Chapter 3: Making the move

Goku wiped some sweat on his brow. He must admit that Kougaiji is a much stronger opponent than before. Goku frowned, anyway that's good for him. The stronger his opponent is, the more he'll strive to win the fight. This in turn makes him stronger.

Right now the youkai prince is chanting and any moment now, the blasted summoned monster will come. He readied himself for the attack and ran in Kougaiji's direction to launch his own. About halfway in reaching Kougaiji, his foot snagged into something and with a loud blast it exploded, with his foot in it.

Goku looked at Kougaiji and saw that the youkai prince was running towards his direction – no doubt to launch an attack - when the surrounding area exploded suddenly. Everything went into a hazy black as Goku felt himself fall.

Yaone really outdid herself this time. Kougaiji thought to himself as he scouted the area.

Indeed, Yaone picked the best spot to lay the trap, for it was directly underneath a cave. She even covered the area where we fell. Kougaiji thought while looking around the cave entrance.

It was completely sealed. It will take them a while to remove those. He thought to himself as he crossed his arms over his chest. The best thing to do is to find another path that will lead to us. Kougaiji removed his glance away from the cave entrance and sighed. It will be a long day.

I hope I can pull this off.

Goku opened his eyes. It was dark.

"Where am I?" He murmured to himself as he sat upright.

"ITAI!!" He yelled in pain. Goku remembered that he had injured his leg when his foot was caught in the trap.

"Now what am I going to do?" He frowned to himself. After trying out his foot, Goku realized he was in no condition to walk, much less hike up and find a damn way to get out of this blasted place. He sat down.

Maybe all I need is some rest. Yeah right! He thought to himself sarcastically. And I need lots of food too! So hungry! Everything's getting hazy again. Goku suddenly perked up when he heard something growl. He was certain that it wasn't his stomach. He let his eyes adjust in the darkness and tried to look and sniff around.

There's something in here! He thought wildly. I just hope it isn't anything strong! Or else I'm dead meat! Goku turned around and found himself face to face with a large rabid bear.

"Uh... Nice little bear... Hehehe. you wouldn't want me for dinner I tell you. I'm tough meat! Not easy to chew too!" Goku rambled to the bear. He backed up the wall as the bear advanced on him.

Tch. If only I didn't hurt my foot and I'm not hungry, he'll be my dinner instead of me being his dinner!! Goku eyed the bear. He really looks hungry! I'm doomed! His eyes went wide with fear when the bear raised its paw up and prepared to strike him. He closed his eyes and waited for the contact. The bear growled loudly and pounced. Goku felt himself tumble to the ground.

Goku looked up just in time to see fire shooting from above his head. The bear growled again, this time in pain. Then Goku saw Kougaiji. He smiled; He never thought he'd be so happy so to see him.

He watched as Kougaiji pounced on the bear again and again. Wow. He's cool. Goku thought as Kougaiji finally killed the bear.

"I see you haven't been able to take care of yourself, Son Goku." Kougaiji drawled after rescuing the saru from the bear. Grand entrance, if I do say so myself. Kougaiji thought as he walked in Goku's direction.

The boy was still looking at him with awe in his eyes. He smirked. Thank you, Mr. Bear for the nice little opportunity! He stopped in front of Goku.

"You could speak now. The bear is gone."

"Tch. I know." Goku answered as he looked in the other direction. He seems embarrassed about being rescued. After all, he always had the upper hand in fighting Kougaiji. Now he is indebted to the prince. The irony.

"Oi, Kougaiji. I could've taken that bear on my own. It's just that..." Goku faltered.

"It's just that... What?" Kougaiji prompted the saru.

"I hurt my foot, okay?! I can't even walk."

"So what are you saying?" Kougaiji asked exasperated.

"Thank you." Goku said simply. Not knowing what more to say, the two fell into silence. Not used to the saru's silence, the prince tried to start a conversation, albeit a little clumsily.

"Can you walk on your feet okay?" He asked. Goku tried to stand up but failed miserably.

"I guess not." He sighed and looked up.

"From the looks of it, we can't use the one we fell in to get out of here. It's completely sealed."

"Eh?! But how are we going to get out?" Goku asked looking frustrated.

"I found a path north from here. Once you're okay, I think we could trek that one out to see if it can lead us somewhere." He said thoughtfully.

"You aren't going to leave me?" Goku asked in a small voice.

"Not if you want me too. I haven't paid you my debts yet. And I don't want my greatest rival die and be bear food." Kougaiji smiled softly at Goku.

Goku stared at Kougaiji. He didn't realize how good looking the prince is! His eyes traveled down to the other's chest where he can get a good view as its jacket covered little. Such good body, too! He dropped his eyes embarrassed. What are you thinking about Goku! Stop it. The saru told himself as he averted his gaze and tried hard to hide a blush.

Then a grumbling sound emerged from his stomach, which made him blush even more. He heard Kougaiji laugh, and he looked up just in time to see Kougaiji looking absolutely breathtaking, with his long red hair tumbling in his shoulders as he tried suppressing his laugh and his adorable smile. Goku longed to sigh like a little girl in love but fought the impulse - instead he growled in mock annoyance.

"Its not funny! I'm really hungry!!! Can you do something about it? Maybe cook the bear with the fire you make? You are like a magician after all!!! You produce fire and the like."

"Hahahaha.. Is that a compliment? Even if it is, I don't like being ordered." Goku rolled his eyes at the smug looking prince.

"Yeah right! If you don't like being ordered around, then why do you follow Gyokumen Koushu? Huh? Your highness?!" Kougaiji didn't like where the banter was going. He snapped furiously at the unknowing saru and glared darkly at him.

