Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Fateful Encounters ❯ Much Needed Improvements as Time Runs Out ( Chapter 20 )

This addition to the revised edition of "Fateful Encounters" is hereby dedicated to darling Akari in honor of her birthday! I greatly appreciate the reviews she's left here and am glad she's enjoying the story! Thanks to all the readers here at MediaMiner.org for the 150 hit counts thus far!

All the Best!

E-sama the Llama

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Title: Fateful Encounters [part 20/?]

Author: Enigma

Series: Saiyuki

Written: June - December, 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?

*****

On the twenty-fifth day after he was partially disemboweled, Cho Gonou found himself filled with a nervous sense of anticipation due to the presence of an important visitor in the apartment he shared with Sha Gojyo. His usual daywear had been removed and if the quiet man was self-conscious of the fact that a great deal more of his flesh was exposed than normal, it wasn't apparent since he was as anxious for the medical examination he was receiving as his caretaker was.

"So, doc, what do you think?" Gojyo asked with eager curiosity as Long examined the newly formed, disfiguring scar tissue that arced across his roommate's abdomen bearing mute testimony to the attack of a vengeful youkai who would return from the dead in three years time and threaten him anew. Giving the sole emerald eye that worriedly watched both himself and the physician a friendly wink, he added, "It looks a lot better, right? I mean, Nanashi's been really well-behaved and hasn't pushed himself, so he's probably all healed up by now, right?"

Shaking his head slowly yet smiling with relief as he probed the injury some of whose numerous sutures were working their way free as the healing flesh expelled them, Long replied, "Yes and no, Gojyo. You see, the skin is finally healing well, but that's the easy part. The muscles and internal organs don't repair themselves as quickly as the epidermis does. It would be extremely foolish to assume that the deeper layers of tissue we had to repair are fully healed at this point."

Disappointment snuck past Gonou's mask as he inquired quietly, "Shall I assume that I remain on total bed rest, doctor?" He sighed and glanced away not because he was ashamed of his near nakedness but merely that he was unable to continue to look at the one person whose life he'd turned upside down.

"No, I didn't mean that, Nanashi," Long countered, then gazed about the room as if taking measurements. Nodding a little to himself as the brunette returned his attention to him, the doctor explained, "I believe you've recovered enough that getting out of bed a few times a day would be in order. You'll have to restrict your movements to, oh let's say, walking to the bathroom and back or even the kitchen as long as you don't intend to stand and cook or anything insane like that."

"Really?" A pair of hopeful voices chorused together and then Gojyo grinned like a maniac as he saw a pure, genuine smile cross his roommate's face, something that he had seen only infrequently in the prior few days. The former teacher's battle with his own dark thoughts had been a losing one with his companion absent almost every other night and this was the first appreciable good news he'd heard in far too long.

Not caring that his façade had fallen aside entirely since this was wonderful news, Gonou asked eagerly, "Truly, doctor? When might I begin? I dare say I will be quite glad to not be so much of a burden on Gojyo."

The half-breed's brilliant smile faltered for only a fraction of a second as he registered this comment and made a mental note to talk to his roommate later about the fact that he was not now nor never had ever been a burden of any sort whatsoever. In fact, the time spent caring for his dear friend helped ease some of the guilt Gojyo felt every time he went off in search of an intimate rendezvous with whatever woman happened to be at the bar on any given night. By the same token, however, he was hopeful that a major improvement of this nature might help the brunette's mood and he was all in favor of seeing more genuine smiles and less of the false ones on Gonou's gentle face.

The experienced healer, being well aware of how difficult it always is for a previously independent adult to rely entirely on someone else for their needs answered, "You may begin today, Nanashi." As he wrapped fresh bandages over the raw, abdominal wound so it would remain protected while continuing to heal, he explained, "As a matter of fact, I prefer to see how well my patients make the transition back to mobility myself. So after I check a few more things and you get dressed once more, I'd like for you to give it a try."

