Hey everyone! Here's the next part of the story! This chap will contain some thoughts Hakkai has about his companions. They may be quite different from the Hakkai we know, but please don't take it seriously! He's my favorite character so I wouldn't really alter his personality or anything. Please tell me if you liked this chap, okay? Read and review!
Chapter Four: Consequences
"I think so," Gojyo replied. He was dumbfounded. "I can't believe it. We actually heard him think!"
"Sugoi!" Goku shouted, grinning.
"If you listened carefully," Sanzo was saying, "He just sai---thought, that he went back to his room."
"You heard it too, Sanzo?" Goku asked, mouth slightly open.
"I heard him this morning. He said----darn it, it's confusing---thought, that he went out of his room." Sanzo replied coolly, taking another cigarette. "Hurry up, check on him, I think he went to cook lunch."
"Okay," Goku said, walking away, "But Gojyo, I thought you locked his room!"
"I did, but---wait a minute, "Gojyo muttered angrily, running alongside Goku, "I forgot! He had the extra keys!"
"What!" Goku shouted. "You stupid cockroach!"
"Don't call me that, bakasaru!"
"But it's true!"
"No it's not! It isn't my fault if he's so smart!"
They soon reached Hakkai's room. Everything was quiet. Goku pressed his ear against the door. "There's no sound. He's probably asleep. Or pretending to be asleep."
"Let's see." Gojyo quietly unlocked the door and pushed it open. They peered inside. Hakkai was lying on the bed, looking out the window. His breathing was heavy and he looked tired. He turned to them when they came in and smiled.
"You're early. It's not even eleven yet."
"Well, we finished the shopping pretty quickly," Gojyo replied. "So, what did you do when we were gone?" He looks out of breath. That means he did go downstairs.
"Nothing, really," Hakkai said. "It's pretty boring when you two aren't creating such a racket." Just in time. A few more minutes and they would have caught me out of bed.
Goku's eyes widened. "What did you say, Hakkai?" He was out of bed? He lied?
Hakkai looked startled. "I didn't say anything, Goku. Maybe you're just tired."
"Oh yes, we're just tired, "Gojyo quickly replied, shooting a warning look at Goku. "We'll take a rest okay, then we'll prepare lunch and bring you some food up." he said, moving towards the door.
"Oh no, I'm going down," Hakkai said quickly, throwing the sheets off him and climbing out of bed. "I feel much better now." And I hate being bedridden. It makes me feel weak and worthless. So weak, I couldn't protect someone before…
Gojyo looked surprised. Beside him, Goku gasped. Now there's something you don't hear from Hakkai everyday.
Hakkai looked surprised. "What's the matter? Did I say anything wrong?"
"No, it's just that we were, um, concerned whether you should go down or not." Gojyo hastily replied. Then he turned quietly to Goku as Hakkai stared at the window again, his brow furrowed.
"Goku, should we allow him?" Gojyo whispered. He looked uneasy. "If you heard him…"
Goku stayed quiet. He was following Hakkai's movements with his eyes. He really hated being useless. "I think we should." he finished quietly.
"Alright then, Hakkai," Gojyo said loudly. "But don't strain yourself. If you can't make it downstairs we'll just bring your lunch up."
Hakkai stopped staring out and smiled at them. "You guys go on. I'll just change."
"Okay," Goku said, walking out of the room. "Come on, Gojyo!"
"We'll be downstairs, Hakkai," Gojyo called out. Then they closed the door and headed downstairs, Hakkai's thoughts pounding in their heads.
Hakkai looked at them go. He sighed and looked back out the window. It's amazing how they allowed me to do what I want. They're finally beginning to understand. But I don't really know if I want them to understand or not. Sometimes I want someone to know how I feel, but sometimes I want to keep it all to myself.
The wind was cool today, despite it being noon. The leaves rustled as the breeze blew past it. Hakkai felt a bit better today than last night. Maybe today will be better. He sighed deeply, turned away from the window, and headed downstairs.
Sanzo was on his way to the dining room when he heard Hakkai's voice in his head. He thought it felt strange to hear Hakkai actually speaking his mind. Although this of course wasn't voluntary. Hakkai seems so mysterious, he thought, walking down the hallway. He smiles but he doesn't mean it. Maybe Gojyo's right. Knowing what Hakkai's thinking right now could help. He suddenly stopped walking. No way. It was stupid of me to think like that. But as much as he didn't want to admit it, he was quite interested to learn what goes on in Hakkai's head.
Goku was quietly sitting at the dinner table downstairs at the kitchen. Gojyo was reheating some leftover soup they had last night. They were both dumbstruck at what they had heard. I never knew Hakkai's such a sad person, Goku thought. He always looks so happy. I didn't think he would feel that way.
Gojyo was carelessly stirring the soup. He didn't realize that it was already burning. I wonder if that wish was a good idea. Sure, we can understand him now, but his thoughts are private. And I'm feeling guilty for having invaded his privacy. But I can't take that back now.
Their thinking was interrupted when Sanzo entered the kitchen. Goku looked up. Sanzo was emotionless as ever, but there was worry in his eyes that he didn't see before. He figured that he also heard what Hakkai thought about a while ago.
