It's baaaack! And, before you complain, I was actually off writing original fiction, thank you very much. And all these favourites and update links for this story - why you no review? You'll make me cry, and then I might have to do something... bad. You have been warned. -YN
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Ni glided through the castle's corridors until he reached the archway to Goku's courtyard. I don't believe it, he thought to himself as he silently watched. The gossip of the servants was right. The brat Prince was with Goku in the middle of the courtyard, one hand around the youth's ankle as he thrust a high kick higher, his other hand helping Goku balance. Kougaiji said something, Goku nodded as the Prince stepped back. The youth relaxed his stance, then performed the kick again, earning himself a smile and an approving nod. Kougaiji said something else, and it was Goku's turn to nod. Ni watched in amazement as the two began the slow, careful steps of a training kata in unison, then he turned away and returned to his lab.
Doctor Ni was able to ignore the slight shaking in his hands as he stripped off his lab coat and tie, but when he found himself picking up a glass beaker and hurling it at the wall, he stopped in surprise. I don't believe it, he repeated internally as he sank down in his chair, bemused. I think I'm actually jealous! Jealous of Kougaiji taking an interest in Goku! Lighting a ciggarette, he leaned back and forced himself to think. This was advantageous, he knew it – the Prince and Goku as an effective fighting team would be able to end the Sanzo party's advance and gain the scripture. So why..? Ni sighed and closed his eyes. Just when I think I've got a grip on all of this, something new and interesting presents itself.
0o0o0o0o0o
Kougaiji towelled the sweat from his bare torso and took a swig from a water bottle, all the while watching Goku from the corner of his eye. After Ni'd told him, after he'd thought to look, it had become obvious that Goku was indeed a yearling. Kou hid a grimace behind raising the water again. So he was here, training the youth, as honour demanded. The physical changes had started already, the Prince noted. Goku had gained at least two inches in height, and his chest and shoulders were broader, his waist more slender, a change readily apparent since he'd removed his shirt for training. Kou's thoughts were cut short by Lirin's voice. She had entered the courtyard, along with Dokugakuji and Yaone.
"Hey big brother, hey Goku." She looks so shy,, Kou thought. When was Lirin ever shy?
"Hi Lirin!" Goku exclaimed. "Have you come to join in?"
"I, uh... I wanted to see if you wanted to get some lunch. Either of you," she added hastily, looking across at Kougaiji.
"Sure," Goku replied, smiling. "Coming, your Highness?" Kou waved his free hand.
"No, you go ahead." Goku smiled again and executed a credible bow.
"Okay. Let's go, Lirin, I'm starving!" Lirin waved at her brother as the pair exited the courtyard, walking far too closely together for Kou's liking.
"How goes the training?" Dokugakuji rumbled as he came forwards. "I still can't believe he really is a yearling."
"Why not?" Yaone asked. "He's a demon, isn't he?"
"No," Kou said abruptly, turning away. "He isn't."
"What do you mean, Kou?" the brunette swordsman asked, sounding confused. "Either he's our kind and a yearling, or he isn't." The Prince sighed.
"I don't know what he is, Dokugaku. He feels like any other yearling, but he's going through the changes too fast."
"What do you mean, Highness?" Yaone was just as confused.
"What I mean is that, since it's just started, he should be years away from being an adult, but it feels like he's almost finished the changes."
"That's impossible."
"I know." Kou shifted his gaze to stare in the direction Lirin and Goku had taken. "I know."
0o0o0o0o0o
Hakkai gave up tossing and turning, and peeled off the light sheet that was his only covering besides the boxer shorts he wore to sleep in. He padded to the window and leaned against the sill, allowing the tiny breeze to dry the sweat on his skin. Hakkai couldn't stop thinking about it, even though the encounter was days gone. He'd barely slept since Goku and Lirin had attacked them, and Hakkai only kept himself awake during the day by channelling a thin thread of chi to heal his weariness. He couldn't stop seeing that look in Goku's eyes; the look that said he didn't know Hakkai, or any of them. The look that said Hakkai was the enemy, and had to be defeated. Miserable, he bowed his head as he realised that he didn't know what to do.
"It's going to okay, Hakkai." Goyjo's voice floated out of the dark behind Hakkai. "We'll get the monkey back."
"How?" Hakkai demanded abruptly, turning to glare at the red head seated on the room's other bed. "Just how are we going to do that, Goyjo? We don't know what they did to him!"
"You'll figure out a way," Goyjo replied. "You and Sanzo can work it out."
"What about you?"
