Hakkai had decided to make one more round of the village for the night. Sanzo and Goku were too tired and stressed out from looking all day in the rain, that Hakkai had made them stay inside so they wouldn't catch cold. He'd even made Hakaru stay indoors... The village was quiet and shut down... warm lights burning inside the windows and hardly anyone outside... 'Expect me of course... baka...' Hakkai thought to himself. Reaching the end of the town he sighed, still having no sign on his missing comrade... it was then that he noticed lights burning in the forest. A hidden inn of some sort that you wouldn't be able to see expect in the night when its lights were on. Hakkai brightened and headed for it, hopeful that he'd find Gojyo there. Once inside, the healer walked up to the inn keeper and asked if he'd seen anyone of Gojyo's description. The demon in keep grunted softly and pointed him down the right hallway, telling him which room he'd find his friend in. Hakkai almost ran the distance and knocked on the door.
Gojyo jumped up and glanced at Kougaiji with panicked crimson eyes. He pushed himself off the bed and walked over to the door, buttoning his pants on the way.
The kappa turned the knob and cracked the door just enough so he could see outside and his face fell.
"H-Hakkai..."
"Gojyo! I've been looking everywhere for you! Are you ok!"
The healer moved as if to gain access to the room without pushing against the door and looked at his friend with an expression of both utter relief and complete concern.
Kougaiji leaned up on the bed and looked at his lover curiously. At recognizing the voice his face turned to one of panic and he quickly, yet silently slid from their shared bed and got dressed again. He then returned to the bed and sat on it cross-legged, leaning against the headboard.
"I...uh...shit. What are you doing here!"
Gojyo hissed, still not opening the door further.
Hakkai's face turned to one of pain.
"Looking for you of course... I was worried..."
"You shouldn't be here. I'm not coming with you guys..."
"Gojyo..."
Hakkai had a crestfallen expression, his deep emerald eyes darkening with sorrow. He lowered his head for a moment, as if not sure what to say. When he looked back at his friend, he seemed to blink in surprise.
"You have another scar... Have you been in a fight?"
"I...uh...yeh. Some stupid demon in the woods on my way here..."
The kappa lied.
Kougaiji shrunk back slightly, peering at the window and wondering if he should try for a silent escape.
Hakkai frowned deeply, clasping his hands in front of him.
"You should be more careful koi... I could heal it for you... good as new..."
Gojyo shook his head.
"N-no...its okay. Really..."
"It's not a big deal... It hasn't even scared yet... I could just... erase it..."
Hakkai offered, trying to fake one of his smiles.
"Nah...I kinda like it..."
Gojyo said fondly, running a finger along the cut.
Kou felt him self blush and stared at his lover from the bed, watching him in intense silence.
Hakkai tilted his head to the side, frowning a bit.
"Very well... I just think it's a bit disconcerting is all... It makes you look like him... That Kougaiji..."
The prince jumped at hearing his name.
"W-Well... Hakkai...you should just go back...tell them you didn't find me..."
Gojyo mumbled, staring down at the floor nervously.
"Why did you take the sutras Gojyo? You have no need for them... You don't even know how to handle such magic... So why? Why did you leave without telling me? What could have been so important?"
Hakkai placed his hand on the door, his eyes pleading for an answer from his friend.
"I'm helping out a friend Hakkai. And Sanzo is hardly a friend. I didn't tell you because I knew you would get like this. That's why."
"If it was for a friend of yours, I could have helped you too Gojyo... You didn't need to keep it a secret and run off... Why not come to me? Have I ever betrayed your trust?"
Hakkai frowned deeply, looking at the kappa with pain etched on his face.
Kougaiji slowly got up from the bed and silently padded behind Gojyo, placing his hands on his lover hips and resting his head between his shoulders, trying to comfort him.
"N-not if I'm helping...ugh. Never mind Hakkai. J-just...you wouldn't have...agreed with me..."
Gojyo tensed a little then relaxed again, still staring into Hakkai's intense green eyes.
Hakkai looked down, not able to understand. Who could he possibly have been helping that would hurt him so badly? It wasn't like it was...
"...Kougaiji..."
The prince flinched and held a bit tighter to Gojyo's waist, pressing his head against him.
"...Gojyo..."
An almost silent whisper.
Gojyo looked away, his mouth silently saying the words 'I'm sorry.'
Hakkai dropped his hand, his head soon following as he could no longer look at the kappa and hold back his tears. Instead he shook his head absently and turned slightly.
"I hadn't realized... W-we'd grown so far apart... Gojyo... Enough that... you'd run to the arms of the enemy... Perhaps I was mistaken about you... About us..."
Gojyo opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find any words. He suddenly felt guiltier than he ever had in his life.
