Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Teaching Goku ❯ Finding Balance ( Chapter 6 )

Title: Teaching Goku: Finding Balance

 

Author: Quirk of the Trade

 

Category: Fan fiction

 

Genre: yaoi lemon with plot, angst and romance?

 

Rating: 17 and up, or mature minds

 

C&CC: "Feedback from our readers is the only way we truly know if what we did worked or flopped. Did this carry, did that carry, could they see this, could they feel that? And it is also the only way we can see the other interpretations to our stuff. Things we didn't realize we put in there will register with people -- unless they say something we will never know." ~ Cupnjava C Sama 

 

This is very true, and I could not have said it any better. When I go to review a fiction now, I think about this, and (hopefully!) it makes me review better. To everyone who has reviewed, thank you so very much. (bow)

 

Archived: AFF and MediaMiner.Org; just ask for it if you'd like it.

 

Disclaimer: These characters belong to Kazuya Minekura and whoever else holds the copyright. No offense is meant, only playing, okay?

 

Warnings: None that I can think of, except maybe language and the woman who scratched up Gojyo. Oh, and Hakuryu's a carrot thief.

 

A/N: This chapter has turned out way too long for there to be no lemon, so I'm sorry. But this is the way the plot is winding, so please bear with me, okay? There will be lemon in the next chapter. A question, everyone; should I check out the betas that are available? Also, I've been wondering… This is beginning to have a different feel from the lessons. Should I make a different arc or something? I've never had this happen and I'm not sure what to do. MediaMiner.Org, y'all have jumped to 7oo plus visits! Thank you!! AFF.Net, y'all have 4000 plus hits---Amazing! I feel so grateful! Reviews are at the end, my lovelies!

 

Beta: Unbetaed

 

Synopsis: Gojyo and Goku's new relationship has yet to reach the harmony of their on-and-off-the-battlefield fights.

+++

 

Gojyo rose from the table after finishing the tea that was brought to him and went into the kitchen for the second or third time they had been there to help Hakkai with the dishes. It was something a bit familiar; he would sometimes help dry while Hakkai washed the dishes at home, a little routine that had gradually occurred after Hakkai had officially become `Hakkai'. The redhead didn't try to bring up the kiss or anything else, just worked with the emerald-eyed man in silence besides informing the other that the monkey was back. At least it had been a friendly, amicable silence. When the last dish was put away, Hakkai smiled at him and suggested he go take a nap since it was early yet; besides the fact that he still looked tired, he had just been healed after all.

 

Rubbing a hand through his hair, he agreed and went to his room to lie down. It was shadowy and cool there, but he couldn't sleep. His brain was too frantic, throwing out questions and scenarios, some of which ranged to unlikely to ridiculous as he stared up at the ceiling. Sanzo wouldn't really come after him in his sleep, right? And Hakkai was just being friendly with that kiss. It was like a congratulatory thing or something. And yes, it had been the right thing to declare himself and Goku a couple, but just what the hell did that mean for them? They were always arguing, and there was no way in hell he could think of the two of them as `boyfriends'. It wasn't like anything was going to change. Gojyo would still fight the monkey over the last spring roll, and Goku would still call the kappa names. Yaaaaaaawn… and… and … zzzzz…

 

And before he knew it, he was asleep.

+++

 

“…jo. Hey, wake up already, it's almost eleven.” Without opening his eyes he identified Goku's voice above him by a few inches. Feeling his eyebrows twitch, the kappa reached out with both arms and wrapped them around a slender waist before jerking the brunet down and rolling on his side toward the wall as the youth squawked in protest. “Hey!”

 

Resting his chin on the crown of the other's head, he tucked the gold-eyed youth against him and yawned. “Be quiet. Do you always have to be so noisy?”

 

The form in his arms vibrated silently. “Gojyo? Does this mean I have to hold your hand in the middle of a fight?”

 

He snickered. “No. I guess we still have things to figure out, huh?”

 

“Stupid… What the HELL were you thinking?” he exclaimed, wriggling in his arms irritably. “WERE you thinking? You could have warned me at least!”

 

“I didn't know I was going to say it, monkey. Cut me some slack, okay? It just came out. Nothing's really changed, you know. Sanzo and Hakkai just won't kill me if they see anything. Besides, it was the right thing to do. You're not the type for casual sex.”

