Chapter 5

Hakkai drove the four of them in silence. The other three were happily reunited and were thus quickly making up for lost time. Goku and Gojyo were rambunctious as ever. They had been teasing each other ever since they had set foot on the jeep. Sanzo meanwhile was trying his very best not to get mad easily. At the moment, he contented himself with fingering his paper fan lovingly.

One moment that had them close to tears was when Gojyo apologized to Goku about the nasty things he overheard him say. Even Sanzo was moved. Although all hell would break loose first before he admits it. Hakkai closed his eyes to relive that moment.

"Oi, saru." Gojyo suddenly stopped teasing Goku and looked dead serious. Goku frowned in confusion.

"What's the matter ero kappa? Does you're stomach hurt?" He asked innocently.

"Sorry." Gojyo continued bowing his head low.

"I didn't mean to say those things to you. I was just caught up in the moment. I didn't really mean it. Honest." He raised his head and looked at Goku earnestly.

"I'm really sorry. I was really worried when you were lost. I thought you were... I don't want us to have a grudge." Goku's eyes simmered with unshed tears and nodded slowly.

"It's okay. I understand."

"Do you forgive me?" Gojyo asked hopefully. Sanzo and Hakkai at this time had stopped resisting the temptation to look back, both of them not wanting to miss the event.

"Of course, I do!" Goku said as he threw his arms around Gojyo, who was silently shedding tears.

"Thank you, saru."

"One more thing, don't call me saru." Gojyo broke the hug and smiled smugly back.

"Eh? What was that, saru?"

"Ero kappa!" And everything was back to normal.

Despite everything that happened today, Hakkai can't shake the memory of what he had witnessed earlier. He was sure that something was going on with Kougaiji and Goku. The meaningful looks and the longing in Goku's eyes when they finally left the youkai prince had him bothered.

He was also certain that Goku whispered something to Kougaiji before they left. He didn't catch it though.

"Oi, Hakkai! When will we reach the nest town? I'm hungry." Goku whined from the back. Hakkai broke out of his reverie and stopped to think. Where were they anyway? He looked at their surroundings. Vast expense of trees and… Trees and guess what? Trees.

"Ahahaha.." Hakkai laughed. All the other tree face faulted.

"Hakkai." Sanzo said warningly and shook his head unbelievably. Gojyo leaned in on his seat's back.

"Hakkai, please, please don't tell me we're lost." Hakkai stepped on the brakes and laughed once again. Hakkai opened his map and tried to locate where they are.

"It seems I took the wrong turn."

"Eh? Hakkai, how could you?" Goku said whining in full mode now. Sanzo looked at Hakkai gravely.

"Where are we then?"

"Magdalene Forest."

Kougaiji shifted in his hiding place. They had been following the Sanzo- ikkou for three days straight and it was getting tiring. He shook his head as he witnessed the spectacle before him. These four are completely insane! At the moment Gojyo and Goku are scratching each others' eyes out while Sanzo kept whacking their heads off to break them up. Hakkai was still laughing at his own stupidity.

Kougaiji knew something was wrong when the Sanzo-ikkou entered the forest. The forest has rumors surrounding it that whoever entered it never made it out alive. Of course, even if he did know about that, he had no choice but to follow them. How else will he know where they went? It might take them weeks to figure out where this group went off. Especially if the driver kept tuning out.

He glanced at Hakkai and frowned. He had been worried that the man might have sensed something. He is after all - a know it all. Hakkai had definitely seen Goku say something to him. He had the worst timing imaginable, Kougaiji said to himself. He had no choice then but to move quickly. Hakkai might tell the others about what he had witnessed and deciphered the circumstances around it. He must talk to Goku before it's too late.

"Hakkai. Will you stop laughing?" Gojyo asked him exasperatedly. The man had goofed up, that's for sure. But for him to lose his mind? Come on. Hakkai finally stopped and looked serious.

"I'm really sorry. I was thinking about something else." Sanzo appraised him.

"And would you mind telling us what it is?" Hakkai shook his head and smiled.

"It was nothing." Sanzo raised his brows.

"I didn't know nothing could make you such a space cadet." Goku interrupted all of them with the growling in his stomach.

"Let's stop asking Hakkai about what he was thinking already! Let's talk about food. I'm hungry!" WHACK.

"Find your food then." Sanzo told him and stormed back in the jeep to get some cigarettes. He dragged on a cigar and looked at the lot of them.

