Chapter 5
Gojyo laid a card on the table, picked up another, adjusted the cards in his hand for the umteenth time, and fidgeted in his chair, tilting it back on its two rear legs, then dropping it forward again. He laid his hand face-down on the table, gulped a few sips of beer. "Cripes, I need a fucking smoke."
Hakkai arched an eyebrow, studied his hand for a moment, then took his own turn.
Gojyo left his seat, paced to the window and back before he picked up his cards again, took another turn, then downed another swig of beer.
Hakkai laid his hand out and smiled as he drew the kitty of chips to the pile on his side of the table.
"Damn!" said the redhead, throwing his cards down. "You're taking advantage of the fact that I'm distracted."
"Tough, isn't it, that an hour without a smoke makes you so distracted."
"Closer to two hours. And if you don't care to join me for a walk now, I'm going alone. Or I'm lighting up here. Your choice."
Hakkai rose, reached for his jacket on the other chair, and drew it on as he walked to the other room. "Goku, we're going out for a few minutes to satisfy this man's habit. He seems to think it might improve his ability to play cards." The healer laid the back of his hand on Sanzo's forehead to check for fever. "How's he doing?"
"He's been fine. But now he seems to be dreaming again."
"Yes, but his sleep seems more natural. I think he'll be fully conscious next time he awakens."
"He'll be hurting, though. And hungry. How can he go so many days without eating? I'm starving just thinking about it."
Hakkai laughed. "You're a growing boy. He's a perverse monk who seems to thrive on cigarettes and alcohol. Rather like his comrade here." He joined Gojyo, who was standing in the threshold of their room's door, ready to bolt. By the time Hakkai had shut the door, his companion was down the stairs at the end of the short hallway and lighting up the first of what would be a chain of Hi-Lites.
When they returned some forty-five minutes later, Hakkai puttered around the room cleaning up the cartons from their take-out dinner and putting things away. Gojyo, more relaxed now, sprawled in his chair, his eyes tracking the other man's movements.
Hakkai, more sensitive than usual to the gaze that nearly always followed him during their regular evening ritual, dropped a coffee cup as he collected the three on the table. "Clumsy," Gojyo commented as he rose to help Hakkai pick up the broken pieces.
Hakkai stiffened slightly as Gojyo's shoulder and upper arm brushed his own when he stooped beside him. Was it coincidental that he was so near? Or was his brief touch a deliberate move for physical closeness?
"Are you okay?" Gojyo inquired as he collected Hakkai's share of the ceramic pieces and carried them to the waste basket. "You seem rather pre-occupied tonight."
Hakkai was certain he had not imagined Gojyo's hands lingering on his a second or two longer than necessary to take the broken pieces of mug. Does he always take such opportunities for a few seconds' surreptitious touch? he asked himself. Have I become so used to it that I don't notice? Or do I expect it so much that I take it for granted?
"I'm fine," he assured the other. "Just a little tired. Goku and I were up a lot with Sanzo last night."
The concern in Gojyo's expression diminished. "Speaking of which, if you sleep in here and let the damned monkey stay with Sanzo, he won't sleep again tonight."
"I know." Hakkai glanced in to the younger man, his brown head bent over the book in his lap, studying as he continued his vigil beside the monk's bed. "But he won't sleep anyway until he's seen Sanzo fully conscious and past the current bout of nightmares. Even in here, he's sensitive to every change in Sanzo's breathing."
"You think he'll come around soon?"
"Mmm. He's nearly in the clear. We'll be sitting on him to keep him down by this time tomorrow."
Goku was oblivious to the conversation in the other room as he struggled over the terminology in the anatomy book he had asked Hakkai to give him. He found it very difficult, but his determination to master the knowledge he needed for healing kept him reading well past the others putting lights out and settling into sleep. Bleary-eyed, he put the book down only when Sanzo's sleep became fitful again, and he calmed him through another round of disturbing dreams.
