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Relax and Hang On -- Again	By : cupnjava Category: Gensomaden Saiyuki > General Views: 20723 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gensomaden Saiyuki, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
*Peeks out from cyber space.* Will AFF finally let me get this posted?
For those of you who follow my LJ, this is the chapter that was posted on my friend's site while AFF inaccessible.

Author's Note: I sincerely apologize for the long wait between updates. The writing pace I had before cut too much into time with my family. I have made an agreement with my loved ones that seems to be cutting too much into my writing time. >.< I'll find a balance. I'm sure I will.
There are no music cues for this chapter.
For all of you who have written me and requested it – the Doku and Yaone lemon is in this chapter. For those of you who don't like het, that lemon is separated by my scene change marks and you should be able to scroll past it fairly quickly. There's nothing critical to the story in it.
A tribute was paid to a screenshot and comment made by friend. In the opening sequence of Reload (or was it Gunlock?) someone noticed something about how Sanzo slid down that snowy mountain. Thank you for the laugh and I mean this tribute out of total respect for that observation.
Chapter word count: 31,550
I've tried several times to access the reviews so I could do the reviewer feedback section. I can't get the page to load. I'm sorry.

Spoiler warning: I tried to get around it, but I can't. There is a spoiler for something in the Burial Arc – Son Goku's story.

Additional warnings: Yaoi – graphical descriptions of two men having sex, Het – graphical description of a man and a woman having sex. Specifically -- anal sex, vaginal sex, oral sex, masturbation and rimming.

Reminder disclaimer: This is a piece of fanfiction written for entertainment purposes only. I claim no ownership to the characters from Saiyuki or Peanuts. Those characters belong to their owners. I am not the creator of Saiyuki or Peanuts. No money is being made from this story.
You must be over the age of 18 or 21 (depending upon the laws of your state/country) to read this story. I, the author of this fanfic, declare that I am over the age of 21 and there are no laws in my state that prohibit me from writing stories with graphic sexual content.
All characters written in a sexual situation are over the age of 18.

RAHO XX: Blantic Day Six: “Now, Then and Way Back When.”

Or

"The Seme Perspective."

Or

"Semes will be Semes."

Gojyo looked through the steam of his coffee cup at his lover. This had already been an amusing day with Sanzo storming over to their cabin with determination in his eyes.
“If she can travel so can we.”
Gojyo didn’t argue. Didn’t smirk. Didn’t anything. He, simply, pointed to the bedroom, “Talk to the driver.”
Eight minutes later, the blond was fuming as he left cabin thirty-eight.
Gojyo sipped his coffee. Hakkai. Hakkai out. Hakkai out like a light. Hakkai was out so hard that Gojyo kept checking to make sure the brunet was still breathing. Nothing. Nadda. Zip. Zilch was waking the demon.
It’s not like they hadn’t tried.
Gojyo went through the typical behavior familiar from the rare times he’d awoken before Hakkai: a few whispers, a gentle hug, some kisses.
Nothing.
The smell of coffee directed under his lover’s nose.
Nope.
Pushing on the bed making the limp doll rock.
Didn’t work.
Loud speech.
Gojyo wondered why he even thought that would work with the “Prince of Ignore Everything Irritating” (Sanzo was the King of Ignore Everything Irritating although court Jesters Gojyo and Goku were able to breakthrough that) was able to ignore that even while awake.
Playing with his sleeping lover didn’t wake him. Gojyo got Hakkai hard, watched the brunet go soft and then got Hakkai hard again – several times. The unappreciative brunet hadn’t even so much as moaned when Gojyo blew in Hakkai’s ear.
Gojyo went so far as to toy with death and Hakkai Wrath by extinguishing a cigarette in a beer can. Hakkai didn’t even skip a breath.
Well shit, Hakkai was most definitely out.
Gojyo chuckled and wondered if Sanzo tried using the fan as an alarm clock. He figured that was something the world would never know.
The longer Gojyo sat there staring at the resting brunet the more familiar this felt. Watching the slow rise and fall of Hakkai’s chest, counting the seconds between the brunet’s breaths, listening carefully for an ominous hitch: were all reminiscent of vigils Gojyo once held for a comatose Gonou.
***
The hair. Why do they always have to mention the hair? Gojyo looked up at the night sky. Damn. It was raining. Pretty hard and steady too. That’s all right. His night went from sugar to shit with one comment about the “dye job”. He wanted to get rained on tonight. He wanted to feel wet and cold.
He wanted his body to match his mood. Liquor to numb the pain. Women to kiss it away and cards to put food on the table. Life was easy. Pitifully easy. Sickeningly easy.
He hooked two fingers under the collar of his button-up over-shirt and stepped onto the wet ground. That bar sucked anyway. They watered down the drinks.
Yeah. That sounded good. So, tonight it was loneliness. That’s all right. Sometimes a man needed a bit of solitude. It built character.
Character. What a crock of shit. He had enough character to be in a movie or even a long running TV show.
TV. That didn’t sound so bad. Head home, crack open a beer and turn on “Shrek”.
Crimson eyes narrowed. He knew this path through the woods like the back of his hand. He walked it almost daily. However, tonight the rain was coming down so hard it was difficult to tell the path from the underbrush. He nearly slipped in some mud.
He heard a moan. Was someone fucking out here in this weather? No, that wasn’t a moan. That was groan. A groan of pain. No, not pain. This groan was more melancholy than pain.
It wasn’t his problem.
His toes were cold and wet. Canvas slip-ons were not meant for rain and mud. Cool rain soaked his hair and began to run down his face. Hair.
There it was again, that moan, and something smelled funny. Gojyo shook his head. It wasn’t his problem. He had enough of his own problems; he didn’t need to be getting involved with anyone else’s problems.
Problems like his hair and the “dye job” that sparked so many questions. Who in their right mind would dye their hair the color of blood? Gojyo pinched a lock of hair, which was free from his ponytail, between his index finger and thumb. He looked at it through the wet night. There it was. Every time he looked at it. Every time he saw it in a mirror. Every time the wind blew it. Every time he opened his matching eyes – there it was. Blood red hair. “’Pretty hair,’ she says. I don’t know about that.”
There was that groan again. Gojyo narrowed his eyes and espied a lump in the path. Some kind of beast or woodland creature. Sleeping? No, not in this rain. Dying. He took a few cautious steps toward the lump. Gojyo lifted an eyebrow as another groan came to his ears.
That was no groan. That was a death rattle. He’d heard that before many, many years ago. And, there was a smell in the air that was also familiar. That was the smell of the Grim Reaper coming for someone. That was the smell of a void. The smell that lingered in the air once a soul imploded into nothingness upon death. The smell of absence. The smell of a death void.
If someone was that bad off then they were either nearly comatose or waiting for one last violent outburst. Like a wounded animal – dangerous and unpredictable. Gojyo slowly extended his foot, “Hey, Buddy, you all right?”
The lump turned man moved.
Gojyo knelt down.
An emerald eye opened.
Time stood still.
At that moment, that emerald eye looked at him and through him. It surrounded him and left him awestruck. It was filled with woe, desire and sadness yet it also laughed at him. Smiled in a way.

Kill me, please, or let me die.

Gojyo dropped his shirt. The mud around this fellow was black not brown. He looked closer saw the shade of his hair and eyes surround this slender framed man.
“I can’t do that.”
The emerald eye closed and the bloody and muddy brunet relaxed into the mud.
Light glinted off one ear. Odd jewelry. Gojyo lifted an eyebrow. No doubt those were limiters. “I can’t do that just because you want me to. I’m a selfish ass; you’ll learn that soon enough.” He picked up his shirt and held it in his teeth. He slipped one hand under the guy’s shoulders and one hand under the stranger’s knees. He opened his teeth and dropped his shirt over what had to be the source of all this blood – the guy’s stomach.
Shit. Now what?
This guy needed medical attention now. Gojyo was no doctor, but he knew one. He knew one who didn’t ask too many questions and played poker beyond the appropriate skill level.
He smirked as he carried Mr. Too Quiet home. “I’ll take you home. Hug you. Squeeze you. Love you and name you George.” He chuckled, “Or perhaps I’ll lock you in a cage and keep you forever.” He looked at the brunet’s face, “What do you think of that, George?”
George didn’t say anything.
“Fine. It’s a plan.” Gojyo had to laugh. He simply had to. That eye shot right through him. It was like this guy could see his soul. He felt raw and naked. He felt exposed and vulnerable – like this guy knew everything there was to know about him. If he didn’t make a joke, then he would be too freaked out to do the right thing.
Gojyo adjusted his hold. This rain was making his fingers slip. George felt cold. “Hang in there, George. Hang in there.” He held George to his chest and started to jog.
The rain pelted them. It hit his face and he had to squint just to make out shapes in the familiar path. He stumbled. George fell.
Gojyo pushed himself up from the mud and looked for George. A mud and blood bathed hand wiped his forehead as he tried to keep the rain carried sweat from burning his eyes.
George was lying on his stomach in the mud.
Gojyo slid his hands under the brunet. “Sorry about that. I always forget that root.” He shook wet crimson stands from his face. “It won’t happen again.”
George didn’t complain. He wasn’t the complaining type.
Gojyo knitted his brow. There was more blood. “Damn it, George, you stop that bleeding shit right now.” A pit formed in Gojyo stomach as he hurried home. A lump formed in his throat.
What did he care, right? This bleeding and broken stranger had nothing to do with him. The brunet was just a guy. A bleeding guy. A broken guy. Damn it. This guy was George and George needed to live.
Gojyo gritted his teeth, “Fuck.” He took off running.
George bounced limply in Gojyo’s cradle carry. The splotch of blood on George’s shirt grew with each bounce. Chestnut strands bounced and raindrops flung from the tips. One hand fell and swayed in the air. The toes of his shoes tapped as Gojyo ran.
Gojyo ran. Ran home to safety. Ran home to help George. Ran home to figure out how this guy got into him so deeply and so quickly. He ran. He ran from his bloody past and his lonely future. He ran from his woe and pain. He ran from the dye job.
Finally, Gojyo made it to his front door. He panted and his arms burned from the exertion, but he was home. Being home meant that George would be all right. His fingertips were white as he held the thin man in his arms. Mud and blood completed his sad ensemble. Now, he stood at his front door and wondered how the fuck he was going to open it. “Can you stand, George?”
Gojyo knelt and put George’s feet on the ground. He held the brunet close as they stood.
A groan cut through the air as George’s head rolled back. Emerald eyes fluttered.
Gojyo worried his bottom lip and shook his head. “Not George. Emerald.” He secured his hold on Emerald as he dug in his pocket for his keys. Metal jingled as Gojyo slid the key into the lock. He nudged the door open with his foot and bent to secure Emerald’s knees.
Gojyo then carried a man to his bed. He had a second bedroom, but that bed was just a futon. Emerald needed to be up off the floor. It would make it easier for the doctor. The second bedroom also didn’t have a lamp. It was on Gojyo’s “to do” list, but he hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
Mud, blood, rainwater and a brunet were placed gently upon Gojyo’s bed.
Now what?
The blood splotch was moving fairly rapidly. Did he tend to the wound for a bit then go get the doctor or did he run for the doctor and hope that – fuck. There was too much blood. Way, way too much blood.
Gojyo pressed his lips into a thin line and yanked Emerald’s shirt open. He winced. He’d seen plenty of abdomens in his life and they weren’t supposed to look like that. He knitted his brow and eyed the wound. Some parts of the broken skin were straight like the guy had been cut with a knife or a sword. Other parts were jagged and torn. Gojyo remembered the fall and the run home.
He looked up at the ceiling, “Fuck.” When he was trying to help, he managed to make the situation worse. He sighed. Bandages. He needed bandages. No. Bandages wouldn’t help this. Towels. He needed towels. “Don’t go anywhere, Emerald. I’ll be right back.”
Emerald didn’t move.
Gojyo grabbed every towel he owned, even the ones that weren’t clean. He sat them on the bed and ran to get a bucket. He filled the bucket with warm water and knelt beside the bed. He dipped a washcloth into the water and wrung it out. “This might sting.” Gingerly, he wiped Emerald’s stomach.
Crimson eyes went wide as stuff began to spill out. Slimy stuff. Wet stuff. Crimson coated stuff. He pushed his hands against the wound and intestines slid between his fingers, “No, no, no! Fuck!” He wasn’t a doctor, but he knew that shit needed to be inside the body. His hands shifted as he tried to grab slippery firm things. Squishy things. Things that if he held tightly slipped more quickly. He tried to push the organs back in place gently, but his pinkly slid up under a flap of skin and the wound got just a little bit bigger. “Aww shit.”
Eventually, Gojyo got the bulk of the innards back in place. Well, not so much in place as it was inside, but inside was a whole lot closer to in place than outside was. He found a tentative balance with one hand over the pushing organs. His pinky rested on top of torn skin as well as his thumb. His palm pushed against what felt like writhing warm snakes and something gritty that Gojyo didn’t care to identify. He wasn’t eating noodles for a while. That much was certain.
His free hand grabbed a folded towel. He put the towel over his hand and slowly slid his hand out. Breathing a sigh of relief, he grabbed another towel and put it on top of the first one. He shook his head and grabbed the pile of towels. After putting all of them on top of the brunet’s stomach, he held out both hands with his fingers extended, “Stay.”
He sighed and looked at the brunet’s chest. That looked like a breath. “Thank the gods.” For the first time he noticed the blood on the brunet’s face, hands and arms. “Emerald, you’ve had your ass handed to you.” He pushed a hand to his bangs and hoped like hell he hadn’t just brought a maniac in his home. Like that monster he heard about in the news a couple months back.
Some mass murderer wiped out half a village. It would be Gojyo’s luck that Emerald was that guy.
He stood and waved a hand in the air, “Now don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.” He turned and looked over his shoulder, “You aren’t alone and no one is going to hurt you.” He took two steps and looked at his bedroom doorway, “The bathroom is… well… you’ll find it.”
Gojyo ran as fast as he could to the doctor’s house. He banged on the front door, “Loki! Open up!”
“I’m not home!”
“Loki, damn it!”
“Go away!”
“Loki, I need you, man.”
The doctor shook his head as he shuffled through his house. “Someone had better be bleeding.” He fastened his pants and opened the door. “This had better be an--” His eyes grew wide as he saw Gojyo covered in mud and blood. “Holy shit!” He blinked, “Where are you hurt?”
Gojyo shook his head, “It’s not me.”
“Let me get my bag.”
~~~~
Loki washed his hands as Gojyo, fresh from a shower, dried his hair with a clean-enough towel. The doctor spoke, “What happened?”
“I don’t know. Is he gonna live?” Gojyo looked at the bedroom doorframe.
Loki knitted his brow, “Is he family or something? I don’t remember seeing this guy around.”
“Or something. Is he gonna live?”
The doctor shrugged, “I don’t know.” He shook his head, “That wound looked vicious. I stitched it as best as I could – gonna be a hell of a scar even in the best of conditions. His organs were in all the wrong spots. He’s bad off.”
Gojyo nodded. “Okay.” Gojyo’s stomach twisted. He should have just carried Emerald to the doctor’s house.
Loki fished through his bag, “When the abdominal cavity is open like that, there can be several complications.” He looked up at Gojyo, “What kind of needles to you use?”
“I don’t do drugs. You know that.”
“That’s right.” He sighed, “Can you give an injection?”
Gojyo lifted an eyebrow, “What?”
“Injection. He’s going to have an infection; I’ll guarantee it. He can’t take a pill so you’ll have to give antibiotics to him as an injection.”
Gojyo shrugged, “An injection. You just poke and push, right?”
Loki smiled, “Try to…” The guy was probably going to die anyway. The blood loss was enormous. “Yeah, just poke and push.” He handed Gojyo several syringes, “I didn’t give you these.” The last thing he needed was his patients coming to him for needles. He pulled out a vial of an antibiotic and wrote out the dosages and times.
Gojyo looked at the paper and the vial, “How long is he going to be out?”
Loki shrugged, “It’s hard to say. A few days, a week maybe longer.” He ran a hand through his red hair, “Given the blood loss, probably a week. It will be month before he can get around.” How were they going to handle nourishment? Perhaps he could “borrow” an I.V. from the clinic or at least a large enough syringe and some solution. His red eyes blinked, “Gojyo, no smoking around him. He needs fresh air.”
Gojyo rolled his eyes, “No smoking? What are you trying to do? Kill me?”
Loki chuckled, “How are you doing anyway?”
Gojyo nodded, “Pretty good.”
“I told you this town was fairly safe for us.”
Gojyo rubbed the back of his neck and looked into the bedroom, “Yeah.”
“You never came back to see me after that bout of pneumonia. You all right?”
“Yeah.” Gojyo couldn’t pull his eyes away from the dark bedroom.
“Fish still fly?”
“Yeah.” Gojyo knitted his brow. Emerald was gonna live, right? Emerald had to live. He had to know why that emerald eye just knew him.
Loki nodded, “When did you take him on as a lover?”
“Yeah.” Gojyo blinked, “What?” He looked at Loki.
Loki laughed. “You seem awfully worried about him to be just a friend.”
Gojyo shook his head, “When do you wanna play again? Now, that your debt is practically paid and all.”
Loki grinned, “Maybe your … friend … will play with us sometime?”
Gojyo nodded and walked with Loki to the front door.
Loki opened his umbrella and paused, “Did you catch the news tonight?”
Gojyo shook his head, “Nah.”
“Be careful. A demon clan was wiped out a few days ago. I worry about you living so far out here.”
“Another one?”
“Yeah. They think it was the same guy.”
Gojyo knitted his brow. “The same guy? What kind of … beast does that?”
“They think it was connected to the village slaughter. Similar blade. Similar M.O. You be careful. That last clan wasn’t far from here.” He paused and glanced inside the house, “Be wary of strangers.”
Gojyo nodded, “That would be Hyakugen Maoh’s clan.”
Loki nodded, “Yeah.”
Gojyo stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Hyakugen Maoh after the Black Crow Clan. They weren't good people. They did horrid stuff.”
Loki nodded, “I’m not saying the guy that did it is a bad guy, just dangerous. I’ll be by tomorrow night to check on your friend. Take care.”
“Yeah.” Gojyo closed the door and looked into the bedroom. It couldn’t be. Emerald was too small built to be able to pull something like that off.
Shaking off the absurd, Gojyo dug through his “secret stash”, pulled out “Shrek” and sat down on the couch. An ogre and a donkey came to life on his screen. Gojyo looked at the doorway to his bedroom. He felt something pushing at the top of his spine.
He tried to brush it off and watched as angry villagers invaded a swamp. His eyes cut to the doorway. Was that Emerald getting up? Was that a moan? He knew he heard something.
Not bothering to pause “Shrek”, Gojyo headed for the bedroom. He knocked on the open door. “I’m coming in.” Slowly he peeked around the doorframe. “You … um… well all right wouldn’t be a good question, huh?”
Emerald didn’t move and barely breathed.
Gojyo listened to a few straining breaths. “Ahh, all right then. I’m… I’m gonna be…” He pointed into the living room. “If ya need something, just yell.”
Gojyo sat back down at the couch. Five minutes later, he was in the doorway again. “I’m still here. Ya know. Umm…” He stammered for a moment. “Want something from the kitchen? Something to drink or something? I don’t have much, but I’m willing to share.”
Emerald didn’t speak. He just lay there trying to breathe. His heart was trying to find a normal rhythm.
Gojyo ran a hand through his hair. “I got beer, but I don’t think you should have one now. You probably need one though.”
Silence was cut by the sounds of seven dwarves putting a comatose Snow White on an ogre’s kitchen table.
“I’m just in the next room. Just in the next room. On the other side of the wall. Just…just… well, you’ll find me.” Gojyo headed back to the living room.
