Disclaimer:
Standard rules. I don't own 'em *sniff*
Author's Note:
Thank you all for the reviews. Its very encouraging. Sorry if i took a lil long. Some of the ideas in this chapter kinda only came to me yesterday! Anonymous_Girl - interesting idea, but i don't think i'd be able to grant your request. Perhaps another fic? :รพ
Note:
These 'lil things /* and */ is to state the begining and end of a dream. Stole that idea from one of those programming stuffs [some of y'all might notice] Forgot to put that in the first chapter though... hehee.. :)
~~~
It was already dark by the time they found a cave for shelter, discussed their new schedule for the moment, proceed with necessary steps for Hakkai's condition and finally later on settled in to sleep. Gojyo decided to stay up for the night to keep watch for any wondering youkai and also to monitor Hakkai's worsening condition. He couldn't have slept anyway, even if he'd tried. Sanzo and Goku slept parallel to each other, the small bonfire in between them. Hakkai on one of the remaining four sides with Gojyo.
Sitting beside his lying body, Gojyo replaced the wet cloth, originally his bandanna, from Hakkai's forehead every now and then. 'How do you help a patient when the patient himself is the doctor?' Gojyo, looking at Hakkai's face covered with layer of sweat. Cheeks red in color, in contrast to his pale face. Gojyo had removed the other's shirt earlier on because it was heavily soaked in sweat. It was a good sign though, that he was sweating. Helps break the fever. His body had been burning up as his temperature refused to go down.
Staring at his bare upper body, Gojyo studied the permanent scar left to haunt Hakkai of his past for the rest of his life. 'Looks like we're back at the same situation again, eh? Me taking care of you. At least this time it isn't in my bed!' Gojyo smirked remembering his conversation with Hakkai. How fate had brought them together. Brought Gojyo to find a practically lifeless man laying on the ground in the rain... his guts spilling out... but still greeted with a smile.
The redhead reached to touch the mark on the brown-haired man's body, but jerked away when he heard the latter whimper in his sleep. It was just like the one he'd heard the previous night. Gojyo pulled the blanket up to Hakkai's shoulders and tucked it nicely under him, fearing he would start shivering. Removing the cloth again and squeezing the excess water, Gojyo wiped Hakkai's face. He must've repeated this series of actions 20 or 30 times already.
Gojyo moved some of the sweat slicked hair from his friend's forehead and placed the back of his hand against it to check the current state of his temperature. "Still the same" he muttered aloud. He replaced his hand with the cloth and sighed. He then got up to wake his sleeping limbs, pins and needles biting his skin as he walked and also to have a smoke.
Leaning against the wall at the entrance of the cave, Gojyo flicked his lighter a couple of times before finally lighting up his cigarette. He drew in a deep breath, sucking in the nicotine to calm his nerves, and then blew the smoke upwards into the sky. He noticed there weren't any stars visible. Just gray clouds blanketing any traces of the natural light the moon sometimes gave. 'Ch... Things just couldn't get any worse, could it?' Gojyo thought of how much two of his companions hated the rain. He sucked in another breath of smoke and threw the remainder of the cigarette onto the ground, crushing it with his heel.
There were still many more hours left before dawn. Hoping that Hakkai's condition would improve by tomorrow, they'd planned to drive to the next town. Sanzo would be taking charge of the wheel of course. Gojyo glanced to the sleeping bodies around the dancing fire. Goku legs were all over the place. His blanket tangled up with his body, mouth opened wide... "...Snoring like a real irritating idiot," the kappa snorted. Sanzo on the other hand was sleeping like the dead. Perhaps not consciously dead, but his body never moved an inch since the time he lay down to sleep. His gaze then fell upon Hakkai's body. Nevertheless the same as he'd left him a couple of minutes ago, however, there was something unusual. Gojyo squinted harder at Hakkai's face and noticed it tremble and twitch. "What the heck?"
/*
A voice echoed through the darkness, crying out his name. "Gonou..." He walked towards the call of his former name. Blindly guessing from where it's coming from. "Gonou..." it echoed again followed by soft whimpering. Tall metal rails came to his view first. The light shining from one direction illuminated one side of the bars. He advanced his steps in the direction of the voice, breath quickening as he feared of what he might see. "Kanan?" he whispered timidly. He discovered an individual cowering on the ground behind the bars, her back facing him. "Kanan!" he exclaimed louder. Kneeling on the ground, he tried to reach for her, an arm stretched between the bars to touch her.