The room was at its darkest when Sanzo woke to the glitter of the waning moon from the room's single window reflecting in Goku's golden eyes. The monk was only aware of the other's soothing hand on his head when he took it away. He vaguely recollected the boy's voice and touch having repeatedly brought him out of his nightmares.
"You still here?" he asked thickly.
Goku nodded, his gold crown catching the thin moonlight. He smiled at the mild irritation in Sanzo's voice.
"How long?"
"Three days."
Sanzo experimentally lifted his head and shoulders, supporting his weight on his forearms. Goku was quick to pile a pillow behind him and offer him a drink of water. "Are you hungry for something?"
"Not now." The blond's brow furrowed, and he caught his breath sharply, as he tried to sit up and swing his legs over the bedside to stand.
"Sanzo, you're barely out of a coma. You can't get up yet."
The older man's jaw set. "You will not stop me from at least using the bathroom, bakazaru." He stubbornly attempted to stand, sank, and leaned heavily on Goku. The younger man had anticipated him and positioned himself beside the monk, arm around his waist and shoulders ready to bear his weight.
The short walk exhausted the injured man, and his breath was uneven when Goku settled him back into the pillows. Sanzo pushed him off before he could tuck the blankets around him. "What do we have to eat?"
"Hakkai and I bought some crackers and fruit." They had been through this often enough that Goku didn't have to remind him to start light. He brought the monk a plate with a couple crackers and a few segments of tangerine, and ate the other half of the tangerine himself while Sanzo nibbled on the crackers. When he saw the monk grimace each time he swallowed, he handed two pills to him. "Here. The doctor gave you these for pain. He said it would hurt for a while to talk and eat."
"And breathe. And move," Sanzo scowled. He adjusted his position, then sank against the pillows.
Goku took the plate and shut off the bedside light he had turned on, then resumed his seat.
"Go to bed," Sanzo ordered him irritably.
"I will." But he crossed his arms over his chest and stayed where he was, later written on his face.
"Stubborn." Sanzo closed his eyes and settled into the pillows.
"Who's talking?" Goku chided. He watched as Sanzo slipped into the most restful sleep he'd had since the fight in the forest.
Diffuse morning light lit the room when Sanzo woke again, feeling more himself. Goku was slouched over the side of the bed, snoring, his head pillowed on one arm, his other arm resting across Sanzo's waist.
"Baka," Sanzo whispered. But his hand fell affectionately on the head beside him, tousled brown locks falling between his fingers as he drifted back to sleep.
* * *
Gojyo woke to the aroma of coffee, frying eggs, and steaming rice. He stretched, padded over to the small stove, and craned his neck over Hakkai's shoulder. "Mmm. We haven't had eggs in days."
"Good morning. Sanzo is finally awake and I want to make sure he starts off with a good meal."
"Hmmph. And I thought you were going through this trouble for my benefit." Gojyo's chin was not quite on Hakkai's shoulder, his breath warm on the other man's ear.
Hakkai shivered ever so slightly and imperceptibly leaned back, the minor change in his posture bringing his shoulder in contact with Gojyo's muscular chest. His breath caught for only a second while he focused on turning the eggs, then drew himself back to the stove.
Gojyo held his breath for a moment, sensing more of a response from Hakkai than he was accustomed to getting. He briefly placed his hand on the small of the other man's back, but took it away immediately when Hakkai straightened, not wanting to push him—always cautious not to push where he might not be wanted, ever patient for Hakkai to come to terms with his past and accept what had grown between them.
"You have to earn your keep," Hakkai responded to Gojyo's quip as though nothing else had passed between them.
Gojyo backed off. "I knew this vacation was too good to be true. What?"
"You can start by bringing this tray in to Sanzo and Goku." He turned and presented the filled breakfast tray to the redhead.
"Oh, biscuits, too," Gojyo commented. "The monkey will be happy."
