AN This is the prequel to "To Where You Are" and "Gonou Lives," so yes it is a 38 fic. But there are some things I want to tell you. First, I have decided to write this differently than the other two in the series, so tell me if you like it or not. Secondly, after this, I am done with this little scenario. I appreciate everyone who read this little trilogy of mine.
Looking Through Your Eyes
Part 1:
Hakkai watched Gojyo pull his hair back from the doorway. "Going out?" he asked.
Gojyo nodded. "I'm going to play a few hands and then come back. You won't have time to miss me," he promised.
"Be sure that you're in early enough tonight. I'm not sure what time Sanzo and Goku will be here tomorrow," the brunette explained.
"The monk and the monkey," Gojyo muttered. "Can you tell me again why we're still hanging around with those guys?"
Smiling, Hakkai wrapped an arm around Gojyo's chest. "Because like it or not, they are the only real friends either of us has ever had."
The taller man turned and kissed Hakkai hard on the mouth. "Well, our friends will understand if I sleep in. I'll be back in an hour or two."
With that, Gojyo grabbed his jacket and was out the door.
Something didn't feel right. Hakkai couldn't place the feeling, but there was something just slightly off about the entire evening, though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Keeping busy, he tried to push away the discontent in his stomach. Gojyo had gone out a little over four hours ago to the bar, and Hakkai—as usual—was left to spend another night at home alone. He did the dishes, then folded the laundry, then tried to read, but nothing kept him occupied. Settling down on the couch, Hakkai poured himself some sake and decided that it was enough for the evening. Sanzo and Goku were going to come in the morning, and he didn't want to seem unhappy when they came. Over the years, they both had gotten to know his moods, and so it took extra care to fool them. Sadly, they were both far more observant than his lover.
Things had almost reached an end with Gojyo. In his heart he knew that, but he wasn't ready to acknowledge that just yet. They had been together for nearly seven years. In all that time, he had hoped that things would change…that Gojyo would change. Hakkai's heart couldn't take many more nights alone, or nameless whores. He had accepted Gojyo's habits for a very long time with only the rarest of outbursts. The man he loved was not the man he was with. Hakkai loved the man that Gojyo could be, but after a few steps forward, Gojyo had gone tumbling back into the very things that had once nearly destroyed his soul. The journey West had been beneficial for them both, yet time had turned those days into nothing more than memories. They weren't together as they had been.
Hakkai drank another sake. It was a curse of sorts, no matter how much he drank, he'd never be drunk. If he could reach that point, maybe then he could drown away the things that made him feel this way. Then again, that was too easy. He wouldn't let the sake take over him. Long ago, he had learned that there were some things in life that you had to face. Whatever was bothering him, he'd better face it. He patted Hakuryu, and walked out into the night after his lover.
By the time he reached the bar, a crowd was standing outside. His heart beat wildly as he heard crashing. He pushed through the people just in time to Gojyo slam into the wall with a sickening thud. A youkai that stood at least ten feet tall stood with his chest heaving. "God damned, cheating son of a bitch!"
"Gojyo!" Hakkai called out. He sent a ball of chi hurtling at the enraged youkai, but he seemed to disappear and then reform in time to dodge it.
"You want to play to?" the monster laughed.
Hakkai barely got out of the way of huge clawed hands the first time, but wasn't so lucky the second time. Pain. That was the last thing that registered in his mind.