The only light on in the living room was the glow of the TV. Gojyo’s shadow shifted on the wall as he sat down. The sounds from the movie were lost in his ears. If he’d been that badly injured, would he like to wake up in a strange place, in the dark and alone? Alone and in pain. Hurting and alone. Totally alone.

Utterly alone?
Alone.
This was bullshit. He stood with a heavy sigh and began pushing the couch into the spare bedroom. He flicked on the living room overhead light and knocked on the bedroom door, “I’m coming in again.” He flipped on the light and looked at the lump on his bed. Loki had cleaned the brunet’s abdomen when Gojyo took a shower, but the guy on his bed was still bloody and muddy. “I thought you might want to watch a movie or something. And I um… well… hold on.” He started pulling on the bed frame.
The plastic capped metal scraped against the floor as Gojyo pulled it into the living room. Every so often the brunet would move. Gojyo wasn’t sure if it was from the jostling of the bed or if Emerald was trying to help. “You just lay there, man. I got this. You ain’t heavy.”
Emerald, oblivious to all of it, remained quiet. Every so often his body would move from the jostling of the furniture. If he had been conscious it would have hurt, but as it was he felt nothing. If he has been awake, he would have insisted on helping. Emerald was the helping type.
By the time Gojyo settled into his chair and was able to share this special movie with Emerald, “Shrek” was talking about how ogres were like onions.
And, that’s how it came to be that Gojyo’s bed was in his living room. And, that was the first time they watched “Shrek” together. Although only one of them would remember those monumental moments.
Later during one of Hakkai’s cleaning sprees, “Shrek” would be discovered and explained as something recently purchased for the monkey. For years, Gojyo believed that Hakkai bought the story.
***
Gojyo finished his coffee and leaned toward Hakkai. He ran his fingers through his lover’s hair, “I’m going into the kitchen,” He whispered. “Can I get you anything?” After lightly kissing Hakkai’s cheek, he headed for the kitchen.
He hadn’t really expected an answer and he wasn’t sure if he really expected one three years ago.
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Goku turned the page of the comic book. Sanzo, who wasn’t reading the comic book from over Goku’s shoulder no matter what it looked like, sighed.
Goku spoke, “Guess, were not going anywhere today, huh?” He chuckled. Even if Hakkai woke up right now, there would be little point in packing everything.
Sanzo gritted his teeth. “Waste of time.”
Goku skimmed a panel about Peppermint Patty getting a D-minus. “All of it? This whole week? Really, do you think so?”
“When did you get so smug?”
Goku snickered and stood from the couch. “How’s your head?”
“Hurts like hell.”
Goku shrugged as he walked toward the bathroom. “You should drink more water.”
The fan hit the closing bathroom door.
Goku pulled out his most recent note from Hakkai. Judging by the quality of the handwriting, Hakkai had downed a few drinks before writing this.

Goku,
First, they don’t use piercing guns for [scribble] th[scribble] di[scribble] gentile[crossed out] gentle[crossed out] genital piercing. They use …

Goku rolled his eyes as Hakkai went through a little joke about space aliens from the planet Piercena.

Serriouslly, they use piercing needles. The diameter[crossed out] radius[crossed out] circumference of the needle is related to the gauge[crossed out] gage[crossed out] size of the piercing.

Some types of piercing require you to know how big – the thickness of the what is being pierced when erect. So, the next time you…

Goku blushed. He never expected Hakkai to go into such a long detailed description of a blowjob.
What really shocked Goku was when he saw that Hakkai had, actually, provided pictures. Little doodles of little dicks. Little doodles of little dicks with little cartoon dialog balloons talking about the names and healing times of their piercings. Goku found it slightly disturbing that all of the little dicks were smiling and bore little chakras.
Goku nearly discounted the idea of having Sanzo’s dick pierced as he read the healing times. Weeks to months – that was insane!

With chi my healing, I don’t know how long it will take. I’m sure it will be shorter. The healing time not Sanzo’s dick.

Goku couldn’t help but wonder if that was the first time Hakkai had ever written the word “dick”. He waded through the rest of the note, which was riddled with more transverse wordings and misspellings. He blushed once again when Hakkai started speculating how Goku’s and Sanzo’s sex life might change with some of the types of piercings.
Yes, he’d gone to Hakkai to talk. He couldn’t talk to Sanzo about Sanzo and he couldn’t talk to Gojyo without a hefty risk of teasing. Yes, he’d shared many intimate details with Hakkai. Yes, they were in cahoots about using the bedroom, in part, to make the rest of the trip more pleasant. But! He’d never expected Hakkai to talk, much less write, so fluidly and candidly about sex.
It should be noted that Gojyo would not have been happy about the reason he was ruled out from being the “go to guy”. He teased the monkey about a lot of things, but he’d never tease someone about seeking sexual advice. His advice may have been more along the lines of “beat the shit out of him if that’s what he wants. It’s all good when clothes come off.” As compared to Hakkai’s more helpful advice, which could be summarized as kink was perfectly fine and should not be disregarded as legitimate sexual expression, but there is reason to suspect that Sanzo was exploring kink for the wrong reasons.
The monkey knew what he was doing even if his tactics were a bit unusual. He knew exactly what he was doing when it came to His Sanzo.
After mulling over the pros and cons of the different types of piercings and spending what was, hopefully, not a suspicious amount of time in the bathroom, Goku had narrowed down Sanzo’s piercing to one of two types: the diode which was a barbell on the side of the dick that penetrated the ridge around the head and the ampallange which was a barbell inserted horizontally through the head of the dick. Both would look really cool and he suspected both would feel really good.
Meanwhile, Sanzo was taking advantage of a moment alone with the comic book (in which he had absolutely no interest – still his story and he was still sticking to it) and was completely oblivious to his planned body modification.
One could only wonder if Sanzo’s need to prove that he isn’t weak could be prodded into going along with this idea.
Goku made a mental note that Hakkai would like a moment to speak with him alone and scribbled out a reply before legitimately using the bathroom.

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Hakuryuu fluttered into the bedroom and landed on Hakkai’s blanket covered shins.
Gojyo smiled at the little dragon, “Hey parrot.”
Hakuryuu sighed. Weren’t they passed all the parrot business?
Gojyo chuckled, “Oh that’s right, where are my manners?” The recently acquired information on white dragons indicated there was reason to suspect they had a royal dragon. “That should be Sir Parrot or some such shit, right?”
Hakuryuu gritted his teeth.
Gojyo sat back in his chair, put his feet on the bed, crossed his ankles and sipped his coffee, “You’ll always be just a regular old parrot to me.”
Choosing to ignore the insolent general, Hakuryuu waddled up Hakkai’s side and sniffed the brunet’s head.
Gojyo helpfully offered, “He’s asleep.”
Draconic red eyes rolled in a gesture of thanks for that painfully obvious piece of information. With a soft peep of resignation, he settled on the bedding by Hakkai’s waist. It wasn’t that he wanted to be near Hakkai (such a thing should never be assumed and Gojun would claw anyone who would dare to suggest it.) He was keeping an eye on the marshal and the general – that’s all.
Gojyo smiled as the dragon’s hips wiggled tucking himself close to his owner. Since they’d been here, Hakuryuu hadn’t had much time with Hakkai and it was obvious that the dragon missed the contact. Gojyo watched those beady little eyes blink at him.
They made for one seriously strange family. It sounded like the beginning of a lame joke: a half-breed, a demon, and a dragon walk into a bar… The punch line was probably something like “Now, that’s what I call a barbeque.”
Perhaps in many ways it was a lame joke. Take a monkey, a priest, a demon, a half-breed and a dragon then forced them together on a mission to save the world. Insane.
This little mishmash of people wasn’t the only family Hakuryuu had, was it? Gojyo set his empty cup on his thigh, “I’m sorry we have to take you from your family.”
Hakuryuu lifted his head. What was this?
Gojyo looked at his sleeping lover, “You’ve been away from them for two years.” He knitted his brow, “We’ve gotta be getting close to three now. I can’t imagine how hard that is.”
Hakuryuu tilted his head. Was this the real general? Was this the guy who hid beneath the jokes and the parrot comments?
Gojyo thought about the dream he had thought he wanted and the dream he was living with Hakkai. Hakuryuu had the dream Gojyo spent so much time desiring. And yet, the little dragon had to give it up for this quest. Hakuryuu – little Hakuryuu – might be a father and he had to leave his kid (or kids) to carry their sorry asses west. “I hope it doesn’t take too much longer.” He wasn’t sure if he meant that. In many ways he liked the quest; it gave him a sense of purpose.

They had assumed that Hakuryuu was a baby dragon. He was small. It was a natural assumption. This assumption was confirmed the first time they saw Kougaiji’s dragons fly overhead. Those dragons were big. Jien– Dokugakuji -- was no small man. One of Kougaiji’s dragons was able to carry Jie-- Dokugakuji -- and Yaone while another was able to carry Lirin and Kougaiji.
It never occurred to them that dragons were like dogs. Until they met Hakuryuu’s mate, they had no idea they were expecting a Jack Russell to grow into an English Wolfhound.
By many accounts, Jack Russell’s were the smartest of the dog breeds. That made Gojyo wonder.
Could he teach Hakuryuu to shake hands? Catch a Frisbee? Roll-over? He’d been missing out on years of won bar bets. He could kick himself.
“Hey parrot, keep an eye on him. If I don’t have a cigarette I’m gonna kill somebody.” Gojyo stood. “If he so much as skips a breath, I wanna know about it.”
Hakuryuu turned his head to look at the tuft of brunet locks peeking from under the covers.
“And if I come back and you’re getting frisky with my man, I’ll wring your neck.”
Hakuryuu sighed. It was the same old general. That guy was as deep a puddle. What did the Marshal see in him?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sanzo had fallen asleep on the couch. The comic book lay open upon his chest.
Goku smiled. A hungover Sanzo was not a fun Sanzo. It was best to let the blond sleep for a while. He looked out the window and from over the snowman’s shoulder he saw Gojyo step out on the porch.
This was too much to resist. He grabbed his cloak and dashed outside. “Hey roach! Hakkai not letting you smoke inside anymore? You’re so whipped.” He buttoned his cloak.
Gojyo glared across the courtyard. “I came out for fresh air.” He lit his cigarette. It just didn’t feel right smoking in there with Hakkai out like that. “What about you? Have you felt the fan today? I’d rather be whipped than be fanned.”
Goku laughed and walked across the courtyard. “Really? How would you feel about my foot up your ass?”
Gojyo laughed, “You’re so short; I don’t think it could reach.”
Goku stepped up on the porch, “I thought roaches were suppose to run from the light or are you like a moth and fly into the fire.”
Gojyo most definitely flew into the fire and then laughed at it. “Aren’t you supposed to be hanging from some tree?”
“I only climb trees to get food. Speaking of which –“
“You’re hungry.”
“Would ya let me say my line! Gods!” His stomach rumbled, “And I am.” He sat down and looked at the overlook. The town and area below was green with evergreens. “How come it doesn’t look cold down there?”
Gojyo looked down the mountain at what was presumably Taikgen. “Elevation.”
Goku rolled his eyes. “I swear I don’t know why I ask you anything. If you don’t know just say you don’t know.”
Gojyo smirked, “Elevation is the answer dumbass. The higher up you are the thinner the air and colder the temperatures.”
Goku stood and walked over to the side of the porch. “We don’t look that high up.”
“It’s an optical illusion. We’re much higher than it seems. The eye judges distance using relationship sizes. All we can basically see are trees in the distance. We can tell they are far away, but we can’t really tell how far.” Gojyo ruffled Goku’s hair, “Didn’t Hakkai teach you anything or was it that you didn’t pay attention while you worked on your ‘hot for teacher’ crush.”
Goku rolled his eyes. “I don’t have a crush on Hakkai. I’m all about Sanzo and don’t you forget it. And Hakkai taught me all sorts of stuff. He was a good teacher; it’s just that some things don’t really make sense until you see them.” He looked at the landscape – were they really that high up? “Speaking of which, how is Hakkai?”
“Asleep.” Gojyo narrowed his eyes and tried to make out a teeny tiny speck that may possibly be a large building. “How’s Sanzo?”
“Asleep.” Goku thought about how they got up here. At the time, he was too fearful of his life to think about how much vertical distance they covered. Perhaps they really were that high up.
“Bored?”
Goku groaned. “So bored.”
Off in the distance a woman cackled in evil glee while a man screamed in terror. It sounded like they were traveling down hill at a high rate of speed.
Gojyo chuckled, “This is a ski lodge.”
Goku sighed and sat back down on the steps. “If I got on skis Hakkai’d kill me.”
“Nah.”
“Oh yeah he would. He came here for how long and never skied?”
Perhaps Goku had a point. “Technically, he never said anything about snowboarding, did he?”
“Snow-what-ing?”
“Snowboarding.” Gojyo explained what a snowboard was and how one rode it.
“How do you know this?”
Gojyo rolled his eyes and flicked his cigarette into the snow. “I had a life before Hakkai and I met.” It wasn’t much of one, but it was there. “I know shit too.”
“Do you think they have those here?”
“You could ask Ms. Marie.”
Goku looked at the snowy path to the ski lodge. “I don’t wanna go there by myself.”
Gojyo smiled, “I’m not leaving this cabin until Hakkai’s awake.”
Goku smiled, “Hey! Do you think I could talk Sanzo into doing it with me?”
“I thought Sanzo was ‘doing it’ with you.” Gojyo chuckled.
“Perv.” Goku shook his head, “Snowboarding, you dope.”
Gojyo laughed, “Hell yeah.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, with the way he loved riding up and down those cliffs on the way here? He’s a thrill seeker, he’d love that shit. Getting him to do it without making him look like he wants to do it is gonna be a trick.”
Goku laughed, “Not for me.” He had a way with Sanzo. He got meatbuns when the priest didn’t really want to be bothered with it. He was taken on the trip to find Gonou when Sanzo didn’t want him to go. He was taken on the quest when Sanzo wasn’t all that keen on a tagalong. For some reason, Goku found Sanzo tractable. This was especially true when Sanzo wanted to do something, but didn’t want to admit to wanting it.
The only hitch was Sanzo’s hangover.
Goku asked, “Got any aspirin or anything?”
Gojyo nodded, “Yep.” He took a few earlier today to cure his hangover. “He’ll need water too.” He ruffled Goku’s hair as they walked into the cabin, “All about Sanzo, huh? What about you and Lirin?”
Goku shrugged, “We’re just having some fun.”
Gojyo stopped dead in his tacks. The door to the cabin was still open. “What?” There was one person on this little expedition who was allowed that kind of behavior and that person was not Goku.
Goku repeated himself, “We’re just having some fun. Ya know a car—“
“What! Goku…” Gojyo shook his head. “That shit ain’t right. Ya only just fuck with someone when it is mutual and Lirin’s not that ty—“
“How well do you know Lirin?” Goku smirked, “I’ll have you know that this thing between us was her idea.”
Gojyo shut the door. “Her idea?”
“Yep, now where’s the aspirin?” Goku looked around the living room for Hakkai’s pack.
Gojyo sat down on the couch, “You’re gonna have tell me about this shit.”
Goku sighed, “There’s nothing to tell. We hooked up once it was one of those things that just kinda happens.” After that, it snowballed into a strange “thing”.
Gojyo nodded, “Yeah, you stumbled during a fight and your dick just slipped inside of her. Yeah, that shit happens all the time.”
Goku rolled his eyes. “She’s cute and if a cute woman were to walk up to you and offer you some fun would you turn it down?”
“You’re not me.” And, Gojyo didn’t want Goku or anyone else to become him.
“Just give me the aspirin.”
“No.” Gojyo waved a hand in the air, “Lirin isn’t the type to be treated like that.”
Goku shrugged and plopped down in the chair, “Like what? Gojyo, like what? What is it that I’m doing that’s so bad? I’ve had sex with her. We’re both of age. What’s the deal?”
Gojyo was silent for a moment as he mulled over Goku’s question. What was so wrong with it? “It just feels wrong. That’s all.”
Goku sighed.
“Wait. Had – past tense. Are you two no longer seeing each other?”
“I dunno.” Goku shrugged, “That’s up to her.”
***

Lirin was sitting in the windowsill to her room with her feet dangling outside. Where could that baldy monk be? She looked up at the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Nah, that couldn’t be. If anyone was up there then the scouts would have reported, right? And, the Sanzo party doesn’t stay in one spot for any real length of time anyway.
“Lirin!”
She looked down at her brother, “Brother!”
“Don’t sit like that you might fall.” Kougaiji shook his head. Did he have to go back to putting plastic caps over the outlets?
She laughed as she jumped from the second story window to the street. “I couldn’t hear you what did you say?”
Kougaiji shook his head, “Never mind.”
Lirin giggled. Certainly her brother would never think such a height was too much for Super Lirin. At least he won’t again. “Are you in a better mood than you were last night, Worrywart?”
Kougaiji looked at his safe and sound sister. He smiled at the twinkle of life in her eyes. After grinning a nearly boyish grin, he chuckled, “Yes. I’m doing better.” He tossed his arm around her shoulders. “So, let me ask you. How long do you plan on having …” The words caught in his throat. “This thing with Goku.”
She shrugged, “I dunno. Till it’s no longer fun or until it just doesn’t happen anymore. Or… I dunno.” Why was her relationship with Goku suddenly the hot topic of conversation? Didn’t they have foes to defeat, a sutra to claim, a woman to save and meatbuns to eat?
Kougaiji softly smiled. Then, he wondered why that smile snuck upon his lips. He should be angry and protective. He should be playing “big brother” instead of being “big brother” and appreciating his sister’s freedom of thought.
Freedom of thought. Freedom to call lines of possession where one wanted to. Freedom to do as one wanted without out feeling the pressures of society to do it or not do it a certain way.
He ruffled her hair. Mom would be proud, brother sure was.
Lirin skipped down the sidewalk as they headed to get something to eat.
***

Aspirin in hand, Goku walked across the courtyard to the cabin where His Sanzo was probably still sleeping.
In Goku’s mind, there were two Sanzo’s. His Sanzo was the one that “didn’t” read comics over his shoulder, the one who got goaded into a snowball fight and the one who’s touch could be erotically aggressive and teasingly gentle.
Then, there was the priest. The priest with a mission. That was the Sanzo everyone else got. Goku liked both Sanzo’s, but he loved His Sanzo. Nah, he loved both Sanzo’s.
There was something special that made him feel warm when he thought about His Sanzo being someone only he got to see.
That was it, huh? That was why some people only played card games with one person.
That was really sad. Didn’t those people know that’s not how you got that special warm feeling? Controlling behavior had nothing to do with that “something special”. That “something special” was something that came from deep down inside and had very little do with behavior. Sanzo could play card games with anyone and His Sanzo would still be his and only his.
Goku could have His Sanzo and this warm feeling in a crowd or a barely-lit bedroom. His Sanzo was always there. This warm feeling was always there.
When he spent time with Lirin or Sanzo spent time with whomever Sanzo spent time with, Goku still had His Sanzo. Goku still loved Sanzo and Sanzo still loved Goku even if the blond would never say it.
Saying those three little words might be really important to some people, but feeling it was a lot more important to Goku. Goku had felt those three little words for years.
He’d felt those three little words long before they shared a kiss. He felt those words before they shared words. He felt those three little words before the chains fell from his wrists and knew Sanzo felt it too.
His Sanzo was just for him, but Sanzo was for the world.
He softly closed the door to the cabin and eyed Sanzo asleep on the couch. The blond was on his side facing the fireplace. Sanzo had one arm stretched out supporting his head and the other arm wrapped around a too thin waist.
