Chapter 2:

Gojyo felt annoyed about waking up. He was sore, foggy, and when he tried to move the blankets seemed pinned down, binding him to the bed. He turned his head to the right and blinked. The dim lamp light illuminated Sanzo, who was stretched out on the bed, his glasses on the end of his nose while he read a large paperback book. Gojyo turned his head back to look at the unusually clean ceiling. Why was Sanzo on his bed, reading?

"Why are you on my bed?" Gojyo finally announced, surprised at how rough his voice sounded.

"It's not your bed." Sanzo continued to read.

"There's another bed over there," Gojyo persisted. "Where's Hakkai?"

"He's asleep in the other room." Sanzo still had not looked up from his book, but now he folded down a page corner and closed it. He swung his legs off the bed and began to turn towards Gojyo.

"Hakkai's gonna get pissy if he sees ya' folding book pages. Almost as bad as using beer cans for ashtrays."

The book dropped to the floor and Sanzo squinted down at Gojyo. "Are you really awake this time?"

"Nah, just pretending to be awake." Gojyo was able to struggle up a little now that Sanzo wasn't pinning the blanket to the bed.

Sanzo was studying him oddly. "Hakkai said for you to drink this if you woke up." The monk reached over and poured a tumbler of some vaguely orange-ish, thick liquid.

"If I woke up? There was some doubt?" Gojyo reached out for the glass and was puzzled to see his hand shaking. "That's fucking nasty." He didn't refuse it: Hakkai was capable of materializing and chiding him.

"Yeah, I remember." Sanzo was still looking at him as Gojyo drank the stuff. Gojyo furrowed his brow as he thought.

"I got stabbed earlier?" Memories rushed back in, not coherently but in bits and pieces. "Did you shoot her?"

"No, I didn't shoot her." Sanzo sounded pissed and Gojyo watched him light his cigarette.

"Hey, where are my smokes?" Gojyo glanced around. He didn't see his kit anywhere.

"Where are your smokes?" Sanzo was up on his feet and glaring at Gojyo.

"Umm, yeah?" Gojyo shook his head. He felt wrong, weak, shaky.

"Gojyo." Sanzo stubbed his half-smoked cigarette out savagely before Gojyo could even protest the waste. Sanzo threw himself forward and landed with his hands on either side of Gojyo. The monk's face was so close Gojyo felt his eyes crossing. "Did I shoot her? You fucking died on us, you self-absorbed, hedonistic son of a bitch!"

"I died?" Gojyo blinked, "I wouldn't have drunk that shit if I knew I was dead."

"This isn't one of your cute fucking jokes." Sanzo wasn't yelling: his voice was low and deadly. His breath puffed on Gojyo's face and it would have been really quite tempting to kiss him, if he weren't so fucking angry. He was shaking with that anger. "You died on us and your last fucking words were, 'Don't shoot her'." Gojyo blinked. "Hakkai brought you back, but it was not fast." Sanzo was firing the words at Gojyo, more painful than the bullet fired into his chest had been.

"You died. I heard Hakkai call your name and I saw you, you were dead. And you left me with them. And they were following you." Gojyo felt his eyes widen, he didn't understand; they were following him? "They were slipping. You died in Hakkai's hands and Goku and he were going to kill the men who killed you, and they weren't stopping there. And I was going to have to decide whether to kill them or join them. How the fuck dare you do that to us? Was her ass worth it? Is that why you didn't want her shot? She was such a good fuck that your life, and ours, was worth the trade?"

"It was me. . ."

"Yeah, and the woman you were so damned determined to protect. She was a hired assassin. She and her two boy toys made their way around the whole fucking country, with her seducing men and killing or maiming them for money. Only they were here because someone hired them to wait here. To wait until they heard a monk and his crew had signed in and then kill the hanyou. They were assassins. And you were dying for her."

Gojyo turned his head. "I didn't know that." He looked back, uncomfortable under the intensity of Sanzo's glare. "She was good, man; I never realized she was making me. It's rare to play this player."

"It fucking happens. Maybe if you weren't stoned you would have seen it coming?" He was sarcastic and pissed and not backing off one damned step.

"I wasn't stoned." Gojyo was getting angry himself; he tried to shift higher but his arms seemed weak. "I had a little buzz on!"

"Well, you must turn your brain off when you get a little action, then." Sanzo was still glaring, searching his face for something. He must not have seen what he wanted because he sat back, still obviously in a rage. "Well it stops here. Not gonna happen again. Do you hear me?"

"I hear you, but you don't make any fucking sense." Gojyo gave up trying to get himself into any sort of position to hold his ground and sagged awkwardly against the headboard.

