“Curse or God Sent” Chapter 5
‘Waiting In The Shadows’


It was the evening of the third night that Nori had to sit with Sanzo. Nori found herself sitting in the window of Sanzo’s room looking down on the village streets as Sanzo slept. Nori had her legs tucked into her body and her head resting on her knees as her arms wrap around her legs she gazes out on to the night as she sees Laney and Hakkai walking down the sidewalk on the other side of the street.

Nori smiles looking down on them as Hakkai hands Laney a white rose Nori smiles as she lets out a, “AWWW… That was sweet Hakkai.”

“What’s sweet Nori?” She jumps to Goku’s voice,

“Goku, damn you, you scared the life out me.” Nori whispers smacking his arm.

“Ouch! I was just asking?” Goku says softly.

“I know you were, but I was so into what was going on I did not hear you come in. So when you spoke to me you scared me.” Nori says.

“Sorry about that Nori. What are you looking at?” Goku asks her. Nori points down on the street at Hakkai and Laney as they walk along side by side talking.

“They look cute together, huh?” Nori asks Goku.

“Yes they do and they really seem to like each other.” Goku says. Nori sighs as she pulls her legs closer to her.

“What is it Nori?” Goku asks her. Nori smiled at Goku as she shook her head.

“Now come on Nori that was not a normal sigh, what are you thinking about?” Goku asks her. Nori turns looking at Sanzo as she heard him move in his bed.

“Sanzo, you’re thinking about Sanzo?” Goku asks her in a prying way.

Nori smiles again, “Ok if you must know what I am think about I am thinking how Hakkai is so good for Laney, she deserves a good guy in her life.” Nori says laying her head back on her knees looking out at them.

“Well I think you’re good for Sanzo.” Goku tells her. Nori slowly lifts her head looking at Goku with a bewildered look on her face.

“You are Nori, since you have started taking care of Sanzo his attitude has really changed. Sure he still has his moments but they are nothing like they use to be.” Goku tells her smiling. Nori blushes at his words.

“Well thank you Goku that is very sweet of you to think so.” Nori tells him. Sanzo moves again in his bed as Nori looks his way once more.

“You sure do worry about him Nori.” Goku says chuckling. Nori looks at Goku then back at Sanzo.

“I do not want to wake him he is so tired, he has not been sleeping right and then us setting up all hours of the night playing Mah Jong has not helped.” Nori tells him still watching Sanzo sleep.

“You like Sanzo don’t you Nori?” Goku asks her, Nori looks back at Goku as he has a huge smile on his face.

“Well yes I like Sanzo if I did not I would not be here now.” Nori tells Goku.

“No I mean you like Sanzo like Hakkai and Laney likes one another.” Goku tells her. Nori starts to blush again, “AHH… see I knew it, I knew you liked Sanzo.” Goku says getting a little loud.

Nori starts to chuckle as she is waving her hands at Goku telling him, “SHHHH!! You’ll wake him.”

“OH sorry Nori, but you like him don’t you?” Goku whispers smiling ear to ear again, Nori looks over at Sanzo which now has his back to them and unbeknown to Nori or Goku was awake.

She looks at Sanzo for what seemed a few minutes as she hears Goku calling to her, “Nori… Hey Nori…” she looks at Goku with a big smile,

“Yes I do care for Sanzo like that.” Nori says.

Goku smiles as he falls back onto is bed, “That’s really cool Nori, because I think Sanzo likes you to.” Goku says.

“Goku…” Nori says,

“Yes…” Goku replies.

“Please do not tell Sanzo about this, I will tell him how I feel when I think it is the right time, and I am not sure about his feeling toward me he still seems so distance. I think it is great that you think he might like me, but that is just a guess on your part. So please do not let him know how I feel right now, ok.” Nori tells Goku.

“Your secret is safe with me Nori.” Goku says crossing his heart for her. Nori smiles as she gets up from her seat in the window, she bends down in front of Goku as he sits on his bed she kisses him on the cheek, she stands looking down on Goku,

“Thank you Goku, it really means a lot to me that you do not say anything.” Nori says. Goku sits there blushing from Nori’s kiss she gave him, she turns walking from the room,

“Good night Goku I will see you in the morning.” She tells him.