It took years, but occasionally Sanzo would look peaceful while he slept. This was not one of those times. Goku knelt by the couch and studied Sanzo’s face. Sanzo’s brow was knitted and the skin around one of his eyes looked tense. The shadows on Sanzo’s eyelids kept shifting. The fingers on Sanzo’s free hanging hand kept jerking and soft little whimpers lifted from the blond.
Violet eyes popped open.
Goku gasped as sheer terror looked back at him via vacant violet.
Violet eyes closed.
Being careful to not drop the aspirin, Goku lightly ran his fingers thought Sanzo’s hair. He pressed his cheek against his lover’s chest and listened to a racing heart. He felt one of Sanzo’s arms wrap around his shoulders and nearly squeeze the breath from him.
He knew Sanzo was having a nightmare. He knew that talking about such things would make Sanzo feel better. He knew Sanzo would never talk about such things.
Or would he?
Goku softly whispered, “We’ll find them.”
Years of experience allowed Goku to decipher the sleeping blond’s mumbles. “I have him.”
Goku knitted his brow. That’s not the response he normally got. “Ok. Then it’s all—.”
“Tenpou’s blood.”
Golden eyes went wide. “Tenpou’s blood?”
“Damn it, Kenren!”
Goku lifted an eyebrow, “Kenren?”
“Goku ..ne. You . . . Tenpou. . . .fu. . . ing hard?”
Goku pushed a hand to his bangs. What the hell was all of this?
***
The battle in Taikgen was in full force. All of the members of the army defaulted to their official roles. Orders had been signed. Orders had been dispersed. Declarations were already made. This was the time for action.
The Dragon King of the Western Seas commanded the aerial assault. Reconnaissance and intelligence was being disseminated as needed.
Tenpou tugged at his black glove as he marched down the hallway. His hair was pulled in a ponytail. Solid determination and clarity filled his emerald eyes and his black duster billowed behind him.
The hall was deathly silent. Tenpou wasn’t “wrapped too tight” and when he wore that uniform a collective “oh shit” traveled through the complex.
The rapid clacking of his boots echoed through the halls. He reached the double doors heading outside. Both doors slammed closed behind him.
Tenpou trusted Tenpou when it came to fighting. Armed with issued and “acquired” weapons, he stepped onto the sidewalk.
“You have a General.” Kenren adjusted his tranquilizing gun over his shoulder.
“Then he needs to be looking after his men.” Tenpou didn’t break stride. He had to get to the Merciful Goddess and head to the battlefield.
“That’s hard to do when they are behind him.” Kenren marched behind Tenpou. The rest of the western army marched behind Kenren. “Incase you’ve forgotten we don’t have a fully-trained War Prince,” Kenren was beginning to hope that kid would never be battle ready, “and you can’t fill that role alone.”
Tenpou hadn’t forgotten. He didn’t want anyone watching his back. The risk of getting stabbed was too high. He also didn’t need any witnesses when it came to his “acquired weapons.”
In short order the entire western army was in the lower world. Cold and distant emerald eyes studied the landscape. Recognizing the landmarks from the maps, he had the battlefield mentally organized in the blink of an eye. Taikgen was huge and vastly populated. Luckily, the humans were still entrenched in agriculture here and not congregated in a city.
With his hands on his hips, Tenpou wondered how he could work this. Two squadrons were sent to the mountains around Taikgen.
Kenren lit a cigarette and stood beside his commanding officer, “Field Marshal, sir, what’s my order?”
A battalion was sent with the orders to split and hit the southern and eastern lines of contention.
Kenren narrowed his eyes. “Field Marshal Tenpou, what of my men?”
Tenpou slowly turned his head and looked at Kenren.
Kenren felt a chill run down his spine. How could eyes that look so warm and a bit vacant in a library look so cold and determined on a battlefield?
Tenpou spoke, “You and your men head for the northern line.”
Kenren nodded, “What about the western line? We’re surrounding the demons, right?”
“There is no outlet on the western side.”
Kenren blinked. Bullshit. That was pure bullshit. He didn’t study the maps like Tenpou, but he remembered all the points of contention being equally accessible. Surrounding the enemy didn’t work when one side was left open.
Tenpou’s thumb rounded the hilt of his hidden sword. “General Kenren, I gave you an order.”
Kenren saluted and turned sharply, “Yes, Sir.”
Tenpou began walking off heading for the western line.
Kenren looked at his group, “We’re heading to the northern line.”
One of his subordinates knitted his brow. “Northern line, sir?”
Kenren nodded as they began to head out, “Yeah, the northern line.”
The lieutenant shook his head, “But, sir, there’re no reports of activity near the northern line.”
Kenren stopped dead in his tracks. “This order comes directly from the Field Marshal. Are you trying to imply that he has made a mistake? You take these men to the northern line. The Marshal is counting on you being there. I’ve got my own orders.”
“Which are?” The lieutenant yelled as he continued to his destination.
“On a need to know basis.” Kenren headed to the western line as his men went to the northern one. He glanced up and saw a squad of dragons swooping overhead. The sounds of battle were still fairly distant, but the closer he got to the western line the louder they became.
Gojun noticed a solitary general walking thought a clear patch of trees. He transformed and glided down the cliff.
Tenpou was hunched down around a bolder. He slowly peeked around it. Just as expected the demons had control over the water source. He was currently 103 feet over the main encampment.
The southern line should see no action. The eastern mountains might encounter a few scouts. The northern line would deal with a moving enemy battalion, but Kenren’s men seemed capable enough for that.
Seventy-five percent of the enemy’s resources were 103 feet below Tenpou. He smiled and thought about living.
Gojun transformed into his bi-ped form. “General Kenren! Only dead men walk alone on a battlefield!”
Kenren looked over his shoulder at King Gojun. “Yeah, I know. What do you think I’m trying to prevent?”
“The Marshal.” How did that brunet always seem to slip under the radar of the recon flyers?
Kenren nodded, “It’d be damn nice if he showed a little faith and trust in his men.”
“Just where are your men?”
“Where they’d be safe…” Kenren shook his head. He saw it now.
Tenpou studied the movements of the camp below him. More specifically, he scrutinized the types of people entering and exiting the large tent below him. He suspected this was the main headquarters.
The quickest way to kill a snake is to chop off its head.
He needed one more bit of evidence to confirm this was the HQ. Smoke lifted from what was obviously a mess tent and soldiers lined up outside it. There seemed to be no signs that the demons knew immortals had them surrounded. That was a good thing. Life as normal unfolded below Tenpou.
Two humongous crab-like creatures took residence in the lake that provided the main irrigation to the surrounding farmlands. Hell Spawns controlled by some demon. That demon would have to be the leader of the warring demons. The leader would most likely be in the HQ.
But, was that leader in the tent at this moment?
Tenpou smiled when a covered tray was carried past the guards at the entrance of the large tent.
He jumped. Tenpou grabbed the center pole of the tent with one hand and drew his “acquired” sword with his free hand. Canvas gave way to steel and Tenpou fell through the top of the tent. Using a strip of canvas to control his descent, Tenpou landed on top of a relief war map. His foot crushed a tiny plastic squad. “Hello Gentlemen. It’s time to relinquish the water.”
Fifty men surrounded Tenpou. One of the fifty wore a gold braid around his right arm. That one spoke, “Just who are you to confront the Maoh clan, human?”
Tenpou’s eyes flashed dark as an eerie smile claimed his lips. He loved it when the enemy mistook him for being human. He chuckled, “I’m beginning to enjoy settling things the hard way.” He started to draw his official weapon and three guards lunged for his feet.
Taking to the air, Tenpou’s boot connected with the chin of one of the guards. He springboarded off the second one’s head and put a tranquilizer dart in the third’s thigh.
Three down. Forty-seven to go.
Meanwhile…
A young monkey softly snored against Konzen’s chest. The brightly colored book which talked about the colors and textures of various fruit rested open on child’s lap.
There was a knock at Konzen’s door. Deciding that a sleeping monkey was quieter than an alert monkey, Konzen ignored the knock.
The Merciful Goddess let herself in. “Aww look at the perfect daddy.”
Konzen rolled his eyes. “Shut up hag.”
She bent at the waist and brushed her fingers against Goku’s cheek. “He looks sweet when he sleeps.”
“He’s quiet when he sleeps.” Konzen looked down and watched Goku’s bottom lip quiver with a deep breath. The corners of the little guy’s mouth were upturned slightly and his eyelashes trembled over REM sleep. It wasn’t cute or sweet in the slightest, damn it.
“The western army is in battle. I thought you might want to know.”
Konzen looked at the tiny hand twisted into his shirt. That was disturbing news. Tenpou was in the lower world with a drunken letch watching his back while Konzen was stuck up here with monkey learning to read. “I don’t care.” It’s not like he was worth anything on the battlefield. That new general had best know his responsibilities.
The Merciful Goddess eyed the peacefully sleeping animal. “You know what he is, right?”
“I’m not stupid.” He glared at her. “You, however…” Why in all of the worlds did she want to keep a heretic where the powers that be could … Konzen paled.
The Merciful Goddess smirked as she headed from the room. “I just wanted to bring that to your attention.”
The door closed behind her and Konzen’s tilted his head back. He looked at the ceiling. “Damn it.” What has his aunt done? Surely, she had to see the dangers for this little guy. Konzen rolled his head forward and watched Goku’s chest slowly rise and fall. Surely, she knew that he wouldn’t let anything… Violet eyes blinked. “Oh, goddamn it.”
Yeah, she knew. She knew that the monkey would worm his way into Konzen’s heart and once that happened there was no better way to protect the little heretic.
Konzen now knew it too.
Kenren and Gojun knew something too. They knew the ruckus coming from the large tent below them had a brunet as the impetus. They tried to glean information through the narrow strip torn in the top of the canvas, but that offered too small of a field of vision to provide much information.
Meanwhile inside the tent…
Eighteen down. Thirty-two to go. Tenpou chuckled to himself as yet one more opponent went down. His solid emerald gaze was on the head of this serpent. Saving the best for last was always a good thing.
He turned his face as a fist came for him. In a flash he had his attacker’s arm trapped in a precarious hold. A sly smirk took his lips and he locked gazes with this soldier. There was no cute quip only the sound of the demon’s elbow being rendered forever useless.
Sometimes not being able to kill was fun. Tenpou released the soldier’s arm as an agonized scream provided music. He hopped up on the map table and danced to the beat of flesh hitting flesh.
This was glorious life!
His toes tapped around plastic squadrons and a painted landscape. He tilted his head down and spread out his arms. Spinning like a top with his duster flying out behind him, he dodged projectiles, fists and blades.
Tenpou neglected one thing as he bathed in the chaos of life. This was a relief map. A relief map of an area with mountains. The toe of his boot hit a mountain that would one day hold a ski lodge. This lifted the heel of his boot. His other foot kicked a mock-up of a bridge under his heel. His ankle turned and he hopped trying to gather his footing.
One of the solders grabbed the edge of their attacker’s dance platform.
Tenpou’s world tilted and he slid less-than-gracefully to the floor. The table was tilted over on him and he dropped to his knees to take the brunt of the hit on shoulder and back. His left heel pressed into the floor of the tent pinning the tail of his duster.
He twisted and pushed the table away. An attacker came toward him; he kicked his right foot aiming for the attacker’s face. When he jerked up to extend his kick, he was jerked back by his short-stepped duster.
Tenpou fell flat on his back. His head hit the floor and bounced twice. His vision went blurry and something solid landed across his stomach. Blood coughed from between his lips.
Five demons converged on the marshal. The demon with the gold braid smiled.
Tenpou laughed as something sharp slid between two of his ribs and a fist connected with his cheek. If he was going out, he was going out with style. He curled his hands around the hilt of his sword.
There was one way to live other than on the battlefield and that was by forcing heaven to revoke his immortality.
He whispered, “Thank you,” and pulled his steel from its sheath. The edge of his sword closed in on some nameless demon’s abdomen.
The abdomen jerked away. The nameless demon was tossed at the center support beam. The beam cracked and Kenren dropped to his knees covering his marshal.
“No one else saw it. Now put it away.”
Canvas billowed and covered them in a blanket of war. Tenpou sheathed his sword. Kenren pushed up with his arms and looked down at his marshal. “You’re immortal, but you’re not a War Prince.”
Tenpou weakly smiled. “We all have our limitations.”
The sound of ripping canvas filled Kenren’s right ear. A single draconic talon tore a small slit. Eight talons curled around the slit and white fingers pulled the canvas apart.
Gojun was less than happy with a certain officer and pleasantly surprised by another.
Kenren stood and stepped through the now man-sized slit in the canvas. Tenpou sat up and something pierced his back. He fumbled for his footing and blood gushed down his side.
Gojun crossed his arms over his hips and drew his weapons. Both barrels unloaded their ammo and demons dropped. His cape and long white braid flew out behind him as he spun stunning all who dare oppose him. Not being able to kill completely disrupted his fighting style. He did not like using these weapons one little bit.
A tranquilizing dart dropped from under Tenpou’s duster. He couldn’t feel his legs. His peripheral vision was white and his ears began to ring. Tenpou wavered on his feet as Kenren stared down Mr. Gold Braid.
Kenren smirked, “I’ll make a deal with you. You relinquish the water and I’ll let you take another free breath.”
Mr. Gold Braid laughed. “Do you really think you can take on an entire encampment?” He spread his arms out wide.
Kenren looked around and saw hundreds of demons staring at them. Standing in the middle of a felled HQ tent, the surrounders became surrounded. Kenren looked at Tenpou. “When you do it, you do it good.”
Tenpou knitted his brow and tried to read Kenren’s lips.
Gojun sheathed his weapons and pointed up.
A squadron of dragons began an aerial assault. Fireballs dropped from the sky. Canvas burned and munitions exploded.
Kenren laughed, “I think the answer to your question is ‘yes’.”
Tenpou dropped.
Kenren’s laughter stopped. Scooping the marshal up in his arms, Kenren looked at Gojun.
Gojun’s stomach flipped and he cut his piercing red gaze to the Mr. Gold Braid. He pointed at the leader of the opposition and bellowed, “Subjugate him!”
White dragons swarmed. As soon as Gojun subjugated the leader of the demons, the hell spawns in the water disappeared. The water was returned to the humans in short order. Two men walked and one man was carried from the charred remains of a demon encampment.
Maoh’s clan was nearly obliterated. It would take centuries before the descendants of the survivors would be able to accumulate their forces and be any kind of formidable force again.
Konzen looked out his window as hundreds of gods converged at the commercial end of the courtyard. The armies were coming back.
Goku pressed his hands and face against the window, “What’s going on?”
Konzen stood behind the bothersome little beast, “The armies are finally returning.”
Goku’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Kenren and Tenpy are back? It’s been forever!”
“It’s only been two weeks.” Which was a rather short time for a military action. Konzen grabbed Goku’s hair as the ball of energy darted toward the door. “Where do you think you are going?”
“I wanna see them and talk to them and make sure they are all right and laugh and play and maybe we can have a picnic and –“
“Do not even think about running off.” Konzen had Goku by the hair as they walked through the building. Once again, he tried to get Goku to stop calling Tenpou “Tenpy”.
Goku saw the back of Kenren and took off running. Heedless of hair ripped from his head, he threw his arms open and grinned, “Kenren. Tenpy!”
Once again, Konzen failed to get the little beast to call Tenpou by the right name.
Goku stopped dead in his tracks when Kenren turned around. “How come you’re holding Tenpy like that?” Goku’s stomach flipped and lump formed in his throat.
Konzen took in the sad sight. Kenren was bruised like three-week-old fruit and – a food simile, he’d been around Goku too long. Kenren was bruised and battered. The Marshal lay limp in Kenren’s hold.
Wordlessly, Kenren turned and headed toward Tenpou’s quarters. A line of blood followed the general.
Konzen put his hands on Goku’s shoulders.
Goku felt tears well up in his eyes, “How come Tenpy didn’t hug me? How come Kenren looks so sad? How come … how come… how come…”
Konzen squeezed Goku’s shoulders, “Because there isn’t a War Prince who is ready to fight.” Heaven was going to have a puppet. It might come in the shape of an army or it might come at the cost of a little boy’s soul, but heaven wasn’t going to be denied.
Kenren paused and looked over his shoulder at Konzen. His eyes darted down at his “illegitimate child”.
Terror flashed in violet eyes. Heaven getting a hold of Goku was the only thing that truly terrified Konzen. “I have him.”
Goku sniffed the air, “I smell blood.” He blinked at the ground, “I see blood.”
Konzen nodded, “Tenpou’s blood.”
Kenren turned and continued on his original destination.
Goku struggled to get away from Konzen’s grip. He didn’t like Tenpou’s blood being somewhere outside of Tenpou’s body.
Konzen watched his at-one-time lover get carried away by a letch and drunkard. “Damn it, Kenren.”
Kenren stopped and turning in the grass. “What?” He had better words for Konzen, but Goku was around.
“Goku’s mine. You have Tenpou. Is that so fucking hard?” What did Kenren do just sit back and watch Tenpou get the shit beat out of him?
Anger flared behind Kenren’s eyes. He bellowed across the courtyard, “If you think you can keep a better eye on him, then by all means you come down to the battlefield and do it!”
Konzen knew better than to say a word. He was an administrative god and had no battlefield expertise or experience. He was all right in a small one on one brawl, but nothing like what was needed while trying to subjugate armies.
Kenren looked down at Goku, “He’s worlds easier than Tenpou. I don’t want to hear it.”
Goku looked up at Konzen. Konzen looked down at Goku.
Kenren continued, “He trusts that you’ll – we’ll – keep him safe.” Kenren adjusted his hold on his commanding officer’s limp form and continued on his route. He muttered to himself, “Just blindly trusts. Lucky bastard doesn’t have to earn it.”
For one week, Kenren kept a vigil beside Tenpou’s bed. When Tenpou finally woke, the genius got a stiff pillow upside his head and a few harsh words that didn’t sink in.
From that battle forward, Kenren was the one who looked after Tenpou. "Tenpou duty" officially started as soon as Gojun reached his office.
***
Gojyo looked at Hakkai. Hakuryuu was fast asleep in the bend of Hakkai’s knee. He ran his fingers through his lover’s hair, “Over half the day is gone. You’re beginning to worry me.”
Hakkai slowly inhaled.
***
Emerald slowly exhaled.
Gojyo sat on the floor with his back against Emerald’s bed. “How ya doing? I hope I’m doing this injection thing right.” He twisted at the waist and fished one of Emerald’s hands out from under the covers. With the stranger’s arm over his shoulder, Gojyo looked at the wounded man’s hand. His eyes studied the smooth skin as he held the too-cold hand. “You can tell a lot about a person by their hands, ya know.” His thumb rounded the last knuckle of Emerald’s right middle finger. “You have nice hands. I’m tempted to say beautiful, but you’re a guy and that wouldn’t fit.”
Something deep down inside Emerald twisted, but there were no outward signs. The mind of the comatose man wouldn’t remember this nearly instinctual reaction to such vile words.
“You’ve got a writer’s callous and the rest of your fingers are real smooth.” He turned Emerald’s hand over and looked at the palm. “People that work with their hands keep stuff in the lines. Like mechanics. You don’t have that. You’re probably real smart and have one of those smart-people jobs.”
He twisted at the waist and began to put Emerald’s arm back under the covers. After pulling the blankets back, he stopped. That arm on his shoulder sure was comfortable. Emerald wouldn’t mind his arm on Gojyo’s shoulder a little longer, would he?
At this point in Emerald’s life, Emerald probably would have minded. This was the beginning of a phase in the brunet’s life where he didn’t like to touch people nor was he too keen on being touched. However, as he was currently comatose, he didn’t complain. After all, Emerald wasn’t the complaining type.
