A special thanks goes to KarotsaMused and Muki for their beta and their kind support.

Due to its length, and for your reading convinience, Chapter 5 is split up into two parts.

It wasn't the first time Yaone witnessed the effects of a PunTag in kill-mode. Her patient had paid no heed to the massive warning the device transmitted before it sent the body into overdrive, and she knew that if she didn't intervene fast, the result would be certain death for Lord Kougaiji's property.

“Goku, hold Hakkai down while I give him the injection,” Yaone instructed as she filled a syringe with amber-colored liquid from one of the bottles of her medical kit. The teen nodded briefly and tightened his grip on the ailing slave.

Yaone checked the tourniquet she had pulled tight on Hakkai's arm, and dabbed the skin with a patch of disinfectant-drenched gauze before she carefully pushed the needle into a vein. Once she had administered the full dosage of the tranquilizer, she undid the rubber strap and the blood began to circulate again.

A few moments later, the tranquilizer kicked in. Cramp-hardened muscles softened, Hakkai's eyes rolled back and his head lolled on his chest as he slouched in Goku's arms.

“You can let go now. He'll sleep for a few hours.” She couldn't help but smile at the boy's protectiveness. It seemed out of place in the harsh world the slaves lived in. Yet she knew that, sometimes, their helplessness bound them together stronger than fate ever could.

Goku smiled. “Thank you, Ma'am.”

“Can we leave now, Madam Doctor?” The tall redhead, who had introduced himself as Gojyo, tried to sound cheerful.

Yaone didn't bother to tell him that he failed miserably at pretending that he was doing fine. Even without Dokugakuji's warning, she would have noticed that much. “I'm afraid I can't just let you go.”

Gojyo's eyes widened. “But... We're okay...” he stuttered.

“I suggest you leave that decision to me,” Yaone informed him in a tone that was firm, but friendly. “You're still high from whatever you pushed into your system last night, and he,” she pointed at Sanzo, “starts trembling from just looking at a syringe.”

With a smooth movement of her hand, Yaone fished an empty syringe from the bag that contained her supplies. “I'm going to examine you and I need some blood as well.”

Resignation filled the love slave's face. “Yes, Madam Doctor.”

x

“You can't be serious about leaving the slaves to that pervert!” Dokugakuji's brows knitted in anger as he strode to the parking lot side by side with his boss. “I'll take responsibility for Gojyo's actions if you want, but don't let Nii have his way with him!”

Kougaiji sighed. He seemed calm, but Dokugakuji knew better than to fall for the tranquil surface of a simmering lake. “Nii's a professional. He knows how to deal with slaves that have the wrong kind of attitude.”

“You can't allow him to use a PunTag,” Dokugakuji demanded, knowing that he was pushing limits. Despite the quasi-friendship he shared with Kougaiji, his employer never ignored their different social status.

“Who do you think you are?” the demon lord snarled. His eyes narrowed, and he stood so rigid that it looked outright uncomfortable. “What I do with my slaves is none of your business. I'll discipline them as I see fit.”

Kougaiji wouldn't and couldn't spare Gojyo, or he'd lose face. Mercy towards disobedient slaves was unthinkable. It meant dishonor, a weakness that could very well cost Kougaiji his reputation. “Discipline him if you must. All I'm asking... no, I'm begging you for is that you spare Gojyo the PunTag.”

Kougaiji's eyes sparked angrily. “You'd really go against my wishes for him?”

“I...” Dokugakuji hesitated. Time, caught in the glacial hold of the conflict and slowing down until it ceased to move at all, left him stuck between moments and scrambling to fill the gap. “I don't want to see him hurt.”

For what seemed like an eternity, Kougaiji just stared at him, a freeze frame image of a volcano at the point of eruption. Then, Dokugakuji saw what had to be disappointment or resentment washing over the demon lord's face. “Why?” When Kougaiji spoke up again, his voice was rough with frustration. “Why is that damned slave so important to you?”

Dokugakuji hesitated, uncertain if he should admit to the blood ties between him and Gojyo. “He's... special.”

“Don't tell me you've fallen for a sex slave.” The look that Kougaiji shot him was one of utter shock. “I want to know what's going on between you and him.”

The morning sun sent her warming rays down, but they couldn't chase away the chilly atmosphere that had formed between the two demons. “It won't interfere with my job, if that's what you're worried about.”

“For crying out loud! You want me to trust you, but you're not even trying to trust me!” Kougaiji snapped, but he gained back self-control fast. “Nii will proceed as planned. The PunTag will teach the halfling and his violent friend a lesson.”

Before Dokugakuji could even as much as think about a reply, a car stopped in the parking lot and the door was bounced open by a small girl with bright red hair. “Onii-chan!”

“Take the day off.” Kougaiji's voice held the air of finality. “I'm going to spend the day with Lirin. Kiyoshi's guarding her.”

