Hotel California
Chapter Ten: In the Master's chamber…
A/N: I've come to the point where I just have to sit back and wonder…what the hell was I on when writing the last chappeh? If I confused anyone else, I'm sorry, cuz I know I confused myself. -grins- So now what? We'll find out, won't we?
Sorry once again for the slow update. I've got a job now, plus I was confused on just where to go next with this. -looks around- The fact that I'm also writing FFIX ficcehs has NOTHING to do with it…
1111111111111111111
Every now and then, someone says something shocking, in which your only reply is humour. Your brain just can't process both what you're being told as well as a good reaction. So the first thing you think is what comes out.
"I knew he wasn't the building inspector."
Hakkai regarded him for a moment, before bursting out into a fit of laughter. Gojyo waited until this subsided before continuing, a bit more intelligently. "Okay. So you're saying that we're just taking over for the past experiments, because they died before the experiment was finished?"
The brunette coughed, the last of his laughter dying down. "I believe so, yes. I wasn't here when the Primary experiments were, so I don't know exactly what it was about, or the 'incident' either. But I do know that each person here corresponds to one of the Primary experiments."
"Goku and Gojun are themselves…" the redhead thought out loud. "Sanzo looks just like Konzen, I'm…Kenren?"
Hakkai nodded. "Leaving me as Tenpou."
Gojyo ran a hand through his hair absently. "So we know that much. But what's the experiment about? Something to do with those limiter things?"
His gaze went to the floor, self-consciously. "We—that is to say Goku and I—are using the limiters. They control the powers that were fused into us with Ni's experiments."
"So your 'other half'…"
"Is what happens when those limiters are removed or malfunctioning."
Gojyo decided to change the subject for now. "And Gojun's trapped as Hakuryuu. Kannon won't let Ni mess with Sanzo. Do you know why?"
Hakkai considered this. "It's because of Konzen, I believe. She regrets letting Konzen become part of the experiment, because it led to his death."
"But why him and not the others?"
Hakkai stood, beginning to make his bed. "Konzen was Kannon's nephew."
Gojyo crossed his arms. "So she's trying to make up for it by leaving Sanzo alone? Isn't that going to screw up the experiment?"
He smoothed out the creases in the sheet. "I don't know."
The redhead looked down at the notebook in his hands. "How'd you get hold of this?"
Hakkai stopped momentarily to smirk at Gojyo. "Well, I AM Tenpou, aren't I?"
The two were silent for awhile, as Hakkai worked on his chore. Gojyo got up, taking a blanket and helping. Suddenly, a thought struck him. "Hey, 'Kai?"
"Hmm?"
"When your…at night, do you…do you see what your other part does?"
There was a slight pause, as if he was considering something. Then finally, "Yes."
The thought finally clicked in his mind. "It's still you isn't it? It's not like some split personality thing, just a more powerful version of yourself?"
Another pause. "Something like that," he looked like a guilty child being forced to tell the truth to an adult. "It's…complicated."
Gojyo set the blanket down, looking Hakkai straight in the face. "So before, in my room…"
Hakkai couldn't match the gaze, and looked away.
Before Gojyo could ask anything further, someone knocked on the door. Hakkai answered it, and Sanzo stood there, looking mildly annoyed, but a tiny bit worried. It was the latter that surprised Gojyo more than the blonde's sudden appearance.
"Kannon's asking about you two. You'd better come down before you look suspicious."
Hakkai nodded. "We'll be right down. Tell her we're looking for Hakuryuu."
Sanzo shrugged, starting back down the hall. Hakkai turned back to Gojyo. "You do realize that none of this gets word to Kannon, Ni, or Hakuryuu."
Gojyo nodded. "I'm not an idiot. Those guys are bad news. Sanzo and Goku are okay though, right?"
"Yes. Sanzo's been helping bit by bit since he's become convinced Ni's not going to let a promise stop him from his goals. And Goku…"
Gojyo grinned. "He'll do whatever his keeper tells him."
He received an admonishing smile from the brunette. "I was going to say that he's a valuable asset to this mission, but I suppose your statement is true as well."
"He might not know exactly what to do, but once Sanzo gives him an order he'll follow through."
Hakkai nodded. "We'd better get down there before they send someone else up."
Gojyo smirked. "It's a dead man's party, who could ask for more?" 1
Hakkai blinked. "What?"
"Nothing."
1111111111111111111
After breakfast, Gojyo suggested that he and Hakkai do one final search of the courtyard for Hakkai's limiter. The brunette was a bit hesitant, but finally agreed, thinking it couldn't hurt to look once more.
