A/N: It was hard to make this obvious, but I meant to put Goku's age somewhere around 13-14 or so. It is, of course, NOT meant to show any kind of relationship. But I couldn't ignore my fluff senses and this was too good to pass up. hehehe. Thanks for the reviews and I hope you enjoy!
About the last chapter: Um, well, use your imagination as to what you believe Sanzo and Gojyo thought was going on. If you knew me at all, your mind would be firmly planted in the gutter, though. (cackle)
To this chapter: For those not in the know, Baskin Robbins is an ice cream parlor that boast (at least) 31 different flavors of ice cream. Mint chocolate chip is my favorite. :)
Chapter 11: First Movie
It all started with a perfectly innocent question.
"Hey, Hakkai? Can we go see a movie tonight?"
Hakkai had been more than happy to grant the little question with a yes, having thought for the past few hours of dozens of things that could keep the teenage Goku entertained while he stayed with he and Gojyo. Sanzo had been called out of town on some Sanzoly errand and had expressly forbid Goku to accompany him this time. He had contacted Hakkai with the excuse that Goku was too energetic and would likely run off and get lost in a city as big as the one he was traveling to. Of course, he didn't mention that this particular city was the home of the largest tavern in the southern continent, a perpetual 'Baskin Robbins' for beer-drinking men everywhere.
Naturally he wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to sample refined and true quality beer from all over the world.
Duh.
And being as how the monks at the temple were already trembling in fear of the thought of the little monkey being left in their care again, none to thrilled by the idea and most of them breaking out the now often used fire existinguishing equipment, Sanzo had thought it best (and safest for what remained of his study since LAST time's fiasco had occurred) to have someone Goku was more likely to mind watch over him.
Thusly the blond monk had chosen Hakkai and Gojyo.
It was more Hakkai than Gojyo really; he knew the potential risk factor for Gojyo having to be there, since it was his house after all, but with Hakkai there he was reasonably sure nothing too catastrophic would occur.
Or that at least the damage would be minimized.
So it came to be that Hakkai, Gojyo, and Goku headed off to the newly opened movie theater, which was showing a special sneak preview of a much hyped about movie, and one that Gojyo, consequently, had been dying to see since he heard about it coming out.
Resident Evil.
It was only after the tickets were bought and Hakkai had a chance to read the pre-printed summary of the movie they were going to see, that the first bits of concern began to pop into his mind.
"Ah, Gojyo? Do you think it's a good idea to let Goku see a movie like this?"
The redhead laughed as he paid for a super-mega-jumbo tub of popcorn for a bouncing and drooling Goku. "Don't worry 'Kai. He's a big boy, he can handle a little scary movie, right monkey?"
"Stupid cockroach! Don't call me that! How scary a movie is it?"
"It ain't that scary monkey-boy. Just a few zombies is all."
Hakkai wrinkled his brow, seriously thinking about swapping his and Goku's tickets for something else.
"Look." Gojyo said, seeing the look his friend had on his face. "You watched 'Night of the Living Dead' and weren't scared, right?"
Goku grinned. How the hell could anyone be scared of a zombie that says "Brains…I want brains…" like a constipated crack-addict?
"Yeah! That movie was great! Is this one like that?"
Gojyo nodded in confident. "You'll love it!"
"Aw, Hakkai! I wanna see it! Please? Plleeeassseee?"
The healer made the mistake of looking down at the pleading boy…
…and was instantly trapped in a pair of large, doe-like golden eyes.
He sighed.
There was no way in hell he could refuse those eyes.
Sensing the victory, both men whooped and high-fived each other before dashing off to find seats. Hakkai smiled in spite of his lingering apprehension and followed behind.
"Damn it, monkey, would you stop following so close!"
Hakkai sighed in exasperation. The first part of the movie had been fine and all three men had relaxed into it, completely forgetting any fears that it might be too much for the young Goku to handle. Even when the first zombies had appeared it seemed Goku wasn't too scared, simply a bit jumpy when things suddenly happened without warning.
Of course, the cry of "OH MY GOD THAT'S SO GROSS" had echoed through the entire theater when the final agent had been sliced through with the computer's laser beam system, effectively killing the man and sending tiny little square chunks of his body dripping to the floor while the heroine looked on in horror.
But still, even after that Goku didn't seem too phased.
That is, until the dogs showed up.
Gojyo didn't know there were zombie dogs in the movie. That changed everything.
Zombie people Goku could handle. But the earth child had nearly lost it when three zombie dogs, bones and knotted muscle showing, had suddenly appeared and attacked.
