The basement was a veritable labyrinth of paths, several hallways leading off into darkness below the already vast prison. Just from a quick glance, Doku counted six separate paths that lay ahead of them. It would take forever to check every single one and there was still a chance that Seiran could sneak out while they searched in vain.

Kougaiji stopped before the paths and closed his eyes.

Dokugakuji watched him, wondering if his prince could sense the traitorous subordinate by chi alone. He felt a slow heat spread across his face when he noticed just how resolute Kou's expression was. 'It's times like these – when he's lookin' so serious – that he looks the most handsome—'

'Not again,' Dokugakuji thought with some aggravation. 'I shouldn't ever be thinking like this. There is no possible way he would ever return…'

'But there's a chance. Maybe… maybe after we get through with all of this crap, I can try and make an effort. Maybe… see what he thinks about this mess?' Doku promised himself that just as Kougaiji took off. He sprinted after the auburn tails trailing into the darkness.

Kougaiji darted down the second passage from the left. He made an abrupt left and Doku followed, heart pounding from more than just the physical exertion. 'I can't always think the worst. Maybe there is hope.'

"Dokugaku!" Kougaiji halted at once and the swordsman skidded to a stop behind him. Kougaiji held up a hand to make sure Doku stayed quiet and closed his eyes to listen.

Doku strained his hearing to catch whatever had made Kou stop. Footsteps, almost too soft to be detected, sounded from just ahead of them.

"Seiran," Kougaiji muttered. He walked forward down the new hallway until they came to a T-intersection.

"Should we each take a path?" Doku spoke for the first time since they'd gone down to the basement, but his throat felt exceptionally dry.

"No." Kougaiji paused yet again and this time both youkai saw a figure darting off to their right. "After him!"

In the meantime, Goku, Hakkai, and Hakuryu were trying to make their way around the maze of passageways that made up the lowest level of the prison. Goku was trying to track Seiran and there had been several times when they thought they had caught him, only to be thrown off yet again.

After going down what seemed to be the hundredth corridor, Hakkai stopped for a second to catch his breath. He was still worried about Gojyo and wondered if Sanzo had managed to find their wayward member. He had unintentionally forgotten about the fight his two teammates had had, but if Sanzo was still angry with Gojyo upon finding him again, Hakkai worried that there wouldn't be anything left of Gojyo to bring back with them. 'After all, that would be such a waste.'

"Hakkai!" Goku called out in a low voice, which worried Hakkai to a small degree. Goku looked just like he was on the hunt and the healer didn't like the gleam in the teen's eyes. "C'mon, he's over here."

"Are you sure about that?" Hakkai started out once again, following Goku as he made a right down yet another hallway. 'Goku's senses really are something else if he can detect such a thing. I haven't been able to pick up a single trace down here. There are too many other auras around here – or remnants of them – to pin down Seiran's.'

Seiran was having trouble maneuvering his way around the basement as well. He could detect two strong auras pursuing him from opposite ends and, if he judged the corridors correctly, there was a huge possibility that he could end up trapped between both of them. At this point, Seiran didn't really want either to find him, but at least he figured he could try bargaining with his prince.

He made tentative steps toward the source of one of the auras, hoping that he had made the correct choice. He rounded a corner and cursed when he saw Kougaiji and Dokugakuji appearing on the other side. 'Certainly the better of the two options, but I can't say I'm thrilled.'

"Seiran!" Kougaiji cried, clenching his fists and moving closer. "Surrender this instant and you will be unharmed."

"My Lord, please understand," Seiran tried, forcing the words out over a lump that was forming in his throat. "I only did what I believed was best for you and the Mission!"

"If you truly thought it was best," Kougaiji said, barely holding back a snarl, "then you would have tried harder to convince me that this course of action was preferable. I told you that I would handle the Sanzo-Ikkou on my own and you failed to listen."

"I—"

"Do you know why I forbade you from carrying through with your plan? Kidnapping does nothing to further my plans," Kougaiji said. "From my experience with the Ikkou, I know that holding one of their members hostage will not make Genjyo Sanzo do anything, least of which is giving up his sutra. I want to best them in battle and earn the Maten-kyo fairly, but you don't seem to understand that."

