Chance

Chapter Eight - Crimson

Disclaimer: Don't own.

I am trying to rotate the character's to main in each of the chapters for variety, as they do in the show. This chapter, as you probably guessed from the title, is about Gojyo, mainly. Enjoy.

It was unusually quiet that morning, and even Goku stopped complaining about being hungry. It was obvious that something was wrong. Usually, by this time, a gang of youkai under Kougaiji's command would be throwing themselves at their ikkou. Especially as they were dawning closer and closer to Gyumaou's resurrection site.

They stopped to rest at noon in a small village that seemed to house only a couple of families. "Is this village deserted?" Goku voiced, curiosity making him look this way and that for any sign of life. "Hm? Eh? I see someone in the window-"

"Get out of this village, you cursed creature!!" The five froze at the shrieking voice, and turned to face the group of women who stood in front of him. There were wide eyed children huddling together in the windows, and the women seemed to be the only other ones living there apart from them. "Get out!!" They screamed in unison, clutching rocks in their bare fists.

Hakkai frowned. "What seems to be the matter? Though we may not look it, we do not mean any harm." But they didn't seem to be listening to his reasoning. "Sanzo... maybe we should find another way." He whispered, not wanting to cause too much commotion. But the golden haired man shook his head. "No good.There is no other way to go but through this village." He grunted, putting a hand on his forehead wearily. "We are on a mission westward, and to continue our journey, we must pass through here. Let us through." Sanzo said sharply, hand reaching for his gun.

The women inspected Sanzo thoroughly, and a few whispers that seemed to be saying something along the lines of 'that man is a sanzo houshi'. A lady with snow colored hair stepped foreward,obviously the leader of the village. Her voice was thunderous and menacing, and her pale blue eyes were sharp and icy. "Very well. You and your friends may continue and stay the night here. But not him." She said the last sentence ruefully, full of hate and even anger. Her finger was extended to point at Gojyo.

"What are you talking about?! Why can't Gojyo-"

"No!! If you don't obey our rules,the permission to pass will no longer be valid!!" A murmur of agreement traveled through the crowd. Goku clenched his teeth. "Nani-"

"Put a lid on it, baka-saru. It doesn't matter. I like the forrest better anyways." Gojyo said with a smirk, and turned to walk away with a hand reaching for his lighter. He waved back, and soon, disappeared from sight. Hakkai frowned. Gojyo...

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"ButI still don't get it!! Why won't they let Gojyo stayhere?!" Gokusaid persistantly.Hakkai smiled sadly. "It's going to be alright, Goku. We'll leave early in the morning so they would not be able to see Gojyo pass with us." The emerald-eyed man ruffled the boy's hair, and received an indignant look in return.

"And why did Setsu have to go look for him? I could have found him easier, by smell and-"

"Urusai. Che. Baka, how long has it been and you still don't get it. That asshole's way too proud to have one of us go out to check on him." Goku peered at Sanzo's back which was facing him, his emotions unable to be seen."I just hope Setsu will be able to find him..." Hakkai whispered.

It was a chilly night, even though it was early spring time. Gojyo lay on the grassy floor, watching the canopy of trees and stars above him. "You'll freeze to death." A harsh voice suddenly pierced through his dream land, and he turned to see Setsu's figure bending to sit beside him. "Is that why you're here? To die with me? My, my, you haven't fallen for me, have you?" Gojyo grinned at her, watching with content as she spat at the ground as a reply. "Just kidding."

They sat silently for a while, gazing at the stars, before Gojyo broke the silence. "When I was born, my mother hated me. I was considered a taboo child, born between human and youkai. My hair and eyes confirm that fact. I guess she saw that woman that took away her love for my father in me. Even now..." He trailed off, suddenly aware of the fact that he was freely talking about his past; the past that he tried so hard to forget. Why did he start saying all this in the first place?

"Your eyes are red. And your hair is red, too."Gojyo blinked, a little taken back at this blunt statement. Of course they were red. Anyone could see that."I don't see what's so unnatural about that." She said, squishing a nearby mushroom. Again he lay there blinking."Tch. Those women just have nothing else to worry about all day."Her voice lowered as she mentioned those hostile inhabitants of the village. Gojyo felt a tickle of laughter in his throat,which exploded into a full laugh. "You've seen others besides me that are-?"

A moment of silence followed before she answered. "In the west, there are many like you. It's not considered taboo there. Their red hair and sometimes red eyes are...just that, not any more special than the rest of us." Gojyo closed his eyes with a small smile. "Heh... you're not so bad, even if you don't have half an ass- O-oy!! I just complimented you!! D-don't leave yet-didn't you bringa blanket or something? Not that it's too cold or anything..."

Setsu, who had hissed threateningly and got up to leave at his comment stopped in midstep. After a bit of hesitation, she threw him a thick folded white object, which unraveled in midair. Gojyo caught it, and grinned, with a small thanks.

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"Fewww!! Am i ever glad to be out of there..." Gojyo said with a sigh, and lit his cigarette with a puff of smoke. Goku's eyes narrowed sneakily as he inched closer to the red head. "Ehhh ,didn't you like it; the whole village was full of women!!" Gojyo shuddered involuntarily. "No thank you. For once, I'm glad to be away from somewhere like that."

"Ah, I never thought I'd hear that comming from you, Gojyo." Hakkai said cheerfully with a small chuckle.He then turned thoughtful."Hmmm, I should have recorded that..." From the back of the 'jeep', a certain red head flinched visibly. "Hakkai... don't push it."

"Sumimasen," Was the light hearted reply.

"...You didn't really mean that. Apologize again."

"Oh? But, I did mean it."

"...Iei, now that I think of it, I'm sure you didn't."

"Urusai, urusai..."

"I'm-"

"Hungry."

"I said urusai, baka-saru!!"

"Ehh, Sanzo, don't be like that. Besides, that was Setsu..."

Thanks for reading.