Chapter Three: Inside the Mind of the Ever-Smiling Man

Back at the inn, Hakkai was getting restless. He wasn't used to staying in bed for more than seven hours a day. He looked at the clock. It was a quarter before noon.

"Where are they?" Hakkai wondered aloud. "I wonder if anything happened to them."

Maybe I should go take a look, he thought. I'm feeling a bit better now. He tossed the blankets aside and arranged a small pile of pillows under it. Then he draped his blanket over them and stepped back to admire his handiwork. It looked perfect.

Great, he thought. They'll never find out the difference. He slowly crept towards the door, took out his extra keys and opened the door.

He peered slowly out the corridor. No one was there. He stepped outside and locked the door again. Wonderful, he thought. No one's ever gonna find out I left my room. Then he started heading for the kitchen.

Still outside the balcony Sanzo was smoking, reading today's newspaper. He didn't notice Hakkai slipping out of his room. He didn't even bother checking up on him. Hakkai's disciplined, he thought, unlike those two idiots I travel with. He knows what's good for him.

Wonderful. No one's ever gonna find out I left my room.

Sanzo started, his eyes widening. "What the----?" That's Hakkai's voice! He looked around, trying to see if Hakkai was anywhere nearby. Nothing. But I heard it. I'm sure it was him. He tried to calm down and took out a cigarette. Then he focused his attention back to the paper but his eyes were twitching nervously.

Hmm…now what should I cook for them?

Sanzo dropped the paper he was holding. The cigarette lay on his hand, unlit. It's impossible! Hakkai's not here, but I just heard him! He looked around desperately this time, trying to find an answer to what he thought was madness. Still no Hakkai. He was all alone on the balcony. No one ever dared to disturb a Sanzo when he's busy.

It's so difficult to think when I'm sick! But don't show it, Hakkai, or they'll force you on the bed again. Don't even say anything out loud. It's better to just think of it. At least no one knows what I'm really thinking. Just give 'em the old smile and that's that.

The little color that remained in the monk's face disappeared. It was clear now, however silly or mad it may be…I understand what he's thinking.

But how? Sanzo jolted upright at this. How could he possibly hear what Hakkai is thinking? There must be some kind of explanation. He grasped his cigarette and lit it, exhaling deeply. He picked up his paper and tried to ignore that little voice in his head that was Hakkai's. Maybe when those two come back, I may not be the only one…

Still outside, Goku ran down the remaining steps leading to the inn. He was so excited to hear what Hakkai was thinking. Behind him was Gojyo, equally eager and was grinning widely.

"Hmm…I wonder what Hakkai's thinking right now," he said, laughing. "I can't wait!"

"Well, hurry up, ero kappa, we're about to find out!" Goku called, climbing up the last steps and entering the inn.

"Should we go up and check on him first?" Gojyo said, mockingly. "Or should we just stay here and read his mind?"

"Let's go up," Goku proposed. He started to climb up the stairs. "But I'll check on Sanzo first."

"Yeah, and let's tell him what we wished for," Gojyo said.

They reached the second floor landing and headed to the balcony where Sanzo was still nervously reading the paper.

"Oi, Sanzo!"

Sanzo looked behind him. Goku waved at him, smiling, and Gojyo was grinning at him.

"What's so funny?" he asked coldly. Should I ask them about Hakkai?

"Oi, Sanzo, you won't believe what we just got today," Gojyo said, smiling widely.

"And what's that? Don't tell me you managed to get a girl for once."

"It's not that!" Gojyo shouted, irritated. "And for your information, the great Sha Gojyo can get a girl anytime he wants. That's a well-known fact, my bald friend."

"Ch."

"Anyway, Sanzo," Goku said cheerfully, "How's Hakkai?"

Sanzo froze. Should I tell them? No I shouldn't. Those idiots won't understand. "I don't know. Why don't you go check up on him, then?"

"No need," Goku said smugly. "We'll just hear him."

Sanzo spun around, eyes wide open. "What do you mean?"

Gojyo laughed at the monk's reaction. "We can read his mind, you idiot!"

Read his mind? So that means I'm not the only one. Sanzo relaxed when he heard this, and some of the color started coming back to his face. "How?"

"Well, we saved this old man from being beaten up, and he granted us a wish! Gojyo wanted us to hear whatever Hakkai's thinking, so he gave it to us! One week unlimited!" Goku boasted, smiling widely.

What? Sanzo thought, vein throbbing wildly, his eyes squinted in anger. It was them? "You idiots! You just disturbed his privacy, and now I get involved in your dirty mess! Tell whoever it was to take it off! NOW!"

Goku smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Sanzo! That guy said it can't be changed."

"WHAT?"

"Well, it's better than not understanding his needs at all, especially since he's sick!" Gojyo said hurriedly.

"YOU IDIOTS!"

A bullet narrowly missed Gojyo's left cheek, and barely a second after that he had to dodge a rain of bullets from the trigger-happy monk.

"NEXT TIME THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ACTIONS BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING!"

"Whatever," Gojyo said. And he had to scramble away to dodge another flood of bullets.

"Yes, sir, whatever you say!"

"Don't shoot like that, it gets dangerous!"

Downstairs, at the kitchen…

Hakkai stopped stirring the soup. He thought he heard a noise upstairs. It sounded like gunshots. That was definitely Sanzo's. But why would he do that? There were no youkai, Hakkai was sure of that. He felt no evil presence. And Goku and Gojyo's at the market, they couldn't bother him. Unless…

Oh no! Goku and Gojyo are probably here! They'll be checking up on me any minute now!

Hakkai immediately hid the soup and quickly but quietly climbed the stairs. He checked to see if anyone was there, hurriedly opened the door, locked himself in, then he sank down on his bed. He sighed in relief. No one will notice a thing. I hope.

Still on the balcony…

"Did you hear that?"

Gojyo was frowning slightly. Sanzo and Goku looked at him.

"Was that…Hakkai?" Goku asked, unbelievingly.