“Umm, Good night Nori.” Goku says at a low whisper he has his hand over his cheek where she kissed him. Nori walked over to her and Laney’s room and going inside, she goes to her bed crawling across it and laying down, she thinks to herself,

“This is not good we have to get the rest of our information so we can move on. Laney and I are getting to close to the boy’s.” She closes her eyes and is soon asleep.


Later on in the village streets Hakkai and Laney are walking toward the river as they talk, “So Laney tell me… why do you and Nori travel around so much? Why don’t you find a nice village somewhere they do not know you and stay there?” Hakkai asks her.

Laney smiles as she plays with the petals of the rose Hakkai gave her.

“Well Hakkai it is a long story and one I would just rather not go into right now…” Hakkai looks at Laney he was getting ready to say something when Laney stopped him by saying, “I promise I will tell you one day, but right now is just not good.”

Hakkai smiles touching Laney’s cheek, “That is fine Laney I can wait for when you are ready to tell me.” Laney smiles at him as she turns looking up into the heavens,

“The moon is so full tonight.” She says.

“Yes it looks so big up there with all the tiny stars around it.” Hakkai says he walks up behind her wrapping his arms in around her.

“Hakkai tell me something?” Laney asks him.

“Sure Laney anything just ask.” Hakkai tells her.

Laney pauses and then continues, “Have you ever felt like you were fighting for or looking for the imposable?” Laney turns looking at Hakkai, “I mean you know it is out there and you know you can get to it, but it is always kept just at fingers reach so you can never really grasp it.”

Hakkai laughs, “Yes Laney everyday I feel that way, with the journey we are on to the West and all the trouble we run into everyday I feel we are getting nowhere, and the target is staring us in the face, but I know we will make it and I know we will reach the imposable.”

“Why is that Hakkai?” Laney asks him.

“You of all people should know that answer, Laney. The way you talk about you and Nori and your friendship with one another. If you and Nori are going for the same goal and you are fighting together to reach it, then there is nothing that will be able to stop you from getting it.” Hakkai tells her.

“I have known Nori for so long I feel like we are family.” Laney tells Hakkai.

“HA, sounds like me, Gojyo, Goku and Sanzo, and the strange thing are…” Hakkai pauses,

“What is that Hakkai?” Laney asks him. Hakkai stands there as his mind flashes back to a day that seems very long ago for him and the others, but he cannot make sense of it for everything seems so different in his thought nothing like they were now.

“Hakkai are you all right?” Laney asks him.

“Oh yes… I am sorry Laney, I was just thinking of how is seems like I have known Sanzo and the others… Forever!” Hakkai tells her with a look of deep thought on his face.

“I understand what you are saying Hakkai, there is times I feel the same way about Nori.” Laney tells him as she gives him a smile.

Hakkai walks past Laney as he slides his hand into hers pulling her to walk with him. Laney and Hakkai continue their walk down to the river as they talked. Hakkai and Laney take a seat next to a tree as he is telling Laney about his and the others journey’s, Laney laughs at a few of his stories as he goes to tell her about the demons they have come across the villages and towns they have saved and some of the heartbreaking tales of people that have been hurt by everything that is going on in their world as they know it.

“So have you ever come across a demon you could not defeat?” Laney asks him.

Hakkai laughs, “Well I do not know if you could say we could not defeat them or if we choose not to defeat them.”

“What do you mean by that Hakkai?” Laney asks him. Hakkai laughs placing his hand to the back of his head.

“Well we have this one group of demons that we run into once in a while; I think it is a love hate relationship between us all. Gojyo’s older brother is part of it… and well… they are really not that bad of demons, we have been known to help out one another from time to time, but they still want the scroll so when they come for it like they do from time to time we have to fight them.” Hakkai tells her.

“It sounds like a love hate relationship if your helping one another out one day and then next day fighting over a silly scroll.” Laney says chuckling.

“It is silly if you think about it, but we have to protect the scroll so that is what we do.” Hakkai tells her.

“So with you all helping each other out do you all know each other by name or is it by looks only?” Laney asks Hakkai.

“Oh yes like I said Gojyo’s older brother is part of Kougaiji’s group.” Hakkai says Laney stops laughing as he places her hand to her chest getting a shocked look on her face.

“Laney are you all right?” Hakkai exclaims placing his hand on her shoulder.

“Yes I am fine… so you say this demon named Kougaiji and his group are enemies slash friends of yours and the others?” Laney asks him.

“Yes do you know them as well?” Hakkai asks her.

“Umm… well let’s just say I know the name.” Laney says.

