Date finished: 25 December 2002

Title: Piece of Forbidden Heaven
Series: Gensomaden Saiyuki
Pairing: Gojyo + Hakkai
Category: AU, angst
Status: 4/?
Warning: PG-13 for shounen-ai, language and angst
A/N: As promised, a more graphic display of the shounen-ai theme.

'--denotes thoughts--'

Standard disclaimers apply.

"Piece of Forbidden Heaven"
by Fall

Part Four: "Audacity"

He wasn't sure what to make of it when he woke up in the same room that he'd sworn to leave just a few days before. At first, he tried to force himself to stand and take leave once more. Upon moving his head, however, he caught the sight of the night table loaded with a bowl, bandages, and Gojyo's coat draped over a chair nearby.

Uttering a sigh, he finally yielded to the tiny voice that urged him to stay. Slowly, he traced the path towards the window and stood watching the world outside. Lost in his memories, he surveyed the rain as if it was some sort of an omen. In his mind, the lazy drop of water seemed to roll down ceaselessly, ending into a small puddle beneath. His eyes widened as the darkness tricked him into thinking that the innocent rolling beads was blood seeping out from a body. Shuddering, he drew back from the window, colliding against someone's steady hold.

"I guess I'm not the only one who detests the rain tonight."

Hakkai barely needed to meet Gojyo's eyes to make certain of his words. His tone was unmistakably bitter; perhaps he was another creature to whom rain seemed to be a mocking reminder of his broken past. It was odd and selfish, but the thought that someone else understands his predicament seems to make his burden feel lighter.

"Sou ka," Hakkai said gently, retracing his steps to sit at the edge of the bed.

"I once lost a part of me." Gojyo spoke amidst the clear sound of his lighter being flicked open in the background. "I could remember screaming out when I found the body, seeing the blood steadily seeping from the corpse. I could still remember how the wind seemed to howl with me, the storm reflecting the turmoil that I felt." There was a pause, then a scraping of a chair as Gojyo pulled one beside Hakkai. "Years later, the memory is still fresh with every rain that I see."

"Sou ka."

The half-consumed cigarette was carelessly discarded. "You aren't keen on continuing this conversation, are you?"

"Sumimasen. I..." Emerald green eyes turned hard for a moment before he continued. "I do not like the rain because it is like a reminder of the mistakes I've done."

Crimson eyes studied the enticing emerald ones across from him. It was unnerving to think how this same pair of gentle eyes could look so menacing in a brief moment. Yet, Gojyo could feel himself being pulled towards this mysterious youkai, could feel the heavy air of despondency hovering over Hakkai. The youkai's heart was as frail as he looks. He had the sudden urge to protect him, to keep him out of fate's reach.

But instead, Gojyo held himself back. He liked being rash and aggressive, but this time, he wanted to do things the right way. It's obvious that whatever Hakkai had been subjected upon in his past, he needed to forget before he lets his guard down.

Changing the subject abruptly, Gojyo gave him a little grin. "Say, I brought you something to eat. Although I didn't know what you'd like, I just thought you'd be hungry by now."

The subtle adjustment on Gojyo's part was not lost on Hakkai's observation. 'Could I really trust this guy?' He thought. "Hai, you guessed right -- I am starving."

***

Amethyst eyes looked back at him as he watched his reflection in the puddle that accumulated on the grounds. The rain has stopped, but the fact didn't give him the least bit of satisfaction. His eyes still looked angry, his brow creased with memories long forgotten.

"Pathetic." He spat out, unable to hold the gaze longer. The old woman's words haunted him, not because her prediction of rain came to pass, but because of a memory that Sanzo thought he'd left in obscurity long ago. Unconsciously, he held out his hands, straining his eyes to see what two people have seen in them.

'Koryu, see the line here? There? The pattern says you should be wary of emerald eyes.'

His young eyes did not bother to conceal his thought that it was a ludicrous whim of his master's.

'Is there anything amusing, Sanzo-sama?'

