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The patient click of needle on needle did not quite line up with the faint ticking of the clock. Knit. Purl. Knit. Purl. Knit Purl. Ribbing was not all together an exciting pattern but it did require some concentration. Wouldnât want to knit a purl now. The quiet focus that knitting took, the sensory feel of the yarn passing over the needles, and the feeling of using hands so used to destruction for an act of creation, calmed Hakkai.
To see how one strand in life could be weaved and meshed into itself and along with others until it was not distinguishable on its own was much like how he felt about his new roommate.
Since he had come to live with Gojyo, Hakkai could not imagine life without him anymore. It had been a tumultuous start. They had their ups and downs, much like the rib pattern. Some days they got on like they did before he became Hakkai, able to connect and feel like, as Sanzo would say, two halves of a whole idiot. Hakkai chuckled to himself. While he by no means agreed that neither Gojyo nor himself was an idiot, he did appreciate the sentiment.
And then there were days they seemed out of sync. Gojyo would come home and ignore the leftovers heâd left out for him. He could be insensitive, vulgar, and selfish. In short, Gojyo would aggravate Hakkai in ways he never realized a person could be annoyed.
But as their lives started to smooth out and gain a regular pattern and rhythm, much like the transition from rib to stockinet stitch, Hakkai found Gojyo to actually be attentive and in tune to Hakkaiâs feelings and emotions in his own way. From trying to brighten Hakkaiâs depressed days to just being a companionable presence balanced out the difficulties he presented.
Sometimes Hakkai caught himself daydreaming of when he lived with Kanan, but with the added thought of Well now weâd have to get a place where Gojyo could live too. Hopefully not as far away from his nightlife. Gojyo was deeply ingrained in his life and mind as the unconscious movement of the needles to create a knit stitch.
The weather had turned cool; snow likely to fall any day now. This was the perfect weather to be curled up inside and knitting. Of course, that didnât stop Hakkaiâs roommate from trekking out in the cold for a few hours of binge drinking and gambling.
Hakkai never understood why Gojyo didnât move closer, why he continued to live in self-imposed isolation so far out of town instead of finding somewhere closer.
Hakkai didnât dare think it was for only him. Â Maybe he felt the same way about their house as he did. That this little shack had become, truly, a home for both of them.
Working the stockinet around and around the needles passed much like the hours on the clock from night to night as he worked on the socks. . Hakkai had picked a dark blue, but light enough he could work on it at night while waiting for Gojyo to come home. He knew the color wouldnât clash with his roommateâs hair and while a red would have looked better, he knew of his roommateâs distaste toward the color.
Socks were a good gift. They didnât take as long as sweaters and therefore were not as weird to give. A sweater said, âI love you enough to put hours, weeks, months, into this gift that will keep you warm like a hug from meâ. Socks said, âI like you and I want your feet to be warm.â
Especially with winter coming, Hakkai couldnât only darn Gojyoâs socks so much before he was just remaking them. Gojyo had a tendency to wear his clothes to death. Assumedly because he had never had much and money was tight so he had to make what he had last. So new socks it was. Thick ones for his boots.
It was likely Gojyo wouldnât wear them anyway. Heâd lose one under the couch or his bed, leaving the other one to become a lonely singlet.
But maybe that wasnât giving Gojyo enough credit. While he sometimes reacted strangely to getting gifts more personal gifts, like he expected Hakkai to take them back if he didnât show the right amount of appreciation; Gojyo tended to take better care of them.
Last winter, Hakkai had made them both scarves to shovel out the door when it got below freeing. Gojyo wore it that day but Hakkai hadnât seen him wear it much after that. When he asked Gojyo, he replied with a more self-conscious, âI didnât want nothing to happen to it. Iâd probably just lose it at the bar.â
Hakkai saw it come out a few times after that, when it got really cold. Gojyo did leave it at the bar one night and seemed pretty distraught the next day when he couldnât find it. Of course he never admitted to being upset, nor was he outwardly upset, but when he came home that evening with the scarf and more than a few drinks in him, he boasted proudly of having found it again.
The heel was the hardest part of knitting a sock. There were stitches to decrease and a separate needle to hold them as the sock was turned. It required more attention and patience.
Hakkai knew his own bad days wore heavily on their home, but Gojyoâs bad days were almost worse. Going quiet, withdrawing, and a look of something straining not to break in every line of his body. Hakkai wished he knew what to do comfort his roommate. However, he was learning that paying him some extra attention and a few kind words brought a small crooked smile back to Gojyoâs roughish face.
As Hakkai finished the toe, he worried again that Gojyo wouldnât like this gift or would find it too personal. The scarf had been practical, but these were unasked for. Every thought of Gojyo, exasperated or pleased, was weaved in every stitch. Every knit and purl held a memory, complaint, or desire. Patience and care in ever row with the hope that maybe some of Hakkaiâs intent could be felt as Gojyo wore the socks, knowing someone cared for him and about him.
Hakkai could only hold his breath as Gojyo tore into the paper on Christmas Day. Gojyo opened the box and saw the socks. âDid you knit these?â
âYes,â Hakkai said, âI figured they would keep your feet warm. Theyâre a nice weight to wear in winter boots.â
Gojyo smiled and slipped them on. âShit, theyâre soft!â
Hakkai smiled as he took a breath of relief. Gojyo seemed pleased with the socks.
To Hakkaiâs delight, Gojyo wore them all that day and in the weeks and months following, they were in and out of the wash as a pair. The socks were inseparable and Hakkai could only hope that maybe, just maybe, so were Gojyo and he.
Title: Warms the Heart
Pairing/Characters: Goku/Sanzo
Genre: Hurt/Comfort, WAFF
Rating: T
Warnings: None
ââââââââââââââ-
Warms the Heart
Chang'anâs winters were always cold, Goku had found, but after spending more winters than he could count on top of a mountain that was bitterly frigid in winter and sweltering in the summer sun, he didnât mind this sort of cold. Plus, Hakkai had knit him a hat, gloves, and a scarf last year, and Sanzo had given him a toasty new parka this year after heâd outgrown his old coat. It was bright red with a fluffy hood, warm and comfy and smelling just a little like sandalwood and cigarettes from Sanzo hiding it in his bedroll until he saw fit to gift it to him. It was the best! He barely felt the cold at all when he wore it! Snow was still falling and the wind bit at his nose and through the gaps in his sleeves, but Sanzo had told him to go shovel the walks, so shovel he would. He had set off with the shovel and broom, and heâd already been told by the abbot that heâd done a good job getting the walk around the main sanctuary and dormitories. Even if the snow kept falling all night, he would be able to get it swept up again easy in the morning.
âNo snow down Sanzoâs sandals or in his socks,â Goku promised himself, and kept tossing shovels of snow over his shoulder. Heâd been at it a while and his gloves were wet, but really, tromping through the snow was still novel to him. He didnât mind at all, until some of the tossed snow hit him back. He spun around, wondering who else was shoveling, but heard a ring of familiar laughter.
âOi, idiot monkey!â Goku pivoted around to see Gojyo and Hakkai on the path towards the sanctuary bundled up in their winter scarves and hats, Hakkai waving, Gojyo packing another snowball. Goku dodged just as he pitched the snowball at him, and tackled Gojyo head on. Gojyo laughed and caught him, pushing back and ruffling his hair before jerking his hand away. âHoly shit, kid, youâre freezing! How long have you been out here?â
âFew hours!â Goku gave Gojyo a shove back and set his hands on his hips. âIâve shoveled a bunch of the walks, and I got more to do!â
âIs that so?â Hakkai smiled, like he always did, but Goku could tell he was a little impressed. âYouâve done a good job.â
âThanks!â Goku beamed, basking in the admiration until Gojyo slung an arm around his shoulder and ruffled his hair.
âHah, look at you.â Gojyo snickered into his ear, and messed his hair up real good. âHere two years ago, you were scared of the snow, now youâre pushing it around like itâs nothing!â
âYeah! Like you!â Goku gave him another push back, then picked up the shovel. âBut if I clear the snow away, the snow building up wonât make things sound so quiet inside.â
âOh, is that why youâre doing it?â Hakkai tapped his lower lip, and Goku shrugged.
