Game of Chance or Skill?
Sanzo had long ago lost track of the time. It must have been hours ago that Goku left him alone in the kitchen, but still, even with Gonou and the youkai Gojyo occasionally entering to take something from the fridge or pantry, Sanzo remains cloistered away. He does not want to have to deal with whatever is happening between Gojyo and Hakkai, and he certainly has no intention of dealing with Goku. Not until he figures out just what the hell he is supposed to do.
Seeing as how it has been several hours at least, Sanzo keeps expecting someone from his group to waltz into the kitchen and drag him out of it, any one of them seeming the type capable of such a thing just now. But even when the passage of time starts to get on Sanzo's nerves, still…not a one of them comes in to even check on him.
He should be pleased, happy to finally have the peace he is so often denied. But he has no vices to turn to in this place. No cigarettes or coffee. No paper even. Just him, the kitchen, the quiet, and his traitorous thoughts. Really, he would welcome one of those idiots coming in to get him.
So where the hell are they?
Finally, unable to bear another moment of his self-imposed solitude, Sanzo erupts out of the kitchen with a slam of his hand on the door, leaving it to swing wildly behind him as he enters the living room. His three companions turn at the commotion he has made, but promptly ignore him, returning to whatever they had been discussing. They are all seated on the floor in the middle of the room, huddled close and talking in hushed tones about something that constantly has one or more of them flitting him glances.
Sanzo glares, his expression hard and challenging. As if he doesn't know what they're doing. Trying to intimidate him with fear of mutiny now, is it? Well they can all go fuck themselves, because he could care less. Yes, that's right, Sanzo thinks. He doesn't care. The fact that it is easier to think this way only because he is angry doesn't seem to cross his mind.
Furious, and dead set on ignoring them too if they plan to be so immature about all this, Sanzo huffs himself down into one of the chairs, feeling it is his right to eavesdrop if they choose not to move further away from him. To his great annoyance, they merely stop talking, apparently finished with whatever they had been discussing. Internally, Sanzo curses. He could kill them for taunting him so obviously. They are not school-age idiots! Well, Goku, perhaps, and Gojyo certainly acts that way most of the time, but Sanzo was once quite sure Hakkai at least had some sense.
An angry glare tossed at the group as they disperse from their huddle is met by intense emerald. Hakkai flashes a smile that is nothing even remotely friendly and Sanzo immediately turns away. He feels like screaming. What he wouldn't give for an open field and no one for miles to hear him. Maybe then he could think clearly. Maybe then…he would stop wondering if Goku is more right than he wants to admit.
Sanzo's fists clench. No, he can't risk it.
Sanzo's fists clench tighter. It wouldn't be a risk anyway, because he doesn't return the monkey's affections, he thinks more strongly, having caught himself before his mind could think too far in the wrong direction. He isn't in love with Goku. The monkey's crazy and headstrong and…looking right at him, he realizes with a jolt.
Sanzo refuses to look up even though he can feel the harsh heat of gold on the side of his face. This is insufferable. Here the four of them are, silently sitting, with only Gonou busying about the room, apparently cleaning, while the youkai Gojyo is doing something in the bedroom. At first, Sanzo tries to distract himself by watching Gonou, but the taut stretch of the brunette's too tight pants across his rear only brings Sanzo back to thoughts of things he really shouldn't be thinking.
And damn those eyes! Can't Goku look somewhere else?
"Gojyo, we really should be going soon!" Gonou calls into the bedroom, giving the living room an appraising look. "Jien said he needs you there by seven, remember?"
With a swipe of his brow, the other Gojyo enters from the bedroom, looking a little fatigued from apparently having cleaned the bedroom and possibly the room's inner bathroom as well.
It was, in fact, him who suggested they take some of their afternoon to clean, seeing as how they hadn't in so long. Gonou, to everyone--especially Hakkai's--surprise, had waved the matter off, but the youkai Gojyo was insistent, saying that they needed to keep the place clean whether Gonou wanted to or not. This gave the watchers the impression that in this relationship Gojyo is the more responsible one, which--though some things have already pointed in that direction--certainly comes as a surprise.
