Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Take it or Leave it ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Notes: This is based off an RP a friend and I did one day and loved. Because it's based off an RP, this story is short on descriptions and loaded with dialogue (the opposite of my usual writing style), and if I had tried to put in descriptions, it would be insanely longer than it already is. When we were doing it, I was Sanzo and Goku, she Hakkai and Gojyo. Humor abounds, and it turns surprisingly sweet when the yaoi comes into play. Hopefully it's not OOC, because I do believe Sanzo has feelings, and Gojyo isn't a full-time asshole ^_^

Disclaimer: ::sigh:: No...they're not mine. If they were, believe me, you'd know >_>;

Warnings: Yaoi, content of the citrusy kind, mild violence, typical bad language, maybe some sap/fluff/angst. Yeah. Don't flame if it's over something I've warned you about, ’kay? Don't like it, don't read; simple as that.


Take it or Leave it

Chapter One

"It's hot," The whine broke the temporary silence, Gojyo lounging listlessly in the back of Hakuryuu and apparently no longer capable of holding it back. Sanzo made a slight face that Hakkai smiled at.

"Sanzo, I'm HUNGRY," Goku spouted loudly, and quite frankly, predictably. Gojyo smirked as he knew what was coming next, and sure enough-

WHACK! "Shut up!"

"OWWWWWW!"

Sanzo stared at Goku' pained golden eyes impassively for a moment before turning back in his seat.

Gojyo glared at Goku. "Stop being so loud, monkey."

Hakkai continued to drive quietly, chuckling softly at their words, and earning a look of exasperation from Sanzo.

"I'm not a monkey you damn cockroach!"

Sanzo twitched slightly at them starting up again.

"Are too. Get me a beer."

At that Goku bristled. "Get your own damn beer!"

Sanzo twitched again.

Gojyo glared at the monkey and sprawled out, smacking Goku in the face. "Ow! That's it!" Goku growled and jumped at Gojyo, attacking him.

"Ah, ya damn parasite! Get off me!"

Hakkai winced, knowing that Sanzo was about to crack. Gojyo and Goku froze as they heard the safety switch off of Sanzo's Smith and Wesson. "I thought I fucking told you to SHUT UP!"

Gojyo yelped as Sanzo fired past their heads. "C'mon Sanzo, you didn't have to do that!"

Goku looked at Gojyo as if he were nuts to do such a thing as chastize Sanzo, and looked back at the monk to see the vein in his forehead throb.
Sanzo glared a moment before turning around once more and settling with a huff. "I think I did."

Gojyo scowled, and after allowing the token two minutes of sustained silence, leered sideways at Goku, who shot him a dirty look and stuck out his tongue. Gojyo took a sip of beer with a dramatic, pleased sigh.

"Hey, I want some."

"This isn't for little kids."

Goku whined and went into a small triad of complaints, one that was promptly ended when Sanzo snapped, "Can it monkey," and glared. "You don't get any."

Goku sulked at Sanzo's words and Gojyo smirked at him.

"At least I'm not cockroach," Goku sneered.

"Well, I'm not either, what a coincidence."

Hakkai laughed to himself at that. Sanzo's lip curled.

"What do you know, you stupid pervey kappa?"

"You're just jealous, 'cause I can get some and you can't." Gojyo flipped his hair cockily. Goku gave him a look and tried to hide his confusion.

"Kappa," Sanzo growled in a low, warning tone.

"What? I didn't say anything."

Sanzo glared and Goku watched the new exchange, amused.

"Come on, like you aren’t thinkin' the same thing," Gojyo continued, "Chimpie here talks like he's the shit."

"HEY!" Goku flared up angrily, and Sanzo twitched again.

"Stupid monkey," Gojyo took another gulp of beer, and Goku made to say something but was cowed moments later by the glower Sanzo sent his way. Gojyo grinned at Goku, who growled.

Sanzo rounded on Gojyo once more. "Stop instigating or I'll add another hole to that empty head of yours!"

"A wha-" Gojyo stammered slightly, "Hey!"

Sanzo stared at the indignant kappa, pokerfaced. "Yes, definitely empty."

Gojyo glared. "Listen monk, just because you've got that stupid gun, you think you can mouth off-"

"Yes, I do," Sanzo smirked. Goku continued to watch with interest, whipping his head back and forth between the two as if he were at a tennis match. Gojyo glared again.

"Just because you're a damn monk..."

Sanzo furrowed his brow. "What does that have to do with anything, dumbass?"

"I mean with your kick-ass little scripture. It's just a piece of paper. Someone could get at it with a marker, and BOOM."

Sanzo sneered, whipped out his gun again, and cocked it. "What was that?"

Goku was flat out smiling now. It wasn't often he got to see a show like this. Gojyo twitched at the familiar, yet still frightening threat, but kept his glare. "You gonna shoot me monk?"

Sanzo's eyes narrowed. "Just give me a reason."

Gojyo grinned, "Does this ugly monkey count as a reason?"

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING-"

BANG

Gojyo sat shocked for a moment before he winced and clutched at the graze on his cheek. "DAMN IT!! How am I gonna get a chick tonight if I've got a scratched up face?"

Sanzo settled back into his seat and pushed his hands into his sleeves."How would you have gotten one anyways with that face?"

"I get more than you, you damn crazy monk." He folded his arms and leaned back.

Sanzo snorted. "Like I even care."

"You wouldn't even know what to do with one. Girls are against your religion but you still drink and smoke like the devil," Gojyo mumbled.

At that, Sanzo whipped his harisen seemingly out of thin air and whacked Gojyo upside the head. "Don't mumble. It makes you sound even more like an idiot than you already are."

"God, stop hitting me or people will think you like me or something," Gojyo spat.

Sanzo's temper flared to dangerous new levels and Goku situated himself as far from Gojyo as possible in the back seat as the monk said in a low, deadly voice, "What was that?"

"Which is not good, 'cause being gay scares most girls," Gojyo continued, "Maybe that's why no one likes you."

"Ah, Gojyo," Hakkai cut in, watching the air around Sanzo practically sizzle and hearing his knuckles crack, "I think it's time for you to stop."

Gojyo noticed the vein in Sanzo's forehead was much more prominent now. "He seriously gets mad about the dumbest stuff."

Sanzo shook in silent fury before hissing in a surprisingly steady voice, "You have a death wish..."

"Aa ha ha...ha," Hakkai laughed uncomfortably and twitched a little, "Oh look, we're almost there; You can see the town from here."

Gojyo sat up straighter. "GOOD, I'm out of beer."

Sanzo continued to seethe, showing a very unusual amount of willpower.