âYeah, that and I was getting all bored inside and I guess I got on Sanzoâs nerves. He told me I was being a nuisance, so I should go shovel and get some energy out.â He hit the back of the shovel and knocked the snow and ice packed inside loose, as Hakkai cocked his head and Gojyo scoffed. âSee, I figure if I do a real good job, he wonât mind if Iâm noisy!â
âYeah, âcause youâll be too tired to be noisy.â Gojyo crossed his arms.
âIâm never too tired for that.â Goku grinned with all his teeth. âWhat brings you guys over?â
âAh, Sanzo had a job for us!â Hakkai patted his pocket, then tugged Gojyoâs sleeve. âWe oughtnât keep him waiting, but Goku, donât stay out too long. I can feel the cold coming in, itâs tugging at my scars a bit.â
âYeah, me too.â Gojyo rubbed his face, grimacing, and hailed Goku. âYeah, what he said, though. Go get some tea or something, the snowâs still falling so thereâll be plenty to do later.â
âThatâs why I gotta keep up on it!â Goku polished his bicep. âIâll make sure everyone can get around easy!â He continued shoveling, just as enthusiastic as before, missing the look Gojyo and Hakkai traded as they walked on.
Sanzo was at his desk, hard at work, when Gojyo and Hakkai entered. He hardly glanced up as they came in, though Gojyo hailed him. âYo! Canât imagine how youâre sittinâ by that drafty window, itâs so damn cold my balls are retreating into my taint like a two-headed turtle.â
Sanzo shuddered, but motioned for them to come in. âIâve got tea, which apparently needs whiskey in it so I can forget I ever heard you say that.â He pushed some of his papers aside, then took a long draft from his teacup to empty it. âSince youâve got the nerve to show your faces, I imagine your most recent venture was a success?â
âIt was.â Hakkai gingerly, opened his jacket and took out a small stone statuette of Kannon. âWe found the thief trying and failing to sell it. Apparently, it was his intention to purchase coal, as heâs been out of work, his wife is enceinte and has been too ill to work, and he has two small children already.â Hakkai pushed the statuette towards Sanzo. âBut here it is, ready to return to the shrine upon being blessed.â
Sanzo scoffed, just as Gojyo crossed his arms. âWeâre giving half of what you give us to the poor bastardâs family. Nobody deserves to freeze, no matter how down on their luck they are.â
âTch.â Sanzo turned the statuette over in his hands, looking for cracks or chips, then carefully moved it to the windowsill behind him. âYouâre too nice.â
Hakkai clicked his tongue. âGoodness, a little kindness never hurt anyone, did it?â
Sanzo narrowed his eyes, nostrils flaring. âThe road to hell is paved with good intentions.â
âAh, so true. Well, at least the path is clear.â Hakkai smiled, but Sanzo sensed something cold and hard under it. âWe passed Goku on our way in. Heâs done a good job clearing all the walkways, but heâs turning blue.â
âHe was practically begging for something to do.â Sanzo shrugged and reshuffled his papers, breaking eye contact from Gojyo and Hakkai. âHeâs nothing but noise on quiet days like this. He needed to get the energy out.â
âThat ainât nothing new.â Gojyo leaned over the table, fist down on the surface. âWhy you gotta give him extra shit today, of all days?â Sanzo sneered, even as Hakkai tugged Gojyo back by his jacket.
âNow, now. Perhaps Sanzo likes the quiet of the snow.â
âI have too much to do to worry about spoiled brat monkeys and snow piling up,â Sanzo muttered, pointedly looking back down at the papers on his desk. âAll this weird-ass youkai behavior is making my job harder.â
âAh, still?â Hakkai pursed his lips in thought. âI wonder if somethingâs going onâŚâ
âHey, who cares?â Gojyo threw his hands out in an exaggerated shrug. âIt donât matter to Goku how much work youâve got to do, the pet monkey still needs attention from his keeper.â
âGet bent.â
âAh, but heâs not wrong.â Hakkai tapped his lower lip. âI imagine he just needs some attention to get him through these too-quiet winter months. Even now, heâs only working as hard as he is to impress you.â
âHmph.â Sanzo turned in his chair, deliberately away from Hakkai and Gojyo. âI have hard work to do too, and nobody gives a shit about that. Iâll be impressed if he can ever learn to sit still for ten minutes without complaining about how bored he is.â
âHeâs young, give him time â ah, but that reminds me. A present for both of you.â Hakkai reached into his jacket again and took out a little sack of clementines. âWhen he comes back in, you should give him some vitamin C to keep him from catching a cold, and have some for yourself. It really is rather drafty in here.â Hakkai put on a diplomatic smile. âThough, of course, a little human kindness can warm the heart as sure as a well-stoked flame.â
âYouâre noisy, too.â Sanzo put the bag down under his desk, and shooed Gojyo and Hakkai off with a flick of his fingers. âWhat I really need is these windows patched. Maybe next time Goku gets bored inside Iâll send him out with new papers for the windows.â
Gojyo whistled. âYou got a heart of ice, man. C'mon, Hakkai, letâs go home.â
âHmm.â Hakkai considered Sanzo a moment longer, and though Sanzo was sure of exactly what he was thinking about him, he decided it easier to ignore him than to address it. Fortunately, Hakkai merely put steel in his smile and eased back from the desk. âWell, enjoy your quiet afternoon in.â He about-faced abruptly and marched out, and Gojyo whistled but quickly followed, only pausing to toss a cheeky wave at Sanzo as he turned the corner.
Sanzo scoffed to himself as his door slid shut. The moment Hakkai and Gojyoâs footsteps faded from earshot, he took a whiskey bottle out from within his desk and took a quick slug, then sighed. He was grateful for the quiet. He had too much to do to be interrupted by cheerful smiles and goads to play or goof around. Work piled up on him, and as much as Goku could be a good distraction from the doldrums of paperwork, sometimes he just needed peace and quiet to focus. Damn Hakkai and Gojyo and their teasing. Damn Goku and his effervescent energy, it was time for peace and quiet. He took one more swig of whiskey, put the bottle away, and settled back into work.
So, work he did, even as the draft passed through the window colder than ever, as his lantern burned low and steady on the table, while the only sound in his head was the rush of wind through the gaps in the paper. Sometimes he thought he heard Goku laughing and would look up, first with annoyance, then with expectation, and finally actually wishing it would be real this time. It had started to get dark, the kind of pitch black that only set in after the solstice, and Sanzo realized he hadnât really heard from Goku in hours. It had gotten too quiet.
âWhere the hell is that little shit?â Sanzo shoved back from his desk and stormed up to his feet, shivering just a little as the cold hit him again, and he strode past the unfinished pile of papers to his door, already shouting, âThe apeâs been gone too long, who saw him last?â
A few of the acolytes recalled seeing Goku sweeping near the stairs when they were returning from their errands, but Sanzo could also just follow all the swept paths. Snow still fell, sluggishly swirling and twirling down in puffy little flakes, but the paths were still mostly cleared, only a little patchy in places. Nothing worth complaining about, not worth criticizing. Goku had done a good job, Sanzo conceded. Heâd also done a lot. All of the main paths were swept and shoveled clean except the snow that had fallen in Gokuâs wake.
As he got close to the stairs, though, the sweeping began to look a little uneven, spots missed or scoops taken up crooked. Goku was getting lazy, Sanzo mused, except then he remembered all the other walks that were swept right. He was probably getting tired. Had Goku really been out sweeping all this time? Had nobody else thought to call him in?
âGoku, get your ass back here!â He cupped his hands around his mouth. âItâs time for dinner, come and get it or Iâll throw your portion to the crows!â
There was no response. That was wrong. Goku was supposed to come running and whining and protesting, then complaining about how hungry he was and making all sorts of ruckus. Sanzo found himself picking up his pace as he trudged onward through the snow, listening for Goku anywhere, his voice, the crunch of the shovel in the snow, the patter of his footsteps.
All was quiet. Far too quiet.
Then, he saw a puddle of red at the top of the stairs, the shovel and broom dropped, the snow gathering on a too-still form. Sanzoâs heart stopped.
