The Illusion Incident

By YumeNeko

                The night was a usual night. Sanzo and Hakkai shared a room as always, leaving Gojyo to put up with the youngest in the group. Yet, one could never expect that a drowsy brunette would find an unexpected guest floating outside his window watching over him.

                Sanzo was asleep in his bed with his back turned to the window as the brunette's emerald eyes looked at his form bathed in glorious moonlight. A little flame in his heard seemed to flicker and dance as he watched him. With a loving smile still etches in his features, he drowsed slightly but was kept conscious by a familiar questioning voice.

                "Are you happy?" It asked.

                "Yes. Why do you ask?" He asked back.

                "I can tell you're not." The voice replied. Then it repeated its question once more.

                After a brief meditation on the question, Hakkai's warm smile faded slightly and he replied, "No, not exactly."

                His eyes lingered longingly at Sanzo's sleeping form.

                "I care for him." The brunette murmured in disappointment. "Perhaps I care for him too much. But then, I'm afraid…"

                "Then don't be." The voice reacted.

                "Who are you, anyway?" Hakkai asked, snapping out of his drowse. He looked out the window, expecting to see some random character but n surprise, he saw Kanan standing there, smiling.

                "Kanan…?" Hakkai murmured.

                "Let my memory go…" She pleaded softly. "You should be happy."

                "Why should I? I let you die…" He bitterly bit back.

                "It's not all your fault… But please, just let me go. If you don't, you may not have the full strength to love him."

                "But then -"

                "No buts, Gonou… Trust me. You deserve this new life. And an old love like me isn't good for a life like yours. Move on and love him. Don't be afraid…"

                After much hesitation, Hakkai smiled at the vision before him.

                "Goodbye, sister dear." He sadly said to her and she started to disappear, still smiling.

                "That's a good boy… Go and love him. I won't hold you back anymore." Kanan said as she finally faded away.

                Hakkai wiped off a solitary teardrop that fell from his left eye as he looked back at Sanzo's sleeping form.

                "It's been hard for me, but I've finally made it." His loving smile beamed once again on the object of his own desiring.

                "I'll never betray you… Never."

                And on that sleeping man's face, unseen by Hakkai, a smile had blossomed.