I'm having a serious writer's block… UU;
Chapter 13: Immediate Remedies
"Dokugakuji offered to find a cure for Gojyo?" Sanzo asked incredulously. "The Dokugakuji? Dokugakuji as in Gojyo's half-brother and Kougaiji's comrade?"
Hakkai nodded, wondering for the countless times why he even decided to tell Sanzo about this. …What was that?… Oh, yeah, Sanzo was the leader.
"What the hell are you thinking when you accepted the offer?" Sanzo snapped.
Hakkai flushed a little. True, he was swimming in alcohol when Dokugakuji approached him, but he wasn't drunk; not that he could to begin with. Sanzo's angry retorts seemed to make a little sense now but Sanzo had no idea how much the silver choker bothered Gojyo. Even if he had to make a deal with the devil itself, Hakkai would still agree.
"And Dokugakuji wants Gojyo's blood?" Sanzo bit out relentlessly when the long surpassed stress finally caught up with him. "Well, good fucking luck with that! I'm sure Gojyo would happily offer his wrist for you to slit! It would certainly solve his damn dilemma!"
Hakkai blinked. Ah… so Sanzo was well aware about Gojyo's emotional stability? And here he thought he was the only one who knew about that. "You know that…?"
Sanzo irritatingly humphed, "Of course I know! You couldn't damn well miss the way he eyed his weapon. He was contemplating the best way to use it for himself."
"Well, we can't just let Gojyo be a full-blooded demon when he isn't supposed to be one," Hakkai argued, shamelessly used Dokugakuji's earlier words.
"Then, perhaps you should apply that to yourself. You were a human before you're converted into a demon," Sanzo sarcastically pointed out.
Hakkai seethed silently. Sometimes, Sanzo's bluntness really tested his patience. "True, but I brought this myself. I murdered a thousand demons for Kana and I am well deserved the consequence of doing that. But Gojyo was forced to be one."
"Apparently you have already decided this matter. Why the hell do you tell me anyway?" Sanzo eyed the green-eyed demon in front of him. He had never seen Hakkai this desperate, this frustrated before.
Hakkai let out a soft sigh and he ran his hand through his mahogany's locks. He hadn't aware how tense he was until now. "I'm… not sure. I guess I was just looking for an assurance that I do not make a mistake by trusting Dokugakuji."
"The fact that you contemplated to trust Dokugakuji is a mistake," Sanzo firmly stated, his violet eyes narrowed in obvious displeasure of Hakkai's decision. "Dokugakuji is our enemy and he just happens to be one of the enemies that we're traveling to the west to defeat for. Fuck the fact that he is Gojyo's brother. It seems to me he is more loyal to Kougaiji than he is to Gojyo."
Hakkai looked outside the window as he found himself unable to counter Sanzo's fact. Everything Sanzo said was true; everything he had thought when he was at the bar was true. But they were all seemed immaterial. He was willing to take any risk and any consequence if there was a slightest chance to change Gojyo back. "I know that but… I just couldn't let the opportunity to heal Gojyo go…"
Sanzo went silent for a while. All these complications were making his head hurt. He wanted all these bullshit to end so they could resume the journey. "Why don't you let Gojyo make the decision? It is his damn blood that Dokugakuji is after anyway."
Hakkai bit his lips. "Do you think Gojyo is capable to make such decision when he is like this?"
Sanzo sighed impatiently. "Hakkai! Stop babying him, stop analyzing things and stop thinking so much! I'll bet that the kappa doesn't need anymore babying from you! Just go to Gojyo and tell him! He deserves to know."
"But…"
"Just tell Gojyo, damn it!"
"Tell me what…?" The argument stopped abruptly at the sound of the Gojyo's bewildered voice. Hakkai looked at the doorway of Sanzo's room and saw Gojyo leaned against the doorframe with one fiery eyebrow rose in puzzlement. He looked a lot better than he was when he first walked into the inn that morning. His coloring was back and his eyes were more focused. Perhaps Sanzo was right. Gojyo didn't need anymore babying from him.
