The open road: miles and miles of red-tinted sands, blue sky above, sunshine, hardly any bugs to disturb the fresh air, and the soft purring of the jeep as it speeds along towards the next town. All is as it should be, save perhaps...the complete LACK of bickering between the pair in the back seat.

"Ne, Gojyo, can you scoot over a bit? I need to stretch my legs a little."

"Sure. Mind handing me a beer while you're shifting?"

"Just a sec."

In the rearview mirror, Hakkai watches with amused interest as Goku rummages in the back to find Gojyo a cold one, and can't help wondering if he got into the wrong jeep this morning. Strangest of all, Gojyo even says thank you when the monkey hands the beer over.

Either one of them is dying and the other is being sympathetic, or it's the end of the world as he knows it.

"Ano...Goku, Gojyo...you're being rather hospitable with one another today. Should Sanzo and I be worried?" Hakkai speaks lightly, with that ever-present smile and an audible laughter hovering beneath his tone.

"Very funny." Gojyo sneers, tossing back a sizable swig of his drink. "Just because he's a saru doesn't mean we have to act like animals ALL the time."

"Yeah!" Goku chimes in automatically, before registering the entirety of what Gojyo had said. "Hey, who you callin' a saru, you damn water sprite?!"

Ah, the thrill of the hunt. "Better to be a water sprite than a filthy ape!" Gojyo replies, kicking Goku's feet viciously back to their original position near the door.

Goku responds by purposefully knocking Gojyo's beer out of his hand, sending it flying out of the jeep before crashing to the dusty ground and disappearing behind them. "Oops, guess my hand slipped."

"Why you little--!"

Up in the front seat, Sanzo agonizingly begins to rub his temples, suddenly feeling a very nasty headache coming on. "You just HAD to say something." he accuses Hakkai, having so enjoyed the silence and occasional nicety that had been coming from the two in back only moments before.

Oh well, it would have been wishful thinking to imagine such unfathomable peace remaining forever, let alone for more than 30 minutes.

"They are NOT antennas! It's a style, ya frickin' gaki!"

"Bite me, you perverted, old cockroach!"

"Old!?!"

"URUSAI!" Bang! Bang! Bang! "I am two seconds away from turning this quartet into a duo, and I WON'T feel bad about it! Now shut your mouths and sit still, or so help me I will starve you for a week." he threatens, pointing his gun at Goku. "And take all YOUR cigarette's for myself." he finishes, re-aiming at Gojyo, and glaring at both of them with a look that could easily do his gun's job for him.

Sulking silently in the back, Goku and Gojyo avoid Sanzo's stares until the monk finally offers reprieve and puts his weapon away to return to his seat. Hakkai, having merrily witnessed the entire episode, merely chuckles, continuing down the road much less concerned now that things have settled into their familiar pattern.

After a few minutes of forceful quiet, when it is certain Hakkai is looking ahead at the road and not watching his friends in the back, Gojyo lightly nudges Goku's foot with his. Goku turns, looking all too ready to start in again, but once their eyes meet, Gojyo winks conspiratorially, and realization dawns on Goku immediately. Offering a comprehending nod, the young brunette forgets the incident completely, understanding that the occasional argument is necessary in order to keep Sanzo and Hakkai from realizing they are up to something.

Remembering to fight once in a while, even now that they have come to a certain truce, should be no trouble at all.

"We're here." Hakkai comments leisurely, pulling over just outside this newest town's outskirts.

The second everyone is out of the jeep, Hakuryuu immediately turns back into his dragon form, leaving their things to rest in a heap on the ground now that the trunk they had been in no longer exists.

"Couldn't wait for us to get the stuff out first, could ya?" Gojyo complains to the fluttering, white dragon lingering above him, who replies with a cheerful "Kyuuu!" Gojyo shakes his head and smirks, lifting his bag over his shoulder and helping take one end of their cooler--Goku having reached for the other. "At least this place looks more lively than the last town." the kappa notes, considering the streets in front of them are bustling with people and there are numerous signs for Inns and Bars and Restaurants blinking at them for blocks ahead. " 'Bout time we found a real city instead of those backwater dives."

