One Man's Obsession

I do not lay claim to Saiyuki

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The Sanzo party arrive in another village when they spot an inn with resort amenities. Gojyo chuckles, "Man this has got to be my lucky day! We can get buck-naked and take an out-door soak. I'm loving this place already." He jumps out of the back of the jeep and grabs Sanzo. "Want to take a bath with yours truly. I'll make it worth your while."

Sanzo pulls his arm away as he blushes, "Keep your voice down you idiot! People are looking at you!"

Goku laughs, "The water-sprite is always loud. He wants the world to know about the two of you. He's such a pervert! Anyway, I want something to eat before I get in the baths."

Hakkai puts his hands on the monkey's shoulders and looks at Sanzo and Gojyo smiling. "I think it would be best if we all had a little something to eat first." He cuts his eyes at the hanyou, "Gojyo, you can wait until after Sanzo has something to eat can't you?"

Gojyo drops his hand and ducks his head down. "Sorry about getting so excited, Sanzo. I didn't mean to embarrass you." The hanyou rubs the back of his neck.

Sanzo looks at him while he lights a cigarette. He studies the man he knows he cannot stand to be apart from and looks at the hangdog look on his face. He puts his lighter back in his sleeve as he takes a deep pull. "I'm not Gojyo; you just need to calm down. Once we eat we can go in okay?" Gojyo looks in his face and smiles as he nods.

XXXXXXX

After supper, they all head for the outdoor bath. Goku jumps down in the water and sighs as he leans back with his small towel over his face. "This is so nice, I could stay here forever."

Gojyo smiles as he eases down in the water next to the monk, "This is like a dream come true. What say we stay here for a couple of days?" He looks over at Sanzo as the monk closes his eyes.

Hakkai pipes up with, "I don't think Sanzo will be willing to do that Gojyo. Right Sanzo?" They are all watching the monk because he is the only one that has not made a comment about the baths.

He opens one eye then the other, "What?"

"Hello, we're waiting on you to decide if we should stay or leave early in the morning, as we usually do. You know it's all up to you. So tell us, can we stay a couple of days. It's been hell on the road lately and we deserve some rest." Gojyo sits up waiting for Sanzo to respond.

The monk closes his eyes and sighs, "If you all want to stay a couple of days it's fine with me. It's not like I want to hear you bitching and moaning about leaving tomorrow. Only two days and then we are back on the road. This is not a vacation."

They all smile at each other and lie back enjoying the warm water and each thinking private thoughts. Gojyo is imagining having the monk alone in the bath and doing unspeakable things to him and Sanzo is thinking about Gojyo doing those same unspeakable things.

Both men give a deep sigh and then look at each other. The hanyou slides his hand under water and clasp the monk's hand and squeezes. Sanzo smiles at him before settling back with his towel on his growing erection.

Gojyo leans over and whispers in his ear, "You seem to be enjoying this bath a little too much. Are you thinking about me?"

"Shut up, what do you think?"

"I think that's a, yes. Why don't we go back to the room? I'm beginning to feel a little dizzy." He looks across at Hakkai and Goku, "Do you guys feel dizzy?"

Goku wipes his face with his towel. "I do feel a little drowsy. What about you Hakkai, how do you feel?"

Hakkai looks around and smiles at Gojyo, "I don't feel any different. Why don't you and Goku, drink some tea or something, after all the two of you ate enough for two or three people."

Sanzo sinks lower under the water, "Yeah, we'll catch up with you later. You shouldn't eat like pigs. That's why you feel the way you do."

Gojyo rises up from the water in all his glory. He looks over at Sanzo with a scowl on his face. "When you finish your bath I'll be in my room but please, take your time!" He steps out of the water splashing the monk in the face.

Sanzo puts his hand up as he looks at the kappa in amusement. He shakes his head at him because Gojyo doesn't know he can't get out of the water right now. His erection has been growing steadily since Gojyo sat beside him. He puts his hand down covering it and closes his eyes again.

Hakkai watches as Goku and Gojyo leaves and turns back to the monk. "He didn't realize why you didn't want to leave, huh?"

Sanzo cuts his eyes at the chi-healer, "And you do?"

Hakkai chuckles as he leans back sighing, "Why don't you try standing up and prove me wrong."