Sanzo ran over to find Goku curled up on the ground, his red parka flecked with snow and chilled through, his face flushed and blue. Little puffs of steam gathered around his mouth as he strained to breathe. Sanzo shook him and slapped his face a few times. âGet up, get up! Wake up!â
âMmnnn..â Goku blinked an eye open, then squeezed it shut again, curling up a little more. âIâm jusâ takinâ a break, I promiseâŚâ
âTaking a â idiot!â Sanzo slapped him again, too angry to do anything else. Goku made an unhappy noise, but didnât say anything. He probably couldnât even feel the sting, Sanzo realized with horror. Gokuâs face was as cold as the air around them, his gloves and coat were damp and chilly. âYou moron! Why didnât you come in when you got cold!?â
âM'not cold,â Goku mumbled, clearly straining to look Sanzo in the face. âCoatâs nice anâ warm. You got me a real nice coat, see?â He turned a shaking, shivering hand over, eyes sparking with a tiny glimmer of light. âYou asked me to sweep, and I was gonna finish. I did a good job, right? I just needed a little break, Iâm just a little tiredâŚâ
The idiot probably had no idea what it was to be cold. Sanzo shifted and worked Goku up onto his shoulders in a rough approximation of a firemanâs carry â damn, when had he gotten so heavy? â and began to drag him back inside. âYou might not feel it, but youâre chilled through. Youâre coming back in now.â
Goku mumbled something about promising not to be too loud, and Sanzo groaned with disgust.
It wasnât an easy walk back to his quarters, but Sanzo made it, hollering for an acolyte as he got to the halls and demanding someone stoke the fire and bring him soup and tea: âSomeone help me keep this moron from getting hypothermia!â He heard the acolytes and junior monks all start up a tizzy of worry about Goku, and despite the buzz of activity, he felt a spike of satisfaction that Goku had endeared himself enough to them to engender their concern. Sanzo worried more about what was right in front of him as he dumped Goku down in front of the stove in his bedroom and started to work his coat off. Goku made a few limp efforts to cooperate, but Sanzo couldnât care how useless he was right now so long as he got those freezing things off of him. Sure enough, the parka was damp and heavy from soaking up snow. Goku had probably gotten numb to it without even realizing the cold was building up. His gloves dripped, wet and frigid, and even his pants and clothes under his outerwear were soaked and cold. Naked, Gokuâs skin was pale and flushed, almost blue, and his teeth started chattering as the fire wicked up the numbness and he likely felt the cold for the first time in a few hours.
âYeah,â he muttered, âNow youâre cold, huh?â
âY-yeah,â Goku agreed through his shivering jaw, drawing his arms around himself. âG-guess I sh-sh-should'a stopped earlier, huh?â He managed an embarrassed, sheepish smile, and Sanzo would have slapped him again if he wasnât more worried about Goku feeling it now.
âIdiot.â He yanked a clean nightshirt and underwear from Gokuâs trunk and held them out towards them. âDry things, on your ass, now.â
Goku made a token effort to get his boxers on without moving from his place on the floor by the fire, and Sanzo helped him get them on the rest of the way, then yanked the shirt down over his head. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
âMaster Sanzo, soup and tea for Goku!â
Sanzo got up, leaving Goku to finish dressing, but as he turned, he felt Goku grab onto the side of his robe.
âUm, s-s-sorry Iâm causinâ trouble. I just w-w-wanted to make ya happy.â
Sanzo scowled, but yanked his robe from Gokuâs grip. âStay there.â He opened the door as little as he could to keep the draft from getting in, just wide enough for the acolyte to push the tray through. âSend my gratitude to the kitchens and more wood for the fire.â The acolyte nodded and rushed off, and Sanzo shut the door tight and put the tray down in front of Goku. âEat.â He stepped past Goku to grab the quilt from his bedroll, and wrapped it around Gokuâs shoulders tight as he, his hands still shaking, tried to get the lids off of the bowls. Sanzo got down in front of him and pulled both lids off, then pushed the spoon into Gokuâs hand. âDonât tell me you canât feed yourself.â
âI can,â Goku mumbled, giving Sanzo a sour little look as he adjusted his grip on the spoon, then rubbed his spoon hand with his other hand to warm it up before dipping into the soup. âSucks. Iâm not t-tryinâ to annoy ya. I just wanted to make you happy.â
âYeah, giving yourself hypothermia, thatâll put a smile on my ass.â Sanzo fixed the blanket around his shoulders and trudged towards the window, then lit up a cigarette. The draft was colder than ever. Maybe Sanzo could get Gojyo to patch the windows. He glanced over his shoulder again to see Goku shivering and trying to adjust the blanket on his shoulders, and shuffled over, tucking his cigarette deep in the crook of his fingers, to pull the blanket back up to the back of his neck. âYou did a good job. I didnât ask you to hurt yourself to impress me, though.â
Goku twisted back a little, catching and holding Sanzoâs gaze, wide-eyed. âI⌠I didnât mean taâŚâ
âI didnât think you did.â Sanzo sat down to face Goku, letting him look him in the eye. Despite the feverish blush in Gokuâs cheeks, Sanzo could also see that some of that babyish roundness was sinking away. When had he started to grow up? âYou were doing your best, but you have to recognize your limits. Take breaks, youâre not some tireless golem. You see monkeys in hot springs in this weather; you should be no exception.â
Goku chuckled a little, ducking back into the blanket. âY-yeah, I guess. I mean, Iâm rechargeable, but I need time to recharge. Just, you kicked me out, and all.â
âI didnât say âdonât come back.ââ Sanzo crossed his arms, still not quite feeling like hitting Goku again. Especially not when heâd finally gotten the soup spoon steady in his hand to take a few sips. Instead, he took a slow pull on his smoldering cigarette, and exhaled the smoke slowly before saying, âTake breaks. Iâll have a pot of tea waiting for you. Donât overdo it.â
Gokuâs face brightened, and Sanzo was sure it was from more than just the broth warming his cheeks. âThanks, Sanzo.â He grinned, showing off that his teeth werenât chattering as much, then picked up his tea bowl and gulped most of it down. Sanzo sat back and let him eat, devoting his attention to his cigarette for a moment to finish it off. Goku wasnât a quiet eater, but at least he wasnât talking when his mouth was full. Sanzo found he didnât even care about Gokuâs enthusiastic enjoyment of his soup and tea. It was nice to have a little noise in the room other than his own breathing.
When Goku put his empty bowl down, Sanzo stubbed his cigarette out on the edge of the stove and extended a hand. âLet me see your fingers.â Goku cocked his head for a moment, then put his fingers in Sanzoâs palm. Sanzo spread his fingers, then squeezed the tips one by one. He could see the blood pulse in and out of the fingernail by the firelight. âCan you feel when I do that?â Goku nodded and made an affirmative âmhm,â and Sanzo nodded too. If he had frostbite, it wasnât too bad. Sanzo massaged each finger for a moment, and Goku grunted, but held still. âWhen I was on my own,â he started, and though Goku cocked his head, Sanzo let the sentence hang. He remembered being all alone in the mountains, in the cold, trying to remember what heâd heard about how to keep his fingers from dying and breaking off. He remembered the deafening quiet of the snowy mountains, of being alone when he was terrified. âI got frostbite back then,â he finally muttered, if only because he hated unfinished sentences. âIt sucked the goddamn root.â
âAh, yeah, I bet!â Goku tilted his head to look a little closer at Sanzoâs fingers. âIs that why your hands are so cold?â
âShut up.â Sanzo slapped the back of Gokuâs hand. âYou look like youâre going to be just fine. Your mouth is working again, anyway.â
âYeah, well.â Goku stuck his tongue out at Sanzo. âThat never stops.â
âHmph. Going in and going out.â Sanzo could have said a lot more, but decided not to. He was just fine with that mouth working again. There was another knock at the door, and Sanzo opened it to find an acolyte carrying a bundle of firewood. Sanzo traded Gokuâs empty tray for the firewood, but he heard Goku rustling around behind him. When he turned around, firewood still in hand, and saw Goku with the blankets askew and scrambling his way back under, something in hand. He shut the door tight and stormed back over, dropping the firewood and holding a hand out again. âWhat do you have?â
Goku grinned sheepishly and showed Sanzo the clementine in his hand. âWinterâs good for clementines, right?â He looked back down on it, chewing his lower lip as he tried to work his fingers into the peel. Sanzo remembered that Hakkai had left a bag and encouraged him to share, âVitamin Câ or whatever, and Goku must have sniffed them out. Sanzo put a log on the fire and sat again, watching as Goku failed a few times to get the peel loose, but his fingers were still fumbling. Sanzo rolled his eyes and held a hand out.
âGive it here.â
Gokuâs eyes went wide, but after a momentâs hesitation, he passed the clementine to Sanzo. Sanzo easily peeled the skin off in a few clumps, then used the edge of his thumb to work one of the wedges off. He held the segment out to Goku, who nervously accepted it and tucked it into his mouth, and Sanzo broke a piece off for himself and bit into it.
