Series: Saiyuki
Author: Zelgadis55
Character chat: Diva Urd and Zelgadis55
Rating: R (for an earlier chapter)
Disclaimer: Saiyuki and all its characters belong to the wonderfully talented Kazuya Minekura… not to me, like I wish they did… instead; I am stuck with the Sue…
Warning: It's raining kappa… ok, maybe it isn't but it is raining…
Hakkai: It is? Oh my... (Looks up to the sky)
Zell: See anything interesting?
Hakkai: (smiles) No kappa so far.
Zell: Didn't really think so but (laughs) could have been interesting.
Hakkai: (raises eyebrow) How exactly do you mean that?
Zell: Well... um... What would you have done with lots of kappa? Especially if they all looked like a certain kappa, of which you are acquainted with?
Hakkai: (blushes furiously) I... I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
Zell: (grins) Really? That blush seems to suggest differently
Hakkai: (pretends to hear something) Oh, I think Sanzo just called for me. I'm afraid I have to leave. (Walks off)
Zell: (shakes head) Wuss
A/N: Ok, after much thought about this, I have decided that I will be posting personal thankyous to reviewers again. It will just be on my bio page instead and only for the latest two chapters at a time. I wish I could leave it in the chapters themselves but I would rather not invite getting my account or stories deleted.
Thanks to those who reviewed and as always, I do welcome concrit.
Gojyo and Mary-Sue
Pt 19
After much wandering in the heavy rain and wind, Gojyo eventually found his way back to the inn. Leaning heavily on the wall, he opened the door and walked through unsteadily. Before he could make it fully inside the warm, dry building, his body and brain had enough and Gojyo collapsed unconscious in the threshold. Unknowingly, in his insensate state, he was blocking the door from closing and allowing the elements to roar into the building, unchallenged.
The receptionist currently on duty looked at him and sighed in annoyance. It was bad enough that a drunk had to collapse in the doorway during her shift but even worse, he had to be blocking the door from closing on a night like this. The woman ran over and with a strength belying her small stature, dragged him in so she could close the door. Upon taking a better look at the unconscious man in her lobby, now that the wind and rain were no longer creating chaos in the room, she recognized him from two nights previously when she had checked him and his friend's into the inn.
There was no way she was even going to try dragging him upstairs to his room, so she checked the registration book to make sure which room he occupied and went to fetch one of his friends.
After knocking unsuccessfully on one door for a couple of minutes, she moved to the next and was about to start knocking when Hakkai finally opened the first door. The young woman turned at the sound, giving a small smile of relief. "Cho-san, isn't it?"
Hakkai nodded dully, without speaking, a faraway look filling his eyes.
'Good.' She thought she had remembered him correctly. "Please come downstairs to collect your friend." She spoke.
"My… friend?" Hakkai asked distantly.
A flicker of irritation crossed her face, one that Hakkai didn't notice before she hurriedly covered it up. 'What is wrong with him? He seemed perfectly fine the other night.' Speaking up, she answered the healer's question. "Yes, your friend. Sha Gojyo isn't it? The tall redhead, who seems to think himself a ladies man?"
"Go… jyo?" Hakkai asked and the name fully registered in his mind, snapping him out of his daze, "What's wrong with him?"
"He's drunk and passed out in the doorway, that's what's wrong with him." She said dryly. "I remember seeing him leave not long after the start of my shift and he's only just now come back, without his coat, I might add."
"Oh dear..." Hakkai replied, already running toward the stairs, his worry for Gojyo pushing his thoughts further away from the rain outside.
When Hakkai reached the lobby, he spotted Gojyo lying in a large puddle on the floor and ran over to him, making sure to slow down in order to avoid slipping on the wet surface around him. Hakkai knelt down beside Gojyo, checking for any injuries and felt relieved to find nothing.
With effort, Hakkai draped Gojyo's arm around his shoulder and pulled him to his feet. "Gojyo," Hakkai said in a slightly sharp tone, "please wake up!"
The kappa murmured something incomprehensible but didn't wake. The healer sighed, looking at the stairs looming in front of him. He turned to face the receptionist with an apologetic smile and said, "I am very sorry about this. I would come back down and help clean this mess but I do need to look after Gojyo."
She sighed, "It's okay, I understand." She watched as Hakkai half carried, half dragged the kappa up the stairs and out of sight.
- . - . -
Hakkai managed to get Gojyo into their room and onto a bed with only a modicum of trouble other than that which the stairs caused. It was when he went to pull off Gojyo's wet jacket, shirt and trousers that Gojyo started squirming. Hakkai spoke soothingly, "I need to remove your wet clothing Gojyo, or you will get sick." At the sound of Hakkai's voice, Gojyo seemed to settle a little but the healer still needed to struggle to remove the wet garments. Finally, Hakkai succeeded and pulled the bedclothes over his shivering, restless friend. He sat on the other bed, talking quietly to calm Gojyo while he slept. Eventually, Gojyo slipped into a more peaceful sleep.
