Gojyo sat slouched at the bar, a whisky in his hand, his forehead resting on the bar. What just happened? Everything had been turned upside down in a few short minutes, and he had no idea what he was going to do next. Hakkai loved him. He always had. Gojyo struggled to take this in. Was he in love with Hakkai? Did he even have the ability to love? He had never loved anyone before, and wasn't even sure how. Gojyo never believed in it to start with, so how was he supposed act when his best friend told him he wanted more? He took another gulp of his whisky, trying to find the answer, knowing he never would, not from alcohol. He would never get what he wanted from alcohol, or the women he slept with, but what was it he really wanted anyway? He heard someone sit down next to him, and hoped that it wasn't some cheap tart coming to make her move. He wasn't in the mood, and he doubted that he ever would be again.

"Scotch", he heard the familiar voice next to him order, "Neat." He raised his head slightly, enough to see the golden blonde hair and the cigarette. Sanzo.

"What do you want?" Gojyo slurred.

"I've come to save your life, or at the very least, your friendship", Sanzo replied, a knowing smile gracing his lips. Gojyo sat up suddenly, staring at Sanzo.

"How the hell…?"

"I'm not that dumb, kappa, I can see what's going on underneath my nose. Even Goku's picked up on something."

"Then what do you propose I do about it, eh? Wave a magic wand? How about I poke the barrel of a gun at the problems face, and blast it away? Would that get your vote?" Gojyo asked, sarcastically.

"Don't give me that crap. You know what to do, you're just too bloody afraid to do it." Sanzo retorted, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Afraid? You gotta be kidding me", Gojyo laughed, or tried to.

"You bet your ass you are, your afraid that whatever this is with Hakkai is going to turn into love, and your too scared to let it." Gojyo stared incredulous at the monk. Sanzo was giving him a pep talk? "Yeah I know, you wouldn't expect this kinda stuff from me, but I've changed my mind about a lot of things recently…thanks to…another person's perspective."

"Hmmm, would that be Goku's perspective, by any chance?" Gojyo asked with a coy grin, making Sanzo slosh some of his drink over the bar, fumbling to put it down properly. "I'm not dumb either, priesty-boy", Gojyo said while waving at the waitress for another round of drinks. "I don't know what I want. That's the problem. I know I care for Hakkai more than anyone, and I know I want to protect him, but I don't think I can give him what he needs."

"Gods, you are what he needs, baka. He doesn't want empty promises, he doesn't want protection, he wants you. Simple." Gojyo looked at Sanzo. The priest had a remarkable way of looking at things. "Let me ask you this, when have you been happiest, felt most loved, in your life, kappa?" Gojyo didn't even have to pause to think.

"With Hakkai. Playing cards and drinking beer", he grinned.

"Well that's your bloody answer, isn't it? He is what makes you happiest in the world, and its obvious he thinks the same way. What's your problem?"

That was just it. Gojyo wouldn't call it an epiphany, just a moment of clarity. Pure and simple. He felt happiest around Hakkai, he filled his life with light and made it worth living. He had stuck beside the kappa through thick and thin, even when he was hurt by him, however unintentionally. Gojyo thought of his beautiful eyes, so full of love and hope at that moment when he had run away. He thought of the feelings he had felt when tracing his fingers over Hakkai's face. Feelings that he had immediately rejected, but now had time to ponder them. Whatam Ibloody waiting for? Gojyo stood up so quickly that his stool fell over. Sanzo snorted into his drink.

"Forget about it, just go. Send the monkey down here to get rid of him. Just tell him Sanzo's mad at him or something, that oughta get him moving", Sanzo suggested.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's the only reason he'll wanna come down, priesty-boy", Gojyo said, ducking to avoid the glass being thrown at his head as he raced up the stairs towards Hakkai.