Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Best Wishes, Gojyo ❯ Finding Refuge from the Journey ( Chapter 1 )

Welcome to my newest piece for the bishounen of "Saiyuki"!

This tale of angst, romance, and sexual satisfaction is a birthday gift for my online koibito, Ryoko, and I hope that you will enjoy reading it as much as she does. The next chapter will hopefully be posted in a few days and uplifting feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Also, may I take a moment to thank the wonderful readers here at MediaMiner.org who gave such phenomenal support for "Happy Birthday, Baby" and "Gentle Reassurances"? Without those marvelous reviews and incredibly gratifying comments, I doubt this one would have turned out as well as it did and I humbly thank you all for giving me such fabulous encouragement and inspiration.

Enjoy the story!

~~~Enigma~~~

(who hereby invites anyone who is interested to visit his Live Journal for approximately daily updates on writing, anime, and other news plus previews of works-in-progress as well as more fun stuff. it is available at: http://www.livejournal.com/users/e_sama/ )

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Title: Best Wishes, Gojyo [chapter 1/4]

Book 3 of the "Encounters Arc" and sequel to "Happy Birthday, Baby"

Author: Enigma

Series: Saiyuki

Written: January - February, 2003

Rating: NC-17

Main Pairing: (Hakkai x Gojyo)

Category: Yaoi, Angst, Romance, Lemon. AU-OOC. Giftfic.

Archive: mediaminer.org [author: "E-sama the Llama"]

Warnings: yaoi, moderate angst, sweet romance, graphic lemon, coarse language as per the anime, minor bloodshed plus tiny hints of sap and humor. AU-OOC. Giftfic for Ryoko.

Spoilers: This story is set three days after the events in episodes 11 & 12 of the anime and therefore contains spoilers.

Disclaimer: "Saiyuki" is the property of Kazuya Minekura, et al. This unauthorized work of unpaid fanfiction is intended for entertainment only; please do not sue me.

Lemon Disclaimer: Kindly note that in the Real World, "safe" sex should be practiced at all times. However, this is an "Enigma Yaoi Romance Lemon" and all bishounen in question are hence magically protected against the dangers of sexually transmissible diseases, therefore they can skip the condoms -- and they know it!

Advisory: Whenever dialogue is written in all lowercase letters, it is to be read as if it is spoken very softly, possibly in a whisper, a gasp, or in a tone not meant to be heard by those nearby.

Notes: Seven long weeks have passed since Hakkai and Gojyo were able to consummate their love fully. Having barely survived the horrifying confrontation with Chin Iisou recently, will they dare to attempt to do so again on Gojyo's birthday and if so, what one key aspect will the well endowed half-breed wish to change about their intimate encounter?

{{flashback delineators}}

*****

On November ninth, the sound of a rooster welcoming the dawn filled the air outside a cozy farmhouse where three men who shared a common destiny slept, rousing one of them and making him aware that a certain someone was absent. Again.

Blurry, ruby-colored eyes peered past a snoring youth who was sprawled on the floor nearby, and then over to a now empty couch that had previously been occupied by a brunette and a dragon. With a small smirk on his lips, Gojyo asked himself very quietly, "is this how 'kai and me are going to start every birthday from now on? playing hide and seek?" Not minding in the least and feeling rather relieved that Sanzo had insisted on sleeping alone elsewhere, he stretched luxuriously before noting that the fire on the hearth had burnt down to mere embers that failed to sufficiently warm the large room.

Shivering slightly, the half-breed rose from the floor then used a poker to rearrange what little wood was left in the fireplace hoping to add some heat to the chilly room. As he stood there after completing the task which had been only partially effective since they needed more firewood, he saw a picture on the mantelpiece that he'd not noticed the night before.

Curiosity piqued, Gojyo picked up the photo and gazed sadly at the family of once happy youkai who he correctly assumed were the absent occupants of the farmhouse.

A small smile crossed Gojyo's lips as he looked at what he rightly assumed were two brothers standing together, the elder of them adding a two-fingered salute behind the younger one's head to give him classic faux bunny ears. The heartwarming sight of the pair of siblings brought to mind someone very special to the half-youkai.

