Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ An old dance ❯ A new step ( Chapter 2 )

Title: A new step

Pairings:

GokuxKougaiji

JienxYaone

SanzoxNightfall

GojyoxHakkai

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Not mine. Except for Nightfall. Not that I don't really wish that they were mine. But they belong to their respective owners. I'm only playing with them how I see fit. ^.~ And as one of my favorite authors has said, I can make powerful men do whatever I want… I write fanfics.

Notes: Thank my friend Lys Seine for getting on my case often enough to get this chapter out. Chapter three is already in the works. Flamers will be laughed at and then maybe shot by Sanzo. He's been looking for a new target to practice on recently.

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Hakkai was pulling into the first inn he could find, per the request of everyone on board the jeep. Sanzo was leaning back against Nightfall, his head tucked under the napping demon's chin. Violet eyes were lazily watching the road ahead of them, intently ignoring the fight in the back.

"How can Nightfall sleep with them arguing like that?" Sanzo mutters.

"Ask him when he wakes up, Sanzo." Hakkai idly says as he spots the signs of a town up ahead. The fight falls silent at Hakkai and Sanzo's gasps. An eight-layer waterfall was splashing its merry way down the side of a red stone cliff into a clear lake at the bottom. The lake was split into three parts. It looked like there was an inn for women, and a separate one for men. The middle they supposed was for co-ed swimming or perhaps fishing. Huge trees surrounded the area. Glancing up at the trees they saw that the thick branches were easily supporting several homes, people were climbing up the hollow insides of some of the trees, others were using ladders or stairs carved onto the outside to reach their house. A small market was nestled in a half-circle formed by five of the trees.

"Does this place look good to you people?" Hakkai asks.

"Fine with us." The others chorus. Hakyruu stops in front of the men's inn and transforms back into a dragon, dumping them all in the grass. Except for Sanzo who had been caught by a now awake Nightfall. Nightfall had vanished his wings earlier in the trip; the others were wondering how but weren't going to ask. Sanzo didn't even know because in his entire association with Nightfall he had never seen him do that. Goku immediately starts arguing at Hakyruu for dumping him like that. Gojyo catches up with Hakkai, Sanzo, and Nightfall, leaving the still arguing Goku at the back of the group. The innkeeper looks up and smiles at them.

"Welcome! How can I help you fine gentlemen today?" The old man behind the counter asks them cheerfully.

"We need some rooms for the night, and is there a place we can eat?" Sanzo asks for the group.

"Sure, I can let you have the rooms Priest Sanzo, but the restaurant in back will charge you for the food separately. We have a hot spring out back beside the waterfall and towels can be found in your rooms and at the door leading to the hot springs. Here are the keys to your rooms." The innkeeper hands them three keys and Sanzo divides them amongst them. Already aware of the fact that Nightfall will be sharing a room with him since the man had told him so moments before.

"Let's go get settled, and go take a soak in the hot springs." Gojyo suggests. Everyone willingly agrees and disappears into their respective rooms, Goku by himself, Gojyo and Hakkai are sharing, as are Sanzo and Nightfall. But when they walk into their rooms, they notice that there's only one bed. Granted, it is big enough for...three, but still.

"Oh well, at least it's a soft surface." Is the sentiment that seems to be echoed throughout the three rooms.

"I'll meet you at the hot spring Sanzo." Nightfall says softly before disappearing out the door. Sanzo stares at the door that Nightfall just left out of for a moment or two before shaking his head to clear it and grabbing his last set of clean robes and undergarments that he had left before hunting down one of the maids.

"Can I help you sir?" She asks calmly, apparently being one of the only females in the entire place doesn't bother her.

"Is there anywhere we can get our clothes washed and mended?" He asks blandly, trying not to seem like he's in too much of a hurry to see Nightfall. Why he wants to see him when he just left a few minutes ago is beyond him, but that's how it is.

"Sure, which rooms are you and your friend's staying in?" He tells her and she promises to get everything done for them by tomorrow.

"Hey Sanzo." Hakkai's voice grabs his attention.

"Haven't you been to the hot springs yet?" Sanzo asks.

"No, Gojyo, Goku, and I were just on our way there. Nightfall already took off I suppose?" Sanzo nods in response to Hakkai's question and they all walk silently together to the door leading into the hot springs. The silence in the small changing area makes them wonder if they're the only people using it at this time of day. Clad in only their towels they turn to enter the hot springs through a blind but are stopped by the sound of an amused voice behind them. When they look they see Kougaiji and Jien, also only wearing towels by this point.

"Well, didn't expect to see you guys here." Kougaiji says.

"We could say the same about you wood elf." Goku replies.