"Don't get used to it." Sanzo warns, not bothering to grab any of their supplies himself as he puffs on a freshly lit cigarette. "This is the last non-backwater dive for a good couple of weeks, and we're leaving first thing tomorrow." The monk stalks ahead of them, striding quickly to find the closest Inn, regardless of there being better or more entertaining ones further down the street.

As Gojyo and Goku fall behind with the large load between them, the redhead grumbles in annoyance. "Thanks for spoiling the moment, bouzu."

Hakkai laughs, easily carrying his own pack on one shoulder and Sanzo's on the other. "He just doesn't want you getting spoiled, that's all." the brunette mends, smiling at his friends as he walks beside them. "Besides, I'm sure you can find plenty to do here while we stay, regardless of us leaving in the morning. It's barely midday."

Leave it to Hakkai to make things better, because he ALWAYS can.

Curving his grimace up into a much more fitting grin, Gojyo admires his friend for as long as he can before the brunette has a chance to notice just how much he is looking him over. Observing this, Goku breaks into a grin of his own, but knows to say nothing. A deal's a deal, and the confessing part can be done by no one but themselves. That is, if they find the nerve to go through with it.

As everyone knows, bad usually turns to worse, and if you're lucky, good turns to even better.

"This is the biggest Inn in town and you only have two open rooms?" Sanzo gripes, glaring down the hotel clerk and feeling irritated almost to the point of using his Sanzo title as leverage.

The young man behind the desk shrinks back. "I...I'm sorry, sir, but...there's nothing I can do. With the growing youkai attacks on smaller towns, more and more people have been moving here, and...without enough housing, many have been forced to move into the Inns until new homes can be built. We just don't have anywhere else to put you."

As reasonable of a man as Sanzo can be, he has NO patience and NO tolerance for anything short of getting what he wants, but for once, he accepts the facts for what they are. "Fine. We'll take them. But they better be the best rooms we have ever stayed in, and you sure as hell better have a good restaurant."

"Yes, sir!"

Following the men carrying their things, Sanzo and Hakkai trail up the stairs, shadowed closely by the others. Before they can reach their rooms on the top floor, Goku nudges Gojyo in the side, giving him a meaningful nod.

They reach the top and come to the two doors leading to their rooms, but before Sanzo can instruct the bellboys on what things go where, Goku quickly speaks up.

"Can I room with you, Sanzo?" he pleads, in a voice not quite nasal enough to be a true whine, so as to not annoy the monk any more than he has to. "Hakkai makes me study too much and Gojyo snores."

"I do not!"

"Now, Goku, I have been increasing your training lately for the good of the group." Hakkai puts in, since he rather enjoys showing Goku the ways of healing and treating wounds; his heart will always be that of a teacher. "If you'd like a break, though, I understand."

Rolling his eyes, Sanzo points the bellboys in the correct directions. "Whatever, monkey. You better not talk all night."

Repressing a triumphant grin, Goku turns back to Gojyo with a wink. So far so good.

The two pairs settle their things into their rooms and then meet again in the hallway to discuss dinner and acquiring new supplies. Since this is the last large town they will be encountering for quite some time, stocking up makes very logical sense, and even Sanzo sees the merit in that argument as he whips his credit card out with only minimal protests.

"The saru and I can handle shopping." Gojyo suggests casually, though Goku senses a slight urgency in the redhead's volunteering. "Why don't you two see about getting us in for a table at the restaurant in an hour or so. We should be back by then."

"All right." Hakkai smiles, pleased with Gojyo's willingness to spend time with their youngest companion, despite his bafflement towards such an unexpected development.

"Don't spend too much." Sanzo warns as he turns the card over to Gojyo's eager hands. "And no pleasure spending. Supplies and necessities only."

