Author's Notes: The structure of the temple where Kouryuu resides is pretty much like the same type of temple in "You're Under Arrest" where Natsumi usually visits… Chapter 8: Strength

"Ohayou… Hakkai…" Kouryuu lightly kissed his sleeping lover.

"Ohayou, Kouryuu…" Hakkai yawned as his eyes fluttered open. The two were both dressed in yukatas in the same bed. Hakkai sat up and stretched he looked at the blond monk beside him and smiled, "Another lazy day for a monk?"

"Maybe…" Kouryuu slightly smiled.

Hakkai blushed, "I've just witnessed your first smile to me…"

"Oi! That wasn't a full smile!" Kouryuu frowned.

Hakkai laughed as he got out of bed, "Would you like to have breakfast together or should I be off now?"

"Do what you want…" Kouryuu went back to his usual attitude.

"Ah… Let me treat you out today! I always bring my wallet everywhere I go…" Hakkai laughed. Kouryuu nodded and opened his closet to pick out his clothes. Unfortunately, it was rare for him to be going out of the temple in the morning so the only sort of clothes folded in the closet were yukatas, robes and the night gear he used for hunting demons at night.

"Kuso…" The monk muttered as he picked out a deep violet turtleneck and the usual pair of black pants.

"Kouryuu… Mind if I take a bath first?" Hakkai chirped.

"Sure… Do what you want." Kouryuu lazily replied as he sat on the bed.

Meanwhile, back in the apartment, Gojyo worried as he ate breakfast with Goku.

"Na, Gojyo… Have you seen Hakkai?" Goku asked with his mouth full.

"Nope… Haven't. There are only two places I know he'd go to… It's either that temple Kouryuu's at or that Mansion." Gojyo said after he swallowed a bite of his sandwich.

"I think he's at the temple…" Goku said with his mouth full.

"Oi… Stop talking with your mouth full…" Gojyo growled at the younger boy.

"Mou… Why don't we eat out today?" Hibiemi yawned as she descended the stairs of the mansion. Komyo and Nii both stayed the night in the guest rooms. Hibiemi found the two playing with the Playstation 2 console while Quietus was nowhere to be found.

"That Quietus is a heavy sleeper…" Nii said as he kicked Komyo's ass on the console.

"Aww… You beat me again…" Komyo sulked as the words 'Player 1 wins' flashed on the screen.

"Well then…" The younger immortal stretched as she yawned, "I'll go wake up that damn ex-reaper…

Hakkai looked around for a good place to have breakfast.

"Ah… I know there's a good coffee shop around here. Are you comfortable with that idea, Kouryuu?"

"Sure… I don't mind where we're eating… Just as long as the food's good." Kouryuu sighed, "But then I sense something strange will happen soon…"

"Could be true…" Hakkai shrugged his shoulders, "Ah. Here it is… Oh… I guess your premonition was right, Kouryuu… Look who's in the shop right now…"

"Those damn immortals!" Kouryuu sulked, "Why don't we go somewhere else, Hakkai?"

"No… I think we should just get this over with… I'm sure they don't want any business with us…" Hakkai smiled as he opened the door on his side and stepped out. Kouryuu stepped out and was suddenly hit by a strange feeling of emotion as he saw one of the immortals that accompanied Hibiemi.

"Komyo… Sanzo…" Kouryuu gasped.

"What is it, Kouryuu?" Hakkai asked the blond monk.

"Nothing… Just some words flying out of my mouth…" Kouryuu looked down, "C'mon… let's go have some breakfast… I can't bear my hunger anymore…"

"Ara ra… Kouryuu-san's here today and with Hakkai. There must be something going on between those two…" Hibiemi smiled from her seat as she saw the two mortals enter the shop. Luckily, her comments were only heard by the older immortals with her.

"I'm jealous…" Quietus sighed in his Hiro disguise.

"What's there to be jealous about?" Nii asked the blue-haired shape shifter.

"He gets together with someone… And I've got bad luck in love…" The ex-reaper replied sighing.

"That isn't something to be real jealous about…" Hibiemi blinked as she was about to put a piece of cake into her mouth. She swiveled her sight around to catch a glimpse of Kouryuu passing by with Hakkai with a tray of breakfast in his hands, "Ohayou, Kouryuu-san…"

"Ohayou…" Hakkai smiled as Kouryuu pulled him by the wrist.

"Are…?" Komyo looked timidly as Kouryuu chose the farthest seat away from them.

"No wonder…" Nii chuckled, "They take to us like humans to demons…"

"Ah! Sou ka…" Hibiemi cheerfully raised her index finger and tapped it against her chin, "Isn't today a festival?"

"You've got a point there… The stalls will be set up near the temple as it has always been…" Hiro smiled before he took a bite out of his cake.

"Looks like we've got work to do tonight…" Nii joyfully chimed in. On the other hand, Komyo continued to finish his breakfast quietly.