Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Verismo ❯ Vibrato ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Author's Notes
1) Gosh, I'm sorry for the wait. Just know that I really am trying to get these out sooner :)
2) Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm such an attention whore, I love it!
- I must apologize to Sayoko, that's SA-YO-KO.
- nomalaz: Don't worry about it :) People review when they wanna, and even though I love to get the feed back, I understand some readers just want to wait a while before putting in their two cents. I'm glad you like the music, I grew up with it as well. The newer songs are mainly the ones I hear in the clubs ( I LOVE to dance!!)
and have made an impression on me. I do try to mix up the eras, though if something works for a piece, then it works. Hopefully, the songs don't sound forced into the story. Let me know if they are!
3) Thanks to everyone who read! Please Enjoy!!!! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Saiyuki nor Beautiful Stranger. They belong to Minekura -sama and Madonna respectively.

MUSIC: SCORE

Vibrato


// Haven't we met
You're some kind of beautiful stranger//

Gojyo pressed his body tightly against the tree, rough bark marking skin deep impressions through his heavy shirt and catching crimson strands flying loose in the wind. He tried to flatten himself entirely, making his thin body melt into the shadowy silhouette of the ancient oak, forcing his rangy frame to curve backwards around the trunk's form. Gojyo's legs were getting tired, strained from being locked into place for so long, knees and feet aching. Booted heels dug into the thick branch while his toes barely peeped over the edge. He desperately wanted to sit down.

A shiver crept under Gojyo's tan skin, slightly chilled by his place in the shade, enhanced by the damp air. The sweltering heat of summer had finally faded, gently pushed towards autumn by cool winds flowing from the mountains nearby. Leaves struggled on their brittle stems, twisting and cracking and eventually releasing their hold. From his vantage point , thirty meters above the earth, the kappa could see an ocean of fluttering sunset hued foliage punctuated by dark green conifers and shreds of late afternoon sky. Black cutouts signified flocks of birds migrating to friendlier climates. The kappa was thankful for the short days of late autumn, golden shafts of light piercing the forest canopy in visually confusing patterns, creating plenty of random dark patches in which to hide; like the one he was currently frozen in.

Ouch. One particularly sharp twig was jammed directly in the middle of his upper back, between his shoulder blades. The urge to move, to rid himself of the pesky hurt, was strong, but ignored. Moving was not an option. Breathing was not an option, though an inescapable necessity that Gojyo barely complied with. Shallow streams of oxygen were inhaled slowly through parted lips, much quieter than through his nose. And quiet was of the utmost importance to the kappa.

For Gojyo was being hunted.

The red head cursed himself for his stupidity, being caught on the receiving end of the wicked game; with an injury, no less. A broken arm, three days fresh, was poking through the cut off sleeve of his green shirt and tucked against his side. The cast itched nearly to the point of distraction, but scratching would give away his location; again, not an option. Damn, 'Kai. Bastard's always right. Gojyo also mentally cursed his best friend who, in his infinite wisdom, had told the younger man to stay in bed and rest to mend the broken bones and no good would come of him venturing out today... Damnit! Why the hell didn't I listen to him?! I could be at home, right now, smoking a cigarette in bed ( not that I'm supposed to), eating a kick ass home made lunch and being lazy in general , instead of running through the fucking forest, hiding from-

// You could be good for me
I have a taste for danger//

Leaf litter crunched underfoot, less than fifteen meters away from the tree's base. Gojyo's line of silent bitching was cut short as he heard the undeniable crack of small branches and the swish of someone jogging through the underbrush. The kappa listened to the booted feet crashing across the forest floor. Not very stealthy, but I guess that's to my benefit. He drew in a lungful of air and held it. Head remaining motionless, crimson eyes peered down through the heavy evergreen branches, waiting to catch sight of his pursuer. Gojyo prayed the other man couldn't hear his heart thundering against his ribcage; he was pretty sure it could be heard clear 'round the mountain side, but hopefully it would be mistaken for a beaver tail thumping further down stream.

The hunter leapt over the small creek, boots squishing on the muddy banks. Step, step, step, pause. Right beneath the kappa's hiding spot. Gojyo tensed every muscle, preparing for flight not fight because it simply wouldn't end well otherwise. He watched as the smaller male circled the tree, studied the ground and mumbled angrily.

After several nerve wracking moments his pursuer snorted like a mad bull and lifted his face...Oh shit! He's seen me! The kappa made fists, then stifled a scream as his injured arm protested the action, and made ready to jump from his branch to another tree nearby. Just as he was about to push off , the other young man bellowed at the top of his lungs, eyes squeezed shut as he screamed.