It was beginning to get colder outside, a sign that it was getting closer to winter. Gojyo noticed this with a start. It hadn't been that long since he'd come here, had it? This place had a way of making time seem different. While outside, it had been probably a month or two, inside it still felt like only a few weeks had passed. Time was beginning to slip from him, as it had from Hakkai, Goku and Sanzo. Pretty soon he'd forget the outside world entirely. He had to get out of here before that happened.
The film of moss had returned to the fountain water, after Hakkai had disturbed it on their last visit to the courtyard. Neither of them really said anything while attempting to find the metal circlet. After about an hour or so with no results, they gave up.
Gojyo sat on one of the benches, wrapping his arms around himself. "I don't think it's here. All I'm finding is cold."
Hakkai nodded, standing next to him. "I believe you're right. Which is why I'm sure Ni did something with it. Otherwise it'd be here, don't you think?"
"Should be. So our next step is…?"
He shrugged, pulling his scarf tighter against his neck. "We really don't have much other option than to wait for Ni to decide to give it back."
"Can't we sneak in and take it?"
"He'd know."
"Right," Gojyo shook his head. "Damn…"
"Something wrong?"
The redhead looked up at him, a small smile playing at his face. "I was kinda looking forward to you staying with me again. Can't really do that if you've got that urge to kill going on…"
Hakkai looked shocked. "Gojyo…"
He laughed a little, humourlessly. "Yeah, I know. I remember what you said," he sighed, standing up. "Just making a joke is all…"
Hakkai got the impression that he sounded a little disappointed. He didn't have time to think upon that however, as Gojyo quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him into one of the monstrous hedges. Surprised, he tripped and fell, landing directly on his friend.
"Gojyo, what—?" he managed before Gojyo's hand clamped over his mouth. The redhead put a finger to his own lips to tell him to be quiet and Hakkai nodded.
They looked out into the space they'd just left. Sanzo and Ni walked into their vision, dressed in their coats as well. As always, Ni looked calm and Sanzo looked annoyed.
"Can we go now? I told you they weren't out here," Sanzo snapped.
"Hmm…" Ni looked around. "I suppose they're not."
The blond crossed his arms. "I don't understand why you're so intent on finding them."
Ni turned to stare at Sanzo with that unnerving gaze of his. "I had wondered, by chance, if someone was breaking their promise and letting information slip."
Sanzo returned the gaze coolly. "I haven't told that idiot anything. Maybe you're just getting sloppy."
"Humph." Ni walked past him, pausing when they were side by side. "I hope for your sake…and your charge's, that you're not letting down your end of the deal. Kannon might have a soft spot for you, but rest assured that I do not."
He walked away, leaving Sanzo glaring at the air in front of him. After a moment, he turned and left as well.
Gojyo looked at Hakkai. "I suppose we're gonna have to wrap things up a bit quicker than you'd planned, huh?"
Hakkai nodded. "Before something happens to Goku…or Sanzo. Have any ideas?"
He grinned. "Hey, I thought you were the brains of this outfit…"
Hakkai was suddenly aware of their positions. He was still laying on top of Gojyo from his fall. Gojyo's hand was still wrapped around his wrist as well. He flushed a bit. "Um…"
Gojyo looked down. "Oh! Sorry about that. I didn't want them to see us."
He let go of the brunette's wrist and sat up, taking the shorter man with him. This resulted in a slightly more awkward position with Hakkai straddling Gojyo's hips. Hakkai flushed deeper and scrambled off him, getting to his feet.
Gojyo stood as well, smiling slightly. He tugged on Hakkai's scarf. "You're blushing."
Hakkai looked away, embarrassed. "It's cold out."
He suddenly found himself pushed up against the brick wall. He gasped, looking at Gojyo. The redhead leaned over him, pressing against him. He opened his mouth to say something, but was stopped as Gojyo pressed their lips together.
The thought momentarily forgotten, Hakkai began to respond. Finally reason caught up with him, and he pushed at Gojyo, who broke away. He looked at the brunette questioningly and Hakkai shook his head.
"I…I can't. I'm sorry."
He pushed himself out of Gojyo's grasp, running inside. Gojyo stood, frozen in place. After awhile, his shoulders slumped and he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Dammit…"
1111111111111111111
Gojyo didn't speak with Hakkai for the rest of the day. The brunette had made himself scarce, he didn't even come to dinner. The entire day was spent cursing himself for screwing things up.