The healer smiled at the image of the peacefully sleeping kappa in front of him and began to wonder at the cause of Gojyo becoming so inebriated. Sure, Gojyo like to drink a lot, often becoming drunk but normally his friend had a bit more sense and a lot more self-control than this. Hakkai realised that it probably would have had a lot to do with how Sue played with Gojyo's emotions and mind but he had no inkling of the dream Gojyo had had or the voice plaguing him since waking. 'If this was bothering him so much, why didn't he talk to me?' Then he looked toward the window, seeing the rain. "Oh, that's why." Hakkai murmured quietly, glancing at the rivulets of rain that poured down the other side of the glass. Hakkai felt himself beginning to be mesmerised again and had to struggle to reassert his attention on the sleeping Gojyo.
Hakkai looked back to his dear friend and saw he was obviously beginning to dream again. Gojyo was fidgeting and sweating from whatever images were assaulting his slumbering mind and Hakkai had no more idea this time than he did during the previous afternoon about what exactly Gojyo was dreaming.
"Lea' me 'lone," Gojyo called out in a drunken slur, "got no busnish comin' near me."
Hakkai leaned over Gojyo in worry and then backed away remembering Gojyo's previous reaction upon waking. "Gojyo, wake up. Gojyo! You need to wake up!" When there was no response, the healer moved closer to the dreaming kappa and began worriedly shaking the kappa before finally, a few minutes later, Gojyo awakened. "Gojyo, it's me, Hakkai. I'm here and whatever you have just been experiencing, it was just a dream."
For a few minutes, the redhead lay there, breathing fast and heavily. "Just a dream huh?" he asked eventually, sounding remarkably sober. He then sat up and turned to face Hakkai, "Then why can I still hear her, calling out to me non stop? I've been trying to shut her out since this afternoon but she just gets louder and louder. It's so persistent and all I want to do is give myself over to it."
"Gojyo, Sue is dead! I checked myself."
"I know she's dead Hakkai, how could I not know? I killed the woman I love and now, she's haunting me!"
"Surely you don't believe that, Gojyo? I realise that this is hard for you but you have to hang on. Give yourself some time for the effect of her pheromones and whatever else it was that she did, to wear off. Things will get better, I promise!"
"And in the meantime, I get to lose my mind?"
That made the healer pause for a moment before attempting to reassure the man he loved. "I will help you however I can. You know I am always here for you."
"No, you aren't always here and you sure as hell weren't tonight!"
Hakkai felt pained at the accusation within the redhead's voice and more than just a little guilt. "You should have come to me anyway, I would have…"
"You would have what? You were caught in your memories because of the rain. You have your own problems; you don't need mine as well." Gojyo shook his head. "You couldn't have helped then and you sure as hell can't help now! Even now, her voice won't leave me alone. I know she's dead but it's like… she's not and worse, a part of me doesn't want her to be!"
"Gojyo, I realise I don't know…"
"That's right, you don't know. Why don't you just leave me alone?" Gojyo shot accusingly at Hakkai. He then stood and wobbling slightly unsteadily, rushed for the door.
Hakkai frowned slightly and managed to get there first. "I don't think so, Gojyo. I will not leave you alone when you so obviously need me." He reached his hands up, firmly resting them on the kappa's shoulders to stop him. Anger flashed through crimson eyes as the owner of them tried to knock Hakkai's arms away. However, the healer stood his ground, refusing to be budged from where he stood. "Gojyo let me be here for you."
"Out of my way, Hakkai."
"I will only move if you don't take off. It isn't like you to run away from something. Besides," Hakkai added with a smile, "you cannot go anywhere dressed only in your underwear."
That comment made Gojyo pause, "How did I get out of my clothes this time? For that matter, how did I get back here?" he asked, backing off a little as curiosity got the better of him.
"Does this mean you have given up trying to run away?"
Gojyo glared slightly, "For the moment." He said reluctantly.
"Good, I'm glad." Hakkai removed his hands and moved away from the door to sit back on his bed. "I don't know how exactly you arrived back at the inn or where you were while you were out. All I know is that you collapsed in the doorway of the inn and the young woman watching reception was kind enough to come get me. Your clothing was completely soaked so I removed it to stop you from getting sick."
"Thanks…" Gojyo mumbled. Um… I'm sorry for over-reacting, for earlier as well as just now." He added hurriedly.
The healer shook his head with a smile, "Don't worry about it. The important thing is that you are here now." He watched Gojyo carefully while trying not to look too obvious about it.
The kappa looked down for a moment and then, never one to avoid confronting his problems for long, Gojyo looked up again to meet Hakkai's eyes. While he saw worry filling them, Gojyo also saw genuine warmth and a hint of something more which caused him to feel suddenly self-conscious.