In October, the Sanzo-ikkou had encountered Chin Iisou for the first time and in the course of dealing with a pair of fearsome, crab-like shikigami, he'd had a chance to be reunited with his elder brother Jien. The fact that the muscular youkai now went by the name Dokugakuji didn't bother Gojyo, he was simply glad to know that the person who had once killed to protect him was alive and well, something that was far from guaranteed during these difficult days.

The crimson-haired man wondered when they might see each other again even as he hoped they might be able to speak together at length which they hadn't during their recent reunion. Unfortunately, odds were that they'd end up opposing one another again and he didn't find that probability encouraging. The interminable battles they'd endured since the journey began usually didn't bother the experienced brawler, but just this once, Gojyo wished for a bit of peace whenever he saw his half-brother once more.

Muttering something about how much he hated the effects of the minus-wave which had undoubtedly been responsible for the fact that the farm was now untended, Gojyo then returned the picture to its spot of honor. Hoping distantly that someday the family might return to their home and regain the normal life which a dark combination of science and magic had stolen from them, his mind replayed recent events in vivid detail.

{{begin flashback}}

On November eighth, a mere two days after the horrible confrontation with Chin Iisou which had left Goku with a broken leg and them all more than a little traumatized, Hakkai had guided Hakuryu ever westward as usual. [1] The brunette was somewhat tired as well as distracted and less affable than he normally was, yet Gojyo was the only one to note the differences as being significant.

One of the things that weighed heavily upon the verdant-eyed healer's shoulders was the limitation of his own ki-based powers to assist those he cared deeply for and this was the source for his current condition. [2] In the course of his unique medical training with Dr. Zan, Hakkai had discovered that the degree to which someone was injured effected how much using his supernatural abilities to repair tissue damage drained him.

For example, following the repair of a relatively straightforward wound such as what Hakuryu had suffered in September, the brunette was often tired yet able to do the same for someone else the way that he had then done for Gojyo. Major, life-threatening injuries such as the one Gojyo had suffered when Chin Iisou's accursed doll had fired a mystical seed into his chest that was then followed by Sanzo's bullet, took a huge amount of ki-energy to repair. To make matters worse, Hakkai had then been required to use the same source of power to destroy the zombie whose goal had been to shatter his mind and take from him all that mattered most. This was what had prevented him from healing Goku's broken leg until a full day had elapsed after the umber-haired youth had been injured.

If Hakkai had been more honest with himself, he should've waited awhile longer, he simply wasn't strong enough at that point and this extreme demand on himself had left him exhausted in a fashion Goku and Sanzo could never fully appreciate.

Having lived with Hakkai for three wonderful years prior to the beginning of their quest, Gojyo already had firsthand experience with the ways the healer pushed himself too far as well as the fact that Hakkai's powers were not unlimited. Memories of times when he had practically carried his roommate home to their apartment after he overextended himself while aiding Zan or Long were sufficiently fresh in his mind that the current drawn expression on the brunette's face was a warning sign as sure as any other to him. The worried half-breed frowned slightly since what Hakkai really needed was rest and food, yet he said nothing out of respect for his lover's self-esteem which might suffer if the others perceived him as weak.

Also remaining silent but for very different reasons was the blond sutra-bearer whose mission was the focus of the entire journey west. Sanzo was lost in his own thoughts as he so often was, yet at this point his contemplation was more focused than it usually was. Instead of simply thinking about nothing, he was wondering what had changed in recent weeks that had lightened his mood following the death of his old friend, Syuei, who had transformed into Rikudou before losing his mind to the talisman which took over his body.

There had been the typical run-ins with groups of youkai sent by Gyokumen kosyu which were so lackluster that they didn't bear recalling in detail as well as the other miscellaneous misadventures the blond priest and his entourage faced on a regular basis. As Sanzo considered it, only the conflict with Chin Iisou a couple of days earlier had seemed noteworthy, so the causes of his release from the distracted state which had plagued him in September eluded him entirely. Regardless, he felt a deep sense of relief not to be bothered by unpleasant sexual urges and the almost truthfully indifferent attitude he had towards the two elder youkai accompanying him was most welcome.