Hakkai smiled, jade eyes twinkling behind his monocle. "Don't worry. I've made enough for you, too." He picked up a second tray with two more filled plates, prepared to follow Gojyo into Sanzo's room.
Gojyo paused. "And the rest of the chore you expect of me to earn this?"
"Please get Goku out of here before he drives Sanzo crazy hovering over him. He needs some exercise. Pick up the paper for Sanzo. I've got a list of groceries. We have some laundry that needs to be done."
Gojyo frowned. "I get the picture." Hakkai smiled as he led the way into the other room.
With the others gone for the morning, Hakkai kept Sanzo engaged enough in conversation and card games to take his mind off his injuries and prevent him from becoming too restless. By the time the four had eaten lunch and Sanzo had read half the paper, he had tired enough to sleep for much of the afternoon.
Goku sat cross-legged on one of the beds in the larger room, again poring over Hakkai's anatomy book. "Hakkai, do I need to know all the names of these bones and muscles, or do I just need to understand how they all fit together?"
"Better be careful not to cram too much into that pea brain of yours, monkey boy," Gojyo commented before the other could respond. "Wouldn't want your head to explode."
Goku stuck his tongue out and chucked one of the hard candies in the bag beside him at the half-youkai.
"Thanks," said Gojyo, smoothly catching the missile. "I was wondering when you'd get around to sharing."
Hakkai interceded before the exchange escalated. "For now, Goku, focus on getting the best picture you can in your mind of how everything fits together and how all the muscles and bones work together. It would help if we could find a life-size model for you to study. For now you might find it helpful to feel on your own body any of the bones and muscles you can—and perhaps on one of ours."
Gojyo recoiled. "Don't you dare try to touch me, bakazaru!"
Goku grimaced. "I wouldn't touch you even if you begged me to on your deathbed, cockroach!"
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me cockroach, you stupid ape?"
"Stop calling me a stupid ape, cockroach!"
"An ape and cockroach might have more sense than to make so much noise to wake Sanzo," observed Hakkai. "Maybe you'd like to go out for another cigarette, Gojyo?" He knew his friend had been craving it since lunch but was making an effort to keep himself busy and put it off until one of them was ready to accompany him.
"I really don't think you or Goku need to chaperone me every time I want to go out for a damned smoke, you know—especially if it's just to the gardens around the inn. We've been here three days and there's been no sign of anyone out to get us."
Goku looked from Gojyo to Hakkai, his thoughts on the matter clear on his face.
Hakkai spoke for both of them. "We're at the edge of town. The woods begin again just beyond. They could be biding their time because we've been careful to stay together. No, Gojyo, I'm afraid you're stuck with our good company for the rest of this trip."
"Then I guess you're stuck supporting my bad habits. Put your book down." He took his cigarette pack from his vest pocket as he sauntered toward the door. "Goddamn monk better get well fast so I can light up when and where I want."
"Walk?" Gojyo asked Hakkai as he lit his cigarette outside the inn's main entrance.
"As you wish," said Hakkai absently.
Gojyo's brow creased. "Are you really that worried about another trap or attack?" he asked his companion. "Or is something else on your mind? You've been pre-occupied and jumpier than usual since you and Goku came back in last night."
Hakkai's face was impassive.
"Did something happen while you two were out that you're not telling me?"
"No," Hakkai reassured, but his tone was not entirely convincing.
"Hakkai—"
"No. Nothing happened to make me suspicious. The attack the other day was vicious enough and well-planned enough to convince me to be cautious without anything else happening."
"What then?"
"Hmm?"
"What is on your mind then?"
"Nothing in particular," Hakkai responded, and Gojyo knew he could argue until his hair turned blue and Hakkai would be unlikely to say more. Instead he took a long drag on his cigarette, held the smoke in his lungs as long as he could, then exhaled slowly.
Hakkai walked faster, his pace more deliberate, his silence more brooding. Gojyo fell a few steps behind, observing the tension in the other man's back and shoulders. He slowed his own pace, considered reaching for Hakkai's shoulder to stop him and push the issue.
