Chapter 2: Me and You

Standard Disclaimer Applies

"Nyaa...I'm HUNGRY, Gojyo" Goku whined suddenly one afternoon, leaning against his cushion of the couch.

"Shut up, ya damn monkey. It's always, 'I'm hungry,' 'Feed me' what else is fuckin' new?!" The redhead was certainly not in a good mood at the moment, and his best friend wasn't helping matters much with his griping.

"But I'm REALLY hungry now, Gojyo...we ate breakfast at least three hours ago! That's a long time, you know! Can't we just go OUT somewhere to eat real fast...?"

These words seemed to sit quite well with Gojyo's conscious just then, because he abruptly sat up from his spot of lying on the sofa, wide-eyed. "Saru, I'll probably NEVER say this again for as long as I know you, but you're a freakin' genius. Come on! Get up, and let's get going!"

Goku started sputtering at his companion, watching as the older teen started out the door of their small apartment suite. "Going?! But WHERE?!"

Tossing back a carefree smirk the golden-eyed boy's way, Gojyo pushed open the wooden object in front of him. "The Jouryoku Kafe, where else? Besides, you wanna see that blonde again, right?"

Blushing quietly while remembering the conversation they had the night after being kicked out of the restaurant, the boy appeared to find the floors very interesting as he spoke back. "Well...that's...um...HEY! Hang on a second, what about you?!" Goku whipped his head up and had an expression best likened to someone who had just received divine enlightenment. "You're only there to see Hakkai, right?! You pervy water sprite!!"

"Shut it, saru, and move your ass!" Gojyo retorted, coming back the way he came to whack the brunette lightly across the skull. "C'mon, Hakkai's lunch break is at two, so we don't wanna miss him!!"

"SARU JA NAI YO!"

"You are SO a monkey!"

And the argument continued well outside the door's boundaries.

"It's been rather busy today...wouldn't you say so, Yaone-san?" Hakkai cheerfully came out of the kitchen with a tray completely filled with freshly-made plates and dishes of all arrays, attempting to deliver it to a rather large party of nine.

"I suppose so." In return, the purple-haired female smiled, turning away from her own nearby table to reply. "But it's good for business, right? Sanzou-san will be pleased, I'm sure."

The brunette grinned good-naturedly, carefully focusing his visage on making it seem he was smiling at his customers and not on the joke obviously at hand. "Sanzou never seems pleased about anything; how can you possibly tell?"

Yaone giggled, cheeks glittering a light shade of pink. "You're right, Hakkai-sanâ€how can we?"

The jingle of the door bell handing overhead the front entryway indicated someone had entered; Yaone, who had finished her task first, turned to the new visitors and decidedly greeted them. "Irasshaimase! Welcome to the Jouryoku Kafe! How many are eating here today?"

"Yaone-san!" Goku laughed, suddenly leaping up and winding up embracing the surprised waitress around the middle because of his small height. "It's me, Goku, and Gojyo and I came back to see you again! Can we have Hakkai as our waiter, PLEASE, Yaone-san?"

Squeaking as she detached the excited boy from her waist, Yaone patted him on the head. "O-Of course...he's busy with a large group right now, but I'll make sure he gets the message. Would you like to sit in the same place as last time? It's almost always empty, and you'll be able to order your food in about five minutes or so."

"YEAH! Sankyuu, Yaone-san!" On a mental form of Cloud Nine at the very mention of food, Goku energetically went for the same booth from a week ago.

Gojyo smirked at the longhaired waitress. "He's pretty happy when it comes to little stuff like this...hope you don't mind him bein' so loud."

"Oh, not at all! Hakkai-san told me you were quite an energetic pair, especially Goku-kun...but it's nice to see firsthand what you're both like...Hakkai-san talks a lot about you, Gojyo-san."

The redhead clearly seemed relieved by this comment. "He does? Sounds like I made a lasting impression on him, then"

There was a touch of nostalgia in the words Yaone used next when she spoke. "Yes...he has been honestly happier ever since you came to this little restaurant. You've been a rather good influence on him."

Gojyo, though normally not the type to pry, took notice of the tone she used firsthand. "Somethin' the matter?"

Shaking her head gently, Yaone smiled softly and pushed the young man along. "It's really nothing of great concern, and I'm afraid it really isn't y place to say. So, why don't you wait for him over with Goku-kun and ask him later? I'm afraid I have other customers to attend to"

Gojyo complied, albeit reluctantly, and headed back towards their table, shoving his hands into his pant pockets grouchily. "Che...well, if I didn't know any better, I'd think that woman was lookin' for an excuse to get rid 'o me...goddammit."

