Sorry for taking so long to update this story. Don't worry, I'm not planning to give up this story anytime soon. Wait for Unforgettable Past to come out next. Thank you! ^_^
Chapter 10: Bloody Threat
Hakkai noticed through the side-mirror that Gojyo had been fingering the silver choker for some time, then pulled his hand away and have it back to the limiter. They have been driving for almost three hours now and the silence was killing him. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Sanzo frowned deeper than usual and he knew he wasn't the only one who was affected by the unusual silence. Goku, in other hand, was trying to start up a conversation and even throwing insults to get the usual fiery responses from the half-breed. But Hakkai could see that Gojyo wasn't in the mood of doing anything, let alone engaged in an argument with Goku.
The green-eyed man had seen Gojyo in various kinds of emotion and he knew exactly the way to handle those emotions. But seeing Gojyo so lost and empty was new to him. And when Gojyo requested for 'anything that fit as long as it covers my fucking neck' as his new clothes two days ago, Hakkai was completely baffled. Gojyo was one of the most vain man he had ever encountered; come on, what kind of man kept his hair long and managed to keep it smooth all the time? And now he didn't care if Hakkai was going to buy him a green or even yellow shirt that 'covered' his neck? It was as if Gojyo tried to hide the limiter like he kept his hair long to hide the scars his mother marked upon him.
There he went again, touching the limiter as if it was the most disgusting thing that he had to wear, despite the deep blue turtleneck shirt. Hakkai noted again but this time accompanied with a slight frown. Apparently even the clothes couldn't hide the existence of it. Hakkai knew exactly how Gojyo was feeling for he was feeling the same way when he was first converted to demon. He had been so ashamed for converting into one of the kinds that raped and killed Kana. But then, Hakkai knew he deserved everything for the lives that he had stole that night but Gojyo… He had done thing to deserve this, except trying to be who he was and be proud with it… Being a half-breed, a taboo child and had somehow lived through it.
"We'll be arriving to a town soon," Hakkai declared out of habit. He waited for the usual response from Goku. He wasn't disappointed.
"Yeah!" Goku bounced joyfully. "I want to have everything and anything that the restaurant serves! I'm so hungry!!" Sanzo muttered something negative under his breath and grunted audibly
Usually this was when Gojyo butted in and teased Goku unmercily and Hakkai would laugh, not at Gojyo's remarks, but at the sheer repetition of their group's conversation. But no… not this time… Hakkai bit his lips as his worry doubled. Gojyo just looked at the sceneries passing…and his fingers were touching the limiter…again.
Would it be too much for him to ask God for the taste of normality again? Please?
Gojyo sighed silently. He could practically feel the heat of Hakkai's burning gaze. Even through the side-mirror. He knew Hakkai was expecting him to say something and worried about him when he didn't say anything. Shit…that was putting it fucking mildly. If somehow he managed to wipe Hakkai's silly smiles and made him bit his lips, Gojyo knew Hakkai wasn't just worry, he was distressed. And Gojyo's conscience was screaming angrily at himself. But then, everything he was was screaming angrily at him. Not just his consciences. Oh no… my fucking kami-sama… not just my consciences. I hope you are laughing at your very hardest up there.
Oh, to hell with it. How could it hurt with just one response if that mean Hakkai would wipe the frown off his forehead. Gojyo turned his head away from the sceneries with an effort before he contributed his share of thoughts. "Yeah, it would be great if we could find a place to stretch our legs…" Lame, flat and empty. He should never even bother to try.
But Hakkai didn't think so. Smiling softly, he answered the way he had been answering to Gojyo's remarks for the last three years of friendship. "Two days in jeep doesn't suit you, Gojyo?"
Their eyes met through the rear-mirror. "Not entirely unpleasant, but a change of atmosphere is a happy welcome."
Hakkai's verdant eyes softened somewhat, telling Gojyo that the demon knew what he was trying to say. Gojyo had told him once that he had a way of understanding people without conversing a word, and now, watching Gojyo, he knew that the half-breed was too distracted to have a complete conversation. And he dropped it.
Asking for normality may be too much. But Hakkai was glad for the small gift of Gojyo's voice.
