A/N: I hope there are those that enjoyed the first chapter! This chapter may be just a bit less humorous then the first, but there'll also be a lot of sweet fluffy moments! (Aww!) ; Anyhoos, next chapter will be the last! Hey! I said it was a mini-fic!

EDIT: GYAAH! There were so many mistakes every time I tried to upload this! ...I've gotta get used to this new way of uploading... I'm still stuck back in the old days... Anyhoos... please enjoy the new EDITED version of this chapter.... So sorry before hand!

Alrighty, now for the official stuff:

Chapter Rating: PG-13 (some swearing, many more hints of shounen-ai, and violence)

Setting: Pre-Gensoumaden Saiyuki

Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki in any shape or form.

…Nor do I own Q-Tips… although I do buy them… by the box… squeaky clean ears… yes…


Hakuryuu's First Christmas

It took a while before Hakkai could get the group to calm down. They had been making so much of a racket, that he couldn't even hear the wind howling outside. He could've sworn he heard a faint tap, and turned to look out the window, just in time to catch the tiniest glimpse of silvery-white.

Is something out there? Hakkai made a move to check out the window for any signs of animals, just when Goku's head was slammed into the table.

"WAH! ERO KAPPA!" the saru clutched at his head, "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!"

"Other than your existence?" Gojyo glared at Goku, an unseen, but definitely not unfelt, challenge emanated from him.

"…URUSAI!" Sanzo's arm whipped around in a single graceful motion. His infamous paper fan extended as he flogged both monkey and water sprite's heads. The two fell onto the table, knocking the hot chocolate and coffee all over the floor.

"NOOOO!" Goku screeched as he watched the liquids pool on the floor, "LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!"

"WHAT I DID?!" Gojyo looked ready to pounce onto Goku's throat, "YOU'RE THE ONE THAT-" he was cut off as the fan connected with his head again.

Hakkai took the opportunity to retreat out of his kitchen… excuse me… what was left of his kitchen to go look for Hakuryuu. The little dragon hadn't been gone for that long of a while, but it had been some time since he had been sent on his mini errand, and Hakkai couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. That very pang increased as he came up to his locked door. Tentatively, he opened it, calling softly inside.

"Hakuryuu?"

There was no answer. No chirp. No loving "Kyuu, Kyuu!" from his faithful companion.

There was only the breeze.

Wait, a breeze? Hakkai's window wasn't open before! How could there be a breeze?

Ah! The window's just broken, that's all. Smiling, Hakkai turned to leave the room to continue searching for his pet.

Two seconds later, a heartfelt "GOOOOKUUUU!" reverberated through the household.


All around the universe, planets stopped moving. Windows shattered, skies turned dark, and time stood still. In short, reality itself was warped.

Hakkai was angry.

Now, when I say angry, I don't mean, "Bad monkey! Bad!" I mean, "BAD MONKEY! BAD!" while beating the crap out of you with naught but a Q-Tip and enough chi energy to level half a continent. This would be very fun to do, however Hakkai had much more self control than that. Plus the Q-Tips were in the bathroom, and he was not about to go out of his way to go all the way to the bathroom and back just to reprimand the monkey.

He stormed into the his kitchen, his angry aura alone slamming the door open. Fortunately for the rest of the crew, after hearing Hakkai yell for the first time in…ever, they cleaned up a bit (Well, Gojyo and Goku had cleaned… Sanzo "supervised") out of fear that Hakkai could come in and bite their heads off. The man-turned-youkai plastered his worst false smile to date as his left eyebrow twitched in such a way that would have made Sanzo very proud.

"…Goku… how exactly did you get inside?" Hakkai's body began to quiver as well.

"Well… uh… you see…" Goku stammered. That twitching was getting really scary.

"It wouldn't happen to involve a- no - my window… would it?" Hakkai's teeth gritted against each other.

Did I mention Hakkai was angry?

"Well, now that you bring it up… Ahehe…" the golden-eyed boy scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin, followed by a slight blush, formed on his face.

Before anyone knew it, they were all out in the snow, shouting Hakuryuu's name.