"I think we should cut the hostilities for our stay. Don't you agree?" Kougaiji suggests.

"Sounds like a plan." Sanzo replies, relieved that they may get to relax for a while. Kougaiji and Jien walk through the blind with them, and they all come to a stop at the sight in front of them. Nightfall's back is to them and the wet jet-black hair is pulled over one shoulder. //Well, I did wonder where the wings went. // Travels through four minds as they take in what appears to be two large tattoos on Nightfall's back. A thin strip of pale skin is visible straight along Nightfall's spine with a wing tattoo on either side. The tattoos travel down his back to about mid-calf, smooth curving lines accented in edges of silver. Darker silver lines travel through the tattoos themselves wherever the veins normally would have been. When Nightfall turns slightly they can see edges of them just barely along his sides. The reaction from the others when Nightfall turns around makes Sanzo consider etching his name on the collar. His reaction to that is mild astonishment, he'd never felt so possessive of anyone before. Nightfall gives them a smile and a small wave before jumping into the water of the lake.

"So who's that, Sanzo?" Kougaiji asks.

"Nightfall." He says shortly as he slips into the almost too hot water of the hot spring.

"That doesn't tell me much."

"He's the original demon. He was around before your father was thinking about being a threat. When I was still a god for example." Kougaiji's eyes widen.

"And those silver chains are his power limiters?"

"Yes, and since only the gods can make them, and I was the only god who could make them for Nightfall, let's hope they don't break." Kougaiji and Jien nod in agreement.

"So where's Yaone and Lirrin?" Gojyo asks.

"The other inn, they came along because we decided we all needed to get away from...her...for awhile." Kougaji replies.

After relaxing in the hot springs until they thought they might have finally gotten all the grime and road dust off, they join Nightfall swimming in the clear, calm waters of the lake. Goku and Nightfall con the others into playing a few water games before getting out. Kougaiji watches Sanzo and Nightfall interact, he hadn't seen the monk that relaxed.... ever. He smothered a smile and a laugh when Nightfall reached out to brush Sanzo's bangs back. Feeling someone beside him he tilts his head a bit until he sees Goku's unruly hair.

"Hey pixie." Goku says cheerfully.

Kougaiji arches an eyebrow. "Yes monkey?"

"I'd normally tell Sanzo this, but since he's busy with Nightfall, he'd kill me."

"So what is it?"

"I'm hungry." Kougaiji stares at the brunette for a moment before laughing.

"Let's go eat then. I'm sure the others will be hungry after swimming around all day too." He absently ruffles Goku's hair as he turns to ask the others if they'd be interested, therefore missing the slightly shocked look on Goku's face.

In no time at all they are all in the restaurant part of the building, Goku having gleefully picked up the menu, looked at it, and said okay; all before handing it back to their startled waiter.

"What Goku means, is that he wants everything on the menu. Just to make things easy on you, we want two of everything, one menu for him, the other for us to share." Hakkai explains. The waiter nods and walks off to the kitchen.

"Good thing there isn't anyone else around." Sanzo mutters.

"I heard that Sanzo."

"I wasn't trying to prevent you from hearing it monkey." Sanzo starts to say more but is distracted by a glimpse of Nightfall out of the corner of his eye. The dark haired man had somehow gotten hold of a bottle of beer to drink and Sanzo found himself fascinated by his lips wrapped around the opening and the ripples of his throat when he swallowed. His eyes closed as the liquid ran down his throat, opening in time to catch Sanzo watching him. He smiles around the beer bottle before sitting it on the table just as the food arrives. Goku's eyes glitter, as he looks at all the food. Kougaiji watches Goku eat with a highly amused look on his face.

"How do you afford anything Sanzo? Food alone, I mean..." Kougaiji teases.

In response Sanzo holds up the golden charge card while taking a drink of his beer.

"I see." Kougaiji catches Goku's look and flashes a disarming smile before going back to eating.

During the course of Goku's dessert, everyone else pleasantly full and feeling slightly sleepy, the innkeeper approaches them with an apologetic look on his face.

"I hate to ask this of you, but we've ran out of rooms. Can someone share a room?" Jien immediately refuses to share his room, leaving Goku the only one without a roommate.

"Sure, Goku can share." Sanzo says mildly as he begins reading his paper. That got Goku's attention. He glanced at Kougaiji who had his head ducked, then he shrugged.

"I guess I can room with him." Is all he says before polishing off his dessert.

The innkeeper bowed to them. "Thank you very much gentlemen."

"Speaking of bed, I'm all for it. All this food made me kind of sleepy." Hakkai says as he stands up. Gojyo immediately following.