"I want everything in the menu!!" Goku demanded as he slid into his chair. Sanzo delivered a death glare to the loud boy beside him before he nodded to the incredulous waitress that was taking their order.
"Everything sir? But can you af…" Her sentences were cut when Sanzo flashed his shinning gold credit card tiredly. "Just take the order."
The waitress skittered nervously. Hakkai, who was sitting beside Sanzo, was smothering his smiles when Gojyo arrived and announced his arrival with a single remark. "Acting like a true corrupted monk."
"I don't have problem with the way I am. So, fuck off," Sanzo retorted. After Gojyo's 'death', the realization that for some extend, Sanzo, the great untouchable and unemotional Sanzo, was feeling something for his companions, had affected him greatly. He had shown too much emotion to Goku when the night Goku came to him for comfort. He didn't like that. The fact that all Goku had to do to make him fucking emotional was looking at him with his big golden eyes, irked him so much. It also… somehow… scared him. Alright, damn it! He was scared! Not like he was going to say it out aloud!
And because he was scared, he was trying his damnest to hide it with harsher words, like the incident of Gojyo's death didn't happen at all. Shit, he really hoped his façade worked.
Gojyo just shrugged and sit at the only empty seat left. "Sometimes, the problem is not because we don't have problem with ourselves, it's because people have problem with us," Gojyo muttered under his breath. Hakkai heard him and said nothing.
"So, the guy finally left?" A man on their left table said to his friends.
"Yeah, and it's about bloody time. I don't like him." Came an answer. "I mean, look at the way he threw the other guy across the road. He must be a fucking demon to threw a guy that huge."
"Probably because he wears a limiter." The first guy drew a long angry breath. "I hate those things. Demons walk around us every damned day and we couldn't even recognize them. Hell, they could be in this restaurant for all we bloody know"
Hakkai bit his lips and fought the urge to touch his ear. Sometimes, the problem is not because we don't have problem with ourselves, it's because people have problem with us. Gojyo's earlier words echoed through his head. Gojyo, you have no idea how true you are. Goku looked Sanzo, his golden eyes shone with subtle anger. Gojyo gritted his teeth.
"Yeah, that's right," another guy butted in. "Hey, what do you think that guy was doing in the old house anyway? I heard people said something fishy going in there, like screaming or something, but none of them dare to go in the house."
"You know what?" the second guy added, the bitterness in his voice was getting heavier. "I'll bet that demon was eating human in that house."
"Fucking demon! Couldn't leave us human in peace, could they?"
"Yeah, just look at his lavender eyes! They are so pale! I swear that is enough evident to prove him as a demon."
That sentence roared through Gojyo's ears like lightning.lavender eyes!! How could he forget them? How he could forget the way his lavender eyes turned into darker shade of violet as they were burned intensely with lust? Or when they were so pale with silent threat and with unbelievable possessiveness that made him chill with untamed fear? No… not those eyes. He would never, ever forget those eyes. Instantly, blood rushed from his face and Gojyo found that he couldn't move as he ceased to breath. A fierce inner dialogue began as Gojyo tried to regain his composure. He's here! No, damn it. He was here. They said he had left! But…he knows where I am going!
Hakkai noticed Gojyo's changed expression. "Gojyo, are you alright?"
"He's here," Gojyo whispered softly after a while struggling with his voice and his fists clenched tighter. He hated the weakness that Kenshin put upon him.
"Who's here?" Goku asked, bewildered.
Gojyo looked at Hakkai, unaware how much his eyes expressed his fear. "He's here."
"Kenshin?" Hakkai asked. The sole name made Goku hissed in anger, Sanzo's frowned in disgust and instantly, Hakkai's usual pleasant face turned ominous. The sudden flare of protectiveness and anger consumed him. "How do you know?"
"Lavender eyes." And that answer was enough.
Sanzo glared at the group of humans beside him that responsible of saying the cursed, cursed words. "Damn it,"
After a while of strain silence, Sanzo opened up his mouth in reluctant tone. "Where did those guys say the fucking bastard stay just now?"
"What makes you think he is still here?" Hakkai asked as they finally stood in front of an abandoned house. Sanzo threw away his cigarette and grinded the burning ashes.
"Maybe not, at least he left us some clue of where he might be headed next." Sanzo answered.
