Saiyuki Reload Fan Fiction ❯ Demons Poison, Lovers Care ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

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Ch 5

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It took about ten minutes for Hakkai to get the both of them out, dry and into the other room. He dressed Gojyo, with a bit of protest and the words “I can do it myself”, in a fresh pair of boxers and clean white t shirt before putting on a nearly matching set himself.

 

Night was settling and a warm breeze wavered though the window. Gojyo was propped up on pillows and a comforter looking at Hakkai who was thumbing trough the pages of notes he had brought back from a previous excursion to the town. Green eyes read steadily and occasionally could be seen rereading certain lines taking note of their content. Finally frustrated with the silence and out of cigarettes Gojyo began to shuffle the deck of cards nosily.

 

Hakkai looked up and smiled; he moved and pulled out the table drawer next to the bed. Setting the papers inside he looked at Gojyo who was trying his very best to get attention with his fervent gaze. Hakkai chuckled as he had many times that night. But instead of amusing his roommate with a game of poker he began to tidy, collecting the dirty clothes, putting away the bottles in the bathroom, sorting the ones still in the bags, and finally doing a quick sweep with a broom before dumping the dust out the door.

 

Sitting down next to the redhead Hakkai and Gojyo spent most of the remaining hours before sleep playing card games and harassing each other with various forms of verbal abuse.

 

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Hakkai had gone to sleep late the night before and awoke to find the mid-morning sun drifting through the window panes. Yellow beams revealed the tiny dust particles in the air and softly lit up Gojyo's rigid features. The brunette was still bleary with sleep and it only dawned on him that his friend really should not be should not be up when he noticed the task being performed.

 

Sitting at the table the redhead was scrupulously rubbing oil from one of the vials into his claves. He stretched out a leg and flexed, each toned and trained muscle skirting under the white skin like fluid rock. He was rather pleased that not to much of his muscle mass and fitness had been lost in the five months of inactivity.

 

“Gojyo!” Hakkai nearly vaulted from their bed; unfortunately he bumped out of the sheets a little to fast and had to catch himself before he ended up on the floor. “Gojyo,” he said as he regained his balance, “you're not supposed to be up!”

 

“Calm down, I'm fine and I've only moved to the cupboard and back. See?” he stated matter-of-factly while he held up the vial and tilted it back and forth as if to set in stone the verity that he was alright. “No harm done, eh.” Gojyo went back to rubbing in the oils as Hakkai watched with lips pressed tight together and a concerned expression simmering in his emerald eyes.

 

The days passed quickly with one another's company and soon a month had gone by. Gojyo was nearly back to normal and could do most everything he wanted without objection from his brunette caretaker. He could even bring women home if he wanted to, but in an odd change of heart sex hadn't crossed his mind lately. At least not with any of the flirty, flighty, busty nitwits he was used to taking to bed. They had, in his mind, taken on a rather repulsive persona.

 

Gojyo sat on the roof staring up at the sky, it was evening and he was waiting for Hakkai to return from town. His friend still refused to allow him to walk that far but at least now he could wander around and do some work inside or outside if he liked. Looking out over the yard Gojyo saw Hakkai approaching he was carrying the usual two brown bags. The brunette walked with a quick stride as he headed towards the house. Hakkai was a good three hundred feet away when the sun caught in his hair and made the tiniest lump form in Gojyo's throat. The redhead clutched absentmindedly at his chest before springing lightly off the house to join Hakkai.

 

Walking towards him Gojyo held up one hand in greeting while the other dug into his pocket. “Hey! You're back!” Gojyo beamed like a child would when greeting his very best friend.

 

Hakkai smiled back, “How was your day?” He said relinquishing a bag to Gojyo's prying arms.

 

“Better now…” he mumbled looking towards the house. Hakkai's face hinted at a blush and he walked a bit closer by Gojyo.

 

“I spoke with our favorite granny today,” Hakkai said as he pushed the front door open. “She said you should be fine in another week, fully healed… so… I was thinking… we should catch up to Sanzo if we can…” there was a hint of regret tagged onto his words but Gojyo did not seem to notice.

