Proud of My Loneliness
~Part: 6~
He could feel his heart beating, alongside another one that he could feel was placed above his own, then pain began to register in his mind and he drew in a breath. He was aware that his eyes were closed, and then sounds raised in urgency came to his ears, becoming words that he understood.
"Sanzo, Sanzo! Open your eyes, dammit!" came the urgent tones of a usually carefree person, but now seemed to be worried about something, "Sanzo! C'mon you corrupted monk," they continued to say. His brow twitched in annoyance, why did they have to speak so loud, it was giving him a headache, or rather adding onto the ache he had already. He opened his eyes slowly, his vision slightly blurred, then the eyes focused and he could make out the worried face of a young man, the face surrounded by long, blood red hair that matched his eyes. Two distinct scars could be seen along the side of his left cheek, but that did little to mar the attractiveness of his features to the opposite sex.
He felt a small smile tug at the corners of his mouth, as he saw the look of relief flood over Gojyo's face, and then turned slightly to find Hakkai looking at him in a curious way. He frowned, wondering what could be making him look at him that way, then realised his arms were wrapped about the body of the young youkai. He started suddenly, aware that Goku had quieted and was no longer making a sound, but the sudden movement shocked him, as the bruises from the beatings he had taken burned with the disturbance.
"What happened?" Hakkai asked, as he supported the monks weakened body, his tone gentle as always, yet practical. Gojyo reached out a hand to place it on Goku's shoulder, to see if he was okay, but froze as Sanzo gave him a look that clearly told him not to touch the boy.
"Forgive me Hakkai…" the blond man apologised, his tone soft as he returned his attention to the dark haired man, as the half-breed obliged with his wishes and drew back his hand, "…what happened must remain a secret…" Understanding his wishes, Hakkai nodded then almost jumped in surprise as Goku began to groan as he awoke. Gojyo shuffled back a bit, as the young youkai pushed himself up, coming into a sitting position as he rubbed his head, as though trying to rid it of an ache.
"Sanzo…" he began to say, but was cut off as the monk hushed him to be quiet. He opened his eyes, and blinked owlishly as he scooted back slightly, giving the robed man enough room so as to sit up. He blinked in near confusion as he saw the blond man display a small smile, but nodded and smiled back, he now understood what was to happen. He stood up, helping the older man to his feet, then stepped back, watching as the other two men, although somewhat confused, but content with what they knew, took their placed beside him. "Thanks…" he said, and watched as the three men vanished into the depths of his mind, having completed their task. Goku continued to smile, as he looked at the spot they had once stood at, then yawned as a sudden sense of fatigue took over him, then began to disappear himself, but no longer to that isolating world, but to another one.
~*~
Nature's song filled the air, surrounding him and entering his mind through the mediums that were his ears. Sunlight dappled in from the breaks between the many hundreds of leaves, which made up the canopy that blanketed the wooded earth about the base of the hill. Goku's face twitched in tired irritation as the sunlight shone on his youthful face, then yawned as he stretched, a sudden rumbling sound from his belly awakening him as it caught his attention for breakfast, or whatever meal he was due. He leaned back, resting his head against the tree bark, grimacing at the empty pit in his stomach that seemed to increase by the second, 'Man am I hungry…' he thought, then sprang to his feet in a sudden rush.
"Oh my God! Sanzo, Gojyo and Hakkai!!! I hope they didn't leave without me! Boy am I a stupid ape!" he cried, then dashed off in the direction of the town, stopping as he passed a large patch of multicoloured flowers, sprouting innocently by the path he was running down. He jogged back towards them, and cocked his head as he looked at them with a thoughtful expression, 'Maybe these'll do…' he thought then began to pick a rather large bunch, and set about separating them into three relatively equal bunches, depending on how well each man rated on his personal affection list.
Satisfied with the arrangement, he tied them up with make-shift strings, which was done by using a stem from another flower and making a slit somewhere along the end of the stem, but not at the end, and looping it in on itself, like he did when making wreaths or daisy chains, to pass the time. Taking hold of the three simple bouquets, he continued to sprint towards the town where the Inn was, hoping that his friends had not left him, especially since he had come to realise why he was able to endure this loneliness.