Gojyo tucked the covers around the brunet’s chest and settled back down with the comatose man’s arm over his shoulder. “You’ve got a sweet face too. So you might be a charmer. So you might be just smart enough to make people think you are really smart. So you finagled your way into your smart-people job.”
Gojyo deeply sighed and tilted his head to the side. With his cheek pressing against Emerald’s arm he continued, “I suppose you want to know a bit about me. My hands are nothing like yours.” He had one hand holding Emerald’s hand. He lifted his free hand and fisted it before his eyes.
The skin tightened and loosened over Gojyo’s knuckles. “I have these little scars and stuff. That’s because for a little while I had to make my way with them.” He weakly chuckled, “I don’t want you thinking my life has been all bad.” He tossed his head back, “After I got good and I mean good at poker, life got better.” He laughed, “That’s how I got this house. Some schmuck put his rental property on the table. I tried to talk him out of it, but when I found out it was only something he rented out.” He shrugged.” I pounced. Don’t judge me either. His loss. My gain. That’s all it was.”
Emerald was a bit on the judgmental side of things, but recent events were changing that. Gojyo needn’t have worried.
“Growing up wasn’t so bad. I have… had… have a brother.” He forced a smile on his face and snuggled closer to Emerald’s arm. “Mom, Jien, Dad and I used to go on these picnics in the spring and fall. Ya know when the weather isn’t too hot or too cold.”
And the delusions flew.
“We’d play catch and eat until we were sick to our stomachs.” In Gojyo’s mind, this happened a lot. “One time…” He laughed, “I don’t even know what made me think of this or why I’m telling you, but for my seventh birthday.” Gojyo got thrown into a wall. “Mom made this chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. It was delicious. Dad took Jien and I fishing.” Gojyo’s smile faltered a bit and he pulled his knees to his chest. “There we were.” He laughed, “On this little tiny boat. And it started to rain. Now,” he raised a finger in the air, “to stay dry, we put trash bags over us. So there we were Dad, Jien and I standing in this boat wearing black trash bags.” Gojyo laughed an empty laugh that tried desperately to be real. He wanted that laugh to be genuine so bad he almost believed it. “The rain kept coming. Dad wanted to head back. Jien was soaked to be bone, but I was the birthday boy and I wanted to stay out there. I remember looking up at the sky.” The ceiling. “And thinking, it’s gonna clear up.” Get better. “The rain was going to stop at some point.” Mom would one day stop crying. “And the sun would come out and we could fish.” And she’d smile and give him a hug. “I insisted on staying out there. I’m stubborn.” He never gave up loving her. “We stayed out there until there was water in the boat up to our ankles. Finally, Jein put up so much of a fight that we pulled into the dock. I didn’t get a single fish, but it was a great birthday.”
A tear rolled down Gojyo’s cheek. “Another time, Jien.” Wrapped one of Gojyo’s many bandages. “Decided that I needed to learn to throw a football.” A punch in defense of himself. “So we went to the park.” To the woods so that Mom couldn’t find them. “And he put that pig-skin in my hand. I remember thinking how strange it felt.” To be told that it was all right to not let mom hit him. “It didn’t feel like a baseball. No, a football feels different from any other kind of ball.” Totally different than the other families he heard about. “It’s shaped different and I remember that it was very important to me to have the laces under my fingertips. Why would a kid think something like that was so important?” Because Gojyo knew everything had to be exactly perfect if he had hopes of not getting beat. “It took me a good ten minutes just to get ready to throw.” Because it felt incredibly wrong to think about hitting his brother. “I pulled my hand back and I looked like a professional quarterback. That ball spun in a perfect spiral and sailed through the air.” He completely missed his brother. “Jien caught it like a world class wide receiver.”
Tears ran down both Gojyo’s cheeks. He forced a smile on his face. “Mom was the most beautiful woman in the world.” She was. “She had a smile that could light up a room.” Gojyo was certain that was a fact even if he never saw it. “She sang like a bird.” Screamed like a crow. “I remember sitting in the living room listening to her sing to me. She sang so beautiful and so sweetly, I was mesmerized by it.” Frozen in confused fear.
“Dad was tall. You may think I’m tall, but Dad was tall. I remember,” practically nothing about his Dad. “Coming home from school and seeing him on the porch. He’d ruffle my hair and ask me how my day went.” Gojyo forced himself to chuckle. “He called me ‘Sport’.” According to the television that was what a lot of dad’s called a lot of sons and if Dad had lived long enough, surely Gojyo would have had a great nickname like that. “I remember standing there looking up at him.” Down at his grave. “And thinking…”
Emerald skipped a breath.
Gojyo’s stomach flipped. Please not another seizure! Please no more shaking and gagging. Please not another moment of stiff limbs and white frothy stuff at the corner of Emerald’s mouth. Please no more rapid flickering under eyelids and rattling from deep inside the brunet’s chest. Rattling that sounded like a soul trying to die and a body not being willing to lose.
Filled with apprehension, he looked at the brunet’s calm face. No shaking. No tremors. No rattle. Then why did Emerald’s breath hitch? Guilt pushed against Gojyo’s shoulders. He wrapped both arms around Emerald’s arm and wept. He bawled.
Gojyo had always been a terrible liar. He even had a hard time believing himself most of the time. Or should that be deceiving himself? How horrible was this? Emerald, Gojyo’s newfound friend, was so kind as to stay and visit the past four days and Gojyo repaid that kindness with lies. How wretched.
Gojyo curled into the curve of his friend’s arm. With Emerald's touch over Gojyo’s collarbone, Gojyo enjoyed the first hug, outside of sex, he’d had in years.
He whimpered, “I’m sorry. I don’t blame ya for not believing me.” Gojyo nodded, “Yeah, yeah, I hear ya, but you could have at least pretended for a bit that you believed me.” He titled over onto his side and squeezed his friend’s arm. On the floor, in a fetal position, with his best friend’s arm around him, Gojyo wondered if Emerald would like some coffee – a little coffee could make anything better. “Please don’t be mad.” Gojyo lifted his face. “You’re not? How could you not be?” Gojyo softly smiled as tears finally stopped being born. “You’re a real good friend, ya know. A great listener.”
He sniffed when he stood. “No, I’ll get it. You just relax. I’ve got beans.” He grinned. “Freshly ground is the best way to make it.” He chuckled when he walked into the kitchen. “You don’t have to tell me. I know exactly how you like it, remember?”
When Gojyo returned to his bedside spot, he had two cups of coffee. After placing one on the end table and one on the coffee table, he told Emerald the truth about his family.
There’s a part of him that honestly believes he heard Emerald speak. There’s a part of him that honestly believes that the second cup of coffee was drunk. There’s a part of him that honestly believes he’s sane. His rational mind and his heart would never come to terms with this night.
As Gojyo sat on the floor with his knees up to his chest, his arms wrapped around his shoulders and Emerald’s arm captured someone inside Gojyo’s flesh ball, his loneliness seemed to fade.
Gojyo had friends in this town. Friends by some interpretation of the definition. More accurately, he had acquaintances. He had women he shared his body with. He had players he shared cards with. He had guys he shared booze and porn with. He had no one he shared Gojyo with.
Well, there was the one guy, but there was a thick barrier between them that prevented “friends” from forming out of “acquaintances”. Tonpuu was the closest thing to a friend Gojyo had in this town, but there was something very important that Tonpuu didn’t know.
Tat-tat-tat. There was a knock at the door.
Gojyo lifted his face and stared at the door. He had all the company he wanted right now, but if he ignored the door Tonpuu wouldn’t leave. There were no doubts about who controlled that knock.
Tat-tat-tat.
Gojyo sighed and unfurled himself. Yanking his shirt from his waistband he wiped his face and shook his hair over his shoulders. With a bright cheery smile on his face he opened the door. “Did Loki tell you to come by every night?”
Tonpuu laughed. “Nope. He suggested I …” He blinked at Gojyo. “You look like crap, man.” Gojyo’s eyes were red and puffy. His face looked hot and his clothes look like the same ones he wore yesterday and the day before. The day before that too. There were dark circles under Gojyo’s eyes and a shake to Gojyo’s hands.
“I’m glad to see you too.” Gojyo chuckled. He closed the door behind Tonpuu and took his usual seat on the floor next to Emerald’s bed. Mindlessly, he picked at his nails.
Tonpuu pulled up a chair and the coffee table. He pushed the magazines to the side and set a bag of take out food on the short table. He noticed the two cups of coffee. One was empty and one was half full. He picked them up.
“Don’t!” Gojyo barked.
Tonpuu froze and looked at Gojyo.
Gojyo pointed at the half-full coffee cup. “That one is his.”
Tonpuu looked at the cup, Gojyo, and then the comatose man. “His?” Gojyo was off his nut. “He’s been in a coma for four days, I don’t think he’ll miss this coffee, Gojyo.”
“Leave. It. On. The. Table.” No one was taking a damn thing away from Emerald. That cup and that coffee was Emerald’s and it wasn’t going anywhere until Emerald was done with it.
Figuring that humoring Gojyo was better than the obviously pending fight, Tonpuu left the coffee on the table. “You need to get out more.” He shook his head and started pulling out food. “I’m glad to see you finally took a human as a lover. He’s a damn sight better than that other guy.” Tonpuu thought Gojyo was a redheaded human. Later, he would never learn that his two best friends were connected to the species/race he despised.
Gojyo paled. “He’s not my lover. He’s my friend.” Gojyo lifted his hand to his face.
Tonpuu watched as Gojyo chewed his nails. He chuckled, “When was the last time you had a cigarette?”
“Umm…” Gojyo couldn’t remember.
Tonpuu sighed. “Go have one, I’ll keep an eye on him. If you keep that up you won’t have fingers left.”
Gojyo looked at Emerald. If he stepped outside that would mean he wouldn’t be able to see Emerald. If he couldn’t see Emerald then that meant that when Emerald woke from his nap Emerald wouldn’t see Gojyo. That meant Emerald would think he was alone.
Alone.
Alone and in pain.
Alone.
Tonpuu put an eggroll down in front of Gojyo. “I’m right here. Nothing’s going to happen to him.”
Gojyo looked at Tonpuu and grabbed the eggroll. He looked at the door as he swallowed the eggroll. Standing in the doorframe was an option. He’d be able to see Emerald and not be inside while he smoked.
Tonpuu tilted his head to the side. Did Gojyo even chew that eggroll? He’d been bringing food here every night. All the leftovers were left for Gojyo. Was the redhead only eating when Tonpuu was here?
Gojyo pulled himself to his feet and walked to the door. After opening the door, he lit a cigarette. Nicotine rushed into his lungs and hit his blood stream. His mind spun and his heart began to race. His knees turned to jelly and he slid down the doorframe. With numb lips, fingertips and a fuzzy mind, he watched Tonpuu set out the food. Good compromise!
“I brought you some beer.”
Gojyo grunted his thanks as a steam of smoke left his lips.
Tonpuu walked into the kitchen. “I’ll put in the fridge to keep it cold.” Tonpuu glanced at the coffee canister when he opened the door to the refrigerator. Four days ago, Gojyo had two weeks worth of coffee beans. There might be a few days left now. Had Gojyo been sleeping at all?
Containers of take out food slid to the back of the refrigerator as Tonpuu pushed the case of beer along the top shelf. His eyes flicked between Gojyo and the comatose brunet. “Watching him won’t make him wake up any sooner.”
Gojyo nodded. Emerald would wake up from this nap when Emerald wanted to, but Gojyo was going to be right there when naptime was over.
Tonpuu sighed as took his seat next to the coffee table. Gojyo was completely and totally out of his mind. “He’s not drinking the coffee you make for him. He’s not eating the food you are leaving for him.”
Gojyo flicked his cigarette butt into the darkness. Someone was drinking the coffee and someone was eating the food. Tonpuu didn’t know anything. Tonpuu didn’t see it because Emerald wasn’t Tonpuu’s friend. Emerald was Gojyo’s friend and Gojyo could get the brunet to eat. Emerald would drink for Gojyo. Emerald would eat for Gojyo. Emerald would wake for Gojyo.
Only Gojyo.
Because Gojyo was special enough for that.

***
Gojyo carried two cups of coffee into the bedroom. He sat one on the end table – nightstand. Nightstand. He kissed Hakkai’s forehead and whispered, “Made just the way you like it. You don’t want it to get cold do you?” Was he still special enough?
Hakkai opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was Gojyo’s smiling face.
Of course he was special enough. Gojyo sat on the bed and winked at his lover. “About time you got up.” At least there were no seizures this time – what a difference a few years makes.
Hakkai blinked three times and began stretched his legs. His feet pointed and his legs slid between the sheets. The gentle ache of sleepy muscles rolled down his legs and his knees trembled. Hakuryuu peeped when his nest was disturbed.
Gojyo used his index finger to poke Hakkai right between the eyes, “How are you feeling sleepy head? How’s that hangover?”
Hakkai softly smiled. “I feel fine.” He coughed the morning from his voice. “No hangover.”
Gojyo’s smile dropped. That was pure bullshit. He had a hangover. Sanzo acted like he had a hangover and, damn it, Hakkai should have a hangover too!
Hakkai softly chuckled, “I probably slept through it. How long have I been asleep?”
Gojyo crossed his arms over his chest and began a full-blown pout. “Eleven hours.”
Hakkai nodded and stretched his arms. “Not bad.” His knuckles popped when he stretched his fingers.
“Not bad?”
Hakkai felt the morning tension leave his chest and warmth radiated down his arms. “Last time, I slept for fifteen.”
Gojyo smacked his lover with a pillow. “Ya could warn someone, ya know!”
Hakkai cleared his throat and laughed.
Gojyo looked at the bright smile and knew he was special enough to see it.
Hakkai sat up and sipped his coffee. “My body aches.” He moaned, “Good coffee.”
Gojyo grinned. Praise was always good thing. “Body aches, huh? Well, you’ve barely moved for eleven hours, I don’t doubt your muscles are achy. I know a great way to get rid of that.”
Hakkai lifted an eyebrow, “Hmm?”
“Hot tub.”
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“If I do this will you shut the hell up?” Sanzo pulled a snowboard from the rack.
Goku nodded and picked out his board. “Maybe.”
Sanzo eyed the snowboard. He wanted to do this. His heart was racing with excitement. Not only did he want to do this, but he wanted to do this in his robes with the sutra around his neck. He did have the sense to wear the black boots Hakkai and Gojyo picked up instead of his sandals.
They headed out to a cliff. Sanzo didn’t care which cliff. Any cliff. It could be a hill for all he cared. He just wanted to move. He wanted to feel the air popping in his robes. He wanted the wind in his hair. He wanted to think about all those bald sticks-in-the-mud as he became a Snowboarding Priest.
“Bad behavior” came under many definitions. The quickest way to get Sanzo to do something was to tell him he wasn’t allowed to do it. The second quickest way to get Sanzo to do something was to tell him it wouldn’t be proper of someone of his position.
How hard could this be? One foot on the back and one on the front. The posters and pictures around this place showed him that much. Sanzo almost smiled as they looked down the hill.
Goku’s stomach flipped. “Do you even know how to do this?”
Sanzo nodded, “Stand on it and let gravity take over.”
Goku laughed, “There’s got to be more to it.”
The next hill over, a man screamed, “As if one board is safer than two, my lady!”
A woman cackled.
Sanzo put one foot on the back of the board and one foot on the front. He shifted his weight and the board teetered over the edge. His robes billowed as wind whipped around him. He smiled.
Goku followed suit and his cape waved behind him. He caught up with Sanzo as snow once again became a toy. “One thing!”
“What?”
“How do we stop?”
“Oh shit.”
They went down and down and down. It took some work, but they did figure out how to turn just a bit. Sanzo was wondering why they would want to stop when they saw a small hill that was a bit too steep to allow inertia to carry them over it. They weren’t skilled enough to take any sharp turns. They had no clue how to stop.
They knew how to go down. That was good enough until now.
A priest and a monkey hit face first into a snowdrift. There had to be a better way to stop.
One fan later, they were on their way up the hill to do it again.

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Hakkai ruffled the towel around his hair.
Gojyo chuckled, “We’re about to get in a hot tub and yet you shower.”
Hakkai nodded, “What’s so strange about that? You’ve showered today, haven’t you?”
Gojyo nodded, “Yeah, but… never mind.” He followed Hakkai into the bedroom.
Hakkai knelt by his pack.
Gojyo walked over the nightstand and picked up Hakkai’s monocle. The note from Ah’Nesty was sitting there as silent as it wanted to be. “You still haven’t asked about her.”
Hakkai pulled out a pair of boxer shorts, “She left. What else is there to know?”
“She left a note.”
Hakkai nodded and looked over at his lover, “I have a feeling I already know what’s in there.” He softly chuckled. “She hates good-byes. When we moved east, she left in the middle of the night before we left. She left a note that time too.”
Gojyo turned the note in his hand.
Hakkai continued, “It had one sentence written in it.” He waved a hand in the air. “Go a head, open it.” Hakkai stepped into his boxers.
Gojyo sat down on the bed, “I’m sure it’s meant for you.”
Hakkai sat on the bed next to his lover, “That note is meant for anyone.”
Gojyo turned the folded paper in his fingers. He slowly opened it and three pictures fell out from the folds. One was a smaller version of the fireplace picture. “This is getting a frame.” Gojyo grinned.
Hakkai sighed and shook his head.
The second picture was the silhouette shot of Gonou and Kanan. The final picture was of Gonou straddling his bike. He had his duster on and Kanan was handing him a helmet. He wore a smirk that told everyone that he wasn’t wearing that helmet.
Gojyo chuckled. “You don’t know everything. You weren’t expecting pictures.”
Hakkai crossed his legs at the knee. He rested one elbow on his thigh and cradled his chin in one hand. “Do you want to get in a hot tub with me or not?”
Gojyo blinked at Hakkai. Was the brunet being distant for a reason or was he just anxious to get in the hot tub? Gojyo opened the note and just as expected it contained one line: “See you in the by-lines.”
Hakkai lifted his eyebrows, “Happy now? Curiosity satisfied and all of that?”
Gojyo was going to have kiss that smug look off Hakkai’s face. The brunet had been “too correct” about too many things lately. “You’re being awfully casual for a man who just had sex with the second woman of his life.”
Hakkai’s stomach twisted. Couldn’t Gojyo tell when Hakkai was intentionally trying not to think about something? “Last. Second and last, Gojyo.”
***

Gonou hiked an eyebrow. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Hakkai, “What have you done?”
Hakkai shook his head, “Please, don’t start.” He’d grown weary of dealing with a man who was forever stuck in tumultuous darkness.
“We knew one touch. Then you took Gojyo as a lover. We still only knew one feminine touch and now you have shattered that.”
Hakkai turned away from Gonou, “Find your admonishment elsewhere. I had my reasons for last night. Kanan died all those years ago. I didn’t.”
“You lie.”
Hakkai sighed and lifted his hands in the air, “What am I lying about now? What have you figured out in your tilted mind now?” He turned and stared at Gonou. A sweet – too sweet – smile graced his lips. “Do you want to berate me? Reprobate me?” He pointed at Gonou, “What you could say to me is no worse than anything I have told or will tell myself it’s just a matter of time. But, right now, I have someone who needs every bit of attention I have. Right now, I need to be concerned about the living. This -- you -- and this pity party, can wait.”
“If you don’t hurt, you’ll forget.”
Hakkai gritted his teeth. Anger rolled up from his toes. “I will never forget!” He shook his fist at Gonou, “No matter how many times I am kissed. No matter how long he loves me. I will never forget the agony of losing Kanan!” He lowered his fist and gripped his forehead. “I will never heal. I will never stop hurting. I will never stop loving her. I will…” His voice cracked, “never forgive myself.” He cleared his throat trying to reclaim control of his own sound. He looked up at Gonou, “She wanted us to be happy. I am doing my best to respect her wishes. As long as I have him, I will live.”