 

In fact the redhead was exuberant at the thought of adventure, “All right! Yeah!” Gojyo sprung around the room and was happy to put away all that Hakkai handed him.

 

Other than his green eyes Hakkai's body and voice successfully fooled all the senses. `…I wish we could stay here a bit linger…' He paused as he put away one of the last vials of oil they would ever need and it hurt a bit inside to know they would no longer be spending their days alone together without the onslaught of evil.

 

Gojyo came up behind Hakkai and hugged him tight, “thanks, Hakkai…for taking care of me.” It was not like Gojyo but it made the green eyed mans heart feel a little lighter.

 

Their last week in the house passed far to quickly for Hakkai and far to slowly for Gojyo who spent his hours practicing outside for the coming battles that would inevitably arise as soon as they rejoined Sanzo.

 

They had two more nights and one more day before they were to head out. It was late and the sun had settled into its cradle on the western horizon reminding both men of the travels to come. Gojyo walked into the house sweating and smiling, “woo, Hakkai I am so ready to take out some demons!” The redhead sauntered over to the brunette and took his flask from him. Tipping back the metal container he emptied it into his throat thinking it was the usual cool water. It burned his esophagus and he coughed as he brought it back down onto the table and heaved a bit more when it reached his stomach. Gojyo looked inquiringly at Hakkai, “Geeze, dude I didn't even know you had any of that,” he smiled and coughed again.

 

Hakkai mused at his empty container. “Gojyo?...” he did not finish his sentence.

 

Gojyo raised an eyebrow, “yeah?” he looked at his friend who sat gazing at his flask

 

“hmmm… nothing.” Hakkai pushed out his chair and plastered on a grin which, had Gojyo not been looking for anything strange he would not have wondered at. “Shower up eh? Dinner in fifteen.” Gojyo knit his brow but complied.

 

Hot water snaked down his body and he leaned against the tiled wall. `…what's up with Hakkai, he looks miserable… maybe it's thoughts of Kanan again…' The redhead felt a twinge in his heart and disregarded it. The pain of jealousy had never before invaded as far as it did at that minute. Finishing he left the comfort and solitude of the shower. Pulling a towel around his waist Gojyo went to the sink and brushed out his long red hair. It took quite a few good swipes with the bristles to untangle the masses but in the end he was victorious. Sighing he exited into the other room.

 

Hakkai was serving rice onto plates and tears were rolling down his cheeks, he did not think he was really upset but every time he wiped one away another took its place. `….why am I crying?… if I didn't want this to end all I had to do was not suggest rejoining Sanzo…' He wiped another tear away with his sleeve and set his monocle on the table due to its interference. “ugh,” his chest heaved a bit as the feeling of self pity and loss grew.

 

He placed the earthen wear on the table and looked up to find concerned crimson eyes looking at him in wondering worry. Hakkai smiled and almost lost his composure as a spasm of pain and guilt ripped through his heart. He realized just how strong his repressed emotions had become in his half year of taking care of Gojyo. It hurt to look at the man he had come to love, and it hurt more to think of the obvious, that that love would never be returned. `… I certainly have a way of choosing lovers who were never meant to be…' the thought might have been a little funny had it not made the ach inside more intense.

 

Two arms wrapped tightly around him and pushed the brunette head against a warm damp chest, “you're just like a woman… crying when I have no idea why.” It was not said with malice or sarcasm, only blunt and palpable tenderness.

 

Hakkai could hear Gojyo's heart thump against his ears, “but… I know what I'm crying about…” he hiccupped as the waves of grief lessened. “I… I'm going to miss this place… I'm going to miss this… this life…” another hiccup sounded.

 

Gojyo smiled softly and closed his eyes, “I don't… I don't think…”

 

Hakkai felt his eyes well up knowing the next words Gojyo would say and he tried to pull away. The muscular kappa held him tighter and drew the full body length of the brunette against his own.

 

“I don't think I could leave if I didn't know that when it was all over we would be coming back here… together…” Gojyo breathed and choked on his words a bit, “… if it's okay with you…” he had never cared what anyone had thought before but suddenly his whole life hung in the air as he waited for Hakkai to say something… anything…