Everything had gone downhill after that.
Even the most ridiculous of zombies terrified the boy and Hakkai had eventually dragged him out of the theater as the giant mutant creature started attacking the train. When Gojyo finally came out Hakkai had yet to calm the now terrified teen down, having settled for simply holding the trembling figure for the past bit until the redhead immerged.
Now, as the trio walked home, Goku was stubbornly clenching Hakkai's hand and walking so close to Gojyo that he kept stepping on the back of the man's foot. Nothing either of them had said so far seemed to help, least of all anything Gojyo had to say. After nearly drawing blood with a murderous glance for Hakkai, the half-demon had given up his sorry attempts at making Goku feel better.
It was going to be a looooongggg night.
After a bowl of ice cream and three hours of comforting words, Hakkai finally laid a sleeping Goku down to sleep. He managed to distract the teen with a game of 'Go Fish', the only card game that the boy could play and win at; and had been relieved to find that Goku was bouncing up and down like his old self upon winning the bed for the night.
Of course, the dangerous looks he'd flashed Gojyo when the bet had been made probably helped the teen's victory along, but he didn't care at this point.
He waited until Gojyo curled up on his newly acquired sofa, his retribution to giving up a win to his card-playing mortal enemy, before turning off the lights and settling down on the futon on the floor. After an exhausting few hours of trying to calm Goku, he was asleep in a matter of seconds.
It seemed only a matter of minutes before his eyes were fluttering open again and Hakkai wondered if perhaps he'd woken up too soon again. Shifting his gaze around, he nearly screamed when his eyes adjusted to the room's darkness and he came face to face with Goku's wide-eyed face. After taking a few seconds to calm his heart, which was now in his throat, Hakkai managed to find his voice and whisper out to the boy.
"Goku? Is something wrong?"
He could see the teen trembling slightly and could hear it when he spoke.
"They're after me Hakkai…"
"Who's after you?"
"The dogs…"
The healer sighed. The movie had obviously given Goku nightmares. He stood up slowly, taking Goku's hand and leading him back to the bed to settle him back down.
"The dogs aren't after you Goku. It was just a dream. And it was just a movie, it was all make-believe."
"I…I know...but…"
Hakkai sat down on the bed, pulling the covers over the teen as Goku lay back down.
"But what?" he asked softly.
Goku sniffled slightly. "It was scary…"
Hakkai ruffled the boy's chocolate locks lightly. "I know it was. But it wasn't real and nothing can get you. Not without going through me and Gojyo first."
A loud snore suddenly blasted through the room, causing them both to giggle slightly.
"Okay." Hakkai said with a chuckle. "Without getting through me first."
He could see Goku grinning and decided to head back to his own spot for what was left of the night.
A hand on his wrist stopped him and he turned to see those damnable doe-eyes pleading up at him for a second time.
"Stay?" Goku whispered tightly. "Please?"
Hakkai smiled and nodded, waiting until Goku scooted over before climbing into the bed and pulling the covers around them both. It was a tight fit for two, a problem that Goku solved by plastering his body against Hakkai, burying his head in the older man's chest and trembling again. The green-eyed man shook his head at the young teen's childish actions, but said nothing as he wrapped an arm around Goku's waist and gave the boy a reassuring hug.
The room grew mostly silent then, interrupted only by Gojyo's obnoxious snores and light mewling sounds from a curled up Hakuryu in a nearby corner.
"Hakkai?"
He smiled at the sleepy sounding voice. "Yes Goku?"
"What if zombie dogs really do attack us in the night?"
"I'll be here to fight them off. No zombie dogs could get past me."
"What if they did?"
"Hmm. Well, then I'd just throw them some of Gojyo's cooking. That would stop anything."
Hakkai could feel Goku's smile against his chest and the boy's body slowly started to relax as sleep curled around him. A few minutes later and the silence was broken again.
"Hakkai?"
"Yes Goku?"
"What if they crept in real quiet?"
"I'll still know they're here."
"How?"
"I'll be awake after all."
"Awake?"
"Well of course Goku. I'm going to stay awake and make sure no pesky zombie dogs try to get in tonight."
Silence.
"All night?"
Hakkai smiled and hugged the teen again. "All night." He assured.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
A few minutes later and Gojyo's snores were accompanied by another's, as sleep finally found the now comforted Goku.
When morning finally came, it found Goku still firmly wrapped in Hakkai's safe embrace as the older man watched the sun rise…
…with a genuine smile of happiness despite his lack of sleep.
(-end chapter-)