Due to the fact that he was basically ignoring Hakkai and Gojyo both, Sanzo missed entirely the way in which the healer's shoulders slumped exhaustedly or the manner in which he seemed to be barely able to keep his mind focused on driving. On the other hand, keeping track of Goku was still a high priority for him and when they encountered an increasing number of livestock wandering the countryside aimlessly, he wasn't surprised by the boy's reactions to the situation.

"Ne, Sanzo?" Goku asked, craning his neck as the dragon's jeep form rolled past a sow who was allowing her numerous offspring to lazily nurse from her. "Do you think someone owns all these animals? The only fences I've seen recently were broken and wouldn't they be repaired if someone was trying to keep the pigs and chickens here?"

Blowing a ribbon of cigarette smoke out of the corner of his mouth, Sanzo frowned and responded flatly, "How the hell should I know? Do I look like a farmer?" Before taking another drag on his Marlboro, he added less acerbically, "What do you have in mind, saru? This better not be yet another stupid ass thing about wanting a pet." The memory of a certain golden-furred puppy had come to mind and even though they were no longer living in the temple where a dog wouldn't be welcome, he certainly didn't want the hassle of caring for a pet during their voyage.

Watching the pigs disappearing in the distance behind them, Goku shrugged and said, "No, I don't want one as a pet, Sanzo, I want one to eat!" His amber-gold eyes grew plaintive as he explained, "I've been extra hungry ever since Hakkai fixed my leg for me yesterday and seeing those piglets made me think of meat buns!"

"I should've known," Sanzo groused and was about to add something harsh, but was cut off by a sudden screech of brakes which was followed by loud cursing from behind him even as Hakuryu came to a bone jarring halt.

"What the fuck?!" Gojyo exclaimed. The half-breed worriedly glanced from where Hakkai had his head down while clinging to the steering wheel with a death-grip then over to the road and back before adding, "What the hell did you do *that* for, Hakkai?!" In truth, he wanted to pull the apparently agonized driver into a protective embrace and then find out what was wrong, yet he continued to force himself to act as if they were merely friends and not the compassionate, dedicated lovers that they were.

Nervous laughter preceded the lifting of the well loved brunette head and while offering an apologetic smile, Hakkai responded, "I'm so sorry, everyone. I fear that I was not paying full attention and we almost had a bit of an incident with the locals." He didn't need to elaborate as a tiny flock of yellow chicks seemed to magically materialize from beneath Hakuryu, all of them cheeping noisily as if to remonstrate the chagrinned driver.

Rolling his violet eyes skywards, Sanzo growled, "You mean you just gave us all whiplash for a bunch of dumb *birds*?!" He looked like he was considering pulling out his fan and using it on Hakkai, something he almost never did, yet was prevented by a sudden heavy hand on his shoulder. Glancing back at blood red eyes that held a concerned expression in them that asked for patience, he snorted softly and held his tongue for a change.

Unfazed by the abrupt stop or the situation amongst his comrades, Goku gladly sprang from his seat, jumped to the ground, and ran after the chicks, plucking one up in his hands with a delighted laugh. Jogging back over to the jeep, he held the tiny bird out and announced, "Look, Hakkai! Remember I told you about the little golden bird in my dreams awhile back?" Never once realizing he had been subconsciously recalling a painful incident from during his incarceration within the stone prison that Sanzo had rescued him from, he added cheerfully, "It was just the same color as this baby chicken!"

Carefully uncurling long fingers which had clung to the steering wheel as if it were a lifeline then nodding and offering his faux smile, Hakkai responded, "Ah, so I see, Goku." Realizing the boy wanted something more from him yet not knowing what that might be, he reached out and stroked the small bird's incredibly soft down and added, "I am terribly glad not to have run over the poor little thing."

Cocking his head to one side in curiosity, the umber-haired youth asked, "How come you almost did that, Hakkai?" He looked a little more closely at the healer and added with growing concern, "You look really tired. Is that why?"

Sighing and nodding, Hakkai admitted, "Perhaps that is part of it, Goku. I fear that as much as I have used my ki powers recently, I, too, am in need of something more substantial to eat than the instant noodles which were all we had left in Hakuryu's storage compartment."