Hakkai's mind is still reeling from the idea of himself as such a careless slob.
"Yeah, I'm set. Let me change my shirt and I'll be ready in no time." the youkai Gojyo says, eyeing the wrinkled state of Gonou's clothing with a raised eyebrow. "You too, beautiful. I need you looking your delicious best tonight. You know it doubles our business when you're at the bar." He waggles that recently raised eyebrow a bit and grins.
Gonou laughs with an admonishing shake of his head, but the pair is soon heading into the bedroom together to change.
The onlookers remember then that there is a poker tournament tonight at Gojyo and Jien's bar. Hakkai and Gojyo mentioned it to Goku and Sanzo in passing, and since they still have no signs to indicate their stay here will be ending, they know they will soon most likely get to see this bar for themselves.
"It is rather frustrating, isn't it?" Hakkai says suddenly, sounding rather tired and a little defeated. "I keep trying to think of ways to discover more about this place, but…nothing seems to be presenting itself. I can only sense what appears to be in front of us, nothing sinister or otherworldly. This…place…is being projected so perfectly into our minds, it can not be distinguished from reality. And…I'm afraid I am rather stuck. As our we, it would seem. I do apologize."
Gojyo gives a soft snort. "What are you apologizing for? None of us know anymore about this place than anyone else. It's no one's fault. We're all looking for signs and clues, and we're all coming up blank. It's just the way things are, 'Kai."
"Ah, but perhaps that is just what our captors wish us to believe." Hakkai counters. "Forgive me, Gojyo, but I cannot shake the feeling that we are missing something…obvious."
"That's just your analytical mind talking. Sometimes there aren't easy answers."
"Yeah." Goku chimes in, his feet dangling from the couch somewhat since he is sitting far back on one of the larger cushions. He seems to realize how young and unfairly short this makes him seem and scoots forward so that his feet touch the ground again. "I mean…nothing bad's happening to us, right? Not really. The shifting hurts a little, but…since we're not hungry or anything, I don't think as much time is passing outside this place as we think. Maybe, just like a dream, it's days here but…only minutes or seconds in the real world. Besides…I'm kinda glad we're hear. As long as we get out eventually."
Sanzo cannot hold back his disgruntled huff. The others turn to look at him, each with their own form of a glare. Unwilling to be bullied or outdone, he returns each of their looks with a withering one of his own before crossing his arms and turning away from them.
Goku lets out a long, frustrated sigh.
"You know what, Sanzo--"
"Goku." Hakkai breaks in quickly, his tone a clear warning, as if the former teacher thinks this is not the right time to push Sanzo's patience.
To Sanzo's complete surprise, Goku listens to that warning and refrains from saying whatever it was he had meant to say. Secretly, Sanzo could not be more grateful to Hakkai right now.
A few minutes later, Gonou and the youkai Gojyo emerge from the bedroom, the brunette in those same too tight pants but now with a rather snuggly-fit long-sleeved green shirt. The youkai Gojyo is wearing a blue button-down that accents his eyes and a simple pair of black slacks. There is no denying the pair looks handsome.
Especially together, Goku thinks with a small smirk. A quick glance at the redheaded Gojyo and Hakkai's reactions proves that the pair is finally thinking along the same lines as him. Both are giving their doubles rather…pleased looks, and those looks do not dissipate when Gonou steals a quick kiss and slips his arm around Gojyo's waist.
When they are out the door, the group moves to follow, but what comes as a slight shock, is that they all suddenly feel the beginnings of a shift. Knowing the drill at this point, those standing sink quickly to the ground to avoid falling against their control. Sanzo, still in his chair, merely shuts his eyes, and wonders with slight annoyance why the shift hurts a little more this time than it had before.
-----
The group awakes to the sounds of a great and glorious din. They are in a rather cramped space, and when they glance around it does not take them long to realize they are behind a bar, especially when the female bartender walks right through Goku on the floor, giving him a rather surprising view up her skirt.
Gold eyes go wide and remain that way for several seconds as the monkey works out how to react to that.