When Sanzo saw Hakkai was rendered speechless, he snorted disgustedly and stood up. "I'm out of here. It is your doing, Hakkai, and I suggest you tell him." With that the blonde monk left the room without giving a glance at the redhead as he walked passed him.
Gojyo looked at Hakkai, waiting for the brunette to start but received nothing. "…Hakkai?"
The spoken demon bit his lips indecisively as he wondered how to tell Gojyo without sounding as if he and Dokugakuji were plotting behind him. "Gojyo… I…" he trailed.
Gojyo frowned at Hakkai's tone. He then straightened himself, walked towards Hakkai and sat in front of him. "Is something wrong, Hakkai?"
"No, not yet anyway…" Hakkai curved up a weak smile.
"Not yet…?" Gojyo reached out to grasp Hakkai's hand softly. "What is it that you're not telling me?"
Hakkai took a deep breath. Well, here goes nothing… "We think we know how to reverse your… your condition."
"We?" Usually 'we' mean the rest of the group, but it was the way Hakkai said with such guiltiness that made Gojyo asked.
"Yes, we. Um… me and Dokugakuji…" Hakkai raised his eyes to meet Gojyo's, waiting for any reaction. And he got one.
"Dokugakuji? You mean you've discussed this matter with Jien?" Gojyo abruptly released his grip on Hakkai's hand and pulled back. "When did you meet him? What did you tell him?"
"Gojyo, stop it…"
Hysteric and humiliation exploded inside of Gojyo. Jien wasn't supposed to know. Anybody beside his other three companions weren't supposed to find out of what had happened to him under Kenshin imprisonment. Hakkai was supposed to keep his secret! "Why? Why did you tell him?" Gojyo spat out. "You know how I feel about this! I don't need any more humiliation than what I've already felt!"
"Gojyo, you do know Dokugakuji was there the day Kenshin brought you to us, don't you?" Hakkai said softly.
Gojyo's reaction was enough to confirm Hakkai that the redhead didn't know about Dokugakuji and Kougaiji's presence. Gojyo's eyes went wide and blood drained rapidly from his face as he unwilling recalled that cursed day. How Kenshin had him on his knees… How Kenshin had arrogantly declared he had used him in his bed… How Kenshin had yanked his head to show the cursed limiter… How he had completely lost control over himself… And Jien, his half-brother, had witnessed the whole thing!
Hakkai cursed himself for not telling Gojyo a subtler way; he knew how Gojyo looked up to Dokugakuji. Slowly, Gojyo stood up and retreated in disbelief. "…Jien saw me…?"
Hakkai slowly nodded, unsure how he would response.
"…Jien heard what Kenshin said…?"
Hakkai nodded again, wishing hard he had left Gojyo oblivious.
"…Jien knew that I am a whore…?"
That, Hakkai couldn't nod. Instead, he stood up too and pulled Gojyo into his fierce embrace. "You're not. You know that, I know that and Dokugakuji knows that! If anyone is a whore, then, it will certainly be Kenshin!" He waited for the meaning of his words to sink in and felt with a relief that the tense in Gojyo's body slowly desisted.
"…" Gojyo took a deep breath as he slowly picked up his shattered pride. So what if Jien saw him? His half-brother had seen him in much, much worse situation. "…Yeah… I… know that…" Gojyo said softly.
"Good." Came a firm response and Gojyo felt the iron embrace loosened.
"Sorry…"
"Don't be…" Hakkai said as he smiled. "If you do, you'll sound like me."
Gojyo's couldn't help but to smile back a little. If both of them were alike, where was the fun in the relationship? Biting his lips, Gojyo focused back on their previous conversation. "So, what does Jien want from me?"
"Are you going to sit down first?" Hakkai asked carefully, not wanting to bomb Gojyo with the news. The knowledge that his half-brother knew about his shameful secret had brought such reaction to Gojyo made Hakkai wary. He didn't know how the half-breed would react to the news.
"That bad, huh?" Gojyo teased softly and he sat at his previous position. He watched his lover's face and knew it was indeed that bad.