Behind the enraged prince, Dokugakuji was glancing between the two youkai. He was ready to immobilize the spy as soon as Kougaiji gave the signal, and readied his sword accordingly.

Seiran took a deep breath, fully intending to say whatever he needed to say to get Kougaiji into a more forgiving mood. Before he could think of anything though, the other presence caught up with him.

"Found ya!" Goku emerged from the darkness and pointed the Nyoi-bo straight at Seiran. A second later, Hakkai and Hakuryu caught up and Seiran's worst fears were realized: he was trapped.

"Goku, stay out of this!" Kougaiji called from the other side. "Seiran is my problem and I'll handle him accordingly."

Goku snorted. "We made a deal, didn'we? Whoever found 'im first gets dibs, right?"

"I believe I 'found' him first," Kougaiji retorted coolly.

"Yeah," Goku admitted. "But ya didn't call dibs!" With that, he raised the Nyoi-bo above his head and took off for the enemy youkai.

Seiran reacted purely on instinct, reaching into his pockets for the smoke bombs he'd taken. He grabbed one in each hand and tossed them in opposite direction, towards Kougaiji and Dokugakuji on one end and Hakkai and Goku on the other. The spy took off the second they detonated, making a split-second decision to leap over the stunned members of the Sanzo-Ikkou.

Hakkai covered his mouth while Goku swatted angrily at the air. Both could barely hear Seiran's footsteps as he retreated, but Goku darted off in pursuit, not deterred by the smoke in the least.

Kougaiji tried to disperse the smoke as quickly as he could, but his eyes were watering from the second of these bombs in less than an hour. Doku charged through the haze, intent on beating Goku to the punch. He kept an ear open in case Kougaiji told him to stop, but he headed through the second layer of smoke regardless.

Hakkai and Goku emerged on the other side of the smoke and the healer took a second to inhale some clean air. "Longer, Nyoi-bo!" Goku called, making the staff extend just long enough to trip up Seiran and send him falling to the ground.

The youkai managed to land on his palms, which he used to spring himself back up. However, the few seconds that this took enabled Hakkai to summon a small chi ball and get a direct hit on Seiran's left leg. The spy instantly crumpled to the ground.

Finding himself against the stone floor for the second time in about ten seconds, Seiran spun around only to have his head meet with the gold top of the staff. His vision burst into stars, but before he could get his bearings, a splitting, overwhelming pain suddenly accompanied it. 'What?' he started to think, as everything around him became fuzzy.

Hakkai caught up to Goku and saw the teen move back. At that very second, Seiran slumped to the floor, staring down at his body. A dark red stain marked the middle of the spy's chest, indicating the spot where the Nyoi-bo had gone clean through him. He choked out something that was like a cry and fell forward when Goku retracted the staff.

Hakkai couldn't find it in himself to offer any sympathy, but did feel disappointed at not getting an opportunity to inflict some more punishment himself. "Is that all, then?" The healer couldn't help but frown.

Goku released his grip on the staff and it disappeared back to the space it came from. "Too easy. He di'n't even fight back right."

Footsteps behind them signaled Hakkai that Kougaiji had gotten past the second bomb. The prince and his guardian come forward out of the smoke and surveyed the damage.

"What happened here?" Kougaiji demanded, glaring straight at Goku. "Is he--?"

"I killed 'im," Goku admitted as he turned to face his rival. "You were too slow." He smirked a little, but he dropped it as soon as he saw how serious the situation was. "Ya mad?"

"You think?" Doku shot a glance over to the prince after making a snappy remark of his own, but Kougaiji was just clenching his hands into fists, lips pressed tightly together. "Kou? What should we…?"

Kougaiji ignored him and continued to focus on Goku. "That was far too severe a punishment for what he did. I won't forgive you for this." Seeing Goku's expression fall just a little, the prince once more addressed the swordsman. "Dokugaku, collect Seiran and his things. We pull back for now."