“Well be careful if you come across them, they may seem all right at first, but they are very dangerous Laney.” Hakkai says.

Laney laughs, “As long as I have Nori with me I will be fine.”

Hakkai laughs, “Nori fights like Goku, they are quick, strong, clever, and they both enjoy it way too much. I actually believe Goku fights just so he can have fun beating up on someone.” Hakkai says.

Laney giggles, “Nori told me it was because she enjoyed it for the challenge, she loves finding new people that she can fight and see if they can defeat her. She says it makes her stronger and improves her fighting skills.”

“I can understand that.” Hakkai says.

“So Hakkai have you guys ever fought off any Gods or just demons?” Laney asks him.

Hakkai looks at Laney shocked, “What makes you think we have fought Gods?” he asks her.

“Stories we have been told on our travels.” Laney tells him.

“There are stories about the Sanzo Party fighting Gods?” Hakkai asks her.

“Yes there is a story that we heard about the Sanzo Party fighting a God named Homura and his men and they too were Gods as well.” Laney tells him.

“Homura…” Hakkai said under his breath.

“So it is true?” Laney asks him.

Hakkai smiles at her, “Well if you heard it, it must be true.” He said jokingly.

“Hakkai…” Laney said playfully. “Is it true or not, I mean I know it is hard to fight off a demon I can only imagine what it was like to take on a God and defeat him.”

“Well let’s just say it was no easy task, Homura was very determined to get what he wanted and if it was not for Goku he would have gotten it.” Hakkai told her.

“So Goku was able to defeat him?” Laney asks.

“Yes Goku saved the day you could say.” Hakkai said.

“Well I guess it was good that you had Goku on your side, if he can defeat a God all on his own.” Laney says.

Hakkai looks at Laney as he gives her a smirk and says, “Yes it was great to have him on our side.” Hakkai looks up into the night sky at the moon as he goes in a dream state.

Laney sits there watching him as he says, “Zenon… Shien, I truly wonder if you ever found your paradise.”

Laney reaches over and touches Hakkai’s hand saying, “I am sure they have Hakkai, the God’s may be cruel in life, but I believe in death they lead you to your paradise.” Laney tells him.

Hakkai laughs, “A paradise where you die of boredom.”

“Hakkai…” Laney exclaims.

“Yes Laney?” Hakkai asks her like he had said nothing just seconds before.

“Are you all right Hakkai?” Laney asks him.

“Come to think of it I am getting kind of tired. What do you say we head back to the Inn?” Hakkai says as he stands extending his hand out to Laney.

Laney smiles and nods as she takes his hand to help her to her feet, they walk back to the Inn in silence as Hakkai hold’s Laney’s hand.

Laney looks over at him ever so often as she thinks to herself, “Nori was right Hakkai has no idea he was a God, he is getting flash back of it, but it is only flash backs nothing to truly help him remember. I hope she is right about Sanzo and him knowing that he was a God or we may have wasted some precious time here.”


When they get back up to the rooms Hakkai walks Laney over to her door,

“Well Laney I had fun tonight it has been a long time since I have found someone I can truly open up to and be myself without the fear of being judged.” Hakkai tells her.

Laney smiles at Hakkai, “Same here Hakkai, I have not felt this comfortable with someone in a long time.” Hakkai and Laney’s eyes lock on one another as Hakkai slowly moves in and gives Laney a good night kiss. Hakkai pulls back and smiles at her as they kiss again Hakkai wrapping his arms around her pulling her close to him. Laney caresses his arms as she slides them up to his shoulders then caressing down his chest she slides her hands around his sides and up his back pulling him closer to her as they share their first kiss.

“Hey pick a room you two.” They both break from the kiss as they see Gojyo walking down the hall drunk and a wreath of white flowers around his head.

“Well it is about time one of us scores with them or one of them. I gave up on Nori I think she has a thing… thing some… something for Sanzo.” Gojyo says as he staggers toward them, Laney laughs at him.

“What haven’t you ever seen a drunken man walking before?” Gojyo asks her.

Laney laughs harder covering her mouth so Gojyo cannot see her laughing.

“Sure she has Gojyo, but I don’t think she has ever seen a drunken man with a wreath of white flowers around his head.” Hakkai said to him.

