Title: The Abstract Noun (Chapter 3)
Rating: T for language and alcohol/tobacco use
Pairing: GojyoxSanzo
A/N: Thank you for all the kind reviews! This is the longest chapter yet, which is pretty pathetic, but hopefully it'll get better from here!
. Darkness descended once more, hiding the town with the veil of night. It drove inside the common folk and drew out the outcasts of society, their faces confident under the cover of black, to go about doing whatever illicit activity they chose to participate in behind the townspeople's backs. The four travelers were gathered in what would soon be Sanzo and Hakkai's room for the night. Goku and Gojyo were squabbling over the last few remnants of pizza left after their meal. Gojyo was at an advantage, towering over Goku as he held the pizza box high over his head. Hakkai smiled as he watched them, glad that the oppressive atmosphere had lifted. Despite his silence, Hakkai had noticed Gojyo's dark mood the other day and felt relief in its disappearance. If they could all keep forcing themselves to smile, the journey just might be bearable. Hakkai decided to take the moment, while the two most immature members of the group were preoccupied, to express his concerns to Sanzo. The priest was sitting in a chair close by with a cup of tea in hand, reading glasses perched on his nose as he flipped through the paper. The throbbing vein on his forehead clearly betrayed his irritation at the lack of quiet and the losing battle against suppressing said irritation.
"Sanzo."
"Hm?"
He looked up from the newspaper to face Hakkai. Hakkai drew up a chair beside him.
"Don't you think it strange that we haven't encountered any youkai in the past week?"
"I'm not complaining."
"Well yes, but usually we can barely get from inn to inn without running into any on the road, much less spend days peacefully in any given town."
"They were probably caught up by the rain. I think hoping that they've learned not to fight us is too much to ask."
"I suppose so," Hakkai sighed.
. Sanzo dismissed the subject by turning back to the paper. He hadn't noticed the unease lingering in Hakkai's eyes. The shattering of a lamp drew both their attention to Goku and Gojyo, though Sanzo's attention was far more malicious than Hakkai's.
"Haven't you two heard of quiet!" Sanzo roared as he fired two bullets into the wood of the bedstand, dangerously close to Goku's shoulder and Gojyo's leg. The two flinched and fled to the sanctuary of their room. Goku, of course, didn't forget to bring the pizza with him.
. Gojyo and Sanzo sat across from each other in the dining room of the inn. The air surrounding them was starting to turn visible, wafting around their heads in hazy white clouds. Gojyo took another drag from his cigarette and breathed a wreath of smoke back out. Silence permeated the area, forming a bubble that even the idle chatter of the other patrons could not fill. The two purposely avoided each other's eyes. The bruise on Gojyo's face was purpling under the gauze. Of course, Sanzo failed to notice, and the notion of an apology was laughable. It didn't feel quite normal, however. Sanzo was doing his best not to look at Gojyo. This, in itself, was the strange thing. Even though the priest harbored hateful sentiments against Gojyo, they had always manifested into Sanzo's ignoring of Gojyo, the pretense that he put that that the redhead didn't exist. But to purposely avoid someone, one must acknowledge the other's presence and steer clear of it. That was what Sanzo was doing. In his own backhanded way, he was giving Gojyo his undivided attention.
Gojyo observed Sanzo out of the corner of his eye.
. Sanzo was gazing out the window, cigarette dangling from his lips and his fingers tracing idly around the rim of his cup of tea. Gojyo's gut wrenched in what he told himself was aggravation. It was maddening how stiff and calm and anal Sanzo could be. How he could gain control of a conversation with one cold word, how he wielded power over a battle with bullets faster than any blade, how he conquered Gojyo's mind with one stare. And then he realized why he always pushed Sanzo's buttons. What he wanted. It was emotion - raw, unchecked human emotion drowing out the irritation, the anger, the passivity, the three expressions he had ever seen on Sanzo's face. He wanted something else, something that would set his blood boiling. A smile. Or maybe panic. Yeah, panic would wrench that collected exterior away. Let's see how well Sanzo picks up the pieces after that. The tips of Gojyo's fingers itched as he tapped the table rhythmically. He wondered if it was more than irritation he felt for Sanzo. Maybe he really did hate him deep down. What he failed to remind himself of was the fact that hate wasn't too far off from –
"Hey!"
