The Storms That Bind Us

Chapter 15


By morning the rain had passed, and the sun was already drying the last traces of the storm. Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku waited in Jeep while Sanzo took care of the bill and the explanation for the ruined mattress. Hakkai had no idea what he was telling the man, but he trusted it was nothing too revealing.

Gojyo and Goku were unusually quiet. Even during breakfast the two had not argued. It was enough to make Hakkai nervous about what they were thinking, and if it was about the situation yesterday. He looked back and got smiles from them both, as if on cue. He watched Gojyo, noticed his fingers tapped lightly on his knee, then looked at Goku who only smiled more brightly.

"You two okay?"

"Yes," Goku said, then stuffed his mouth full of a biscuit he'd horded from breakfast. Gojyo only nodded, not meeting Hakkai's eyes. The redhead suddenly found a random storefront sign interesting and stared at it.

"Guys, if this is about yesterday, I'm sorry."

"Kai, it was rough, but nothing new."

"Yeah, just more bad guys," Goku agreed, the words muffled through a mouthful.

"Then why are you both so quiet? Honestly, it's strange to me."

"Strange how?" Gojyo looked at him. "It's just early, is all."

"Yeah, Hakkai." Goku stuffed more in his mouth like he hadn't eaten for days. Crumbs fell down his shirt front and over Jeep's backseat.

"Dammit, Goku. I lose track if you're a monkey or a pig sometimes! Look at the mess you're making!"

"Asshole, I'm not a monkey or a pig! You don't have a lot of room to talk, kappa!" More crumbs cascaded down as he spoke, only escalating Gojyo's annoyance. The redhead shoved at him, and it was on. "Stupid roach, I'll kick your ass!"

"Try it!"

"Well, that's normal," Hakkai said, his soft voice drown out by the sound of angry grunts as they wrestled in the back. Jeep chirped with a flustered tone as he was shook with the violence of their battle. "Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything." He watched the two, slightly amused. Goku had a fistful of red hair, and Gojyo was forcefully pushing Goku's head back with a spread hand over his face. Hakkai had seen children fight over toys in a strikingly similar way.

Sanzo stepped from the inn toward Jeep, then stopped short to watch the two. Hakkai saw his eyes twitching and one side of his mouth curl. It was that look he normally got right before he had a Goku and Gojyo induced explosion. Hakkai felt like the guilty party this time and reached back to try stopping the scuffle on his own. His hand got knocked aside when their bodies shifted more violently, their voice rising to a dangerous level. A few passerbys were watching with amazed curiosity.

"Guys." He tried to get their attention, but he was pointedly ignored over curses and yells of pain. Sanzo was already pulling his gun, so he gave up his efforts. Sometimes they just needed a rough hand, and Sanzo was the one for the job. The curious ones lost their interest quickly when they saw the weapon and hurried off. Hakkai grimaced, even as Sanzo shot a round up in the air.

"Fuck." Gojyo muttered and froze, his hand bunched in the front of Goku's shirt. Goku just went still and blinked, still with a handful of deep red hair, threads of it poking out between his fingers.

"Sanzo, it was my fault. I thought they were being too quiet." Hakkai smiled, and chuckled.

"Yeah, and I know exactly why." Sanzo came at Jeep, hopped in the front seat and lowered the gun from it's upward angle and pointed it right at Gojyo's head.

"Sanzo, come on, they were only fighting a little." His lover was even more angry than usual.

"Shit!" Gojyo moved from Goku and leaned back as far as he could trying to avoid the gun barrel being pressed to his forehead. "Ah..shit, it's still hot asshole!"

"Don't piss me off." Sanzo's voice was low, but the power of his anger was not diminished by it. Hakkai couldn't see his face in the position he was leaning in, but by Gojyo's expression, it wasn't pleasant.

"Sanzo, what's the big deal?" Goku asked, reaching to touch Sanzo's arm that was straight and rock solid, the gun not moving an inch. He ignored Goku altogether and pressed the barrel harder against Gojyo's forehead. Hakkai touched his back. He felt so stiff it was like touching stone.