"I would be more than glad to do so, doctor," Gonou replied gratefully, smiling at Long who then proceeded to examine a few other less severely injured areas without further comment. Turning his attention fully towards his caretaker, he said in a light, almost joyous voice, "Isn't this marvelous, Gojyo? You won't have to carry me everywhere once I can walk even just a little."

Reaching out and pushing brunette hair back from the nearly healed wound on Gonou's left cheek that Long had already found acceptably improved and no longer in need of a bandage, Gojyo corrected tenderly, "I never minded carrying you anywhere, baby, you ought to know that. But if this makes you happy, then I'm all for it."

The precious smile grew ever so slightly brighter and as the edges of the sole emerald orb that was visible crinkled slightly, Gonou nodded and found the warmth of skin to skin contact quite nice indeed since he hadn't felt it enough lately.

Realistically speaking, the crimson-haired teen hadn't been any less inclined to play with his companion's hair or to find excuses to touch him from time to time, it was just that as the incapacitated man had sunk into his own dark thoughts more, he had been less aware of it. Furthermore, they hadn't shared a bed again after the difficult morning almost a week prior following Gojyo's drunken revelries and even though he'd never have actually asked the handsome man who continued to beam brightly at him to do so, Gonou missed the closeness they'd enjoyed that way.

Now, however, it seemed as if every nerve ending in his skin was alive and singing as the brunette felt sutures being eased from a wound in his leg, a disconcerting sensation that Gojyo's continued attentions to his face was happily distracting him from.

Retroactively realizing he probably should've responded to the delighted teen's comments, Gonou said quietly, "Yes, this makes me feel quite glad, Gojyo." As Long peered up at them both with an odd, fond expression on his face which they both missed, he added sweetly, "It will be nice when I can be the one making coffee for us in the morning. It seemed unfair that you always had to take care of that. But tell me, doctor, how much walking can I do now?"

"Your body will tell you when it's had enough, Nanashi," Long answered, knowing the transition from being incapacitated to being fully mobile was somewhat unpredictable and was resolved on a case by case basis. Then he added a few warnings, "But you need to start slowly and *always* let Gojyo know when you wish to stretch your legs for the first few days. It's not unusual for someone in your situation to experience some instability. I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate it if you were to fall and injure yourself again, right, Gojyo?"

Crossing his arms over his chest dramatically and scowling slightly for effect, the crimson-haired teen agreed firmly, "Absolutely right, doc!" The bright smile wouldn't remain away for more than a moment, though, and then he beamed once more while stating confidently, "Nanashi will be *super* careful, I'm sure of it."

"Of course I will be, Gojyo," Gonou promised, never dreaming he would be forced to abandon that vow in less than a week when an umber-haired boy would attack him and reopen the wounds caused by Chin Iisou on what he considered to be the worst day of his life.

Assuming that issue was out of the way, Long straightened before putting aside the small scissors and forceps he'd used to remove the stitches from several wounds that had healed far more completely than the crucial one. Offering both men a smile, he said, "Well, I've taken care of as much as I can with these, so go ahead and get dressed again, Nanashi. After that, we can see how well your eye has healed plus find out if you're ready to walk again or not."

"All right, doctor," Gonou agreed and found his earlier nervousness returning with a vengeance since there was no way to predict if the injury to his right eye had left permanent damage or not. [1] In point of fact, he couldn't even recall what had happened to it that had resulted in the injury Zan and Long had done their best to cope with. All he knew was that it had occurred during the horrible period when the bloodlust had controlled him and he was understandably curious if he was now blind in one eye or not.

As always, the nineteen year old helped his friend don clothing from his own closet without a second thought and shortly thereafter, Gonou was attired in jeans and a soft, buttercup-colored turtleneck that helped warm skin made chilly by being exposed during the physical exam. When he was done, Gojyo gave his companion an encouraging smile and stepped aside so the physician could get back to work.