A little bitter, but oh, so sweet. Goku opened his mouth to him again, and Sanzo passed him another segment, and as Goku bit it right out of his fingers with a cheeky grin, Sanzo felt heat ignite in his chest as sure as if a coal were lit there.
They shared the clementine, piece by piece, and Sanzo pitched the peel into the fire with another log. Goku was slumping over, tipping back and forth, and Sanzo touched his forehead. No fever. âSeems like youâre just fine.â
âS'good.â Goku leaned into Sanzoâs touch, then scooted so that he was sitting flush to Sanzo, closer to the stove. âThanks for taking care of me. M'not a little kid anymore, so you shouldnât have to.â
âDamn right.â Sanzo started for another cigarette, then thought better of it. âBut I wanted to.â He could feel Goku observing him, those perceptive eyes gleaming like coins in the firelight, until his face split with a big, dumb grin and he let himself slump onto Sanzoâs shoulder.
âIâm sleepy, but Iâm still cold. Can I get the bedroll after a few more minutes right here?â
âDo what you like.â Sanzo grunted a little as Goku took that as permission to settle his full weight against his shoulder, and while a very large part of him wanted to shove the little idiot off, he decided not to. After all, it was cold alone on the floor, and Goku might have felt a little shaky still but he was radiating warmth now.
Perhaps this was a sign, Sanzo thought. Perhaps something had changed under his nose, or while heâd been buried under paperwork, but somewhere, Goku had stopped being a child, less in need of scolding and correction, more in need of guidance and camaraderie. Someday, those dumpling cheeks would be gone, and Sanzo had no way of knowing what sort of Goku would greet him when that day came, what face he might wear, what he would say, how he would shift Sanzoâs world once more like the aftershocks of a long-past earthquake. However, for certain, the days were gone when Sanzo could just pretend to ignore that voice, and that was a reality Sanzo knew had been a long time coming. Heâd thought the call might fade, and yet here he sat, beckoned as sure as ever, albeit for new reasons. Reasons, perhaps, that had nothing at all to do with Goku growing up, but they were reasons Sanzo couldnât yet put into words.
There was no need for words right now. Not even when Goku started to snore. Sanzo rolled his eyes at the grating rumble in his ear, but smoothed Gokuâs hair back from his diadem as he slept. He could at least admit to preferring the noise of Goku to the utter silence of a life without him.
Even without the quiet, there was peace, and they were warm together.
Pairing:Â Goku/Sanzo, little bit of implied Gojyo/Hakkai
I have no idea what genre this would fall under. I guess every genre is either a Coffee Shop AU or NOT a Coffee Shop AU. This is NOT a Coffee Shop AU.
Rating:Â PG for language, violence
No warnings, except for the above mentioned cussing and punching. I think.
NOTE: I want to give a huge shout out to ezra-blue for all her help. She is amazing. Thanks for the beta and the suggestions! <3
 Goku shifted in his seat.  His stomach was rumbling deep and low, and he wrapped his arms around his middle. Â
 âHey, Hakkai?  How much further til we get to a town?â  He gritted his teeth as his stomach cramped and gurgled again.
 âYou see those hills?â Hakkai said, pointing.  âThere should be a town about 10 miles from there.  At this speed and barring any interference, Iâd wager weâll arrive well within the hour.â Â
 Sanzo reached into his robe sleeves and retrieved a small bundle wrapped in white paper and tied with twine.  He reached behind him into the back seat and tapped Goku on the knee with the package.  Goku cocked his head curiously and took the gift.
 He turned it over in his hand and glanced into the side mirror at Sanzo.  Sanzo lifted his chin as if to say, âgo aheadâ.  Goku untied the twine and unwrapped the paper, smiling wide as a thick slice of dense fruit bread dropped into his palm.
 Goku threw his arms around Sanzo from behind and said, âAw, thanks Sanzo!â  He sat back and enjoyed his treat with gusto.
 âTch.â  Sanzo crossed his arms and hoped his hair was hiding the pink blush at the tips of his ears. Â
 As they got closer to the valley between the two hills, a familiar twinge shot through them all.  Gojyo sat up, poised to pounce on any would-be attackers.  Goku got his feet under himself and crouched low, steadying himself on the back of Sanzoâs seat.  Sanzo grabbed the top of the windshield in front of him and held on as Hakkai maneuvered Jeep to the side of the large group of youkai that appeared seemingly out of thin air.  As soon as they screeched to a halt just inside the valley, dozens of youkai closed in from all sides.
 âGIVE UP THE SUTRA, SANZO PARTY!â The words rang out and echoed throughout the small canyon.
 âReally?  They need a new catchphrase.â  Gojyo summoned his weapon and let the blade fly. Â
 âDude, for real.â  Goku swatted at a few demons as they swarmed in.  Gun shots bounced off the rocks and bright green light burst in and out of view. Â
 The flow of youkai into the valley seemed endless.
 âSanzo, we seem to be greatly outnumbered.  They have both ends of the canyon closed off.â  Hakkai unleashed a huge chi blast that took out a great wide swath, and yet the space was quickly refilled with more demons. Â
 Sanzo was covered in blood spatter from the close range gunshots he was firing off at rapid speed.  His robe sleeves had been torn where one youkai had actually managed to grab onto him before he could shoot. Â
 âYou want the sutra?â  Sanzo pressed the barrel of his gun against the closest demonâs chest and pulled the trigger.  âHereâs the goddamn sutra.â Â
 Gojyo turned toward Sanzo when the monk closed his eyes.  He dove between the influx of youkai and the priest.  âGet ta chantinâ, Baldy!  Iâll hold âem off!â  Gojyo swung hard to the left as a demon lunged at Sanzo. Â
 Eyes closed, Sanzo started the incantation.  âOn ma ni-â  Shakujoâs crescent blade took off the demonâs head, then swung in a wide arc.  ââŚhatsu mei un-â   The chain clotheslined another herd of charging youkai, sending them flying backwards.  He turned just in time to take a foot to the temple and land hard in the dirt..  âMAKAI TENJO!â Â
 Just as the sutra left Sanzoâs shoulders, the entire canyon was filled with thick gray smoke.  Gojyo struggled to breathe.  He tried to sit up, but collapsed and passed out after taking in a lungful of acrid vapor.  Sanzo fell to his knees, gasping for air.  The Maten sutra whipped around and completely obliterated every enemy in the vicinity.  When the sutra returned to rest on its masterâs shoulders, the smoke had thinned enough for Goku to find Sanzo and lift him. âGojyo! Hakkai! Where are you?!â
 He heard Hakkai shouting something, and then a gust of air cleared the smoke around them.  Jeep flapped his wings hard and blew away enough of the miasma to land safely.  He changed out of his dragon form and Goku leapt into the back seat with Sanzo.  Hakkai emerged from the fog carrying Gojyo in his arms.  He placed Gojyo in the passenger seat, dropped himself into the driverâs seat, and urged Jeep forward as quickly as he dared.
 Hakkai hoped fresh air would revive his teammates, but it wasnât helping. Sanzo wasnât rousing, and Gojyo seemed to barely be breathing. Hakkai hardly dared to slow down even for bumps in the road, daring to glance at Gojyo between shifted gears, but when they got out of the canyon and close to the town,Hakkai gave in and started shaking Gojyo and calling his name.  He was close to true panic when at last Gojyo responded with a pathetic groan. Â
 He blinked up at Hakkai before closing his eyes and dropping his chin to his chest.  Hakkai let out a relieved huff and called out to Goku. âHow is Sanzo?â
 âHeâs breathinâ, but heâs out like a light.  He ainât movinâ like Gojyo.â Â
 Gojyo responded to his name by grunting and flopping his head back.
 âHng.  Haaaaaah.  Huh.â  Gojyo mumbled some nonsense and his head once again lolled to the side.
 Hakkai glanced into the rearview mirror at Goku.  âI will check him for injuries when we reach an inn.  Keep calm, weâre nearly there.â
 âOkay.â  Goku cradled Sanzoâs head on his lap and held a hand on his chest to make sure his lungs were still working.