So there you have it. Hakuryuu ran away, Goku is in trouble, Hakkai was angry (he calmed down a bit). Sanzo was afraid of Hakkai, and Gojyo? Gojyo… well… let's just say he's going to be very lonely for a few nights…

Things just couldn't get any worse. Right?

Hah! I laugh at you fools who actually believed that things couldn't get worse.

After all, you haven't seen what happened next.


Hakuryuu beat his wings futilely against the powerful gusts of wind and snow. Sheets of ice blinded him, but he didn't care. All he wanted to do was run… no fly… no run… get away… from his current pursuers, who just happened not to be the friendly types.

"You little bastard! Get back here!" a gravelly voice called after him. See what I mean? These guys just weren't very nice.

It wasn't like Hakuryuu had done anything bad. It was cold outside, and all Hakuryuu wanted was a little bit of warmth so he wouldn't become a mini dragon icicle. By luck, he had found a camp in the woods with a blazing fire in the center. He flew up to the fire, enjoying the heat given off by the dancing flames, when there was a stir from behind him. After all, if there's a camp, more likely than not there are going to be inhabitants. These inhabitants just happened to be a group of thieves; human and demons alike.

At first, Hakuryuu didn't know about the background of the residents, and just chirped a friendly, "Kyuu!" Even though he had just been hurt by the people he trusted for so long, he couldn't keep his friendly demeanor tucked away.

"Hey, Ito. Lookit this!" one of the human men, his hair dark and his eyes a slate gray, called to another figure.

"What is it, Kyo?" the one called 'Ito' walked over. His hair shimmered in a light blonde shade, while his eyes shone in red. His pointed ears cast a shadow that looked terribly frightening, causing Hakuryuu to hunch back a bit, ready to defend himself if necessary.

"Look at this thing here. Seems like some kinda rare animal or somethin." the man known as 'Kyo' pointed in the dragon's direction.

"This little rat?" he arched an eyebrow at Hakuryuu, clearly not impressed.

"Kyuu!" Hakuryuu screeched as he leapt up and bit Ito's nose. He didn't take being called a rat very well. After all, Hakuryuu couldn't be a rat. Rats are mammals. Dragons are reptiles. There's a huge difference, and therefore it was biologically impossible for Hakuryuu to be a rat. Had Ito called Hakuryuu a snake or a lizard, it would have been a different story as snakes and lizards are indeed part of the reptile family. There was also the matter of calling him 'little'. As expected, Hakuryuu felt just a bit sensitive about his size. He can't help being tiny!

"You little bastard!" Ito swung at Hakuryuu. Rather, where Hakuryuu had once been. As soon as he finished performing his little stunt, Hakuryuu hauled dragon ass out of there. Ito and Kyo followed, knives shining as they drew them out. In short, Hakuryuu was in deep. Really deep.

Which brought him to this predicament.

As Hakuryuu flew for his life, he felt his thoughts travel to his master. Hakkai… he felt tears well up in his eyes again. How he wished Hakkai were here right now… the man always knew what to say. Always knew what to do. I miss Hakkai…

The petite pyro banked a hard right into the woods, hoping that the flying snow would cover up his maneuver. Gliding to a fallen log, he burrowed under it, hoping to lose both the man and the demon. Breathing a sigh of relief, he sniffled back tears and huddled to keep himself warm. He closed his eyes, ready to doze off to sleep, when there was a light crunch. His eyes snapped open as he prepared to leap into flight and fight for the third time in the last twenty minutes.

"Ho, ho… now what do we have here?" a warm, hearty voice bellowed. Two leather gloves reached down from behind Hakuryuu, gripped him underneath his belly and then brought him against a red fur coat. He squirmed a bit, but after sensing no hostility, he slowed to a halt, welcoming the warmth. "A little guy like you shouldn't be out on a night like tonight."

Hakuryuu responded with an indignant, "Kyuu!" Defiantly, he looked up into the man's twinkling eyes. Although, they were pretty hard to spot underneath all that white hair. The white fur brimmed cap didn't help much either.