"Even if you feel it is something you can't talk about Gojyo, I am here, whenever you are ready, day, night or rain. I am always here Gojyo." Hakkai spoke up upon seeing Gojyo's hesitation.
"Yeah, man. Thanks. Um, I didn't want to talk about this 'cause I thought you'd think I'm crazy or something but shit, I think I'm going crazy anyway, so what's to lose, right?" Gojyo spoke hurriedly, not sure if he was about to damn himself for wanting to tell Hakkai of the dreams and voice that had been plaguing him or if he was about to find relief. Either way, he no longer had any desire to continue keeping things from his best friend and he had an intense need to gain some kind of assurance, any at all.
"Right," Hakkai spoke softly, "besides, you had your perceptions manipulated. It is unlikely that you are going crazy. You're probably feeling this way because your mind and body are trying to return to some semblance of normalcy. Talking about things should help significantly."
The healer's smile grew softer, more reassuring and Gojyo felt calmer than he could remember feeling for some time as he began to recount the dreams and experiences he'd been having since he and Hakkai had killed her.
- . - . -
Gojyo spoke for hours while Hakkai listened, neither one noticing the dingy light of dawn break through the still pouring rain. The precipitation had continued non-stop through what had been left of the night, slowing a little but not abating completely. The wind however, had died down significantly. The only thing that interrupted them in the end was Goku knocking on the door and barging in without waiting for a reply.
Goku blinked, surprised to notice Hakkai seated on his unslept in bed and Gojyo on his, the blankets wrapped loosely around him. "Sanzo says we're staying until it stops raining." He announced, wanting to get his message out before he forgot it.
Hakkai smiled at Goku, his eyes closed, "Thank you for letting us know."
The kappa, feeling a lot better for all his talking with Hakkai, felt much of a familiar annoyance surge to the surface. "Damn, inconsiderate ape. I see you finally got the knocking part down but what about waiting for an answer, huh? What if I was entertaining some babe and you just barged in?" Gojyo snapped angrily.
"Don't call me that!" Goku yelled back. "I thought you were both asleep. That's why I came straight in."
"That's no excuse; you didn't even wait two seconds. You knocked and opened the door all in the same breath. I'm surprised you can do that much at once." Gojyo sneered. Yep, talking to Hakkai had definitely helped.
Goku glared furiously at the source of the insulting words. "I can so do two things at once, cockroach. I'll prove it to you right now!" The teen ran furiously at the redhead.
Gojyo stood, "I'd like to see you try chibi-chi..."
"Gojyo, Goku, please stop this! We don't need fighting this early in the morning." Hakkai hurriedly stepped between the two in an effort to prevent them from trying to knock each other senseless.
"He started it!" Goku accused.
"Did not!" Gojyo retorted angrily, hoping to start round two as he glared past Hakkai at the teen who was returning his glare. "Who was it that barged in on us? Huh? What would you have done if we were doing something other than talking?"
A light blush crossed the healer's face, which went unnoticed by anyone else. Interrupting Goku's retort, Hakkai collected himself and closing his eyes to hide his annoyance, he turned a smile on first Gojyo, then Goku that sent chills running through their spines. In an overly polite tone, Hakkai completed the effect, "Please Gojyo, Goku, I already asked you to stop fighting. Goku, you did rush in here without giving us a chance to respond, that was quite rude." The healer faced Goku before turning that smile back to Gojyo and letting it linger on him. "Gojyo there was no need to provoke Goku further, he did explain himself."
Both recipients took a step back, unwilling to go against Hakkai when he that that expression plastered on his face and that tone in his voice. The healer then relaxed a little, letting his smile become more natural. "Since we are all up now, why don't we get some breakfast. Gojyo, you are coming, aren't you?"
"Uh… yeah." Gojyo grinned sheepishly, glancing down at the blankets still draped around his body. "Just give me a few minutes and I'll be down.
Hakkai nodded, "Goku, Hakuryu and I will meet you downstairs."
- . - . -
That evening, the rain had finally died to only an occasionally light drizzle and even Sanzo had decided to come down for dinner, much to Goku's relief. The teen had been bored out of his mind all day and was glad to see his sun out again.
After breakfast, Hakkai, Gojyo and Hakuryu had headed back to their room claiming not enough sleep. Goku had wandered restlessly around the inn, unable to go out due to the weather, unless he wanted to become saturated. For about an hour, he hung around the kitchen until the staff asked him if he would 'please leave them to get on with their work'. As a result, when his friends began to emerge late afternoon (still looking a little haggard as if they hadn't been sleeping well or enough), Goku was very pleased to see them.