Gojyo is laughing at him. "Lucky monkey." the kappa says with a wink.
Goku only blushes. But he feels significantly better about things when he catches the very angry look on Sanzo's face, directed not at him, but at the cute bartender. Goku grins wide, tossing a wink back to Gojyo and feeling completely triumphant.
When Sanzo remembers himself and realizes what he had been doing, he turns away, but not before seeing the smug expression on Goku's face.
"I suppose we have beat ourselves here, Gojyo." Hakkai says, lifting himself up and looking out from behind the bar to survey the room. The others do the same.
Gojyo, backing up quickly to avoid being walked through by that same bartender, looks up to the ceiling with a shout. "We could've walked!" he calls, a little miffed at what he considers an unnecessary shift.
Hakkai smiles at him. "I'm sure our captors would respond with something like…now, where would the fun be in that?" he says with a laugh.
Despite being mocked, Gojyo returns his friend's smile, happy to be on the receiving end of something so completely pleasant and normal. He quickly decides to consider it a step in the right direction.
"Let's get out from behind here already, you idiots." Sanzo growls, maneuvering his way past the bartender to go through the door he assumes leads into the kitchen and then hopefully out into the main part of the bar somewhere else. Sanzo does not look back to see if he is being followed, but he both senses and hears his companions behind him as he enters what reveals itself to indeed be…the kitchen.
Jien is having a very controlled conversation with a waiter, looking as if he is two seconds from ringing the neck of the poor youkai boy in front of him, but trying his hardest to remain calm. A few shattered dishes are on the floor near them and the onlookers do not need to guess why Jien looks so angry.
Gojyo takes a few moments to listen in, but when he realizes the conversation isn't all that interesting and that the others seem to be heading for the main area of the bar, he quickly follows.
The din of the bar hits them again as they come out of the kitchen, able to see the place more clearly now. It is very crowded, filled with youkai and human alike, all eating, or drinking, or dancing, or even just talking at the many tables. A large area has been cleared in the center of the bar with very specifically aligned chairs and tables, apparently for the upcoming tournament.
As the group makes their way through the crowds, having a hard time keeping random people's arms or even the occasional half a body from passing through them, Gojyo is the one most in awe of the place. His crimson eyes are glittering with pride and excitement. When Hakkai looks and sees the sheer pleasure on his friend's face, he cannot help feeling a little…sympathy for Gojyo. After all, this is one of those many dreams…that will most likely never come to light.
"There's me and Kory!" Goku shouts suddenly, his voice only audible to them due to its distinctiveness. Goku catches Sanzo's eye and very sarcastically adds, "I mean Kory and the other Goku, of course."
Sanzo scowls, choosing to look ahead where Goku has indicated rather than at the pleased look of his charge. Sure enough, sitting at one of the smaller tables is Koryuu, Goku, and what they soon see to be Kanan. The three of them are talking excitedly, laughing every so often as they enjoy the meal in front of them.
The group makes their way over to the table and stands as close as they can, happy to finally have a perch that keeps them out of others' way.
Kanan's lovely laughter drifts up at them. "Oh, Kory, your mother is such a hoot. I'm glad you two had a good time at brunch. And everything with Kami's been settled too? That's wonderful. Let me know if you need any help on moving day, okay?"
"I'm sure he'll love to see you, K." Koryuu smiles. "And you know, Mom, she couldn't ask enough times about how everyone is, you and Gonou the most. She considers the whole gang extensions of the family, you know."
Kanan laughs again. "We'll have to do something special for her birthday this year. All of us could work on a surprise party or something. Mom and Dad would love to help, I bet, and they know all of Meiyuu's other friends. It would be easy to round people up. And it is Meiyuu's 40th this year."
Sanzo gives a little start. That would make his mother quite young when she had him, only 17 or so. But if he thinks on it, the face he remembers looking down at him had indeed been quite young and the Meiyuu he met early today didn't really look as though she could have a 23-year-old son.
