Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Shades of Time ❯ Hard Questions ( Chapter 15 )

 

Goku came bounding out of the inn as soon as Hakkai and Rei pulled up. Anya followed him at a much slower pace along with Mai and Gojyo of all people bringing up the rear of the little parade. Rei started handing them grocery bags and shooed them all to the kitchen.

 

Rei shook her head and grabbed two more bags, Hakkai getting the last of them. “You know, I wonder if Anya actually found any mushrooms yesterday or if she was interrupted by the village idiots before managing to locate any?”

 

“I've no idea. We didn't notice any lying around while we were there so I suppose not. Though if she's planning on going out to look for more I'd suggest taking someone with her.”

 

“Oh, I wasn't planning on letting her go alone. Not after yesterday. I suppose Goku could go with her,” Rei said smiling a little.

 

“They do seem to like eachother quite a bit,” Hakkai said, pushing the door open with his shoulder and letting Rei in before him.

 

Sanzo caught Hakkai's attention as he was coming through the door after Rei. The expression on his face clearly said “get your ass over here”. Hakkai nodded, lifting the groceries a little indicating he'd join him as soon as they were put away. Sanzo leaned back in the chair and put his cigarette out in the ashtray as he watched Hakkai go into the kitchen and Gojyo come out of it. Gojyo sauntered over to the table and plopped down in the seat next to Sanzo.

 

“Man, if Hakkai doesn't nail the redhead soon, I'm going to,” he said, lighting a smoke.

 

Sanzo snorted. “She'd probably cut your dick off before you got it anywhere near her.”

 

Gojyo blew out a plume of smoke and grinned a little. “Probably. You get the feeling you know her from somewhere?”

 

“Yes,” Sanzo said tersely. “There's something about her that I can't put my finger on but it's there.”

 

“Eh, don't sweat it.”

 

“Hardly,” Sanzo snorted. “She gets on my last fucking nerve.”

 

“Of course she does,” Hakkai said, coming to the table and sitting down. “She manipulated you into getting four rooms at her establishment instead of one. So, what's the trouble aside from the standard fare?”

 

Sanzo related what Anya had told him to Hakkai and Gojyo between drags on the cigarette he had just lit.

 

“That certainly is . . . odd. I wonder what it means,” Hakkai said thoughtfully. “It can't be mere coincidence because nothing on this journey has been.”

 

“See what you can find out about it from your girlfriend, Hakkai,” Sanzo said, standing up and snagging the paper he headed to his room.

 

Hakkai blinked and stared after him for a moment before turning a puzzled look on Gojyo. “My girlfriend?”

 

Gojyo banged his forehead on the tabletop. “Gods, Hakkai, there are days I worry about you, man. He means Rei.”

 

“Oh. But . . .”

 

“Right. Sure. Totally believing you,” Gojyo said grinning.

 

“Gojyo, you know I can't stay here with her. I have to finish out this journey with you, Sanzo and Goku. Let's face it, there isn't any guarantee, even if we do manage to stop the resurrection, that any of us are coming out of it alive.”

 

“All the more reason to take things the way you find `em.”

 

“She isn't that kind of person.”

 

“Yeah. I know. She's more the marrying kind,” Gojyo said, looking askance at his friend. “Then again, so are you.”

 

Hakkai looked up from his tea, mildly startled. “What do you mean?”

 

“I think you know what I mean. You would have married Kanan if you could have, right?”

 

“Yes. That's certainly true,” Hakkai said. His mind suddenly turning to Kanan and what had been said concerning her earlier that day. “Gojyo, I'd like your full and honest opinion about something.”

 

“Sure,” Gojyo said, sitting up in the chair a little straighter. It was rare that Hakkai was this serious concerning an opinion and the least he could do was take it seriously and pay attention.

 

“Do you think . . .” Hakkai paused, trying to force himself to say what was on his mind. “Do you think that Kanan was a coward for killing herself?”

 

Gojyo paused, seeming to reflect on the question for a moment before saying. “Mind blowingly so.”

 

Hakkai's eyes widened a little as he stared at his friend. “But you never said anything about it before.”

 

“You never asked before. And let's face it, you weren't even remotely stable enough to handle that kind of criticism of her for ages,” Gojyo said with a shrug. “Maybe you still aren't but the idea obviously isn't off the charts weird for you or you wouldn't have brought it up. Right?”

 

“I suppose so. Do you really think that of her?”

 

“Look, I never met her so I couldn't be any kind of character witness. But I think deep sixing herself in front of you after you'd killed a thousand demons to get to her was just fucking cruel. Sorry, man. You asked. I answered.”

 

Hakkai nodded. “Yes. Yes, I did ask. I think I'm going to my room for a little while. I don't feel at all well just now,” he said, getting up and making his way to the stairs.

 

Gojyo leaned the chair back until it was balanced on two legs, watching Hakkai go up the stairs slowly.

 

“I'll bet you don't feel well if you're realizing that about her,” Gojyo said, shaking his head.