"Sanzo," Hakkai said gently, but got no response. Gojyo's body was just as rigid and still. There was nothing he could do if Sanzo decided to shoot.

"Spill it, Sanzo. What's your problem?" Gojyo's voice was calm for a man with a loaded gun to his head.

"You can't be as stupid as you look, Gojyo," Sanzo responded.

"You already have a gun to my head. You have to be insulting too?"

"I saw you with him this morning." Gojyo went silent, and Hakkai saw Goku's eyes go bigger with apparent understanding. Hakkai wished he could understand what was going on himself.

"Oh...shit," Gojyo muttered.

"I'm only going to tell you this once, so listen carefully," Sanzo said, his tone unchanged.

"I'm listening."

"You ever hurt the monkey in any way, I will blow your fucking brains out without a second thought. Understand?"

"Yes, I get it...Now get the gun out of my face, dammit."

Sanzo backed off after a few seconds more, then turned and sat in the seat with a deep sigh. Uncomfortable silence followed. Hakkai felt shocked, intrigued and mildly confused all at the same time. He had an idea of what must have been seen going on between the two, but he couldn't quite believe it. He looked back at Gojyo. He hoped that if sex was involved, that it wasn't some kind of rebound from what happened between them over Sanzo.

"Fuck," Gojyo said, feeling around the red mark between his eyes. "Did you gave to mark up my face, Sanzo?"

"You're lucky I didn't shoot your dick off. Be grateful."

"Shit, that's not funny to even joke about!" Gojyo's voice actually shook.

"Sanzo, you told me yourself that Goku was a man," Hakkai said softly.

Sanzo grimaced. "I know."

"Then let him be a man." Hakkai looked at Gojyo again. "I've known Gojyo longer than any of you, and I know he wouldn't do this out of callous. At least, I hope I'm right." He gave Gojyo a stern look.

"That's right. I might be a son of a bitch, but I'm not a fucking punk," Gojyo said.

"Everyone needs comfort, Sanzo. Even me and Gojyo," Goku finally spoke.

Sanzo relaxed with the sound of his soft voice, shoulders slumping a little as if weary. Hakkai watched him, wondering what was going on in his lover's mind. There was never a question that Sanzo always felt Goku was like a son to him. Much like he and his own Master long ago.

"Alright, Goku." Sanzo looked over at them both. "Just, lock the door next time." He turned back to look ahead like it was the end of it. Hakkai smiled soft and touched his knee. His lover's hand covered his and gave a soft squeeze of thanks.

"Knock next time," Gojyo said under his breath.

"Do you want to die, kappa?" Sanzo warned.

"No, Sir," Gojyo chuckled nervous.

"I thought so."

"Wuss." Goku laughed.

"Monkey, don't push it," Gojyo warned. Shuffling and renewed curses started once again.

"No more today!" Sanzo yelled, pulling his gun up for them to see. The scuffling stopped at once. "Hakkai, get us out of here. We've got a job to do, and I'd like to get it done."

"Of course," Hakkai said, and starting Jeep to get them moving. The unknown lie ahead of them, and nothing was completely certain. What he did know was this. He would fight until his last breath, if need be, alongside his friends. Optimism overcame all else. We will win. They had to.

END


AN: Yeah, kind of an abrupt and strange ending. The boys are off again on the storyline now that mine is done. *silent prayer* Please, Miss Kazuya Minekura, finish the journey for these wonderful men. I'm still waiting for Saiyuki Reload Volume 10! PLEASE!
Anyway, I love the four boys, like most of us ladies do. All pairings are fine with me, but my favorite is Gojyo/Hakkai and Sanzo/Goku Yeah, I know, I had Sanzo and Goku more like father and son in this story, but it fit better in this one. Honestly, I don't know why some of the fan girls stick their nose up at that pairing. Goku is of age, and the difference in years between them isn't that far apart. Hell my husband and I have more years between us than that. But, we all can't like the same thing. Hehe.
Well, I will leave you before this authors note becomes it's own story. Hope you enjoyed. And, I think I'll do a little one shot of what happened between Gojyo and Goku. *grins* Again, any typos, I apologize!