"You don't do drugs and you aren't leaving yourself open to fucking assassins who flash their asses or tits, or anything else, at you." Sanzo reached for his cigarettes and lit one.

"Can I have one of those?" Gojyo asked.

Sanzo seemed to consider it. "When you accept you are not going to be doing this shit anymore."

"What? I'm supposed to just keep myself around and play video games and drink root beer like the fucking monkey? Who are you to tell me? You aren't the boss of me!"

"Well you sure as hell aren't the boss of you," Sanzo shot back. "You wander around in a chicken shit half-assed, self-destructive fog of booze, drugs and sex. You wander around and don't even fight back against half the shit. Well, as long as you are a part of my mission, you will follow my rules."

"Fuck you!" Gojyo shot back.

"Or fuck you," Sanzo snarled. They were staring at each other for several charged seconds. Gojyo was exhausted. He didn't want to do this; he didn't know what the fuck was going on with Sanzo. He didn't even know what the fuck was going on with himself. Licking his lips, Gojyo prepared to ask for a cigarette again when he saw Sanzo's eyes flick down and fix on his mouth. Gojyo, more out of instinct than thought, licked his lips again and the flicker of interest in Sanzo's expression was unmistakable. Gojyo was trying to figure out how to process that when Sanzo's eyes rose to his again.

The monk was still angry, his eyes dark with rage; but there was color in his cheeks. "You got my blood this time," he announced, watching Gojyo's expression.

"She came down again?" Gojyo was confused. He would have remembered waking up with that scary-ass sexy goddess frenching him.

"Hakkai found transfusion supplies and did it here, the night you were stabbed." Sanzo was sardonically pleased when Gojyo realized the implication of that. He didn't bother to hide his reaction.

"How long?"

"You've been out for 3 days. We finally got Hakkai to get some sleep tonight. We didn't think Goku was really up to watching over you so I'm here." Sanzo watched Gojyo processing it, assessing him, and Gojyo didn't like it. Didn't like the idea that Sanzo was waiting for something and Gojyo didn't know what.

"Oh," was his less then articulate response.

"Oh," Sanzo mocked. "I am the leader of this team, which makes me the boss of this team, and makes me the boss of you." Sanzo drew on the cigarette and exhaled slowly, still very close to Gojyo's face. He offered the cigarette to Gojyo, who took it with his shaking hand. Gojyo took a few hits before Sanzo held out his hand; Gojyo passed the cigarette back. Sanzo took a long draw, staring into Gojyo's face. He held the look as he reached out and stubbed that cigarette out too.

Sanzo flicked his eyes from Gojyo's gaze down to his lips. He moved faster than Gojyo would have believed possible: going from a cool, assessing look to pressing his lips hard against Gojyo's.

The hanyou would have expected, given they had been arguing, that Sanzo's kiss would have been aggressive, punishing; this was hard, but not an assault. Gojyo closed his eyes and opened his mouth slightly. Sanzo's tongue invaded, with more passion than skill. Gojyo thought maybe he was dead, or asleep. He lifted a hand and tangled it in the open neck of Sanzo's white button-down shirt. He wasn't pushing the monk away. Dream, death, nightmare, punishment, hell; he was going to make the most out of what was probably a one-shot kiss.

Sanzo's kiss slowed and became more seductive as their tongues chased in and out of each other's mouths. Sanzo wrapped his fingers around Gojyo's wrist, but not to pull free; he directed Gojyo to slide further down in the bed. The monk straddled Gojyo but didn't press his full weight into him. They kissed for an endless time before Sanzo began to pull back, shifting his weight to the side; Gojyo found his face turning to follow the kiss. Sanzo placed an arm over Gojyo's chest, a leg over his thighs. They finally had to end the kiss; Gojyo was aroused but felt too weak to press the issue, a humiliating first.

"Umm, Sanzo?" Gojyo studied the pale face so close to his. Sanzo's eyes were still dark but he didn't look quite so angry now.

"I had my suspicions, but not too long ago I walked into a club and heard two young men talking about how they wished they'd been the two who got to leave with the sexy red head." Sanzo slid a hand up Gojyo's neck and caught it in his hair. "Stupid risks. Go back to their place?" Sanzo was nipping at Gojyo's mouth.

"What's your style? Hand jobs in the alley?" Gojyo mumbled, trying to taunt him but still a little confused. He vaguely remembered the bar where he picked up a couple of brothers.

"Yeah, or fuck 'em against a wall." Sanzo pressed closer, "I could fuck you against a wall."

"Ok, but not today."

Sanzo laughed. It was a rough sound, as if he were out of the habit.

"Not today," Sanzo agreed. The kisses stopped and Gojyo realized his eyes had closed. "Go to sleep, Gojyo." Fingers stroked through his hair, which soothed him. Gojyo tried to sort out all the bizarre information. Sanzo was planning to fuck him against the wall? Soon?