“If we lose him?”
“Then we lose it all.”
***

Dr. Ni sat in his chair with his arms crossed behind his head, his ankles crossed on his desk and Bunny nestled comfortably in his lap. Numbers scrolled down the screen. He was looking for a golden set. A set that read P=.01. Of course, a better score wouldn’t be rejected.
He heard the door to his lab open and slowly turned his head.
Lady Gyokumen’s dress shuffled against the floor as she walked, “You’ve been in here for a while now.”
“Eh.” Ni shrugged.
She looked at the screen. “What are those?”
“Probability ratings.” Not that he expected her to be able to comprehend, but he explained, “I’m looking for the probability that an experiment will work. See the .05? That means there’s a probability of 99.95 percent success.”
She slid her hands along his shoulders and leaned over pressing her breasts against his body. “The probability Kougaiji might actually prove useful?”
Ni smirked. Just as he thought, her head did nothing but keep her hair off the ground. “He’s proven more useful than one might think. Where are the illustrious prince and princess? I haven’t heard them in a while.” A strap of leather brushed his neck and chills ran down his spine.
She smirked, “Does it matter? He’s just screwing something up.”
One would think she’d keep track of people so important. He knew where they were and that’s all that mattered. Ni curled his fingers around the thick piece of leather and held it static. “Is it break time already?” Of course the Lady wasn’t completely useless.
She purred and nipped his ear. “You work too hard.”
“I only work as hard as I’m paid to.” Some experiments were his own and not technically considered work. The computer could calculate these scenarios without him in this chair. Bunny in hand, he headed out of the lab with Lady Gyokumen. He wondered if this was part of his job description. Wouldn’t anything that involved making the boss lady happy, technically be considered work? On the other hand, he thoroughly enjoyed these moments and he thoroughly enjoyed his experiments. He smirked when he decided that for at least today he’d get paid to fuck. He’d never been a whore before; this was going to be interesting.
She looked at the bunny. “It disturbs me that you carry that thing to bed.”
“Snookems is a very soft bunny.” Ingenious might be a better word. He locked the door to the lab and something gurgled in a green vat.
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Goku was on his back in the snow. His arms were spread wide. His face was red from hitting the snowdrift. Clumps of snow had worked their way under his clothing and melted against his hot skin. Looking up the hill that stretched out below his feet, he wondered how he could get out of this snowboarding idea.
Sanzo sat with one elbow propped up on a knee. He flicked his ashes and wondered how quickly they could get back up the hill. At least Kouryuu had stopped crying for a little while. There was a point as the wind tugged his hair and his robes popped when he thought he heard a tiny giggle. Today was a good day.
Hakuryuu eyed the pair. That last landing was a bit better, but still lacking. If they keep letting their arms flail like that, they were going to get hurt. Their descent form was…well, it needed help. However, they did get some wonderful speeds. Landing 3.0; Landing Form 1.5; Descent Form 4.0; Speed 8.5. Humans should leave wind surfing to the dragons.
Jiroshin shifted on the branch. The dragon had a point. The landing was lacking. Landing 4.0 ; Landing Form 2.5; Descent Form 5.5; Speed 9.0. His scores were higher out of gratitude of being a spectator and no longer a participant.
The Merciful Goddess yawned. These boys sucked. Landing 1.0;Landing Form 5.5 (Bonus for Sanzo getting snow up his nose); Descent Form 6.0 (Bonus given for Goku’s wonderful scream); Speed 7.5 (point deduction for Sanzo wearing the robes and the resistance slowed the blond down. No balls. The man had no balls.)
She smiled as Sanzo rolled over and planted a kiss on Goku. Living Life earned a perfect 10.
Hakuryuu sighed. There were things he didn't need to see. With one flap, he was airborne and looking for a more suitable place to take in the scenery.
…
With one flap, he was airborne and looking for a more suitable place to keep an eye out for assassins. Anyone who said different had a few talons with their name on it.
Goku looked up at Sanzo. The setting sun framed his lover in hues of scarlet. "In the mood for a game of cards?"
"Perhaps." Sanzo closed his eyes and sealed his lips against Goku's neck.
Goku turned his head and worked his fingers into the knot of Sanzo's sash. The robes fell open covering them both in divine fabric.
Sanzo slipped his arms backwards through the sleeves and opened the buckle that held Goku's shoulder pads. The shoulder pads rocked back and settled against the snow. Laying on a heretic's cape and covered by ordained satin, Sanzo interlaced his fingers with Goku's and slid the brunet's hands up. "Do you have…" He dipped his head and used his teeth to pull Goku's shirt up.
Their makeshift tent allowed a bit of cool air to sneak inside. Goku gasped when that air hit his stomach. "Yeah… I have some."
Sanzo stopped and looked up at Goku. They were going snowboarding. Why would the monkey have brought lube?
Goku chuckled, "Just consider me a Boy Scout." He and His Sanzo alone in a setting where Sanzo would be behaving like the man Sanzo would have been if life were different, Goku wouldn't dare not being prepared in a situation like that. He wouldn't risk Sanzo finding a rare mood and having to waste it. Of course, Goku was prepared. Goku hoped something like this would happen today and a part of him expected it. He knew Sanzo better than Sanzo knew Sanzo and it was high time he got a little credit for it.
"Hn." Sanzo dipped his face and kissed the bronze abdomen below him. Sometimes with Goku it was better to let things remain a mystery. He was sure there was some kind of explanation that contained the concept of "hope". Given Goku's life, how could the golden-eyed wonder still cling to such a fantastical notion as hope.
Centuries of isolation in an earthen cage and Goku was freed by a man who could only say "I want you around" by not saying "leave". Goku's freedom was secured at the side of a man who could only say "I love you" by not saying "I hate you". The fan in lieu of a hug. The foot in lieu of a kiss. And yet Goku still dared to hope. Further still, Sanzo knew that they were now dealing with kisses and hugs and not the fan. Perhaps hope wasn't so futile.
Goku watched thin clouds pass over head as his navel was assaulted by his lover's tongue. Every special moment with Sanzo like this gave him more hope that the man inside the robes was living.
Jiroshin covered his eyes with his hand.
The Merciful Goddess held on to the tree trunk as she took to her feet. "He's my nephew. This is creepy." She started climbing down the tree. "Tell me about it later, Jiroshin."
Jiroshin paled. There was no way this was in his job description. He'd been stuck with this job once before and absolutely refused to do it again! "Yes, my Lady."
She laughed, "I was joking, but with the way you're sitting there I'm beginning to think you want to watch it."
Jiroshin figured it was quicker to fall out of the tree than climb down.
Hakuryuu landed on a branch and shook his head. Not here too! Gods! Didn't these guys do anything except have sex? Wasn't there a mission that involved saving the world? He turned his head away from the back porch of cabin thirty-eight. Where was that dog? Perhaps the dog wasn't having sex. He could play with – interrogate and glean intelligence - from the dog.
It was a damn shame when a royal dragon had to seek the companionship of a dog.
It took a great deal of effort -- a lot of squirming, a bunch of pleading, a surprisingly successful attempt at logic and one "Aw, c'mon, one itty-bitty bit of public nudity for me.", but Gojyo was able to talk Hakkai into getting into the hot tub naked. The "for me" part proved to be the final blow.
Hakkai hissed as he lowered himself into the bubbling heated water. Liquid heat wrapped around him as he settled into the molded seats. "Why did you…" He noticed the intent look in Gojyo's eyes and his words lost their sound.
Gojyo smiled and leaned over. He put his index fingers against Hakkai's temples and started running them down the brunet's body, "Because I wanna see…" He squeezed his lover's hips, "All of this."
Hakkai softly blushed and smiled, "See, you shall." He'd never say it out loud, but as the jets pushed against his muscles and the hot water worked between his upper thigh and scrotum, he wanted to be in this water with his lover naked. It was a lot like that time they shared in the bathroom when they were getting reacquainted. Knowing that at any moment Sanzo, Goku, Ms. Marie or Mr. Rupert could happen upon them was exciting. It wasn't mortifying, because he knew all of his private areas were safely tucked underwater. If push came to shove, he could grab a towel and cover himself. This was dangerous enough to be exciting and safe enough to be fun.
Silence surrounded the men as the thrum of the jets filled their ears. Water pulsed into their muscles and worked away lingering road and mission stress. They sat there looking at each other over a tiny span of bubbling water. Simultaneously harbor and wounded vessel, each thought about last night. Each came to the same thought – they never wanted to do that again.
Yes, it was fun. Yes, it was a night to remember. Yes, it was uglier than either one wanted to admit. Hakkai couldn't say anything, because it was more or less his idea. Admitting that it didn't work out as expected would be like admitting failure and he hated to lose. Gojyo couldn't say anything because he was Sha Gojyo. The "Playboy" label was something that came about by design and accident, but he was stuck with it. Saying that last night may have been a mistake would imply that Sha Gojyo "Lover Extraordinaire" didn't think that three people in bed was better than two.
Three's a crowd. They saw that now. There seemed to be no permanent harm to their relationship from the moment of indiscretion. There was nothing to discuss. They sat and relaxed in the water each pondering their own mild regrets.
Last night could have worked out differently, but the butterflies were working in their favor. Neither was about to risk such a thing again. Machismo kept them from voicing it. Damn pride.
Hakkai slowly trailed his big toe up Gojyo's calf. Gojyo cupped his lover's heel and worked his thumb into the brunet's instep. Hakkai's eyes slid closed as he hummed from his lover's touch.
Pride wasn't so bad. That simple act expressed all they needed to share and then some. Two was worlds better than three.
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The tip of his nose was red from the cold. His cheeks carried a dusting of pink from the passion. Inside Goku was warm and toasty. His clothing had been worked under him acting as a barrier between his skin and the stark cold of the snow. Sanzo's robe slowly spread all around them creating a full blanket of satin that held in their body heat.
Sanzo still wore most of his clothing. His black shirt had been worked up his chest and his pants were open and below his knees. Goku had insisted Sanzo keep the gloves on, it seemed the brunet liked the way they make Sanzo's hands look.
Goku purred as Sanzo's fingers pressed into his thighs. Kink games were fine, but this was wonderful. Having Sanzo's full attention during private stolen moments and feeling warm silk run along his skin was exquisite. To some, these activities might seem dull or mundane compare to other elements of their sex life. Some may think they worked this relationship backwards, starting with kink and working their way to ordinary. Some wouldn't know Sanzo. With Sanzo ordinary became extraordinary. Goku arched from his clothing-turned-bedding as silk rubbed his scrotum. Sanzo was deliciously devious in letting his fingertips occasionally brush Goku's entrance.
Sanzo watched the squirming ball of energy below him. Goku seemed open to every touch. The monkey seemed to want and crave everything and then some. The flicker of a finger, the swipe of a tongue, to the brush of lips – nothing was ever rejected. Goku had never told him "no" or "stop" or even "give me more time". Whatever Sanzo threw at the monkey, the monkey was willing to accept and plead for more. Which made Sanzo wonder, would Goku say "no" even if the monkey didn't really want to say "yes"?
Was it the damn robes? Was it the title-turned-name that gave Goku some sense of respecting authority? Goku was strong enough that if anyone else ever tried to touch him without Goku wanting it, then Goku wasn't going to be touched and there was going to be one less person in the world. But, did that really apply to their relationship?
Supple thighs tightened around Sanzo's chest. Soft moaned filled his ears and Sanzo wondered if what he saw as consent really was consent. He didn't want a "yes" simply because Goku was too fearful to say "no". Fearful? Fearful of what?
Konzen rolled his eyes, "Of disappointing you. Of you rejecting him. One little 'no' and his world could be shattered." Konzen shook his head, "I can't believe you would abuse your authority like this." Konzen worked in very subtle ways indeed.
Sanzo pressed his lips to Goku's stomach and felt strong fingers push into his hair. Had he been that distant? Had he been that much of a hardass? Did Goku really think he was so cruel as to make "not tonight" become "never again"?
Konzen crossed his arms over his chest. "Think about it for a moment. If you had been older would you have ever told Koumyou 'no'? Or would you have just soaked up every bit of the special attention offered from the man you loved so much? After you got used to it wouldn't your biggest fear have been that it would have been taken from you? Regardless of how you felt at any given moment, would you have ever said 'no'?"
That rocked Sanzo to the core.
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Lirin sat in a café sipping hot chocolate. Her green eyes shifted around the room looking at the faces of the other patrons.
Kougaiji watched his hot chocolate swirl.
Lirin leaned over the table and whispered, "People are staring at us."
Kougaiji nodded and smirked, "Of course they are. We're demons."
Most of the time when they ventured out of the castle it was to fight. Lirin was surrounded by crazed demons and the Sanzo party. The few times she snuck out of the castle to enjoy a bit of life, she was tucked away from human eyes. There wasn't much fun in towns. This was especially true when there were trees to climb and monkeys to chase. Now, they were out. Just out. Just enjoying some sister-brother time and sipping hot chocolate. Lirin was short to begin with and all these eyes pressing on her made her feel even shorter.
She used the back of her hand to wipe a bit of frothy chocolate from the tip of her nose. "Do you think they haven't seen demons before?" She resisted the urge to adjust her hair to hide her ears. She was born this way and how could the eyes of strangers make her feel like being a demon was wrong?
Kougaiji glanced around the room and looked back at his sister, "They're old enough to remember the time before the change. They've seen demons before. They just haven't seen sane ones lately."
Lirin scratched the back of her head. "So, they're just expecting us to flip out and kill them or something?" Lirin wasn't one to back down from a fight, but she also didn't attack without reason. Right now, she wanted some time with her brother and this hot chocolate. Instead she felt like a museum piece on exhibit.
Kougaiji shrugged, "Perhaps. It's not really our concern. Just ignore them."
Mindlessly, Lirin's fingers found the bells on her ponytail holder. With a soft pop, her hair fell free. Her free hand was curled around her waist. Her eyes locked on to her hot chocolate. Even her ankles were crossed. All of it was a subconscious effort to be as small as possible. All of it was her mind's way of saying, "Please don't notice me just because I'm different."
Kougaiji's eyes went wide as his sister's orange hair fell about her shoulders. "Don't hide who you are."
Lirin looked at the bells held between two talon-tipped fingers. Her hand started to shake and the bells softly jingled. Orange strands of hair settled against her neck. Her hair parted and exposed the tips of her ears as it settled. Human eyes offered silent condemnation all around her. The tips of her ears started to burn and her insides felt jittery. She looked at the sharp points on her talons. Humans have rounded nails usually. Short and thin – practically useless as weapons or tools. She'd always had talons and for the first time in her life she wondered what it would be like to have useless fingernails.
Kougaiji slapped his hand on the table jostling their hot chocolate. "I said don't hide who you are." No sister of his was going to be ashamed of being a demon regardless of how many people stared.
"Don't you think a ponytail is a little young for me now? Perhaps wearing my hair down is something I should think about." Lirin couldn't remember taking out the ponytail holder, but since it was out the hair against her neck had become a source of comfort. It was like her orange locks were a shield against those pressing human eyes.
Kougaiji covered her trembling fingers with his hand, "Wear your hair however you want to wear your hair." Women were fickle about their appearance. "But, make sure it's just a hairstyle and not a cloak." He could yield this point if it were just a hairstyle choice, but if she asked about a ---
"Do you think Yaone still has that limiter?"
Kougaiji stood from his chair. Oh hell no! He spread his arms wide. If these people wanted something to see, then he was going to give them reason to look. "Ladies and gentlemen, if I may please have your attention!" He put on his best salesman smile and turned around making eye contact with all the humans. "We are your friendly neighborhood demons." He tugged on the tip of one ear. "These are my ears." He held his hands out and wiggled his fingers. "These are my talons. They are quite useful when opening soda cans and irritating teachers with chalkboards." He pointed to his cheek. "This is called a demon mark. The placement and shape of the demon mark has a complicated explanation and I will not bore you with such details." He fanned his hands out toward Lirin. "This is my younger sister. As you can see she is also a demon. If you look at her cheek you will see her mark is similar to mine." He took in a deep breath. "Now, she and I would like to share some hot chocolate. So, I will give you a moment to soak up all the staring you want and then ask you to leave us to our beverages." He paused for a moment and looked around. "Would anyone like for me to come closer so that you can get a better look at my pupils?"
A soft murmur spread through out the rest of the patrons. The bold demon coming closer was not a viable option! Having been effectively called down for their rude behavior they focused on their various tasks.
With a soft huff, Kougaiji sat back down.
Lirin wanted to hide beneath the table. That had to be the most embarrassing thing she'd ever lived through. Still, she was rather proud of her brother.
Kougaiji picked up his cup and puckered his lips. Cooling the top of his chocolate with his breath, he spoke, "Put your hair back up. You don't seem like you without a ponytail."
Lirin shrugged, "Nah, Goku likes it when it's down." She chuckled.
Violet eyes narrowed, "That settles it. It's never coming down again."
"I think I'm going to wear it down more often and maybe even get a strapless dress that hoists up …" She hovered her hands near her breasts.
"Put. Your. Hair. Up." Kougaiji felt his shoulders start to rise. Nothing on his sister's body was getting hoisted. Ever. "There is to be no hoisting, lifting, cinching, swaying or ..." He paused searching for a word.
"Revealing?"
"Revealing. None. Absolutely not!"
With a laugh, Lirin pulled her hair into a ponytail. After being utterly embarrassed by her brother's antics and then goading him into frustration about her thing with Goku, her ears and talons seemed insignificant. "I love you, Brother."
"I love you too, Sister." Kougaiji sipped his chocolate. Now that Lirin's hair was up, he didn't have to worry about anything being hoisted.
"We should get some hot chocolate for Yaone and Dokugakuji." Lirin looked over at the counter and smiled. No one was noticing her anymore. She never thought a lack of attention would be a good thing.
Kougaiji nearly choked on his hot chocolate. There was definitely some hoisting going on with those two. Some swaying too. As well as a few other things that didn't need a hot chocolate interruption. "When was the last time we saw them?"
"Breakfast."
Kougaiji nodded and waited. Perhaps Lirin would figure it out on her own.
Lirin shrugged, "Perhaps they're thirsty by now."
Kougaiji knitted his brow. He wasn't sure if that meant she figured it out or not.
"I know that after I –"
"Enough!" He shook his head, "There are some details that I don't need hear, Lirin."
"Go a while without something to drink, I get thirsty." Lirin smirked. "Really, Brother, you should take your mind out of the gutter occasionally."
Kougaiji smacked his palm against his forehead.
Lirin sighed, "You seem to be thinking about this a whole lot." She patted his hand, "Do you have needs that aren't being met?"
Kougaiji felt the blood leave his face. When had his sister turned into a sex therapist? "My needs, like that, are none of your concern." That was one sentence in one conversation that he never thought he would experience.
"I could talk to Goku if you—"
"No!" He gripped his forehead. Now, his sister, his little sister, had gone from therapist to Madame! "Out of the question!"
"I'm sure he'd understand and it shouldn't be a problem," she helpfully suggested.
Pulling his hand from his forehead, he jutted a finger through the air. "No. No. No! Absolutely not!" He gritted his teeth. "In case you have forgotten, Goku is your lover. I don't want to have anything to do with that."
Lirin sat back in her chair. With her arms crossed under her breasts, she smirked. "Gotcha brother. Remember what you just said and try to live it."
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Dokugakuji sat in the windowsill and stared at the road. He was trying to will that familiar green jeep into appearing.
Yaone stepped up behind her lover and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "You've been staring at that road all day. Watching it isn't going to make them appear."
Dokugakuji nodded. A watched pot never boils -- he knew that. "But…" His voice trailed off.
"If you aren't looking then you risk missing seeing them?"