"That means we can EAT!" Goku chirped happily.

Hakkai glanced sideways at the monk. "It's not worth it Sanzo," He said quietly before the peanut gallery started up once more.

"All you think about is food, you dumb chimp."

"It is not! And I'm not a chimp dammit!"

"Says you," Sanzo quipped in a low growl as Gojyo flicked Goku's nose and their argument continued.

"Would you like a banana?"

"Yeah, I--HEY!" Gojyo chuckled at Goku's slip. "You jerk!"

Hakkai nearly sighed in relief as they pulled into town. Sanzo was out of the jeep before Hakkai had stopped, and they others followed, Hakuryuu back in dragon form and resting on his master's shoulder. They made their way down the road, Sanzo pushing moodily through the people in the way, earning himself a few dirty looks and curious double-takes. He could have cared less. Goku began jabbering about everything he wanted to eat.

"I'm going to find an inn and pick up some supplies." Hakkai said and looked expectanly at his blonde companion. Sanzo mutely passed the gold card to Hakkai, the vein in his forehead still pulsating. Hakkai managed a small smile, and turning said, "Coming Goku?"

"Yeah! Can we get some meat buns? I know I saw a cart a minute ago," Hakkai laughed as Goku continued to chatter as they made there way through the crowd. Gojyo hadn't really even noticed they had left and continued to trail a bit behind Sanzo.

Sanzo finally began to calm slightly in the silence and pulled out a cigarette, fumbling for his lighter. Gojyo offered him a light, a bit amused as Sanzo glared with excess venom but accepted nonetheless. Sanzo took a drag and closed his eyes, the nicotine pacifying him some.

Gojyo sighed. "Amazingly there doesn't seem to be a demon problem so far."

"Tch. With our luck one will appear in a minute or two."

Gojyo smirked and shrugged. "Let's enjoy it while it lasts then. C'mon, I want a beer."

"Nn," Sanzo grunted indifferently, but followed Gojyo just the same. They walked a ways down the road, Sanzo noting with irritation that the sky was darkening with the threat of rain. "Perfect," he grumbled.

They found a small bar with rotting steps and a creaking sign too faded to read, and pushed their way up to the bar, grabbing a couple of stools. Gojyo got the beers and slid one over to Sanzo who accepted it and took a gulp with relish. “I needed that," he muttered to no one in particular.

Gojyo looked at him out of the corner of his eye for a moment. "Hey, I'm sorry if I kinda did go too far in the jeep..." He twiddled with his hair a bit, taking a bigger swig than Sanzo with a teasing grin. Sanzo gave him a withering stare.

"You're not really sorry."

"Well, you pissed me off, messing up my beautiful face. It's not for me, you know."

"You were asking for it. I delivered." Sanzo took another swig.

"Yeah, and you need to work on caging the rage buddy. All that stress is gonna give you an ulcer one of these days."

"Is it my fault I'm surrounded by idiots?" Sanzo grumbled, "Daily demon attacks don't exactly help either. It's a wonder we ever have a chance to sleep."

"We're not that bad. If you couldn't stand us you'd have left a long time ago."

Sanzo stared into his glass, not having an answer.

A small clap of thunder shook the windows as rain started to spatter the ground and all the stragglers outside began running for cover. Gojyo looked outside with a blank expression as Sanzo tensed, tried to hide it, and grew angry with himself that he had reacted in the first place. He scowled into the contents of his glass.

Gojyo suddenly stood, and dropped some money on the bar for their drinks. "Sorry we piss you off so much. Catch ya later." Sanzo watched him, a little stunned, as he turned to go.

"What-" Sanzo winced and was cut off as the thunder rolled outside again and the rain picked up.

"I'm going for a walk," Gojyo said quietly.

"Don't be stupid, you'll get soaked."

Gojyo stopped and turned back a little at Sanzo's low voice. The blonde was sipping his beer, eyes downcast as Gojyo looked at him, a red eyebrow raised. Sanzo avoided his gaze and, cursing himself, once more flinched as the rain raged louder still. "It wouldn't do anyone any good," he added quietly before taking another gulp of his beer. Gojyo looked back out at the rain.

"Why'd it have to start now...?"

"Because somebody has a sick sense of humor," Sanzo muttered.

"At least it's not so damn hot anymore," Gojyo said as he sat back down, studying Sanzo from the corner of his eye as the blonde pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead in slight agitation at the weather.

"I think I'd rather have the heat." he took another swig, drained his glass, and got another.

Gojyo shrugged, "As long as the demons wait until it clears up to pick a fight."

Sanzo snorted into his mug as Gojyo ordered another drink. They both sipped quietly, fending off memories that begged to surface in the absence of something else to focus on and brought on by the storm outside. Minutes passed, and Sanzo moved on to his third drink, starting to down it with a shaky hand.

"I hate silence," Gojyo blurted, "They need to play music in these places or something." He pulled out a deck of cards and began shuffling them in a bored fashion.

Sanzo glanced at his moving hands briefly. "Up for a game?"

Gojyo smirked, glad for the diversion, "Always. How's Black Jack?"

Sanzo's lips twitched as he finished off his third beer. "Sounds good."

Gojyo began to deal. "How about a friendly little bet?"

Sanzo raised an eyebrow, "What did you have in mind?" He started on his forth drink.

"Hmm, loser buys the drinks," he said as he started on his third beer.

Sanzo smirked."You're on."

Gojyo grinned impishly when he saw his hand, Sanzo staring back at him, unmoving after looking at his own cards. "Hit or stay?" Gojyo drawled.

A small smile pulled at the corners of Sanzo's mouth. "Stay,"

"Me too," He threw down his cards, "I got twenty."

Sanzo snickered and showed his hand, "Twenty."

"Dammit," Gojyo pouted, "Round two, drinks and Goku's next meal," He smirked.

Sanzo, a bit buzzed now, grinned, started another drink, and raised a pale eyebrow. "Sure you have that much?"

"I won't need that much." He grinned again and dealt.

Sanzo glanced at his hand. Gojyo hit and said, "Okay, show."

"Eighteen."

Gojyo's jaw dropped along with his own hand of eighteen as Sanzo snorted into his mug again. Gojyo downed the rest of his drink and quickly got another.

"Up the stakes," He said as he shuffled. Sanzo nodded in consent, looking thoughtful. "Well?" Gojyo pressed after a few moments.

"The drinks, Goku's next meal, and has to share the room with Goku at the next inn low on space."

"Awwwww, hell no!"