As the teen came back to the booth where the smaller teen sat, Goku noted his friend's troubled aura and concernedly addressed it. "Gojyo...somethin' wrong?"

"Nah, it's nothin', saru" Gojyo waved his hand around dismissively. "Just thinkin' about some stuff that got me in a bad mood, is all."

The brunette frowned. "About your...y'know...you're parents and stuff?"

There was a slight sadness in his eyes at the mention of such subjects, but the red-haired one shook his head loosely, anyway. "Nope...not worryin' about that now. I'm giving up thinkin' about that; besides, it's all in the past now, anyway."

Gojyo's always been the type of guy to never let anyone know when something's bothering him...I hope he's not hidin' anything from me! Goku pouted unhappily. Dammit, I HATE secrets

"Gojyo-san! Goku! Yaone-san told me you had come in already, but...I'm sorry to have kept you waiting..." Hakkai came running over to the uncomfortably silent pair, habitual smile fading from his face as he did. "Are? Have I missed something?"

Grinning, the older one of their group punched the brunette lightly across the arm in response. "Don't worry about it, 'Kai; just get ready to take our orders, alright? That's supposed to be your job, don't forget."

The smile returned, and this made Gojyo's spirits considerably better. "...Yes, I understand. Now, what would you two like today?"

"I'm gonna have a cheeseburger! With everything on it, 'cause it tastes better that way! Um...and, a large order of fries, too!" Goku chirped the last bit happily, as he handed back the menu to their waiter. "Oh, and can I get a chocolate shake, too? I heard they're really good here!"

"Yes, they are." Hakkai took the item off the boy's hands, though not after jotting down his order. "And for you, Gojyo-san?"

The teen appeared to have been dozing off, because the head that had been tilted at a slight angle jolted back up after hearing Hakkai's voice. "H-Huh? Yeah, I'll have whatever the saru's having...sorry, I was spacin' out there"

"I could tell." The brunette replied humorously, smiling as he grabbed the menu out of the kappa's hands and tucked it under his arms with the other one. "If that's all, then I'll get right to work giving the cooks the order; it will be here in about twenty to twenty-five minutes."

"Sankyuu, Hakkai!"

The young man affectionately touched the younger male's nose in response. "You're very welcome, Goku."

As he walked away, Goku leaned over the table and whapped Gojyo over the head. "Stupid kappa! I was TRYING to hint that you should thank Hakkai, too; maybe even give him a COMPLIMENT about his clothes or face or somethin'! Jeez, and here I thought you seriously LIKED the guy!"

"Stupid monkey, they wear the same uniform every day!" Gojyo retorted, lighting a cigarette. "And I DO like him; I just don't wanna rush things."

Goku made his amusement as clear upon his face as humanly possibly. "And here I thought kappas couldn't be romantic..."

Gojyo whacked his companion on the head in reply, which wiped the smirk right off his face. "Who asked you, saru?! And besides, somethin' that girl waitress said before's been on my mind, and now I'm really worried about Hakkai."

"You mean Yaone-san?" Goku asked, holding his head in obvious annoyance. "She said somethin' about Hakkai?"

So Gojyo explained the comment the female made earlier, which furthered Goku's uncharacteristic frown even more. "...So, what do you think of it? I think she was tryin' to say Hakkai had some bad experiences in the past...sorta like you."

"We don't know that for sure, though, right? I mean, it could've been anything she was referrin' to." Gojyo sighed, taking a long drag on the already lit cancer stick. "I kinda figured that cute little smile wasn't because he was happy"

"Oi. What're you smoking in here for? This is a non-smoking restaurant, dumbass; didn't you see the sign up front?" A familiar blonde leaned against the backing of their booth, cold amethyst eyes glaring at the redhead committing the offense. "Unless you want me kicking you out again, or worse, calling the cops, take the damn thing outside and don't do it in here."

"You're...that guy..." Goku couldn't help but stare at the older man before him, jaw opened wide.

"Who died and made you boss?" Gojyo smirked in a conceited, overly smug manner, rising from his seat to meet the slightly taller man's eye. "I don't see why I have to do what you say, little Miss Priss."

"You should, considering I'm the manager of this restaurant. Haven't you ever heard of common courtesy for your elders?"

Goku ran up to the blonde in a half-stunned daze, grinning suddenly. "Y-You're Genjou Sanzou, right?! The guy everyone says is the coolest around! I heard about you!"