Kanan turned around to look at him. Face soaked with tears. No smile present. Her eyes shooting daggers in his direction, she says, "Gonou... what took you so long? You see what you've done to me." His jaw dropped, words refused to form on his trembling lips. "How could you have not known I was in danger? How could you!! It's your fault I cannot bare to live anymore. ANYMORE!" she shrieked at him.
"What? I-I'm sorry. Please... please f-forgive me!" he said, tears streaked down his cheeks. His arm still trying to reach for her, fingers grasping only air. She slapped his hand away from her. "Don't touch me you murderer!" In shock he sat there looking at her, hands gripping the bars tightly, trying to digest what had just happened.
Suddenly a knife appeared in her hand. Holding it up to her neck she said in a coarse voice, "My soul died the minute I left the house, when you never suspected anything was wrong. My soul died when you didn't reply to my cries to you every single goddamn day I spent in here. My soul died when that youkai entered my body and left what was his in me. Now... you watch what's left of me die in front of your eyes."
More tears fell from her eyes, sliding down her cheeks, then her chin and onto the blade of the knife pressing against her neck. "Stop. No please Kanan... NO!!" he yelled, trying to get a hold onto her once again but failing to do so. "Have a nice life... Gonou!" she stated coldly and then slit her own neck.
*/
Gojyo looked down at Hakkai's terrified face. Eye balls moving from side to side rapidly under his eyelids. Tears streaming down his eyes to the sides of his face, pooling at his ears. Worried, Gojyo held Hakkai's shoulders, shaking him gently to wake him up from what looked to him like a nightmare. "Hakkai... Hakkai!" he whispered loudly.
Hakkai jerked up suddenly into Gojyo's arms, trying to reach for something in front of him. Something that was there a few seconds ago that he couldn't get a hold on. His chin over Gojyo's shoulders, Gojyo held him up, rubbing Hakkai's back gently trying to calm him down. Eyes bulging out from its sockets, heart pounding wildly beneath his chest, Hakkai was unable to control himself. A minute passed by and he still couldn't catch his breath. He started to wheeze, odd sounds coming from him. Gojyo kept assuring Hakkai that "things were gonna be alright" and that "it was only a dream" in a soothing voice.
Burying his head into Gojyo's chest, Hakkai wept. Gripping his vest tighter, he pulled Gojyo closer to him. "Its... its all my f-fault!" Hakkai stammered. "Its all my fault that... that... that she died" he continued to weep again. Rocking him in his arms, Gojyo could only remind him that things were okay now, in the present. That he shouldn't blame himself for something he couldn't have possibly done.
"Oi Hakkai! Get a grip of yourself!" a stern voice pierced through Hakkai's sobs. Literally slapping him out of his crying trance, Hakkai eventually calmed down. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he looked up at Sanzo who was behind Gojyo and apologized. Sniffling some more, he smiled at Gojyo and apologized as well for making a mess of his clothes. "No worries, you'll just have to wash them tomorrow or something" Gojyo replied. Sanzo grunted softly to indicate that his part was over and went back to sleep.
Hakkai reclined into his pillow gazing up at Gojyo. "Don't worry Hakkai. It's not your fault. At least, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure Goku doesn't as well. Now get some rest... its another full day tomorrow and you need to get better if we're ever gonna get a nice place to sleep." Gojyo looked at puffy green eyes, much calmer than it was a while ago. Looking back at clear crimson ones, Hakkai reached to stroked Gojyo's face lightly with his finger. "Thank you" he whispered. Falling back to sleep, Hakkai was a little more peaceful and tired as well.
Gojyo watched him take a deep breath but only to release it raggedly. Until he finally did sleep did Gojyo turn around to look at Sanzo. Sanzo just glared at Gojyo. Looks sometimes spoke more than words itself. They definitely needed to be more cautious around Hakkai, and perhaps help him in some way. The monk grunted, rolling over to his other side. Goku was still in the same messy position as though nothing had happened. Gojyo lied onto the ground, hands cradling underneath his head, next to Hakkai... just in case.
To Be Continued...
~~~
Hmm... This chapter kinda sucks... sorry!
Now all i gotta do is think of what to write next :p
Review are most appreciated! Let me know how i'm doing so far.