 

His shifting in Gojyo's arms slowed, and he wormed his knee between the redhead's legs until their legs were tangled together. “Stupid kappa… like you'd recognize something like that.”

 

“Shut up, stupid monkey. It'll give us more freedom, too. We can try different stuff.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“I don't know. I'm still half asleep. STUFF. ”

 

“Hey.”

 

“What?”

 

“I want to be on top some time, too.”

 

“You're going to. One of these days you'll want a girl, so you'll have to know what to do.”

 

“What?”

 

He chuckled at the confused tone. “So you only like guys, monkey?”

 

“Shut up, stupid perverted cockroach kappa.” An arm draped over the red-haired man's waist. “I've never done this before, so how should I know?”

 

“So has Sanzo had a talk with you yet?”

 

“No. A few times I thought he was going to say something but then he didn't. Did Hakkai have one with you?”

 

“Yeah. He agreed with you that I should stay away from violent women.” He rolled his eyes as he abbreviated the whole encounter into one sentence. (I can't tell the monkey what happened…) Hey, what do you think of Sanzo?” He felt the silky head tilt back, eyelashes brushing against his throat.

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you think of Sanzo like Hakkai?”

 

“… kinda… but it's different. Because he's Sanzo, you know? And there's just no way he'd go for it. Besides, I've always liked Hakkai's eyes. They're pretty.” The monkey paused, head tucking back into place. “What about you? Who do you…?”

 

“Truth?”

 

“What else?”

 

“I'm not telling.” He cackled in his throat at Goku's disgusted sound of disappointment. “Monkey, nothing is going to change. You and I are going to argue, call each other names, fight over food and drive each other nuts no matter what.”

 

“What's it mean to be a couple, anyway?”

 

“It just means we're together and not with anyone else.”

 

“I thought there was more to it than that.”

 

“I think that kind of stuff comes as times goes by. Besides, we're not exactly together because of normal reasons.” He opened his eyes a bit and stared at the wall through his lashes, weighing his words. “I don't know what love is, not really. You don't need love to get--- to hop into bed with someone. Hakkai knows; he had it with HER before all that shit happened. He'd be the one to ask. So… I guess I can't teach you about that; sorry.”

 

The slim arm around his waist tightened. “I think…love might be having something you don't want to lose.”

 

He pulled back and looked down at the young face that lifted to look at him. (That's damned---introspective? Is he going to say something like that every time he opens his mouth now? He---)

 

“What? You tell Sanzo I think and have feelings but don't believe it yourself?” Gold eyes scowled at him. “Man!”

 

“It's not that! It's just that sometimes the things that come out of your mouth make me stop and think. Which is really funny, considering you're just a brainless monkey.” He lifted a hand and scratched at his head, effecting an air of confusion.

 

“Stupid red cockroach!” Scowling as he pulled away and pushed himself up with his arms, Goku started to untangle his legs from the redhead's. “Hakkai sent me to tell you that some of your clothes are dry and we're leaving for next door at twelve for lunch.”

 

(Shit. Guess the monkey was trying to have a serious discussion or something.) The older man tightened his legs around Goku's as he twisted at the waist and reached out with one hand to turn the brunet youth to face him. The younger man glared while Gojyo stared at him. “What?! Let go of me!”

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

The redhead's apology resulted in a staring contest. The monkey dropped his gaze first. “It's okay.”

 

Sliding his hand to the nape of Goku's neck, he tugged him down. “Come here, Goku.”

 

Lips brushed against each other, and the kappa tilted his head slightly before the next pass. Crimson and gold eyes stared into each other instead of drifting shut as they both deepened the kiss just for a few moments before pulling away.

 

(It's too fucking late. It was already too late the second time we were together. The monkey's not just a monkey any more, not just a little brother. He's… Goku. And he's my lover.) He thought as he stared into gold eyes

 

“You're my lover.” Gojyo said quietly. “That means I'm going to try to be there for you. That means a ton of things I don't know about, but I'm going to try.”

 

Goku blinked at the sudden turn in the conversation. Gold eyes searched crimson, looking for meaning, for a reason, and finding a surprising sincerity. “You're my lover. And--- and I don't know what it's all about, either, but I'll try, too. I'll try to be there. Gojyo…” He frowned down at the redhead. “I really want this to work.”

 

(The monkey's nervous about all this?) He smiled up at the youth and raised a hand. Curling all but the pinky finger under, he held his hand up higher in the hand sign for a lover. “We'll take it one day at a time and work out the rest as we go.”

