Fic - Illusion, saiyuki
May. 24th, 2007 11:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessIllusion
D M Evans
Disclaimer – not mine. All rights belong to Kazuya Minekura et al, no profit made, just a little fun
Rating – NC-17
Warning – NOT work safe
Prompt – We’re Pretending, right?
Pairing – permutations of Sanzo/Goku/Gojyo/Hakkai (in this one, due to his perceived age Goku’s role is pretty much sidelined except for a few non-sexual instances)
Time Line – Set before they head west but after the incidents with Banri in Reload #4 so spoilers for that.
Summary – They were just pretending, right? So why…
Author’s Note –written for the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
10_cliche_fics challenge for the prompt – ‘We're pretending, right?’ This one turned out much harder than I thought it was going to. The prompt hinges on pretending to be lovers. That was easy to do for Gojyo and Hakkai but Sanzo was a real pain in the butt to work into this believable (and I suppose that has yet to be seen). Thanks to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
evil_little_dog for the beta. (three of ten stories finished)
Illusion is the first of all pleasures. – Oscar Wilde
“I’m sorry, Goku, but that’s not right. Try again,” Hakkai said as the boy looked in confusion at the apples on the table.
“Sanzo’s right, Hakkai, give it up. He’s dumb as a stump,” Gojyo said, blowing smoke rings at his ceiling. It was too hot for doing anything and he just knew the monkey had to have been getting on the priest’s nerves, hence Sanzo dumping the brat on him and Hakkai while he went to do something for the Three Aspects.
“I am not!” Goku raged, glaring at Gojyo. “You stupid kappa!”
“If you weren’t stupid, you’d figure out seven minus five is two, chimp,” Gojyo said, illustrating with his fingers. “You might as well just forget it.”
Goku’s little fists clenched and he stormed out, his pony tail all but thrashing as the boy slammed his way out the door.
“Gojyo, I think you hurt his feelings,” Hakkai scolded.
“Whatever,” Goyjo waved him off.
Hakkai scowled at Gojyo. “I mean it, Gojyo. Goku will believe he’s too dumb to teach and then he will fulfill everyone’s low expectations if you and Sanzo keep saying he’s not worth teaching. Goku’s a clever boy but we know nothing about his education. All Sanzo knows is that when he brought Goku down from the mountain, the boy could read, albeit at a childish level. About the only part of Goku’s education that was neglected was his training in combat.”
“I think that’s natural talent.” Gojyo stretched on the couch. “We don’t know how long he’s been at any of it, Hakkai. Maybe five hundreds years locked up in solitude turned the chimp’s brain to mush.”
“I’m sure it didn’t do much good.” Hakkai gathered up the apples he had been using. “It certainly made him desperate for approval so it helps nothing if you call him stupid.”
“I get the point, Hakkai. You can stop poking me with it now,” Gojyo grumbled, eyeing his roommate hotly. “Too damn hot for all this.” He fanned himself with his hand, a thoughtful look passing over his face. “Well, if he likes to read maybe you should stick to teaching him that, get him past little kid’s books because if you think I’m reading him to sleep tonight, you have another thing coming.”
Hakkai fussed with his glasses. “Sanzo’s not coming back tonight?”
“Betting not.” Gojyo made a face. “Figures he’d stick us with the brat. How weird is it that Goku’s like three times older than us and still pretty much a kid?”
Hakkai snorted. “Gojyo, if you think Goku’s only three times older than us, your math is as bad as his. He’s over twenty-one times as old as we are at a minimum.”
“Whatever.” Gojyo grimaced around his cigarette. “Where’s the monkey runt sleeping if Sanzo doesn’t come to pick his pet up?”
“With you. You can read him a story.” Hakkai tried not to grin.
“Oh, hell with that. He sleeps with you,” Gojyo argued, struggling up so he could glower at Hakkai over the back of the couch.
“Why should that be? He makes a mess. You’ll never notice in your room,” Hakkai replied, cocking up an eyebrow.
“Because I have a chance at getting laid tonight, and you don’t,” Gojyo answered as if it were plain. “We could put the runt on the couch.”
“Not if you plan on walking your latest conquest past him. That would just be bad,” Hakkai said with an arched eyebrow that suggested he didn’t exactly think it would actually happen.
Gojyo snorted. “The brat sleeps like the dead.” Gojyo knew it was a moot point. He hadn’t brought a girl home since Hakkai had moved in. He’d gone to their places instead to get his rocks off and even that was happening less and less. It was like Hakkai was civilizing him by osmosis. Gojyo scowled, hearing something from outside. “Hear that?”
“Sounds like Goku and he doesn’t sound happy.” Hakkai got to his feet, a worried look on his face.
Gojyo followed him outside. He scowled at the two men who had cornered Goku. “I can’t believe it.”
Equally as dubious, Hakkai eyed the youkai with light colored hair. “I can’t believe it, either. After leaving you to die for him…” Hakkai went over to help rescue Goku even though he knew the boy hardly needed rescuing from anyone.
“That’s Banri all over,” Gojyo snorted. He went over, grabbing Banri’s arm, hauling him around then punched him. “You have a lot of nerve, piss lick, coming back here.”
Banri rubbed his jaw, “Dammit! What the hell was that for?”
“I thought you said he was your friend,” the dark haired stranger said, rolling his eyes at Banri. He didn’t seem too concerned over the other youkai’s pain. Gojyo studied the stranger; youkai, ugly marking like a paw print over one eye and long snarled hair pulled back into a tight tail. He’d never seen this guy with Banri before.
“Friend? He sold me out,” Gojyo said, flipping Banri an obscene gesture.
“Aww, come on, are you surprised? You’re the idiot who let them tie you to a chair.” Banri wrapped an arm around Gojyo, who shoved him. Banri just showed his teeth in a wicked smile.
“He does have a point there, Gojyo,” Hakkai said, holding a hand out to Goku who stared at the two youkai with suspicious golden eyes.
“I see prissy is still living with you,” Banri said, making a face.
Gojyo shoved him harder. “What do you want, Banri?” he growled.
“Really, is that any way to talk to a friend? How about inviting me and Prabal in for drinks or are you too busy babysitting?” An oily smile slid over Banri’s face as he gestured at Goku.
“I’m not babysitting,” Gojyo gritted out as Goku blurted out, “I’m no baby!”
“Ah, you and your new woman adopted yourselves a love child.” Banri laughed and Gojyo punched his arm.
“Don’t even joke. Go on in but you two can’t stay,” Gojyo said, shooting an apologetic look at Hakkai who seemed unfazed.
“Goku, why don’t you and I go into town so Gojyo can visit with his friends,” Hakkai said, almost able to hide his disgust.
“Yeah.” Goku looked up at Hakkai. “What’s a love child?”
Hakkai sighed as he led Goku off. Gojyo didn’t miss the way Prabal’s eyes followed them. He only wished he knew which one the youkai was looking at. There were times Gojyo didn’t want to deal with Banri but never did he want his old running buddy gone as much as he did at the moment.
X X X
Gojyo stumbled home. After a few beers at his place, Banri suggested going into town. He was even buying, which put Gojyo instantly on the defensive. Banri wanted something but if he ever got around to his point, Gojyo didn’t remember it. He had vague memories of Prabal talking about the hottie but Gojyo wasn’t sure if he meant Hakkai, Goku or the blonde with big boobs at the bar. Had he ended up face down in that cleavage? He sort of smelled like beer, cigarettes and perfume and his cheek was burning. Had she hit him? Oh, who the fuck cared?
He fell against the door. Who the hell made the porch uneven? Getting inside, Gojyo careened off furniture until he managed to get to his room. What the hell? Using the wall as a guide, he found Hakkai’s room and banged on the door. Hair sticking up all over, eyes squinting with sleep, Hakkai opened it, his nose wrinkling. “Yes?”
“Ish there a little guy in my bed holding a stuffed bunny?” Gojyo slurred, trying to blink Hakkai into submission. Why was the man swirling all around?
“No,” Hakkai said. “You’re drunk and imagining it.”
“I am?” Gojyo’s brow wrinkled. Had he had that much to drink? It was distinctly possible.
“Yes. Come on, let’s get you to bed.” Hakkai took Gojyo’s arm and led him back to the couch. “Lie down.”
“Why?” Gojyo asked, unable to resist the strength Hakkai put into sitting him down. He tried to pop back up.
“Because you’re tired and you want to sleep.” Hakkai pushed him back down.
Gojyo popped up once more. “But I don’t think this is my bed.”
“Yes, it is. Just lie down.” Hakkai shoved him down and Gojyo gripped the couch pillow.
“Uhhhh, it’s spinning round.”
“Yes, I thought it might.” Hakkai tossed a blanket he had prepared just for the occasion over Gojyo. He went into the kitchen and came back with the bucket. “Here you go.” He shoved the bucket against the couch. “Aim for that. Trying not to choke in your sleep and, if you miss the bucket, I’ll send you to the hovel your friends are surely staying at.”
Gojyo just groaned and leaned his head over the edge of the couch. He passed out, hair in the bucket. Hakkai rolled his eyes and checked on Goku, snoring softly and cradling the toy he had gotten from some dark-haired man in town. It was a little young for Goku but if it made the boy happy Hakkai wasn’t going to say anything. Goku was drooling on Gojyo’s pillow and Hakkai let him. He went back to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. He wondered how much noise he could entice Goku into making and if Gojyo would learn a lesson.
X X X
Hakkai fussed around the kitchen, cleaning things that really didn’t need cleaning but he wasn’t sure what else to do. Gojyo snored loudly on the couch and Goku was still asleep. In the back of his mind, he kept expecting Banri and Prabal to pop up and he knew they boded ill, whatever it was they wanted of Gojyo.
“Ewwww, Gojyo’s stinky!” Goku skirted the couch and came into the kitchen. “Can I have eggs and pancakes and bacon and sausage?”
Hakkai laughed lightly. “I think we can manage some of them. Have a seat, Goku.” While Goku ensconced himself at the table, Hakkai whipped up eggs and sausage and snuck some fruit onto the boy’s plate. Goku eyed the health food evilly but consumed it just the same then begged for more. Hakkai had anticipated that.
“Why’s Gojyo all smelly and dead looking?” Goku asked thoughtfully around the sausage he had stuffed in sideways.
“He was out drinking all night and he’ll be hung over. Know what helps a hang over? Noise, lots of it. Think you can do that, Goku?” Hakkai asked wickedly, thinking about his loss of sleep. Goku bobbed his head enthusiastically. Spotting the wildflowers Goku had picked the day before, Hakkai gave him the bunch of nine flowers. “You know how to braid, right, Goku?”
“Sure.”
“You know what would be a nice way to wake up? With his hair all pretty. Go braid these into his hair, one flower per braid and then we can work a math problem with however many flowers you have left.” Hakkai smiled. “I know he’s a little smelly but you can do it, right?”
Goku took the flowers with an eager grin then set to work. His little fingers worked deftly, not even making the unconscious kappa flinch. He came back to Hakkai with three blossoms left. “Got three.”
“All right, without looking back at Gojyo, you had nine flowers to start with and you have three left, how many braids did you put into his hair?” Hakkai asked merrily.
Goku’s brow knit, his lips pursing as he concentrated on the word problem. “Six!”
“Very good, Goku.”
Goku beamed then wiggled his fingers. “My hands smell like cigarettes now.”
“I’m sure. You go wash up, Goku and I’ll try to wake Gojyo up. He’s rather in the way there,” Hakkai said and Goku washed his hands in the kitchen sink. Figuring Gojyo had slept enough and still feeling cranky, Hakkai went over and shoved the man’s shoulder.
Gojyo groaned, waking up. He nearly pitched head first into the bucket then sat back on the couch, rubbing at the rough, reddish stubble on his face. “Where am I?”
“Not out in the yard like last time,” Hakkai replied.
“More important question, what died in my mouth?” Gojyo made a face.
