Date finished: 23 December 2002

Title: Piece of Forbidden Heaven
Series: Gensomaden Saiyuki
Pairing: Gojyo + Hakkai
Category: AU, angst
Status: 3/?
Warning: PG-13 for shounen-ai hints, language and angst
A/N: Just a little shounen-ai hint on Gojyo's side, nothing really graphic as they are just getting to know each other. Next part maybe? Oh, and don't forget that this fic shall see various pairings as it progresses.

'--denotes thoughts--' | *--denotes emphasis--*

Standard disclaimers apply.

"Piece of Forbidden Heaven"
by Fall

Part Three - "Tenacity"

Gojyo whistled complacently as he walked towards the room that he shared with Hakkai. He was able to attain several good bargains without attracting the curiosity of the vendors. No sweat. Who would think that this handsome unknown was in actuality the son of one of the powerful barons that ruled the area? Gojyo had always wanted to try and live a life outside the boundary of power that he was accustomed to, and this was a rather good opportunity for him. So far, he was having the time of his life. 'What a damn good actor I am,' Gojyo smirked to himself.

However, the smirk promptly went off his countenance when he stepped into the room.

Setting aside his goods, he immediately walked over to the empty bed and found a note on top of the neat arrangement.

**Gojyo-san, I am most indebted to your saving my life, but I just can't stay. I'll pay my debt in my own way when we meet next. Arigato gozaimasu.**

"Teme," His crimson-eyes went darker as realization settled in. "Where in the world would he go?"

And then he suddenly remembered the scene he'd saved Hakkai from: dark, bloody grounds and a group of men beating the already unconscious Hakkai. It took Gojyo's skill and some more drawing of blood before they would even leave the wounded youkai. Some of them escaped alive.

"Kisama." Gojyo promptly crushed the paper and went out to find Hakkai. Something more than responsibility was feeding his already flaring temper, and swearing by everything he believed in, someone should pay for this.

***

He was a stranger in this village, but oddly, he knew where to go. Having the power to foresee events was both an advantage and a curse, but at the moment, it was proving to be at his advantage.

Crimson hair kept coming back to his mind as he weakly trudged towards the edge of the forest. He has always felt a sudden surge of anger and mistrust towards anyone who possess this characteristic. Hakkai knew it was an irrational behavior on his part, but he didn't care a damn. He is going to exact his revenge over the crimson haired bastard who destroyed his family, come hell or high water. He had nothing more to live for except this thought.

'Is companionship too much to ask, beautiful?' This memory was uncalled for, catching him unawares. He was actually indebted to a crimson haired half-youkai.

Pain suddenly shot through him, making him gasp for air and fall to his knees. 'I shouldn't be thinking like this.' In between his efforts to control both the pain and the bleeding of his wound, he was having an internal battle of sorts. 'But he is not the crimson-haired bastard you're looking for,' the voice at the back of his mind quipped. 'He was nice and you know it too.'

'I would never trust anyone else especially crimson-haired youkais.'

"Look what we've got here. The heretic wanted to die so much."

***

"Arigato gozaimasu, come again." The door of the food shop closed behind them as Sanzo and Goku came out with one bag of goods each. Sanzo was strict with their expenses despite the fact that with his title, he could charge them without the least bit of worries. He knew that with Goku on this quest, the emperor's treasury would most likely go empty with the boy's bottomless appetite. Not that it matters to him, but he is responsible for the boy and would be in for a punishment of his own, thereby tarnishing his ancestors' honor.

"Look Sanzo, there's an old woman over there." Goku promptly left his precious bag of food and hurried to assist the old woman in carrying her buckets of water. With a grunt, Sanzo picked the other bag and followed the boy.

Reaching the old woman's house, she immediately thanked Goku for his help. "How could I ever thank you, young man?"

Big golden eyes suddenly lightened up as he caught a whiff of broth, coming from the back of the house. "Ne, grandma, can I eat lunch at your house?"

Further requests from Goku's mouth were abruptly cut-off by a swift smack on his head. It suspiciously looked like a fan of discipline but it could have been anything else.

The old woman laughed, her bright eyes of brown contrasting oddly with her old facial features. "My daughter and I would be obliged to let the great Genjo Sanzo and his friend share our meager meal."

"We decline." Was the curt answer. "Ikusou, Goku."

"Sanzo?!" Goku was more appalled at how Sanzo could decline the woman's generous offer than at his rudeness.

"Nanda?" Amethyst eyes grew narrow as they fixed upon his left hand. The woman had the courage to touch him when the rest of the land knew better. Her brown eyes held triumph as she staged a battle that she knew he would lose: despite the fearsome legend that surrounded him, Genjo Sanzo would never hurt the defenseless.