It was later on that night, when Gojyo'd finally given up and went to bed, when he first heard the door open. It started with a thump, like something colliding with it. Gojyo leapt up, moving to the door. Before he could reach it, it opened, and Hakkai fell in, collapsing on the floor.
Slightly alarmed at his demon form, Gojyo hesitated. Hakkai was clutching his right arm, and the sleeve was drenched in wet red. Danger forgotten, he went to Hakkai's side, kneeling next to him. "Hakkai! What the hell happened?"
Hakkai looked up at him through tendrils of long hair, shocked. He didn't say anything. Gojyo grabbed his arm, holding it out for inspection. A long gash ran down the outer part of it, deep and bleeding. With a curse, he pulled the brunette up, leading him to the bathroom. Hakkai sat on the edge of the tub while Gojyo took a washcloth and cleaned up the wound. After a quick search of the room and finding nothing to wrap it with, he tore the bottom hem of his shirt, pulling it apart in strips. He wrapped the strips of cloth tight, but not too tight, around Hakkai's arm.
The wound treated, he looked at Hakkai. "Are you okay?"
Hakkai stared at him for a moment, then finally spoke. "Yes."
Gojyo let go of the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "What happened?"
"I tried to get it back…"
"Your limiter? Did Ni do this to you?"
Hakkai nodded. It took all of Gojyo's will not to slam a fist into the wall. Instead he clenched his fists for awhile, before growling. "How do you feel?"
"I'm…okay. I'm not about to murder you, if that's what you're asking."
Gojyo nodded. "Then you're staying here tonight."
Hakkai stood up. "No! I can't do that! There's no telling—"
"I don't care. If Ni did this, he might try something else. I'm not running the risk of you getting hurt anymore. Demon or not, I'm not letting you out of my sight," he glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "Besides. It'll be morning in an hour or so anyway. That's probably why you've got most of your control back."
Hakkai was shaking his head frantically, panicking. "No! I won't let you get hurt! I can't! I wouldn't forgive myself if I hurt you!"
He made a run for the door, but Gojyo was ready this time. He caught the shorter man, bringing them both to the floor. Hakkai thrashed in his grip, but Gojyo held on tight.
"I can't! I can't get close to you! I'm going to end up hurting you, just like she said! Just like I saw! That's why I have to stay away!" Finding struggle useless, Hakkai finally gave up and went limp, burying his face in Gojyo's chest.
"What?" Gojyo still held him, in case he tried to escape again. "What do you mean?"
"Kannon…she told me that if I got close to you…I'd wind up hurting you…she showed me in this mirror. I saw myself in it…and you…"
"Stabbed in the back…" Gojyo muttered, remembering his own vision in the passage's mirrors.
Hakkai looked up at him. He had been crying. There were still tears lining his eyes. "How…?"
Gojyo shook his head. "I'll explain it later. Right now, you need to get some sleep. I'm not going to let go, so you might as well just give up."
"Gojyo…"
He smiled sadly. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to either of us. You trust me, right?"
Hakkai nodded slowly, before laying his head on the redhead's shoulder.
"Your arm okay?"
"It'll be fine. Thanks."
Gojyo rested his chin on Hakkai's head. Soon he felt the green-eyed man drift asleep against him. He was almost asleep himself, as his fogged mind registered a small flash of white.
Hakuryuu.
1111111111111111111
1 Gojyo's quoting one of my favourite songs, "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo. It seemed a bit appropriate. -grins-
Whoo…Again, sorry this took so long, but my compeh ate half of it the first time, and I forgot what all I wrote. I think the rewrite is just as good tho. The plot's getting thicker… what will become of our heroes? Dunno, but let's head to review responses!
narrizan: -laughs- Watch out...I might beh tempted to do something like that!
Cyra Hakkai: Wow, thankehs! -grins- I'm already paranoid about my cat, that's where I got the idea.
Koryu-Sanzo: Hope this helps! I knew you guys would pick up the Ni thing...
SanzoxGoku Lover: Sorry about the lack of 39 in this one. I'll make sure I keep up with it tho!
Attiqah Gensui: What exactly are you so intent on strangling? -inches away- Yeah. Look forward to a lot of crazy stuff concering the Gaiden crew...
tigermink: Thankehs! Updates will usually only happen on Wednesdays, cuz that's my day off. I'll try for every week, but I'm juggling a lot of works right now. -grins- Glad you're enjoying it tho!
Wantabe Emi: -laughs- Thankehs. Luckily I love enclosed spaces...now if we could do something about the people...
kurisuturu39: -blinks- I think we have a Ni fan...Aw, does soemone need their rabies shot? Yesh, they do!
-laughs- Until next update!