Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Fateful Encounters ❯ Contemplation Followed by Camaraderie ( Chapter 6 )

Title: Fateful Encounters [part 6/?]

Author: Enigma

Series: Saiyuki

Written: June - November, 2002

Rating: R

Pairings: (Gojyo + Hakkai)

Category: Shonen ai/yaoi, Angst, Romance, Action/Adventure, Blood, Language. AU-OOC.

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

Warnings: shonen ai/yaoi, angst, romance, action/adventure, anime-based bloodshed, crude language matching the characterization of the series, original characters to support the main characters from the anime and not detract from them, medical and other squick, additional warnings and pairings possible as fic comes into being over time. AU-OOC.

Spoilers: Since this is based on episodes 15 & 16 of the anime, there are definite spoilers for them, but there are also minor spoilers for other aspects of the series which I will try to keep to a minimum so readers both new and old can enjoy this tale.

Disclaimer: "Saiyuki" is the property of Kazuya Minekura, et al. All original characters featured herein (including but not limited to: Zan, Long, Kiko, etc.) are © Enigma, 2002, and are not to be used without permission. This unauthorized work of unpaid fanfiction is intended for entertainment only; kindly do not sue me.

Notes: What might have actually happened after Gojyo found and rescued a severely injured Gonou (a.k.a. Hakkai) three years prior to their journey to the west? How will these revelations change not only their own lives but also Sanzo's and Goku's as well?

*****

By the time the sun fought its way past the thick blinds and into the main room of Gojyo's apartment, morning was well underway and a certain crimson-haired man was sleepily pondering his current location with an uncharacteristically open frame of mind.

Groggily yawning while adrift in that lovely point between sleep and full wakefulness, Gojyo lifted his head and noted he'd been resting near a warm body that scarlet eyes were observing from a unique perspective. His gaze lingered over the soft curve of a hip hidden by a navy blue bedspread then meandered up what had been a rock-hard abdomen prior to recent sorrowful events which were implied by the thick bandages currently covering it. Not being awake enough to let that bother him, his visual inventory continued and he was soon peering over a slender chest at a pale yet handsome face that was concealed by bandages of its own. Last was a soft cascade of brunette hair that covered part of the gauze surrounding the head yet revealed an ear with three mysterious pieces of jewelry on it that a random part of Gojyo's mind thought might be fun to nibble around.

Still groggy enough not to take exception with that tiny suggestive thought, the scarlet-eyed man simply smiled lazily, sighed deeply, then said in a low, throaty tone that would've made almost anyone's blood run hot with desire, "G'mornin', Nanashi. Sleep well, baby?"

As the final word of greeting escaped his lips, however, Gojyo awoke fully and clasped a hand over his mouth in a rush, blushing slightly as he chastised himself in embarrassment, "What the fuck am I saying?!" He pushed himself up from the floor and stood on unsteady legs for a moment, wavering a bit like a newborn colt as he argued with himself, "Damn it all! Where the hell did *that* come from?! I don't even *know* this guy and here I am calling him 'baby'?! I am *not* bisexual! No, damn it! I am *not* thinking *that* about another guy!!"

His body disagreed with him rather vocally and in utter frustration he spun away from the silent form who had missed a key conversation a man was holding with himself as reality slowly began to sink in and yet it continued to be ignored with growing feelings being sadly denied. Marching himself past the entrance to the bathroom and slamming the shower setting to as cold as he could get it, Gojyo stripped off the jeans and white tank top he'd slept in and tossed them at a basket in a corner not caring when they missed. [1]

Nude and slightly cold from the morning chill, he stepped under the biting spray and screwed his eyes tightly shut willing away the half-hard evidence of his attraction to his new roommate more successfully than he would in the frustrating days and weeks to come. After only a few minutes of this self-torture, Gojyo was able to reset the water to something more tolerable and began to scrub himself clean with a slightly rougher hand than normal since he felt dirty for thinking the way that he had.