"Gojyo, I know what Kenshin did to you… aside from the… the rape…" Hakkai said softly.
Gojyo frowned slightly as he looked down. What could Hakkai possible know? He hadn't told anybody about anything what he had found out or what had happened to him. So far, they had known about Kenshin's sexual assault because the bastard himself had smugly told them. Even if Hakkai had seen the bruises on his body, Gojyo let Hakkai thought they were too due to Kenshin's sexual assault. "What do you mean…?"
"Gojyo, you never told me anything… I… think I understand why because I did the same thing when you first brought me home." Hakkai pulled his chair closer to Gojyo until their knees touched and he reached out for both of Gojyo's hands. "You may think I'm oblivious, Gojyo, but I have a rather clear picture of what else had happened."
"Look at me, Gojyo," Hakkai said softly. "Please look at me. There's nothing for you to be ashamed of. Not ever in front of me, whom you have saved countless of time and whom has shared your life for the last three years. I'm not a stranger."
Gojyo couldn't. He despised his weakness. "You have no idea how it would feel to be so helpless, Hakkai…" Gojyo said softly as he tightened his grips on Hakkai's hands. "How it would feel to be under someone's mercy and knowing that mercy is something he's incapable of giving…"
"Maybe I don't," Hakkai replied as he turned Gojyo's hands around to reveal the twin slits on both of Gojyo's wrists. "But I have a very clear idea of what these injuries mean, Gojyo. And I assure you that no rape can cause this kind of injuries."
Gojyo fixed his eyes on the scars, dully noted that he had yet another scars to hide. Hakkai's perceptive had never ceased to amaze him.
"Kenshin took your blood… didn't he?" Hakkai stated.
The half-breed looked up in mild surprised. He knew Hakkai was the intelligent one, but accurately guessed the purpose of his kidnapping was surprising. "How do you know?"
"Dokugakuji told us that all the demons are out killing the taboo children because apparently, Kenshin had found a way for the demon to stay sane in their demon forms." Hakkai eyed Gojyo's expression and found that the redhead wasn't surprised at all. So, Gojyo had known all along. Why wasn't he told them about this?
"I take it that Kougaiji isn't very pleased about this piece of discovery?" Gojyo asked with subtle sarcasm. "Why? One would think that he is afraid that he cannot control more powerful and saner demons."
"No, Gojyo. It is not the demons that worries him," Hakkai shook his head. "This piece of discovery causes many taboo children to be cruelly murdered by ignorant demons. There are massacres happening all over Togenkyo involving demons and half-breed. Kougaiji tried to put stop of this madness."
"That's so… kind of him… I guess," Gojyo said hesitantly. Saying kind words to Kougaiji seemed weird to him. He didn't know Kougaiji care about half-breeds.
And again this piece of news didn't manage to draw any shock look from Gojyo. Gojyo knows! Hakkai realized. He knows what happen! He knew about the taboo children's killing!
"You know about this, didn't you?" Hakkai frowned slightly.
Gojyo looked away. "Yeah… Kenshin told me about this right before he… he stuck tubes into my wrists… I asked him… not because I wanted to know… but because I was trying to stall them…" Why words seemed so hard to utter? And why the memories seemed so vivid?
Hakkai's eyes narrowed in unsurpassed anger as strong waves of vengeance and protectiveness swept around him. Not only Kenshin had touched his lover, he also had tortured him! Next time he saw Kenshin, he will make sure that the raven-haired demon regretted every single thing he did to Gojyo. The demon inside him screamed in rage. Telling himself to calm down, Hakkai asked again in controlled tone, "Them? Kenshin isn't alone in this?"
That question made Gojyo to look back at Hakkai. "I didn't tell you about Zean?"
Hakkai shook his head.
"It isn't Kenshin's idea entirely. It wasn't Kenshin who first came out with the discovery. It was Zean…" Zean with long black-blue hair; Zean with freezing and unemotional eyes; Zean with his revolting needles… Gojyo closed his eyes, trying to surpass the shudder at the memory.