The demon lord put on a smile and turned to greet his younger half-sister. For a moment, Dokugakuji could only stand and stare, feeling like a giant fist had punched him in the gut. “Damn.”

x

Yaone wrote down the rough results of the examinations in her personal organizer. She would later transfer the data to her laptop and add it to the rest of her reports. For now, all she wanted was to return to the inn, get the blood samples analyzed and meet Dokugakuji afterwards.

Soft snoring sounded from the back seat of the car. Yaone looked up from her notebook and shot her patient a look. 'So, Gojyo decided to cooperate? Wonderful.'

His dark blazer jacket with the 'Konchen Casino' logo on it looked crumpled, and grass smears adorned his pleated pants. Although Gojyo was oblivious to the tidiness of his clothing for the time being, Yaone wondered how often the 'Escort Service' had made him pay dearly for a ruined attire. She could see that the suit was kept neat and the barely visible lines of hand-stitches were evidence of how often the garment had been repaired with a skilled needle.

Despite his state of utter disarray, the lines of jaded experience on his face softened and gave him an almost angelic look. His head rested uncomfortably on her medic bag; adventurous red hair spilled over the worn, brown leather. Thin brows arched elegantly over his closed eyes, complimented by the man's long, dark eyelashes. On his left cheekbone, two long scars marred his flushed skin, reminding Yaone vividly of a mirror reflection of Lord Kougaiji's birthmark. Gojyo's slightly parted lips, sensual like ripe peaches, promised hot pleasure if you desired to kiss them.

'Some dreams are meant to remain dreams... Lord Kougaiji.' With a sigh, Yaone reached out, her fingertips tenderly tracing the lines of slave's face. Even in his sleep, Gojyo flinched away from the touch, mumbling something she couldn't understand. “Poor thing.”

x

Birds jubilated their songs into the morning sky. Their cheerful performance mixed with a background chorus of soft snoring and agitated voices.

“Kyuu! Kyuu!” protested a small, white dragon. It flapped its wings, then emphasized its position in the unequal exchange with another loud, “Kyuu!”

“Listen, dragon,” Goku countered, putting all the patience he could muster into his voice. “For the last time, turn back into a car, will you? Please?"

“Kyuu.” The dragon shook its head, making strands of its mane whip around its long neck.

Goku sighed. “I know you probably don't like me, but you'll have to let me drive you, or we'll be in deep trouble.”

The animal darted him a quizzical glance.

“Hakkai's sick.” Goku pointed over to the sleeping demon. “And the lady doctor took Gojyo with her.”

Elegant, bat-like wings straightened, but the dragon made no effort to transform into its vehicle form. Instead, it began to clean its fur. Goku could see fine, needle-sharp teeth gleaming in the sunlight. “Listen, I promise I'll be careful. I won't hit any potholes, and you can rest whenever you want.”

“Kyuu?” The creature's interest seemed to be sparked. It took off, circled over their heads a few times, only to sail down skillfully between the trees and land in Hakkai's lap.

“Aw, c'mon... we really don't have time for your games, dragon,” Goku exclaimed and shook the branding cuff at their uncooperative mode of transportation. “See this? It will go boom if we get too far away from the others.”

“Kyuu!"

“Food.” Gentle as the breeze that caressed Goku's skin, a familiar voice sounded from behind him.

“S-Sanzo-sama?” Goku spun around.

“Give it some food,” Sanzo repeated in the arrogance-filled manner that used to be his trademark. Gone was the obedient whisper that had marked the nobleman's surrender and destruction.

Whenever he looked into Sanzo's dulled eyes, Goku remembered. Every day that he guided his master through the tasks of life, he wished that Sanzo had just once given the order to retaliate. Goku would have torn Konchen to pieces without thinking twice...

'Unrealistic.' Hakkai's words echoed through Goku. Part of him wanted nothing more but to believe that the mindless slave vanished for good. He no longer wished to see Sanzo's apathy and fear, wanted the happy life back that they had before that fateful night in Konchen's casino.

'Unrealistic.' Hope, dreams, happiness, a filled stomach whenever Goku felt hungry - everything was unrealistic after Konchen and his torture. It had traded place with a reality that was an ongoing nightmare that Goku couldn't escape. When he finally managed an answer, his voice was laced with a tinge of sarcasm. “What good will it do to feed the dragon?”

“Because,” the dream-Sanzo explained with patience that the real Sanzo-sama had never possessed. “For small animals, food works best to gain their trust.”

Dream or not, the suggestion made sense to Goku. “You think I should give it a try?”

The strange sense of surreality grew when a smile graced Sanzo's face and reflected warmly in amethyst eyes. “It worked on you, didn't it?”

“S-Sanzo?” Goku blinked. There had been a time when such a rare smile would've meant the world for Goku, but all it did now was to plunge him deeper into resignation. Hope and fear were fighting an unequal battle that threatened to tear his sanity to pieces. 'It's just a dream.'

Jeep's indignant calls merged with gray background noise when Goku's perception shrank to Sanzo's presence. 'A dream. I'm day-dreaming, yes.' Still, there was Sanzo, his Sanzo-sama, standing proud despite the ragged silken robe he wore, a nobleman, strong, whole and independent, just how Goku remembered him.