“I’d rather not think about it.” Hakkai caught hold of Goku’s ponytail, hauling the boy out of the ice chest where Goku had gone the moment Hakkai wasn’t looking.
Gojyo levered himself up off the couch and staggered into the bathroom. It took considerably longer than Hakkai expected before Gojyo bellowed out a curse. He ran out, still foamy at the corners of his mouth from toothpaste. He grabbed his plaited, beflowered hair. “Which one of you did it?”
Goku shot him a puzzled look. “You don’t like it?”
“Do I look like a damn girl to you, bean?” Gojyo grumbled.
Goku studied the new hairdo then grinned. “Yeah.”
“Come over here and say that, you monkey.” Gojyo chased the boy around the couch. Finally he tackled Goku onto the pillows. “How about I make you eat your monkey tail.” Gojyo tried to stuff Goku’s pony tail into his mouth and nearly got bit for his trouble.
“Get off me. Your chin is scratchy,” Goku shouted and even Hakkai winced at the boy’s incredible volume.
“That’s what a real man’s face feels like, you bald chimp. Maybe puberty will find you some day.”
“You stink, too.” Goku pushed at Gojyo.
“Leave the boy alone, Gojyo,” Hakkai said, trying to haul Gojyo off Goku at the same time Gojyo lurched forward, shoving Goku into the pillows. Unbalanced, Hakkai spilled on top of Gojyo’s back.
Just then the front door burst open and a red-eyed weary looking Banri stepped in with a “what’sup?” Prabal came in behind him.
Gojyo peered out from where he was sandwiched between two men with his hair covered in flowers. “Oh, shit.”
Banri scowled. “I knew you had switched sides, but you know, I assumed Mr. Proper was the wife.”
Gojyo opened his mouth to protest then gagged. Hakkai barely bailed over the back of the couch when Gojyo lurched forward and vomited into the bucket. Goku wailed thinly under the man.
“Ewww, still hung over?” Banri asked, wrinkling his nose.
Gojyo hacked and spat then collapsed down, crushing Goku. “What do you think? Move it, monkey!”
“’Fraid to! Hakkai!” Goku whined and the dark-haired man pulled Goku out from under Gojyo and up over the back of the couch.
Hakkai looked back at Banri and Prabal. “Gojyo’s probably not up to visitors. He’s still learning a lesson about the fine art of drinking without going stupid.”
“Man, you’re rough. Just because you don’t drink and have fun-” Banri started.
“Whoever said I don’t drink?” Hakkai smiled pleasantly. “Speaking of lessons, Goku, it’s time for yours. I think we’ll start with music.”
“Cool!” Goku cried then his brow knit. “But I don’t know how to make music.”
“Shit, Hakkai don’t let the bean sing,” Gojyo grunted, wiping his mouth on his shirt hem.
“I have no intentions of that.” Hakkai fished out his sukiyaki pot and a spoon, setting them on the table. He had Goku sit down and then he said, “That’s your drum, Goku. Follow my rhythm.” Hakkai drummed a beat on the table while Goku banged away merrily on the pot, which echoed beautifully in the apartment. Gojyo, Prabal and Banri winced.
“He’s evil,” Banri said in surprise.
“Try sharing a house with him,” Gojyo groaned, holding his head.
“Why don’t we come back later,” Prabal said and he and Banri didn’t wait for a response. They fled.
Gojyo tried to get up, puked some more in the bucket then sagged back against the couch. “Hakkai, enough! If this is punishment for me getting drunk, lesson learned.”
Hakkai halted Goku. “I could care less if you get drunk. I care when you wake me up in the middle of the night to babble drunken nonsense at me.”
“I did?” Gojyo scowled. “I had a dream about a cute girl in my bed but for some reason I was pissed that she was there.”
“Goku, if Sanzo doesn’t return tonight, you sleep on the couch lest an unfortunately mistake happens,” Hakkai said, making a face at the thought.
“Ewwww.” Goku shuddered.
“Ah shit,” Gojyo coughed then staggered up. Grabbing the bucket, he went to the bathroom, then finally stumbled into his room.
“More music?” Goku’s gold eyes lit up.
“No, I think you can follow a rhythm just fine.” Hakkai took away his pot before it got battered out of shape. “It’s time for math.”
“Ewwww.” Goku slumped at the table.
Hakkai went and got a pack of cigarettes. “All right, Goku, Sanzo and Gojyo have twelve cigarettes but you don’t want them smoking so you hide the first nine you find. How many cigarettes do they have left?” Hakkai held up a finger and added. “The answer is not zero because Sanzo and Gojyo smoke them all.”
Goku frowned. “But they would.”
Hakkai laid out twelve cigarettes as visual aids. “They can’t smoke any more. One more cigarette and they both die. They have twelve. You found nine. How many more do you have to find before they smoke them and die?”
Goku stared at the cigarettes. “Talkin’ to the monks to do a death sutra makes more sense, ‘cause they’d just buy more.”
Hakkai just put his head on the table and sighed.
X X X
Gojyo looked at the door, cautiously drinking his beer as if he expected it to bite him. Next to him on the couch, Hakkai sat silently drinking his sake.
“What are you anticipating coming through that door?” Banri asked, following Gojyo’s gaze.
“Or do you want us to leave?” Prabal asked slowly.
Gojyo was now very sure that Prabal was leering at Goku now seated at the kitchen table drawing in a sketchpad Hakkai had given him. The way the man looked at the boy made Gojyo’s skin crawl. He just wanted Banri to get to his point and go and be sure to take Prabal with him. “I’m hoping Goku’s usual keeper comes back for him sometime soon. He occasionally has to go out on jobs for days so we never know when he’ll be back,” Gojyo replied, unwilling to name Sanzo in this company. Hell only knew what Banri would think of that.
“Is the boy a problem?” Prabal licked his lips. “I could take him off your hands.”
Hakkai and Gojyo exchanged looked. Hakkai slammed his sake cup down on the table. “Goku stays with us.”
Banri waved a hand. “I don’t give a damn about the pup. I want to talk business.”
“Should you do that while you’re drinking?” Hakkai asked, glancing over at Gojyo.
“Best time,” Prabal said, running his fingers over Goku’s back side as the boy passed him, bringing the sketch pad over to Hakkai.
“Hey!” the boy yelped, cracking Prabal on the arm.
“Not telling you again, quit touching my property,” Gojyo said, getting up and hauling Goku over to him. He hated people who bothered kids. What the fuck was Banri doing with this loser? Okay, it was Banri, enough said.
“I never pegged you for being into little kids,” Banri said, a look of disgust in his eyes. “You used to be a ladies man.”
“Still am.” Gojyo ran a hand over Goku’s long hair. Maybe a little pretending would get these idiots off Goku’s case. “Tell me he doesn’t look like a sweet girl?”
“Hey!” Goku huffed at him.
Gojyo leaned down and whispered in Goku’s ear. “Play along, Monkey, or you’ll get hurt in ways you didn’t even know existed. Trust me.”
Wide-eyed, Goku nodded and Gojyo gave the boy a kiss, shocked when Goku merely tensed up rather than slugged him one. Hakkai had lost his usual placid look at this. Gojyo ran his hand through Goku’s hair again, giving Prabal a look.
“Goku, why don’t you take that book I asked you to do a report on and go to my room so you have a little quiet in which to work?” Hakkai said quickly to break the tension.
Looking a little stunned, Goku grabbed the book off the kitchen table and disappeared.
Banri eyed Gojyo wildly. “You know, I was only kidding about you changing sides thing, Gojyo.”
Gojyo snorted. “I don’t have a side, Banri.”
“You don’t really have to pretend to be something you aren’t, Gojyo. If he’s really a friend, he’ll understand,” Hakkai said, surprising Gojyo by leaning against him.
Gojyo saw the mischief in Hakkai’s eyes and grinned. “Okay, so I like all kinds. Got a problem with that, Banri?”
Banri’s nose wrinkled, his long ears twitching. “Just wondering how I never noticed this before.”
“Because you’re too ugly to hit on,” Gojyo said as if it should be plain.
“Hey!” Banri huffed, his face coloring.
“Do you want hit on?” Prabal asked in a tone that suggested he was very bored with all of this.
“No, but…okay, business,” Banri said, trying to go back on track.
“Okay, I’m listening.” Gojyo waved for him to continue.
“We’re looking to make a huge haul,” Banri said, sitting up on the edge of his chair.
“Oh, I already don’t like this,” Hakkai interjected. “Last time you and Banri tried something illegal, it ended up with you tied up to be killed and Banri running off to save his own hide. If you do something stupid again, tell me why I should save you like last time?”
“Gojyo, your wife is getting annoying,” Banri growled, glaring at Hakkai.
“I don’t know.” Gojyo played with Hakkai’s hair. “He makes a lot of sense to me. You did leave me to die last time.”
“Yeah, but you knew I would and you still took my place. I’m not the stupid one,” Banri said with a shrug.
“Your sale’s pitch leaves a lot to be desired, Banri,” Gojyo said, eyeing Hakkai and wondering just how far they should carry the ‘pretending to be lovers’ thing. Probably long enough that he didn’t do something moronic like agree to help Banri.
“And I’m serious. I’ll leave you to suffer your own foolishness next time,” Hakkai said, running a finger along Gojyo’s cheek. Gojyo was surprised at how good it felt.
“Do you two lovebirds want us to come back later? You’re starting to creep me out” Banri said. Gojyo could tell Banri was losing patience.
Hakkai leaned forward, kissing Gojyo who nearly slipped up and looked shocked.
Gathering Hakkai into his lap and kissing him again, Gojyo broke away long enough to say, “Yeah, come back tomorrow.” He kissed Hakkai as reverently as he ever had any woman.
“Is your wife going to be a problem then?” Banri asked, looking weary. Gojyo knew the thief was getting antsy and probably wanted to leave town as soon as he could.
“I don’t want to wait until tomorrow,” Prabal complained, a vicious look in his eye at the delay. “Sticking around isn’t in our best interests.”
“It’s only another day or two,” Banri replied, trying to cool him out. It must be one hell of a project if Banri wanted him this much, Gojyo surmised.
Prabal jabbed a thumb at Gojyo. “If he’s this flaky, what good will he be to us?”
“Trust me on this. We’ll be back tomorrow,” Banri said.
Gojyo waved at him with one hand and dragged Hakkai closer with the other. Hakkai met his kiss, open-mouthed and hungry as he rocked on Gojyo’s lap. The heat moving through them could have melted the couch and Gojyo wondered, in the back of his mind, what the hell had happened to ‘just pretending.’
Finally Hakkai broke away. “I think we scared them off. It would be easier if you just told them you’re not interested.”
“I know, I’m working up to it,” Gojyo said breathlessly. “Hakkai…we’re just pretending, right?” At the other man’s murmur of assent, he added as his hand skimmed down over their bellies. “So why are we both hard as hell?”
“Latent desire?” Hakkai arched into Gojyo’s touch. “Unconscious physiological reaction to stimulation?” He didn’t move off Gojyo’s lap, subtle shifts in his hips banking the fire in Gojyo.
“I could hurt someone with this thing,” Gojyo groaned, easing Hakkai onto the couch.
Before Hakkai could verbally add anything to all the amusement and lust his face reflected, Goku’s voice boomed off the walls. “Hakkai! I’m done!”
“Oh shit,” Gojyo growled, shoving a couch pillow in front of his groin. Hakkai shifted, half hiding himself behind the arm of the couch.
“Hakkai!” Goku called again, bounding into the room.
“Goku, why don’t you take your book outside and give me a minute and I’ll come see your work,” Hakkai said, his voice surprisingly even.
The boy paused, looking at them curiously. “Okay. Why do you two look so weird?”
“It’s nothing,” Hakkai said quickly
“Smell funky too,” Goku said, his nostrils flaring.