He nodded.

"So what you're telling me is that you think between Sanzo's gunfire and Gojyo and Goku's spats it's possible for someone to not know they are here?"
He blinked. She had a point.
Yaone continued, "And you think that one person. One person in this entire city, would be you."
He slowly turned his head and looked at her. That felt like a thinly veiled insult.
She sighed and smiled, "We've been out of the castle for a few days. Alone. In a room all to ourselves." Her magenta eyes roamed his form: broad shoulders, strong arms and dark hair and eyes that called to a sense of mystery. There was something else. She couldn't see it at this moment, but she knew it was there. An ass that one could bounce a quarter off and come up with two dimes and nickel. An ass that filled her hands and shifted as he firmly bucked into her. "Alone." She stressed, "And all you have done is wait for confirmation for what you already feel." She stretched and arched her back. The fabric to her causal dress pulled against her breasts.
He nibbled his bottom lip. That was definitely a jab. That was definitely a direct hit against his machismo. He turned his head and looked back outside the window. "I'm not falling for it, Yaone." He couldn't help the smirk on his face.
She leaned over and slowly drew his ear between his lips. "Have it your way." She pressed her hand against his chest and glanced at the street below the window.
Dokugakuji's eyes popped when he heard the buttons on her dress give.
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Gojyo cradled Hakkai's ankle in his palm. His fingers worked between his lover's toes and he pressed a kiss against the ankle that not too long ago was sprained. At the time, Gojyo didn't know Hakkai had twisted his ankle during the frenzied dash to reach the redhead. Today, he still didn't know.
Hakkai wasn't about to tell Gojyo either. He softly smiled as his lover kissed away hurts that no longer hurt. "How are you feeling?"
Gojyo snickered. Aroused was how he was feeling.
Hakkai laughed, "Not like that. Physically. Your hand and …" He shrugged. "Everything else."
"I'm fine, Lover." Slipping his hand under Hakkai's calf, he kissed his lover's shin. "I keep telling you that and you don't want to accept it." His eyes flicked up. A line of wet light-tan skin underlined his vision. Emerald eyes rested in the center of his sight. "Or is someone asking for some kind of doctor fantasy?"
Hakkai blushed and rolled his eyes, "You were hurt pretty badly. I just need to make sure you're fine."
"Well, Doctor, to be honest, I have this ache and it hurts real bad."
Hakkai lifted his eyebrows and wiggled his toes. "Oh, tell me about this ache of yours."
Gojyo slid his hands under Hakkai's thigh as he zeroed in on his target. Feeling like a Liger moving in on prey, his tongue dipped under the bend of his lover's knee. "It's between my legs. It burns in my blood."
Hakkai gasped. The look in Gojyo's eyes was one of a territorial animal. Something primal. Something that called to the base of his mind. Something that pushed against his instincts. Fight or flight had been engaged and he wasn't about to flee. "Oh dear, I think that is a problem."
Gojyo hummed an affirmative reply, wrinkled his nose and nipped at the skin on the side of his lover's knee.
Hakkai's hips shifted under the churning water. The cool air skirted around his wet skin. Steam lapped at his leg. Gojyo's hot mouth claimed the tender skin by his knee. Fingers pressed into his flesh and heat pooled between his legs. "We…" He moaned a soft little moan. "Should see about treatment."
Gojyo dropped one hand below the water and found Hakkai's thigh. He kneaded the flesh of his lover's upper thigh and lifted an eyebrow when a hard cock brushed his fingers. "There's only one treatment for this urge."
Hakkai nodded. The sun was setting. The day had passed in what felt like a blink of an eye. A blue canvas covered the snow-capped trees. A divine artist added swathes of violet and crimson to the sky. Thin white clouds traveled upon winds.
His eyes darted over Gojyo's body. Crimson hair. Crimson eyes. Crimson sunset. It all merged into a sight so stunning it took Hakkai's breath for a moment. "Freeze…," he softly pleaded. A breathy, "Don't move … don't move …. don't move," softly escaped his lips … each utterance became more thought and less speech. A pure thought slipped his lips emerging as a mere whisper simply hinting at voice, "Oh… my god... "

The sun had silently snuck across the back deck and it now washed across the hot tub. Gojyo was incased in a half-sunbeam. The delicate caress of pure light quavered, fluttered and danced across chiseled muscles and solid shoulders. That essential light embraced water kissed tan skin. Mist from the bubbling water sprayed Gojyo's skin and made the tips of his hair a bit darker. Some locks stuck to the "bronze god's" body and some locks moved freely.

Hakkai's eyes slowly tried to take in the stunning sight. A beauty that no camera could capture, no artist could paint and no poet could muse. A beautiful and awe inspiring sight that could only exist through merciful loving brush strokes guided by Mother Nature herself.

A sight that is titled -- that can only be known as: "Sha Gojyo in Sunlight."

.

.

.

.

This was the time to make a memory.

.

.

.

.

Gojyo's long locks captured the heavenly yellow warmth and it tweaked his features in spectra of varied crimson hues. The natural oils on his skin and the mist from the water broke and refracted the light in millions of tiny rainbows. His loose locks trapped and claimed rays of light that danced and twinkled in billions of tiny spectra whispering of soft romance. A nearly imperceptible breeze pushed that dance into a frenzy of passion. His eyelashes clutched light and each individual lash sparkled -- sparkled in alluring hues birthed from life giving red. His right pupil --- an obsidian pinpoint in a pool of wavering shades of ruby and crimson that seemed to be suspended by white -- pure white. The liquid of Gojyo's eye kissed and teased the sunlight -- glistening with involuntary movements.

Gojyo's left eye, looking down from Hakkai's right side, was half enswathed in that delectable dance with sunshine. The outer half was cast into shadow. His scars ducked behind that mysterious line where light mates with dark. They barely peered out… seeking tentative acceptance.

Hakkai managed to whisper. "Turn you face … to my right … just slightly."

The scars emerged from their dark hiding places. They grabbed at the light and the long since sundered skin lit up in spectra of passion.

Gojyo hummed --- simply hummed in light and trillions of tiny spectra.

Hakkai's lip quivered as he softly spoke, "If you touch me now, I'm certain this moment will end too soon." He slowly closed his eyes ensuring the memory was burned into him. He'd beg for that memory to vouchsafe him slumber each night. That was the twinge of such sights. They had to be captured when they occurred for their very nature -- the nature that made them so special -- was that they were fleeting.
Emerald eyes opened. Hakkai took in a deep breath and shifted from the shadows. "You are still stunning at sunset." Hakkai's leg fell from Gojyo's hold as he grabbed his lover's shoulders. He kissed those scars on Gojyo's cheek. Bathing them in all the love and attention they could tolerate. A vain attempt at erasing years of neglect. A trite attempt at canceling the pain from their birth. An effective gesture at expressing his love and full acceptance of his lover – scars and all.
Gojyo stared at the door to the cabin from over Hakkai's shoulder. His voice was weak, but he managed to speak. "Only at sunset?" He tried to chuckle, but it didn't work. He'd had people ask about his scars. He'd had people touch them. He'd had more people than he could count stare at them. Never had he had anyone kiss his "crimson regret". Never had he felt them so accepted. The mar on his face placed by his mother had been something he tried to hide under his hair. It never worked, but he tried to make himself believe that when people did a double take it was because of anything other than the scars.
Soft kisses, as soft as the flutter of butterfly wings danced upon his cheek. Wrapping his arms tightly around Hakkai, he squeezed his eyes closed and his lover close. "I love you. Please don't ever leave me alone."
"I love you too." Hakkai walked his kisses to his lover's neck. Nipping and sucking. Kissing every bit that he could reach. Needing and yearning. "Never. Never in 500 years." Touching and tasting, Hakkai's hands roamed his lover's body.
The tigon had turned the tables on the liger. The hunter now became the hunted.
What kind of liger would Gojyo be if he let that stand? Smirking, he chased Hakkai's hands and grabbed his lover's wrists. "Hey Lover?"
"Yes, Gojyo?" Hakkai's teeth found Gojyo's collarbone. He pressed his teeth into Gojyo's skin and worked his way to his lover's shoulder. His lips crushed between his teeth and Gojyo's body as he tried to kiss and lick everywhere at one time.
Gojyo pressed Hakkai's hands to the edge of the hot tub, "I need you to do something for me."
"Hmm?" Hakkai was rather busy at the moment trying to taste all of Gojyo's shoulder, but he could try to be accommodating.
"Relax and hang on."
Hakkai's head whipped back as he cried out.
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Goku blinked at the satin over his face. Sanzo stopped. This was never a good sign. "Sanzo?"
Sanzo looked up from the tan stomach before him. His eyes darted between Goku's. He was looking. Searching for some kind of sign. Some kind of indication that Goku really did want to be here. Damn those golden eyes. They always looked at him with the same bubbling love. The same sheer devotion. The same dedication. The same desire. From the cave to now, those golden eyes always seemed to be pure.
Goku rolled his eyes, "I'm old enough, damn it!"
Sanzo knitted his brow. Sure Goku was old enough now, but what about when this relationship started? Oh now that made Sanzo a "sad man" didn't it? The room that started the card games wasn't a room at an inn in some town on the way west. No, that room was at the temple. He took a fifteen year old from a cave. He took a sixteen year old into his arms. What had he done? Those eyes. Those golden eyes looked at him just as he once looked at a man with a chakra.
Those eyes. Those eyes that loved him when the fan flew and when kisses caressed. What had he done? Had he taken this young life and yanked on that blind devotion until a body was given in exchange for companionship? Had he been so gruff that "no" wasn't an option? Had he gotten so far in Goku's head and worked the young man's fears to the point that going through was easier than going without?
Goku watched the blood leave Sanzo's face. "Sanzo?" Goku reached a hand out to touch his lover's face.
Sanzo turned from the touch. Now when the pressure wasn't on, Goku was reaching out for it. Here he'd been fretting over Hakkai messing with "Goku Logic" and for years he'd been infecting the foundation of that very precious logic. He was no better than a man who waited at playgrounds. He was on par with someone who offered games and gave pain when resistance was met. Eventually people stop fighting. Eventually they give in. As long as just enough was offered – just enough in the realm of companionship or friendship – they'd put up with nearly anything to keep the hope alive.
Now! Now they were on a mountain surrounded by snow. Now they were in the middle of Goku's fears and Sanzo was pulling the strings like a puppet master. Now when Goku would fear the most that he'd be abandoned, Sanzo gave into his own lustful desires. Koumyou would be oh-so-proud of Kouryuu now. What a fine priest he was abusing his authority and taking advantage of Goku's dedication.
Perhaps that was what the long-haired blond of his conscience had been trying to make him see? Perhaps that was what was so inappropriate? This wasn't about age. This was about power. Damn that power! Damn that love! Was it the emotion that was vile and deceptive or was it the one who used love as a carrot? A dangling treat to be yanked away the moment physical urges were satiated.
"Sanzo, please, talk to me."
Now Goku was pleading. The young man had internalized the behavior to the point not even knowing it was wrong. How much pain had those golden eyes concealed? How long had betrayal been tucked away under layers of dedication? Why hadn't Sanzo seen it? Why hadn't he ever questioned it?
Sanzo hadn't seen it because it was never there, but such words wouldn't reach him now.
"Get dressed." Sanzo shifted back on his shin and jerked his pants over his hips. "No more. I'm not doing this to you any more."
Goku's world shattered. A hole punched through his chest and his insides withered. Trembling and shaking and he looked at his sun. For a moment he had it all. For a too brief moment he had everything he could possible want. He had a family. He had acceptance. He had a lover and most importantly he had his sun. Everything he wanted was being ripped away from him and he couldn't let that stand. Jerking up, he lunged at Sanzo and didn't notice the cold air around his hips. He wrapped his arms around Sanzo's waist and held on for dear sanity.
Sanzo looked down at Goku's spiky brown bangs and squeezed his eyes closed. Carefully, he bundled his robe around Goku's naked form. "Goku…"
Tears ran down Goku's cheeks as he held on. If he physically had a hold of Sanzo then the blond couldn't go anywhere. He listened to the pounding heartbeat of the man who always worked for Goku's best interest.

Correction: What Sanzo thought was in Goku's best interest. Sanzo was normally right, but could this be a time where the blond was mistaken? Goku realized something was very wrong inside the blond's head. There was something said or something done that brought Sanzo to this conclusion. It was just a matter of figuring out what and then crushing it. Perhaps it would be as easy as asking, "Why?"
Sanzo worked his arms around Goku and felt the satin of his robe brush against his cheek. He owed Goku an explanation. Hell, he owed Goku an apology for years of this… this... this inappropriate behavior, but those words were too little too late. He should also clarify what he stopping. "No more card games, Goku."
Goku's shoulders relaxed a bit. Sex. Sex was no big deal. He could live without sex. He could care less about sex. The card games were fun, but as long as he still had His Sanzo he'd be all right. As long as he still has someone to hold. As long as… he remembered Sanzo's words, "Don't tempt me, Goku. I'm not that strong." If Sanzo stopped the card games would Sanzo stop holding?
Were they going back to the time before the card games? Where they going back to the shed and hiding him from the other priests? The dark quiet shed. The shed with bars on the window? Was the next inn going to be his shed? Was the next room going to be lonely and quiet?
He curled his legs around Sanzo's shins. He had to know. If everything he wanted was getting stolen, he had to know. "Why?"
An explanation. If they were ever going to get out of the snow, Sanzo was going to have to offer an explanation. "I have no way of knowing that you really want this."
"What?" Goku pulled his face from Sanzo's chest and looked up at the blond. "I want this Sanzo. You know I want this. You know I want this because I'm telling you I want this."
Sanzo lifted an eyebrow, "Of course you'd say that. You don't want it to be taken away, but I have no way of knowing if…" Sanzo sighed. "You've never told me 'no', Goku. Not once. I don't want or need a lover that …" Just gives in. His words trailed off.
"No? I've never told you 'no' because I've always wanted to say 'yes'."
"Exactly."
"Exactly? Hell! Sanzo, are you telling me that I have to tell you 'no' in order for my 'yes' to be valid?" Goku shook his head, "That's just stupid. I have to do what I don't want to do just so that you know that when I do what I want to do, you know that it is what I want to do. Can you try to make less sense?" Now, Goku was a little angry. If Sanzo had a valid reason that would be one thing, but this was bullshit. Bullshit plain and simple.
Sanzo cradled Goku's face in his hands. "Would you? Would you ever tell me no?"
There was a small voice missing from this whole exchange. The voice of a young boy who had listened and thought long and hard about the proposed hypothetical situation.
Kouryuu lifted his face.

Goku stared into violet eyes.
"I would."
Sanzo heard two voices.
"I would." The voices repeated.
"Because I know that you would never stop loving me."

"Because I know that he would never stop loving me."
Mentally, Sanzo looked at Kouryuu. Physically, Sanzo tilted his head and listened to Goku.
"Sanzo, do you really think that I would think that one 'no' would mean never again?"
Kouryuu spoke, "His love and our love for him was a lot deeper than one 'no' or a million 'no's'."
Goku smiled, "Besides, I have told you 'no'. Once."
Kouryuu shook his head and walked off toward his broken corner, "You've grown so numb that you've forgotten how good love is."
Goku interlaced his fingers with Sanzo's, "I was willing to give up our card games if you insisted on not letting me use lube."

"I'm not hurting you like that anymore."

"It's not fine with me."

Goku continued, "That wasn't a simple 'no'. Maybe you missed it, but that's what it was. I want you. I want this. I'm not letting you take that away from me, but I'll only have sex when I want to." He grinned, "I love you enough to say 'not tonight'. I have enough faith in us to say 'no' and know that tomorrow or the next hour can be 'yes.'" He shrugged, "You've made sure I'm not weak, Sanzo. Not even against you."

If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha…

Goku had killed his Buddha and Sanzo just realized it.

Sanzo sat there dumbfounded wondering if the wrong person was carrying the sutra.
Goku sighed, "Well, since you killed the moment. Let me up. The snow has melted through my clothing and my butt is cold."
Sanzo lifted an eyebrow. How could he have been so brilliant as a child and so blind as an adult? How could he have managed to help get Goku to place that he was still trying to achieve?
"The heart attack you gave me zapped my erection and worrying makes me hungry."
Violet eyes rolled. Just when he thinks he has a handle on Goku's wisdom and maturity, this happens. He blinked at Goku's thigh. "So, you're telling me that you don't want to play a game of cards."
"Not exactly."
"You're telling me that you …" Sanzo looked up at Goku. The love that always had been and always will be resonated into those golden eyes. "Are you saying you don't want to not play a game of cards?"

Goku realized why Hakkai stressed double-negatives. "You're making my head hurt, Sanzo." He slapped a hand to his forehead. "No, I don't want to not play a game of cards."
"So you do?"
"Stop it! Gods, sharing comics with you is so much easier." Goku shook his head and exasperated sigh left him. "You wanna know what I want? I want what we were yesterday and twenty minutes ago. And I'm trying to tell you and you're just getting me confused. And card games aren't supposed to be this difficult. Let me up and let's get something to eat or tell me what I need to tell you to get you to fuck me." It was time to walk or screw. This talking business was getting them no where.
"You already have." Sanzo tilted his head forward and claimed Goku's lips in a kiss.
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Dokugakuji stared out the window as soft mews from Yaone brushed across his ear. She was not playing fair – not in the slightest. With her hand pressing into the middle of his chest and her breasts pressing against his back, he knew exactly what she was doing behind him. He was here to worry about his brother, that little brat, not to enjoy all that she had to offer.
A chill ran down his spine as she nipped at his ear. Dokugakuji gritted his teeth. This was not going to work; he could thwart her plans. "You do remember that I'm in front of a window, right?"
She hummed in agreement.
"What if Kou walked down the street?" It took him a long time to get her this comfortable with him and he appreciated all of her openness, but he wasn't above playing the "bashful card" if he needed to.
Yaone laughed. "I'm behind you." Who was he trying to kid? Dokugakuji was as wide as a doorframe and sometimes taller than one. Her small framed body easily hid behind his and her dress was open, but not off. Her body was curtained by her clothing and covered by him. Anyone could walk down that street, stare right into this window and maybe see her hair over his shoulder. Even if they could see everything it would be worth it to give his mind a little rest from the worry.
Her fingers slid against her moist flesh and she didn't try to hide the moans from her self-pleasure. She wanted him to hear every time her clit slid between her knuckles. She was pressed up against him so tightly he had to feel the shifting of her hand and the rocking of her hips. "You do remember that you're a Sha, correct?"
Dokugakuji's eyes narrowed.
"And that I'm a woman, correct?"
He pressed his lips into a thin line. What was she getting at? This was definitely leading up to another blow to his machismo – that was certain. The sneaky little twinge to the end of her words made that clear. Her breath washed across the back of his neck and heat began to pool between his legs. He could feel some of her dampness seeping though the back of his clothing. His hands balled into fists as he tried to capture his resolve.
"A woman with needs, Doku." She ran a line of kisses against the nape of his neck.
Dokugakuji looked up at the ceiling. He saw to those needs. He never left her wanting – not once. Right now, he had a brother to worry about. In his bones he could feel that Gojyo was all right, but his mind needed confirmation. That little shit had been through so much and it would take a lot more that one bitch to take him out, but – Dokugakuji's worry was interrupted as Yaone's nails raked down his shirt. He wanted to feel those nails down his back and across his shoulders.
"Or am I with the wrong Sha?"
Oh hell no! No, she did not just imply what he thought she just implied! Going after his machismo was one thing. But! That crossed a line! The sneaky giggle after her statement reminded him that it was just a tease, but someone needed to be reminded that there was more than one talented Sha in the family. As if having Gojyo for a brother wasn't bad enough, Dokugakuji had the added "benefit" of his girlfriend knowing about Gojyo's reputation. This shit ended now.