Hakkai has given a little start as well at the mention of his own parents. Kanan had so casually said it--'Mom and Dad'--that he almost missed it. So, the truth is more than just having found Kanan sooner; they are not orphans here. He should have guessed that but…he hadn't given it much thought.
"Hey, look, Gonou and Gojyo are finally here." the older Goku says, his gaze on the front door where the well-dressed pair is working their way through the crowd. Both are stopped several times by patrons who seem to know them, and it is clear that they are not only well-known, but well-liked.
Eventually, they spot their friends and reach the table, Gonou immediately taking a seat next to his sister while Gojyo remains on his feet. "Crazy tonight, huh?" the youkai says, smiling with more than his fair share of pride. "Better find Jien before he has an aneurism. Don't wander off, now, babe." he adds to Gonou, pecking the man's temple. "I need you to ref."
"I'll be here." Gonou smiles.
"See you guys in a bit."
As Gojyo makes his way to the kitchen, Gonou eagerly joins in on the conversation, while trying unsuccessfully to swipe food from Kanan's plate. Each time he tries, she catches him with a fierce slap at his hand. This results in many little snickers from both Goku's. The display is rather…juvenile, but that only proves to make it seem more warming.
"Quit that!" Kanan says, trying to sound savage as she gives Gonou's hand another slap.
"We got distracted and didn't have dinner." Gonou explains. "Besides, I don't want to bother the cooks when the place is so crowded." He makes a quick dash for a dumpling, but is once again foiled with a slap.
"Whose fault is that?" Kanan remarks back. "If you two can't find the time to eat around wanton love-making in every room of the house, it's your own fault."
Once again, both Gokus snicker. "Geez, sex over food?" the older one says, a thoughtful look on his face as he picks up one of the dumplings from his own plate and takes it in one big bite. He swallows. "No thank you."
Blonde eyebrows knit together as Koryuu leans in close to the young man beside him. "Nice to know I rank so high on your list, monkey. If you'd rather have a midnight snack next time you start nibbling my ear, that can be arranged."
Kanan giggles, eyeing Gonou carefully the entire time, so that when he tries once again to steal a bit of food, she suddenly moves the plate, causing her brother's hand to collide with the table--hard.
"Ow." he hisses, bringing his injured fingers up to his mouth. He glares. "Brat.
Kanan returns the look with one that is eerily similar. "Thief." she accuses back.
"Stingy brat."
"Deviant."
"Witch."
"Lech."
"Why thank you." Gonou grins and by some miracle of quick movement somehow swipes a dumpling at last from around Kanan's back since she had been holding her plate to the side. He eats the dumpling quickly, triumphantly, and looking rather pleased with himself gives a little bow in response to Koryuu and the older Goku laughing.
Kanan, with a mighty push at her brother as if to dump him off his chair, is soon laughing along with them, the game having ended, but ended well.
It is so unfairly characteristic of a normal brother and sister that Hakkai feels a sudden constriction in his chest. He never had that. His and Kanan's relationship had been one of pure politeness and wanting to make things easier for the other in any way possible. It is the reason he cleaned the house so ritualistically, if only to please her in one of the many ways he thought to.
It suddenly dawns on him why Gonou is a slob; there had been no Kanan to please. Not romantically. But why then…does Gonou not do the same for Gojyo, when the youkai is constantly making jokes and comments about it? And then it strikes Hakkai rather suddenly that--with Gonou and Gojyo--such need to please never comes into play. They are at ease simply with one another as they are.
This thought could very easily turn into a lump in Hakkai's stomach in regards to his relationship with Kanan, but it does not. Instead, he finds himself lifting his emeralds to take in crimson, and feels…very comfortable there, because he knows there is nothing he would ever have to do, nothing he would ever half to prove. Gojyo would take him in any form, and will.
Gojyo realizes he is being watched and lifts his head to meet the gaze regarding him. He smiles on instinct at the look Hakkai is giving him, because it is not a look filled with any type of sadness or regret. With a simple meeting of gazes, Hakkai is passing to Gojyo all the affections of someone…who has suddenly made up his mind.