 Jeep came to a halt in front of the first inn they came to and Hakkai reached back into the backseat and into Sanzoâs robes.  He pulled out the gold card and raced inside.  A few moments later, he came running out with a key in his teeth.  He gathered Gojyo into his arms and hurried for the door. Â
 Goku gingerly lifted Sanzoâs unmoving body and carried him up the innâs steps bridal-style.
 âHeh, youâd kill me if you were awake right now.â  Goku felt a puff of breath against his neck.      Did Sanzo just huff at me?
 Goku glanced at the sleeping monk and figured it was just his imagination.  He found Hakkai waiting for him at the door to their shared room, Gojyo already laid out on one of the beds.  Hakkai gestured to the bed opposite and returned to Gojyoâs side.  He was bent over him, using his chi to heal his scrapes and bruises and murmuring his name over and over.  Gojyo would respond just a tiny bit more each time. Â
 Goku put Sanzo on the other bed.  He took off Sanzoâs boots, untied his robes and touched his cheek. Â
 Gojyo was responding with actual words now, even though they were still slurred and slow.
 âHakkai⌠ What.  What.  My head.  I just.â  Hakkai shushed him and got him to sit up a bit, propped against the pillows.  He grimaced a bit as he lifted himself up, shifting to a sit.  He held his head.  Hakkai got him to drink a bit of water and he cleared his throat.
 âHoly fuck!  That was awful!  I could hear ya, but I couldnât see ya or move.  I was tryinâ to tell you to keep talkinâ.  I could kinda, I dunno, find my way back when ya called my name?â  Gojyo shook his head.
 Hakkai looked over to Sanzo, still unconscious and motionless.   âGoku, perhaps Sanzo could find his way back to us if you were to call to him?â
 Goku swallowed. âUh, okay.  Iâll try.â Â
 He knelt on the floor by Sanzoâs bed and spoke softly, like he was afraid to wake him.
 âSanzo.  Sanzo.  Itâs me, Goku.  You know, your stupid monkey?â  He tried to laugh a bit, but it came out a nervous giggle.  He glanced at Hakkai who motioned for him to continue.  He cleared his throat and tried again:   âSanzo, I need ya to come back now.  Sanzo?â  Goku looked up to Hakkai and shrugged.  There was no reaction whatsoever. Â
 Hakkai pushed a chair to the bedside and pulled Goku up to sit.  âPerhaps if you call to him without using your voice?â  He patted Goku on the shoulder and turned his attention back to Gojyo.
 Goku took a deep breath and leaned his forehead on the bed next to Sanzoâs pillow.
 Sanzo?  Can ya hear me?
 Sanzo inhaled sharply and turned his head.  His eyes didnât open, but Goku beamed. Â
 SANZO!  Itâs Goku!  Wake up!  Please?  I need you to come back now.
 Sanzo felt himself being moved and tried to open his eyes, but they wouldnât open.  He tried to ask what the hell was happening, but he couldnât speak.  He tried desperately to turn his head, to move his arm, to wiggle a toe, anything.  Nothing moved. Â
 He heard Hakkai but couldnât understand what he was saying.  He heard what he assumed was Gojyo, but again the words held no meaning.  He felt like the world was slipping further and further away the longer he was in this condition. Â
 Then he heard a very familiar voice.  One he remembered from a long time ago.  An annoying voice.  The voice of a monkey.
 Sanzo?  Can ya hear me?
 Sanzo felt himself rise a bit from the pit he was stuck in.  He focused and willed his body to respond.  He turned his head.
 âThat was a pathetic attempt.â  He was angry with himself that he couldnât get his own body to obey him.  He felt himself slipping down again.
 SANZO!
 He tried to grab onto the voice calling him.
 Itâs Goku!
âYeah, I know! Â Keep talking, I can hear you!â Â Sanzo tried to shout. Â He didnât, but it was easier to feel himself. Â He felt lighter. Â
 Wake up!
 Please?
 âIâM TRYING DAMMIT!â  Sanzo felt himself coming closer to the surface. Â
 I need you to come back now.
Sanzoâs eyes opened as he came crashing back to reality, scrabbling at the bed and kicking his legs out. Â Goku stood and knocked his chair over as Sanzo sat up, panting and ready to punch his way out of the room if necessary. Â
 Sanzo twisted his head around, his arm still pulled back ready to strike.  When he actually saw where he was, he relaxed and fell back onto the bed. Â
 âFuck.  My head.â  He covered his eyes and pressed his palms against his temples.  He felt Gokuâs hand slide behind his head and a cool glass touch his lips.  He opened his mouth and gulped down the water like he had just crossed a desert with an empty canteen.
 âWhat happened?  I remember releasing the sutra and then⌠ â  He waved his hands in a sweeping motion. Â
 âIt seems that the youkai that attacked us had some sort of paralyzing gas.  I am assuming that it was made to incapacitate only humans since Goku and I were not affected.  Gojyo was affected, but not to the extent that you were.â  Hakkai had a cool cloth pressed to Gojyoâs head.  They were both looking a lot more relieved than Sanzo thought they had a right to.
 Gojyo tugged Hakkai back towards him and they immediately slipped off into their own conversation.
 Goku had picked up his chair and was now perched on it looking stupidly happy. Â
 Sanzo grabbed Gokuâs collar and pulled him close so he could speak into his ear.
 âI heard you calling.  I followed your voice.â  He pushed Goku back and rolled over, hiding the blush in his cheeks.  âTake the card and go get us some food.â
 âThanks, Sanzo!â  Goku grabbed the card from Hakkai and bounded out the door.  The door reopened a moment later.  Goku stuck his head in and regarded Hakkai sternly.  âKeep an eye on Sanzo while Iâm gone.â  He quickly disappeared again.
 Sanzo barked out a laugh. âHakkai only has one good eye and that seems to be focused entirely on the idiot in the other bed.â Â
 Gojyo sat up a bit and remarked, âYeah?  Seems you have selective hearing.  Specially tuned to the monkey station.â
 âYouâre about to hear me shooting you in the face.â grumbled and shifted in bed.
 Sanzo closed his eyes.  Of course he followed that voice.  He would always follow that voice.  No matter how annoying.
This gift is for Queen-of-Onions!Â
From their secret saiyuki santa, Silver aka Junkerfox!Â
Title: Black Friday Shopping Spree
Characters: Gojyo, Hakkai | Platonic
Genre: Family, humor, one shot
Rating: G
~
Wintertime was always a headache for Gojyo, primarily the fact that it was cold and he had to bundle up so much. Forced to wear layers, freezing his ass off just to get a cigarette, it was a nuisance. Nevertheless he did his best to press on and keep going. Maybe it was just winter blues, but he was sure that winter was his least favorite season. About the only thing that kept him going was the fact that he could at least get some shopping done and maybe flirt with a cute cashier or two. With that in mind, Gojyo set out from his shack and shrugged on his puffy winter coat, just to get his goals accomplished and then come right back to the warmth of a fire and a serious lack of frosty air.
The sound of leaves were crunching under each and every step he took with his boots, and it just sounded like death to him. In his mind, winter was always so boring, so cold, good for snuggling and hot cocoa sure but the weird air of togetherness and family was just something he wasnât used to dealing with unless he was alongside the merry band of morons. Lost in thought, he hardly realized he was about to walk into one of those very specific merry morons.
âJeez, and here I thought I was blind!â Said a friendly and familiar voice. Hakkai rang out like a bell, and Gojyo clutched his chest from the startling call out.
âAh shit, sorry man! Didnât mean to ah.. What are you doing walking, donât you have a jeep?â He said with a raised eyebrow, spotting the dragon sitting perched on his shoulders.
âThatâs his Christmas gift, he doesnât have to drive me around anywhere unless he wants to.â Hakkai replied with that fox like grin on his face. His eyes closed and that smile spread across from cheek to cheek, causing Gojyo to roll his eyes a little bit. Continuing on, he had to admit, he really was grateful for the company. He didnât like having to shop, the only benefit of it was to be able to look at pretty ladies at the check out. In the interest of not wanting to seem daft, he turned to Hakkai as they continued their trek into town, clearing his throat some.
âSo I ah, assume you got your Holiday shopping done for the monk and the monkey?â Gojyo raised an eyebrow as he rummaged in his pockets for a smoke and his lighter. It wouldnât be very polite to smoke in the crowds, so while he had the time, he figured he might as well start the calming experience of nicotine now.
