Chapter 9: Awakenings

Kerri awoke and forgot momentarily where she was. Sunlight filtered into the room from the open window. She pushed the covers aside, Hakkai was not there. Neither was Sanzo or Ebony. She quickly dressed and entered the hallway. Goku was there, stretching his arms yawning loudly. A towel over his shoulder. "Morning Kerri !" He beamed at her, the sleep had done Goku a world of good. She returned the smile. "Good morning." Gojyo stumbled out of the room, holding his head groaning. She narrowed her brows. What had transpired here? "You drink waaaaaay too much" Laughed Goku. "Ah shuddap" Gojyo said and pushed Goku aside. "The baths are open. You want to have a bath Kerri?" Asked Goku. She smiled. "Maybe, thankyou. Can you tell me where the others are please?" Gojyo lit a cigarette. "Yeah, downstairs having breakfast." She bowed and walked downstairs.

Hakkai and Ebony sat together at the table, Sanzo on the other side with his paper in his hands. Her face colouring just a little. She imagined his reaction to her intrusion last night. But Hakkai didn't avoid her or discard her he smiled cheerfully and waved her over. Ebony was looking a little pale the tell tale signs of a nightmare-filled sleep. Kerri felt suddenly guilty that she had had no nightmares the night before. She remembered Hakkai's whispered words as she was quickly falling asleep. "Ebony cares about you, so I do too. Don't worry Kerri, I'll protect you..." She cleared her throat uncomfortably before taking a seat beside the Priest. He brought the steaming coffee mug to his lips and sipped carefully. "Where's the monkey and Gojyo?" He asked. "Bathing" Replied Kerri shortly.

"Wouldya stop being such an annoying Monkey!" Demanded Gojyo sinking into the tub further as he sighed as the warm water caressed his skin and soaked off all the travel dust and grime.

"Ah shut up you pervy kappa" Goku called as he bombed in the water almost drowning Gojyo whom came up spluttering for air as he glared at the monkey.

"You do know this means war" he said as Goku blinked at him tying to look innocent, but his smile was giving him away.

Gojyo lunged at Goku as the younger man jumped out of the way managing t kick water into Gojyo's face as he growled in annoyance an jumped at the boy again.

"GET BACK HERE BAKA SARU" Gojyo shouted as he spotted something and a smirk crept over his face as he changed his target and grabbed the large water pistol and began to fill it, making sure that Goku couldn't see what he was doing.

"Gojyo?" Goku asked as Gojyo turned suddenly and got the monkey full in the face as Goku gaped at him.

"You…" he stuttered as he jumped at Gojyo and tried to wrestle the gun from him as Gojyo laughed, he was actually enjoying himself…

Gojyo let go of the gun as Goku fell back into the water and glared at Gojyo from his place at his feet.

"Stupid kappa" he said standing as he looked at the now broken gun

"Look what you did"

"It was your clumsiness that did it monkey"

"You let go so suddenly"

"You were pulling in the first place"

"You shot me with it"

"I could shoot you with lots more"

"Ooh, scary" Goku said sarcastically as he threw the gun on the side of the large bath as he lay back in the water staring at the roof.

"What do you dream about Gojyo?" he asked as Gojyo glanced at the boy taking in his near naked form as Gojyo quickly turned away.

"I told you I don't dream monkey"

"A woman?" Goku asked as Gojyo frowned

"Not quite"

"What then?"

"Inca se you haven't gotten the hint, I'm not telling" Gojyo said as Goku pouted.

"Am I the only one in this group that doesn't have secrets?"

"I'm sure you still have a few" Gojyo said as Goku pouted making Gojyo smile as he quickly looked away so the boy wouldn't notice.

"Like what? Everyone knows that I have no memory of anything before that stupid mountain cell…everyone knows everything about me since then, s what secrets do I have?" Goku asked as Gojyo looked back at him looking into the doe brown eyes that radiated innocence but that was all a cover for the sad boy hidden behind.

"What about your fears? Other then no food? Does everyone know all your fears?" Gojyo asked as Goku opened his mouth to say something before falling silent.

"That doesn't count as a secret" eh said as Gojyo shrugged

"Does in most people's books, since fears can be sued against you, they're kept secret, everyone has secret fears" Gojyo said as Goku nodded, he did indeed have his fears that he told to no one.

"G…Gojyo…do you have fears?" Goku asked as Gojyo frowned

"No"

"What are they?"

"None of your business stupid monkey"

"I want it to be"

"What are you one about?" Gojyo demanded as Goku looked away his mouth closed tightly

"Nothing…forget it…"

"You've got to lay off the sweets monkey, they make you act funny" Gojyo said as Goku muttered an inaudible reply as Gojyo frowned, this was very unlike him.

"I'm scared of women" Gojyo sighed as Goku blinked at him

"You…but you're-"

"A ladies man? Yeah…they scare me shitless though…too much history with women…so I try overcome the fear by facing it…" Gojyo said as Goku blinked at him

"Why are you-"

"Telling you? Because no one would believe you if you said it to them, I needed to get it out of my system, and you weren't acting like yourself so I figured tell you something to make you the normal annoying monkey we all know and love so much" Gojyo said off handedly as he looked away as Goku shifted closer.

"Can I tell you something Gojyo?" Goku asked his eyes unmasked for once showing the sad scared boy underneath.

"W-What?" Gojyo stuttered as he faced the true Goku for the first time.

"I'm scared of…being left alone…of people hating me…of you hating me" Goku whispered as he rested his forehead against Gojyo's bare chest as the half youkai blinked at him in confusion as a light blush covered his cheeks and he glanced around before wrapping his arms around Goku.

"Don't be stupid" he muttered as Goku wrapped his arms around Gojyo.

"Gojyo…is the one person…I don't want to hate me" Goku whispered, Gojyo missed most of the statement, but he was sure that it was meaningful, and directed at him, Gojyo's head shot up as someone opened the doors and came in as he leapt away from Goku blushing as Goku looked down at he water his own face pink with embarrassment.

"I'm going to breakfast" Goku said as he raced out of the room before either of them could say anything, leaving Gojyo to the bath and the newcomer.

"We leave at lunchtime monkey, so be ready" Sanzo said as Goku got to the table as he nodded sitting quietly mulling over his earlier encounter with Gojyo, it was the steam, it made him light headed, that had to be it…

Goku was eating when Gojyo came in he glanced at Goku but didn't' say anything as Goku almost chocked on his food seeing him, Hakkai patted him on the back and began to scold him for eating too much at once as Gojyo sat down avoiding all eye contact with Goku and instead testing Sanzo almost getting himself shot in the process.

Shy-Phantom – OO bath scene…..

Elendur – I had to do it…sorry

Shy-Phantom – No apologies needed, SO CUTE!