"Let me at least repay you by reading your fortune." Her vice-like grip was sending currents through his veins, making him surrender under the invisible force. "Beware of emerald eyes, Genjo Sanzo. They will be the cause of both your downfall and salvation, depending on how you'll handle the situation."

Something inside Sanzo snapped apart. He brusquely withdrew his hand and studied the old woman in a new light. "Kudaran ne," he muttered, turning his back on her.

"You will realize the truth of my words sooner than you think, young man." She mysteriously said. "That done, I must warn you that since you do not agree with the rain, you better take shelter before night comes."

"Hai, arigato for the advice, grandma!" Goku cheerily spoke as the old woman's daughter handed him a little bundle of food. "Mmmm! I bet this stuff tastes good!"

"Ikusou, Goku. And don't make me repeat that for the third time." Sanzo's tone was its usual clipped tone, but there was something different in the way he was holding his silence.

"Hai, hai, Sanzo!"

As the pair moved away, the old woman watched gravely. "I hope to all the gods that I was mistaken. Too young...just too young."

***

Hakkai was ready. No one should stand in his path to revenge, be it man, youkai, or even a god. Jaws set, eyes hard, he steadily held his ground. "I told you before, I don't want to hurt anyone if I can help it."

The hugest youkai on the aggressor's part was sneering as he made his way towards Hakkai. "Don't bluff kid. We told you we kill freaks like you."

"Maybe the wound in his side wasn't enough." Another snickered as he crunched his fists together.

Emerald eyes burned with hatred as he grew wary, while the six armed men continued to press on him. He didn't really want to use force on them, but he had to if he wanted to remain alive.

"Baka," He gritted through his teeth. "I only wanted to save your families' lives by warning you."

"Urusai! How do we know it wasn't you who brought the god's anger upon our village?" One of the youkais with red hair was raging with anger. "It is said that only heretics could spark such doom, and surely, one who could foresee the future is a heretic himself!"

The six men all shouted in unison as they attacked Hakkai. Irresolution was evident in his face, paving the way for an opening to strike his wound anew. Hakkai fell to his knees, spitting out blood. It was the time for desperate measures, and despite the consequences it might bring, he didn't care. Hot burning light was emerging from his closed fist when a shout shattered his concentration.

"Yamero!"

"Gojyo-san!" There was no need for him to look up; the voice was all he needed to recognize who it was.

"Yare, yare, it looks like I have to save your hide every time." Gojyo faced the detractors, having killed two youkais at once with his weapon. "Ah, it's you again, big nose."

"Big nose? Why you!" The mentioned enemy attacked Gojyo only to be pinned down to a tree.

"Goodness, you shouldn't have impaled yourself on my sword if you wanted to die so much." He turned around to the remaining three, all of whom were humans. They were shaking in fear, waving out their own weapons in a pathetic display of desperation. "Tch, maybe I should just let you go, ne?"

Gojyo had barely taken a step towards them when they all ran away. "Pathetic," He grunted. Reaching out a hand to Hakkai, he remained silent as he waited for the youkai's reaction.

"Sumimasen," Hakkai said softly, accepting the hand offered to him. He stood up rather slowly, avoiding the eyes that he knew must be condemning him. "Arigato." He finally summoned the courage to face his crimson eyes. "Demo, you didn't have to...to save me."

"Let's just say I wanted to, ne?" His crimson eyes surveyed emerald ones, taking in the vulnerability that clearly shone through the beautiful orbs. Gojyo watched as they grew round with surprise then slowly went back to their normal selves, minus the wary look he often wore before. He had the sudden urge to kiss the lips that was temptingly inches away from his.

"Gojyo-san?" The voice was no more than a whisper.

"Eh?"

"Arigato." With that, Hakkai suddenly collapsed against him. Gojyo cried out in surprise, catching the unconscious youkai before he fell. "I guess this makes me a knight in shining armor then," he muttered, shifting the weight in his arms as he walked back to the inn. Gazing down on the beautifully motionless figure that he was carrying, he felt an instinctive feeling wash over him. It somehow sounded right that he should protect such a fragile person. 'And protect him I will,' Gojyo swore, etching the serene form in his memory. 'Even if it shall mean the death of me.'

~ TBC

Further A/N: I wrote this while "For Real" [piano version] was perennially playing in the background. I like to write under influential, mood-setting sounds, so you might attribute the Saiyuki feel to it ^_^

Advanced Merry Christmas! =)

Constructive comments and criticisms are welcome.