 

The monkey gazed at it then mimicked the hand sign, and Gojyo intercepted it, wrapping his extended pinky around Goku's. The digits curled around each other, and the older man forced them up so that they were between their faces and plainly visible within their sights. He pinned the wide gold eyes with his own. “Lovers' promise.”

 

“Lovers' promise.”

 

There was a moment of silence between them that finalized the moment. It gave weight to the new depth between them, acknowledged that this was no longer just about sex.

 

(`…Gojyo… you're worth more than that. Perhaps Goku can teach you that.') He closed his eyes. “Now let me up, I need to go get some real clothes on if we're going out to eat.”

 

“What?! Hey, YOU pulled ME back down! Don't act like it's my fault!” Kicking free of Gojyo's legs, he glared as he shoved the kappa off the bed with both feet, who landed with a thud and a squawk.

 

“You damned monkey!!” the redhead roared, and the youth sprang off the bed in a graceful leap over Gojyo. He landed near the door and was through it in a flash.

 

The kappa ran a hand through his hair and grinned. (Nope. Not much is going to change.)

+++

 

Sanzo glared at Gojyo when they were all assembled downstairs, and continued to glare on and off all through lunch. It was enough to intimidate Xian, who was silent and nervous as she served them. The redhead refrained from bickering with Goku; he didn't want to get shot. Being back on the priest's shit list wasn't anything new and it was to be expected after this morning confession, but it was irritating as hell.

 

“Oi, Hakkai. Are you going shopping for dinner after this?” Gojyo asked, a bowl of rice in one hand as he lifted a piece of stir fried pork with his chopsticks. He ignored the blond's flinch at his next words. “I feel like doing something.”

 

“No. I thought I'd browse around the shops. I saw a couple of bookstores that looked interesting.” He replied, and served Hakuryu a tidbit off of his plate. “I'll pick up stuff on the way back.”

 

“Hummm…” The red-haired man leaned back in his chair as he popped food in his mouth.

 

“Would you like a look at the map?”

 

“Naw. I'll just go wander around town. Maybe I'll go see a movie. It's been a while since we've been in a town that offered anything like that.”

 

“Hey, I wanna go, too, Hakkai!” Goku exclaimed. “Can I?”

 

“Of course, Goku.” The older brunet answered with a smile. Hakuryu pilfered a bit of carrot from his plate, and Hakkai took it as a sign to check the dishes the dragon had been eating from. “Perhaps we should all go and get out of the house for a bit.”

 

Hakuryu waddled across to Gojyo and stole another piece of carrot.

 

The kappa frowned. (What the hell? Jeep doesn't usually steal from my plate like that.) He, along with the others, watched the dragon go to Goku's place on the table and swipe a carrot to wolf down.

 

The shocked silence held for all of two seconds.

 

“Aaaaaaah! Hakkai!” Goku jumped up, pointing an accusingly at Hakuryu, who was now making his way around the dishes on the table to Sanzo's spot. His finger shook with righteous monkey outrage. “Hakuryu's stealing food!”

 

“Now, now, it's only a carrot…though he hasn't finished what's in his dish yet…”

 

The dragon paused beside the plate and peered around at his table companions. Assured that he had all of their attention--- even Sanzo was staring, chopsticks poised in one hand--- he reached out with his long serpentine neck, plucked a carrot from Sanzo's plate, and ate it.

 

“Now he's stealing from Sanzo!!” The monkey howled, waving an arm. ”Hakuryu!”

 

“Calm down, Goku,” said Sanzo, raising his chopsticks to his mouth and putting the bite in his mouth. “It's just a carrot, not the whole damned plate.”

 

They watched the white dragon return to his dishes and continue eating.

 

Hakkai smiled. “Ah ha ha ha. Maybe he was comparing each plate?”

 

Goku settled back down in his chair warily, eyeing his new food nemesis. “Bad enough having to save my food from Gojyo, but now I have to keep it safe from you, too, Hakuryu? MAN!”

 

The redhead frowned at that. “Hey, stupid monkey, I haven't gotten any food off of you yet.”

 

“You did this morning!”

 

“That was this morning! This is now!” Reaching over with his chopsticks, he swiped a spring roll from the other's plate, resulting in an outraged scream from the youth. “Ha! How do you like that, huh?!” Shoving it in his mouth, he smirked.

