The Storms That Bind Us

Chapter 12

"Shit."

Hakkai cracked his eyes open to the soft, muttered curse. He blinked and turned his gaze up at Sanzo who was sitting up in bed and smoking lazily. He didn't need to ask the reason for the curse when he heard the patter of heavy raindrops on the window, and the rumble of distant thunder.

"What time is it?" Hakkai whispered.

"Early," he answered, hand soft on Hakkai's arm.

"Well, maybe it will pass by the time we head out."

"Or maybe it won't." He blew a puff of smoke and frowned, lines wrinkling his forehead.

Hakkai knew well enough how his mood got when it was storming. He didn't like the rain any better, but his emotions never got near as high as the priest's. They both associated the rain with pain, violence and loss. The memories were a stain that could never be removed from either of them. He lay his head on Sanzo's lap and closed his eyes, listening to the sounds around them.

"I'm tired of this journey." Hakkai turned his head to look up at his lover. "I'm tired of the constant attacks, I'm tired of being stuck in Jeep all day long, and I'm fucking tired of listening to those two idiots arguing nonstop."

"Why are you saying this?"

"I'm in a rotten mood. Tsk. I'm just thinking aloud what I usually keep inside."

"Should I feel honored you are sharing this with me?"

"Damn right you should."

Hakkai chuckled soft, feeling comfortable laying with him in the bed they'd shared their bodies in. He was sore all over, his throat a bit dry, but it felt wonderful nonetheless. He could lay there all day, but he knew they had to get going. They'd stayed in this town longer than they should have. If the rain kept up, it was going to be a dreadful day for travel. He'd have to come up with a makeshift top for Jeep so they wouldn't get soaked. They still needed to get supplies before they left as well.

"Your mind is already going a hundred miles a minute, isn't it?" Sanzo asked, crushing out the last smoldering embers of his cigarette in the ashtray by the bed.

"I suppose. I could happily vegetate right here, but I know we have to move."

"Story of our lives."

"I'm sure our story will change for the better once we fix this problem."

"And after I find my Master's scripture," Sanzo added.

Hakkai sat up, resting on his hands as he kissed Sanzo's lips softly. "You'll find it," he whispered.

"Optimistic of you," Sanzo said, kissing back, hands coming around to pull him closer.

"Have to think that way, or go crazy." He shivered with the caressing touch of Sanzo's hands moving under to cup his bare ass. His loins began to stir and he slid his tongue against Sanzo's in the passion of the moment.

*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*

"Sanzo, Hakkai, are you guys up?! It's time for breakfast!" Goku yelled through the door.

Sanzo groaned, presses his face to Hakkai's neck and cursed under his breath. "I was just having breakfast, you damn monkey!" he yelled back at the door with annoyance.

"Really?" He was quiet a moment. "I don't smell food."

"Hakkai, would it be too harsh to bind and gag him for the rest of the trip?"

"Just a bit, yes." He laughed soft, got off the bed and pulled a robe on.

"Tsk, fine," he said and headed for the bathroom to shower, but there was no need for cooling off, Goku's interruption had shriveled his morning arousal. He was still cursing when he shut the door behind him. Hakkai bit back his laughter and opened the door to let Goku in.

"Goku, it's still early."

"I woke up hungrier than usual. Sorry....Oh.." He looked at Hakkai's state. Mussed up hair, love bites on his neck, and the smell of sex that filled the room. "Were you two..still....fucking?"

Hakkai blinked and coughed out a laugh. "I'm beginning to wonder if it's a good idea to let you be around Gojyo now with that language, young man."

"Oh, it's okay, I heard Sanzo's language way before the kappa came into our lives."

"Well, yes, you are right," he smiled soft. "Anyway, it's alright, we should all be getting ready to leave anyway. Sooner we go, the more miles we leave behind."

"Yeah. I should have figured he'd be more grumpy anyway with the rain." His stomach growled, thunder mimicking the sound.

"Oh my. I do hope this clears up." He opened the curtain to have a look. The sky was nearly pitch black where dark gray clouds pillowed, brightening up when another crack of lightening filled the atmosphere. A loud roll of thunder came their way in seconds and he sighed. "I'm beginning to think we'll be stuck here another day. This storm is angry."

"That's probably gonna make Sanzo's mood even worse. He hates being still too long."

"Well, we may not have a choice." He shook his head and closed the curtain against the horrible looking day.

Goku nodded and his eyes wandered over to the bed with twisted up sheets and strewn pillows. Hakkai followed his curious gaze and he saw the cuffs hanging precariously off the headboard. He cleared his throat and walked over, snatching them down to slip in his robe's pocket.

"What were those for?" Goku asked innocently, looking at him with big golden brown eyes. The bathroom door opened, and Sanzo's face was still twisted with loathing. He looked at Goku, sighed soft and ruffled his hair.

"Go get the kappa moving and head down to eat. We'll meet you soon." He dressed quickly as he spoke.

"Awesome!" He ran from the room without more inquiry. Hakkai took a breath and gave silent thanks he hadn't had to answer his question.

"What's wrong? You looked flushed about something." He pulled his robes on and watched him curiously.

