The Game of Love

Title: The Game of Love
Author: Despina
Pairing: Gojyo x Hakkai, some Sanzo x Goku
Rating: NC 17
Summary: A series of ‘moments’ between Gojyo and Hakkai. What are they to one another? Confusion, exploration and testing boundaries are necessary in order to find out.


Hey all! Wow, thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews! I'm totally stoked.

Well, I'm not sure how you will feel about this chapter, but here it is. Sorry if it is littered with mistakes - my eyes were crossing when I finished it.

The Game of Love

Chapter 4


Goku lay with his head on Sanzo’s chest, listening to the slow rhythm of his lover’s now calm heartbeat. He was momentarily released from his boundless reserve of energy as he always was after crazed, monkey sex with his sun. Sanzo was a demanding lover and not at all gentle, but that was fine with Goku. In fact, when Sanzo and he were in the throes of passion, sometimes Goku could feel his other self surface. It wasn’t enough to be a serious threat to Sanzo, but it was enough to leave wounds and marks on his beautiful, fragile lover. Gashes and bite marks from claws and fangs.

It didn’t happen every time, but it also wasn’t completely unusual during their lovemaking. Sometimes, fleetingly, Goku worried for Sanzo’s safety, but strangely enough, his lover seemed to enjoy the inherent danger. Images flashed through Goku’s thoughts of long brown hair gripped tightly in Sanzo’s fists, sounds of growling from both of them, and best of all, Sanzo’s lust-filled eyes as Goku/The Monkey King very roughly had his way with the priest. Who knew Sanzo was as freaky as or maybe even freakier than Gojyo?

Gojyo.

Goku’s mind cleared with the thought of his friend and he suddenly blurted out, “I think they are fighting.”

“What are you talking about?” Sanzo grumbled, not at all pleased at having his post-coital bliss disturbed.

“Hakkai and Gojyo. I think they are fighting,” the smaller man raised his head and looked into purple eyes as he explained. “Hakkai hasn’t been eating with us and Gojyo barely notices anyone else is even in the room with him. He’s even been letting me eat all the eggrolls without saying a word.”

“Who cares?” Sanzo muttered.

“I care. It feels wrong,” Goku answered back. “They are no fun when they fight”

Sanzo didn’t respond to Goku, but he did silently agree with the monkey. Well, up to a point. Hakkai’s syrupy smiles were phonier than usual and Gojyo’s continuous brooding was starting to wear on all of them. Mealtimes of late passed in deafening silence and uncomfortable tension.

There had always been tension between Gojyo and Hakkai, but this was different. This was becoming increasingly annoying. If the two would simply admit their feelings for one another, they could disperse with all this irritating denial and then they could…

“If they would just go for it, they could get it over with and be more relaxed.”

“Huh,” Sanzo answered as he reached for his cigarettes, vexed with Goku for verbalizing his own internal thoughts. “I’m not sure Gojyo’s up for the intensity level. It might be too much for him.

“Sanzo,” Goku said as he rolled his eyes. “This is the pervy water sprite we are talking about. We both know he wants Hakkai. Everybody knows he wants Hakkai.”

“Except Hakkai,” Sanzo said as he lit his cigarette.

“Oh, I think Hakkai knows, too, he just can’t admit it.”

“Either way, clearly Gojyo is up for the physical part of it, but emotionally?” Sanzo took a deep drag of his cigarette and shook his head. “Hooking up with Hakkai is a lifelong commitment. Hakkai knows better than anyone that Gojyo’s only good for a few nights.”

“But those are women,” Goku explained. “Gojyo has issues with women. Hakkai’s a guy, so it’s different.”

Sanzo raised an eyebrow in surprise. Goku could be a clever little monkey when he put his mind to it. “But Hakkai…” Sanzo shuddered involuntarily as he thought about his traveling companion’s fanatic devotion. “Hakkai would be irrationally jealous of Gojyo, maybe to the point of being unstable.”

Goku snuggled against his lover and laid his head down again, this time on Sanzo’s stomach. “What makes you say that?”

“You’re kidding me, right?” the priest snapped at his lover and added only one more word. “Kanan.”

Grimacing, Goku said, “Oh yeah. Those thousand demons.”

Taking another drag Sanzo asked, “You’ve seen him without his limiters, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, what happens when that, thinks Gojyo is cheating on him? And probably because Gojyo would be cheating on him.” Sanzo sighed before he added, “I can just see trying to explain that path of death and destruction to the three heads. Sorry heads, our healer got a little carried away and killed all of the women in China.”

Goku chuckled before he said, “Sanzo, Hakkai wouldn’t do that, even if he didn’t have his limiters on. I mean, he is scary like that, without his limiters, but he can also keep himself sorta under control. ‘Sides, when he’s like that, he’s really hot … er, I mean, strong.”

“Did you say he’s hot?” Sanzo demanded from his lover as he suddenly battled a strange feeling of helplessness.