Kou tensed and grit his teeth, turning away and walking over to the table. He hesitated for a moment before scooping up the sutras and walking back to the door, pushing Gojyo aside slightly and letting the door swing open. He stared at Hakkai with hard eyes before dumping the sutras at his feet.
"Here... take them back... Never thought I'd say this but... They're not worth it. Not worth... seeing Gojyo so hurt... Take them back to your monk and do what you will... But know this Hakkai... I will get them myself one of these days... and when I do... I won't be as charitable with something so precious to me..."
He looked at Gojyo with sad eyes as he said the last part, but quickly put on the warrior 'care less' mask again and walked out of the room, waving over his shoulder.
"See ya... Sanzo party..."
Hakkai blinked in shock, looking from the departing demon to the sutras at his feet-
"N-nani?"
Gojyo hissed and tore his eyes away from his new found and now gone lover, glaring down at the floor.
Hakkai looked at Gojyo and frowned.
"You want to help him still? Why? He plans to unleash a horrible evil on this world Gojyo..."
"You don't understand Hakkai! J-Just don't fucking talk to me!"
Gojyo snapped, moving to shut the door angrily.
Hakkai blocked the door from slamming and winced at the pain that shot up his arm in doing so. He looked hard at his friend.
"You say I don't understand and maybe that is because you refuse to talk to me about it! Explain it to be so I can! Above all, we are friends... and I want to help you if I can... Please Gojyo!"
"Because I don't fucking know! I don't know why! That is why I have to tell you wouldn't understand!"
Gojyo hissed through clenched teeth, giving up on slamming the door in his friends face.
"Do you love him?"
Hakkai asked him dead on, his eyes and tone more serious then ever.
Gojyo trembled, unsure of his answer. Sure...he really liked Kou...but love? It was such a strong feeling...
"I-I don't know..."
"Well you better know... If you're willing to risk so much for whatever it is you are feeling..."
"Fuck you! It's not even your fucking business!"
"How is it not! You're my friend Gojyo! And you have been for years... and Kougaiji... is my enemy... or at least so I thought... I don't see you as being a back stabber tho Gojyo... So, I must have the wrong idea about our lil prince friend... If not to destroy us, why would he have needed the sutras? Help me understand this!"
Hakkai pushed open the door, standing tall against his friend as he was unwilling to back down this time.
"To fucking bring his mother back! That's why!"
Gojyo shouted, turning away from his friend.
"He's being blackmailed Hakkai...if he doesn't do everything this bitch says, his mother will be killed."
Hakkai gasped, his eyes wide in surprise as he took in this new information. He looked down, frowning at the sutras at his feet.
"I see... She wants the sutras to revive Gumaou... but in order to get them... Has imprisoned Kougaiji's mother as leverage from him to do all the dirty work... Oh Gojyo..."
Hakkai stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on his friends arm.
"It makes sense now... You couldn't save your own mother because you were too 'weak' at the time... But now you feel you can somehow... make up for it by saving his... right?"
Gojyo glared down at the floor and jerked away from the other demon.
"It's not so much that I want to save his mother for not saving mine...just...I know the pain..."
Hakkai smiled bitterly and nodded.
"Hai... the pain of loosing one so dear to you... I guess you never really get over it..."
"Yeh...you're right...but she wasn't so 'dear' to me, remember Hakkai?"
"She may not have loved you as you desired her to... But I know you loved her Gojyo... You've told me how often as a child you tried to please her... That must have made it worse... and... To have to bear the scars of such pain as well... I know..."
Hakkai pressed his hand to his stomach over his own scar.
Gojyo walked over to the bed and sat down, resting his elbows on his knees.
"I-I need him Hakkai...and he left..."
Hakkai winced a bit at that but nodded, leaning over to scoop up the sutras.
"Well then what are you doing sitting here baka?"
The brunette smiled tenderly at his friend.
"Use your head Gojyo... He's a fire demon and it's pouring outside... How far do you think he could go... honestly?"
"Hn...not too far...where could he be hiding then?"
Gojyo asked, lifting his head curiously.
"If you'd just had to put up a tough front and walk away from someone you cared for... where would you go? ... That's open all night?"
"Yeh...a pub. Well then...I think its time to go get my femmy fire demon back...would you agree?"
Hakkai chuckled softly and nodded. His eyes looked a little sad tho.
"Gojyo..."
"Look...Hakkai...I'm sorry...about us. I am..."
Gojyo mumbled, glancing back down at the floor.
"No... It's just that... I... I'd like if you came back... after all this is done... Y'know, bring Kougaiji if you want but... I don't want to loose my best friend..."
"Of course you won't lose me Hakkai...I'm always here..."
Gojyo said, standing up and patting his back reassuringly.
The healer gave his friend a weak smile and nodded.
"Go and get him Gojyo..."
"Thank you Hakkai..."