Title: Reign of the Heart

Content: shonen ai/yaoi, AU, angst *evil smirk*

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me.

Pinku: *blinks* That was fairly normal…are you all right?

Lorelei: *sighs and hands Pinku his pocky, which he greedily devours* And I do this so he helps me write…

Pinku: *mumbling around mouthfuls of pocky* Mmmm! Mmm…

~Chapter Three~

            Far below the mountain, referred to as the Gods' Watchtower, the demons' kingdom was nestled, amongst various cities, town, and empty land. From this point atop the mountain, the kingdom seemed so small and insignificant, easily conquered at the flick of a wrist. And from the point of view from the man that stood there now, the task seemed highly possible.

            His face betrayed no age; simply smooth and attractive, not young, not old. His hair was dark, slightly framing that ageless face. The eyes upon it were the most distinct, one gold, the other a deep blue-gray in color. His eyes were settled on that kingdom, a small glint of perceptive thought within them. To add to his dramatic stature, his long robe, which hung over his shoulders, rustled in the direction of the mid-morning breeze.

            The man was accompanied by two other men, mysterious looking as he. One stood in a laid-back demeanor, the other serious, with slitted eyes that missed seeing nothing. All three carried the air of suspicion, that something was about to arise. The dark-haired man turned to his associates, with an expression of confidence.

            "This shouldn't take us long," he stated coolly, returning his gaze to the kingdom that sat below. "No, not long at all," he added softer than before. He raised his head in a superior motion, moving his body into a position prepared to leave the mountain perch. "We shall find what we need, and be gone quickly. That boy couldn't have gotten far in only eighteen years," the man stated dryly. He purposefully took the path down the mountain, the other two men falling into step behind him. Their destination was, of course, the Kingdom of the West.

            A flock of birds burst fleetingly from their haven in the branches of a large tree, fluttering up into the sky in a chorus of chirping. Below, the source of their flight, stood the gray horse, carrying Sanzo and Goku on its back. Goku sat behind Sanzo, nervously clinging to his cloak, looking about him warily.

            "Hey…Sanzo…I think we passed that bush twice already," the youth observed. Sanzo scowled, pulling the horse to a stop with a tug to the reigns.

            "Shut up. I know where I'm going," the prince muttered in annoyance. He scanned about him with perceptive violet eyes. "What makes you think we've passed it already?" Goku looked thoughtful.

            "It looks like one of those breakfast roles that your cooks make, and I'd know that shape anywhere," Goku pointed out. "See? Doesn't it?" Sanzo squeezed his eyes shut, raising a hand to his head. He just knew a lovely headache was going to fall upon him sooner or later.

            "Idiot." He mumbled. He grabbed up the reigns once again, steering the horse into the direction they'd been pointed in. The horse trotted a few paces forward, before out of nowhere, an arrow spiraled at them. The obtrusive object bluntly struck Sanzo's shoulder, wedging itself into the flesh. The man hissed in pain, lurching forward, clinging to the wound on his shoulder. Dark blood began to stain his tunic and cloak. Goku's eyes widened as he laid a hand on Sanzo's other shoulder.

            "Sanzo!" he yelped desperately. Before them, a man on a black stallion, clad in dark armor, came forward. Sanzo clenched his jaw to hold back the pain. "What…?"

            "Demon…soldiers…" Sanzo fell forward, falling from the horse, landing sprawled on the ground. Goku's face paled, his expression fearful. The soldier on the horse kept a stern, impassive expression.

            "Eh? Inhuman…" he murmured as he looked Goku over carefully. "What're you doing with Prince Sanzo?" Goku stared at the demon in silence, no idea in his mind what he could possibly say to answer the man. The demon soldier shrugged. "No matter." He knocked another arrow in his bow, aiming steadily at Goku. Goku's golden eyes became a shade brighter, and a burning light engulfed the area. Through the intensity, the soldier's fear was apparent. The light died down again, leaving everything as it had been, aside from the demon, who kneeled upon the ground, clutching his chest in pain. His breath was heavy and ragged. "Im…possible…you're definitely not…hum…" he fell forward into the ground. Goku hesitated, still shocked from what had happened. He slid down from the horse carefully to inspect the man. Goku's eyes widened.

