Chapter 4

Goku opened his eyes and found himself staring at the serene, sleeping face of Kougaiji. He sighed and gently touched the prince's face. The night they shared was so special. He didn't even know how it happened in the first place. It just happened. And it was a welcome one.

Goku brushed some crimson hair away from Kougaiji's face. He was thankful that he came along in his life. Especially this part of his life. He wondered briefly if Sanzo, Hakkai and Gojyo were looking for him. Goku also wondered if they were worried sick about him since they were missing for a whole day now.

He smirked. Probably not. He thought to himself. The last time he was with them, he felt so detached and so unwanted. He heard Gojyo saying some pretty nasty things about him and Sanzo? Need I say more? He shook his head. At least he has Kougaiji now. Goku wrapped his arms possessively around the youkai prince, and promised himself that no matter what, he won't let Kougaiji slip through his fingers.

"Ohayo, Goku. What a nice way to wake up." Kougaiji said sleepily as he peered at Goku's smiling face.

"Ohayo. You're up late! I've been awake for an hour now." Goku said as he gave the youkai a peck on the cheek.

"Mmmm.. And what were you doing for an hour?" He said teasingly while eyeing Goku stand up.

"Oh nothing. Just watching you sleep."

"Really?" Kou raised his brows as he stretched languidly on the ground.

"Uhuh."

"You didn't take advantage of me or anything?" He remarked his eyes sparkling with laughter.

"As much as I wanted to.." Goku said as he placed himself on the lap of Kougaiji.

"I prefer you awake." He said huskily as Kougaiji brought their lips together.

"Goku, don't you think we should start moving now?" Kougaiji asked Goku, who was walking around trying his foot.

"Yeah, I think so."

"Let's get moving then." Kougaiji said as he stood up and tried to support Goku.

"I could move okay now. Thank you."

"I know. But I wouldn't want you hurt again ne?" Goku just blushed stupidly.

"The path is just up ahead. Let's go. "

Sanzo looked at his companions and grimaced inwardly. They looked like a bunch of pathetic losers. Hakkai, Yaone and Dokugakuji had dark circles under their eyes and were now staring at nowhere in particular.

Lilin had finally shut her mouth up after he gave her another batch of meat buns. Heck, he didn't care if they ran bankrupt, so long as Lilin kept quiet. Gojyo on the other hand look like a chimney the way he was smoking so haphazardly. Out of all of them, he looked the most harassed and wreck.

Sanzo smirked. Big brother saru was worried sick about little baby brother. He sighed. He had no right to say that. In fact he could feel he wasn't as glamorous as usual. He was worried sick too. The saru was gone for a whole day now. And he isn't used to not seeing and being with the saru. Sanzo scraped his chair and stood up.

"I'm going to look for Goku." Hakkai broke out of his reverie and motioned Gojyo to do the same and followed Sanzo.

"We're going too. No use in hanging around here anyway." Dokugakuji stood up and panicked.

"But... Wait..." Sanzo stared at him, ice in his eyes.

"If I didn't know any better you are preventing us from going out." Doku cowered and sat back again. Yaone intercepted.

"Of course not, we wish to look for Kougaiji-sama too. Aren't we Lilin-sama?" Lilin almost choked on her meat bun.

"But, Oni-chan..."

"Lilin-sama, aren't you worried your elder brother hasn't returned yet?" Yaone looked meaningfully at her. Lilin reluctantly agreed. Sanzo rolled his eyes.

"I don't care on what you wish to do. I can't promise anything though about your prince, once we find them." Sanzo said meaningfully, and with that he walked out, his robes swinging behind him.

"Look I think we finally made it out." Kougaiji said to Goku as he took in the upward sloping path and streaming sunlight. He looked at Goku.

"Hey, aren't you happy?" Kougaiji asked as he noticed that the smaller boy looking tired and sad.

"I don't know..."

"Goku, tell me. What's the matter?" He asked getting concerned. He wrapped his arms around Goku as if is to assure everything is alright.

"Kou, what about us? Once I return to the ikkou, we'll be enemies again." Tears streamed down Goku's cheeks.

"I don't want to fight you. And I certainly don't want to ..."

"Want to what?" Kougaiji asked gently while brushing some tears out of Goku's eyes. He hated to see the boy crying, but something in him is happily jumping up and down, knowing that tears were meant for him. Goku faced him and looked at him earnestly.

"I don't want to lose you!" He blurted out loud, and then sobbed all over again as he sinks to his knees.

"I want to be with you, Kou." Kougaiji smiled softly and squatted down beside Goku.

"Hush. I won't leave you. I promise." Goku looked up at him hopefully.

