At Sanzo's cruel words, Goku felt something inside him break, heard a faint voice cry out. What? Goku didn't understand who it was that was crying inside him.
"Go! Get out of my sight!" Sanzo snapped.
Goku turned and ran, holding his own tears back. He ran out the large, shrine-style doors of The Green Dragon Inn where the ikkou were staying. The rain poured down on him like his own hopeless despair. He thought of what Sanzo had asked him. How can I ever tell him the truth? He'll hate me! Goku looked around. He was at the edge of the Centauri forest that was near the inn.
He walked into it slowly, still thinking. He knew why he did those things to Sanzo. He just couldn't tell Sanzo that. The truth was that he loved Sanzo. He didn't know what kind of love, but he knew that it was love that kept him by Sanzo's side in the meanest of moods. What if it's love-love? What if I'm actually in love with Sanzo? He'd never accept that! He'd prolly kill me! ... I need help...
Goku found what he was searching for: the cave. He entered it and sat on the dry floor. He was cold all the way to his bones, but that was nothing compared to the loneliness and hurt he felt inside. He looked out the cave entrance and watched the rain pour down with melancholy. Why does he hate me?
It was morning at The Green Dragon Inn, and the inhabitants were getting up. Gojyo came down the marble stairs, half expecting to see Goku stuffing his face. When all he saw was Sanzo, he said, "Hey, wheres the monkey?"
Sanzo looked up at him with an odd expression, but before Gojyo could figure it out, Sanzo said with his trademark snarl, "DoI look like a zookeeper to you? How should I know where that baka is at? If you're so concerned, kappa, you go look for his sorry ass!"
"Okay! Damn, I was just asking!" But it bothered Gojyo. Why had Sanzo reacted so strongly to the question? Had something happened? Gojyo decided to ask Hakkai his opinion.
"Well, Gojyo, maybe Sanzo is just in a bad mood, and Goku is making himself scarce to avoid having the bad mood taken out on him." Hakkai was straightening out the room that he and Gojyo shared.
"But that never kept Goku from bothering Sanzo before, Hakkai. And another thing. I heard them arguing last night. I was up to get a drink and I heard Sanzo yelling at Goku. Do you think he ran away?" Gojyo took a drag on his cigarette.
Hakkai's expression darkened slightly. "Gojyo, perhaps we should just let it be. It really isn't our concern in the first place." His voice was soft but there was a slight edge to it, and Gojyo saw his eyes flick meaningfully to the doorway at Gojyo's back.
Getting the message, Gojyo said,"Yeah...I guess." But he wasn't going to let it go. He wanted to know what was going on between the two.
Hakkai walked by him on his way out the door and said softly in a tone that only Gojyo could hear, "Talk to me more later." He smiled, and wasgone.