The brunette's almost unheard of confession of need shocked Gojyo, to put it mildly. Never one to ask for aid or to express dissatisfaction unless a situation was beyond intolerable, Hakkai generally kept quiet or pretended nothing was wrong, so for him to actually verbalize that he needed nourishment proved the situation was rapidly getting out of control.

Before Gojyo could say something, though, a soft, unhappy kyu echoed forth from the vehicle and Hakkai rushed to pat the dashboard as he explained, "That is certainly not your fault, Hakuryu. We simply haven't had a chance to get supplies since we left the town where we met those four imposters who were masquerading as us." [3]

Stomach growling hungrily as if on cue, Goku moaned, "That's true! And that was a week ago!" After rubbing the chick against his cheek and enjoying the softness of its feathers against his skin, he put it down and watched as it ran off chasing its siblings once more. Noting the diminutive flock was headed towards a gathering of mature chickens who were scratching at the grassy ground nearby searching for worms, he suggested brightly, "Why don't we kill some of these chickens and cook them? If nobody is taking care of them, nobody will complain if we eat some, right, Sanzo?"

Snorting derisively, the blond responded, "I don't care one way or the other, bakasaru."

Realizing that Sanzo had taken his request for patience to heart, Gojyo suggested hopefully, "If there's a bunch of farm animals roaming around here, I bet there's a farmhouse with a kitchen where we could cook them, too!" Rising to his full height, he placed a hand above his eyes, peered around like a sailor in a crow's nest, then pointed straight ahead grinning cheekily as he announced, "Thar she blows! Bet we can bunk there for the night, too!"

"What if it's occupied?" Hakkai asked even as he slowly put Hakuryu into motion once more while hoping his cherished partner was right and they might get not only a good meal but also the first decent night's sleep they'd had in a long time.

Shrugging as he flopped down onto the seat even as Goku scrambled back in and sat across from him, Gojyo said, "Then we ask real nice if we can stay. Besides, I doubt that anyone's home." Noting the autumnal chill in the air, he explained, "As cold as it is out here, I'd expect them to have a fire going or something and I didn't see any smoke from a chimney or anything." The countryside around them was terribly rural, hence, the fact that there seemed to not be electrical service in the region didn't surprise any of them.

Before long, the Sanzo-ikkou had pulled up in front of a modest, one-story home which had a generously sized barn some small distance behind it. The quartet got out of the jeep and with a flash of rainbow-spangled light, Hakuryu resumed its natural form before fluttering over to perch on Hakkai's shoulder.

"Kyu?" The dragon asked softly, worried for its dearest friend since it was as attuned to Hakkai's habits and conditions as Gojyo was.

Stroking a hand gently across snow white fur, Hakkai assured, "I shall be fine, Hakuryu. Don't worry."

Since Sanzo and Goku had both gone onto the porch of the house to knock on the door, Gojyo felt safe to express some of his own concerns, too. After turning to face his housemates, he ran fond fingers through his lover's hair and said quietly, "Are you sure, 'Kai?" Troubled ruby-hued eyes searched ones like emeralds as he added, "It's not like you to be so out of it, babe, and I'm worried about you."

Faux smile dissolving as a truthful one emerged, Hakkai assured wearily, "Yes, I am certain, Gojyo." His green eyes crinkled at the corners slightly as he smiled while promising, "A hot meal and a good night's rest are all that I need."

"Well, if you're sure…?" Gojyo sounded unconvinced and then some.

Realizing his overprotective partner needed to be distracted from his worries, Hakkai placed his own hand atop the one which lingered briefly against his cheek much as he had done three years past when they were reunited after his audience with the Sanbutusin. He then amended quietly, "Well, if we were able to find a place to celebrate your birthday tomorrow in private, I'd be even more certain of getting all that I need. But I am grateful for whatever fate deems us worthy of at this point."

An expression of love and desire raced across a face that was still handsome despite the presence of twin scars on one high-boned cheek, then Gojyo agreed, saying, "Yeah, that would be damned good, baby! It's been seven long weeks since we've been together fully, hasn't it?"

Hakkai wished to agree and perhaps point out that they were simply lucky to be alive to have this discussion in light of their experiences lately, yet the sound of Goku's voice forestalled him.

