After a long argument over who got to drive, Hakkai had easily won and they were all on their way to Happy Joe's. Goku and Gojyo were arguing in the backseat about something or other, Sanzo was clutching his gun and clenching his teeth, and Hakkai was smiling to himself about how even amongst the daily chaos, he had finally found happiness in his life.

"They are not antenna! I have told you countless times to never touch my hair! Knock it off, Monkey!" Gojyo screamed as Goku pulled on his bangs.

"I am not a monkey, you stupid, perverted red roach!"

"I am not a roach!"

"Are too! That's why you have--"

"Don't even say it!"

"ANTENNA!"

Gojyo tackled Goku onto the seat and wrapped his hands around his throat. "I thought I told you to never call them that!"

Sanzo slowly raised his arm and fired his gun twice into the air. "Shut the fuck up!"

Gojyo and Goku's eyes widened as they stopped their fighting, scooting to either side of the jeep. "You know, Sanzo… Goku… Hakkai…"

"Yes?" They all said.

"I don't want to go home tonight. I want to stay at a hotel, you know, like we used to all the time…"

Hakkai and Sanzo looked at each other. "Well, I don't have any problem with that, do you Sanzo?"

The priest grunted and looked in the other direction. "I don't care."

"Alright, we'll stay at the inn then, okay?" Hakkai smiled.

After they had their pizza and Sanzo had many urges to shoot the two pigs at the table, they headed toward the inn. Hakkai drove, and Gojyo, after much begging, was in the passenger seat. It was late. Sanzo had said that if they were going to stay at a hotel, he wanted a reason, so they set out for Sea World. Gojyo smiled as he looked toward Hakkai, his hair blowing slightly from the wind. He scooted closer and put his arm around his shoulder. "You look cold." He whispered in Hakkai's ear.

Hakkai smiled and giggled a bit. "I'm fine, Gojyo."

"I never said you were cold, I just said you looked like it." He nuzzled his nose into the crook of Hakkai's neck and felt him shiver. He smiled and kissed the pale flesh lightly.

Meanwhile, Sanzo was resting his back against the side of the jeep, smoking a cigarette, with Goku asleep on his chest. He looked down at the sleeping boy and grunted. He found his hand running through Goku's hair and smiled. He bent down and kissed the boy's forehead, then threw out his smoke.

"Gojyo, stop it…" Hakkai spoke quietly.

"Why?" Gojyo asked, running his hand up Hakkai's shirt and lightly scratching the scar on his stomach. Hakkai's breath hitched and he struggled to keep the jeep going in a steady path. "You seem to like it well enough."

"Yes, but not while I am driving, Gojyo." He ran a hand through his own hair and tried to steady his breath.

"We better get to this inn soon." Gojyo humphed, sitting on his side of the vehicle and crossing his arms. He lit his cigarette and put his feet up on the dash. "I'm seriously getting tired of you rejecting me."

"I am not rejecting you, Gojyo, I'm telling you to wait until I'm not driving. He patted Gojyo's leg and smiled. Gojyo smiled back and took a long drag on his smoke.

"Hakkai?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think there's a reason why people run away from me besides the fact of what I am?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is it just because I'm a child of a forbidden relationship, or is there something else?"

"You mean do people back away when you walk down the street besides the fact that you have red hair and eyes?"

"Yes."

"No. There's no other reason, I'm afraid."

Gojyo looked down. "I was hoping you wouldn't say that…"

"I'm sorry, Gojyo."

"It's okay. It's not like there's anything you could do to change it… I just… I guess I…" He felt the hot tears welling in his eyes and put his head down, letting his hair cover his face. "I just want to belong, that's all…"

"Gojyo…"

"Huh?"

"Why do you always hide your tears?"

"What do you mean?"

Hakkai stopped and scooted closer to Gojyo. "I mean…" He moved Gojyo's hair away with his fingers. "Why do you always hide your face when you cry?"

"I'm not crying…"

"Yet." Hakkai kissed him softly, cupping his face in his hands. "Gojyo… you do belong."

"Then why do people run?" Gojyo let one tear fall from his eye. "If I belong with other people, why do they run, Hakkai?"

"I don't know, Gojyo. I can't tell you why they run, but listen, they don't know you. They only know what you are, and you must admit… after what the youkai's did to them, you can't blame them for being scared of you."

"But I'm not a demon! I'm not, Hakkai!" He screamed, letting more tears flow down his face. "Dammit Hakkai, why can't they understand that!" He clung to him and sobbed into his chest.

Hakkai scooted back against the door of the jeep and ran his fingers through Gojyo's hair. Sanzo and Goku, who had heard the commotion, were leaning over the seat and looked to Hakkai for instructions. He waved them off, but Goku jumped into the passenger seat. "Gojyo…" He said quietly.

He looked back and sniffed, trying to control his sobs. "What?"

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

He shook his head and leaned back against Hakkai. "Listen, I know I never come to you for things like this, but…" Hakkai tilted his head up with his fingertip and kissed Gojyo lightly.

"Don't worry about it." He smiled and wrapped his arms around the crimson-haired man, as he did to him.

Gojyo closed his eyes and relaxed against his love's chest, listening to the slow, quiet, steady heartbeat. "I love you…" He whispered.