The monk blushes, "Damn you, I guess you do know. I don't know what is wrong with me. He's still the same obnoxious, loud, insufferable, ass that he has always been and yet…"

Hakkai looks over at him, "and yet you love him, right? That's how I feel about him too. No matters what he does, I cannot help loving him. When he saved my life, I knew I would do anything for him. He has a big heart hiding under that uncouth exterior. I'm happy the two of you have found each other to love. I think you both are lucky."

"Yeah, I know. I thought I could never care this deeply for anyone again but…somehow, he wore down my defenses. The time I spent with Kougaiji was hell but I knew I would be with him again. That is the one thing, which kept me from breaking down. I'm just glad he still wanted me after all that bastard put me through. It gives me chills just thinking about it." Sanzo gives a small shudder as he sinks deeper under the warm water.

"When the prince held you, did you wonder if he planned on releasing you at any time. We looked everywhere for you and Gojyo had it in his mind that Kougaiji was holding you. I hope he didn't hurt you too badly. We never have discussed it, with you that is, and it's been a while now."

"Until now, I didn't want to talk about it. Having a relationship with a man and then being kidnapped because of it is hard to come to terms with. As long as he knew I wasn't into men, he didn't do anything but as soon as he found out Gojyo and I were together he snapped. In a way I can't help feeling sorry for him but I will never forgive that bastard for what he did."

Hakkai snorts, "and well you shouldn't. Just because we want something, does not mean we should force our feelings on others. I guess Kougaiji thought he could make you care for him if he held you long enough, he didn't take into account how you feel. How he felt about you was all that mattered to him. I for one was very surprise to find he would do something like that. He always seems so dignified and refined. However, I guess you never know what is hidden inside of people, do you?"

"No you don't. If you're wondering if he beat me or anything, the answer is no. He had a different agenda for me. His agenda was subtle seduction. When that failed, he went for force. I never knew that having sex with a man was in the cards for me and I never thought I would be that much of an obsession for anyone but now…"

"Come on Sanzo, I'm sure you've seen the way people look at you or do you think it's just because you're a monk? Perhaps if you met their eyes once in a while, you will see that it isn't that safe for you to be alone when you go out."

Sanzo narrows his eyes at the chi-healer, "What are you saying Hakkai? What is it I have to worry about now?"

"I would say but…maybe you should ask Gojyo. I know you never thought someone would do what Kougaiji did but there are others out there who will treat you far worst."

Sanzo glares at Hakkai, "I think we should end this conversation now. I don't like where it's heading. I'm going up to my room, I'll see you later." He gets out of the water, wraps his towel around his waist, and goes into the changing room.

Hakkai leans back sighing, "So naive."

XXXXXXX

Sanzo walks into the dining room looking for Goku and his lover and not seeing them, turns towards the door. "I can't go out alone huh? We'll see about that bullshit."

He walks out into the street and looks around at the small stalls and the people buying from various vendors. He walks over to a fruit stand and buys a bag of apples. He pays the woman and walks down the street as he eats one. Looking at a crowd of people at the end of the street, he walks over to see what is going on.

People are watching a street show about the Sanzo party defeating some demons. Everyone is oohing and ahhing as they perform their little show. He watches in amusement as the one call Sanzo pulls out a gun and yells bang, bang. Overall, he is enjoying the show.

As he turns to throw the core away after finishing the apple, a small boy looks up at him smiling. He looks down at the child and offers him an apple which he accepts and says thanks. Sanzo turns back to the performers and continues to watch the show.

"You want to share those apples with me too, Sanzo?" He spins around dropping his bag and whipping out his gun.

Kougaiji throws his hands up, laughing at him. "All I did was ask for an apple. You are too quick to hurt me. I promise not to try anything with you." Kou drops his hands too his sides and bends, picking up the bag as the boy gather up the remaining apples. He smiles down at the young boy and says thanks.

Sanzo watches him with his gun at his side because he doesn't want to make a scene. He looks around at the other people in the street and they turn away from the two men and continue watching the show.

"What the hell are you doing here? I thought you would never show your face to me again." The monk accepts the bag from the prince and looks over his shoulder for his companions. 'I guess it isn't safe for me to be out here alone. Shit!'