Thanks! :)
Standard rules. I don't own 'em *sniff*
Author's Note:
Thank you all for the reviews. Its very encouraging. Sorry if i took a lil long. Some of the ideas in this chapter kinda only came to me yesterday! Anonymous_Girl - interesting idea, but i don't think i'd be able to grant your request. Perhaps another fic? :รพ
Note:
These 'lil things /* and */ is to state the begining and end of a dream. Stole that idea from one of those programming stuffs [some of y'all might notice] Forgot to put that in the first chapter though... hehee.. :)
~~~
It was already dark by the time they found a cave for shelter, discussed their new schedule for the moment, proceed with necessary steps for Hakkai's condition and finally later on settled in to sleep. Gojyo decided to stay up for the night to keep watch for any wondering youkai and also to monitor Hakkai's worsening condition. He couldn't have slept anyway, even if he'd tried. Sanzo and Goku slept parallel to each other, the small bonfire in between them. Hakkai on one of the remaining four sides with Gojyo.
Sitting beside his lying body, Gojyo replaced the wet cloth, originally his bandanna, from Hakkai's forehead every now and then. 'How do you help a patient when the patient himself is the doctor?' Gojyo, looking at Hakkai's face covered with layer of sweat. Cheeks red in color, in contrast to his pale face. Gojyo had removed the other's shirt earlier on because it was heavily soaked in sweat. It was a good sign though, that he was sweating. Helps break the fever. His body had been burning up as his temperature refused to go down.
Staring at his bare upper body, Gojyo studied the permanent scar left to haunt Hakkai of his past for the rest of his life. 'Looks like we're back at the same situation again, eh? Me taking care of you. At least this time it isn't in my bed!' Gojyo smirked remembering his conversation with Hakkai. How fate had brought them together. Brought Gojyo to find a practically lifeless man laying on the ground in the rain... his guts spilling out... but still greeted with a smile.
The redhead reached to touch the mark on the brown-haired man's body, but jerked away when he heard the latter whimper in his sleep. It was just like the one he'd heard the previous night. Gojyo pulled the blanket up to Hakkai's shoulders and tucked it nicely under him, fearing he would start shivering. Removing the cloth again and squeezing the excess water, Gojyo wiped Hakkai's face. He must've repeated this series of actions 20 or 30 times already.
Gojyo moved some of the sweat slicked hair from his friend's forehead and placed the back of his hand against it to check the current state of his temperature. "Still the same" he muttered aloud. He replaced his hand with the cloth and sighed. He then got up to wake his sleeping limbs, pins and needles biting his skin as he walked and also to have a smoke.
Leaning against the wall at the entrance of the cave, Gojyo flicked his lighter a couple of times before finally lighting up his cigarette. He drew in a deep breath, sucking in the nicotine to calm his nerves, and then blew the smoke upwards into the sky. He noticed there weren't any stars visible. Just gray clouds blanketing any traces of the natural light the moon sometimes gave. 'Ch... Things just couldn't get any worse, could it?' Gojyo thought of how much two of his companions hated the rain. He sucked in another breath of smoke and threw the remainder of the cigarette onto the ground, crushing it with his heel.
There were still many more hours left before dawn. Hoping that Hakkai's condition would improve by tomorrow, they'd planned to drive to the next town. Sanzo would be taking charge of the wheel of course. Gojyo glanced to the sleeping bodies around the dancing fire. Goku legs were all over the place. His blanket tangled up with his body, mouth opened wide... "...Snoring like a real irritating idiot," the kappa snorted. Sanzo on the other hand was sleeping like the dead. Perhaps not consciously dead, but his body never moved an inch since the time he lay down to sleep. His gaze then fell upon Hakkai's body. Nevertheless the same as he'd left him a couple of minutes ago, however, there was something unusual. Gojyo squinted harder at Hakkai's face and noticed it tremble and twitch. "What the heck?"
/*
A voice echoed through the darkness, crying out his name. "Gonou..." He walked towards the call of his former name. Blindly guessing from where it's coming from. "Gonou..." it echoed again followed by soft whimpering. Tall metal rails came to his view first. The light shining from one direction illuminated one side of the bars. He advanced his steps in the direction of the voice, breath quickening as he feared of what he might see. "Kanan?" he whispered timidly. He discovered an individual cowering on the ground behind the bars, her back facing him. "Kanan!" he exclaimed louder. Kneeling on the ground, he tried to reach for her, an arm stretched between the bars to touch her.
