Shades of Time

Rei smiled up at Hakkai in thanks when he handed her a cup of coffee shortly before sunrise and then sat next to her on the swing. Everyone had taken turns on watch just in case something happened to get through the rock slide. Even Sanzo had been wrangled into it. Hakkai had made a mental note to ask Rei how she had managed that little number at a later date. They rotated on two hour shifts and Rei had taken the first and last watches of the night considering she was the one who best knew how to take care of the strange things.

“I really miss this sometimes,” Hakkai said thoughtfully, looking at the sky as it streaked pink, purple and gold with the coming dawn. “We see so much of the sunset but so little of sunrise any more.”

Rei nodded, sipping the coffee slowly. “I’d imagine you’ll get sick of seeing the sunrise on your way back,” she said.

“Probably.”

They sat in silence for a while; drinking coffee and watching the sky brighten, occasionally pushing the swing leisurely.

“Is it just me or does this seem to be a familiar activity between us?” Hakkai asked.

“That it does,” she said with a sigh, leaning her head against his shoulder. “It’s a good activity though. Moments of contentment and peace are few and far between with everyone lately.”

“That’s true,” Hakkai said, putting one arm around her. It was so odd, he thought. He felt more comfortable with her in the short span of two days than he had with anyone else. Sitting on a swing with her in the early morning hours really did seem like something they’d done since the beginning of forever. This was so good and felt so right. He didn’t want to leave it. Didn’t want to leave her.

“Stop that,” Rei said, faintly smiling.

“Stop what?”

“Worrying.”

He leaned back to look at her more clearly. “How do you know I was worrying?”

“Simple. Your pulse and breathing pick up when you’re mentally fussing over something. That tends to be fairly often. Plus you get that line between your eyebrows.”

Hakkai laughed a little. “And here I thought you’d become a mind reader.”

Rei snorted. “No. That would be Miriam’s job. What were you worrying about?”

“I . . . it’s just . . .” Hakkai sighed. “I don’t want to leave.”

“I don’t want you to leave either, Hakkai. But I know you have to. What you’re doing is important even though it might seem like a futile effort just now.”

He frowned a little. “How do you know it’s important?”

“Oh please! Like Goku can keep from telling Anya anything she wants to know.”

She was right. Goku really would tell Anya anything if she asked him, including where they were going and what they were supposed to do. Sanzo would be peel him off the ceiling livid pissed. Hakkai stared at her in disbelief for a moment before he burst out laughing. He clapped one hand over his mouth to stifle the sound but couldn’t quite accomplish it.

“I could get addicted to that,” Rei said thoughtfully.

“What?” he asked, barely managing to contain the residual giggles.

“You laughing.”

***

The person leaning against the tree cocked his head and looked thoughtfully at the young woman standing behind Hakkai and Rei with her hands clenched into fists. The other two male ghosts looked from her to the other man and shrugged at one another, indicating it was their business.

“You know he can’t hear you, Kanan,” Koumyou Sanzo said, shaking his head. “You willingly gave him up. You know they’re going to come together. It’s a natural progression. Why torture yourself like this?”

“I don’t see you going anywhere either, Koumyou,” she said, glaring at him.

He sighed. “I didn’t leave my son on purpose, Kanan. I’m sorry that you’re unhappy about this,” he said, nodding to Rei and Hakkai. “But there isn’t anything you can do about it.”

***

Rei watched as the lights went on in various parts of the inn. She could feel that Xan was up, which meant that Gojyo probably would be soon as well. In more ways than one. Almost as if on cue, Xan came strolling outside.

“Hey, Rei. Anya needs your help with something in the kitchen,” she said.

Rei sighed. “It was nice while it lasted,” Rei said, getting up.

“I suppose I’d better go check on a few things as well. Make sure we’re well prepared before we leave,” Hakkai said, standing as well.

Xan watched the two of them walk toward the inn with narrowed eyes before turning in the general direction of the collected ghosts. Though she couldn’t see them she could feel them and directed her attention toward the only female in the bunch.

Kanan had tried to follow Hakkai back into the inn but had found herself unable to move. She glanced around in wide eyed panic for a moment before focusing on the only person who could be holding her.

“I may not be able to see you, girlie, but I can feel you and I have a pretty good idea what you’re up to. I can’t hear you either so don’t bother screaming or trying to argue.”

Kanan could only stare wide eyed at the other woman.

“I don’t give a shit what you and Hakkai had before. You killed yourself in fucking front of him, you stupid little bitch. Now you can whine to the others if you want, I could care less. But if you pull that bullshit of screaming at Rei because you know she can hear you again when she’s with Hakkai, you’ll deal with me. And you won’t be happy if you have to deal with me,” Xan said, smiling nastily. “Try it and I’ll bind you into a fucking rock and throw your ass in the river where you can stay and be bored forever.”