âWell of course, youâd have to be crazy to go out into the crowds this close to the holidays to try and shop.â Hakkai responded to him once more, that sass in his voice yet again. Gojyo couldnât help but laugh this time, shaking his head. âNevertheless if you ARE rather crazy to go shopping, the least I can do is be there for emotional support.â He finished off saying, giving the red head a pat on the back.
â
It wasnât long before they were in town, cheeky comments put aside at last and crowds in every direction. Even being on the taller spectrum, it was hard to navigate around everyone and everything with all the decorations, snow piles, tiny children, you name it about, but Gojyo had a mission. Not be a cheap ass for the holidays. That was when it dawned on him though, and he looked to Hakkai who seemed to have that knowing look once again on his face.
âWhat the hell do I get for everyone? Is that what you were going to say?â Hakkai asked him politely, folding his hands behind his back, which garnered yet another laugh from Gojyo.
âAlright, alright, you got me there. Seriously though, You would think everyone would be easy to work with after knowing them for so long. It just seems kinda like.. Harder I guess to imagine getting specific shit. Also harder to work without a gold card.â Gojyo shrugged, looking in some storefronts and scratched the back of his head.
Hakkai nodded his head in agreement, knowing exactly what he was talking about, but still wanting to genuinely help his friend as best as he could.
âNo I understand, donât worry. Think of it this way, the fact that youâre trying shows you care. Iâm here to help though. Letâs see. Maybe a nice mahjong set for Sanzo? I bet heâd appreciate that. Also for Goku?â A brief pause before they both looked at each other and nodded with sage wisdom.
âFood.â
It wasnât long before Gojyo was going into a nearby shop and reaching for his wallet, paying for  Sanzoâs gift before realizing his wallet wasnât actually there. He made a flustered expression, trying a different pocket, then another, then another, before whipping around and looking all around the ground. An older woman grumbled behind him about him holding up the line, when he politely excused himself and ran back outside to ask Hakkai if heâd seen it. Without even being able to say anything, he turned around and looked at something behind the redhead, pointing slowly.
âWell.. now I have.â He said slowly, before Gojyo immediately turned around to see what he was staring out. Down in the street, barely a foot tall, was a small scrappy dog that was wagging its tail excitedly and holding Gojyoâs wallet in its jaws. His eye twitched as Gojyo leaned down to snatch at the dog, and as if knowing exactly what he was up to, the dog growled and jumped back, throwing its head around as if playing with a toy, and scampered off with the wallet. It was hard for Gojyo to actually register that this was happening, and without even a thought, he just tore after the dog, muttering a curse or two under his breath.
Hakkai couldnât help but laugh, the cartoon hilarity that was ensuing was just pure genius, and after wiping a tear away from the scenario, he tore after Gojyo and the pooch as well, figuring 4 pairs of legs could hopefully catch up with four very fast paws. Darting off in the direction Gojyo went, and apologizing to the people left in the aftermath of the whole experience.
Over trash cans, darting around corners and walls, Gojyo was doing his best to try and catch up to the mutt, gritting and grinding his teeth as he tried to think of a way to cut the pooch off at some corner. Why the hell would it steal his wallet? Much less HOW did it managed to steal it out of his pocket? Was this some masterful new crime wave he just happened to become privy to in the early stages? So many thoughts raced through his head, but what little cash he had left from winning a few prime poker matches was about to be puppy chow and he was not about to be broke Gojyo this soon in the game.
Running down alleyways, sliding into walls unintentionally, leaping over gross items he would rather not know what they were, Gojyo was getting exhausted. As if the cold air he was breathing in wasnât bad enough, his knees were taking a beating from this. Probably another sign he was getting old, and as he stopped to pause and catch his breath and his barings, he couldnât help but give an exasperated breath as he looked up to see Hakkai, standing not too far off and holding the miscreant pup in question and the missing wallet.
âTell me thereâs some secret fairy blood in you when it comes to animals?â Gojyo asked Hakkai, panting and standing up slowly to look at spectacle in front of him.
âItâs just my friendly nature! Thatâs how I got along so well with you after all.â He chimed in, handing the wallet back to Gojyo.
âOh haha. Thank you very much.â He said, taking the wallet and counting the cash in it to make sure it was all still there. A bit slobbery, but everything seemed to be in there without a cent missing. He looked at the mutt, sighing as he gently scratched behind its ears, garnering a lick on the hand.
âIf Goku wasnât enough of a handful himself I would say that we could keep the little guy. Heâs certainly crafty enough, we could name him Gojyo jr!â Hakkai laughed, holding the dog as carefully as a newborn. Gojyo rolled his eyes, smiling some as he began to walk back to the shops, about ready to finally gather up his gifts and head home.
â
After finally having his shopping bags full and grabbing a bite for him, the pooch and Hakkai to eat, the sun was starting to set and it was becoming clear that the mutt had taken a liking to Gojyo. How, he couldnât quite figure it out, but what a babe magnet the little guy had been. Maybe heâd have to take tips on how to be that irresistible. As both Gojyo and Hakkai were about to get up and start trying to figure out what to do with the dog, a sudden outcry of joy was heard and a young girl came running over to them in a fit of excitement.
âMy baby, oh my gosh you guys found my puppy! I thought he got lost forever, I was getting worried with it getting dark and cold!â She cried out, taking the little guy immediately from Hakkaiâs arms and being greeted with a wagging tail and plenty of kisses.
Both boys exchanged looks with each other and gave a little shrug before returning to the young lady, who was wiping away tears of joy and relief. It was obvious that even though the dog had been an absolute nuisance to their plans for the day, the pup was harmless and very clearly an important part in her life.
âPlease, I have to thank you both somehow! You should come to my house for a holiday feast! Bring your friends, my family always manages to make a big feast for a lot of the lesser fairing folks in town!â She clapped her hands excitedly as she set the dog down. Both a bit taken back, the boys shared a look, then smiled and turned back to the girl.
âSure, it would be our honor miss! You can count on us and two others to come along.â
âYeah, weâll be sure to bring our appetites.â Gojyo said with a chipper tone, not necessarily revealing just how BIG those appetites could be.
As the girl walked off happily, having left her address and such for them, Hakkai leaned in to quietly speak to Gojyo.
âAdmit it, this was probably the best shopping trip youâve ever had.â He said, nudging his elbow into his ribs some.
âOh yeah, I love having my wallet stolen and being shown up by a tiny, fluffy little menace. The girl was cute though, think I stand a chance?â He said with a laugh, before pulling his coat a little tighter around his body. For now, he just wanted to go home, bundle up, and maybe break into Sanzoâs new mahjong set before actually giving it to him. Hey, itâs the thought that counts, right?
âCâmon Hakkai, letâs walk back to my place and thaw out and maybe toast a couple beers to the end of the shopping epidemic.â
âYou took the words out of my mouth Gojyo, letâs go. Also maybe next time Iâll just ask Hakuryu for a quick ride when itâs this bitterly cold out.â
A gift for Mosca From: Kirathaune (link)
Title: Promises, Promises Pairing/Characters: Sanzo & Goku Genre: N/A Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some spoilers for recent chapters of Blast.
* * *
After being on the road for almost two years, and never staying in the same place for more than a few days, Goku admitted it felt weird to be going into their third week at Sharakâs mountain fortress.
He had gotten to the point where he knew a whole bunch of people by name, and could go anywhere in the temple and barracksâand the village, tooâwithout asking for help. Even so, their extended stay had given Goku a curious restlessness that he wasnât quite sure what to do with.
As usual, he had recovered from their encounter with Nataku and his weird army much quicker than everyone else, although he still had a few lingering cuts and bruises. He helped Sharakâs men with the ongoing repairs to the fortressâ outer walls, and joined them during their training sessions. Hassan had tried in vain to get him to rest more, but he just nodded through his lectures and went off to find another willing sparring partner.
Gojyo said he had ants in his pants, and after Goku found out what that meantâand checked his pants to make sureâhe had to agree.
The other three definitely needed the down timeâespecially Sanzoâbut Goku had quickly gotten tired of being stuck in the quarters that Sharak had assigned to them, however roomy and nice they were. It was different for Hakkai and Sanzo; when they werenât sleeping they spent their time reading, and Gojyo played endless games of solitaire. None of the scrolls made any sense to Goku, not that he was much of a reader anyway, and Gojyo could beat him at cards so easily that it wasnât much fun.
So in between repairs, training, and sparring, Goku ran a delivery service of sorts for his friends, bringing scrolls and tea for Sanzo and Hakkai, cigarettes and booze for Gojyo, and meals when they were too tired to join everyone in the dining hall.