Gojyo didn't even blink fast enough to match the fall of his face. "THIS feminine guy is Sanzou?! THE Sanzou?!"

A vein on Sanzou's face obviously twitched, and he grabbed the empty tray from a passing Yaone, whacking Gojyo in the face with it hard. "URUSEI! Do you seriously have a death wish or something?!"

"Augh! What the FUCK, man?! The only one with a death wish here is YOU, obviously, 'cause that's what you're gonna BE when I'm through with you!" Gojyo recovered from being whacked rather quickly, getting into a fighting stance.

"I'd like to see you try." Sanzou replied mildly, boredly cleaning out his right ear with an index finger.

Goku cried out suddenly, leaping onto the once-rigidly standing Gojyo. "Gojyo, don't hurt Sanzou! He didn't do anything to do; just do your smoking outside and don't start a fight!"

"And give me ONE good reason why I shouldn't?!" Gojyo shouted, trying to shake the monkey off his back. Yaone began looking around nervously as a few spectators began surveying the fighting ensuing between the rather loud duo.

"I wanna eat my FOOD, for REAL, this time, that's why!"

Gojyo vividly rolled his eyes, swinging around madly this time around in order to have the young boy release him. "Ugh, why does it always come back to food with you?! Gluttonous saru!"

At this point, the Sanzou anger restraint scale was REALLY ticking down now.

"Erokappa!" 5.

"Bakasaru!" 4.

"Chain-smoker!" 3.

"Brain-dead!" 2.

"Hakkai's lover!!" 1.

"Stupid—HEY! Take that back, you dumb monkey!" Gojyo irately challenged, blushing.

"I'd like to see you try!"

0.

"THE BOTH OF YOU, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!" The tray went swinging, both boys went flying out the door, and Sanzou was facially and mentally furious. "YOU'RE BOTH IDIOTS, LET'S ALL JUST AGREE ON THAT AND GET OUT!!"

When Hakkai came back out of the already noisy kitchen, an empty table where Goku and Gojyo once sat, as well as the enthusiastic whispering of the other customers in the restaurant, greeted him. "Hmm? Where did Gojyo-san and Goku go off to? The bathroom?"

"Che," was Sanzou's reply, as he walked into the back room with Yaone's tray still in hand.

Yaone stared wide eyed at Hakkai, however, and asked the only question she could construct at the moment. "Gojyo-san is your lover, Hakkai-san?"

Hakkai's face could not have been redder as he answered, stuttering. "A-Ah...n-no, no, that isn't the case, Yaone-san...what on Earth made you think that, dare I ask?"

"Goku-kun called him that when they were arguing before...Sanzou-san just kicked them out again."

The brunette smiled sympathetically, sweat dropping. "Yare yare desu ne...at this rate, we'll be wasting food whenever they come here, won't we?"

And Yaone nodded with a slight grin, too. "It's a terrible thing, Sanzou-san's wrath...I just hope those two will learn that soon enough so they can have a relatively normal lunch here.

It was a dark corridor that he next walked down, a silent Sanzou slowly moving along beside him. Quite honestly, the young man had been that way ever since the incident that afternoon at the café, and Hakkai was beginning to feel a bit uneasy by the behavior. Admittedly, Sanzou was not a very social person on the whole; but he would normally at least conversationally talk with the brunette. Had something gone on to make him feel guilty for his actions? Or was there another reason for Sanzou's disarming quiet?

Well, Hakkai finally decided, there's only one way to find out.

"Sanzou, is everything alright? You've been rather quiet today...has something Yui-sama said--?"

"Shut up," was Sanzou's steely reply.

The brunette sighed, worry lines creeping up onto his eyelids and forehead. I thought as much...he was being rather secretive when he told me Yui-sama had called us for another mission earlier today. Something that he said must have troubled Sanzou...and it must be extremely ghastly for Sanzou, of all people, to be acting this way. I hate to see him like this...it reminds me of how cold and rigid he was back then, directly after loosing Komyou-san...that same, subtle sadness is reflected in his eyes now

I wish I could understand him better...but for as long as we've known each other, I realize that I am not the person to free him from the darkness of his heart. Only someone extremely close to him could do that; and as much as I'd like to be that person, it appears I am not.