Sanzo smirked. "Chicken,"

Gojyo growled and took another large gulp of his drink, "Damn it!" He dealt, Sanzo chuckling as he took his cards. Gojyo stayed, and Sanzo hit. "Ready?"

"Yup."

"Twenty-one," Gojyo smiled, "Beat that."

Sanzo stared at Gojyo's cards for a long moment.

Gojyo gaped, "You're kidding!"

"This is fucked up," Sanzo threw down his cards.

"What the hell is wrong with these cards? Here, you shuffle," Gojyo pushed the cards at Sanzo and started on his seventh beer (but who's counting). Sanzo finished his own beer and shuffled idly for a moment, before satting the cards down and looking at Gojyo over the rim of his new drink as he took a sip.

"So what'll it be?" He set his mug back down and dealt the cards.

Gojyo rubbed his forehead. "Oh, Gods. Drinks, Goku's next meal, shares a room with the chimp and...uh..." Sanzo watched him struggle, amused, until a grin spread across Gojyo's face, his hand on his forehead covering his eyes. Sanzo raised an eyebrow. "And you can't lash out irrationally for a week." Sanzo's eyes narrowed dangerously as Gojyo drummed his fingers on the bar.

"Fine," Sanzo glared as he picked up his cards, "I won't lash out without reason. With you around there should be plenty of reason." Gojyo sweatdropped, amazingly held his tongue, and hit twice as Sanzo stayed. A tense, silent pause passed between them.

"Ready?"

Sanzo nodded. "Nineteen."

Gojyo's head dropped with a thud on the bar, letting his cards show. Nineteen. Sanzo shook with silent laughter as Gojyo moaned.

"This can't be happening," he sat back up and shook his head in disbelief, "Someone up there's messing with us,"

"This comes as a surprise to you?"

"Okay," Gojyo took a large drink, "Again. I'm not stopping 'till I win."

Sanzo smirked at that. "You're on," He began shuffling again, stilling a moment later, thinking thoughtfully about the next addition to the bet and nursing his beer. Gojyo frowned slightly, studying Sanzo's expression.

"Okay, so everything we just said plus...?"

Sanzo paused and smiled slightly as an idea struck. "No women for a week."

Gojyo stammered. "No CHICKS?! Have you gone mad?" Sanzo drank quietly with a smug expression.

"Take it or leave it," He dealt the cards and looked back at him, "Well?"

"Ahhh, you're going down," Gojyo declared as he took his cards.

"We'll see," Sanzo muttered as they both hit. "Show."

"Nineteen again."

The moment the word had left his mouth, something happened that Gojyo had never expected in his life was possible; Sanzo laughed. Sanzo actually laughed. Gojyo looked as if he were about to cry for a moment, torn between humor and agitation before sighing and resolutely pulling out a cigarette and lighting up. He flicked his gaze back to the blonde who had a hand over his eyes, still shaking slightly with laughter, and watched him with a small smile tugging at his lips.

"You're laughing," At the soft, wondering statement, Sanzo cleared his throat, a bit red in the face, and composed himself. "This would happen when I play with you." Gojyo continued.

Sanzo began shuffling again. "It would," He began dealing, "What'll it be?"

Sanzo took another drink as Gojyo rubbed his forehead, starting to feel the alcohol, and said "Add on you gotta snog a dude, of your choice."

Sanzo choked. "Excuse me?" Gojyo raised his eyebrows. Sanzo reddened slightly and looked flustered.

"Might as well be chimpo since you're sleepin' with him," Gojyo added as he took another drink. The glass in Sanzo's hand cracked and Gojyo chuckled. "I'll hit."

Sanzo glared at him, resolved, and muttered, "Fine" as he gave Gojyo his hit.

Gojyo grinned, a bit tipsy now and starting to feel brave as he began believing they'd tie every time. "I'll stay at twenty." He threw down his cards and took another swig. Sanzo dropped his twenty on top of Gojyo's with a smirk. The red head blinked down at the cards. "Aw, this is messed up. I've had it."

"Backing out are we?"

Gojyo pulled a pair of dice out of his pocket. "Not on your life. Feel like finishing up," he shook the dice in his hand slightly, "Or sticking to cards?"

"Do what you like," Sanzo was feeling a bit too buzzed to particularly care and took another drink.

"You up it this time buddy,"

Sanzo pondered vaguely. "No cigarettes. For a month."

"I'll raise that to no cigs or booze for a month," Gojyo said after finishing off his mug. Sanzo downed his drink with relish in turn.

"I'm game."

Gojyo slammed down his mug. "You ready?" His speech was slightly slurred.

Sanzo chuckled. "Just throw the dice dumbass."

"All RIGHT!" Gojyo rolled his arm like a baseball player winding up for a pitch, earning himself a look or two. "I call evens!" Gojyo released the dice and as they clattered onto the bar and covered them with his hand. "Moment of truth," He lifted his hand, revealing a seven. "...Fuck." Gojyo laid his head on the bar muttering and looking as ill as he suddenly felt.

Sanzo found it difficult to restrain a grin."Sucks for you," he slurred, laughing into his mug, "Pay up sucker."

Gojyo pulled out his wallet and paid for the close to thirty drinks they'd both had between them that night, Sanzo looking quite pleased with himself.

"Got enough left for Goku's next meal?"

"Just shut up you damn monk." He ignored Sanzo as he snickered. "Go find a cage to lock me in."

In an unusually good mood, Sanzo asked teasingly, "Where's the fun in that?"

Gojyo sighed in defeat."Let's just find the others."

"Don't forget the rest of the bet," Sanzo stood and staggered slightly, "If Hakkai only got two rooms you're sleeping with the little monster."

"I know, I know..." They made there way back outside. Thankfully the rain had stopped, but the sky was still darkened by cloud cover; the break in the storm most likely a brief reprieve at most. Gojyo was still muttering to himself. "No chicks, no smokes, no liquor..."

Sanzo, pleasantly buzzed, walked sedately next to Gojyo. Gojyo tried to ignore the part of the bet about kissing a dude, hoping that Sanzo was too drunk to remember--even if it was a long shot. He pouted and shoved his hands into his pockets, trying not to look at the girls. Sanzo started sniggering. Gojyo ignored him.

"We need to find you a boyfriend too."

Gojyo's eyes widened, "Hell no!"

"Unless I'm mistaken, you're the one that added that to the bet.

"Ooooohhhhh," Gojyo moaned, "Find me one that looks a hell of a lot like a chick then."

Sanzo glanced at the people walking past. "Good luck,"

"God DAMMIT!"

Sanzo chuckled. "Not one pretty face. Too bad."