“Keep your nose to yourself, monkey runt,” Gojyo snapped.
Goku made a face. “Is anyone gonna explain why Gojyo kissed me? That was weird.”
“Call it protection. And if Prabal comes around you, Goku, feel free to kick his ass. He doesn’t mean anything good to you,” Gojyo warned seriously.
Goku seemed to mull that for a moment then asked, “Then why is he your friend?”
“He’s not. Goku, go outside already,” Gojyo ordered. Goku glared at him then stomped outside. “Sanzo has got to come back for his pet.”
“And then what?” Hakkai asked softly, glancing down at their laps then back up into Gojyo’s eyes.
The kappa looked away. “Hell if I know.”
X X X
“Again with the alcohol and the business proposition,” Hakkai remarked, coming inside with Goku in tow.
Prabal and Banri looked over at Hakkai sourly. “Are you going to ruin this again?”
“No. Gojyo’s free to do any stupid thing he wants to,” Hakkai replied. ‘I’m trying to trust his judgment.”
Gojyo rolled his eyes. “Thank you.” He nodded at Goku. “You letting the monkey hang around?”
Hakkai scowled. “No, Goku, you have those math problems to do. Why don’t you go out to the garden with those visual aids I left for you?”
“Awww Hakkai!” The boy wilted.
“Goku, math or no dinner, the choice is yours,” Hakkai said pragmatically and Goku disappeared so quickly they couldn’t track him going. Hakkai turned to Prabal. “And don’t even think about following him.”
The youkai curled his lip at Hakkai. “Can we get this done with before you two lovebirds start molesting each other again?”
“Let’s hear what you have to say,” Gojyo invited.
“Just like last time. We’re going to hit Chang’an’s temple,” Banri said. “Prabal has a map to all the inner chambers where the best stuff is.”
Gojyo sucked on the end of his filter, trying not to grin while Hakkai rolled his eyes.
“Your wife is making faces, Gojyo,” Banri said, casting an exasperated gaze toward the ceiling.
“He’ll do that,” Gojyo replied, the laughter trying to escape along with the cigarette smoke. “So, you want to rob the temple?”
“It should be easy,” Banri said with a hungry grin.
“What can monks do?” Prabal laughed, taking a piece of paper out of his pocket.
“Hakkai! There’s a problem with the math! The numbers don’t work!” Goku cried, bouncing back inside.
Hakkai rubbed the bridge of his nose. “They work, Goku.”
“Why don’t you go help him, teacher?” Banri waved Hakkai off.
“Come on, Goku, let’s look at the problems while Gojyo’s friends show him a map of Chang’an temple.” Hakkai gestured to the crumpled paper Prabal had smoothed out on the table. He wasn’t surprised when Goku eyed it curiously.
“That’s not where the storage rooms are,” Goku proclaimed, tapping the paper.
“How would you know?” Prabal asked, glaring at the boy.
Goku shrugged. “I live there.”
“You what?” Banri eyed Goku suspiciously. He turned to Gojyo. “You said the boy was yours.”
“And he is. I just never said he was living here. If you recall, I did say Hakkai and I were watching him for someone,” Gojyo reminded him.
“The fourth in our little amorous quartet,” Hakkai said and Gojyo barely managed not to choke in surprise.
“Four? There are four of you?” Banri bleated.
“My love life has gotten complex since you moved out,” Gojyo replied, trying not to picture Sanzo as his lover. That was too surreal.
“Well, if the boy knows the inside of the temple, why don’t we bring him along?” Prabal shot Goku a salacious look and the boy glanced nervously at Hakkai. Hakkai’s fingers closed over Goku’s shoulder protectively.
“That would be a bad idea. Silence is not his strong point. He’ll get us caught,” Gojyo answered honestly.
“Hey!” Goku growled then his golden eyes went as big as eggs as the front door opened. “Sanzo! Sanzo’s back!” he added loudly, flailing towards the door, for the benefit of the deaf and blind. Banri and Prabal went beer foam white at the sight of the priest.
Sanzo looked at the haze of cigarette smoke and the beers arranged on the table and around the couch then scowled. “You better not be debauching the monkey.”
“Only a little,” Hakkai said, sailing across the room. He caught hold of Sanzo’s arm, hauling him close. Hakkai whispered in his ear, “Play along, Sanzo.” He kissed Sanzo. “We’re so glad you’re back.”
Gojyo tried not to stare. Sanzo looked too shocked to move. Gojyo jumped up, putting a hand over Goku’s mouth, seeing the boy was about to say something and most likely ruin the pretending. “We’re back to playing games,” he hissed in the boy’s ear. Goku nodded frantically. Gojyo snatched up a beer off the table and handed it to Sanzo. “Here you go. Bet you could use one of these about now.” He shoved the beer into Sanzo’s hand then fished out his cigarettes. “Want one?” Before Sanzo could do anything, he popped one between Sanzo’s lips and held up his lighter. To his shock, the gun didn’t come out. Neither did the fan. Sanzo just leaned forward and lit the cigarette.
Sanzo popped the beer open and took a swig. He thrust the cigarette at the map on the table. “What’s this all about?”
“Priests drink?” Banri managed to stutter.
“This one does.” Hakkai wrapped an arm around Sanzo’s slender waist and the priest’s eyes bulged. “We blame Gojyo. There’s just something about him that make everyone around him want to become decadent.”
Gojyo scowled at him. “Thanks.”
“He likes kissing people,” Goku added and Sanzo’s eyes narrowed at the kappa.
Hakkai squeezed his waist. “Playing along, remember?” he mumbled then licked the shell of Sanzo’s ear. Smoke erupted between the surprised man’s lips and his hand moved toward his sleeve then he seemed to decide he didn’t want to put down either cigarette or beer in order to get his fan.
“You’re just in time, Sanzo. Banri and Prabal were filling me in on how they want me to help rob the temple.” Gojyo beamed brightly, his smile wide. “Oh, did I mention my slutty little wife just can’t resist debauching his holy prickness over there? He’s the one in charge at the temple. I bet we can distract him while you rob the place but I can’t promise he won’t hunt you down and kill you. He’s not just happy to see Hakkai. That is a gun in his robes.”
Sanzo popped the cigarette between his teeth and did fan Gojyo for that one. He drained the beer and reached for another one. Casually he pulled the gun out of his robes. “So you want to rob my temple?” Banri and Prabal’s eyes bugged.
Hakkai caught his arm, pulling Sanzo close. “We’ll distract him for you. Giving chase later, well that just always puts him in the mood for the best games afterwards.”
Gojyo went over and slid an arm around Hakkai. “But I’d run fast if I were you. We wouldn’t make this offer to just anyone but you are a friend, after all, Banri.”
Banri and Prabal nearly fell over each other racing out the door. Gojyo sagged against Hakkai who all but knocked Sanzo down leaning on him. Both men howled.
“What the fuck is going on?” Sanzo growled.
“Why is everyone huggin’ and stuff?” Goku asked and Gojyo and Hakkai laughed harder.
“That’s what I want to know,” Sanzo, trying to shrug free and surprised when Hakkai wouldn’t let him go.
“Give us a moment, please, and we’ll explain,” Hakkai said between laughs.
“Not in front of small balls,” Gojyo said, waving a hand at Goku.
“True, Goku, the numbers work. Now go outside and do your math,” Hakkai said. “The same deal holds.”
“But Sanzo’s back,” Goku protested, looking to the priest to save him from the horrible villain known as math.
“And he’s probably tired and hungry, too. Math or dinner, Goku,” Hakkai replied and the boy stomped off.
“Planning on explaining why I shouldn’t kill you both right now?” Sanzo asked. “Let alone those two morons who just ran out of here.”
“Don’t worry, they’re in the next town by now,” Gojyo said. “Your temple’s safe.”
“Come on, Sanzo.” Hakkai hauled Sanzo toward the bedroom. At the priest’s surprised look, he added, “Just for privacy. Goku’s picking up a bad habit of listening in when he doesn’t want to do his homework.”
Gojyo let Hakkai handle Sanzo since he figured he’d get killed for his trouble. He did lock the bedroom door behind them and Hakkai went to draw the curtains. “Those were the guys robbing temples last time, well, at least Banri was. He used to live here with me.”
Sanzo’s lips curled. ‘If I knew that, I would never have paid you for the work done.”
“Why do you think we didn’t tell you?” Gojyo shot back. “I’ve never met Prabal before but it was obvious he wanted to make Goku his toy so I pretending Goku was mine.”
“Why didn’t you just tell them to fuck off?” Sanzo asked, grinding his cigarette out in the ashtray Gojyo had by his bed.
“I wanted to know what they were up to and there was drinking and some other stupid stuff,” Gojyo said, trying to minimize his involvement.
“Then they thought I was Gojyo’s lover so…we pretended. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Hakkai shrugged. “Then I mentioned there was a fourth and in you walked.”
“And you had to drag me into your perverted fantasies?” Sanzo’s lips pinched.
“Well, they’re more fun than you’d think,” Gojyo said, grinning at Hakkai.
Hakkai’s eyes gleamed deep green with lust. “Pretending seemed to lead the way to suppressed feeling.”
Gojyo went over to Hakkai, kissing him hungrily.
Sanzo held up his hands. “Why don’t I just get the monkey and go?”
Hakkai broke free of Gojyo and caught Sanzo’s face between his hands. “Or you can stay.” He looked over at Gojyo for a moment to see if he’d protest but the kappa just shrugged. “I’d like for you to stay with us.”
“I’m supposed to be watching you and Goku, keeping you out of trouble. This isn’t what the Three Aspects had in mind,” Sanzo said but surprisingly he didn’t pull away.
“Don’t tell them,” Gojyo suggested, running a hand over Hakkai’s back. “It’s your show, Hakkai.” He pulled Hakkai closer and whispered, “Don’t think cherry-chan knows what to do.”
Hakkai simply nodded and kissed Gojyo’s cheek before taking hold of Sanzo again. He kissed the blond gently, not putting too many demands into the kiss. At first Sanzo did nothing but upon the second kiss he was a little bolder. “You can leave if you want,” Hakkai said then reiterated. “I’d like it if you stayed.”
Sanzo didn’t say anything. For a moment both Gojyo and Hakkai thought he would go but he didn’t. He just shot Hakkai a confused look. Hakkai gave him another kiss then turned to share his lips with Gojyo for a moment.
Gojyo pulled Hakkai closer to the bed. His hands snaked up under Hakkai’s shirt, peeling it off. Gojyo thumbed one of Hakkai’s hardened nipples and the man groaned. Gojyo lowered his mouth to them, tickling them with his tongue. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sanzo standing there, watching, looking almost shocked and a little bit …could he be slightly afraid? He held out a hand to Sanzo and Gojyo was shocked when Sanzo stepped a little closer even if he didn’t take Gojyo’s hand. Gojyo grabbed him anyhow, pulling him closer. He went to kiss Sanzo but the priest pulled up short. Gojyo just shrugged and nipped Hakkai’s shoulder.
Sighing, Hakkai half turned, kissing Sanzo over his shoulder. That kiss Sanzo allowed. Gojyo kissed his way down Hakkai’s belly, tracing the hard, redden scar tissue with his tongue. Hakkai trembled under his mouth. Gojyo tugged open Hakkai’s belt and opened his trousers. Hakkai’s cock peeked shyly out of the Y-front of his shorts. Hakkai moaned, rocking back against Sanzo as Gojyo trailed his tongue over the head of Hakkai’s cock.
Sanzo’s arms wrapped around Hakkai’s chest while Gojyo licked his own lips. He’d never tasted a man before. There was still that salty musky taste, not quite like a woman but not as radically different as he had been expecting. He kissed Hakkai’s cock again, nibbling gently on his foreskin. Hakkai’s knees nearly went and Sanzo held him tight. When he was able to move, Hakkai toed off his shoes and got out of his trousers.