"Meaning: pick you up an extra case of smokes, ne?"

"And don't bother coming back if you forget."

Gojyo smirks, slinking an arm around Sanzo's shoulders after pocketing the credit card. "So...when you say no PLEASURE spending...does that include porn and condoms, or are we just talking hard stuff?"

"Gojyo..."

"Coz I think a little porn could go a long way on the road. Besides, our wee little ape's gonna need some sex education before hitting puberty."

"Fuck you. I'm 18, for crying out loud." Goku grumbles, pulling Gojyo away from the monk before Sanzo can retaliate, and before Goku's jealousy can become obvious enough for those nearby to pick up.

"See you boys at dinner!" Gojyo calls as he is led down the stairs, with the sound of Sanzo's cursing and Hakkai's laughter following them all the way out the door.

"Why do you always do that?"

"What?"

"Hang on Sanzo like that."

"Heh. You jealous?"

"I'm being serious. Why do you do it?"

Gojyo sighs loudly, kicking a random stone along the walkway as he and Goku continue along the streets to the shopping center in the middle of town. For the first few blocks Goku hadn't said a word, though Gojyo chatted endlessly about way more than the monkey ever wanted to know concerning the benefits of porn.

Damn it, Gojyo thought, if he didn't have to think about something serious all of a sudden.

"It's not like I'm honestly flirting with him or anything." he finally states in response to Goku's question. "I can barely stand him half the time. Besides, even if I WAS a fag, Sanzo'd be the last man I'd go for."

Goku stops short, mouth hanging wide open in paralyzed shock. When Gojyo finally realizes the young brunette is no longer at his heels, he turns around, finding that exact image of a gapping monkey a good 10 yards behind him.

The road they are on isn't quite as populated as most, but not wanting to attract any unwanted attention, Gojyo walks back instead of merely calling out. "What's with you?" he asks, once returning to Goku's side.

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Goku steadies himself with a few irregular breaths before speaking. "First off, don't use the word 'fag'--it's derogatory. And second, what do you mean if you WERE one. I thought you were in love with Hakkai?"

Gojyo rolls his eyes. "I AM, but that doesn't mean I'm gay. And where'd a monkey like you learn the meaning of derogatory?"

"Hakkai. And how can being in love with another man NOT mean your gay?"

"Because...it just DOESN'T, okay?"

Goku looks up at Gojyo with an expression that clearly states he isn't buying a word the kappa is saying.

"Look..." Gojyo sighs, bending his head a little closer to Goku's to keep the conversation hushed. "I'm not attracted to guys. You have to be attracted to guys to be gay."

"But Hakkai--"

"Hakkai's different. Hakkai's...Hakkai." Gojyo cuts in, seemingly having thought about this very subject numerous times in the past. "I don't know how it's possible to be in love with another man and not be gay, but it just IS. I didn't fall in love with a gender. I fell in love with a person."

Goku considers Gojyo's words very carefully, and eventually comes to the conclusion that the redhead makes a very convincing argument. Personally, he had always accepted the fact that he was gay because he loved Sanzo, but maybe the truth is...none of that matters.

Why can't we just love someone and not put a label on it?

"I think I understand." Goku smiles, before tugging on Gojyo's arm to get him to continue along the street. "Come on. We don't want to get sidetracked; Hakkai tossed me a list before we left."

"Oh joy." Gojyo grumbles, but obeys regardless, kicking at the occasional pebble again until they at last reach the town square.

Whether you come into the center gallery through one of the main streets or through one of the smaller side alleys like Gojyo and Goku makes little difference; once reaching the square, everything pulses together into a grand market brimming with shops and hurried people.

"Oi, Goku? How long of a list are we talkin' about?"

"Not too long, but...well...we better get started."

Most of the item's on 'Mom's' shopping list were common, obvious buys that didn't take long to pick up, but every once in a while the pair would get stuck searching for something rare or in high-demand that seemed to take ages to track down, usually on items they personally could care less about having along for the journey.