" Damnit, Gojyo!!! Give me back my meatbun!!!"

Hahaha! Stupid monkey, I ate that thing back in the thorn patch. Sucker! Gojyo forced himself to stay silent and still, the snicker never reaching his lips. He watched as Goku stomped in place like a bratty toddler, sienna mop shaking with his movements, glints of gold between the wild locks. The monkey king then flew to the right, back towards the temple, shouting as he ran. " I'm gonna find you and I'm gonna kick your ass, YOU ASSHOLE!!!" The long ponytail was soon swallowed by the forest.

// Heaven forbid
I take my chance on a beautiful stranger//

Gojyo released the breath he had been holding, continuing to laugh silently until the teen had exited earshot, then the kappa began for real. " Muwahahaha! Stupid chimp thinks he can beat me at a game of Hide-n-Seek, I don't think so! Hahahaha-!"

" That wasn't very nice, Gojyo."

" Holy shi-!" Gojyo lost his balance, arms flailing to grab onto the tree trunk behind him as a pair of emerald eyes appeared before him. Two hands reached out and pinned him to the bark, keeping the hapless water sprite from falling off his perch. Ragged breathing replaced the laughter, Gojyo slid to sit on the thick branch, legs hanging off either side as he reestablished his balance. His hands grasped a familiar set of shoulders.
" Fuck, 'Kai! You could've killed me!"

// I looked into your eyes
And my world came tumbling down//

Gentle laughter tinged with malicious amusement met the harsh curses. Hakkai crouched in front of the half breed, balanced perfectly, as always. His long sleeved shirt, a soft affair of natural bone colored material, hung loosely on the slender frame as he leaned forward to touch equally slender fingers to the branch beneath him. The demon rested there on the balls of his feet and his fingertips. " Well, you did interrupt my lesson and provoke my student into a rather unfair chase."

// You're the devil in disguise
That's why I'm singing this song //

" Unfair! How is it unfair! I'm the one who's injured!" Gojyo squawked and waved his heavily casted left arm in the air for the demon to see.

" I'm the one who set it, Gojyo. I'm aware of your handicap." Hakkai rolled his eyes, one nearly invisible behind the glare of his monocle, and sighed dramatically. The I-have-such-patience-but-children-really-what-can-you-do-with-them sigh. " And you are aware that Goku has been forbidden to climb trees until the end of the month, therefore your choice of hiding place is unfair."

// To know you
Is to love you //

" It's not my fault the little punk fell on top of Sanzo and hurt his little head." Gojyo chuckled at the memory; he had been witness to Goku's nosedive off a towering pine, only to land on his beloved caretaker and knock him unconscious. The kappa had laughed his ass off for the rest of the day ( after being properly concerned when Sanzo didn't get up) and had been taking blatant advantage of the teen's punishment for the past two weeks. Granted, it took some extra effort to climb up the wooden giants, but it was worth it to watch the golden eyed boy spit and sputter helplessly below.

Unfortunately, Goku had realized that Sanzo hadn't said anything about chopping the trees down to get to his prey; hence the kappa's broken limb and his desperate need to actually hide once in the tree. Gojyo was still pissed about that. " Unfair is that brat smashing a hundred-year-old oak into toothpicks with me sitting on top. And then you not fixing my arm, afterwards."

" Maa, maa..." Hakkai's smile stretched ear to ear, cheshire in its breadth. " You wouldn't have learned a lesson otherwise. If I healed every little scratch the three of you sustained, then-"

" 'Kai. Since when have you known me to ' learn my lesson'? "

The smile faltered and fell into a rueful grin. " Alright. I'll take the cast off tonight and heal the break."

" You were gonna do it in another coupla days, anyway." Gojyo countered smugly.

// You're everywhere I go
And everybody knows //

" Nani?"

// To love you
Is to be part of you //

The red head swung his legs back onto the limb and pushed up, back scraping against the bark, knocking bits of moss and dirt free. Damn, my clothes are getting filthy. " Your 'lessons' never last more than a week. You always break down after a few days, feeling guilty for making us suffer and cry ourselves to sleep at night, and then you fix whatever's broken and peck us on the cheek-"

" Gojyo! I don't recall ever kissing Sanzo's cheek after healing him!"