            "He's dead." the boy breathed. Suddenly, he remembered Sanzo. The boy rushed to the prince's side, gently turning his limp form over. "Sanzo! Sanzo!" Blood seeped quickly into the fabric of Sanzo's clothing, showing no signs on stopping. Goku hastily tore a strip of cloth from his loose-fitting tunic, tightly, but gently, winding it about Sanzo's injury. Goku prayed that would be good enough to slow the blood flow for the time being. The youth looked around, hoping for some form of help. He realized then that it was up to him to save Sanzo's life. "Don't worry. I promise you'll be ok," Goku whispered to the unconscious prince.

            Hakkai glanced up wearily, barely able to discern one man's face from another in the group. He kept his exhaustion in check, however, and straightened in his seat, determined to see this meeting through to the end without falling asleep.

            "So, it's agreed we begin recruiting young men for the army?" the general stated, eyeing the other men of court for consent to the decision. Hakkai nodded slowly, not really bothering to think about the question, since the majority of court seemed to be in favor of the idea anyway. Usually, it would have been Sanzo in his place. In fact, it should have been Sanzo in his place. But by some unfortunate twist of events, the head of foreign policies was held up in bed with a case of pneumonia, and Sanzo found it an insult to other nation's to send anyone of a lower authority on the subject.

            Sanzo and his damn morals…

            Hakkai must've been tired, if he was thinking bitter thoughts of his best friend. He sighed, quietly, hoping the meeting was reaching a close soon.

            "Well, that seems to be the last issue of the list. Has anyone anything else to add?" Hakkai looked around, seeing the men shake their heads. "All right then. This meeting is over," Hakkai smiled, rising from his seat.

            "I'm sorry to leave so quickly, but I've much sleep to catch up on, gentlemen," he apologized politely. Most gave him a warm smile and a nod, or simply ignored his leave. Hakkai didn't mind. He walked as quickly as he could to his bed chamber, lusting for his bed by all means. He opened the door quietly, so as not to disturb Gojyo, who was most likely asleep already, and probably had been for hours now. He was surprised to find the half-breed sitting at the window again.

            "Hm…Hakkai, you look exhausted," he observed, his red eyes flicking over Hakkai quickly, before returning to the window once more. "Tense too," Hakkai stripped himself of the first layer of clothing, down to his undershirt. He sat down on his bed, leaning over to stare down at the floor. After a few minutes, Gojyo's eyes wandered over him again, for a longer period of time. "Something the matter?" he asked, concern leaking into his words. Hakkai sighed, a wry, sad smirk crossing his face.

            "Nothing that hasn't been wrong for years, Gojyo," he stated. He sat up, looking at Gojyo now, trying to see past the crimson colors of his hair and eyes. "Things are just beginning to wear down on me…"

            "Che," Gojyo sighed, pushing back his long red hair from his eyes, and then looking directly at Hakkai. "I know how that feels." He stated hollowly. Hakkai straightened.

            "Oh?" Gojyo gave a sardonic chuckle.

            "Yeah," he continued bitterly. "Feels like shit." Hakkai smiled, and began to chuckle.

            "You certainly have a blunt way of putting things, Gojyo," he sighed, and his face sobered. "But it's not so simple," Gojyo's eyes became serious, almost angry.

            "You don't have to tell me that." He replied in a low voice. "I know," A thick silence hung between them for a few more minutes, and Gojyo broke it once more. "I'll tell you something I haven't told anyone," the half-breed began. "I wasn't always considered such a freak, y'know. I even had a family. My father was a demon, who belonged to a certain clan of demons. He broke the rules one day by becoming involved with a human. And that's where I came from—my mother died giving birth to me. So my father had his first lover raise me. He'd had another son too—a full demon. When my father died, my brother was the only one who gave a damn about me. My stepmother always cried when she looked at me. She'd cry, and then she'd beat me, hoping I'd go away…I guess it was because every time she looked at me, she was reminded of my mother, the woman my father left her for.