"Hey! Anybody home?!" Goku shouted through the now open doorway following Sanzo's determination that not only was no one answering his demanding knocking, but that the door was unlocked anyway.

"Baka," Sanzo muttered, then stepped imperiously into the farmhouse fully intending to determine whether or not it was occupied in a more direct fashion.

Waving his hand to his three friends who had yet to join them, Goku called out, "Come on! It looks like nobody lives here, just like the kappa thought!" Thrilled by the prospects of a full meal being in his immediate future, he added gleefully, "Let's go check out the kitchen, Hakkai!"

Glad they'd already stepped apart once more and thereby eliminated the potential for embarrassing questions, Hakkai replied, "Certainly, Goku." Glancing at an overgrown garden plot nearby even as he walked towards the porch, he added, "Hopefully there are some vegetables available as well those chickens we saw earlier. I believe I see some carrots and onions growing over there."

Sauntering along behind his lover and remaining subtly attuned to Hakkai as always, Gojyo recommended, "If everything is cool for us to use this place, Goku, why don't you and me go get the birds ready in a bit and leave the rest up to Hakkai and Hakuryu?" With a respectful nod of his head towards the dragon and without bothering to waste time thinking about the fact that Sanzo wouldn't lift a finger to help with their meal, he added, "I don't think we need them to get involved in the butchering and cleaning, ne?"

Happily agreeing to anything that got his cavernous empty belly filled with some of the brunette's delicious home cooking, Goku answered eagerly, "Sure thing, Gojyo!" When a familiar voice told them the house was empty and to hurry the fuck up and close the damned door, he beamed, "You bet, Sanzo!"

Chuckling and relaxing a little now that their wish for a comfortable stopping place would be granted, Gojyo slipped a cigarette between his lips, lighting it as they stepped into what would be their haven for the night if not longer.

*****

The five traveling companions would waste no time in making themselves at home and soon a marvelous fire would be crackling merrily even as a large soup kettle filled with freshly harvested chicken and vegetables bubbled enticingly above the open flames. There were three more birds carefully trussed and impaled upon a long rod in the hearth's rotisserie, roasting slowly at the back of the fireplace.

The Sanzo-ikkou relaxed and warmed themselves before enjoying a meal that was far superior to anything they'd enjoyed since the strange cellblock feast they'd been provided by a fearful guard even as four fakes suffered through meager offerings from a grateful group of villagers.

Sleeping arrangements were simple enough since the residents of the home had but one bedroom, presumably for the parents, and the children had apparently slept in the main room. Sanzo had announced that he had no intention of sharing a room with anyone and took sole possession of the bedroom without hesitation.

The remaining traveling companions were somewhat disappointed when they failed to locate whatever the children had used to make themselves comfortable in the living area. Instead of discovering the wonders of a rare, western style pull-out sleeper sofa, they made do with a cache of blankets and pillows which had been found in a closet.

Goku had tossed a pillow onto the floor in front of the fireplace and wrapped a blanket around himself before falling into the contented sleep that the perfect contentment following a large meal always afforded him.

Hakkai had curled up in an overstuffed chair earlier in the evening and had been dozing prior to Sanzo's stomping off to be alone, so it was only natural that the exhausted healer take a blanket and go right back to his prior location soon thereafter. He was careful to tuck his monocle into the little leather case he'd received for his birthday and it was soon resting on a table nearby that Hakuryu considered an acceptable place to sleep after Gojyo placed a pillow onto it for the dragon's comfort.

Gojyo stretched his lanky form out on the couch and drifted towards sleep enjoying the dance of firelight across Hakkai's restful countenance.

As night descended over the farmhouse, the scene illumined by the flames' soft radiance was a peaceful one. The carefree youth sprawled on the floor snored loudly yet disturbed none of his three friends, each of whom seemed comfortably lost in whatever dreams their subconscious minds wished to entertain them with. The absence of a surly blond did nothing to detract from the calm and it appeared as if Hakkai was getting his wish for a good night's sleep in their temporary lodgings.