The man laughed at the dragon's reaction, and scratched gently behind his ears and under his throat, chuckling slightly as the animal purred at the touch, "Now come on. I'm sure there's somebody worried about you."

Images of Hakkai's smiling face flashed through Hakuryuu's mind. …I wonder… does he miss me…? I know I miss him… I wonder how he's doin' without me around… I wonder how all of them are doing without me around…


"ACHOO!" Goku sneezed for the umpteenth time.

"Stupid monkey… shut up." Gojyo growled at Goku for the umpteenth time.

"Both of you shut up!" Sanzo tried to yell at Gojyo and Goku for the umpteenth time.

"Yare yare…" Hakkai sighed for the umpteenth time.

Needless to say, the groups' actions were getting quite repetitive.

"Hey Sanzo… I think we may have passed this bush before…" Goku whispered. He was too cold to speak any louder than an undertone. To be honest, he was too cold to do much of anything right now, but instead of angering Sanzo more, he chose to stay quiet and move on.

"…This is getting us nowhere." Sanzo muttered, "We should split up and look for Hakuryuu." Slowly, so it wouldn't be noticed by the rest of the party, he brought his arms over his chest to warm himself up and slowly rubbed up and down, counting on the cloak that he was wearing (they all had identical over garments) to hide his movements. The last thing he wanted was to show weakness of any kind, especially for a matter as trivial as this. "I'll take Goku and go to the left, Hakkai, you take Gojyo and go to the right."

Hakkai murmured a "Yes sir." Goku and Gojyo simply nodded. They were too cold and tired to complain or say anything against Sanzo, and they were sure that he was too cold and tired to hear them complain.

Hakkai, spurred on by the extra burden of worry, immediately marched (or tried to) east, Gojyo right next to him. They disappeared into the woods, leaving Sanzo and Goku to go in their direction.

"Come Goku… we go… to the west." Sanzo began walking westward, Goku tagging along at his heels.

The wind howled and bit at their exposed faces, which showed their weariness. The cold was unforgiving and the snow was piling up higher. The trees were covered with ice and glittered in what little moonlight was available. It would've been quite beautiful- if Sanzo were inside. He quickly glanced over to Goku, wondering how the monkey was faring. Sanzo knew about his previous snow phobia, and was worried about him. Not that he'd ever admit it of course.

Goku trudged along behind his keeper. He had just recently gotten over his fear of the snow. Now he was forced to wade through the cold, white substance. He felt the iciness crawl through his clothing and shock the skin underneath. How could something so pretty be so… unforgiving? At least… Sanzo… is here too… his thoughts became incoherent and his head swam. He shook his head and focused on the golden halo that was Sanzo before him. The cold was getting to him and he longed to just curl up and fall asleep. But I can't… Sanzo needs… me… The monkey pushed on, not wanting to disappoint his sun. It was just when the wind began to pick up speed that Goku's vision blurred and his knees gave out.

There was a WUMPH behind him. Sanzo whipped around, at first fearing an attack from the youkai gang that he was originally hunting, his eyes widening when he saw Goku's limp body laying in the snow.

"Goku!" Sanzo's hoarse voice was barely higher than a speaking tone, "Get up you damn ape!" shuffling through the icy material to Goku's side, he prodded him gently with his foot.

"S-sorry… Sanzo…" Goku whimpered, "I'll… get up now…" he attempted to lift his frozen body out of the snow, only to fall back down. "…Dammit." …I'm so weak.

"Goku…" Sanzo knelt beside him, "Stop trying to move, idiot." It was unsettling to see someone as young and vibrant as Goku whimpering and shivering in the snow. …He's lost a lot of body heat…

"S-Sanzo. So… cold…" the monkey's teeth chattered as he reached out a trembling hand. Weakly grasping the hem of the monk's robe, his golden eyes silently pleaded for help.

"Come here." Sanzo grabbed Goku from under the arms and pulled him against his body. Wrapping his arms around the boy, he willed some of the warmth from his body to pass on to the monkey. "…Nobody ever hears of this. Do you understand me?"

