Author: Mosh Note: You may not archive, re-post, or alter any of my stories without my permission. Please contact me first. Thanks! |
The monkey has a secret. Gojyo is certain of it. Which is really odd because Goku is usually unable to keep anything to himself. It's also extremely frustrating to watch him wander around in a daze, unnaturally quiet, almost - Gojyo hates the term, but it's the only thing he can think of to describe Goku's current mood - dreamy. "That tsukemono's mine," Gojyo says over dinner, already reaching across the table with his chopsticks extended, while making pincer movements for greater effect. He grasps the only remaining tsukemono and swiftly deposits it in his mouth, grinning in triumph as he chews. Something isn't quite right, though, and it takes a moment for Gojyo to realise it's not the food. Goku hasn't moved an inch, nor has he said anything. Gojyo glances to his left and narrows his eyes. Goku is sitting quietly, staring off into space and seeming completely unaware he was just challenged to a duel. There's no fight, no rise of their perpetual battle over who gets to eat the last of any food left on any table at the end of every meal they ever have. This time, there's just nothing there, and it totally throws Gojyo off. Just what the heck is going on? Gojyo looks across the table at Hakkai for help, but the other man seems unaffected by this strange behaviour. Hakkai offers him a warm smile, and dabs at the corners of his mouth with his napkin, before folding it and placing it on the table in front of him. "Oy." Gojyo nudges Goku with his elbow, none too gently. In all truth he is becoming increasingly unsettled. "Huh?" the monkey says, turning and blinking at him as if he's just woken from a deep sleep. "What?" Gojyo lets out a sigh and shakes his head. "What's got into you?" He's sure he sees two light pink spots rise in Goku's cheeks. "Nothin'," Goku mumbles, and looks down at his plate, concealing his face in his collar. "Shall we get going?" Hakkai says, beginning to pile their plates on top of each other like the neurotic housewife he is. Gojyo huffs at him affectionately, before issuing Goku one last hard shove and rising from his seat. "Damn good idea," Sanzo suddenly grumbles, not looking at any of them as his stands. He draws his cigarette packet from his robes and flicks a fresh one out of the top, catching it between his lips. Gojyo hates that his fingers automatically search for his lighter in his jeans pockets. He holds it out, let's Sanzo light up. Only this time, to his surprise, he's left with a solemn "Thanks" in return. Actually, now that Gojyo thinks about it, the monk has been acting strange lately, too. Well, stranger than normal. The guy had always been so edgy before, but now it's like the tension has left him, drained from his very bones. Although he's often quiet, it's a more mellow sort of quietness. Not that Gojyo wants to know what goes on inside Sanzo's headspace, but it's causing unbalance in the group, this distractedness, and that can't be a good thing. Ugh. For the life of him, he can't figure out why the priest and the monkey are being so weird and it's starting to piss him right off. Perhaps Hakkai knows something. Gojyo reminds himself to ask Hakkai about it later, whenever he can catch him alone. They leave the small tavern and head back to the inn they're staying at. Hakkai chatters idly about shopping lists and stocking up on essentials and how long it'll take to reach the next village if they leave early tomorrow morning, but Gojyo isn't really listening, and Sanzo and Goku have started lagging behind. He doubts if the strange atmosphere would lift by the time they arrive back at the inn, so he decides to head further into town and get wasted, maybe pick up a pretty young lady or two. "I'll see you guys later," he calls as he veers off. "I'm staying out." "Oh," says Hakkai, and waves. "Be careful." Sanzo and Goku don't even seem to register him leaving. Well, fuck them, he thinks, lighting up a cigarette and scanning the area for the nearest cheap-looking watering hole.
* * *
He's just on the right side of drunk when he returns to the inn - not so much that he can barely see or is walking into things, but he's merry, which is a lot better than being pissed off like he was earlier. Nothing like a strong sake or six to lighten a dismal mood. As he heads towards his room, Gojyo hears a noise from up ahead. A moment later a familiar figure exits one of the rooms and starts walking in his direction. Isn't that... Sanzo's room? Gojyo is sure by the shock and - what's this, embarrassment? - on the monkey's face that he wants to turn and flee in the opposite direction. It's like he's been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, after being told expressly not to touch. Goku quickly trains his expression neutral, as if nothing is untoward. "You're up a bit late, aren't you?" Gojyo says to him, his speech perhaps a little slurred. By this time the monkey would be on his bed passed out, babbling inane things about food and sunlight and snow and birds. But right now he looks wide awake. "What're you up to?" "It's none of your business, kappa," comes the exasperated reply. Gojyo swears the kid gets more and more like that irritating priest every day. He’s even talking like Sanzo now. "Listen here, you little punk, I've-" "I'm going to bed." Before Gojyo knows it, Goku is striding past him, off down the corridor to his own room. "Night!" he calls a little too cheerily and opens his door, slipping inside. The hell? Being pissed off is one thing, but being pissed off and pissed is another. Gojyo stomps to his room, not caring a whit if he wakes the others, and none too lightly closes his door. Okay, slams his door. It's time to pass out, before he does or says something he might regret. Damnit.
* * *
In the morning, Hakkai bustles around gathering their supplies, before ushering Gojyo, Sanzo and Goku outside. Hakuryu is patiently idling on the street, and it's when they start to climb aboard that Gojyo finally notices it. There's a pale purpling mark just above Goku's collarbone, like a watermark left by spilled ink. It's small, curved, and almost pretty. As Goku bends to hoist himself up into the back seat, Gojyo gets an even better look and wonders what the hell the monkey has been doing in his sleep. Pinching himself, maybe? Nah, that's stupid, even for Goku. When Gojyo spots a similar mark on Sanzo's neck, however, it dawns on him like the sun rising up over the mountains to the east. First, he is confused, vaguely disgusted. Then, he starts to think maybe he pries a bit too much in other people's affairs. He realises that - yes, he could be wrong - but there are still some secrets a guy just should not know about. With a half-surprised, half-amused smirk, he lights another cigarette, takes a deep drag on it, and vows not to worry too much about the other guys in the future. ~Fin~ |
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