A/N: hello all! gosh it's been a while, eh? my sincerest apologies for that! I've been busy with work and on top of that, my spacebar popped off. Sounds like an awful excuse, but it's so hard to type now, so whenever I sit down to write, I'm insanely slowed down and then I get aggravated...but not to fear, chapter 5 is already halfway done, so be on the look for that soon! as always enjoy (R&R)!

Breakfast was quieter than usual, as Goku reflected back on the previous night, trying his hardest not to remember the dream, but also intensely curious as to what he was running from. He could still hear his own heartbeat faintly in his ears, and noticed the quick, worried glances Sanzo kept sending his way.

Goku suddenly sensed something behind him, very closely behind him, and letting instinct take over, jumped up and grabbed his attacker by the throat, only to come face to face with a familiar redhead.

"Well shit, when did my invitation get revoked?" Came a chocked mutter.

"S-sorry. You just startled me. You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!" Goku retorted, dropping his hand.

"I'll definitely keep that in mind from now on." Gojyo rubbed his neck, frowning.

Goku watched as Hakkai shot a questioning look at Sanzo, who simply sipped his tea response.

"Well then." Hakkai began. "We decided to pay a visit and see if you two wished to join us. There's a street fair in town that promises to be fun."

"Oh, um, I don't know…"Goku answered, remembering what had happened the day before.

"Sure." Everyone turned to Sanzo, surprised that he was the one to agree.

"Sounds great." Goku forced himself to say, before finishing the food on his plate and making his way outside. He leaned over the porchrailing, aware that Gojyo was following him.

"Please don't attack me this time."

"What do you want?"Goku asked, a little harsher than he meant to.

"Just to see what was eating at you." The redhead stood beside Goku, surveying the grounds.

"Nothin' is 'eatin' at me.' I just didn't get much sleep last night."

"Lack of sleep makes you so jumpy that you almost fucking choke me? I call bullshit."

"Look, Gojyo, as much as I adore these talks with you, I really wish you'd learn when to mind your own business. I'm fine. I'm sorry I attacked you, but you caught me off guard. It's as simple as that." Goku thought he heard something like "I'm sure it is" in response, but chose to ignore it and waited for Sanzo and Hakkai to join them so they could hurry up and go to the festival.

As they made their way into town, Goku knew he should at least try to relax, to try and alleviate the worry that was clear in Sanzo's eyes, but every time he tried to, a faint feeling of anxiety bloomed in his stomach and he found himself looking around him, looking for something. It only became worse as they came closer and closer to the crowded street, as more and more people began to surround them. Without being consciously aware of it, Goku found himself clutching Sanzo's hand in an almost childish way. Sanzo said nothing about it, but his expression promised Goku that he'd be asked about it later.

"Hey monkey, look, they've got your favorite." Goku followed Gojyo's pointed finger to a small stand emitting the unmistakable smell of meatbuns. Putting on his best smile, he grabbed a hold of Sanzo's sleeve and tugged him towards the booth. I can't make him worry about me anymore.

"It's good to see that your appetite hasn't been hampered." Sanzo remarked, handing the man running the stand a handful of coins in exchange for three buns and a bottle of water. Unsure of how to respond, Goku simply stuffed one of the buns in his mouth and flashed his lover a thumbs up sign.

I'm so stupid. What am I getting all worried over, anyway? Goku returned to Sanzo's side with a newfound determination to enjoy himself. Hooking one arm around the blonde's waist, the other snaked up Sanzo's side and intercepted the water.

"That was mine."

"Come and get it then." Goku dared, before taking a quick sip, winking and slinking into the crowd. He laughed silently as he made his way among the mass of people, making it tricky, but not difficult, for Sanzo to track him. Goku slowed his steps, allowing himself to take in his surroundings for the first time. When he had first come to the temple, he had heard a festival mentioned by the monks in passing, but had never been able to convince Sanzo to take him. I'm finally here and what am I doing? I need to enjoy myself! Goku scanned the crowd, searching for his lover, but came up short. Worry began to bloom in his mind, but it was quickly forgotten when he felt hands pull him backwards into a familiar hold.

"Sanzo! There you are!" Goku tilted his head back and came face to face with the priest.

"I've been looking for you too. You stole my water." Sanzo held out his hand, expecting Goku to place the stolen bottle in it.

"Maybe I drank it all!"

"You did not."

"No, I didn't." Goku pulled away and transferred the water from his hand to Sanzo's, then placed a small kiss on his lover's cheek.

"You are such a brat." Sanzo took a long drink, finishing off the water. Goku wrapped his hand around Sanzo's, lacing their fingers together.

"Come on. Let's go look around some more!" Sanzo looked like he was going to say something, but closed his mouth and let Goku drag him from booth to booth.

"Goku." Sanzo said suddenly, as the two were looking over the wares a local tradesman had for sale. "I have to go to the bathroom. Go on ahead. I'll catch up."

"Oh. Okay then." Goku watched as Sanzo made his way towards a shop with a bathroom in it.

"A-hem," the tradesman cleared his throat, attracting Goku's attention. "If you're not going to purchase anything, please leave. You're crowding my stand."

"Oh. Sorry." Goku gave an apologetic smile and exited the booth.

"Hey! Hey mister!" A small child, not older than five ran towards Goku.

"What's up, little guy?"

"Do you want your fortune told?"

Goku laughed. "I think I'm okay not knowin'."

"Nonsense! Come on. We can tell you your future!"

Goku was about to say no again, but the child was already hard at work tugging on his shirt, and he had time to kill anyway. Ah, what the hell. He allowed himself to be led by the enthusiastic child, towards a booth that was shaded by a tree and seemingly unmanned.

"Hey kid, are you sure-"

"Hello there." A figure appeared out of the back of the booth. "Thank you child." Whoever it was tossed a small purse towards to child, who took it and ran.

Goku, sensing that something was off, began to back away. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be needin' my fortune told…"

"Nonsense, Son Goku. Please stay." Goku froze. How did he know my name? He looked up at the so-called fortune teller. The voice suggested they were a man, but the ridiculous garb and mask they wore gave little else away. Goku still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"Really, it's okay."

"Come now, this one'll be on the house. Won't you sit?" The figure gestured towards a table with chairs on opposite sides. Goku wanted to say no, to just run from the booth, but he also wanted to know why this stranger was so interested in him. In the end, curiosity won out.

"Okay then," Goku began, taking a seat. "How does this work? Do you need my palm or somethin'?"

The person across from him laughed. "No, Son Goku, I do not. I can tell you everything just from yourself alone. For example, I can tell you that you are far older than you look. In fact, you hide many secrets, don't you?"

"I guess?" A cold sweat began to form on the back of Goku's neck.

"Yes. And you have a lover, don't you? Someone who is fairly important, no?"

Goku nodded. It sounded like the fortune teller was reciting facts, not saying them as he learned them. Something definitely isn't right…

"Is there someone in your past that you're afraid of? I bet there is. And for good reason too. I bet they're looking for you. I would bet that they're just waiting to finish you."

"What?" Someone I'm afraid of? Goku thought back to all the enemies he had faced. Most were already dead, and the others, like Kougaiji, had made their peace and were highly unlikely to betray it. Goku looked up at the stranger telling him this, trying to figure out the identity behind the mask. It was when his eyes met the ones through the holes that his blood went cold. The smirk that the mask failed to hide gave the identity completely away. Now Goku knew why he'd been so jumpy the past few days. Now he knew what'd been chasing him in his nightmare. Or rather, whom.

"It can't possibly be you…" his voice was barely audible. The person across the table from him removed the mask.

"Long time no see, eh?"

"…Jiao-long."