Gojyo slowly stood, trailing a hand up Hakkai’s torso then nestling it over Sanzo’s hand. “What do you want to do first?” he asked quietly.
Hakkai twisted to kiss Sanzo first then he pushed Gojyo back toward the bed. When the mattress edge contacted his knees, Gojyo sat down hard on it. Hakkai tore Gojyo’s shirt up then balled his fists in Gojyo’s long, red hair, kissing him deeply. Gojyo let his breath out slowly when Hakkai released him. He looked at Sanzo for a moment, noticing the young man was merely watching. “Just gonna watch for a while? Know what to do?”
Sanzo’s head shake was almost imperceptible.
“Neither do we really. Kind of a first time with a guy,” Gojyo admitted. “Just feeling our way along. Feel free to join in.”
Sanzo didn’t say anything but he did take a step closer to the bed. Hakkai pressed Gojyo down, his mouth toying with Gojyo’s nipples. Hakkai’s hand slipped under Gojyo’s waistband, teasing the hard flesh he found waiting for him. Gojyo moaned, his fingers squeezing Hakkai’s rump. He was surprised to bump into Sanzo’s fingers as his hand moved up Hakkai’s back.
Hakkai sucked on Gojyo’s neck for a moment, his teeth nibbling on Gojyo’s strappy muscle. He moved to Gojyo’s ear, “Want you inside me,” he invited.
Gojyo’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? That’s going awful fast.”
“Do you think this might happen again?” Hakkai asked and Gojyo wanted to say yes, it had better. “I want this,” he promised, loosening Gojyo’s trousers.
“It’ll be good,” Gojyo promised. He had gone around the world with women before. This wouldn’t be too much different, he didn’t think. He stroked Hakkai’s cock then let him go as the dark-haired man turned his attentions back to the shy priest. As Hakkai drew Sanzo into a warm kiss, Gojyo finished getting out of his clothes. He rummage in a drawer and found some hand lotion that he’d gotten when he got too shy to bring girls home with Hakkai in the next room.
Hakkai had the sutra off Sanzo’s shoulder and his robes opened down to his waist by the time Gojyo got the lotion and climbed back on the bed. After setting his glasses aside, Hakkai rejoined him. “Might want to peel off a few more layers there, your holiness,” Gojyo suggested, his hand capturing his cock and Hakkai’s, rubbing them together as he ignored Sanzo’s scowl. He was still shocked Sanzo hadn’t fled out the door yet.
Hakkai’s mouth met his again as the man caressed Gojyo’s testicles. The hot fumbling was nearly enough for Gojyo to fly over the edge. He sucked on Hakkai’s earlobe then asked, “You planning on being in the middle and inviting Sanzo in?”
Hakkai nodded, turning in Gojyo’s arms. He beckoned Sanzo closer to the bedside. The priest had obligingly removed his robes and Hakkai took him into his arms as he knelt on the bed. The men kissed as Gojyo slicked up his fingers. He eased one finger into Hakkai, heat engulfing him as his partner moaned a little against Sanzo’s mouth. As Sanzo caressed Hakkai’s hair, the man kissed his way down Sanzo’s body before taking the priest’s shaft into his mouth. If Sanzo minded that Hakkai was a little clumsy about it, he didn’t let it show. He only flinched a little, flushing when Hakkai’s fingers traced the outline of one of the scars that trailed over Sanzo’s hip.
As he slipped another finger into Hakkai, Gojyo distractedly wondered what the fuck had happened to the priest to get him so scarred up. No wonder he didn’t really like being touched. Hakkai hissed softly, letting Sanzo slip free of his mouth as Gojyo’s fingers scissored him open. Gojyo leaned over Hakkai’s back, kissed his shoulder then asked, “You still sure about this?”
“Yes, please,” Hakkai panted then looked up at Sanzo. “You okay?”
“Yes,” he replied, his voice husky. Gojyo doubted the priest would leave now if the house were on fire.
“Good.” Hakkai pressed a kiss just above the golden curls sprinkled across Sanzo’s groin then licked down the man’s shaft. Sanzo sighed happily, his fingers burying themselves in Hakkai’s hair.
Gojyo wondered if they should let Sanzo on the bed with them then figured the man still didn’t like him enough to go for that. Besides it was probably easier for their first time to have Hakkai where he was on his knees between them. If Sanzo’s knees buckled when he orgasmed and fell, well then Gojyo would be chuckling for weeks.
Gojyo greased up his own cock, watching Hakkai’s mouth lick, suck and tease Sanzo’s penis. He never thought watching two guys going at it would be hot. Hell, he hadn’t thought being with a guy could be arousing until yesterday with Hakkai on his lap but it was just as exciting as any of his past experiences. He had gone from simply hard, to diamond hard and almost regretted it; there was no way of making this as gentle as he wanted to be on Hakkai.
Positioning himself behind Hakkai, Gojyo reached around, caressing a hand over Hakkai’s scarred belly. “Ready?” he whispered and Hakkai nodded, letting Sanzo go free. Gojyo pressed the head of his well-slicked cock into Hakkai slowly, giving him time to adjust to his girth. Still, Hakkai’s head snapped back as the man let out a whimper that mixed pain and pleasure. Sanzo’s arm draped comfortingly over Hakkai’s shoulder and Gojyo did the only thing he could; reminded himself Hakkai wanted this and pushed in further, steady and slow.
Hakkai moaned loudly, rocking back on Gojyo who took the hint. He pumped into Hakkai, reaching around to stroke the man’s cock in time with his thrusts. Hakkai inhaled Sanzo down, more sure of himself now. Sanzo’s groans of appreciation were counterpoint to Gojyo’s pants. Gojyo picked up the pace, pounding into Hakkai harder, his fist sliding up and down Hakkai’s shaft.
Hakkai let Sanzo slide free again, resting his cheek against the flat of the man’s belly as he panted hard. Sanzo held Hakkai as Hakkai spilled over Gojyo’s fingers. Gojyo sank deep into Hakkai, his hips stilling as his hand worked him, letting Hakkai’s orgasm shudder through him. Hakkai took several deep, stuttering breaths, mumbling something against Sanzo’s belly that Gojyo didn’t catch as he regained his composure. Finally he caught the plead for more as Hakkai wrapped one hand around Sanzo’s back and licked lightly over the priest’s testicles.
Sanzo came with a soft sound as if he were afraid someone was listening in, pearls decorating Hakkai’s chin and neck. Gojyo wiped it away before pulling Hakkai to him, finally allowing himself to fall over the edge. Slowly slipping out of Hakkai, Gojyo kissed his cheek then asked, “You okay?”
“Perfect,” Hakkai replied, happy and tired.
Gojyo moved to the edge of the bed, furthest away from Sanzo, lying down and taking Hakkai with him. Hakkai held out a hand to Sanzo and the priest joined them on the bed. All three rested in a content puddle of flesh for a moment until a voice froze them.
“Whatcha doin’ in there?” Goku asked through the door.
“Oh hell. Well, answer your animal, Teacher,” Gojyo said and Sanzo curled a lip at him.
“Nothing, Goku,” Hakkai said, shrugging helplessly. “Did you finish your math problem?”
“Yeah and I’m hungry!” There was a pause and a noise at the door. “Why are you all on the bed? Is it a game? Can I play?”
“Great, didn’t you ever teach him not to look through keyholes?” Gojyo growled.
Sanzo grumbled, swinging out of bed. He rummaged in his robes and came up with a fistful of money. “Goku, that store you always want to go into and I always say no?”
“The sweet shop?”
Sanzo slid the money under the door. “Go. Eat til you get sick. Whatever.”
“Find real food, too, Goku,” Hakkai called out.
A loud ‘yay!’ sounded through the door followed by running feet and the slam of the front door. Sanzo leaned against the door, hand over his eyes. “This is fucking ludicrous.”
“Well, fucking at any rate. I probably would have said good instead,” Gojyo countered, fumbling for his cigarettes. He wiggled the pack at Sanzo who returned to the bed, lured in by nicotine.
“What the hell was that all about?” Sanzo demanded to know, looking a little embarrassed at his involvement in the hedonistic act.
Hakkai put a hand on Sanzo’s chest. “Does it matter?”
“If I say 'yes,' does it mean I have to listen to the explanation?” Sanzo groaned.
Hakkai just laughed lightly.
X X X
“Here you go.” Gojyo handed Hakkai a cup of tea. The dark-haired young man was stretched out on the couch, well-used and apparently very happy about it. “You sure you’re okay?”
Hakkai smiled. “I’m fine, Gojyo. There are benefits to being able to manipulate your own ki. Dealing with soreness is just one of them.”
“Kappa,” Sanzo rumbled, nodding at the tea cup.
“You know where the kitchen is. Go pour yourself one, Cherry-chan. Hmm need a new name for you.” Gojyo smirked. He ducked and covered when the pistol came out and got the tea, too, just in case. “So what do you plan on telling Goku when he asks again or are you pretending this never happened.”
“Never happened,” Sanzo confirmed just as the door opened and Goku stumbled in, holding his belly. He had a stick of Kompeito and some of the rock candy still dotted his lips.
“Uhhhhh, my guts are all stuffed up,” Goku declared, dropping onto the floor next to Sanzo’s chair. The boy shook from head to toe.
“Goku, did you only eat sweets for dinner?” Hakkai asked, recognizing a child’s sugar shakes when he saw them.
The boy nodded. “I have mochi and an pan and hoshigaki and manju and kakigori and…”
Sanzo held up his hand. “Enough, you bottomless pit. Do I owe a shopkeeper any more money?”
“I wanted some taiyaki but ran out of money.” Goku pouted.
“Oh, Goku, I told you to get real food, too,” Hakkai said ruefully.
“Sanzo, he’s all hyped up on sugar. He can’t stay here!” Gojyo cried. “I’ve had to sleep on the couch two days as it is. Hakkai keeps putting the monkey in my bed.”
“Because you’ve been too drunk to actually find it,” Hakkai replied airily and Gojyo snorted at him.
“Come on, Goku, we need to get back to the temple, especially if those two morons do show up to rob it,” Sanzo said, setting his tea cup aside.
“But I can’t move! I’m stuffed up!” Goku protested. “And Hakkai has to check my math problems. I think I got them right.”
“First time for everything,” Gojyo said.
“Hey.” Goku waved the stick of rock candy at him. “I tried. It was hard and you and Hakkai have been weird all day and I still don’t know what that Prabal guy wanted with me and why Gojyo kissed me either.”
Gojyo stared down the barrel of the gun. Sanzo did not look pleased at that revelation. “Hakkai, a little help here?”
“He was trying to prove Goku was his,” Hakkai said. “To his credit, Goku’s a good little actor.”
“It was like licking an ashtray.” Goku shuddered.
Hakkai licked his lips. “I think you may have a point.”
Sanzo got up and swatted Goku with the fan.
Goku dropped the paper he had taken out of his jacket. “What was that for?”
“For pretending to like the kappa. Come on, we’re going,” Sanzo said.
“Awww but my math.”
“Can wait. Thanks for keeping the monkey out of too much trouble,” Sanzo said and herded Goku out the door without another word.
“So much for him. I can’t believe he actually went along with you, Hakkai. I knew he liked you but…” Gojyo shrugged.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Hakkai said, pointing to the piece of paper Goku dropped. Gojyo gave it to him, sitting along the crook of Hakkai’s hip. He let his fingers play under Hakkai’s shirt, tripping along the ridge of scar tissue. “Speaking of surprises, Goku really did do his math right.”
“You are just the miracle worker today.” Gojyo plucked the paper from Hakkai’s hands, leaning in for a kiss. The well of goodness hadn’t yet run dry.
D M Evans
Disclaimer – not mine. All rights belong to Kazuya Minekura et al, no profit made, just a little fun
Rating – NC-17
Warning – NOT work safe
Prompt – We’re Pretending, right?