The bed was shaking. The rhythm was irregular and annoying; Gojyo didn't think it was sex-related. He turned his head and saw Goku lying on his back, hands behind his head, glaring at the ceiling. Was Goku gonna give him a foul drink and kiss him senseless after yelling at him? That was not a reassuring thought. "I hope to fuck I'm dreaming."

Goku's head turned quickly and he looked intently into Gojyo's eyes.

"There is another bed over there," Gojyo suggested, sounding irritated. He was becoming aware of pressure in his bladder and Goku, like Sanzo, was on top of the blanket.

"Hakkai wants me close enough to notice if you get restless or anything weird."

Like 'kissing Sanzo like I wanted to climb inside him' weird? Gojyo thought, but kept himself from saying it out loud. "You haven't been really awake at all," Goku continued, still so close that his features were blurred.

"Am I awake now?"

"I think so." Goku reached out and pinched him.

"The fuck?" Gojyo jumped but was not quick enough to smack the younger man, who bounced out of the bed. Seeing the blankets were now free, Gojyo began to struggle up.

"What are you doing? And you're awake 'cause I pinched you."

"I'm getting up to piss." Gojyo got his legs out of bed and had to stop to rest. That was annoying.

Goku blinked at him then reached down and picked up a plastic container with a weird shape. "You're supposed to piss in here."

"Fuck that." Gojyo glared distastefully at the container.

"I think Hakkai would be annoyed if you . . ." Goku sort of gave up when Gojyo managed to pull himself up.

"A hand here, monkey?" He felt oddly short of breath.

Goku sighed in resignation and ducked under Gojyo's arm to help him to the small bathroom. "This is as far as I go," Goku muttered. Gojyo grunted but managed to use the sink to support himself until he could finish what he needed to do.

Gojyo sagged in the doorway until Goku came and dragged him back to the bed. "Where's Hakkai?"

"He and Sanzo went to eat. And get some things, I guess. I think Sanzo wanted to get him out of here; he hasn't really left this room since you got hurt." Goku was sitting on the other bed, staring morosely at Gojyo. "Oh!" Suddenly he sprang up, "I was supposed to give you some juice if you woke up. Don't go anywhere, OK?"

"Right, I'll hold off on my plans to run a marathon, then have a few drinks and set up a foursome." At Goku's dubious look Gojyo blew out a breath of frustration. "Where the fuck where would I go, dumbass chimp?"

"I'm not a dumbass. I didn't get stabbed by some chick!"

Gojyo found he was too tired to argue, but he did yell as Goku bounded out: "And bring my cigarettes?"

"No fucking way, Hakkai'd skin me!" Gojyo lay back, wondering if he'd dreamt the hot session with Sanzo. Maybe he'd dreamt part of it? Sanzo yelling at him made sense. Sanzo kissing him was a little beyond what he considered making sense.

That'd be a conversation. 'Hey Sanzo, did you have your tongue in my mouth a while ago, or was I dreaming?' Goku returned with a tumbler of juice.

"If you drink all of this, Hakkai says you can have some broth."

"Oh, lucky me." Gojyo drank the juice. "Do you know where my cigarettes are?" He wheedled.

"Nope." Goku was sitting on the other bed, staring at him.

"I'm pretty sure that's not what Hakkai meant by watching me," Gojyo muttered when he realized the monkey brat's eyes weren't leaving him.

"Nothing else to watch in here. This room doesn't have a television." Goku gave him a sly look, "There is one in the living room and Hakkai said you could get up for a while if you wanted to."

"So you want me to go out there and sit so you can watch television?"

"I can heat up some broth for you," Goku bribed.

"Find my smokes," Gojyo countered. They stared at each other for long moments, reminding Gojyo suddenly, and uncomfortably, of the stare-down between him and Sanzo. Luckily, it ended far differently.

"I can maybe find you one cigarette," Goku offered cagily. "But you gotta drink all the juice, a bottle of water and a cup of broth."

"Is this fucking 'Let's Make A Deal'?" Gojyo drained the juice and handed Goku the glass. "Fine. But the cigarette before any of it."

"Broth, then cigarette, then water," Goku countered. Gojyo threw up his hands in resignation and let Goku half-guide, half-support him to the couch. The brat was attentive enough to pull a foot stool over before going off to make a cup of broth. He disappeared into the other bedroom and emerged with Gojyo's lighter and one rather lonely-looking cigarette. Gojyo hurriedly finished the broth, and Goku brought him the water then sat back to flip through the channels. Gojyo savored the cigarette and tried to provoke Goku into getting him another one, but the brat only turned up the sound and the room seemed too far away to go and hunt for them. Gojyo leaned his head back.