"Why he wasn't there the day Kenshin brought you to us?" Hakkai questioned.
Gojyo swallowed. It was strange how talking about his experience… nightmare was starting to get easy now… and to think how reluctant he felt yesterday to even think about them. Now he had started, Gojyo couldn't find himself to stop. "That day wasn't my first transformation into… full-blooded demon… Zean wanted to test the effectiveness of the potion he injected me, so… the night before, they chained me to wall and released me from…" Gojyo stopped as he instinctively touched the silver choker that stayed hidden beneath his thick turtleneck shirt. It felt cold against his throat.
"And you lose control…" Hakkai concluded softly.
"Yeah," Gojyo sighed inaudibly. Memories of that night rushed in front of him like a projector. "I've always wondered what you or Goku goes through when you lose your limiter… I've never…never felt so much at the same time that I couldn't control myself… I remembered the anger I felt toward them that night… I felt so hot, so full of rushing adrenaline that I thought my heart would burst… I also remember the satisfaction I felt when I managed to break Zean's nose and ribs with my legs… It was the sight of blood that I carved that night. Hakkai, I've become a monster that night; I never want to be that person ever again…"
"You remember what happened when you lost control?" Hakkai asked amazedly.
"Don't you?" Gojyo frowned.
"We don't, Gojyo," Hakkai looked thoughtful. "All I remember when I was a full-blooded demon was flashes of incoherent pictures and sounds. I felt the power, the strength and the madness but I cannot recall even one clear image when I become a demon."
"But… I remember everything!" Gojyo objected heatedly, feeling flustered, confused and even scared. Damn it! He couldn't even go crazy like a normal demon! "I remember punching you, I remember pursuing you into the forest, I remember strangling you… damn it, Hakkai! I even remember that I tried to rape you in that damn cave!!"
"And you didn't," Hakkai said firmly, stopping Gojyo from dwelling further into the undeserved guilt. "You did not rape me because you did not want to hurt me."
Gojyo leaned back against the chair and rubbed his forehead. All these emotional chaos were driving him mad; they seemed to slam back and forth inside his head. "…What did Dokugakuji say to you?"
Hakkai was aware that Gojyo's usage of his half-brother's name had change from Jien to Dokugakuji. It seemed as if Gojyo had finally gotten past the fact Dokugakuji witnessed his humiliation and the redhead was now in control of his feelings. Hakkai didn't know whether it was a good thing or not.
"Dokugakuji told me that Yaone could maybe brew something to encounter the potion that Zean injected into you but…" Hakkai halted for a while before stating the main problem. "But before she could do that, she needs something to start with."
"Something to start with?" Gojyo asked softly; half afraid of the answer Hakkai might give him. He had a vague idea what Yaone wanted and he was afraid if Hakkai would say something like…
Hakkai took a deep breath and looked directly to the pair of ruby orbs in front of him. "Gojyo, I need to take a little of your blood for Yaone's research…"
…Like that… Gojyo automatically grasped his wrist, fingering the scar. What was with everyone? It seemed everybody wanted to take his blood! But Hakkai seemed so determined about curing him and Gojyo, as always, hadn't have the heart to say no. "…It's not like I have any other choice, do I?" Gojyo replied so softly after a while of silent contemplation that Hakkai needed to strain to hear his answer.
Hakkai tried to smile and shook his head wordlessly. He silently marveled and felt strangely proud at Gojyo's courage to face what he feared of. "I'll heal it as soon as I take your blood. And I promise it will be quick."
Gojyo nodded wordlessly.
Hakkai waited for a while and when he saw Gojyo wasn't inclined to do anything, he spoke softly. "…Um, Gojyo… can you give me your hand, please…?"
"Huh? … Yeah, sure…" And he tentatively hold out his hand, palm up. "You'll heal it… right?"
The verdant-eyed man smiled reassuringly. "Immediately."