"I'm not so good with the figuring out," the kappa admitted, a lopsided smile just visible on his face in the starlight. "But I can hold him down until you do what you need to do." A wry smile curled Hakkai's lips. Goyjo would never admit it, but he did actually care about Goku. But Sanzo... The brunette turned back to the window. For the past five days, Sanzo had been completely silent. He'd not said a single word after his pronouncement that Goku was now the enemy. Hakkai's fist clenched on the window sill as he wondered what the monk was thinking. He jumped as Goyjo rested one hand over his fist.
"Hey, 'Kai, are you okay?" Those crimson eyes were full of compassion and worry, and Hakkai allowed the truth to fall from his lips.
"No, Goyjo, I'm not. And I don't know if I ever will be." Hesitantly, Goyjo put an arm around Hakkai's shoulders and gave him an awkward hug.
"You need to get some sleep. You can't keep healing yourself." Hakkai blinked in surprise. "I've been watching the back of your neck glow from the rear seats of the jeep over the past few days."
"Oh." Goyjo led him back to the rumpled mess that was his rented bed and pushed him down to sit on the edge, standing over him and shaking his head, his long hair swinging.
"Between you not sleeping and Sanzo not talking, I'm starting to feel like the smart member of this group. And that scares me, 'Kai. Now get some sleep. Please?" Hakkai nodded.
"I'll try. That's all I can promise." Surprisingly, Goyjo reached down to tousle Hakkai's hair.
"Shut up and close your eyes." Hakkai allowed his green eyes to slide shut.
"That almost sounds like a threat, you know," he murmured as the grey fog of exhaustion rolled over him.
"Did it work? Yes, it did. So I don't care." he heard Goyjo reply as he sank into blessed sleep.
0o0o0o0o0o
"Goku? Can I talk to you for a moment?" Kou was surprised to find his palms clammy with sweat and butterflies dancing in his stomach. But it had to be done, no matter how Goku-the-yearling reacted.
"Me? Sure, your Highness."
"I want to talk to you about your intentions towards my sister." He was secretly pleased to see the look of incomprehension on Goku's face.
"Intentions?" Kou led the youth to a bench and sat him down. "I don't know what you mean."
"Do you like Lirin, Goku?" The golden eyed young man nodded a little too enthusiastically.
"Oh, yes, she's really nice."
"Well, she likes you too." A deep breath at the gleam in Goku's eyes. "And that's what we have to talk about. I've explained about being a yearling to you, about what your body and your mind are going through right now. You and Lirin shouldn't... get involved right now."
"Involved?" The gleam was buried in confusion for a moment before comprehension dawned. "You... You mean sex? But I wouldn't-!" Goku stopped when Kougaiji lifted a hand.
"Actually, you might. What's happing to you can twist your emotions and desires around pretty badly. Believe me, I know." He waited until Goku nodded. "So I need you to keep your distance from her until you've settled. I don't want either of you to get hurt." Kou surprised himself by meaning it.
"But-"
"What I mean is physical distance, Goku. You can still spend time with her, but if it goes any further right now, before you're both old enough..." How to make him understand? Then it hit him. "Do you know Rainei?"
"She used to work in the kitchen. She died recently."
"It's a little more than that, Goku. She and Hazan have been friends since they were children together. Hazan started his yearling changes last year, and two days ago they gave in to their desire and shared a bed. Hazan didn't mean to hurt her, but he couldn't stop himself. Now she's dead, and Hazan wants to die because of what he did." Goku's mouth was open with shock. "So believe me when I say I don't want either of you to get hurt. Just give it time, and..." He swallowed, and continued. "If you want to be with Lirin, I'll let you know when it's safe." Goku nodded, his expression sober, and they sat for a moment in silence. "You're due to start kitchen duty soon, aren't you?"
"Oh, yes!" Goku yelped, jumping up and starting off. Then he stopped, turned, and bowed. "I'll never do anything to hurt Lirin, your Highness. Ever. I promise." And with that he was gone.
Yes, you will, Goku. One day you'll leave, and that will break her heart, he thought as he rose from the bench. And I don't know whether to allow her this happiness or not.
0o0o0o0o0o
"So, how was your day?" Ni asked, and winced at the sheer banality of it.
"Alright, I suppose," Goku replied, his voice hesitant. They were sharing dinner in Ni's personal quarters, a space he seldom used. "I... I had a talk with the Prince."
"Oh?" The doctor forced himself to sound disinterested. "What did you talk about?" Goku pushed food around on his plate and didn't reply for a while.
"Did you know Rainei?" Ni shook his head. "She died a few days ago." It clicked inside Ni's head. The yearling's woman. "He doesn't want the same thing to happen to Lirin." It was interesting that Kougaiji thought that it might.
"Her lover was a yearling, wasn't he?" Ni prodded. "Why does Kougaiji think the same thing might happen to Lady Lirin?" Goku blushed and mumbled something. "Pardon?"