Pairing – permutations of Sanzo/Goku/Gojyo/Hakkai (in this one, due to his perceived age Goku’s role is pretty much sidelined except for a few non-sexual instances)
Time Line – Set before they head west but after the incidents with Banri in Reload #4 so spoilers for that.
Summary – They were just pretending, right? So why…
Author’s Note –written for the
10_cliche_fics challenge for the prompt – ‘We're pretending, right?’ This one turned out much harder than I thought it was going to. The prompt hinges on pretending to be lovers. That was easy to do for Gojyo and Hakkai but Sanzo was a real pain in the butt to work into this believable (and I suppose that has yet to be seen). Thanks to evil_little_dog for the beta. (three of ten stories finished)Illusion is the first of all pleasures. – Oscar Wilde
“I’m sorry, Goku, but that’s not right. Try again,” Hakkai said as the boy looked in confusion at the apples on the table.
“Sanzo’s right, Hakkai, give it up. He’s dumb as a stump,” Gojyo said, blowing smoke rings at his ceiling. It was too hot for doing anything and he just knew the monkey had to have been getting on the priest’s nerves, hence Sanzo dumping the brat on him and Hakkai while he went to do something for the Three Aspects.
“I am not!” Goku raged, glaring at Gojyo. “You stupid kappa!”
“If you weren’t stupid, you’d figure out seven minus five is two, chimp,” Gojyo said, illustrating with his fingers. “You might as well just forget it.”
Goku’s little fists clenched and he stormed out, his pony tail all but thrashing as the boy slammed his way out the door.
“Gojyo, I think you hurt his feelings,” Hakkai scolded.
“Whatever,” Goyjo waved him off.
Hakkai scowled at Gojyo. “I mean it, Gojyo. Goku will believe he’s too dumb to teach and then he will fulfill everyone’s low expectations if you and Sanzo keep saying he’s not worth teaching. Goku’s a clever boy but we know nothing about his education. All Sanzo knows is that when he brought Goku down from the mountain, the boy could read, albeit at a childish level. About the only part of Goku’s education that was neglected was his training in combat.”
“I think that’s natural talent.” Gojyo stretched on the couch. “We don’t know how long he’s been at any of it, Hakkai. Maybe five hundreds years locked up in solitude turned the chimp’s brain to mush.”
“I’m sure it didn’t do much good.” Hakkai gathered up the apples he had been using. “It certainly made him desperate for approval so it helps nothing if you call him stupid.”
“I get the point, Hakkai. You can stop poking me with it now,” Gojyo grumbled, eyeing his roommate hotly. “Too damn hot for all this.” He fanned himself with his hand, a thoughtful look passing over his face. “Well, if he likes to read maybe you should stick to teaching him that, get him past little kid’s books because if you think I’m reading him to sleep tonight, you have another thing coming.”
Hakkai fussed with his glasses. “Sanzo’s not coming back tonight?”
“Betting not.” Gojyo made a face. “Figures he’d stick us with the brat. How weird is it that Goku’s like three times older than us and still pretty much a kid?”
Hakkai snorted. “Gojyo, if you think Goku’s only three times older than us, your math is as bad as his. He’s over twenty-one times as old as we are at a minimum.”
“Whatever.” Gojyo grimaced around his cigarette. “Where’s the monkey runt sleeping if Sanzo doesn’t come to pick his pet up?”
“With you. You can read him a story.” Hakkai tried not to grin.
“Oh, hell with that. He sleeps with you,” Gojyo argued, struggling up so he could glower at Hakkai over the back of the couch.
“Why should that be? He makes a mess. You’ll never notice in your room,” Hakkai replied, cocking up an eyebrow.
“Because I have a chance at getting laid tonight, and you don’t,” Gojyo answered as if it were plain. “We could put the runt on the couch.”
“Not if you plan on walking your latest conquest past him. That would just be bad,” Hakkai said with an arched eyebrow that suggested he didn’t exactly think it would actually happen.
Gojyo snorted. “The brat sleeps like the dead.” Gojyo knew it was a moot point. He hadn’t brought a girl home since Hakkai had moved in. He’d gone to their places instead to get his rocks off and even that was happening less and less. It was like Hakkai was civilizing him by osmosis. Gojyo scowled, hearing something from outside. “Hear that?”
“Sounds like Goku and he doesn’t sound happy.” Hakkai got to his feet, a worried look on his face.
Gojyo followed him outside. He scowled at the two men who had cornered Goku. “I can’t believe it.”
Equally as dubious, Hakkai eyed the youkai with light colored hair. “I can’t believe it, either. After leaving you to die for him…” Hakkai went over to help rescue Goku even though he knew the boy hardly needed rescuing from anyone.
“That’s Banri all over,” Gojyo snorted. He went over, grabbing Banri’s arm, hauling him around then punched him. “You have a lot of nerve, piss lick, coming back here.”
Banri rubbed his jaw, “Dammit! What the hell was that for?”
“I thought you said he was your friend,” the dark haired stranger said, rolling his eyes at Banri. He didn’t seem too concerned over the other youkai’s pain. Gojyo studied the stranger; youkai, ugly marking like a paw print over one eye and long snarled hair pulled back into a tight tail. He’d never seen this guy with Banri before.
“Friend? He sold me out,” Gojyo said, flipping Banri an obscene gesture.
“Aww, come on, are you surprised? You’re the idiot who let them tie you to a chair.” Banri wrapped an arm around Gojyo, who shoved him. Banri just showed his teeth in a wicked smile.
“He does have a point there, Gojyo,” Hakkai said, holding a hand out to Goku who stared at the two youkai with suspicious golden eyes.
“I see prissy is still living with you,” Banri said, making a face.
Gojyo shoved him harder. “What do you want, Banri?” he growled.
“Really, is that any way to talk to a friend? How about inviting me and Prabal in for drinks or are you too busy babysitting?” An oily smile slid over Banri’s face as he gestured at Goku.
“I’m not babysitting,” Gojyo gritted out as Goku blurted out, “I’m no baby!”
“Ah, you and your new woman adopted yourselves a love child.” Banri laughed and Gojyo punched his arm.
“Don’t even joke. Go on in but you two can’t stay,” Gojyo said, shooting an apologetic look at Hakkai who seemed unfazed.
“Goku, why don’t you and I go into town so Gojyo can visit with his friends,” Hakkai said, almost able to hide his disgust.
“Yeah.” Goku looked up at Hakkai. “What’s a love child?”
Hakkai sighed as he led Goku off. Gojyo didn’t miss the way Prabal’s eyes followed them. He only wished he knew which one the youkai was looking at. There were times Gojyo didn’t want to deal with Banri but never did he want his old running buddy gone as much as he did at the moment.
X X X
Gojyo stumbled home. After a few beers at his place, Banri suggested going into town. He was even buying, which put Gojyo instantly on the defensive. Banri wanted something but if he ever got around to his point, Gojyo didn’t remember it. He had vague memories of Prabal talking about the hottie but Gojyo wasn’t sure if he meant Hakkai, Goku or the blonde with big boobs at the bar. Had he ended up face down in that cleavage? He sort of smelled like beer, cigarettes and perfume and his cheek was burning. Had she hit him? Oh, who the fuck cared?
He fell against the door. Who the hell made the porch uneven? Getting inside, Gojyo careened off furniture until he managed to get to his room. What the hell? Using the wall as a guide, he found Hakkai’s room and banged on the door. Hair sticking up all over, eyes squinting with sleep, Hakkai opened it, his nose wrinkling. “Yes?”
“Ish there a little guy in my bed holding a stuffed bunny?” Gojyo slurred, trying to blink Hakkai into submission. Why was the man swirling all around?
“No,” Hakkai said. “You’re drunk and imagining it.”
“I am?” Gojyo’s brow wrinkled. Had he had that much to drink? It was distinctly possible.
“Yes. Come on, let’s get you to bed.” Hakkai took Gojyo’s arm and led him back to the couch. “Lie down.”
“Why?” Gojyo asked, unable to resist the strength Hakkai put into sitting him down. He tried to pop back up.
“Because you’re tired and you want to sleep.” Hakkai pushed him back down.
Gojyo popped up once more. “But I don’t think this is my bed.”
“Yes, it is. Just lie down.” Hakkai shoved him down and Gojyo gripped the couch pillow.
“Uhhhh, it’s spinning round.”
“Yes, I thought it might.” Hakkai tossed a blanket he had prepared just for the occasion over Gojyo. He went into the kitchen and came back with the bucket. “Here you go.” He shoved the bucket against the couch. “Aim for that. Trying not to choke in your sleep and, if you miss the bucket, I’ll send you to the hovel your friends are surely staying at.”
Gojyo just groaned and leaned his head over the edge of the couch. He passed out, hair in the bucket. Hakkai rolled his eyes and checked on Goku, snoring softly and cradling the toy he had gotten from some dark-haired man in town. It was a little young for Goku but if it made the boy happy Hakkai wasn’t going to say anything. Goku was drooling on Gojyo’s pillow and Hakkai let him. He went back to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. He wondered how much noise he could entice Goku into making and if Gojyo would learn a lesson.
X X X
Hakkai fussed around the kitchen, cleaning things that really didn’t need cleaning but he wasn’t sure what else to do. Gojyo snored loudly on the couch and Goku was still asleep. In the back of his mind, he kept expecting Banri and Prabal to pop up and he knew they boded ill, whatever it was they wanted of Gojyo.
“Ewwww, Gojyo’s stinky!” Goku skirted the couch and came into the kitchen. “Can I have eggs and pancakes and bacon and sausage?”
Hakkai laughed lightly. “I think we can manage some of them. Have a seat, Goku.” While Goku ensconced himself at the table, Hakkai whipped up eggs and sausage and snuck some fruit onto the boy’s plate. Goku eyed the health food evilly but consumed it just the same then begged for more. Hakkai had anticipated that.
“Why’s Gojyo all smelly and dead looking?” Goku asked thoughtfully around the sausage he had stuffed in sideways.
“He was out drinking all night and he’ll be hung over. Know what helps a hang over? Noise, lots of it. Think you can do that, Goku?” Hakkai asked wickedly, thinking about his loss of sleep. Goku bobbed his head enthusiastically. Spotting the wildflowers Goku had picked the day before, Hakkai gave him the bunch of nine flowers. “You know how to braid, right, Goku?”
“Sure.”
“You know what would be a nice way to wake up? With his hair all pretty. Go braid these into his hair, one flower per braid and then we can work a math problem with however many flowers you have left.” Hakkai smiled. “I know he’s a little smelly but you can do it, right?”
Goku took the flowers with an eager grin then set to work. His little fingers worked deftly, not even making the unconscious kappa flinch. He came back to Hakkai with three blossoms left. “Got three.”
“All right, without looking back at Gojyo, you had nine flowers to start with and you have three left, how many braids did you put into his hair?” Hakkai asked merrily.
Goku’s brow knit, his lips pursing as he concentrated on the word problem. “Six!”
“Very good, Goku.”
Goku beamed then wiggled his fingers. “My hands smell like cigarettes now.”
“I’m sure. You go wash up, Goku and I’ll try to wake Gojyo up. He’s rather in the way there,” Hakkai said and Goku washed his hands in the kitchen sink. Figuring Gojyo had slept enough and still feeling cranky, Hakkai went over and shoved the man’s shoulder.
Gojyo groaned, waking up. He nearly pitched head first into the bucket then sat back on the couch, rubbing at the rough, reddish stubble on his face. “Where am I?”
“Not out in the yard like last time,” Hakkai replied.
“More important question, what died in my mouth?” Gojyo made a face.
“I’d rather not think about it.” Hakkai caught hold of Goku’s ponytail, hauling the boy out of the ice chest where Goku had gone the moment Hakkai wasn’t looking.