The afternoonâs delivery was an easy one, just a couple of scrolls and some ciggies for Gojyo. Worn treads creaked as Goku bounded up the narrow stairwell, up, up, up until he reached the top level of the fortress, which was where all the living quarters were situated. They were pretty high up, which was great for safety, but Goku could understand why Hakkai and Sanzo only came down to the lower levels for the evening meal.
Goku pushed open the door to their quarters and went inside. He had to admit, it was a pretty sweet setup - a common room flanked on two sides by four small bedrooms. Nothing fancy, but everything was clean and Goku was couldnât remember the last time heâd had his own room. He found Sanzo sitting at the table next to the common roomâs window, smoking a cigarette and reading a newspaper that had to be at least a month old. The table was littered with newspapers and several full ashtrays, but Goku noticed that the scrolls that needed to be returned to Sharak were rolled up neatly and set on top of a nearby chest of drawers.
âHi, Sanzo,â he said, and Sanzo grunted in reply as he put the scrolls on the table. âI donât know which is yours and which is Hakkaiâs, so Iâll put them both here.â He looked around the room, but Sanzo was the only occupant. âWhere are the others?â
âHakkaiâs sleeping,â Sanzo said, âand the cockroach is off playing cards down the hall.â He looked over his newspaper at the carton of cigarettes in Gokuâs hand, and scrunched his nose in distaste. âHeâll smoke anything, wonât he? Those taste even worse than his usual brand.â
âHe said beggars canât be choosers,â Goku said, âand he doesnât want to make his own like youâve been doing.â He glanced at the small dish next to Sanzoâs cup, noting that it still held a decent handful of hand-rolled cigarettes. Sanzo hadnât been smoking nearly as much since theyâd been staying at the fortress, and Goku had a suspicion that making his own smokes had made Sanzo ration his stash. âIâm surprised that Gojyo is off playing cards with the men.â He put the carton in front of Gojyoâs bedroom door.
Sanzo frowned at him. âWhy are you surprised? Theyâre fresh meat to him, he knows all our tells.â
Goku shrugged as he walked back to the table. âHeâs been weird since he found out about that mark on his neck.â
âWeirder, you mean.â
âYeah, weirder. He thinks everyone is watching him, waiting for him to suddenly go all demon on them.â
âIdiot,â Sanzo said, âno one else knows about his mark except us, and heâs only had it for a few weeks.â
âA few weeks since you saw it,â Goku said. âWho knows how long itâs been there, with all his hair? And we havenât really been sleeping or bathing around each other recently.â Even if they had, Goku wouldnât have thought to look for a demon mark on anybody.
Sanzoâs eyes narrowed, and then suddenly focused on him, his sharp violet gaze flicking from Gokuâs boots to the limiter on his brow.
âStrip,â he said.
Goku blinked. âHuh?â
Sanzo set his paper on the table, and took off his reading glasses. âClothes. Off. We need to make sure youâre not walking around with a mark, too.â
A cold knot tightened in Gokuâs stomach as he toed off his boots and shrugged out of his shirt.
What if Sanzo found something? Would that mean his limiter might stop working?
A minute later, he stood in front of Sanzo, clad only in his boxers. âArenât I already kind of a demon? Sort of?â Goku asked, tapping his diadem. âGojyo told me once that I had a mark on my stomach when I changed, but thereâs nothing there now.â He pointed at his mark-free belly.
âWhatever the fuck you are, I donât want to make any assumptions,â Sanzo said. âGojyo is a half-breed, so he shouldnât have a mark, and yet now he does. So, Iâm going to check you. Turn around.â
Goku complied, and the slight chill in the room raised goose-bumps on his arms while he waited for Sanzo to finish. He yelped when his boxers were yanked down.
âSanzo! I wouldnât have a demon mark on my ass!â He gripped the waistband to keep the front of his boxers up.
âHow would you know?â Sanzo pulled back on the waistband and released it. The elastic snapped against Gokuâs skin with a loud thwack.
âOw,â Goku said, rubbing his backside.
âIâll trust you to check the rest,â Sanzo said, waving a hand in the direction of Gokuâs crotch. âYou can get dressed.â
âI think Iâd have noticed something down there,â Goku muttered as he grabbed his clothes off the floor. Â
âOh, you admire your balls every time you take a piss?â
âNo!â Goku sputtered, and he scowled at the smirk on Sanzoâs face. âIt isnât funny!â
The fleeting amusement left Sanzoâs face. âNo, Itâs not. Just check, all right?â
âOkay,â Goku said, and he pulled on his pants and fastened them up.
âAnd letâs keep this between us for now.â Sanzo reached for his newspaper and glasses.
âOkay.â That was fine with himâthe last thing Goku needed was for Gojyo to start messing with him. He put his shirt back on, and by the time he poked his head through the collar Sanzo had lit a new cigarette and resumed reading his paper. Usually that meant the conversation was over, but Goku wanted to check something else. âHey, Sanzo?â
âHmm?â
âYouâre still gonna do it, right?â Goku tugged his boots back on.
âDo what?â Sanzo asked from behind the paper wall.
Gokuâs fingers worried the edge of his shirt hem. âYou know⌠if I go berserk, and you canât get me back to⌠me. You promised.â He pushed back the memories of another set of mountains, and a ring of snowy graves.
Newsprint rustled as half the wall dropped down, and Sanzo glared at him over the rims of his glasses. âDonât ask stupid questions.â
The wall snapped back up into place.
Goku laughed at the very Sanzo-like response, and he took a deep breath as the knot of worry began to unravel. âThanks, Sanzo.â His stomach gurgled, reminding him that he hadnât had his afternoon snack yet, and Sanzoâs quiet huff of amusement banished the rest of the tension that had tightened up his insides.
âThereâs a couple of scrolls on the table near the door,â Sanzo said. âTake them back down to Sharakâs library, and tell her Iâll put them back in their proper places tonight.â He turned a page of the paper.
A definite dismissal this time, but that was fineâGoku had gotten an important question answered, sort of, and the fact that Sanzo was going to put the scrolls away meant he intended to join them for dinner later on. Maybe they could even have a game or two of mahjongg after dinner; they hadnât played in awhile and Goku much preferred mahjongg to cards.
He scooped up the scrolls on his way out, and whistled an aimless tune as he headed back down the stairs. Sanzo was almost better, which meant they would be back on the road soon. As much as Goku enjoyed having a room to himself, he looked forward to continuing on with their mission.
Well, it really wasnât a mission any more, since they had kind of gotten fired. But they were still going West, and still intended to stop the Minus Wave and get Sanzoâs stolen scripture back.
Whatever they were calling it now, Goku was ready to get back to it.
* * *
Sanzo stubbed out the end of his cigarette, cursing as the tips of his fingers touched the ash that had piled up in the chipped plate that served as an ashtray. Handmade smokes were a painâthey didnât last nearly as long as his Marlboros, and he was used to having a filter on the end. The only upside was that the villagers really did have some nice tobacco. He glanced at the pitiful pile that remained in the dish and frowned; he was going to need to make some more, he was almost out. Maybe tomorrow he would send Goku over to the village to replenish his supplies.
âTell me, Sanzo, are you really going to be able to keep your promise to Goku?â
Sanzo turned his head and saw Hakkai standing in the doorway of his room. âTaking to listening at doors, Hakkai?â
Hakkai held up a scroll. âI was going to give this to Goku to take down, and I was about to open my door when I heard Goku complaining about certain aspects of his⌠examination. I take it you didnât find anything?â
âNo.â Sanzo put down his paper and lit another cigarette.
âI agree that itâs a good idea to keep an eye on things, especially as we get closer to Hontou Castle. Iâve been checking myself regularly, as well.â Hakkai walked over to the table and examined the new scrolls. âBut you didnât answer my question, and I donât think you really answered Gokuâs.â
âI answered him.â
Hakkai cocked his head and regarded him. âOne thing Iâve come to know about you, Sanzo, is that you very seldom lie outright. Instead, you either ignore the question or give a non-answer. Iâm sure Goku inferred that it was foolish to ask about your promise, and that you would indeed kill him if he ever loses himself to the Minus Wave. But thatâs not the only way your answer could be taken, is it?â
âThink what you want to think.â Sanzo tossed his lighter onto the table and opened his newspaper again.