            "One day, I guess she finally lost all patience with me. I was trying to help her make breakfast, and she smacked me across the face. That's why I have these—" He gestured to the two dark scars on his left cheek. "Well, she would've gone further, if my brother, Jien, hadn't been there to stop her. He grabbed her, and she fought, and he ended up having to whack her with a stick to get her stop. He killed her, Hakkai…he killed his own mother to save me. He was pretty broken up about it. But he still took care of me. And he didn't cry when he looked at me. For awhile, everything was okay." The half-breed became interested in his hands, staring dully at them.

            "I can remember it; three years ago, there was a woman who came to our village. But she didn't come of her own free will—she was kidnapped. And raped, too, by someone of our clan. I don't why, but her lover must've found out really soon. He came, and he was a powerful mage. He had to be, to do the things he did. And I had thought only demons had the potential for mage gift. He destroyed our village, and I only escaped when Jien saved me. He led me out safely. But something made him go back that night, and he didn't make it out again. I waited. I waited for what felt like forever, but he was gone," Gojyo's voice was breaking now. "I barely said goodbye to him. No, I said 'Jien! You get you ass outta there quick!' I should've stopped him…I should've…" Hakkai was shocked now, shocked to a standstill, with green eyes fastened on Gojyo. A few tears rolled down his cheeks. "Heh, I'm crying…" he observed absently. He raised his head to look Hakkai directly in the eye. "Hakkai. I wanna thank you. You're the only one who's cared about me since that day. Thanks…" Gojyo leaned over, the emotional pain surging through him violently now, so much he trembled fighting to keep them inside. Hakkai leaned forward, a paled worried look on his face.

            "Gojyo!" he exclaimed, his body practically taking itself to the half-breed. Hakkai wrapped his arms around Gojyo without hesitation, just wanting to make that pain go away. He didn't even know why he suddenly felt this way, just that he did, and he had to make things right. He was obligated to. "Gojyo…it's all right now…" Hakkai didn't know what else to say, but it seemed nothing else was necessary. Gojyo's trembling slowed, and stopped, and his breathing evened. Soon, the half-breed was asleep within the brunette's arms. Hakkai continued to hold him, the moonlight drifting through the window illuminating them both, creating an ethereal glow around them.

            The study was dark; the think scarlet curtains drawn close, and had been that way for many years. No one had bothered to enter the room, since the passing of the late demon king. The air was musty and stagnant after much time of idle use. Kougaiji looked around the room carefully, his violet eyes narrowed and wary, though he was alone.

            A clawed hand settled onto a stack of old papers piled on an oaken desk. An old quill pen lie there, its ink long dried, and a fine sheen of dust had nestled on the desk and anything else there. Kougaiji sneered lightly at the unkempt and aged desk. He hated the idea of visiting this room, but had intentions of finding a certain item abandoned here after so many years…

            Even with the absence of light, a small glint of metal caught Kougaiji's acute vision. A wry quirk of the ends of his mouth came to his features, and he moved carefully to the flickering object. In slender, graceful hands, he took up what looked to be a simple metal clasp, thick and sturdy, yet by no means elegant. There was still, however, an air of ancient power about it, something a mage would very easily detect.

            The click of the door releasing from its hold, and the faint creak of it swinging slowly open alerted Kougaiji of a presence, though without the sounds, there was no doubt he would've sensed the intruder anyway. He quickly hid the bracelet in the folds of his tunic, and turned to meet the visitor.

            "Who is it?" his smooth voice projected easily, without being loud by any means. A young female demon stepped in, he recognized her to be one of his servants. Timidly, she addressed him, her eyes never leaving the floor.