-+-

The four people upstairs had finally made their way down to the first floor under a rather awkward silence. Lirin was the only one who didn't seem embarrassed or angry – in fact, the princess had made something of a game out of making fun of the two members of the Ikkou.

Sanzo was about to silence her permanently after she made up some sort of song about him and the kappa – since when did either of them sit in trees anyway? – when they rejoined the rest of their respective groups downstairs by the doorway. Kougaiji looked distant and Doku had just returned from taking something outside of the prison entrance.

Goku was looking a little down himself, but jumped up when he saw Sanzo and Gojyo descend the stairs. "There ya are, erogappa! We went through so much crap 'cuz a' you!" He ran over to the two and gave the redhead a punch in the arm.

"Ow! That hurt, bakazaru!" Gojyo pushed down as hard as he could on Goku's head. "I just got stabbed an' shit an' you're goin' an' makin' it all worse!" The two started tussling for a few seconds before Hakkai made his way over to them.

"You were stabbed?"

Gojyo looked up from the squabble with Goku to see Hakkai's smile drop for just a minute, into a genuinely concerned expression. "Uh, yeah, but I'll live," the redhead admitted.

"Still…" Hakkai's tone was fairly disapproving nonetheless and Gojyo finally lifted up his shirt to show the bandages and that no harm was currently befalling him.

"Now that we're done with our happy reunion," Sanzo cut in dryly, "we need to get on with the Journey – no more distractions." The priest sighed as he saw that Kougaiji's group was still standing a little ways away. "I suppose you people want some sort of thank-you?"

"For what?" Kougaiji crossed his arms. "Dokugaku, Yaone, Lirin; we're leaving." With one last look at the blond, he warned, "Next time we meet, the Maten Sutra will be mine."

"Whatever." Sanzo dug out a cigarette and put it between his lips.

"Ah!" Gojyo stood straight up as if just remembering something. He began searching through his own pockets and triumphantly withdrew his battered package of Hi-Lites, along with a lighter. "Oh, I've missed you guys!"

"Melodramatic much?" Sanzo lit his own cigarette after snatching the lighter away. "Maybe you should consider quitting?"

"Look who's talking," Gojyo shot back, grabbing it back and sighing once the flame took. "I had to substitute for your shitty cigs when I was trapped up there. It was pure torture."

"Worse than being stabbed, I'm sure."

Meanwhile, Hakkai had quietly excused himself from the two smokers' presence, mostly due to the air contamination, and took it upon himself to say goodbye to Yaone. He knew that Kougaiji was furious with Goku's actions and would want to leave as soon as possible.

The apothecary bowed her head once he got close enough, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Kougaiji-sama is extremely upset. We had best get back to the castle as soon as possible."

"I understand." As Hakkai nodded, he saw Yaone lifting her head very slightly. "Regardless, I enjoyed seeing you again. I always do…"

He felt like he was dreaming. Hakkai could see himself leaning in to gently brush his lips against Yaone's. His eyes closed for only a few seconds before he had the sense to pull away.

The brunet had barely started moving back when Yaone's hands reached up to cup his chin. She delicately brought him back down to her level and into another kiss. She gave a little hum of satisfaction as his arms slipped around her back and linked.

Then, from behind Yaone, there was a fairly obvious 'ahem.'

Both she and Hakkai broke apart and looked over to see that it had come from Kougaiji. The prince was already on the irritable and upset side – this did not help matters. Yaone realized, even though she didn't know the details of the Seiran situation, that she had just kissed her supposed enemy in front of his friends and her lord.

The apothecary could only freeze, a blush creeping its way across her face. She had definitely had enough embarrassment for a lifetime in the past two days alone.

Hakkai could hear snickering behind him that he distinctly identified as Gojyo's, meaning that all other conversation had stopped and everyone was watching them. "Well," he started, trying to clear his throat. "We should be going on our way."

Yaone nodded mutely, still frozen in place. She remained there until Dokugakuji walked up behind her. The swordsman sighed and gently picked her up underneath both arms, spun her around in a one-eighty, put her down once more, and pushed her in Kougaiji's direction. Still somewhat in shock, the woman took a few tentative steps towards her prince and then hurried outside without glancing back.