"So, we're on hunting him now?" Hakkai asked again.
"Yes," Sanzo answered succinctly and cast a questioning glance at the brunette beside him. "I thought that you like to kill him first?"
Hakkai smiled strangely. "We'll see about that." Hakkai said softly, leaving Sanzo looked at him with one eyebrow raised slightly.
Goku was itching for fight. No one hurt his friends and get away just like that. No one tried to kill his friends and faked their death and live. Once the dark-haired demon appeared, he would make him regretted that he ever thought of touching his friends.
"Gojyo? Are you alright?" Goku asked when he saw the redhead walked slowly and almost reluctantly.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Gojyo waved a hand dismissively and tried to conjure up a smirk.
Goku frowned for he knew Gojyo was lying. After a while of thinking, he walked toward Gojyo. "Do you want to know something, Gojyo?" Goku said.
Gojyo looked at Goku, slightly surprised at the change of topic. "You actually know something that I don't? That's a surprise."
Goku put his hands on his hips, feigning anger. He was actually happy to hear insults from Gojyo. Crazy or not, he was kind of missing it. "Stop that! I'm completely clueless you know!"
Gojyo let out a chuckle and his hand automatically messed up the younger boy's hair. "Yeah, Goku. You are clueless about how clueless you are."
"Shut up! Do you want to hear or not?"
Gojyo chuckled again. Talking and teasing Goku had relaxed him somewhat. "All right, not-so-clueless boy. Let's hear it."
Goku took a deep breath. "When Sanzo let me out from the prison, I told Sanzo that I was afraid of the world outside. I've been in that small cave for as long as I can remember and when I got the only thing I wished for, I was afraid to reach for it. Well, I thought about all things that I don't know and how I was going to face them all," Goku smiled and his big golden eyes shone pricelessly as the memories flooded in. "But Sanzo told me to shut up and follow him."
At that Gojyo let out a laugh. "That's the Sanzo-sama that we knew." And Goku continued Gojyo's short laughter; they laughed together.
"Yeah, but you know, Gojyo, after I follow Sanzo out and see the world, I realized that the world isn't as scary as I thought it would be. The world is much, much more beautiful than I've imagined them to be when I lied alone in the cave. The foods are so great. And do you know, what makes I love outside world the most?" Gojyo shook his head as lingering soft smile plastered on his face. He wished at that very moment, nothing and he meant absolutely nothing, could take the innocent Goku held inside for that would tragic to corrupt such a beautiful child.
"I've traveled around with Sanzo and met so many nice people…" Goku said it with an absolute innocent and childish belief as he looked at Gojyo. Gojyo knew he meant him, Hakkai and Sanzo. "…And many of them had many ways of showing their liking to me."
"Like Sanzo?" Gojyo murmured teasingly.
"Yeah…" Goku blushed slightly and cleared his throat. "Anyway, my point is, sometimes, something is not what we thought they might be, you know? They might seem harsh but actually they are quite the opposite."
"Like Sanzo?"
"Will you stop that?!" Goku demanded but his face was blushing brightly. Gojyo was laughing now. He had forgotten how good it would feel to tease Goku. "All I'm saying that, Kenshin maybe strong but he is easily distracted. You don't have to be nervous to meet him!"
Gojyo's laughter immediately ceased. For a while, he couldn't speak and all he could do was stared at Goku. Goku humphed at Gojyo's sudden silence. "There you go again! I mean, we've fought many demons and they have combined fighting-force that stronger than Kenshin and we survived that!"
"I…" Gojyo started but found that he couldn't say a word. Goku don't know? He didn't know what Kenshin did to me? He thought I dislike Kenshin because he is strong? It was then when Gojyo realized that Goku didn't know Kenshin had treated him a whore and now was chasing him because his latest whore was escaping him.
"I really don't understand why you are acting like this! Kenshin is strong, yes, but you usually care less about that." Goku continued his ranting, now that he had gotten his chance. "If we stick together, he cannot hurt you anymore, then you don't ever have to be afraid again like I did."
"Stop it, Goku," Gojyo finally found his voice but his voice was strangled at the new realization. "I…I'm not afraid of Kenshin's strength." Bullshit. "It just that I'd like to let bygone be bygone, you know…" Another fucking bullshit. What I want to do is to tear Kenshin apart with my bare hand.