This knowledge has Gojyo's eyes widening to twice their normal size. He has always been an expert at reading Hakkai, but if the look he is getting can be trusted, then…is Hakkai ready to take Gojyo seriously?
Gojyo wonders for a fleeting moment if he is ready to take things seriously. They haven't had much time to talk, not with the monk and monkey around, and the most intimate thing they have ever shared was still something that ended unpleasantly. Well, unless one counts the hug, which Gojyo firmly decides he will. That too was intimacy, and that had ended well. Wonderfully well.
Gojyo realizes his heart is beating wildly and wonders if perhaps Goku's sharp ears can hear it, since the monkey is right beside him. But Goku is too busy looking down at Koryuu and the older Goku to care.
While Kanan and Gonou continue to playfully bicker, Kanan conceding to let Gonou finish off her plate, Koryuu is whispering into the older Goku's ear, making the monkey fight back giggles at whatever is being said. They are snuggled so close, their chairs practically melded into one, that a girl at a nearby table keeps looking up at them with a blush.
Noticing this, Sanzo turns a fierce glare on the voyeuristic woman, despite the fact that she obviously cannot see it or him.
"Attention! Can I have everyone's attention, please!"
The watchers and their current focuses of attention all turn to the sudden, amplified voice of the youkai Gojyo, who is using some type of microphone. He is standing beside the set up tables and chairs, looking out at his many patrons with an inviting and charming grin. It takes a few minutes for the bar to quiet successfully, but soon the place has been reduced to a low buzz as Gojyo continues.
"As most of you know, this fine establishment you find yourselves in tonight is hosting the first of what we hope to be an annual poker competition. Now, we already have several contestants lined up, but if anyone would like to apply for one of the two remaining seats, do so now. Contestants, take your places, and we will begin shortly."
"I didn't know there were spots still open." Kanan turns to Gonou, looking surprised and a little hopeful. "You don't suppose…I might--"
"Don't even think about." Gonou breaks in, giving his sister a warning look. "Gojyo wouldn't let me enter. The same should go for you."
"Yes, but…he's never seen me play before."
"You're better than I am, Kanan. You'll murder the competition. And you know who Gojyo will blame if there are complaints about his sister-in-law winning."
Kanan giggles. "I love it when you call me that. Sister-in-law. Which one of you wore the dress again?"
While both Gokus fallonce moreinto unstoppable giggling, Gonou reaches over to punch Kanan none too gently in the arm. "Very cute, Kanan. Don't change the subject."
"Come on, Gonou." she says sweetly. "I'll split the winnings with you."
Gonou opens his mouth for a comeback but seems to think better of it, considering this new offer. As he comes to a decision, his green eyes glitter deviously. "If Gojyo asks, I had nothing to do with this. Understood, gentlemen?" he adds, turning to Koryuu and Goku.
With rather mischievous grins of their own, the pair decides to play along. They nod. Gonou turns back to Kanan and offers his own nod, giving permission.
In a second she is out of her seat, batting her pretty eyes at Gojyo to let her be one of the final contestants. Unaware of her talents, though to his justice he does show a little concern over the whole thing, Gojyo allows her to sign up.
Koryuu leans forward across the table. "Kanan used to clean out every classmate we had of their lunch money. Gojyo's going to be pissed if anyone says something about her winning."
Although Gonou had brought up this same concern himself, he merely shrugs. "Kanan can be surprisingly convincing. No one will complain. By the end of the night, those men over there will be all to happy to hand over their money."
Koryuu shakes his head with a laugh but doesn't argue. Judging by the look on his face, he whole-heartedly agrees with Gonou and is more than happy to see where the night might lead. Deciding to abandon their table--after Gonou downed Kanan's last dumpling and Goku finished off what remained on his and Koryuu's plates--the three young men head for stools at the bar to give them a better view of the tournament.
The watchers follow, feeling a bit on a leash really, since they can do little more than go where they are led. Still, seeing as there is little else to do and with not a single sign to tell them otherwise, they decide they might as well keep following.