A guard in front of the oak-polished door adjusted his sleepy posture upon the pair's arrival. "Fujiiro. Midoriiro. Master has been awaiting your presence. Please, come inside." 1

With a grim, affirmative nod upon being referred by their correct codenames, Hakkai and Sanzou followed the sentinel inside the lavishly decorated room. In the midst of the expensive wooden furniture and neatly arranged portraits especially prominent along the walls, a dark-haired adult who did not seem much older than either of his visitors sat in a desk at the front end of this large area.

"Youji. You may leave now, please. Your assistance is greatly appreciated, but I would like you to keep guard for a little while longer."

"Y-Yes, Master." Youji managed, slowly backing out of the room in an obedient manner.

After he left, the, 'Master,' at the desk presented a relaxed smile Hakkai and Sanzou's way, gently leaning his hands upon the bottom of his chin. "Sanzou, Hakkai. It's very nice to see you both again. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Cut the niceties, Yui." The elder agent shot a glare at his superior defiantly, sitting in a nearby easy chair. "I know why you wanted us here, so explain everything else to Hakkai."

"Sanzou..." Hakkai faintly admonished for his behavior toward Yui, though was curious himself as to what had been bothering the blonde so. "Nevertheless, Yui-sama, I'm afraid I don't know why you brought us both here...Sanzou has flat-out refused to tell me why"

"I predicted as much, Hakkai-kun." There was a wry smile on Yui's face, though it held little humor. "I suppose that if anyone deserves an explanation to this, it is you"

"Out of all the agents working under me, I trust the two of you the most to take on this mission. Understandably, I also know that the people we are dealing with have personally acquainted themselves with you before, so it may be a bit nerve-wracking. However, I hope you will not let your personal feelings interfere with your work—moreover, should you make even one mistake or error during the task I am about to give you, then you will have to be terminated. Is that clear?" Hakkai nodded; Sanzou boredly stared at the four-corner walls while making his aura of displeasure apparent. "...Good."

"You will be tracking down a criminal who has been on our hit list for a while now—a rouge demon named Chin Yii Sou. For the moment, we only know three things about him: his physical description, his murder list, and that he seems to be after both a halfbreed and a Youkai of immense strength. 2 Both of his targets live in this Shinjuku district."

After this short monologue, Hakkai was visibly paler than before; the blonde beside him took quiet notice of it; but did not choose to address it at the moment. The brunette barely looked in any shape to speak, anyway. Yui may or may not have noticed this, but he went on, regardless.

"Your job is to protect these two targets—they live together, and, if at all possible, you should attempt to employ them at the Jouryoku Kafe so it will become easier to keep an eye on them during the day. Their names: Sha Gojyo and Son Goku." Both Hakkai and Sanzou sharply looked up after hearing these two titles, yet Yui seemed to not notice this. "I ask that you also attempt to eliminate Chin Yii Sou, should you find him; and though I probably don't need to remind you, anyone who finds out about your actions shall have to be eliminated, as well. Is that clear?"

This time both Sanzou and Hakkai nodded together—Yui had now even caught the normally stoic one's attention; so this was a miraculous feat in and of itself.

"You are dismissed for now...I will call you with more information via your personal lines about Chin Yii Sou tomorrow. You both look quite shaken; is something the matter?" Yui's businesslike tone dropped in that moment as he stared at his close friends' faces in concern. "You both acted as if you knew the two people I was speaking of before"

"They've visited the café before, Yui-sama." Hakkai said, being the ever-polite and informative one of the two undercover agents. "So we know who they are...they're quite energetic, if I may say so myself."

"That's quite an interesting fact to consider." Yui smiled in a very similar manner to how Hakkai would; if one had not been certain of the sight they were seeing, they might have insisted that the two were related. "I'm sure you will remember that when you are watching them."

Sanzou, 'che'd,' standing up from his seat and roughly shoved Hakkai's shoulder--in an attempt to release his own frustrations, most likely. "Oi. Hakkai, let's go. We got the information, so let's go back home."

"H-Hai" Offering one sideway smile and a bow to Yui, Hakkai followed his partner out the door, closing the object behind him. "Well, then...thank you for your time, Yui-sama."

After the door had been shut, Hakkai tenderly put his hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Sanzou...is there something else Yui-sama didn't tell me outwardly that he did to you? You seemed so upset with him--"

"Shut the fuck up!" Sanzou hissed sharply, brushing off the smaller man's touch and glowering at the same person before him. "It's none of your goddamn business what he says and what he doesn't...you aren't the one who has to deal with MY problems!"

"Sanzou...please, don't be this way"

"You're the one who brought the damn subject up, so why don't you stop being the way YOU are?"

"San--"

"Didn't I tell you to leave me ALONE!?"