As soapy lather rose and fell over the chiseled planes of his well-muscled body, his thoughts were searching ones as he tried to recall what had triggered his unexpected reaction to the stranger in his bed, a "stranger" that his mind was already renaming "friend" or more. His thoughts continued to seek answers even as a soap-covered hand automatically reached down and eased the last of the tension between his thighs away even as it washed deep red curls sparkling clean.

While pouring himself a healthy handful of his favorite musk-scented shampoo and then scrubbing it into wet crimson hair that flowed across broad shoulders and slithered across much of his back, Gojyo recalled a fragment of the dream that had immediately preceded his awakening that morning. Strong fingertips massaged his scalp with an almost brutal ferocity as his mind recaptured an image of the pair of masculine figures who had haunted him ever since he encountered the stranger bleeding to death in the forest.

Closing his eyes as he rinsed the shampoo from hair that seemed to be almost maroon under the spray of the shower, he recalled that the blond he kept seeing was thin and elegant, almost effeminately dressed and yet undeniably male. [2] The brunette that he had only been catching glimpses of so far had appeared yet remained elusive. He was often nothing more than a glimpse of shoulder length hair or a flash of reflection from a pair of glasses that had yet to reveal an eye color or even a full impression of the face behind them.

Frustrated by a deep longing to know more about the second man, Gojyo scowled and blew some of the water dripping into his face off, then growled, "What the fuck is the purpose of having dreams like these if they aren't clear enough to *tell* me anything? Damn it all, there's times like this that I wish I didn't dream so fucking intensely! I mean, hell, what good is full color images if all I ever get of certain stuff in them is as incomplete as a torn page in a magazine?! This is driving me *nuts*!!"

The scarlet-eyed man was already quite angry with himself and now that he had another target for that rage, he transferred some of it towards whatever force was sending these nighttime visions of the seemingly unknown men. With a sudden burst of fury, he slammed a fist against the wall of the shower enclosure and snarled, "I will *not* go out and get shit-faced drunk again, but damn it all to hell, I also won't put up with this crap!! I'll find some way to wear myself out before I go to sleep tonight and maybe this will be the last time I have to ask myself who these guys are and why they make me feel so weird!"

Shutting off the water with a slick hand and then yanking the shower curtain wide-open, he turned to reach towards a towel hanging on the far wall and caught a glimpse of his incapacitated companion through the unobstructed opening that lead back to the main room.

Deflating a little as he realized he could no more go out and dance himself into a state of exhaustion than he could achieve similar results by consuming large amounts of alcohol, Gojyo sighed deeply and simply stood where he was for a moment. Dripping wet, naked as the day he was born, and looking like an excellent model for the cover art on a hard yaoi manga, the half-breed finally reminded himself that the coffee in the kitchen wouldn't brew itself for him and he refocused on reality.

Using both powerful hands to squeeze the excess moisture from the cascade of dripping, deep-crimson locks, Gojyo barely noticed the sudden flood of sparkling water that slipped and slid down his back, over his buttocks, then traced glimmering lines down legs sculpted by a life of action. Without giving any thought to the fact that in the future he'd need to remember to pull the curtain he used to separate the bathroom from the bedroom so as not to offer quite so much of a view of himself after a shower, he hastily dried off. He then slung the towel loosely around his waist before rejoining his roommate briefly.

Walking over to the insensate man and giving him a small apologetic smile, the scarlet-eyed nineteen year old said, "Um, sorry about this morning, man, but I kinda woke up in a weird mood, okay?" There wasn't any answer which was fine since none was expected.

Then Gojyo reached down and placed a water-softened, lightly musk-scented hand against Gonou's uninjured cheek under the pretense of checking for fever and was relieved to find none yet left his fingers in contact a bit longer than necessary simply because it felt right to do so. With a soft smile, he added more gently, "Not to say you ain't damned good looking, or nothing 'cause you are, Nanashi, but I *am* trying to remind myself that I don't swing that way."