He looks at Sanzo with a smirk of his face, "I don't understand what you mean. Why wouldn't I show my face to you? I've been waiting for a long time to speak with you alone. Every time I see you, you're with the hanyou or one of the other ikkou. This is the first time you've been alone." He walks closer and says in a low voice, "Is there somewhere we can talk? I'll go anyplace you want and you are safe with me. I just want to speak to you without the others around."

Sanzo looks at him with his eyes narrowed and looks down at the young boy who has not taken his eyes off the two of them. He bends down, "Why don't you take these and give them to your friends." He passes the bag to him and he accepts it and runs into the crowd.

"There's a bar over there we can go to if you're going to keep your word. If you try anything, I will not hesitate to plug your ass, is that understood?"

Kougaiji bows his head, follows him down the path into the bar, and looks over his shoulder to see if any of the others are out in the streets. Seeing none of them, he smiles as he goes in behind him. Having the monk to himself for however short a time is worth any conflict he expects from Sanzo's group.

XXXXXXX

Gojyo knocks on Hakkai's door and he calls for him to come in. "Where is Sanzo? I thought the two of you were together!"

Hakkai looks up at him with a puzzled look on his face. "He left the baths before I did. He said he was going to his room. You mean he's not there?" He stands and walks over to a very agitated Gojyo. He puts his hand out and leads him to the only chair in the room.

"I know I shouldn't be this upset but I just worry about him. He's probably downstairs in the dinning room. Where is Goku? They're together right?" Gojyo looks at him with a smile that does not quite reach his eyes. "I don't know where Goku is, because when I came out of the baths I came straight here. You were with him last."

Gojyo rubs his hand down his face and groans. "I left the monkey in the back with some boys that said they were going to play a game of marbles. I'll go see if he is still there. Either way we need to find him as soon as possible. I have a bad feeling about this. Did he mention anything about wanting to go anywhere?"

Hakkai puts his hand to his mouth, "We were talking earlier about him going out alone. I told him it wasn't safe for him to go out without one of us by his side. You don't think he went out on his own do you?"

Gojyo heads for the door, "Sanzo is not a child! How did you think he would act if you told him he can't take care of himself? He's in charge of this mission remember! He could be anywhere trying to prove a point, right now."

Hakkai follows him out the door, "I'm sorry Gojyo but you know he isn't safe alone. With what Kougaiji did to him, I just told him others may want to do the same. I call myself warning him, not daring him."

Gojyo heads for the stairs, "You know you can't back him into a corner like that. You find Goku and I'll go out and see if I can find him. When we do, we can't let him know we are worried about his safety or he'll be angry at the lot of us."

XXXXXXX

Gojyo walks out of the resort and looks up and down the walkway for Sanzo. Not seeing him, he walks over to the crowd to see if he is among them. He weaves his way to the front and he's not there either. 'Where the hell could he have gotten off to?' He leaves the crowd and spots a bar. He heads in that direction while looking around for his lover with a scowl on his face.

He pushes the door open to the tavern and notices the crowd and walks over to the bar. He orders a drink and surveys the large room. He spots the monk and the prince sitting across from each other, deep in conversation. 'What the fuck is going on? He doesn't seem upset about being with that bastard! Does this mean he and that ass-hole are planning on being together? Hell no, over my dead body!"

The server brings him a beer as he keeps his eyes on the two talking as if there isn't anything to be upset about. Now he thinks about Sanzo telling him he allowed Kougaiji to make love too him before he was able to escape. Did he enjoy it? He never told him he hated it but he didn't say either way. He turns to the server and asks for a shot. He turns back and watches, as they now seem to be having a heated discussion. Sanzo looks really pissed off and Kou is smirking at him. Gojyo leaves from the bar and eases over to the two men to hear their conversation.

He sits at a booth close enough to hear their conversation but not be seen. He wants to be able to knock the prince on his ass if need be. Sanzo slams the bottle on the table and Gojyo turns and looks at the two men but the monk seems to be holding his own. He leans his head back and can hear snatches of their conversation and he feels proud when Sanzo tells him he will never be his slave again. He breathes a sigh of relief when Sanzo walks out.

'Now it's my turn you ass-hole and please…give me a reason to kick your ass today.' He gets up and heads for Kougaiji.

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