"Because I like her." Golden eyes lifted to meet Ni's black. "And I don't want to hurt her. I couldn't..." He stopped, and looked down again. "Never mind." Ni laid aside his chopsticks and reached across the table to touch Goku's hand.
"Goku, I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong." The youth shoved away from the table and rose to his feet, backing up.
"I shouldn't... I can't... I should leave."
"Why?"
"Because I want..." Goku took a series of deep breaths, obviously an exercise Kougaiji had taught him. "I'm sorry. I should really leave."
"You haven't finished your dinner," Ni murmured, enthralled as he watched Goku master himself. He was between the young man and the door, so Goku wasn't leaving until Ni decided he'd let him. "Goku, please, tell me what's on your mind."
"I get these feelings, these urges, and Kou said I shouldn't, but I don't think I can control myself, and I'm so confused, and I'm scared, and I don't want to hurt anyone, but I..." It was said in a rush, with Goku staring at the wall. Oh, Ni thought as his mouth watered again, and not at the thought of the cooling food on the table. Well now.
"Goku, look at me." Ni waited until the youth turned and met his eyes, his cheeks burning crimson beneath those golden eyes. "Do you trust me?" There was no hesitation in the youth's nod. "Then come here." Slowly, Goku returned to the table, and Ni rose. "I know how to... help. But only if you trust me." Goku nodded again and watched, his eyes round as Ni reached out and trailed one hand gently down his blushing cheek and down to his chest. He pressed his palm against Goku's skin, and felt the pounding of the youth's heart against his fingers. Ni's own heart beat faster as he trailed his hand lower, his fingertips grazing Goku's stomach. Goku's own hand darted across and captured his, squeezing tight. "Do you want me to stop?" Ni whispered, his voice husky with his own desire.
"No. But.. I don't want to hurt you," Goku gasped.
"Trust me. You won't." Ni leaned close, his lips hovering over Goku's. "I promise," he breathed against the youth's mouth, a heartbeat before he kissed him. Ni kept the kiss light and gentle, and gave Goku every opportunity to move away. Instead, the youth leaned into the kiss, and it went from light and gentle to passionate as Goku parted his lips, wrapped his arms around the lean doctor and made a hungry noise. Breaking the kiss, breathing heavily, Ni finally spoke. "Come." He squeezed Goku's hand and led him towards the suite's bedroom, ignoring the voice in his head that was screaming at him that this was a very, very bad idea.
0o0o0o0o0o
Ni stared at the roof as Goku snored beside him. He was covered in bites, bruises and scratches, yet he felt great as he floated on the cloud of endorphins. The sheets were sticky with blood and other things, and the sex had been fantastic. For the first time in a long time he'd danced on that thin line between pain and agony, between just enough and too much. He'd felt vulnerable, and had tasted genuine fear when Goku shoved him to his hands and knees among the pillows. Ni had not felt like that since... Since Koumyou. He allowed himself to remember those nights, of surrendering to another's greater power and letting Koumyou use him in any way he wanted. The strong demand, the weak surrender, he thought, shifting so that the sheet wouldn't stick to a particularly deep bite on his hip. And when was the last time I was the weaker power between the sheets? Gyokumen didn't count; he could erase her with a thought. He played the weakling for her, a performance that was beginning to sour and grate on his nerves.
He shifted on the ruined sheets and rolled onto his side to study the sleeping Goku. For the first time in years, he allowed Ni Jianyi to subside and Ukoku Sanzo to rise. Anyone watching would have seen nothing more than his spine straighten a little, but his eyes had changed, taking on a depth of power that would have sent Gyokumen running and Kougaiji reaching for a demon.
Ukoku reached out, one hand hovering in the air above Goku's chest. The youth was sprawled limply on his back, eyes closed and a contented expression on his face. "Time for a little insurance," the dark Sanzo murmured, lowering his hand and pressing his palm to Goku's chest. Ukoku had been working on this spell for weeks, and he watched as it rolled down his arm and slid inside Goku's skin, settling in like it had always been there. Ukoku waited to see if the youth would wake, and when Goku didn't, he removed his hand and rolled over onto his other side, then rose from the damaged bed.
The bathroom mirror showed him an impressive sight – he had only a few square inches of unmarked skin left on his body. Ukoku whistled silently as he turned and craned his neck to check out his back. A noise from the bed made him slide the Ni mask back in place as he looked around the door frame to see Goku waking up. Hiding a grin, Ni walked back to the bed, idly wondering if the youth would be up for another round – and if he himself could survive it.
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And that's all for now, kiddies. It took me five chapters, but I finally pushed Goku into Ni's bed. Yes, I disgust myself sometimes, too. - With love, YN.