âAh, another not-lie. I think you told him it was a foolish question because you have no intention of killing him. I donât think youâll be able to do it.â
Sanzoâs lip curled in a sneer. âIâm not going to make some sappy declaration like you did.â
Hakkai smiled. âIâm not ashamed of what I said.â His gaze met Sanzoâs for a few silent moments, and then he held up the scroll in his hand. âI think I might just take this down myself, a little exercise will do me good. I assume from your conversation with Goku that we will all be dining together tonight, so I will see you at supper.â He walked to the door, but before he left he turned back to face Sanzo.
âDonât worry, Sanzo,â Hakkai said. âIf that time should ever come, Gojyo and I will be there to help you break your promise⌠because we love Goku, too.â
Gift for: imaginary_dragonling
From: seedling-lotus
Title: Learning Curve
Characters: Hakkai, Gojyo
Genre: Gen
Rating: T
~~~
Trying the qi blast had been an experiment of sorts. He hadnât really expected it to work. Not really. It had sort of been a joke.
It shouldnât have worked.
But it had.
Hakkai couldnât help but toy with it. The very concept of it was fascinating. Using qi as a weapon. Pure spiritual energy manifested as a destructive force.
Spiritual energy in and of itself wasnât destructive, however. Hakkai frequently used his sense of it to keep track of his companions. It also made detecting threats a bit easier even if it was mostly unnecessary.
Of course, on the other end of the spectrum, fiction loved to play with using spiritual energy to heal. Hakkai had a passing familiarity with the concept, but he didnât know howâŚ
How could spiritual energy be used to heal a physical wound? Did it simply encourage cell growth and regeneration to close a wound? Or was it more along the lines of using it as some form of glue to hold wounds closed until the body could heal them itself?
By the same token, how did spiritual energy cause physical wounds? Was there something in the act of manifesting it that allowed it to react with the physical world? Did it just react with normal, molecular energy, or could it only affect other living beings? Or did it not matter entirely? Did manifesting qi make it inherently volatile? Could it be harnessed more delicately? More sharply?
He wanted to spend hours studying all of it. To take the process apart to itâs simplest core and figure out exactly how heâd done it instead of just accepting that he could. Could he change the power level and only stun their opponents? Or did the amount of spiritual energy an opponent had at their disposal effect how well Hakkaiâs own attacks would work against them?
Trying to analyze all of it in stolen minutes during the day was difficult to say the least of it. It made him almost miss his days at University. That academic environment would have been perfect for this sort of study. Would have been a place he could have safely experimented with the different aspects instead of riding by the seat of his pants.
He didnât much like the feeling of having so little knowledge or control. But Hakkai supposed that he never would have had this opportunity during university.
Hakkai did his best to concentrate on his own qi. He meditated on it while he made them dinner in the evenings they were out camping. He tried to notice the way that it felt when he summoned a blast to buy them a couple seconds of breathing room during an attack. He tried to hone his attacks into something less draining. Something he could use more than once or twice a fight. Something that didnât leave him light-headed and woozy
And in the quiet hours late at night, he tried to use his qi to heal. The qi orb he used to attack burned when he pressed it into his own skin. But it didnât cause him harm, which had been interesting to note. Trying to direct his own qi internally to heal a wound took many hours of intense concentration to even heal a small scrape. It wasnât efficient in any sense of the word, and only left Hakkai exhausted.
Maybe with a couple hundred years of practice he could hone the skill into something he could use in a practical manner. For now, it simply took too much concentration. It was something to entertain himself with in the quiet hours, nothing more.
But the others.
Hakkai couldnât quite help but notice that the better he got at sensing with his own qi, the easier he could feel theirs. Sanzoâs was something soothing and quiet, flowing smoothly. Almost like the gentle eddies of a breeze or a calm creek. Gokuâs qi felt like something deep and old, but with an added layer of frenetic energy on top. It felt like the way everything seemed to come to life in spring, slowly and all at once. It reminded Hakkai keenly of a wellspring. Gojyoâs qi was a at once dark and burning. It twisted around itself, almost at war.
All of this was infinitely more obvious when he was tending to their wounds after one skirmish or another. Especially when he got their blood on his skin. It felt like their qi was brushing up against his skin then. Leaking slowly out in their blood. A fizzing electric sensation along Hakkaiâs senses that never quite reached his nerves.
At first, he hesitated to bring his own qi into the equation. He could only manifest it as a ball of destructive force right now, and burning their wounds into something larger would not help them heal. Especially since it seemed more like an acidic burn than one cause by heat.
It took Hakkai three days to figure out how to manifest his qi differently. It welled in his hands kind of like water, but never spilling over. Soft orange light glowed through, against, above his skin. And when he pressed that qi to his own arm, it felt⌠soothing. Cool and at the same time warm, like a breeze on a summerâs day. Or something like that.
âThe hell is that, âKai?â
Hakkai jumped, light fading from his palms as Gojyo sat down next to him. Hakkai sighed, frowning slightly before he offered Gojyo a polite smile.
âJust practicing,â Hakkai said.
âWhat, you gonna slap people to death now?â Gojyo snorted. A crooked smirk pulled at his wide mouth and Hakkai laughed quietly.
âPracticing control,â Hakkai explained. âMaybe if I can control it I can heal with it.â
âHeal? With qi?â Gojyo said, tipping his head. He frowned at Hakkaiâs hands for a moment. âWell thatâd be mighty convenient, wouldnât it?â
âSo far, no,â Hakkai chuckled. âIt takes too much concentration.â
âYouâve done it?â Gojyo asked.
âIâve used it on myself,â Hakkai admitted.
âLike that?â Gojyo asked, gesturing vaguely towards Hakkaiâs hands with a cigarette. Hakkai watched him light it out of the corner of his eyes.
âYes,â Hakkai said. âIt takes too long to be worth the effort.â
âMaybe itâll be easier on someone else,â Gojyo suggested. âLike stitches. Way easier to do to someone else than yourself.â
âThat sounds like the voice of experience,â Hakkai teased. Gojyo just shrugged, smirking around his cigarette. âShall I practice on you, then?â
âIâm not hurt,â Gojyo scoffed.
âDonât lie,â Hakkai chided. âI saw you get scratched back there.â
âItâs not worth the energy,â Gojyo said, waving Hakkai off.
âBut it is worth the practice,â Hakkai pointed out.
âFine,â Gojyo snorted. âBe my guest.â
Hakkai smiled and Gojyo rolled his eyes but obligingly shed his coat. Hakkai unwrapped the sloppy bandages that Gojyo had covered the scratch with, tutting. Gojyo just watched him, smoking silently.
Letting the qi pool in his hands like he had before, Hakkai carefully pressed the light to Gojyoâs arm. He could feel the wound so much more clearly on Gojyo than heâd ever been able to on himself. His qi almost seemed to⌠to coax Gojyoâs qi.
Gojyo hissed quietly, frowning. Hakkai mumbled an apology, making to pull away. Gojyoâs free hand caught Hakkaiâs wrist and Hakkaiâs head snapped up. Gojyo shook his head once, pulling Hakkaiâs glowing hand closer to the wound again.
âTry again,â Gojyo said.
Hakkai nodded slightly, turning his attention back down. He tried to gentle his qi, using it more as a guide than anything else. Closing his eyes, Hakkai tried to feel it out. Gojyoâs qi pressed up against his, and Hakkai could feel hot blood welling against his palm. Maybe if he justâŚ
Hakkai directed Gojyoâs qi with his own. It took a long moment, or perhaps many, to tame Gojyoâs turbulent qi into a careful mesh over the wound. He tightened it, pulling the edges in like stiches, slowly but surely.
When Hakkai pulled back, he frowned. The wound was still there. Smaller, yes, fresh pink skin along the edges of the red line. But still there.
âWell, itâs not bleeding anymore,â Gojyo pointed out.
âTrue,â Hakkai frowned.
âTake a break for tonight,â Gojyo said, shaking his head. He tugged his coat back on. âYou used a lot of qi today.â
âWhen did you get so observant?â Hakkai said, glancing at Gojyo as me moved to sit next to him again.
âYouâll figure it out, âKai,â Gojyo said instead of answering. âDonât worry so much.â
Gojyo was right of course. Exhausting himself was no good to anyone. And there would be plenty of opportunities to learn on this trip of theirs. Sanzoâs great mission to stop Gyu Maoh.
For now, this was progress. For now, he was learning. Â
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