Gojyo levered himself up off the couch and staggered into the bathroom. It took considerably longer than Hakkai expected before Gojyo bellowed out a curse. He ran out, still foamy at the corners of his mouth from toothpaste. He grabbed his plaited, beflowered hair. “Which one of you did it?”
Goku shot him a puzzled look. “You don’t like it?”
“Do I look like a damn girl to you, bean?” Gojyo grumbled.
Goku studied the new hairdo then grinned. “Yeah.”
“Come over here and say that, you monkey.” Gojyo chased the boy around the couch. Finally he tackled Goku onto the pillows. “How about I make you eat your monkey tail.” Gojyo tried to stuff Goku’s pony tail into his mouth and nearly got bit for his trouble.
“Get off me. Your chin is scratchy,” Goku shouted and even Hakkai winced at the boy’s incredible volume.
“That’s what a real man’s face feels like, you bald chimp. Maybe puberty will find you some day.”
“You stink, too.” Goku pushed at Gojyo.
“Leave the boy alone, Gojyo,” Hakkai said, trying to haul Gojyo off Goku at the same time Gojyo lurched forward, shoving Goku into the pillows. Unbalanced, Hakkai spilled on top of Gojyo’s back.
Just then the front door burst open and a red-eyed weary looking Banri stepped in with a “what’sup?” Prabal came in behind him.
Gojyo peered out from where he was sandwiched between two men with his hair covered in flowers. “Oh, shit.”
Banri scowled. “I knew you had switched sides, but you know, I assumed Mr. Proper was the wife.”
Gojyo opened his mouth to protest then gagged. Hakkai barely bailed over the back of the couch when Gojyo lurched forward and vomited into the bucket. Goku wailed thinly under the man.
“Ewww, still hung over?” Banri asked, wrinkling his nose.
Gojyo hacked and spat then collapsed down, crushing Goku. “What do you think? Move it, monkey!”
“’Fraid to! Hakkai!” Goku whined and the dark-haired man pulled Goku out from under Gojyo and up over the back of the couch.
Hakkai looked back at Banri and Prabal. “Gojyo’s probably not up to visitors. He’s still learning a lesson about the fine art of drinking without going stupid.”
“Man, you’re rough. Just because you don’t drink and have fun-” Banri started.
“Whoever said I don’t drink?” Hakkai smiled pleasantly. “Speaking of lessons, Goku, it’s time for yours. I think we’ll start with music.”
“Cool!” Goku cried then his brow knit. “But I don’t know how to make music.”
“Shit, Hakkai don’t let the bean sing,” Gojyo grunted, wiping his mouth on his shirt hem.
“I have no intentions of that.” Hakkai fished out his sukiyaki pot and a spoon, setting them on the table. He had Goku sit down and then he said, “That’s your drum, Goku. Follow my rhythm.” Hakkai drummed a beat on the table while Goku banged away merrily on the pot, which echoed beautifully in the apartment. Gojyo, Prabal and Banri winced.
“He’s evil,” Banri said in surprise.
“Try sharing a house with him,” Gojyo groaned, holding his head.
“Why don’t we come back later,” Prabal said and he and Banri didn’t wait for a response. They fled.
Gojyo tried to get up, puked some more in the bucket then sagged back against the couch. “Hakkai, enough! If this is punishment for me getting drunk, lesson learned.”
Hakkai halted Goku. “I could care less if you get drunk. I care when you wake me up in the middle of the night to babble drunken nonsense at me.”
“I did?” Gojyo scowled. “I had a dream about a cute girl in my bed but for some reason I was pissed that she was there.”
“Goku, if Sanzo doesn’t return tonight, you sleep on the couch lest an unfortunately mistake happens,” Hakkai said, making a face at the thought.
“Ewwww.” Goku shuddered.
“Ah shit,” Gojyo coughed then staggered up. Grabbing the bucket, he went to the bathroom, then finally stumbled into his room.
“More music?” Goku’s gold eyes lit up.
“No, I think you can follow a rhythm just fine.” Hakkai took away his pot before it got battered out of shape. “It’s time for math.”
“Ewwww.” Goku slumped at the table.
Hakkai went and got a pack of cigarettes. “All right, Goku, Sanzo and Gojyo have twelve cigarettes but you don’t want them smoking so you hide the first nine you find. How many cigarettes do they have left?” Hakkai held up a finger and added. “The answer is not zero because Sanzo and Gojyo smoke them all.”
Goku frowned. “But they would.”
Hakkai laid out twelve cigarettes as visual aids. “They can’t smoke any more. One more cigarette and they both die. They have twelve. You found nine. How many more do you have to find before they smoke them and die?”
Goku stared at the cigarettes. “Talkin’ to the monks to do a death sutra makes more sense, ‘cause they’d just buy more.”
Hakkai just put his head on the table and sighed.
X X X
Gojyo looked at the door, cautiously drinking his beer as if he expected it to bite him. Next to him on the couch, Hakkai sat silently drinking his sake.
“What are you anticipating coming through that door?” Banri asked, following Gojyo’s gaze.
“Or do you want us to leave?” Prabal asked slowly.
Gojyo was now very sure that Prabal was leering at Goku now seated at the kitchen table drawing in a sketchpad Hakkai had given him. The way the man looked at the boy made Gojyo’s skin crawl. He just wanted Banri to get to his point and go and be sure to take Prabal with him. “I’m hoping Goku’s usual keeper comes back for him sometime soon. He occasionally has to go out on jobs for days so we never know when he’ll be back,” Gojyo replied, unwilling to name Sanzo in this company. Hell only knew what Banri would think of that.
“Is the boy a problem?” Prabal licked his lips. “I could take him off your hands.”
Hakkai and Gojyo exchanged looked. Hakkai slammed his sake cup down on the table. “Goku stays with us.”
Banri waved a hand. “I don’t give a damn about the pup. I want to talk business.”
“Should you do that while you’re drinking?” Hakkai asked, glancing over at Gojyo.
“Best time,” Prabal said, running his fingers over Goku’s back side as the boy passed him, bringing the sketch pad over to Hakkai.
“Hey!” the boy yelped, cracking Prabal on the arm.
“Not telling you again, quit touching my property,” Gojyo said, getting up and hauling Goku over to him. He hated people who bothered kids. What the fuck was Banri doing with this loser? Okay, it was Banri, enough said.
“I never pegged you for being into little kids,” Banri said, a look of disgust in his eyes. “You used to be a ladies man.”
“Still am.” Gojyo ran a hand over Goku’s long hair. Maybe a little pretending would get these idiots off Goku’s case. “Tell me he doesn’t look like a sweet girl?”
“Hey!” Goku huffed at him.
Gojyo leaned down and whispered in Goku’s ear. “Play along, Monkey, or you’ll get hurt in ways you didn’t even know existed. Trust me.”
Wide-eyed, Goku nodded and Gojyo gave the boy a kiss, shocked when Goku merely tensed up rather than slugged him one. Hakkai had lost his usual placid look at this. Gojyo ran his hand through Goku’s hair again, giving Prabal a look.
“Goku, why don’t you take that book I asked you to do a report on and go to my room so you have a little quiet in which to work?” Hakkai said quickly to break the tension.
Looking a little stunned, Goku grabbed the book off the kitchen table and disappeared.
Banri eyed Gojyo wildly. “You know, I was only kidding about you changing sides thing, Gojyo.”
Gojyo snorted. “I don’t have a side, Banri.”
“You don’t really have to pretend to be something you aren’t, Gojyo. If he’s really a friend, he’ll understand,” Hakkai said, surprising Gojyo by leaning against him.
Gojyo saw the mischief in Hakkai’s eyes and grinned. “Okay, so I like all kinds. Got a problem with that, Banri?”
Banri’s nose wrinkled, his long ears twitching. “Just wondering how I never noticed this before.”
“Because you’re too ugly to hit on,” Gojyo said as if it should be plain.
“Hey!” Banri huffed, his face coloring.
“Do you want hit on?” Prabal asked in a tone that suggested he was very bored with all of this.
“No, but…okay, business,” Banri said, trying to go back on track.
“Okay, I’m listening.” Gojyo waved for him to continue.
“We’re looking to make a huge haul,” Banri said, sitting up on the edge of his chair.
“Oh, I already don’t like this,” Hakkai interjected. “Last time you and Banri tried something illegal, it ended up with you tied up to be killed and Banri running off to save his own hide. If you do something stupid again, tell me why I should save you like last time?”
“Gojyo, your wife is getting annoying,” Banri growled, glaring at Hakkai.
“I don’t know.” Gojyo played with Hakkai’s hair. “He makes a lot of sense to me. You did leave me to die last time.”
“Yeah, but you knew I would and you still took my place. I’m not the stupid one,” Banri said with a shrug.
“Your sale’s pitch leaves a lot to be desired, Banri,” Gojyo said, eyeing Hakkai and wondering just how far they should carry the ‘pretending to be lovers’ thing. Probably long enough that he didn’t do something moronic like agree to help Banri.
“And I’m serious. I’ll leave you to suffer your own foolishness next time,” Hakkai said, running a finger along Gojyo’s cheek. Gojyo was surprised at how good it felt.
“Do you two lovebirds want us to come back later? You’re starting to creep me out” Banri said. Gojyo could tell Banri was losing patience.
Hakkai leaned forward, kissing Gojyo who nearly slipped up and looked shocked.
Gathering Hakkai into his lap and kissing him again, Gojyo broke away long enough to say, “Yeah, come back tomorrow.” He kissed Hakkai as reverently as he ever had any woman.
“Is your wife going to be a problem then?” Banri asked, looking weary. Gojyo knew the thief was getting antsy and probably wanted to leave town as soon as he could.
“I don’t want to wait until tomorrow,” Prabal complained, a vicious look in his eye at the delay. “Sticking around isn’t in our best interests.”
“It’s only another day or two,” Banri replied, trying to cool him out. It must be one hell of a project if Banri wanted him this much, Gojyo surmised.
Prabal jabbed a thumb at Gojyo. “If he’s this flaky, what good will he be to us?”
“Trust me on this. We’ll be back tomorrow,” Banri said.
Gojyo waved at him with one hand and dragged Hakkai closer with the other. Hakkai met his kiss, open-mouthed and hungry as he rocked on Gojyo’s lap. The heat moving through them could have melted the couch and Gojyo wondered, in the back of his mind, what the hell had happened to ‘just pretending.’
Finally Hakkai broke away. “I think we scared them off. It would be easier if you just told them you’re not interested.”
“I know, I’m working up to it,” Gojyo said breathlessly. “Hakkai…we’re just pretending, right?” At the other man’s murmur of assent, he added as his hand skimmed down over their bellies. “So why are we both hard as hell?”
“Latent desire?” Hakkai arched into Gojyo’s touch. “Unconscious physiological reaction to stimulation?” He didn’t move off Gojyo’s lap, subtle shifts in his hips banking the fire in Gojyo.
“I could hurt someone with this thing,” Gojyo groaned, easing Hakkai onto the couch.
Before Hakkai could verbally add anything to all the amusement and lust his face reflected, Goku’s voice boomed off the walls. “Hakkai! I’m done!”
“Oh shit,” Gojyo growled, shoving a couch pillow in front of his groin. Hakkai shifted, half hiding himself behind the arm of the couch.
“Hakkai!” Goku called again, bounding into the room.
“Goku, why don’t you take your book outside and give me a minute and I’ll come see your work,” Hakkai said, his voice surprisingly even.
The boy paused, looking at them curiously. “Okay. Why do you two look so weird?”
“It’s nothing,” Hakkai said quickly
“Smell funky too,” Goku said, his nostrils flaring.
“Keep your nose to yourself, monkey runt,” Gojyo snapped.
Goku made a face. “Is anyone gonna explain why Gojyo kissed me? That was weird.”
“Call it protection. And if Prabal comes around you, Goku, feel free to kick his ass. He doesn’t mean anything good to you,” Gojyo warned seriously.
Goku seemed to mull that for a moment then asked, “Then why is he your friend?”