"You? I don't believe it," Goku said flatly. Then, he looked up at Gojyo, scrutinizing the older man. "You what, Gojyo? It's okay. I'll never, ever let him get to you or hurt you again." Gojyo's eyes went wide and again he found himself speechless. Goku seemed oblivious of that. Then, Goku was hesitated for a while and then, he curved a small smile. "Once is enough… I never want to go through that again." With that he turned away and went to Sanzo and Hakkai, leaving Gojyo dumbfounded.
Hakkai, who couldn't help but to overhear the conversation, smiled softly. He always knew that of all of them, Goku was the most sensitive one and he wasn't ashamed of saying what he thought and felt. He turned his attention back to the house in front of him. "Are you going in?" Hakkai asked to Sanzo as he felt his mood had lifted a little.
"What in the living hell did we come here for?" Sanzo answered sarcastically and all four of them stepped inside the dark house.
The first thing that struck Goku when they stepped inside the house, was the smell of blood that overpowered the house's atmosphere. "I smell blood, Sanzo."
"Why did I find that unsurprising?" Sanzo said sourly. "Where does it come from?"
Goku's eyebrows drew in concentration and then he pointed upstairs. Sanzo nodded and ordered them to go up wordlessly. They quietly prepared themselves for any unexpected battle and climbed the stairs. The stench of blood was getting stronger and by the time they reached the top, all four of them could smell it.
"It came from that door," Goku told them unnecessarily.
Hakkai bit his lips as he curled his hand around the rusty doorknob. "I've got this awful feeling behind this door." Sanzo agreed silently while Goku tightened his grasp around his weapon. Gojyo just looked at the door, unmoved.
"Just open the damn door," Sanzo ordered and Hakkai nodded.
When the door creaked open, none of them was prepared of the sight in front of them. The room was small but was bright enough as morning sunlight rushed in from the big window at the side of the room. On floor, blood splattered everywhere as if a fierce battle had happened in this small room. And in the middle of the floor, Goku let out audible gasp of disbelief, lied a body of a small children… with his red hair blend perfectly with the blood pooled around him and his eyes were wide opened, bearing the color of blood… a taboo child… murdered mercilessly. It was clear that the murderer had stolen his blood before killed him for the scattered needles and tubes. But the other sight that made Gojyo gasped and retreated was the words written on the wall with blood.
He died because you're gone. We need replenishment. One taboo child a day, until you come back, Sha Gojyo…
Someone died because of him. An innocent taboo child died because he had so selfishly escaped. The grotesque scene was too much for him… the words written on the wall was brief but the message was clear. He was going to find this scene again, and again, and again… until he came back to…Kenshin… Suddenly Gojyo found himself couldn't breathe, couldn't think but to stare at the body in front him. The child wide eyes were screaming accusingly at him and Gojyo unconsciously retreated, his body trembled so hard. "No…" Gojyo whispered. "Not like this…"
Hakkai tore his eyes away from the scene and looked at Gojyo's white face. "Gojyo…"
"Not this way…" Gojyo said softly as he retreated further, never taking his eyes away from the taboo child. The accusing scream inside his head was getting louder. "Never, ever this way…" And Gojyo looked like he was ready to collapse.
"Gojyo…" Hakkai tried again and touched Gojyo's arm softly.
A feathery touch seemed like a thousand volts of lightening and Gojyo shook from his trance. He then looked at Hakkai. "No!" And he ran away, his emotion was terribly distraught and his sanity was badly messed up.
"Gojyo! Wait!" He feared Kenshin was still out there and his message was too clear, stating what he wanted. With Gojyo's condition right now, Hakkai doubted Gojyo would be able to do anything. Driven by anger and fear, Hakkai went after him.
Sanzo found himself unable to say anything. He always thought Kenshin lusted Gojyo but seeing this…this… madness, Sanzo knew Kenshin not only lusted Gojyo, the raven-haired demon was totally obsessed and possessive about the half-breed. A bad combination… a very, very bad combination.
"What do we do now, Sanzo?" Goku asked quietly. He had told Gojyo that things weren't not what they seemed they were. He was right but he never wished for this kind of right.
"Damn if I know…"