"Just relax, Nanashi," Long said reassuringly, "this will take me a few minutes." Working slowly and carefully, he removed the strips of surgical tape that had held the thick wad of gauze over his eye for three weeks while Gojyo began pacing back and forth like an expectant father.

Once the dressing was lifted gently away, the doctor peered intently at the still closed eyelid, examining it and correctly assessing that the injured area had healed well enough to remain uncovered.

However, before Long could comment on the obvious improvement, the half-breed ran out of patience and demanded worriedly, "Well?! Can you see with it or not, Nanashi?"

Automatically turning towards the cherished voice and being surprised by the urgency in Gojyo's tone, Gonou opened his previously damaged eye for the first time and found that not only could he see once more, the sight he found first was certainly quite pleasing. As an unbelievably bright, joyful smile blossomed on his usually placid face, he answered happily, "Yes, I can, Gojyo."

"All right! Way to go, babe!" The scarlet-eyed man enthused, ignoring Long's amused chuckle entirely as he threw his arms around his friend for a celebratory embrace.

As the doctor politely stayed out of the way, Gojyo took his first good look at a pair of dancing jewel-like orbs instead of only one and found it was truly remarkable how strong his reaction to them was. The impact of being able to gaze eye to eye fully was so overwhelming that he very nearly kissed Gonou out of sheer delight, but a soft sound interrupted him before that potentially embarrassing eventuality could play itself out.

Clearing his throat in an effort to remind the two younger men that they were not alone, Long said apologetically, "If you'll permit me, Nanashi, I need to examine your eye."

Cheeks flushing slightly as he snapped back into awareness, Gonou nodded and as Gojyo released him from the hug, he turned to face the physician saying, "Of course, doctor."

As the physician asked a series of predictable questions and discovered that the former teacher's distance vision wasn't as good as it had been in the past but believed it might improve over time, one very happy teen eagerly awaited seeing his friend walk for the first time. To prepare for that momentous event, Gojyo busied himself with making sure absolutely no possible impediments were in the way on the floor of the small apartment.

When Long finally announced that his patient could give walking a try as promised earlier, the crimson-haired man was at his roommate's side in a heartbeat and practically hovered over him as Gonou eased bare feet to the floor and prepared to stand.

Giving his anxious friend a nervous yet hopeful smile, Gonou pushed himself off of the mattress and rose to his feet, standing unassisted for the first time since before being brought to his current home in a comatose state. He allowed himself a moment or two to make sure his sense of balance hadn't failed him, then cautiously took first one step, then another, slowly making his way towards the kitchen simply for the sake of having a destination.

"Oh, yeah!" Gojyo practically cheered, "You're doing it, baby! Keep going!" His enthusiasm couldn't have been greater and neither could his protectiveness as he stayed close enough to intervene should things go awry. The fact that the half-breed looked like someone who was watching a toddler take his first steps wasn't lost on the physician yet Long had the wisdom not to mention it since this was precisely what was needed regardless of the fact that Gonou was certainly no child.

Remaining near the bed and allowing the pair to explore the limits of the previously bedridden man's strength, Long watched with approving coffee-dark eyes, satisfied yet again with his decision to allow the half-breed to be the sole caregiver for the stranger in their midst. As he watched Gonou taking two more tentative steps forward, he reminded himself that he had news to share with the others before he left but before he could say a word, the situation took a dramatic turn.

Thick bands of abdominal muscles that had not fully healed were incapable of fulfilling Gonou's requirements of them much as they had failed him the night Tonpu had come over for dinner and with a sudden gasp of agony, he doubled over and began to fall amid step.

"Fuck!!" Gojyo exclaimed inelegantly. Without any hesitation whatsoever, he scooped his roommate into both arms preventing a painful impact with the floor before cradling him close like an infant and demanding, "Nanashi?! Are you all right?!"