"We have no choice but to camp here."

"WHAT?! But, but.." Gojyo protested.

"Fine. If you don't want to, then try getting yourself out of this foggy forest." Sanzo looked at the skies.

"In my calculation, there will be absolutely no moon today. Just don't get yourself lost." He added to Gojyo who just shut up and mumbled something to himself.

"Sanzo, can I find food?" Gou asked yet again.

"Do what you want saru, just be back before night fall."

"Gojyo, would you like to come?" Goku asked him.

"Eh? What, you afraid?" Gojyo sneered as he snaked his arms around Goku's shoulders. The boy just shrugged them off.

"Of course not. Fine I'll go by myself." He stated and walked out of the area. Hakkai called out to him.

"You want me to come?"

"No thanks!"

"What if you get lost?" Hakkai asked concerned.

"I won't! I'll just sniff you out."

"Don't worry about the saru, Hakkai. He won't get lost. With that incredible sense of smell he has..." Gojyo trailed as he looked at Hakkai meaningfully.

"Ah. Maybe I'm just worrying too much."

Kougaiji jumped out from the bushes, once he was sure that Goku was all alone. It was a stroke of luck that nobody accompanied him to get some food. He was really eager to see him after being separated from him for three long days. Kougaiji stopped in his tracks. I can't be! He thought to himself wildly. Of all the things that he could've felt for the boy...

Kougaiji gripped his head hard. He must not loose focus. He must not give in to this feeling. If he did, then his hopes to revive his mother would be all over. He stood up straight. That's right. Think of this as business. Just business. Kougaiji hoped that his heart would listen to his mind.

Goku sniffed around. He can't smell any food around! He thought to himself as he slumped down to the ground.

"I'm really, really hungry!" He said aloud while rubbing his stomach. He sniffed again this time hoping that he would be successful in finding some. But when he got a whiff, he stood up rigidly. He knew this smell! He can't be mistaken. Goku looked wildly around, and then broke into a grin when he spotted Kougaiji.

"I missed you, Kou." Goku said silkily as Kougaiji came nearer and wrapped his arms around him. He felt good already and his hunger was forgotten.

"What took you so long?" Goku asked Kougaiji.

"The question is what took you so long to be alone?" He said huskily as he kissed the top of Goku's head. Goku giggled.

"Oh yeah. I forgot this is supposed to be a secret."

"Yes you did." Kougaiji said teasingly as he nibbled on an earlobe.

"You know what? I missed you too."

"Really?"

"Really. So much." Kougaiji turned Goku around to face him and gave him a fierce and hungry kiss.

Goku was in ecstasy. He had forgotten how Kougaiji could make him feel so good. But before he loses himself, he pulled himself out of Kou's embrace and stared at him apologetically.

"Sanzo needs me at camp before nightfall."

"You think that I can do it all night long?" Kougaiji asked teasingly his eyes gleaming. Goku snorted.

"Hahaha. Very cute. I just don't want to get you caught you know?"

"I know." Kou nodded thoughtfully and began to stare at the distance.

"Hey Kou, what's the matter?" Goku asked him concerned.

"Oh, its nothing."

"If it's nothing then why do you look so bothered?" Goku pressed on, his eyes pleading with that of Kougaiji's. For a moment Kougaiji just stared at Goku. Once again he is drowning in those golden depths of Goku, and he had grown to love the concerned look in his eyes and the way he pouts when he wouldn't give something up.

Every time he was with Goku, he felt more and more attached to him. He couldn't help being endeared to Goku. He is just so kawaii in every little thing he does. Kougaiji sighed at the situation and the other. He felt as if he can't control this feeling towards Goku but at the same time another side of him says that it will never work out, its just business. And even if he had his mother revived they would still be enemies no matter what. A no win situation indeed. Goku prodded him back to reality.

"Oi, you have company you know?" He said quite irritable by now. Kougaiji smiled at him.

"I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"You know about the order of Gyokumen Koushu right?" Goku nodded.

"I came back, and she tells me I've only got about three more days. How can I manage that?" Kougaiji said desperately. Goku suddenly looked tense but decisive at the same time. Kougaiji mentally patted his back. I'm doing a good job at this acting thing. Maybe Lilin was right. We are born actors.

"You know I promised to help."

"I know, it's just that I hate asking you to do this..."

"I know, but we're together in this no matter what. Tell me what I am going to do."