"Goodnight everyone." They say as they walk up the stairs. Goku watches after them, looking puzzled. Nightfall stands up and drags Sanzo to his feet.

"How long are we staying here?" He asks as the blond monk rests a hand on Nightfall's chest to catch his balance.

"Long enough to rest up, we'll probably stay here tomorrow night too." He says before moving back from Nightfall and walking over to the stairs.

Gojyo strips off his vest and shirt as he toes off his boots before climbing onto the bed. He watches as Hakkai gets ready for bed and smiles at the man as he climbs into bed beside him. The redhead wraps his arms around Hakkai's slender waist and sighs into dark brown hair when Hakkai tucks his head under his chin. Hakkai smiles against Gojyo's chest as he listens to his heartbeat. Gojyo smirks at the thought of what an easy time his brother will have falling asleep, and feels extreme amusement at the idea of Goku and Kougaiji sharing a room. He slides an arm around Gojyo and holds him close as they fall asleep at the same time.

Meanwhile, in another part of the inn, Sanzo is wondering if Nightfall is going to try anything tonight. The demon has been behaving, but who knows how long that will last. He muses to himself as he strips down to his black body suit. His robes draped over the pillows, making them a little softer. Nightfall's sleeping attire is even more simplistic than his. Sanzo thinks to himself as he looks at the man. Nightfall had wrapped the dark of the night around him in an entirely too enticing outfit. Nightfall's one piece outfit managed to cover him from neck to foot, except for a long slit up one side that bared his left leg to the thigh whenever he walked, the back bared the wing outlines on his skin. Sanzo licked his lips and hid a smile as he thought; perhaps Nightfall should be worried about him jumping the demon instead of vice versa. Just as he thinks that Nightfall turns around to face him with a smile on his lips.

"Like what you see, Sanzo?" Nightfall asks in a soft voice. Sanzo fights back a blush as Nightfall spins lightly to show Sanzo the entire piece. //You seem to forget that I can hear your thoughts..Master.// Sanzo sighs and ducks his head for a moment.

"Get in the bed Nightfall." Nightfall stands for a moment and opens his arms, an obvious invitation, and a test. Sanzo balks for a moment, standing so still he almost appeared to be a statue. Then, cautiously, more afraid of his own emotions than he is of Nightfall, he walks into the open arms. He leans into the warmth of Nightfall's embrace and relaxes muscles he didn't realize were that tense. He realizes that Nightfall has been leading them backwards towards the bed when Nightfall's legs hit the edge of the bed. Nightfall falls backwards, taking Sanzo with him. Sanzo's eyes widen a little at the feeling of Nightfall underneath him, and he realizes that some part of him is happy like this. Enjoys the feeling of the lithe body under his and the look in the dark blue eyes watching him. Long fingers smooth across one of his cheeks and he leans into the touch instead of away and watches the pleasure gleam in Nightfall's eyes at the gesture. He raises up enough that Nightfall can move up on the bed and as soon as the other has moved he follows, lying down next to him and pulling the blankets up over them. Nightfall snuggles up against him and curls up so his head is resting on Sanzo's chest, one arm flung across Sanzo's chest and a legs tangled together. Sanzo knew who was really protecting whom, but also knew why Nightfall had decided to rest like this. Impulsively he kisses the top of Nightfall's head and watches his eyes brighten and the arm around him tightens in a light hug. Nightfall listens to Sanzo's heartbeat and remembers how many times he'd wished he could fall asleep like this. So close to the other man, sharing the warmth and the quiet. Ignoring the fall of the rain for the first time in a long while as they fell asleep.

Goku looks around the room, at the bed he'd have to share with Kougaiji if he didn't want either of them to sleep on the floor. It looked big enough to be sure, but.. still. He looks over at Kougaiji to see what he thinks and is confused to see a light blush on the guy's cheeks. Locking the door he sheds his clothes down to his shirt and pants, not really thinking anything of it. He jumps onto the bed and bounces a couple of times before settling down on the side nearest the door. He gives Kougaiji a hurry up look and the other man strips off his shirt and kicks off his shoes before taking the other side. Both stay as far from the other as possible on the bed.

Sometime later that night, after many unconscious battles for the blankets, Goku and Kougaiji wake up facing each other from only inches apart. The blankets are wrapped extremely well around their bodies from all the fights over it. Kougaiji's hands press against Goku's chest and he blushes darkly over it. He lowers his head so Goku won't see and accidentally flexes his fingers a bit. Goku's soft gasp draws his eyes back up to Goku's golden ones, which are quickly darkening with an emotion unfamiliar to Kougaiji. When Goku brings a hand up and runs his thumb along Kougaiji's lips he licks his lips and manages to somehow catch the pad of Goku's thumb at the same time.