Gasping for breath as the tightened scar tissue deep inside himself clenched further and wrenched a moan from his lips, Gonou simply didn't have the time to feel as mortified as the situation seemed to call for, yet he managed to answer breathlessly, "I'll be fine, Gojyo." He winced again as he added, "Perhaps I should've chosen a shorter distance." He nestled against the warm, reassuring body whose strength he trusted implicitly and whose presence he would one day miss more than he had ever imagined possible.

Striding across the room and speeding his cherished friend back to the too-familiar bed, Gojyo urged softly, "Hush now and just take it easy, baby, I've got you." While he settled Gonou back onto the mattress, he turned panicky, long-lashed eyes towards the raven-haired healer and asked plaintively, "What's wrong with him, Long?"

The physician smiled sadly since this wasn't entirely unexpected and explained, "The various layers of his abdominal muscles aren't fully healed, Gojyo. As I said before, there's no hard and fast rule as to how much recovery a wound like this will show after three weeks, but in all honesty, I'd expected him to be in better shape than this." Carefully probing the area where the worst of the scarring would regrettably mar his patient for life, Long asked, "Nanashi? Where does it hurt worst?"
Opening his mouth to reply yet groaning loudly as the doctor found and palpated a cramped muscle, easing it back into a relaxed state, Gonou drew a tired breath and said unnecessarily, "Right there, doctor. Ah, that's better." A suntanned face with twin scars on one cheek continued to gaze worriedly at him and he reached a hand out in entreaty as he apologized, "I am sorry to have frightened you, Gojyo. Please don't worry so, I'll be fine."

"Like *hell* I won't worry!" The half-breed exclaimed. Taking the offered hand in one of his own and squeezing it firmly, he added almost threateningly, "And *you* are not getting out of this bed again until you aren't going to kill yourself, understand?!"

Chuckling softly as he noted Long rolling his eyes amusedly out of the line of sight of the over-protective teen, Gonou remarked gently, "But if I don't get out of bed and at least *try* to walk, how will I ever recover fully, Gojyo? Don't you *want* to be able to have your life get back to normal?"

"No!!" Gojyo answered emphatically, "Not if it means you get hurt just trying to make it across the room, I don't!"

"There are ways to avoid that eventuality, Gojyo," Long interjected in calming tones, giving the crimson-haired man a gaze that asked for patience as he explained, "I can teach Nanashi a few simple exercises that he can do to help his muscles rebuild themselves and tomorrow he can try again. As long as you stay close and help him as you did today if it's needed, I believe he'll be walking unassisted within the week."

Eyes that were like twin pieces of enchanted jade shimmered with a mixture of emotions as Gonou processed this information, then inquired hesitantly, "Do you mean to say that I might be able to leave the apartment for the first time in a week or so, doctor?" Noting distinct unhappiness in scarlet orbs that peered at him from behind a fringe of red bangs, he explained carefully, "I have been looking forward to seeing more of this village than I could from the bed, Gojyo. Perhaps visit some of the places you've told me about?"

Trying to ignore the sense of foreboding these words caused to wash over him, Gojyo snorted with annoyance and remarked, "The bar, the marketplace, and the laundry aren't terribly interesting, baby." Acknowledging the request for understanding in his gentle friend's expression, his temper cooled slightly and he agreed in principle, saying, "But I'm sure you'd like to at least get outside for some fresh air sometime, too, so we'll work on it, okay?"

"That would indeed be quite welcome," Gonou agreed with a gentle, grateful smile. Then he turned his attention to Long and stated, "I'd be quite pleased to hear about those exercises, doctor." There was no need to mention that he believed his caretaker would be watching him like a hawk does a particularly appetizing field mouse after the day's events, so there'd most likely be little chance he'd injure himself as he became mobile once more.

Nodding, Long gladly taught him the various modified sit-ups and other movements that would allow the previously shredded muscles to reacquire sufficient strength to allow Gonou to regain a full range of motion and thereby his independence.

