Reflection

Chapter Ten: Accumulation

He'd been waiting for a moment like this. A day like this. Everything was perfect, and it seemed the pieces were finally falling into place. The Seal Master they could use was within sight, and soon they would free Seiten Taisei. Then maybe the creatures that had been laying in wait for so long would be free to follow their leader in striking back against the human race and those demons who betrayed them. The Order would fall, Capital City would burn, and the world would be theirs.

Homura glanced back at Nataku. The young dark haired illusionist was hanging behind him, trailing on lazily and looking in other directions as though he were not with Homura at all. It had been surprisingly, really, to see the pair together. It had been during one of their fights when they realized that really, they wanted the same thing. And if they stopped working against each other, then it would be easier to gain what they wanted. The partnership was only temporary. He didn't doubt that they would be back at each other's throats once this was all over. Though when that was, Homura couldn't say.

In fact, he looked forward to the day that Nataku would turn his blade on him again. It was exhilarating to fight the young boy. Their rivalry had not yet reached its climax, and Homura wanted to see it continue on for many years.

"Are you ready?' Homura asked him, smiling proudly as he did so.

"We're not charging the Order, Homura," Nataku replied with a roll of his eyes. "We're seducing a child, or, to be exact, you're seducing a child. So shut up and get to it."

Homura chuckled, unable to hold back his amusement at the young man's choice of words. "Feisty today, aren't we Nataku?"

He didn't wait for a reply as he headed out into the streets of Ruith. No one would question him; after all, he had helped the Rebellion move in a few days ago. And now that everything was settled Homura was accepted like one of their own. Homura basked in their acceptance, smiling politely at people as he passed. A few women smiled and waved at him, and when he winked at them, they giggled and frittered off. Homura, ever the charismatic one, simply smiled and acted like it happened all the time, which was partly true.

Nataku snarled behind him. "Try not to flirt with everything on two legs, Homura."

"Just enjoying myself," Homura replied, ignoring the biting comment as he surveyed the streets for the young man they had been searching for. It hadn't taken too long, seeing as the town was fairly small. After another ten minutes, they spotted the young blue-eyed boy stepping out a building.

Homura was quick to approach him. "Young man, can we talk with you?" he asked, politely, offering a small smile.

The blue-eyed boy stared at him critically. "My name's Hazel," he said simply, but gave no indication of walking away, or denying the request. His aura radiated distrust, yet he seemed interested in whatever Homura wished to speak with him about. That was a good thing.

"Hazel," Homura repeated, as though testing the name on his tongue. "I noticed your abilities the other day. Necromancy rolled in with Seal work. Truly impressive." Homura sounded generally impressed, and Nataku cocked his brow in wonder. How many people had he falsely praised? Nataku didn't want to know.

Hazel's eyes widened a fraction of an inch, and a small smile caught his lips. "You did?" he questioned. All distrust seemed to slip away from his tone. The boy was clearly not used to praise.

"Indeed, indeed," Homura said, still smiling away. "In fact, Nataku and I have been looking for someone with abilities with yours, and we were surprised that we could find someone so skilled, so young."

Nataku resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Homura was laying it on thick now. Not that he cared, as long as the brat came with them. Crossing his arms, he added a small nod when Hazel looked his way, before the pair of blue eyes settled back on the Puppet Master.

"You think I'm skilled?" Hazel asked, his tone shining with hope and glee.

Homura simply chuckled at his enthusiasm. "We do, and we were wondering if it would be at all possible if you joined us."

A skeptical look crossed sky-blue eyes, and the boy frowned. "Why? What are you doing?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Homura replied with a careless shrug. "We simply want to free one of our kin that has been taken hostage by the Order, and we need a seal master to do it. You do not have to say yes—" this produced a small growl from Nataku. "—But we would appreciate your help more then any of these humans here have. We—I– think you have a gift, Hazel, and that should be explored, not shunned.

"So it is up to you. You can stay with these humans, or you can come with us."

Hazel frowned, turning to look towards the ground, clearly lost in thought. Homura didn't doubt that the boy was reflecting on stories and tales of children who left with creatures of the forest, never to be seen or heard of again. Homura couldn't help but smile slightly. They weren't all untrue, but he sure as hell wasn't planning on eating the boy. Finally, Hazel turned to look up at them, resolve hardening in his eyes. "I'll come," he said simply, causing a grin to blossom on Homura's face and a smirk to worm its way onto Nataku's lips.

"That's great news!" Homura beamed, clamping the young man on the back. "Now come Hazel, we have much discussing to do. I don't doubt that these annoying people won't miss us. After all, the Eclipse is soon; they have much more to worry about."