“He’s not. Goku, go outside already,” Gojyo ordered. Goku glared at him then stomped outside. “Sanzo has got to come back for his pet.”
“And then what?” Hakkai asked softly, glancing down at their laps then back up into Gojyo’s eyes.
The kappa looked away. “Hell if I know.”
X X X
“Again with the alcohol and the business proposition,” Hakkai remarked, coming inside with Goku in tow.
Prabal and Banri looked over at Hakkai sourly. “Are you going to ruin this again?”
“No. Gojyo’s free to do any stupid thing he wants to,” Hakkai replied. ‘I’m trying to trust his judgment.”
Gojyo rolled his eyes. “Thank you.” He nodded at Goku. “You letting the monkey hang around?”
Hakkai scowled. “No, Goku, you have those math problems to do. Why don’t you go out to the garden with those visual aids I left for you?”
“Awww Hakkai!” The boy wilted.
“Goku, math or no dinner, the choice is yours,” Hakkai said pragmatically and Goku disappeared so quickly they couldn’t track him going. Hakkai turned to Prabal. “And don’t even think about following him.”
The youkai curled his lip at Hakkai. “Can we get this done with before you two lovebirds start molesting each other again?”
“Let’s hear what you have to say,” Gojyo invited.
“Just like last time. We’re going to hit Chang’an’s temple,” Banri said. “Prabal has a map to all the inner chambers where the best stuff is.”
Gojyo sucked on the end of his filter, trying not to grin while Hakkai rolled his eyes.
“Your wife is making faces, Gojyo,” Banri said, casting an exasperated gaze toward the ceiling.
“He’ll do that,” Gojyo replied, the laughter trying to escape along with the cigarette smoke. “So, you want to rob the temple?”
“It should be easy,” Banri said with a hungry grin.
“What can monks do?” Prabal laughed, taking a piece of paper out of his pocket.
“Hakkai! There’s a problem with the math! The numbers don’t work!” Goku cried, bouncing back inside.
Hakkai rubbed the bridge of his nose. “They work, Goku.”
“Why don’t you go help him, teacher?” Banri waved Hakkai off.
“Come on, Goku, let’s look at the problems while Gojyo’s friends show him a map of Chang’an temple.” Hakkai gestured to the crumpled paper Prabal had smoothed out on the table. He wasn’t surprised when Goku eyed it curiously.
“That’s not where the storage rooms are,” Goku proclaimed, tapping the paper.
“How would you know?” Prabal asked, glaring at the boy.
Goku shrugged. “I live there.”
“You what?” Banri eyed Goku suspiciously. He turned to Gojyo. “You said the boy was yours.”
“And he is. I just never said he was living here. If you recall, I did say Hakkai and I were watching him for someone,” Gojyo reminded him.
“The fourth in our little amorous quartet,” Hakkai said and Gojyo barely managed not to choke in surprise.
“Four? There are four of you?” Banri bleated.
“My love life has gotten complex since you moved out,” Gojyo replied, trying not to picture Sanzo as his lover. That was too surreal.
“Well, if the boy knows the inside of the temple, why don’t we bring him along?” Prabal shot Goku a salacious look and the boy glanced nervously at Hakkai. Hakkai’s fingers closed over Goku’s shoulder protectively.
“That would be a bad idea. Silence is not his strong point. He’ll get us caught,” Gojyo answered honestly.
“Hey!” Goku growled then his golden eyes went as big as eggs as the front door opened. “Sanzo! Sanzo’s back!” he added loudly, flailing towards the door, for the benefit of the deaf and blind. Banri and Prabal went beer foam white at the sight of the priest.
Sanzo looked at the haze of cigarette smoke and the beers arranged on the table and around the couch then scowled. “You better not be debauching the monkey.”
“Only a little,” Hakkai said, sailing across the room. He caught hold of Sanzo’s arm, hauling him close. Hakkai whispered in his ear, “Play along, Sanzo.” He kissed Sanzo. “We’re so glad you’re back.”
Gojyo tried not to stare. Sanzo looked too shocked to move. Gojyo jumped up, putting a hand over Goku’s mouth, seeing the boy was about to say something and most likely ruin the pretending. “We’re back to playing games,” he hissed in the boy’s ear. Goku nodded frantically. Gojyo snatched up a beer off the table and handed it to Sanzo. “Here you go. Bet you could use one of these about now.” He shoved the beer into Sanzo’s hand then fished out his cigarettes. “Want one?” Before Sanzo could do anything, he popped one between Sanzo’s lips and held up his lighter. To his shock, the gun didn’t come out. Neither did the fan. Sanzo just leaned forward and lit the cigarette.
Sanzo popped the beer open and took a swig. He thrust the cigarette at the map on the table. “What’s this all about?”
“Priests drink?” Banri managed to stutter.
“This one does.” Hakkai wrapped an arm around Sanzo’s slender waist and the priest’s eyes bulged. “We blame Gojyo. There’s just something about him that make everyone around him want to become decadent.”
Gojyo scowled at him. “Thanks.”
“He likes kissing people,” Goku added and Sanzo’s eyes narrowed at the kappa.
Hakkai squeezed his waist. “Playing along, remember?” he mumbled then licked the shell of Sanzo’s ear. Smoke erupted between the surprised man’s lips and his hand moved toward his sleeve then he seemed to decide he didn’t want to put down either cigarette or beer in order to get his fan.
“You’re just in time, Sanzo. Banri and Prabal were filling me in on how they want me to help rob the temple.” Gojyo beamed brightly, his smile wide. “Oh, did I mention my slutty little wife just can’t resist debauching his holy prickness over there? He’s the one in charge at the temple. I bet we can distract him while you rob the place but I can’t promise he won’t hunt you down and kill you. He’s not just happy to see Hakkai. That is a gun in his robes.”
Sanzo popped the cigarette between his teeth and did fan Gojyo for that one. He drained the beer and reached for another one. Casually he pulled the gun out of his robes. “So you want to rob my temple?” Banri and Prabal’s eyes bugged.
Hakkai caught his arm, pulling Sanzo close. “We’ll distract him for you. Giving chase later, well that just always puts him in the mood for the best games afterwards.”
Gojyo went over and slid an arm around Hakkai. “But I’d run fast if I were you. We wouldn’t make this offer to just anyone but you are a friend, after all, Banri.”
Banri and Prabal nearly fell over each other racing out the door. Gojyo sagged against Hakkai who all but knocked Sanzo down leaning on him. Both men howled.
“What the fuck is going on?” Sanzo growled.
“Why is everyone huggin’ and stuff?” Goku asked and Gojyo and Hakkai laughed harder.
“That’s what I want to know,” Sanzo, trying to shrug free and surprised when Hakkai wouldn’t let him go.
“Give us a moment, please, and we’ll explain,” Hakkai said between laughs.
“Not in front of small balls,” Gojyo said, waving a hand at Goku.
“True, Goku, the numbers work. Now go outside and do your math,” Hakkai said. “The same deal holds.”
“But Sanzo’s back,” Goku protested, looking to the priest to save him from the horrible villain known as math.
“And he’s probably tired and hungry, too. Math or dinner, Goku,” Hakkai replied and the boy stomped off.
“Planning on explaining why I shouldn’t kill you both right now?” Sanzo asked. “Let alone those two morons who just ran out of here.”
“Don’t worry, they’re in the next town by now,” Gojyo said. “Your temple’s safe.”
“Come on, Sanzo.” Hakkai hauled Sanzo toward the bedroom. At the priest’s surprised look, he added, “Just for privacy. Goku’s picking up a bad habit of listening in when he doesn’t want to do his homework.”
Gojyo let Hakkai handle Sanzo since he figured he’d get killed for his trouble. He did lock the bedroom door behind them and Hakkai went to draw the curtains. “Those were the guys robbing temples last time, well, at least Banri was. He used to live here with me.”
Sanzo’s lips curled. ‘If I knew that, I would never have paid you for the work done.”
“Why do you think we didn’t tell you?” Gojyo shot back. “I’ve never met Prabal before but it was obvious he wanted to make Goku his toy so I pretending Goku was mine.”
“Why didn’t you just tell them to fuck off?” Sanzo asked, grinding his cigarette out in the ashtray Gojyo had by his bed.
“I wanted to know what they were up to and there was drinking and some other stupid stuff,” Gojyo said, trying to minimize his involvement.
“Then they thought I was Gojyo’s lover so…we pretended. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Hakkai shrugged. “Then I mentioned there was a fourth and in you walked.”
“And you had to drag me into your perverted fantasies?” Sanzo’s lips pinched.
“Well, they’re more fun than you’d think,” Gojyo said, grinning at Hakkai.
Hakkai’s eyes gleamed deep green with lust. “Pretending seemed to lead the way to suppressed feeling.”
Gojyo went over to Hakkai, kissing him hungrily.
Sanzo held up his hands. “Why don’t I just get the monkey and go?”
Hakkai broke free of Gojyo and caught Sanzo’s face between his hands. “Or you can stay.” He looked over at Gojyo for a moment to see if he’d protest but the kappa just shrugged. “I’d like for you to stay with us.”
“I’m supposed to be watching you and Goku, keeping you out of trouble. This isn’t what the Three Aspects had in mind,” Sanzo said but surprisingly he didn’t pull away.
“Don’t tell them,” Gojyo suggested, running a hand over Hakkai’s back. “It’s your show, Hakkai.” He pulled Hakkai closer and whispered, “Don’t think cherry-chan knows what to do.”
Hakkai simply nodded and kissed Gojyo’s cheek before taking hold of Sanzo again. He kissed the blond gently, not putting too many demands into the kiss. At first Sanzo did nothing but upon the second kiss he was a little bolder. “You can leave if you want,” Hakkai said then reiterated. “I’d like it if you stayed.”
Sanzo didn’t say anything. For a moment both Gojyo and Hakkai thought he would go but he didn’t. He just shot Hakkai a confused look. Hakkai gave him another kiss then turned to share his lips with Gojyo for a moment.
Gojyo pulled Hakkai closer to the bed. His hands snaked up under Hakkai’s shirt, peeling it off. Gojyo thumbed one of Hakkai’s hardened nipples and the man groaned. Gojyo lowered his mouth to them, tickling them with his tongue. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sanzo standing there, watching, looking almost shocked and a little bit …could he be slightly afraid? He held out a hand to Sanzo and Gojyo was shocked when Sanzo stepped a little closer even if he didn’t take Gojyo’s hand. Gojyo grabbed him anyhow, pulling him closer. He went to kiss Sanzo but the priest pulled up short. Gojyo just shrugged and nipped Hakkai’s shoulder.
Sighing, Hakkai half turned, kissing Sanzo over his shoulder. That kiss Sanzo allowed. Gojyo kissed his way down Hakkai’s belly, tracing the hard, redden scar tissue with his tongue. Hakkai trembled under his mouth. Gojyo tugged open Hakkai’s belt and opened his trousers. Hakkai’s cock peeked shyly out of the Y-front of his shorts. Hakkai moaned, rocking back against Sanzo as Gojyo trailed his tongue over the head of Hakkai’s cock.
Sanzo’s arms wrapped around Hakkai’s chest while Gojyo licked his own lips. He’d never tasted a man before. There was still that salty musky taste, not quite like a woman but not as radically different as he had been expecting. He kissed Hakkai’s cock again, nibbling gently on his foreskin. Hakkai’s knees nearly went and Sanzo held him tight. When he was able to move, Hakkai toed off his shoes and got out of his trousers.
Gojyo slowly stood, trailing a hand up Hakkai’s torso then nestling it over Sanzo’s hand. “What do you want to do first?” he asked quietly.