Kanan turned around to look at him. Face soaked with tears. No smile present. Her eyes shooting daggers in his direction, she says, "Gonou... what took you so long? You see what you've done to me." His jaw dropped, words refused to form on his trembling lips. "How could you have not known I was in danger? How could you!! It's your fault I cannot bare to live anymore. ANYMORE!" she shrieked at him.
"What? I-I'm sorry. Please... please f-forgive me!" he said, tears streaked down his cheeks. His arm still trying to reach for her, fingers grasping only air. She slapped his hand away from her. "Don't touch me you murderer!" In shock he sat there looking at her, hands gripping the bars tightly, trying to digest what had just happened.
Suddenly a knife appeared in her hand. Holding it up to her neck she said in a coarse voice, "My soul died the minute I left the house, when you never suspected anything was wrong. My soul died when you didn't reply to my cries to you every single goddamn day I spent in here. My soul died when that youkai entered my body and left what was his in me. Now... you watch what's left of me die in front of your eyes."
More tears fell from her eyes, sliding down her cheeks, then her chin and onto the blade of the knife pressing against her neck. "Stop. No please Kanan... NO!!" he yelled, trying to get a hold onto her once again but failing to do so. "Have a nice life... Gonou!" she stated coldly and then slit her own neck.
*/
Gojyo looked down at Hakkai's terrified face. Eye balls moving from side to side rapidly under his eyelids. Tears streaming down his eyes to the sides of his face, pooling at his ears. Worried, Gojyo held Hakkai's shoulders, shaking him gently to wake him up from what looked to him like a nightmare. "Hakkai... Hakkai!" he whispered loudly.
Hakkai jerked up suddenly into Gojyo's arms, trying to reach for something in front of him. Something that was there a few seconds ago that he couldn't get a hold on. His chin over Gojyo's shoulders, Gojyo held him up, rubbing Hakkai's back gently trying to calm him down. Eyes bulging out from its sockets, heart pounding wildly beneath his chest, Hakkai was unable to control himself. A minute passed by and he still couldn't catch his breath. He started to wheeze, odd sounds coming from him. Gojyo kept assuring Hakkai that "things were gonna be alright" and that "it was only a dream" in a soothing voice.
Burying his head into Gojyo's chest, Hakkai wept. Gripping his vest tighter, he pulled Gojyo closer to him. "Its... its all my f-fault!" Hakkai stammered. "Its all my fault that... that... that she died" he continued to weep again. Rocking him in his arms, Gojyo could only remind him that things were okay now, in the present. That he shouldn't blame himself for something he couldn't have possibly done.
"Oi Hakkai! Get a grip of yourself!" a stern voice pierced through Hakkai's sobs. Literally slapping him out of his crying trance, Hakkai eventually calmed down. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he looked up at Sanzo who was behind Gojyo and apologized. Sniffling some more, he smiled at Gojyo and apologized as well for making a mess of his clothes. "No worries, you'll just have to wash them tomorrow or something" Gojyo replied. Sanzo grunted softly to indicate that his part was over and went back to sleep.
Hakkai reclined into his pillow gazing up at Gojyo. "Don't worry Hakkai. It's not your fault. At least, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure Goku doesn't as well. Now get some rest... its another full day tomorrow and you need to get better if we're ever gonna get a nice place to sleep." Gojyo looked at puffy green eyes, much calmer than it was a while ago. Looking back at clear crimson ones, Hakkai reached to stroked Gojyo's face lightly with his finger. "Thank you" he whispered. Falling back to sleep, Hakkai was a little more peaceful and tired as well.
Gojyo watched him take a deep breath but only to release it raggedly. Until he finally did sleep did Gojyo turn around to look at Sanzo. Sanzo just glared at Gojyo. Looks sometimes spoke more than words itself. They definitely needed to be more cautious around Hakkai, and perhaps help him in some way. The monk grunted, rolling over to his other side. Goku was still in the same messy position as though nothing had happened. Gojyo lied onto the ground, hands cradling underneath his head, next to Hakkai... just in case.
To Be Continued...
~~~
Hmm... This chapter kinda sucks... sorry!
Now all i gotta do is think of what to write next :p
Review are most appreciated! Let me know how i'm doing so far.
Thanks! :)