At that moment, Hakkai and Goku walked up beside them, laden with supplies. Hakkai turned to them both in turn, frowning slightly before deciding on a half smile. "What's wrong with Gojyo...? And Sanzo, you look pretty, uh, happy." Sanzo smirked, satisfied, in response.

Goku rushed forward. "SANZO! Guess what Hakkai got me--" and went off on a tangent about food, chattering inanely. Gojyo glared.

"You'd sure as hell had better not be hungry the next time we eat."

Sanzo snorted.

Goku stared at Gojyo as if he were crazy. "Man, you're weird. Why wouldn't I be hungry?"

"Hakkai," Sanzo cut in, "How many rooms did you get?"

Gojyo wanted to die. "Sanzo, just get that stupid gun out and shoot me, okay? Right in the head."

"That's cheating,"

"Not if I really piss you off," Even as he said it, he felt a number of ideas forming in his mind of all the ways he could make the priest angry enough to pull his gun on him.

"And it's not amusing in the slightest either," Sanzo continued, "It's much more fun if you live."

Goku stared at the monk. "What's with Sanzo? He's acting kinda funny,"

Sanzo looked up and noticed Hakkai staring too. "What?"

Hakkai came back to himself and remembered Sanzo's earlier question. "Oh, uh the rooms? They were a bit short due to the festival going on right now, so I got tw--"

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Gojyo fell to his knees in the road, passersby staring, as Sanzo burst into a fit of laughter, scaring everyone. Hakkai looked politely confused and sweat-dropped.

"HOLY CRAP!" Goku yelled, "Sanzo can laugh?"

Gojyo continued to sob in the mud. "Why is this happening to meeee?"

Goku looked between the two, bewildered. "What's going on?"

"Indeed Sanzo," Hakkai said, "I agree with Goku...what the hell?"

Still laughing weakly, Sanzo turned to Hakkai. "Let's just say Gojyo lost one hell of a bet."

"...I see."

"You're drunk, aren’t you?" Goku interjected, frowning.

Sanzo rearranged his features to something more dignified. "Obviously,"

"Let's just get this over with," Gojyo groaned, pulling himself back up and heading down the road again, mumbling to himself. "At least it's no chicks for just a week...yeah, that'll make up for the smokes and booze...ugh, a month starting today."

Goku started laughing. "No wonder Sanzo's so happy,"

Sanzo walked in a happy silence, Goku following his lead and Hakkai deciding that it was better not to get involved. They reached the inn, a slightly nicer building than the sort they had seen since they arrived in this town, and Gojyo followed Goku down the hall like a condemned prisoner.

"Why are you following me?"

"I'm rooming with you kid,"

Goku grimaced."Great."

Gojyo felt too defeated to make a smart remark or snap at him to shut up as Goku disappeared inside the room. Sanzo followed Hakkai to the next door, and gave Gojyo a sarcastic wave. "Make sure Goku doesn't eat the pillow."

"Can it, you renegade priest. I've had just about had it with your little jabs at my already wounded pride!"

Sanzo looked at him bemused, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, cause you're drunk off your ass. You're too plastered to even know who you're rooming with. I could put you with the monkey and you'd never even know."

Sanzo glared at him, Hakkai watching from the doorway knowing better than to get into the middle of it. "Don't even try it kappa. I'm not that drunk." Sanzo wondered to himself silently if that was really true.

Gojyo stepped up to him. "Oh YEAH?" Sanzo stared at him evenly through the haze of alcohol. Gojyo's own eyes were red from liquor, but he couldn't care at the moment. He was pissed as hell. "C'mon, shoot me now and this'll all be over. I can't live through this."

Sanzo smirked at him. "Not on your life,"

"Bet I could make you shoot me."

"Tch. Yeah right. Seeing as how your luck with bets lately is nonexistent, I highly doubt that."

Gojyo's eyes narrowed and he sneered. Sanzo had fallen right for the bait.

Gojyo reached out and gripped either side of Sanzo's head, pulling his face up to meet his own and kissed him, parting his lips forcibly with his tongue and attacking with every skill he possessed, which in truth was quite a lot.

Sanzo froze in shock, his eyes wide in horror as he jerked in Gojyo's grasp, sandaled feet scuffling against the wood floor. Hakkai darted over towards the door of the room Goku and Gojyo were to share, shut the door, and stayed put so Goku couldn't see anything as he stared himself in wide-eyed silence, preparing himself for the explosion that would surely follow.

After a moment, Gojyo stepped back and licked his lips. "Well, that part's over with now, whether you shoot me or not, asshole."

Sanzo still stood like a deer in the headlights, face a brilliant crimson, and began mouthing soundlessly.

Gojyo raised an eyebrow.

Sanzo snapped.

Snarling feraly, he leapt at Gojyo, eyes wild, "You fucking bastard!!!"

Gojyo stood his ground, only hoping that the blow killed him as Sanzo knocked him over and sent them tumbling down the hall. Gojyo yelped as he fell back against an end table at the end of the hall and fell, Sanzo bearing down upon him before he could regain his feet. Pale hands closed around Gojyo's throat.

"You. Fucking. BASTARD!"

Hakkai continued to watch in a stupor, inanely thinking something about a battered housewife. Gojyo choked, his hands pulling at Sanzo's in an attempt to pry them off his throat. Goku, not deaf by a long shot, had opened the door long ago and was now trying to peer around Hakkai and watch the show.

"How DARE you--" Gojyo tried to say something in return and only managed something incoherent as Sanzo continued trying to properly articulate his anger, which at the moment he really couldn't. "You--you--"

Gojyo managed a smirk. "You liked it--" he gasped for air, "--That much, huh?" Gojyo managed to swing a foot underneath Sanzo and knock him over. The monk was momentarily stunned by the blow and scrambled to his feet as Gojyo rubbed his neck. "That hurt you faggot."

Sanzo twitched and rounded on Gojyo again, anger once more at full blast as he pulled out his gun and cocked it. Gojyo stared down the barrel for a moment before looking into Sanzo's furious eyes and stuck out his tongue. Sanzo narrowed his eyes at the gesture and aimed his gun...lower.

Gojyo twitched."Oh, you sick bastard," He leapt out of the line of fire a moment before Sanzo fired, and kept firing, Gojyo jumping away from each shot, cursing loudly with each one. He finally managed to get behind Sanzo and put him in a head lock. "You'd better stop firing that thing or someone's gonna get hurt!

"Yes, you!" Sanzo gasped, struggling like a wet cat, "Let go God dammit!"

