Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Fateful Encounters ❯ Together Again for the First Time ( Chapter 10 )

Title: Fateful Encounters [part 10/?]

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 and Goku's as well?

*****

A day or two slipped away from Gojyo who barely noticed the passage of time due to his near obsession with the patient in his care. After the dark day when Kiko's death had left a painful ache in his heart, the encouraging realization that Gonou had transitioned out of a coma and into simple unconsciousness had given the crimson-haired teen something positive to focus on and it had helped immensely.

The only visitor the small apartment had seen after Long had left had been a handsome blue-haired man who been worried about Gojyo ever since the rainy night they'd been playing cards together and the half-breed had suddenly abandoned their game after some woman's ill-considered remarks. [1]

Nervous since he was well aware that the gambler valued his privacy and ordinarily discouraged visitors, Tonpu approached his friend's apartment early on the seventh day after their interrupted game. Hesitant, he knocked on the door quietly not wishing to awaken Gojyo if he was sleeping as late as the burly cook at the bar who had given him the address had warned that he usually did. Oddly enough, the only reason the apron-clad man even knew where Gojyo lived was because he'd been the one to bring him meals after the scarlet-eyed teen had taken on the troublemakers who had damaged the man's establishment and caused the injuries that sent Gojyo to Zan the first time.

When the door swung open almost too fast, Tonpu was greeted with an unexpectedly warm smile and an invitation to come in for coffee.

Wide dark eyes took in the presence of the insensate person in Gojyo's bed and if anyone had asked the blue-haired man what he thought of the fact that it was a male laying there instead of a female, he might have admitted to being rather relieved. If he'd walked in on the infamous lady's man with one of his conquests, Tonpu probably would've felt like dying of embarrassment. However, as soon as he saw Gonou laying there, it occurred to him that perhaps he was misreading the situation entirely since he failed to note the bandages and only saw him as the handsome man that he was. With a stammered apology, he turned as if to flee and was held back by a warm hand on his arm.

Smiling, Gojyo asked innocently, "What's the matter, Tonpu? Never seen an unconscious guy before?" He peered at his slightly pale friend and added, "You squeamish or what?"

"Uh, um, er, no, Gojyo, that's not it at all," Tonpu extemporized badly.

Frowning slightly and gazing from his friend to the bandaged brunette who was less unresponsive than previously yet nowhere near wakefulness, the half-breed asked, "Then what's bothering you?" A thought crossed his mind and as implausible as it seemed, Gojyo asked, "Do you know that guy or something?"

Shaking his head and stepping closer to the silent form, Tonpu answered, "No, I've never seen him before in my entire life. It's just that I can't help but wonder what you're doing with a *man* in your bed in the first place, that's all. I mean, if he was a *woman* I guess it'd make perfect sense, but I just don't get it."

Shrugging and finding the direction of the other man's comments impossible to follow, the scarlet-eyed teen remarked, "Well, I found him injured in the forest outside town a week or so ago and I took him to Dr. Zan for treatment. After that, he needed a place to recuperate and it seemed logical for me to take him in, that's all. No biggie."

Peering at the motionless man more closely, Tonpu remarked without thinking, "He's certainly a good-looking guy." His head turned ever so slowly and he added tentatively, "If you're into that sort of thing, of course. Um, *are* you into that sort of thing, Gojyo, or am I completely off-base?" The slightly hopeful tone in his voice went unheard which was just as well since his host was suddenly feeling very defensive and was busy waving his hands in the air as if to dispel the very suggestion.

"Who? *Me*?!" Gojyo exclaimed, shocked at the sensation of slight heat in his cheeks as he added, "The infamous skirt-chaser extraordinaire?!? 'Into' guys?!? Hell, no!"

"Really?" Tonpu's eyebrow lifted slightly to indicate he believed that perhaps the man was protesting too much in an effort to conceal the truth either from his guest or from himself and then he wisely let the issue drop.