Kougaiji silently cheered. The plan was on. The only problem now was if Goku would do it.

"Well, you know what we need." Goku frowned.

"You haven't told me yet." Kou slapped his forehead. He forgot that Goku was kind of slow.

"We need the Evil sutra, to commence the revival of Gyumao."

"Oh." Kou was getting worried, at the tone of Goku's voice, he will be kind of hard to persuade.

"I need you to get it from Sanzo."

"What? You know I can't just ask him to hand it over. He will never give it!" Goku said his eyes getting unfocused with fear. Kougaiji snaked his arms around Goku's shoulders.

"Then fight him if you must." Goku stood up suddenly and looked at him as if he were crazy.

"Are you serious?! I'll never do such a thing! I will never harm Sanzo! Never!"

"I thought you'd help." Kougaiji hung his head low. He knew this would come. Sanzo was Goku's savior after all. Good thing he had a back up plan.

"Never. I would not do it... Never!!!" Goku lamented again and again. The prince stood up and shook Goku's shoulders.

"Calm down. If you don't want to, then fine. We'll never be together again. Not anymore." Kougaiji walked away from the scene. He counted in his head. One, two, three…

"Kougaiji wait!" Right on time he smiled to himself, and then turned around a neutral mask on his face.

"What is it?" He asked coldly.

"Do you have any alternative? Please... I really want to help, I just can't hurt, Sanzo." Kougaiji looked at him and felt like he'd been punched in the gut. Goku looked so miserable. He hated himself for doing this to him, but he must do it. He must sacrifice.

"I do have another plan." Goku looked at him hopefully.

"Fine. If you can't get the Evil Sutra from Sanzo, then let us do it." Goku backed up and thought a while.

"You will not hurt him?" Kougaiji crossed his fingers in his back.

"Yes." Goku sighed and nodded.

"Okay."

"But give us some handicap." Kougaiji said straightforwardly.

"What handicap?" Goku asks confused.

"I want to face Sanzo all alone."

"What do you mean?" Kougaiji sighed and looked at his straight in the eye.

"If Hakkai and Gojyo are there, the three of them will give a hell of a fight. There is a possibility that we can attain the sutra with the three of them present - but it is slim." He put his hand in Goku's.

"There is also a possibility that they will escape, and you know I'm on a schedule." Goku nodded.

"It is also a possibility that one of us die.. That I die." Goku clenched his hands.

"I don't want that! And you're strong… how?"

"As I said I'm on a schedule. I will do anything to retrieve the sutra, and I will not leave until I have it."

"So?!" Goku asked still confused.

"Hakkai haven't revealed his youkai self yet, and he is strong, Gojyo still grows stronger by the minute, they have infinite potentials Goku. One of them might be able to kill me." Goku sighed and sat down. He is not that an idiot to not know where this conversation will lead to. But then he is hoping against hope.

Goku cradled his head. It really is starting to hurt. Better get this over with.

"Kou, what is it that you want me to do?"

"Dispose of Hakkai and Gojyo by tomorrow night. We will move in on Sanzo day after tomorrow." Goku stared at Kougaiji in shock. Dispose of Hakkai and Gojyo? But I can't...

"Kou? Must I really..." Kougaiji stared at him with such hatred in his eyes, which Goku flinched.

"I thought you'd help me! You said you will!"

"I did but..." Kougaiji continued.

"Goku, if you will not do this, then..." Goku closed his eyes, he knew it.

"Forget we ever met each other! And rest assured I will loathe you forever." Kougaiji stormed of in a huff, leaving Goku behind speechless and very afraid of the circumstance.

Goku walked back at camp without any food. He had others things in his mind. He didn't want to lose Kougaiji that's for sure, but to dispose Hakkai and Gojyo just like that? He had grown to love them as brothers. He scratched his head.

I have to get a grip! If I don't do this I'll lose Kou! I can't let that happen! Goku brushed some tears out of his eyes. He was near their campsite. He can't let anyone suspect him. He put on a fake smile and barged in.

"Oyasumi! Have you found food?" Gojyo looked at him. Goku studied his face and tried to memorize it.

"I thought you were looking for one." He said as he raised his brows at him.

"I can't find any." Goku said simply. Hakkai intercepted. Goku looked at him this time and did the same thing.

"Well we have a few rations."

"Yay!" Goku bounded half heartedly as he tried to enjoy the company of the two men he loved and he was about to betray.