Goku sat up, knowing instinctively he was on dangerous ground, but also incapable of saying anything untrue. “Yeah. He’s kinda pretty anyway, but in that form he’s…” Goku shrugged, “I dunno, mesmerizing.”

“Do you even know what that word means?” Sanzo snarled as he crushed out his cigarette and then reached for another.

“Aww, Sanzo,” Goku started as he smiled brightly at his lover. “No one is as pretty as you.”

“Shut the fuck up, monkey,” he kicked at the smaller man as he continued to growl, “And get the fuck out of my bed.”

“Uh, Sanzo,” Goku was now grinning as he rode the wave of Sanzo’s anger by hanging on to the thrashing leg. “This is my bed.”

“Tch,” the priest rolled his eyes. “I must be insane for letting you ever get near me. I should have left you in that cave to rot.”

Goku’s eyes narrowed in anger from his lover’s harsh words. “Why do you always have to be so mean?” he snarled as his patience with his sun broke and he moved to the other bed. He slid between the sheets and turned his back on Sanzo.

There was a long moment of silence in the room.

Sanzo sighed. He didn’t really feel bad about hurting the monkey’s feelings. Not really. But nonetheless, he said, “I’ll talk to Hakkai.”

Goku rolled over slowly, the big golden eyes searching Sanzo’s violet ones for sincerity.

After sighing for a second time, Sanzo fought to keep the irritation out of his voice as he explained, “I think Hakkai is the one with his panties in a bunch and Gojyo is only reacting.”

“Ya think?” Goku asked as he sat up abruptly, completely forgetting his anger. “I did hear Gojyo muttering, saying something like ‘what did Hakkai expect him to do?’ so, I dunno, maybe it is Hakkai.”

Sanzo shrugged with indifference. “Talking to either one of them is a pain in the ass, but at least Hakkai has a few higher brain functions.”

Just as Sanzo predicted, the moment he finished his sentence, Goku launched himself from the bed he was on, only to land on top of the priest. The monkey was already beginning his partial transformation as he pressed his lips to Sanzo’s in a brutal, feral kiss. Breaking the kiss, he quickly threaded his right arm under Sanzo’s left knee and twisted the blond ruthlessly onto his right side. Raising his lover’s leg higher, Goku straddled the bed-bound right leg and thrust his already reawakened cock into the previous slicked-up and still cum-laden hole of his sun.

As Goku pushed his cock inside his lover savagely, he could not help but moan as the wonderful, taut heat squeezed him. He watched with curiosity as Sanzo’s fingers clawed at the bed in pain and ecstasy but he made no sound. It was not unusual; normally the blond remained stoically silent as Goku pounded him without mercy. But today, for some reason that changed and the monkey heard Sanzo whisper his name.

That quiet cry made Goku slide closer towards being the Monkey King and the rest of the night became a sexual fever dream.

And in the morning, as he hobbled around, clearly stiff and sore, covered in bruises, bite marks and scratches, Sanzo seemed to be oddly content.



“If you are coming with me, monkey, then let’s go,” Gojyo smiled at the smaller man as Goku stuffed the last bit of food on the table into his mouth.

“Mph comphing!” Goku said as he grabbed his clean clothes and scampered after the redhead. After he swallowed enough of the food to speak he said, “Geez, Gojyo, what’s the hurry?”

“No hurry,” he said as the made their way to the door. “I just want a bath.”

Hakkai watched as the two exited the common room. After several minutes, Sanzo lowered his newspaper enough to study the forlorn demon, his feelings obvious as the green eyes continued to stare after the two.

Taking the cigarette from his mouth, Sanzo grumbled, “Your martyrdom is beginning to get on my last nerve.”

“I’m sorry?” Hakkai turned to the priest, his phony smile firmly in place.

“That irritating happy act you put on is wearing thin as well,” Sanzo snapped. “It’s far more annoying than usual.”

“Well,” Hakkai smiled again as he stood up, “then perhaps I should be going. We are in need of several supplies.”

Sanzo waited until the demon turned away before he said, “Hakkai, have you considered Gojyo’s fears?”

Hakkai stopped and turned slowly back to look at the priest. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I understand.”

He took a deep drag of nicotine and exhaled, all the while staring into those wounded, vulnerable green eyes before saying, “It makes no difference to me if you and Gojyo are fighting or fucking.”

The healer tried to interject but Sanzo’s glare stopped him.

“But of late, the two of you are distracted beyond the acceptable limits,” Sanzo leaned forward and put out his cigarette before he looked up into those green eyes again. “I know that letting people get close to you is a frightening prospect.”

Hakkai’s demeanor changed and his face clouded over. “I don’t think…”

Sanzo cut him off, “But maybe you might want to consider someone else’s fears for a change,” he lit another cigarette before he continued his explanation. “Gojyo’s never had anyone give a rat’s ass about him until you came along. He’s in uncharted territory and I don’t think you need me to explain how desperate that has made him. I’m willing to bet he would do anything right now keep you part of his life.”