Luckily, Gonou, Koryuu, and the older Goku manage to acquire seats at the end of the bar, leaving the four watchers room to lean against the wall and still keep an eye on everything. Hakkai is the closest to the bar, with Gojyo next to him, then Goku, and finally Sanzo, who remains a slightly larger distance away. If he dislikes being next to Goku, it is overshadowed by his apparent dislike for everything.
The tournament gets underway, the youkai Gojyo walking back and forth around the participants to keep a close eye while Gonou keeps watch from a distance and is brought in over any discrepancies. The first few hands are rather normal, Kanan doing well but apparently holding back so as to not give away her actual skill. By the time most of the less adequate players have been weeded out, Kanan is no longer playing weak. Several times the youkai Gojyo tosses Gonou a look that clearly shows he is not happy for being taken in, but Gonou pretends not to notice.
Throughout the events of the tournament, Goku has been trying to keep a close eye on Koryuu and his other self, though in truth the pair is doing little more than watching, other than the occasional look of affection that passes between them. Goku does notice, to his pleasure, that Sanzo seems to be watching the couple too, though much less obviously than he is. There is little doubt in Goku's mind as to what Sanzo is thinking. The monk is most likely trying to work out in his head just how much he is willing to risk, if anything at all, and for now Goku is content to let Sanzo wonder.
He does not plan to remain so accommodating for long, however.
Out of the corner of his eye, Goku also notices that Gojyo and Hakkai seem to be doing better and better. Though the conversation he had with his friends earlier had revolved mostly around Sanzo being a prick, he had gotten out of them that they are trying to come to terms with each other, but wouldn't say more than that. Judging from the looks they keep giving each other now, he thinks those terms are coming together nicely.
Forgetting Koryuu and the older Goku, and being more than a little bored with the poker tournament, Goku finds himself watching his friends now more than anything. He does so as covertly as he can, but he doubts they would notice anyway, being so caught up in each other.
Gojyo reaches over slowly and takes hold of Hakkai's hand, lacing his fingers through loosely enough to allow Hakkai to pull away if he so chooses. Hakkai chooses…to lace his own fingers tightly. Crimson and emerald meet, each turned to each other. Hakkai blushes softly, unprepared perhaps for the look of love and longing on Gojyo's face. Gojyo grins a little crookedly, having no idea how to precede other than to wing it, because he has never wooed a man before. In truth, this isn't about wooing anyway, it's about understanding and accepting. And that is something he can always do with Hakkai.
Goku's sharp ears pick up on Gojyo whispering something, but even his senses cannot decipher the words enough to know what has been said. Whatever it was has Hakkai blushing again and looking strangely serene, as if he is extremely drunk or drugged, Goku thinks, almost laughing at his own description. That's it, Gojyo and Hakkai look drunk. Drunk off each other.
A lazy turn of his head to look at Sanzo has Goku suddenly looking right into violet eyes.
Sanzo is so caught off guard, he blushes, a shade far deeper than Hakkai had turned since Sanzo is even paler.
Goku grins.
Sanzo scowls.
The blush is soon banished, but Goku will not forget that it had been there.
The sudden sound of a sigh causes Goku to turn again to face his friends, and to his most pleased shock, he finds the pair pulled close together by their interlocked hands, their lips meeting in slow, tentative touches. Everything else in the room fades away and Goku feels his grin growing out of control, positively beaming. His friends are kissing. More gently and tenderly than Gonou and the other Gojyo do, but that only makes it more perfect and wonderful because this is Gojyo and Hakkai. And this is how they kiss. This is how they look. And Goku loves it.
The way Hakkai's lips are just a little bit pink now from touching, and touching again to Gojyo's. The way both sets of jewel-toned eyes are half-lidded. The way both of them are smiling as if even more drunk now, so that Goku wonders if they might collapse into each other or fall over.
It might just be the sweetest thing he has ever seen.
"It looks like we have a winner, ladies and gentlemen!" Calls out the youkai Gojyo's slightly irritated sounding voice. He goes to stand by Kanan's chair. "Congratulations to our first poker champion…Cho Kanan!" And though he smiles broadly out at the many applause, he quickly turns a well-aimed glare at Gonou before bending down to whisper something to Kanan that can only be some form of threat or accusation.