Doku gave a wave and a nod to Gojyo, something of a brotherly 'glad you're safe, kid,' and followed the other two.

Lirin was the last to leave, eyes widened at the Ikkou in disbelief for everything she'd witnessed today.

Hakkai watched them disappear through the doorway, only snapping out of it when Gojyo's heavy hand landed on his shoulder. "Way t' go, man," the redhead said, still fighting back laughter. "Think ya scared the poor thing, though."

Sanzo had ignored the two and went to get information about Seiran out of Goku. The boy looked a bit depressed, making the priest wonder if the problem had really been taken care of after all.

"I assume he's dead," Sanzo stated, taking the last drag off of his dying cigarette. "Otherwise, Kougaiji and his group wouldn't have stomped out of here pissed."

Goku hung his head. "Yeah, Seiran's dead," he muttered. "I killed 'im."

"Then what's the problem?"

After a nervous swallow, Goku looked back up at Sanzo, golden eyes quivering slightly. "He says he won't forgive me." Goku balled his hands into fists and went on before Sanzo could respond. "He said that it was whoever got there first – 'Dibs,' ya know! He never said that I couldn't kill 'im! I thought I could! Seiran hurt Gojyo, didn't he? That means what I did was right!"

'I can't believe I got myself into this.' Sanzo shook his head. "Why do you care what he thinks of you or if he's mad? Let him deal with it. Not your problem."

Goku let out a huff of air. "Feels like it. Kougaiji's been mad before… but I think he hates me."

"He's your enemy," Sanzo said. He dropped the cigarette to the ground and crushed it out with his foot. "I repeat: why do you care?"

"Even if he's my enemy, he's still my friend." Goku paused, then gave a sheepish smile up at his guardian. "I know it doesn't make sense, but to me it does."

"Only you would say something that stupid," Sanzo conceded. "Just a shame that I didn't get to smash Seiran's face in for putting us through this crap."

"You mean for hurting Gojyo?"

"What makes you think I care about that bastard cockroach?"

Goku smiled again and this time, Sanzo felt that it was a very sneaky version. It was as if Goku knew something that Sanzo didn't. "Well, when ya love someone, ya worry 'bout 'em, right? I don't even like Gojyo, but that doesn't mean some asshole youkai can hurt 'im. That's our job!"

Sanzo pointedly looked away. "I'll pretend we didn't have this conversation."

"Whatever you say." Goku looked a little bit happier than before, like just seeing Sanzo was enough to lift his spirits. 'I like this new Sanzo,' he thought, 'He doesn't get mushy, but he's a little bit easier to talk to now.'

Suddenly, the impact of what had just happened with the others hit him. "Hey, Sanzo!" he called out, making his voice echo in the entryway of the prison. "Did Hakkai just kiss Yaone?!"

"Wow, you're so good at paying attention!" Gojyo yelled back, ignoring the way Hakkai paled at Goku's outburst. "That only happened ten minutes ago! You're slow, monkey!"

"Don't call me a monkey! At least I don't got any holes in me!"

"'Cept the one in your head!" Gojyo taunted, laughing when Goku lunged after him.

"Stupid, pervy, dried-up kappa!"

BANG BANG!

"If you don't shut up and move your asses, you'll ALL have holes in your heads!" Turning to face the door, Sanzo tucked the shoureiju into his robes and tried for his most withering expression. "I'd like to get out of this hellhole. Now."

"Hai, hai, Sanzo-sama," Gojyo drawled sarcastically, earning himself another scowl.

-+-

Trying to put that unpleasant diversion behind them, the Ikkou reached the outside of the prison, where Hakuryu was already waiting in Jeep form. Goku hopped into the back and Gojyo started to do the same, only to double over in pain.

"Shit," he moaned, holding his abdomen. "I keep forgetting about that damn wound."

"Here." Hakkai had been looking for something to do, so he had Gojyo sit on the edge of Jeep and lift up his shirt. The brunet unwrapped the bandages and held his hands over the wound, eyes closed in concentration. The soft white-green light of his chi became visible.