Grimacing, Gojyo slipped a leg between Sanzo's from behind and kneed him so he'd shut up. Hakkai winced as Sanzo wheezed in pain and slackened in Gojyo's grip. Using the opportunity, Gojyo pulled one of Sanzo's arms behind his back.

"I was just getting rid of something else I was gonna have to do sooner or later...don't get your panties in a knot." Sanzo muttered a long string of foul words and tried to jerk out of Gojyo's grip. Gojyo sighed and released him, pushing past Hakkai into the room he was to share with Goku. "Shoot me in my sleep, I'm begging you."

"Get your ass back here dammit!"

Hakkai watched Sanzo wide eyed. This was all so...abnormal. He'd never seen Sanzo take a beating like that. There was no explanation. Had something thrown off his game? Surely he wasn't that drunk.

Growling, Sanzo stumbled after Gojyo, who looked back at the fuming monk. "What you want some more--" He was cut off as Sanzo regained enough stability off of adrenaline to land a sound kick to the side of Gojyo's head, who went down hard. "Gahhh, what the hell?!" He wiped blood from his chin with the back of his hand. Sanzo aimed another kick for the redhead’s smart mouth and Gojyo rolled to the side to avoid another head injury. "You crazy monk, just go to bed already!"

Sanzo rounded on him and tried to land a punch. "Not until you pay, you damn half breed!"

"I've paid already! And I'm gonna pay again the next time Goku eats dammit! Leave me alone, you've done enough." Gojyo had narrowly dodged that last throw, and was tired of fighting now and decided to try and be logical. Sanzo twitched with rage. "You're really easy to piss off you know. I think that's gonna be your downfall some day,"

Sanzo spun to kick him in the gut. Gojyo caught his foot and managed to spin it and send Sanzo to the ground with a grunt, but was still knocked down in the process as well; even when he was hammered the blonde could still put enough force behind an attack to make it count.

Sanzo pushed himself back up, slightly dazed as Gojyo got to his feet again too, and stumbled into the wall, hard. "Do you even remember why you're so mad?" Gojyo asked.

Sanzo stood with his back to Gojyo and Hakkai, using the wall for support and remaining silent. Gojyo looked at him, only slightly concerned and still reeling from the kick to his head.

Hakkai finally chose to move in. "Sanzo?"

Sanzo moved away from the wall and pushed past both of them down the hallway towards the front of the inn, the hair in his eyes not quite hiding the burning flush of his face, and avoided the curious looks the inn's other patrons gave him. Gojyo watched him go before turning and stomping into his room past the still-watching Goku, falling face-first onto the mattress.

Hakkai, quite concerned in typical Hakkai fashion, knew better than to even approach Sanzo when he was like that. He sighed, and went into the room they were to share and gazed out the window. It wasn't raining anymore, but was still quite dreary. Deciding he had nothing better to do, he turned in for the night not long after.

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After wandering in the mud a good few hours, Sanzo quietly made his way to the room he was to share with Hakkai, hoping dearly that the healer was asleep. He closed the door softly, hardly making any sound, and pulled off his robes, placing them onto the small table near the door, kicking his sodden sandals into the corner. Hakkai opened his eyes, his back to Sanzo. "You need some coffee or something?"

Sanzo froze in his tracks and groaned inwardly. Dammit.

As if reading his mind, Hakkai added, "I'm just asking,"

Sanzo sighed. "Maybe some aspirin..."

"Okay," Hakkai rose from his bed and dug around in the supplies and extracted the pills, handing them to Sanzo with a glass of water, who took them with a muttered thanks, not meeting his eyes. Hakkai shook his head as Sanzo swallowed the pills. "Why do you let Gojyo get a rise out of you like that?"

Sanzo studied the floorboards.

"It's just giving him what he wants," Hakkai pressed, "But, of course, I'm not your mother," He climbed back into his bed, "Goodnight, Sanzo."

Sanzo put his face in his hands in irritation, "...I don't know, okay? I don't fucking know..."

Hakkai smiled a bit to himself; he had an idea of what was happening here. "Just try and get some sleep,"

"Somehow I doubt that'll happen," Sanzo muttered.

"Well, do you want to talk or should I leave you alone?"

In the next room over, unbeknownst to either Sanzo or Hakkai, Gojyo was listening quietly to what they were saying through the wall over Goku's snoring, having been restless himself that evening.

"Do I really have a choice?" Sanzo snapped, agitated for reasons he didn't quite understand, "Don't fool me into thinking you're not a manipulative bastard," He scowled.

Hakkai chuckled softly, "It was a simple question Sanzo," He sat up cross legged on the mattress to face the monk.

Sanzo sat on his bed and leaned back against the wall, "None of your questions are simple,"

"Same for your answers," Hakkai replied with a smile, "Did you have a nice walk?"

"It wasn't raining. I had that going on for me at least."

"It's still not the best night for a walk. Besides, you only walk when something’s bothering you."

"If that were true I'd be walking indefinitely."

Hakkai rolled his eyes, "We all would be," Sanzo snorted and lit up a cigarette, "That was some bet you won today though."

Sanzo smiled slightly at the memory of that confounding game. "You could say that."

"You two are so alike, and yet you hate each other," Hakkai shook his head.

"Tch. We're not alike."

"There's more to Gojyo than meets the eye."

"Yes, a head full of hot air."

Hakkai smiled at the familiar insulting reference to his dear friend, knowing that there was no getting to Sanzo that night.

Or that was until Sanzo spoke, barely audible, "I could have just gotten rid of him earlier today, but..."

"You didn't,"

Sanzo pulled up his knees and rested his forehead against them, "No."

"Why not?"

Sanzo remained quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed. "I...don't know,"

"You do get angry quite often, that is true...but you always seem to find a reason not to kill either one of them. Honestly, I think you have fun fighting with him."

"Yes, it's just so damn amusing to scream myself stupid everyday," Sanzo grumbled, "I just need them for the damn mission."

"So you'll kill them when we're done." Hakkai smiled at his friend.

"...Maybe,"

"Well, I hope I'm there to see that day my friend," Hakkai rose, "I gave you a sleeping pill with the aspirin, so hopefully you'll get a little rest tonight."

Sanzo abruptly lifted his head to look at him, mouth open. "You...you fucking sneak!"

"Well, I thought you might need it, no harm meant,"

Sanzo continued to sputter for a moment, "I can't believe you fucking drugged me!"

"It's not like it's the first time," Hakkai said genially, "I'm going to check on Goku and Gojyo." Sanzo stared at him, his mouth still open, as he walked out the room.

Hakkai stuck his head into the other room; Goku was snoring and mumbling something about a meat bun, and Gojyo was lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. "You can't sleep either?"