Gojyo bit his lips as he stared at his wrist, waiting any moment for Hakkai to cut it opened. Hakkai knew where Gojyo expected him to cut and that was where he wouldn't. He took out a sharp knife and slit smoothly on Gojyo's thumb. The surprised in Gojyo's eyes was obvious and Hakkai couldn't help but to chuckle softly. "You didn't think I'm going to cut your wrist, did you Gojyo?"
"Sneaky bastard," Gojyo said with unexplainable relief washed over him. And he allowed a grin to escape.
"True, I am. After all, it would be such a shame to mar something so beautiful,"
"Oh, you mean my thumb isn't?" Gojyo pretended to be hurt.
"I am not particularly too interested in your fingers, Gojyo." Hakkai shrugged. "There are other things that captivate me."
"I hope you're talking about my hair," Gojyo responded, unwilling to back off.
"Maybe, but not the one on the top," Hakkai grinned pointedly downward, surreptitiously checked the blood dripping into the glass vial. A little bit more…
"Are you suggesting something, Hakkai?" Gojyo raised his eyebrows.
"Are you hoping for something, Gojyo?" And he hoped Gojyo did.
"You can't answer a question with a question," Gojyo was grinning too. He loved it when Hakkai was playful. "It is unfair."
"Do we ever play a fair game?" Hakkai smiled sweetly. "Even in poker game, you tend to cheat; not that you ever win…"
"Hey, that's a low blow – " Gojyo's response was cut off when Hakkai brought the bleeding finger to his mouth and carefully licked the wound. He could see Hakkai's green eyes darkened and blushes tinted on both of cheeks. Damn he's beautiful. "…Not that I have anything against it…"
Putting the vial away, Hakkai left his chair and sat on Gojyo's lap, facing him. All those suggestive remarks made him a little amorous and at Gojyo's last words, he knew the redhead felt it too. Looking down at Gojyo's ruby orbs, Hakkai delicately sucked the half-breed's thumb and watched his lover expression filled with passion. "Whether you've change or not, you still taste the same," he murmured.
"Glad to know that…" Gojyo said back, matching with Hakkai's low, husky voice.
Hakkai had decided to take the lead of the waltz. He had realized that he had fallen in love with magnificent redhead in front of him. He wanted Gojyo to feel more than just physical release when they were together. He wanted Gojyo to feel the same earth-shattering release, the same soul-fulfilling passion and the same heart-breaking love that he had felt whenever they were together. He wanted to complete Gojyo the same way Gojyo had completed him. He wanted to share each pain, pleasure and tears with Gojyo. He wanted to be the only one for Gojyo for the rest of their life.
He wanted Gojyo to love him back, even if it was the last thing he would do.
Hakkai bent his head as he trailed his kisses along Gojyo's neck. He drew himself closer to Gojyo, grinding his arousal against Gojyo's. He smiled when he heard the gasp and felt Gojyo's strong arms wrapped around his waist as the redhead succumbed himself to the mindless pleasure Hakkai brought upon him.
This would be their first lovemaking after Hakkai realized his love for Gojyo. It was amazing what the simple self-admission would do to someone. It made the simple act of sex became more meaningful. It made him felt he was sharing, instead of giving and taking. It made everything felt so right, when it should be wrong. It made him saw all the best quality in Gojyo, not the flaws.
Love made one blind but love made one wise.
Their movement became aggressive as both of them trying to get as much as they could from each other. The single chair tilted back in protest but they ignored the warning. Suddenly, to both of their surprise, the chair's leg broken and send both of them crashed down, sprawling on the floor with Hakkai lie unhurt on top of Gojyo.
"Damn it!" Gojyo swore, both to the hard floor and Hakkai's unforgiving weight.
"Gojyo, are you alright?" Hakkai asked as he looked down at Gojyo but the other man could clearly see the barely hidden laughter.
"No, I'm not alright!" Gojyo huffed. "I swear to God that you've gained weight, Hakkai!"
Hakkai could no longer hide the laughter and Gojyo grinned widely at the wonderful sound. "All of me or just a particular part?" Hakkai teased as he stroke pointedly his enlarged part against Gojyo's.