While conducting one such search for a particular brand of frying pan--their old one now having a monkey-shaped dent in it from an incident the week before--Goku suddenly remembers his suspicions towards Gojyo's eagerness in getting out of the hotel, even though the redhead had veiled his feelings with the usual charm and obscenities.

"Ne...Gojyo?"

"Mm?" the kappa grunts, half buried in the back of the kitchen supply store they have been in for the past 15 minutes.

Goku abandons his own part of the search, regarding his friend with a whole new level of honesty after the many confessions they have shared. "I was just wondering...well...why did you want to get away from Hakkai and Sanzo so bad?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well...you jumped at the chance to get out of there, and you gave me this freaked look when I convinced Sanzo to pair the rooms the way we wanted."

Avoiding Goku's observation for a moment, Gojyo triumphantly discovers the required frying pan hanging on the wall nearby, and snatches it quickly, heading straight for the line up front in order to pay. "Listen...I just don't want you blurting out 'I love you, Sanzo!' during dinner." he says to the insistent monkey at his back. "I don't get how you can be so eager and confident when you're basically about to rip your own heart out, put it on your head, and say 'Go ahead, Sanzo, shoot!' I mean...we must be out of our minds."

"So...you're backing out?"

Gojyo reaches the end of the line and stiffens, contemplating Goku's hurt question for a good five minutes before finally turning around to face him. "I'm just...not so sure I'm ready to do this." he begins, burned by the brightness of those gold eyes staring up at him, almost to the point of having to look away. "I'm scared out of my mind, okay? This is moving too fast."

Goku nods slowly and sighs, seemingly understanding the kappa's concerns. "Well, if you want to wait, I'm not gonna push you. You don't have to tell him by the end of the week if you really don't think you can."

"Really?" Gojyo smiles, hardly believing Goku is being so forgiving.

"Sure." the monkey replies. Then... "Just hand over your lighter and your smokes, and we can forget all about it."

Gojyo's grin falls. "You little shit--"

"Unless, of course, you want ME to tell Hakkai. After all, a deal's a deal, right?"

Had there not been a good 100 people or more within range of witnessing, Gojyo would have ripped Goku a new one--verbally AND physically. But, being perceptive and tempered enough to hold back, he merely turns on his heels and growls. "I hate you."

"Love you, too, Niisan." Goku chirps happily, slapping Gojyo hard on the back.

Damn it if Gojyo just can't retain his anger; Goku is, after all, only trying to help his friend do what's best for him, and--though he would never admit it--Gojyo rather likes the sound of 'Niisan.'

A few minutes of barely moving brings the line to the halfway mark, and the boys are getting rather anxious considering they are expected back at the hotel by 7 o'clock. Thank goodness the frying pan is the last thing on the list.

"Ne...Gojyo?"

"What now?"

"Those guys over there are staring at you."

Turning his eyes on the spot Goku has indicated, Gojyo's gaze focuses on a band of similarly dressed men out in the square, all of which are looking directly at him with not-so-friendly expressions.

Best of all, a couple of them are heading in their direction.

"Shit." Gojyo curses.

"What is it? Do you know them?" Goku inquires, not liking the looks of them one bit.

Gojyo almost wants to laugh. "More or less. I recognize the crest on their sleeves. They're mercenaries--the Akaanai. Must have come in with all the town's people moving here."

"So why would they be interested in you?" Goku prompts further, eyeing the men coming closer and closer to them from across the square.

"They have a reputation for targeting a very specific group of people."

"Nani? You mean...youkai?"

Gojyo grits his teeth. "More or less..."

"Hey, you? Yeah, the half-breed. I think we need to talk."

tbc...

A/N: I really like this chapter. Funny and fun to do. So, what are the boys going to do about the anti-taboo gang? You'll have to wait and see. And don't forget, they still have to confess eventually, or risk giving up their most cherished vices. Thanks for the reviews and keep it up. Ja!

Crim