Hakkai paused when he realized Gojyo was no longer in step with him, and looked back. "Are you coming?"
"I'm in no great hurry to get back and sit around more. Slow down."
Hakkai conceded, and they relaxed into a more leisurely pace, each with his own thoughts. Gojyo found himself reviewing the last twenty-four hours, intuitively sensing some level of change in Hakkai's attitude toward him since the previous day. The redhead was finding their close quarters and lack of privacy increasingly annoying, and his frustration with his companion's reticence increased proportionately.
Hakkai felt the tension in his friend and did his best to push his thoughts aside and pursue the small talk that would return a sense of normalcy to their interactions. By the time they turned back to the inn, Gojyo was more relaxed and Hakkai was able to tell himself that perhaps all Gojyo had needed was to get out for a smoke. He didn't know, after all, that Goku's observations the preceding evening had made it impossible for Hakkai to be near him without feeling his need and without having to fight his own yearning and confusion to fill that need.
Hakkai was glad for the distraction Goku's persistent questions provided when they got back to their rooms.
"Geez, can't you take this fucking conversation elsewhere?" Gojyo asked after a half hour of listening to the animated exchange between the healer and his pupil.
"Oh, does talk of bones and blood make the spineless kappa queasy?" taunted Goku.
Gojyo threw the novel he had been trying to read at him, clipping him on the temple. "No, idiot. But it's late enough that I'd rather be thinking about dinner. How about it, Sanzo? Are you hungry?"
The monk had been sitting up in bed, apparently focused on reading the paper. His attention was more on Goku's interchange with Hakkai, however, curious at the boy's newly acquired interest, and speculating about his ability to give it his attention for more than fifteen minutes without pleading hunger. "I could eat. Doesn't have to be now," he told Gojyo.
Their focus broken, Hakkai rose and stretched. "How about it, Goku, shall we stop and make dinner?"
Sanzo put the paper down. "You've made two meals today. Let Gojyo cook since he's the hungry one. Or order out again."
Goku voiced his opinion. "I'd rather get take-out again than eat one of the kappa's hodgepodge stir-fries."
"Hakkai and I just got back, and I was out all morning with you. I don't want to go out again. If you want take-out, you get it," returned Gojyo.
"I'll go with Hakkai again if you keep Sanzo company and set the table up in here so we can sit with him." Goku glanced at his teacher for a nod of confirmation.
"Yeah, whatever," said Gojyo.
"I'm quite capable of joining you at the table in the other room," put in Sanzo.
"No," Hakkai and Goku said together. "Maybe tomorrow," Hakkai added to allay the monk's further protest.
The four looked over the menu Hakkai and Goku had brought back with them the previous day, then the pair set off again to get their meal, Hakkai determined to continue their conversation about healing to avoid a repeat of the previous evening's topic.
They were only a few blocks from the inn, dinner in hand, when Goku stopped walking, distracted from their discussion. He cocked his head, as though listening for something outside Hakkai's range of hearing.
'"Goku?"
The wiry youth broke into a run. "Hakkai, something's wrong… Sanzo… "
Hakkai heard nothing more, but knew not to question Goku's sixth sense about Sanzo. The healer's surge of speed and longer stride brought him back to the inn a few paces ahead of Goku, a shot from Sanzo's gun and a ferocious yell their unwelcome greeting.
***TBC***
UltraM2000, I failed to welcome you to my reading/reviewing public at the end of the last chapter. Welcome aboard and thanks for your review! Another BIG THANKS to those of you who have been reviewing almost every chapter. After putting all the time into this, it really is gratifying to know there are a few people out there who enjoy it. I'm glad you like the pacing, Naye. I worried that it might be a little too slow in some places; but I really enjoyed taking time to develop the characters and the feelings behind where they're going in this. Your long comments are much appreciated. ^_^