"Um…" Gojyo said distractedly. How could he think any witty remarks back when Hakkai looked so sexy in his seduction? Deciding to end Hakkai's torturous teasing, Gojyo raised both of his hands and cupped the brunette's jaws. "If I answer that question, will it shut you up and get you on with the business?"
Hakkai's eyes devoured Gojyo's face intensely. "So impatient…" All teasing voice had gone and Hakkai's tone dropped a notch to husky whisper. "You are particularly stunning when you're demanding…"
Hearing his lover's observation nearly drove Gojyo mad with longing. "Do it, Hakkai…" he whispered back. "Do it to me right now…" Hakkai gladly dropped a kiss on Gojyo's forehead. "…on the floor…" Another one on the tip of his nose. "…in the broad daylight…" And another so close to his lips…
"Gojyo… I…" Hakkai breathed as the feeling overwhelmed him and Gojyo met Hakkai's eyes, holding back his breath expectedly. Hakkai watched his lover's flushed face. Love hovered on the edge of his lips but he couldn't find the courage to say it. He had always be the coward one. Afraid of Gojyo's reaction, of Gojyo's answer, of the probability that he might lose all this. Coward… he was a coward. "…Shut up…" He whispered instead.
Disappointment washed over Gojyo. He had almost certain that… never mind that… Hakkai might have let ghost of Kana go but to love an abomination like him? Swallowing the bitter truth, Gojyo murmured back. "Gladly…"
Yaone silently studied the man who she hadn't seen for so long. Zean was still the same as ever, only his blue-black hair was longer and his piercing icy-blue eyes were colder. Is she hadn't known better, she wouldn't believe that this was the same Zean that she had played and studied together. "So, how have you been?"
Zean smiled. "Never better. I'm surprised that you came."
Yaone couldn't help noticing that even Zean's smile had lost its warmth. She wondered what had really happened to her friend all these years?
"Well, I'm sorry for not telling you that I'm still alive. Being saved by Prince Kougaiji from Hyakugen made my life bound to him." Yaone's smile radiated its obvious affectionate to the spoken prince. "And I have never been happier."
"Prince Kougaiji? You work for him?" Zean raised his dark eyebrow in disbelief.
"Yes, I am."
Zean couldn't believe the coincident of the events. Kenshin had caught Gojyo, who happened to be Dokugakuji's brother, who happened to work for Kougaiji, who happened to take Yaone for his comrade and who happened to be Zean's long lost friend! And now, suddenly, Yaone appeared in his front door after years of separation. Zean would drink a poison if Yaone didn't come here on behalf of Dokugakuji!
"Zean?" Yaone frowned when she saw her friend laughed.
Zean couldn't help himself. He had to laugh. Kenshin had been running around, throwing useless threats to Gojyo. And so far, the raven-haired demon hadn't even succeeded to get Gojyo alone because the half-breed's friends were so damn protective, especially his lover. Now? Yaone came, practically handing Gojyo to him on silver platter!
"Zean, are you alright?" Yaone asked again.
"Yes, I am. Sorry…" Zean stifled his grin. Yeah right, sorry my ass… This is the best news I've got ever since Gojyo escaped! "So, Yaone, what brings you here?"
"I could never lie to you, could I?" Yaone smiled.
"Yaone, don't tell me that you just drop by to say hello because I don't believe you. You've got so many years to do that and you choose to do it now. Apparently, I think you have a problem that you need my help to solve it."
"Zean, I never knew you are a jaded person," Yaone teased. "But yes, I do need your expertise in order to solve my problem."
"Spill it out, then."
"I have a friend and his brother used to be kidnapped by a demon. Well, I'm not very clear about the demon's purpose but he injected some kind of potion into my friend's brother. You see, Zean, my friend's brother is a… half-breed; … a taboo child and as you know, half-breed doesn't need a limiter because of his human blood. Somehow, the demon that kidnapped him had managed to turn him into full-blooded demon."
Zean felt another amused laughter welling up but he bit his lips. "It takes a very talented chemist to do that." Zean played his charade. "So…what can I do to help?"