“What are you staring at, idiot?” Sanzo grumbled, busily checking their baggage for something edible.

'Let me wake up... please let me wake up...' Goku's head hurt with the knowledge that there was nothing he could do to turn this dream image into reality. “Uh...”

“Don't idle! Go and make that dragon transform, stupid ape.” Irritation replaced the expression of friendliness. Sanzo's fist shot to Goku's head in a blur, connecting with a sharp nudge to the demon's temple.

“Ouch!” Goku traced over the aching spot on his scalp. “Hey! That hurt.”

“Good,” Sanzo snapped and walked back to the tree, where Hakkai rested.

“N-not a dream?” Goku gasped. His vision blurred, and before he could prevent it, tears ran down his cheeks. Angry with himself, he wiped them away. 'Stupid ape,' he scolded himself.

“Idiot dragon! Get down. Here. Now!” Sanzo hollered.

“Kyuu. Kyuu!” Jeep screamed.

Like beams from a lighthouse through thick fog, their angered shouts pierced through Goku's thoughts. He watched how Sanzo stood under the tree shaking his fist at Jeep. That very same man, who now yelled obscenities at the dragon climbing in the tree branches above him, had faltered under Kougaiji's look like a coward this morning.

'How can this be?' Goku was confused. 'They said that Konchen had broken him.' Even Konchen himself had lost interest in his 'pet' and had given him and Goku as a present to Lord Kougaiji. 'What's going on? Why is he suddenly acting normal again?'

Then, it hit him like bricks from a crumbling wall that shattered on concrete ground. Acting. Had Sanzo played the obedient, mindless slave all along? Could it be true? Had Sanzo lied to everyone?

'Did he lie to me? Did he use me all along?' Goku reeled back from the very concept. 'Lies...'

Sanzo's nightmares, the emptiness in his eyes whenever Konchen had played another perverted game and abused them as gaming pieces. 'Was it all just acting?'

A flash of light brought Goku's spinning mind back to the present. He blinked in surprise when he saw Jeep in his vehicle mode, ready to be boarded. Somehow, Sanzo had persuaded the dragon to transform.

“Goku,” Sanzo rasped. He sounded tired, as if he had moved mountains rather than being his old self. “We're running out of time.”

“Yeah.” Goku didn't need to be told that. With Sanzo's help, he lifted Hakkai on Jeep's back row seat. Then, Goku wrapped a blanket, which he had sneaked out of their tent earlier, around the sleeping man. Fortunately, the injection the lady doctor had given Hakkai seemed to help. The previously ashen skin had taken on a healthier color, and Goku could tell that Hakkai did better. After that night, though... Goku didn't want to think about what would happen then.

“I'll take care of you and Gojyo,” he whispered. “Promise.”

For the moment, all he could do was making sure that they would live until the evening. Expecting Sanzo to drive, Goku turned for the passenger seat, but found it occupied by... “Sanzo-sama!”

Empty, unfocussed eyes stared through the windscreen.

“Sanzo” Anger bubbled in Goku. 'I didn't dream. It wasn't a dream!'

Shaking the blond had no effect at all. A splash of water from the ration bottle wasn't any good either. No matter what Goku tried, Sanzo's expression remained blank. 'That's it, isn't it? You'll pretend it never happened.'

Goku scowled. Maybe his hopes and desperation had played a trick on his mind. 'I'm just a stupid ape. What do I know?' He wished he could force Sanzo back to normal, but that's what it was; a silly wish.

'I don't have time for this.' They needed to catch up with the trek. With a sigh, he went around the front side of the dragon-turned-jeep, and climbed into the driver's seat. “Here we go. Are you ready?”

“Kyuu!” the hakuryuu confirmed without much enthusiasm.

Goku tried to recall what Gojyo had taught him about driving. It was frighteningly little. 'Perhaps,' Goku mused, 'I should have paid better attention to things like shifting gears instead to how many flavors of manjuu the sales booth at the parking lot sold.' He sighed. “I'm gonna need your help with this, dragon.”

There was an encouraging, “Kyuu,” and then the engine roared to life.

“Thank you!” Goku smiled and carefully accelerated the car.

It took all his concentration to keep Jeep on the road, even if their pace was painstakingly slow compared to Hakkai's speed levels. When they reached the main road, the traffic increased dramatically. The next ten minutes passed in silence, with Goku desperately clinging to the wheel in his attempt to avoid collision with pedestrians, horse carriages, vans, the occasional tree and other moving or stationary objects.

After a while, Goku gradually gained more confidence in his ability to drive, and they traveled at a moderate speed westwards. The more he felt relaxed in his new role, the more his thoughts returned to Sanzo's behavior. Could he really have imagined it? 'No. I know what I saw.'

He cast a furtive glance to Sanzo, but it seemed as if both of his passengers had succumbed to sleep.

“Dammit,” he muttered. “Stop toying with me, Sanzo-sama.”