He whipped around, threw his arms around her tiny waist and in a flash had her on her back on the bed.
She laughed, "My, my, that was effective."
He couldn't help the grin on his face. The sparkle to her magenta eyes whispered of the love between them. He melodramatically sighed, "But… if you'd rather have my brother."
She firmly cupped his face in her hands and pulled him into a kiss.
As their tongues danced, he began to remove his clothing. That kiss told him all he needed to know about which Sha she wanted.
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Gojyo had Hakkai pinned against the edge of the hot tub. With his nose tucked under Hakkai's chin, Gojyo flicked his tongue against his lover's neck. His hands slipped around the outside of Hakkai's thighs and his fingertips teased the sensitive strip of skin where ass meets thigh. "What do you say we soil this water too?"
Hakkai moaned when Gojyo rocked his hips rubbing their arousals against each other in the hot water.
Gojyo smiled, "That sounded like a yes." Pressing his thumbs against Hakkai's thighs, he coaxed his lover's legs to the inside of his arms.
Hakkai pulled his knees up and tried to settle into the cramped position. There was no other place for his feet to rest other than Gojyo's shoulders.
Fully cradling Hakkai's ass in his hands, Gojyo began to kiss down Hakkai's chest. He took a deep breath just before hitting the waterline. Lowering his head and lifting his lover's hips, the tip of Hakkai's cock touched Gojyo's lips. Gojyo held his lips tightly closed and forced the contours of his lover's body push between his lips. This served two purposes. The first was that it kept water from getting into Gojyo's mouth. The second was that it made for a tight entrance.
The heat of the water blended seamlessly with the heat of Gojyo's mouth. A tight – an oh-so-tight – ring slipped down Hakkai's cock. Texture was the only thing that clued him to what type of wet warmth he was feeling. Gojyo's tongue flickered around him for a moment and then the suction began to build. With half-lidded eyes he looked down his body as saw his lover's head between his knees. Gojyo's hair fanned out in the shifting water. Sucking and flickering taunted him as his ass was kneaded by his lover's hands.
Needing air, but not wanting to stop, Gojyo began to lift Hakkai's hips toward the surface of the water.
Practically floating on the surface of the water, Hakkai had to grip the edge of the hot tub to help settle his body weight. Gojyo's wet hair clung to Hakkai's abdomen. Long crimson strands teased his hips and stomach as Gojyo continued paying Hakkai careful attention.
The pressure around Hakkai's cock kept growing. It nearly felt like Gojyo was trying to suck the blood right from Hakkai's body. Whimpers of pleasure with just a hint of pain escaped Hakkai. Pressing his heels against the back of Gojyo's shoulders, Hakkai shifted trying to further stabilize his barely balanced position. More out of the water than in the water, Hakkai's elbows pressed against the lip of hot tub. His head rolled back over the edge of the tub and his knees were spread wide by his lover's upper body.
Anyone could come by and see this. Anyone. Sanzo, Goku, Ms. Marie, Mr. Rupert or even some visiting stranger could walk up and see this lewd act. On some levels that called to something deep within Hakkai. The "closet exhibitionist" buried inside of him was thoroughly enjoying this moment. The risk of getting caught – knowing that one was breaking a rule somewhere – was part of the appeal. Hakkai's less risqué mind forced him to bite his lips closed in an effort to be quiet. Moans caught in his throat. Whimpers vibrated his nose.
Gojyo lifted an eyebrow. Hakkai was incredibly cute when the brunet fought against himself like this, but Gojyo's pride wouldn't let him allow Hakkai to be this quiet for long. It was time to up the ante and make the bashful man cry out unabashedly. There was something he'd not yet introduced to Hakkai and the stage couldn't be set more perfectly for it now. Backing his head, he released his lover's cock with a pop. Turning his head, he flicked his tongue down Hakkai's length.
Hakkai softly hummed as Gojyo's tongue roamed his scrotum. With his elbows splayed his hands tried to grip the smooth edge of the hot tub. Water, light and shadow shifted on his chest with each labored breath. The tendons in his hands strained under his skin and he had to press his tongue to the roof of his mouth to hide a moan.
Gojyo slightly shifted his hands against his lover's ass. With his thumbs tucked under his lover's scrotum, he parted his lover's cheeks and his tongue dipped lower… and lower … and lower.
Emerald eyes popped as wet velvet brushed his entrance. His head whipped back and knocked against the hot tub. Almost inverted now, his stomach flipped. What was Gojyo doing? That was completely unsanti – unbelievable! He squirmed in his lover's firm hold. A part of him wanted to call a halt to this. Didn't Gojyo realize exactly what was being pleasured by that amazingly talented tongue? A larger part of him wanted to melt against his lover's wet touch and cry out while gentle flickers toyed with every one of his nerves.
Feeling Hakkai's heels shaking against his shoulders was all the feedback Gojyo needed. He stiffened his tongue and pulsed it against his lover's body.
Hakkai cried out and tried to bite back the end of his moan. There wasn't even a trellis around them and yet, he couldn't dare stop this. His toes began to curl as needs built inside of him. Bouncing between "away" and "more", Hakkai's breath hitched with soft little whimpers. "Gojyo. Gojyo," he whispered and each whisper grew with urgency.
There it was – his name. Sha Gojyo's name being whispered with love and ecstasy. With love – that seemed a lot more important than the "ecstasy" part. He loved doing right by Hakkai. Hearing that familiar urgency in the brunet's voice and feeling the trembles of pending release in his lover's body, Gojyo knew Hakkai was getting close. He paused his attentions only long enough to speak, "Touch yourself, Hakkai, you know you want to."
Hakkai gritted his teeth. He did want to. Gods! Did he want to and with each flicker of Gojyo's tongue that want became need. It wasn't long before Hakkai's needs beat out his sensibilities. Settling his upper body weight along his shoulders, he stretched his fingers out to his erection.
Gojyo nearly snickered as Hakkai's moans filled the air around them. There it was – the naughty little paramour tucked away under Hakkai's polite public face. He could feel Hakkai's body jerk as the brunet firmly stroked.
When they began this relationship all that time back, Hakkai was barely able to let Gojyo see him naked in a dimly lit hotel room. Now, they were outside, during waning daylight, naked and Hakkai was stroking himself. Gojyo could only consider this progress of the best kind. Hakkai's body jerked and Gojyo heard a long moan that cracked toward the end. It happened so suddenly that it nearly startled the crimson Casanova.
Hakkai's back arched nearly lifting himself from Gojyo's hands as he came. His feet pressed into his lover's shoulders. His shoulders pressed against tub and cum cooled against his stomach. His mind spun as his cock twitched in his hand. His body tingled and he hissed as Gojyo lowered him back into the water.
Gojyo smiled at satiated emerald eyes over panting trembling lips. "I think you liked that."
Hakkai nodded and weakly answered, "Yes."
Gojyo grinned, "Good. Because we aren't done." Crushing his lips against Hakkai's he couldn’t believe that just a few days ago on this very porch next to this very hot tub he had thought about walking away from his most delectable lover. He poured his apologies for his brief moment of stupidity into this kiss.
Gojyo got a lot out of this relationship, but nothing was so precious as having someone to love and make happy. Never let go of what is precious to you – he knew that now.
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Goku's moan was muffled by the crush of Sanzo's lips. It hadn't taken them long to get back to nearly where they'd left off.
This time around the snow had melted through Goku's clothing so it was a little on the wet side, but their body heat was being held in by Sanzo's robes. Once again wrapped in the clothing worn by Saviors of the World, two men enjoyed a moment outside of the assigned roles.
Sanzo shifted his kiss from Goku's lips to his lover's ear. Goku's legs wrapped around Sanzo's waist and Sanzo began to wonder – how could he have doubted this. What was with all of these mental games from the long haired blond? No one screwed with Sanzo's mind like this. He'd been letting his guard down and it was time for that shit to come to a stop.
Konzen approached.
Mentally, Sanzo eyed the longer haired blond, "Shut the hell up and fuck off." No one – no one – told Sanzo who he could want and who he couldn't. Not Goku, not Hakkai, not Gojyo, not Komyou and not this long-haired figment of his imagination. Not a long-haired man who wanted but didn't want to look like he wanted. Not a man who was grasping at straws trying to make up for some mistake somewhere.
Sanzo got what Sanzo wanted. He may have to put up with some bullshit to get what he wanted. For example, he may have to play nice at a temple so he and his "servants" had a roof over their head for the night or, he may have fake a little deference when talking to the Three Aspects, but when it was all said and done – Sanzo got what Sanzo wanted.
Right now he wanted his master's sutra back and he was making progress toward that goal. Right now he wanted Goku and no one was going to screw with that.
Sanzo wanted Goku. Goku wanted Sanzo. There was nothing in Sanzo's way keeping him from claiming his monkey.
Trapping both of Goku's hands under one of his, Sanzo used his free hand to coat his cock with lube and his teeth to claim one of Goku's nipples.
A warm pinch entered Goku's chest causing him to hiss. His hands were pinned over his head and pushed into the soft snow. His knees were against his chest and Goku couldn't have been happier. This was the Sanzo he knew was always buried under the blond's skin.
This was the dominant lover that Goku knew was hiding. Hiding under some need to prove to himself and others that he wasn't weak. Going through games not out of enjoyment of the games, but out of some need to prove something. Tano would have never seen the complexity of Sanzo in 500 years. Goku saw that something was wrong the first time they played these games. It took Goku a little experience and some exploring to figure it out, but Goku knew exactly what he was doing when it came to His Sanzo.
Goku wasn't about to let Sanzo hide within himself and if it took a few sneaky tricks to keep Sanzo living and being Sanzo then that's what Goku was going to do. Never underestimate the power of the Monkey King when it came to His God.
Goku cried out when Sanzo entered him. There had been no warning. Not fingers that stretched, no touches or words or relaxation – none – Sanzo pressed against Goku and pushed inside like the blond knew he belonged right like this. Goku hadn't fully settled into the sensation of stretch before Sanzo started bucking like the alpha male Goku knew and loved.
Goku rocked in Sanzo's vision. There were no freckles that teased, no underlying hints of illicitness that called to the rogue priest, no marks of games that made this something that it shouldn't have ever been. This was them. This was need. This was raw sexuality. One hand held Goku's arms down. Sanzo's other hand gripped one of Goku's hips.
With one of his knees pinned to his chest, Goku curled his free leg behind Sanzo's ass. One hip was angled up from the wet clothing and he felt every pound from Sanzo's full body weight behind each stroke. His teeth clacked together at the apex of each buck and his prostate screamed from the relentless attention. His mind began to spin as his skin started to hum. Curled like he was, he could feel Sanzo's entire length slipping in and out of his body. His nose began to go numb, but not from cold.
Sanzo watched Goku's eyes lose their focus. He listened as breaking breaths and squeaking moans struggled to escape the brunet. Not wanting to give into the pleasure surrounding him, Sanzo gritted his teeth to block his moans.
Goku gave in. Goku gave into it all: the warmth from their trapped body heat, the luminescence from Sanzo, the constant pleasure originating inside his body. He grabbed at it all with zest! His senses could barely keep up and process all that he was feeling. Cold and warmth. Dry and wet. His toes curled and his heel pressed into Sanzo's ass. Arching his back, he screamed. He screamed for all that he was worth. Finally, the mish-mash of sensation hit the breaking point and his body trembled when he came. Shaking and quaking, his vision went white and his ears rang. Tears from being overwhelmed leaked from his eyes.
Sanzo smiled at what was obviously an extremely happy monkey. With Goku's orgasm, every buck added a pulse of tensing muscles around Sanzo's cock. The tightness around him almost made it difficult to move. Each time he depths his lover, Goku seemed to clamp tighter around him. Whipping his hand from Goku's he grabbed his lover's other thigh. Pressing both of Goku's knees to the brunet's chest, Sanzo nailed Goku to the ground until Sanzo wanted to climax.
Sanzo came with a moan that refused to be held back. Plunging deeply within his lover, his cock twitched. A shudder traveled down his body and he claimed his monkey's lips one more time.
They kissed and Sanzo came to a realization. He enjoyed getting fucked. He enjoyed feeling Goku inside his body and that was a set of sensations entirely different than this. But, he loved fucking. He loved hearing Goku scream in pleasure. He loved seeing a slightly confused look in those golden eyes and thinking, "Yeah, this is me fucking you."
Truth be told, he still liked the freckles that came out when Goku's face flushed with passion, but Sanzo wasn't about to admit that now.
Konzen nibbled his bottom lip. He was confused. From his perspective this tryst in the snow was damn nice. It was unlike anything he'd experienced with his emerald-eyed lover. There was something more here than what he'd shared with Tenpou. He realized a few days ago that Goku had grown up, but still felt like something was lacking or amiss in this relationship with Goku.
Could it have been that Konzen was mistaken about something? Perhaps, but Konzen was not about to admit to being wrong just after being told to fuck off.
Konzen and Sanzo shared a stubbornness that was synergistic when the two clashed. When it came to saving the world that stubborn tenacity was necessary. Having spent too long in the role of protector both men failed to see when it was time to let go of some of that tenacity.
Goku was the only creature that could have ever bridged the gap between the suns. Brick by brick that bridge was being built. It might take west and back to get it done, but it was going to get done. Having been around Konzen and Sanzo, Goku could be stubborn and tenacious too.
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Old Blue's eyes went wide as he watched his stick literally fly away trapped in the clutches of the biggest bird he'd ever seen. No one had ever thrown a stick that far for him. This was the best day in the all of forever!
Hakuryuu dropped the stick and hovered in the air. He was not playing fetch – perish the thought. He was establishing a rapport with a potential informant.
Blue bounced as he ran for the stick. His tongue hung outside of his mouth and his ears flopped with every step turned leap. After reaching the stick, he gave it the shake of its life.
Hakuryuu dipped to reclaim the stick.
Blue backed his head and growled. This was his stick! He found it fair and square. A stupid bird was not going to take his stick from him.
Hakuryuu didn't appreciate the growl. Exposing his teeth he grumbled his dissatisfaction with this informant.
Oh yeah?! Well it was on now. Blue hunkered down and let out a rumbling growl.
Hakuryuu tilted his head. This hostile wanted things settled the hard way. A line was drawn on the battlefield.
A line that looked remarkably like common ordinary stick.
Talons and teeth clashed at the line of action. Growling and barking, Blue dropped the stick. Hakuryuu dove for the prize. Blue claimed the new white stick.
Hakuryuu yelped as his tail was pinched. Twisting he dropped the stick and aimed his talons for Blue's chest.
Blue dropped the wiggly white stick and went after the better stick. He hit that stupid bird's wing when he dripped his head.
Pushed under Blue's legs, Hakuryuu rolled and oriented himself. With the ground below him and canine stomach above him, he stretched his neck out for the stick.
Blue had one end and Hakuryuu had the other. A cross-species tug of war had begun. Hakuryuu flapped and tugged until his feet and wings hurt. Blue snarled and shook his head trying to rip the stick from Hakuryuu's grasp.
If that blasted dog didn't give up this battle, Hakuryuu was going to offer a fireball with the canine's name on it.
SNAP!
The stick broke in half and Blue went tumbling backwards through the snow. Hakuryuu flung up into air, rolled a little bit and righted himself. With his chest full of pride and eyed his prize. A grade-A number one … stick.
A damn stick.
A stupid stick!
A piece of dead tree!
Oh for crying out loud! It was just a stick. He could get one from anywhere – not that he ever really wanted it. He was just getting into the hostile's head. Know thy enemy and all of that. In a huff, he dropped his piece of stick.
Blue triumphantly marched off with both pieces of the stick.
Hakuryuu headed for a tree and winced when he landed. His feet hurt. His feet hurt over a damn stick. To make matters worse that stupid dog got both pieces of the stick.
Not that he ever wanted that damn stupid stick.
He dipped his head and lifted one of his feet. After licking a few scales back down, he knew his skin was broken. Stupid stick.

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Yaone was on her back looking up at her lover. With her hair down and her white dress under her, she seemed immersed in a pool of white and purple.
Dokugakuji had his face between her breasts and his hands wrapped around her wrists. Rocking his hips, he ran his length against her clit.
He engulfed her. Yaone looked up at the ceiling and was completely engulfed by her lover. His hands dwarfed her wrists. His shoulders were at least twice as wide as hers. She was covered – completely covered – by the man that she loved and she couldn't have been happier. A chill ran down her spine as his tongue travel the fullness of her breast. Nipples. Why was he neglecting her nipples? Pushing her heels into the mattress, she pushed her hips and pressed herself against his hardness. Pleasure resonated from between her legs and registered somewhere deep within her body.
Dokugakuji slyly smirked as needful moans lifted from his lover. Wrong Sha his ass! More of her wetness covered him with every rock of his hips. Kissing and licking his way over her ample bosom, he found the pink of her nipples. He pointed his tongue and flicked it over one of her firm nipples.
Yes! Finally! With each flutter of his tongue, she felt more fuel being fed to the fire between her legs. Pleasure and pressure started to build between her legs. Subconsciously, her hips began to lift from the bed.
He felt her thighs begin squeeze him and knew she was getting close. Moans and mews from her grew more urgent with each utterance. Writhing and squirming below him, he felt her body become more tense. Responsive -- so very responsive to his touch. With one of her nipples between his teeth, he flicked his eyes up and watched her face. He bit down upon her nipple until her eyes said stop, but her mouth had not yet whispered. Passion registered upon her cheeks as a kiss of blush. Her eyes took on a distant stare as euphoria claimed Yaone. Just as he was getting lost in her beauty when she was draped with need, he felt her jerk.
Her lungs trapped her breath for a moment as she trembled with pleasure. Trapped within his dark eyes, her body pulsed as euphoric waves slowly left her.
Pulling his lips from her nipple only to claim her lips, Dokugakuji mentally snickered. That wrong Sha business was completely settled now, wasn't it?
Yaone parted her lips and his tongue danced with hers. She couldn't help her mental smirk. She was getting exactly what she wanted – a lover who wasn't worrying himself sick at least for a little while.

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Still squirming under Gojyo's kiss, Hakkai curled his hand around one of Gojyo's wrists.
Gojyo shifted and poured attention along Hakkai's neck.
With his hand tightly around Gojyo's wrist, Hakkai put Gojyo's hand on his own cock. Rocking his hips to meet his lover's passive touch, Hakkai whispered, "Gojyo… I don't think this is wise." He moaned as the sensitive head of his cock rubbed against his lover's palm. The swirling water teased his sensitive skin and Gojyo's hand came close to making the touch too much. "We should stop."
Gojyo lifted an eyebrow. Someone was trying to play a game. Not a problem. "I don't want to stop. In a way, I want someone to come by." Gojyo knew the real stop word and hadn't yet heard it.
Hakkai knew and remembered the real stop word. He had no desire to use it either. His skin was flushed. His senses teased. Having grown so accustomed to achieving the goal of "you get two", one orgasm didn't seem enough anymore. Gojyo had spoiled Hakkai rotten. "That's just cruel." His breath hitched as Gojyo's fingers curled under his scrotum.
"Oh just think about it. What if Goku were to come walking up asking for dinner? It is getting close to that time." Looking over his lover's shoulder, he eyed his towel.
Hakkai's stomach flipped. He hadn't factored that. Assuming that Goku and Sanzo were busy doing whatever it was that they enjoyed, Hakkai had thought the risk of being seen so lewd was minimal. Just the right amount of risk – perhaps he'd factored wrong. Perhaps – and yet – he had no desire to stop. Releasing Gojyo's wrist, he twisted his hands around his lover's shoulders and pushed his fingers in to long crimson strands. "Stop me, Gojyo, before someone sees something they shouldn't."