"My friend asked for my help. He asked me to brew something, so his brother can be changed back to normal." Yaone was too immersed in telling her problem that she couldn't see the evil gleam in Zean's eyes. "Problem is, I don't know what had been injected into Gojyo, which means I don't know where to start."
"Then, take a blood sample." Zean said.
"I already did." Yaone replied. "Zean, I need your help. I need you to help me to brew a remedy for Gojyo. With both of us working together, I know we can do it."
Zean went silent for a while. He looked as if he was thinking, but in truth he was scheming. He wondered how he could manipulate the situation into his favor. Then, an idea struck him.
After a while of silent, Yaone leaned forward. "Zean? Will you help me?"
"Of course," Zean smiled. "You don't have to ask me twice."
"Kou," Dokugakuji stepped forward to address his prince. As usual, Kougaiji was standing near to the huge window, looking out at the dark night.
"What have you found out, Dokugakuji?" The redhead asked in his quiet and authoritative tone, still looking out at the dark night.
"Apparently, the massacre hasn't stopped or reduced. If anything, I believe it was worse than before." The dark-haired demon reported. "I've scouted the areas and taboo children's corpse are everywhere. No panic arises in humans' area. It was as if they are oblivious of the massacre, or they just don't care." Anger could be heard in his tone.
"We're talking about half-breeds, Doku… Neither humans nor demons like their existence very much. I don't expect there will be any panic." The crimson-haired prince sighed inaudibly at their discrimination. What differed a half-breed than a human or a demon? Whatever made both humans and demons thought that half-breeds were cursed? If anything, it was the combination of human and demon's lust to create that so-called cursed child. Why was the innocent child forced to carry the burden of their sin? "Damn ignorant demons. Always taking an easy way to increase their power."
"What are we going to do, Kou?" Dokugakuji asked.
Kougaiji turned away from the window and looked at his comrade. His expression was the mixture of thoughtfulness and frustration. "Since all the massacres happen because of the rumors, I am thinking a way to prove them that the rumors are false."
"Unfortunately, the rumors aren't," Dokugakuji said bitterly. "Kenshin has proven himself clearly of what he is capable. If he could change a sane half-breed into crazy demon, I have no doubt he can deliver what he had promised."
"Have you seen him, Dokugakuji?" Kougaiji asked quietly.
"Who?"
"Your brother."
Dokugakuji was mildly surprised at Kougaiji's rapid change of topic. One of the thing that made him proud to be one of Kougaiji's close comrade was Kougaiji's great caring for his people. The redhead was perceptive in reading people and everything around him. He knew that Gyokumen Kyoshu was using him and if not for his mother trapped, Kougaiji would already use his powerful influence with the demons to destroy the selfish bitch. With all that, the red-haired prince definitely deserved his loyalty.
Dokugakuji wondered if his concern for his brother was clearly written all over his face. "I went but I just couldn't take the last step."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I guess I'm awkward around him… Tell me how a person supposes to react around somebody whom he owes a lot of apologies but that person doesn't seem to blame him?"
"Gojyo doesn't think you owe him any apology." Kougaiji stated. "Even I can see that."
"That's the problem!" Dokugakuji said in frustration. "Every time we meet, he acts as if I did nothing wrong to him."
"Maybe he doesn't think all that had happened was your fault."
Dokugakuji sighed. "Yeah, that would be Gojyo's style. Every bad thing happens is his fault. I'm not surprised if he blame himself for Mother's death… He thinks he's truly cursed."
Kougaiji opened his mouth to say something to contradict Dokugakuji's words about his brother's curse when an idea struck him. "Wait a minute…"
"Kou? Are you alright?" Dokugakuji asked when he saw Kougaiji's blank stares.
"Maybe we can't prove that the rumors are false…" Kougaiji murmured thoughtfully. "But what if…"
"Kou?" Dokugakuji walked forward and grasped his prince's shoulders. "What's wrong?"
"Dokugakuji… I have an idea on how stop the killings…"