As the sound of a teakettle coming to a full boil noisily sang out from the small kitchen, Gojyo cleared his throat nervously and stated with open relief, "Sounds like the water's ready. Want that coffee now, dude? I've only got instant since I can't get out to go shopping these days, but it's better than nothing."

"Yeah, sure," the blue-haired man agreed and slowly turned away from the brunette wondering what the attractive man looked like when he smiled and trying not to let his imagination run away from him.

Eventually Tonpu would hear the entire story of how Gonou had come into Gojyo's life and would even become something of an ally to the pair in that he'd drop by from time to time with food, supplies, and news as the patient recovered. Perhaps it was because of the camaraderie the three would come to share Tonpu would later find himself incapable of delivering a fatal blow to Hakkai during battle, a failure which would allow the emerald-eyed healer to pull the dark-eyed soldier to safety mere minutes later.

Once the coffee was done, though, it was time for another IV and when Tonpu heard that, he did indeed become a bit green as he admitted he'd rather not stay to witness the procedure.

While bidding his visitor adieu, Gojyo asked the blue-haired man to not tell too many people about the injured man he was caring for since he preferred that they have continued privacy. Tonpu readily agreed, of course. It was, however, a small village and rumors would spread sufficiently over the coming days that when a certain golden-haired monk and his eternally hungry companion arrived, someone would be all too ready to inform them of the fact that a good-looking, green-eyed man was staying with Gojyo.

Turning away from the newly closed door, the gambler smiled sadly and commented, "Ya know something, Nanashi? That was a complete surprise." Stepping over to the bed and laying gentle fingertips onto the silent man's neck, Gojyo confirmed the regular pulse beating there and simply stroked the supple skin with a caring expression in his ruby-toned eyes. Then he explained quietly, "I never would've guessed that someone like Tonpu that I routinely beat at poker and mahjong might come looking for me for some reason other than getting some of his money back."

The wish for a reaction that Gojyo always felt at times like this came and went predictably.

With a sigh, he then glanced at the messy floor by the bed where manga and beer cans marked days and nights spent faithfully watching over someone who didn't even know he existed. Running a hand through crimson locks that cascaded loosely over his shoulders and down his back, Gojyo decided to go and tie his mane back into its usual ponytail before selecting something new to read aloud for his guest since he didn't feel like making solitary conversation at the moment.

Standing in the bathroom and contemplating the fact that seeing Tonpu made him actually realize that he didn't miss smoking, drinking, and gaming at the bar since he preferred to spend time with his silent roommate, Gojyo failed to hear the soft sound of fabric shifting ever so slightly nearby.

At the same moment, a single emerald eye slowly opened and Cho Gonou somewhat blearily beheld his current location for a few moments. Then, with a soft sigh of confusion, he commented to himself, "Hell is a lot more proletarian than I thought it would be." [2]

Having exited the bathroom just in time to hear the first words his previously insensate guest had uttered, Gojyo smiled with profoundly heartfelt relief. With a slight smirk, he draped himself over the headboard of the bed and placed his hands firmly on opposite sides of the brunette's head keeping him still without touching him and then remarked with amusement, "Well, pardon me for being a proletarian!"

A startled green eye blinked up at the unexpected face peering down at him and in a remote part of his as yet not fully aware mind, Gonou noted that if hell was populated with such friendly demons he might find it more tolerable than what he felt he deserved. While it took a little time for his current situation to sink in, the bitter memory of his unforgivable crimes was all too clear and the former teacher merely lay where he was regretting the fact that he still lived.

"It's a shame, isn't it?" Gojyo commented thoughtfully then explained, "That this isn't hell, I mean." He gave the man a grateful smile that went unnoted and then went into the kitchen allowing his elation to cloud his judgment enough that he'd get the recovering patient something to drink before considering whether or not that was a good idea in the first place.

"No, it's better this way," Gonou eventually sighed and sat up with significant difficulty. He soon found a cup of hot coffee pressed into his hands and he gazed at his own reflection on its surface noting the heavy bandages on his face and around his head which helped to explain some of the pain he felt radiating throughout his very being.