" - and warn us about playing too rough. " Gojyo didn't miss a beat until a soft popping noise and slight groan indicated his knees' realignment. Crimson twinkled brightly. " And you should give Sanzo a little peck every now and then. Maybe it would melt that icicle shoved up his ass." Laughter was the response and Gojyo grinned wickedly as he began to mentally plot the best way out of the tree. Swift footsteps caught the attention of both men, startling them into silence.

// I pay for you with tears
And swallow all my pride //

" I know you're here somewhere, Gojyo!" Goku shouted as he skidded to a halt. The teen had nyoi-bo in hand, the hefty staff spinning effortlessly in the bronze fingers. " Sanzo said he saw you head this way!"

// Dah-dah-de dah-de-dah-de dah dah dah-dah-dum
Beautiful stranger...//

The red head acted quickly, not even sparing a damning thought for the tattle tale priest as he grabbed the brunette and slammed their bodies together, trying to minimize their visual bulk and blend into the tree's shape. Gojyo stared anxiously at their youngest member prowling around the forest, sniffing the air like a blood hound. Shit, he can not see me! Even Hakkai isn't going to be able to save me if the monkey spots us! He pulled the brunette even tighter against him, intent on keeping them frozen in place. Goku appeared to be sampling the breeze, his head cocked in one direction then another as he stalked the grounds. It wasn't long before his nose twitched in the direction of the duo's pine and Goku's triumphant smirk was clear even from Gojyo and Hakkai's height.

Oh, shit. The man in his one armed embrace disturbed his nervous contemplation. Hakkai was struggling playfully , obviously trying to bring Goku's attention upwards, to seal the kappa's fate. His mouth opened, ready to shout and fully expose their location. Gojyo didn't even think about it, he simply reacted. The demon's lips were sealed with the kappa's broad mouth as snugly as their bodies met, with Gojyo's tongue demanding entrance. As an added bonus, their groins were locked together and rapidly swelling. Gojyo suppressed a moan as his member was ground mercilessly into the brunette's abdomen. The kappa managed to focus enough to see Goku's ears perk up and his weapon aim at the base of their hiding spot. Gojyo prepared himself for the worst.

The kappa squeezed.

The youkai squeaked.

The teenager...stopped.

The red head, though loving the heated kiss, was still very aware of their dangerous predicament and cast crimson down through the needly coverage. Goku had pulled up short of their tree, staff still raised on the upswing, ready to chop the mighty trunk in two. The monkey king remained still for what seemed like an eternity to the half breed thirty meters above him, golden eyes fixated on the tree trunk, nose twitching double time. Just as the kappa's heart stuttered and stammered and felt ready to halt operations altogether, the boy jerked his head to the right where a very large rabbit bounded through the shrubbery; its white tail flicked teasingly at Goku as it ran.

" Cool! C'mere, Usagi-san!" And with that Goku loped after the hapless bunny, leaving his would be prisoners unmolested; at least by himself.

For the two adults were most definitely in the process of being molested. Gojyo's heart beat had, more or less, resumed its regular rhythm, hampered only by the occasional skipping due to lust. Hakkai seemed entirely unfazed, continuing the gentle suckling of the other man's tongue without so much as an eye blink.

// If I'm smart then I'll run away
But I'm not so I guess I'll stay//

A few more minutes passed, kiss growing urgent then ebbing into light pecks, until the brunette pulled back enough to address his companion. " I think you bruised my ribs."

Gojyo frowned, concern overwriting the pleasure of only seconds before. His arm fell from the demon's body, hastily releasing him. " Shit, really?" The kappa mournfully remembered the man's squeak of pain. I should have paid more attention, damnit!

" I was kidding , Gojyo." Hakkai admonished, replacing the cast arm about his waist and pulling the hand from the tree bark to wrap around his shoulders. The youkai slid his own arms behind the kappa and unabashedly shoved both hands under the heavy brown shirt. Gojyo jumped slightly, but a grin soon appeared. Hakkai's fingers rubbed small circles along the half breed' s spine. " Though your strength is admirable, it's yet to cause me serious harm."

Another flicker of concern. " Not quite true."

" I told you to forget about that. " The brunette reprimanded him again, emphasizing his point by scraping blunt nails across the kappa's lower back, just above his waistband. " Now, what shall we do with the rest of our time here?" Hakkai asked, bumping his hips into his partner's.