Closing his eyes, Gojyo chose to ignore the fact that his skin and tissue was mending itself back together. Things didn't heal completely this way, but anything was better than an open wound. Hakkai's hands stayed a couple of inches off of Gojyo's body, moving side to side so that everything was covered.

"The rest should heal by morning, but I wouldn't overdo it in the process," Hakkai warned him.

Gojyo looked over his shoulder to see that Sanzo was already buckled into the front seat. "Yeah, okay, I get it."

Once everyone was settled into the car, Hakkai climbed into the driver's seat and started Jeep West yet again. There was silence for a few more minutes before Goku spoke up.

"So… are you guys still all mad at each other?" The teen looked a little happier than he had in the prison and internally, Sanzo was a little thankful for it.

"No more than usual," Gojyo said. One of his hands was resting subconsciously over his abs. "At least, I think so. What about you, Blondie?"

Sanzo snorted. "It's a waste of energy to stay mad at you. If I have to go through one of these shitty side trips every time you get distracted, we'll never get to India."

Gojyo could have come up with a suitable retort, but settled for laughing instead.

-+-

There has been no response from Seiran all day. It is fairly easy to assume that the youkai was now dead. Not as though I care.

What is really a shame was that the trip didn't go as smoothly as planned. Generally trustworthy sources had said, after all, that a Sanzo priest resided in this area, an older man who was supposedly on his deathbed.

Once I had reached the little town and its even tinier temple, I heard the oh-so-unfortunate news that the Sanzo had already passed on. A shame indeed. It was only proper to get the location of the temple in order to pay respects to the departed soul.

I was rather pleased to see that the Sanzo had wasted no time in finding a successor. Such a young boy, too, likely another protégé with amazing Buddhist powers. It was unfortunate also that I couldn't remember his name.

Worse still that I was wrong about the amazing powers. The boy was so weak, so distraught over the recent death of his master, that he had barely mastered his basic duties. It was difficult to even imagine him wielding a sutra.

In all fairness, I offered guidance to the young man. Advice often went a long way. I stayed the night in the temple, fully intent on sharing more wisdom with a fellow high priest.

Unfortunate things kept happening though, I noticed. That very night, when I went to speak to the new Sanzo, I found the priest murdered. Such a shame, that.

It was my duty as a priest to protect the sutras, even if they technically belonged to others. I smiled when he slipped the sutra into the sleeve of his robe, mindful of the blood that was spreading on the floor. The young Sanzo's lifeless eyes stared up at me in horror and I shook my head.

"If only your Master had held on a few days longer," I remarked, looking over at a candle that flickered on the bedroom nightstand. "You wouldn't have been involved in this mess at all."

-+-

Despite being severely off-track and having to go backtrack in order to start heading West again, the Sanzo-Ikkou once again returned to the village of Yi San. If the four of them hadn't been so exhausted, they might have felt a slight annoyance at being at the same inn for the third night in a row.

The Ikkou ended up with two single bedrooms and one double this time. Splitting up was a simple task and Sanzo and Gojyo were finally alone in a room together for the first time since the prison cell – and the first bedroom in nearly two days.

Gojyo indulged in an extra-long hot shower, relishing in being clean after such an ordeal. He stood underneath the showerhead, feeling the dirt and blood and misery of the past forty-eight hours wash off of his skin. The place where he'd been wounded still ached even though Hakkai had healed it.

'Shit,' he thought, gently pressing his fingers to his torso, 'I guess Hakkai was right after all. An' I was lookin' forward to havin' some fun tonight too…'

Finally, he twisted the water off and made his way out of the bathroom. Sanzo was already in the bed where the kappa finally flopped down on the right side of the mattress with a sigh. Gojyo ignored the look the blond gave him for making everything bounce.

Gojyo reached over to turn off the light and sighed once more. "Damn. That was a pain in the ass."

Sanzo snorted, shifting on his side away from Gojyo. "Says the guy who sat on his own ass waiting to get rescued."