"You do?" Kougaiji didn't answer. He just nodded and leaned in to give Goku the gentlest kiss ever.

Goku didn't want to let go. But after a while, he felt satisfied enough about Kou's answer to pull away. He looked at Kougaiji and panicked all over again when he sees concern and doubt in the prince's eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"Goku, we can't be together, for now."

"Why?"

"You see, I need to do the hag…"

"The hag...?" Goku asked confused.

"…Gyokumen Koushu, one last favor."

"Why?"

"Remember what I told you about kasaan?" Goku nodded. He truly felt sorry for Kougaiji. All his life he followed orders, sacrificed and all that crap.

"I will have her revived if I'm successful in doing this errand." Goku suddenly felt as if he needs to help Kou achieve this errand. Besides the earlier he finishes, the earlier they'll be reunited. He took Kougaiji's hands in his and looked at him solemnly.

"I'll help you." Kou's eyes widened.

"You will?"

"Of course I will." Kougaiji smiled his thanks, but frowned suddenly when they heard voices and footsteps coming closer.

"Urusai, kappa! You're making my head hurt." Goku froze. It is Sanzo's voice he's hearing, right?

"Ah. But I'm just so worried about the chibi saru. He can be lying somewhere hurt and hungry." Gojyo said, worry evident in his voice.

"Now, worrying and fretting won't help Goku. Just look for him ne?" Hakkai said to his lover as he carefully made his way down the slippery path.

"I think they are here somewhere." Sanzo remarked.

"This is the exit to that cave they fell in after all."

They were coming closer to Goku and Kougaiji. Goku looked at his companion for confirmation. He just nodded to him as if saying, 'go on.' He shook his head no. There are questions he need to ask Kougaiji and he doesn't want to be separated from him this fast. Kougaiji leaned in to whisper in Goku's ear.

"Go with them. I can't bring you in the palace anyway. Don't worry I'll catch up with you soon." Goku looked at him earnestly.

"You promise you'll come back for me?"

"I promise."

"Okay. See you then." Goku gave Kougaiji one last peck before rising in the shadows.

"Oi kappa! I'm here!" Goku hollered. Gojyo took a double, before leaping on him.

"Saru, you're okay!!! You had me so worried!"

"Hehehe... You were worried?" Goku asked doubtfully.

"Of course man!" Hakkai came up to them and Gojyo gave him room. Hakkai also gave him a big hug.

"Goku, are you alright? Did anything happen to you? Are you hungry?" Goku laughed.

"Hakkai, I didn't know I had a mother!" Hakkai blushed.

"Hehehe.. Don't worry Hakkai. I like you just like that."

"Thank you." Goku winked at him.

"You did bring me something to eat don't you?"

"Of course I did." Hakkai fished around in the bag he carried and produced a meat bun.

"Wai!!! You are truly me favorite person..."

"Hahahaha... Am I supposed to be flattered?"

"Yeah!" Goku looked at Sanzo. At the moment the monk is busy glaring daggers at Kougaiji.

"Sanzo?" Goku asked him confused.

"Did he do anything to you?" Sanzo asked him without lifting his gaze from Kougaiji who just stared balefully back.

"You mean Kougaiji?"

"Yes, Kougaiji. Have you any more company?" Sanzo said sarcastically at him.

"Uh. He did not. In fact he fed me yesterday!" He said happily, hoping to break the tension. Sanzo looked unconvinced but he relented all the same.

"I offer you truce, for feeding the monkey. I have not forgotten the fact that you attacked us yesterday." Sanzo said as he swished his robes about and started to leave the area.

"What are you waiting for? We still need to head west." Sanzo called backed to the rest of the ikkou. Hakkai followed then Gojyo. Before heading out, Goku gave one last look at Kougaiji, and then said to him his goodbye.

"See you soon." Hakkai chose the exact same moment to come back down to inform Kougaiji that Lilin and the others are waiting outside.

"Oni-chan! Are you alright?" Lilin bounded down the area, and then slipped on her own feet.

"Owww... It hurts."

"Lilin-sama I told you the path is slippery." Yaone said behind her then she suddenly glowed when she sees Kougaiji smirking at his sister.

"Kougaiji-sama! Are you alright?"

"Yes." Dokugakuji leaned in the cave wall and smiled.

"Of course he's okay. He is Kou after all." Kougaiji just rolled his eyes.

"So where you successful?" Doku asks suddenly.

"Of course. Got him wrapped in my little finger. He will do anything I ask him." Lilin's eyes went wide.

"Really? Then you would get your kasaan revived?"

"Yes and it will be soon." Kougaiji said as his eyes glinted with malice.

"Really, really soon."

t.b.c