"Hakkai, you bastard!" Sanzo growled in a low voice, trying not to let anxiety creep into his throat, "What the hell did you do?"
Above them, the youkai were exiting, talking amongst themselves, "They'll die eventually, with their wounds going untreated. Just let them waste away." And then they were gone. Just like that.
As soon as their enemies had gone, Hakkai collapsed onto Sanzo. The blonde grunted at the weight, but clutched Hakkai tightly to him, whispering fiercely, "What the hell did you do?"
"They were going to…kill you…" Hakkai mumbled.
"What do you care?"
"I… care…" Hakkai breathed. He was so tired. He could have just fallen asleep right there, yet Sanzo might have a problem with that. Hopefully the monk wouldn't mind his robes soiled with youkai blood. Hakkai would have to remember to clean them when they got out of here. They had passed a spring on the way in. It shouldn't be far from here…
If he had been just a bit more conscious, Hakkai would have felt Sanzo tense under him. Luckily for Sanzo, the brunette was nearly delirious in pain and blood loss. "Hakkai, sit up. You need something to stop bleeding," he grunted, pushing at the brunette. Hakkai did his best to move, holding his side and gasping. Sanzo slid up against the wall in a sitting position, helping Hakkai up. "Your shirt," Sanzo urged. Hakkai shook his head.
"I can't…" his eyelids drooped precariously. Sanzo shrugged out of his outer robes, by now soaked in blood, and stripped off the black stretch underneath. He rested it across their laps and moved his hands to the buttons on Hakkai's shirt. The youkai leaned forward, resting his forehead on Sanzo's shoulder.
"Don't close your eyes," Sanzo whispered, sliding the shoulders down on Hakkai's shirt, "Stay awake."
"It's so cold…" Hakkai answered, his voice just as low as the monk's. Sanzo knew, he could feel Hakkai shiver against him, no matter how limp he was.
"It's because you lost so much blood," Sanzo reasoned, taking his stretch and wrapping it around Hakkai's waist. He pulled it taut, drawing a gasp from the other, to which he quickly murmured, "Sorry." It had to be tight, otherwise Hakkai would just keep bleeding.
When he had finished, Hakkai sat upright, making to climb off Sanzo's legs. The monk protested, "What are you doing?"
"Sorry, Sanzo," Hakkai fell against the wall beside his companion, panting from the effort.
"Sorry for what?"
"For touching you."
Sanzo realized how cold his lap now was. In the five minutes they had sat together, it had felt so natural. Now that Hakkai had put distance between the two, Sanzo was feeling uncomfortable, irritable even. Hakkai thought Sanzo didn't like to be touched. Normally, he didn't. This time, however, hearing the words from that wounded brunette, the apology hit harder for some reason.
"Hakkai, are you still cold?"
"Not as badly as before, Sanzo."
The blonde moved slowly, cautiously. He lifted himself over one of Hakkai's legs and sat down on the other side. Then he drew his arms warily over Hakkai's neck, bringing the other close.