"Hey," Gojyo shot back, propping himself up on an elbow to get a better look at the priest. "Shouldn't you cut the injured guy some slack? Just 'cuz I got healed doesn't mean it's all behind us."

Now it was Sanzo's turn to sigh. "At least you're right in one respect: the past couple of days've been extremely shitty."

"You're still sayin' 'extremely?'" Gojyo asked. "We so need a new word."

"What do you propose, genius?"

"…Did we use 'immensely' yet?"

"Fine," Sanzo decided. "It was immensely shitty."

"Still…" Gojyo trailed off, lying back down so that he could stare at the ceiling. "At least it's over. And I'm back with my sweetheart, safe and sound."

"Ch."

"What?" Gojyo turned just his head to face Sanzo. "You still not speakin' t' me after our heartfelt confessions?"

Sanzo pulled his pillow closer, as if he was preparing to block Gojyo out. "We didn't even begin to crack the surface on all of that."

'Izzat so?' "…Meaning?"

"When you say stuff like 'I love you,' do you even think about it?" Sanzo tried to sound as condescending as usual, but Gojyo could still hear the uncertainty in his voice. The redhead waited to see if Sanzo would continue, and after a nervous cough, he did.

Sanzo tried not to twitch with irritation. "How many people have you told that to… and meant it?"

'Figures. Of course he still doesn't believe me. How the hell am I ever going to get this across to him?' Gojyo pondered it for a few seconds while staring back at the ceiling and ultimately decided to be as brutally honest as possible. "You want the truth, huh?" he asked with a laugh. "Of everyone I've ever been with, I've probably told half that I love them, if that. But— Let me finish…" He saw Sanzo's eyes getting colder and knew he had to stop that right in its tracks. "But if you want to know how many people I've said that to and meant it… Well, I'm lookin' at the only one."

Sanzo sounded distant. "Liar."

"Hey, you wanted honest," Gojyo said defensively. "I'm bein' honest."

"Why?"

"Why are you the only one? Is that what you want to know?" He took a deep breath. Gojyo had never been quite so open with anyone like this before, but he knew it was a chance he would have to take. "Well, how can you fall in love with a one-night stand? It was only once we started this relationship together… that I fell.

"There's so much more to you than what you let others see. I wanted you to let down the wall. Now that I get these bits and pieces, I can't help wanting all of you. I've been with all these people and I know it hurts you to hear it, but I've never wanted anything besides sex from them. But with you… I guess now I want a lot more. I think we both deserve it. I tell you I love you because I want this to be about so much more than sex."

Sanzo remained so silent and still, even after that long confession and Gojyo hoped something was coming across. The priest still tried to play it off as sarcasm. "That's a shock, coming from you of all people."

Gojyo didn't even consider taking offense to that, having long ago seen through Sanzo's front. "That's the thing though, right? You remember the first time we had sex? I've never felt that connected with anyone else. You can't say you don't feel anything either. That's when I get to see the real Sanzo."

The priest made a noise Gojyo almost swore was a laugh. "You don't let me hide then; I can't do anything about it. If it didn't feel so damn good…"

"HA!" Gojyo couldn't help crowing over having weaseled that out of his lover.

Sanzo whacked him with the back of his hand, but Gojyo barely felt it. "You're the reason I can't control myself anymore, you know. You have no idea how much I feel like a stupid goddamn teenager." He looked disgusted. "Fuckin' hormones."

Gojyo was grinning; 'Sanzo just practically admitted I make him horny!'

"Don't make me kill you," Sanzo muttered, well aware that Gojyo's ego was in danger of over-inflating. "I guess I just want to know what all this is to you. I don't have time for games."

"I understand." Gojyo moved so that he could drape an arm around Sanzo's waist and pulling the priest back against his body. "I'm done with games, too. I want you and I want this to be serious."

"Serious how?"

"I want this to be it for me." Gojyo couldn't believe how final that felt. He knew, though, that he had never been more serious about anything in his life. "I could die happy if you decided to stick by me, but I want us both to go a little further. I guess what I'm saying is… the next level."