The two stared at each other before Sanzo added, “You control the game, but you’re not playing fair. Your opponent no longer understands the rules.”

Hakkai continued staring at the priest as the words took root in his brain. Had he been unfair with Gojyo? It was possible.

“Anyway, it might be something for you to consider,” Sanzo said as he picked up his paper again and began to read.

“Sanzo…”

“Do whatever the fuck you want,” he snapped dismissively.

Hakkai realized he could explain all he wanted but Sanzo would ignore his words. His conversation with the priest was already over.

Meanwhile, as Gojyo and Goku walked toward the baths, Goku decided to have his own conversation. After all, who knew if Sanzo would really talk to Hakkai.

“Hey, Gojyo?”

“Hmm,” Gojyo answered absently.

“Do you like Hakkai?”

Gojyo’s steps faltered for only a moment as he looked over into the gold eyes. “Of course I like him.”

“Nah,” Goku shook his head as he struggled to explain, “I don’t mean just ‘like’ as in friends. I already know you like him that way. I meant the other way.”

“Ohhh,” Gojyo gave the monkey a wicked smile. “You mean ‘like’ as in you and Sanzo?”

“Hey…” The gold eyes went wide. “How did you know that?”

Laughing, Gojyo replied, “Never mind how I know, I just do.”

A moment passed before Goku said softly, “You do like Hakkai the same way as me and Sanzo, huh?”

Shrugging the taller man answered, “So what if I do?”

“Then why aren’t you together? I don’t get it!”

“Why aren’t we together?” Gojyo shook his head. “It’s complicated and not something baby monkeys can understand.”

“Shut up, Gojyo!” Goku sputtered. “How complicated can it be? Just jump on him, already, even an idiot can see he totally wants you!”

“And what would you know about it, bananas-for-brains?” Gojyo shot back.

“I know more than you think I do, Gojyo. Give me a little credit, would you?”

Sighing, the redhead answered, “What is it that you think you ‘know', monkey?”

“I know that Hakkai is sad.”

“Sad?” Gojyo stopped suddenly as he turned and stared into those gold eyes. “Why do you say that?”

Goku nodded, “It’s true. Every time you go out, he stares at the door you left through, sometimes for hours afterwards. And he just seems really, really sad.”

“Huh,” Gojyo muttered. He turned and resumed his long-legged gait towards the baths again as he tried to process the new information about Hakkai. He found he wanted to hear more. “So…” he looked over his shoulder at Goku, “he seems sad, does he?”

“Yeah,” Goku nodded as he ran to catch up with his taller companion. “And then he gets all scary, you know how he is when something’s bugging him.”

“I do know,” Gojyo said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he fondly considered Hakkai’s multitude of idiosyncrasies. “Anything else?”

“Sometimes, after you go out, I know he stays up until you come back. I’ve seen him prowling around waiting for you. I’ve even seen him watching out of the window for you.”

“Does he?” Gojyo’s mind began to whirl with all kinds of random, haphazard emotions. But foremost in his chaotic thoughts was the knowledge that the game wasn’t over after all.

“Yeah, he does. I’ve caught him a few times at the window, but he always makes up some lame excuse for being there,” Goku smiled as he watched Gojyo’s pleased expression.

Stopping once again, Gojyo turned to his companion. “Hey, you haven’t talked to Hakkai about this have you?”

Shaking his head Goku answered, “No. Sanzo said he’d talk to him.”

“Sanzo?” Gojyo started to laugh. “Sanzo said he’d talk to Hakkai? And tell him what?”

“Mostly that he’s being mean to you,” the monkey replied innocently.

“I’d love to hear that conversation,” Gojyo continued to laugh. “Two socially inept people having a conversation about…” Gojyo paused and crinkled his brow, a conversation about what? About him? About Hakkai’s feelings for Gojyo? It made his head hurt even to consider that uncomfortable, stilted conversation. How could a dysfunctional iceberg give counsel to the king of denial? Gojyo was certain nothing productive could come out of that exchange.

Smiling, he realized it would be up to him to fix everything.

Ruffling Goku’s hair affectionately and still smiling he said, “Thanks, monkey. I owe you one.”

“Nah, just get Hakkai to stop bein’ so scary, it’s pissing Sanzo off.” Goku smiled at him before he asked, “So… what will you do?”

“I’m not sure yet. Let’s have a bath and I’ll think about it,” he answered, turning for the baths once again as tried to school the loopy grin from his face. So, Hakkai was sad when he thought Gojyo was out picking up girls, was he? Hakkai was sad?

The game was still on and now all Gojyo had to do was to decide on his next move. He wasn’t out of the woods yet and he still had to remain cautious of scaring Hakkai.

But no matter how daunting or difficult the road ahead appeared, Gojyo could not seem to get the stupid, goofy smile off his face.

TBC