            "My Lord, there is a visitor at the gates. He appears to be foreign, and wishes your council," the girl spoke quietly, but Kougaiji, as was his sight, had keen hearing and heard clearly the message she relayed. He made an acknowledging grunt, and brushed past the girl briskly. "My Lord?" she questioned, just as Kougaiji stood in the doorframe. The young prince didn't bother to face her, and stopped to listen. "Would you like me to clean this room?" she asked him. Kougaiji let a sardonic smirk slip across his face.

            "Don't bother," he replied coolly, words tinged with some contempt, most likely aimed towards the study's previous owner. With that, he swept himself from the girl's sight completely, off to deal with the situation at hand.

            "Ah, Kougaiji!" His stepmother's voice crooned in a far too exaggerated accent. The sound of her did nothing less than make Kougaiji's stomach turn within him. He squared his shoulders bluntly, as if to ward off her dishonest greetings. Yaone, who sat beside Kyosyu, smiled shyly at him, as if unsure if he would appreciate it. Kougaiji at least could give her the satisfaction of being polite. He actually could be in a room with her without feeling the intense need to rip her vocal chords out.

            "Good day, Miss Yaone," he bowed his head to her. Yaone blushed slightly, and coyly averted her eyes.

            "Brother!" Lirin called out, receiving an angry glare from her mother. Kougaiji simply smiled at his sister, before his eyes fell upon the three strangers seated across from his stepmother, Yaone, and Lirin. He looked them over warily, noting their obvious foreign attire. At first glance, they even seemed to be human, and Kougaiji's instincts against the humans nearly took complete hold of him. Then he noticed the distinguishable limiters they wore. The man with black hair, and eyes of two colors, stood to meet Kougaiji's gaze. Consequently enough, he had been the one Kougaiji felt the heaviest suspicion towards.

            "I am Prince Kougaiji, son of the late demon lord Gyuamon." His deep violet eyes leveled with the foreigner's gold and deep gray ones. The man smiled, though Kougaiji's lips were a thing, serious line.

            "An honor to make your acquaintance, Prince. I am Homura. You may also say I am somewhat of a prince as well." Kougaiji could feel his own eyes narrowing at Homura's cocky attitude. It was possible that he was trying to assume a high stature in his first impression. Unfortunately, Kougaiji hated that. But his dignity restrained him from taking it out on the man right then and there.

            "Homura has told us that he is traveling, and would greatly appreciate a place to stay," Kyosyu interjected. "I allowed him that, if your consent is had…?" Kougaiji could've killed the woman. His supreme patience was all that kept his anger in check. Though undermining his authority without his consent was unforgivable.

            "That is fine." He agreed in a cold tone. He gave Homura another look, mistrust still within him. Across the room, Kougaiji could see the tall figure of Dokugakuji, standing off to the side as usual, observing everything. Kougaiji reached out to him with his mind, hoping to connect with his. Their minds slipped together as easily as always, having connected in this manner so many times…

"Doku. I don't trust them." There was a mental pause as Doku mulled this over. And then the feeling of agreement.

"Can't say I do either. What do you think?" Kougaiji thought a moment, and then gave a mental shrug.

"I don't expect them to do too much now. Just keep an eye out, all right?"

"Whatever you say."

Kougaiji let his attention slip back into analyzing this "Homura" and his companions, watching as he and his stepmother talked. She seemed to enjoy his company. Too bad for him, though. Anyone his stepmother enjoyed quickly fell out of his favor.

Author's Note: Gomen nasai!!! I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in such awhile! Okay, but quarterlies are nearly through…and vacation…Well, I'm not promising anything now, but I can say that I'll try my best. Thanks again!

Pinku: *sarcastically* you're such a loyal author…

Lorelei: *vein pops out* I wouldn't be talking if you ever want pocky again…

Pinku: *instantly shuts up*

Lorelei: I could get used to this…