"The monkey’s keeping me awake, that's all."

Hakkai nodded politely and closed the door. They're more alike than either of them know. Instead of heading back to his room, Hakkai decided to go downstairs and get a drink.

Gojyo listened to Hakkai's steps as they faded, going downstairs instead of back next door. He frowned some and sat up. He couldn't believe what he had done. Even more so he couldn't believe that Sanzo hadn't killed him. Sure, he'd tried, but...deciding he couldn't just lie there, he stood and left his room, pausing for a moment outside Sanzo's door before he opened it a little and peered cautiously inside. The monk was lying on his side away from him, facing the wall.

Assuming Hakkai had come back, he pretended to be asleep as Gojyo carefully stepped inside and slid the door shut silently, his eyes on the seemingly sleeping monk. Ever since he'd gone into his room after Sanzo had stormed off, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about that kiss, and he really didn't know why.

Sanzo shifted slightly, pulling his legs up further to his chest, and stared at the blankness of the wall in front of him, trying to empty his mind. It wouldn't work.

Gojyo swallowed; He really didn't know what he was doing here. He took a few more steps towards the sleeping time bomb that was sure to go off if he was discovered.

Sanzo frowned slightly, trying to figure out what Hakkai was doing. Why hasn't he gotten back into bed?

Gojyo put his hand in his pocket, and felt the dice still in there. He bit his lip as he tried to think.

Sanzo was still listening intently for more movement. What was Hakkai doing?

Gojyo spoke quietly, "Hey..."

Sanzo visibly tensed. Shit. I'll kill Hakkai. Check on Goku and Gojyo my ass.

Gojyo furrowed his brow a little. "I know you're probably still pissed,"

Sanzo snorted, not pretending to be asleep anymore.

"...But I'm not dead...and I kissed the walking time bomb...and I don't know why."

Sanzo curled in on himself slightly. "Why what?" He spat.

"Why you didn't just kill me on the spot," He took another step closer.

Sanzo clenched his hands. "Because your stupidity is infectious."

"Infectious, huh? Well I've got a proposition for you, priest Sanzo,"

Sanzo's eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Gojyo stayed silent a moment, trying to come to grips with what he was about to do. "Another bet," he clenched the dice in his fist.

Finally, Sanzo sat up and turned to face the intruder, wearing a look that could kill. "What?"

"A bet,"

Sanzo continued to glare. "What kind of bet?"

"A bet to see what's really going on under...well, everything else," he continued, "And since the Gods seem to be in control of even our gambles, why not see what happens?"

Sanzo's brow furrowed."What the fuck are you talking about?" he snapped.

Gojyo knelt down and moved in close without warning, their noses nearly brushing, just to see what would happen. Sanzo scrambled back from the close proximity, startled, his eyes wide and face tinged pink. Gojyo smirked a little. "So, you up for one more gamble?"

Sanzo squirmed slightly, anxious and hating himself for it; he had an idea where this was going. "W-what are the stakes?"

"Basically, the loser has to do it again and fess up."

"Do...what again?" He asked with growing trepidation.

"Smooch,"

Stammering and trying vainly to make a retort, Sanzo asked bitingly, "Are you really still that drunk?"

Gojyo shook his head. Sanzo stared at him, at a loss for words and wearing an expression that took years off his face. For a moment, Gojyo couldn't look away. "Well?"

The moment gone, Sanzo's face contorted in irritation. "...Fine." Hell if he'd back down from a challange, no matter how uncomfortable he was.

Gojyo dropped the dice onto the floor between them. "Your call,"

The blonde gazed at the rolling specks of white on the floor with dread. "...Odds," They both watched as the dice tumbled over to land on a nine. Sanzo pulled his eyes away from the dice and stared at Gojyo, his face unreadable. Gojyo looked at Sanzo too and restrained himself from gulping, wondering if he could really do it.

Sanzo's heart pounded frantically as he saw Gojyo trying to make up his mind. Gojyo waited a moment longer, before slowly moving in. "Looks like I lost another one,"

"Your luck stinks," Sanzo tried his hardest to sound patronizing, but failed miserably as he tried to casually scoot away from Gojyo as he came forward.

"Yeah, no smokes, no beer, no chicks, a date with the chimp...I must be the most unlucky guy in the world," Gojyo sat on the bed and advanced on Sanzo. Violet eyes widened as his back bumped against the wall. Gojyo put his arms on either side of him so he couldn't escape and knelt in front of the cornered monk. Something very close to panic rose in Sanzo as he realized there was no way out of this.

Gojyo put his lips against Sanzo's, not like before when he had wanted to make him mad, but just a gentle touch. Sanzo quivered as his breath caught in his throat along with the protests he had not been able to vocalize, and his brows knit in an anxious confusion at the new tenderness Gojyo was showing him. Gojyo gave his bottom lip a gentle suck as he crawled a little closer. Sanzo pressed himself as far into the wall as he could go, a very slight whimper escaping his lips. Gojyo rested a hand on Sanzo's thigh, running his tongue against his lips as if asking permission first. Sanzo squirmed and pushed against Gojyo's chest even as his lips automatically parted. Gojyo reached for one of the hands against his chest and held it, lacing their fingers together as he got braver and did what came naturally, kissing Sanzo fully. Sanzo tried to pull back, at the same time not wanting to, his eyes screwed shut and body trembling. It was too overwhelming.

Gojyo felt he was starting to understand Sanzo now. Deep down he needed this, but was scared to death of it. Of what it brought with it. Gojyo ran a hand through golden hair, Sanzo whimpering at the touch and fisting his free hand in Gojyo's shirt. Gojyo finished the kiss up slowly, one final gentle touch to Sanzo’s lips as he pulled back, still holding his hand. He looked into lost violet eyes, unable to find anything to say. Sanzo stared back, panting for breath and wearing an expression that could be termed as abject fear, and something else neither could place. Gojyo knew better than to comment on it. "Well, I guess that pretty much sums it up, I guess...for me at least."

Sanzo broke the gaze and stared instead at their intertwined hands, fidgeting. Gojyo loosened his grip on Sanzo's hand. "That's all we bet on. I'll leave now since you seem to want me out of here."

Still with an unprecedented flood of confused emotion written across his face, Sanzo's head snapped up. As Gojyo made to move off the bed, Sanzo grabbed his sleeve, stopping him. Gojyo looked back down at him. He was shaking. Gojyo sat back down and smiled in a way he hoped to be comforting. Sanzo's eyes were hidden behind his bangs. "...Please..." he murmmered.