Hazel let his eyes trail towards the ground as he allowed Homura to lead him out of the village, disappointment and guilt shining there. "Yeah… I guess…" he muttered.

---

"Have you seen Hazel?" Gojyo asked Hakkai, as he entered the small room they were staying in to find the brunet reading over scrolls again. Ever since they'd wound up hiding in Ruith the man seemed to be glued to scrolls and battle plans, documents and forms. Gojyo doubted the man had slept much in the past week. "He's been missing for the past few days."

"I'm afraid I haven't, Gojyo," Hakkai muttered, removing his glasses to rub his sore eyes. His tone sounded strained and overworked. "I'm sure he's around somewhere, training his Necromancy skills or something."

Gojyo frowned at the obvious disdain in the marshal's voice, but decided not to comment on the boy's Necromancy. Instead, he turned his attention towards the man's desk, picking up a book at random and searching through it. "What's with all the hardcore studying, 'Kai?" he asked.

"The Eclipse is in less then a week," Hakkai explained, gathering up a few books and scrolls and moving them out of the way. "We have to make battle plans, even out food supplies and such. Things are going to be rough, but by my calculations we should be able to survive."

"What's so bad about a patch of darkness?" Gojyo asked, helping the man move some books back onto the bookshelf.

"It's an entire year, Gojyo," the brunet reminded him. "Think about it; crops die, nothing grows without sunlight. Oceans recede, there are earthquakes, and economies plummet. It's very big, and hard on everyone. It's a big patch of darkness, Gojyo. It takes a long time just to reassemble societies afterwards, not to mention that there's the upcoming takeover of the Order to think about. It's a lot to deal with."

Gojyo looked through some of the books on the nearby bookshelf, shaking his head. "You know, Hakkai, one of these days your little head's going to explode, I swear."

Turning back to face the brunet, he found himself swimming in green pools. Hakkai stared at him; his face completely relaxed though his eyes thrumming with emotion. Gojyo could feel the muscles in his face relax, staring back at the brunet, as though afraid to break eye contact. A second later Hakkai's mouth was crushed down on his, and in that second Gojyo could only thank the heavens he'd had the foresight to lock the door.

They tumbled onto the nearby bed, Hakkai's coat hitting the floor, and along with it, Gojyo's shirt. It was sudden and shocking, yet in no way did it feel wrong. Two pairs of hands scrambled over every inch of bare skin, touching feeling, caressing, as though the emotions and tension from the past three weeks had been bottled, and the cap had finally popped off, surging lust and physical need with unstoppable speed and strength.

For some reason, this felt better then all the times he'd been with girls. Gojyo had had more flings then he could ever count, and none of them had felt as brilliant or exhilarating as rolling over the bed, hands running over the half-naked body of a man he'd come to regard as more then just a friend.

Kissing and caressing was not unfamiliar to the two after a short while, and Gojyo began to grow bolder with each new move. He'd been more then a little pleased with himself when he ripped a moan from Hakkai's throat. Kissing the exposed neck, he attempted to make the man do it again.

"Goddess…. Kenren…"

Gojyo froze at the name that had slipped from the man's lips. Emotions began burning in his chest so quickly he barely had time to analyze them before one was replaced with another. Betrayal. Sorrow. Jealousy. Anger. Silently, he slipped from the man, standing and buttoning his pants as he scoured for his lost shirt.

"Gojyo?" the redhead noted the confusion in Hakkai's voice as he sat up, brows drawn together.

Gojyo shot a glare over his shoulder, glad to see Hakkai wince slightly from it. "So now you remember my name," he muttered bitterly, not at all caring that his tone sounded overly cold. Slipping his shirt back over his shoulders, he attempted to fix his rumpled hair. "Look Hakkai, I like you," he admitted, turning towards the confused and sorrowful brunet still slightly panting from his spot on the bed. "But I'm not Kenren. Kenren's dead. If you ever want Gojyo, then feel free to find me."

"Maybe you're just a replacement for Kenren."

Gojyo pressed his lips tightly together, turning and storming from the room. And maybe you were right, Hazel.

---

He'd been waiting for this all day. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. He'd been waiting by the door, saving his energy for the task that would likely end him in one of two places. If he succeeded, then he would finally reclaim the life that had been lost to him. If he failed, then it was likely he would die. He would be willing to take the risk, if only to feel the blood of the one he despised most on his claws.

The time came around noon, when Sanzo came to deliver him his lunch, he lunged.

