Fantasies

Chapter Three



There were no words for the expression on Hakkai's face as he awoke late morning to discover rain pinging softly against the window panes as it had been for hours before, except perhaps anger or even frustration. Those might have described it well, that expression. He sat on the edge of the bed, scowling toward the window. The candles in the room had long been extinguished, and the clouded sky outside held little light at all, so the room was darkened, but not completely pitch. It felt strangely cold, even with Gojyo's body heat next to him, and Hakkai shivered a little, drawing his gaze from the window. He looked back to his red-haired companion.

"Gojyo, get up." Hakkai said flatly, standing up and walking over to grab his pants fof the dresser top. He grumbled a little as Gojyo didn't respond, and after tugging his pants up, albeit left unzipped, he walked back over to shake him at the shoulder. "Gojyo."

With a groan, the half-breed stirred, cracking one crimson eye to look up at Hakkai. "... what now? This better not be like the last time you woke me up. Wait.. " His voice changing, as if the thought struck him, reminding him exactly what had happened the last time he'd been woken up.

Stretching and yawning loudly, Gojyo pushed himself lazily into a sitting position. He watched as Hakkai zipped his pants, and headed for the door. Before it closed, however, he called out. "Goku should already be up. Stuffing his face, ya know?" The door lingered open for only a moment, then closed with a click. Gojyo shook his head, and looked to the window.

Damnit.. it's freaking raining again. Is that why...?

With a flurry of sheets, shirt and pants, Gojyo was dressed, and sitting on the edge of the bed. He was tugging on his boots when Hakkai returned. The door banged a little on the wall behind it, causing Gojyo to startle, and damn near fall off the bed itself. He whirled his eyes to Hakkai, who stood in the doorway, and gave him a look of anger.

"Damnit, Hakkai! You scared the shit out of me! Wha--?"

Hakkai looked flustered, and was staring back down the hallway, probably from the direction he'd just come. "We have to get out of here, Gojyo."

Gojyo blinked slowly, and finished tying his boot with an extra flash of speed. He was at Hakkai's side a second later, leaning over to look down the hallway. "What's wrong? Is it Sanzo and Goku?"

Hakkai paused, then nodded. "Yes. I ... I can't find them. They're gone. We have to get out of here, to find them."

Gojyo nodded quickly, and an instant later, the room was empty, the door left wide open. Footsteps echoed down the hallway, then silence reigned once more.

A few minutes later, a figure appeared in the doorway, and cautiously peeked in past the open door. The figure took a few steps into the room, turning around slightly, a confused expression on his face.

"Gojyo?" Hakkai said slowly, his voice wavering just a little. After a moment, he cursed to himself. Pausing just long enough to put on his shirt and shoes, Hakkai ran back out of the room into the hallway.

Something is seriously wrong... He thought as he ran past the other rooms. This place is deserted!

Silence filled the entire Inn, broken only by the pattering of rain that fell from overhead like an ominous tide of certain doom.


..........................

Sanzo pushed the branches out of his way, a few of them reaching and tearing at his robe sleeves as he ran. He heard Goju running behind him, the boy's breathing starting to become uneven from the long run. As much as he himself would have liked to stop for a break, Sanzo knew they couldn't afford it. They had to keep running. If they stopped...

He ducked under a low branch, giving a small glance behind him. "Hurry the fuck up, Goku!" He screamed back at the monkey demon, who leaned ehavily on the branch Sanzo had just went under. Sanzo skidded to a halt, nearly slipping on the muddy ground.

You stupid ass, monkey! Don't stop!

Goku looked behind them, and gave a pathetic whimper, his eyes half-lidded against the rain that fell down around them. "Sanzo... I can't run anymore." With his words, he let his golden eyes fall toward his leg.

Sanzo's eyse followed the glance to the wound that was seeping blood through the tatters of what remained of Goku's pant leg. Goku looked to Sanzo, and shook his head. "We have to fight it."

"We fought it already." Sanzo countered angrily, dashing back to grab a handful of cloth on the front of Goku's shirt. "We can't beat it if we can't see it. So, I suggest you either run, or I'll shoot you."

Goku didn't argue with the monk on the matter, though normally a nice, long argument woudl have stemmed from the exchange. Instead, Goku swatted Sanzo's hand away, and ducked under the branch as well. They ran on, with Goku glancing sadly behind them, Sanzo cursing, and the rain ever falling.