Gojyo pulled Sanzo into his lap to straddle him and kissed his forehead before pulling him into a hug. Something he'd wished someone would do for him all his life.

Sanzo found himself clinging to Gojyo, tightly, unable to remember ever being held like this; not even by Koumyou. Gojyo gently rocked him like he would a child, playing with his hair as Sanzo pressed his face against Gojyo's neck, vaguely surprised at how warm his skin was.

"Look," Gojyo murmured, "This can be our night, okay? And no one has to know about it if you don't want them to."

Sanzo pulled back, realizing the way he was acting and bit his lip. He couldn't even look at Gojyo. He flushed. "I..."

"Shh," he kissed him gently again, pulling his gaze back up as Sanzo's stomach fluttered.

"But I..." he looked away again, "I've never..." the blush grew a few shades darker. Gojyo chuckled a little.

"I figured," He tilted Sanzo's chin and made him look at him once more, "You'd never been kissed before either, had you?" Sanzo pushed Gojyo's hand away and hid behind his hair again. Gojyo felt a pang of guilt as he looked down at the blonde bombshell in his lap, red with embarrassment and so uncertain. "I'm sorry," Gojyo whispered, "I really didn't know. I wouldn't have...well, all right I would've anyways, but I didn't mean to upset you so much. Just make you mad. You're so closed off, Sanzo. Half the time I have no idea what you're thinking and it makes me nuts." He paused in his breif tangent. He'd gotten off track.

"Look," He said gently, "This is uncharted territory for me too..." Sanzo fidgeted a bit, not knowing what to say. Gojyo made him look at him again. "I'll stop if you tell me to, but I got the impression we were thinking the same thing,"

Sanzo managed a small, sheepish smile he didn't know himself capable of.

"You have a nice smile you know," Gojyo said softly.

Sanzo flushed and bowed his head. Gojyo cradled Sanzo gently and eased him back onto the bed, hovering over him. Sanzo's breath hitched slightly; this was so unreal. He'd never allowed anyone this close to him, and anyone who had tried had walked away with flesh wounds for their troubles.

Gojyo was so lost. Unshakable, homicidal, untouchable Genjo Sanzo was in his arms, pinned beneath him, and gazing at him with vulnerable violet eyes. Gojyo had the idle thought that maybe all the man needed was a little compassion; a little tenderness. He didn't understand why, but he wanted to give that to him.

Gojyo let some of his weight onto Sanzo, gentle pressure in all the right places, for now just enjoying the feeling. Sanzo panted softly with the subtle, unfamiliar sensations and Gojyo leaned down, kissing him again. Gojyo ran a soft hand down the monk's side, lightly rolling his hips against Sanzo's. Sanzo gasped as the simple motion sent fire up his body. Gojyo couldn't help but smile. I never thought I'd get this much of a rise out of him.

He kissed a trail down Sanzo's chin to the pale flesh that showed over the high collar of his black top. Sanzo had to bite back a soft moan at the maneuver as his hands began to wander of their own accord into the fall of crimson hair spilling over Gojyo's shoulders and ran his fingers through the bright strands, much softer than he had expected. Gojyo breathed in Sanzo's scent, a bit drunk off of it, and felt feelings he'd never experienced with any woman start to rise in his chest. But he couldn't stop to examine those right now, he had more important things to do. Sanzo, for instance.

Sanzo timidly lifted his hips to press lightly against Gojyo who raised his eyebrows in surprise but was glad nonetheless. Gojyo pressed down on Sanzo pleasurably in response, pulling away from his neck to look down at him, his hair casting an intimate red curtain around their faces. Sanzo's breath was starting to come in small gasps as he shyly met Gojyo's hips, creating the friction, his eyes slightly dazed and darkened in need. Gojyo slipped his tongue into Sanzo's mouth again, starting to put more feeling into the kiss as the hand he had resting on Sanzo's side wandered lower down his thigh.

Sanzo returned the kiss a little clumsily in his lack of experience but with a brewing passion to match Gojyo's own. He felt the odd fluttering in his stomach again accompanied by a warmth growing in his belly as Gojyo's hand made it's descent. Gojyo popped the snap on Sanzo's jeans easily and slowly pulled down the zipper. Sanzo's eye's opened wide as Gojyo's hand slipped inside to touch him, and he arched sharply into the hand, unable to suppress the loud moan pulled from inside of him. Sanzo clutched at Gojyo's shoulders as he started a steady rhythm, and started to let his fingers wander under the neck of Gojyo's shirt to splay across warm skin.

Gojyo had gotten chills at Sanzo's voice and his touch, and let the loose shirt he wore fall from his shoulders and moved his hand a little faster to get Sanzo warmed up. Sanzo ran his hands down over sharp shoulder blades and a smooth back before repeating the motion in reverse up to tense shoulders and down his arms as he whimpered at the sensations wracking his body.

Gojyo was losing his grip. He really was, and it enthralled him. He released Sanzo, ignoring the whine he received for it, pulled his shirt over his head, and kicked his pants off before moving back down to Sanzo and pulling his shirt and gloves off as well. He distracted him with another fervent kiss as he moved for Sanzo's jeans. Dazed and heady with the scent radiating from Gojyo's body, Sanzo melted into the kiss and really couldn't bring himself to care that he was being stripped.

Gojyo paused after he wrestled faded denium from Sanzo's body and stared. He was beautiful. He was the most beautiful fucking creature he'd ever seen, pale skin practically glowing in the moonlight, deep violet eyes glittering with something he couldn't name boring into his own. Gojyo kneed Sanzo’s legs apart and pushed against him, suddenly needing more. Sanzo gasped sharply at the feel of skin on skin and compulsively jerked his hips up to meet Gojyo's, fighting back the groan begging to escape.

Gojyo couldn't bring himself to break away. He ran his hands firmly down sanzo's sides and over his backside, kneading the flesh there. Sanzo made an odd keening noise, and Gojyo bent his head down and pacified him with a kiss before bringing one of his hands up to their mouths and offering his fingers to Sanzo instead. Sanzo took them into his mouth tentatively and began sucking gently as Gojyo began running his free hand over his skin, light and sensitizing, making the blonde's whole body tingle.

Satisfied that they were wet enough, Gojyo extracted his fingers from Sanzo's mouth, who was now starting to look uncertain again. Gojyo shifted the blonde's hips and probed gently between his legs, causing Sanzo's face to tighten. Gojyo leaned forward, murmuring things Sanzo couldn't comprehend at the moment and began distracting him with mouth and fingers.

Sanzo couldn't think; there were too many things happening at once, each touch diverting his attention from the last. He was barely even aware of the pressure in his lower regions anymore.