With a sad shake of his head, he turned and made the very short walk to the kitchen, grumbling quietly to himself, "But just *why* I'm trying to remember that is something I'm finding harder and harder to keep track of." Reaching up to get some coffee from a shelf, he smirked at the image he must present at that very moment, lean body damp from the shower and wearing a tiny bit of cloth that could hardly be called modest, he answered himself, "Oh, yeah, it was for the ladies. I wouldn't want to deprive all the lonely women in the area of their favorite stud!"

The self-congratulatory chuckle that followed that pronouncement rang false in his own ears and he knew the truth was getting more difficult to hide from.

As the deep brown grounds met the hot water within the coffeemaker and then collaborated on the caffeine-laden drink he craved, Gojyo sighed and shook his head as he went to put on a pair of ripped jeans and a ragged crop top that had seen better days. He assumed he didn't need to "dress to impress" since his only companion was more oblivious than most of the women that he dated, some of whom sadly enjoyed him for his physical attributes and nothing more. He tied back his dripping hair in a messy ponytail deciding to worry about getting the knots out later when he wasn't quite so jittery, then prowled around the tiny apartment impatiently waiting for the coffee to be ready.

Time crawled by as it does for all caffeine addicts awaiting that first hot cup of the morning, but the brew was happily in his hands before he had a chance to fall too far into additional introspection. Gojyo sighed appreciatively as he inhaled a deep lungful of steam from the mug then went over to sit in the chair he'd left near the patient's bed.

Curling one leg under himself, he commented with only a slight amount of vehemence, "Ya know something, Nanashi? It sucks to be me if I have to drink this without a cigarette!" He briefly considered getting up and going outside for the first nicotine he'd had in far too long, then he discarded that thought entirely, reminding himself that it was better for them both if he learned to control his cravings.

While gazing at the comatose, emerald-eyed stranger in his bed, the gambler's mind played with that thought over and over.

Gojyo wondered what "cravings" he'd have the hardest time learning to control in the coming days or weeks or months, and it was no wonder that train of thought carried him back to matters of a sexual nature since he was a truly sensual being above all else. The very idea of going however long it might take to get his new roommate literally back on his feet before being with any of the women he so often romanced too easily led his mind in directions it didn't need to be going in and caused a predictable reaction.

Groaning and deciding that leaving the zipper on the too-tight jeans all the way closed was a bit much since he was alone, one hand expertly popped the snap and the fly opened itself automatically giving him some measure of physical comfort if none of the emotional variety.

Slumping against the back of the chair, he sipped at the hot coffee and then said quietly, "I wonder if you're the type of guy who likes coffee or tea, Nanashi." He alternated his gaze from the mug in his hand to the man in his bed and added thoughtfully, "Ya know something? I just realized your hair looks kinda the same color as this does. At least, in the morning sunlight it does. Kinda dark brown. Or maybe a sort of rich French Roast kinda color? Um, I'm babbling again, aren't I?"

Ignoring the slightly embarrassed smile his own words had induced, he was about to try to come up with some other topic for pseudo-discussion with the brunette as per Zan's advice when he was saved by a knock at the door courtesy of the good doctor herself.

Hopping up from his chair utterly clueless about his current unintentionally erotic appearance, Gojyo rushed to open the door expecting the young half-breed to have preceded the physician who was his guardian. With a broad smile, the teen called out, "Oi! Kiko! I'm a-comin'!" He yanked the barrier out of the way to find himself face-to-face with a matronly, middle-aged lady who gave him a friendly smile as he immediately compensated by saying, "Oh, hey, doc! I didn't think you'd be dropping by so early!"

She continued to smile at him in that reassuring manner that put so many patients at ease, then asked, "What's so early about eleven in the morning, Gojyo?"

"Is it *that* late already?!" The crimson-haired man inhaled sharply in surprise and ran a hand through the only slightly damp earlocks that hung loose from the tie and danced around his face even as he chuckled nervously, "Um, well, I don't exactly tend to watch the clock when I'm home. I'm either sleepy or feeling lazy and I just stay in bed or I'm getting ready to go out for a night of fun. You know, one or the other. Not this 'casual alertness' stuff I'm trying to get down for Nanashi's sake."