*****

Some time later, the half-breed's slumber was disturbed in the hours prior to dawn by a gentle tug on the blanket which he had pulled up to his chin sometime during the increasingly chilly night.

"Kyu?" Hakuryu inquired softly before tugging on the blanket again and adding more firmly, "Kyu."

"Huh? What's wrong, dragon?" Gojyo asked, shifting to where he could cast a quick glance around the room at the other two youkai wondering what was important enough for the loyal creature to wake him from such a deep and restful sleep.

Using its head to gesture worriedly towards the chair where Hakkai had sunk into an uncomfortable ball, Hakuryu practically begged Gojyo to rise and check on their housemate with a pleading, "Kyu!"

Despite being unable to interpret the dragon's one word vocabulary as well as Hakkai could, Gojyo implicitly trusted the being who had done so much for them all and quickly made his way to the side of the one his spirit was mated to for all eternity. As he approached, it immediately became clear exactly why Hakuryu had felt compelled to disturb his slumber.

Even though he was obviously in the grips of REM sleep, Hakkai was mumbling to himself even as his face twisted with an agony whose source was unknown to the crimson-haired man.

Pain-filled words met the half-breed's ears which told him that the horrible day of torture Chin Iisou had forced upon them had reawakened the devastating memories of Kanan's death and Hakkai's own tragic transformation into something other than human. Admissions of guilt and apologies that had gone unheard more than three years prior tugged at Gojyo's heartstrings and without hesitation he did what soul-deep instincts told him was right.

"shh, babe, shh," Gojyo hushed very, very softly even as he carefully lifted Hakkai's slumbering, blanket shrouded body into his arms, then cradled him close against himself. Feeling the welcome weight he'd been denied enjoying through most of the journey, he merely stood there for a few minutes, allowing them to warm one another.

A vague thought flitted past Gojyo's mind as he remembered awakening after being shot by Sanzo only to discover that Hakkai was either asleep or unconscious in a cave some distance away. When he'd found out later that his lover had collapsed into another man's arms, he had been understandably angry, but not with either of those primarily involved.

Instead, Gojyo was furious with himself for not doing something about the state of exhaustion the healer had been in before it could get out of hand. Yes, he'd claimed he'd followed Hakkai prior to the arrival of Chin Iisou's doll only to see what the brunette looked like when he was depressed. However, they both knew that wasn't the real reason he'd followed him into the woods that night and he redoubled that commitment right then and there.

With a determined expression on his face, Gojyo pulled Hakkai closer still and silently promised to protect the verdant-eyed man from himself better in the future if at all possible. Sadly, this was an impossible task and in only a few short weeks, he would find himself in a sea of sand bitterly complaining that Hakkai's lack of care for himself was making him miserable.

As the crimson-haired man stood holding the brunette with as much tenderness and care as one could imagine, Hakuryu's garnet-hued eyes watched approvingly. Glad that it had awakened the one who could ease Hakkai's nightmares better than anyone else, it discretely flew over to the chair which was currently unoccupied and perched there, awaiting an indication of what Gojyo wished to do next.

Glancing at the dragon meaningfully, Gojyo nodded his head towards the couch asking without words for Hakuryu to do something similar to what it had done a year prior and move the blanket he'd left there out of the way.

Keening ever so softly in agreement, Hakuryu rose into the air then proceeded to give a modified performance of its turn-down service as rendered on Gojyo's previous birthday, a day that had ended in a most spectacular fashion to be sure. Tugging the fabric aside with its little mouth then fluttering out of the way, Hakuryu aided in creating a more comfortable and hopefully more restful sleeping situation for Hakkai.

Meanwhile, Gojyo had finally acknowledged that he couldn't simply spend the rest of the night holding Hakkai even though he wanted to, then he forced himself to cross the room and approach the couch. He whispered a word of thanks to the dragon who hung in midair nearby then settled his partner's body down onto the cushions, easing Hakkai into the most comfortable position he could before rearranging the blanket that had remained around him the entire time so he would be warm.

After being absolutely sure Goku was lost in his own dreams, Gojyo placed a tender kiss onto Hakkai's cheek and whispered, "rest well, 'kai."