Sanzo considered this. "Something… permanent?" he ventured a guess.

"Exactly. But I know there's still stuff I need to work on," Gojyo admitted. "I'll tell you anything you want to know about me, but it's a two-way street."

"There are things I can't tell you," Sanzo said, mind drifting off somewhere far in the past. "Or anyone."

"I know, me too."

The two fell into silence for a minute until Sanzo spoke once more. "But… I guess I could at least… a little…" He drifted off uncomfortably, keeping his eyes turned away from Gojyo.

The redhead knew what Sanzo was trying to say, no matter how embarrassed he got over it. "It means a lot, trust me."

There was another pause before something else occurred to Gojyo. "Just one thing, Sanzo: what do you want from me? Other than sweet lovin', I mean…" The joke earned him another soft smack in the arm.

"I guess… just to be left alone once in a while," Sanzo conceded. "That means you're not attached to me at the hip and I'm not breathing down your neck. Yeah, we're crammed in a Jeep all the damn time, but when we get out, you can go drink and gamble and I can get tea and a paper, and we'll meet up later."

Gojyo nodded, not thinking about the fact that Sanzo couldn't see it in the dark. The blond did have a point, he realized. 'But this deal sounds a little too casual…'

"But," Sanzo clarified with another cough. "That doesn't mean we're only having sex for five minutes a night and going off to separate rooms. There's a happy medium… somewhere."

"Point taken. Anything else?"

Gojyo could tell that Sanzo was talking through gritted teeth, as if the mere words were hurting him to say. "I… guess I do want to know stuff about you. Just a little. If it's not too annoying."

"Thanks, I'll try." Gojyo pulled Sanzo close and planted a tender kiss on the back of his neck. "So… we friends again?"

"Hn. We were never friends."

"…Can we start?"

Sanzo would never admit it, but Gojyo could only describe the priest's actions as moving backwards to snuggle closer. "I'll think about it."

'So cute when he's grumpy,' Gojyo thought. He smiled and declared, "Well, in the name of newfound friendship, let's share a little something. Something happy, but that no one else knows."

There was another pause and finally, Sanzo spoke up. "You first."

Gojyo grimaced. "Walked right into that one." He started to think, but soon was overcome by a yawn. "Tell ya what… how 'bout we take some time to think it over? Take a rain-check for now."

"Sure."

'Remarkably agreeable for him.' Definitely more relaxed, Gojyo prepared to settle in. "Shall we call it a night, then? I can leave you alone if you want."

Suddenly, Gojyo felt the bed shift and saw Sanzo leaning over him. "I… don't feel like being alone right now."

Sanzo pushed himself up from the bed, turning away from Gojyo and slowly peeling off the black tank top. Gojyo stared, transfixed by more and more pale skin coming into view. Next, Sanzo unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down his legs even more slowly. As usual, he wasn't wearing anything underneath, which Gojyo constantly thanked the gods for.

Once naked, Sanzo turned around and blushed a little under Gojyo's intent gaze. Due to being hanyou, Gojyo's vision was fairly good in the dark. His eyes drifted over every inch of his lover, making a low noise of approval deep in his throat. Just that little hum sent a jolt through Sanzo's body, along with a shiver of arousal.

However, the priest wasn't ready to hand things over to the redhead yet. "Now you," he whispered, climbing back into bed and working Gojyo's boxers from his body. The kappa lifted his hips to allow for better access to the article of clothing. No sooner had Sanzo dropped the boxers to the floor then did Gojyo draw him closer on top of his body.

The blond straddled either side of Gojyo's waist, bending down for a kiss. Gojyo could tell that Sanzo was trying his hardest to avoid the injured section of his abs, so he cupped his hands around Sanzo's firm ass and pulled him closer. With a moan, Sanzo dropped kisses all along Gojyo's mouth, cheeks, and neck.

"Love…" Gojyo whispered, trying to hold in the gasp of pain as Sanzo's hand pressed against his injury. "Ah, shit…"

Wide-eyed, the priest tried to back off, only to have Gojyo grip his rear harder and hold him close. "I… hurt you…"

"No. No, no, no. Please stay, it's not that bad, honest."