. Goku's voice broke through Gojyo's thoughts, smashing the bubble of silence in a way only Goku could. Hakkai walked to the table in a more demure fashion, his smile unfailingly perpetual upon his features. He placed the bags of newly purchased supplies down onto the ground before taking a seat. Sanzo and Gojyo turned their gazes from the opposite polars of the room, unspoken gratitude for the other two's presence lying just underneath their tones. Goku immediately seized the menu lying in front of Sanzo and flipped through the pages, listing off enough food to feed a regiment. From all appearances, Hakkai seemed to be listening to Goku ramble on and on about breakfast items but in truth, he was observing Sanzo and Gojyo, feeling the tension radiating between them and wondering what had passed in the short time he and Goku were gone.
"Goku," Hakkai suggested, "why don't you go find a waitress? I think it will be rude to call one from here."
Goku blinked, but with the slow dawning of realization that the faster the order, the faster the food, he raced off leaving the three men at the table.
"Now," Hakkai started, free of Goku's innocent quips, "what did we miss?"
Sanzo snorted. Gojyo crushed his cigarette into the ashtray. Hakkai continued,
"You know, we need cooperation and compatibility to complete this quest, and I think that secrets will hinder that, at best."
Gojyo pulled another cigarette from the pack in his vest and said, "Jesus Christ, Hakkai. You're acting like we're all married to each other or something."
He pulled out a lighter and flicked it open, drawing his thumb across the dial sharply, trying and failing to generate a flame from it.
"Well, I am applying the same philosophy as marriage. If people are going to have to spend a large amount of time with each other, I believe it will be greatly beneficial if we did have the weight of talking behind each other's backs upon our shoulders."
"Nothing happened," Sanzo cut in, "except kappa over there decided I was a one man freak show. It's not like we don't see each other enough."
Gojyo stopped flicking his lighter, cigarette still unlit and hanging lax from his lips. Shit. Sanzo had noticed. He scrambled to regain his composure and shot back defensively,
"I was just making an effort to be social, you pretentious bastard! Am I too unworthy to be graced by your voice? Damn schizoid."
"If you want to be social, talk don't stare, pervert."
It was a seething and bristling duo that Goku returned to, but the oppression had vanished only leaving a shadow of itself in their anger. Hakkai sipped his tea nonchalantly. This was definitely a better situation than it was before. Almost normal.
"What's going on?" Goku asked.
"Ah nothing, nothing."
Gojyo diverted his attention to Hakkai long enough to yell, "Hypocrite!" before fuming at Sanzo once again.
Hakkai just smiled.
. The four were gathered in Hakkai and Sanzo's room once again, this time listlessly tossing mahjong pieces around in a struggle against boredom. After breakfast, they had come back upstairs to ready their departure when they found Hakuryu curled under Hakkai's blanket suffering the effects of being driven in the rain. With the little dragon sick, the group's means of transportation had been robbed from them and they were stranded for the time being. It did nothing for Sanzo's mood which remained sullen since breakfast, now having "unseen setback" on the list of things to be royally pissed off about. He would've even welcomed a visit from Kougaiji's cronies. They'd have something to do and he'd have something to kill.
"Ron," Sanzo said, none too enthusiastically, as he flipped the mahjong tiles to reveal his hand.
"Aww this is boring! And I'm hungry!" Goku complained.
He threw his pieces across the table.
"Quiet monkey," Sanzo replied, resting his head on his hand.
"What? Why th'hell would you want quiet now! I know you're friggin' bored too, Sanzo."
"Because you're the irritating kind of noise. Now shut it."
"Hmph."
Goku crossed his arms, then fell backwards to recline on the floor. Gojyo looked at hismahjong pieces disdainfully and decided poking fun at Goku was going to be far more entertaining.
"Looks like monkey here is going through a rebellious phase."
"What! Don't call me that, ya cockroach!"
"I already told you these aren't antennae, idiot!"