'Your eyes are very expressive,' His master's eyes were amused for a moment. 'Demo, even though you do not believe me, keep in mind that the scrolls have predicted a very different life ahead of you.'

'I don't think that anyone with emerald eyes could decide my fate -- the emperor has cold gray eyes.'

'Ah, although the emperor does play a part in our family's destiny, there would come a time when you would meet the one who shall be your salvation and downfall.' Komyu Sanzo was his master, but the blood that tied them together as uncle and nephew was strongly represented by the bond that was never broken even in death.

"Ne, Sanzo, why are you outside?"

The voice jarred his thoughts, effectively returning him to the present. "Tch, none of your business."

Goku's voice quivered slightly. "Ne, Sanzo, are you still thinking of grandma's prophecy?"

Sanzo didn't answer; his silence was ignored by Goku, who voiced more of the thoughts that has been worrying him since they left the old woman's house. "I've never seen you this withdrawn except when we visit your uncle's grave." There was still no response. On impulse, he decided to grab Sanzo's coat and tugged till it came off.

"Baka saru!" Goku got whacked on his head but he didn't care. Instead, he grinned widely as Sanzo shuddered with irritation, aiming for another good rap on the boy's head. "Sanzo, Sanzo, Saaaanzo!"

The older man caught the boy's stupid grin and was suddenly overcome with an impulse to grin himself. Goku didn't like to see him looking so gloomy, so he did his best to do what he usually does, if only to distract Sanzo from sinking into depression.

Clamping a firm hand onto the boy's back, Sanzo lifted him into the air and started to walk back into the inn. "Every saru should be in bed at this hour."

Having glimpsed the fleeting curve of Sanzo's mouth, Goku didn't fight his way down and instead went to bed in the happiest of moods.

***

"Hakkai, what are you doing? You should be resting, the doctor said you needed it."

"Sumimasen...have I startled you?" Hakkai looked away. His second attempt to leave Gojyo and continue his mission alone was again blocked.

"You're not trying to abandon me again, are you?" Gojyo's tone was teasing, but his crimson eyes apparently said the opposite.

"Gojyo-san, it's not like that," Hakkai tried to explain. "I...I appreciate your saving my life and am indebted to you, demo--"

"But what? You're an escaped convict? You're not who you are? You're planning to kill the emperor? Kisama, Hakkai, I do not care!"

Hakkai involuntarily jumped in surprise at Gojyo's outburst. In the short time that they'd spent together, the half-youkai had never used that tone on him, had never shown him the temper that now consumed him.

"There are a lot of things you still don't know about me, Gojyo-san. Things that might make you curse me to hell and beyond."

"Look, Hakkai. I won't ask who you really are, your past and what you want in the future. All I want is your promise to never leave me without any valid reason. Is that too much to ask?"

"Gojyo-san..." Hakkai didn't know which stunned him more: Gojyo's words or the fact that he was moved to trust this stranger with crimson hair.

"Promise me...onegai." Gojyo slowly bent down and kissed him. There wasn't any hint of resistance nor response, but as he withdrew, Gojyo saw confusion reflected in the misted emerald eyes.

"Gomen nasai, I didn't mean to." He hastily offered, afraid of offending Hakkai.

"Iye."

"N-nani?"

Hakkai smiled at him. "I promise never to leave you without any valid reason, Gojyo."

Gojyo could only give him a feeble smile, proof that he wasn't expecting this turn of events. "Arigato, Hakkai."

He liked Gojyo, although he wasn't sure if it was just mere 'like' or something more. But he knew one thing, and that was enough for him to make that promise. 'Maybe...maybe it's time I trust in someone again.'

~ TBC

Further A/N: This part was written under the influence of "Alone", the piano version. With some free time on hand, I am glad to note that I've written 2 parts of this fic in such a short period. Unfortunately, once the holidays end, my attention would be diverted once again to schoolwork, thus delaying the progress of this fic.

Merry Christmas!

Constructive comments and criticisms are welcome.