Gojyo snickered and moved his free hand to his towel. "What's your plan? Duck down under the water? That won't work. Goku would see me and know what we were doing." He nipped at Hakkai's ear and pulled the tube of lube from the towel. "Tell me, Sensei, what will your pupil think of you then?"
Fisting Gojyo's hair, Hakkai pulled Gojyo's head back and nibbled upon his lover's collarbone. "He'd never look at me the same."
Gojyo hummed in agreement. "He'd know what kind of nasty man you are deep down inside."
A small chuckle escaped Hakkai as desire tried to fill his cock. The attentions were wonderful, but there simply hadn't been enough time for him to "reset". "I can't have that, Gojyo. Please… stop me." Slipping his hands from Gojyo's hair, he trailed his fingers down his lover's spine. "And…" The rest of his sentence hid under a moan.
"And?" Gojyo's breath hitched when Hakkai grabbed his ass.
Gods that was a nice ass! It filled Hakkai's hands perfectly. Round and firm and it shifted as Gojyo rocked his hips. "And… say it. Please."
"Say it?" What was it about that little please that sent shivers down Gojyo's spine. A little word of pleading. A little word that says – I want you to do lewd things to me that I could never do myself. "Say, what, Lesnan?"
"It." Hakkai stressed. Nibbling upon Gojyo's ear, he continued. "I need to be hard to..." His voice trailed off.
"To?" Gojyo teased, "Are you trying to claim me, Hakkai? Here -- in the water?" Gojyo knew Hakkai wasn't trying to top now. Not that he had any objections to feeling Hakkai's cock inside his body, but he was in water. He was in water surrounded by snow. He was immersed in his element here. Feeling a bit too dominant to enjoy bottoming, Gojyo was running this show. "Whatever happened to 'stop me'?"
"See, I'm already losing myself. That's why you need to stop me." Hakkai shifted his hands and pushed them against the side of the hot tub trying to urge Gojyo backwards.
Gojyo backed a bit to make Hakkai think the brunet was gaining ground. "I don't think so, Hakkai. I think it's time everyone else saw how nasty you can be when you're turned on." Shifting his hands, he started to put lube on his fingers.
"Reverse." Hakkai looked at the tube of lube.
Gojyo froze. "What's wrong?"
"That's water soluble." A slow grin and a sweet laugh left him.
"Oh yeah." Gojyo knitted his brow. "Are you laughing at me? You shouldn't laugh during sex it will give a guy some issues."
Hakkai shook his head, "No. Not at you. At me. All of a sudden that moment in the shower with the conditioner doesn't seem like such an egregious mistake." Sha Gojyo, notorious lover, was about to make the same mistake Hakkai nearly made. "Perhaps I'm not so inadequate for you after all."
The blood left Gojyo's face. "Inadequate?" He slowly shook his head, "You ain't anywhere near inadequate. I don't think you could be any more perfect for me." After quickly kissing Hakkai's lips, he continued, "If I ever made you feel inadequate, I'm sorry. I never meant that."
Hakkai softly blushed. "It was nothing you did or didn't do." A sigh of resignation left him. "I …" He stammered for moment. "I grew nervous that I would bore you or … well…" He sighed. "You are a bit out of my league – as the saying goes."
Gojyo's eyes went wide. "What?! No! Hakkai, no way!" He sat the tube on his towel and wiped his fingers clean. "When you are feeling this way." He cradled Hakkai's face in his hands, "You need to tell me. That's the only way I know that you need me to kick your ass."
Hakkai laughed and smiled a smile that forced little wrinkles around his eyes. "I don't think kicking is what my …" A blushed flooded his cheeks. There was no way he could finish that pun.
Gojyo's eyes sparkled as he laughed. "What your ass needs?" He titled his head, "So tell me… what does your ass need?"
"You know."
"Nope." He looked up at the roof of the porch. "You think about what it is that you need while I go get the oil."
Hakkai bit his lips as Gojyo stood from the hot tub. Water trailed down his lover's body grabbing at the waning sunlight. Droplets of water rolled into the shadow between the halves of Gojyo's ass. A tiny rivulet briefly formed along Gojyo's spine.
Gojyo turned and glanced at Hakkai, "I'll be right back."
Hakkai whimpered. A lock of hair stuck to Gojyo's face and crossed the scars on Gojyo's cheek. Another lock of hair clung to Gojyo's neck. Hakkai's mind screamed at him. Get fucked! Get fucked until he couldn't see straight. Get fucked until he screamed his voice out! That was exactly what Hakkai needed – ass and all.
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With the tip of his nose tucked in the hollow behind Yaone's ear, Dokugakuji shifted his hips. The female body was a marvelous thing: numerous curves to explore with touch and taste and skin so soft it begged for a caress. He'd done well. Yaone was writhing below him a happy woman. He knew how to be a good lover and was confident that if more men knew the secret then neither Sha would have a reputation. The secret is to get her there first.
A lot of attention was paid to simultaneous orgasm in fictional romance. It seemed to be some kind of Holy Grail of sex. Dokugakuji thought those people had no clue what they were talking about. Not only did all stamina concerns go away when she was satisfied first, but there was a marvelous side effect to orgasm in the female body. The inner muscles of a woman tightened after orgasm which made for a much more enjoyable time during the next step.
Yaone cried out as his cock entered her. Slipping her wrists from his loose hold, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
Deep inside his lover, Dokugakuji took a moment to enjoy the wet velvet of his lover. Hot, wet and oh-so-tight. He moaned and had no desire to cap his desires. Rocking gently at first, he slowly built up speed and force. It wasn't long before her purple hair and magenta eyes rocked beneath him. It wasn't long before he felt her muscles throb along his shaft. With her legs locked around his waist, Dokugakuji set out to find his own euphoria.
As pleasure and pressure built inside of him, as his balls tightened, as his stomach muscles tensed and his neck went tight, euphoria welcomed him with open arms. Holding her tight and whipping his head back, he cried out as his orgasm claimed his body. Sweat rolled down his spine and decorated his chest when he spilled himself inside of her. Joined as close as two people could possibly be, he held her as their heart rates slowed and sweat cooled upon their skin.
The chill of the early evening necessitated the separation of the two lovers. Snuggled up under the covers with her head on his chest, she listened as he didn't worry about his brother.
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Ambrosia oil bottle in hand, Gojyo stood outside the hot tub and whispered in Hakkai's ear, "Know whatcha need yet?"
Hakkai slyly smiled and turned his head to watch his lover get back into the tub, "Yes, I believe I do."
Gojyo lifted an eyebrow, "Oh, what's that?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
Gojyo chuckled, "You have me." He melodramatically sighed, "Well, now that your needs are met…" He stood up in the water and looked at the door to the cabin, "I'll—"
Hakkai interrupted Gojyo's playful teasing by yanking on the redhead's arm.
Gojyo laughed when water splashed against his face. Looking at his hands, he spoke, "I'm all pruney and shit. We should get inside."
"Inside is part of it, yes." Hakkai wasn't falling for this poorly faked disinterest from his lover. Gojyo had a hard-on that defied any attempts at wanting to leave the hot tub puckered fingers or not.
Tapping the top of the bottle against his temple, Gojyo added, "Inside. Now, we're getting somewhere." After setting the bottle on the lip of the hot tub, Gojyo shifted next to Hakkai and slipped his hands under the brunet's hips.
Pushing his puckered fingers into his lover's red hair, Hakkai rolled his head back against the hot tub. His hips were lifted and he hissed, "Yes."
Gojyo shifted Hakkai so that the brunet's shoulders would be supported by the edge of the hot tub. With one hand fanned out at the small off Hakkai's back, Gojyo held his lover just above the waterline. Kissing his way down his lover's chest, he thought that buoyancy was a wonderful thing.
That settled it. He was here in a hot tub with Hakkai naked and wanting AND Gojyo thought about buoyancy – he'd been around the blasted brunet too long. Reaching one hand out to the bottle, Gojyo did what Sha Gojyo would do certain brunet or not. He wiggled the top to the bottle of oil off with his thumb. He was Sha Gojyo someone who thoroughly enjoyed all the pleasures of the flesh and didn't think about buoyancy at all. As of this moment he, officially, didn't know what buoyancy was – official because it was stamped with Gojyo's stamp and written on Gojyo's office letterhead. Buoyancy? What's that?
Finding his way to Hakkai's nipple, he dragged his teeth across it before taking it between his lips. Cupping his hand over the top of the bottle, he inverted it and poured some of the oil into his palm. While he coated his cock with the oil, he thought about all the things that Sha Gojyo was supposed to think about. He thought about nailing this lover to closest the firm object around. He thought about hearing his name race from between his partner's lips. Sha Gojyo, lover extraordinaire, thought about scratching fingernails and panting breaths. He thought… he thought…. He lifted his face and looked at needful emerald eyes. He looked at spiky brown bangs. He saw the man that he loved looking back at him and returning every bit of that love. Sha Gojyo, lover extraordinaire for Cho Hakkai, rejected all thoughts of fast passion as he entered his lover. His lover and only his – damn it!
Hakkai's warmth surrounded Gojyo and he softly moaned. Pressing his lips against Hakkai's neck, he rested whilst completely inside his lover. Wrapping his arms around Hakkai's shoulders, he held on to Hakkai and barely let water between them. Who was that chick who thought she could waltz in here and get between them? To hell with her.
She was now nothing more than a memory. Hakkai was Gojyo's lover and only Gojyo's lover – damn it!
Whispering, "I love you," over and over again, Gojyo lowered their connected hips below the waterline. Slowly rocking with very shallow strokes, Gojyo wondered if this was the first time he'd truly "made love" instead of having sex or fucking. This wasn't about getting to orgasm. This wasn't about making Hakkai scream his name. No vein of venery in this moment of passion. This was about enjoying the moment when two people are as close as they can ever be – physically. This was about sharing one's body with another person. No games – just them. Just them in a hot tub enjoying all love they shared.
Completely enveloped by Gojyo, Hakkai returned all of those soft whispers of love with his own whispers. This wasn't the hard screw he had craved, but it seemed to satisfy a need deep down inside of him that he hadn't realized he had. This was a moment with a lover who seemed to know Hakkai better than Hakkai knew himself. Something in his chest seemed warm. Something in his mind seemed calmed. As Gojyo gently rocked, Hakkai felt a closeness redevelop between them that he hadn't noticed needed attention. With the constant fullness from his lover's hardness and persistent pressure against his prostate, this was every bit as fulfilling as the hard screw he thought he wanted.
When Hakkai wasn't looking, heat had pooled between his legs. He was fully hard again and no special phrase had to be spoken. Sliding his hands along Gojyo's sides, he found his lover's arms. Ghosting his hands down Gojyo's arms, he found his lover's hands. He interlaced their fingers and stretched their arms out. With the back of his hands against the top of the hot tub and his back pressed against the side of the hot tub they were now as close as two people could ever get. Fingers around fingers, chest to chest, hip to hip and breath mixing with breath.
Hakuryuu rested on a nearby branch with his hurt foot lifted. He wanted to roll his eyes. He wanted to make some kind of snide comment. He wanted to, at the very least, look away, but there was something that locked his eyes on the pair. Something in his chest wouldn't let him look away. He couldn't see anything, not really, just them halfway immersed in water. The sun was practically down and there was nothing spectacular to see -- no special memory in a sunbeam or anything like that. Gojun saw two people who cared for each other on a level that time nor death could deny. They weren't fighting and there were no bits of ceiling littering his desk. With a soft smile on his draconic lips, he was finally able to pull his eyes away from what he had waiting for him once this mission was over.
Closer. Closer. Closer! Need clamored inside Gojyo. There were bits of Hakkai that Gojyo still hadn't touched, kissed, or tasted. Touch. Touch – he had to touch. If he didn't touch it wasn't real and he needed this to be real. Every whisper from Hakkai, every hitched breath, and every moan strummed the pleasure inside Gojyo. Somewhere during his groping for closeness, Gojyo heard Hakkai cry out. Feeling every shake and twitch from he knew his lover had soiled the water.
Yeah, this was him. This was him making someone very special feel extraordinary. This was him being with Hakkai.
Slow and gentle yet solid and firm, Gojyo felt euphoria climb within himself. It was a slow climb – painstakingly slow. His muscles tensed and he felt his face go flush. His mind began to spin. Gripping his lover's hands, he softly moaned with release. Tucking his nose in the crook of Hakkai's neck, he shuddered and tears of pleasure leaked from his eyes. He didn't want to leave this spot – this spot that was far, far away from the corner of a dark room alone and unloved. This spot far away from predators of all types. This spot in the arms of someone he loved and loved him back. This beautiful spot.
Looking out to the world through crimson strands of hair, Hakkai blinked as a bird flew across the nearly dark sky. The hitch against his chest was not the hitch he felt from Gojyo during sex. This hitch was different. The tremble in Gojyo's hands was different too. "Gojyo, are you all right?"
"Yeah."
Hakkai heard a small sniffle come from his lover and softly smiled. Sometimes one's senses become overloaded and sometimes the body can only process that information by shedding a few tears. Crying was not always a bad thing. Tears of sadness. Tears of anger. Tears of laughter. Tears of passion. Many times they looked the same, but they we're extremely different.
Hakkai knew how to handle these tears. Slipping his hands from his lover's shaky hold, he wrapped his arms around Gojyo's shoulders and held the redhead close. "Sometimes it's a bit much, no?"
"Yeah." Gojyo lifted his head, sniffled one final time and shook his hair over his shoulders. "Sometimes it… well… it's a thing, ya know. It's umm…" His voice trailed off as he tried to find words for the indescribable.
"You don't have to explain anything to me." Pressing his forehead against Gojyo's, the tips of their noses touched. Hakkai smiled a genuine smile.
Gojyo smiled back. What do you know? He was special enough for someone to cause, stop and understand his own tears.
Draconic eyes blinked. They'd gone quiet. Hakuryuu slowly turned his head and looked at the pair. With a flap of his wings, he was airborne. When he landed on the edge of the tub he balanced on one foot. He lifted his injured foot and showed it to the distracted humans. Medic!
Hearing Hakuryuu peep, Gojyo and Hakkai turned their heads. Gojyo blinked a few times as he looked at the dragon's foot. "Oh, he's got a boo-boo."
Draconic eyes narrowed. A boo-boo? A boo-boo! This was a bona fide war injury! This was received in the line of duty! He needed a medic not a lollypop and kiss to make it better.
"Let me get closer, please." Hakkai squinted as he tried to focus on the presented foot.
Softly smiling, Gojyo shifted his hips and felt his flaccid cock leave his lover. He knew he couldn't stay that way forever, but… ah hell what was he a love sick kid or an adult who knew that life went on?
Hakkai looked among their towels for his monocle. After putting it on his nose, he moved closer to Hakuryuu. Looking carefully at the tiny foot, he noticed that not only were some scales out of place, but there definitely seemed to be some blood. Hakuryuu's skin was slick when stroked with the grain of his scales something similar to an armored snake. When Hakkai ran his thumb over the scale-covered thin bones, he could feel tiny scales scrape against the grooves of his skin. "He is hurt, Gojyo."
Gojyo patted the dragon's head. "So we need like a band-aid or something." He smiled and chuckled, "We should get one with some cartoon on it so when he looks at it he'll feel better."
Hakuryuu sneered. Having Snoopy on his foot was not what he needed. This hurt even if didn't look that bad. How would Gojyo like it if his scales were out of place? Stupid General.
Hakkai lifted his eyebrows and snickered. "I don't think he likes that idea. He needs – " Hakkai turned his head and sneezed.
Gojyo lifted an eyebrow. "Bless you." Was Hakkai getting sick? "Are you feeling, all right?"
Hakkai sniffed and shook his head. "Thank you. After what we just did, how can you think otherwise?"
Gojyo shrugged. People sneezed, cleared their throats, and coughed and most of the time it had nothing to do with getting sick. But still. Gojyo was going to keep a closer eye on this. "Just checking."
Hakkai narrowed his eyes and studied Hakuryuu's injury. He heard the little dragon peep when he touched a brown fleck imbedded in Hakuryuu's scales. "Hand me my towel, please."
Gojyo reached for the towel. "Is he bleeding that bad?"
Hakkai shook his head and stood up from the water. "No, it just needs to be washed before I close the skin." He tied the towel around his waist and picked up Hakuryuu. "How did you get bark under your scales?"
Hakuryuu started his field report concerning his infiltration and interrogation of the enemy combatant.
Gojyo chuckled as his wet and practically naked lover carried a chattering dragon into the cabin. "Forever the caregiver aren't you, Hakkai?" It was a scratch – if that. He blinked and looked at the cabin door as it closed. Why did it seem like Hakuryuu was answering Hakkai's question? Grabbing his towel and the rest of their items, he headed inside.
"I see. My, my, that sounds exciting." Hakkai continued talking to Hakuryuu while he dampened a cloth.
Gojyo scratched his head and looked at a still chattering Hakuryuu standing on the side of the sink with one foot out.
"This may sting." Hakkai dabbed at the wound with the wet cloth. "But, tell me more. What did you do then?"
Hakuryuu squawked as sharp sting invaded his body. At least the marshal was taking this injury seriously. He continued his report.
Gojyo tilted his head and watched Hakkai. "Tell me, do you understand him?"
Hakkai looked over his shoulder at Gojyo. Taking every precaution to ensure that Hakuryuu couldn't see him, he held his finger to his lips. "Of course I do." He didn't. Well, he could read Hakuryuu's body language and over the years had learned what a few of the peeps and tone of peeps meant, but didn't truly understand the dragon. Looking back at his patient, he spoke, "Continue."
Gojyo rolled his eyes. "Bark, huh?" He chuckled and started looking for the medical kit and a band aid. "He was probably playing fetch with that hound. He probably saw me doing it and wanted to be just like me." He grinned when he emerged from the bedroom with the med kit in hand.
Fetch?! The tufts of fur around Hakuryuu's face began to stand out. Fetch! He did not "play fetch" and if he were to ever "play fetch" he would never do such a thing with a dog!
"Shh, shh." Hakkai gently stroked Hakuryuu's neck. "He must be hurting. He really seems upset." Conjuring a ball of chi, he set out to close skin hidden below protective scales.
If Hakuryuu could purr he would have. That gentle tingle seemed to make everything feel wonderful and made him feel like he was melting inside his own body.
"Are you gonna need a band aid?"
"Perhaps. He's lost one scale. The skin will be tender for a little while after I close it."
A scale! Hakuryuu had lost a scale. He needed his scales. All of them! Gods! This was worse that he thought. Wait. It really hurt when a scale was removed even if it was partially torn off. When had the scale been removed?
Gojyo looked through the med kit. "It will grow back, right?"
Hakkai nodded and looked at Hakuryuu. "Is there anything else to your tale?" If he could keep the dragon chattering and distracted then, perhaps, Hakuryuu would forget about the pain. The tactic seemed to be working, after all, Hakuryuu showed no reaction when Hakkai removed the scale.
A weak peep left Hakuryuu when the chi stopped and a chin scratch started. He felt incredible.
"There all done." Hakkai brightly smiled at his pet. "You'll be fine in no time."
Hakuryuu looked at the two smiling humans and dipped his head. There was something sticky on his foot. Oh god damn it! Snoopy. Snoopy was on his foot! He tried to shake it off, but the beagle held tight. This was absurd! Licking at the edge of the bandage he tried to tug it off. The last thing he needed was some stupid dog with a stupid grin on his foot!
Oh! Chin scratch!
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Goku pulled Sanzo's glasses off the sleeping blond's face. With his ear against his sun's chest, he listened to the Sanzo's strong heartbeat and looked at the fire. "See, I told you sharing comics was easier."
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Relax and Hang On -- Again