"Ah, I see," the woman smiled and nodded before mentioning, "Well, for Nanashi's sake, you'll need to be a bit more aware of such things. He'll need to get his IVs on the schedule I gave you before you left my house yesterday, as I'm sure you recall. That's why we're here now, I wanted to observe how well you handled that plus a few others things." Zan looked past him rather deliberately, hoping to get a glimpse of her patient even as she silently offered a gentle reminder of basic etiquette.

Taking his cue, Gojyo stepped back from the door and gallantly waved a hand at waist-level and bowed slightly, saying in his best butler's tones, "Kindly enter, dear lady."

Giggling almost girlishly even as she nodded, the physician agreed easily and mentioned, "I assume that invitation includes Kiko, as well, Gojyo?" She glanced back behind her and then smiled brightly as she added conspiratorially, "He wanted to pick up a little something special on his way here. I expect him to arrive any moment!"

"Oh? What might that be?" The scarlet-eyed man inquired, curious what the boy his mind labeled as too much like a little brother to merely be a friend at this point was up to. Spotting the crimson-haired child walking towards them, head down in concentration as he carried a large parcel with both small hands, he brightened even more and asked quietly, "Did the kid *really* go shopping for me, doc? Damn, that's so sweet it makes me want to cry!" He wasn't exaggerating for a change and the suspicious hint of moisture in the corner of one ruby-colored eye wasn't lost on the doctor who simply stood where she was holding her familiar case of medical supplies.

With a gentle smile of her own and a look that said life was more than worth living with such precious men in it, Zan answered quietly, "Yes, he did indeed." Then she raised a hand and cautioned, "But be kind when you see what he's selected, won't you? He means well, really he does, he simply doesn't realize that someone like yourself doesn't share his nutritional needs."

Beyond intrigued by those strange words, Gojyo failed entirely to keep his cool as he called out, "Oi!! Kiko! Get a move on, buddy! Your 'auntie' and me need to 'feed' Nanashi!!"

Glancing up and coloring slightly at having been spotted before he was really ready to be seen, the ten year old glowered and called back, "Be quiet, baka! I'll be there soon enough!" His small yet decisive steps carried him closer with alacrity as he added in a cynical tone, "It's not as if I can't let myself in when I get there if you two old people are too busy to open the door for me!"

The elder half-breed sputtered with a mixture of rage and amusement even as the physician stepped through the portal confidently, set aside her case of equipment, and immediately began taking her patient's pulse and noting Gonou's vital signs.

While Gojyo and Kiko wrangled for dominance between them in a minor skirmish by the door, Zan quickly and efficiently unbound a few spots in the bandages that had caused her the greatest worry. Then the woman smiled as she replaced the gauze without explanation, pleased to see the stranger's healing hadn't been slowed by his relocation. With a small smile, she asked, "Um, Gojyo? It would be nice if we didn't let your home fill up with bugs because the two of you decided to stand there and argue for awhile, don't you think?"

With a slightly guilty look, the elder of the pair who had been acting like schoolboys at the front door stepped back and greeted his newest arrival more appropriately by saying simply, "Come on in." The smaller of the two peered up at him defiantly through crimson locks as he added, "Hey, kiddo, what ya got in the bags?"

Stepping into the small apartment and going straight to the kitchen with his heavy parcel, Kiko shrugged slightly and said, "Since you seemed incapable of stocking your own pantry and refrigerator properly, baka, I thought I'd do something about it."

Giving the smiling woman a look that asked if he really wanted to pursue this topic or not, Gojyo answered hesitantly, "Oh, really? And just what did you think I needed, little man?"

The ten year old gave him an annoyed glance before remarking, "Just a few essentials." Acting as if that answered everything, he confidently placed a few packages of various nonperishable items in a cupboard failing to see the smile of delight on the older half-breed's face as a large bag of jasmine rice disappeared when the door closed. Then Kiko sat the half-empty package by the refrigerator and pulled the door open so he could put a few things in it the last of which was a fairly large bottle of milk, something most men Gojyo's age didn't drink for any number of reasons. [3]

Realizing this was most likely the item Zan had cautioned him about, Gojyo smirked secretively and then reached over the small boy's head to immediately retrieve the shining glass bottle and pulled it out with a chuckle as he commented, "What's this? Milk?! For *me*?!" He gazed down at the child and teased gently, "Is this so I grow up big and strong someday?"

