Hi everyone! It took me quite a while to update coz I have been thinking about how to get the plot going, plus school always gets in the way.

Thanks a lot to those who reviewed! You guys made my day. And to answer UnderagedPoet's question, I did say at the onset that this fic is non-yaoi, so I think that kind of gave it away, now, didn't it?

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Gensomaden Saiyuki, because if I do, I would be a millionaire by now and not stuck with this Celeron computer.

CHAPTER TWO: EMOTIONS

How could you do this to me?

Hakkai's head was buzzing with these thoughts, his mind grasping, trying, to comprehend Gojyo's action. He couldn't believe it. Words failed him at this point, he who always knew what to say at the right times. His mind became oddly blank as the seconds stretched by.

Everyone around him was dead silent. No one dared speak a word before the stunned couple. A few were feeling sorry for the two of them as they stood there, staring dumbstruck at their best man. Their dream wedding, ruined…

Gojyo sighed deeply and took the chance to look into Hakkai's eyes, trying to find a sign of understanding, any sign that he would hear him out. The bright green eyes were clouded and showing no sign of pity.

Gojyo blinked. He couldn't have mistaken that gleam in Hakkai's eyes. It can be clearly seen, shrouded beneath a gathering mass of pain.

It looked to him like hatred.

Yaone looked sideways at Hakkai. Even she was surprised at what she saw in his eyes. Not the gentle, caring eyes that made her feel special, no; it looked to her the same eyes Cho Gono used to have…

Gojyo sighed deeply and decided to break the silence. "Hakkai…" he said slowly, warily, "hear me out."

His words fell on deaf ears. Hakkai ignored him. Instead he gazed questioningly at Gojyo, trying to figure out if this was just some joke he and Goku tried to pull. A really cruel joke, this one…

Gojyo, seeing his words lost in Hakkai, tried one more time. "Hakkai, please. Let me explain."

Yaone looked alarmed. Her gray eyes shot a warning look at Gojyo and glanced sideways at Hakkai.

Behind them Sanzo stood still, his eyes trying to study the scene unfolding in front of him. Even Goku realized that this was a personal matter and decided not to interfere. Trying to cheer everyone up in this mood was not the best thing to do at this point.

"Gojyo…why?" Hakkai said softly, quietly, his voice betraying no emotion. He lowered his gaze to the floor as his words slowly faded into thin air.

Gojyo looked up apologetically. He could see the pain behind Hakkai's eyes, those green eyes that were once so good at hiding his real emotions just seemed so useless and penetrable now.

He could sense the growing feeling of unease, hatred, and loneliness building up in the usually calm and reserved youkai. He could sense the memories of his past, his painful past, all rushing back to torment him once again…

"It's Yaone."

Hakkai looked up at him. Gojyo decisively avoided Hakkai's gaze. Hakkai quickly turned to look at Yaone who had her head bowed. He could sense that she was hiding something from him.

"Yaone?"

Hakkai said softly, astonishment echoing in every syllable. Yaone didn't look up. She tilted her head away from him, trying to hide the tears already welling up in her eyes.

"Hakkai…we tried to tell you." Gojyo said slowly. He tested the waters before daring to speak again. "Yaone and I…we were in an arranged marriage."

At once everyone turned to look at Gojyo, apparently shocked at the sudden turn of events. Yaone bowed her head even lower. Goku stopped trying to undo his necktie, and Sanzo froze, dumbstruck.

Hakkai's head shot up, his eyes quickly darting from Gojyo to Yaone and back again. "What?"

"An arranged marriage," Gojyo repeated hastily, quickly forcing the words down. "Before you met, we were already planned to be married against our will."

Hakkai's mind was confused. He could hardly think properly. "But…but…" he sputtered incoherently, words lost in thought. "Your stepmother—she hated you—how could she have…?"

"It was my parents."

Yaone finally raised her head, revealing gray eyes clouded with tears. She stared into Hakkai's eyes apologetically, her voice full of emotion and pain. "It was my parents. They forced me into that agreement with his stepmother. They wanted to get rid of us."

Hakkai tried to understand. He really did. But his mind seemed to refuse any information. Gojyo's stepmother could have gotten him out of her life that way.

"So I had them killed," Yaone continued, tears flowing steadily now. "And Dokugakuji killed his stepmother."

"We broke off the engagement."

Hakkai was even more confused now than ever. It didn't fit. Why would Gojyo object if the engagement was called off?

Hakkai looked questioningly again at Gojyo. He had been quiet the entire time Yaone had been explaining.

"Gojyo?" Hakkai managed to croak out. "Then…"

Gojyo avoided Hakkai's gaze once again. This time, he thought, it's going to hurt. There was silence for a few minutes as everyone held their breaths to what they thought was the undoing of it all.

"I can't allow you to marry her."

Hakkai's eyes widened. His green eyes, once full of understanding, were now filled with anger. He didn't speak a word, daring Gojyo to explain further.

"The engagement can still be renewed. If Yaone will agree…" he faltered as his eyes shifted uneasily.

Hakkai glared at him. He understood now. Why had he taken so long just to say it plainly? It was obvious that Gojyo was trying not to break Hakkai down but he, Hakkai, was hurt just as much as if he had said it outright.

He looked sideways at Yaone and was taken aback. He was so sure Yaone will not agree to this traitor. Gojyo, his best friend, whom he thought he could trust with anything, even his life, betray him because of a girl? How could he?

But Yaone had a puzzled expression on her face, thinking deeply, her heart wrought with pain. She didn't realize the time would come to make this important decision. Hakkai's own heart was beating fast now. Does this mean she's still unsure…?

"Yaone. It all depends on you."

Yaone looked up, clearly revealing her gray eyes filled with tears. It was Sanzo who had spoken. The blond monk's face was deadly serious, and his eyes showed no emotion at all.

Yaone slowly turned around. Hakkai was looking straight at her, a pained expression on his face. He was anticipating her answer, like everybody else waiting with bated breath.

Yaone finally came to a decision. Slowly, achingly, she locked her gray eyes with Hakkai's. She was sobbing quietly. "Hakkai…" she said, tears flowing steadily down her cheeks, "gomen nasai!"

Without another word she fled, out of the cathedral, into the bright sunlight. The hem of her white gown whipped out behind her as she ran down past Gojyo, who was still standing with his head bowed, knowing he was the cause; soon her veil rushed out of sight as she turned the corner and was gone. Hakkai stood there rooted to the spot, watching his bride-to-be running out of his life.

Overwhelmed with grief, he sank down on his knees as the realization hit him. Before he knew it he was down on the ground, sputtering nonsense, trying to come back to his proper senses.

Yaone…

To be continued…

Author's Note: Poor Hakkai! I can't believe I'm doing this to him! I don't know WHY I love making fics that torture him emotionally!

It might take a while in updating; tests are next week. I'm working on another fic too so things are getting really messed up. Hope you guys understand.

Anyway, thanks so much for the reviews! The next chap will be the end of Hakkai's flashback (this is a flashback, remember?) and more about Gojyo and Yaone.

But I repeat, this is a Hakkai-Yaone fic so…well, I don't want to spoil it for you! Ja ne!