After carefully placing a small mountain of pillows behind his roommate's back so he wouldn't overtax himself in his first moments of wakefulness, Gojyo flopped down in a chair by the small table trying hard not to stare at the other man. His mind tried to tell his heart that he was merely curious about the previously silent person who could now actually answer him in conversation yet his heart answered that it was far more than that as he well knew.

Trying to distract himself, the preoccupied man almost angrily snatched up the mostly neglected pack of hi-lites proclaiming that he intended to smoke despite the fact that he knew better. Yet when the verdant-eyed man too easily acquiesced to a request to allow it, he shook his head and put the unlit cigarette away with a hidden smile. After spending as much time as he already had caring for the injured man, the crimson-haired teen certainly couldn't bring himself to do anything that might harm him at this point.

"Were you the one that saved me?" Gonou inquired quietly, unsure of his own physical condition yet knowing from the almost overwhelming pain in his abdomen that he'd been in bad shape recently.

Not wishing to be thought a hero, Gojyo adroitly changed the topic of conversation after making up some fairly fantastical and obviously false statements about stuffing the injured man's intestines back in by himself. With a smirk that revealed the devastatingly charismatic nature of the half-breed when he wasn't even trying to be that way, the crimson-haired man cautioned playfully, "Oh, and in case ya wondered, this is the *first* and *only* time I plan on carrying a dude to my bed!"

Chuckling nervously since he had no idea what had prompted him to say that, Gonou answered, "Of course." The gentle expression on his face softened the smirk on the other man's visage to a warmer more honest smile and before long they were chatting quietly together in a comfortable, familiar manner that defied all logic since they'd only just met.

Deep within the recesses of their souls, an eternity of closeness was reasserting itself after too many years spent apart.

Joyously the two spirits embodied within their flesh began to make contact in a thousand tiny ways. They gently probed one another through words and gestures, seeking confirmation that they had indeed found the treasure that had been missing without their being aware of it. Both wanted and needed to find that special something that would eventually grant them the incredible happiness that they had shared once and would be theirs to claim again one day, but it would take them years to attain it fully.

The pair talked quietly about various things including veiled comments from Gonou that it was most likely better that he'd survived his wounds after all yet he didn't reveal that he had one more task to accomplish before he paid for his sins. The recently injured brunette tired quickly as one might expect and Gojyo gently rearranged the bed items for him, tucking him in much the way a parent would a small child and then urging him to rest with a tender smile on his lips.

As exhaustion swept Gonou away into a deep and dreamless sleep, the half-breed sat on the floor beside the bed and studied his new friend much as he had when the other man had first arrived.

"I won't ask who you are, Nanashi," Gojyo said quietly to the person whose rhythmic breathing once more sounded like music to him. "I won't ask where you're from or where you're going, but please don't talk about your own death so casually in the future. I know you haven't got a clue, but when you sounded so disappointed that you weren't dead and that this wasn't hell, I thought my heart would break."

Scarlet-etched eyes filled with pain closed briefly as recollection of the many losses he'd faced in life washed through him and Gojyo thought of Kiko again. His inner sorrow was shown in the wrinkles that formed between thin crimson brows as he fought the demons that reminded him not to get too close to this man for fear of contaminating him with his curse.

Cutting off that line of thought through sheer force of will, he reopened deeply concerned eyes and looked once more at the man he had finally spoken with that day. Gojyo's mind catalogued a million small pieces of information about Gonou including his gentle though somehow false smiles and the way his soft tenor voice held an undercurrent of emotional agony regardless of the topic of conversation.

In retrospect, the fact that the recovering patient never once complained of the undoubtedly horrible pain he bore following the surgery that saved his life wasn't lost on the gambler who made a living with keen observation skills as well as luck. How someone could bear such agony without complaint amazed Gojyo, yet it also caused him to respect the mysterious person in his care even more than before. He doubted that he himself could have withstood that much suffering without comment and it worried him slightly when he realized that he'd forgotten to tell the man to make certain to inform him of any discomfort he might feel so he could offer whatever aid he could render.