Blushing slightly and suddenly feeling stupid, Kiko looked away and muttered something under his breath about ungrateful bastards and feeling sorry that he'd bothered.

With a quiet laugh, Gojyo unexpectedly reached to pull the boy to himself in a warm hug and he smiled sincerely at the youngster as he explained, "Actually, kiddo, I *love* milk! I hardly ever think to get some, though." He tightened the embrace for only a moment then released the boy so that he had a free hand to pull a glass down from a cabinet, saying, "Thanks a lot for getting all this great stuff for me."

The colors on his cheeks deepened as Kiko nervously looked at his "aunt" who had smiled brightly throughout the brief interaction and then he responded cautiously, "Did you really mean what you said about the milk or were you making fun of me?"

Shaking his head slightly even as he grabbed a second glass so he could share some of the refreshing drink with his young friend, Gojyo explained, "I was being sincere, Kiko." The use of the boy's name instead of a nickname helped add weight to his words as he added with a smirk at the physician across the room, "Milk's great, but the best part is that it helps keep this devilishly sexy smile of mine going strong, ya know?" He winked at the boy and added, "Remember that for when you're older, all right? Chicks really dig guys with nice teeth!"

Poor Kiko's cheeks burned even brighter and he accepted the glass of milk Gojyo handed to him without a word.

Chuckling as he sipped at his own chilly glass, the elder of the pair of crimson-haired males asked politely, "Doc? Would you like some coffee or tea or something?" Realization that he could only make good on half of that offer hit him and he shrugged a little then amended, "Um, well, come to think of it, I don't *have* any tea, but the coffee's fresh."

With a negative shake of her head, Zan answered, "No, I'm fine, Gojyo, but thank you." Giving him a closer look she couldn't help but wonder if the good spirits he was displaying were due to the presence of the two newest arrivals or if there was an even swifter impact from the entry of the emerald-eyed stranger into his life than she'd initially suspected. As her experienced eyes traced over his sensually attired body in a doctor's typical analytical fashion she couldn't help but notice he was rather obviously aroused for whatever reason. With a small cough hidden behind a hand, the physician turned away not wishing to make an issue of something that was most likely none of her business.

Lifting a crimson eyebrow in curiosity, Gojyo was about to ask what the woman was thinking about but before he could say anything, a scowling ten year old asked acerbically, "So, baka, do you always dress like a slob and not bother to close your pants or is today special?"

"What the hell?!" Gojyo gasped in shock, totally taken aback as Kiko stood in front of him, tiny arms crossed angrily over his chest, glaring for all he was worth. In truth, the child was more annoyed with himself for not noticing sooner how outlandishly the man was dressed than he was with the nineteen year old for being that way. Giving the boy a frown of his own, the gambler snarled, "What are you? A fashion critic?"

Kiko rolled his scarlet eyes expressively then stated, "No, but at least I wouldn't presume to talk to a *lady* with my underwear sticking out like that."

Having forgotten his earlier discomfort and subsequent efforts to assuage it, Gojyo guiltily glanced down at the exposed expanse of his rock hard abs finding no fault with them, but the all too obvious bulge in his white cotton boxers made him realize the child had an excellent point. "Oh shit!" He exclaimed as he spun around and quickly yanked the zipper back into place, cheeks coloring in embarrassment even as he sputtered apologies to whoever was listening.

Not interested in excuses only wanting to be sure that the man behaved more respectfully around his guardian, the ten year old snorted softly and then forgave him somewhat by saying, "It's not the end of the world, baka, calm down." The teen cast him yet another apologetic glance and then the boy sighed and remarked quietly, "Don't worry about it, Gojyo. Maybe you just need to think about stuff like that a little more now that you don't live alone and all. Besides, would you want that guy to wake up and see you dressed like that?"