Before any more biting words could be exchanged, however, the brunette softly embraced the irate Sanzou, leaning against the male's broad shoulder. He did not protest verbally, this time; instead, opted for trying to pull away from Hakkai, tensing in his hold.

"I won't let go, Sanzou..." The words were almost whispered, as he clung tighter to the blonde, as if he too were a lifeline to their very reality. "I won't ever let you go...not until your sadness fades...don't you realize...how much I hate seeing you like this...? I'd rather share my pain with you...than see you hurt"

"...This is about that guy, isn't it? The one who converted you into what you are today...Chin Yii Sou; that was him, wasn't it?" Sanzou grudgingly wrapped the trembling man in his arms, cursing mentally over the fact that he was forced to comfort someone. "Stop worrying about it; if that perverted psycho tries to mess with you again, you'll kick his ass this time around, got it?"

Apparently, this was as close to a comforting speech as you could get from Genjou Sanzou; but Hakkai appreciated it, nonetheless. His next smile was smaller—the tears in his eyes proved as a facial block for him to even consider trying a fake one—but it was genuine and warm. "...Thank you, Sanzou...truly, if nothing else..."

"I'm glad to be close with you, right here and now...and it's almost as if everything in this world could fade away...with your kind words"

"Che. You're such a freak, Hakkai."

But...what he doesn't seem to realize is I was being genuinely honest in what I said.

FluffysBijin05: Oh! My first reviewer for this story! Yay! -Hands you Pocky- I hadn't really thought this story would get ANY reviews with the way it was, but I'm glad someone liked it! You've watched 5 episodes of the anime? Gotta love Minekura-san's characters, ne? Who's your favorite character? Next review, (if you still come back for more of this fic), your reward will be a plushie of your favorite character. :D Sankyuu for reviewing!

Karu Leonnese: Ah...I don't' believe it! Karu-san, the one who wrote those beautiful 58 one-shots, like Hydrophobia and Breathing, as well as multi-parters like The Trouble with 'H,' likes my story!? –Starts jumping up and down happily- Phwee...Keruri-chan ish so happy! XD -Hands you Pocky- I can't wait to see more of your storiesâ€and Hotel California is great! I reviewed it, too. Sankyuu for the review!

Yuki-chu: Aw, thanks for the compliment about it being original, Yuki-san! :D You liked the café name, ne? I like it, too; although with less fervor than the people who read this might. Hopefully, you've enjoyed this chapter as much as the last one and I hope you can stick around for the next chapters of this story, as well! Sankyuu for the review!

Ochako107: Thanks, Jakukie-san. :D Oh, just to clarify, if you read the Saiyuki manga, you would know that most of these boys, (minus Hakkai, of course), don't have any problems with cursing rather fluently, so my aim for this multi-part story, (which DOES get more serious later on, as I may have hinted, though it will always have those humorous moments), is to reflect the characters in the most in-character way possible. I know you don't really like cursing, sweetheart, (then again, neither do I, really), but when it comes to my stories, I do whatever's necessary to make it good. :) And, yes, it IS ironic that after you did your cute little café idea that mine came soon after; but I SWEAR to you on my ENTIRE MANGA AND ANIME COLLECTION that my idea was a completetly original, out-of-the-blue idea! 00 I hope you believe me, but...you don't have to, of course. I can understand if you're a bit skeptical still. I'd be skeptic if I was you, and if you were me, too! XD (Did that make any sense??) Well, sankyuu for the review, anyway!

IMPORTANT NOTE: From this Thursday to this Sunday, I will not be able to update this story, or any of my other in-the-work fics, either, on account of a trip where I will not have access to a computer. And if my e-mail piles up while I'm away, I won't be able to stop that, either. :D Since I'll be gone all weekend, please let me know anything before that so I get the comments and reviews! Thank you.

In case any of you were wondering, the ages of the major characters are a bit skewed for the alternate storyline purposes of this fic. I hope you understand. Sanzou and Hakkai are twenty-two, Goku and Gojyo are nineteen, Yaone is twenty, and Yui, (though he will not become a major character until a little later), is in his late twenties. That's all for now, as all your other favorites, (I plan to include almost ALL of the characters from Gensoumaden, both first and second season), will not appear until later.

Sorry if this chapter was SO much longer than the other one...I wanted to express the humor and foreshadow the tense action, angst, and suspense to soon follow, but then it turned into this whole thing...so I apologize for that. 00 Next chapter will be short, I promise!

Hope you guys liked this chapter!