…He's so warm… Goku stirred a little in his doze, random thoughts blinking through. Just like the sun. He sighed and curled up tighter, his head against the corrupted monk's chest, listening to the slow, steady heartbeat. This heartbeat would be his lullaby as total sleep claimed him at last.

"…"

"Goku?" Sanzo glanced down, the concern written on his face dissipating as he heard light snores coming from the brunette. Goku had curled up in his lap and against his chest, falling asleep in his keeper's embrace. Stupid chimp. Sanzo ran his fingers through Goku's thick, yet soft hair. It doesn't look like he's going to wake up anytime soon… and I can't stop looking for Hakuryuu. Damn it all. Guess I'll have to carry him.

Sanzo shifted a bit, getting ready to leave, when he felt the material of his robes tighten a bit. Looking down he saw Goku's fist grasping it, his grip instinctively tightening when he felt Sanzo move. Stupid chimp. Sanzo thought again, although he noticed that his mental tone was more out of endearment than before. I'll kill him once this is all over, Sanzo resolved as he put one arm underneath Goku's knees, the other one supporting his back. "C'mon," he huffed as he lifted Goku out of the snow, still holding him close to his body, "I swear, if anyone sees us like this, it's your head."


To say that Hakkai was cold would be an understatement. The understatement of the year, although you probably wouldn't get an award of any kind. In other situations, maybe, but both demon and water sprite are a bit on the cranky side right now, so don't ask for one, unless of course you don't value your life. So, if you have a suicide wish, go ahead and ask right now. I won't stop you, I'm just telling the story here-

"Will you just get on with it?!" Gojyo shouted at the narrator.

What the hell?! You just shut up and go on! I've got enough on my plate right now! I missed my deadline already!

"Well, you did a shit job of writing the story anyway!" Gojyo's crimson eyes narrowed as he yelled towards the sky.

"Gojyo, who are you talking to?" Hakkai looked over at his friend, thinking that he had gone crazy because of the cold. Which he probably has.

"Just the narrator," Gojyo then turned back to the sky, "AND I AM NOT CRAZY!"

Yes you are.

"NO I'M NOT!"

"Now, now you two…" Hakkai tried to play peace keeper again as the lovable narrator and the evil water sprite argued.

"LOVABLE MY ASS!" Gojyo, obviously jealous of the wonderful narrator- "SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Never!

"YOU'RE NOT EVEN USING PROPER GRAMMAR!" Gojyo, having paid attention in school (surprisingly) pointed out the narrator's flaw.

Yes I am.

"NO YOU'RE NOT! YOU'RE SPEAKING WITHOUT QUOTES!"

So?

"That's not proper grammar!"

Oooh! Look at me! I'm speaking without quotes! Bwahaha!

"Gojyo, just let it go…" all Hakkai wanted was to find Hakuryuu.

"Che… Fine." Gojyo, being in love with Hakkai- "I AM NOT!"

Yes you are.

"NO I'M NOT!"

"What the hell's going on here?" Sanzo strutted in, Goku following behind him.

"Yeah," the monkey, seeming to be in perfect health (at the moment), agreed with the monk, "We're waitin' for our part of the story to continue already!"

"Well…" Hakkai said, being the voice of reason in this rather confusing part of the story (sorry folks), "It seems that Gojyo got into a fight with the narrator."

"She started it!" the kappa defended himself.

I did not!

"Yes you did!"

"URUSAI!" Sanzo whisked out his giant fan and proceeded to beat everyone, except for Hakkai and including the narrator, "ALL OF YOU, SHUT UP!" he then pointed to the sky, "AND YOU! CONTINUE WRITING THE STORY, OR I'LL COME UP THERE AND KILL YOU MYSELF!"

…Yes sir.

Sanzo grabbed Goku by the arm and stormed out to where his former position was, awaiting for his part of the story to turn up again.

The narrator obediently proceeded to rewind the story back to where we see Hakkai and Gojyo again.

…But not before sending a bear to maul Gojyo.

"WHAT?!"


To say that Hakkai was cold would be an understatement. The wind had picked up speed, driving snow into his left eye. Luckily, he had the monocle that prevented snow from entering his right eye, although that didn't make the situation any better. Still, he trudged on, thoughts of his pet driving him. Hakuryuu… where did you go? More importantly… why did you go?