"Well if you look like a cockroach, smell like a cockroach, and taste like a cockroach, what are you? A cockroach, that's what!"
"How the hell would you know what I or a cockroach tastes like! But then again, you eat pretty much anything, stomach-for-brains! Eat this!"
Gojyo threw the nearest pillow he could find at Goku, hitting him square in the face.
"I bet that tastes good!"
Goku retaliated by pouncing on Gojyo. Mahjong pieces scattered everywhere as the two brawled. Hakkai waved his hands, sweatdropping.
"Now, now, we wouldn't want to have to pay for damages."
The click of Sanzo's Smith & Wesson being cocked was lost amidst the noise. He fired two shots, one at Goku and one at Gojyo, to grab their attention.
"When I ask for quiet, I mean it," he growled.
. Goku and Gojyo returned to their seats. An awkward silence fell upon them. Sanzo noticed that just like he himself had been doing this morning, Gojyo was avoiding his eyes. Even when he had shot at him, Gojyo hadn't looked straight at him, incredulous or no. Sanzo assumed he was trying to cover his embarrassment at being caught staring during breakfast. And then he realized something else. At the beginning of the journey, every time he wanted to be heard, he had shot directly at Gojyo, trusting he would dodge in time. If he couldn't, well he was useless anyway. Recently, however, Sanzo had take to shooting away from Gojyo, intentionally missing him entirely. It was a subconscious flick of the wrist that threw off the bullet's trajectory, making sure that whether or not Gojyo dodged, the bullet wouldn't hit him. He couldn't say the same for Goku, or anyone else for the matter. Gojyo didn't notice, of course, making sure to dodge the bullets just the same, but it was only a matter of time before he found out. Then Sanzo's intimidation tactic would be rendered completely obsolete. Or perhaps it would be interpreted as something else. Sanzo clenched his teeth, frustrated that he didn't even have the willpower to kill an idiotic pervert whenever he wanted. Gojyo had just proved his worth on the journey, Sanzo told himself. Afterwards, he could put as many bullets through that spot under two antennae as he wanted. He ruled out the possibility that perhaps he didn't want Gojyo cold and six feet under. Genjo Sanzo did not feel fondness for anybody. A stupid, arrogant, son of a bitch would not be the exception.
"Sanzo."
He was brough abruptly from his musings by Hakkai calling his name. The three were already at the doorway, ready to go out.
"Are you coming?"
"Coming where?"
"To town. We were going to explore."
Sanzo imperceptibly reddened at being caught while in the middle of his thoughts but nodded his ascent. He followed them out the door.
. The town yielded much more than their sodden, muddy arrival had shown once it was all thrust into the sunlight. The vendors' numbers had doubled, crowding the streets on both sides while the townspeople waded through the tumult. Children scampered in between, playing games and stealing what they could from the stalls. Despite being surrounded by smiling faces, Sanzo was beginning to share Hakkai's suspicions. The town was too populated, and judging from the lack of attacks recently, they had to expect one at all times. He felt claustrophobic, being pressed in on all sides and breathing the same air that someone else had just breathed. There was no place to run and definitely no place to fight or defend themselves in the case of an attack without drawing in the innocent. As it was, he pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders and continued to saunter against the stream of shoppers to keep up with Goku's eager steps.
. By noon, they reached the end of the town which housed a small collection of shacks and one shabby restaurant with its back facing the forest that lay beyond. Seeing that it was lunchtime and that Goku had been whining about his stomach since they left the inn, the four decided to eat at the restaurant before heading back. Opening the door revealed quite the hubbub, unexpected in a business so far from the heart of commerce. Perhaps the food quality was enough to rival the long distance. Goku skipped ahead happily, choosing one of the few remaining tables in the center of the room. A waitress immediately appeared, greeting them with a warm smile and passing out menus. Goku's mouth couldn't keep up with the speed in his stomach processed his order.
"I want dumplings and stir fry and spring rolls, and ooh! Motsuyaki! and –"
"Eat some more vegetables," Sanzo reprimanded, as he did at almost every meal.
None of the four, while placing their orders, noticed the eyes watching them and the predatory gleam lingering in each.
A/N: Maybe the plot will start now >.>