Scarlet eyes blinking in surprise, Gojyo mulled that possibility over and then admitted, "No, I guess not, but it didn't occur to me to even think about that." He shrugged slightly and looked at the doctor who had turned back towards them now that the argument between the two half-breeds seemed to be over and asked, "Do you think he really could wake up sometime soon, doc? I mean, he was hurt, what? Three nights ago, right? You said he'd be in a coma for a week though, so I wasn't worried about it."

The expression on his face was clearly not one of worry by any means, he was looking forward to speaking with the silent man as Zan well knew. Yet she had only caution in her tones as she answered, "Yes, Gojyo, it's been three nights, but a comatose state is an uncertain thing. He could regain consciousness at any moment or he could remain like this for weeks, months, even years." The sadness in her eyes wasn't only for the heavily bandaged man as she added unhappily, "And even after he wakes up, it will most likely be a very long time before he can leave his bed for extended periods of time. These are some of the reasons I was so concerned about whether or not this was a burden you truly wished to bear. Are you having second thoughts, Gojyo?"

After setting his empty milk glass by the sink next to Kiko's, Gojyo shook his head and walked towards the bed, ruby-colored eyes focused on the patient and nothing else. As he stood beside Gonou, he reached down and brushed some of the brunette hair back to expose the uninjured eye which remained closed and said softly, "Nope, doc, not a one. Nanashi's mine to care for and whether he's here for a week, a month, a year, or forever, I'll see to it that he gets whatever he needs." His thoughtful gaze lifted then settled on the woman as he added in rare openness, "Ever since my half-brother left me after our mom, um, died, I've been alone. I thought I liked it that way. But now that Nanashi's here, I'm starting to think I might've been a lot more lonely than I thought."

"Ah, I see," Zan answered quietly. Then the woman patted him on the arm and with a gentle smile she warned, "Then lets just hope that when he regains consciousness you're not given a terrible shock the way that I was with Agatha."

Nodding unhappily as it occurred to him for the first time that the mysterious man who was captivating him without ever saying a word might not only fail to be a friend to him he could be worse and Gojyo sighed deeply. The words to tell her that he understood the risks and was still willing to walk the path he felt he should wouldn't come to his lips, however, and he merely stood there silently pleading with himself to be strong enough to cope regardless.

Realizing the fear in his heart and knowing that to assure him it was unfounded would be worse than a lie, Zan merely patted him on the arm again and then smiled slightly as she noted Kiko had joined them. The boy gave Gojyo a brief hug to say he believed in him then jabbed him in the bare stomach lightly and growled, "Stop making that ugly, unhappy face, baka! If you don't, it might get stuck that way!"

Snickering at the boy, the nineteen year old turned towards Kiko and pulled him into a loose headlock for a second, mussing his hair and laughing, "Bitch, bitch, bitch!! You don't like the way I keep my kitchen. You diss my clothes and now you don't like my *face*?! Geez!! I'm sure glad it's not *you* I've got to take care of, kiddo!"

Pretending to not enjoy the improvement in the taller half-breed's mood, the child squirmed free then stuck his tongue out playfully as he tried to straighten his hair, "Same here, baka!!" His delight at seeing his friend acting more like himself was obvious as he added snidely, "Oh, and I don't like your language, either. If I talked like that, Aunt Zan would wash my mouth out with soap, wouldn't you, Aunt Zan?"

The woman smiled adoringly at the two males who were so much alike, pleased that fate had brought them together since Kiko had always seemed lonely and now that she had gotten to know Gojyo, she knew the same was true for him, too. With a small nod of her gray-haired head, she agreed amicably, "Yes, indeed I would, Kiko, *if* I thought you didn't know better. But since I'm fairly certain that Gojyo already knows that, I wouldn't worry about it too much." She winked at them both and added confidentially, "Besides you *both* tend to get a bit foul-mouthed when you're trying to shock one another or hadn't you noticed that?"