"Sanzo…"Goku began. Sanzo stayed quiet. "Did you hear…?"
"Yes," Sanzo replied quietly. "I heard him."
"Heard who?"
They both turned around. Hakkai was standing at the doorway, a smile plastered on his face. A smile that they now know is just a disguise for hiding his pain…
"Who did you hear, Sanzo?" Hakkai inquired cheerfully. He didn't seem to notice Gojyo standing there panic-stricken and Goku searching his brain for what to say.
"Um…Gojyo! Sanzo heard Gojyo saying he'd like meatbuns!" Goku replied quickly, casting a quick glance at Gojyo. "Right, Gojyo?"
Gojyo looked angrily at Goku but he quickly changed his expression when Hakkai turned to him. "Yes, that's right! We bought a couple at the market today, see?"
"Oh. Well then, shall we eat lunch?" Hakkai said politely, sitting down. They've been acting strange since they got from the market.
Goku looked alarmed; Gojyo was shaking nervously and Sanzo was trying ever so hard to keep his composure. Gojyo managed to pull himself together and served the soup he had been stirring a while ago.
"Here you go," Gojyo muttered hurriedly. "Eat up." He sat down at the table and started eating his fill.
Gojyo's eyes widened. The soup tasted horrible; it was burnt and Gojyo had added too many ingredients that weren't on the recipe. Goku choked on the first scoop but didn't say a word; Sanzo was eating less than usual and didn't even fill up his spoon. He had a nasty expression on his face. Hakkai hesitated for a moment, and then he scooped some up and tasted it.
"So, how was it, Hakkai?" Gojyo asked, trying to ignore the taste of his own soup. "You like it?"
"It's okay," Hakkai managed to say, forcing the soup down his throat. "Could do a bit of improvement, but otherwise it's fine." What is this? Vomit? Does he seriously think he can cook? I can't believe Goku can take this stuff!
Gojyo was wide-eyed at this, seemingly horrified; Goku was trying hard not to laugh but he kept failing and laughed quietly, and a faint smile line was seen on Sanzo's face. Fortunately Hakkai was concentrating on ignoring the taste that he didn't notice their reactions.
"Soup tastes fine, ne, Hakkai?" Goku asked cheerfully, looking happily at a frustrated Gojyo.
"Mm," Hakkai nodded, trying to finish up his bowl quickly. Halfway there, Hakkai, nearly there! Come on, you could do it! Just a few more sips and this evil concoction will be gone!
At this Gojyo turned red with embarrassment at the same time that Goku burst out laughing. Sanzo was trying hard not to smile but his eyes showed it all. Hakkai was startled and looked up to see Goku rolling on the floor, laughing wildly, and Gojyo was shouting at him to cut it out.
"What's the matter, Goku?" he asked, puzzled. The world is turning weirder everyday. Even Sanzo's smiling. I think that monk's just pretending to be cool. But does he seriously think girls will be after him with that ridiculous robe of his?
Goku stopped rolling on the floor and glanced at Sanzo. The blond monk was staring at Hakkai, annoyed. This time it was Gojyo's turn to laugh.
"What's the matter with you guys?" Hakkai asked. He was more puzzled than ever. First Goku, now Gojyo. Next thing you know Sanzo will be laughing his head off.
"Well, it was just—never mind," Gojyo said, still laughing. "Don't worry, we're not going mad or anything. It was just something we talked about earlier."
"Oh," Hakkai replied. "I see."
They continued to eat their lunch in utter silence. Gojyo was looking at Hakkai, embarrassed about what he had heard. Goku was still smiling as he ate the soup. Sanzo was trying to forget what Hakkai had thought of him.
Hakkai suddenly stood up. "Well then, I'm going back to my room. Thanks for the lunch."
They looked at his bowl. It wasn't even half-empty.
Hakkai smiled at them and dashed off to his room. I couldn't take it anymore! Bathroom! Where is it? Oh there, at last! He sped off down the hallway and into a certain room.
The three heard the sound of a door shut noisily upstairs. Then, as if on cue, Goku started laughing.
"Did you hear that, Gojyo? He needed the bathroom to get rid of your soup!" Goku managed to say in between laughs.
"Stop it now, monkey," Gojyo said, turning red. "You nearly got us caught there. Good thing I was able to make up an excuse."
"And what a lame excuse that was, kappa," Sanzo retorted, lighting a cigarette. "I doubt someone like Hakkai could easily fall for that."
"At least I don't wear a ridiculous robe like yours," Gojyo spat at him, as Goku continued laughing. "Even Hakkai thought it was girly."
BAM! A shower of bullets rained down on them in different directions. Goku managed to scramble away in time to save his meatbuns. Gojyo dodged them as best as he could. "Hah! You even shoot like a girl!" And of course, that remark caused more bullets to rain down on them.
Upstairs, in his bedroom…
"Yare yare desu ne," Hakkai said, shaking his head at the sound of gunshots. "Those people never learn."
Author's note: And that's the end of chapter four! So, did you like it? Does it need improvement? Please tell me so I could write better! Flames are accepted as long as it's constructive criticism. I'm just starting to work on the next chapter so it might take a while to update. Till next time, ja mata ne! Reviews please and thank you!