Sanzo, being born with battle instincts, moved out of harm's way, allowing him greater access to the one he truly wanted to kill. Seiten Taisei landed securely on Goku's chest, causing him to fall to the ground. He drove his claws into the boy's arms, causing a scream to tear itself from the younger's throat. Seiten Taisei's eyes narrowed and he could feel the affects of the movement already. His head was spinning, he could taste the bile on his tongue and his vision swam. But he had to do this.

A hand roughly grabbed him from behind, yanking him off Goku and allowing him to tumble towards the ground. He managed to sit up quickly, head spinning as he focused on Sanzo, who was glaring darkly at him, then towards Goku, who was sitting up, wincing from the slashes that trailed along his arms. Sanzo demanded to know what was going on, even knowing that he would never be able to understand the demon. Seiten instead turned his focus on his target again, and the only one who seemed able to translate his dialect.

"I hate you," he told the boy, eyes narrowing to slits as he flashed his fangs. "You've stolen everything I have, and then move into everything I've ever wanted."

Goku stared at him, fear dissipating as confusion set itself in place. "What do you mean…?" he asked.

"You steal my strength, you steal my life and you steal my Sanzo. I will never forgive you for this!" He lunged out again, but was thrown back by Sanzo, crashing into the desk and hitting the floor. His breathing came in labored but he swore not to let the opportunity pass. He forced himself to his feet again with amazing endurance.

"I haven't stolen anything," Goku complained, rising to his feet. He sounded truly apologetic, and it made Seiten growl. "Really, and I'm sorry if you think that way."

"Keep your damned apologizes," Seiten snarled, wheezing desperately. He attempted to collect his bearings as quickly as possible. "I don't care if it's on purpose or not. I'm going to kill you and reclaim my life."

Sanzo couldn't even interject this time as Seiten Taisei lunged across the room, sinking his fangs into the junction where neck met shoulder. Goku let a scream loose, stumbling back against a wall and shuddering as Seiten Taisei sucked at the blood there.

Sanzo grasped Seiten Taisei's shoulder, ripping Goku free of him. Before Seiten Taisei could react, Sanzo punched him smartly across the face, causing him to hit the ground with a dull thud. Seiten stared up at the blond, who was glaring down at him. He touched a hand to his cheek delicately, and with the pain that pounded there, anger flared along with it. Though, strangely enough, a sense of accomplishment and pride mixed around with it. Only his mate would dare to hit him like that.

He could feel jealousy build as Sanzo turned back to help Goku up and out of the room. The door slammed behind them with an echoing bang, but Seiten Taisei didn't mind. Licking his lips, he smiled. He got what he wanted.

---

Sanzo allowed the young teen to tremble against him as he steadied himself against the wall. Goku acted like he'd lost a lot of blood, though it looked like only a cupful stained his front shirt, standing out amongst the whiteness of the material. Sanzo frowned softly as Goku attempted to recollect his bearings. Then again, he wasn't sure how much Seiten Taisei drank either.

Throughout the entire conversation it unnerved him that he couldn't understand anything Seiten Taisei said. He could only feel responsible; as he watched the pair face each other, Seiten legs quaking with the pressure as his body swayed slightly from the fever. He had wanted to stop the confrontation and demand the demon lie down, as too much movement was going to kill him, but he knew better then to cross the demon.

But when Seiten Taisei tried to attack Goku, all understanding and compassion flew out the window and he struck Seiten with pure anger, something that had never been directed towards the demon before.

Goku trembled next to him, using Sanzo's arms in a vain attempt to support himself. His face was unusually pale and his eyes looked bloodshot. "Are you all right?" Sanzo asked, cringing at the almost caring-tone to his voice.

Goku nodded, attempting to steady himself.

"What was he saying?" Sanzo probed softly, curiosity getting the better of him.

Goku's voice was strained as he attempted to speak. "He was… saying…" Goku could not continue as his eyes rolled back and he fell. Sanzo cursed, catching him and placing him on the ground. He placed his fingers to Goku's wound, but flinched when his skin burnt. Placing a hand to Goku's forehead, he cursed again. His skin felt almost on fire. Sanzo shot to his feet, grabbing a wash cloth out of a nearby linen closet; he wet it with cold water and set it back on the boy's forehead. Pushing two fingers past his lips, he let out a long whistle.

He listened as the tea pot attempted to scramble up the stairs, a second later it stood next to him, happily panting. "Find a doctor," Sanzo told it strictly, and like a bolt of lightening the teapot was down the stairs and out the small door Sanzo had made it.

Sanzo cursed repeatedly, turning back to the boy on the ground. Placing his hand to the wash cloth, he frowned as the coolness already began to fade. Sighing, he allowed his eyes to slide closed. A nice migraine was setting itself in place. Great. "You two are a fucking curse," he whispered into the desolate house.