Written: August 19 2004

A/N: This is my fave chapter!! Well, the confrontation at the end is my fave part. I just love it! XD Okay. I'll calm down now... 39 fans, eat your heart out!
By the way, quite a few swear words. The wrath of Sanzo is terrible! Terrible!

Chapter 6

He hadn't had time to question Goku. He'd woken up when Goku had come in, and realized that he must've dragged himself off to bed. It disgruntled him that he couldn't remember exactly what had happened the night before. He'd stayed up to wait, and then there he was in bed.

He'd tried to question Goku, but the boy had been completely exhausted and had tumbled into his bed immediately. Seconds later he was snoring away like there was no tomorrow.

Sanzo had finally gone back to bed himself, but had slept very little. It was just as well that they were going to be staying in another inn tonight.

"Two nights in a row spent in comfort!" Gojyo crowed. "Someone up there must love me!"

Of course, Sanzo thought, Gojyo never considered thanking him for letting them spend two nights in comfort. It's not like the money came out of thin air!

He'd decided to room again with Goku. This time, however, he was going to stay in the room and make sure Goku didn't move one inch. He was sick of the suspense, that irritating feeling of not knowing but at the same time needing to know. Perhaps he'd beat it out of Goku tonight. Or maybe bribe him with some food.

The later was definitely an option, but Sanzo had the sensation that Goku, for once, wouldn't fall to temptation.

Sanzo still had to determine whether or not Goku had more bruises on him. There was always some just below his ribs, and nowhere else.

Sanzo frowned. He actually didn't know whether Goku had bruises anywhere else. Both times he'd only seen Goku's chest, and that was it. What about the rest of him?

He heard Goku in the shower and thought back to when he'd first found out. It seemed like ages ago, and yet it had only been roughly five days. Less than a week. He wondered why time seemed to drag on when all he wanted to do was speed it up, and along with it his discovery of the source of Goku's bruises.

The door to the bathroom opened and Goku stepped out, fully dressed. He'd begun dressing in the bathroom ever since Sanzo had found out about the bruises, effectively hiding his body from sight.

This had to stop now, Sanzo decided. He had to know what, if anything, Goku was hiding beneath his shirt. Perhaps he'd look at them more closely to determine how Goku had gotten them.

"Strip," he said coldly.

"What?" Goku yelped, turning red.

"To your boxers, idiot. Strip."

"Why--"

"Now."

Goku glared at him sullenly, and reluctantly pulled off his shirt. His muscles rippled with the movement. Sanzo wondered why he'd never noticed it before, then dismissed the thought with irritation.

Next Goku pushed down his pants to the floor before stepping out of them. He stared at Sanzo defiantly.

There were more bruises, but this time they were clearer. Two dark oval ones were above Goku's hips. Sanzo walked around Goku and noticed that there were four on either side of Goku's back. He suddenly felt apprehensive.

Goku turned his head to look at him. "Happy now?"

Sanzo looked up to respond, but the words died in his throat. There was a red mark on the base of Goku's neck. He stepped forward and touched it, hearing Goku gasp softly. Then he pulled his hand away in disgust.

There was no denying what the marks on Goku's body meant. They were not the sign of abuse. They were not self-inflicted.

"A love bite," he growled in Goku's ear, the words sour in his mouth. He walked around the boy so that they stood face to face. Goku avoided his gaze, preferring to stare at the floor on his left.

"Is this what you've been hiding all along?"

Goku didn't respond.

Sanzo knew he should've been relieved that Goku wasn't being hurt or abused in some way, but for some reason he found himself wishing that any of his suspicions had been true. Anything was preferable to this.

"Is it?" he said roughly.

Goku raised his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't give me that crap," he snapped back. "You've been sleeping with some slut, haven't you?"

Goku narrowed his eyes. "Don't say that word."

"Would you rather I say your conquests? Your lady friends? Has Gojyo been teaching you the rules of the game?"

"I haven't been sleeping with a girl."

"Well," Sanzo shot back acidly, feeling his rage increase. "The marks on your body seem to prove otherwise."

"I said I haven't been sleeping with a girl," Goku repeated.

Sanzo caught his meaning and sneered. He wasn't jealous, he was just furious at having been led around for so long. "So you've just been finding some nice strong guy to give you a good hard fuck." He stepped closer, 'til he was inches from the boy. "Should've told me. I would've enjoyed a wild night or two."

Goku flushed, whether with anger or embarrassment he didn't know. He didn't really care, either.

Sanzo turned away and walked over to his bed, sitting down on it. The thought of Goku and a random guy filled him with disgust, and surprisingly rage. He hated the thought of it.

Goku picked up his clothes and dressed quickly, never meeting his gaze. He walked over to the door as soon as he was done, and when his hand was on the doorknob Sanzo spoke once more.

"So this was your big secret."

Goku paused. "What do you mean?"

"This was what you were hiding all along. You shouldn't have, you know? You had Hakkai worried sick about you."

Goku's shoulders slumped. Sanzo smirked. He knew he'd hit below the belt, but it filled him with satisfaction. Goku would never want to hurt any of his friends, and sometimes the best way to attack him was to attack someone he cared about.

Plus, he wanted Goku to feel guilty. He had this insane need to make Goku regret ever having decided to sleep with someone else.

They both stood in silence for a few moments before Sanzo was overwhelmed by sorrow. "Goku..." he said softly.

Goku's shoulders tightened. "What?" His voice had gotten deeper. He was probably on the verge of slamming the door, or punching something.

"Goku... How could you?"

Goku turned around to face him, a sad smile on his face. "Sanzo... I don't think you'd understand."

Goku's response made his anger resurface once more. "Like hell I'd understand!"

"That's what I mean."

"Well then tell me. Tell me why you tried to hide the result of all your wonderful conquests. Where you ashamed of them?"

Goku's eyes flashed angrily. "If you had made them, I'd have worn them proudly."

Then he stalked out of the room, leaving nothing but stunned silence.

To Be Continued...