Kanan only laughs and is soon standing to accept her applause and the bag of winnings that is presented to her by Jien. But, just as Gonou foresaw, not a one of the other contestants looks sore or as if they might complain. When Kanan bats her pretty eyes again and looks with very believable sympathy at the few players left, all of them smile sheepishly back at her, completely taken in.
Something about that smile, regardless of which sibling it is on, is capable of getting almost anyone to do…just about anything.
Goku turns again to look at his friends, having only been slightly distracted by the end of the tournament. He is pleased to see that Gojyo and Hakkai were not even slightly distracted, because they are only now breaking apart. When emerald and crimson realize gold is watching them, the only thing anyone can do is smile. The fact that violet is not sharing in their mirth, barely even registers.
-----
It is not long after the end of the tournament that the group finds themselves in Gonou and Gojyo's living room again, apparently meaning that they are to spend the night here as they spent last night at Koryuu and Goku's.
It is late quicker than they could have expected, and when Gonou and the youkai Gojyo stumble their way into the bedroom (since they are half-chasing each other and already starting to unbutton clothing) Sanzo is supremely happy he has the power to shut the sliding door they forgot about.
"Rock, paper, scissors for the couch?" Goku asks, plopping himself down on one of its cushions.
Hakkai look as if he is about to offer some pleasant reply to that, but Sanzo breaks in first. "No. The couch is mine. I slept sitting up last night and I am not doing it again. You three can take the floor." This is all said without even the slightest pause to allow argument, and the monk moves quickly to haul Goku off his cushion. "I'm going to sleep. Shut up and do the same." And he is spread out on the couch suddenly, robes down around his hips and eyes closed.
Goku--strangely--doesn't say a word against it, not even at being thrown so unceremoniously from the couch. He merely tosses Gojyo and Hakkai a smile before making himself comfortable right next to that couch, so that, if Sanzo were on the floor, they would be sleeping side by side. Only Hakkai is astute enough to see Sanzo peek an eye open, aware that there is a monkey so close by, but that eyes is soon gone again, and Hakkai decides not to comment.
Feeling a little flustered over the entire day, the brunette makes himself comfortable on the floor, not entirely expecting it--but not objecting either--when Gojyo lays down next to him. It isn't right next to him and the kappa does not reach over to pull Hakkai against him at all, but it is still close, and for a moment…crimson and emerald don't know what to do other than look into one another's drowning depths.
Hakkai seems to want to say something, but a sudden snore from Goku breaks the moment. The pair tries not to snicker, fearing an outburst from Sanzo when they really do want to rest just now. Then, lost again in brilliant color, they lean forward just enough for their lips to meet, soft and slow and lazy, before pulling back, smiling…and contentedly drifting off.
Having heard the light sounds of meeting lips within the still quiet of the room, Sanzo's jaw clenches. He knows he is the only one still awake, for he can hear the even breaths of the others.
A small, annoying part of his mind reminds him just what he had been doing last night when those same even breaths were playing a mantra for him, but he dismisses such thoughts. Even with the familiar scent of Goku--sunshine and grass and meatbuns--wafting up from the floor just below him, Sanzo wills himself to sleep.
Maybe tomorrow…he will remember how to be himself again. But somehow…he doubts it.
tbc...
A/N: It's funny how, even though I don't think it has even been a week, I feel like I took forever to post this part. I've been spoiling you! Hee. I hope this chapter was as fun to read as to write. It feels sort of like an in-between chapter, even though Gojyo and Hakkai are progressing nicely. How do you like my decision to write their part mostly from Goku's POV? It seemed more fitting for some reason. But don't worry, it won't always be that way. :-)
Umm...I still haven't read the front page yet, but...I can't reply here anymore, huh? Man! Well, I may or may not get around to PMing, or maybe I'll just wait to do that with new reviews, since I'm not used to this new system yet. Anyway, as a teaser, the next day is when Goku said he would be practicing with his limiter, if you recall. Be ready for that! LOVE!
Crim