Long-lashed eyes dyed maroon by the faltering light of the fire softened and grew wistful as Gojyo recalled how often he'd been able to say those exact words while laying beside Hakkai in their own bed at home where similar moments in the past hadn't ended with them sleeping separately. With a soft sigh of regret since at times like this he missed their quiet homelife more than he did at others, Gojyo then straightened and watched as Hakuryu wafted down to land lightly next to Hakkai before snuggling close and resting its slight weight against him comfortingly.

Thankfully, the guilt-laden nightmares had released Hakkai the moment Gojyo's strong arms had lifted him up. Now that he'd been offered succor by both of those he loved most in all the world, the healer could sink once more into the realm of slumber safe from further dark phantoms that he really didn't need to be visited by.

As a soft sigh of contentment left Hakkai's slightly parted lips, Gojyo ached to kiss him again yet controlled himself admirably choosing instead to merely thank their dedicated friend with an affectionate caress of a slender, snake-like neck.

Hakuryu offered a purring kyu to indicate that it was glad that it could help, then closed its eyes and rested once more.

With a small yawn, Gojyo reached down and picked up the blanket which the dragon had pushed aside then he crossed the room to gather up the pillow Hakuryu no longer needed. After tossing the cushion down onto the floor near the hearth but not where he might end up with one of Goku's legs draped across him as so he often had in overly small rooms in boarding houses and elsewhere, Gojyo stretched out and drifted back to sleep almost immediately.

All in all, it had been a tremendous blessing that they'd found the farmhouse when they had and those within it were grateful to the small chicks whose foolish wandering in a roadway had allowed them to find a pleasant break from their journey.

{{end flashback}}

The crackle of the dying embers in the fireplace brought Gojyo out of his reverie and back to the present. With a smirk, he carefully stepped over the snoring boy who had hopelessly tangled himself in his blanket yet remained deeply asleep.

Assuming that Hakkai had either gone outside for more wood or to let their draconic companion stretch his wings, Gojyo then made his way towards the front door intending to look for the others.

Passing the closed door to the bedroom Sanzo had vanished into, Gojyo distantly wondered how the aloof blond might've remained warm alone and far from the comfort of the fire, yet it wasn't anything he cared too much about. Why Sanzo did what he did was a mystery that Gojyo rarely had time for and even though they had come to a grudging friendship of sorts, the half-breed generally regarded him with a live and let live philosophy which spared him unnecessary and ultimately useless conjecture.

Upon opening the front door, Gojyo made an unpleasant discovery. Instead of the warm reds, oranges, and golds of sunrise, he was greeted by a heavily overcast sky the dismal shade of gunmetal gray.

"Oh, fuck," Gojyo muttered in disappointment. Shaking his head and causing lengthy red tresses that begged for a good shampooing to dance about lightly, he added in a pleading tone the universe failed to heed, "Don't tell me it's going to *rain* on my birthday! I mean, well, damn it all, Hakkai doesn't need that on top of everything else!" The fact that his partner's happiness meant more than his own regardless of it theoretically being a day of celebration for himself went without saying.

After shoving a cigarette between his lips, Gojyo stepped off the porch and went in search of his missing housemates, grumbling the entire time about how unfair everything had been lately even as he fervently wished for a lucky break for a change. Whether the presence of such sodden clouds truly foretold an angst-ridden immediate future or not, however, was something no one knew and remained to be seen.

*****

To be continued.

Author's Notes:

[1] Please keep in mind that the timeline proposed in my stories is purely of my own devising. Also, as always, the events in the anime have been respectfully used as a starting point but some small artistic licenses have been taken to enhance the tale my muses wish to tell.

[2] After watching episode12, "Wandering Destiny", again recently, I wondered why Hakkai failed to use his ki-channeling ability to heal Goku's leg as soon as he had the chance once Chin Iisou was eliminated. The conjecture about possible limitations on his use of his supernatural powers within the body of the narrative came from that.

[3] The imposters Hakkai mentions are, of course, the fake Sanzo-ikkou from episode 10, "Fake the Face". Granted, the four comic souls who attempted to pass themselves off as our favorite travelers forgot to include a certain little white dragon and were thereby not a true "Sanzo-ikkou" in the first place.