*****

After a half-hour or so of instruction as well as discussing what to do should another severe cramp strike, Long decided the two roommates were as ready to face life on their own again as he could get them and prepared to leave. While he placed the assortment of medical tools he'd needed back into the case he'd brought with him, he said, "By the way, I have a message for you, Gojyo."

Tearing his eyes away from where Gonou was delicately sipping some of the hot coffee that Long recommended since a bit of warmth in his stomach would help the abdominal muscles relax as well as provide some caffeine to enhance the aspirin administered to fight residual pain, Gojyo inquired, "Oh? Who is it from, Long?"

Smiling warmly as he gazed at the half-breed and finding himself not unpleasantly reminded of a recently departed child, "It's from Zan." Seeing delight spread across the crimson-haired teen's face he continued, "She's recovering slowly from her recent breakdown, but she wanted me to apologize to you on her behalf for what happened at the temple. She hopes that when she's well enough to face the world again, she might meet Nanashi, too."

"Really?!" Gojyo beamed delightedly not only because he was pleased to hear that the matronly physician was doing better but also that he might have a chance to introduce his cherished roommate to the woman he had called "Zan-mommy". The very idea that he secretly felt as if he was bringing someone very special home to meet a mother-figure was something he suppressed from his own awareness, yet the desire remained all the same.

"Of course she does," Long responded, feeling rather bemused by the happy smile on the half-breed's face. Not wishing to create false expectations, he added in a cautionary tone, "However, I think it may be a few weeks before she's truly ready to sit and talk with you, Gojyo. Your resemblance to Kiko is far too striking for her to be expected to be able to easily set aside her grief when confronted by your coloration if nothing else. Please be patient and I'll advise you both when I think she can face you and not break down again." His gaze had moved to include the bedridden man at this point and the brunette nodded slowly.

The earlier discussion of how much time most likely remained until he might be able to leave the apartment for the first time had brought to mind Gonou's self-assigned task of honoring Kanan's remains before facing his own death. His best estimate had placed a departure from this warm and comfortable environment at roughly a week to ten days. As one might expect, the idea of delaying his exit so as to meet the woman who had saved his life knowing full well he intended to throw that gift away soon thereafter truly didn't appeal to him.

The crimson-haired teen, blissfully unaware of his companion's thoughts, turned his sunny smile on Gonou and enthused, "Won't that be cool, Nanashi? You can meet the other half of the 'dream team' that patched you back up three weeks ago!"

Nodding again, and hiding his faux-smile behind the rim of the coffee mug as he sipped at the hot drink once more, Gonou refused to answer for a moment, then offered evasively, "I am quite certain that Dr. Zan is a wonderful woman, Gojyo. It would undoubtedly be an honor to meet her, but we should listen to Dr. Long and not be impatient."

Rolling his blood red eyes playfully and shrugging, Gojyo replied, "Yeah, yeah, we'll wait for our cue to go see her. It's just that I've been really looking forward to the day you got to meet her, that's all. Besides," his smile lost a bit of its shine as he added sadly, "since it wasn't just my blood that helped you survive, but some of Kiko's, too, maybe seeing that you pulled through and recovered because of the kid's help will give her something to feel happy about."

"Ah, I see," Gonou responded and felt a deeper stab of guilt about possibly denying a grieving woman some solace. Hating himself for deceiving his friend, he then told what he assumed was a lie as he stated, "Then I shall make a point of seeing her when she's up to it. Dr. Long, if you would be so kind as to keep us informed of her progress?"

"Certainly, I'll be glad to," Long agreed readily and then lifted his bag intending to depart. "Well, good luck to both of you and do be careful about pushing yourself too much, Nanashi. Those exercises I showed you will help quite a bit, but considering the level of damage you had sustained before Gojyo brought you to us, I dare say those muscles need a fair amount of time to rebuild."

