Disclaimer: not mine

Iesu Kurisuto no Chi
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and the Sanzo-ikkou had decided to spend the day shopping at a nearby bazaar. Goku had rushed to the nearest ramen cart and Sanzo was trying to decide which cigarette brand to buy. Gojyo ambled around until he found Hakkai at a little used bookstore and he seemed to be engrossed in an old book. The half-breed stealthy stepped up behind the ex- teacher. "Hey Hakkai, find something interesting?"

No respond. The kappa tried a different approach, "Oi Schatz, show a little sign of life!" The brunette finally looked up. "Oh, sorry Gojyo, I didn't hear you," he paused to show Gojyo the book he was reading. "It's just this book...it reminds me of my childhood." Gojyo inspected the book; it was an old bible. Ah sou ka! Hakkai had said he had been raised in a catholic orphanage. His curiosity now satisfied, Gojyo left to get some lunch.

That evening, the group compared the items they had bought. Goku held up his bag proudly, "I bought three dozen meat buns, ten mochi balls, and eight apples!" Gojyo chuckled, "Well saru, that should last you about ten minutes." Goku was about to remark to being called a saru but Sanzo stopped him. "Hakkai, did you buy the first aid supplies?"

The brunette nodded, "Yes, I bought enough for a month...unless we get in a really bad fight again." The red-head tapped the book in Hakkai's lap. "Seems you bought something else too, huh." Hakkai looked down with a faintly grim look on his face. "Oh, yeah..."

Gojyo noticed his friend's melancholy respond but decided it wasn't any of his business. "Hey monk, did you buy anything good for us?" Sanzo snorted, "If you mean fresh fruits and vegetables than no, if you mean beer and cigarettes then yes." The redhead helped himself to a can of sake, "You sure do know how to keep us healthy."

Supper was soon started. Goku began to empty his bag of food in record time while Gojyo gorged himself on silver octopus. Being a kappa, he could practically live on just that stuff! Sanzo drank quietly while Hakkai... had decided to pass up eating and read instead. At that point though, no one thought anything about his engrossment in that old bible...

It was the dead of night. Gojyo had been lying half-awake for three hours. What was wrong? He reluctantly sat up and received his answer: Hakkai was still looking at that bible he had bought. He probably hasn't stopped yet. Knowing something was wrong, he walked over to the brunette and placed a compassionate hand on the stiff shoulder. "Hakkai, it's really late. You should sleep." Upon closer inspection, Gojyo could see that his friend was weeping tears of grief, sadness, and...something else.

Gojyo brought the shuddering brunette in close like a parent to a child, "Hakkai, what's wrong?" Hakkai wiped the water from his eyes and pointed a shaky finger at the page he was reading, "Gojyo, it's...it's..." The book fell to the ground with a thunk as he leaned into the half-breed. The tears escalated again, "how...how could I ever forget my savior!?"

Confused and concerned, Gojyo mustered up the courage and asked: "Hakkai, I...don't know your savior. Would you...explain it to me?" Though still huddled in his friend's arms, Hakkai spoke clearly. "People do evil things and those who sin are punished with death and eternal damnation. But, Jesus Christ, God's son, died for us. The blood he spilt washes away all everyone's sins so no one will ever have to die." He paused to let the message soak in. "Your hair and eyes reminded me of blood. But the only blood I thought of was the blood of those I killed and of Kanan. I never saw the blood my savior gave to save my soul."

His speech now done, Hakkai's simply leaned into the kappa. Wow, Gojyo thought, a stunned look on his face, if Hakkai cared about this Christ so much he must be really great. A thought of his childhood came to Gojyo's mind. "Ne Hakkai, would this Christ love a half-breed like me?" Hakkai looked up into the crimson eyes and smiled. "Yes," he said embracing his friend tighter. "Christ loves everyone who ever lived and he is willing to let you see the eternal joy of heaven if only you believe in him."

Gojyo mused over everything the brunette had told him. If Hakkai believes in Christ I have to at least give him right? He looked into the now warm green eyes. "Say Hakkai, could you tell me more about Christianity?" Hakkai smiled, "Of course..."

"Oi, keep it down a little would ya." The now awake monk pointed to Goku who was sleeping peacefully in his lap. "I don't want the saru to wake up." The two nodded simultaneously not wanting to break this tranquil moment. Hakkai could see that the redhead was exhausted and urged him to lie down, "I'll explain everything in the morning." Gojyo accepted the request and closed his eyes drifting into a peaceful sleep.