Unconsciously scratching at the twin scars on his left cheek, the nineteen year old contemplated another indicative omission in their brief conversation.

The newly conscious man hadn't said one word about having a family of any sort that might be looking for him and hadn't inquired about Gojyo's situation either. This implied to him that his roommate was an intensely private person and most likely wouldn't offer information readily yet he wouldn't ask a lot of personal questions either. A frown crossed the gambler's lips and he wasn't sure he liked this realization, but it wasn't something he could do anything about at the moment.

Promising himself that he'd work to bring the other man out of his shell enough to be certain no urgent health issues would remain hidden, Gojyo glanced at the floor beside himself and grumbled, "He's got a point, though. Leaving all this shit laying around does make this place look pretty damned lower class."

With a sigh, Gojyo gathered up the various volumes of manga and returned them to the bookcase where they belonged. Then he collected the empty beer cans and took them to the kitchen. Automatically dumping them under the sink with the others that rested there merely served to remind him yet again of Kiko and the simple fact that the two half-breeds would never spend time together hauling the aluminum cans to a recycling center. Another, deeper sigh left his lips and with a mumbled profanity, he walked past his sleeping roommate, grabbed his package of hi-lites and stepped into the afternoon sunshine.

Leaning against the outer wall of his apartment, Gojyo stuck a cigarette between his lips before fishing his lighter out of a pocket and lighting up gratefully.

Closing his eyes and listening to the sound of some small birds harassing a much larger crow and making it fly away from their nest raucously complaining about being deterred from its less than kind intentions, he missed the sound of footsteps approaching.

"Good afternoon, Sha," Dr. Long's voice suddenly broke his reverie. With a warm yet tired smile on his face, he explained his presence there, saying, "I just finished checking on Zan and she asked me to come by to make sure you and Nanashi were doing well, all things considered."

"Nice to see you, too, doc," Gojyo smiled and instead of immediately telling him the good news about his roommate awakening, he straightened and flicked the partially finished cigarette away while asking, "How's Zan doing?"

Expression drooping somewhat, the older man shook his head sadly and admitted, "Not well, I'm afraid. She's understandably depressed after such a tragic loss, but apparently trying to handle final arrangements for Kiko has left her far too close to a nervous breakdown at this point." He scowled slightly then explained, "No one ever really expects a young child to die suddenly that way and without any family to help her, dealing with all of the people who wish to give her their condolences as well as making the temple arrangements is very hard on her." [3]

Shoving both hands into the pockets of his jeans and feeling guilty all over again for his own perceived role in the ten year old's death, Gojyo apologized unnecessarily, "I'm sorry to hear that, Long. I wish I could be there to help her through this, but I've got my hands full at this point." Sudden recollection of the wonderful events that had occurred mere hours earlier hit him and with a brighter expression he smiled and added, "But I've got some good news that you can share with her sometime. Nanashi woke up this afternoon!"

The doctor's face shifted from worry to surprise and then he answered with genuine relief, "Now that *is* good news!" With a smile of his own, Long asked, "How is he feeling? Did he tell you much about himself or how he was wounded in the first place?"

Scratching the back of his head nervously, Gojyo answered, "Actually, he didn't tell me any of that, doc, and I didn't think to ask." Reflecting very briefly on what they had said instead of what they hadn't, he added, "But he is definitely clearheaded and there's none of that amnesia you mentioned in passing the other day as a possible side-effect of being in a coma. He seems to know who he is even though we didn't talk about it. Oh, and he drank some coffee so I'm pretty sure he'll be able to start having soup and stuff soon instead of the IVs all the time. Which is pretty good since I never really liked sticking needles into him anyway. It just seemed wrong to add to his pain that way even though he couldn't feel it."

"I understand what you mean about not wanting to add to the discomfort of an injured person," Long reassured. Then he gestured to the door wordlessly asking for an invitation to enter even as he explained, "However, without those intravenous fluids, Nanashi would've died due to simple dehydration by now and that certainly isn't what any of us want, now is it?"