 

“You pervert kappa!! That's my spring roll!” Dropping his own chopsticks, Goku lunged at the redhead. He grabbed his cheeks and began pulling on them. “Bastard! Give it BACK!”

 

Across the table, a blond brow twitched. “Oi.”

 

“No way, monkey!” A large hand was planted across the smaller brunet's forehead, and an attempt was made to shove said brunet away as Gojyo chewed and swallowed.

 

“AAAAAH! BASTARD! BASTARD!” Goku screamed, tugging harder and shaking the kappa's head all at once. Their struggling was rattling the table and had drawn the attention of everyone in the tavern. Mei was squinting at them from her place behind the bar, her hands twitching, and Xian halted as she exited the kitchen bearing a platter of food. “You ate it!! You ate my spring roll!! You pervert cockroach kappa!! You ate it!”

 

“OI.”

 

“That's what you get!”

 

“For what?! That was mine, you bastard!! Mine!!”

 

A harisen crashed down on their heads. “SHUT UP! Shut the fuck up! Eat quietly, damn it, or I'll kill you!”

 

“Sanzo~o!”

 

“Shit ass monk!”

 

Hakkai laughed and smiled down at Jeep, who chirped back at him. “Everyone's become so lively today.”

 

“Xian!”

 

All the attention that had been focused on their table relocated to the kitchen entrance, where Mei was kneeling on the floor with a platter of food clutched in both hands. Xian had dropped it; one hand clutched at her chest as she slumped slightly, a relieved expression playing across her face. “I'm so glad you all are back to normal. It's so hard to be quiet and everything, and his face is so scary when he looks angry like that. I thought something bad had happened.”

 

“Something bad is going to happen to YOU if you don't serve this!” Hoisting the tray at the dark haired girl, Mei glared and stood up. “Stay out of other people's business and do your work.”

 

Pouting, she took the tray and moved to serve it. “Awwww but they're so much fun. It's never boring when they're here.”

 

“Cheeh!”

 

“Cheeh.” Sanzo resumed his seat, tucking the harisen into one sleeve. “Normal? In hell. And do we look like we're here to amuse you?”

 

The girl smiled as she walked past them to the awaiting table. “Nope! That's what makes it fun. You do it all on your own!”

 

Gojyo looked at Hakkai and mouthed, `Touched in the head!'

 

The emerald eyed man smiled, shoulders shaking for a moment.

+++

 

The four of them ended up wandering around and learning more than they wanted about their current location. Originally an invading military camp placed there to hold the bridge in a war over a thousand years ago, it had evolved into a large town on heavily traveled routes by road and boat after the war had been abruptly halted by a group of people traveling east.

 

“Huh?” said Goku, halting behind the group of children settled at the feet of a granny dressed in blue robes. She smiled at them. The market place was hustling around them, and several of the children held snacks in their hands. The other three men paused, watching. “People traveling east?”

 

 

“What an interesting tale,” commented Hakkai to the granny. “Is it true?”

 

“Oh, yes. Three divas who turned themselves into a single silver feather, awaiting the day that their guides would return from death to lead them to the land of the rising sun, and the general and his army who was entrusted with the feather's guardianship until such a time occurred in return for their help in defeating the wicked king who sought power over the well being of his people.” Some of the older children nodded as though she were ticking off facts. “The temple housing the feather is built right on the river if you wish to go see it. This side of the river is much higher than the other side, so it makes an easier place to guard. All the families of the original army reside here or in the surrounding land as farmers. No one will leave their post before the promise has been fulfilled. The general's family runs an inn called the Three Daughters.”

 

“Eh? You mean those ladies who make such tasty food?” asked Goku.

 

“You mean Yu's cooking? Yes, it is quite good.” The granny stood and stretched. The children swarmed around her for a moment and then they broke into groups and took off dodging through the crowd, some of the older ones carrying younger siblings with them. “You'll have to excuse the children. They're always so energetic. I must get back to the shop. Feel free to drop by, young ones; it's the candy shop on the corner.”

 

“Hey. One more thing,” Sanzo said, and pulled his cigarette from his mouth. “Have there been any youkai problems around here lately?”

 

“Nothing we can't handle.” She answered, tucking her hands in her sleeves. “All are trained to handle combat situations. We are, in the end, all soldiers, even those of us that don't look it.” Nodding with another smile, she strolled off in the direction of her shop.