Hakkai gave him a shrewd look and pulled the evidence from his pocket. "Goku saw these and was just asking about it."

"I see." Sanzo's cloudy expression calmed as his face relaxed. Hakkai wasn't expecting the sly smile he got or the quick grab that pulled him close against his lover's warm body. "You didn't complain about those last night," he whispered against his lips.

"N..no, I didn't." Gods, his legs felt too heavy and his body melted again the strong one he was pressed against.

"Then why the blush?" He slide his tongue through Hakkai's lips and battled his tongue until they were both panting for breath. When Sanzo released the kiss, Hakkai was gasping and holding onto his shoulders.

"I....He's too young to hear things like that," he managed.

Sanzo looked into his eyes. "He's eighteen, Hakkai. A man. We all came of age, our Goku is no different. Better he learn answers from someone like you then some random piece of ass he's sure to meet later in life."

"Sanzo, you shouldn't talk like that."

"Because I'm a Sanzo? Tsk. That doesn't mean shit. My faith is solely from the memories of my Master. He's the only priest that has ever had my respect. The night he died, my innocence died with him." Hakkai was frozen in his tight grip as he watched his lovers eyes get moist with unshed tears. "Sometimes, when I look at you smiling, I see what your innocence must have looked like before yours was ripped away too."

"Sanzo.."

"Quiet," he said soft, giving him another kiss, this one tender and sweet. A loud crack of thunder made the inn tremble and it broke the poignant mood like glass. "Fuck!" Hakkai jerked when his lover yelled his outrage. "Fuck," he muttered this time, his frown returning like it had never left.

"I'm not sure it will pass soon," Hakkai said quietly. Sanzo broke soft from their embrace and looked out the window, his back stiff with tension.

"It's been a long while since I've seen such a furious storm."

"I know what you mean," Hakkai said, watching his back.

"When I watch it, all I see is blood."

"I know," Hakkai whispered. It was almost too much to bear seeing Sanzo this way. He watched his lover close the curtain and turn back to him, his expression unchanged.

"Go wash up," he said simply and left the room looking stony and lost. Feeling mentally and physically exhausted, Hakkai shuffled to the shower to wash his body. It did nothing to cleanse his soul.

*~*

By the time Hakkai joined them, Goku had eaten most of what was on the table. His cheeks were puffed out as he chewed a mouth full of beef. Luckily the waitress was bringing more out, and she couldn't help but giggle at Goku's obvious enjoyment of the food.

"Mm, we're so lucky you serve food right here at the inn," Goku muffled through a mouthful to the young woman.

"Stop grossing her out by talking with your pie whole stuffed, monkey." Gojyo said, then winked at her.

"Shut up!" Goku kicked his knee and the redhead groaned, giving him a glare.

"You shut up. I'm the one that had to listen to you snore all night. I wanted to smother you with my pillow, but I didn't want to get your river of drool all over it!"

"Um.." The young woman hurried off looking like a frightened deer.

"You two could clear a room just by standing in it, for fuck sake," Sanzo hissed through his teeth.

"Gojyo started it, Sanzo. He always does," Goku muttered, nibbling at a meat bun.

"Stop acting like you're in diapers, kid," Gojyo snorted and lit a cigarette.

Hakkai could see the tension in Sanzo's shoulders, and he had barely eaten anything by the look. It just wasn't the time for these two to go through their regular routine of arguing. The storm just wasn't passing, and Sanzo knew it too. Another day lost to bickering and waiting out the weather.

"Guys, for today, could you both maybe cool it?" Hakkai asked.

He never got an answer. The door to the inn crashed open, and a man stumbled in, dripping with water and blood. His hand was held over the wound in his stomach, and he was so pale that it looked like death had already taken him. Hakuryu's wings flapped with agitation and he chirped shrilly, the sound followed by a scream from the young woman, and a loud clatter as she dropped her full tray of empty plates and glasses.

"Sanzo..party? I..heard..you..were here.." He coughed blood and dropped to his knees weakly. Hakkai ran over to catch and help lay the injured man back. He moved his hands to get a view of his wound, and knew there was nothing he could do. The damage was just to severe.

"Sir, what happened?" Hakkai asked, holding his own hand over the injury to keep as much of his life blood in him that he could. He heard the others move in behind him to listen.

"Youkai...rampaging through the town when the storm started..There was one with them that had no eyes...Yet, he seemed to be leading them." He shivered, groaning in pain and sobbing. "They killed my wife and left me for dead."

"Son of a bitch," Gojyo muttered.

"Hakkai, can you help him?" Goku asked, holding Hakuryu in his arms.

"No, I can't." He looked back down at the man's cradled head on his lap and saw his eyes were empty. "He's already gone."

"Let's go." Sanzo said, gun in his hand and a more than pissed off look on his face.

"Fuck yes, that's what I'm talking about," Gojyo said, calling his weapon forth.

"Miss, you should get this place locked up behind us," Hakkai said, standing up. He grabbed a table cloth and covered the man to give him as much respect as he could. None of them saw her weak nod and gaze at the body as they set forth out into the pouring rain.