Hakkai twisted to kiss Sanzo first then he pushed Gojyo back toward the bed. When the mattress edge contacted his knees, Gojyo sat down hard on it. Hakkai tore Gojyo’s shirt up then balled his fists in Gojyo’s long, red hair, kissing him deeply. Gojyo let his breath out slowly when Hakkai released him. He looked at Sanzo for a moment, noticing the young man was merely watching. “Just gonna watch for a while? Know what to do?”
Sanzo’s head shake was almost imperceptible.
“Neither do we really. Kind of a first time with a guy,” Gojyo admitted. “Just feeling our way along. Feel free to join in.”
Sanzo didn’t say anything but he did take a step closer to the bed. Hakkai pressed Gojyo down, his mouth toying with Gojyo’s nipples. Hakkai’s hand slipped under Gojyo’s waistband, teasing the hard flesh he found waiting for him. Gojyo moaned, his fingers squeezing Hakkai’s rump. He was surprised to bump into Sanzo’s fingers as his hand moved up Hakkai’s back.
Hakkai sucked on Gojyo’s neck for a moment, his teeth nibbling on Gojyo’s strappy muscle. He moved to Gojyo’s ear, “Want you inside me,” he invited.
Gojyo’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? That’s going awful fast.”
“Do you think this might happen again?” Hakkai asked and Gojyo wanted to say yes, it had better. “I want this,” he promised, loosening Gojyo’s trousers.
“It’ll be good,” Gojyo promised. He had gone around the world with women before. This wouldn’t be too much different, he didn’t think. He stroked Hakkai’s cock then let him go as the dark-haired man turned his attentions back to the shy priest. As Hakkai drew Sanzo into a warm kiss, Gojyo finished getting out of his clothes. He rummage in a drawer and found some hand lotion that he’d gotten when he got too shy to bring girls home with Hakkai in the next room.
Hakkai had the sutra off Sanzo’s shoulder and his robes opened down to his waist by the time Gojyo got the lotion and climbed back on the bed. After setting his glasses aside, Hakkai rejoined him. “Might want to peel off a few more layers there, your holiness,” Gojyo suggested, his hand capturing his cock and Hakkai’s, rubbing them together as he ignored Sanzo’s scowl. He was still shocked Sanzo hadn’t fled out the door yet.
Hakkai’s mouth met his again as the man caressed Gojyo’s testicles. The hot fumbling was nearly enough for Gojyo to fly over the edge. He sucked on Hakkai’s earlobe then asked, “You planning on being in the middle and inviting Sanzo in?”
Hakkai nodded, turning in Gojyo’s arms. He beckoned Sanzo closer to the bedside. The priest had obligingly removed his robes and Hakkai took him into his arms as he knelt on the bed. The men kissed as Gojyo slicked up his fingers. He eased one finger into Hakkai, heat engulfing him as his partner moaned a little against Sanzo’s mouth. As Sanzo caressed Hakkai’s hair, the man kissed his way down Sanzo’s body before taking the priest’s shaft into his mouth. If Sanzo minded that Hakkai was a little clumsy about it, he didn’t let it show. He only flinched a little, flushing when Hakkai’s fingers traced the outline of one of the scars that trailed over Sanzo’s hip.
As he slipped another finger into Hakkai, Gojyo distractedly wondered what the fuck had happened to the priest to get him so scarred up. No wonder he didn’t really like being touched. Hakkai hissed softly, letting Sanzo slip free of his mouth as Gojyo’s fingers scissored him open. Gojyo leaned over Hakkai’s back, kissed his shoulder then asked, “You still sure about this?”
“Yes, please,” Hakkai panted then looked up at Sanzo. “You okay?”
“Yes,” he replied, his voice husky. Gojyo doubted the priest would leave now if the house were on fire.
“Good.” Hakkai pressed a kiss just above the golden curls sprinkled across Sanzo’s groin then licked down the man’s shaft. Sanzo sighed happily, his fingers burying themselves in Hakkai’s hair.
Gojyo wondered if they should let Sanzo on the bed with them then figured the man still didn’t like him enough to go for that. Besides it was probably easier for their first time to have Hakkai where he was on his knees between them. If Sanzo’s knees buckled when he orgasmed and fell, well then Gojyo would be chuckling for weeks.
Gojyo greased up his own cock, watching Hakkai’s mouth lick, suck and tease Sanzo’s penis. He never thought watching two guys going at it would be hot. Hell, he hadn’t thought being with a guy could be arousing until yesterday with Hakkai on his lap but it was just as exciting as any of his past experiences. He had gone from simply hard, to diamond hard and almost regretted it; there was no way of making this as gentle as he wanted to be on Hakkai.
Positioning himself behind Hakkai, Gojyo reached around, caressing a hand over Hakkai’s scarred belly. “Ready?” he whispered and Hakkai nodded, letting Sanzo go free. Gojyo pressed the head of his well-slicked cock into Hakkai slowly, giving him time to adjust to his girth. Still, Hakkai’s head snapped back as the man let out a whimper that mixed pain and pleasure. Sanzo’s arm draped comfortingly over Hakkai’s shoulder and Gojyo did the only thing he could; reminded himself Hakkai wanted this and pushed in further, steady and slow.
Hakkai moaned loudly, rocking back on Gojyo who took the hint. He pumped into Hakkai, reaching around to stroke the man’s cock in time with his thrusts. Hakkai inhaled Sanzo down, more sure of himself now. Sanzo’s groans of appreciation were counterpoint to Gojyo’s pants. Gojyo picked up the pace, pounding into Hakkai harder, his fist sliding up and down Hakkai’s shaft.
Hakkai let Sanzo slide free again, resting his cheek against the flat of the man’s belly as he panted hard. Sanzo held Hakkai as Hakkai spilled over Gojyo’s fingers. Gojyo sank deep into Hakkai, his hips stilling as his hand worked him, letting Hakkai’s orgasm shudder through him. Hakkai took several deep, stuttering breaths, mumbling something against Sanzo’s belly that Gojyo didn’t catch as he regained his composure. Finally he caught the plead for more as Hakkai wrapped one hand around Sanzo’s back and licked lightly over the priest’s testicles.
Sanzo came with a soft sound as if he were afraid someone was listening in, pearls decorating Hakkai’s chin and neck. Gojyo wiped it away before pulling Hakkai to him, finally allowing himself to fall over the edge. Slowly slipping out of Hakkai, Gojyo kissed his cheek then asked, “You okay?”
“Perfect,” Hakkai replied, happy and tired.
Gojyo moved to the edge of the bed, furthest away from Sanzo, lying down and taking Hakkai with him. Hakkai held out a hand to Sanzo and the priest joined them on the bed. All three rested in a content puddle of flesh for a moment until a voice froze them.
“Whatcha doin’ in there?” Goku asked through the door.
“Oh hell. Well, answer your animal, Teacher,” Gojyo said and Sanzo curled a lip at him.
“Nothing, Goku,” Hakkai said, shrugging helplessly. “Did you finish your math problem?”
“Yeah and I’m hungry!” There was a pause and a noise at the door. “Why are you all on the bed? Is it a game? Can I play?”
“Great, didn’t you ever teach him not to look through keyholes?” Gojyo growled.
Sanzo grumbled, swinging out of bed. He rummaged in his robes and came up with a fistful of money. “Goku, that store you always want to go into and I always say no?”
“The sweet shop?”
Sanzo slid the money under the door. “Go. Eat til you get sick. Whatever.”
“Find real food, too, Goku,” Hakkai called out.
A loud ‘yay!’ sounded through the door followed by running feet and the slam of the front door. Sanzo leaned against the door, hand over his eyes. “This is fucking ludicrous.”
“Well, fucking at any rate. I probably would have said good instead,” Gojyo countered, fumbling for his cigarettes. He wiggled the pack at Sanzo who returned to the bed, lured in by nicotine.
“What the hell was that all about?” Sanzo demanded to know, looking a little embarrassed at his involvement in the hedonistic act.
Hakkai put a hand on Sanzo’s chest. “Does it matter?”
“If I say 'yes,' does it mean I have to listen to the explanation?” Sanzo groaned.
Hakkai just laughed lightly.
X X X
“Here you go.” Gojyo handed Hakkai a cup of tea. The dark-haired young man was stretched out on the couch, well-used and apparently very happy about it. “You sure you’re okay?”
Hakkai smiled. “I’m fine, Gojyo. There are benefits to being able to manipulate your own ki. Dealing with soreness is just one of them.”
“Kappa,” Sanzo rumbled, nodding at the tea cup.
“You know where the kitchen is. Go pour yourself one, Cherry-chan. Hmm need a new name for you.” Gojyo smirked. He ducked and covered when the pistol came out and got the tea, too, just in case. “So what do you plan on telling Goku when he asks again or are you pretending this never happened.”
“Never happened,” Sanzo confirmed just as the door opened and Goku stumbled in, holding his belly. He had a stick of Kompeito and some of the rock candy still dotted his lips.
“Uhhhhh, my guts are all stuffed up,” Goku declared, dropping onto the floor next to Sanzo’s chair. The boy shook from head to toe.
“Goku, did you only eat sweets for dinner?” Hakkai asked, recognizing a child’s sugar shakes when he saw them.
The boy nodded. “I have mochi and an pan and hoshigaki and manju and kakigori and…”
Sanzo held up his hand. “Enough, you bottomless pit. Do I owe a shopkeeper any more money?”
“I wanted some taiyaki but ran out of money.” Goku pouted.
“Oh, Goku, I told you to get real food, too,” Hakkai said ruefully.
“Sanzo, he’s all hyped up on sugar. He can’t stay here!” Gojyo cried. “I’ve had to sleep on the couch two days as it is. Hakkai keeps putting the monkey in my bed.”
“Because you’ve been too drunk to actually find it,” Hakkai replied airily and Gojyo snorted at him.
“Come on, Goku, we need to get back to the temple, especially if those two morons do show up to rob it,” Sanzo said, setting his tea cup aside.
“But I can’t move! I’m stuffed up!” Goku protested. “And Hakkai has to check my math problems. I think I got them right.”
“First time for everything,” Gojyo said.
“Hey.” Goku waved the stick of rock candy at him. “I tried. It was hard and you and Hakkai have been weird all day and I still don’t know what that Prabal guy wanted with me and why Gojyo kissed me either.”
Gojyo stared down the barrel of the gun. Sanzo did not look pleased at that revelation. “Hakkai, a little help here?”
“He was trying to prove Goku was his,” Hakkai said. “To his credit, Goku’s a good little actor.”
“It was like licking an ashtray.” Goku shuddered.
Hakkai licked his lips. “I think you may have a point.”
Sanzo got up and swatted Goku with the fan.
Goku dropped the paper he had taken out of his jacket. “What was that for?”
“For pretending to like the kappa. Come on, we’re going,” Sanzo said.
“Awww but my math.”
“Can wait. Thanks for keeping the monkey out of too much trouble,” Sanzo said and herded Goku out the door without another word.
“So much for him. I can’t believe he actually went along with you, Hakkai. I knew he liked you but…” Gojyo shrugged.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Hakkai said, pointing to the piece of paper Goku dropped. Gojyo gave it to him, sitting along the crook of Hakkai’s hip. He let his fingers play under Hakkai’s shirt, tripping along the ridge of scar tissue. “Speaking of surprises, Goku really did do his math right.”
“You are just the miracle worker today.” Gojyo plucked the paper from Hakkai’s hands, leaning in for a kiss. The well of goodness hadn’t yet run dry.
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Date: 2007-06-07 12:16 pm (UTC)oh man, that whole fic was full of wrong and funny! i liked it! and Pabal better watch his back, cuz sanzo hates perverts and ppl who mess with his monkey, so he doesnt stand a chance! im so sleepy now--look what you made me do, stay up all night reading fics! :O
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Date: 2007-06-07 01:25 pm (UTC)Wrong and funny seems to be my theme for this whole cliche series. I'm glad you liked it
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Date: 2007-08-05 10:22 am (UTC)~Fall
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Date: 2007-08-05 03:53 pm (UTC)