"Don't worry, doc, he'll behave himself," Gojyo stated firmly and reached out to place a hand on Gonou's shoulder possessively. Giving the emerald-eyed man a tender smile, he added, "After all, Nanashi here has a really pushy bastard for a roommate who won't take 'no' for an answer if he thinks he's overdoing it!" After giving his companion a gentle squeeze to take the edge off his harsh words, he moved to open the door for the doctor and beamed brightly once more.

Chuckling, Long shook his head and bid them farewell, saying, "I can see that, Gojyo. I should be back in a week or so, but if you need me sooner, please let me know. Take care of yourselves, *both* of you!"

"See ya, doc!" Gojyo called out to the retreating figure as the physician walked away fully intending on enjoying some of the pleasantly sunny weather the village was experiencing on his way to his next patient's home. Turning back and catching an unexpectedly pained look on his companion's handsome face, he said with a sigh, "You're still feeling kinda bad from that cramp and almost falling, aren't ya, babe?"

Blinking in surprise since this was true yet wasn't the main cause he was unhappy at the moment, Gonou answered with a sigh of his own as well as a more genuine though sad smile, "Just a little, Gojyo. Please don't be concerned about it."

Snorting and shaking his head, the half-breed replied with barely controlled annoyance, "When are you going to learn that being 'concerned' about you is pretty much all I *want* to be at times, baby?" He walked over to the bed and sat down hip to hip beside his friend before wrapping an arm around Gonou and pulling him close, saying, "Just relax for awhile, okay? It's been a busy day with Long here and you probably just need a little quiet time."

"Perhaps," Gonou grudgingly admitted as he leaned gratefully into the embrace. He believed that his probably suicidal plans would preclude meeting Zan the way that Gojyo so obviously wanted him to and it bothered him to know he would be disappointing him. Worse, he feared the reaction his affectionate companion might have if he ever found out what happened to him after he left his home never to return. But there was precious little he could do about either worries at this point and the former teacher wisely chose to simply accept the comfort he was being offered by the lanky teen.

The human-turned-youkai fully intended on telling his roommate the sordid truth about himself before he left and since that particular thought filled him with a fear of rejection, he forced it from his mind, refusing to give it access to his aching heart.

If he had only a week or so left to enjoy the comradely warmth he'd never experienced before and hopefully give back even a fraction of his dear friend's caring attentions, Gonou would take the opportunity to do so. For once he left to return to the tragic scene he had been forced to leave prematurely, he was certain that there would be no turning back. There would never be another chance to hold this precious person close and let him know wordlessly that Gojyo was far more important to Gonou than he ever imagined himself to be. While the brunette couldn't imagine himself offering the kind of carnal pleasure the women the half-breed had been spending the evening with on a regular basis lately, at least he could do this and cuddled closer.

Resting his head on a warm, suntanned shoulder, Gonou allowed his eyes to slip shut and he tried to focus on how comforting Gojyo's scent and strength always were to him.

With soft, soundless sighs, the two men whose bodies intertwined so naturally as they sat together on the bed allowed themselves the luxury of silence. One was rejoicing the delightful discovery of how beautiful his friend's eyes both were while the other mourned their coming separation.

Somehow, they would move past these thoughts and regain the ability to focus on the day to day routine of their lives shortly thereafter, the memory of which would be something they both would treasure when it seemed lost forever. Unbeknownst to anyone save Kanzeon bosatsu, time was running out on the peaceful world Gonou and Gojyo had built together and less than five days remained before they would be torn asunder by the piercing sound of a strangely powerful gun.

*****

To be continued.

Author's Notes:

[1] Regarding Gonou's eye injury that is bandaged when he first awakens in Gojyo's bed, I truly have no idea what the nature of this is since I found nothing specific about it in the anime. I hope I won't confuse anyone by leaving it vague, but I felt it important to differentiate between this injury and the one he caused when he nearly gouged out the same eye in episode 16.