 

“All of them are soldiers, huh?” Scanning the market place, Gojyo turned back to his companions. “This place looks like any other town to me.”

 

Hakkai was studying the people around them, an absent hand fondling Jeep behind an ear. “Notice how everyone seems in good health? Even the burly ones appear strong and flexible, and the elders don't seem terribly infirmed by age. There are several open fields within the city limits on the map. They would be good for drills.” Digging in a pocket, he pulled out the map and unfolded it. The others crowded around him in an effort to see. “I never noticed before, but there are several dojos and smiths, too.”

 

“The story's probably an old legend they use to keep up a militia.” Sanzo replied, and dropped his cigarette. Grinding it beneath one sandal, he added, “At least we don't have to worry so much about youkai attacks.”

 

“Unless it's Kougaiji's little sister dropping another huge ass boulder on us.” Gojyo said. “Come on, let's go, I'm bored out of my mind.”

 

“What mind?” Sanzo shot back. But he took a step forward, and the others followed.

 

“Ha, ha, ha. So funny, oh great Sanzo Sama.”

 

They made their way to the first book shop Hakkai wanted to explore, and once inside, they immediately split up. Sanzo went back outside for a smoke, Hakkai wandered away among the shelves, Goku made for the children's manga, and Gojyo wound up in the magazine section. The redhead found a few that he used to buy regularly that weren't adult and settled in one of several chairs scattered around the store. The clerk was absent again, he noticed; another hand bell sat beside the cash register. Didn't these people realize that they could get ripped off?

 

He had finished his third article when he heard the door jingle and glanced up to check everyone's position. Sanzo was stepping inside the store, Goku had disappeared somewhere, and Hakkai was still nowhere to be seen. The priest barely spared him a glance as he strode off into the stacks, and Gojyo flipped off his disappearing back before he continued reading. People came in and browsed, forced the clerk to make an appearance so they could pay the man, and left at a trickle. Compared to the market place, the place was practically deserted.

 

Flipping through the rest of the magazine, he set it aside and was starting on his second one when the door jingled again. He didn't pay attention to it. There was a pause, and then light footsteps clicked across the tiled floor and halted beside his chair.

 

“Hi.” The hesitant voice sent shivers down his spine, and he looked up at the woman who Goku had deemed violent. She was dressed far more demurely today than yesterday in a silk, ankle length cheongsam, long dark hair swept up and held with elaborate combs. She seemed a little shy, a little embarrassed as she stood there, biting her lip in nervousness.

 

“Hello,” He smiled winningly, half closing the magazine in his lap. “What can I do for you?”

 

“I--- want to apologize for last night. I'm normally not that--- vicious--- in bed and I didn't mean to injure you like that. I'm really very sorry.” She bowed deeply.

 

“It's ok---”

 

“Gojyo!” Goku popped out from behind a rotating shelf, two packs of cards in his hand. “They've got--- eh? Who's this?” The woman straightened, looking up at this new voice. He bounced over to them, much to the redhead's secret horror. THEN Gojyo saw his nose twitch.

 

(Shit, shit, shiiiiiit---)

 

“Goku, let's go get some steamed buns, ne?” Jumping up, he grabbed the decks from Goku's hand and tossed them in the chair he had just vacated. Then he began tugging the brunet youth to the door by his wrist. His gold-eyed lover was frowning, almost glaring at the woman as he stared back at her, eyes narrowed. The redhead smiled and winked at her over his shoulder hoping she wouldn't notice. “No worries, miss, just happy to be of service.”

 

The shop door was barely shut behind them when Goku jerked his wrist out of his grasp. The brunet grabbed a fistful of shirt and dragged the kappa down the nearest alley, until they were behind the book store, cursing him all the way. “You pervert kappa, what the hell do you think you're doing?! Just how damned stupid are you?! That was HER! I could tell it was her by her smell! You were looking to get messed up again, weren't you?!”

 

“Goku---“

 

“Shut up! I'm pissed at you right now! How could you talk to her?!”

 

“Would you listen to me?!”

 

“What the hell were you thinking?!”

 

As the shorter man tugged him behind the store into a deserted back alley, Gojyo grasped the other's shoulder and tugged him around to face him. “She was just---“

 

“Cockroach kappa! Already cheating and it hasn't even been a full day yet! With HER!” Gold eyes were glaring daggers at him.