"Not *me*, that's for damned sure!" Gojyo affirmed with a greater amount of emotion than he wanted to admit to as he opened the door so they could go inside and check on the patient.

Even though he slept through the brief exam Long gave him, Gonou passed the physician's tests with flying colors and it was with a sigh of relief that the physician discussed his findings with the brunette's self-assigned guardian. The ebony-haired man knew better than to ask if the crimson-haired one was having any second thoughts at this point, the way Gojyo beamed almost constantly as each new piece of data indicated his roommate was well on his way to a full recovery said it all.

With a smile of his own, Long eventually prepared to get back to his now very busy schedule of caring for other patients and reminded Gojyo not to skimp on painkillers if the emerald-eyed man needed them.

Remarking that he'd have to tell his roommate to speak up about such things in the future, the gambler agreed readily. With a slight chuckle, Gojyo went so far as to point out that he'd even gone to the trouble of wearing a watch lately and would use it to keep track of the time elapsed between the pills himself.

Chuckling slightly, Long clapped him on the back in a congratulatory fashion and wished them both luck as he departed intending to continue his house calls hoping to visit as many of his homebound patients as possible before some new medical crisis reared its ugly head.

The lanky nineteen year old stood in the open doorway for a moment and gazed at the cloudless azure sky, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face before going back to the cool semi-darkness of his apartment.

With the smile that hadn't faded following the glowing report Long had given him, Gojyo rearranged Gonou's covers before automatically caressing the slumbering man's face briefly, silently thanking him for the gift of his return to consciousness. He assumed that he'd need to curtail his physical contact with the other man in case he was uncomfortable with such casual intimacy, but as many events to come would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, the man who would become Hakkai had no such issues clouding his mind. [4]

The rest of the day would slip away unnoticed as Gojyo seated himself on the now clean floor and merely kept watch silently.

*****

Nightfall would herald the sleeper's awakening to his first meal in far too long and even though it was just canned chicken soup with rice that Kiko had brought earlier in the week, the warm broth tasted exceptionally good to the emerald-eyed man.

The pair spoke quietly together as they shared the food companionably. The recovering patient was propped comfortably against a small mountain of pillows again and Gojyo sat nearby on the blue bedcover glad to enjoy a softer seat than the floor or chair for a change.

When it was revealed that Gonou had inadvertently turned his host out of the only bed in the apartment, he was understandably distressed and immediately offered to switch places and sleep on the floor through the duration of his stay with him.

His host wouldn't hear of it, of course, and flatly insisted that things remain as they were since his roommate's recovery was of the utmost importance.

With only a silent nod of acquiescence, the brunette went back to sipping his mug of soup and tentatively nibbling on a few grains of rice not wishing to push his damaged digestive organs beyond their abilities. The degree to which he had been injured was discussed during the meal and it left the injured man suitably impressed that he was even alive once he'd heard the details. The manner in which he'd been wounded was left deliberately unexplained, but he reacted strongly to the knowledge that Gojyo's blood had run in his veins at one point. After commenting that he thought that was a fairly heroic thing to do for a stranger, he gazed at the crook of his elbow and felt remorse for the fact that he could never return the favor due to conflicting blood types.

Laughing slightly, Gojyo shook his head and insisted it was a lot easier to do that than it was to get used to administering IVs since the entire process left him uncertain and worried about infection. Without thinking about it, the scarlet-eyed man leaned forward and reached out and placed his hand against the other man's undamaged cheek as he explained about how desperately he feared the fever that would accompany an invasion of microbes into the wounded man's body.

Unexpectedly, Gonou reacted to the tender approximation of an embrace by letting his one non-bandaged eye slip closed and he leaned into the contact tiredly, sighing contentedly even as his heart commented that this felt right somehow without ever once mentioning Kanan's name. The woman who was more like a sister than a lover in his mind had had smaller, softer hands, yet there was something comforting in the obviously masculine strength in the large hand that supported him with care and concern. There were no thoughts of sexuality or whether this was right or wrong in Gonou's mind during the poignant moment as he simply accepted the gentle act of comfort for what it was.