The two looked at each other as if sizing one another up and then with a slight shrug of his shoulders, Gojyo answered for them both, "Yeah, but let's blame it on boys being boys, okay, 'mommy'?" An almost exact replica in miniature of his smirk was on Kiko's face as he changed the subject neatly, "But now that we all agree that me and the brat here are a couple of nut cases, shall we take care of Nanashi? You said he needed an IV and what else?"

All three turned their attention to the motionless figure on the bed unaware that he would've found the preceding few minutes of jocularity a pleasant escape from a dark reality, just the type of interaction he'd learn to love during a seemingly endless ride in an open Jeep. Then the physician nodded more thoughtfully and said, "Well, Gojyo, he actually needs a fair amount of attention. Give me a moment to get a few things set out then we'll begin, all right?"

Nervously running a hand through the hair that wasn't tied back, Gojyo agreed while offering, "Sure thing, doc. Take your time, we've got all day."

His words were meant to imply himself and his roommate not all four of them, but she understood him well enough to answer simply, "Good. I'll just be a minute." She turned away from them and began sorting through one of the boxes brought the previous day, searching for supplies as the two crimson-haired males simply waited patiently for her instructions.

The small apartment was quiet for a few minutes, only the rustling of carefully wrapped bandages and other tools of healing breaking the silence which permeated the air and helped to remind them all that they were gathered there for a reason.

Of course, said reason lay isolated in a world of total darkness and someday, over three years into the future, the same man would be in a similar though not as dire situation but it would be two different pairs of eyes in addition to Gojyo's regarding him. In place of young scarlet orbs as well as coal-black, middle-aged ones, it would be concerned ageless amber and somewhat tortured, life-weary amethyst that were gazing at Hakkai and wondering how they would've handled it if they had been too late to save him. Of course, by then there would be a fourth set of eyes added to the assemblage of beings worriedly watching over the emerald-eyed man, tiny magical orbs the color of crushed garnets would be peering concernedly at him from a snow-white head that keened fearfully for its dearest friend.

But these were changes for a distant day, for now, Gonou remained in the care of Gojyo, Kiko, and Zan, all of whom were considerably more merciful than Kanzeon bosatsu herself was since she could have changed everything with a word or a gesture.

The beautiful immortal knew that one couldn't forge the deadliest and most effective of blades without pushing the metal of a sword to its limits and the same was true for mortals. All she hoped for was that two of her once and future warriors would grow powerful again as a result of this challenging situation. The fact that they might find more than strength and friendship together meant nothing to her which was a shame since, in fact, love is far more resilient than steel could ever be under any circumstances and far more enduring as well.

*****

To be continued.

Author's Notes:

[1] Please be advised that the shower scene offered here was specially crafted to give Yanagi-sen a smile. Apparently she likes to think of Gojyo this way and since the first scene with him washing his hair was intended to be essentially non-suggestive, I thought something along these lines might be enjoyed when it fit into the story logically, so here's more detail to feast upon, dear friend! Hmm, imagining this particular bishounen utterly nude, dripping wet, slippery shampoo suds trailing everywhere, half-aroused, lathered up, and then some seems a pleasant daydream for Erato, too. I wonder if she'll do anything with it later or not?

[2] On the off-chance that I'm confusing someone with the bishounen in Gojyo's dreams, allow me to clarify something. Based on not only the anime but also illustrations in the "Backgammon" books and elsewhere, I feel that Konzen has a distinctive difference in appearance from Sanzo in that the celestial appears more delicate and less hostile and this is what I am trying to reflect at this point. The attitudes of the two of them, however, isn't involved since all Gojyo is seeing in his dreams are images without words so please don't worry too much about the fact that the blonds are both rather cynical and that tends to overpower appearances in Konzen's case at least. Tenpou, however, is so much like Hakkai I doubt there will be much differentiation unless my muses decide to try to add some later.

[3] Regarding the milk and why Gojyo might not want it, this is based not only on the tendency of some guys to stop drinking it once they discover beer, it's also a nod to the fact that many Asians are lactose-intolerant to one extent or another by adulthood. Then again, being half-youkai and therefore not entirely oriental in a human genetic-sense, perhaps this isn't a problem for the crimson-haired bishounen.