 

“---trying to apologize!” Crimson glared right back. “I haven't cheated on you! We were just talking! Talking doesn't count as cheating, Goku! Kissing, yes, talking, no!”

 

(Then what about Hakkai this morning?), whispered that awful little voice in the back of his head. He looked up at the side of the building.

 

(Fuck off), he replied.

 

“What is it?”

 

“What's what, chimp?” He looked back. Narrowed gold eyes were flickering back and forth across his face.

 

“What happened, Gojyo? You stopped arguing the moment you mentioned kissing.” Goku squinted at him. “Who'd you kiss?”

 

Scowling down at him, he turned and leaned back against the side of the building. “I didn't kiss anyone. Hakkai gave me a congratulatory peck this morning, that's all.” Pulling out a cigarette, he lit up and took a couple of drags before looking at the brunet.

 

Those gold eyes were focused on his mouth, a speculative gleam lighting them.

 

“What makes you think it was on the mouth, monkey?” He exhaled a lungful of smoke.

 

“Then where?”

 

“What for? You wanna kiss the same spot Hakkai kissed so you can see what he tasted like?”

 

The gleam in his eye disappeared, and he looked wide eyed in surprise up at the taller man. They gazed at each other for less than a minute before Gojyo snorted, turned away and squatted down on his heels. “If you want to, do it. I don't care.”

 

(What does it matter? It's just a kiss. Kisses are cheap.)

 

(Keep telling yourself that if it helps, half breed.)

 

(Fuck you.)

 

To his surprise, he suddenly found himself with a lapful of monkey. With a mutter of surprise, he yanked the cigarette away from the chocolate strands as he fell back against the cool stone of the wall, ultimately landing on his backside. The cigarette fell from his grasp, and he had only a moment to mourn its loss before Goku spoke, his face buried in Gojyo's throat. “I didn't mean it like that. If you had told me about it, and offered to share it, then maybe. But it's not, and it's not like that, either. It's just that for a moment, I could see it in my head--- you and Hakkai kissing. It's hot, you know? Even if he's Sanzo's, and you're mine.”

 

Blinking, he wrapped a long arm around the waist of the form huddled against him. Fists tightened in his shirt, and he rested his chin on top of the youth's head and sighed. (I feel like I'm learning a different language. I wonder if Sanzo's mastered Goku-ese?) “I don't understand a damn thing you just said. Just don't worry about it, all right?”

 

“No, it's not all right. I mean--- I HAVE you. So I shouldn't think of anyone else, right? Or think about you and Hakkai fooling around, even if it is a big turn on.”

 

“It's okay to fantasize, Goku. If you want limits put on it, though, then limit it to when you're by yourself and following lesson one, or just warn me ahead of time in bed. I won't mind if you scream Sanzo or Hakkai's name in the middle of sex.”

 

“But it's not just about sex anymore.” Goku shifted on his lap until he was straddling his hips. “Right? And… it's just not cool to think of someone else when we're, you know, together. That's why I try not to think about Hakkai and sex when I'm with you. It's not cool.”

 

(The monkey's got morals. Well, that's one up on me.) “Okay, I can agree with that. But what was that other thing you were talking about?”

 

“Your kiss from Hakkai. If you had told me about it, I wouldn't mind kissing you and sharing it. But you didn't, so we can't.”

 

“You're weird, you know that?”

 

“Be quiet, I'm not done yet.” Goku sat up and pinned the other man with his gaze, hands loosening and sliding down to rest at his waist under the edge of his vest. “I don't ever want you to think that I'd kiss you for an indirect kiss with Hakkai. Or Sanzo. Understand?”

 

“It's just a kiss,” He chided, running a hand through his hair. “I don't give a damn.”

 

“Then why did you look so hurt before?”

 

Looking everywhere but the younger man in his lap, Gojyo dug for his cigarettes and lighter. He couldn't admit the truth to himself, how was he supposed to admit it to him? This wasn't an issue; this was his own personal business which he would deal with on his own. Small hard hands caught his and pulled them away from his pockets, resting them against Goku's knees. Then they let go to curl around his face, and guided the crimson gaze back to his gold one. “You've got too many secrets, and sometimes you don't talk to me when you should. I… really hate that.”