// Haven't you heard
I fell in love with a beautiful stranger //

Gojyo's thoughts were dragged from their dreary corner. He was half hard already, as was Hakkai if the bulge in the dark pants was any indication. And if the youkai continued to rub against him in that provocative fashion, well... Okay, it's a beautiful lazy afternoon, there's an utterly hot guy grinding dicks with me and the monk and monkey are ( at least for right now) clueless to where we are. Gojyo gave a little moan, the other man having ventured a lone finger beneath the red head's belt; it slowly trailed side to side along the waistband, stroking the soft skin beneath. " This seems like a good plan to me." He whispered seductively in the pale ear, unhindered fingers gently removing the other man's monocle and tucking it safely in his shirt pocket.

As they ground their aching groins together in a reserved rendition of what was to come, Gojyo’s brain swiftly ran through possible strategies. We could get down from here but 1) the monkey could still be around and 2) ...this is really hot! The kappa was happy to fess up to his little kinks and being in a not so safe location with the chance of being caught was just enough to keep him from seeking out another spot. Decision made, he turned his thoughts to his next concern; his injured arm. Normally I would pin this luscious specimen against the nearest vertical surface, but that requires the use of both arms for balance. So, that’s out. Hmmmmm. What to do , what to do. His breath caught in his throat as the brunette put a slight twist to his hips as he thrust forward, the action sparking a host of naughty images and settling the problem in Gojyo’s mind. Alright, I’m actually pretty comfortable right here with ‘Kai humping me into the tree. Oh yeah, this is good. I can work with this. The broken limb was raked upwards, taking Hakkai’s shirt with it and baring smooth skin.

“ Careful of your arm.”

“ I am.”

// I looked into your face
My heart was dancing all over the place //

There was a nod of acknowledgement and Hakkai's finger was joined by both hands smoothing the kappa's lower waist, pants being maneuvered down to reveal more tan flesh to the chilly air. Their hips kept up the deliciously clothed friction, pressing the growing bulges together again and again. The brunette brought his hands to the front and quickly unbuttoned the taller man's pants, dragging Gojyo's full erection from the protective cover.

// I'd like to change your point of view
If I could just forget about you //

This caught Gojyo by surprise. He and Hakkai had had numerous encounters since that summer night and while the youkai wasn't shy, he certainly never moved quite as fast as he currently was. 'Kai usually likes a little more foreplay, not that we haven't had some spectacular quickies, but I'm the one who initiates those. He generally wants to get all worked up beforehand. Huh. The red head pondered the other man's new found assertiveness, a difficult undertaking since the brunette had Gojyo in an iron clad grip just on the border of being truly painful. When a set of lips re -established their kiss, the kappa's mind supplied his favorite memory. Oh yeah, pour some sugar on me! " Oi, Sweetness." He pulled back a fraction and had to pause as a thumb teased his leaking slit. " You're awfully eager, today."

" Oh, sorry." Hakkai murmured into the taller man's throat as he licked his way over tendons and collarbones. His stroking grew more aggressive.

" That didn't sound very sincere." Gojyo snickered and consciously made his working hand move to the youkai's waist, fingers deftly unbuckling the belt and slipping buttons through their holes. He hissed as Hakkai's hold tightened. OOOOWWWW!!! " Oi, watch the goods!"

The brunette jerked back at the exclamation, hands abruptly halting all activity. Green eyes were hazed over by lust and a layer of apology. " I'm sorry, Gojyo."

" Now that one I do believe. " Gojyo grimaced, but finished pushing the dark brown slacks away from his friend's body, leaving the material hanging dangerously low on the man's hips. Warm hand cupped pale flesh, pulling their bodies back into the sensuous grinding; this time heated members fully exposed and sliding together delightfully. He could feel pre cum, his and ‘Kai‘s, slicking between their bellies. " I ain't got any problems with you wanting some, Sweetness, but this is a little extreme. At least for you. What's got you so tense that you're ready to tear my dick off?"

There was a spluttering from Hakkai, who apparently couldn't suppress his laughter at Gojyo's off color comment, or control his soft moans as his cock was pressed and rubbed. “ I’m sorry, Gojyo, uh- I -ughn- it’s just been -ah- awhile.” For the first time the youkai seemed embarrassed by their sexual situation.

Gojyo reviewed the past few weeks and was surprised to realize that it had been a month and a half since their last rendezvous. He had been busy at the bars and Hakkai had gained a record number of students keeping them both occupied during the previous days, and while Gojyo had been tempted to play with his roommate the brunette had always either been asleep or simply appeared too worn out to engage in anything randy. The kappa was feeling curious and more than a little guilty for having ignored his best friend's needs for so long. Just because the man refuses to act like a bitch in heat, like me, doesn't mean he wants to go without. " Oi, 'Kai, have you been wanting to do something lately?" He stilled his movements, keeping the man close, but not grinding.