Gojyo reaches up feeling the wreath on his head, “AWWW MAN… I WAS WONDERING WHY THOSE TWO GUYS WERE FOLLOWING ME!!” Gojyo exclaims. He jerks the wreath from around his head as he hangs it on Laney and Nori’s door handle they all stand there and laugh for a few minutes.

“Ok Romeo I will leave you two to your business here I am off to bed.” Gojyo says as he pats Hakkai on the back and heads to their room.

Hakkai looks at Laney as he smiles at her, “Well Laney I guess I will see you in the morning.” Hakkai leans into her again as they kiss good night once more.

“Good night Hakkai.” Laney tells him as she turns going into her room.

“Good night Laney.” Hakkai says as she closes the door.


The next morning Laney is up before Nori as usual, Laney walks into the room from being next door as she goes over to Nori’s bedside and pokes Nori. Nori jumps sitting straight up in bed, Nori glares at Laney,

“DAMN IT LANEY YOU KNOW I HATE WHEN YOU DO THAT!!” Nori exclaims.

Laney stands there laughing at Nori, “You’re in a peculiarly good mood today Laney, did you get you some last night?” Nori asks her as she swings her feet to the floor.

Laney delivered a sharp look at Nori, “Get yourself cleaned up and ready for breakfast, when your done go to Sanzo’s room and get him…”

Nori cut Laney off, “Hey last night was my last day to be with Sanzo Sociopath, I did my part of the job. He gave me ZILCH to go on.” Nori told Laney.

“Then you have to keep working on him.” Laney tells Nori.

“Look he is not interested in me…” Nori pauses walking into the bathroom to shower as she pokes her head back out of the bathroom she finishes saying, “I think he is gay.”

Laney busts out laughing as Nori stands there staring at her from the bathroom doorway. Nori walks out and puts her hand to Laney’s forehead, “No… No fever.” Nori says.

“Will you stop it I am fine.” Laney tells her pushing Nori’s hand away.

“You’re in too good of a mood to be fine.” Nori tells her as she looks at Laney, Nori’s eyes widen and she gets a huge smile on her face as she says,

“AWWWW… Hakkai kissed you last night didn’t he. Heehee in a few more days you two will be climbing into bed together.” Nori tells her walking back to the bathroom.

All of a sudden Nori feels a pillow hit her in the back as she turns seeing Laney standing there in a huff her hands on her hips, “Sorry that is you and your men.” Laney says to her.

“Oh is it now, well for your information Sanzo and I have not even kissed yet.” Nori tells her walking back toward her.

“Well to hear you tell it Sanzo is gay!!” Laney exclaims.

“Well… I do not know if he is or not he just is not showing any interest in me.” Nori tells her.

“I bet you 20 yen you and Sanzo will be in bed together before Hakkai and me.” Laney says.

“I’ll take that bet, but your going to lose Sanzo does not like me.” Nori says.

“The end of the week is the dead line Sunday at midnight. The loser pays up Monday morning.” Laney tells her.

“SUNDAY!! Today is Friday, Laney.” Nori says.

“Yep!” Laney says walking toward the door to leave.

“I got this one in the bag, get ready to pay up Blondie.” Nori says.

Laney turns looking at her, “I am not blonde…” Laney says.

“With you making a bet like that you could not prove it to me.” Nori says.

Laney stomps her foot with her hands on her hips again, “We will see about that, just get cleaned up and go get Sanzo and meet us at the restaurant.” Laney says.

“WHAT!! You mean we do not have to sit in that infernal room any longer?” Nori asks her.

“That’s what I came over her to tell you, but you wanted to get all high a mighty with me over who will do what with whom first.” Laney says. Nori stands there as her mouth falls open, and she gets a very bewildered look on her face Laney waves at her and walks out of the room.


Nori stands there still stunned by what just happen when she comes out of it she spins herself around and storms into the bathroom mumbling in anger,

“Me… High and Mighty and who will do what with whom first, I cannot believe her she started it first. I will show her. She is going to loss this bet I will make damn sure of it if I have to tie them into bed together.”

Nori gets in the shower and cleaned up when she is done with her morning routine she goes over to Sanzo’s room knocking on the door. No one answers the door or calls out so she walks in,

“Sanzo are you in here?” Nori calls out walking in farther she hears the shower running, “He is in the shower.” She says aloud closing the door.

“Sanzo…” She says at the bathroom door,

“Nori is that you?” Sanzo calls back.

“Yeah, I just wanted you to know I was over here, so it was not a big shock when you walked out and seen me.” Nori tells him.