 

The redhead didn't know what to say to that, so he said nothing, closed his eyes and let his head sag in the monkey's grasp. There was a kiss against each eyelid, and then a hand brushed the hair away from his left cheek. His eyes flew open, but all he saw was chocolate strands shot through with hints of gold, red and black as soft lips carefully kissed along the scars. Strands of hair were tucked behind his left ear as his gold-eyed lover followed the lines down his cheek, the tip of a tongue daubing gently at the rough skin. It was strange and his stomach was clenching in knots, his instincts urging him to pull him away with all due haste. Facing the scars from his past when he was ready, by himself, was one thing, but having someone else attempt to connect with them was just… unheard of.

 

(Compared to Goku, I'm a fucking coward... He's being a hell of a lot more mature about this whole thing than I am. He deserves better than this.) Turning his head and forcing himself to relax, he sought out the other's mouth and kissed him, one large hand rising to cup the brunet's jaw line. (I want… what? What do I want? This isn't going to last.)

 

(But it can last long enough, can't it?)

 

They wandered through several slow, thorough kisses, kisses that started sweet and ended hotter than the last, the kind of kisses that coaxed fire to stir in their veins and pool between them. The kisses were the kind that melted everything, that had the kappa reclining back against the wall and the monkey draped over him, propped up by his bent knees as he straddled his redheaded lover's lap. Slender, inhumanly strong arms encircled his neck, fingers combing through the hair at the nape of his neck, and his large hands had tucked themselves in Goku's back pockets, thumbs hooked through the belt loops of his jeans. Breaking the kiss, Gojyo sighed softly against the other's mouth. “Know what this is called?”

 

“Kissing?”

 

Sliding a hand up the youth's slim back, he shook his head. “Nope. This is `making out'. Making out can lead to sex or mutual--- ah, fulfillment, or you stop when you get hot and bothered but can't or won't go any further.”

 

The monkey was staring at his mouth again, eyes heavy lidded. “And?”

 

“We need to stop now and find the others or sneak back to the house. We're not doing anything in public.” Pulling him closer by his belt loops, he cautiously squeezed the bottom he had cupped in his hands. Goku was his to touch now, right? Rocking his hips up against the cradle of his young lover's thighs, he let his awakening arousal be known and relished the answering bulge that pressed back.

 

“Why? There's no one around. Besides, I don't want to move.”

 

“I'm trying to respect you, damn it. Let's head for the house.”

 

Goku brushed his lips against the kappa's and thrust his hips down against him. “I'm too hard already.”

 

“Lying monkey.” His hands slid out of his pockets and reluctantly released the belt loops. (Don't tempt me, damn it.) “Let's sneak past the parental units and go back.”

 

“Goojyoooooo…” came the whining reply, and slender hips rocked down against him one more time.

 

He stilled those hips with a hard grip and a glare. “Goku. When we've learned your boundaries and this isn't so new, and when you've got the basics down, I will fuck you in any back alley behind any damned store you want. So please don't tempt me now.”

 

His cursing caused luminous hooded gold eyes to widen in shock. “You said---”

 

“Yes, I said it.” He half smirked, half leered at the brunet youth. “Is that all right with you?”

 

Goku grinned back. “Yeah.”

 

“Good. Because I think I'm going to teach you lots of dirty words from now on. Just don't use them around Hakkai and Sanzo. Then they'll definitely kill me.” He held still as his lover raised a hand and freed the locks of hair from behind his ear, smoothing them over his cheek, and wondered how he was going to pay for the feelings welling up inside him. He didn't own very much of himself; the kappa knew that. For the first time he wondered if the whole situation was going to cost him what little he did own, besides what he didn't. Then he realized he didn't care. There was warmth in Goku's touch, and a gentleness that had been concealed until now. There was trust in those gold eyes, and it was aimed at him.

 

(What man wouldn't give up himself for that?)

 

“Let's go home, Goku.”

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TBC…

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Yay! For my reviewers! Thank you so much! >GLOMP< ~Q

 

To ZoeyJade San: Hello! Thank you, Thank you--- praise makes me all floaty! I hope you continue to enjoy this fiction. ^_^ I'll do my best!

