Author's Notes: After how many months!!! Golly! I'm back!!!!!! Sorry for the delay… Third Year High School has put me quite to the highest and toughest challenge ever! Hehe… But now I have time to make a story or two… I feel sad… I don't want to abandon this good story! I just made another one… in the category of Haru Wo Daiteita… My story is entitled "Off Stage"… I don't think you'll like my writings that much… My writing skills have grown a bit rusty… Hope you'll enjoy this chapter…

"To bear LOVE with its boundaries"

Chapter 17: Goku and Gojyo

Time is unsuspecting, you never know when it rains or when it shines. And you'll never know which seasons it is, all you know is that you have to survive in this world, nothing should concern you. Nothing at all, let loose your emotions and decide the actions you have to take on to make it on your own.

Ting… ting…

The wind blew by swiftly, the wind chimes making tinkling sounds; the sound was carried in the wind. Leaves started to fall on the ground, making it into piles. There was peace and quiet, the chi flow was balanced. Nothing could destroy such tranquility, not even the demons themselves could disrupt this peace. Except for…

"Ite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" A huge cry came out of nowhere, the birds and the animals went hysterical by that piercing sound, they were afraid that something bad was going to happen. Curious eyes even stared at the scene.

"Gojyo! Sshhh… Don't shout… You're going to catch unwanted attention…" Hakkai was covering Gojyo's mouth with his hand; slowly he took a little look at his back and saw that the people in the hotel that they were staying at were staring at them. The brunette smiled and waved at the people to let them know that they shouldn't worry about a thing. After a minute, the people went back to doing their business; Hakkai sighed and continued to aid his lover.

"You shouldn't have shouted…" Hakkai said again, he placed some medicine on the scratches and started to place some bandages on the wounded areas.

"Well… The way you're treating my wounds hurts a lot… And not only that I didn't get these scratches and bruises without your help…" Gojyo eyed the brunette, he was a bit mad, he couldn't help it. Hakkai wasn't gentle with him like before and he can't stand it, the pain was unbearable.

"I know that I was reckless but I'm sorry okay?!" Hakkai raised his voice, he was in a bad mood again, and he just couldn't control himself anymore. It seems that he has gone mad after discovering that Gojyo loved Sanzo and he chose them both as his lovers.

"I just…" Hakkai couldn't stand it any longer; suddenly he dropped the first aid kit on the ground and walked away from Gojyo. The brunette walked away, feeling so mad and confused, leaving Gojyo in pain and a bit regretful for being a bit of a jerk.

"Hakkai…" Gojyo said softly, calling for his lover when he couldn't reach for him. The redhead seated silently and stared at the blooming flowers in the garden. He heard someone sit beside him, but he just didn't give a damn.

"Love has its boundaries… and you have to bear with it…" the voice was soft and calm, it was the voice of a youth, yet his experience seemed way more advance than his. Gojyo took a little glance to his side and to his surprise; it was Goku who sat beside him.

"Goku…" Gojyo said dumbfounded, he couldn't believe that the little boy was telling these things to him. He just couldn't believe…

"Love is an unfaltering emotion… But it's a useless emotion that creates a lot of trouble… Like misunderstanding and jealousy… I wouldn't like that at all… But I'm curious… I want to take the chance… I want to take risks… But I don't know who could love me… I don't know what to do either…" Goku looked down at his hands, he gripped it tightly, Gojyo examined the boy but he couldn't read any emotion. Was it pain? Or anguish that Goku was feeling? The torment of one who has been alone for how many centuries… Hiding in the dark like a scared child who is afraid to go out and face the world… It is unbearable…

"Gojyo… watching you and Hakkai… I… somehow feel a bit… happy for you… But then I… I felt jealous that you could have someone's love, even my master…" Goku unclenched his hands and looked up with sad eyes at Gojyo. The redhead was silent, he stared daringly back at Goku's devoid golden eyes.

"I wanted to love once… But all things just fade away and if all things do fade away… then love can fade away… That's why I could never love just like you, Hakkai and Sanzo… Never can I feel the warmth of it, the hope that comes from it, the positive experience you from it… None of it…" Goku look to his side and smiled at Gojyo, his smile was a fragile and sad one, the redhead didn't say anything but placed an arm around the little boys shoulder.

"But this is my decision… To take part on a journey to the west with you guys by my side… I want help a lot of people… I want to protect everyone… Even if that person can't accept me for who I am… Just like Sanzo…" after saying that he remained silent, Gojyo stared at nothing but air, he was thinking of what to say. Then he sighed and nodded his head, he was going to apologize to Goku.

"I'm sorry Goku… I never meant for you to be caught up in the middle… I… Just like you said… There are always a lot of troubles when it comes to love… And… The trouble is… I'm confused; I don't know who I should love… I'm sorry…" Gojyo said softly, the boy heard all he said, but still he didn't budge. The redhead sighed and sat back a bit to look up at the clear blue sky. Goku too looked up and sighed.

"Goku… You don't need love to be happy… All you need is friends… and that's why were here for you… Me, Hakkai and Sanzo… Even if the monk gets really mad around you, just don't take it too seriously. He's just a blond furious monk after all…" Gojyo smiled at the boy, the boy looked straight into those red bloody eyes and he knew then that Gojyo meant it. Goku's eyes widened and tears started to stream out slowly. Gojyo laughed a bit and wiped some of the tears on Goku's chin. The boy sniffed and suddenly placed his arms around the redhead for a tight hug, Gojyo gasped at the sharp pain, but he didn't make any move or sound to ruin the moment. After a minute or two, Goku let go of Gojyo, the little boy smiled up at him.

"Thank you Gojyo… I am glad that I have you as a friend…" Goku smiled again, this time his smile was filled with happiness, the little boy walked merrily away after that.

"Gojyo…"

"Huh?" Someone called for him, Gojyo looked around and he saw Sanzo come out from the shadows.

Was he listening? Gojyo asked himself…

"Hmm…" Sanzo looked serious; Gojyo stood up and walked towards him.

"What's the matter?" Gojyo asked concerned about the blond man, Sanzo's eyes stared right back at the red ones, it was ferocious and mad.

"You BAKA!!! Who are you calling a blond furious monk?! Eh?!" Sanzo took out his paper fan and hit Gojyo like hell. Gojyo tried to shield himself but he was too late.

"Ite! Okay! I'm sorry! I was just cheering the boy up!" Gojyo said in his defense, Sanzo didn't stop hitting the redhead, he was so furious.

"You call that cheering up?! Sounds like you were talking badly about me behind my back!" Sanzo was merciless; he continued to beat Gojyo with his paper fan until the redhead begged him to stop.

"Gojyo…" Hakkai sighed, he sat by the window looking down to see the two men fighting, but Gojyo was fighting it was Sanzo striking the man with blows from his dreadful paper fan. After a few minutes, Hakkai laughed, they looked so silly. Especially Gojyo, Sanzo was like a furious girlfriend who couldn't take a joke and the redhead seemed to be a hopeless boy friend who was caught doing something naughty.

"Someday Gojyo… You will make up your mind…" Hakkai said silently. He stared down at the blond man that he hated so much and still he protects him.

Gojyo was running around trying to avoid the blond man who was clearly trying to strike him with the paper fan. Goku was laughing at the scene.

"Don't you run away from me! You… You Bastard!!!!" Sanzo yelled out. Gojyo kept on running till there was no end.

What will be the continuation? Who will end up with who? Well... You can find out in the next chapter!