Gojyo paused in his ministrations, and gazed at Sanzo through clouded crimson eyes. This was amazing. He couldn't remember anyone responding to him so beautifully before, nor had they ever been so enrapturing.

Gojyo had had enough. Sanzo was nearly delirious and he himself was painfully aroused. He pressed a hand to Sanzo's cheek and drew his attention back to his face as he kissed him softly and hitched Sanzo's legs up for better access.

Gojyo entered him slowly, one hand resting beside Sanzo's head, the other keeping a firm grip on the blondes hips, gritting his teeth and groaning at the sensation.

"Ahh-" Sanzo's mouth opened wide, with no sound escaping, his eyes wide and murky, his head arched back against the pillow. For one unbearable moment he found himself lost in a world of pain the likes of which he had never experienced before from any injury. It ached in a way Sanzo couldn't descibe and made him feel vulnerable in a way that terrified him.

Gojyo paused and gasped for breath every now and then, taking his time with the initial penetration until he was fully seated inside. Sanzo's mouth was still open, and he looked as if he wanted to cry, for reasons Gojyo couldn't stop and think about at the moment.

Gojyo brushed his lips lightly against Sanzo's. "Are you okay?" he murmured.

Shaking himself from his muddled emotions and thoughts, and the ache of his body as well, Sanzo's hands scrabbled at Gojyo's shoulders for purchase, Gojyo moving to grasp one of them tightly while Sanzo managed to latch his other arm securely around Gojyo's neck.

Taking it as affirmation, Gojyo started to move, pale legs moving to wrap around Gojyo's hips and the monk unaware of the small noises that spilled from his throat.

Gojyo went slowly, trying to keep his pace gentle as Sanzo shook madly in his arms, pressing himself as close to Gojyo as he could. Neither could think, neither could breathe, and neither could let go.

Time had no meaning, no worth as they established and moved in a rhythm all their own and drowned in each others eyes. Gojyo registered vaugely, as he watched Sanzo's expression with care, that they were making love. They weren't, as he had almost imagined in wayward daydreams, fucking, with all the violence the term could someimes employ, but making love. It terrified him to put any reasoning behind it.

All too soon Sanzo shuddered violently with release as his muscles spasmed, and clung to Gojyo as if he were a lifeline, hiding his face against Gojyo's shoulder. Gojyo groaned loudly, his eyes glazed over with pleasure as his own orgasm was triggered by Sanzo's. He came down from his high, running his fingers through Sanzo's hair and still holding his hand tightly as Sanzo continued to cling tight enough to bruise and tried to clear the fog that had hazed his mind. Pale, shaking legs cautiously unwrapped from Gojyo's waist as the red head pulled out with another small moan and kissed the top of Sanzo's head.

Sanzo unhooked himself from Gojyo's neck and opened eyes he hadn't realized he'd closed, staring up at the man who had filled him with an emotion he couldn't quite place. "Think you can get some sleep tonight?" Gojyo asked quietly. Sanzo nodded meekly, still staring as Gojyo brushed back some of the golden hair that had tumbled into his eyes, and leaned into the touch, his eyes drooping halfway closed. Gojyo leaned down and kissed his cheek, whispering, "You're beautiful," before moving off the bed to get dressed and standing to go back to his own room.

Sanzo pulled a blanket around his shoulders to cover himself and shifted his eyes downcast, cheeks stained red from the comment; he'd heard it hundreds of times before, but it had never been said quite like that. He found himself speaking, murmuring so softly he was sure Gojyo would miss it. "What happens now?"

"Whatever you want," Gojyo sat back down on the bed, "This was something between just you and me,"

Sanzo played with the end of the sheet and turned his head away. "I'm weak,"

"We all are," Sanzo grinned humorlessly at that and Gojyo continued, "Weakness can be a strength in itself though, sometimes. My brother told me that."

"I always told myself I didn't need anyone," he ducked his head further, "But I don't..." Gojyo watched him silently, waiting until Sanzo said softly, "I'm so tired of being alone,"

Not really knowing how to respond, Gojyo grinned down at him. "Hey, don't worry about it. If you told me to I'd be more than willing to act like this never happened," He paused and added in an afterthought, "But if you need me, I'm here."

Sanzo hugged his knees and rested his head on them, saying in an unreadable tone, his voice slightly muffled, "Everything was fine the way it was before...I couldn't miss something I'd never had. Had never wanted. I wasn't going to let myself want it."

Gojyo was speechless. Sanzo was talking to him. Not yelling, not insulting, but talking like a real person. He was even sharing part of what fueled his unpredictable behavior. This was treading in uncharted waters. He didn't know what he should say. Instead, he put up his laughing, care-free persona and gave an embarrassed smile. "Did I mess that up? I'm sorry,"

Sanzo made a noise that might have been a laugh. "I just don't know how it got to the point where I did want it. I thought I was being so careful. But then this afternoon...I didn't want you to leave. I even got you to stay,"

Gojyo dropped his grin and stared at Sanzo as if he were really seeing him for the first time. "I was feeling a bit of the same thing to be honest." He moved closer once more and made Sanzo look at him as he peered at him earnestly. "On the outside it may seem like nothing's changed," he pressed a hand over Sanzo's heart, "But in here it has,"

Sanzo grinned slightly, "I thought I didn't have a heart,"

"Maybe just a little one,"

Sanzo snorted, "Shriveled."

"It just needs some attention." Sanzo raised an eyebrow and Gojyo shook his head. "I'll follow your lead on what you want to happen." He put a hand to Sanzo's cheek and kissed him gently.

"Tell anyone I have emotions and you're dead," he murmured against Gojyo's lips.

"Same to you, you big jerk," Gojyo kissed him again and stood, "Are you really going to make me go a whole month with no smokes or beer?" He cast Sanzo big, red, puppy dog eyes. Sanzo stared thoughtfully.

"I dunno...it looks as though a week without women may not be very trying anymore," he grinned, "And I'd hate for you not to suffer a little."

"Oh God, you're serious!"

Sanzo smiled maliciously, "Maybe just two weeks,"

"You're a saint," Gojyo rolled his eyes.

"And you're an idiot to pass up that deal, unless you want the full month,"

"Okay, okay, I'll take it."

Gojyo walked back into the hall and shut the door quietly, leaning against it for a moment. What the hell just happened? He went back to bed, telling himself it didn't mean anything, that he hadn't felt anything, and that Sanzo would kill him in the morning. Messily. Little did he know that next door, Sanzo was assuring himself of the same things.


TBC