 

To Cupnjava C San: Yay!! My personal diva has arrived! Welcome! (kowtows) When left alone, Goku THINKS about things, and I think he's very good at it simply because he has had five hundred years of solitude where the only real thing to do WAS think. At the same time, he's still mentally young because of that solitude to the point where everything is still so new, and he doesn't yet have practice in expressing himself in certain situations. Add in the authority status he gives to Hakkai and Sanzo, and he's a just a teenager with his first significant other worried about how his parents will take the news. Since he's never had a relationship like this, he's also fumbling around, thinking of all the things he's seen, either in the media or from the people around him, and trying to reconcile that with his know relationship with his new lover, and he's going to have a hard time doing it, simply because it's untested waters and the examples he has seen are either unrealistic or over the top or unique in their nature, like soap operas or Hakkai's (Gonou's) relationship with Kanan. Can you see poor Goku wondering if he's supposed to get flowers or something because of some popular media he's seen or how he would act now if Gojyo were killed in battle? Does he have to be more loyal to the kappa, or the priest? Just stuff like that. I'm so surprised he hasn't said anything about it, unless he's not letting himself think about it. Gojyo--- I don't think he's ever had a real relationship, so this is all new to him. But he's never been as without morals as he thinks, or as others think. Even with all the crap that has happened to him, he still has a heart of gold, and I think that's what prompted him to declare Goku and himself a couple. But he's still got so many issues that he has to deal with, and now, whether he realizes it or not, Goku's most likely going to get tangled up in them too, both as a instigator and a pacifier. (Did that come out right? ;;) Hakkai and Gojyo--- I haven't a clue. Those four are huddled up in a corner of my bed room with my muse and my last pad of paper, wadded up paper, broken pencils and used-up pens everywhere while the air purifier works to keep their cigarette smoke in check. (And after I told those bastards no smoking. They never listen.) I can't help feeling things are going to be chunked off a couple of cliffs and dunked in a few rivers before we all come out on the other side or something like that. In any case, thank you so very much, both for your feedback and your permission to quote you. I hope I can continue to please.

 

 

To TenshiKaitou San: Hee hee, Gojyo is a bit of a trouble magnet. I hope this satisfies you for the next chapter. Thank you for ALL your reviews, they mean a lot!

 

Devious Lil Devil San: >glomp< Yay! You're back! Feel the floatiness! Lol After this, things are going to change, but the directions remain to be seen. Gojyo called them a couple, I think, to protect both Goku and himself. Goku because he's GOKU and it's the right thing to do, and himself so Sanzo and Hakkai won't kill him outright. I think they are going to consider themselves a couple that are lovers, rather than a couple of boyfriends. In Japanese, I believe the word to describe them would be `koibito', and it's used as a term for both lover and girl/boy friend, but in English it just doesn't have the same feel. Boyfriend sounds flirty and juvenile, while lovers imply more of a long-term connection on a spiritual, physical and mental connection. (shakes head) I can't explain it very well because my thoughts are still jumbled, so I'll stop there. I'm glad everyone seemed accurate; they all felt so OOC all of a sudden. T_T I'm so glad! Hakkai--- I have no idea what's going to happen next, but I think everyone will be surprised. I know I am every time the muse glares at me as she tells me what they've got plotted out. (Looks at corner and shakes head) I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the last!

 

To CF San: Thank you! Floaty! I'm glad you're enjoying it, and think so highly of it. ^_^

 

To Crimson San: Don't die! More is coming up! The relationship of Sanzo and Hakkai is a subject of much speculation, even by me! I'm writing the story and I don't know what all is going on. Not Fair! But I'm so glad you're enjoying the ride!

 

KaosD San: Hi! I'm glad they seem IC, I was really worried about that! Gojyo would never blame Hakkai for something he has doubts about himself, and our favorite kappa harbors some really big doubts. Hope this chapter satisfies. :D

 

lady_kail San: Thank you! I hope everyone finds something they like.

 

Sayge San: lol Thank you! Does this help?

 

Jeda San: I'm glad you're enjoying the ride. I hope everyone is! And we'll have to see which way the wind blows with our current couples. It's not over till the dust settles, you know? I'll try my best!

 

Kiba-chan San: Hi! I'm glad you're enjoying it and that everyone seems in character. Pronoun confusion--- I know I don't have everything down, but I'll try to fix that at least partly. I don't catch everything, and being so close to the writing makes it hard, so I just try my best. Thank you for the critique, it really helps! ^_^ About the pairings, who know? My muse just tells me what to write. I'm along for the ride as much as everyone else and you know what they say. It's the journey that's important.

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Alright! Let's go, everyone--- untill next time! ~Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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