"You don't know anything." He said as his eyes flashed dangerously. Goku cowered. He had touched a sore spot on Kougaiji.

"Look, Kou.. I didn't mean..."

"No!" The prince growled as he cut Goku short. He brought a hand up on Goku's shirt and fisted it.

"I'm tired of it all! Do you think I like doing this?" Kougaiji paused when he noticed that Goku seemed frightened at his actions. He calmed himself down as he took three huge gulps of air.

"I'm doing all of this sacrifices for my mother. I want her revived. Can't you see it?" Kougaiji asked Goku. Goku could see the vulnerability in Kougaiji's eyes. And somehow that look seems familiar to him.

He felt just like that years ago. The feeling of being lost, of not being able to do what you really like. Being restrained. Being chained. Oh, the days being held prisoner of the mountain. Goku sighed and eyed Kougaiji,

"Look, I'm sorry Kou. I didn't mean what I said." He smiled,

"Then again, you can always order your summoned beasts to do the cooking for us." Kougaiji smiled too, losing the tense feeling he had earlier. Goku probably didn't mean it, he had stomach for brains as Gojyo might have put it.

"All right. I'm getting hungry too."

"Wai!!! Finally!" Goku glomped happily as Kougaiji called forth a beast and it started breathing fire to the carcass of the bear.

Hakkai, Yaone, Dokugakuji and Gojyo scouted the area again. Three hours had passed by, and the fire had finally put out. The entrance to the cave was firmly sealed. There was no way they could move that out.

Hakkai suggested that he blast of the rocks and debris off with his ki, but was vehemently protested by Yaone and Doku. They say, the two might be injured inside the cave, and might not be able to evade the tumbling rocks coming from above. Hakkai and Gojyo grudgingly agreed, as it was a logical explanation.

After much deliberation, they haven't been able to do anything, so they went back in the inn. Gojyo had to suppress a laugh at the sight of Lilin and Sanzo. It seems as if Sanzo never lost a pet.

"Have you found anything?" he asked gruffly.

"Not a thing. The entrance was completely blocked."

"Why not blast it off? You could do it Hakkai." He suggested. Hakkai shook his head.

"If they are trapped inside then it will be a possibility that we bury them alive." Sanzo nodded.

"You're right." Gojyo sighed.

"All we can do now is to wait."

"That was delicious!" Goku said to Kougaiji after they had finished devouring the poor animal. Kougaiji just chuckled at him. Well, it was really Goku who did all the eating with Kougaiji eating just a few bites.

"What?!" Goku asked as the youkai prince, who was still chuckling adorably.

"I was just wondering how the bank of Sanzo can hold up to your desires." Goku smiled.

"It's holding up quite well thank you. But it isn't Sanzo's at all."

"Yeah?"

"I know it was given to him to support us in our journey. But!"

"But what?!" Kougaiji asked raising his eyebrows at the saru. Goku raised his index finger.

"Sanzo does not grant anything I so desire! Last time he didn't buy me a meat bun and I was dying from hunger!!!" Goku said kind of sadly, which brought Kougaiji laughing.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Funny, I'm serious Kou! Imagine having to travel for days without stopping by! And I have that stupid kappa to insult me all the time. Really, if I were to die, it would be from hunger." Kougaiji stopped laughing and looked at Goku straight in the eye. Goku felt himself blush under the other's stare.

"What? Do I have something hanging on my face?" Goku asks trying to lighten the sudden tension that filled the cave.

"No. I was just admiring how cute you look."

"What?!" Kougaiji felt himself blush.

"Uhh.. it's nothing. Do you feel better now? Maybe we could hike and find where a path would lead us out." Goku nodded as Kougaiji helped him get on his feet.

Have Goku heard right? Did Kougaiji really say he was cute? Awww... He releases his holdd on the prince's arm as tried to walk around on his injured feet. Wow. He did feel better already! Thanks to that bear meat they ate he felt like a whole new person! He walked towards Kougaiji but stumbled when he took a wrong footing.

"ITAI!!! It hurts..." Goku said as he felt himself fall.

Kougaiji shook his head embarrassed. What made him say that in the first place? Oh well... I think it will help me make progress on the plan. He thought to himself satisfactorily. He watched as Goku walked towards him. Then he saw the pain in the saru's eyes and at the next instant saw him falling. On reflex, Kougaiji caught Goku before he even fell to the ground.

"Goku? Are you alright?" Kougaiji asks him. Goku shifted in his arms so that he was now facing him.

"Ahhh... I'm alright. I guess I can't still walk." Kougaiji made no move to release Goku, and the saru was feeling a little uncomfortable under Kougaiji's stare and arms.

"I'm okay now. You could let go of me." He said out loud, even if he really did want to stay in the prince's arms.

Kougaiji continued to stare in Goku's face. He felt like drowning in his eyes. He had the most beautiful and innocent eyes he had ever seen.

"You could let go of me." He heard Goku saying. But he can't release his grip, much less tear his eyes away from Goku, so he did the only thing he could think of.

Kougaiji captured Goku's lips and kissed him fiercely. Goku was so shocked he did not know how to react. Suddenly he felt Kougaiji's tongue lapping against his lips. Instinctively he opened his mouth to let Kougaiji in. He loved it. After a while, he started kissing Kougaiji back and he encircled his arms around the other's neck. After a while Kougaiji pulled back.

"Oh god." He murmured. Goku frowned.

"What's the matter? Don't you like it?" Kougaiji smiled before kissing Goku again.

"On the contrary Goku..." He said as he traced kisses along Goku's neck.

t.b.c