Blinking in surprise and not knowing how to react to the clear indication that his roommate welcomed his actions, Gojyo covered his confusion by asking if the other man needed sleep yet never once considered moving his hand away from the willing recipient of his touch.

Leaving his head where it was and merely nodding slowly thereby rubbing his cheek against Gojyo's palm, Gonou admitted that he was in considerable pain and that perhaps it would be best if he did indeed rest again.

Shaking off a feeling that they'd been in this position in the past and that the emerald-eyed man had done something dreadfully similar for himself at one point, Gojyo rose and quickly brought some of the painkillers which Gonou gratefully swallowed before easing himself back into the bed more comfortably.

After adjusting his new friend's bedclothes per Gonou's preferences instead of his own for a change, Gojyo cleared away the remains of their meal before stretching out on the floor in his makeshift bedroll and just watched the other man sleep. The peaceful night wrapped itself around them, cradling them both and setting the tone for the days and weeks to come as Gonou slowly healed and became stronger while Gojyo found himself growing fonder of the mysterious man who slept in his bed.

Happily, there would only be a few serious trials that they would have to face together before the arrival of a bad tempered monk and a hyperactive boy threw their quiet home-life into utter disarray and changed their lives forever.

Their first challenge was only a few days away and it would rekindle some of the crimson-haired man's most sorrowful memories yet would allow the brunette an opportunity to offer a small repayment in kind for the comfort he'd received from his new friend. It would be an experience that would tie them to one another even more firmly and only add fuel to the protective fire that would one day blaze in scarlet eyes when a furious blond armed with a unique gun demanded access to the insufficiently healed Gonou.

*****

To be continued.

Author's Notes:

[1] I was quite surprised when I first realized that the blue-haired bishounen in episode 18 was the same one that Gojyo was shown playing cards with in episode 15. Being a continuity freak who loves things like this, I obviously wanted to include Tonpu here since it was clearly stated in "Vice or Justice" that the three of them had been good friends. The name being used here is as per my fansubs since I couldn't find it in English anywhere and I hope it is at least close to what was intended by Minekura-sensei since he is *not* one of my original characters. Also, his physical description is a little vague in that I couldn't be sure if his eyes were charcoal gray or possibly brown and therefore I went with simply calling them "dark" hoping it was close enough.

[2] The direct quotes from the anime are as close to my fansubs as I could keep them after only slightly rewording some of them to put them into more typical spoken English as well as to keep the characters "in voice" within the context of the story. There are also be a few minor changes in the sequence of certain events as well as added physical actions compared to the anime to make the narrative flow more smoothly as well as keep it more logical than the show was regarding a few continuity issues. I hope to minimize the verbatim retelling of the anime as much as possible since straightforward summaries aren't a valid form of fanfiction, but occasionally I will include what I consider key scenes that are crucial to the new vision my muses wish to share with you.

[3] Generally speaking, I try to avoid issues pertaining to specific religions and religious practices in my stories but since the world of "Saiyuki" is so saturated with Buddhism plus the occasional Christian reference thrown in at random, it's impossible to avoid entirely here. The information used as a base for the relatively vague comments about Chinese death rituals included in this story was garnered from several references for lay people on-line most of which were found at various university sites which were entirely too lengthy and verbose to wade through entirely. While I very much wish to offer a realistic representation of these important cultural traditions, I also acknowledge that I might get some of it wrong and offer my deepest apologies right from the start if I inadvertently offend anyone reading this. Personally, I believe that whatever rituals and practices bring comfort to the survivors of the deceased should be considered sacred regardless of their origins and wish to treat it with the greatest respect.

[4] Isn't it amazing in the anime how often Gojyo finds excuses to lean on Hakkai or moves to speak to him a little closer than what seems necessary? I'd love to find out for myself if it's similar in the manga, but for now, I'll content myself with the numerous shonen ai hints in the series as well as the occasional moments one of them is "forced" to either carry or support the other one throughout the series.