Dinner that night, by the Sanzo-ikkou's standards, was quiet, even though the restaurant had filled with more people and was noisier than the previous evening. Goku could have sworn however, that Gojyo was talking to himself from time to time but trying hard to hide it. The haunted look filling his friend's face was further proof that something the teen wasn't privy to, was going on and that annoyed him. The only time Goku tried to ask about it though, Hakkai silenced him with a simple look.
Sanzo, Hakkai and Gojyo decided to have a few drinks before turning in, Goku joining them but not allowed anything alcoholic.
After a couple of drinks, Gojyo spoke up, "Let's go somewhere else. There are a few good taverns around this town; bigger, better variety of alcohol, better atmosphere and lots of pretty nee-chan." He tried to hide a pained look by covering up with a light tone and a slightly lecherous grin but for anyone paying attention, his eyes continued to defy his efforts at hiding his pain, fear and uncertainty.
Sanzo refused point-blank. "We stay here. It's quieter than a tavern would be."
"That's why I nee, want to go somewhere else." Gojyo replied hurriedly in explanation.
"Then go by yourself." Sanzo said and Gojyo stood to walk off. "My card stays here."
The kappa sat again, annoyance filling his face as he recalled that he had no money and correctly assumed that he had spent it all the previous night.
'Gojyo…' A sweet giggle, 'Hold on my love, I'm coming.'
Gojyo shook his head violently, trying to dislodge the unrelenting voice from his thoughts. Hakkai reached out, touching the kappa's arm in a reassuring gesture and a few moments later, Gojyo acknowledged his friend with a slight smile. "I'm okay now, Hakkai." He lied, even as the ghostly voice returned.
'You know you need me but don't worry, my darling, I won't let you suffer.' Another melodic giggle filled the hanyou's mind, drowning out his friend's reply.
Hakkai tried to hide a sigh, earning him a sharp look from the monk.
"What's going on?" Sanzo asked tersely.
"Yeah," Goku piped up, "the ero-kappa's been acting weird again. Well, weirder than usual, anyway." The teen frowned when Gojyo didn't rise to his bait.
"It's a long story and I really don't think Gojyo would appreciate my telling you. He spoke to me in confidence."
"I don't care." Sanzo said flatly. "If he keeps this up, he'll become a liability to the mission and I won't put up with any liabilities."
"So I'm a liability, huh?" Gojyo was back, having managed to push her voice out of his head again, for now. He had only heard from 'liability to the mission' and naturally, he felt hurt by the comment. No way was he letting Sanzo know that though.
"Yes. Now what the hell is going on?"
"It's none of your business, bouzou," Gojyo returned Sanzo's harsh stare with a glare of his own. "This is personal and I'll deal with it on my own."
"Gojyo…" Hakkai said softly, the hurt clear in his voice.
Click! Gojyo stared, disbelief filling his eyes as Sanzo pointed that damn gun at him over this.
A soft musical laugh and Gojyo suddenly stiffened. In his mind, he could feel the sweet, sweet breath slowly, methodically, seductively, blowing on the back of his neck and wham! The real world and Sanzo's weapon lost focus again.
'I'll never let those people come between us. You and I, dear Gojyo, belong together and I'll make sure we're together for all time.' That laugh again. Gojyo felt himself sinking toward it and the majority of him welcomed the feeling but… a smaller part, the more stubborn part of himself, the part of himself that still believed there was something, someone, for him in this world, refused to let him give in without a fight so Gojyo began clawing his way back to reality again. It was harder this time and despite all of Hakkai's help earlier, every time the kappa heard her voice, it felt harder to pull away and separate from it.
"… cannot. I have to respect Gojyo's desire for this to be kept between us." Hakkai's voice became less faded and less distant as Gojyo fought against the invisible pull. "Sanzo, please, let me help him. I already feel bad enough for not listening to Goku in the beginning when this may all have been avoidable. I will not let him down again."
"Fine but if the cockroach is still a liability by the time we leave tomorrow morning then he stays behind." Sanzo slipped his gun away, back to where it was usually hidden within his robes and rose from the table. As far as he was concerned, the discussion was over and the decision made.
"Sanzo," Hakkai protested, "that is not very fair. That succubus played with Gojyo's mind, effectively brainwashing him. It simply is not an overnight cure."
Gojyo had enough. All this talking about him as if he wasn't here was pissing him off. With a final effort, he pushed clear of the wrapped in cottonwool feeling. "It's alright, Hakkai," Gojyo said calmly with an almost flirting smile, "if I'm such a liability, especially a brainwashed liability, then it's better if I do stay behind." The more he spoke, the more the bitterness surfaced in his voice.
"I'm going to bed." With that, Gojyo stood, slamming his chair into the table. As he stormed off toward the stairs, he almost crashed into a very old woman. At the last moment, he managed to avoid her. Mumbling an apology as he passed her, he couldn't help but notice how her bright green eyes stood out, almost seeming to call to him.
To be continued
- . - . -