" Well,- that is-"

" Why didn't you just ask me?"

" I didn't want to presume and I thought you were quite satisfied with your other encounters. "

// To know you
Is to love you //

Gojyo rolled his eyes in affectionate exasperation and lavished the slim neck with wet kisses. When he pulled back, crimson met emerald. " Anytime you want a little action, Sweetness, just tell me. You know me, I'm always up for it."

" I'll keep that in mind." Hakkai breathed heavily into the kappa's ear, stirring strands of red silk with his hot breath. " And since it has been confirmed that we are both in need, then shall we get to it?"

" That's what I'm talkin' 'bout, 'Kai!" Gojyo whooped and went back to his manhandling with renewed vigor. Hakkai may have been hesitant about bringing the subject up, but once it was out there he didn't waste a second on being demure. Lips, teeth and tongue fought for dominance as soft material bunched around their chests, the backs of the shirts creating swags to protect bared skin. Swollen flesh, deep red and purple, moved even faster between them, thrusting aggressively through the sheen of sweat and pre cum. Every other stroke bumped the head of his cock into the wrinkles of their shirts, cloth tickling the weeping slit. So slick, so hot, so gooooood... Gojyo's brain rambled where his mouth remained silent in its quest to suck the very breath from the other man's body.

// I looked into your eyes
And my world came tumbling down //

Wiggling against the rough bark, the kappa tried to work his way fully into the awkward position. Their little patch of flora was visually searched between kisses and the kappa discovered a limb running parallel with the one they were using. Time for some adjustments. Gojyo made sure his back was pushed firmly against the tree and his left foot planted on the branch beneath him before moving his other foot to the new limb. His boot inched its was along the higher ledge until his heel met a vertical split in the wood. Gojyo tested his weight on the protruding limb, digging his boot into the bark, daring the wood to crack, but it refused to budge and the kappa settled his body. It was far from the most comfortable spot, but it had the advantage of opening his thighs just enough to cradle the other man's body. Gojyo grew dizzy from the increased contact of intimate flesh.

// You're the devil in disguise
That's why I'm singing this song to you //

The red head was vaguely aware of a dull ache beginning beneath the cast, but he paid the arm only enough attention to make sure the harsh plaster wasn't making Hakkai uncomfortable; namely to keep a layer of cloth between the youkai's skin and the cast. And don't press too tightly. You've got a good hand to do that for you. A deep throated moan affirmed Gojyo's ability to effectively grope the ivory curves one handed, keeping time with the brunette's strong thrusts. That's right. This 's good.

Grind, thrust, squirm. Gasp. The sequence repeated itself endlessly and Gojyo soon forgot anything that did not involve electric sensations screaming through his body. Of course, in the back of his mind the kappa knew climax was inevitable and not too far off, but the long moments of heated sighs and pressed flesh seemed to coalesce and slow until they hung suspended in warm honey colored sunlight and whispering leaves. Poetry in the middle of fucking? I'm getting good at this! Gojyo smirked through the ongoing kiss, lips twisted slightly, angling his nose to brush against his partner's cheek. A brief inhale brought the much loved scent of ginger vanilla, a tinge of sweat and tea; the familiar aura of 'Kai. He murmured incoherently, unsure himself what he meant to say.

// To know you
Is to love you //

Suddenly Hakkai broke the mouth contact, pulling away gasping before burying his face into the crook of Gojyo's neck and shoulder. The kappa felt a set of hunter's enamels sink into the large muscle, not enough to hurt but he knew he would be sporting a rather obvious mark within a few hours. The brunette slammed his hips forward, disregarding any bruises that were sure to arise, and tightened his grip on the red head's rear. Gojyo lost all intelligent thought and simply moved his body to meet the other man's.

Once, twice then Hakkai was keening, his cry soft and long and it had to be the most erotic sound the kappa had ever heard. Liquid heat covered Gojyo's skin as the breath left the youkai. Gojyo grit his teeth, eyes squeezed shut, as the brunette's arms locked around him, holding him in place as orgasm racked his frame. The red head continued to writhe in Hakkai's grasp, the extra slickness enhancing his own impending climax. Gojyo could feel it, the weight in his stomach, the tightening of his balls as his entire being was drawn into one throbbing point at the base of his cock before spiraling outwards in a rush of molten white.