Gojyo followed the figure that he thought was Hakkai. Even at this close range it was hard to tell with the wind and snow this bad. "Hey, Hakkai?" he called out uncertainly.

"Yes, Gojyo?" that false cheerful tone was impossible to mistake.

"…Nothing." Gojyo hated to sound like a little kid like this, but truth be told, he didn't know what to say. He had seen Hakkai depressed many times before, although it took a little bit of skill to determine exactly when the man was depressed, but he never really knew exactly what to say. "I'm sure we'll find him." he added weakly, wanting to break the silence.

"…Why would he run away in the first place…?" Hakkai's voice lost the false cheerfulness, and sounded a lot more hollow.

"…Hell if I know. It's all that stupid monkey's fault." it always seemed easier to just blame Goku, although Gojyo didn't always enjoy it. He loved the monkey like a little brother, and loved to tease him like one.

"…Is it really?" Hakkai's tone began to worry Gojyo a bit, he usually only got like this when he thought of Kanan, and that was never good, "…or is it my fault…?" Hakkai turned to face the hanyou, "Did I do something wrong?"

"Hakkai…" Gojyo took a step back, the vacant look in Hakkai's eyes genuinely concerned him, "Don't say something like that. You and I both know you treated Hakuryuu the best out of all of us." It was true. Out of them all, Hakkai took the most loving care of the tiny dragon. Sure, Gojyo would slip him a scrap from the table once in a while; sure Goku would play with him whenever he came over; sure Sanzo… uh… Sanzo didn't really pay too much mind to the dragon… but he certainly cared at least a little for him; however Hakkai truly loved Hakuryuu. Taking this all into mind, Gojyo looked square into Hakkai's eyes, "To be honest, sometimes I'm jealous of the little guy." Smirking at his mini confession, Gojyo continued, "That's why, when we find 'em, I'm gonna tell him exactly what you went through just to find him. So he won't take that love you give him for granted." Slightly embarrassed, he turned around, breaking the eye contact he had with his partner.

"Gojyo…" Hakkai began as he reached out a hand to place onto the red-head's shoulder. He halted as voices sounded behind him.

"Where did that runt go?" a raspy voice could barely be heard over the wind.

"I dunno… but once I find 'em, I'm gonna skin him alive." a higher, yet still deep, voice answered back.

"Whoever knew a little flyin' lizard like that would be so much trouble, eh?" the gravelly voice laughed.

Hakkai's heart froze in his chest and he began to run towards where he heard the voices. He didn't care who they were, only if they could have possibly seen Hakuryuu. "Excuse me!" he called out desperately, ignoring the cold air that stung his lungs.

"Hakkai! You idiot!" Gojyo rushed after the brunette, "You tryin' ta get us killed?!"

"Who's there?!" It was 'Gravel Voice' that shouted out.

"Maybe we should get outta here, Ito." 'Deep Voice' spoke to 'Gravel Voice', now known as Ito.

Hakkai ran faster, "I just want to talk!" he couldn't lose the lead he had now! He tried to run faster, cursing himself inwardly as he fell face first into a snow drift. Dammit! Not now!

"Hakkai!" Gojyo panicked at seeing Hakkai's form suddenly disappearing into the darkness. Unknowingly, he ran right past the green-eyed demon. The snow became thicker, and nothing could be seen.

"Oi! Kyo! Where are you?!" Ito yelled out, brandishing his knife blindly. He didn't see the figure in front of him, also walking around, unable to see his own hand in front of his face. They bumped into each other. Out of instinct, Ito lashed out with his knife, impaling it on something.

That something fell with a muffled curse. Ito watched with widening eyes as crimson stained the snow. Not all of the crimson color was blood, however.

Most of it was hair.


A/N: And done for this chapter! ; I know… Christmas is over already… and I've missed my deadline… but I want to finish this fic anyway!

So, please stay tuned for the conclusion! I promise you won't be disappointed!

Ja!

SheepiChan