Rolling off to the side and making the bedsprings squeak under him, Sanzo now had his back against the mattress while Gojyo leaned over him. Sanzo's legs were still wrapped around Gojyo's hips and the redhead rocked against him, making Sanzo cry out.

Sanzo squeezed his eyes shut, making a few soft noises of pleasure when Gojyo's hand stroked the outside of his thighs. Just the feel of Gojyo's skin against his own was making him hard and he wanted his lover to keep touching those extremely sensitive spots. "Yes," Sanzo moaned. "More… there!"

It was almost involuntary, but Sanzo felt his own hands reaching out to draw Gojyo even closer. The blond clenched his legs around Gojyo's waist tighter, guiding one of Gojyo's hands to his erection while the other ran featherlike across Sanzo's hip and belly. "Ah!"

For such a battle-worn, worldly priest, Sanzo had surprisingly soft skin. Gojyo could just touch him for hours, watching in amazement at the intense reactions he got. Moving over top of his lover, the redhead pressed his own hardness against the curve of Sanzo's ass and was delighted to hear another moan in response. 'This is what I meant,' he marveled. 'I've never felt this close to anyone else.'

Gojyo's fingers curled tight around Sanzo's cock, urging the blond to thrust into the loose fist. "Tell me what you want," the redhead murmured, wanting nothing more than to bury himself and share in the pleasure. His other hand found a place on Sanzo's hip, pressing down on it for support.

"Unh… this… yes…" Sanzo couldn't get any more specific, due to choking back another cry as Gojyo's thumb brushed over the slit. The priest finally let go of his lover's hands to comb through crimson hair.

Their eyes met and Gojyo smirked at the sight of the blond; naked, panting, cheeks & neck flushed pink with arousal, and with lust filling his eyes. He leaned forward to delicately nibble on Sanzo's lips, feeling the other man melting into his touch. "Sanzo," he whispered, moving down to kiss the hollow of his throat.

Sanzo could only moan in response, sending vibrations to Gojyo's lips and turning him on further. The hand that had been gripping Sanzo's hip swept down between Sanzo's legs and Gojyo gripped himself, and the blond nearly lost it when Gojyo slowly began to pump them in synch.

Sanzo's hands weren't doing much from their place in Gojyo's hair, so he allowed one to drift down and trace its way past Gojyo's toned stomach, through the coarse red curls beneath and taking over where his lover was working himself.

The two allowed themselves to get caught up in the moment, each giving pleasure to the other, only breaking for more kisses and breathy sighs. Sanzo tore his hand away to brush the side of Gojyo's face, bringing it closer to kiss and slipping his tongue into his lover's mouth.

Amid the kissing, Gojyo pumped a little harder, until finally Sanzo shuddered and released into his hand. The blond clenched his legs tighter around Gojyo, letting orgasm roll through him.

Gojyo pulled back, smiling and gently kissing Sanzo's nose. Though he still needed his own climax, it wasn't unbearable yet. "I missed this, Sunshine. I missed you."

"Mmm…" Sanzo curled his fingers around a strand of red hair. "I think I temporarily went insane back there."

"Temporarily?"

"Shut up," the priest tried, but it was weak. "It was… stupid to get mad over any of it."

"Glad to hear it." Gojyo figured that was as close to an apology as he was going to get out of Sanzo. Even when they were this intimate, there were still some barriers the priest was never going to let down. "Now, let's get to the really good stuff."

"Wait." Sanzo's voice was a bit hesitant and Gojyo couldn't actually believe that his lover wanted to hold off on release any longer. "I… before we…"

Gojyo figured it didn't hurt to continue what he was doing and began kissing down the side of Sanzo's neck. He pulled Sanzo close and let his hand trail down the blond's sides. "Yeah?"

The kappa could hear hard breathing next to his ear and Sanzo tried a few times before finally whispering four tiny words. Gojyo's eyes widened, but he couldn't keep from smiling.

"Gojyo… I love you."