Gojyo released a heartfelt groan. His cast arm fell away from the warm body, thudding unnoticed against the tree trunk. Oh shit oh shit ohhhhhhhhhhh.....shit. The red head trembled for several more moments, the shivers a delicious counterpoint to Hakkai's ragged panting. Crimson lashes fluttered open, framing the lovely view; the forest blurred by amber light, soil and leaf flotsam floating in the still air and sparkling like gems under the setting sun, rivulets of sweat trickling down a pale throat.

" Mmmm... That was different." Hakkai was the first to speak. His head lolled back, one hand reaching for the lined bark for balance, the other smoothing along a tan hip.

Gojyo took a moment to gaze into the man's lazy lidded eyes, the right a slightly duller shade of celadon and not quite as focused as the left. He never ceased to be fascinated by the subtle variance. " Different is good, right?" The pain in his arm was increasing; he had definitely overdone it. Seems like every time 'Kai and me get it on there's some collateral damage involved. A little pain mixed in with the pleasure, but he makes it totally worth it. Gojyo drew his free hand up the youkai's back, petting the sweaty skin.

" Absolutely." The brunette replied as he fished around in a back pocket. A large handkerchief was produced and Hakkai carefully moved away from his partner.

Gojyo watched in satiated silence as the other man peeled their sticky clothing away from their bodies, using the over sized square of slate colored material to remove the creamy smears covering their torsos. Generally, the kappa was the one who took it upon himself to clean up; usually licking away errant streaks of cum or utilizing the small hand towel kept in the night stand for that purpose. This was different, as the demon had stated earlier. It feels nice. Maybe I should let Sweetness take care of me more often- uh... Damnit. He had barely finished the thought before the guilt swamped him. Gojyo would never admit it to his roommate, but while the reason he had started sleeping with the dark headed man was purely hormone driven, the reason the kappa made sure Hakkai was completely pampered during their encounters since then was guilt. He felt he needed to give something back to the youkai who had cleaned and cooked and looked after him for nearly two years.

Of course, the reason Hakkai did those things was, in part, because he felt he owed the half breed for saving his life and taking him in. The dark irony did not escape Gojyo. 'Kai feels bad so he cleans, then I feel bad so I suck his cock, then he feels bad again because he " didn't do more". That's quite a vicious circle we've got going. He realized Hakkai had finished restoring them both to some semblance of order, his handkerchief once again folded neatly and tucked into a back pocket. The kappa abandoned his gloomy thoughts, lest the clever brunette figure him out and become despondent in kind.

Slender fingers replaced softened flesh in its denim protection, the slightly damp shirt was tugged down to cover the cooling body. Gojyo returned the favor, though the kappa had difficulty pushing the buttons through their holes with just one hand. It was so much easier to get them undone. Gojyo lamented quietly until the youkai noticed his predicament and offered his own set of digits. Light kisses and nuzzles were exchanged throughout the redressing process.

// You're everywhere I go
And everybody knows //


Too soon, at least in Gojyo's opinion, the two men were fully clothed, heartbeats returned to normal, no evidence of their activities except for a few wet spots( easily passable as spills from the creek) and an intense lethargy that followed every satisfying bout of sex. The kappa stretched his lean body, bringing both feet back to the heavier limb, and pushing away from the trunk. His back felt raw and Gojyo knew there would be impressions and scratches from the bark.

// I pay for you with tears
And swallow all my pride //

Hakkai spoke first. " Sanzo is most likely wondering where we are."

" Just because he's had to deal with the monkey on his own for a while." Gojyo retorted, carefully picking a stray pine needle from the youkai's coffee colored locks. " Unless Goku's been chasing that rabbit the entire time, in which case, I feel sorry for the rabbit, but Sanzo- sama would've had some peace and quiet. " An evil smirk suddenly stretched one side of the handsome face. " In which case, we should get back to irritate the piss outta that prick. "

" Gojyo." Hakkai's voice was full of reprimand, but his eyes shone with humor. Always a contradiction, the dark haired youkai. He reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out the small monocle and put it in place. Head tilted towards the west, the setting sun reflected in the circle of glass, obscuring the lovely eye behind it.
Hakkai sent a smile in his companion's direction. " Shall we go?"

// Dah-dah-dah-de dah-de-dah-de dah dah dah-dah-dum
Beautiful stranger //

The kappa smothered a grimace as he moved his injured arm, hiding the pain with a similar smile. Gojyo bowed and swept the cast to the side. " After you, Sweetness. "

// Dah-dah-dah-de dah-de-dah-de dah dah dah-dah-dum
Beautiful stranger....//

TBC...