"I think I dreamt Sanzo was talking to me." Gojyo realized, as he heard his own voice, that he had said that out loud.

"Usually when I dream about Sanzo, he's yelling at me."

"Yeah, well, that too. Was running some bullshit about me dying." Gojyo had his eyes closed but opened them when the television abruptly shut off during a bad comedic exchange.

"You stopped breathing, and your heart stopped." There was no humor and not much youth in Goku's voice or expression.

"Oh, ah," was all Gojyo could manage. There was something in Goku's eyes that prevented him from making a smart-ass comment.

"I had to do CPR. Hakkai didn't think there was enough blood left in you to do what ever it does. There seemed to be."

"Looks that way," Gojyo agreed, starting to feel a little shitty.

"We were going to kill them all, not just the one Sanzo shot." Goku's eyes were hard suddenly and Gojyo remember what Sanzo said.

"That's just stupid. I know what I'm doing. If I get myself hurt, it's my problem. You don't have to go killing regular people for trouble I brought on myself."

"You rob them? You cheat them? How'd you bring it on yourself?" Goku was facing him and Gojyo was again reminded of the debate with Sanzo and tried to back down.

"I should have been more alert."

"Yeah, you should have." Goku flung himself back and turned the television on, looking sullen. Gojyo considered his options, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

"You should be in bed." Hakkai was resting his hand on Gojyo's forehead as he smiled at him.

"You look like shit, man," Gojyo muttered.

"Yes, well, thank you for noticing," but Hakkai was amused. Gojyo knew him well enough to know that.

"You gonna chew my ass for getting stabbed, too?" What the fuck, Gojyo thought as the words tumbled out, usually he had some fucking control over his mouth!

"Not today. Maybe tomorrow." Hakkai's smile was a little strained but he deftly slipped an arm around Gojyo and easily lifted him to his feet. Gojyo was assisted to his bed and Hakkai settled him on the side. "Where did you find your cigarettes?"

"Just found one," Gojyo dissembled, not wanting Goku to get in trouble.

"Ah, I see," Hakkai shook his head. "Do you want to use the toilet before you go back to bed? Goku said you had juice and water and broth."

"Ah, yeah, guess I better." Gojyo made it to bathroom on his own this time, and when he came out Hakkai had stripped the bed he had been in.

"Sleep in this one, I will freshen the sheets on the other and sleep there. I don't think you need someone quite so close anymore."

"What was that about?" Gojyo felt oddly at a loss with no cigarette to light, so he accepted the water Hakkai poured out for him and followed the pointed look to lie down.

"As for 'what that was about,' you were very weak and very ill, we were making sure you didn't thrash about and harm yourself. After the transfusion. Before the transfusion it was just to make sure you kept breathing."

There was a silence and Gojyo finally said, "This is the point when you tell me I was almost dead and berate my recreational choices."

Hakkai laughed, a soft humorless sound. "Is there any point?" Holding the sheets Hakkai sat down facing Gojyo.

"I don't know. I mean," Gojyo hissed in frustration, "do you think I need a boss? A keeper?"

"Sometimes." Hakkai studied him. "Why would you ask that?"

"I think I had a fight with Sanzo about that."

"You think you had a fight with Sanzo?"

"Well, it got a little weird, so maybe it was a dream?" Gojyo hedged. "But Sanzo was saying I was self-destructive and not being my own boss, so I needed a boss."

"Am I my brother's keeper?" Hakkai quoted. Gojyo blinked at him. "We are all our brothers' keepers, aren't we?" Gojyo must have still looked confused because Hakkai set the sheets aside and leaned back slightly as he tried to explain. "You picked me up off the road and put me back together. Almost any other person would, at most, get help. You rendered rather dramatic aid and took me to your home." When Gojyo would have protested, Hakkai held up his hand. "We all act as one another's keeper at one time or another."

Hakkai was silent for a moment. "I badger Sanzo to eat, Sanzo badgers Goku to behave. You direct us to the most appropriate bars when we go out drinking. Did you notice that Sanzo has you pick the bar, and often the restaurant? He has realized you have good judgment in that area."

"Your point?"

"You scared us, Gojyo."

"You mean I threatened the success of his mission," Gojyo countered.

"That isn't what I mean." Hakkai scooted off the bed and picked up the bedding. "Are you up to eating some light dinner tonight? I bought some supplies to cook for you. Sanzo and Goku can eat in the dining room."

"Sure. What time is it?" Gojyo looked around until he found the clock. It was four in the afternoon.

"I'll bring some food in for you later."

"OK." Gojyo was oddly tired again, and closed his eyes. This was getting old, and it better end soon.