Okay, here I am again, all powered up and ready to write another chapter!

05.04.2005: Answers to reviews removed. See chapter 3 for reason.

Well, fasten your seatbelts – here we go again!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Saiyuki, and I do not make profit off this story.

CHAPTER 10

Four days had passed since the encounter with Kougaiji when the group finally reached another town. Everyone seemed to be relieved at the sight of the small roadside inn, but Hakkai was worried.

Since the youkai prince had left, Kouryuu had not only be avoiding him, but all of them. In the middle of the night, they routinely found him brooding next to the campfire. He didn't eat, he didn't talk. The healer had almost asked Gojyo and Goku to pay special attention to their friend's behavior, and to keep him from walking off alone – he had feared that another suicide attempt was possible.

'And now...? If the inn still has more than two free rooms, he will insist on having one to himself. This might be the opportunity he has been waiting for...'

Hakkai's prayers for an inn nearly booked solid were not answered. Nevertheless, he flashed his signature smile at the receptionist and took their keys, while Goku and Gojyo carried their bundles upstairs. And Kouryuu... he wordlessly strode by the brunette youkai, over to a table in the restaurant area, where he sat down and lit a cigarette

A faint rumble from outside did nothing to end his worries; obviously, a storm was coming...

'... and the rain is not going to help him cheer up, that much is for sure.'

Hakkai's anger at the blond man's behavior towards him had faded away by now; however, he was wondering whether Kouryuu had avoided him all this time at least partly because of their confrontation back in the last town.

'I need to talk to him – later...'

The evening meal was as normal as it could be without Kouryuu stopping the kappa and the monkey from fighting over the last dumpling. Hakkai sat at the table and smiled, determined not to show that he dreaded the later hours of this evening, when he would have to try and talk to the former monk again... he did not want to impose himself on him, but he felt that the matter needed to be taken care of – not only for the sake of peace between them, but also for his peace of mind.

As expected, Kouryuu was the first to rise from his chair and go upstairs.

"Ah dammit, and I was looking forward to a game of Mah-jongg!", Gojyo yawned. "Oh well, I guess I'll go to bed – it's been a long day..."

And with that, he half-demon took his leave.

Goku, after ordering seconds of the three different dishes he had been eating on (Hakkai had not managed to keep the boy from it, as he had been lost in thought when the waitress had passed by their table and asked whether any one of them still needed anything) also sported a sleepy look on his face.

"Aaah, finally full again... now, it's nap time... see you for breakfast!"

Exit Goku.

Hakkai sighed.

'I guess it's time...'

He got up from his chair and began to climb the stairs to get to the four adjacent rooms they would be staying in tonight. It was quiet; the only noise that could be heard was that of rain drumming in a steady rhythm on the shingles of the roof.

As Hakkai had given out the keys, he knew which door to open to encounter the familiar sight: A dark room, the blond man standing by the window, the inevitable Marlboro in his hand.

"Kouryuu... may I come in?"

The only answer was a grunt, which usually translated into "I don't care".

'Permission received...'

The green-eyed youkai crossed the room to join his companion. Kouryuu gave no indication that he welcomed the presence of another person; he just kept staring out of the window, his eyes fixed on the partially obscured fullness of the moon.

They stood next to each other in silence for several minutes, watching the raindrops pass the window to collide with the ground below.

Finally, Hakkai began to speak.

"My... reaction when you tried to take your life... I'm sorry for it. I didn't mean for it to come out this way."

Kouryuu wordlessly shrugged, as if he wanted to say "Whatever..."

However, he still avoided Hakkai's gaze.

"Listen, Kouryuu", the brunette man tried again, "I know you are probably still mad at me for saving you, as well as for me telling you off. I don't know whether you can forgive me for my intrusion."

He thought of the odd dream he had had before waking up after the explosion in the inn...

"And... I have the feeling that you restrain yourself for our sake. You shouldn't have to. Don't deny yourself emotions – they are yours, they are natural. You do not have to be an example anymore. You are out of the lime light. It would make things easier... for you and for us."

That finally got the blond man to turn towards him. Violet eyes bored into green ones, held them. Hypnotized by that stare, Hakkai found himself unable look away...

... and then, suddenly, he felt Kouryuu's lips on his.

Life came back into the brunette youkai's body, his reflexes taking over. One hand drew back...

SLAP!

Finally, the eye contact was broken. Kouryuu turned away, as wordlessly as he had been all evening. One hand had reflexively wandered up to his cheek, where Hakkai's hand had left a faint red mark.

Eyes widened, blushing furiously, the healer took a step back.

"Kouryuu, I... "

His thoughts raced, desperate to find words, yet nothing came out of Hakkai's mouth.

'Did he just really...!'

'GODS, he DID really...!'

"I'm sorry..."

Abruptly, the brunette youkai turned around and strode towards the door, feeling those scrutinizing eyes on his back. His mind reeled with shock, embarrassment and impulses totally alien to him. Only one coherent thought remained.

'Must get out...'

The door closed behind Hakkai. The man he had known as Sanzo until recently turned back towards the window, still holding his cheek, while he lit another cigarette with his free hand.

We're starting to get somewhere... :g:

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