“That’s fine I will be out in a few minutes, almost done here.” Sanzo calls out to her.

“That’s cool take your time I am not really that hungry anyway.” Nori told him as she walked away from the bathroom door.

Nori could hear Sanzo laughing as he said in a low tone of voice, “Me either.”

She looks around the room as she sees her tiles set up for a game that Sanzo or someone was playing and did not finish so she sat down in the chair at the table and started playing the game while she waited for Sanzo. While she was playing Sanzo walked from the bathroom seeing a movement across the room Nori looks up seeing Sanzo standing there with a towel over his shoulders and both hands in the towel drying his hair and a towel wrapped around his hips as one leg is completely visible from the opening of the towel.

Nori breaks her stare on him looking back down at the tiles she feel her face turn hot knowing she is blushing. She hears Sanzo laugh as she looks up again seeing him walk toward her, her heart quickens and her hands turn clammy. She looks back down at the tiles again, by this time Sanzo is sitting on the bed next to the table as she is looking down at the table she can see Sanzo’s legs next to the table as the towel is still covering very little.

“I see you found my unfinished game.” Sanzo says to her. Nori sits there trying to say something but the words were not coming out. Sanzo reaches for a tile at the same time as Nori as their hands touch. Nori jerks her hand back and looks up at Sanzo, he laughs at her,

“Do I have a deadly disease I do not know about?” Sanzo says still laughing.

Nori covers her face and sighs thinking, “My God girl what is wrong with you it is not like you have not ever seen a half necked man before and you two have bumped hands hundreds of times in the last few days, get it together!!”

“Sanzo…” Nori says at a whisper.

“Yes…” he says to her leaning down on the table to see her face since she still had it covered with her hand looking down at the tiles.

“Would you please put your clothes on, Sanzo?” Nori tells him.

“On one conduction,” he tells her.

Nori’s heart is still racing as she says, “What is that Sanzo?”

“Look at me?” Sanzo says to her.

She lifts her head knowing her cheeks are red she tries not to make eye contact with him as he moves his head and catches her eyes with his. Their eyes lock as he smiles at her she smiles back, her heart starts to slow and she feels her cheeks start to go back to a normal temp.

“Am I making you uncomfortable dressed like this?” Sanzo asks her.

“No… No… Not at all Sanzo.” Nori says sarcastically, she backhands his bare arm, “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK!! Will you please put on your clothes?” Nori asks him.

Sanzo laughs as he stands he wiggles his butt at her as he walks back to his clothes.

“Oh God Sanzo, will you please.” Nori tells him as she laughs at him.

“I am trying to please, but for some reason I am failing.” He says as he looks over his shoulder at her. Nori shakes her head and goes back to the tiles. She looks up just as he shrugged his shoulders and goes to his clothes. She is still watching him as he starts to put on his pants with the towel still wrapped around him he sees she is still watching him as he pulled his towel baring his rear end to her.

“SANZO!!” Nori yells as she looks down.

“Well you know if you were not watching me with those eyes of yours you would not have seen anything.” Sanzo tells her as he finishes putting on his pants. Sanzo grabs his shirt walking back over to her. Nori gets up from her chair as Sanzo walks up to her standing just inches away from her. Their eyes lock as Nori starts to feel her heart quicken again.

“So tell me did you like what you seen?” Sanzo asks her. Nori starts to cast her eyes downward as Sanzo stops her by placing his hand under her chin holding her eyes locked on his, he smiles at her.

“I like what I see and you’re completely dressed.” Sanzo tells hers. Nori tries to back away from him as he throws his shirt on the bed and wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him.

“Sanzo... I umm… well I know that umm…”

“I think this is the quietest I have seen you in the last 3 days. I wonder how quiet you would get if I did this.” Sanzo pulls Nori closer to him as she can now feel the rhythm of his heart as it beats a slow steady beat beneath his chest never once did one lose eye contact with the other. Nori now lost in Sanzo’s eyes and his touch is now totally under his spell she reaches up and lays her hands on his chest feeling his cool smooth skin beneath her hands.

She slides her hands to his shoulders and down his biceps, she can feel Sanzo pulling her closer to him as she feel his hand slide up her back to her neck pulling her closer he smiles at her as she can feel his breath on her face. They close their eyes, as their lips touch it sends them both into a world of heated passion.



Curseor God Sent Chapter 6